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Trees, nets and teaching
By Gordon Rugg
Much of the debate on education uses diagrams to illustrate points being discussed.
Many of those diagrams are based on informal semantics.
The result is often chaos.
In this article, I’ll use the knowledge pyramid as an example of how informal semantics can produce confusion rather than clarity.
The knowledge triangle is widely used as a way of representing levels of abstraction in information (using “information” here in the broadest sense, for reasons that will soon become apparent).
At the bottom of the triangle is the concept of data – raw, unstructured pieces of “information” in the broad sense. Above this comes information in the strict sense, usually defined as “structured data” or something similar. Above information comes knowledge, usually defined along the lines of “information about information”. At the top of the pyramid is wisdom, with a definition such as “knowledge about knowledge” or “structured knowledge”.
It’s a useful starting point, as long as you don’t treat it as the full story.
This diagram implies that these four concepts form discrete levels, and gives no indication of just what each level actually contains.
That’s a significant omission, since it allows people to imagine whatever they want about those contents, and about how the levels relate to each other, and about what the implications are for teaching and learning.
There have been claims, for example, that if we simply present students with enough examples of the contents of a particular level, then the students will somehow manage to work out how to aggregate those examples, and will infer what the contents of the next level up will be via some form of “natural learning”.
That’s the approach that Copernicus used in astronomy to work out the principles of planetary motion. Darwin used it to work out the principles of evolution.
However, Copernicus and Darwin spent most of their working lives trying to discover those underlying principles. A lot of other researchers without their genius spend all their working lives on these topics without ever finding the answers. The idea that this approach could be routinely used in school-level education is somewhat reality-challenged, to say the least.
Another problem with the pyramid model is that it’s often combined with an implicit assumption that the higher levels of the pyramid are in some sense more pure and noble than the lower levels. The implicit subtext is that the lower levels of the pyramid contain the basic material that the lower levels of society need to know, whereas the higher levels contain the sophisticated abstract concepts that only the educated elite can properly comprehend. Those assumptions are neither a recipe for producing good plumbers or for producing good academics, but that’s another story for another article.
So what, if anything, is inside the knowledge pyramid, and why should anyone care?
An IT view
The knowledge pyramid is widely used in Information Technology (IT), which is part of the reason for its popularity. From an IT perspective, a hierarchical organisation of information makes a lot of practical sense. For instance, a customer record might include the customer’s name and the customer’s address; the customer’s address might include the house number and the street name and the town and the postcode.
Boxes can contain sub-boxes, and everything is neatly defined.
nested customer record
So far, so good.
When computer scientists tried to take on more complex problems, however, they discovered that the nature of the issues they were dealing with was very different. There’s a deep, fascinating story about how researchers came to realise that the way human beings handle information is not “illogical”. The messy, imperfect rules of thumb that we use are actually the least bad option available for handling a world which is itself messy, and which is very different from the clean, simple problems favoured by formal logicians.
One of the results from this realisation was the growth of knowledge representation as a field within Artificial Intelligence. I’ll draw heavily on knowledge representation in this article; in particular, I’ll draw on graph theory, which is an important tool within knowledge representation. I’ll then look at the implications for education theory, practice and policy.
Levels of knowledge
When you’re trying to explain the concept of levels of abstraction to a non-specialist, diagrams like the one below are a useful place to start.
This representation is known within graph theory as a tree. A key feature of a tree is that as you move away from the starting point at the top, your path can only divide; it can never join another branch. In the image above, I’ve shown this via the red branch on the left and the blue branch on the right; the descendants from this initial pair of branches never re-join.
The tree is a classic type of hierarchy; you meet it in zoological classification and numerous other places.
It’s clean and it’s simple, and it’s widely used as a way of showing pyramid-like information structures schematically. If you’re tidy-minded, you can draw the tree with the branch points at the same level as each other, and you can use the number of levels as a measure of complexity. The example above has four levels, including the level of the starting point.
However, when I drew a diagram of the knowledge pyramid in my previous article on the topic, I deliberately didn’t draw it as a tree. I drew it with two branches joining, at the “information” level, in the middle of the diagram. There was a reason for this.
data information knowledge wisdom2
When you start studying human expertise, you rapidly discover that the experts’ knowledge doesn’t consist of simple, tidy trees. The world that they deal with is more complex than that, and the way they organise their knowledge is correspondingly complex. For instance, a key part in an expert medical diagnosis might be a particular very low-level piece of data, such as a patient’s temperature, which is being used within very high-level categorisation and decision-making. Expert reasoning often involves this type of mixture of levels.
Also, experts typically use more than one classification system for their knowledge. An expert ornithologist might, for instance, classify birds for some purposes using a cladistic classification system, and classify the same birds for other purposes using a habitat classification system. Some of these might be trees, but others might not; for instance, some classifications systems such as the periodic table are based on a matrix layout.
A further point worth spelling out explicitly is that many of the classification systems that experts use are significantly more than four layers deep – you can’t simply map the levels of a tree-style classification system onto levels of the knowledge pyramid.
In summary, if you’re trying to represent expert knowledge accurately, the knowledge pyramid isn’t a good representation; it’s too simple.
The same goes for using a graph-theory tree as a representation. The experts’ knowledge often isn’t a tree.
In graph theory terms, the experts’ knowledge is often a net. That’s significantly different from a tree. It’s more complex, and it’s less neatly structured.
net and tree
In a net, branches can re-join, as in the example above. This has a huge range of implications both practically and in terms of formal theory. The bottom line is that the knowledge pyramid rapidly stops being useful when you start getting involved with the detail of how human knowledge actually works in real, nontrivial cases.
It’s no accident that a lot of the popular claims about learning and knowledge use examples from tightly bounded artificial fields, such as chess, where the principles and issues are simple and clear-cut. Unfortunately, the world is rarely simple and clear-cut, so modelling it properly requires something more powerful than pretty simplifications.
So, where does that leave us?
The knowledge pyramid is a useful concept, provided that it’s used within its range of convenience (i.e. the range of contexts within which it can be meaningfully applied). It’s a neat, simple way of representing some important principles, such as the principle that there are differences in scope and nature between data, information, knowledge and wisdom. It’s useful for conveying the concept that “knowledge” in the broad sense can be structured and categorised.
It is, however, very much a simplification. If you want to structure and categorise knowledge in the broad sense for any practical purposes, whether those purposes are in education or in software design or any of the other fields where this structuring is applicable, then you need to go beyond the simplified version, and use the proper specialist concepts.
We’ve already seen several of the specialist concepts in this article, in the form of trees, levels and nets. They’re simple concepts, but extremely powerful; there’s an extensive, sophisticated body of graph theory that can be drawn on for more power, as in the example of showing formal chains of reasoning in our earlier article on argumentation.
Another set of useful concepts comes from the literature on expertise, which we’ve mentioned in passing in numerous articles. That literature has produced a clear and usually surprising set of findings about the nature of expertise, and about how experts are different from novices. Again, these concepts are simple but powerful – for instance, the finding that experts’ organisation of their knowledge is different from novices’ organisation of their knowledge.
The last set of specialist concepts I’ll mention in this article relate to how people learn about data, information, knowledge and wisdom.
One subset of these concepts relates to types of learning – in particular, implicit learning, which appears to have been misinterpreted by some in the popular literature as “natural learning”. There’s an extensive literature on learning, based on painstaking empirical research, that goes back well over a century, and anyone writing about teaching and learning should really be familiar with the key concepts from this literature, such as the role of variable reinforcement.
The second subset of these concepts relates to the nature of the “knowledge” involved – for instance, knowing that knowledge often involves heuristics, which are required for dealing with incomplete and/or unreliable information.
In short, the knowledge pyramid is a simplification, and shouldn’t be used as a basis for any theory or policy development.
However, for anyone wanting to develop theory or policy, there’s a well-established set of powerful methods and concepts available that provide much more solidly grounded support and frameworks. We’ve already blogged about most of these, and we’ll be blogging about the others in future articles.
Blind Spot, by Gordon Rugg with Joseph D’Agnese
Related articles on this site:
Graph theory:
The knowledge pyramid:
Pigeonholes and names:
Range of convenience:
The idea that there are simple facts:
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Sunday , August 18 2019
Home / canada / Anti-rivet coverings make plastic invisible
Anti-rivet coverings make plastic invisible
plasticPlastic dome with a new anti-flexure cover (to the right) and an unbuilt dome (left)CREDIT: Giebink Lab / Penn State
Plastic discovery discoveries (AR) have many practical applications, with glasses, computer monitors, and lights clearly visible on the screen. Now, Penn State researchers have developed plastic AR coating to improve existing coatings for transparent plastics, such as Plexiglas, which is almost invisible.
"This discovery was trying to do high-efficiency solar panels," said Chris Giebink, associate professor of electrical engineering at Penn State. "Our approach to light is based on plastic lenses, small and high-efficiency solar cells, and minimize the loss of reflection."
The entire solar spectrum and multiple angles were required by the antireflection covering the entire spectrum of the sun, as the sun crossed the sky. They also needed a floor for a long time to keep out of the weather.
"We would like to find a compromise solution, but it was not in line with our performance demands," he said. "So we started looking for our solution".
That was the high order. Although the cover that eliminates a particular reflection in a particular wave or in a certain direction is comparatively simple, not all of the criteria are unmatched. For example, the coverage of the covered ARs is aimed at the visual spectrum of the spectrum. But the solar spectrum is about five times as wide as the spectacular spectrum, so this coverage would not be directed towards a complex solar cell system.
Reflections occur when the light travels from one medium to another, such as the air, in a second medium, in this case the plastic. If the difference in its refraction index is determined by determining the light velocity of a particular material, it has an open-air refractive index of 1 and 1.5 of plastic, then there will be a great deal of reflection. The lowest index of natural material coating, for example magnesium fluoride or Teflon, is 1.3. The index of the refractive index can be indexed, slowly between 1.3 and 1.5, mixing different materials, but the difference between 1.3 and 1 remains.
Before printing a newly published paper in the journal Nano LettersGiebinkek and the authors describe the new void between the teflon and the air. Teflon-evaporated nano-shell pores used a teflon-air film to create a teflon-air film against teflon-air shots, delivering a clear transient transition from 1 to 1.5, eliminating all the reflections.
"As a polymer of teflon, when it is heated on the wheel, large polymers are shrinking in smaller parts, trying to evaporate the steam flow and bring it to the ground," said Giebink.
When sacrifice molecules are added to the flow, Teflon will reform the molecule. To allow the dissolution of the molecules to dissolve, it is possible to classify them by adding more pore to a nanoporated film.
"We are interacting with companies that are looking for better plastic microflexion coatings, and some applications have been amazing," he said. "They are extending beyond the plastic vents that protect the security cameras by eliminating the narrow reflections within the virtual / augmented reality headphones."
An unexpected app is located at high UAV or in aerial vehicles. These are the giant wingspans covered with solar cells. It is mostly used for testing, the planets remain the sun's light in constant flight, and therefore the light they receive is a very eye-catching angle and the highest reflections. A company engaged in solar cells explores the coverage of RA to improve the amount of light collected by a UAV.
Because technology is compatible with today's manufacturing techniques, Giebink thinks that roofing technology is scalable and highly applicable. At this point, his trial samples were in the center of central Pennsylvania for two years, with the slightest change in properties. In addition, it is also an antifogging coating.
"It fits into different types of plastic coating, but not glass," he said. "That's why the typical solar panel of your roof will not be useful with glass shelves. However, if we combine photovoltaic, a critical aspect of Fresnel lens is plastic, one of which we can change."
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The Berenstain Bears and the Christmas Angel
The Bear children learn the Christmas Story.
61ioxukonVL.jpgName: The Berenstain Bears and the Christmas Angel
Author: Mike Berenstain
Publisher: Zonderkidz, 2016
Written for Ages: 4-8
Summary: It is the week before Christmas in Bear Country and there is very little snow. By the time Brother, Sister, and Honey get suited up, the sun has melted most of the snow away. The next day, however, brings lots of snow! As the cubs play in the snow, they discuss what kind of snowman they should build. They finally decide on a snow angel, complete with a halo and a harp.
While inside drinking hot cocoa, Mama and Papa Bear use the opportunity to talk about the Nativity story. They use the Christmas figures in the windowsill to tell the cubs about Gabriel coming to Mary and announcing the birth of Jesus, the angels appearing to the shepherds, the wise men’s visit, and the angel warning Joseph.
Scripture Connection: Mama tells the cubs using the Christmas figures, the traditional nativity story. Matthew 1:18-25 tells of the birth of Jesus, and Matthew 2:1-12 is the account of the Wise Men visiting the Christ child. Joseph’s warning that leads to fleeing to Egypt is found in Matthew 2:13-15. Luke’s birth narrative begins in Luke 1:26-38 when Mary is visited by Gabriel. It continues in Luke 2:1-20 with the visit of the shepherd.
As an added bonus, the storybook includes six stories in the Bible to read about angels. This is another great resource for parents and children to spend time together, reading the Bible, and exploring the stories found there, making it great family time.
Theological Connection: While discussing the angels in the birth narrative of Jesus, Sister Bear asks, “So angels look after us and protect us from danger?” PaPa quotes Psalm 91 that at God’s command the angels will guard us in all our ways. God is with us at all times in all places. This is a promise that we can count on.
Justice Connection: It cannot go without noticing that an angel warns Joseph about King Herod’s desire to kill the infant child. As such, Joseph, Mary, and the inborn seek refuge in Egypt. We do not have to look far to see those who are seeking refuge today. How are they being welcomed? This is a conversation that can happen at any age. How do we welcome those who are fleeing violence and oppression? How do we welcome those who are being bullied? How do we welcome?
Faith Talk (God Talk):
1. Have you ever made a snowman or snow angel? What was that like?
2. The angel appears to Mary and shares with her good news about Jesus. A large group of angels shares the same good news to the shepherds. How can we share the good news of Jesus with others?
3. What does it mean to you that God is with you at all times?
4. What is Christmas about?
5. Use various supplies like paper plates, pipe cleaners, coffee filters, etc to make your own angel. Pinterest is filled with some great ideas.
Parenting Connection: The Berenstain Bears and the Christmas Angel is a fun storybook to help tell the Christmas story. It is one of those rare books about Christmas that does not involve presents. It is a great reminder to parents that the number one way for children to grow in their faith is through their parents. Parents can use simple teachable moments, just as Mama and Papa Bear do, to tell the story of Jesus’ birth.
You can buy a copy at Amazon or check out your local library.
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investment funds
investment funds
investment funds :
Mutual funds are a method used to provide funds to a group of investors by holding their own securities. Each investor retains ownership of his securities and the investment fund contributes to a variety of investment opportunities.
Mutual funds are also defined as a pool of money owned by a group of investors, managed by financial investment professionals, who make decisions to sell or buy a group of securities, such as bonds and equities, which contributes to the diversity of private ownership in each shareholder. Investment Fund.
Another definition of mutual funds is that it collects money from individual investors, companies and diversified enterprises, and then contracts with a manager or financial expert to manage the contents of investment funds. The aim is to provide the highest returns with minimal risk.
Types of investment funds :
There are a variety of types of investment funds, each of which has a role in the stock market, and the following information about it:
• Equity funds are funds that depend on the overall trading of investments away from any ownership of companies within the private sector. These funds are the most volatile and changing; their value continues to rise and fall within a short period of time. Historically, the performance of equity funds is the best among other fund types. Stock trading depends on the future results of companies in their market share, which include an increase in their revenues and profits, which increases the value of their investors' rights.
• Fixed Income Funds: Mutual funds are also called bond funds. They invest in private debt in public and private sector companies to provide profit-based income. These funds typically have an investment portfolio that enhances the investor's financial returns by providing fixed income When stock funds lose their value in the financial marker .
• Financial market funds are low-risk funds compared to other funds. These funds are limited to high-quality investments, often short-term from government or local companies.
• Balanced Funds: Funds that aim to provide a balanced mix of security (low risk), capital and income. Balanced investment funds rely on the implementation of an investment strategy in equities and fixed income. The typical balanced fund contains 60% equity and 40% of fixed income, but it is possible to achieve maximum or minimum balance of assets.
• International funds: Funds are also known as global funds or foreign funds, often used by investors who invest money outside their home countries. These funds rely on investments worldwide and often have difficulty rating their own funds; Their risk or risk may increase more than local investment funds because they tend to be more variable due to many factors such as political influences.
• Specialized funds: They are one of the most comprehensive investment funds because they contain more than one category of securities that are most popular, but these funds dispense with diversification within the economy. They target the funds of certain sectors, such as health, finance and technology, which are increasing. The chances of achieving profits, and the types of these funds:
1. Regional funds: Funds that are concerned with applying investment within a given region; ie, focus on a particular place, such as provinces or countries. These funds are easily used in investments that depend on the purchase of foreign shares.
2. Social funds: also known as ethical funds, are based on the application of investment in companies that meet specific investment standards and are linked to ethics. Money is not invested in arms or alcohol companies.
• Benchmark Funds: Funds that are interested in investing in number indices, including stock market results, are characterized by low risk.
Advantages of investment funds
Investment funds are one of the most widely used investment options among people, because they provide many advantages, the most important of which are :
• Professional Management: The investment funds are a group of managers who are looking for the best investment methods for securities, and monitor the performance of investment funds.
• Diversity: The ability to invest in the securities of a group of companies and institutions, which contributes to reducing the risk ratio in the event of bankruptcy or loss of a company.
• Liquidity: The ability to sell shares to investors in case any investor needs to obtain liquidity.
Risk of investment funds
Investment funds affect a range of risks and are distributed according to the following categories:
• Low risk investment funds: These funds are characterized by their low risk and are characterized by the following characteristics:
1. Low risk level, as investors are interested in reducing risk in order to stay away from negative results resulting in the short term investment.
2. Stay away from all fluctuations in investment prices to ensure that all investments remain safe.
3. Relatively low profits because of the low risk ratio in these funds.
4. The constant need for investors to obtain liquidity.
• Medium Risk Funds: Medium risk funds are relatively medium and have the following characteristics:
1. The ability to tolerate various changes in prices, while accepting the idea of financial losses in capital.
2. The need for liquidity is almost moderate.
• High risk investment funds: These funds are based on the following characteristics:
1. There is considerable experience with investors in these funds within the financial markets.
2. The need for liquidity is very low .
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Essay on Work
14247 Words Dec 2nd, 2015 57 Pages
Service QualityLEARNING OBJECTIVESAfter completing this chapter, you should be able to: 1. Describe and illustrate the five dimensions of service quality. 2. Use the service quality gap model to diagnose quality problems for a service firm. 3. Describe how the SERVQUAL survey instrument is used to measure gaps in a service firm's quality. 4. Illustrate how Taguchi methods and poka-yoke methods are applied to quality design in services. 5. Construct a "house of quality" as part of a quality function deployment project. 6. Construct a statistical process control chart for service operation. 7. Use a fishbone chart in a cause-and-effect analysis. 8. Compare and contrast the quality program features espoused by Philip Crosby and W. Edward …show more content…
The experience of Hampton Inns, an early adopter of a "100 percent satisfaction guarantee," illustrates that superior quality is a competitive advantage. In a survey of 300 guests who invoked the guarantee, more than 100 already had stayed again at a Hampton Inn. The hotel chain figures that it has received $8 in revenue for every $1 paid to a disgruntled guest.1CHAPTER PREVIEWService quality is a complex topic, as shown by the need for a definition containing five dimensions: reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy, and tangibles. Using these dimensions, the concept of a service quality gap is introduced; it is based on the difference between a customer's expectations of a service and the perceptions of that service as it is delivered. A survey instrument that measures service quality, called SERVQUAL, is based on implementing the service quality gap concept. The discussion of measurement also includes the concept of benchmarking, which is a process of comparing one's service delivery system with those of other firms with a reputation of being best in class.Quality begins, however, with the design of the service delivery system. Thus, concepts borrowed from manufacturing (e.g., Taguchi methods, poka-yoke, and quality function deployment) are applied to the
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23 February 2016 13:09
Pat's Corner - Back to Basics
Category: Pat´s Corner, 2016
I have just returned from Formula Student India, where the importance of re-covering the basics became obvious. We forget the churn of students through Formula Student and often the basics are forgotten when new teams attempt to advance on the designs of previous teams.
The first and most obvious thing seen is that the Newtonian dictum of F=ma is often forgotten. The amount of the force 'F' available to teams is limited by the rules, so if the acceleration 'a' is to be increased, then the only real option is to reduce the mass 'm'.
I regularly repeat 'Pat's three rules of FS design to students'. They are...
1) All other things being equal, the car with the lowest mass will win.
2) All other things being equal, the car with the lowest c/g of the suspended mass will win,
3) All things being equal, the car with the lowest polar moment of inertia in all axes will win.
I ask teams to write a simplified version of these rules in permanent marker in the top left hand corner of the whiteboard in their design office...
1. Reduce the weight.
2. Lower the weight.
3. Centralize the weight.
Then, every design decision to be made must be measured against those three requirements.
A simple example might be, "What battery do we use, lithium or lead/acid"?
Rule 1 shows it must be the lithium option as it is much lighter.
Then, "Where should we mount it"?
The answer, according to Rule 2, is it must be mounted on the floor and Rule 3 states it must be mounted centrally. An ideal position would be just behind the firewall. Not in the nose of the car, ahead of the master cylinders as shown below.
Virtually every car in India was fitted with push-rod or pull-rod suspension operation. Some designs were dreadful with the team clearly not able to visualize the load paths. When asked 'Why?", no team could give a satisfactory answer! By looking at pictures of FS and FSAE cars on Google, they determined all FS cars use such suspension operation, but none questioned why it was so.
I explained that changing the bell-crank geometry, the spring and damping rates could be changed, but all admitted that the only changes they ever made was to spring preload or to damper valve adjustments, thus showing that the complications imposed by actuating rods just added weight and increased the cost and parts count.
When the bell-crank assemblies and associated brackets etc., were subjected to Pat's three rules, they failed on all counts!
When I explained to them that some of the fastest FS cars in the world, ie. GFR and Monash, use direct acting suspension, I was met with blank stares. They had not seen pictures of that on Google!
This is a clear example of 'Monkey see, monkey do', where teams copy design ideas without having a full understanding of the reason for the design feature in the first place. Remember, the first question the Design Judges will ask is "Why"? and if there is no satisfactory answer, then the score awarded will be low. The judges understand there will be a fair amount of Design carryover in most cars, so often the "Why?" question is not just an investigation of knowledge, but also a check on the knowledge transfer within the team. An answer often heard is 'The student who designed that has graduated". Such an answer is the kiss of death to a team's aspirations to make it into the Design Finals.
Another issue identified by the Design Judges in India was the 'Kit car syndrome'. where the team bought in most of the components needed to build a car, including uprights, hubs, steering assembly, differential, bell-cranks, brakes etc, and the assembled them into a car.
The judges understand that a team cannot make all the components used in their car, but they do expect the team to 'Design' rather than 'Assemble' a car around these components. This would entail some 'reverse engineering' of components like uprights so a proper FEA assessment might be made to justify the choice of those components to the judges.
This picture shows a 'Kit car' upright used on a FS car.
A quick perusal of the picture shows the designer clearly did not understand the forces involved.
This car did not clear Technical Inspection, but if it had, I would have expected a failure of the bottom outboard rod end in a very short time.
Cars at FSG are expected to be tested before the event and video evidence submitted. Such testing would have identified this potential problem before the event, giving time for some re-designing and rectification.
Note, neither the top or bottom threaded fasteners are locked as required by the rules.
In closing, it would be improper to end a discussion that included FS India without complimenting the team from K.J.S.C.I. Mumbai on their second consecutive win in the event. We will see this team at FS Germany in the Summer.
Design Error of the Month
We regularly see failures of carbon-fibre suspension members. Usually, this occurs when the threaded insert or clevis pulls out as a result of an adhesive failure.
When the Design Judges ask if the part integrity has been tested, invariably we are shown some test pieces and the associated data. But when we ask if the actual part fitted to the car has been tested, we usually get a blank look!
My suggestion would be to test all these parts, A-arms, Pushrods, Toe-links etc. before fitting them to the car for competition.
Until next time, good luck in your project.
Pat Clarke
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4 Writing Types Your Child Is Expected to Know
What Kids Learn in Elementary and Middle School
father and tween son share laptop on kitchen counter
Stephen Simpson / Getty Images
Starting in elementary school, children begin to recognize that stories and texts follow specific writing types, which serve particular purposes. The four writing types that students will explore include narrative, descriptive, expository, and persuasive.
Use of adjectives and adverbs for descriptive writing begins between ages 7 and 9. At that time, they will also begin grouping sentences together into paragraphs. Children learn how to use different types of writing between ages 9 and 11. By middle school, they are writing reports and multi-paragraph essays.
4 Types of Writing Kids Learn About
When your child comes to you for help with a writing assignment, the first thing you probably do is ask what the topic is. But it's also important to find out how the instructor expects the writing to be framed and what techniques or styles are expected to be used in the work.
There are four basic types of writing that students will learn as classes become more writing-intensive:
Narrative writing tells a story. Though it’s most commonly used in personal essays (e.g., "What I Did to Celebrate the Holidays"), this type of writing can also be used for fictional stories, plays, or even a plot summary of a story your child has read or intends to write.
This is likely the most frequently used of the four most common types of writing, and students will spend a significant amount of time learning how to write narratives. Narrative writing is often, but not always, in the first person and is organized sequentially, with a beginning, middle, and end.
Descriptive writing is used to create a vivid picture of an idea, place, or person. It is much like painting with words. It focuses on one subject and uses specific detail to describe it.
For example, if your child is asked to write about his favorite ride at an amusement park, he might note the name of a rollercoaster and what it looks like, as well how the rush of wind in his hair felt as he zipped through the air, what the sound of the ride car clicking up the tracks was like, and so on. In upper grades, a student's descriptive writing should be more subtle and nuanced, using figurative and metaphorical language (e.g., It was the cherry on top of a wonderful day.)
Descriptive writing is used in descriptions of fictional and non-fictional characters, poetry parts of book reports, and in various kinds of observational writing.
Expository writing is to-the-point and factual. This category of writing includes definitions, instructions, directions, and other basic comparisons and clarifications. Expository writing is devoid of descriptive detail and opinion.
This is a crucial skill. Students will need expository writing not only in school, but also in many potential careers that aren't primarily writing-oriented such as teaching, video production, and design. Students must be able to organize their thoughts, follow a plan, and, in higher grades, conduct research to support their theses. It requires thinking on multiple levels.
Persuasive writing is a more sophisticated type of writing your child will be introduced to around fourth grade. It can be thought of like a debate played out in written words.
The idea is to express an opinion or to take a stance about something, and then to support that opinion in a way that convinces the reader to see it the same way.
Persuasive writing contains an explanation of the other point of view and uses facts, statistics, or both to disprove that view and support the writer's position. Some examples of persuasive writing include essays, debate position papers, editorial pieces such as letters to the editor, and book or concert reviews.
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Medical Exhibits - Demonstrative Evidence Expert Blog - MediVisuals
Understanding the Osteophyte/Disc Complex in Spinal Trauma
Posted by Trisha Haszel Kreibich on Fri, Apr 8, 2011
A traumatic event causing injury to an intervertebral disc may also cause subtle injuries to the bones around the disc. During an extreme lateral flexion injury (shown in the image below), the edges of the bone are driven together, injuring both the disc and the bone. As the bone/disc junction heals, overgrowths referred to as osteophytes may form.
Osteophyte Formation From Trauma
Osteophytes take weeks or months to develop following a traumatic event; therefore, any osteophytes that are present soon after a traumatic event are likely pre-existing.
Cervical Spine Osteophytes
The osteophytes themselves may compress the neural elements as in the illustration above; however, in most situations, the osteophytes are a part of an OSTEOPHYTE/DISC COMPLEX. This is when the osteophytes and disc extend beyond their normal limits and compress the neural elements (spinal cord, nerve roots). In cases where osteophytes may have pre-existed a traumatic event, worsening of the disc bulge could occur following the trauma, resulting in new or aggravated symptoms.
Sagittal Spine Osteophyte Disc
Sometimes disc and ligament injuries occur on the same side as the force of impact. Other times, they occur on the opposite side. Injuries to the disc on the same side as the force are the result of stretching and tearing forces. On the opposite side, compression forces result in tears and micro fractures of the tissues and bones. (see illustration below). Osteophytes and facet hypertrophy can also form following injuries to intervertebral discs and ligaments. Injuries to the discs and ligaments result in instability and excessive motion of the joints that, in turn, results in constant trauma to the bone/disc and ligament junctions. This ongoing trauma results in overgrowth of the bones as it continually cycles through episodes of healing and reinjury.
Spine Trauma Forces Osteophyte Disc
Topics: mechanism of injury, intervertebral disc, hyperflexion, trial exhibit, trauma, disc injury, personal injury, osteophyte
Soft Tissue Injury - Cervical and Lumbar Strain
Posted by Delia Dykes on Fri, Mar 12, 2010
Injuries to the spinal and paraspinal ligaments and muscles can result from violent side-to-side motions or by violent excessive flexion and extension. The illustration below shows the major ligaments of the neck (anterior longitudinal and interspinal ligaments) in hyperflexion and hyperextension, which can be injured grossly or microscopically.
Click to enlarge
The series of three illustrations in the bottom right corner (which is shown in more detail below), show a close-up view of the spinal anatomy in 1.) the Normal condition, 2.) during Excessive Stretching and 3.) After Healing. In the Normal condition, one can appreciate the close relationship between the muscles, nerves and blood vessels. During Excessive Stretch, small tears occur, which causes bleeding in the muscle fibers. After Healing, scar tissue and inflammation entrap blood vessels and nerves resulting in a permanent state of compromised, painful movement.
The same is true for the lower lumbosacral spine and pelvic regions. In the illustration below, the spinal nerves and their posterior branches are seen in close approximation to the ligaments and joint capsules, which are often involved in the injury. During hyperflexion of the lumbar spine, transient bulging of the intervertebral discs can occur.
Click to enlarge
The series of illustrations in the lower right corner of the above image, show the normal lumbosacral and pelvic muscles and tendon fibers, which insert on the bones near the associated posterior spinal nerve branches. During Excessive Stretch, a segmental artery and its branches may be involved in hemorrhaging, scarring and occlusion. After Healing, scar tissue and adhesions form, entrapping nerves and blood vessels, causing chronic pain.
In these next illustrations, muscle is shown in sequentially higher magnifications, which can be used to explain excessive stretch injuries in any area of the body. In the Normal series, the bottom illustration depicts nerves and small body vessels intertwined in muscle with its tendinous attachment to the bone. The middle illustration shows a magnified view of an individual muscle fiber and the top illustration depicts the relationship of the microscopic myofilaments (actin and myosin) in their normal relaxed position.
In the Excessive Stretch series, the bottom illustration shows the muscle, tendon, blood vessels and nerves as they are excessively stretched. Small hemorrhages are seen escaping from the stretched and torn blood vessels. In the middle illustration, blood is shown escaping into surrounding spaces, reducing oxygen exchange to the muscle and irritating the delicate structures of the muscle fiber. The top illustration depicts the myofilaments, showing the actin and myosin fibers torn and stretched past the point of normal interdigitation.
In the After Healing series, the bottom illustration shows the irregular outline of the scarred and inflammed muscle fiber with small adhesions seen between the blood vessels, nerves and muscle fibers. The middle illustration shows scar tissue and inflammation occluding blood vessels and adhering the delicate structures of the muscle fibers together, limiting motion and causing chronic pain. Lastly, the top illustration depicts the damaged myofilaments. Their normally well-organized, interdigitating arrangement is left destroyed, limiting muscle movement at the most basic level.
Topics: mechanism of injury, coup-contracoup, demonstrative evidence, soft tissue injury, hyperflexion, lumbar strain, hyperextension, medical-legal-illustration, medical expert, spinal injury, cervical strain, connective tissue
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polar shift research papers
know what other equipment could be affected by how to stay young and healthy essay paper the shift. According to some geologists a polarity reversal is overdue, since the.
Pole Reversal Happens All The (Geologic) Time nasa
Evidence of polar shift since triassic time
Earth s Impending Magnetic Flip - Scientific American
Tarduno, John.; Smirnova, Alexei. Geophysicists who study the magnetic field have long thought that the poles may be getting ready to switch again, and based on new data, it might happen earlier than anyone anticipated. Anything that relies on magnetic properties: - Compasses wouldn't work for some time, - bees and birds (and any other species that relies partially on a magnetic field) would be without (or at least diminished) orientation - radiation levels would be quite a bit elevated. He cited recent North Pole locations in Hudson Bay (60N, 73W the Atlantic Ocean between Iceland and Norway (72N, 10E) and the Yukon (63N, 135W). Cataclysms of the Earth. Antarctica's sandy polar desert, the McMurdo Dry Valleys, has undergone changes over the past decade and the recent discovery of thawing permafrost, thinning glaciers and melting ground ice by a Portland State University-led. Especially for areas already near such an event already. Husky 5 / 5 (2) Sep 12, 2010 even a fast flip, say a few degrees per year is just fast on geological/astronomical timescales, a yearly migrating bird won't miss it's destination continent from that, but may miss an island, i say most birds will. This is why the 'basics' (like an incorrectly used 224 in math) don't describe much. In his books The Earth's Shifting Crust (1958) (which includes a foreword by Albert Einstein ) 11 12 and Path of the Pole (1970 Hapgood speculated that accumulated polar ice mass destabilizes the Earth's rotation, industrial engineering undergraduate thesis causing crustal displacement but not disturbing the Earth's axial orientation.
Retrieved "The Day the Earth Fell Over" at LiveScience Charting Imaginary Worlds: Pole Shifts, Ice Sheets, and Ancient Sea Kings Minds in Ablation Part Five Addendum: Living in Imaginary Worlds More about interpreting ancient maps and ideas of Charles Hapgood. Also bogus I hope. Ancient rock's magnetic field shows that moon once had a dynamo in its core (m) - The collection of rocks that the Apollo astronauts brought back from the moon carried with it a riddle that has puzzled scientists since the early 1970s: What produced the. The fact that there may also be astrology involved has no bearing on the gravity idea.
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Specialty (medicine)
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A specialty in medicine is a branch of medical science, other than general practice. After completing medical school, physicians or surgeons usually further their medical education in a specific specialty of medicine by completing a multiple year residency. Doctors who engage in a medical specialty are known as medical specialists.
The mean annual salary of a medical specialist is $175,011[1] in the US, and $272,000 [1] for surgeons.
Although medical specialists in other countries on average make less than those in the U.S., they also go through fewer years of training, and most, if not all, of their educational tuition and living expenses are funded by the government during these years. In some countries (e.g., Austria, Netherlands)[2], specialty pay as a percentage of GDP per capita actually exceeds the U.S.
Country Salary (USD)
Australia 160,000[3]
Sweden 56,000 [4]
United States 175,000
United Kingdom 215,000[5]
Specialties by country
Australia and New Zealand
Specialty training in Australia and New Zealand is overseen by the specialty colleges:
Specialty training in Canada is overseen by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
United States
There are three agencies or organizations in the United States which collectively oversee physician board certification of allopathic and osteopathic physicians in the 26 approved medical specialties recognized in the United States. These organizations are the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) and the American Medical Association; the American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists (AOABS) and the American Osteopathic Association; the American Board of Physician Specialties (ABPS) and the American Association of Physician Specialists. Each of these agencies and their associated national medical organization functions as an umbrella for its various specialty academies, colleges and societies.
Certifying Board National Organization Physician Type
ABMS AMA Allopathic Only
AOABS AOA Osteopathic Only
ABPS AAPS Allopathic and Osteopathic
All boards of certification now require that physicians demonstrate, by examination, continuing mastery of the core knowledge and skills for their chosen specialty. Recertification varies by specialty between every 7 and every 10 years.
Medical specialties
In this table, medical specialties are organized into the following groups:
• Surgical specialties - the use of manually operative and instrumental techniques to treat disorders.
• Diagnostic specialties, rather examines disorders etc. than directly attempts to cure.
• Neurology - focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with neurological disorders.
Specialty Code Group Subspecialties Description Salary in US[6] ($)
Anesthesiology AN/PAN surgical[7] Pediatrics, Pain management the branch of medicine which deals with anesthesia and anesthetics. 233,400
Orthopedic surgery ORS surgical hand surgery, surgical sports medicine consists of surgery of the locomotor system. 289,000
Otolaryngology ORL or ENT surgical Head and neck, facial cosmetic surgery, Neuro-otology, Laryngology (or otorhinolaryngology or ENT/ear-nose-throat) is concerned with treatment of ear, nose, and throat disorders. The term head and neck surgery defines a closely related specialty which is concerned mainly with the surgical management of cancer of the same anatomical structures. 199,200
Pediatric surgery surgical treats a wide variety of thoracic and abdominal (and sometimes urologic) diseases of childhood.
Plastic surgery PS surgical Cosmetic surgery, Burn, Microsurgery, Hand surgery, Craniofacial surgery includes aesthetic surgery (operations that are done for other than medical purposes) as well as reconstructive surgery (operations to restore function and/or appearance after traumatic or operative mutilation). 317,000 [8]
Surgical oncology SO surgical/Oncology specialty concerned with curative and palliative surgical approaches to cancer treatment.
Urology U surgical Focuses on the urinary tracts of males and females, and on the male reproductive system. It is often practiced together with andrology ("men's health"). 227,200
Vascular surgery VS surgical surgery of peripheral blood vessels, i.e. those outside of the chest (usually operated on by cardiovascular surgeons) and of the central nervous system (treated by neurosurgery).
Transplant surgery TTS surgical
Thoracic surgery TS surgical 376,000 [9]
General surgery GS surgical Cosmetic surgery, Trauma surgery, Colorectal surgery traditionally defined as the specialty of surgery of the skin, endocrine glands, and abdomen (and, sometimes, the mammary glands). In some countries, it is still deemed a prerequisite training prior to progression to training in certain subspecialties, but lately has evolved into its own subspecialty 206,100
Cardiovascular surgery surgical the surgical specialty that is concerned with the heart and major blood vessels of the chest. 470,000
Trauma surgery TRS surgical 298,000
Maxillofacial surgery Maxfacs or OMFS surgical Craniofacial surgery, Head and neck, facial cosmetic surgery, Craniomaxillofacial trauma surgery to correct a wide spectrum of diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region.
Dermatology D or DS other deals with the skin and its appendages (hair, nails, sweat glands etc). 160,800
Emergency medicine EM surgical/Internal medicine branch of medicine that is practiced in a hospital emergency department, in the field (in a modified form — see EMS), and other locations where initial medical treatment of illness takes place. 172,300
Cardiology Internal medicine specializes in disorders of the cardiovascular system and its diseases. The field is commonly divided into subdisciplines dealing with congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology. 251,700
Intensive care medicine Internal medicine or intensive care medicine - concerned with the therapy of patients with serious and life-threatening disease or injury. Intensive care medicine employs invasive diagnostic techniques and (temporary) replacement of organ functions by technical means. This field is often associated with pulmonology.
Endocrinology Internal medicine concerned with the endocrine system (i.e. endocrine glands and hormones) and its diseases, including diabetes and thyroid diseases.
Gastroenterology Internal medicine concerned with the alimentary tract. 202,200
Clinical laboratory sciences Diagnostic specialties the clinical diagnostic services which apply laboratory techniques to diagnosis and management of patients. In the United States these services are supervised by a pathologist. The personnel that work in these medical laboratory departments are technically trained staff, each of whom usually hold a medical technology degree, who actually perform the tests, assays, and procedures needed for providing the specific services. 160,300 [10]
Hematology Internal medicine or haematology (BE) - concerned with the blood, the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases. Hematology is part of oncology in the US, though the disciplines are separate in the UK.
Hepatology Internal medicine concerned with the liver and biliary tract, and is usually a part of gastroenterology.
Infectious diseases ID Internal medicine concerned with the study, diagnosis and treatment of diseases caused by biological agents.
Nephrology Internal medicine concerned with diseases of the kidneys.
Proctology PRO Internal medicine specializes in treatment of disease in the rectum, anus, and colon.
Pulmonology Internal medicine(/intensive care specialty) chest medicine, respiratory medicine, or lung medicine is concerned with diseases of the lungs and the respiratory system. In some countries and areas. Pulmonology is generally considered a branch of internal medicine, although it is closely related to intensive care medicine when dealing with patients requiring mechanical ventilation. 142,900
Rheumatology RHU Internal medicine devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory diseases of the joints and other organ systems, such as arthritis and other rheumatic diseases.
Neurosurgery NS Neurology/surgical Treating central, peripheral nervous system, and spinal column diseases. 300,000-500,000 [11]
Radiology R/DR Diagnostic specialties the use of radiation in medical imaging and diagnosis. X-rays, etc. 186,600
Obstetrics and gynaecology OBS GYN surgical [7] the branches of medicine which deals with female reproductive organs, pregnancy, and childbirth. 260,000 [13]
Ophthalmology OPH surgical branch of medical practice dealing with the diseases and surgery of the visual pathways, including the eyes, brain etc. 222,600
Pathology PTH Diagnostic specialties the study and diagnosis of disease through examination of molecules, cells, tissues and organs. The term encompasses both the medical specialty which uses tissues and body fluids to obtain clinically useful information, as well as the related scientific study of disease processes. 189,000
Pediatrics PD other Like internal medicine, there are many pediatric subspecialities for specific age ranges, organ systems, disease classes, and sites of care delivery. Most subspecialities of adult medicine have a pediatric equivalent such as pediatric cardiology, pediatric endocrinology, pediatric gastroenterology, pediatric hematology, pediatric oncology, pediatric ophthalmology, and neonatology. deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents (from newborn to age 16-21, depending on the country). 120,000[14]
Physical medicine and rehabilitation Neurology[7]/other (or physiatry) is concerned with functional improvement after injury, illness, or congenital disorders.
Oncology ON other devoted to the study, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer and other malignant diseases, and is often grouped with hematology. 180,800
Geriatrics IMG Internal medicine [7] branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis, care, and treatment of function and diseases of the aging patient.
Intensive care medicine other concerned with the provision of life support or organ support systems in patients who are critically ill and who usually require intensive monitoring.
Clinical Neurophysiology Diagnostic specialty concerned with testing the physiology or function of the central and peripheral aspects of the nervous system. These kinds of tests can be divided into recordings of: (1) spontaneous or continuously running electrical activity, or (2) stimulus evoked responses.
Palliative care PLM other a relatively modern branch of clinical medicine that deals with pain and symptom relief and emotional support in patients with terminal illnesses including cancer and heart failure.
Other uses
In the U.S. Army, the term "medical specialist" refers to occupational therapists, physical therapists, dietitians and physician assistants, also known as allied health professionals.
See also
1. 1.0 1.1 ibmdllc.com -Physician income not rising as fast as other professional pay
2. http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/nao_reports/06-07/0607335.pdf p. 38
3. [1] corresponding to 170,000 AUD
4. LÄKARE - Utbildning och arbetsmarknad - Sveriges läkarförbund (Swedish physician association), giving a value corresponding to $6,217 per month
5. (NAO report (HC 335 2006-2007):Pay Modernisation: A New Contract for NHS Consultants in England
6. Annual. Unless else specified in table, then ref is:'Integrated Care' Practices Adjust Pay, Seek New Markets as Budgets Shrink Physician Compensation Report, June, 2002]
7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Regeringen.se - new grouping of the medical specialties
8. mdsalaries.blogspot.com taking the mean values between: Houston, TX: 300.000, Los Angeles, CA: 326,000, Miami, FL: 300,000, New York, NY: 341,000, Seattle, WA: 317,000.
9. aamc.org: Mean of 218,550 to 533,000
10. for an Allergist
11. Salary.com and studentdoc.com
12. New York Times - 2 Lose Pay in Inquiry Into Fertility Clinic. Published: January 22, 1996, calculated as a mean value of the values provided, multiplicated with estimated 9 months per year yields 700,800
13. aamc.org : mean of: 219,000 to 302,192
14. payscale.com
de:Facharzt ko:전문의 id:Dokter spesialis nl:Medisch specialist simple:Medical specialty sv:Specialisttjänstgöring
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Engaging scientists from indigenous communities in genomic data
This is an important news article by Lizzie Wade in Science, covering the Summer Internship for Indigenous Peoples in Genomics: “To overcome decades of mistrust, a workshop aims to train Indigenous researchers to be their own genome experts”.
The internship is a program that provides training and information about genomic research for scientists who are members of indigenous groups around the world. The idea is to bridge the mistrust that has emerged from past interactions, where scientists took samples from communities without sharing anything back.
The article gives some background on the anthropological geneticist Ripan Malhi, who has helped to organize the program. I wanted to share this paragraph describing one of his early career experiences that epitomizes why such an effort is important.
[In Malhi's early career] he kicked off his effort with a lecture at a reservation in Northern California. It was the first time he had spoken with a Native American community, despite years of studying their genetics. Expecting to gather dozens of DNA samples, "I brought a bunch of cheek swabs with me," he recalls. But at the end of his talk on DNA variation and the importance of filling in sampling gaps, the room fell uncomfortably silent. "Then one person stood up and said, ‘Why should we trust you?’" Malhi remembers. "That's a formative memory. I had not learned about anthropologists going to communities, taking samples, and just leaving."
He got no samples that day.
As Kim TallBear, quoted in the article, puts it: “If you’re going to work with Indigenous communities collaboratively on genetics, you have to be willing to make lifelong relations”.
The point is, you cannot engage people as research subjects and then just disappear. The approach of scientists in the past to indigenous groups has been fundamentally exploitative: Scientists went to communities and got samples, then did analyses, published papers, and built careers, but provided no opportunity for research subjects to shape the research, and gave nothing of value back to the people who volunteered their time and genetic information.
Changing that bad history means making real collaborations in which the research subjects have agency and influence on the study design and research questions. I would add something not reflected in this article: Descendant communities should equally have the ability to influence the shape of research on DNA from ancient remains.
This is an article that has many observations and stories worth reading, and I plan to distribute it to my classes. I highly recommend it.
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Exercise is a vital part of the live-by-your-genetic-code equation. Surviving in the Stone Age meant a constant on-the-go lifestyle that probably required 4,000-plus calories a day, according to David L. Katz, MD, director of the Yale University Prevention Research Center. Even most people who hit the gym regularly won't need to eat that many calories, but the principle of using food as fuel to exercise still stands.
In July 2016, a New York Times article on use of Instagram by dieters noted that participants in the Whole30 program had shared over one million Instagram posts using the #Whole30 hashtag, and noted that those sharing the tag were "one of seemingly endless like-minded communities," comparing it with the over 3.5 million posts under the #WeightWatchers hashtag.[11]
For example, although white potatoes were recorded as being available during the Paleolithic era, they are usually avoided on the Paleo diet because of their high glycemic index. Processed foods are also technically off limits due to an emphasis on fresh foods, but some Paleo diets allow frozen fruits and vegetables because the freezing process preserves most nutrients.
The rationale for the Paleolithic diet derives from proponents' claims relating to evolutionary medicine.[22]:594 Advocates of the diet state that humans were genetically adapted to eating specifically those foods that were readily available to them in their local environments. These foods therefore shaped the nutritional needs of Paleolithic humans. They argue that the physiology and metabolism of modern humans have changed little since the Paleolithic era.[22]:594–95 Natural selection is a long process, and the cultural and lifestyle changes introduced by western culture have occurred quickly. The argument is that modern humans have therefore not been able to adapt to the new circumstances.[23] The agricultural revolution brought the addition of grains and dairy to the diet.[24]
That severe carb restriction is meant to keep your body in a state of ketosis, says Alyssa Cohen, R.D. “Ketosis refers to the state of relying on ketone bodies for fuel,” Cohen explains. “Fat is the source used to make ketone bodies, so this diet aims to use fuel from fat, rather than carbohydrates [what our bodies primarily use for energy].” So basically, the keto diet helps you speed up the weight-loss process through fat burning.
To the outside world, though, as Glassman's company has exploded from a cult fitness website to a gym concept primed to have more locations than Curves by the end of 2013, CrossFit can appear risky, unhinged: Here is a fitness routine that has sent people to the hospital, overseen by people who may have had no more than two days of instruction. (Although every real trainer I met had considerable experience and was genuinely excellent, I attended the seminar and passed the test on my fourth day reporting this story. I am, believe me, no fitness savant.) And it's all led by a man who, in a 2006 CrossFit.com comment, wrote, "We have a therapy for injuries at CrossFit called STFU." As in, Shut the f-k up. That's enough to make even the most devoted laissez faire-ists get a little, well, Uncle Pukie.
As long as your salmon is low-mercury and wild (not farmed), you are doing your body good with this high- protein and fat combo. By consuming fat with protein, you give your body extra energy to break it down into amino acids – a key piece of daily digestion. This Whole30 recipe will set you up for smooth sailing the next day – so make it the night before your big morning meeting.
Richard Nikoley has the blog Free The Animal. He loves meat eating. His diet is near paleo, with the addition of some gray-area foods that he likes. These days most of his posts are on food. One recent trend in the paleo community is trying to optimize the proportions of the foods eaten. If you've read my definition you'll know that I simply define the diet as foods in and out. One of Richard's posts: Optimality: A Fool's Errand? has produced a long discussion of this trend.
So rather than a food-related reward for working so hard the last 30 days, why not reward yourself with something you’ve been wanting. This doesn’t have to be something tangible, just whatever you want. Personally, I would love to get some new clothes, food props, or go out on a (kidless) date with my husband. You get the idea, something that appeals to you but that isn’t food. We’re not dogs, we don’t need treats for good behavior.
Wheat Belly: Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight, and Find Your Path Back to Health by William Davis, MD. A renowned cardiologist explains how eliminating wheat from our diets can prevent fat storage, shrink unsightly "wheat belly" bulges, and reverse myriad health problems, like minor rashes and high blood sugar. The author contends that every single human will experience health improvement by giving up modern wheat. The book provides readers with a user-friendly, step-by-step plan to navigate a new, wheat-free lifestyle. Informed by cutting-edge science and nutrition, along with case studies from men and women who have experienced life-changing transformations in their health after waving goodbye to wheat. The author's blog. Published August 30, 2011.
While founders Dallas Hartwig and Melissa Hartwig are adamant in their book and on their website that “you’ve done harder things than this, and you have no excuse not to complete the program as written,” the Whole30 is not for the lazy or noncommittal. Without careful planning, a strong support system and dogged dedication, a business lunch, flight delay or date night can throw you off and send you back to the start. By nature, diets that eliminate entire food groups are tough to follow. On the other hand, it’s only 30 days.
It was within this context that Glassman began ramping up his affiliation program. This was growth without a safety net: Anyone who passed his two-day seminar could apply to open a box, call it CrossFit, and then rush paying customers through squats and snatches or whatever crazy WOD they dreamed up. To Glassman, himself a passionate libertarian, this was the right thing to do: He wants his affiliates to be free to open up a box in a garage or a warehouse or wherever else, and train how they want, and charge what they want. They should have the opportunity he had. He detests supposed experts who say their certification or education makes them better than him or his people. At the end of the day, he believes, the free market will provide all the necessary quality control.
CrossFit programming is decentralized, but its general methodology is used by thousands of private affiliated gyms, fire departments, law-enforcement agencies, and military organizations, including the Royal Danish Life Guards,[27][28][29][30] as well as by some U.S. and Canadian high-school physical-education teachers, high-school and college sports teams, and the Miami Marlins.[14][31][32]
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A comparison of the wild nature of the congo and the civilized atmosphere in europe in heart of dark
In general, the colour white normally has the intension of goodness and pureness while black represents immorality. The tusk is carried out of Africa through the Congo and into Europe through the Thames. The cardinal character is a 30 two twelvemonth old crewman, Charlie Marlow.
The documents are similar in that they both deal with the atrocities being committed in the Congo. No adult male is an island, and no adult male can populate on the island without going a barbarous barbarian.
The contrast between black and white is symbolically important. This, possibly, is the implicit in decision that Joseph Conrad efforts to portray in his disturbing novel, Heart of Darkness. There are several sarcasms throughout the novel.
English 2026
Yet, it is dry that the white work forces who go to Africa and colonise there are the 1s who are dark and brutal. The name Kurtz itself has symbolic significance.
Darkness Essay Research Paper Heart of Darkness
As opposed to the ambiguousness of Conrad and Casement, Williams is very clear about what he is talking about. He also mentions the savage customs of the natives, but fails to mention how the Europeans committed their own evils by enslaving natives and turning them against each other. I think that although all three men tried to make people aware of the problems in the Congo, Williams did the best job of it.
It would make sense that Williams would be more direct when describing the problems in the Congo because, being an African American who was alive during the days of slavery, he would have witnessed more atrocities in his life than Conrad or Casement, and would therefore have a better context to understand and explain the problem without beating around the bush.
As the secret plan opens up, Marlow begins to compare and contrast the Thames River to the Congo. Little did he cognize that in the terminal, his hunt would take him into the deepnesss of his ain psyche.
He concludes that within every adult male lies a bosom of darkness. On the office wall, Marlow catches sight of a colourful map of the universe. An example of the omissions Casement makes can be seen when he says: Therefore, Marlow and Kurtz typify both the visible radiation and dark forces of a individual psyche.Need writing perversity of the congo essay?
Use our essay writing services or get access to database of 91 free essays samples about perversity of the congo. Signup now and have "A+" grades! journey into the heart of darkness.
perversity of the congo Essay Examples
These documents are difficult to compare because one is a comparison of two peoples perspectives and the other is another person’s perspective on what happened in the Congo. When Marlow returns to Europe, he describes its residents as ‘ignorant, sheep like people in the streets’.
