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Tympanic membrane absent. Skin smooth. Sternum ossified. Pupil of the eye is vertical. Webs between the toes well-developed. Inner metatarsal tubercle of the hind foot quite large and spade-shaped. No male resonators. Body robust, hind legs short, head large. In average, this species is larger than Common Spadefoot (Pelobates fuscus). In contrast to the latter species, the vomerine tooth series is longer and divided with narrower gap. Inner metatarsal tubercle very large, yellowish in color. Web between the toes possess large cuts. Frontal area between the eyes is not prominent. Dorsal coloration yellowish or gray with large dark-greenish spots. Ventral surface white-grayish, without pattern.
Distribution and Habitat
Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia, Greece, Iran, Islamic Republic of, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Syrian Arab Republic, Turkey
The Eastern Spadefoot Toad lives in the Balkan Peninsula eastwards to the Black Sea, as well as in Northern Syria, Palestine, Northern Israel, Northern Iraq, Caspian Iran, Asia Minor and the Caucasus. The distribution needs further study.
This species lives in forested, steppe and semi-desert areas in foothills and mountain valleys. It probably avoids the forest belt and is distributed in open landscapes, and appear to be less selective than P. fuscus in terms of soil preference. It inhabits not only soft soils suitable for a fossorial life (although they are preferred), but also solid, rocky soils, in particular more or less friable clay with pebbles.
Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
The overall population numbers appear to be low due to patchy distribution of this species. However, local density reaches 5-7 adults per 4000-5000 m2. Pelobates syriacus is active at night and displays nightly site-fidelity. The burrows are made in the same manner as the Common Spadefoot burrows. The species also uses rodent burrows and holes under stones. In steppes and semideserts, where the summer air temperatures sometimes exceed +40ºC, the spadefoot occurs in deep holes with water, along riverbanks and in oases. It probably spends hot and dry periods in the soil, i.e. aestivation is possible. Droughts lead to mass mortality, which may influence population abundance.
Eastern Spadefoots hibernate in soil, in plant debris, and below tree roots and large rocks. As a rule, they hibernate singly, but sometimes groups of 2-6 individuals are found. Reproduction occurs from February to mid-May, depending on latitude. The toad breeds in stagnant water bodies. During the reproductive period, the male shoulder gland becomes more prominent. The clutch contains about 5500-6500 eggs and is similar in shape to the clutch of P. fuscus. Metamorphosis is completed in summer or in autumn. Many toadlets bury themselves on the pond shores. In some water bodies tadpoles overwinter and complete metamorphosis the following year. Tadpoles consume mainly algae and plant debris. Adults forage on land surface dwellers, including Mollusca, Myriapoda, Aranae, Orthoptera etc.
Trends and Threats
Relation to Humans
Evidently, drainage of breeding ponds and the building of embankments may have negative consequences for its populations. The species does not avoid anthropogenic landscapes if suitable habitats are available.
Bannikov, A. G., Darevsky, I. S. and Rustamov, A. K. (1971). Zemnovodnye i Presmykayushchienya SSSR [Amphibians and Reptiles of the USSR]. Izdatelistvo Misl, Moscow.
Bannikov, A. G., Darevsky, I. S., Ishchenko, V. G., Rustamov, A. K., and Szczerbak, N. N. (1977). Opredelitel Zemnovodnykh i Presmykayushchikhsya Fauny SSSR [Guide to Amphibians and Reptiles of the USSR Fauna]. Prosveshchenie, Moscow.
Basoglu, M. and Ozeti, N. (1973). Turkiye Amphibileri. Ege Univ, Bornova-Izmir.
Gasc, J. P. , Cabela, A., Crnobrnja-Isailovic, J., Dolmen, D., Grossenbacher,K., Haffner, P., Lescure, J., Martens, H., Martinez Rica, J. P.,Maurin, H., Oliveira, M. E., Sofianidou, T. S., Vaith, M., and Zuiderwijk, A. (1997). Atlas of Amphibians and Reptiles in Europe. Societas Europaea Herpetologica and Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris.
Kuzmin, S. L. (1995). Die Amphibien Russlands und angrenzender Gebiete. Westarp Wissenschaften, Magdeburg.
Kuzmin, S. L. (1999). The Amphibians of the Former Soviet Union. Pensoft, Sofia-Moscow.
Leviton, A. E., Anderson, S. C., Adler, K. and Minton S. A. (1992). Handbook to Middle East Amphibians and Reptiles. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Oxford, Ohio.
Nöllert, A. and Nöllert, C. (1992). Die Amphibien Europas. Franckh-Kosmos Verlags-GmbH and Company, Stuttgart.
Tarkhnishvili, D. N. and Gokhelashvili, R. K. (1999). ''The amphibians of the Caucasus.'' Advances in Amphibian Research in the Former Soviet Union, 4, 1-233.
Terent'ev, P. V. and Chernov, S. A (1965). Key to Amphibians and Reptiles [of the USSR]. Israel Program for Scientific Translations, Jerusalem.
Written by Sergius L. Kuzmin (ipe51 AT yahoo.com), Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow
First submitted 1999-10-06
Edited by Meredith J. Mahoney
Feedback or comments about this page.
Citation: AmphibiaWeb: Information on
amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. 2016. Berkeley, California:
(Accessed: Jun 29, 2016).
AmphibiaWeb's policy on data use.
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This paper reports results from a research program assessing pavement response from heavy vehicles. The Technical University of Denmark and The Danish Road Institute cooperated in the research program. To estimate the validity of theoretical values of stress and strain in pavements, stress and strain distributions were measured under two types of loads. One was the rolling truck tires of the Road Testing Machine, and the other was falling weight deflectometer (FWD) loadings. Distributions of stress and strain are explored and mapped in three-dimensional graphs. Some steps are taken in an attempt to test measured response distributions against calculated distributions. The measured responses are: (1) vertical contact stress in the tire/pavement interface, (2) longitudinal and transversal strain at the bottom of the asphalt concrete layer, (3) vertical soil stress, and (4) vertical soil strain.
As temperatures and layer thicknesses in the Road Testing Machine are well known, only Poisson's ratio is estimated for the calculations. The layer's E-values were backcalculated from the FWD load and measured surface deflections. Using the elastic layer theory with backcalculated E-values and the chosen values of Poisson's ratio, values of stress and strain are calculated at the positions of the instruments. FWD load response values are considered the means for in situ calibration of stress cells.
pavement, test, instrumentation, measurements, stress, stress analysis, strain, Denmark, research project
Senior research engineer, Danish Road Institute, National Road Laboratory, Roskilde,
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| 0.90355 | 370 | 2.765625 | 3 |
Profile America — Wednesday, October 26th. One of young America's most ambitious engineering projects opened on this date in 1825 — allowing goods to flow from Lake Erie through New York State to the Hudson River. It was the Erie Canal, 363 miles long, four feet deep and 40 feet wide, with tow paths for mules to pull the barges along.
The super highway of its day, the Erie Canal opened up the Western Frontier and made New York City into the nation's number one port. Today, the canal's importance has shifted to recreation. America's waterways — especially the Mississippi River — carry an increasing amount of freight, totaling close to two and a half billion tons each year. Petroleum products are by far the largest category of freight moved on the water. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau, online at www.census.gov.
Sources: Chase's Calendar of Events 2011, p. 427, 419
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2011, t. 1131
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| 0.930065 | 212 | 3.40625 | 3 |
What is the role of the Attorney General of Canada
The Attorney General of Canada
is the highest-ranking prosecuting officer in Canada
. On the federal level, the Attorney General is also the Minister of Justice. In some of the Canada’s provinces, the attorney general’s office conducts the functions of the Solicitor General’s office as well; but in other provinces
, they are separated and each of them performs different responsibilities.
The post exists since 1867 when the Attorney General of Canada replaced the Attorney General of Canada East and the Attorney General of Canada West. Currently, the Attorney General meets the support and assistance of the Department of Justice of Canada
both in terms of the ongoing government’s initiatives as well as toward the development of new or additional services and programs for the Canadian residents.
Being the chief law officer of the Executive Council, the Attorney General is obliged to see that the public affairs are administered in accordance with the legal regulations in the country
. In other words, his or her duties have been referred to as “judicial-like” and as the “guardian of the rule of law”. The rule of law safeguards individuals, society at large, and the personal liberties of citizens against any arbitrary measures. So, the Attorney General advises the Cabinet in order to ensure that the Cabinet’s actions are legal and constitutionally
valid and that the rule of law is maintained. This type of legal advice, provided by the Attorney General, differs significantly from the Attorney’s General policy advice; while the latter could be disregarded, the former should not.
The Attorney General is also responsible for all
criminal prosecutions in the country. However, some prosecutions are conducted by the provincial Attorney General authorities under the Canadian Criminal Code. The Attorney General may provide the police with some legal advice but should never cause charges to be laid – the ultimate decision is in the hands of the police authorities. The Attorney General has to fulfil his or her criminal prosecution duties independently of any political or government pressure. These duties require fairness of the presentation of cases and does not necessarily result in a conviction. This is a basic criminal law
precept which is not well-understood at times or perceived as just. The office of the Attorney General operates under the 1867 Constitution Act which postulates that provincial legislatures have authority over the administration of justice. The provincial Attorney General may be designated as such or as a minister of justice for the particular province. In some provinces, the post may combine both functions.
The Attorney General has a number of litigation responsibilities as well. They are based on the so called “Crown’s parens patriae authority”. Performing these responsibilities, the Attorney General litigates cases that directly affect the government or government’s agencies, as well as all cases that are of public interest. The Attorney General’s litigation duties are regarded as a constitutional responsibility which include protection of the public interest and public rights in the country.
Another fundamental obligation of the Attorney General of Canada is his responsibility for the administering of the court system
in the province. This sometimes is a very delicate and sensitive matter; so, regarding the principles of judicial independence is of critical importance.
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| 0.965761 | 663 | 3.359375 | 3 |
The present invention relates generally to industrial automation, and more particularly toward a system and method for communicating with automation devices utilizing an animated and interactive human/machine interface (HMI).
Human/machine interfaces (HMIs) or simply user interfaces are important to the successful operation and maintenance of industrial automation devices and equipment. User interfaces provide the essential communication link between operators and automation devices. This link allows operators to, among other things, setup devices, monitor device status during operation, as well as analyze device health. Without such user interfaces, high level industrial automation would be difficult if not impossible to achieve.
- SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Over the years, user interfaces have gone through several changes. At first, user interfaces were simply dumb terminals, which merely displayed text messages to end-users indicative of some process performed by a server or processor associated with an automated device. For instance, a failed device would generate an internal error code representing a determined error which could then be matched to a particular error message and displayed to a user or operator on a display device. Over time, client side processing developed so as to enable a move from a text based interface to a graphical user interface (GUI). This transition shifted some of the processing burden away from the automated device or associated processor toward the client side GUI. These new GUIs vastly improved the ability of users to access information quickly and easily. Unfortunately, these GUIs were not portable in part because of there size and machine dependencies and therefore not a viable option for managing and controlling a plurality of network connected devices. Shortly thereafter, the processing burden shifted back toward devices and away from interfaces with the advent the Internet and web browsers. As a result, developers sought to use web browsers as an interface mechanism. However, browsers merely employ a mark up language that is useful for displaying text and static images over a network (as was the purpose of browsers when they were conceived), but not for dynamic user interfaces. Accordingly there is a need in the art for a browser-based interface that provides users with a rich interactive experience that allows users to quickly and easily access and transfer information to and from automation devices in real-time.
The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
Disclosed herein is a system and method for interacting with automation devices or machines. Automation devices are communicatively coupled with other components and devices such as a data store for centrally storing device data via a network. A user can then communicate proximately or remotely with the automation devices and other associated networked components and devices via a rich, responsive and engaging browser-based interface in order to easily monitor, extract, and/or transmit data to and from automation devices in real time. Such an interface is made possible by extending browser functionality by embedding or incorporating an interactive program and an associated execution engine. The interactive program can comprise, among other things, bindings and a presentation component. Bindings can be specified which bind interactive program variables to automation device data such that the displayed data can be updated in real time and therefore always remain current. The presentation component can then be employed to specify an interactive multimedia context to display and interact with device data. Accordingly, the present invention provides for sophisticated and real time interaction with device data by employing a rich and easy to use browser-based interface.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the invention are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative of various ways in which the invention may be practiced, all of which are intended to be covered by the present invention. Other advantages and novel features of the invention may become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The foregoing and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and the appended drawings described in brief hereinafter.
FIG. 1 a is a block diagram of an industrial automation system in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
FIG. 1 b is a block diagram of an industrial automation system in accordance with an aspect of the subject invention
FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an interface in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating an interactive program in accordance with an aspect of the subject invention.
FIG. 4 is an illustration of an exemplary interface in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an illustration of another exemplary interface in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
FIG. 6 depicts yet another exemplary interface in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
FIG. 7 depicts another exemplary interface to be employed to control a production schedule for particular automated devices in accordance with an aspect of the subjection invention.
FIG. 8 is a flow chart diagram illustrating a methodology for interacting with automation device data in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
FIG. 9 is a flow chart diagram illustrating a methodology for interacting with automation device data in accordance with an aspect of the subject invention.
FIG. 10 is a schematic block diagram illustrating a suitable operating environment in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a sample-computing environment with which the present invention can interact.
The present invention is now described with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein like numerals refer to like elements throughout. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed. Rather, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
As used in this application, the terms “component” and “system” are intended to refer to a computer-related entity, either hardware, a combination of hardware and software, software, or software in execution. For example, a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer. By way of illustration, both an application running on a server and the server can be a component. One or more components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers.
Furthermore, the present invention may be implemented as a method, apparatus, or article of manufacture using standard programming and/or engineering techniques to produce software, firmware, hardware, or any combination thereof. The term “article of manufacture” (or alternatively, “computer program product”) as used herein is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or media. Of course, those skilled in the art will recognize many modifications may be made to this configuration without departing from the scope or spirit of the subject invention.
Turning initially to FIG. 1 a, an industrial automation system 100 a is depicted in accordance with an aspect of the subject invention. System 100 a comprises one or more automation device(s) 110 (AUTOMATION DEVICE1 through AUTOMATION DEVICEN, where N is an integer greater than or equal to one), data storage 120 and interface 130. Automation device(s) 110 can include any on of a plurality of industrial processes and machines such programmable logic controllers (PLCs), pumps providing fluid transport and other processes, fans, conveyor systems, compressors, gear boxes, motion control and detection devices, sensors, screw pumps, and mixers, as well as hydraulic and pneumatic machines driven by motors. Such motors can be combined with other components, such as valves, pumps, furnaces, heaters, chillers, conveyor rollers, fans, compressors, gearboxes, and the like, as well as with appropriate motor drives to form industrial machines and actuators. For example, an electric motor could be combined with a motor drive providing variable electrical power to the motor, as well as with a pump, whereby the motor rotates the pump shaft to create a controllable pumping system. Data storage 120 provides a central storage location for housing data relating to automation device(s) 110 including but not limited to device description, location, and mechanical condition, energy or fuel consumption, completed cycles, horsepower, average RPM, efficiency rating, as well as data from sensors regarding device health and/or performance. According to one aspect of the present invention data storage device 120 comprises a relational database and associated relational database management system as is known in the art (e.g., SQL). However, it should be noted that the subject invention is not so limited. For example, the data can be stored as XML (eXtensible Markup Language) documents or substantially any other format. Interface 130 is operable to connect users with a network of automation devices 110 and/or data storage 120 via a wire (e.g., twisted pair, coaxial cable, optical fiber, Ethernet, USB (Universal Serial Bus), FireWire) or wirelessly (e.g., using IEEE 802.11a and/or IEEE 802.11b standards, Bluetooth technology, satellite). Interface 130 facilitates monitoring, extracting, transmitting, and otherwise interacting with automated device(s) 110 and data associated therewith.
As is shown in FIG. 1 a, a user such as an device operator can connect to data storage 120 and automation devices 110 over a local area network (LAN) utilizing a variety of LAN technologies, including Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), Copper Distributed Data Interface (CDDI), Ethernet/IEEE 802.3, Token Ring/IEEE 802.5, physical connection topologies such as bus, tree, ring, and star, and the like. However, communications between networked devices such as automation devices 110, data storage 120, and interface 130 need not be limited to those devices connected locally to a network. Local networked devices can also communicate to and from remote devices. Turning to FIG. 1 b, system 110 b is depicted which is substantially the same as system 100 a except that a user employs interface 130 to interact with automation devices 110 and data storage 120 remotely over a wide area network (WAN) 140. WANs 140 are communication networks that span a large geographic area (e.g., nationwide, worldwide) and generally consist of the several interconnected local area networks (LANs) and metropolitan area networks (MANs). The largest known WAN 140 known today is the Internet. WAN technologies include, but are not limited to, point-to-point links, circuit switching networks like Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDN) and variations thereon, packet switching networks, T1 networks, and Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL).
Attention is now directed to FIG. 2
where interface 130
is illustrated in further detail. Interface 130
includes an input component 210
, an output component 220
, a browser 230
, an interactive program 232
, and an execution engine 234
. Input component 210
receives input from a user and from other sources such as automation device(s) 110
, and centralized storage 120
. Input received by the input component 210
from a user can come via a touch screen display, a keyboard, a mouse, a stylus, a voice recognition system and the like. Output component 220
provides data for display to a user (e.g., CRT, LCD . . . ) and can also be employed to write data to storage device 120
or issue commands or instructions to automation devices 110
. Browser 230
corresponds to an application program used to facilitate viewing of network data (e.g., Internet Explorer®, Netscape Navigator®). Browser 230
comprises an interactive program 232
and an execution engine 234
. Interactive program 232
can be designed to specify, inter alia, interface functionality and presentation format as described in further detail below. Interactive program 232
can then be embedded into browser 230
using HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language). For example:
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After an interactive program 232
is embedded into the browser it can be executed using execution engine 234
. Execution engine 234
can be in the form of a plugin which can be downloaded and installed to extend browser functionality.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram depicting an interactive program 232 in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. Program 232 can include among other things a binding component 310, variables 320, functions 330 and a presentation component 340. Binding component 310 can be employed to bind program variables to data from outside sources (e.g., data store 120). For instance, data corresponding to an automated device's temperature stored either in automated device memory or in centralized data storage 120 can be bound to a temperature variable 320 in the interactive program. Binding data in this manner enables real-time updates and display of changing data. Functions 330 can also be employed to manipulate received data to produce rich descriptions of automated device status, performance, and health as well as provide the means to create, update, monitor, transmit and extract data from a plurality of sources including but not limited to centralized storage 120 and automated device(s) 110. For example, functions 330 can be employed to monitor a device's temperature and power, compare those values to acceptable values (e.g., provided by a manufacturer via a web service or determined by the function itself), and produce an alert indicating the health status of a device (e.g., excellent, good, poor, dangerous . . . ). Furthermore, it should be appreciated that more complex functions can be executed outside the interactive program and tied therein for example by using binding component 310 to facilitate improved execution time and real-time display. For instance, complex device diagnostic/prognostic analysis utilizing artificial intelligence techniques such as Bayesian networks and the like can be executed by a server (not shown) associated with data store 120 (e.g., upon clicking a button in the interface), the result of such analysis being linked to one or more interactive program variables, which can then be used to display the result. Presentation component 340 can be utilized to specify the manner or format in which device data and other information will be presented, utilized, and otherwise interacted with by a user. Data can be presented in a multimedia fashion to improve the look of the display and the ease of use, for example by integrating, a plethora of colors, images, sounds, animated images, movies and the like. In addition, buttons, check boxes, slider bars, text boxes, hyperlinks and the like can be displayed and used as a mechanism to initiate specific functionality. For example, a button can be provided that when clicked on by a user (e.g., using a mouse) initiates the performance of maintenance on an automated device, or produces a graphical representation of system production. Still further yet, a presentation can be specified as an interactive map of a facility such that a user can point and click to start and stop devices, increase or decrease power, or view information about each device.
According to one aspect of the subject invention, Flash MX by Macromedia, Inc. can be utilized to provide a rich interactive interface for use with automation devices. Flash MX provides a system consisting of a group of software applications for producing interactive programs and a browser plugin (e.g., flash player, shockwave player) for executing such an interactive program from within a browser. Flash, as is known in the art, is widely utilized for developing Internet applications that incorporate full motion video and sound. Applying such technology to visualize live real-time automation data provides benefits not contemplated by the original developers of Flash.
FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary interface 400 in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. Exemplary interface 400 is an asset management maintenance interface. As is illustrated, the interface is divided into three frames or sections 410, 420, and 430. Frame 410 simply provides a section to display the title of the interface—Asset Management Maintenance. Frame 420 provides links 422, 424, and 426 to other web pages and functionality possibly for display in frame 430. Link 422 corresponds to a devices link which can be activated such that a list or map of system devices can be displayed in frame 430 for selection by a user. Link 424 provides a link to set up email such that a user will have easy access to email to notify others of information displayed in the interface or even copy screen shots. Return home link 426 provides an option to return to a homepage as the currently displayed page is at least one level deep in a hierarchy of interface pages. Frame 430 displays the main page selected, which corresponds here to a packager device. Frame 430 comprises two blocks 440 and 450 separating distinct portions of information about the packager device. Block 440 includes device description 441, device location 442, date of last maintenance 443 and current mechanical condition 444. As shown here, device description and device location simply display respective updatable data next to statically displayed text. However, the displayed text could also be links such that upon selection of a link the user is transported to another page of the interface which contains, for instance, more detailed information about the device or a map illustrating the actual location of the device relative to other devices. Also shown here in block 440 is the current mechanical condition of the packager device, which can be determined and displayed in real time, and a perform maintenance button 446. Perform maintenance button 446 provides the user the option and mechanism to initiate a maintenance process or program by simply clicking the button conveniently located below the listed mechanical condition -here Maintenance Due. Block 450 comprises three tables illustrating data with respect to equipment load, fuel consumption and performance. This data can be implemented such that the interactive program providing this display links, binds, or calculates the displayed data in real time. For example, during the time in which a user is perusing the display the data corresponding to the total lifetime cycles completed can be constantly updated as the device completes cycles. Accordingly, the user will always have the most current data available rather than merely a snapshot of the data at a particular time (e.g., when the browser is first opened by a user).
FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary interface 500 in accordance with another aspect of the present invention. Interface 500 could result in response to the initiation of a diagnostic/prognostic procedure via a button, or command line prompt, for example. As shown, the diagnostic/prognostic procedure determined that there was a problem with the conveyer on a particular device. Accordingly, a text box 510 is displayed indicating that the problem concerns conveyer 8. Furthermore, the device 520 associated with conveyer 8 is displayed. Still further yet, the problem conveyer belt is highlighted 530 (e.g., color, hatching, flashing color, sound, or a combination thereof) so that a user can easily identify exactly where the problem lies. If multiple problems are found, multiple areas of the device can be highlighted and/or noted in a text box to indicate each problem area. As problems are resolved, highlighted and noted areas can be removed in real time to indicate to the user that a particular problem has been fixed. In addition, it should be appreciated that if the device image shown is rendered by an interactive program. Therefore, the image can be live and active. For example, by hovering a cursor over portions of the image additional information can be display such as a description of the part or more information about the cause of a problem. Furthermore, the image is interactive in that a user can zoom in and out on particular portions the image using mechanisms such as zoom in button 540, zoom out button 545, and positional arrows 550. According to an aspect of the invention, the execution engine 234 (e.g., flash plugin) provides such interactivity as specified in an interactive program 232. For instance, causing a cursor to hover over a portion of the image can cause the execution engine to request information (e.g. control data, model information . . . ) from a data source (e.g., web page, web service, data storage medium) so as to retrieve information and update the display for example with a text box or bubble 560 containing the retrieved information. Additionally it should be noted that a request by the execution engine can initiate other procedures. For instance, a request for information regarding the health of a motor in device 520 can cause the controller associated therewith to query the motor or initiate a diagnostic testing procedure. The results can then be provided in a file (e.g., XML file) for the execution engine to retrieve the particular requested information.
FIG. 6 depicts yet another exemplary interface 600 in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. Interface 600 illustrates the interactivity of the present invention specifically with respect to graphs and charts. In particular, a user can produce a process history graph 610, for example, in real time from within a browser window 600. For instance, a Y axis (ordinate) can be utilized to indicate the number of units processed (e.g., 0-8291) and an X axis (abscissa) can be utilized to determine the number of units processed throughout a given period of time (e.g., hour, day, month, year). Vertical values 620 and horizontal values 630 can be automatically retrieved via the auto populate mechanism 650 (e.g., from data storage 120) or manually set by entering each value and activating the add value mechanism 640. Furthermore, the user interface 600 further comprises a mechanism 660 that provides a link to additional information (e.g., different type of graph- pie, bar . . . ).
Additionally it should be noted that a similar interface such as interface 700 of FIG. 7 could be employed to provide control, for instance, of a production schedule for particular automated devices. For example, an interactive graph 710 could be provided which controls the output of the machine (e.g., number of products produced). A user could modify the output of a machine by manually entering vertical production values corresponding to number of units to produce at 720 and horizontal time values corresponding, for example, to hours in a day at 730 and then activating mechanism 740 (e.g., by clicking on with a mouse). Additionally or alternatively, a use can click and drag (e.g., using a mouse, stylus . . . ) points 750 on the graph 710 to effectuate changes in a production schedule. The interface can subsequently initiate effectuation of such changes by interpreting the interactive graph 710, by clicking on button 760, for example.
In view of the exemplary systems described supra, a methodology that may be implemented in accordance with the present invention will be better appreciated with reference to the flow charts of FIGS. 8 and 9. While for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methodology is shown and described as a series of blocks, it is to be understood and appreciated that the present invention is not limited by the order of the blocks, as some blocks may, in accordance with the present invention, occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other blocks from what is depicted and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated blocks may be required to implement the methodology in accordance with the present invention.
Additionally, it should be further appreciated that the methodologies disclosed hereinafter and throughout this specification are capable of being stored on an article of manufacture to facilitate transporting and transferring such methodologies to computers. The term article of manufacture, as used, is intended to encompass a computer program accessible from any computer-readable device, carrier, or media.
Turning to FIG. 8, a methodology 800 for interacting with automation device data is illustrated in accordance with an aspect of the present invention. At 810, interactive program components are specified such as variables, bindings, functions, and presentation format. For example, device performance data such as average horsepower, average RPM, and efficiency rating can be bound to program variables of similar names and displayed in table format on a browser page such as in FIG. 4. At 820, the specified interactive program is embedded in a browser, for instance by including embed tags (e.g., <embed> . . . </embed>) and specifying appropriate parameters. Finally, at 830, the interactive program is executed by a browser in conjunction with an execution engine. The execution engine can be a plugin that is downloaded and installed to enhance the functionality of a browser. According to one aspect of the subject invention, the interactive program is a flash program which can be executed within a browser environment utilizing a flash player.
Turning attention to FIG. 9, a methodology 900 for interacting with automation device data is depicted. At 910, a request for information or data is received from within a browser. Such a request can be made be interacting with various mechanisms including but not limited to buttons and sliders or from placing a cursor (e.g., arrow) over a image. The request at 910 then causes an execution engine associated with the browser (e.g., plugin) to retrieve the requested information at 920 from a source such as a web page. Furthermore, it should be noted that the execution engine can cause devices to execute processes to generate or retrieve particular data. At 930, upon receiving the requested information updates the browser. It should also be noted and appreciated that according to an aspect of the invention, this methodology can be completed in real-time such that a user would notice and any significant delay between an request causing action on their part and the information being retrieved and updated in the browser.
In order to provide a context for the various aspects of the invention, FIGS. 10 and 11 as well as the following discussion are intended to provide a brief, general description of a suitable computing environment in which the various aspects of the present invention may be implemented. While the invention has been described above in the general context of computer-executable instructions of a computer program that runs on a computer and/or computers, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention also may be implemented in combination with other program modules. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, components, data structures, etc. that perform particular tasks and/or implement particular abstract data types. Moreover, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the inventive methods may be practiced with other computer system configurations, including single-processor or multiprocessor computer systems, mini-computing devices, mainframe computers, as well as personal computers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, and the like. The illustrated aspects of the invention may also be practiced in distributed computing environments where task are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. However, some, if not all aspects of the invention can be practices on stand alone computers. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be locate in both local and remote memory storage devices.
With reference to FIG. 10, an exemplary environment 1010 for implementing various aspects of the invention includes a computer 1012. The computer 1012 includes a processing unit 1014, a system memory 1016, and a system bus 1018. The system bus 1018 couples system components including, but not limited to, the system memory 1016 to the processing unit 1014. The processing unit 1014 can be any of various available processors. Dual microprocessors and other multiprocessor architectures also can be employed as the processing unit 1014.
The system bus 1018 can be any of several types of bus structure(s) including the memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus or external bus, and/or a local bus using any variety of available bus architectures including, but not limited to, 11-bit bus, Industrial Standard Architecture (ISA), Micro-Channel Architecture (MSA), Extended ISA (EISA), Intelligent Drive Electronics (IDE), VESA Local Bus (VLB), Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI), Universal Serial Bus (USB), Advanced Graphics Port (AGP), Personal Computer Memory Card International Association bus (PCMCIA), and Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI).
The system memory 1016 includes volatile memory 1020 and nonvolatile memory 1022. The basic input/output system (BIOS), containing the basic routines to transfer information between elements within the computer 1012, such as during start-up, is stored in nonvolatile memory 1022. By way of illustration, and not limitation, nonvolatile memory 1022 can include read only memory (ROM), programmable ROM (PROM), electrically programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable ROM (EEPROM), or flash memory. Volatile memory 1020 includes random access memory (RAM), which acts as external cache memory. By way of illustration and not limitation, RAM is available in many forms such as synchronous RAM (SRAM), dynamic RAM (DRAM), synchronous DRAM (SDRAM), double data rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM), enhanced SDRAM (ESDRAM), Synchlink DRAM (SLDRAM), and direct Rambus RAM (DRRAM).
Computer 1012 also includes removable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer storage media. FIG. 10 illustrates, for example disk storage 1024. Disk storage 4124 includes, but is not limited to, devices like a magnetic disk drive, floppy disk drive, tape drive, Jaz drive, Zip drive, LS-100 drive, flash memory card, or memory stick. In addition, disk storage 1024 can include storage media separately or in combination with other storage media including, but not limited to, an optical disk drive such as a compact disk ROM device (CD-ROM), CD recordable drive (CD-R Drive), CD rewritable drive (CD-RW Drive) or a digital versatile disk ROM drive (DVD-ROM). To facilitate connection of the disk storage devices 1024 to the system bus 1018, a removable or non-removable interface is typically used such as interface 1026.
It is to be appreciated that FIG. 10 describes software that acts as an intermediary between users and the basic computer resources described in suitable operating environment 1010. Such software includes an operating system 1028. Operating system 1028, which can be stored on disk storage 1024, acts to control and allocate resources of the computer system 1012. System applications 1030 take advantage of the management of resources by operating system 1028 through program modules 1032 and program data 1034 stored either in system memory 1016 or on disk storage 1024. It is to be appreciated that the present invention can be implemented with various operating systems or combinations of operating systems.
A user enters commands or information into the computer 1012 through input device(s) 1036. Input devices 1036 include, but are not limited to, a pointing device such as a mouse, trackball, stylus, touch pad, keyboard, microphone, joystick, game pad, satellite dish, scanner, TV tuner card, digital camera, digital video camera, web camera, and the like. These and other input devices connect to the processing unit 1014 through the system bus 1018 via interface port(s) 1038. Interface port(s) 1038 include, for example, a serial port, a parallel port, a game port, and a universal serial bus (USB). Output device(s) 1040 use some of the same type of ports as input device(s) 1036. Thus, for example, a USB port may be used to provide input to computer 1012, and to output information from computer 1012 to an output device 1040. Output adapter 1042 is provided to illustrate that there are some output devices 1040 like monitors, speakers, and printers, among other output devices 1040, that require special adapters. The output adapters 1042 include, by way of illustration and not limitation, video and sound cards that provide a means of connection between the output device 1040 and the system bus 1018. It should be noted that other devices and/or systems of devices provide both input and output capabilities such as remote computer(s) 1044.
Computer 1012 can operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as remote computer(s) 1044. The remote computer(s) 1044 can be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a workstation, a microprocessor based appliance, a peer device or other common network node and the like, and typically includes many or all of the elements described relative to computer 1012. For purposes of brevity, only a memory storage device 1046 is illustrated with remote computer(s) 1044. Remote computer(s) 1044 is logically connected to computer 1012 through a network interface 1048 and then physically connected via communication connection 1050. Network interface 1048 encompasses communication networks such as local-area networks (LAN) and wide-area networks (WAN). LAN technologies include Fiber Distributed Data Interface (FDDI), Copper Distributed Data Interface (CDDI), Ethernet/IEEE 802.3, Token Ring/IEEE 802.5 and the like. WAN technologies include, but are not limited to, point-to-point links, circuit switching networks like Integrated Services Digital Networks (ISDN) and variations thereon, packet switching networks, and Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL).
Communication connection(s) 1050 refers to the hardware/software employed to connect the network interface 1048 to the bus 1018. While communication connection 1050 is shown for illustrative clarity inside computer 1012, it can also be external to computer 1012. The hardware/software necessary for connection to the network interface 1048 includes, for exemplary purposes only, internal and external technologies such as, modems including regular telephone grade modems, cable modems and DSL modems, ISDN adapters, and Ethernet cards.
FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of a sample-computing environment 1100 with which the present invention can interact. The system 1100 includes one or more client(s) 1110. The client(s) 1110 can be hardware and/or software (e.g., threads, processes, computing devices). The system 1100 also includes one or more server(s) 1130. The server(s) 1130 can also be hardware and/or software (e.g., threads, processes, computing devices). The servers 1130 can house threads to perform transformations by employing the present invention, for example. One possible communication between a client 1110 and a server 1130 may be in the form of a data packet adapted to be transmitted between two or more computer processes. The system 1100 includes a communication framework 1150 that can be employed to facilitate communications between the client(s) 1110 and the server(s) 1130. The client(s) 1110 are operably connected to one or more client data store(s) 1160 that can be employed to store information local to the client(s) 1110. Similarly, the server(s) 1130 are operably connected to one or more server data store(s) 1140 that can be employed to store information local to the servers 1130.
What has been described above includes examples of the present invention. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the present invention, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the present invention are possible. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
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• Believed to be the oldest structure on the Kenai Peninsula, the cabin once stood on the eroding Kasilof River
By Joseph Robertia
For some youth on summer vacation, constructive activities can be few and far between, particularly literal construction projects. But a small group of local teens worked hard last week to preserve a slice of history of the Kasilof area, and in learning about the past, they also developed skills that may one day help them in the future.
“All the kids are from the local area, so they were excited to be working on this project,” said Ciara Johnson, a Kenai National Wildlife Refuge leader for the Youth Conservation Corps, in regard to the efforts of the eight teens in YCC to restore the roofing tin on a portion of the Watchman’s Cabin, which now resides at the Kasilof Regional Historical Association’s museum grounds on Kalifornsky Beach Road.
Believed to be built sometime between 1882 and 1890, the Watchman’s Cabin is one of the oldest structures on the Kenai Peninsula, and originally stood just above shoreline on the north shore of the mouth of the Kasilof River.
In 2009, after many years of natural erosion and damage from vandalism, the cabin was moved to museum property in order to protect and preserve the structure for future generations. Restoration work has taken place on the cabin annually since the move.
“We’re putting the addition on like it originally was,” said Gary Titus, a historian for the refuge overseeing the work, in regard to a portion of the cabin built sometime later than the original structure was constructed.
“This originally had cannery tin, in pieces that were 14-by-20 inches, and they worked well. It was still good under that tin,” Titus said, but for the restoration they used newly made metal shingles fabricated at Alaska Steel, cut to be the same size as the originals.
The teens in the YCC program worked side by side with Titus and other refuge employees skilled in cabin restoration. They climbed ladders, passed up the metal sheets, measured everything out and pounded nails to fasten the sheets in place.
According to Johnson, a few of the kids arrived with some basic carpentry skills from helping their parents with projects around the house, but the firsthand work on the cabin in which they have been involved has taught them much more about the practical application of building and, specifically, old-time roofing.
“Working with this tin has been a first for all of them,” she said.
Scott Slavik, a refuge backcountry ranger who oversees the YCC program, said the cabin restoration has been a great project for the YCC to support.
“We try to come up with a diverse project base for the kids, so they get an understanding of all we do at the refuge, and part of the commission of the refuge is to assist with community projects such as this, and we’re happy to help due to the scope, complexity and challenge of the work,” he said.
The teens involved shared similar sentiments. Many were unaware of the history of the Kasilof area and enjoyed learning about it as much as using the tools of the trade to restore it.
“What I liked was that I got to restore history with my own hands,” said Cody Whitely.
The cabin work is only a portion of the work the YCC crew will be involved in this summer. The crew started its eight-week season making trail improvements on the Keen Eye trail and cross-country ski trails at the refuge visitor center and worked with Stream Watch program coordinators and volunteers to put up fencing in the Russian River Ferry area to protect recovering vegetation to stabilize the river bank.
The YCC crew has also cleaned up downfall at the Outdoor Education Center down Swanson River Road and made improvements to the nearby Drake-Skookum Lakes Trail, including backpacking approximately four tons of rock and gravel to a site a quarter-mile in to raise sections of trail that passed through low, wet areas.
In the coming weeks, the YCC crew will head into the field, camping and working alongside the refuge trail crew, to cut a new, more-scenic reroute section on the Kenai River Trail, as well as spending a week clearing downfall and overgrown brush from the portage trails in the Swan Lake Canoe System.
Then the crew will spend a couple of days with Dr. Libby Bella, an ecologist at the refuge, to repair moose enclosures for a study that will allow a comparison of vegetation growth with and without moose browsing.
The season will wrap up with another week with the refuge cabin crew working at the Nurses’ Cabin, a historic cabin available for public use on the edge of Tustumena Lake at the end of the Doc Pollard Trail.
With so many weeks of swinging a pickaxe for trail work behind and still ahead of the YCC crew, the week of cabin work was a nice reprieve in addition to a valuable learning experience.
“The feedback from the group was really positive. They enjoyed the roofing work, their interactions with the cabin and Kasilof Historical Society volunteers and many were very interested in the history of the cabins and the people who built them,” Johnson said. “It was a nice break from trail work. They enjoyed using a different tool set from digging and grubbing.”
Comments are closed
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Recycling Thwarted by Lack of Bins, Knowledge
For about half of Americans, recycling starts and ends in the kitchen. A new survey shows that 72 percent of consumers consistently recycle in the home, but only about half do so in rooms beyond the kitchen.
The 2014 Cone Communications Recycling in the Home Survey shows there are several key barriers to expanding recycling in the home, including the lack of room-specific recycling bins and clear product labeling.
Americans are willing to recycle, but good intentions aren’t enough, according to the survey’s authors. They say that not having a recycling bin in each room prevents consumers from recycling more. Nearly one-in-five (17 percent) would recycle more if they had better or more convenient recycling bins throughout the house. The majority (56 percent) of recyclers keeps bins in the kitchen.
