Dr. Ernesto Sagas
Department of Latin American and Puerto Rican Studies
Lehman College, The City University of New York
Paper to be presented at the Sixth Annual Conference of the Haitian Studies Association, Boston, MA
October 14-15, 1994
The foreign policy of the Dominican Republic revolves around two axis. The first one is, as for most countries in the region, obviously, Washington, D.C. The second one is Port-au-Prince. The latter has less to do with trade interests than with security concerns. Haiti and the Dominican Republic are two nations trapped by historical circumstances in a small Caribbean island. A rare case, indeed, that causes events on one part of the island to have an eventual impact on the other side. There is no escape from this reality, and that is why relations with Haiti have always been more a matter of security than of anything else.
The foreign policy of the Dominican government towards Haiti is in apparent contradiction to its domestic policies toward Haitian citizens living in the Dominican Republic. While Haitian migrants in the Dominican Republic are the subject of discrimination, frequent violations of their human rights, and deportation, foreign relations with Haiti are non-confrontational and sometimes even cordial. Also, while Haiti is popularly perceived in the Dominican Republic as a chaotic, unstable and undemocratic country, the Dominican government has been indifferent to and not supportive of democratic change in Haiti. This paper will focus on the long history and current developments of the Haitian-Dominican relationship, mainly the tense relations between presidents Jean-Bertrand Aristide and Joaquin Balaguer and the problems regarding the compliance of the Dominican government with the international embargo against Haiti. I will also argue that the foreign policy of the Dominican Republic towards Haiti is guided by two axioms. First, Haiti is perceived as a country unfit for democracy, given the human, political, and economic obstacles it would have to face. Second, and as a consequence of the first, the Dominican government perceives democratic developments in Haiti as threatening to the national interest. Therefore, it has sought to preserve an authoritarian status quo in Haiti.
In traditional Dominican historiography, the history of Haiti began when the first buccaneers set foot on northwestern Hispaniola (Pesa Batlle 1946). From there on, the history of the island has been perceived as a long struggle, in which the West tries to take over the East. The French colonists encroached on the Spanish colony of Santo Domingo, and later, Haiti tried to absorb the Dominican Republic. This traditional view of Haitian-Dominican relations was promoted by the 31-year-long dictatorship of Rafael L. Trujillo. It stressed the differences between Haitians and Dominicans, rather than their points in common. A whole generation of Dominican leaders, as well as common folk, was raised under this ideology. As a result, even today most Dominicans share these distorted historical myths.
Actually, there is very little to celebrate in the history of Haitian-Dominican relations. Until the official recognition of the French colony of Saint-Domingue in 1777, by the Treaty of Aranjuez, the French and the Spanish lived on the brink of war. The French constantly pushed their unofficial borders in their need for land, while the Spanish carried on punitive raids in a futile effort to eradicate the French presence in Hispaniola. Moreover, Hispaniola became a mirror of European politics; when France and Spain were at war in Europe, their colonists also fought in Hispaniola. In 1795, the French obtained the Eastern part, only to lose the whole island years later.
The Haitian Revolution, as liberating as it was, caused deep concern on the eastern side, where they feared that violence would engulf the whole island. In 1822, after Haiti settled its internal problems, Jean-Pierre Boyer annexed the former Spanish colony of Santo Domingo. Boyer's move was not opposed by the pro-Hispanic elites, who had no match for his army, nor by the masses, who perceived Boyer's rule as very egalitarian. As a matter of fact, Boyer abolished slavery and gave lands to the lower classes. Discontent on a large scale really started when the economic conditions in Haiti deteriorated as a result of the burdensome indemnity owed to France and of the land tenure system that developed into an unprofitable minifundia (Moya Pons 1977). On 27 February 1844, a group of Dominican conspirators took advantage of the unstable internal situation in Haiti and declared the independence of the Dominican Republic. The declaration of Dominican independence was a rather peaceful event; its consolidation was not. Haitian leaders considered the East not only as a part of Haiti, but also as vital for the security and economic welfare of the Haitian state. Between 1844-1856, different Haitian leaders tried unsuccessfully to reannex the East. These protracted wars fostered an anti-Haitian sentiment among the Dominican population, a feeling that was nurtured by the dominant elites in order to reinforce nationalism. Furthermore, the Haitian-Dominican wars drove Dominican leaders to seek the protection of foreign powers. Their main concern was that the Dominican Republic had a smaller population than Haiti, plus they also thought that the Dominican Republic was not viable as an independent nation.
In 1861, Haitian-Dominican relations entered into a new dimension when Pedro Santana reannexed the Dominican Republic to Spain. The Dominican Republic is the only Latin American nation that reverted to its former colonial status after independence, due to the reasons mentioned above. This turn of events deeply worried Haitian leaders. The restoration of Spanish power in Hispaniola could eventually have meant a return to slavery in the East. Furthermore, Spain had suggested that it would try to recover its former territories in Haiti's Plateau Central, lost during the Haitian Revolution. The Haitian authorities gave refuge and logistic support to Dominican revolutionaries fighting against the Spanish, until Dominican independence was finally restored in 1865. Haitian leaders had concluded, first, that Haiti and the Dominican Republic constituted two different nations, and second, that an independent Dominican Republic was preferable to having a European power in Hispaniola.
Now that peaceful coexistence seemed feasible, one problem remained, however: the demarcation of a fixed border between the two countries. The end of the 19th century and the first decades of the 20th were unsuccessfully spent in this pursuit. The political instability in both countries made diplomatic negotiations difficult, plus there were conflicting claims that had to be solved. The American military occupation of Haiti (1915-1934) and the Dominican Republic (1916-1924) precluded for a time new diplomatic initiatives. However, US military strategists realized that an undefined border was a potential war issue that could contribute to political instability in the strategic Caribbean region. As a result, on 21 January 1929, a border settlement was signed between the governments of Horacio V squez and Louis Borno (Price-Mars 1953, 3:209-213). In 1935 and 1936, Presidents Rafael L. Trujillo and Stenio Vincent signed additional clauses and amendments to the 1929 treaty, finally establishing a permanent and clearly delimited border, the same that still stands today.
At that point, Haitian-Dominican relations enjoyed their best moment ever. Trujillo even visited Port-au-Prince and was warmly received by the people. The Dominican press showered president Vincent and the Haitian nation with praise. It seemed as if the struggles of the 19th century were a thing of the past; gone and forgotten. Trujillo, however, felt differently. With the definition of a clear border between the two nations, Trujillo sought to increase his control over the Dominican Republic. The border did not represent for him the limit to his authority, but rather the beginning of his domain. As a result, Trujillo made of the issue of a fixed border one of his top foreign policy priorities. The aftermath of the border treaty, however, infuriated Trujillo. He had mistakenly thought that a fixed border would have meant a sealed border. That was not the case. The border treaty was a diplomatic agreement; for the peoples living on both sides of the newly-established border, little had changed. For decades after the end of the Haitian-Dominican wars, the border region had been a place where the authority of the state had been very weak. This led to the development of a mixed population of arrayanos, Haitian-Dominicans who spoke Spanish and Creole, engaged in trade and contraband across the border, and did not owe allegiance to any state in particular (Baud 1993a, 1993b). An inspection trip along the border directed by Trujillo himself confirmed the weakness of the Dominican state in the sparsely-populated border region (Cornielle 1980).
Trujillo's response was swift and brutal. In October, 1937, he ordered the military to kill all Haitians in the Dominican Republic. Thousands of Haitians were killed in a few days using machetes and clubs, so as to give the impression that it was the uncoordinated action of Dominican farmers who had decided to settle old scores. Estimates on the number of dead have ranged from several hundred to 26,000, and Haitians were killed as far away as Santiago and Saman (Vega 1988, 386-387). Only those working in American-owned sugar plantations were spared. The reasons behind Trujillo's decision to carry out the 1937 massacre were never clear (Vega 1988, chap. 10).
After the 1937 massacre, Trujillo initiated a well-publicized program of "Dominicanization" of the border region. Development programs were implemented and white immigrants were encouraged to settle in the region. Trujillo's aim was to create a socio-cultural barrier against Haitian influences to reinforce the military action of 1937. As part of this plan, the Dominican population was subjected to a constant barrage of anti-Haitian propaganda. Haiti and Haitians went from being good neighbors to becoming the scapegoats of Dominican society. By stimulating a false nationalism, Trujillo sought to distract the public opinion by focusing on a foreign enemy. No target was more convenient than Haiti, given the long history of animosity between the two countries. This loose propaganda eventually became a full-fledged ideology that is known today as antihaitianismo. Two of its most prolific writers were Manuel Arturo Pe$a Batlle and Joaquin Balaguer (Sag s 1993). A whole generation of Dominicans was raised under the tenets of antihaitianismo, while the official line was promoted by the state apparatus around the country. Furthermore, antihaitianismo--with its twisted sense of history--allowed even the poorest of Dominicans to feel racially and culturally superior vis- -vis Haitians. The antihaitianismo ideology struck a familiar chord in the Dominican psyche and Trujillo and his ideologues were well aware of that.
In stark contradiction to his virulent anti-Haitian rhetoric, the Trujillo administration maintained cordial relations with most Haitian governments. The 1937 "incident" was settled through diplomatic channels and the Dominican Republic agreed to pay an indemnity of $750,000. In 1952, an agreement was signed by both countries to regulate the importation of Haitian workers for the Dominican sugar industry. These kind of agreements were renewed until 1986, when Jean-Claude Duvalier left Haiti. Needless to say, the traffic of Haitian workers became a highly-lucrative business for political and military groups on both sides of the island. Trujillo also intervened constantly in Haitian affairs. First, with the intention of preventing Dominican exiles from using Haiti as a base of operations, and later, in order to influence Haitian politics for his benefit. One good example was Elie Lescot. The career of Lescot was financially sponsored by Trujillo, who helped him rise to the presidency of Haiti Crassweller 1966). In a similar fashion, Trujillo used bribes and intimidation to influence other Haitian politicians. The consolidation of the dictatorship of Francois Duvalier implied a new modus vivendi, in which the two strongmen understood that it was mutually convenient to protect each other, rather than to fight against each other. They had a common goal--survival--and a common enemy, Fidel Castro's revolutionary Cuba.
The preceding historical review has shown how the Haitian-Dominican relationship has had its ups and downs. The period of the Haitian-Dominican wars in the 19th century led to suspicion and mutual distrust. These differences were set aside when later in the century Haiti helped the Dominican rebels in their struggle against Spain. Haitian-Dominican friendship reached its highest point of cordiality when a fixed border was finally established between the two nations. Finally, the 1937 massacre of Haitian migrants by Trujillo's troops signalled the beginning of a new period of popular animosity characterized by the development of the antihaitianismo ideology. So profound and lasting were the effects of Trujillo's propaganda, that even today Haitians are the main scapegoats of Dominican society. At the diplomatic level, however, relations between Haiti and the Dominican Republic during the Trujillo Era were correct and even cordial. The balance of power had also been altered. While during the 19th century Haiti had been the most powerful nation in the island, by the Trujillo Era those roles had been reversed. The Dominican Republic became the interventionist country who meddled in his neighbor's affairs in order to protect its national interest, just like Haiti had done in the 19th century. This reversal of roles had two main causes: first, the growth of the Dominican population, and second, Trujillo's development of the Dominican army into an imposing fighting force.
The presidency of Juan Bosch in 1963 led to one of the most tense periods in contemporary Haitian-Dominican relations. Bosch, a liberal elected with broad popular support, saw in Duvalier a Trujillo-like tyrant. He even supported the efforts of Haitian exiles who trained to overthrow Duvalier. In April of 1963, a diplomatic incident at the Dominican chancellery in Port-au-Prince led to the mobilization of Dominican troops to the border. In August and September of the same year, Haitian exiles, under the command of former general Leon Cantave, attacked Haiti from bases in the Dominican Republic. On all occasions, the exiles were driven back into the Dominican Republic. These serious incidents provoked a major, yet short-lived crisis, because Juan Bosch was overthrown by the Dominican military shortly thereafter, on 25 September 1963. His handling of the Haitian crisis has been mentioned as one of the factors that inclined the Dominican military against him (Diederich and Burt 1986, 220-221).
The election of Joaquín Balaguer in 1966, and his twelve-year tenure in power ushered in a new era in Haitian-Dominican relations. As mentioned above, Balaguer had been one of the main ideologues of antihaitianismo, but he was also a pragmatic politician. As a result, the 1960s and 1970s were years of cordial relations encouraged by a leader who was well-known for his anti-Haitian personal views. During this period, a new generation of progressive Dominican scholars who questioned, criticized, and shattered the racist claims of antihaitianismo came of age. Mostly based on a Marxist conception of history, these intellectuals denounced antihaitianismo as being an ideological weapon of the Dominican dominant class (Cass 1975). However, the fact remained that antihaitianismo was still a dominant ideology and a large part of the Dominican population shared at least a loose concoction of these ideas.
Nineteen eighty-six was a transcendental year in the island of Hispaniola. The Duvaliers, in power since 1957, were finally forced to abandon Haiti. In the Dominican Republic, Balaguer was elected for a fourth constitutional term, after having been defeated in 1978 and 1982. Now, for the first time in decades, democracy seemed to flourish on both sides of the island. In 1986, Balaguer also confronted a entirely new Haiti. After the fall of the Duvaliers, Haiti had entered into a period of social and political instability as different groups competed for power in order to fill the vacuum left by the Duvalier's. Balaguer's diplomatic approach during that turbulent period was a cautious one, as he feared that events in Haiti could have had unexpected consequences for the Dominican Republic. Severe civil unrest in Haiti could have provoked a flood of Haitian refugees fleeing into the Dominican Republic, a nightmarish situation that the Dominican government was not prepared to handle. Balaguer thus maintained correct relations with the Haitian administration of turn, and even granted asylum in the Dominican Republic to Haitian leaders after they had been overthrown.
The election of Father Jean-Bertrand Aristide in 1990 caused a public relations problem for the Balaguer administration. Aristide, inaugurated on 7 February 1991 (exactly five years after the fall of the Duvaliers), is an outspoken defender of the lower classes. A devout follower of liberation theology, Aristide and his Lavalas movement sought to profoundly transform Haitian society. Aristide also openly denounced in international forums (like the United Nations) the slave-like working conditions of Haitians migrants in the Dominican Republic. These accusations came right in the midst of a wave of reports from human-rights organizations (such as Americas Watch), US television news programs, and the International Labor Organization, in which the Dominican Republic was depicted as a human rights' violator. To make matters worse, the US Trade representative decided to review these allegations before certifying the Dominican Republic as eligible for the US Generalized System of Preferences (Ferguson 1992, 87-88). An unfavorable decision would have certainly meant economic disaster for the Dominican Republic, as the GSP guarantees preferential access to Dominican products into the US market. Not surprisingly, Aristide became a persona non grata for the Balaguer administration, as well as for most of the Dominican economic elites.
President Aristide became the target of vicious personal attacks, in an effort to destroy his credibility. Even opposition politicians rallied behind Balaguer in a wave of anti-Haitian nationalism and launched vicious attacks against Aristide. A good example were the comments of Jacobo Majluta, a wealthy businessman of Arab ancestry and presidential candidate: . . . Jean-Bertrand did not attack President Joaquin Balaguer, "he went to the international forums to harshly attack the Dominican Republic." . . . on the day of his inauguration "he took along a witch and walked the Bishop of that nation through the streets of Port-au-Prince in a shameful manner and committed anti-democratic acts." . . . he [Aristide] accused us [the Dominican Republic] in front of the OAS, ILO and the UN of all the evils of the world [Sarita 1993, 4]. Fabio Herrera Cabral, Balaguer's Subsecretary of Foreign Relations, warned that "Dominicans must be ready to counter any intrusion that he [Aristide] pretends in order to impose his ideas over the Dominican Republic" (Carvajal 1993, 16). Aristide's speech, denouncing a well-known situation that had been going on for years, was considered by influential Dominican public opinion makers as a provocation against the Dominican people.
Balaguer responded to Aristide's accusations with decree 233-91 in retaliation (see the appendix). The decree ordered the immediate deportation of all illegal Haitians under the age of 16 or over 60. Within three months, about 50,000 Haitians were deported (Ferguson 1992, 89). The Dominican military profited from this operation by confiscating the possessions of deported Haitians. The deportation decree was clearly aimed at further de-stabilizing the Aristide administration by sending home thousands of Haitians who were to join the ranks of the under-and unemployed. On 30 September 1991, president Aristide, who had been elected with 67% of the total vote, was overthrown by a military coup led by General Raoul C dras. His fate showed a remarkable resemblance to Bosch's ousting almost 30 years earlier. Both men were charismatic leaders, elected with the popular support of the lower classes. Both also stood for profound socio-economic changes and soon had to face the anger of the traditional elites. Both used external crises with their neighboring country in order to rally popular support at a moment when their administrations were being de-stabilized. Finally, both were overthrown about seven months after taking office by military conspiracies, with the support of the upper classes. It is noteworthy that the Balaguer administration did not condemn the coup against Aristide. On the contrary, for days after the coup, the Dominican press was saturated with opinion articles condemning Aristide and blaming his unstable character for the coup that toppled his administration (Cuello 1991). Other articles remarked that Haiti was a highly unstable country, practically ungovernable, and it was thus condemned to be ruled by strongmen. Furthermore, though the Balaguer administration had publicly offered to help in the resolution of the Haitian impasse and had officially supported the OAS embargo against the Haitian military government, it took actions to prevent, or at least delay, the resolution of the Haitian crisis. In 1993, the Balaguer administration authorized the sale of foodstuffs and fuel to Haiti for "humanitarian reasons" (P rez 1993, 1, 16). Later, when the embargo was tightened, and in a clear violation of OAS-imposed sanctions, all sorts of goods--but mainly gasoline--were carried over the border and into Haiti, in full view of the Dominican military, who profited enormously from this contraband (French 1994b). In conclusion, the international embargo was as strong as its weakest link--the Dominican Republic.
The full impact of the Haitian crisis coincided with the May, 1994, elections in the Dominican Republic. On one hand, the return of Aristide now seemed imminent. And on the other, a black man of Haitian ancestry, Jos Francisco Pe$a G"mez, was the front-runner in the electoral contest. Balaguer once again played the nationalist card. He was portrayed as the defender of the Dominican nation against an international conspiracy to unite the two nations (French 1994a). Television commercials warned about the dangers of voting for Pe$a G"mez. Not surprisingly, a survey conducted during the electoral campaign showed that 30% of Dominicans considered that the color and race of a candidate were important ("Fusi"n" 1994, 34). While this Haitian-bashing campaign was taking place, relations with the de facto regime in Haiti were normal. Finally, through fraud and adroit manipulation, Balaguer won the 1994 elections, after a post-electoral crisis that lasted almost three months. In the meantime, the US Embassy applied "extra pressure" on Balaguer to guarantee clean electoral results and to fully comply with the embargo. Balaguer finally agreed to allow an international force of observers help the Dominican military enforce the embargo. Immediately thereafter, the Clinton administration recognized Balaguer's victory, and even the new US ambassador in Santo Domingo attended the inaugural ceremony.
Haitian politics have been influenced by two major external actors: the United States and the Dominican Republic. While the United States is a superpower that has invaded Haiti twice in this century, the influence of the Dominican Republic should not be underestimated. The Dominican Republic shares the island of Hispaniola with Haiti (that by itself is an oddity), plus it has had a longer relationship with Haiti, dating back to colonial times. The recent experience of Aristide illustrates the Dominican Republic's influence on Haitian politics. First, Balaguer's deportation decree worsened an already bad economic situation in Haiti, plus it was a source of embarrassment for the Aristide administration. Second, Balaguer's visible anti-Aristide posture was an enabling factor in his overthrow. Though Aristide's overthrow clearly had more to do with internal political problems, Balaguer's views strengthened the position of the Haitian military. Third, Balaguer's foot-dragging in complying with the international embargo clearly helped the Haitian military leaders, who were able to buy preciously-needed extra time and thus delay Aristide's return. Finally, when the US military leave Haiti, Balaguer's actions will be fundamental to the stability of the new Haitian administration.
The causes behind those actions are to be found in Balaguer's constant recourse to his own conception of the raison d'Etat, partially based on his anti-Haitian views. According to this dominant ideology, Haiti is unfit for democratic government; only strongmen can rule that country. Even worse, attempts at democratization can create political instability in Haiti that may affect the Dominican Republic, in the form of thousands of refugees running away from political violence. Also, an authoritarian government is more predictable and promotes a more stable climate for business. Finally, authoritarian governments in Haiti have proven to be good partners in the highly-lucrative contraband trade across the border and in the traffic of Haitian workers for the Dominican sugar industry. As a consequence, while Dominican governments have been waving the flag in order to rally nationalist anti-Haitian support, they have also maintained a close relationship with Haiti's dominant groups. As in the old maxim of "divide and conquer," the Dominican and Haitian peoples have been taught to see each other as enemies, while their leaders have been profiting from these concocted divisions.
DECRETO PRESIDENCIAL 233-91
CONSIDERANDO que a consecuencia de las disposiciones contenidas en los Decretos Nos. 417-90 y 188-91 de fechas 15 de octubre de 1990 y 14 de mayo de 1991, respectivamente, se han venido produciendo mejor!as considerables en las condiciones de trabajo de los obreros de la ca$a, tanto nacionales como extranjeros;
CONSIDERANDO que el Gobierno Nacional ha promovido la adopci"n de una serie de medidas tendientes a humanizar las labores en los bateyes, especialmente en los que son propiedad del Consejo Estatal del Az#car (CEA);
En ejercicio de las atribuciones que me confiere el art!culo 55 de la Constituci"n de la Rep#blica, decreto:
Art!culo 1: Se dispone la repatriaci"n de todos los menores que hayan alcanzado la edad de dieciseis (16) a$os, de nacionalidad extranjera, que ven!an trabajando como braceros en la siembra, cultivo, corte y acarreo de la ca$a.
Art!culo 2: La repatriaci"n se realizar a expensas del estado, dispens ndose a los repatriados las mayores consideraciones.
Art!culo 3: Se dispone asimismo, la repatriaci"n de todos los trabajadores extranjeros, mayores de sesenta (60) a$os de edad, de los bateyes, tanto los pertenecientes al Estado como los que son propiedad de empresas privadas. A estos trabajadores se les entregar n todas las prestaciones laborales que les correspondan, de conformidad con la legislaci"n dominicana; prestaciones que estar n a cargo de las respectivas empresas privadas o del Estado en las que laboren dichos trabajadores.
Art!culo 4: La Secretar!a de Estado de Trabajo queda encargada de velar por el estricto cumplimiento del presente Decreto, para lo cual recibir el m s amplio concurso de las Secretar!as de Estado, de las Fuerzas Armadas y de Relaciones Exteriores, de la Jefatura de la Polic!a Nacional y de la Direcci"n General de Migraci"n.
Joaquin Balaguer, 13 de junio de 1991
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Quack and Daisy: Aileen Stewart
Friends can be defined as someone who understands your feelings, might have he same interests you do and respects you for who you are. Children learn early on that people of different races, colors and religions might hold prejudices against them and there would not be candidates for being their friend. What would happen if children of different racial backgrounds, different religions and countries played together in schoolyard and actually got along? Wouldn’t that be wonderful! Author Aileen Stewart brings this to light in her beautifully illustrated story titled: Quack and Daisy. Can an adorable kitten become best friends with precious duck? Only one way to tell. Let’s meet Quack and Daisy as they each venture out of the perimeter of the McDoodle Farm and just might teach adults, young adults and small children the true meaning of friendship. Quack decided to leave her pond and Daisy left her barn and venture in different directions. Quack saw some wild flowers and Daisy noticed some butterflies. But, what happens when they notice each other? Check out their expressions and listen to their conversation as each one asks: Who are you? Daisy answers and then Quack does too revealing where they lived and why they are in the meadow where they both wound up. Facing each other Quack explained what her mother told her about cats and Daisy politely dispelled the theory. So, when they were both satisfied that they came to explore what was beyond the pond believe it or not they decided to play together.
Families can change things for the good or even the bad. When each one asks the other if they want to meet their family members what happens will remind readers how narrow minded some people or in this case animals can be. Daisy was introduced to Puddles who claimed that she probably could now swim. Poor Daisy tried so hard and wait until you see what happens when she enters the water! Realizing that she can’t swim she went back home to her barn. This might discourage other children or even Quack and Daisy from being friends but the next day they met up in the meadow and this time Quack was introduced to Daisy’s family and the same thing happened. Quack is a duck and cannot chase mice and Daisy’s brother Tom confirmed this. Quack took the challenge and attempted to catch a mouse. Check out the mouse that hides within the illustrations of each page. See how many times you see this mouse and would you try to catch it?
Now they had a real dilemma. Can they stay friends? Will they decide because they are different and one cannot swim and the other cannot catch mice that their newfound friendship is over? In order to find out what happens just like all good mysteries you have to read it for yourself. Can children of different backgrounds and interests become friends? What lessons can they learn from Daisy and Quack? Let’s hope author Aileen Stewart brings them back for more adventures in the future. Just think what would happen if a third friend joined the group. Great for parents, discussion groups, librarians, young adults, small children and even adults can learn just what it takes to be a real friend. The illustrations are great and young children can understand the story just by looking at the pictures. Quack and Daisy: Friends forever?
Fran Lewis: MJ magazine/ Just reviews


