www. nichd. nih. gov / publications / nrp / smallbook. htm ranard, d. a., & pfleger, m. ( 1995 ). from the classroom to the community : a fifteen - year experiment in refugee education. washington, dc, & mchenry, il : center for applied linguistics & delta systems. robson, b. ( 1982 ). hmong literacy, formal education, and their effects on performance in an esl class. in b. t. downing & d. p. olney ( eds. ), the hmong in the west : observations and reports ( pp. 201 - 225 ). minneapolis : university of minnesota. ryan, a., & meara, p. ( 1991 ). the case of the invisible vowels : arabic speakers reading english words. reading in a foreign language, 7, 531 - 540. snow, c., burns, m. s., & griffin, p. ( 1998 ). preventing reading difficulties in young children. washington, dc : national academy press. strucker, j. ( 2002, june ). ncsall ' s adult reading components study ( arcs ). paper presented at the conference of the international dyslexia association, washington, dc. u. s. department of education, office of vocational and adult education, division of adult education and literacy. ( 2002, april 8 ). state - administered adult education program 2001 enrollment,. washington, dc : author. van lehman, d., & eno, o. ( 2002 ). the somali bantu : their history and culture. washington, dc : center for applied linguistics. retrieved january 10, 2003, from http : / / www. culturalorientation. net / bantu wade - woolley, l. ( 1999 ). first language influences on second language word reading : all roads lead to rome. language learning, 49, 447 - 471. this brief is excerpted and adapted from reading and adult english language learners : a review of the research, by m. burt, j. k. peyton, & r. adams, 2003, washington, dc : national center for esl literacy education & center for applied linguistics. this document was produced at the center for applied linguistics ( 4646 40th street, nw, washington, dc 20016 202 - 362 - 0700 ) with funding from the u. s. department of education ( ed ), office of vocational and adult education ( ovae )


a short history of chocolate. chocolate was first used by ancient mesoamerican peoples, probably beginning with the maya. they mixed cacao paste with water, chile peppers, cornmeal, and other ingredients to make a bitter but spicy chocolate drink. europe came in contact with chocolate during the conquest of mexico in the early 1500s.. spaniards adopted the aztec practice of drinking chocolate and began to ship cacao seeds to their home country. in spain, cooks sweetened the bitter beverage with sugar and added other spices more appealing to the local palate. after more than a century, the use of chocolate spread to other european nations. being in short supply, chocolate was an item restricted to the wealty elite. in france, only members of the royal court had access to chocolate. to increase the supply of chocolate, many european nations established cacao plantations in their colonies where the climate was appropriate and labor was plentiful. even after the supply of raw materials increased, though, chocolate was still expensive. eventually, the steam engine and other machinery of the industrial revolution allowed mass production of chocolate. the development of chocolate candy relied on later inventions like the cocoa press and the conching machine - these allowed a smooth, solid chocolate to be manufactured and turned into the kind of confections we see today. swiss chocolate makers are credited with the invention of milk chocolate, a sweet, creamy confection that remains popular today. candy gift ideas is the place to come when you are selecting presents for any occasion - we ' ve got the ideas for the gifts you need! chocolates and other candy presents are great for valentines day, christmas, easter, and other holidays plus personal occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, baby gifts, get well gifts, friendship gifts, and more!


common dental terms we ’ ve put together this handy reference guide of terms you might hear when speaking with your dentist or support staff. please don ’ t hesitate to ask your dental care provider for clarification of any terms. we ’ re here to help make your experience as pleasant as possible! palate : hard and soft tissue forming the roof of the mouth. palliative treatment : the non - invasive relief of irritating conditions. parasthesia : a partial loss of sensation that is temporary or permanent. partial denture : a removable dental prosthesis ( appliance ) that replaces one or more natural teeth. pathology : the study of disease. pedodontics or pediatric dentistry : as the name implies, pediatric dentistry is the field of medicine that deals with dentists for children. a children ’ s dentist specializes in the care of a child ’ s small mouth and teeth, normally including braces, invisible braces, crowns, fillings, cleanings, plates, x - rays, and similar tools in everyday work. caring for the growing mouth of a child is hard work, and requires more education for the specialty of pediatric dentistry. a pediatric dentist can give parents and caregivers special information regarding habits that can cause trouble later, such as thumb sucking, cavity - causing eating habits, and much more. they also understand the process of teeth growing, falling out, and allowing adult teeth to grow. sometimes, teeth must be pulled for a variety of reasons, even for small children. dentists for children are not solely concerned with tooth maintenance. they are also a vital part of a healthy smile as an adult, and can help a child grow up with an improved self - image. learning about things that make a child healthy and happy is an important part of being a good parent, and finding a dentist that specializes in pediatric dentistry can do just that. our pediatric dental specialists are trained to deal with the unique needs of children. this includes calming their fears, specialized equipment and educating them about good oral health. periapical ( pa ) : the region at the end of the roots of teeth. periodontal chart : a record measuring the depth of gum pockets around the teeth. periodontal surgery : the recontouring or aesthetic management of diseased gum and supporting tissue. periodontist : a dental specialist who treats the gums and supporting soft and hard tissues in order to retain natural teeth and prepare for surgical placement of dental implants. heredity, diet and other factors can result in gum disease


and supporting tissue. periodontist : a dental specialist who treats the gums and supporting soft and hard tissues in order to retain natural teeth and prepare for surgical placement of dental implants. heredity, diet and other factors can result in gum disease. we will help you get a treatment plan that aggressively attacks any form of periodontal disease that will soon have your mouth back in top health. permanent teeth : thirty - two adult teeth ( approximately ) in a complete dentition. pit : a small defect in the tooth enamel, or the junction of four formative lobes of a developing tooth. plaque : a soft, sticky substance that accumulates on teeth and is composed of bacteria and food debris due to inadequate dental hygiene. pontic : a replacement tooth mounted on a fixed or removal appliance. porcelain crown : an all - porcelain restoration that covers the coronal portion of tooth ( above the gum line ). porcelain fused to metal ( pfm ) crown : a restoration containing metal coping for strength covered by porcelain for appearance. porcelain inlay or onlay : a tooth - colored restoration made of porcelain and cemented or bonded in place. porcelain veneers : a thin layer of porcelain, fabricated by a laboratory and bonded to a natural tooth to replace lost tooth structure, close spaces, straighten teeth, or change color and / or shape. post : a thin metal rod inserted into the root of a tooth after root canal therapy. a post provides retention for a " coping " which replaces lost tooth structure and retains crowns. post - core : a post and buildup to replace lost tooth structure and retain crowns. post - crown : a single structure that combines post - core and crown. ppo or pdo : a preferred provider or dental organization, which a healthcare dental provider may join offering fee for service treatments at reduced fees. prognosis : the anticipated outcome of treatment. prophylaxis : cleaning of the teeth for the prevention of periodontal disease and tooth decay. prosthesis : an artificial appliance for the replacement for a body part. prosthodontist : " prosthodontics " involves dentures, bridges, crowns, implants, and similar areas of expertise commonly associated with cosmetic dentistry. many dentists who specialize in prosthodontics also go on to receive special training in oral or maxillofacial surgery or prosthodontics. this allows them to fix or repair other missing facial features such as nose, eyes, and / or ears, to name a


it seems logical that antimicrobial resistance ( amr ) originates in the places where antimicrobials are used. it seems logical, that is, until one starts to think about all the places antimicrobials are used and the results of survey studies that have found the presence of bacteria with genetic indicators of resistance to be widespread. in this third part of a four - part series on amr we look at who is at fault for the increase in resistance. many people are pointing the finger at animal agriculture. certainly, antibiotics are used in animal agriculture, maybe even a greater amount by volume than is used in human medicine. in animal agriculture, antibiotic use is governed by label requirements that indicate the dose, route of administration, and length of treatment. most commonly, antibiotics are given to control infectious diseases. in some cases, antibiotics may also be given to prevent infectious diseases. for example, in dairy cows, it has been the standard recommendation to infuse broad - spectrum antibiotics into all four teats of all cows at the time they are dried off to help control intramammary infections. antibiotics have also been used to enhance performance. for example, in swine production, antimicrobials are fed to change the gut microbe population with the result that growth is increased. antibiotic use in animal agriculture should be done in consultation with a veterinarian. dairy producers are encouraged to have a valid veterinary - client - patient relationship ( vcpr ) through which all issues of herd health and treatment are discussed. veterinarian involvement has been shown to reduce the incidence of antibiotic residues in animals that leave the farm. but animal agriculture is only one user of antimicrobials. veterinary drugs are limited by label, however antibiotic use in human medicine does not have label limits. individual doctors specify the drug use, dose, length of treatment and more. doctors sometimes prescribe antibiotics when antibiotics are not indicated. i represented michigan state university extension at a recent national institute of animal agriculture ( niaa ) conference dedicated to antimicrobial resistance. at the niaa conference, dr. kurt stevenson of the, reported a study that found that 25 - 40 percent of hospitalized patients receive antibiotics and 10 - 70 percent are unnecessary or sub - optimal in dosage. inappropriate use of antibiotics is a risk factor for the development of antimicrobial resistance.


