Chemistry in Everyday Life

We know that chemistry is a big part of our everyday life in various fields such as food, air, metabolic system of body, and medicines etc.
It is an important part of our life and this is because everything we are using is composed of different chemicals.

Any change in our surrounding is also related to either chemical or physical change in the substances.
The chemical changes are associated with change in the chemical composition or change in colour or odour of the substances.
Chemical changes or chemical reactions are also associated with the formation of precipitate or colour solution.

Physical changes involve with the change in the physical state of matter from solid to liquid or liquid to gas etc.
The change in colour of leafs or cooking of food are also examples of chemical changes.
The household chemicals such as mosquito repellents, drugs, and plastic materials are also chemical substances.
All types of plastics are polymers which are chemical compounds composed of similar or different monomer units.
These monomer units are either bonded through condensation reaction or by addition reactions.
On the basis of these reactions, polymers can be classified as additional and condensation polymers.
The properties of polymers depend upon the structural units of monomer and the chemical reactions which are involved in the formation of polymer molecules.
Polymers can be both synthetic and natural such as PVC, nylon-6,6, nylon-6 are synthetic polymer but cellulose, starch, cotton are natural polymers.

Biological molecules  such as DNA, RNA, and proteins are polymeric in nature.
Another example of chemical which we are using in our everyday life is cleaners such as soaps, detergents etc.
Usually soaps are Sodium or Potassium salts of fatty acids which can divide in two parts; tail part is a long hydrocarbon chain while head part is Carboxylate group which is hydrophilic in nature.
The tail or hydrocarbon part of soap molecule is hydrophobic in nature and cannot dissolve in water but can be in dirt or oil.
The micelles formation by soap molecules results the detachment of dirt part from the cloth surface and show the soap action.

Let’s discuss about another chemical that is drug. They are chemical compounds which could show both positive and negative types of effect on  human beings.
These drugs could be subdivided into various categories and one of such is the amphetamine which is basically a stimulant.
These chemicals are found to be good for health and they help in recovery in several diseases but if taken within the safe limit or certain concentration only.
The drug abuse is a very common issue in almost all the countries.
Alcohol is one of best example of drug and yet another example is the tobacco abuse which is very common in India.
It is basically the dried tendu leaves which contain the drug nicotine.
It acts as an stimulant or relaxant after ingestion either through smoke, snuff, dipped or chewed.

The ingestion of it can lower the blood pressure and heart rate as well.
Up to a certain level, it can act as an stimulant but if taken at higher doses, it could imbalance the O2 level of the body and act as a relaxant or sedative.
The longer abuse of this could cause chronic lung disease, heart diseases like stroke, addiction and many different types of cancerous growth.
The presence of nicotine activates the brain of a living body and produces sensations of pleasure and euphoria.
It shows instant effect on human body; therefore it could be mistaken for tons of “hits” a day and become habitual of it.
Usually it is inhaled through smoking or even oral ingestion. Other examples of drugs are Sulphonamide, histamines etc.

Best Results From Wikipedia Yahoo Answers Youtube

From Wikipedia

Advanced Chemistry

Advanced Chemistry is a German hip hop group from Heidelberg, a scenic city in Baden-WÃ¼rttemberg, South Germany. Advanced Chemistry was founded in 1987 by Toni L, Linguist, Gee-One, DJ Mike MD (Mike Dippon) and MC Torch. Each member of the group holds German citizenshhip, and Toni L, Linguist, and Torch are of Italian, Ghanaian, and Haitian backgrounds, respectively.

Influenced by North American socially conscious rap and the Native tongues movement, Advanced Chemistry is regarded as one of the main pioneers in German hip hop. They were one of the first groups to rap in German (although their name is in English). Furthermore, their songs tackled controversial social and political issues, distinguishing them from early German hip hop group "Die Fantastischen Vier" (The Fantastic Four), which had a more light-hearted, playful, party image.

The rivalry between Advanced Chemistry and Die Fantastischen Vier has served to highlight a dichotomy in the routes that hip hop has taken in becoming a part of the German soundscape. While Die Fantastischen Vier may be said to view hip hop primarily as an esthetic art form, Advanced Chemistry understand hip hop as being inextricably linked to the social and political circumstances under which it is created. For Advanced Chemistry, hip hop is a â€œvehicle of general human emancipation,â€�. In their undertaking of social and political issues, the band introduced the term "Afro-German" in to the context of German hip hop, and the theme of race is highlighted in much of their music.

With the release of the single â€œFremd im eigenen Landâ€�, Advanced Chemistry separated itself from the rest of the rap being produced in Germany. This single was the first of its kind to go beyond simply imitating US rap and addressed the current issues of the time. Fremd im eigenen Land which translates to â€œforeign in my own countryâ€� dealt with the widespread racism that non-white German citizens faced. This change from simple imitation to political commentary was the start of German identification with rap. The sound of â€œFremd im eigenen Landâ€� was influenced by the 'wall of noise' created by Public Enemy's producers, The Bomb Squad.

After the reunification of Germany, an abundance of anti-immigrant sentiment emerged, as well as attacks on the homes of refugees in the early 90's. Advanced Chemistry came to prominence in the wake of these actions because of their pro-multicultural society stance in their music. Advanced Chemistry's attitudes revolve around their attempts to create a distinct "Germanness" in hip hop, as opposed to imitating American hip hop as other groups had done. Torch has said, "What the Americans do is exotic for us because we don't live like they do. What they do seems to be more interesting and newer. But not for me. For me it's more exciting to experience my fellow Germans in new contexts...For me, it's interesting to see what the kids try to do that's different from what I know." Advanced Chemistry were the first to use the term "Afro-German" in a hip hop context. This was part of the pro-immigrant political message they sent via their music.

While Advanced Chemistry's use of the German language in their rap allows them to make claims to authenticity and true German heritage, bolstering pro-immigration sentiment, their style can also be problematic for immigrant notions of any real ethnic roots. Indeed, part of the Turkish ethnic minority of Frankfurt views Advanced Chemistry's appeal to the German image as a "symbolic betrayal of the right of ethnic minorities to 'roots' or to any expression of cultural heritage." In this sense, their rap represents a complex social discourse internal to the German soundscape in which they attempt to negotiate immigrant assimilation into a xenophobic German culture with the maintenance of their own separate cultural traditions. It is quite possibly the feelings of alienation from the pure-blooded German demographic that drive Advanced Chemistry to attack nationalistic ideologies by asserting their "Germanness" as a group composed primarily of ethnic others. The response to this pseudo-German authenticity can be seen in what Andy Bennett refers to as "alternative forms of local hip hop culture which actively seek to rediscover and, in many cases, reconstruct notions of identity tied to cultural roots." These alternative local hip hop cultures include Oriental hip hop, the members of which cling to their Turkish heritage and are confused by Advanced Chemistry's elicitation of a German identity politics to which they technically do not belong. This cultural binary illustrates that rap has taken different routes in Germany and that, even among an already isolated immigrant population, there is still disunity and, especially, disagreement on the relative importance of assimilation versus cultural defiance. According to German hip hop enthusiast 9@home, Advanced Chemistry is part of a "hip-hop movement [which] took a clear stance for the minorities and against the [marginalization] of immigrants who...might be German on paper, but not in real life," which speaks to the group's hope of actually being recognized as German citizens and not foreigners, despite their various other ethnic and cultural ties.

Market conditions for rap

One of the first issues that confronts us when we move outside the English-speaking market for recorded music is to establish whether or not the discrete musical genres we know from that market are fully congruent with similar divisions in other pop worlds. This is important in two ways. First, although no single country comes close to matching the amounts spent on recorded music in the United States, these markets are nonetheless economically significant. Germany, for instance, is the largest single market in western Europe, with estimated annual sales of U.S. $3.74 billion in 1996. This represents around 30 percent of reported U.S. sales and makes Germany the third biggest music market in the world.

Advanced Chemistry frequently rapped about their lives and experiences as children of immigrants, exposing the marginalization experienced by most ethnic minorities in Germany, and the feelings of frustration and resentment that being denied a German identity can cause. The song "Fremd im eigenem Land" (Foreign in your own nation) was released by Advanced Chemistry in November 1992. The single became a staple in the German hip hop scene. It made a strong statement about the status of immigrants throughout Germany, as the group was composed of multi-national and multi-racial members. The video shows several members brandishing their German passports as a demonstration of their German citizenship to skeptical and unaccepting 'ethnic' Germans.

This idea of national identity is important, as many rap artists in Germany have been of foreign origin. These so-called Gastarbeiter (guest workers) children saw breakdance

Life skills

Life skills are a set of human skills acquired via teaching or direct experience that are used to handle problems and questions commonly encountered in daily human life.