• Marlow describes the sound of the African drums beating as ‘a sound weird, appealing, suggestive, and wild’ and then goes on to compare ‘ – and perhaps with as profound meaning as the sound of bells in a Christian country’.
compare and contrast. Heart of Darkness; Congo and Europe in Heart of Darkness; Congo and Europe in Heart of Darkness Essays. A Comparison of the Wild Nature of the Congo and the Civilized Atmosphere in Europe in Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad.
words. 3 pages. Company. Contact. Darkness Essay, Research Paper Heart of Darkness: A Literary Analysis By Nguyen Beyond the shield of civilisation and into the deepnesss of a crude, wild frontier lies the true face of the human psyche. It is in the thick of this savageness and grim danger that mankind confronts the broody nature of.
Human nature is like a coin, it has two sides. Africa was land unknown to white men, but it was no different than Europe: And this also has been one of the dark places of the earth.
It was the white men who disturbed peaceful life of Africa’s inhabitants. are described as the civilized society fighting against uncivilized, inhuman.
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St. Adrian and St. Natalia, Martyrs
Name day of Adrian, Adriana (after the name of the Roman Commander) and Natalia (meaning "natal, native").
The Martyrs Adrian and Natalia were married in their youth for one year prior to their martyrdom, and lived in Nicomedia during the time of the emperor Maximian (305-311). The emperor promised a reward to whomever would inform on Christians to bring them to trial. Then the denunciations began, and twenty-three Christians were captured in a cave near Nicomedia.
They were tortured, urged to worship idols, and then brought before the Praetor, in order to record their names and responses. Adrian, the head of the praetorium, watched as these people suffered with such courage for their faith. Seeing how firmly and fearlessly they confessed Christ, asked: "What rewards do you expect from your God for your suffering?" The martyrs replied: "Such rewards as we are not able to describe, nor can your mind comprehend." St. Adrian told the scribes,"Write my name down also, for I am a Christian and I die gladly for Christ God."
The scribes reported this to the emperor, who summoned St. Adrian and asked: "Really, have you gone mad, that you want to die? Come, cross out your name from the lists and offer sacrifice to the gods, asking their forgiveness."
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The Power of Belief – Mindset and Success
Here is a great talk by Eduardo Briceno, described on the TEDxManhattanBeach website as “The CEO of Mindset Works, an organization he co-founded with Carol Dweck, Ph.D., Lisa Blackwell, Ph.D., and others to equip people with the core beliefs and learning strategies needed for success.”
Below is his talk from that event, which is both inspiring and informative. Transforming students’ experience begins with transforming educator frame of mind. (You can see a graphic explaining difference between growth mindset and fixed mindset here.)
Thanks for Crista Anderson and Angela Stockman for pointing this out to us.
This is a part of our Transformational Learning series and is related to Feedback, Assessment, Student Support, and Reporting.
Fixed vs. Growth Mindsets
Mindset, the seminal book by Carol Dweck, a Stanford University psychologist, unpacks the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset.
In a fixed mindset, the belief is that intelligence is fixed and static. You are smart, or you aren’t. This was the widely accepted theory of cognitive development until a series of experiments in the 50’s and 60’s by UC Berkley professor, Mark Rosenzweig. His work with environmental influences on rats turned the idea of innate intelligence upside down.
In contrast, a growth mindset is the belief that intelligence is dynamic and that the brain changes based on experiences. This theory of growth mindset is supported by research into brain plasticity and has proven to be pivotal in helping students improve their academic achievement. (You can listen to an NPR story about this here.)
Below is an image that illustrates the (generalized) difference in behaviors between people of each mindset.
Image: Nigel Holmes / Graph Content: Carol Dweck
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Roman Gold Ring with Victoria Intaglio
A beautiful ancient Roman gold finger ring featuring a round-section hoop, expanded shoulders and an oval bezel set with a yellow jasper intaglio. The bezel is finely carved with the depiction of the Roman goddess Victoria (Nike in Greek mythology). The deity is pictured in the centre with faint wings and dressed in heavy drapery.
Internal diameter 20 mm. UK ring size I.
Date: Circa 2nd - 3rd century AD
Condition: Fine condition. The intaglio displays some signs of ageing on the surface.
In stock
Product Code: EH-120
Category: Tags: ,
The ancient Romans considered jewellery to be an essential accessory, for it provided a public display of their wealth. Roman jewellery at first followed trends set by the Etruscans, using gold and glass beads, but as the power and spread of the Roman Empire increased, so too did jewellery designs became increasingly elaborate. Different cultural styles from Greece, Egypt, North Africa, and the Orient were all incorporated to reflect Rome’s prosperity as a dominant, conquering city. The wide range of natural resources enabled artisans to create ostentatious jewellery using a diverse selection of materials: this increasingly included sapphires, diamonds, emeralds, garnet and amber from India, and pearls (which were particularly prized). Archaeological finds of Roman jewellery are relatively rare, considering the magnitude of Roman civilisation, and the historical and geographical span of the Empire.
The custom of wearing rings was popular amongst the Romans, and was probably introduced by the Sabines, who are described in early legends as wearing gold rings with precious stones. During the Roman Republic it became customary for all the senators, chief magistrates, and at last for the equites also, to wear gold rings.
According to ancient Roman mythology and religion, Victoria was the personified goddess of victory. It perhaps comes as little surprise, then, that she was one of the most popular deities in ancient Rome. Numerous artistic and architectural dedications to her bear witness to the popularity of the goddess’ cult: Victoria appears widely on Roman coins, jewellery, architecture, and other works of art.
Weight 6.05 g
Dimensions W 2 cm
Semi-Precious Stones
Roman Mythology
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In the last installment of this series, we talked about what “smart contracts” (or, perhaps more accurately, “self-enforcing contracts”) are, and discussed in detail the two main mechanisms through which these contracts can have “force”: smart property and “factum” currencies. We also discussed the limits of smart contracts, and how a smart contract-enabled legal system might use a combination of human judgement and automatic execution to achieve the best possible outcomes. But what is the point of these contracts? Why automate? Why is it better to have our relationships regulated and controlled by algorithms rather than humans? These are the tough questions that this article, and the next, intends to tackle.
A Tale of Two Industries
The first, and most obvious, benefit of using internet-driven technology to automate anything is the exact same that we have seen the internet, and Bitcoin, already provide in the spheres of communications and commerce: it increases efficiency and reduces barriers to entry. One very good example of this effect providing meaningful benefits in the traditional world is the publishing industry. In the 1970s, if you wanted to write a book, there was a large number of opaque, centralized intermediaries that you would need to go through before your book would get to a consumer. First, you would need a publishing company, which would also handle editing and marketing for you and provide a quality control function to the consumer. Second, the book would need to be distributed, and then finally it would be sold at each individual bookstore. Each part of the chain would take a large cut; at the end, you would be lucky to get more than ten percent of the revenue from each copy as a royalty. Notice the use of the term “royalty”, implying that you the author of the book are simply just another extraneous part of the chain that deserves a few percent as a cut rather than, well, the single most important person without whom the book would not even exist in the first place. Now, the situation is greatly improved. We now have distinct printing companies, marketing companies and bookstores, with a clear and defined role for each one and plenty of competition in each industry – and if you’re okay with keeping it purely digital, you can just publish on Kindle and get 70%.
Now, let’s consider a very similar example, but with a completely different industry: consumer protection, or more specifically escrow. Escrow is a very important function in commerce, and especially commerce online; when you buy a product from a small online store or from a merchant on Ebay, you are participating in a transaction where neither side has a substantial reputation, and so when you send the money by default there is no way to be sure that you will actually get anything to show for it. Escrow provides the solution: instead of sending the money to the merchant directly, you first send the money to an escrow agent, and the escrow agent then waits for you to confirm that you received the item. If you confirm, then the escrow agent sends the money along, and if the merchant confirms that they can’t send the item then the escrow agent gives you your money back. If there’s a dispute, an adjudication process begins, and the escrow agent decides which side has the better case.
The way it’s implemented today, however, escrow is handled by centralized entities, and is thrown in together with a large number of other functions. On the online marketplace Ebay, for example, Ebay serves the role of providing a server for the seller to host their product page on, a search and price comparison function for products, and a rating system for buyers and sellers. Ebay also owns Paypal, which actually moves the money from the seller to the buyer and serves as the escrow agent. Essentially, this is exactly the same situation that book publishing was in in the 1970s, although in fairness to Ebay sellers do get quite a bit more than 10% of their money. So how can we make an ideal marketplace with cryptocurrencies and smart contracts? If we wanted to be extreme about it, we could make the marketplace decentralized, using a Diaspora-like model to allow a seller to host their products on a specialized site, on their own server or on a Decentralized Dropbox implementation, use a Namecoin-like system for sellers to store their identities and keep a web of trust on the blockchain. However, what we’re looking at now is a more moderate and simple goal: separating out the function of the escrow agent from the payment system. Fortunately, Bitcoin offers a solution: multisignature transactions.
Introducing Multisig
Multisignature transactions allow a user to send funds to an address with three private keys, such that you need two of those keys to unlock the funds (multisigs can also be 1-of-3, 6-of-9, or anything else, but in practice 2-of-3 is the most useful). The way to apply this to escrow is simple: create a 2-of-3 escrow between the buyer, the seller and the escrow agent, have the buyer send funds into it and when a transaction is complete the buyer and the seller sign a transaction to complete the escrow. If there is a dispute, the escrow agent picks which side has the more convincing case, and signs a transaction with them to send them the funds. On a technological level, this is slightly complicated, but fortunately Bitrated has come up with a site that makes the process quite easy for the average user.
Of course, in its current form, Bitrated is not perfect, and we do not see that much Bitcoin commerce using it. The interface is arguably not as easy as it could be, especially since most people are not used to the idea of storing specific per-transaction links for a few weeks, and it would be much more powerful if it was integrated into a fully-fledged merchant package. One design might be a KryptoKit-like web app, showing each user a list of “open” buys and sells and providing a “finalize”, “accept”, “cancel” and “dispute” button for each one; users would then be able to interact with the multisig system just as if it was a standard payment processor, but then get a notification to finalize or dispute their purchases after a few weeks.
But if Bitrated does get its interface right and starts to see mass adoption, what will that accomplish? Once again, the answer is reduced barriers to entry. Currently, getting into the consumer escrow and arbitration business is hard. In order to be an escrow service, you essentially need to build an entire platform and an ecosystem, so that consumers and merchants operate through you. You also can’t just be the one escrowing the money – you also need to be the one transferring the money in the first place. Ebay needs to have, and control, Paypal, in order for half of its consumer protection to work. With Bitrated, this all changes. Anyone can become an escrow agent and arbitrator, and an Ebay-like marketplace (perhaps CryptoThrift or the upcoming Egora) can have a rating system for arbitrators as well as buyers and sellers. Alternatively, the system could handle arbitration in the background similarly to how Uber handles taxi drivers: anyone could become an arbitrator after a vetting process, and the system would automatically reward arbitrators with good ratings and fire those with bad ratings. Fees would drop, likely substantially below even the 2.9% charged by Paypal alone.
Smart Contracts
Smart contracts in general take this same basic idea, and push it much further. Instead of relying on a platform like Bitfinex to hedge one’s Bitcoin holdings or speculate in either direction at high leverage, one can use a blockchain-based financial derivatives contract with a decentralized order book, leaving no central party to take any fees. The ongoing cost of maintaining an exchange, complete with operational security, server management, DDoS protection, marketing and legal expenses, could be replaced with a one-time effort to write the contract, likely in less than 100 lines of code, and another one-time effort to make a pretty interface. From that point on, the entire system would be free except for network fees. File storage platforms like Dropbox could be similarly replaced; although, since hard disk space costs money, the system would not be free, it would likely be substantially cheaper than it is today. It would also help equalize the market by making it easy to participate on the supply side: anyone with a big hard drive, or even a small hard drive with some extra space, can simply install the app and start earning money renting out their unused space.
Instead of relying on legal contracts using expensive (and often, especially in international circumstances and poor countries, ineffective) court systems, or even moderately expensive private arbitration services, business relationships can be governed by smart contracts where those parts of the contract that do need human interpretation can be segregated into many specialized parts. There might be judges specializing in determining whether or not a product shipped (ideally, this would be the postal system itself), judges specializing in determining whether web application designs meet specifications, judges specializing in adjudicating certain classes of property insurance claims with a $0.75 fee by examining satellite images, and there would be contract writers skilled in intelligently integrating each one. Specialization has its advantages, and is the reason why society moved beyond running after bears with stone clubs and picking berries, but one of its weaknesses has always been the fact that it requires intermediaries to manage and function, including intermediaries specifically to manage the relationship between the intermediaries. Smart contracts can remove the latter category almost completely, allowing for an even greater degree of specialization, along with lower barriers to entry within each now shrunken category.
However, this increase in efficiency is only one part of the puzzle. The other part, and perhaps the more important one, has to do with a topic that many cryptocurrency advocates hold dear: reducing trust. We will cover that in the next installment of this series.
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Changes in the brain chemistry also increases the risk of experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking. As mentioned, alcohol impairs the way in which the brain functions and it can interfere with the way in which it communicates messages and chemical signals around the body. It slows down signal transmissions, which explains why you might experience sedation and sleepiness when intoxicated.
SMART Recovery was founded by Joe Gerstein in 1994 by basing REBT as a foundation. It gives importance to the human agency in overcoming addiction and focuses on self-empowerment and self-reliance.[32] It does not subscribe to disease theory and powerlessness.[33] The group meetings involve open discussions, questioning decisions and forming corrective measures through assertive exercises. It does not involve a lifetime membership concept, but people can opt to attend meetings, and choose not to after gaining recovery. Objectives of the SMART Recovery programs are:[34]
As the brain matures, experiences prune excess neural connections while strengthening those that are used more often. Many scientists think that this process contributes to the steady reduction in gray matter volume seen during adolescence (depicted as the yellow to blue transition in the figure). As environmental forces help determine which connections will wither and which will thrive, the brain circuits that emerge become more efficient. However, this is a process that can cut both ways because not all tasks are desirable. The environment is like an artist who creates a sculpture by chipping away excess marble; and just like bad artists can produce bad art, environments with negative factors (like drugs, malnutrition, bullying, or sleep deprivation) can lead to efficient but potentially harmful circuits that conspire against a person's well-being.
Therapeutic communities, which are highly structured programs in which patients remain at a residence, typically for 6 to 12 months. The entire community, including treatment staff and those in recovery, act as key agents of change, influencing the patient’s attitudes, understanding, and behaviors associated with drug use. Read more about therapeutic communities in the Therapeutic Communities Research Report at https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/therapeutic-communities.
Group counseling sessions– These involve meeting with other recovering addicts in the program. They provide opportunity for sharing life experiences and lessons learned.In so doing, a peer support network develops. Erroneous thinking and walls of isolation are exposed and addressed.3Aftercare– When individuals “graduate” from formal alcohol rehab, they return to the outside world. Oftentimes, it isn’t easy to make this switch. Treatment-energized hope may fade away over time. Day-to-day stresses can take their toll.Ongoing support through 12-Step meetings, personal and group therapies, holistic treatments and other supports are vital. They help to maintain what was learned and practiced in formal treatment.4
Support groups are most useful as a long-term drug rehab program in that they can help hold former addicts accountable years after their treatment is complete. Patients find themselves surrounded by like-minded individuals who are in similar situations like the ones with which the patient is struggling. Many find it easier to discuss issues like temptation and family problems with others who understand.
Antabuse is a bridge between your two lives. On the one hand, you have the life that you know. It's not what's good for you, but it's what you know. On the other hand, you have the life that you want to get to. It's better for you, but you don't know how to live there. You don't know how to relax, reward yourself, and celebrate without using drugs or alcohol. Antabuse helps you live in that life long enough so that you can develop new habits and coping skills.
Alcohol addiction, also known as ‘alcoholism’ or ‘alcohol use disorder’, is a condition that is characterised by drinking alcohol in excess, to the extent that your body eventually becomes dependent on alcohol in order to function on a day-to-day basis. Whilst enjoying the occasional alcoholic drink can, for many people, be a harmless pleasure, it is when alcohol consumption becomes more frequent that it can result in the development of a harmful addiction.
The core of our treatment philosophy centers in a belief that recovery is possible. It happens every day. Treatment is the first major step on a lifelong path of transformation: of becoming the person you’ve always been capable of becoming. The team members at our Pennsylvania drug rehab centers are passionate about educating, empowering and facilitating your first steps on that path.
A program with principles that contradict the patient’s religious beliefs or personal values is unlikely to be effective. For instance, a patient who objects to spiritually-based recovery probably won’t be comfortable at a facility that places a strong emphasis on 12-step programming. When choosing a treatment facility, look for a program that meshes with the individual’s spiritual nature and cultural heritage.
Searidge Drug Rehab leads by inspiration. We stand among Canada’s best alcohol and drug rehab centers, recognized for excellence in evidence-based psychotherapy and a high rate of successful addiction recovery. As a premiere alcohol and drug treatment center, we stand for clinical excellence and groundbreaking treatments. As a proud part of our Nova Scotia community, we stand with our physicians, therapists and staff in providing expert, compassionate care. But above all we stand with our residents, who motivate and inspire us to heal people, every day.
Stress, anger, frustration, self-esteem issues, depression, anxiety, trauma – all of these and more can be overwhelming to a person, driving them to seek relief of any kind from any source. Without positive coping skills to help handle issues, many turn to drugs and alcohol and, with repeated use, they spiral out of control into psychological and physical dependence. How to Get Off Opiates (Heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl) | Recovery 2.0 Protocol
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Sixth Amendment Law and Legal Definition
The Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees a criminal defendant a right to an impartial jury of peers, have a speedy public trial, confront witnesses, be informed about pending charges, and be represented by counsel.
The rights guaranteed under the amendment are not absolute. The right to a jury trial isn't guaranteed in all cases, such as for a petty offense punishable by less than six months. Defendants may choose to represent themselves in court, but the court may deny this choice if they consider that the defendant is incompetent to waive the right to counsel. The defendant must also be permitted to call witnesses in his favor. If such witnesses refuse to attend, they may be compelled to do so by the court at the request of the defendant. However, there are cases when witnesses may be excluded, such as when they are not disclosed for tactical advantage. Also, a trial may be closed to the public in the interest of a narrowly tailored, overriding government interest.
The Supreme Court has never explicitly ruled that some particular time limit must apply top the right to a speedy trial. Some state speedy trial statutes, which vary by state, define a time limit for bringing trial. A reversal or dismissal of a criminal case on speedy trial grounds means that no further prosecution for the alleged offense can occur. Trials must take place in districts specified by statute, which is the place where the offense is charged to have occurred, or where multiple districts are alleged to have been locations of the crime, any of them may be chosen for the trial.
The Sixth Amendment states as follows:
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Tag Archives: Eight Men Out
1919 Black Sox: In Joe Jackson’s Defense
In 1919, the Chicago White Sox were accused of accepting bribes from gamblers to lose the World Series. Though something was definitely up and money did exchange hands, it’s unsure how many of the players were actually involved. But the commissioner at the time, Kennesaw Mountain Landis, operated with a sword rather than a scalpel and banished all of the players from the sport, possibly conspiring with owners to do so. The event was known as the 1919 Black Sox scandal. This is Part II
Thanks to the gift of hindsight, we know a lot more about the situation than Jackson did at the time.
The long and the short of it is that a lot of people who claimed to be working in Jackson’s favor ended up working against him. Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis, White Sox Owner Charlie Comiskey and even Comiskey’s attorney hired for the players, Alfred Austrian. And, eventually, Jackson himself.
Comiskey was a legendary cheap jerk. But all other owners at the time were too, that wasn’t unusual, and the legends of Comiskey’s penny-pinching–docking pay from the players to pay for cleaning clothes–may not have been true.
It should also be known that players had been gambling and losing games intentionally long before 1919:
1877 – After a great run early in the season, the Louisville Grays mysteriously lost seven games in a row. An investigation revealed that gamblers had bought off George Hall, Bill Craver, Al Nichols and Jim Devlin, and National League founder William A. Hulbert banned all four from baseball. The players claimed they threw the games because their owner had failed to meet payroll obligations and begged for forgiveness, but Hulbert would hear none of it and the players were never reinstated.
Up to that point, though, gambling was sometimes swept under the rug because the press about it was embarrassing. There may have even been gambling scandals in 1917 and 1918. So when the 1919 World Series was fixed and the rumors didn’t stop spreading into the 1920 season, it was all that much worse for the National Commission, the governing body for handing out fines and enforcing rules off the field.
After the rumors of the 1919 fix became too loud to ignore, the National Commission was disbanded and a new one created, featuring the NL and AL presidents and a new position, Commissioner, as overseer. Federal judge Kennesaw Mountain Landis was appointed as the new Chairman by the AL and NL presidents and he came in with a bang.
With at least two players having undisputed roles in orchestrating a huge scandal to throw the World Series and the possibility of his entire team–the same team that had just reached the World Series two of the last three years and was competing for the 1920 AL pennant–being kicked out of the sport, he had a lot to lose. But even worse, he could have lost the sport itself, if there was anything mentioned about why they took the money.
So he hired a lawyer for his players in the grand jury. Alfred Austrian. Who was instructed to protect the organization above all else.
If you read that transcript, you can see something’s up.
From the transcript:
Q Did you make any intentional errors yourself that day?
A No, sir, not during the whole series.
Q Did you bay [sic] to win?
A Yes.
Q And run the bases to win?
A Yes, sir.
Q and fielded the balls at the outfield to win?
A I did.
[Ed. note: The second question may have meant “play to win,” unless there’s some crazy 1919 lingo there]
Yep. He claims in his 1920 grand jury testimony that he accepted a bribe before the 1919 World Series to lose and then didn’t actually play to lose. Try to make sense of that.
It gets worse.
In the 1921 trial, Jackson and the rest of the team were acquitted. In 1924, Jackson sued Comiskey for breach of contract for firing him and won. And then, just to make things more confusing, Jackson, in a different 1924 case, claimed to receive the $5,000 after the series was over. Also, Joe was never part of the meetings with gamblers, something his teammates later said in his defense.
Perhaps the strangest turn of all is that the landmark book about the scandal and the trial, Eliot Asinof’s 1963 book “Eight Men Out,” which is one of the reasons Jackson is looked at as one of the conspirators, wasn’t so truthful:
The primary support for Asinof’s claim that they deliberately threw games is in contemporaneous press accounts of the grand jury proceedings, which were based on second- or third-hand, and, in some cases, clearly false information.
Asinof, who writes in great detail about the gambler-fixers, may have, himself, been playing the ultimate bluff. He did not release his research during his lifetime and also suggested in “8MO” that his story was based upon exclusive, never-before-seen evidence.
In reality, the lack of any solid, direct evidence in his notes, as well as the lack of a single footnote in “8MO,” strongly suggests that his story was largely fiction.
Direct evidence, such as “Shoeless” Joe’s performance during the 1919 Series and his repeated denials of wrongdoing, suggest nothing more than Joe’s bad judgment in taking money from his teammate and roommate, Williams, and not being more aggressive and timely in reporting his suspicion of the “fix” to Comiskey, White Sox Secretary (General Manager) Harry Grabiner, or William “Kid” Gleason, the White Sox manager in 1919.
Additionally, Asinof made up a character, Harry F., and cited him as a source. Yeesh, even the accounts of the scandal are scandalous.
Gene Carney, author of “Burying the Black Sox,” which came out two years ago, comes up with two interesting new items. One, that Jackson, at one point, attempted to bring the money to Comiskey and was turned away–something the jury in the 1924 civil case agreed with.
Jackson never did anything wrong in the game. (Or if he did, he was much more subversive about it than his teammates, who admitted to the wrong-doing and made clear mistakes at the plate and in the field.) He hit .375 in the eight games, best of either team, and had the only home run in the seriesHe fielded 30 balls and made no errors.
And in 1949, Jackson told his full story:
Baseball failed to keep faith with me. When I got notice of my suspension three days before the 1920 season ended — it came on a rained-out day — it read that if found innocent of any wrongdoing, I would be reinstated. If found guilty, I would be banned for life. I was found innocent, and I was still banned for life. [Ed. note: He wasn’t found innocent, he was acquitted]
It was never explained to me officially, but I was told that Judge Landis had said I was banned because of the company I kept. I roomed with Claude [Lefty] Williams, the pitcher, one of the ringleaders, they told me, and one of the eight White Sox players banned. But I had to take whoever they assigned to room with me on the road. I had no power over that.
Obviously Jackson is unreliable (pick a reason), but there’s some weird stuff going on here. Landis decided to ban any player with even a whiff of dirt on him–Buck Weaver, sadly, was also made a victim with too little evidence.
Let’s just admit this entire situation was completely insane and Landis may have done the smartest and dumbest thing possible.
So why would Comiskey set up his best player–his $50,000 investment–to confess the entire thing during the grand jury testimony? Why wouldn’t Jackson just take the fifth amendment and call it at that? Why did he admit to it? Why of all players was Jackson on the stand?
Well, that’s the funny part. Jackson wanted to take the stand. He offered to. He was coached on what to say, says Carney, and never mentioned anything about bringing the money to Comiskey or anything.
In all of the information out there, there are two things that are consistent from start to finish:
• Jackson received the money from Lefty Williams
• Jackson played very well in the series
• Jackson wasn’t part of the inner circle and didn’t attend the meetings
Jackson was known for not being bright–almost to the extent that people completely underestimated his intelligence. But the conclusion reached may be as stupid as Jackson thinking he could play as well as he did and keep the money.
Carney comes up with this:
Then we have a bunch of statements from 1925 to the end of his life. He maintained that he played to win. Never tried to cover up the fact that he took and kept “dirty” money. Maintained respect for Commy and also for Landis — as if he understood that the Judge was just doing his job (he was).
Well … there you go. Maybe its just that weird.
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Filed under baseball scandals, MLB history
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Writing a Psychology Research Paper Fast
Writing a Psychology Research Paper Fast
Elements of Good Writing in Psychology
If you were asked to describe three qualities of good writing, what would you say? Definitely, you have to be clear in every word and sentence that you write. You need to know how to express yourself clearly. When your first draft is completed, you can read it aloud to note any slightest inconsistencies in your argument.
How to write a psychology research paper? The secret lies in your ability to build a logical and compelling argument. Remember that you must understand your audience. For example, does your reader have at least the slightest understanding of the topic that you are discussing in your work? Do you need to go into detail to explain the basic principles of statistics? Do not assume that the obvious things are obvious. Try to explain. Try to make it all easier for the reader.
Great Psychology Research Papers Rely on APA
If you were to define good writing, then formatting and style will definitely become a critical aspect of academic writing. Among the most basic 8 characteristics of writing, formatting and style certainly take the lead. You will never manage to produce a brilliant paper if you do not know how to use the basic conventions of APA formatting and style. With the help of APA you will be in a better position to incorporate the ideas that you borrow from external sources into your paper. Standardization is a good thing. How to make a perfect essay? It means that you will follow the logic and style of APA to create an ideal paper that is easy to read and understand.
How to Write a Good Essay in an Exam?
No matter what psychology subject you are discussing in your paper, your task is to balance the contents of your work and the quality of formatting and style. These are the basic elements of effective writing that you must incorporate into your psychology research paper. Create a story. Make it interesting to your reader. Teach a lesson. Provide recommendations for future research.
Practical Tips for Writing a Paper for Psychology
Psychology of Writing – You Have Seen Many of Them Before
When you are talking of the elements of writing style, you rarely mention other issues such as failed computer or the absence of a stable Internet connection. However, these problems can hinder your successes as a psychology writer. At the same time, do not disregard the importance of other elements of writing process.
So, as you are struggling with your psychology paper, begin with a draft. You can’t capture all things together. Therefore, it is better to think of the contents first and then address formatting and style issues. Putting it simply, you begin by writing the information that is relevant to the subject of your paper, without thinking about APA or other elements of style. You will add them later, when you see that the contents of your paper matches the requirements provided for your paper. Do not be afraid of revising your paper. The more revisions you do, the better paper you will produce at the end.
• Whenever you use a term, include a definition. Do not assume that your readers know everything about the topic of your paper. Make it easier for readers to capture the meaning of your words without making them consult a dictionary.
• Do not omit important things. Do not make your readers guess something. Be explicit, rational and reasonable when stating your ideas.
• Try to avoid direct quotes by all means. This is one of the key recommendations provided by contemporary psychology supervisors. Of course, when you feel that the quote is remarkable and fully expresses the meaning of your words, you can include a few directly quoted words. Do not overload your paper with quotes, and do not forget to cite them properly!
• In fact, proper citation and style are the fundamental components of effective writing in psychology. Using proper citations is a must, no matter if you are doing a psychology paper or a paper for any other subject. Do not omit citations. Each and every sentence that you borrow from an external source must have a citation in it!
• If you paraphrase a source but do not include a citation, it means that you are plagiarizing. It is a form of cheating. It is a legal and ethical violation. Do not do it!
• Do not overload your paper with terms and sophisticated words. For example, you do not have to use the word “acknowledge” when you can use the words “recognize”, “admit”, or “see”.
• Do not use too many categorical terms and expressions. For example, if you critique a research study, you do not have to use the words “prove” or “conclude”. Instead, you can use the words “demonstrate”, “suggest”, and so on. Be moderate and modest in your statements.
• Do not use sentences that are too complex. Do not include several clauses in one sentence. Otherwise, your readers will quickly get bored.
• Do not forget about the importance of transitions. Your paper must flow smoothly. You must build a logical argument that moves your reader from one part of your paper to another.
• This is an academic paper, so the use of colloquialisms is strongly discouraged. Never use slang in your papers. Maintain a formal tone in writing. However, do not write your paper as if you are a piece of software. Be flexible but do not violate the basic rules of academic writing.
• It is always better to rely on active voice. Passive voice can be acceptable, but an active voice-paper will sound much more acceptable and fluent.
• Do not use words that assign human qualities to inanimate subjects. For example, do not say that the research project “kills” or “wants” to achieve some purpose.
• It is not acceptable to use the 1st person in writing, except when you are writing a self-reflective piece.
• Monitor your grammar and style. Even the best psychology research paper will become nonsense if you make mistakes in each and every word. Consult the APA manual of style to improve the quality and consistency of your in-text citations. Ask someone to check your paper before you submit it for grading.
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Feb. 03, 2016
Why do successful and distinguished politicians become corrupt? Dr. Amos Schurr of the Guilford Glazer Faculty of Business & Management and the Decision Making and Economic Psychology Center DMEP at BGU and Prof. Ilana Ritov, of the School of Education, and The Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem hypothesized that there could be something in the social context according to which people measure success that promotes dishonesty
Their study was just published in the prestigious PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America).
Dr. Amos Schurr
To test this hypothesis, they invited participants to the lab and let them participate in two ostensibly unrelated experiments. In the first, they let participants compete; in the second they let half the participants (winners and losers alike) throw two dice, and were told they could collect money in an amount corresponding to the number that came up on the dice, while the rest of the money was transferred to another participant who did not throw the dice. Because only those who threw the dice could see the outcome, they could steal money without being caught. If everyone is honest, the mean claim should be seven. If the mean is greater than seven, it’s a sign someone is cheating. Schurr and Ritov found that those who won the competition over claimed and practically stole money from a fellow student while those who lost did not.
Follow up experiments showed that the effect holds only when beating other contestants. For example, when participants had to recall a personal achievement of achieving a set goal or actually meeting a fixed standard honesty prevails.
These findings suggest that the way in which people measure success affects their honesty. When success is measured by social comparison, as is the case when winning a competition, dishonesty increases. When success does not involve social comparison, as is the case when meeting a fixed well defined standard or recalling a personal achievement, dishonesty decreases.
The significance of this research is two-fold: First, honesty and dishonesty are essentially social decisions. Prior to this study, most research on ethicality revolved around personal decisions, while leaving the social context out. The current study contributes to research on ethicality by testing ethicality in a social context. Second, the methodology used to test the hypothesis is also novel and sheds new light on contestants’ ethicality after the competition ends. Although we know much about contestants’ behavior before and during competitions, we know little about contestants’ behavior after the competition has ended. A greater tendency toward unethicality on the part of winners, as our findings indicate, is likely to impede social mobility and equality.
More in: The Washington PostScientific AmericanThe Daily Mail, the Pacific Standard, Jerusalem Post
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Daily Orbit – Voyager 2 at the Edge
Published: 06-16-2009
Views: 10,156
8-21-13: On this episode of the Daily Orbit, Voyager 2 nears interstellar space, Google’s bringing internet to far off places, and scientists create lightning in the lab.
Emerald Robinson: Voyager 2 voyages on. Are scientists hallucinating about the effects of hallucinogens? Google's getting "loony.
" And lightning strikes on the Daily Orbit!
Hello and welcome to the Daily Orbit. I'm Emerald Robinson. Not to be confused with its slightly younger sibling Voyager 1, Voyager 2 emphasis on the 2, is also approaching the interstellar border. Voyager 2 was launched 36 years ago, about two weeks before Voyager 1, and was the first spacecraft to fly by Jupiter back in 1979 and then Saturn two years later. And it made history in 1986 by becoming the first spacecraft to visit Uranus, then again in 1989 by visiting Neptune. Talk about a voyage, these sister spacecraft were very appropriately named. Two is still the only spacecraft to ever have visited Uranus and Neptune to this day. We look forward to more discoveries and adventures. Godspeed Voyager 2!
And a few Earthlings using psychedelic drugs may seem like they're in interstellar space or just plain crazy! But a new study out of Norway looking at a large randomized group of people says that LSD and other hallucinogenic drugs don't increase your risk of mental illness, and in some cases they saw a decrease in mental health issues. So I guess all you kids from the 60s are gonna be ok after all. However, they did emphasize that this was a generalized study, and doesn't rule out negative effects on individuals. Obviously, they've never walked down Hollywood Blvd.
And how appropriate to move on to the latest Google X Project, "Loon.
" Though it may seem like we're still talking about psychedelic drug use, Project Loon's goal is to provide 21st century high-speed broadband to remote areas using balloons. The project involves a network of balloons traveling on the edge of space. They'll float twice as high as airplanes and the weather and people well get connected via special Internet antennas attached to buildings. Tests of the Internet balloon service have already been conducted in California and New Zealand. But the program is not without its opponents, most notable Bill Gates, who argues that poor regions of the world need healthcare and food more than internet connectivity. But Google is moving forward and currently looking volunteers to try out Loon. Anyone out there want to get "loony?
"Looks like our 2014 stellar visitor is going to arrive a little early. Comet Churyumov-Gerasimenko will begin emitting gas and dust earlier than expected, and we should see it from Earth by March 2014. Comets spend most of their life as lumps of ice and rock, but as they approach our neck of the woods, heat from the sun starts to melt the ice and that's when the fireworks start so to speak. ESA's Rosetta spacecraft will place a lander on the comet's surface to accompany it on its journey towards the sun to learn more about unanswered questions concerning comets.
Wait, the comet isn't supposed to be here until March! What was that? Ball lightning. And if you aren't familiar with this phenomenon it consists of a floating, glowing ball that drifts eerily through the sky and then explodes violently. It can be dangerous too -- sometimes injuring people and damaging buildings. This phenomenon has puzzled scientists for thousands of years, from Aristotle to Nikola Tesla. Now, scientists at the US Air Force Academy have successfully recreated ball lightning in a lab to understand more about this fireball. And here is a fun fact: some people believe that ball lightning may behind many reported UFO sightings. We'll let you be the judge!
And that's all for your Daily Orbit.
That's positively electric.
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Throughout human history, our greatest leaders and thinkers have used the power of words to transform our emotions, to enlist us in their causes, and to shape the course of destiny. Words can not only create emotions, they create actions. And from our actions flow the results of our lives.
Anthony Robbins
Hello my friends!
Words can hurt and shock, or they can heal and lift spirits. Words can change lives, for better or for worse. Words are not only powerful, but they can have a last impact.
Be aware of students’ feelings when receiving assessed work back because they can be particularly sensitive to any comments you have written on their work. Giving students face-to-face feedback can be very powerful and productive. Good feedback promotes involvement and shows that the teacher is taking an active interest in the learner. The Great teacher speaks genuinely and listen openly. Spending time with a student means a great deal. Whenever it is feasible turn to them for help. Say thanks. Be on the lookout for even little things the student does that are meaningful to you. Be specific as to what you appreciate. Ask a question. The Great teacher is open to their suggestions. When the student does something positive, acknowledge it. Recognize the positive result.
Bob Greene writes: “A few words though they mean little at the time to the people who say them, can have enormous power. We need to be more aware of the effect that our words might have on someone else. We also need to understand that words we often utter carelessly or while in an emotional state can have a lasting impact. Greene points out that positive words can also have a major influence and can last a lifetime. His story is about a professional writer who was shy and lacked confidence in his childhood. But something happened in his high school English class that changed his life. It was a routine occurrence-his teacher returned a writing assignment to him. He doesn’t even remember what the grade on that paper was, but he does remember the four words she had written on it: “This is good writing.” This was a young man who liked to write and often dreamed of composing short stories, but he lacked the confidence until that day. His teacher’s little note got him to think differently about his abilities, and it was the beginning of a successful career in writing. To this day he believes that it would never have happened without those four words written in the margin of his paper. Greene concluded his article this way: “So few words. They can change everything.”
Great teachers use words of encouragement. And words of encouragement create an atmosphere in which students can thrive!
Love always,
Vassiliki xxxx
Hello my friends!
Teaching is an emotional endeavor. Teachers may experience happiness when students accomplish an important task, frustration when students cannot grasp a concept, disappointment with lack of effort. Teachers try to regulate their emotions because they believe it helps them achieve their goals.
But one factor that is important is the intensity of the experienced emotion. The perceived intensity of anger and frustration episodes was associated with longer duration of the emotion episodes, intrusive thoughts, immediate actions in the classroom and doing something specific to cope. High intensity episodes were associated with changes in teachers’ classroom behaviors and may influence their teaching effectiveness. Teachers who reported high levels of emotions intensity were more likely to endorse the effectiveness of showing negative emotions and had lower levels of teacher efficacy than teachers reporting lower levels of emotion intensity. These high intensity teachers show their emotions more often in the classroom and are less likely to regulate their emotions, they have lower confidence in their skills to manage or teach effectively than low intensity teachers. So, there is a relationship between burnout and emotion regulation, so we will discuss two emotion regulation strategies which are associated with reducing negative emotions. In this course we will consider the following strategies the antecedent-focused strategies and those that are response focused.
Antecedent-Focused strategies
Teachers need to learn about their hot spots and try to develop cool nodes. Keeping an emotion teaching diary may help identify if there are common patterns in timing, situations and antecedents of intense emotion episodes. Once hot spots are identified, teachers can plan to prevent them. For instance, if a hot spot for one teacher is constant talking among students then she may change student seating arrangements to prevent student interactions.
Because teacher’s negative emotions are typically aroused when students misbehave or do not pay attention, teachers can learn to use specific management strategies such as have the class do a quiet activity or redirecting students in order to prevent situations escalating. Teachers report that reflecting during the difficult situations also can help them manage their emotions more effectively. Some teachers use appropriate humor and initiate classroom situations that enhance students’ positive emotions. They can also engage students in discussions about emotions, strategies for emotion regulation and the possible consequences of inappropriate emotion expression in the classroom.
Response-focused strategies
These strategies are characterized by the modulation of experiential, behavioral or physiological emotion responses late in the generation of the emotion response. The most commonly described response focused strategy during the emotion episode is suppression when a teacher tries to keep her face passive and not say anything inappropriate. This is often an ineffective strategy but teachers may find no other immediate alternative. Reducing the physiological response by pausing and breathing deeply is commonly used by teachers. Or stepping back from the situation during the immediate emotion episode and relaxing at the end of a difficult school day. Talking at the end of the day is a good strategy of many teachers.
Here are the 12 steps towards managing your difficult emotions and work stress
1.Make a note of any negative feelings you still have about your teaching role – outside as well as inside the classroom. Take notes of any resentment that you feel towards your school or your employers or your colleagues.
2.Describe your largest work stressor in detail.
3.List two other work stressors you are experiencing.
4.Identify how you respond to your specific work stressors. keep a stress diary, recording what causes you stress, when and where. Learn to recognize your stress signals, your symptoms. For example, When I write a book most of the time I feel anxious about the deadline. My thought is “I will never make it!”, So I work faster, I have headaches and sometimes I work longer.
5.Set specific and observable goals to respond more effectively to your work stressors. Be better prepared for them when they happen. It is better to make changes in one or more of the following areas:
a)You can change your thoughts, for example alter your perfectionist attitude.
b)You can implement healthy stress management techniques for example exercise or relax.
6.Pace and balance yourself
Take minibreaks throughout your day to reduce symptoms of tension and stress. In the following videos I will show you brief combination techniques which they need not take more than a few minutes and the payoff can be seen in increased mental alertness and productivity. Choose leisure activities that balance the unique stresses of your job. For example, as a teacher your job requires much sitting or mental concentration so consider a complementary leisure activity such as aerobic exercise or a school is a controlled environment so you need an activity such as hiking in nature.
7.When one reaches the stage of burnout, there is emotional, physical and mental exhaustion Asking your manager or headteacher for support when you need it can be a vital part of your wellbeing at work. By speaking about your concerns and feelings, your senior may be able to put things in place that will decrease your chances of burnout. Reach out to those close to you when you are feeling depleted. Talking things over is the simplest way to relieve some anxiety. Ask your colleagues, family and friends if they can offer support and guidance. Social support is a recognized way for people to deal with stress.
8.Go home on time. Be sure to get plenty of rest, avoid alcohol and cigarettes and eat properly.
9. Please separate your home life from your school life. Leave work at work. Do not work at home!
10. Be realistic in what you can accomplish compared to what you want to accomplish.
11. Make your class or your workspace more comfortable. Change positions. Achieving a good fit between you and the computer can make you more productive and your work experience more comfortable. Adjust your keyboard when you change posture. Relax and rest your elbows by your torso when you use your mouse. Have an appropriate illumination when reading your books or printed materials.
12.You can reduce your stress levels by laughing which lowers the stress hormones including cortisol epinephrine and adrenaline and strengthens your immune system by releasing positive hormones. Laugh alone when you feel something is funny. Seek out cartoons and comedy films. Look for the funny side of life and share it with your colleagues.
Love always,
Vassiliki xxxx
16 Practical Ideas for students with ADD
Hello my friends!
Thank you very much for your kind emails!!! After twenty years in education (with students who experience dyslexia, reading, spelling, handwriting difficulties, ADD) and counselling, I know that teachers and other educators are VERY BUSY people with many responsibilities. Many teachers emphasized the need for practical ideas easy to implement in the classroom and not overly time consuming.
These practical ideas are for students who have attention disorder difficulties that interfere with their ability to learn:
Discuss the issues involved with your colleagues and ensure that in general you have got their support for the approach to ADD that you are adopting.
Seat the student away from windows and put the student right in front of your desk.
Develop an two-way agreement in the form of a Contract. A two-way agreement specifies precisely how a student will behave or what task the student will accomplish. It also specifies what support a teacher or administrator will provide in order to assist the student in meeting his/her goals. Ask the student to select a reinforcer that he or she would like to earn if the criterion of the agreement is met. Once the student meets the criterion immediately provide the reinforcer. Each week this Contract need to be reviewed. It may be necessary to modify the requirements made in the Contract.
Some students with ADD may need school accommodations. Some accommodations include extended time on tests, shortened assignments, note taking. Provide worksheets with fewer questions and problems. Break long assignments into smaller chunks and do not grade for neatness.
Use timers or verbal cues to show how much time the student has remaining for an activity.
Students with ADD can learn better by listening. You can provide help for students by reading aloud to them or letting them work with partners or in a group.
Keep your instructions simple.
Do everything possible to avoid background noise while working on language activities. Do everything possible to avoid interrupting. Listen intently and show that you have heard and understood. Encourage your student to complete the task and give lots of praise.
Allow student frequent physical breaks to move around, to hand out or collect materials, run errands to the office, erase the board, etc.
Always begin the question with a student’s name. This focuses the student’s attention before you ask the question and keeps him or her “with you”.
Ask both open-ended and specific types of questions.
When a student makes a correct statement students say “Good job.” If the answer is incorrect, someone says “Good try! or Nice try! or You can do it!”
Use a token system to make sure everyone takes a turn answering your questions and no one monopolizes the conversation.
Students with ADD often have poor short-term memories. Strategies can be taught to improve short-term memory and increase concentration span for example, self-discovery techniques or memory aid systems for remembering specific items.
Teach students to organize their materials. Have students color code by choosing one color per subject. Or suggest that students buy Post It flags in each subject color. Graphic organizers can help all students take a step-by-step approach to solving problems and memorizing information. These organizers can be used to solve math problems, arrange historical events in chronological order or complete any sequence of important facts.
It is very helpful if you can give the attention deficit student some responsibilities which that student will manage to achieve. It helps the child improve self-esteem and gain greater understanding of the sequences of cause and effect.
ADD is unrelated to intelligence.
When these strategies are applied more regularly in the classroom, they will benefit not only students with ADD but the entire learning environment.
Love always,
Vassiliki xxxx
The positive side of negative emotions
Hello my friends!
Emotions can influence behavior, but they have other implications, as well. One important function of emotion is to provide information (Schwarz & Clore, 1983). Emotion regulation is driven by epistemic motives when people are motivated to experience emotions to attain certain information. Emotions provide information about oneself and about the world. People are motivated to attain two different types of information about themselves. First, given the need for positive self-regard, people seek out information that enhances their self-images (Rogers, 1951). Second, given the need for consistency and predictability, people seek out information that verifies their self-images (Seann, 1987). When emotional experiences reflect negatively on themselves, people may be motivated to avoid these experiences.
Emotional acceptance refers to the willingness and ability to accept and experience the negative emotion, to acknowledge and absorb it. Acceptance offers several advantages. By accepting your emotions, you are accepting the truth of your situation.
We’re living in a “cultural age that’s decidedly pro-positivity,” MacLellan writes, which makes the “pressure to suppress or camouflage negative feelings” all the more pronounced. In the West (especially in the U.S.) “happiness and positivity are seen as virtues,” MacLellan notes. Anger, fear, resentment, frustration, and anxiety are emotional states that many people experience regularly but try to avoid. And this is understandable—they are designed to make us uncomfortable. These negative emotional states can create extra stress in your body and your mind, which is uncomfortable but also can lead to health issues if the stress becomes chronic or overwhelming. Managing negative emotions means not allowing them to overrun us; we can keep them under control without denying that we are feeling them. A study on emotional acceptance, from the University of California, Berkeley, found that putting pressure on yourself to feel upbeat when you are actually feeling downtrodden or dejected can take a psychological toll. The latest UC Berkeley study reaffirms the benefits of this explanatory style. The researchers found that accepting negative emotions or thoughts in the moment helps individuals avoid catastrophizing or dwelling on temporary negative mental experiences. Research has suggested that acceptance whether it is embracing our good and bad attributes, or accepting the way we look – is associated with better psychological well-being.
Prof. Ford and team sought to determine how acceptance of negative emotions – such as sadness, disappointment, and anger – might influence psychological health. Accepting negative emotions without judging or trying to change them helps people cope more effectively with various types of stress. Negative emotions serve a purpose and have a positive intention. As Ford explains, “acceptance involves not trying to change how we are feeling, but staying in touch with your feelings and taking them for what they are.”
Iris Mauss, an associate professor of psychology at the University of California, Berkeley and director of the Emotion and Emotion Regulation Lab said: “We found that people who habitually accept their negative emotions experience fewer negative emotions, which adds up to better psychological health. Maybe if you have an accepting attitude toward negative emotions, you’re not giving them as much attention. And perhaps, if you’re constantly judging your emotions, the negativity can pile up.”
The researchers found that subjects who reported trying to avoid negative emotions in response to bad experiences were more likely to have symptoms of mood disorders, such as anxiety and depression, 6 months later, compared with those who embraced their negative emotions.
Dr. Ronald Siegel, another psychologist with Harvard Medical School, he discusses proven strategies for cultivating mindfulness and self compassion. He share this insight:
“When we are hurting, when we notice that we’ve had a disappointment, we’ve had a failure, something hasn’t turned out well, which [it] inevitably will. Inevitably, we’ll have these moment of defeat, that we can just be nice to ourselves and give ourselves a hug, feel the feeling of vulnerability, feel the feeling of failure, and trust that that’s okay too, that it’s just part of the cycle and we don’t have to identify with that or believe in it. Because as it turns out, none of us are so great and none of us are so terrible.”
There are several strategies that have been explored and recommended as a means to accepting and processing negative emotions:
Observe your emotions. Remember, you are not your emotions, you are the watcher of your emotions (Tolle, 2010).
Label the emotion you are experiencing.
Acceptance increases your own self-compassion and tolerance for frustration (by Practicing Mindfulness). Feeling with non-judgment and non reaction is healing and a necessary part of the self-growth process.
Re-appraise and re-frame.
Choose your action.
Thank you for reading.
Love always,
Vassiliki xxxx
Feeling Down and Overwhelmed by Life’s Challenges? 19 Steps to End Worrying.
Hello my friends!
Worry is a form of thinking. How we worry can either be constructive or destructive. Worrying is feeling uneasy or being overly concerned about a situation or problem. With excessive worrying, your mind and body go into overdrive as you constantly focus on “what might happen.” Sometimes, a little worry or anxiety is helpful. It can help you get ready for an upcoming situation. But excessive worry or ongoing fear or anxiety is harmful when it becomes so irrational that you can’t focus on reality or think clearly.
Chronic worry and emotional stress can trigger a host of health problems. The fight or flight response causes the body’s sympathetic nervous system to release stress hormones such as cortisol. These hormones can cause physical reactions such as:
Difficulty swallowing
Dry mouth
Fast heartbeat
Inability to concentrate
Muscle aches
Muscle tension
Shortness of breath.
There are 19 steps you can do to stop the pattern of excess worry and live a happier life.
1.Identify your stress situations and what you’re worried about.
2. Make time for Faith. “ The simplicity of our life of contemplation makes us see the face of God in everything, everyone, and everywhere, all the time”. Mother Teresa.
3. Challenge Your Beliefs About Worry.
What is the evidence that the thought is true? That it’s not true?
What’s the probability that what I’m scared of will actually happen? If the probability is low, what are some more likely outcomes?
Is the thought helpful? How will worrying about it help me and how will it hurt me?
What would I say to a friend who had this worry?
4. Practice Realistic Thinking.
5. Write down your worries.
6. Setting aside a certain amount of time (10-15 minutes) each day to consider worries and avoiding thinking about them at other times in the day.
7. Make your worries boring. If there is a specific worry that bothers you often, you can try to make it boring, so your brain will return to it less often. Do this by repeating it in your head again and again for several minutes.
8. Interrupt negative thought loops and replace them with positive ones.
9. Think of how to solve the problem. Knowing what to do if a dreaded event does occur can help reduce the anxiety that develops from an imagined scenario.
10. Think about social influences. Emotions can be contagious. If you spend a lot of time with other worriers, or people who make you anxious, you may want to reconsider how much time you are spending with those people.
11. Accept the Things You Cannot Change.
12. Embrace uncertainty.
13. Try not to isolate yourself. Develop deep relations.
14. Get moving.
15. Take a yoga or tai chi class.
16. Try deep breathing.
17. Meditate.
18. Stay focused on the present.
19. Practice progressive muscle relaxation.
And always remember:
“You’re only here for a short visit. Don’t hurry, don’t worry. And be sure to smell the flowers along the way.” —Walter Hagen.
Love always,
Vassiliki xxxx
What would Christmas be without love?
Hello my friends!
Why can’t we all just love each other? Why do we hate things that are different?
It doesn’t matter who you are, your skin color, sexuality and gender don’t matter. In the end we are all the same!
No matter how different we are, we are bound to each other by love. And where there is love ,nothing else matters! ❤️
Love always,
Vassiliki xxxx
2 tips to stop negative thinking
Hello my friends!
What are the typical ways in which you respond to the triggers you experience? When faced with a difficult situation, emotion, or decision, do you get caught up in thoughts that seem to seize control of your mind—for example, anxious, fearful or angry thoughts?
1. The key to changing your negative thoughts is to understand how you think now (and the problems that result) and then use strategies to change thoughts or make them have less effect.
Here is a more detailed explanation of the A-B-Cs of the systematic-thought-evaluation process, which lies at the core of CBT:
A—activating event: This refers to the objective situation or external stimulus—the event, occurrence, or specific incident— that triggers a cognitive response in the first place.
B—cognitive response: This refers to how you interpret and come to some conclusion—thoughts often manifested in the form of self-talk—about that event. This necessarily is a reflection of your personal belief system and the particular habit patterns of thought you have adopted and use instinctively every day.
C—emotional reaction: This refers to the distressing feelings that the thoughts in B automatically generate.
Research shows that you can rewire your brain to your advantage. This will lessen the possibility of ever experiencing a serious depression, or, should you have a relapse from a current situation, the odds are favorable it will be less intense and of shorter duration. It also shows you can rewire your brain to recover from traumatic brain injuries of various kinds. This ongoing research falls under the promising new science called neuro-plasticity. Neuroplasticity – or brain plasticity – is the ability of the brain to modify its connections or re-wire itself. Without this ability, any brain, not just the human brain, would be unable to develop from infancy through to adulthood or recover from brain injury.
