never mind the movie stars pulling up to the oscars in their priuses. when the u. s. army announces, as it did recently, that it is developing a new hybrid humvee to save fuel and extend range, you can be sure that hybrid technology has arrived. hybrid vehicles improve efficiency by integrating a combustion engine with an electric drive train - a combo that recaptures braking energy, stores unused idle power, and reduces engine weight to increase mileage. but as today´s generation of hybrids flies out of showrooms, the stage is set for the next fleet, which will slash gas use and emissions much further. they´re called plug - in hybrid electric vehicles ( phevs ), and they recharge overnight in home garages to take advantage of low off - peak electric rates. " the implications for our national oil addiction are profound, " says daniel kammen, director of the university of california at berkeley´s renewable and appropriate energy laboratory. " if the current u. s. vehicle fleet were replaced overnight with phevs, oil consumption would decrease by 70 to 90 percent, eliminating the need for oil imports and leaving the u. s. self - sufficient in oil for many years to come. " even if the electrical power for those vehicles were drawn from coal - fired power plants, co2 emissions would drop by more than half. if the power were produced by renewable energy sources, and the fuel in the tank were biodiesel or ethanol [ facing page ], the proposition gets exponentially better. clearly, though, it´s not going to happen overnight. with the exception of daimlerchrysler, which has built a plug - in prototype based on its dodge sprinter cargo van, automakers have been slow to get into the plug - in hybrid market. aftermarket conversion kits will hit the streets for the first time later this year [ see " can i plug in my prius? " on page 84 ], tempting mileage - obsessed prius owners like david k. garman, undersecretary of the u. s. department of energy. " like most americans, " he says, " i drive less than 40 miles a day, back and forth to work. if i´m able to drive in all - electric mode, i won´t need to use the gas tank. that, to me, is a game changer. " it may not be the only agent of change. whether cars are run by hybrid or conventional drive trains, the fuel - saving potential of reduced


won´t need to use the gas tank. that, to me, is a game changer. " it may not be the only agent of change. whether cars are run by hybrid or conventional drive trains, the fuel - saving potential of reduced vehicle weight is often overlooked, says amory lovins, co - founder of the rocky mountain institute, a natural - resources think tank in colorado. " by substituting high - strength, lightweight composite materials for steel, " he says, " automakers could roughly double the efficiency of hybrids. in terms of fuel - efficiency, that´s by far the most effective and doable approach. " moreover, sometimes the simplest tweaks can have big effects. a recent study by the federal national renewable energy laboratory found that if every car and truck on america´s roads was equipped with ventilated seats, air - conditioning - related gasoline consumption could be reduced by 7. 5 percent, dropping fuel intake by 522 million gallons a year. now, there´s a cool idea. the 300mpg drag racer in the late 1940s, andrew frank was a hot - rodding teenager who mounted a cadillac v12 engine in his 1936 ford. by the 1990s, he was a mechanical - engineering professor at the university of california at davis who pulled big engines out of suvs and swapped them for smaller ones boosted by plug - in electric motors. his first " plug - in hy - brid " got 68 mpg without sacrificing horsepower. frank is now fielding a student team for the u. s. department of energy´s clean - vehicle competition, challenge x. the group is building a 300 - mpg plug - in hybrid with an ethanol - powered gasoline engine and a solar - powered electric motor. sounds responsibly efficient. but the professor is still a hot - rodder at heart : " last year we had a ford explorer that we converted into a plug - in hybrid, and it had so much torque that we couldn´t keep the axles from snapping. with six of my students in there, it could still burn rubber. " he is now fielding a student team for the u. s. department of energy´s clean - vehicle competition, challenge x. " we were getting 64 miles per gallon without sacrificing anything on the power side, " frank says. " but i saw that the most important thing is that energy for cars could be supplied by solar energy and wind using existing technology. " five amazing, clean technologies that will set us free,


tuesday, may 21, 2013 lauran neergaard / the associated press washington — a staggering 1 in 3 seniors dies with alzheimer ' s disease or other types of dementia, says a new report that highlights the impact the mind - destroying disease is having on the rapidly aging population. dying with alzheimer ' s is not the same as dying from it. but even when dementia isn ' t the direct cause of death, it can be the final blow — speeding someone ' s decline by interfering with their care for heart disease, cancer or other serious illnesses. that ' s the assessment of the report released tuesday by the alzheimer ' s association, which advocates for more research and support for families afflicted by it. " exacerbated aging, " is how dr. maria carrillo, an association vice president, terms the alzheimer ' s effect. " it changes any health care situation for a family. " in fact, only 30 percent of 70 - year - olds who don ' t have alzheimer ' s are expected to die before their 80th birthday. but if they do have dementia, 61 percent are expected to die, the report found. already, 5. 2 million americans have alzheimer ' s or some other form of dementia. those numbers will jump to 13. 8 million by 2050, tuesday ' s report predicts. that ' s slightly lower than some previous estimates. count just the deaths directly attributed to dementia, and they ' re growing fast. nearly 85, 000 people died from alzheimer ' s in 2011, the centers for disease control and prevention estimated in a separate report tuesday. those are people who had alzheimer ' s listed as an underlying cause on a death certificate, perhaps because the dementia led to respiratory failure. those numbers make alzheimer ' s the sixth leading cause of death. that death rate rose 39 percent in the past decade, even as the cdc found that deaths declined among some of the nation ' s other top killers — heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes. the reason : alzheimer ' s is the only one of those leading killers to have no good treatment. today ' s medications only temporarily ease some dementia symptoms. but what ' s on a death certificate is only part of the story. consider : severe dementia can make it difficult for people to move around or swallow properly. that increases the risk of pneumonia, one of the most commonly identified causes of death among alzheimer ' s patients. likewise, dementia patients can forget their medications for diabetes, high blood pressure or other illnesses. they may not be able to explain they are


. that increases the risk of pneumonia, one of the most commonly identified causes of death among alzheimer ' s patients. likewise, dementia patients can forget their medications for diabetes, high blood pressure or other illnesses. they may not be able to explain they are feeling symptoms of other ailments such as infections. they ' re far more likely to be hospitalized than other older adults. that in turn increases their risk of death within the following year. " you should be getting a sense of the so - called blurred distinction between deaths among people with alzheimer ' s and deaths caused by alzheimer ' s. it ' s not so clear where to draw the line, " said jennifer weuve of chicago ' s rush university, who helped study that very question. the chicago health and aging project tracked the health of more than 10, 000 older adults over time. weuve ' s team used the data to estimate how many people nationally will die with alzheimer ' s this year — about 450, 000, according to tuesday ' s report. that ' s compatible with the 1 in 3 figure the alzheimer ' s association calculates for all dementias. that number is based on a separate analysis of medicare data that includes both alzheimer ' s cases and deaths among seniors with other forms of dementia. last year, the obama administration set a goal of finding effective alzheimer ' s treatments by 2025, and increased research funding to help. it ' s not clear how the government ' s automatic budget cuts, which began earlier this month, will affect those plans. but tuesday ' s report calculated that health and long - term care services will total $ 203 billion this year, much of that paid by medicare and medicaid and not counting unpaid care from family and friends. that tab is expected to reach $ 1. 2 trillion by 2050, barring a research breakthrough, the report concluded.


growing older, driving safely safe driving requires complex visual processing – abilities that may begin to decline as we age. a loss in your visual abilities could endanger you and others on the road. but you can maintain your independence and drive safely longer if you : 1. get a complete eye exam regularly, 2. know the vision issues that can affect your driving, 3. understand the laws in your state about driving as you age, and 4. talk to your eye doctor about maintaining your fitness to drive it is important to note that visual processing is but one component of safe driving. other key factors include 1 ) the motor ability to scan rapidly changing environments ; 2 ) the sensory ability to perceive information in a rapidly changing environment ; 3 ) the attentiveness to process multiple pieces of information ; and 4 ) the cognitive and motor ability to judge information in a timely fashion and to make appropriate decisions. know the law in your state know the law in your state vision and driving visual acuity visual acuity visual acuity makes it possible for you to notice moving and still objects that you must see, and often notice quickly, to make safe driving decisions. with good acuity, you can read traffic signs, street names, and addresses at a distance with time to react safely to conditions. you also rely on your visual acuity to see any object or hazard on or near the road. vision in low contrast situations vision in low contrast situations low - contrast visual acuity lets you see and drive safely in rain, snow, fog, or at dusk. objects do not always stand out clearly from their surroundings, such as potholes, cars without lights on at dusk, pedestrians crossing in front of you in the rain, and almost anything at night not directly in range of your headlights. when your visual acuity for low contract objects decreases, you may not be able to see potential dangers soon enough to respond safely. keeping track of visual information keeping track of visual information when driving, you must scan your surroundings constantly for potential conflicts with other road users. at the same time, you must pay attention to road features like traffic signs and signals, and landmarks or other information that helps you find your way as you drive. this is most important at intersections, where the majority of serious crashes occur. when you are about to start moving after a traffic light turns green, you look to your left and right and then across the intersection in the direction you ’ re driving. being able to locate safety threats quickly and make immediate driving decisions


serious crashes occur. when you are about to start moving after a traffic light turns green, you look to your left and right and then across the intersection in the direction you ’ re driving. being able to locate safety threats quickly and make immediate driving decisions based on information from many different places is a critical part of driving. what you are aware of in your field of view, and how quickly you become aware of it, can determine whether or not you can drive safely and avoid crashing at an intersection, a shopping center parking lot, or in any driving situation. if your ability to keep track of and process visual information decreases with age, you may have problems identifying and reacting to safety threats. visit an eye doctor regularly visit an eye doctor regularly one very important thing you can do to make sure you can drive safely longer is get your eyes checked regularly by an eye doctor — at least once every other year — if you are 55 or older. you should visit your eye doctor even if you have no problems seeing, and talk to your eye doctor about driving and your vision. budget for proper eye care budget for proper eye care you should budget for the cost of a regular eye exam at least every other year or more frequently if your doctor recommends it. most people want to protect their vision and ability to maintain independence ( including driving ), even it if involves a cost. proper eye care doesn ' t have to be expensive. think of it as an investment in good vision and in your quality of life.