ICDs, or implantable cardioverter defibrillators, are designed to shock damaged hearts back into rhythm and save patients from sudden cardiac death, which kills 300,000 Americans each year.
But a study finds that while many of these patients will benefit from their ICDs, a large number won't, and a simple heart-rhythm test can tell who's who.
In fact, the study suggests that if the test were used on the majority of ICD candidates, as many as one-third could be spared the operation to implant a device, without raising their risk of sudden death.
The study, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology ( JACC ), is based on data from 768 patients who were candidates for ICDs at Christ Hospital and the Ohio Heart and Vascular Center in Cincinnati. All of the patients had survived myocardial infarctions but had permanent damage to their heart muscle caused by lack of blood flow, a condition called ischemic cardiomyopathy.
Each patient received a test called microvolt T-wave alternans or MTWA, along with a battery of other tests, during their evaluation. Half of the patients went on to receive ICDs, although the MTWA test results weren't used in the decision-making process. The patients' health and the causes of any deaths were tracked for up to three years.
After that time, the data were analyzed by researchers from the University of Michigan Cardiovascular Center and VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, in cooperation with the Ohio team.
In all, 67 percent of patients had positive or inconclusive MTWA test results. Of them, the patients who went on to receive an ICD were 55 percent less likely to die in the follow-up period than those who hadn't gotten an ICD. They were also 70 percent less likely to die suddenly due to a heart-rhythm disruption. But at the same time, the one-third of patients who had negative MTWA tests and then received ICDs were no less likely to die than those with similar test results who didn't receive ICDs.
" This is the first study to demonstrate that a subset of patients who meet current criteria for defibrillator placement may not benefit at all from ICDs," says Paul Chan, at the U-M Medical School. " Use of the MTWA test could truly help us tell which ICD candidates will benefit most."
In all, the authors calculate, one life could be saved every two years for every nine ICDs implanted in people with positive or inconclusive MTWA results. But it would take 76 ICD implantations in people with negative MTWA tests to save one life every two years.
The reductions in death risk were present even after the authors corrected for many other variables and differences between the two MTWA-positive and MTWA-negative groups.
Chan and his Ohio colleagues, led by first author Theodore Chow, of the Lindner Clinical Trial Center at Christ Hospital and the OHVC, have studied the use of MTWA in predicting patients' risk for several years.
They published results from the same group of ischemic cardiomyopathy patients, showing that the MTWA test was able to predict the risk of death from any cause, even after they adjusted the data for other heart-rhythm test results and medical issues.
In recent years, ICDs have been shown to reduce the overall risk of sudden cardiac death well enough to be given approval by the FDA ( Food and Drug Administration ) and to receive coverage by Medicare and other insurers.
In 2004 Medicare expanded the group of patients who were eligible for ICD therapy, leading to estimates that 50,000 new patients each year can qualify for the devices based on criteria relating to their heart rhythm and pumping capability.
Source: University of Michigan Health System, 2007
Link: Xapedia - Medical Encyclopedia