In Stronger, George S. Everly Jr., Douglas A. Strouse, and Dennis K. McCormack compare humans undergoing stress and experiencing resilience to a rubber ball: In order to make it bounce back, you must put it under great pressure. The greater the pressure, the higher the ball will bounce back. Now to be clear, it’s not the pressure itself that causes the ball to bounce, but the construction and attributes of the ball under pressure. It’s what the ball is made of that really matters. The pressure serves as a catalyst for the rebound. We are like that rubber ball. Our character and attributes—our mental and emotional construction—determine how quickly and easily we will bounce back when challenges apply pressure to our life. And, yes, we can bounce back. Research on resiliency concludes that each person has an innate capacity for resiliency, a self-righting tendency. This capacity operates best when we have resiliency-building conditions in our life, but everyone, even those who grew up with hardships or who have dealt with prolonged or recurring stress, can harness their ability to bounce back.
One strategy that can help improve your outlook is to remind yourself of other challenges you’ve already faced and overcome. Writing down what you’ve learned about yourself from previous, difficult experiences, for example, how you’ve grown or what you’ve accomplished since, or perhaps even because of, a life crisis will empower you with belief that you can triumph in the face of adversity. Thought diaries help you to identify your negative thinking styles and gain better understanding of how your thoughts (and not the situations you are in) cause your emotional reactions.
2. Learning to manage emotions and choose your thoughts through techniques such as yoga or meditation or by practicing mindfulness will empower you to maintain the perspective that you can survive or overcome. Research from Prof. Mark Williams from Oxford University showed that when difficulties arise in life many of us tend to get caught up in excessive unhelpful thinking. Sometimes people try to stop constant unhelpful thinking but we don’t have to try to stop our thoughts. A more effective way to ease all that internal noise, Prof. Williams teaches, is to pay attention to our direct sensory experience. In this way there’s simply little to no room left in our attention for all that excessive thinking. Coming to our senses calms the mind and grounds us in the present moment. To do this simply redirect your attention out of the thoughts in your head and bring your focus to your sense perceptions. Whether you’re in your home, at the office, in the park or on a subway, notice everything around you. Use your senses to their fullest. Don’t get into a mental dialogue about the things you see, just be aware of what you’re experiencing in this moment. Be aware of the sounds, the scents or the sensation of the air on your skin.
Love always,
Vassiliki xxxx
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Carpetbagger was the pejorative term applied to Northerners who moved to the South after the Civil War, specifically those who joined state Republican parties formed in 1867 and who were elected as Republicans to public office. Southern Democrats immediately saw that the newcomers were corrupt and dishonest adventurers, whose property consisted only of what they could carry in their carpetbags (suitcases made of carpeting), who seized political power and plundered the helpless people of the South. This assessment of the carpetbagger became standard in late-nineteenth-century histories and retains its currency among some historians today. Since the 1950s, however, revisionist historians have challenged the validity of the traditional view and assessed the carpetbaggers more favorably. [Ed. note: It is a well-known maxim of war that ‘to the victor go the spoils.’ The victor in the War for Southern Independence has claimed, as part of his spoils, the right to record and enforce his point of view as the official and accepted history of the war.]
The Reconstruction Act of 1867 placed Southern governments under military rule. The South was divided into five military districts, each run by a general in the U.S. Army. The five districts were (1) Virginia; (2) North and South Carolina; (3) Georgia, Alabama, and Florida; (4) Mississippi and Arkansas; and (5) Texas and Louisiana. Tennessee was the only prior Confederate state that was not placed under military rule. Around 200,000 troops were placed in the South to enforce military rule.
Thousands of government officials were removed from office in the South and replaced with military commanders. Different commanders ruled in different ways. Some were very good at their jobs, and some were not. They had very few restrictions. They could be cruel and unfair and get away with it. It was a very harsh time for the population in the South.
One thing all military commanders did because they were told to do so by Congress was to place former slaves in positions in government. These former slaves knew nothing about government or money. They were not trained for their jobs. Nearly all were puppets under the control of army officials. The reaction was the KKK.
Military rule in the South lasted for 10 years, until 1877, when the Republican party agreed to return Southern states to home rule in exchange for their support of the Republican candidate for president, Rutherford B. Hayes.
A Texas Elementary School Speech Pathologist Refused to Sign a Pro-Israel Oath, Now Mandatory in Many States — so She Lost Her Job
This map compiled by Palestine Legal shows how pervasive various forms of Israel loyalty oath requirements have become in the U.S.; the states in red are ones where such laws are already enacted, while the states in the darker shade are ones where such bills are pending:
A children’s speech pathologist who has worked for the last nine years with developmentally disabled, autistic, and speech-impaired elementary school students in Austin, Texas, has been told that she can no longer work with the public school district, after she refused to sign an oath vowing that she “does not” and “will not” engage in a boycott of Israel or “otherwise tak[e] any action that is intended to inflict economic harm” on that foreign nation. A lawsuit on her behalf was filed early Monday morning in a federal court in the Western District of Texas, alleging a violation of her First Amendment right of free speech.
The child language specialist, Bahia Amawi, is a U.S. citizen who received a master’s degree in speech pathology in 1999 and, since then, has specialized in evaluations for young children with language difficulties (see video below). Amawi was born in Austria and has lived in the U.S. for the last 30 years, fluently speaks three languages (English, German, and Arabic), and has four U.S.-born American children of her own.
Amawi began working in 2009 on a contract basis with the Pflugerville Independent School District, which includes Austin, to provide assessments and support for school children from the county’s growing Arabic-speaking immigrant community. The children with whom she has worked span the ages of 3 to 11. Ever since her work for the school district began in 2009, her contract was renewed each year with no controversy or problem.
But this year, all of that changed. On August 13, the school district once again offered to extend her contract for another year by sending her essentially the same contract and set of certifications she has received and signed at the end of each year since 2009.
She was prepared to sign her contract renewal until she noticed one new, and extremely significant, addition: a certification she was required to sign pledging that she “does not currently boycott Israel,” that she “will not boycott Israel during the term of the contract,” and that she shall refrain from any action “that is intended to penalize, inflict economic harm on, or limit commercial relations with Israel, or with a person or entity doing business in Israeli or in an Israel-controlled territory.”
Flags Of Texas
The first official flag of the Republic of Texas, designed by General Lorenzo de Zavala, adopted by the Convention held at Washington-on-the-Brazos, May 11, 1836, shortly after the victory at San Jacinto. This flag had a blue field with a white five-pointed star in its center. Around the star were the letters T-E-X-A-S. This flag, along with the Burnet Flag, served as a national flag of Texas until the current state flag was officially adopted as the then national flag by the Third Congress of the Republic of Texas held in Houston on January 21, 1839 and signed into law by President Mirabeau B. Lamar on January 25, 1839. Source: C. E. Gilbert in “A Concise History of Early Texas: As told by its 30 historic flags.”
Legislation authorizing this flag was introduced in the Congress of the Republic of Texas on December 28, 1838, by Senator William H. Wharton and was adopted on January 25, 1839, as the final national flag of the Republic of Texas
First Confederate National flag with 7 stars (March 4 – May 21, 1861)
Flag of the Confederate States of America (November 28, 1861 – May 1, 1863).
The Confederate Army of Trans-Mississippi Flag. This flag was used by Richard Taylor’s Army.
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Antibiotics: Exemplars
Terms in this set (40)
- possible contraindications of precautions: known allergy (obtain specific information about the nature and occurrence of allergic reactions); history of liver disease; history of renal disease; and current pregnancy or lactation status
- physical assessment baseline
- skin for rashes or lesions
- specimens for C&S testing from site of infection
- temperature
- orientation, affect, and reflexes
- liver and renal function test values
- baseline ECG
check C&S reports to ensure right drug is being used
monitor hepatic and renal fx tests before therapy to reduce dose as necessary
ensure pt receives full course of abx as prescribed to eradicate infection and prevent resistance
ensure pt swallows tablet whole - do not cut, crush, or chew - to ensure therapeutic dose
monitor site of infection and presenting s/sx (e.g., fever, lethargy, urinary tract s/sx) throughout tx as failure of these to resolve may indicate need for reculture
arrange to continue drug therapy for at least 2 days after all s/sx resolve to prevent resistance
provide small, frequent meals as tolerated to ensure adequate nutrition w/ GI upset
provide frequent mouth care and ice chips or sugarless candy for relief of discomfort if dry mouth is present
provide adequate fluids to replace fluid lost w/ diarrhea
ensure ready access to bathroom facilities in case of diarrhea
institute safety measures to protect from injury in case of CNS effects
arrange for appropriate tx of superinfections as needed
provide pt teaching:
- take safety precautions, including changing position slowly and avoiding driving and hazardous tasks, if CNS effects occur
- try to drink a lot of fluids and maintain nutrition (very important) even though N/V/D may occur
- report difficulty breathing, severe headache, severe diarrhea, severe skin rash, and mouth or vaginal sores
- pt response to drug (resolution of bacterial infection)
- adverse effects (orientation and affect, GI effects, superinfections)
- effectiveness of teach plan (pt can came drug, dosage, possible adverse effects to expect, and specific measures to help avoid adverse effects)
- effectiveness of comfort and safety measures and compliance w/ regimen
very sensitive to the GI and CNS effects w/ more severe reactions
- monitor the hydration and nutritional status closely w/ drug-induced diarrhea, anorexia, N/V
- monitor for superinfections such as thrush that make eating and drinking difficult
many abx do not have proven safety and efficacy in pediatric use and extreme caution should be used
- fluoroquinolones are damaging to developing cartilage
- tetracyclines have adverse effects on growing bones and teeth
pediatric dosages of antibiotics should be double-checked
abx tx of ear infections is controversial w/ current research suggesting use of decongestants and anti-inflammatories may be just as successful w/o the risk of developing resistant strains
parents, not wanting to see their child sick, may demand abx as a cure-all whenever their child is fussy or feverish so parent education is important
many believe abx are a cure-all so it is important to explain abx are only useful against specific bacteria and can cause problems when used unnecessarily for viral infections such as the common cold
need to be cautioned to take entire course of med as prescribed and not to store unused pills for future infections or share abx
pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take abx unless benefit clearly outweighs potential risk to fetus or infant
- tetracyclines cause pitting of enamel in developing teeth and calcium deposits in growing bones
many abx interfere w/ the effectiveness of hormonal contraceptives and women of childbearing age should be advised to use barrier contraceptives
often don't present w/ the same s/sx of infections so assessing problem and obtaining appropriate specimens is especially important
may be more susceptible to adverse effects from abx tx
- monitor hydration and nutritional status closely
- assess the need for safety precautions w/ CNS effects
if hepatic or renal dysfunction is expected (e.g., very old, alcohol dependency, taking hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic drugs) the dose may need to be lowered and the pt should be monitored more frequently
caution to complete the full course of drug therapy even when they feel better and not to save pills for self-medication in the future
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Establishing That the Internet is a Privilege, Not a Right
digital parentingSomething that parents need to establish with their children early is that using the Internet is a privilege, not a right. This is important because if kids get too accustomed to and reliant on the Internet, it will be harder to end their privilege to it if they go against the rules.
In order to practice digital parenting, there has to be set rules that children understand and abide by. These rules vary on a case-by-case basis, but they should require open conversation between children and their parents concerning their activity on the Internet. When the rules are set, parents have to be ready to remove the Internet privilege if their child breaks the rules. It's not just to keep children safe from cyber threats, but also a life-long lesson that they can't take shortcuts and cheat the system.
A recent Huffington Post article explains why using the Internet is a privilege for children, and not a right. According to the article, parents should set clear boundaries as to what their children can and can't do on the Internet:
“Using the Internet and having a cell phone are privileges, not rights. Teenagers need to understand that when they abuse their privilege there will be consequences. From the moment they give their child any form of technology, parents have to be clear on what the boundaries are and what the consequences will be.”
Social media should be the first item on a parent's list when discussing boundaries. Every month, there's new apps and social media platforms that reach children first before their parents. By the time a parent hears about it in the news, it may be too late and the app may have already done its damage.
Children should be upfront and transparent when telling their parents what apps they use and who they communicate with. This will save a lot of confusion and frustration down the line in case the child's devices are being monitored.
3 Ways to Protect Your Teen From Her Selfie
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Liver Health | CATIE - Canada's source for HIV and hepatitis C information
A Practical Guide to a Healthy Body for People Living with HIV
Liver Health
The liver truly is a vital organ: You can’t live without it. The largest solid internal organ in the human body, it works around the clock to perform more than 500 functions. It metabolizes and stores nutrients from the food we eat. It helps process the medications we take. It removes waste products from our blood, breaking down and detoxifying harmful substances. It regulates our hormones, builds proteins needed by the immune system and helps fight infections, among other things. So it’s well worth it to do what we can to help this powerhouse work smoothly.
If you are living with HIV, especially if you are on antiretroviral therapy (ART), it’s a good idea to have your liver health checked regularly by your doctor or nurse practitioner. That’s because some medications, including some HIV meds, can strain the liver. Also, liver problems are sometimes silent, so many people who have a liver problem initially experience few symptoms or none at all. A person can live with liver disease for years without knowing it. By understanding what can harm and what can help your liver, you’ll see that there is much you can do to protect it.
Risk factors for liver problems
Liver injury has many possible causes, including:
• hepatitis A, B, C, D or E
• heavy use of alcohol and/or recreational drugs
• overuse of acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• repeated use of antibiotics
• some medications, including some HIV meds
• poor diet
• exposure to harmful chemicals
• higher-than-normal triglyceride levels
• having a history of life-threatening infections, such as MAC (Mycobacterium avium complex), tuberculosis or CMV (cytomegalovirus)
• lymphoma
• liver conditions such as Wilson disease, Gilbert’s syndrome and primary biliary cirrhosis
Although the liver is generally up to the job of breaking down, or metabolizing, medications, some HIV meds can cause liver injury, especially in people who are co-infected with hepatitis viruses. In particular, nevirapine (Viramune) and abacavir (Ziagen, also in Kivexa, Trizivir and Triumeq) can produce an allergic (hypersensitivity) reaction in some people that can harm the liver. Other antiretrovirals that have been known to cause liver problems in some people include efavirenz (Sustiva), tipranavir (Aptivus) and darunavir (Prezista). While it can be toxic to the liver in larger doses, in the lower doses commonly prescribed to boost other protease inhibitors, ritonavir (Norvir) is much less likely to result in liver injury.
In addition to these risk factors, people who are overweight tend to be at higher risk for developing liver problems.
Because of the risk of severe liver injury (hepatotoxicity) from nevirapine, anyone who starts taking this HIV drug should have their liver health monitored frequently during the first 18 months of therapy, and then every three to four months for as long as test results remain normal.
To reduce the risk of nevirapine-associated liver problems, a lower dose is typically prescribed for the first two weeks that a person takes it. After that, if there are no symptoms and if test results indicate no problems, the dose is increased.
Fatty liver
Another type of liver disease that some people with HIV develop is called fatty liver. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)—a term used to differentiate it from the fatty liver that can develop as the result of alcohol consumption—is fairly common among people on ART. With this condition, large amounts of fat gradually build up in liver cells. Often this buildup doesn’t cause harm. However, in a small proportion of people with NAFLD, progressive inflammation of the liver may occur and result in serious scarring (cirrhosis of the liver). Eventually, the cirrhosis caused by fatty liver can become so severe that the liver no longer functions properly (liver failure).
Diagnosing liver damage
Unfortunately, many people remain unaware that they have liver disease until they develop symptoms and feel unwell.
Symptoms that could indicate liver damage include:
• dark (tea-coloured) urine
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin or whites of the eyes)
• light-coloured or bloody stool
• persistent nausea and/or vomiting
• flu-like symptoms (fever, aches, pains, feeling generally unwell)
• pain or tenderness on your right side below your ribs
• abdominal pain
• unusual fatigue or weakness
• loss of appetite
• itchy skin
• swollen ankles and feet
Signs and symptoms that could indicate a drug hypersensitivity reaction (which can harm the liver) include:
• a rash, particularly if it is severe or accompanied by fatigue
• gastrointestinal symptoms (including nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or belly pain)
• fatigue, lack of energy, weakness
• respiratory symptoms (sore throat, shortness of breath, cough, unusual findings on X-rays of the chest)
• mouth sores
• “pink eye” (conjunctivitis)
• swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, lower legs
• the liver damage symptoms previously listed
If you experience any of these symptoms at any time, particularly during the first eight weeks of HIV treatment, notify your doctor immediately.
Your doctor may recommend blood tests to determine whether an HIV medication you’re taking should be discontinued. If a medication has to be discontinued due to a hypersensitivity reaction, it can never again be used because a fatal reaction could occur within hours.
Various blood tests can help assess liver damage or inflammation. A bilirubin test is a blood test that measures how well your liver is clearing the waste product bilirubin. Other tests measure the levels of certain liver enzymes. The liver uses enzymes to get rid of the waste produced by your body and by the breakdown of drugs, alcohol and other toxins. When the liver is stressed, blood tests may show high levels of certain enzymes, such as:
• AST (aspartate aminotransferase)
• ALT (alanine aminotransferase)
• GGT (gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase)
• ALP (alkaline phosphatase)
• LDH (lactic dehydrogenase)
If you take HIV medications, you should have your liver enzymes monitored regularly. It is especially important that people who already have some liver damage—due to hepatitis, for example—get regular blood tests. In this way, any drug causing problems can be discontinued and other problems causing liver damage can be addressed. (Abnormally high enzyme levels can sometimes be caused by problems other than liver disease, so the test results need to be interpreted carefully.)
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease usually causes no obvious symptoms, but when it does they include fatigue, pain in the upper right abdomen and unintentional weight loss. Diagnosis can involve liver enzyme tests, imaging tests and sometimes liver biopsy.
How to protect your liver
Because a healthy liver is so important to your overall health, and it will help you handle antiretroviral therapy over the long term, detoxifying and repairing it is one of the best things you can do for your long-term health. To prevent or repair liver damage, try to eliminate as many sources of toxicity as possible.
Cut down or eliminate your use of alcohol and street drugs
Heavy drinking can be toxic to the liver. Consuming too much alcohol can cause fatty liver and other forms of liver damage. If you already have some liver damage, the risk from alcohol is greater. In people with hepatitis C, a high alcohol intake has been tied to an increased risk of cirrhosis, more advanced liver fibrosis and a higher rate of death. Try to limit your alcohol consumption to no more than one drink per day, or avoid it altogether.
Quit smoking
Tobacco smoke contains hundreds of extremely toxic chemicals that the liver must try to break down. For someone who already has liver problems, continuing to smoke adds another burden to a liver that is already struggling. Easier said than done but if you can quit smoking, you’ll be doing your liver a big favour.
Eat healthy
Eating a healthy diet helps keep your liver healthy. Cut out junk foods and drinks that are loaded with chemicals and sugar that the liver will have to detoxify. Limit the amount of fat you eat. Another way to give your liver a break is to limit the amount of sugar and fructose you consume.
Get vaccinated against hepatitis A and B
Hepatitis A and B are liver diseases caused by the hepatitis A and B viruses. There are vaccines that can protect you from these viruses. Some people from high-risk groups can get the vaccines free of charge. Talk to your doctor for more information. (To learn more about viral hepatitis, visit www.catie.ca/en/hepatitis-c/key-messages/abcs.)
Avoid activities that carry a risk of hepatitis C
If you inject drugs, avoid sharing needles, syringes, filters, alcohol swabs, water and cookers. If you smoke or snort drugs, avoid sharing crack pipes, straws and bills. Because Hep C can also be passed when people share personal items that could have blood on them, such as razors, nail clippers and toothbrushes, it’s also a good idea to avoid sharing these items. During sex, avoid sharing sex toys or other objects that may have someone else’s blood on them. (To learn more about hepatitis C, visit www.catie.ca/en/basics/hepatitis-c.)
If possible, avoid being exposed to chemicals, or reduce your exposure
In the workplace and elsewhere, avoid being exposed to chemical fumes and vapours, such as gasoline, solvents, pesticides and herbicides. Or reduce your exposure by wearing an appropriate face mask.
Avoid taking antibiotics unnecessarily
Some antibiotics can be toxic to the liver. Antibiotics are overused in our society and sometimes prescribed and taken in situations where they will have no effect. You should, of course, take antibiotics if you have a real need, but they shouldn’t be used for a cold or flu or other infection that is caused by a virus for which an antibiotic will do nothing.
Use acetaminophen with caution
Acetaminophen (Tylenol) overdose is the most common cause of acute liver failure in North America, and alcohol consumption can substantially increase the risk. If you consume alcohol regularly, some experts strongly recommend that you take no more than 1,000 to 2,000 mg of acetaminophen per day and for only a few days at most. That means taking no more than two to four extra-strength pills in a 24-hour period.
Acetaminophen is an active ingredient in more than 200 medications, including many popular over-the-counter headache and cold remedies (such as Dayquil, Buckley’s and NeoCitran). It’s also in some common prescription drugs (such as Percocet and Tylenol 3). To protect the liver, avoid combining acetaminophen-containing products. Talk to your pharmacist for help reading labels.
If you take acetaminophen, do not exceed the maximum daily recommended dose on the label. You might also consider taking N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) to decrease the risk of liver injury. Talk to your doctor about ways to prevent any negative effects from acetaminophen.
Go for a “brown bag” checkup to review your drugs and supplements
Gather all of the prescription medications, over-the-counter meds and supplements you’re taking and bring them to your doctor’s appointment to determine if anything could cause liver problems and, if so, if you should switch to another drug or supplement. At that time your doctor can also assess whether there’s a possibility of drug interactions. It is possible that drugs that would normally cause no problems when taken alone might interact with one another and cause toxicity.
You might want to also do a “brown bag” checkup with your pharmacist. He or she will look at everything you’re taking to check for possible interactions or other problems. Do not change your HIV meds unless your doctor advises you to do so.
Eat foods that support the liver
A well-balanced diet that includes fruits and vegetables, whole grains and good sources of protein and fats supports your liver by providing it with the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
Consuming a variety of colourful fruits and vegetables provides the body with antioxidants, which protect the liver. Tea, coffee and dark chocolate are also loaded with antioxidants. Research suggests that polyphenols in green and black tea may help protect the liver from toxins and may help prevent liver cancer when two to four cups of tea are consumed daily. Coffee also contains high levels of antioxidants. If you can, stick to organic coffee because non-organic coffee is one of the crops most heavily sprayed with pesticides, and pesticides are filtered by the liver.
Fruits, vegetables and whole grains are a valuable source of fibre. Fibre can help bind toxins in the intestines and then speed their elimination through the bowel, thereby reducing the liver’s detoxification workload. Taking fibre supplements like psyllium or oat bran can add to your fibre intake.
Certain fruits, vegetables, fatty fishes and other foods are also a source of powerful natural anti-inflammatories. These foods can help reduce the inflammation that can contribute to liver damage.
The good fats from olive oil, nuts and seeds, avocados and wild-caught fish are easier for the liver to process and help the liver to create healthy cell membranes around its cells. On the other hand, bad fats like trans fats place a heavy burden on the liver.
If possible, choose organic foods because they do not contain the pesticides that are sprayed on many fruits, vegetables and grains or the antibiotic residues found in non-organic meats, eggs and farm-raised fish. Organic foods tend to be more expensive and many people can’t afford the higher prices. But if you can afford to buy organic occasionally, you might want to buy those fruits and vegetables that tend to be the most heavily sprayed with pesticides. These are sometimes referred to as “the dirty dozen”: apples, celery, bell peppers, peaches, strawberries, nectarines, grapes, spinach, lettuce, cucumbers, blueberries and potatoes.
Finally, be sure to drink plenty of water to help flush out toxins after they have been processed by your liver.
Avoid foods that could harm the liver
If you have fatty liver, reducing your intake of fructose may help. High-fructose corn syrup (also called glucose/fructose syrup) is a major source of fructose. White sugar, or what is commonly referred to as table sugar, contains 50 percent fructose and 50 percent glucose.
Of the 40 kilograms of sugar consumed by the average Canadian each year (that’s about 26 teaspoons each day), only a small fraction comes straight from the sugar bowl. The vast majority comes from commercial foods such as soft drinks, ice cream, cakes, cookies, chocolate bars and breakfast cereals. Significant quantities are also found in cold cuts, relishes, canned soups and vegetables, mayonnaise-like spreads, salad dressings, ketchup and many commercial breads. So, to cut down your intake of sugar/fructose, you will have to read food labels carefully.
When you read labels, remember that all of these are sugars: corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, glucose/fructose syrup, sucrose, glucose, fructose, dextrose, maltose, evaporated cane juice, cane sugar, beet sugar, maltodextrin, corn sugar, barley malt, caramel and carob syrup. If you see several of these on the same label, you know that the food is loaded with sugar!
For people with moderate or severe liver disease, certain dietary restrictions may be necessary. A low-sodium diet is recommended for anyone who has advanced liver disease that has resulted in an abnormal accumulation of fluid. The more the salt intake can be reduced, the better the chances of avoiding this excessive fluid accumulation. In general, liver experts recommend limiting sodium intake to only 500 to 1,000 mg daily. This will require reading food labels carefully. You will want to avoid most prepared foods, which are high in sodium, and choose more fresh foods, as they contain little sodium. Your doctor will be able to determine whether you need to restrict your sodium intake.
The amount of protein you consume might need to be limited. When protein is broken down in the body, one of the byproducts is ammonia. A damaged liver cannot process ammonia as well as a healthy liver can. An overload of ammonia can result in a serious brain condition called encephalopathy, which can affect your ability to think clearly and remember. The exact level of protein intake that is desirable for you will depend on the condition of your liver. Your doctor will be able to determine whether you need to restrict your protein intake.
People who are co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C should avoid high levels of iron. Some iron is good but too much can cause iron overload. This is especially true for people who have had a liver biopsy that showed an abnormal accumulation of iron in the tissue. A daily intake of antioxidants may make iron less problematic. But since it is not known exactly when and in whom iron will be a problem, eliminating excessive iron from your diet appears to be a good idea if you are co-infected with HIV and hepatitis C.
Treat liver-damaging infections and cancers
Liver injury can also be caused by certain infections and certain kinds of cancer. Early diagnosis and treatment can limit their effect on the liver. For example, there are now excellent treatments for hepatitis B. The treatment does not cure the infection but can greatly suppress hepatitis B and prevent it from causing further damage to your liver.
There have also been huge advances in hepatitis C treatment. Hepatitis C treatments are very effective at curing the infection. Everyone who has Hep C should talk to their doctor about their options. Hep C treatment can save your liver and your life.
The liver is an organ that is capable of repairing itself. When hepatitis viruses are suppressed or eliminated, particularly if this is done before serious damage has occurred, the liver may be able to repair itself. So don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor about hepatitis testing and treatment.
In addition to removing, as much as possible, anything that might be stressing the liver, taking certain supplements may help. Some naturopathic doctors find the following antioxidants and nutrients useful for helping to protect the liver.
Glutathione (GSH) is an antioxidant made by the body that helps break down drugs and toxins and protect the liver. Taking the following nutrients may help to maintain or increase levels of glutathione:
• N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) – 500 mg taken three times per day with food. (The body converts NAC into GSH.)
• vitamin C – try to eat fresh and colourful fruits and vegetables every day. If you cannot get fresh fruit, then consider taking a vitamin C supplement. Speak to your healthcare provider about the dose that is right for you.
• alpha-lipoic acid – 300 mg per day.
One well-designed clinical trial that lasted for six months found that the amino acid L-carnitine (1 g taken with a meal once daily) was able to reduce inflammation in people with fatty liver. Carnitine is available by prescription (sold under the brand name Carnitor) or over the counter from some pharmacies and health food stores.
Because inflammation is a major contributor to liver damage in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, dietary changes and nutritional supplements that reduce inflammation may also be helpful.
A herb called milk thistle (Silybum marianum) contains the compounds silybin, silychristin, silydianin and isosilybin, which, as a group, are commonly referred to as silymarin. Silymarin has powerful effects as both an antioxidant and protector of the liver. Clinical trials have found that intravenous administration of milk thistle and its extracts can sometimes be helpful in managing hepatitis C infection. However, milk thistle and its extracts have the potential to interact with many medications, including various prescription drugs and over-the-counter meds. Early test-tube studies led to a concern that silybin might affect blood levels of some antiretrovirals. A later study in humans led researchers to conclude that at commonly used doses the herb should not interfere. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you are considering taking this supplement.
Although people living with HIV have found some supplements to be helpful, certain supplements can seriously harm the liver. Many pre-packaged medicines are labelled inaccurately and may contain herbs that are toxic to the liver. Herbs grown in an environment where they have been exposed to toxic chemicals can also cause liver damage. Always consult a knowledgeable practitioner for advice. And always let your doctor and pharmacist know about any herbs or supplements you are thinking of taking.
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The poor and the environment: lessons from energy crisis
We know that the poor are worst affected by environmental degradation. They live in poverty; have the highest exposure to pollution; drink contaminated water, which is responsible for the highest mortality among children; breathe polluted air; and depend on depleting forest resources for their survival. Research over the years has made it clear that the poor, through their intensive use of natural resources, are not responsible for environmental degradation.
How to plant trees for development
The climate and trade tango
India's twin environmental challenges
New business for new renewables
It was a trade exhibition abuzz with the restrained chatter of busy suited executives at company stalls making contacts and finalising deals. Nothing out of place except that this trade was about renewable energy technologies, which have unconventional reasons for growth. First, these technologies are seen as the most economical and feasible source of energy for millions of people unconnected to the electricity grid and having no electricity to light their houses or cook their food. This energy poverty is disabling and needs to be eradicated.
The inconvenient truth
Many years ago, in a desperately poor village in Rajasthan, people decided to plant trees on the land adjoining their pond so that its catchment would be protected. But this land belonged to the revenue department and people were fined for trespass. The issue hit national headlines. The stink made the local administration uncomfortable. They then came up with a brilliant game plan—they allotted the land to a group of equally poor people. In this way the poor ended up fighting the poor. The local government got away with the deliberate murder of a water body.
From protests to where in 2012?
Of stances, tactics and country positions
November 28, 2011, Durban: Key players at the climate negotiations in Durban presented a preview of their tactics which they might adopt over the next 14 days. On the opening day of CoP17, China made it clear that without finance and technology transfer on the table, the talks were doomed. The US on its part wanted the Cancun Agreement, signed last year, to be operationalised. The European Union stuck to its recent demand that a solution to global warming is only possible if emerging economies like China and India take emission reduction targets.
20 years to...where?
Land is more than just that
POSCO: take land but give life
Rethink growth with forest capital
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It’s normal, sometimes, to go back and double-check that you locked the door or the oven is turned off. But if a person suffers from obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors become so excessive they interfere with your daily life.
OCD is an anxiety disorder characterized by uncontrollable, unwanted thoughts and repetitive, ritualized behaviors a person feels compelled to perform. They probably recognize that their obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors are irrational, but feel unable to resist them and break free.
OCD causes the brain to get stuck on a particular thought or urge—checking the stove 20 times to make sure it’s really turned off, or washing your hands until they’re scrubbed raw.
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- Term Papers and Free Essays
The Role of Internet for Educational Field
Essay by • December 2, 2016 • Coursework • 725 Words (3 Pages) • 317 Views
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Rivaria Safitri
Puspita Devi, M.Pd.
Advance Writing
The Role of Internet for Educational Field
Thanks to Leonard Kleinrock for giving his biggest contribution for founding the most needed thing in the field of networks in this world until the current days. Internet, international computer network connecting other networks and computers from one place to other places which nowadays has been enhanced until can be used almost without limitation of time and space. Internet is something that is not only for getting but also sharing any information which can be accessed freely with the connection. We know that internet has been utilized in every field of our life without exception in the education sector. Furthermore, internet actually plays a big role in advancing education. How can we say that? Let’s see some of the facts on how internet can do that.
The most important thing as the fact of internet advancing education is internet has become an increasingly important feature of the learning environment. It can allow people to share and get information about science and knowledge. Most students in the world use internet as their source of information can learn new things besides book. Instead, students are more often use internet rather than a book. Internet can ease the students to search for their learning materials with just by one click. Information contained on internet used by students to do their schoolwork and even to help them do the school research. Moreover, internet provide everything that they need for complete their school tasks. We know the term of “search engine” in the internet like Google or yahoo where can be used to looking for every information especially related to the educational purposes. Students can accessed the information from blog, see the pictures of their learning materials, also watch and even download some videos about the materials that they need because there are unlimited access for the information and knowledge provided on internet.
An additional fact on how internet can enhance the educational sector is in this era of globalization, people are trying harder gradually to make a better and higher technology. With those technology where we have been able to get unlimited access for everything that we want without worrying about time and space, indeed people think more on how can we use internet not only for searching the information and knowledge but also people have made such an online school where the students don’t have to go to the real school moreover for the students who live far away from the school itself. With the role of internet to study in the online school, the students can use the whole of it to support their study. For the example they use internet as the major source for their recent major school project or report and use email and instant messaging to contact teachers or classmates about schoolwork. Even though online, they still can do school activities like study in a real school. Nevertheless in online school, it can be more practical because they just need to face computers, laptops, or other gadgets with networks to the internet. Just think how the internet has made everything easier.
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When We Lose Weight, Where Does the Fat Go?
With all the obsession with diets and losing weight, it’s a wonder no one really asks where does it all go when we actually lose it? Some people think fat turns into muscle, which is impossible, and others assume it simply escapes via the colon. Again, not the case. The most common misconception by far, is that fat is converted to energy.
So if not to the muscles, the loo, or energy, where does fat go?
According to theconversation.com, the correct answer is that fat is converted to carbon dioxide and water. You exhale the carbon dioxide and the water mixes into your circulation until it’s lost as urine or sweat.
If you lose 10kg of fat, precisely 8.4kg comes out through your lungs and the remaining 1.6kg turns into water. In other words, nearly all the weight we lose is exhaled.
This is quite surprising, and it’s definitely not an answer people would think of. However, almost everything we eat comes back out via the lungs.
So the first thing that comes to mind, is meditation and yoga. The better you breathe, the more fat you exhale. Right?
The only way you can consciously increase the amount of carbon dioxide your body is producing is by moving more. The research out of the University of New South Wales explained that by simply going for a walk (or doing active household tasks like vacuuming and sweeping) triples your metabolic rate and as a result, you exhale out more carbon dioxide.<
So, consuming a diet that supplies less fuel than you burn (via huffing and puffing), will get that fat loss happening, but what about those stubborn fat cells?
When we lose fat, we are not losing fat cells. As you lose weight, the fat cells lose weight too. BUT, the fat cells themselves never leave your body. That’s why it’s so easy to put weight back on as soon as you start moving less and eating more.
So, the lesson to take home is this: Maintaining a healthy relationship with food and moving regularly is (and always has been) the best way to manage your weight and your health, for life.
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IS the technique used for the separation of
number of similar components in a mixture.
These closely related compounds include
proteins , peptides , amino acids , lipids ,
carbohydrates , vitamins and drugs.
This technique is based on the principle of
adsorption , partition , ion-exchange and
exclusion properties.
The selection of a particular type of
chromatography to separate the components
depends on the material to be isolated.
General principle
Chromatography consists of a mobile and a
stationary phase.
The mobile phase refers to the mixture of
substance to be separated in a liquid or a gas.
The stationary phase is a porous or solid matrix
through which the sample contained in the
mobile phase enters.
The interaction between the stationary and the
mobile phase causes the separation of
compounds from the mixture.
These interactions include adsorption ,
Classification of
The type ofchromatography
interaction medium used for
stationary phase and mobile phase is the basis of
classification of chromatography.
(1)Column chromatography
In which the stationary phase is packed into
glass or metal columns.
There are several types of column
chromatography they are as follows:-
(A)Partition chromatography.
(B)Adsorption chromatography.
(C)Ion-exchange chromatography.
(D)Gel filtration chromatography.
(E)Affinity chromatography.
(F)High pressure liquid chromatography(HPLC).
(2)Paper chromatography
In which the stationary phase is supported by
the cellulose fibres of a paper sheet.
There are two types:-(A)Ascending.
(3)Thin layer
The stationary phase is thinly coated onto
glass , plastic or foil plates.
The mobile phase is normally an inert gas , e.g.
argon , by which the various compounds is the
sample mixture are separated as they pass along
a special column containing a liquid stationary
phase coated on to a support matrix or on the
inside of a capillary column.
(1)The chromatographic technique is used for the
separation of amino acids , proteins ,
(2)It is also used for the analysis of drugs ,
hormones , vitamins and brain amines.
(3)Helpful for the qualitative and quantitative
analysis of complex mixtures.
(4)The technique is also useful for the
determination of molecular weight of proteins.
(5)The technique is used to separate and identify
the phytochemical constituents present in plant
identification of
Urinary sugars
Sugars in urine:-(1)Glucose(glycosuria).
(3) Fructose(fructosuria).
galactos pentos Fructos Lactos Glucos
e e e e e
+ + + + + Benedicts
* - - - + Clinistix
- - - - + BM-test
* - + - - Seliwanof
* - - + - Methylamin
* + - - - Bial
Is considered a superior method for
identification of urine sugars.
Thin layer chromatography is quick and
sensitive ; and therefore it is the method of
Solvent mixture:-n-butanol 75ml.
Acetic acid 25ml.
Distilled water 6ml.
Aniline-diphenylamine locating reagent:-
(A)Solution 1:-
Aniline 1ml.
Diphenylamine 1g.
Acetone 99ml.
(B)Solution 2:-
85%Phosphoric acid
For use , 10 volumes of solution1 are mixed with
1 volume of solution2.
Standards:-Prepare standard solutions of
glucose , lactose , fructose , galactose and xylose
in 10% aqueous isopropanol. The concentration
Silica gel:-Use20X10 Cm plates with 250m
Method:-The optimum amount of urine sample
used will vary with the concentration of the
sugars present.
The reagent strips can be used to roughly
estimate the amount of sugars in the urine.
(1)Determine the volume of the sample required
in such a way that 5l will contain5-10g of sugar.
(2)Apply the sample and the standards 1Cm apart
along the line of application.
(3)Place the plate in the chromatography tank.
(4)Let the solvent rise to 12 to15 Cm for about 2
to 3hours.
(5)Remove the plate from the tank. Dry in under
hot air in a fume cupboard.
(6)Spray with the locating agent and heat for 5
minutes in hot air oven at 120C.
Aproximate Rf values of urinary sugars
Aprrox.Rf Characteristic Sugar
0.14 Grey Lactose
0.34 grey Galactose
0.39 pink Fructose
0.42 Grey Glucose
>0.5 Grey brown pentoses
Amino acid chromatography
Requirements:-(1)Air tight tank.
(2)TLC sheet or plate.
(3)Solvent:-(V/V)n-Butanol 35 ml, Acetone 35 ml ,
Acetic acid (glacial) 10 ml , Water (de- ionized) 20
(4)Amino acid standard solution:-Solution A
5mmol/l each of leucine , phenylalanine ,
tryptophan , valine , proline , hydroxyproline ,
Threonine , glycine , aspartic acid and lysine in
0.1molar HCl.
Solution B 5mmol/l each of isoleuocine ,
methionine , tyrosine ,alanine ,glutamic acid ,
(5)Locating agents:-(i)Ninhydrin reagent:-General
reagent for detection of amino acid.
(ii)Iodoplatinate:-Detect sulphur containing amino
(iii)Pauly reagent:-To detect histidine or citrulline.
(iv)Ehrlichs reagent:-Used for tryptophan.
(6)Specimen:-plasma or uirne.
Urine:-no pre-treatment.
Plasma:-1ml plasma +4ml ml ethanol.
Mix and stand for 30min.
Centrifuge and use supernatant.
Precautions for amino acid
(1)Antibiotics interfere with amino acid
(2)Protein rich milk interfere with amino acids
(3)Early morning of urine is preferable.
Ion exchange
General principle
Ion exchange resins are usually crosslinked
polymers containing ionic groups as part of their
They have negligible solubility , but are porous
enough for ions to difuse through the resin.
Ion exchange resins are either anion exchange
resin(R-NH3)+OH- which are bases , or cation
exchange resins (R-SO3)H+ which are acids.
R represents a polystyrene resin.
Anion exchangers are usually supplied in the Cl-
form because they are more stable , then they
Cation exchangers are supplied in the H+ form.
If water containing sodium chloride is passed
through a column of cation exchange resin , the
Na+ cations replaced the H+ cations of the resin:-
The water now contains H+ ions (obtained from
the resin) together with the original Cl- anions.
If the water is passed through an anion
exchange resin , the Cl- replaces the OH- anion of
the resin:-(RNH3)+OH-+Cl-(RNH3)+Cl-+OH-.
The water now contain H+ and OH- ions which
combine to form H2O.
In this way the water is prepared ion-free.
test (ICT)
Immunochromatography technique is used for
qualitative detction of HCG , ILH , malaria ,HBs Ag
, HIV , Leishmania ,etc.
ICT is an qualitative sandwich immunoassay.
Components of ICT
The membrane or strip is pre-coated with:-
(1)Primary antibody at the test band there is
primary antibody.
(2)At the control band there is second
The mixture move chromatographically by
capillary action.
ICT test is positive usually there is two bands.
If test is negative there is only one band at the
control region.
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This Is How to Understand Complex Vibration Signals in Wind Turbines
Wind energy is increasingly popular as the technology advances. However, wind turbines incur higher operation and maintenance costs than other power generation technologies. There are, nonetheless, ways to drive these costs down.
Wind turbines have rocketed in popularity over the past five years. Indeed, the Global Wind Energy Council predicts that, by the close of 2020, the total world installed wind turbine capacity will reach a whopping 817 GW, a 67.8 percent increase over 2016 levels.
However, with this growing acceptance comes a stronger focus on extending asset life and reducing operating and maintenance (O&M) costs. At present, O&M costs for a wind turbine are significantly higher than conventional power generation technologies.
This is hardly surprising given the complexity of wind generating technology. It has, for example, been estimated that the average wind turbine has around 8,000 individual components, many of these relating to the drivetrain. This is a major potential cause of extended downtime as wear and tear in moving parts (gearboxes and bearings in particular) results in the need for repairs.
Although these components don’t fail frequently, when something does go wrong, the costs can be crippling, especially if the turbine is located offshore. One way to mitigate these costs is to employ some form of predictive maintenance to ensure potential problems can be dealt with before they occur. That’s why vibration-based condition monitoring* systems are now widely used to assess the health of moving components in wind turbines.
The problem is that the complexity of vibration signals from components can make it difficult to detect wear or imbalance at an early enough stage for the maintenance crew to intervene. Mechanisms such as the main turbine, gearbox and generator produce unique vibration signatures, with different amplitudes and frequencies, but these can be difficult to isolate from each other and can be masked by noise from surrounding systems.
There are two techniques, in particular, that help alleviate these problems — acceleration enveloping analysis (AEA) for bearing damage early detection and time synchronous averaging (TSA) for gear damage detection.
AEA works by progressively filtering out unwanted parts of the vibration spectrum until the signal of a bearing defect can clearly be seen. It is most commonly used in roller bearing systems, but can also be applied in areas such as electric motors and gearboxes. It is a two-stage process.
The first stage is to apply a band pass filter to the mix of low and high frequencies of a defective bearing’s unfiltered waveform. This isolates only the frequencies in which the signal of interest is hiding. The filtered output will identify repeating, high frequency signals. On paper, this process would be represented as a series of spiking energy bursts, these are the impacts from the rolling elements hitting the defect of the rotating bearing.
The second stage is to pass the filtered output through an ‘enveloper,’ which rectifies (or demodulates) the waveform by inverting the negative part to positive and extracts the repetition rate of the energy bursts. This ‘envelope’ is now used as a true vibration signal — helping it to stand out from the noise. The envelope helps to contain regularly spaced signals, such as a single defect on a raceway, but other causes of noise, such as shaft rub, are random — so will not produce evenly spaced peaks.
The data provided by AEA requires skill and experience to interpret. For example, the amplitude of a worsening condition can reduce over time. A novice might believe this is because wear has stopped. In fact, the imperfection simply becomes slightly smoother and the amplitude reflects that. A specialist would know the problem remains and the condition of the bearing is still deteriorating.
The second technique — TBT — also employs signal processing to enable periodic waveforms to be extracted from noisy signals. With this approach, the waveform is averaged in a buffer before the fast Fourier transform (FFT) algorithm is calculated. The FFT decomposes a signal into the frequencies that make it up, similar to how a musical chord can be expressed as the frequencies of its constituent notes.
In order to perform time domain averaging, a reference trigger pulse must be input to the analyzer to tell it when to start sampling the signal. This trigger is typically synchronized with an element of the machine interest.
The average gradually accumulates portions of the signal that are synchronized with the trigger and other parts of the signal, such as noise, are effectively averaged out.
So, the condition-based maintenance implicit in these two techniques can optimize costs by reducing unnecessary maintenance actions. Condition monitoring is the main resource for collecting data during regular inspections which is used to determine the best time for the effective maintenance actions. Sensors provide accurate data about the components and using these data to determine problems before they occur has been shown to improve the reliability of wind turbine systems.
*Condition-based monitoring explained
Identifying defects in wind turbines early allows them to be tackled and prevents them from developing into more serious problems. This is where condition-based monitoring (CBM) can really help. Without CBM, maintenance engineers will only learn of turbine failure when overall vibration increases, lubricants are contaminated and temperatures rise. By this time, the damage might be extensive. At worst, bearings may fail and the machine could breakdown before operators notice or resolve problems.
Vibration-based rotating machinery CBM is the most commonly used fault detection method in the wind turbine sector. A vibration sensor, usually an accelerometer, is attached to a stationary location, such as the bearing housing, to pick up the vibration signal.
Accelerometers are fitted to key rotating parts in a turbine including the main bearings, planetary, intermediate and high-speed gear stages, the generator and ideally the nacelle traverse and axial movements.
Accelerometers should be selected based on the frequency of enveloping signals. For example, on wind turbine drivetrains (in particular, the generator output shaft), rotational speeds can be relatively slow and may therefore require the use of special-purpose low frequency AC accelerometers.
Each accelerometer is mounted securely on a solid base and as close to the component being monitored as possible. Data must be collected regularly and consistently to enable any change in operating conditions or trends over time to be accurately identified at the earliest possible stage. This can be done on-site using hand held data collectors, which feature software capable of automatically calculating acceleration enveloping, or are transmitted to a remote monitoring center for subsequent analysis.
Lead image credit: CC0 Creative Commonssbavwrftdcax | Pixabay
This Is How to Understand Complex Vibration Signals in Wind Turbines
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Gas Man Blog
*Electrical safety outdoors*
Electrical safety outdoors
Wednesday 17th May 2017
Although electricity makes gardening much easier, wet conditions and contact with the ground means that the risk of injury or death from electric shock is much greater than the risk from using electrical equipment indoors.
Electricity and water don't mix, so whether it's pouring from the heavens or there's still dew on the ground, don't use electrical equipment outdoors until it is dry.
By following our simple safety rules every time you work in the garden, you can easily avoid a serious accident.
Top tips to help you stay safe
1. Use a Residual Current Device (RCD) with all outdoor electrical equipment. If you don't have one built into your fusebox, you should use a plug-in RCD
2. Switch off and unplug electrical items before cleaning, adjusting or checking them
3. Store equipment in a dry, safe place and check that it hasn't been damaged or affected by water before using it
4. Be aware of where the electrical power cable is at all times
5. Never use electrical equipment in wet conditions!
Fit RCDs (Residual Current Devices)
An RCD is a potentially life-saving device that protects against electric shock and reduces the risk of electrical fires. Without it, if you cut through an electrical lead, a simple job like mowing the lawn could kill you.
Any socket that may be used to plug in a lawnmower, hedge trimmer or other power tool should have RCD Protection.
Cut the grass, not the cable
When using a lawnmower or hedge trimmer it is important to keep the cables, connections and plugs free from damage.
To stay safe while using electrical equipment in the garden follow these suggestions:
* Buy a good-quality lawn mower/ hedge trimmer from a well known manufacturer.
* Follow manufacturers' instructions closely.
* When using hedge trimmers wear gloves and goggles
* Check that the socket-outlet has RCD protection.
* Do not cut grass in wet conditions.
* Test the RCD using its test button unless you are certain that the RCD has been tested within the last 3 months.
* Wear shoes that protect your feet (not sandals).
* Keep children well away from the appliance.
* Unplug the lawn mower and wait until the blades have stopped turning before doing anything like cleaning grass blockages. Similarly unplug the hedge trimmer before removing jammed hedge trimmings.
* Take care if you are digging in the garden - electric, gas and water services may be buried below.
Make sure electric pumps don't electrify the water
The risk of electric shock is higher when there's water about. Incorrectly installed or damaged mains supplied pumps can result in injury or death to you, your family or even your fish.
A mains supplied electric water pump in the garden should be:
* Good quality and bought from a well known retailer.
* Protected by an RCD that is tested at least every 3 months.
* Installed in accordance with manufacturers' instructions.
* Provided with cables that are protected against accidental damage.
* Maintained in good working order, including cables and any connections.
If there's a problem, switch off the water pump's electrical supply immediately and have the pump repaired by a registered electrician.
Maintain flexible cables and connectors
If you do not check the condition of extension leads, cables and connections and use them correctly, you could get an electric shock.
To stay safe make sure they are:
* Suitable for outdoor use - weather-resistant with moulded connections that prevent moisture seeping in.
* Rated correctly to suit the equipment you want to connect to them.
* Uncoiled, to prevent them from overheating.
* Kept clean and free from damage.
* Replaced if damage is found.
* Used according to the manufacturer's instructions.
* Positioned appropriately to prevent them being damaged.
* Kept dry.
Check the cables on mowers and other products - make sure cable is not twisted, like in the above picture, frayed or damaged!
Bright ideas for safer garden lighting
Garden lighting is commonplace, but can create a safety risk if not properly installed.
For mains supplied lighting in the garden follow these simple suggestions:
* Buy good quality electrical outdoor lighting equipment from a reputable stockist.
* Make sure any outdoor lights are weatherproof.
* Ensure light fittings used in water features are waterproof.
* Have it installed by a registered electrician in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and BS 7671 - Requirements for Electrical Installations (IET Wiring Regulations).
* Check regularly for damaged lighting fittings, cables and connections.
* Keep maintained and free from leaves and dirt.
* Before changing any lamps, make sure you switch off the power supply.
If any faults are found, switch off the electrical supply immediately, and have them repaired by a registered electrician.
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Chinese Zodiac
The Chinese zodiac follows a twelve year cycle, each of the years being named after an animal. The Chinese believe that people born in a particular year take on the characteristics of the animal associated with that year.
Find out more about the characteristics of each animal by clicking on the animal images below.
Picture of a Dragon
Confident, hardworking and always strive to be at the top. Full of energy, determined and will inspire other people. Don’t like routine and are excited by new projects. Show loyalty to friends, popular and fun-loving.
The Dragon is the only mythical creature in the Chinese zodiac and is looked upon as the luckiest of all the animals.
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Christmas Day
Christmas Day is a public holiday in Christian countries. Festivities include the exchanging of presents. To children this is probably the most exciting day of the year when if they have been good they can open the gifts left by Santa Claus.
Christmas gifts under the Christmas Tree
The word Christmas comes from Cristes maesse, or "Christ's Mass". It is the time when Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus.
No-one knows when Jesus was born, neither which day nor even year. One reason for this is that at the time Jesus was born people used the Roman calendar which was different to ours. It is now believed that Jesus was born between 7BC and 4BC.
December 25 Pope Julius 1 chose 25 December as the date of the nativity around 350 years after Jesus' birth. This seemed to be a good choice because people had for a long time celebrated winter festivals such as Yule in Northern Europe. Giant logs were trimmed with ribbons and green plants and then burned to the gods in the hope that the sun would shine more brightly. Another was the Roman festival Saurnalia where Saturn, the god of Harvest, was honoured by merrymaking.
Both of these festivals were around the time of the shortest day of the year in Northern parts of the world. With our modern instruments we now know this to happen on 21st or 22nd December.
Usually, the day after Christmas Day is Boxing Day.
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Tank Trucks And Tankers
Tank trucks or tankers as they are known in the petroleum industry are exactly what the name makes them sound like – trucks with large containers that carry many different types of liquid inside a cylindrical shape. Used for many different jobs and in many different industries, it is possible to carry anything from swimming pool water to jet fuel in these large move-able containers. Available in multiple sizes, from regular to semi tractor-trailer proportions, there is a lot to know about these vehicles in order for them to be properly used and driven. Tankers make the moving of volatile and other types of liquids safe and easy when operations are handled with care and caution.
Tank Trucks
Tanker Truck Size Considerations
Tanker Trucks range in size anywhere from 1,000 gallons capacity for smaller versions to as much as 11,600 gallons for the largest versions. Smaller units under 3,000 gallons are typically used for local deliveries such as heating oil, water, liquid petroleum, natural gas, and on-site jet fuel delivery for airplane fueling. The larger types are generally used for long distance deliveries of gasoline, oil, chemicals, and other such liquids. Refrigerated versions of this movable holding vessel are used to carry milk from dairies; even vacuum septic trucks are considered a version of the tanker. Larger units can be divided inside the container in order to carry more than one liquid at a time.
Tank Trucks
Construction Considerations
Other than size, the most important feature of any of these large containers is its construction and the material that is used, both of which will differ based on how a truck will be employed. Tank Trucks are usually constructed from either carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, or sometimes fiberglass reinforced plastic. Other options that can be included are: insulated versus non-insulated and pressurized versus non-pressurized, each option fitting the transportation regulations of the different liquids being carried based on corrosive properties, any possible chemical reaction between liquids and the metal of which the tank is made. For this reason, most of these unique material carrying vehicles are built and equipped to haul only one type of liquid.
