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Websites that use hand-drawn sketching
We have been using sketching as part of the web design process. But have you ever thought of using it as part of the actual visual design? Using rough sketches on the composition of a website layout can prove very effective on the impact of the overall design. I have gathered here some of the most appealing websites that use sketches as part of their visual layout design.
Next time, think of your sketch pad before creating a design! Use this gallery for inspiration to create your own unique layout design. | http://www.cssaddict.com/tag/layout/ |
Hey, I'm Justin Seeley, and I wanna welcome you to this course on layout and composition, part of my graphic design fundamentals course here, creative life. And in this section, we're gonna be talking about the principles of lay on composition. So we'll be discussing things like balance, how to use symmetrical and asymmetrical balance. How toe use contrast in your designs to ensure readability and all that kind of stuff. We'll also talk about using grids in your design. I personally have my own grid system. I'll talk about how you can develop your own and the reasons why you might want to use grid based designs. Then we're gonna transition into something that a lot of people have heard about but maybe don't know how to use. And that's something called the golden ratio. And I'll discuss the ends announce of how to create your own golden ratio template, the different types of images that you can create using golden ratio and how you can continue to use that in multiple projects, not just... | https://www.creativelive.com/class/graphic-design-fundamentals-layout-and-composition-justin-seeley/lessons/class-introduction-principles-of-layout-and-composition |
Crafting the experience of Web type remains the quiet bulk of a Web designer's work. In this online Web type course, you'll learn how to enhance your Web designs with the the latest techniques for styling, typesetting, and embellishing text. Working with a pro designer, you'll get up to speed on the latest in Web font options and how to use CSS font stacks. You'll study a mix of classic and cutting edge techniques to ensure on-screen readability and effective rhythm, including CSS3 effects and typography-driven information graphics.
Course At A Glance
Course Features
- 100% online
- Project-based
- Instructor-led
- Study at your own pace
- Complete this course in 3-4 weeks
Instructor(s)
The course is taught by the following instructor(s):
Take this course as a standalone or as part of the following program(s):
Course Projects
Web Fonts
As a web designer, the right typography can help you visually communicate the voice of your content. In this course, you'll learn how Web typography has evolved to give Web designers as much control over their type as print designers. In the first lecture, you will identify key differences between print and Web typography, apply best practices for CSS font stacks, and explore avenues for finding and implementing the right typefaces.
Typesetting
The week's class focuses on the art of typesetting. In this lecture, you will analyze the effects of font size, font measure, and line height on screen readability. You'll also explore different visual rhythms for text layout and discover how grid-based Web page layouts provide structure and unity.
Refinements and Embellishments
At this point in the course, you'll have a working understanding of fonts, typesetting, and layout techniques. Now, it's time to refine and embellish your typography to retain viewer attention. In the final lecture, you'll use proper HTML5 semantics to mark up your text, and apply CSS3 effects to add shadows, transitions, and text transformations. You'll also explore how to use infographics to turn complex data into digestible stories.
Sample Student Work
Course Outcomes
What Are The Course Projects?
Research and apply typography as you design a web site using HTML5 and CSS to craft page layouts, article styles, and infographic designs.
What Software or Supplies Do I Need?
- Computer with Internet connection.
- Adobe Photoshop and Dreamweaver or equivalent programs.
- Basic experience in the above software.
- An account with a Web hosting service (free services are available).
- Basic experience with HTML and CSS and familiarity with File Transfer Protocol (FTP) programs.
What Will I Learn?
Students in this course can expect to learn to:
- Identify key differences between print and Web typography.
- Apply best practices for CSS font stacks and Web font options, including use of @font-face and Typekit.
- Create an online presence for a print magazine with a new logo, Web fonts, and a "Style Tile" that communicates design goals.
- Analyze how font size, measure, and line height affect readability on the screen.
- Explore the effects of simple and complex visual rhythms for text layout.
- Implement a grid-based layout for multiple devices using an existing grid framework.
- Design and build page layouts for a print magazine's online presence using a pre-built CSS grid framework.
- Enhance Web text and retain viewer attention with proper HTML5 semantics and CSS3 effects.
- Combine text with information graphics to tell help users digest complex information.
- Incorporate a grid layout, typographic embellishments, and an infographic into a longform article for an online magazine Web site.
Getting Started
Course Registration
- Enroll today, start tomorrow
- Study at your own pace
- Complete within 3 months
|Course Tuition and Fees|
|Tuition||$619|
|Registration Fee*||$50|
|Total Course Price||$669|
Registration fees are nonrefundable after 5 days from enrollment. All tuition includes a digital materials fee for course content.
