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Jennifer Joseph, a 22 year old female from Dix Hills, NY asks on May 15, 2006,Animals eat leaves and grasses and this provides them nutrition. Can people take leaves off trees, a maple tree for example, wash them and eat them? Would this provide any nutritional value, cause problems with the digestive system, etc.?
viewed 13272 times
A quick google search for "edible tree leaves" yielded quite a number of ideas so I think that in general the answer is yes. I don't think maple leaves are particularly edible, but the paper birch Betula Papyrifera is edible. All parts, including leaves. Also, our page on orangutans indicates they eat 400 different types of food in the rainforest, much of it bark and leaves. Orangutans are relatively similar to humans, so there are likely quite a number of leaves of tropical trees and vines that we can eat. In addition there are many shrubs and bushes that have edible leaves. For instance, tea leaves and grape leaves. And of course, don't forget the coca bush whose leaves are chewed for the cocaine. The Linden tree, tilia genus, certainly has edible leaves and flowers. The leaf buds and young leaves can be eaten raw. The Wikipedia has a big long list of plants with edible leaves. These are all the Latin names, but you can look these up on Google, or at the library and learn all about these plants if you wish.
Note: All submissions are moderated prior to posting.
If you found this answer useful, please consider making a small donation to science.ca. | <urn:uuid:92d1bdaf-58b3-48d8-8fcd-14086266a5c2> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.science.ca/askascientist/viewquestion.php?qID=3448 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397562.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00052-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95989 | 336 | 2.9375 | 3 |
South Korea’s Education Ministry has announced plans to trash the textbook tomes that weigh down the bags of students and replace them with digitized versions. Primary schools will be first, with their educational materials digitized by 2014, followed by secondary and high schools in 2015. The scheme, dubbed “Smart Education”, will allow students to read their materials on a variety of electronic devices, including smartphones, tablets, PCs, and internet-connected smart TVs. There’s no mention, however, of whether the project will also be rolled out to the students with the largest textbooks: undergraduates.
Some 2.2 trillion yon ($2 billion) will be spent on the project. The digitizing of educational materials will obviously consume some of that funding, but most of the money will probably be spent on the infrastructure for distributing the materials — i.e. tablets and smartphones for students. The South Korean government hasn’t revealed whether it will use a commodity tablet like the homegrown Samsung Galaxy Tab, or create a new device specifically for educational purposes. Given the planned cross-platform interoperability, though, it wouldn’t be surprising to see some kind of HTML5ish solution — and if that’s the case, then students will be able to use whatever tablet they like.
To back up this complete overhaul of the system the Education Ministry gave us some interesting (but rather obvious?) facts about Korean students. Not only are they the most computer-literate students in the world, but according to a recent OECD report, they are also the most amenable to computer-based learning. “That’s why Korean students, who are already fully prepared for digital society, need a paradigm shift in education,” said an official from the Ministry.
The same OECD report, incidentally, showed that computer use at school didn’t actually have much of an impact on exam results. Computer use at home, on the other hand, created a much more marked improvement in results. The report goes on to suggest that computers should be further integrated into the teaching curriculum — and surprise, surprise, that’s exactly what Korea is now planning to do.
Read more at Jakarta Globe | <urn:uuid:14d31082-1682-47d6-9f03-87c1f923da94> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.extremetech.com/computing/88872-south-korea-to-digitize-all-school-textbooks-by-2015-provide-tablets-for-kids | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397842.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00127-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947039 | 451 | 2.9375 | 3 |
The first silicon on 300-millimeter (diameter) is an achievement which, among other things, puts Infineon on track to continue its success story with power semiconductors used for energy efficiency applications.
The high-voltage power transistors raise energy efficiency in an array of applications, such as PC power supplies, servers, solar power inverters, lighting and telecommunications systems. These energy-saving chips are also indispensable components in consumer electronics devices, for instance in flat-screen TVs and games consoles. Using energy efficiently and saving energy are becoming the prime requirements for all electrically powered industrial or household applications. Infineon’s energy-efficient semiconductor solutions allow savings of up to 25 percent of global power consumption.
If you liked this article, please give it a quick review on ycombinator or StumbleUpon. Thanks | <urn:uuid:5bb6e719-0428-4249-a533-8c08105e1c9b> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://nextbigfuture.com/2011/10/floppy-thin-silicon-wafer-of-power.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397842.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00129-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.890688 | 173 | 2.546875 | 3 |
An animal's routine checkup at the National Aquarium in Baltimore revealed a new two-toed sloth.
Aquarium staff saw Ivy, one of four sloths in the Upland Tropical Rain Forest exhibit, was carrying a newborn in late August that emerged strong and healthy.
Animal care staff suspects the baby will continue to cling to its mother for the first several weeks of life as sloths can remain dependent on their mothers for up to a year.
Linne's two-toed sloths are commonly found in South America's rainforests, where they spend their entire lives in the trees. They are nocturnal by nature, fairly active at night while spending most of the day sleeping. Adult sloths are typically the size of a small dog, approximately 24 to 30 inches in length and about 12 to 20 pounds in weight, according to the aquarium. | <urn:uuid:443cd15d-9d2d-488c-96f0-6564a60be3ef> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.wbaltv.com/entertainment/National-Aquarium-introduces-newborn-two-toed-sloth/16496600 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396959.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00062-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975343 | 179 | 2.890625 | 3 |
(K22A, Bird of Prey)
|Affiliation:||Imperial Klingon Defense Force|
|Service period:||23rd century|
|Maximum speed:||warp 8|
|Cruising speed:||warp 7|
|Armaments:||2 disruptors, 1 torpedo launcher|
|Defences:||deflector shields, cloaking device|
The D'Gavama-class (known in translation from Klingonaase, literally, as the Bird of Prey-class, alphanumeric designation K22A-class) was a Klingon class V bird-of-prey scout starship in Imperial Defense Force service in the 23rd century, becoming active on reference stardate 2/1805.
- 2/1805 is thirteen months after the events of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and so would roughly correspond to 2274 on the standard timeline.
The K22A was created by the refit of stripped down Romulan S11-class starship hulls delivered to the Klingons in the late 23rd century as part of the short-lived Klingon-Romulan Alliance, and was among the earliest Klingon uses of the cloaking device, although the device was unreliable; radiation emissions from this model were known to cause mental aberrations in bird-of-prey crews. This early Klingon use of a Romulan starship hull showed numerous design influences of both species' shipbuilders, with adjustable wing mounts equipped for aerodynamic use as well as to increase number of firing solutions available.
- This account of the vessel's design legacy predates Star Trek: Enterprise and assumes Bird-of-Prey-type ships were a product of the Klingon-Romulan technical exchanges implied by the TOS episode: "The Enterprise Incident".
The vessels crewed 12 officers and men. Additionally, the K22A could carry 250 metric tons of cargo, rated at 5 SCU (standard cargo units). Unloaded, the vessel weighed 46,300 metric tons, measured 88 meters in length, 130 meters in width and 16 meters in height.
The K22A warp engines were KWC-3 type, rated to cruise at warp seven and max out at warp factor 8. Impulse engines were of the KIB-1 type. The K22A had 2 KD-8 disruptor emitters, with arcs of fire to fore as well as port and starboard. The vessel a single KP-5 launcher weapon and was defended by KSC model deflector shields and equipped with KCB model cloak.
By the end of the 23rd century, the K22A was no longer in production, with 8 vessels having been built, none remaining in active service after the K22A class was phased out by the K22B-class. (FASA RPG module: Klingon Ship Recognition Manual)
|Romulan birds-of-prey||2150s • late-2150s bird-of-prey • 22nd century • 23rd century (alternate reality) • 24th century • T'varo • T'Liss • Vas Hatham • Temar Vastaram|
|Klingon birds-of-prey||22nd century • 23rd century (alternate reality) • B'rel • Chuq'Beh • D12 • D'Gavama • E4 • E6 • G2 • Khitomer • K'vort • QuD • Z'gavasta • Z'gavva • Klingon bird-of-prey • QulDun • Norgh • Ki'tang • Hegh'ta| | <urn:uuid:2d677eca-91fc-4cd3-8129-1abc89d9b8d8> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/D'Gavama_class | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396147.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00160-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.917023 | 756 | 3.109375 | 3 |
Common bacteria or viruses that can cause meningitis can spread through coughing, sneezing, kissing, or sharing eating utensils, a toothbrush or a cigarette.
These steps can help prevent meningitis:
- Wash your hands. Careful hand-washing helps prevent germs. Teach children to wash their hands often, especially before eating and after using the toilet, spending time in a crowded public place or petting animals. Show them how to vigorously and thoroughly wash and rinse their hands.
- Practice good hygiene. Don't share drinks, foods, straws, eating utensils, lip balms or toothbrushes with anyone else. Teach children and teens to avoid sharing these items too.
- Stay healthy. Maintain your immune system by getting enough rest, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
- Cover your mouth. When you need to cough or sneeze, be sure to cover your mouth and nose.
- If you're pregnant, take care with food. Reduce your risk of listeriosis by cooking meat, including hot dogs and deli meat, to 165 F (74 C). Avoid cheeses made from unpasteurized milk. Choose cheeses that are clearly labeled as being made with pasteurized milk.
Some forms of bacterial meningitis are preventable with the following vaccinations:
- Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine. Children in the United States routinely receive this vaccine as part of the recommended schedule of vaccines, starting at about 2 months of age. The vaccine is also recommended for some adults, including those who have sickle cell disease or AIDS and those who don't have a spleen.
- Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13). This vaccine also is part of the regular immunization schedule for children younger than 2 years in the United States. Additional doses are recommended for children between the ages of 2 and 5 who are at high risk of pneumococcal disease, including children who have chronic heart or lung disease or cancer.
- Pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23). Older children and adults who need protection from pneumococcal bacteria may receive this vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the PPSV vaccine for all adults older than 65, for younger adults and children age 2 and up who have weak immune systems or chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes or sickle cell anemia, and for those who don't have a spleen.
Meningococcal conjugate vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that a single dose be given to children ages 11 to 12, with a booster shot given at age 16. If the vaccine is first given between ages 13 and 15, the booster shot is recommended between ages 16 and 18. If the first shot is given at age 16 or older, no booster is necessary.
This vaccine can also be given to younger children who are at high risk of bacterial meningitis or who have been exposed to someone with the disease. It's approved for use in children as young as 9 months old. It's also used to vaccinate healthy but previously unvaccinated people who have been exposed in outbreaks.
Jan. 12, 2016
- Meningitis and encephalitis fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/encephalitis_meningitis/detail_encephalitis_meningitis.htm. Accessed Nov. 19, 2015.
- Bacterial meningitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/bacterial.html. Accessed Nov. 19, 2015.
- Bartt R. Acute bacterial and viral meningitis. Continuum Lifelong Learning in Neurology. 2012;18:1255.
- Viral meningitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/viral.html. Accessed Nov. 19, 2015.
- Fungal meningitis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/fungal.html. Accessed Nov. 19, 2015.
- Derber CJ, et al. Head and neck emergencies. Medical Clinics of North America. 2012;96:1107.
- Longo DL, et al., eds. Meningitis, encephalitis, brain abscess, and empyema. In: Harrison's Principals of Internal Medicine. 19th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Education; 2015. http://www.accessmedicine.com. Accessed Nov. 19, 2015.
- Acute bacterial meningitis. Merck Manual Professional Version. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic_disorders/meningitis/acute_bacterial_meningitis.html. Accessed Nov. 19, 2015.
- Prevention — Listeriosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/listeria/prevention.html. Accessed Nov. 19, 2015.
- Subacute and chronic meningitis. Merck Manual Professional Version. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/neurologic_disorders/meningitis/subacute_and_chronic_meningitis.html. Accessed Nov. 19, 2015.
- Van de Beek D, et al. Advances in treatment of bacterial meningitis. The Lancet. 2012;380:1693.
- Recommended immunization schedules for persons aged 0 through 18 years — United States, 2012. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/child/0-18yrs-11x17-fold-pr.pdf. Accessed Nov. 19, 2015.
- Recommended adult immunization schedule — United States, 2012. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/schedules/downloads/adult/adult-schedule.pdf. Accessed Nov. 19, 2015.
- Meningococcal vaccine: Who and when to vaccinate. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/mening/who-vaccinate-hcp.htm. Accessed Nov. 19, 2015.
- Sexton D. Approach to the patient with chronic meningitis. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Nov. 20, 2015.
- Johnson R. Aseptic meningitis in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Nov. 20, 2015.
- Di Pentima C. Viral meningitis: Management, prognosis, and prevention in children. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Nov. 20, 2015.
- Rabinstein AA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 1, 2015. | <urn:uuid:ab971594-b19b-4b5b-b80a-5a2784e591ec> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/meningitis/manage/ptc-20169618 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397428.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00065-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.851236 | 1,513 | 4.15625 | 4 |
Trees and shrubs, including balled and burlapped evergreens, can still be planted this month. Plant on a cloudy day, early in the morning, to prevent heat and transplant shock. Water thoroughly and gently at planting time and continue for the first year with 1 inch of water a week, spread throughout the root zone. Mulch root zones to conserve moisture.
Prune spring-flowering shrubs and ornamental trees immediately after they bloom. These include forsythia, viburnum, lilac, small magnolias, rhododendrons, and azaleas. Prune to the ground old canes of forsythia and lilac. Alternative time to do renovation pruning is in late winter when plants are dormant. Deadhead (or lightly prune) spent lilac blossoms to increase flower production. Avoid fertilizer with excessive nitrogen; it can encourage foliage at the expense of flower production.
Lilac blossoms will last longer indoors if they are cut in the morning on a long woody stem when the flower is only half open. Cut a second time indoors before putting in a vase and make a vertical slit up the woody tissue.
Gently pull off dried flowers of azaleas and rhododendrons. New sticky shoots are located at the base of these flower trusses. Take care not to break these shoots when removing flowers. To increase flower production for the following year, pinch off one-half of this new green growth when it is at least one inch in length. | <urn:uuid:2ea5ac1c-3e18-49a7-a9b6-2d0d64e9b397> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.chicagobotanic.org/plantinfo/may_tree_and_shrub_care | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396100.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00146-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.926147 | 317 | 2.953125 | 3 |
Multi-agency emergency response to save citrus
December 12, 2013
• USDA puts up $1 Million to fight HLB
• “Research projects that can bring practical and short-term solutions to the growers”
Like the cavalry riding to the rescue, the U.S. Department of Agriculture is throwing its might behind efforts to fend off citrus greening, a disease that is fatal to citrus trees.
It has wreaked havoc in Florida but so far has not impacted California’s multi-billion dollar citrus industry, most of which is in the Central Valley.
The USDA says it is leading efforts to create a new, unified emergency response framework to address Huanglongbing (HLB), also known as citrus greening.
The new framework will allow USDA and its partners to better coordinate HLB resources, share information and develop operational strategies to maximize effectiveness, the department says.
"USDA listened to the citrus industry's request for more urgency and greater coordination on the response to HLB and is implementing an emergency response structure," says Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "To jump start this initiative and affirm our commitment to industry, USDA is also providing $1 million to be used in support of research projects that can bring practical and short-term solutions to the growers in their efforts to combat this disease.”
The new framework will bring together USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), along with state departments of agriculture and the citrus industry into a multi-agency coordination group for HLB. It will provide industry with a single contact for all the federal and state entities that work on citrus issues and better enable the collective to collaborate on policy decisions, establish priorities, allocate critical resources, and collect, analyze, and disseminate information.
The group will also help coordinate federal research with industry's efforts to complement and fill research gaps, reduce unnecessary duplication, speed progress and more quickly provide practical tools for citrus growers to use.
The entire states of Florida and Georgia are under quarantine for HLB, and portions of California, Louisiana, South Carolina and Texas are also under quarantine for the disease. The U.S. Territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are under HLB quarantines as well. | <urn:uuid:4ffac800-bbf1-4da2-8a8f-0df7c6773aef> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.centralvalleybusinesstimes.com/stories/001/?ID=24791 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783394414.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154954-00114-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933565 | 475 | 2.59375 | 3 |
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Concentration of H+ ions impacts most of chemical reactions. Depending on their concentration hydrogen peroxide can behave as AN oxidizing or A reducing agent. Pepsine - one of the enzymes used for digestion - works best in strongly acidic conditions and is inactive in neutral solutions. There are flowers which are either pink or blue, depending on the acidity of the soil they grow in. Even tea changes its color when you add a slice of lemon.
Acidity of the solution is so important it was convenient to create a special pH scale for its measurements. This pH scale uses Sørensen's pH definition. Concentration of H+ is usually confined to 1-10-14M range. Thus pH scale contains values falling between 0 and 14. In some rare cases you may see pH lower than 0 or higher than 14, when the concentration of H+ take some extreme values.
On the pH scale pure water at 35°C has pH 7.00, although you will probably never see water pure enough for such a pH value. Air always contains small amounts of carbon dioxide which dissolves in water making it slightly acidic - with pH of about 5.7. All values on the pH scale lower than 7 denote solutions that are acidic - the lower the pH, the more acidic the solution. On the contrary solutions with pH above 7 are basic - the higher the pH the more basic the solution is.
The pH scale is used very extensively in the chemistry, biochemistry and biology. Please try to remember several pH scale values for reference:
|substance||pH scale value|
|battery acid||pH below 1|
|gastric juice||pH about 2|
|orange juice||pH between 3 and 4|
|milk||pH about 6.5|
|blood||pH between 7.34 and 7.45, very precisely kept|
in this range, as the correct pH is crucial for the survival
|normal soap||pH about 9-10|
|bleach||pH about 12.5|
There are two things worth of remembering about the pH scale. First, as the pH scale is logarithmic 1 unit pH change means tenfold change in the H+ ion concentration. Second, while only solution with pH=7.00 is strictly neutral (see water ion product page for more information on how neutral solutions pH depends on the temperature), all solutions with pH in the range 4-10 have concentration of H+ and OH- lower than 10-4M - which can be easily disturbed with small additions of acid and base (unless pH is kept constant by some buffer).
The pH scale as described above is called sometimes the "concentration pH scale" as opposed to the "thermodynamic pH scale". Main difference between both scales is that in the theromodynamic pH scale we are interested not in H+ concentration, but in H+ activity (check out ionic strength and activity coefficients lecture). In fact what we measure in the solution - for example using pH electrodes - is the activity, not the concentration. Thus it is the thermodynamic pH scale that describes real solutions, not the concentration one.
Finally it is worth of knowing that thermodynamic pH scale can be defined not only for water solutions, but also for some other solvents, like methanol, ammonia, acetic acid and so on. Note that we are talking about pH scale defined for solutions in which given substance is the solvent, not about water solutions. Range of pH for such solvents depends on their ion product (similar to the water ion product) - and for example the pH scale for acetic acid ranges from 0 to 15.2, while the pH scale for methanol ranges from 0-16.7. You will most likely never use these pH scales in practice.
Questions? Comments? Feel free to discuss this page content at the chemistry quizzes forum (requires free registration). | <urn:uuid:fee01681-70f1-437a-8d69-5ebbb5aadf48> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.chembuddy.com/?left=pH-calculation&right=pH-scale | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783404382.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155004-00120-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.91955 | 859 | 3.03125 | 3 |
With support of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency "citizen science" grants, two New Jersey community groups have begun their final weeks of summer water pollution monitoring. The New York/New Jersey Baykeeper and Friends of the Bonsal Preserve have been using $25,000 grants to monitor water quality on tributaries of the New York/New Jersey Harbor. The groups are testing for the bacteria Enterococcus, which indicates the presence of fecal contamination, and are also measuring general water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature. Sampling concludes in late August.
“Citizen science is an important, growing field that can provide invaluable insight into pollution problems in local communities,” said EPA Regional Administrator Judith A. Enck. “This funding will help inform local residents about the environmental conditions in their own backyards.”
Citizen science enlists the public in collecting a wide range of environmental data and is an important tool for expanding scientific knowledge and literacy. EPA citizen science grants are used to help organizations collect information on air and water pollution in their communities and seek solutions to environmental and public health problems.
Equipment used by the New York/New Jersey Baykeeper and Friends of the Bonsal Preserve is part of the EPA’s new equipment loan program. Sampling and laboratory equipment is often the most expensive part of a monitoring program. Through this initiative, citizen science groups will be able to collect data in their own communities with fewer up-front costs. By lending this equipment to eligible community groups, the EPA hopes to allow more citizen scientists the opportunity to collect high quality data and increase environmental stewardship in their community.
In May 2014, the EPA conducted a two day training session for 15-20 volunteers from both the New York/New Jersey Baykeeper and Friends of the Bonsal Preserve. EPA scientists provided lectures and hands on demonstrations on operating GPS devices, water quality meters, data management techniques, and laboratory analysis. From June through the end of August 2014, each organization is conducting sampling five times per month at 10 sampling stations. The New York/New Jersey Baykeeper is collecting samples on the Matawan Creek and South River which flows from South River to Keyport, New Jersey and The Friends of the Bonsal Preserve project area is the Third River, which flows from Montclair to Clifton, New Jersey. The groups are collecting GPS coordinates and basic water quality information, and are performing analysis of bacteria levels at local laboratories, including the EPA’s laboratory in Edison. For more information, visit http://epa.gov/region2/citizenscience.
SOURCE: US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | <urn:uuid:28ddc6a8-fb76-4c75-989e-36caad876f75> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.wateronline.com/doc/new-jersey-organizations-water-pollution-epa-environmental-data-0001?atc~c=771%20s=773%20r=001%20l=a | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783403823.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155003-00137-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.923626 | 549 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Information technology helps to spread Noongar language
Denise Smith-Ali is mapping the cultural knowledge and language of Noongar people.
Now living in Bunbury, Denise grew up in Boyup Brook and was one of the Stolen Generation.
Her aim is to set up nests of the language around Noongar country.
The Noongar country is the biggest language geographical location in Australia, says Denise. Through colonisation and missionary practice, other Indigenous people brought in different culture and language.
"I'm a Noongar woman from the Wilman and Kaneang clan," she describes herself. "My main interest is reviving and maintaining my Noongar language."
Despite the dislocation of her family, Denise has found that researching the cultural knowledge of her ancestors has helped her find out where she belongs.
The genealogy "can go a long back", she says, "because you're linking people up to country."
"What part of the Noongar geographical location do you come from? Looking at your moieties, looking at your skin group...your clan, your dialect.
"You know which stories are yours. Also what are the boundaries of these stories?
"Who speaks for those stories? I've found a place of belonging. I've found ownership in my county, to my language.
Denise's interest in Noongar language was piqued during a stint as a Language Other Than English K3 teacher in Perth.
She decided to study and took a BA in Language and Linguistics through the Batchelor Institute in the NT.
Her focus shifted from education into the community, going back to the grass roots and documenting the creation stories and the ancestral stories that related to country.
Recently, she's been working on a cultural mapping project involving Google Earth. The endangered language overlay pin points centres around the world which are working to preserve indigenous languages.
Short videos, language classes, instruction on use of about vowels and consonants are examples of the content which can be uploaded to the site, Denise explains.
She herself is concentrating on dialects and how they're used throughout Noongar country. "That would be my first step, is showing the variation of dialects," she says.
Many of the old people with the knowledge have gone, she notes. "It's up to people like us who go out and dig it up -all these resources that we have - to pull it out and use it."
An experience in the Northern Territory showed Denise that much experience and knowledge is yet to be found in the south.
"I was invited to go down the Fitzmaurice River," she recalls.
"That was something so different than I've ever done down here. There was a lot of rock art. It was like stepping into another world."
Protocols were different and managed by a senior woman, she found. "We're learning that stuff down here. We're still learning and growing in that area."
There is still much cultural knowledge of ceremony and ritual locally Denise feels, but the goal is to keep those practices alive and to encourage the children to continue them.
Dancing is one way the young people gain insight. "They talk to the elders about the birds and animals and they learn the old stories.
"They try to combine the ancestral knowledge, blending the old and the new...moving forward, always looking back."
"I want to set up language nests around Noongar country so we can have little camp fires of Noongar language still going."
- ABC Gippsland news journalist Simon Galletta reports from an Engie community consultation meeting in Morwell
- Rural Reporter: Val and Leslie take a bow
- Ronnie Hibma says he is relieved about Bega Cheese opening milk price
- Step inside an English class in Sale to hear from migrant women about the challenges and opportunities ahead
- Step inside Gippsland'sRadiation Oncology facility at the Latrobe Regional Hospital | <urn:uuid:a138ff7e-0376-4d53-a30f-8198589e2915> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2013/07/10/3800315.htm?site=gippsland&desktop=true | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783391766.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154951-00080-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963878 | 823 | 2.890625 | 3 |
Not much is known about this short spur. In all likelyhood it started out as the original routing of the Southern Pacific (via susbidiary Arizona Eastern) mainline east of Phoenix until the line was relocated to its current routing through Magma. From then on, it was most likely used as a short cut-off by the Copper Basin Railway in reaching the new Southern Pacific routing at Poston Station. While it shows up on maps as early as 1895, it is absent on a 1948 railroad map.
Today, little evidence remains of the line. All lineside structures, bridges, culverts have been removed. The only clues that remain are the rocks in areas that were once used as ballast.
See also Dock to Poston Station.
Thanks to Mike Palmer for contributing information about this route. | <urn:uuid:3989de02-5268-4938-8906-3d73cefc6113> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.abandonedrails.com/Florence_Branch | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783403823.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155003-00200-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976462 | 163 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Get started exploring electronics with our Introduction to Electronics class. We’ll cover some of the most basic concepts that you’ll need to understand in order to build, modify and design simple circuits.
This class will have a textbook included in the “supplies”. The textbook will be used in followup electronics classes at Workshop 88.
Have you been dabbling in electronics and building all your circuits on breadboards? Maybe it’s time you learn how to solder with Workshop 88! Want to improve your soldering skills? Come to our soldering class and see what you can do to make you soldering better. We’ve got some great new soldering irons that you’ll get to make use of during the class.
If you enjoyed our Introduction to Arduino class, come back for the next class!
In Arduino 201, we’ll be using the Processing framework and the Firmata library for the Arduino to interact with the Arduino from a graphical user interface.
This class will build on the Darkness Detector circuit we built in Arduino 101, adding calibration knobs for high and low, and outputting the resulting data to a graph using Processing.
Students should be familiar with the concepts and circuits taught in Arduino 101, specifically reading analog inputs and the voltage divider circuit used in the Darkness Detector.
Knowledge of Processing is not required.
What to Bring
- A laptop (we have a few spares, let us know if you need to reserve one)
- Your arduino kit (or order one with the class)
All classes in the Arduino Track require the Arduino Kit (external link to Adafruit).
Buy it now ($15 off with tuition) and reuse it for the rest of the classes!
This is the follow up class to our Introduction to Electronics class. Did you attend the first class and get the book and the supplies? Then you only need to sign up for the class. Did you not make it to the first class but want to jump into the electronics with the book and the supplies? We’ve got you covered here, too! | <urn:uuid:ee7057e4-dc73-4882-a27d-0cd92e47e244> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://blog.workshop88.com/tags/classes-2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397428.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00162-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.89854 | 438 | 3.546875 | 4 |
In November the Food and Drug Administration proposed new, bigger, colorized, and illustrated cigarette warning labels. The theory behind the labels, required by the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, is that people already know that smoking is bad for them but need to be reminded good and hard.
Some of the images, such as the pictures that show smokers breathing into the faces of babies and old ladies, have an air of unreality that undermines the intent. The illustrations suggesting what you can do when you quit smoking—blow bubbles, wear a T-shirt bragging about your feat, clog your toilet with cigarettes—can be charitably described as uninspired. But the icky lungs, the autopsied corpse, the dying cancer patient, and the guy smoking through the hole in his neck get points for grabbing attention.
That does not mean the new warnings will have a noticeable impact. Smoking rates have been declining since the 1960s, and in 2009 the share of Americans who were daily smokers fell to a record low of 12.7 percent. In the face of punitive taxes, increasingly broad smoking bans, and other factors that make the habit expensive, inconvenient, and unfashionable, it will be impossible to isolate the impact of more-conspicuous hectoring on cigarette packages. | <urn:uuid:397b7364-cc9f-4530-af28-c5834ae89dde> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | https://www.reason.org/news/printer/wait-smoking-is-dangerous | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783399428.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154959-00045-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952066 | 261 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Menachot 102 - 110
- The status of an animal designated as an atonement for an action which might have been a sin after the discovery that there was no sin
- Bringing a mincha offering other than the one pledged
- When one must provide a mincha offering more than what he pledges
- When one pledges more of a mincha than one vessel can contain
- The amounts of wine one can offer for libation
- Can oil alone be offered as a sacrifice
- When one is not certain of the amount he pledged
- The unusual sacrifice of wood
- When the donor fails to specify which of his animals he is offering as a sacrifice
- The designated sacrifice which became disqualified
- The kohanim of Beit Chonyo
- Learning Torah as a virtual sacrifice
An Unusual Sacrifice
- Menachot 106b
Throughout the last two mesechtot we have learned about sacrifices consisting of animals, fowl, flour and wine. All of these are edible items. There is, however, another sort of sacrifice which is not edible – wood for the fire on the altar.
What is the source for wood being considered a sacrifice which one can voluntarily offer?
Our Sages refer us to a passage in Sefer Nechemia(10:35):
"And we have cast lots among the kohanim, the Levites and the people for the wood offering… at times appointed year by year, to burn upon the altar of the
With the construction of the second Beit Hamikdash there was a lack of communal funds and it became necessary to impose on individuals to contribute the wood needed for the altar fire. Lots were cast to determine which date in the year each donor would make his contribution of this unusual sacrifice.
Once it is established that wood is considered a sacrifice, say our Sages, it is subject to all the rules pertaining to regular sacrifices. This includes salting, bringing it into contact with the southwest corner of the altar like a mincha offering, making kemitza on its shavings and even providing kindling wood to start the fire.
What the Sages Say
"Torah scholars who study the laws of the sacrificial service are considered as if the Beit Hamikdash was built in their days."
- Rabbi Yochanan - Menachot 110a | <urn:uuid:6d864ee5-c5df-49bb-9ced-8210a185a0d4> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.ohr.edu/4791/print | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395039.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00025-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958171 | 482 | 2.984375 | 3 |
The Mail Online today featured a story on a drawing that may be attributable to Leonardo DaVinci. It was "commissioned by a female Italian aristocrat to show to potential suitors" in a sort of 15th-century equivalent of a Facebook page.
Known as Nuptial Portrait of a Young Woman, it was sold for £10,000 in 1998 after being attributed to a German artist.
However, experts say it is looking 'more and more like a Leonardo work'. This would push its value up as high as £100million...
Based on its style, the portrait is thought to date to between 1485 and 1490, when Da Vinci was living in Milan.
Mr Vezzosi believes it shows the Milanese aristocrat Bianca Maria Sforza shortly before her marriage to Maximilian I, the Holy Roman Emperor.
However, he said the work needs further investigation before it is fully accepted as authentic.
If this happens, it will be the most important advance in Da Vinci studies since the Lady With An Ermine portrait was attributed to the artist in the 19th century. | <urn:uuid:874f8bf7-3924-49fa-95ae-7907f9b34a96> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://tywkiwdbi.blogspot.nl/2008/08/is-this-new-davinci-drawing.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396100.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00165-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978598 | 232 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Tips for Controlling Oxidation and Pitting on a Wire EDM
Additives, machine settings, workpiece materials and current technology are factors in avoiding common problems with unwanted rust and surface defects.
Modern Machine Shop,
Regional Applications Manager
Click Image to Enlarge
Ugly, rusty parts are avoidable on today's wire electrical discharge machines.
Additives do help in controlling oxidation and pitting of a variety of materials. These products help a great deal when cutting a workpiece with pre-polished surfaces.
There are a few rust-inhibitor products available on the market, but caution is advised because machine deionization bottles can remove some of these products. Rust inhibitors also require constant monitoring using a refractometer. It is critical that the correct concentration be present. It is recommend that shops get references of the product before installing it. Hirschmann Engineering USA makes a product call H2O Plus and can supply user references and application suggestions.
When using an EDM with an anti-electrolysis generator, there are no special settings required to prevent oxidation and pitting. A shop basically uses the available technology and certain techniques to reduce oxidation.
These techniques are:
Set the water conductivity to 5 microS or less, which is typically recommended for carbide, PCD, titanium, and fine finishes (<10 micro inches). This will also help keep bluing to a minimum on older non-anti-electrolysis generators.
Check water pH. Acidic detergents used to clean parts and tank will have a dramatic effect on parts rusting and will reduce the life of the deionization bottles.
De-magnetizing parts is highly recommended. This includes carbide. If the application involves cutting parts in the gap, demagnetizing the blocks will aid in evacuating sludge produced in the kerf. This applies when the slug is the part being produced. To skim the part, it must be held using a tab and skimmed before cutting off.
Always keep the workpiece submerged. Workpiece exposure to air increases the rate of oxidation.
Use rust inhibitors.
Conduct frequent machine maintenance. Neglecting components such as power contacts and cabling will not create oxidation problems, but it will produce poor machining conditions and finishes.
Keep parts clean. If a workpiece is making poor contact on the clamping surface, arcing can occur between the two surfaces and produce a poor finish, which resembles pitting. Parts should always be clean and oxidation-free for any type of EDMing.
Use recommended micron level filters. Poor quality filters can create many issues when it comes to surface finishes. Water that is not filtered properly will diminish part surface integrity when skimming in the gap. Mix Workpiece Materials
With all the new and old types of alloys available, material incompatibility may cause surface issues. However, EDM field technicians have yet to document an instance where this situation has occurred.
Most current wire EDMs are equipped with Anti-Electrolysis generators, some better then others. It basically comes down to how good the technology is and how fine of a surface finish the generator is capable of producing. A machine that is capable of producing a super fine finish (< 5 micro inches) can generate optimum surface integrity.
One example is the GF AgieCharmilles CUT 1000 that can machine parts with zero corrosion. The CUT 1000 is available in an oil version. With this feature, there is absolutely no electrolysis, corrosion and virtually zero recast.
Comments are reviewed by moderators before they appear to ensure they meet Modern Machine Shop’s submission guidelines. | <urn:uuid:c8a5ceff-3c8c-43fc-9aae-2e11871e2b3a> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.mmsonline.com/articles/tips-for-controlling-oxidation-and-pitting-on-a-wire-edm(2) | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393146.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00068-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.901394 | 753 | 2.78125 | 3 |
|In addition to inscriptions, which often detail things such as unit numbers, soldier's name,
place names, etc., there are also kanji that function as part of the design. On this page I'll
introduce you to the most basic Design Kanji and translate them for you.
See also my Soldier's Virtues page for more kanji designs.
|A few examples of the ubiquitous GLORY OF THE COUNTRY phrase. This
seems to have been popular in the 1920s-30s.
|Two examples of the common LOYALTY & BRAVERY phrase.
|The kanji for ENGINEER used as decoration.
|The base has two kanji that
mean 'The Glory of the Country.'
|Russo-Japan War cup. Inscribed
'Victorious Return [in blue],
|The kanji WAR VICTORY in gold gilt.
|Lacquered wood cup with gold gilt Army star and
classical-style kanji that say 'Commemorative'.
|Excellent and uncommon pair of cups with two large kanji that, when placed side
by side, read 'Victorious Return'.
Also inscribed 'Conquer Russia Commemorative, Kasahara Shigetoro keihyaku
[an honorific phrase]'. | <urn:uuid:cd9db745-80e5-47b8-86a7-a3209b5de988> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.imperialjapansakecups.com/designkanji.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783392099.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154952-00060-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.883494 | 276 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Platforms: Windows, Unix
|Date:||December 26, 2008|
The files module for Python provides an easy way to deal with files, directories, and paths in a Pythonic way. It was created out of a frustration with the standard Python approach to files and directories, the venerable os module.
While the os module and its path component, os.path are quite usable and full-featured, they don’t feel pythonic. The files module tries to change that by grouping all the relevant features of os and os.path into three simple classes.
The files module has currently been tested on Unix. Windows testing will begin as soon as I get near enough to a Windows computer.
A quick word on usage: the files module was developed to be used with Python’s from ... import * syntax. Please save yourself the trouble of typing files. all the time.
Also, the files module is intended to be used with Python 3. It may break significantly in Python 2 (and then again, maybe not). | <urn:uuid:8bd0bd73-55a1-44da-bf00-d2eed9882e2a> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://pythonhosted.org/files/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395548.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00095-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.918206 | 214 | 2.78125 | 3 |
Prescription drug abuse dangerous, even fatal
Published 11:03 pm, Saturday, October 12, 2013
When a drug is purchased from a pharmacist, and not a street corner, there's a temptation to think it is perfectly safe.
But a recent report from a national nonprofit group shows prescription drugs, particularly painkillers, cause more fatal overdoses than heroin and cocaine combined.
And their use is pervasive all over the country, including Connecticut. The continued misuse of these drugs might be due in part to a misperception about how dangerous they are, said Ingrid Gillespie, president of the Connecticut Prevention Network.
"Young people in particular think 'Well, they're prescribed, so they're safe,' " said Gillespie, also director of the Lower Fairfield County Regional Action Council in Stamford. "A lot of people don't know how harmful they can be."
More InformationPrescription for trouble
50: Number of people who die every day from prescription painkiller overdoses
16,000: Annual deaths due to prescribed medications
475,000: Emergency room visits each year due to medications
Most abused drugs
Here are some of the commonly misused prescription drugs, according to the Trust for America's Health:
Prescription opioids, also known as painkillers. These act on brain receptors and can be highly addictive.
Central nervous system depressants, also known as sedatives or tranquilizers. They're often used to treat anxiety and sleep problems, and can cause trouble breathing when taken in high doses. Risks are particularly high when mixed with alcohol.
Stimulants, often used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy. They can cause a range of problems, including psychosis, seizures and heart ailments.
A report released by the Trust for America's Health shows that drug overdose deaths jumped 12 percent in Connecticut between 1999 and 2010.
The majority of these deaths were linked to prescription drugs. Connecticut was also one of 29 states (and Washington, D.C.) where drug overdose deaths exceeded motor vehicle deaths in 2010. Yet the state fared better than most others, with the 13th lowest rates of drug overdose deaths of all the states.
About 50 Americans die from prescription painkiller overdoses each day, and the medications are responsible for more than 16,000 deaths and 475,000 emergency department visits a year.
Nationwide, the number of drug overdose deaths doubled in 29 states between 1999 and 2010. They quadrupled in four states and tripled in 10 more.
Gillespie said there are multiple reasons that prescription drug abuse continues to be a major public health concern. In addition to the perception that such medications are less dangerous than other drugs, factors might include the wide availability of prescription meds, particularly opioids.
Commonly referred to as painkillers, these often contain addictive substances, such as oxycodone. The TFAH report showed that sales of prescription painkillers per capita quadrupled from 1999 to 2010, and that enough prescription painkillers were prescribed in 2010 to medicate every American adult continually for a month.
Gillespie said there's a mindset in our culture where "if something ails you, you take a pill."
"People often don't mean to become addicted to these medications," she said. "They start taking them after a sports injury or something else. All of a sudden they find that they're addicted to these medications."
"There's been a problem with prescription drug abuse by medical professionals for quite some time," he said.
There are some signs that more people are understanding the risks of these medications. The TFAH report mentions that the number of Americans abusing prescription drugs decreased from 7 million in 2010 to 6.1 million in 2011.
Still, efforts to control misuse of these medications continue. Earlier this year, Connecticut was one of four states selected to participate in a national effort to look at ways to turn the tide of prescription drug abuse. Staff from consumer protection, the state department of public health and other agencies traveled to Washington D.C. to discuss possible solutions to this particular drug problem.
Gadea said Connecticut has long looked at ways to prevent abuse. In 2011, the state began encouraging towns and cities to offer drug take-back boxes at police departments.
The idea is to get people to bring unwanted and unused medication to be properly disposed. This keeps it out of the home, where it could be misused and abused -- either by the person for whom it was prescribed, or other members of the household, including children and adolescents.
