keyword results for ' supernova ' washington, may 9 ( ani ) : researchers of the cluster of excellence origin and structure of the universe at the technische universitaet muenchen ( tum ), found a radioactive iron isotope in fossil remnants of iron - loving bacteria, which they trace back to a supernova in our cosmic neighborhood. washington, april 29 ( ani ) : a new research has suggested that two surprising grains of sand found in a pair of meteorites that landed on earth could have been formed in a single supernova that occurred billions of years ago. grains of sand from supernova found in meteorites apr 20, 12 : 59 pm washington, apr 20 ( ani ) : scientists have been studying stars by looking at specks of dust carried to earth in meteorites. suzaku ' post - mortem ' gives insight into kepler ' s supernova apr 9, 11 : 02 am washington, april 9 ( ani ) : an analysis of x - ray observations from the japan - led suzaku satellite has concluded that an exploding star observed in 1604 by the german astronomer johannes kepler held a greater fraction of heavy elements than the sun. yellow supergiant star ' s supernova explosion detected apr 7, 10 : 17 am washington, apr 7 ( ani ) : two groups of astronomers independently detected a yellow supergiant ( ysg ) star at a location closely matching that of the supernova sn 2011dh in the m51 galaxy through images obtained with the hubble space telescope ( hst ) before the explosion. hubble finds most distant supernova yet apr 5, 9 : 42 am washington, april 5 ( ani ) : using data gathered by nasa ' s hubble space telescope, a team of astronomers at the johns hopkins university has found the farthest supernova so far of the type used to measure cosmic distances. highest resolution images of supernova 1987a reveal its secrets apr 3, 10 : 04 am washington, april 3 ( ani ) : astronomers have succeeded in observing the death throes of a giant star in unprecedented detail. new kind of ' mini ' supernova where white dwarf survives discovered mar 27, 10 : 53 am washington, march 27 ( ani ) : supernovae were always thought to occur in two main " flavors " - a core - collapse supernova that is the explosion of a star about 10 to 100 times as massive as our sun and a type ia supernova, which is the complete disruption of a tiny white dwarf


thought to occur in two main " flavors " - a core - collapse supernova that is the explosion of a star about 10 to 100 times as massive as our sun and a type ia supernova, which is the complete disruption of a tiny white dwarf. nasa ' s chandra reveals origin of kepler ' s supernova mar 19, 2 : 00 pm washington, march 19 ( ani ) : data from nasa ' s chandra x - ray observatory point to the origin of a famous supernova, discovered in 1604 by johannes kepler. washington, mar 16 ( ani ) : nasa ' s swift satellite has uncovered the previously unknown remains of a shattered star while performing an extensive x - ray survey of our galaxy ' s central regions. rare ` young - looking ` supernova found in old galaxy mar 8, 9 : 52 am washington, march 8 ( ani ) : using the pan - starrs telescope on haleakala, astronomers have found a young - looking supernova on the outskirts of a bright elliptical galaxy. exploding stars offer clues to dark energy feb 28, 3 : 38 pm washington, february 28 ( ani ) : observation of two bright exploding stars is improving the astronomical " tape measure " used to calculate the acceleration of the expansion of the universe, say scientists. cassini spacecraft sheds light on how cosmic rays are accelerated feb 19, 10 : 07 am washington, february 19 ( ani ) : the international cassini spacecraft has detected particles being accelerated to ultra - high energies, similar to the acceleration that takes place around supernova explosions. supernova remnants really do produce cosmic rays feb 15, 10 : 51 am washington, february 15 ( ani ) : analysis of data from nasa ' s fermi gamma - ray space telescope has provided the first clear - cut evidence the expanding debris of exploded stars produces some of the fastest - moving matter in the universe. rare explosion may have created our galaxy ' s youngest black hole feb 14, 10 : 06 am washington, february 14 ( ani ) : a highly distorted supernova remnant may contain the most recent black hole formed in the milky way galaxy, new data from nasa ' s chandra x - ray observatory have suggested. massive star explodes few days before supernova explosion feb 8, 3 : 38 pm london, february 8 ( ani ) : scientists have observed an outburst taking place a short time - just one month - before a massive star underwent a supernova explosion. washington, february 6 ( ani ) : scientists have made a major step forward in understanding the structure and behavior of some of


scientists have observed an outburst taking place a short time - just one month - before a massive star underwent a supernova explosion. washington, february 6 ( ani ) : scientists have made a major step forward in understanding the structure and behavior of some of the most elusive atomic nuclei in existence, some of which occur only briefly on the surface of exploding stars, thanks to the first set of experiments from the new advanced gamma tracking array ( agata ). secret life of binary stars revealed jan 25, 11 : 59 am washington, january 25 ( ani ) : in a new study, researchers have revealed the workings of a celestial event involving binary stars that results in an explosion so powerful it ranks close to supernovae in luminosity. washington, january 23 ( ani ) : new image from esa ' s herschel space observatory has revealed multiple arcs around betelgeuse, the nearest red supergiant star to earth, and scientists analysing the image have suggested that the star and its arc - shaped shields could collide with an intriguing dusty ' wall ' in 5000 years. washington, january 21 ( ani ) : a new view of a 20, 000 - year old supernova remnant using the national science foundation ' s ( nsf ) karl g. jansky very large array ( vla ) has provided more clues to the history of this giant cloud that resembles a beloved endangered species, the florida manatee. supernova detected in 2009 finally explodes jan 10, 11 : 53 am washington, jan 10 ( ani ) : astronomers have revealed that a massive star, which they have watched repeatedly mimicking a supernova since 2009, has finally exploded for real. exploding star not behind solar system ' s birth dec 18, 2 : 06 pm washington, december 18 ( ani ) : a new study has challenged the notion that the force of an exploding star forced the formation of the solar system. washington, december 8 ( ani ) : a team of astronomers has uncovered new evidence suggesting that x - ray detectors in space could be the first to witness new supernovae that signal the death of massive stars. washington, november 20 ( ani ) : using a unique new instrument on the world ' s largest optical telescope, astronomers have pinned down the likely origins of especially bright supernovae that they use as easy - to - spot " mile markers " to measure the expansion and acceleration of the universe. life and death in star - forming cloud captured in new image nov 15, 4 : 39 pm washington, november 15 ( an


a response to the 21st century science coalition standards of science education [ editor ’ s note : the following article was written by two a. p. auxiliary staff scientists. dr. brooks holds a ph. d. in cell biology from the university of alabama at birmingham. dr. deweese holds a ph. d. in biochemistry from vanderbilt university. ] lines have been drawn and sides have been taken in texas as scientists and educators battle with one another over whether the weaknesses in evolutionary theory should be taught in the public school system. since 1998, the texas essential knowledge and skills ( teks ) curriculum for the sciences has remained unchanged. now, 11 years later, revisions and updates are being made regarding many points within this curriculum, including how evolutionary biology should be taught in the public school system. the 1998 teks for high school reads : the student knows the theory of biological evolution. the student is expected to : ( a ) identify evidence of change in species using fossils, dna sequences, anatomical similarities, physiological similarities, and embryology ; and ( b ) illustrate the results of natural selection in speciation, diversity, phylogeny, adaptation, behavior, and extinction ( “ comparison of current..., ” 2009 ). a few points can quickly be drawn from this excerpt. first, the opening sentence states that students are expected to know the theory of evolution. it does not state or even directly imply that evolution is the single true explanation for the origin of life. second, nowhere in the statement or the remainder of the 1998 teks are students indoctrinated with the idea that evolution is scientific law ; although, students are still expected to recognize that similarities among different species are evidence of change rather than a common creator. for 11 years, the above standard for biological education has guided middle and high school teachers in their pursuit to educate young minds. but now, evolutionists have made dramatic pushes to change what was once taught as an alleged explanation for life into nothing short of fact. in support of the proposed changes to teks, the 21st century science coalition has formulated five principles that they believe must be adopted into the texas science curriculum. the coalition ’ s web site reads : “ we will not allow politics and ideology to handicap the future of our children with a 19th - century education in their 21st - century classroom ” ( “ welcome, ” 2009 ). the five principles are : scientifically sound curriculum standards must : acknowledge that instruction on evolution is vital to understanding all the biological sciences ; make clear that evolution is an easily observable


their 21st - century classroom ” ( “ welcome, ” 2009 ). the five principles are : scientifically sound curriculum standards must : acknowledge that instruction on evolution is vital to understanding all the biological sciences ; make clear that evolution is an easily observable phenomenon that has been documented beyond any reasonable doubt ; be based on the latest, peer - reviewed scholarship ; encourage valid critical thinking and scientific reasoning by leaving out all references to ‘ strengths and weaknesses, ’ which politicians have used to introduce supernatural explanations into science courses ; and recognize that all students are best served when matters of faith are left to families and houses of worship ( “ scientist statement, ” 2009, emp. added ). as of the writing of this article, over 600 men and women who currently hold faculty positions at texas colleges and universities have signed a petition in favor of implementing these standards into texas public school curricula. the signers include faculty members from several universities affiliated in some way with christianity, including baylor, texas christian, and abilene christian, among others. by signing the petition, these men and women are indicating a personal conviction that evolution is essentially scientific law and believe it should be taught as fact to middle and high school students. further, they intend to remove from the classroom any and all references to the weaknesses of the evolutionary hypothesis. in effect, this petition and its signers are attempting to force onto unsuspecting youths an unproven idea as pure, clear fact. the principles endorsed by the coalition manifest several flaws. first, the coalition claimed that “ evolution is vital to understanding all the biological sciences ” ( “ scientist statement ” ). this echoes the modern push for evolutionary thought to permeate all areas of science. by interpreting all things in terms of an evolutionary history, the influence of evolution becomes widespread — particularly in the biological sciences. however, there is nothing about biological science that requires macroevolutionary explanations ( see discussion of macroevolution below ). in fact, science can be taught without invoking macroevolution — despite what we are bullied into thinking. the biochemical, structural, developmental, and functional similarities between organisms can be explained in terms of a common designer without the need for common descent. both authors acknowledge that their own research in biochemistry and molecular biology is conducted without consideration of macroevolution with absolutely no detriment to its quality or its conclusions. so, biology can be understood — even researched — without requiring a context of darwinian macroevolution. in fact, postulating common design


