and then more slowly through the month, ending at below average levels for 1979 - 2000, according to the national snow and ice data center. however, there was more ice cover in the arctic in may 2012 than in may 2011, the center said on wednesday on its website nsidc. org / arcticseaicenews /. there was heavy ice in the bering sea, but unusually low ice extent in the barents and kara seas. another arctic measurement related to climate reached a milestone this spring, noaa reported : the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide at barrow, alaska, reached 400 parts per million, the first time a monthly average for this greenhouse gas passed that level at a remote location. the level of 450 ppm is regarded by many scientists and environmental activists as the upper limit the planet can afford if global temperature rise is to be kept to within 3. 6 degrees f ( 2 c ) this century. some advocates suggest 350 ppm is a more appropriate target. the 400 ppm mark for carbon dioxide in less remote locations, such as cape may, new jersey, has been reached for several years in the springtime, noaa said in a statement. but measurements of carbon dioxide over 400 ppm at remote sites like barrow - and at six other remote arctic sites - reflect long - term human emissions of the climate - warming gas, rather than direct emissions from a nearby population center. the global monthly mean level of atmospheric carbon dioxide was about 394 ppm in april, compared to 336 ppm in 1979, pre - industrial levels of about 278 ppm and ice age levels of about 185 ppm. four major heat records fall in stunning noaa report climatecentral. org, june 8, 2012 four major heat records fell in a stunning new climate report from the national oceanic and atmospheric administration ( noaa ) on thursday. the lower 48 states set temperature records for the warmest spring, largest seasonal departure from average, warmest year - to - date, and warmest 12 - month period, all new marks since records began in 1895. while the globe has been tracking slightly cooler than recent years — thanks in part to the influence of now dissipated la nina conditions in the tropical pacific — the u. s. has been sizzling. the average springtime temperature in the lower 48 was so far above the 1901 - 2000 average — 5. 2°f, to be exact — that the country set a record for the largest temperature departure for any season on record since 1895. spring 2012 beat 1910, which had held the


lower 48 was so far above the 1901 - 2000 average — 5. 2°f, to be exact — that the country set a record for the largest temperature departure for any season on record since 1895. spring 2012 beat 1910, which had held the title for record warm spring, by a healthy margin of 2°f. no doubt much of this was driven by the massive heat wave that gripped the country during march, but unusual warmth continued during april and may, albeit not as intense. such warming trends are consistent with both the influence of manmade global warming, particularly the prevalence of record warm nighttime temperatures, and natural variability has also favored warmer - than - average conditions so far this year. studies show that as greenhouse gases continue to increase in the atmosphere, the odds of heat extremes are growing as well. according to noaa ’ s national climatic data center, the spring of 2012 “ was the culmination of the warmest march, third warmest april and second warmest may. this marks the first time that all three months during the spring season ranked among the 10 warmest, since records began in 1895. ” des moines, iowa offers a case study of just how warm it ’ s been. the year - to - date there has averaged a whopping 8 degrees f above average, with many other cities across the country tracking close to that figure as well. most of the states that experienced record or near - record warmth this spring were located east of the rocky mountains, with 31 states setting records for warmest spring temperatures. remarkably, not a single state in the lower 48 was cooler than average this spring, and only oregon and washington had spring temperatures that were close to average. although there were exceptions, much of the country had a drier - than - average spring with colorado, delaware, indiana, utah, and wyoming coming in with a top 10 driest spring. the record warmth helped propel the u. s. climate extremes index, which tracks the highest and lowest 10 percent of extremes in temperature, precipitation, drought and tropical storms and hurricanes across the contiguous u. s., to a record - large 44 percent during the march - may period, which was more than twice the average value. “ extremes in warm daytime temperatures ( 81 percent ) and warm nighttime temperatures ( 72 percent ) covered large areas of the nation ” were mainly responsible for this record. spring was unusual for the pre - season tropical weather, as two tropical storms developed before the official start of the atlantic hurricane season on june 1. tropical storm beryl made


if you ' ve recently learned that your child has or might have an autism spectrum disorder, you ' re probably wondering and worrying about what comes next. no parent is ever prepared to hear that a child is anything other than happy and healthy, and a diagnosis of autism can be particularly frightening. you may be unsure about how to best help your child or confused by conflicting treatment advice. or you may have been told that autism is an incurable, lifelong condition, leaving you concerned that nothing you do will make a difference. while it is true that autism is not something a person simply " grows out of, " there are many treatments that can help children learn new skills and overcome a wide variety of developmental challenges. from free government services to in - home behavioral therapy and school - based programs, assistance is available to meet your child ' s special needs. with the right treatment plan, and a lot of love and support, your child can learn, grow, and thrive. don ’ t wait for a diagnosis as the parent of a child with autism or related developmental delays, the best thing you can do is to start treatment right away. seek help as soon as you suspect something ’ s wrong. don ' t wait to see if your child will catch up later or outgrow the problem. don ' t even wait for an official diagnosis. the earlier children with autism spectrum disorders get help, the greater their chance of treatment success. early intervention is the most effective way to speed up your child ' s development and reduce the symptoms of autism. when your child has autism : tips for parents - learn about autism. the more you know about autism spectrum disorders, the better equipped you ’ ll be to make informed decisions for your child. educate yourself about the treatment options, ask questions, and participate in all treatment decisions. - become an expert on your child. figure out what triggers your kid ’ s “ bad ” or disruptive behaviors and what elicits a positive response. what does your autistic child find stressful? calming? uncomfortable? enjoyable? if you understand what affects your child, you ’ ll be better at troubleshooting problems and preventing situations that cause difficulties. - accept your child, quirks and all. rather than focusing on how your autistic child is different from other children and what he or she is “ missing, ” practice acceptance. enjoy your kid ’ s special quirks, celebrate small successes, and stop comparing your child to others. feeling unconditionally loved and accepted will help your child more than anything


children and what he or she is “ missing, ” practice acceptance. enjoy your kid ’ s special quirks, celebrate small successes, and stop comparing your child to others. feeling unconditionally loved and accepted will help your child more than anything else. - don ’ t give up. it ’ s impossible to predict the course of an autism spectrum disorder. don ’ t jump to conclusions about what life is going to be like for your child. like everyone else, people with autism have an entire lifetime to grow and develop their abilities. learning all you can about autism and getting involved in treatment will go a long way toward helping your child. additionally, the following tips will make daily home life easier for both you and your autistic child : - be consistent. children with autism have a hard time adapting what they ’ ve learned in one setting ( such as the therapist ’ s office or school ) to others, including the home. for example, your child may use sign language at school to communicate, but never think to do so at home. creating consistency in your child ’ s environment is the best way to reinforce learning. find out what your child ’ s therapists are doing and continue their techniques at home. explore the possibility of having therapy take place in more than one place in order to encourage your child to transfer what he or she has learned from one environment to another. it ’ s also important to be consistent in the way you interact with your child and deal with challenging behaviors. - stick to a schedule. children with autism tend to do best when they have a highly - structured schedule or routine. again, this goes back to the consistency they both need and crave. set up a schedule for your child, with regular times for meals, therapy, school, and bedtime. try to keep disruptions to this routine to a minimum. if there is an unavoidable schedule change, prepare your child for it in advance. - reward good behavior. positive reinforcement can go a long way with children with autism, so make an effort to “ catch them doing something good. ” praise them when they act appropriately or learn a new skill, being very specific about what behavior they ’ re being praised for. also look for other ways to reward them for good behavior, such as giving them a sticker or letting them play with a favorite toy. - create a home safety zone. carve out a private space in your home where your child can relax, feel secure, and be safe. this will involve organizing and setting boundaries


giving them a sticker or letting them play with a favorite toy. - create a home safety zone. carve out a private space in your home where your child can relax, feel secure, and be safe. this will involve organizing and setting boundaries in ways your child can understand. visual cues can be helpful ( colored tape marking areas that are off limits, labeling items in the house with pictures ). you may also need to safety proof the house, particularly if your child is prone to tantrums or other self - injurious behaviors. connecting with a child with autism can be challenging, but you don ’ t need to talk in order to communicate and bond. you communicate by the way you look at your child, the way you touch him or her, and by the tone of your voice and your body language. your child is also communicating with you, even if he or she never speaks. you just need to learn the language. - look for nonverbal cues. if you are observant and aware, you can learn to pick up on the nonverbal cues that children with autism use to communicate. pay attention to the kinds of sounds they make, their facial expressions, and the gestures they use when they ’ re tired, hungry, or want something. - figure out the need behind the tantrum. it ’ s only natural to feel upset when you are misunderstood or ignored, and it ’ s no different for children with autism. when children with autism act out, it ’ s often because you ’ re not picking up on their nonverbal cues. throwing a tantrum is their way communicating their frustration and getting your attention. - make time for fun. a child coping with autism is still a kid. for both children with autism and their parents, there needs to be more to life than therapy. schedule playtime when your child is most alert and awake. figure out ways to have fun together by thinking about the things that make your child smile, laugh, and come out of their shell. your child is likely to enjoy these activities most if they don ’ t seem therapeutic or educational. there are tremendous benefits that result from your enjoyment of your child ’ s company and from your child ’ s enjoyment of spending unpressured time with you. play is an essential part of learning and shouldn ’ t feel like work. - pay attention to your child ’ s sensory sensitivities. many children with autism are hypersensitive to light, sound, touch, taste, and smell. other children with


