hydroinformatics is the rapidly developing field in which information technology is applied to address water - related issues such as flood estimation and rainfall - runoff modeling. this book is a thorough overview of all the latest developments in this increasingly vital discipline. hydroinformatics is an emerging subject that is expected to gather speed, momentum and critical mass throughout the forthcoming decades of the 21st century. this book provides a broad account of numerous advances in that field - a rapidly developing discipline covering the application of information and communication technologies, modelling and computational intelligence in aquatic environments. a systematic survey, classified according to the methods used ( neural networks, fuzzy logic and evolutionary optimization, in particular ) is offered, together with illustrated practical applications for solving various water - related issues. these include, but are not limited to, flood estimation, rainfall - runoff modelling, rehabilitation of urban water networks, estimation of ocean temperature profiles, etc. particular attention is also given to certain aspects of the most recent technological progress in hydroinformatics including the development of protocols for model integration and of computer architectures for modern modelling systems. invited contributions were obtained from leading international experts - including academics, hydrological practitioners and industrial professionals - such that this edited volume constitutes an authoritative source of reference material and is essential reading for active workers in this field.


one of the most common side effects of many medications is cotton mouth, an uncomfortable condition that occurs when the saliva levels in your mouth drop to near zero. dozens of drug categories lead to dry mouth, from antihistamines to antihypertensives, but one of the most notorious causes of a cottony palate - and so, of bad breath - is antidepressants. why do these prescriptions dry out your mouth and encourage halitosis? for the answer to that, you have to look at how the saliva glands work. salivary glands : a vital trio there are three different types of salivary glands in your mouth : the submandibular ( located under the floor of your mouth ), the sublingual ( under the tongue ) and the parotid, which is wrapped around your lower jaw, just beneath the hinge. if the latter sounds familiar, it may be because beastie boy and hip - hop legend adam yauch recently passed away from cancer of the parotid gland. your salivary glands emit a constant stream of moisture into your mouth, which keeps your palate wet and minimizes bacterial growth on your tongue. fun fact : the relatively small submandibular gland is responsible for about 70 percent of your mouth ' s moisture. that means it pumps out a quart of saliva a day! these glands get activated by acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter found in your nervous system. and, for good or ill, antidepressants inhibit the uptake of this molecule. specifically, they prevent acetylcholine from reaching m3 muscarinic receptors, which can be found in your salivary glands. the result : cotton mouth. a study published in the journal acta psychiatrica scandinavica found that the antidepressants maprotiline, nortriptyline, clomipramine, imipramine and amitriptyline cause the worst cotton mouth. what you can do for it since quitting antidepressants is not a very good idea, here are some tips for managing cotton mouth. - sip on water or suck on ice chips throughout the day. - regularly pop a specialty mouth - wetting lozenge in your mouth. - brush or rinse with specialty breath freshening, alcohol - free products, especially before bed and after waking.


patanjali, author of the yoga sutra, presented in the second chapter of his book five ethical precepts called yamas. the yamas were designed as a basic guideline for living a life of personal fulfillment that also benefits society. the consequence of not following these teachings, according to patanjali, is our continued suffering. the first yama is known as ahimsa, which is typically translated as “ nonviolence ” or the avoidance of violence. ahimsa refers to physical violence as well as the violence of thoughts and words. in this way, it is believed that our negative thoughts about ourselves and others can be as powerful and damaging as physical attempts to harm. ahimsa, in its entirety, refers to the total rejection of inflicting pain or harm – whether it be by thought, word or deed – to any and all living creatures. the practice of ahimsa includes constant vigilance and observation of ourselves when interacting with others, taking note of our thoughts and our intentions. ahimsa prohibits the killing or injuring of living beings as it is believed that violence brings about negative karma. to practice non - injury, one must be harmless in mind, mouth and hand ; one must replace hatred with love and cultivate forgiveness. ahimsa is sacrifice but it is also power and strength. himsa is translated as violence or injury. there are many forms of himsa including contempt toward others, prejudice, unreasonable dislike, hatred, abuse, harsh or rude speech, discourtesy, and lies. these must all be discarded in order to practice ahimsa. one must not wound others or their feelings, whether it be by action, words or even the tone of voice. all forms of harshness should be avoided. in fact, even the approval of another ’ s harsh actions and the failure to relieve another ’ s pain or to help another in distress is seen as himsa. to practice ahimsa, you must accept the insults and criticisms, rebukes and assaults of others without acting in retaliation or causing offense. even under the greatest of provocation, you still must refrain from thinking evil thoughts, harboring anger and even cursing. practicing ahimsa requires bravery and fearlessness. it is not for the weak. ahimsa is the perfection of forgiveness. understandably, beginning in the practice of ahimsa is not easy. start by controlling the physical body first. when faced with your own thoughts of hatred or revenge, do not act on them. when faced with


ohio ' s dairy industry is about more than just cows and milk - - it is about contributions to the state ' s economy, the preservation of the environment, the well - being of animals and the health and safety of all ohioans. in ohio, dairy is big business. ohio ranks first in swiss cheese production, fifth in the number of dairy manufacturing plants and 11th in milk production. in ohio, 3, 490 farms with 274, 000 dairy cows produce almost 5 billion pounds of milk annually. dairy farms also are vital parts of the communities in which they operate. the dairy industry contributes $ 5. 2 billion annually to the state economy and provides approximately 14, 500 jobs. most milk only travels about 100 miles to get from the dairy farm to the local grocery store, which means jobs typically remain in the surrounding area, specifically benefiting the local economy. because of their connection to the local community, dairy farmers across ohio are committed to taking proactive measures to protect the environment, including the water supply and air and soil quality. not only do dairy farmers rely on our limited natural resources for the success of their farm, but they also typically live on or near the farm, and therefore drink the water and breathe the air themselves. a wide range of environmentally sound practices are used on ohio ' s dairy farms, including manure - management plans, water - recycling systems, conservation tillage, grass, waterways and routine water testing. farmers work with experts at both the state and federal levels to continually develop new ways to preserve the environment and enhance the quality of life of the farm family and surrounding neighbors. environmental stewardship is a key element of successful dairy farming, and so are healthy and happy cows. to ensure the health and welfare of their dairy cows - - and in turn, the success of their business - - ohio ' s dairy farmers make significant investments in housing, feeding and veterinary care. cows are provided with a nutritious diet, quality medical care and healthy living conditions. dairy cows receive regular medical check - ups and vaccinations, and any illness is quickly treated. cows always have access to fresh, clean water and strictly - monitored feed. dairy farmers are committed to protect the environment and provide quality care to their animals, with the final outcome being wholesome, quality milk and dairy products for ohio ' s consumers. dairy products offer a powerful package of calcium and eight other essential nutrients for just pennies per ounce, making them a nutritious and economical choice for all families. clearly, dairy farmers are doing more than ever before


information on genital herpes general information and terminology the herpes virus which causes both genital herpes and cold sores is the herpes simplex virus, abbreviated hsv. there are two types of hsv : hsv - 1 and hsv - 2. most oral ( i. e, cold sores ) and ocular infections are caused by hsv - 1 ; most genital infections are caused by hsv - 2. however, either can cause infection anywhere on the body. the other herpes viruses are the epstein - barr virus, which causes mononucleosis, and the varicella - zoster virus which causes chicken pox and shingles. apparently shingles is an adult recurrence of chicken pox! in addition, there is something ominous ( and often fatal ) called herpes encephalitis in which the herpes simplex virus infects the brain and spinal cord. genital and presumably oral, ocular, and other variants of herpes does not lead to herpes encephalitis. the technical literature refers to infections as being primary, initial, or recurrent. a primary infection is one where blood tests don ' t show antibodies for hsv - 1 or hsv - 2 at the time that the infection is diagnosed ; i. e., one has not been previously exposed to the type of herpes for which one will now be treated. an initial infection is one where no symptoms of infection have previously been noticed, but blood tests show antibodies for hsv - 1 or hsv - 2. a recurrent infection is just that. what it ' s doing when it ' s doing it " during a... primary infection of either type 1 or type 2, herpes simplex will multiply at the original site of skin exposure to cause the characteristic sores. also, very early in the course of the infection, some viruses will leave the sores to migrate up the sensory nerve that serves the site of the sores. these viruses become inactive, or latent, when they reach the nerve cell center, or ganglion. even after the sores have healed, the virus remains in the ganglia to form a permanent reservoir of infection. " during a recurrence, " the virus becomes reactivated, probably returns down the same nerve, and multiplies on the skin at or near the site of the original sore ". ( 5 ) symptoms of a primary episode usually appear ( if they appear ) 2 to 20 days after