usually ships in 1 - 5 days published : random house, 3 / 2012 a brilliant book by nobel prize winner eric r. kandel, the age of insight takes us to vienna 1900, where leaders in science, medicine, and art began a revolution that changed forever how we think about the human mind — our conscious and unconscious thoughts and emotions — and how mind and brain relate to art. at the turn of the century, vienna was the cultural capital of europe. artists and scientists met in glittering salons, where they freely exchanged ideas that led to revolutionary breakthroughs in psychology, brain science, literature, and art. kandel takes us into the world of vienna to trace, in rich and rewarding detail, the ideas and advances made then, and their enduring influence today. the vienna school of medicine led the way with its realization that truth lies hidden beneath the surface. that principle infused viennese culture and strongly influenced the other pioneers of vienna 1900. sigmund freud shocked the world with his insights into how our everyday unconscious aggressive and erotic desires are repressed and disguised in symbols, dreams, and behavior. arthur schnitzler revealed women ’ s unconscious sexuality in his novels through his innovative use of the interior monologue. gustav klimt, oscar kokoschka, and egon schiele created startlingly evocative and honest portraits that expressed unconscious lust, desire, anxiety, and the fear of death. kandel tells the story of how these pioneers — freud, schnitzler, klimt, kokoschka, and schiele — inspired by the vienna school of medicine, in turn influenced the founders of the vienna school of art history to ask pivotal questions such as what does the viewer bring to a work of art? how does the beholder respond to it? these questions prompted new and ongoing discoveries in psychology and brain biology, leading to revelations about how we see and perceive, how we think and feel, and how we respond to and create works of art. kandel, one of the leading scientific thinkers of our time, places these five innovators in the context of today ’ s cutting - edge science and gives us a new understanding of the modernist art of klimt, kokoschka, and schiele, as well as the school of thought of freud and schnitzler. reinvigorating the intellectual enquiry that began in vienna 1900, the age of insight is a wonderfully written, superbly researched, and beautifully illustrated book that also provides


contact site moderator dr. robert e. belford how do we make students the stars of their own learning, taking them out of the classroom for simple experiments and enabling them to share on the web, their experiences, pictures, and results? this was the main goal of the global experiment, addressing key objectives of iyc, namely to increase public understanding. the theme water – a chemical solution was chosen to invite students to explore one of earth ’ s most critical resources. a dedicated website for the global experiment was designed to disseminate the experiments protocols, upload the results, view all deposit data, and share stories. the interactive site — available in english, french, spanish, russian, and chinese — engaged young people to take part in celebarting iyc and to learn about the relationship between water and many of the world ’ s current problems — from food shortages to climate change — and how chemistry plays a fundamental role in understanding and resolving these challenges. four experiments were designed covering acidity, salinity, filtration and distillation. since launching the global experiment on world water day in march 2011 in south africa, 80 000 students from over 80 countries have shared their results on the website. central to the success of the global experiment was the use of social networks, which allowed students to shared experiences, photos, and concerns in real time through facebook, twitter, youtube, or flickr. by using these social tools, students created their own communities of friends sharing interest in chemistry. the global experiment website : http : / / water. chemistry2011. org javier garcia martinez & rovani sigamoney one study shows that 96 % of the students with online access reported that they used online social media, and nearly 60 % of those students use these online tools to discuss education - related topics and more than 50 % reported that they use them to discuss schoolwork to support their education. 1 recognizing the potential risks of irresponsible use of the web, there is great potential in the new social networking technologies to reach our kids using their own language and help them find their own interests. in many cases, this simply consists of using their channels of communication to share information. in other cases, it means creating opportunities for them to share and create content that is useful for them. 2 the central idea behind student - driven education is that the kids would be the main actors of their own learning by having them leave the classroom for simple experiments related to daily activities, and then enabling them to share their experiences, pictures,


for them. 2 the central idea behind student - driven education is that the kids would be the main actors of their own learning by having them leave the classroom for simple experiments related to daily activities, and then enabling them to share their experiences, pictures, and results on the web. the global experiment of the international year of chemistry, 3, 4, 5 has been a wonderful opportunity to reach hundreds of thousands of students through social media for education and science. the various experiments were designed to require minimal equipment and resources, and the protocols drafted by an international team of educators. a dedicated website for the global experiment was created so that one could download the instructions for performing the experiments, upload the results, and view the data obtained by other students from around the world. the interactive site — available in english, french, spanish, russian, and chinese — also served as a clearinghouse for teachers and affiliated centers. it was designed for young people to actively participate in iyc and learn about the relationship between water and many of the world ’ s current problems — from food shortages to climate change — and how chemistry plays a fundamental role in understanding and resolving these challenges. when all of the results of the experiment were posted by students, an impressive map began to emerge that illustrated the contributions from all schools, colleges, or institutions involved around the world. figure 1. data collected by students displayed on maps that show the different values according to their value, location and number of participants. activities related to the measurement of water quality : • acidity : students learned to take measurements of local water ph using various indicators. next, they were taught to use techniques for checking the reliability of the results obtained. • salinity : the salinity experiment enabled students to measure the salt content of water samples by evaporation and until the sample is dried to constant weight. activities related to water purification : • filtration : in this activity the students constructed a filtration unit and evaluated its efficiency and capacity using a sample of local water. as with other activities, the data generated contributed to a global map of the results. • distillation : during this activity, students investigated an alternative way of purifying water using solar energy and the process of distillation. additionally, students had an opportunity to design and build their own distillation system. social media is a powerful tool embraced by the youth and which offers new opportunities and challenges for educators to engage their students. central to the success of the global experiment was the use of social networks, which allowed


and build their own distillation system. social media is a powerful tool embraced by the youth and which offers new opportunities and challenges for educators to engage their students. central to the success of the global experiment was the use of social networks, which allowed students to shared experiences, photos, and concerns in real time through facebook, twitter, youtube, or flickr. using these social tools, they were able to create their own communities of friends who shared their interest in chemistry. from the beginning, the global experiment was intended not just as an activity for youth. instead, with the tools that social media provided, the experiment quickly evolved to become an activity by youth — a student - driven initiative allowing interaction through virtual communities. both the students and the teachers are to be thanked, and each school that participated in this activity received a certificate of participation. figure 2. interactive tool contained in the website of the global experiment including twitter, facebook and youtube. recently, the global experiment was part of a competition organized by visualizing. org, in which computer programmers worldwide were asked to develop software that could view, compare, and analyze the vast amount of information we gathered over the past year. in the spirit of the global experiment, this challenge was developed in a collaborative way so that from an initial design, programmers could create a more effective tool together than any individual programmer. the end result is an interactive map that displays all data sorted by type of experiment, the source of the water sample, and location. figure 3. developed specific software for viewing, comparison and analysis of the results of experiment global created collaboratively by programmers around the world through the competition organized by visualizing. org the yearlong global experiment – water : a chemical solution has been quite remarkable both educationally and socially. all of us in iupac and unesco are very grateful to everyone from around the world, who worked so hard to make gwe possible, but most importantly, we ’ d like to thank all the teachers and students who embraced the global experiment – they were the ones who made it truly global and made it such a success. creating & connecting : research and guidelines on online social — and educational — networking. national school boards association. 2007. javier garcia - martinez, chemistry 2. 0 : creating online communities, chemistry international, jul - aug 2010, vol. 32, no. 4, pp. 4 - 7. the global experiment website : water. chemistry2011. org tony wright y javier garcia martinez, water : a chemical solution - a global experiment for the international year


short history of belize archaeologists estimate that at their peak, 1 to 2 million mayans lived within the borders of present day belize. mighty maya cities such as caracol, xunantunich and lamanai dotted the landscape, with small agricultural communities farming the land between. the maya civilization is divided into the pre - classic ( 1000 bc to ad 300 ), the classic ( ad 300 to 900 ) when the civilization reached its height of development, and the post - classic ( ad 1000 to 1500 ) when the civilization fell apart and disappeared. no one knows for certain what caused the disappearance of the maya. perhaps it was war, loss of faith, famine, or a series of natural disasters. christopher columbus sailed along the coast of central america in 1502, and named the bay of honduras which borders the southern part of the barrier reef. the first settlers in belize were english puritans, setting up trading posts along the coast of belize. various bands of ship - wrecked sailors, buccaneers, and pirates established permanent bases in belize, harassing the spanish galleons carrying gold, silver, and hardwoods from central america to europe. it wasn ' t long before logging became the dominant occupation. this band of rugged individuals took to calling themselves " baymen " after the bay of honduras. spain continually attempted to expel these british buccaneers from then spanish territory, but finally signed treaties in 1763 and 1786 allowing the british to continue to harvest timber in exchange for protection against pirates preying on the spanish galleons. the colonial period during the 1840 ' s, great britain declared belize to be the colony of british honduras. development of belize became more organized and multiethnic through a series of cultural changes. the european settlers began to marry freed slaves forming the creole majority that still is dominant in the population. mexican citizens began cultivating small farms in northern belize. in southern belize, the kekchi and mopan maya sought refuge in the hills of the maya mountains. a small band of confederate civil war veterans settled in what is now punta gorda. and from the bay islands of honduras, the garifuna people migrated and settled along the coast of belize. early twentieth century to present by the early 1900 ' s, belize had grown to nearly 40, 000 inhabitants. but a destructive 1931 hurricane destroyed belize city and by the 1930 ' s, the economy was so poor that the residents began to call for independence. by 1954 voting rights were extended to all adults, and by 1961, england agreed to begin the process of setting belize free. in