farmers in mozambique trying to adapt farming to climate change as the rain and water in mozambique becomes less predictable and less suited to subsistence farming, aid groups and the local government are trying to help some change the way they farm so they ' re not so paralyzed by a flood or a drought. but there ' s a lot of work to do. over the past two decades, mozambique has suffered more than its fair share of weather disasters. the east african nation has seen more devastating cyclones, droughts and floods than any country on the continent. farmers in mozambique have been particularly hard hit. this year alone, torrential rains in the mountains sent flood waters onto fields below, submerging tens of thousands of acres of crops. and now, farmers are in the midst of another rainy season, which started in december. officials at mozambique ’ s national institute for disaster management have to prepare for rescue operations this time of year. figueredo de araujo, the institute ' s information manager, said the emergency operations center is equipped with rescue boats as well as warehouses with various goods for humanitarian assistance : maize flour, tents, tarps, boots and rain coats among them. caia, where mozambique ’ s main highway crosses the zambezi river, sits in the middle of a vast, flat, floodplain that is home to nearly a million people. in 2000, the area was hit by the worst flooding in memory. the floods killed 700 people, displaced 100, 000, and cost mozambique a 1. 5 percent loss in gdp through destruction of crops. to belem monteiro, the emergency center ' s director, much of mozambique ’ s misfortune is a matter of geography. " the fact that we have a problem is not news to us : given its location, mozambique could only be vulnerable to these changes in climate, " monteiro said. nearly 80 percent of mozambican families are subsistence farmers, relying on rain - fed agriculture to produce their food. after the 2000 floods, farmers near the zambezi river repeatedly lost their homes and crops. " in the past, it happened every five years, now we have annual emergencies, which shows that the situation has changed, " monteiro said. but that ' s presented a major challenge for the disaster management institute, which was conceived to intervene during freak emergencies, but has been forced to evolve to a permanent mission. some 30 miles from caia, a resettlement zone called tchetcha um is home to some 5, 000 families who were moved to higher ground.


was conceived to intervene during freak emergencies, but has been forced to evolve to a permanent mission. some 30 miles from caia, a resettlement zone called tchetcha um is home to some 5, 000 families who were moved to higher ground. the organization save the children has partnered with the government in a program promoting livelihood resilience, diversifying their income sources, said clemente lourenco, a project officer for the group. farmer rui alberto campira received a grant from save the children in 2009, which enabled he and 11 other farmers to built a 5 - acre farm where they can grow crops for both consumption at home and sale at the local market. campira says the soil is great for cash crops. " it ' s good. especially for tomatoes. tomatoes, onions, cabbage, collard greens. that ' s what we usually plant here. there we only plant maize. maize and sweet potatoes, " campira said of his former home. the land he ' s farming now will also flood during the rainy season, but the irrigation system the grant enabled him to install allows him to farm during the dry season, when cash crops would typically die. about 55 associations like campira ' s have formed in caia district, not just growing cash crops, but trading in fish, beans, and clothing, and using animal traction to plow fields. save the children funds about 4500 farmers across three provinces. joao novage is raising seven goats, as part of another association. the grant originally bought 40 goats that have in turn born another 20. " when i see that i have 12 or 13 goats, i ’ ll take four and sell them to buy school supplies and clothes for my children. children are our wealth. they ’ ll bring a better future for us, " novage said. though the projects have been wildly successful, everyone admits they serve an insignificant portion of the population at this point. it remains to be seen if they can be expanded to make a measurable difference in the unger and poverty around this portion of east africa. hosted by bruce gellerman, " living on earth " is an award - winning environmental news program that delves into the leading issues affecting the world we inhabit. more about " living on earth. "


what is a canonical tag? a canonical tag looks like this : < link rel = ” canonical ” href = http : / / www. example. com / ” / > this should be inserted into the head section of the html of a page within a website. ( see below ) what does it look like? why is it important? many seo technicians suggest a canonical tag appears on every single page of a website for ‘ good practice ’ – but why? the main functionality of a canonical tag is to signal to google which page you consider to be the most important from a group of pages which can have very similar content. this can be very useful when you have duplicate pages on your website e. g. the homepage or you have a number of similar product pages which produce multiple urls on different sort filters or tracking parameters. and we all know duplicate content is bad examples of when to use it : often on websites the homepage and folder levels will be duplicated. this is because the page and its content can be found in another folder for example is the same as when you ’ re a webmaster or seo it is important to know how to look for these. the duplicate homepage at folder level can be found by adding a range of different default naming conventions to the top level domain, depending on which server your website is hosted. there are 2 main server there are 2 main servers / default. aspx / index. asp / home. asp / index. htm / index. html / index. php / default. php / home. php finding duplicate content through google : google will automatically omit web pages from its search results that it considers to be duplicated. however this doesn ’ t mean that it cannot see them which will be causing damage to your seo. to find out exactly what google considers to be duplicate content, we can use a ‘ site colon ’ to identify the pages. for example : ‘ site : www. riverisland. com ’ if we scroll then through the results to the end this, is what we will come across : so take a note of the last url in the serp ’ s and then scroll through to this. when you find it ( it should be around the same position ) any urls after this will then be shown as being very similar in the search engines eyes and may need to have canonical tags inserted. sorting and filtering another example where to use the canonical tag is when a website features a sort filter. this is very common on e - commerce


will then be shown as being very similar in the search engines eyes and may need to have canonical tags inserted. sorting and filtering another example where to use the canonical tag is when a website features a sort filter. this is very common on e - commerce websites : the top level of the category forms on this url however when we sort it by ‘ latest in stock ’ the url forms like this and if we filtered it by prices low to high the url changes to this : now theoretically much of the content on these pages is similar, so in order to signal that we would like http : / / www. riverisland. com / online / men / t - shirts – vests to be considered the main page for all of these variations what do we need? yes you guessed it … < link rel = ” canonical ” href = ” http : / / www. riverisland. com / online / men / t - shirts – vests “ / > we need the canonical tag on example 1 and example 2 and any other example of filtering which can be found throughout the website. uppercase and lowercase * one more thing to take into account is issues with uppercase and lowercase. for example : if a page resolves on both of these this can also be classed as duplicate content and will need to be redirected to the preferred url or have a canonical tag present. duplicate content caused by url parameters, like session ids or tracking ids tracking parameters exist to identify the different sources through which traffic is driven to a given page. session ids exist to identify a specific user. whilst both are extremely useful, they can cause duplicate content. if a user links to the url it could then appear in the eyes of google as a url. a canonical tag will need to be applied to this to avoid the issue of duplicate content. the canonical tag should be used in situations where duplicate content may be an issue due to similar pages within your website, duplicate pages where they cannot be redirected and for pages created through tracking parameters just like the examples previously mentioned. it is important to remember however, that even though google strongly adheres to the canonical tag, it is always better to redirect when it is safe and possible. if you have any questions about the canonical tag and could use it for your website, feel free to comment in the space below and prodo will happily respond.


intracranial tumors comprise approximately 2 % of all adult cancers, but form a larger fraction within the group of childhood tumors. gliomas account for approximately 60 % of all intracranial tumors and are classified according to the suggested cell of origin, differentiation and malignancy grade. the prognosis for high - grade gliomas is poor due to limited possibilities of curative treatment. gliomas are tumors of neuroepithelial tissue and comprise a complex and heterogeneous group of tumors representing counterparts to various normal inhabitant cells of the central nervous system ( cns ). the most common form of glioma is astrocytoma, representing approximately one third of all gliomas. astrocytomas are defined based on morphological features such as cellularity, nuclear atypia, mitotic rate, endothelial proliferation and necrosis, and assigned to grades i - iv according to the current who classification system. these include pilocytic astrocytoma ( grade i ), astrocytoma ( grade ii ), anaplastic astrocytoma ( grade iii ), and glioblastoma ( grade iv ). the various forms of glioma are highly vaiable and several phenotypically different cell types exist, including gemistocytic glioma cells. gemistocytic cells resemble a morphological alteration that can also be found in reactive astrocytes and is characterized by eosinophilic staining of a large, swollen cytoplasm. approximately 15 % of gliomas are oligodendrogliomas. histologically, oligodendrogliomas commonly show uniform cell architecture with increased numbers of delicate blood vessels. the tumor cell nuclei are mainly round and regular, and often surrounded by an artifactual perinuclear clearing that results in the so called? fried egg? appearance. high - grade oligodendrogliomas ( anaplastic oligodendrogliomas ) are recognized by features such as increased cellularity, mitotic activity and nuclear pleomorphism, as well as necrosis and endothelial proliferation. additional forms of glioma include mixed gliomas such as oligoastrocytoma and ependymal tumors. examples of other neuroepithelial tumors that grow within the cns are neuronal and mixed neuronal - glial tumors, as well as embryonal tumors including neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma. the