the virus becomes reactivated, probably returns down the same nerve, and multiplies on the skin at or near the site of the original sore ". ( 5 ) symptoms of a primary episode usually appear ( if they appear ) 2 to 20 days after exposure, and last an average of 2 to 3 weeks. however, the first noticeable symptoms of infection can also appear years after exposure. "... early symptoms can include a burning sensation, pain in the legs, buttocks, or genital area, vaginal discharge, or a feeling of pressure in the abdominal region. within a few days, sores ( lesions ) appear on the penis, on the vulva or in the vagina, or around the anus. these small, red bumps, later develop into blisters or painful open sores. over a period of days, the sores become crusted and symptoms that often accompany a person ' s first infection with herpes can include fever, headache, muscle aches, painful or difficult urination, and swollen glands. " generally, the first outbreak is the most severe and most prolonged. later outbreaks tend to be less severe, and the intervals between recurrences tend to lengthen over time. sometimes there is no recurrence, but usually there reading between the lines, it would seem that most hsv infections are asymptomatic. in one study of over 2, 000 individuals only one - fourth of those with antibodies to hsv - 2 had symptoms which by their own description seemed to the researchers to be symptoms of herpes. in another group, 57 % had type 2 antibodies, but only 3 % " gave histories of any syndrome compatible with genital herpes ". ( 4 ) transmission - symptomatic and asymptomatic herpes is definitely contagious from the time that the first symptoms of an outbreak occur ( i. e., before the blisters appear ) until the sores are completely healed. once again, the first outbreak is the most virulent ; in recurrences less virus is present in the sores. " herpes infections can be transmitted when any part of person ' s body directly touches active herpes virus or sores containing active herpes simplex virus. mucous membranes, such as those in the mouth or genital area, are very susceptible to herpes invasion. intact skin is usually resistant, but skin that is broken or damaged - for example by cuts, abrasions, burns, ecze


mucous membranes, such as those in the mouth or genital area, are very susceptible to herpes invasion. intact skin is usually resistant, but skin that is broken or damaged - for example by cuts, abrasions, burns, eczema, or infection - may easily be infected by herpes simplex virus " ( 5 ) asymptomatic transmission is also possible, although there doesn ' t seem to be any consensus about how common it is. various statements on the subject are : " anywhere from 1 to 10 percent, depending on the population studied. " ( 2 ) " three - fourths of source contacts known to patients with documented primary infections gave no histories of genital lesions at the time of contact. " ( 4 ) autoinoculation ( spreading the infection from one part of ones own body to another part ) is possible, though not likely. once again, it is most likely to occur during a when there is any sign of an outbreak, abstain. any signs means a suspicion of discomfort, not the appearance of sores. abstain until the sores are healed and the scabs have while the virus is too large to pass through a condom, in " real - life " situations their protective value is uncertain. " possibly spermicidal jellies containing nonoxynol 9 have some deterrent effect. oral acyclovir reduces virus shedding during an outbreak, and so may reduce risk of transmission, but is not given as a prophylactic. ( it ' s expensive, it hasn ' t yet been determined that it reduces shedding during asymptomatic phases, and the risks of long term use are not known ). vaccines have been under development since the early 80 ' s ( at least ), but apparently it is extremely difficult to develop a vaccine against herpes which isn ' t excessively hard on whatever takes it. no vaccine is currently the discomfort can be relieved to some extent by keeping the infected area clean and dry, and by wearing loose fitting clothing. this may also help the sores to heal faster. obviously, avoid touching the sores, since they contain active virus. aspirin may provide symptomatic oral acyclovir reduces the severity and duration of primary outbreaks, if taken early enough in the course of the infection. maintenance dosages reduce the frequency and duration of recurrences, but once treatment is stopped the preventative effect stops also. in recurrences, oral acyclov


##s, if taken early enough in the course of the infection. maintenance dosages reduce the frequency and duration of recurrences, but once treatment is stopped the preventative effect stops also. in recurrences, oral acyclovir reduces the duration of virus shedding, but has little effect on the symptoms. the major hazard is to infants at the time of birth. also there is a danger of spontaneous abortion associated with primary infections during pregnancy. children delivered vaginally during the course of a herpes episode are at considerable risk ( estimated 40 to 60 percent ) of being infected. of the infected infants, more than half develop fatal diseases. in the presence of active infection, the infant is generally delivered by c - section, which protects the infant from infection. the infant cannot be infected through the mothers bloodstream. for adults herpes ( after the first outbreak ) is generally more of a social catastrophe then a physical one, although infrequently adults are incapacitated by severe and / or frequent recurrences. herpes is extremely common. various statistics are : " affects an estimated 30 million americans. each year as many as 500, 000 new cases are believed to occur. " ( 1 ) " the prevalence of hsv infections ( types 1 and 2 ) in the general population is high. estimates vary from 40 to 100 percent based on random sampling of sera for hsv ( 1 ) the search for health. the national institutes of health. bethesda, maryland. october, 1988 ( 2 ) herpes : facts and fallacies. american journal of nursing. june, 1982 ( 3 ) oral acyclovir for treatment and suppression of genital herpes simplex virus. journal of the american medical association. april, 1986 ( 4 ) epidemiology of genital herpes infections in the united states - the current situation. journal of reproductive medicine. may 1986. ( 5 ) genital herpes. u. s. department of health and human services. sept. 1983. herpes resource foundation. provides information, therapy, etc. contact them at help, p. o. box 100, palo alto, ca 94302 or call ( 415 ) 328 - 7710 or ( 800 ) 227 - 8922. technical information services, division of sexually transmitted diseases, center for disease control, atlanta, ga, 30333. written material available upon request.


taj mahal stands on the bank of river yamuna, which otherwise serves as a wide trench shielding the great red fort of agra, the centre of the mughal empire, until they moved their capital to delhi in 1637. the taj mahal is one of the most beautiful masterpieces of architecture in the world. agra, situated about 200 km south of new delhi. taj mahal was under the muslim emperors who ruled northern india between the sixteenth and nineteenth centuries. the mughals were the descendents of two of the most skilled warriors in history, the turks and the mongols. the mughal dynasty reached its highest strength and fame during the reign of their early emperors, akbar, jehangir, and shah jehan. taj mahal agra was built by the fifth mughal emperor, shah jahan in 1631 in the remembrance of his second wife, mumtaz mahal, a muslim persian princess. she passed while accompanying her husband in behrampur in a campaign to crush an uprising, after giving birth to their 14th child. her death firmed the emperor. when mumtaz mahal was alive, she requested the emperor, that he should build the taj, should not marry again, be kind to their children and he should visit the tomb on her death anniversary. he kept the first and second promises. construction began in 1631 and was completed in 22 years. twenty thousand people were positioned to work on it. it was designed by the iranian architect istad usa and it is best appreciated when the architecture and its adornments are linked to the passion that inspired it. having buried her down at behrampur, it was time to build a tomb there itself. it was virtually impossible to transfer all the marble there, as it would cost a fortune and a lifetime. so, astoundingly her grave was uprooted and brought to agra, be transferred to the monument, completed twenty two years later. the architectural complex is comprised of five main elements : the darwaza or main gateway, the bageecha or garden, the masjid or mosque, the naqqar khana or rest house, and the rauza or the taj mahal mausoleum. the actual tomb is situated inside the taj. the taj rises on a high red sandstone base with a huge white marble terrace on which rests the dome flanked by four narrowing towers. within the dome lies the jewel - inlaid cenotaph of the queen. most impressive are the black and white chessboard marble floor, the four tall mina


effective therapy involves more than mere talk and venting. true healing is achieved by finding the roots of our deep - seated ailments. in psychotherapy counseling, the therapist guides their client towards uninhibited emotional disclosure. numerous studies have shown that emotional disclosure strengthens the immune system by increasing the levels of cd4 cells and natural killer cells and improves the health of individuals afflicted with rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and other conditions. in psychotherapy, also referred to as counseling, psychosocial therapy, therapy or talk therapy, a mental health professional assists a client with personal growth, behavioral issues, or mental health problems. therapy involves treatment of emotional and mental disorders by talking about issues in an individual ' s life with a psychologist, psychiatrist or other trained professional. psychotherapists perform a holistic analysis of their clients ' situation and implement coping strategies. the psychotherapist observes a client ' s behavior, emotions and thoughts until a pattern is identified. upon recognition of their typical or repetitive behavioral responses, clients are then able to implement changes. psychotherapy treatment may help patients with a number of issues. common issues include : psychotherapy enables patients to : - relationship issues - addiction and noxious habits - emotional problems - sexual problems - substance abuse - family conflicts - uncover the reasons for their condition so that they can better address it - identify and modify thoughts or behaviors that negatively impact their life - sharpen communication skills - learn more effective coping and problem - resolution skills - practice setting reasonable goals - explore experiences and relationships - increase their self - love and love for others - improve their self - confidence and self - esteem - heal old wounds - remove psychological blocks psychotherapy may be short - term or consist of numerous sessions over the course of several years. prospective clients may choose between individual, group, couples or family sessions. research has shown that psychotherapy coupled with medication provides greater benefit to patients than medication alone. benefits of psychotherapy include : - a novel perspective on a complex problem - effectiveness in depression relapse prevention - greater affordability than anti - depressant medication in the short run - efficacy in treating mood disorders that is comparable to anti - depressant drug treatment - outperformance of mood stabilizers in the treatment of bipolar depression - longer - lasting results than medication - maintenance of a high level of psychosocial functioning - reduction of mental health symptoms, such as anger, depression, and desperation - long - range benefits for post - traumatic stress syndrome following trauma - alleviation of mental