every musical instrument in a symphonic orchestra will emit a distinct tone that will contribute to the sound of music that will be heard by an audience during a concert performance. the woodwind section of the symphonic orchestra is comprised of musical instruments such as the flute, oboe, the clarinet, and the bassoon. a symphonic orchestra is comprised of brass instruments, stringed instruments, percussion instruments, and woodwind instruments. the musical instruments that are considered woodwind instruments will be equipped with one or two reeds. the shaping of woodwind musical instruments is tubular, and certain woodwinds will have several curves in the tube, which will allow different sounds to be made simply by the shape of the instrument. the musician will place a reed in the mouthpiece to create sound and the amount of air in the tubing will determine what type of sound will be emitted. a symphonic orchestra will have a unique seating arrangement that accounts for the magnificent blend of music that audiences hear each night. the seating chart is arranged in sections, by musical instrument class rather than by the tenure of the musician who is playing the instrument. the number of seats allowed per instrument is generally five, sometimes more depending on the size of the orchestra. musicians covet the first chair of any musical instrument section because it is a position of honor in a symphonic orchestra. the conductor will reserve each seat in a musical section to a specific musician, and will give the honor of the first chair to the musician that has proven through testing and experience that they are the best. the first chair musician in a symphonic orchestra is normally given the honor of serving as a soloist during a concert performance. the sections for woodwind musical instruments will cascade from five parent instruments. the section of flutes will be comprised of piccolos and flutes. these woodwind instruments do not use any reeds to produce music but rely on holes in the instrument to introduce air into a tubular form. some classical music selections will require more flutes than piccolos to be used and any musical instruments that are not needed will remain silent during that portion of the musical performance. other sections of the seating chart for a symphonic orchestra will be comprised of instruments like the clarinet. the three styles of clarinet used in a symphonic orchestra are the clarinet, the bass or contra bass clarinet, and the e - flat clarinet. some of these woodwind instruments are held in the hand, and woodwinds like the contra base are very large and are equipped with built - in stands that can be extended to form a peg to allow the musician to slant the woodwind instrument


this study will determine whether stimulating the nerves or the brain can modify the spinal reflex that controls the muscles that flex and extend the ankle. training spinal nerve networks with sensory input may provide a way of re - establishing movements, such as walking, in patients with spinal injury. healthy normal volunteers with no history of peripheral neuropathy or radiculopathy, ankle contractures or tendon surgery may be eligible for this study. participants will undergo three stimulation procedures, each in a different session, to measure leg muscle reflexes. the procedures are : - reflex testing - metal electrodes are taped to the skin over the leg muscles. a small electrical pulse is delivered through the electrodes to stimulate two nerves to the muscles. this evokes a reflex between the ankle flexor and extensor muscles. the responses to several dozen stimuli are averaged. - nerve stimulation - the nerve to the muscle that flexes the leg is electrically stimulated near the knee through electrodes taped to the skin. the strength of the stimulus is adjusted to produce little or no muscle movement. the stimulation is repeated every few seconds for 45 minutes. - transcranial magnetic stimulation - an insulated wire coil is placed on the subject ' s scalp. a brief electrical current passes through the coil, creating a magnetic pulse that travels through the scalp and skull and causes small electrical currents in the outer part of the brain. there may be twitching in the muscles of the arm or leg. during the stimulation, the subject may be asked to tense certain muscles slightly or perform other simple actions to help determine the best position for the coil over the part of the brain that controls the leg. the leg is then stimulated once every 10 seconds, combined with nerve stimulation every 1 to 2 seconds.


mathematics is often thought to be universally and unassailably true. i have even heard it argued that god, omnipotent though he may be, could not make math false even if he was impulsive enough to try it. can mathematicians actually prove that math is true? if they cannot, does the fact that math is so useful in solving real world problems provide evidence of its truth? and, if mathematics is not true, then does that imply that conclusions drawn from it are faulty or suspect? these are some of the questions that i will try to address. the first attempt we might make to prove that mathematics is true is to consider real world situations where mathematical equations seem to appear. some examples are : • if i have three red balls in a bag and add two more, the bag will then contain five red balls. • if i am on a train traveling at three miles per hour and throw a ball at two miles per hour ( measured with respect to the train ) then the ball will be traveling at five miles per hour with respect to the ground. • if i had three dollars worth of goods yesterday and borrow two dollars worth of goods from you today then i have five dollars worth of goods in my possession. each of these three situations seem to imply the equation 3 + 2 = 5, but do they actually prove that the equation 3 + 2 = 5 is true? one problem with drawing conclusions about mathematics from these examples is that the number ’ 3 ′ is not the same as ‘ three balls ’ or ‘ three hours ’ or ‘ three dollars ’, and the operator ‘ + ’ is not the same as grouping together balls or combining velocities or aggregating wealth. it is true that 3 + 2 = 5 is typically an excellent model for each of these situations, but nonetheless the equation is not precisely equivalent to these situations. it is also true that when we group balls together ( by, in this case, placing them in a bag ) the procedure generally behaves as though we are performing addition. but now suppose that the objects we are grouping together are made of packed sand, or some other delicate substance. in this case, when we add new objects to our bag they will sometimes fracture and split into multiple objects, and occasionally multiple objects will even fuse together into a single object. the addition operator ‘ + ’ no longer models this situation well because when we place a new object in the bag it does not always increase the number of objects contained in the bag by one. it is not terribly difficult to annih


a single object. the addition operator ‘ + ’ no longer models this situation well because when we place a new object in the bag it does not always increase the number of objects contained in the bag by one. it is not terribly difficult to annihilate the relationship between the equation 3 + 2 = 5 and the other real world situations given above. for example, einstein ’ s theory of relativity tells us ( in contradiction to the more intuitive but less accurate equations of newtonian mechanics ) that when a person on a train which is moving three miles per hour ( with respect to the ground ) throws a ball at two miles per hour ( with respect to the train ), then the speed of the ball with respect to the ground is actually very slightly less than 5 miles per hour, not equal to 5 miles per hour. what ’ s more, if i had three dollars worth of goods yesterday and then borrow two dollars worth of goods from you today, the total number of dollars worth of goods that i have possession of will not necessarily be five dollars if the value of my original goods changed between yesterday and today ( as can happen in real economic markets ). what these examples show us is that the only reason to say that grouping balls or combining velocities or aggregating wealth encapsulates the idea of mathematical addition is because most of the time the addition operator ‘ + ’ provides a good model for these scenarios. we can no more conclude that 3 + 2 = 5 is a true statement simply because putting two balls into a bag that already has three balls generally produces a bag with five balls, then we can conclude that 3 + 2 = 5 is false simply because velocities have been proven not to add. in other words, while real world situations can motivate the equations of mathematics and provide justifications for applying them, they cannot prove that those equations are actually true. we have stared at equations like 3 + 2 = 5 so many times in our lives that it can be difficult to consider them with fresh eyes in order to ask ourselves what it really is that they are saying. clearly ’ 3 ′, ‘ + ’, ’ 2 ′, ‘ = ’ and ’ 5 ′ are not objects in the physical universe. you can go to the zoo and see three bears, or see the numeral ’ 3 ′ printed on a sign, or perform arithmetic on paper using the symbol ’ 3 ′, but nowhere in the universe can you find the actual ( metaphysical ) number ’ 3 ′. this is hardly surprising, since


, or see the numeral ’ 3 ′ printed on a sign, or perform arithmetic on paper using the symbol ’ 3 ′, but nowhere in the universe can you find the actual ( metaphysical ) number ’ 3 ′. this is hardly surprising, since ’ 3 ′ is a concept or idea, not a physical thing. but this line of thought implies that 3 + 2 = 5 is a statement about the relationship among the concepts ’ 3 ′, ’ 2 ′, and ’ 5 ′, and not a statement about physical entities that actually exist. but how do we define the word “ true ” when it comes to relations among abstract concepts? one possible approach is to say that statements about abstract concepts are true if they follows as logical consequence of the definitions of the concepts themselves. this leads us to ask whether 3 + 2 = 5 and all other mathematical statements are simply true by definition as a consequence of our chosen definitions for ’ 3 ′, ‘ + ’, ’ 2 ′, ‘ = ’, ’ 5 ′ and the other mathematical objects. unfortunately, this question cannot be answered without further qualification. to begin with, what do we mean by “ mathematical objects ”, and how do we choose to define concepts such as ’ 3 ′? various authors have attempted to define mathematics by developing lists of axioms ( which are simply assumed to be true ) and then proving that the basic mathematical objects ( e. g. integers ) and theorems ( e. g. a + b = b + a ) follow from these axioms. unfortunately, there are a variety of different ways that math can be axiomatized ( i. e. built up from basic axioms ). some approaches use sets as the most basic objects ( as is done in what is probably the most popular axiomatization, zermelo - fraenkel set theory ), while others use category theory to provide the basic building blocks, and still other theories attempt to axiomatize only small portions of math, such as euclid ’ s axioms of planar geometry, hilbert ’ s axiomatization of euclidean geometry and the peano axioms for arithmetic. what is even worse ( when it comes to deciding what is true ) than having so many conflicting viewpoints for constructing math is that the axioms of these viewpoints are themselves not provably true. if you are willing to assume the axioms of math are “ true ” ( whatever that means ), then all of the resulting theorems that can be derived from those axioms are


to be true ), and hence it would hardly seem fair to then conclude that mathematical theorems are “ true ” in some objective and universal sense. these problems are compounded by the fact that we cannot prove that our commonly accepted mathematical axioms do not contradict each other, leading to a still deeper level on which to question the truth of mathematical statements. in the end, while it hardly seems fair to say that math is false, it also does not not seem fair to conclude that math is true. math is probably neither “ true ” nor “ false ” in the usual sense of those words, though it does undeniably provide extraordinarily useful models for making predictions about what will happen in our physical universe. this will perhaps seem less surprising if we remember that mathematics was not originally developed from the ground up using axioms, but rather piece by piece in order to find solutions to problems that appear in the real world ( like those related to calculating the size of plots of land, counting money, measuring roads, tracking the movements of the stars, understanding heat flow in cannons, etc. ). hence, mathematical definitions were chosen by humans to model physical reality so that we could make useful predictions, not to encapsulate metaphysical truth, so really, why should we expect math to be true?