About 40 communities have the drop boxes, including Greenwich, Brookfield, Ridgefield, Ansonia and Shelton. Other communities host drug take back days once or twice a year, which also allow people to safely toss their medications.
Connecticut has taken other anti-drug measures, as well -- a fact that's highlighted in the TFAH report.
The study laid out 10 recommended strategies for preventing prescription drug abuse, and rated the states on how many of them they put in place. Connecticut has implemented eight of the 10 measures, including having a prescription monitoring program.
The program collects prescription data for certain drugs into a central database, which can be accessed by doctors and pharmacists. Theoretically, health professionals could use this information to determine whether a patient's use of certain drugs is suspicious.
However, doctors aren't required by state law to use the database, as they are in 16 other states.
Gillespie said the state needs to continue beating the drum to stem abuse, particularly when it comes to changing the way people look at prescription drugs.
"There needs to be more education that painkillers can be addictive," she said.
[email protected]; 203-330-6290; twitter.com/AmandaCuda; http://blog.ctnews.com/whatthehealth/ | <urn:uuid:e7759b69-0bad-461b-86c4-54e89e4938ba> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.newstimes.com/local/article/Prescription-drug-abuse-dangerous-even-fatal-4891604.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783391519.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154951-00128-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953769 | 1,199 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Key: "S:" = Show Synset (semantic) relations, "W:" = Show Word (lexical) relations
Display options for sense: (gloss) "an example sentence"
- S: (n) Dakota (a member of the Siouan people of the northern Mississippi valley; commonly called the Sioux)
- S: (n) Dakota (the area of the states of North Dakota and South Dakota)
- S: (n) Dakota (the Siouan language spoken by the Dakota) | <urn:uuid:8ea4897a-b4d1-41e9-ab94-cf0360b7055a> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=DAKOTA | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783408840.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155008-00103-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.866228 | 109 | 2.84375 | 3 |
With a snapshot, your virtualization software has to keep track of four things: CPU state, RAM, configuration (how many network cards in the VM?), and disk. I'm ignoring the first three things because they're not huge amounts of data, the software can just make copies of the relatively small data structures and store them in a file. So, that leaves only the disk snapshotting to explain.
First off, what the VM sees as a hard disk is really just a set of files on the host file system. To do a snapshot, the virtual machine software takes the VM's disk at a certain point in time, preserves it, opens a new empty disk file, and does a copy-on-write scheme with every subsequent disk access.
Let's say your disk file is BigVM.disk. You snapshot and now your VM software renames your disk to BigVM-s1.disk, then makes a new empty BigVM.disk. When your VM is running, all read requests go through BigVM.disk. If that file does not have an entry for the part of the disk your VM wants, then the data from BigVM-s1.disk is returned. On a write, the data is written to BigVM.disk instead of BigVM-s1.disk. A future read to that same sector will return the data from BigVM.disk instead of the original snapshot contained in BigVM-s1.disk. BigVM-s1.disk contains your VM's hard disk state as of your snapshot, while BigVM.disk contains all the diffs to your disk since that snapshot.
What happens when you revert to an older snapshot? The VM software throws away the contents of BigVM.disk and starts over, with a new empty BigVM.disk which still points at BigVM-s1.disk. | <urn:uuid:9e1f676a-dfbe-4976-b5a2-1116bca4372c> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://serverfault.com/questions/21615/how-does-virtual-machine-snapshotting-work/21616 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783391634.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154951-00140-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.913175 | 380 | 2.609375 | 3 |
This debate, too, has a Nazi-era parallel, and fittingly enough it was about money and centered in London, or “Moscow on the Thames,” as many call it now due to the number of wealthy Russians who park their assets in British banks and real estate. But it begins in another favored oligarch destination: Switzerland. In my informal survey of knowledgeable friends, few had even heard of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). This “bank of central banks,” still based in Basel and founded in 1930, is the sort of shadowy institution that now regularly appears as a villain in Hollywood movies. It is well worth reading up on the remarkable story of how the BIS continued to operate during the war, with a board and staff composed of representatives of both Allied and Axis nations and presided over by an American. I will limit myself to one remarkable true tale, that of 23 tons of Czech gold.
The Czechs, seeing the writing on the wall, had transferred almost all their gold reserves outside of the country for safekeeping by 1939. Some went to Basel, and 1845 bars of it, worth six million 1939 British pounds, or nearly $400 million in today’s dollars, went to the Bank of England in London. Just days after the Nazis took Prague, on March 18, two bank-transfer requests quickly went out. (Literally at gunpoint, it was later revealed.) One for the 23.1 tons of Czech gold held with the BIS at the Bank of London, to be moved to the Reichsbank’s account. The other for 26.8 tons held by the Czechoslovak National Bank in London. The second transfer did not take place, as the Bank of England followed the new law freezing Czech assets in Britain.
But the BIS emptied the Czech account of the 23.1 tons and just a few days after that, the Reichsbank moved the gold via transfers and then physically to its vaults in Berlin. It took weeks before the British and French press got wind of the story, and the outrage was far too late in coming to do anything about it. Then in June, a remarkable discussion took place in the British House of Commons, when a bill was introduced to oblige the Bank of England to consult with the government on any issue affecting national interests.
As obvious as this measure may sound, the bill went down to defeat 125-196—and this in June of 1939, only months before Hitler’s invasion of Poland! Sir Herbert Williams spoke for the No camp. “[MP Strauss, the bill’s sponsor] is merely denouncing the Government and the Bank of England and Herr Hitler and some other people, which is always pleasant to do,” he said. “[B]ut it is very foolish to allow yourself to be irritated because of a particular transaction. It might lead you into a great mess later on.” A great mess indeed. Winston Churchill was more on point, saying in the House that it would be difficult to get people to enlist in the military when the administration itself was “so butter-fingered that six million pounds of gold can be transferred to the Nazi government!”
This obscure story struck a chord with me when I first came across it in 2009 in a Russian article on the history of the morally agnostic global banking system. It reminded me of the countless deals struck by Putin and his oligarch allies all across Europe, and how the governments that could enforce their own corruption laws so often look the other way. When the oil magnate and dissident Mikhail Khodorkovsky was jailed and his company Yukos dismembered and sold to Putin’s friends at the state company Rosneft, the guarantees and IPO were all underwritten and coordinated by big brand-name Western banks and agencies, giving Putin and his clique the legitimacy and hard cash they need to stay in power.
And yet today many leaders and pundits alike cry about their lack of leverage over Russia, and how unfair it is to “denounce Herr Putin” over a tiny peninsula when many billions of dollars are at stake. Staying on good terms with Russia is not important to them, but they are very concerned about staying on the most intimate terms with Russian money. They have all the leverage in the world, if only they have the courage to use it. German Chancellor Angela Merkel approached the right level of urgency on Thursday, when she rallied German business leaders for sanctions and warned of the “massive economic and political harm” that would come to Russia should Putin not abandon his ambitions in Ukraine.
Putin is no master strategist. He’s an aggressive poker player facing weak opposition from a Western world that has become so risk-averse that it would rather fold than call any bluff, no matter how good its cards are. In the end, Putin is a Russian problem, of course, and Russians must deal with how to remove him. He and his repressive regime, however, are supported directly and indirectly by the free world due to this one-way engagement policy. Putin is no Hitler, and there will never be another. But we cannot forget the harsh lessons Hitler taught us about the fatal dangers of appeasing a dictator, of disunity in the face of aggression and of greedily grabbing at an ephemeral peace while guaranteeing a lasting war. | <urn:uuid:dc680f56-7942-4be6-9be1-9eb01eb490bc> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/03/vladmir-putin-crimea-hitler-1938-104711_Page2.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397797.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00081-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975066 | 1,106 | 2.53125 | 3 |
I'm very proud to post here a really interesting essay written by John O'Donnell comparing the beauty of Mathematics and Poetry.
I hope you'll enjoy reading as much as I did.
John, thanks for sharing.
Are the great mathematical and scientific theories works of art?
Beauty, harmony, elegance. These are words that we normally associate with what is best in the arts. It may surprise some to hear that these terms are also used in fields where dispassionate logic is often assumed to hold sway – physics and mathematics.
It has even been said that equations are the poetry of science.
The great physicists almost invariably used standards of beauty and elegance to help them formulate their best theories. It was only after these theories had been created that the hard graft of comparing them with experiment was undertaken by other talented if less original minds.
The phrase “it must be beautiful” has been attributed to two of the greatest scientists – Einstein and Dirac - when describing how they arrived at their extraordinarily successful equations. Einstein went so far as to say- when an early experiment seemed to contradict his theory of relativity – that he felt sorry for the experimenter because he must have made a mistake, his theory was too beautiful to be wrong.
The same is true in pure mathematics, an activity where we would assume that logic and rigour are the most important factors. Take this quote from the great Irish mathematician William Rowan Hamilton:
“Mathematics is an aesthethic creation, akin to poetry with its own mysteries and moments of profound revelation”
The process of coming up with a great scientific or mathematical theory is remarkably similar to the process of creating a work of art. Surely this cannot be a coincidence. Why should powerful theories in mathematics and science also be beautiful? Why are the beautiful theories often (though not always) correct while “uglier” theories are more often wrong? This is a profound question that nobody has adequately answered up to now.
What makes something beautiful or elegant? Are there objective criteria to decide this? I am only raising the questions. Maybe you readers out there can provide some answers? | <urn:uuid:bd26dd40-917f-4812-8572-2600c9869608> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://laspeedwing.blogspot.com/2011/11/beautiful-maths.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393332.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00062-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975411 | 439 | 2.90625 | 3 |
Cancer and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-1 )
Editorial / British Medical Journal BMJ 2000;321:847-848 7oct00
A potential mechanism linking the environment with cancer risk
|The milk from cows treated with rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone, a genetically engineered hormone by Monsanto that is injected into cows to make them produce more milk), has higher levels of IGF-1. Contrary to the claims of Monsanto, it is not destroyed in the human stomach.|
Insulin-like growth factor-I acts as an important mediator between growth hormone and growth throughout fetal and childhood development. Its effects and those of the other insulin-like growth factors are modulated by at least six different binding proteins. The role of insulin-like growth factor-I in promoting cancer has been investigated for many years, but recently the quality and quantity of evidence has increased.1 In particular, a number of prospective studies using stored blood collected up to 14 years before the onset of disease have shown associations between insulin-like growth factor-I and prostate cancer, premenopausal breast cancer, and colon cancer.2-4
The risk of cancer is higher among people with raised concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I, and it is lower among those with high concentrations of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (the main binding protein). The associations are similar when people whose blood samples were taken soon before diagnosis are excluded from analyses, suggesting that the observed relations are not due to the release of the growth factor by preclinical cancers.2-4 The effects are sizeable and stronger than the effects seen in relation to most previously reported risk factors.1 Weaker evidence from case-control studies suggests that the ratio of insulin-like growth factor-I to insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 may also be related to the risk of childhood leukaemia and lung cancer. 5 6
The increasing direct epidemiological evidence that relates insulin-like growth factor-I to the risk of cancer is consistent with more circumstantial evidence. Acromegaly, in which high concentrations of growth hormone stimulate production of high concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I, has been associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer and breast cancer in some studies and less consistently with prostate, thyroid, and haematological malignancies.7 In many studies anthropometric markers of the activity of insulin-like growth factor-I, such as height and leg length, are associated with cancer incidence, particularly with the cancers for which risk increases with rising concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I.8 While adult height is not strongly associated with concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I in cross sectional studies, it may be a marker for this growth factor during childhood growth,9 and this may be the period during which it acts to increase the risk of cancer occurring in later life.3 Additionally, animal studies have shown that high overall intake of energy in early postnatal life is associated with an increased cancer risk, and this association has recently been found in humans.10 In animals, calorie restriction reduces the risk of cancer primarily by reducing the circulating concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I.11
Support for the link between cancer and this growth factor comes from an understanding of the potential mechanisms. Concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I could be a surrogate for the activity of sex steroid hormones, which in turn influence the risk of cancer. However, associations between insulin-like growth factor-I and cancers dependent on sex hormones are stronger than those between directly measured concentrations of sex hormones and these cancers. Insulin-like growth factor-I may increase cell turnover and the susceptibility of cells to malignant transformation both directly and by modulating the effects of sex steroids. The fact that the risk associated with increased concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I is greater in people whose DNA is more susceptible to damage induced by mutagens supports this suggestion.6 Alternatively, insulin-like growth factor-I might increase the risk of cancer through its anti-apoptotic activity.1 In this case it prevents the programmed death of cells that have been transformed thus interrupting an important process which retards the development of cancer. Experiments using animal and cell cultures have shown that the anti-apoptotic activity of insulin-like growth factor-I is counterbalanced by the activity of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3, which may have a direct and independent stimulatory action on apoptosis.
Given the increasing evidence of the risk of cancer, caution should be exercised in the exogenous use of either insulin-like growth factor-I or substances that increase concentrations of it. Despite supposedly being restricted to use only in licensed applications, growth hormone is easily available as an anti-ageing treatment and is surprisingly widely used by athletes and body builders, who also use insulin-like growth factor-I. Those who use these products are unlikely to be aware of their potentially harmful effects.
The final accounting on the balance sheet of growth hormone, insulin-like growth factor-I, and chronic disease is uncertain. The increasing evidence of a risk of cancer may be counterbalanced by a protective effect on the risk of cardiovascular disease. Growth hormone deficiency is associated with an adverse cardiovascular risk profile and increased risk of mortality from cardiovascular disease.12 Low concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I are also associated with cardiovascular morbidity in the elderly.13 Furthermore, the same studies that have shown a positive association between height and cancer risk suggest that greater height is associated with decreases in cardiovascular and all cause mortality.14
The predictive value of insulin-like growth factor-I may be useful in screening for cancer. For example, the ratio of insulin-like growth factor-I to prostate specific antigen may be a better predictor of the development of prostate cancer than the antigen alone.15 Growth hormone antagonists are being investigated as treatments for some cancers and chemotherapeutic agents are being developed to block the activity of insulin-like growth factor-I or to promote the activity of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3; these agents may offer additional ways of stimulating apoptosis in malignantly transformed cells. Lastly, better knowledge of the factors that influence overall concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I may help in devising strategies to prevent cancer at a population level.
Much recent attention has focused on the human genome project and its
potential for unravelling the causes of cancer. The genes that have
been identified as causing cancer so far account for only a small
proportion of major cancers. The rapid and sizeable changes in the
incidence of cancer that have been seen during times of economic
development coupled with the findings from twin studies - which
compare the concordance of cancer risk in identical and non-identical
twins to determine the relative influence of genetic and
environmental factors - both point to the importance of non-genomic
factors.16 The new epidemiological findings about
insulin-like growth factor-I provide one potential mechanism through which
an array of previously identified environmental risk factors may
act. Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PR Department of Surgery, University of Bristol
George Davey Smith, professor, clinical epidemiology.
David Gunnell, senior lecturer, epidemiology and public health.
Jeff Holly, professor, clinical science.
Department of Social Medicine, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 2PR
Department of Surgery, University of Bristol
2. Chan JM, Stampfer MJ, Giovannucci E, Gann PH, Ma J, Wilkinson P, et al. Plasma insulin-like growth factor-I and prostate cancer risk: a prospective study. Science 1998; 279: 563-566[Abstract/Full Text].
3. Hankinson SE, Willett WC, Colditz GA, Hunter DJ, Michaud DS, Deroo B, et al. Circulating concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I and risk of breast cancer. Lancet 1998; 351: 1393-1396[Medline].
4. Ma P, Pollak MN, Giovannucci E, Chan JM, Tao Y, Hennekens CH, et al. Prospective study of colorectal cancer risk in men and plasma levels of insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-binding protein-3. J Natl Cancer Inst 1999; 91: 620-625[Abstract/Full Text].
5. Petridou E, Dessypris N, Spanos E, Mantzoros C, Skalkidou A, Kalmanti M, et al. Insulin-like growth factor-I and binding protein-3 in relation to childhood leukaemia. Int J Cancer 1999; 80: 494-496[Medline].
7. Jenkins P. Cancer in acromegaly. Trends Endocrinology Metab 1998; 9: 360-366.
8. Gunnell D. Height, insulin-like growth factors and cancer risk. Growth Horm IGF Res 2000; 10(suppl A): 39-40S.
9. Juul A, Bang P, Hertel NT, Main K, Dalgaard P, Jorgensen K, et al. Serum insulin-like growth factor-I in 1030 healthy children, adolescents, and adults: relation to age, sex, stage of puberty, testicular size, and body mass index. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 1994; 78: 744-752[Medline].
11. Dunn SE, Kari FW, French J, Leininger JR, Travlos G, Wilson R, et al. Dietary restriction reduces insulin-like growth factor I levels, which modulated apoptosis, cell proliferation, and tumor progression in p53-defieicnt mice. Cancer Res 1997; 57: 4667-4672[Medline].
13. Janssen JAMJL, Stolk RP, Pols HAP, Grobbe DE, Lamberts SWJ. Serum total IGF-I, free IGF-I and IGFBP-1 levels in an elderly population. Relation to cardiovascular risk factors and disease. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 1998; 18: 277-282[Abstract/Full Text].
14. Davey Smith G, Hart C, Upton M, Hole D, Gillis C, Watt G, et al. Height and risk of death among men and women: aetiological implications of associations with cardiorespiratory and cancer mortality. J Epidemiol Commun Health 2000; 54: 97-103[Abstract/Full Text].
15. Djavan B, Bursa B, Seitz C, Soeregi G, Remzi M, Basharkhah A, et al. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), IGF-I density and IGF/PSA ratio for prostate cancer detection. Urology 1999; 54: 603-606[Medline].
16. Lichtenstein P, Holm NV, Verkasalo PK, Iliadou A, Kaprio J, Koskenvuo M, et al. Environmental and heritable factors in the causation of cancer -- analyses of cohorts of twins from Sweden, Denmark, and Finland. N Engl J Med 2000; 343: 78-85[Medline].
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explaining it to someone else. This deepens your memories and helps integrate what you've learned with what you already knew. A new study has tested the benefits of another beneficial learning activity - drawing.
Annett Schmeck and her team asked 48 German school-kids (average age 14) to read a 850-word passage about the biology of influenza, broken down into seven paragraphs. This was an unfamiliar topic to the teens, and they knew they were going to be tested on the content afterwards.
Crucially, half the pupils were asked to produce a drawing for each of the paragraphs, to depict visually the content of the paragraphs. They were assisted by a basic background image of a cell (or similar), and a legend showing basic components their drawing should include, such as an antibody. The other pupils only had the text to study and they acted as a control group. All participating pupils worked at their own pace.
There were two tests on the scientific text: a multi-choice comprehension test, and a drawing test that involved drawing key concepts from the text. The group who'd produced drawings while they were learning out-performed the control group on both the multiple-choice (scoring 61 per cent correct on average vs. 44 per cent) and the drawing test (scoring 52 per cent on average vs. 28 per cent).
This first experiment has some obvious limitations that Schmeck and her team sought to address in a follow-up involving 168 more pupils (average age 14). Most importantly, the researchers showed that drawing each paragraph of the to-be-learned text led to superior test performance (63 per cent correct on multiple choice, on average), even when compared to a condition in which pupils were instead provided with drawings produced by the author of the scientific text (53 per cent correct). The better the pupils' drawings, the more successful they were in the tests afterwards.
The researchers said that drawing has this benefit for learning because it "encourages learners to engage in generative cognitive processing during learning such as organising the relevant information into a coherent structure, and integrating it with relevant prior knowledge from long-term memory."
The results come with a number of caveats - the study material in this research was scientific and involved a causal chain of events. It's not clear if drawing will also help people learn other kinds of content. Moreover, the tests took place right after the learning phase, so it's not known if the benefits of drawing will be long-lasting. Also, it's worth noting that this research looked at assisted drawing - that is, the pupils were given a background image to draw upon and told what graphic elements to include. The researchers concluded: "drawing during learning appears to be a potentially powerful strategy for improving students' learning from scientific text when certain boundaries and prerequisites are taken into account."
Schmeck, A., Mayer, R., Opfermann, M., Pfeiffer, V., & Leutner, D. (2014). Drawing pictures during learning from scientific text: testing the generative drawing effect and the prognostic drawing effect Contemporary Educational Psychology, 39 (4), 275-286 DOI: 10.1016/j.cedpsych.2014.07.003
How to study
The Digest guide to ... studying
Post written by Christian Jarrett (@psych_writer) for the BPS Research Digest. | <urn:uuid:5843cf54-fe27-4e66-a895-83cfa2cee9b2> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://digest.bps.org.uk/2014/12/what-to-learn-something-better-draw-it.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783391519.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154951-00074-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96044 | 686 | 3.75 | 4 |
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) kicked off a program seeking ways to convert existing large aircraft into drone carriers that could launch waves of unmanned aircraft a safe distance from a target to carry out a mission and then recover them—all while in flight. DARPA issued a request for information (RFI) kicking off the program November 7.
“We want to find ways to make smaller aircraft more effective, and one promising idea is enabling existing large aircraft, with minimal modification, to become ‘aircraft carriers in the sky’,” Dan Patt, program manager for DARPA’s Tactical Technology Office, said in an official statement issued by the agency.
The RFI document says that DARPA is seeking to prove “the feasibility and potential value of the ability to launch and recover volleys of small UAS [unmanned aircraft systems] from one or more existing large platforms (e.g., B-52, B-1, C-130, etc.).” The drones would carry payloads of less than 100 points and would need to be low-cost to be produced in large quantities for the sort of capability DARPA envisions.
For now, all DARPA wants is short technical proposals (of eight pages or less) that provide ideas on the technologies and approaches “that would enable low-cost reusable small UAS platforms and airborne launch and recovery systems that would require minimal modifications of existing large aircraft types,” the best sorts of missions to use such technology for, and outlines for how to turn these ideas into “full-system flight demonstrations within four years,” according to a DARPA statement on the program. | <urn:uuid:17ed10b3-452d-4634-a227-6f69f3a5245c> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/11/darpa-wants-to-turn-existing-planes-into-drone-motherships/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783398516.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154958-00127-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942703 | 345 | 3.1875 | 3 |
Lake Titicaca is a lake in the Andes on the border of Peru and Bolivia. By volume of water, it is the largest lake in South America. It is often called the highest navigable lake in the world, with a surface elevation of 3,812 m. Although this refers to navigation by large boats, it's generally considered to mean commercial craft. At least two dozen bodies of water around the world are at higher elevations, but all are much smaller and shallower.
The cold sources and winds over the lake give it an average surface temperature of 10 to 14 °C.
The origin of the name Titicaca is unknown. It has been translated as "Rock Puma", as local communities have traditionally interpreted the shape of the lake to be that of a puma hunting a rabbit. "Titicaca" combines words from the local languages Quechua and Aymara. The word is also translated as "Crag of Lead". Locally, the lake goes by several names. Because the southeast quarter of the lake is separate from the main body (connected only by the Strait of Tiquina), the Bolivians call it Lago Huiñaymarca (Quechua: Wiñay Marka) and the larger part Lago Chucuito. In Peru, these smaller and larger parts are referred to as Lago Pequeño and Lago Grande, respectively.
Lake Titicaca holds large populations of water birds and was designated as a Ramsar Site on August 26, 1998. Several threatened species such as the huge Titicaca Water Frog and the flightless Titicaca Grebe are largely or entirely restricted to the lake, and the Titicaca orestias has gone extinct due to competition and predation by various introduced species of trouts and silversides. In addition to the Titicaca orestias, native fish species in the lake's basin are other species of Orestias, and catfish from the genera Astroblepus and Trichomycterus (the last genus not in the lake itself, but in associated ecosystems). Approximately 90% of the fish species in the basin are endemic.
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Title: Smoke exposure among firefighters at prescribed burns in the Pacific Northwest.
Author: Reinhardt, Timothy E.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Hanneman, Andrew J.S.;
Source: Res. Pap. PNW-RP-526. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 45 p
Publication Series: Research Paper (RP)
Description: Smoke exposure measurements among firefighters during prescribed burns in the Pacific Northwest between 1991 and 1994 showed that a small but significant percentage of workers experienced exposure to carbon monoxide and respiratory irritants that exceeded occupational exposure limits. This most often was caused by unfavorable winds or fire behavior and occurred mostly among workers involved in maintaining the fire within the prescribed boundaries. Smoke exposure in such peak exposure situations was up to three times above recommended limits. Exposure to acrolein benzene, formaldehyde, and respirable particulate matter could be predicted from measurements of carbon monoxide. Electronic dosimeters were the best tool to assess smoke exposure routinely, so long as quality assurance concepts were included in the monitoring program.
Keywords: smoke hazards, firefighters, health effects, pollutants, Pacific Northwest
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Reinhardt, Timothy E.; Ottmar, Roger D.; Hanneman, Andrew J.S. 2000. Smoke exposure among firefighters at prescribed burns in the Pacific Northwest. Res. Pap. PNW-RP-526. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 45 p
Get the latest version of the Adobe Acrobat reader or Acrobat Reader for Windows with Search and Accessibility | <urn:uuid:5b50a460-2744-472e-9ad3-ef3bbedaad59> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.treesearch.fs.fed.us/pubs/2940 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397797.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00183-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.894196 | 444 | 2.765625 | 3 |
THEY might be ancient graffiti tags left by a worker or symbols of religious significance. A robot has sent back the first images of markings on the wall of a tiny chamber in the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt that have not been seen for 4500 years. It has also helped settle the controversy about the only metal known to exist in the pyramid, and shows a "door" that could lead to another hidden chamber.
The pyramid is thought to have been built as a tomb for the pharaoh Khufu, and is the last of the seven wonders of the ancient world still standing. It contains three main chambers: the Queen's Chamber, the Grand Gallery and the King's Chamber, which has two air shafts connecting it with the outside world. Strangely, though, there are two tunnels, about 20 centimetres by 20 centimetres, that extend from the north and south walls of the Queen's Chamber and stop at stone doors before they reach the outside of the pyramid (see diagram).
The function of these tunnels and doors is unknown, but some believe that one or both could lead to a secret chamber.
Discovery News (Rossella Lorenzi)
A robot explorer sent through the Great Pyramid of Giza has begun to unveil some of the secrets behind the 4,500-year-old pharaonic mausoleum as it transmitted the first images behind one of its mysterious doors.
The images revealed hieroglyphs written in red paint that have not been seen by human eyes since the construction of the pyramid. The pictures also unveiled new details about two puzzling copper pins embedded in one of the so called "secret doors."
Published in the Annales du Service Des Antiquities de l'Egypte (ASAE), the images of markings and graffiti could unlock the secrets of the monument's puzzling architecture.
"We believe that if these hieroglyphs could be deciphered they could help Egyptologists work out why these mysterious shafts were built," Rob Richardson, the engineer who designed the robot at the University of Leeds, said. | <urn:uuid:8f2737be-e89b-427f-a095-14a1ce7cf41c> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://egyptology.blogspot.com/2011/05/pyramid-exploring-robot-reveals-hidden.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783394937.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154954-00198-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956047 | 423 | 3.21875 | 3 |
Thomas of Celano (chāläˈnō) [key], fl. 13th cent., Italian Franciscan friar. One of the first companions of St. Francis, he wrote the two principal lives of St. Francis, one for Gregory IX and the other for the minister general of the order. He was an early Franciscan missionary to Germany. He probably composed the sequence Dies irae and its celebrated plainsong.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:ee7fff0a-2cf4-419b-ae61-a14cf2ae9f0b> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/people/thomas-celano.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396872.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00113-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922634 | 113 | 2.5625 | 3 |
A Bad Thing and Going to the Falcon's Nest
• The widow is getting used to life on her own after her husband dies.
• Her friend calls her to check on a child who was beaten and burned.
• Tenar bonds with the child.
• Over a year after meeting the burned child, Tenar finds out that Ogion is dying and is calling for her.
• Tenar and the child travel to Ogion.
• Tenar tells Therru stories as they walk, including a story on the history of dragons.
• They woman and child meet menacing men on the road, but get by.
• They arrive at Ogion's house.
Ogion and Kalessin
• Ogion is alone and dying when they see him.
• He is happy to see Tenar and asks after Ged.
• Ogion turns villagers away.
• Ogion tells Tenar to teach Tharru, but not to send her to Roke.
• Ogion goes to the forest with Tenar...
This section contains 592 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) | <urn:uuid:fc5e2f90-f449-4c39-8f25-7f3f3c766bbe> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.bookrags.com/lessonplan/tehanu2/abstracts.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783403502.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155003-00130-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940706 | 237 | 2.78125 | 3 |
In honor of Flag Day, Boy Scouts from Troop 383 in Mentor retired old United States flags no longer fit for display outside the visitor’s center of the James A. Garfield National Historic Site.
The retirement ceremony gives the opportunity for the Boy Scouts to learn proper respect for the flag, the historical significance of
Flag Day as well as the history of the United States flag itself, Scout Master Steve Roos said.
Roos said there are many ways to retire a flag respectfully. The Boy Scouts recited one final pledge of allegiance to the flags before burning them.
The Scouts collected branches and built a fire, read aloud the history of the flag and the holiday before taking turns placing the old flags into the fire.
President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation making every June 14 “Flag Day.”
In 1949, President Harry S. Truman signed a bill into law that made the day “National Flag Day.”
There have been 27 different flag designs since 1777.
The current design has been used since July 4, 1960.
The Boy Scout troop has been performing retirement ceremonies at the James A. Garfield National Historic Site for the past four years and takes part in other community service projects at the historic site such as leaf raking and a spring clean-up.
Roos said the Department of the Interior created a scout-ranger program that allows Boy Scouts to receive a special patch if they do 10 hours of community service.
Roos said at St. Bede’s, where Troop 383 is based, there is an ongoing collection of unused flags.
“We have bags and bags filled with old flags that were donated to us,” Roos said.
Visitors and citizens were encouraged to drop off flags to the historic site throughout the week. | <urn:uuid:f602a63b-0ff8-4ee3-9747-91a5cf84b3bd> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.news-herald.com/general-news/20140614/mentor-boy-scouts-honor-flag-day-with-retirement-ceremony-at-garfield-site | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393463.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00048-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939907 | 373 | 2.984375 | 3 |
This Too Shall Pass ring
Emptiness is impermanence, it is change
Thich Nhat Hanh
This Ring is based on the legend of King Solomon, wisest of men. This tale appears in many different versions in many cultures all over the world, due to the fact that the principle that lies behind the ring is a principle that is relevant to all our lives as human beings.
King Solomon had an army commander named Benyahu Ben Yehudia. It was during the Passover holiday, Solomon and the kingdom’s ministers convened for the holidays. At the time of the festive meal, King Solomon decided to sting his army commander Benyahu Ben Yehudia, who was a conceited man. “Benyahu”, Solomon addressed the army commander,” I am in need of a special ring, a ring that has special power. This is a ring that when looked upon turns a sad man happy, and a happy man sad. I know that only you of all people can find such a ring. I need such a ring by the eve of the feast of Tabernacles, the next holiday eve that begins in half a year’s time. This way, you will have enough time to locate the ring.” The army commander did not doubt his own ability for a moment, and responded that he will find the ring.
The time passed and Benyahu searched for the ring in every possible place, he sent agents, checked registries, consulted elders, and despite all these attempts he was not able to find even a clue as to the existence of such a ring. Finally, the eve of the feast of Tabernacles arrived and Benyahu found himself wandering through the markets of Jerusalem. The Sun was beginning to set and the peddlers were busy shutting down their stalls. In his despair, the minister approached an old goldsmith and told him about the ring he was searching for. The Goldsmith listened and then took out a simple gold ring and engraved on it three letters and presented it to the army commander. Benyahu looked at the ring and immediately smiled; this was exactly the ring he was looking for.
The Holiday Eve arrived and Solomon’s people convened. Solomon turned to Benyahu smiling, and asked him if he had found the ring. To Solomon’s surprise, the army commander took out a ring and presented it to the king. The king looked at the ring, looked at the beauty and splendor that surrounded it, he then looked around at his ministers and his smile vanished. On the ring were engraved three letters in Hebrew , ג.ז.י, (translated into English, four) T.T.W.P, initials for “THIS TOO SHALL PASS”…
The tale tells us that the understanding that all is ephemeral, and the knowing that all our power, wealth and influence here are temporary. This realization brought King Solomon to write the book of Ecclesiastes that deals with philosophical questions regarding the meaning of life and the pursuit of happiness.
On the center of the ring appears the three letters ג.ז.י while on the length of the ring is engraved the following verse from Ecclesiastes Chapter 1 verse 9 translated into English:
“That which has been is that which will be, And that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun.”
How the ring was created
A few weeks ago I met a childhood friend that I hadn’t seen in years. Over the years he had become a business man who had experienced many great successes and failures. His personal story is a fascinating one. At a very young age he discovered that in one day, his parents lost all their belongings, and he himself was also in debt. As a result, he was compelled to go out and get a job. His belief carried him, and in a short time he was financially successful at a very young age, he had paid back his family debts and had established businesses around the world. The world financial crisis did not spare him and he was forced to close some of his businesses and start over.
The ring is created for the friend who told me the story he that appears above. I told him I already have a similar ring in my collection, but he was adamant that he wanted a new ring based on the story of King Solomon. When I read the book of Ecclesiastes again which King Solomon had written in his old age, I understood exactly why.
King Solomon was a man who had everything, great power and wealth. Towards the end of his days, he also saw through the illusion, that amassing wealth and power is the source of happiness. He therefore turned to spiritual seeking. This same friend also understood this truth, and he too turned to the spiritual path in pursuit of happiness. | <urn:uuid:94d646b9-8bb2-40ab-9315-6f06e4954cdd> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.ka-gold-jewelry.com/p-products/this-too-will-pass-ring-gold.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783399428.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154959-00200-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.988132 | 1,012 | 2.96875 | 3 |
- 101 updates
Lights at hundreds of landmarks have been turned off to commemorate the moment Britain joined the First World War.
The lights on some of Britain's most famous landmarks have been switched off for an hour tonight to remember the 17 million who gave their lives in the First World War.
Tower Bridge, the Houses of Parliament and St Paul's Cathedral all went dark from 10 pm.
Britain officially declared war on Germany at 11pm on August 4, 1914. The conflict lasted four years.
Lights across Britain have been switched off for an hour tonight in a tribute to the 17 million killed in the First World War.
Landmarks including the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge and St Paul's Cathedral all went dark from 10pm.
Prime Minister David Cameron had asked Britons to switch off all but a single light in their homes for an hour.
A single candle has been placed outside Number 10 ahead of the Lights Out campaign.
The 14-18 NOW Lights Out campaign hopes people will leave a single light on between 10 and 11pm to mark the exact hour when Britain declared war on Germany.
The great majority of the millions of casualties in the First World War were on the frontline - from the mud of Flanders to the trenches on the Somme. But sometimes civilians lost their lives too - right here in the West Midlands.
Giant airships - or zeppelins - flew over and dropped bombs. In one such air raid 35 people were killed and many more were injured when Wednesbury, Tipton and Walsall were attacked by mistake. Keith Wilkinson reports.
Number 10 is among the buildings that will turn their lights out in an hour's time to mark the moment Britain declared war on Germany and joined the First World War.
Are you joining in the Lights Out event? Post pictures of your "moment of reflection" on our Facebook page.
A lone bugler played The Last Post during a moving ceremony at St Symphorien military cemetery near Mons, Belgium.
War must always represent the abject failure of humanity, the head of the Anglican church in Ireland has said.
Archbishop of Armagh Dr Richard Clarke said commemorating the First World War could not be spiritually separated from the situation in Gaza and other recent conflicts.
Dr Clarke said: "War must always represent the abject failure of the human spirit and of humanity itself.
"It can never be other and we should never pretend it is other."
The Duke of Cambridge and David Cameron have laid wreaths during a twilight ceremony commemorating the First World War.
Latest ITV News reports
As the Lights Out event to remember those who fought and died in WWI happened last night ITV asked our viewers what they did to take part. | <urn:uuid:32554515-a183-4d5a-b02b-d2584088772f> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.itv.com/news/story/2014-08-05/lights-out-as-britain-commemorates-ww1/?page=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393463.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00020-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961082 | 564 | 2.90625 | 3 |
|Table of contents
CHALLENGES FOR REALIZING
FRESHWATER AND LIVELIHOODS
As discussed in Chapter 4: Freshwater, these systems
have a central role in local livelihoods, providing food
and water, water for agriculture, tourism, recreation and
hydrological power. The introduction of IAS has placed
these opportunities under threat. Non-native species of
fish and plants have been introduced into freshwater
systems to enhance food production, control pests such
as mosquitoes, and to promote water purification.
However, in many cases they have had adverse effects.
|Table 1. Effects of some characteristic aquaculture-related introductions in Africa
|Oreochromis niloticus to Kenya
||Displaced endemic Oreochromis esculentus in Lake Victoria
|Tilapia zillii to Uganda
||Displaced Oreochromis variabilis in Lake Victoria
|Osphronemus goramy to Mauritius
|Oreochromis macrochir and Tilapia rendalli to Cameroon
|Cyprinus carpio to Kenya
||Displacement of local species
|Cyprinus carpio to Zambia
|Cyprinus carpio to Malawi
|Cyprinus carpio to Zimbabwe
|Oreochromis niloticus to Zimbabwe
||Introgression and reduced catches of indigenous tilapias
|Clarias gariepinus to Cameroon
|Carassius auratus to Madagascar
||May have introduced parasites
|Chinese carps to Ethiopia
|Ctenopharyngodon idella to South Africa
||Introduced fish tapeworm
|Cyprinus carpio to Madagascar
|Cyprinus carpio to South Africa
||Reduced catches of local species; introduced 7 exotic parasites
|Heterotis niloticus to Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, CAR, Gambia, Congo
|Oncorhynchus mykiss to Morocco
|Salmo trutta to South Africa
||Eradication of local species
|Oreochromis niloticus to Madagascar
||Genetic introgression and replacement of local species
Source: Brummet 2002
Although the use of alien species in aquaculture has
had many positive effects, when these species escape or
become invasive they can cause significant ecosystem
damage. The Mozambique tilapia is an invasive in
Northern Africa and has spread worldwide through
introductions for aquaculture, as well as into the coastal
waters of several WIO countries (IUCN/SSC/ISSG).
Established populations in the wild are the result of
intentional releases as well as escapes from fish farms.
The same is true of the Nile tilapia, from Northern Africa,
which has become an IAS in Southern Africa. This species
can hybridize with the Mozambique tilapia, threatening
its very existence in its native habitat (van der Vaal 2002).
Procambarus clarkii (Louisiana crayfish) has been
introduced for aquaculture as well as a biological control
agent for snail hosts of bilharzia. It escaped from
aquaculture sites and is responsible for the
disappearance of water lilies and submerged vegetation,
as well as many species of snails, in the wetlands of
Eastern and Southern Africa (Howard and Matindi 2003).
It threatens the existence of smaller fish, and its habit of
burrowing can result in damage to dams and reservoirs. It
tolerates a wide range of salinities, oxygen-poor
conditions, high pollution and fluctuating water levels.
These factors, along with the ability of adult crayfish to
travel long distances across land, have made it an
effective invasive species (GISP 2004). In Kenya, it was
introduced into Lake Naivasha where it has supported a
lucrative export industry to Europe. The crayfish has
become a keystone species in the lake, resulting in a
cyclical boom-or-bust scenario with plants and other fish
disappearing and then recovering (GISP 2004).
|Box 5: Water hyacinth wreaks havoc
The water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), imported into Africa
from the Amazon River Basin in South America, is exploding
into large infestations and is causing serious disruption to
environments, economies and societies. Rivers, dams, lakes
and other water bodies have become infested.
Lake Victoria is one of the most affected lakes. Although it
is not known when or how the plant first entered the lake,
reports suggest that it has been present in the lake since the
1980s. By 1998 it covered about 20 000 ha and huge mats
paralysed activities in ports, villages and bays. At times it has
even prevented large and small boats from leaving their
harbours. Through biological control methods the water
hyacinth has been effectively brought under control, and
now only covers 2 000 ha of the lake surface.