- lasting results than medication - maintenance of a high level of psychosocial functioning - reduction of mental health symptoms, such as anger, depression, and desperation - long - range benefits for post - traumatic stress syndrome following trauma - alleviation of mental health symptoms - combating specific conditions such as depression - increased self - awareness and a better understanding of one ' s values and goals - honing skills for improving relationships in this intensive, long - term therapy, counselors help clients examine feelings, events, and memories from the past in order to shed light on present behaviors and emotions. patients usually attend several weekly psychoanalytical sessions for extended periods of time. in this form of treatment, the psychotherapist helps clients become cognizant of any unconscious influence that past experiences may have on their present lives by way of thoughts, emotions or behaviors. some techniques employed in this typically brief treatment include analyzing actions and thoughts, confronting behavior and beliefs, resolving conflicts, and re - visiting the past. clients are asked to put the new skills to work between sessions or make entries in a diary and are assigned homework exercises. cognitive behavioral therapy ( cbt ) the emphasis cbt is on the modification of negative, unhealthy thought patterns and behaviors that affect physical and emotional well - being. this is often achieved through desensitization, also known as exposure therapy. desensitization is a process in which clients confront the situations that trigger traumatic reactions, discomfort, fear or anxiety and learn to overcome their responses. in cognitive therapy, patients are taught to identify and modify cognitive distortions. cognitive distortions are considered habitual, faulty thinking patterns which give rise to behaviors and emotions that are unhelpful, unrealistic, self - destructive or self - defeating. to reduce the likelihood that symptoms will resurface, patients practice the skills learned in their everyday lives. this type of psychoanalytical treatment tends to focus more on the present and future than on past conflicts or issues. cbt has proven a successful treatment of several mental health issues including : - post - traumatic stress disorder - obsessive - compulsive disorder - panic attacks - suicidal behavior - anger management - stress management marital and family therapy marital psychotherapists assist couples in resolving their difficulties jointly. in family therapy, the objective is family functioning, and the sessions are attended by more than one family member at the same time. family therapy is useful in several situations including : - problems with siblings or relatives - children acting out - parenting difficulties -


may 19, 2013 a declaration of independence from israel posted on jul 2, 2007 by chris hedges israel, without the united states, would probably not exist. the country came perilously close to extinction during the october 1973 war when egypt, trained and backed by the soviet union, crossed the suez and the syrians poured in over the golan heights. huge american military transport planes came to the rescue. they began landing every half - hour to refit the battered israeli army, which had lost most of its heavy armor. by the time the war was over, the united states had given israel $ 2. 2 billion in emergency military aid. the intervention, which enraged the arab world, triggered the opec oil embargo that for a time wreaked havoc on western economies. this was perhaps the most dramatic example of the sustained life - support system the united states has provided to the jewish state. israel was born at midnight may 14, 1948. the u. s. recognized the new state 11 minutes later. the two countries have been locked in a deadly embrace ever since. washington, at the beginning of the relationship, was able to be a moderating influence. an incensed president eisenhower demanded and got israel ’ s withdrawal after the israelis occupied gaza in 1956. during the six - day war in 1967, israeli warplanes bombed the uss liberty. the ship, flying the u. s. flag and stationed 15 miles off the israeli coast, was intercepting tactical and strategic communications from both sides. the israeli strikes killed 34 u. s. sailors and wounded 171. the deliberate attack froze, for a while, washington ’ s enthusiasm for israel. but ruptures like this one proved to be only bumps, soon smoothed out by an increasingly sophisticated and well - financed israel lobby that set out to merge israeli and american foreign policy in the middle east. israel has reaped tremendous rewards from this alliance. it has been given more than $ 140 billion in u. s. direct economic and military assistance. it receives about $ 3 billion in direct assistance annually, roughly one - fifth of the u. s. foreign aid budget. although most american foreign aid packages stipulate that related military purchases have to be made in the united states, israel is allowed to use about 25 percent of the money to subsidize its own growing and profitable defense industry. it is exempt, unlike other nations, from accounting for how it spends the aid money. and funds are routinely siphoned off to build new jewish settlements, bolster the israeli


money to subsidize its own growing and profitable defense industry. it is exempt, unlike other nations, from accounting for how it spends the aid money. and funds are routinely siphoned off to build new jewish settlements, bolster the israeli occupation in the palestinian territories and construct the security barrier, which costs an estimated $ 1 million a mile. the u. s. has provided israel with nearly $ 3 billion to develop weapons systems and given israel access to some of the most sophisticated items in its own military arsenal, including blackhawk attack helicopters and f - 16 fighter jets. the united states also gives israel access to intelligence it denies to its nato allies. and when israel refused to sign the nuclear nonproliferation treaty, the united states stood by without a word of protest as the israelis built the region ’ s first nuclear weapons program. u. s. foreign policy, especially under the current bush administration, has become little more than an extension of israeli foreign policy. the united states since 1982 has vetoed 32 security council resolutions critical of israel, more than the total number of vetoes cast by all the other security council members. it refuses to enforce the security council resolutions it claims to support. these resolutions call on israel to withdraw from the occupied territories. there is now volcanic anger and revulsion by arabs at this blatant favoritism. few in the middle east see any distinction between israeli and american policies, nor should they. and when the islamic radicals speak of u. s. support of israel as a prime reason for their hatred of the united states, we should listen. the consequences of this one - sided relationship are being played out in the disastrous war in iraq, growing tension with iran, and the humanitarian and political crisis in gaza. it is being played out in lebanon, where hezbollah is gearing up for another war with israel, one most middle east analysts say is inevitable. the u. s. foreign policy in the middle east is unraveling. and it is doing so because of this special relationship. the eruption of a regional conflict would usher in a nightmare of catastrophic proportions. there were many in the american foreign policy establishment and state department who saw this situation coming. the decision to throw our lot in with israel in the middle east was not initially a popular one with an array of foreign policy experts, including president harry truman ’ s secretary of state, gen. george marshall. they warned there would be a backlash. they knew the cost the united states would pay in the oil - rich region for this decision,


with an array of foreign policy experts, including president harry truman ’ s secretary of state, gen. george marshall. they warned there would be a backlash. they knew the cost the united states would pay in the oil - rich region for this decision, which they feared would be one of the greatest strategic blunders of the postwar era. and they were right. the decision has jeopardized american and israeli security and created the kindling for a regional conflagration. the alliance, which makes no sense in geopolitical terms, does makes sense when seen through the lens of domestic politics. the israel lobby has become a potent force in the american political system. no major candidate, democrat or republican, dares to challenge it. the lobby successfully purged the state department of arab experts who challenged the notion that israeli and american interests were identical. backers of israel have doled out hundreds of millions of dollars to support u. s. political candidates deemed favorable to israel. they have brutally punished those who strayed, including the first president bush, who they said was not vigorous enough in his defense of israeli interests. this was a lesson the next bush white house did not forget. george w. bush did not want to be a one - term president like his father. israel advocated removing saddam hussein from power and currently advocates striking iran to prevent it from acquiring nuclear weapons. direct israeli involvement in american military operations in the middle east is impossible. it would reignite a war between arab states and israel. the united states, which during the cold war avoided direct military involvement in the region, now does the direct bidding of israel while israel watches from the sidelines. during the 1991 gulf war, israel was a spectator, just as it is in the war with iraq. president bush, facing dwindling support for the war in iraq, publicly holds israel up as a model for what he would like iraq to become. imagine how this idea plays out on the arab street, which views israel as the algerians viewed the french colonizers during the war of liberation. “ in israel, ” bush said recently, “ terrorists have taken innocent human life for years in suicide attacks. the difference is that israel is a functioning democracy and it ’ s not prevented from carrying out its responsibilities. and that ’ s a good indicator of success that we ’ re looking for in iraq. ” americans are increasingly isolated and reviled in the world. they remain blissfully ignorant of their own culpability for this isolation. u. s. “ spin


when it comes to tobacco, teens do weigh pros and cons uc merced psychologist finds teen smokers view smoking as less dangerous and more beneficial than non - smokers merced, ca — tobacco is the leading cause of preventable deaths in the u. s., causing close to a half - million deaths every year. it ' s common knowledge that the best way to stop smoking is to never start, yet 1 million people pick up the habit each year - and many of them are under 18. given the facts, preventing tobacco use among adolescents is a major focus in our country, but the statistics regarding teen smoking remain staggering. uc merced psychologist anna v. songspends her days figuring out why, if teens know smoking is unhealthy, they do it anyway. song found that when it comes to deciding whether to smoke that first cigarette, teens actually do weigh the pros and cons. teens who believe smoking is very risky and holds little value are less likely to smoke, compared to teens who believe smoking is safer and socially valuable. song and her collaborator, dr. bonnie halpern - felsher at uc san francisco, presented their findings in the march 2009 edition of the american journal of public health, published today, feb. 10. " contrary to the stereotype of the brash, non - thinking teen, young people do care about the risks and benefits associated to smoking, " song said. " the difference between those who light up and those who don ' t is how they weigh the risks versus benefits. " though public health officials accept that perception is reality for teens, song ' s study was the first of its kind. using longitudinal data collected over two years, the study compared how adolescents view the short - term and long - term risks of smoking, along with perceived benefits. song believes that her findings can help improve the effectiveness of anti - smoking campaigns by focusing on both perceived risks and benefits that resonate most deeply with teens. " in our study, no one really believed they were immune to the long - term risks of smoking, " song said. " but our findings do demonstrate that interventions focused only on long - term dangers such as cancer and heart disease are not addressing the whole picture. to be effective, they must also address other issues that are important to teens like feeling grown - up, smelling like an ashtray, or getting into trouble. " song, who conducted this research project while at the center for tobacco control research and education at uc san francisco, joined the psychological sciences


