the holiday season can be the happiest time of year - but it also can be the most wasteful. americans generate about 25 percent more waste than usual - an extra million tons - between thanksgiving and new year ’ s day, according to the u. s. environmental protection agency. that ’ s a lot of garbage. if you typically strive to tread lightly on the earth, you don ’ t necessarily have to abandon your green lifestyle to enjoy the festivities. consider these simple steps when giving thanks, giving gifts and ringing in the new year. an evergreen tree is a cherished part of the holiday season for many, but growing, harvesting, transporting, and then tossing a tree - every year - well, that takes a toll. an artificial tree made with plastics lasts for years, reducing waste, water use and cleanup - and it can be displayed for months without the worry of a dry tree and falling needles. new technologies have dramatically improved the look and feel of the plastic needles, branches and trunk, so it ’ s often difficult to notice the difference. when shopping for holiday light displays both indoors and out, consider led lights that minimize energy use. led lights use up to 90 percent less energy, which can translate into big savings on your energy bill over the course of the holiday season. led lights also are protected by a lightweight, durable plastic casing that makes them weather - resistant, shatter - resistant, and easy to hang. leds produce much less heat than a glowing filament - and the plastic casing also is resistant to heat - so the lights remain cool to the touch, even after running for hours. it ’ s easier than ever to find holiday decorations made with recycled materials. there are plenty of websites that can teach you and your children how to fashion ornaments and decorations out of recycled materials that can live another life. elaborate holiday meals and celebrations mean leftovers. promptly refrigerating your food in airtight, re - sealable plastic storage containers can help keep your food fresh so you can enjoy it longer and reduce food waste. and now you can find storage containers made with recycled plastics. send your friends and family home from the party with leftovers in plastic zipper bags or in used tubs from margarine or cottage cheese. consider giving gifts made with repurposed or recycled materials. an easy way to search online : consider what you want to buy and then add “ recycled ” to your search. for example, you now can find more and more high - quality consumer goods - such as clothing, accessories


##urposed or recycled materials. an easy way to search online : consider what you want to buy and then add “ recycled ” to your search. for example, you now can find more and more high - quality consumer goods - such as clothing, accessories, children ’ s toys, furniture and electronics - that contain recycled plastics, since plastics recycling has grown significantly. there are all sorts of “ eco - gift ” options for everyone in your family, so you can give something good while doing something good. recycle, recycle, recycle recycling programs vary across the country, so determine in advance of your celebrations what materials can be recycled in your community. place a clearly labeled recycling bin next to the trash can to make recycling easy for you and your guests ; that way, you won ’ t have to fish the recyclables out of the trash at the end of your party. remember you can return plastic bags and product wraps from water bottles, paper towels, diapers, etc., to participating grocery and retail stores ( such as walmart, target, and lowe ’ s ) for recycling. and you can close the recycling loop by looking for tableware made with recycled plastics, which helps create new uses for this material. these and other simple steps to save energy and reduce waste can lighten your environmental footprint this holiday season. from decorating the house to choosing gifts, it ’ s fun to get the whole family involved in planning sustainable holiday celebrations - and it ’ s easier than you may think.


i have often wondered why winemakers put their wines, white or red, in oak barrels and age them for sometimes months at a time. the university of california davis recently conducted a seminar on oak management and wine sensory issues. it looked at the use of oak barrels and oak adjuvants such as oak staves and oak powder with regard to how the oak may affect the wine ’ s chemical composition, aroma and flavors. to me, the aroma of a wine is the “ smell ” of the specific grape varietal. but this very sensitive element can be easily influenced by the winemaking techniques and the use of oak barrels. one obvious question is : why were oak barrels chosen to store wine in the beginning? the barrel is a perfect container to age wine in and is easily moved around manually. the answer seems to be related to the fact that oak barrels do not leak if properly coopered. one of the most intriguing questions that was discussed at this seminar was what would have been the impact on wine tastes and wine ’ s appeal if a different tree had been chosen for barrel production. has the effects of the oak barrel basically defined our tastes for different styles of wine? most european oak barrels are made from the quercus petrea or quercus robur while quercus alba or the white oak is the main species used in american oak barrels. today a good french oak barrel sells for around $ 1, 000 a barrel and many of these barrels can only be used for several years before they lose their ability to enhance the flavors of the wine. oak barrels are usually toasted using a fire placed inside the open barrel, and the time of exposure and intensity of the fire will determine the level of toast in the barrel. you can create a light toast, a medium toast and the heavy toast. the heavier the toast, the more impact the barrel will have of the flavor components of the wine. these flavor impacts are more pronounced in white wines than in red wines mainly because red wines are more complex and heavier in body. white wines may be fermented in stainless steel or in the oak barrel but red wines are typically fermented and aged in oak barrels and thus may have a greater expression of the oak sensory components. so, exactly what does the toasted oak barrel do to the wine? the alcohol content of the wine also has an important effect on the transfer of the flavor components from the barrel to the wine. the most important class of oak factors that influence the flavor profile of the wine are related to what is known as the volatile


? the alcohol content of the wine also has an important effect on the transfer of the flavor components from the barrel to the wine. the most important class of oak factors that influence the flavor profile of the wine are related to what is known as the volatile oak compounds in the toasted inner surface of the barrel. one of these is eugenol, which provides a smokey, spicy and clove element to the wine. then there is furfural, which introduces that toasty, toasted almond and butterscotch flavors to some wines. of course there is vanillan, which adds a taste of vanilla and oak to the wine. another class of volatile compounds includes the lactones that produce the woody and coconut flavors in some wines. it has been shown that the impact or effects of the oak barrel diminishes after four uses of the barrel and some elements like vanillan seem to be lost after just 12 months of wine contact. when you go to a winery and walk through the wine cellar, look at the face of each barrel and you will see either an l for light toast, an m for medium toast or an h for heavy toast. it would appear that after many years and considerable research and discussion, the oak barrel is now viewed by many winemakers as a flavor component in today ’ s winemaking. much of the american wine culture has been somewhat addicted to the “ oaky ” style of many wines, and i have often met wine lovers who are turned off by wines that do not project some level of oak. many wine lovers are looking for that toasty, oaky, buttery chardonnay and nothing will ever take its place. over the past several years, i think we have seen a change in attitude with regard to high levels of alcohol in wine and the increasing levels of oak of many wines, especially some of our california favorites. a number of wineries throughout the world are now producing un - oaked white wines that are created using stainless steel fermentation techniques and very little, if any, contact with oak barrels. the flavor profile of these wines is quite different — refreshing and easy on the palate. in my opinion these un - oaked white wines are more food - friendly since we know that the oak component in the wine is often very hard to manage in food and wine pairing. here is an experiment you can try. the next time you are in your wine shop, ask the owner for a bottle of un - oaked chardonnay and a bottle of a good oaky chardon


- cigna medicare - individual & family plans - international plans - offered cigna through work? - find a doctor - informed on reform - health and wellness » - cigna home delivery pharmacy toe, foot, and ankle injuries at one time or another, everyone has had a minor toe, foot, or ankle injury that caused pain or swelling. most of the time our body movements do not cause problems, but it ' s not surprising that symptoms develop from everyday wear and tear, overuse, or an injury. toe, foot, or ankle injuries most commonly occur during : - sports or recreational activities. - work - related tasks. - work or projects around the home. in children, most toe, foot, or ankle injuries occur during sports, play, or falls. the risk for injury is higher in sports with jumping, such as basketball, or sports with quick direction change, such as soccer or football. any bone injury near a joint may injure the growth plate ( physis ) in a child and needs to be evaluated. certain athletes, such as dancers, gymnasts, or soccer or basketball players, have an increased risk of toe, foot, or ankle injuries. older adults are at higher risk for injuries and fractures because they lose muscle mass and bone strength ( osteopenia ) as they age. they also have more problems with vision and balance, which increases their risk of injury. most minor injuries will heal on their own, and home treatment is usually all that is needed to relieve your symptoms and promote healing. sudden ( acute ) injury an acute injury may occur from a direct blow, a penetrating injury, or a fall, or from twisting, jerking, jamming, or bending a limb abnormally. your pain may be sudden and severe. bruising and swelling may develop soon after your injury. acute injuries include : - bruises ( contusions ). after an ankle injury, bruising may extend to your toes from the effects of gravity. - puncture wounds. sharp objects, such as nails, tacks, ice picks, knives, teeth, and needles, can all cause puncture wounds. puncture wounds increase your risk of infection because they are hard to clean and they provide a warm, moist place for bacteria to grow. the bacteria pseudomonas is a common cause of infections when a puncture wound occurs through the sole of an athletic shoe. - injuries to ligaments that support your joints. - injuries to tendons, such as ruptured tendons in your heel ( achilles tendon ).