Renewable energy, particularly wind and solar power, shows great promise for encouraging environmentally-friendly electricity generation. Renewable production has been steadily increasing and investors have supported these efforts. There are, however, issues with renewable energy's intermittency. When the sun isn't out and the wind stops blowing, renewable energy producers depend on metal-flow batteries to provide backup power. While these batteries can store much energy, they are very expensive, and their high cost has prevented renewable energy production from displacing conventional energy sources.
A team of Harvard researchers has created an organic battery that is far less expensive and just as effective as conventional metal batteries. Rather than being powered by costly metals such as platinum, the new battery is powered by quinone molecules. These abundant organic compounds can easily be produced from a variety of plants. Quinone-flow batteries store energy in solutions in external tanks, allowing the electrochemical conversion hardware and chemical tanks to be independently sized. This setup allows more energy to be stored at a lower cost than conventional batteries. According to the MIT Technology Review, Harvard's battery could bring down storage costs from $700 per kilowatt-hour to $27 per kilowatt-hour.
Beyond the Harvard project, many energy startup companies have also pursued more efficient battery technologies for renewable energy storage. Aquion is producing a low-cost sodium-ion battery while EnerVault is developing flow batteries powered by iron-chromium electrolytes. Having multiple companies develop new renewable batteries is essential to develop a competitive market for this technology. Competition among producers will provide the impetus to develop batteries with greater storage capacities and more efficient transmission. Most importantly, it will lower production costs, allowing renewable energy to become more cost-competitive with other energy sources.
Tesla has been the most public champion of battery technology to support renewable energy generation for its fleet of electric cars. The company recently announced plans to create a "Gigafactory" to produce large quantities of batteries and drive their costs down. Tesla has also been particularly ambitious in developing vehicles that run solely on electric batteries. Since transportation infrastructure, particularly vehicles, is responsible for significant levels of energy consumption, mass production of electric cars has revolutionary implications for energy use patterns. Harnessing this technology on a large scale is crucial to promote clean electricity production and to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.
The race for more efficient and affordable battery technology has begun. We must embrace it to ensure a better energy future.