In West Africa, the water hyacinth is a major problem,
affecting more than 550 km along the Niger River. Countries
such as Niger, Mali, Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Senegal use
various approaches to control its spread. The measures
include chemical, biological and mechanical control.
The economic impacts of the water hyacinth, in seven
African countries, have been estimated at between US$20-
50 million every year. Across Africa costs may be as much
as US$100 million annually.
Sources: UNEP 2003a, McNeely and others 2001, GISP 2004
Extent of water hyacinth coverage in Murchison
Bay, Lake Victoria, Uganda (1995, 1999).
Source: UNEP/GRID and USGS EROS Data Centre in UNEP 2004 | <urn:uuid:46a797ef-8e31-4426-80cd-9be6e7619f8e> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.unep.org/dewa/Africa/publications/AEO-2/content/173.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396959.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00189-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.860983 | 1,265 | 3.25 | 3 |
Please note: This information was current at the time of publication. But medical information is always changing, and some information given here may be out of date. For regularly updated information on a variety of health topics, please visit familydoctor.org, the AAFP patient education Web site.
Information from Your Family Doctor
What to Do When Your Child Refuses to Go to School
FREE PREVIEW. AAFP members and paid subscribers: Log in to get free access. All others: Purchase online access.
FREE PREVIEW. Purchase online access to read the full version of this article.
Am Fam Physician. 2003 Oct 15;68(8):1563-1564.
What is school refusal?
Children with school refusal are scared to go to school. They may be so scared that they won't leave the house. School refusal is most common in 5- and 6-year-olds and in 10- and 11-year-olds, but it can start at any age.
The problem might start after a child has been home for awhile, such as after a holiday, summer vacation, or brief illness. It also might happen after a stressful event, such as moving to a new house or the death of a pet or relative.
Children who won't go to school often say they feel sick. They might wake up and say they have a headache, stomachache, or sore throat. If they stay home from school, the “illness” might go away, but it comes back the next morning before school. Some children may have crying spells or temper tantrums.
What other problems are children with school refusal likely to have?
Children with school refusal may worry about the safety of their parents or themselves. They may not want to be in a room by themselves, and they may be scared of the dark. They also may have trouble falling asleep by themselves and might have nightmares.
What is the difference between school refusal and “playing hooky”?
Children who are truant (or “playing hooky”) are not scared to go to school the way children with school refusal are. The table below compares some of the characteristics of school refusal and truancy.
The child is unreasonably scared of going to school.
The child might pretend to be sick or say he or she doesn't want to go to school.
The child usually wants to stay home because he or she feels safe there.
The child chooses not to go to school.
The child skips school and doesn't tell his or her parents.
The child may have antisocial behaviors such as delinquency, lying, and stealing.
What should I do if my child refuses to go to school?
Take your child to the doctor. Anxiety or a physical illness might be causing the problem. You also should talk to your child's teacher or school counselor.
How will I know if my child is really sick?
Your child's doctor will be able to rule out any illness that may be causing the problem.
How is school refusal treated?
Unreasonable fears about leaving home can be treated. Parents must keep trying to get their child to go back to school. Your child's doctor may want your child to talk to a psychologist, social worker, or child psychiatrist. The doctor also might prescribe medicine to help with your child's anxiety.
The longer your child stays out of school, the harder it will be to return. The goal of treatment is to help your child learn ways to reduce anxiety and return to school.
Can other problems develop if my child does not get help?
Children who do not go to school for long periods may develop serious learning setbacks or social problems. Children who do not get professional help might have emotional problems such as anxiety when they get older. Early treatment of this problem is important for your child's well-being.
This handout is provided to you by your family doctor and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Other health-related information is available from the AAFP online at http://familydoctor.org.
This information provides a general overview and may not apply to everyone. Talk to your family doctor to find out if this information applies to you and to get more information on this subject.
Copyright © 2003 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
This content is owned by the AAFP. A person viewing it online may make one printout of the material and may use that printout only for his or her personal, non-commercial reference. This material may not otherwise be downloaded, copied, printed, stored, transmitted or reproduced in any medium, whether now known or later invented, except as authorized in writing by the AAFP. Contact [email protected] for copyright questions and/or permission requests.
Want to use this article elsewhere? Get Permissions | <urn:uuid:5b86269e-f238-4dd8-9d54-e4735b5aa196> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.aafp.org/afp/2003/1015/p1563.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783398516.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154958-00049-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960155 | 993 | 2.609375 | 3 |
In June 1969, the Cuyahoga River in downtown Cleveland caught fire. The river caught fire. Thickly polluted with sludge and waste from industries, the river’s surface burst into flames when touched by a spark from a train passing on a bridge above.
Rachel Carson had exposed our industrial abuse of the environment with “Silent Spring” in 1962. But it was the 1969 Cuyahoga River fire that finally pushed our government into action.
This month, we celebrate the 40th anniversaries of two key federal responses: the Clean Water Act (on Oct. 18) and the Marine Mammal Protection Act (on Oct. 21). These 1972 acts have been global models in helping to restore our lakes, rivers and oceans back toward the clean and diversely populated natural — and national — resources they once were.
The Clean Water Act established rules that made it illegal to dump un-permitted pollutants into waterways and empowered the fledgling Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to punish those who do. It also reinforced water-quality standards, gave new protections to wetlands and funded the construction of municipal sewage-treatment plants.
These governmental efforts were huge first steps that were mandated by an angry and appalled citizenry, who have continued to take action. Across America, environmental advocates, industrialists, civic leaders and state, federal and local policymakers have worked together so that people can boat, swim and fish in waters that were deemed unsafe a generation ago.
Terry Backer, for example, has been a staunch defender of our waters as the Soundkeeper now for 25 years. Locally, we have the Norwalk River Watershed Initiative, a partnership among the river’s seven watershed municipalities, plus federal and state governments, conservation and environmental groups, businesses and the public, all working together to address local water-quality and resource-protection issues.
Similarly but on a larger scale, the Long Island Sound Study (LISS) is bi-state partnership consisting of federal and state agencies, user groups and concerned organizations and individuals dedicated to restoring and protecting Long Island Sound.
The LISS was created in 1985. Around the same time, another passionate group of civic leaders began putting together plans for an aquarium in South Norwalk that would focus on teaching visitors about the Sound and its animals. When The Maritime Aquarium opened in 1988, seals were rare winter visitors to the Sound. Their New England populations were only beginning to rebound after decades of attack by Gulf of Maine fishermen, who saw seals as being competition for their livelihood and so freely shot them.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 stopped that practice, giving sweeping safeguards to not just seals but also dolphins, whales, manatees and even sea otters and polar bears. Under the law’s protections, populations of threatened species — such as whales, elephant seals, the West Indian manatee and the Pacific harbor seal — are rebounding. Gray seals off Cape Cod now have established one of the largest “haul-out” sites on the Atlantic coast. And The Maritime Aquarium’s Winter Creature Cruises have helped to document a large population of seals in Long Island Sound each winter. There’s now evidence that a small number of seals are staying year-round.
The Maritime Aquarium encourages everyone to remain passionate and active stewards of our environment. Our keeping a good keen eye on the dirty ways of the world will prevent our waters from returning to their sad dirty ways. | <urn:uuid:a8426872-83a7-494d-b426-fb6565f85f1d> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.thewestonforum.com/5081/commentary-clean-water-and-marine-mammal-protection-acts-turn-40/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783394987.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154954-00185-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953699 | 707 | 3.203125 | 3 |
After iron, zinc is the most abundant trace mineral in human cells, playing a role in immunity, protein synthesis and wound healing. Dietary zinc deficiency affects one-quarter of the world’s population, so accurate and sensitive measurements are needed. Measuring the micronutrient is complex because cells efficiently export zinc, which can be toxic.
The study, published March 20 in the journal Nutrients and led by first author Spenser Reed ’14, uses ratios between two red blood cell fatty acids. One of those fatty acids, linoleic acid, requires a zinc-dependent enzyme to produce the second fatty acid, dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid (DGLA). In other words, without zinc, DGLA doesn’t get made.
By measuring the abundance of linoleic acid relative to DGLA, and vice versa – the ratio of linoleic acid to DGLA becomes higher as zinc deficiency increases – the researchers have identified a potentially sensitive biomarker for testing the body’s zinc status.
“One of the major challenges is to find a parameter that can detect differences between mild zinc deficiency and severe zinc deficiency, according to [standards set by the] the World Health Organization,” said Elad Tako, the paper’s senior author, a physiologist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Robert W. Holley Center for Agriculture and Health and a courtesy food science professor at Cornell. While more study is needed, the method holds promise as a nuanced biomarker, Tako added.
The researchers used broiler chickens in the study, partly due to their omnivorous appetites – which allowed the researchers to feed them purified diets – and because of their red blood cells, fatty acids and genetic similarities to humans.
In the study, one set of chickens was fed a controlled, purified diet with adequate zinc, while another set was fed a zinc-deficient but otherwise identical diet.
“We had to make sure that … the only difference was the dietary zinc and nothing else,” said Reed, who works in Tako’s lab. The researchers examined weekly blood samples, isolated the red blood cells and extracted fatty acids to determine the ratios of linoleic acid to DGLA.
Corroborating their findings, the researchers also examined zinc levels in feather and nail samples and measured the expression of 16 intestinal and liver genes related to zinc metabolism.
To measure a subject’s zinc status, a wide variety of biomarkers are necessary, Reed said. The researchers hope to “add to the compendium of different markers that could be sensitive to zinc deficiency,” said Reed, who plans to complete ongoing experiments in Tako’s lab after graduating, with an eye toward medical school later. The researchers also plan to study the use of the ratio for testing zinc levels under natural diets.
Study co-author Thomas Brenna, professor of nutritional sciences and chemistry, conducted the fatty acid analyses of samples.
Reed was funded by the Hunter Rawlings III Presidential Research Scholars Program and the National Science Foundation Biology Research Internship Program. | <urn:uuid:7ee215e0-e333-4138-bf94-06090a187612> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.technologynetworks.com/FAB/news.aspx?id=164486 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783400031.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155000-00068-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.926777 | 652 | 3.53125 | 4 |
The U.S. Department of Education’s civil rights division issued a report Friday, finding students of color are more likely to be disciplined than white students.
Nationally, the report finds African-American students are suspended or expelled at three times the rate of their white classmates.
It’s a similar trend in Oregon, says the state department of education spokeswoman, Crystal Greene.
“For example, African-American students represent 2.5 percent of the school-aged population in the state, but they represent 6.5 percent of all discipline incidents,” Greene said. “So you can see, there’s a significant disproportionality there. This type of disparity is really unacceptable.”
The new report finds that Oregon schools suspended more than one in five African-American male students during the 2011-12 school year. The rate for white male students was one in twenty.
Oregon’s own calculations found a slightly lower suspension rate for African-American boys than the feds documented. Oregon officials say the rate came down slightly last school year, but still needs work. | <urn:uuid:933f9b5d-2c5e-4628-a09e-2306a9854fd6> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-school-suspensions-follow-national-pattern-of-racial-bias/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396872.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00063-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955186 | 227 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Fertilization Helianthemum apenninum : In autumn letís add some organic fertilizer or granular slow release fertilizer to the soil surrounding the perennials. These plants often have a period of vegetative rest in the winter; the fertilizer will be useful for the spring vegetative reawakening.Exposure Helianthemum apenninum
continental : plant which needs to be exposed to direct sunrays.
alpine : Let's locate the The Helianthemum apenninum in a very luminous place, preferably sunny.
mediterranean : These plants favour sunny exposures, where they can enjoy, even for the whole day, some direct solar rays.
continental : Letís water every 0-1 weeks with 3-4 glasses of water, or even more often if the weather is hot and dry; we should always try to keep the ground slightly damp.
alpine : Water regularly, every 1-2 weeks, wetting the soil thoroughly by using 2-3 glasses of water and keeping it always a bit moist, although avoiding to soak it too much.
mediterranean : For a balanced development these plants need constant and abundant dampness; during this time of year it is good to water frequently, about 4-5 glasses of water at least every -0-0 weeks.
Treatments Helianthemum apenninum : During the cold months many pathogens spend the winter in the ground, at the feet of our plants; letís treat the plants struck by black spot disease or by leaf curl disease with particular attention by applying a wide-range anticryptogamic treatment, to vaporize even on the ground. Letís gather and destroy the leaves of the sick plants. | <urn:uuid:6f75493d-bac9-4b14-88d2-9c84ab087ea9> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.aflowersgarden.com/plants/helianthemum-appenin.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783404382.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155004-00198-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.900284 | 352 | 2.828125 | 3 |
Side blown bamboo flutes are made in many different keys. One fingering chart is needed for each key, totaling 12 charts. To simplify things, I use only one chart in the the key of C major - the most common key, and it also has no sharps or flats.
There are 7 notes in the first octave. Think of the first or lowest note on your flute as a C or a do as in do, re, mi. These 7 notes move in succession and form the diatonic scale, or a major scale. We can call each note a number, such as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. One would be the lowest note of the flute. If your flute is in the key of C, then it will be a C. If your flute is in the key of G, then it will be a G. It may be easier to think of the notes as do, re, mi, where the lowest note will be a do. It's always a do, it doesn't matter what key your flute is in.
There are more fingerings for the major scale than are shown on the opposite page. There are also the sharps and flats which make up the chromatic scale. With half hole technique and a good embouchure, all the notes can be played on the flute. Further more, you can play quarter tones - notes that are in between the piano keys - on the flute.
Here are some of the fingerings for the 6th (la) and the 7th (si) notes:
6th (la) XOO/OOX XOO/OXX XOO/XXX
7th (si) OOO/OOX OOO/XOO OOO/XXO OOO/OXO OOO/OOX
Every flute is unique because of the natural bore of the bamboo. One fingering may work fine for one flute and not the other, especially in the higher notes. Experiment with different fingerings and write down on a piece of paper the fingering and a little description of the characteristics and pitch of the tone so that you will remember them when you want to use them.
*On small flute, the ring finger of the right hand is used instead of the little finger to cover the 3rd finger hole.
For more information please e-mail david at sideblown dot com | <urn:uuid:f9e1b3b6-9944-4c3e-9b97-51ec326ef720> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.sideblown.com/Finger.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783400031.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155000-00023-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941779 | 502 | 2.828125 | 3 |
NAACP Urges Lawmakers To Rename BWI Airport In Honor Of Thurgood MarshallApril 03, 2005
Maryland's native son is the leading civil rights lawyer of the 20th century
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) is calling for state lawmakers to honor Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice by passing the bill to rename Baltimore's airport Thurgood Marshall Baltimore-Washington International Airport.
The Maryland House of Representatives approved the bill in March and the Senate is scheduled to vote Tuesday, April 5.
Dennis Hayes, NAACP Interim President and CEO, said: "I applaud the effort to add Thurgood Marshall's name to BWI Airport. Marshall is an icon of Baltimore, the NAACP and in civil rights history. He persevered in the struggle for civil rights and America is now a more inclusive nation. With Thurgood Marshall's name on BWI his story will continue to be told."
Marshall was born in Baltimore in 1908. He graduated from Douglas High School and attended Howard University Law School. He served as legal director for the NAACP from 1940 to 1961. During this critical period, Marshall led the NAACP legal team that successfully argued the1954 Supreme Court Brown vs. Board decision.
Marshall's lifework through the court system helped to eradicate segregation in housing, voting, education and transportation. He represented and won more Supreme Court cases than any other American before becoming the first African-American elevated to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967. He died in 1993.
Founded in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its half-million adult and youth members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities and monitor equal opportunity in the public and private sectors.
CONTACT: NAACP Office of Communications 410.580.5125 | <urn:uuid:e755503c-fa61-411f-a79c-b71b10cbbda0> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.naacp.org/press/entry/naacp-urges-lawmakers-to-rename-bwi-airport-in-honor-of-thurgood-marshall | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395166.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00124-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952343 | 399 | 2.921875 | 3 |
"Outlining is a vital step in organizing a written project. Organization is the process of putting something together as an orderly, functional, and structured whole; outlining is the best means of achieving this orderly, functional, and structured whole."
Andrea works in the accounting department of a smaller financial firm. Normally, the accounting department does not undertake dramatic, flashy presentations.
Recently, however, Accounting had a severe disagreement with Marketing. Choi, the head of Accounting, believes that a high-impact presentation will help to make the accounting case. Because of tensions between the departments, however, Accounting cannot borrow Marketing’s expertise in presentations. Therefore, Choi has asked Andrea quickly to investigate multimedia presentations and to report her findings.
Using her existing computer knowledge as a guide, Andrea brainstorms to divide her work into manageable units. She arrives at the following list of subtopics:
Macintosh Windows Text Graphics Colour Interaction Sound Video Animation Definition Elements Hardware/Software
To make her outline, all she needs to do next is to organize the subtopics into a hierarchy of points:
*SUB-POINTS, the next level, are subtopics that can all be classified under one or another of the main points. The sub-points of one main point will often be varieties, alternatives, or components of the main point. The first and/or last sub-points should be the strongest or most interesting.
*SUPPORTING POINTS form all the lower levels of the hierarchy. At these levels, possible points tend to be specific and numerous. The supporting points chosen for a report should be the most important, interesting, or convincing points among the possibilities. They should also be classified and grouped in the same manner as the sub-points.
b) Organize your subtopics
into a hierarchy of main points, sub-points, and supporting points (if
b) What would be the main points in your outline? (See the handout.)
Brainstorm these main points to arrive at a list of sub-points and supporting points.
c) By organizing the points in b) into a hierarchy, write an outline for your final written assignment.
d) Now compare your outline with those of your team members. Combine all your outlines into a single outline. It should meet the requirements of the Project Report Assignment and should be created by the selection of the best points in all outlines (rather than the rejection of the "bad" points!). | <urn:uuid:7f3b243c-35b3-4788-b615-619cc88e957e> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://elearning.algonquincollege.com/coursemat/kinneya/Outlining_a_Report.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395992.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00034-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.899765 | 505 | 3.328125 | 3 |
Early Roman Irrigation System Uncovered in England
Friday, March 21, 2014
CAMBRIDGESHIRE, ENGLAND—Construction work at Cambridge University has uncovered a Roman irrigation system dating between 70 and 120 A.D., in addition to traces of settlements from the later Neolithic period, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. The irrigation system may have watered grapevines or asparagus plants in an inland area that was away from the main river valleys. “There has been evidence of gardens and wells, but the extent to which there are planting beds arranged in parallel and along a slope, connecting directly to a water source, is new territory,” archaeologist Chris Evans told BBC News.
Pirates of the Caribbean, evidence for the oldest Irishman, Iron Age Swiss cheese, India’s cannabis frescoes, and the Silk Road route to Nepal | <urn:uuid:8b270a6b-ef20-4465-9ccb-90cb4fac5356> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.archaeology.org/news/1924-140321-england-roman-irrigation | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783399117.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154959-00200-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939421 | 183 | 3.125 | 3 |
Jefferson County, Georgia
|This article is a stub. Help us to expand it by contributing your knowledge. For county page guidelines, visit U.S. County Page Content Suggestions.|
Jefferson is a county in Georgia. It was formed in 1796 from the following county/ies: Burke/Warren. Jefferson began keeping birth records in , marriage records in 1803, and death records in . It began keeping land records in 1865, probate records in 1796, and court records in 1796. For more information, contact the county at P.O. Box 658, Louisville 30434. On the attached map, Jefferson is located at D6.
For information about the state of Georgia see Georgia Family History Research. | <urn:uuid:ca128d40-5a03-4f75-91b9-78b4ca521bde> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.ancestry.com/wiki/index.php?title=Jefferson_County,_Georgia | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396029.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00046-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.917502 | 152 | 2.625 | 3 |
Hmmm. How can 4 Supreme Court justices be an unbreakable phalanx? Isn't the phalanx broken by the mere whim of Anthony Kennedy? Some phalanx!
By the way, a phalanx is "ancient Greek formation of infantry":
The soldiers were arrayed in rows (8 or 16), with arms at the ready, making a solid block that could sweep bristling through the more dispersed ranks of the enemy. Originally employed by the Spartans, it was developed by Epaminondas of Thebes (d. 362 B.C.). Use of the phalanx reached its apex when Philip II and Alexander the Great used the great Macedonian phalanx (16 deep and armed with the sarissa, a spear c.13 ft/4 m long) to conquer all Greece and the Middle East. Later, the Macedonian phalanx deteriorated and had few Macedonians in it; it was defeated in several battles with the Romans who conquered (168 B.C.) the Macedonians at Pydna. Thereafter the phalanx was obsolete. Because it lacked tactical flexilibity [sic], the phalanx was a better defensive than offensive formation.Anyway, Dworkin, armed not with a sarissa but with a sharpened quill pen dipped in his deep well of purple ink, anguishes over the approaching ultra-right-wing phalanx.
The phalanx is attacking doctrines. Doctrines aimed at all sorts of things: "reducing racial isolation and division, recapturing democracy from big money, establishing reasonable dimensions for freedom of conscience and speech, protecting a woman's right to abortion while recognizing social concerns about how that right is exercised, and establishing a criminal process that is fair as well as effective."
Don't worry. In Dworkinworld, when doctrines -- liberal doctrines -- are "aimed" they shoot goodness. The reduction, recapture, protection, and establishment of good things for us. But look out! The ultra-right-wing phalanx is on the march, "proceeding with breathtaking impatience," "Jacobin in its disdain for tradition and precedent," "guided by no judicial or political principle at all."
Go read the article and see if you think he supports his view. He discusses a few cases from last Term: the school integration case, "Bong Hits 4 Jesus," the campaign finance case, etc. With each, he expresses strong support for the dissenting position and strains to show that the conservative majority is not just wrong, but outside of any respectable form of constitutional analysis. He stresses the "virtue" of "integrity" in constitutional analysis, and the ultra-right-wing phalanx (of course) doesn't have it.
Take Hein v. Freedom From Religion, the case in which the Court said that a taxpayer lacked standing to raise an Establishment Clause challenge to spending on White House conferences that helped religious groups apply for federal grants (part of the Faith-Based and Community Initiative). Long ago, in Flast, the Supreme Court devised a doctrine that makes it possible for taxpayers to assert Establishment Clause claims, and this doctrine is noticeably out of synch with the rest of standing doctrine. Ordinarily, taxpayers can't sue over the way the federal government spends tax money. In Hein, the Court faced a new situation -- executive spending rather than statutory law -- and the question was whether to treat it in accord with the general standing doctrine or to include it in the Flast doctrine. I won't further expand this post with more of my own analysis -- which is already set out back here -- or more of Dworkin's -- which you can also read. My point is: You can rail about the incoherence of Alito's decision. The dissenting liberal justices did, and so did Justice Scalia (joined by Thomas) in a [phalanx-breaking] concurring opinion that said Flast should be overruled. But that incoherence comes from an attempt to respect and work with precedent rather than to go back and build clear doctrine from the constitutional text. It doesn't seem quite fair to criticize that as lacking "integrity," especially in a big attack about how the phalanx is overruling things. Dworkin seems to realize he's being incoherent here, because he takes the trouble to assert that "[i]n effect, the majority overruled Flast in pretending to distinguish it." But no, what Alito did (joined by Roberts and Kennedy) was to make a great effort to preserve Flast.
In their Senate confirmation hearings Roberts and Alito both declared their reverence for precedent; they might be reluctant openly to admit that they deceived the Senate and the people. It is therefore not absurd to suppose that this series of odd decisions covertly overruling important precedents is part of a strategy to create the right conditions for overruling them explicitly later.And another not absurd thing to suppose is that they testified honestly. But go ahead, smear their honor. You believe they are ultra-right wingers, and you are Ronald Dworkin, writing in The New York Review of Books, so you might as well suppose and suspect up a storm. | <urn:uuid:4f692708-7cec-4766-bd07-fc66196b03b0> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://althouse.blogspot.com/2007/09/i-suspect-that-john-roberts-senate.html?showComment=1189527720000 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783398516.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154958-00071-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957803 | 1,065 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Essentialism Essentialism In Biology
A selection of articles related to essentialism essentialism in biology.
Original articles from our library related to the Essentialism Essentialism In Biology. See Table of Contents for further available material (downloadable resources) on Essentialism Essentialism In Biology.
- Exegesis On The Wiccan Rede
- All religions began with somebody's sudden flashing insight, enlightenment, a shining vision. Some mystic found the way and the words to share the vision, and, sharing it, attracted followers. The followers may repeat those precise and poetic words about the...
Paganism & Wicca >> The Wiccan Rede
- The Manifestation of Intent for Personal and Mutual Benefit (GM6)
- There is an ultimate destination in the study of all subjects, from spirituality, philosophy, theology, biology and sociology, to the occult. This foundational science of all sciences, upon which all others are based, is known as consciousness . The study...
Mind >> World Mind
- Survivalists' Guide for the New Millennium: Chapter 1
- FACING OUR REALITY Lets face it, the pace and direction of worldly changes have run far ahead of the current human capacity to change with them. Modern society has become a force with its own momentum; a great machine of mass production and...
Philosophy >> Survivalists Guide for the New Millennium
- Hypnosis: A Selected Bibliography
- Index of bibliography sections Selected Periodicals (14 entries) Edited Overviews of General Theories of Hypnosis (5 entries) Specific Topics Related to Research into Hypnosis. General single-author overviews, non-special-state views, social andexperimental...
Parapsychology >> Hypnosis
- Trance-formation (The Cosmic Tao of the Sexes)
- The purest outpouring of love between the sexes, is as a miniature super-nova of ecstatic union. Reciprocating pleasure becomes the engine that feeds the fires of passion. Passion becomes dynamic fuel for love. It is an engine that runs with the force of a...
Body Mysteries >> Yoga
- What is drawing down the moon and how do you do it?
- In the past priestesses/priests called down the Moon. The Moon has always played and important part in ancient religions. They realized how it’s shape affected those under it’s reflective light. They also came to understand how the moon also affected the...
Paganism & Wicca >> Ritual
Essentialism Essentialism In Biology is described in multiple online sources, as addition to our editors' articles, see section below for printable documents, Essentialism Essentialism In Biology books and related discussion.
Great care has been taken to prepare the information on this page. Elements of the content come from factual and lexical knowledge databases, realmagick.com library and third-party sources. We appreciate your suggestions and comments on further improvements of the site.
Essentialism Essentialism In Biology Topics
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jamaican english pronunciation | <urn:uuid:371dc7ca-9d3c-4dc2-9e18-5aa46ec15074> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.realmagick.com/essentialism-essentialism-in-biology/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396875.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00068-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.890563 | 647 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Can you find an earthquake epicenter?
The epicenter of the 2011 Japan earthquake was just offshore of Sendai. This is where the Pacific Plate plunges into a subduction zone. The earthquake had a relatively shallow depth of 20 miles (32 km). Remember that shallow quakes typically cause the most damage. How do scientists find an earthquake epicenter?
Finding the Epicenter
One seismogram indicates the distance to the epicenter. This is determined by the P-and S-wave arrival times. If a quake is near the seismograph, the S-waves arrive shortly after the P-waves. If a quake is far from the seismograph, the P-waves arrive long before the S-waves. The longer the time is between the P-and S-wave arrivals, the further away the earthquake was from the seismograph. First, seismologists calculate the arrival time difference. Then they know the distance to the epicenter from that seismograph. They can connect all the points that are that distance from the seismic station. This makes a circle around the station!
Next, the seismologists try to determine the location of the earthquake epicenter. To do this they need the distances to the epicenter from at least three seismographs. Let’s say that they know that an earthquake’s epicenter is 50 kilometers from Kansas City. They draw a circle with a 50 km radius around that seismic station. They do this twice more around two different seismic stations. The three circles intersect at a single point. This is the earthquake’s epicenter (Figure below).
Seismographs in Portland, San Francisco, and Salt Lake City are used to find an earthquake epicenter.
Of course, it's been a long time since scientists drew circles to locate an earthquake epicenter. This is all done digitally now. but it's a great way to learn the basics of locating an epicenter.
- To find an earthquake epicenter you need at least three seismographs.
- Find the distance from each seismograph to the earthquake epicenter.
- The interception of the three circles is the epicenter.
Use the resource below to answer the questions that follow.
- What is a seismogram?
- What waves does a seismogram show?
- What is the S-P interval?
- How many data stations are required to determine the epicenter?
- What is triangulation?
- How do you determine the distance from the seismograph to the earthquake epicenter?
- How do you find the epicenter from three seismographs?
- What role does the S-P interval play in locating an earthquake epicenter? | <urn:uuid:68e9cedf-5c53-44a3-a311-8696683e025e> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.ck12.org/book/CK-12-Earth-Science-Concepts-For-Middle-School/r9/section/5.15/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783408840.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155008-00074-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931344 | 547 | 3.75 | 4 |
[Editor’s note: I thought someone was joking when they mentioned Rhode Islanders are trying to change their state name. Turns out this is for real. Wacky!]
Republished from Wikipedia.
The name Rhode Island and Providence Plantations derives from the merging of two colonies, Providence Plantations and Rhode Island. Providence Plantations was the name of the colony founded by Roger Williams in the area now known as the City of Providence. Rhode Island was the area now known as Aquidneck Island, which now comprises the city of Newport and the towns of Middletown and Portsmouth, the largest of several islands in Narragansett Bay.
“Rhode Island and Providence Plantations” is the longest official name of any state in the Union. On June 25, 2009, the Legislature of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations voted to allow the people to decide whether to keep the name or drop “Providence Plantations” due to the perception that the name relates to slavery. A referendum election is to be held on this subject in the near future. | <urn:uuid:fb59ee8c-ad8b-4cd1-8805-58a0d99a31a1> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://kelsocartography.com/blog/?tag=change | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783399117.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154959-00062-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962643 | 222 | 3.09375 | 3 |
Press Briefing on
|Artist's concept of a Satellite Solar Power Station (SSPS) during assembly in low earth orbit (LEO). A beam crawler completes emplacement of a panel's solar cell blankets and concentrators. The microwave transmission antenna (bottom right) is 900 yards in diameter. (Courtesy NASA)|
Dr. Jerry Grey, Administrator of Public Policy, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, introduced Dr. Peter E. Glaser, Vice President of Arthur D. Little. Inc. and president of SUNSAT Energy Council, who presented an overview of the report and answered questions for more than an hour and a half.
The report, Dr. Glaser said. is the culmination of a three year $19.5 million study by the Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Commerce, and more than 60 organizations, including public interest and small consulting groups as well as universities and large industrial firms.
The report is a landmark document, he said. It represents the first time in the history of assessing energy options that a major technology has been reviewed so carefully prior to its application. It sets a pattern for future assessments of major technologies.
While the report presents no conclusions or recommendations, its findings are positive for further exploration of the SPS concept. No "show stoppers" or insurmountable obstacles to bringing power from space down to the Earth's surface were found.
Because of the significance of these findings to future energy supplies, to public understanding of SPS, and to futture space activities, an ad-hoc Coordinating Committee on Space, comprised of the Aerospace Industries Association, the American Astronautical Society, the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, the L-5 Society, the National Space Institute, the Space Foundation and SUNSAT Energy Council was formed to organize the press briefing, to publicize the key findings and to present conclusions and recommendations.
Dr. Glaser selected the following highlights:
• The reference system developed by NASA for the study (a 10x5 km satellite using photovoltaic or thermal collectors to feed a 2.45 GHz transmitter using klystrons and delivering 5 GWe to utility grids on the earth via a 10x13 km receiving antenna) uses only known technology and is amenable to evolutionary development. Solar Power Satellites appear to be not only technically possible, but also subject to technical improvement. For example, advanced concepts with improved technology, developed only 2-1/2 years after the reference system was evolved, project a capital cost reduction from the reference system estimate of $3000 per kilowatt to $1500 per kilowatt.
• No environmental effects were identified as clearly irreducible and unacceptable, including microwave and non-microwave health, ecological, atmospheric and communication effects.
• No insurmountable problems of providing materials or finding land for receiving antennas were uncovered, although some additional manufacturing capacity will be required. Net energy analysis indicates that the SPS energy ratio is very favorable compared with that of fossil and nuclear energy options if fuel requirements are included.
• Government regulations, private sector interface, electricity pricing, industry and labor relocations, financing, and the role of federal and state agencies in land use and energy planning will require further clarification.
• The DOE study has made a great contribution to the knowledge of microwaves. During the next decade the United States and the international community can be expected to agree on microwave exposure standards. When the standards are set the microwave flux in the vicinity of a receiving antenna could be controlled to meet such standards.
• Lloyd's is already insuring business satellites. As insurance consortiums become more familiar with satellite operations, SPS ground and space risks may become insurable.
• The COMSAT/INTELSAT organization, which now includes 102 countries, is a precedent for the type of international cooperation on the global energy option provided by SPS. A similar organization could be acceptable to both developed and developing countries, sharing costs, distributing benefits widely, preventing military use of SPS and minimizing vulnerability to attack.
• Solar Power Satellites, by opening up a new and very large energy resource, provide opportunities for improving international relations on a global basis.
• The Department of Energy's Solar Power Satellite Project Division has pioneered in reaching out to uncover possible areas of public concern and has recognized the public's legitimate role in the decision process. Both advocates and opponents agree that many of the impacts of the SPS program require further study.
• The life cycle cost of solar power satellites is competitive with coal, nuclear and terrestrial photovoltaics. Each alternative technology will have its distinct health and safety impacts and the low level and delayed impacts of all technologies will he hard to assess. The total amount of land required for the complete fuel cycle is roughly the same fur all technologies, but SPS and terrestrial photovoltaics for base-load (centralized) power require large contiguous land areas.
• Space is not owned by the U.S. or by any other country. There is a great demand for positions on the geosynchronous orbit. This could burden SPS with international regulations that may not limit other technologies.
On the basis of the DOE / NASA assessment findings the ad-hoc Coordinating Committee on Space concludes that:
No technical, economic, environmental, societal, or other constraint has been identified which would preclude continuation of an SPS R&D program.
Technical advances, with consequent cost reductions in components and in space transportation can increase the technical feasibility and economic viability of power satellites beyond that of the SPS Reference System. SPS is not critically dependent on any specific technology, which increases confidence in the concept.
International interest, as expressed in studies on SPS being conducted in Canada, England, France, Japan, USSR, ESA, and the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of' Outer Space, and work by the scientific and technical community in Austria, Italy, West Germany and India indicate that the SPS is not solely a U.S. program. It has the potential for base load power generation on a global scale, and in addition, represents an evolutionary direction for expanding human activities in space.
Dr. Glaser reported that the ad-hoc Committee recommends:
1. Continuation of the SPS research and study program.
2. Continued ground-based experiments to explore appropriate technologies to acquire the knowledge by which a series of time-phased decisions on the SPS program can he made.
3. Funding for the SPS R&D program should be at a level of $30 million a year for the next five years, with its focus on the SPS, although generic R&D on diverse technologies and discrete issues carried out by federal agencies could contribute to such a program.
|Dr. Peter Glaser, left, father of the Solar Power Satellite concept, takes SPS to the street during Spacefair '79. (File photo.)|
Dr. Glaser concluded with his belief that now is the time to explore the possible contribution of the SPS concept to meet the U.S. and the world's future energy demands. "It is our responsibility to future generations," he said, "to bring the research on the SPS to its logical conclusion and, in concert with other nations, decide whether or not to proceed with the development of this major energy option."
In opening the briefing for questions, Dr. Grey reported that studies of SPS by the National Academy of Science and the Congressional Office of Technology Assessment have also been under way over the past three years and that these two organizations will be reporting their findings in the next few months.
|Dr. Jerry Grey, Administrator of Public Policy, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. (Photo by Charles J. Divine).|
The first question asked for clarification on the number of satellites and receiving stations. Dr. Glaser replied that the reference system mentions 60, producing a total of 300 GWe, but that to say today how many stations will be provided is presumptive. The 60 stations is not a plan, but an arbitrary reference for study and discussion. To build 300 GWe generating capacity will cost about $1 trillion whatever source of energy is used, whether solar power from space, fossil fuel or nuclear. Dr. Grey said that competition will determine how many satellites will be built.
Dr. Glaser was asked whether power from SPS could be delivered directly to homes, like television broadcasting from communications satellites. He replied that SPS will probably deliver power appropriate to a wide range of situations.
When asked whether geosynchronous orbit was getting too crowded to accommodate solar power satellites Dr. Glaser said that in 100 years, at the present rate of expansion, the orbit would be packed solid, that long before 100 years it will be necessary to agglomerate satellite functions onto large multi-purpose platforms. Large SPS's could orbit between these platforms.
Asked about possible scarcity of materials, Dr. Glaser said more manufacturing capacity for photovoltaic cells was needed, but that the cells are made of common materials which are in ample supply. There may be shortages of materials for some parts of the satellite system, but substitutes can probably be found. As regards making 1-1/2 billion dipoles for receiving antennas, Dr. Grey said a Japanese friend had told him "give us an order and we'll deliver in six months."
When asked about making SPS from lunar materials Dr. Grey replied that it would probably not be done in the early stages, but ultimately, yes, it would be cheaper.
Dr. Glaser was asked whether it is wise to concentrate so much power in one organization. He replied that we will have to learn to handle large institutional projects, and that new arrangements may be necessary, that the U.N. might help, and that the COMSAT/ INTELSAT organization is a good precedent.
Dr. Grey was asked what the $30 million for R&D recommended by the ad-hoc Committee would be spent on. He said he could go through the shopping list, which is long, and available in many places, but did not feel it necessary at this time. He gave as one example for further research: determining the upper limit of microwave density which can be tolerated by the ionosphere.
Frederic Golden from Time magazine asked why no one from DOE was present. "Ask DOE" said Dr. Grey.
Dr. Grey was asked whether all the energy collected in space would have to be beamed down to the Earth. He replied that SPS was a first step in the industrial use of space, and that the energy up there is by no means limited to Earth surface use.
Asked about the present status of the DOE /NASA SPS program, Dr. Grey said it is presently dead. DOE has zero funds from now to October '81. Congress, however, may act and it is just possible that additional funds could be provided.
"What's the problem?" Dr. Grey was asked.
"The Administration Program is separate from Congress" he replied, "and SPS has slipped into the crack between them."
"Should the U.S. pay most of the R&D on SPS?" was another question, to which Dr. Glaser replied that the U.S. should foot the bill for the next five years, after which other countries should participate.
"Isn't the International Telecommunications Union cool to the idea of SPS?"
"The Third World nations distrust us," said Dr. Glaser. "We must workwith them."
"Will Reagan be more receptive than Carter to SPS?"
"No indication as yet. Thirty million is a very small amount compared with some DOE budgets. The transition team has not reached down so far as yet."
"Will power from satellites cost $5000 per kilowatt to build?"
"The first unit may cost about $2400 per kilowatt in 1980 dollars, later ones $1500 per kilowatt. This is very much within range of alternate sources of energy."
"How transferable is SPS to military use? Will the intense beams be weapons'? How can suspicion be overcome?"
"'To answer the last first" said Dr. Glaser, "SPS should be an international project, not a unilateral project of the U.S. or U.S.S.R. Because of its size it would be too vulnerable to be dependable as a weapon (although probably because of its distance from Earth it would be less vulnerable than Earth based plants). The proposed microwave beam is not intense enough to do serious damage." Dr. Grey added that SPS could be used as a weapon, but no one would build it as one, and that if there are doubts about its use an internatonal inspection team could be assigned to it.
"How much will the U.S.S.R. and Japan do?"
"There is a description of the Soviet program in the April or May issue of New Scientist. The Soviets have agreed that if they build an SPS it will be subject to the 1967 Treaty on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space. Three papers on microwave power transmission by Japanese authors were presented at the recent IAF Congress in Tokyo. There is considerable interest in West Germany and France at CNES. At a three day Conference on SPS held in Toulouse last June there were 120 participants, of which only 12 were Americans."