one of the big questions — and there are many — that occupy killam scholar and kinesiology researcher walter herzog is why a muscle generates more force after it is stretched than a muscle that has not changed length. at the heart of this question is the understanding of how our muscles work. if herzog and his lab are correct, a new model may be needed. researcher tim leonard is looking for answers. he ’ s been part of herzog ’ s lab for most of his adult life. he started his undergraduate degree at the university of calgary when he was 17. since then, he ’ s enjoyed a successful, productive and well - decorated academic career. leonard is the only individual to win the canadian society of biomechanics award for his master ’ s degree and for his phd. he also won the western area association of grad studies award ( an association of american and canadian universities from the prairies ) and the university of calgary ’ s j. b. hyne research innovation award. these awards recognize innovative research as well as the innovative use of technology. to study the question of stretched muscle force, leonard had to devise a way to measure the contractile force of a single myofibril, the microscopic building blocks of our muscles. but how do you grab, stretch and measure the spring of something that is only a few microns long? the challenge led leonard to upstate new york and cornell university, where he found the facilities necessary to construct his nanotechnology micro levers. “ it ’ s kind of one of these things you ’ d see in a science fiction movie, ” says leonard. “ you ' ve got people working in these super - clean rooms, dressed up in these puffy suits with slippers on their feet, and masks so they don ’ t contaminate the air with their hair or skin cells. ” leonard points out that he didn ’ t invent the process he used to create his silicon - nitride cantilevers. the real genius was adapting the existing technology to fit his needs. “ i really just said, ‘ these should be what i need them to be ’ and for me it was really just a stepping stone to get to the actual science and so maybe that ’ s what the awards were for. ” the cantilevers are incredibly tiny and need to be stored and carried in a sealed case, since the force of wind created just by walking across the room would be enough to snap them instantly. on the microscope slide, the levers become a powerful


the cantilevers are incredibly tiny and need to be stored and carried in a sealed case, since the force of wind created just by walking across the room would be enough to snap them instantly. on the microscope slide, the levers become a powerful tool and helped to suggest that there is another actor at work in the stretched muscle contraction problem — titin, the largest known natural protein. despite its size, and the fact that we have a lot of it in our muscles, bio - mechanists aren ' t exactly sure what titin does. “ people have looked at it as a spring, or like a big slinky, that helps keep the proteins lined up, ” say leonard. “ but over the last few years there ’ s been evidence that titin is not just a passive molecular spring, but that it may actually contribute to active sources. ” leonard thinks that titin could partially contribute to the increase in force in a stretched muscle. “ if titin is actually producing a little bit of what we could call active force, that ’ s quite novel. ” “ quite novel ” is a polite way of saying that leonard ’ s award - winning research — as part of herzog ’ s team — will likely change or at least amend our understanding of how our muscles contract. “ i think we could argue that instead of muscle being a two - filament structure, that maybe there ’ s a third filament, which is titin, and that titin plays a role that ’ s not purely passive. ” understanding the role that titin plays in active force production may one day further our understanding of how diseases like cerebral palsy can be more effectively treated, or how we can more effectively train our athletes to go faster, higher and stronger.


director - general highlights the role of education, culture and science in reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development in her meeting with the president of the world bank on 20 december, the director - general of unesco, irina bokova, met with the president of the world bank, jim yong kim, to discuss unesco ' s cooperation with the world bank. at the meeting, the director - general highlighted unesco ’ s unique expertise in the field of education, recalling that un secretary general, ban ki - moon, appointed her as executive secretary for the steering committee of education first, his new global initiative. his initiative aims to spur a global movement to put quality, relevant and transformative education at the top of the social, political and development agenda. it is designed to accelerate the achievement of the education for all and millennium development goals, and to inform the post - 2015 un development agenda. quoting unesco ’ s 2012 efa global monitoring report, the director - general underlined that 200 million young people still lack basic numeracy and literacy skills. mr kim noted that sustainable economic growth is embedded in the quality of our education systems. he informed the director - general that he would like to engage in discussions with unesco and other stakeholders on learning strategies in higher education and that more innovative approaches were needed in this area. he also highlighted the importance of organizing higher education systems for economic growth. they both agreed on the importance of higher education and the necessity for more investment in this area. the director - general also discussed the important role of culture and development in creating jobs and promoting social inclusion, peace and reconciliation. in 2011, unesco and the world bank signed a memorandum of understanding to develop joint activities in this area. she further emphasized the importance of promoting culture as an enabler for development in the post 2015 un development agenda, noting, for instance, that cultural industries make up 8 % of brazil ’ s gdp. to showcase the real, socio - economic impact of culture, unesco will be organizing a conference in hangzhou in may 2013 on culture and development. the director - general went on to highlight the importance of science for sustainability and underlined the need to strengthen the science - policy interface. the un secretary - general has entrusted unesco with the establishment of a scientific advisory council, in consultation with the wider un system. the objective of this board will be to advise the un secretary general on science - related issues, and enable him to provide advice to un member states in these areas. it was agreed that unesco and the world bank would work together on the education first initiative, on strengthening


ilo 2012 global estimate of forced labour - fact sheet jun 04 2012 download right click " save as " forced labour is the term used by the international community to denote situations in whichthe persons involved – women and men, girls and boys – are made to work against theirfree will, coerced by their recruiter or employer, for example through violence or threats ofviolence, or by more subtle means such as accumulated debt, retention of identity papersor threats of denunciation to immigration authorities. - caring for trafficked persons : guidance for health providers facilitator ’ s guide - caring for trafficked persons / cuidados para la salud y la trata de personas - iom 2011 case data on human trafficking - iom understanding and counteracting trafficking - iom the causes and consequences of evidence from the iom human trafficking database re - trafficking - iom manual human trafficking and legalization of criminal profits. russian. - iom manual on thb crimes typologies. russian. - iom moscow cis executive committee ct seminar 2010 russian - iom international conference. “ improvement of international cooperation in counteracting human trafficking ” russian - iom trafficking of men belarus and ukraine - iom ungift caring for trafficked persons - iom sactap 10 questions about human trafficking


bielefeld university is one of germany ' s strongest research universities within a focussed spectrum of transdisciplinary fields encompassing not only the humanities and social sciences but also the natural and technological sciences. one confirmation of this is given by the excellence initiative with which the german federal and state governments are promoting top - level research in germany. bielefeld university has been hosting a centre of excellence on cognitive interaction technology ( citec ) and a graduate school in history and sociology ( bghs ) since 2007. citec is receiving 6. 5 million euros a year ; bghs more than one million. following the first two phases ( 2006 and 2007 ) of this the most renowned and strongly funded research programme, these two institutions contribute to making bielefeld one of the successful universities. it ranks third place in north rhine - westphalia. citec - cognitive interaction technology technology that understands the vision guiding scientists working at citec is to build technology that understands. future machines should adapt to human beings rather than - as before - human beings having to adapt to machines. and these range from everyday tools to robots. machines have to meet the basic preconditions of interacting naturally with human beings and adapting their abilities flexibly to changing surroundings. these are the basic principles, and pioneering research on cognitive interaction technology is the necessary way to achieve this. one aspect is the search for the fundamental architectural principles of cognitive interaction between human beings and machines. this challenge can only by met through interdisciplinary cooperation between the greatest range of different disciplines. citec brings together scientists working in the faculties of biology, linguistics and literary studies, physics, psychology and sports science, and technology. individuality, creativity and personal initiative - at the bielefeld graduate school in history and sociology these attributes are strongly emphasized. 160 doctoral candidates of history and sociology study and research here together under one roof. they profit from the broad thematic variety bghs has to offer. the staging of media potrayals, social changes, and historical and political processes of change are some of their main research fields. however, uncommon dissertation intentions are also welcome here at bghs. for example, the relationship between the church and dancing or the functions and symbolism of tattoos. the graduate school considers itself as a researching community of doctoral candidates and professors. that is also what the bottom - up principle stands for, which emphasizes personal initiative and codetermination of the doctoral candidates. they organize workshops and conferences of their own and have an influence on the content of teaching. this is how a culture of creativity


basically, the cookie helps a website ' s server recognize a user. the cookie acts as a computerized ticket stub or hand stamp. it ' s assigned to the user by a server on the first visit to a site, and then later recalled by that same server. this allows the server to better identify the user when they visit, aid their progress through a site, and provide customized information to that user. a cookie can acquire only the information a user makes available to a website. a cookie cannot " read " a hard drive, or figure out a name or address. when a user visits a site that asks for a name and address, if that site has configured a cookie to store that information, then that site ' s cookie will retain it. we want you to know why we ' re sending a cookie, and why we hope you ' ll accept it. your browser can be configured to accept all cookies, or to alert you every time a cookie is offered - allowing you to decide whether to accept it or not. if the cookie has an expiration date, the alert message will indicate that, so you can see the lifespan of the cookie ( many cookies are set to expire as soon as you quit the browser ). note : refusing cookies can be cumbersome, as some servers are set to keep offering the cookie as the user moves through new parts of the site, until it is accepted. you can always view the cookies you ' ve accepted, and delete them if you wish. for windows systems : if you are using internet explorer, from the tool bar : for mozilla firefox :


lymphedema is the build - up of fluids in your body. it can cause an arm or leg to swell up and become painful. the disorder is lifelong. what to expect lymphedema may start 6 - 8 weeks after surgery or after radiation treatment for cancer. it can also start very slowly after your cancer treatment is over. you may not notice symptoms until 18 - 24 months after treatment. sometimes it can take years to develop. even a small infection or injury can cause lymphedema to start. ways to help relieve the swelling use your arm with lymphedema for everyday activities, such as combing your hair, bathing, dressing, and eating. but, be careful not to overwork your arm or leg. rest this arm above the level of your heart 2 or 3 times a day while you are lying down. - stay lying down for 45 minutes. - rest your arm on pillows to keep it raised. - open and close your hand 15 - 25 times while you are lying down. take good care of your skin clean the skin of your arm or leg every day. use lotion to keep your skin moist. check your skin every day for any changes. protect your skin from injuries, even small ones : - use only an electric razor for shaving underarms or legs. - wear gardening gloves and cooking gloves. - wear gloves when doing work around the house. - use a thimble when you sew. - be careful in the sun. use sunscreen with an spf of 30 or higher. - use insect repellent. - avoid very hot or cold things, such as ice packs or heating pads. - stay out of hot tubs or saunas. - have blood draws, intravenous therapy ( ivs ), and shots in the other arm or in another part of your body. - do not wear tight clothing or wrap anything tight on your arms or legs that have lymphedema. take care of your feet : - cut your toenails straight across. if needed, see a podiatrist to prevent ingrown nails and infections. - keep your feet covered when you are outdoors. do not walk barefoot. - keep your feet clean and dry. wear cotton socks. do not put too much pressure on your arm or leg. - do not cross your legs while you are sitting. - wear loose jewelry. wear clothes that do not have tight waistbands or cuffs. - where a loose - fitting bra. -