why argue? helping students see the point read the comments on any website and you may despair at americans ’ inability to argue well. thankfully, educators now name argumentive reasoning as one of the basics students should leave school with. but what are these skills and how do children acquire them? deanna kuhn and amanda crowell, of columbia university ’ s teachers college, have designed an innovative curriculum to foster their development and measured the results. among their findings, published in psychological science, a journal of the association for psychological science, dialogue is a better path to developing argument skills than writing. “ children engage in conversation from very early on, ” explains kuhn. “ it has a point in real life. ” fulfilling a writing assignment, on the other hand, largely entails figuring out what the teacher wants and delivering it. to the student, “ that ’ s its only function. ” kuhn and crowell conducted a three - year intervention at an urban middle school whose students were predominantly hispanic, african - american, and low - income. beginning in sixth grade, two classes totaling 48 children participated ; a comparison group of 23 were taught in a more conventional way. each year comprised four 13 - class segments. each quarter, the students entertained one social issue — beginning with subjects close to their lives, such as school discipline, and proceeding to issues of broader social consequence, such as abortion and gun control. choosing their sides and working in groups, students prepared for debate — enumerating and evaluating reasons for their beliefs, surmising opponents ’ arguments, and considering counterarguments and rebuttals. then, pairs of same - side students debated opposing pairs. in years two and three, participants were asked during each cycle to generate questions whose answers would help them make their arguments — a way of promoting their appreciation of evidence. soon, they not only generated many questions but also volunteered to research the answers. the debates took place via computer — another innovation of the intervention — so the dialogue remained on the screen, promoting reflection. the cycle culminated in a lively “ showdown ” between the teams, in which students individually took the “ hotseat ” debating an opponent but could turn to their teammates for tactical “ huddles. ” finally, students wrote individual essays justifying their positions on the topic. the comparison class engaged in full - class teacher - led discussions of similar topics and wrote essays — 14 annually compared to the intervention groups ’ four. before the intervention and after each year, all students wrote essays on entirely new topics. the


the topic. the comparison class engaged in full - class teacher - led discussions of similar topics and wrote essays — 14 annually compared to the intervention groups ’ four. before the intervention and after each year, all students wrote essays on entirely new topics. the researchers analyzed these for the kinds and number of arguments — those focused on the virtues of one ’ s own side ; those addressing the opposing side ( “ dual perspective ” ) ; and those attempting to weigh pros and cons of each side ( “ integrative perspective ” ). they also looked at the questions the students would like answers to. on each count, the experimental group did better, making more of the higher forms of arguments and listing more questions of substance than the control group. crucially, says kuhn, the children embraced a core value of citizenship : informed argument matters. they expressed it too. “ we have gotten a little complaint from nearby classrooms that it ’ s a bit noisy, ” she adds. for more information about this study, please contact : deanna kuhn at firstname. lastname @ example. org. the aps journal psychological science is the highest ranked empirical journal in psychology. for a copy of the article " dialogic argumentation as a vehicle for developing young adolescents ’ thinking " and access to other psychological science research findings, please contact tiffany harrington at 202 - 293 - 9300 or email @ example. com.


race in the courtthe execution of willie francis : race, murder and the search for justice in the american south they called the louisiana electric chair gruesome gertie and in her years of service to the state, no case was more notorious than that of long - forgotten willie francis. a 16 - year - old teen at the time of his 1945 arrest, francis was barely literate, the youngest of 13 children in a desperately poor, devoutly roman catholic, african american family. the story begins in november, 1944 with the murder of 53 - year - old andrew thomas, the well - liked owner of thomas ’ s drug store in the pastoral cajun town of st. martinville, louisiana. thomas, who was white, was hit by five shots fired at close range. theories of who might have killed him were abundant. the lifelong bachelor and purported don juan was suspected of numerous romantic liaisons with married women, but after a nine - month investigation, all leads had run cold. that changed in august 3, 1945 when police in port arthur, texas, 150 miles from st. martinville, happened upon willie francis who was there visiting his sister. francis was carrying a large valise and the cops, on the lookout for drug traffickers, took francis into custody for questioning. in short order, francis convinced his interrogators that he was not a narcotics dealer. nevertheless, the cops noted that he stuttered — a mannerism they determined indicated guilt — and proceeded to ask him about his involvement in numerous robberies and assaults in the port arthur area. king reports that police accounts reveal a startling — maybe even unbelievable — turn of events. according to port arthur chief of police claude w. goldsmith, “ who did not keep any notes or records of the interrogation, willie confessed to the st. martinville murder [ of thomas ] in a matter of minutes. ” what ’ s more, when they inspected francis ’ wallet they found an id bearing the name of andrew thomas. francis ’ written statement, replete with spelling errors, admits that he stole a. 38 pistol for the planned murder. his statement further concedes that he took thomas ’ wallet, containing $ 4, along with a gold watch which he later pawned. no counsel was present at the time of this alleged confession. a month later francis was indicted by a grand jury and in no - time flat a trial was scheduled. a jury of twelve white men — clearly not francis ’ peers — was selected. as testimony unfolded the jurors learned that there


alleged confession. a month later francis was indicted by a grand jury and in no - time flat a trial was scheduled. a jury of twelve white men — clearly not francis ’ peers — was selected. as testimony unfolded the jurors learned that there was no forensic evidence linking francis to the crime. “ also missing, ” king writes, “ were the murder weapon and bullets that had been recovered from the scene. ” both had been lost in transit to the fbi crime lab. worse, king writes, “ no fingerprints had been lifted from the gun. without the alleged murder weapon or the wrist watch as evidence, the bulk of the district attorney ’ s case rested exclusively on confessions obtained by police while the teenaged willie francis was in custody and without legal counsel. ” later, attorneys and journalists reviewing the trial transcript dubbed the proceedings “ a farce and travesty. ” nonetheless, francis was found guilty and sentenced to die in gruesome gertie. his executioners were angola prison captain ephie foster and prisoner vincent venezia. both men were charged with transporting the contraption to st. martinville and insuring francis ’ death by electrocution. they had done this before and ostensibly knew how to proceed. indeed, they were so relaxed that they opted for a night of serious drinking in the hours immediately before the scheduled execution. eyewitnesses report that the pair were visibly drunk when they arrived at the jail the following morning. still, they did the state ’ s bidding and strapped francis into the chair before applying the current. then something surprising happened — despite being zapped by electricity, francis did not die. spectators were horrified, then relieved to learn that the mechanical malfunction would be corrected and a second execution ordered. what happened next can only be described as a whirlwind. attorney bertrand deblanc, a deeply religious white man just returned from serving in world war ii, agreed to take francis ’ case – pro - bono. during the next year - and - a - half, he would share legal work with the naacp and with another white attorneylater - judge named j. skully wright. the more deblanc learned about francis ’ case, the angrier he became. at the same time he never challenged francis ’ guilt — francis himself never proclaimed his innocence or took issue with his arrest or conviction — but instead zeroed in on proving that a second execution would constitute cruel and unusual punishment and amount to double jeopardy. the case bounced from court to court and eventually wound up in


francis himself never proclaimed his innocence or took issue with his arrest or conviction — but instead zeroed in on proving that a second execution would constitute cruel and unusual punishment and amount to double jeopardy. the case bounced from court to court and eventually wound up in d. c. where the u. s. supreme court heard deblanc ’ s argument. king ’ s rendering of the proceedings is fascinating. “ sixty years later, ” he begins, “ alleged violations of double jeopardy, cruel and unusual punishment, and due process would constitute unquestionably valid legal strategies for attorneys. but not in 1946. not once, not twice, but many times the u. s. supreme court had held that the first ten amendments to the constitution, rights citizens decades later would take for granted, simply did not exist for litigants in a case originating at the state level — cases like willie ’ s. in other words, one ’ s right not to be tried twice for the same crime could only be invoked if one was being tried in a federal court … the supreme court had ruled that in a state court a man [ sic ] could be tried twice for the same murder. furthermore, in 1908, the supreme court held that the fifth amendment — the right regarding self - incrimination — did not apply to state court trials. ” deblanc, wright and the naacp pushed forward anyway, arguing that the bill of rights should apply to the states. they also argued that a second encounter with gruesome gertie would be cruel, unusual and patently illegal. the court disagreed. in a five - to - four decision, issued one day after francis turned 18, the justices opted to send him back to the chair. despite seething and eloquent dissents, the court refused to save willie francis ’ life. his attorneys were despondent and tried to push the justices to reconsider ; they simultaneously petitioned louisiana governor jimmie davis to commute francis ’ sentence to life imprisonment. in a bizarre turn, justice felix frankfurter, who voted with the court majority, petitioned davis on francis ’ behalf. their efforts failed. on may 9, 1947, francis was executed, making him the 24th state resident killed by gruesome gertie. to this day no one knows what really happened between francis and thomas. years later, rumors that thomas was gay — and that his friendships with married women never strayed beyond the platonic — began to circulate. francis ’ one - time assertion — his enigmatic explanation of what had