"How soon will there be a demonstration in orbit?''
"Probably not until 1990. It will need room on the Space Shuttle."
"How about industrial interest? Will it become more aggressive?"
"Industry is very much involved, especially aerospace companies such as Rockwell, Boeing, Grumman, Lockheed, G.E. and others. Industries in Japan are interested."
By this time the hour of lunch had come, all of the available handouts were gone and discussion continued informally. One of the discussions resulted in a full page illustrated description of an SPS system in the December 15, 1980, issue of Time magazine. | <urn:uuid:d9b566de-0f42-4992-a097-1cd96e144fc8> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://nss.org/settlement/L5news/1981-briefing.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783408828.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155008-00016-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94907 | 2,918 | 3.25 | 3 |
Why is sleep so critical to our well-being? If resting in bed were all it took to recharge body and mind for the coming day, insomniacs could take in their favorite late night television and start the next day fresh. But surprisingly, it's not how much sleep you get that's important—it's the level of sleep you achieve that truly restores you, body and mind.
Sleep can be divided into two crucial phases:
In addition to productivity and safety consequences, research shows that people who have insomnia or are chronically sleep deprived may be more likely to have an increased risk of:
People who do not get enough sleep may also:
Not only do Americans give up a good night's rest in an attempt to keep up with the hectic pace of the electronic age, many, including late shift healthcare, military and public safety workers, nuclear power plant operators, medical residents, and long-haul truck drivers, are building daily schedules against the body's natural circadian rhythm. That rhythm dictates that the longest period of sleepiness occurs during the hours of 2:00 am to 4:00 am. Thus, people who work the late shift lose out on the time that the body is programmed for the deepest and most beneficial sleep.
The elderly, too, cope with a special set of difficulties that keeps them from getting the sleep they need. Aging brings on a host of health-related problems that interrupt sleep, such as having pain from conditions like arthritis and taking medicines with side effects that disturb rest. More than any other population, the elderly rely on medicines that keep them up at night. Moreover, a more sedentary lifestyle doesn't allow for the expenditure of energy that results in restful sleep. Lastly, the brain doesn't allow for the same degree of deep sleep per night as enjoyed in youth.
But none of this means that the elderly don't need as much rest as everyone else. The combination of conditions that change the sleep habits of the elderly only indicates that they need to alter their sleep habits so that they get enough shut-eye.
In general, people are so used to going without enough sleep that they don't recognize that their sleeping habits make sound slumber unlikely. Following these simple tips will help you settle down for a good night's rest. Do the following to improve the quality of your sleep as well as to get more restful sleep:
If you're troubled with chronic difficulties falling asleep—or staying asleep—see a doctor. Sleep disorders are very common and can be treated.
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
National Sleep Foundation
Better Sleep Council Canada
Canadian Sleep Society
Drugs and insomnia. NIH Consensus Development Conference. Consensus development conference summary. Vol 4, No 10, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 1984:1.
Insomnia. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed. Updated August 28, 2013. Accessed January 8, 2014.
Sateia MJ, Nowell PD. Insomnia. Lancet. 2004; 364:1959.
Shift work and sleep. National Sleep Foundation website. Available at: http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-topics/shift-work-and-sleep. Accessed January 8, 2014.
Silber MH. Clinical practice. Chronic insomnia. N Engl J Med. 2005; 353:803.
Sleep drive and your body clock. National Sleep Foundation website. Available at: http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-topics/sleep-drive-and-your-body-clock. Accessed January 8, 2014.
Sleep tips. The Better Sleep Council website. Available at: http://www.bettersleep.org/better-sleep/how-to-sleep-better. Accessed January 8, 2014.
What happens when you sleep? National Sleep Foundation website. Available at: http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/how-sleep-works/what-happens-when-you-sleep. Accessed January 8, 2014.
Last reviewed January 2014 by Michael Woods, MD
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Copyright © 2012 EBSCO Publishing All rights reserved.
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Stories behind the Chasidic
Songs that Inspire Jews
Published and Copyright 1994, by:
Jason Aronson Inc.
* * *
Each person expresses himself on three levels--thought, speech and deed.
When a chasid carries out his Rebbe's directives he unites with the
When he learns Chasidus, he unites with the Rebbe's facet of speech.
But when he sings the Rebbe's niggun he becomes united with the highest
of the three levels--the Rebbe's thoughts.------------------Sefer
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
The Table of Contents contains links to the text. Click on an entry
in the Table of Contents and you will move to the information selected.
2. The Lullaby
In which we learn that a man is not taken away before he has heard what he
has come to hear and before he has said what he has come to say.
3 The Music of Return
This is what the haunting niggunim--the deep calling unto the deep--are
4 The Singing Tzadik
How one rebbe turned secular songs into sacred niggunim and made
Hungarian Jews dance for joy.
5 Song on Fire
The inside scoop on how and where the Ziditchover Rebbe heard his "theme
song" niggun from the angels in heaven.
6 Song of the Dead: A Happy Story
A rebbe and his niggun that will be here--at least until the coming
of the messiah.
7 Bringing the Glad Song Home
In which a niggun is at the very heart of the fall and rise of Belzer
8 How a Niggun Came Marching
A rebbe recognizes a long-lost Temple song.
9 Bam, Bam, Bam
The Jewish way to greet the Messiah.
10 The Rizhiner Connection
In which the lesson a rabbi learned in his childhood made him immortal
11 David without the Slingshot
In which the niggun "Kel Molei Rachamim" saves the life of Cantor
David Werdyger in a Nazi concentration camp.
12 I Am a Niggun
About a niggun made of flesh and bones, having a Jewish soul,
with the power to open the gates of heaven.
13 The Story of the Boxes
How songs keep fooling the yeitzer hora every time.
14 For the Love of a Niggun
In which a rebbe's niggun mekarevs a long-lost Jew.
15 The Mysteries of a Niggun
In which a rebbe undergoes a leg amputation with just a song in his heart
16 Jail House Rock
How the "Shpoler Zeide's Niggun" continues to rescue Jews in jail
17 Leonard Bernstein Unbound
In which the "Niggun Shamil" moves conductor Leonard Bernstein
so powerfully to put on tefillin not once but twice!
18 The Songs that Almost Weren't
In which a "musical diary" niggun records a rebbe's flight and
hardships escaping the Nazis during World War II.
19 A Fair Exchange
How one Jew captured the Russian army with one hand tied behind his back
as he wrote a niggun with the other.
20 Embers midst the Ruins
In which the Bluzhever Rebbe uses the niggun "Veye' esoyu" to
survive concentration camp and certain death.
21 Travels of Two Niggunim
An amazing thing happens as two niggunim are sung one night.
22 Rebbe Hoppin'
Why the "ice cream" yeshivah almost melted because of a
23 The Dreamer Who Never Sleeps
How a dreamer of the day--in other words, a realist-always acts his dream
with open eyes, to make it possible.
24 The French Don't Have a Word for It
Why France has never been the same after a chasidic rebbe adopted "the
Marseillaise" as a niggun.
25 Jerusalem on Her Mind
In which a sad little girl and a cantor find all the gold of Jerusalem
in a faraway place.
26 The Night a Jew Sang for His Supper in the Kremlin
How a niggun helped bring the Kremlin house down and brought Torah
home to thousands of Jews.
27 A Twice-Told Story
What happened when an artist heard a niggun--twice.
28 The Purpose of Life
In which the Baal Shem Tov binds an inept Jew to the world of music,
and thereby hangs a purposeful tale.
29 Reb Yid
In which the Ropshitzer Rebbe restores an errant soul to its rightful place
just in time for Simchas Torah.
30 The Journey
In which two men crossed their own Red Sea, counseled Empress Maria Theresa
of the Holy Roman Empire, and altered the course of Jewish history in Europe.
In which the sweetest singer since King David departed this world, and
how his sons learned the Torah from every limb of their tateh's body,
and from his songs.
32 The Jew Hater
In which Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev sings a song and turns a hateful man
33 The Beloved Disciple
A righteous Gentile finally hears the right music for him.
34 You Are What You Sing
In which a niggun reveals the true identity of a Jew, and another
Jew learns to sing.
35 Out of the Mouth of a Babe
How whistling once hastened prayers to heaven.
36 Fortunate Is the Man
In which we see how the power of a niggun lights up the past--and
37 The Voice-Over
A Parable in which a man and his niggun save the day.
38 The Prince Who Became a Jew
A parable wrapped up in a song reveals the delights of a mitzvah.
A Final Word: My Swan Song, Kosher, Of Course
Appendix A: Outstanding chasidic Rebbes Mentioned in This Book.
Appendix B: Discography of Chasidic Music.
Appendix C: Glossary. | <urn:uuid:00553724-bbf2-4abd-b7e7-e36367048448> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.moshiach.net/blind/niggun/index.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396872.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00084-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.89711 | 1,337 | 2.90625 | 3 |
Center Continues Fight to Protect Northern Rockies Wolves
The Center for Biological Diversity and partners this morning filed another challenge to the congressional budget rider approved in April that stripped Endangered Species Act protection from wolves in Montana, Idaho and parts of Oregon, Washington and Utah. Last week, a federal judge reluctantly upheld the rider, saying he would have ruled it unconstitutional if it hadn't been for an earlier precedent set by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
So today, the Center took our fight to the Ninth Circuit in an appeal of the judge's decision. The reason: Although wolf numbers have grown in parts of the northern Rocky Mountains, their road to recovery remains long. And scientists, not politicians, should decide when species can come off the endangered list.
Read the breaking press release.
Five Southeast Fishes Earn Federal Protection
Five fish species in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky and Tennessee are now protected under the Endangered Species Act thanks to a landmark agreement between the Center for Biological Diversity and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency's announcement on Monday signaled important new protection for the straw-yellow Cumberland darter, a fish threatened by mountaintop removal and pollution; a catfish called the chucky madtom (only three of which have been sighted since 2000); the laurel dace, threatened by pollution from logging, coal mining, agriculture and rock removal; the rush darter, a medium-sized darter remaining in just two Alabama counties; and finally the small, sharp-snouted yellowcheek darter, most of whose original habitat was destroyed by a single Alabama dam.
The Center petitioned to protect four out of five of these fishes. Our settlement with the Fish and Wildlife Service last month pushed 757 species across the United States closer to Endangered Species Act protections, including more than 400 imperiled freshwater species like these in the Southeast.
Read more in the Lexington Herald-Leader and learn more about the Southeast freshwater extinction crisis and our 757-species settlement.
Petition Launched to Save Rare Alaska Wolf
To save Alaska's beautiful and imperiled Alexander Archipelago wolf, yesterday the Center for Biological Diversity and Greenpeace petitioned to protect it under the Endangered Species Act. The Alexander Archipelago subspecies of gray wolf, found only in the old-growth forests of southeast Alaska, dens in the root systems of large, ancient trees and primarily hunts Sitka black-tailed deer -- which depend on these same trees for survival. But a long history of unsustainable clearcutting on the Tongass National Forest and other lands has ravaged much of the wolf's habitat, while related road building makes the wolf vulnerable to hunting and trapping. This wild canine stands apart from other gray wolves due to its smaller stature and midnight-black (or very dark gray) coat.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service chose not to protect the Alexander Archipelago wolf in the 1990s based on wolf safeguards included in the Tongass Forest Plan -- safeguards that have not been enacted. "Unfortunately, the Forest Service seems more interested in kowtowing to the timber industry than in preserving our forests for future generations," said Center Alaska Director Rebecca Noblin.
Read more in our press release and learn about saving the Alexander Archipelago wolf.
Miami Blue Butterfly Gets Emergency Help
One of the rarest butterflies in the United States, the Miami blue, was granted emergency protection this week under the Endangered Species Act. Tuesday's announcement comes after a long fight by the Center for Biological Diversity, including a petition in January to get emergency help for the Miami blue and a notice of intent to sue in April to see that request through.
The one-inch, metallic-winged Miami blue butterfly -- whose adults live for just a few days -- is now estimated at only a few hundred individuals, with fewer than 50 adults recently counted. One of its last two populations (in Florida's Bahia Honda State Park) disappeared in 2010. The butterfly's dramatic decline is due to sprawl, fire suppression, pesticides, climate change and more.
The Miami blue is part of a historic agreement struck in July to speed protections for 757 species in all 50 states. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service initially agreed to make a decision on whether to protect the butterfly in 2012 but, laudably, took emergency action early to get this species urgently needed help.
Read more in The Miami Herald.
Jumping Mouse Earns Back Protections in Wyoming
The tiny and seriously threatened Preble's meadow jumping mouse hopped back on track toward recovery in Wyoming last week when the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reinstated its protections in that state. The mouse's federal safeguards were removed in Wyoming in 2007, even though they remained in place in Colorado -- a situation created by a flawed Bush-era policy stating a species could be protected in one part of its range and not another.
But after a lawsuit by the Center for Biological Diversity and allies -- plus our work to get the bad Bush policy repealed -- a judge in July ruled that the mouse's Wyoming protections should be given back. That was the same month as our species settlement with the Service, which compelled it to move forward on properly protecting the jumping mouse and 756 others.
The Center's Tierra Curry calls the mouse "a special part of Wyoming's natural heritage." This small critter can jump four feet into the air with its powerful hind legs and communicate by drumming its long tail.
Read more in Wyoming's Star-Tribune.
New Battle Over Deadly Uranium Mining -- Last Chance to Match Gift
The Center for Biological Diversity's national fight to keep uranium mining from polluting pristine waters and landscapes is gaining steam in Colorado, Arizona and Utah. On Tuesday, Center staff and dozens of concerned citizens packed a public meeting in Telluride, Colo., to oppose the Department of Energy's uranium-leasing plans for 42 square miles of public land near the Dolores and San Miguel rivers. Even the Telluride Town Council and San Miguel County officials gave the feds an earful about it. (The Center is one of several groups suing over the leasing program, which prompted a new environmental review.)
Meanwhile, the Center's opposition to uranium mining around the Grand Canyon is going full tilt preparing for Congress to reconvene next month, when it will take up a radical Tea Party bill that would kill a proposed 20-year moratorium on new uranium mining on 1 million acres around the park. The ban is badly needed: Parts of Grand Canyon National Park are already so polluted from upstream uranium mining that the water isn't safe for drinking or swimming.
Read more about Tuesday's meeting in the Telluride Watch, and if you haven't already made a gift, please consider a generous gift to the Grand Canyon Defense Fund. This is our last chance to take advantage of a dollar-for-dollar match from one of our board members. We have fewer than five days to raise $15,000, and we need your help. Make your gift by Monday, Aug. 15 and it will be doubled, doing twice as much to take on uranium mining and protect the Grand Canyon.
Turtles Need International Protection -- Take Action by Aug. 15
The United States boasts more types of turtles than any other country. But our amazing turtle diversity is fast diminishing due to unregulated international trade. In fact, more than 12 million wild-caught freshwater turtles have been exported from the United States in the past five years, largely for food and medicinal markets in Asia.
Thankfully for turtles, there's a remedy: The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (or "CITES") can regulate turtle trade. But some of the most seriously imperiled American turtles aren't protected under the treaty -- including the diamondback terrapin, alligator snapping turtle, spotted turtle and map turtles. Only the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can propose these rare reptiles for lifesaving limits on trade, and the agency needs to hear from you by Aug. 15.
Take action now to protect six types of turtles in trouble from international trade. Then learn more about the Center for Biological Diversity's campaign to save freshwater turtles.
Center Calls on Obama to Halt Dangerous Fracking
The Center for Biological Diversity and scores of other groups on Monday sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging him to do all he can to halt the expansion -- largely unregulated -- of hydraulic fracturing. This dangerous natural-gas extraction technique involves injecting a high-pressure mixture of water, sand and toxic chemicals underground to break up rock formations and release methane gas -- which is contaminating groundwater, science suggests, across the country.
Big Oil and Gas has successfully lobbied to exempt this habitat- and drinking-water-fouling practice from several environmental laws. Our letter says the lack of federal protections for fracking poses "extreme and unnecessary risks to public health and the environment."
Read more in our press release.
Mountaintop Removal Linked to 60,000 Cancer Cases -- Help End It
In the latest connection unearthed between mountaintop-removal coal mining and alarming public-health trends, a new study shows that among the 1.2 million Americans living in mountaintop-removal counties in central Appalachia, an additional 60,000 cases of cancer are linked directly to the destructive, poisonous practice. The study comes on the heels of research revealing a damning connection between mountaintop removal and birth defects.
Mountaintop-removal mining blows the tops off entire mountains in the quest for coal -- then dumps the resulting toxic waste straight into waterways, where it pollutes groundwater and devastates ecosystems.
Read more in The Huffington Post and learn about the Center for Biological Diversity's campaign to end mountaintop removal. Then take action with us to demand a mountaintop-removal moratorium now.
Wild & Weird: Bird-beak Bodywork
You may have been treated to a relaxing massage with a hot stone, knot-unkinking elbows or even someone's bare foot. But how about with someone's schnoz?
As it turns out, some birds massage each other with their beaks -- and, according to a new British study focusing on green woodhoopoes, the practice reduces stress in both masseuse and subject. Subordinate birds especially enjoy beak rubdowns by birds higher on the social ladder, sinking into a happy stupor for some time after a session with someone dominant -- probably because the therapeutic touch from a higher-up makes them feel accepted and safe.
Still, bird massage therapists don't get paid -- so why do they seem to enjoy providing their services? Scientists aren't yet sure. But their blissed-out avian clients aren't making a peep of protest.
Read more in Discovery News.
Photo credits: Alexander Archipelago Wolf (c) Michelle Rogers; gray wolf courtesy USFWS; chucky madtom (c) Conservation Fisheries, Inc.; Alexander Archipelago wolf by John Hyde, Alaska Department of Fish and Game; Miami blue butterfly by Jaret C. Daniels, McGuire Center for Lepidoptera Biodiversity; Preble's meadow jumping mouse courtesy USFWS; Grand Canyon (c) Taylor McKinnon; alligator snapping turtle by Gary M. Stolz, USFWS; drinking water; mountaintop removal valley fill; green woodhoopoes courtesy Flickr Commons/LEO.
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The Center for Biological Diversity sends newsletters and action alerts through DemocracyinAction.org. Let us know if you'd like to change your email list preferences or stop receiving action alerts and newsletters from us. | <urn:uuid:8294d7a6-c840-4b54-b041-5ccd8328aa61> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/publications/earthonline/endangered-earth-online-no577.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393093.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00173-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922659 | 2,385 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Itís only been about seven months since the Supreme Court struck down the Voting Rights Act, but members of Congress are already working to restore some of the provisions to prevent voting laws that are racially discriminatory. Though the legislation is still in preliminary stages, its early bipartisan support is certainly promising.
To understand why it is so important to reinstate parts of the Voting Rights Act, we need look no further than how states reacted in the days following the Supreme Court decision. As Crystal Shepeard reported, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, and Mississippi all quickly pushed forward on previously stalled efforts to pass voter ID laws that disproportionately affected minority citizens.
The good news is that the Supreme Courtís decision did not rule out the possibility of a Voting Rights Act altogether. The Justicesí (well, five of them anyway) main objection was that the rules applied to certain states based on a historical reputation of disenfranchisement rather than current infractions. So while the Supreme Court threw out the previous law because it still relied on statistics from the 1970s, it nonetheless left room for restrictions based on more recent discrimination.
Consequentially, this potential new legislation will be based on contemporary data. If passed, any state that has had five or more voting rights violations (one of which must be state-wide) in the previous 15 years would require federal clearance before changing their voting procedures. Furthermore, states that went 15 years without an infraction would no longer face the restriction.
The bill is sponsored by Democrats including Representative John Conyers of Michigan and Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, as well as Republicans including Representative Jim Sensenbrenner of Wisconsin and Representative Spencer Bachus of Alabama. ďIt is amazing to me, unbelievable, almost unreal that we were able to come together so quickly to craft a compromise that Democrats and Republicans can find a way to support and move forward,Ē said Rep. John Lewis of Georgia.
Part of the reason the compromise was achieved is that the law would no longer single out just southern states for these regulations. For example, under the proposed rules, a northern state would no longer be automatically exempt. If a state anywhere in the United States were to be found guilty of multiple discriminatory voting practices, it would face the same restrictions that one with a more storied history of racism would.
That said, itís no secret that these rules would affect mainly southern states. If the updated Voting Rights Act were to be approved by Congress, the states it would immediately impact are Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas based on their discriminatory practices over the previous decade and a half. With this fact in mind, the legislation is likely to meet resistance from politicians in these states in particular. | <urn:uuid:88f3211d-7e68-42ab-a8a4-391cf4f0e990> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.care2.com/causes/the-voting-rights-act-may-get-a-second-chance.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393463.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00018-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968317 | 546 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Utah Core Standards - Fourth Grade
Core Standards for Social Studies
Materials and Lesson Plans
Utah Education Network (UEN):
National Standards from National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS)
Founded in 1921, NCSS has grown to be the largest association in the country devoted solely to social studies education. NCSS engages and supports educators in strengthening and advocating social studies.
Kids can e-mail any questions they have about Japan and have them answered by a member of the site's Asia Studies Team.
Zions Bank and KidsOnline.com have created the Bank Jr website as the biggest and most comprehensive kid-friendly resource on the web for learning about finances.
Japan Information Network
You and your students are just a click away from viewing some of Japan's national art treasures at The Virtual Museum of Traditional Japanese Arts.
Journey Through Topaz
During World War II when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, the United States government initiated a policy which took thousands of Japanese Americans citizens out of their homes and put them in internment camps.
K-12 Schools Pioneer: Utah's Online Library
Utah’s online library of electronic resources that provides statewide access to newspaper articles, magazines, professional journals, encyclopedias, video, photographs, maps, charts, and graphics.
Learning geography is fun! Not only can geography be enjoyable, but a greater appreciation of people, places, and cultures can enrich our minds and help us better understand our place on this earth.
Ouelessebougou and You
This virtual tour will help you compare and contrast Oulessebougou and Utah.
Recommended Instructional Materials System (RIMS)
Find instructional materials that have been adopted by the Utah State Office of Education (USOE).
Utah History For Kids
Created by the Utah State Historical Society to help teach Utah history to kids.
The Learning Page
Designed to help educators use the American Memory Collections to teach history and culture.
Utah Education Network (UEN)
UEN provides education tools, activities, lesson plans, curriculum guides and professional development for teachers and educators in the state of Utah. You can also find other UEN resources like KULC channel 9, EDNET, and distance learning resources here.
This Non-Partisan website combines resources from its partners to bring you moments from Utah's political history, fun and educational things to do for teachers and students, a record of candidate and initiative information and news coverage for the elections, and more. | <urn:uuid:360eab4d-9c15-443d-bf8d-6080dad7b455> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.schools.utah.gov/CURR/socialstudies/Core/Fourth-Grade.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397562.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00172-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.907393 | 514 | 3.734375 | 4 |
As a member of the Transatlantic Committee “De-mounting Louis Agassiz”, I made the following intervention. I carried a metal plaque bearing a graphic representation of the slave Renty to the top of an Alpine peak, the Agassizhorn (3946 metres), on the borders of the Swiss cantons of Berne and Valais. In so doing, I took the first step towards renaming the mountain.
This act commemorates the fact that the Swiss-born naturalist and glaciologist Louis Agassiz (1807-1873) was an influential racist and pioneering thinker of apartheid, and that the Agassizhorn should be renamed the “Rentyhorn” in honour of the Congolese-born slave Renty, and of those who met similar fates. Agassiz ordered Renty to be photographed on a South Carolina plantation, “to prove the inferiority of the black race”.
After carrying out this artistic act, the Transatlantic Committee “De-Mounting Louis Agassiz” and I submitted a request for the plaque to be permanently fixed to the rocks on the summit, and for the mountain to be renamed. The request was sent to the councils whose jurisdiction includes the Agassizhorn: the authorities of the communes of Grindelwald, Guttannen und Fieschertal; the authorities of the cantons of Berne and Valais; as well as the Executive Board and Advisory Committee of the public trust responsible for UNESCO’s “Jungfrau-Aletsch-Bietschhorn” World Natural Heritage Area. Recipients of the request included: Benedikt Weibel, former CEO of the Swiss Federal Railway; Adolf Ogi, former member of the Swiss government; Heiner Geissler, former German minister and MP; ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger; and no less than former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan. The responses to this request will reveal whether, in the case of the Agassizhorn, the Ghanaian Kofi Annan and these other eminent persons can afford to ignore the goals of anti-racism and commemoration of slavery that are so dear to UNESCO.
An international petition (www.rentyhorn.ch) addressed to the Swiss government and its two chambers of parliament, and others, has recently gone on-line. It is designed to tell people (in German, English, French and Italian) about the campaign, and to collect signatures in support of re-naming the mountain. People from all over the world have already submitted their names, and more are being added all the time.
I have carried out this work in close collaboration with Hans Fässler, historian, author and founder of the Transatlantic Committee “De-mounting Louis Agassiz”. More about “De-Mounting Louis Agassiz” at: www.louverture.ch.
A special thank you to Hans Fässler.
Museum of Contemporary Art Kiasma Collections.
(Info: The fur is artificial.) | <urn:uuid:08e433a0-9542-40b1-91f1-128364251cb6> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.sashahuber.com/?cat=5%E3%80%88=fi&mstr=4 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783394414.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154954-00057-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.928303 | 647 | 2.875 | 3 |
People with low self-esteem tend to have difficulty holding eye contact and, as well as being correctly interpreted for what it is, it can also be misunderstood as being shiftless or lying.
But correctly applied, eye contact is one of the surest indicators of confidence and therefore it is well worth practicing to ensure you come off as neither too domineering, nor too meek.
Imagine that you are attending a job interview for a position you are keenly interested in. Visualize the person conducting the interview as a clean shaven man in his fifties with brown hair that’s well on its way to going gray, and kind, blue eyes that seem to encourage you to talk. Now imagine that you have been asked a question and you want to answer it well. Take a moment to imagine constructing your answer then look directly intro the interviewer’s eyes as you begin your answer, and hold your gaze for about five seconds as you speak. Now flick your gaze away as you consider your follow up statement, then look back to look into his eyes as you talk.
There’s no need to invent an actual discussion. Simply picture your making and breaking of eye contact as you talk. See yourself using it to emphasize important points, then look away after the point is made. Make sure that when you wish to appear properly attentive you look into the interviewer’s eyes when he talks or asks a question. If he describes something look away as you imagine whatever it is, and then back again to acknowledge the fact that you have done so.
Now for many people this kind of making and breaking of eye contact comes entirely naturally. But if it doesn’t to you then this exercise will help you to increase your level of eye contact, and for sensible durations, with appropriate breaks.
Understanding how we move our eyes
When talking with someone we also use our eyes as we recall or invent details. For example, when asked to remember something visual most of us will move our eyes up and to our left, as shown by face (a) in Figure 1. But when inventing a visual image (or pretending to recall a real one) we will generally look up and to our right, as shown by face (b) in the figure.
Figure 1: Looking top-left and top-right
The same thing happens with auditory information except that we simply look to our left for remembered sounds, or our right for imagined or reconstructed sounds, as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2: Looking center-left and center-right
When we talk under our breath or in our imagination we tend to look down and to our left, as shown in face (a) of Figure 3. Our eyes also reveal when we are feeling a sensation in our imagination by moving down and to our right, as shown by face (b) in the figure.
Figure 3: Looking bottom-left and bottom-right
Now these movements may be very tiny indeed and often are unobservable. But when you see them you can get a good indication of what someone is thinking or feeling, and whether or not they may be being truthful. However, you should never rely on the technique for anything more than an indication, since a few people move their eyes in opposite left and right directions to the norm, although once you know that someone is left-right reversed for eye movement you can take this into account. The top, middle and bottom positions, though, appear to be the same for everyone.
Using this information you can try to control your eyes and guard against revealing too much to other people, although it’s not as easy as it sounds. And you may also find that if you roll your eyes around in a complete circle there are several spots at which they try to settle. These will be natural positions where you frequently move your eyes when thinking or recalling, and you can try experimenting with them by moving your eyes to these places and seeing what feelings or memories this elicits – in some people this practice can help inspire creativity when a block is encountered.
To exude greater self confidence try watching the eye movements of people on television and see how they fit into these patterns. Then practice making the movements yourself while imagining talking with another person, tying the correct eye movements to what you are saying. This is not an exercise in learning to lie, although it could be used to attempt this. Rather it’s to help you gain more conscious control of your eye movements to better convey your message.
There’s a lot more on eye-contact and body language in my book Creative Visualization for Dummies. | <urn:uuid:a47b4918-cd2a-4181-80b9-168b8654308e> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://robinnixon.com/thejourney/using-confident-eye-contact | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783403825.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155003-00045-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955919 | 946 | 2.671875 | 3 |
vegetable growing techniques
raised bed corn growing methodThe trouble with standard planting distances for corn is that they generally do not fit the dimensions of a typical raised bed, (around one metre wide). Below is a step by step explanation of how to raise good sized corn within the confines of a raised bed.
1. prepare the bedAdd a shovel full of cow or sheep manure per metre length of bed. Some blood and bone, compost and rock dust can also be added. Mix in with a hoe and rake level. I sometimes also cover with a thin layer of mulch.
2. dig depressions
Illustration of corn planting spacings. Each arrowed line represents a distance of about thirty centimetres (12").
A general rule of thumb is that the centre of any one depression should be around thirty centimetres from any of it's neighbouring depressions. If you have covered the bed with mulch then push the mulch aside when digging the depressions, leaving them bare.
3. plant seedsPlant three or four seeds in each depression and cover with two centimetres (3/4") of friable soil but don't fill the dreprsssions all the way to the top, still leave a dip of around one centimetre (1/3"). Corn seeds should only be planted after the threat of the last Spring frost has passed.
Lightly water each depression. These depressions naturally funnel the water to the seeds and allow you to easily identify where the seeds have been planted. When starting out I only water the depressions. Note that I use these depressions because I live in a fairly dry area. If you are in a high rainfall area that is likely to result in waterlogged soil than do not dig depressions but plant your seed into flat ground.
If birds are likely to dig up the seeds then protect with wire mesh or small stakes driven into the ground. For more details see the Deter - Birds webpage.
Protect against slugs and snails if they are a problem in your garden. See the Pest Control section for more information on protecting vegetables from slugs and snails.
Four young corn seedlings in a single depression. These will be thinned down to just one mature plant.
Mid sized corn plants in the three, two, three planting pattern. After the corn had been thinned out extra mulch was added.
Leave any removed seedlings right next to the remaining ones as they will act as a decoy for slugs and snails.
Pick the most vigorous seedling to keep and not the most central.
If all the seeds fail in a single depression then carefully transplant a spare seedling from a neighbouring depression. Do not replant failed depressions with more seeds. This is because all the corn needs to mature at the same time if they are to be properly pollinated.
If enough seedlings do not survive then pull out all the remaining seedlings and start again.
4. growing stageBy the time the plants are twelve centimetres (4 1/2") high you should be down to one plant in each depression.
Heavily mulch around the plants and water fairly regularly, especially in hot weather. As the ears of the corn begin to swell out give the plants extra water.
Concluding commentsI have used this method of growing corn in a raised bed for over twenty years now and it has produced excellent results.
By planting extra seeds and thinning out I get the right amount of mature corn plants where I want them. And by spacing them in a three, two three pattern thirty centimetres apart they are in a tight enough block to ensure proper wind pollination but far enough apart to get corn plants that aren't stunted because of lack of space.
I usually grow thirteen corn plants each year from which I get around thirty five to forty good sized corn cobs
For space reasons I only plant one crop each season though you can stagger a number of corn plantings over a season. However I think you need a minimum of eight plants in each planting to ensure proper pollination. | <urn:uuid:f041ed82-b9d3-4fcd-9eac-b829c5a7207d> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://urbanfoodgarden.org/main/vegetable-growing-techniques/vegetable-growing-techniques-corn-raised-bed.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783402699.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155002-00131-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939217 | 845 | 3.3125 | 3 |
Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) Index
What is FQPA?
Summary of EPA FQPA Implementation
Pesticides Perceived as Most Risky Due to the FQPA
Response to Farm Bureau Request for Information on Potential Impact of FQPA on South Carolina Farmers
Selected FQPA-Related web sites
What is FQPA?
Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA)
The pesticide reregistration program acquired significant new dimensions on August 3, 1996, when the Food Quality Protection Act was enacted. FQPA, which amends both FIFRA and the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), establishes a new safety standard for pesticide residues in food and emphasizes protecting the health of infants and children.
Under FQPA, all pesticide food uses must be "safe"; that is, EPA must be able to conclude with "reasonable certainty that no harm will result from aggregate exposure" to each pesticide from dietary and other sources. In determining allowable levels of pesticide residues in food, the Agency must conduct a comprehensive assessment of each pesticide's risks, considering:
- Aggregate exposure of the public to residues from all sources including food, drinking water, and residential uses;
- Cumulative effects of pesticides and other substances with common mechanisms of toxicity;
- Special sensitivity of infants and children to pesticide; and
- Estrogen or other endocrine effects.
Within ten years of enactment of the new law, EPA must reassess all existing "tolerances" (maximum limits for pesticide residues in foods) and exemptions from the requirement of a tolerance, for both the active and inert ingredients in pesticide products. The Agency must consider the pesticides posing the greatest potential risks first, to ensure that they meet FQPA's new safety standard.
EPA is using reregistration to accomplish tolerance reassessment, the cornerstone of the FQPA. Once reregistration is completed in about 2002, all pesticides will be re-examined periodically in the future through registration review. This new program created by FQPA requires EPA to review every registered pesticide on a suggested 15-year cycle.
Looking to the future, then, the public will have assurance that all registered pesticides are being reviewed periodically and updated to meet current scientific and regulatory standards.
Selected FQPA-Related web sites:
- EPA's Food Quality Protection Act web site
- Pesticide Tolerances - Tolerances are the maximum allowed level of pesticide residues in food.
- Office of Pesticide Programs Biennial Report for 1998 and 1999 - EPA biennial pesticide report provides an overview of the initiatives and accomplishments achieved during 1998 and 1999 in implementing the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), and the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). (1.7 MB, PDF).
- Crop Profiles - Crop pest management profiles. Crop Profiles Database from NSF Center for Integrated Pest Management.
- EPA's Pesticide Right-to-Know web site
- EPA FQPA Tolerance Reassessment Advisory Committee (TRAC)
- Pesticide Reregistration Eligibility Decisions (REDs) - Reregistration Eligibility Decision (RED) documents contain the results of EPA's regulatory reviews of pesticides initially registered before November 1, 1984. REDs and fact sheets are in PDF format.
- NPIC's Pesticides and Food - National Pesticide Information Center site has links to information on Pesticides and Food.
- Impacts of Eliminating Organophosphates and Carbamates from Crop Production - Texas A&M Agricultural and Food Production Center.
- Food Insight website - nutrition and food safety resource from the International Food Information Council (IFIC)
- USDA/AMS Pesticide Data Program (PDP) - A USDA/AMS program to collect data on pesticide residues in food. Click on Pesticide Data Program under Programs & Services.
- FDA Center for Food Safety & Applied Nutrition
- Joint Institute for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
- Potential FQPA Impacts - (PDF) The Uses and Benefits of Organophosphate and Carbamate Insecticides in U.S. Crop Production (5/97), an article by Leonard P. Gianessi, National Center for Food and Agricultural Policy. | <urn:uuid:f8a2a8f1-6ad5-4dd5-8d52-25507656431a> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.clemson.edu/extension/pest_ed/safety_ed_prog/fqpa/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395620.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00025-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.867988 | 917 | 2.828125 | 3 |
The American Academy of Pediatrics recently came out with a statement and guidelines for pediatricians and parents regarding children and teens' use of sports and energy drinks. The AAP recommends specifically discussing these drinks at routine health care visits.
Advertising claims about sports and energy drinks range from helping hydrate you after exercise or play to improving athletic performance. But both types of beverages deliver risks along with their refreshment. And the differences in the formulas making up these two types of beverages make it important to distinguish between the two.
Sports drinks, such as Gatorade and Powerade, usually contain carbohydrates, minerals, electrolytes and flavoring. Their purpose is to replace the water and electrolytes that are lost during sweating. But these drinks contain large amounts of sugar and contribute to childhood obesity just as soda does.
'Sports drinks contain extra calories that children don’t need, and could contribute to obesity and tooth decay.'
There is no reason at all for children and teens to consume energy drinks, according to the AAP report. These drinks, such as Monster Energy and Red Bull, typically contain stimulants including caffeine, guarana, taurine, ginseng, l-carnitine, creatinine and glucuronolactone. Their stated purpose is to enhance athletic performance, endurance and concentration. The dose of caffeine they deliver is both potentially dangerous and unnecessary for children and teens.
Guarana, a caffeine-containing plant extract, is a common stimulant ingredient in energy drinks. One gram of guarana equals about 40 mg of caffeine
This danger of energy drinks is compounded by the fact that adolescents tend not to differentiate between them and sports drinks. They see both has having the same benefits and are unaware of the potential risks from overuse and possible caffeine overdose.
Because energy drinks vary in the concentration and sources of caffeine in them, parents and children may have difficulty knowing how much they are getting. Guarana, a caffeine-containing plant extract, is a common stimulant ingredient in energy drinks. One gram of guarana equals about 40 mg of caffeine. For comparison, cola contains about 35 mg per 8 ounces (or about 55 mg per 12-ounce can); brewed coffee has 145 mg in 8 ounces. Crystal Light Energy drink has 120 mg caffeine in 16 ounces, and Red Bull 80 mg in 8 ounces. Two hundred to 400 mg of caffeine is considered a lethal dose.
Children and teens with average health, balanced diets, and typical sports participation should primarily rely on water to replace water lost through sweating and urination. They should obtain their carbohydrates as part of a diet balanced in protein, fat and other nutrients. Fruit juice and milk are adequate liquid sources of carbohydrate unless the child is involved in prolonged intensive physical or athletic activity.
The best source of energy for children and teens is a balanced diet, including dietary carbohydrates, rather than drinks high in caffeine or artificial stimulants.
The Academy of Pediatrics maintains that while sports drinks may have a specific rehydration/replenishment role for adolescents who engage in particularly vigorous sports, energy drinks are inappropriate and potentially dangerous for children because of the risk of high stimulant ingestion.
The good news is that low fat chocolate milk is the recommended post exercise protein-recovery drink. That's a recovery fluid most children, teens and parents can agree on.ADVERTISEMENT
The electrolytes (sodium and potassium) in energy and sports drinks are, like caffeine, found in amounts that vary widely. But the fact is that most children can easily obtain the electrolytes they need from their daily diets and don’t need the supplementation of sports drinks to maintain proper balance. Only children routinely engaged in high-exertion, high perspriation sports may need supplemental electrolytes.
Similarly, vitamins, including B and C and calcium and magnesium, that are touted in sports drinks are readily obtained from a balanced diet.
Some sports and energy drinks contain amino acids including glutamine and arginine that are claimed to have performance enhancing benefits. However, their use and safety has not been supported by scientific study and some may actually be harmful.
The good news is that low fat chocolate milk is the recommended post exercise protein-recovery drink. That's a recovery fluid most children, teens and parents can agree on.
Sports drinks have a specific role for young athletes engaged in prolonged vigorous activity and can be safely used in that context. Sports drinks are not necessary for maintenance of healthy levels of carbohydrates, electrolytes, vitamins or minerals for routinely active, healthy children who eat balanced diets.
Energy drinks are not designed for rehydration/replenishment, and they are potentially dangerous because kids may unwittingly ingest large amounts of caffeine or other stimulants.
Energy drinks can also be abused by children and teens who are looking for a stimulant product to increase alertness and combat fatigue. Excessive consumption may lead to dangerous levels of caffeine with the potential for unwanted side effects and dependence. The American Academy of Pediatrics deems them inappropriate for use by children and teens.
Both energy and sports drinks are contributing to dental disease and the epidemic overweight of children and teens because of the amount of carbohydrate contained and the substitution of these products for water.