Click Register Now to enter your information and desired start date. An Admissions Advisor will contact you to arrange payment and provide you with an Enrollment Agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What Are The Courses Like?
Our courses are project-based. There are no set logins, so you can study at your own pace. In each course you’ll complete a series of lectures and projects designed to stretch your creative skills.
How Much Time Do I Need?
This course can be completed in 30 hours or less. You’ll have three months from enrollment to complete the course studying at your own pace. Extensions are available for those who need more time.
Who Are The Instructors?
Our courses are developed and taught by our faculty of professional artists, designers, and photographers. You’ll learn in-demand skills, get feedback on your work, and build a portfolio of creative work.
Is Sessions College accredited?
Yes. Since 2001, Sessions College has been accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). | https://www.sessions.edu/online-courses/web-type/ |
On Tuesday morning, I came across CHI Nordic 2020, which was a mini-conference put together to present and discuss Nordic papers from CHI 2020. I joined the last session on “computational materials” and watched 3 talks.
Similar to how I watched a few talks from ACM FAT*, I wrote a couple paragraphs on what I learned from each of these. I found this a great way to engage with research that I probably would have ignored otherwise. Recordings are available on YouTube.
Brainsourcing: Crowdsourcing Recognition Tasks via Collaborative Brain-Computer Inferacing
Authors: Keith M. Davis, Lauri Kangassalo, Michiel Spapé, Tuukka Ruotsalo
ACM DL link: https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3313831.3376288
The researchers motivate this work by talking about crowdsourcing, including macrowork (open source software, editing Wikipedia) and microwork (captchas or individual labeling tasks). Their goal is to determine the extent to which one can use brain signals as signals for a classifier. The P300 component of ERP data (??) is related to the idea of relevance, so they used that.
Participants hooked up to an EEG saw images of faces on a screen, with instructions to observe if the faces were smiling or not. A classifier is trained on the P300 signal from this EEG, and the classifiers from several participants are combined into an ensemble. The ensemble performs better than any individual, and as more signals were added, a clear bimodal distribution emerged.
This gives a whole new meaning to “human-computer interaction”! What an interesting work—discussion focused on details of the brain signals & the (un)ethical considerations of this kind of technique. One could imagine new labor paradigms that exploit people’s brainpower, subliminal probing to violate people’s private thoughts, or more, and that’s as interesting to think about as the work itself.
GRIDS: Interactive Layout Design with Integer Programming
Authors: Niraj Ramesh Dayama, Kashyap Todi, Taru Saarelainen, Antti Oulasvirta
ACM DL link: https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3313831.3376553
The inspiration for this work is that grid-based layouts are commonly used to create user interfaces. In the proposed system, a designer will specify the kinds of elements that they want (header, footer, a paragraph, video with a caption, etc.), then this MILP system will generate candidate layouts. This builds upon other work in computational UI design. This kind of method provides guarantees about the output, e.g., that related items are grouped together, that the overall shape is rectangular, and that items are aligned on common axes.
They consider several key features for designers:
- “controllable diversity,” that this tool can generate multiple candidate layouts
- “autocompletion of partial designs,” that a designer might already have some idea for how they want certain elements to appear, so this tool can fill in the gaps
- “local search”, or being able to find candidates that are similar to a preexisting layout
- constrained designs, by locking certain elements in certain places (e.g., a header or image location)
The system was user tested on 16 professional designers on 3 design tasks. They found that it was reasonably easy to use and also that the optimization objective was a good match for the fuzzy “quality” of a design.
One interesting question asked if this could be extended for other types of design goals—Google, for example, might want to create a layout that makes an ad visible to a user. One of the authors responded that it might be possible using some kind of measure of how salient each layout element is.
Between Scripts and Applications: Computational Media for the Frontier of Nanoscience
Authors: Midas Nouwens, Marcel Borowski, Bjarke Fog, Clemens Nylandsted Klokmose
ACM DL link: https://dl.acm.org/doi/abs/10.1145/3313831.3376287
This was a participatory design research project between the authors and some biomolecular nanoscientists. Their question was “what is the role of computation in the work of these biomolecular nanoscientists,” where the work in question was san RNA folding problem. They identified three key themes:
- Computational culture: this kind of field uses “black box” machines a lot, and because they’re working on the frontier they’re often using either well-supported tools or tools that they built themselves—there’s very little in between. The scientists are also not trained in CS.
- Computational environments: some other struggles come from managing execution environments. The scientists often have difficulty getting software to work at all, and when running into difficulties that they view as insurmountable, they often simply give up.