The World Health Organization defines life skills as "abilities for adaptive and positive behaviour that enable individuals to deal effectively with the demands and challenges of everyday life." In primary and secondary education, life skills may refer to a skill set that accommodates more specific needs of modern industrialized life; examples include money management, food preparation, hygiene, basic literacy and numeracy, and organizational skills. Life skills are sometimes, but not always, distinguished from occupational skills.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) divide life skills into subsets of categories:

Learning to know: Cognitive abilities

Decision making / problem solving skills

  • Information gathering skills
  • Evaluating future consequences of present actions for self and others
  • Determining alternative solutions to problems
  • Analysis skills regarding the influence of values and attitudes of self and others on motivation

Critical thinking skills

  • Analyzing peer and media influences
  • Analyzing attitudes, values, social norms and beliefs and factors affecting these
  • Identifying relevant information and information sources

Learning to be: Personal abilities

Skills for increasing internal locus of control

Skills for managing feelings

Skills for managing stress

Learning to live together: Interpersonal abilities

Interpersonal communication skills

Negotiation and refusal skills

  • Ability to listen to and understand another's needs and circumstances and express that understanding

Cooperation and teamwork

  • Expressing respect for others' contributions and different styles
  • Assessing one's own abilities and contributing to the group

Advocacy skills

Still life

Ancient antecedents

Still life paintings often adorn the interior of ancient Egyptian tombs. It was believed that food objects and other items depicted there would, in the afterlife, become real and available for use by the deceased. Ancient Greek vase paintings also demonstrate great skill in depicting everyday objects and animals. Similar still life, more simply decorative in intent, but with realistic perspective, have also been found in the Roman wall paintings and floor mosaics unearthed at Pompeii, Herculaneum and the Villa Boscoreale, including the later familiar motif of a glass bowl of fruit. Decorative mosaics termed â€œemblemaâ€�, found in the homes of rich Romans, demonstrated the range of food enjoyed by the upper classes, and also functioned as signs of hospitality and as celebrations of the seasons and of life. By the 16th century, food and flowers would again appear as symbols of the seasons and of the five senses. Also starting in Roman times is the tradition of the use of the skull in paintings as a symbol of mortality and earthly remains, often with the accompanying phrase Omnia mors aequat (Death makes all equal). These vanitas images have been re-interpreted through the last 400 years of art history, starting with Dutch painters around 1600.

The popular appreciation of the realism of still life painting is related in the ancient Greek legend of Zeuxis and Parrhasius, who are said to have once competed to create the most life-like objects, historyâ€™s earliest descriptions of trompe-l'Å“il painting. As Pliny the Elder recorded in ancient Roman times, Greek artists centuries earlier were already advanced in the arts of portrait painting and still life. He singled out Peiraikos, â€œwhose artistry is surpassed by only a very few...He painted barbershops and shoemakersâ€™ stalls, donkeys, vegetables, and such, and for that reason came to be called the â€˜painter of vulgar subjectsâ€™; yet these works are altogether delightful, and they were sold at higher prices than the greatest [paintings] of many other artists.â€�

Middle Ages and Renaissance

By 1300, starting with Giotto and his pupils, still life painting was revived in the form of fictional niches on religious wall paintings which depicted everyday objects. Through the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, still life in Western art remained primarily an adjunct to Christian religious subjects, and convened religious and allegorical meaning. This was particularly true in the work of Northern European artists, whose fascination with highly detailed optical realism and symbolism led them to lavish great attention on their paintings' overall message. Painters like Jan van Eyck often used still life elements as part of an iconographic program.

The development of oil painting technique by Jan van Eyck and other Northern European artists made it possible to paint everyday objects in this hyper-realistic fashion, owing to the slow drying, mixing, and layering qualities of oil colors. Among the first to break free of religious meaning were Leonardo da Vinci, who created watercolor studies of fruit (around 1495) as part of his restless examination of nature, and Albrecht DÃ¼rer who also made precise drawings of flora and fauna.

Petrus Christusâ€™ portrait of a bride and groom visiting a goldsmith is a typical example of a transitional still life depicting both religious and secular content. Though mostly allegorical in message, the figures of the couple are realistic and the objects shown (coins, vessels, etc.) are accurately painted but the goldsmith is actually a depiction of St. Eligius and the objects heavily symbolic. Another similar type of painting is the family portrait combining figures with a well-set table of food, which symbolizes both the piety of the human subjects and their thanks for Godâ€™s abundance. Around this time, simple still life depictions divorced of figures (but not allegorical meaning) were beginning to be painted on the outside of shutters of private devotional paintings. Another step toward the autonomous still life was the painting of symbolic flowers in vases on the back of secular portraits around 1475. Jacopo deâ€™ Barbari went a step further with his Still Life with Partridge, Iron Gloves, and Crossbow Arrows (1504), among the earliest signed and dated trompe-l'Å“il still life paintings, which contains minimal religious content.

Sixteenth century

The 16th century witnessed an explosion of interest in the natural world and the creation of lavish botanical encyclopÃ¦dias recording the discoveries of the New World and Asia. It also prompted the beginning of scientific illustration and the classification of specimens. Natural objects began to be appreciated as individual objects of study apart from any religious or mythological associations. The early science of herbal remedies began at this time as well, a practical extension of this new knowledge. In addition, wealthy patrons began to underwrite the collection of animal and mineral specimens, creating extensive â€œcurio cabinetsâ€�. These specimens served as models for painters who sought realism and novelty. Shells, insects, exotic fruits and flowers began to be collected and traded, and new plants such as the Semisonic, released on March 13, 2001. With this release, the band failed, at least in America, to capitalize on the momentum it had generated with the song "Closing Time" from their previous album, Feeling Strangely Fine. This had a softer edge than Feeling Strangely Fine and was not as popular with the fans. Its poor sales led to the band going on an unofficial hiatus. The title track was featured on the soundtrack for 40 Days and 40 Nights.

The song "One True Love" was co-written by the band's singer/guitarist, Dan Wilson, and music legend Carole King. The song "Get a Grip" is an ode to masturbation.

The special edition of the album features cover art with orange fluid in the vials instead of the blue fluid of the original. It includes two bonus tracks, "Girlfriend" and "Ordinary Life"; instead of being tacked onto the end, they appear between "Get a Grip" and "Surprise."

As of 2011, All About Chemistry remains the band's last studio album.

Track listing

All songs written by Dan Wilson, except where noted.

  1. "Chemistry" â€“ (Wilson, Harris, Lewis) 4:08
  2. "Bed" â€“ 4:05
  3. "Act Naturally" â€“ 3:42
  4. "She's Got My Number" â€“ 5:02
  5. "Follow" â€“ 3:44
  6. "Sunshine & Chocolate" â€“ 3:35
  7. "Who's Stopping You?" (John Munson, Wilson) â€“ 3:06
  8. "I Wish" â€“ 7:56
  9. "One True Love" (Wilson, Carole King) â€“ 3:51
  10. "Get a Grip" â€“ 3:35
  11. "Surprise" â€“ 3:48
  12. "El Matador" (Jacob Slichter) â€“ 5:08

  • Ken Chastainâ€“ Congas on "Act Naturally", Darbuca on "Sunshine & Chocolate", Korg WaveDrum on "I Wish", Tabla on "El Matador"
  • Carole Kingâ€“ Vocals, Electric piano on "One True Love"
  • Matt Wilson â€“ Additional vocals, Synth on "Bed"
  • John Fieldsâ€“ Synths, Loops, Bass on "Sunshine & Chocolate"
  • Gary Lourisâ€“ Guitar solo on "I Wish"
  • Shane Washington â€“ French horn on "Surprise"

From Yahoo Answers

Question:Ok so I have to write a paper about an area of everyday life that involves chemistry. The teacher said that good examples of this would be pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals, clothes, food chemistry, agriculture (fertilizers, pesticides etc), cosmetics, etc etc etc additional info: There must be at least one relevant balanced equation. There must be pictures of at least 2 relevant molecules. So what would be some ideas on writing this kind of paper? it must be at the very least 1000 word I need major help this is for my final

Answers:xD nadie te contesto la pregunta lero lero xD ntc menso hasla de nuex xD FOOD CHEMISTRY ROCKS! tengo un libro de eso si decides hacerla de eso tiene ingos de info y yo te puedo ayudar :P

Question:i need help! i have chemistry homework that calls for 3 chemical changes in your daily life. i dont really care if its in your body or not, but i need 3 everyday life chemical changes! please help! thanks :)

Answers:H20(l) <---> H2O(g) NaCl(s) <---> Na+(aq) + Cl-(aq) O(g) + O2(g) <---> O3(g)

Question:need help with a chemistry project and one thing we gotta talk about is how mgcl is used relevant to our lives, like iron is used in nails or aluminium in coke cans - they are like used in everyday life so by any chance does anyone know what we use frequently that contains mgcl? thanks! xxx