nucleospin rna virus is designed for the isolation of viral nucleic acids from serum, plasma, or any cell - free biological fluids. the kit features a special type of membrane which has a high binding capacity for viral rna or viral dna. the procedure is rapid and easy. the lysate is incubated for 5 – 10 min and applied to the nucleospin column. after two washing steps to remove contaminants, the viral rna or viral dna can be eluted with water or low - salt buffer. the kit contains all necessary buffers, spin columns, and detailed protocols. generally, nucleospin rna virus is suited for the simultaneous purification of viral rna and dna ( support protocol ). for example, isolation of hbv dna is performed with an additional proteinase k digest ( enzyme not included in the kit ). for isolation of viral dna with the highest sensitivities, the nucleospin blood kit is recommended. nucleospin rna virus f is designed for the processing of larger volumes of starting material, avoiding successive loadings and decreasing the risk of cross - contamination. the funnel column of the kit allows handling of up to 1 ml serum or plasma with only one loading step. due to the small diameter of the membrane, the elution volume is still between 50 – 100 µl, resulting in a highly concentrated sample directly suitable for any amplification process. the funnel column can be centrifuged in a 50 ml polyethylene tube ( included in the kit ) and can be closed separately. elution tubes are fitted directly onto the funnel column. cross contamination is eliminated because all steps are performed in a closed system. eight or twelve samples ( depending on the centrifuge rotor used ) can be processed in 30 minutes.


so what is expected of a sayanim? what is a sayanim? the sayanim is a jewish person, that can be called on to assist another jew in any cause. since birth, the jewish people have been taught of their superiority and need for cohesion. the sephardic jews are the upper level of the network, and the ashkenazim, which constitute 95 % of all jews, are the worker ants. since the sephardics first converted the ashkenazim, they brainwashed them into the idea that the world is their enemy, but their fellow jew is a " quiet guardian ". who is a sayanim? every jewish person is expected to be a potential agent, in varying degrees. what will they do? if the jewish people sense a potential threat, the jewish sayanim is authorized to commit anything from simple harassment to business ruin, and even multiple murders. the columbine massacre was a perfect example. the police knew there were seven people involved, but five students, two sets of parents, one employer and psychiatrists, provided alibis and corrupted evidence. your jewish accountant will relay any bookkeeping info to a jewish competitor, your friendly jewish pharmacist will assist, your jewish doctor, a clerk at visa will supply credit information, the list is endless. “... i realized i had to gain more knowledge to protect against evil and to protect myself from not becoming evil myself. this is our major goal in life... \ " terry lee


click here for spark show times on cnn international. send your thoughts on this story to email @ example. com or read what other viewers have to say what has been the most significant invention or discovery of the past 50 years? vote now your e - mail alerts ( cnn ) - - anyone with a computer can now contribute to tackling some of the world ' s biggest humanitarian problems simply by leaving their machine logged on when not in use. this week saw the launch in new york of the world community grid, an initiative which aims to take advantage of the under - used power of business and home computers by recruiting them to analyze data for medical, social and environmental research. by accelerating the pace of that work, organizers say the world community grid could aid our understanding of the genetic codes that underlie diseases such as hiv and aids, alzheimer ' s and cancer. it could also contribute to creating more accurate models of the world ' s food and water supplies, climate change or the spread of pollution. the project is based on grid computing technology, which joins together individual computers via the internet to create a large system with computational power far in excess of the world ' s most powerful supercomputers. with an estimated 650 million pcs in use around the world, the world community grid will initially be able to handle up to 10 million participants. then, whenever the computer is idle, the computer requests data from a world community grid server, performs computations and sends the results back to the server. " world community grid represents a new model for philanthropic giving, " said linda sanford, a senior vice president at ibm, which helped build the infrastructure and is also hosting and providing support for the grid. " the grid demonstrates that government, business and society can be the direct beneficiary of innovation if we are willing to rethink the way innovation and science both develop and prosper. " grid computing has already proved its effectiveness in shortening the timescale of vital research projects. last year a grid of more than two million volunteers contributed to the analysis of 35 million drug molecules in the search for a treatment for smallpox. the study identified 44 potential treatments for the disease and cut analysis that would otherwise have taken more than a year to less than three months. it is also being used by climateprediction. net, a project led by the oxford university e - science centre, which is seeking to predict how the climate will change in the next century. the first research to benefit from the new research will be the human proteome folding project,


##ion. net, a project led by the oxford university e - science centre, which is seeking to predict how the climate will change in the next century. the first research to benefit from the new research will be the human proteome folding project, launched by the seattle - based institute for systems biology to study the genetic structure of proteins that cause diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis. " now that the human genome has been sequenced, the next critical phase in genomics research is to do as much as we can to understand protein functions, " said isb lead scientist dr. rich bonneau. " this database of protein structures and possible functions will let us take those next steps in understanding how diseases that involve these proteins work. " the world community grid advisory committee said it would consider further proposals from leading research, public and not - for - profit organizations to conduct humanitarian research, with the intention of conducting five or six studies in the first year. " the world community grid is an exciting new initiative brought about by ibm to conduct humanitarian research using grid technology, " said professor paul jeffreys of the oxford university e - science centre, a member of the advisory committee. " following close collaboration with ibm on e - science, oxford university signed a strategic partnership with ibm earlier this year and it is delighted to extend the partnership into a worldwide grid activity. "


atlanta, georgia ( cnn ) - - this week while you ' re traveling, if you happen to spot a man applying hand sanitizer as he gets off an escalator, there ' s a good chance it ' s dr. mark gendreau, a senior staff physician at the lahey clinic in burlington, massachusetts. travel season can be a germ fest. make sure to keep your hands clean. gendreau studies germiness while traveling, and he knows just how infectious travel can be. " the risk of contracting a contagious illness is heightened when we travel within any enclosed space, especially during the winter months, when most of the respiratory viruses thrive, " gendreau said. studies show that germs can travel easily on an airplane, where people are packed together like sardines. for example, a woman on a 1994 flight from chicago to honolulu transmitted drug - resistant tuberculosis to at least six of her fellow passengers, according to a new england journal of medicine study. in 2003, 22 people came down with sars, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, from a single fellow passenger who had sars but didn ' t have any symptoms, according to another new england journal study. but the airplane isn ' t the only place along your travel route where germs thrive. here are five ways to avoid germs while traveling. 1. sit toward the front of the airplane " pick a seat near the front, since ventilation systems on most commercial aircraft provide better air flow in the front of the aircraft, " gendreau advised. if you can afford it, sit in first class, where people aren ' t so squished together. 2. don ' t drink coffee or tea on an airplane monitoring by the environmental protection agency shows that water in airplanes ' water tanks isn ' t always clean - - and coffee and tea are usually made from that water, not from bottled water, according to victoria day, a spokeswoman for the air transport association. the epa advises anyone with a suppressed immune system or anyone who ' s " concerned " about bacteria to refrain from drinking coffee or tea on an airplane. " while boiling water for one minute will remove pathogens from drinking water, the water used to prepare coffee and tea aboard a plane is not generally brought to a sufficiently high temperature to guarantee that pathogens are killed, " according to the epa ' s web site. according to the epa, out of 7, 812 water samples taken from 2, 316 aircraft, 2. 8 percent were


generally brought to a sufficiently high temperature to guarantee that pathogens are killed, " according to the epa ' s web site. according to the epa, out of 7, 812 water samples taken from 2, 316 aircraft, 2. 8 percent were positive for coliform bacteria. although that sounds like a small number, this means 222 samples contained coliform bacteria. 3. sanitize your hands after leaving an airplane bathroom a toilet on an airplane " is among the germiest that you will encounter almost anywhere, " said charles gerba, an environmental microbiologist at the university of arizona who ' s also known as " dr. germ. " " you have 50 people per toilet, unless you are flying a discount airline ; then it is 75, " gerba said. " we always find e. coli on surfaces in airplane restrooms. " you should wash your hands after using the restroom, but because the water itself might have harmful bacteria ( see no. 2 above ) and because the door handle on your way out has been touched by all those who went before you, gendreau also advises sanitizing your hands when you return to your seat. 4. wash or sanitize your hands after getting off an escalator gendreau says tests show that escalators in airports are full of germs. to confirm these tests, here ' s a fun activity while you wait for your flight this thanksgiving : look at your watch, and count how many people get an escalator in a five - minute time period. multiply that by 12, and you have how many people are on that escalator every hour. high - volume handrails are why gendreau sanitizes his hands as soon as he can after he exits an escalator. 5. wash or sanitize your hands after using an atm gendreau says atms, especially in busy places like airports, are full of germs. as with escalators, he sanitizes asap after using one. gendreau says that keeping healthy while traveling can be summed up in six words : " hand hygiene, hand hygiene, hand hygiene. " keeping your hands clean is crucial, he says, when you ' re spending the day touching surfaces that have been touched by hundreds or thousands of people before you. cnn ' s jennifer pifer - bixler, marcy heard and sabriya rice contributed to this report. all about u. s. environmental protection agency | most viewed


a chemical reaction between iron - containing minerals and water may produce enough hydrogen “ food ” to sustain microbial communities living in pores and cracks within the enormous volume of rock below the ocean floor and parts of the continents, according to a new study led by the university of colorado boulder. university of colorado boulder assistant professor nikolaus correll likes to think in multiples. if one robot can accomplish a singular task, think how much more could be accomplished if you had hundreds of them. correll and his computer science research team recently created a swarm of 20 robots, each the size of a pingpong ball, which they call “ droplets. ” when the droplets swarm together, correll said, they form a “ liquid that thinks. ” in 1977, jimmy carter was sworn in as president, elvis died, virginia park ranger roy sullivan was hit by lightning a record seventh time and two nasa space probes destined to turn planetary science on its head launched from florida. when the space shuttle atlantis lifted off for its journey to the international space station in 2009, it had on board two butterfly habitats, which were part of an experiment conducted by cu - boulder and k – 12 students across the country. corn and potato crops may soon provide information to farmers about when the plants need water and how much should be delivered, due to a cu - boulder invention. a tiny sensor clipped to plant leaves charts their moisture content, a key measure of water deficiency and accompanying stress. data from the leaves is sent wirelessly over the internet to computers linked to irrigation equipment, ensuring timely watering, reducing excessive water and energy use, and potentially saving farmers millions of dollars a year.