Bins aren’t the only roadblock to recycling. Consumers also fault not knowing what products or packaging are recyclable and the amount of space recycling requires as additional factors in favor of tossing recyclables in the trash, the survey revealed.
Of the consumers who do recycle, the majority does so because of a genuine concern for the environment (42 percent). Just 10 percent of Americans recycle solely because it is mandatory in their communities.
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Parasomnias are abnormal behaviours in sleep. These behaviours can be as simple as talking in your sleep, or as severe as violent behaviours in sleep that put the patient and bed partner at risk for injury during sleep. Examples of parasomnias include: Sleep Eating Disorder, Sleep Walking, Night Terrors, Sleep Paralysis, REM Sleep Behaviour Disorder, and Confusional Arousals.
Parasomnias can have substantial negative effects on the patient including excessive daytime sleepiness, poor daytime functioning, disability and serious injury. A clinical evaluation with a physician who has special expertise in sleep medicine and a sleep study may be necessary to diagnose and distinguish these disorders so appropriate treatment can be initiated.
- Do you sleep walk?
- Do you sleep eat?
- Do you wake up confused and violent in your sleep?
- Do you have nightmares that disturb your sleep?
You may have a treatable parasomnia.
Contact our office in Calgary and book a consultation today. You do not need a referral from your family physician.
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|By Emma Daly
Our friend lay in bed, plucking nervously at the gray, bloodstained sheets, her eyes covered by a bandage, her face patterned with glass cuts. “I want to go home,” she said vehemently. “I’m terrified of staying in this building.”
We could understand her concern: the concrete blocks and curved facades of the Kosevo hospital complex in Sarajevo were scarred by shrapnel marks, bullet marks, and shell craters. Two weeks earlier, two patients had been killed when a shell hit their ward. We could hear the sounds of bombardment in the distance, and, suspiciously close to the hospital, the hollow sound of outgoing mortar fire. Hospitals are generally immune from attack under the Geneva Conventions, which grant civilians and civilian objects a high level of theoretical protection in times of war. The siege of Sarajevo, however, made a mockery of the humanitarian ideal that the dangers of war should be limited, as far as possible, to the armed forces engaged in the fighting.
The concept of immunity, the rule that certain people and places should be “protected and respected” during wartime, can be dated back at least to 1582, when a Spanish judge suggested that “intentional killing of innocent persons, for example, women and children, is not allowable in war.” The Geneva Conventions of 1949 confirmed immunity for civilians, hospitals, and medical staff, and the 1977 Additional Protocols to the conventions state: “The civilian population and individual civilians shall enjoy general protection against the dangers arising from military operations.”
The absolute rule is that civilians must not be directly targeted for military attack. Furthermore, some individuals considered especially vulnerable —children under fifteen, the elderly, pregnant women, and mothers of children under seven—are granted special protection and may, for example, be moved to safe zones exempt from attack by agreement of the warring parties. The wounded, sick, or shipwrecked, military personnel who are considered to be hors de combat, are protected, as are prisoners of war.
Hospitals, both fixed and mobile, ambulances, hospital ships, medical aircraft, and medical personnel—whether civilian or military—are also entitled to protection from hostile fire under the Geneva Conventions, provided that structures are marked with a red cross or red crescent and not used improperly or near military objectives, and staff are properly protected. Staff include not only doctors, nurses, and orderlies, but the drivers, cleaners, cooks, crews of hospital ships—in short, all those who help a medical unit to function. Some aid workers—for example, Red Cross volunteers treating the sick and wounded on the battlefield—are also covered, as are military chaplains. Other than hospitals, certain other buildings cannot be attacked. Places of worship and historic monuments are protected, as are civilian structures like schools and other objects that are not being used to support military activities. Under the 1954 Convention on Cultural Property important places of worship, historic sites, works of art, and other cultural treasures are likewise protected from attack.
There are exceptions. A school, for example, becomes a legitimate military target if soldiers are based there. With hospitals, the situation is more complicated since they are permitted to keep armed guards on their grounds. But immunity from attack can be lost if the people or objects are used to commit acts that are harmful to one side in a conflict. If the Bosnian Serbs besieging Sarajevo had concluded that government forces were firing weapons from within the Kosevo hospital complex, they would have had the right to fire back—but only if they had first asked the Bosnian government to stop using the hospital as a shield and had given them a reasonable period to comply.
Causing harm to an innocent person or object is not always illegal. Civilian deaths and damage are allowed as the result of an attack on a military target, but only if the attack is likely to confer a definite military advantage. Damage to people or objects who are in principle deemed to be immune under international humanitarian law must not be excessive in relation to the expected military gain. For example, breaking the windows of a hospital during an attack on an arms dump five hundred meters away would not be illegal since the civilian damage would be far outweighed by the military gain.
But keeping legitimate military targets separate from protected civilian sites is hard to do on the ground. Under international humanitarian law, the parties to a conflict are obliged to separate their military from their civilians as much as possible. But the reality is that this can be difficult. In Sarajevo, for example, the territory under siege was so small that to do so was all but impossible. That said, in Sarajevo, as in many towns across Bosnia-Herzegovina, it seemed clear that the besiegers’ primary target was civilians. That was one of the reasons why Radovan Karadzic and Ratko Mladic, the civilian and military leaders of the secessionist Bosnian Serbs, were charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Tribunal in The Hague.
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2 Answers | Add Yours
Schindler was not a statesman, a politician, or a great military leader, indeed he was not that remarkable a businessman. He did not alter the sweep of World War II. Yet Schindler, though his actions, saved hundreds of Jews from certain death. In doing so, he squandered his own wealth and risked arrest and even possible death. After the war, he was instrumental in helping identify Nazi war criminals. In short, Schindler did as much as anyone could have asked a person in his situation to do, and as the ring his workers presented him said, "He who saves a single life saves the world entire." Schindler is an example of how individuals, acting through their own agency, can make a difference even under the worst of conditions.
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en
| 0.986069 | 187 | 3.484375 | 3 |
How A South Florida Doctor Is Helping Ebola Victims
The World Health Organization has labeled the outbreak of the Ebola virus in Africa a global health emergency, and it's tapping the leading experts to head there to help.
One of them is Dr. Aileen Marty, professor of infectious diseases at Florida International University's Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, and it's not the first time she's been called into similar service.
She's originally from Cuba and a product of both Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Miami and the University of Miami. Below, read a conversation with her about her work with this crisis.
Dr. Marty, however do you prepare for something like this?
I was in the military for 25 years and rapid deployments are not uncommon for me, and the same is true for the deployments I've had in the past for WHO. So I actually keep a suitcase half-packed. Knowing that most of my deployments have been to tropical areas, in my packed luggage I include those incredibly necessary items for those kinds of places, such as mosquito repellent.
What's attracted you to the world of infectious diseases?
There's nothing more fascinating in my mind, if you're, first of all, interested in helping people and second of all, interested in life on planet Earth in general. Because infectious diseases really encompass that total interaction between all the organisms that live on the planet. It isn't just about which ones do us harm, it's also which ones do us good and how we can live with those that can be good and can be bad, depending on circumstances.
What do you think the reasons are [for this outbreak]? Because one would hope that transmission of diseases, and understanding where diseases come from and how people catch them, would improve, not decline.
That's true. ... First of all, it's normally a rare disease. Number two, it's a disease in virtually every other outbreak that has been localized to rural areas -- and in one country -- so the containment in that regard was already easier.
[With] this one, cases actually began that we know of in December of 2013. Wasn't recognized as an Ebola hemorrhagic fever outbreak until February and WHO didn’t even have a chance to step in until late March.
Now you have to deal with three different governments, three different ministries of health, three different concepts of how to manage things and three different socio-political economic situations. And now we know there are cases in Nigeria as well.
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| 0.971964 | 514 | 2.515625 | 3 |
ERIC Number: ED041285
Record Type: RIE
Publication Date: 1970
Reference Count: N/A
Foreign Language Learning; A Psycholinguistic Analysis of the Issues.
Jakobovits, Leon A.
The purpose of this volume is to bring together various materials dealing with the psychological aspects of foreign language learning and bilingualism. The materials have been arranged for the use of persons interested in foreign language "Compensatory Instruction," which involves the notion of adjusting the teaching activities to the needs of individual students. This new "liberal" approach to language teaching regards the student as the most important contributor to the learning process. The teacher, rather than the academic researcher, is best qualified to decide upon the innovations in instructional procedures and materials which are to render foreign language teaching more effective than it presently is. In order to be able to play this role and not relinquish it to others, the teacher must come to have a proper understanding not only of psychological theory and research per se, but of the process whereby psychologists themselves come to formulate these theories. Chapters are: (1) Psycholinguistic Implications for the Teaching of Foreign Languages; (2) Psychological and Physiological Aspects of Foreign Language Learning; (3) Compensatory Foreign Language Instruction; (4) Problems in Assessing Language Proficiency; and (5) Foreign Language Aptitude and Attitude. References and a subject/author index complete the volume. (AMM)
Descriptors: Bilingualism, Individualized Instruction, Language Ability, Language Instruction, Language Proficiency, Linguistic Theory, Motivation, Parent Attitudes, Parent Influence, Psycholinguistics, Questionnaires, Second Language Learning, Student Attitudes, Student Role, Teacher Role, Teaching Methods, Transformational Generative Grammar
Newbury House Publishers, Rowley, Massachusetts 01969 ($5.50)
Publication Type: N/A
Education Level: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
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en
| 0.86473 | 411 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Lichenified means the skin has become thickened and leathery. This often results from continuous rubbing or scratching on an area of skin. Chronic irritation due to conditions such as eczema can cause lichenified skin.
Armstrong CA. Examination of the skin and approach to diagnosing skin diseases. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 462.
Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Medical Director, MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies, University of Washington, School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
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en
| 0.892177 | 154 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Gillian Prue, from the School of Nursing and Midwifery at Queen's University of Belfast, says that the human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is common in men and can lead to genital warts and the development of some head and neck, anal or penile cancers. She says incidence of this has increased in the past two decades with HPV causing 5% of all human cancers.
Since September 2008 a free vaccination has been available for 12-13 year old girls in the UK with a catch up programme for girls up to age 18. Australia, the US, Austria and parts of Canada have introduced a vaccination for both boys and girls.
Dr Prue says HPV related disease in men "is associated with considerable burden" and "vaccinating boys is likely to produce health and economic benefits": a study of 4065 males aged 16-25 found the HPV vaccine to prevent genital warts and penile and anal cancer.
She says that with low uptake in girls the "benefit of vaccinating boys is easily apparent" with a European study showing that vaccination of 12 year old boys being associated with substantial clinical benefits such as reduced incidence of HPV-related genital warts and carcinomas.
Prue says vaccinated boys would be protected against non-vaccinated girls and other men whilst also helping to protect girls. She says the current girls-only vaccination leaves men who have sex with men (MSM) at particular risk but warns that a programme targeted at MSM in the UK may limit benefit "because many MSM acquire HPV as teenagers and many have been exposed to HPV already".
Prue concludes that economic costs are also considerable but any decision "should not be based solely on cost effectiveness" and that public health, equity and the human costs of HPV-related diseases "must be the main consideration".
Authors of a linked editorial also ask "What about the boys?". Professor Stanley, Dr O'Mahony and Dr Barton say they "share the Royal College of Surgeons' disappointment" about the lack of response to concerns about the "inequity of vaccinating only girls against HPV".
They say it is easy to see why the programme was initially targeted at young girls but evidence is now "conclusive that HPV also causes oral cancers" with most cases caused by HPV. They add that an estimated "90% of cases of anal cancer in the UK are also linked to HPV infection".
They support Prue's views on MSM adding, however, that a strategy to just vaccinate these men "would be seen to discriminate against young heterosexual men".
They say the only "sensible" answer is a "gender neutral vaccination strategy in schools" and conclude that "if the price is right, we can't afford not to".
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en
| 0.967201 | 560 | 2.796875 | 3 |
March 14, 2011
Shock and shame: graphic messages increase hand washing compliance
Graphic messages and reminders that use a shock-and-shame approach may get more people to wash their hands, according to a Kansas State University professor and his colleagues.
"Those 'Employees Must Wash Hands' signs in bathrooms may not be the most effective reminder," said Doug Powell, professor of food safety at K-State. "We wanted a comprehensive review of what others had done, and combined this with our own work on food safety messages that lead to behavior change. We weren't interested in self-reported surveys where everyone says they always wash their hands, but studies based on observed increases in hand washing compliance."
Powell worked with Casey Jacob, a former K-State research assistant in the department of diagnostic medicine and pathobiology, and Sarah Wilson, formerly of the University of Guelph. Their review of techniques to improve hand washing behavior was just published in the journal Critical Public Health.
The review was conducted as background for several ongoing experiments involving Powell and colleagues to increase hand washing rates in cafeterias, restaurants, hospitals, veterinary clinics and petting zoos. The team has previously designed hand washing campaigns at K-State involving both shock and shame.
"Social pressure, or shame, has been successfully used, especially within an entire organization," Powell said. "If you were in the bathroom at a restaurant and saw an employee not washing his or her hands, would you say, 'Dude, wash your hands?' The shock approach is designed to get people to 'be the bug' -- just for a moment -- and think about where their hands have been and where they are going to be, especially when around hospitals, food service or animals. Dangerous microorganisms move around a lot."
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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en
| 0.976578 | 365 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Historically, southern Canada to northern Mexico
Short- and middle-grass prairies
Primarily prairie dogs but also mice and other small rodents
Litters range from one to six young
Solitary except during the breeding season
Black-footed ferrets are endangered. Their small populations in the wild are the result of reintroduction efforts. With the loss of 98 percent of prairie dog habitat, which ferrets depend upon, they neared total extinction in the 1980s. In 1985, only 18 ferrets remained. Thanks to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Zoo's Conservation Research Center (CRC), and other agencies and zoos, ferrets are being bred in captivity and returned to the wild.
Ferrets are induced ovulators, which means they do not ovulate until they breed. When CRC staff artificially inseminate them, they give the ferrets a hormone injection the day before to induce ovulation. Ovulation usually results in a pregnancy or a pseudo (false) pregnancy.
As with giant pandas, their hormone levels change as if they were pregnant, whether or not they are. Also, their appetite will increase, they will gain weight, and show other changes in behavior. So staff are not sure which ferrets are pregnant until they give birth or their behavior returns to normal.
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http://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/smallmammals/fact-ferret.cfm
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en
| 0.940228 | 281 | 3.71875 | 4 |
Q. It seems that the Church posits man has a “right to private property.” How does this mesh with the fact that Jesus never owned property and taught his disciples to “take nothing for the journey” (Lk 9:3) as they were sent to proclaim the word of God?
A. Here’s a reply from Father Reginald Martin:
In his encyclical Mater et Magistra, Pope John XXIII reaffirmed the Church’s teaching on private property. It is based on Scripture and Tradition and is synthesized by St. Thomas Aquinas, who taught we work harder for what is ours, and that life is more orderly and peaceful when we are responsible for our own possessions. Nonetheless, the right to ownership is not absolute; it comes with social obligations, and St. Thomas taught, “The common interest is to be preferred to private good.”
How does this square with Jesus’ command to sell all, and to take nothing for the journey? In his book on the consecrated life “And You Are Christ’s,” Father Thomas Dubay compares virginity and poverty. “What is most highly praised is a perfect chastity and a factual poverty, both embraced for the kingdom … [these] refer to a deepened sense of being, of total availability to the Lord’s person and his enterprise, of a being sensitized to the new creation.”
The important word here is “most.” This is not a judgment against the holiness of those who marry or own property, simply a statement that marriage and ownership are inferior to poverty and virginity as means to an end.
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en
| 0.971266 | 352 | 2.796875 | 3 |
Marathon runners and sprinters both use the same muscles to run a race, yet the two sports are completely different from one another in terms of training, energy production and performance. Thanks to a combination of training and genetics, elite marathoners and sprinters have distinct body types that help them excel at their sport, giving each a different physical appearance.
Energy Pathways and Training Outcomes
Your muscle cells are capable of converting nutrients into energy both in the absence of and in the presence of oxygen. The pathway and fuel you use for energy depends on the demands placed on your muscles and the type of muscle fibers recruited to get the job done. Short high-intensity bursts of activity like sprinting that last only a few seconds rely on anaerobic energy fueled by glucose and produced in type II fast twitch muscle fibers. Long-duration exercise like marathon running lasting several minutes to several hours uses aerobic energy supplied by type I slow-twitch fibers and fueled by the breakdown of glucose and fat.
Mass in Motion
Because a training adaptation of type II fiber is muscle hypertrophy, or growth, sprinters have higher lean mass, and appear more muscular than marathoners. Elite sprinters train all year round, with about one third of their off-season training time devoted to resistance training, according to the Australian Institute of Athletics. In addition to strength, off-season training sessions focus on technique, with plenty of track and drill work. During the performance season, emphasis is placed on quality track sessions with long recovery periods between efforts. Sprinters have low body fat with strong, muscular bodies that give them optimal power-to-weight ratios.
Light on Your Feet
The same mass that provides speed and momentum for a sprinter can be a hindrance to a marathoner, wasting energy, increasing impact shock, and slowing you down. A 2007 study of elite Olympic-class marathoners published in the "International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance" found that marathoners tend to be of average height, but lower weight and lower body fat than the average American. Muscle mass is concentrated in the lower body, and training is primarily focused on low-intensity long-distance running at paces below race speed.
Nutrition plays a critical role in athletic training and performance, and both sprinters and marathoners need carbohydrates for energy. Distance running coach Frank Horwill tells marathoners to eat moderate-sized meals every four hours, on the dot, concentrating on low-glycemic carbohydrates like beans, sweet potatoes, apples oranges and whole grains. Three hours before a race and within 30 minutes after, he suggests high-glycemic carbs like sugars, bananas raisins and refined grains that get into the bloodstream quickly for immediate energy. Sprinters need to consume enough carbs to fuel training and performance needs, but not as many as endurance athletes, according to the Australian Institute of Sport. Before an event, sprinters should eat just enough to avoid hunger without creating the digestive discomfort of a full stomach that could interfere with performance.
- Digital Vision/Digital Vision/Getty Images
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| 0.938316 | 619 | 3.46875 | 3 |
As the United Nations celebrates ‘Youth’ in August, it draws attention to “Youth and Mental Health” through a series of events around the world.
The UN hopes that with understanding and support, youth with mental health problems can make a contribution to the world’s “collective future,” wrote Ban Ki-moon, the UN secretary general, in a recent statement.
Twenty percent of the world’s youth population between 14 and 24 suffer from mental health conditions every year, according to the recent UN report “Social Inclusion of Youth with Mental Health Conditions”. Between 85-89% of this age group lives in low-income countries, which lack a “quality” mental health system.
In their transition from childhood to adulthood, youth are most vulnerable to mental health problems due to psychological and emotional changes that happen during this period, according to the report.
Youth lack the problem solving abilities and cognitive ability needed to effectively deal with stressors, said Mona Amer, associate professor of psychology at The American University in Cairo. The lack of these abilities leaves youth vulnerable to psychological disorders as depression, anxiety and other trauma related disorders.
“We cannot make a blanket claim that youth suffer mental problems more than adults,” she said. “But they might not be able to articulate their problems as adults.”
Youth can experience symptoms differently than those experienced by adults with mental diseases. Some diseases, such as depression, can be manifested in teenagers as irritability or other behavioural problems that adults might not recognise, she said.
“Parents will see their son a troublemaker, not suffering from depression.”
Despite the dire need for support for young mental patients, mental health care is not “accessible” for Egyptian youth, she said.
No beds in mental hospitals in Egypt are reserved for children and adolescents only, according to a report published by the World Health Organisation in 2006. While 97% of schools in Egypt have a health professional, only 1% of these professionals are trained in mental health.
“Health professionals don’t receive much training in mental health,” Amer said, “they might not be able to recognise problems.”
In societies suffering from major stressors, such as conflict or socioeconomic difficulties, adults might not be able to offer help to youth, she said.
“They are so much preoccupied with their own mental problems,” she said.
Mental health conditions in this age can significantly affect overall quality of life on the long term, the report said.
Unipolar depressive disorders and schizophrenia are the main causes of disability-adjusted years (DALY) in youth, a measure used to give an indication of overall burden of disease, according to the report. In adults, the main causes of DALYs are ischemic heart diseases and respiratory infections.
In the stage of “identity formation”, mental health conditions can also affect the development of relationships with peers, parents, teachers, and romantic partners, according to the report. Other effects include behavioural health risks such as unsafe sexual behaviour, substance abuse and violence.
Youth with mental health conditions, consequently, enter a “negative cycle of poverty and social exclusion.”
“The social stigma associated with mental illness affects people of all ages,” said Amer, “but some people are under the impression that youth cannot get mental health problems.”
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en
| 0.946691 | 722 | 3.375 | 3 |
The European Commission is close to approving the first gene therapy in the Western world, according to the New York Times.
The treatment, called Glybera and developed by the Dutch company uniQure, treats a rare condition in which people are unable to break down fat-carrying molecules.
Gene therapy is one way that I imagine patients of the future might be cured of eczema. Glybera gives us a peek into how that might happen.
In gene therapy, doctors replace a patient’s faulty gene with a good one. The large protein filaggrin is currently the best candidate for eczema gene therapy. Several studies have linked filaggrin mutations to a higher risk of developing eczema.
Filaggrin gene therapy would have to be applied early in life. This is because in our current understanding, eczema is caused by a skin barrier defect that allows allergies to develop after a critical time window. Filaggrin mutations cause a faulty skin barrier. So you’d have to fix filaggrin early, because waiting too long would allow allergies to develop, after which fixing filaggrin solves only half the problem.
Glybera is a biotherapeutic, a gene (length of DNA) that is attached to a well-characterized and benign virus. Doctors will inject Glybera into leg muscles, where the virus infects cells and incorporates itself and the therapeutic gene into the patient's DNA—but only in leg muscle cells, presumably because Glybera gets absorbed locally. Then the patients will be able to break down the fat-carrying molecules, and their blood will no longer be overloaded with fat.
A biotherapeutic for eczema would likely be an intact filaggrin gene incorporated into a similar virus.
Gene therapy for the skin would have to be restricted to skin cells. You could accomplish this with a topical cream or ointment applied in the clinic. I'm guessing you would want to treat your whole skin, not just spots that were flaring up at the time.
How long will it last? The effects of Glybera apparently last for years, probably because muscle cells live a long time. Skin cells are a different matter—they are turning over continually. This could turn out to make gene therapy for skin conditions near-impossible.
But perhaps you could take regular doses—pills or injections—of a gene therapy that includes a genetic switch that turns on only in skin cells.
The critical early window for developing allergies in eczema patients could turn out to be a bonus in disguise. Maybe filaggrin gene therapy would only be required during a window of a few years, after which it could be discontinued and allergies would never develop.
Obviously extensive clinical trials for safety would be necessary. I could imagine this type of therapy becoming available within two decades. My grandchildren could be among the first to benefit.
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| 0.95235 | 605 | 3.125 | 3 |
Those of us who are on a health conscious path are totally aware that eating lots of raw living plant foods and exercising daily will lead to a long, healthy life.
But what about other lifestyle factors we can adjust toward health goals for the new year?
There are many easy things we can do that are equally as important as what we eat. Walking barefoot or using a corded phone instead of a cordless one or going braless will all support a healthy lifestyle. The results of practicing these simple life changes will range from stress reduction to prevention of cancer, heart disease and other signs of aging.
Rather than medicate diseases, infections and learning difficulties, the approach of eliminating toxic practices will in turn cause health problems to vanish. It makes sense to tweak our daily lives in a way that supports the foundation of our health, focusing on aspects of living that are more natural and inexpensive, and without side effects.
Today we are bombarded with radiation through the use of cell phones and Wi-Fi. A resolution could involve getting rid of cordless phones and turning off the Wi-Fi. Cell phones should not be kept in pockets and TV sets should not be kept in bedrooms. These devices emit huge amounts of radiation which cause disturbances in our sleep patterns and cause inflammation and disease in our bodies. The explosion of cell phone usage around the globe is most likely a cause of numerous diseases, including cancer, autism and insomnia.
Dr. Joseph Mercola points out, “All of the following ailments have been scientifically linked to information-carrying radio waves: fatigue, headaches, sleep disruptions, altered memory function, poor concentration and spatial awareness, Alzheimer’s, senility and dementia, Parkinson’s, autism, and cancer. Children should NOT use cell phones because they have developing nervous systems and thinner skulls than adults, making them especially vulnerable to this type of damage.”
Dr. Stephen Sinatra, co-author of Earthing, calls Wi-Fi signals “the new coronary risk factor” and warns, “Be aware that if you are on a computer at home on Wi-Fi, that is toxic to your body.” Also, Sinatra says his research shows that “men who put a cell phone in a pocket experience a reduction in testosterone within four hours.”
According to the book Earthing, “Humans, as all other living beings, are electrical creatures on an electrical planet, and the ground beneath us is more than something we just stand, walk, play, and build on.” Sinatra recommends plugging into Earth’s healing energies. Because we don’t walk barefoot or sleep on the ground like our ancestors did, we don’t benefit from these powerful healing energies. So what are some simple practical tips for the new year? Go barefoot whenever possible and travel to a warm climate during the winter months to reap the health benefits of physical contact with living things as grass, trees and earth.
Many raw foodists seem mainly concerned with healthy eating but often ignore these simple adjustments in the radiation factor and the bodily harm caused by unnatural lifestyles. These sources of harm are easy to change and will create life-long positive effects on health.
In Dressed to Kill: The Link between Bras and Breast Cancer, authors Sydney Ross Singer and Soma Grismaijer report “women who wore bras more than 12 hours per day had a breast cancer risk 125 times that of women who never wore bras. The snug fitting bra inhibits the proper functioning of the lymphatic system.” A practical solution would be for a woman to wear a bra as little as possible. If it’s occasionally necessary to wear a bra, wear one without wires. Regular breast massage is also helpful.
In civilized society, we experience stress in many areas of our lives. In a study on “Stress and Aging,” chronically stressed people were found to be biologically from 9 to 17 years older than they realized. This study, done by the University of California, San Francisco, and published in The Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, showed chronic psychological stress may lead to chromosome changes that can cause premature aging. Practicing deep breathing helps to decrease stress. Just three deep breaths can reduce tension.
Following is a simple deep breathing practice: Inhale slowly, letting your stomach rise for five seconds. Hold, and exhale slowly for five seconds. Practice five times each day for a total of five minutes.
These are only a few of the prescriptions for simple daily changes that can have profound effects on health now and into the future. Along with delicious living through the raw food lifestyle, they make good sense as easy resolutions to bring in the new year.
Karen Ranzi is an author, speaker, raw food consultant, raw food chef and speech/language pathologist who has promoted a raw vegan lifestyle for two decades. She authored and published Creating Healthy Children: Through Attachment Parenting and Raw Foods in 2010 and will be publishing her second book, Raw Food Fun for Families: quick recipes and tips for healthy living, in 2013. To receive Karen’s recipes, tips and well-researched articles, sign up for her free newletter at http://superhealthychildren.com
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en
| 0.944204 | 1,080 | 2.78125 | 3 |
of the month
If you have trouble viewing these PDF (portable document
format) files, download a copy of the
free Adobe Reader.
sunflower, Mirasol, Marigold of Peru
Sunflowers have nodding
daisylike blossoms, 2 to 10 or more inches in diameter
(depending on cultivar), with ray flowers (“petals”) surrounding
central disks comprising hundreds of tiny yellow, brown, green
or deep purple flowers. Some varieties (e.g., ‘Teddy Bear’)
appear to not have any disk flowers. Ray-flower length and
quantity, and disk diameter, vary among cultivars.
Stem lengths generally range from 2 to 5 feet. Sunflowers
typically have a single bloom per stem, but they also can be
branched, with several blossoms per stem.
More than 60 varieties of sunflowers are available today as cut
flowers. Natural hues include yellows, from pale lemon yellow to
bright golden yellow; bronzes; browns; reddish-browns; oranges;
creams; and bicolors. Stem-dyed sunflowers (reds and oranges)
have grown in popularity in the last few years.
Sunflowers typically offer five to 14 days of vase life,
depending on cultivar, environment and care.
Available year-round, sunflower production peaks from June
through October. Some varieties, especially novelties, are
available only during the peak months.
Remove sunflowers from the
shipping boxes immediately upon their arrival
(they are highly
susceptible to water stress). Next remove any packaging and stem
bindings as well as any leaves that would be under water in
storage containers. Because
sunflowers are often field grown and
have “hairy” stems, they capture debris, so rinse
tepid running water.
Recut stems with a sharp blade, removing at least 1 inch of
stem. Immediately dip or
place stem ends into a hydration
solution (particularly important with sunflowers), then
them into clean, disinfected containers half filled with warm
(100 F to 110 F),
properly proportioned flower-food solution.
After processing, place sunflowers into a floral cooler at 33 F
to 35 F, and allow them to hydrate for at least two hours before
using or selling.
Some cultivars of sunflowers are sensitive to ethylene gas, but
many are not affected. To be safe, make sure your purchases
are treated with an ethylene
inhibitor at the grower level or during transportation, and
keep them away from sources of
ethylene (fruit, cigarette smoke and vehicle exhaust).
Recut stems, wash containers and change flower-food solution
day to prevent bacteria buildup and keep nutrient solution
flowing up the stems.
somewhat geotropic (affected by gravity), so store them as
possible, particularly at room temperatures, so their heads
won’t nod even more.
Advise customers to recut the stems and change the vase solution
every other day.
WHAT’S IN A NAME
The genus name Helianthus is derived from the Greek
helios, meaning “sun,” and anthos, meaning “flower,”
reflecting these flowers’ heliotropic nature of turning
toward and following the sun. The specific epithet annuus
means “annual,” referring to the plant’s one-year life
is a member of the Asteraceae/Compositae
family. Close relatives include chrysanthemums, Gerberas,
Dahlias, Zinnias, Asters, marigolds,
bachelor’s buttons and black-eyed Susans.
HOME SWEET HOME
Sunflowers are native to the Americas, from southern Canada
to South America. Evidence indicates that they were first
domesticated in Mexico.
Look for fully open blooms, but watch that the centers (disk
flowers) are not showing any pollen.
Check stems for rot, slime or bruises.
Watch for yellow, wilted, dried out or otherwise aging
leaves. Leaf health is a critical indicator of sunflower
longevity—more so than bloom quality.
Some information provided by:
Chain of Life Network® ,
Firefly Dictionary of Plant Names, The: Common & Botanical,
by Harold Bagust
Hortus Third, by Liberty Hyde Bailey and Ethel Zoe Bailey
SAF Flower & Plant Care,
by Terril A Nell, Ph.D. and Michael S. Reid, Ph.D.
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| 0.869319 | 1,013 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Phosphorus - P
Chemical properties of phosphorus - Health effects of phosphorus - Environmental effects of phosphorus
Phosphorous is a multivalent nonmetal of the nitrogen group. It is found in nature in several allotropic forms, and is an essential element for the life of organisms.
There are several forms of phosphorous, called white, red and black phosphorous, although the their colours are more likely to be slightly different. White phosphorous is the one manufactured industrial; it glows in the dark, is spontaneously flammable when exposed to air and is deadly poison. Red phosphorous can vary in colour from orange to purple, due to slight variations in its chemical structure. The third form, black phosphorous, is made under high pressure, looks like graphite and, like graphite, has the ability to conduct electricity.
Concentrated phosphoric acids are used in fertilizers for agriculture and farm production. Phosphates are used for special glasses, sodium lamps, in steel production, in military applications (incendiary bombs, smoke screenings etc.), and in other applications as: pyrotechnics, pesticides, toothpaste, detergents.
Phosphorous in the environment
In the natural world phosphorous is never encountered in its pure form, but only as phosphates, which consists of a phosphorous atom bonded to four oxygen atoms. This can exists as the negatively charged phosphate ion (PO43-), which is how it occurs in minerals, or as organophosphates in which there are organic molecules attached to one, two or three of the oxygen atoms.
The amount of phosphorous that is naturally present in food varies considerably but can be as high as 370 mg/100 g in liver, or can be low, as in vegetable oils. Foods rich in phosphorous include tuna, salmon, sardines, liver, turkey, chicken, eggs and cheese (200 g/100 g).
There are many phosphate minerals, the most abundant being forms of apatite. Fluoroapatite provides the most extensively mined deposits. The chief mining areas are Russia, USA, Morocco, Tunisia, Togo and Nauru. World production is 153 million tones per year. There are concerns over how long these phosphorous deposits will last. In case of depletion there could be a serious problem for the worlds food production since phosphorus is such an essential ingredient in fertilizers.
In the oceans, the concentration of phosphates is very low, particularly at the surface. The reason lies partly within the insolubility of aluminum and calcium phosphates, but in any case in the oceans phosphate is quickly used up and falls into the deep as organic debris. There can be more phosphate in rivers and lakes, resulting in excessive algae growth. For further details go to environmental effects of phosphorous.
Back to the periodic table of elements.
For more information on phosphorus' place in the environment, move to the phosphorus cycle.
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| 0.94359 | 598 | 3.546875 | 4 |
why are more mitochondria found in muscle and brain cells than in skin or fat cells?
kgb answers » Health & Body » Human Body » why are more mitochondria found in muscle and brain cells than in skin or fat cells?
Thursday, February 02 2012
- Would muscle cells or fat cells contain more mitochondria? why? Lizethh.
- Do pills store in muscle cells nerve cells or fat cells
- What does the mitochondria do for a cell?
- Plants have cells that contain chlorplasts. Why must their cells contain mitochondria as well?
- Do plant cells contain mitochondria?
Top 10 questions Human Body
- How much does the human hand weigh?
- calculate the average number of red blood cells for every 100 white blood cells in the human body
- The brains interpretation of sensory stimuli is called?
- What four body functions help maintain homeostasis?
- What part of the stomach acts as temporary storage?
- What is the average length of a human neck?
- What are ridges of tissue on the surface of the cerebral hemisphere called?
- What types of information do the occipital lobe and the temperol lobe process?
- A change in the chromosome structure caused by radiation chemicals pollutants or during replication is a?
- When you see glycerinated muscle shorten, what is happening microscopically?
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| 0.884751 | 284 | 3.203125 | 3 |
Nutrition plays a major role in order to control obesity in individuals. Intake of a healthy diet ia very important to reduce obesity. There are several fat burning foods, which should be taken in order to fight against obesity. This means healthy diet is a great factor to be taken care by obese indivuiduals.
In addition to various weight loss methods, there is another way to burn extra fat inside our body. This is consumption of fat burning foods. A number of fat burning foods are recommended to be consumed in a regular diet. The diet includes high fiber food materials. It includes red pepper, whole grains, low fat dairy products, lean meats, green tea, etc.
Related Journals of Fat Burning Foods
Obesity and Eating Disorders, Childhood Obesity, Yoga & Physical Therapy, Surgery: Current Research, Advances in Weight Loss Management & Medical Devices, Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases, Surgery, Surgical Endoscopy, Surgical Laparoscopy, Endoscopy and Percutaneous Techniques, Surgery Today, Obesity, Obesity Reviews.
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| 0.934273 | 215 | 2.90625 | 3 |
Tobacco Active and Passive Smoking
5. What is passive smoking?
Passive (or involuntary) smoking is exposure to secondhand smoke, also called “environmental” tobacco smoke. Such smoke is a mixture of smoke exhaled by smokers and smoke released from the smouldering cigarettes, cigars, pipes, bidis, etc.
Secondhand tobacco smoke consists of both gases and particulates, which change as they get diluted and distributed in the environment and with time. The quantity of secondhand smoke inhaled involuntarily varies and its composition depends on smoking patterns and cigarette type. Concentrations in air may be elevated substantially in enclosed spaces.
Secondhand smoke contains nicotine, as well as various carcinogens and toxins. Nicotine concentrations in the air in workplaces where smoking is permitted and in homes of smokers range on average from 2 to 10 µg/m3. More...
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| 0.962621 | 180 | 3.34375 | 3 |
Design, The Design Process, and Design Education
A Framework for Youth Education at the National Building Museum
Also of Interest
You Might Also Like
Youth education programs at the National Building Museum inspire students to examine the people, processes, and materials that create buildings, places, and structures. The Museum uses the design process as an educational model that requires young people to identify problems or needs, imagine solutions, test them before building a suitable design, and evaluate the product. Learning by doing is central to design education. After engaging in hands-on activities that stimulate exploration of the built environment, students gain a fresh perspective on their surroundings and begin to understand how design decisions can have an impact on the environment.
Most people recognize that the aesthetic and functional details of a building or the layout of a printed advertisement result from a creative process called design, but fewer people realize that design does not necessarily entail a visual component or even a tangible product. For example, a design can symbolize the organization of a team of workers or represent a plan for navigating one’s way home during rush-hour traffic.
Design as a Process
The act of design can be defined as a purposeful and creative process for developing solutions for defined needs and audiences.
- Design fulfills a need or a purpose and is carried out purposefully. Thus, it is not random or arbitrary.
- Design is creative because it involves the development of something new, different, or improved. Design is also creative because it embodies an aesthetic component, be it the visual appeal of the Washington Monument or the organizational elegance of a workflow system.
- Design is practical because it provides a solution to a perceived problem or need. The solution is not predetermined; indeed, there can be more than one viable solution or design.
- Design should respond to a particular audience or audiences. For example, a chair that is designed for a child will likely differ in form and style from a chair designed for an older person.
The process of design consists of several actions, which are listed below. Evaluating the result of each action is critical throughout the design process in order to ensure that subsequent actions are appropriate and practical.
Define a problem or need.
Investigate the circumstances surrounding the problem.
Imagine potential solutions are.
Plan a feasible solution, often in the form of a model or prototype.
Produce a final solution, typically reflecting certain limitations or constraints
(e.g., money, time, materials).
Evaluate the end product, possibly leading to a cycle of design revisions.
It is important to note that the design process is not linear, and actions do not always proceed sequentially. In fact, the phases of the design process often alternate back and forth and may repeat themselves before arriving at a final product. Design is a constantly shifting, fluid process.
Design education involves both the product and the process of design. It teaches about design through a problem-based approach in which the design process is the primary learning tool. Design education closely correlates to real-life learning since it integrates information with experience, links learning to living, emphasizes thinking, and promotes socialization and cooperation. Students are encouraged to become team-oriented, creative problem solvers and designers who are flexible and seek their own solutions to problems using a variety of activities and resource materials. Through the process of designing, students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills necessary for both effective design and life in general.
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en
| 0.940901 | 705 | 4.0625 | 4 |
|Geographic location:||Russia, China, Japan|
|Number of Languages:||23|
|Number of Genetic Units:||9|
|Genetic Index:||.391 (very high)|
|Endangerment Index:||2.1 (very high)|
|Research Index:||2.24 (low)|
Like the Central Siberia hotspot, the Eastern Siberia hotspot contains few languages compared to other hotspots. However, it holds ten genetic units, with very few living languages in most of the genetic units. It is notable, therefore, for its genetic diversity, and for its extreme endangerment. Many Siberian languages have been lost in the last few generations due to government policies that force speakers of minority languages to use the national language, and many living languages in the area have only a few elderly speakers.