common cause of infections when a puncture wound occurs through the sole of an athletic shoe. - injuries to ligaments that support your joints. - injuries to tendons, such as ruptured tendons in your heel ( achilles tendon ). young boys ages 8 to 14 may have a condition known as sever ' s disease, which causes injury to the growing bone where the achilles tendon is attached. this usually occurs during activity and is relieved with home treatment. - injuries to your joints ( sprains ). if a sprain does not appear to be healing, a condition known as osteochondritis dissecans may be present, causing persistent symptoms. - pulled muscles ( strains ). muscles of the foot and ankle can be strained and can also rupture. - broken bones ( fractures ), such as a broken toe. - a bone moving out of place ( dislocation ). - a crushing injury, which can lead to compartment syndrome. overuse injuries occur when too much stress is placed on your joint or other tissue, often by " overdoing " an activity or repeating the same activity over and over. overuse injuries include : - retrocalcaneal bursitis, which is inflammation of the bursa. this condition causes swelling and tenderness of the back of the heel and ankle. pain usually gets worse while you are wearing shoes and during activity, and it improves during rest. - achilles tendinitis or tendinosis ( tendinopathy ), which is the breakdown of soft tissues in and around the achilles tendon that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. - stress fracture, which is a hairline crack in a bone. - plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the plantar fascia, a broad, flat ligament on the bottom of the foot that extends from the front of the heel to the base of the toes and helps maintain the arch of the foot. - metatarsalgia, which is pain in the front ( ball ) of the foot. treatment for your toe, foot, or ankle injury may include first aid measures ( such as the application of a brace, splint, or cast ), a special shoe ( orthotic device ), physical therapy, medicine, and, in some cases, surgery. treatment depends on : - the location, type, and severity of your injury. - when the injury occurred. - your age, your overall health condition, and your activities ( such as work, sports, or


and, in some cases, surgery. treatment depends on : - the location, type, and severity of your injury. - when the injury occurred. - your age, your overall health condition, and your activities ( such as work, sports, or hobbies ). check your symptoms to decide if and when you should see a doctor. check your symptoms this feature requires a web browser which supports macromedia flash. if your browser does not support macromedia flash, the information contained in this feature is also available within the written content. most minor injuries will heal on their own, and home treatment is usually all that is needed to relieve your symptoms and promote healing. but if you suspect that you may have a more severe injury, use first aid measures while you arrange for an evaluation by your doctor. first aid for a suspected broken bone - if a bone is sticking out of your skin, do not try to push it back into your skin. it is better to leave the bone alone and cover the area with a clean bandage. - it is important to control bleeding from your injury. - be sure to remove all anklets or rings immediately. it may be hard to remove the jewelry after swelling occurs, which in turn can cause other serious problems, such as nerve compression or restricted blood flow. - try to free your trapped toe or foot if it is stuck in an object, such as a pipe, toy, or jar. - splint your injured area without trying to straighten your injured limb. loosen the wrap around the splint if you develop signs that mean the wrap is too tight, such as numbness, tingling, increased pain, swelling, or cool skin below the wrap. a problem called compartment syndrome can develop. if a cast or splint is applied, be sure to keep it dry, and try to move the uninjured part of your extremity as normally as possible to help maintain muscle strength and tone. your doctor will give you instructions on how to care for your cast or splint. home treatment for a sore or sprained toe - use rest, ice, compression, and elevation ( rice ) for pain and swelling. - if you do not have diabetes or peripheral arterial disease, your sore or sprained toe can be " buddy - taped " to your uninjured toe next to it. protect the skin by putting some soft padding, such as felt or foam, between your toes before you tape them together. your injured toe may need to be buddy - taped for 2 to 4 weeks to


your uninjured toe next to it. protect the skin by putting some soft padding, such as felt or foam, between your toes before you tape them together. your injured toe may need to be buddy - taped for 2 to 4 weeks to heal. if your injured toe hurts more after buddy - taping it, remove the tape. then check your symptoms again. home treatment for a minor foot or ankle injury if you have a minor injury, try home treatment measures to relieve pain, swelling, and stiffness. - be sure to remove all rings, anklets, or any other jewelry that goes around a leg or ankle. it will be harder to remove the jewelry later if swelling increases. - use rest, ice, compression, and elevation ( rice ) to relieve pain and swelling. - clean a skin wound as soon as possible to help prevent infection, scarring, and tattooing of the skin from dirt left in the wound. the bacteria pseudomonas is a common cause of infections when a puncture wound occurs through the sole of an athletic shoe. - if you have pain from blood under a nail, you can drain it to relieve the pain. - walk or bear weight on your affected foot as long as it is not painful. if it is painful and the pain continues, check your symptoms again. - gently massage or rub the area to relieve pain and encourage blood flow. do not massage the injured area if it causes pain. - for the first 48 hours after your injury, avoid things that might increase swelling in the injured area, such as hot showers, hot tubs, hot packs, or alcoholic beverages. - after 48 to 72 hours, if your swelling is gone, apply heat and begin gentle exercise to help restore and maintain flexibility. some experts recommend alternating between heat and cold treatments ( contrast baths ). - start exercises using the msa process ( gentle exercise ). msa stands for movement, strength, and alternate - movement. resume a full range of motion as soon as possible after an injury. after 24 to 48 hours of rest, begin moving the injured area. stop any activity if it causes pain, and give the injured area more rest. gentle stretching will prevent scar tissue formation that may decrease movement. - strength. as soon as the swelling is gone and range of motion is restored, begin gradual efforts to strengthen the injured area. - alternate activities. after the first few days but while the injury is still healing, phase in regular exercise using activities or sports that do not place a strain on the injured area


range of motion is restored, begin gradual efforts to strengthen the injured area. - alternate activities. after the first few days but while the injury is still healing, phase in regular exercise using activities or sports that do not place a strain on the injured area. if certain activities cause pain, stop doing those activities but continue doing your other exercises. begin gentle range - of - motion exercises right after your injury while you have ice on your ankle. perform a set of exercises by repeating them 10 to 30 times. do each set 3 to 5 times a day. try the following simple range - of - motion exercises : - trace the alphabet with your toe, encouraging ankle movement in all directions. - sit in a chair with your foot flat on the floor. slowly move your knee from side to side while keeping your foot pressed flat. towel curls. while sitting, place a hand towel on a smooth floor, such as wood or tile. while keeping your heel on the ground, curl your toes and grab the towel with your toes to scrunch the towel. let go, and continue scrunching up the entire length of the towel. when you reach the end of the towel, reverse the action by grabbing the towel with your toes, scrunching it, and pushing it away from you. repeat the exercise until you have pushed the entire length of the towel away from you. about 48 to 72 hours after your injury, start exercises to stretch your achilles tendon, which connects the calf muscles on the back of the lower leg to the bone at the base of the heel. towel stretch. if you can ' t stand, sit with your knee straight and a towel looped around the ball of your foot. gently and slowly pull back on the towel for 15 to 30 seconds until you feel your calf stretch. repeat 2 to 4 times. in moderate to severe ankle sprains, at first it may be too painful to pull your toes far enough to feel a stretch in your calf. use caution, and let pain be your guide. a little pain is normal, but you should not feel moderate to severe pain. do this exercise 2 or 3 times each day for about a week. then, make achilles stretches part of your daily routine to maintain flexibility. calf stretch. if you are able to stand, you can do this exercise by facing a wall with your hands at shoulder level on the wall. place your injured foot behind the other with the toes pointing forward. keep your heels down and your back leg straight. slowly bend your front knee until you


, you can do this exercise by facing a wall with your hands at shoulder level on the wall. place your injured foot behind the other with the toes pointing forward. keep your heels down and your back leg straight. slowly bend your front knee until you feel the calf stretch in the back leg. repeat as above. as soon as you can bear weight without increased pain or swelling, begin muscle - strengthening exercises. these exercises should be held for 3 to 5 seconds. do 15 to 20 repetitions once or twice daily for 2 to 4 weeks, depending on the severity of your injury. start by sitting with your foot flat on the floor and pushing it outward against an immovable object such as a wall or heavy furniture. after you feel comfortable with this, try using rubber tubing looped around the outside of your feet for resistance. while still sitting, put your feet together flat on the floor. press your injured foot inward against your other foot. next, place the heel of your other foot on top of the injured one. push down with the top heel while trying to push up with your injured foot. balance and control exercises when you are able to stand without pain, you can begin balance and control exercises. you can start by standing in a doorway and lightly holding on to the doorjamb. when you can do this for 60 seconds, try adding the advanced moves in the next level. stand on your injured foot only and hold your arms : - out to the side with your eyes open. - across your chest with your eyes open. - out to the side and close your eyes. - across your chest and close your eyes. do six repetitions, holding each for 60 seconds, once a day. take good care of your feet - wear supportive footwear to prevent re - injuring your foot or ankle. - wear roomy footwear, especially if the front of your foot hurts. - consider using an orthotic shoe device, such as an arch support, to help relieve foot pain. - treat blisters to prevent an infection. do not smoke or use other tobacco products. smoking slows healing because it decreases blood supply and delays tissue repair. for more information, see the topic quitting smoking. | try a nonprescription medicine to help treat your pain : | talk to your child ' s doctor before switching back and forth between doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. when you switch between two medicines, there is a chance your child will get too much medicine. | be sure to follow