. do not put too much pressure on your arm or leg. - do not cross your legs while you are sitting. - wear loose jewelry. wear clothes that do not have tight waistbands or cuffs. - where a loose - fitting bra. - if you carry a handbag, carry it with the unaffected arm. - do not use elastic support bandages or stockings with tight bands. - do not sit in the same position for more than 30 minutes. taking care of cuts and scratches : - wash the wound gently with soap and water. - apply an antibiotic cream or ointment to the area. - cover the wound with dry gauze or a bandage, but do not wrap tightly. - call your doctor right away if you have an infection. signs of infection are a rash, red blotches, swelling, heat, pain, or fever. taking care of burns : - use a cold pack or cold water on a burn for 15 minutes, then wash gently with soap and water. - put a clean, dry bandage over the burn. - call your doctor right away if you have an infection. living with lymphedema can be very hard. ask your doctor about a special physical therapist who can tell you about : - ways to prevent lymphedema - how diet and exercise affect lymphedema - how to use to massage to decrease lymphedema wear your compression sleeve during the day, but you may remove it at night. always make sure you get the right size. wear a compression sleeve when traveling by air if you fly a lot, or for long flights. if possible, keep your arm above the level of your heart during long flights. when to call the doctor call your health care provider if you have any of these symptoms : - new rashes or skin breaks that do not heal - feelings of tightness in your arm or leg - rings or shoes that become tighter - weakness in your arm or leg. - pain, aching, or heaviness in the arm or leg - swelling that lasts longer than 1 - 2 weeks - redness, swelling, or other signs of infection - fever over 100. 5 °f towers a. lymphedema. in : walsh d, caraceni at, fainsinger r, et al, eds. palliative medicine. 1st ed. philadelphia, pa : saunders elsevier ; 2008 : chap 87. gamble gl. lymphedema : nonoperative treatment. in : cronenwett


acute fatty liver of pregnancy what is acute fatty liver of pregnancy ( aflp )? acute fatty liver of pregnancy is a rare, but serious, condition of pregnancy in which there is an excessive accumulation of fat in the liver or liver cells. fat normally accumulates in the liver in the form of triglycerides and fatty acids, but excessive fat can cause liver damage. aflp is quite rare, however, it is a serious condition that cannot be predicted or prevented. what causes acute fatty liver of pregnancy? the cause of aflp is unknown. it is thought that hormones of pregnancy play a role in this condition, but there does not seem to be an increased risk for future pregnancies. why is acute fatty liver of pregnancy a concern? both mother and fetus are at extremely high risk if aflp is not treated. liver failure, hemorrhage, kidney failure, and severe infection can be life threatening for the mother and fetus. fortunately, early diagnosis and treatment helps to improve outcomes. what are the symptoms of acute fatty liver of pregnancy? aflp usually begins late in the third trimester of pregnancy. the following are the most common symptoms of aflp. however, each woman may experience symptoms differently. symptoms may include : nausea and vomiting abdominal pain, especially in the right upper side malaise ( general discomfort ) jaundice ( yellow coloring of skin, eyes, and mucous membranes ) the symptoms of acute fatty liver of pregnancy may resemble other medical conditions. always consult your doctor for a diagnosis. how is acute fatty liver of pregnancy diagnosed? in addition to a complete medical history and physical examination, diagnosis of aflp is most accurate by liver biopsy ( taking a sample of liver tissue for examination under a microscope ), but this is not always possible in pregnancy. usually, the symptoms of aflp are often clear enough to diagnose the condition. blood tests can rule out other conditions or diseases that have similar symptoms. ultrasound ( a diagnostic imaging technique which uses high - frequency sound waves and a computer to create images of blood vessels, tissues, and organs ) or computed tomography ( ct ) scan ( a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a combination of x - rays and computer technology to produce horizontal, or axial, images, often called slices, of the body ) may also be used for diagnosis. treatment for acute fatty liver of pregnancy once the condition is diagnosed, the baby is delivered as quickly as possible to minimize the risks to mother and baby. the mother may require intensive care for several days after delivery until


- prayer and worship - beliefs and teachings - issues and action - catholic giving - about usccb by jem sullivan, ph. d. what is your family ’ s favorite meal? is it a holiday recipe, a simple weeknight dinner, or a gourmet dessert treat? the second vatican council teaches that “ the treasures of the bible are to be opened more lavishly, so that richer fare may be provided for the faithful at the table of god ’ s word “ ( constitution on the sacred liturgy, 51 ). is the bible a special table around which your family gathers, as if for a favorite meal? as we consider ways to share the old testament in the family we discover that the bible, whether prominently displayed or gathering dust on a shelf, offers rich spiritual nourishment for children, teenagers and adults in your home. it is said that we live in the age of information. the information superhighway moves us through the high speed traffic of news conveyed through television, the internet, blogs, and instant messaging. we may have instant and high speed access to information at our fingertips. but the search for human happiness and daily wisdom remains. what is the place of the bible in this information age? the catechism tells us that, the books of the old testament “ are a storehouse of sublime teaching on god and of sound wisdom on human life, as well as a wonderful treasury of prayers ; in them, too, the mystery of our salvation is present in a hidden way. ” ( ccc 122, quoting dei verbum 15 ) much of the old testament takes the form of stories. the way god teaches resounds with human imagination. through the rich tapestry of biblical narratives we learn about god ’ s love and fidelity in the face of human doubt, apathy and infidelity. in the drama of the biblical stories is reflected our own journeys of faith with our daily joys, struggles, and hopes. old testament stories are especially compelling for young children who, with their natural capacity for awe and wonder, marvel at the unfolding of god ’ s saving action and living presence in the world. biblical stories that reveal weakness and sin are opportunities to discuss, at age appropriate levels, our humanness in light of god ’ s love and mercy. through the biblical range of human experiences we learn god ’ s ways and our response of faith. to bring the old testament to life, assign family members to gather artistic images that depict biblical stories and themes. let the painting, sculpture, stained glass, or


the biblical range of human experiences we learn god ’ s ways and our response of faith. to bring the old testament to life, assign family members to gather artistic images that depict biblical stories and themes. let the painting, sculpture, stained glass, or piece of sacred music serve as a discussion starter for family reflection on god ’ s word expressed in artistic forms. the psalms are a rich storehouse of prayers. in spite of overloaded family schedules taking brief moments to pray together the liturgy of the hours, whether morning or evening prayer, connects your home to the church ’ s rhythm of praise, thanksgiving and intercession. handy catholic resources now available make daily praying of morning and evening prayer simple and sustainable. finally, lectio divina is another practical way to feast on the old testament in your home. this ancient christian practice is being recovered in our time and strongly encouraged during the 2008 bishops synod on the word of god and in pope benedict ’ s exhortation following the synod. through the steps of lectio divina - reading, meditation, prayer and contemplation - the wisdom of the old testament can bear rich fruit in your home and may even become your family ’ s favorite spiritual food. - - - jem sullivan, ph. d., serves as staff to the usccb secretariat of evangelization and catechesis. she is the author of a study guide to the united states adult catholic catechism and the beauty of faith : christian art and the gospel published by our sunday visitor, and writes on a variety of catechetical themes. by accepting this message, you will be leaving the website of the united states conference of catholic bishops. this link is provided solely for the user ' s convenience. by providing this link, the united states conference of catholic bishops assumes no responsibility for, nor does it necessarily endorse, the website, its content, or


with a ribbon - cutting ceremony wednesday near the liberty bell center on independence mall, philadelphia debuts an extraordinary exhibit that should surprise and challenge the many visitors who come to the city to experience the story of our nation ' s founding. at the " president ' s house : freedom and slavery in making a new nation, " visitors will see the partial walls, window frame, fireplace, and other outlines of a colonial house that stood at sixth and market streets. but it ' s the retelling of what happened within those walls that will make for an extraordinary visit. the former robert morris mansion is where the slaveholding george washington and the antislavery john adams lived and conducted their presidencies in the 1790s. washington quartered nine enslaved africans who served his household — a small contingent from among 300 slaves owned by the man revered as the father of his country. so, the story told by the president ' s house exhibit will be unlike any operated by the national park service — a narrative that delves into the bitter irony of slaveholding founding fathers, who crafted a constitution that denied the promise of freedom to blacks. but it ' s also a story of hope. martha washington ' s personal servant, oney judge, escaped to freedom from this same mansion. how fitting, then, that the first federal commemoration of slavery be set in philadelphia, where the nation ' s fundamental freedoms were enshrined. moreover, the president ' s house project offers a dramatic contemporary story line that hints at racial divisions yet to be healed. the exhibit ' s original plans didn ' t include as much of an emphasis on slavery. it became a memorial to washington ' s slaves only at the insistence of groups such as the avenging the ancestors coalition, led by local attorney michael coard, which deserve much of the credit for prompting a redesign of the president ' s house to assure that the slaves ' story is told. playing an equally pivotal role, then - mayor john f. street prompted the first major public exposure of the interplay of slavery and the nation ' s founding with his order for a 2007 archaeological excavation, a dig that was viewed by an estimated 300, 000 people. it ' s inevitable there will be disputes as to whether the exhibit achieves the right balance. but there can be no doubt that the president ' s house opens a unique window on the quest for freedom.