One language in this area is Mednyj Aleut, also called Copper Island Aleut. This language is a puzzle for linguists attempting to classify languages. Most languages are descended from one parent language. Mednyj Aleut is a mixed language - it has two parents. The first speakers of this language were children who had one Russian parent and one Aleut parent. The language they created and passed on is mostly like Aleut, but with Russian verb endings and many Russian words mixed in the vocabulary.
Languages and genetic units in this hotspot:
Click here to show/hide list of genetic units (10)
- Mixed Langauge (Aleut-Russian)
Click here to show/hide list of languages (23)
- Kolyma Yukaghir
- Mednyj Aleut
- Tundra Yukaghir
- Yupik, Naukan
- Sakhalin Nivkh
- Amur Nivkh
- Yupik, Siberian
Endangered languages include:
- Alutor (< under 200 speakers, Chukchi-Koryak, spoken in Russia)
- Orok (< 50 speakers, Tungusic, spoken in Russia)
- Yukaghir (< 100 speakers, isolate, spoken in Russia)
Some features of languages include:
- extreme polysynthetic word structure
- elaborate case systems
- word-initial velar nasal (ng)
- vowel harmony
Aimerpok means 'to visit and expect food' in Aleut (America and Russia, 500 speakers)
Adding the suffix m to a noun that can have a smell creates a verb "to smell of x"; on a noun that has a taste, it means to taste like x; for a body part, it means to feel pain in that part; for animate nouns, it means to feel love for that entity in Evenki (China, Russia and Mongolia, 29,000 speakers).
The Yukaghir people (Siberia, 30-150 speakers) traditionally measured time with a unit called 'the kettle boiled,' about an hour long. A longer interval was called 'the frozen kettle boiled,' which took about 90 minutes.
Nivkh (< 300 speakers, Siberia) has 26 number classifiers , each for a specific object or class of objects. Nineteen of their classifiers apply only to a specific object: boats, sleds, fishing nets, skis, finger widths used to measure the thickness of animal fat, and batches of dried fish. Six other classifiers apply to kinds of objects such as: come in pairs (eyes, ears, boots, mittens), small and roundish (nuts, bullets, berries) or thin and flat (leaves, blankets, shirts). There is a twenty-seventh classifier for objects that don't fit into any other class.
on Copper Island Aleut: Thomason, Sarah. 2001. Language Contact: an Introduction. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press.
Watanabe, Hitosh. 1973. The Ainu Ecosystem. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
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| 0.875815 | 815 | 3.515625 | 4 |
(Medical Xpress)—A study funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and published in Brain today found that administering methylphenidate (more commonly known as Ritalin) to healthy volunteers, as well as those who exhibit symptoms of ADHD as adults, led to similar increases of the chemical dopamine in their brain. Both groups also had equivalent level of improvements caused by the drug when they then carried out tests of their ability to concentrate and pay attention.
This double-blind study, which was carried out by researchers at the University of Cambridge MRC/Wellcome Trust Behavioural and Clinical Neuroscience Institute (BCNI), therefore questions previous suggestions that ADHD is the result of fundamental abnormalities in dopamine transmission, and suggests that the main cause of the disorder may lie instead in structural differences in the grey matter in the brain.
This landmark study could significantly improve understanding of how ADHD is caused and help inform the development of treatments in the future.
Dopamine is a crucial chemical for concentration or sustained attention, working memory and motivational processes in the brain and acts as a chemical transmitter between brain cells by combining with specialised receptors on nerve cells. Ritalin works by increasing the levels of this chemical which binds to the receptors and increases the flow of communication between these cells.
By combining positron emission tomography (PET) imaging techniques to measure dopamine receptors with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), the researchers were able to measure how Ritalin affects dopamine in patients with ADHD and patients unaffected by the illness. Both groups were given either a dose of Ritalin or a placebo pill. They then analysed the results of tasks which tested their ability to concentrate and pay attention over a period of time.
Patients with ADHD showed significant impairments in attentional performance compared with healthy controls; interestingly Ritalin also improved performance in the patients and in some healthy controls as well. However, dopamine receptor levels in an area of the brain called the striatum were similar in the two groups and the effects of Ritalin on dopamine levels in the two groups were also equivalent.
Professor Barbara Sahakian who led the study at the BCNI said: "We feel these results are extremely important since they show that people who have poor concentration improve with methylphenidate(Ritalin) treatment whether they have a diagnosis of adult ADHD or not. These novel findings demonstrate that poor performers, including healthy volunteers, were helped by the treatment and this was related to increases in dopamine in the brain in an area of the striatum called the caudate nucleus."
Professor Trevor Robbins, co-author and Director of the BCNI, said: "These findings question the previously accepted view of major abnormalities in dopamine function as the main cause of adult ADHD patients. While the results show that Ritalin has a 'therapeutic' effect to improve performance it does not appear to be related to fundamental underlying impairments in the dopamine system in ADHD."
Explore further: Patients' brains may adapt to ADHD medication
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| 0.963996 | 606 | 3.21875 | 3 |
- Year Published: 1867
- Language: English
- Country of Origin: Greece
- Source: Aesop & Townsend, G.F. (trans.). (1867). Aesop's Fables.
- Flesch–Kincaid Level: 4.0
- Word Count: 56
Aesop, . (1867). The Dog in the Manger. Aesop's Fables (Lit2Go Edition). Retrieved June 28, 2016, from
Aesop, . "The Dog in the Manger." Aesop's Fables. Lit2Go Edition. 1867. Web. <>. June 28, 2016.
Aesop, "The Dog in the Manger," Aesop's Fables, Lit2Go Edition, (1867), accessed June 28, 2016,.
A DOG lay in a manger, and by his growling and snapping prevented the oxen from eating the hay which had been placed for them. “What a selfish Dog!” said one of them to his companions; “he cannot eat the hay himself, and yet refuses to allow those to eat who can.”
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| 0.949948 | 247 | 2.90625 | 3 |
For this particular case:
We may understand that the definition of a 10% slope is mathematically obvious.
But, by couching it in these natural English language terms, it could give the impression to students that they require outside knowledge (whether or not they actually do need outside knowledge).
Students may be aware that "10% slope" has a particular meaning in English, having seen it on road signs, but probably have not directly associated that to a mathematical meaning. This could be one source of their confusion. When I see 10% used in natural English, I wouldn't immediately think about how that converts to a decimal, say.
Plenty of words have a slightly different meaning in natural English and mathematical language - including 'slope' itself. Students frequently (and correctly) understand that they have to handle their use mathematical language in a very careful way. By phrasing a question using natural language, this link with precision might be broken and confusing to students.
It may not be clear to students how to cross-interpret a question that is partly in mathematical language and partly in natural English. It doesn't help that questions written in natural language are sometimes badly phrased! Students might have developed a fear of these questions because their understanding of the reality of the situation doesn't match their own internal mathematical knowledge.
Indeed, there may be a disassociation between mathematical questions and actual reality. Question setters tend to insert mathematics into 'real' situations where they don't belong (or don't apply exactly correctly). In reality, as I understand, it would be unlikely and impractical to model a hill as a parabola. Apart from the apparent sign error, a hill is 3D and a slope can be overcome by tracking a zigzag ascent up diagonally. It is (perhaps) an unnatural and contrived question, phrased in natural language in a context which is unfamiliar to students. This could be a further source of confusion.
I think that interpreting (and writing) natural language questions is a difficult skill that has to be learned (and taught). I think all mathematicians come across situations where they have suddenly realised how a particular skill can be used in an unfamiliar or surprising situation - it's clear that this might happen more often to novice students.
To answer your question:
I think you could help students by teaching this specifically:
When I solve such problems I start with "What do I know?", then "What does that mean in mathematical definitions?"
Interpreting an English statement is not straightforward, and students would benefit from learning how to do this. Explaining how you do this, yourself, is a good idea!
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| 0.965352 | 541 | 3.546875 | 4 |
We already know veggies are good for us. First, vegetables are packed with fiber, which helps us stay regular and shuttle cholesterol out of our system. Secondly, veggies offer an array of essential vitamins and minerals; sweet potatoes have potassium, necessary for electrolyte balance while beets are rich in antioxidants, hence their purple color. Thirdly, eating vegetables is associated with decreased risk for chronic diseases. For example, increased intake of cruciferous veggies, like brussel sprouts and cauliflower, may be inversely related to the risk for lung cancer (Lam, et al 2009).
Okay, so what about frozen veggies- are they better than fresh? Ask Michael Pollan, author of the popular Omnivore’s Dilemma, and he’ll tell you that: “Frozen vegetables and fruits are a terrific and economical option when fresh is unavailable or too expensive. The nutritional quality is just as good — and sometimes even better, because the produce is often picked and frozen at its peak of quality.” (Pollan, 2011)
Eating veggies in college is hard. Those of us who live on campus only have a microwave or access to campus eateries. Sometimes, we don’t have options we enjoy, or we get tired of the offerings on campus. That is why learning to cook veggies in the microwave is a great idea. If you get one trip to the grocery store each month, you can stock up on some frozen veggies. Steam, and then enjoy with hummus or white bean dip for a snack. And, if you have a kitchen in an off-campus apartment, you still may not have the time to steam veggies on the stove or have adequate pots and pans. By using the microwave method for steaming, you can save time, money, and lock in the nutrients available from the veggies!
Spice up your vegetables with these easy tips:
Add cinnamon, cloves and ginger to vegetables. While these spices are typically reserved for sweet foods, these spices can enhance the flavor of carrots, squash and sweet potatoes.
- Spice up steamed broccoli with lemon, olive oil and a pinch of salt. If you prefer eating broccoli raw, add paprika, yogurt, garlic and chives to enhance its flavor.
- Add a little olive oil, garlic powder and lemon to asparagus, peas or spinach to add some flavor.
- Looking for some real spice? Try adding hot sauce or cayenne pepper to the mix!
By: Kate Sweeney
Editor: Toby Beckelman
Lam, T.K., Gallachio, L., Lindsley, K., Sheils, M., Hammond, E., Tao, X., Chen, L., Robinson, K., Caulfield, L., Herman, J., Guallar, E., and Alberg, A. 2009. Cruciferous Vegetable Consumption and Lung Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review. 2009. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 18; 184
Pollan, Michael. Oct 2, 2011. The Food and Drink Issue: Mysteries Solved, Riddles Explained and Readers’ Questions Answered. New York Times. New York, NY.
October 30th, 2012
Do you know how to cook an egg in the microwave? Believe it or not, it is actually pretty easy and requires little time and money for ingredients. You can make them in your dorm room! Check out the video below to learn about eggs and how to cook them in the microwave.
Video done by: Maxine Builder and Kate Sweeney
November 18th, 2011
Article Source: The Friedman Sprout
I love Thai food. It is flavorful, spicy, and unique. But, it can sometimes be a bit too greasy for my stomach and a bit too expensive for my student budget. So instead of getting take-out, I have been making homemade Thai food. Both vegetarians’ and meat-lovers’ palates are appeased because the proteins are cooked separately. All of my favorite Thai flavors: garlic, ginger, peanut butter, basil and curry make up the sauce. I used a blend of late summer vegetables, but any that you have on hand would work well. The curried vegetables are mixed with brown rice noodles and served with your protein of choice—tofu or chicken.
Thai Peanut Curry Noodles
Ingredients (serves 4):
- 8 oz brown rice noodles (may substitute spaghetti)
- 6 cloves garlic, finely diced
- 1 medium/large red onion, diced
- 2 oz fresh ginger*, finely diced
- 1 jalapeño, diced **
- 2 tablespoons red curry paste (can buy at any local grocery store)
- 2 tablespoons natural peanut butter
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta cooking water-the starchy water helps thicken the sauce
- 3 carrots, diced
- 1 cup snap peas
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes
- 1 TBSP dried Thai Basil (may sub 1 TBSP regular dried basil, or ¼ cup chopped fresh basil)
- Salt and Pepper-to taste
- 2 scallions, sliced thin-for garnish
- 1 lime-sliced for garnish
*I keep fresh ginger in a sealed plastic bag in the freezer and remove as needed.
** if you are a crazy heat-seeker feel free to add 2 or 3
- 1 package tofu (pre-cubed, or cut slab into ~1/2” cubes)
- 1 TBSP olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp Thai Basil
- For chicken:
- 1 lb bonless, skinless chicken breast
- 1 TBSP olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tsp Thai Basil
Bring large pot of water to boil for noodles. When water is boiling, add in noodles and cook according to package directions.
Pre-heat skilled over medium heat. Prepare tofu by draining excess water and cutting in cubes (if not using pre-cubed). To skillet, add 1 TBSP of olive oil and drained tofu with seasonings. Cook 3 minutes on one side and flip in pan; cook 3 more minutes and gently move cubes around pan ensuring that each piece is browned. Remove tofu from pan and set aside on plate.
In the same pan, add the ingredients for curry sauce: 1 TBSP olive oil, diced onions, garlic, ginger, jalapeño, and carrots. Sauté over medium heat for 5 minutes or until the onions have become translucent.
In a separate pan, heat 1 TBSP olive oil over medium heat. Season chicken breasts with half of Thai basil, and salt and pepper. Place in pre-heated pan seasoned side down, and season the other side. Cook for about 7-10 minutes per side, depending on how thick your breasts are, or until the inside of the chicken is no longer pink.
In separate bowl mix together peanut butter, curry paste, ¼ cup reserved pasta water and Thai basil. Add to veggie mix making sure and stir to evenly coat. If needed, add a bit more water to thin the sauce.
Drain pasta and combine with curry veggies. Serve with protein of your choice. Garnish with chopped scallions and limes.
By Lisa D’Agrosa, RD
November 4th, 2011
For all of you late-morning sleepers out there, it’s time to get up and make some breakfast!! And, you can have it on the go. What’s better than that? Click HERE: PB & B for our Peanut Butter & Banana sandwich recipe.
Peanut Butter and Banana sandwiches may sound extremely simple to you, but there are a lot of benefits to eating one for breakfast or a snack. In addition, the ingredients are easy to source on campus, inexpensive, require little/no equipment, the recipe is very quick to make, and the meal is a healthful one.
First, having breakfast is the best way to start your day. (This does not have to be eaten at breakfast. It also makes for a great alternative to a sports/energy bar, as ingredients are natural and less expensive.)
- Breakfast eaters have been shown to have better overall diets, with more vitamins and minerals in their diets, than non-breakfast eaters.
- Breakfast eaters have been shown to have lower body weights than their non-breakfast counterparts.
Second, lets talk nutrition benefits.
- Whole grain or whole wheat toast has fiber needed to keep you full, as you’re rushing around to class, work, and other appointments. You can grab whole wheat bread at Jumbo Express or the dining halls.
- Peanut butter is a great source of poly-saturated fatty acids, which are healthy and essential in your diet, and a good source of protein. When looking for peanut butter, choose the one with peanuts and salt as the ONLY ingredients. Jumbo Express sells Teddie peanut butter, which you can get chunky or creamy. If you have a peanut allergy, can substitute the peanut butter for soy butter or Sun Butter. If you’re are allergic to peanuts, but not other tree nuts, almond butter is a healthy alternative. Barney Butter is almond butter guaranteed to be peanut free.
- For more information on peanut and tree nut allergies, please see the Food Allergy Network. Contact your doctor if you’re unsure if you have a tree nut allergy, as well as a peanut allergy.
- Bananas are a great source of vitamin C, potassium, and B-vitamins. You can grab one at any campus eatery. If you’re not a fan of bananas, apples are a great alternative for this recipe.
- Overall, this recipes provides a great balance of carbohydrates, fat, and protein.
Third, lets talk storing ingredients for PB & B.
- If you live in a dorm or apartment, you can store bread in your refrigerator or freezer. This way, it will stay fresh longer and not mold. If you put it in your freezer, you can pop it right into a toaster to defrost and toast. Or, you can leave it out for 10 minutes and it will defrost quickly.
- Peanut butter (or other nut butters) should be mixed if there are oils found at the top of the jar when you buy it. This way, the oils are well-distributed. Mix the oil with the peanuts by using a knife and pushing all the way to the bottom while moving the knife in circles. Store peanut butter in your cabinet or on top of your fridge.
- Always leave bananas outside of drawers- that way they won’t brown easily. Bananas will keep for a few days, before turning brown.
By: Kate Sweeney
September 7th, 2011
As the weather gets warmer, you may want to replace that hot tea or hot chocolate for a more summer-inspired drink that is cool and refreshing. A chilled smoothie is a great option because they are easy and fast to make in the dorms or at your apartment, you can take them on-the-go, can be a complete meal or made with specific purposes in mind (recovery from a workout), and can be made with healthful ingredients. There are many different foods you can put into a smoothie- from carrots, to pineapple, to yogurt. Below, we’ll talk about some different smoothies and the nutritional benefits in each one.
Yesterday, BYL did a free smoothie tasting outside the library, where over 130 students tried our carrot/fruit smoothie. While veggies smoothie are sometimes gross-looking (that green, superfood Odwalla drink, anyone?), this one was delicious and everyone was pleased with the taste and texture. The smoothie was made following this recipe:
4 carrots, chopped
1/2-3/4 orange, peeled
1 cup ice
1/2 cup water
Makes 3-4 servings.
This recipe is good for a small snack, as it does not have any fat or protein in it. The smoothie is packed with fiber, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, beta-carotene, and other antioxidants.
Fruit & Yogurt
This smoothie is a great post-workout snack or a sweet snack in between meals to keep you full and satiated. It has plain yogurt, which really adds a good amount of protein and calcium to the smoothie. And, the fruit contributes lots of fiber, antioxidants, vitamin C, and potassium.
- 1 banana
- 2-3 cups frozen strawberries, raspberries, and/or blueberries
- 1/2 cup plain yogurt
- 1/2 cup ice
- 1/2 cup orange juice or 1/2 orange
Peanut Butter (& Chocolate)
For those elite athletes out there, this may be right up your alley. Recently, research has shown that chocolate milk has a beneficial effect on restoring glycogen stores because it has about the same ratio of carbs and protein as some common carbohydrate replacement drinks (Karpet al 2006). While this smoothie isn’t just milk and chocolate, it does have these two components. But, you don’t have to add the chocolate if you’re more apt to just stick with the peanut butter and yogurt. Or, you could leave out the peanut butter if you like it more chocolate-y.
- 1 banana
- 1/2 cup nonfat milk
- 1/4 cup plain yogurt
- 1 1/2 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- Drizzle of chocolate syrup (optional)
- Few cubes of ice
The peanut butter in this recipe gives you mono- and poly-unsaturated fats, which are healthful (they help you absorb fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A, D, E, and K). The yogurt and milk has vitamin D, calcium, and protein.
Lastly, don’t forget there are a MILLION different combinations out there in smoothie-land. There are lots of frozen fruits (mangos, berries, etc) you can use, you can replace nonfat milk with soy milk, and you can put flax seeds into your smoothie for added omega-3s.
Karp, J., Johnston, J., Teckelnburg, s., Mickleborough, T., Fly, A. and Stager, J. Chocolate Milk as a Post-Workout Recovery Aid. International Journal of Sports Nutrition and Exercise Metabolism. 2006;16:78-91.
May 5th, 2011
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While most people who have tinnitus, or ringing in the ears, do whatever they can to make the noise go away, new research suggests that acknowledging the sensation and learning to live with it can help decrease suffering.
Lead researcher Jennifer Gans, an assistant professor at the University of California at San Francisco says a technique called mindfulness-based tinnitus reduction helps people separate the ringing from the stress, anxiety and other negative emotions it often causes.
"Instead of pushing it away, it's dealing with what it is and experiencing it as a body sensation without the fear and depression that's creating the suffering," Gans said.
Mindfulness-based tinnitus reduction is modeled after mindfulness-based stress reduction, which previous studies have found to be effective in helping people deal with chronic pain and arthritis. The tinnitus version is specifically designed to deal with those symptoms.
In Gans' study, participants learn the mindfulness techniques over an eight-week period. So far, she said, it's been effective. One participant told Gans in an email that before learning about the technique, he relied on white noise generators to alleviate his symptoms.
"We had a power failure last night just before I was going to bed, which meant my white noise generators would not work. Before our study I would have gone into a complete panic thinking about going to bed without white noise," the participant wrote. "But because of our sit down meditation in which we breathe into the ringing, I knew I could handle silence in bed. Thank you, the study saved me from having a panic attack."
Experts in alternative medicine say the mindfulness techniques are becoming more popular remedies for a variety of ailments, including chronic pain, stress, itching, addiction and digestive disorders.
A report by researchers at Harvard Medical School released in May found that more than 6 million Americans are advised by traditional doctors to try meditation and other mind-body interventions. For sicker patients, these nonconventional approaches make them feel better physically and emotionally.
Focus Is on Relaxing Body and Mind
Hypnosis is one of the more common ways to use the mind to overcome the symptoms of a variety of illnesses. But experts say it doesn't work for everybody.
"Some people are more receptive to hypnosis or a hypnotic trance than others," said Janet Konefal, assistant dean for complementary and integrative medicine at the University of Miami's Miller School of Medicine.
A hypnotic trance changes people's brain waves and, in turn, can influence behavior, Konefal explained.
"'Even if somebody is phobic about needles, you can induce a trance," she said. The person inducing the trance will use positive statements about the experience and about the patient's capabilities to deal with the situation in front of them.
"You can visualize the immune system getting healthier, or imagine pain going away," said Konefal. The trance helps relax the mind and make it more open to suggestion.
Meditation is another technique people often use to cope with illnesses. Unlike hypnosis, which involves a trained professional talking a person through a trance, people who meditate focuses on themselves.
"It's more of an accepting state," said Konefal. In the case of tinnitus, she explained, meditation would help a person acknowledge the ringing noise and let it be so it goes into the background.
Music therapy is another method that's gaining popularity.
"It involves stimulating certain parts of the brain," Konefal explained. "Different kinds of music light up different parts of the brain. Mozart, for example, would be melodic and calming and help with stress reduction and pain."
Other mind-body interventions include biofeedback, deep breathing, tai chi, guided imagery, relaxation, prayer and writing in a journal. These are all techniques that help relieve stress and bring about healing.
"Most people find that these are skills," said Dr. Lawrence Taw, assistant clinical professor at the UCLA Center for East-West Medicine, part of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. "They require practice, and people feel that when they practice, they can apply these skills on their own when they experience warning signs."
The purpose of these mind-body therapies is to help the body to relax.
"These stress management techniques can shut off the stress response and thus minimize the negative effects on the body that come with it," Taw said.
Experts say more and more people are embracing these and other alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, massage and herbal medicines.
"There are many reasons they are becoming more popular," Taw said. "People find they can't tolerate medication or they tried conventional treatments and they didn't help, or they may have introduced another problem."
Many people consider nontraditional therapies safer and more effective as well.
Gans, who led the study on using a mind-based strategies to help with tinnitus, said although data are preliminary, numerous participants have found relief from a condition that is difficult to treat.
"Doctors don't always know what causes it, and there's no cure for it," she said. "With this intervention, people can learn to notice the noise and let go of it and end their suffering."
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A device that can monitor the levels of specific drugs as they flow through the bloodstream may soon take the guesswork out of drug dosing and allow physicians to tailor prescriptions to their patients’ specific biology. Developed by UC Santa Barbara researchers Tom Soh, Kevin Plaxco and Scott Ferguson, the biosensor combines engineering and biochemistry and has far-reaching potential.
Doctors and pharmaceutical companies can generally determine reasonable drug doses for most patients through batteries of tests and trials. However, the efficacy of a drug treatment relies on maintaining therapeutic levels of the drug in the body, a feat not so easily accomplished.
“Current dosing regimens are really quite primitive,” said Plaxco, professor of chemistry and of biomolecular science and engineering. They rely on a patient’s age or body weight and are unable to account for specific responses over time. Drug levels may be influenced by individual patients’ metabolisms, or even by the foods they eat or other drugs they might be taking. When coupled with the primitive state of current dosing algorithms, this variability can be quite dangerous for drugs that have narrow therapeutic ranges. That in turn requires both doctor and patient to balance on the fine line between effectiveness and toxicity.
Scientists could be one giant step closer to dispelling the uncertainty around patients’ biological responses as they receive these drugs with a device that is only a bit longer than a jumbo paperclip. Called MEDIC (Microfluidic Electrochemical Detector for In vivo Concentrations), the instrument can determine — continuously and in real time — concentrations of specific molecules in tiny amounts of whole blood. The kind of information it can provide could lead to truly personalized medicine.
“The easier and faster your doctor can detect specific molecules — drug molecules, proteins that are diagnostic of a specific disease — the faster your doctor can diagnose disease and monitor treatment,” said Plaxco.
This work is the result of a multiyear collaboration among the research labs of professors Plaxco; Soh, Ruth Garland Chair and professor of mechanical engineering, chemical engineering and materials; and Tod Kippin from the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. The MEDIC device consists of a microfluidic chamber lined with gold electrodes from which drug- recognizing biomolecules — in this case artificial DNA strands called aptamers — extend. When the target molecule comes in contact with an aptamer, the strand recognizes it and wraps around the molecule, delivering electrons from its tip to the electrode at the aptamer’s base. The tiny jolt of current signals the presence of the molecule.
“For the first time, we can see how the body is processing specific molecules,” said Ferguson, a postdoctoral researcher in the Soh lab and the lead author of the study. Ferguson invented the central technology for continuously monitoring drug levels in whole blood, an element of time that is necessary to provide a full picture of how an individual responds to a certain drug. Previous iterations of the device would fail after about half an hour, because the components in whole blood — proteins and coagulants — are sticky and would cling to the sensors, gumming up the works.
For Ferguson it became a mechanical engineering problem. He solved it by introducing a second flow into the chamber, a liquid buffer on the sensors that stacked right on top of the bloodstream without mixing with or disturbing it. The buffer was the ideal environment for the aptamers and acted like a filter, separating the large blood components from the small drug molecules.
“We took a classic approach, which is to exploit differences in diffusivity: Big stuff diffuses slowly, while small stuff diffuses much more quickly,” Ferguson said.
“Think of swimmers,” he explained, “swimming from one bank of a river to another across a fast-moving current. The faster swimmers can make it across the stream, while the slower swimmers get carried downstream by the current.” In this way, the slower, larger blood components continue to move along the blood flow stream while the smaller, faster-moving molecules can cross from the blood flow through the buffer to the sensors.”
“The device worked incredibly well,” said Kippin, whose lab tested the microfluidic device. “The measurements were highly sensitive to doses that are clinically relevant and could be maintained for several hours. Further, we demonstrated exquisite selectivity and flexibility in that the device is only sensitive to the target even when administered a cocktail of drugs.”
MEDIC is still in the early clinical stages, and approvals for medical use may be some years away, but its effectiveness is opening up doors of opportunity and progress that Soh can already see. In the short term, the device can make available the kind of data necessary for critical advances in drug therapy.
“It can measure one’s metabolism in real time so you can deliver the drug in the right amount,” said Soh.
This capability may also have potential effects in the world of pharmaceuticals, in which newly developed drugs have to undergo rigorous testing and often fall short.
“A lot of drugs fail in phase three clinical trials, and it’s very expensive for the drug companies. Phase three is the hurdle in which it has to work in a broad general population,” Soh explained. With advanced real-time continuous monitoring, drugs that may have been effective for some but not for others may be adjusted to improve their performance and ultimately provide a wider choice of therapies.
Additionally, aptamers are relatively easy biosensors to produce and can be evolved to target the proteins that are indicators of disease, aiding in more sophisticated diagnostics. Several layers of different sensors may even be put in the same device to monitor several targets at the same time.
The next step for the researchers is to be able to deliver drugs automatically, with dosages based on the feedback generated by the device. An artificial pancreas, which monitors glucose levels in diabetics and uses this information to inject a controlled dose of insulin, is an example of one such system. UCSB researchers in chemical engineering recently helped develop an artificial pancreas system, which has been in clinical trials in conjunction with insulin therapies for type 1 diabetes.
“The ability to do feedback is really critical for a lot of diseases,” said Soh. Chemotherapy, for instance, where the therapeutic range is narrow for many drugs and patients need continuous infusions, could benefit from a continuous feedback loop between patient and pump.
“In the long term, we could use this feedback to control broken biological systems,” he said.
Research on MEDIC is published in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Research was also conducted by David Hoggarth from the UCSB Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies; Dan Maliniak, Kyle Ploense and Nick Woodward from the UCSB Department of Psychology; Kuangwen Hsieh from the UCSB Department of Mechanical Engineering; Michael Eisenstein from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Department at UCSB; and Andrew Bonham from the Department of Chemistry, Metropolitan State University of Denver. Funding for this research came from the National Institutes of Health, the UCSB Institute for Collaborative Biotechnologies via the U.S. Army Research Office and the Garland Initiative.
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Edward Uhl, who helped invent the bazooka, dies at 92
Edward Uhl, who helped invent the bazooka during World War II and later led the aerospace company Fairchild Industries Inc., has died. He was 92.
In 1942, as an Army first lieutenant with an engineering degree, Uhl helped develop a shoulder-fired rocket launcher nicknamed the bazooka because it resembled a tube-shaped musical instrument.
Uhl joined Fairchild as president in 1961. He oversaw its transformation from a military aircraft manufacturer to an aerospace giant before retiring as chairman in 1985.
Fairchild's products included the A-10 Thunderbolt II, an airplane nicknamed the warthog that was used against Iraqi tanks in the 1990 Gulf War.
More later at www.latimes.com/obits.
-- Associated Press
Photo: Edward Uhl in 2005. Credit: Associated Press / via George A. Hatcher Jr.
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A symptomatic disorder of the nose resulting from an IgE-mediated immunological reaction following exposure to allergen.
The major symptoms are rhinorrhea, nasal itching, obstruction and sneezing which are reversible either spontaneously or with treatment.
- Viral (e.g. common cold)
- Bacterial (often following a common cold)
- Intermittent (seasonal, e.g., hay fever)
- Persistent (perennial – continuous symptoms)
- Other medications
Caused by allergy or sensitivity to airborne agents in the workplace:
Related to puberty, pregnancy, menstrual cycle and some endocrine disorders
Other Causes/Types of Rhinitis
- Gastroesophageal reflux
- Atrophic rhinitis (shrunken nasal tissue)
- NARES: Non-Allergic Rhinitis with Eosinophilia
Cause not known
The traditional classification is seasonal and perennial, but in reality the situation is not as clearly defined. Allergens that are seasonal in one part of the world can be perennial in other areas. Typically patients are allergic to, and suffer symptoms from, more than one allergen.
A better classification is:
In which symptoms occur on less than 4 days a week or for less than 28 days at a time.
In which symptoms occur on the majority of days of the week and for more than 28 days.
The Severity of Allergic Rhinitis
In mild rhinitis there is no disturbance in sleep, leisure, school or work activities.
In moderate/severe rhinitis there is disturbance to sleep, leisure, school or work activities.
The prevalence of rhinitis symptoms in the International Study on Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) varied between 0.8% and 14.9% in 6-7 year olds and between 1.4% and 39.7% in 13-14 year olds. Countries with a very low prevalence include Indonesia, Albania, Romania, Georgia and Greece. Countries with a very high prevalence include Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.
There is no equivalent to ISAAC for adults. National surveys show prevalence rates of rhinitis of between 5.9% (France) and 29% (United Kingdom) with a mean of 16%. Perennial (persistent) rhinitis is probably more common in adults than in children.
Allergic rhinitis is characterized by an inflammatory infiltrate in the nasal mucosa, which includes:
Chemotaxis, selective recruitment and transendothelial migration of eosinophils, mast cell precursors, macrophages, Langerhans cells and lymphocytes, particularly T helper cells.
Migration of cells, particularly mast cells, eosinophils, Langerhans cells and lymphocytes towards and into the epithelium. Activation, prolongation of survival of these cells with release of mediators.
Regulation of local and systemic IgE synthesis.
Allergen cross-links adjacent IgE molecules on the mast cell surface which triggers the release of mediators of hypersensitivity, including histamine, tryptase, prostaglandin D2 and leukotrienes.
Histamine, released from activated mast cells, is the major mediator of the early phase reaction following allergen exposure. It stimulates sensory nerves to cause sneezing and nasal itch, leads to vasodilatation, plasma exudation and stimulates mucous cells - together causing rhinorrhea - and plays some part in nasal obstruction. Histamine also has a pro-inflammatory role through up-regulation of adhesion molecules and release of cytokines.
Leukotrienes are generated and released into nasal tissue by mast cells, eosinophils, macrophages, neutrophils and epithelial cells. They play an important role in the late phase reaction causing nasal obstruction, mucus secretion and leading to inflammatory cell recruitment.
- Detailed allergic history and physical exam
- Nasal examination - anterior rhinoscopy
- Allergy tests - skin prick/puncture tests or measurement of specific IgE (RAST)
Additional Tests if Indicated
- Fiberoptic rhinoscopy - rigid or flexible
- Nasal secretions/scrape for cytology
- Nasal challenge with allergen
- C.T. scan
Rhinitis - Differential Diagnosis
- Deviated septum
- Adenoidal hypertrophy
- Foreign bodies
- Choanal atresia
- Wegener's granulomatosis
- Malignant – midline destructive granuloma
To read an in-depth review of allergic rhinitis and its diagnosis, click here
Allergen avoidance underlies all treatment.
Local (topical) administration of therapy is the preferred method of administration on the basis of an improved benefit:side effect ratio, but may be less patient acceptable and the therapeutic benefit is limited to nasal tissue.
National, continental and international guidelines for the treatment of allergic rhinitis with decongestants, antihistamines and corticosteriods have been published.
To read an in-depth review on allergic rhinitis and its treatment, click here.
A global overview is available - click here.
Please click here to view and print a quick reference treatment algorithm chart from the World Allergy Organization's GLORIA program.
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Prof. James Buzard
This course studies several important examples of the genre that between the early 18th century and the end of the 20th has come to seem the definitive literary form for representing and coming to terms with modernity. Syllabi vary, but the class usually attempts to convey a sense of the form's development over the past few centuries. Among topics likely to be considered are: developments in narrative technique, the novel's relation to history, national versus linguistic definitions of an "English" novel, social criticism in the novel, realism versus "romance," the novel's construction of subjectivities. Writers studied have included Daniel Defoe, Henry Fielding, Samuel Richardson, Lawrence Sterne, Mary Shelley, Jane Austen, Walter Scott, Emily and Charlotte Brontë, Charles Dickens, George Eliot, Joseph Conrad, H. G. Wells, James Joyce, Virginia Woolf, Salman Rushdie.
OCW has published multiple versions of this subject.
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Q: What are the sources of water pollution?
A: There are many, especially toxins that come from industrial and municipal wastewaters, runoff from farms and urban areas, and the erosion of soils. These toxins can include naturally-occurring chemicals that are present in higher concentrations because of human activities as well as new, man-made compounds such as DDT.
Other pollutants include biostimulants from sewage and industrial wastes; oil from runoffs, accidental spills, and oil and gas production; sediments from erosion caused by farming, forestry, mining, and development; plastics and other debris from ships, fishing nets, and containers; thermal pollution from the cooling water that comes from power and industrial plants; human pathogens from sewage, urban runoff, and livestock; and finally, alien species that are introduced into a habitat by ships.
Q: That's a lot of pollutants. What are the most important?
A: Since the Clean Water Act was passed and reauthorized in the 1970s and 1980s, the most harmful pollutants have actually come from diffuse sources rather than direct discharges. For example, oil pollution from ships, accidental spills and production activities has been curtailed after a concerted effort by environmentalists and policymakers, but diffuse pollution from various land-based activitiesfor instance, urban runoffhas not.
Of these pollutants, nowadays coastal areas are most endangered by the introduction of excess nutrients that overwhelm the local ecosystem.
Q: How does pollution enter the water from these diffuse sources?
A: Pollutants from diffuse sources include those released into the atmosphere by fossil-fuel and waste combustion, along with pesticides, toxic-waste products, nutrients, and sediments that enter the water as runoff from the land. According to a Pew report on water pollution, the latter is the primary source of pollution in coastal waters, which is, in turn, where the "most demonstrable effects on living resources occur."
Q: What effects does water pollution have on life in the water?
A: Toxins, such as those from industrial wastewaters, can poison living organismscausing disease and reproductive failure, and can also pose human health risks. On the other hand, organic wastessuch as nitrogen and phosphorouscan overload coastal habitats and cause serious depletion of dissolved oxygen supplies needed by marine animals. It's true that normally, these habitats need nutrients, but too much can over-stimulate the environment, creating more organic matter than the ecosystem can handle. These wastes can also stimulate algal blooms, which can often kill off other organisms in the area.
Meanwhile, sediments from land runoff or dredging can decrease the clarity of the water and smother and cause the loss of sea grasses and coral reefs, which can in turn alter the food chains that support fisheries in the area.
Q: What measures have been taken so far?
A: As mentioned before, maritime pollution has subsided somewhat over the past 30 years, thanks to the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, which was passed in 1972, and reauthorized twice in the 1980s as the Clean Water Act. The law imposed uniform minimum federal standards for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment, and put limits on pollutants in discharges from industrial facilitiesrequiring plants to adopt up-to-date pollution-control technology.
The Clean Water Act also increased standards for waste treatment plantsunder law, about $125 billion was spent between 1972 and 1992 creating new public treatment works. The ban of pesticides and other harmful chemicals such as DDT, PCBs, and lead additives in gasoline, have also helped to control maritime pollution.
Q: Have these measures worked?
A: Yes, despite the fact that there has been a steady increase in population in the United States, as well as an increase in wastewater discharge, maritime pollution has decreased dramatically. Oxygen levels in New York Harbor, for instance, are now 50 percent higher than they were 30 years ago. In the Southern California Bight, off Los Angeles and San Diego, inputs of many pollutants have been reduced 90 percent or more over a 25-year period, and the ecosystem thereincluding kelp, fish, and seabird populationshas greatly recovered.
Q: What are the next steps?
A: As noted above, the most serious water-quality problems come from diffuse sources, and those are more difficult to deal with. According to a Pew report on water pollution, slowing or reversing coastal pollution will, in particular, require management strategies for a variety of watersheds that are often far inland from coastal environments.
Some measures to reduce pollution could include: advanced treatment of municipal wastewaters; the reduction of nitrogen oxide emissions from power plants and vehicles; the control of ammonia emissions from animal feedlots; the more efficient use of fertilizers and manure; and the restoration of wetlands and floodplains that often act as nutrient traps for runoff.
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OUR SCHOOL THINKS GREEN Mira de Aire and Alvados Secondary School PORTUGAL
WE CARE!• Hello everyone!• Our school has about 600 students (K-12) and environmental concerns are present in our every day life as a school community.• In this presentation we will show you some of the projects we have implemented throughout this school year, projects that make us proud, as we have already been able to achieve some changes towards environmental awareness.• Our projects started in September 2011 and will end in July 2012.