Parents are advised to monitor their children and teens’ use of sports and energy drinks, provide water for most situations, and discuss the safe use of sports drinks in their child’s athletic pursuits with their doctors. A listing of the caffeine content of most energy drinks and more general information can be obtained at: | <urn:uuid:40ec4294-1e4d-4ed1-a89f-ac8bd57ba71a> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.thedoctorwillseeyounow.com/content/kids/art3345.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783402516.86/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155002-00175-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.933223 | 1,125 | 3.328125 | 3 |
What would you do
Think about bullying and the information presented on this page. Does bullying go on in your school, home or neighborhood? Can it be avoided? Have you observed an unjust action or behavior? What did you do? If you could go back in time and revisit that moment, would you handle it differently? Why is it sometimes difficult for people to speak out or act against wrongdoing? Share your thoughts here on the NIE Blogging Zone. | <urn:uuid:5a8fdb10-1b0c-4a8e-be4d-9518ab54999f> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/niezone/content/what-would-you-do/2050123 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395560.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00110-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975747 | 92 | 2.671875 | 3 |
President Vladimir Putin said that Russia couldn’t hand over the Schneerson Library to the USA. However, he said that we could display it at the European Tolerance Centre in Moscow, and make accessible to all who wish to use it. On Tuesday, Putin said at a meeting of the Ethnic Relations Council, “Unfortunately, I can only say that the discussion of this issue has reached a point of confrontation, which, in my opinion, is due to illegal decisions made in another country”. Putin said that the library originated in 19th century Russia, and part of it was nationalised shortly after the October Revolution, saying, “This is a significant part of the problem. If we allow this national asset to go to anyone, we’d open a Pandora’s Box. Almost 100 years have passed since the library was nationalised. If Russia started to comply with such lawsuits, claims would start streaming in. No one can predict how far they might go. We’re not going to deal with this. It’s impossible”.
Putin remarked that another part of the library was brought to Russia as a war trophy. He added that that he’d like to propose a solution “that’d benefit people drawn to these cultural values in the first place. We’re at the Jewish Tolerance Centre now. We could think about this idea. I’m prepared to put together an order to the government and Minkultury to display this library at the Russian Jewish Tolerance Centre. All who’re interested could be given full access to this library”.
The Schneerson Library is a collection of old Jewish books and manuscripts gathered by Rav Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn in the Russian Empire at the end of the 19th century. The Bolsheviks nationalised part of the collection in 1918 and eventually became part of the Russian State Library collection. Schneersohn managed to take the other part of the collection out of the USSR during his emigration in the 1930s. Later, the Nazis seized about 25,000 pages of manuscripts from the collection, then, the Red Army captured them and handed them over to the Russian State Military Archive. Chabad-Lubavitch has sought the ownership of the Schneerson Library since the end of the 1980s. Reports posted on 17 January 2013, said that a US Federal Court in Washington DC ordered a fine of 50,000 USD (1.52 million Roubles. 38,000 Euros. 32,800 UK Pounds) per day if Russia failed to transfer the Schneerson Library to the Chabad-Lubavitchers. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs found the court order offensive.
19 February 2013
Voice of Russia World Service
Let’s keep this simple. The Hasids have NEVER owned the library. NEVER. NO WAY. NO HOW. They don’t have title to it. Therefore, they can’t sue in court to “regain” property that they never owned in the first place. In any case, whether they like it or not, a country has a right to nationalise property. This was done, and in due legal order. That is, the library belongs to the Russian state, to preserve it in perpetuity as part of the Russian national patrimony. The real reason that the Hasids want the books is that they wish to restrict the usage of them only to those who agree with their oddbod notions. All decent people must oppose that. I’ll be honest… I don’t like Hasids and I don’t care for their company. I won’t harm them… or be anti-Semitic because of their noisome shenanigans. I’m much more comfortable with Modern Orthodox Jews and Conservative Jews (Jewish groups to the left of the Conservatives don’t bother me… I simply don’t agree with many of their premises, but they’re NOT a royal pain in the arse as the Hasids are). However, I agree with most of my Jewish friends… the Hasids are offensively-arrogant and off-putting in their assumptions of religious superiority over all other Jews. Such people shouldn’t be harmed, but they shouldn’t be coddled either. They belong in a corner along with Islamists, Moonies, Hare Krishnas, Mormons, Pentecostalists, JWs, and Evangelicals… all sorts who give believers a “bad name”. I have plenty of company in thinking that… | <urn:uuid:bfbf207f-7d19-4cfa-92f0-89a75e5a0d0e> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | https://02varvara.wordpress.com/2013/02/21/putin-we-cant-hand-over-the-schneerson-library-to-the-usa/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393518.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00017-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951747 | 944 | 2.890625 | 3 |
When Eleanor Roosevelt helped draft and gain acceptance for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights [UDHR], she started something big. Adopted by the fledgling United Nations in 1948, the UDHR’s 30 original “articles” still ring so true and are so clearly fundamental that they still form the moral foundation of U.N. resolutions and actions, and of constitutions and laws in many countries.
But although her work on the UDHR was progressive and forward-thinking, Mrs. Roosevelt probably could not have envisioned some of the ways in which international human rights have broadened recently.
The first big change came in July 2010, when the United Nations General Assembly passed a resolution stating that access to clean water and sanitation are basic human rights. The resolution called on countries and international organizations to “provide financial resources, build capacity and transfer technology, particularly to developing countries, in scaling up efforts to provide safe, clean, accessible and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all.”
Although activists have long quoted UDHR Articles 3, 22 and 25 as implying the right to water, until the July 2010 vote, the right had never been officially ratified by the full General Assembly. The vote was 122 in favor, zero against, and 41 abstentions [the US was one, along with, primarily, other industrialized nations, except for Germany, but that’s another story.] It took 62 years to get water as a human right on the books. But even though the most recent UN resolution is non-binding and has not been officially added, as some activists propose, as Article 31 of the UDHR, it’s probably safe to say that Mrs. Roosevelt would approve.
Mrs. Roosevelt would most likely also be pleased by discussions—on another expansion of human rights—that took place in Cancun at the recently convened [November 29-December 10, 2010] UN summit meeting on climate change. Inside and outside the meeting hall, diplomats and activists pushed hard to establish an even broader category of human rights: the right to a healthy environment.
On December 3, 2010, a Yes! Magazine report on the Cancun summit described the effort:
Activists in Cancún and Mexico City are rallying behind the idea of environmental rights. Many support a document called the “People’s Agreement on Climate Change,” which includes a “Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth.” It’s an idealistic name for a proposal that would sound either visionary or improbable, or both—if not for the fact that the declaration represents the work of representatives from 56 countries and of tens of thousands of people who attended a climate conference in Cochabamba, Bolivia last April. The document declares that everybody has rights to basics like clean water and clean air, but it also says something even more extraordinary: that the planet’s ecosystems themselves have rights.
Yes! reports that the conference in Cochabamba brought to the table “humanity’s relationship with Pachamama, or Mother Earth.” The issue, promoted primarily by indigenous communities focuses on some big questions:
“Can we really reach a sustainable relationship with the Earth unless we stop looking at it as something to be conquered or fixed that is outside of us? How would it change our lives and our struggles if we believed, as Leonardo Boff of Brazil said, [translated here] “Everything that exists deserves to exist, and everything that lives deserves to live?” Or if we understood the Earth as a living thing of which we are a part, or that life is a moment of the Earth, and the human life is a moment of life”? The clear message coming through in Cochabamba is that we have to get right with nature.”
A look at the proposed Universal Declaration of Rights of Mother Earth reveals a document that, in tone and structure, echoes that of the Eleanor Roosevelt model. Its preamble offers a letter of appreciation and gratitude to Earth, as well as taking a direct swipe at the evils of capitalistic exploitation of the planet’s resources. The preamble also makes a thought-provoking statement about the interdependence of people and Earth, noting that the declaration’s framers are…“convinced that in an interdependent living community it is not possible to recognize the rights of only human beings without causing an imbalance within Mother Earth.”
While to the cynical, the declaration may sound uncomfortably “kumbaya,” it’s so earnest that one cannot help but pause and reflect on its unique point of view. The proposed declaration defines “Mother Earth” as “a living being, and…a unique, indivisible, self-regulating community of interrelated beings that sustains, contains and reproduces all beings”
The declaration goes on to list the “inherent rights of Mother Earth, among which some of the most intriguing are:
- the right to be respected
- the right to regenerate its bio-capacity and to continue its vital cycles and processes free from human disruptions
- the right to clean air
- the right to be free from contamination, pollution and toxic or radioactive waste
Finally, the declaration spells out the obligations of humans to respect Mother Earth by:
- ensuring that the pursuit of human wellbeing contributes to the wellbeing of Mother Earth…
- respecing, protecting, conserving and, where necessary, restoring the integrity, of the vital ecological cycles, processes and balances of Mother Earth;
- guaranteeing that the damages caused by human violations of the inherent rights recognized in this Declaration are rectified and that those responsible are held accountable for restoring the integrity and health of Mother Earth
- guaranteeing peace and eliminating nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.
Far-fetched? Radical? It may appear that way now, but at least someone has said it, and raising awareness is always the first step. Of course, it’s unlikely that the Cochabamba proposals will end up in any formal agreements to emerge from Cancún. But the idea of environmental rights is already taking hold. In September 2008, Ecuador formally recognized the rights of nature in its new constitution. In the United States, a handful of local governments have passed resolutions recognizing that nature has rights, including, recently, the city of Pittsburgh.
Somewhere, Eleanor Roosevelt is smiling. | <urn:uuid:0e25025d-90e1-4260-96c7-787dafa56915> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.occasionalplanet.org/2010/12/15/of-human-rights-water-rights-and-the-rights-of-mother-earth/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783391519.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154951-00057-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948476 | 1,321 | 3.21875 | 3 |
Hidden Coal Fires Create Visible Problems
DENVER, Colorado, February 14, 2003 (ENS) - Fires are blazing in underground coal seams around the globe, sending tons of soot, toxic fumes and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These fires can burn unchecked for decades, but researchers speaking at a scientific meeting today say new techniques offer hope for extinguishing the blazes.
These fires threaten the environment and human health, scientists said today at the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting in Denver. Although some coal fires can be impossible to extinguish, new technologies provide hope that experts may someday be able to control them, if not put them out altogether.
"Coal fires are a global catastrophe," said Glenn Stracher of East Georgia College. But surprisingly few people know it, he added.
"For most people who don't live near one of these fires, it never reaches them," Stracher said. "There may be a little clip in the newspaper, but most people aren't aware of the extent of the problems involved in these fires."
"These ultra-hot fires can occur naturally, when oxidation reactions promote spontaneous combustion. However, they are frequently caused by humans. For example, during mining, coal seams can be ignited by sparks from cutting and welding, electrical work, explosives or even cigarette smoking."
In China, small illegal mines are ablaze across the northern region of Xinjiang. Local miners often use abandoned mines for shelter, and may burn coal within the shafts for warmth.
Besides fires in coal mines, burning coal may also be located in coal waste piles or natural coal seams, often ignited by heat from above ground fires set to clear the landscape for farming.
One of the worst underground fires in the United States, the Centralia, Pennsylvania mine fire, has been burning since May 1962. The fire was started when the local city council set trash ablaze in an abandoned strip mine that had been used as an illegal dump.
Once underway, coal fires can burn for decades, even centuries. In the process, they release large volumes of greenhouse and noxious gases and soot particles into the atmosphere.
A team from the Netherlands studied the environmental effects of underground fires in China, concluding that the fires release up to 360 million metric tons of carbon dioxide each year, equal to two to three percent of global carbon dioxide releases.
While researchers have yet to measure emissions from all coal fires, the large scale burning in coal producing countries may be making a major contribution to global and regional climate change, as well as regional air pollution and human respiratory problems, according to the panelists who spoke today in Denver.
"One way to deal with greenhouse emissions limits may be to stop coal fires," said Paul van Dijk of the International Institute for Geo-Information Science and Earth Observation (ITC), in the Netherlands.
The environment impacts of coal fires do not stop with the atmosphere. The release of toxic elements like arsenic, mercury and selenium can also pollute local water sources and soils. As the coal is burned away, the land itself can subside, posing a risk to buildings and changing the routes of streams.
Heat from the fires can kill vegetation above, even igniting forest fires. Last summer, a fire in an underground coal seam in Colorado sparked a blaze that scorched more than 12,000 acres of forest, destroyed two dozen homes, and threatened the resort town of Glenwood Springs.
Disasters like these are fueling efforts to fight underground coal fires. One engineering firm, Goodson and Associates, Inc., has developed a heat resistant "grout": a mixture of sand, cement, fly ash, water and foam that can be pumped around burning material. The grout, called Thermocell, helps to cut off the fire's oxygen supply and allow the blaze to cool down.
While traditional coal fire fighting techniques require large equipment used close to the red hot fire, the readily flowing grout can be pumped from a distance away," said Goodson and Associates owner Gary Colaizzi. Experts could also inject the grout into cracks, vents or excavated trenches to seal off the fire and prevent its spread, Colaizzi added.
The grout could even be used to prevent fires, according to Colaizzi, if it were sprayed onto exposed surfaces of coal seams just after strip mining, to seal them from oxygen.
Because coal fires are dangerous to approach, and typically burn underground, predicting where they will spread has been a major challenge, especially in remote areas like northern China.
In collaboration with the Chinese government, van Dijk and his colleagues have used a combination of remote sensing data and GIS technology to detect and monitor coal fires in the northern regions of the country. Their results are helping researchers explore how these fires evolve and what the best approaches might be for extinguishing them.
Ultimately, these techniques should allow scientists to estimate how much carbon dioxide these fires are emitting, van Dijk said.
Another collaboration, involving the United States and Indonesian governments, developed out of concern over the smoke and haze from forest fires that has affected human health in countries such as Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia in recent decades.
"What went up in smoke in Indonesia makes it one of the worst polluters in the world," said Whitehouse.
Coal fires now threaten some of Indonesia's national parks and a nature preserve that is being used as a reintroduction site for the endangered orangutan, Whitehouse added. | <urn:uuid:a03d5f84-ebc9-46f6-9b52-b388816c40e0> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/feb2003/2003-02-14-06.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393093.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00016-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947053 | 1,122 | 3.5625 | 4 |
Skip to Content
by Leigh MacMillan | Monday, May. 14, 2012, 11:54 AM
The epithelial cells that line the intestines fire bacteria-fighting “bullets” into the gut, Vanderbilt University researchers have discovered.
The findings, featured on the cover of the April 10 issue of Current Biology, represent a new mechanism for defending the body against gut microbes.
The surfaces of intestinal epithelial cells are covered by microvilli – specialized structures that project, like thousands of tiny fingers, into the lumen of the gut. The “textbook” view of the microvilli is that they increase the cellular surface area for absorbing and processing nutrients, said Matthew Tyska, associate professor of cell and developmental biology.
“Our studies suggest a new function for the microvilli in regulating epithelial-microbial interactions,” he said.
Tyska and his colleagues had previously demonstrated that the microvilli launch vesicles – tiny bubble-like packets of cell membrane – into the lumen, and that these vesicles contain high levels of an enzyme called intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP). Because IAP reduces the toxicity of bacterial products and limits their pro-inflammatory signaling, the investigators suspected that the vesicles might protect against bacteria and other pro-inflammatory compounds.
They show in the current studies that IAP in vesicles isolated from rat intestines is able to detoxify bacterial products from multiple types of bacteria. Using electron microscopy, they also observed that the vesicles “pile up” on the surface of bacteria, which may facilitate their clearance from the gut.
To study how the vesicles affect bacterial function, they incubated cultures of human intestinal epithelial cells with enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) in the presence or absence of vesicles. EPEC is a type of “adherent pathogenic bacteria” that gets introduced to the lumen when someone eats contaminated meat, for example, Tyska said. EPEC tries to bind to the microvilli, inject its products into the cell and destroy the brush border (the layer of densely packed microvilli).
“Bugs that destroy the brush border are bad news; you cannot survive without microvilli,” Tyska said. “EPEC is a major human health problem, especially in developing countries.”
To the researchers’ surprise, the vesicles were able to prevent EPEC from binding to and destroying the microvilli.
“Anything that can keep adherent pathogenic bacteria off of host cells and in the lumen is pretty exciting,” Tyska said.
Not only did the vesicles act as decoys for EPEC binding, they inhibited bacterial growth and even killed bacterial cells, the investigators found. In addition, adding EPEC to the cultured cells stimulated expression of IAP and vesicle production.
“Our findings are consistent with the production of these vesicles being a regulated host defense process,” Tyska said. “When cells sense the accumulation of bacteria or bacterial toxins in their environment, they respond by cranking up alkaline phosphatase levels and vesicle production.
“Because trillions of microvilli extend into the lumen, this is going to be a very effective way of quickly conditioning the lumen against bacterial pathogens,” he said.
The investigators are currently studying the process in mice that have deficiencies in vesicle production. They expect to see chronic inflammation, changes in the microbiome (the bacterial species that normally inhabit the gut), and “other changes that push them away from normal physiology,” Tyska said. They also plan to use live tissue imaging to follow where the vesicles go in the gut lumen.
The research, which began with Tyska’s interest in a motor protein that is enriched in microvilli, “is, I think, a great example of how doing fundamental research on molecules can lead to new insights about physiology and pathophysiology,” he said.
Contributors to the current studies include first author David Shifrin, Russell McConnell, Ph.D., Rajalakshmi Nambiar, Ph.D., James Higginbotham, Ph.D., and Robert Coffey, M.D. The research was supported by National Institutes of Health grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases and the National Cancer Institute, by grants from the American Heart Association and by a Vanderbilt University Innovation and Discovery in Engineering and Science Award.
Leigh MacMillan, (615) 322-4747
Health and Medicine, Reporter, Research American Heart Association, bacteria, cell and developmental biology, Current Biology, epithelial, featured research, gut, intestines, Matthew Tyska, microbe, NCI, NIDDK, NIH
There are lots of ways to keep up with Vanderbilt. Choose your preferred method: | <urn:uuid:3a66e83b-442d-4ad6-9fe7-253875e98e47> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://news.vanderbilt.edu/2012/05/intestinal-microbe-attack/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783392069.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154952-00043-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.91699 | 1,041 | 3.21875 | 3 |
Visual, dynamic proof that all parabola are similar (for a > 0, since for a < 0, only a reflection in x-axis is required)
Instructions: 1. Drag sliders p and q to translate the blue parabola with the transformation g(x) = f(x-q) + p, which is the translation of the general purple one (f(x) = ax2 + bx + c), until its vertex coincides with that of the red parabola (y = h(x) = x2).
2. Click on Show Function Plot, and then drag slider k, to enlarge/reduce the translated parabola with the dilation transformation q(x) = k.g(x/k) centred at the origin, until it coincides with the red one (y = h(x) = x2).
3. Change the parameters of the general purple parabola by dragging a (keep a > 0), b and c, and repeat steps 1 and 2 above.
Read my article at All parabola similar? Never! for more background.
Dilation of parabola
Instructions: 1. Drag slider k to dilate (enlarge/reduce) the purple parabola y = f(x) = x2 with the shown rectangle ABCD by the dilation transformation g(x) = k.f(x/k) centred at the origin to map onto the green one and A'B'C'D'.
2. Note therefore that the value of a in y = ax2 does NOT determine the shape of the parabola. Since they are all similar, they have the same shape, and the parameter a determines the dilation (enlargement or reduction). Note that the scale factor k is the reciprocal of a; i.e. k = 1/a. Hence, for a > 0, a decrease in a lets one 'zoom in' (enlarge) while an increase in a, lets one 'zoom out' (reduce).
Return to other Explorations for Students or to more Dynamic Geometry Sketches
Michael de Villiers, Updated 14 May 2011. | <urn:uuid:1473dda7-f388-4392-9e43-5c8b13ec1b07> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://dynamicmathematicslearning.com/similarparabola.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783404382.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155004-00140-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.840633 | 460 | 3.8125 | 4 |
Dothan is famous for its renowned display of historical mural paintings found in the downtown area.
News 4 took a look at the newest mural representing a time when residents were struggling to recover from war.
For several years, Dothan has been known as Alabama's Mural City, but it didn't always use to be this way.
Brick walls have slowly been replaced with murals.
Cathy Cole, the executive director of the Downtown Group said, "The fact is that the mural program is beautifying our historic district one wall at a time. So, as far as the beautification process of our historic district, this mural program is extremely important to the city of Dothan."
So far, about half a million dollars have been given through private and public donations to fund the mural program, and officials say that this money has paid off with tourism.
Chairman Wendell Stepp of the Festival of Murals said, "Once people saw what we could do with murals, the enthusiasm started from there, and we have painted now this is our 19th mural."
This newest mural is about Camp Recovery, showing a time between 1820 and 1825 when it was used as a First Aid Station for soldiers fighting the Native Americans at the time.
Though the mural is not yet finished, it is already drawing attention.
The Camp Recovery mural, which is supposed to be finished by the end of the month, will have a dedication ceremony following its completion. | <urn:uuid:f5fe464f-a421-4573-9676-738b1dd1fb01> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.wtvy.com/news/headlines/8397797.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397864.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00183-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.984709 | 304 | 2.8125 | 3 |
The Galapagos Islands are a province of Ecuador. The head of the province is the Governor, representative of the President of the Republic, who coordinates and controls the policies of the national government and directs the activities of civil employees and representatives in the province (Ecuadorian Department of State, 2003). The provinces have total autonomy and are wholly responsible for their economic and social development and the handling of natural resources, although the permanent national objectives in economic and social matters are established on a national level. The policy of the State of Ecuador is to protect and conserve the ecosystems in the Galapagos Islands (Dobkowski, 2001).
The Ecuadorian constitution also gives the Galapagos Islands a position as a special regime. Special regimes have their own territorial administration based on their special demographical and environmental nature. Because of the declaration as a special regime, the Galapagos Islands can limit the rights of internal migration, work and any activity that may affect the environment. The residents of the respective areas, affected by the limitation of his or her constitutional rights, will be compensated by means of the preferred access to the benefits of available natural resources. Other sectors will be governed in agreement with which they are established in the Constitution (Ecuadorian Department of State, 2003).
The Galapagos National Park Service is responsible for provincial planning, approves the budgets of the dependent and independent organizations, and controls their execution. Park service is also an advisory body for the governor, provincial prefect, mayors, and other offices that the law establishes (Ecuadorian Department of State, 2003). | <urn:uuid:9690bcfb-4fb8-400d-b1e5-27aff57a8078> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://web.mit.edu/12.000/www/m2008/teams/lasiguanas/Galapagos_as_a_Part_of_Ecuador.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396872.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00137-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939527 | 317 | 2.96875 | 3 |
(Source: Curriculum Development System:A Handbook of School Practitioners in Basic Education by Jesus C. Palma. National Bookstore, c 1992)
What is Teaching?
In school, we are dealing with the young who are immature and who lack the experiences in life which learning emanates. That is why the teacher assumes an important role in their development. The learners who are expected to undergo the learning process cannot do it on their own without adult help and supervision. That is what teaching is all about. It is the process of "helping" the learners learn economically, efficiently, and effectively. The success of a learning situation depends to a large extent on the skillful intervention of a professional person, the teacher.
There are intervention or helping points in teaching process. These points encompass the key elements or the so-called 8 M's of teaching. These are:
1. Milieu: The Learning Environment
Since learning is triggered off by stimuli in the environment, it assumes primary importance in teaching and learning. The classroom is the usual although not the exclusive environment of learning at school. Teachers need to male the learning environment as "stimulating" as possible. Every stimulus in the classroom should contribute to learning. Very much part of this environment are the human stimuli, the most important of whom is the teacher himself. Material stimuli include objects in the room as well as common routine activities. Checking of receptors of the learning stimuli, the senses, to make sure that every student is properly equipped for and disposed to receive the stimuli of learning. Provisions for proper lighting and acoustics as well as corrective measures for students who may be impaired somewhat in this regard.
2. Matter: The Content of Learning. This refers to the what is to be learned as specified in the instructional objective. Mastery of every lesson instead of its mere coverage by the class is a very important "rule-of-thumb" The teacher should make sure that the minimum standard or level of proficiency is attained by the class before moving onto the next lesson or unit. Curriculum makers are advised to be realistic in projecting subject matter and avoid giving the students "too much, too soon," and to teach only "little matter, but well mastered."
3. Method" The teaching-learning Strategy. This consist of purposeful, planned activities and tasks that are undertaken by the teacher and the students in the classroom to bring about the intended instructional objective. Methods are means to an end, never an end in itself. There is good straggly per se, it is deemed good or effective only if it brings about the desired learning outcome. Furthermore, an objective may be archived using different strategies just as a strategy may be utilized to attain different objectives.The strategy must be appropriate to the level of maturity and sophistication of the learners. It must also be adequate or sufficient for the lesson objective and the teacher must be adept or skillful in the use of the strategy. The learners must also show efficiency in handling the activity, going through it without hassle. The strategy must also be effective to yield expected result and must be economical in time, effort and expense.
4. Material: The Resources of Learning. Materials are resources available to the teacher and learners which serve as stimuli in the teaching-learning situation. This may be either a "human person" or a "physical object." The whole purpose of materials is to initiate the students to the "real world" they live in. Instructional materials represent elements found in that world are are meant to help students understand and explain reality. Portraying reality can be by direct experience, reproduction, representation or abstraction
5. Media: Communication in Teaching and Learning. This pertains to the communication system in the teaching-learning situation. This serves dual purpose: to promote common understanding in instruction and to set and maintain a healthy psychological climate in the classroom conducive to learning.
6. Motivation: Arousing and Sustaining Interest in Learning. Motivation is the cardinal principle in learning. A learner will learn only those things he wants to learn.
7. Mastery: The Be-all and End-all of Learning. This means internalization of learning resulting in automatic or habitual change behavior through meaningful repetition and application. Mastery comes through a "fixation" of what is to be learned, shifting it from short-term to long-term memory, allowing for ease in use and transfer to new situations in the future. Some call it executive control"
8. Measurement: Getting Evidence of Learning. This is the final stage in the teaching-learning sequence, involving the systematic collection of the evidence of learning. This is concerned with the "behavior" aspect of the objective.
In preparing for teaching, the teacher should take all of these elements into consideration. These constitute thew warp and woof of a unified unit and session plan or Plantilla. | <urn:uuid:e84fd593-743e-4e82-ace7-33683bcd0d88> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://olga-mentors.blogspot.com/2009/02/key-elements-of-teaching-8-ms-of.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396945.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00014-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951771 | 991 | 3.75 | 4 |
THURSDAY, Sept. 6 (HealthDay News) -- Six-month-old babies closely monitor their parents to determine if something is funny, and this appears to help them develop a sense of humor, a small study suggests.
For the study, U.S. researchers studied 30 babies in their homes when they were 6 months old and 1 year old. Initially, the babies watched their parent react to two ordinary events in which a researcher read a picture book and showed a small red foam ball to the babies.
The two events were then changed to be absurd. The researcher bounced the open picture book on her head while she said "Zoop! Zoop!" and then put the foam ball on her nose while she poked at it and said "Beep! Beep!"
During this odd behavior by the researcher, the parents were told to either point and laugh at the researcher or to just stare without expression.
The 6-month-old babies stared longer at the absurd events than they did at the normal events, but their reactions to the events did not depend on their parents' responses. However, the babies did watch their parents closely when they laughed.
By the time they were 1 year old, the babies laughed at the absurd events even if their parents remained expressionless.
The combination of paying close attention to absurd events and to others laughing at those events when they are 6 months old may explain how babies develop the sense of humor they have when they're a year old, the researchers suggested.
The study was scheduled for presentation Sept. 6 at a British Psychological Society meeting in Glasgow, Scotland.
"Humor might seem like a frivolous topic, but it provides a vehicle for understanding infant development, in this case the development of social referencing. This study shows that 6-month-olds pay attention to 'unsolicited emotional advice' from parents during ambiguous situations that might be funny," study author Gina Mireault, of Johnson State College in Johnson, Vt., said in a society news release.
"Our findings suggest that 6-month-olds are starting to see parents as a source of emotional information, and this is likely to be an important step on the way to being able to obtain emotional advice from parents when this is needed, which we know infants do at 8 months. By 12 months, infants seem to have had just enough life experience to make up their own minds -- at least about what is absurdly funny," Mireault explained.
The data and conclusions of research presented at medical meetings should be viewed as preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
The American Academy of Pediatrics outlines the ages and stages of a child's growth and development.
-- Robert Preidt
SOURCE: British Psychological Society, news release, Sept. 6, 2012
All rights reserved | <urn:uuid:32153af1-93fe-4565-9c19-6460b6bc5466> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.bio-medicine.org/medicine-news-1/Kids-Develop-Sense-of-Humor-by-Age-1--Study-Finds-94169-1/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396222.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00026-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972207 | 572 | 2.9375 | 3 |
Here's an infographic detailing the main points of the current oil spill crisis, caused by a BP oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico that exploded and sank, killing 11 workers aboard.
As you'll see, the graphs illustrate all the main points of the story, including the rate of the spill and the number of ships being deployed to fight it.
But the most alarming stat is at the bottom of this graphic, which comes courtesy of GDS Digital. If the oil well causing the spill isn't plugged in 50 days, it will overtake Exxon Valdez as the largest oil spill in U.S. history. What the graphic doesn't mention is that the oil rig causing the spill originally sank on April 20th—meaning that we're already 15 days in, while capping the well might take up to 90 days. Not to mention what happens if the well-head goes completely belly up—in that case, the spillage rate will increase many fold. | <urn:uuid:0481d589-ab9d-487f-9301-ae77096e3d4b> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.fastcompany.com/1636129/infographic-day-gulf-mexico-oil-spill-will-be-bigger-valdez-35-days | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395546.12/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00146-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966769 | 194 | 2.765625 | 3 |
Welcome to the Virtual Museum's
Science and Technology of Phones section--or, rather, wing, as in a physical museum this section's exhibits would take up quite a bit of space. There is always a bit of dust here from the new construction going on, so watch your step ...
You may want to begin with the Timeline
showing a history of the telephone and its related machinery--for instance, did you know the technology used to develop the telephone also spurred the development of computers and satellites?
Next, we have an exhibit showing How Phones Work
(and incidentally quite a bit of history there as well), and from there ... well, you can look at whatever interests you.
Here's a list of current Science and Technology exhibits:
- Timeline -- An overview of telephone and related history.
- How Phones Work -- How exactly does your voice change into electricity and fly across the wires to its destination? We explore that, and the invention of the telephone, in this section.
- How Cordless and Cell Phones Work -- Wires are all well and good, but modern phones use the air to do their work. But how, and what does radio have to do with it?
- Calling a Country Far Far Away -- Does long distance calling work differently than shorter calls? How do we get phone conversations across the ocean? And how did we do it before the era of satellites?
- A Time before Phones -- All this talk about phones, but they were only invented in the 1870s. How did people communicate before that? And what inventions lead up to the telephone?
- The Telephone Patent Follies -- We all know who invented the phone, don't we? Elisha Gray. Er, no. Western Union. Ummmm ... Thomas Edison? Nope, it really was Alexander Graham Bell, but it took years for the courts to decide.
More science exhibits will be arriving in the future, so keep coming back. And if you have any questions, or ideas, please feel free to contact us at [email protected]
to museum entrance | THG main page
site map | educational resources | <urn:uuid:4c7b4436-e886-4d6f-8ab2-8d41cd057869> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.telcomhistory.org/vm/science.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783392069.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154952-00083-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944703 | 443 | 3.546875 | 4 |
Airborne Dust Causes Ripple Effect on Climate Far Away
When a small pebble drops into a serene pool of water, it causes a ripple in the water in every direction, even disturbing distant still waters. NASA researchers have found a similar process at work in the atmosphere: tiny particles in the air called aerosols can cause a rippling effect on the climate thousands of miles away from their source region.
Image right: Dust from Africa's Saharan Desert lingers in high altitudes as it crosses the Atlantic Ocean. This picture was taken from an aircraft northeast of Barbados in 2006. Cumulus clouds can be seen poking through the tops of the dust layer, which is seen as a milky white haze. Click image to enlarge. Credit: NOAA
The researchers found that dust particles from the desert regions in northern Africa can produce climate changes as far away as the northern Pacific Ocean. Large quantities of dust from North Africa are injected into the atmosphere by dust storms and rising air. Airborne dust absorbs sunlight and heats the atmosphere. The heating effect ripples through the atmosphere, affecting surface and air temperatures as the dust travels.
"These highs and lows in air temperatures caused by radiation-absorbing aerosols can lead to 'teleconnection’, which refers to changes in weather and climate in one place caused by events happening far away, often more than half way around the globe," said William Lau, Chief of the Laboratory for Atmospheres at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Md., and author of a study published last fall in the American Meteorological Society's Journal of Climate. "North African dust can be lifted high into the atmosphere by storms and then transported across the Atlantic and Caribbean, where its effect can be far-reaching."
From a climate point of view, aerosols can block solar radiation (incoming heat and light from the sun) from hitting the Earth's land surface. When sunlight is blocked, it can cause the Earth's surface to cool, and/or the aerosols can absorb solar radiation and cause the atmosphere in the vicinity of the airborne dust to get warmer.
Image left: A massive sandstorm blowing off the northwest African desert blanketed hundreds of thousands of square miles of the eastern Atlantic Ocean with Saharan Sand. It was seen from the SeaWiFS satellite on Feb. 26, 2000, as it reached 1,000 miles into the Atlantic Ocean. Click image to enlarge. Credit: NASA GSFC and ORBIMAGE
According to Lau, researchers thought for years that heat changes in the atmosphere from aerosols only caused local changes in temperatures. However, "we now know they may cause more than local changes to climate," he said. Lau's computer model indicates that the heat changes caused by aerosols affect the heat balance in the air over North Africa. That change in heat creates large waves in the atmosphere that ripple as far away as Eurasia and the North Pacific.
Researchers have created complex numerical models to simulate the "still waters" of the atmosphere during North African spring – a season when climate conditions are relatively calm with light winds and light rain.
Lau's team carried out a numerical model experiment that included aerosol forcing, and then another one with identical initial conditions and lower boundary conditions, except that the aerosol forcing is removed. By comparing the weather patterns in the two experiments, they can deduce the effect of aerosol forcing. They observed the aerosols made an impact far away from their source region. In setting up their experiment, the researchers chose the northern Sahara Desert in springtime, when the weather conditions are relatively calm, allowing aerosols, like dust, to build up more in air.
An "atmospheric teleconnection" happens when unusual patterns of air pressure and air circulation happen in one place, and the energy is dispersed over large distances around the globe to other places. An atmospheric teleconnection can lead to changes in sea level pressure and temperature around the world. This study saw changes from North Africa through Eurasia to the North Pacific.
Most interesting, Lau's team found that North African-dust teleconnection led to strong cooling over the Caspian Sea (a land-locked body of water between Russia and Europe) and warming over central and northeastern Asia, where man-made aerosol concentrations are low.
"Elevated aerosols in large quantities such as dust from North Africa, or biomass burning may have global impacts," said Lau. "We expect to observe more and more real-world examples of this teleconnection phenomenon with the high volume of aerosols generated by nature and human activities around the world."
+ Teleconnections information
Goddard Space Flight Center | <urn:uuid:88192af2-574c-4832-9712-0d4ffb862ef8> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/news/topstory/2006/particle_ripple.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783402479.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155002-00057-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930174 | 948 | 3.96875 | 4 |
I suggest the following thought experiment that describes a machine which makes everybody happy.
Suppose a lottery is conducted. The winner is awarded a billion dollars plus the title of eternal Earth dictator.
The winner is determined in the following way.
There is a thorough isolated black box inside which a pretender is placed.
Inside the box a quantum experiment is conducted with equal probability of the two outcomes: 0 or 1 (it may be based on an atom decay)
The pretender measures the result with an apparatus.
The black box is connected by a quantum link (in form of an optical fiber) to an external quantum computer
After the measurement by the pretender is done the result is automatically transmitted by the optical link to the quantum computer
The transmitted qubit is used by quantum computer as an initial state of the quantum register instead of usual Hadamard transform before performing a Shor factorization algorithm.
After the algorithm is performed, the result is checked whether it is correct.
If it is correct the pretender is declared the looser. If the factorization returned a wrong result, the pretender is declared the winner.
Any average person placed in the black box will measure the result of the atom decay and similarly to a Schroedinger cat will enter the superposition of two states: the one which saw 0 and the one which saw 1.
Similarly the measuring apparatus will enter the superposition. So the qubit sent via the optical fiber will be a superposition of two states:
As this value is exactly the same what Hadamard gate returns after being applied to an empty qubit, this will allow the quantum computer to perform the factorization as usual and return the correct result, dispite that the initial step of applying the Hadamard gate has been replaced by loading the qubit obtained from the black box.
Now suppose the observer himself is placed in the black box. After the atom decay he will perform measurement which will collapse the wave function. The observer will be in either state where he saw 0 or where he saw 1. So either basis state 0 or basis state 1 is sent via the cable to the quantum computer.
Since this is different from the usual value which should be loaded in the register before performing the factorization, the factorization will return a wrong result. So the pretender will be declared the winner.
It follows that any person, when he or she is observing the lottery from outside will see all other pretenders to loose.
At the same time any participant that tries the lottery himself will find himself a winner.
This is a fascinating lottery which will make all the participation pretenders the winners in their own eyes. Each person who goes through this machine will see other people to congratulate them, to proclaim them the eternal emperor and so on.
I would like to see whether there any mistake in the reasoning. | <urn:uuid:17c13016-e03c-48e8-9cff-f2cf81eb612d> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://physics.stackexchange.com/questions/24143/again-about-all-win-lottery | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396027.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00093-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922613 | 585 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant that affects mood. It can cause long-term damage to the brain’s ability to control mood, therefore users often feel depressed and cannot experience happiness after they stop using. It is a highly addictive drug that comes in many forms. It can be ingested, injected, smoked, or snorted.
About 4.9% of teens have tried methamphetamine and between 3-4.5% are frequent users. Methamphetamine is a popular club drug because it creates a false high and improves mood. Another reasons teen use is because it suppresses the appetite.
Methamphetamine is a dangerous drug that:
Affects the brain. Meth causes mind and mood changes. Long-term effects can include damage to blood vessels in the brain, chronic fatigue, delusional thinking, and permanent psychological damage. Users often experience a severe crash after the effects wear off.
Affects the body. The drug creates a false sense of energy, pushing the body faster than it is meant to go. It increases the risk of stroke. Users who use needles increase the risk of getting AIDS.
Affects self-control. It can cause violent and psychotic behaviors.
Can kill. An overdose of Meth often results in heart failure. Damage can occur to the liver, kidneys, and lungs. Methamphetamine use resulted in more emergency room visits than any other club drug.
Signs of Methamphetamine use:
- Excessively happy state
- Decreased appetite or weight loss
- Increased physical activity
- Anxiety, shaking hands, nervousness
- Incessant talking
- Picking or scratching at skin or hair
- Increased temperature
- Aggressive or violent behavior
- Increased heart rate or blood pressure
- Tremors or convulsions (at high doses)
Inhaling – razor blades, mirrors, straws
Injecting – syringes, heated spoons, surgical tubing
Injesting – bottles with little white pills
Slang/street names for Methamphetamine:
Crystal Meth, crank, bathtub crank, glass, pep pills, stove top, uppers, tweak, ice (when smoked), whitecross, speedball, go fast, Shabu sketch, granulated orange, trash, bikers coffee. | <urn:uuid:cc556516-65f8-47ff-8888-3f704d0ed71b> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.parentingteens.com/methamphetamine-use-among-teens/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783394937.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154954-00072-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.90057 | 469 | 2.578125 | 3 |
May 12, 2004.
Contact: Betsy Nisbet,
University of Michigan Health System.
ANN ARBOR, Mich. – While scientists race to identify disease-causing genes, they know that the long-anticipated gene therapies will not be possible unless they learn more about how genes function at the cellular level.