Tank Trucks
Tanker Safety Considerations
A large concern for any type of tanker is how it is correctly operated and handled as driving these vehicles can be somewhat of a challenge. Because the cargo being carried is liquid that can shift as vehicles move around corners and over bumpy roads, these trucks are very easily flipped. The weight of the moving fluids in the tank is many times enough to unbalance the load and the vehicle, causing it to turn over onto its side. Driving too fast is a main factor in accidents with these vehicles; not only is there a greater tendency for loads to shift more when a vehicle is moving faster, it will have more momentum to keep shifting and moving rather than being able to balance the load again.
When this happens, not only is the possibility of injury to operators and bystanders introduced; there is also the possibility of a spill of whatever fluid is inside the tank which can end up causing environmental hazards, fires, or explosions.
Unfortunately, tanker trucks have a higher incidence of rollover than any other commercial vehicles on the road. This is why operators of such vehicles need to be skilled, trained, careful, and committed to following all safety procedures to prevent a potentially deadly accident.
Before considering the purchase of any of the different types of tank trucks, it is essential to determine what construction specifications and features are necessary to provide safe transportation for all of the different fluids traveling across roadways every day. Proper training on how to drive these useful vehicles is absolutely imperative to ensure trouble-free deliveries of fluids material every time!
Reserve Trucks and Equipment from the pros at Tykan Systems or read more Blog Posts.
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Women Soldiers in the Civil War
Loreta Janeta VelazquezWhen the civil war came the social structure just enough.Women came pouring out of their houses and came pouring out of their farm directly into the public arena. As it the say we can make a difference , we will make a difference. There are many many women who wrote in their diaries that I wish I could put on mens clothing and go to work.
In recent scholarship has indicated that between 500,000 women went into military service ; some of them for very short blocks of time and some for two or three years depending on what led to their discovery or whether they were able to maintain anonymity throughout. There are a number of cases of women going to war with her husband or her fiancé. A number of girls went to war with their brothers.
While reading about a medical inspection was you had 2 feet you could walk and therefore she works inducted into the Army. The Civil War armies were very different from our modern armies. They lived outside almost all the time. Large portions of the soldiers were young which meant it wasn’t that unusual to have a soldier who had a higher voice or who had not yet an obvious beard. So women look like clean-shaven or beardless young man found it easier to hide. They didn’t take their clothes all , it helps that the uniforms were very baggy in the 19th century. Notions about gender were so clearly associated with particular forms of dress , that if you saw someone in dress ,it simply didn’t occur to you that that person was anything but a man.
I am ready to play my part in a great drama. It is strangely simple to arraign myself and my soldiers uniform , no one things to stop me.
Who sort of a freelance soldier this was not that unusual either. Early in the war there were military soldiers. Regular army which is very very small North and South felt it even really have a regular army and so it was not unusual for people to come in and sort of appoint themselves or be accepted sort of a volunteer officer.
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Tooth Loss During Pregnancy
tooth loss during pregnancy
Pregnancy has been linked to various oral health problems that often lead to teeth loss if not treated early. Good thing there are dental solutions for tooth loss and you can find them at Tooth loss during pregnancy occurs due to the various changes occurring within the body during this period such increase in the level of hormones such as progesterone and estrogen, reduced dental care and change in dietary habits all of which can lead to various dental problems that cause tooth loss. These include;
Development of gum diseases
Gingivitis, an inflammatory disease of the gums can develop in the second trimester during pregnancy characterized by swollen, reddened, and bleeding gums. It occurs due to the increased levels of progesterone hormone that enhances plaque formation and the growth of gingivitis causing bacteria. If not treated, gingivitis can develop into periodontal disease which causes gums to recede away from teeth leading to loose teeth that fall off.
Pyogenic granuloma, a type of pregnancy gum tumor that also develops in between teeth during the second trimester characterized by red lumps. They develop as a result of increased plaque formation on teeth that can lead to tooth loss.
Increased tooth decay associated with dietary changes
This occurs due to the dietary changes during pregnancy involving cravings that may constitute foods with more sugar content and snacking all the time. This promotes tooth decay-causing bacteria to thrive within the mouth which eventually leads to tooth decay and tooth loss. tooth loss during pregnancy
Increased vomiting as a result of morning sickness
Vomiting associated with morning sickness exposes teeth to so much acid which erodes the enamel and harbors plaque formation and bacteria growth. This causes tooth decay which can lead to tooth loss.
Poor oral hygiene
Pregnancy can lead to extreme exhaustion which can make it difficult for regular brushing and flossing. This causes bacteria to accumulate within the mouth causing infection and tooth decay leading to tooth loss.
To prevent the occurrence of tooth loss during pregnancy, it is recommended to;
•Practice good and proper oral hygiene including brushing and flossing regularly to keep off bacteria.
•Going for regular dental checkups.
•Eating a proper and balanced diet with low sugar content foods.
•Rinsing the mouth with water or mouthwash immediately after vomiting to avoid enamel erosion.
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Develop apiculture
Pollination is what ensures food safety and diversity. The planet's bees symbolise day-to-day biodiversity and play an essential role in society.
Carrefour therefore supports apiculture and has set itself the target of ensuring that all of the countries in which the Group operates have adopted a bee plan by 2020. The four key initiatives covered by this plan are as follows:
1. continuing to install beehives on the roofs of stores in order to raise customers' awareness of the role that bees play in the environment and developing apiculture in suburban areas;
2. give priority to listing local and national honeys in order to support bee-keepers;
3. introducing a brand of Carrefour Quality Line honey in each country to create direct partnerships with bee-keepers and ensuring traceability;
4. and incorporating a chapter on protecting pollinators in the specifications for fruit and vegetable Carrefour Quality Lines.
Since 2011, the Group has been installing beehives on roofs and around its stores in order to integrate biodiversity into its sites and support local bee-keepers in all of the countries in which it operates.
In Belgium, France and Poland, 48 sites have beehives on their roofs (stores and head offices).
In France, 42 Carrefour sites now have 150 beehives on their roofs or in their surrounding areas. Honey is harvested by local bee-keepers before being sold in stores or donated to charities or schools. These initiatives raise people's awareness of the need to protect biodiversity and of the role that bees play as pollinators in supporting plant species.
In 2016, Carrefour supported producers of French royal jelly by developing Carrefour Quality Lines of the product alongside three bee-keepers.
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The Most Complicated Machine Ever Built
Mar 21, 2017
How to modernize the power grid
Renewable energy is on the rise in the western United States, and the world. That trend needs to continue if we’re to meet the emissions reduction targets that most climate scientists deem necessary for staving off catastrophic climate change. But according to Carl Zichella, who directs the Natural Resource Defense Council’s work on western energy transmission, we can’t get there with the outdated grid we have now.
Carl Zichella. Photo by Megan Krause/NRDC.
Carl Zichella. Photo by Megan Krause/NRDC.
Today, the energy grid in the western United States is run by 38 different entities called “balancing area authorities,” many of which are operated by a single utility. It’s hard for these disjointed segments of the grid to share renewable energy. A single west-wide system would be more reliable and make better use of renewable energy, helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions. According to Zichella, who has been working on grid policy since 2008, the West already has a model for this more modern, unified grid. It’s the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), a third-party, federally regulated, nonprofit organization that coordinates the many electricity producers and utilities in California’s energy system. Zichella and others have been working on policies that would expand the CAISO model throughout the West, creating a grid with more capacity for renewable resources.
Western Confluence spoke with Zichella about his ideas for updating the grid to keep pace with the West’s changing energy landscape.
Western Confluence: How does the energy grid in the western US work today?
Carl Zichella: The grid is the most complicated machine we’ve ever built. It’s gigantic, it is complex, and to get the most efficient use out of the system we have to use it in the most coordinated way that we can.
In the West today our grid is broken up into all these small, little areas that really use the system pretty wastefully and require us to build duplicative resources like power plants we may not need. That’s because each of those 38 areas is responsible for balancing demand and generation within their footprints.
In other parts of the country there are entities called independent system operators that run large portions of the regional grid. The independent system operator is like the traffic cop of the system. But in the western United States there aren’t these independent system operators, with the exception of California. It makes it hard to take advantage of renewable energy resources.
WC: Why is that?
CZ: Renewable resources are variable resources that don’t always operate 24/7. But in a big footprint across the western US, the wind is always blowing someplace. So [with a better integrated grid, one managed by a large independent system operator] we could take solar power from California and send it to Oregon… We could take the wind energy from Wyoming and use it to operate any hours that wind power in Oregon’s Columbia Gorge isn’t operating, for example.
We would have the ability to use renewable energy resources just as reliably as we would a gas or coal plant, as long as we could use them over a big footprint. But we can’t do that in the West today because our grid is broken up into all these small, little areas. So it’s very wasteful.
There have been numerous studies done about how best to clean up the grid, to use more and more renewable energy resources. And all of those studies point to better system coordination as being a key feature of being able to bring renewable energy resources in.
WC: What is the path for turning those 38 entities into one operating system overseeing the western grid?
CZ: So we already have this nucleus around which we can build the grid of the future in the west.
You start by expanding the independent system operator in California. Then, if the utility that serves Utah, Wyoming, Oregon, Washington, and a little tiny part of California, joins the independent system operator, it opens up the grid. Then other utilities gradually join the independent system operator.
The utilities will form a regional market, where they’re using the most efficient resources first and using the least efficient and most polluting resources less and less. You can take advantage of the resources that are operating in any part of the system to support the rest of the grid. That’s not possible in a system that’s highly Balkanized and fragmented into these many different pieces.
WC: Are there concerns about changing the grid system?
CZ: Yeah, I think whenever you make a major change like this there’s a lot of resistance. Some states have built up their economies around mining and burning coal. It’s a very tough decision for Wyoming, for example, that has 70 percent of its state revenues coming from levies on extractive industries. When those industries begin to vanish, well of course there’s going to be some resistance.
So we have to help every participant in the western electrical system and economy be able to recognize and realize benefits from the change. And we can do that. But there’s going to be some pain. You’re losing thousands of coal mining jobs, for example, that’s not an easy thing to replace.
WC: What can people do if they want to see a more coordinated grid?
CZ: They can make clear to their state representatives and their utilities that they want clean energy, that they want a more efficient grid, that they want to stop wasting resources and money on a system that is quickly becoming outdated, that we need to modernize the way that we build, plan and operate the system.
The decisions people make about how they use energy and what kind of energy they use are very critical to this. That can help us make the transition more cost effective too, whether it’s by putting solar panels on their house, or insisting that the utilities invest in renewable energy.
WC: What’s at stake if we continue to use the current grid system?
CZ: Well, what’s at stake is we don’t meet the goal of an 80 percent reduction in greenhouse house gas emissions worldwide by 2050, which is what the Natural Resources Defense Council and other groups, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change are calling for. And if we don’t meet those goals then we have a very grim prospect ahead of us. We’re already seeing climate impacts across the western United States like the extended droughts that we’ve been seeing in the southwestern US and in California, the unusual weather events that we’ve encountered across the western United States. That has implications for fish, for wildlife, for cities, for agriculture, for every single thing that we touch in our lives.
By Sarah Jane Keller
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Tag Archives: What Are the Health Benefits of Riding a Stationary Bike?
What Are the Health Benefits of Riding a Stationary Bike?
Stationary Bike
The society we live in hides all kinds of toxic behaviors and situations. We are subjects to stressful jobs and incredible workloads. More than that, most of us lead sedentary lives that have terrible consequences over our minds and our bodies. This is the main reason why practicing sports regularly can practically be our salvation.
If you’re looking for a way to lose weight, tone your muscles or simply to stay fit without having to plan a complicated workout routine every week, then the stationary bike might be what you’re looking for.
Stationary bikes are complex equipment that can be found in every gym and more importantly, can be used in the comfort of our homes. Such a machine can bring one plenty of health benefits and can help achieve a variety of goals.
Keep reading to see what the health benefits of a riding stationary bike are.
Why use a stationary bike?
At this point, most people have access to a local gym and almost everyone has tried one. So we practically know the basics of a stationary bike that is so easy to use. All you have to do is jump on it and start cycling.
However, there is more to it than just the riding. Stationary bikes are excellent equipment for cardio workout and they are used in recovery programs for surgery patients or those who suffered severe trauma. They have a low-impact on your joints and can be used by almost everyone.
Stationary bikes are versatile and comfortable, and they serve a variety of purposes. But one thing is for sure: they are extremely good for your body and can help you switch your mood in just a matter of minutes.
Here are a few reasons why stationary bikes are so good for you:
1. They are ideal for weight loss – nowadays, there are many ways to lose weight. Some are easier than others and some are very challenging. The stationary bike is one of the easy options. You can lose weight while watching a good TV show, reading a book or doing research for your job. The important thing is to maintain your pace and persevere.
Stationary Bike
When riding a stationary bike, you burn a large number of calories, depending on your body weight and the intensity of your training. While burning calories, you also get to tone your muscles and strengthen your core, back, arms and legs. However, you shouldn’t expect for results in a week or two, unless you are motivated to train intensely and regularly.
According to the Harvard Medical School, a 125-pound person can burn up to 315 calories during a 30-minute training using a stationary bike. A 155-pound person can burn 391 calories, while a 185-pounds person will burn 466 calories.
1. Stationary bikes are joint-friendly – if you have sensitive knees or joints, or you simply aged beautifully and you can’t take risks, a stationary bike will become a loyal friend. This equipment offers low-impact training and is suitable for everyone. Although, it is important to try to maintain a correct posture when riding if you want to achieve your goals.
From this point of view, a stationary bike is healthier than a regular bike, as regular bikes can be ridden everywhere and it becomes tempting to ride on off-road routes where a lot of bumps can get in the way.
According to the Arthritis Foundation, stationary bikes can help one alleviate the pain and lead a normal life.
1. Stationary bikes are heart-friendly – all sports and training types are good for your health from one perspective or the other. However, not all of them can boost your cardiovascular and immune system in a matter of days. The advantage of stationary bikes is that they can be used for both light and intense cardio workouts.
Your heart and lungs become healthier and your overall physical shape becomes better. Your resistance grows quickly and you will notice that you can train more in less time. The American Health Association recommends a 30-minute stationary bike training every day for that matter.
1. Stationary bikes are good for muscle strengthening – most people who want to obtain beautifully shaped muscles appeal to weight trainings more often than to such machines. However, the stationary bike can help you shape your body in an unexpected way.
The hamstrings, the thighs, the quadriceps and the core are mostly used when riding a stationary bike. The first thing you will notice after riding for about 10 minutes is that your leg muscles are tense, which means that you will burn a lot of calories and in time, will obtain amazing legs.
Except for the health benefits that a stationary bike provides, it is also extremely convenient. It is easy to use and transport, it can be placed in any room, giving its small size and it can be used anywhere.
There’s more: modern stationary bikes are so evolved, that they provide one with all the data they need regarding their activity. One can monitor their physical shape by having access to information such as the pulse, heart beat rate and number of calories burned over a long period of time.
The stationary bike is ideal for those who have a busy schedule and never have enough time to subscribe to a local gym or focus solely on practicing sports. If you are one of those people, then you should consider bringing your bike at work or at home.
Your lifestyle can become normal again, once you start including physical activity in it. What’s even more impressive about riding a stationary bike is the fact that a lot of sensations such as the foggy brain, lightheadedness, confusion and constant sensation of tiredness start to disappear.
When practicing sports on a regular basis, you practically become happier, too. Your brain starts releasing a larger amount of “happiness hormones” and you start experiencing better moods.
Therefore, if you want to change your daily routine by including half hour trainings in it, you would better start looking for the best stationary bike for your needs.
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Pacific Sheet Metal Blog
What is an Electrical Short?
Posted by Joey Haack on Oct 11, 2018 2:16:00 PM
An electrical short, or short circuit, is a low-resistance connection between two conductors (objects that allow electricity to flow through them) that are supplying electricity to a circuit. A short occurs when a current follows an unintended path, bypassing the route it’s supposed to take.
What can cause a short circuit?
Shorts can occur when an electrical wire carrying current touches another wire or when insulation is worn down or damaged and the live wire is exposed. A number of events can cause short circuits in your home. If a connection becomes loose, a wire could sag and come into contact with another wire. Nails and screws can puncture wiring and lead to deterioration. Pests—like mice and squirrels—have also been known to chew into home wiring and cause shorts.
Another common culprit is old age. When the insulation or casing surrounding a wire begins to deteriorate, it leaves the wire exposed. An electrical system typically will last 30–40 years before it needs to be replaced. If your system is close to this age, call an electrician to inspect it for you; it’s likely time for an update. Keep your home safe and avoid the chance for an electrical fire.
How can I tell if I have a short?
If fuses in your home repeatedly blow or your circuit breaker trips frequently, you have a short somewhere.
Is a short circuit dangerous?
Short circuits can produce high temperatures and can result in melting or exploding wires, damaged circuits, or fire. If you have a short, address the problem immediately.
Why do they say not to stick a knife in the toaster?
You’ve probably been told at some point in your life never to stick a metal utensil into the toaster to pull out your hot toast or bagel. This is because metal is a conductor, and with it, you’ll be creating a path of less resistance (a short circuit) for electricity to travel, which will likely result in a bad shock and a ruined toaster.
If you think you may have an electrical short or you need other electrical repairs in your home, give us a call! We have electricians on staff trained to fix most electrical problems. Visit our Plumbing and Electrical Services page for a list of services we offer, and don’t hesitate to ask us if we repair anything that isn’t listed!
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Topics: electrical
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From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Statue in Madrid, (J. Porcel, 1750-53).
Euric (Gothic: Aiwareiks), also known as Evaric, or Eurico in Spanish and Portuguese (c. 440 – 484), son of Theodoric I, he ruled as king (rex) of the Visigoths, after murdering his brother, Theodoric II,[1] from 466 until his death in 484. Sometimes he is called Euric II.
With his capital at Toulouse, Euric inherited a large portion of the Visigothic possessions in the Aquitaine region of Gaul, an area that had been under Visigothic control since 415. Over the decades the Visigoths had gradually expanded their holdings at the expense of the weak Roman government, including Euric's sieges of Clermont in 475 and 476,[2] as well as advancing well into Hispania in the process.
In 470 Euric defeated an attempted invasion of Gaul by the British king Riothamus and expanded his kingdom even further north, possibly as far as the Somme River, the March of Frankish territory.
Illustration of Euricat Biblioteca Nacional de España
Euric was one of the more learned of the great Visigothic kings and was the first German to formally codify his people's laws. The Code of Euric of 471 codified the traditional laws that had been entrusted to the memory of designated specialists who had learned each article by heart. He employed many Gallo-Roman nobles in his court such as Leo of Narbonne.
At Euric's death in 484 the Kingdom of the Visigoths encompassed all of Iberia except for the region of Galicia (ruled by the Suebi) and a third of modern France.
The fortune of nations has often depended on accidents; and France may ascribe her greatness to the premature death of the Gothic king, at a time when his son by his wife Ragnachildis, Alaric II was a helpless infant, and his adversary Clovis an ambitious and valiant youth.
Media related to Eurico at Wikimedia Commons
1. Ian Wood, The Merovingians Kingdoms:450-751, (Longman Group, 1994), 16.
2. Ian Wood, The Merovingians Kingdoms:450-751, 17
External links
King Euric of the Visigoths
Born: 415 Died: 484
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Theodoric II
King of the Visigoths
Succeeded by
Alaric II
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37 – Differences between Solidity and Crypto Conditions
…I was comparing it to Solidity for my paper, since in Solidity you just create a smart contract (based on the language syntax) and run it, in CC I am confused on why it has a implementation in core code and how would a finished contract look like?
CC are quite a bit different than anything else, so you do need to study the existing examples to see how they achieve their goals. Faucet-CC is one of the simpler ones. CC run natively at full speed with total access to all daemon data. I guess it is like the difference between CPU mining and ASIC, it is more work to make an ASIC, but the result is orders of magnitude more efficient. CC is NOT equivalent to Solidity, in fact, theoretically it is possible to make a single Solidity-CC that would interpret Solidity contracts. CC are able to change consensus rules for the blockchain, Solidity runs an interpreted language under existing consensus rules. Once a CC exists, you interact with it by sending CC transactions.
in fact, theoretically it is possible to make a single solidity CC that would interpret solidity contracts
So basically, if this would be possible we could use Solidity in creating contracts for KMD? So faucet.cpp is the contract at this point?
Yes, once such a CC exists, that would be possible. But considering that we can get things like rogue-CC working in a couple weeks there isn’t much need for Solidity. Also it would be 10x to 100x slower and possibly not viable for any compute intensive things. Maybe we shouldn’t use the word “contract”, smart or otherwise, CC is a TOTALLY different way of solving the same problems. It implements constrained transactions with a specific vout type and using this, one of the nearly infinite things you can do, is implement what are commonly known as “smart contracts”, you could create a smart contract interpreter, you could make a blockchain enforced Sudoku too…
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Replaying the tape of life: Is it possible?
Credit: CC0 Public Domain
A review published in the Nov. 9 issue of Science explores the complexity of evolution's predictability in extraordinary detail. In it, researchers at Kenyon College, Michigan State University and Washington University in St. Louis closely examine evidence from a number of of evolutionary repeatability and contingency in an effort to fully interrogate ideas about contingency's role in evolution.
The question of evolution's predictability was notably raised by the late paleontologist Stephen Jay Gould, who advocated the view that evolution is contingent and unrepeatable in his 1989 book Wonderful Life. "Replay the tape a million times ... and I doubt that anything like Homo sapiens would ever evolve again," Gould mused, noting that being able to "replay the tape" and give history a do-over would be impossible. Yet since the publication of Wonderful Life, many evolutionary biologists have taken up this challenge and conducted their own versions of Gould's experiment, albeit on smaller scales. In doing so, they have reached different conclusions about the interplay between randomness of mutations, chance historical events, and directionality imparted by natural selection.
"How history plays out isn't really predictable. Historical outcomes are contingent on long chains of events loaded with tiny little details. A dropped packet of cigars wrapped with the Confederate army's marching orders was found by a Union soldier, which led to the Battle of Antietam, which led to Lincoln announcing the Emancipation Proclamation. What if those cigars hadn't been dropped, or if they hadn't been found by a Union soldier? Evolution is similar, in that it plays out over vast periods of time with long, unique chains of events involving a lot of chance. Unlike history, though, evolution has the deterministic force of natural selection, but that determinism is always in tension with the chanciness. How does that tension affect what evolves? Which is more important: contingency on details of history, or determinism?" said Zachary Blount, a senior research associate at MSU and visiting assistant professor of biology at Kenyon College who served as lead author of the review.
"The idea of replaying life's tape—having a fresh start—is something almost everyone has thought about at some point in their own lives. It's also something that has long interested biologists, but on the grand scale of the history of life on Earth," Lenski said. "Since Gould introduced the metaphor of replaying life's tape, many studies have tried to characterize the repeatability of evolution. What our review shows is that there's no easy answer: Sometimes evolution produces strikingly similar solutions, and other times evolving lineages take very different paths even under the same circumstances. I think that's part of the fascination and beauty of evolution, that it produces both the expected and unexpected, perhaps like in our individual lives, but on a vastly larger scale."
Gould's thought experiment still stimulates robust debate, in part due to inconsistencies Gould introduced in how he described his replay metaphor, as well as confusion around the concept of contingency. Gould often conflated two common meanings of "contingency": as dependence on something else, and as a chance event.
"There are multiple, different literatures on Gould's idea, and these literatures are not talking to each other," Losos said. "There are microbial evolution studies. There are all the studies of convergent evolution, or lack of convergent evolution. And there's also a philosophical literature on what Gould meant when he said, 'replay the tape.' That is, more generally, when you talk about the role of contingency—which is the term Gould used—what does that actually mean?"
Their review of existing empirical studies focused on primarily on three types of "replay studies": laboratory evolution experiments with fast-evolving organisms; experiments carried out in nature; and natural experiments that compare lineages that evolved under similar conditions. The comprehensive analysis revealed a complex picture of evolutionary change in which both contingency and determinism are evident.
Their review of comparative studies of "natural experiments" further illuminated evidence of evolution's predictability. Similar features can independently evolve in multiple species—for example, anole lizards of the Caribbean, which separately evolved traits such as the length of their legs and tails to ease their life in their specific habitats. Yet convergence in evolution does not always occur, as their review shows; contingency can play a strong role in divergent of various traits.
"What we clearly see is that both convergence and lack of convergence occur a lot in the natural world," Losos said. "It's not useful just to keep adding to the two lists. The real question that people are now turning to is: Why does convergence occur sometimes and not others? That is where research is now headed. That's the question we need to focus on."
More information: "Contingency and determinism in evolution: Replaying life's tape" Science (2018). … 1126/science.aam5979
Journal information: Science
Provided by Washington University in St. Louis
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The Nobel Prize 2015 in Physiology or Medicine
By Sarolta Gabulya
The 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been jointly awarded to William C. Campbell and Satoshi Omura, “for their discoveries concerning a novel therapy against infections caused by roundworm parasites” and Youyou Tu, “for her discoveries concerning a novel therapy against Malaria” stated the announcement, a little after half past 11, at Nobel Forum, Karolinska Institutet.
A major health issue for humankind, which has been around for centuries, is the occurence of parasitic diseases such as lymphatic filariasis, river blindness and malaria. These health issues exist primarily in tropic and subtropic climate zones, affecting many of the world’s poorest regions. The discoveries of this year’s Nobel laureates have lead to the development of revolutionary drugs against these parasite-causing diseases.
River blindness and Lymphatic filariasis (causing lymphedema, elephantiasis and hydrocele) is caused by parasitic worms which infect the body through blackfly or mosquito bites. Parasite larvae, when transferred to the human body, produce embryonic larvae which can either damage the lymphatic system, causing lymphatic filariasis, or migrate to the skin and eye, inducing inflammatory reactions which can cause permanent blindness in the latter (river blindness).
Elephantiasis has infected around 120 million people worldwide, whilst river blindness has infected 18 million people (approximately double the residents of Sweden) of which 270 000 people have consequently gone blind. The initial patient study of Ivermectin showed that a single dose of the drug was efficient to kill all roundworms in patients with river blindness, and today the drug is efficiently used to treat symptoms of river blindness and lymphatic filariasis, including elephantiasis, and other parasitic diseases.
Malaria is caused by parasites transferred to the human body via the bites of infected mosquitoes. The parasite, called Plasmodium, multiplies in the liver and later infects the red blood cells, causing fever, headache and vomiting. If untreated, the infection can become lethal due to insufficient blood flow to vital organs.
Malaria infects approximately 200 million people each year and according to data from WHO, half of the world’s population has a risk of infection. When Youyou Tu discovered Artemisinin it had already a 100% efficiency against malaria parasites in infected mice and monkeys. Today, artemisinin-base combination therapies (ACTs) are recommended in almost all treatments against malaria.
The discoveries of the 2015 Nobel laureates in Physiology or Medicine have both provided revolutionary therapies for patients suffering from parasitic diseases and have helped individuals and society on many levels. Since the reduction of these disease enable adults to go to work and children to go to school, these vulnerable and poor areas escape poverty by economical and educational improvements. As Hans Forsberg, member of the Nobel Assembly at Karolinska Institutet said, “The global impact of their discovery and the resulting benefit to mankind is immeasurable”.
Nobel Laureates Drawings: Ill. N. Elmehed; Nobel Media AB 2015.
Youyou Tu (China) has been awarded half of the prize for her discoveries of a drug which has significantly decreased the mortality rates amongst malaria patients.
Tu, when seeing the rise of malaria by the late 1960s, turned to traditional herbal medicine to find an effective compound against the disease. Performing a large-scale screening of herbal remedies’ efficacy in Malaria-infected animals, she found that extract from the plant Artemisia annua had a noticeable effect. Inspired by old books describing ancient remedies, she attempted to purify the active component from the plant. The active component, Artemisinin, was found to be effective against Malaria, killing the parasites in the early stages of their development.
William C. Campbell (Ireland) and Satoshi Ōmura (Japan) share half of the prize for their discoveries leading to the new drug Avermectin. Its derivatives have been proven to decrease the incidence of river blindness and lymphatic filariasis along with other similar diseases.
Satoshi Ōmura focused his research on a group of bacteria, called the Streptomyces, which had been discovered to produce agents with antibacterial effect. He did a large-scale culturing and characterization of the Streptomyces and picked out the 50 most promising cultures for further analysis of their effect on microorganisms.
William C. Campbell came across these bacteria cultures and examined their effectivity. He discovered that one of the cultures was distinctively more efficient against parasites in domestic and farm animals. From this culture, the active agent was determined and named Avermectin. This compound was later modified to Ivermectin and tested on humans showing great results in activity against parasite larvae.
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Canadian actress August Ames, real name Mercedes Grabowiski, took her life in 2017. It was widely believed that the backlash from her post on Twitter had driven the 23-year-old to hang herself.
Her husband Kevin Moore said his wife had committed suicide one day after enduring an avalanche of online abuse and bullying. “If you fire a gun into the air and that bullet randomly hits someone that you never intended to kill, you still killed them,” said Mr Moore.
Social media is an essential and perhaps inevitable reality of our time. It can be used as a force for good or evil. Given its potential for abuse, it is legitimate to ask, should social media be regulated?
In the world of social media, anyone can create a fake account instantly and use it for their ulterior motives, including malicious and evil intentions such as sending spam, child pornography, terrorism, hate speech, incitement of violence, offensive communication, cyberbullying, trolling and defamation.
With no straightforward way of establishing the hidden identity of people online, what’s to stop criminally minded individuals from engaging in online criminal activity with the sense of security that anonymity brings? These concerns, as well as privacy, data protection and copyright infringement, call for regulation.
However, owing to online anonymity, the cross-border nature of the Internet, and evolving technological innovations, the traditional media policy and the regulatory regime is often limited. Thus new measures are required in the convergent digital online environment.
Regulation v. Freedom of Expression
Whenever regulation is mentioned in the communications context, questions are bound to be asked about freedom of expression. Article 9 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) recognises the right to freedom of expression. Specifically, it provides for freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media.
Article 29 (1) (a) of the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda provides that “Every person shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression, which shall include freedom of the press and other media.”
However, both the United Nations, through the UDHR, and the Constitution of Uganda, recognise that the right to freedom of expression is not absolute.
Under Article 29(2) of the UDHR, the exercise of freedom of expression is subject “to such limitations as are determined by law solely for the purpose of securing due recognition and respect for the rights and freedoms of others and of meeting the just requirements of morality, public order, and the general welfare in a democratic society.”
On its part, the Constitution of Uganda in Article 43, which underlines some limitations on rights and freedoms, including freedom of speech and expression, says in section 1: “In the enjoyment of the rights and freedoms prescribed in this chapter, no person shall prejudice the fundamental or other human rights and freedoms of others or public interest.”
There is, therefore, a need for specific guidance on the regulation of online activities, and the protection thresholds of online communication. However, any form of social media regulation must, as the Constitution of Uganda demands, balance both the individual right to freedom of expression vis a vis the human rights and freedoms of others, and the public interest.
In the landmark case on freedom of expression in Charles Onyango Obbo and Another v Attorney General (2004), JusticeJoseph Berko held, among other things;
“I do agree that Article 29(1) of the Constitution guarantees free speech and expression and also secures press freedom. These are fundamental rights. It can be said that tolerating offensive conduct and speech is one of the prices to be paid for a reasonably free and open society. Therefore in my view, the functions of the law, and particularly criminal law should (be to) exclude from the range of individual choice those acts that are incompatible with the maintenance of public peace and safety and rights of individuals. Freedom of speech and expression cannot be invoked to protect a person ‘who falsely shouts fire, fire, in a theatre and causing panic’….. A citizen is entitled to express himself freely except where the expression would prejudice the fundamental or other human rights and freedoms of others or the public interest.”
Communication services and the space they occupy is regulated under the Uganda Communications Act of 2013. Section 5 of this law mandates the Commission to monitor, inspect, license, supervise, control, and regulate all communications services. The Commission is also mandated to set standards and enforce compliance relating to the content.
According to Black’s Law dictionary, social media refers to any cell phone or Internet-based tools and applications that are used to share and distribute information. This includes applications like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and YouTube. Therefore, as long as these platforms are used for communication, there are rules and guidelines on the same.
Section 2 of the Uganda Communications Act defines ‘communications services’ to mean services consisting of the dissemination or interchange of audio, visual or data content using postal, radio or telecommunications media, data communication, and includes broadcasting.
On the other hand, ‘content’ is defined to include “any sound, text, still picture, moving picture or other audiovisual representation, tactile representation or any combination of the proceeding which is capable of being created, manipulated, stored, retrieved or communicated electronically.”
‘Data’ is defined to mean the electronic representation of information in any form.
Hence, under the law, the provision of any services that involve communication to the public, whether by way of audio, video, sound, still or moving pictures or a combination thereof, is a communication service that is subject to the regulatory control of the Commission.
International Approaches to Social Media regulation
United Kingdom
Just as in Uganda, many countries are grappling with social media regulation. Under section 127 of the Communications Act 2003 of the United Kingdom, which governs the internet, email, mobile phone calls and text messaging, it is an offence to send messages that are “grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character.” The offence occurs whether those targeted receive the message or not.
In December 2013, the Crown Prosecution Service of the United Kingdom issued ‘Guidelines on prosecuting cases involving communications sent via Social Media’ designed to ensure consistency in the approach of prosecution of offences committed by sending communications over social media.
Where social media is used as a medium to facilitate another substantive offence, the Guidelines proffer that prosecution should proceed under the substantive offence in question.
The Guidelines categorise the offences into four broad areas;
3. Breach of Court Orders (e.g. identifying people protected by law)
4. Communications which are grossly offensive, indecent, obscene or false (Section 127, Communications Act 2003)
Notably, the threshold for prosecution in the fourth category is significantly higher than the first three. This is an attempt to strike a balance between the right to freedom of expression and abuse of this right.
Besides, the Terrorism Act 2006 provides for the removal of terrorist material hosted online in the UK if it; glorifies or praises terrorism, could be useful to conducting terrorism; urges people to commit or support terrorism.
Further, in line with a voluntary code of practice, leading Internet Service Providers to employ filtering mechanisms to block criminal content, including sites that promote online child sexual abuse, terrorism and copyright-infringement.
The French government enacted a decree in 2015 that allows the blocking of websites identified to be promoting terrorism and publishing child pornography, without seeking a court order. These new rules, oblige Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to take down offending websites within 24 hours of receiving a government order.
Under the Telecommunications Act 1997, the government requires ISPs to block specified websites, particularly those identified in child abuse claims. There is also a push to establish a voluntary or self-regulatory regime where ISPs would employ filtering mechanisms to block illegal content.
Section 79 of the Information Technology Act creates the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) Rules 2011, which oblige Internet Intermediaries to observe due diligence in the execution of their duties and inform end-users of computer resources on responsible use of the internet, i.e. not to host, display, upload, modify, publish, transmit, update or share any information which is harmful, objectionable, against the law and can affect minors.
Social Media regulation in Uganda
Under Section 5(1) of the Communications Act 2013, UCC is tasked to; Monitor, inspect, license, supervise, control and regulate communications services, and to set standards, monitor and enforce compliance relating to content.
Section 31, Uganda Communications Act 2013 and the Fourth Schedule to the Act on minimum standards for broadcast content, require that all content;
1. is not contrary to public morality;
2. does not promote the culture of violence or ethnic prejudice among the public, especially the children and the youth;
3. in the case of a news broadcast, is free from distortion of facts;
4. is not likely to create public insecurity or violence;
5. complies with the existing law;
(b) programmes that are broadcast are balanced to ensure harmony in such programmes;
(c) adult-oriented programmes are appropriately scheduled;
(d) where a programme that is broadcast is in respect to a contender for a public office, that each contender is given the equal opportunity on such a programme;
(e) requires that content is verified where it relates to national security.
However, given the limitation of traditional media policy and regulation with regard to social media, our focus is more on the content that is transmitted over these platforms than the actual platforms.
Where the broadcaster or video operator plays the role of gatekeeper, enforcement is possible as they can easily be held accountable for the content carried over their platform. The closest analogy to a gatekeeper for Internet/social media is the local Internet Service Provider (ISP).
Under Section 11 of the Regulation of Interception of Communications Act (RICA) 2010, telecommunication service providers, which definition includes Internet Service Providers (ISPs), are required to under the guidance of and in a manner prescribed by the Minister responsible for Information and Communications Technology, provide services capable of being intercepted.
An extra regulatory position could be to require ISPs to filter/block/take down websites with specified content, e.g. child pornography, terrorism, hate speech, incitement of violence, breach of any law or as per the minimum broadcasting standards, over their networks.
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Getting Started with Data Science
Making Sense of Data with Analytics
Author: Murtaza Haider
Publisher: IBM Press
ISBN: 9780133991024
Category: Computers
Page: 250
View: 1384
Master Data Analytics Hands-On by Solving Fascinating Problems You'll Actually Enjoy! Harvard Business Review recently called data science "The Sexiest Job of the 21st Century." It's not just sexy: For millions of managers, analysts, and students who need to solve real business problems, it's indispensable. Unfortunately, there's been nothing easy about learning data science-until now. Getting Started with Data Science takes its inspiration from worldwide best-sellers like Freakonomics and Malcolm Gladwell's Outliers: It teaches through a powerful narrative packed with unforgettable stories. Murtaza Haider offers informative, jargon-free coverage of basic theory and technique, backed with plenty of vivid examples and hands-on practice opportunities. Everything's software and platform agnostic, so you can learn data science whether you work with R, Stata, SPSS, or SAS. Best of all, Haider teaches a crucial skillset most data science books ignore: how to tell powerful stories using graphics and tables. Every chapter is built around real research challenges, so you'll always know why you're doing what you're doing. You'll master data science by answering fascinating questions, such as: * Are religious individuals more or less likely to have extramarital affairs? * Do attractive professors get better teaching evaluations? * Does the higher price of cigarettes deter smoking? * What determines housing prices more: lot size or the number of bedrooms? * How do teenagers and older people differ in the way they use social media? * Who is more likely to use online dating services? * Why do some purchase iPhones and others Blackberry devices? * Does the presence of children influence a family's spending on alcohol? For each problem, you'll walk through defining your question and the answers you'll need; exploring how others have approached similar challenges; selecting your data and methods; generating your statistics; organizing your report; and telling your story. Throughout, the focus is squarely on what matters most: transforming data into insights that are clear, accurate, and can be acted upon.
The Human Element of Big Data
Issues, Analytics, and Performance
Author: Geetam S. Tomar,Narendra S. Chaudhari,Robin Singh Bhadoria,Ganesh Chandra Deka
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 149875418X
Category: Business & Economics
Page: 351
View: 8740
The proposed book talks about the participation of human in Big Data.How human as a component of system can help in making the decision process easier and vibrant.It studies the basic build structure for big data and also includes advanced research topics.In the field of Biological sciences, it comprises genomic and proteomic data also. The book swaps traditional data management techniques with more robust and vibrant methodologies that focus on current requirement and demand through human computer interfacing in order to cope up with present business demand. Overall, the book is divided in to five parts where each part contains 4-5 chapters on versatile domain with human side of Big Data.
Author: N.A
Publisher: N.A
Page: N.A
View: 3319
Messaging and Queuing Using the MQI
Concepts & Analysis, Design & Development
Author: Burnie Blakeley
Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
ISBN: 9780070057302
Category: Computers
Page: 469
View: 9640
Written by the developers of Message Queue Interface, this book first introduces messaging, then explains how messaging works. It then shows readers how to use it immediately with available products and how to design and program simple messaging application programs. The book also provides an object comparison between mail-messaging and online messaging.
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Bone Density Scans Specialist
Austin Area Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Fertility
OB-GYNs located in Austin, TX
Osteoporosis increases the risk of dangerous and painful hip and spine fractures. Austin Area Ob-Gyn & Fertility in Texas offers safe, painless, state-of-the-art bone density scans to help women detect the presence and degree of decreased bone mass.
Bone Density Scans Q & A
What is a bone density scan?
Bones provide a strong framework for the body in addition to supporting normal, healthy movement. Strong bones have a specific density or mass designed to support the weight of the other tissues as well as facilitate normal motions and physical activity. Sometimes, bone density can begin to decline, resulting in weakened bones that are far more likely to break. Bone density scans are painless tests that evaluate the mass of bones to determine if bone loss is occurring or to manage the treatment of bone loss in patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis.
How are bone density scans performed?
Bone density scans use a special type of low-emission x-ray to evaluate bone tissue, usually in the thigh, forearm or lower spine. Sometimes, tests are performed on the smaller bones of the wrist or fingers. Scans may be performed using a large scanner similar to the large x-ray machine used to image bones when a fracture is suspected, or using a portable scanner. Most scans take about 10 to 30 minutes to complete and are completely painless. Bone density scanning is sometimes referred to as bone densitometry, dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry or DEXA.
What is osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a disease that causes bones to become porous and brittle, making them much more likely to break. In osteoporosis, the bones lose their ability to replace old, worn bone with new, healthy bone at a rate necessary to keep bones healthy and strong. People who have osteoporosis have low levels of minerals in their bones, decreasing the overall strength of the bone tissue matrix. Without appropriate care, bones will continue to weaken over time, making those who have the disease much more likely to develop broken bones. In severe stages of the disease, even simple motions like walking, standing or coughing can cause bones to fracture. Osteoporosis occurs most commonly in the bones of the thighs, forearms, and spine, but it can affect other bones as well. Osteopenia is considered a “precursor” to osteoporosis and refers to bones that are less dense than normal but have not progressed to osteoporosis.
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Digestive remedies for when food poisoning strikes.
It’s been a long, hot summer. However, where there’s food and fun at BBQs and picnics, there’s also the not so fun risk of food poisoning. If you’ve been the unlucky one this summer, what can you do to speed up your digestive system recovery when food poisoning strikes?!
What happens to your digestive system when you have food poisoning?
Often you’ll start to experience food poisoning symptoms a few hours after eating the offending food. But sometimes it can take a few days for the symptoms to start which makes it harder to pinpoint the culprit. Often undercooked food is the problem or improperly handled meat when preparing.
Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhoea are the most common symptoms, but you can have a high temperature and a general feeling of unwell such as weakness or chills. Food poisoning should only last a few days or up to a week. If it lasts longer, you may have a more serious infection and should consult a doctor.
The bad bacteria in the contaminated food infects the intestines, causing the body to draw extra fluid into the digestive system to flush it out. This then causes diarrhoea or vomiting to expel the bacteria out. You shouldn’t try to stop this from happening by taking anti-sickness medicine, or diarrhoea combatting drugs, as it’s the body’s way of ridding itself of the contamination.
What can you do to help your gut fight food poisoning?
There are many home remedies to help your digestive system fight the bacteria and some to help you recover and start to feel a little better. So here are my favourites that you can try:
• Let your stomach rest. After a horrible episode of vomiting or diarrhoea, the last thing that your digestive system needs is food or drink inside it. Avoid all food and drink for a couple of hours and let it rest. If you’re very thirsty or dehydrated though, take small sips of water (see my next tip!).
• If you’re feeling thirsty, drink water! I know I say this with everything, but a common side effect of diarrhoea or vomiting will be dehydration. If you drink more, it will help to flush the bad bacteria through the body. If you’ve been very sick, start with a couple of small sips every five minutes to keep up the fluid intake without causing you to vomit again. Using a timer is helpful to remember to drink something little and often. If you’re starting to feel a little better and able to drink more without being sick, try drinks with electrolytes, chicken/vegetable broth or decaf tea.
• Increase the number of good bacteria in your stomach to help fight the bad bacteria, by taking a high quality probiotic. You can get infant powders that are easily added to drinks if you want to use for children.
• When you are able to eat something (try not to eat anything for a few hours after a bout of food poisoning symptoms), try food that is gentle on your stomach. Avoid anything too fatty so that the gut doesn’t have to do much work to digest it. Some examples are bananas, porridge (made with water only), mashed potatoes, rice, plain toast and stewed apple.
• Honey has antibacterial properties and can be taken on its own or in tea. One teaspoon three times a day can help an upset stomach. If you are able to eat, you could have this on your toast.
• Ginger is a common remedy as it improves the absorption of essential nutrients and aids digestion. It’s a quick remedy for nausea and vomiting too and can be sipped if you’re still suffering from sickness, as it will help to soothe the stomach. Make a simple ginger tea by adding a teaspoon of fresh grated ginger to boiling water and leaving to steep for a few minutes, then sipping throughout the day. You can add a little honey to it for sweetness if you prefer too.
• Cider Vinegar can help kill those bad bacteria and soothe the lining of the gut too. Just mix a tablespoon of cider vinegar into a cup of hot water with some a teaspoon of honey to taste and drink through the day.
I hope that you don’t come a cropper to a bout of food poisoning, but if you do, hopefully these tips will help to shorten the episode and bring you some relief. The digestive system is an amazing part of our body and knows just what to do when it is infected. All we can do it aid its recovery and not try to stop it doing its job.
If you’ve suffered this summer with your digestive system in some way and need some help recovering, then please do get in touch with me for a consultation to see how I can help. I offer a number of complementary therapies too, so please take a look at my menu of services to see if there is something that can help you.
I hope you have a wonderful time for the rest of the summer and remember, there is never a hosepipe ban with The Colonic Queen!
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Dental plaque containing pathogenic microflora, is a necessary component in the initiation of both dental caries and periodontal disease, the two most prevalent oral diseases. As an integral part of the prevention and treatment of caries and periodontal diseases, patients become co-practitioners with their oral health providers and their sustained daily maintenance of oral hygiene becomes critical to the success of professional oral health interventions. However, patient levels of home care vary considerably and are often suboptimal. Despite recommendations from the American Dental Association (ADA) that individuals brush for two minutes twice daily.12 the average individual performs 45-70 seconds of toothbrushing daily.10 Similarly, patient compliance with regular and sustained daily use of dental floss for interdental cleaning has been estimated to be as low as 2%.13 In a survey from the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), more than 35% of respondents stated they would rather perform an unpleasant task, like filing their tax return or cleaning their toilet, than floss.14
Given the lack of public enthusiasm for oral hygiene measures and, in particular, for flossing,14 there was a large amount of public interest in August 2016 when the U.S. government released a statement that discussed the rationale for the omission of references to oral hygiene from the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.15 Included in this omission were recommendations for 1) consumption of fluoridated water, 2) reduction of sugary food and beverage consumption, and 3) tooth brushing and flossing as effective methods to reduce the risk of dental caries. In response to a government Freedom of Information Act request, it was reported by the Associated Press that the flossing recommendation was excluded due to a lack of definitive scientific evidence stating flossing prevents dental caries.16 This was proportedly based upon a 2011 meta-analysis that concluded current scientific evidence exists to support interdental cleaning for the prevention and treatment of gingivitis, but more studies may be needed to demonstrate definitive benefit for the prevention of dental caries and periodontitis.1
Given the current oral hygiene practices and public interest in the omission of oral health references from the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans for the first time since 1979,15 it is critical for dental healthcare providers to be able to review the current scientific evidence and recent recommendations from government and non-profit groups to make individualized recommendations for their patients, to allow for optimal implementation and compliance for oral self-care in their patients.
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Protecting insect species in Essex
Heath Fritillary by Tom Marshall
It was worrying to hear further news of insect decline earlier this year; it is reported that more than 40% of insect species are declining and a third are endangered.
Insects are crucial to many ecosystems and vital for the food chain - extreme losses will have disastrous consequences. At Essex Wildlife Trust, we are working hard to protect key insect habitats and monitor insect populations across the county.
How are we helping insects in Essex?
Essex Wildlife Trust Belfairs Woodland Nature Reserve in South Essex was a key location in 2018 for insect habitat management; the successful re-introduction of the Heath Fritillary, one of Britain’s rarest butterflies, led to a second brood emerging for the first time in September.
Heath Fritillary second brood at Belfairs Woodland September 2018
Insects require a mosaic of interconnected habitats and vegetation structures to meet their nesting, foraging, hunting and overwintering requirements. Over at Thurrock Thameside Nature Park, Essex Wildlife Trust has been working closely with invertebrate conservation organisation Buglife to create habitats where invertebrates can thrive, including managing age structure for bramble for overwintering invertebrates and improving the flower rich meadows vital for foraging insects such as one of the UK’s rarest bumblebees, the Shrill Carder Bee.
Shrill Carder Bee
Shrill Carder Bee
In the North of the county, Cockaynes Wood Nature Reserve is situated in an area which was once extensively used for sand and gravel extraction and now supports a whole array of wildlife and invertebrates. Heather and Common Cow Wheat spread down the slopes; in the summer months, large numbers of dragonflies frequent the ponds and heathland and in the rough woodland on the southern fringe, Glow Worms light up the foliage with their soft green glow.
Dragonfly by Peter Hewitt
Dragonfly by Peter Hewitt
Andrew Impey, Chief Executive Officer for Essex Wildlife Trust explains the importance of making insect conservation a priority –
“Insects really are the unsung heroes of the animal world and it’s no exaggeration to say that the planet wouldn’t exist as we know it, were it not for their existence. For many people they are just creepy crawlies that look a bit weird, but they perform vital roles in the ecological functioning of the countryside. From pollinating much of our food, to the decomposition of dead organic matter, insects are at the heart of any habitat.
Remove humans from the planet and the world would be absolutely fine; but remove insects and very quickly, vital ecological processes start to break down and entire habitats and wildlife communities become threatened. Conservation is therefore not just for the benefit of wildlife enthusiasts, but it serves to preserve communities and a way of life. It’s everyone’s responsibility to acknowledge these issues and demand that habitats and species are preserved in perpetuity.”
What can you do to help?
Everyone can help insects to thrive; with a few simple steps you can create your own garden insect habitats.
Plant bee-friendly plants
Flowers and shrubs that are rich in pollen will have your garden buzzing with bees. Pick winter flowers such as Crocus and winter-flowering Heather to help late flying/early emerging bees, and spring flowers such as Spotted Deadnettle and Lungwort for warmer weather.
Leave your lawn
By cutting your lawn a little less often, you can create a haven for insects. Allow plants such as Daisies, Clovers and Buttercups to flower and they will provide valuable nectar and pollen resources.
Create a mini-meadow
Butterflies, bees and many other species love to visit wildflowers including Knapweed, Cowslip and Meadow Buttercup. Plant your mini-meadow in a sunny spot in your garden if possible without fertilising the soil; wildflowers thrive in poor soil.
Build a Bug Hotel
Create a home for bugs with your very own Bug Hotel! This is an opportunity to utilise important materials such as dead wood – this is an increasingly important insect habitat especially for species such as Wood-boring Beetles. You can also include hollow stems, stones and tiles and dry leaves. Download your very own guide here
Support Essex Wildlife Trust
We are dedicated to the protection of wildlife across Essex, and with your support we can continue to make a difference. Find out how you can help to protect wildlife in your area right here.
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In Wolfburn Distillery the manager told me it is the strike temperature that is important ~ this means the temperature when the hot water first goes through the grist, the malted barley. The strike is when the conversion happens. When the hot water hits the malted barley it sets off a reaction. This is when 90% of the conversion of the sugars occurs.
In Ardnamurchan Distillery they told me that the size of their mash tun was governed by the size of the road coming into the area.
A bigger mash tun would mean a bigger lorry and it would not have been able to drive up the roads of the Ardnamurchan peninsula to the distillery. The mashtun at Ardnamurchan holds 2 tonnes of grist and drains 10,000 litres to washback.
When Alfred Barnard was in Jura in 1886 the stirring gear in the mashtun was turned by a water wheel.
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A Brief Introduction to Yoga
A Brief Introduction To Yoga
By: Christa Sperry RMP, RYT-200
“I would do yoga, but I’m not flexible enough”, is something I very often hear. Yoga doesn’t require you to be flexible physically, however, depending on the type of yoga one practices, flexibility may become a by-product of one’s actions. Additionally, YOGA IS FOR EVERY BODY TYPE. It’s true! From the young to the old, the weak to the strong, the mobile to the not-so-mobile, there is some aspect of it for everyone. There are props that can be used and modifications that can be made for almost every physical posture. Let’s explore the varied paths of Yoga a bit more in depth, perhaps you’ll see that it is suited to you after all, or maybe that you’re even already doing some of its practices without knowing it.
The word Yoga comes from the Sanskrit word, “yuj”, meaning to yoke/unite/join. It is called as such because at its heart, Yoga is a practice aimed at uniting the body, spirit, and mind. Yoga has been practiced for many thousands of years, and in that time, it has branched into many limbs or schools of thought each emphasizing an aspect of Yoga that the branching group deemed the most high (much like Christianity and Buddhism branched into their various forms). There is Bhakti Yoga with its emphasis on devotion and prayer; Karma Yoga which values selfless service and action; Jnana Yoga which focuses on the will, intellect, and self-study to achieve liberation from maya (illusion); Raja Yoga (also known as Ashtanga Yoga) which aims at turning our mental and physical energy into spiritual energy through the Eight Limbs outlined in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras; and finally Hatha Yoga. Hatha is similar to Raja Yoga in some ways, using asanas (postures) and pranayama (yogic breath), however it is usually a bit slower and more deliberate. In the west, Hatha has become a kind of blanket term for the many different styles of yoga that have cropped up across yoga studios over the past century. Let’s take a closer look at the different limbs individually:
Bhakti Yoga is the path of Divine Love. It’s root word bhaj, means “belong to, share, devotion to, worship” etc. Therefore it is the practice of coming into union with one’s own personal God through constant devotion. Devotion takes many forms including prayer, mantra recitation, kirtan, surrender, asking one’s personal God for guidance, offering one’s actions/food/results to the personal God, and more.
Karma Yoga is the path of action and selfless service. The ancient 700 verse Hindu scripture, the Bhagavad Gita has this to say about selfless service:
In other words: do all the things, be an active part of this world, but do not have attachments to the fruit (good or bad) of your labor. The outcome does not belong to you, because you are doing it for a Higher Power or the greater good. You do what you do because it is the RIGHT thing to do. The moment we become wrapped up in the goal, or care how fondly people will think of us, or think only of what we stand to gain by being of service, we have completely missed the point of Karma Yoga. In addition to giving up attachments to results, Karma Yoga also asks us to do our duty (or dharma, purpose) and do it well.