there ' s a new " crisis " brewing. students are in debt up to their eyeballs. if they default en masse, the republic will quake. ( again. ) or something like that. it ' s no secret that the recent recession and the current shortage of jobs has sent many people back to school, with a lot of them taking out loans to pay for it. a recent report by the pew research center found that 19 percent of all u. s. households owe money for student debt, up from 15 percent in 2007. the average owed is $ 26, 682, up from $ 23, 349. that ' s a lot of money, especially for students graduating into a job market where the only jobs are brewing coffee or explaining twitter to your 50 - year - old boss. but the hand - wringing over excessive student debt might be, well, excessive. it ' s worth recalling that student loans are generally considered " good " debt because they buy something that ' s a lot more valuable than a bmw mini or a pair of pumps : education. the pew report goes into considerable detail documenting what we already more or less know : households headed by people under the age of 35 have the heaviest debt load. student debt is a much heavier burden on poor households than on rich ones. and the amount of student debt has risen by more than the rate of inflation over the last few years. but there could be good news in all of that, as well, because more people are getting a college degree and fewer are relying on a high school education alone. between 2008 and 2010 ( the latest data available ), the number of students enrolling in college rose by 5 percent per year, according to data from the education department. during the 10 years prior to that, college enrollment increased by only about 3 percent per year. there ' s been a similar rise in the proportion of master ' s and doctoral students. not all of those new college students will earn a degree, but many of them will, and the nation ' s experience with the g. i. bill proves that a better - educated workforce is a more prosperous one. a college degree doesn ' t automatically assure a middle - class lifestyle these days, but it sure helps. college - educated workers vastly outearn those without a degree, and the unemployment rate for college grads is a mere 4. 1 percent, compared with 8. 1 percent overall. the rising amount of student debt masks another positive trend : overall, debt levels have been falling. the pew report


without a degree, and the unemployment rate for college grads is a mere 4. 1 percent, compared with 8. 1 percent overall. the rising amount of student debt masks another positive trend : overall, debt levels have been falling. the pew report itself notes that the total amount of household debt, on average, has fallen by nearly $ 5, 000 since 2007. other data from the federal reserve shows that while americans have taken out more student loans, they ' ve cut back on auto, credit - card and mortgage debt. some of that is due to defaults, but even after defaults, americans have been paying down debt, on the whole, not racking up more. [ see also : what keeps people out of the middle class? ] most economists think that such " deleveraging " is necessary for american consumers to get financially healthy and start spending again in a way that ' s sustainable. meanwhile, it ' s hard to argue that the shift in debt away from consumption, toward education, is a bad thing. it matters what kind of education college students get, and there, too, there are hopeful signs. many of the best jobs these days require a science or engineering background, in which college students had shown declining interest - - until recently. between 1996 and 2005, the percentage of freshmen starting out with a major in science or engineering dropped from 34. 2 percent to 30. 9 percent. but that has now spiked to 38. 4 percent. thank you, mark zuckerberg. consulting firm mckinsey predicts that by 2020, there will be a shortage of 1. 5 million college grads in the u. s. economy. anybody struggling with student loans today may wonder if they did the right thing by taking on debt to pay for education. but a few years from now, it might seem like a no - brainer. of all the types of debt you could take on, student loans are the most likely to pay for themselves. many times over, in fact. rick newman is the author of rebounders : how winners pivot from setback to success. follow him on twitter : @ rickjnewman. - how to prepare for the fiscal cliff - who ' s better off under president obama? - how mitt romney insulted his own supporters - romney is half right about people who don ' t pay taxes


eng8101 technological impact and its management | semester 1, 2012 external toowoomba | | faculty or section : | | faculty of engineering & surveying | | school or department : | | faculty of engineering & surveying | | version produced : | | 19 may 2013 | examiner : bob fulcher moderator : ron ayers the world of today is one in which there is dynamic change in the creation and development of technology. it is necessary for managers of technology to understand the impact of technological development and the ways in which it can affect the society in which we live and the controls necessary to achieve a positive impact on mankind. this course seeks to review current technological development and to evaluate its impact on the world on we live in. the relationship between modern society and technological development is examined and the role of technological development on wealth creation and business is presented. the overall social need to manage such development is assessed as well as technology creation, transfer and exploitation. the course objectives define the student learning outcomes for a course. on completion of this course, students should be able to : - understand the role of technology in modern society ; - understand the process of innovation and its social context ; - assess the impact of technological development on society and the physical environment ; - assess the relationship between wealth creation and technological development ; - explain the process by which society manages technological development and the role managers of technology play in this process. | 1. | | science, technology and progress | | 10. 00 | | 2. | | technology and society | | 20. 00 | | 3. | | economic development and technology | | 10. 00 | | 4. | | technology and the environment | | 15. 00 | | 5. | | management of technology | | 10. 00 | | 7. | | technology and business | | 20. 00 | text and materials required to be purchased or accessed all textbooks and materials available to be purchased can be sourced from usq ' s online bookshop ( unless otherwise stated ). ( https : / / bookshop. usq. edu. au / bookweb / subject. cgi? year = 2012 & sem = 01 & subject1 = eng8101 ) please contact us for alternative purchase options from usq bookshop. ( https : / / bookshop. usq. edu. au / contact / ) khalil, t 2000, management of technology : the key to competitiveness and wealth creation, mcgraw - hill, boston, ma. students must have internet access.


/ / bookshop. usq. edu. au / contact / ) khalil, t 2000, management of technology : the key to competitiveness and wealth creation, mcgraw - hill, boston, ma. students must have internet access. beder, s 1996, the nature of sustainable development, 2nd edn, scribe publications, newham, victoria. beder, s 1998, the new engineer, macmillan education, australia. dorf, rc 2001, technology, humans and society : towards a sustainable world, academic press, san diego. johnston, s, gostelow, p & jones, e 1999, engineering and society : an australian perspective, 2nd edn, harper educational, pymble. various web sites will be cited in the more dynamic components of this course. student workload requirements | description | | marks out of | | wtg ( % ) | | due date | | notes | | assignment 1 | | 500 | | 50 | | 23 apr 2012 | | 2 hour closed examination | | 500 | | 50 | | end s1 | | ( see note 1 ) | - student administration will advise students of the dates of their examinations during the semester. important assessment information there are no attendance requirements for this course. however, it is the students ' responsibility to study all material provided to them or required to be accessed by them to maximise their chance of meeting the objectives of the course and to be informed of course - related activities and administration. requirements for students to complete each assessment item satisfactorily : to satisfactorily complete an assessment item a student must achieve at least 50 % of the marks or a grade of at least c -. students do not have to satisfactorily complete each assessment item to be awarded a passing grade in this course. refer to statement 4 below for the requirements to receive a passing grade in this course. penalties for late submission of required work : if students submit assignments after the due date without ( prior ) approval of the examiner then a penalty of 5 % of the total marks gained by the student for the assignment may apply for each working day late up to ten working days at which time a mark of zero may be recorded. no assignments will be accepted after model answers have been posted. requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course : to be assured of receiving a passing grade in a course a student must obtain at least 50 % of the total weighted marks for the course. method used to combine assessment results to attain final


requirements for student to be awarded a passing grade in the course : to be assured of receiving a passing grade in a course a student must obtain at least 50 % of the total weighted marks for the course. method used to combine assessment results to attain final grade : the final grades for students will be assigned on the basis of the weighted aggregate of the marks ( or grades ) obtained for each of the summative assessment items in the course. in a closed examination, candidates are allowed to bring only writing and drawing instruments into the examination. examination period when deferred / supplementary examinations will be held : any deferred or supplementary examinations for this course will be held during the examination period at the end of the semester of the next offering of this course. university student policies : students should read the usq policies : definitions, assessment and student academic misconduct to avoid actions which might contravene university policies and practices. these policies can be found at http : / / policy. usq. edu. au / portal / custom / search / category / usq _ document _ policy _ type / student. 1. html. the due date for an assignment is the date by which a student must despatch the assignment to the usq. the onus is on the student to provide proof of the despatch date, if requested by the examiner. students must retain a copy of each item submitted for assessment. this must be despatched to usq within 24 hours if required by the examiner. in accordance with university policy, the examiner may grant an extension of the due date of an assignment in extenuating circumstances. if electronic submission of assessments is specified for the course, students will be notified of this in the course introductory book and on the usq study desk. all required electronic submission must be made through the assignment drop box located on the usq study desk for the course, unless directed otherwise by the examiner of the course. the due date for an electronically submitted assessment is the date by which a student must electronically submit the assignment. the assignment files must be submitted by 11. 55pm on the due date using usq time ( as displayed on the clock on the course home page ; that is, australian eastern standard time ). if the method of assessment submission is by written, typed or printed paper - based media students should ( i ) submit to the faculty office for students enrolled in the course in the on - campus mode, or ( ii ) mail to the usq for students enrolled in the course in the external mode.