good food guide eggs are a good source of protein, but it ' s important to store, handle and prepare them properly. eggs are good to include in a balanced diet. as well as being a source of protein, they also contain vitamins and minerals. they can be part of a healthy meal that ' s quick and easy to make. however, to avoid any risk of food poisoning, it ' s important to store, handle and cook eggs properly. this especially applies to vulnerable groups, including the very young, the unwell, pregnant women and elderly people. eggs are a good source of : - vitamin d - vitamin a - vitamin b2 there is no recommended limit on how many eggs people should eat. but to get the nutrients you need, make sure you eat as varied a diet as possible. you can learn more about healthy eating in a balanced diet. eggs and cholesterol eggs contain cholesterol, and high cholesterol levels in our blood increases our risk of heart disease. however, the cholesterol we get from food – including eggs – has less effect on the amount of cholesterol in our blood than the amount of saturated fat we eat. if your gp or health professional has told you to watch your cholesterol level, your priority should be to cut down on saturated fat. you can get advice in eat less saturated fat. if you are eating a balanced diet, you only need to cut down on eggs if you have been told to by your gp or dietitian. eating raw eggs, eggs with runny yolks, or any food that is uncooked or only lightly cooked and contains raw eggs can cause food poisoning, especially in anyone who is : - a baby or toddler - already unwell this is because eggs may contain salmonella bacteria, which can cause serious illness. when eating raw or lightly cooked eggs, using pasteurised eggs minimises this risk, because the pasteurisation process kills salmonella. pasteurisation is a heat treatment that uses high temperatures to kill bacteria. most eggs are not pasteurised, so the only way to be sure you are getting them is to ask the retailer. pasteurised eggs are available from some supermarkets. they can also come in liquid, dried or frozen form. if you are preparing food – especially food that won ’ t be cooked or will only be lightly cooked – for people who might be at risk, you can choose pasteurised egg as the safest option. when using normal, unpasteuri


if you are preparing food – especially food that won ’ t be cooked or will only be lightly cooked – for people who might be at risk, you can choose pasteurised egg as the safest option. when using normal, unpasteurised eggs, bear in mind the importance of : - storing eggs safely - avoiding the spread of bacteria from eggs to other foods, utensils or work surfaces - cooking eggs properly – ensuring both white and yolk are solid will kill any bacteria people who are not in vulnerable groups who eat soft - boiled eggs or foods containing lightly cooked eggs should not experience any health problems, but cooking eggs thoroughly is the safest option if you are concerned about food poisoning. foods containing raw eggs foods that are made with raw eggs and then not cooked, or only lightly cooked, can cause food poisoning. this is because any bacteria in the eggs won ' t be killed. any of the following might contain raw eggs : - homemade mayonnaise - hollandaise and bearnaise sauces - salad dressings - ice cream if you are making these foods yourself, using pasteurised eggs is the safest choice. most commercially produced mayonnaise, salad dressings, sauces, ice cream, desserts or ready - made icing are made with pasteurised eggs. check the label, and ask the retailer or manufacturer if you ’ re not sure. if you ' re concerned about raw egg when eating out or buying food, ask the person serving you. storing eggs safely storing eggs safely helps to make sure the bacteria from the eggs and eggshell do not spread. here are some tips to help you store your eggs safely : - store eggs in a cool, dry place, ideally in the fridge. - store eggs away from other foods. it ' s a good idea to use your fridge ' s egg tray, if you have one, because this helps to keep eggs separate. - eat dishes containing eggs as soon as possible after you ' ve prepared them. if you ' re not planning to eat them straight away, cool them quickly and then keep them in the fridge for up to two days. cakes can safely be stored somewhere cool and dry. avoiding the spread of bacteria bacteria can spread very easily from eggs to other foods, as well as hands, utensils and worktops. there can be bacteria on the eggshell as well as inside the egg, so take care when handling them. these tips can help avoid the spread of bacteria : - keep eggs away from other foods, both when


, utensils and worktops. there can be bacteria on the eggshell as well as inside the egg, so take care when handling them. these tips can help avoid the spread of bacteria : - keep eggs away from other foods, both when they are in the shell and after you have cracked them. - be careful not to splash egg onto other foods, worktops or dishes. - always wash and dry your hands thoroughly after touching eggs or working with them. - clean surfaces, dishes and utensils thoroughly, using warm soapy water, after working with eggs. - don ' t use eggs with damaged shells, because dirt or bacteria might have got inside them. make sure that eggs are consumed before the " best before " date marked on the packaging. if you cook eggs until both the white and yolk are solid this will kill any bacteria. people who are vulnerable to food poisoning should only eat eggs, or food containing eggs, that have been thoroughly cooked. good food guides family food interactive guides health eating self - assessment could your diet be putting your health at risk? find out with this short test. five a day meal planner this meal planner makes it easy to get your 5 a day. food allergies self - assessment determine whether you have a food allergy or an intolerance.


2045 : the year man becomes immortal by lev grossman thursday, feb. 10, 2011 that was kurzweil ' s real secret, and back in 1965 nobody guessed it. maybe not even him, not yet. but now, 46 years later, kurzweil believes that we ' re approaching a moment when computers will become intelligent, and not just intelligent but more intelligent than humans. when that happens, humanity our bodies, our minds, our civilization will be completely and irreversibly transformed. he believes that this moment is not only inevitable but imminent. according to his calculations, the end of human civilization as we know it is about 35 years away. ( see the best inventions of 2010. ) computers are getting faster. everybody knows that. also, computers are getting faster faster that is, the rate at which they ' re getting faster is increasing. so if computers are getting so much faster, so incredibly fast, there might conceivably come a moment when they are capable of something comparable to human intelligence. artificial intelligence. all that horsepower could be put in the service of emulating whatever it is our brains are doing when they create consciousness not just doing arithmetic very quickly or composing piano music but also driving cars, writing books, making ethical decisions, appreciating fancy paintings, making witty observations at cocktail parties. if you can swallow that idea, and kurzweil and a lot of other very smart people can, then all bets are off. from that point on, there ' s no reason to think computers would stop getting more powerful. they would keep on developing until they were far more intelligent than we are. their rate of development would also continue to increase, because they would take over their own development from their slower - thinking human creators. imagine a computer scientist that was itself a super - intelligent computer. it would work incredibly quickly. it could draw on huge amounts of data effortlessly. it wouldn ' t even take breaks to play farmville. probably. it ' s impossible to predict the behavior of these smarter - than - human intelligences with which ( with whom? ) we might one day share the planet, because if you could, you ' d be as smart as they would be. but there are a lot of theories about it. maybe we ' ll merge with them to become super - intelligent cyborgs, using computers to extend our intellectual abilities the same way that cars and planes extend our physical abilities. maybe the artificial intelligences will help us treat the effects of old age and prolong


' ll merge with them to become super - intelligent cyborgs, using computers to extend our intellectual abilities the same way that cars and planes extend our physical abilities. maybe the artificial intelligences will help us treat the effects of old age and prolong our life spans indefinitely. maybe we ' ll scan our consciousnesses into computers and live inside them as software, forever, virtually. maybe the computers will turn on humanity and annihilate us. the one thing all these theories have in common is the transformation of our species into something that is no longer recognizable as such to humanity circa 2011. this transformation has a name : the singularity. ( comment on this story. ) the difficult thing to keep sight of when you ' re talking about the singularity is that even though it sounds like science fiction, it isn ' t, no more than a weather forecast is science fiction. it ' s not a fringe idea ; it ' s a serious hypothesis about the future of life on earth. there ' s an intellectual gag reflex that kicks in anytime you try to swallow an idea that involves super - intelligent immortal cyborgs, but suppress it if you can, because while the singularity appears to be, on the face of it, preposterous, it ' s an idea that rewards sober, careful evaluation.


last week ' s tragic shooting in newtown, conn., has the country asking itself : what has happened to our society? is it lax gun control laws? underfunding for treatment of the seriously mentally ill? the breakdown of the nuclear family? violent video games? all of the above? although much remains unknown about the shooter ' s mental state, it appears he was diagnosed with asperger ' s syndrome, which typically is not associated with violent behavior. but one aspect of the shooter ' s emerging profile is that he was socially isolated. such isolation plays a big role in the lives of people living with mental illness. if their illness renders them faceless and invisible to society, they will never get the help they desperately need. a program in our city, the b ' more clubhouse, seeks to address the isolation of mental illness. by providing a place for community and by believing that people can reclaim their lives from the despair living with a mental disorder entails, we can remove the crippling isolation that leads to distorted behavior. we currently serve 180 members of our community by welcoming them to a validating space, meeting them where they are in their illness and believing in their potential to play a larger, more productive role in our community. the stigma and isolation that accompanies living with a serious mental disorder is huge and often one of the most painful consequences of the illness. the b ' more clubhouse has been successfully fighting this stigma and isolation and helping the mentally ill emerge from the darkness of illness to become contributing members of society. tara gallagher, baltimore the writer is president of the board of directors of b ' more clubhouse inc.