talk to your child ' s doctor before switching back and forth between doses of acetaminophen and ibuprofen. when you switch between two medicines, there is a chance your child will get too much medicine. | be sure to follow these safety tips when you use a nonprescription medicine : | symptoms to watch for during home treatment call your doctor if any of the following occur during home treatment : - pain or swelling develops. - signs of infection develop. - numbness ; tingling ; or cool, pale skin develops. - symptoms do not improve with home treatment. - symptoms become more severe or more frequent. the following tips may prevent toe, foot, or ankle injuries. toe, foot, and ankle tips - avoid problems by wearing good footwear. wear comfortable, supportive shoes. - do not walk barefoot in areas such as streets and parks where you have an increased risk of stepping on an object. - use a rubber mat to stand on if your work requires you to stand on hard surfaces. this will help to reduce stress on your feet. - buy new running shoes often. experts recommend getting new athletic shoes every 3 months or after 500 miles of wear. overworn shoes may not absorb shock well or provide traction or protection. - reduce your risk of reinjury by wrapping your foot or ankle or wearing a supportive brace during activities or exercises where injury is a risk. - prevent blisters caused by poorly fitting shoes or socks. - do exercises for heel pain and tightness. this is especially important for athletes before they participate in sports. it is also helpful for people who are not involved with sports. - to help prevent foot injuries and problems : - wear good athletic shoes, such as shoes with cushioned soles ( especially heels ) and good arch support. physical therapists, orthopedists, podiatrists, and sports medicine health professionals can advise you. - buy new shoes every few months, because padding wears out. also buy new shoes if the tread or heels wear down. the expense is worth preventing ongoing ( chronic ) foot or ankle problems. reasonable in your training : - stretch your foot, ankle, and leg muscles before and after exercise. - avoid rapidly increasing the number of miles you run, running or training uphill, and running on hard surfaces, such as concrete. - avoid excessive sprinting ( short, rapid bursts of running ). - never cut calluses and corns with a razor or a pocketknife. - avoid foot problems or injuries, especially


and running on hard surfaces, such as concrete. - avoid excessive sprinting ( short, rapid bursts of running ). - never cut calluses and corns with a razor or a pocketknife. - avoid foot problems or injuries, especially if you have diabetes. - take steps to prevent falls and injuries in adults, such as removing any obstacles from your walking path. - take steps to prevent falls and injuries in babies and toddlers, such as not leaving your baby unattended in any infant seat or " sitting " toy. general prevention tips - use a step stool. do not stand on chairs or other unsteady objects. - wear protective gear during sports or recreational activities, such as roller - skating or soccer to prevent injuries for you or your child. supportive splints may reduce your risk of injury. - maintain a reasonable weight for your height. - stretch before and after physical exercise, sports, or recreational activities to warm up your muscles. - walk regularly to improve circulation, increase flexibility, reduce fatigue, and encourage bone and muscle development. - use the correct techniques ( movements ) or positions during activities so that you do not strain your muscles. - avoid overusing your foot and ankle with repeated movements that can injure your bursa or tendon. in daily routines or hobbies, examine activities in which you make repeated movements. - if you feel that certain activities at your workplace are causing pain or soreness from overuse, talk to your human resources department for information on alternative ways of doing your job or to discuss equipment modifications or other job assignments. keep your bones strong - eat a nutritious diet with enough calcium and vitamin d, which helps your body absorb calcium. calcium is found in dairy products, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt ; dark green, leafy vegetables, such as broccoli ; and other foods. - exercise and stay active. it is best to do weight - bearing exercise, such as walking, jogging, stair climbing, dancing, or lifting weights, for 2½ hours a week. one way to do this is to be active 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week. in addition to weight - bearing exercise, experts recommend that you do resistance exercises at least 2 days a week. talk to your doctor about an exercise program that is right for you. begin slowly, especially if you have not been active. for more information, see the topic fitness. - do not drink more than 2 alcoholic drinks a day if you are a man, or


your doctor about an exercise program that is right for you. begin slowly, especially if you have not been active. for more information, see the topic fitness. - do not drink more than 2 alcoholic drinks a day if you are a man, or 1 alcoholic drink a day if you are a woman. people who drink more than this may be at higher risk for weakening bones ( osteoporosis ). alcohol use also increases your risk of falling and breaking a bone. - do not smoke or use other tobacco products. smoking puts you at a much higher risk for developing osteoporosis. it also interferes with blood supply and healing. for more information, see the topic quitting smoking. injuries such as bruises, burns, fractures, cuts, or punctures may be a sign of abuse. suspect possible abuse when an injury cannot be explained or does not match the explanation, repeated injuries occur, or the explanations for the cause of the injury change. you may be able to prevent further abuse by reporting it and seeking help. preparing for your appointment to prepare for your appointment, see the topic making the most of your appointment. you can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer the following questions : - what are your main symptoms? - how long have you had your symptoms? - how and when did an injury occur? how was it treated? - can you walk, or is walking difficult? - have you had any injuries in the past to the same area? do you have any continuing problems because of the previous injury? - what activities related to sports, work, or your lifestyle make your symptoms better or worse? - what home treatment measures have you tried? did they help? - what nonprescription medicines have you taken. did they help? - do you have any health risks? - bruises and blood spots under the skin - nail problems and injuries - puncture wounds - using ice and cold packs | primary medical reviewer | | william h. blahd, jr., md, facep - emergency medicine | | specialist medical reviewer | | h. michael o ' connor, md - emergency medicine | | last revised | | october 4, 2012 | | by : | | healthwise staff | | last revised : october 4, 2012 | | medical review : | | william h. blahd, jr., md, facep - emergency medicine | h. michael o ' connor, md - emergency medicine © 1995 -, healthwise, incorporated. healthwise, health


the concept of a welfare pedestal has been popularized by noel pearson. as a lawyer and passionate advocate for the interests of aboriginal people who live on the cape york peninsula of north queensland, some readers might expect that he would spend his time arguing for more government hand - outs to remedy social problems in aboriginal communities. however, pearson recognizes that the welfare programs are actually a major cause of the social problems in those communities and his main focus is on finding ways to stop hand - outs from harming his clients. he is not against government help for his clients, he just wants to ensure that it does them more good than harm. the insight behind the welfare pedestal is that welfare payments can provide perverse incentives by encouraging some people to remain on welfare rather than to seek paid employment. over the last decade or so, concern about an emerging problem of inter - generational welfare dependency ( in non - indigenous communities as well as indigenous communities ) has led to some tightening up in the provisions attached to unemployment benefits. it is too soon to claim that the problems associated with unemployment benefits and pretend work schemes have all been resolved, but the problems are now widely recognized and some appropriate remedial action is being taken. the example of a government program contributing to the welfare pedestal that pearson gives in his recent lecture, ‘ pathways to prosperity for indigenous people ’, is family benefits. he suggests : ‘ life on the welfare pedestal in a country that distributes money through a generous family tax benefit system is quite a rational choice ’ ( the sir ronald trotter lecture, new zealand business roundtable, 2010 ). i had not previously thought of the family tax benefit in that way. i have tended to view the family tax benefit as a kind of negative income tax, providing net benefits for families with low and modest incomes. i was previously aware of adverse incentives resulting from fairly high effective marginal tax rates for people on fairly modest family incomes above the point where the means test begins to cut in ( about $ 45, 000 ). according to the way economists usually look at these things, however, a family with four children obtaining $ 19, 600 per annum from family benefits has no disincentive to obtaining additional income from work of more than $ 25, 000. in another paper pearson acknowledges that the absence of punitive marginal tax rates is probably not an important consideration when people in cape york peninsula make their decisions about how many hours of the week they allocate to work or leisure. he writes : pearson argues that ‘ conditions and incentives to make active and beneficial life choices should


rates is probably not an important consideration when people in cape york peninsula make their decisions about how many hours of the week they allocate to work or leisure. he writes : pearson argues that ‘ conditions and incentives to make active and beneficial life choices should apply to family payments ’ even though he acknowledges that problems arise because such payments ‘ are not indigenous - specific schemes ’. that poses a question : if people make the choice to live on generally available family benefits rather than to earn higher incomes, why should we view this as a problem? i see no problem in individuals choosing to live on low incomes. we should respect the choices that some individuals make to live a life of poverty ( and of chastity too, if that is their choice ). i can ’ t see why anyone should have a problem with individuals making whatever income / leisure choice that they desire. i can see a problem, however, in governments providing family benefits to people who do not have adequate regard for the well - being of their children. i think we ( taxpayers / voters ) should insist that family assistance should only be provided to parents when they meet conditions such as ensuring that their children attend school regularly. perhaps it would not be too difficult for a prime minister who has a special interest in educational opportunity to find a simple way for such a condition to be applied to family tax benefits across all sections of the community.


posted 1 year ago known as the most important artifact ever to have arrived on new zealand shores... the " pompallier madonna " was brought out here in the mid 1800 ' s by a french missionary. rumours persist that their was secret vatican involvement after the original byzantine parchment was stolen from a local high school in wellington nz in the 1960 ' s. there are also rumours that the next day it turned up in a secondhand shop window but as the original has never been found it is a true unsolved mystery!! given to the pope pius ix in 1846 as a coronation gift by the sisters of the campus martius. he later gave it to bishop jean baptiste francois pompallier in rome in 1847 - to bring the ancient small painting to new zealand to establish the catholic church in new zealand. pope pius ix ( 1792 - 1878 ) he proclaimed the dogmas of the immaculate conception of the virgin in 1854 his pontificate was the longest in history. henceforth the virgin icon representing his vision of the catholicism. interesting it wasn ' t christ at the centre of the faith. in 750ad, the sisters of the immaculate conception took it from byzantine to rome during a time of iconoclastic persecution in the east. mine is a lithograph reproduction of the original and the same size. it has golden gilt? on it. the original was in an oval frame as shown in the reproduction. i hope one day to stumble upon the original if it is still in nz. i am unsure as to how many lithographs exist??? would anybody know??? an interesting article on this icon in nz newspaper - ( i stole bits : - ) a real life da vinci code - who can crack this?