In the April issue of Genomics, University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center scientists provide significant details on the functioning of one gene -- and the related proteins – responsible for rare forms of macular degeneration.
In 2001, Radha Ayyagari, Ph.D., and colleagues identified the gene ELOVL4 (elongation of very-long chain fatty acids 4), associated with a severe retinal condition: autosomal dominant atrophic macular degeneration (adMD) or Stargardt-like macular degeneration. The disease affects the central part of the retina and results in loss of central vision needed for such activities as reading and driving. In the Genomics paper, Ayyagari focuses on the movement of the protein that carries out the gene's instructions.
According to Ayyagari, it appears that a key signal, one that directs the protein to the proper location within the cell, is missing in the mutated gene. In healthy cells, the protein travels between two locations, the Golgi and the endoplasmic reticulum (ER).
When the ER retrieval signal is not functioning properly, the protein accumulates in the wrong site, either in the Golgi or another cellular compartment. Ayyagari observes, "If we gain more information about the misrouting of this protein, we may learn how and why the genetic mutation causes degeneration of the macula. And that will bring us closer to interventions and treatment options."
Ayyagari adds that a similar pattern, known as defective protein trafficking, has been associated with several other retinal diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa. While here, too, the mutation is connected to degeneration of the macula, the missing piece involves the function of the gene. "What is the role of this protein in cellular pathways?" asks Ayyagari, adding that this information would provide valuable insight into the disease.
Ayyagari observes that the cause of the degenerative disease appears to be either the lack of sufficient healthy protein or the presence of abnormal protein. She explains that once you understand the underlying problem, you can choose whether to add healthy genes or remove the product of the defective gene. With this understanding, scientists can begin to develop new treatments.
The unique composition of the retina also hints at the importance of the gene ELOVL4 in retinal degeneration. The retinal cells are composed of high levels of long-chain fatty acids, which must be maintained if the retina is to remain healthy.
"Our current research suggests that the gene is involved in the metabolism of these fatty acids, but we don't know exactly how," says Ayyagari." She plans further research aimed at learning more about the biological function of the gene, which may provide a direct link between fatty acid metabolism and the degeneration of retinal cells.
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go with friends who make healthy choices, researchers say.
If you’re trying to lose weight, you may want to find a slim friend to dine out with. That’s the conclusion of a new study by University of Illinois researchers.
Announced in October 2013, this is one of several studies showing that our dining partners may greatly affect our food choices. Choosing fries when you know you’d be better off with a side salad? Look across the table—what did your friend choose?
What the Study Found
For the study, University of Illinois food economist and lead study author Brenna Ellison and colleagues analyzed lunch receipts from a full-service restaurant for a period of three months. In the restaurant, the first group (the control group) received menus with the item and price, only. A second group received menus with calorie counts for meal. A third group had both the calorie counts and a “traffic light” color-coded symbol indicating calorie ranges: green meant the item had 400 calories or less; yellow meant the item had between 401–800 calories; and red meant the item had more than 800 calories.
In addition to analyzing the lunch receipts, Ellison also went under cover to observe at the restaurant, and got information directly from the servers. Results showed:
- Participants in the third group using the color-coding and who were also part of a large party generally made the healthiest food choices, suggesting there was some peer pressure to order lower-calorie items.
- When groups of people ate together and had to state their food choice aloud, they tended to select items from the same menu categories.
- People were happier if they were making similar choices to those sitting around them.
- No matter how someone felt about the category originally (red, yellow, or green), even if it was initially a source of unhappiness—such as the items in the salad category—this unhappiness was offset when others ordered within the same category.
Given the findings, Ellison noted, “…it would almost be better to nudge people toward healthier friends than healthier foods.”
Earlier Study Shows Similar Results
There are a couple of takeaways from this study. First—additional clues like the “traffic light” color-coding indicating calorie amounts can help people make healthier choices. Recent research from Texas Christian University, for example, gave 300 people, aged 18 to 30, one of the following three menus:
- without calorie labels,
- with calorie labels,
- with labels showing how many minutes of brisk walking would be required to burn the calories consumed.
The people given the last menus consumed fewer calories than the people in either of the other two groups.
The second takeaway from this study is that our choice of dining partners can have a huge influence on what we eat. In a 2012 study published in the journal PLoS One, Dutch researchers invited 70 pairs of women to dine together in a laboratory set up to look like a restaurant. When they observed these women, they found the following:
- Women mirrored each other, taking bites of food at roughly the same time and mimicking each other’s overall eating behavior.
- This mirroring activity was three times more common at the beginning of the meal than the end. Researchers theorized this may be because the women were trying to make a favorable impression on each other at first.
- The findings showed that people tend to adjust their food intake, up or down, to match that of their eating companions.
Another study published in 2012 indicating similar social influences over our food intakes. In that study, published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, people who were considered “people pleasers” were more likely to eat more candy when they wanted to put someone else at ease.
How to Resist When Eating with Friends
There are a number of other studies indicating the same thing—eating with people who make unhealthy choices will push you to do the same, and eating with people who make healthy choices will likely be good for you.
Still, we can’t always choose. There are family occasions, business dinners, and more where we are with people who may be setting a less-than-optimal example. What do we do then?
Here are some ideas. Try them out and see if you can hold true to your dieting ideals next time you’re faced with friends choosing high-fat, high-sugar, and high-salt options:
- Order first. This way, you won’t have a chance to be influenced by what others are getting.
- Don’t ask. Refrain from asking what your friends or loved ones are having. Make your best choice on your own, and stick to it.
- Choose when to splurge. If you go out with the same group of friends on a regular basis, choose one time to splurge and enjoy something similar to what your pals are ordering, and make healthy choices for the rest of the month.
- Bring at least one healthy friend. Bring along your fit friend when you can, as it’s always easier to stick to your guns when you have a friend along with you.
- Remind yourself of your priorities. If you know your friends are going to be making choices that don’t fit with your goals, remind yourself beforehand, and rehearse how you’re going to deal with it at the restaurant.
- Choose the restaurant. If you can make a choice of a restaurant that has healthy choices you like, you’ll be less likely to cave in and choose other, less healthy items.
- Invite people over. One of the best ways to avoid unhealthy eating with friends is to invite them over and cook. That way, the choices are yours!
Do you have tips for early morning activities that promote success? Please share.
* * *
Debra Levey Larson, “Peer pressure can influence food choices at restaurants,” University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences, Press Release, October 25, 2013, http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2013-10/uoic-ppc102513.php.
Preidt, Robert. “Eat Less if You Know Time Needed to Burn Calories?” 23 April 2013. WebMD. 26 April 2013. http://www.webmd.com/diet/news/20130423/knowing-time-needed-to-walk-off-calories-may-curb-appetite.
Amanda Gardner, “Are Your Friends Making You Overeat?” CNN, February 1, 2012, http://www.cnn.com/2012/02/01/health/friends-making-you-overeat/. | <urn:uuid:c1d29a24-75a7-4f78-8679-84da67e62a15> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://renegadehealth.com/blog/2014/01/01/who-you-eat-with-influences-what-you-eat-7-tips-to-stay-strong | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783399425.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154959-00131-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948056 | 1,423 | 2.546875 | 3 |
April 29, 2013
Blast concussions could cause pituitary deficiencies in war vets
Many veterans suffering from blast concussions may have hormone deficiencies that mimic some of the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression, according to researchers with the Department of Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System and the University of Washington.
The researchers screened 35 veterans with blast injuries. They found that 42 percent had irregular hormone levels indicative of hypopituitarism, a condition that can often be controlled by replacing the deficient hormones.
“This could be a largely missed opportunity for successful treatment,” said Charles W. Wilkinson, study leader and a UW research associate professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences.
He said up to 20 percent of veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq have experienced at least one blast concussion. He said many of these veterans have a problem so under-recognized that even military physicians may fail to look for it.
Results from the study, “Prevalence of chronic hypopituitarism after blast concussion” by Wilkinson, Elizabeth A. Colasurdo, Kathleen F. Pagulayan, Jane B. Shofer, and Elaine R. Peskind, were presented at the Experimental Biology 2013 Meeting April 22 in Boston. The results were published in Frontiers in Neurotrauma last year, but the presentation included new data as well and the results be published again.
Wilkinson said studies in the past few years have suggested that 25 to 50 percent of people who suffer traumatic brain injuries later have low pituitary hormone levels — a decrease in the concentrations of at least one of eight hormones produced by the pituitary, a gland beneath the base of the brain.
Wilkinson said these studies focused on head injuries that civilians are more likely to receive, such as an automobile accident. He and his team decided to investigate whether veterans returning from Afghanistan and Iraq who suffer blast injuries show a similar frequency of hypopituitarism.
They collected blood samples from 35 veterans diagnosed with a blast concussion about a year prior — enough time for hormone changes to become evident. They then did a screen to compare blood concentrations of the eight hormones produced by the pituitary with the documented normal levels of these hormones.
The researchers found that about 42 percent of these veterans showed abnormally low levels of at least one of these hormones. The most common low hormone was human growth hormone, which can cause behavioral and cognitive symptoms similar to PTSD and depression. Low levels can also cause increases in blood lipids and changes in metabolism and blood pressure that can raise the risk of heart attack and stroke. The second most common problem was hypogonadism, changes in sexual hormones that can affect body composition and sexual function.
The researchers saw that some veterans had abnormal levels of vasopressin and oxytocin. Low levels of these hormones make it harder for people to bond with others and are linked to other mental health issues. Problems with these hormone levels, in addition to growth hormone, could contribute to difficulties with personal relationships, Wilkinson said.
He said the prevalence of hypopituitarism in the general population is estimated at 0.03 percent, a value far lower than that found in veterans with blast concussions. Therefore, more research is needed into victims of blast concussions.
“We’re screening hormone levels, not diagnosing definite disorders in this study,” he said. “These individuals would still need a clinical evaluation.” But, he said, if even 10 percent of these veterans have hypopituitarism, it’s a problem that physicians should be aware of.
The Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs supported the study. | <urn:uuid:90ff8023-5e12-483b-b59e-fc9011b678c9> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.washington.edu/news/2013/04/29/blast-concussions-could-cause-pituitary-deficiencies-in-war-vets/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395346.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00144-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947079 | 758 | 2.625 | 3 |
Creating quantum dots from buckyballs
Mar 23, 2011
Researchers in Singapore have found that carbon-60 molecules, or "buckyballs", can be used to make graphene quantum dots that are geometrically well defined. Such structures could be ideal in next-generation electronics as single-electron transistors in nanoscale circuits.
Graphene is a 2D sheet of carbon just one-atom-thick, and is usually made by cleaving small crystals of graphite. At the molecular level it looks like a sheet of chicken wire – a spread of joined-up benzene rings.
The "wonder material", as it is sometimes called, is often touted to replace silicon as the electronic material of choice thanks to its unusual electronic, thermal and mechanical properties. These include the fact that electrons in the material behave like relativistic particles that have no rest mass and can therefore travel at speeds of around 106 m/s. These properties remain even when graphene devices are scaled down to a few benzene rings.
Getting the most out of graphene
Until now, researchers have only been able to make transistors from ribbons of graphene but such long shapes do not maximize the conductivity of the material. Transistors made from structures that can confine electrons quantum mechanically could be much more effective. One such structure is quantum dots, which are nanoscale objects comprising several thousand atoms that form tiny compound semiconductor crystals. But existing "top-down" methods to fabricate dots from ribbons, for example, are still quite complicated.
Now, Kian Ping Loh and colleagues at the University of Singapore have developed the first bottom-up approach to make graphene quantum dots smaller than 10 nm in size using fullerene molecules as precursors. What is more, the dots produced are all regularly sized and all the same shape – unlike those produced using top-down techniques.
Loh and co-workers generated their quantum dots by decomposing carbon-60 molecules at high temperatures on a ruthenium metal surface. The metal acts as a catalyst and causes the C60 to break down into carbon clusters. The researchers employed scanning tunnelling microscopy to observe how the carbon clusters diffused onto the metal surface and how they aggregated to form quantum dots.
"By carefully controlling the density of the clusters on the surface, we were able to limit cluster aggregation and found that different-shaped clusters (flower-shaped and hexagonal) merged and crystallized into geometrically well-defined, hexagonal-shaped, graphene quantum dots at temperatures of around 825 K."
To their delight, the researchers also found that the quantum dots had an energy gap that scales inversely with their size – that is, the smaller the dot, the larger its energy gap. This is an important result because graphene is normally metallic and engineering its band gap in this way to make the material semiconducting is one of the main goals of graphene research today.
Loh told physicsworld.com that he is confident that the technique might be used to produce large quantities of these dots in the future.
Spurred on by their results, the researchers now plan to isolate the quantum dots they made and fabricate devices from them. "Being chemists, we are also interested in studying the reactivity of the dots," added Loh.
The work is detailed in Nature Nanotechnology.
About the author
Belle Dumé is a contributing editor to nanotechweb.org | <urn:uuid:40af4030-6d39-4d96-bb69-bf8d9215fb44> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://physicsworld.com/cws/article/news/2011/mar/23/creating-quantum-dots-from-buckyballs | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397865.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00053-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951565 | 712 | 3.75 | 4 |
||This article contains Indic text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks or boxes, misplaced vowels or missing conjuncts instead of Indic text.|
|Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
ශ්රී ලංකා ප්රජාතාන්ත්රික සමාජවාදී ජනරජය
இலங்கை ஜனநாயக சமத்துவ குடியரசு
|Anthem: "Sri Lanka Matha"
Music (help·info) , Singing (help·info)
|Official language(s)||Sinhala, Tamil|
|Ethnic groups (2001)||≈73.9% Sinhalese,
≈5.2% Indian Tamil,
|Government||Democratic Socialist Republic|
|-||Prime Minister||Ratnasiri Wickremanayake|
|-||Landing of Vijaya||543 BC|
|-||Kandyan Convention||2–18 March 1815|
|-||Independence from the United Kingdom||February 4, 1948|
|-||Republic||May 22, 1972|
|-||Total||65,610 km2 (122nd)
25,332 sq mi
|-||2009 estimate||20,238,000 (53rd)|
|-||July 2008 census||21,324,791|
|GDP (PPP)||2008 estimate|
|GDP (nominal)||2008 estimate|
|Gini (1999–00)||33.2 (medium)|
|HDI (2007)||▲0.759 (medium) (102nd)|
|Currency||Sri Lankan Rupee (
|Time zone||Sri Lanka Standard Time Zone (UTC+5:30)|
|Drives on the||left|
Sri Lanka (English pronunciation: /sriˈlɑːŋkə/, sriˈlæŋkə, or ʃriˈlɑːŋkə; local pronunciation: [ˌɕriːˈlaŋkaː]; Sinhala: ශ්රී ලංකා, Tamil: இலங்கை), officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and known as Ceylon (/sɪˈlɒn/) before 1972, is an island country in South Asia, located about 31 kilometres (19.3 mi) off the southern coast of India.
As a result of its location in the path of major sea routes, Sri Lanka is a strategic naval link between West Asia and South East Asia. It has also been a center of the Buddhist religion and culture from ancient times as well as being a bastion of Hinduism. The Sinhalese community forms the majority of the population; Tamils, who are concentrated in the north and east of the island, form the largest ethnic minority. Other communities include Moors, Burghers, Kaffirs, Malays and the indigenous Vedda people.
The country is famous for the production and export of tea, coffee, coconuts, rubber and cinnamon - which is native to the country. The natural beauty of Sri Lanka's tropical forests, beaches and landscape, as well as its rich cultural heritage, make it a world famous tourist destination. The island also boasts the first female Prime Minister in the world, Sirimavo Bandaranaike.
After over two thousand years of rule by local kingdoms, parts of Sri Lanka were colonized by Portugal and the Netherlands beginning in the 16th century, before control of the entire country was ceded to the British Empire in 1815. During World War II, Sri Lanka served as an important base for Allied forces in the fight against the Japanese Empire. A nationalist political movement arose in the country in the early 20th century with the aim of obtaining political independence, which was eventually granted by the British after peaceful negotiations in 1948.
In ancient times, Sri Lanka was known by a variety of names: ancient Greek geographers called it Taprobane (/təˈprɒbəniː/) and Arabs referred to it as Serendib (the origin of the word "serendipity"). Ceilão was the name given to Sri Lanka by the Portuguese when they arrived in 1505, which was transliterated into English as Ceylon. As a British colony, the island was known as Ceylon, and achieved independence under the name Dominion of Ceylon in 1948.
In 1972, the official name of the country was changed to "Free, Sovereign and Independent Republic of Sri Lanka" (in Sinhala ශ්රී ලංකා śrī laṃkā, IPA: [ˌʃɾiːˈlaŋkaː]; whereas the island itself is referred to as ලංකාව laṃkāva, IPA: [laŋˈkaːʋə], in Tamil இலங்கை ilaṅkai, iˈlaŋɡai). In 1978 it was changed to "Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka". The current name is derived from the Sanskrit श्री लंका (śrī lankā) with the word lankā, meaning "island", also being the name of the island as described in the ancient Indian epics Mahabharata and the Ramayana. The word śrī is a Sanskrit title meaning "venerable".
The island of Sri Lanka lies in the Indian Ocean, to the southwest of the Bay of Bengal. It is separated from the Indian subcontinent by the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait. According to Hindu mythology, a land bridge to the Indian mainland, known as Rama's Bridge, was constructed during the time of Rama by the vanara architect Nala. Often referred to as Adam's Bridge, it now amounts to only a chain of limestone shoals remaining above sea level.
According to colonial British reports, this is a natural causeway which was formerly complete, but was breached by a violent storm in 1480. The island consists mostly of flat-to-rolling coastal plains, with mountains rising only in the south-central part. Amongst these is the highest point Pidurutalagala, reaching 2,524 metres (8,281 ft) above sea level.
The climate of Sri Lanka can be described as tropical and warm. Its position between 5 and 10 north latitude endows the country with a warm climate moderated by ocean winds and considerable moisture. The mean temperature ranges from about 16 °C (61 °F) in the Central Highlands, where frost may occur for several days in the winter, to a maximum of approximately 33 °C (91 °F) in other low-altitude areas. The average yearly temperature ranges from 28 °C (82 °F) to nearly 31 °C (88 °F). Day and night temperatures may vary by 4 °C (7 °F) to 7 °C (13 °F). During the coldest days of January, many people wear coats and sweaters in the highlands and elsewhere.
May, the hottest period, precedes the summer monsoon rains. The rainfall pattern is influenced by monsoon winds from the Indian Ocean and Bay of Bengal: as the winds encounter the mountain slopes of the Central Highlands, they unload heavy rains on the slopes and the southwestern areas of the island. Some of the windward slopes receive up to 2,500 millimetres (98 in) of rain each month, but the leeward slopes in the east and northeast receive little rain. Periodic squalls occur and sometimes tropical cyclones bring overcast skies and rains to the southwest, northeast, and eastern parts of the island.
Between December to March, monsoon winds come from the northeast, bringing moisture from the Bay of Bengal. Humidity is typically higher in the southwest and mountainous areas and depends on the seasonal patterns of rainfall, and places like Colombo experience daytime humidity above 70% all year round, rising to almost 90% during the monsoon season in June. Anuradhapura experiences a daytime low of 60% during the monsoon month of March, but a high of 79% during the November and December rains. In the highlands, Kandy's daytime humidity usually ranges between 70% and 79%.
The mountains and the southwestern part of the country, known as the "wet zone", receive ample rainfall at an average of 2,500 mm (98 in). Most of the east, southeast, and northern parts of the country comprise the "dry zone", which receives between 1,200 mm (47 in) and 1,900 mm (75 in) of rain annually. Much of the rain in these areas falls from October to January; during the rest of the year there is very little precipitation. The arid northwest and southeast coasts receive the least amount of rain at 600 mm (24 in) to 1,200 mm (47 in) per year.
Varieties of flowering acacias are well adapted to the arid conditions and flourish on the Jaffna Peninsula. Among the trees of the dry-land forests, are some valuable species such as satinwood, ebony, ironwood, mahogany and teak. In the wet zone, the dominant vegetation of the lowlands is a tropical evergreen forest, with tall trees, broad foliage, and a dense undergrowth of vines and creepers. Subtropical evergreen forests resembling those of temperate climates flourish in the higher altitudes. Forests at one time covered nearly the entire island, but by the late 20th century lands classified as forests and forest reserves covered around ⅓ of the land.
The Yala National Park in the southeast protects herds of elephant, deer, and peacocks, and the Wilpattu National Park in the northwest preserves the habitats of many water birds, such as storks, pelicans, ibis, and spoonbills. During the Mahaweli Ganga Program of the 1970s and 1980s in northern Sri Lanka, the government set aside four areas of land totaling 1,900 km2 (730 sq mi) as national parks. The island has four biosphere reserves, Bundala, Hurulu Forest Reserve, the Kanneliya-Dediyagala-Nakiyadeniya, and Sinharaja.
The national flower of Sri Lanka is the Nymphaea stellata (Sinhalese Nil Mahanel), the national tree is the Ironwood (Sinhalese Na), and the national bird is the Sri Lanka Junglefowl, which is endemic to the country.
Paleolithic human settlements have been discovered at excavations in several cave sites in the Western Plains region and the South-western face of the Central Hills region. Anthropologists believe that some discovered burial rites and certain decorative artifacts exhibit similarities between the first inhabitants of the island and the early inhabitants of Southern India. Recent bioanthropological studies have however dismissed these links, and have placed the origin of the people to the northern parts of India.
One of the first written references to the island is found in the Indian epic Ramayana, which described the emperor Ravana as monarch of the powerful kingdom of Lanka, which was created by the divine sculptor Vishwakarma for Kubera, the treasurer of the Gods. English historian James Emerson Tennent also theorized Galle, a southern city in Sri Lanka, was the ancient seaport of Tarshish from which King Solomon is said to have drawn ivory, peacocks and other valuables. The main written accounts of the country's history are the Buddhist chronicles of Mahavansa and Dipavamsa.
The earliest-known inhabitants of the island now known as Sri Lanka were probably the ancestors of the Wanniyala-Aetto people, also known as Veddahs and numbering roughly 3,000. Linguistic analysis has found a correlation of the Sinhalese language with the languages of the Sindh and Gujarat, although most historians believe that the Sinhala community emerged well after the assimilation of various ethnic groups.
From the ancient period date some remarkable archaeological sites including the ruins of Sigiriya, the so-called "Fortress in the Sky", and huge public works. Among the latter are large "tanks" or reservoirs, important for conserving water in a climate that alternates rainy seasons with dry times, and elaborate aqueducts, some with a slope as finely calibrated as one inch to the mile. Ancient Sri Lanka was also the first in the world to have established a dedicated hospital in Mihintale in the 4th century BCE. Ancient Sri Lanka was also the world's leading exporter of cinnamon, which was exported to Egypt as early as 1400 BCE. Sri Lanka was also the first Asian nation to have a female ruler in Queen Anula (47–42 BC).
Since ancient times Sri Lanka was ruled by monarchs, most notably of the Sinha royal dynasty that lasted over 2000 years. The island was also infrequently invaded by South Indian kingdoms and parts of the island were ruled intermittently by the Chola dynasty, the Pandya dynasty, the Chera dynasty and the Pallava dynasty. The island was also invaded by the kingdoms of Kalinga (modern Orissa) and those from the Malay Peninsula.
Buddhism arrived from India in the 3rd century BCE, brought by Bhikkhu Mahinda, who is believed to have been the son of Mauryan emperor Ashoka. Mahinda's mission won over the Sinhalese monarch Devanampiyatissa of Mihintale, who embraced the faith and propagated it throughout the Sinhalese population. The Buddhist kingdoms of Sri Lanka would maintain a large number of Buddhist schools and monasteries, and support the propagation of Buddhism into Southeast Asia.
Sri Lanka had always been an important port and trading post in the ancient world, and was increasingly frequented by merchant ships from the Middle East, Persia, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and other parts of Southeast Asia. The islands were known to the first European explorers of South Asia and settled by many groups of Arab and Malay merchants.
A Portuguese colonial mission arrived on the island in 1505 headed by Lourenço de Almeida the son of Francisco de Almeida. At that point the island consisted of three kingdoms, namely Kandy in the central hills, Kotte at the Western coast, and Yarlpanam (Anglicised Jaffna) in the north. The Dutch arrived in the 17th century. Although much of the island came under the domain of European powers, the interior, hilly region of the island remained independent, with its capital in Kandy.
The British East India Company established control of the island in 1796, declaring it a crown colony in 1802, although the island would not be officially connected with British India. The fall of the kingdom of Kandy in 1815 unified the island under British rule.
European colonists established a series of tea, cinnamon, rubber, sugar, coffee and indigo plantations. The British also brought a large number of indentured workers from Tamil Nadu to work in the plantation economy. The city of Colombo was established as the administrative centre, and the British established modern schools, colleges, roads and churches that brought Western-style education and culture to the native people.
Increasing grievances over the denial of civil rights, mistreatment and abuse of natives by colonial authorities gave rise to a struggle for independence in the 1930s, when the Youth Leagues opposed the "Ministers' Memorandum," which asked the colonial authority to increase the powers of the board of ministers without granting popular representation or civil freedoms. Buddhist scholars and the Teetotalist Movement also played a vital role in this time.
During World War II, the island served as an important Allied military base. A large segment of the British and American fleet were deployed on the island, as were tens of thousands of soldiers committed to the war against Japan in Southeast Asia.
Following the war, popular pressure for independence intensified. The office of Prime Minister of Ceylon was created in advance of independence on 14 October 1947, Don Stephen Senanayake being the first prime minister. On February 4, 1948 the country won its independence as the Dominion of Ceylon.
On July 21, 1960 Sirimavo Bandaranaike took office as prime minister, and became the world's first female prime minister and the first female head of government in post-colonial Asia. In 1972, during Sirimavo Bandaranaike's second term as prime minister, the country became a republic within the Commonwealth, and the name was changed to Sri Lanka. The island enjoyed good relations with the United Kingdom and had the British Royal Navy stationed at Trincomalee.
One of the aspects of the independence movement was that it was very much a Sinhalese movement. As a result, the Sinhalese majority attempted to remodel Sri Lanka as a Sinhalese nation-state. The lion in the national flag is derived from the banner of the last Sinhalese Kingdom, which, to the Sinhalese majority, is a symbol of their fight against British colonialism. One single strip of orange on the left part of the flag represents the Tamil population, and it is seen by many Tamil as a symbol of their marginalisation.
In 1956, the Official Language Act (commonly known as The Sinhala Only Act) was enacted. The law mandated Sinhala, the language of Sri Lanka's majority Sinhalese community, which is spoken by over 70% of Sri Lanka's population, as the sole official language of Sri Lanka. Supporters of the law saw it as an attempt by a community that had just gained independence to distance themselves from their colonial masters.
The immediate (and intended) consequence of this act was to force large numbers of Tamil who worked in the civil service, and who could not meet this language requirement, to resign. An attempt to make Buddhism the national religion, to the exclusion of Hindu and Islam, was also made. Affirmative action in favour of Sinhalese was also instituted, ostensibly to reverse colonial discrimination against Sinhalese in favour of Tamil. Many Tamil, in response to this deliberate marginalisation, came to believe that they deserved a separate nation-state for themselves.
From 1983 to 2009, there was an on-and-off civil war against the government by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a separatist militant organization who fought to create an independent state named Tamil Eelam in the North and East of the island. Both the Sri Lankan government and LTTE have been accused of various human rights violations.
On May 19, 2009, the President of Sri Lanka officially claimed an end to the insurgency and the defeat of the LTTE, following the death of Velupillai Prabhakaran and much of the LTTE's other senior leadership.
After the civil war is over in Sri Lanka, government of Sri Lanka calls for re-development of the country. There are 300,000 Tamils that need to be resettled.
The Constitution of Sri Lanka establishes a democratic, socialist republic in Sri Lanka, which is also a unitary state. The government is a mixture of the presidential system and the parliamentary system. The President of Sri Lanka is the head of state, the commander in chief of the armed forces, as well as head of government, and is popularly elected for a six-year term.
In the exercise of duties, the President is responsible to the Parliament of Sri Lanka, which is a unicameral 225-member legislature. The President appoints and heads a cabinet of ministers composed of elected members of parliament. The President's deputy is the Prime Minister, who leads the ruling party in parliament and shares many executive responsibilities, mainly in domestic affairs.
Members of parliament are elected by universal (adult) suffrage based on a modified proportional representation system by district to a six-year term. The primary modification is that, the party that receives the largest number of valid votes in each constituency gains a unique "bonus seat." The president may summon, suspend, or end a legislative session and dissolve Parliament any time after it has served for one year. The parliament reserves the power to make all laws.
On July 1, 1960 the people of Sri Lanka elected the first-ever female head of government in Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike. Her daughter Chandrika Kumaratunga served for a short period as the prime minister between August and December 1994 before being elected as president from 1994 to 2005 for 2 consecutive terms. The current president and prime minister, both of whom took office on November 21, 2005, are Mahinda Rajapaksa and Ratnasiri Wickremanayake respectively.
Sri Lanka has enjoyed democracy with universal suffrage since 1931. Politics in Sri Lanka are controlled by rival coalitions led by the left-wing Sri Lanka Freedom Party, headed by President Rajapaksa, the comparatively right-wing United National Party led by former prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and JVP. There are also many smaller Buddhist, socialist and Tamil nationalist political parties that oppose the separatism of the LTTE but demand regional autonomy and increased civil rights. Since 1948, Sri Lanka has been a member of the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations.
It is also a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Colombo Plan, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. Through the Cold War-era, Sri Lanka followed a foreign policy of non-alignment but has remained closer to the United States and Western Europe.
The military of Sri Lanka comprises the Sri Lankan Army, the Sri Lankan Navy and the Sri Lankan Air Force. These are administered by the Ministry of Defence. During 1971 and 1989 the army assisted the police in government response against the Marxist militants of the JVP and fought the LTTE from 1983 to 2009. Sri Lanka receives considerable military assistance from Pakistan and China.
Sri Lanka traditionally follows a nonaligned foreign policy but has been seeking closer relations with the United States since December 1977. It participates in multilateral diplomacy, particularly at the United Nations, where it seeks to promote sovereignty, independence, and development in the developing world. Sri Lanka was a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). It also is a member of the Commonwealth, the SAARC, the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, Asian Development Bank, and the Colombo Plan. Sri Lanka continues its active participation in the NAM, while also stressing the importance it places on regionalism by playing a strong role in SAARC.
The Sri Lanka Armed Forces, comprising the Sri Lanka Army, the Sri Lanka Navy and the Sri Lanka Air Force, comes under the purview of the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The total strength of the three services is around 230,000 active personnel who have voluntary joined, since military draft have never been imposed in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lanka Armed Forces are currently in a fully mobilized (including reserves) state due to the ongoing Sri Lankan Civil War against the LTTE which is proscribed as a terrorist organization by 32 countries. In support of the armed forces there are two paramilitary units functioning under purview of the Ministry of Defence, which are the Special Task Force and the Civil Defence Force. Sri Lanka did not had a Coast Guard service until Aug 10, 2009 and its Navy carried out such duties. Discussions were underway with respect to establishing a coast guard service. and on Aug 10, 2009 director-general of Sri Lanka Department of Coast Guard Daya Dharmapriya officially announced the on behalf of the government the launching of the service.
Since independence from Britain in 1948, the primary focus of the armed forces has been on internal security, due to three major insurgencies, most notably engaged in the 30-year long war with the LTTE and finally claimed victory at 19 May 2009 after the death of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran which took place at 18 May 2009 by a Sri Lanka army attack.
Even though its armed forces were then engaged in an internal conflict, Sri Lanka contributed with forces in international missions organised by the United Nations, notably the United Nations Stabilization Mission in Haiti and continue to contribute their forces to the United Nations. On the 21 October 2009 another group of two hundred Sri Lankan troops including nine officers from all three branches of the armed forces were added to the current deployment in a passing-out parade. The two hundred troops are scheduled to leave for Haiti on 8 November 2009.
In the 19th and 20th Centuries, Sri Lanka became a plantation economy, famous for its production and export of cinnamon, rubber and Ceylon tea, which remains a trademark national export. The development of modern ports under British rule raised the strategic importance of the island as a centre of trade. During World War II, the island hosted important military installations and Allied forces. However, the plantation economy aggravated poverty and economic inequality. From 1948 to 1977 socialism strongly influenced the government's economic policies. Colonial plantations were dismantled, industries were nationalised and a welfare state established. While the standard of living and literacy improved significantly, the nation's economy suffered from inefficiency, slow growth and lack of foreign investment. From 1977 the UNP government began incorporating privatisation, deregulation and promotion of private enterprise. While the production and export of tea, rubber, coffee, sugar and other agricultural commodities remains important, the nation has moved steadily towards an industrialised economy with the development of food processing, textiles, telecommunications and finance. By 1996 plantation crops made up only 20% of export, and further declined to 16.8% in 2005 (compared with 93% in 1970), while textiles and garments have reached 63%. The GDP grew at an average annual rate of 5.5% during the early 1990s, until a drought and a deteriorating security situation lowered growth to 3.8% in 1996. The economy rebounded in 1997–2000, with average growth of 5.3%. The year of 2001 saw the first recession in the country's history, as a result of power shortages, budgetary problems, the global slowdown, and continuing civil strife. Signs of recovery appeared after the 2002 ceasefire which died away following the beginning of war. Since the separatist war ended in May 2009 the Sri Lankan stock market has shown marked gains to be among the 3 best performing markets in the world. The Colombo Stock Exchange reported the highest growth in the world for 2003, and today Sri Lanka has the highest per capita income in South Asia. About 14% of the population live on less than US$ 1.25 per day.
In April 2004, there was a sharp reversal in economic policy after the government headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe of the United National Party was defeated by a coalition made up of Sri Lanka Freedom Party and the leftist-nationalist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna called the United People's Freedom Alliance. The new government stopped the privatization of state enterprises and reforms of state utilities such as power and petroleum, and embarked on a subsidy program called the Rata Perata economic program. Its main theme to support the rural and suburban SMEs and protect the domestic economy from external influences, such as oil prices, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. Sri Lanka, with an income per head of US$1,400, still lags behind some of its neighbors including Maldives and Mauritius but is ahead of its giant neighbor India. Its economy grew by an average of 5% during the 1990s during the 'War for Peace' era. According to the Sri Lankan central bank statistics, the economy was estimated to have grown by 7% last year, while inflation reached 20%. Parts of Sri Lanka, particularly the South and East coast, were devastated by the 2004 Asian Tsunami. The economy was briefly buoyed by an influx of foreign aid and tourists, but this was disrupted with the reemergence of the civil war resulting in increased lawlessness in the country and a sharp decline in tourism. But following the end of the 3 decade long separatist war in May 2009 tourism has seen a steep uptick. Also the end of war has ensured the rule of law in the whole of the island.
The Provinces of Sri Lanka (Sinhala: පළාතTamil: மாகாணம்) have existed since the 19th century but they didn't have any legal status until 1987 when the 13th Amendment to the 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka established provincial councils following several decades of increasing demand for a decentralization of the Government of Sri Lanka. Between 1988 and 2006 the Northern and Eastern provinces were temporarily merged to form the North-East Province. Prior to 1987, all administration was handled by a district-based civil service which had been in place since colonial times.
|Administrative Divisions of Sri Lanka|
The provinces of Sri Lanka are divided into 25 districts (Sinhala: දිස්ත්රික්ක sing. දිස්ත්රික්කයTamil: மாவட்டம்). Each district is administered under a District Secretariat. The districts are further subdivided into divisional secretariats, and these in turn to Grama Sevaka divisions.
The Districts are known in Sinhala as Disa and in Tamil as Maawaddam. Originally a Disa (usually rendered into English as Dissavony) was a duchy, notably Matale and Uva. The Government Agent, who is known as District Secretary, administers a district.
These were originally based on the feudal counties, the korales and ratas. They were formerly known as 'D.R.O. Divisions' after the 'Divisional Revenue Officer'. Later the D.R.O.s became 'Assistant Government Agents' and the Divisions were known as 'A.G.A. Divisions'. Currently, the Divisions are administered by a 'Divisional Secretary', and are known as a 'D.S. Divisions'. Rural D.S. Divisions are also administered by a 'Pradeshiya Sabha' and 'Pradesha Sabhai' (Sinhala and Tamil for 'Regional Council'), which is elected.
|1||Colombo||Western||682 046||11||Galle||Southern||97 209|
|2||Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia||Western||232 220||12||Batticaloa||Eastern||95 489|
|3||Moratuwa||Western||202 021||13||Katunayake||Western||90 231|
|4||Negombo||Western||142 451||14||Battaramulla||Western||84 200|
|5||Trincomalee||Eastern||131 954||15||Dambulla||Central||75 290|
|6||Kotte||Western||125 914||16||Dalugama||Western||74 129|
|7||Kandy||Central||119 186||17||Maharagama||Western||74 117|
|8||Kalmunai||Eastern||103 879||18||Kotikawatta||Western||71 879|
|9||Vavuniya||Northern||101 143||19||Chavakachcheri||Northern||70 273|
|10||Jaffna||Northern||98 193||20||Anuradhapura||North Central||66 951|
Sri Lanka is the 53rd most populated nation in the world, with an annual population growth rate of 0.79%. Sri Lanka has a birth rate of 15.63 births per 1,000 people and a death rate of 6.49 deaths per 1,000 people. Population density is highest in western Sri Lanka, especially in and around the capital. There is a small population on the island of the Vedda people. They are believed to be the original indigenous group to inhabit the island. The Sinhalese people form the largest ethnic group in the nation, composing approximately 81.9% of the total population.
Tamils are concentrated in the North, East, Central and Western provinces of the country. Sri Lankan Tamils are the second major ethnic groupon the island and have called it home for generations. Indian Tamils who were brought as indentured labourers from India by British colonists to work on estate plantations, nearly 50% of whom were repatriated following independence in 1948, are called "Indian Origin" Tamils. They are distinguished from the native Tamil population that has resided in Sri Lanka since ancient times.
According to 2001 census data Indian Tamils makeup 5.1% of the Sri Lankan population and, Sri Lankan Tamils 4.3% but this figure only accounted for Sri Lankan Tamils in government-controlled areas, not accounting for those in rebel-held territories. The World Factbook states that Sri Lankan Tamils make up 14% of the population. There is a significant population (8.0%) of Moors, who trace their lineage to Arab traders and immigrants from the Middle East. Their presence is concentrated in the cities and the central and eastern provinces. There are also small ethnic groups such as the Burghers (of mixed European descent) and Malays from Southeast Asia.
Sinhalese and Tamil are the two official languages of Sri Lanka. English is fluently spoken by approximately 10% of the population, and is widely used for education, scientific and commercial purposes. Members of the Burgher community speak variant forms of Portuguese Creole and Dutch with varying proficiency, while members of the Malay community speak a form of creole Malay that is unique to the island.
Sri Lanka has a multi ethnic and multi religious population. Buddhism constitutes the religious faith of about 70% of the population of the island, most of whom follow the Theravada school of Buddhism. According to traditional Sri Lankan chronicles, Buddhism was introduced into Sri Lanka in the 2nd century BCE by Venerable Mahinda, the son of the Emperor Ashoka, during the reign of Sri Lanka's King Devanampiyatissa.
During this time, a sapling of the Bodhi Tree under which the Buddha attained enlightenment was brought to Sri Lanka and the first monasteries were established under the sponsorship of the Sri Lankan king. The Pali Canon (Thripitakaya), having previously been preserved as an oral tradition, was first committed to writing in Sri Lanka around 30 BC.
Sri Lanka has the longest continuous history of Buddhism of any predominately Buddhist nation, with the Sangha having existed in a largely unbroken lineage since its introduction in the 2nd century BCE. During periods of decline, the Sri Lankan monastic lineage was revived through contact with Thailand and Burma.