happened between francis and thomas. years later, rumors that thomas was gay — and that his friendships with married women never strayed beyond the platonic — began to circulate. francis ’ one - time assertion — his enigmatic explanation of what had transpired, “ it was a secret about me and him ” — was never probed. whether this was because of squeamishness, incompetence, or negligence is unknown. king ’ s exploration of willie francis ’ tragic life and the myriad efforts to save him is riveting. well - researched and fast - paced, francis ’ poignant story showcases the collision between social justice activists and a legal system hell - bent on maintaining the status quo. but it does more than this, reminding us of the ripples beneath the surface of most social change efforts. in this case, even though deblanc and colleagues could not save francis, their courage, fortitude, and resistance set other acts of resistance into motion. indeed, their tireless advocacy emboldened others and helped catapult racial injustice and the inhumanity of killing youthful offenders into public consciousness. pra is an affiliate of : unless otherwise noted, all material on this website is copyright 1981 - 2013 by political research associates political research associates • 1310 broadway, suite 201 • somerville, ma 02144 voice : 617. 666. 5300 • fax : 617. 666. 6622 • firstname. lastname @ example. org


spotting the symptoms of skin cancer skin cancer can affect any area of your body exposed to sun, including the scalp. and believe it or not, it can even crop up in lesser - exposed areas like the palms of your hands, between your toes, even on your genitals. according to experts, cancerous skin lesions can appear suddenly or develop slowly, and the american cancer society advises that people see their doctors immediately if they see any of the following symptoms. basal cell carcinoma these can be flat, firm, pale areas or small, raised, pink or red, translucent, waxy areas that may bleed following a minor injury. they may be characterized by one or more irregular blood vessels ; a lower area in their center ; and / or blue, brown, or black sections. large basal cell carcinomas may have oozing or crusted areas. squamous cell carcinoma these are growing lumps, often with a rough, scaly, or crusted surface. they may also look like flat reddish patches in the skin that grow slowly. like basal cell carcinomas, this types of non - melanoma skin cancer may develop as a flat area showing only slight changes from normal skin. also known as solar keratosis, this is a precancerous skin condition caused by too much sun exposure. actinic keratoses are small rough spots that may be pinkish - red or flesh - colored, usually on the face, ears, back of the hands, and arms of middle - aged or older people with fair skin. they also can develop on younger people or on other sun - exposed areas of the skin. some can grow into squamous cell cancers, but others may stay the same or even shrink. because they can turn cancerous, such areas should be checked regularly by a doctor. the most serious form of skin cancer and the one responsible for the most deaths can develop on normal skin or in an existing mole. it often appears on the upper back or the face. learn your abcds according to the american cancer society, people should follow the abcd rule when inspecting their skin for melanomas : - a is for asymmetry : one half of a mole or birthmark does not match the other half. - b is for border : the edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred. - c is for color : the color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of red, white, or blue


is for border : the edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred. - c is for color : the color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of red, white, or blue. - d is for diameter : the spot is larger than six millimeters across ( about one - quarter inch, the size of a pencil eraser ) or is growing larger. other important signs of melanoma include : - changes in size, shape, or color of a mole - appearance of a new spot that may not fit the abcd rule - a sore that does not heal - a new growth - spread of pigment from the border of a spot to the surrounding skin - redness or a new swelling beyond the border - change in sensation, such as itchiness, tenderness, or pain - change in the surface of a mole, such as scaliness, oozing, bleeding, or the appearance of a bump or nodule sign up for free newsletters ask your doctor the right questions! the most from your doctor visit. emailed right to you! the ask your doctor email series may contain sponsored content. 18 +, us residents only please. explore original articles about... get the most from qualityhealth - top searches - 1. arthritis management : nature heals - 2. 5 digestive to - dos - 3. men : should you shave it or leave it? - 4. today ' s top fitness trends - 5. sugar and osteoarthritis : the link - 6. can ' t afford your hospital bills? - 7. stay energized all day long - 8. phobias : who has them and why? - 9. what if your epipen fails? - 10. 5 costly medical billing mistakes - 1. ice falls can cause serious injuries - 2. can inactivity act like a disease? - 3. kale snack recipe for diabetics - 4. how running affects arthritis - 5. sugar and your immunity system - 6. do weight loss supplements work? - 7. 5 super foods for spring - 8. the hazards of reusable bags - 9. how to avoid ingrown hairs - 10. health tip : constantly change shoes - 1. 4 common treatments for epilepsy - 2. what does a urogynecologist do? - 3. gerd without heartburn? it ' s possible - 4. graston technique : can it work on


richard childress racing january 25, 2013 science on the fast track " racing teaches you to think broad, and people who are used to working in intense environments are valued members of the team. " author : rachel kaufmann date : jan. 11, 2013 along a racetrack ' s " pit road, " crew chiefs and race engineers for various nascar teams await their drivers ' inevitable pit stop. the souped - up racers need fresh tires and to top off their fuel. every 30 - second lap, the ground shakes as 43 cars whip past at 200 miles per hour. stock car racing isn ' t rocket science — and yet the track is usually crawling with people who are, in effect, rocket scientists. you might not expect it from a sport that evolved out of bootleggers racing their moonshine down twisty appalachian roads, but modern racing teams use computational fluid dynamics simulations, wind tunnels, and the highly technical know - how of engineers to eke milliseconds out of each driver ' s lap time. " if you go to these race shops, you think you walked into a hospital operating room. it ' s absolutely spotless, " says robert johnson, dean of the college of engineering at the university of north carolina ( unc ), charlotte, and co - founder of the college ' s motorsports program. " these are not shade - tree mechanics having some fun. " instead, these are highly skilled engineers pushing automobiles to their limits, sometimes using that experience as a springboard to advance their careers. engineered for speed when eric warren began working in motorsports, he didn ' t know of any other ph. d. - level scientists or engineers in nascar. " now, on my team alone, there are four different ph. d. s., " he says. warren, whose degree is in aerospace engineering, oversees engineering and also " the whole racing effort " for richard childress racing in welcome, north carolina. as a graduate student in the mid - 1990s, warren bumped into the owner of kranefuss - haas racing ( now penske racing ) when visiting a friend at the team ’ s north carolina headquarters. " he said, ' call me, we need somebody like you, ' " warren says. " he convinced me to get into racing, which was very difficult to comprehend at the time. at the time, nascar wasn ' t seen as a technical thing. it was like, ' ok, i ' ve been working on research in aerodynamics, working with nasa langley [ research center ]. ' [


using an ultra - bright electron source, scientists at the university of toronto have recorded atomic motions in real time, offering a glimpse into the very essence of chemistry and biology at the atomic level. their recording is a direct observation of a transition state in which atoms undergo chemical transformation into new structures with new properties. using a new tool called a quantum simulator — based on a small - scale quantum computer —... a massive telescope buried in the antarctic ice has detected 28 extremely high - energy... a fried breakfast food popular in spain provided the inspiration for the development of doughnut - shaped droplets that may provide scientists with a new approach for studying fundamental issues in physics, mathematics, and materials. the doughnut - shaped droplets, a shape known as toroidal, are formed from two dissimilar liquids using a simple rotating stage and an injection needle. the massive ball of iron sitting at the center of earth is not quite as " rock - solid " as has been thought, say two stanford university mineral physicists. by conducting experiments that simulate the immense pressures deep in the planet ' s interior, the researchers determined that iron in earth ' s inner core is only about 40 % as strong as previous studies estimated. graphene has dazzled scientists ever since its discovery more than a decade ago. but one long - sought goal has proved elusive : how to engineer into graphene a property called a band gap, which would be necessary to use the material to make transistors and other electronic devices. new findings by massachusetts institute of technology researchers are a major step toward making graphene with this coveted property. with the hand of nature trained on a beaker of chemical fluid, the most delicate flower structures have been formed in a harvard university laboratory — and not at the scale of inches, but microns. these minuscule sculptures, curved and delicate, don ' t resemble the cubic or jagged forms normally associated with crystals, though that ' s what they are. rather, fields of flowers seem to bloom from the surface of a submerged glass slide. a new joint innovation by the national physical laboratory and the university of cambridge could pave the way for redefining the ampere in terms of fundamental constants of physics. the world ' s first graphene single - electron pump provides the speed of electron flow needed to create a new standard for electrical current based on electron charge. described as the " most beautiful experiment in physics, " richard feynman emphasized how the diffraction of individual particles at a grating is an unambiguous demonstration of