essential part of learning and shouldn ’ t feel like work. - pay attention to your child ’ s sensory sensitivities. many children with autism are hypersensitive to light, sound, touch, taste, and smell. other children with autism are “ under - sensitive ” to sensory stimuli. figure out what sights, sounds, smells, movements, and tactile sensations trigger your kid ’ s “ bad ” or disruptive behaviors and what elicits a positive response. what does your autistic child find stressful? calming? uncomfortable? enjoyable? if you understand what affects your child, you ’ ll be better at troubleshooting problems, preventing situations that cause difficulties, and creating successful experiences. with so many different autism treatments available, and it can be tough to figure out which approach is right for your child. making things more complicated, you may hear different or even conflicting recommendations from parents and doctors. when putting together an autism treatment plan for your child, keep in mind that there is no single treatment that will work for everyone. each person on the autism spectrum is unique, with different strengths and weaknesses. your child ’ s treatment should be tailored according to his or her individual needs. you know your child best, so it ’ s up to you to make sure those needs are being met. you can do that by asking yourself the following questions : a good autism treatment plan will : - build on your child ' s interests. - offer a predictable schedule. - teach tasks as a series of simple steps. - actively engage your child ' s attention in highly structured activities. - provide regular reinforcement of behavior. involve the parents. source : national institute of mental health - what are my child ’ s strengths? - what are my child ’ s weaknesses? - what behaviors are causing the most problems? - what important skills is my child lacking? - how does my child learn best ( through seeing, listening, or doing )? - what does my child enjoy and how can those activities be used in treatment? finally, keep in mind that no matter what autism treatment plan is chosen, your involvement is vital to success. you can help your child get the most out of treatment by working hand - in - hand with the autism treatment team and following through with the therapy at home. choosing autism treatments when it comes to autism treatment, there are a dizzying variety of therapies and approaches. some autism therapies focus on reducing problematic behaviors and building communication and social skills, while others deal with sensory integration problems, motor


. choosing autism treatments when it comes to autism treatment, there are a dizzying variety of therapies and approaches. some autism therapies focus on reducing problematic behaviors and building communication and social skills, while others deal with sensory integration problems, motor skills, emotional issues, and food sensitivities. with so many choices, it is extremely important to do your research, talk to autism treatment experts, and ask questions. but keep in mind that you don ' t have to choose just one type of therapy. the goal of autism treatment should be to treat all of your child ' s symptoms and needs. this often requires a combined treatment approach that takes advantage of many different types of therapy. common autism treatments include behavior therapy, speech - language therapy, play - based therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and nutritional therapy. caring for a child with an autism spectrum disorder can demand a lot of energy and time. there may be days when you feel overwhelmed, stressed, or discouraged. parenting isn ’ t ever easy, and raising a child with special needs is even more challenging. in order to be the best parent you can be, it ’ s essential that you take care of yourself. don ’ t try to do everything on your own. you don ’ t have to! there are many places that families of autistic kids can turn to for advice, a helping hand, advocacy, and support : - autism support groups – joining an autism support group is a great way to meet other families dealing with the same challenges you are. parents can share information, get advice, and lean on each other for emotional support. just being around others in the same boat and sharing their experience can go a long way toward reducing the isolation many parents feel after receiving a child ’ s autism diagnosis. - respite care – every parent needs a break now and again. and for parents coping with the added stress of autism, this is especially true. in respite care, another caregiver takes over temporarily, giving you a break for a few hours, days, or even weeks. to find respite care options in your area, see resources section below. - individual, marital, or family counseling – if stress, anxiety, or depression is getting to you, you may want to see a therapist of your own. therapy is a safe place where you can talk honestly about everything you ’ re feeling — the good, the bad, and the ugly. marriage or family therapy can also help you work out problems that the challenges of life with


a therapist of your own. therapy is a safe place where you can talk honestly about everything you ’ re feeling — the good, the bad, and the ugly. marriage or family therapy can also help you work out problems that the challenges of life with an autistic child are causing in your spousal relationship or with other family members. for services for children with autism in other countries see links in resources & references section below. under the u. s. federal law known as the individuals with disabilities education act ( idea ), children with disabilities — including those with autism spectrum disorders — are eligible for a range of free or low - cost services. under this provision, children in need and their families may receive medical evaluations, psychological services, speech therapy, physical therapy, parent counseling and training, assisted technology devices, and other specialized services. children under the age of 10 do not need an autism diagnosis to receive free services under idea. if they are experiencing a developmental delay ( including delays in communication or social development ), they are automatically eligible for early intervention and special education services. early intervention services ( birth through age two ) infants and toddlers through the age of two receive assistance through the early intervention program. in order to qualify, your child must first undergo a free evaluation. if the assessment reveals a developmental problem, you will work with early intervention treatment providers to develop an individualized family service plan ( ifsp ). an ifsp describes your child ’ s needs and the specific services he or she will receive. for autism, an ifsp would include a variety of behavior, physical, speech, and play therapies. it would focus on preparing autistic kids for the eventual transition to school. early intervention services are typically conducted in the home or at a child care center. to locate local early intervention services for your child, ask your pediatrician for a referral or use the resources listed in the box to the right. special education services ( age three and older ) children over the age of three receive assistance through school - based programs. as with early intervention, special education services are tailored to your child ’ s individual needs. children with autism spectrum disorders are often placed with other developmentally - delayed kids in small groups where they can receive more individual attention and specialized instruction. however, depending on their abilities, they may also spend at least part of the school day in a regular classroom. the goal is to place kids in the least restrictive environment possible where they are still able to learn. if you ’ d like to pursue special


, depending on their abilities, they may also spend at least part of the school day in a regular classroom. the goal is to place kids in the least restrictive environment possible where they are still able to learn. if you ’ d like to pursue special education services, your local school system will first need to evaluate your child. based on this assessment, an individualized education plan ( iep ) will be created. an iep outlines the educational goals for your child for the school year. additionally, it describes the special services or aids the school will provide your child in order to meet those goals. know your child ’ s rights as the parent of an autistic child, you have a legal right to : - be involved in developing your child ’ s iep from start to finish. - disagree with the school system ’ s recommendations. - seek an outside evaluation for your child. - invite anyone you want — from a relative to your child ’ s doctor — to be on the iep team. - request an iep meeting at any time if you feel your child ’ s needs are not being met. - free or low - cost legal representation if you can ’ t come to an agreement with the school. free toolkit program resources & references parenting tips for helping children with autism tips from parents of children with asds – advice from parents of children with autism, including home safety tips, school issues to watch for, and how to foster unique abilities. ( autism society canada ) living with autism – guide to successfully living with autism, including how to cope with stress on the family, make the home safe, and deal with sibling issues. ( autism society of america ) life journey through autism : a parent ' s guide to research ( pdf ) – in - depth guide teaches parents how to evaluate autism research and choose treatments for their children. ( organization for autism research ) early intervention and special education for children with autism finding help for young children with disabilities – parent ’ s guide to finding early intervention services for a child with autism or another disability. ( national dissemination center for children with disabilities ) your local school district – overview of special services for autistic children and advice for parents navigating the educational system. ( first signs ) individualized education plans ( ieps ) – learn all about ieps for kids with autism and other developmental issues. includes information about your child ’ s legal rights and a guide to the referral and evaluation process. ( kidshealth ) effective programming for young children with autism ( ages 3 - 5 ) –


ieps for kids with autism and other developmental issues. includes information about your child ’ s legal rights and a guide to the referral and evaluation process. ( kidshealth ) effective programming for young children with autism ( ages 3 - 5 ) – describes how to put together a successful early intervention program for autistic children. ( cooperative educational service agency no. 7 ) your child ' s rights – learn about your child ’ s rights under the federal individuals with disabilities act ( idea ). ( autism speaks ) treatment and therapy for children with autism healing thresholds – organization dedicated to helping parents sift through the information about autism therapy. includes therapy fact sheets, research summaries, and an online forum. ( healing thresholds ) treatments for autism – explore treatment options for autism spectrum disorders, including applied behavioral analysis ( aba ), floortime, sensory integration therapy, and a gluten - free diet. ( autism speaks ) ask a therapist : a trained aba therapist answers a parent ' s most common questions – covers the basics of applied behavioral analysis and what parents need to know. ( autism speaks ) support and advocacy services for children with autism autism source – search a national directory of local autism resources, support groups, healthcare professionals, and service providers. ( autismsource. org ) family services – click on a u. s. state to find autism services in your area. ( autism speaks ) find a chapter – locate your local chapter of the autism society of america. ( autism society of america ) autism link – provides free autism information and support. includes a mentor program, discussion forums, and a reading room with news articles and research updates. ( autism link ) services for children with autism in other countries - in the uk : the national autistic society : services - in australia : australian government : helping children with autism - in canada : autism speaks : accessing services - in new zealand : autism new zealand inc.