CHRISTMAS TREE RESULT STUDENT INVOLVEMENT COLLABORATIONPURPOSE To show that The tree was The school Undoubtful it was mainly built community innovation possible to by 12th grade helped and creativity, build a students after getting the the local Christmas classes necessary newspaper tree with amount of published an reused plastic bottles article about materials to build the it tree
BUILDING OUR OWN LANDFILL CONTEXT • This project was done in the Natural Science classes with 8th grade students • It is being carried out in April, May and June • Students have been participating actively in the selection of materials, research and implementation of the project • This project has enhanced their learning beyong the regular classroom curriculum PURPOSE • To learn about the importance of landfills and how they work • To understand one of the most common methods of dealing with waste materials • To test the microbial degrading process of landfills • To determine which solid waste materials are biodegradable
TWIST PROJECT PURPOSE: To promote energy efficiency and CONTEXT: environmental concerns in our school and“Twist” is a project for secondary school among young children (6 to 9-year-oldstudents. It deals with energy efficiency children). and climate change. We believe children have the ability to change their parents’ attitudes towards the environment. TARGET: School community PROMOTERS: Primary school students 10th grade students in collaboration with the school library DURATION: Throughout this school year
PROCEDURESTWIST PROJECT • Students started with about energy efficiency. They were glad to see that most people already had some sort of environmental awareness and energy efficiency concerns. • After the surveys their mission was to determine . They concluded that energy and water consumption were a bit high and noticed that the school could adopt some measures to reduce them.
PROCEDURESTWIST PROJECT • Based on their diagnosis, students informed the school headmaster about what he should do to solve some of the problems detected. They also decided to display about energy efficiency tips so that both students and teachers could adopt an environmentally-friendly behaviour. • Number of lamps in the classroom • Lamp voltage • What people can save if they turn off the lamps after classes • What people waste if they do not turn off the lamps after classes
PROCEDURESTWIST PROJECT • Students then decided to hold aimed at . • Their goal was to promote energy efficiency and environmental awareness. They also wanted to motivate these young students to have an active involvement in their community while promoting a sustainable environment. • They worked in close collaboration with the school library. • The result of the information sessions was amazing and made them feel very well. The goals were accomplished and they noticed that .
Two of the information sessionshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7GFjFbq3aU http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=45onO_h7vE8
RECYCLED CARNIVAL MASKS Our school promotes a Carnival Parade every year. It is a big event in which all students and teachers participate.Our art teacher decided to do something different with her students this year: Carnival masks made with recycled materials only. Turn the page to see the results!
ECO-BATTERY PROJECT Our school is also participating in the eco-battery project this year We want to prevent people from throwing away used AIM: to collect used batteries, so we havebatteries so that they can be placed specific containers recycled for disposal of used batteries all over our school
PLANTING TREES We are aware of the importance of trees and weOur National Tree Day was So we decided to plant some wanted to do somethingcelebrated on March 21st trees in our school positive for the environment at the same time We worked in collaboration We are proud of our olive with the Mayor and local trees! authorities (town council)
CARING FOR OUR SCHOOLStudents are aware of the importance of school in their lives. A cleanschool makes it even more pleasant to be there. 8th grade students decided to promote cleaning activities so that other students can adopt an environmentally-friendly behaviour and keep their school clean. This has been happening on a regular basis, one time per month. They have also drawn some posters, which were placed all over our school, to promote environmental awareness.
« ECO-POINTS » “Eco-points” are We have “eco-recycling containers points” spread all in Portugal over our school Some of them were even made by our students. All classrooms have their own recyling containers
ECO-SCHOOL PROJECT• We are also participating in • The aim of this project is to • We try to raise awareness the Eco-Schools Project. This promote sustainable for a sustainable project is promoted by the development through environment in our school Foundation for environmental education community every day Environmental Education, a (formal school education, through our projects and non-governmental and non- training of staff and general actions. profit organization. awareness raising).
Plastic bottles as flowers Plastic balls as foam
MESSAGE TO THE 7 BILLION PEOPLE After watching the documentary “Home”, by Arthus Bertrand, and in celebration of the 7 billion people in our planet…
WORD CLOUDS As part of an They decidedeTwinning project to create some9th grade students word cloud were asked to accomplish a Environment pictures (using Tagxedo application) creative task related to the and environment... eTwinning
Collecting plastic, cell phones and paper Plastic Besides our many projects, we are also collecting plastic, Bottle Paper used cell phones and caps paper for organizations that ask for our help Cell phones
Plastic campaign Cell phone campaign Paper campaign Plastic bottle cap campaign
• Energy efficiency, sustainable environment, environmentally-friendly behaviour, environmentalCONSIDERATIONS awareness, are all part of our . Today’s youngsters will be tomorrow’s leaders and it is as teachers to prepare them well for a . • With these projects we, both students and teachers, feel that . OurFINAL projects are mostly and we like to see students take the lead in investigation, research and implementation. We do believe these projects improve and beyond the regular classroom curriculum.
were used inCONSIDERATIONS our projects as often as possible and we also try paper in our school by creating and using electronic documents instead of printing them. • The main aim of our projects is others – younger and older students, school staff and even teachers – as well as parents and our . We often write to the local newspaper to keep the community informed about what we are doing and sometimes even askFINAL for their help and/or . • The of these projects meets their designed goals and we keep promoting them.
CREDITS CHRISTMAS TREE Special thanks to: LANDFILL Done by: In collaboration with: teacher(s) in charge: Rosário, J. teacher(s) in charge: Miguel, F. Camponês, J. Monteiro, F. Torres, A. Dias, P. Antunes, J. “CARING FOR OUR SCHOOL” TWIST PROJECT CARNIVAL MASKS ECO-BATTERY PROJECT PLANTING TREES PROJECTteacher(s) in charge: teacher(s) in charge: teacher(s) in charge: teacher(s) in charge: teacher(s) in charge: Camponês, J. Filipe, S. Camponês, J. Almeida, J. Monteiro, I. ECO-SCHOOL MESSAGE TO THE 7 BILLION “COLLECTING PLASTIC, PAPER “ECO-POINTS” WORD CLOUDS teacher(s) in charge: PEOPLE AND CELL PHONES” PROJECTteacher(s) in charge: teacher(s) in charge: Matias, R. teacher(s) in charge: teacher(s) in charge: Camponês, J. Miguel, F. Camponês, J. Miguel, F. Almeida, J.
CREDITSSCHOOL WALL Escola Secundária de Mira de Aire e Alvados Mira de Aire and Alvados Secondary School PORTUGAL
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Signal thousand times stronger than current imaging, researchers say
THURSDAY, March 26 (HealthDay News) -- A new method of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can better detect molecular changes inside the body that could signal health problems such as cancer, say Duke University chemists.
MRI uses hydrogen atoms in water to create images in response to magnetic pulses and radio waves, but the process requires a huge number of water molecules.
"Only one out of every 100,000 water molecules in the body will actually contribute any useful signal to build that image," Warren Warren, a professor of chemistry, said in a Duke news release. "The water signal is not much different between tumors and normal tissue, but the other internal chemistry is different. So detecting other molecules, and how they change, would aid diagnosis," Warren added.
The Duke team used a technique called dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) to produce strong MRI signals from a variety of atoms other than water.
"You thus have a signal that, at least transiently, can be thousands or tens of thousands times stronger than regular hydrogen in MRI. It lets you turn molecules you are interested in into MRI light bulbs," Warren said.
The study appears in the March 27 issue of Science.
The International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine has more about MRI.
-- Robert Preidt
SOURCE: Duke University, news release, March 26, 2009
All rights reserved
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Photo by Flickr user Iqbal Osman
Someday, in the not-so-distant future, we won't need sex or even sperm to make babies. All it will take to reproduce is a swab of the cheek, or a scrape of the skin, or some other way to collect a live cell carrying your DNA, and voila: a bouncing baby, without all that mess and fuss. The technology to do so is almost within reach, in part because of a research team that has been working to develop an artificial human testicle.
California urologist Dr. Paul Turek is the man leading this group, which includes doctors and scientists from Stanford University, Montana State University, and the San Francisco biotech company MandalMed. The model they're developing now—an unassuming piece of lab equipment made out of bottles and tubes—is designed to mimic the complex inner structure of a man's testicle, and, ideally, turn stem cells into sperm.
Turek says a working artificial testicle could let men who struggle with infertility due to cancer treatments or other conditions or injuries make babies with the aid of in vitro fertilization. It could also be used in the safety testing of pharmaceuticals in place of animals.
"I get driven by this every day," Turek says. "I know the need is there."
Stem cells are treasured by researchers for their ability to proliferate and, in the right conditions, develop or "differentiate" into other types of tissue cells or organ cells. And in recent years, research has shown that stem cell biology can be useful in the study of infertility. In 2011, a group in Japan made a major breakthrough, announcing that they were able to make mouse sperm in a lab by seeding a piece of gelatinous material with stem cells drawn from the testicular tissue of baby mice. Last May, another team of scientists took things even further, publishing a report in the journal Cell Reports that documented how they used skin cells taken from infertile men to make primitive sperm precursor cells inside mice testes.
Turek, who was a co-author of the latter study, says the trick with the artificial testicle is to create an environment in which stem cells become convinced that they're living in a real-life testicle. With the right combination of cells and hormones, the stem cells—whether testicular stem cells, embryonic ones made in a lab, or adult stem cells derived from a man's skin—could be nurtured enough that they might transform into full-blown sperm.
"You gotta figure out the recipe, and you gotta figure out what you're going to put into the recipe," Turek says. "There are all these variables, but it's just a matter of good science. It's all good science. It's taking your time, paying attention to details, watching what happens, and tweaking it and tweaking it until you get it."
Of course, there's no guarantee that an ersatz testicle will actually be capable of making a baby. Even if it did get up and running, it'd be a complicated piece of equipment requiring careful use in a lab—not something you could implant or put on the nightstand.
Whatever the case, it's exciting to think that humanity might one day have access to a bona fide sperm-making machine. After all, men have been plagued with the specter of infertility probably for as long as they've been walking the earth.
Over the years, plenty of patients have turned to dubious solutions. In the early 1900s, gents flocked to the American doctor John R. Brinkley to seek a highly unorthodox treatment in which he transplanted their testicles with goat glands. The procedure, which cost nearly $9,000 in today's dollars, was supposedly meant to cure infertility as well as a range of other ailments. Not surprisingly, though, the goat balls proved disastrous for many patients, leading to infection and even death.
These days, the standards of medical science are improved, and men have plenty of options if they're worried about not being able to make babies. Though chemotherapy for testicular cancer can potentially render men infertile, they can have their sperm frozen in a sperm bank before treatments begin. As for men who suffer from extremely low sperm counts, they can resort to a highly specialized procedure in which a surgeon will literally open up their family jewels to hunt for trace sperm.
Peter Schlegel, a surgeon and professor of urology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, explains that a man's sperm cells are made inside an intricate network of seminiferous tubules found inside the testicles. "The tubes that are larger and thicker are basically the tubes that have more cells in them—and therefore [those are] the tubules that are most likely to have sperm present," he says.
When asked about the artificial testicle, Schlegel says replicating this complex structural system in a lab situation might prove to be the biggest challenge for Turek and his team.
"An artificial testicle sort of assumes that you can take those hundreds of thousands of complex interactions that occur and simplify them to kind of a soup that you put around the sperm-making cells," he says. It might be more effective, he suggests, to use testicles from an animal as a way to grow human sperm, instead of a device built in a lab. Yes, that's right—get a mouse or rat to make your sperm for you.
"The testicle itself, in terms of function, is pretty complex," he says. "There's a lot of cell-to-cell interaction, and so the concept of generating an artificial testicle may be best done in a mouse or a rat or some other animal that has all of those other growth factors and hormones and materials that could support the development of the testicle."
It's a curious notion, having our sperm made outside of our bodies. But we're still a ways away from that future. Right now, Turek's team is focused on getting funding to continue its research. One goal is to develop an assay for pharmaceutical toxicology testing purposes. That wouldn't be as complicated as making personalized sperm, and it could also serve as a source of revenue to keep the greater mission going.
"We are interested in developing this whole area as a business," says Constance John, the president of MandalMed, who started working with Turek on the artificial testicle idea in 2009. "One of the strategies here is to develop this assay, which we think would be commercializable and could be profitable and therefore would make the company not a losing proposition."
To raise cash for the project, Dr. Turek has also thought about using more populist means—a.k.a. a Kickstarter campaign. The only question is what prizes he'd give to donors.
"You can't give them sperm, because that costs a fortune," he says.
Sperm-shaped pillows, maybe?
"Yeah, we can do sperm pillows," he says. "Good one. Let's do that."
Follow Peter Holslin on Twitter.
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HOW: Remove used motor oil from the vehicle, taking care not to spill it on the ground. Put the motor oil in a clean, plastic container with a tight lid. Never store used oil in a container that once held chemicals, food or beverages. Do not mix with anti-freeze, solvent, paint or other materials.
WHY: Used motor oil from a single oil change can ruin a million gallons of fresh water — a year’s supply for 50 people. Used motor oil is insoluble, persistent and can contain toxic chemicals and heavy metals. It is slow to degrade and sticks to everything from sand to bird feathers. Used motor oil is a major source of contamination of waterways and can result in pollution of drinking water sources. Used motor oil from cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles, farm equipment and lawnmowers can be recycled and re-refined.
WHAT NOT: Do not include any other fluid such as antifreeze or automatic transmission fluid. Do not pour these materials on the ground since they drain into storm sewers and contaminate local water supplies.
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In 1930, aviation pioneer Louis Charles Joseph Blériot established the Blériot Trophy, to be awarded to an aviator who demonstrated flight at a speed of 2,000 kilometers per hour (1,242.742 miles per hour) for 30 minutes. The technology to accomplish this was three decades in the future.
On 10 May 1961, a U.S. Air Force/Convair B-58A-10-CF Hustler, serial number 59-2451, The Firefly, did just that. Flown by a crew consisting of Aircraft Commander, Major Elmer E. Murphy, Navigator, Major Eugene Moses, and Defensive Systems Officer, First Lieutenant David F. Dickerson, the Mach 2+ Strategic Air Command bomber flew 669.4 miles (1,077.3 kilometers) in 30 minutes, 43 seconds. Their average speed was 1,302.07 miles per hour (2,095 kilometers per hour).
The black and white marble trophy was presented to the B-58 crew by Alice Védères Blériot, widow of Louis Blériot, at Paris, France, 27 May 1961. It is on permanent display at the McDermott Library of the United States Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
The Convair B-58 Hustler was a high-altitude, Mach 2+ strategic bomber which served with the United States Air Force from 1960 to 1970. It was crewed by a pilot, navigator/bombardier and a defensive systems operator located in individual cockpits. The aircraft has a delta-winged configuration similar to Convair’s F-102A Delta Dagger and F-106 Delta Dart supersonic interceptors.
The Hustler is 96 feet, 10 inches (29.515 meters) long, with a wing span of 56 feet, 10 inches (17.323 meters) and overall height of 31 feet 5 inches (9.576 meters). The wings’ leading edge is swept back at a 60° angle and the fuselage incorporates the “area rule” which resulted in a “wasp waist” or “Coke bottle” shape for a significant reduction in aerodynamic drag. The airplane’s only control surfaces are two “elevons” and a rudder. There are no flaps.
Four General Electric J79-GE-5 afterburning turbojet engines, rated at 15,600 pounds of thrust at Sea Level, each, are enclosed in nacelles which are suspended under the wings from pylons.
The bomber had a cruise speed of 610 miles per hour (981.7 kilometers per hour) and a maximum speed of 1,325 miles per hour (2,132.4 kilometers per hour). The service ceiling is 64,800 feet (19,751 meters). Unrefueled range is 4,400 miles (7,081 kilometers). Maximum weight is 168,000 pounds (76,203.5 kilograms).
The B-58 weapons load was a combination of W-39, B43 or B61 nuclear bombs. The large weapons could be carried in a jettisonable centerline pod, which also carried fuel, and the smaller bombs could be carried on hardpoints. There was a defensive 20 mm M61 rotary cannon mounted in the tail with 1,200 rounds of ammunition. The gun was controlled remotely by the Defensive Systems Officer.
On 26 May 1961, The Firefly, flown by a different aircrew, set a speed record by flying New York to Paris, while enroute to the Paris Air Show, a distance of 3,626.46 miles in 3 hours, 19 minutes, 58 seconds, for an average of 1,089.36 mph.
Convair built 116 B-58s between 1956 and 1961. They were retired by 1970.
On 3 June 1961, the Blériot Trophy-winning crew of Murphy, Moses and Dickerson departed Le Bourget Airport aboard 59-2451 for the return trip to America. The B-58 crashed five miles from the airport. All three men were killed and the aircraft totally destroyed.
General Dynamics contributed an extensive collection of photographs of the speed run to the San Diego Air and Space Museum, which holds them in its Archives.
A 1961 Air Force film covering the event and the presentation of the Blériot Trophy can be seen on You Tube at https://youtu.be/0D_n8YRodII
© 2016, Bryan R. Swopesby
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The majority of today’s lighting standard “white” LEDs use an InGaN semiconductor, emitting light in the blue part of the spectrum, combined with a yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) phosphor (doped with cerium). Most of the LED’s blue photons are absorbed by the phosphor and re-emitted in the yellow part of the spectrum. The mix of the residual blue photons and yellow illumination provides a good approximation of white light to the eye.
This combination of LED and phosphor is a proven technology with good performance, but it is not perfect. One notable deficiency is a limitation to high correlated color temperatures (CCT) and lower color rendering indices (CRI) due to a lack of a red component in the system’s output. Combining the YAG phosphor with other materials increases red emissions, leading to the availability of “warm” white LEDs, but at a cost of hard-won efficacy.
This article describes the problem in detail, explores how manufacturers of phosphors for LED lighting are rising to the challenge, and then considers what impact their phosphor research will have on the efficacy, CCT, and CRI of solid-state illumination.
Blue LED plus YAG phosphor equals white light
The phosphor used for high-brightness LEDs is a highly specialized material comprising YAG doped with the rare-earth-element cerium (scientifically labeled as Y3
). The material was evolved from the phosphor used for CRTs and was first synthesized in 1967.
In operation, the LED’s blue photons are absorbed by atoms or molecules in the YAG phosphor, raising the constituent electrons to a higher energy level. The electrons then rapidly fall back to a lower level by re-emitting the energy partially as a photon of a longer wavelength (a little red, some green, and a lot of yellow) than the absorbed photon and partially as heat. (See the TechZone article “Whiter, Brighter LEDs
The primarily yellow emission from YAG phosphor and the blue radiation directly from the LED that “leaks” through a YAG:Ce coating combines to give a good approximation of white light.
The phenomenon behind the transformation of blue light to “white” light by absorption and re-emission from phosphor is known as Stokes shift, named after Irish physicist George G. Stokes who described the effect in an 1852 paper. Figure 1 shows how the Stokes shift occurs via the absorption and emission curves for YAG phosphor.
Figure 1: Absorption and emission spectra for YAG phosphor exposed to blue light.¹
Figure 2 shows the relative spectral emission curve for a modern white LED using YAG phosphor (in this case an OSRAM OSLON SSL 150 LED producing 136 lm (forward current 350 mA, forward voltage 3.1 V) at an efficacy of 125 lm/W. The dashed line is the eye’s sensitivity function and illustrates how the eye reacts to different wavelengths of light. Although the first peak (corresponding to blue photons directly from the LED) is larger, it is less noticeable because the eye is not very sensitive to light of this wavelength. (See the TechZone article “Royal Blue LEDs: Decoding the Datasheet
.”) In contrast, the photons emitted by the phosphor are centered on 560 nm — the point at which the eye best senses light.
Figure 2: Spectral emission curve for a modern white LED (OSRAM OSLON SSL 150).
Because it is a proven technology producing acceptable results, the properties of YAG represent a benchmark for other LED phosphors. Not only does YAG phosphor strongly absorb blue photons, it also has a fast “decay time” (the time it takes for an electron that has absorbed a blue photon to “give up” the energy as a yellow photon and heat) that prevents a phenomenon known as saturation quenching. This is a process whereby normally emitted photons are “overwhelmed” and prevented from escaping by a high photon flux within the phosphor matrix.
YAG phosphor has a number of other advantages for LED applications. First, the quantum efficiency (a measure of the total output photon energy from the phosphor compared to the input photon energy from the LED) of YAG phosphor under blue LED excitation is around a healthy 80 percent. Second, researchers report that there are no indications that YAG phosphor degrades under long-term blue LED excitation or exposure to moisture. Lastly, the synthesis of YAG phosphor is relatively straightforward and uses the same high-purity precursors (Y2
) that have been qualified for many years for use in traditional CRT phosphors.²
The drawbacks of YAG phosphor
Despite its proven performance for LEDs though, YAG phosphor is not perfect. Two practical problems are “temperature quenching” and relatively low chemical stability.
The causes of temperature quenching are tricky to grasp, but in layman’s terms, elevated temperatures cause the electrons that would normally absorb the blue photon (and then emit a yellow one) to “go missing” (in other words the atoms are ionized). YAG phosphor suffers from temperature quenching at around 200°C, not unusually high for an LED during normal operation.
Moreover, the material’s low chemical stability puts a limit on LED lifetime (defined as the point at which the device’s luminosity has declined to less the 70 percent of its output when new). Manufacturers counter this argument by pointing out that modern white LEDs are capable of operating for 30,000 hours or even longer, but researchers suggest that this is measured under “ideal” operating conditions and the chemical instability could compromise performance for devices used in harsh environments.
However, perhaps the biggest challenges for YAG phosphor are aesthetic ones. Solid-state lighting makers are keen for consumers to embrace the technology, but one common complaint is that white LEDs produce a “harsh” light with little of the “warmth” delivered by traditional incandescent lighting. This perception is due to the fact that YAG phosphor produces a “bluish” white light with little red content. The result is light with a high CCT (5000 to 8300 K)
The lack of significant red wavelengths introduces another problem for YAG phosphor-powered devices: poor CRI. CRI is a measure of how well an illumination source reproduces an object’s color compared to sunlight (which has a CRI of 100.) Despite their other obvious drawbacks, incandescent bulbs have a CRI of around 95. In comparison, cool-white LEDs typically have a CRI of 70 to 80. (See the TechZone articles “Defining the Color Characteristics of White LEDs
” and “What Is the Color Rendering Index and Why Is It Important?
” for more on CCT and CRI.)
LED makers have addressed the CCT and CRI challenges to some extent by mixing the YAG phosphor with another phosphor that adds red wavelengths, extending CCT to warmer zones and improving CRI. Substituting a blue LED for an ultraviolet one can make further improvements to CCT and CRI. LED makers offer commercial ultraviolet products for this purpose. For example, Philips Lumileds offers an ultraviolet version of its Luxeon LED. The device emits light of a wavelength between 395 and 400 nm and offers a minimum radiant intensity of 525 mW/sr at 500 mA. (For reasons to do with the eye’s inability to see ultraviolet light, ultraviolet LEDs are rated in terms of radiant intensity (watts/steradian) rather than the more familiar efficacy (lm/W) figures quoted for white LEDs.)
The major drawback of adding the “red” phosphor is a reduction in LED efficacy. Worse yet, the red phosphor’s temperature-quenching threshold is even lower than YAG phosphor, further compromising efficacy at typical LED operating temperatures.
Cree’s Xlamp® XT-E white LEDs operate at 350 mA and 2.85 V, but the cool-white (5000 K) version boasts a luminosity of 135 lm and an efficacy of 135 lm/W, while the warm white (2700 K) comes in at 97 lm and 97 lm/W, respectively. Other manufacturers’ warm-white products exhibit similar lower efficacies compared with their cool-white devices.
Figure 3 illustrates the difference between CCTs and CRIs for a blue LED and YAG phosphor and an ultraviolet LED combined with a mix of YAG phosphor and a red phosphor.
Figure 3: Combining an ultraviolet LED with yellow/red phosphor improves CCT range and CRI but at the expense of efficacy.³
Improving phosphor efficacy
The pursuit of LED efficacy has been a key driver of solid-state lighting component development for the major manufacturers over the last decade-and-a-half. Dramatic improvements have been made both in the initial generation of photons and then in their extraction from the die. (See the TechZone article “Material and Manufacturing Improvements Enhance LED Efficiency
.”) The last thing the manufacturers want is for the relatively poor conversion efficiency of the red phosphor to compromise the luminosity of their warm-white LEDs.
Consequently, phosphor manufacturers are stepping up to the challenge to produce new materials that promise to form commercial phosphors with higher conversion efficiency while supporting a wide CCT range and good CRI. Among the most promising candidates are nitride and oxynitride materials that replace the electroluminescent properties of cerium with another rare element, the metal Europium (Eu).
Many of these new phosphors can be excited with violet or blue LEDs and match both the room and high-temperature quantum efficiency of YAG:Ce phosphor. In addition, the nitride phosphors do not degrade under high-temperature/high-humidity conditions, making them suitable for LED lighting used in harsh environments.
One family of efficient oxynitride phosphors is the MSi2
+ (where M = Ca2+
) compositions whose emission ranges from 575 to 675 nm with a quantum efficiency of greater than 85 percent at a temperature exceeding 200°C (Figure 4). The yellow, orange, and red Eu2+
emissions from these nitride phosphors can be combined with YAG:Ce for warm-white LEDs of higher efficacy than current commercial products. Phosphor blends of YAG:Ce and CaAlSiN3
combined with blue LEDs have already been used to manufacture high-CRI warm-white lamps.
Figure 4: Nitride and oxynitride materials show promise as high-quantum-efficiency phosphors for warm-white LEDs.²
One drawback is that while these new materials have significant potential, synthesizing them is much more difficult than for traditional phosphors. However, that has not stopped some enterprising manufacturers from commercializing nitride phosphors. Intematix added red nitride materials to its phosphor portfolio in 2011. The company’s phosphor targets efficient warm-white LEDs for general lighting with the added bonus for customers of freeing them from some patent licensing issues.
The company claims that the new phosphor will allow the lighting market to create warm-white applications with much higher efficacy and better CRI (up to 98) than traditional YAG phosphor solutions. Use of the new phosphors is said to enable customers to (legally) circumvent certain patents pertaining to the application of YAG phosphor to an LED package that would otherwise attract a licensing fee.
High-efficiency warm-white LEDs coming soon
LEDs have seen dramatic increases in efficacy as manufacturers seek to convince consumers that solid-state lighting is a practical alternative to traditional illumination. However, further gains in photon production and light extraction are proving hard to find, so LED makers are increasingly turning their attention to other aspects of a chip’s characteristics in search of better performance.
One such aspect is phosphors, particularly those used to add red wavelengths to white LEDs’ output in order to make the devices appear warmer. Conventional solutions extend a product’s CCT and CRI, meeting consumer demand for a wide range of temperature choices and faithful color reproduction, but negate some of the hard-won efficacy gained from the introduction of other technologies.
Work on a new range of phosphors, based on nitrides and oxynitrides doped with Europium, promises to yield new materials offering good CCT and CRI, but with quantum efficiencies on par (or better) with the pure YAG phosphor used in contemporary, highly efficient cool-white LEDs. Some of the materials are now being introduced into the market and engineers should expect a new generation of more efficient warm-white LEDs to follow soon.
For more information about the devices described in this article, use the links provided to access component details on the Digi-Key website.
- “Studies on Luminescence and Quenching Mechanisms in Phosphors for Light Emitting Diodes,” Volker Michael Bachmann, University of Utrecht
- “Phosphors for LED-based Solid-State Lighting,” Anant A. Setlur, Interface, The Electrochemical Society, Winter 2009.
- “What Are the Limits for SSL?,” Shuji Nakamura, University of California, Santa Barbara, February 2010.
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Archaeologists have discovered remains of a communal eating and drinking place what was possibly a Roman bar in ancient Mediterranean France. The tavern dates back to anywhere between 125 and 75BC.
The structure is located at the ancient port city of Lattara in southern France. According to archaeologists, local inhabitants of Lattara earned their livelihood through farming. As Romans conquered the place in the late second century BC, the region's economy saw changes in terms of new kinds of jobs and dining outside could be one of them.
"If you're not growing your own food, where are you going to eat?," archaeologist and co-author of the study Benjamin Luley of Gettysburg College in the US state of Pennsylvania said, according to USA Today. "The Romans, in a very practical Roman way, had a very practical solution ... a tavern," he added.
Luley and his co-researcher, Gaël Piquès of France's National Center for Scientific Research, first thought that they had found an ancient Roman bakery as remains of three ovens typically used for baking bread were uncovered during excavation of one of the rooms of the 2,100-year-old complex.
However, earthen benches lining the walls and a charcoal-burning fireplace in the middle of the floor found in another room suggest that the complex was a sit-down joint.
Debris of fancy drinking bowls and bones of fish, sheep and cattle were found scattered on the floor further hinting that the place was a drinking place that also served food, what is now called a pub, the researchers noted. The drinking bowls were probably imported from Italy, they added.
The dining complex is dubbed one of the first-of-its-kind to be found in the region. The discovery is significant to understand the social change in the region following Roman invasion.
"Despite being institutions of major social importance throughout the Roman world, taverns remain poorly understood archaeologically. The identification of one such possible tavern at the Iron Age and Roman site of Lattara in Mediterranean France is hence a discovery of special significance," archaeologists wrote in their study published in the February 2016 issue of the journal Antiquity.
"Not only is the tavern the earliest of its kind in the region, it also serves as an invaluable indicator of the changing social and economic infrastructure of the settlement and its inhabitants following the Roman conquest of Mediterranean Gaul in the late second century BC," they claimed.
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ST. PAUL, Minn. - Getting a cold, stomach bug or other infection may lead to increased memory loss in people with Alzheimer's disease, according to research published in the September 8, 2009, print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.
The study found that people who had respiratory, gastrointestinal or other infections or even bumps and bruises from a fall were more likely to have high blood levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, a protein involved in the inflammatory process, and were also more likely to experience memory loss or other types of cognitive decline than people who did not have infections and who had low levels of the protein.
The blood levels and cognitive abilities of 222 people with Alzheimer's disease with an average age of 83 were measured at the beginning of the study and three more times over six months. Caregivers were interviewed to determine whether the participants had experienced any infections or accidental injury that could lead to inflammation.
A total of 110 people experienced an infection or injury that led to inflammation during the study. Those people experienced memory loss that was at twice the rate of those who did not have infections or injuries.
People who had high levels of the protein in their blood at the beginning of the study, which may indicate chronic inflammation, had memory loss at four times the rate of those with low levels of the protein at the start of the study. Those who had high levels of the protein at the start of the study who also experienced acute infections during the study had memory loss at 10 times the rate of those who started with low levels and had no infections over the six-month period.
"One might guess that people with a more rapid rate of cognitive decline are more susceptible to infections or injury, but we found no evidence to suggest that people with more severe dementia were more likely to have infections or injuries at the beginning of the study," said study author Clive Holmes, MRCPsych, PhD, of the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom. "More research needs to be done to understand the role of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the brain, but it's possible that finding a way to reduce those levels could be beneficial for people with Alzheimer's disease."
The study was supported by the Alzheimer's Society in London, UK.
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 21,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to promoting the highest quality patient-centered neurologic care through education and research. A neurologist is a doctor with specialized training in diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as epilepsy, dystonia, migraine, Huntington's disease, and dementia.
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| 0.978603 | 543 | 2.765625 | 3 |
|MadSci Network: Chemistry|
There is definitely a chemical change taking place during baking, and that is the conversion of baking soda (sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3) to carbon dioxide (CO2). This is what causes the cake to rise, as the carbon dioxide bubbles get trapped within the cake.
I can also see your point about a physical change, as the cake mix goes from being a gooey liquid to being solid. The cake mix is a mixture of all your ingredients (flour, egg, cocoa, sugar etc) in water. As the cake is baked, the water evaporates. The evaporation is a physical change.
So, in conclusion, you were right. The baking of a cake/bread/pancakes involves both physical AND chemical changes.
University of Technology, Sydney
Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Chemistry.
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| 0.931891 | 190 | 3.3125 | 3 |
Henry’s first week of school and they’re already learning shapes!
Henry knows the basic shapes, but drawing them, or making them might be a different story. He’s getting much more into it though and I’m loving that he’s trying!
I found some learning activities for shapes on It’s Playtime:
(above, clockwise from top-left)
- Timeless Adventures works on fine motor skills while learning shapes with these sticker shapes. Henry’s been doing sticker names this week at school, so shapes would be a cool addition!
- Laura Ingalls Wannabe put magnets on craft sticks and the shape possibilities are endless!
- Creative Themes take shape learning to nature and sorts shells by their shape!
- Craft Mom Share goes 3D and makes 3D geometry shapes with straws and string.
Fill every week with activities using the planner.
Receive access to the free activity planner and keep the fun going! You'll also receive activities every week in your email. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Do you browse Pinterest and pin activities......but find that you never actually do them with you kids?
I created these activity plans that are actually doable and a super quick way to be more present with my kids.
Get the complete resource of activities: Activity plans that are doable and a super quick way to be present with your kids. Click here for more information.
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| 0.956604 | 304 | 2.890625 | 3 |
High-altitude winds might not be the potential source of power that some bold thinkers had hoped – and grabbing even the smaller-than-expected power that is available could wreck the planet’s climate. Those are the conclusions of German scientists, who based their pessimistic view on atmospheric energetics and climate simulation models.
Yes, four to 10 miles above earth the jet stream moves at a constant speed of more than 55 mph, the Max Planck institute researchers said. But one of the factors that allows the air to move so quickly and consistently also explains why high-altitude winds could have scant wind-power value: There’s very little friction at those altitudes, the researchers said. That means it takes only small amounts of energy to drive the winds, which in turns means there’s actually very little power available for turbines to grab.
“It is precisely this low energy requirement that limits the potential for using the jet streams as a source of renewable energy,” Axel Kleidon, head of the Independent Max Planck Research Group on Biospheric Theory and Modelling, said in a statement.
Kleidon said his group estimated that jet streams have an output of 7.5 terawatts (one terawatt equals a million megawatts). “This means that they generate 200 times less usable wind energy than stated in previous studies, and only about half of humankind’s primary energy requirements, which totaled about 17 terawatts in the year 2010,” the researchers said.
What’s more, the researchers said, grabbing high-altitude energy would alter the balance of forces in Earth’s atmosphere to potentially disastrous effect. “If we used wind turbines to take 7.5 terawatts out of the atmosphere at the level of the jet streams, about 300 terawatts less energy would be generated in the atmosphere as a whole,” said Lee Miller, lead author of the study. “This would have a drastic impact on temperature and weather.”
The researchers’ paper, “Jet stream wind power as a renewable energy resource: little power, big impacts” [PDF], was published in the journal Earth System Dynamics.
Related on EarthTechling:
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Scientists and Students Building Machines That Can 'See'
UNH News Bureau
DURHAM, N.H. -- Machines that see could soon help police investigate crime scenes or doctors examine cells for signs of disease.
Sound like science fiction? It isn't. At the University of New Hampshire's
Synthetic Vision and Pattern Analysis Lab, professors and students are
already working on these and other cutting-edge technologies.
"Synthetic vision, or machine vision, creates a system that mimics how
humans see and perceive data," says lab director Richard Messner, associate
professor of electrical and computer engineering. The human eye takes
light reflected off an object and focuses that light onto the retina.
Photoreceptor cells transfer the image into electrochemical impulses that
are sent to the brain, where "seeing" occurs. Similarly, synthetic vision
involves using machines and computers to acquire images, digitize and
compress the data into electrical signals, transmit those signals to a
processor, and then reconstruct the image.
Synthetic vision and pattern analysis research has enabled the development
of now-common office fixtures like the photocopier, FAX machine and scanner,
as well as medical tests like the CAT scan and MRI. The technology involved
"Take this computer component," says Messner, fingering a gizmo half
the size of a business card. "It's used to power a machine that allows
doctors to see inside arteries during cardiac catheterization. It performs
about 30 million computations per second to provide real-time processed
images from inside the body, which makes it possible for the doctor to
perform this procedure."
Synthetic vision engineering requires the compression of huge amounts
of information before it can be transmitted. Messner is researching new
compression schemes that will have implications for all types of technologies.
As an example, he cites the ability to broadcast real-time video images
over the Web with greater clarity.
"The Web uses what's called bandwidth to carry information," says Messner.
"It's like a pipe. To increase the water flow, you can increase the diameter
of the pipe or the speed -- the pressure -- at which the water flows.
I'm working on both challenges."
Messner's students are using the same cutting-edge technologies. Senior
Richard Lynch built a camera last semester that now broadcasts real-time
campus images over the Web. He designed the machine, built it, and wrote
the computer code that makes it operational. People with Web access can
go to http://svpal1.unh.edu/skycam
and, with the click of their mouse, "point" the camera in almost an direction
and zoom in or out for live campus video.
UNH graduate Tony Pawlak, another student of Messner, laid the groundwork
for a machine that takes video images of cells and processes the image
data for doctors to review. His work involved categorizing cells that
indicate Huntington's disease. According to Messner, the "beauty" of the
system, once it's complete, is that different computer programs can be
used to help doctors distinguish various genetic diseases.
Messner is also developing advanced technologies for law enforcement
with colleague Tom Miller, professor of electrical and computer engineering.
The project is funded by a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of
Justice. He will lend his expertise in developing such devices as fingerprint
scanners and real-time surveillance cameras.
It's hard to imagine life today without machines that can "see," -- and
harder still to imagine what lies ahead. Retina scans instead of passwords,
video phones in every household, 3-D photographs. All are possible --
and could very well be the result of work done at UNH.
June 12, 2000
Back to unh.edu.
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ez049617 at rocky.ucdavis.edu
Tue Aug 27 16:53:01 EST 1996
Perry d'Obrenan (perry_dobrenan at darwin.biochem.ualberta.ca) wrote:
: Can anyone tell me what causes a dwarf plant to remain in dwarf form? For
: example, a Nest Spruce?
I do not know about Nest Spruce but it is common for dwarfing to be
caused by a mutation in genes involved in giberellin synthesis.
Giberellin is a plant hormone that among other things causes elongation
of internodes. I have been told that this mutation occurs spontaneouly
and rather frequently in certain evergreen trees and is responsible for
the "witches broom" at the top of some trees.
More information about the Plantbio
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| 0.910149 | 185 | 2.828125 | 3 |
Meanwhile, a similar story was unfolding oceans away. During World War II, under constant threat of bombings, the British had a great need to distinguish incoming aircraft quickly and accurately. Which aircraft were British planes coming home and which were German planes coming to bomb? Several airplane enthusiasts had proved to be excellent “spotters,” so the military eagerly employed their services. These spotters were so valuable that the government quickly tried to enlist more spotters—but they turned out to be rare and difficult to find. The government therefore tasked the spotters with training others.
It was a grim attempt. The spotters tried to explain their strategies but failed. No one got it, not even the spotters themselves. Like the chicken sexers, the spotters had little idea how they did what they did—they simply saw the right answer.
With a little ingenuity, the British finally figured out how to successfully train new spotters: by trial-and-error feedback. A novice would hazard a guess and an expert would say yes or no. Eventually the novices became, like their mentors, vessels of the mysterious, ineffable expertise.
The Knowledge Gap
There can be a large gap between knowledge and awareness. When we examine skills that are not amenable to introspection, the first surprise is that implicit memory is completely separable from explicit memory: You can damage one without hurting the other.