Answers:Culinary use ------------------- Magnesium chloride is an important coagulant used in the preparation of tofu from soy milk. In Japan it is sold as nigari ( , derived from the Japanese word for "bitter"), a white powder produced from seawater after the sodium chloride has been removed, and the water evaporated. In China it is called "lushui" ( in Chinese). Nigari or Lushui consists mostly of magnesium chloride, with some magnesium sulfate and other trace elements. It is also an ingredient in baby formula milk. Use as an anti-icer ----------------------------- A number of state highway departments throughout the United States have decreased the use of rock salt and sand on roadways and have increased the use of liquid magnesium chloride as a de-icer or anti-icer. Magnesium chloride is much less toxic to plant life surrounding highways and airports, and is less corrosive to concrete and steel (and other iron alloys) than sodium chloride. The liquid magnesium chloride is sprayed on dry pavement (tarmac) prior to precipitation or wet pavement prior to freezing temperatures in the winter months to prevent snow and ice from adhering and bonding to the roadway. The application of anti-icers is utilized in an effort to improve highway safety. Magnesium chloride is also sold in crystal form for household and business use to de-ice sidewalks and driveways. In these applications, the compound is applied after precipitation has fallen or ice has formed, instead of previously. The use of this compound seems to show an improvement in driving conditions during and after freezing precipitation yet it seems to be negatively affecting electric utilities. Two main issues have been raised regarding the anti-icer magnesium chloride as it relates to electric utilities: contamination of insulators causing tracking and arcing across them, and corrosion of steel and aluminium poles and pole hardware.

Answers:Chemical reactions are all around us. Combustion reactions help release energy to heat our homes and move our vehicles. Oxidation-reduction reactions keep the batteries in our cell phones and laptops functioning. Acid-base reactions take place when cleaning your oven or removing a clog from a drain. Acid-base reactions are also the basis for the Titrations experiment where you will measure the acidity of fruit juices. Understanding and identifying what takes place when two substances interact with one another is a vital aspect of chemistry. Chemists are able to identify unknown substances by observing how they react with a known substance. For example, we can bubble an unknown gas through a solution of limewater (Ca(OH)2 dissolved in water). If the limewater becomes cloudy (that is, a precipitate forms), we can say that the gas is probably carbon dioxide based on our knowledge that the calcium ion (Ca2+) forms an insoluble carbonate salt (CaCO3); if the limewater does not become cloudy, we can t identify the gas without further tests, but we can say that the gas is not carbon dioxide. It is through testing and deductive reasoning that the chemist operates. Evidence of a chemical reaction or change can often be observed when two different solutions are mixed together. Chemical reactions may often be detected visually by the following manifestations: the formation of a precipitate (insoluble substance), effervescence (gas bubbles), or color changes. Sometimes the precipitate does not immediately settle out, thereby causing a "cloudiness" to appear in the solution. Interpret "cloudiness" as the formation of a precipitate. Chemical reactions may occur even if there is not apparent change in the color of solution and if all products formed during the reaction are soluble. In general, the reactions in this experiment will follow this chemical equation: C1A1 + C2A2 ----> C1A2 + C2A1 where C represents the cations (ions with a positive charge) and A represents the anions (ions with a negative charge). When acids and bases are mixed, a salt and water are formed. For those reactions where a precipitate or cloudiness is observed, refer to "Empirical Rules for the Solubilities of Common Ionic Compounds" to aid you in determining which cation and anion form a precipitate when you observe this behavior in a reaction. The only reactions for which the above equation will not hold are those that generate gases.

From Youtube

Chemistry everyday life - CS :video about acid rain and plastics

Betty White - Life With Elizabeth - The Chemistry Set :In this episode from 1954 Alvin is trying to make hand lotion with a children's chemistry set... This is of course bound to go wrong... ________________ From Wikipedia: Life With Elizabeth was a sitcom which aired from 1953 to 1955. The show starred Betty White and Del Moore and announcer Jack Narz. The most unusual feature of Life with Elizabeth is that it was divided into three 8 to 10 minute comic shorts referred to as "incidents". Sometimes an entire incident might just consist of the two main characters talking to each other. Also unusual was the minimal theme music, which was played by a solo harpist who was partially visible on the opening title screen. Elizabeth and Alvin are a married couple who live an ordinary suburban life, but inevitably managed to get into predicaments. At the end of most predicaments, Alvin, in variable degrees of frustration, would say, "I shall leave you now, Elizabeth" and would walk out of sight. The announcer would say, "Elizabeth, aren't you ashamed?" She would slowly nod, but then, with a slightly devilish grin, would vigorously shake her head to indicate she wasn't.


New Research Finds How Genes Shape Faces

By IndiaTimes | October 26, 2013, 1:00 pm IST

WASHINGTON: Scientists have identified thousands of enhancers in the human genome that influence the way facial features develop.

Scientists set out to determine what makes facial morphology so distinct.

Genetics play a major role as evident in the similarities between parents and their children, but researchers have puzzled over what is it in our DNA that fine-tunes the genetics so that siblings - especially identical twins - resemble one another but look different from unrelated individuals.

Researchers at the US Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) found that gene enhancers - regulatory sequences of DNA that act to turn-on or amplify the expression of a specific gene - are major players in craniofacial development.

"Our results suggest it is likely there are thousands of enhancers in the human genome that are somehow involved in craniofacial development," said Axel Visel, a geneticist with Berkeley Lab's Genomics Division who led the study.

Previous work by Visel and his collaborators, in which they mapped gene enhancers in the heart, the brain and other organ systems demonstrated that gene enhancers can regulate their targets from across distances of hundreds of thousands of base pairs.

To learn whether gene enhancers can also have the same long-distance impact on craniofacial development, Visel and a multinational team of collaborators studied transgenic mice.

Researchers identified more than 4,000 candidate enhancer sequences predicted to be active in fine-tuning the expression of genes involved in craniofacial development, and created genome-wide maps of these enhancers by pin-pointing their location in the mouse genome.

The researchers also characterised in detail the activity of some 200 of these gene enhancers and deleted three of them.

Majority of the enhancer sequences identified and mapped are at least partially conserved between humans and mice, and many are located in human chromosomal regions associated with normal facial morphology or craniofacial birth defects.

"Our results also offer an opportunity for human geneticists to look for mutations specifically in enhancers that may play a role in birth defects, which in turn may help to develop better diagnostic and therapeutic approaches," Visel said.

The study was published in the journal Science.


Hotline Tip: What If An Older Signer Lacks ID?

I was contacted by an 84-year-old signer who doesn't have a valid form of ID. She is signing a document giving her daughter authority to make decisions regarding the signer’s medical needs. Since the signer doesn’t have an identification document, I’m not sure if I can notarize this. What should I do?J.T., Inglewood, California

You can notarize the document for the signer provided she can provide satisfactory proof of her identity as defined in state law. In California, if the signer doesn’t have any acceptable form of identification documents (driver’s license, passport, etc.) then you would have to use one or two credible identifying witnesses to identify the woman. If she cannot provide credible identifying witnesses or another acceptable form of identification, then you cannot proceed with the notarization.


NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Eating lots of animal protein appears to increase women's risk of developing inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), according to a new study from France.

"Our results may help better understand the role of diet in IBD risk," Dr. Franck Carbonnel of the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bicetre in Paris and his team write in the American Journal of Gastroenterology. "If confirmed, they can lead to protective strategies, especially in families at risk of IBD, and possibly to advice for preventing relapse."

Inflammatory bowel disease is a collective term for diseases characterized by severe inflammation in the digestive system such as ulcerative colitis, which typically only affects the colon, and Crohn's disease, which can attack the entire digestive tract. IBD, which affects about one in 500 people, has become much more common since World War II, Carbonnel and his colleagues note. The reasons behind the increase are still unclear.

To investigate whether diet might be a factor, the researchers followed more than 67,000 women participating in a long-term study of risk factors for cancer and other common illnesses. The women were 40 to 65 years old when they enrolled in the study.

During follow-up, which averaged about 10 years, just 77 of the women developed inflammatory bowel disease. Ninety percent of women in the current study were eating more than the recommended dietary allowance of protein.

Women who consumed the most protein were at more than triple the risk of being diagnosed with IBD, the researchers found; animal protein accounted for most of the risk. Risk was specifically associated with high intake of meat and fish, but not with dairy products or eggs.

While experts have long suspected that diet might play a role in inflammatory bowel disease, Carbonnel and his colleagues note, the only links identified previously were with eating a lot of fats and certain kinds of sugars. Those studies were more prone to error than forward-looking or prospective studies like the current investigation. There have also been several studies linking vitamin D deficiency to IBD.

Another recent prospective study found that a diet high in omega-3 fatty acids decreased inflammatory bowel disease risk, while eating lots of omega-6 fatty acids increased it, Carbonnel noted in an interview with Reuters Health. Omega-3s are found in fish oil, flax seed oil, and a few other sources; omega-6s, which Westerners tend to eat much more of, are found in several types of vegetable and nut oils.