conducted without consideration of macroevolution with absolutely no detriment to its quality or its conclusions. so, biology can be understood — even researched — without requiring a context of darwinian macroevolution. in fact, postulating common design by a designer is a more effective working model than assuming biological structures are the result of accidental, random processes. second, the coalition wants to “ make clear that evolution is an easily observable phenomenon that has been documented beyond any reasonable doubt ” ( “ scientist statement ” ). this is a very misleading statement. by using the common term “ evolution, ” the authors avoid clearly defining what the “ easily observable phenomena ” are and claim the evidence is “ beyond any reasonable doubt. ” ( of course, the implication is that if you doubt it — you obviously are not reasonable ). this is a frequent tactic of those who would like us to assume that “ all ” evolution is the same. interestingly, the coalition did not acknowledge the difference between microevolution ( changes at or below species level using existing genetic information ) and macroevolution ( large - scale changes requiring new genetic information, taking place over long periods of time ) in their statement. some claim that creationists invented these terms, but they are commonly used in the scientific literature and textbooks ( e. g., erwin, 2000 ; starr, 2006 ). while microevolution is an “ easily observable phenomenon ” and well documented, macroevolution is not. the term “ evolution ” is routinely used to refer to the combination of the two processes, and this quickly leads to misunderstanding, because while microevolution is clearly documented, the same cannot be said for macroevolution. it has been assumed by some evolutionists that the mechanisms responsible for microevolution could account for macroevolution given enough time ( e. g., erwin, 2000 ). however, there is much disagreement on this point. the development of new organisms requires more than changes in existing genetic information — it requires the generation of new information altogether in order to form new organs and body structures. there is no known mechanism for the spontaneous generation of new information. [ note : there are mutagenic processes which result in random insertions, deletions, duplications, and rearrangements. but these undirected events are typically deleterious and always insufficient for generating the information needed for macroevolution. ] the situation is far more complex than the coalition ’ s second


believe in the creator do — we teach science in our science classrooms. the fact is that the universe and even life must have had a cause and cannot be explained by “ natural ” means. what effect would these proposed standards have on education? young minds are very pliable. when scientists holding ph. d. s in biology claim certain theories as fact, young minds are very likely to believe that those theories are, indeed, fact. and, why shouldn ’ t they? when the most educated, best - trained men and women speak, many teenagers cannot but listen and assume truth is being conveyed. the problem with making unsubstantiated statements ( such as “ evolution... has been documented beyond any reasonable doubt ” ) is that such statements inherently exclude alternate explanations for the origin of life. the coalition conveniently ignores the fact that hundreds of credentialed scientists are skeptical of evolution. proponents of evolutionary theory have bullied their explanation for life ’ s origin into education to the exclusion of all other explanations. they use propaganda techniques to indoctrinate young minds early in order to perpetuate this ill - conceived idea. science education has always been a two - faceted approach. on one side, students are taught facts, equations, and principles that research has shown to be true. for example, physics equations regarding force and acceleration ( e. g., f = ma ), proven biological facts such as that dna is the genetic material, and universal principles such as that energy can be neither destroyed nor created. the other, equally important aspect of science education is instruction in the scientific method and critical analysis of information. this second facet of education has traditionally been applied in the laboratory, where students conduct experiments and evaluate their results. both the learning of information and the development of critical thinking skills are fundamental to education at levels of both secondary and higher education. one vital component to the critical evaluation of data is the analysis of both its strengths and weaknesses. if weaknesses in data were ignored, untold numbers of incorrect scientific ideas would have been propagated over the years. the coalition is in favor of removing discussion of strengths and weaknesses of evolutionary biology from the classroom. this very idea is in stark contrast to the scientific method and the principle of critical evaluation. if this standard is put into effect, it would undermine an educator ’ s ability to teach these aspects of science to the students. in order to properly train students, they must be allowed to use their minds, to weigh the positive and negative data, to analyze, and


put into effect, it would undermine an educator ’ s ability to teach these aspects of science to the students. in order to properly train students, they must be allowed to use their minds, to weigh the positive and negative data, to analyze, and to think for themselves. the 21st century science coalition is not the only voice in this fight. texans for better science education is offering an alternative to the changes recommended by the coalition ( texans for better..., 2009 ). furthermore, hundreds of scientists from universities around the world have signed discovery institute ’ s “ dissent from darwinism ” which states, “ we are skeptical of claims for the ability of random mutation and natural selection to account for the complexity of life. careful examination of the evidence for darwinian theory should be encouraged ” ( “ a scientific dissent..., ” 2009 ). contrary to the opinion of the coalition, there are many scientists who recognize the failure of darwinism to explain the “ origin of species ” ( and the origin of life! ). on march 27, 2009, the texas state board of education approved a final draft of changes to the teks, which will be implemented with the 2010 - 2011 academic year. who won the battle is still a matter of debate. the new teks, which can be accessed through the texas education agency ’ s web site, reads : in all fields of science, analyze, evaluate, and critique scientific explanations by using empirical evidence, logical reasoning, and experimental and observational testing, including examining all sides of scientific evidence of those scientific explanations, so as to encourage critical thinking by the student ( “ texas essential..., ” 2009 ). noticeably, the terms “ strengths and weaknesses ” do not appear in the new curriculum standards. however, the phrase “ examining all sides of scientific evidence ” was included. it appears that texas education officials have attempted to keep both sides happy by straddling the fence on this issue. in another excerpt regarding the changes in earth ’ s atmosphere, the phrase “ that could have occurred ” was added to produce the following final statement : analyze the changes of earth ’ s atmosphere that could have occurred through time from the original hydrogen - helium atmosphere, the carbon dioxide - water vapor - methane atmosphere, and the current nitrogen - oxygen atmosphere ( “ texas essential..., ” 2009, emp. added ). we may never know the true motivations for these changes — political, scientific, or other — but whatever the reasons, educators are left with this manuscript, the 2009 teks,


essential..., ” 2009, emp. added ). we may never know the true motivations for these changes — political, scientific, or other — but whatever the reasons, educators are left with this manuscript, the 2009 teks, to guide their curricula in the sciences. “ comparison of current 1998 science teks with proposed 2009 recommendations to science teks — grades 9 - 12 ” ( 2009 ), teks, [ on - line ], url : http : / / ritter. tea. state. tx. us / teks / science / sciteks _ 9 _ 12 _ comparepdf. pdf. erwin, douglas ( 2000 ), “ macroevolution is more than repeated rounds of microevolution, ” evolution and development, 2 : 78 - 84. “ a scientific dissent from darwinism ” ( 2009 ), discovery institute, [ on - line ], url : http : / / www. dissentfromdarwin. org / index. php. “ scientist statement ” ( 2009 ), the 21st century science coalition, [ on - line ], url : http : / / www. texasscientists. org / sign. html. starr, c. ( 2006 ), basic concepts in biology ( belmont, ca : brooks / cole - thomson learning publishing ), sixth edition. texans for better science education ( 2009 ), [ on - line ], url : http : / / www. strengthsandweaknesses. org /. “ texas essential knowledge and skills for science subchapter c. high school ” ( 2009 ), teks, [ on - line ], url : http : / / ritter. tea. state. tx. us / teks / science / ch112c _ as _ approved032709. pdf. “ welcome ” ( 2009 ), the 21st century science coalition, [ on - line ], url : http : / / www. texasscientists. org / index. html.