Jnana Yoga is considered by many to be the most challenging path as it requires incredible strength of will and intellect. A Jnana Yogi uses their mind to examine their own true nature and then transcend all identifications the mind has with the ego. The ultimate goal is to be released from the shackles of maya (illusion), and merge the Atman (inner Self) with Brahman (Truth, oneness of all life). One achieves liberation on the path of Jnana Yoga by practicing the self-reflective techniques outlined in The Four Pillars of Knowledge. Briefly, these are:
• Viveka (discernment, discrimination)
• Vairagya (dispassion, detachment)
• Shatsampat (six virtues)
• Mumukshutva (longing, yearning)
The path of Jnana Yoga is not for the faint at heart, it is not suggested for those who have a history of mental or emotional instability. Before diving too deeply into Jnana Yoga, many highly suggest finding a qualified teacher to help lead you down this path.
Raja Yoga, known as the ‘Royal Path’ and referred to by many as ‘classical yoga’ was interpreted by the Sage Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras over 1,800 years ago. It aims to bring unity to the mind/body/spirit by turning the gross energies of the physical and mental planes into energy on the spiritual plane. Though it uses Patanjali’s Eight Limbs of Yoga, it is generally more concerned with the last 4 limbs (Pratyahara - withdrawal of senses , Dharana - concentration, Dhyana - meditation, and Samadhi - absorption). Though there are similarities to Raja Yoga and Hatha Yoga (indeed, they can be practiced together), Raja Yoga’s focus is consciousness, going within oneself, and meditation leading to the melting into Oneness or Truth.
Hatha Yoga is the physical path. It is what most people in the west are talking about when they say ‘I went to yoga today’. The word Hatha is made up of two root words: ‘ha’ or sun, and ‘tha’ or moon. Thus Hatha Yoga is the practice of attempting to balance the Yang qualities (hot, bright, dry, active, male, restless, penetrating) and the Yin qualities (cold, dark, damp, passive, receptive, female) within us all. It is the bringing together of opposites, which in the physical body means gaining strength and putting forth effort whilst also having flexibility and surrendering into asanas (postures).
Hatha Yoga primarily utilizes the practices of asana, pranayama (yogic breath), mudras (hand gestures), bandhas (body locks), and traditionally, shatkarma (internal cleansing). The goal being to awaken kundalini (subtle energy coiled like a snake at the bottom of the spine), purify the physical body, and to ripen prana (life force energy, similar to the Chinese idea of qi). The oldest known text describing Hatha Yoga is the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, written in the 15th century CE by Swami Swatamarama. It is a mix of his own personal experiences, information from older texts, and the teachings of other respected teachers. In the Pradipika, Swami Swatamarama explains that Hatha Yoga is the preliminary step to reaching Raja Yoga, and thus samadhi (bliss).
As you can see, Yoga is bigger, deeper, and much more multifaceted than simply stretching your hamstrings or touching your toes. It is, at its heart, a spiritual practice aimed at union between body, soul, mind, breath, and The Big Picture (whatever that may mean to you). It should be noted that Yoga does not require you to believe in any religion in order to participate in it or reap its benefits. It has ideas that many will find compatible to their own personal beliefs in god or the universe. You can use Yoga and its philosophies to become a better whatever you already are, and perhaps find a calmer mind and more flexible body along the way.
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Culinary Arts
What Is Kombucha? Learn How Kombucha Is Made and Why Kombucha Is so Popular
Written by MasterClass
Aug 13, 2019 • 2 min read
Kombucha has made its way out of the health food store and into the mainstream.
What Is Kombucha?
Kombucha is a fermented tea beverage that likely originated in China, spreading both through Russia to Eastern Europe and to Japan and Korea at least a few hundred years ago.
Why Has Kombucha Become so Popular?
Renewed interest in wellness, especially our gut bacteria, has made kombucha a multimillion-dollar business. Once made predominantly by home brewers, the effervescent drink is now sold widely in supermarkets. Kombucha also naturally contains some alcohol, though how much depends on how it’s made.
Commercial kombucha contains less than 0.5% alcohol by volume, since kombucha with higher alcohol content must be regulated by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (sometimes marketed as “hard” kombucha).
What Are the Health Benefits of Kombucha?
Like other fermented foods such as kefir and sauerkraut, kombucha is probiotic, which means that it contains beneficial bacteria. Kombucha also contains B vitamins, vitamin C, acetic acid, and lactic acid.
What Is a SCOBY?
SCOBY stands for “symbiotic community of bacteria and yeasts.”
Like a vinegar “mother,” sourdough starter, or ginger bug, a kombucha SCOBY is the microbial community that kick-starts the fermentation process. It’s also known as a “tea fungus” or “tea mushroom,” though the SCOBY is not actually a mushroom—it’s a gelatinous mass that contains the yeasts and bacteria that turn sugary tea into kombucha.
• The exact bacteria and yeast living in a SCOBY will vary, but often include Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Gluconacetobacter xylinus.
• You can make a SCOBY by pouring some kombucha in a wide-mouth jar secured with cloth. Wait about a week for a film to form. This is the SCOBY, and it will grow as you make your own kombucha, forming a new layer on top of the old. If you know someone who brews their own kombucha, you can ask them to give you a piece of their SCOBY.
Kombucha in jars with cloth covering
How Is Kombucha Produced?
Homemade kombucha is made by steeping tea leaves (usually black tea, but kombucha can also be made with other teas from the Camellia sinensis plant, such as green tea, white tea, or oolong tea) in hot water with sugar.
• When the tea is strong enough, the leaves are removed and some kombucha from a previous batch is added to the sweet tea broth, increasing the acidity of the fermentation environment and preventing the growth of unwanted microbes.
• The mix is transferred to a fermentation vessel, such as a wide-mouth glass jar, and a SCOBY is added to introduce the desired microbes.
• The mixture is covered with a cloth, coffee filter, or other material that allows the exchange of gases but prevents the entry of bugs.
• The kombucha is then left to ferment at room temperature until it reaches the desired flavor, alcohol content, and fizz. During the fermentation process, yeast produces alcohol, which bacteria converts into acid.
• A new layer of SCOBY forms on top of the old one, and the kombucha will become lighter in color, produce bubbles, and taste vinegary.
• After the initial fermentation, the SCOBY is removed and stored with a small amount of kombucha.
• The kombucha can then be strained and bottled, or can continue to ferment for another few days on the counter, or at a slower rate in the fridge. Once fermentation is complete, some brewers add flavorings such as herbs or fruit.
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ticks in long grass outside tulsa home
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What do ticks look like?
In Oklahoma, ticks are a common problem for both homeowners and businesses. The most commonly encountered ticks are the deer tick and the brown dog tick.tick on a white background
Deer ticks
Adult deer ticks have a broad, oval-shaped body; before feeding adults are about the size of a sesame seed or about 1/8th of an inch in length. They become larger in size after feeding and their color changes from orangish brown to a more reddish brown or rust color. Their most distinctive feature is that the adults 8 legs are darker in color than the rest of their body; this is also where they get their other common name “blacklegged tick” from. Deer ticks are wingless and have no antennae.
Brown dog ticks
Adult brown dog ticks are reddish-brown in color and are without any distinguishing markings on their body. Before feeding, adults are about 1/8th of an inch long, and have a flat elongated body; after having a blood meal their bodies expand to about ½ of an inch in length and they turn a bluish-gray color. Adults have 8 legs, the larva has 6 legs. Males and female are very similar in appearance except in most cases males are smaller than the females.
Where are ticks found?
Deer ticks are typically found in high grasses, along wooded trails, along the edges of fields and fence lines, and in the vegetation along ditches as well as in wooded areas.
The brown dog tick is unique in the fact that it can complete its entire lifecycle indoors, these ticks survive best indoors and prefer warm, dry living conditions. Brown dog ticks are usually found in infesting areas where pets spend a lot of time. They are also found living in and along window sills, baseboards, the edges of carpets, and in the cracks of furniture. As to be expected brown dog ticks are also a common problem in and around kennels and dog boarding facilities.
Are ticks dangerous?
Deer ticks are dangerous in that they can carry and transmit a variety of serious diseases. Deer ticks are most well-known for carrying and transmitting Lyme disease to both people and animals. Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi and if left untreated can cause serious health problems including complication with joints, and the heart and nervous system.
Brown dog ticks, rarely feed on people, preferring the blood of canines over any other species of mammal; because of this brown dog ticks are generally more of a concern for dogs than people. They can transmit a variety of diseases to animals including ehrlichiosis. It is important to note that these ticks do carry and have the potential to transmit Rocky Mountain spotted fever to people so care should always be taken around these parasitic pests. Quick action should always be taken against these pests in the case of an infestation.
Why are ticks on my property?
Deer ticks are most likely on your property because the conditions are favorable for them to hide out and to find a host for a blood meal. Deer ticks are also introduced onto properties by wild animals passing through.
Brown dog ticks are wingless and can’t jump, they move from new location to a new location on the hosts that they are feeding on. Brown dog ticks can be introduced to properties on the bodies of dogs that travel through or visit, or on the bodies of wild animals. After they are done feeding they fall off of their host onto the ground. They will then hide and wait until a new host passes by and crawl onto that host, attach themselves to it, and begin feeding on it.
How do I get rid of ticks?
Montgomery Exterminating provides effective tick control for properties in and around Tulsa and the Grand Lake area. Our treatments focus on areas where ticks hide, including lawns, shrubs, and tall grasses. Learn more about our tick control services and visit our home pest control page to find out how you can bundle tick control with an ongoing pest control program and save!
Helpful Tick Articles
Why Ticks Pose Serious Health Risks to Oklahoma Residents and Pets
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Armenia’s Velvet Revolution and What It Means for Its Legal System
By Sona Movsisyan
Armenia is a small landlocked, post-Soviet country.[1] It is considered one of the oldest countries in the world,[2] yet it only became a sovereign nation in 1991.[3] Armenia was previously occupied by the Ottoman Empire and then by the Soviet Union, causing it to experience tragedy and instability.[4] However, with its independence came other struggles- poverty, government corruption, and economic domination by the oligarchs.[5] Armenia’s history set the stage for the Velvet Revolution.
Armenia first adopted a Constitution in 1995, which set up a semi-presidential system, giving the President considerable powers.[6] For two decades, the president of Armenia was the most powerful man, however, that is no longer the case. Serzh Sarksyan, the third president of Armenia, reached his two-term limit serving from 2008 to 2018.[7] During Sarksyan’s presidency, a constitutional referendum was held in 2015.[8] The referendum shifted power to the Prime Minister, who would be elected by the Parliament and the president’s role would become largely ceremonial.[9] President Sarksyan “had promised in 2014 that he would ‘not aspire’ to be prime minister if Armenia switched from a presidential to a parliamentary system as a result of the referendum.[10] However, just eight days after resigning as president, the ruling Republican party nominated Serzh Sarksyan as its candidate for Prime Minister.[11] Many opponents accused Sarksyan of “engineering a power grab” by changing the nation’s political system to ensure he can remain in power.[12] Thousands of Armenians hit the streets on April 17 to protest the newly elected Prime Minister.[13] This was not the first time Armenians protested against the government. Previous protests ended violently, including in March 2008, June 2015, and July 2016, when police officers used excessive force to break up largely peaceful demonstrations.[14]
Surprisingly, the April 2018 protests were peaceful and successful, catching international attention.[15] The “public grievances run deep in Armenia,” causing many Armenians to say, ‘enough is enough’ and demand a change for their country.[16] Armenians were angry about election manipulations, including vote buying and falsified results, as well as the widespread government corruption and the major class disparities.[17] Additionally, “there [was] the lack of accountability for abuses committed by law enforcement, lack of judicial independence, and other human rights issues.[18] The Armenian people protested for 11 days, journalists estimated a turnout of roughly 50,000 people just at the capital, Yerevan.[19] Demonstrators barricaded the roads, skipped work and school, danced and sang, demanding the resignation of the Prime Minister, Serzh Sarksyan.[20] Soldiers, religious leaders, and other political opponents joined the citizens of Armenia, collectively taking a stand against the government. Leading the demonstrators was Nikol Pashinyan, a former newspaper editor and political prisoner.[21] Due to the resilience of the Armenian people and their unwavering commitment for change, Prime Minister Sarksyan resigned.[22] This was a monumental moment for Armenia.[23] The people not only toppled the government of Armenia, but they also elected a man of the people, Nikol Pashinyan, to be the new Prime Minister.[24]
Sarksyan, after meeting with Pashinyan, gave a brief resignation statement saying, “I was wrong. There are a few solutions to the current situation, but I am not one of them. . . . The movement in the streets is against my leadership, and so I am fulfilling your demand.”[25] Protests turned to celebrations in Yerevan, as crowds of people waved the Armenian flag and cheered for their victory.[26] Pashinyan addressed the people stating, “Your victory is not that I was elected as prime minister of Armenia; your victory is that you decided who should be prime minister.”[27] This overnight transformation was a “culmination of a journey that began some 20 years ago,” stated Pashinyan.[28]
The government transition that resulted from the people’s revolution has significantly impacted Armenia’s legal system, because justice reform is the Prime Minister’s focus and will be one of Armenia’s biggest challenges going forward. The newly elected Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that he was going to “fight against corruption, abuses and the shadow economy.”[29] Therefore, within just a few months of being in office, “the anti-corruption drive has led to criminal charges or investigations into figures in Sarkisyan’s formerly ruling Republican Party, including ex-army generals, customs officers and several other senior officials.”[30] For instance, former Armenian President Robert Kocharyan was arrested on charges of “overthrowing the constitutional order” during events that occurred in the March 2008 protests.[31] Kocharyan served as President of Armenia from 1998 to 2008.[32] At the end of his term, Kocharyan was accused of rigging the 2008 presidential polls in favor of his supporter Serzh Sarkisyan.[33] In February and March 2008, protestors who supported the opposition presidential candidate Levon Ter-Petrosian, hit the streets demanding validation of the election results.[34] During the protests, eight protesters and two police officers were killed, and Kocharyan is being charged with the mishandling of the deadly breakup.[35] A Yerevan district court ruled to keep Kocharyan under arrest pending the investigation.[36] Kocharian rejected the accusations as “politically motivated and ‘fabricated’” and “defended the legality of his decision to declare a state of emergency and order Armenian army units into central Yerevan.”[37] Separately, former Deputy Defense Minister Yuri Khachaturov, who was in charge during the post-election developments, was also charged with “usurping the constitutional order.”[38] However, Khachaturov was released on bail by the district court.[39] Furthermore, Prime Minister Pashinyan has named a new head of the Special Investigative Service to ensure that the criminal investigations into these incidents is conducted accurately and honestly.[40]
Many Armenians are hopeful that with a new Prime Minister things will change for the better. However, skepticism exists about the transformation of Armenia’s legal system. Only time will tell whether Prime Minister Pashinyan will be able to end the government corruption, reintroduce law and order, and eliminate impunity for criminals of status.
[1] Rayhan Demytrie, Why Armenia ‘Velvet Revolution’ won without a bullet fired, BBC News (May 1, 2018),
[2] The History of Armenia, Little Armenia, (last visited Aug. 21, 2018).
[3] The Republic of Armenia declared its independence on the 21st of September, 1991, 100 Years 100 Facts, (last visited Aug. 21, 2018).
[4] The History of Armenia, supra note 2.
[5] Giorgi Gogia, Armenia’s Prime Minister Steps Down Amid Protests, Human Rights Watch (Apr. 23, 2018),
[6] Serob Abrahamian, A History of the Armenian Constitution, Armenian Weekly (Apr. 1, 2017),
[7] Id.
[8] Id.
[9] Id.
[10] Tens of Thousadns Protest in Yerevan, Other Armenian Cities Against Sarkisian As Now Prime Minister, RFE/RL Armenian Service (Apr. 17, 2018),
[11] Armenian ruling party nominates former president Sarksyan for PM’s job, Reuters (Apr. 14, 2018),
[12] Id.
[13] Gogia, supra note 5.
[14] Id.
[15] Tens of Thousadns Protest in Yerevan, Other Armenian Cities Against Sarkisian As Now Prime Minister, supra note 10.
[16] Gogia, supra note 5.
[17] Id.
[18] Id.
[19] Suyin Haynes, Armenia’s Prime Minister Has Resigned After Days of Protests. Here’s What to Know About the Country’s ‘Peaceful Revolution’, TIME (Apr. 24, 2018),
[20] Gianluca Mezzofiore, Protesters blocked roads in Armenia’s capital. This little boy used his toy cars, CNN (May 2, 2018),
[21] Neil MacFarqsuhar, He Was a Protester a Month Ago. Now, Nikol Pashinyan Leads Armenia, NY Times (May 8, 2018),
[22] Neil MacFarqsuhar & Richard Perez-Pena, ‘I Was Wrong’: Armenian Leader Quits Amid Protests, NY Times (Apr. 23, 2018),
[23] Id.
[24] MacFarqsuhar, supra note 21.
[25] Serge Sarkisian’s Statement of Resignation, Armenian Weekly (Apr. 23, 2018),
[26] MacFarqsuhar & Perez-Pena, supra note 22.
[27] MacFarqsuhar, supra note 21.
[28] Id.
[29] Emil Danielyan, Government Details First Results of Crackdown on Tax Fraud, Azatutyun (July 10, 2018),, explaining that the Armenian government has already uncovered $42 million of unpaid taxes in just two months, mostly involving individuals involved with former President Serzh Sarkisyan, including Sarkisyan’s chief bodyguard and brother.
[30] Ex-Armenian President Robert Kocharian arrested, DW (July 28, 2018),
[31] Id.
[32] Id.
[33] Id.
[34] Id.
[35] Sisak Gabrielian, Former Armenian President Arrested, Azatutyun (July 28, 2018),
[36] Id.
[37] Id.
[38] Ex-Armenian President Robert Kocharian arrested, supra note 30.
[39] Id.
[40] Gabrielian, supra note 35.
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Objective of the study:
There are three main objectives of the study as follows:
1. To study the status of KM in the organization and to check the competency of the
2. To study the perception of employees on the basis of job profile towards KM
3. To practice research methodology as a student
Research design: Exploratory as well as descriptive
Universe: Universe belongs to E, F and G grade employees belonging to , out of which
50 samples is selected.
Sampling design: Stratified random sampling design
Research method: Survey method
Research tool: Questionnaire and informal personal interview
Sources of data collection: Primary data and secondary data
Sample size: 50
In todays competitive market, companies are aware that their workforce must be properly trained
and fully competent over a range of tasks within any given work discipline.
Competency mapping is a process through which one assesses and determines ones strengths as
like team structure, leadership, and decision-making. Large organizations frequently employ some
form of competency mapping to understand how to most effectively employ the competencies of
strengths of workers. They may also use competency mapping to analyze the combination of
strengths in different workers to produce the most effective teams and the highest quality work.
Competency mapping can also be done for contract or freelance workers, or for those seeking
Competency mapping also requires some thought, time, and analysis, and some people simply
may not want to do the work involved to sufficiently map competencies. Competency mapping
alone may not produce accurate results unless one is able to detach from the results in analyzing
past successes and failures. Many studies find that people often overestimate their abilities,
making self-competency mapping results dubious.
The value of competency mapping and identifying emotional strengths is that many employers
now purposefully screen employees to hire people with specific competencies. They may need to
hire someone who can be an effective time leader or who has demonstrated great active listening
skills. Alternately, they may need someone who enjoys taking initiative or someone who is very
good at taking direction. When individuals must seek new jobs, knowing ones competencies can
give one a competitive edge in the job market.
Usually, a person will find themselves with strengths in about five to six areas. Sometimes an area
where strengths are not present is worth developing. In other cases, competency mapping can
indicate finding work that is suited to ones strengths, or finding a department at ones current
work where one's strengths or needs as a worker can be exercised.
A problem with competency mapping, especially when conducted by an organization is that there
may be no room for an individual to work in a field that would best make use of his or her
competencies. If the company does not respond to competency mapping by reorganizing its
employees, then it can be of little short-term benefit and may actually result in greater unhappiness
on the part of individual employees. A person identified as needing to learn new things in order to
remain happy might find himself or herself in a position where no new training is ever required. If
the employer cannot provide a position for an employee that fits him or her better, competency
mapping may be of little use.
- 21 -
However, competency mapping can ultimately serve the individual who decides to seek
employment in an environment where he or she perhaps can learn new things and be more
intellectually challenged. Being able to list competencies on resumes and address this area with
potential employers may help secure more satisfying work. This may not resolve issues for the
company that initially employed competency mapping, without making suggested changes. It may
find competency mapping has produced dissatisfied workers or led to a high worker turnover rate.
Competency also means the collection of success factors necessary for achieving important results
knowledge, skills, and attributes that are described in terms of specific behaviors, and are
demonstrated by superior performers in those jobs or work roles. Attributes include: personal
characteristics, traits, motives, values or ways of thinking that impact an individuals behavior.
Competencies in organizations tend to fall into two broad categories:
- Personal Functioning Competencies. These competencies include broad success factors not tied to
a specific work function or industry (often focusing on leadership or emotional
intelligence behaviors).
- Functional/Technical Competencies. These competencies include specific success factors
within a given work function or industry.
Three other definitions are needed:
Competency Map. A competency map is a list of an individuals competencies that represent the
of the individuals current career plan.
Importance to the individual is an intuitive decision based on a combination of three factors:
and the current or likely future demand for the competency in the individuals
current position or targeted career field.
Although the definition above for competency mapping refers to individual employees,
organizations also map competencies, but from a different perspective.
Organizations describe, or map, competencies using one or more of the following four strategies:
1. Organization-Wide (often called core competencies or those required for organization
- 22 -
2. Job Family or Business Unit Competency Sets
3. Position-Specific Competency Sets
4. Competency Sets Defined Relative to the Level of Employee Contribution (i.e. Individual
Contributor, Manager, or Organizational Leader)
Limitations of research study: While conducting research, at most care was taken to collect
data in unprejudiced manner to make this study precise and truthful. But, due to certain
unavoidable reasons, there are certain limitations which are as mentioned below.
This study engrosses only a part of total number of employees working at Surat
manufacturing plant.
Research was to be conducted maintaining the decorum of the company.
Employees were busy in their work and thus did not spare much time to respond openly to
the questions asked.
Information and responses given by the respondents may be a biased due to several
Limited time span for carrying out study also restricted the research work.
As company is too large, as per their tactics and guiding principle employees were not
ready to disclose confidential facets.
Search engines GOOLGE and YAHOO.
A workshop on Competency Mapping held at MMTC Limited conducted by Mr.R.K. Mohanty
Competency Mapping Education Kit module 3 and 4-T V Rao
Handbook Of Competency Mapping - Seema Sangi
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Zero Waste to Landfills? Take a Lesson from the London Olympics
Aug 09, 2013 by DeDe Mulligan
Believe it or not, the 2012 London Olympics sent zero waste to landfills. Through a concerted effort of recycling and composting (62% of it) plus converting the remaining waste into energy, they achieved this amazing feat. Considering the London Olympics hosted over 12 million individuals at 26 different venues throughout SE England makes their results even more remarkable.
The International Olympic Committee did not do this alone. They had help from the European Pathway to Zero Waste, a partnership with the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) which is aimed at a zero landfill approach in South East England. Together, they developed a resource plan to identify the sources and potential consequences of waste.
For example, did you know if you throw away a plastic water bottle in a landfill it takes 450 years to completely biodegrade? And did you also know that 90% of all plastic bottles are thrown away instead of recycled? But if they were recycled, they could be turned into paint, benches and even sports uniforms! And scientists around the world are continuing to come up with creative and worthwhile uses for this type of plastic.
Shaun McCarthy, Chair of Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 shared the following, "London 2012 has raised the bar on sustainability, not just for future Olympic and Paralympic Games but for an industry and for the organizers of major events the world over."
Out of the London Olympics zero landfill practices, ISO 20121 an international standard for sustainable event management which aims to help organizations improve sustainability throughout the entire event management cycle was created.
What can meeting planners do to emulate the Olympics? Here are 4 ideas to consider (for more ideas, read our post on 20 simple ways to green your event)
1. Put together an overall resource plan for your event. What items can you reduce, reuse, recycle and rent? Understand the source and potential consequence of each meeting item. If you rent audio visual equipment, your organization avoids the purchase, storage and shipping costs of said equipment.
2. Ask vendors to supply you with their sustainability practices. What do they do every day to meet a goal of zero waste to landfills?
3. Keep it simple. Replace bottled water with pitchers of water. Rent iPads, digital signage and video walls to eliminate all paper products. Eliminate trade show carpeting all together.
4. Poll attendees with wireless Audience Response Systems. Ask them what sustainable actions they want your event to put into practice.
AV Event Solutions, now part of the SmartSource Rentals family, is a green audio visual partner. Give them a call at 888.249.4903 to understand the ways they can help your organization reach a goal of zero landfill waste!
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Different strains of marijuana flower on display at the Sparc dispensary in San Francisco, California. (Sonya Yruel/Drug Policy Alliance)
1. Nearly 55 million adults currently use marijuana
More than half of American adults have tried marijuana at least once in their lives, according to the survey. Nearly 55 million of them, or 22 percent, currently use it — the survey defines “current use” as having used marijuana at least once or twice in the past year. Close to 35 million are what the survey calls “regular users,” or people who use marijuana at least once or twice a month.
Those numbers are larger than what we see in some other surveys. A Gallup poll released last year found that more than 33 million adults identified as “current” marijuana users, although it didn't specify a time frame the way this survey did. The latest federal survey on drug use found about 33 million adults used marijuana in the past year, considerably lower than the Marist poll's 55 million figure.
But those federal numbers are from 2015, while the Marist poll was conducted last month. Considering four more states have legalized marijuana since the federal survey was done, attitudes on use may have changed enough that more are comfortable admitting their use to a survey.
Survey mode is another potential factor: The Marist poll was done via phone, while the federal survey involved interviewers speaking with people in their homes. Considering marijuana remains fully illegal at the federal level, people may simply be more comfortable admitting their use to a voice at the end of a phone line than a representative of the federal government.
Regardless, 55 million people is a staggering number. It would mean that there are nearly as many marijuana users as there are cigarette smokers (59 million).
2. Support for recreational marijuana may not be as robust as it seems
Public opinion surveys consistently show that support for marijuana legalization hovers around 60 percent. But most of those surveys don't ask respondents what, exactly, legal marijuana means to them — they just ask whether marijuana should be legal or not.
The Marist survey asked about medical and recreational marijuana separately. It found that about 83 percent of Americans say they support medical marijuana, in line with what other national surveys have shown. But respondents were closely divided on the question of “legalizing the use of marijuana for recreational use” — 49 percent support it, 47 percent oppose.
That lines up with a detailed breakdown of the legalization issue in a survey by the Associated Press and the National Opinion Research Center last year, where 61 percent said they supported legalization, but 24 percent of those supporters clarified that they only supported medical use.
3. People who have tried marijuana are much more approving of it than those who haven't
Prior marijuana use is one of the biggest predictors of support for recreational marijuana legalization. Fully 70 percent of Americans who have tried marijuana at least once support legalizing recreational weed. Only 26 percent of those who haven't tried it say the same.
In short, people who have experience using marijuana generally think it should be legal. This has potentially significant implications for the national legalization debate: As marijuana becomes legal in more states, more people will try it. This could lead to greater support for legalization, even more states legalizing, more people trying it, and so on.
4. Most Americans think smoking weed is 'socially acceptable'
Regardless of whether they support legalization or use it themselves, 56 percent of Americans say that using marijuana is “socially acceptable,” compared to 42 percent who say it isn't. Again, there's a big split here between people who've tried it (74 percent say it's acceptable) and people who haven't (37 percent).
Majorities also said it would make no difference to them if they learned that their doctor, clergyman, favorite athlete, favorite celebrity or children's schoolteacher used marijuana in their personal life. Americans do, however, disapprove of parents smoking pot in front of their kids: 79 percent say they would have less respect for such a person.
5. Americans say weed is less risky than tobacco, alcohol or painkillers
By a margin of 72 percent to 20 percent, Americans say that regular alcohol use is more of a health risk than regular marijuana use. The margins for tobacco (76 to 18) and prescription painkillers (67 to 20) are similar.
But the public is split on whether pot is a risk in and of itself: 51 percent say using marijuana is a health risk, while 44 percent say it is not. Like any drug, there are indeed serious risks associated with marijuana use: addiction, long-term health problems, driving impairment, you name it. While it's true that the risks associated with marijuana are generally lesser than the risks of using alcohol or other drugs, that doesn't mean that it's “safe,” full-stop.
6. Marijuana's legal status isn't a huge barrier to use
Asked why they don't use pot, 27 percent of marijuana abstainers cited its illegality. But the rest pointed to a host of other reasons: 26 percent said they simply don't like it. 16 percent said they don't use because it's not healthy. Others said that it would interfere with work or school or that they simply had no desire to use it.
These numbers are mirrored in another question: Asked whether they would use marijuana if the federal government legalized it nationally, only 28 percent said they'd be likely to do so. The rest said the legal change wouldn't make much of a difference in their behavior.
This points to a simple reality: Marijuana is already the most ubiquitous illicit drug in the country, rivaling legal drugs like tobacco in popularity. For most people who want to use it, getting hold of some pot is simply a matter of trip to the darkweb, or Craigslist, or a call to a friend-of-a-friend.
7. Most marijuana users are millennials
Fully 52 percent of the country's 55 million pot users are millennials. Majorities of marijuana users are male, make under $50,000 a year and lack a college degree. Only 14 percent of current users are Republicans, and over two-thirds supported Hillary Clinton in the latest presidential election.
Interestingly, millennial marijuana users appear to be the most conflicted about their use: 25 percent of them say they've felt “guilty” about their marijuana habit, compared to only 17 percent of non-millennials. That brings us to the next point:
8. Few people want to admit they use marijuana just for fun
This is one of the survey's most interesting findings: asked why they currently use marijuana, only 16 percent of smokers said it was “just to have fun.” The rest cited a variety of utilitarian reasons: 37 percent said they used marijuana to relax; 19 percent said they do it to relieve pain, 10 percent said it helps them be social.
If there's any group in society who do something “just to have fun,” you'd think it would be marijuana users. The stereotypical image of the “stoner” is the guy blazed out of his mind on his couch, eating Funyuns and giggling at his TV.
But most users don't see themselves this way. For them, marijuana is less about recreation and more of a product that fulfills a specific need in their life: relaxation, or pain relief, or social lubricant.
9. Where people hide their stash — dressers, fake cans or tins, or locked containers
Roughly four in 10 marijuana users hide their stash from others. Among those who hide their pot, the dresser (20 percent) is the most popular place of concealment, followed by fake cans, containers or books (11 percent), in safes or locked containers (11 percent) and the closet (8 percent).
Astonishingly, 3 percent of marijuana users keep their marijuana in their cars. If you're familiar with the practices of highway drug interdiction you know this is a terrible idea. Drug task forces routinely use minor traffic infractions like busted taillights, failure to turn or speeding as a pretext for searching for contraband in a person's car, often with the aid of a drug-sniffing dog.
Marijuana users say hide their stashes to keep it away from the prying eyes of children, law enforcement and parents/grandparents, respectively.
10. More than half of marijuana users are parents
According to Marist, 54 percent of adults who use marijuana are parents. A majority of those parents — 16 million of them — have children under the age of 18.
Childhood exposure has been a big talking point for opponents of marijuana legalization. States like Colorado have seen an uptick in the incidence of small children inadvertently eating marijuana edibles and having to go to the emergency room. In raw number terms, however, these cases are still very rare. Nationwide, poison control centers get calls for pediatric exposure to marijuana and alcohol at identical rates once you control for the total number of users of both substances.
In the Marist survey, 94 percent of marijuana-using parents of underage kids say they've never used it in front of their kids or shared it with them.
11. Most people are open about marijuana use with their family and friends.
Marijuana users are very open about their habit with their significant others (95 percent of users have told them) and close friends (95 percent again). 72 percent have told their parents about their marijuana use, and 60 percent have told their kids.
Some families even toke together — 21 percent of users have either smoked marijuana in front of their parents or shared a joint with them. Among older users with adult children, 35 percent have smoked with or in front of their kids. Over 60 percent of users have done so with their close friends.
Millennials are the most social pot users — only 25 percent of them typically smoke alone. The rest usually share with significant others and friends. Older pot users are more likely to smoke alone: 40 percent of the over-35 crowd usually use marijuana by themselves.
* * *
Hungry for more? Check out the survey report for yourself and let me know what strikes you as interesting.
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Navigating Back To Normal: General Care Of Neglected Horses
Horses that have suffered from prolonged neglect have special needs that extend beyond malnutrition. Many may have health problems need to be addressed in addition to the horse’s nutritional needs. The first step in making a plan for the long term care of horse that has suffered neglect is to have a veterinarian perform a full physical examination to determine the needs of that individual horse, and to document the condition of the horse when it arrives at its foster facility. Without previous records for healthcare, it should be assumed that the horse has not received any attention or preventative care, and the horse should be quarantined from the healthy herd initially.
Farrier care: Horses that are neglected may have significant hoof problems. Poor nutrition contributes to weak hooves, lack of good hygiene can lead to thrush, and lack of trimming leads to severe overgrowth and cracking. An early evaluation with a farrier is needed to make a plan for returning the hoof to a more normal condition. Depending on the condition of the feet, the farrier may request radiographs to evaluate the interior structures of the foot. Changing the foot is a gradual process, and may require frequent visits from the farrier for the first few months.
Deworming: Horses that have not been well cared for are at risk for significant parasitism. The best way to document the parasite burden in a horse is to have a fecal flotation performed. While it is true that parasites contribute to malnutrition in a horse, it is also true that severely debilitated horses lack the internal resources to withstand the damage to the intestinal tract that can occur when parasites die off and are eliminated from the body. Also, it is very difficult without a scale to determine the weight of an emaciated horse to determine proper dosing of anthelminthic drugs. There is no clear consensus in the veterinary community about the exact method that is best for deworming debilitated horses, but there is agreement that the gravest danger to these horses is the emergence of encysted cyathostomes (small strongyles) from the gut wall. When the adult forms of these parasites are killed by drugs like ivermectin, the larvae emerge from the gut wall, causing bleeding, inflammation, and loss of protein. Thus, recommendations most commonly include using a larvacidal medication (a single dose of moxidectin (Quest®) or 5 double doses of fenbendazole (Panacur®) to prevent this rapid emergence. Because there is still damage done to the gut lining, however, it is prudent to wait until the horse is acclimated to a normal plane of nutrition and gaining strength and condition prior to administering any anthelminthic. A veterinarian can help to determine when and how often to address parasite issues in recovering horses.
Vaccination: Horses suffering the effects of chronic malnutrition do not have the ability to respond normally to vaccination. The immune system depends on the body’s ability to produce proteins and build tissues, which is crippled during starvation. Vaccination should not be initiated until the horse is beginning to improve in condition after acclimating to a normal diet; vaccination is an important defense against infectious agents, but is secondary to rebuilding the body from strict survival mode. An initial series of each vaccination will be required, unless there are records to prove previous vaccination. During recovery, a staggered vaccination schedule is preferred, as debilitated horses are not able to withstand the challenges of vaccination that healthy horses are. The American Association of Equine Practitioners deems rabies, tetanus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Western Equine Encephalitis, and West Nile Virus to the core vaccines that all horses should receive. Additional recommended vaccinations for different geographical areas should be determined through consultation with the attending veterinarian.
General considerations: Very thin horses lack the intrinsic resources to withstand changes in weather. Providing shelter and blankets helps to avoid further depleting the horse’s energy stores in cold weather. Fresh, clean water and minerals should be available at all times. Meticulous wound care and general hygiene are important, as the immune system is damaged in starvation, and unable to fight against infection. When possible, stress should be minimized; horses should not have to compete for food or shelter, but should have other horses within sight to reduce anxiety. Dental care, which is important, should be delayed until the horse is stronger and gaining weight, as sedation and dental work are often poorly tolerated by debilitated horses. Many horses are rescued from neglectful situations with diseases that are a consequence of their poor care. Frequent veterinary evaluation, including blood work if a problem is suspected, can help to guide treatment and improve outcomes.
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Friday, October 25, 2013
Story Game: The Situation Worksheet
The Story Game is either a very complicated story creation game, or it's a set of simple little writing games strung together. It's kinda free form -- meant to be changed and adapted by the players -- but I'm creating a "Romantic Suspense" Game as an example.
Last week we talked about "Character Structure" as an alternate way to define a genre or structure of a story.
Or in this case, I was defining the roles of a particular flavor of Romantic Suspense, so I can make a game out of it.
I was going to dive deeper into the character roles today, but I realize that this is a good time to actually explain what I'm going to do with them first.
Situation Game
This game is basically a worksheet you fill in with randomized choices, and use to brainstorm a concept for a story. It's designed to come up with a robust concept. That is, fully featured, lots of info with which you can build a whole situation that the story will spring from.
Step 1: figuring out the Character Structure of the kind of story you want to tell. (Which we did last week.)
Step 2: Create the worksheet you're going to fill in. I call this the Situation Form, and we're going to do that today.
Step 3: Create the lists you're going to make the random choices from. (Which we'll start next week.)
Step 4: Play ball! That is, roll the dice, spin the wheel, fill in the form... and then use the answers to brainstorm, and create a unique idea that still fits the formula you started with.
The Situation Form
Last week we came up with a Character Structure for the genre Romantic Suspense. That's the six "roles" that characters play in that kind of story -- though this pattern appears in other kinds of stories too:
Heroine, Hero, Villain, Victim, Helper, Red Herring.
At this point we're not generating actual characters -- that's for the brainstorming at the end -- but rather nailing down the part these characters will play in the plot, plus a copule of important points that have to appear in every story of that type.
For my Woman In Jeopardy Romantic Suspense story, we're using the following four elements:
• The Heroine Type (Her secret or vulnerability that isolates her)
• The Hero Type (what keeps them apart so he can't help her too much.)
• The Villain's Cover Type (i.e. "nice" person disguise)
• The Crime Type (which drives the plot)
We'll also be randomly generating the sex and age of all characters, except the heroine and hero, which with romance are defined by subgenre. More about that next week, when we talk about them in depth and create our "Character Wheels" to randomly fill in those elements.
All of the above will differ if you are writing a different genre or type of story. They may differ quite a lot.
For instance, most Whodunnits have two separate character structures. They have the detective and sidekicks who continue throughout a series, and then the characters of the murder plot. I would suggest creating a game for the latter, but not the former. The point of a game is to do it over and over again. Series characters are only generated once.
And the list of characters for the murder plot might be as simple as: Victim, Suspect 1 (Killer), Suspect 2, Suspect 3, Suspect 4. And you might have a wheel for motives or relationships.
But Wait There's More
There are at least two more elements to the Situation Form. These are classic "idea generation" elements: Title and Theme. (You could also use "Subject" or even "Location.")
To me the most important is title, because that gives an identity to the story. However, because it's at the start of the process, I actually only generate a random list of possible title words. This leaves me flexibility for later.
I like to have at least one of other item, because these help you define the mood of the story, and they also give you a hook to help define other elements.
For instance, say your heroine's secret is that she's on the run from the law. There are a number of options there, but not really a flavor yet. (Or if you do have a flavor, you may be focusing on just one option. In which case, another element can shake you out of a rut.)
But say your title words mostly kinda suck, except one of those words is "steam." Hmmm. That could mean "steamy" but if you put it together with the heroine's situation, you suddenly have another option: "Running Out Of Steam." That could indicate a whole different kind of story and a hook into a different kind of relationship. He could be a lot more rescue-y, she might be a lot more brittle. (AND it could still be steamy.)
Now we roll a theme. I just used a randomized theme chooser called Brainstormer and came up with "Letting Go."
Ooo. A woman on the run, who is running out of steam, and the theme or lesson of the story is about letting go. What a great theme for a romance in the first place, but there are so many layers you could build of that. (The bad guy is stalking her becuase he can't let go of something. She's been running so long she hasn't the strength to hang on any more -- but to survive she must NOT let go. The hero, meanwhile, has to let go of his pride or past to help her hang on.)
Themes and titles give the story an identity. And they give you more options if your other rolls are boring.
One thing about this game, you are always allowed to overrule the game's choices. If a couple of the choices give you a full blown idea, you can ignore anything that doesn't fit. (Although sometimes an element which doesn't fit can give you a new take on something.) But more about that when we get to playing the game itself.
So, to review, my worksheet, or Situation Form for Romantic Suspense, looks like this:
Title Words: (pick up to ten randomly)
Heroine (age/sex chosen by genre)
Heroine Type: (what isolates her)
Hero (age/sex chosen by genre)
Hero Type: (what keeps her away from him)
Villain: (age/sex)
Villain's cover Type: ("Nice" person disguise)
Crime Type:
Victim: (age/sex)
Helper: (age/sex)
Red Herring: (age/sex)
Next Week: the Heroine and Hero Types
We'll talk about the critical characteristics of these two main characters, so we can make lists of great choices to fill in the worksheet. To do that, we'll have to talk more about the Romantic Suspense genre, and also about what kind of choices make for a good "Story Wheel."
See you in the funny papers.
Elizabeth Spann Craig/Riley Adams said...
What I like most about this game is the opportunity to keep things fresh. At a dozen finished books, I start feeling a little stale sometimes. Nice idea and I'll keep this post handy when I get that "gosh, how on earth can I keep these books interesting?" feeling.
The Daring Novelist said...
Yes, exactly. I think that's part of why Earl Stanley Gardner did his plot wheels, to mix things up.
Plus, I suspect (though I haven't actually written much from it yet) it allows you to keep it fresher for yourself, because it leaps you past some of the decision making, and straight into the cool ideas.
I'm definitely going to create a workbook out of these posts. (Also, I might post some pdfs of the worksheets and lists.)
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Michael Braverman portfolio / personal site
Agriculture is one of the most prominent human activities that has become the underlying backbone of cultures, economies, and even the Earth’s climate. The process that constitute the act of farming is constantly being optimized and adjusted according to human needs and agendas. With the advent of industrialization, an increasing number of these human needs and agendas become satisfiable in grander extents, while we lack complete awareness about the long term effects of these decisions. When it comes to agriculture, it becomes increasingly important to make changes that are less provisional, but more insightful about how these changes will effect economies, politics, and food culture in the longterm future.
Agriculture as a Civilization Practice
Agriculture is an activity that feeds more than 7 billion people each day, and although farming practices have improved and evolved across numerous domains, certain practices either remain unaddressed, or lack a realistic outlook of their longterm effects. Agriculture is an activity that nearly all human systems like economies, trade, and political stability indirectly rely on. Without agriculture, humans would have never managed to form settlements with consistent food supplies and evolve beyond a migrating species. It is a practice without which a human society cannot be established and defined. Nevertheless, geologic history demonstrates that every human society who’s diet mainly consisted of annual crops (wheat, maize, rice, etc.) — eventually collapsed.1 Our post-industrialized society has yet to witness an existentially threatening food crisis, but as overpopulation and soil degradation become a problem, maintaining a constant food supply using our current industrialized farming practices; could eventually become no longer feasible.
Humanity has gone a long way in improving the inequality of food consumption in today’s developed countries. Less developed countries saw a less significant increase in food consumption but have improved nonetheless. Developed countries like France, Germany, and England saw a twofold increase in daily caloric intake per capita since the 17th century.2 Despite the fact that food inequality continues to predominate even in the present developed countries, the current food cultures are significantly more charitable than they where a few centuries ago. Today we are also introducing problems that are on the opposite side of the spectrum, such as obesity. Globally, there are more than 1 billion overweight adults, at least 300 million of them obese.3 And along these advances however, humanity is now facing numerous other challenges that cannot be overlooked.
Increases in daily caloric intake per capita since the 17th century in some developed countries.2
The majority of the carbohydrates, proteins and oils that feed our populations are derived from annual plants — plants that synthesize sunlight for just a couple weeks per year, take a significant amount of time to mature, and then die; after which, their remains are discarded without a proper contribution to the health of the natural cycle. This is a process that is not just manifested within the activities of the human kind, but is also reflected within the artificially altered products that interfere with these natural processes and cycles. Exploitive agricultural practices such as tilling, monoculture farming, heavy use of herbicides and pesticides, demonstrate; that our cultures are inattentive to solutions that have the potential to take into account these natural processes and leverage their potential.
The processes that where established by nature billions of years ago, allowed it to form an environment, in which single celled organisms morphed the Earth into an interconnected biologic ecosystem, harboring millions of trillions of organisms. These are living organisms that range from bacteria to human beings. Industrial agriculture seeks to maintain sovereignty over nature through artificial means instead of attempting to understand the processes that have been effectively occurring during the past several hundred million years. A thoughtless underestimation of nature’s potential when considering the fact that industrialization is a period of human development that existed for less than 200 years.
As humans continue to rely on staple foods, soil erosion continues while vast areas of land no longer become suitable for farming. Land degradation and soil erosion already covers more than 30% of the total global land area effecting more than 3 billion people.4 In the US, farmlands are losing topsoil approximately ten times faster than they can be replaced.5 These statistics combined with our increasing global population and demand for food, do not suggest an improvement of the situation, unless it becomes a more deliberate collective goal.
The technologies that most societies can economically afford, can be used to develop a form of agriculture that imitates natural ecosystems while providing and satisfying our human needs. We have the ability to engineer our society in a way that allows us to give a direct regard towards natural ecosystems which have a great potential to solve our social and collective problems. Our societies must therefore realize this potential and support incentives that manifest these social practices. The technologies that are exhaustively implemented in urban infrastructures, consumer products, and services — should be directed towards sources that would benefit humans in the long term. Our farm practices have evolved relatively insignificantly since the industrialization era, yet, we develop technologies in other areas such as cars, buildings, consumer products, electronics and atomic bombs — at disproportional paces.
Based on these outlined problems, it is important to think of solutions that can increase awareness about these serious long-term problems can establish a form of agriculture, in which the primary motivator is to maintain a responsible and rational regard towards the process that bring food to our tables. It is important to re-establish the significance of food, many aspects of which, where wiped from our current industrial cultures. These practices can be resurrected on the almost forgotten foundation of what was lost from our pre-industrial cultures. This is the basis of transagrarianism and it will be examined how a modern equivalent of such a social arrangement can be established and put in place in a metropolis environments like New York. It is a big challenge, and the difficulty of overcoming it in a place like New York, introduces a relatively frank interpretation of Frank Sinatra’s most famous quote about New York: “If I can make it here, I’ll make it anywhere.”
Cultural and Urban Agriculture
Among all the problems that urban environments face, agriculture is not regarded among our societies to the extents that it can be. This is explained by the fact that the demographics of the farming population have changed drastically over the past century. Our societies used to have the majority of the population growing crops and raising animals. Today, the labour force working in agriculture in some countries declined almost tenfold since the Middle Ages.
Labor force working in agriculture in some European countries (1300-2012)2
Ideologies such as agrarianism and agriculturalism that where to some extends established in ancient China, considered agricultural development the primary characteristic of a stable and prosperous society. It was believed that even the King should work along others in the fields, so that he can be consulted and carry out decisions that would turn out to be favorable to most.6 In modern-day societies however, not only did the social status of a farmer transform, but so did the demographics of human populations — where farmers represent just a fraction of the population in most developed countries. Most importantly, these demographics are nearly absent in urban environments where farming barely exists as a practice. Even rural areas where farming is a more common occurrence, are physically and conventionally detached from their demanding urban societies.
Today, in our post-industrialized mindsets, define two leading categories of individuals that sustain our economies; the producer and the consumer. With advances in technology, we replaced what has once been an artisan practice for growing food, into an endless optimization problem that is being mediated almost entirely by advances in automation, technology, and bioengineering. These advances have solved numerous scarcities, inequalities, and shortages of food in numerous countries. Such advances however, have transformed entirely how food is culturally perceived — what was once the work of an artisan, is now a background producing process, whose only interaction with the consumer, is mediated through a disconnected economical system. Such a system, established an unprecedented form of relationship between the consumer and the producer, where each side is represented by some entity or corporation. The cultural detachment between the producer and the consumer can to some extents, be attributed to a social predicament that has to be addressed through bottom-up from of organization.
The number of state farms in New York state has declined drastically during the course of 20th century.
It is important however, to not discredit attempts made by some urban societies to tackle unfair farming practices. Such attempts are constantly being made by organizations based in New York City. A significant portion of organizations, which often include growers and distributers — attempt to bridge the gap between the farmer and the consumer. Urban agriculture can also involve animal husbandry, aquaculture, agroforestry, urban beekeeping, and horticulture. While some of these are modern types of urban farming, the act of urban farming is not an unprecedented form of human practice. It can be traced back as far as to the ancient Egyptians who frequently used community waste for farming in urban environments.7 Urban environments today are different from even the ones that the where present in the most advanced previous civilizations. Our modern densely populated areas, always require support from the outside in order to sustain the needs of its urban population.
Today, city farms, hydroponic farms, and farmer markets evolved from previous farm practices that where practiced by our ancestors. If back then, the most justifiable (if not the only) reason for farming was to battle starvation and feed the population; today, these motivations extend to humanitarian reasonings. Hunger remains a problem in developed countries even today. In US, more than 40 percent of food goes uneaten, which is more than 20 pounds of food per person every month — enough to feed the U.S. population almost twofold.8 Despite these severe inefficiencies, humans have many other imperatives for addressing problems that concern the subject of food. This includes tackling food inequality, transportation costs, subsidized industrial practices, negative environmental impacts, and elevated food pricing.
Average waste of select foods in the US in 2008 (in kilograms per person per year.9
The problems that concern the general subject of food, entail changes in the logistics, systematics or even the ideologies that surround the subject of sustainable urban farming. These techniques and methods are not derivatives of profound academic theory nor of thorough scientific research; these are methods that can be easily derived from nature through observant and perceptive observations. Regardless of how complex human societies are, nature has formed various patterns and techniques that humans can apply within their own activities. Besides nature, these ideas can also be derived from human history, and a broad range of other human activities. Such subjects include decentralization, emergent systematization, agrarianism, communitarian and anti-capitalist values. Among these categories, not he least important one is establishing decentralized food networks. These are important since it is a process that allows organic food communities to adapt to the surges of it’s demanding populations.
Decentralized Social Food Networks
Despite the motivations to introduce farming into urban environments, it is also important to realize that even if urban cultures had an abundance of urban farms, they wouldn’t solve the most important problems humans face thus far — our reliance on staple crops — an industry that is mostly under the control of monopolies who developed their own centralized production and distribution networks. Urban farms would greatly depend not just on modes of food production, but also on the way the food is distributed. The distribution networks that currently dominate the food industry, include networks that not only have a profit incentives to maintain unsustainable farming approaches, but also subsidize and facilitate the production of crops that are subject to such practices. These food monopolies have always adhered to maintaining a top-down decision making system. Attempts to interfere with these malevolent practices, results into lawsuits whose resolutions end up in favor of these monopolies, even when these lawsuits involve government and state agencies. Current agriculture policy concentrates mostly on production and trade and is disconnected from the issues that are vital to humans. But many other forms of interventions provide an incentive for a change. This includes social interventions, which reiterate existing top-down systems and provide room for a development of a new bottom-up form of agriculture. These will prove to be effective for combating corporate disregard and mismanagement of issues that effect the future of humanity.
In New York City alone, there are a more than 130 farmer markets. An example of a decentralized form of organization.
Even if the distribution of organic produce becomes well established, there would always be times where spikes and dips in demand for a particular product will cause a misconnect among the producer and the consumer. It is thus important for this network to maintain a close collaborative connection among all its growers and distributers. This will allow the distributor to satisfy a particular spike in demand by spreading it across the whole food network. It is this what constitutes an emergent decentralized food network where food production adapts to a demand. This decentralized food network provides an alternative to centralized corporate food networks. It however remains a challenge to adapt to these decentralized food networks, but as these circumstances evolve, new solutions to urban farming are constantly being introduced.
Interfering with the industrialized food industry, signifies not just challenging the methods of growing food, but also rethinking food distribution from a social perspective — not just adapting to the demands, but also figuring out ways of dealing with waste, infrastructure, and the cultural regard towards food. These goals must resonate not just among the farmers and their food distributors, but also among the public, which is becoming increasingly aware about food scarcity and industrial practices.
Farming in NYC
New York has gone through a significant change in population and demographics since the most prominent decades that followed the industrial revolution. If in 1930, each farmer produced enough food to feed 12 people, by the 1990s a farmer produced enough for 100 people.10 As the fraction of farmers among the population declined, less than two percent of today’s US population is employed in farming. Even those who are employed, are nearing retirement, with farmers six times more likely to be over the age of 65 than under the age of 35.11 It is therefore evident that there is a demographic transformation occurring at the social level, although its causes can also be attributed to technologic and economic developments.
Historically, the problems that are associated with agricultural production, are born of national needs and policies. Increased mechanization and centralization of agricultural production have enabled U.S. to feed millions of new Americans over several generations. As in the rest of the country, production in New York has become more concentrated, with the average size of the remaining farms increasing by approximately 75 percent since 1930.12 This makes it increasingly difficult for smaller producers to enter and thrive in the market.
Federal subsidies have further supported centralized and large-scale production operations. These subsidies for the most part, have not focused on smaller producers since historically speaking, the state incentive was to keep up with agriculture production along with the US population’s growing food demand. Even thought local and non-profit farms and organizations have tried to find profit margins within these nationally subsidized industrial practices, it continues to be a major underdevelopment.13 It is crucial that the New York state supports and develops this infrastructures through procuring changes, although a wide range of these incentives must be implemented at a federal level.