website detail page written by chandralekha singh this 30 - question research - based multiple - choice test is designed to evaluate students ' conceptual understanding of symmetry and gauss ' s law. the test may be administered to students in calculus - based introductory physics courses or upper - level undergraduate e & m courses. the survey is based on investigations of students ' difficulties with the concepts of symmetry, electric field, and electric flux and should be given in a 50 - minute period. statistical results have shown the survey to be reliable and valid. a summary of the construction and analysis of the survey is available in student understanding of symmetry and gauss ' s law of electricity, am. j. phys. 74 ( 10 ), 923 - 936 ( 2006 ). this assessment is free for use by instructors in their classroom. however, as it takes years of development effort to create and validate reliable assessment instruments, the file is password - protected. furthermore, the author requests that 1. students are not given copies following examination ; and 2. none of the questions are incorporated into web - based question delivery systems without adequate security to prevent printing or unauthorized access by students. to obtain the password, please send a request with your name, email, institution, and a link to a page at your institution that confirms you are an instructor. compadre is beta testing citation styles! disclaimer : compadre offers citation styles as a guide only. we cannot offer interpretations about citations as this is an automated procedure. please refer to the style manuals in the citation source information area for clarifications. citation source information the ajp / prst - per presented is based on the aip style with the addition of journal article titles and conference proceeding article titles. the apa style presented is based on information from apa style. org : electronic references. the chicago style presented is based on information from examples of chicago - style documentation. the mla style presented is based on information from the mla faq. symmetry and gauss ' s law conceptual evaluation : is key reference of student understanding of symmetry and gauss ' s law of electricity a summary of the survey ' s development, reliability, and validity is provided in c. singh, " student understanding of symmetry and gauss ' s law of electricity, " am. j. of phys 74 ( 10 ), 923 - 936 ( 2006 ). relation by lyle barbato know of another related resource? login to relate this resource to it. is key reference of


the north and eastern shores of new brunswick stretch for nearly 1, 700 kilometres from the restigouche river at the quebec border to baie verte at the nova scotia border. a plane ride up the coast offers a dramatic view of the most distinguishing features of this coastline. it is low lying, with a string of barrier islands, dunes and reefs stretching from capetormentine to the bay of chaleur and it has sand, lots of sand. these sands are as characteristic and influential in defining the nature of the north and eastern coasts of new brunswick as are the tides in the bay of fundy. like the dynamic and powerful tides of fundy, the movement of sand shapes coastlines and determines the distribution of habitat and species. just as changes to the natural flow of tides can have dramatic ecological impacts, altering the flow of sand can also have ecological consequences. over the past one hundred years, more than the sands have shifted on the northern and eastern coasts of new brunswick. the ecology and the economy of the region have shifted as well. it is tempting to think of these shifts as natural – the result of changes in technology or climate, increases in the scales of economies, changes in market demand, periodic fluctuations in wild populations, or the rise of globalization. perhaps this is true for some industries or ecosystems. however, there is nothing natural about the incremental and systematic contamination and destruction of wild fish stocks and coastal habitat. mining operations, pulp and paper mills and other industries have contaminated rivers, estuaries and bays. salt marshes have been filled in for residential, cottage and business development. ecologically sensitive areas have been proposed for conversion to golf courses. channel mouths, gullies and bays have been dredged to make way for boat harbours and marine service centres. and in 2007, a task force on self - sufficiency recommended the province undertake a massive expansion of the shellfish, primarily oyster, aquaculture industry in the bays and estuaries of the north and east coast. for more than a decade, citizens and community - based organizations have been doing their part to raise awareness of contamination and coastal issues and to monitor and restore habitats. all too often, however, they find themselves powerless to act when the legislation regulating certain activities is inadequate or not enforced, or when there is no legislation protecting certain habitats. ten years ago, the conservation council marked the1998 international year of the oceans by initiating a comprehensive review of the issues facing the coastal ecosystems of new brunswick ’ s north and eastern coasts. the product of


the people of georgia having dissolved their political connection with the government of the united states of america, present to their confederates and the world the causes which have led to the separation. for the last ten years we have had numerous and serious causes of complaint against our non - slave - holding confederate states with reference to the subject of african slavery. they have endeavored to weaken our security, to disturb our domestic peace and tranquility, and persistently refused to comply with their express constitutional obligations to us in reference to that property, and by the use of their power in the federal government have striven to deprive us of an equal enjoyment of the common territories of the republic. in the momentous step which our state has taken of dissolving its connection with the government of which we so long formed a part, it is but just that we should declare the prominent reasons which have induced our course. our position is thoroughly identified with the institution of slavery - - the greatest material interest of the world. its labor supplies the product which constitutes by far the largest and most important portions of commerce of the earth. these products are peculiar to the climate verging on the tropical regions, and by an imperious law of nature, none but the black race can bear exposure to the tropical sun. these products have become necessities of the world, and a blow at slavery is a blow at commerce and civilization. that blow has been long aimed at the institution, and was at the point of reaching its consummation. there was no choice left us but submission to the mandates of abolition, or a dissolution of the union, whose principles had been subverted to work out our ruin. texas abandoned her separate national existence and consented to become one of the confederated union to promote her welfare, insure domestic tranquility and secure more substantially the blessings of peace and liberty to her people. she was received into the confederacy with her own constitution, under the guarantee of the federal constitution and the compact of annexation, that she should enjoy these blessings. she was received as a commonwealth holding, maintaining and protecting the institution known as negro slavery - - the servitude of the african to the white race within her limits - - a relation that had existed from the first settlement of her wilderness by the white race, and which her people intended should exist in all future time. her institutions and geographical position established the strongest ties between her and other slave - holding states of the confederacy. those ties have been strengthened by association. but what has been the course


white race, and which her people intended should exist in all future time. her institutions and geographical position established the strongest ties between her and other slave - holding states of the confederacy. those ties have been strengthened by association. but what has been the course of the government of the united states, and of the people and authorities of the non - slave - holding states, since our connection with them? the controlling majority of the federal government, under various pretences and disguises, has so administered the same as to exclude the citizens of the southern states, unless under odious and unconstitutional restrictions, from all the immense territory owned in common by all the states on the pacific ocean, for the avowed purpose of acquiring sufficient power in the common government to use it as a means of destroying the institutions of texas and her sister slaveholding states. declaration of causes of seceding states the constitution, it is true, secured every essential guarantee to the institution while it should last, and hence no argument can be justly urged against the constitutional guarantees thus secured, because of the common sentiment of the day. those ideas, however, were fundamentally wrong. they rested upon the assumption of the equality of races. this was an error. it was a sandy foundation, and the government built upon it fell when the " storm came and the wind blew. " our new government is founded upon exactly the opposite idea ; its foundations are laid, its corner - stone rests, upon the great truth that the negro is not equal to the white man ; that slavery subordination to the superior race is his natural and normal condition. this, our new government, is the first, in the history of the world, based upon this great physical, philosophical, and moral truth. ~ alexander h. stephens march 21, 1861 savannah, georgia the american civil war was not fought to end slavery ; it was fought to preserve it. the people who started it just lost.


problem - oriented guides for police series the cops - funded series of problem - oriented guides for police, or pop guides, consists of 49 problem - specific guides, 5 response guides, and 6 problem - solving tool guides. the problem - specific guides provide law enforcement with problem - specific questions to help identify potential factors and underlying causes of specific problems, identify known responses to each problem, and provide potential measures to assess the effectiveness of problem - solving efforts. response guides are pop guides that summarize the collective knowledge from research and practice about how, and under what conditions, certain common police responses to crime and disorder do and do not work. problem - solving tools series are pop guides that explain how various analytical methods and techniques can be applied to improve an understanding of crime and disorder problems. choose one of the following to view either all or a segment of the pop guides series – these problem - oriented guidebooks are available on this cd or for download. by opening any of the pop guides on this cd - rom, you will be able to search the document, read individual chapters, and print only the sections you want. if you wish to have a hard copy sent to you, call the cops office response center at 800. 421. 6770 or send an e - mail to askcopsrc @ usdoj. gov.