Consider patients with anterograde amnesia, who cannot consciously recall new experiences in their lives. If you spend an afternoon trying to teach them the video game Tetris, they will tell you the next day that they have no recollection of the experience, that they have never seen this game before—and, most likely, that they have no idea who you are, either. But if you look at their performance on the game the next day, you’ll find that they have improved exactly as much as nonamnesiacs. Implicitly their brains have learned the game: The knowledge is simply not accessible to their consciousness. (Interestingly, if you wake up an amnesic patient during the night after he has played Tetris, he’ll report that he was dreaming of colorful falling blocks but will have no idea why.)
Of course, it’s not just sexers and spotters and amnesiacs who enjoy unconscious learning. Essentially everything about your interaction with the world rests on this process. You may have a difficult time putting into words the characteristics of your father’s walk, or the shape of his nose, or the way he laughs—but when you see someone who walks, looks, or laughs the way he does, you know it immediately.
One of the most impressive features of brains—and especially human brains—is the flexibility to learn almost any kind of task that comes their way. Give an apprentice the desire to impress his master in a chicken-sexing task and his brain devotes its massive resources to distinguishing males from females. Give an unemployed aviation enthusiast a chance to be a national hero and his brain learns to distinguish enemy aircraft from local flyboys. This flexibility of learning accounts for a large part of what we consider human intelligence. While many animals are properly called intelligent, humans distinguish themselves in that they are so flexibly intelligent, fashioning their neural circuits to match the task at hand. It is for this reason that we can colonize every region on the planet, learn the local language we’re born into, and master skills as diverse as playing the violin, high-jumping, and operating space shuttle cockpits.
The Liar in Your Head
On December 31, 1974, Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas was debilitated by a stroke that paralyzed his left side and confined him to a wheelchair. But Justice Douglas demanded to be checked out of the hospital on the grounds that he was fine. He declared that reports of his paralysis were “a myth.” When reporters expressed skepticism, he invited them to join him for a hike, a move interpreted as absurd. He even claimed to be kicking football field goals with his paralyzed leg. As a result of this apparently delusional behavior, Douglas was dismissed from his seat on the Supreme Court.
What Douglas experienced is called anosognosia. This term describes a total lack of awareness about an impairment. It’s not that Justice Douglas was lying—his brain actually believed that he could move just fine. But shouldn’t the contradicting evidence alert those with anosognosia to a problem? It turns out that alerting the system to contradictions relies on particular brain regions, especially one called the anterior cingulate cortex. Because of these conflict-monitoring regions, incompatible ideas will result in one side or another’s winning: The brain either constructs a story that makes them compatible or ignores one side of the debate. In special circumstances of brain damage, this arbitration system can be damaged, and then conflict can cause no trouble to the conscious mind.
Now Batting: Your Subconscious
On August 20, 1974, in a game between the California Angels and the Detroit Tigers, The Guinness Book of Records clocked Nolan Ryan’s fastball at 100.9 miles per hour. If you work the numbers, you’ll see that Ryan’s pitch departs the mound and crosses home plate—60 feet, 6 inches away—in four-tenths of a second. This gives just enough time for light signals from the baseball to hit the batter’s eye, work through the circuitry of the retina, activate successions of cells along the loopy superhighways of the visual system at the back of the head, cross vast territories to the motor areas, and modify the contraction of the muscles swinging the bat. Amazingly, this entire sequence is possible in less than four-tenths of a second; otherwise no one would ever hit a fastball. But even more surprising is that conscious awareness takes longer than that: about half a second. So the ball travels too rapidly for batters to be consciously aware of it.
One does not need to be consciously aware to perform sophisticated motor acts. You can notice this when you begin to duck from a snapping tree branch before you are aware that it’s coming toward you, or when you’re already jumping up when you first become aware of a phone’s ring.
Reprinted by arrangement with Pantheon Books, a division of Random House, Inc., from Incognito by David Eagleman. Copyright © 2011 by David Eagleman.
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Seaweed as a Lawn and Garden Fertiliser: The Benefits and Uses
Seaweed is largely under-appreciated in the gardening world, classed merely as a soil conditioner or a fertiliser. Its benefits are so extensive, though, that it really should be given top billing as part of any maintenance programme for the growing of plants.
Seaweed contains over sixty minerals and trace elements, along with numerous bio stimulants, and it also contains iodene which is an excellent disease suppressant. As you can probably tell, I’m a bit of a fan of our sea-borne, slippery friend, and no wonder. All of the above reason contribute to make seaweed a top class supplement for both grass and garden.
The Wonder of Seaweed in Your Garden
Seaweed can be used as a fertiliser or soil conditioner in many different forms, for example:
- Seaweed can be dug into your soil in it’s raw form, straight from the beach
- Seaweed can be dried and either granulated or powdered
- the goodness can be extracted from seaweed to form a concentrated seaweed liquid.
In modern fertilizer use, liquid seaweed makes a highly efficient base for the nutrition of a wide variety of plants. This is because it can be safely mixed with most of the commonly used sources of nitrogen, phosphate and pottassium, along with supplements like iron. The seaweed stimulates the soil bacteria which, in turn, helps to release much of the nutrient content. In many cases these nutrients are fixed in the soil and not available to plants, whether you’re feeding grass, tomatoes, vegetables or flowers. Seaweed combats this, helping you to make the most of any nutrients being applied, and reducing the quantity required for healthy growth.
To add to the list of benefits, seaweed is also valuable in helping to break down organic matter. This is a particular benefit when treating turf, where thatch can be a serious problem if not managed properly. Finally, as if we haven’t heard enough about the wonders of seaweed, it’s also very high quality food supplement for both animals and humans. But, let’s not get greedy – before we go and eat up our entire supply, let’s first deal with its uses and benefits on our lawn and garden.
Seaweed Fertiliser: Discovering the Benefits
The benefits of using seaweed on plants was first discovered many years ago by farmers living and working beside the sea. They would harvest the seaweed from the shore as it was washed in by storms, then spread it on the land prior to planting the crops. The benefits were particularly noticeable on potatoes, always susceptible to disease, as the fields treated with the seaweed consistantly produced better crops with very clean skins.
One side effect to seaweed use was the presence of a very distinctive flavour in the potatoes, something quite noticeable when compared to normal potatoes. This is something that is no longer an issue, though, now that farmers have access to very easy-to-apply granular fertilisers. This variation of the seaweed fertiliser doesn’t have the same side effect, the strange taste disappearing during drying or granulation.
The seaweed fertiliser was also found to improve soil quality over a number of years. This is now known to be because the alginates act as a floculator, breaking down heavy soils into a crumbly free draining material. Conversely, almost fifty percent of the seaweeds constituents are humous forming, so light sandy soils become more fertile and less prone to drought damage.
How Can Seaweed Help Your Garden?
As you will see from the pictures above, seaweed can work wonders for your garden in many different ways. The following are examples of how seaweed can be used to help you in your garden:
- Flowers tend to produce more vibrant colours with application of seaweed
- Vegetables produce healthier disease free crops
- Seaweed treated Grass will be greener and produce a healthy dense sward, providing other maintenance work is carried out correctly
- Seaweed helps to prevent club root and blossom end rot
- Seaweed will prevent blight and scab on potatoes
- Dusting plants with seaweed powder deters blackfly and greenfly
- Carrots applied with the seaweed dust seldom suffer damage from carrotfly
Applying Seaweed Fertiliser to your Garden
If you are lucky enough to have access to fresh seaweed it can be spread straight onto the garden. Although it can be dug into the drills fresh with potatoes, the best way is to collect it during Autumn and Winter when stormy seas will provide you with ample material. Then you can spread it onto the surface of the vegetable garden where it will break down a little over the cold season, suppressing weeds as an added bonus. Then, when spring comes around, you can dig the material straight into the soil.
Seaweed can also be used as a mulch in and around shrub beds, annual and perennial borders, where it will break down slowly, releasing nutrients into the soil, while again acting as a natural weed suppressant. The one exception would be to avoid treating rhododendrons, azealias and other acid loving ericacious plants. This is because seaweed creates quite alkaline conditions, not conducive to these types of plants.
I hope you enjoyed my guide to seaweed, it’s benefits and where you can use it in your garden. Next week I’ll be posting an article on the different types of seaweed products that are currently available to the home gardening and lawn care market. I hope you come back to find out more.
Update: You can now find this article here: What Seaweed Fertiliser is Right For Your Garden
If you have any experience of using seaweed yourself, I’d love to hear about it. Please leave me a comment in the comments area below, letting me know what you think about seaweed for lawn and garden care. Your experience would be much appreciated.
Latest posts by Duncan Gray (Posts)
- A Definitive Guide to Maintaining a Bowling Green - March 3, 2015
- A Full Year’s Maintenance of a Bowling Green - March 3, 2015
- To Turf or Seed Your New Lawn? A Quick guide. - March 17, 2014
- Fighting Bowling Green Dry Patch & Compaction: The Seaweed Cure - September 18, 2013
- Annual Lawn Care Schedule: Grass Maintenance Through the Year - February 11, 2013
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By Jorn Madslien
BBC News, Lovozero, Russia
Bored youths kick a football against a grey concrete wall. A husky dog languishes in the quiet street. In this town, where many would struggle to pay for a bus ticket, there are hardly any cars.
Most Sami have been forced to quit their nomadic lives
"The last villagers came to Lovozero in 1968," says Nina Afanasyeva. "But there were no jobs for them."
These days, some make traditional garments and souvenirs for the occasional tourist. And the Tundra reindeer farm cooperative provides some 300 jobs.
Yet the majority of the Kola peninsula's indigenous people are unemployed, and in most cases reindeer herding is no longer an option.
Instead, many spend their days in cramped apartments or in shacks on the edge of town, where vodka is their only comfort.
"People were promised apartments with modern conveniences, but only three people from my village got that," says Ms Afanasyeva, a Sami elder.
"The rest moved in with other families. To this day, many still haven't got their own place."
Miners and soldiers
The deserted and seemingly endless potholed road to Lovozero cuts through a landscape of vast lakes and forests that has changed little since the nomadic Sami people arrived on the Kola peninsula some 5,000 years ago.
The vast arctic tundra provided good grazing for their reindeer, so they quickly fanned out across invisible borders to the west, into neighbouring Norway, Finland and Sweden.
Over time, borders were drawn and strict controls were introduced. Then, during the Cold War, the border between Russia and the West was closed. Contact between Russian and Nordic Sami people was completely cut off.
The Sami people's traditional way of life has been under assault for decades as they have been gradually forced off arctic Russia's fertile tundra grazing-land and into artificially created towns.
Much of the displacement was caused by a steady expansion of industry, forestry and mining, and the arrival of hundreds of thousands of workers from other parts of the Soviet Union - many of them arriving as forced labourers in Gulag camps.
Then, during the Cold War, Sami coastal fishermen were ordered to move away from the shores of the Barents Sea, which is currently littered with secretive navy installations, and reindeer herders were forced away from a 200-mile exclusion zone that ran along the Cold War frontier.
To this day, the few who still herd reindeer complain about bored and hungry soldiers who use their machine guns to shoot their animals.
Urban Sami, meanwhile, bemoan the way powerful tourist companies prevent them carrying out their fishing traditions in Voronya River or Lovozero Lake.
"We are not used to private property rights, and we are not used to competing," laments Vatonena Lyubov, vice president of the Association of Kola Sami.
"We will never regain our grazing lands and our rivers."
Both the Kola peninsula's mineral riches and its geographical location, on the shores of the Barents Sea, make matters worse for the indigenous people.
Existing mining and smelting activities have destroyed vast areas, and given the sharply rising demand for minerals these activities are set to expand fast in the near future.
Add to that the many nuclear power plants and nuclear waste heaps that litter the peninsula, and the Sami people's future looks bleak.
Even the oil and gas industry threatens to encroach on their territory.
For years, there was talk of a pipeline connecting Siberian oil fields via Archangel, across the White Sea and Kola, to the ice-free ports in Murmansk.
And plans are under way to build a gas pipeline across Kola to link Barents Sea gas fields with the European pipelines further south.
"Other organisations with strong lobby groups, such as Gazprom, the tourism industry and mining companies, want access to the resources," says Ms Lyubov.
"We don't have much experience with capitalism and we never understood communism," she adds.
"We understand we will be the losers in any conflict, so we try to avoid them."
Such fatalism is widespread among the Sami, though it is not shared by everyone.
In the middle of Lovozero's concrete jungle, the Sami flag is flying proudly over a cultural centre that was built in 2003.
From here, the formerly forbidden Sami language is spoken on the airwaves via the nation's own radio studios.
This is mission control for those who want to preserve Sami traditions and culture.
"The first public protest by Sami people took place in 1998, when a Swedish company wanted an open-pit gold mine nearby, in the heart of the grazing lands," says Larisa Avdeyeva, daughter of an activist reindeer herder.
"We think the region's resources belong to the Sami people," she says as she shows off traditional costumes that were banned during Soviet times, only to be painstakingly recreated from photographs in recent years.
"Our nation should have a share of the oil and gas, minerals and forestry profits."
With only 1,600 Sami people left in Russia, such a territorial claim could - in the unlikely event that it was successful - make them all very wealthy, but Ms Avdeyeva insists their claim is not about money.
Instead the Sami are fighting a perhaps futile battle for the right to decide when, if at all, they should join a supposedly civilised world.
If Ms Avdeyeva's sentiment is anything to go by, it will not happen anytime soon.
"The Sami cannot live without reindeer," she says.
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Table of Contents
- Kidney pain facts
- What are the kidneys?
- Where are the kidneys located?
- What is the function of the kidneys?
- What are symptoms and signs are associated with kidney pain?
- What are some of the kidney conditions and diseases that cause kidney pain?
- When should someone see a doctor about kidney pain?
- What are common tests are available to diagnose kidney diseases?
- What is the treatment for kidney pain?
Kidney pain facts
- The function and purpose of the kidneys are to remove excess fluid and waste products from the body.
- The kidneys are organs that are located in the upper abdominal area against the back muscles on both the left and right side of the body.
- Kidney pain and back pain can be difficult to distinguish, but kidney pain is usually deeper and higher in the back located under the ribs while the muscle pain with common back injury tends to be lower in the back.
- Causes of kidney pain are mainly urinary tract infections and kidney stones. However, there are many other causes of kidney pain, including penetrating and blunt trauma that can result in a "lacerated kidney."
- If a woman is pregnant and has kidney pain, she should contact her doctor.
- Symptoms of kidney pain may include
- Kidney pain can be on the left, right, or both sides.
- Causes of kidney pain are diagnosed with the patient's history, physical examination, and lab tests, including blood, pregnancy, and urine tests. A CT scan or MRI of the abdomen and pelvis may be ordered.
- Treatment for the cause of kidney pain depends upon the underlying cause, but in general, ibuprofen (Motrin), ketorolac (Toradol), and/or acetaminophen (Tylenol) are used for pain. Antibiotics are usually required if the underlying cause is bacterial infection.
- Kidney pain can be prevented by avoiding those situations that are the underlying causes of kidney infection and/or damage.
- The prognosis for someone with kidney pain depends upon the cause, and the majority of patients can have a good outcome when treated quickly and appropriately. Continue Reading
Wolf, J. "Causes of flank pain." Medscape. Updated Dec 01, 2015.
National Kidney Foundation. "How Your Kidneys Work."
Urology Care Foundation. "Kidney (Renal) Trauma." <http://www.urologyhealth.org/urologic-conditions/kidney-(renal)-trauma>.
1. Getty Images
2. Getty Images
3. Getty Images
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What are the basic concepts of executive organization and management? How does executive organization affect management? How can executive organization and management be improved? In Making Government Manageable, Thomas H. Stanton and Benjamin Ginsberg bring together a distinguished group of authorities from both the academic and political worlds to explore problems relating to the organization and management of government. The authors begin with a brief overview of the development of executive organization and management to the present day. They then offer examples of problems in federal department organization and management. They also raise the question of the effectiveness of third-party government—cases in which the private sector under contract with the government performs services for which the government is responsible and, in the process, makes policy for which the government becomes responsible. The authors conclude with a discussion of cases in which agencies have enjoyed some measure of success through reforming and reorganizing their internal structures and processes.Contributors: Murray Comarow, National Academy of Public Administration; Matthew A. Crenson, the Johns Hopkins University; Alan L. Dean, National Academy of Public Administration; Dan Guttman, The Johns Hopkins University and the National Academy of Public Administration; Dwight Ink, Institute of Public Administration; Ronald C. Moe, the Johns Hopkins University and National Academy of Public Administration; Sallyanne Payton, University of Michigan Law School; Beryl A. Radin, University of Baltimore and National Academy of Public Administration; Harold Seidman, formerly U.S. Bureau of the Budget; Barbara S. Wamsley, National Academy of Public Administration and the Johns Hopkins University.
Back to top
Rent Making Government Manageable 1st edition today, or search our site for other textbooks by Benjamin Ginsberg. Every textbook comes with a 21-day "Any Reason" guarantee. Published by Johns Hopkins University Press.
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Images of Earth's Moon
We have several different types of pictures for you to enjoy:
- captured from video
- Ektachrome 200 slide
taken by student Dan Holland through the
10-inch Meade telescope with f/6.3 focal reducer,
exposure time 1/125 sec, on Apr 26, 21:15 EDT, 1999.
- Pictures taken through the 16-inch telescope with a big Kodak
- Pictures taken during the lunar eclipse
of October 27, 2004.
- A picture taken by NTID student Yesenia Ballesteros during
her Astronomy Lab class on Sep 23, 2007.
She simply pointed her camera into the eyepiece of
our Meade Newtonian reflector.
- A mosaic made from eight photographs taken on August 26, 2009,
using a Nikon D50 camera and the Celestron 14-inch telescope
at cass focus. Exposure time was 1/160 second.
program was used to stitch together the individual photographs.
During a public observing night on Friday, April 23, 1999,
Phil LaRock brought a Kodak DCS-620 digital camera to the
RIT Observatory. We hooked it up to the 16-inch Autoscope
and took pictures of the 7-day old moon.
Below are a selection of the images:
Back to Astronomical
Back to RIT Observatory homepage
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In the beginning, Texas Instruments found a solid formula to produce a graphing calculator.
The TI-81, the first of Texas Instrumentís graphing calculators, was released in 1990, and had a 2MHz version of the widely popular Zilog Z80 microprocessor with just 2.4 kB of RAM. These calculators could solve trigonometric, exponential, logarithmic functions, etc., numerically, and produce graphs plus perform many Linear Algebra matrix manipulations.
Since then, we have seen many iterations of this calculator, the TI-80 family and the TI-73 series, most of which feature "Plus (+)" versions. But most of these calculators did not change the original 96X64-pixel screen or any of the original functions or features, just added user memory, RAM, and faster Zilog Z80 processors.
The TI-84+ C SE calculator Ė it's going to happen, but will it be a radical departure from the past?
Although the numbering system is a bit misleading, the TI-80 was released in 1995 as a calculator meant for middle schoolers, and used a slow 980kHz, TI-manufactured processor but included 7kB of RAM. These calculators began some of the features like decimal to fraction conversion and displayed tables, which were used by later versions of the TI-80 family (the ones for grown-ups... yeah, a bit confusing).
The TI-89 series, introduced in 1998, began to tailor to the needs of higher-level math, as it solved algebraic equations in terms of variables and performed implicit calculus functions. These models use 10MHz, 12MHz, and 16MHz versions of the venerable Motorola 68000, 32-bit processor, and 256kB of RAM. Aside from the wide format TI-92/II/Plus models, the calculator kept its shape with a slight bump in the monochromatic screen resolution.
The newest releases include the TI-Nspire series, which features more computer compatibility, touch pads, more memory, and faster Hitachi ARM processors. Some of the more expensive Nspire calculators like the CX and the CX CAS offer color screens with resolutions of 320 pixels x 240 pixels. These calculators have completely changed layouts, compared to earlier series, as they were based on Windows CE in order to mimic computer operating systems. With these changes, TI created a whole new family of calculators.
However, the CX did not have the ability to manipulate algebraic equations or perform implicit differentiation or integration. On the plus side, users could upload common file-type pictures, which is not a fair trade-off. Due to their higher level mathematical capabilities and their ability to store files like pictures, the TI-Nspire calculators are not allowed on most standardized tests or for many university exams either (the TI-89 is also not allowed).
In recent years, Texas Instruments' calculators have been shoved deep down our throats by the education system. Universities, high school teachers, professors, and standardized testing companies allow only certain calculators from the TI-80 family for test taking, which is why they continue to sell.
Though few people argue their durability, the prices reflect their high and constant demand and prices remain considerably high, at around $80 to $150 for newer models. In the 22 years of existence, TI calculators have revolutionized the world of education and engineering, but they're becoming dated in the smartphone world of constant new apps/functions.
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m. 1 Nov 1455
m. 18 Jan 1483/84
Facts and Events
Henry VII (; 28 January 1457 – 21 April 1509) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor.
Henry won the throne when his forces defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of England to win his throne on the field of battle. Henry cemented his claim by marrying Elizabeth of York, daughter of Edward IV and niece of Richard III. Henry was successful in restoring the power and stability of the English monarchy after the political upheavals of the civil wars known as the Wars of the Roses. He founded the Tudor dynasty and, after a reign of nearly 24 years, was peacefully succeeded by his son, Henry VIII.
Although Henry can be credited with the restoration of political stability in England, and a number of commendable administrative, economic and diplomatic initiatives, the latter part of his reign was characterised by a financial which stretched the bounds of legality. The capriciousness and lack of due process which indebted many in England were soon ended upon Henry VII's death after a commission revealed widespread abuses. According to the contemporary historian Polydore Vergil, simple "greed" in large part underscored the means by which royal control was over-asserted in Henry's final years.
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| 0.983695 | 302 | 3.15625 | 3 |
The task of water conservation education is vital to future water planning, and The Major River’s program was developed for just such a task.
Initially designed by the Lower Colorado River Authority in 1989, the Major River’s program has been re-released by the Texas Water Development Board, partnering with local groundwater conservation districts, to encourage water conservation at the grade level.
Due to increasing water demands, students of today will face the issue of strategic water planning and management in order to sustain a growing population in North Texas. According to the Texas Water Development Board, more than 23 percent of future water resources will come strictly from conservation efforts. As of today, 60 percent of the 16.1 million acre-feet of water used in the state is groundwater and the groundwater levels are substantially lower than previous years.
The Major Rivers program was adopted in 2003 and has since been modifying the curriculum toward the state regulatory education standards. It was again reformatted in 2011 to meet STAAR and TAKS criteria and addresses numerous subjects such as science, history and social studies. It focuses on a cowboy named Major Rivers, after the major rivers in Texas, and his horse, Aquifer, who encounter the many obstacles of protecting water resources across the State. The lessons range on a variety of topics including the importance of water in Texas, the water cycle, Texas water supply and water planning, watersheds and river basins, how our water use affects our world, water treatment and distribution, and using water efficiently.
Upper Trinity recognizes the necessity of water conservation education and has been cooperating with TWDB to supply local schools with the program. In the past few weeks Upper Trinity has distributed more than 30 Major Rivers packets to local schools throughout the district. Supplying water education is just one of the tasks required of Upper Trinity, along with registering new and existing water wells, monitoring water wells, and ensuring that the residents of Montague, Wise, Parker and Hood Counties maintain local control over their groundwater. Water education is just one step toward protecting major rivers, aquifers and water resources for our state.
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| 0.957645 | 424 | 3.296875 | 3 |
It's been more than a year-and-a-half since California passed a landmark bill to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 10% in the next decade or so. Thursday, the California Air Resources Board will unveil its plan to make that happen. KPCC's Julie Small offers a preview.
Julie Small: The plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions back to 1990 levels will use regulations already on the books. For example, California has a law in place now that requires automakers to sell low emission vehicles in the state.
It also requires energy companies to sell fuel from renewable sources. But the plan from the state Air Resources Board will tackle new territory, too. Perhaps most significantly, it'll set carbon caps for the state's big polluters.
Dan Sperling: You know, the world is watching us on what we do here.
Small: Dan Sperling is an alternative fuels expert at UC Davis, and a member of the Air Resources Board.
Sperling: California is a leader and a model, and what we do here is important, not only in terms of what we actually accomplish here, but in many ways it's even more important as a model for the rest of the country and the rest of the world, because if we are the only ones to reduce greenhouse gases, in California, then we haven't accomplished very much.
Small: Sperling says the plan by the Air Resources Board will call on everyone, not just business and government, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The board plans to hold months of public hearings on the carbon-cutting plan, figure out what to keep, what to change, and what to toss, and then vote on it this fall.
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| 0.945631 | 346 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Mel Fisher’s Atocha
On the morning of September 6th, 1622, the Spanish galleon “Nuestra Senora de Atocha” was caught in a ferocious hurricane and wrecked on the coral reefs just off Key West, Florida taking with her a kings’ ransom in gold, emeralds and many other Royal and private treasures. The Atocha had left Havana, Cuba two days earlier bound for Spain with protectorates of 28 ships including the Tierra Firma Fleet. Destiny had decreed that even this massive fleet would not protect the precious cargo of the Atocha from the unforgiving grasp of the sea.
The sea would keep the secrets of the Atocha from further human contact for 360 years.
In 1968 Mel Fisher and his family would begin their 16 years search at a cost of $20 million. Initially relying on misleading information, Mel began his search in waters that he and his staff of talented researchers would realize were over 100 miles from where the Atocha lay! With accurate information garnered from the Archives of the Indies in Seville, Spain, Mel moved his operation to Key West and within a year had located a galleon.
On July 20th, 1985, after 16 years of searching Mel and his Golden Crew would discover the mother lode of the Atocha, which to date has yielded over $500 million in treasure, and the search continues.
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| 0.979778 | 294 | 2.640625 | 3 |
How do words get into the dictionary? Part 2: changing timesPosted by Michael Rundell on February 08, 2012
In the previous post on this topic, we looked at the criteria traditionally applied by dictionary-makers when considering new words for inclusion. The question is as old as lexicography itself. When he wrote his Plan of an English Dictionary in 1747, Dr Johnson noted that it is ‘not easy to determine by what rule of distinction the words of this dictionary were to be chosen’. And having aired his ideas on the subject, he acknowledged that it isn’t always possible to make clear rules and then adhere to them strictly.
The Oxford dictionary website also has a go at explaining its inclusion principles – this time by means of an elaborate flowchart which takes you through the various decision points. Having cleared numerous hurdles, the successful word is at last included in the dictionary ‘in due course’. I’m not sure I agree with every stage of this. For example, if the question ‘Is its use limited strictly to one group of users?’ is answered with a ‘Yes’, the word is consigned to a sort of purgatory where its behaviour is monitored for possible future inclusion. But dictionaries routinely include vocabulary typical of specific user-groups – the important thing is to apply an appropriate label to indicate that it is not part of the general language. On the whole, though, the Oxford chart gives a good outline of the key criteria: does the evidence come from a range of sources (what we referred to previously as ‘dispersion’), and does it have ‘a decent history of use’(the longevity argument)?
The problem is that the approach applied by both Oxford and Merriam-Webster is rooted in the past. It reflects the realities of print-based dictionary publishing – and those days are gone.
What has changed? First, what we’d call the ‘publishing cycle’. When dictionaries existed mostly as printed books, publishers would produce a new edition every four or five years. They collected new vocabulary as it appeared, but they could take the long view on whether something was worth including. We do things differently now. Consider for example the linguistic fallout of the global financial crisis that began in 2008 – just a year after Macmillan published the second edition of its dictionary. With the dictionary now mainly consulted online, we were able to add important new usages, such as the word credit crunch or the new sense of toxic (when applied to debts) – without having to wait several years. The second big change, which has been gathering pace since the turn of the century, is that the amount of evidence available to us has grown exponentially, thanks to the Web and social media. Thirdly, we’re no longer limited by space constraints. Even the largest printed dictionaries don’t have the infinite amounts of space that online media provide, so they have to be selective. That’s no bad thing: the removal of these limits shouldn’t be a licence to include just anything. But it does allow us to re-think – and broaden – our inclusion policies.
Above all, older notions about ‘what gets into the dictionary’ reflect the idea of the lexicographer as a gatekeeper, the belief that it is up to us to decide (on behalf of everyone else) which facts about language deserve the special status of being admitted to a dictionary. This notion of the dictionary having special ‘authority’ (which it confers on the words it includes) is well-established, and still has wide appeal. But it may be incompatible with the priorities and expectations of users of the Web – especially digital natives. If a word is in common use, people expect to find it in their online dictionary, and they won’t be impressed by the argument that it first requires ‘a decent history of use’. For many users, in other words, speed and convenience, getting a useful answer now, may be more important than authority.
As in so many other areas, one of the impacts of the Web has been a challenge to the old top-down model of one ‘expert’ provider and many passive recipients. It isn’t simply a case of users expecting dictionaries to respond more rapidly to language change – many of them also want to be involved in the compilation process. (Wikipedia is the obvious analogy.) In the final part of this series, we’ll discuss the implications of ‘crowd-sourced’ dictionary content (already a central feature of Wordnik, for example, and of our own Open Dictionary), and we’ll also look at emerging language technologies which might just change everything.Email this Post
You’ve laid it out very clearly, Michael, and I hope dictionary publishers are reading: I wonder how many of them are noticing that the upcoming generation may have little basis to regard them as authoritative. Anecdotally, 2012 is looking to be the first year in which I will earn more income from lexicographic work for dot coms than I will from traditional publishers. The writing is not on the page; it’s on the Internet!
[…] quality part 2 – Evaluating linguists How to create and configure a termbase in SDL MultiTerm How do words get into the dictionary? Part 2: changing times How do words get into the dictionary? Part 3: the future 5 must do tactics for effective website […]
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Political philosopher Danielle Allen will join Chris Phillips, Senior Education Fellow at the National Constitution Center, to take a fresh look at the Declaration of Independence—a document that changed the course of the modern world in 1,337 words—with an eye to its promise of equality.
Allen, a professor of social science at the Princeton Institute for Advanced Study and the newly appointed chair of the Pulitzer Prize Board—the first African-American woman to hold that position—is widely known for her work on justice and citizenship in both ancient Athens and modern America.
In her conversation with Phillips, Allen will draw heavily on her new book, Our Declaration: A Reading of the Declaration of Independence in Defense of Equality, to tackle the contradictions between ideals and reality in a document that perpetuated slavery.
Her discussion is presented in conjunction with the Constitution Center’s feature exhibition, Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello—a powerful, revealing and deeply personal look at six slave families who lived and worked at Jefferson’s plantation in Virginia.
In the prologue to Our Declaration, Allen explains the rationale behind her latest project.
“The Declaration of Independence matters because it helps us see that we cannot have freedom without equality,” she writes. “It is out of an egalitarian commitment that a people grows—a people that is capable of protecting us all collectively, and each of us individually, from domination.”
“If the Declaration can stake a claim to freedom,” she adds, “it is only because it is so clear-eyed about the fact that the people’s strength resides in its equality.”
Allen also laments popular notions of the relationship between liberty and equality—a misunderstanding she seeks to confront.
“Political philosophers have generated the view that equality and freedom are necessarily in tension with each other,” she says. “As a public, we have swallowed this argument whole. We think we are required to choose between freedom and equality. Our choice in recent years has tipped toward freedom. Under the general influence of libertarianism, both parties have abandoned our Declaration; they have scorned our patrimony.”
“Such a choice is dangerous,” she goes on. “If we abandon equality, we lose the single bond that makes us a community, that makes us a people with the capacity to be free collectively and individually in the first place.”
“I for one cannot bear to see the ideal of equality pass away before it has reached its full maturity,” Allen concludes. “I hope I am not alone.”
This program will be followed by a book sale and signing. Admission is free; groups are welcome. However, reservations are recommended—call 215.409.6700 or order online. Event attendees will also receive $5 admission to see Slavery at Jefferson’s Monticello.
Recent Stories on Constitution Daily
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M1.4.6 Moments and equilibrium
This resource illustrates the conditions for a rigid body to be in equilibrium - that the resultant force in any direction must be zero, and the sum od the moments about any point must be zero.
It shows a simple case of three parallel forces, orthogonal to a rod.
Use the blue stepper to show the conditions. In the final stage, moments are taken about point A, since this allows the force at A to be ignored, simplifying the equation.
Copyright (c) 2012 Axlesoft Ltd
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U.S. Department of Transportation
Federal Highway Administration
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Federal Highway Administration Research and Technology
Coordinating, Developing, and Delivering Highway Transportation Innovations
This magazine is an archived publication and may contain dated technical, contact, and link information.
|Publication Number: Date: January/February 2003|
Issue No: Vol. 66 No. 4
Date: January/February 2003
Interagency collaboration could curb speeding and save lives.
The twin challenges of the transportation system are to move traffic safely and efficiently. Although highways and motor vehicles are designed to operate safely at speeds traveled by most motorists, almost one in every three traffic fatalities in the United States is related to speeding, either involving exceeding the posted speed limit or driving too fast for conditions.
Variable speed limits on I-90 across Snoqualmie Pass in Washington are based on winter weather conditions.
In 2000, more than 12,000 lives were lost in speeding-related crashes, and more than 700,000 people were injured. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that speeding-related crashes cost society $28 billion annually. That's $53,243 per minute, or almost $900 per second.
Because speeding is a complex problem involving many factors—personal behavior, vehicle performance, roadway characteristics, and enforcement strategies—the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) organized a multidisciplinary, multiagency team to tackle the problem. The USDOT Speed Management Team includes personnel from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), and NHTSA, representing backgrounds ranging from traffic engineering and enforcement to psychology and marketing.
According to Earl Hardy, a highway safety specialist and the speed management team coleader for NHTSA, approaching the problem of speeding in a coordinated fashion enables the team to develop the best solutions to combat speeding more effectively.
He says, "Through collaboration, we can approach the speeding issue holistically, gathering and analyzing data, setting appropriate speed limits, improving engineering and enforcement technologies, developing innovative strategies for speed enforcement, and educating practitioners, policymakers, and the public about effective solutions."
Public Policy and Outreach
From a public policy standpoint, an effective speed management policy needs to overcome a variety of obstacles in public perception. One of the most common speeding issues brought to the attention of policymakers is that citizens are concerned about other drivers speeding through their neighborhoods, yet most citizens have no idea what goes into setting appropriate speed limits.
Traffic engineers and law enforcement officials need to educate citizens on what speed limits can (and cannot) do in terms of improving safety on roadways. Posting a lower speed limit sign, for example, may help neighborhood residents feel safer, but it will not necessarily slow traffic. In fact, according to research conducted by FHWA in 1997, raising and lowering speed limits as much as 32 kilometers per hour, km/h (20 miles per hour, mph) has little or no effect on prevailing speeds.
Political pressures also factor into speed management policy. Elected officials must answer to constituents who are reluctant to see more speeding tickets issued in their communities or concerned about the use of unconventional police vehicles. In addition, citizens raise the privacy issue with regard to the use of photo radar to enforce speeding, calling for less government intrusion into people's lives. For photo radar enforcement to be acceptable to communities, officials need to focus attention on safety, rather than revenue enhancement.
Portable variable speed limit signs with bright white LEDs, like these in Maryland, conform to the same color convention as standard highway signs and are highly visible.
Appropriately engineered speed limits are an essential element in highway safety. For speed limits to be effective, however, they must appear reasonable to most drivers and correctly reflect the maximum safe speed for prevailing conditions. Otherwise the legal system misallocates resources dealing with motorists who are technically violating the law but not engaged in any high-risk behavior. Thus, a prerequisite to an effective speed management program is the establishment of realistic speed limits that are consistent with the road environment.
FHWA's Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices recommends that speed limits be set at the 85th percentile speed, or the speed at or below which 85 percent of all the vehicles travel when passing a given point on the road. Only 15 percent of vehicles are traveling above the 85th percentile speed—or speeding.
Setting speed limits based solely on the 85th percentile speed, however, does not account for other factors like roadside development, pedestrian activity, or accident experience. FHWA is developing a software program —USLIMITS—that will help safety engineers systematically and consistently account for these other factors in determining appropriate speed limits. Practitioners are beta testing USLIMITS to evaluate the reasonableness of the recommended speeds, and FHWA expects to release the software in early 2003.
Friendly reminders like this turtle sign respond to citizen concerns about speeding traffic on residential streets.
Research indicates that the risk of crash involvement is lowest for motorists traveling near the average speed of traffic and is significantly higher for the fastest 2 to 5 percent. Setting speed limits at the 85th percentile speed of traffic, allowing for a tolerance of no more than 8 km/h (5 mph), would focus enforcement and adjudication on the occasional violators and high-risk drivers.
From the highway perspective, speed management begins with geometric design, which encompasses the driver and the vehicle. Design elements and roadside safety features alert drivers to the need to change speed and provide the basic cues that help drivers achieve a safe and comfortable speed.
Where communities desire lower speed limits, traffic-calming measures such as speed humps and curb extensions that narrow the road can help reduce speeds to the desired limit. Before implementing traffic-calming devices, however, designers should consult citizens and emergency service providers to ensure that such measures do not raise other safety issues.
Assessing the safety impact of setting differential speed limits for cars and trucks is one of many activities that the USDOT speed management team is carrying out.
Setting speeds in work zones is an ongoing issue. The lack of credibility of work zone speed limits is due to many factors, the most important of which is the fact that at different times of the day—based on traffic volume, lighting, weather, and other conditions—the appropriate safe speed changes, but the speed limit does not. When no roadwork is taking place, drivers often ignore reduced speed limits set to protect workers. Variable speed limits that change based on traffic conditions and the nature of the roadwork represent a promising technique to restore the credibility of speed limits in work zones.
Despite misconceptions among the driving public, police officers do not enforce speed limits simply because they want to write tickets. Enforcement is used to deter drivers from exceeding the posted speed limit. Three elements are critical to the deterrence process: (1) the behavior must be definable, understandable, and detectable by motorists, police, and the courts; (2) the effectiveness of deterrence depends on the perceived risk of apprehension—for the risk to be credible, drivers must believe that they have a good chance of being apprehended; and (3) the effectiveness of deterrence depends on the swiftness, certainty, and severity of the punishment.
Engineering decisions also can affect enforcement activity. For example, efforts to install high-occupancy vehicle lanes or add lanes to increase capacity effectively eliminate the areas traditionally used for law enforcement activities (i.e., the right and left shoulders). In States with prima facie speed limits, the challenge from the enforcement and adjudication perspective is that law enforcement officers have to be prepared to prove that the speed was unreasonable and imprudent for road conditions regardless of the posted speed limit.
Roads and Speed Limits
Speeding-related crashes are not just a problem on high-speed roadways. Although higher speed crashes are more likely to result in a fatality or serious injury, almost half the speeding-related fatalities occur on lower-speed roads.
Local roads, providing access to residential areas, businesses, and farms, make up the majority of road miles in the United States. Most have posted speed limits ranging from 32 to 72 km/h (20 to 45 mph). Collector roads balance access with mobility, helping drivers get from local roads to larger roads, and they usually have posted speed limits between 56 and 88 km/h (35 and 55 mph). Arterials carry almost half the Nation's vehicle miles and include important roads that connect urban areas, but exclude interstate roadways. Access usually is limited on arterials, as their major purpose is to get people between destinations, and the posted speeds are usually between 80 and 113 km/h (50 and 70 mph). The highest class of roadway in the United States is the interstate system, which carries the highest speeds, generally between 88 and 121 km/h (55 and 75 mph) over long distances. Interstates account for less than 14 percent of all speeding-related crashes.