an entrance and a barrier ; welcoming but protective. these are some of the dualities that exist in considering a very specific type of project — land port of entries ( lpoe ), commonly known as border - crossing stations. the security issues in this post - 9 / 11 world pose new challenges. how does the united states construct an infrastructure of arrival points, where “ huddled masses yearning to breathe free ” are still invited to enter, but that also serve as a line of protection? lpoe facilities are organized into a complex set of spatial geometries that are coordinated with a highly choreographed set of procedures. these procedures are in place, first and foremost, to protect customs and border agents who often have to make split - second decisions in determining if there is a potential threat. light plays a particularly key role here, not just in the experience of these places, but in facilitating an agent ' s ability to do his or her job. the demands placed on the lighting are somewhat contradictory : deliver a great amount of light and minimize brightness and glare — all while meeting significant security criteria, energy - code requirements, and sustainable building practices as mandated by the u. s. general services administration ( gsa ). but it is not an impossible task. the gsa ' s design excellence program, which oversees the construction of lpoes, recognizes the need for design to be integral to a project ' s development and enables even high - security environments to receive thoughtful architecture and lighting. in the process, particularly with some of the most recent lpoes, lighting criteria have been revisited and new guidelines have been created that meet the priority of security, but do so in a way that creates a better overall environment, one that is securely illuminated. the land port of entry at massena, n. y., is situated along the u. s. - canada border amid complex site conditions that include the st. lawrence river, cornwall island ( home to the akwesasne reservation ), and a series of wetlands. site, movement, and light, along with security requirements, contributed to smith - miller + hawkinson architects ' ( smh ) winning design scheme, the result of an invitation - only gsa design competition in 2000. after 9 / 11, the project was put on hold and did not start up again until 2005. in the interim, with new security concerns on the table, the project requirements were reevaluated. the main building, which houses offices and anchors the passenger - inspection areas, is the first structure visible on the approach from canada


again until 2005. in the interim, with new security concerns on the table, the project requirements were reevaluated. the main building, which houses offices and anchors the passenger - inspection areas, is the first structure visible on the approach from canada. because this facade is north - facing and always in shadow, smh wanted to integrate architectural details and light so that the building would emerge as a welcoming beacon on the horizon. originally, supergraphic letters in a reflective - yellow highway paint spelled out the words “ united states. ” the signage, seen in the photo at the right, has since been removed, due in part to some security concerns, and smh is now working on another solution. but smh ' s original yellow wayfinding system is carried on throughout the site in other signage elements. to meet energy - code requirements yet still provide the 100 - plus footcandle light level required for security purposes, smh relied on architectural forms and natural light for an indirect lighting solution at the passenger vehicle - inspection areas ' canopies. extremely thin and devoid of any equipment so as not to interrupt the white planar surfaces, the underside of the canopy serves as a light reflector. during non - daylight hours, 250w metal halide uplights, recessed on top of the inspection booths, are aimed at the canopy underside and supplement the even wash of light across the inspection bays, preventing harsh shadowing. in the secondary inspection area, pole - mounted metal halide uplights allow the u. s. customs and border protection officers to perform their inspection duties. “ it ' s a significant design challenge, ” says architect sean gallagher. “ architecture can participate with the operations that are happening at the borders in a way that will make the port run more smoothly and the experience a little bit more sane. ” details project : u. s. land port of entry, massena, n. y. completion date : fall 2009 ( completed ahead of schedule ) client : u. s. general services administration architect : smith - miller + hawkinson architects, new york structural, mep, civil, and security engineers : arup, new york landscape architect : quennell rothschild & partners, new york environmental consultants : barton & loguidice, syracuse, n. y. curtainwall design consultants : r. a. heintges associates, new york lighting designer : claude r. engle, washington, d. c. environmental graphic design consultants : pentagram, new york project cost : $ 54 million ( bid $


curtainwall design consultants : r. a. heintges associates, new york lighting designer : claude r. engle, washington, d. c. environmental graphic design consultants : pentagram, new york project cost : $ 54 million ( bid $ 4 million under budget ) project size : 57 acres ( campus ) ; 24, 500 square feet ( inspection plazas — booths and canopies ) ; 37, 200 square feet ( m - bldg, administration facility ) ; 6, 700 square feet ( s - bldg, secondary inspection facility ) ; 7, 900 square feet ( g - bldg, broker offices ) ; 7, 700 square feet ( n - bldg, non - intrusive inspection facility ) photography : michael moran situated along a thin slice of land overlooking semiahmoo bay and the international peace arch park, the peace arch u. s. land port of entry ( lpoe ) is one of the busiest northern border crossing stations serving private vehicle traffic between washington state and vancouver, british columbia, canada. the design is all about blending the new facility into the landscape. “ the architectural challenge was to figure out how to incorporate this much - larger new facility in this very constrained spot, ” explains sergei bischak, project architect at bohlin cywinski jackson. because of the busy nature of this location and its 24 / 7 operation, the station could not be shut down for construction, so a phased approach was applied to demolishing the existing 1970s structure and erecting a new one in its place. although there are now 10 lanes of traffic — two more than the previous facility had, according to bischak — the project wasn ' t about “ places for more cars. ” it was about “ facilities to support the processing. ” one of the most substantial developments resulting from this project was the creation of a new set of exterior lighting guidelines. as the team, which included seattle lighting design firm candela, began to work, it was clear that the existing gsa lighting guidelines were outdated and called for calculation methods that were not useful. lighting designer mary claire frazier, then a principal at candela ( she has since retired ), spearheaded a request to the gsa to revisit the document. she proposed a tour of several lpoes along the northern and southern u. s. borders so that candela could analyze lighting conditions, interview u. s. customs and border protection agents, and then make recommendations for new lighting guidelines. after extensive review, the


tour of several lpoes along the northern and southern u. s. borders so that candela could analyze lighting conditions, interview u. s. customs and border protection agents, and then make recommendations for new lighting guidelines. after extensive review, the gsa accepted the new findings, which better address vertical illuminance, uniformity, transition and adaptation zones, and glare control. also of note in the new standard is the stipulation to include an independent lighting designer on all design teams. “ the guidelines are written from a lighting designer ' s perspective, ” says randy fisher, who assumed project responsibilities from frazier. “ security issues are met, but with an appropriate gradiance of light. ” details project : peace arch u. s. land port of entry, blaine, wash. completion date : january 2011 owner : u. s. general services administration architect : bohlin cywinski jackson, seattle office structural and civil engineers : magnusson klemencic associates, seattle mechanical engineers : cdi engineers, seattle electrical engineers : sparling, seattle landscape architect : swift company, seattle lighting designer : candela, seattle project size : 15 acres ( campus ) ; 35, 750 square feet ( building ) ; 55, 000 square feet ( site work ) energy code compliance : ashrae 90. 1 - 2004 based on candela ' s u. s. lpoe design guide exterior lighting study, 289 fewer luminaires were used than the existing 2006 guidelines would have prescribed. the project also uses 16, 773 fewer watts, a 22 percent reduction in total lighting load. rendering : courtesy bohlin cywinski jackson lighting was a major element from the very start for the redesign of the san ysidro u. s. land port of entry ( lpoe ), just outside san diego. when the miller hull partnership ( mhp ) was called in for its interview with the gsa after making the short list of architecture firms, it was suggested to them that one of the five team members to include be the lighting designer. “ we knew immediately how important lighting design was to the project, ” says craig curtis, design partner at mhp. “ fortunately, we had already decided to team with candela who we ' ve worked with for years. and coincidentally they had just done a study of lpoes ' lighting design. ” as one of the busiest lpoes in the u. s., there are a tremendous number of demands placed on this facility, and even more since it is


years. and coincidentally they had just done a study of lpoes ' lighting design. ” as one of the busiest lpoes in the u. s., there are a tremendous number of demands placed on this facility, and even more since it is a border station along the nation ' s southern border. an extraordinary number of people — 102, 000 — go through this location every day, 25, 000 merely on foot. “ the design first of all had to respond to the demand for increasing throughput, ” curtis explains. “ in addition to that, every architectural move we were making, we were trying to see what we could do in terms of sustainability as part of that same solution. ” striving to be a net - zero energy building and targeting leed platinum certification, multiple conservation systems are being put into place. for example, photovoltaic panels will be incorporated into the roofs of the administrative buildings as well as the edge of the primary canopy, one of the project ' s main design features. the 725 - foot - long canopy is supported by four 100 - foot - tall structural masts. the masts also allow luminaires to be incorporated so that light washes across the inspection areas, which follows the new gsa lighting guidelines. the canopy itself serves as a light reflector thanks to the translucent qualities of its ethylene tetrafluoroethylene material. as curtis says, “ we approached it [ the project ] from the very beginning knowing that we wanted this to be a beautiful structure, one that the u. s. is proud of as an entrance to our country. ” details project : u. s. land port of entry, san ysidro, calif. start date : broke ground march 2011 client : u. s. general services administration architect : the miller hull partnership, seattle structural and civil engineer : magnusson klemencic associates, seattle mechanical and electrical engineer : interface engineering, portland, ore. lighting designer : candela, seattle landscape architect : aecom, los angeles project cost : $ 160 million for phase 1 ; $ 577 million for all 3 phases project size : approx. 90, 000 square feet ( buildings ) ; approx. 85, 000 square feet ( canopies ) watts per square foot : interiors are approximately 23 percent below code. 8. 28w per square meter ( current design ) ; 10. 76w per square meter, lpa ( police / fire category ) ; exteriors are approximately 3. 5 percent below


african river - martin ( pseudochelidon eurystomina ) | french : | | hirondelle de riviere | | size | | length : 14 cm ( 2 ) | the african river - martin is classified as data deficient ( dd ) by the iucn red list ( 1 ). the african river - martin, the most primitive living swallow ( 3 ), has blue - black or purple - black plumage with an attractive green sheen to the back, and sooty brown under - wings. its tail is black and square, the feet are brownish - pink, and the red eye is surrounded by a pink eyering ( 2 ). like other swallows, the african river - martin ’ s large, orange - red bill can open wide, enabling the bird to catch insects while flying with ease ( 2 ) ( 4 ). male and female african river - martins are the same in appearance while juveniles have dull sooty brown plumage ( 2 ). the african river - martin occurs in gabon, congo and the democratic republic of congo ( 2 ) the african river - martin breeds along forested rivers, in coastal savanna and on islands with sandy shores. outside of the breeding season it can be found roosting in reedbeds or in vegetation along rivers. the african river - martin has also been recorded roosting on buildings ( 2 ) ( 5 ). usually observed in flocks, the african river - martin ’ s flight is rapid with moments of gliding. it can feed while flying, snatching flying ants ( their primary food ) from the air, and it also feeds on butterflies, moths, beetles, bugs and termites ( 2 ). like many swallows, the african river - martin migrates, moving between two breeding areas ; the democratic republic of congo, and the coastal areas of gabon and congo ( 2 ) ( 5 ). however, it is not known if the same bird breeds at both sites, or if the non - breeding season is spent at one of them ( 2 ). eggs and nestlings of the african river - martin have been recorded in february and march in the democratic republic of congo, while breeding activities have been observed between september and november in gabon and congo. the river - martin nests in colonies of up to 800 birds, laying a clutch of three eggs into a hole situated in a sandbar in a river, in a grassy sand - ridge near the coast, or in a slope of the coastal plain. it often digs its own burrow, extending around 150 centimetres, or sometimes uses the