seasonal affective disorder ’ s effects more severe for some seniors january 18, 2010 · 1 : 10 pm by mary andrews when october rolls around the bears all disappear, easing their way into their dens. they curl up and prepare to snooze away the winter. there are lots of us who wish we could snooze away the days from october until april, too. in winter, most of us dislike the dark mornings and the shorter days ; for some, the effects are more severe than just dislike, especially from december through february. this truly is a medical problem. it was described in medical journals as far back as 1845, including a sea captain ’ s report in his log that his men could not seem to get their jobs done when they sailed near norway in winter, but were energetic a week later when they sailed into a port in italy. true research into the problem did not begin until the 1980s. there are three names for this condition : seasonal affective disorder, winter depression and winter blues. while men can have this condition, it is seen most commonly in women and teens. there are many symptoms used to describe this sad condition. people can experience just the major symptoms or a whole list of them. they may : • feel sad, lonely, depressed, hopeless, anxious • oversleep but never feel rested • withdraw from their friends and just stay at home • lose interest in doing things they used to enjoy • experience appetite changes, especially craving carbohydrates – chips, pretzels, sweets, pancakes, cookies, ice cream etc. • gain weight • have difficulty concentrating on processing complex information or tasks. it is normal to experience any of these symptoms at one time or another. however, when a person experiences these symptoms for days on end it causes a major change in his or her life. if the symptoms last for days and days, the person needs to see his or her doctor. this is especially important if one notices changes in sleep patterns or if you feel hopeless and if the cycle repeats itself year after year. why does this happen to us? current research is leaning to blaming a hormone the brain produces during the night which is involved with the regulation of our sleep. it is called melatonin and the amount produced causes the problem. years ago the medical profession would tell sufferers it was all in their heads and advise them to get a hobby or a job. this answer is partly correct because it is all in our heads. melatonin is a hormone our brain produces during the hours of


the medical profession would tell sufferers it was all in their heads and advise them to get a hobby or a job. this answer is partly correct because it is all in our heads. melatonin is a hormone our brain produces during the hours of darkness. it is involved in the regulation of sleep, body temperature and the release of hormones. people with sad produce too much melatonin. this disrupts their internal body clock leading to depressive symptoms. if you feel crappy from october to march and gradually feel better in april and may, you may have sad. during spring and summer our days lengthen until sunup arrives at 5 : 30 a. m. or so and the sun does not set until after 9 p. m. we get 15 hours of sunlight. fall arrives and the days shorten until sunrise is well after 5 : 30 a. m. and it starts to get dark at 3 : 30 or 4 p. m. we get just 9. 5 hours of daylight, usually not even sunlight during these seasons. this impacts us all, some more than others. sad is present in high numbers in the northern latitudes of our world with as much as 9. 5 percent of the population affected. it is not just the lack of sunlight, but high cloud cover can cause the same effect. in alaska the estimate is that 24. 9 percent of people are affected. in total, 36 million americans suffer from sad. studies by dr. norman rosenthal of the united states national institute of mental health showed that 1. 4 percent of people in florida suffer from sad while 9. 7 percent of those living in new hampshire do. we, too, live in the northern latitudes. people shy away from seeking help for this problem because they feel they must be crazy or they can just shake themselves out of it. worse, they worry that they are depressed and, lord knows, depression is a mental illness and they do not want their medical record to show that they suffer from a mental illness! however, what if there was a way to turn the situation around that was fairly easy. wouldn ’ t it be worth a try? you could leave the northwest and move to the sunny south, but that would mean a major life change. you could go to a warm, sunny climate for two or three weeks to break the sad cycle and soak up the sun ’ s rays. this is possible for some, but not for all. however, i do remember that about eight years ago relatives invited us to join them in hawaii for


for two or three weeks to break the sad cycle and soak up the sun ’ s rays. this is possible for some, but not for all. however, i do remember that about eight years ago relatives invited us to join them in hawaii for a week. my body ’ s response to the sun and water was surprising and, when we returned, the effects lasted for couple of weeks. i would love to do it again. after you have seen your doctor who may or may not prescribe medication there are things you can do to feel better. • educate yourself about sad – why it happens annually. • get more natural light – sit near windows, walk outside on a clear day. • stay active even if you have to force yourself – take a walk, go to a movie, go out with friends, learn to e - mail your grandkids. • take a winter vacation in the sun. go watch the mariners get ready for the season. • try light therapy. you can buy a special lamp or a box light that gives off more light than a standard light bulb. it gives off 2, 500 to 10, 000 lux which is more intense. sit in front of it daily for 30 to 60 minutes and it will provide you with enough light to replicate outdoor light and improve your mood. lamps are available on line and at larger lighting stores. • laughter is said to help. go to your library and check out old comedy shows – they will have everything from old jackie gleason shows to the “ golden girls, ” or try reading a readers ’ digest or two finding funny jokes and uplifting stories. • join a red hat group – i guarantee you will laugh. call your local senior center for more information. • eat healthier food – try a beautiful orange or apple. • minimize your intake of caffeine – even tea. above all, keep reminding yourself that spring is coming and this will end. yesterday, i saw pots of primroses at one of our local grocery stores. buy one for yourself and put it where you will see if often during the day. when it is finished blooming buy another. its beauty will remind you that life will be better soon. feeling sad is a crummy way to spend the rest of the winter. seniors, if you can relate this to yourself, step out and get help and get ready to feel better.


sand castle craft is a wonderful summer craft for kids. the castle is made using empty paper towel tubes and some play sand from the sand box or the beach. children love working with the sand, and the castle can be personalized with a flag with the child ’ s name. this is a great craft for summer camps or for summer preschoolers. - 2 empty paper - play sand - white glue - colored construction paper or card stock craft stick ( popsicle stick ) - paints or markers 1. begin the sandcastle craft by cutting the paper towel four different lengths, as shown. the size of each length is not important, and it makes each sandcastle look unique. 2. pour some play sand on to the paper plate, covering the entire bottom of the plate. 3. using a paint brush, paint on a thick coat of white glue all over the paper towel tube. or, if you are having a lot of children do this craft, you could pour the glue on to a plastic plate and have the children roll their tubes in glue. 4. next, roll each paper towel tube in the sand on the plate, to cover the tube. shake off the excess and allow each tube to dry thoroughly. 5. add more sand to the paper plate if necessary, and add a dollop of glue to the sand, as shown. use a spoon and stir the glue into the sand to create a wet, sludgy sand. stand the sand covered tubes on the paper plate, arranging them with the tallest in the back, and the shortest near the front. push the glue - sand mix all around the tubes. this helps support them to stand. spread the rest of the sand - glue mixture all over the plate. allow everything to dry. 6. to make a flag, color or paint the wooden craft stick ( optional ). fold a small piece of colored construction paper or card stock in half, and cut out a triangle flag shape as shown. this can be personalized with the child ’ s name. glue the wooden craft stick inside the folded triangle shape, and glue the flag to the inside of one of the sandcastle craft is complete! did you make this craft? do you have comments / questions to share? how did you make your craft different? please tell us! do you have tips or ideas to make this craft better? please share your story here! you can even upload a photo of your craft if you like. feel free to give suggestions, or post any questions you may have related to this craft.


minerva ' s environment is densely populated. people may move fast, and in unpredictable ways. even static obstacles often cannot be sensed reliably. avoiding collisions is of uttermost importance for robots operating in public spaces. minerva ' s lowest level navigation module is the " dynamic window algorithm " ( dwa ), a method to navigation at high speeds in dynamic environment. dwa enables minerva to travel at up to 1. 6 meters per second ( over 5 feet per second ), while still avoiding collisions with obstacles. at such speeds, the robot ' s inertia is substantial. minerva ' s collision avoidance module considers torque limits when determining motion speed and velocity. to cope with difficult - to - detect obstacles, the localization modules is consulted periodically to extract from the map a set of " virtual " sensor measurements, which roughly correspond to positions of known obstacles or hazards, such as a nearby staircase. the following picture depicts a typical situation. shown here is the robot ( center ) and the direction of the target location ( yellow line ). the various dots correspond to sensor measurements - - both virtual and real. to avoid collisions, the robot accepts a detour and moves around the obstacle ( green dotted circle ). plenty more information on minerva ' s collision avoidance module can be found in the following papers :


as the indiana legislature mulls legalizing raw milk sales, purdue university is setting the record straight and debunks popular myths surrounding the unpasteurized product. the report, “ raw milk faqs, ” answers 18 common questions about both pasteurized and unpasteurized milk, including why pasteurization is used, whether it alters milk, and the risks associated with unpasteurized milk. " diseases that can be transmitted through raw milk include listeriosis, campylobacter and streptococcus, to name a few, " says mike schutz, extension dairy specialist, in a university article. " these illnesses can be very serious or fatal. pasteurization can reduce the pathogen load in milk to make it safer for human consumption. in fact, pasteurization probably is the one practice that has done the most to reduce the spread of tuberculosis from animals to humans. " the report also points that disease outbreaks are 150 times more likely for raw milk than pasteurized milk. from 1993 to 2006, there were 73 disease outbreaks linked to raw dairy products, which resulted in 1, 571 cases, 202 hospitalizations and two deaths. in 2012 alone, there have been six outbreaks associated with contaminated raw milk, sickening 152 adults and children. read the purdue report here. even those living on farms are not immune from contracting diseases from contaminated raw milk. in april, an e. coli outbreak in oregon affected 21 people, including four children from the farm at the center of the outbreak. the mother of another child sickened in the oregon outbreak spoke with oregon public broadcasting, stressing that “ there ’ s just an inherit risk in feeding your children raw milk that you can ’ t ignore. " click here to read more. raw milk sales are legal in 30 states, while others, such as indiana, currently limit raw milk availability to cow - share programs. some states have recently opened dialogue to consider legalizing or clarifying laws involving raw milk. in wyoming, a proposed rule would allow producers who are the sole owners of livestock to serve raw milk in their home to family members, non - paying guests and farm employees. a bill was also introduced in kentucky in february that would allow consumers to buy into a dairy herd to receive raw milk products legally. one of the biggest proponents to legalizing raw milk sales is u. s. sen. rand paul ( r - ky. ), who introduced an amendment to the 2012 farm bill earlier this year that would allow the direct