Today, the problems that effect the city of New York, are both derivatives and contributors to the local and global systems. Even a change on a smaller scale, can effect the systemization of systems of higher orders. This is why it becomes important to introduce changes at a smaller scale, the foundation of which, is the cultural regard towards food. These can include various events organized by the city as well as the support from food distributers and even the urban farms themselves.
Local Farm Visits
The Brooklyn Grange is an example of an urban farms whose focus includes the transformation of the social regard towards food, as well as supplying the city with organic produce.14 Brooklyn Grange in Queens, NY was visited on an overcast day where I witnessed an evocative relation between the farmers who where taking care of the herbs, spices, fruits, and vegetables; and the industrialized skyline overlooking Manhattan, NY. Having an opportunity to witness this farming activity amid such an industrial environment in such an overcast setting, evoked a feeling of appreciation and importance of this specific form of practice in urban environments.
A view of the industrialized skyline when looking towards Manhattan
The farmers where nice enough to answer a few of my questions about their farm’s operations. One of the most crucial questions that I asked, was what are the principle expenses for maintaining their farming business. Most of the responses emphasized on the difficulty of recruiting and establishing a workforce. This is indeed one of the struggles that the activity of urban farming practices face in general, which also appears to be a direct cause of the decreasing fraction of farmers among the population.10 Recruitment of the farming workforce however, is rewarding across a wide range of other human activities. For example, it is estimated that for every 100 jobs created in New York City’s food manufacturing sector, 76 jobs are created in parallel in other industries.15 Increasing the farmer workforce can be proven to be an important drive for economic and industrial development. But the most important questions that remained unanswered are the social incentives and motivations present among the city’s population to recruit this workforce. If recruiting urban farmers can be attributed to as a social problem, it is important to identify this problem and find ways in which it can be addressed.
Brooklyn Grange Farm in Queens, NY
Typical business developments usually prosper in areas where there is an unmet demand for a particular form of production. It is estimated that New York City has an unmet demand for local food, which in most imminent cases, should lead to propelling incentives and business growth. It is estimated that New York City has an annual unmet demand of nearly $600 million that could be captured by local food growers.16 Finding a profit margin in an area of unoccupied economic activity, is frequently associated as an opportunity among businessman and entrepreneurs. Urban culture however, has not always been the most attractive topic amidst venture capitalists, but as innovation is being actively introduced into this field, this tendency has begun to shift.
Since its hard to maintain a non-profit business model, most farms end up being for-profit organizations. Brooklyn Grange in particular organizes various events such as weddings and various other types of special events. “Being creative” is frequently what permits an organization like Brooklyn Grange Farm to find ways of sustaining profit margins. I asked whether rent and gentrification play a role in their farming practices, they responded that it definitely does, as it decreases the potential of establishing a more abundant concentration of local farms and cultures that surround these practices. Rooftops can be easily seen as spaces in which community farms can be created, such as the one that Brooklyn Grange managed. Although rooftops of many buildings are frequently unoccupied, they are not commonly given out at an affordable price.
Brooklyn Grange using various compost processing techniques
There are not that many incentives for rooftop farming, which to some extents, is considered as the equivalent of a grey market that is not yet subject to extensive rule and requirements, nor is legally defined as something outside of the scope of untraditional usage of rooftop space. The idea of rooftop farming however is a very intriguing practice in itself, not only does this practice have the potential to benefit the locals, but a new industry can sprout out of a city incentive that could convert abandoned Industrial buildings into rooftop farms.
An abandoned Industrial complex in Industrial City, Brooklyn, NY
The organic food activity however, is neither a source for easy money, nor is it a stock market which solely relies on funds. Food distribution frequently entails the establishment of a network and infrastructure among the food growers and their distributers. This is why these small scale farming establishments are more dependent on community support, which may perhaps be a great alternative to consumerist and corporate based support. These farming businesses must frequently rely on creative solutions to some problems, that would otherwise not be attempted to be solved in corporate environments. Urban farming business, entails the development of tools that have not been established by the farming industry, but can also to some extents, been used by our ancestors. Urban farming requires development and experimentation, some of the products of which include hydroponic farming, an area that is becoming increasingly popular in urban settings, but arguably functional in providing the primary forms of consumable foods.
Food Distribution
In industrialized settings, the demand is consistent and food production can be easily adjusted and predicted. Thanks to industrial grade processing facilities, large food corporations can afford practices that improve consistency of their activities, to an extent that these have become the consumer’s expectations. Produce is expected to have a particular color, taste, and form, which can discourage the consumer if the product is not up to the standards. With urban farming however, the food supply depends on the current harvest, season, and supply levels. If there is high demand for a particular produce, some food distributors simply cannot provide it.
The limited presence of arable land, excessive expenses, and in the case of New York are limited harvest periods, are all limitations that local growers are subjected to. These factors frequently do not allow the production of food that is necessary to sustain a whole urban population, but workarounds are found for serving this demand. This is frequently the factor that limits the potential of organizations, whether profit or non-profit, to compete with their industrial level equivalents. In the case of urban farms, the competitors frequently are food industries whose produce can derive from as far as three thousand miles away.17
NYC public recycling bins data points
Restaurants and retailers attempting to fill this demand through their offerings encounter difficulty with sourcing regional products from wholesalers. John is an interviewee that I managed to talk to who works as a distributor for Hudson Valley Harvest.18 This is a distribution company whose clients include dozens of colleges and universities as well as corporate clients such as Goldman Sachs, Citi Group, and Google. They are also one of the largest organic food distributors for Whole Foods and the Westside Market.
When asked the question of how their business tries to address the problem of industrial level conglomerates that feed the majority of the country’s population, John replied that one of the aspects that helps to drive their business is a change in the public regard towards food quality. It frequently entails a change in the way people demand food, which is based on the acceptance that there is limitation to what nature can provide. It requires a transformation from a restaurant-like, consumerists demand mentality, to a one that accounts nature’s limitations and adapts to its providing ability. John mentioned an example where one of his clients demanded baby carrots of a particular size. He emphasized however, that his distributer company nor the local farmers from where the organic product is sourced, have the sorting facilities nor the infrastructure that would allow them to satisfy such a specific consumer need. It therefore becomes important for the public to rethink the way it demands something from nature, and also establish a more understanding form of relationship between the producer (farmer, grower, etc.) and the consumer.
Local food businesses frequently require an appreciation and understanding from the consumer side — that its demand cannot be as easily compared to the way a supermarket might satisfy the demand. John’s distributor company however, does not entirely count on the public’s universal awareness about the limitations of these demands. Hudson Valley Harvest constantly strives to improve their own infrastructure to an extent that would allow them to balance out the availability of a certain produce among their growers. Improvements are constantly made to the way John’s distribution company, processes, orders and delivers food that comes fresh off the farm, while traveling just 50-150 miles from its point of origin.
When asked whether he sees a potential of urban farms taking over certain parts of his business, John replied that he would be happy to see urban farms outpace his activities, because that would signify that locally grown organic produce is becoming an inherit part among our culture. But even then, John believes that urban farms are unlikely to survive on their own since even as a distributer based outside New York City, there is a struggle with supplying the city’s demand for food — let alone a distributer that would focus just on New York’s metropolitan area. Despite the benevolence and their potential, urban farms do not seem to be a complete substitute to land farming. The crucial point extracted from this interview is that internal and external food organizations must work collaboratively in order to address the problems of unsustainable industrial level farming practices. Establishing decentralized, non-corporate forms of food distribution is a crucial.
Continuing Paths
As people become aware about this part of their life, even the simple act of eating a salad has the potential of creating jobs for organic farms. Direct-to-consumer sales of agricultural products have increased by $399 million (49 percent) from 2002 to 2007, and by $660 million (120 percent) from 1997 to 2007. Since 1994, the number of farmer’s markets recorded in the United States has more than tripled from 1,755 to 6,132.19 In New York City alone, there are a more than 130 farmer markets. Despite John and his distribution company mainly serving corporate clients, they like many other food distributers, maintain a priority in contributing to community organizations across all five boroughs. Similar groups are known to serve more than 400,000 free meals to hungry New Yorkers every day.20 Even if distributors provide for schools and corporate customers, there are still 1.4 million New Yorkers who live in households that cannot afford an adequate supply of nutritious food.21 It therefore becomes also important that the state provides incentives would also address the needs of these minorities.
Sustainable approach towards food activities does not just entail an altruistic mindset, these approaches also entail an economic incentive as well. Food decomposition in landfills can produce 4 to 8 percent of all the food industries greenhouse gases in the form of methane.22 It would seem that an activity like this would effect businesses unless the tradeoffs where informed by the state. Even Walmart, а corporation that frequently gets criticized for corporate greed, takes precautions directed towards sustainability for the simple fact that it minimizes expenses.23 Even if composting is not required at a federal level, organizations have an incentive to do so since it decreases expenses. This includes recycling food packaging, reuse of grease, composting of organic matter, and other recovery techniques that can facilitate farmers to reduce the costs of disposal and greenhouse gas emissions.
What can be taken from the experience is that is important for the city to come up with incentives that support urban farm practices. But state incentives can sometimes prove to not be the ultimate solutions to all these problems. For example, agricultural production is energy intensive, greatly contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and is not economically viable for many farmers. Food processing and distribution require large non-renewable energy inputs and further impact the environment surrounding the New York State.24 But another problem would be labour, where not many volunteers would do non-profit work. It is therefore important that the city adapts certain incentives that would allow urban farming organizations to adopt spaces for agriculture activities that will benefit humanity in the long run.
1. Shepard, Mark. Restoration Agriculture: Real-World Permaculture for Farmers. p.64
2. Max Roser (2016) – ‘Food per Person’. Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: https://ourworldindata.org/food-per-person/ 2 3
3. World Health Organization, Cole, T., M. Bellizzi, K. Flegal, W. Dietz. 2000. Establishing a standard de nition for child overweight and obesity worldwide International survey BMJ;320:1240–1243. Retrieved from: http://www.who.int/ dietphysicalactivity/media/en/gsfs_obesity.pdf
4. Nkonya, Ephraim. Economics of Land Degradation and Improvement: a Global Assessment for Sustainable Development, p.1
5. Pimentel, David. Reducing Energy Inputs in the Agricultural Production System. Interview with Against the Grain. Monthly Review. July‐August 2009.
6. Deutsch, Eliot; Ronald Bontekoe (1999). A companion to world philosophies. Wiley Blackwell. p. 183.
8. Gunders, Dana. Wasted: How America Is Losing Up to 40 Percent of Its Food from Farm to Fork to Landfill. Natural Resources Defense Council, 2012. Retrieved from: https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/wasted-food-IP.pdf
9. Source: Buzby, Jean, Jeffrey Hyman, Hayden Stewart, Hodan Wells. 2011. The Value of Retail- and Consumer-Level Fruit and Vegetable Losses in the United States. The Journal of Consumer Affairs. Vol 45, Issue 3, p. 492-515.
10. United Stated Department of Agriculture. A History of American Agriculture. http://www.agclassroom.org/gan/timeline/index.htm 2
11. Robert A., Erik J. O’Donoghue, and David E. Banker. Structure and Finances of U.S. Family Farms: Family Farm Report, 2007. Retrieved from:http://bit.ly/FamilyFarms
12. United States Department of Agriculture. New York State Agricultural Census. 1930‐2007.
13. Understanding New York City’s Food Supply. Prepared for New York City Mayor Office. 2010. Retrieved from: http://mpaenvironment.ei.columbia.edu/files/2014/06/UnderstandingNYCsFoodSupply_May2010.pdf
14. http://www.brooklyngrangefarm.com/
15. New York Industrial Retention Network and Fiscal Policy Institute. A Study of the Citywide Economic Impact of Food Manufacturing in New York City. For the Mayor’s Office of Industrial & Manufacturing Businesses. February 2007.
16. Brannen, Sarah. Food Works: A Vision to Improve NYC’s Food System. Prepared for: The New York City Council January 2005. Retrieved from: http://bit.ly/FoodWorksNYC, p.8
17. https://food-hub.org/files/resources/Food%20Miles.pdf
18. Retrieved from: http://hv-harvest.com/
19. Martinez, Steve, et. al. Local Food Systems: Concepts, Impacts, and Issues. United States Department of Agriculture. Report no 97, May 2010. Retrieved from: http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/ERR97/ERR97.pdf
20. Brannen, p.1
21. Berg, Joel. Analysis of U.S.D.A. food insecurity data. New York City Council Committee on Community Development. October 28, 2010. Retrieved from: http://www.nyccah.org/files/10.28poverty.doc
22. Brannen, p.6
23. Retrieved from: https://corporate.walmart.com/2016grr/enhancing-sustainability/moving-toward-a-zero-waste-future
24. Brannen, p.3
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Benefits of Mycorrhizae for Forest Systems
Mycorrhizae: The symbiotic association between plant roots and root-dwelling fungi.
Mycorrhizal fungal networks perform a function in forest systems that cannot be understated, and are a critical part of natural systemic health: more than 90 per cent of plant species in natural areas form a symbiotic relationship with the beneficial mycorrhizal fungi.1 Evidence suggests that the mycorrhizal habit evolved as a survival mechanism for both the fungi and the higher plants in the association, allowing each to survive in the existing environments of low soil fertility, periodic drought, disease, extreme temperature, and other natural stresses.2
myco_tomato2plantseditMycorrhizae’s fungal filaments increase the surface absorbing area of roots 100 to a 1,000 times,3 promoting vigor by mining the soil for nutrients; some plants that are well-colonised by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can grow just as well with only half the amount of phosphorous available in the soil as that required by plants that do not have these fungi within their roots.4 Furthermore, mycorrhizae cycle nutrients which minimize nutrient loss, raise plant defense through antibiotic excretions, strengthen root systems, increase plant growth speeds, and improve yields and reliability. Mycorrhiza also regenerate and improve the broader forest system by increasing soil diversity and chemistry, and by purifying contaminated soils.
Myccorrhizal action is one of nature’s invaluable tools, ensuring overall system resilience and fortitude. Replicating nature’s dynamic symbiotic arrangement between plants and fungi is a primary priority for permaculture designers attempting to mimic nature’s success.
Appropriate Mycorrhiza Application
There are four primary types of mycorrhizas: ectomycorrhiza, arbuscular mychorrhiza (also known as vesicular arbuscular mycorrhizas), ericoid mychorrhiza, and orchid mychorrhiza. Each ecosystem usually has a single dominant mycorrhizal association, and each plant species typically forms only one type of mycorrhizal association. Tropical forests may contain more equal proportions of plant species that form arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal associations. Most annual agricultural plants form arbuscular mycorrhizas. Ectomycorrhizal associations are less common in disturbed ecosystems and are more frequently observed on perennial plants. Horticultural species form a variety of mycorrhizal associations, depending on whether they are ornamentals (all types of mycorrhizas are represented in this group) or vegetable and orchard plant species (most of these form arbuscular mycorrhizas).
Arbuscular Mycorrhiza:
mycorexampleSuch associations are generally beneficial to both the plant and the fungus, with nutrient exchange between the partners. However, under some conditions, at least for arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM), there is no beneficial effect and plant growth can even be reduced.6 The outcome of AM upon plant health is due to soil conditions; plants growing in a phosphorous-rich soil (an important impact of AM fungi on plants is the alleviation of phosphate deficiency) will not benefit by an AM association. In locations of excessive phosphorous, the fungus appears to remove carbon from the plant to an extent that is detrimental to the growth of the plant. Therefore, only plants growing where there is an inadequate supply of phosphorous will benefit. Furthermore, plants which require relatively large amounts of phosphorous (extremely fast growing, leafy plants), which also have a more course root architecture and thereby less capable of extensive exploration for nutrients, will tend to benefit more from an AM fungal association. Research indicates that the presence of AM fungi is worth the potential detriment to the associated plants; altering the amount of phosphorous in the soil, or by adjusting soil conditions which affect fungal growth, will result in striking a balance which both plants and fungi will find suitable. In addition, even if no nutrient benefit is gained from the presence of AM fungi, there will be an improvement to the physical state of soil because hyphae help to stabilize soil aggregates.7
Ectomycorrhiza (EM) fungi are commonly associated with long-lived perennial plants and are much more straight-forward in regards to their interactivity.
Establishing Mycorrhiza Networks:
mycoformMycorrhizal networks are easily established in orchards, food forests, and reforestation projects. The mycorrhizal inoculant only requires direct, physical contact with the plant roots: applied during transplanting, worked into beds, mixed into potting soil, watered-in, applied as a root-dip, or probed into the root zone of existing plants. The type of application depends upon the conditions and needs of the applicator. Two options exist for establishing mycorrhizal networks.
Commercially Available Products
Two products are recommended: one soluble, one granular. The soluble formula is to be mixed with water in order to create a solution, which is applied directly to plants in pots or in ground. The granular formula can be applied directly to plants, as well as broadcast. Cold, dry storage maintains viability up to 24 months.
At Walkers Reserve, the mycorrhizae will be applied in the nursery to all plants. Application in the nursery makes the widespread use of the fungi over time very easy, and allows the plants to benefit from the application of mycorrhizae from the very start.
Product Name Application Rate Directions
Plant Success Soluble 1lb per thousand 4 inch plants 1-2 tsp per gallon of water for solution:*4 inch pot > 6 oz*1 gallon > 10 oz*5 gallon > 1 gallonrepeat process every 2 weeks
Mycorrhizal Granular 10-20 lbs per acre *Broadcast 10-20 lbs per acre*1 tsp per row foot*1/2 tsp at each cutting*1-2 tsp at each transplant with 20 ft or smaller canopy diameter
1 Mycorrhizal Applications, Inc. http://mycorrhizae.com/
2 Mycorrhizae: Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry; Zaki A. Siddiqui, Mohd. Sayeed Akhtar, Kazuyoshi Futai Springer Science & Business Media, Jul 27, 2008
3 Mycorrhizal Applications, Inc. http://mycorrhizae.com/
4 Soil Health; http://www.soilhealth.com/soils-are-alive/how-do-soil-organisms-affect-plants/p-02.htm
5 Unilibrium News; http://www.unilibrium.net/MycorrhizalNetworks.php
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English-based Controlled Language
(Redirected from Structured English)
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An English-based Controlled Language is a structured natural language that is an English language.
• (Wikipedia, 2015) ⇒ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structured_English Retrieved:2015-10-24.
• Structured English is the use of the English language with the syntax of structured programming to communicate the design of a computer program to non-technical users by breaking it down into logical steps using straightforward English words. Structured English aims to get the benefits of both the programming logic and natural language: program logic helps to attain precision, whilst natural language helps with the familiarity of the spoken word. [1] It is the basis of some programming languages such as SQL (Structured Query Language) "for use by people who have need for interaction with a large database but who are not trained programmers". [2]
1. ""What is Structured English", Wisegeek.com, retrieved 23 April 2014
2. "Implementation of a Structured English Query Language" M.M. Astrahan and D.D. Chamberlain, IBM Research Division, San Jose, ACM, May 1975 (retrieved from Cleveland State University website, April 2014)
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Carbon-Optimized Bioconversion
Carbon is a primary component of many materials and most fuels, and as such it is the backbone of the modern global economy. However the global economy’s fundamental reliance on fossil-carbon-based products presents challenges to sustainability, resource management, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change. The bioeconomy refers to the global industrial transition to sustainably utilizing renewable biomass (aquatic and terrestrial) resources in energy, intermediate, and final products for economic, environmental, social, and national security benefits. Systems to enable industrial-scale synthesis of renewable-carbon-based fuels, chemicals, and materials are critical for realizing a robust and sustainable bioeconomy.
Addressing natural resource constraints and environmental challenges will require new innovations in bioconversion and bioprocessing that will enable optimized biomass feedstock and energy utilization as well as GHG emissions mitigation. The rapid deployment of renewable power such as wind and solar is driving down both the cost and carbon intensity of electricity, and is creating an opportunity to design new biorefining strategies that take advantage of low-carbon power to improve the efficiency of biomass conversion (e.g. accommodating external reducing equivalents made available from the strategic use low-carbon power). Biomass conversion strategies that enable optimal carbon flux to products will maximize resource inputs, minimize biomass land use requirements, and mitigate lifecycle GHGs simultaneously.
ARPA-E seeks information regarding promising pathways toward improving the carbon-conversion efficiency of renewable feedstocks to products. This workshop will explore opportunities to reduce the lifecycle carbon emissions from biofuel and bioproduct pathways through highly efficient directed flux of biomass carbon into products with minimal carbon loss as CO2. Workshop participants will explore how inexpensive clean power can enable novel bioprocess designs that limit or completely avoid carbon loss during biomass conversion.
Workshop presentations will cover:
• Anticipated changes to the grid
• Engineering carbon-efficient metabolism
• Optimizing carbon flux in cell-free biomass conversion platforms
• Biological carbon dioxide utilization
• Technology deployment and adoption for large-scale bioprocessing
The workshop will include breakout sessions to brainstorm potential solutions and what types of research efforts (e.g. what technical breakthroughs/development and system modeling) are warranted at this time. The workshop will also consider related topics, such as enabling greater cellulosic biomass conversion, relevant intermediate chemicals to target for synthesis, and the broader evolution of the advanced bioeconomy.
The meeting's output will help direct the actions of ARPA-E towards the most promising and appropriate high risk, high return R&D funding opportunities and management strategies. Interested participants may apply to the workshop by sending an email to (link sends e-mail) stating your interest in attending along with the requested information: a) your resume including a description of your expertise in the topic and b) a brief statement on what you see as the key challenges and opportunities facing the topic. Please note there is an attendance fee to defray workshop costs. This event is closed to the media.
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Section summary
Revision as of 11:13, 19 July 2012 by Helen Foster (talk | contribs) (courses template)
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The very top of your course (the General section) and every topic or week contains a summary. This is a default label which allows you to place information about the specific topic or week. It could be an introduction to the unit of study or a short summary of the weekly plan. Activities and resources are listed below this section.
Because the information you add to the summary appears as a label, it should be very short so that the course page doesn't become too long. If you find yourself wanting to say more than a sentence or two then consider adding a resource to this topic instead (for example, the first activity might be a page called About This Topic).
To provide a custom section title in the Navigation menu untick the "Use default section name" and include the title in the 'Section Name' text box. If you leave the default section name the navigation menu will contain 'General' for the general section and either 'Topic 1', 'Topic 2', etc for Topics format or the Week dates for Weekly format.
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How to Deal with Pain
The capacity to experience pain is a lifesaver. By focusing your attention on areas that may not be functioning properly, it helps ensure your safety and survival. Pain is the signal to your brain which in turn communicates with your hand to take it off a hot stove, thus saving you from more tissue damage.A picture of four hands that all have a letter on them, spelling out the word "pain."
But when your reaction to pain creates a feedback cycle that spirals out of control, the purpose of it is defeated. Pain, no matter what its origin, is experienced through your senses. So to make the experience less intense, it is important to work through the senses.
People experiencing pain often focus totally on it, ignoring other non-painful sensations that are also present. As the focus on the painful feeling intensifies, the fear of the pain increases over time.
When you are in fear of your pain then you cannot affect your pain level; that fear often creates an ever-tightening cycle in which the fear causes your body to clench, clenching increases the pain, which in turn convinces you that the pain is indeed something to be feared, etc.
Instead of resisting or fighting with the pain, a cooperative approach to it lessens stress, encourages better sleep, helps the immune system, and ultimately makes it easier for it to leave your body.
A collage of pictures highlighting the body parts that are connected to the five senses.
Use your senses!
Although the suggestions below are discussed in a sequence, steps 3 through 6 can be implemented in any order, or simultaneously.
1. Hydration. Adequate water intake is necessary to keep the body functioning properly. Since you are made up mostly of water, a body drought harms every bodily system. When you are in pain or discomfort, the first step is to drink a glass of water.
2. Breathing. Pain and the resulting muscle tension causes the body to breathe more shallowly and thus sharply decreases the supply of oxygen to the bloodstream. Breathing is a completely natural and healthy act, nothing you do while simply breathing will harm you. Take at least ten deep breaths while doing nothing but observing how it feels to breathe slowly, deeply, and regularly.
Using the additional techniques below may assist in this process.
1. Scent. Smell is of course closely related to breathing and is thought to be the most emotionally evocative of all the senses. As such, it has great potential for calming and soothing both body and mind. Simply becoming aware of the scents around you and how they are affecting you gives you many options for customizing pain diminishment. It can be very helpful to scent a small cloth and carry it with you in a sealed or Ziploc type bag. Or use fresh herbs, a scented body cream or perfume, or sachets of whatever smell is comforting to you. The idea is to soothe rather than overwhelm.
2. Taste is dynamic for some. If it works this way for you, find a soothing taste that comforts you and focus on that instead.
3. Touch. If you use a scented cloth, it should be made of a fabric that you find particularly pleasing to touch and hold. The idea is to have something that literally feels good within your easy reach at all times.
4. Sound. Choose some sounds that are soothing to you and replay them in your head while you are breathing deeply. You can also experiment with combining sensory experiences. Music often expresses feelings that are hard to express in other ways. Listening to music can trigger pleasurable memories and feelings, from any stage of life, that derail the painful experience.
5. Sight. One of the most powerful senses is your sight. Healing and calming happen when you change focus and look then visualize something you find beautiful.
Finally, it helps to understand how you relate to your pain. Some people want it all to be abolished. An illustration of the "Chronic Pain Sufferer's Manifesto." Others may want some of it to remain. As one cancer patient put it, “If I didn’t feel some pain, how would I know what that cancer is doing in there.” Some may see the pain as something to be conquered. Some may see it as something to be accepted. If you understand how you relate to it, you will more understand how to deal with it.
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Kurt Huber (24 October 1893 – 13 July 1943) was a university professor and resistance fighter with the anti-Nazi group White Rose. For his involvement he was imprisoned and guillotined.
Kurt Huber
Bundesarchiv Bild 146II-744, Kurt Huber.jpg
Born(1893-10-24)24 October 1893
Chur, Switzerland
Died13 July 1943(1943-07-13) (aged 49)
Munich, Germany
OccupationProfessor at the University of Munich
Known forWhite Rose movement
Early lifeEdit
Huber's birthplace in Chur
Huber was born in Chur, Switzerland, to German parents. He grew up in Stuttgart and later, after his father's death, in Munich. He showed an aptitude for such subjects as music, philosophy and psychology. Huber became a professor of Psychology and Music in 1926 at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich.
Huber was appalled by the rise of the National Socialist German Workers Party and decided that Hitler and his government had to be removed from power. He came into contact with the White Rose movement through some students who attended his lectures, Hans Scholl and Alexander Schmorell.
Huber wrote the White Rose's sixth and final leaflet calling for an end to National Socialism.
Trial and executionEdit
Huber's political activities came to the attention of the Gestapo and he was arrested on 27 February 1943. By coincidence, composer Carl Orff called at Huber’s house the day after he was taken. Huber’s wife begged him to use his influence to help her husband. But Orff told her that if his friendship with Huber was ever discovered he would be “ruined.” Orff left; Huber’s wife never saw him again. Later, wracked by guilt, Orff would write a letter to his late friend Huber imploring him for forgiveness.[1][2] Orff's Die Bernauerin, a project which he completed in 1946 and which he had discussed with Huber before the latter's execution, is dedicated to Huber's memory. The final scene of this work, which is about the wrongful execution of Agnes Bernauer, depicts a guilt-ridden chorus begging not to be implicated in the title character's death.
Huber was brought before the People's Court on 19 April. In a brief show trial, Chief Justice Roland Freisler subjected Huber to a humiliating verbal attack (see the exchange quoted in the Josef Wirmer article). He was sentenced to death for insurrection.
On 13 July Huber was executed by guillotine at Munich's Stadelheim Prison, along with Alexander Schmorell. The university had stripped Huber of his position and his doctorate at the time of his arrest.
Attempts to take up a collection for Huber's widow Clara only brought about more trouble and eventually led to Hans Leipelt's arrest and execution.
The square opposite from the main building of the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich was named "Professor Huber Platz" in his remembrance.
Huber is also known for a biography of Gottfried Leibniz which he completed while in prison and which was published in 1951 edited by his wife and pupil.
After the war, a memorial volume with contributions from his friends and colleagues, including the 1946 letter from Carl Orff, was published by his widow.[3]
1. ^ The Sunday Times (subscription required).
2. ^ Duchen, Jessica (4 December 2008). "Dark heart of a masterpiece: Carmina Burana's famous chorus hides a murky Nazi past" (PDF). The Independent.
3. ^ Huber, Clara, ed. (1947). Kurt Huber zum Gedächtnis, Bildnis eines Menschen, Denkers und Forschers, dargestellt von seinen Freunden (in German). Regensburg: Josef Habbel.
External linksEdit
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Congenital and Developmental Anomalies of the Optic Nerve
Abnormalities of Optic Nerve Size
Optic Nerve Hypoplasia
Optic nerve hypoplasia appears to be the result of excessive pruning of the optic nerve bundles during its development. The disc is pale and may be surrounded by a variably pigmented yellow–white ring. This appearance has been referred to as the “double ring” sign. While the nerve head is small, the retinal vessels are usually of normal caliber. It may occur in one or both eyes and be associated with mild to severe visual impairment, including limited visual acuity and visual field deficits.
This patient has a hypoplastic right optic disc. An incomplete “double ring” is present on the temporal aspect of the nerve. The retinal arteries and veins appear of normal caliber and exit and enter centrally. The crowded central cup places these nerves at risk for vascular occlusive disease, including large retinal venous and arterial occlusions, as well as ischemic papillopathy.
This patient exhibits the classic complete “double ring” sign of optic nerve hypoplasia.
Megalopapilla classically presents as an enlarged, but otherwise normal appearing optic disc. Patients often present with good visual acuity, but mild to moderate visual deficits may be seen.
This patient exhibits distinct asymmetry between the sizes of the optic discs compatible with megalopapilla. Visual function was normal.
Optic Nerve Aplasia
Optic nerve aplasia denotes total absence of the optic nerve, retinal blood vessels, and retinal ganglion cells. It is a rare condition, most commonly unilateral, and associated with microphthalmos, retinochoroidal colobomas, and cataracts. No light perception visual acuity and an afferent pupillary defect are common findings.
This patient has unilateral optic nerve aplasia. This photograph was taken in the region where the optic nerve should have been located. Note the complete absence of the optic nerve and associated blood vessels, and the extensive thinning of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE).
Vascular Abnormalities
Congenital Prepapillary Vascular Loops
Congenital vascular anomalies, or congenital prepapillary vascular loops, usually appear as tortuous loops of an arteriole or venule that extend above the plane of the optic nerve and into the vitreous cavity. It may have a corkscrew or spiral shape and is often encased in a white fibroglial sheath as it enters the vitreous cavity. They are usually found in eyes with good visual acuity, though may be associated with retinal arterial obstruction in the distribution of the retina supplied by the loop. Amaurosis fugax and vitreous hemorrhage have also rarely been reported.
A congenital vascular loop with a “hairpin” configuration is seen on the nasal aspect of the optic nerve extending into the vitreous cavity. The vast majority of congenital vascular loops are arteriolar malformations. Visual function was normal in this patient.
A corkscrew-shaped retinal arterial loop is seen overlying the center of the optic nerve in this asymptomatic patient.
A patient with a congenital prepapillary venous loop located along the superior border of the optic disc. Note the slow venous filling. There is no leakage or evidence of vascular compromise within the vascular arcades.
Persistent Fetal Vasculature (PFV)
Regression of the hyaloid artery usually begins in the third month of gestation and is complete by the eighth month of gestation. Failure of regression may result in variable findings, from only threadlike remnants protruding from the optic nerve to a grossly visible vessel attached to the posterior capsule of the lens, usually in an inferonasal location. If the hyaloid artery is encased by a glial sheath of neuroectodermal cells it is known as Bergmeister papilla.
Incomplete regression of the hyaloid artery, with an attachment to the posterior surface of the lens. This patient also had a localized posterior retinal detachment. This 5-month-old patient underwent lensectomy/vitrectomy surgery, with stabilization of the anatomic abnormalities. Dense amblyopia limited visual recovery in spite of ocular patching and utilization of a corrective contact lens.
Bergmeister Papilla
A fibrous encased vascular stalk coursing above the plane of the optic disc, though not reaching the posterior surface of the lens. This finding was of no visual consequence.
Congenital Retinal Macrovessel
A congenital retinal macrovessel is a rare vascular anomaly that appears as an enlarged vessel exiting the optic nerve and traversing the macula with several first-order tributaries extending superior and inferior to its horizontal course. The optic nerve itself is generally normal. Venous macrovessels are more common than arterial and are most commonly located in an inferotemporal location. Visual acuity is usually preserved despite the vessel crossing over or through the foveal avascular zone.
A congenital retinal macrovessel emanates from the superior aspect of the optic nerve and courses along the superior vascular arcade. The vessels then cross the macular region and extend inferiorly. While visual function was normal, there appears to be slight enlargement of the macular capillary free zone. The optic nerve was normal.
Cilioretinal Artery Occlusion
A cilioretinal artery is seen in approximately 5 to 10% of patients and is generally temporal in location. It emerges from the optic nerve separately from the vessels derived from the central retinal artery. It often has a hook-like appearance and exits from the nerve substance and/or the edge of the nerve with approximate equal frequency. A cilioretinal artery becomes significant when an occlusion occurs. This may occur by itself or in conjunction with a central retinal vein occlusion. If the artery supplies blood to the papillomacular bundle and the macular region, significant visual loss may occur. The converse scenario may also be seen, in that in the setting of a central retinal artery occlusion, a cilioretinal artery may be protective in the preservation of central visual function.
A cilioretinal artery occlusion is seen in this patient, with ischemia along the superior portion of the papillomacular bundle. While the patient was aware of a pericentral visual field deficit, the central vision remained 20/25.
Excavated and Colobomatous Defects
Optic Nerve, Retinochoroidal, and Iris Colobomas
Congenital coloboma of the optic nerve is characterized by absent tissue and may show enlargement of the papillary area, partial or total excavation with a white surface, and retinal vessels that enter and exit from the borders of the defect. The affected nerve is commonly larger than normal in diameter. The coloboma may be unilateral or bilateral, and it is thought to be secondary to a failure of fusion of the posterior part of the embryonic fissure. Coloboma of the optic nerve may be caused by a mutation in the PAX6 gene.
These two patients have a coloboma of the optic nerve in conjunction with a contiguous coloboma of the choroid. In the lower photo, there is a fistulous tract that extends posteriorly, simulating a second optic nerve in appearance.
Excavation of the optic nerve, essentially a coloboma of the optic nerve secondary to cupping from glaucoma (top and middle rows) . In some patients, the colobomatous nature with fibrous proliferation and additional retinal vascular anomalous changes serve to differentiate this group of patients from other congenital anomalies and acquired disorders, such as glaucoma, trauma, or acquired ischemia.
A coloboma may involve the retinochoroid with or without concurrent optic nerve involvement. In this patient, there is a ridge of fibrous tissue bordering the superior aspect of the coloboma (middle left, arrows) . There is pre- and subretinal fibrosis (upper right, arrows) and a fissure through the sclera (arrowhead) . Colobomas may be associated with non-rhegmatogenous serous retinal detachments of the macula. Pigment epithelial hyperplasia is often seen at the margins of such a coloboma, sometimes in conjunction with a zonal area of atrophy from a resolved antecedent detachment.
A patient with a very large inferonasal retinochoroidal coloboma and an associated iris coloboma. The fluorescein angiogram documents almost complete hypofluorescence due to lack of RPE and choriocapillaris within the confines of the coloboma.
Morning Glory Disc Anomaly
The morning glory disc anomaly is a variant of an optic nerve coloboma. It is classically an enlarged, unilateral, funnel-shaped excavation of the optic nerve head with a central core of pale glial tissue. The margins are raised and chorioretinal pigmentary changes are commonly present at its border. Retinal vessels course near the margins, but are obscured centrally by glial tissue. It is more common in females and affects right eyes to a slightly greater degree than left eyes. There may be persistent hyaloidal remnants in the base of the excavation.
All of these patients have morning glory disc anomalies. Centrally, pale glial tissue is present, while more peripherally at the margin of the optic nerve there are numerous radially distributed retinal vessels. Variable degrees of chorioretinal pigmentary changes are present near or adjacent to the optic nerve head and its surrounding annulus.
A patient with a morning glory disc anomaly showing a glial cap over the optic nerve. The retinal vessels appear to exit the nerve in a more peripheral location, and this is seen quite readily on the accompanying fluorescein angiograms.
Optic Nerve Pit
(Also see Chapter 11 , Peripheral Retinal Degenerations and Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment)
An optic nerve head pit is an uncommon congenital anomaly that may result from imperfect closure of the superior edge of the embryonic fissure. It appears as a grey-white round or oval-shaped depression on the inferotemporal aspect of the optic nerve, often with adjacent peripapillary chorioretinal atrophy or retinal pigment epithelial pigment changes. Associated non-rhegmatogenous serous retinal detachments of the macula and schisis cavities are common. The origin of the subretinal fluid is controversial, but may arise from the vitreous cavity, leakage from retinal vessels within the pit or adjacent choroid, or may be cerebrospinal fluid leaking into the subretinal space via the subarachnoid space. In the presence of a long-standing serous macular detachment, pars plana vitrectomy surgery is often offered as treatment.
Several patients with optic nerve pits are shown. The pits are round, pale depressions most commonly found in a temporal location with adjacent chorioretinal pigmentary changes. Visual acuity is typically excellent except in cases of non-rhegmatogenous serous detachments. There is an association between optic nerve pits and glaucoma.
Third image courtesy of Dr. Eric Shrier
Two patients have an optic nerve head pit with a macular detachment, consisting of schisis and neurosensory elevation. Thinning of the inner limiting membrane is present in the fovea in the patient on the right, which gives the appearance of a macular hole (arrow) . Chronic serous detachments may result in localized formation of subretinal precipitates and mimic the appearance of central serous chorioretinopathy.
This patient has an optic nerve head pit in association with a dual macular detachment composed of intraretinal schisis and a neurosensory elevation. The middle image shows a serous detachment inferior to the nerve (arrows) . The detachment resolved following photocoagulation to the temporal edge of the disc. The fluorescein angiogram shows no leakage from the pit.
A color fundus photo and associated fluorescein angiogram in a patient with an optic nerve pit and serous macular detachment demonstrates no leakage near the pit or beneath the detachment. The optic pit is hypofluorescent on fluorescein angiography.
Courtesy of Dr. Jonathan G. Williams
A patient with an optic pit developed a serous neurosensory detachment and a lamellar hole. An external lamellar or full-thickness macular hole may develop within the detached retina of patients with optic pits.
Chronic serous detachments may result in localized formation of subretinal precipitates and chorioretinal pigmentary changes. The optic pit leaves degenerated photoreceptors in the subretinal space that contain chromophores detectable with fundus autofluorescence (FAF) (middle) . The optical coherence tomography (OCT) shows the pit of the retina combined with a schisis cavity.
A patient with an optic nerve pit and an associated serous schisis macular detachment. The detachment did not improve spontaneously, so therefore the patient underwent eventual pars plana vitrectomy surgery, which led to successful resolution of the serous macular detachment and improvement in visual function.
A patient with an optic disc pit in the inferotemporal location. The OCT shows a deep excavation of the optic nerve pit in this patient.
This patient presented with bilateral optic nerve pits and combined detachments. A schisis cavity and full-thickness retinal separation in contiguity with an excavation on the nerve head is readily apparent on the OCT image.
Bottom left image courtesy of Dr. Hideki Koizumi
Histopathologic light microscopy of an optic nerve head pit in the temporal aspect of the optic nerve head. Neuronal tissue can be seen entering the pit from the adjacent retina and extends far below the lamina cribrosa. Only a thin diaphanous tissue separates the optic pit from the subarachnoid space.
Situs Inversus
The retinal vessels exiting from the optic nerve generally progress directly temporally. However, on occasion they take a nasal bend, prior to heading temporally. The temporal half of the nerve generally appears full, and the optic cup is generally absent. Optic nerve hypoplasia may also be seen. This finding is also referred to as tilted disc syndrome (see below), nasal fundus ectasia, and Fuchs coloboma. Patients are generally asymptomatic.
The retinal vessels in this patient exit this optic nerve in a nasal direction prior to turning temporally. The patient was visually asymptomatic. Note the absence of a central optic nerve cup.
Tilted Disc Syndrome
Features of tilted disc syndrome include inferonasal tilting, an inferior or inferonasal crescent, situs inversus of the retinal vessels, fundus ectasia, myopia, and astigmatism. About 75% of cases are bilateral. Choroidal neovascularization may occur due to weakness in Bruch membrane, usually near the crescent of a staphyloma in myopic eyes.
In this patient with tilted disc syndrome, there is an absence of drusenoid change within a staphylomatous area (arrows) of the right eye. The nerve in the fellow eye (left) is only mildly tilted.
Left and second from right image, courtesy of Dr. Salomen Cohen
This patient has an inferonasal tilted disc with a crescent bordering on a staphyloma. There is a myopic conus on the inferior nasal margin of the disc. These patients are susceptible to exudative retinal detachments simulating central serous chorioretinopathy without serous pigment epithelial detachment. They may also experience choroidal neovascularization, usually at or near the crest of the staphyloma. The OCT shows a serous elevation of the retina in this patient.
A patient with a tilted disc and a classic myopic conus temporally.
Peripapillary Staphyloma
Peripapillary staphylomas are rare congenital anomalies characterized by a normal appearing optic nerve surrounded by a zone of staphylomatous excavation. Chorioretinal degeneration is a universal finding within the walls of the staphyloma. It is differentiated from myopic conus and staphyloma by a relatively normal refraction, normal appearing optic disc, absence of a progressive chorioretinal degeneration, and lack of a temporal predilection of the peripapillary pigmentary alterations.
A typical posterior staphyloma in a highly myopic patient (−20 diopter myope).
Optic Nerve Head Drusen
Optic nerve head drusen are congenital intrapapillary refractile bodies unrelated to choroidal drusen. They occur in approximately 1% of the general population, are more common in Caucasian races, and are frequently bilateral. They may mimic papilledema of the optic nerve and are associated with spontaneous disc hemorrhages and arcuate visual field deficits. The drusen become increasingly visible with age and are rare before the teenage years. Buried drusen are readily detectable with B-scan ultrasonography and on spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) scans as well.
Optic nerve head drusen in several eyes are shown. Note that they extend beyond the margin of the normal nerve, as well as in a cascade fashion anteriorly. They may mimic papilledema of the optic nerve and may be associated with spontaneous disc hemorrhages and arcuate visual field deficits.
Left image courtesy of Mark Croswell
Subpapillary optic nerve head drusen may create irregular peripapillary margins that may masquerade as papilledema (pseudopapilledema). Differentiating true papilledema from buried optic nerve head drusen is critical because true papilledema requires an extensive neurological assessment. The fluorescein angiogram stains those lesions, simulating edema. The histopathology shows the calcific deposits within the nerve head (arrows) . B-scan echography, SD-OCT, and/or FAF are useful imaging modalities to detect the presence of optic nerve head drusen not readily visualized on funduscopic examination.
This patient with subpapillary drusen mimicking pseudo-papilledema shows no prominence to the vasculature emerging to and from the optic nerve head.
Subpapillary drusen may be visible echographically with a B-scan ultrasound device. In this image, persistent acoustical reflectance with low-sensitivity B-scan echography delineates the location of buried optic nerve head drusen (arrows) . Acoustic shadows from the calcified drusen are also visible.
FAF is a non-invasive imaging modality that records the natural fluorescent properties of intraocular structures, most readily the RPE. Subpapillary optic nerve head drusen not easily detectable clinically are readily visualized with FAF (arrows) .
Optic nerve head drusen can be imaged with OCT as prominent tissue masses extending above the plane of the retina and optic nerve.
Patients with optic nerve head drusen are at risk for developing crescent shaped peripapillary hemorrhages and subretinal neovascular membrane formation. Note the hemorrhage surrounding the temporal border of the right optic nerve (arrows) and the superior nasal edge of the disc in the left eye (left) . Fluorescein angiography shows hyperfluorescence of the nasal margin of the disc with blockage by the hemorrhage (right) .
Optic Nerve Head Drusen with Juxtapapillary Choroidal Neovascularization (CNV)
A young patient with optic nerve head drusen developed juxtapapillary subretinal hemorrhage, secondary to CNV. The optic nerve head drusen were confirmed echographically. The subretinal hemorrhage spontaneously cleared and visual function improved.
Optic nerve head drusen may provide a route for capillary proliferation and choroidal neovascularization to penetrate the subretinal space. This may result in type 2 CNV with associated serosanguineous fluid accumulation. Eventually, fibrous infiltration and disciform scar formation evolved in the macular region (arrow) .
This patient with optic nerve head drusen has a pigmentary scar in the macula (arrowhead, left) that is the result of abnormal choroidal neovascularization extending from the edge of the disc, around Bruch membrane, and into the subretinal space (arrow, middle) . There is late staining on fluorescein angiography from pooling into the subneurosensory detachment. Peripapillary hemorrhage is also present (arrowhead, right) .
This patient experienced an acute serosanguineous detachment of the macula in the right eye (upper left) from CNV associated with hemorrhage surrounding the optic nerve head drusen and in the subretinal space (arrow) . Regression of the neovascularization left a fibrous, atrophic hyperpigmented disciform scar (as seen in the middle upper photograph). The left eye also experienced choroidal neovascularization resulting in a fibrotic scar involving the fovea (upper right) . Follow-up on this patient 26 years later showed stabilization of the scar and visual function, though with an increase in the fibrous and pigmentary degenerative lesions in each eye.
Optic Nerve Trauma
Also see Chapter 12 Traumatic Chorioretinopathy
This patient experienced an avulsion of the optic nerve from severe blunt trauma. Note the hemorrhage surrounding the optic nerve head. There is also whitening of the retina from cleavage of perfusing arterioles. B-scan echography is often helpful in demonstrating the avulsed nerve head. In time, the hemorrhage resolves, though ischemia prevails. There may also be fibrous and pigmentary proliferation as a scar fills the avulsed defect.
In this patient with avulsion of the optic nerve there is severance of the retinal vasculature following blunt trauma. This is confirmed on the fluorescein angiogram, where there is complete lack of filling of the retinal vasculature, with the only observed fluorescence being from the choroid. The patient had no light perception (NLP) vision.
This patient suffered an avulsion of the optic nerve. Note the circumferential ring of hemorrhage surrounding the optic nerve and the adjacent pale, ischemic retina.
In this patient with avulsion of the optic nerve, a gap corresponding to the avulsed area is clinically apparent (arrow) . Fibrous scarring eventually will seal the gap at the nerve head and in the peripapillary area as well.
In this patient with avulsion of the optic nerve, the gap created is in the center of the disc (arrows) with ischemia of the adjacent retina and widespread hemorrhages throughout the fundus. The fundus is characterized predominantly by hemorrhage.
Select Optic Nerve Ischemic, Inflammatory, and Infectious Processes
Non-Arteritic Anterior Ischemic Optic Neuropathy (NAION)
Non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION) is a common optic neuropathy affecting primarily adults over the age of 50 years. Classically, the condition affects hyperopic, small discs, with a crowded central cup (“disc-at-risk”). It may result in altitudinal or arcuate visual field defects, disc hemorrhage, or edema of the optic nerve. These eyes must be differentiated from a vasculitis or temporal arteritis, which has a more threatening prognosis and generally necessitates intervention with systemic corticosteroid and/or other immunosuppressive agents.
This patient has a small, crowded optic nerve, which placed the patient at risk for development of NAION. At presentation, the nerve is hyperemic with a prominent microvascular papillopathy and flame-shaped hemorrhages (arrows) . The image on the right shows optic nerve edema in an eye with a similar process.
These two patients have non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy. Fluorescein angiography in anterior ischemic optic neuropathy may demonstrate a “watershed abnormality,” or a zone of delayed vertical hypoperfusion of the choriocapillaris (arrow) . These capillaries eventually perfuse and are homogeneously fluorescent compared to the other surrounding small vessels of the choroid (right) . In the acute stages, the optic nerve head will have late leakage (lower right image) .
This patient had a history of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy in the right eye followed by acute manifestations in the left eye. The right eye shows a pale, ischemic nerve with central crowding of the small cup from retinal blood vessels. The left eye demonstrates an acute presentation, with swelling of the optic nerve, blurring of the disc margins, and juxtapapillary hemorrhage (arrow) .
Bilateral non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy may occur. This patient has a history of segmental atrophy from an antecedent acute episode of non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (arrows) . The left eye (right) now has acute manifestations of the disease with edema of the lower half of the nerve and a corresponding superior altitudinal field defect.
Optic Nerve Papillitis
Papillitis describes swelling of the optic disc caused by local inflammation of the optic nerve head. It is most commonly secondary to demyelinating disease in younger patients and ischemic optic neuropathy in patients older than 50 years of age. Infectious, inflammatory, autoimmune, and neoplastic entities must also be considered.
Acute Neuroretinitis (Bartonella henselae)
Bartonella henselae is a gram negative rod and a common cause of acute neuroretinitis characterized by inflammation of the optic disc vasculature with exudation of fluid into the peripapillary retina. In this patient, optic nerve edema is present with flame hemorrhages and deposition of exudate. OCT confirms the acute swelling.
Leber Idiopathic Stellate Neuroretinitis
Leber idiopathic stellate neuroretinitis is characterized by a papillitis, prominent optic nerve vessels and a maculopathy with macular star formation from deposition of intraretinal lipid exudates. Serous retinal detachment may occur in some cases. The majority of patients previously classified with acute macular neuroretinitis most likely had a Bartonella henselae infection.
Chronic Papillitis
These patients have chronic papillitis with different associated manifestations. There is pure edema and erythematous prominence to the papillary circulation (left), peripapillary neurosensory detachment (middle), as well as scattered hemorrhages and prominent retinal vessels from obstructive venous disease (right).
Chronic papillitis may be severe and result in a persistently swollen disc with blurred margins, peripapillary hemorrhage, occlusive vasculopathy, and obliteration of the normal physiologic cup, as seen in the accompanying image.
Chronic papillitis can result in optic atrophy with residual swelling and pallor of the optic nerve. Residual arterial attenuation may be present. The pallor is not usually associated with significant cupping, though it can be confused in certain cases with a glaucomatous optic neuropathy. The visual fields will be irreversibly constricted with poor visual acuity.
Ocular Syphilis
Syphilis is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the spirochete bacterium Treponema pallidum that may involve almost any intraocular structure. It may present as an acute papillitis with associated serous retinal detachment. Syphilitic papillitis may resolve to leave optic disc pallor and adjacent retinal pigment epithelial atrophy.
Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH)
Papilledema, or idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), implies optic disc swelling due to raised intracranial pressure. This patient has papilledema, which has led to swelling of the optic nerve, peripapillary detachment, lipid deposition extending toward the fovea, and pre-retinal hemorrhage bilaterally.
Courtesy of Dr. Blake Cooper
Optic Nerve Tumors
Also see Chapter 8 Oncology
Optic Nerve Glioma
Optic nerve gliomas are most commonly seen in children or young adults and present with unilateral proptosis and decreased visual acuity. They are strongly associated with neurofibromatosis.
These two patients have an optic nerve glioma, which has led to atrophy of the nerve head and dilated venous–venous collateralization to compensate for posterior retrobulbar venous obstructive disease. The pale disc with collateralization can be compared to ciliary retinal collaterals following central retinal vein thrombosis where the nerve head is pink from prominence of the lamellar circulation of the nerve head.
Right image courtesy of Dr. James Bollings
Jul 30, 2019 | Posted by in OPHTHALMOLOGY | Comments Off on Congenital and Developmental Anomalies of the Optic Nerve
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The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan came into existence at the end of the War Between the States, during the period? Black Reconstruction.? Nathan Bedford Forest is the man who led the first Klan in 1867. During this period, most white people had lost their right to vote and illiterate blacks, with no history of civilized government, became the mass of the voting population.
This resulted in vast crime, violence, and corruption against white southerners. At the worst point of this time, the Klan took charge and helped to restore the government of the South, and as Woodrow Wilson said, ? it saved the civilization on this continent.? Since that time, the Klan has suffered immense hatred from anti-White, pro-minority forces in the mass media. Hundreds of books, movies, and television programs are created every year attacking the Klan.
There have been some people who try to take a stand for the Klan but, instead, have made fools of themselves by wearing multicolored robes onto places like the Jerry Springer Show. The Knights are very fortunate to have such a good spokesperson, the National Director, Thomas Robb. The goal of the Klan is to gain political power in the United States. They want all Whites to help support them because they feel this is the last hope for America. To gain political power they must first have a Klan member become the leader of the White racialist movement. They will try to do this by showing their strong leadership skills through the media and through determined effort by all Klan members to strive and perform the best they can.
Second, they have to become a representative and inspiration behind the White Community. They will try to do this by large public rallies, television, radio, literature drives, and teaching at schools. Third, they must convince the white population to have enough faith in them to bring them to political power. The Knights can to this by creating strong local units and bold public relation campaigns focusing on the White Christian people, telling them that the is the last hope for America to have an all white government. Lastly, they will extensively work with communities by giving out literature, sponsoring ads on TV and radio, working on petition drives, conducting goodwill projects, and by recruiting as many people as possible.
The Klan has a simple party structure. In having a simple structure, they are able to proceed with their objectives more easily and efficiently, with the most expertise. The Knights are broken up into different sections for the number of people there are. A specific Klan has anywhere from 4-15 Klansmen and Klanswomen who all work together to achieve their objectives. After a certain period of time, the Klan must report in to their Klan headquarters. However, in an area where there is not an organized Klan, a member can work directly with their headquarters.