scarlet fever, sometimes called scarlatina, is an infectious disease caused by a type of bacteria called streptococcus pyogenes or group a streptococcus ( gas ). the same bacteria can also cause impetigo. these bacteria are commonly found on the skin or in the throat, where they can live without causing problems. under some circumstances, however, these bacteria can cause disease. scarlet fever ( sometimes called scarlatina ) is an infectious disease caused by bacteria called streptococcus pyogenes, or group a streptococcus ( gas ). the same bacteria can also cause impetigo. these bacteria are commonly found on the skin or in the throat, where they can live without causing problems. however, under some circumstances, they can also cause diseases, like scarlet fever. scarlet fever is characterised by a rash, which usually accompanies a sore throat, and is sometimes confused with the measles ' rash. the bacteria which cause the infection produce toxins ( poisons ), which cause a rash, a red and swollen tongue and flushed cheeks. scarlet fever is mainly a childhood disease and is most common between the ages of two and eight years. it was once dangerous, but antibiotic treatment means it is now much less common and much less serious, although 2 - 4, 000 cases are diagnosed each year in england. it is still highly contagious. the bacteria are carried in the saliva and mucus in the nose. the disease is spread by sneezing, coughing, or breathing out. it can also be caught by direct contact with the mucus or saliva of an infected person. it takes around two to five days to develop symptoms after being infected. if you think your child has scarlet fever, you should consult your gp. the disease tends to be most common in the winter and spring and the usual treatment is a 10 - day course of antibiotics. scarlet fever is spread via the mucus and saliva of infected people. it can also be caught from any drinking glasses, plates or utensils they have used. to protect yourself from getting the illness you should : if you think you, or your child, have scarlet fever : it usually takes two to five days from infection before the first symptoms appear. however, the incubation period may be as short as one day and as long as seven days. scarlet fever usually clears up after a week, but it is advisable to visit your gp to get a full diagnosis and proper treatment.


. however, the incubation period may be as short as one day and as long as seven days. scarlet fever usually clears up after a week, but it is advisable to visit your gp to get a full diagnosis and proper treatment. scarlet fever is highly contagious. the bacteria are present in the mouth, throat and nose of the infected person and are spread by contact with that person ' s mucus or saliva. these might even be on cups, plates, pens, or surfaces, such as tables which might have been used or touched by someone carrying the bacteria. you can also catch the disease by breathing infected airborne droplets produced through an infected person ' s coughing or sneezing. scarlet fever is mainly a childhood disease, with around 80 % of cases occurring in children under 10 years old. it is most common in children between the ages of two and eight years, with four - year - olds most likely to develop the illness. occasionally, outbreaks of scarlet fever occur in nurseries and schools. adults of all ages can also catch scarlet fever, but the disease is much less common in adults. most mild cases of scarlet fever will clear up on their own, but it is still best to see your gp if you, or your child, are showing symptoms. having treatment for the illness speeds recovery and reduces the risk of complications. you will also become non - contagious more quickly. in most cases, doctors can diagnose scarlet fever from the symptoms alone. the diagnosis can be confirmed by taking a throat swab, which is then sent to a laboratory to identify the bacteria causing the infection. in some cases, a throat swab is not enough and a blood test may be needed. the usual treatment for scarlet fever is a 10 - day course of antibiotics. the fever will usually subside within 24 hours of starting this, but it is important to take the whole course to clear the infection. if scarlet fever is not treated with antibiotics, it can be infectious for two to three weeks after the symptoms appear. provided all prescribed antibiotics are taken as directed, most cases will not infect other people after 24 hours of treatment. current guidance advises that children should not return to nursery or school and adults to work until a minimum of 24 hours after starting treatment. if you have a high temperature you should drink plenty of fluids. you can also take paracetamol to bring down your temperature and relieve discomfort. once you have had scarlet fever you are unlikely to get it again. most cases of scarlet fever have no


you have a high temperature you should drink plenty of fluids. you can also take paracetamol to bring down your temperature and relieve discomfort. once you have had scarlet fever you are unlikely to get it again. most cases of scarlet fever have no complications at all. however, in the early stages, there is a small risk that you might get one of the following : on rare occasions, at a later stage the disease could lead to : patients, or their parents, should keep an eye out for any symptoms which might suggest these complications in the first few weeks after the main infection has cleared up and, if concerned, seek medical help immediately. the health protection agency provides advice on controlling scarlet fever outbreaks and tries to reduce the number of people infected. the agency undertakes continuous monitoring to detect changes in the numbers and types of people diagnosed with scarlet fever, or changes in the characteristics of strains causing scarlet fever. the health protection agency is an independent organisation, set up by the government to protect the public from the effects of infectious diseases and other hazards to health. the agency identifies, researches and responds to these threats. it gives advice to the public on how to avoid harm, provides data and information to government, and advises people working in healthcare. if you have concerns about your health contact nhs direct on 0845 4647 or visit their website www. nhsdirect. nhs. uk, or see your family doctor. reviewed : 21 april 2010 did you know...? although scarlet fever is now a mild and uncommon disease, 100 years ago severe scarlet fever epidemics in which many people died were common. antibiotics have greatly reduced the severity of the disease, although it was already becoming less severe before they were available. we don ' t know why this is, but one theory is that the strain of bacteria that cause scarlet fever has become weaker over time.


even though the monetary and health costs of obesity are substantial, intentional weight loss has not been advocated for older people, because a relationship between weight loss and increased rates of hip fractures and mortality has been demonstrated. however, intentional weight loss as opposed to unintentional weight loss has actually been shown to decrease total mortality in older adults. even small weight losses of 5 to 10 % have been shown to result in increased physical function and health - related quality of life, yet standard exercise programs for older adults often do not result in any weight loss. one example of this is cardiac rehabilitation ( cr ), which generally results in insignificant weight loss over a 3 - month time frame. however, even the highest - risk overweight patients can lose fat and overall weight, as well as achieve a more favorable cardiometabolic risk profile, when encouraged to participate in a high - calorie - expenditure ( hce ) exercise program rather than a standard cr protocol. recent evidence suggests that higher levels of exercise ( ≥2, 500 kcal / week ) may facilitate weight loss and maintenance when included as part of a behavioral weight control program. a commonly mentioned barrier to implementing such vigorous exercise programs for older adults is the belief that only extremely motivated patients will comply with a more time - consuming program. however, a study recently published in the journal of aging and physical activity found that participants in a high - calorie - expenditure ( hce ) exercise program actually grew to like exercise more than those who took part in a standard exercise program. participants in the hce program were asked to exercise more frequently than those in the standard program ( at least 5 days per week rather than 3 ) and to increase the length of each session by approximately 20 minutes ( 45 - 60 minutes vs. 25 - 40 minutes ). walking was the preferred exercise for those in the hce group, and those in the standard group followed a protocol of 25 minutes of treadmill walking and 8 minutes on an ergometer. both groups also took part in a behavioral weight - loss program. at the end of 5 months, the hce group had lost more than twice as much weight as those in the standard group, greatly reduced their cardiometabolic risk factors, and reported improved vitality and mood. what ’ s more, participants saw improvements regardless of their level of physical function when they entered the program, showing that older adults of varying abilities can be successful in a rigorous exercise program. noticeable weight loss helped participants to enjoy exercise more, so they stuck with the program. as they


saw improvements regardless of their level of physical function when they entered the program, showing that older adults of varying abilities can be successful in a rigorous exercise program. noticeable weight loss helped participants to enjoy exercise more, so they stuck with the program. as they exercised more, they noticed improved mood, less pain, and better general health and physical functioning. most health care practitioners, when counseling patients, emphasize the importance of weight loss from a cardiometabolic perspective. the results of this study demonstrate that weight loss improves a patient ’ s perceived quality of life. an improvement in quality of life may be more of a motivating factor than improvements in specific cardiovascular risk factors. from a patient ’ s perspective, for example, an improvement in quality of life may be more meaningful than a reduction in triglyceride levels. therefore, as a means of increasing compliance, health care professionals may want to counsel patients that weight loss will not only lower cardiovascular risk but also improve quality of life. hce exercise led not only to more weight loss than a standard cr program but also to greater improvements in self - assessments of physical, social, and emotional functioning, as well as larger increases in exercise enjoyment, for at - risk older adults. improvements in several of these psychosocial variables were mediated by weight loss, which most likely resulted from a combination of the increased exercise of the hce group and participation in the behavioral weight - control program. furthermore, the study indicates that older adults in various mental and physical states can benefit from an exercise program. one of the most important conclusions of this study is that not only can older adults perform higher levels of exercise than are currently recommended, but also the higher exercise levels actually impart additional physical and mental benefits. find out more about the journal of aging and physical activity at www. japa - journal. com.


istanbul - anatolia news agency the ottomans ’ popular drink, sherbet, known for its healing effects, has been increasingly forgotten over time and is now largely consumed ceremonially in ramadan the restaurant prepares some 100 types of traditional ottoman sherbet and offers 15 - 20 types a day to its customers. aa photos sherbet, once the most popular ottoman drink, has been essentially relegated to symbolic consumption during the holy month of ramadan even though it is a healthier alternative to today ’ s soft drinks, according to one restaurant proprietor. “ people of all ages are drinking soft drinks which are very harmful. we are trying to keep the sherbet tradition alive in our restaurant, ” abdullah korun, general director of istanbul ’ s 123 - year - old restaurant hacı abdullah lokantası, recently old anatolia news agency. “ we prepare nearly 100 types of sherbet but we serve 15 to 20 types a day to our customers. restaurants should keep such natural drinks rather than soda drinks. ” during the time of the ottomans, there were roughly 300 types of sherbets made from various fresh flowers and fruits such as rose, lily, jasmine, silverberry, lotus, violet and others. today, this traditional drink is still kept alive in modern life but with fewer types. korun said sherbet was one of the most important products both in the kitchen of the palace and the public in the past. the director of the restaurant, which was opened during the era of abdulhamit ii, said sherbet, made from dried and cold stewed fruits, was a favorite and irreplaceable drink, particularly during the holy month of ramadan. “ in the past, there were no refrigeration systems like fridges and sherbet was prepared and consumed daily, ” he added. forgotten through time korun said the ottomans ’ sherbet began to be forgotten through time. “ almost all housewives in ottoman times used to prepare canned foods, pickles and sherbet in their house, but today, since women are involved in social and business life, this tradition is disappearing, ” he said. he said it was consumed both in winter and summer during ottoman times since it had a significant place in social life. “ people used to benefit from natural methods to avoid diseases in the past. but in ottoman times, people used to drink sherbet to protect themselves from diseases. of course, the medicine sector was not developed that much and there were not too many types of diseases