Meat could contribute to inflammatory bowel disease risk because digestion of animal protein produces many potentially toxic "end products," such as hydrogen sulfide and ammonia, the researchers note. Also, Carbonnel pointed out, a high-protein diet could alter the mix of bacteria that live in the colon.

"These findings have to be confirmed in other populations, particularly in men and younger subjects," the researcher said, adding that if they are confirmed, the next step would be to conduct a trial comparing the effects of restricted versus unrestricted animal protein on inflammatory bowel disease risk.

Given the large amount of protein women in the study were eating, he added, a restricted diet wouldn't involve radically reducing protein intake, but instead sticking to the recommended amount.

SOURCE: American Journal of Gastroenterology, online May 11, 2010.


More exploration of abstract lines and the ways they can relate to one another. This is a continuation of what started out from the idea of ‘zentangles’ a few days ago and has turned into something all its own. Depending on how the page is oriented, feel free to tilt your head or your monitor ;-), different perspectives pop out and create different structures.


help a gamer

Experience and Levelling Up

Bakery Story Walkthrough and Guide

Experience and Levelling Up

Experience is gained from doing a variety of things. Mainly, it comes from producing food. Each batch of food gives you a certain amount of XP, which is then used to level up. The more you level up, the more difficult (and pricey) the cakes you can make.

You can also buy new items and expand your bakery to a greater degree.

Levelling up allows you to have more appliances in your bakery, giving access to more recipes too!

Experience is indicated by the yellow bar in the middle at the top. You will see a star, showing exactly what level it is that you are currently on. You should always be aiming to increase your present level. The bar itself will turn yellower as you come closer to the next level. You will then gain access to all new recipes and items with your newfound expertise.


5th Wave

studio Sony Pictures
writer Rick Yancy

A young adult sci-fi suspense thriller with a love story at its center. In the film, when the human race is on the verge of extinction, one of the last survivors on earth, an extraordinary young woman, goes on a mission to track down her younger brother who was abducted by the extra-terrestial creatures colonizing earth. She is forced to align herself with a young man who holds a secret. Together they are they only ones to save mankind.


SYDNEY — Bush fires raging across some of the most populous parts of Australia — feeding off widespread drought conditions and high winds — pushed firefighters to their limits and residents to their wits' end on Wednesday as meteorologists tracked the country's hottest spring and summer on record into uncharted territory.

Four months of record-breaking temperatures, stretching back to September, have produced what the government says are "catastrophic" fire conditions along the eastern and southeastern coasts of the country, where the majority of Australians live.

Data analyzed on Wednesday by the government Bureau of Meteorology indicated that national heat records had again been set. The average temperature across the country on Tuesday was the highest since statistics began being kept in 1911, at 104 degrees Fahrenheit, exceeding a mark set only the day before. Meteorologists have had to add two new color bands to their forecast maps, extending their range up to 129 degrees.

"From this national perspective, one might say this is the largest heat event in the country's recorded history," said David Jones, manager of climate monitoring prediction at the Bureau of Meteorology. Firefighters were struggling to contain huge bush fires in Australia's most populous state, New South Wales, which have scorched around 500 square miles of forest and farmland since Tuesday. Fires on the island state of Tasmania have destroyed more than 300 square miles since Friday.

No confirmed deaths have been reported in connection with the fires, but about 100 people have been unaccounted for since a fire destroyed around 90 homes in Dunalley, Tasmania, last week. State agricultural officials say that tens of thousands of cattle and sheep are believed to have been killed in the fires, which have torn through some of the country's most productive agricultural and farming regions.

The government warned that the very hot air mass that blistered Sydney earlier in the week was moving up the eastern seaboard and would soon affect Brisbane, Australia's third-largest city.

The fires have grown so large that they are plainly visible in photographs taken from the international space station Tuesday and published by NASA.

"This event is turning out to be hotter, more spatially expansive, and the duration is quite remarkable," Jones said. "And that suggests climate change."


Problems with persimmons; how to capture the fruits at the right time

Globe amaranth Gomphrena “Pink Zazzle.”
Modesto ash (Fraxinus velutina Modesto).

If you have recently noticed a tree with and brilliant gold foliage, a round canopy and furrowed bark, it was most likely a ‘Modesto’ ash (Fraxinus velutina ‘Modesto’).

Modestos are valued for their fall color although, over the years, they have proven to be so disease-prone that they are seldom planted.

Ginkgo biloba, on the other hand, has gold, fan-shaped autumn foliage and is disease resistant. Ginkgos also have a vertical growth habit so they are appropriate for use in colonnades and as sentry plants near entrances.

As a bonus, ginkgos are not bothered by smog and other pollutants and require little, if any, pruning.

Make sure you acquire a male ginkgo since the females produce malodorous fruit.

Q: I have a persimmon tree purchased nine years ago. In the past three years, the fruit hasn’t grown larger than a grape, changing color but not expanding in size. The tree receives sun all day long.  Will I ever again see any full-size fruit from this tree? What am I doing wrong?

— Mrs. Marty Mayer, Northridge

A: Persimmon is one of the most sensible fruit trees for Valley gardens. A persimmon tree is relatively easy to maintain. Once the tree has established its main branching structure after a few years of growth, pruning is no longer necessary.

A persimmon tree’s mature size is a manageable 30 feet. The tree is also reasonably drought tolerant and should not require more than a single weekly soaking.

The top of your tree may be getting lots of sun but, from your photo of the entire tree, it seems that the base of the trunk is in the shade. In addition, it appears that your tree is in a low spot, at the foot of a slope, and that the bottom of the trunk, where it meets the soil, is below grade. Thus, there could be a problem of constantly moist soil.

Soil beneath persimmon trees needs to dry out between waterings. In fact, as a general rule, you should not water any plant until its soil is dry at a two-inch depth. I also don’t think the brick circle around your tree is a good idea since it could encourage water to collect inside it.

Here’s a good rule of thumb regarding plant health: unless you see clear signs of disease or insect damage, plant problems are nearly always associated with what is happening below. Typically, the soil is too wet or, on fewer occasions, too dry. Also, if the base of a trunk is always moist — a consequence of excessive irrigation, too much shade, circling plants or ground cover that touch the tree, or mulch that covers the trunk base — you are almost sure to have problems, including root and wood rot that can cause death of the tree.

An alternative explanation for your tree’s travails is that it was planted in a root-bound condition. This means that you planted a tree that had been growing in a container too small for it, whose roots were growing in a circular pattern inside the container.

Such trees perform well for the first few years until, eventually, the tree suffers since its increased top growth is not compensated by increased root growth. It is as though your tree, due to its circling and strangled roots, is still growing in its original nursery container.

The most popular persimmon variety is ‘Fuyu,’ whose fruit often drops when it develops parthenocarpically. To ensure a crop, plant a pollinator variety such as ‘Gailey’ next to your ‘Fuyu.’

But be careful: excessive fertilization with nitrogen can also lead to early fruit drop since there will be a tendency toward explosive vegetative or foliar growth at the expense of fruit development.

Finally, lack of bee activity and, therefore, limited pollination and seed formation, will also contribute to premature fruit drop.

The curious Amaranth

The amaranths are a curious and rewarding family of plants. The name amaranth means everlasting (a = not, maranth = dying), which alludes to the lasting quality of their blooms. Just the other day, on Van Nuys Boulevard in front of a car lot, I saw a rich planting of cockscomb or woolflower (Celosia argenteus var. plumosa). The car lot cultivar had red flowers and maroon foliage.

Other garden-worthy amaranths include love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus) and globe amaranth (Gomphrena globosa). Amaranths are considered pseudo-cereals since, while not belonging to the grass family like wheat, oats, corn or barley, the seeds of certain amaranth species can be used in making flour, as in the notable example of quinoa, whose flowers resemble those of cockscomb.

To learn more about area plants and gardens, visit Joshua Siskin’s website at  Send your questions with full name and location to

Join the Conversation


Retirement Income Fund Lifestyle 2 (PRYAX)

Helping investors pursue monthly income in retirement

Fund price

Yesterday's close 52-week high 52-week low
Net asset value $10.69
-0.09% ( $-0.01 )

Management team

Helping investors pursue monthly income in retirement

  • Retirement income: Designed for investors who are in or near the "drawdown" phase of retirement, in which they seek to withdraw assets for income.
  • Moderate approach: Seeks income consistent with prudent risk.
  • Absolute return strategies: Invests in a combination of funds and securities, including absolute return funds that seek reduced volatility: Putnam Absolute Return 100, 300, 500, and 700 Funds; domestic and international stocks; convertible securities and bonds.

Seeks current income consistent with what Putnam believes to be prudent risk.