File Name: stop endometriosis and pelvic pain .zip
The purpose of the Southern Cross Medical Library is to provide information of a general nature to help you better understand certain medical conditions. Always seek specific medical advice for treatment appropriate to you. This information is not intended to relate specifically to insurance or healthcare services provided by Southern Cross. Endometriosis is a common and often painful condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus endometrium is found outside the uterus. Symptoms often include pelvic pain, atypical menstrual bleeding, and difficulty getting pregnant. In New Zealand, it is estimated the condition affects , girls and women. Painful periods can be the first sign that a girl or woman has endometriosis.
It most commonly grows in the tissue lining the pelvis, the ovaries, and the fallopian tubes. In severe cases, it can spread behind the reproductive system. The most common symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain, especially during the menstrual period. Instead of the annoying cramping many women experience during their periods, women with endometriosis often experience severe pain that can be difficult to manage. Other symptoms include:. Fortunately, there are plenty of home remedies that you can use to help reduce symptoms fast. If your symptoms are acting up and you need relief, heat is one of the best home remedies you have at your disposal.
Initially, quizzes are posted out with journals and GPs are invited to submit their answers for CME credits. Register or Log in to take part in quizzes. Don't have an account? Register to use all the features of this website, including selecting clinical areas of interest, taking part in quizzes and much more. This item is 5 years and 6 months old; some content may no longer be current. Chronic pelvic pain can cause significant disruption to the lives of the women it affects.
Kenneth A. An understanding of the mechanisms underlying chronic pelvic pain can help avert long-term treatment failure. CASE: Resurgent, worsening dysmenorrhea A year-old woman G2P2 with a history of 2 spontaneous vaginal deliveries presents to your office after 10 months of severe, worsening dysmenorrhea. Shortly after she developed severe dysmenorrhea, she began to experience daily pain in her lower abdomen and pelvis. This pain occurred in the midline, bilateral lower quadrants, and rectum. She also developed deep dyspareunia. She has a history of dysmenorrhea from adolescence but has otherwise been healthy and pain-free until the past 10 months.
Endometriosis is characterised by the presence of endometrial-like tissue outside the uterine cavity, causing mainly cyclical symptoms and, often, reduced fertility. Medical management involves the hormonal suppression of endometriotic lesions, with analgesia as required. Surgical excision or ablation of endometriotic tissue is often necessary. Although rare, endometriosis can also occur outside of the pelvis, e. Some may be completely asymptomatic and therefore not aware of the condition while others will have chronic pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea, dyspareunia and dyschezia. During periods of anovulation, such as pregnancy, lactation, menopause and hormone-induced amenorrhoea, symptoms are usually reduced or eliminated. Endometriosis can have a significant effect on female fertility, and many women with undiagnosed endometriosis may first present with difficulty conceiving.
PDF | The relationship between chronic pelvic pain symptoms and endometriosis is unclear because painful symptoms are frequent in women without this.
Most commonly, these growths are within the pelvis, such as on the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, the outer surface of the uterus, or the bladder. During the menstrual cycle each month, the tissue lining the uterus grows thicker, then breaks down as blood that exits through the vagina. The wayward tissue growths of endometriosis respond to the same hormones as the uterine lining.
Back to Health A to Z. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb starts to grow in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. It's a long-term condition that can have a significant impact on your life, but there are treatments that can help.
The tissue that lines the uterus is called the endometrium. In the United States, the condition affects 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years, estimates the Endometriosis Foundation of America. Endometriosis is often a painful disorder that takes place primarily in the pelvic area. The symptoms of this condition tend to be worse around menstruation periods.
Сьюзан… Она знала, что его уже нет в живых, но его голос по-прежнему преследовал. Она снова и снова слышала свое имя. Сьюзан… Сьюзан… И в этот момент она все поняла. Дрожащей рукой она дотянулась до панели и набрала шифр. S…U…Z…A…N И в то же мгновение дверца лифта открылась. ГЛАВА 108 Лифт Стратмора начал стремительно спускаться. В кабине Сьюзан жадно вдохнула свежий прохладный воздух и, почувствовав головокружение, прижалась к стенке лифта.