- pet loss - music license - lot exchange sometimes people put a $ 10 plant in a $ 1 hole. what we say out here is you should put a $ 1 plant in a $ 10 hole. you need to create a hole ; it needs to be much wider than the root ball. it ' s sometimes good to enrich the soil. whenever you plant a tree, or any plant, you ' re damaging some of its roots, and you ' re going to have to give it a little tlc. you want to have a healthy root system that will expand. you want to provide some kind of inducement so that it will expand. roots are stupid, they ' re lazy, they ' ll take the path of least resistance. so if you have a tiny little hole, what are they going to do? they aren ' t going to try to push through hard dirt. they ' re just going to travel around and around, and around — until they stop working. if a plant is in a stress situation, it can take nutrients from its old growth and bring them to the new part. so if there ' s a nutrient deficiency, where you ' ll see it is in the older leaves, because the plant is kind of feeding on itself. if you see new green growth and old yellow growth, it ' s more than likely due to a nutrient deficiency. there are also a host of minor nutrients. if you ' re in a place that has high rainfall, molybdenum and sulphur can become deficient — they literally get washed out of the soil. molybdenum is necessary for plants to be able to use nitrogen. places in the southeast often have a molybdinum deficiency. you can replace nitrogen, but if you don ' t replace the micronutrients, you ' re not going to get full use of the fertilizer. ninety five percent or more of the problems you have in your landscape are going to be cultural. if you have good cultural practices you ' re not going to have these problems. trees : never be afraid to reject trees that come in. if you order them, you ' re the customer and you don ' t have to accept them. they grow a lot of junk out there. if the tree has a stake next to the trunk, get it off immediately. it ' s bad for the tree ; it ' s tree abuse. cutting off branches : unfortunately, in years past, we told people to cut them off against the trunk and we


born : 30 april 1916 died : 24 february 2001 claude elwood shannon ’ s realization that all information could be transmitted in a series of 1s and 0s laid the foundation for a revolution in the spread of information. he developed the mathematical theories and techniques that make possible the analysis of switching circuits, computers and communications. early life and education shannon was born 30 april 1916, in petoskey, michigan, but grew up in gaylord, michigan, where he worked as a western union messenger boy while in high school, an educational step he took in three years. at the university of michigan, he did work in both electrical engineering and mathematics and received bachelor of science degrees in both fields in 1936. during summers while in college, he repaired radio sets in a gaylord department store. at school, he joined the army signal corps reserve officers training corps and soon found himself busy developing new army instruments, including a modulation meter, a code speed meter, and networks having any desired frequency - impedance characteristic. when he was graduated, however, he was not yet 21 and had to wait to receive his signal corps reserve officer commission. the years 1936 to 1940 shannon spent at m. i. t., where, among other activities, he worked as a research assistant in the department of electrical engineering in charge of operating the bush mechanical differential analyzer, the precursor of modern analogue computers. in 1940, shannon took his s. m. degree in electrical engineering and his ph. d. degree in mathematics, both from m. i. t., both simultaneously again. in a master ’ s thesis which has proven critically important, he demonstrated that boolean logic could be worked with electrical switching circuits. this thesis was meant to help the telephone industry move from human operators to complex switching circuits. however, the theory it expressed has been foundational to modern computing. after receiving his ph. d., he spent the next year at the institute for advanced study at princeton, then joined bell telephone laboratories at murray hill, new jersey, in what became a most fruitful and dynamic association. while he was often solitary in performing his own work, he was an invaluable help to colleagues when they faced challenges. he remained at murray hill until 1956 when he returned to m. i. t., first as visiting professor and, a year later, as professor of communications science. he was a member of both the department of mathematics and the department of electrical engineering. his most significant piece of work was " a mathematical theory of communication, " published in


first as visiting professor and, a year later, as professor of communications science. he was a member of both the department of mathematics and the department of electrical engineering. his most significant piece of work was " a mathematical theory of communication, " published in two parts in the bell system technical journal in 1947 - 48. with this paper, shannon laid down the theoretical foundation for communications engineering - a kind of " thermodynamics of communications " which, up to that time had been missing. in opening a new mathematical field for engineering applications, shannon ' s work compares only to that of norbert wiener in the theory of time series and to that of von neumann and morgenstern in the theory of games. of equal importance was the impact of shannon ' s definitions, his model of the communications process and his theory on scientists and engineers concerned with human communications. he was a principle pioneer in information theory and deserves much of the credit for the digital communication which is fundamentally important in our information age. wit and gadgetry this mathematical theorist also found joy in creating mechanical automata. " i ' ve always pursued my interests without much regard for financial value or value to the world, " shannon once told the ieee spectrum. " i ' ve spent lots of time on totally useless things. " his rambling home overlooking mystic lakes in winchester, massachusetts, abounded with the products of his gadgeteering, to the delight of young and old alike. in the living room was a player piano " programmed " with randomly - cut music and supervised by a fully - clothed department store mannequin. also there was the " mouse that learns, " a mechanical creature that, with the aid of a small computer, could find its way through a maze to a brass cheese. outside were a host of mechanical devices, gadgets and conveyances, including a camping bus, a complete bicycle shop, and a chair lift to carry visitors from the house down a steep embankment to the edge of the lake. shannon was married to mary elizabeth moore shannon. the couple had three children, two sons and a daughter. shannon passed away on 24 february 2001, after a struggle with alzheimer ’ s disease, not fully aware how far his work had been taken. he received the ieee medal of honor in 1966, " for his development of a mathematical theory of communication which unified and significantly advanced the state of the art. " george johnson, " claude shannon, mathematician, dies at 84, " new york times, feb. 27, 2001. kevin coughlin, " bell labs


- about ie - our expeditions - travel specials - prepare for your trip - travel agents - contact us see signs of asian and pygmy elephants in borneo many visitors to eastern africa see massive elephants on kenya and tanzania safaris, but those seeking nature travel, including guests on one of international expeditions ’ borneo tours, have an opportunity to enjoy an even more unique sighting. pygmy elephants, a type of asian elephant, are genetically distinct from other asian elephants, according to a 2003 study by the world wildlife fund ( wwf ) and columbia university. they are therefore a subspecies, but scientists are still trying to determine whether they are endemic to borneo. some believe that the animal originated from a herd of elephants from the island of java, where that variety of elephant is now extinct. they hypothesize that the herd was abandoned by the sultan of sulu in the 17th century. whatever their heritage, pygmy elephants are about three feet smaller than their african cousins, measuring only about eight feet high. they also have rounder faces, longer ears and longer tails. the species is unlike that of any elephant elsewhere on the planet. the 1, 600 individuals left in the wild are threatened by habitat loss and conflict with humans. travelers are most likely to see signs of the pygmy elephants at kinabatangan wildlife sanctuary, off the coast of the kinabatangan river. that is where asian elephants are most concentrated on the island. in fact, one recent group of ie travelers was lucky enough to spot a herd of pygmy elephants! for the latest travel trends and exciting discoveries, visit our travel news section.


looking to save? check here for dealer specials. from tension headaches to migraines, there are many varieties of head - pounding pain. and although several different triggers may be to blame, like stress and allergies, some experts believe that certain foods can cause headaches in some people. " it is not unusual at all for food to trigger migraines or other types of headaches, " says noah rosen, md, director of the headache institute at north shore - lij health system in long island, new york. many migraine sufferers are willing to try an array of methods to get rid of the pain. in addition to other remedies, the mayo clinic suggests pinpointing foods that may be triggering the migraines. common culprits include the sulfites commonly found in alcohol ( especially beer and red wine ) and chocolate. while sometimes used as a migraine treatment, too much caffeine, and even caffeine withdrawal, can cause headaches in many people. the artificial sweetener aspartame can also bring on a migraine. dr. chris iliades, md, notes that aged cheese can cause your head to start hurting thanks to tyramine, a substance that forms as the proteins in cheese break down over time. the longer a cheese ages, the more tyramine it has. you may want to avoid blue cheese, swiss, cheddar, gouda and parmesan if you find you are among those sensitive to tyramine. while bananas are a healthy snack, people sensitive to tyramine may want to avoid them also. dr. iliades notes that, like aged cheese, banana peels contain a significant amount of tyramine, around 10 times more than does the banana pulp. if you don ’ t want to avoid bananas altogether, try weeding out those stringy pieces of inner peel. dr. iliades also points to monosodium glutamate ( msg ), which can be found in soy sauce and as an additive in many other foods. the mayo clinic notes that skipping meals can cause a headache or migraine, so if you want to avoid one of the above foods, try to find a better alternative rather than missing out on a snack or meal. the best way to tell if specific foods are causing you headaches is to keep a food and headache diary. keeping track of what you eat and when you suffer from headaches can help you and your doctor detect possible food reactions.