picture : market square of bruges » abbey of ter doest » castle of middelburg » fort of bavaria close to sijsele, lies the village of male. male used to be a part of sijsele ( one of the oldest settlements of the region ), but now lies on the territory of bruges. male has a small, but very scenic center, with several little old farms. the most important construction however, is the monumental castle. it is said that already in the 9th century there used to be a defence tower here for protection against the vikings. the castle was inaugurated ( 1166 ) by the archbishop of canterbury, thomas moore, but was probably already built a few years before by the count of flanders, philips of alsace. it served mainly as a residence for the counts of flanders. during the french occupation, french soldiers occupied the stronghold. in 1302 the castle was recovered by bruges ( onder guidance of jan breydel, pieter de koninck and william of gullik ). in 1382, male was captured by soldiers from ghent and destroyed, after which it was rebuilt. in 1453, again soldiers from ghent plundered the castle. in 1490, it was plundered again, this time by soldiers from the count of nassau. by far the most important person in the history of male, is louis of male ( born 1329 ). he was the son of louis of nevers and margareta of france and became the 24th count of flanders. his daughter, margaretha, married philips, the duke of burgundy. due to this fact, flanders became a part of duchy of burgundy. during this period the castle retained its importance. during the spanish occupation, the citadel got somewhat forgotten and was sold in 1558 by philips ii to knight juan lopez gallo. two years later, he was appointed baron by philips ii. the castle is thoroughly restored and has become a women ' s convent ( abbey ) since 1954. the easiest way to reach male, is following the maalsesteenweg from sijsele to bruges. worth seeing : castle ( abbey ), village center with small old farms © hendrik de leyn - www. damme - online. com


darwin ’ s correspondence helps bring to light a community of women who participated, often actively and routinely, in the nineteenth - century scientific community. below is a selection of letters exchanged between darwin and his workforce of women observers, experimenters, fieldworkers, editors and critics. associated selected readings. 1. what sorts of scientific work did women do, and for whom? 2. where did women carry out their work? 3. what motivated women to participate in the world of science? 4. what do these letters tell us about victorian women ’ s i ) perceived expertise and ii ) lived experiences? letter 3787 – darwin, h. e. to darwin, [ 29 october 1862 ] in this letter, henrietta darwin provides her father with observations of cats ’ instinctive behaviour. letter 4523 – wedgwood, l. c. to darwin, [ 6 june 1864 ] in this letter, darwin ’ s niece, lucy, responds to darwin ’ s request for observations to be made on seeds of pulmonaria officinalis. letter 7223 – darwin to wedgwood, l. c., [ 8 june 1867 - 72 ] in this letter, darwin asks his niece, lucy, to observe the expression of emotion in her pet dog and birds. letter 5817 – darwin to huxley, t. h., [ 30 january 1868 ] in this letter, darwin asks thomas huxley to pass on a questionnaire to his wife, henrietta. darwin comments that another woman from his neighbourhood is making similar observations for him. letter 6535 – vaughan williams, m. s. to darwin, h. e., [ after 14 october 1869 ] in this letter darwin ’ s niece, margaret, passes on observations of a crying baby to darwin ’ s daughter, henrietta. letter 7179 – wedgwood, l. c. to darwin, [ 5 may 1870 ] in this letter darwin ’ s niece, lucy, provides observations on the expression of emotion in horses and babies. she also reports briefly on her ongoing observations of wormholes. letter 8611 – cupples, a. j. to darwin, e., [ 8 november1872 ] in this letter anne jane cupples, wife of the scottish scientist george cupples, shares her observations on the expression of emotion in dogs with emma darwin. letter 8676 – treat, m. to darwin, [ 13 december 1872 ] in this letter, mary treat details her observations of, and experiments on, drosera filiformis.


the expression of emotion in dogs with emma darwin. letter 8676 – treat, m. to darwin, [ 13 december 1872 ] in this letter, mary treat details her observations of, and experiments on, drosera filiformis. she also references her observational work on butterflies and offers to observe birds, insects or plants on darwin ’ s behalf. letter 8683 – roberts, d. to darwin, [ 17 december 1872 ] in this letter, dora roberts reports an incidence of “ misguided maternal instinct ”, observed in her hen house. she also passes on brief observations of an angry pig and her niece ’ s ears. letter 9616 – marshall, t. to darwin, [ september 1874 ] in this letter, theodosia marshall sends darwin observations made by her and her father of plants and insects. letter 1701 – morris, m. h. to prior, r. c. a., [ 17 june 1855 ] in this letter, margaretta hare morris describes her work on fish and insects, undertaken on the shores of mountain lakes in pennsylvania. letter 8144 – darwin to wedgwood, l. c., [ 5 january 1872 ] in this letter, darwin asks his niece, lucy, to probe wormholes on steep slopes with blunt knitting needles. letter 4235 – becker, l. e. to darwin, [ 8 july 1863 ] in this letter, lydia becker sends darwin a number of plant samples which she had gathered from her local woods. she also comments on the variation, hybridity, and inheritance of parasites in lychnis diurna. letter 8168 - ruck, a. r. to darwin, h., [ 20 january 1872 ] in this letter, amy ruck reports the results of her fieldwork on furrows and earthworm activity to her brother - in - law, horace. she has dug a number of trenches, measured soil depths and tried, but failed, to find worm castings on the family ’ s croquet lawn. letter 8224 – darwin to ruck, a. r., [ 24 february 1872 ] in this letter, darwin asks his “ geologist in chief for n. wales ” to provide observations and take measurements of hillside worm casting ridges. letter 8169 – wedgwood, l. to darwin, [ 20 january, 1872 ] in this letter darwin ’ s niece, lucy, gives the results of probing worm - holes with wire. she will send more results once she has “ dug some more trenches


– wedgwood, l. to darwin, [ 20 january, 1872 ] in this letter darwin ’ s niece, lucy, gives the results of probing worm - holes with wire. she will send more results once she has “ dug some more trenches ”. letter 9606 – harrison, l. c. to darwin, [ 22 august 1872 ] in this letter darwin ’ s niece, lucy, sends a sample of pinguicula which she found near a bog. she also sends a selection of insects, which are carefully packed in a tin box. letter 10439 – treat, m. to darwin, [ 3 april 1876 ] in this letter, mary treat describes a field trip in florida. she sends pinguicula specimens and believes she may have discovered a new species of waterlily. letter 12389 – johnson, m. to darwin, [ january 1880 ] in this letter, mary johnson tells darwin about her work on worms and about a recent geological ramble she had taken with her father. during their walk they had stumbled across prof. rollerston from oxford with whom she spent “ an interesting day among the bones ”. noting the conspicuousness of her presence, rollerston commented that she was probably the first woman “ except a she bear or so ” to have entered the cave “ since the flood ”. letter 12745 - darwin to wedgwood, k. e. s., [ 8 october 1880 ] in this letter darwin asks his niece, katherine, to keep an eye out for worm castings during her walks on the heath. letter 12760 - wedgwood, k. e. s. to darwin, [ 15 october 1880 ] in this letter darwin ’ s niece, katherine, reports the results of her fieldwork on the common. letter 1113 - darwin to whitby, m. a. t., [ 2 september 1847 ] in this letter, darwin questions mrs. whitby, whom he had previously met at a meeting of the british association, on the difference in flight capacity of male and female silkworm moths. he also requests the results of experiments she has undertaken to determine the heritability of dark “ eyebrows ”. letter 4258 – becker, l. e. to darwin, [ 31 july 1863 ] in this letter, lydia becker details her observations and dissection of the hermaphroditic lychnis plant. she also mentions her attempts to artificially fertilise plants in her garden. letter 8113 - treat, m. to darwin, [


lydia becker details her observations and dissection of the hermaphroditic lychnis plant. she also mentions her attempts to artificially fertilise plants in her garden. letter 8113 - treat, m. to darwin, [ 20 december 1871 ] in this letter, mary treat describes her experiments on the relationship between butterfly sex and larval feeding time. letter 8989 – treat, m. to darwin, [ 28 july 1873 ] in this letter, mary treat provides a detailed report on her experiments with fly - catching drosera. letter 9485 – treat, m. to darwin, [ 8 june 1874 ] in this letter, mary treat details her experiments on dionaea which she undertakes alongside dr. wood of wilmington. letter 10390 - herrick, s. m. b. to darwin, [ 12 february 1876 ] in this letter, sophia herrick asks darwin to provide further detail on some of the plant experiments described in insectivorous plants. sophia describes her own experiments, including her use of microscopes to examine dionea in more detail. family letter : darwin, e. to darwin, w. e., [ january 23rd 1887 ] : in this letter, emma darwin tells her eldest son, william, that her third eldest son, francis, is receiving help with his plant experiments from miss bateman, the first woman admitted to linnean society. editors and critics letter 2345 – darwin to hooker, j. d., [ 20 october 1858 ] in this letter, darwin describes to joseph hooker the part played by his “ non naturalist relations ” in critiquing and challenging ideas. letter 2447 – darwin to murray, j., [ 5 april 1859 ] in this letter darwin asks his publisher, john murray, to forward a manuscript copy of the first three chapters of origin of species to georgina tollet for proofreading and criticisms of style. letter 3896 – darwin to huxley, t. h, [ before 25 february 1863 ] in this letter, darwin offers the results of his proofreading of huxley ’ s lectures to working men. this letter also includes critical feedback from his daughter, henrietta. letter 4010 – huxley, t. h. to darwin, [ 25 february 1863 ] in this letter, huxley praises henrietta ’ s criticisms of his work, lectures to working men. he hopes that her tenderheartedness will help her forgive his errors and would be obliged if she could send further criticisms in the future. letter 4038 – darwin