Fund facts as of 02/28/14

Fiscal year end August
Asset Class Asset Allocation
Inception date 06/13/11
Total net assets $13.44M
Dividend frequency Monthly
View distribution rate
Number of holdings 521
Open to new investors
CUSIP 74676P821
Fund code 0077
Turnover (fiscal year end) 29%
Ticker PRYAX

Barclays U.S. Aggregate Bond Index is an unmanaged index of U.S. investment-grade fixed-income securities. S&P 500 Index is an unmanaged index of common stock performance. Securities in the fund do not match those in the indexes and performance of the fund will differ. You cannot invest directly in an index.

Consider these risks before investing: International investing involves currency, economic, and political risks. Emerging-market securities carry illiquidity and volatility risks. Investments in small and/or midsize companies increase the risk of greater price fluctuations. Lower-rated bonds may offer higher yields in return for more risk. Funds that invest in government securities are not guaranteed. Mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk and the risk that they may increase in value less when interest rates decline and decline in value more when interest rates rise. Our allocation of assets among permitted asset categories may hurt performance. Growth stocks may be more susceptible to earnings disappointments, and value stocks may fail to rebound. Bond investments are subject to interest-rate risk (the risk of bond prices falling if interest rates rise) and credit risk (the risk of an issuer defaulting on interest or principal payments). Interest-rate risk is greater for longer-term bonds, and credit risk is greater for below-investment-grade bonds. Risks associated with derivatives include increased investment exposure (which may be considered leverage) and, in the case of over-the-counter instruments, the potential inability to terminate or sell derivatives positions and the potential failure of the other party to the instrument to meet its obligations. Unlike bonds, funds that invest in bonds have fees and expenses. There is no guarantee that the fund will provide adequate income at and through an investor's retirement. Stock and bond prices may fall or fail to rise over time for several reasons, including general financial market conditions and factors related to a specific issuer or industry. You can lose money by investing in the fund.


Keeping Nepal's Waters Flowing

ADB is helping Nepal’s remote mountain communities manage their water resources in the face of climate change challenges.

Infographic: Energy Outlook for Asia and the Pacific 2010-2035 - Meeting Asia's Power Demand

With Asia and the Pacific’s energy demand set to sharply outpace the rest of the world’s over the next two decades, cross-border power exchanges can play a central role in helping the region meet this growing demand.

Infographic: Energy Demand in South Asia by 2020

There is a wide variation in commercial energy resource endowments and commercial energy demand among the South Asian Countries. However, large countries in terms of area and population means that their high resource bases does not necessarily indicate sufficiency to meet energy needs.

Rice in Asia: Climate Change and Resilient Crops

Infographic: 12 Pillars for the Transformation of Asia and the Pacific Region

Asia and the Pacific has made good progress towards the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), though the region will still need to make greater efforts if it is to meet some important targets.

Nepal Hydropower: Kali Gandaki “A” Hydroelectric Project

Nepal Cities: Clean and Healthy Urban Development

Bharatpur, one of Nepal’s fastest-growing municipalities, is taking steps to improve the urban environment, making the city more climate-resilient in the process.

Nepal Water and Sanitation: Local Action Shows Results

Communities in towns that line Nepal’s main highways are better able to deal with the severe water and sanitation issues that result from sudden and massive urbanization.

Nepal Farming and Agriculture

Rural farm workers who might otherwise have joined Nepal’s wave of urbanization band together to raise incomes, by double cropping and branding their produce.

Infographic: Climate Change in Asia and the Pacific

Scientists warn that the world's climate is changing because of rising greenhouse gas emissions that might end up warming the planet by well over 2 degrees. Here are some glaring numbers that show the impacts of climate change in Asia and the Pacific.


NASA video debunks 'Armageddon'

"It's just the end of the cycle and the beginning of the new one. It's just like on December 31, our calendar comes to an end, but a new calendar for the next year begins on Jan. 1," Don Yeomans, head of NASA's Near-Earth Object programme at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, said in a separate YouTube video.

Still, thousands of mystics and New Age dreamers have descended on ancient Maya temples across Mexico and Central America hoping to witness the birth of a new era when the day dubbed "end of the world" dawns on Friday.

So is NASA covering up to prevent panic?

"Can you imagine thousands of astronomers keeping the same secret from the public for several years?" Yeomans said.

Initially, Niburu, also known as Planet X, was to impact in May 2003, but when that didn't happen the doomsday date was moved to coincide with the end of one of the cycles of the ancient calendar at winter solstice -- December 21, 2012.

Other celestial events that will not be happening: a planetary alignment causing a massive tidal surge or a total blackout of Earth; a reversal in Earth's rotation; an impact by a giant asteroid; a giant solar storm.

"Since the beginning of recorded time, there have been literally hundreds of thousands of predictions for the end of the world," Yeomans said. "We're still here."

ODT/directory - Local Businesses

CompanyLocationBusiness Type
Integrity Automatics 2003 LtdDunedinServicing & Mechanics
Musselburgh SchoolDunedinSchools
Howat Auto Services LtdMiltonServicing & Mechanics
Villa Rose Backpackers & StudiosRoxburgh


Harry’s POV:
I watched as her father  held the guitar close to him singing and running around as she danced in circles singing along with him and her mother clapping next to me with a huge smile formed on her face.And her dress raising slightly with every circle she made,hair let down loose as she danced freely.Giggling sounds coming from her kissable cherry lips lightening up my universe as I watched her every move with a grin,laughing as her father sang stupid lines he came up with but still I was lost in the sight in front of me.A sight of a father and a daughter and importantly the sight of my lover.My girl.


Lymphoma - Non-Hodgkin: Diagnosis

Doctors use many tests to diagnose cancer and determine if it has spread. Some tests may also determine which treatments may be the most effective. A biopsy is the only way to make a definitive diagnosis of lymphoma. Imaging tests may be used to find out whether the lymphoma has spread. This list describes options for diagnosing this type of cancer, and not all tests listed will be used for every person. Your doctor may consider these factors when choosing a diagnostic test:

  • Age and medical condition
  • Type of lymphoma suspected
  • Signs and symptoms
  • Previous test results

To determine if a person has NHL, the doctor will first take a complete medical history and do a physical examination, paying special attention to the lymph nodes, liver, and spleen. The doctor will also look for signs of infection that may cause the lymph nodes to swell and may prescribe an antibiotic. If the swelling in the lymph nodes still does not go down after antibiotic treatment, the swelling may be caused by something other than an infection. If the doctor suspects lymphoma, he or she will recommend a biopsy, as well as laboratory and imaging tests.

The following tests may be used to diagnose and manage NHL:

Biopsy. A biopsy is the removal of a small amount of tissue for examination under a microscope. This tissue may be removed using a fine needle, a cutting needle, or surgery. To diagnose lymphoma, the most common places tissue is removed from during a biopsy are the lymph nodes in the neck, under an arm, or in the groin. A biopsy may also be taken from the chest or abdomen using a fine needle during a computed tomography (CT) scan (see below) or from the stomach or intestine during an endoscopy (a test that allows the doctor to see inside the body with a thin, lighted, flexible tube). A biopsy of the skin may also be needed depending on the suspected subtype of lymphoma.

A biopsy is the only way to make a definite diagnosis of lymphoma and find out the subtype. Having enough tissue is very important to make a diagnosis. Very rarely, needle biopsy samples are sufficient to make a definite diagnosis of lymphoma. In most cases, a core biopsy or surgical biopsy is needed to remove enough tissue to diagnose and classify the lymphoma correctly. The tissue sample removed during the biopsy should be analyzed by a pathologist (a doctor who specializes in interpreting laboratory tests and evaluating cells, tissues, and organs to diagnose disease) or a hematopathologist (a pathologist who has extra training in the diagnosis of blood cancers) who is experienced in the diagnosis of lymphoma. Because there are so many subtypes of lymphoma and because some of these subtypes are very uncommon or rare, getting a second opinion may be helpful.

Molecular testing. Your doctor may recommend running laboratory tests on the lymphoma cells to identify specific genes, proteins, chromosome changes, and other factors unique to the disease. Results of these tests will help decide on your treatment options. There are different types of molecular and genetic testing, including cytogenetics (a study of normal and abnormal chromosomes in dividing cancer cells), fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH, using fluorescent probes under a special microscope to detect chromosomal abnormalities), flow cytometry (looking at proteins that are on the surface or inside a cancer cell), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR, used to detect specific DNA sequences that occur in some cancers).

Computed tomography (CT or CAT) scan. A CT scan creates a three-dimensional picture of the inside of the body with an x-ray machine. A computer then combines these images into a detailed, cross-sectional view that shows any abnormalities or tumors. A CT scan can also be used to measure the size of a tumor. Sometimes, a contrast medium (a special dye) is injected into a patient’s vein or given orally (by mouth) to provide better detail and find the exact position of a tumor. A radiologist (a doctor who specializes in performing imaging tests to diagnose disease) interprets CT scans. CT scans of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis can help find cancer that has spread to the lungs, lymph nodes, and liver.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. An MRI uses magnetic fields, not x-rays, to produce detailed images of the body. A contrast medium may be injected into a patient’s vein or given orally to create a clearer picture. A radiologist interprets the scan.