One important measure of the safety of a road system is the rate of fatalities on a per-mile-driven basis. As drivers log more miles on a particular part of the system, they increase their risk of a crash by simply being on the road. Low-speed local roads have the highest fatality rate, while high-speed interstate roads have the lowest fatality rate. In fact, the speeding-related fatality rate for local roads is three times higher than the rate for interstates. The difference in fatality rate by road class reflects differences in road design and use. Interstates are designed for long, fast travel, providing drivers with few interruptions and clear views of the roadways. Local roads, on the other hand, can have sharp curves and hills that restrict the driver's view, and they are expected to accommodate a broad variety of users, including bicyclists and pedestrians.
Speeding-Related Fatality Rate by Road
For the sake of traffic safety and the justice system overall, the legal system must appear to be fair. To ensure compliance with speed limits, a balance must be achieved between enforcing penalties that actually deter speed violators and issuing punishments that represent only a minor economic inconvenience to the speeder, such as a small fine or dismissal upon completion of certain conditions. Fines or classes that drivers equate with a mere economic inconvenience have proved ineffective at deterring speed violators. On the other hand, fines and punishments considered too severe will not stand public scrutiny, especially if posted speed limits are not seen as fair and reasonable.
Judges dismiss speeding violations for many reasons, including inaccurate paperwork, offense cited under the wrong statute, plea bargain, officer not present for the trial, or the prosecutor's failure to meet the burden of proof. In States with prima facie limits, if the prosecutor proves that the motorist was exceeding the legal speed limit, then that is prima facie evidence that the driver was traveling at an unreasonable and unsafe speed. The driver has the burden to prove to the court that the speed was reasonable and safe. With absolute speed limits, whether the travel speed was reasonable and safe is irrelevant. Recommendations have been made to improve enforcement and adjudication by abolishing or reducing laws that permit the withholding of points in favor of license suspensions and/or higher fines.
Managing speed through measures such as appropriate speed limits and strict enforcement is an essential element of highway safety.
Speed Management Workshops
In 2000, the USDOT Speed Management Team initiated a series of workshops and demonstration projects designed to bring together critical players in the speed management arena to discuss the issues that each profession faces and develop coordinated action plans. The workshops focus on the issues of setting rational speed limits and their enforcement. Central to these flagship activities is restoring credibility in speed setting through coordinated efforts in engineering, enforcement, and education.
Plenary sessions kick off each workshop with speakers sharing insights from each of the four critical areas in speed management—public policy and outreach, engineering, enforcement, and adjudication. The goal of the workshops is to expose participants to the array of issues that play into speed management strategies.
"Through the speed management workshops, we provide participants with the knowledge and skills that enable them to return to their local communities and develop speed management plans tailored to meet their specific needs," NHTSA's Earl Hardy says.
The Web-based software tool, USLIMITS, assists engineers in setting reasonable, safe, and consistent speed limits, generating a recommended speed limit after the user inputs specific design criteria.
After the plenary sessions, participants in the USDOT workshops break into working groups to develop action plans outlining how to attack the speeding problem in their States. Among the most common issues raised during the workshops is the need to overcome institutional and jurisdictional barriers so that speed limits and enforcement strategies are seen as consistent by the public. Other issues include linking design speed and operating speeds more effectively; encouraging engineers and enforcement personnel to communicate and coordinate activities; and improving communication with the public on the importance of setting and enforcing safe speed limits.
The groups are specifically designed to ensure good cross sections of engineering, education, and enforcement personnel. Major Kathryn Doutt, director of the Bureau of Patrol of the Pennsylvania State Police, participated in the first speed management workshop in Washington, DC, in 2000. She joined several colleagues and representatives from State departments of transportation (DOTs), special interest groups, college researchers, psychologists, and others. Doutt applauds the value of sharing multidisciplinary perspectives.
"Engineers and policymakers need to get input from the police community, or they'll be missing a big piece of the picture," she says.
"I was surprised to learn that many of the stakeholders thought that enforcement was the only way to change behavior; yet the input of enforcement officials had not been sought previously. Other things, like road design and realistic speed limits, are equally important, as are driver attitudes."
Variable speed limit signs, like this one in a work zone, use sensors to monitor traffic flow and adjust local speed limits accordingly.
Speed management workshops encourage traffic safety personnel to collaborate in identifying and implementing coordinated solutions to control speeding. At the same time, FHWA's speed management demonstration projects provide a structure and funding for those solutions.
Demonstration projects are underway in four States: Connecticut, Louisiana, Massachusetts, and Mississippi. In each case, researchers identify an extended length of road or a group of roads as the demonstration area and a similar road to serve as the control or comparison area. In the demonstration area, traffic safety personnel perform extensive speed studies for a minimum of 24 hours to determine the speed profiles on the roadways and then use the information to determine an appropriate speed for the road segments, relying heavily on the 85th percentile speed.
Massachusetts, like many States, is struggling with speed-related crashes. In 2000, speeding was a factor in 36 percent of traffic fatalities. The Governor's Highway Safety Bureau has conducted many Speedwatch programs—a combination of education and enforcement—to increase compliance with posted speed limits. According to Thomas McGovern, deputy director of the Governor's Highway Safety Bureau, the demonstration project advances current programming by considering the engineering of speed management.
"One of our primary objectives is to examine how speed limits are set and revise that process to better reflect the 85th percentile speeds of traffic and the design of roadways," McGovern says. "The more tools we have at our disposal to apply to the problem, the more likely we are to solve it."
As new speed limits are determined, traffic safety personnel implement two distinct outreach campaigns. The first, to the public, informs community members that new speed limits will be established and strictly enforced. The other outreach campaign targets the judiciary—judges and lawyers—to emphasize that law enforcement personnel will have low tolerances for speeding and will not be shy about issuing violations.
After the new speed limits are in place, the enforcement community kicks in with a strict enforcement campaign. Because the new speed limits are based on the actions of the majority of drivers, law enforcement officials can focus on the most flagrant violators. Throughout the campaign, traffic safety personnel gather speed, crash, program awareness, and other data from the demonstration and comparison sites to evaluate the effectiveness of the project and provide information for future strategies for setting speed limits.
With demonstration projects like this, plus ongoing workshops to develop solutions, speeders will slow down—and lives will definitely be saved.
The chart shows total road miles, travel (in million vehicle miles), and speeding-realted fatalities by road function for interstate, arterial, collector, and local roads. (1999)
As illustrated in this chart, raising and lowering speed limits as much as 32 km/h (20 mph) has little or no effect on prevailing speeds.
The graph shows that motorists traveling below the 85th percentile speed have below-average crash rates. Setting the speed limit near the 85th percentile speed and allowing a small tolerance would target enforcement at the most dangerous speeds—those more than 16 km/h (10 mph) above the average speed.
In highway design, engineers typically select a minimum design speed for coordinating the geometric design elements. That design speed depends on the type of facility and its function, and it establishes the minimum sharpness of the curves and sight distances. AASHTO's A Policy on Geometric Design for Highways and Streets encourages designers to select values greater than the minimum. The design speed concept, therefore, leads to roads with critical point design speeds (inferred from the actual design) greater than the minimum design speed and operating speeds that vary widely along the alignment. Since the underlying criteria and assumptions in the design speed concept are based on long-standing comfort and worst-case conditions, such as braking on wet pavement, the comfort of a blindfolded passenger in a 1930s vehicle, and the reaction times of impaired drivers, it should not be surprising to find that the speeds of many motorists driving under normal conditions safely exceed the minimum design speed.
The incorporation of a feedback loop in the design process that would check for expected operating speeds has been proposed by leading researchers as one way to help designers achieve consistent speeds along the road and designs that are compatible with desired operating speeds. Speed prediction models are available from FHWA at www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/ihsdm/99171/99171.pdf for two-lane highways and work is underway at TFHRC to develop models for urban streets.
Although not a determining factor in setting speed limits, the critical point design speed may be used to identify potential hazards associated with some highway design features such as sharp curves or hidden intersections not readily apparent to unfamiliar drivers. Appropriate warning signs in conjunction with an advisory speed should be posted at these locations.
The minimum design speed concept, as illustrated conceptually in the figure, can lead to streets and highways where critical speeds inferred from actual sight distance and curvature exceed the AASHTO design speed throughout the alignment. Geometric roadway designs such as this encourage operating speeds higher than intended, and the variation in speed along the road increases accident risk.
Elizabeth Alicandri is a transportation specialist in FHWA's Office of Safety and the FHWA team leader of the USDOT speed management team. She spent more than 15 years working in and managing the Human Factors Laboratory in FHWA's Office of R&D. She has a B.S. in psychology from Georgetown University and an M.S. in transportation engineering from the University of Maryland.
Davey L. Warren is a highway research engineer in FHWA's Office of Safety Research where he is program manager for research on speed management. Since joining FHWA in 1973, he has been involved in traffic and safety research in such diverse areas as rural traffic simulation, signal operations, passing lanes, variable message signs, work zone traffic control, and rural intelligent transportation systems. He has a B.S. in civil engineering from North Carolina State University and an M.S. in transportation from the University of Maryland.
For more information about speed management workshops or demonstration projects, contact Elizabeth Alicandri at 202-366-6409, [email protected], or Davey Warren at 202-493-3318, [email protected].
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Should central bankers be worried that they might be blowing bubbles?
This might seem an absurd question in the light of two market busts in less than a decade, the most recent of which caused a global financial crisis and the worst collapse in developed-country growth since the Great Depression.
But it’s not. Because there’s every reason to believe central bankers have reached questionable conclusions from those two bubbles–the tech and telecom bubble of the late 1990s and the U.S. housing and debt bubble up to 2007.
The conclusions are as follows:
First, bubbles only matter on a wider systemic basis if they are associated with a big accumulation of debt. As long as they’re not being driven by leverage, a collapse in prices won’t have huge overall effects on the economy and can be tidied up after with modest fiscal and monetary adjustments.
The evidence in support of this is how modest the U.S.’s 2001 recession was. It lasted less than three quarters and barely registered as a dip in economic growth. Although some tech and telecom companies were heavily overleveraged, the debt was largely concentrated in the sector and even then there were plenty of assets behind it. So when the bust came, the impact on the wider economy was modest and the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts were relatively quick to work. But while it was inflating, the economy boomed.
Second, when bubbles are caused by large amounts of widely distributed leverage, their collapse is catastrophic.
In the U.S., the implosion of the housing bubble caused a rolling systemic crisis that infected the global financial sector. In Europe, Spanish and Irish housing bubbles and busts have crippled those two economies and posed an existential threat to the euro.
Together, this suggests that central banks will continue to welcome inflating asset prices–on the assumption that wealth effects will boost economic growth–until leverage grows appreciably. But once the debt load rises, unless inflation is also picking up, they are likely to look to macro-prudential measures like forcing banks to increase their capital ratios as a way of preventing the next systemic crisis.
Will it work?
The Fed misdiagnosed how leverage problems would play out during the U.S. housing boom, arguing that problems were concentrated in the sub-prime segment of the mortgage market. In the U.K., the Bank of England missed the biggest increase in leverage the country had ever seen in large part because its economists thought the Great Moderation of economies increased the scope for households and firms to take on debt.
This time, they’re turning a blind eye to the boom in junk debt. Everyone seems to think that central banks have (yet again) limited the scope of any downturn through provision of endless amounts of liquidity.
We’ll see if they’re right.
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| 0.966336 | 587 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Learn something new every day
More Info... by email
A vector file is a type of electronic file used for computer graphics. Some key features are that a vector file describes graphics in terms of mathematical points, coordinates, and shapes. The graphics within a vector file will be easily scalable images. In addition, the vector image file type is frequently used when creating art for print projects.
Vector files are produced in a variety of file formats. For example, one file format type may be an Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) type, and uses EPS as its file suffix. The file suffix might also be a proprietary file type that is created by a software package specifically designed for creating vector graphics. Some of these other vector file formats are AI, CDR, and WMF.
The graphics within a vector file are primarily created by using geometric shapes such as circles, ellipsis, Bezier curves, squares, rectangles, polygons, and lines. More sophisticated designs are created by joining and intersecting shapes. Each shape is treated as an individual object within the larger image. Vector graphics work most effectively when the design is created from shapes filled with single colors or gradients.
One benefit of vector graphics is that the images are scalable, and graphics can be increased or decreased without distorting the image. This feature makes the vector file type important in the field of logo design, because a graphic designer can easily scale the image to fit a variety of layouts while retaining a sharp and crisp appearance. Vector images are also used for illustrations, animations, cartoons, and scalable fonts.
Graphics within a vector file differ from a bitmap, or raster, graphic image file. Bitmap graphics are made up of pixels, or picture elements, in a grid format that defines the image. These images excel in displaying gradations of color and so they are useful for photographs, but they do not scale well. If they are scaled down the image will lose information, and if they are scaled up the image will appear pixelated.
Another benefit of vector files is that they are relatively small compared to bitmap images. It is also easy for illustration software to convert the art in vector files to bitmap images. Converting a bitmap image to a vector image is difficult for software, and often requires the designer to work with the image to achieve good results.
More sophisticated vector image software applications can use bitmap images as objects along with the traditional vector geometric attributes. In some cases, the images can be rival bitmap images for photorealism. This functionality greatly increases the usefulness of these applications.
One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted. Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!
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Pygmy Rabbit Conservation
(1) - (4) © Oregon Zoo
To provide Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits for reintroduction in the USA
The Columbia Basin pygmy rabbit (Brachylagus idahoensis) is the smallest rabbit in North America and one of only two that digs its own burrow. Together with sage grouse, pygmy rabbits are a key indicator of the health of the iconic intermountain west sage brush steppe habitat. Today, less than 50% of Washington's historic sage brush steppe remains. Pygmy rabbit numbers declined in Washington throughout the latter part of the 20th century due to habitat loss and fragmentation, primarily due to agricultural conversion. The isolated and distinct Columbia Basin population was listed as endangered by the State of Washington in 1993. In 2001, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) listed the population as endangered under an emergency provision of the Endangered Species Act. Also in 2001, Oregon Zoo conducted the first-ever successful captive breeding of Idaho pygmy rabbits as surrogates for Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits.
Following this a decision was made by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) and USFWS to establish a captive breeding programme, with the goal of establishing a founding captive population for future recovery efforts. This action occurred in parallel with significant habitat purchase and restoration activities by WDFW. In May 2001, all 16 rabbits remaining at Sage Brush Flats, Ephrata, WA were captured and transported to breeding facilities at Oregon Zoo and the Washington State University. Prior to the 2004 breeding season, Northwest Trek Wildlife Park joined the breeding programme. Rearing and breeding these rabbits in captivity has proved challenging due to low genetic diversity and inbreeding in the founding population, which resulted in poor reproduction and high mortality. A decision was made early on by the USFWS pygmy rabbit recovery science team to increase genetic diversity and fitness by inter-crossing Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits with pygmy rabbits from other parts of the range.
After 10 years of ex situ breeding, a multi-year release programme began in 2011 and is currently underway. Wild-caught rabbits and ex situ bred rabbits are translocated to large breeding enclosures at the Sage Brush Flats reintroduction site to breed and the kits – 161 to date – are then released into the wild. WDFW and USFWS staffs are closely monitoring the released animals using radio-telemetry and faecal DNA monitoring. Zoo staff are assisting with construction of on-site breeding and release pens, translocation of wild rabbits and funding. After a hiatus of 10 years, Columbia Basin pygmy rabbits are once again living, breeding and digging burrows in the wild. Zoo staff has been contributing and lead authors on a number of scientific publications documenting reproductive physiology and behaviour, disease and the role of mate preference in reproductive success. In 2013, Oregon Zoo and Northwest Trek received the AZA North American Conservation Award for their role in this programme.
WAZA Conservation Project 13009 is implemented by Oregon Zoo and Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, with additional support provided by Woodland Park Zoo and Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium. Other stakeholders involved in the project include the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife Service and Washington State University.
> to project overview
(1) - (4) © Oregon Zoo
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Issue Date: June 2, 2014 | Web Date: May 30, 2014
Innovative Way To Activate C–H Bonds
Chemists have developed a unique way to get specific carbon-hydrogen bonds in organic compounds to break so new carbon-based connections can be made. The technique could make it easier to create a range of nitrogen-based compounds for drug discovery and other applications.
C–H bonds are notoriously unreactive, but in recent years researchers have developed ways to coax them into being more cooperative. Typically, this is done by cyclometalation, in which a metal such as palladium coordinates to a polar functional group and then breaks into an adjacent C–H bond to form a five- or six-membered cyclic intermediate. The carbon-metal bond in the cyclic intermediate can then react with a range of reagents, releasing the metal and forming products in which the C–H bond’s carbon is functionalized.
Matthew J. Gaunt and coworkers at the University of Cambridge have now discovered a family of catalytic reactions in which palladium coordinates with a methyl group adjacent to a secondary amine group, yielding a four-membered palladacycle intermediate (Nature 2014, DOI: 10.1038/nature13389). Such four-membered rings have been virtually unprecedented in cyclometalations.
Gaunt and coworkers found that the palladacycles can be transformed into strained nitrogen heterocycles such as aziridines and β-lactams by reacting them with reagents such as an oxidant. Gaunt believes the resulting products “will enable medicinal chemists to extend the range of chemical space accessible around the ubiquitous amine function.”
C–H functionalization specialist Gong Chen of Pennsylvania State University says the reaction is important because the unfunctionalized secondary alkyl amines it uses as starting materials have been underutilized for organic synthesis. Such amines are often used as bases or coupling partners but are seldom used to construct drug pharmacophores, he notes.
John F. Hartwig of the University of California, Berkeley, who specializes in catalytic reactions involving metal complexes, comments that “the application of C–H bond functionalization to the synthesis of amines, as opposed to sulfonamides or amides, is rare, and the ability to do so while forming a strained ring is particularly surprising.”
Gaunt’s group is currently working on expanding the technique into a more general strategy. For example, right now the new method is restricted to fairly hindered amines—secondary amine groups bearing bulky substituents. But preliminary results reported in the paper suggest that less hindered amines can undergo similar reactions. Gaunt and coworkers are trying to make the new process viable for all classes of secondary amines.
They would also like to better understand the mechanism and selectivity of the reaction, develop an enantioselective version, and apply it to targeted synthesis of important drugs and natural products, among other projects.
“This is a sweet discovery, highlighting the great potential of using C–H functionalization to develop new organic transformations,” Chen adds.
- Chemical & Engineering News
- ISSN 0009-2347
- Copyright © American Chemical Society
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To the Editor,
It is with dismay that I respond to Mr. Clifford Jackson’s letter in your Nov. 8 edition, portraying Christopher Columbus as villain. Typical of all revisionists is the gross overreaching from one circumstance in history to another subsequent one and the application of 21st century thinking to 15th century behavior. In this regard, Mr. Jackson doesn’t miss a beat.
To say Columbus’ voyage led to “crimes against humanity, the genocide of the so-called Native Americans and opened the floodgates to the Trans-Atlantic slave trade,” is such an incredulous stretch. It reminds me of the analogy that since Jesus Christ brought Christianity to the Roman Empire, millions of Christians were slaughtered in the Coliseum. Columbus, therefore, is not, in any way, responsible for such trade, anymore than Christ is responsible for the annihilation of Christians. Columbus discovered America in 1492. The Trans-Atlantic slave trade did not begin in earnest until the 17th century.
Columbus was a “lost soul” on a “lost voyage?” In the 15th century when the age of exploration began, Europeans did not know anything about lands in the Western Hemisphere. Not until Columbus hypothesized through scientific thinking that there could be lands to the west since it was known there were lands north, south, and east, and tested his thinking by actually sailing west, did Europeans realize that what Columbus discovered was actually a new continent. He wasn’t lost. To say his discovery was erroneous is applying 21st century thinking by one who now knows there is a continent to the west. For Europeans at the time it was truly a learning experience.
Columbus committed genocide? He made only four voyages to the Caribbean, stayed no more than a few months and more or less discovered and landed on islands. How could these experiences have led to the “extermination of five million Indians” from 1498 to 1502? It took Hitler 12 years to kill six million Jews in countries with far more land area than a few islands. Columbus could never have the time to kill that many.
As far as the capture of Taino Indians, such capture was a result of attacks by four of the five Taino tribes on the islands. As was typical in those days, the victor sold his vanquished to slavery. All societies did it. It should also be noted that the Caribbean and South American Indians, namely the Aztecs and the Incas, did exactly the same thing. In fact, the Arawaks, the Caribs and the Canibs also ate their captured enemies or used them in human sacrifices. Is it any wonder that we get the word “cannibalism” from the Canibs? So, let’s not look at one side of the story.
As far as contracting disease, Mr. Jackson should add that the Europeans contracted tuberculosis and syphilis from the Indians. Invariably, disease is always a consequence of human contact, especially in an age of sparse medical advancement.
So, Columbus was not innately evil or responsible for such horror on a grand scale as Mr. Jackson would have us believe. A close scrutiny of the facts evinces something quite different.
Louis J. Gallo, Jr.,
State chairman of the Commission for Social Justice;
Anti-defamation branch of the Order Sons of Italy in America
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July 15, 2000
Jan Karski Dies at 86; Warned West About Holocaust
By MICHAEL T. KAUFMAN
"KARSKI How One Man Tried to Stop the Holocaust"/John Wiley & Sons
Mr. Karski in 1944.
an Karski, a liaison officer of the
Polish underground who infiltrated
both the Warsaw Ghetto and a German concentration camp and then
carried the first eyewitness accounts
of the Holocaust to a mostly disbelieving West, died on Thursday in
Washington. Mr. Karski, a retired
professor of history at Georgetown
University, was 86 years old.
He died of heart and kidney ailments at Georgetown University
Hospital, the university said.
In the late summer of 1942, Mr.
Karski, then a 28-year-old clandestine diplomat in Warsaw for the Polish government-in-exile in London,
was preparing for a secret mission to
carry information from Nazi-occupied Poland to London and Washington. Before leaving Warsaw, he was
visited by two leaders of the Jewish
underground who had managed to
leave the Ghetto briefly to tell him
about what they called "Hitler's war
against the Polish Jews."
They said that by their calculations, more than 1.8 million Jews had
already been killed by the Germans
and that 300,000 of the 500,000 Jews
jammed into the Warsaw Ghetto had
been deported to an obscure village
about 60 miles from Warsaw where
the Germans had set up a death
They asked him if he could carry
their information to Winston Churchill and Franklin D. Roosevelt. They
also asked if he would be willing to
enter the Ghetto and see for himself
what was happening. Mr. Karski, a
Roman Catholic from a patriotic Polish family who seems to have been
blessed with a photographic memory, agreed.
By that time he had already endured a horrible war.
Karski was his nom de guerre; he
had been born Jan Kozielewski, the
youngest of eight children, in Lodz,
Poland's second-largest city, on
April 24, 1914. He was a prize student
and was recruited into the Polish
diplomatic service, where he was
quickly given coveted assignments
to London and Paris.
But as war approached, he enlisted
in the army and was serving as a
cavalry officer in 1939 when German
soldiers, followed less than two
weeks later by Russian troops, invaded Poland and divided the country. Mr. Karski was captured by the
Soviets and placed in a detention
camp. He escaped and joined the
Polish underground; most of the Polish officers imprisoned with him
were later executed by Soviet troops.
Mr. Karski became a skilled courier for the underground, crossing
enemy lines as a liaison between the
Polish fighters and the West. He was
captured by the Gestapo while on a
mission in Slovakia in 1940 and was
savagely tortured. Fearful that he
might reveal secrets, he slashed his
wrists and was put into a hospital. An
underground commando team
helped him escape, and he resumed
his work as a clandestine liaison officer.
"KARSKI How One Man Tried to Stop the Holocaust"/John Wiley & Sons
Jan Karski at the opening of a 1944 exhibition on the Polish underground, for which he served as a liaison officer to Poland's government-in-exile in London.
In October 1939, the Germans enclosed the main Jewish areas in Warsaw with barbed wire. In less than a
year the Ghetto was walled in, trapping half a million Jews. By July 1942
the first mass deportations of Jews
to extermination camps had begun.
In the third week of August 1942,
Mr. Karski entered the cellar of an
apartment house on the so-called
Aryan side of the Ghetto wall and
met with a youth from the Jewish
Combat Organization, then secretly
being formed in the Ghetto. The
youth gave him some ragged clothes
and an armband with a blue Star of
David and led him through a recently
dug tunnel. As they emerged, Mr.
Karski saw the Ghetto streets and
tenements crowded with haggard,
hungry and dying Jews.
Where Nazi Boys
Shot Jews for Sport
Decades later, when asked to describe what he had seen, Mr. Karski
would usually simply say, "I saw
But on some occasions, for example in "Shoah," Claude Lanzmann's
classic documentary about the Holocaust, he would tell of seeing many
naked dead bodies lying in the
streets, and describe emaciated and
starving people, listless infants and
older children with expressionless
eyes. He remembered watching
from an apartment while two pudgy
teenage boys in the uniforms of the
Hitler Youth hunted Jews for sport,
cheering and laughing when one of
their rifle shots struck its target and
brought screams of agony.
One of the Jews who had prompted
Mr. Karski to enter the Ghetto, and
who escorted him, was a lawyer
named Leon Feiner. Mr. Karski recalled that Mr. Feiner kept murmuring, "Remember this, remember
this." There was also another escort
whose name Mr. Karski never
learned. They both urged Mr. Karski
to tell what he was witnessing to as
many people in the West as he could,
though they knew the facts would be
hard to believe.
At the time of Mr. Karski's visit,
the expulsions from Warsaw had
temporarily subsided, but they were
to intensify in September as the liquidation of the Ghetto resumed in earnest. Mr. Feiner was among the hundreds of thousands who died.
There were five points that the two
men in the Ghetto asked Mr. Karski
to pass on to the Allied leaders:
- Preventing the extermination of
the Jews should be declared an official goal of the Allies fighting Hitler.
- Allied propaganda should be used
to inform the German people of the
war crimes taking place and to publicize the names of German officials
- The Allies should appeal to the
German people to bring pressure on
Hitler's regime to stop the slaughter.
- The Allies should declare that if
the genocide continued and the German masses did not rise to stop it,
the German people would be held
- Finally, if nothing else worked,
the Allies should carry out reprisals
by bombing German cultural sites
and executing Germans in Allied
hands who still professed loyalty to
Mr. Karski later said that the
Jews' proposals were "bitter and
unrealistic," as if they knew such a
program could not and would not be
carried out, and that he had told
them their five points went beyond
For the rest of his life he remembered the response of the man accompanying Mr. Feiner: "We don't
know what is realistic, or not realistic. We are dying here! Say it!"
"KARSKI How One Man Tried to Stop the Holocaust"/John Wiley & Sons
Mr. Karski in 1935 as a cadet in the Polish Army, which he joined as World War II approached.
Mr. Karski asked what he should
say to Jewish leaders abroad. Unhesitatingly his hosts told him that such
leaders should consider hunger
strikes, fasting to death if necessary,
to shake the conscience of the world.
In Ukrainian Outfit,
A Scent of Death
Mr. Feiner then asked if Mr.
Karski was still ready to carry out
another fact-finding mission: Would
he be willing to see for himself what
was happening at one of the camps to
which the trainloads of Jews were
Mr. Karski consented, and a few
days later he and a member of the
Jewish resistance went by train from
Warsaw to Izbica, a small town near
There, his Jewish guide turned
him over to the owner of a hardware
store who was a member of the Polish underground. Mr. Karski was
given the uniform of a Ukrainian
militiaman working under the German command who had been bribed
to take the day off. Another Ukrainian guard -- also bribed -- then led
him to a large area encircled by
Mr. Karski heard keening cries of
men and women and thought he
smelled burning flesh. Soon he witnessed the arrival of several thousand starving and frightened Jews
who had been brought to the camp
from Czechoslovakia. He watched as
their valises and bags were taken
away from them. Then he saw Jews
being beaten and stabbed.
Ranks of uniformed men pressed
the crowd onto waiting box cars that
had been coated with quicklime.
Those who fell or fainted or who
could not move were thrown into the
cars. When no more bodies could fit
inside, the doors were shut. Mr.
Karski was told that the trains were
heading for a camp not far away
where their human cargo would be
led into gas chambers. But he was
also told that sometimes the trains
were just left on sidings until those
inside starved or suffocated.
A Perilous Journey,
A Bleak Reception
Mr. Karski returned to Warsaw to
prepare himself for his dangerous
journey to London. He was given a
key whose soldered shaft contained
microfilm of hundreds of documents.
He went to a dentist and had several
teeth pulled so that the resultant
swelling could provide him with a
reason why he couldn't talk if he was
stopped by Germans; he was certain
his Polish-accented German would
give him away.
Using local trains, he went to Berlin, the capital of the Reich, then
through Vichy France to Spain,
where a rendezvous led to passage to
Gibraltar and then to London.
He turned over the key containing
the microfilm, described resistance
activity and assessed as bleak the
prospects of cooperation between the
anti-Communist Polish underground
and the partisans, who were sponsored by the same Soviets who in
1939 had joined Hitler in invading
and dividing Poland.
He spoke of the Jews, saying their
fate was far more perilous than that
of non-Jewish Poles. But for many of
his Polish diplomatic superiors, the
plight of the Jews remained marginal to Poland's struggle to regain its
conquered land. Some even feared
that any emphasis on the victimization of the Jews might detract attention from Poland's tragedy and diminish their own appeals for help.
And when Mr. Karski carried his
information about the destruction of
the Jews to British authorities, he
was met by even greater reluctance
"In February 1943, I reported to
Anthony Eden," he later wrote about
a secret meeting with the British
foreign secretary. "He said that
Great Britain had already done
enough by accepting 100,000 refugees."
In London, Mr. Karski met with
Szmuel Zygelboym, who represented
the Jewish Socialist Bund in the National Council of the Polish government-in-exile, to present the Polish
Jews' urgings of active resistance.
Mr. Zygelboym listened in pain but
then said, "It's impossible, utterly
impossible." If he went on a hunger
strike, he said, the authorities would
send the police and drag him away to
an institution. But he added: "I'll do
everything I can do to help them. I'll
do everything they ask."
A few months later, on May 12,
1943, just after the Germans put
down the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising,
Mr. Zygelboym sent a letter to the
president and prime minister of the
Polish government-in-exile, and then
took his own life.
He wrote, "By my death I wish to
make my final protest against the
passivity with which the world is
looking on and permitting the annihilation of the Jewish people."
Did Western Leaders
In July 1943, Mr. Karski arrived in
the United States. Two months earlier, attempts by the Germans to liquidate those Jews still remaining in the
Warsaw Ghetto was met with armed
resistance. In a desperate, uneven
struggle over three weeks, the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, more than
10,000 Jews were killed in the fighting or in fires set by the Germans to
destroy the Ghetto. The 56,000 Jews
remaining were taken to the Treblinka death camp.
"Almost every individual was
sympathetic to my reports concerning the Jews," Mr. Karski said. "But
when I reported to the leaders of
governments, they discarded their
conscience, their personal feeling.
"They provided a rationale which
seemed valid. What was the situation? The Jews were totally helpless.
The war strategy was the military
defeat of Germany and the defeat of
Germany's war potential for all eternity. Nothing could interfere with the
military crushing of the Third Reich.
The Jews had no country, no government. They were fighting, but they
had no identity."
He kept telling what he knew, honoring the promise he had given to the
two men in the Ghetto. A secret
meeting was arranged between Mr.
Karski and President Roosevelt. He
said that commanders of the underground Home Army were estimating
that if there was to be no Allied
intervention in the next year and a
half, the Jews of Poland would
"cease to exist." He did not tell
Roosevelt of his own experiences or
Mr. Karski believed that he failed
to move Roosevelt to any real action.
But John Pehle, who became head of
the War Refugee Board, a federal
agency that helped settle surviving
Jews, said later that Roosevelt had
decided to establish the board as a
consequence of his talks with Mr.
Karski. The mission, Mr. Pehle said,
"changed U.S. policy overnight from
indifference to affirmative action."
Mr. Karski was planning to return
to Warsaw and resume his clandestine work, but his superiors told him
that his identity had become known
to the Germans and ordered him to
remain in the United States.
His mission then was to promote
the cause of Poland, which once
freed of German occupation would
have to contend with Stalin's designs.
He gave interviews, wrote magazine
articles and drew on his own experiences to write a book, "Story of a
Secret State," which was published
at the end of 1944 by Houghton Mifflin and became a Book of the Month
Within a year the war came to an
end, and so did the Polish government-in-exile that Mr. Karski had
served. The Yalta agreement had
consigned postwar Poland to the Soviet sphere, and Mr. Karski, who
knew and scorned Communism, did
not return to his native land.
A Life in Academics,
A Family Tragedy
Instead, at the age of 39, he enrolled at the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown. He received his
doctorate in two and a half years and
stayed on, teaching at Georgetown
until his retirement in 1984. He became a citizen in 1954.
In 1965 he married Pola Nirenska,
a dancer and choreographer who had
been born Pola Nirensztajn in Poland, the daughter of an observant
Jewish father. All her many relatives had been killed in the Holocaust, but she had survived the war
in London and had become a major
force in dance in Washington --
teaching, choreographing her own
work and leading her own company
-- when they met.
In 1992, Pola Nirenska, then 81
years old, jumped to her death from
the balcony of their apartment in
Bethesda, Md. Her last dance piece,
presented in Washington in 1990, was
inspired by Holocaust victims she
had known and was called "In Memory of Those I Loved . . .
Who Are No More."
Soon after her death, Mr. Karski
established a $5,000 annual prize to
be awarded by the YIVO Institute for
Jewish Research to authors documenting or interpreting Jewish contributions to Polish culture and science.
Jan Karski leaves no immediate
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Take a look at simple visual inspection of wool quality comparison!
Generally, wool is "graded" by the length of each individual
hair. There are two main components to assessing quality of wool.
1. The length of any individual hair, and 2. the location on the animal
from where the hair had been cut. Often the finer, thinner hairs
are found on the neck, belly and underarms of a sheep. Not only is this
hair much thinner, but also very soft and of long staple. Other factors which contribute to the quality of wool include climate, habitat/altitude and even vegetation.
Many sellers make the claim of certain types of fibers used in
production which may be false. Here are some short descriptions of what these terms mean,
and very loose descriptions on how to identify such:
Wool: A loose definition of wool is hair which has been harvested from an animal. Wool is most commonly harvested from sheep, although may also be taken from goats or even camel. The single best way to identify if your rug is wool is by removing a knot and
give it a burn test. When subjected to a flame, once burned, smells not
unlike that of human hair.
Dead Wool: An unfortunately brittle, coarse, poor quality wool used in production of many high volume commercially available rugs. This type of wool often will shed profusely, and render a rug lifeless in a short period of time. Dead wool is often the refuse from combing out finer, longer stapled wool.
Wool: Typically New Zealand wool is often known for it's longer staple, and naturally soft feel. This is due in part to both the altitude and vegetation available to herds. It's not uncommon for a rug to have a New Zealand and local wool blend to counteract the investment of import and material cost.
Gazni Wool: Typically found in higher quality peshawar weavings, this comes from high grazing sheep in the mountains of Afghanistan. This wool is soft yet firm to the touch: Depending on the way in which the wool has been treated, Gazni wool often has very slippery (almost oily sides), with a crisp and strong feel after clipping of the pile.
Semi-Worsted Wool: Semi-Worsted wool is a very solid quality wool which is retrieved from wool by the process of combing. After wool has been combed, finer, longer strands of wool are separated from shorter less desirable wool. The term Semi-Worsted wool refers to a wool which has been produced by one of two ways: Either the very high grade wool (after being separated from low to mid grade), or the highest grade wool which is separated from from the lowest grade and then is blended with a medium grade wool.
Worsted Wool: Worsted wool refers to a process (and product) of combing excellent quality wool from high, medium and lower grade (determined by length, or staple.) After wool has been combed, the finest, longer
strands of wool are "Worsted."
Qurk / Kork Wool: Qurk wool is taken from the neck, belly and underarms of the sheep. This is often considered the most choice of wool to come from the sheep, as it is very fine, thin, and long stapled. Kork wool is most often reserved for only the finest of weavings. Perhaps this type of wool is most commonly found in high kpsi isfahan, nain oriental rugs. The appearance of fairly untreated Qurk wool has almost a dull finish, yet very compact, firm and dense feeling pile.
Pashmina Wool: Pashmina wool is exclusively taken from the coat of Himilayan goats. This wool is very silky, long stapled, and very unusual to come across in exported weavings from rug producing countries. Pashmina wool is very soft, highly sought after, and very expensive.
Wool: Manchester wool is almost entirely exclusive to one genre of rug known as the "manchester kashan," although has been known to have been used in other types of rugs from rug producing countries. Manchester wool is derived from a specific type of sheep variety called the Merino sheep. In the instance of Manchester kashan rugs and carpets, these are rugs which implimented the use of Merino wool originating from Australia. The processing into yarn used in weaving such rugs was done in Manchester England, and ultimately exported to Iran for weaving. The Manchester Kashan is a very unique variety of Kashan, with a naturally high luster, and long staple fiber.
Mohair: Mohair is harvested from the Angora Goat. Mohair is often very fine, long stapled and have a silk like appearance and feel. Mohair rugs are very unusual to come by, as mohair is a very expensive and hard to come by fiber to be used in production of Oriental Rugs. One should carefully inspect a mohair rug for color run, as it's not entirely uncommon to find overdyeing of colors which could potentially run.
Camel Hair Wool: Camel hair rugs are not exported to the US to the extend of which they had been in and around the turn of the 19th century. Camel hair was typically implimented in many weavings such as Serab and other rugs.
Chemically Washed Wool Rugs: There are techniques which are used post
production which chemically treat the wool pile of a rug to give it a softer
feel and more lusterous pile sheen. While these washes may be used
successfully with little affect to the woolen fibers, it is not entirely
uncommon to come across a rug which has been too harshly treated with this
process. Similarly, there are rugs which have a very low quality wool
which have been subjected to these washings which make them appear to have a
better quality wool than is actually used. In both cases of too harsh a
wash, or low quality wool to begin with, copious amounts of shedding will be
apparent from the aggitation test.
How will I know if my wool is healthy? (Not sung
to the tune of Whitney Houston's "How will I know")
What to look for: Judging the quality of wool takes many years of
experience, however, there are ways for even a novice to pick up on sub
standard quality rugs. Although it's not uncommon for a new Oriental Rug
to shed just a bit in the first several months, there are extended cases of
shedding which are a serious problem. A quick test for low quality wool
is to first thoroughly vacuum the face of your rug, then aggitate the pile back
and forth with your hand a dozen times to see if wool surfaces. If the
wool which surfaces to the pile may be rolled into a ball which is equal to or
greater than the height of the rug's pile, chances are you have a carpet where
inferior quality wool had been used in production. Additionally,
wool which feels "brittle," "coarse," "dry to the
touch," or "wirey" are also signs of a lower grade, or
"less choice" selection of wool used in weaving. In the long
run, this generally means the longevity, durability and and appearance of your
rug will be compromised. That is to say, an Oriental Rug which has a lower
quality wool will show signs of wear far quicker and appear "used"
far sooner than that of an Orienta
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| 0.972205 | 1,576 | 3.53125 | 4 |
To fulfill its variety of missions, the versatile space shuttle required crews with diverse skills and abilities, thus opening opportunities for scientists, engineers, women, and people of color to join a demographically diverse astronaut corps. The space shuttle democratized and internationalized human spaceflight. It enabled the growth of new disciplines in microgravity science—biological and physical sciences that explored the fundamental nature of anything in an environment without the dominant influence of gravity. The Space Shuttle made spaceflight seem a more routine, normal part of our nation’s activity. It enabled the United States and its partner nations to make near-Earth orbit a home and workplace. Learn more about the contributions of the shuttle program below.