how it works? the immune system has two parts – ' innate ' and ' adaptive ' the ' innate ' ( meaning : " present from birth " ) part of the immune system is so - called because it has a number of set strategies for recognising and dealing with certain kinds of infection, without needing to be " trained " to identify them. this generally involves certain immune cells " sniffing - out " germs, via signs in the bloodstream, following the trail to the site of infection, and neutralising the invaders with special chemicals before swallowing them ( a process known as ' phagocytosis ' ). such cells are generally called white blood cells – ( but specifically known as ' macrophages ' and ' neutrophils ' ). this approach is very effective for many infections, but certain germs have developed ways of avoiding detection. for instance, viruses can be particularly difficult to detect and target because they are much smaller, even than bacteria, and can actually hide and multiply within body cells. during infections, signs such as the swelling and inflammation of the skin are often indications of immune activity, as they help the immune system by allowing blood carrying immune elements to flow more easily to the site of infection. however, if uncontrolled, inflammation can itself cause damage, so it has to be carefully controlled. the other part of the immune response is called the ' adaptive ' immune system. unlike the innate immune system, it isn ' t able to respond instantly to infections, as it needs time to adapt ( or learn ) to recognise them. once it has learned, however, it is extremely effective and is also able to ' remember ' particular germs that have previously infected the body, so that when ( or if ) they try to infect the body again, the next response is rapid, accurate, and effective. doctors can trick the body into producing a memory to a particular infection by using vaccines ( harmless versions of germs ) to create immune ' memory '. this gives you protection without having to experience the dangers of a real infection. an advantage of the adaptive immune response, once it has developed, is that it utilises further specialised types of white cell, called lymphocytes, that coordinate and focus the immune system ' s response, and also produce specialised molecules to target the infection. these include an incredibly elegant molecule, called the ' antibody ', that is produced in huge numbers during an adaptive response, and moves through the bloodstream during an infection, targeting


system ' s response, and also produce specialised molecules to target the infection. these include an incredibly elegant molecule, called the ' antibody ', that is produced in huge numbers during an adaptive response, and moves through the bloodstream during an infection, targeting germs with incredible accuracy. it is thought that the human body can create enough different antibodies to recognise a total of 1 billion different targets ( that ' s 1, 000, 000, 000 or ' one thousand million ' ). as we have mentioned, the only drawback with the adaptive response is that it takes time to develop initially, and it can take several days for the primary response to be detectable, and longer still for it to become effective. the innate response is therefore still extremely important for controlling infection whilst the adaptive response builds up. on patrol for signs of trouble … a further aspect of the adaptive immune system worth mentioning is its role in monitoring body cells to check that they aren ' t infected by viruses or bacteria, for instance, or in order to make sure that they haven ' t become cancerous. cancer occurs when certain body cells ' go wrong ' and start dividing in an uncontrolled way ( body cells usually divide in an extremely regulated way ), often spreading to other parts of the body. it is an extremely dangerous disease, so it is important to catch it before it develops. certain lymphocytes patrol the body, checking cells for signs that something is wrong, and so the immune system plays an important role in preventing tumours from developing. to get a grip on just how small the world we are describing really is, click here immunity in the gut : an important balancing act as we mentioned earlier, certain areas of the body, such as the lung and the gut, can be more difficult to ' police ' because they have to be more open to certain elements in the environment. the gut, in particular, because of its role in absorbing food, has an enormous surface area. the small intestine alone ( a part of the gut ) has a surface area some 200 times that of the skin. for the immune system, this represents a big challenge to police just in terms of area. in addition, it must also be remembered that the food that we eat could be a potential target for the immune system, because it is foreign to the body. that ' s not to mention the other considerations we deal with below. for instance, the gut also has nutrient - rich fluid, derived from the things we eat, continuously flowing through it, as


immune system, because it is foreign to the body. that ' s not to mention the other considerations we deal with below. for instance, the gut also has nutrient - rich fluid, derived from the things we eat, continuously flowing through it, as part of the food absorption process. due to the food - rich environment, this makes the gut a particularly attractive environment for bacteria – it is estimated that over 500 microbial species live in the human gut, contributing some two pounds ( about one kilogram ) to the body ' s overall weight. it is estimated that over 90 % of exposure to microorganisms occurs within the gut. many of these bacteria ( known as ' commensals ' ) are a perfectly normal part of the gut population and do not cause disease – in fact they often perform some very useful roles such as aiding in the digestion of food. if the immune system were simply to treat all of the many gut microorganisms as ' targets ', especially in such a delicate environment, the immune response itself could cause more harm than good by producing excessive inflammation and damaging the gut surface. instead the immune system does an extremely clever job of regulating itself so that it doesn ' t react to harmless food, or overreact to commensals – whilst still performing the vitally important role of targeting really harmful germs when they infect. this is a remarkable feat about which there is still much to learn, and there is much research into how it achieves this remarkable balancing act. we do know that perhaps around 75 % of the immune system ' s lymphocyte cells are found in association with the body ' s ' mucosal ' tissues, of which the gut forms a large part, so gut immunity is obviously an important area of immune function. we also know that the process is further helped by the fact that a healthy population of commensals in the gut can help to prevent colonisation by harmful bacteria – by crowding them out and not allowing them take hold. certain commensals have even developed particular substances, called colicins, that neutralise other bacteria. due to certain differences in the way commensal ' behave ', compared to disease - causing species, it seems that the immune system is able to tell the difference between the two. evidence for the importance of commensal bacteria is found when oral antibiotics are taken by people to counter harmful bacterial infections. these can also drastically reduce the population of commensal bacteria in the gut. although the population


tell the difference between the two. evidence for the importance of commensal bacteria is found when oral antibiotics are taken by people to counter harmful bacterial infections. these can also drastically reduce the population of commensal bacteria in the gut. although the population grows back again, it has been noted that the gut is temporarily more vulnerable to infection with harmful bacteria, due to the breaking of the ' commensal barrier '. it seems that in the gut, as in other aspects of life, it pays to cultivate a healthy group of friends to protect you from your enemies … the immune system is a network of cells, tissues and organs, found throughout the body that combats infectious disease and cancers. it is divided into ' innate ' and ' adaptive ' immune responses. ' innate ' immunity is quick to respond to certain general signs of infection, and includes certain specialised cells ( phagocytes ) able to track and ' eat ' infective germs. ' adaptive ' immunity is used to develop a more specific response to particular germs that are more difficult to target by innate immunity. this takes time to develop – but the adaptive immune system ' remembers ' germs that it has previously encountered and responds immediately the next time they try to infect. the ' antibody ' is a key molecule in the adaptive immune response and is incredibly specific in targeting particular germs – millions of different antibodies can be made, each with unique targets. vaccines use adaptive immunity to ' trick ' the body into creating an adaptive response, without the danger of a real infection. millions of lives have been saved as a result. the ' father of vaccination ' is edward jenner, and his development of a smallpox vaccine led to an effective treatment for this terrible disease and, eventually, its eradication ( in 1979 ). the lungs and the gut are key areas for the body to protect, as they are vulnerable to infection. in these areas, the immune response has to be effective, but controlled ( to prevent damage ) – this is an important balancing act for the immune system. people born without immune systems are extremely vulnerable to infection, and people infected with hiv / aids can experience similar symptoms because the virus targets the immune system. this illustrates the importance of a functioning immune system. many immunologists are involved in research into important diseases such as asthma, type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, hiv / aids and tuberculosis – effective therapies and cures are their goals.


nobody gonna turn me ' round : stories and songs of the civil rights movement by doreen rappaport, illustrated by shane w. evans candlewick press ; $ 19. 99 63 pp. ; isbn 978 - 0763619275 review by amy brozio - andrews recounting civil rights experiences and milestones between the montgomery bus boycott of 1955 and the passage of the voting rights act in 1965, doreen rappaport and shane w. evans make history come to life, especially in regard to presenting the experiences of young people who lived and breathed history as it happened. nobody gonna turn me ' round is the final book in an award - winning trilogy ( no more! stories and songs of slave resistance and free at last! stories and songs of emancipation ) by the author and illustrator. rappaport frames the people and events described within the fabric of a social and cultural history that stretches from the first slave ship rebellions to the present day, providing readers far too young to have any personal memory of the civil rights era with critical context. blending narrative with re - tellings based on the first - person narratives of rosa parks, sheyann webb, mose wright, elizabeth eckford, and fannie lou hamer, among others, plus songs, and quotes from people who were there, the book covers major events in the civil rights movement and black history, such as the creation of the sclc ( the southern christian leadership conference ), core ( congress of racial equality ), and the sncc ( student nonviolent coordinating committee ), the murder of emmitt till and the subsequent trial, the montgomery bus boycott, lunch counter sit - ins, the desegregation of little rock, arkansas schools, voter registration efforts, freedom schools, and finally, the voting rights bill of 1965. rappaport concludes her book by affirming that the work of the civil rights era continues, listing figures from the book and their current projects and civil rights efforts. a detailed timeline of the period 1955 - 1965 plus extensive source notes, a bibliography, and reading list offer readers who want to know more a broad variety of leads for further learning. rappaport ' s retelling of history is far from dry ; her reliance on the stories of young people - - children, teenagers, and young adults - - demonstrates that anyone can work to make a difference in the world around them. the importance of story and song are also conveyed through the inclusion of several bars of well - known civil rights era songs and