eggs into a hole situated in a sandbar in a river, in a grassy sand - ridge near the coast, or in a slope of the coastal plain. it often digs its own burrow, extending around 150 centimetres, or sometimes uses the existing burrow of a bee - eater ( 2 ). while the african river - martin occurs in large numbers on its breeding grounds, it may be facing a number of threats. in the democratic republic of congo, large numbers of adults and nestlings are taken for food by local people and this hunting pressure is believed to be increasing. breeding colonies in river sandbars are also vulnerable to flooding ( 2 ) ( 5 ). the african river - martin is assessed as data deficient on the iucn red list, meaning that there is insufficient information available to assess this species risk of extinction ( 1 ). therefore, the most important action needed is to undertake further research so that the conservation status of this african swallow can be determined. for further information on the african river - martin see : birdlife international - african river - martin : this information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. if you are able to help please contact : iucn red list ( december, 2007 ) - del hoyo, j., elliott, a. and sargatal, j. ( 2004 ) handbook of the birds of the world. vol. 9 : cotingas to pipits and wagtails. lynx edicions, barcelona. - olson, s. l. ( 1973 ) a classification of the rallidae. wilson bulletin, 65 : 381 - 416. - burnie, d. ( 2001 ) animal. dorling kindersley, london. birdlife international ( december, 2007 )


tuesday 21 may banggai crow ( corvus unicolor ) what ’ s the world ’ s favourite species? find out here. banggai crow fact file - find out more - print factsheet banggai crow description this medium - sized crow is entirely black with a light iris and relatively short tail. the slender - billed crow ( corvus enca ) is very similar to the banggai crow, but can be distinguished by its larger overall size, bigger bill and proportionately longer tail ( 2 ). - length : 39 cm ( 2 ) banggai crow biology no information exists on the social, reproductive or feeding behaviour of the banggai crow ( 4 ). top banggai crow range visits to the banggai islands in 1981, 1991 and 1996 yielded no definite records of this species, but observations of black crows on banggai island in 1981, and a small crow seen at the western end of peleng island ( within banggai archipelago ) in 1991 gave hope that the species still occurred ( 4 ). this hope was fulfilled when, in 2007, further surveys of peleng island successfully located two specimens of banggai crow ( 5 ). top banggai crow habitat the banggai crow occupies montane forest ( 5 ). top banggai crow status the banggai crow is classified as critically endangered ( cr ) on the iucn red list ( 1 ). top banggai crow threats based on the small number of records for this species, and the rapid rates of habitat loss within its range, the banggai crow is likely to have only a very small population ( 2 ). unfortunately, it remains hunted by local residents of peleng island ( 5 ). in addition, extensive deforestation threatens to claim the last remaining areas of this species ’ habitat ( 2 ) ( 3 ) ( 4 ). the banggai crow may also be affected by competition with the slender - billed crow ( c. enca ) ( 3 ). top banggai crow conservation following its rediscovery, conservation efforts are being undertaken to protect the banggai crow and its forest habitat, promoting sustainable agriculture, and possibly eco - tourism, as well as educating local people about the bird ’ s plight ( 2 ) ( 5 ). along with these efforts, further surveys and the establishment of a protected area are necessary to ensure that the banggai crow is not lost again ( 2 ). top find out more for further information on the banggai crow see : - birdlife international ( 2001 ) threatened birds of asia : the birdlife international red data


area are necessary to ensure that the banggai crow is not lost again ( 2 ). top find out more for further information on the banggai crow see : - birdlife international ( 2001 ) threatened birds of asia : the birdlife international red data book. birdlife international, cambridge, uk. this information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. if you are able to help please contact : iucn red list ( october, 2009 ) birdlife international ( october, 2009 ) oriental bird club ( october, 2009 ) - birdlife international. ( 2001 ) threatened birds of asia : the birdlife international red data book. birdlife international, cambridge, uk. wildlife extra ( october, 2009 ) myarkive offers the scrapbook feature to signed - up members, allowing you to organize your favourite arkive images and videos and share them with friends. terms and conditions of use of materials copyright in this website and materials contained on this website ( material ) belongs to wildscreen or its licensors. visitors to this website ( end users ) are entitled to : - view the contents of, and material on, the website ; - download and retain copies of the material on their personal systems in digital form in low resolution for their own personal use ; - teachers, lecturers and students may incorporate the material in their educational material ( including, but not limited to, their lesson plans, presentations, worksheets and projects ) in hard copy and digital format for use within a registered educational establishment, provided that the integrity of the material is maintained and that copyright ownership and authorship is appropriately acknowledged by the end user. end users shall not copy or otherwise extract, alter or manipulate material other than as permitted in these terms and conditions of use of materials. additional use of flagged material green flagged material certain material on this website ( licence 4 material ) displays a green flag next to the material and is available for not - for - profit conservation or educational use. this material may be used by end users, who are individuals or organisations that are in our opinion not - for - profit, for their not - for - profit conservation or not - for - profit educational purposes. low resolution, watermarked images may be copied from this website by such end users for such purposes. if you require high resolution or non - watermarked versions of the material, please contact wildscreen with details of your proposed use. creative commons material certain material on this website has been licensed to wildscreen under a creative commons licence. these images are


locate a target by shift from a known point task : locate a target by shift from a known point. test conditions : during daylight hours, given a lensatic compass, protractor, binoculars, a 3 - by 5 - inch card indicating the distance and direction to the known point, and a target. 1. determine the observer - target direction within + 100 mils of the actual direction ( expressed to the nearest 10 mils of the actual direction ). 2. announce the lateral shift from the known point to the target ( expressed to the nearest 10 meters ). the announced lateral shift must be within 6 degrees x 18 mils x range of the actual lateral shift. ( r = the distance to the known point divided by 1, 000. ) 3. announce the range change from the known point to the target ( expressed to the nearest 100 meters ). the announced range change must be to within 20 percent of the actual distance to the target. example : at a range of 2000 meters, 20 percent would be 400 meters. 4. complete steps 1 through 3 within 30 seconds. soldier ' s manual crosswalk : this task is based on stp 7 - 11, bchm14 - sm - tg task number 061 - 283 - 1004, and on fm 6 - 30. for this manual only, the infantry school has modified this task to require the candidate to use a lensatic compass. equipment required for point : binoculars, lensatic compass, a 3 - by 5 - inch card indicating the distance and direction to the known point, target, field table, pencil, stopwatch, clipboard, and fb form 20 - 11. 1 - r. site setup : provide an unobstructed view of the target and known point at the site. indicate the direction and distance to the known point. place binoculars, compass, and a 3 - by 5 - inch card on a field table. instructions to candidates : say to the candidates - - " let me have your attention. at this point you must locate a target by shift from a known point. " you will determine the direction, range, and deviation corrections to shift fire from the known point to the target and announce those corrections to me within 30 seconds. " point to the known point and the target. " do you understand what you must do? " if anyone has questions, repeat the instructions but do not elaborate on what you have read. pause for five seconds and then say - - allow the candidate to proceed for 30 seconds and then say - -


how to surprise a copepod : strike kinematics reduce hydrodynamic disturbance and increase stealth of suction - feeding fish limnol. oceanogr., 54 ( 6 ), 2009, 2201 - 2212 | doi : 10. 4319 / lo. 2009. 54. 6. 2201 abstract : to capture prey with suction, fish must get sufficiently close to their prey to allow the suction flow to overwhelm the prey and draw it into the mouth. both swimming towards the prey and suction flow create a hydrodynamic disturbance, which can elicit an escape response by the prey. using particle image velocimetry, we measured flow speeds and derived fluid deformation rates at the location of the prey as bluegill sunfish fed. in front of the mouth, flows had a composite time - dependent nature. first, the bow wave pushed water away from the fish, but when the mouth opened and suction commenced, flow reversed and water deformation rates increased rapidly. our inferences indicate that, at the prey, the approaching bluegill is detected primarily based on its suction - induced disturbance, rather than its bow wave - induced disturbance. a comparison of suction - induced disturbance with the signal produced by active suspension feeders indicated that fish are able to produce a more subtle disturbance than expected based on their flow speeds and mouth size alone. jaw protrusion and the rapid opening of the mouth during the strike both help to minimize the signal available to the prey. we propose that the temporally quick strikes and high jaw protrusion that are seen in many zooplanktivorous teleosts represent adaptations that minimize the time available to prey for executing an escape response.