needed to create a new standard for electrical current based on electron charge. described as the " most beautiful experiment in physics, " richard feynman emphasized how the diffraction of individual particles at a grating is an unambiguous demonstration of wave - particle duality and contrary to classical physics. a research team recently used carefully made fluorescent molecules and nanometric detection accuracy to provide clear and tangible evidence of the quantum behavior of large molecules in real time. bubble baths and soapy dishwater and the refreshing head on a beer : these are foams, beautiful yet ephemeral as the bubbles pop one by one. now, a team of researchers has described mathematically the successive stages in the complex evolution and disappearance of foamy bubbles, a feat that could help in modeling industrial processes in which liquids mix or in the formation of solid foams such as those used to cushion bicycle helmets. an international team of physicists has found the first direct evidence of pear - shaped nuclei in exotic atoms. the findings could advance the search for a new fundamental force in nature that could explain why the big bang created more matter than antimatter — a pivotal imbalance in the history of everything. from powerful computers to super - sensitive medical and environmental detectors that are faster, smaller, and use less energy — yes, we want them, but how do we get them? in research that is helping to lay the groundwork for the electronics of the future, university of delaware scientists have confirmed the presence of a magnetic field generated by electrons which scientists had theorized existed, but that had never been proven until now. physicists working with optical tweezers have conducted work to provide an all - in - one guide to help calculate the effect the use of these tools has on the energy levels of atoms under study. this effect can change the frequency at which atoms emit or absorb light and microwave radiation and skew results ; the new findings should help physicists foresee effects on future experiments. physicists in switzerland have demonstrated one of the quintessential effects of quantum optics — known as the hong - ou - mandel effect — with microwaves, which have a frequency that 100, 000 times lower than that of visible light. the experiment takes quantum optics into a new frequency regime and could eventually lead to new technological applications. the allure of personalized medicine has made new, more efficient ways of sequencing genes a top research priority. one promising technique involves reading dna bases using changes in electrical current as they are threaded through a nanoscopic hole. now, a


technological applications. the allure of personalized medicine has made new, more efficient ways of sequencing genes a top research priority. one promising technique involves reading dna bases using changes in electrical current as they are threaded through a nanoscopic hole. now, a team led by university of pennsylvania physicists has used solid - state nanopores to differentiate single - stranded dna molecules containing sequences of a single repeating base. an international research team led by astronomers from the max planck institute for radio astronomy used a collection of large radio and optical telescopes to investigate in detail a pulsar that weighs twice as much as the sun. this neutron star, the most massive known to date, has provided new insights into the emission of gravitational radiation and serves as an interstellar laboratory for general relativity in extreme conditions. using uniquely sensitive experimental techniques, scientists have found that laws of quantum physics — believed primarily to influence at only sub - atomic levels — can actually impact on a molecular level. the study shows that movement of the ring - like molecule pyrrole over a metal surface runs counter to the classical physics that govern our everyday world. in a process comparable to squeezing an elephant through a pinhole, researchers at missouri university of science and technology have designed a way to engineer atoms capable of funneling light through ultrasmall channels. their research is the latest in a series of recent findings related to how light and matter interact at the atomic scale. cancer cells that can break out of a tumor and invade other organs are more aggressive and nimble than nonmalignant cells, according to a new multi - institutional nationwide study. these cells exert greater force on their environment and can more easily maneuver small spaces. one simple phenomenon explains why practical, self - sustaining fusion reactions have proved difficult to achieve : turbulence in the superhot, electrically charged gas, called plasma, that circulates inside a fusion reactor can cause the plasma to lose much of its heat. this prevents the plasma from reaching the temperatures needed to overcome the electrical repulsion between atomic nuclei. until now. lawrence berkeley national laboratory ’ s sound - restoration experts have done it again. they ’ ve helped to digitally recover a 128 - year - old recording of alexander graham bell ’ s voice, enabling people to hear the famed inventor speak for the first time. the recording ends with bell saying “ in witness whereof, hear my voice, alexander graham bell. ” researchers at university of california, santa barbara in collaboration with colleagues at the ecole polytechnique in france, have conclusively identified auger recombination


bell saying “ in witness whereof, hear my voice, alexander graham bell. ” researchers at university of california, santa barbara in collaboration with colleagues at the ecole polytechnique in france, have conclusively identified auger recombination as the mechanism that causes light - emitting diodes ( leds ) to be less efficient at high drive currents. a harvard university - led team of researchers has created a new type of nanoscale device that converts an optical signal into waves that travel along a metal surface. significantly, the device can recognize specific kinds of polarized light and accordingly send the signal in one direction or another. the planet - hunting kepler telescope has discovered two planets that seem like ideal places for some sort of life to flourish. according to scientists working with the nasa telescope, they are just the right size and in just the right place near their star. the discoveries, published online thursday, mark a milestone in the search for planets where life could exist. throughout decades of research on solar cells, one formula has been considered an absolute limit to the efficiency of such devices in converting sunlight into electricity : called the shockley - queisser efficiency limit, it posits that the ultimate conversion efficiency can never exceed 34 % for a single optimized semiconductor junction. now, researchers have shown that there is a way to blow past that limit. scientists in australia have recently demonstrated that ultra - short durations of electron bunches generated from laser - cooled atoms can be both very cold and ultra - fast. the low temperature permit sharp images, and the electron pulse duration has a similar effect to shutter speed, potentially allowing researchers to observe critical but quick dynamic processes, such as the picosecond duration of protein folding. a university of missouri engineer has built a system that is able to launch a ring of plasma as far as two feet. plasma is commonly created in the laboratory using powerful electromagnets, but previous efforts to hold the super - hot material through air have been unsuccessful. the new device does this by changing how the magnetic field around the plasma is arranged. physicists operating an experiment located half a mile underground in minnesota reported this weekend that they have found possible hints of dark - matter particles. the cryogenic dark matter search experiment has detected three events with the characteristics expected of dark matter particles.


a close - up view of mercury ' s colors october 30, 2008 - date acquired : october 6, 2008 - instrument : wide angle camera ( wac ) of the mercury dual imaging system ( mdis ) - scale : the width of this scene is 620 kilometers ( 390 miles ) of interest : after messenger made its closest approach to mercury, flying just 200 kilometers ( 124 miles ) above the surface, and as soon as the sunlit side of mercury was fully in view, mdis captured the highest - resolution color images ever obtained of mercury ( 500 meters / pixel ( 0. 3 miles / pixel ) ). this area was also seen by mariner 10, whose lower - resolution two - color images hinted at the variety and nature of regions of different colors, and hence composition, on mercury. viewed here at high - resolution and in enhanced color, the relationship between the relatively young smooth plains on the left and older, dark blue material on the right is clear. the younger smooth plains cover the lower parts of rougher pre - existing topography and infill older craters, like the 120 - kilometer ( 75 - mile ) diameter rudaki crater lower - left of center. dark, relatively blue material was ejected from the 105 - kilometer ( 65 - mile ) diameter crater on the right side of the image, covering older smooth plains. a relatively young, small crater then excavated through this blue material to reveal the smooth plains beneath. this scene is centered at 4a° south, 310a° east and is outlined by a white rectangle on the enhanced color equatorial view of the side of mercury seen during messenger ' s second mercury flyby.


the reef - world foundation is a uk - based charity that has worked with local people to conserve coral reefs in south east asia, the world centre for biodiversity, for over 10 years. our field of expertise is working with both the diving community and local fishing communities to provide information about coral reefs and the associated marine life and helping members of those communities find their own role in wider plans to protect reefs and related ecosystems in the face of a changing climate. | our mission | " to inspire and empower people to act in conserving and sustainably developing coastal resources, particularly coral reefs and related ecosystems. " coral reefs are home to 25 % of all marine life, a variety rivalling that of the tropical forests of the amazon or new guinea. this biodiversity translates directly into food security, income, sources of medicinal advances, coastal barriers to storms and a whole host of other benefits to people and ocean health. it is estimated that one billion people worldwide have some dependence on this natural resource for food and income. this is especially true for people from developing asian countries where communities are highly dependent on reefs for their livelihoods and are the most vulnerable to the impacts of loss of reef health. however, coral reefs are under threat. recent research indicates that already one quarter of global reefs are damaged beyond repair.


there are two holes the size of bulldozers in the argument made by johanna wald in " clearing up the record on solar energy on public lands ", that opening public lands to large scale industrial solar development is a necessary " sacrifice " to fight climate change ( see similar arguments from the wilderness society and climate progress ). first, i ' m reminded of a remark made by an energy attorney friend who has fought destructive uranium, coal and oil and gas energy development for almost 30 years, that... " solar is just like any other industrial energy development ". he was right. oil and gas development has site specific well pad surface impacts, but enormous below ground, water and air quality / climate impacts. industry has, over the years, reduced surface impacts ( at least in theory, if not practice ) by drilling multiple wells from a single well pad and spacing them out. industrial solar impacts 100 % of the surface for literally square miles ( see the photo of the first phase construction for brightsource / isegs below ). power tower technology also has significant bat / avian impacts as the towers can be over 650 - feet tall ( that ' s nearly as high as the tallest skyscraper in denver ). visit the basin and range watch website to see more images of what industrial solar development really looks like. but the bottom line is this : both oil and gas and industrial solar destroy functioning ecosystems and millions of acres of our public lands are being offered to industry for both forms of energy extraction. many unproven assumptions underlie arguments in favor of industrial solar ; for example, that it will reduce carbon emissions and slow climate change. yet, no life - cycle analysis has been conducted to quantify construction emissions, transportation, transmission / sf6, lost carbon sequestration values and other large - scale cumulative impacts. the truth is, we don ' t know. but some scientists are beginning to question the massive footprint of industrial solar ( see big solar ' s footprint and allen, et al. ). many people, even those you would expect to know better, believe deserts are inhospitable places that support little life. it will come as a surprise that our southwestern deserts are among the most species - rich ecosystems in the us, and, according to a recent report by the endangered species coalition, among the most threatened by climate change. ( desert soils are also very good at sequestering carbon ). not surprisingly, industry supporters have worked hard to downplay the impacts from big solar and the value of deserts. also