- - children, teenagers, and young adults - - demonstrates that anyone can work to make a difference in the world around them. the importance of story and song are also conveyed through the inclusion of several bars of well - known civil rights era songs and their lyrics. no candy - coating here ; one of evans ' images is that of a black man surrounded by white fists holding handguns ; the narrative tells of police responding to protesters with clubs and dogs. evans ' oil paintings convey deep emotion and power, the perfect complement to the book ' s pull - no - punches prose. a comprehensive introduction to the civil rights era of the late 1950s and early 1960s, nobody gonna turn me ' round is a great choice for older elementary school aged readers, especially during the month of february, black history month. the strong narrative is engaging and for some kids may be a little shocking that these things really did happen. but rappaport ' s focus on the efforts of young black americans is inspiring, her reliance on the words of the people who were there to tell their own stories is powerful, and her faith in the idea that america truly can " live up to its promise of equality for all " is ever - evident, on every page and in every brushstroke of evans ' illustrations. doctor, heal thyself the ip bookshelf the ip bookshelf all original content © 2002 - 2013 imperfect parent®. imperfect parent and mominatrix are registered trademarks. the views, opinions and information expressed in articles and blog posts published on imperfectparent. com and all subdomains are those of the authors alone. they do not represent the views or opinions of the imperfect parent or its staff, nor do they represent the views or opinions of any entity of, or affiliated with, imperfect parent. the imperfect parent is designed for entertainment purposes only and is not meant to be a substitute for medical, health, legal, or financial advice from a professional. reproduction of material from any of imperfect parent ' s pages without written permission is strictly prohibited.


iceland volcano has spewed 250 million cubic metres of ash iceland ' s eyjafjoell volcano, which continued causing flight chaos in europe monday, has emitted massive amounts of ash since it began erupting a month ago and there is no end in sight, experts said. " since the beginning of the eruption, we estimate that 250 million cubic metres ( 8. 8 billion cubic feet ) of tephra ( ash and other fragmental material ) has been produced, " icelandic geophysicist magnus tumi gudmundsson told afp. the eruption, which began on april 14, had peaked three times, he said : " in the first four days of the eruption, then on may 5 and 6, and again last friday. " on sunday, icelandic volcanologist bjoern oddsson, said volcanic activity had increased slightly since friday. " the column ( of smoke ) has increased and rises up to eight kilometres, " he told afp, as opposed to six kilometres in previous days. gudmundsson stressed that the ongoing eyjafjoell blast " is a big eruption, " adding that for iceland it was " the biggest since the notorious eruption at ( the neighbouring and much larger volcano ) katla in 1918. " " there is really no way of telling when it will stop. there has been quite a bit of earthquake activity underneath eyjafjallajoekull ( the glacier covering the volcano ), which means that magma is still emerging, " gudmundsson said. his comments came as authorities cautioned the volcanic ash cloud would ground 1, 000 flights in europe on monday with airports in britain and the netherlands hit. domestic flights in iceland were also disrupted monday morning and international flights could be impacted later in the day, aviation officials said. " the domestic airport in reykjavik is closed, but those in akureyri and egilsstadir are still open, " hjoerdis gudmundsdottir, a spokeswoman for icelandic aviation authority isavia, told afp. " the international airport in keflavik is open at the moment but i expect it to close later today as the forecast says the ash will move further north, thus in the way of air traffic routes over iceland, " she said, adding that international flights so far were operating without disruptions. from the blogs when i was first in talks about this job, i was surprised to hear we were planning to open on the we... i ’ ve not heard


" she said, adding that international flights so far were operating without disruptions. from the blogs when i was first in talks about this job, i was surprised to hear we were planning to open on the we... i ’ ve not heard many bands that had quite the same kick as pendulum did. their unbelievable fusion of... the episode begins with finn ( cory monteith ) at college, partying and accidentally participating in... dr ron schultz, professor and chair of pathological sciences at the university of wisconsin, joined... - 1 notes from a small island : is sealand an independent ' micronation ' or an illegal fortress? - 2 british business : we need to stay in the european union - or risk losing up to £92bn a year - 3 the moral case on tax avoidance is overwhelming - and we all know google wants to do the right thing - 4 sam wallace : the second coming of jose mourinho at chelsea will be a reunion that can only end in tears - 5 it ’ s official : thanks to stephen hawking ' s israel boycott, anti - semitism is no more bmf is the uk ’ s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes find out what the independent ' s resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world win anything from gadgets to five - star holidays on our competitions and offers page. negotiable : randstad education chelmsford : randstad education is the market le... £24000 - £28000 per annum : randstad education london : a leading further educat... £500 - £680 per day : orgtel : quantitative risk analyst, front office / risk bank... £18000 - £25500 per annum : randstad education cambridge : randstad education ar...


cotton, the most important fibre crop of india plays a dominant role in its agrarian and industrial economy. it is the backbone of our textile industry, accounting for 70 % of total fibre consumption in textile sector, and 38 % of the country ' s export, fetching over rs. 42, 000 crores. area under cotton cultivation in india ( 8. 9 million ha ) is the highest in the world, i. e., 25 % of the world area and employs seven million people for their living. cotton productivity in india is quite low as compared to world standards. the modern cotton production technology relies heavily on the use of fertilisers and on chemicals to control insect pests, diseases, weeds and growth regulators. cotton cultivated on 5 % cultivable land consumes 54 % of total pesticides used in indian agriculture, and in some pockets, the rates are higher than this, leaving immense ecological and human hazards as reported by world health organisation. use of chemicals at such scale causes a lot of hazards to man, i. e., environmental pollution, soil health, and agro - ecology and poor profitability in cotton farming. this has basically prompted the demand of organically cultivated, eco - friendly or green cotton. scope for organic cotton cultivation the preamble of organic farming has been aimed at conservation and optimised utilisation of all natural resources for a reasonable profitability under the guiding factors of sustainability of the farm. in order to keep a certain threshold of profit from the farms, all the farming practices have to be redesigned to undo the ill - effects that have crept in the current agricultural scenario while attempting to increase cotton production in the prevalent cropping systems. a sense of balancing act to moderate the resource utilisation with anticipation for suspected damage to mother earth is the essence of organic farming. the organic protocols of farming could accentuate and aid in imparting improved momentum to the bio - dynamism of crop fields. lesser stable and poor bio - dynamism that has caused less - productive farms has alerted farmers on the question of long - term sustainance. at the end of this decade, it is quite satisfying to find that the above thoughts paved the way for increased adoption of non - chemical farming options. the happy marriage of conventional wisdom and rationalised modern agricultural technology has instilled sense optimism and hope to growers, especially in rain grown crops. the balancing act seems to be quite deft, but could have considerable impact on developing a better cause of modern indian agriculture. five to seven decades


modern agricultural technology has instilled sense optimism and hope to growers, especially in rain grown crops. the balancing act seems to be quite deft, but could have considerable impact on developing a better cause of modern indian agriculture. five to seven decades ago, most of the cotton cultivated in the country was eco - friendly with little or no use of toxic chemicals in its production. even today, there are many pockets in india, where it is produced without the use of agrochemicals, e. g., areas growing wagad cotton in gujarat, y - 1 desi cotton of khandesh region of maharashtra, maljari in madhya pradesh, part of areas growing jayadhar and suyodhar in karnataka, nandicum in andhra pradesh and parts of cotton areas in north eastern hill region. in the rainfed tract of central india, cotton is grown on three million hectare ( i. e., 43 % of total area ) of marginal lands where production is low due to poorly distributed rainfall, and eroded undulating nature of lands and low resources investment by farmers. such soils require low - cost and low external input production systems to minimise cost on fertiliser and pesticides for imparting stability in production. cultivation of cotton with organic methods has helped farmers to improve sustainable productivity. the message on non - chemical and sustainable agriculture has pervaded to many parts of india and is hopefully making inroads into some of the southern cotton growing indian states. merits of organic cotton cultivation ( a ) environmentally friendly technology i ] due to excessive use of fertilisers and insecticides, all the elements of the agro - eco system gets polluted by the conventional method. organic cotton production relies on non - chemical inputs and will decrease pollution hazards. ii ] pesticides residues in fibre may cause carcinogenic damage to users. the use of bio - rational products and biocontrol agents for pest management in organic farming will cause no such effects. iii ] large scale discharge of untreated and unprocessed effluents by textile industry and dyeing units has not only caused health problems to man, cattle and fish in the rivers and canals, but yields of cotton are reported to be affected due to polluted water that is used for irrigation. iv ] destruction of beneficial soil organisms may cause damage to soil health creating imbalance in the natural population of predators / parasitoids of cotton pests. organic farming helps to restore or preserve the natural equilibrium between different components of the ecosystem. (