early astronomy concentrated on finding accurate positions of the stars and planets. this was due in part to the influence of astrology, but later, accurate positions came to be important for determining the physical characteristics of the stars and planets. accurate positions for the stars was also crucial for commercial and military navigation ( navigation by the stars has only recently been replaced by the use of satellite systems such as the global positioning system ). but probably of more importance to you is where to point your telescope or binoculars to find that cool object talked about in the newspaper or astronomy magazine. there are a couple of popular ways of specifying the location of a celestial object. the first is what you would probably use to point out a star to your friend : the altitude - azimuth system. the altitude of a star is how many degrees above the horizon it is ( anywhere from 0 to 90 degrees ). the azimuth of a star is how many degrees along the horizon it is and corresponds to the compass direction. azimuth starts from exactly north = 0 degrees azimuth and increases clockwise : exactly east = 90 degrees, exactly south = 180 degrees, exactly west = 270 degrees, and exactly north = 360 degrees = 0 degrees. for example, a star in the southwest could have an azimuth between 180 degrees and 270 degrees. since stars change their position with respect to your horizon throughout the night, their altitude - azimuth position changes. also, observers at different locations looking at the same star at the same time will see it at a different altitude - azimuth position. a concise summary of this coordinate system and the numbers involved is given at the end of this section. the second way of specifying star positions is the equatorial coordinate system. this system is very similar to the longitude - latitude system used to specify positions on the earth ' s surface. this system is fixed with respect to the stars so, unlike the altitude - azimuth system, a star ' s position does not depend on the observer ' s location or time. because of this, astronomers prefer using this system. you will find this system used in astronomy magazines and in most sky simulation computer software. the lines on a map of the earth that run north - south are lines of longitude and when projected onto the sky, they become lines of right ascension. because the stars were used to measure time, right ascension ( ra ) is measured in terms of hours, minutes, and seconds instead of degrees and increases in an easterly direction. for two stars one hour of ra apart


become lines of right ascension. because the stars were used to measure time, right ascension ( ra ) is measured in terms of hours, minutes, and seconds instead of degrees and increases in an easterly direction. for two stars one hour of ra apart, you will see one star cross your meridian one hour of time before the other. if the stars are not circumpolar, you will see one star rise one hour before the other. if they were 30 minutes of ra apart, you would see one rise half an hour before the other and cross your meridian half an hour before the other. zero ra is where the sun crosses the celestial equator at the vernal equinox. the full 360 degrees of the earth ' s rotation is broken up into 24 hours, so one hour of ra = 15 degrees of rotation. the lines of ra all converge at the celestial poles so two stars one hour of ra apart will not necessarily be 15 degrees in angular separation on the sky ( only if they are on the celestial equator will they be 15 degrees apart ). the lines on a map of the earth that run east - west parallel to the equator are lines of latitude and when projected onto the sky, they become lines of declination. like the latitude lines on earth, declination ( dec ) is measured in degrees away from the celestial equator, positive degrees for objects north of the celestial equator and negative degrees for objects south of the celestial equator. objects on the celestial equator are at 0 degrees dec, objects half - way to the ncp are + 45 degrees, objects at the ncp are + 90 degrees, and objects at the scp are - 90 degrees. polaris ' s position is at ra 2hr 31min and dec 89 degrees 15 arc minutes. a concise summary of this coordinate system and the numbers involved is given at the end of this section. the basic coordinates module of the university of nebraska - lincoln ' s astronomy education program provides a great way to make the connection between terrestrial coordinates ( longitude and latitude ) and the equatorial coordinate system ( link will appear in a new window ). the first part of the module has you drag a cursor around on a flat world map or globe and read off its terrestrial coordinate position. the second part of the module has you do the same sort of thing using a flat map of the sky or a globe of the celestial sphere and read off the right ascension and declination. both parts also illustrate the distortion that happens when you project a curved spherical surface onto a flat


you do the same sort of thing using a flat map of the sky or a globe of the celestial sphere and read off the right ascension and declination. both parts also illustrate the distortion that happens when you project a curved spherical surface onto a flat two - dimensional map. the unl astronomy education ' s rotating sky module has you explore the connection between the two coordinate systems. you can change your location on the earth and adjust the position of multiple stars and see where the stars would appear and how they would move on the celestial sphere and around your position on the earth as the earth rotates beneath the stars. an effect called precession causes the sun ' s vernal equinox point to slowly shift westward over time, so a star ' s ra and dec will slowly change by about 1. 4 degrees every century ( a fact ignored by astrologers ), or about 1 minute increase in a star ' s ra every twenty years. this is caused by the gravitational pulls of the sun and moon on the earth ' s equatorial bulge ( from the earth ' s rapid rotation ) in an effort to reduce the tilt of the earth ' s axis with respect to the ecliptic and the plane of the moon ' s orbit around the earth ( that is itself slightly tipped with respect to the ecliptic ). like the slow wobble of a rapidly - spinning top, the earth responds to the gravitational tugs of the sun and moon by slowly wobbling its rotation axis with a period of 26, 000 years. this motion was first recorded by hipparchus in 100 b. c. e. who noticed differences between ancient babylonian observations and his own. when the babylonians were the world power in 2000 b. c. e., the vernal equinox was in the constellation aries and the star thuban ( in draco ) was the closest bright star to the ncp. at the time of jesus christ the vernal equinox had shifted to the constellation pisces and the star kochab ( in the bowl of the little dipper ) was the closest bright star to the ncp. now the star polaris is close to the ncp and the vernal equinox is close to the border between pisces and aquarius ( in 2600 c. e. it will officially be in aquarius ) which is what a popular song of years ago refers to with the line ` ` this is the dawning of the age of aquarius ' '. in the year


logging in or signing up touch screen ppt malikvishwas download post to : url : related presentations : share add to flag embed email send to blogs and networks add to channel uploaded from authorpoint lite insert youtube videos in powerpont slides with as desktop copy embed code : embed : flash ipad dynamic copy does not support media & animations automatically changes to flash or non - flash embed wordpress embed customize embed url : copy thumbnail : copy the presentation is successfully added in your favorites. views : 5170 category : education license : all rights reserved like it ( 1 ) dislike it ( 0 ) added : april 10, 2012 this presentation is public favorites : 0 presentation description in this ppt all technology of touch discussed. comments posting comment... premium member presentation transcript comparative study of various touch screen technologies : comparative study of various touch screen technologies presented by : vishwas malik ( 0906810117 ) cs - b mietabstract : abstract the touch screen is an assistive technology. this interface can be beneficial to those that have difficulty in using other input devices such as a mouse or keyboard. when used in conjunction with software such as on - screen keyboards, or other assistive technology, they can help make computing resources more available to people that have difficulty in using computers. touch screen based system allows an easy navigation around a gui based environment. content : content introduction types of touch screen components working advantages and disadvantages applications conclusion referencesintroduction : introduction what is a touch screen? a touch screen is an electronic visual display that can detect the presence and location of a touch within the display area. or a touch screen is an electronic visual display that responds when it detects a touch on its surfaceevolution of touch screen : evolution of touch screen the touch screen was derived from the digitizing tablet. the digitizing tablet was invented by sam hurst in 1971. it was designed to allow scientists to record data from graphs by placing the graph on the tablet and pressing the paper against the tablet with a stylus. types of touch screen : types of touch screen resistive touch screen capacitive touch screen infrared touch screen surface acoustic wave ( saw ) touch screenresistive touch screen : resistive touch screenpowerpoint presentation : resistive lcd touch screen monitors rely on touch overlay, which is composed of a flexible top layer and a rigid bottom layer separated by insulating dots, attached to a touch screen controller. resistive touch screen panels are generally more


, how to interpret the touch event information that is sent from the controller. working : working touch screens are activated by the insertion or removal of the fingertip or by pressing the controls, active areas or targets with a head stick, or other similar device ( stylus ). resistive touch screens are pressure sensitive, so they can be operated with any input device, including a gloved hand or stylus. capacitive touch screens offer higher clarity and are more durable, but they do not respond to gloved hands or most styluses. infrared touch screens are based on light - beam interruption technology. surface acoustic wave ( saw ) is a newer technology that uses ultrasonic waves that pass over the screen. advantages : advantages touching a visual display of choices requires little thinking and is a form of direct manipulation that is easy to learn. touch screens are the fastest pointing devices. touch screens have easier hand eye coordination than mice or keyboards. no extra work space is required as with other pointing devices. disadvantages : disadvantages user ' s hand may obscure the screen. screens need to be installed at a lower position and tilted to reduce arm fatigue. some reduction in image brightness may occur. they cost more than alternative devices. applications : applications public information displays tourism displays trade show display awareness kiosks customer self service general departmental stores restaurants atm airline ticket terminals other uses digital jukeboxes computerized gaming student registration systemsconclusion and future scope : conclusion and future scope the touch screen interface is easier to use than other input devices. it is useful to make information more easily accessible by allowing user to navigate by simply touching the display screen. some laptops do include multi - touch capabilities ; however, these capabilities are very limited and not really useful. the future of touch surface is touch screen video projectors. so what ‘ s next … …. : so what ‘ s next … …. powerpoint presentation :?.. powerpoint presentation : thank you you do not have the permission to view this presentation. in order to view it, please contact the author of the presentation.


jamaican green - and - yellow macaws ( ara erythrocephala ) the extinct jamaican green - and - yellow macaws ( ara erythrocephala ) - formerly occurred in the mountains ( presumably forests ) of trelawny and st anne ' s parishes on the island of jamaica in the caribbean sea. these macaws is believed to have been hunted to extinction in the early 19th century - probably because of hunting ( birdlife international 2004 ).. this species was described by gosse in 1847 based on a bird " procured by mr. white, the proprietor of the oxford estate " ( rothschild 1905 ). the head was right and the body green. the blue - tipped tail was red in the middle and green on top. the lower half of the wings were blue. both the tail and the wings were orange - yellow underneath. ( rothschild, 1905 ; salvadori, 1906a ; greenway, 1958 ). since this macaw is only known from gosse ' s notes - no skins, bones or any archaeological remains are known to be in existence - this species is considered a hypothetical extinct parrot species. high quality species photos, videos and / or articles contributions are welcome! click here to upload articles and images. please note : the images on this page are the sole property of the photographers ( unless marked as public domain ). please contact the photographers directly with respect to any copyright or licensing questions. thank you. the avianweb strives to maintain accurate and up - to - date information ; however, mistakes do happen. if you would like to correct or update any of the information, please send us an e - mail. thank you!