Extreme Heat or Cold
- Call 911 in the case of a medical emergency (e.g., confusion, frostbite, hypothermia, racing pulse, muscle spasms, vomiting).
- Stay indoors as much as possible and limit exposure to elements during extreme conditions.
- Never leave children, disabled persons or pets in a parked car, even briefly.
- For severe heat, drink plenty of water and eat lightly.
- Information regarding university closings and weather delays is announced on the Viterbo website and local radio and television channels.
- Information on individual class cancellations is available on the course Moodle page.
Thunderstorms and Tornadoes
- IF YOU HEAR THUNDER, YOU ARE CLOSE ENOUGH TO THE THUNDERSTORM TO BE STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.
- Immediately go to safe shelter—a sturdy building or automobile.
- Do not take shelter in small sheds or under trees.
- Telephone lines and metal pipes can conduct electricity from lightning.
- Unplug appliances not necessary for weather information.
- Avoid using landline telephones or electrical appliances.
- Avoid bathing, showering or being in contact with plumbing fixtures.A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM/TORNADO WATCH means ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE for the development of severe thunderstorms/tornadoes. You should continue with normal activities, but closely monitor weather information.
- A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM/TORNADO WATCH means ATMOSPHERIC CONDITIONS ARE FAVORABLE for the development of severe thunderstorms/tornadoes. You should continue with normal activities, but closely monitor weather information.
- A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM/TORNADO WARNING means severe THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IS OCCURRING (indicated by radar or reported by law enforcement and/or weather spotters) or is imminent. If the warning is for your location, you should quickly move to a place of safety.
- When severe thunderstorm/tornado warnings are issued, you should seek immediate shelter away from windows, preferably in interior hallways on the lowest floor possible. If outdoors, move immediately to the nearest building and seek shelter there.
- Do not open windows.
- Do not use elevators.
- If unable to get inside, lie in a ditch area or near a well-built building, use arms to protect head and neck in a “drop and tuck” position, use jacket/cap/backpack/etc., to protect face and eyes.
- Report any injuries or damage by calling Campus Safety at 3911 if using a Viterbo phone; 608-796-3911 or 608-780-1582 if using a non-Viterbo phone.
- DO NOT call 911 unless you need to report an emergency, such as a fire, medical emergency or severe building damage. The 911 lines need to be kept open and available for emergency calls.


Surface Engineering Assignment Help
Surface engineering refers to a large variety of innovations developed to customize the surface residential or commercial properties of non-metallic and metal parts for ornamental and/or practical functions. Solids are made up of a bulk product covered by a surface. The surface which bounds the bulk product is called the Surface stage. The surface stage of a strong communicates with the surrounding environment. This interaction can break down the surface stage with time. Ecological destruction of the surface stage with time can be triggered by wear, tiredness, rust and creep.
Surface engineering includes modifying the residential or commercial properties of the Surface Phase in order to lower the deterioration with time. This is achieved by making the surface robust to the environment where it will be used.it offers an expense reliable product for robust style. A spectrum of subjects that represent the varied nature of the field of surface engineering consists of Plating innovations, Nano and emerging innovations and Surface characterization, engineering and screening.
When its surface can not sufficiently hold up against the external forces or environment to which it is subjected, an engineering part generally stops working. The option of a surface product with the proper thermal, optical, electrical and magnetic residential or commercial properties and adequate resistance to use, deterioration and deterioration, is important to its performance. Often technological development and producing performance might be constrained exclusively by surface requirements. The fuel effectiveness and power output of gas turbines or diesel engines are restricted by the capability of crucial elements to stand up to high temperature levels. It is frequently unwise, wasteful or ineffective to make parts from a bulk product merely for its surface residential or commercial properties - far much better to utilize a more affordable, more quickly formed underlying product and coat it with an ideal high efficiency movie. The resulting item saves limited product resources, carries out much better than the initial and might well be less expensive to produce.
Improving the performance of an existing item is just one objective of surface engineering. New coverings and treatment procedures might likewise produce chances for brand-new items which might not otherwise exist. Satellites might not work, nor might modern-day power plants run securely, without the application of innovative surface engineering methods. Surface engineering covers a large variety of procedures. At one end of the scale ion implantation, nitriding, and aluminising impact the chemistry and homes of just a thin surface layer of the substrate, by customizing the existing surface to a depth of 0.001-- 1.0 mm. In between these 2 extremes we discover deposition procedures such as physical vapour deposition (PVD), chemical vapour deposition (CVD), anodising, laser processing, thermal spraying, cold spraying, and liquid deposition approaches.
Surface Engineering Homework Help
The finishing application and efficiency attributes are greatly depending on the structure and processing specifications. Coatings varying from simply ceramic to simply natural in character have really various homes, however can supply crucial advantages to the part. Choice of the most suitable covering type and deposition technique needs an understanding of the functional requirements, together with the prospect application techniques and supply chain factors to consider. Evaluating and recognition of the surface is vital to make sure that the needed fitness-for-purpose attributes have actually been accomplished, and contrast in between prospect systems versus developed or establishing requirements has actually been carried out.
Surface engineering consists of numerous aspects of products science that assist manage the function, quality, and security of items such as vehicle, fabric, and electronic products. New innovations are establishing to assist improve the surface efficiency. Surface cleansing, synonymously described as dry cleansing, is a mechanical cleansing strategy utilized to decrease shallow soil, dust, gunk, insect droppings, accretions, or other surface deposits. (Dry cleansing, as the term is utilized in paper preservation, does not utilize making use of natural solvents.) Surface cleansing might be utilized as an independent cleansing strategy, as one action (generally the very first) in a more detailed treatment, or as a start to additional treatments (e.g., liquid immersion) which might trigger dirt to set irreversibly in paper fibers. We supply 24/7 assistance for Surface Engineering Assignment assist & Surface Engineering research aid. Our Surface Engineering Online tutors are readily available online to supply online assistance for intricate Surface Engineering projects & research to provide with in the due date. Surface Engineering assistance is readily available by knowledgeable tutors round the clock.