- Computational disempowerment: the above leads to a feeling of computational disempowerment, which manifests itself as chronic helplessness and self-blame. When things went wrong, they have no idea what to do. Sometimes, the scientists report knowing that there are better ways to do something, but not knowing how to learn about those (or not having the time to learn).
There’s a computational media spectrum, which on one end has scripts in a terminal (which have a high ceiling and high complexity) and on the other has applications (which are self-contained and often don’t allow for computation at all). Notebooks lie in the middle, but still closer to scripts & terminals, and the authors designed something in the gap between notebooks and applications.
After user testing, they landed on these design principles:
- shareability: rather than real-time collaboration, which the scientists rarely needed, consider shareable, self-contained computational environments. Traces of activity & action-consequence (when you do something, you can see what happens) are helpful, too.
- malleability: rather than low-level code tinkering, consider larger scale software transformation or controlling “what is malleable when”
- distributability: offloading heavy processing to remote servers is useful, allowing scientists to e.g., close their computers at night.
- computability: executing code wasn’t as helpful as agnostic mixing of multiple programming languages.
“Learning how to code” is a myopic approach if the medium in which we use computation does not evolve along with it. (But what that medium looks like is up for debate.)
This is great—it hits on an important idea that I think is often ignored. I’ve noticed this when helping teach people to program; it’s one thing to write Python in VS Code and hit the “play” button to run it, but when packages aren’t installed or the students have to debug something in their terminal, the students will often panic. Abstracting “programming” to mean more than the code itself is important. | https://tusharc.dev/papers/chi_2020_nordic_talks.html |
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Directions or guidelines for using the elements of design
PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN Directions or guidelines for using the elements of design
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BALANCE A sense of equilibrium.
When establishing balance consider visual weight created by size, color, texture and number of objects.
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TYPES OF BALANCE SYMMETRICAL ASYMMETRICAL
Achieved by placing identical objects on either side of a central point. ASYMMETRICAL Achieved by placing different objects of equal visual weight on either side of a central point.
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SYMMETRICAL BALANCE Creates a quiet, restful feeling.
Suggests restraint, orderliness, formality. Also called, FORMAL balance.
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Symmetrical Balance
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Symmetrical Balance
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Symmetrical Balance
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Asymmetrical Balance Creates more interesting arrangements.
Suggests informality, relaxed. Also referred to as INFORMAL balance.
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Asymmetrical Balance
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Asymmetrical Balance
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Combination of both balances
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Asymmetrical Balance
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Radial Balance Radial Balance involves having furnishings or patterns arranged in a circular manner. Radiation creates a sweeping, dramatic, circular motion in a room.
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Radial Balance
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Radial Balance
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RHYTHM Leads the eye from one point to another, creates motion.
5 types: Rhythm by Repetition Rhythm by Gradation Rhythm by Radiation Rhythm by Opposition Rhythm by Transition
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Rhythm By Repetition Rhythm created by duplicating (repeating) shapes, colors, pattern, line, texture. Beams in the ceiling are repeated. Window panes, repeat. Stripes on ottoman and chair are repeated.
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Rhythm By Gradation Rhythm created by a gradual change in size or color. Paint on wall changes gradually in value.
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Rhythm By Radiation Rhythm created by identical objects coming from a central axis. Tall Grasses “radiate” from the center of the vase on this bathroom vanity.
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Rhythm By Opposition Rhythm created by lines at right angles or contrasting colors. Contrasting black and white tiles and the lines intersecting at right angles.
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Rhythm By Transition Rhythm created by curved lines that carry your eye across a straight surface. Window treatments that gently swag down, create a soft rhythm by transition.
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SCALE & PROPORTION Scale relates to the size of a design in relation to the height and width of the area in which it is placed. Proportion relates to the parts of the object and how one part relates to another.
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SCALE Relates to the actual and relative size and visual weight of the design and its components. Furniture and accessories must be in scale to the room
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PROPORTION The Golden Mean – the division of a line or form so that the smaller portion has the same ratio to the larger as the larger has to the whole.
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PROPORTION The creative use of color, texture, pattern, and furniture arrangement can create illusions of properly proportioned space.
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SCALE & PROPORTION
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SCALE & PROPORTION
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SCALE & PROPORTION
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SCALE & PROPORTION
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EMPHASIS The center or focus of attention and interest within a design
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Emphasis Architectural features such as fireplaces or decorative windows are often used as focal points. Works of art and decorative accessories are often emphasized in a design.