dentist ricardo perez : it is critical that dental care starts early. we want all children to have healthy teeth, beautiful smiles, and benefit from excellent dental health. narrator : dr. ricardo perez is a third - generation pediatric dentist in chevy chase, maryland, and a member of the american academy of pediatric dentistry. dentist : there we go, chase. you are a very handsome boy. and mom, you are here for your first dental visit? narrator : when should you first take your child to the dentist? different experts have slightly different answers to this question. what they agree on is that the first visit should happen no later than your child ' s first birthday. the american academy of pediatrics suggests that you take your child in sooner if he ' s at high risk for dental decay. your baby ' s doctor can help you decide this at his regular well - baby checkups. the american dental association and the american academy of pediatric dentistry advise bringing your baby in for a visit as soon as his first tooth appears. if he doesn ' t have a visible tooth by his first birthday, bring him in anyway. dentist : i advise my patient population to start proper oral hygiene habits at home early. narrator : there are several reasons to start caring for your baby ' s teeth and gums early. first, it helps prevent tooth decay. dentist : if the teeth are not properly cleaned at home, early on, if there is milk residue or food debris on these teeth, it ' s the proper environment for bacteria, that is now in the baby ' s mouth, to begin to produce acid, and this acid is actually what erodes or causes tooth decay. narrator : second, it sets the stage for good oral hygiene later. dentist : the more you get him used to you brushing his teeth ( or daddy ), the more receptive he is going to be. if you start at 2, it is going to be a little harder. narrator : third, even though your child ' s baby teeth will eventually fall out, they ' re still very important. dentist : baby teeth contribute in the developing of his face and his mouth. proper chewing is very critical for proper eating and therefore his dental health is directly related to his general health. baby teeth also preserve the space for permanent teeth. narrator : when can you expect your baby ' s teeth to appear? typically, the lower central incisors emerge first, then the upper central incisors. the lateral incisors, which flank the middle teeth, follow next. then come the first


when can you expect your baby ' s teeth to appear? typically, the lower central incisors emerge first, then the upper central incisors. the lateral incisors, which flank the middle teeth, follow next. then come the first molars, which will likely appear soon after your baby ' s first birthday. after that are the canines, and the second molars come in last. most children will have a full set of 20 baby teeth, or primary teeth, by their third birthday. there ' s no real need to clean your baby ' s gums until she sprouts a tooth. some dentists recommend wiping a baby ' s gums once or twice a day with a damp washcloth or piece of gauze wrapped around your finger. you can do this if you like, but there ' s no evidence that the habit will prevent tooth decay. dentist : once teeth begin to come in around 6 or 8 months of age, parents can begin to transition to using a baby toothbrush. narrator : once your child has at least one visible tooth, buy a baby toothbrush with a small head of soft bristles. use a tiny amount of fluoride toothpaste – just a dot the size of a rice grain or a thin smear. fluoride is very important because it strengthens your child ' s tooth enamel and helps prevent cavities. but be sure to use just a little. children who swallow too much fluoride can develop a condition called fluorosis, which can cause permanent white spots on their adult teeth. brush your baby ' s teeth twice a day – once in the morning and once before bed. brush gently on both the outside and inside surfaces of your baby ' s teeth – or tooth, as the case may be – and try to brush her tongue, to dislodge the bacteria that can cause bad breath. don ' t worry about rinsing after brushing, since you ' re using just a tiny amount of toothpaste and the water would wash too much of the fluoride away. flossing for babies is optional. there ' s no evidence it makes a difference, but some dentists play it safe and recommend it anyway. your baby ' s dentist may recommend flossing between any teeth that are touching each other. dentist : some kids need to have their teeth flossed earlier because they don ' t have any space in between their teeth. narrator : gently floss your baby ' s teeth the same way you ' d


from a book i wrote for beginning teachers, here are a few suggestions - - simple yet effective. these are for ages 4 - 6 : 8. butterfly wings. with the bottom of the feet together ( in “ frog ” position ), move the knees up and down. start slowly and build in speed and number. can count out loud. uses : technique, stretch, imagination teaches : rhythmically structured exercise add : a stretch over, so that the nose touches the big toes ; twist over to the side so that the chin touches the knee ; repeat from side to side. 9. hide like a turtle. ( developee and extension ). the legs and knees are together with the feet pointed ( good toes! ), the arms being wrapped around the legs and the head down and “ hiding. ” then, have them “ look up out of their shells ” and have the hands go to the floor beside them. each leg is then extended all the way, straight, one at a time, repeating the same leg. then try both legs together twice, and on the third time, have the hold the legs the try to balance with their arms off of the floor a la seconde. this is a very fun game and children seem to like doing it every time. uses : technique, rhythm teaches : balance, developee, trying to achieve a goal by doing their best hint : fall over backward yourself on occasion, so they know it is “ okay ” to do so themselves and that it all right not to be able to achieve the end goal immediately. 10. “ frog ” position sit - ups. in the “ frog ” or “ butterfly ” position, have them reach their arms forward and then roll down and up, 4 - 8 times. stretching and reaching for their toes and feet with their legs extended out in front of them is always effective. i might suggest you made up a floor stretch routine that they do regularly as a part of their class. when they learn to limber and warm themselves up as part of their regular training, then as they get older and more advanced, they ' ll often just do warm ups on their own without hardly even having to think about it or being asked. also, ballet exercises, in and of themselves, will limber and align them. i wouldn ' t be too overly worried if they are not little rubber bands right away. flexibility and strength and control to go with it are built over time. best wishes for happy teaching!


the recent commentary by representatives of senior scientists and policymakers for the bay regarding poultry waste regulations was wrong in many ways ( " no more half - measures, " june 18 ). they are correct that more people and their pollution will stress our environment. more people will reverse the progress that agriculture is making. theu. s. environmental protection agencyreports that agriculture has made tremendous progress in reducing nutrient contributions to the chesapeake bay. urban and suburban sectors are getting worse. they are wrong to describe agriculture ' s programs as a " voluntary, collaborative approach. " they imply that there are no maryland rules for the proper use of animal manures and fertilizers, but they know better. maryland ' s 1998 law created far - reaching requirements for farmers — among america ' s most restrictive. ask any farmer. they are not " mostly voluntary " as claimed. some area states do not have a strong program like maryland, but this group wants readers to think that maryland has a weak program. the facts don ' t support that allegation. they mistakenly claim that agriculture lags behind other sectors in reducing pollution. throughout the watershed, agriculture has reached about half of its 2010 pollution reduction goal. not good enough, we agree. but the urban / suburban sectors went backward. whose record is better, agriculture achieving nearly 50 percent of the goal or urban / suburban going backward by 90 percent? they mention progress being made by sewage treatment plants, but they fail to mention the volume of human waste that escapes through leaking pipes before reaching the plants. they fail to mention the 1. 4 billion gallons of escaped wastewater reported to the state last year. they call for chicken manure to have the same " disposal " rules as human sewage. chicken manure does not contain the toxins, household cleaning products, unused medications, man - made steroids, reproductive hormones, oil and grease and other products often disposed of through sinks or toilets. no wonder human waste needs more treatment. farmers are making improvements, and the chesapeake bay is benefiting. on - the - farm pollution prevention practices installed today might not show benefits for several years, but they will eventually. the current course of action is working. let ' s not drive already heavily regulated farms out of business. without farms, water quality would be even worse. andrew mclean, centreville the writer is president of delmarva poultry industry, inc.


afghanistan ' s economy is recovering from decades of conflict. the economy has improved significantly since the fall of the taliban regime in 2001 largely because of the infusion of international assistance, the recovery of the agricultural sector, and service sector growth. real gdp growth exceeded 7 % in 2007. despite the progress of the past few years, afghanistan is extremely poor, landlocked, and highly dependent on foreign aid, agriculture, and trade with neighboring countries. much of the population continues to suffer from shortages of housing, clean water, electricity, medical care, and jobs. criminality, insecurity, and the afghan government ' s inability to extend rule of law to all parts of the country pose challenges to future economic growth. it will probably take the remainder of the decade and continuing donor aid and attention to significantly raise afghanistan ' s living standards from its current level, among the lowest in the world. while the international community remains committed to afghanistan ' s development, pledging over $ 24 billion at three donors ' conferences since 2002, kabul will need to overcome a number of challenges. expanding poppy cultivation and a growing opium trade generate roughly $ 4 billion in illicit economic activity and looms as one of kabul ' s most serious policy concerns. other long - term challenges include : budget sustainability, job creation, corruption, government capacity, and rebuilding war torn infrastructure. lagging behind its balkan neighbors, albania is making the difficult transition to a more modern open - market economy. the government has taken measures to curb violent crime, and recently adopted a fiscal reform package aimed at reducing the large gray economy and attracting foreign investment. the economy is bolstered by annual remittances from abroad of $ 600 - $ 800 million, mostly from albanians residing in greece and italy ; this helps offset the towering trade deficit. agriculture, which accounts for more than one - fifth of gdp, is held back because of lack of modern equipment, unclear property rights, and the prevalence of small, inefficient plots of land. energy shortages and antiquated and inadequate infrastructure contribute to albania ' s poor business environment, which make it difficult to attract and sustain foreign investment. the completion of a new thermal power plant near vlore and improved transmission line between albania and montenegro will help relieve the energy shortages. also, the government is moving slowly to improve the poor national road and rail network, a long - standing barrier to sustained economic growth. on the positive side, macroeconomic growth was strong in 2003 - 07 and inflation is low and stable. the hydrocarbons sector is the