. iv ] destruction of beneficial soil organisms may cause damage to soil health creating imbalance in the natural population of predators / parasitoids of cotton pests. organic farming helps to restore or preserve the natural equilibrium between different components of the ecosystem. ( b ) reduction in cost of cultivation modern production technology has lowered the cost - benefit ratio of cotton production. farmers in andhra pradesh, punjab, maharashtra etc. are reported to have committed suicide due to escalation of production cost without occurring commensurate profit from cotton cultivation. on the other hand, organic farming creates rural employments and uses of on - farm resources to make it more cost - effective. ( c ) management of insecticide resistance due to indiscriminate use of hazardous insecticides for controlling cotton pests, the resistance of insects against the insecticide hiked up and in turn compelled the use of more number of sprays, and thus a vicious cycle is created, escalating cost of cultivation. organic farming will help in reversing this trend. evidences on poorer choice of multiplication rate of pests on organically grown cotton are encouraging factors to pursue this protocol. approaches for farming of organic cotton since organic cotton production warrants the cultivation in the absence of agro - chemicals, it involves a careful selection of components of farming system keeping the local resources, agro - climatic features and socio - economic structure for the formation of a suitable package as follows : 1 ] selection of site fields with high degree of soil erosion and heavily infested with perennial weeds should not be put under organic farming. organic farming is not a farming by neglect or arm - chair cultivation and so, fertility levels of less fertile soils should be improved through organic means before opting for this type of cultivation. 2 ] varietal selection high yielding varieties, which respond well to chemical inputs, may not always be suitable for organic farming. instead, varieties which are hardy and capable of giving acceptable farming especially in the early phase of conversion are ideal. varieties, which are jassid - tolerant, can be preferred over susceptible ones. early maturing varieties are less exhaustive and will also help the crop to escape heavy bollworm damage. 3 ] seed rate and sowing acid delinted seeds cannot be used according to international norms [ e. g. ifoam ] for organic cultivation for the purpose of certification of the fibre. however, those farmers who pursue organic farming for reducing the cost of cultivation and to increase the profitability could use acid - delinted seeds in order


e. g. ifoam ] for organic cultivation for the purpose of certification of the fibre. however, those farmers who pursue organic farming for reducing the cost of cultivation and to increase the profitability could use acid - delinted seeds in order to avoid seed borne pathogenic infections and achieve optimum plant stand. if fuzzy seeds are used, however, higher seed rate is to be used in order to achieve the same goal. about 25 kg / ha of seeds at 75x15 cm spacing ensures a final plant population of 85 - 90 thousand plants / ha. one row of fodder cowpea ( vigna unguiculata ) should be drilled between two rows of cotton. this crop could be ploughed down and buried in soil just before its flowering. to realise economical production, soil fertility has to be maintained and gradually improved. improvement and maintenance of organic matter of the soil is important in organic cotton production, as this would increase physical parameters of soil, improve soil structure and enhance nutrient supply. since huge amounts of fym to meet nutrient requirement of the cotton crop is not generally available, a combination of sources with different biological properties should be preferably used. organic manures ( fym, compost, vermicompost ), in situ green manuring, cowpea and biofertilisers along with fertility restoring crop rotations form the components for maintaining soil fertility. a ] farm yard manuring [ fym ] fym @ 15 t / ha must be added before preparatory tillage and mixed thoroughly. fym should be well decomposed and should be preferably treated with composting organisms such as trichoderma viride. the rate may gradually be brought down 5 - 10 t / ha, once the farm yield stabilises over a few years. b ] fodder cowpea in situ green manuring with fodder cowpea and its burying at 40 days after sowing [ das ] will ensure a steady n supply during the grand - growth phase and flowering period, when the n demand peaks up in the crop. it hastens microbial activity in soil, reduces weed growth and enhances natural enemy build up. this provides around 400 - 500 kg dry matter per hectare with 2. 5 % n and contributes 10 - 12 kg n / ha during squaring. its additional benefits include smothering of weeds, controlling seasonal soil erosion and nurturing natural enemies of cotton pests. c ] dhaincha ( sesbania aculeata


and contributes 10 - 12 kg n / ha during squaring. its additional benefits include smothering of weeds, controlling seasonal soil erosion and nurturing natural enemies of cotton pests. c ] dhaincha ( sesbania aculeata ) dense stand of this legume can be raised around cotton field at a width of 2 m ; its lopping cut and spread between cotton rows at 65 - 70 das. its fast decomposing leaves provide n during early boll development period and stalks act as temporary mulch, preventing soil moisture evaporation. vermicompost @ 1 - 2 t / ha should be added supplementing fym on the furrow lines on which sowing is done. its nutrient composition varies with substrate that is verrmicomposted, but generally contains several diverse microflora that aid in good plant growth. it offers good scope for recycling of farm waste. seed inoculation of azatobactor or azospirillum @ 200 g / seed required for sowing one acre is recommended. 5 ) technology for composting reliance on green biomass and farmyard manure is a sure method of increasing soil organic content. however, under the existing conditions, these requirements are not fully met with. enormous quantity of farm wastes and organic residues are simply burnt. in order to utilise farm wastes and organic residue for being recycled into compost, the modern thoughts are for utilising earthworms and fungus that are habituated to such conversion. promising indian species, eisenia foetida can convert organic wastes into vermicompost in about one month ' s time and convert anything except plastic into compost. since preparation of vermicompost utilising any of the above species can be a very promising endeavour in rural areas, in addition to meeting the compost requirement of one ' s own farm, it is desirable to take this up as part of organic farming. the brief details regarding vermicomposting techniques is as follows. vermicompost can be made in raised beds of 15 - 25 cm height. the length and width can vary according to the quantum of wastes available for composing. beds of 6x2 m are ideal. these beds should be made slightly raised at the centre and sloping towards the sides ( to facilitate effective drainage ), preferably under shade. as earthworms do not relish light, it is advisable to keep the pits covered. darkness also reduces the composting time. a soft


centre and sloping towards the sides ( to facilitate effective drainage ), preferably under shade. as earthworms do not relish light, it is advisable to keep the pits covered. darkness also reduces the composting time. a soft bedding material with wheat / soybean straw is added as the first layer. this should be followed by a thin layer of cow dung slurry. earthworm culture @ 1 kg / 10m length of bed ( 2m wide ) is then added. earthworm cocoons or starter inoculant worms from vermi compost can also be used. weeds, leaves chopping, farm wastes, household wastes and other degradable materials can be continuously added on the top. water should be sprinkled periodically to keep the beds slightly moist, but never wet. under ideal moist and temperature conditions ( 27 - 33° c ) the composting time would be 40 - 50 days. earthworm castings contain approximately 2. 0 - 2. 5 % n, 2. 5 - 2. 9 per cent p2o5 and 1. 2 - 1. 4 % k2o, the exact composition varies according to the substrate and composting conditions. the excreta of organisms contain more n content over their level of consumption of n as in vermi castings too. ( ii ) composting of cotton stalks through trichoderma viride cotton stalks are burnt as fuel after picking of seed cotton is over. this residue together with farm wastes from other crops and weeds can effectively be utilised for preparing compost, through the use of beneficial fungi like trichoderma viride. the technique, as developed at cicr, nagpur is briefly described. in a pit of 10 x 2 x 1m in size, dried cotton stalks from 2 hectare area are filled in four layers interspersed with other soft farm waste, such as sorghum stubble, linseed straw and soybean pod - haulms ( to fill the gaps in between cotton stalks ) and 50 kg of cow dung ( to provide a soft substrate for initial multiplication of the fungus ). each layer was sprinkle inoculated with 2. 5 kg t. viride wettable powder in 60 litre water mixed with half - kilogram jaggery and 15 g yeast. the pit is finally covered with one foot layer of sunhemp stalks for checking water loss. periodic watering is made to maintain sufficient moisture in the pit and turning of the top layer at


mixed with half - kilogram jaggery and 15 g yeast. the pit is finally covered with one foot layer of sunhemp stalks for checking water loss. periodic watering is made to maintain sufficient moisture in the pit and turning of the top layer at least once during the decomposition process. in the span of four months, most of the cotton stalks are converted into compost, the rest ( 20 % ) being black, brittle, semi - decomposed stalks. this compost is comparable to well - decomposed vermicompost. it could be used for nutrient recycling, antagonistic fungus against certain soil - borne pathogens, viz., fusarium spp., rhizoctonia spp. etc. 6 ) weed management fields not infested with perennial weeds such as cyperus sp. ( motha ), cyanodon dactylon ( doob ) and sachharum sp. ( kans ) are preferred for organic farming as these are difficult to control. however, if such weeds occur in patches, their underground propagatory structures ( stolons, rhizomes etc. ) must be exposed by summer cultivation and manually removed. mechanical / manual weeding as per existing practice may be adopted. composting can recycle the weeds removed. it must be ensured that the fym, compost added is completely decomposed, otherwise many seeds of annual weeds, introduced through fym, will germinate and aggravate the weed problem. growing a crop of cowpea between 2 rows of cotton will also suppress the early emerging weeds. 7 ) selection of rotations crop rotations play a very important role in restoring soil fertility and minimising damage due to insect pests and weeds. high nutrient - exhaustive rotations must be avoided and instead rotations with a legume that is recommended for the locality may be adopted. 8 ) ipm strategies for crop protection the crop protection to reduce the damage due to insect pests to organically cultivated cotton revolves around the use of bioagents such as predators such as chrysoperla sp. or apertochrysa spp., egg parasitoids such as trichogramma, larval parasitoids such as habrobracon spp. or insect pathogens such as helicoverpa armigera nuclear polyhydrosis virus [ npv ] and a bacterium, bacillus thuringuiensis var. kurstaki ( b. t. k. ) formulations