the endangered species coalition, among the most threatened by climate change. ( desert soils are also very good at sequestering carbon ). not surprisingly, industry supporters have worked hard to downplay the impacts from big solar and the value of deserts. also, tremendous political pressure has greased the fast - track wheels for dozens of massive solar and wind developments. they ' ve gotten away with it because nothing on this scale had ever been built before. but as construction on solar projects in california proceeds, ( they are still years away from generating any actual electricity ), we are beginning to see the reality. the los angeles times report, " sacrificing the desert to save the earth " is among the first to expose the emerging story that impacts from industrial solar projects are likely to be much worse than " predicted ". for example, desert tortoise abundances on the 5. 6 - square - mile brightsource / ivahpah site were exponentially higher - more than 750 - up from the original estimate of 32. after project approval, the bureau of land management ( blm ) had to acknowledge that more than 3, 300 endangered desert tortoises would be killed or relocated ( with low survivability ) as a result of a single project. the deadly distemper virus was recently introduced, possibly by workers trying to force kit foxes off the land before grading operations could begin on the 2, 000 acre genesis solar power project. if it spreads, the disease could threaten kit fox populations throughout the chuckwalla basin or beyond. while " ground - truthing " on big solar is just getting under way, over 15 projects on 35, 000 acres have been approved, and more are on the blm priority fast - track. if allowed to go forward, the doe / blm solar industrial plan could impact millions of acres of intact, ecologically valuable public lands and render our southwestern deserts a fragmented wasteland. in a somewhat shocking move, nrdc, the wilderness society, the nature conservancy and others signed a joint letter to blm with industrial solar developers, including brightsource, nrg solar, pacific gas and electric and solarreserve, protesting the limitations of the same solar energy zone ' s ( sez ' s ) these environmental groups are claiming will help industry avoid environmentally sensitive areas ( also see mojave desert blog ). as the widely touted recent colorado college survey reminds us, a majority of americans want public lands to be protected even if it means fewer jobs


these environmental groups are claiming will help industry avoid environmentally sensitive areas ( also see mojave desert blog ). as the widely touted recent colorado college survey reminds us, a majority of americans want public lands to be protected even if it means fewer jobs. until proven otherwise, public lands defenders have to assume it applies to all extractive energy development, including industrial solar and wind. the rational for destroying more public lands does not hold up, especially given the second big hole in ms. wald ' s logic. and that is her failure to acknowledge that point of use distributed solar has already scaled up faster and more cheaply than industrial solar. much of the developed world has surged ahead of the us without sacrificing its open - space, productive farmland or intact ecosystems. for example, little cloudy germanyinstalled 3 gw ( 3, 000 mw ) of solar pv in december of 2011 alone, while the us only installed 1. 7 gw ( 1, 700 mw ) in all of 2011. and germany was able to do it at half the cost of solar pv in the us. a recent ucla study found enough commercial and residential rooftops and parking lots ( generally lumped together as " rooftop solar ", or distributed generation, " dg " ) in los angeles county to generate 19, 000 megawatts - - enough clean energy to meet the city ' s typical energy demand. other cities, including new york city, are following suit by mapping their rooftop solar potential. over half of germany ' s renewable energy is owned by citizens and farmers, not absentee utility companies and corporations. the gains in efficiency, local jobs and energy savings are much greater when solar and wind are distributed more democratically. ( see community power, by al weinrub for a good overview on the superior community benefits of local dg ). just as germany, belgium, france, spain, czech republic, italy, china, japan and india are doing, the us could install thousands of gigawatts of solar pv in the vast urban landscapes already devoted to human needs. what is lacking in the us is the adoption of proven policy incentives like property assessed clean energy ( pace ) and german - style feed - in - tariffs ( fit ). ( see climate progress for a good overview on the power of fits ). remote central - station solar requires years, or even decades to permit and build, and requires costly new transmission that is highly inefficient ( 7 - 12 % line losses ). it also commits us to a


the power of fits ). remote central - station solar requires years, or even decades to permit and build, and requires costly new transmission that is highly inefficient ( 7 - 12 % line losses ). it also commits us to a path - dependency that could preclude taking the more desert - friendly, efficient and cost - effective distributed path. there really is no doubt - solar generation in the already built environment is faster, cheaper, more democratic, efficient and better for local economies and the environment than industrial solar. ( also see rocky mountain institute, " obama ' s renewable energy plan : let ' s raise the roof " ) one has to wonder why nrdc and other industry - friendly environmental groups cling stubbornly to a misguided policy that is in direct conflict with their purported mission to protect the environment. could the answer lie in the fact that current board members and former influential players ( like r. f. kennedy, jr., john bryson and carl pope ) are themselves heavily invested in these projects? isn ' t it time to focus on proven policies that cash in on the 60 % efficiency dividend and generate the energy where its used rather than fueling an increasingly divisive and confusing policy of advocating for the unnecessary destruction of our public and other valuable undeveloped lands? the information and views expressed in this blog post are solely those of the author and not necessarily those of renewableenergyworld. com or the companies that advertise on this web site and other publications. this blog was posted directly by the author and was not reviewed for accuracy, spelling or grammar. to add your comments you must sign - in or create a free account.


national constitutional provisions – philippines the constitution is the fundamental law of the country, reflecting the underlying and unifying values of society. it spells out the basic rights of each person ; it serves as a framework for all other laws and policies, and cannot be easily changed. however, it can be changed and updated through a democratic process, and it is important to keep it alive, by popularising and using it, and by campaigning for its reform or amendment if necessary. below we have picked out what we see as some of the most relevant articles, but please be encouraged to seek and read your constitution in its entirety. the state is the central actor in any claim to the right to education : it is the prime duty - bearer and the prime implementer ; it is the guarantor ; and it is the state´s signature vis - a - vis the international norms and standards which binds it to respect, protect and fulfil the right to education. the state must therefore be judged or challenged on its central text on the right to education, whether this be the constitution, the laws or the policies. the constitution of philippines adopted 15 october 1986, amended 1987 the state shall protect and promote the right of all citizens to quality education at all levels, and shall take appropriate steps to make such education accessible to all. the state shall : ( 1 ) establish, maintain, and support a complete, adequate, and integrated system of education relevant to the needs of the people and society ; ( 2 ) establish and maintain, a system of free public education in the elementary and high school levels. without limiting the natural rights of parents to rear their children, elementary education is compulsory for all children of school age ; ( 3 ) establish and maintain a system of scholarship grants, student loan programs, subsidies, and other incentives which shall be available to deserving students in both public and private schools, especially to the under - privileged ; ( 4 ) encourage non - formal, informal, and indigenous learning systems, as well as self - learning, independent, and out - of - school study programs, particularly those that respond to community needs ; and ( 5 ) provide adult citizens, the disabled, and out - of - school youth with training in civics, vocational efficiency, and other skills. ( 3 ) at the option expressed in writing by the parents or guardians, religion shall be allowed to be taught to their children or wards in public elementary and high schools within the regular class hours by instructors designated or approved by the religious authorities of the religion to which the children or wards belong


in writing by the parents or guardians, religion shall be allowed to be taught to their children or wards in public elementary and high schools within the regular class hours by instructors designated or approved by the religious authorities of the religion to which the children or wards belong, without additional cost to the government. ( 2 ) educational institutions, other than those established by religious groups and mission boards, shall be owned solely by citizens of the philippines or corporations or associations at least sixty per centum of the capital of which is owned by such citizens. the congress may, however, require increased filipino equity participation in all educational institutions. the control and administration of educational institutions shall be vested in citizens of the philippines. no educational institution shall be established exclusively for aliens and no group of aliens shall comprise more than one - third of the enrolment in any school. the provisions of this subsection shall not apply to schools established for foreign diplomatic personnel and their dependents and, unless otherwise provided by law, for other foreign temporary residents. ( 2 ) academic freedom shall be enjoyed in all institutions of higher learning. ( 3 ) every citizen has a right to select a profession or course of study, subject to fair, reasonable, and equitable admission and academic requirements. ( 4 ) the state shall enhance the right of teachers to professional advancement. non - teaching academic and non - academic personnel shall enjoy the protection of the state. ( 5 ) the state shall assign the highest budgetary priority to education and ensure that teaching will attract and retain its rightful share of the best available talents through adequate remuneration and other means of job satisfaction and fulfillment. ( … ) the government shall take steps to initiate and sustain the use of filipino as a medium of official communication and as a language of instruction in the educational system. the state shall give priority to education [... ] no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, nor shall any person be denied the equal protection of the laws. the state shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law. the congress shall give highest priority to the enactment of measures that protect and enhance the right of all the people to human dignity, reduce social, economic, and political inequalities, and remove cultural inequities by equitably diffusing wealth and political power for the common good. to this end, the state shall regulate the acquisition, ownership, use, and disposition of property and its increments. ( 1 ) the