moving slowly to improve the poor national road and rail network, a long - standing barrier to sustained economic growth. on the positive side, macroeconomic growth was strong in 2003 - 07 and inflation is low and stable. the hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy, accounting for roughly 60 % of budget revenues, 30 % of gdp, and over 95 % of export earnings. algeria has the eighth - largest reserves of natural gas in the world and is the fourth - largest gas exporter ; it ranks 14th in oil reserves. sustained high oil prices in recent years have helped improve algeria ' s financial and macroeconomic indicators. algeria is running substantial trade surpluses and building up record foreign exchange reserves. algeria has decreased its external debt to less than 10 % of gdp after repaying its paris club and london club debt in 2006. real gdp has risen due to higher oil output and increased government spending. the government ' s continued efforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment outside the energy sector, however, has had little success in reducing high unemployment and improving living standards. structural reform within the economy, such as development of the banking sector and the construction of infrastructure, moves ahead slowly hampered by corruption and bureaucratic resistance. american samoa has a traditional polynesian economy in which more than 90 % of the land is communally owned. economic activity is strongly linked to the us with which american samoa conducts most of its commerce. tuna fishing and tuna processing plants are the backbone of the private sector, with canned tuna the primary export. transfers from the us government add substantially to american samoa ' s economic well being. attempts by the government to develop a larger and broader economy are restrained by samoa ' s remote location, its limited transportation, and its devastating hurricanes. tourism is a promising developing sector. tourism, the mainstay of andorra ' s tiny, well - to - do economy, accounts for more than 80 % of gdp. an estimated 11. 6 million tourists visit annually, attracted by andorra ' s duty - free status and by its summer and winter resorts. andorra ' s comparative advantage has recently eroded as the economies of neighboring france and spain have been opened up, providing broader availability of goods and lower tariffs. the banking sector, with its partial " tax haven " status, also contributes substantially to the economy. agricultural production is limited - only 2 % of the land is arable - and most food has to be imported. the principal livestock activity is sheep raising. manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture


also contributes substantially to the economy. agricultural production is limited - only 2 % of the land is arable - and most food has to be imported. the principal livestock activity is sheep raising. manufacturing output consists mainly of cigarettes, cigars, and furniture. andorra is a member of the eu customs union and is treated as an eu member for trade in manufactured goods ( no tariffs ) and as a non - eu member for agricultural products. angola ' s high growth rate is driven by its oil sector, with record oil prices and rising petroleum production. oil production and its supporting activities contribute about 85 % of gdp. increased oil production supported growth averaging more than 15 % per year from 2004 to 2007. a postwar reconstruction boom and resettlement of displaced persons has led to high rates of growth in construction and agriculture as well. much of the country ' s infrastructure is still damaged or undeveloped from the 27 - year - long civil war. remnants of the conflict such as widespread land mines still mar the countryside even though an apparently durable peace was established after the death of rebel leader jonas savimbi in february 2002. subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for most of the people, but half of the country ' s food must still be imported. in 2005, the government started using a $ 2 billion line of credit, since increased to $ 7 billion, from china to rebuild angola ' s public infrastructure, and several large - scale projects were completed in 2006. angola also has large credit lines from brazil, portugal, germany, spain, and the eu. the central bank in 2003 implemented an exchange rate stabilization program using foreign exchange reserves to buy kwanzas out of circulation. this policy became more sustainable in 2005 because of strong oil export earnings ; it has significantly reduced inflation. although consumer inflation declined from 325 % in 2000 to under 13 % in 2007, the stabilization policy has put pressure on international net liquidity. angola became a member of opec in late 2006 and in late 2007 was assigned a production quota of 1. 9 million barrels a day, somewhat less than the 2 - 2. 5 million bbl angola ' s government had wanted. to fully take advantage of its rich national resources - gold, diamonds, extensive forests, atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits - angola will need to implement government reforms, increase transparency, and reduce corruption. the government has rejected a formal imf monitored program, although it continues article iv consultations and ad hoc cooperation. corruption, especially in the extractive sectors, and the negative effects of " dutch disease " produced by large


transparency, and reduce corruption. the government has rejected a formal imf monitored program, although it continues article iv consultations and ad hoc cooperation. corruption, especially in the extractive sectors, and the negative effects of " dutch disease " produced by large inflows of foreign exchange, are major challenges facing angola. anguilla has few natural resources, and the economy depends heavily on luxury tourism, offshore banking, lobster fishing, and remittances from emigrants. increased activity in the tourism industry, which has spurred the growth of the construction sector, has contributed to economic growth. anguillan officials have put substantial effort into developing the offshore financial sector, which is small, but growing. in the medium term, prospects for the economy will depend largely on the tourism sector and, therefore, on revived income growth in the industrialized nations as well as on favorable weather conditions. fishing off the coast and tourism, both based abroad, account for antarctica ' s limited economic activity. antarctic fisheries in 2004 - 05 ( 1 july - 30 june ) reported landing 147, 000 metric tons ( estimated fishing from the area covered by the convention on the conservation of antarctic marine living resources ( ccamlr ), which extends slightly beyond the antarctic treaty area ). unregulated fishing, particularly of patagonian toothfish, is a serious problem. the ccamlr determines the recommended catch limits for marine species. a total of 26, 245 tourists visited in the 2005 - 06 antarctic summer, up from the 22, 712 visitors the previous year. nearly all of them were passengers on commercial ( nongovernmental ) ships and several yachts that make trips during the summer. most tourist trips last approximately two weeks. antigua has a relatively high gdp per capita in comparison to most other caribbean nations. it has experienced solid growth since 2003, driven by a construction boom in hotels and housing that which should wind down in 2008. tourism continues to dominate the economy, accounting for more than half of gdp. the dual - island nation ' s agricultural production is focused on the domestic market and constrained by a limited water supply and a labor shortage stemming from the lure of higher wages in tourism and construction. manufacturing comprises enclave - type assembly for export with major products being bedding, handicrafts, and electronic components. prospects for economic growth in the medium term will continue to depend on income growth in the industrialized world, especially in the us, which accounts for slightly more than one - third of tourist arrivals. since taking office in 2004, the spencer government has


. prospects for economic growth in the medium term will continue to depend on income growth in the industrialized world, especially in the us, which accounts for slightly more than one - third of tourist arrivals. since taking office in 2004, the spencer government has adopted an ambitious fiscal reform program, but will continue to be saddled by its debt burden with a debt - to - gdp ratio exceeding 100 %. argentina benefits from rich natural resources, a highly literate population, an export - oriented agricultural sector, and a diversified industrial base. although one of the world ' s wealthiest countries 100 years ago, argentina suffered during most of the 20th century from recurring economic crises, persistent fiscal and current account deficits, high inflation, mounting external debt, and capital flight. a severe depression, growing public and external indebtedness, and a bank run culminated in 2001 in the most serious economic, social, and political crisis in the country ' s turbulent history. interim president adolfo rodriguez saa declared a default - the largest in history - on the government ' s foreign debt in december of that year, and abruptly resigned only a few days after taking office. his successor, eduardo duhalde, announced an end to the peso ' s decade - long 1 - to - 1 peg to the us dollar in early 2002. the economy bottomed out that year, with real gdp 18 % smaller than in 1998 and almost 60 % of argentines under the poverty line. real gdp rebounded to grow by an average 9 % annually over the subsequent five years, taking advantage of previously idled industrial capacity and labor, an audacious debt restructuring and reduced debt burden, excellent international financial conditions, and expansionary monetary and fiscal policies. inflation, however, reached double - digit levels in 2006 and the government of president nestor kirchner responded with " voluntary " price agreements with businesses, as well as export taxes and restraints. multi - year price freezes on electricity and natural gas rates for residential users stoked consumption and kept private investment away, leading to restrictions on industrial use and blackouts in 2007. since the breakup of the soviet union in 1991, armenia has made progress in implementing many economic reforms including privatization, price reforms, and prudent fiscal policies. the conflict with azerbaijan over the ethnic armenian - dominated region of nagorno - karabakh contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. by 1994, however, the armenian government launched an ambitious imf - sponsored economic liberalization program that resulted in positive growth rates. economic growth has averaged