hepatitis a is a preventable disease. a vaccine is currently available for people at risk for hepatitis a. it is also recommended as a routine childhood immunization. hepatitis a, at the top of the alphabet of viruses causing liver disease, puts travelers at risk and, until recently, worried parents of children in day care. aside from immunization, hand washing before eating or preparing food and after using the bathroom or changing a baby ' s diaper, remains one of the best preventions against getting or spreading hepatitis a virus ( hav ), according to the cdc. the disease is spread by feces - to - mouth contact. the virus can be carried on an infected person ' s hands and spread by direct contact or by consuming food or drink the infected person handled. hav also can be transmitted through oral - anal sex or by consuming water or raw shellfish contaminated by sewage. how is it spread? hav is not spread by coughing, sneezing, or other casual contact, such as sitting next to a person or being in the same room. people at increased risk for hepatitis a include travelers to developing countries, injecting drug users, men who have sex with men, and possibly children and workers in day care centers where outbreaks occasionally occur. what are the symptoms? symptoms include fatigue ( tiredness ), mild fever, flu - like illness, nausea and vomiting, stomach ache, and loss of appetite. some people also have jaundice ( yellow eyes and skin ), dark urine, and light - colored bowel movements. children, especially young ones, may have few if any symptoms. diagnosis is made through a blood test. the average incubation period is 30 days, but it can range from 15 to 50 days, and people can be contagious up to 14 days before symptoms appear. what is the treatment? treatment is mainly rest, a low - fat diet and plenty of liquids. antibiotics aren ' t useful, because hepatitis a is a virus. this is not a chronic disease ; once you get it, you will never get it again. people who have recovered from hepatitis a do not continue to carry the virus. healthy people rarely die from hepatitis a, and most people recover in a few weeks. people who already have a chronic liver disease when they get hepatitis a are at higher risk of developing liver failure. the hepatitis a vaccine has become part of the routine childhood immunization schedule, and, as of 2006, is recommended for all children, not just those at risk. these


disease when they get hepatitis a are at higher risk of developing liver failure. the hepatitis a vaccine has become part of the routine childhood immunization schedule, and, as of 2006, is recommended for all children, not just those at risk. these adults should consider immunization : travelers who will be visiting or living in high - risk areas, including countries in latin and south america and many parts of africa and asia men who have sex with men injecting drug users people working in institutions and day care centers people with chronic liver disease or who have clotting - factor disorders also may want to get the vaccine. tips for prevention if you are not immunized against hepatitis a, here are suggestions on how to avoid infection : wash hands thoroughly with soap and running water after using the bathroom, changing diapers, and before preparing or eating food. this is the most important step in preventing hepatitis a. teach children to wash their hands. change diapers on surfaces that can be cleaned and disinfected after each use. a good disinfectant is one tablespoon liquid household bleach to one quart of water. never change diapers on eating or food preparation surfaces. cook shellfish thoroughly before eating, especially if you already have a chronic liver disease. drink water from approved sources only. let your doctor or health department workers know if someone in your family has hepatitis a. get the vaccine if you are in a high - risk group or are planning an extended trip to a country with a high rate of hepatitis a.


cd, cd - r, sacd, and dvd - audio glossary click on a letter below to jump to that section of the glossary. analog record level control cd - r / rw decks with this feature let you adjust the volume level when recording from analog sources such as lp, tape, and radio. for anyone who makes compilation cd - rs from a variety of these sources, this control is especially important because it helps you maintain consistent volume from song to song. cd - r ( audio and data ) cd - rs are recordable cds that can be written to ( i. e., recorded upon ) once. when an audio cd - r has been recorded and finalized, the disc can be played like a regular cd in all home, car, and computer cd drives. however, a cd - r can never be re - recorded. cd - rs commonly hold 80 minutes of music, though some discs today can hold as much as 99 - minutes of music. cd - rs are designated for either " audio " or " data " use. blank discs labeled " audio " can be used with home cd recording decks as well as computer cd - r / w drives, and cost more than data - grade cd - rs. blank cd - rs designated as " data " tend to cost less than audio cd - rs, but can only be recorded to using a computer cd - r / w drive. cd - rw ( audio and data ) unlike cd - rs, cd - rws are rewritable cds that can be written and rewritten to many times. when you make a recording on an audio cd - rw and finalize it, you can play it in many standard cd and dvd players. but when you want to change the disc ' s contents, you can erase it and re - write to it — from 30 to 50 times. otherwise, cd - rws are fairly similar to cd - rs. they commonly hold 80 minutes of music ; some discs today can hold as much as 99 minutes. however, keep in mind that they are not compatible with as many kinds of cd players, especially older ones. cd - rws are designated for either " audio " or " data " use. blank discs labeled " audio " can be used with home cd recording decks as well as computer cd - r / w drives, and cost more than data - grade cd - rws. blank cd - rws designated as " data " tend to cost less than audio cd - rws, but can only be recorded


decks as well as computer cd - r / w drives, and cost more than data - grade cd - rws. blank cd - rws designated as " data " tend to cost less than audio cd - rws, but can only be recorded to using a computer cd - r / w drive. another name for a component cd recorder. the designation " cd - r / rw " indicates that such decks can record and play back both cd - rs and cd - rws. players with cd text display will show disc, track, and artist names for all cd text - encoded discs. this information is typically displayed on the player ' s front panel, although some models also display it on an lcd remote or on your television screen. a cd - r / rw deck with cd text entry lets you encode titles and artist names onto any cd - r you record, prior to disc finalization. the digital - to - analog converter ( dac ) converts the numeric values stored on a cd into a series of voltages, which then produce the audio signal we hear. most cd players use 1 - bit d / a converters ; some cd models ( and most dvd players ) use multi - bit converters. both kinds of dacs provide excellent sound quality. the two most common types of digital output are optical and coaxial. optical digital connections require an optical digital cable. though coaxial digital connections use standard rca - style jacks, a coaxial digital audio cable designed specifically for the wider frequency bandwidth of digital signals is recommended. digital record level control cd - r / rw decks with this feature let you adjust the volume level for digital recording. this is a great feature for anyone who makes compilation cd - rs from various cds, because it helps you keep the volume consistent from song to song. ( note : if you ' ve got a deck with only analog record level control, you can use this to adjust levels for digital sources, too, but you ' ll sacrifice a small amount of sound quality in the translation from digital to analog and back to digital. ) direct disc ( or track ) access just push a button for instant access to any disc ( or song ). to hear or program track 7, just push " 7 ". this feature can be accessible from the unit ' s front panel, the remote, or both. one loaded disc keeps playing while you change other discs in the player. you enter names for your discs ; the names then display on the player ' s front - panel


can be accessible from the unit ' s front panel, the remote, or both. one loaded disc keeps playing while you change other discs in the player. you enter names for your discs ; the names then display on the player ' s front - panel display. dsd ( direct stream digital ) direct stream digital ( dsd ) is the advanced recording technology that makes sacd possible. standard cds use 44. 1khz / 16 - bit pcm ( 44, 100 samples - per - second pulse code modulation, encoded at 16 - bit resolution ) to represent audio in digital form. dsd, on the other hand, is a 1 - bit technology that samples music 2. 82 million times per second, capturing 4 times more information. the resulting sound is warmer, smoother, and more " analog " than anything 44. 1khz / 16 - bit pcm can deliver. a dualdisc is a two - sided disc that combines audio on one side with a dvd on the other side. the audio side carries stereo music, while the dvd side usually offers a multichannel version in dolby digital, dts, or dvd - audio in addition to video footage. extras can include lyrics, documentaries, interviews, photo galleries, and more. a dualdisc will probably play in most cd or dvd players. however, since dualdisc is slightly thicker than regular cds, it may get stuck in some slot - loading players, or the dvd side may get scratched. a number of consumer electronics manufacturers have posted advisories regarding these issues, including denon, jvc, onkyo, sony, and toshiba. keep in mind, if the dualdisc has dvd - audio content on the dvd side, you ' ll need a dvd - audio - capable player in order to listen to that portion of the disc. even if you don ' t have a dvd - audio player, most discs will have a multichannel dolby® digital mix in addition to dvd - audio, so that they can still be played in a regular dvd player. a music - oriented dvd format that can carry up to 6 channels of 96khz / 24 - bit audio ( music for 5. 1 - channel home theater systems ), or 2 channels of ultra high - resolution 192khz / 24 - bit audio. most dvd - audio discs also carry lower - resolution dolby digital or stereo soundtracks for playback on dvd players that lack dvd - audio decoders. a dvd - audio disc may also contain liner notes, lyrics, menu


it typically takes about a minute to scan a cd. pcm ( pulse code modulation ) a signal sampling and transmission standard which is used by numerous digital audio formats. standard cds employ pcm at a sampling rate of 44. 1khz, encoded at 16 - bit resolution. a memory feature found mainly in multi - cd changers. if you choose, the changer can store a portion of a cd ' s " table of contents " — including its unique identification information. this means that whenever you play this particular disc, the changer will recognize it. also, many models let you create and store titles for the discs loaded in the changer. " jukebox " - style changers often allow you to classify and store your music in categories like rock, jazz, etc. for easy group playback ( see " music groups " above ). a few cd and cd - r / rw decks let you increase or decrease the playback speed in precise increments — a great feature for djs, musicians, and dance instructors. standard track programming lets you pick which songs you want to hear. program delete takes a shortcut, letting you simply delete the songs that you don ' t want to hear. enables playback of the tracks on a cd ( or in the case of some cd changers, tracks on multiple discs ) in a random order selected by the player or changer. although sacds look the same as standard discs, they can hold much more digital information than regular cds. all sacds contain a studio - mixed, high - resolution stereo signal, and many also contain a high - resolution surround sound signal, which can carry up to six independent channels. sacd uses a process of sound recording and reproduction called direct stream digital™, or dsd, instead of standard pcm. when an analog - to - digital converter digitizes an analog audio signal, it rapidly samples ( or takes " snapshots " of ) the analog signal ' s amplitude at regular intervals. these amplitude measurements are then converted to binary digital data — 1s and 0s — for storage on a cd or other digital audio medium. the sampling rate ( or frequency ) is the number of samples taken per second. the standard sampling rate for cd is 44. 1khz — that ' s 44. 1 thousand snapshots per second. sampling rate converter converts incoming digital source signals at other sampling rates to the cd - standard 44. 1khz. most of our cd recorders offer this feature, which gives you more