Positron emission tomography (PET) scan. A PET scan is another imaging test that can help find cancer in the body. A small amount of a radioactive substance (called radioactive glucose) is injected into a patient’s body. This substance is absorbed mainly by organs and tissues that use the most energy. Because cancer tends to use energy actively, it absorbs more of the substance. A scanner then detects this substance to produce images of the inside of the body. A nuclear medicine physician interprets the scan.

Integrated PET-CT scan. This scanning method collects images from both a CT and PET scan at the same time, and then combines the images. This technique can be used to look at both the structure and how much energy is used by the tumor and healthy tissues.

If after having one or more imaging tests the doctor decides the lymphoma might be affecting the bone marrow, he or she would recommend having a bone marrow biopsy.

Bone marrow biopsy and aspiration. These two procedures are often done at the same time. Bone marrow has both a solid and a liquid part. A bone marrow biopsy is the removal of a small amount of solid tissue using a needle. An aspiration removes a sample of fluid with a needle. The sample(s) are then analyzed by a pathologist. The most common site for a bone marrow biopsy and aspiration is the iliac crest of the pelvic bone, located in the lower back of the hip. The skin and bone in that area are numbed with medication beforehand, and other types of anesthesia (medication to block the awareness of pain) may be used.

Lymphoma often spreads to the bone marrow, so looking at a sample of the bone marrow can be important for doctors to diagnose lymphoma and determine the stage. The sample removed during the aspiration is also used to find any chromosome changes.

The next section helps explain the different types and subtypes of NHL that may be diagnosed. Use the menu on the side of your screen to select Subtypes, or you can select another section, to continue reading this guide.


Justice Alito: Words v. Actions [VIDEO]

The media spent much of last week obsessing over Justice Samuel Alito's injudicious show of disapproval during the State of the Union. They went a bit overboard to be sure, but were it not for that, millions of Americans may have missed the Citizens United ruling entirely.

Citizens United, as you probably know, opened up elections to unlimited corporate spending. The 5-4 decision overturned a century of precedent and was made possible by Justice Alito -- President Bush's nominee to replace moderate Sandra Day O'Connor.

Sorely absent from last week's coverage was how far Alito's actions on the bench have departed from his words as a nominee. With that in mind I've pulled some relevant clips from the confirmation hearing.

Alito praised the principle of stare decisis (respect for precedent) throughout his hearing but hasn't let it prevent him back brashly overruling longstanding decisions. Here, in conversaton with Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT), he argued that the court should take limited actions and use its ability to overrule precedent sparingly:

HATCH: Does that mean that the Supreme Court should perhaps be even more cautious, even more self-restrained, since there is no appeal from any errors that they might make?

ALITO: I think that's a solemn responsibility that they have. When you know that you are the court of last resort, you have to make sure that you get it right. It is not true, in my judgment, that the Supreme Court is free to do anything that it wants. It has to follow the Constitution and it has to follow the laws. Stare decisis, which I was talking about earlier, is an important limitation on what the Supreme Court does. And although the Supreme Court has the power to overrule a prior precedent, it uses that power sparingly, and rightfully so. It should be limited in what it does.

Alito frequently said that his judicial philosophy discourages him from reaching overly broad decisions when a narrower ruling is possible. Yet he and the other conservatives went far out of their way in order to strike down as many restrictions on corporate influence in elections as possible. Here, still speaking to Senator Hatch, Alito praised narrow rulings and noted that court rulings on consitutional grounds often cannot be undone by Congress (indeed, we are coming up against that limitation now with Citizens United):

ALITO: Because a constitutional decision of the Supreme Court has a permanency that a decision on an issue of statutory interpretation doesn't have. So if a case is decided on statutory grounds, there's a possibility of Congress amending the statute to correct the decision if it's perceived that the decision is incorrect or it's producing undesirable results. I think that my philosophy of the way I approached issues is to try to make sure that I get right what I decide. And that counsels in favor of not trying to do too much, not trying to decide questions that are too broad, not trying to decide questions that don't have to be decided, and not going to broader grounds for a decision when a narrower ground is available.

Alito also made a good show of deference to the elected branches of government, arguing that the role of a judge is to interpret the law, not make public policy. He clearly disregarded these remarks to Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) when he joined with four other judges to strike down decades of legislation passed by Congress and signed into law by the President:

SESSIONS: But we really want the court to be more modest and to draw back from some of its intervention and policy issues that are causing much angst around the country. You want to comment on that? Otherwise, Mr. Chairman, I would yield my time.

ALITO: Well, Senator, I think your policy views are much more legitimate than the policy views of the judiciary because members of Congress are elected for the purpose of formulating and implementing public policy and members of the judiciary are appointed for the purpose of interpreting and applying the law.


Science and Hispanic Heritage Month

The History of Science in Latin America and the Caribbean (HOSLAC) is an NSF Funded project under the supervision of Prof. Julia E. Rodriguez at the University of New Hampshire. Its goal is to introduce scholarly and public audiences to the global phenomenon of science in its distinct Latin American contexts.

The heart of HOSLAC is an archive that contains a wealth of original source materials, with explication, organized around a robust set of topics. The archive has created a menu in which the topics are organized in a mostly chronological order, but each topic can stand alone and form the basis of a rich unit of study for high school students and college undergraduates.  The resources can be used with younger students as part of classroom discussions or teacher presentations, and many of the individual resources, such as the maps and the illustrations and photographs of artifacts, can be used by middle schoolers to gain experience with original sources.

Although it is intended as an archive of the history of science, teachers should find the resources relevant to the social studies curriculum as well.

The archive could be a useful tool to discuss the history of science in the context of Hispanic Heritage Month, which is being celebrated this year from September 15 through October 15th. Of particular interest is the section on Nobel Prize winners, which includes sections on the following Nobel laureates:

  • Mario Molina (1943- ), who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his work concerning the depletion of ozone in the stratosphere. He shared the prize with F. Sherwood Rowland, his mentor, who is also a past president of AAAS.
  • Baruj Benacerraf (1920- ), who won the Nobel Prize in Medicine or Physiology in 1980 for his discovery of immune response (Ir) genes that determine structures on the cell surface that allow the immune system to distinguish between self and non-self
  • Argentinean chemist and medical doctor Luis Federico Leloir (1906-1987) won the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1970 for discovering sugar nucleotides that synthesize carbohydrates in mammals.
  • Bernardo Alberto Houssay (1887-1971) was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discovering the role of the anterior hypophysis (or, pituitary gland) in the metabolism of sugar.
  • Cesar Milstein (1927-2002), from Argentina, who won the Nobel Prize for physiology or medicine in 1984 for his theories about specificity in the immune system and discovering methods for the unlimited production of monoclonal antibodies.

You can obtain more information and resources about these, and other Nobel Prize winners at Nobelprize.org

For other relevant lessons and activities to use during Hispanic Heritage Month, see this collection of resources from Thinkfinity partners. You can also visit the Thinkfinity Community and join Recursos para docentes del castellano, a group that offers materials for teachers of Spanish as well as Hispanic culture and literature.

Image credit: HOSLAC

AAAS Thinkfinity


Daily Israel Report
Show More

Jordanians Protest, Demand Security

By Elad Benari
First Publish: 12/8/2013, 5:43 AM

Jordanian police
Jordanian police
AFP photo

Protest marches and sit-ins took place across Jordan on Friday, with demonstrators calling for security and safety in light of a recent wave of crime to hit the country, reports Al Arabiya.

The protesters highlighted the need for social reform, urging the government to fight against corruption in all its forms and to reject the surge in the price of commodities, the report said.

Hundreds of citizens protested in the city of Karak, south of the capital, and called on the government to revoke official decisions to raise the price of electricity and water, and the consequent increase in the prices of many goods and services.

The protesters warned that if the government does not backtrack on its policies, the demonstrations would lead to further aggravation on the economic and social level, according to Al Arabiya.

They called for the resignation of the government and the formation of a national salvation government with the participation of all political forces, one local newspaper reported.

They rejected any decision related to raising the price of electricity, water and bread, stressing on the need to verify the procedures for determining the fuel prices.

Radwan al-Nawaiseh, spokesman for the Arab People's Committees, told the newspaper that these scenes of protest in Jordan confirm that the Jordanians do not trust their government. He highlighted the significant decline in public freedoms which can lead to the deterioration of the citizens’ economic conditions.

The protests are nothing new, as Jordan has seen regular protests as a result of the Arab Spring that has toppled four regimes across the region. A combination of youths and Islamists have been demanding sweeping reforms, but King Abdullah has mostly been able to curtail the demonstrations, partially by curtailing his absolute powers.