typed or printed paper - based media students should ( i ) submit to the faculty office for students enrolled in the course in the on - campus mode, or ( ii ) mail to the usq for students enrolled in the course in the external mode. the due date for the assessment is the date by which a student must ( i ) submit the assessment for students enrolled in the on - campus mode, or ( ii ) mail the assessment for students enrolled in the external mode. the faculty will not normally accept submission of assessments by facsimile or email. students who do not have regular access to postal services for the submission of paper - based assessments, or regular access to internet services for electronic submission, or are otherwise disadvantaged by these regulations may be given special consideration. they should contact the examiner of the course to negotiate such special arrangements prior to the submission date. harvard ( agps ) is the referencing system required in this course. students should use harvard ( agps ) style in their assignments to format details of the information sources they have cited in their work. the harvard ( agps ) style to be used is defined by the usq library ' s referencing guide. http : / / www. usq. edu. au / library / help / referencing / default. htm students will require access to e - mail and internet access to uconnect for this course.


thatis what researcher mary pat moyer, phd, professor of surgery, envisions based on her studies of neural and other stem cells with colleagues at the university of texas medical branch at galveston and the university of texas at austin. cellular spare parts may lead to help for spinal cord injury, brain damage stem cells are the immature, or precursor, form of cells that will go on to differentiate into brain cells, nervous system cells, liver, bone marrow and other types of cells. " stem cells are fascinating, " dr. moyer said. " if you put them into one kind of cellular dsoili they grow into one kind of cell, and if you put them into another soil, they grow into another kind. they can be bred for specific purposes. " dr. moyer and colleagues hope their studies of the cells will one day enable surgeons to " fill in the neural blanks, " for example, of patients who have suffered spinal cord injury or brain damage, or who live with parkinsonis disease or a host of other diseases and disorders. " we want to categorize bunches of cells, test them for safety and preserve them, " dr. moyer said. " it is a similar concept to blood banking. when a certain type of cell is needed, it will be available for use. " current work on the project is funded by incell corp. of san antonio and the center for human cell biotechnology at the health science center. return to index


national organization for rare disorders, inc. it is possible that the main title of the report sly syndrome is not the name you expected. please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name ( s ) and disorder subdivision ( s ) covered by this report. synonyms back to top - beta - glucuronidase deficiency - mps disorder, type vii - mps vii - mucopolysaccharidosis type vii - gusb deficiency disorder subdivisions back to top general discussion back to top mucopolysaccharidoses, which are also known as mucopolysaccharide storage ( mps ) diseases, are a group of rare genetic disorders caused by the deficiency of one of ten specific lysosomal enzymes. the lysosomes are particles bound in membranes within cells that break down certain fats and carbohydrates ( mucopolysaccharides ) into simpler molecules. the accumulation of these large, undegraded mucopolysaccharides in the cells of the body causes a number of physical symptoms and abnormalities. sly syndrome ( mps - vii ) is an mps storage disease caused by a deficiency of the enzyme beta - glucuronidase that leads to an accumulation of dermatan sulfate ( ds ), heparan sulfate ( hs ) and chondroitin sulfate ( cs ) in many tissues and organs of the body including the central nervous system. the clinical features of sly syndrome vary from patient to patient, but all have short stature due to growth retardation, changes in bones visible on x - rays and some degree of mental retardation. survival into adulthood is common with milder cases and osteoarthritis is a common complication. the symptoms of sly syndrome are similar to those of hurler syndrome ( mps i ) and the other mucopolysaccharidoses. symptoms may include mental retardation, short stature with an unusually short trunk, and / or abnormalities of the intestines, corneas of the eyes, and / or the skeletal system. sly syndrome is inherited as an autosomal recessive genetic trait. resources back to top children living with inherited metabolic diseases ( climb ) 176 nantwich road crewe, intl cw2 6bg tel : 0845 241 2174 tel : 800 652 3181 vaincre les maladies lysosomales 2 ter avenue tel : 01 69 75 40 30 fax : 01 60 11 15 83 1660 l street, nw,


6bg tel : 0845 241 2174 tel : 800 652 3181 vaincre les maladies lysosomales 2 ter avenue tel : 01 69 75 40 30 fax : 01 60 11 15 83 1660 l street, nw, suite 301 washington, dc 20036 national mps society, inc. po box 14686 durham, nc 27709 nih / national institute of diabetes, digestive & kidney diseases office of communications & public liaison bldg 31, rm 9a06 31 center drive, msc 2560 bethesda, md 20892 - 2560 society for mucopolysaccharide diseases white lion road buckinghamshire, hp7 9lp. tel : 004401494 434156 fax : 004401494 434252 canadian society for mucopolysaccharide and related diseases, inc. po box 30034 british columbia, intl v7h 2y8 tel : ( 604 ) 924 - 5130 fax : ( 604 ) 924 - 5131 genetic and rare diseases ( gard ) information center po box 8126 gaithersburg, md 20898 - 8126 hide & seek foundation for lysosomal disease research 6475 east pacific coast highway suite 466 long beach, ca 90803 for a complete report back to top this is an abstract of a report from the national organization for rare disorders ( nord ). a copy of the complete report can be downloaded free from the nord website for registered users. the complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational therapies ( if available ), and references from medical literature. for a full - text version of this topic, go to www. rarediseases. org and click on rare disease database under " rare disease information ". the information provided in this report is not intended for diagnostic purposes. it is provided for informational purposes only. nord recommends that affected individuals seek the advice or counsel of their own personal physicians. it is possible that the title of this topic is not the name you selected. please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name ( s ) and disorder subdivision ( s ) covered by this report this disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. since nord ' s resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the rare disease database completely current and accurate. please check with the agencies listed in the resources section for


mange - sarcoptic in dogs what causes sarcoptic mange? sarcoptic mange is caused by a parasitic mite that burrows just beneath the surface of the skin, sarcoptes scabiei. "... is a zoonotic disease or a disease transmissible from pets to people. " the mite feeds on material in and on the skin. it is also known as scabies and is a zoonotic disease or a disease transmissible from pets to people. what does it do to the dog? the presence of the sarcoptic mite causes intense itching. the dog will chew and scratch its skin constantly. this leads to the loss of large amounts of hair, especially on the legs and belly. eventually, the skin will become thickened and will darken. is it contagious? sarcoptic mange is highly contagious to other dogs and humans. the dog ' s bedding should be discarded or regularly washed in hot water diluted with bleach ( one ounce per gallon ). although sarcoptic mites are not able to complete their life cycle on humans, they will cause severe itching until they die in two to five days. how is sarcoptic mange diagnosed? diagnosis is made by a skin scraping examined under the microscope. it is common not to see sarcoptic mange mites when performing a skin scraping. this is due to the fact that the mites burrow deep into the skin and that it takes only a few mites to cause significant itching. a presumptive diagnosis may therefore be made, based on clinical signs. sarcoptic mange may occur in any dog at any time. how is it treated? there are several medications that are effective against sarcoptes. your veterinarian will discuss the best treatment for your pet ' s condition. treatment varies from medicated baths and dips to injections to oral medications. many pets will require a combination of treatments to resolve this infection. once treatment has started, if your dog is still scratching in four to five days, please contact your veterinarian. to prevent re - infection, discard any bedding or wash it frequently in diluted bleach solution ( one ounce bleach in one gallon of water ). " in people, the mite cannot complete its life cycle so it will die in a few days. " if any member of the family develops itching or a skin rash, contact your family doctor immediately


- published on friday, 22 june 2012 08 : 18 maputo, 18 june 2012 ( via campesina africa news ) – food production and people ' s sovereignty in africa could be seriously compromised by carbon capture projects and the so - called reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation plus ( redd + ) mechanism. they can exacerbate food insecurity on the continent and could result in the loss of control over land and forest resources for african farmers. farmers " taking care " of the forest in nhambita this scenario could become a reality in the near future in mozambique, as the country has offered its land to serve as a “ model ” for carbon capture projects and redd +. as evening falls, albertina francisco *, a farmer from the nhambita community in sofala province, mozambique, returns home. she is tired after another day of work at her machamba ( a term used in mozambique to refer to a patch of farmland ). in addition to looking after the maize, mapira ( a type of sorghum ) and cassava which she grows, another task has been added to albertina ’ s workload : looking after the trees she planted a few years ago to ensure she is not penalized by envirotrade at the end of the year, the company with which she has a carbon supply contract. albertina is required to ensure the survival and good growth of the plants and to ensure that at least 85 % of the plants received survive. “ in addition to the maize and mapira i also have to look after the trees now, to make sure they don ’ t die. i planted a lot of trees and it ’ s not easy checking on them all ”, said albertina, who visits her land twice a day. just like albertina, another 1400 farmers in nhambita and other villages in the pungue administrative region in sofala have been contracted to plant and care for trees on their land. “ when they came they said that the project is good because by planting trees we ’ d receive money to fight poverty and we ’ d be in charge ( of the trees ) even after the conclusion of the project ”, one nhambita farmer tells us. the project is called the “ nhambita community carbon project ” 1. the aim of the company that runs it, envirotrade, is to capture carbon through agro - forestry, and sell carbon credits on the voluntary markets, which at this stage comprise europe and the united