Toddington Manor Conservation Management Plan
Prof. Dr. Leo Schmidt and Smriti Pant M.A.
Built by an amateur architect, Charles Hanbury-Tracy, for himself from 1819-1840, Toddington Manor is a Gothic Revival country house located in the village of Toddington, Gloucestershire, in south-west England. Toddington Manor is a Grade I listed building standing amidst 19th-century formal gardens and a late 18th-century landscape park. The latter is registered as Grade II in the Register of Parks and Gardens of Special Historic Interest.
When the 4th Lord Sudeley - grandson of the builder of the present house and heir of the Tracy family who had lived at Toddington since the beginning of that Millennium - was bankrupted, most of the original contents of the house were sold. The Manor, however, was revived and refurbished for one generation by a new owner only to be emptied again in the 1930s. In 1936, the 4,472 acre estate was fragmented into dozens of lots. An area of 146 acres was all that remained with the house when it became the headquarters of the National Union of Teachers in 1939. The rest of the grounds passed into many different hands and - being used for different purposes, some of them unsympathetic - gradually lost much of its character as a designed landscape.
Having survived military use in WW II, Toddington housed a succession of schools, with a brief and unsuccessful interlude as a private residence. In the 1960s, it suffered a bad fire followed by a great deal of structural change in its upper floors. With the last institutional use folding in 1985, the Manor stood empty for two decades, quietly deteriorating, while various attempts at finding a new use came to nothing.
Under such circumstances, the purchase of Toddington Manor and its surrounding grounds by the British artist, Damien Hirst, in 2005 has renewed the chances of future survival of the place. Since then not only has further deterioration been put to stop, the compromised and partially lost integrity of the place - of the buildings as well as of the grounds that belong to them - has also been recovered to a great extent.
An immediate stylistic precursor of the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament), Toddington Manor is an outstanding example of the early Gothic Revival. Since autumn 2007, it has been the focus of a major research project conducted by a multi-disciplinary team of experts from BTU Cottbus. The main aims of this ongoing research project are to study Toddington Manor as a country house of pre-Victorian times as well as to identify and highlight its contribution to the development of the Gothic Revival movement in the early 19th-century. So far a comprehensive architectural survey of the building, conducted during the course of several research campaigns, has given a deeper insight into the initial building process and the subsequent changes made to the floor plans of the building. The planning and design development of the external facades and the interiors has also been carefully studied by comparing historic plans, sketches and other documents as well the current condition of the built fabric.
Conservation Management Plan
Damien Hirst intends to dedicate Toddington Manor as a place for Contemporary Art, combined with the function of a private residence - a change which allows a sympathetic and conservative repair of the significant historic fabric that has survived the damage and loss which Toddington suffered through the 20th century. This will provide a chance for the house to acquire a well-designed new layer in the devastated areas where historic fabric and appearance have been lost - both inside the buildings and in the grounds that surround them.
In order to ensure that the conservation and development issues arising from the respective needs of Toddington Manor and its current owner are addressed in keeping with statutory requirements and other national as well as international conservation guidelines, MRJ Rundell and Associates Ltd. (acting on behalf of Damien Hirst) also commissioned the Depatment of Architectural Conservation at BTU Cottbus to prepare a Conservation Management Plan for Toddington Manor. The final version of the CMP, written by Prof. Dr. Leo Schmidt and Smriti Pant M.A., was submitted to English Heritage as part of a listed building consent application by MRJ Rundell and Associates Ltd. in December 2010.
Department of Architectural Conservation
Prof. Dr. Leo Schmidt
Anne Bantelmann M.A.
Dipl.-Ing. Asita Farnusch
Smriti Pant M.A.
Department of Architectural History
Prof. Dr. Klaus Rheidt
Dr. Birte Rogacki-Thiemann
Dipl.-Ing. Haiko Türk


- In introduction define what you understand by scientific temper.
- In the body first explain the role of science in life. You can answer such questions with suitable examples; from the article presented the best example is that of COVID-19. Explain that an unexpected outcome of COVID-19 is the growing awareness of how disease is transmitted and what might be done to prevent this; this is the rise of a good public culture in the country and it sets an example of growing scientific temper in the country.
- Conclude by reasserting the importance of scientific temper and a culture that promotes and propagates it.


Research on aerators in fisheries and industry
Prudent approach create efficient work, scientific approach provide effective data, high-quality products build "Jinhulongbrand.LEARN MORE
Aerators commonly used in fisheries, industry and other […]
Aerators commonly used in fisheries, industry and other fields
In the problem of low solvating efficiency, small watering area and limited area of aerated water, the design has high solvating efficiency, large water agitating area, fast diffusion of dissolved oxygen, and rapid and uniform oxygenation area of water. Propeller aerator.
It has high application value and prospect in the fishery and industrial fields. The innovation is that the air is broken into tiny high-density fog-like bubbles and diffuses into the middle and lower layers of the water body, which increases the air energy of the gas-liquid mass transfer interface. The water body is fully mixed. At the same time, a large amount of negative ions are generated when the bubble bursts, which plays a role of fully dissolving oxygen and purifying water quality. Secondly, it can form a simulated ecological water flow, and the oxygen-enriched water can be turned into various corners of the water body to make the stagnant water become living water; The main aspect is that it can achieve intelligent control, which not only reduces the labor intensity of the staff, but also promotes the maximization of the aeration function, which is the increase in aquaculture.


One factor that has been tied to anorexia is cultural influences. It is argued that the culture in the United States is one focused on being unrealistically thin. Other cultures have different representations of what type of body shape is attractive. Read the article about eating disorders in Fiji and the information presented in the book. Answer the questions: In what ways does culture influence stereotypes of beauty?
Why does the disease predominantly affect women as opposed to men? If culture is a primary reason for anorexia, why is only 1-5% of the population affected by it? What treatment methods do you think are most effective? How does sociocultural influences, psychological issues, and age affect the various treatment approaches for eating disorders?Question 2
write a 2-3 page paper describing factors that contribute to substance abuse and the types of treatment available. Briefly describe the, genetic, psychological, and sociocultural factors involved with substance abuse. Summarize how the cognitive behavioral approaches of aversion therapy, covert sensitization, skills training, and reinforcements can be utilized in the treatment of substance abuse.
Your paper should be double-spaced and in 12 point font. Use APA formatting


Letting students take control of the CNC machine for the first time each semester can be terrifying enough if they were paying attention to your wise words of caution, but we all know some of them weren’t taking studious notes. An easy way to save your machine and nerves is to give your students forgiving workpieces, like machinist wax, wood, or plastic, but that’s not always the best solution.
Students take your classes to learn about machining, and part of that includes feeds and speeds, tool geometry, and the basics of metallurgy for their workpieces. For beginner classes, those soft materials are great so they can learn how to control the machine, but, after that, let them learn the hard way.
Aluminum is a relatively cheap and soft workpiece material that can still make functional parts, such as brackets for FIRST Robotics teams, or structural components for Formula SAE teams. It also teaches the lessons you want to convey during lessons, such as identifying chatter and potential cutting tool damage, but with less risk of breaking things. Just to show you some numbers, I went onto Speedy Metals to compare prices of a few of common classroom materials:
- 1” x 2” x 4” Piece of Steel: $4.40
- 1” x 2” x 4” Piece of 2024 Aluminum: $9.96
- 2” Rod of White Nylon, 4” long: $10.48
- 1” x 2” x 4” Piece of 360 Brass: $25.88
- 1” x 2” x 4” Piece of 303 Stainless Steel: $26.88
To counter these prices, keep in mind your students have a higher chance of burning up a couple tools on the steel, as well as longer cutting times compared to aluminum, so the extra price usually is worth it. I’m a firm believer in students learning through consequences, like breaking tools and crashing machines, as long as there isn’t a lot of down time or cost associated with it. This may be a pie in the sky motto – since it normally includes a larger budget and lots of time to babysit students – but if you can find one or two times a semester for each student to learn these lessons, the more understanding students will leave your classroom with. And that’s always the goal, right?
At Tormach, their mission is to empower people who make things. They are dedicated
to providing exceptionally engineered small CNC machines, tooling, and related products with best-in-industry technical support and customer service. Their focus is to help their customers turn their concepts in to reality by providing the tools and information that help them be successful with CNC. Their flagship products include the PCNC, or Personal CNC, series of machine tools. PCNC mills have become the CNC machine of choice for inventors, small/boutique manufacturers, garage entrepreneurs, product developers, hobbyists, educators, and people who make things around the world. Their company has grown quite a bit from modest beginnings. Like many of the businesses that use our PCNC machines, Tormach was started in garage – not too far from their current shop near Madison, WI. Back in 2001, two friends had a series of casual conversations, basically maligning how there were no good small CNC machines available for inventors, R&D professionals, or small manufacturers. Both had expertise in manufacturing automation: one of the two owned a specialty tool company, and the other was general manager of a technology research company. Both agreed they could really make use of an affordable small CNC machine, whether for prototyping products or for specialty manufacturing ,if only such a machine existed. They came up with the concept of Personal CNC – paying homage to some of the same ideas that spawned the personal computer revolution in the late 1970s, and began to put together a list of design criteria for a PCNC.