inequities by equitably diffusing wealth and political power for the common good. to this end, the state shall regulate the acquisition, ownership, use, and disposition of property and its increments. ( 1 ) the state shall take into account regional and sectoral needs and conditions and shall encourage local planning in the development of educational policies and programs. see article 4 ( very extensive ). the state recognizes the role of women in nation - building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men. the state shall protect working women by providing safe and healthful working conditions, taking into account their maternal functions, and such facilities and opportunities that will enhance their welfare and enable them to realize their full potential in the service of the nation. the state shall adopt an integrated and comprehensive approach to health development which shall endeavor to make essential goods, health and other social services available to all people at affordable cost. there shall be priority for the needs of the underprivileged sick, elderly, disabled, women, and children. the state shall endeavor to provide free medical care to paupers. the state shall establish a special agency for disabled persons for rehabilitation, self - development and self - reliance, and their integration into the mainstream of society the national language of the philippines is filipino. as it evolves, it shall be further developed and enriched on the basis of existing philippine and other languages. subject to provisions of law and as the congress may deem appropriate, the government shall take steps to initiate and sustain the use of filipino as a medium of official communication and as language of instruction in the educational system. for purposes of communication and instruction, the official languages of the philippines are filipino and, until otherwise provided by law, english. the regional languages are the auxiliary official languages in the regions and shall serve as auxiliary media of instruction therein. spanish and arabic shall be promoted on a voluntary and optional basis. this constitution shall be promulgated in filipino and english and shall be translated into major regional languages, arabic, and spanish. the congress shall establish a national language commission composed of representatives of various regions and disciplines which shall undertake, coordinate, and promote researches for the development, propagation, and preservation of filipino and other languages. no law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. no religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights the state recognizes the


establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. no religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights the state recognizes the sanctity of family life and shall protect and strengthen the family as a basic autonomous social institution. it shall equally protect the life of the mother and the life of the unborn from conception. the natural and primary right and duty of parents in the rearing of the youth for civic efficiency and the development of moral character shall receive the support of the government. the state shall defend : ( 1 ) the right of spouses to found a family in accordance with their religious convictions and the demands of responsible parenthood ; ( 2 ) the right of children to assistance, including proper care and nutrition, and special protection from all forms of neglect, abuse, cruelty, exploitation, and other conditions prejudicial to their development ; ( 3 ) the right of the family to a family living wage and income ; and ( 4 ) the right of families or family associations to participate in the planning and implementation of policies and programs that affect them. the family has the duty to care for its elderly members but the state may also do so through just programs of social security. human rights mechanisms ( 1 ) there is hereby created an independent office called commission on human rights. ( 2 ) the commission shall be composed of a chairman and four members who must be natural - born citizens of the philippines and a majority of whom shall be members of the bar. the term of office and other qualifications and disabilities of the members of the commission shall be provided by law. ( 3 ) until this commission is constituted, the existing presidential committee on human rights shall continue to exercise its present functions and powers. ( 4 ) the approved annual appropriations of the commission shall be automatically and regularly released. the commission on human rights shall have the following powers and functions : ( 1 ) investigate, on its own or on complaint by any party, all forms of human rights violations involving civil and political rights ; ( 2 ) adopt its operational guidelines and rules of procedure, and cite for contempt for violations thereof in accordance with the rules of court ; ( 3 ) provide appropriate legal measures for the protection of human rights of all persons within the philippines, as well as filipinos residing abroad, and provide for preventive measures and legal aid services to the underprivileged whose human rights have been violated or need protection ; ( 4 ) exercise visitorial powers over


1811 - john bright was born in rochdale, lancashire on the 16th of november. 1836 - he met richard cobden. 1838 - he made his first speech on the corn laws at rochdale and joined the manchesterprovisional committee. 1839 - he became one of the leading members and worked closely with richard cobden in the campaign for the repeal of the corn laws. he married to elizabeth priestman. he built the house, " one ash ". 1840 - he led a movement against the rochdale church - rate. 1841 - he emerged as the chief supporting speaker to cobden. 1843 - he was the free trade candidate at a by - election at durham. he beacame mp for durham. 1845 - he moved for an injury into the operation of the game laws. 1847 - he married his second wife, margaret elizabeth leatham. he became mp for manchester. 1854 - he was a member of the peace society and denounced the crimean war as un - christian. 1855 - he made his most memorable speech and was delivered on the 23th of february. 1856 - 1858 - he suffered a severe nervous breakdown due to his failure to stop the war. his crimewar war led him losing his seat as member for manchester. he launched a speech - making campaign for parliamentary reform in birmingham. 1866 - he found himself the hero and chief mouthpiece of the reformers. 1868 - he accepted the post of president of the board of trade in gladstone ' s first ministry. 1870 - he retired through ill - health. 1881 - he returned to political life as chancellor of the duchy of lancaster. 1882 - he retired because he opposed gladstone ' s home rule policy for ireland. he was elected lord rector of the university of glasgow. 1886 - he was given an honorary degree of the university of oxford. 1889 - he died on the 27th of march. page last updated : 8 : 12pm, 16


works of st. anselm, tr. by sidney norton deane,, at sacred - texts. com how he justly punishes and justly spares the wicked. ‑ ‑ god, in sparing the wicked, is just, according to his own nature because he does what is consistent with his goodness ; but he is not just, according to our nature, because he does not inflict the punishment deserved. but it is also just that thou shouldst punish the wicked. for what is more just than that the good should receive goods, and the evil, evils? how, then, is it just that thou shouldst punish the wicked, and, at the same time, spare the wicked? or, in one way, dost thou justly punish, and, in another, justly spare them? for, when thou punishest the wicked, it is just, because it is consistent with their deserts ; and when, on the other hand, thou sparest the wicked, it is just, not because it is compatible with their deserts, but because it is compatible with thy goodness. for, in sparing the wicked, thou art as just, according to thy nature, but not according to ours, as thou art compassionate, according to our nature, and not according to thine ; seeing that, as in saving us, whom it would be just for thee to destroy, thou art compassionate, not because thou feelest an affection ( affectum ), but because we feel the effect ( effectum ) ; so thou art just, not because thou requitest us as we deserve, but because thou dost that which becomes thee as the supremely good being. in this way, therefore, without contradiction thou dost justly punish and justly spare.


knee osteotomy is surgery that removes a part of the bone of the joint of either the bottom of the femur ( upper leg bone ) or the top of the tibia ( lower leg bone ) to increase the stability of the knee. osteotomy redistributes the weight - bearing force on the knee by cutting a wedge of bone away to reposition the knee. the angle of deformity in the knee dictates whether the surgery is to correct a knee that angles inward, known as a varus procedure, or one that angles outward, called a valgus procedure. varus osteotomy involves the medial ( inner ) section of the knee at the top of the tibia. valgus osteotomy involves the lateral ( outer ) compartment of the knee by shaping the bottom of the femur. osteotomy surgery changes the alignment of the knee so that the weight - bearing part of the knee is shifted off diseased or deformed cartilage to healthier tissue in order to relieve pain and increase knee stability. osteotomy is effective for patients with arthritis in one compartment of the knee. the medial compartment is on the inner side of the knee. the lateral compartment is on the outer side of the knee. the primary uses of osteotomy occur as treatment for : - knee deformities such as bowleg in which the knee is varus - leaning ( high tibia osteotomy, or hto ) and knock - knee ( tibial valgus osteotomy ), in which the knee is valgus leaning. - a torn anterior cruciate ligament ( acl ), which is a set of ligaments that connects the femur to the tibia behind the patella and offers stability to the knee on the left - right or medial - lateral axis. if this ligament is injured, it must be repaired by surgery. many acl injuries cause inflammation of the cartilage of the knee and result in bones extrusions, as well as instability of the knee due to malalignment. osteotomy is performed to cut cartilage and increase the fit and alignment of the ends of the femur and tibia for smooth articulation. as one very common knee injury that often occurs in athletic activity, hto is often performed when acl surgery is used to repair the ligament. the combination of the two surgeries occurs primarily in young people who wish to return to a highly athletic life.


one very common knee injury that often occurs in athletic activity, hto is often performed when acl surgery is used to repair the ligament. the combination of the two surgeries occurs primarily in young people who wish to return to a highly athletic life. - osteoarthritis that includes loss of range of motion, stiffness, and roughness of the articular cartilage in the knee joint secondary to the wear and tear of motion, especially in athletes, as well as cartilage breakdown resulting from traumatic injuries to the knee. surgery for progressive osteoarthritis or injury - induced arthritis is often used to stave off total joint replacement. after surgery, patients are placed in a hinged brace. toe - touching is the only weight - bearing activity allowed for four weeks in order to allow the osteotomy to hold its place. continuous passive motion is begun immediately after surgery and physical therapy is used to establish full range of motion, muscle strengthening, and gait training. after four weeks, patients can begin weight - bearing movement. the brace is worn for eight weeks or until the surgery site is healed and stable. x rays are performed at intervals of two weeks and eight weeks after surgery. the usual general surgical risks of thrombosis and heart attack are possible in this open surgery. osteotomy surgery itself involves some risk of infection or injury during the procedure. combined surgery for acl and osteotomy has higher morbidity rates.