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WAYS TO CREATE EMPHASIS
Arrangement of furniture around a focal point. Use of color, texture, or pattern. Placement of accessories. Use of lighting.
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Guidelines for Creating Emphasis
The point of emphasis should command attention, but not dominate the overall design. Other features within the room should not compete for the emphasis.
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Harmony Harmony = unity + variety
Is achieved when unity and variety are effectively combined. Carrying variety too far creates confusion. A lack of unity may make a small home seem even smaller.
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UNITY Unity occurs when all the parts of a home or room are related by one idea. A unified design has consistency of style
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VARIETY When two or more different elements of design are used to add interest to a design. Variety can be achieved by combining different styles and materials, as long as they are compatible.
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Multiple-view visualization (MV) is a layout design technique often employed to help users see a large number of data attributes and values in a single cohesive representation. Because of its generalizability, the MV design has been widely adopted by the visualization community to help users examine and interact with large, complex, and high-dimensional data. However, although ubiquitous, there has been little work to categorize and analyze MVs in order to better understand its design space. As a result, there has been little to no guideline in how to use the MV design effectively. In this paper, we present an in-depth study of how MVs are designed in practice. We focus on two fundamental measures of multiple-view patterns: composition, which quantifies what view types and how many are there; and configuration, which characterizes spatial arrangement of view layouts in the display space. We build a new dataset containing 360 images of MVs collected from IEEE VIS, EuroVis, and PacificVis publications 2011 to 2019, and make fine-grained annotations of view types and layouts for these visualization images. From this data we conduct composition and configuration analyses using quantitative metrics of term frequency and layout topology. We identify common practices around MVs, including relationship of view types, popular view layouts, and correlation between view types and layouts. We combine the findings into a MV recommendation system, providing interactive tools to explore the design space, and support example-based design. | https://research.bangor.ac.uk/portal/en/researchoutputs/composition-and-configuration-patterns-in-multipleview-visualizations(8e0e5b7e-adb1-4a60-87c8-2049a0d4afcb).html |
One of the biggest landscaping trends for Minneapolis, Minnesota in 2019 is asymmetrical landscape design. The asymmetrical landscape design is also considered to be a new landscape design.
The asymmetrical landscape design provides a more natural feel and casual looking in addition to easy landscape maintenance. The asymmetrical design also compliments the newer housing or urban landscape design styles. Moreover, homeowners and commercial property owners have the tendency to like the diversity of plants and flowers, which the asymmetrical landscape design often uses.
The picture below shows a garden that is asymmetrically balanced. The layout of the garden contrasts larger and smaller landscape elements to create an asymmetrical balance using “line” and “position”, which visually balance the spaces.
If you desire to use the asymmetrical design, we recommend that you work with your local landscape architects or landscaping companies having landscape architects, because they have the comprehensive knowledge of asymmetrical designs, irrigation and drainage. We have both experienced landscape architects and designers in Minneapolis, MN. Please feel free to contact us. | https://www.naturalenvironmentscorp.com/landscaping/landscaping-trends-and-asymmetrical-landscape-design/ |
This month, the Island Batik challenge was secondary pattern play. So, of course, I made it Island Batik Modern Pattern Play!
I returned to one of my favorite techniques–improvisational curved blocks that I call Parisian Curves. (Pattern and detailed tutorial is in my book, Madly Modern Quilts available online and at local quilt shops). This post is a tutorial showing one way that I approach improvisational design. It’s an improvisational design process that I teach in my workshops to help students move away from the layout that I provide.
Island Batik Fabrics
[Fabrics used in the project were provided to me by Island Batik–the sponsor for the Island Batik 2018 Ambassadors.)
I used these Island Batik fabrics for the quilt:
Short Tutorial: Playing with an Improvisational Layout
This will give you a glimpse into one way I plan an improvisational design.
First, I made some overall design decisions–these were the elements that I was hoping to incorporate. I did NOT make any type of sketch for this quilt. Instead I used the design wall as my sketch pad, taking lots of photos along the way. I also know that I might abandon one of these ideas or add a new one.
Here was my very general plan:
- My plan was to make a curved path by connecting colors from block to block. I wanted the paths to connect up in different ways. These paths would be my secondary patterns.
- I wanted the overall layout to be very asymmetrical
- I wanted to use a high percentage of negative space in and around the blocks.
- I wanted to incorporate a few straight line blocks with the curves.
- I wanted to use a limited palette–one focus print, a couple of contrasting near solids and a negative space color.