Learn more about the shuttle program through our Moving Beyond Earth exhibition.
Explore the history of the the space shuttle program and the International Space Station through our archived Lectures.
Each year we host a Space Day promoting science education with fun activities for the whole family.
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| 0.895157 | 194 | 4.15625 | 4 |
IPS statement on the age of the earth and universe
The International Planetarium Society recently issued a statement on the ancient age of the earth and universe, noting that "Many independent lines of scientific evidence show that the Earth and Universe are billions of years old. Current measurements yield an age of about 4.6 billion years for the Earth and about 14 billion years for the Universe." The statement adds, "These measurements of age are accepted by nearly all astronomers, including both research astronomers and planetarium educators. These astronomers come from nations and cultures around the world and from a very wide spectrum of religious beliefs."
The statement also explained the need for the society to take a stand: "Planetariums are based on science and education and as such reflect the ideals and principles of these disciplines. Planetarium educators seek to present both scientific results and an understanding of how these discoveries are made." The International Planetarium Society describes itself as "the global association of planetarium professionals. Its nearly 700 members come from 35 countries around the world. They represent schools, colleges and universities, museums, and public facilities of all sizes including both fixed and portable planetariums." Its primary goal is "to encourage the sharing of ideas among its members through conferences, publications, and networking."
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BLUE-GREEN ALGAE Overview Information
“Blue-green algae” describes a large and diverse group of simple, plant-like organisms found in salt water and some large fresh water lakes.
Blue-green algae products are used for many conditions, but so far, there isn’t enough scientific evidence to determine whether or not they are effective for any of them.
Blue-green algae are used as a source of dietary protein, B-vitamins, and iron. They are also used for weight loss, attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), hayfever, diabetes, stress, fatigue, anxiety, depression, and premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and other women’s health issues.
Some people use blue-green algae for treating precancerous growths inside the mouth, boosting the immune system, improving memory, increasing energy and metabolism, lowering cholesterol, preventing heart disease, healing wounds, and improving digestion and bowel health.
Blue-green algae are commonly found in tropical or subtropical waters that have a high-salt content, but some types grow in large fresh water lakes. The natural color of these algae can give bodies of water a dark-green appearance. The altitude, temperature, and sun exposure where the blue-green algae are grown dramatically influence the types and mix of blue-green algae in the water.
Some blue-green algae products are grown under controlled conditions. Others are grown in a natural setting, where they are more likely to be contaminated by bacteria, liver poisons (microcystins) produced by certain bacteria, and heavy metals. Choose only products that have been tested and found free of these contaminants.
You may have been told that blue-green algae are an excellent source of protein. But, in reality, blue-green algae is no better than meat or milk as a protein source and costs about 30 times as much per gram.
How does it work?
Blue-green algae have a high protein, iron, and other mineral content which is absorbed when taken orally. Blue-green algae are being researched for their potential effects on the immune system, swelling (inflammation), and viral infections.
- Allergies. Early research shows that taking 2 grams of blue-green algae by mouth once daily for 6 months relieves allergy symptoms in adults.
- Arsenic poisoning. Early research shows that taking a combination of blue-green algae and zinc by mouth twice daily for 12 weeks reduces arsenic levels and its effects on the skin in people living in areas with high arsenic levels in the drinking water.
- Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Early research shows that taking a combination of blue-green algae, peony, ashwagandha, gotu kola, brahmi, and lemon balm improves ADHD.
- Tics or twitching of the eyelids (blepharospasm or Meige syndrome). Beginning research shows that taking a specific blue-green algae product (Super Blue-Green Algae (SBGA), Cell Tech) by mouth for 6 months does not reduce eyelid spasms in people with blepharospasm.
- Fatigue. Early research shows that taking 1 gram of blue-green algae by mouth 3 times daily does not improve fatigue in adults with chronic fatigue syndrome.
- Diabetes. An early study shows that people with diabetes who take 1 gram of a blue-green algae product by mouth twice daily for 2 mouths have lower blood sugar levels.
- Exercise performance. An early study shows that men are able to sprint for longer periods of time before becoming tired when they take 6 grams of blue-green algae by mouth daily for 4 weeks.
- Hepatitis C. Research on the effects of blue-green algae in people with chronic hepatitis C has been inconsistent. In adults who were not yet treated or unresponsive to other treatments, taking 500 mg of spirulina blue-green algae by mouth 3 times daily for 6 months resulted in greater improvements in liver function compared to milk thistle. However, another study found that liver function worsened after one month of blue-green algae use.
- High cholesterol. Early research shows that blue-green algae lowers cholesterol in people with normal or slightly elevated cholesterol levels; however, the research findings have been somewhat inconsistent. In one study, blue-green algae only lowered low-density lipoprotein (LDL or “bad”) cholesterol. In another study, glue-green algae lowered total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, and increased high-density lipoprotein (HDL or “good”) cholesterol.
- Malnutrition. Early research on the use of blue-green algae in combination with other dietary treatments for malnutrition in infants and children has been mixed. Weight gain was seen in undernourished children who were given spirulina blue-green algae with a combination of millet, soy and peanut for 8 weeks. However, in another study, children up to 3 years-old who were given 5 grams of blue-green algae daily for 3 months did not gain weight more than those given general treatments to improve nutrition alone.
- Menopausal symptoms. An early study shows that taking 1.6 grams of a blue-green algae product by mouth daily for 8 weeks lowers anxiety and depression in women with menopause.
- Precancerous mouth sores (oral leukoplakia). Early research findings show that taking 1 gram of spirulina blue-green algae (Spirulina fusiformis) daily by mouth for 12 months reduces oral leukoplakia in people who chew tobacco.
- Weight loss. Research shows that taking spirulina blue-green algae does not seem to help reduce weight.
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
- Immune system.
- Heart disease.
- Wound healing.
- As a source of dietary protein, vitamin B12, and iron.
- Other conditions.
BLUE-GREEN ALGAE Side Effects & Safety
Blue-green algae products that are free of contaminants, such as liver-damaging substances called microcystins, toxic metals, and harmful bacteria, are POSSIBLY SAFE for most people.
But blue-green algae products that are contaminated are LIKELY UNSAFE, especially for children. Children are more sensitive to contaminated blue-green algae products than adults.
Contaminated blue-green algae can cause liver damage, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, weakness, thirst, rapid heartbeat, shock, and death. Don’t use any blue-green algae product that hasn’t been tested and found free of mycrocystins and other contamination.
Special Precautions & Warnings:Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Not enough is known about the use of blue-green algae during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Stay on the safe side and avoid use.
“Auto-immune diseases” such as multiple sclerosis (MS), lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), pemphigus vulgaris (a skin condition), and others: Blue-green algae might cause the immune system to become more active, and this could increase the symptoms of auto-immune diseases. If you have one of these conditions, it’s best to avoid using blue-green algae.
Phenylketonuria: The spirulina species of blue-green algae contains the chemical phenylalanine. This might make phenylketonuria worse. Avoid Spirulina species blue-green algae products if you have phenylketonuria.
Moderate Interaction Be cautious with this combination
- Medications that decrease the immune system (Immunosuppressants) interacts with BLUE-GREEN ALGAE
Blue-green algae might increase the immune system. By increasing the immune system, blue-green algae might decrease the effectiveness of medications that decrease the immune system.
Some medications that decrease the immune system include azathioprine (Imuran), basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune), daclizumab (Zenapax), muromonab-CD3 (OKT3, Orthoclone OKT3), mycophenolate (CellCept), tacrolimus (FK506, Prograf), sirolimus (Rapamune), prednisone (Deltasone, Orasone), corticosteroids (glucocorticoids), and others.
BLUE-GREEN ALGAE Dosing
The appropriate dose of blue-green algae depends on several factors such as the user’s age, health, and several other conditions. At this time there is not enough scientific information to determine an appropriate range of doses for blue-green algae. Keep in mind that natural products are not always necessarily safe and dosages can be important. Be sure to follow relevant directions on product labels and consult your pharmacist or physician or other healthcare professional before using.
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Temperate regions of the world are characterized by distinct seasons throughout the year. Each season has good and bad points. Winter has beautiful snow-covered landscapes, freezing temperatures and ice on roadways. New leaves, flowers, thunderstorms and tornados are hallmarks of spring. Summer is a time for water sports and hot and sweaty days. Autumn is harvest time, falling leaves, and bees and wasps.
Why is it that we always seem to be overrun with bees and wasps as the days decline during the fall season? The answer can be found in the biology of some of the social bees and wasps.
Many of the insects that we call bees and wasps live a solitary life. As the name suggests these insects live and work alone. Familiar examples include mud dauber wasps, carpenter bees, cicada killer wasps and sweat bees.
Other bees and wasps are social insects. Such insects live in colonies with a queen and a batch of workers. Of the social bees and wasps, only one species has a permanent colony and that is the honey bee. Honey bee colonies exist as a unit over the winter months.
All other social bees and wasps have colonies that do not survive the winter. These are known as annual colonies. Insects in this category are bumble bees, yellow jackets, bald-faced hornets and paper wasps.
In general, this last group includes the bees and wasps that we encounter in high numbers during the fall months. Each colony is started by a queen that had survived the winter hiding in some secluded site, such as under leaves in the woods or hay bales in a barn. That queen then selects a nest site, deposits a few eggs and raises the first workers. These workers then take over the jobs of collecting food and feeding the babies.
During spring and summer, such colonies generally go unnoticed because the number of insects in them is small. By fall, there can be hundreds of bees or wasps in each colony, and human encounters increase dramatically.
In general, social insects sting when defending their nest or when they are individually physically abused. So, in general, the best advice on how not to get stung is to leave the individuals alone - don't swat at them when they hover around your cola can or picnic salad. And don't disturb the colonies by doing something like running a lawn mower over the entrance to a nest in the lawn. Think "yellow jackets" here.
The poet Robert Frost recognized the difference in behavior of bald-faced hornets - he called them white-tailed hornets - between individuals away from the nest and around the nest. In his poem, "The White-Tailed Hornet," he describes encounters with the insect under two circumstances. At the nest, Frost describes the behavior this way:
"The exit he comes out at like a bullet
Is like the pupil of a pointed gun.
And having the power to change his aim in flight,
He comes out more unerring than a bullet."
Frost points out a different behavior away from the nest:
"As a visitor to my house he is better.
Hawking for flies about the kitchen door,
In at one door perhaps and out another,
Trust him not to put you in the wrong.
He won't misunderstand your freest movements.
Let him light upon your skin unless you mind
So many prickly grappling feet at once."
The stinging behavior of these insects is the reality behind the old saying that admonishes people to not "stir up a hornet's nest." Stirring up a hornet's nest is a sure way to get stung.
That is the reality people faced years ago when mowing red clover hay or plowing up such fields in the fall. Red clover is pollinated by bumble bees, so fields of the crop were home to many nests. The bees were unhappy when their nests were disturbed and expressed their displeasure by attempting to sting anyone or anything in the vicinity. Many are the stories about teams of horses running away from the stinging bees.
While I never had to plow a clover field with horses, I did plow such fields using a tractor without a cab. I can report from experience that stirring up a bumble-bee nest with a plow is a sure way to get stung, and stung and stung!
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Mango Baby Upset Stomach
In general terms, acid reflux is a condition that allows the gastric juices and semi digested food from your stomach travel back into your esophagus (food pipe) and cause you acute discomfort and often serious pain that would require hospitalization. Though this is a very common affliction that affects one in every eight Americans, many people still do not know how they could fight it. Be aware though that reflux is a condition that differs in symptoms across age and gender.
What Is Acid Reflux In Babies?
Let us start at the beginning. What is acid reflux in small babies? New mothers-to-be are carefully instructed to feed their baby while keeping it in a slightly reclining position so the milk would not roll up into its nose and choke him or her. You would have seen many times situations when the baby had almost finished the milk bottle when out of blue vomits everything and you would have to start from the scratch with the feeding. This is because while sucking milk they swallow air which causes reflux and vomiting.
When feeding babies you are also advised to "burp the baby". This is another way to combat the reflux condition in babies which would inevitably occur every time they were fed.
What Is Acid Reflux In Children?
When a child suffers from this condition he or she would look like he or she is permanently complaining to you about the sour taste in his or her mouth. The sour taste would usually be the direct result of reflux that ends with a little acid reaching the mouth – depending of how bad the condition is. Neglecting this condition by ignoring the symptoms the child complains to you about would aggravate this condition further and in rare cases even serious complications.
What Is Acid Reflux In Adults?
In adults this condition is the result of the weakening of the LES or lower esophageal sphincter which would then allow the food come back into the esophagus (or food pipe) gastric acid and all creating a terrible burning sensation and pain in the middle part of your chest. This condition is further aggravated when lying down as the lack of gravitational pull further encourages the condition.
Understanding What Is Acid Reflux And Finding Remedies For It
As you can see the reflux manifests itself differently at different age though it is actually the same condition. As expected, you need to use different methods to cure the problem as well. This condition needs very little medical intervention for infants and children as position therapy and regulated diet would be enough to eliminate it; in adults however, it would require specific drugs and antacids to get it under control.
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The floor of George Dyson’s workshop is crowded with the shells of kayaks in various states of completion.
This is home to Dyson Baidarka & Company, where a renowned boat builder creates crafts of an ancient lineage from modern materials. The one-story building in the Old Town section of Bellingham, Wash., once housed Dick’s Tavern. Where patrons nursed grandiose dreams from atop barstools, Mr. Dyson prefers to do his thinking in an old and battered, but prized, chair once owned by a friend.
He bought the tavern at the mouth of Whatcom Creek in 1989, after spending nearly two decades living along the British Columbia coast, spending years as a squatter in Belcarra, outside Vancouver. For some of those winters, his shelter could be found atop a Douglas fir about 30 metres above terra firma.
Mr. Dyson, 59, a high-school dropout, is a historian of technology – the topic of his four books, the latest of which, Turing’s Cathedral: The Origins of the Digital Universe, was released earlier this year. The book tells the story of the Electronic Computer Project, an early, post-war effort to build a machine capable of complex calculations. (The U.S. government sought forecasts of the consequence of thermonuclear explosions.) Mr. Dyson, the son of Freeman Dyson, a famous theoretical physicist and mathematician, grew up among the children of the project’s scientists at Princeton, N.J. Young George was babysat by Albert Einstein’s secretary.
The family later moved to California, where his father joined a top-secret program to design a propulsion system using nuclear bombs to propel interplanetary spacecraft. (Among the visitors to George’s three-room schoolhouse was Theodore Geisel, better known as the children’s author and illustrator Dr. Seuss.) The failed Mars program is the subject of Mr. Dyson’s Project Orion, while he examined the development of artificial intelligence in Darwin Among the Machines.
In 1970, at age 16, George Dyson came to Vancouver to attend his sister’s wedding one dawn on Kitsilano Beach. He crashed with the newlyweds and found the vibe of the city to his liking.
He remembers buying at a bookshop on Pender Street a $3 copy of Bark Canoes and Skin Boats of North America. “A catalogue of native American boat designs,” he said. “In there, I saw this big two-hatch kayak, a Russian version of a Kodiak Island design. The book mentioned the Russians had built three-hatch versions, but the authors did not regard that as a native American version. It was impure. It was Russian. But that fascinated me. So, I built one.”
First, he built a one-person kayak on the front porch of his sister’s rented house in Kitsilano. He became determined to build larger kayaks, based on the native Aleut design, known by the Russians as baidarka (pronounced by-DARK-ah), which he used as the title of his first book, published in 1986. He sought the solitude and privacy of a sheltered spot along the waterfront on Belcarra Bay, overlooking Indian Arm and Burrard Inlet beyond. The nearby village, not yet incorporated, still had blacksmith shops and other businesses for the marine trade.
As winter came, he knew he needed a better shelter than a tent.
“It was dark and wet in the woods. I looked up in this tree and thought, ‘Oh, treehouse.’ There was a perfect tree with an incredible view. I didn’t intend to build a house that far off the ground, but the higher I went the better it got.”
He hoisted building materials aloft with a rope and pulley. The structure, attached to 14 different branches, was lashed together in the same fashion as his boats. The exterior was covered in cedar shakes and driftwood logs. Two windows were salvaged from an old house, while others were the safety-glass fronts of old colour television sets.
The only cash expense was two rolls of nylon seine twine for which he spent less than $12. (To compare, Henry David Thoreau spent $28.12 1/2 on his cabin at Walden Pond. In 1845.)
Even now, Mr. Dyson thinks treehouse is too grand a description for his home. “More like a tree cabin,” he said.
On the shore, he built ever larger kayaks culminating in 1975 with the 48-foot Mount Fairweather, which had stations for six kayakers.
Over the years, during which he became a Canadian citizen, he explored the coast from Belcarra to Alaska by kayak. He lived in the woods until the birth of his daughter.
He is forever grateful to the people who helped an obsessive teenager with a crazy dream. “It’s a huge credit to British Columbia that a kid like me was allowed to do this,” he said.
Among those who encouraged him was Robert Hunter, the legendary Vancouver Sun columnist and Greenpeace co-founder who wrote the first story about Mr. Dyson’s quest, describing him as a prophet from the wilderness. They became fast friends and when the chair on which Mr. Hunter wrote his 1968 novel, Erebus, was to be tossed, Mr. Dyson claimed it, using it in his shop to this day.
“I do my best thinking in it,” he said. “It’s the ugliest, most comfortable chair I ever saw.”
Later this year, Mr. Dyson will receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Victoria, a celebration of a science historian and master boat builder who never completed high school but went into the woods and found himself.
Special to The Globe and MailReport Typo/Error
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US: Climate change to hit Californian wine output
Californian wine production could plummet by the middle of the century because of climate change, a new study warns.
According to research in the US scientific journal, Agricultural and Forest Meteorology, wine production losses in California could hit 40%.
"Climate change should be an important factor in selecting perennial varieties and deciding whether and where they should be planted in California," said David Lobell, lead author of the study, produced by a collaboration of scientists at the Washington DC-based Carnegie Institution, Stanford University and University of California (UC), Merced.
"This study indicates that warmer temperatures will tend to reduce yields of these crops in their current locations," he said.
Lobell warned that although vines are typically planted once every 25-40 years, climate could change considerably in the lifetime of individual vines.
He added that while vineyards could move to cooler parts of California, the state's productive land is limited.
Hotter summers may have created some bumper years for drinks producers but climate change represents serious challenges to the drinks industry, not only in areas such as water and energy supply but in...
Concluding just-drinks’ harvest reports for 2006, we cross the Atlantic to take a look at the 2006 crop in the US. Anne Brockhoff reviews the harvest in the country’s largest and most prominent wine r...
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When the automobile sputtered to life in the late 1880s, the sports car wasn't far behind. Briggs Cunningham, the storied American sports-car builder of the 1950s, once declared that "in the beginning every car was a sports car, because they weren't practical or particularly useful on a day-to-day basis."
Then, starting in 1913, one Henry Ford made the motorcar itself universal by using a moving assembly line to crank out his simple Model T with unheard-of speed in unheard-of numbers. Competition and free enterprise did the rest. Soon, most anyone who wanted a car could afford one.
It was in this heady, fast-paced era of technical innovation and industrial growth that the sports car began to emerge as something beyond mere transportation. As pioneer American auto journalist Ken Purdy explained it: "The automobile had tremendous appeal for the sportsman of the [early 1900s]: It was the fastest vehicle at man's bidding, it was new, much about it was unknown. It offered a great challenge."
To the manufacturers, turning out perhaps a few score automobiles a year, racing was the best kind of advertising. Because it was a brand-new sport, the newspapers gave it extensive news coverage, and the manufacturer whose car won an important race on Saturday could be sure of a full order book the following Monday evening." In short, the first racing cars were also the first sports cars. They've been close cousins ever since.
Good or bad, the sports car evolved up to World War II as a creature mainly of Europe and England, not the U.S. Though motorsports remained very popular on both sides of the Atlantic, the topography and economic conditions "over there" tended to breed sportier cars with the defining attributes of quick acceleration, agile handling, and strong brakes. It seemed, that sports cars were thriving.
Then the Depression hit. Smaller companies perished, and the larger U.S. automakers adopted emergency survival measures -- none of which included sports cars. With the start of a terrible new world war, some thought the sports car as good as dead.
But the pundits were wrong again. Liberated by unpredecented prosperity in the early postwar years, some Americans began rejecting homegrown automotive values for cars that looked good and were actually fun to drive. Though no one knew it at the time, a revolution was underway. The sports car was about to captivate America as never before.
In the following pages, you will be able to trace the exciting history of sports cars, from their postwar boom to the present day. Along the way you will also find links to individual sports car profiles that offer history, specs, and photos. In addition, you can also read sports car reviews and browse through our sports cars by year and manufacturer.
We'll get started on the next page by learning about the sports cars of the 1940s.
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Learn something new every day
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A fund balance is the net worth of a fund at any given point in time, found by calculating the assets and subtracting the liabilities. This can be particularly important in fund accounting, an approach where an organization creates a fund for a designated purpose to make the use of monies transparent and comply with legal mandates. Government agencies and academic institutions both do this for activities like paying for scholarships and public works projects.
Assets in a fund can include deposits as well as existing holdings. Liabilities involve expenses and withdrawals. In fund accounting, accountants should be able to show how money enters and leaves the fund, providing documentation to show how it was used. In a simple example, a university may have a fund for student events. At the beginning of the semester, student organizations pay into the fund to charge it up, and a series of disbursements are made as the semester progresses to fund activities, paying for things like speakers, transportation, food, and so forth.
In some forms of fund accounting, the end fund balance should be zero. This shows that the fund paid for itself and that all disbursements were related to the fund. If funds are left over, this indicates excessive payments into the fund, or a failure to completely disburse everything. If the fund has to borrow money, not enough funds are going into it, or it is not being used appropriately. A yearly scholarship fund, for example, should end with a net balance of zero.
Calculating fund balance is usually relatively easy to do. It is necessary to have access to the books to see assets and liabilities that may not have been recorded yet. For example, a fund could contain investments due for a dividend payout, and this would increase the fund balance. Likewise, there could be outstanding checks drawn on the fund that haven't cleared yet. In addition to adding assets and liabilities, it is also possible to audit the movement of funds, checking for issues like unauthorized disbursements.
In the case of public organizations, public disclosures about funds must be made available. Anyone can review the books and accounting information and can request a current fund balance and statement of account. This facilitates transparency, making organizations aware that members of the public will be able to see any questionable activity. If fund activity includes legal violations like not maintaining a required minimum balance, interested parties can bring suit to force the organization into regulatory compliance.
One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted. Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!
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When many people think of operating systems they think of implementations like Microsoft's Windows 7, or Apple's Mac OS-X. Few people think of the operating systems that run on the equipment which make networks function. In this article I will discuss various operating systems used on network routing hardware, focussing on large-scale implementations.
Routers are a very important part of any large network, and the internet as a whole. Routers have a very specific job function; to route packets. To successfully accomplish that job, routers often require much less hardware and software than a home computer requires. For instance, routers have little need for graphics capabilities. The hardware and software for a router is chosen so that routing happens as effectively and efficiently as possible; having an operating system like Windows 7 running on a router, while it could be done, would be a waste of capability and would very likely take resources away from the router's core function of routing packets.
In order to maximize performance routers often have specialized software which have limited capability but are very specialized to take advantage of the hardware and to perform the functions required of a router. The specialized software starts with the operating system. There are many routers, many with unique operating systems. Here are some common ones.
CISCO routers come with the CISCO IOS (Internetwork Operating System) operating system (OS). Most versions of this OS use a monolithic kernel. This means that all functions required for the OS to run operate inside the kernel space which provides system calls to handle process management, concurrency, and memory management. For a diagram of a monolithic kernel architecture see Figure 2 below. While this is a much simpler (conceptually) method and one that can more easily be tailored to high performance applications, this is not conducive to high availability; if one process is corrupted running on a monolithic kernel it can often cause the whole OS to crash. For more information on high availability see my previously published article on that topic. Over the last few years CISCO has been working to change some of their IOS offerings to take advantage of a micro-kernel, which by definition is not monolithic. CISCO products which ship with these micro-kernel versions of IOS are geared towards the high availability market. CISCO uses a third party micro-kernel called QNX. Micro-kernels, like QNX, have the advantage that many OS functions operate as running processes and do not share the same memory space as the kernel. Therefore if a running process is corrupted, that process will crash but other processes will not and the kernel will remain running and will (or could be programmed to) restart the process as necessary.
Micro vs Monolithic Architectures
One of the main functionalities that all kernels require is the ability to communicate between processes. In a monolithic kernel these communications are often called signals. Each process will have a signal handler which can accept a signal and perform the appropriate modifications to its process. In a micro-kernel OS architecture, inter-process communications happen on a single virtual messaging bus. In fact, in a micro-kernel the functions handling the file system, device drivers, and memory management are all services which run outside of the kernel and communicate via this virtual messaging bus. This micro kernel architecture allows many services to be swapped in and out on the fly and is the basis for its renowned reliability.
Figure 1: Diagram of a micro-kernel architecture courtesy of www.brokenthorn.com
Of course, micro-kernels are not perfect. It is quite difficult for micro-kernels to operate at high speeds, whereas monolithic kernels have an easier time with speed. Also, micro-kernels can have a larger memory foot print. This is counter-intuitive because micro-kernels are by themselves much smaller (hence the term micro). They can however grow larger if additional modules are added so that the micro-kernel plus the modules perform the same functions as a monolithic kernel. This is because of all of the "glue code" required to make it all work. Of course all of these factors for and against each kernel greatly depend on the quality of code of which it is made. For instance the QNX micro-kernel which is licensed to CISCO is widely regarded as being impressively fast. Likewise, FreeBSD is widely regarded as very stable and is based on a monolithic kernel architecture.
Fgure 2: Diagram of a monolithic kernel architecture courtesy of www.brokenthorn.com
Juniper routers come with the JUNOS operating system. JUNOS is based on FreeBSD which uses a monolithic kernel architecture. Some might argue that since JUNOS is based on a monolithic kernel architecture that it would not be as reliable as a micro-kernel architecture based OS like some of the CISCO IOS offerings, this however is not so clear cut. Many people would argue (I am sure Juniper would be among them) that since Juniper focuses their efforts on the development of only one operating system that they can pay more attention to the small details that can have a big impact on factors like reliability. The most important factor which determines the performance of a finished product is not the architecture but the quality of the code; the chosen architecture merely starts the product off on the right foot.
While FreeBSD is open source, Juniper's JUNOS is not. There does exist however, an open source implementation of BSD specifically optimized for use by routers. This OS is called the BSD router project (BSDRP). The BSDRP OS, while free, is not intended for home use but for small to medium sized businesses, like perhaps a small internet service provider (ISP). The BSDRP is designed to be a one-sized fits all operating system though it is streamlined to optimally perform routing tasks.
Proprietary Operating systems whether they are from CISCO, Juniper, or another company, work best when they have been optimized for the hardware on the router. This is the main advantage that they have over open source software such as the BSDRP and is best suited for high performance and high availability situations such as carrier-grade networks. However, this optimization process depends greatly on the quality of the hardware. This is why many router manufacturers are beginning to move away from off-the-shelf RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computer) processors towards custom ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) architectures. For instance, in 2008 CISCO announced their QuantumFlow processor which is a 40-core processor which comes with their Aggregation Services Router (ASR) products.
For more information on multi-core processors and the issues that they bring up see my previously published articles here, here, and here. If you want any further information, check out this article on processor affinity.
In this article I gave you a brief introduction to the world of specialized operating systems in a networking context. If you have any questions or comments do not hesitate to email me and I will do my best to respond promptly.
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1. A Look at Critical Zone Processes in the NW Sierra Nevada.
Sat.–Sun. 18–19 May.
2. Granite, Glaciation, and Rockfall in Yosemite Valley, California.
Sat.–Sun., 18–19 May.
3. From Deep to Modern Time along the Western Sierra Nevada Foothills between the San Joaquin and Kern River Drainages.
Sat.–Sun., 18–19 May. Cost: $240, Max: 24.
Jason Saleeby, Zorka Saleeby, Frank Sousa, Div. of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology.
The western Sierra Nevada Foothills preserve ~500 m.y. of diverse geologic history initiating with the interaction of Panthalassa abyssal lithosphere with the passive margin of the SW Cordillera and accented today by rapidly evolving epeirogenic displacements arising from the ongoing removal of the mantle lithosphere that formed beneath the Cretaceous Sierra Nevada batholith. Our field trip will survey basement exposures that display key stages in western Sierra Nevada lithospheric evolution and geomorphic-stratigraphic relations that reflect geologically recent mobilization of the underlying mantle lithosphere. Key elements surveyed in the basement include (1) a deformed abyssal Moho section interpreted to represent an oceanic spreading ridge-transform intersection core complex; (2) a regional ophiolitic mélange interpreted to have formed along a major transform zone that truncated the SW Cordilleran margin and along which the California Mesozoic convergent margin nucleated; and (3) Early Cretaceous mafic intrusions that are typical of the western Sierra Nevada batholith and its extension into the Great Valley subsurface. Key geomorphic-stratigraphic elements include (1) An exhumed end of Cretaceous pediment surface and its implications on the remnants of Cretaceous paleo-relief throughout the greater Sierra Nevada; (2) anomalous subsidence along the eastern margin of the southern Great Valley interpreted to have arisen from initial mobilization of the underlying mantle lithosphere; and (3) rapid Quaternary uplift and hydrothermal fluxing along part of the southeastern Great Valley arising from the most recent focused phase of mantle lithosphere detachment from the lower crust.
Relevant Theme Sessions:T1 Tectonic Processes that Build the Stratigraphic and Structural Record of Ancient and Modern Convergent Margins; T2 Mélanges: Comparison and Contrast Between Circum-Pacific and Tethyan Chaotic Rock Bodies, and Modern Submarine Analogues; T3 Oceanic Petrogenesis of Pacific-Type Convergent Margins; T4 Ophiolites and Suture Zones; T6 Using Detrital Zircon Age Data to Reassemble the Cordilleran Jigsaw Puzzle.
4. Middle Irvingtonian Fairmead Landfill Fossil Site and Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County, California.
Sun., 19 May. Cost: $50 Max: 24.
Robert G. Dundas, CSU Fresno, [email protected]; James C. Chatters, CSU Fresno Foundation, paleoscigmail.com; Eric Scott, San Bernardino County Museum, escottsbcm.sbcounty.gov.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Fairmead Landfill fossil locality’s discovery, participants will visit the Madera County Fairmead Landfill, the corresponding Madera County Paleontology Collection, and end at the Fossil Discovery Center of Madera County. The middle Irvingtonian aged (0.78 to .55 Ma) Fairmead Landfill fossil site was discovered in May 1993 during excavations for a new expansion cell at the landfill. Paleontological monitoring since 1993 has yielded thousands of fossil specimens representing 71 taxa (two fish, two amphibians, three reptiles, five birds, 29 mammals, one bivalve, one gastropod, 12 plants, and 16 diatoms). Fossils occur in distal alluvial fan channel, distal fan overbank flood or sheetflood, and marsh/lacustrine deposits of the upper unit of the Turlock Lake Formation. Fossils have been collected from a geographic area of more than 40 acres and stratigraphically from depths of 4 m to 20+ m below ground surface. The vertebrate fauna include Archoplites interruptus, Catostomus occidentalis, Caudata, Anura, Clemmys marmorata, Xerobates agassizi,Colubridae, Athene cunicularia, Branta canadensis, Tadorna tadorna,cf. Aythya sp., Zenaida macroura, Sorex sp., Paramylodon harlani, Nothrotheriops shastensis, Megalonyxwheatleyi, Canis latrans, Canis dirus, Vulpes velox, Homotherium sp., Smilodon sp., Miracinonyx sp., Lynx rufus, Panthera sp., Taxidea taxus, Arctodus sp., Spermophilus sp., Neotoma sp., Peromyscus sp., Microtus sp., Thomomys sp., cf. Dipodomys sp., Lepus sp., Mammuthus columbi, Equus sp., Camelops sp., Hemiauchenia sp., Tetrameryx irvingtonensis, Capromeryx sp., Odocoileus sp., and Platygonus vetus. The fauna is dominated by large herbivorous mammals, particularly open-country grazers and mixed feeders such as Equus, Camelops, Mammuthus columbi and Paramylodon harlani. Fairmead Landfill represents an age not well documented in the terrestrial vertebrate record of North America and helps to fill the gap in knowledge about the middle Irvingtonian.
Relevant Theme Session:T13 Irvingtonian Paleoecology of Western North America.
5. LOCKED ROCKS: Hard-to-Access Outcrops of the Mesozoic Metasedimentary Framework and Gabbroids of the Early Cretaceous Sierra Nevada Batholith.
Thurs., 23 May. Cost: $70. Max: 33.
Diane Clemens-Knott, Dept. of Geological Sciences, CSU Fullerton; Jason Saleeby, Div. of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology.
This one-day trip will begin/end with a one-hour highway commute from Fresno to the greater Visalia area. As we travel back roads through private ranchlands of the Stokes Mountain region, we will track the Mesozoic evolution of depositional environments as recorded in the batholith’s metamorphic framework, progressing from (1) the Triassic ribbon cherts, carbonates, and distal turbidites of the Calaveras Complex; to (2) the Jurassic turbidites of the Kings Sequence; to (3) the Early Cretaceous siliciclastic and volcanic rocks of the Goldstein Peak Formation, which were deposited in a nonmarine, intra-arc basin during the earliest stage of Cretaceous arc activity. As we travel, we will inspect various Early Cretaceous rock types of the Stokes Mountain ring dike complexes, with the trip culminating at a spectacular outcrop of layered olivine-plagioclase cumulates—the most primitive rocks of the Cretaceous Sierra Nevada batholith. Various isotopic (igneous and detrital zircon U-Pb; Hf-Nd-Sr-O), geochemical, and geophysical data will be integrated into reconstructions of Mesozoic paleogeography, tectonics, and the dominantly gabbroic-to-tonalitic Early Cretaceous Sierra Nevada batholith.
Relevant Theme Sessions: T1 Tectonic Processes that Build the Stratigraphic and Structural Record of Ancient and Modern Convergent Margins; T3 Oceanic Petrogenesis of Pacific-Type Convergent Margins; T6 Using Detrital Zircon Age Data to Reassemble the Cordilleran Jigsaw Puzzle; T9 AFC Processes in the Formation of Intermediate Magmas from Mantle to Crust.
6. New Views on the Evolution of the San Andreas Fault Zone in Central California and the Carrizo Plain.
Thur.–Sat., 23–25 May.
7. Mélanges, HP Metamorphism, Subduction Accretion and Erosion, Subduction Megathrusts, and Ophiolites: The Franciscan and Related Rocks.
Thur.–Fri., 23–24 May. Cost: $205 Max: 50.
John Wakabayashi, California State University, Fresno, jwakabayashicsufresno.edu.
We will visit exposures that highlight the rock record of convergent plate margin processes on round-trip from Fresno through Panoche Pass to the San Francisco Bay area. The trip will feature multiple stops with exceptional exposures of mélange matrix of Franciscan subduction complex showing evidence for sedimentary origins of block in matrix fabric and introduction of exotic blocks/clasts, as well evidence of two and possibly three burial-exposure cycles to blueschist facies or greater depth. At least one of these stops will view exposures that may represent the exhumed subduction megathrust. We will see the large-scale architecture of the preserved trench-forearc system and its implications for non-accretionary versus accretionary episodes, preserved ocean plate stratigraphy within different parts of the system, and the high-grade metamorphism that may record Franciscan subduction initiation. We will also view exposures of the Coast Range ophiolite, considered a good example of a supra-subduction zone ophiolite, along with the forearc basin cover of the Great Valley Group, including the basal olistostrome of the latter that includes high-grade metamorphic blocks.
Relevant Theme Sessions:T1 Tectonic Processes that Build the Stratigraphic and Structural Record of Ancient and Modern Convergent Margins; T2 Mélanges: Comparison and Contrast between Circum-Pacific and Tethyan Chaotic Rock Bodies, and Modern Submarine Analogues; T3 Oceanic Petrogenesis of Pacific-Type Convergent Margins; T4 Ophiolites and Suture Zones; T6 Using Detrital Zircon Age Data to Reassemble the Cordilleran Jigsaw Puzzle.
8. Debris Flows in Recently Burned Watersheds in the Southeastern Sierra Nevada.
Thur.–Sat., 23–25 May.
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In the B-17G, the most heavily armed version, there were 13 .50s. Only 5 of these were single guns in flexible mounts, 1 on either side of the waist, 1 on either side of the nose, and 1 in the dorsal position about halfway between the top turret and vertical stabilizer. 8 of the guns were paired up in turrets under the chin, in the ball, in the tail and on top right behind the cockpit.
In the turrets, the guns were all in rigid mounts, the gunners hands did not touch the weapons, and these were the most effective weapons, able to track moving targets smoothly. The single guns were hands on in flexible mounts and not very effective unless a fighter got close.
The B-29s had 10 .50s and 1 20mm, all in rigid powered mounts, but by the time they came into service, there weren't enough effective fighters left to cause heavy losses to the high flying, fast moving B-29s.
In reality, one bomber on it's own was generally a dead duck, it's own armament was not enough to protect it against a more manuverable fighter. The best defense was massed firepower of all the guns in the bomber formation firing at attacking fighters, kill claims were highly exaggerated, with gunners from several bombers claiming the same kill.
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As an export orientated country, Mexico is the 15th largest exporter in the world. They are also the United States' second largest export market, making about 12.21 percent of U.S. total exports in 2009. With the signing of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) in 1994 with the United States, Mexico's trade economy is heavily linked to the United States', with as high as 80.5 percent for Mexico's exports going to the U.S.
As a result, Mexico's economy suffered greatly during the 2008 global financial crisis and U.S. economic downturn, due to a drop in U.S demand of exports. Mexico's exports to U.S fell from US$234.6 billion in 2008 to $184.9 billion in 2009. GDP (PPP) of Mexico also posted a negative 5.25 percent growth in 2009, a drop from US$1.553 trillion in 2008 to US$1.471 trillion in 2009.
Mexico has also built an extensive network of free trade agreements with over 40 countries, such as the European Union, Japan Israel, and countries in South and Central America. This agreements liberalize the trade tariffs between countries and regions, and have made Mexico one of the most open country to trade. The United States and Canada are the two biggest importer of Mexico's goods.