' s 44. 1 thousand snapshots per second. sampling rate converter converts incoming digital source signals at other sampling rates to the cd - standard 44. 1khz. most of our cd recorders offer this feature, which gives you more options when recording from digital sources. in addition to 44. 1khz sources like cd and minidisc, you can make direct digital recordings of dat material at 32khz or 48khz, or digital satellite audio at 48khz. cd recorders with a sample rate converter bypass let you make a bit - for - bit perfect copy of any 44. 1khz audio disc — even dts or hdcd. skip track id cd recorders with this feature enable you to encode, prior to disc finalization, skip ids for tracks containing recording mistakes or unwanted material. when you play the disc back in the cd recorder itself, the tracks you have designated will automatically be skipped. ( note : some, but not all, standard cd and dvd players will support this feature when playing back discs recorded with skip ids ; others will play back all tracks on a disc, regardless of skip ids. ) the measure of the musical signal relative to background noise. the higher the s / n ratio, the cleaner the sound. lets you program a sequence of songs for playback in any order. variable line outputs if a cd player lists " remote with volume control " as a feature, that means it has variable line outputs — you can use the remote to adjust the volume level of the signal coming from the cd player itself. this feature is especially helpful for applications where the receiver or amplifier doesn ' t have its own remote control.


information contained on this page is provided by newsusa, an independent third - party content provider. worldnow and this station make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. / sylvan learning ) - summer outdoor play is central to a child ' s development. many experts agree that reading, however, is just as important. according to richard e. bavaria, ph. d., senior vice president of education outreach for sylvan learning, summer is the perfect time for learning and discovery. " it ' s very important that children continue to practice their academic skills in summer as strong reading skills are incredibly important for all subjects in school. the more children read, the more they ' ll enjoy reading, and the better readers they ' re likely to become. " here are some reading tips from the brain - trust at the national summer learning association and tutoring authority, sylvan learning. * be a reading role model. by spending time reading at the beach or using the lengthy directions to put the grill together, you show your child that reading is both fun and useful. * set aside a consistent time each day for reading. depending on your family ' s schedule, reading time might be in the morning, afternoon or before bed. whatever time you choose, stick to it! consistency is key to building good habits. * let your child make their reading choices. let kids read whatever they want. now is a good time to encourage reading about topics they don ' t study during school to explore new interests, discover new talents or delve into old hobbies. * get your child to savor the book she or he is reading. don ' t rush through a book - - take time to enjoy it. have your child stop and think about plot points and characters. this will develop their analytical skills. * set goals and reward effort. reward reading with more reading. download the next book in your child ' s favorite series on your tablet or kindle. let your child peruse library catalogues online for e - books. * read the book, then watch the movie. few things make kids feel more " superior " than comparing and contrasting a movie to the book it ' s based on. " that ' s not the way it was in the book! " let them explain the differences, guess why a director made those changes and then discuss which version they preferred. * go online for ideas. there are lots of websites for kids ' book choices. visit www. bookadventure. com for reading tips, book suggestions and


the uk food standards agency ( fsa ) has issued a press release advising pregnant mothers to limit their intake of coffee and caffeine - containing substances. " pregnant women are advised to limit their daily caffeine intake to 200mg a day – roughly two mugs of coffee a day " due to a potential link with foetal growth retardation ( fgr ). this is a reduction from the previous advice of 300 mg per day, following an updated report from the fsa ' s independent committee on toxicity ( cot ). according to the committee, if there is a causal link then there may be no lower ' safe ' limit, but a caffeine intake of less than 200 mg per day during pregnancy may reduce the risk of fgr to less than 2 %. fgr is defined as failure of the baby to attain its growth potential as determined by genetic and environmental factors. the fsa funded research published by the british medical journal which measured caffeine intake from all sources ( coffee, tea, colas and medication ) in pregnant women, and then measured their babies when they were born. the xenobiotic caffeine can be detoxified from the body in four main ways, 3 - demethylation being quantitatively the most important : caffeine is converted to paraxanthine by the enzyme cytochrome p450 1a2 ( cyp1a2 ). this is one of the enzymes which often has low activity in the gt4 explorer genotype, and is responsible for explorers being up all night after drinking coffee. the researchers measured the cyp1a2 enzyme activity as the main form of caffeine clearance in the mothers taking part in the study. they found that the mothers with the highest cyp1a2 activity passed the most caffeine and caffeine metabolites to their foetus via the placenta. cyp1a2 activity is absent in the placenta and the fetus. this means that like the gt4 explorer, the unborn baby won ' t get much sleep after their mother has drunk coffee. what is the problem with having smaller babies? it is a well known epigenetic risk factor, as the cot study says : fgr is an important outcome because it is associated with an increased risk of perinatal mortality and morbidity, including perinatal asphyxia. moreover, there is epidemiological evidence that fgr correlates with adverse effects in adult life. for example, affected individuals have


when news happens, text sde and your photos or videos to 80360. or contact us by email and phone. southampton ' s historic dock gates saved from demolition southampton ’ s famous dock gates have been saved. a government preservation order has been placed on the imposing landmarks, just days before they could have been knocked down. when plans by associated british ports ( abp ), owners and operators of the city ’ s docks, emerged last month to demolish the distinctive structures, there was a local outcry to save the long - standing landmark gates. following a recommendation by english heritage to the government, the entrances at dock gate 8 and dock gate 10 have now been safeguarded for future generations and are officially listed as grade ii buildings. heritage watchdog the city of southampton society was so concerned over the planned destruction it submitted an application straight away once details of the proposed scheme were made public. arthur jeffery, the society ’ s vice - chairman, said : “ we are absolutely delighted at this news as the gates are an important part of the city ’ s historic waterfront. “ these are art deco style gates and the society feared that they could have gone the same way as the former ocean terminal in the eastern docks back in 1982. ” southampton city council also recommended the gates to be listed, describing them as “ a rare and evocative survival of inter - war maritime port structures of clear special architectural and historical interest ”. a grade ii listing means a structure is considered to be nationally important and imposes strict regulations and limitations on future work and repairs, which can be carried out on the structure. back in the 1950s when the docks were known as the “ gateway the world ” because of the many ships departing to all corners of the globe, these were the two gates through which most people began their journeys. during the second world war the structures, especially dock gate 8, guarded the docksides, especially during the build - up to d - day in june, 1944, when more than two million american soldiers left southampton for the beaches of normandy. the same gate was the backdrop when hundreds of dispirited german prisoners of war trudged from the waterfront before being dispersed to various camps. abp had wanted permission to demolish the gates and was making preparations for the work to be done at the end of this month. the port operator argued that the gates, which have stood since the development of the western docks in the 1930s, were obstacles standing in the way of progress and demolition would allow bigger loads to enter the port, ease


states navy ships each year face many threats. while large threats mandate heavy munitions or rockets, the majority of threats are from small motorboats with armed occupants. dealing with these threats is tricky - - larger munitions are potentially lethal and expensive. but using smaller munitions places the ship ' s crew at risk. thus the non - lethal accuracy of a laser weapon would be a highly desirable tool for the u. s. maritime warriors. sailors ' dreams of having such a weapon at their disposal advanced a step forward to reality, with northrop grumman corp. ( noc ) and the u. s. office of naval research ( onr ) completing the first live test [ press release ] of a solid state weapon laser at on wednesday the uss paul foster, a decommissioned destroyer, was retrofitted with northrop grumman ' s 15 - kilowatt solid - state high - energy laser ( hel ) prototype. the laser creates a high - energy burst of light by running electrons through specially designed pieces of glass or crystals. the eventual goal of the $ 98m usd maritime laser demonstrator ( mld ) is to install 100 - kilowatt lasers on ships. but the smaller 15 - kilowatt system proved it might be sufficiently deadly for some applications. motoring into the u. s. ' s pacific testing range near san nicholas island off the coast of central california, the ship set its aim at a large inflatable motorboat, moving a mile away. firing a pulse of light, the experimental laser struck a crippling blow [ video ] damaging the engines and setting them on fire. the target was crippled, floating dead in the ocean. the success was not easy. the scientists had to deal with ocean waves that could reach four feet in height. and they had to deal with the day ' s humidity and the salty air over ocean waters. but adverse conditions did not stop the laser from finding is mark with a killing shot. describes rear adm. nevin carr [ profile ] in an interview with wired ' s danger room, " i spent my life at sea and i never thought we ’ d see this kind of progress this quickly, where we ’ re approaching a decision of when we can put laser weapons on ships. when we were doing the shot and the engine went, there was elation in the control room. it ’ s a big step, a proof of principle for directed energy weapons. [ ten kilowatt beams like the test laser ] can be operated in existing power levels and cooling


and the engine went, there was elation in the control room. it ’ s a big step, a proof of principle for directed energy weapons. [ ten kilowatt beams like the test laser ] can be operated in existing power levels and cooling levels on the u. s. navy could see deployment of lasers to warships over the course of the next decade, though their installation will require new crew training and the development of new battle tactics to fully leverage their capabilities. small lasers could be used effectively both against airborne targets like uavs and against small ships that lack thick metal plating. northrop grumman ' s rival raytheon comp. ( rtn ) has successfully killed uavs with a laser system that couples six solid - state lasers with an output of 32 kilowatts. in the more distant future ( the 2020s, specifically ) the navy is working on a " superlaser ", a megawatt - class laser capable of cutting through 2, 000 feet of steel per second and offering battle - sinking power. the more powerful onr laser is called the free electron laser. leveraging a new technique called free electron injection, the project has made significant progress already. adm. carr comments, " this is an important data point, but i still want the megawatt death ray. " the u. s. navy is not alone in its thirst for laser guns. the u. s. air force is also testing new laser designs that could be mounted to helicopter gunships and used to cripple uavs, missiles, humvees and lesser vehicles.