By Kathryn A. Hanon
Investigator Orlando, Florida, Police Department
The range of investigations for modern day law enforcement officers is unparalleled in the history of criminology. Investigators must use innovative techniques in order to solve today’s more sophisticated, bizarre criminal acts.
For example, cases of an obscure form of child abuse–Munchhausen’s Syndrome by Proxy (MSBP)-are being seen more and more frequently. MSBP is a form of child abuse that involves long-term physical abuse, usually by a parent.
However, in order to conduct MSBP investigations effectively, it is necessary to understand the complexity of the disorder and the unorthodox investigative procedures that may be necessary to prosecute the case successfully. This article discusses the disorder and how officers should approach the investigation of this crime.
Defining The Syndrome
Munchhausen’s Syndrome by Proxy is a form of child abuse in which the abuser fabricates an illness in a child. When the child is taken for medical care, the parent tells physicians that there is no apparent cause for the illness, knowing that this will most likely result in the hospitalization of the victim for tests or observation. It is during this period of hospitalization that the actual abuse usually occurs. In one known case of MSBP, a mother injected fecal material into the victim; in another case, a mother suffocated and then revived her child on several occasions during the hospitalization period.
Symptoms of MSBP are generally recognizable by the time the victim reaches 14 months of age. However, MSBP is usually not diagnosed until the child is approximately 3 years of age. The mortality rate for this type of abuse is high.
There are both mild and severe cases of MSBP. In mild cases, the parent fabricates a history of a non-existent condition in the child. For example, some parents contaminate their children’s feces with blood and claim that they passed the blood.
In severe cases of MSBP, a parent actually harms the child in order to create symptoms of an illness. Suffocation or blood poisoning are typical in this form of MSBP.
Offender And Victim Characteristics
Most MSBP offenders are mothers of the victims. However, there have been cases where the offender was the father or a person outside of the family.
MSBP offenders are uncharacteristically calm in view of the victims’ baffling medical symptoms, and they welcome medical tests that are painful to the children. They also maintain a high degree of involvement in the care of their children during treatment and will excessively praise the medical staff. They seem very knowledgeable of the victims’ illnesses, which may indicate some medical study or training. They may also have a history of the same illnesses being exhibited by their victims.
In addition, MSBP offenders typically shelter their victims from outside activities, such as school or playing with other children, allowing only certain persons to be close to them. They may even speak for the victims when anyone approaches them. MSBP offenders are attentive to their victims, even though they are harming them. They seem to find emotional satisfaction when their child is hospitalized because the hospital staff believes that their attentiveness indicates that they are good parents.
Victims of MSBP can be of either gender. They are often immature for their age, due to their forced dependency on the abusing parent, and female victims may assume multiple roles. For example, they may take on a motherly role as they imitate their closest role model–the offender–and then regress to the role of a sick, weak, dependent child.
Characteristics Of Non-Offending Parent
MSBP victims are rarely abused by their fathers. Passive and indifferent, the father does not play a primary role in the care of the sick child. His hospital visits with the victim are limited, and although he may be suspicious of the baffling course of his child’s illness, he is unable to stop the child’s abuse.
The Victim’s Siblings
There is a good chance that younger siblings of MSBP victims will also be abused. When offenders stop abusing their victims–either because the child gets older and more mature or because the child dies–they may look to their other children in order to continue the abuse. A study of the medical history of these children may indicate whether there is a pattern of abuse within the family.


Girls and women in Somalia have long suffered from socio-cultural factors constraining their ability to go beyond a certain stage in development and role in society due to discrimination. Some socio-cultural norms and believes also perpetuate the continued domination, abuse and subjection of women to harmful practices. Some of the norms and practices infringe on the rights of girls and women and their right to healthy development.
GECPD continues to educate communities on the negative aspects of social-cultural and religious based value systems that promote gender-based inequalities, biases, discrimination and abuse.
- Improved status of women in society
- Reduced instance /elimination of violence against women
- Reduced instance/elimination of sexual and gender based violence and other forms of violence against women
- Increased involvement of women in the peace, reconciliation and political processes
- Increased capacity of women to contribute to peace, reconciliation , economic and social- political development
- Increased participation of women in decision making at all levels
- Increased integration of women’s needs, concerns and opinions in sustainable development policies and programmes


WHAT CAN WE THINK FROM
THE FIBER LEVEL IN DRYFOOD?
- What is the composition of vegetable walls?
Most of the fiber components are polysaccharides that escape the enzymatic digestion in the small intestine of non-ruminants animals : cellulose, hemicellulose, pectines, gums. Only one fiber component, the lignin, has a different chemicall composition.
Cellulose and lignin have a poor water solubility and water-holding capacity (WHC). Other polysaccharides are more soluble, and they have a high WHC : they are capable of forming highly viscous solutions or gel mixed with water.
Insoluble fiber tend to regularize the intestinal transit, whereas soluble fiber (ex: beet pulp) tends to slow it, but there are undispensable to the ecology of the large intestine.
- What is the interest of the crude cellulose percentage announced on the packagings?
Crude fiber (CF) level is measured with the official method of Weende (1920). It is one of the compulsory mentions in labelling. However, crude fiber estimates only a fraction of total cellulose and hemicellulose of a food or of an ingredient : crude fiber does not measure more than 25 to 30 % of total fiber.
CF analysis is a very bad tool for the prediction of vegetable walls content. It has no nutritional meaning. It can only be used for a raw comparison between ingredients. But it is completely useless for a qualitative appreciation of differences between petfoods which have a very low-fiber content.
Two foods may have the same level of crude fiber (announced on their packagings), but a different level of total dietary fiber : therefore, their digestibility will be different.
- How can we measure the total dietary fiber?
A fairly accurate determination is given by the Prosky's method (1984): it is a long and costly enzymatic dosage, but it allows a good estimation of the quality of ingredients. It is the only one meaningful nutritional notion.
What are the different types of fibers used by Royal Canin and its competitors?
The quality of fibers, as well as the quantity, is very important : to obtain really good digestive tolearnace, it is necessary to associate soluble and insoluble fibers.
- What are the dietary fiber values for our main vegetable ingredients ?
p. cent CF Dietary fiber
Wheat 2,5 9,0 to 12,5
Corn 2,5 9,0 to 11
Corn meal 0,5-1 2,6 to 4,5
Wheat meal 1 5 to 7
Hominy corn flake 0,5 1,9
Noodles 1 6,0
Fine bran 9 38
Beet pulp 17 59
- What are the consequences on digestibility?
No fibers = diarrhea
Excess of fibers = soft and voluminous stools
Digestibility of dry matter (dDM), and consequently the quantity of feces produced (QF), are proportionnally related to the dietary fiber content : the more fiber there is, the less digestible it is.
- Between 4 and 6 % of dietary fiber :
expected dDM : 82 to 88 % ; QF : 40 to 60 g per 100 g de DM ingested.
- Between 6 and 11 % of dietary fiber :
expected dDM : 78 à 86 % ; QF : 50 to 80 g per 100g of DM ingested.
- Over 11% of dietary fiber :
expected dDM inferior to 78 % ; QF superior to 80g per 100g of DM ingested.
The dietary fiber content is a quite reliable parameter for the digestibility prediction.`
Donated by the Borg Cardona and Co. Ltd. visit Borg Cardona website


Dimensional Formula of Mobility
The dimensional formula of Mobility is given by,
[M-1 L0 T2 I1]
- M = Mass
- L = Length
- I = Current
- T = Time
Since, Drift velocity = Mobility × Electric Field
Therefore, Mobility (M) = Drift velocity × [Electric Field]-1 . . . . (1)
The dimensional formula of drift velocity = [M0 L1 T-1] . . . . . (2)
Since, Electric Field = [Force × Charge-1]
The dimensions of force and and charge = [M1 L1 T-2] and [I1 T1] respectively.
∴ The dimensional formula of Electric Field = [M1 L1 T-2] × [I1 T1]-1 = [M1 L1 T-3 I-1] . . . (3)
On substituting equation (2) and (3) in equation (1) we get,
Mobility = Drift velocity × [Electric Field]-1
Or, M = [M0 L1 T-1] × [M1 L1 T-3 I-1]-1 = [M-1 L0 T2 I1].
Therefore, mobility is dimensionally represented as [M-1 L0 T2 I1].