The king has indicated that being in power was never for the sake of control and brings “no gain” for his ruling Hashemite family.

Before the last election in January, Jordanians said they were skeptical that a new parliament would bring about the desired reforms. Those elections were boycotted by Islamists, the main opposition force, who ignored a call by the king to take part in them.


1. Preamble

Over the past few years, a number of world-class scientists have reported the discovery of numerical patterns in the universal genetic code. Thus, from France (Boulay), Russia (Gusev and Petroukhov), Kazakhstan (shCherbak), Serbia (Rakocevic) and Algeria (Negadi) - none of whom can be assumed to espouse the Judeo-Christian cause - we hear of the reality of what must be widely regarded as interesting news. However, such news, when interpreted in the light of what has already been established in the pages of this site as hard fact, threatens to lead to some uninvited and serious consequences - not least, in man's understanding of who and what he is.

This page focuses attention exclusively on the work of Vladimir shCherbak, as documented in his paper Arithmetic inside the universal genetic code*. However, before these significant findings can be offered to the eye of the general reader, it is necessary that certain relevant and generally accepted technicalities be briefly introduced and explained. Following this, all that remains is to allow the numbers to speak for themselves.

*Biosystems Vol.70, Issue 3, August 2003, pp187-209

2. Introduction

2.1 - The Amino Acids

Central to the chemical processes that occur to maintain the life of living organisms are the 20 amino acids (Table 1). They are the basic raw materials from which proteins are synthesised - these being substances that perform the essential structural and functional roles required in all living things. The amino acids, in turn, derive from the coded instructions contained in the organism's DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) and RNA (ribonucleic acid). Each of these instructions (known as a codon) takes the form of an ordered string of 3 letters drawn from a genetic alphabet of just 4 characters, viz T, C, A and G (for DNA) and U, C, A and G (for RNA). Clearly, there exists only 64 unique arrangements of each of these (Table 2).

2.2 - Their Composition

The chemical elements involved in the structure of amino acids are tabulated below together with the numbers of protons and neutrons in their nuclei - the latter relating specifically to the most common isotope of each (Table 3). Of course, these elements, as they occur naturally, will be mixtures of isotopes, and it is important that we realise what the term 'common isotope' implies in this context (Table 4).

Clearly, the whole-number totals of nucleons recorded in Table 3 appear well-justified and, based upon these figures, the masses of the amino acid molecules may now be computed. However, before proceeding to do that, it is necessary that we consider an important structural feature of amino acids.

2.3 - Standard Block and Side Chain

It transpires that 19 of the amino acids comply with the generic formula:

Here, the lower component represents the so-called standard block - designated B. The variety in amino acid characteristics derives entirely from R - the unique side chain. The one exception to this general rule is Proline which has one less hydrogen bonded to the nitrogen of its standard block. Thus, applying the data of Table 3 to the elements of the standard block, we deduce the molecular masses to be

2 + 14 + 12 + 1 + 12 + 32 + 1 = 74 (for all amino acids excluding Proline), and 73 for Proline.

2.4 - The Portent

Let us immediately observe that these are interesting figures - and for the following reasons:

2.4.1 - The juxtaposition of 19, 74 (=2x37) and 73 will already be familiar to those acquainted with the pages of this site. Genesis 1:1 - as originally delivered in Hebrew - has the numerical value 2701, or 37x73; and the sum of its two final words, translated "and the earth", has the value 703, or 19x37. Further, both 2701 and 703 are coordinated triangular numbers. [Further details here]

2.4.2 - But the factors themselves are also related figurate numbers (Figure 1).

2.4.3 - 74 and 73 are each the penultimate term of a decimal sequence specified by the rule: S(r) - the rth term - is formed as the sum of the cubes of the digits of S(r-1) - the term immediately preceding. The ultimate term in respect of 74 is 407 (value of the 6th word of the Bible's first verse); and of 73, 370 (a cyclic rotation of 703 - the sum of words 6 and 7).* It should not pass unnoticed that 74, 407 and 370 are multiples of the unique trifigurate number 37; and that 73 is its decimal digit reflection. One further observation: the sum of 407 and 370 is 777, or 3x7x37.

* There are just 4 natural numbers, base 10, that equal the sum of the cubes of their respective digits. Along with 407 and 370, we have 371 (duration, in days, of the Noahic Flood) and 153 (the miraculous catch of fishes described in John 21:11). Remarkably, the last is the terminal value of any sequence (as described) that begins with a multiple of 3.

Since shCherbak's findings take us further along this route in which the prime number 37 dominates - but only when Proline is harmonised with the other 19 amino acids by transferring one hydrogen from R to B - in the circumstances, we believe this adjustment to be fully justified.

2.5 - The Molecular Masses - We are now in a position to evaluate the molecular masses (or nucleon counts) of the 20 amino acids. Here are the details:

The separation of the B and R nucleons completes the picture, thus:

3. The Genetic Code

The genetic code can be expressed in terms of either DNA codons or RNA codons. Here are the details, as they may be found in any standard textbook on the subject:

Observe that the only difference between these tables is that the thymidine (T) of DNA is replaced by the uridine (U) of RNA. Both incorporate 'Stop' instructions (which contribute nothing to the nucleon count); 'Start' is represented by the codons ATG and AUG, respectively, and is associated with the production of the amino acid Methionine. Our chief interest in these matters concerns the amino acids and their related codons. Consequently, the order in which the (codon)-(amino acid) relationships are presented may vary, at the discretion of those who work in this area. For reasons which will become obvious, shCherbak has chosen to use an RNA arrangement of his own.

4. shCherbak's Patterns

4.1 - The First Pattern - Here we see the 16 x 4-codon cells divided into two identical interlocking areas based on the observation that 8 (coloured orange) contain codons, all of which code for same amino acid, and the remainder (coloured blue) that do not.

The respective counts of nucleons for orange and blue areas are summarised below.

Observe that (a) yields the {R,B,(R+B} sequence {333,592,925}, or {9x37,16x37,25x37} in which the mulipliers of 37 are the squares associated with the classical pythagorean example. Of course, if all 4 codons producing the same amino acid are taken into account, these figures are quadrupled to produce {1332,2368,3700). Remarkably, these same figures are found together on the breastplate of the high priest (the details may be found here).

With respect to (b): we observe an even division of the total of nucleons between R and B. It is remarkable that there should be this exact balance between the contributions from standard blocks and side-chains, and that the balance should again be a multiple of 37.

4.2 - The Second Pattern - It has been established that the 64 RNA codons (the 3-letter codes) divide into 2 groups - those that begin with A or G, and those that begin with C or U. These groups are referred to as the Purines (coloured blue in the following table) and the Pyrimidines (coloured orange), respectively.

Observe that for the pyrimidines we again have a perfect balance between R and B. Both groups yield further multiples of 37.

4.3 - The Third Pattern - Here we examine two symmetrical divisions of the genetic code. The first, involving the amalgamation of the two central columns; the second, the amalgamation of the two central rows.

Division 1

Observe that for the blue group, the total number of nucleons in the radical (R) component of the amino acids is 789; and for the orange group, 654. The total represented in this category is therefore 1443, or 39x37.

Division 2

Here, we see the results of the earlier analysis duplicated. Once more a perfect symmetry is displayed - again involving multiples of 37.

4.4 - The Fourth Pattern - Here we identify and colour code those codons whose triplets include two identical letters. Thus, those codons highlighted in blue each incorporate a pair of Us; those in yellow, a pair of Gs... and so on.

Observe the following:

The repunits 666 and 999 are a significant feature; again, each a multiple of 37 and directly involved in the Genesis 1:1 geometries.

4.5 - The Fifth Pattern - Switching here from an RNA to a DNA context, shCherbak focuses attention, (i) on the amino acids that arise from codons with 3 identical bases, viz TTT, AAA, GGG and CCC - appropriately, pairing T with A and G with C; and again, (ii) on all those that arise from codons with 3 unique bases. Here are the details:

Again, a perfect balance is observed, together with significant multiples of 37.

5. Conclusions

A reading of the Abstract to Vladimir shCherbak's paper Arithmetic inside the universal genetic code (it may be found here) reveals that he believes these numerical patterns - based on what he refers to as 'the criterion of divisibility by 037' - created themselves - along with 'a primordial version of the genetic code and genetic texts'. Further, he detects a 'base 10' number system underpinning all this; and even suggests that 'possibly a zero was invented and used by this mechanism'.

Such highly imaginative thinking is quickly brought to earth when it is realised that there are more points of contact between the genetic code, the Hebrew of the Bible's first verse, the breastplate of the High Priest (Ex.28:15-21) and the Name and Title of our Creator - the Lord Jesus Christ - than can fairly be accounted for by chance.