sciconnect has co - developed a new course to help female scientists maximise their communication skills and career success. the first course will be held on 4 - 6 january 2013 in windsor, and culminates in a recording session in a radio studio at bbc broadcasting house. places are going fast, so please visit the course webpage to find out more. the deadline for applications is 11th december 2012. how can female scientists reach the top in their careers? the answer should be simple : just do brilliant science. unfortunately, reality presents a rather more complicated and depressing picture. despite growing numbers of women completing phds, they remain woefully under - represented in the higher echelons of academia and industry. in the uk, only about a fifth of senior lecturers in science are women, and just under 10 per cent of science professors are female. even in fields such as biology, where roughly equal numbers of men and women do phds, the proportion of women reaching senior levels is shockingly low. sciconnect has teamed up with colleagues at imperial college london, the university of warwick and quercus training to create a course that aims to help female scientists tackle some of the factors that hold them back. though the medium of science radio and tv production and science writing training, we help participants develop their communication and presentation skills, as well as deconstructing the media portrayal of science and female researchers. so what is the problem? although overt sex discrimination is rare, female scientists are battling engrained bias, both at the institutional and personal levels. one recent study, for example, revealed that when shown identical cvs for an academic post application, both male and female faculty members rated the applicant as being less competent if the name on the cv was female. on a personal level, female scientists are still lumbered with doing twice as much housework as their male counterparts, and are more likely to put their career in second place to that of their male partners, by moving to suit his job or working fewer hours. these biases and inequalities need to be tackled by enlightened national policies and institutional good practice. but there are also some things that individual female scientists can do to boost their chances of success in a male - dominated work environment. these include developing their ability to communicate and present their science with clarity, confidence and authority. another important factor is the low profile of female scientists in the media and the lack of awareness of women ’ s scientific achievements. this contributes to a social environment that subtly


include developing their ability to communicate and present their science with clarity, confidence and authority. another important factor is the low profile of female scientists in the media and the lack of awareness of women ’ s scientific achievements. this contributes to a social environment that subtly discourages girls and women from pursuing scientific careers. a recent wikipedia “ edit - a - thon ”, tied in to ada lovelace day last month helped to redress the balance. but there is always more that any scientist can do to proactively communicate their research to wider audiences, be it via traditional mass media or via new media conduits such as blogging and twitter. our new course uses science media to help early career scientists ( meaning final year phd students, postdocs and new pis ) improve their ability to communicate with different audiences, from other researchers and grant reviewers to journalists and members of the public. it focuses on the barriers facing female scientists in their careers and how developing effective presentation skills and personal impact can help. the course analyses the media portrayal of female scientists, how it can be challenged, and what female scientists can do to raise their profiles. it also covers the importance of effective networking and mentoring, and participants will be encouraged to network over the duration of the course. the course involves hands - on science radio and tv production, culminating in a recording session at bbc broadcasting house. both women and men are welcome to attend. please visit the course webpage to find out more, and if you have any questions or thoughts, please add your comments below. we also have a course flyer available to download ( 1. 8mb ) here.


jornal de pediatria print version issn 0021 - 7557 kelishadi, roya et al. cumulative prevalence of risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases in iranian adolescents : ihhp - hhpc. j. pediatr. ( rio j. ) [ online ]. 2005, vol. 81, n. 6, pp. 447 - 453. issn 0021 - 7557. http : / / dx. doi. org / 10. 1590 / s0021 - 75572005000800007. objective : to evaluate the cumulative prevalence of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease risk factors in a representative sample of iranian adolescents. methods : the subjects of this cross - sectional study were 1, 000 girls and 1, 000 boys, ages 11 - 18 years, selected by multi stage - random cluster sampling from urban and rural areas of three cities in iran. results : the prevalence of physical inactivity, dyslipidemia, smoking, high blood pressure and obesity ( body mass index > 95th percentile ) were 66. 6, 23. 7, 8. 7, 5. 7 and 2. 2 %, respectively. of subjects studied, 79. 1 % had at least one and 24. 6 % had two cardiovascular disease risk factors. the prevalence of physical inactivity was significantly lower in boys than girls [ 53. 9 vs. 79. 3 %, respectively, or 95 % ci, 0. 44 ( 0. 39 - 0. 51 ) ]. the prevalence of smoking was higher in boys than girls [ 13. 1 vs. 4. 2 %, respectively, or 95 % ci, 3. 4 ( 2. 4 - 4. 9 ) ]. conclusion : considering the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in adolescents, age - appropriate and culturally sensitive interventions for lifestyle change are warranted, so that preventive measures can be taken in a timely manner. keywords : cardiovascular disease ; risk factors ; adolescent ; prevalence.


mar. 6, 2008 first - graders in oregon and texas, identified as at - risk because of a lack of early literacy skills, showed dramatic improvements across a range of reading measures after receiving extra instructional time systematically designed to enhance reading development, according to researchers at two institutions. in the study, published in the march / april issue of the journal of learning disabilities, 21 at - risk students in oregon, in groups of four or fewer kids, received an intensive 60 - minute daily intervention. in texas, 33 similarly at - risk students, in groups no larger than five, received an intensive daily 30 - minute intervention. the sessions were carried out during the school year, focused on similar skill development and were delivered in a similar explicit and systematic manner. the main difference was length of time devoted to the students. " this study looked at the role of time with students most at risk for reading difficulties to determine whether doubling intervention time at the beginning of first grade is an efficient use of instructional time, " said beth a. harn, professor of special education at the university of oregon. the oregon students in the longer sessions scored higher on end - of - the - year testing, but all students receiving the extra instruction improved with many of their scores ending in the average range against national norms. " the significantly greater growth in fluency for all of these students who received more intense intervention is indeed noteworthy, " said harn, who led the study. " a lot of early interventions in the past have done an exceptional job of filling gaps in phonemic awareness, phonics and comprehension, but closing the gap in fluency has represented a struggle. " the oregon approach was more intensive, increasing instructional support significantly for the most at - risk students, beginning in first grade. in texas, intensifying to the same level was not available until students were in second grade. in oregon, during the first half of the school year, most time was spent on word analysis, such as phonics and word recognition, followed by passage reading and comprehension and reading fluency. in the second half of the school year the intervention focus shifted, with more time spent in passage reading with comprehension and fluency development and less time in word analysis. the results suggested that students in the longer intervention outperformed students in the less intense intervention on all outcomes except passage comprehension. the greatest differences were found in improvements on oral reading fluency for students in the longer intervention. researchers theorize that longer, 60 - minute sessions may provide students with the additional practice they need to


the less intense intervention on all outcomes except passage comprehension. the greatest differences were found in improvements on oral reading fluency for students in the longer intervention. researchers theorize that longer, 60 - minute sessions may provide students with the additional practice they need to master early literacy skills. whether the improvements will continue to be demonstrated across later years is not known, harn said. " this was a post - hoc study, " the authors wrote, " limiting direct comparisons and generalization. " harn and colleagues also noted that the interventions analyzed in their research involved schools experienced in using research - based instructional and assessment practices with multi - layered support systems. because of that pre - condition, harn said, an exact replication of the study in schools that do not use such approaches may be difficult. " the study certainly has implications in how schools approach their instruction and interventions, " said harn, who led the analysis of data from the oregon schools. schools may want to allocate more instructional resources earlier for struggling students, rather than waiting until later grades when it becomes more difficult to catch up struggling readers, she said. co - authors sylvia linan - thompson and gregory roberts, both in special education programs and in the vaughn gross center for reading and language arts at the university of texas at austin, led the effort in the texas schools. other social bookmarking and sharing tools : note : materials may be edited for content and length. for further information, please contact the source cited above. note : if no author is given, the source is cited instead.


feb. 17, 2009 the genome of a marine bacterium living 2, 500 meters below the ocean ' s surface is providing clues to how life adapts in extreme thermal and chemical gradients, according to an article published feb. 6 in the journal plos genetics. the research focused on the bacterium nautilia profundicola, a microbe that survives near deep - sea hydrothermal vents. microorganisms that thrive at these geysers on the sea floor must adapt to fluctuations in temperature and oxygen levels, ranging from the hot, sulfide - and heavy metal - laden plume at the vents ' outlets to cold seawater in the surrounding region. the study combined genome analysis with physiological and ecological observations to investigate the importance of one gene in n. profundicola. that gene, called rgy, allows the bacterium to manufacture a protein called reverse gyrase when it encounters extremely hot fluids from the earth ' s interior. previous studies found the gene only in microorganisms growing in temperatures greater than 80°c, but n. profundicola thrives best at much lower temperatures. " the gene ' s presence in n. profundicola suggests that it might play a role in the bacterium ' s ability to survive rapid and frequent temperature fluctuations in its environment, " said assistant professor of marine biosciences barbara campbell, the study ' s lead scientist. additional university of delaware contributors were professor of marine biosciences stephen craig cary, assistant professor of marine biosciences thomas hanson, and julie smith, marine biosciences doctoral student. also collaborating on the project were researchers from the davis and riverside campuses of the university of california ; the university of louisville ; the university of waikato in hamilton, new zealand ; and the j. craig venter institute in rockville, md. the researchers also uncovered further adaptations to the vent environment, including genes necessary for growth and sensing environmental conditions, and a new route for nitrate assimilation related to how other bacteria use ammonia as an energy source. photosynthesis cannot occur in the hydrothermal vents ' dark environment, where hot, toxic fluids oozing from below the seafloor combine with cold seawater at very high pressures. these results help to explain how microbes survive near the vents, where conditions are thought to resemble those found on early earth. nautilia profundicola contains all the genes necessary for life in conditions widely believed to mimic those in our planet ' s early biosphere and could aid in understanding of how life evolved