Periods of Mahayana influence, as well as official neglect under colonial rule, created great challenges for Theravada Buddhist institutions in Sri Lanka, but repeated revivals and resurgences—most recently in the 19th century—have kept the Theravada tradition alive for over 2000 years. Hinduism the second most prevalent religion in Sri Lanka and it also arrived from India. Today, most Hindus are Tamil and they constitute a majority in Northern Sri Lanka.
Religions which today exist in Sri Lanka, in addition to Buddhism and Hinduism include Islam as well as different churches of Christianity. Followers of Islam comprise nearly eight percent of the population, having been brought to the island by Arab traders over the course of many centuries, most are Sunni who follow the Shafi'i school.
Hinduism was primarily established in Sri Lanka by migrants and often invaders from southern India, Hindus constitute just over 7 percent of the population, mostly of the Shaivite school. European colonists introduced Christianity to the country in the 16th century, and the religion has been adopted by around six percent of the population.
There also was a small population of Zoroastrian immigrants from India (Parsis) who settled in Ceylon during the period of British rule. As a result of emigration, few remain, yet they have played a significant role in the growth of the country. The former finance minister of Sri Lanka, Nariman Choksy, was a Parsi. Other famous Parsi families in Sri Lanka include the Captain family and the Pestongee family.
Religion plays an important part in the life and culture of Sri Lankans. The Buddhist majority observe Poya Days, once per month according to the Lunar calendar. The Hindus and Muslims also observe their own holidays. There are many Buddhist temples spread throughout the island in addition to numerous mosques, Hindu temples and churches, especially in areas where respective communities are concentrated.
Buddhists are distributed across most parts of the island except in the north. Hindus are concentrated in north, east, and central high lands, though high populations also exists in the capital city of Colombo and in the surrounding suburbs. Christians, particularly Roman Catholics are mainly concentrated along the western coastal belt.
Muslims are concentrated in several pockets along the coast and in theinterior. All religious communities are represented in the western province and in other urban centers in sizable numbers. Sri Lanka was ranked the 3rd most religious country in the world by a 2008 Gallup poll, with 99% of Sri Lankans saying religion is an important part of their daily life.
Life expectancy was 69 for males and 76 for females in 2006. Government expenditure on health care was aprox. US$ 105 (PPP) in 2006. Sri Lanka has about 48.9 physicians per 100,000 people. The Médecins Sans Frontières are active in Sri Lanka.
With a literacy rate of 92%, and 83% of the total population having had Secondary Education, Sri Lanka has one of the most literate populations amongst developing nations. An education system which dictates 9 years of Compulsory Schooling for every child is in place, with 99% of the children entering the first grade. A free education system initiated in 1945 by Dr. C. W. W. Kannangara, a former minister of education, has greatly contributed to this.
Dr. Kannangara led the establishment of the Madhya Maha Vidyalayas (Central Schools) in different parts of the country in order to provide education to Sri Lanka's rural population. In 1942 a special education committee proposed extensive reforms to establish an efficient and quality education system for the people. However in the 1980s changers to this system saw the separation the of administration of schools between the central government and the provincial government. Thus the elite National Schools are controlled directly by the Ministry of Education and the provincial schools by the provincial government.
Most schools in Sri Lanka provide education from grades 1 to 13 in the same institution. Students sit for the GCE Ordinary Level Examination (O/Levels) in grade 11 and the GCE Advanced Level Examination (A/levels) in grade 13, conducted by the Department of Examinations. These schools are modeled on British colleges. A majority of them are public, but a number of private schools do exist. While most reputed National and Private Schools centered around large cities are usually single-sex institutions, rural provincial schools tend to be coeducational.
In recent decades, a large number of international schools have been established across the nation. In these schools General Certificate of Secondary Education, International Baccalaureate and Cambridge International Examinations are popular education programs. Many of the schools offer subjects in Sinhala and Tamil languages with regionally leading schools offering subjects in English medium also.
Sri Lanka has around 16 public universities. They include the University of Colombo, the University of Peradeniya, the University of Kelaniya, the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, the University of Moratuwa, the University of Peradeniya, the University of Jaffna, the University of Ruhuna, the Eastern University of Sri Lanka, the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka and the Wayamba University of Sri Lanka.
However the lack of space in these institutions and the unwillingness to establish private universities has led to a large number of students been denied entry into formal universities as well as high undergraduate unemployment. As a result, a number of public and private institutions have emerged, which provide specialised education in a variety of fields, such as computer science, business administration and law. These include the government owned Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology and the Institute of Technological Studies. The free education system ensures that primary to tertiary education is provided free of charge to its citizens.
Most Sri Lankan cities and towns are connected by the Sri Lanka Railways, the state-run national railway operator. The first railway line was inaugurated on April 26, 1867, linking Colombo with Kandy. The total length of Sri Lankan roads exceeds 11,000 kilometres (6,840 mi), with a vast majority of them being paved.
The government has launched several highway projects to bolster the economy and national transport system, including the Colombo-Katunayake Expressway, the Colombo-Kandy (Kadugannawa) Expressway, the Colombo-Padeniya Expressway and the Outer Circular Highway to ease Colombo's traffic congestion. There are also plans to build a major bridge connecting Jaffna to the Indian city of Chennai.
The Ceylon Transport Board is the state-run agency responsible for operating public bus services across the island. Sri Lanka also maintains 430 kilometres (270 mi) of inland waterways. It has three deep-water ports at Colombo, Trincomalee and Galle. There is also a smaller, shallower harbour at Kankesanturai, north of Jaffna.
There are twelve paved airports and two unpaved airstrips in the country. SriLankan Airlines is the official national carrier, partly owned and operated by Emirates Airline. It was voted the best airline in South Asia by Skytrax. SriLankan Air Taxi is the smaller, domestic arm of the national carrier, while Expo Aviation and Lankair are private airline companies. The Bandaranaike International Airport is the country's only international airport, located in Katunayaka, 22 kilometres (14 mi) north of Colombo.
Human rights as ratified by the United Nations are guaranteed by the constitution of Sir Lanka. The human Rights situation in Sri Lanka has come under criticism by human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, as well as the United States Department of State and the European Union, have expressed concern about the state of human rights in Sri Lanka. Both the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the government of Sri Lanka are accused of violating human rights.
In its 2007 report, however, Amnesty International stated that "escalating political killings, child recruitment, abductions and armed clashes created a climate of fear in the east, spreading to the north by the end of the year", whilst also outlining concerns with violence against women, the death penalty and "numerous reports of torture in police custody". However, the report also stated that the ceasefire between government and LTTE remained in place despite numerous violations.
However, the Sri Lankan minister for HR said "We regret one or two statements made here, that fly in the face of all concrete evidence, that the situation in Sri Lanka is deteriorating, when we have dealt more firmly with terrorism, with far-less damage to civilians, than in any comparative situation." Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said, the report presents a distorted view of the actual situation in Sri Lanka during the year 2007 and is a litany of unsubstantiated allegations, innuendo and vituperative exaggerations.
Sri Lanka's government is labeled as one of the "world's worst perpetrators of enforced disappearances", according to a study by US-based pressure group 'Human Rights Watch' (HRW). An HRW report accuses security forces and pro-government militias of abducting and "disappearing" hundreds of people—mostly Tamils—since 2006. Sri Lanka's government says HRW has exaggerated the scale of the problem. The report said, "The number of disappearances carried out by the Tamil Tigers in government-controlled areas was relatively low. But, the Tigers were responsible for targeted killings, forced child recruitment, bomb attacks on civilians and the repression of basic rights in areas they controlled."
The island is the home of two main traditional cultures: the Sinhalese (centered in the ancient cities of Kandy and Anuradhapura) and the Tamil (centered in the city of Jaffna). In more recent times a British colonial culture was added, and lately Sri Lanka, particularly in the urban areas, has experienced a dramatic makeover in the western mold.
Until recently, for example, most Sri Lankans, certainly those in the villages, have eaten traditional food, engaged in traditional crafts and expressed themselves through traditional arts. But economic growth and intense economic competition in developed countries has spilled over to most of Sri Lanka, producing changes that might variously be identified as progress, westernisation or a loss of identity and assimilation.
Sri Lankans have added western influences to the customary diet such as rice and curry, pittu (mixture of fresh rice meal, very lightly roasted and mixed with fresh grated coconut, then steamed in a bamboo mould). Kiribath (cooked in thick coconut cream for this unsweetened rice-pudding which is accompanied by a sharp chili relish called "lunumiris"), wattalapam (rich pudding of Malay origin made of coconut milk, jaggery, cashew nuts, eggs, and various spices including cinnamon cloves and nutmeg), kottu, and hoppers ("appa"), batter cooked rapidly in a hot curved pan, accompanied by eggs, milk or savouries.
Middle Eastern influences and practices are found in traditional Moor dishes. While Dutch and Portuguese influences are found with the island's Burgher community preserving their culture through traditional favourites such as Lamprais (rice cooked in stock and baked in a banana leaf), Breudher (Dutch Christmas cake) and Bolo Fiado (Portuguese-style layer cake).
Every year on or about April 13 Sinhala and Tamil people celebrate Sinhala and Tamil New Year Festival, and Muslims celebrate Ramadan. Esala Perahera (A-suh-luh peh-ruh-ha-ruh) is the grand festival of Esala held in Sri Lanka. It is very grand with elegant costumes. Happening in July or August in Kandy, it has become a unique symbol of Sri Lanka. It is a Buddhist festival consisting of dances and richly decorated elephants.
There are fire-dances, whip-dances, Kandian dances and various other cultural dances. The elephants are usually adorned with lavish garments. The festival ends with the traditional 'diya-kepeema'. The elephant is paraded around the city bearing the tooth of Buddha. However the new year for tamils have been established as being on January 14 from this year.
Sri Lankan cinema in past years has featured subjects such as family relationships, love stories and the years of conflict between the military and Tamil Tiger rebels. Many films are in the Sinhalese language and the Sri Lankan cinematic style is similar to bollywood, kollywood of Indian cinema.
Afterwards there were many Sinhalese movies produced in Sri Lanka and some of them, such as Nidhanaya, received several international film awards. The most influential filmmaker in the history of Sri Lankan cinema is Lester James Peiris who has directed many movies of excellent quality which led to global acclaim. His latest film, Wekande Walauwa ("Mansion by the Lake") became the first movie to be submitted from Sri Lanka for the Best Foreign Language film award at the Academy Awards.
In 2005 the director Vimukthi Jayasundara became the first Sri Lankan to win the prestigious Camera d’Or award for Best First Film, or any award for that matter, at the Cannes Film Festival for his Sinhalese language film Sulanga Enu Pinisa (The Forsaken Land). Controversial filmmaker Asoka Handagama's films are considered by many in the Sri Lankan film world to be the best films of honest response to the ethnic conflict currently raging in the country.
Prasanna Vithanage is one of Sri Lanka's most notable filmmakers. His films have won many awards, both local and international. Recent releases like 'Sooriya Arana', 'Samanala thatu', and 'Hiripoda wessa' have attracted Sri Lankans to cinemas. Sri Lankan films are usually in the Sinhalese language. Tamil language movies are also filmed in Sri Lanka but they are part of Kollywood which is Indian Tamil cinema. It is also known as Sri Lankan Tamil cinema in Sri Lanka. However some Kollywood films are based in Sri Lanka as well.
The earliest music came from the theater at a time when the traditional open-air drama (referred to in Sinhala as Kolam, Sokari and Nadagam). In 1903 the first music album, Nurthi, was released through Radio Ceylon. Also Vernon Corea introduced Sri Lankan music in the English Service of Radio Ceylon.
In the early 1960s, Indian music in films greatly influenced Sri Lankan music and later Sri Lankan stars like Sunil Shantha found greater popularity among Indian people. By 1963, Radio Ceylon had more Indian listeners than Sri Lankan ones. The notable songwriters Mahagama Sekara and Ananda Samarakoon made a Sri Lankan music revolution. At the peak of this revolution, musicians such as W. D. Amaradeva, H.R. Jothipala, Milton Mallawarachchi, M.S. Fernando, Annesley Malewana and Clarence Wijewardene did great work.
A very popular type of music is the so-called Baila, a kind of dance music that originated from Portuguese music introduced to the island in colonial times.
The national radio station, Radio Ceylon is the oldest-running radio station in Asia. It was established in 1923 by Edward Harper just three years after broadcasting was launched in Europe. It remains one of the most popular stations in Asia, with its programming reaching neighboring Asian nations. The station is managed by the Sri Lanka Broadcasting Corporation and broadcasts services in Sinhalese, Tamil, English and Hindi.
Since the 1980s, a large number of private radio stations have also being introduced, and they have gained commercial popularity and success. Broadcast television was introduced to the country in 1979 when the Independent Television Network was launched. Initially all Television stations were state controlled, but private television networks began broadcasts in 1992.
Global television networks from India, Southeast Asia, Europe and the United States are also widely popular, and cable and satellite television is gaining in popularity with Sri Lanka's middle-class. Popular publications include the English language Daily Mirror and The Sunday Observer and The Sunday Times, Divayina, Lankadeepa and Lakbima in Sinhalese and the Tamil publications Dinakaran and Uthayan.
While the national sport in Sri Lanka is volleyball, by far the most popular sport in the country is cricket. Rugby union also enjoys extensive popularity, as do aquatic sports, athletics, Football (soccer) and tennis. Sri Lanka's schools and colleges regularly organize sports and athletics teams, competing on provincial and national levels. The Sri Lankan cricket team achieved considerable success beginning in the 1990s, rising from underdog status to winning the 1996 World Cup as well as the Asia Cup in 1996 and 2004. Sri Lanka remains one of the leading cricketing nations in the world, with the national team reaching the finals of the 2007 Cricket World Cup, where they lost to Australia.
Sri Lanka has a large number of sports stadiums, including the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground, the R. Premadasa Stadium and the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium in Dambulla as well as the Galle International Stadium. The country co-hosted the 1996 Cricket World Cup with India and Pakistan, and has hosted the Asia Cup tournament on numerous occasions. It will also co-host the 2011 Cricket World Cup. Aquatic sports such as boating, surfing, swimming and scuba diving on the coast, the beaches and backwaters attract a large number of Sri Lankans and foreign tourists. There are two styles of martial arts native to Sri Lanka, Cheena di and Angampora.
|Capital||Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, but Colombo is the commercial capital|
|Currency||Sri Lankan rupee (LKR)|
|Area||total: 65,610 km2
water: 870 km2
land: 64,740 km2
|Population||20,064,776 (July 2006 est.)|
|Language||Sinhala (official and national language) 74%, Tamil (official
and national language) 18%, other 8%
note: English is commonly used in government and is spoken competently by about 10% of the population
|Religion||Buddhist 70%, Hindu 15%, Christian 8%, Muslim 8% (1999)|
|Electricity||230V/50Hz (British BS 1363 type plug is most common with fewer (older) installations of BS 546, the circular plug used in India, being present).|
Tropical monsoon; northeast monsoon (December to March) only affects east coast; southwest monsoon (June to October) affects mostly the west coast and mountains.
Mostly low, flat to rolling plain; mountains in south-central interior.
Highest point: Pidurutalagala 2,524 m
The island has been mentioned in several ancient Indian texts. One of the most famous is the Ramayana, in which the island, which was referred to as Lanka, was the island fortress of the evil king Ravana, who captured the wife of Rama, an incarnation of the Hindu God, Vishnu. Legend has it that Hanuman the monkey flew over to Lanka and destroyed the capital by setting it on fire, while Rama and his remaining troops later crossed over from the mainland by building a land bridge across the sea. Evidence for the land bridge mentioned in the Ramayana has since been found by NASA satellite images.
The Sinhalese arrived in Sri Lanka late in the 6th century B.C., probably from northern India. Buddhism was introduced beginning in about the mid-3rd century B.C. and a great civilization developed at such cities as Anuradhapura (kingdom from c. 200 B.C. to c. 1000 A.D.) and Polonnaruwa (c. 1070 to 1200).
Occupied by the Portuguese in the 16th century and by the Dutch in the 17th century, the island was ceded to the British in 1796 and became a crown colony in 1802. As Ceylon, it became independent in 1948; the name was changed to Sri Lanka in 1972.
Tensions between the Sinhalese majority and Tamil separatists erupted in violence in the mid-1980s, killing over 70,000. After a shaky ceasefire between 2001 and 2008, open warfare erupted again, with the Tamil Tigers finally surrendering in 2009. It remains to be seen whether winning the war can be parlayed into lasting peace as well.
The majority of Sri Lankans speak Sinhala, with Tamil as the second language. English is commonly used in most cities, especially Colombo, Kandy and Galle and by government and tourism officials. Don't expect everyone, everywhere to be able to speak it fluently. In the beach and tourist areas you will have no problem with English. Most people in rural villages however cannot speak any English, beyond a few simple words.
Sinhala writing is much more curved than Tamil. After a while, you'll learn how to distinguish between the two.
|Central (Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya)
the cultural heartland of Sri Lanka
ravaged by the civil war and full of refugee camps, only time will tell if this beautiful region can begin to attract travelers
|North Central (Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa)
|North Eastern (Trincomalee)
|North Western (Kurunegala)
|Southern (Galle, Robolgoda, Tangalle, Unawatuna, Yala National Park)
the historic city of Galle and national parks
|Uva (Badulla, Haputale)
cool highland hill retreats
|Western (Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte, Beruwela, Colombo, Gampaha, Negombo)
the administrative capital and the largest city plus some popular beach resorts
See also: Sacred sites of the Indian sub-continent
SriLankan Airlines (flight code UL) is the national flagship carrier operating to and from Colombo-Bandaranayake International Airport (ICAO: VCBI, IATA: CMB) . Flights are available from cities throughout Europe, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, the Middle East, India, and Pakistan. SriLankan Air also flies to the nearby destinations such as Goa, Chennai, Trivandrum and the Maldives.
Qatar Airways has become a popular choice from Europe to Sri Lanka by 2008, and the Indian carrier Kingfisher Airlines started operations on the Bangalore-Colmbo route in early 2009, enabling easy links to Sri Lanka via India. Kingfisher Airlines has ceased the operation of direct flight from Bangalore to Colombo. Now Kingfisher fliers have to fly through Chennai. Other options are Jet Airways or its offshoot Jetlite.
The budget airline Air Asia now operates from Kuala Lampur, Malaysia to Colombo,Sri Lanka. This opens ups cheap flight for visitors from South East Asia as well as those who are visiting South Asia and then heading to South-East Asia (or vice-versa).
Other airlines such as Singapore Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Thai Airways, Cathay Pacific, Saudi Arabian, LTU (Germany), and Edelweiss Air (Switzerland) operate to Colombo-Bandaranayake from their respective home bases.
There are no direct flights that reach Sri Lanka from cities outside Asia, the Middle East and Europe. From the American West Coast, the distance is almost half the globe. Depending on your preferences, and how much spare time you have, you can consider a stopover in Europe or SE Asia or take a non-stop flight over the North Pole to New Delhi or Mumbai from Atlanta, Chicago, Newark, New York City, or San Francisco. In many cases, this may be the fastest route, but check if an Indian transit visa is required.
You can take Indian Shipping lines cargo and passenger ship from Trivandrum cheaper than the planes. Sri Lanka port authority has information.
The most common mode of transport in Sri Lanka is via a three-wheeled automobile appropriately referred to as a three-wheeler (Tri-Shaw). Also known as Tuk-Tuks from the noise of their motors. These operate in a manner similar to taxis, and is a highly cost-efficient way to get around. However, three-wheelers have been linked to many illegal and criminal activities, including an assasination attempt on a foreign ambassador, in the recent past.
It is good to avoid Three Wheelers if you can. They are not cheap even for the Sri Lankan (it is a common misconception that Three Wheelers are cheap). A radio taxi (car) is metered (insist on the meter!). Metered taxis are always cheaper than the 'negotiated' ones. If you are there for over a month you may be able to hire a private car/van with a driver for about US$350 (2008) plus fuel-costs for a month. Considering that you may be spending over US$30 per day on Taxis this might be a better option, especially if you are touring with friends and can split the 'tab'.
Rented cars usually turn out cheaper than three-wheelers, and are less prone to road accidents--and are recommended by most hotels.
Rented cars often come with their own drivers. Often the automobile itself is free, whereas the driver will charge a fee for his services. Some drivers/guides are government-licensed; some are extremely knowledgeable and multi-lingual, specializing in historical and cultural knowledge, and environment/natural history for your visits to the ancient sites and the natural reserves.
Tour Operators are happy to get you a van and a driver who will take you all over the island but beware, the roads are bumpy and slow. If you book off-the-cuff when you arrive, ask to be shown on a map where you are going before agreeing to any 'tour' of the island and research before you arrive so that you have a clear idea of where you might like to travel. Senseless backtracking to lengthen the trip and increase the cost is a real danger, as is a driver's wish to take you on unwanted shopping expeditions in an effort to gain commission. Travel websites specialising in Sri Lanka are easily found and have greatly increased the choice that is readily available to independent travellers seeking tailor-made tours. The best of them will produce clearly-stated travel itineraries and some are flexible enough to make late changes to itineraries. Ask to see their Booking Conditions and anti-fraud policies.
Taxis are a better way of getting around Colombo than three wheelers as, due to the metering, they often turn out to be cheaper. Rates are about USD0.55 and they have full day packages (approx 8 hours and 80km) for around USD 40.
They will also take you outstation for around USD 0.30-0.35 per km with no waiting charges. You can also set up your own itenary and travel around that way as opposed to whatever the tour operator tells you.
For those on a budget buses are everywhere. They're ridiculously crowded and massively uncomfortable, but they get you around for almost nothing; it costs about a dollar to get half-way across the island. If you're planning on splashing out, AC buses run most routes for twice the price, which offer air-conditioning and a guaranteed seat. However, they're still uncomfortable. Bus stations are confusing places, especially the big ones, but almost everyone will be delighted to practice their English and help you. Also, when travelling by bus, it is local etiquette in most buses to provide or give up the very front passenger seats to members of the clergy such as monks or priests if they are present.
(see warning in the stay safe section) Trains also run in some places - these can be slower than buses, depending if you are on a line that offers an express train or not, but more comfortable and picturesque and even less expensive than buses.
Sri Lanka has an extensive railway system serving all major towns and cities in the island except for the North. There are special Observation cars for tourists that like to take in the scenery.
The Railway system in Sri Lanka is very picturesque when entering the hill country because of the winding tracks along the mountains especially on the Badullu-Nanu Oya line. Make sure, if you can, to sit on the right side of the train, as it offers the better view.
Sri Lankan Airlines operates small Seaplane service to destinations such as Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Galle and many more locations. This is perfect for Photography trips because you can get a bird's eye view of the island and takes less time to get to a destination than using the road. Also the seaplanes land on picturesque lakes and tanks around the island.
Aero Lanka operates domestic flights between Colombo-Ratmalana, Jaffna and Trincomalee
The currency is the Sri Lankan Rupee. The exchange rates are approximately 117Rs/ USD, 160Rs/ EUR or 186Rs/GBP There are coins for 25 and 50 cents (bronze), 1 rupee (old version is big and silver, new version is small and gold,) 2 rupees (silver,) and 5 rupees (gold,) as well as banknotes ranging from 10- 2000 rupees. Coins that are more than a few years old are typically in quite bad condition.
Handicrafts Of Sri Lanka. For reed, cane, cotton, paper, leather, wood, clay, metal, and gemstones have been transformed and re-expressed in a array of batiks, toys, curios and jewelery, all exquisite hand made treasures.
ATMs are located in many places (specially at bank branches) in the cities and suburbs, less so in the countryside. Be careful of using the credit card as credit card fraud is on the rise in Sri Lanka.
You can withdraw from debit cards too (Cirrus, Maestro, Visa Electron etc) where the logos are displayed - so no need to carry wads of US dollars when entering the country.
Sri Lanka and South Indian food share a lot in common, and many local restaurants will describe their menus as Sri Lankan & South Indian. There are a number of regional variations though, the different types of hopper, devilled prawns/cuttlefish/chicken/etc. and the common fiery addition to any curry, pol sambol made of grated coconut, red chilli powder and lime juice.
The food is very cheap generally, with a cheap meal costing about a dollar. The most expensive, tourist-orientated places seldom charge more than ten dollars. The staple food of Sri Lankans is rice and curry - a massive mound of rice surrounded by various curries and delicacies. If you want to eat a cheap lunch you can follow the Sri Lankan crowds and duck into any of a million small cafes, confusingly called 'Hotels'. These normally sell a rice and curry packet, as well as 'short eats', a collection of spicy rolls. This is ideal for backpackers and those who want to get past the touristy hotels selling burnt chicken and chips - you're charged by how much you eat, and unless you're absolutely ravenous it probably won't cost over a dollar.
Kottu (Kothu) Roti (a medley of chopped roti, vegetables and your choice of meat) is a must-have for anyone - tourist or otherwise - in Sri Lanka. It is uniquely Sri Lankan and tastes best when made fresh by street vendors.
Note that Sri Lankans eat with their right hands - this isn't a major problem, because everywhere will be able to provide cutlery if you can't eat otherwise. But try the Sri Lankan way (tips of fingers only!), it's harder than it looks but strangely liberating.
There are many upscale restaurants to choose from in the city of Colombo. There are several fine dining restaurants at the 5 star hotels which offer both Local and International cuisine. These establishments are found largely in western Colombo (along Galle Road), though more are located around Colombo and other major cities.
Fast-food outlets such as KFC, Pizza Hut etc. can be found in Colombo and Kandy.
Water is not always healthy for unseasoned travelers, and so it is recommended that either purifying tablets or bottled water be used whenever possible. Fresh milk, due to the climate, spoils easily, and so is often very expensive. Powdered milk, however, is safe and is often substituted.
Thambli the juice from King Coconut, is very refreshing. It's sold at the side of streets throughout the island, you know it's clean as the coconut is cut open in front of you and it's cheaper than bottled drinks at about R20/- each.
Soft drinks are available almost everywhere, normally in dusty-looking glass bottles. The local producer, Elephant, make a range of interesting drinks - try the ginger beer and cream soda.
"Coca Cola" and "Pepsi" also available in large and small sizes (plastic bottles) including several local soft drink brands - all available at rapidly multiplying supermarkets all across the country and grocery shops.
The most common local beer is Lion Lager. For something a bit different try Lion Stout. It is characterized by it's tar-like oiliness of body and chocolate finish. Other brews include Three Coins, which is brewed by the Mt Lavinia hotel chain, allegedly to a Belgian recipe.
The traditional spirit is Arrack, which costs about 4 USD for a bottle, and is often drunk with ginger beer. The quality can vary depending on how much you want to pay. However, widely recommended brand would be "Old Reserve" and worth paying 7.5 USD for it.
Sri Lanka accommodation has been transformed in recent years. What would be recognised as the modern tourist industry began in the 1960s with traditional beach hotels built on the west coast which were aimed primarily at the package holiday crowd and traditional travel operators. But the past decade has brought a major change, with the growth of villas, boutique hotels, and small independent and individualistic properties offering a huge array of choice.
Meditation You may find monasteries and meditation centers that offer meditation courses (generally free of charge) in the Buddhist Publication Society guide: www.bps.lk/other_library/information_sri Lanka_monasteries_2008_jan.pdf
Mahamevnawa Meditation Monastery is a good place to learn true buddhism.
Sri Lanka's lengthy and bloody civil war seems to come to an end in May 2009, when the Sri Lankan army finally defeated the rebel group Tamil Tigers. It is still way too early to assess if the broader conflict between the hinduistic tamil minority and the buddhist sinhalese majority will now be settled in the political arena. The northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka are likely to remain under strict military control for a considerable time. Some areas may contain land mines, and the facilities in cities and towns are war torn.
Bombings and assassinations were a firm part of the Tigers' repertoire, and there is heavy security in all sensitive locations. While the separatists have never targeted tourists and none have ever been killed, a few have been wounded by terrorist actions. In general, though, traffic accidents should be a greater concern than terrorism.
Violent crime is not a serious problem for tourists in Sri Lanka. As in most tourist locations, beware of pickpockets, and don't leave valuables unguarded. Women should not be alone at night on the beach or streets. There has been a slight increase in violent crimes involving tourists in the past few years, but it is still very rare.
Con artists and touts are a serious problem throughout all tourist areas. Using the services of a tout for accommodation, local travel, etc. will most likely increase the price. First time travelers to Sri Lanka may find themselves the victim of scams, however seasoned travelers to Sri Lanka are very rarely scammed and it is simple to avoid becoming a victim of scammers by taking precautions:
Also, beware of single males who wish you to accompany them after a religious service. First, ask other members if the person is honest and reliable. Dishonest Sri Lankans (mostly male) are very adept at talking tourists out of their money, and generally prefer this method over violence. They frequent the Galle Face Road area surrounding the tourist hotels, Galle Face Hotel and the Holiday Inn. Their "modus operandi" is to tell you upfront that they don't want anything from you, only to talk. There may be an auspicious day occurring in Sri Lanka and they will use this to coerce you to accompany them to a temple or church. They will wine, dine, and pay for everything, and then, after two days, will begin to extort money from you. This does not happen commonly, but there have been a few cases - so beware.
Although snake bites are extremely rare among tourists (comparable to being struck by lightning), anyone bitten should seek prompt medical care. This is true even if the bite doesn't result in any pain and swelling. The National Emergency number is 119. In Colombo, dial either 119 or if you want an emergency ambulance - 110.
There are several customs that (for Westerners) take a bit of getting used to.
The country code for Sri Lanka is 94. Remove the '0' from a Sri Lankan number beginning with '0' (ie 0112 688 688 becomes 94 112 688 688) when dialling from abroad. The two next numbers after 94 represents the area code, they are different for every district for more information see Telephone numbers in Sri_Lanka.
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The term Ceylon is generally considered archaic, having been replaced by Sri Lanka, but it is still used in some contexts; see usage notes for Sri Lanka. | <urn:uuid:96b31f02-9f22-455f-8bf7-88c78641ebab> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.thefullwiki.org/Ceylon | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396949.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00069-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954311 | 15,602 | 2.78125 | 3 |
Anton (Antos) Sukhinski was a loner and an outcast. Some even described him as the village idiot. He never married, and lived – always on the verge of poverty – in a small modest house in Zborow. His neighbors often made fun of him because of his gentle nature and his love of all living creatures. But at the time of total moral collapse, when the great majority either participated in the murder of the Jews or indifferently turned their backs on their neighbors, it was Anton Sukhinski – the village idiot – who stood up for his beliefs and in stark contrast to his surroundings preserved human values. Without any help or support he was responsible for the survival of six people.
The Zeigers knew Suchinski from before the war. Following the first waves of killings in Zborov, the remaining Jews were put in a ghetto and then in a labor camp. Despite the periodic killing raids, the Zeiger family was reluctant to accept Sukhinski's offer of shelter. It was only when in June 1943 rumors spread that soon all the remaining Jews of Zborov would be killed, that they decided to trust the eccentric man with their lives.
The Zeiger family consisted of the father, Itzhak, the mother Sonya, and their two sons, Shelley and Michael, aged 6 and 8. They took along another woman who was a family friend and Eva Halperin a young girl who had lost her entire family in the killings and was alone in the world. When they arrived at Sukhinski's home they found out that he was already hiding a 16-year-old girl by the name of Zipora Stock. Sukhinski hid them in his cellar.
Eventually the neighbors found out about the hiding Jews and began harassing them and their rescuer, extorting money from them. When Zeiger decided not to give in any longer to the villagers’ blackmail, he drew a revolver and a shooting fight ensued. The woman who was hiding with them was killed.
Being afraid that the shots would draw the Germans' attention and in fear of the neighbors, the fugitives decided to flee. But the hostility they encountered and the cold and snow soon drove them back to Sukhinski's home. He welcomed them warmly, hid them in the attic until, with the help of Itzhak Zeiger, he had dug another hideout.
For nine months they remained cramped in a small dark hole with no room to move and only a small kerosene lamp to provide light. The fear of being detected was so strong that they did not dare leave the hiding place. Sukhinski would bring them whatever food he could find as well as remove the bucket that served as a chamber pot. Providing food for six people was a very hard task for a poor man like Anton. In addition he lived under the constant terror of being discovered by his neighbors and by the Germans. Danger was close. At one time the militia and Germans searched the premises and interrogated Sukhinski. Another time the Germans were in the basement adjacent to the hideout, and the hiding Jews stuffed their mouths with rags so that no sound could escape. Had they be found, it would be not only their end, but also the death of their benefactor.
Finally the day of liberation came, and the trapdoor opened. After a first moment of panic – they had thought that their hiding place had been discovered – they saw Anton’s reassuring face. It was only then that they left the small hole for the first time in nine months. They could hardly walk and were blinded by the light.
After liberation the six people from the hiding place stayed together for a while; then they set out to build new lives. The Zeigers emigrated to the USA, Eva Halperin went to Uruguay, and Zipora Stock left for Israel.
Sukhinski was recognized as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem in 1974. | <urn:uuid:f77df74d-11da-4947-8096-ac06f6d971cc> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.yadvashem.org/yv/en/righteous/stories/sukhinski.asp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395620.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00065-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98666 | 808 | 2.8125 | 3 |
If you are planning to build a home for your family, there is an important ingredient that you will need: translucent paper. Sooner or later in the planning stage, you will have the first blueprints from your architect, and if you are lucky, they already represent to a large fraction what you imagined your new home would be. But then you start to have a closer look and you start to optimise. What would happen if this wall would be shifted somewhat? Or will your new cupboard really fit into that niche? Then the translucent paper comes into play. You put it over the original drawings and you copy them. On the copies you do all the changes that you think are needed. In addition you would probably cut out forms out of an additional sheet of paper that represent scaled versions of your furniture and you test how you would arrange that in the new rooms. OK, you might have noticed that I used to do these things the old-fashioned way. Nowadays I am sure there is an app that would help you with this process.
But in the end, it is an optimisation process that you need to do. You have to check your requirements and you have to take the hard boundary conditions into account: maybe geological reasons forbid you to build a house with a cellar. Or maybe official regulations tell you what shape the roof of your new house has to have. And in the end comes the decisive boundary: your budget. In addition, it is a collaborative process – at least in most cases. Surely your family has a word to say in the creation of the new home.
Designing an experimental environment for the ILC detectors is in certain points rather similar. The underground and surface buildings at the interaction point need to be optimised to accommodate the detectors so that they can be assembled, operated, and maintained with highest efficiency. The requirement for efficiency is probably one of the biggest differences between the design of an underground experimental hall and a family home. Building the ILC binds so many resources that we cannot afford to waste money, time or integrated luminosity.
The underground experimental halls are in the focus of the collaborative efforts between both ILC detector concepts, SiD and ILD, the Machine-Detector Interface Common Task Group, the Beam Delivery System Group and the Conventional Facilities Group. These halls are the most complex underground buildings in the ILC and therefore need to be scrutinised for efficiency. The design of the experimental hall shown in the Reference Design Report was simplified and not optimised to the operation of the two detectors in the push-pull system. The basic functional requirements of the interaction region had been agreed upon in 2009, but only the following R&D studies on all relevant issues of the push-pull system, the evolving detector design and the better understanding of the requirements triggered an optimisation process that has been discussed at many real and virtual meetings. A major milestone was the agreement in early 2011 that for the push-pull system the detectors should be placed on big concrete movable platforms. Experience from existing high-energy physics experiments, for example DESY’s HERA detectors, and detectors at SLAC, KEK and of course CERN’s LHC, was very helpful. Joint CLIC-ILC studies on geological issues and on a detailed design for the platform based push-pull system have been exploited.
The design of the underground hall for the non-mountain sites of the ILC, such as the American or the European sites, is now rather advanced. A common layout of the cavern has been agreed upon and should be part of the ILC baseline in the Technical Design Report (see figure above). This design relies on the fact that the detectors would be mainly assembled in surface buildings, similar to what was done for CMS at the LHC. The big pre-assembled detector parts would then be lowered through a big vertical shaft into the experimental cavern (see photo below).
The focus of the work is now on the specifications of the mountain sites for the ILC that are under study in Japan. These sites would not allow for vertical access via shafts, but the experimental hall would be reached by horizontal access tunnels of about 1 kilometre in length. A modified detector assembly scheme needs to be followed under these conditions as the transport capacity in the access tunnel limits the mass and size of the parts. In consequence, enough underground space needs to be provided to allow for the assembly of the detectors out of these smaller parts.
It is clear that this kind of design work cannot be done with translucent paper anymore. The bases of these evaluations are the 3-D CAD models of the detectors and the underground halls that are organised in the ILC engineering document management system. But the basic principles are the same: how does the equipment fit into the available space and how do we keep the requirements while optimising the system to high efficiency? The upcoming KILC12 workshop will be an important step on the way to find the final underground hall design for the TDR. | <urn:uuid:b6baa8ef-56fb-4b8b-a977-b16617c5734f> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://newsline.linearcollider.org/2012/04/19/building-a-home-for-the-ilc-detectors/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396106.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00062-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956788 | 1,014 | 2.796875 | 3 |
The operating system your MacBook runs, OS X, is built on top of UNIX, and Terminal provides you with access to the underlying UNIX system commands. Most server software that your business would want to use, such as Python or mySQL, is managed via the command line. Often when this type of software is unpacked, the executable bit is not set, meaning that program doesn't have permission to run as an executable. You must use the UNIX command "chmod" to set the proper permission and then you can execute the file.
Type the following command at the Terminal command prompt to change directories to the location of the file you want to execute, replacing "/path/to/NameOfFile" with the full file location, called a path: cd /path/to/NameOfFile
Type the following command to set the file's executable bit using the chmod command, replacing "NameOfFile" with the name of the file you want to execute: chmod +x ./NameOfFile
Type the following to execute the file: ./NameOfFile
- Press "Enter" on the keyboard after every command you enter into Terminal.
- You can also execute a file without changing to its directory by specifying the full path. Type "/path/to/NameOfFile" without quotation marks at the command prompt. Remember to set the executable bit using the chmod command first. | <urn:uuid:5b19b90f-a3c7-489b-aa70-98fb6acb5954> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://smallbusiness.chron.com/execute-file-macbook-terminal-49381.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783404405.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155004-00137-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.91942 | 287 | 3.328125 | 3 |
Description This fragment of a garment was woven in an official factory and decorated with an Arabic inscription. Such honorific inscriptions on textiles are called "tiraz" in Arabic, and "taraziden" in Persian. They combine pious invocations to God, verses from the Qur'an, and sometimes names of caliphs. On this example appears the phrase ". . . of Allah, and favor and glory to the servant of Allah. . .," a formula used to introduce the name of a caliph, a ruler of the Abbasid dynasty.
- Threshold to the Sacred: The Ark Door of Cairo’s Ben Ezra Synagogue . The Walters Art Museum, Baltimore; Yeshiva University Museum, New York. 2013-2014.
Provenance Maurice Nahman, Cairo and Paris [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1928, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
Inscriptions [Translation] of Allah, and favor and glory to the servant of Allah
Credit Acquired by Henry Walters, 1928
Download Image Add to Collection Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Creative Commons License | <urn:uuid:8c5f7c15-3670-48d9-af15-afa417cc94af> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://art.thewalters.org/detail/29258/fragment-of-a-tiraz/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783397873.63/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154957-00111-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.88318 | 237 | 2.875 | 3 |
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Another naturalistic rendering of a fish. It has been proposed that individual fish "beads" were strung to form fish necklaces. Often, water-associated imagery is used as a reference to the Underworld, which was conceived of as a watery place. It could also be that the reference was less oblique, given the importance of water for agricultural societies.
Late Post-Classic period (1325-1521 A.D.)
Mother-of-pearl, with incised and drilled features
National Museum of Anthropology, Mexico.