there is a " quick " method of estimating time to harvest a drought damaged corn field : the " squeeze test ". - select a few stalks ( like described in the previous paragraph ) and chop them into pieces about the same size that the silage chopper would using a heavy knife or cleaver. also, you could chop a round of the field with a silage chopper and sample the chopped material. grab a hand full of the chopped material and squeeze it for 30 seconds. - if the juices drip easily from the material, then it is too wet. in this situation, wait to chop in a couple of days or test again in a couple of days. - if the sample doesn ' t drip any juices from the squeezed material, then slowly open your hand. - if the stalk material remains compacted and doesn ' t fall apart or quickly expand back, the moisture level is acceptable for ensiling. - if your hand is not wet and the stalk material falls apart when you open your hand, the material is too dry to ensile. if the chopped silage is too wet : - stop chopping and allow the field to dry. - or - - add whole corn, dried distillers grains, or ground dry forage. to avoid the nitrates, the chopper head could be set to leave an 8 inch stubble. this will result in a reduction in yield. the ensiling process will reduce nitrate 30 to 60 percent, so a compromise is leaving a 6 inch stubble. droughted corn silage will be 85 % to 95 % the energy value of regular corn silage depending on the number of ears on the stalk. the protein content can be slightly greater than regular corn silage. before feeding, sample and test for moisture, energy ( tdn ), crude protein, and nitrates. pricing drought corn silage is a bit of a challenge. rule of thumb has been that each ton of 65 % moisture corn silage in the bunker is priced at 9 to 10 times price of a bushel of corn ( normal, well - eared corn ). pricing the standing crop is a little more difficult to determine. below are two ways some have priced it in the field. - ton price is 5 times price of a bushel of corn ( earless corn ) - ton price is 6 to 7 times price of a bushel of corn ( low grain corn - less than 100 bu / a ). it is hard to estimate the amount of silage that will be produced in


this website is no longer being updated. visit dartmouth now for all news published after june 7, 2010. dartmouth college office of public affairs • press release posted 5 / 10 / 10 • media contact : office of public affairs ( 603 ) 646 - 3661 by using entire islands as experimental laboratories, two dartmouth biologists have performed one of the largest manipulations of natural selection ever conducted in a wild animal population. their results, published online on may 9 by the journal nature, show that competition among lizards is more important than predation by birds and snakes when it comes to survival of the fittest lizard. podcast : lizards and evolution " when tennyson wrote that nature is ' red in tooth and claw ', i think the image in his head was something like a discovery channel version of a lion chasing down a gazelle " said ryan calsbeek, an assistant professor of biology at dartmouth college and a co - author of the study. " while that may often be the case, intense natural selection can also arise through competition. sometimes, death by competitor can be more important than death by predator ". to show this effect, the researchers covered multiple small islands in the bahamas with bird - proof netting to keep predatory birds at bay. other islands were left open to bird predators, and on still other islands, the researchers added predatory snakes to expose the lizards to both bird and snake predators. next, they tracked the lizards over the summer to record which lizards lived and which died on the different islands. " we found repeated evidence that death by predators occurred at random with respect to traits like body size and running ability " said robert cox, a post - doctoral researcher at dartmouth and calsbeek ' s co - author. " but we also found that increasing the density of lizards on an island consistently created strong natural selection favoring larger size and better running ability. " calsbeek and cox explain that in high - density populations, the intensity of competition for food, space, and other resources is likely to increase. in turn, this increased competition favors the biggest, toughest lizards on the island. " the lizards play for keeps, " said calsbeek, " and there ' s no room for the meek when times get tough ". though the researchers note that competition will not always be more important than predation in other species or in different environments, they emphasize that their study has broad social implications because it demonstrates the ability to conduct evolutionary experiments in natural animal populations. " many people are skeptical of evolutionary biology because


it costs far more to execute a person than to keep him or her in prison for life. a 2011 study found that california has spent more than $ 4 billion on capital punishment since it was reinstated in 1978 and that death penalty trials are 20 times more expensive than trials seeking a sentence of life in prison without possibility of parole. california currently spends $ 184 million on the death penalty each year and is on track to spend $ 1 billion in the next five years. 2 ) there is no credible evidence that capital punishment deters crime. scientific studies have consistently failed to demonstrate that executions deter people from committing crime anymore than long prison sentences. moreover, states without the death penalty have much lower murder rates. the south accounts for 80 % of us executions and has the highest regional murder rate. 3 ) innocent people have been convicted and executed. the wrongful execution of an innocent person is an injustice that can never be rectified. since the reinstatement of the death penalty, 140 men and women have been released from death row nationally.... some only minutes away from execution. moreover, in the past two years evidence has come to light which indicates that four men may have been wrongfully executed in recent years for crimes they did not commit. this error rate is simply appalling, and completely unacceptable, when we are talking about life and death. 4 ) race plays a role in determining who lives and who dies. the race of the victim and the race of the defendant in capital cases are major factors in determining who is sentenced to die in this country. in 1990 a report from the general accounting office concluded that " in 82 percent of the studies [ reviewed ], race of the victim was found to influence the likelihood of being charged with capital murder or receiving the death penalty, i. e. those who murdered whites were more likely to be sentenced to death than those who murdered blacks. " 5 ) the death penalty is applied at random. politics, quality of legal counsel and the jurisdiction where a crime is committed are more often the determining factors in a death penalty case than the facts of the crime itself. the death penalty is a lethal lottery : of the 22, 000 homicides committed every year approximately 150 people are sentenced to death. 7 ) the usa is keeping company with notorious human rights abusers. the vast majority of countries in western europe, north america and south america — more than 139 nations worldwide — have abandoned capital punishment in law or in practice. the united states remains in the same company as iraq, iran and china as one of


##rs. the vast majority of countries in western europe, north america and south america — more than 139 nations worldwide — have abandoned capital punishment in law or in practice. the united states remains in the same company as iraq, iran and china as one of the major advocates and users of capital punishment. 8 ) millions currently spent on the death penalty could be used to assist the families of murder victims. many family members who have lost love ones to murder feel that the death penalty will not heal their wounds nor will it end their pain ; the extended process prior to executions can prolong the agony experienced by the family. funds now being used for the costly process of executions could be used to help families put their lives back together through counseling, restitution, crime victim hotlines, and other services addressing their needs. 9 ) bad lawyers are a persistent problem in capital cases perhaps the most important factor in determining whether a defendant will receive the death penalty is the quality of the representation he or she is provided. almost all defendants in capital cases cannot afford their own attorneys. in many cases, the appointed attorneys are overworked, underpaid, or lacking the trial experience required for death penalty cases. there have even been instances in which lawyers appointed to a death case were so inexperienced that they were completely unprepared for the sentencing phase of the trial. other appointed attorneys have slept through parts of the trial, or arrived at the court under the influence of alcohol. 10 ) life without parole is a sensible alternative to the death penalty in every state that retains the death penalty, jurors have the option of sentencing convicted capital murderers to life in prison without the possibility of parole. the sentence is cheaper to tax - payers and keeps violent offenders off the streets for good. unlike the death penalty, a sentence of life without parole also allows mistakes to be corrected. there are currently over 3, 300 people in california who have received this alternative sentence, which also has a more limited appeals process last approximately 3 years. according to the california governor ' s office, only seven people sentenced to life without parole have been released since the state provided for this option in 1977, and this occurred because they were able to prove their innocence.


through education, outreach, legal reform, and direct support for on - the - ground conservation programs, defenders is working to enhance the conservation of six of the world ' s seven endangered species of sea turtles that nest in mexico. we have succeeded in getting new regulations adopted to protect sea turtle nesting sites from disruption by light sources, vegetation removal, dune destruction and mishandling of nests and newborn sea turtles. visit our species at risk : sea turtles page for more information about what we ’ re doing to help sea turtles. despite a moratorium on commercial whaling that began in the 1980s, every year some countries try to overturn the moratorium and remove international protections for whales. defenders continues to fight these attempts through our work with international treaties. another major threat to whales accidental trapping in fishing gear. in 2007, defenders was successful in getting drift nets and surface nets banned in the shark fishery in mexico. mangroves are a very important coastal ecosystem that supports many endangered species like sea turtles, manatees, parrots and many types of fish. they also support 70 % of all commercial fisheries serving as breeding, refuge and feeding sites — for example the shrimp fishery. defenders has been instrumental in getting landmark legislation adopted in mexico to protect mangroves from tourist and industrial developments, shrimp farms and other threats. migratory birds face many threats during their migration as a result of habitat destruction and pollution. in mexico, wild birds are still being trapped for the pet trade and, in some parts, are still hunted for food. defenders of wildife has launched a campaign to promote birdwatching to encourage bird conservation. we are working alongside environmental and tourism authorities and helping produce bird guides to help state and local governments and local conservation groups promote birdwatching in their areas. our goal is to change the way mexicans perceive birds and put an end to bird trapping for the pet trade.