letter, huxley praises henrietta ’ s criticisms of his work, lectures to working men. he hopes that her tenderheartedness will help her forgive his errors and would be obliged if she could send further criticisms in the future. letter 4038 – darwin to lyell, c., [ 12 - 13 march 1863 ] in this letter, darwin secretly passes on henrietta ’ s insightful comments on lyell ’ s geological evidences of the antiquity of man. she has read lamarck ’ s work under her own steam and is a “ first rate critic ”. letter 7124 – darwin to darwin, h. e., [ 8 february 1870 ] in this letter, darwin seeks henrietta ’ s editorial help with chapters three and four of descent of man. he seeks her “ deep criticisms ” as well as her help with tone and style. letter 7123 - darwin to darwin, h. e., [ march 1870 ] in this letter darwin thanks his daughter, henrietta, for editing a manuscript version of chapter two of descent, which was on the mental powers of man and lower animals. she has thoroughly mastered darwin ’ s manuscript ; her corrections and suggestions are “ excellent ” and her transpositions “ most just ”. letter 7858 – darwin to wallace, a. r., [ 12 july 1871 ] in this letter, darwin tells wallace that he will let his family determine the worth of a paper on mivart. while henrietta, “ who is a great critic ”, thought the article worth reprinting, emma was less convinced. letter 8089 – darwin to litchfield, h. e., [ 2 december 1871 ] in this letter, darwin sends a chapter on voice from expression for henrietta ’ s perusal. darwin asks henrietta for corrections as well as input on style and praises her patience. letter 8427 – darwin to litchfield, h. e., [ 25 july 1872 ] in this letter, darwin thanks henrietta for her editorial help with expression. her alterations are “ all good ” and most have been accepted.


as teachers, coaches and other professionals that regularly work with children will tell you, a child ’ s home life can have a dramatic influence on how the child behaves out in the world. one researcher described the influence of home in this way, connected children feel more secure and less angry than peers who are unconnected. the unconnected child functions from an interior conversation that is angry, fearful and often selfish. i was running an adventure group and part of the first day was to step into the circle and say something about yourself. a young girl stepped into the circle and said, “ everyone is afraid of me and i like it that way. ” i was taken aback by her revelation but quickly realized that she was being honest as the rest of the group avoided her. this amazing little girl had no insight into her own behavior and she suffered profound social isolation as a result. if a child is raised in a home where there is plentiful anger the child may incorporate being angry as just how life is or the child may become angry because their general wellbeing is being threatened by the frequent presence of anger. frequently, children that live with angry caretakers will become withdrawn. they in essence, put on an angry face to protect themselves from what might be more angry people or actions. it isn ’ t difficult to see that a child would take these maladaptive steps in order to protect themselves and are often unable to understand that the behaviors that they have adopted make them even more vulnerable. sadly, these children get sent many powerful negative messages from children and adults. some responses are spoken and some are not. the angry child may be told to “ stay away ” or “ you cannot play with us. ” reach the writer at hurlburt @ wildblue. net


pregnancy is a wonderful phase in every woman ' s life. it is important that the mother takes good care of self and her growing baby through a healthy diet. pregnancy is definitely not the time to go on a ' weight - loss ' diet, but neither should one use this period to indulge in overeating ' junk food '. diet during pregnancy requires special attention. for a healthy pregnancy the body needs extra nutrients not just to meet the needs of the growing baby, but also for the mother in order to store adequate resources for the lactation period. eating smaller meals and incorporating healthy snacks in between meals can meet the increased nutrient requirements during pregnancy. constipation is a common problem for most women during this period, so diet during pregnancy should have high fiber content with emphasis on whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables is important. some women also experience ' morning sickness ', so it would be a good idea to nibble on some dry food items before getting up from bed and also drinking liquids about half an hour before the meal. foods pregnant women should avoid to prevent nausea are greasy, oily foods and thick, creamy gravies. diet for a healthy pregnancy should be a well - balanced diet which will undoubtedly provide all the extra nutrients that the growing baby needs during pregnancy. it is also a good idea to incorporate light exercise ( before starting on an exercise routine, always seek approval from your physician ) during this period. check the special diets section on desidieter to check the diet


sony designed its robotic dog aibo to bark and roll over. the jet propulsion laboratory designed its robotic rover not to roll over. that ’ s harder than it sounds. the challenge, according to issa a. d. nesnas, principal investigator for jpl on this nasa project, was to make axel both symmetrical and simple. “ we designed it to be symmetrical because it ’ s working on rocky, steep slopes. if it falls off a ledge, or flips upside down, it can still operate. ” that ’ s where its cylindrical design and paddlewheel feet come in. but it also uses as minimalist a design as possible. “ if you make it simple and small and lightweight enough, you can use multiple rovers when you go to high - risk areas. because we ’ re targeting high - risk areas where a lot of things could go wrong, having multiple rovers manages the risk for the overall mission. ” this means that none of the components of any one axel require backup, which keeps the weight down. the current axel prototype has an onboard computer, power system, and wireless communications. it also has a unique arm, or link, that can be used as a tether for climbing, nesnas says. jpl is testing it in what it calls its “ mars yard, ” an expansive area approximately 60 yards by 45 yards built to simulate the surface of mars, including steep promontories. ( you can view the mars yard here, pictures of axel here, and a video of axel here there are multiple challenges in designing axel, nesnas noted, not the least of which was getting all of its instrumentation to fit into a cylindrical shape. “ inside the cylinder is an electromechanical system, a lot of sensors, and cameras. but we also had to figure out how to the arm move all the way around the cylinder, how to keep it clean in a dusty environment, and how to keep it at the right temperature so that it wouldn ’ t overheat. ” at the same time, in order to make axel easy to repair in a hostile environment, certain components had to be easily accessible. “ we had a few instances where we had to repackage the components to make it easier to reach and repair them. we designed it with a lot of things in mind, but we learned a lot when we did a second iterative design process, ” nesnas adds. finally, from a mechatronics standpoint, the system integration — getting all the components to talk to each other — was


from bhikkhu bodhi ' s notes on the chariot simile. spk : the eightfold path is called the straight way ) because it is devoid of crookedness of bodily conduct, etc. the destination, nibbana, is said to be fearless ) because there is nothing to fear in that and because there is no fear for one who has attained it. unlike an actual chariot, which rattles or whines when its axle is not lubricated or when it is mounted by too many people, the eightfold path does not rattle or whine. ( na kujati na viravati ) even when mounted simultaneously by 84, 000 beings. the chariot itself is also the eightfold path, and its wheels of wholesome states ) are bodily and mental energy. the d ' hamma " that is called the charioteer is the supramundane path, with the right view of insight ( vipassana - sammaditthi ) running out in front ). for just as the king ' s servants first clear the path before the king comes out, so the right view of insight clears the way by contemplating the aggregates, etc, as impermanent, etcd, and the right view of the path ( magga - samma - ditthi ) arises fully understanding the round of existence. the extended simile should be compared with that of the brahmayana, the divine vehicle, at sn 45. 4 ; see too the extended chariot simile at ja vi 252 - 53. sn 45. 4 is at : http : / / www. metta. lk / tipitaka / 2sutta - pit... ggo - e. html44. 1. 4. ( 4 ) brahmano ( the numbering system is different in that translation from bhikkhu bodhi ' s ).


| | this article needs additional citations for verification. ( december 2011 ) | assyrian homeland refers to a geographic and cultural region inhabited traditionally by the assyrian people ; who call it assyria ( syriac : ). it is largely coterminous with the kurdish homeland, including parts of what is now northeast syria, northern iraq, northwestern iran and southeastern turkey. the area of iraq with the greatest concentration of assurians is located in the ninawa - mosul region in northern iraq where the biblical assyrian capital of nineveh was located. this area is known as the " assyrian triangle. " the assyrian homeland mirrors the boundaries of ancient assyria proper, and the later achaemenid, seleucid, parthian, roman and sassanid provinces of assyria ( athura / assuristan ) that retained a significant indigenous, mesopotamian aramaic speaking christian population following the islamic conquest of iraq in the late 7th century ad. upper mesopotamia having had an established structure of dioceses by ad 500 following the introduction of christianity from the 1st to 3rd centuries ad. after the fall of the neo assyrian empire in 608 bc assyria remained an entity for over 1200 years under babylonian, achamaenid persian, seleucid greek, parthian, roman and sassanid persian rule. it was only after the arab - islamic conquest of the second half of the 7th century ad that assyria as a named region was dissolved. today, assyrians ( also known as chaldeans and syriacs ) are believed to form a slight majority in two ninewa counties, tel kaif and al - hamdaniya. since the fall of the iraqi baath party in 2003, and in the face of violence against the indigenous assyrian christian community, there has been a growing movement for assyrian independence. the assyrian homeland includes upper mesopotamia between syria and northern iraq, including iraq ' s ninawa, dohuk and arbil provinces, and it historically also extends to iranian azerbaijan and turkey ' s southeastern anatolia region. assyrian populations are distributed between the assyrian homeland and the assyrian diaspora. there are no official statistics, and estimates vary greatly, between less than one and more than four million, mostly due to the uncertainty of the number of assyrians in iraq. since the 2003 iraq war, iraqi assyrians have been dislocated to syria in significant but unknown numbers. the diaspora population accounts for roughly 300, 000 people, the largest diaspora community in the near east being in jordan, and the largest oversea communities found in the united states