There are different positions that are held at the headquarters. The Leader of the organization is called the National Director. Then there is a board of directors, which governs the Knights. The National Director serves as chief executive and the President of the board.
Then there is the Grand Council, which is an advisory board to the national director, also known as his cabinet. The Klansmen and the Klanswomen are people who have applied and been accepted into the Klan. There are different ranks for Klansmen or Klanswomen once they are accepted into the Klan. A Page is a beginner. This means that they have just started in the Klan and haven? t had the chance to advance yet.
A Squire is the second rank of the Klan. The only way for Klan member to advance is through studies and activities. Then there is the Knight. This is the uppermost rank of the organization and requires much study and activity to get this position. There is then a Unit Recruiter. This is a man or a woman who has reached a Squire and has applied and been accepted for a recruiter.
They need to have a high school diploma or a G.E.D. All of these people are brought together in a Unit. These are the 4-15 members that try to achieve certain objectives. There are officers in each Klan that run a Unit. They are as follows. The Unit Coordinator? This is the recruiter that organizes the Klan.
This person must be a Knight and has to select the following people for the unit officers. Assistant Unit Coordinator? This person is second in command and must hold the rank of Squire. Secretary? This person helps organize unit associations. Treasurer?
This person keeps an accurate account of the Klan's finances and must turn in a report to the headquarters at any given time. Ombudsman? This person provides simple counsel for other unit members. Expediter?
This is a personal assistant to the Unit coordinator who keeps the flags and banners. This person also displays them at meetings and gatherings. All of these people work under the authority of the National Director Thomas Robb and his staff at the national headquarters. Many people believe that what the Klan does is wrong, such as the Lighting of the Cross and the robes they wear. When the Klan's Light the Cross, they aren't destroying the Cross but simply Lighting it, to symbolize the Light of Christ, chasing away darkness and ignorance. The media has purposely used the word? burn? when they speak of the Klan because of the negative image that is then set on the Klan and into the minds of many people.
Other religions and countries have used this symbol for years as a representation of freedom from sin and tyranny. The original meaning of the robe and hood is from ancient European rituals meaning fraternal brotherhood and secrecy in doing good works. During the time of? Black Reconstruction? , they did wear the robe and it hid their identities, but that wasn? t the meaning of the robe and hood, only to practice an old tradition. 391 web Ku Klux Klan, 1998. web The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, 1995..
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One Dollar Board Targets Students
The Raspberry Pi was made to be inexpensive with an eye toward putting them into schools. But what about programs targeted at teaching embedded programming? There are plenty of fiscally-starved schools all over the world, and it isn’t uncommon for teachers to buy supplies out of their own pockets. What could you do with a board that cost just one dollar?
That’s the idea behind the team promoting the “One Dollar Board” (we don’t know why they didn’t call it a buck board). The idea is to produce a Creative Commons design for a simple microcontroller board that only costs a dollar. You can see a video about the project, below.
Despite being licensed under Creative Commons, there isn’t much detail available that we could find. It appears the board uses an 8 pin Atmel CPU (and the FAQ indicates that the board will use the Arduino IDE). We’re guessing that it’s essentially a Digispark / Adafruit Trinket / ATtiny85 with V-USB installed.
The crowdfunding campaign page lists the following details:
• CPU: 8-bit
• GPIO (input and output ports): 6
• USB Interface: Yes
• Memory: Flash 8 kBytes (expandable to 256 kBytes)
• Spaces for expansions: WiFi ESP8266, Memory 24C256, H bridge L293
• Voltage: 5V
• Indicator LEDs: 2
• Reset Button: Yes
• Fitting Spaces: 4 (compatible with Arduíno UNO or similar)
• Quick Guide: The English board comes with a printed guide in other languages.
If it is an ATTtiny85-based design, two of those “GPIO” pins will be eaten up by the USB programmer, and maybe two more by the indicator LEDs. And some of that 8 kB of flash is consumed by the bootloader. In short, it’s not going to be able to do everything all at once. Still, it could be just the thing for getting your feet wet.
But the real story is the price. The dollar price tag doesn’t include shipping or taxes, of course, but even getting the price down that low is impressive. Time will tell if the market has an appetite for a dollar board. If we had to guess, the real value will be in ready-made course material.
There are plenty of educational boards out there, but few (if any) cost a buck.
74 thoughts on “One Dollar Board Targets Students
1. I think this is more geared for supplying students with boards to teach them programming. The price tag gives the school incentive to order hundreds since they can afford to provide one to every student.
2. Quick! Port the Arduino IDE to the Raspberry PI Zero! That’ll go far toward solving the problem as found in Third World countries… like the USA. One suggestion about this “buck-duino” card: Ensure the USB is not so tricky to program as it is with the Leonardo. (and other Arduinos with the “flaw”)
1. You don’t get an USB bootloader at those STM8 boards (in fact the USB connector is there for power supply only). One dollar for a project we actually know something about (differente of those dark-market STM8) is indeed impressive.
1. Hardware debugging (SWIM for STM32F8 and SWD for STM32F) at $3 is more than worth it in my book. You’ll learn a lot more of what’s going on inside a microcontroller in real time. Unless your $1 board is self hosting, you have to also count the PC too. So a $3 is on the order of a fraction of 1% of the development cost.
1. IDE with assembler is a strange question as IDE & compilers in open source world are separate projects. There are the usual commercial path e.g. IAR demo if you want native IDE.
SDCC supports STM8. (I had play with SDCC previously on 8051 and Z80.) sdasstm8 is the STM8 assembler in SDCC. There are IDE that support SDCC. (I insists that the editor have to support multiple windows and NOT waste my time confined in tabbed ones having to flip back and forth in.)
I use Programmer’s notepad and makefile with SDCC. Strangely enough, this arrangement is also used by some Japanese for ARM development. Wish I know what they use as their source code debugger.
I only look at the STM8 series briefly, but decided to go to the STM32F030 instead because of Keil MDK. The $0.20 difference isn’t enough for me to want to use a 8-bit chip.
1. For a buck a board AND ready made course material I’ll buy a couple of hundred myself and drop them off at the Boys and Girls club just up the street from me. Then I’d go talk to the schools. At that price for something they can learn on AND take home is too good to pass up.
1. $2.50 shipping on that ARM board. That’s included in the $1 board.
Yeah, I know the $1 board is extremely limited, with what looks like 4 GPIOs.
But in terms for a First Teaching Board thing, how far are they going to go?
The real problem is the kids need to write their code on something to upload to it. And lots of schools use Chromebooks. Is there an online Arduino IDE that you could use on a Chromebook?
1. But running a full-fledged OS defeats the simplicity and security that chromebooks are supposed to have. Anyway I doubt most schools would bother installing a mysterious OS on their computers.
1. 8 bits make lots of sense for some applications.
I’m tempted to buy 30 odd and put them in all the light switches and kitchen appliances, have them talk to each other a few sensors and a real time clock. :D
1. Not necessarily a relevant question as the memory can be a magnetic tape, or whatever, so not part of the construction method discussed.
2. I get Arduino ProMini clones for about $1.70 apiece that blow this out of the water and they fit a standard breadboard for added versatility. Why reinvent the wheel?
Also, Africa is a big continent, without more specifics this is just buzzwords and feel-good marketing. How much time did this team spend there researching the actual need?
1. What I was thinking about was the more expensive, but more functional, BBC Micro:bit device. The crocodile clip/banana plug I/O is a nice feature for the intended market, for example. And it has 25 LEDs!
2. Similar here, I use loads of Arduino Nano’s when I want easy USB programming, and Pro Minis when I’m really tight on space and power. Pro minis have an odd pinout where some pins are offset and running, so you cant use all of them easily on a breadboard. Nano’s are 100% breadboard compatible and I tend to get them for about A$2.70, bargain!
Even better, there are terminal breakout board for the Nano for a couple of bucks, and they make an easy way to fit the nano into a project. If you dont need all of the I/O you can remove some of the header pins and install jumper wire to route power to extra terminals, and it still looks reasonably tidy.
3. That is where all the people who have commented here about it needing a computer to boot load.
Everybody knows that every child in Africa has a laptop now through the One Laptop/Child project.
(The previous 2 sentences are sarcasm, for those who mistook them for truth)
3. You can build STM32F030F4 breakout boards for less than $1.
(The crystal is optional if you don’t need very accurate clock and low jitter.)
TSSOP20 Breakout PCB $1.66 US for 10
STM32F030F4 $4.40 US for 10
you’ll need a few passives. You can program and debug using STLink. There are $3 STLink V2 clones from China or you can use a STM32F discovery board as a programmer..
You can get a licensed Keil MDK for the STM32F0 series for free without no code limitation.
1. The free tool chain doesn’t have some of the nice stuff on Keil. Being able to have a GUI that shows the register with annotation of what the bit does in hardware debugger is very nice.
Not every one like Ecllipse based IDE if there are also better tools around at $0 cost.
BTW I am not confused about the Keil free license for STM32F0 at all if you read my original post that [Paulo Andrade] replied to without addressing the license.
4. I’ve ordered 25 as I think they will be a great help in teaching electronics. The simpler the better for a start. I know there are those out there who look down their noses at 8bit chips but even learning how to fit an app into a limited amount of resources has a lot of merit. My first processor was the Signetics 2650 and it had 1K of ROM with the total addressing range of just 32K. But with that 1K, I was able to add an extra couple of commands by optimizing the code. Then I did a memory mapped video display! I’m sure the experience of assembly language and getting to the nuts and bolts of the processor was a good way to learn.
Even so, programming for example, with the Arduino IDE, is a lot easier to explain to newbies than assembly code, or some of the more complicated IDEs. It will be interesting to see how these boards shape up.
Yes, I think “Buck Board” would have been great!
Years ago I was involve in the design of a super phosphate spreader controller. It was given a name something like “SSC” but I wanted to call it “Scatter Brain” but was voted down.
1. I think you better read up on the limitations their choosen technology imposes. ATTiny is an 8 pin DIP package, with just 6 I/O pins. And at least 4 are taken up already (2 for USB, 2 for the expansion flash). So that leaves you with just 2 usable pins, assuming that you disable the RESET pin (1 if you don’t). That Signetics you mention likely had more I/O than that …
Also from the programming point of view, you will discover that having to write your code to run whenever the USB servicing code “has time” (it is bitbanged USB, all in software, ATTiny85 doesn’t have USB transciever) otherwise the host PC disconnects your gizmo is not trivial business. Certainly not a platform I would want to teach programming on.
5. When I read the January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics; I somehow instinctively understood the featured computer kit would eventually lead to something big. However at the time I never got into it for the simple reason I didn’t have any practical useful applications for the technology. Unless students of all ages are shown a path to discover how learning to write code and integrating micro-controllers can make a positive change in their lives, these initiatives are going to look like more boring word problems.. I understand it was design the way it was to reduce parts count, that USB connection is going to be unusable on a great number of computers that poorer families can afford. I’m pretty low income I could and would supply ten of these a month if a teacher can show me how they would use them to spark interest in electronics.
1. I wasn’t speaking of any lack of USB ports. Just stating the that the design. might make it unusable with USB ports of many computers be because of physical interference with the case and adjacent USB ports. Often on tower cases the ports are in a recess crowed with multiple ports. As always YMMV.
6. I dunno. For under $2 you can get a full Arduino Nano clone.
Some of these “educational” projects seem to border on “scam” – the boards are cheap, and then they get packaged into “classroom kits” with lots of overpriced companion components, infrastructure, textbooks, and expensive training. (or: let’s get non-profit status so me and my friends can collect charitable donations and get paid for designing hobbyist class boards that wouldn’t otherwise be very interesting. More “boondoggle” than “scam”, but not really accomplishing much in the way of the supposed “educational” goals.) (tell me about how well those OLPC laptops have worked…)
7. I think that this board is going to be just a nightmare to use. If it is using ATTiny85, then there is no hardware USB (ATTiny85 doesn’t have it) and they are using something like V-USB – i.e. bitbanging low speed USB.
The consequences? Well, V-USB is very finicky about USB ports, works with some, doesn’t with others, because the USB support is not standard compliant due to the corner cutting necessary to make the MCU keep up with the USB signalling.
The user’s code needs to be all written around the needs of the USB servicing, which takes about 50-80% of the CPU time. ATTiny85 has 8kB of flash, from my experience about half of that is going to be taken just by the bootloader and the USB firmware, not leaving much for user code.
The marketing is also very misleading – 8kB of flash (expandable to 256kB) – yeah, but the 8kB are *program* flash on that ATTiny, I2C/SPI flash cannot be used to store/execute code on these MCUs.
“Internet of things” – my ass, there is nothing on that board that would actually permit one to connect to that internet in the first place. And with the limited I/O you cannot even really add it.
So yeah, $1 board – but you get what you pay for. If someone is selling this as something for edu market, they have to be smoking crack (or equate educational with cheap). The limitations are so bad that it would be next to useless beyond blinking some LED.
The $5 Raspberry Pi Zero would be vastly more useful than this for educational use. Or if a school wants several hundreds of these, they can easily order few hundred of Arduino clones made to measure, that cannot take more than about $10/apiece, the cheapest clones on AliExpress are around $4.
1. I’m torn on this device. First, the cost of the device is nothing compared to the cost of getting a teacher trained and getting a curriculum together. So whether it’s $1 or $5 is probably irrelevant. Cheap, however, is important if you’re going to be giving 30-60 of them out. But the details are marketing.
It’s going to be all about the software and applications. There’s a lot you can do with two pins — datalogging, bit-banged serial, WS2812 LEDs, etc. A creative teacher could really make this work.
The “developing world” angle seems like rosy-glasses optimism to me, though. There’s too much infrastructure presupposed — like kids with laptops and reliable (USB) power.
But I’d totally teach this class in a rich high school district.
2. +1
In developed countries most students can afford a cheap Arduino clone, or better yet, RPi Zero (they spend more on games). In developing countries most schools have limited number of computers, and many of them are as old as students that use them. In really poor, third world countries they don’t have enough schools, libraries or hospitals, so this would be quite low on their priority list.
If someone wants to teach programming in school, he should teach Python or some old version of BASIC, or even LOGO. To make an interesting educational board/set for kids it requires a lot more than 1 dollar PCB.
And why they didn’t select a microcontroller that has hardware USB support? The cheapest one I found in local distributor was PIC16F1454, and from 32-bit family a STM32F042G6U6…
1. You are right. Programming is about discipline of mind and approach to problem solving.
It could be more interesting for the kids to be introduced to programming by social playing – acting in roles of computer components, using only limited operations, to solve a problem. Almost all important and even many advanced topics could be covered that way. Just like with counting on our fingers, most of us are secretly anthropomorphising CPUs when analysing code flow, so such game would give very similar experience.
1. I remember seeing a board game years ago, where the players were “robots” and the cards drawn were simple commands, much like assembly language, turn left, advance one step, back up, remain stationary, And various boards could be attached to the main board, each with pitfalls/traps, and could be attached in various ways to each other. And you could “bump” other players off of their path with your robot or force them into a trap. I watched some adults play it, and wish I had played it at the time. I don’t recall if you could store up your commands and use them as needed, but…
8. I do like the product but I am developing a serious aversion against these types of pitch-videos. This one ticks all the barf marks!
– Poor kids in Africa that need nothing more than some cheap ass electramolics.
– Upbeat worn out happy music in the background.
– Random shot of mostly unrelated elatromic tinkering.
– Endorsements of random people that have no authority in the topic.
– Pretentious marketing babble of how this will transform EVERYTHANG. Fo just a dolla!
It missing one tiny thing so for the ultimate in pitch barf-worthiness:
– creators filmed slightly from the side against a soft background speak in this weird unnatural apple-style marketing wank way
God how I hate these videos.
9. Oh and one more thing: These poor pcb-starved kids in Africa, that can’t afford a 2 dollar ESP8266…
How on earth are these kids supposed to get the computer to program these 1-dolla boards? Doesn’t make sense, marketing wank. Just present it for what it is and leave out the godawful feel-good bullshit.
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argument, you are effects of reality tv essays to explain and prove something about your subject, so you need to use plenty of specific evidence as support. A good approach to supporting an interpretation or argument is dividing your interpretation or argument into a few significant and related claims and then supporting each claim thoroughly in one body Sometimes a student will write a well-organized essay, but the essay does not shed much interpretations and arguments that students come up with.
Every semester, students interpretation, you should reread the text or study your subject thoroughly, doing your best to notice something new each time you examine it.
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Style many aspects of style to consider. Aspects of style include conciseness, variety of sentence structure, consistent verb tense, avoidance of the passage voice, and attention to the connotative meanings of words. Several of the course web pages provide on style that is now available online. and audience for each essay in this course, you should use a.
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Dr Ron Davis’s big immune study is looking at HLA genes. Here’s why.
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Dr Ron Davis has won a large NIH (US National Institutes of Health) grant for an immunology project with a strong focus on HLA genes. Which may have led some to wonder, ‘What are they?’
HLA (human leukocyte antigen) molecules play a critical role in the immune system, particularly by activating T cells. There is a huge amount of variation in the HLA genes that different people have, and Davis’s theory is that certain types of HLA genes could increase the risk of ME/CFS.
The following explanation of HLA molecules is taken from a piece I wrote a few years ago.
The short version
HLA molecules fire up T cells
HLA waiter1
HLA serves up an antigen, ready for a T cell receptor to recognise.
T cells play a key role in the immune system. Like antibodies, the receptors of T cells respond to very specific antigens (foreign proteins), much like a lock matching just one key.
However, while antibodies will recognise and bind to part of a whole protein, such as the protein coat of a virus, T cell receptors only recognise tiny fragments of proteins. And T cell receptors can’t respond to antigens unless they are presented in just the right way.
That’s where HLA molecules come in. At a very basic level, HLA molecules act like waiters, serving up the antigen on a plate. More precisely, HLA molecules – which sit on the cell surface – have a groove that cradles the small antigen, and the T cell receptor binds to the antigen and HLA molecule together.
If the T cell receptor recognises the antigen proffered by the HLA molecule (strictly speaking, several different molecules combine to make an HLA complex) then the T cell will snap into action. But without HLA molecules, T cells wouldn’t be able to take action against threats to the body.
HLA in ME/CFS and other diseases
We have six different types of HLA molecule that present to T cells, and there are many different versions of each of the six types. Ron Davis at Stanford believes that the version of HLA genes you have may influence the risk of getting ME/CFS, and certainly HLA gene variants have been linked to numerous diseases. One particular version of an HLA gene increases the risk of narcolepsy by 130 times. A version of another HLA gene conveys some protection against HIV developing into AIDS – though the same gene variant increases the risk of the autoimmune disease ankylosing spondylitis. In fact, HLA genes are linked to a number of autoimmune diseases.
More about the biology (it’s fun, really!)
HLA molecules help activate T cells
T cells are an important part of the immune system. T helper cells are ‘generals’, co-ordinating the immune system response. For instance, T helper cells play a critical role in firing up antibody-producing B cells and other types of T cell. Killer T cells are more like infantry, acting independently and killing off rogue cells such as those infected with a virus.
But T cells need to be activated first before they get going, and they are activated in part by antigens, which for T cells are peptides, short pieces of protein. And antigens are what HLA molecules are about: they sit on the cell surface and hold out the antigen morsels to the T cells.
If the T cell receptor recognises the antigen – in much the same way as an antibody recognises a specific antigen – then that will trigger activation of the T cell. In the case of killer T cells, that’s curtains for the cell doing the presenting – the cell has just signed its own death warrant, but that’s the whole idea.
By taking out the infected cell, the killer T cells are helping to contain an infection and protect other, healthy, cells.
Killer T cells also recognise cancerous cells. And when things go wrong, they can also recognise normal proteins as a threat, leading to autoimmune diseases.
‘Don’t kill me’: HLA class I and killer T cells
Apart from red blood cells and sperm, almost every cell in the body displays class 1 HLA molecules. HLA class I molecules acts as a kind of identity card: it’s the way a cell proves that it is healthy and should be left in peace by marauding killer T cells that will destroy any cell that doesn’t pass muster. You could see killer T cells as an internal security force that’s licensed to kill.
The whole system is pretty elegant and very hard to cheat as the key thing about HLA class I molecules is that they present little bits of whatever proteins the cell that bears them is producing. So if a cell is infected by a virus it will be manufacturing lots of viral proteins, and bits of these foreign proteins end up displayed on the HLA-I molecules. That’s ‘game over’ for the infected cell: once a killer T cell recognises that viral antigen it sends a signal to the infected cell to self-destruct.
So that’s HLA class I: cell-surface molecules that act as identity cards by displaying to killer T cells bits of whatever proteins the diseased cell is making. It’s a way for healthy cells to show that they are ‘clean’, so that the lethal killer T cells leave them alone, while infected cells mark themselves for destruction.
TCR HLA edit
A killer T cell in action against a cell infected by a virus. An HLA class I molecule offers up a viral antigen, and a T cell with a matching receptor binds to the HLA molecule and the antigen together. The T cell responds by killing the infected cell.
‘Here’s the threat, sort it out’: HLA class II
The other class of HLA molecules, class II, also display antigens, but while class I HLA are on almost all cells , class II are used by the ‘professionals’ – immune-system ‘antigen presenting cells’, such as macrophages, dendritic cells and B cells. Their role is to pick up foreign antigens and present them to other immune cells, particularly T helper cells to kickstart the adaptive immune response. (Adaptive immune responses are very specific, such as antibodies recognising a particular viral protein, as opposed to ‘innate’ responses that recognise classes of pathogens, such as recognising viral RNA or bacterial cells walls.)
Link to Mark Davis’s work on clonal expansion
Once they’ve been primed by class II HLA molecules, T helper cells don’t act directly against an infection. Instead, they help activate other immune cells, including the killer T cells we’ve just discussed and antibody-producing B cells. Killer T cells are the type of cells where Mark Davis has found clonal expansion. When killer T cells are activated (by both T helper cells and the antigen presenting cells) they copy themselves to form an army of clones ready to take on the threat: this is clonal expansion.
Back to the Ron Davis study: HLA and disease
There are three types of class I HLA molecules (HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-C) – and three important types of class II HLA molecules (HLA-DP, HLA-DQ and HLA-DR). That makes six types, but there are huge numbers of different versions of each type.
Different versions of HLA are associated with increased risk (or even decreased risk) for certain diseases, particularly autoimmune diseases.
In 2014 Ron Davis reported that initial HLA profiling of 400 individuals indicated that patients had different versions of the genes that encode the HLA protein from healthy people – but that they needed to profile more people to confirm this finding. A new study that has just been announced should establish if particular versions of HLA molecules increase the risk of getting ME/CFS.
The project starts this month and is expected to complete by 2023. More information about the study at Health Rising.
(Image credits: Waiter – FreeStockPhotos.biz; HLA/TCR binding – adapted from Elemans et al.)
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Guide to drill bits
October 16, 2018
The common types of drill bit, what we recommend & how to fit a drill bit into a rotary hand drill.
close up of ten universal drill bits
Author: Muddy Faces
Age Range: 3+
Duration: less than an hour
Location: anywhere
Time Of Day: any time
Season: any
Tags: drill, drill bit, guide, hand drill, tools
Category: tool use & traditional crafts
What is a drill bit?
A drill bit is a metal cutting tool that fits into a drill (drilling machine) to make a cylindrical hole. Drill bits come in many shapes, sizes and with different coatings. Some bits are manufactured specifically for wood, metal or masonry and some are for universal use.
Most bits have a circular cross section, but some have a non-circular cross section, like the auger bit (see below).
Which bit to use?
When working with hand tools with groups, we often recommend a HSS universal drill bit rather than a wood (lip and spur) drill bit.
The lip and spur drill bit has a very effective cutting action which is good for drilling wood with an electric hand drill, or for a very competent hand drill user. The lip and spur drill bit needs to turn at speed – if not it is likely to cut into the wood and jam. Once it is jammed it can be difficult to release it from the wood.
The HSS/general bit does not have such an effective cut – it has more of an attrition action, which means you need to drill for longer, but it is more tolerant of slower and variable drilling and is a lot less likely to dig in when working with slower hand tools.
pole clamped to a log plank being drilled by a person using a rotary hand drill
Wood bit
Wood bits tend to have a sharp point at the end (the point is sometimes referred to as a brad point or lip and spur). The point helps to keep the bit in position when starting off drilling.
one wooden drill bit
Metal bit
A metal bit has a shallow point at the end. It is usually manufactured with stronger steel and coatings. A metal bit can be used to drill wood.
one universal drill bit
Universal bit
A universal bit has a shallow point at the end and is a general-purpose bit that can be used in a variety of materials including wood.
10 stubby drill bits universal
Auger bit
An auger bit is commonly used in a brace hand drill (Carpenter’s brace) and usually has a non-circular cross section at the base. An auger bit has a deeper spiral flute which is more effective at chip removal. They tend to come in larger sizes for drilling wider and deeper holes.
auger bit
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Where the World Gathers to Celebrate Every Day
National Pink Day is observed annually on June 23rd. This day is set aside for the color pink and all it represents.
First used as a color name in the late 17th century, pink is a pale red color which got its name from a flower of same name.
According to surveys in both the United States and Europe with results indicating that the color pink combined with white or pale blue is most commonly associated with femininity, sensitivity, tenderness, childhood and the romantic. Pink, when combined with violet or black is associated with eroticism and seduction.
Dating back to the 14th century, “to pink” (the verb) means “to decorate with a perforated or punched pattern.”
It would have been curious to find pink used in fabric or decor during the Middle Ages. Occasionally it was seen in women’s fashion and religious art. In the 13th and 14th century, the Christ child was sometimes portrayed dressed in pink, the color associated with the body of Christ. Pink was mainly used for the flesh color of faces and hands during the Renaissance.
The Rococo Period (1720-1777) was the golden age for the color pink. Pastel colors became very fashionable in all the courts of Europe during this time. Madame de Pompadour (1721-1764), the mistress of King Louis XV of France, was known for wearing the color pink, often combined with light blue. At one point in time, Ms. Pompadour had a particular tint of pink made specifically for her.
Pink ribbons or decorations were worn by young boys in 19th century England. The men in England wore red uniforms and since boys were considered small men, boys wore pink.
Pink became much bolder, brighter and more assertive in the 20th century and 1931, the color “Shocking Pink” was introduced.
As one of the most common colors of flowers, pink serves to attract the insects and birds that are necessary for pollination.
• In the pink – To be in top form, in good health, in good condition.
• To see pink elephants – To hallucinate from alcoholism.
• Pink slip – To be given a pink slip means to be fired or dismissed from a job. First recorded in 1915 in the United States.
• Pink-collar worker – Persons working in jobs conventionally regarded as “women’s work.”
• Pink Money – the pink pound or pink dollar is an economic term which refers to the spending power of the LGBT community.
• Tickled pink – means extremely pleased.
The most apparent way to celebrate is to wear pink. Enjoy foods and beverages that are pink. Give a donation to any of the charities that use the color pink. Use #NationalPinkDay in social media.
Within our research, we were unable to find the creator and origin of National Pink Day.
The games get intense under the hot summer sun. On June 23rd, National Hydration Day reminds us to replace fluids lost in the heat of battle.
The human body contains more than 60 percent water. Maintaining that balance while training is a challenge, doing it during the summer months is a practice that must be consistent. Becoming overheated or dehydrated can lead to heat stroke and possibly death.
There are ways to help prevent dehydration. Being hydrated before a workout even begins is important. If you are under hydrated before you start it is hard to catch up once the sweating starts. Drink plenty of fluids throughout the training. These can include sports drinks which contain electrolytes (Magnesium, Calcium, Sodium and Potassium) to replenish the essential minerals the body loses through perspiration.
For some sports, there is also a product like FuelGard™ Mouthgard and Electrolyte Tablets, which has the dual duty of protecting the athlete as well as providing essential electrolytes for maintaining hydration balance while the athlete trains.
After the workout, your body will continue to need to replenish fluids.
Whether you are an athlete or not, stay hydrated on these hot summer days. Use #NationalHydrationDay to share on social media.
Founded by SafeTGard Corporation in honor of football Coach Victor Hawkins (September 1, 1964 – June 23, 2012) who invented a mouthguard that releases electrolytes to keep his players hydrated during games and practices. This day honors Coach Hawkins’ contributions to athlete health, safety and success. SafeTGard Corporation founded National Hydration Day to increase awareness of the importance of proper hydration to athletes everywhere. The day was approved by the Registrar at National Day Calendar in 2016.
National Pecan Sandies Day is an American food holiday that is observed by cookie lovers each year on June 23rd.
As long as baking has been documented, cookie-like wafers have existed. Part of the reason may be because these sturdy cookies travel very well. Cookies have changed and evolved over the years with the modern standards of sweetness and variety. The mild sweetness of these cookies pairs well with tea and coffee. The texture of these melt-in-your-mouth cookies is similar to shortbread cookies.
Another shortbread version of a pecan sandie is called a Mexican or Italian Wedding cookie. These powdered sugar coated balls also melt in your mouth and look like delicious snowballs – another name for the sweet morsel. They’re easy to make and store, too! Either version of the cookie is Celebrate Every Day® approved!
Enjoy this Pecan Sandies recipe. Use #NationalPecanSandiesDay to share on social media.
We were unable to find the creator of National Pecan Sandies Day.
On Deck for June 24, 2019
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Consequences and Discipline
kid in time out consequences
When disciplining a child the most important thing is that they LEARN THE LESSON, not receive the punishment. Does that make sense? Yes, they should receive a consequence, but we need to make sure they actually learned the lesson so they don't repeat the undesired behavior.
You also want to make sure the consequences make the most sense so that the lesson is learned.
Natural Consequences and Logical Consequences:
Natural Consequences are the BEST because they are most likely to happen and tend to teach the best lesson. Logical Consequences are consequences that make the most sense, sometimes based on what the natural consequence would be if allowed to happen.
Here's an example: If you leave your bike out in the rain, it will likely rust. (or get stolen!). So if your child doesn't put his/her bike away- they should lose the privilege of being able to ride their bike (for a day or week perhaps). Another example: if you are mean to the cat, the cat won't want anything to do with you. So if the child is teasing/hitting the pets, then maybe they can't play with them for a day. If the natural consequence does actually occur this can be a very good lesson for the child (or spouse!).
So try to make the "punishment fit the crime" as they say, if possible. Also check with the child to see if they learned the lesson. "So honey you can't play with your toys today because you didnt clean them up yesterday. I hope you make better choices tomorrow", or "So what did you learn from not being able to play with your friends today? Yes you need to play nicely with them if you want a play date."
When you can't use the above consequences: (and other info)
• Take away a privilege that they care about. (This will vary depending on the child and child's age. TV, computer, wii, video games, ipad, cell phone, car use for teens, sporting event, trip to a special place that was planned, etc). Even if they say they don't care- they usually still do. Make sure they realize the consequence too. For example they lose going to baseball. So take them to baseball practice but they can't participate. (Believe me- they will care!) If they sit home and play video games when they lost baseball practice this isn't really going to work! If they lose 5 minutes of pool time, don't let them play in the house, have them sit poolside and watch their friends/siblings play.
• Have them "Re-do" the behavior the correct way. "Try again" you could say when they answer you rudely. (See other post on that topic)
• Try Rewards- (see other blog post on that)
• Have them earn their privileges instead of having them already available to them (like earning TV or computer time).
• Get creative!
• Discuss the lesson after/during the consequence
• Ignore them. This is the simplest and sometimes the most effective skill. Its called "Planned Ignoring". Ignore the tantrum, ignore the negotiation, ignore the arguing, ignore the attention-seeking behaviors. You can say "Im waiting until you are calm." or "Let me know when you are ready", and turn away from them (don't laugh even if they are being hilarious!!) and wait for them to stop the behavior (or do the direction you told them to do).
• Don't argue! Don't negotiate! Give the direction. Remind them of the consequence. Then wait for child to do it. If they don't- they get a consequence. It's that simple! (TIP: Pre-set up a list of House Rules and Resulting Consequences so you dont have to think of a consequence in the moment, also so the child knows what to expect).
• Time outs - this isn't just the typical 3-5 minutes on the step or couch or corner, but also an item can be in time out (like a toy kids are fighting over can be put out of play for a few minutes or longer), child has to sit out and not participate in something (see ideas above), child isn't given attention for inappropriate attention seeking behaviors. Remember with time outs you can do one minute per age for little kids. Older kids this isn't usually used. Special needs kids- do the amount of minutes they are developmentally, or half of what their age actually is, or whatever is attainable!
• Have the child explain why they got the time out/consequence to you, and how/what they will do differently and better next time. THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART. This is how you can tell if they learned their lesson. I know I keep repeating this, but that's how important it is! "Yes you were in time out for hitting your sister, what should you do next time she takes your toy from you?" If the child can't come up with a response, wait and repeat the question so they don't just get away with saying "I dont know". Then if they genuinely don't know, throw out some suggestions and have them pick the right response. If possible act it out/role play the situation too. (With older kids (3-7 yr olds), little kids probably won't be able to do this(2-3 yr olds).
Apologies: If you give your child a consequence and they beg and plead saying they are sorry. You should NOT give in, however acknowledge they are sorry, but still give a consequence (after all if you were to do something wrong at work, you might say you are sorry but may still be put on probation. Or if you got a speeding ticket, you can apologize to the cop, but he will likely still give you that ticket!) "I'm glad you are sorry, but you still are getting a consequence".
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Occasionally I need to generate a password while working at the Unix command line. I have the following alias in my zshrc:
alias randpass='openssl rand -base64 32 | tr -d /=+ | cut -c -30'
These commands generate a string of 30 alphanumeric characters by doing the following things:
1. Use OpenSSL to generate 32 bytes of random data.
2. Base64-encode the result.
3. Remove all characters except for uppercase letters, lowercase letters, and digits.
4. Truncate the result to 30 characters.
The only flaw I can see is that there may be fewer than 30 characters left after removing instances of /, =, and +. Of course, that would require these three symbols to make up over a third of the base64-encoded characters, which is phenomenally unlikely.
Is the output of “openssl rand” sufficiently random to use as the basis of passwords? Is there any kind of bias introduced by base64-encoding the random bytes? (I assume that removing /, =, and + introduces a bias but that this is pretty minimal.)
You could increase the number of bytes to 45. Then you are guaranteed not to get the value truncated to lower than 30 bytes because then at least a half (30 characters) would need to be /, = or + to render a string shorter than 30 characters.
Yes its sufficiently random.
No bias is introduced by Base64-encoding the characters, since you just convert them to a Another base format. Its still the exact same number. The only small bias introduced is removing the /, and +, which would correspond to removing every occurrence of 111110 and 111111 in the string, you would basically only lose 2 bits of entropy over a string that is 180 bits long, it would reduce the random to 178 bits, which is still much better than a SHA1 string (that many passwords is stored as), MD5 or AES 128 key.
The character = is only padding and does not have any meaningful value in a base64 string.
• many sites require symbols so output of base64 is too limiting – Scott Stensland Sep 6 '16 at 22:21
• @ScottStensland Then you can keep /, + or = in the Base64 string. I have found many sites who FORBID anything else than A-Za-z0-9 and a few special characters, and thats why I suggest filtering out /, = and +. – sebastian nielsen Sep 7 '16 at 1:30
Your Answer
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From ConTeXt wiki
< Command
Revision as of 10:36, 13 April 2010 by Thomas (talk | contribs) (cleaned up, Patrick's question looks like it has been answered)
The first argument selects the area for typesetting and the second (optional)
argument the papersize for printing.
oversized adds 1,5 cm on each side
doublesized doubles the height
doubleoversized doubles the height and adds 1,5 cm on each side
The second argument is A4 by default (it would be better to use the same as the first argument for default value, but now it cannot be changed back for compatibility reasons). This means that you always have to provide the second argument if you want some othe paper size than A4.
For example if you want a landscape document, make sure to say landscape in both arguments:
To define your own paper size see cmd:definepapersize.
See also
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A Brief History Of Cubicle Curtains
Author: | Posted in Home Improvement No comments
For the last 100 years, cubicle curtains have changed the face of the healthcare environment and caused healthcare facilities to struggle over having the right cubicle curtain in the right place. What if there was a way to have one curtain size to solve all the facility’s issues? How to accomplish that goal has become a big question.
The history of the cubicle curtain may help the healthcare professional determine their direction and scope of not only the cubicle curtains but patient privacy and protection.
Hospital Cubicle Curtains from the 1950s
The 1950s were a time of practicality and functionality over design or aesthetics. Hospital cubicle curtains of this period were providing privacy for those patients in semi-private rooms and wards. The cubicles lacked any sense of style or fashion. They were simply pieces of fabric that were placed around rooms to create a semblance of privacy and to protect one’s sense of dignity.
Viewed as a necessity, rather than as an active participant in keeping patients comfortable or safe from bacteria, hospital cubicle curtains lacked any color. They were devoid of patterns. The word creativity and curtains were never used in the same sentence. They were designed to match the somber nature of a hospital or at least its walls and ceilings. This staid approach was to continue until the 1980s.
Hospital Cubicle Curtains Following the 1980s
In the 1980s, a slow change began. Some firms began to manufacture hospital cubicle curtains in more than a single design. In the decades that followed, more and more patterns, colors and designs became available. The philosophy of medical facilities had changed. They began to accept the need for a sense of humanity in their wards. While privacy curtains were essential, it did not mean they had to be grim or bland in their design or color.
Patients required some cheering up or calming down. In children’s wards, in particular, the colored and gaily patterned curtains began to take over the practical nonentities. By 2000, the amount of colored, patterned and cartoon costumed cubicle curtains had begun to take over. Manufacturers were producing significant amounts of these variations on a theme and successfully selling them. Companies even customize the designs to match the needs of the facility.
In 2007, another change began to affect the production of hospital cubicle curtains. Research had indicated that traditional curtains were capable of spreading diseases. In an age where methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are very real threats, the need was for the production of curtains that could be less susceptible to the spreading of airborne disease. The result was antimicrobial hospital cubicle curtains.
Today, manufacturers are striving to further improve the ability of hospital cubicle curtains to help medical facilities do their job. They are fire retardant. They are disease resistant. They also are a delight to the eye soothing the nerves of patients and making children feel less stressed. Visit http://www.cubecare.com/, for more information.
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Late Night Drinking Booze Adam Berry/Getty Images
Taking alcohol before going to bed initially acts as a sedative but it doesn't give you the rest you need, according to Australian research.
A study of the effects of alcohol on sleep in university students found that pre-sleep drinking is a likely cause of disturbed sleep.
"People likely tend to focus on the commonly reported sedative properties of alcohol, which is reflected in shorter times to fall asleep, particularly in adults, rather than the sleep disruption that occurs later in the night," says Christian L. Nicholas of the Sleep Research Laboratory at the University of Melbourne.
Nicholas and his colleagues found that pre-sleep alcohol consumption, particularly over long periods of time, could have significant detrimental effects on daytime well-being and functions such as learning and memory processes.
Alcohol is not a sleep aid, says Nicholas.
"The take home message here is that alcohol is not actually a particularly good sleep aid even though it may seem like it helps you get to sleep quicker," he says. "In fact, the quality of the sleep you get is significantly altered and disrupted."
The results of the study are published in the journal Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research.
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Developing a Device to Predict Autistic Meltdowns
Because effects of autism such as seizures and meltdowns are highly unpredictable, it is important to design a way to predict, track, and analyze these outbursts. The project involves building a prototype of a wearable, wrist device that tracks users’ heart rates in order to predict a meltdown in advance. I’ve seen the blatant need for a predictive device for autism-induced meltdowns firsthand, while tutoring students with siblings who have severe autistic disabilities, and my goal was to build something that would surpass the reliability and accuracy of current outbreak-tracking devices.
I used three circuit boards including the Arduino Uno, HC-05 Bluetooth module, and Pulse Sensor Amped, each serving as a different aspect of the device's function. Once the data, gathered from peers and online data sources, is collected through the pulse sensor and transferred to an application on an external device via Bluetooth, it is analyzed through several methods and mathematical tools for inconsistencies and possible meltdown signals, such as sudden dips and spikes. The program incorporates information from past biometric measurements and currently-streaming data to determine whether a meltdown is likely to occur soon.
With my wearable, effects of autism can be predicted, deferred, and potentially prevented. I successfully built a prototype that can predict meltdowns with high accuracy and alert someone to take precautions. For the future, I wish to add more detectors for oncoming meltdowns, such as sensors for galvanic skin response, body temperature, and anxiety levels to the device to further increase its accuracy.
Question / Proposal
Autism spectrum disorder, more commonly known as autism, is a complex developmental disability often associated with social, behavioral, speech, and learning challenges. In the United States, this condition affects around one in every 68 children; therefore autism is considered to be quite common. Sudden outbreaks and meltdowns can happen frequently as a result of this condition, and occur when there is an overwhelming, uncontrollable buildup of emotions and events throughout a time period.
As effects of autism such as seizures and meltdowns can be highly unpredictable, it is of importance to design a way to predict, track, and analyze these outbursts. The purpose of this project is to build a wearable, removable, wrist device that tracks the heart rate of users in order to predict a user’s meltdown in advance, and also to discover possible patterns in results. My goal at the end of this project was to answer the following proposed question: Does this device have the potential to be effective enough to improve the lives of autistic children in a meaningful way, and can I increase the level/percentage of accuracy of current outbreak-tracking devices? I hypothesize that this device is effective enough to be used in real-life scenarios, and will be able to predict meltdowns with higher accuracy.
While researching the patterns of an autistic child's heart rate versus a neurotypical's heart rate in various scenarios, I discovered, as predicted, that heart rate is steady during a non-meltdown time, but the average rate is higher than that of a neurotypical. When a meltdown is approaching, the heart rate spikes and increases rapidly, before it reaches the peak, which is the time of the meltdown/seizure. I also came across a study that compared autistic children’s heart rates with neurotypicals’ heart rates while the children were performing the exact same activities with the same constraints. This demonstrated that it is possible to build an approximate function equating the heart rates of two different types of people. I applied this research to model autistic heart rate, and created a function so I could input my own heart rate and output approximate autistic heart rate values. This, in addition to data I had retrieved from certified sources, served as a basis for my analysis process and detection of a meltdown.
Another study I researched from the National Survey of Children’s Health shows that the children who have a delayed reflex also have differences in several other autonomic nervous system functions. For instance, they have higher heart rates than controls do. Many of them also show marked improvement in their behavior when they have a fever, and many walk on their toes and are hypersensitive to sensory stimulation. These children tend to look intently, avoid light and act anxious when lifted off the ground. All of these symptoms indicate that a subset of children with autism have impairments in their autonomic nervous system, which is a trigger for autistic seizures.
There are a few products meant to track and notify a parent of excessive heart rate when a child is sleeping. A particular parent, whose child had first inspired me to create my product, described and showed me a thick layer of heart rate sensor film laid on top of her child’s bed at night, and it was supposed to detect the child’s heartbeat function as she slept. However, the main issue with this machine was its sensitivity; any slight movement of the daughter’s body triggered alarms and the mother was notified every few minutes.
Fitness devices, like an Apple Watch or FitBit, also track heart rate and keep a log. Using similar logic as these two products, my project incorporates this aspect, but also makes sense of the data. In other words, the devices above only keep a record, but the owner of the data is the person that can interpret it. My prototype also analyzes the data for possible anomalies, inconsistencies, and other indicators of a meltdown, and sends out a push notification so that the situation can be properly addressed. This is a very valuable factor, and allows for meltdowns to be detected.
Method / Testing and Redesign
Initially, I worked with smaller, rounder circuit boards: the Adafruit FLORA and FLORA Bluetooth Low Energy boards, in the hopes of making my product more watch-like. However, this did not go as planned because I discovered that a classic Bluetooth connection would be the better option. This is because Bluetooth Classic is much more effective over short distances, and thus, transferring data over Bluetooth Low Energy would be more time-consuming. I predicted that the device would be utilized over shorter distances i.e. the child would under supervision. Therefore, I switched my plan over from the FLORA-based boards to the more widely-recognized Arduino UNO.
I configured the Arduino Uno and HC-05 boards so they could work together, and connected Pulse Sensor Amped to the two boards and programming for heart rate in the Arduino IDE. I then coded the data transfer methods in order to send heartbeat data to an outside source using Bluetooth for analyzation. Lastly, I thoroughly analyzed my data to check for anomalies and discrepancies to send an alert to an external mobile device. A useful feature I added was a visual interface for easy viewing via the IDE Processing. To ensure that my device was accurate, I tested it on multiple individuals, and found and graphed their heart rates over several different periods of time. I recorded and noted their heart rate doing differnet stages: resting heart rate, increasing heart rate, heart rate during physical activity, and decreasing heart rate. As a subcategory of physical activity, the participants performed various physical activities such as walking, running, jumping rope, and stretching, so I could collect their heart rate data over multiple scenarios and have different means of comparison. In this attachment, I have displayed the full circuitry of the boards.
Attached are four graphs detailing separate stages of the testing process: resting heart rate, increasing heart rate, heart rate during physical activity, and decreasing heart rate. The graphs display an average person’s statistics. Because the heart rate data collected fell into an appropriate human range, I concluded that my heart rate monitor functioned correctly.
As part of the data analysis, the following were calculated: the number of beats per minute (BPM), the mean distance of intervals between heartbeats (inter-beat interval, or IBI), the standard deviation of intervals between heartbeats (SDNN), the standard deviation of successive difference between R-R (where R denotes a raw signal peak) intervals (SDSD), and the root mean square of successive differences between adjacent R-R intervals. Taking into account nuanced measures such as these allows for heart rate variability due to athletics or increased physical activity to not be misidentified as a pre-meltdown symptom, and for outliers in an otherwise ordinary signal (rejected peaks) to be weighted less.
The goal of this project was to build a wearable device that tracks and records heartrate to predict and notify of when a likely outburst could occur. While the sensor constantly recorded heartrate, the HC-05 Bluetooth module simultaneously sent the data to a mobile application via a Bluetooth connection. With this app, parents were able to view data of heartbeat and track their child’s heartrate. In the Arduino program, a certain “normal” heart beat range was determined, personalized to each device user. If detected heartbeats began to increases too rapidly in a short period of time or go abnormally above or below that range, a push notification was sent, warning a parent of a potential meltdown. This feature allowed the parent to be promptly informed, perhaps allowing for improved and increased help to be taken, whether they were within close proximity of the child or not.
As part of the data analysis, the following were calculated: the number of beats per minute (BPM), the mean distance of intervals between heartbeats (inter-beat interval, or IBI), the standard deviation of intervals between heartbeats (SDNN), the standard deviation of successive difference between R-R (where R denotes a raw signal peaky) intervals (SDSD), and the root mean square of successive differences between adjacent R-R intervals. Taking into account nuanced measures such as these allows for heart rate variability due to athletics or increased physical activity to not be misidentified as a pre-meltdown symptom, and for outliers in an otherwise ordinary signal (rejected peaks) to be weighted less. The series of images attached displays the process for gathering information and detecting potential signals for a meltdown. R-R intervals do not change abruptly per heartbeat in people without autism, but vary over time in a sine-wave like pattern. The frequencies that make up this pattern would likely differ for autistic children facing an oncoming meltdown. Please see the attached document for specifics and explanations of these mathematical measures.
BPM 58.9239965841
IBI 1018.26086957
SDNN 65.4517528189
SDSD 32.9913587484
RMSSD 63.7466576664
NN20 [40.0, 30.0, 50.0, 40.0, 110.0, 70.0, 70.0, 120.0, 80.0, 30.0, 110.0, 30.0, 30.0, 90.0, 80.0, 50.0, 80.0, 30.0]
NN50 [110.0, 70.0, 70.0, 120.0, 80.0, 110.0, 90.0, 80.0, 80.0]
PNN20 0.8181818181818182
PNN50 0.4090909090909091
LF 38.8196443462
HF 47.7899270096
LF/HF 0.812297627874
I found that overall, my autistic heart rate sensor yielded about a 90% accuracy rate, while storebought, commercialized products ranged from 60-70%. I also created a Microsoft Azure Anomaly Detection Model to more easily display the data and analysis procedures to parents. By writing a biometric data analysis model in Microsoft Azure, I was able to detect anomalies in data sets for heartrate, galvanic skin response, and temperature. These graphs and tables display the probabilities of an anomaly using these three biometric factors. With autistic data, it would be possible to detect anomalies through this model to predict an oncoming meltdown.
As inputs to my predictive model, I coded calculations for several measurements involving number of beats per minute (BPM), inter-beat-interval (IBI), differences in raw signal peaks, etc. with standard deviations, arithmetic functions, and numerous other mathematical measures. These inputs enabled my model, and by extension my device, to be more reliable and effective. By comparing my data gathered from peers, publically available biometric data, and, for the purposes of testing my predictive and anomaly detection models, simulated data. I successfully constructed and integrated software and hardware that predicts to-be-anomalous heart rates ahead of time.
I also built anomaly detection models for other biometric measures (galvanic skin response, body temperature, anxiety levels, etc.), for which sensors are integrated into the hardware app. Effects of autism can be predicted, deferred, and potentially prevented through use of this wearable. I found that my device predicted meltdowns in advance correctly almost 90% of the time for children with severe cases of autism, which is significantly higher than that of current models, which have an accuracy of about 60-70%. My goal was to improve accuracy of a predictive device, and I achieved the expected outcome! This device can be utilized in real life, and would yield accurate results.
Detecting meltdowns and taking precautions in advance would save stress and ensure safety. My wearable device predicts, notifies, and potentially prevents autistic seizures with high accuracy - something modern technology hasn’t yet fully accomplished. I definitely want to keep building on this idea, condensing it, and making it as applicable as possible. The idea of my device potentially and hopefully aiding children in the future is amazing.
Current limitations of my model include the lack of heartrate data on autistic children, so that I may understand the relative importances of these measures in combination with factors such as age, body size, etc. in causing prolonged heartrate variability during breakdowns. I believe that if I acquire real-time data from researchers, I would be able to expand my project on a larger scale. For the future, I really want to add more sensors on the device for galvanic skin response and anxiety levels to accurize the results even further.
About me
I am a freshman at Milton High School, GA, and am extremely passionate about utilizing computer science to solve complex challenging problems, test theoretical ideas, and create something better, more creative, and more innovative through engineering and iteration. I am an avid pianist, and have been playing for almost nine years! Math has been a part of me ever since I can remember, and I love competitive problem-solving. I was honored to represent Georgia at National MATHCOUNTS in May 2018!
My past project, Communicable Disease Spread Simulation (CDSS), models the spread of an unpredictable disease visually and allows for the data underlying it to be efficiently stored. By applying a set of rules, one can discover the growth of diseases over a certain time period and compare speeds and severities. This inspiration guided me to other projects and ideas, most notably, "Developing a Device to Predict Autistic Meltdowns". I had the amazing opportunity of presenting my work at the National Broadcom MASTERS!
I am passionate about using AI to propose accessibility tech solutions – building devices and experiences for the impaired, stemming from my project on predicting autistic meltdowns. I want to pursue data science to continually experience the thrill of deriving meaningful insights from signals, and also greatly value helping others, so I hope to combine my technological passions with my inner values. Technology’s greatest asset is its ability to help people on a massive scale, and I will passionately work to build and code for this purpose.
Health & Safety
Since my project only used circuit boards and electronics (no potentially dangerous chemicals, substances, and materials), there was not a specific safety protocol I referred to. As I did conduct human participants in my research and data collection, I ensured that my product was safe for all kids to use. To prevent side effects of shocks and stings from the board, I carefully wrapped it in cloth before applying it on the participant and gently securing it.
Bibliography, references, and acknowledgements
Throughout the course of this project, I received help and advice from various wonderful people, including my science fair and project sponsor, Julie Godfrey. She encouraged my idea and promptly responded to all my non-technical questions. She also helped me keep up with my log book, which was very helpful. I also want to thank my family, especially my older sister, who was always ready to talk to me and answer any questions I had. Lastly, I am grateful to the parents and kids whom I tested my device upon. Everyone was very considerate and open to letting their children experiment with my device. They were happy that they would be contributing to my research!
Below is a list of extremely helpful YouTube videos, articles, and websites that taught me how to work with and create a product using hardware, as well as the patterns of heart rate in children with autism. In the past, I had been exposed to only software to code, present, and create online tools. My project helped me to experiment beyond my comfort zone and try something new! I gained so much knowledge from these purposeful resources, and have learned countless things along the way, from how to put circuit boards together to transferring data over a Bluetooth connection to be further processed and analyzed.
Title: Heart rate variability during sleep in children with autism spectrum disorder, Author: René Harder + 10 more, Date written: 26 July 2016
Title: The Difference in Heart Rate Change between Temporal and Frontal Lobe Seizures during Peri-ictal Period, Author: Woo Hyun Son + 9 more, Date written: 30 June 2016
The heart rate (HR) is one of the most easy way to detect autonomic activity. The autonomic system (parasympathetic and sympathetic systems) has a major role to maintain homeostasisHeart rate change is frequently seen in autistic seizures, for example, ictal tachycardia and ictal bradycardia. Ictal tachycardia is defined as the occurrence of sinus tachycardia around the onset of ictal discharges.1 The prevalence of ictal tachycardia is very common (80–100%).2–5 It occurs more frequently in seizures with temporal lobe origin, 6, 7 especially with mesial temporal lobe onset.6,8 Ictal bradycardia is less frequent than ictal tachycardia; the prevalence has been calculated as ranging from 2.1% to 25.5%.4,9 It is most prevalent in seizures of the temporal lobe origin,9,10 and has a stronger association with bilateral hemispheric seizures.