The facts presented on this site, when combined with those now revealed to us by shCherbak, constitute invincible evidence of the truth of the Judeo-Christian Scriptures, and of the Being and Sovereignty of their Divine Author.

Craig Paardekooper BSc

Vernon Jenkins MSc


Various species in the genus Crataegus
Rosaceae (roses)

Shrubs or small trees, often with two or more trunks, spreading, rounded crowns, and woody spines.

Leaves alternate, simple, toothed, some species having lobes and others not, the leaf shape varying widely (oval, spatula-shaped, triangular, rounded, sharply pointed, etc).

Bark dark and scaled on the trunk, variously grooved, sometimes smooth, flaking.

Twigs usually gray, often hairy when young, often bearing sharp thorns that are about 1½ inches long, often straight or slightly curved.

Flowers April–June, borne in clusters, each flower with 5 white petals; stamens 10–20 or more. Flowers resemble small apple blossoms.

Fruits September–October, clusters often persisting into winter; like small crabapples; usually rounded and less than ½ inch long; usually red or orange-red, but sometimes yellowish or greenish; fleshy or sometimes dry or mealy; with small seeds within.

Some species reach 35 feet in height, while others reach only about 15 or 18 feet.
Habitat and conservation:
Common in pastures. Occurs in rocky open woodlands and bluffs, stream borders, thickets, edges of woods, often in rocky places. Some species occur on hillsides, others in bottomlands. The clusters of flowers, often colorful fruits, and manageable size endear hawthorns to landscapers, and many varieties appear in cultivation, including some specially bred for landscape use. In nature, often associated with persimmon, eastern red cedar, Osage orange, red mulberry, and sumac.
Distribution in Missouri:
Hawthorns—members of the genus Crataegus—are found throughout the state; some species are more widespread than others.
Some hawthorns are common, while others are more rare. Littlehip hawthorn, Crataegus spathulata, is at the northern limit of its range in Missouri and is in danger of extinction within our state.
Human connections:
Hawthorns are valuable ornamental trees, and many cultivars have been derived. In 1923, downy hawthorn (Crataegus mollis) was approved as Missouri’s official state flower. Hawthorns have been and are used as a source of medicine. The fruits of some species can be made into jams or tea.
Ecosystem connections:
The fleshy berries are relished by many kinds of birds, small mammals, and other wildlife. Deer browse on the leaves and twigs. The thorniness, dense branching, and heavy foliage provide important cover for wildlife and nesting sites for birds.
Shortened URL


From the Ground Up - The Importance of Soil Testing

Most ranchers and farmers know that to maximize yields, their hay fields or row crops have to be able to utilize nutrients from the soil, and the only way to be sure of what’s in the soil is to have it tested.

The same is true for home owners and their lawns and ornamental plants. Tony Provin is a Texas A&M Agrilife Extension professor and soil chemist.

“Whether it’s a homeowner, or a farmer, understanding what the nutrient levels are in a given area of a field or a front yard is key. From a homeowner’s perspective, we often manage our front yard differently than we manage our back yard, and collecting a good sample from the front yard would involve taking ten to fifteen individual sub samples blending them together, and submitting that to a laboratory for lab analysis.”

Provin says the soil analysis process is the same for an urban sample as it is for one from an agricultural environment.

“On a ranch or a row crop setting, we’re looking at it from the standpoint, whether it’s a soil series or an area within a field that can be managed separately, taking a similar ten to fifteen sub samples, and blending them together for a single sample going to a laboratory. It’s going to say these are the nutrient levels that you have currently. This is what is needed, or not needed to get the level up to an optimal production.”

In agriculture, optimal production takes into account the return on the investment of the nutrients being applied.

“The modern farmer is using soil testing and modern methods to know where to collect those soil samples, whether it be yield monitors, GPS date assessed to determine where the soil samples should be collected, and then takes the laboratory analysis and applied the prescription rates of nutrients.

The homeowner can do the same thing, just not necessarily with a GPS unit, but they can collect soil samples from the front yard, the side yards, backyards, and follow the recommendations the laboratory has for those soil samples.”


Over the years, I have chronicled all of the unique projects I have had the opportunity to work on. From smallest to largest, I have seen and done them all. I’ve never actually had the opportunity to work on any properties that were on the designated list of Historic Places. Until recently that is.

I was approached by a friend of my brothers, who had recently acquired one the most unique properties located in the Denver Metro area. This iconic symbol of a home has been around since the early 1960s and has been seen by pretty much anyone who has driven the corridor of Interstate 70 between Denver and the western side of the Continental Divide. The home sits high above the highway, and has been called numerous names, including the Jetsons’ House, The Space Ship House, and thanks to the famous film writer and actor Woody Allen, The Sleeper House.

Its technical name is The Sculptured House. It was designed and conceived by world-famous architect Charles Deaton. And it is on the designated list of Historic Places that is maintained by The Department of the Interior. That basically means that the owners can pretty much do anything they want to on the inside of the home, but the exterior must remain unchanged esthetically speaking.

The home has had an interesting history. Per the architect developer, “On Genesee Mountain I found a high point of land where I could stand and feel the great reaches of the Earth. I wanted the shape of it to sing an unencumbered song.”

The views from the upper portion of the home are astonishing, to say the least. Unfortunately Deaton did not complete the project, and it sat empty for many years, serving as a party house for children of other homeowners in the area.

The building actually came close to being torn down due to its degraded condition. It was salvaged by a prominent developer in 1999. This developer completed the home, including an addition that the original architect had conceived, but was unable to complete due to numerous conditions. The addition was finally completed four years later. At that point in time, the developer applied for and was accepted into the National Register of Historic Places, and the home was now safe from the locals who wanted it torn down as an eye sore.

This original developer sold it to another developer, in 2006, who used the building primarily as a party haven for local non-profit organizations. He held the property until 2010, when he became delinquent on the house payments, and subsequently, the home came up in a foreclosure auction. This last owner, unfortunately, had run into hard economic times, and could not afford to pay the utility bills on the property. In an effort to conserve money, he turned the thermostats way down, and subsequently, caused numerous freeze breaks in the hydronic heating system serving the home.

The original architect is said to have been quite “different” and had a habit of not allowing anyone to work for him on this project for an extended period of time. His contention was that the trade secrets he was developing could not be stolen by anyone if they didn’t have knowledge from the beginning to the end of the project, hence a regular turnover of employees working on the project. Although I have tried to reconstruct how this building was heated, I have been able to see certain components still left in place from previous operations, and have spoken to people who have had the opportunity to work on the home from time to time during its long history. To the best of my knowledge, the original space ship consists of a base stem with two floors within that stem, topped by the clam shell/taco shell sitting atop the stem. The stem served as the circular stairway, a chase for the elevator, known as the Orgasmatron in “Sleeper,” by Woody Allen, as well as a mechanical chase for heating and domestic plumbing lines.

Other than a high-efficiency window replacement program done during the first remodel in 1999, no attention has been paid to energy conservation. In fact, the upper portions of the space ship had bare finned tube elements placed in the crawl space of the floor to heat the house. I’ve also seen traces of what appears to have been a pneumatic temperature control system in the mechanical chases of the home. No one I’ve spoken with knows for sure where the original boilers that served the home were located, but it is assumed that they were located near the ground floor, in an exterior shelter.

During the addition, started in 1999, the building and the addition were retrofitted with a panel style of hydronic based radiator, two fan coil units, and four zones of in floor hydronic radiant heat. I am told that there were two boilers used to power the system. These copper fin tube boilers were considered state of the art at the time of their installation. Unfortunately, these boilers were extremely problematic. So much so that the person charged with installing the home’s security/energy management system set up a remote telephone reset system that would allow the mechanical contractor the ability to call the home up and reset the boilers remotely to keep the system running.

Tune in next month as we continue our journey in time through this architectural wonder. Until then, belated Happy New Year hydronicing.


Home    Booklet    History   Resources   Research  The HIV Elite   Contact

Questioning the status quo, and RAISING the standard of HIV prevention in America.
Congratulations for proving "the HIV experts" wrong.
How did we stop HIV?

Since the mid 1990's we were actively engaged in conversation to communicate our ideas, thoughts and desires. We communicated with words, gestures, symbols and body language.

But, before we took this action we engaged constructively with each other as a community; we understood that we have the DESIRE and are MOTIVATED to continue the process of physically breaking the cycle of new HIV transmissions, thereby successfully stopping new transmissions of HIV - regardless of our HIV status and regardless if we
use condoms or not. Published HIV research dating back to 2002 proves this.

Communication, Respect, Understanding = Unity.

Welcome to POZ4POZ.com, the future of HIV prevention worldwide. HIV-negative? CLICK HERE

Respectfully Yours;
Robert Brandon Sandor
HIV+ '83
US Air Force vet

(Site still under construction, check back tomorrow for NEW updates.)