nasa ' s romantically named new horizons is well on its way to the distant dwarf - planet pluto. the plutonium - powered spacecraft, traveling at 47, 000 mph, will flyby chilly pluto in july 2015. if successful, it will be the first manmade object ever to reach pluto which swings between 2. 7 and 4. 5 billion miles from the sun. new mexico astronomer clyde tombaugh discovered pluto accidentally in 1930. i had the honor of meeting and chatting with tombaugh at a 1977 meeting of the lehigh valley amateur astronomical society of pennsylvania. tombaugh was a gentle and humble man. i think he would be proud of the new horizons mission to reach this smallest of planets. pluto is one of the farthest, large planetary body from our sun. occasionally, pluto gives up this position to neptune due to the unusual, elliptical plutonian orbit. a year on pluto lasts 248 terrestrial years. in 2000, after scrubbing its so - called pluto fast flyby, later renamed kuiper - pluto express mission, space agency officials were forced to reconsider their mistake when many scientists and vocal pro - space groups protested loudly. " we have to get to pluto quickly, " many experts claimed. so, from the ashes of the pff / kpe mission was born new horizons. but what ' s the hurry and why should we visit pluto now? as it moves away from the sun, pluto ' s atmosphere will re - freeze falling to the surface as a nitrogen - carbon dioxide - methane snow sometime around the year 2020. hence, scientists are anxious to get to pluto now, while it still has a gaseous atmosphere. what will we find when we finally visit pluto? varying in its elliptical orbit between 2. 7 and 4. 5 billion miles from the sun, the rock and ice - bound planet ' s surface must be terribly cold, colder than liquid nitrogen. estimates place pluto ' s surface at a cryogenically chilly minus 396 degrees fahrenheit. that ' s cold enough for water ice to act like rock. but the warmer interior protected by miles of thick nitrogen, methane and carbon monoxide ices, and heated by radioactive rocks at the planet ' s core, may support a deep layer of liquid water - a plutonian ocean. it ' s fun to speculate what life forms might have evolved in that stygian sea.


the netbeans open source story one of the most interesting places where open source and java technology overlap is a little integrated development environment ( ide ) known as netbeans. netbeans ' path to open - sourcedom was a circuitous one. in 1996, a group of czech students set out to author an ide in pure java. the idea was to take the best features of delphi and create an easy - to - use, cross - platform environment where code could be edited, tested, and debugged. they called their software xelfi. enter czech entrepreneur - engineer roman stanek. encouraged by meeting with internet visionary and venture capitalist esther dyson, stanek was on the lookout for a good idea to capitalize on. he stumbled across the xelfi group on the web, struck a deal with the developers, founded netbeans with his own money, and then received funding from dyson. the company remained lean, releasing several versions of the ide and supporting the latest in java technology, such as swing, servlets, jdbc, javaserver pages ( jsp ), and xml. the ide was built to be compact, robust, and easy to use and install. sales offices were opened in silicon valley. but the company was hard - pressed to turn big profits, given the economics of software tools and java ' s client - side behavior. because the product was written in java, it was slower and required more memory than native - code ides. also, other development tool vendors most notably microsoft could afford to give their products away cheaply, or even for free. meanwhile, sun microsystems, creator of java, had no real java development tools to speak of. most users found sun ' s java workshop and java studio products lacking and difficult to work with. in order to promote the use of java, wanting to make java a universal language, sun had a strong reason to support a powerful java ide that ran on any platform and could easily be extended. the pc had some strong ides for java development such as borland ' s jbuilder, symantec ' s visual cafe ( now owned by webgain ), ibm ' s visual age, oracle ' s jdeveloper, and microsoft ' s now - discontinued visual j + +. but there were few good java - centric environments for linux, solaris, or other operating systems. so sun bought two leading java tool companies forte and netbeans. they rolled together forte


microsoft ' s now - discontinued visual j + +. but there were few good java - centric environments for linux, solaris, or other operating systems. so sun bought two leading java tool companies forte and netbeans. they rolled together forte ' s synerj ide and netbeans and released a pretty decent product called forte for java community edition. they gave forte away for free. they also released pricier versions : an internet edition for developing back - end software on a single web server and an enterprise edition for deploying large, distributed java applications. but while the forte products were popular, they didn ' t exactly spread like wildfire. and it was costly to continually add all the features that developers were requesting. and so, in june 2000, sun decided to take every netbeans component ( except for the browser and compiler ) open source. with the help of a company called collab. net, sun deployed a place for developers to work called netbeans. org. the license is called the sun public license ( spl ), a minor variation of the open - source mozilla public license ( mpl ) from netscape. netbeans code continues to form the basis for sun ' s official suite of forte products. essentially, sun " productizes " major netbeans drops by extensively testing them and branding them with items such as official sun splash screens. they then provide forte ' s users with full technical support. setting it free sun ' s motivation for open sourcing netbeans is clear. letting developers get their hands dirty with the code will make for a richer ide that will work on many platforms and contain features and a user interface that developers actually find useful. such a product would, so goes the theory, create a wider base of more dedicated java programmers. allowing the community to work on netbeans code is also a smart political move on sun ' s part, helping to build trust and dedication among java developers. many people have their eyes on netbeans as a possible indicator of whether sun will embrace open source for other java products, or even components of the java language itself. along with the usual open - source debate, such as whether letting too many cooks stir the pot will add bugs or make for higher - quality product, there are lots of other questions : can forte compete with commercial ides, which are usually faster and more stable? so far, it seems to be keeping pace. forte ' s ability to quickly weave together the latest java technologies makes it a favorite


, there are lots of other questions : can forte compete with commercial ides, which are usually faster and more stable? so far, it seems to be keeping pace. forte ' s ability to quickly weave together the latest java technologies makes it a favorite among both reviewers and users. and the price is definitely competitive. but it ' s unclear whether forte ' s target audience hard - core developers enjoy using ides at all : many are happy using notepad or vi or other text editing programs. but the real question is how many independent developers will actually take their time and effort to work on netbeans for no pay? looking at the latest list of contributors brings up only 60 different developers, most of who are on the sun payroll. certainly, having access to the source code is incredibly useful for companies hoping to write plug - ins or attachments to forte. but for the average java developer, there ' s little reason other than sheer curiosity to waste much time with netbeans. all that being said, netbeans is an impressive collection of code. the open architecture allows third - party vendors to develop plug - ins such as no magic ' s magic draw uml diagram designer or metamata ' s debug utility. sun itself has created a cool j2me wireless toolkit that plugs into forte and makes it easy for developers to create applications for java - based cell phones. netbeans ' main modules include the core, the source editor, a debugger, a form editor, java support, open ide plug - in support, web support, and other tools. some experimental modules modules that are currently being worked on but are not necessarily stable include integration with the ant build tool, support for c or c + +, an emacs text editor, a way to view or edit java bytecode, jini support, scripting language support, a wizard to help make classes serializable, and native filesystem support. there ' s also a lengthy wish list for future modules requesting support for things like argouml, the retrologic obfuscator, to - do lists, pizza, xml beans, junit testing, jni, jikes, image editing, javacc, java3d, and much more. it ' s easy to join the development effort. as with all open source products, you can help a lot just by trying out forte or the latest netbeans drop and writing detailed bug reports when things go awry. you can also request features or modules that you


to join the development effort. as with all open source products, you can help a lot just by trying out forte or the latest netbeans drop and writing detailed bug reports when things go awry. you can also request features or modules that you think sound cool without having to write them yourself. your dreams might be made reality. of course, the biggest component of open source is the source code itself. you can either download the latest archive of code or see the code online. if you want to get serious about netbeans, though, you ' ll need to use the concurrent versions system ( cvs ) of source control an open standard for storing and editing source code. the source for netbeans can be found in a cvs database with directories for every top - level project and subdirectories for individual components. you can download a cvs client, or, surprise - surprise, use cvs support via a stable version of netbeans itself. you can log in without a password to get anonymous read - only access to any code file. often, you ' ll just need to build the specific component you ' re interested in working on. the component can then " plug in " to a stable netbeans build. you can either build by hand using the latest version of the java development kit, or use a custom make - system such as ant. the first thing you ' ll want to play around with is bug fixing. find a module you ' re interested in and have a look at the bugzilla database. if you find the solution, either post your idea for a fix or write a code patch and post it to the bug database. really motivated programmers may want to create their own modules from scratch. one can write a module according to the netbeans openapi and sell it, give it away, whatever. if you want your module part of the open source effort, however, send the finished code to firstname. lastname @ example. org. an archive of your message, as well as any responses, is available on the netbeans site. if your module is accepted, you ' ll become the proud owner of the component and can oversee its development. it will be given its own cvs directory, bug database category, mailing list, and series of web pages. you can use the sun public license or any license you want ( general public license, lesser general public license ). if you ' re ready to contribute seriously to a piece of the netbeans