This video helped me to learn the basics and the outline of the countless functions in Android studio, as well as how to make a basic, functioning app.
This is an Android guide reviewing the basics of a Bluetooth connection and how to establish one from a circuit board. The Android platform includes support for the Bluetooth network stack, which allows a device to wirelessly exchange data with other Bluetooth devices. The application framework provides access to the Bluetooth functionality through the Android Bluetooth APIs. These APIs let applications wirelessly connect to other Bluetooth devices, enabling point-to-point and multipoint wireless features.
This is an Android guide reviewing the basics of how to set up, create, and send your own push notification. A notification is a message that Android displays outside your app's UI to provide the user with reminders, communication from other people, or other timely information from your app. Users can tap the notification to open your app or take an action directly from the notification.
This article discussed the prevalence of autism per state, and resulted in an average 1/40 rate, which is continuing to increase.
[12] Music from Conclusion video:
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Rabbi Wein.com The Voice of Jewish History
Rabbi Wein’s Weekly Blog
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Moshe had complained to God that since the Lord had sent him on a mission to the Pharaoh, the situation of the Jewish people had not only not improved but in fact had worsened. Moshe’s view of the matter was that somehow the Lord had not fulfilled the Divine part of the bargain. This opinion was based on Moshe’s human logic and understanding, which, even though Moshe was on such a high level, was still only a human response.
He is described later in Scripture as being “slightly less than Divine” and that “slightly” is the difference between the created and the Creator. No matter how long our life span may be, we all realize that there are limits. Therefore we view time and schedules in a compressed, immediate and demanding manner. The one human trait that is perhaps most common with all of us is the lack of patience.
When personal computers first appeared on the market only a few decades ago, we thought it miraculous that in 30 seconds we could be connected to the whole world. Today any computer that takes 30 seconds to reach the Internet is absolutely obsolete, unmarketable and assigned either to the trash or to a computer museum.
The governing word in human society is “now.” Only things and ideas that are “now” are to be treasured and respected. However, the Lord of history is not bound by our standards. Here Moshe is taught a basic lesson, that God’s promises are always fulfilled but on the basis of Divine and not human scheduling and time.
Later, when Moshe glimpses Divinity and is taught the 13 attributes of God, so to speak, one of these attributes is inordinate patience. It is one of the supreme traits of the Divine that we are privileged to witness. And, it is not within the purview of our own life spans, at least not within the serious study of human and Jewish history. It is our human impatience that causes our lack of faith and belief in the fulfillment of prophecy and Godly promises.
A famous English statesman once stated that “the wheels of history grind exceedingly slow but they grind exceedingly fine.” Generations upon generations of Jews longed to see the events that we are now experience and even take for granted. The state of Israel and the strength of Torah life in our time after one of the worst tragedies in the history of the Jewish people, are events that are historically breathtaking and nothing short of miraculous.
Yet we are impatient for more and for quicker developments. We are hard-pressed to take a long-term view of life and history. But we should take to heart the Lord’s response to Moshe that patience is a Godly virtue meant to be emulated by humans. History is a process and so is Jewish history and Jewish life. There was a famous phrase in Yiddish that a workman should never show a simpleton a job that is still in progress. Well, our job is still in progress and snap judgments on its accomplishments should be held in abeyance.
Shabbat shalom
Rabbi Berel Wein
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United Kingdom, London
How the Brain Works and What Can Go Wrong
when 1 July 2019 - 19 July 2019
language English
duration 3 weeks
credits 7.5 EC
fee GBP 1995
The brain is an amazing object which controls human lives – it is a complex inter- connection of neurons which store our memories and knowledge and has a complex brain chemistry. However, our brains can sometimes go wrong- either because there is something wrong with our genetics or brain chemistry or due to some injury to the brain and central nervous system at some at some point in our life. Brain dysfunction can have a major impact upon an individual’s ability to live and interact within their environment, depending on where the injury or dysfunction occurs. The brain is also affected by the environment and many genetic vulnerabilities in individuals do not necessarily result in dysfunction unless there is a maladaptive or threatening environment e.g. such as in schizophrenia.
This module will look at what we know about healthy brains - how the brain is structured, the different types of brain cells, localisation of function and neurochemistry of different brain areas, communication within the brain and how we investigate the brain in week 1. In weeks 2 and 3 the module will look at dysfunction in relation to vison, hearing, movement, memory, thinking, emotion and behaviour. UCL is ranked as second in the world for neuroscience and students will get to hear about the amazing world class research that takes place within the Faculty of Brain Sciences and its constituent parts: the Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, the Division of Psychiatry, the Institutes of Ophthalmology and Neurology and the Ear Institute.
Course leader
Dr Evans has been a university educator for 25 years in the UK and has a background in psychology, specifically in individual differences and abnormal psychology. Dr Evans has been involved in educating university students from undergraduates to postgrad
Target group
Course aim
The aims of the module are initially to give students an overview of healthy brain structure and function, localisation of function, how this relates to human activity and behaviour and the recent advances in technology that allow us to study the brain in health and dysfunction. The rest of the module will look at specific areas where developmental or acquired brain disorder has resulted in identifiable disorders and health issues outlining symptoms, causes and treatment and the impact on the individual’s life. The module will use population and incidence data as well as look in more detail at individual case studies.
Credits info
7.5 EC
7.5 ECTS
7.5 ECTS / 4 US / 0.5 UCL
Fee info
GBP 1995: GBP 1995: Students joining us for six weeks (two modules) will receive a tuition discount of £390.
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Forward-looking: Neuralink, the Elon Musk company that aims to create “ultra high bandwidth brain-machine interfaces to connect humans and computers,” has revealed some of its in-development technology for the first time. This includes a wireless device implanted into the brain that could let users control smartphones and computers with their thoughts.
It was back in 2017 that Musk launched Neuralink, but we haven’t heard much from the company since then. At an event at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, the Tesla boss revealed that the firm had made huge steps toward the goal of human and machine working in “symbiosis.”
Neuralink has developed flexible threads, thinner than a human hair, which can be injected into the brain to detect neuron activity. It has also built a robot that uses a 24-micron needle to embed them automatically.
Neuralink’s President, Max Hodak, said the threads would be inserted through 8mm holes drilled into a paralyzed human’s skull, and that there are plans to use a laser in future to reduce discomfort.
A custom sensor has also been developed that can be implanted into the body, which amplifies and reads signals and sends them to a receiver. It can only transmit data via a wired connection right now, but the aim is to make it work wirelessly. This will connect to a tiny wearable computer called the Link, which sits behind the ear and contains the battery and other hardware. “It will be controlled through an iPhone app,” Hodak said.
Musk added that the chip is capable of 10,000 electrodes with "read and write" capability, giving it 1,000 times more brain-interfacing electrodes than the leading device used for Parkinson’s patients.
The devices have only been tested on animals so far, including rats and monkeys, but Neuralink hopes to get FDA approval for human clinical trials for as early as next year. If it works as intended, patients could write text messages and emails just by thinking about the words. They could also move a mouse cursor and navigate web pages with their minds alone.
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Challenging creativity.
“So I want to speak about creativity, but I would also like to talk about the education process. My contention is that the creative growth within a person should be treated just as important as any other subject such as languages and mathematics.”
Can creativity be taught?
Creativity, I believe, is something we are all born with. It is simply a matter of harnessing what is already there.
Children will take a chance. When they are uncertain, theyll try, theyll give it a go. Am I right? They are not scared of being wrong. I am not saying creativity and being wrong is the same thing, but what is certain is that if you are not prepared to be wrong, you can never come up with something that is new. As they get older, children would have lost this fundamental capacity. We have now become frightened of being wrong. We stigmatise mistakes, and now, what we have is an educational system where mistakes are the worst thing you can make. And the result is that we are educating people out of their creative capacities, destroying the fundamental process of experimentation.
It does not come as a surprise that recent studies have found that the creativity level within children is in fact declining. We are suppressing the very fundamental notion of freedom through constant evaluation and pressure in an irrational way. In the real world, few problems actually have one right solution, few questions have that one right answer. But we continue subjecting the youth to an educational system that assumes there is only one possible solution to every question and problem, and punishes students (and teachers) for trying different routes or trying to find alternative solutions.
Picasso once said this, he said that all children are born artists. The problem is to remain an artist as we grow up. I believe this passionately, that we don't grow into creativity, we grow out of it. Or rather, our education steers us away from its path. So why is this?
Having spent the earlier part of my life as a child exposed to this system, I experienced the whole thing. Children prosper best with a wide curriculum that acknowledges their various capabilities, not just a small range of them. Creativity and art isnt just important in children because it helps improve their mathematics but because they speak to parts of childrens being which are otherwise untouched. My creativity was ??
Human life is driven by the curiosity that flourishes it. If you can light the spark of curiosity in a child, it will develop naturally. Their creativity will flourish without needing any help or intervention. Children are natural learners.
Curiosity is the engine of achievement. Now the reason I say this is because one of the effects of the current culture here, if I can say so, has been to de-professionalize teachers. There is no system in the world or any school in the country that is better than its teachers. Teachers are the lifeblood of the success of schools. Even teaching in itself is a creative profession. If done properly teaching should become more than a simple delivery system. You know, youre not just there to pass on the received information. Great teachers should be able to not just do that but must also be able to stimulate and provoke. Ultimately education should be about learning. If there is no growth process going on, it should not be considered as successful education. People often speak tirelessly about education, but they always forget the idea of learning.-
Teaching should not obstruct creative freedom but unfortunately it often does. So in place of curiosity, what we have is a culture of compliance. The education system is structured to follow a routine system of parameters rather than to stimulate imagination and creativity.
Human life is inherently creative. That is why we have different lives, different networks, different experiences. It's why human culture is so interesting and diverse and dynamic.
There's a wonderful quote from Benjamin Franklin. "There are three sorts of people in the world: Those who are immovable, people who don't get it, or don't want to do anything about it; there are people who are movable, people who see the need for change and are prepared to listen to it; and there are people who move, people who make things happen.
This educational system, I believe, is what in the end destroys the publics acknowledgment of the creative process of certain professions. Stand alone programs have begun tackling this program, by actually bringing the thought process to the forefront. It is only then that we can truly inspire and in a way nourish the creative spirit in each other. So why restrict it?
The topic will be discussed further within the coming weeks in a discussion based lecture forum addressing the issues of creativity in our modern society organised by SACES (Society of Architecture and Civil Engineering Students) and HoASA (History of Arts Students Association). The discussion will be directed towards tackling the social stigma to those within the creative professions and addressing this problem from the ground up.
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Trash It. Don’t Flush It.
Problem: Every day, people flush things down their toilets and sinks and don't think twice. What they don't realize is that these materials, like grease and "flushable" wipes, combine in the sewers to create Fatbergs that clog pipes and cause serious issues.
Our Impact: Along with the Department of Environmental Protection, we created a campaign that educates New Yorkers on this issue and the simple behavior changes they can do to help fix it. Brightly illustrated visuals paired with an upbeat tone encourage New Yorkers to properly dispose of waste by trashing it, not flushing it. A series of print, video and social media ads ran throughout New York City in both English and Spanish.
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What is Time Dilation? – With Special Guest Dr. Brian Koberlein
One of the strangest implications of Relativity is the concept of time dilation; how people moving at different speeds will experience different amounts of time. Dr. Brian Koberlein helps us figure it out.
Brian’s last answer is here:
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Team: Fraser Cain – @fcain
Jason Harmer – @jasoncharmer
Chad Weber – [email protected]
Created by: Fraser Cain and Jason Harmer
Edited by: Chad Weber
Music: Left Spine Down – “X-Ray”
One of the most interesting topics in the field of science is the concept of General Relativity. You know, this idea that strange things happen as you near the speed of light. There are strange changes to the length of things, bizarre shifting of wavelengths. And most puzzling of all, there’s the concept of dilation: how you can literally experience more or less time based on how fast you’re traveling compared to someone else.
And even stranger than that? As we saw in the movie Interstellar, just spending time near a very massive object, like a black hole, can cause these same relativistic effects. Because mass and acceleration are sort of the same thing?
Honestly, it’s enough to give you a massive headache.
But just because I find the concept baffling, I’m still going to keep chipping away, trying to understand more about it and help you wrap your brain around it too. For my own benefit, for your benefit, but mostly for my benefit.
There’s a great anecdote in the history of physics – it’s probably not what actually happened, but I still love it.
One of the most famous astronomers of the 20th century was Sir Arthur Eddington, played here by a dashing David Tennant in the 2008 movie, Einstein and Eddington. Which, you should really see, if you haven’t already.
So anyway, Doctor Who, I mean Eddington, had worked out how stars generate energy (through fusion) and personally confirmed that Einstein’s predictions of General Relativity were correct when he observed a total Solar Eclipse in 1919.
Apparently during a lecture by Sir Arthur Eddington, someone asked, “Professor Eddington, you must be one of the three people in the world who understands General Relativity.” He paused for a moment, and then said, “yes, but I’m trying to think of who the third person is.”
It’s definitely not me, but I know someone who does have a handle on General Relativity, and that’s Dr. Brian Koberlein, an astrophysics professor at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He covers this topic all the time on his blog, One Universe At A Time, which you should totally visit and read at briankoberlein.com.
In fact, just to demonstrate how this works, Brian has conveniently pushed his RIT office to nearly light speed, and is hurtling towards us right now.
Dr. Brian Koberlein:
Hi Fraser, thanks for having me. If you can hang on one second, I just have to slow down.
Fraser Cain:
What just happened there? Why were you all slowed down?
It’s actually an interesting effect known as time dilation. One of the things about light is that no matter what frame of reference you’re in, no matter how you’re moving through the Universe, you’ll always measure the speed of light in a vacuum to be the same. About 300,000 kilometres per second.
And in order to do that, if you are moving relative to me, or if I’m moving relative to you, our references for time and space have to shift to keep the speed of light constant. As I move faster away from you, my time according to you has to appear to slow down. On the same hand, your time will appear to slow down relative to me.
And that time dilation effect is necessary to keep the speed of light constant.
Does this only happen when you’re moving?
Time dilation doesn’t just occur because of relative motion, it can also occur because of gravity. Einstein’s theory of relativity says that gravity is a property of the warping of space and time. So when you have a mass like Earth, it actually warps space and time.
If you’re standing on the Earth, your time appears to move a little bit more slowly than someone up in space, because of the difference in gravity.
Now, for Earth, that doesn’t really matter that much, but for something like a black hole, it could matter a great deal. As you get closer and closer to a black hole, your time will appear to slow down more and more and more.
What would this mean for space travel?
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Category Archives: weapon
bunker buster
historical (hyper) fiction
Walid Raad is a Lebanese artist who, under the name “The Atlas Group” exhibits a collection of documents related to the wars in Lebanon from 1975 to 1991. The documents range in format from photography to video, and each more or less addresses some aspect of effect of the wars. Each set of documents is also accompanied by a story. In the collection titled “The Thin Neck Files,” Raad produces a series of 50 photographs of engine blocks surrounded by a group of people. The story goes that when a car bomb explodes, the only piece remaining intact is the engine block, which is often thrown hunders of feet in any direction. With the more than 3,600 bombs detonated over the course of the wars, there developed a competition between reporters to be the first to photograph the scene when the engine was found.
Another file catalogs the notebooks of a Dr. Fakhouri, one of which is esplained as such:
“Each of the notebook pages includes a cutout photograph of a car that matches the make, model, and color of a car that was used as a car bomb, as well as text written in Arabic that details the place, time, and date of the explosion, the number of casualties, the perimeter of destruction, the exploded car’s engine and axle numbers, and the weight and type of the explosives used.”
While some of the documents are related directly to the war others are more tangential, such as another notebook of Dr. Fakhouri, which provides detailed accounts of a gambling scheme set up by historians of the Lebanese wars involving a racetrack. From the files:
“It is a little known fact that the major historians of the Lebanese wars were avid gamblers. It is said that they met every Sunday at the race track — Marxists and Islamists bet on races one through seven, Maronite nationalists and socialists on races eight through fifteen.
Race after race, the historians stood behind the track photographer, whose job was to image the winning horse as it crossed the finish line, to record the photo-finish. It is also said that they convinced (some say bribed) the photographer to snap only one picture as the winning horse arrived. Each historian wagered on precisely when — how many fractions of a second before or after the horse crossed the finish line — the photographer would expose his frame.”
The documents presented by Raad serve to show the different aspects of the wars, and how they affected the city of Beirut and the national psyche. Although not at first apparent, all the documents are completely fake. Raad’s explanation is that the wars, now 20 years past, are still completely denied by the government, and no official accounts exist of what actually happened. Thus, a fictional archive such as that of the Atlas Group is actually a more realistic portrayal of the wars than the official history.
This is very interesting for our project because it shows how fiction can serve to create a deeper understanding of a situation, especially when dealing with sensitive issues like war. It also uses formats typically reserved for factual accounts to create alternate scenarios of the past. We can use similar techniques of fictional documents, news reports, documentaries, etc., to produce a vision or representation of our scenarios for the future. It would also be interesting to use the same tools to critically examine the past and highlight those aspects that have an affect on our future scenarios.
I highly recommend checking out the complete archives online or checking out the show if it comes around.
Energy from Chile’s Earthquake
“This morning’s devastating earthquake in Chile (8.8 on the Richter scale) had an energy equivalent of approximately 15.8 gigatons of TNT (31,600,000,000,000 lbs). To put that in perspective, it is about as much energy as would be released by 300 of the largest thermonuclear bombs ever built (the USSR’s Tsar Bomba, detonated in Novaya Zemlya in 1961).”
Someone’s post about today’s earthquake. I just thought it would be interesting to keep exploring the energy aspect of these natural disasters, especially in terms of man-made bombs. Check out how small Hiroshima is in comparison.
Nonlethal Weapon
95 GHz-millimeter-wave directed energy
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Why Stores and Restaurants are Ditching Plastic Straws
Single-use plastics like straws can harm the environment. Photo by Marco Verch C.C. 2.0.
You may have noticed that the beverages you’ve been ordering at your favorite coffee shop or restaurant have not been accompanied by plastic straws. Chains as big as Starbucks and establishments as small as neighborhood cafes have been finding creative substitutes to plastic straws, or are just getting rid of them altogether.
What’s so bad about straws?
Straws are just one example of wasteful single-use plastic. Hundreds of millions of tons of plastic are produced each year, and a large portion of that plastic ends up in the ocean. It seems like plastic straws is an interesting place to start in the crusade against single-use plastics. However, for an able-bodied person, avoiding plastic straws is an easy way to start reducing plastic use.
How are things changing?
Some restaurants have tried to be more conscious about their straw usage by not automatically putting a plastic straw into each beverage. Some establishments will wait for their customers to ask for a straw instead of serving it to them.
Other establishments—like Starbucks—have developed a new plastic lid that looks like a sippy-cup so that customers can sip their drinks without needing a straw. However, cups like these are difficult for those who aren’t able to pick up their drinks and bring them to their mouths. A straw is literally the only way for some people to drink on their own.
Therefore, better solutions may be composter-approved paper straws, like Aardvark straws, or reusable glass or metal straws.
While finding alternatives to plastic straws can make a substantial impact, it should just be the beginning of a global campaign to reduce single use plastics. Hopefully, there will be future campaigns to reduce plastic bottles, plastic cutlery, or single-use containers.
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TY - JOUR T1 - The Ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment in California JF - California History SP - 2 LP - 24 DO - 10.1525/ch.2019.96.3.2 VL - 96 IS - 3 AU - Mattingly, Doreen J. Y1 - 2019/08/01 UR - http://ch.ucpress.edu/content/96/3/2.abstract N2 - In California, the 1972 campaign to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA) to the U.S. Constitution pitted amendment supporters against labor leaders trying to protect women-only protective labor laws. The seven-month struggle in California resulted in a vote for ratification and motivated several years of legislative activity on women's issues. Most scholarship about ERA ratification in the United States in the 1970s has examined the reasons why the amendment failed. This article takes a different tack by investigating a state where the ERA was successful. The ERA campaign was a key element in the embrace of women's issues by the California Democratic Party. The article also provides an in-depth analysis of the relationship between labor feminists and equal rights feminists, two groups that were opposed during the ratification campaign but were frequent allies on women's issues before and after 1972. ER -
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Gresham’s Law Law and Legal Definition
Gresham’s law refers to an economic principle that is applied when inferior products or practices tend to displace superior ones. Gresham’s law takes its name from Sir Thomas Gresham. The principle of Gresham's law can sometimes be applied to different fields of study. Gresham's law may be generally applied to any circumstance in which the true value of something is markedly different from the value people are required to accept. This maybe due to factors such as lack of information or governmental decree. Gresham’s law is commonly stated as “bad money drives out good money”.[People v. Brown, 46 Cal. 3d 432, 476 (Cal. 1988)]
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Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search
From escalate + -ion.
English Wikipedia has an article on:
escalation (countable and uncountable, plural escalations)
1. an increase or rise, especially one to counteract a perceived discrepancy
Thousands of violent videos are still available on the internet, according to Alexander, who claims they lead to an escalation in offline tensions between rival gangs. "I believe some young people are losing their lives as result of this material on the internet," she said.
2. a deliberate or premeditated increase in the violence or geographic scope of a conflict
3. (customer support) The reassignment of a difficult customer problem to someone whose job is dedicated to handling such cases.
• 2003, Garry Schultz, The Customer Care and Contact Center Handbook, →ISBN, page 229:
The manager ensures that the escalation team generates a continuous stream of root cause analysis exercises and the subsequent corrective actions.
• 2016, Francoise Tourniaire, The Art of Support, →ISBN, page 154:
Resolving escalations tends to require large amounts of time and energy from the support engineer working on an escalation and from the manager driving it. If those individuals are also required to attend to other issues, they will either neglect other customers (not good) or do a poor job of driving the escalation (very bad).
Derived terms[edit]
Related terms[edit]
Borrowed from English escalation.
escalation f (invariable)
1. escalation (all senses)
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"Aceștia sunt munții sud-vestului american."
Translation:These are the mountains of the American South-West.
January 1, 2019
"These are south west american mountains" ?
January 1, 2019
Actually the main topic is the American South-West, not the mountains. There's a difference with regard to the focus of the sentence. Imagine you are talking as a geography teacher about the South-West and after you say everything that you need to say about rivers, people, animals, birds, agriculture ... you need to introduce another element of this South-West.
"These are south west american mountains" should translate as "Aceștia sunt munții americani sud-vestici." - with focus no the mountains.
January 3, 2019
Is there something wrong with "These are the American South-West mountains."?
July 30, 2019
Learn Romanian in just 5 minutes a day. For free.
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Vijay Mahendran (1) MOUTH For purposes of discussion in this chapter we will briefly deal with the common oral problems encountered in an emergency department. The mouth or oral cavity comprises of the lips, cheeks, floor of the mouth, tongue, alveolar ridges, gingiva and the palate. Lip Lesions Cheilitis Cracking, erythema and scaling at the corners of the mouth. There can be hyperkeratosis, erosions, crusting and skin thinning. Causes can be attributed to poor fitting dentures, vitamin deficiency, contact from lipsticks, sunscreens, dry lips and peppermint. Treatment: Mild topical corticosteroid ointments (hydrocortisone 0. !" #nti$candidal (clotrima%ole&nystatin", #nti$bacterial agents (mupirocin". Lip Erosions These can occur from impetigo, herpes simple' virus, erythema multiforme, fi'ed drug eruptions, %inc deficiency (acrodermatitis enteropathica", pemphigus. (ip ec%ema usually affects the lower lip and spreads beyond the vermillion border into the ad)acent skin. Treatment: of cause, lip balms, hydrocortisone ointment, dietary advice. White lesions Candida, s*uamous cell papiloma, verruca, lichen planus, drug eruptions, snuff&smoker lesions (epithelial hyperplasia". ed lesions +aemangioma, ,turge -eber syndrome, TT., Contact allergy. Pyogenic granuloma is granulation tissue causing a dome shaped papule that is red brown or purple. /estroyed with electro$cautery, cryotherapy or e'cisional surgery. !loor o" the Mo#th, Ton$#e and %alate Oral M#&o#s Cyst ' M#&o&oele ' an#la( This often occurs on the inner surface of the lower lip or floor of the mouth. 0t is a painless, translucent, dome shaped, tense, fluctuant, saliva$filled sac under the tongue mucous membrane. 1sually from a plugged duct or trauma causing salivary duct rupture. Treatment: 02/ or marsupialisation or may disappear spontaneously. 3efer to 4ral ,urgeon (non$urgent"
Oral "i)ro*a Traumatic fibroma, fibrous nodule or focus fibrous hyperplasia. # painless solitary firm, smooth, round mass in the sub mucosa slowly enlarging. May be sessile or pedunculated. 1sually occurring on the tongue, gingival, labial or buccal mucosa. Treatment: 1sually via e'cision 3efer to 4ral ,urgeon (non$urgent" U+#lar oede*a .atient complains of a foreign body sensation or fullness in the throat, possibly associated with a muffled voice or gagging. #sk about recent food, drugs 5#C6 inhibitors7, insect bites and hereditary angio oedema. 4n e'amination8 uvula swollen, pale and somewhat translucent (uvula hydrops". There may be associated rash or history of e'posure to physical stimuli or recurrent seasonal incidents. Treatment: 3isk of hypopharyngeal oedema and respiratory difficulty with or without stridor$ consider 09 antibiotics. May need intubation or cricothyroidotomy. Consider lateral soft tissue '$ray to rule out epiglottic swelling. 0f fever sore throat and pharyngeal in)ection : throat swab, streptococcal and + 0nfluen%ae antibiotic cover with either penicillins or erythromycin. ;ebuli%ed adrenaline and 09 hydrocortisone are also proven beneficial. Consider rapid access 6;T clinic. Glossitis 0nflammation of the tongue that may lead to loss of filiform papillae. Etiology: 9itamin deficiency (<=, <>, <?=, 0ron", infections (viral. candidal, T<" 0rritation ( alcohol, tobacco, citrus, toothpaste", trauma ( dentures", other (lichen planus, pemphigus, erythema multiforme, neoplasia, +,9". Presentation: 9ariable Most often red and smooth surface ,caling occurs with infection, trauma and lichen planus. 1lcerations with +,9, pemphigus and streptococcal infections. Migratory glossitis (@eographic tongue"A seen in /M and psoriasis. #nnular erythematous patch with grey white rim. Treatment: Treatment of cause, bland diet, Chlorhe'idine mouth washes, topical =! lignocaine or 0.?! triamcinalone. 4robase (pectin&gelatine" can be used. Erythe*ato#s Oral Lesions ErythroplasiaA non$specific red patch. .re malignant potential. 1sually occurs on the floor of the mouth and the soft palate. #ppears as a solitary red patch & macule, may be elevated and painless or the patient may complain of a burning sensation. <iopsy is re*uired. 4ther causes are erythema migrans, pemphigus vulgaris, pyogenic granuloma hypersensitivity, vitamin deficiencies and vascular causes (haemangiomas and #9M".
,#llo#s Oral Lesions Erythema multiforme: <listering oral lesions with associated target lesions on skin caused by bacterial viral and fungal infections, drugs (barbiturates, sulphonamides". Tretament: .rednisolone orally. Stevens- Johnson syndrome is a severe form of 6M with systemic symptoms and involvement of eyes, @0T and genitalia. Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN : B0! occur with mucous membrane (MM" lesions. #lso on associated con)unctival and anogenital areas. Treatment: stop offending agent. ,tart 090, transfer to burns unit for supportive care. Pemphigus !ulgaris: #utoimmune, middle age, affects skin and MM. 4ral cavity may be first presentation. 1sually superficial. Treatment: ;eeds biopsy, 4ral .rednisolone. 3efer /ermatology. 6mollient Mouth washes and antihistamine syrups are helpful. "ullous Pemphigoid: 3esembles .9. <ut usually more skin lesions, Fewer bullae, Tense vesicles. 1sually deep. Treatement: as above. Sto*atitis 0nflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth. #ule outA trauma (cheek biting", thermal in)ury (hot foods", chemical in)ury (mouthwashes, toothpaste, tobacco". Treatment: topical analgesia (viscous =! lignocaine, <en%ydamine 5/ifflam7 sprays, <on)ela paste". ,imple analgesics, Chlorhe'idine mouth washes and aspirin gargles. ;ystatin pastilles ?00,000 01 at C mls D/, ' ?0 days. Mechanical ProtectionA @elclair (Carmellose gelatine paste" swish or spit T/, (mi'ed with water", do not swallowE 43 4rabase (Carmellose sodium" apply a thin layer after meals. <oth form a protective barrier around irritations $$x: +erpes stomatitis, denture related, angular stomatis, aphthous ulcers, s*uamous cell carcinoma and erythema multiforme ,mokers palate. White Oral Lesions %andidiasis (thrush & stomatitis: .seudomembranous lesion that mimics keratosis, has a predilection for palate and dorsum of tongue. 'our forms .seudomembranous : creamy, cheesy pla*ues. ,een in /M 6rthythematous : red or pink spot on the palate&tongue&buccal mucosa +yperplastic : hard pla*ues&nodules on the inner lip& palate &buccal mucosa #ngular cheilitis : cracks with white pla*ues on the angles of mouth TreatmentA ;ystatin pastilles ?00000 01 ie C mls *ds ' ?0 days or ketocona%ole =00mg&day for F days or 0tracona%ole ?00mg </ for ?0days. (ral )eu*opla*ia: a white patch or pla*ue that cannot be characterised clinically as any other diagnosis. 1sually caused by chronic irritation. Consider premalignant until proven otherwise. #ssociated with smoking and tobacco chewing. (eads to
hyperkeratotic changes. Fre*uently found on edentulous areas of the alveolar ridges and in patients who do not wear their prosthesis. (ater becomes leathery, whiter, asymmetrical and confluent. TreatmentA <iopsy and close follow up as risk of dyplasia, and carcinoma. Complete resection need not necessarily prevent carcinoma. 3efer oral surgeon Ul&ers-%#n&tate Oral Lesions Persistent +lcer: ma)or apthous ulcer, secondary to odontogenic infection, secondary to systemic disease, s*uamous cell carcinoma, traumatic ulcer, tumours, vitamin deficiency, ulcer in +09. Magic Mouth,ash: Chlorhe'idine mouthwashes : rinse with ?0mls for ? minute </ 43 mouthwashes with o'idising agentsA +ydrogen .ero'ide mouthwashes : rinse with ? mls T/,, Sore Mouth Medications: /entino' @el 43 gels&li*uids containing <en%ocaine, ,alicylic acid with or without menthol. "acterial -nfections: /o'ycycline =0mg bd for G months. .enicillins and Metronida%ole are also effective for short courses. .phthous +lcers: Most common ulcerative lesion on all ages. Can present as #phthous ,tomatitis. Presentation: burning prodrome. Can get secondarily infected. #nywhere in the mouth with a predilection for the lateral border of the tongue, buccal mucosa, lips and floor of the mouth. 1sually a shallow mm ulcer with erythematous border and necrotic base. May occur in clusters. ;o vescicles. 6'tremely painful. May not be confined to the oral cavity, they may be found elsewhere in the digestive tract. (esions outside the oral cavity are often associated with systemic disease. +ealing can take anywhere between C days to > weeks. ,carring necessitates the need for biopsy to rule out ,CC. Consider <?=, folate, Hinc and 0ron deficiency and coeliac disease. Treatment: #naesthetic gels and sprays, hygiene, nutrition, fluids, avoid spicy and acidic foods/ %orlan (+ydrocrtisone" pellets0 allow to dissolve in contact with the ulcer *ds. 1erpetic -nfections: Can occur as herpetic @ingivostomatitis Primary 1S!: Multiple vesicular eruptions at the vermilion border of lips, labial, buccal mucosa, tongue, palate, and gingival. Contagious, can sometimes present with fever. 0nitial vesicle formation followed by ulceration with a yellow$grey membrane on an erythematous base. (asts for C$B days. Treatment: #ciclovir topical cream ?! = hourly for C days (4intment is !" Secondary 1S!: =C$CI hr prodrome of burning sensation. The ulcers are fi'ed (keratinised" to the periosteum of the gingival, hard palate and alveolar ridge. Can occur in clusters with vesicles that rupture to form punctate ulcers. 1erpes la2ialisA 9ermilion border of lip (cold sore" : stimulated by fever, stress, sunlight, menstruation. Crust and heal. Treatment: as above. 4ral fluids, avoid sunlight, #ciclovir =00mg D/, for days 43 Famciclovir F 0mg 4/ for days.
.cute Necrotising ulcerative 3ingivitis (.N+3 : #lso called !incent4s .ngina 43 Trench Mouth Mi'ed infection with fusospirochetal, spirochetes and anaerobes. 4ccur as ulcers =$G0mm on the gingiva covered with purulent grey e'udates. .atients usually have poor hygiene, smokers and sometimes immuno deficiencies. #;1@ is rapidly progressive, presents as fiery$red gingivitis and severe pain. .atient has a foul breath, malaise, lymphadenopathy and fever. (ater punched out lesions appear. ,ystemic diseases that mimic #;1@ include 0M;, (eukemia, aplastic anaemia and agranulocytosis. TreatmentA ,wabs, +=4= washes, Clindamycin&#ugmentin orally. )ichen Planus: Chronic disease of the skin and mucous membranes. Characterised by violaceous, pruritic papules on skin, -ith reticular, pla*ue or white& violet threadlike lesions in a ring like pattern (wickmanJs striae" on the buccal mucosa. The hypertrophied form can resemble leucoplakia. May be painful. Tx: ,ymptomatic, Topical steroids may be useful. /apsone for severe forms. (ther %auses of (ral +lcers: 3eiterJs ,yndrome(T'A ;,#0/, and .4 steroids", ,tevens$Kohnsons ,yndrome (re*uires systemic steroids", CM9, CrohnJs disease, <ehcetJs disease, 1lcerative Colitis, /M, ,CC, Contact allergies, Trauma, Mycotic and <acterial infections, #ctinomycosis, /rug reactions etc. .erosto*ia 3efers to dry mouth caused by decreased salivary gland flow in a patient with ade*uate hydration. .etiology: depression, an'iety, mouth breathing, ,)ogrenJs ,yndrome and /rugs (#nticholinergics, anticonvulsants, antihistamines" Treatment: oral hygiene, increase oral fluids, humidified air, small fre*uent meals, artificial saliva, pilocarpine orally. La&erations o" the Mo#th /ue to its rich vascularity, impact in)uries of the mouth can lead to dramatic haemorrhage. <lunt trauma to the face can cause secondary lacerations of the lip, frenulum, buccal mucosa, gingival and Tongue. Tetanus to'oid as indicated. Check for associated in)uries such as loose teeth, mandibular or facial fractures. Tears of the upper lip frenulum: suturing re*uired only if gum torn with the frenulum. ,imple laceration or avulsion of the frenulum heal nicely on their own. # torn frenulum in a child M#L be an indication of ;#0. (arge laceration can be sutured with absorbable vertical sutures (9icryl". 1sually a single stitch may be needed to control haemorrhage. Small puncture type laceration: +eal well if only the outer skin is closed and the intra oral laceration is left open.
Small lacerationsA if only minimal gaping, reassure and advice on aftercare. ,pontaneous healing occurs. 0f gaping or continuous bleeding or large flap, then anaesthetise with (ignocaine and ?A=00000 adrenaline, cleanse with copious saline, suture with G$0, C$0 or $0 absorbable suture like 9icryl or /e'on. Through and Through )acerationsA @et ,enior advice 43 refer to .lastic ,urgeons if department very busy. These are lacerations involving all layers (mucosa, muscle, subcutaneous tissue and skin". 1sually seen as a visible defect. The inside$out 43 bottom$up techni*ue is used to eliminate dead spaces. The oral mucosa, muscular layer and the subcutaneous layers can be closed with simple interrupted suturing techni*ue with absorbable 9icryl or de'on with a cutting needle. 6ach layer to close separately. #ny trapped food or F<Js should be removed and the wound irrigated with saline, anaesthetise with lignocaine and adrenaline. #t least C s*uare knots to be tied for each suture (motion of tongue easily dislodges them". ,kin closed with C$0 to >$0 prolene or nylon. La&erations o" the Ton$#e Most tongue lacerations that occur from falls or sei%ures /4 ;4T re*uire sutures. ,imple large or linear lacerations in the central portion of the tongue also heal surprisingly well, with minimal risk of infection. ,uturing is needed only for gaping wounds. Flap, bisecting, through and through wounds, wounds involving the muscular layers or labial margins need suturing and repair. # localised area of the tongue can be anaesthetised with a lignocaine = to C! soaked gau%e for to ?0 minutes. 4therwise local infiltration might be re*uired. #bsorbable suture material should be used and the stitch should include at least one half of the thickness of the tongue. For both mouth and tongue lacerations advice on aftercare should be given like lukewarm water rinses or half strength +=4= washes after meals. .rophylactic antibiotics are considered only for the large through and through lacerations.
/01 GUMS
Gin$i+al Hyperplasia %auses include anticonvulsants (phenytoin, valproate, phenobarbitone", calcium channel blockers, cyclosporine. 0t can lead to problems with speech and mastication. 6pulis or gingival hypertrophy occurs in pregnancy and can bleed easily. Treatment: /iscontinue medication (only after e'pert advice" and change to another class. Gin$i+itis 0s inflammation of the gums. 1sually occurs due to build up pla*ue and can lead to gum recession.
Presentation: patients complain of severe or generalised pain of the gums, often with a foul taste or odour. The gingiva appears oedematous and red with a greyish nectrotic membrane between the teeth. The gums bleed on touch and there is loss of gingival tissue, especially the interdental papillae. The patient is usually afebrile and shows no signs of systemic disease. !incent4s angina or Trench mouth has already been discussed above. ,evere .eriodontal disease with radiological bone loss will be dealt with in the chapter on Teeth. @ingivitis and periodontitis are /d' for the causes of orofacial pain. Treatment: 3efer to the /entist. 0nstruct the patient to use warm saline rinses along with flossing and gentle brushing using ;a+C4G toothpaste. 0n severe pain use viscous lignocaine 0n severe cases #ntibiotics like /o'ycycline 43 .enicillin 9 43 6rythromycin M Metronida%ole can be used.
Applied Anato*y There are two complete sets of teeth. .rimary (/eciduous" /entition (the Milk Teeth" : erupt between >months $ = years. .ermanent /entition replaces the milk teeth between > : ?= years. .rimary teeth : =0 (#,<,C / etcN" .ermanent : G= (C *uadrants of I each", upper 2 lower, left and right. 6ach *uadrant has central incisor, lateral incisor, canine, ?2= premolar, ?, = 2G molar. The ma)or component of the tooth is a bone like substance called /entine. 0nside the tooth lies the pulp (blood vessels and nerves". The crown is covered by enamel and the roots are covered by cementum. +rgent (,ithin 56 hrs $ental referral: 0f severe pain cannot be relieved by analgesics. Trauma, especially if avulsion. 4rofacial swelling that is new or enlarging. <leeding that cannot be controlled. Fever due to a dental infection. %eriodontitis 0nflammation of the supporting tissues and membranes around the base of the teeth. 1sually secondary to bacteria and pla*ue. Pla7ue is biofilm that contains micro organisms that form on the teeth and between them and the gingival margins. 0f not removed forms tartar. Can lead to gingival recession and erosion to the bone with tooth loss. TreatmentA 3efer to a /entist. /o'ycycline or #mo'ycillin with a Compound analgesic helps control periodontitis.
Tra#*ati& inj#ries to the Teeth 0n traumatic in)uries the tooth is laterally sublu'ed, intruded, e'truded or completely avulsed from its socket. #n (P3 is an 'ray of the )aw which is useful in such cases. %hipped teeth and cro,ns do not re*uire immediate attention. The patient can visit his&her dentist. Tooth fracture ,ith involvement of the pulp need to be referred to the ma'illofacial on call team. Tooth .vulsions: 6'tra articulation, traumatic loss. Complete displacement from its alveolar socket. Check for lacerations. CO3 if aspiration suspected. The tooth should not 2e allo,ed to dry/ .fter 89 minutes of dry storage0 irreversi2le damage to the periodontal cells occurs/ Treatment: .rimary tooth : bleeding control, /4 ;4T replace tooth. .ermanent tooth : 6mergency, tooth to be .(#C6/ <#CP #,#. (within = hours". 0f cannot be replaced, keep moist by storing in saline, saliva or milk until review by a dentist. .rognosis better if kept in the mouth under tongue. <est prognosis if replaced. Techni7ue of tooth #eimplantationA .rimary goal is to replace tooth if alveolar socket fracture is not present. Consider tetanus booster and parental #b' is bacteraemia. 4.@ for fractures. Consider parental analgesia 4r topical lignocaine. Flush the tooth socket to remove clots. /o not vigorously clean the tooth as it may remove vital tissue. 3inse the ape' and root of the tooth with saline, avoiding handling the root surface. +old the tooth with gau%e or a tooth forceps and plant the tooth as close as possible to it normal position using finger pressure. .ress tooth firmly into its socket simultaneously checking position. .atient should feel a click for ideal positioning and seating. The tooth must be splinted to ad)acent stable tooth until patient is seen by ma'illofacial on call or dentist. ,plinting may be improvised with mouth guards, QsilverJ packet from suture material or even chewing gum. 0nstruct the patient to bite down on gau%e or the mouth guard to assist repositioning. ,end patient to the on$call dentist. 1nrestricted tooth movement may interfere with vascular supply and )eopardi%e the survival of the tooth. $isplacement & Su2luxation & %oncussion: The tooth may be in abnormal position in comparison to ad)acent teeth. The patient complains of looseness, improper position, deformity, problem with bite or chewing, there may be sensitivity to pressure and percussion, gingival bleeding. -ntrusive $isplacement typically involves disruption of the alveolar socket, periodontal ligaments and in)ury to underlying marrow. .ulpal necrosis occurs in B>! of intruded teeth. %oncussion refers to in)ury to the periodontal structures supporting the tooth, but without displacement.
TreatmentA as above, leave intruded teeth alone8 reposition only luxated0 extruded or avulsed teeth only. 1rgent referral to Ma'Fa' team. 0f marginal problem only, then patient to see own dentist the ne't day. %ro,n 'ractures: ?&G of the dental in)uries. 1sually incomplete fracture or cracks in the enamel. 3efer to patients own dentist. .lveolar 'racture: pain likely, detected with palpation of sockets and gum line. /o place broken tooth. 1rgent dental referral. %ost Operati+e Hae*orrha$e - ,leedin$ a"ter Tooth E3tra&tion <leeding occurring longer C hours or delayed recurrent bleeding Treatment: .ressure. +ave the patient bite a tightly folded moistened ='= gau%e. 3echeck in =0 minutes. 0f unsuccessful, infiltrate =! lignocaine and adrenaline ?A=00000 locally (palatal & 2uccal & inferior : superior alveolar nerve 2loc*s and wash the socket. .acks with @elfoam, ,urgicel as haemostatic agents are helpful. 0f still unsuccessful, suture any gum tears with a hori%ontal mattress suture with an absorbable material. The idea is not to close the open wound but to tense the surrounding mucoperitoneum to produce localised ischaemia to arrest bleeding. 0f unsuccessful refer to dentist. 0nvolve ,eniors in department. %eriodontal A)s&ess #ssociated with periodontal or endodontal disease or both. #bcess formation in the supporting tissues and membranes around the base of the teeth. 1sually caused by dental caries. $iverse flora: anaerobes, streptococci, bacteriodes common. 0f fever, lymphadenopathy, tooth mobility, or odema of soft tissues then a Periapical a2scess has formed. The patient has gingival swelling and inflammation, localised pain worse with biting. .ulpal pain is throbbing, radiating (ear, temple, cheek" pain. -orse with cold&heat. There may be purulent e'udates or blood when the tissue is palpated. The tooth may be tender to percuss. Communication between the gingival sulcus and the abscess indicates periodontal involvement. Treatment: 3efer to /entist. .nti2iotics: .enicillin 9 43 #ugmentin 43 6rythromycin M Metronida%ole. Clindamycin is an alternative. #nalgesics.
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Functional programming is in the mind of everyone. Each day there are more and more blog posts and articles are written on the subject. Topics such as "How to improve your PHP code using functional techniques," "Break problems down with composition," and many others dominate the scene. However, 90% of those articles include these mysterious terms such as monoids, monads, currying, referential transparency, composition, morphisms, and many others. In this talk, I will break down the terms that developers encounter daily when trying to learn FP. Whether you'd like to use it JavaScript, PHP, Hack, or Scala, understanding what these terms mean will allow you to reach the next level. By combining FP with your already mastered OO skills you can write unparallel code that, oddly enough, parallelizes extremely well! By the way, all of the code shown during this talk will use "modern" JavaScript, so you can also get to learn some ES6/ES7 while you're add it.
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Great information and good use of time. The examples were easy to follow and I can tell the speaker is passionate about the subject.
Rated 5
Sonny Savage at 15:30 on 10 Feb 2018
Extremely well described. Now I need to put it into practice!
A topic like this easily has the ability to lose the audience, but this speaker did a good job of keeping people engaged.
Great talk! I was slightly familiar with functional programming before the talk, but now I have a much better understanding. The slides and examples were great. I also really appreciated the speakers passion about functional programming.
Rated 4
Scott Hardie at 18:08 on 11 Feb 2018
Really good presentation. This material can be hard for some to follow, but you made it sound easy and your passion for functional programming made a difference. Although I prefer real-world examples (the Spotify example was clearer to follow than something generic like "a(b(c))"), the colors and arrows and gestures while pointing to each part of the code made it possible to learn some complicated ideas quickly.
Rated 5
Ann Gaffigan at 08:08 on 12 Feb 2018
Luis is a very good presenter. I could see the code on his slides from the back of the room, and he explained the concepts very nicely and then supported with examples. You should teach a course!
Rated 4
Dana Luther at 09:26 on 12 Feb 2018
I found this talk very engaging. He was clearly passionate about the subject and extremely knowledgeable on it. As an "old school" programmer, I was curious about the new use of the term "functional programming" that I've heard so many younger developers use - for me, it has a very different definition (the term has been used synonymously with procedural programming historically). It's going to require a mental shift to separate the two for the old school non-javascript crowd.
I wish I had been more familiar with ES6/ES7 going in so that I could have followed the examples better, but I think I walked away with a much better understanding of what the goals of the new functional techniques are. I do wish the examples had been in PHP (or shown with the PHP alternative version) even without the arrow operators so that the non-javascript crew could have understood more clearly.
I hope that the slides are shared at some point, because I was hoping to study them in depth to cement my understanding of the numerous terms presented.
I always like functional programming talks and I think that this was broken down into clear steps and provided a logical explanation of composition and the importance of currying in FP. I really enjoyed the use of real world examples. I think those are the kinds of things that display the benefits of FP as a paradigm instead of making it look like just an esoteric byproduct of academia.
People just want to USE the stuff, and you show them how! To paraphrase Douglas Crockford, you don't need to understand category theory to use a monad, the same way you don't need to know spanish to eat a burrito.
The talk was great, slides were excellent, and so was the audience engagement!
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Youngstown, New York facts for kids
Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Location in Niagara County and the state of New York.
Location in Niagara County and the state of New York.
Country United States
State New York
County Niagara
• Total 1.4 sq mi (3.6 km2)
• Land 1.2 sq mi (3.0 km2)
• Water 0.2 sq mi (0.6 km2)
Elevation 295 ft (90 m)
Population (2013)
• Total 2,063
• Density 1,687.5/sq mi (651.6/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
• Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 14174
Area code(s) 716
FIPS code 36-84143
GNIS feature ID 0971860
Location within Niagara County.
Youngstown is a village in Niagara County, New York, USA. The population was 2,063 at the 2013 census. It is part of the BuffaloNiagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Youngstown is an historic village located at the northwestern corner of the state where the Niagara River flows into Lake Ontario. In an area known to the Indians for hundreds of years, the French explorer La Salle left his mark by building a small fort in 1670, less than a mile north of where the village now stands. The French gained control of the Great Lakes area and by 1727 built the "Castle" which became the centerpiece of Old Fort Niagara.
Young sold the Falkner Park area to Robert Greensit in March 1812 before the war started between the U.S. and England. By that time, a number of log cabins had been built to provide shelter for the skilled tradesmen and storekeepers who were attracted to the area by the Fort which needed many supplies and services.
In 1813, American forces captured Fort George across the river. At Christmas time, they retreated to the American side after burning the Village of Newark, Ontario (now Niagara-On-The-Lake). In retaliation, British and Indians captured Fort Niagara and burned most of the buildings and homes south of it to what is now Buffalo.
Rebuilding gradually took place and by the 1840s the village was well established with many fine homes and stores. The moderate climate, the excellent fishing, accessibility by lake boats and proximity to Canada all played a part in Youngstown's growth. The soil proved invaluable for fruit culture which attracted many farmers. This led to the development of industries such as barrel making, fruit packing and storage, the drying of apples and making of cider and vinegar. Carpenters, blacksmiths and other tradesmen were needed as lumber and shipbuilding businesses were important for many years.
Three railroads were built to the village. Two failed immediately in the 1850s, but the electric line carried supplies to the village and fort as well as bringing thousands of people to the old beach amusement park.
The following are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: Fort Niagara Light, John Carter Farmstead, St. John's Episcopal Church, and the Old Fort Niagara-Colonial Niagara Historic District.
Youngstown landmarks
Old Fort Niagara
Old Fort Niagara is a National Historic Landmark and New York State Historic Site that welcomes more than 100,000 visitors every year. It offers a collection of original military architecture and fortifications from the 18th Century and the 19th Century, as well as living history events and programs, historical exhibits and collections, archaeology, and education.
The history of Old Fort Niagara spans more than 300 years. During the colonial wars in North America a fort at the mouth of the Niagara River was vital, for it controlled access to the Great Lakes and the westward route to the heartland of the continent. With the completion of the Erie Canal in 1825, however, the strategic value of Fort Niagara diminished. It nonetheless remained an active military post well into the 20th century.
The three flags flown daily above the parade ground symbolize the nations which have held Fort Niagara. Each competed for the support of a fourth nation; the powerful Iroquois Confederacy. The French established the first post here, Fort Conti, in 1679. Its successor, Fort Denonville (1687–88) was equally short lived. In 1726 France finally erected a permanent fortification with the construction of the impressive "French Castle." Britain gained control of Fort Niagara in 1759, during the French & Indian War, after a nineteen-day siege. The British held the post throughout the American Revolution but were forced, by treaty, to yield it to the United States in 1796. Fort Niagara was recaptured by the British in 1813. It was ceded to the United States a second time in 1815 at the end of the War of 1812.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2) of it (17.14%) is water.
NY-18F.svg New York State Route 18F (Lower River Road) parallels the Niagara River through the village and intersects Lockport St. (NY 93).
NY-93.svg New York State Route 93 (Lockport St. in the village, western terminus at NY 18F in the village).
Adjacent areas
The village is on the east bank of the Niagara River and is north of the city of Niagara Falls and the town of Lewiston. Youngstown is west of the Robert Moses Parkway and at the western end of the Youngstown-Lockport Road (NY-93). The village is entirely within the town of Porter. The village is across the Niagara River from the region called Niagara-on-the-Lake in Canada and the community of Niagara-on-the-Lake.
Toronto is directly across Lake Ontario to the north. During daylight with clear conditions, the Toronto skyline is visible to the naked eye from Old Fort Niagara State Park.
Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 500
1890 490 −2.0%
1900 547 11.6%
1910 556 1.6%
1920 539 −3.1%
1930 639 18.6%
1940 799 25.0%
1950 932 16.6%
1960 1,848 98.3%
1970 2,169 17.4%
1980 2,191 1.0%
1990 2,075 −5.3%
2000 1,957 −5.7%
2010 1,935 −1.1%
Est. 2015 1,921 −0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,957 people, 809 households, and 564 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,687.5 people per square mile (651.4/km²). There were 863 housing units at an average density of 744.2 per square mile (287.2/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.42% White, 1.07% Native American, 0.05% from other races, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population.
In the village, the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $48,333, and the median income for a family was $60,089. Males had a median income of $47,063 versus $23,333 for females. The per capita income for the village was $23,705. About 3.0% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Youngstown, New York Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.
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I have Googled a few times and experimented on Desmos, but both attempts were to no avail, and now I come here. How is a piecewise function transformed to be "stretched" or "compressed"? What about other transformations?
• $\begingroup$ Just do the usual techniques on each piece separately. Nothing more, nothing less. $\endgroup$ – tilper Jun 24 '16 at 23:50
• $\begingroup$ Yes, but do I multiply the x-value for the conditions? The values? Both? $\endgroup$ – asher drummond Jun 24 '16 at 23:52
• $\begingroup$ If you are stretching / compressing vertically, nothing happens to the x values. If you are stretching horizontally, then they distort to the same degree everything else distorts. $\endgroup$ – Doug M Jun 24 '16 at 23:54
• $\begingroup$ Okay thanks, I get it now. $\endgroup$ – asher drummond Jun 24 '16 at 23:57
• $\begingroup$ I see what you're getting at. See my answer. $\endgroup$ – tilper Jun 25 '16 at 0:00
I see what you're getting at based on our comment discussion now.
The conditions also change.
For example, say we have $f(x) = x^2$ if $x > 10$. Then $f(2x) = (2x)^2$ if $2x> 10$. (Other pieces are irrelevant for this discussion and the same thing happens to them, so it's sufficient to consider one piece.)
Similar reasoning for horizontal translations.
The explanation behind this is... Think of our example function $f$ in words like this:
$f$ of the input is equal to the input squared, if the input is greater than 10.
Now just replace the input with $x$ to get our original function. Replace the input with $2x$ to get the compressed function.
Your Answer
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