Education Software’s find many uses in education like as teaching aids for teacher, for better understanding in the form of videos, animations, for making pictures or diagrams, for analysis of data etc. Even there are many apps developed for use over smart phones related to education and studies.
These academic software make the process of study easier, faster and effective if used properly. They are also inexpensive and affordable mostly and those which are very expensive like design software’s can be bought by institution offering the course.
Role of software in academics;
School administration software: Software’s are widely used in academics to make the process of administration easier. There are software like school administration software, college management software etc. These help in maintenance of records and data bases of all the activities and curriculum of the school or college.
There are also software for time table, to maintain student data base, their marks, attendance, for accounting etc. These software are useful for the management and higher officials of the school and college but not for teachers and students.
These software are of free type like Microsoft word excel or word and sometimes they are purchased.
Software for teachers: Teachers need some software as teaching aids. These include animated videos or virtual labs, pictures etc for demonstration of topics in science, geography and also lab experiments.
The teacher software are many like lesson planner, grade keeper etc. For a detail list read the article http://busyteacher.org/2878-top-10-teacher-software-programs-you-should-be.html.
These software are sometimes freely available on the net or supplied along with the text books purchased or else individually in the market. Many schools and colleges maintain a collection of these software in the form of Dvd’s etc. Further other equipment like overhead projector, an interactive board are required.
Language learning software: These are software to learn languages like English, French, Spanish etc provided by few websites.
Higher education software: This includes a large set of software useful to students and also teachers. They are of different types based on the need or purpose. They include
1. Picture or image software: As the name indicate these are software to make pictures or image of interest. These include Microsoft paint, Adobe Photoshop etc. They are needed to make diagrams for representation of novel ideas in science for presentation in science exhibitions, poster presentations, seminars etc. These software require some practice to use for the newbie but they are easy to learn.
2. Analytic software: These are a set of software meant especially to analyse complex data of research of any type in science, social, management studies etc. They include mostly statistical software ex; graph pad prism, SPSS etc.
3. Design software: Design software are those used design molecules of chemistry or in architecture to predetermine the effectiveness and feasibility of the drug molecule or the structure under plan construct.
In medicinal chemistry CAD (computer aided drug design) software is widely used to analyse the drug molecule to see if it fits properly into receptor for effective therapeutic action or else if stereo configuration is right or else the chances of toxic effects etc.
In architecture though the software are used to estimate the strength, durability of the structure under plan construct.
Thus these software used in Post graduate or research levels help minimize wastage of time and cost in making physical molecules or structures by determining their effectiveness virtually in computer.
4. Presentation software: These are software meant for presentation of concepts to a large group of audience using projector. They are mostly free software like Microsoft power point.
5. Data synchronising software: These are software which maintain similar data between to two sets of computers through a memory device (hard drive) like one in office and one at home. These software help maintain similarity in data so as to safe guard even in times of damage of one system. Thus one’s data is never lost.
Higher education software are very useful for students for better performance to face competition from colleagues.


david had the opportunity in a cave to kill the king who was hunting him down. In the open the same opportunity occurs. David shows how he is submitted to God’s will and God’s annointed by demonstrating his power over Saul without abusing saul personally. Saul’s erratic and possibly borderline behavior comes through as he regrets his pursuit of David.
It is hard knowing how to deal with those who have mental illnesses. However, it must be harder to be a person afflicted with one. Again, I feel sympathy for Saul. However, this does not justify his actions. Although David’s actions are righteous and merciful, Saul’s actions are the result of sin.
Imagine what it must be like to be borderline. Borderline is defined as:
A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
1. frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment. Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5.
2. a pattern of unstable and intense interpersonal relationships characterized by alternating between extremes of idealization and devaluation.
3. identity disturbance: markedly and persistently unstable self-image or sense of self.
4. impulsivity in at least two areas that are potentially self-damaging (e.g., spending, sex, substance abuse, reckless driving, binge eating). Note: Do not include suicidal or self-mutilating behavior covered in Criterion 5.
5. recurrent suicidal behavior, gestures, or threats, or self-mutilating behavior
6. affective instability due to a marked reactivity of mood (e.g., intense episodic dysphoria, irritability, or anxiety usually lasting a few hours and only rarely more than a few days).
7. chronic feelings of emptiness
8. inappropriate, intense anger or difficulty controlling anger (e.g., frequent displays of temper, constant anger, recurrent physical fights)
9. transient, stress-related paranoid ideation or severe dissociative symptoms
If Saul is diagnosed as bipolar, paranoid and borderline, does that negate the idea that an evil spirit from God brought about his actions? The two ideas need not be mutually exclusive. The evil spirit from God might have profound psychological affects. What do you think?
1 Samuel 26
1The Ziphites went to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding on the hill of Hakilah, which faces Jeshimon?”
2 So Saul went down to the Desert of Ziph, with his three thousand select Israelite troops, to search there for David. 3 Saul made his camp beside the road on the hill of Hakilah facing Jeshimon, but David stayed in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul had followed him there, 4he sent out scouts and learned that Saul had definitely arrived.
5Then David set out and went to the place where Saul had camped. He saw where Saul and Abner son of Ner, the commander of the army, had lain down. Saul was lying inside the camp, with the army encamped around him.
6David then asked Ahimelek the Hittite and Abishai son of Zeruiah, Joab’s brother, “Who will go down into the camp with me to Saul?”
“I’ll go with you,” said Abishai.
7So David and Abishai went to the army by night, and there was Saul, lying asleep inside the camp with his spear stuck in the ground near his head. Abner and the soldiers were lying around him.
8Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hands. Now let me pin him to the ground with one thrust of the spear; I won’t strike him twice.”
9 But David said to Abishai, “Don’t destroy him! Who can lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless? 10 As surely as the LORD lives,” he said, “the LORD himself will strike him, or his time will come and he will die, or he will go into battle and perish. 11But the LORD forbid that I should lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed. Now get the spear and water jug that are near his head, and let’s go.”
12So David took the spear and water jug near Saul’s head, and they left. No one saw or knew about it, nor did anyone wake up. They were all sleeping, because the LORD had put them into a deep sleep.
13 Then David crossed over to the other side and stood on top of the hill some distance away; there was a wide space between them. 14He called out to the army and to Abner son of Ner, “Aren’t you going to answer me, Abner?”
Abner replied, “Who are you who calls to the king?”
15 David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. 16What you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the LORD’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”
17Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is that your voice, David my son?”
David replied, “Yes it is, my lord the king.” 18 And he added, “Why is my lord pursuing his servant? What have I done, and what wrong am I guilty of? 19 Now let my lord the king listen to his servant’s words. If the LORD has incited you against me, then may he accept an offering. If, however, people have done it, may they be cursed before the LORD! They have driven me today from my share in the LORD’s inheritance and have said, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20Now do not let my blood fall to the ground far from the presence of the LORD. The king of Israel has come out to look for a flea—as one hunts a partridge in the mountains.”
21Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”
22 “Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of your young men come over and get it. 23 The LORD rewards everyone for their righteousness and faithfulness. The LORD delivered you into my hands today, but I would not lay a hand on the LORD’s anointed. 24As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and deliver me from all trouble.”
25Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.”
So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.
- Where was David hiding?
- What opportunity did David have?
- Why didn’t David kill Saul?
- What shortcuts can you take on the work God has given you to do?
- Is there a circumstance where you can respond with mercy and grace rather than righteous judgement?


From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level : Argo
Mains level : Not Much
The International Argo Program system to observe carbon concentration in the world’s oceans is extremely inadequate to meet the growing and urgent need for information on oceanic carbon, says a report.
What is Argo?
- Argo is an international program that uses profiling floats to observe temperature, salinity, currents, and, recently, bio-optical properties in the Earth’s oceans; it has been operational since the early 2000s.
- The real-time data it provides is used in climate and oceanographic research.
- A special research interest is to quantify the ocean heat content (OHC).
- Each instrument (float) spends almost all its life below the surface.
- The name Argo was chosen because the array of floats works in partnership with the Jason earth observing satellites that measure the shape of the ocean surface.
- In Greek mythology Jason sailed on his ship the Argo in search of the Golden Fleece.
What are its aims?
- The data that Argo collects describes the temperature and salinity of the water and some of the floats measure other properties that describe the biology/chemistry of the ocean.
- The main reason for collecting these data is to help us understand the oceans’ role in earth’s climate.
- For example, the changes in sea level (once the tides are averaged out) depend partly on the melting of icecaps and partly on the amount of heat stored in the oceans.
- Argo’s temperature measurements allow us to calculate how much heat is stored and to monitor from year to year how the distribution of heat changes with depth and from area to area.
- As ocean heat content increases, sea level rises, just like the mercury in a thermometer.
How does it work?
- Each Argo float (costing between $20,000 and $150,000 depending on the individual float’s technical specification) is launched from a ship.
- The float’s weight is carefully adjusted so that, as it sinks, it eventually stabilizes at a pre-set level, usually 1 km.
- Ten days later, an internal battery-driven pump transfers oil between a reservoir inside the float and an external bladder.
- This makes the float first descend to 2km and then return to the surface measuring ocean properties as it rises.
- The data and the float position are relayed to satellites and then on to receiving stations on shore.
- The float then sinks again to repeat the 10 day cycle until its batteries are exhausted.
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