envirotrade clarifies. it should be noted that the contracts regulating these activities do not include a section on farmers ’ rights. nhambita is a community in gorongosa district, in the administrative region of pungue at the centre of mozambique. it is extremely biologically diverse and boasts a wealth of vegetation and forests to be envied. the european commission contributed about 1. 5 million euros of financing to envirotrade between the start of the project in 2003 and 2008, for research and testing in nhambita. however the european commission cut its funding, one of the reasons being irregularities observed in the proposed method for measuring carbon. what ’ s in it for the farmers … according to envirotrade their projects aim to alleviate poverty ( in communities ), and contribute to sustainable development and biodiversity conservation. “ it is a new way of doing business ”, the company, which believes it is offering a new way of life for individuals and communities, states on its website ( 2 ) the services set out in a farmer ’ s contract which we gained access to were to be provided through planting trees in an area totalling 0. 22 hectares ( 22 by 22 metres ) in the farmer ’ s yard ; and the farmer will receive a total of 3, 215 meticais ( 128 usd ) over the seven years of the contract period. in order to earn enough money to actually alleviate poverty, this farmer would need access to a much greater land area, diversified systems, and would have to plant many more trees – which proves virtually impossible. the most highly paid system run by envirotrade is termed “ forest plantation ” and can earn the producer about 17. 500 meticais ( 670 usd ) over seven years. these amounts refer to one hectare, which means the amount may be lower or higher depending on the area of land in question. nhambita ’ s farmers have an average of one hectare of land per family. antonio serra, national director for envirotrade in mozambique, explains : “ a farmer who has one hectare can sign a seven year contract one year using the bordadura system ( border strips ), the following year sign a seven year contract for consociacao ( mixed crops ) covering the same area, and the third year sign a seven year contract under the quintal ( yard ) system. in this way the producer is involved in the project over a long period of time. ” however, do not let anyone be under any illusion that they will become rich


the third year sign a seven year contract under the quintal ( yard ) system. in this way the producer is involved in the project over a long period of time. ” however, do not let anyone be under any illusion that they will become rich through redd + and planting trees : “ carbon trading is not there to make anyone rich ( farmers ). the market itself shows that there are many costs involved. this is not going to make communities wealthy. individuals need to have other sources of income ”, envirotrade ’ s carbon manager said in an interview. envirotrade stopped issuing new contracts three years ago, because of financial difficulties. food sovereignty in danger it is important to stress that commitment to this type of service could aggravate food insecurity for the community or for families, if the timescales and size of land areas needed to plant enough trees to ensure higher earnings are taken into account. this will lead to farmers “ growing carbon ” instead of growing food crops. on the other hand “ the current focus on the economic value of the forest [ as promoted by envirotrade ] should not make the biological, spiritual and cultural values less important, as they [ the communities ] have been providing effective conservation for generations ”, a study ( 3 ) by jovanka spiric, who has researched the socioeconomic impact of the redd programme in nhambita, states. a considerable number of farmers have abandoned farming and dedicate all their time to maintaining firebreaks and patrolling forests in the redd + area. gabriel langa *, a father of four with two wives, is the head of the group which manages firebreaks and patrols bloc 2, one of the “ protected ” redd + areas in the bue maria area of pungue. before, he used to farm to feed his family. “ now our main activity is firebreaks. i don ’ t have time to go to the machamba ”, langa says. langa will earn 8845 meticais ( 340 usd ) during the firebreak phase for the “ conservation ” area, which he will divide between the group of four that he manages. forests were never at risk of disappearing … according to envirotrade, the buffer zone of the gorongosa national park ( 4 ), where nhambita community is situated, was at risk of disappearing due to intensive logging ( for coal ) and unchecked land clearing by fire. community leaders together with the committee for natural resources


the gorongosa national park ( 4 ), where nhambita community is situated, was at risk of disappearing due to intensive logging ( for coal ) and unchecked land clearing by fire. community leaders together with the committee for natural resources management for pungue, operating out of nhambita in gorongosa and set up before the arrival of envirotrade on the scene, dismiss this hypothesis and claim that the committee has always known how to care for and preserve the forests and land in the area. “ the community had no problem with this and always knew how to manage resources. with the creation of the management committee in 2011 this capacity was strengthened because we were trained to do it ”, said francisco samajo, president of the committee. “ this is probably what brought envirotrade here ”, he added. reacting to this, aristides muhate, carbon manager for envirotrade says : “ sometimes people want first and foremost to assert their merit. everyone knows that this area would be a hotbed of illegal logging today. he ( the head of the resource management committee ) wouldn ’ t even have the resources ( money ) to carry out the patrolling that he does ”. envirotrade finances the natural resources management committee, which in turn pays inspectors to patrol the forests and “ protect them ” from members of the same community. although the farmers admit to having benefited in some ways from the envirotrade project ( in terms of fruit trees, some annual income, health centres, transport in case of illness ) consensus does not seem to prevail regarding the assertion that the communities were very poor and that their forests and lands were poorly managed. another nhambita farmer, raimundo eduardo, stated that he had never considered himself to be poor, as in his own words “ i have a machamba and i always worked ”. giving up tree planting : not everyone is finding the activity fun juvenal francisco, 31, a farmer from nhambita, gave up tree planting in 2010 as he felt the services did not bring him income. “ it seemed as if i was only working for them and i wasn ’ t seeing any benefits for me ”, franciso tells us. he took the initiative of contacting envirotrade himself to make clear his desire to give up the activities. what motivated francisco to terminate the contract was the fact that as of year four he had not been paid the annual amount set out in his contract, allegedly because he


contacting envirotrade himself to make clear his desire to give up the activities. what motivated francisco to terminate the contract was the fact that as of year four he had not been paid the annual amount set out in his contract, allegedly because he had been unable to care for the plants in the way required by envirotrade. juvenal francisco is of the opinion that envirotrade failed to comply with one of the conditions it committed itself to, namely that of paying him for a seven - year period. “ as of year four they stopped paying me and they never explained why ”, he said. juvenal says he planted over 900 timber - and fruit - yielding plants starting in 2007. now, he dedicates his time to growing maize, sweet potato, mapira and cassava. this has been a great source of conflict between envirotrade and many farmers. a high number of “ contracted ” farmers find their earnings reduced for not achieving the 85 % survival rates set out in the contract. our reporting team also learnt that over the past three years, there have been delays to payments for environmental services, due to financial difficulties. “ a familly that abandoned the tree plantation activity in nhambita ” farmers don ’ t know what they are involved with the nhambita communities are not familiar with the redd + concept ; and despite the fact that some farmers know that they are planting trees and preserving forests “ to sell carbon ”, they show a lack of deeper understanding of the concept and its mechanisms. envirotrade ' s national carbon manager, forest engineer aristides muhate, justifies this fact. “ information exists on different levels. there ’ s no reason why we should waste time explaining complicated concepts to the farmers, ” he says, pointing to the low levels of schooling among most of the population of nhambita and the surrounding areas. this could be considered in breach of the right to advance information and free consent before operations started on their lands. “ we know that our income from planting trees comes from carbon. i don ’ t know anything more about it ”, elias manesa from the mutabamba community confessed, showing that he didn ’ t understand what carbon is. the lack of comprehensive information surrounding envirotrade ’ s carbon business involving community resources calls into question the transparency of the process. the poor or complete lack of understanding among farmers of the concepts linked to redd + and the carbon markets means that they are managing their resources and


surrounding envirotrade ’ s carbon business involving community resources calls into question the transparency of the process. the poor or complete lack of understanding among farmers of the concepts linked to redd + and the carbon markets means that they are managing their resources and getting involved in the business without awareness of its full implications : allowing northern polluters to continue to release carbon into the atmosphere. this poses risks to these very farmers ’ well - being if we take into account the fact that these emissions will have a negative impact on mozambique, for instance through droughts and flooding. another woman, who does not have a personal contract with envirotrade but who has planted and cares for trees because her partner decided for both of them to get involved, was also unaware of the ultimate objectives of this activity. “ all i know is that my husband receives money ( annually ) because of the trees we ’ ve planted. i don ’ t know any more details ”, she said. in fact, over half of the farmers who have signed contracts with envirotrade are male. few women own land in mozambique, even though they constitute the group which devotes the greatest effort to food production and other land - linked labour. emerging social conflict signs of social conflict linked to payments for environmental services ( pes ) between nhambita community members are beginning to show. this situation could become more serious in the future. farmers who do not benefit from pes are displaying resentment for not receiving any money from envirotrade. in other redd projects in countries like indonesia, payments for environmental services are creating inequalities due to income disparities, and this tends to create divisions in the community and jeopardize organisational, social and cultural cohesion. as an example, the french newspaper le monde diplomatique ( 5 ) recently published a story on the case of farmers being displaced because of implementing the redd programme in mexico. jossias jairosse * arrived in nhambita recently and works in the community carpentry workshop in his village. envirotrade had stopped issuing contracts when he settled in the community. he feels resentful and inferior to his neighbours, as they have annual income levels which he has no hope of reaching. mozambican land in demand with others for redd + projects a company backed by british capital is eyeing up about 15 million hectares ( 19 % of mozambican territory ) for redd + ( 6 ) activities. cases of land grabbing linked to reducing emissions from def