Photo © Jorge Pérez de Lara | <urn:uuid:51e69a0b-1c51-4bd7-912f-fd8a28e7b5a8> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.mesoweb.com/features/jpl/135.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783403502.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155003-00197-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956966 | 131 | 3.15625 | 3 |
A remnant is an object, thing, person, or group that survives an event, catastrophe, pruning, etc. It is what is left over. In the Bible, the idea of a remnant deals mainly with the believers. But remnant is also used in other ways, such as a remnant of a name (2 Samuel 14:7), of the Amorites (2 Sam 21:2), of the house of Judah (2 Kings 19:30), of an inheritance (2 Kings 21:14 ), and of the saved (Rom. 9:27; 11:5).
God retains for himself those who are his people. Many religious groups believe themselves to be the remnant of God's true followers. Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc., claim to be what is left over after the falling away of the world into sin and apostasy. However, the true remnant are those who are the elect of God (Matthew 24:24; Ephesians 1:4-5). They are the ones whom God has called to himself and to our redeemed. | <urn:uuid:f853b4d8-e8c7-41e3-89cb-38b57e8f9880> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://carm.org/dictionary-remnant | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396459.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00181-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961904 | 215 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Hajj: journey to the heart of Islam will be the first major exhibition dedicated to the Hajj; the pilgrimage to Mecca (Makkah) in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia which is central to the Muslim faith. The exhibition will examine the significance of the Hajj as one of the Five Pillars of Islam, exploring its importance for Muslims and looking at how this spiritual journey has evolved throughout history.
It will bring together a wealth of objects from a number of different collections including important historic pieces as well as new contemporary art works which reveal the enduring impact of Hajj across the globe and across the centuries. The exhibition which has been organised in partnership with the King Abdulaziz Public Library Riyadh will examine three key strands: the pilgrims journey with an emphasis on the major routes used across time (from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East); the Hajj today, its associated rituals and what the experience means to the pilgrim; and Mecca, the destination of Hajj, its origins and importance.
It is laid down in the Quran that it is a sacred duty for Muslims everywhere, if they are able, to make the journey to Mecca at least once in their lives. This pilgrimage takes place during the last month of the Islamic year, known as Dhul Hijja. At the heart of the sanctuary at Mecca lies the Kaba, the cube-shaped building that Muslims believe was built by Abraham and his son Ishmael. It was in Mecca that the Prophet Muhammad received the first revelations in the early 7th century. Therefore the city has long been viewed as a spiritual centre and the heart of Islam. The rituals involved with Hajj have remained unchanged since its beginning, and it continues to be a powerful religious undertaking which draws Muslims together from all over the world, irrespective of nationality or sect.
A wide variety of objects will be lent to the exhibition. Loans include significant material from Saudi Arabia including a sitara which covers the door of the Kaba as well as other historic and contemporary artefacts from key museums in the Kingdom. Other objects have come from major public and private collections in the UK and around the world, among them the British Library and the Khalili Family Trust. Together these objects will evoke and document the long and perilous journey associated with the pilgrimage, gifts offered to the sanctuary as acts of devotion and the souvenirs that are brought back from Hajj. They include archaeological material, manuscripts, textiles, historic photographs and contemporary art.
The Hajj has a deep emotional and spiritual significance for Muslims, and continues to inspire a wide range of personal, literary and artistic responses, many of which will be explored throughout the exhibition.
This exhibition concludes the British Museum
s series of three exhibitions focused on spiritual journeys. | <urn:uuid:a0925c85-189a-40a7-ac36-d6b193da53ca> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://artdaily.com/news/53234/Hajj--Journey-to-the-heart-of-Islam-at-the-British-Museum-brings-together-a-wealth-of-objects | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396887.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00147-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964402 | 557 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Mathematics and Probability
Pascal contributed to several mathematic discoveries. For instance, his work on what is known as the Pascal triangle influenced Isaac Newton’s discovery of the general binomial theorem for fractional and negative powers. Pascal published a treatise on the cycloid, which involves mathematically expressing the curves of points created by a revolving circle.
In his correspondence with mathematician Pierre de Fermat, Pascal sought
to find mathematical solutions to two problems that involved gambling:
the problem of the dice and the problem of points. The problem of the
dice concerns whether we can determine how many times one must throw a
pair of dice before one expects a double six.
The problem of points concerns how to divide the stakes if a game of dice
is incomplete. In exploring the possible solutions to these problems,
Pascal and Fermat gave foundation to the study of probability: study of
the possible outcomes of given events together with their relative likelihoods | <urn:uuid:479fc8db-ad1d-4162-b492-ac5e38f2ef9a> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl201/modules/Philosophers/Pascal/pascal_probability.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395620.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00163-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.918101 | 198 | 3.734375 | 4 |
The Story of the Movement — 26 Events
"The workshops in nonviolence made the difference... the philosophy... the tactics, the techniques, how to... take the blows and still respond with... dignity."
—Rev. C. T. Vivian, Nashville activist
Southern cities maintain segregated public facilities -- like movie theaters, hotels, and lunch counters in downtown stores. In Greensboro, North Carolina, four black college students stage the first sit-in at a white lunch counter. Activist Jim Lawson holds workshops in non-violent protest at Nashville's Fisk University. He attracts people like college student Diane Nash and seminarians John Lewis and C. T. Vivian, and teaches non-violent direct action tactics adopted from Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, including peaceful resistance.
The protesters, dressed in their best clothes, target Nashville's lunch counters, where they sit and wait to be served. The stores respond by closing the counters, but the students continue to sit, quietly doing homework. After several weeks, their protest attracts gangs of white toughs, and police who arrest the activists for disorderly conduct. More students sit to take their places, filling the jails and refusing to pay fines. When punched or assaulted by segregationists, the protesters do not retaliate, but simply protect themselves and each other.
The sit-in movement spreads to 69 cities across the South, black communities organize economic boycotts, and sympathetic Northerners picket local branches of the department stores. In Nashville, a climate of fear culminates in a bombing that destroys the house of Alexander Looby, a black lawyer who has been working with the activists. Thousands march to City Hall and confront Mayor Ben West. After the mayor concedes that the lunch counter segregation is wrong, businesses quickly desegregate.
Elated with their success, students found the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, working with Southern Christian Leadership Conference organizers like Ella Baker, who advises the students to maintain a separate organization. In the close presidential race of 1960, John Kennedy wins black support and, narrowly, the election.
Other Events: 1960
An American U-2 spy plane is shot down over the Soviet Union and its pilot, Gary Powers, is captured.
Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird, which depicts race relations in Alabama, wins the Pulitzer Prize.
Berry Gordy founds Motown Records in his hometown of Detroit, Michigan. Its roster will include such legendary African American artists as The Supremes and Marvin Gaye.
The first prescription drug for healthy patients, Enovid, is approved for birth control.
Children's television show "Howdy Doody" wraps up after 13 years; a cartoon about a prehistoric family, "The Flintstones," debuts.
A record audience of 75 million Americans tunes in to the first televised presidential campaign debates. Youthful candidate John F. Kennedy's performance is credited with helping him win the election over Richard M. Nixon.
Two standout African American athletes, boxer Cassius Clay (who will later change his name to Muhammad Ali) and sprinter Wilma Rudolph, win gold medals at the Summer Olympics in Rome.
Virginia-Norfolk Journal and Guide, March 5, 1960
Behind the Headlines: Sit-Down Protest Should Always Be Non-Violent
by Gordon B. Hancock
As a means of protest against segregation and its evil concomitants, the current sit-down movement among Negro students is quite understandable...
...Nothing would be more disastrous than a cessation of protest against the unchristian and the undemocratic. These sit-down students have been taught in our great American history that resistance to tyranny is honorable and righteous...
The New York Times, April 18, 1960
Nashville Issue is Full Equality
Sit-in Movement Is Prelude to Campaign by Negroes
...Seven weeks after the Negro student sit-in movement struck the city that proudly boasts the title "Athens of the South" no solution of the problem appeared on the horizon...
...But vigorous, imaginative and energetic citizens -- both white and black -- were striving to resolve the food-service issue....
...Not that Nashville citizens feel especially proud of their record thus far. "I'm sorry for what brings you here," said a professional man. And a woman wrote to The Nashville Banner saying:
"Nashville, the eyes of the country are upon you. Are you proud of what they are seeing? Until now I could look anyone anywhere straight in the eye and say gladly, 'I'm from Nashville, Tenn.'"
The letter was inspired by new outbreaks of minor violence that have flared up sporadically as a counterpoint to the sit-in movement...
The Los Angeles Times, April 20, 1960
Bomb Blasts Integration Leader's Home
Nashville, April 19 -- A dynamite bomb shattered the home of a Negro integration leader in Nashville today and touched off a protest march on City Hall by 2,500 Negroes demanding an end to racial intimidation and violence.
Mayor Ben West told the Nashville marchers that "you also have a responsibility. You all have the power to destroy this city so let's don't have any mobs."
West drew cheers when he said "I appeal to all citizens to end discrimination, to have no bigotry, no bias, no discrimination."
The Negro marchers, led by students, marched in columns three and four abreast, circling the Davidson County Courthouse. Then they held a prayer session on the Courthouse steps. They dispersed quietly after West's remarks.
The Chicago Tribune, May 11, 1960
Negroes Win Dining Rights in Nashville
Secret Parleys Bring Lunch Counter Peace
Six downtown Nashville department, dime, and drug stores opened their lunch counters to Negroes for the first time Tuesday and served them without incident under terms of a bi-racial agreement reached after weeks of secret negotiations...
...The agreement... included a local news blackout by radio and television stations and newspapers. No word of the desegregation was broadcast or published locally. Merchants and Negro leaders hoped the local blackout would forestall incidents...
..."It's a gamble," [a Nashville] store manager said. "But we felt the community is better prepared for integration than it has ever been."
Among the stores which desegregated lunch counters, one official said: "There's no turning back now. There's no trial period or anything. This is it."
I'm Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table
Songwriter: Traditional, adapted by SNCC
Performed by: Hollis Watkins
Listen to the Music
At first, the students at the Nashville lunch counter sit-ins remained silent, as a contrast to the jeers of the whites around them and to avoid arrest for disorderly conduct. Once they realized that they would be inevitably arrested, they introduced songs to their protests.
"I'm Gonna Sit at the Welcome Table" took a traditional religious tune and added contemporary verses by members of SNCC. The original spiritual lines, like "I'm gonna sit at the welcome table" and "I'm gonna walk these streets of glory," were matched with "I'm gonna sit at Woolworth's lunch counter." The contrast between the earthbound and the heavenly made the protesters' goals less elusive; their local sit-ins were the first step toward important changes in society.
For more on music and the movement, read comments by Bernice Johnson Reagon.
Music courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, www.si.edu/ folkways.
This extended series of clips intersperses a news documentary description of the 1960 Nashville lunch counter sit-ins with the recollections of various participants.
The first footage shows students walking to lunch counters, the counters targeted, and students leaders describing their motives and strategies.
Several white people are then shown giving reasons why they oppose the sit-ins (although one person feels black customers should be served).
Then footage of a white man attacking protesters carrying signs is interspersed with a descriptions of the event by the white student who was attacked.
The next clips show a sit-in, the students being attacked by a white mob at the lunch counters, and then police arresting the students.
Footage follows from their trial while the judge who convicted them justifies his actions.
A white man describes community attitudes towards the protesters, followed by footage of the bombed-out home of Alexander Looby, a lawyer who defended the students.
Sit-in leader Diane Nash and Nashville mayor Ben West describe a protest held shortly after the Looby bombing while footage of it is shown. Nash and West relate how an exchange between them on the steps of the city hall led to the mayor's admission that segregation of the lunch counters was wrong. The clips end with footage of students applauding West.
Footage courtesy of The National Archives and Records Administration, Special Media Archives Services Division, College Park, MD. | <urn:uuid:7bb39a08-662f-45d2-88b5-6e455d6ddc77> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/eyesontheprize/story/04_nonviolence.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783408828.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155008-00170-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.947188 | 1,825 | 3.34375 | 3 |
The Fair Maiden - Andromeda
Whenever the name Andromeda arises in conversation or in print, we immediately visualize a majestic galaxy. The Andromeda Galaxy, aka M31 is located a mere 2.9 million light years - down the cosmic highway. This island of an estimated 400 billion stars can even be spotted naked eye from dark locations. M31 is flanked by two smaller galaxies known as M32 and M110. Mythology depicts Andromeda as the daughter of King Cepheus and Queen Cassiopeia and was sacrificed to the sea monster Cetus, but Perseus saved the day.
The constellation itself measures 722 square degrees of sky and ranks 19th in area. Andromeda is now well placed high in the pre-winter skies and with M31 located at almost 42 degrees in declination, it is almost overhead. One should take advantage of clear nights to look at the most observed and imaged galaxy seen in the northern hemisphere. Readers with moderate to large instruments can try to spot the many globular clusters that reside in our galactic neighbour.
Andromeda’s alpha star is named Alpheratz; a blue B-class star that is the brightest member of an odd class of "mercury-manganese" stars. This magnitude 3.5 sun has a surface temperature of 13,000 Kelvins is only one of two examples of a star being referred in two constellations. It also forms the northeastern corner of the square of Pegasus. The other example is Elnath which links Taurus to Auriga. Alpheratz is a spectroscopic binary with its companion being so close; they orbit each other in only 96 days. Alpheratz resides 97 light years from us.
At literally the other end of the spectrum, Mirach (Beta Andromedae) is a red giant star with a cooler surface measuring only 3,800 Kelvins. Mirach lies 200 light years away and if it replaced our Sun, it would measure out to the orbit of Mercury. It does have a very dim 14th magnitude companion. From Mirach, the companion would shine like a bright red Venus, whereas from the companion, Mirach would sear the sky 120 times more brightly than our full Moon. Before leaving Mirach, be sure to look seven arc minutes to the north for NGC 404. Also referred as Mirach’s Ghost, NGC 404 is a 10th magnitude elliptical galaxy residing about 10 million light years from us. The key to viewing NGC 404 is to keep brilliant Mirach (magnitude 2.3) out of the field of view.
Our next target is the Blue Snowball located in the western section of the constellation. Catalogued as NGC 7662, this planetary nebula is thought to be some 5,000 light years away. Its outer shell of gas measures 50,000 astronomical units wide or lining up 833 of our solar systems end to end. Observing this object in an eyepiece, you will immediately see it is smaller than the famous Ring Nebula and takes on a striking blue much like the planet Neptune. The Snowball reveals itself better in larger scopes but no matter what scope you choose, it is a must for your observing list.
Now here comes a real challenge. Go back to Alpheratz and move two and a third degrees east. From a dark location, you should locate Galaxy Cluster VV-166 or Arp 113. No less than eight galaxies occupy this area and range from magnitude 13.4 to 16.0. The cluster members are NGC 67, 67a, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72 and 72a with the entire cluster being an estimated 350 million light years away. Good luck with this challenge.
If open clusters suit your needs, look for NGC 7686. This magnitude 5.6 cluster consists of a loose concentration of stars with two bright stars being the most obvious. NGC 7686 can be found six and a half degrees north of the Blue Snowball. We then have NGC 752 that has a healthy population of about 60 suns. This old cluster possesses a extremely hot star spectral class A2 star which indicates NGC 752 might be more than a billion years old. This cluster measure 60 arc minutes wide or twice the full moon’s width and is 1,300 light years away. NGC 752 also goes by the name Caldwell 28.
To date, ten extrasolar planets call this constellation home. Upsilon Andromedae is a main sequence star like our Sun. It is only 52 ly away and has three planets around it. Another parent star is 14 Andromedae. At 258 light years from us astronomers believe this could be a variable star. Although it is now orange in colour, it might have been white or yellow-white dwarf in its younger days. This orbiting planet is one of the few to be associated with an evolved star. 14 Andromedae b circles the mother planet in half an earth year and has a mass of 4.8 Jupiters.
Comet C/2009 P1 Garradd is getting brighter as it slides through the constellation Hercules. But Hercules is now low in the west thus making the comet difficult to observe. In a few weeks it will shift over to morning skies before sunrise. The comet will reach a minimum solar elongation of 45 degrees on December 5 with a perihelion date of December 23. Another Kodak moment comes on the nights of Feb 3 and 4 as the Comet Garradd slides by the globular cluster M92.
The Geminids is one of the best meteor showers of the year if you can stand the cold. This year the ongoing stream of shooting stars will occur on nights of December 13 and 14. Meteor showers in general are the direct result of dust and particles from passing comets that linger in space until Earth plows through the cloud of debris. This comet stuff entirely burn up about 100 kilometers high with no danger of hitting the ground. The average size is these particles would be the size of the period at the end of this sentence or smaller. The parent object responsible for the Geminids shower is an asteroid named 3200 Pheathon. This show produced a generous 120 meteors per hour that slowly perish in the atmospheric friction. These (slow) moving entries are striking the atmosphere at only 35 km/sec compared the fast moving Perseid shower in August at 72 km/sec. You will have to deal with a bright moon that was full on the 10th.
Our solar system planets are always a gem to observe and photograph. Venus is low in the west after sunset and is south of the globular cluster M22 on December 2nd. Jupiter on the other hand is well up at sunset but is retreating from us. In fact it becomes stationary on the 26th thus halting its western movement against the stars known at retrograde. After this date it continues its normal easterly dance amongst the stars.
The red planet Mars is still 198 million kilometers from us but is approaching at about 15 km/sec. it is presently in the constellation Leo and can be found 10 degrees east of Bright Regulus. Saturn and her majestic rings now rise at 3:30 local time. In fact Saturn and the star Spica to its right, peek over the eastern horizon the same time and climb together. Tiny Mercury will climb to its highest point at 22 degrees in the eastern sky on the 26th.
The last total lunar eclipse for Canada till October 2014 will occur on the morning of the 10th. A lunar eclipse is very safe to watch and photograph as the natural full moon darkens in the earth’s shadow. A solar eclipse on the other hand requires extreme caution. This entire eclipse favours the western side of North America. As you move further east, partial phases will be witnessed at moonset. Totality occurs at 6:32 a.m. Pacific Time. New moon is listed for the 24th at 13:06 est and starts lunation 1101. Hope it is not too cold in your area as the Winter Solstice officially begins on December 22nd at 00:36 est.
And finally a word on Christmas presents for the budding astronomer. If in doubt on what kind of scope to purchase for that special someone, contact your closest telescope store or ask any centre or club member on guidance. Big box stores are great for everyday items but unfortunately sell very low end telescopes and sales staff no nothing about the product.
Have a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone. Until next month, clear skies everyone. | <urn:uuid:6a92785b-c5aa-4eae-9107-b8f32ff0e7ae> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.rasc.ca/news/sky-month-december-2011 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393442.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00003-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936456 | 1,756 | 3.59375 | 4 |
For every green smoothie recipe, there’s a brand new deep-fried, double-patty, fast food phenomenon (with extra bacon) waiting to be snatched up at a drive-thru window near you.
Despite our culture’s media mass that advocates the importance of fitness and healthy eating, the majority of Canadians are overweight or obese, according to a recent article published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ).
The study estimates that more than one in every five Canadians will be obese by 2019 with provincial variations that are concerning.
“We live in an obesogenic environment, meaning our culture of desk jobs, use of technology and access to highly processed food make it so that we have to put a real effort into being active and healthy.” explains Dr. Laurie Twells, associate professor in the School of Pharmacy and Faculty of Medicine, and co-author of the article. “In many ways, we live in an environment that actively works against us when it comes to maintaining a healthy body weight.”
Dr. Twells adds that the prevalence of normal-weight people in Canada is steadily decreasing.
“The more telling story that came from our study was the disproportionate jump in the higher obese classes,” she says.
Drawing on data from a number of Statistics Canada surveys conducted over a 26-year period, the study describes obesity levels as class I, II or III, with body mass indexes (BMI’s) ranging between 30 and 40 or higher. The heftiest rate of increase was noted amongst the class III group, which increased from 0.3% in 1985 to 1.6% in 2011 - a 433% per cent increase.
Because people in these classes are at a much higher risk of developing complex care needs such as diabetes, hypertension, sleep apnea and cardiovascular disease, the results of the study raise concerns at the policy level.
“We have a growing number of people in the higher obese classes and we haven’t really sorted out the treatment for obesity. We’re not curing it,” Dr. Twells told the Globe and Mail last month. “We haven’t managed to help many people lose weight and keep it off, other than through bariatric surgery, which is the only effective treatment that results in substantial and sustained weight loss for very obese individuals.”
Although the whole country is becoming increasingly hefty, some provinces are at greater risk than others.
Newfoundland and Labrador and New Brunswick have the highest rates of obesity in Canada, with individuals over the age of 40 years being more likely than younger people to be overweight or obese.
In five provinces that include Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, by 2019 it is estimated that more people will be overweight or obese than normal weight.
The strain of obesity on the health care system is significant, with annual costs estimated between $4.6 and 7.1 billion, according to researchers.
“Although the impact of a policy change can take 20-30 years, regardless of any province’s plan of action, by investing in resources for the prevention of obesity and management that includes helping individuals maintain body weight and treating very obese patients – if effective and cohesive action is taken we can prevent these number from creeping even higher.” | <urn:uuid:998dc0ef-a2ed-43d2-8b72-74e4352fdcfb> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.mun.ca/pharmacy/news.php?id=3355 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396222.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00117-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951427 | 692 | 2.890625 | 3 |
John Quincy Adding Machine
|John Quincy Adding Machine|
|First appearance||"A Head in the Polls" (2ACV03)|
John Quincy Adding Machine was a robot who contested the Earth presidential election and won by only one vote. This made him the first robot president. Apparently, he promised the electors that he wouldn't go on a killing spree, but he didn't follow through on his declaration.
Fry: Besides, it's not like one vote ever made a difference.
Leela: That's not true; the first robot president won by exactly one vote.
Bender: Ah, yes, John Quincy Adding Machine. He struck a chord with the voters when he pledged not to go on a killing spree.
Farnsworth: But, like most politicians, he promised more than he could deliver. | <urn:uuid:f739b0d8-ad8a-41e7-b265-0a831f57d122> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://theinfosphere.org/index.php?title=John_Quincy_Adding_Machine&oldid=137898 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396147.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00108-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.950021 | 171 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Coral atolls and sea level rise
MUCH has been written of late regarding the impending demise of the world's coral atolls due to sea level rise.
Recently, here in the Solomon Islands, the sea level rise has been blamed for salt water intrusion into the subsurface "lens" of fresh water under some atolls.
Beneath the surface of most atolls, there is a lens shaped body of fresh water which floats on the seawater underneath.
The claim is that the rising sea levels are contaminating the fresh-water lens with seawater. These claims of blame ignore several facts. The first and most important fact, discovered by none other than Charles Darwin, is that coral atolls essentially "float" on the surface of the sea.
When the sea rises, the atoll rises with it, and when the sea falls, they fall as well.
Atolls exist in a delicate balance between new sand and coral rubble being added from the reef, and sand and rubble being eroded by wind and wave back into the sea.
When the sea falls, more sand tumbles from the high part, and more of the atoll is exposed to wind erosion.
The atoll falls along with the sea level. When the sea level rises, wind erosion decreases. The coral grows up along with the sea level rise.
The flow of sand and rubble onto the atoll continues, and the atoll rises. Since atolls go up and down with the sea level as Darwin discovered, the idea that they will be buried by sea level rises is totally unfounded.
They have gone through sea level rises much larger and much faster than the current one.
Given that established scientific fact, why is there water incursion into the fresh water lenses? Several factors affect this.
First and foremost, the fresh water lens is a limited supply. As island populations increase, more and more water is drawn from the lens.
The inevitable end of this is the intrusion of sea water into the lens. This affects both wells and plants, which both draw from the same lens.
It also leads to unfounded claims that sea level rise is to blame. It is not. Seawater is coming in because fresh water is going out.
The second reason for salt water intrusion into the lens is a reduction in the amount of sand and rubble coming onto the atoll from the reef. When the balance between sand added and sand lost is disturbed, the atoll shrinks.
This has two main causes — coral mining and killing the wrong fish. The use of coral for construction in many atolls is quite common.
At times this is done in a way that damages the reef as well as taking the coral. This is the visible part of the loss of reef, the part we can see.
What goes unremarked is the loss of the reef sand, which is essential for the continued existence of the atoll.
The cause of the loss of sand is the indiscriminate, wholesale killing of parrotfish and other beaked reef-grazing fish.
A single parrotfish, for example, creates about half a tonne of coral sand per year. Parrotfish and other beaked reef fish create the sand by grinding up the reef with their massive jaws, digesting the food, and excreting the ground coral.
In addition to making all that fine white sand that makes up the lovely island beaches, beaked grazing fish also increase overall coral health, growth, and production.
This happens in the same way that pruning makes a tree send up lots of new shoots, or the same way that lions keep a herd of zebras healthy and productive.
The constant grazing by the beaked fish keeps the corals in full production mode.
Unfortunately, these fish sleep at night, and are easily wiped out by night divers. Their populations have plummeted in many areas in recent years. Result? Much less sand.
The third reason for salt water intrusion into the lens is the tidal cycle. We are currently in the high part of the 18 year tidal cycle.
The maximum high tide in Honiara in 2008 was about 10 cm higher than the maximum tide in 1996, and the highs will now decrease until about 2014.
People often mistake an unusually high tide for a rise in sea level, which it is not. There has been no increase in the recorded rate of sea level rise. In fact, the global sea level rise has flattened out in the last couple years. | <urn:uuid:e02dc6fd-448d-4ee3-b046-13bac54c7d7d> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.enn.com/ecosystems/article/39427 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395613.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00167-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95373 | 923 | 3.375 | 3 |
Managing Environmental Impact with a Global Framework and Local Execution
Environmental management poses both challenges and opportunities for companies with operations around the world.
The challenges can seem onerous when you consider variations in local environmental issues, regulations, infrastructure capabilities, culture and other factors. The opportunities, however, come from identifying results that organizations can achieve locally, and providing employees with the tools, resources, inspiration and framework to implement them.
In a global organization with many operating units in many places, the most important component for creating an effective environmental program is a global framework that sets the course, outlines goals, and creates a sense of shared commitment and responsibility.
It’s important that this framework has the flexibility for local execution. For example, a company may set global goals for reducing energy, water, waste and carbon emissions, but the way that local operating units contribute to those goals can vary widely. An older facility may present opportunities to upgrade to more energy-efficient equipment, while a new facility may not. Or a facility may be located in a city with abundant sunlight and robust financial incentives that make solar energy attractive.
Environmental responsibility is an issue that transcends borders, cultures and languages. Regardless of where an organization operates, it likely can find passionate environmental champions among its employees. Identifying these employees, organizing them into “green teams,” and empowering them to be catalysts for change are major steps toward integrating sustainability at the local level.
Consider a facility in a city without municipal recycling – an engaged and empowered green team of employees can change that barrier into an opportunity by working with local organizations to develop a collection and recycling solution.
Education and knowledge is the key to empowering employees. Employees are better equipped to identify environmental solutions unique to their local circumstances if they are provided with resources about sustainability goals, guidance, best practice examples and other environmental educational materials.
It’s also important to make environmental management part of the company culture. All employees should know that their actions contribute to the company’s commitment and goals. One way to do this is by incorporating simple actions that employees can take as part of their everyday job functions, even if those actions are as simple as turning off lights when they are not being used.
Take, for instance, a hotel company where housekeepers can reduce environmental impact through their daily job requirements, from using less water to clean the bathroom, to using less energy by adjusting thermostats and closing drapes to avoid excess heat gain or loss. The hotel chef, on the other hand, can reduce resource consumption in different ways.
It is important to help employees identify these actions and establish a process that integrates them into job training and operating procedures. An added bonus is that establishing these behaviors at work makes it more likely that employees will establish similar behaviors at home.
And of course, measuring and tracking against goals is critical. Setting aggressive targets and ensuring accountability across the organization allows a company to maintain focus, commitment and motivation to execute its environmental strategy.
Brigitta Witt is vice president of corporate social responsibility for Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, responsible for optimizing Hyatt’s environmental and social programs and policies. The company launched Hyatt Thrive this year, its global corporate responsibility program to help the communities in which it operates reach their full potential. Hyatt subsidiaries manage, franchise, and own more than 450 properties. The 85,000+ members of the Hyatt family strive to make a difference in the lives of the guests they encounter every day by providing authentic hospitality.
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- Demand Energy, EnerSys Complete Storage Project
- Lunera Intros Pathway and Entryway LED | <urn:uuid:830321d6-b89b-4632-a140-515376f20b1b> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/09/14/managing-environmental-impact-with-a-global-framework-and-local-execution/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396106.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00080-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934365 | 844 | 2.765625 | 3 |
Getting more pbars out of the Antiproton Source
In the quest for higher luminosity in the Tevatron, scientists are focusing their attention on the proton's negatively charged counterpart - the antiproton. Protons are plentiful, but antiprotons are a different story. For every million protons that crash into the Antiproton Source target, only about 15 antiprotons (pbars) are collected. One of the central strategies for the Run II luminosity upgrades is to increase this production rate and the corresponding antiproton stacking rate while decreasing the time it takes to cool the particles and set up their transfer to the Recycler storage ring.
At Fermilab, antiprotons are made by aiming a 120 GeV proton beam from the Main Injector onto a metallic target at the Antiproton Source. When the protons smash into the disc, antiprotons, along with many other particles, spray out with different energies and at different angles. A lithium lens collects negatively charged particles that have a certain energy.
But that's just the beginning. "Particles coming off the target and off the lens are like a hot gas," said Elvin Harms, head of Antiproton Source Department. "You've got myriad particles and they're bouncing all over the place. Well, that's not good for collecting antimatter."
To change the "hot gas" to a cold one, the antiprotons collected by the lens are transported down a beam transfer line, called AP2, to the Debuncher ring. There, stochastic cooling compresses the antiproton beam. The particles are then transferred every 2-4 seconds to the Accumulator ring, which stacks individual pulses of antiprotons. When a certain stack size is reached in the Accumulator, usually after 2-4 hours, the antiprotons are transferred to the Recycler for additional cooling and stacking (See Fermilab Today, November 11, 2005).
The goal is to provide the Tevatron with a densely packed beam with a large number of antiprotons. To do that, scientists are trying to improve several components of the Antiproton Source complex. One such component is the collection lens. The number of antiprotons collected after protons collide with the target increases with the magnetic-field gradient in the collection lens. A new lens under development would increase the magnetic field gradient, giving a 10-15 percent increase in acceptance of initial antiprotons.
After collection, antiprotons are transferred through beam pipes made of steel. If the spread of antiprotons is larger than the size of the pipes, the particles are scraped off and lost. "We can actually tell that the beam is zigzagging down the pipe, and now we're trying to straighten that out," said Keith Gollwitzer, of the Antiproton Source. The challenge is to differentiate the beam's antiprotons from other particles produced at the target that decay along the beam line. To check whether the antiprotons are traveling close to the center of the beam pipes, scientists determine their trajectory by switching off the antiproton production and sending protons in the opposite direction through the beam line. Adjusting the magnetic fields along the beam line, scientists are able to straighten the trajectory.
The Antiproton Source Department also is adjusting the systems for cooling antiprotons, mostly because of an increase in the number of protons sent to the antiproton target. (see Fermilab Today, November 16, 2005) "We have twice as many particles coming in, but the same amount of time to do the cooling on them," said Paul Derwent, Deputy Head of the Antiproton Source Department. "We've had to make the cooling systems work twice as fast." And as part of that race against time, antiproton stacking also has changed. Previously, antiprotons were stacked in the Accumulator to 250E10 particles before being transferred to the Recycler. Now, they are stacked to only 60-80E10 antiprotons. By keeping the number of particles in the Accumulator lower, cooling is easier and precious time is saved, Derwent said. Time also is a concern in the transfer of the antiproton stacks to the Recycler. Every time a transfer is made, scientists have to turn off stacking and reorient and test the trajectory with reverse protons. "We want to get rid of most of those steps," Harms said. Presently, each transfer takes about 45 minutes. Scientists hope to cut that time down to just minutes by upgrading and simplifying a computer application that largely automates the transfer process. Time also can be shaved by using upgraded beam position monitors in the transport lines to tell if the antiprotons are on the right path and ramping the power supplies used for the AP1 beam line magnets.
The ultimate goal is to increase the number of antiprotons collected for every 1 million protons that hit the target to about 30. With these upgrades and improved instrumentation that would permit a more stable operation with a larger number of diagnostic devices to study the beam, the scientists are well on their way. "Right now, what most limits the Tevatron is the availability of antiprotons," said Bill Ashmanskas, who has worked on Antiproton Source instrumentation with Dave Peterson and engineers in the Particle Physics Division. "So anything we can do to improve the stacking rate of the Antiproton Source contributes to increased Tevatron luminosity." | <urn:uuid:78a2cf21-332c-44a9-8062-2d836d676b49> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.fnal.gov/pub/today/luminosityseries/luminosity5.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396222.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00200-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937545 | 1,154 | 3.390625 | 3 |
As you might guess, those are the instructions for adding and subtracting. Both are R-type instructions. These instructions assume that the registers containg bitstrings in 2C. However, there's nothing enforcing that the register contain representations in 2C. The instructions operate on them as if they were.
This is an interesting difference between languages like Java and ISAs. In Java, each variable has a type, and since the language is supposed to be type-safe, you may only call methods that are appropriate to the type.
In most ISAs, registers are treated as bitstrings. How those bits are interpreted depend on the instructions. There are no checks or flags to indicate a register holds a signed int or an unsigned int.
The specific instructions assume that the bitstrings in the register are of the appropriate representation, and operate as if they were, whether they do or they don't. This leaves the burden of accuracy on the programmer.
add $rd, $rs, $rt # R[d] <- R[s] + R[t] sub $rd, $rs, $rt # R[d] <- R[s] - R[t]The # indicates a comment, just like // is a comment in C++. The comments indicate the semantics. Addition, in this case, is signed addition in 2C. Subtraction is signed subtraction in 2C (which internally negates a copy of the $rt register in 2C).
Here is a specific example of both:
add $r1, $r2, $r3 # R <- R + R
sub $r1, $r2, $r3 # R <- R - R
Recall that R-type instructions have the destination
register first, followed by the two source registers (like an
|opcode||register s||register t||register d||shift amount||function|
|add $rd, $rs, $rt||000 000 (SPECIAL)||-||-||-||00000||100 000|
|sub $rd, $rs, $rt||000 000 (SPECIAL)||-||-||-||00000||100 010|
The dashes are 5-bit encoding of the register number in UB. For example, $r7 is encoded as 00111. | <urn:uuid:6984517c-357e-42d6-bb98-7577ec423b27> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.cs.umd.edu/class/spring2003/cmsc311/Notes/Mips/add.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395613.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00073-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.872699 | 485 | 3.015625 | 3 |
Blood Test May Spot Alzheimer's Before Symptoms Appear
Test Looks for Antibodies Specific to Alzheimer's Disease
New Blood Test for Alzheimer's: How It Works continued...
The researchers found thousands of these antibodies. "Many of these are related to the presence of the disease," Nagele says.
Nagele's team looked at blood samples from 50 people with Alzheimer's disease and 40 without. They also looked at blood samples from 30 breast cancer patients and 29 with Parkinson's disease, to be sure the test could be specific for Alzheimer's.
"Parkinson's and Alzheimer's are very close in terms of their pathology," Nagele says. "Neurons are dying in both cases."
He wanted to see if the test could tell Alzheimer's and Parkinson's apart.
Overall, the tests identified 96% of those with Alzheimer's correctly. It correctly identified 92.5% of those who didn't have Alzheimer's.
In the process, Nagele narrowed down the list of antibody biomarkers needed to detect Alzheimer's disease to 10.
The hope is to detect the disease before symptoms appear, but Nagele stresses his team has not yet done that.
If all goes well, he is hopeful the test could be available within a year. Costs are difficult to estimate, but it could be about $200, he tells WebMD.
New Blood Test for Alzheimer's: Perspective
Snyder calls the report exciting but also had many caveats. "I would call it preliminary," she says of Nagele's research. "It's a small study and a small sample."
As research on blood and other tests for Alzheimer's progresses, Snyder says, the measures must be standardized so people get the same results regardless of where the test is performed.
That has been an issue, for instance, in some cerebral spinal fluid tests, also being studied to detect Alzheimer's. "What we have seen, at least in cerebral spinal fluid [tests], is that it hasn't held up across different labs," she says.
She acknowledges some people may not want to know if the disease is in their future, but says knowing early has many advantages. "They can plan for their financial future, as well as their care," she says. "They can participate in clinical trials. When we do have therapeutic options available, the ultimate goal would be intervention." | <urn:uuid:9f2f4199-f41c-4beb-92fb-116a112d713f> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.webmd.com/alzheimers/news/20110803/blood-test-may-spot-alzheimers-before-symptoms-appear?page=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396106.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00031-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975548 | 485 | 2.78125 | 3 |
Aminoglycosides are antibiotics effective against some bacteria. Note that aminoglycosides derived from Streptomyces species are named with the suffix -mycin, while those derived from micromonospora are named with the suffix -micin. (These antibiotics are misspelled frequently).
Members common in the lab
- G418 = geneticin
Kanamycin and gentamycin affect bateria at lower concentrations than eukaryotes. Therefore, they can be used to target bacteria in animals during disease. G418 is more spefific for eukaryotic 80S ribosomal subunit and will harm cells without neo-resistence gene. G418 and kanamycin both work on bacteria but the latter is cheaper. | <urn:uuid:07658acf-f095-480c-b0ae-7cb06771a1ee> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://openwetware.org/index.php?title=Aminoglycosides&oldid=56949 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783396945.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154956-00087-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.908867 | 156 | 2.765625 | 3 |
By Stacy Karen, Contributing Writer
Chances are you will encounter some type of insect or bug bite during the summer. There are lots of ways to treat such bites, but today I want to share one very effective treatment that utilizes the wonderful herb, plantain.
Many people hear the word “plantain” and think of a small banana-like fruit. And yes, that is a plantain, but not the kind of plantain I am referring to.
The herb called plantain is actually a green plant, often considered a weed (but it is a very useful weed and one you might want to keep around).
Image by Phuong Tran
Plantain is thought to draw toxins and infections from the body. [Tweet “Plantain is an excellent herb for reducing inflammation and soothing stings.”] It also heals cuts or wounds. (Learn more about plantain and other ways to use it here).
A wonderful way to get the benefits of plantain is to create a plantain salve. It is very easy (instructions for making plantain salve can be found here). The only problem with it is that you must plan ahead and make time to infuse the oil and prepare the salve.
Another very simple method of using plantain is to make a poultice. This requires very little forethought, except having a plant (or dried herb) nearby. And it is very effective.
How to Make (and Use) a Plantain Poultice
To create a plantain poultice, the plantain needs to be mashed and placed against the skin. Today I will share three methods for creating a plantain poultice.
All of these poultices are beneficial for treating the following:
- bug bites
- bee stings
- poison ivy and oak (a plantain wash would also help here)
- cuts and scrapes
Bonus: Plantain has even been know to aid in the removal of slivers, due to it’s drawing properties.
1. The chew-it-up method
This method sounds quite horrible, I admit, but it is excellent during an emergency.
Simply pick a few plantain leaves, rinse off (if necessary), chew the leaves for a while and spit them out.
Place this chewed up mass on affected area. (You get the added benefit of saliva to aid in healing!) It may be necessary to form the chewed up plantain into a ball before placing on the skin.
Wrap with a bandage and leave on the skin for a few hours. Use new plantain every few hours and keep this protocol up for a couple of days, if needed.
2. Powdered herb method
Grind dried plantain into a powder and mix with a little water to form a paste.
Dried plantain ground into powder (mostly)
3. Food processor or blender method
Place this mash in the center of a piece of cheesecloth and fold the sides of the cloth around the mash to form a little package. Place cheesecloth/plantain pack on affected area. Can be taped on with medical tape if needed, or wrapped with muslin. Use new plantain every couple of hours and keep up the poultice for a few days if needed. | <urn:uuid:a958fac0-ddd8-4be5-b725-df3ab24dc1c2> | CC-MAIN-2016-26 | http://www.keeperofthehome.org/2014/08/make-use-plantain-poultice.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395346.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00070-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945357 | 688 | 2.65625 | 3 |
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