. or insect pathogens such as helicoverpa armigera nuclear polyhydrosis virus [ npv ] and a bacterium, bacillus thuringuiensis var. kurstaki ( b. t. k. ) formulations along with utilisation of bird perches and botanical insecticides like neem products. avoidance of pesticide application by introducing biocontrol agents, either by natural augmentation processes or by artificial releases increased the stability of cotton cultivation. the basic concept of conserving natural mortality agents of pests can be achieved in organic cotton cultivation, primarily by reducing insecticide application. these toxicants destroy both, pests and their natural enemies, and so, are not desirable for common use. to sum up, the following pest suppression strategies are recommended for organic cotton cultivation. from the studies conducted at central institute for cotton research, nagpur on the technology generation for sustainable organic cotton production and its evaluation with conventional farming with use of chemicals ( fertilisers and insecticides ), the following facts have emerged for careful consideration. ( a ) in a span of 3 - 4 years, there was gradual build up in soil productivity and seed cotton yield in organic farming was at par to non - organic farming ( fig 1 ). ( b ) in the initial year, the yield realisation through organic system was about 40 % of that of conventional ( non - organic ) system, with comparable or slightly higher ( 7 - 10 % ) production costs. this situation improves in subsequent years ( c ) there was also a gradual improvement in soil fertility parameters such as organic carbon content and available p ( fig 2a & b ). the organic carbon content stabilised at 0. 50 - 0. 55 % after 4 - 5 years. ( d ) one interesting observation was that even jassid susceptible cultivator such as lra. 5166 showed good tolerance to jassid infestation under organic environment. there was a good build up of natural enemies, such as egg, larval and pupal parasitoids, and also of various predators of cotton pests ( fig 3 ). under continuous cultivation of cotton in organic environment, its stability situation for better performance was achieved over a period of time. capability of cotton plant to withstand pest infestation was found to be highly remarkable ( fig 4 ). according to the estimates of cotton corporation of india, mumbai 14 - 15 lakh bales of organic cotton is produced in india and used for making textile products. a few thousand bales of


x and y can do a piece of work in 20 days and 12 days respectively. x started the work alone and then after 4 days y joined him till the completion of the work. how long did the work last? answer : option b hence, total time taken = ( 6 + 4 ) days = 10 days. a is 30 % more efficient than b. how much time will they, working together, take to complete a job which a alone could have done in 23 days? ratio of times taken by a and b = 100 : 130 = 10 : 13. suppose b takes x days to do the work. therefore, a and b together can complete the work in 13 days. ravi and kumar are working on an assignment. ravi takes 6 hours to type 32 pages on a computer, while kumar takes 5 hours to type 40 pages. how much time will they take, working together on two different computers to type an assignment of 110 pages? answer : option d a, b and c can complete a piece of work in 24, 6 and 12 days respectively. working together, they will complete the same work in : sakshi can do a piece of work in 20 days. tanya is 25 % more efficient than sakshi. the number of days taken by tanya to do the same piece of work is : ratio of times taken by sakshi and tanya = 125 : 100 = 5 : 4. suppose tanya takes x days to do the work. x = 16 days. hence, tanya takes 16 days to complete the work. < prev 123456next > contact us : email @ example. com follow us on twitter!


history | black athletes and sports in the 20th century a200 | 26648 | waite above class open to undergraduates only become a more effective learner of history! enroll in educ x101 : learning strategies for history in the same semester as any history course. x101 is being offered 2 : 30 - 3 : 45, mw or 2 : 30 - 3 : 45, tr for 2 this course will examine the involvement of african - americans in us history from 1865 - present through the lens of sporting culture / competition. we will explore overall patterns of racial exclusion / inclusion of african - americans in american sports. we will also mesh historical sporting achievements with social advancements off the field, as demonstrated throughout the civil rights era through the end of the century. in addition, we will gain a better understanding of the sports, individuals, and competitions that helped shape american racial history in the past, and that continue to influence american society today. emphasis will be placed on specific events / people ( i. e. the desegregation of baseball, the success of the harlem globetrotters, jesse owens ’ berlin olympics, and tiger woods groundbreaking win at augusta national ) and we will explore a number of different popular sports, including boxing, football, baseball, basketball, track and field, tennis, and golf. required and supplemental texts will help students identify how sporting culture contributed to, as well as helped change racial stereotypes regarding black athletes. the textbook for the course is based around short, primary sources. in addition we will read 4 - 5 supplemental texts on different athletes ’ experiences. the course should help students improve their analytical skills as well as gain practical experience in doing history. the course requires an average of 50 - 75 pages of reading per week. class time will involve informal lectures, a film, as well as regular group discussions based on assigned readings. discussions will include problem solving and other activities. students will be evaluated through their participation in class discussions, through in - class quizzes, and two exams ( mid - term and final ). each student will also present a short ( 8 - 10 minute ) in - class oral presentation and subsequent written analysis ( 4 - 5 pages ) of a topic of their choice, covering an aspect of 20th century american sporting history that fits into the themes of our class. there is no pre - requisite for this course.


message from the executive director the federal law concerning indian and alaska native lands has long been unworkable and extremely unfair by american standards of justice. we are working with indian and alaska native nations in our native land law project to spell out what a fair framework of law would be. for example, it is often incorrectly said that the “ doctrine of discovery ” gave ownership of all the land in this country, particularly all native lands, to the european nation that “ discovered ” the area. the unfairness of this concept is obvious, and this “ doctrine ” has never, in fact, been the law. nevertheless, courts and government officials routinely apply this mistaken and unfair rule. another example is the supreme court ’ s ruling that the federal government may take aboriginal native lands without compensation or due process of law. congress frequently deals with native property by enacting legislation that would be forbidden by the u. s. constitution if it affected anyone else ’ s property. this legal framework is not only in consistent with our constitution and with human rights standards world - wide, but it has terrible consequences for indian and alaska native tribes. native leaders have for generations struggled to correct the enormous problems created by these unfair legal rules. this framework of law has made it practically impossible for native peoples of this country to correct the social and economic injustices that they suffer. this legal framework, more than any other factor, is responsible for the longstanding poverty, political marginalization, and social ills that are so common in indian country. changing, clarifying, and improving the laws affecting native lands and resources are necessary if tribes are to gain effective control of their homelands and improve their economic and social well - being. the native landowners themselves, the many tribes, nations, and individuals with rights to lands and resources, must be the ones to make the decisions about changing the law. we look forward to assisting indian and alaska native nations in achieving change in the law. improving the law about native lands is one way we are using the united nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. after some 30 years of work to win adoption of the declaration, it is wonderful to see that the declaration is being embraced and implemented by millions of indigenous peoples in countries all over the world. it is enormously gratifying that the declaration is being used by indigenous peoples in every quarter of the globe to improve their lives. i thank again our many good friends and generous supporters. foundations such as lannan foundation, indian land tenure foundation, ford foundation, libra foundation, oak foundation, fan


the presented book disaster management is abundant with the facts beginning from the meaning of disaster management its management how to tackle with natural calamities, its preventions and the steps taken by the government and many more. the book is of tremendous significance for the students, teachers, scholars and researchers. about author : bk singh is an academic and scholar in his own rights and a profilic writer. he was obtained his all higher qualifications from reputed universities of india. he is totally devoted to serious writings. having attended a number of seminars and workshops, he has written hundreds of articles on the subject. 2. occurrence of disasters 3. study programme in disaster management 4. types of disaster 5. disaster management : asean 6. policy of disaster risk management 7. first aid and patient care 8. rescue methods in disaster 9. losses of natural disasters | title : | | handbook of disaster management : techniques and guidelines hb | * the book summary and image may be of a different edition or binding of the same title. * book reviews are added by registered customers. they need not necessarily buy book. * these books are not available for reading online or for free download in pdf or ebook format. * price can change due to reprinting, price change by publisher or sourcing cost change for imported books. www. infibeam. com / books is the biggest online bookstore in india for sale of books at best price - fiction, literature, audiobooks, study guides, novels, story books, rare books, textbooks and books by popular authors. these are available in various editions and bindings e. g. paperback and at best discount. safe & secure shopping


francis, 1554 – 84, french prince, duke of alencon and anjou ; youngest son of king henry ii of france and catherine de ' medici. although ill - shapen, pockmarked, and endowed with a curiously formed nose, he was considered ( 1572 – 73 ) as a possible husband for queen elizabeth i of england. during the wars of religion ( see religion, wars of ), he opposed the anti - protestant policy of his mother and conspired with huguenots and moderate catholics against his mother and his brother, king charles ix. by the peace of 1576, which ended the fifth war of religion, he obtained the appanages of anjou, touraine, and berry. he led ( 1578 ) an expedition into the netherlands, which was then in rebellion against spain. in the same year, he was again prominent as elizabeth ' s suitor. offered ( 1580 ) the rule of the low countries by william the silent, leader of the rebellious states, he led a new invasion and was for a time the ruler of several provinces, but in 1583 was compelled to withdraw. his death opened the french succession to henry of navarre ( later king henry iv ). the columbia electronic encyclopedia, 6th ed. copyright © 2012, columbia university press. all rights reserved. see more encyclopedia articles on : french history : biographies