List of Mexico's FTAs
North American Free Trade Agreement
Costa Rica - Mexico FTA
Nicaragua - Mexico FTA
Chile - Mexico FTA
European Union - Mexico FTA
Israel - Mexico FTA
El Salvador - Mexico FTA
Guatemala - Mexico FTA
Honduras - Mexico
Japan - Mexico FTA
EFTA - Mexico
(EFTA includes Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.)
Mexico's Import and Export Indicators and Statistics at a Glance (2010)
Total value of exports: US$303 billion
Primary exports - commodities: manufactured goods, oil and oil products, silver, fruits, vegetables, coffee, cotton
Primary export partners: US (80.5 percent of total exports), Canada (3.6 percent), Germany (1.4 percent)
Total value of imports: US$306 billion
Primary imports - commodities: metalworking machines, steel mill products, agricultural machinery, electrical equipment, car parts for assembly, repair parts for motor vehicles, aircraft and aircraft parts
Primary import partners: US (48 percent of total imports), China (13.5 percent), Japan (4.8 percent), South Korea (4.6 percent), Germany (4.1 percent).
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Gut bacteria linked to alcoholic liver diseasePublished On: Mon, Apr 14th, 2014 | Microbiology | By BioNews
Why is that the severity of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is not equal in all heavy drinkers? The secret may lie in the the gut flora or what is now known as microbiota, says a study.
“These findings provide first evidence for a causal role of gut microbiota in alcohol-induced inflammation,” said professor Frank Lammert, scientific committee member, European Association for the Study of the Liver.
In the study, two groups of germ-free mice received gut microbiota transplants from human representatives; one set from a patient with severe alcoholic hepatitis, the other from a patient with a history of alcohol abuse but without alcoholic hepatitis.
The two sets of germ-free mice were then fed a liquid alcoholic diet.
The group that received microbiota from the patient with severe alcoholic hepatitis developed a more severe liver injury and a higher disruption of the intestinal mucosa in direct comparison to the group that received microbiota from the patient without severe alcoholic hepatitis.
The findings open up new avenues for the treatment of alcoholic liver disease with potentially better patient outcomes, Lammert said.
The researchers highlighted the possibility of preventing ALD with faecal microbiota transplantation – the engrafting of new microbiota, usually through administering human faecal material from a healthy donor into the colon of a recipient.
The study also identified two Clostridium bacteria that were able to produce ethanol in vitro and that were systematically associated with intestinal microbiota associated liver injury.
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2 Answers | Add Yours
There was an uncle who was no good named Maurice and who came to a bad end. The name was seen as bad luck.
Uncle Maury, in the first section of the novel, appears as a dissipated bigot who fails to achieve any success.
The mother figure in the novel is rather superstitious and, well, odd, and driven by a powerful "attribution of reality" to her fancies. What she believes for a moment becomes real for life. Thus her bed stay and her sickness. Thus Benjy's name change as well. She did not want Benjy to be like his uncle and saw already that bad luck had come of the name with Benjy's natural difficulties.
I think this is a wonderful question. Given that this is completely subjective, take my answer for what it is: subjective.
To begin, let us look at the meaning of both names. Benjy means "Son of my right hand". It descends form the Hebrew (Benjamin). Maury means "moor" or "dark-skinned". It descends from Latin (Maurice).
Now, let us look at the character of Benjy. He is mentally challenged and leads readers through his portion of the text in a way which shows the eventual decline of the Comptons is inevitable (given Benjy's decline juxtaposes the decline of the family).
Now, for the name change. Perhaps the meaning of his birth name created too much of a "black mark" on the family. Given his mental retardation, the family probably did not want anything else "staining" his name or the family's name. One "black mark" was enough.
As for the change to Benjy, perhaps it was because he needed to be attended to at all times- to be positioned at the right hand of the father.
Again, this is simply my interpretation of why the name was changed. Only Faulkner would know for sure.
As for the values of the Compton family, this would state that they value how others see them over how they see themselves.
We’ve answered 328,297 questions. We can answer yours, too.Ask a question
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Our Richest Presidents
A newly revised study finds that our first President was also our wealthiest, even after adjusting wealth and income of his 42 successors for inflation:
Three years ago, 24/7 Wall St. published the net worth of every American president, from George Washington to Barack Obama. We have updated our numbers to reflect the earnings of the still-living presidents. One thing remains clear: it pays to be president, especially after leaving office. 24/7 Wall St. examined the finances of all 43 presidents to identify the richest.
In our updated list, the only currently living president who makes the wealthiest list is Bill Clinton, who has an estimated net worth of $55 million. Clinton continues to make millions of dollars in speaking fees. This January, following an email from Bill Clinton to supporters, Hilary Clinton’s 2008 campaign debt was paid off.
President Obama is not one of the wealthiest presidents of all times. Yet his net worth increased from $5 million in 2010 to an estimated $7 million, primarily from his book sales. If Bill Clinton is any indication, Obama can expect to make much more money in speaking engagements once he exits office in 2017.
The net worth of the presidents varies widely. Washington amassed over half a billion in today’s dollars, while other presidents went bankrupt. The fortunes of America’s presidents are often tied to the economy of their time. Over time, as the focus of the economy has changed, so has the way the presidents made their money.
The first few presidents — from Washington’s election to about 75 years later — were large landowners. They generally made money from land, crops and commodity speculation. This left them highly vulnerable to poor crop yields, and they could lose most or all of their properties because of a few bad years. Similarly, they could lose all of their money through land speculation — leveraging the value of one piece of land to buy additional property.
Washington is at the top of the list with a net worth of $525 million in 2010 dollars, followed by fellow Virginia landowners Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, Andrew Jackson, who was also a large landowner, and Theodore Roosevelt, whose wealth came from far different sources. Others on the list include Herbert Hoover, Franklin Roosevelt, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, and Bill Clinton.
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People around the world will come together today to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the birth of St. Joan of Arc, the brave peasant girl from the French countryside who in 1429 lifted the English siege of Orleans, walloped the enemy army and led her king to be crowned at Reims. French President Nicolas Sarkozy plans a special visit to the village of Domremy, her birthplace.
And how typical of the magic of Joan's story that she should have been born on so important a Christian holiday, the Feast of the Epiphany, celebrating Christ's baptism and the coming of the Magi. Just another wonder in the life of the transcendent young woman who heard the voices of angels and presented the dauphin of France with a secret sign that only he would know, a sign that convinced him of her authenticity as a messenger from God.
Except that, like so much of the irresistible mystery surrounding Joan, this date, accepted by so many for so long as fact, was almost certainly created six centuries ago as a deliberate fiction for political purposes.
That neither Joan's date of birth nor her baptism was ever recorded is not in historical dispute. Indeed, Joan herself did not know when she was born. "As far as I know, (I am) about 19 years old," she testified to her inquisitors at her Trial of Condemnation in January 1431. There was nothing unusual in this. People in the 15th century did not celebrate individual birthdays, and there was certainly no need to record so mundane an event for a member of the lower classes, and a female to boot. Instead, the general populace celebrated saints' days.
Ironically, if Joan had been delivered on the Feast of the Epiphany, there would have been a chance that her family would have remembered the occasion and that she would have grown up with this knowledge. She would have jumped at the chance to fling this information in her inquisitors' faces had it been true. As she did not do so, the Feast of the Epiphany is actually one of the few dates of the year that can be reasonably ruled out as the date of her birth.
The source for the Jan. 6 date was a French aristocrat by the name of Perceval de Boulainvilliers. Perceval was a member of the royal court who fancied himself a poet. He had not known of Joan's existence until she showed up unannounced in Chinon and begged to see the dauphin. What he did know was that she had ended the siege of Orleans in a week and that this victory, the first sign of life in years in the dauphin's otherwise moribund campaign against the English, could be used to coax allies into the French camp.
The dauphin desperately needed troops, money, supplies and political support, so to help his sovereign, Perceval wrote a letter to the wealthy duke of Milan that took the nature of a sales pitch. It was Perceval who, taking poetic license, fabricated the date of Joan's birth. He imbued not only this event but her entire childhood with picturesque details — for example, he claimed that as a girl, Joan never lost a single sheep, which was probably true, as the family kept cattle — intended to surround his subject with an otherworldly aura of mysticism. Over time, this date, like so much of the legend deliberately fashioned around Joan, was accepted as historical fact.
Which is a shame because of all the stories in the world, Joan's is one of the least in need of embellishment. What makes Joan an iconic figure, as inspirational today as she was six centuries ago, was her faith, her unswerving dedication to her cause and, above all, her astounding bravery. It was this bravery that was demonstrated at her very first battle when, as the wounded French soldiers, bloodied and disheartened, streamed back to the safety of the walls of Orleans, 17-year-old Joan rushed out into the crush of arrows and swords to give battle.
Those of us who lived through 9/11, and who remember the members of the New York City Fire Department and other rescue squads charging up the staircases of the towers as everyone else fled down, will recognize this particular brand of courage.
That is why the story of Joan of Arc resonates, why people all over the world are still drawn to her, and why her memory, if not her birthday, deserves to be celebrated on Jan. 6.
Nancy Goldstone's latest book, "The Maid and the Queen: The Secret History of Joan of Arc," will be published in April.
© 2012 Los Angeles Times
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| 0.9831 | 962 | 2.890625 | 3 |
Conventional medical treatment for high blood pressure (hypertension) is typically based around prescribing medications. There are a number of different types of medications, but the most commonly used types are diuretics (water pills), and ACE inhibitors.
Blood Pressure Medications induce vitamin and mineral deficiencies…these deficiencies can cause high blood pressure.
The problem with this approach is that it does not address the actually root cause of the elevation in blood pressure. Additionally, long term use of blood pressure medications induce deficiencies of zinc, B-Vitamins, CoQ10, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Long term presence of these deficiencies can actually cause high blood pressure. Therefore it can be said that the long term medical treatment for high blood pressure actually promotes elevated blood pressure!
Let’s not stop there. Deficiencies of these nutrients can cause other problems as well.
In the diagram below you can see the consequences of blood pressure medication (diuretics) on the B-Vitamin, Thiamine. Take note that one of the diseases induced is congestive heart failure. Are we trying to reduce the risk of heart disease?
- SSRI’s = selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (drugs like prozac, lexapro, paxil, etc)
- NSAIDS = non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs (examples include, Celebrox, Naproxen, and Ibuprofen)
- CFS = chronic fatigue syndrome
- CHF = congestive heart failure
There are multiple components that contribute to hypertension. None of these are deficiencies in medications. So then why do we keep accepting this as a viable long term treatment?
What You Can Do to Reverse and Prevent Blood Pressure Problems:
- Stay active – exercise and activity strengthen the heart muscle and improve circulation efficiency.
- Avoid smoking – enough said on this topic.
- Eat foods rich in potassium, magnesium, and calcium (fresh fruits and vegetables). It has been proven that diets high in these nutrients keep blood pressure normal and help lower blood pressure in the hypertensive.
- See a Board Certified Nutritionist – Often times eating the wrong food is a major culprit in hypertension. Identifying food allergies and intolerance can help the body restore normal balance and function
- Get adequate sleep. Inadequate sleep has been linked to elevations in blood pressure.Maintaining proper rest is a critical element to controlling stress and staying healthy.
- Take time for yourself – Whether it is vacation or just an afternoon away from the fast pace of daily life taking some time off is an effective way to re-energize.
- Have your vitamin D levels checked twice per year – Vitamin D deficiency is an epidemic in the United States. Lack of this nutrient has been shown to cause high blood pressure and contribute to diabetes.
- Go see a chiropractor – regular chiropractic adjustments help your nervous system communicate with your heart and blood vessels. New research has shown that chiropractic adjustments can lower blood pressure by as much as 17 points. Watch the videos below:
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://towncenterwellness.com/announcements/high-blood-pressure/
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| 0.885565 | 627 | 2.75 | 3 |
Earlier today, PepsiCo announced that it is launching a new pilot program to reduce the carbon footprint of its Tropicana Pure Premium orange juice.
About a year ago, the company released results of a lifecycle analysis (LCA) it had completed on the juice. That data, compiled in partnership with the Carbon Trust, revealed that each half-gallon of orange juice emits the equivalent of 3.75 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. (Need a point of reference? Consider this: Burning one gallon of gas creates 20 pounds of CO2.)
By completing the LCA, PepisCo also discovered that the largest single source of carbon emissions in the production of the drink came from the growing process. Specifically, about 35 percent of Tropicana Pure Premium’s carbon footprint derives from fertilizer use and application in the orange groves.
So now, Tropicana is going to team up with one of its long-time growers, SMR Farms in Bradenton, Fla., to test two lower-carbon fertilizers. If successful, the company estimates that this change could reduce the total carbon footprint of Tropicana Pure Premium by as much as 15 percent.
One of the fertilizers in produced by Yara International, the world’s largest fertilizer producer. It has a much lower environmental impact than other conventional fertilizers, because it is manufactured with proprietary technology that reduces nitrous oxide emissions by up to 90 percent. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, nitrous oxide has approximately 300 times the greenhouse effect of carbon dioxide.
The other fertilizer is made by ERTH Solutions, a wholly owned subsidiary of Toronto-based Outlook Resources. This one achieves a lower-carbon footprint by using locally-sourced, carbon-neutral raw materials–such as food waste and agriculture waste–rather than natural gas. As a result, it avoids unnecessary carbon emissions from both natural gas and raw materials’ transportation.
Will using either of these alternative fertilizers significantly reduce the carbon footprint associated with the agricultural production of oranges?
Unfortunately, we won’t have a clear answer to that question for quite awhile. PepsiCo says the new study will last up to five years, because it needs to match the maturity cycle of orange trees.
However, the results of this pilot program may be worth the wait. PepsiCo says the new findings could have a big impact on a variety of agricultural practices, and that it will monitor early indicators of success with researchers from the University of Florida so that any findings can be shared with other growers to reduce the carbon in their systems, too.
“We’ve been using our new environmental technology to produce lower-carbon fertilizers with great success,” says Sandro Pippobello, director of Premium Offerings for Yara North America. “In addition to our fertilizer production technology, we’re excited to bring our expertise in plant nutrition to a project that has the potential to both improve agricultural practices associated with orange production and make a positive contribution to growers’ profitability. With PepsiCo’s support, we have an opportunity to make significant breakthroughs in several critical areas: the environment, crop quality and profitability.”
For more information on PepsiCo’s efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of Tropicana Pure Premium, watch this video:
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://www.triplepundit.com/2010/03/pepsico-wants-to-make-tropicana-orange-juice-greener/
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en
| 0.927501 | 682 | 2.515625 | 3 |
The solar wind streams off of the Sun in all directions at speeds of
about 400 km/s (about 1 million miles per hour). The source of the solar wind is the Sun's
hot corona. The temperature of the corona is so high that the
Sun's gravity cannot hold on to it. Although we understand why this happens we do not
understand the details about how and where the coronal gases are accelerated to these high
velocities. This question is related to the question of
Click on image for larger version.
The solar wind is not uniform. Although it is always directed away from
the Sun, it changes speed and carries with it magnetic
clouds, interacting regions
where high speed wind catches up with slow speed wind, and composition variations. The solar wind
speed is high (800 km/s) over coronal holes and
low (300 km/s) over streamers. These high and
low speed streams interact with each other and alternately pass by the Earth as the Sun
rotates. These wind speed variations buffet the Earth's magnetic field and can produce
storms in the Earth's magnetosphere.
The Ulysses spacecraft
completed two orbits through the solar system during which it passed over the Sun's south
and north poles. Its measurements of the solar wind speed, magnetic field strength and
direction, and composition have provided us with a new view of the solar wind.
Ulysses was retired on June 30, 2009.
Composition Explorer (ACE) satellite was launched in August of 1997 and placed into an
orbit about the L1 point between the Earth and the Sun. The L1 point is one of several
points in space where the gravitational attraction of the Sun and Earth are equal and
opposite. This particular point is located about 1.5 million km (1 million miles) from the
Earth in the direction of the Sun. ACE has a number of instruments that monitor the solar
wind and the spacecraft team provides real-time information on solar wind conditions at
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<urn:uuid:acedb0c2-6689-48df-9d65-94a643a51f84>
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http://solarscience.msfc.nasa.gov/SolarWind.shtml
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783403826.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155003-00182-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.923967 | 421 | 3.765625 | 4 |
Tall wheatgrass as energy crop for marginal areas has being testes enough to be consider in large scale projects to feed biomass facilities.
When we started looking for new energy crops we never imagined that emissions and energy balances had to be so important for sustainability. Producing a lot means often a high load of fertilizers and irrigation. However we want options for marginal lands. Tall wheatgrass (Elytrigia elongata) is one of those options. It is orginal from Eurasia and was introduced to United States, Canada and Argentina many decades ago to produce some fodder and prevent erosion where nothing was grown. It is as very drought tolerant and frost species, with very high pH and salinity tolerance so it was encouraged to investigate it seriously for biofuel and solid biomass production in semiarid temperate areas worldwide. And the beauty of it is that it is a very cheap biomass option.
Now in several regions the crop has been evaluated as one of the best promises of raw material for combustion,. gasification, electricity and 2nd generation biofuels in marginal areas. It is also produced for anaerobic digestion in Europe.
Higher latitudes and semiarid lands in Northern Europe, North Dakota in United States and Argentina have been recorded. In many of those regions, researchers found even better results compared to the well reputed Switchgrass as energy crop for biofuel production with high environmental benefits. Lifetime and stability in production in marginal lands are the key factors making this spectacular grass so profitable.
Tall wheatgrass is better prepared for aridity, summer severe droughts as occur in many regions from Ushuaia to Canada or in Southern and Eastern European countries. Our consultants have been involved in sound research regarding this crop as a novel energy grass to provide sustainable, stable and cheap biomass in many marginal regions where many other crops just failed.
Our technical support with Tall wheatgrass includes:
- Agronomic advice, fertilization improvement, varieties, monitoring and crop management for site-specific conditions
- Crop growth models to analyze the productivity for long term in specific sites
- Biomass and pulp project development for Latin America, Northamerica and Europe
- Advice on harvesting methods to improve bale for heat/electricity and bioethanol processing requirements. Cost reductions from planting to energy uses.
- Direct sowing techniques for semiarid regions
- Harvesting strategies and logistic chain optimization
- Environmental impacts and life cycle assessments. Biodiversity evaluations.
- Agronomic and economic models
Tell us about your needs and recent developments
Our experts will contact you as soon as possibleContact us
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<urn:uuid:67433a06-a5ea-4ceb-b471-652e783d5689>
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://bioenergycrops.com/tall-wheatgrass-elytrigia-elongata/
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783395679.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154955-00085-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.949878 | 537 | 2.953125 | 3 |
Dear Mrs. Smith,
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a division of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), reviews, accepts and publishes guidelines that become standards of care for various conditions. In 2011, the National Guideline Clearinghouse published on the Internet the Association for the Advancement of Wound Care (AAWC) guidelines for pressure ulcers. In this guideline, they state that “using wet-to-dry gauze is considered sub-standard practice.”
The wet-to-dry (WTD) dressing has been used for almost a century because it was the most basic form of dressing to cover a wound. Whether in a battlefield or a motor vehicle accident, it provides a basic covering to a wound at very little cost. It has also been referred to as a “moist gauze dressing,” but there is a substantial difference between the two types of dressings.
The WTD dressing went from a basic wound covering to a method of mechanical debridement. Gauze saturated with saline or water is applied to a wound and left in place for 24 hours which allows enough time for the gauze to dry out and stick to the wound. After 24 hours, the dry gauze is literally ripped off the wound, taking necrotic tissue and some healthy bleeding tissue along with the gauze. After 2 or 3 WTD dressing changes, there is very little necrotic tissue left on the wound, leaving viable healthy tissue to be ripped away. This is far more painful than a bikini wax or ripping tape off a hairy arm. Some patients were given “bite-blocks” to bite down on when the dressing was ripped away from their body. Screaming during the process can easily be heard down a hallway. Using the WTD dressing as a form of mechanical debridement is a barbaric method that some refer to as inhumane or even torture.
The AAWC Guidelines for Pressure Ulcers 2010 are referring to the use of WTD dressing for the purpose of mechanical debridement. The entire statement reads: “Mechanical debridement using wet-to-dry gauze is considered substandard practice. (Evidence Level = C).” It is possible for this guideline to be cited for non-pressure ulcers and not just relating to mechanical debridement, as a “moist gauze” dressing has be shown to be identical or clearly similar. With so many dressing options to choose from today, hopefully the WTD dressing for debridement purposes will fade away into history.
From your friends at Amerx Health Care www.amerigel.com/
Arizona AFO, Inc. is the home of the original, patented Arizona AFO®. Located in Mesa, AZ, we are the exclusive central fabrication facility for all Arizona AFO, Inc. products. Our extensive product line can meet the needs of a variety of patients. These products are all custom made utilizing the finest leathers and materials. For more information please visit our website at www.arizonaafo.com or call toll free 1-877-780-8382.
BioMedix Vascular Solutions, Inc. provides the only integrated suite of hardware, software and online services designed to cost-effectively detect Peripheral Arterial Disease (P.A.D.) and Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). Vascular specialists, primary care and podiatric physicians, hospitals and health systems use our products to identify these patients. Our devices and Health Information Technology (HIT) software reduce mistakes, provide data for sound analysis, build practice revenue and streamline reimbursement while providing a platform that supports the continuum of care and increased quality outcomes.
Amerx Health Care Corporation is the manufacturer of Amerigel Skin and Wound Care products. Exclusive to the Amerigel® product line, the ingredient Oakin is proven to heal wounds and skin conditions and improve patient outcomes. This unique formulation and the company's commitment to quality, consistency and service has earned Amerigel® Wound Dressing the #1 rating for the past 6 years in the podiatric profession. For more information on the Amerigel products, please visit our website: www.amerigel.com or call toll free: 1-800-448-9599.
Bako Pathology Services www.bakopathology.com is a physician-owned provider of a wide array of pathology services ranging from histopathologic examination of bone, soft tissue, and skin/nail unit, to microbiology and epidermal nerve fiber density testing. We pride ourselves on providing the best available customer service, concise reports with therapeutic options, photomicrographic imaging, compliant and patient-friendly billing policies, internet-based report access, and a client/patient comes-first business model.
At Bako Pathology Services, we're not just providing a premium pathology service; we're dedicated to the advancement of this great profession through Education, Research, and Financial Support.
"SafeStep Does DME" and is the podiatrist's complete source for diabetic shoes, prefabricated and custom AFO's and ready-made inserts. Featuring footwear from Aetrex, OrthoFeet, New Balance, Pedors, Crocs, Brooks, Hush Puppies and others. AFO's from Ossur, Aircast, Swede-O, DJO, Darco and more. SafeStep is the exclusive podiatric distributor of the Arizona AFO. SafeStep exclusively offers free electronic billing to Medicare and private insurance companies.
Click here to access marketing material related to Mrs. Smith.
Since 2002, Officite has been a leading national provider of customized Web sites and marketing solutions for dental and medical practices. More than 3,500 doctors have grown their practices with our state-of-the-art online capabilities and marketing materials. Our staff of web developers, writers, designers and programmers stays on the cutting edge of technology and marketing to ensure that every Officite Web site produces results. Let Officite be your partner for online marketing success.
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://www.smith-foot.com/blog/post/wet-to-dry-dressings-sub-standard-care.html
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en
| 0.913902 | 1,256 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Kaufman: Ankle joint a myriad of bones, ligaments and tendons
The ankle joint is an intricate network of bones, ligaments, tendons and muscles.
It is built for both strength and flexibility, as it needs to bear the weight of our body while also having the flexibility for the various surfaces we walk on.
The ankle joint can be prone to various types of injury and pain. Ankle pain may be experienced on the inside or outside of the ankle or along the back where the Achilles tendon connects the muscles in the lower leg to the heel bone.
Most ankle pain results from a sprain, which occurs when the ankle rolls over the foot, causing a ligament to stretch or tear.
Sprains are often sports-related but they can also occur when walking on an uneven surface of from taking a misstep.
Ankle pain can also be caused by injury to any of the bones, ligaments or tendons in the ankle.
The most common causes of ankle pain include Achilles tendinitis, sprains, strains, stress fractures, broken ankle or foot bone, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout.
Any kind of ankle injury will also affect our gait or walking pattern and in a chain reaction, the knee joint, hip joint, SI joint and spine become involved and so ankle pain can have far-reaching consequences.
Acupuncture is a great option for problems of the ankle and can effectively treat ankle pain of all types.
All of the leg meridians can have an influence on muskulo-skeletal disorders of the ankle, and because the toes are the starting point of the body’s meridians, if there is an imbalance or obstruction in any meridian, often it will cause symptoms of pain or muscle imbalance in the foot or ankle.
As with other pain or injuries in the body, Chinese medicine usually diagnoses ankle pain and injury as a blockage or lack of proper circulation of blood and qi-energy in the affected area.
These blockages lead to pain, weakness, and an inability for the ankle to heal properly because it cannot receive the proper nourishment to do so.
Acupuncture helps to remove blockages, increase blood circulation and energy, and also resolve any imbalances in the meridians that may be causing a weakness in the ankle and leaving it prone to injury or strain.
In the early stages of an injury, acupuncture can help to remove blockages and promote blood flow to the ankle, as well as relieve swelling and pain.
With injuries in the middle stage of healing, acupuncture can help alleviate swelling and pain in the ankle, and promote healing of the tissues and bones. In later stages of injury, where the ankle has become rigid and weak, acupuncture can help to relax the tendons and remove blockages to regain movement and strength in the ankle.
Whether we are dealing with acute or chronic ankle problems, acupuncture can help to boost the body’s healing so that we can regain our health and return to our regular day to day functioning.
James Kaufman is a registered acupuncturist at Okanagan Acupuncture Centre, 1625 Ellis St., in Kelowna.
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<urn:uuid:92fc9024-0c4f-48b5-b74d-52b335b0c3c3>
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://www.kelownacapnews.com/opinion/162237095.html
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en
| 0.920222 | 663 | 2.984375 | 3 |
Explore potential strategies.
Students are seeking help that is not working.
Recent data indicate that many Carnegie Mellon students turn to their peers for academic assistance rather than approaching the faculty member, TA or Academic Development. Sometimes this approach is successful in addressing the gaps in understanding and performance. Other times it is not, but given that many students (particularly early in their academic careers) are not good at monitoring and adapting their strategies, they continue in this vein.
Explicitly discuss with students different levels of understanding.
Knowing involves diverse cognitive processes ranging from remembering and comprehending to applying, analyzing, evaluating and creating/synthesizing. Hence, ask students to think about the nature of the help they are receiving – does their peer simply explain a concept and ask the student to reiterate it (i.e., remember) or does the peer ask the student to apply the concept (i.e., application) or decide when its use is appropriate (i.e., evaluation)?
Teach metacognitive skills.
Help the students learn to evaluate the effectiveness of the help they have received, e.g., did my peer give me the answer, explain the process or make me practice. By monitoring their understanding (i.e., performance) they monitor the effectiveness of the help, thereby enabling them to adjust their help-seeking behavior (e.g., go to the TA, tutoring, supplemental instruction, the faculty member).
Provide opportunities for reflection on effort or study practices.
Students often don't take the time to analyze why they continue to do poorly, thereby fostering a vicious cycle where they simply do more of the same thing (i.e., seek help from peers). Some faculty members have created "exam wrapper" assignments that they give students when graded exams, projects, papers, etc, are returned. These wrappers, for example, can ask students to describe their study practices (e.g., who helped them and how, when they started, the nature of the study activity, how long they spent studying), analyze the nature of the practice, and then articulate what they will do differently in the future. These wrapper examples could be adapted to also facilitate identification of the type of errors the student made (e.g., mathematical, conceptual). Discussion with students about their responses on the exam wrappers can provide an opportunity for you to refer them accordingly, to the ICC, Academic Development, to EOS, the office that addresses learning disabilities, or other support entities on campus.
This site supplements our 1-on-1 teaching consultations.
CONTACT US to talk with an Eberly colleague in person!
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<urn:uuid:d3194588-787c-46f6-b6e5-90f6519c0514>
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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http://www.cmu.edu/teaching/solveproblem/strat-dontseekhelp/dontseekhelp-05.html
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783404826.94/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624155004-00078-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.947155 | 536 | 3.21875 | 3 |
Acadian Flycatcher nest placement: A strategy of survival
Metadata[+] Show full item record
Due to recent population declines, the reproductive success of neotropic migratory birds has become a prime research target. Predator-prey interaction, namely nest predation, has been shown to be the leading cause of nest failure of many avian species. Acadian Flycatchers (Empidonax virescens) invariably position their nests on thin, flexible branches of understory canopy trees. This placement may act as an anti-predatory defense against adult Black Rat Snakes (Elaphe obsoleta). The weight of an adult snake on such flexible branches may cause enough deflection and limb movement to compromise its predation attempt. Conversely, nests positioned on highly flexible, peripheral branches may have an increased chance of damage or loss to high winds. Nest placement of Acadian Flycatchers was evaluated to test the hypothesis that these birds choose branches of an intermediate diameter too thin to support the weight of an adult Black Rat Snake, yet strong enough to resist weather damage, for their nest locations. The study site was located in the Missouri Ozarks in Reynolds and Shannon County. Measurements were taken during the summer of 2008. Microhabitat nest characteristics were measured at eleven Acadian Flycatcher nests. Control trees of similar dimensions were subsequently measured for branch deflection upon application of a model adult snake. The produced results support the hypothesis that Acadian Flycatchers choose branches of intermediate diameter which in turn have an intermediate deflection average. This may increase the chance of nest survival from snake predation and prevent nest failure due to damaging, extreme weather.
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<urn:uuid:e4ff3360-1d4f-4da2-bf74-258f8f13c801>
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CC-MAIN-2016-26
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https://mospace.umsystem.edu/xmlui/handle/10355/1871
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2016-26/segments/1466783393332.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20160624154953-00085-ip-10-164-35-72.ec2.internal.warc.gz
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en
| 0.942331 | 338 | 3.25 | 3 |
Holding India's titanic general election is no simple task. Voting is broken down into nine phases—the fifth and largest of which is scheduled for this Thursday—that are spread over six weeks. Over the six weeks, an army of 11 million election officials and security forces will staff and operate more than 935,000 polling stations in India's 543 electoral constituencies, where they will serve almost 815 million registered Indian voters. Central to this undertaking are India's 1.7 million electronic voting machines, or EVMs, the portable, affordable, and highly durable systems that help this massive exercise in democracy run smoothly.
Each EVM comes in two parts. The control unit remains with election officials at each polling place and connects by cable to the balloting unit. When a voter enters a polling booth, an official activates the balloting unit. The voter then presses one of up to 64 blue buttons next to each candidate's name and political-party symbol to cast his or her vote. India's Election Commission has produced a video explaining the process:
EVMs help India overcome a number of electoral challenges. The machines are compact and portable, in contrast to bulkier booth-sized voting machines in the United States and elsewhere. They are also built to withstand India's diverse and sometimes-harsh climate. Since they run on two 6-volt alkaline batteries, EVMs can be readily used in rural India, where two-thirds of the country's 1.2 billion citizens live, and other areas with limited or no electricity.
The symbol-oriented design also makes voting more widely accessible in a country with 287 million illiterate adults—nearly 37 percent of the worldwide total—and a multilingual electorate that speaks 22 officially-recognized languages and hundreds more unofficial ones. But perhaps the EVM's most impressive feature is its price tag: each unit costs only 10,500 Indian rupees, or about $175. By comparison, even older, used voting machines in the U.S. can cost around $6,000.
After a decade of sporadic and unsanctioned use of EVMs, India legalized the devices in 1988 alongside the existing (and often-maligned) paper-ballot system. They became standard features of elections in 1998 and the sole method for casting votes in the 2004 general election, in which almost 1.1 million EVMs were deployed in polling stations across the country. The Indian government boasts that "EVM has become the leitmotif of the world's largest democratic exercise and gets smarter with each avatar." Official election materials cite the EVM's superiority over paper balloting by noting the reduction in environmental waste, the speediness of tabulating results, and the decrease in spoiled or improperly cast votes. Another strength, according to election officials, is the EVM's role in combating electoral fraud through "booth capturing"—an ugly tactic where a candidate's supporters storm a polling place, sideline legitimate voters, and cast ballots—and ballot-stuffing.
But the machines have their limitations as well. EVMs can only record a maximum of 3,840 votes each (the Election Commission says each polling place should only serve about 1,500 voters) and can only list a maximum of 64 candidates at a time to vote for. Because India's elections are staggered over a six-week period, votes are tabulated in one region and the machines are then reused in another. In March, the Election Commission estimated it would have 1.7 million ballot units and 1.8 million control units—some polling places have more than one ballot unit per control unit—for this year's election. Each Indian constituency is required to keep 10 percent more EVMs than necessary for emergency situations.
Like all electronic voting systems, EVMs also invite concerns about outside tampering. Since implementing the devices nationwide, the Election Commission has insisted that the machines are not susceptible to hacking or other forms of fraud. But a 2010 report by Indian computer-security experts challenged this claim after examining one of the machines and cited numerous vulnerabilities, especially if a malicious user had access to the EVMs in advance. "The technology’s promise was that attacks on the ballot box and dishonesty in the counting process would be more difficult," the report concluded. "Yet we find that such attacks remain possible, while being potentially more difficult to detect."
A few months after the report's release, Mumbai police arrived at the house of Hari Prasad, one of the researchers, and arrested and interrogated him for hours about where he had obtained the device his team analyzed, before releasing him on bail. (The U.S.-based Electronic Frontier Foundation later bestowed upon Prasad its 2010 Pioneer Award for his work and his ordeal.) After repeated legal challenges by activists, the Delhi High Court ruled in January 2012 that the EVMs weren't tamper-proof and ordered the Election Commission to add a paper trail as an extra security measure against electoral fraud. Election officials pledged to upgrade 600,000 old EVMs to comply with the new guidelines and procure new ones, and voters can now file complaints if there are still problems with the devices.
Occasionally, criticism of the machines takes bizarre forms. During last year's regional assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, for instance, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) filed a formal complaint after an Indian National Congress party elder allegedly told tribal voters that the EVMs would electrocute them if they voted for non-Congress candidates. The BJP won the election, but the Election Commission's FAQ now reassures prospective voters that there is no chance of electrocution from "short-circuitry or [any] other reason."
In India, popular sentiment toward EVMs is mixed. Amit Sheth, a professor at Wright State University in Ohio who studies social media's influence in elections like India's, ran a preliminary analysis of Twitter users' feelings about the devices. He found that about 50 percent of the tweets his team analyzed were complaints, though Sheth cautions that the analysis coincided with reports of a faulty machine in an eastern Indian state that reportedly cast votes for the BJP regardless of which button was pressed. "In the last election, there were many claims about Congress tampering with EVM, usually the ruling party gets blamed more often," Sheth told me. "So far, I have not found systemic differences of one party's view towards EVM than other party's views."
Despite their drawbacks, EVMs help solve electoral problems that aren't unique to India. The Indian government provided 4,130 EVMs to neighboring Bhutan last year for its legislative elections, and other developing countries, ranging from Nepal to Namibia, have also imported the Indian-manufactured machines for use in their own contests. Although it's no panacea for poor governance or repressive regimes, this $150 device from the world's largest democracy could soon make voting easier in burgeoning democracies worldwide.
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``EXCUSE ME. My name is Arthur Rhodes. I`m a dermatologist from Boston and you`ve got a serious problem.``
Once or twice a year, someone at a beach, marathon race or some other public place will hear these words from the Harvard professor who can`t help warning strangers when he thinks they are at risk of dying from skin cancer.
Often he saves lives, like the time at the Philadelphia airport when Rhodes noticed a black, irregularly shaped mole on a fellow passenger`s neck. He suggested the passenger see a doctor immediately.
The mole turned out to be cancerous, a malignant melanoma. It was successfully removed by doctors at the University of Pennsylvania and the man`s life was saved, thanks to a chance meeting with a doctor who knows the difference between benign and malignant moles.
Of all the life-threatening cancers that affect people, malignant melanoma is the easiest to detect because its deadly portrait appears on the skin.
It is also the easiest to cure. But when it is treated too late it is almost 100 percent fatal.
One of Rhodes` strangers found that out the hard way. Rhodes had spotted a melanoma on his face while the two were waiting at the starting line for a race. The stranger, a top Boston administrator, was informed of the danger but delayed seeking care for three years, by which time the cancer was incurable. Rhodes` warnings highlight an alarming trend. Malignant melanoma is the nation`s fastest-growing cancer, and health experts are calling for new efforts to curb this almost totally preventable epidemic whose cause is 93 million miles away.
The sun is blamed for the soaring increase in the ``black cancer``
because more people are exposing more of their skin to its potentially damaging rays than at any time in history.
Scientists have only recently discovered that the destructive effects of the sun`s ultraviolet light on the skin accumulate with each exposure and do not fade away like a tan.
More ominously, it now appears that even a bad sunburn in childhood can lead to malignant melanoma years later.
But they have also found out how to detect these cancers early from obvious changes in the appearance of moles and other skin spots and they have discovered that almost 100 percent of the cancers can be cured simply by cutting them out before they get too deep.
Based on the new findings, the Evanston-based American Academy of Dermatology is urging people to regularly examine their skin in the same way that women have been urged to routinely examine their breasts to detect cancer early.
``Self-examination of the skin is a relatively new concept, but its importance as a first step in the diagnosis of early malignant melanomas cannot be overstated,`` said Dr. Alfred Kopf of the New York University School of Medicine.
The American Cancer Society estimates that 22,000 new cases of malignant melanoma will be diagnosed this year, a 25 percent increase over last year. More than 5,500 Americans will die from the disease in 1985.
Before the early 1970s, skin cancer and the dangers of acute and chronic sunlight exposure were not considered a problem for the white population of the world, said Dr. Thomas Fitzpatrick, Harvard`s chief of dermatology.
The reason is that though skin cancer is the most common cancer, most of it is relatively harmless.
Basal cell carcinoma, which usually appears as slowly growing, raised, translucent, pearly nodules, affects 300,000 to 400,000 people each year. Squamous cell carcinoma, the second most common skin cancer, affects 80,000 to 100,000 Americans annually. It appears as raised, red or pink, opaque nodules or warty growths that ulcerate in the center. Both basal and squamous cancers are easily treated and rarely cause death.
The killer is malignant melanoma. Its warning signs are any mole or blemish larger than a pencil eraser that has an irregular shape, uneven border and a mixture of colors, especially shades of tan, brown, dark brown and black with occasional red, white and blue splotches.
The critical factor is the depth. A melanoma less than 1/32 of an inch deep is usually curable. A cancerous mole thicker than that becomes deadly because the chance of it spreading to the brain, lungs, liver or other sites increases.
Fifty years ago melanoma was so rare that the average American ran a risk of only 1 in 1,500 of getting it. Today, people with white skin, who are the prime targets of this cancer, run a 1 in 110 risk of developing melanoma and, by the year 2000, the risk is expected to be 1 in 75, said Dr. Darrel Rigel of the New York University School of Medicine.
Between 1971 and 1981 the number of melanoma cases in the country jumped 129 percent. In areas such as the Southwest, where sun exposure is greater, cases skyrocketed 340 percent.
Most experts believe that the big increase in melanoma is caused by a dramatic change in lifestyles and clothing that exposes more skin to the sun for longer periods.
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