region of nagorno - karabakh contributed to a severe economic decline in the early 1990s. by 1994, however, the armenian government launched an ambitious imf - sponsored economic liberalization program that resulted in positive growth rates. economic growth has averaged over 13 % in recent years. armenia has managed to reduce poverty, slash inflation, stabilize its currency, and privatize most small - and medium - sized enterprises. under the old soviet central planning system, armenia developed a modern industrial sector, supplying machine tools, textiles, and other manufactured goods to sister republics, in exchange for raw materials and energy. armenia has since switched to small - scale agriculture and away from the large agroindustrial complexes of the soviet era. nuclear power plants built at metsamor in the 1970s were closed following the 1988 spitak earthquake, though they sustained no damage. one of the two reactors was re - opened in 1995, but the armenian government is under international pressure to close it due to concerns that the soviet era design lacks important safeguards. metsamor provides 40 percent of the country ' s electricity - hydropower accounts for about one - fourth. economic ties with russia remain close, especially in the energy sector. the electricity distribution system was privatized in 2002 and bought by russia ' s rao - ues in 2005. construction of a pipeline to deliver natural gas from iran to armenia is halfway completed and is scheduled to be commissioned by january 2009. armenia has some mineral deposits ( copper, gold, bauxite ). pig iron, unwrought copper, and other nonferrous metals are armenia ' s highest valued exports. armenia ' s severe trade imbalance has been offset somewhat by international aid, remittances from armenians working abroad, and foreign direct investment. armenia joined the wto in january 2003. the government made some improvements in tax and customs administration in recent years, but anti - corruption measures will be more difficult to implement. despite strong economic growth, armenia ' s unemployment rate remains high. armenia will need to pursue additional economic reforms in order to improve its economic competitiveness and to build on recent improvements in poverty and unemployment, especially given its economic isolation from two of its nearest neighbors, turkey and azerbaijan. tourism is the mainstay of the small, open aruban economy, with offshore banking and oil refining and storage also important. the rapid growth of the tourism sector over the last decade has resulted in a substantial expansion of other activities. over 1. 5 million tourists per year visit aruba, with 75 %


the eu has drawn an influx of foreign investors attracted by austria ' s access to the single european market and proximity to the new eu economies. the outgoing government has successfully pursued a comprehensive economic reform program, aimed at streamlining government and creating a more competitive business environment, further strengthening austria ' s attractiveness as an investment location. it has implemented effective pension reforms ; however, lower taxes in 2005 - 06 led to a small budget deficit in 2006 and 2007. boosted by strong exports, growth nevertheless reached 3. 3 % in both 2006 and 2007, although the economy may slow in 2008 because of the strong euro, high oil prices, and problems in international financial markets. to meet increased competition - especially from new eu members and central european countries - austria will need to continue restructuring, emphasizing knowledge - based sectors of the economy, and encouraging greater labor flexibility and greater labor participation by its aging population. azerbaijan ' s high economic growth in 2006 and 2007 is attributable to large and growing oil exports. azerbaijan ' s oil production declined through 1997, but has registered an increase every year since. negotiation of production - sharing arrangements ( psas ) with foreign firms, which have committed $ 60 billion to long - term oilfield development, should generate the funds needed to spur future industrial development. oil production under the first of these psas, with the azerbaijan international operating company, began in november 1997. a consortium of western oil companies began pumping 1 million barrels a day from a large offshore field in early 2006, through a $ 4 billion pipeline it built from baku to turkey ' s mediterranean port of ceyhan. by 2010 revenues from this project will double the country ' s current gdp. azerbaijan shares all the formidable problems of the former soviet republics in making the transition from a command to a market economy, but its considerable energy resources brighten its long - term prospects. baku has only recently begun making progress on economic reform, and old economic ties and structures are slowly being replaced. several other obstacles impede azerbaijan ' s economic progress : the need for stepped up foreign investment in the non - energy sector, the continuing conflict with armenia over the nagorno - karabakh region, pervasive corruption, and elevated inflation. trade with russia and the other former soviet republics is declining in importance, while trade is building with turkey and the nations of europe. long - term prospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of new oil and gas pipelines in the region, and azerbaijan ' s ability to manage its energy wealth. the bahamas is one of the


building with turkey and the nations of europe. long - term prospects will depend on world oil prices, the location of new oil and gas pipelines in the region, and azerbaijan ' s ability to manage its energy wealth. the bahamas is one of the wealthiest caribbean countries with an economy heavily dependent on tourism and offshore banking. tourism together with tourism - driven construction and manufacturing accounts for approximately 60 % of gdp and directly or indirectly employs half of the archipelago ' s labor force. steady growth in tourism receipts and a boom in construction of new hotels, resorts, and residences had led to solid gdp growth in recent years, but tourist arrivals have been on the decline since 2006. financial services constitute the second - most important sector of the bahamian economy and, when combined with business services, account for about 36 % of gdp. however, since december 2000, when the government enacted new regulations on the financial sector, many international businesses have left the bahamas. manufacturing and agriculture combined contribute approximately a tenth of gdp and show little growth, despite government incentives aimed at those sectors. overall growth prospects in the short run rest heavily on the fortunes of the tourism sector. tourism, in turn, depends on growth in the us, the source of more than 80 % of the visitors. with its highly developed communication and transport facilities, bahrain is home to numerous multinational firms with business in the gulf. petroleum production and refining account for over 60 % of bahrain ' s export receipts, over 70 % of government revenues, and 11 % of gdp ( exclusive of allied industries ), underpinning bahrain ' s strong economic growth in recent years. aluminum is bahrain ' s second major export after oil. other major segments of bahrain ' s economy are the financial and construction sectors. bahrain is focused on islamic banking and is competing on an international scale with malaysia as a worldwide banking center. bahrain is actively pursuing the diversification and privatization of its economy to reduce the country ' s dependence on oil. as part of this effort, in august 2006 bahrain and the us implemented a free trade agreement ( fta ), the first fta between the us and a gulf state. continued strong growth hinges on bahrain ' s ability to acquire new natural gas supplies as feedstock to support its expanding petrochemical and aluminum industries. unemployment, especially among the young, and the depletion of oil and underground water resources are long - term economic problems. the economy has grown 5 - 6 % over the past few years despite inefficient state - owned enterprises, delays in exploiting natural gas resources, insufficient


the depletion of oil and underground water resources are long - term economic problems. the economy has grown 5 - 6 % over the past few years despite inefficient state - owned enterprises, delays in exploiting natural gas resources, insufficient power supplies, and slow implementation of economic reforms. bangladesh remains a poor, overpopulated, and inefficiently - governed nation. although more than half of gdp is generated through the service sector, nearly two - thirds of bangladeshis are employed in the agriculture sector, with rice as the single - most - important product. garment exports and remittances from bangladeshis working overseas, mainly in the middle east and east asia, fuel economic growth. historically, the barbadian economy was dependent on sugarcane cultivation and related activities. however, production in recent years has diversified into light industry and tourism, with nearly three - quarters of gdp and 80 % of exports being attributed to services. growth has rebounded since 2003, bolstered by increases in construction projects and tourism revenues - reflecting its success in the higher - end segment. the country enjoys one of the highest per capita incomes in the region and an investment grade rating which benefits from its political stability and stable institutions. offshore finance and information services are important foreign exchange earners and thrive from having the same time zone as eastern us financial centers and a relatively highly educated workforce. the government continues its efforts to reduce unemployment, to encourage direct foreign investment, and to privatize remaining state - owned enterprises. belarus has seen little structural reform since 1995, when president lukashenko launched the country on the path of " market socialism. " in keeping with this policy, lukashenko reimposed administrative controls over prices and currency exchange rates and expanded the state ' s right to intervene in the management of private enterprises. since 2005, the government has re - nationalized a number of private companies. in addition, businesses have been subject to pressure by central and local governments, e. g., arbitrary changes in regulations, numerous rigorous inspections, retroactive application of new business regulations, and arrests of " disruptive " businessmen and factory owners. a wide range of redistributive policies has helped those at the bottom of the ladder ; the gini coefficient is among the lowest in the world. because of these restrictive economic policies, belarus has had trouble attracting foreign investment. nevertheless, gdp growth has been strong in recent years, reaching nearly 8 % in 2007, despite the roadblocks of a tough, centrally directed economy with a high, but decreasing


of these restrictive economic policies, belarus has had trouble attracting foreign investment. nevertheless, gdp growth has been strong in recent years, reaching nearly 8 % in 2007, despite the roadblocks of a tough, centrally directed economy with a high, but decreasing, rate of inflation. belarus receives heavily discounted oil and natural gas from russia and much of belarus ' growth can be attributed to the re - export of russian oil at market prices. trade with russia - by far its largest single trade partner - decreased in 2007, largely as a result of a change in the way the value added tax ( vat ) on trade was collected. russia has introduced an export duty on oil shipped to belarus, which will increase gradually through 2009, and a requirement that belarusian duties on re - exported russian oil be shared with russia - 80 % will go to russia in 2008, and 85 % in 2009. russia also increased belarusian natural gas prices from $ 47 per thousand cubic meters ( tcm ) to $ 100 per tcm in 2007, and plans to increase prices gradually to world levels by 2011. russia ' s recent policy of bringing energy prices for belarus to world market levels may result in a slowdown in economic growth in belarus over the next few years. some policy measures, including tightening of fiscal and monetary policies, improving energy efficiency, and diversifying exports, have been introduced, but external borrowing has been the main mechanism used to manage the growing pressures on the economy. this modern, private - enterprise economy has capitalized on its central geographic location, highly developed transport network, and diversified industrial and commercial base. industry is concentrated mainly in the populous flemish area in the north. with few natural resources, belgium must import substantial quantities of raw materials and export a large volume of manufactures, making its economy unusually dependent on the state of world markets. roughly three - quarters of its trade is with other eu countries. public debt is more than 85 % of gdp. on the positive side, the government has succeeded in balancing its budget, and income distribution is relatively equal. belgium began circulating the euro currency in january 2002. economic growth in 2001 - 03 dropped sharply because of the global economic slowdown, with moderate recovery in 2004 - 07. economic growth and foreign direct investment are expected to slow down in 2008, due to credit tightening, falling consumer and business confidence, and above average inflation. however, with the successful negotiation of the 2008 budget and devolution of power within the government, political tensions seem to be easing and could lead to an improvement in the economic outlook for 2008.