Two tools for Design
A vertical design wall and your camera phone are critical for improvisation. It is very difficult to see the design if the quilt is too close to you. My room is small so I take lots of photos to see the overall quilt design better. You definitely need a vertical design wall –looking at it on the floor is acutely distorted and throws off your sense of the proportions. There are lots of tutorials online on making temporary or more permanent design walls.
A look at my Improvisational Process
To start, I made several curved blocks and then cut some of them almost in half so that I had a rectangular slice (like a strata) and a skinny curved block. I did this so that I would have more interesting shapes in the path. Then I started playing with the layout to test out different ways to connect and break the paths. Negative space also played a major design role.
Island Batik Modern Pattern Play–Finished Version
Here’s the final quilt. It measures 42 x 46 inches and has a faced binding.
The curved pieced blocks measure a variety of sizes but none are more than 9 inches on any side. As I worked on the layout, I occasionally adjusted the size of each of the blocks by slicing off an edge. How did I decide? I kept looking at the design until the proportions looked and felt right. In this process, you must trust your well-informed intuition. As a quilter, you have been filling your brain with successful quilt designs. It’s part of your knowledge base. Our intuition isn’t some magical mysterious process–you create it by studying and making quilts. And, I also study a lot of other types of modern art in library books, online and in museums and galleries–something that I highly recommend.
I had it quilted with an edge to edge quilt pattern that complements the design. I am still deciding which orientation I like best. (quilting done by a professional)
I think I accomplished all of my original goals for Island Batik modern pattern play–asymmetry, use of negative space, incorporating straight line blocks (rectangular blocks). I am pleased with the way I used color and shape to create connecting pathways that result in a secondary pattern. And, I like the way the pathways are interrupted–that makes it a more modern design. So I call this another successful exploration of using batiks to make modern quilts. | https://www.carolelylesshaw.com/island-batik-modern-pattern-play/ |
http://ui-patterns.com/patternsRelated: Design patterns
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Designing With Grid-Based Approach Advertisement The main idea behind grid-based designs is a solid visual and structural balance of web-sites you can create with them. Sophisticated layout structures offer more flexibility and enhance the visual experience of visitors. In fact, users can easier follow the consistency of the page, while developers can update the layout in a well thought-out, consistent way. Create a Mobile App Icon in Photoshop This tutorial is part of a three-part series explaining how to design UI elements for mobile applications in Photoshop. In this part, we will explain how to design an icon for your mobile device's home screen. Let's get started! | http://www.pearltrees.com/u/12150175-design-patterns |
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New scientific research published in the journal PLoS Biology shows that bacteria can evolve resistance more quickly when stronger antibiotics are used.
Researchers from the University of Exeter and Kiel University in Germany treated E. coli with different combinations of antibiotics in laboratory experiments.The researchers found that the rate of evolution of antibiotic resistance speeds up when potent treatments are given because resistant bacterial cells flourish most during the most aggressive therapies.
This happens because too potent a treatment eliminates the non-resistant cells, creating a lack of competition that allows resistant bacteria to multiply quickly. Those cells go on to create copies of resistance genes that help them rapidly reduce the effectiveness of the drugs. In tests this effect could even cause E.coli to grow fastest in the most aggressive antibiotic treatments.
To read more, see the University of Exeter research brief. | http://www.pharmamicroresources.com/2013/05/antibiotic-resistance-news.html |
How does Penicillin Kill Bacteria – Penicillin is a widely used antibiotic prescribed to treat staphylococci and streptococci bacterial infections. Penicillin belongs to the family of antibiotics, the beta-lactam parts whose use a similar mechanism of action to inhibit the bacterial increase of the cell that eventually kills the bacteria.
The cells of the Bacteria are surrounded by a protective envelope called the cell wall. One of the primary components of the bacterial cell wall is peptidoglycan, a structural macromolecule with a reticular composition that provides rigidity and support to the outer cell wall. To form the cell wall, a single peptidoglycan chain is crosslinked to other peptidoglycan chains with the action of the enzyme DD-transpeptidase (also called a penicillin protein-binding PBP). In a bacterial life cycle, the cell wall (and thus the peptidoglycan reticulations) is continuously remodeled to accommodate for the repeated cycles of cell increase and replication.
How does Penicillin Kill Bacteria
Penicillins and other antibiotics in the beta-lactam family contain a four-membered ring characteristic of beta-lactam. Penicillin kills bacteria by binding from the beta-lactam ring to DD-transpeptidase, inhibiting their interconnection activity and preventing the reformation of the cell wall. Without a cell wall, a bacterial cell is vulnerable to outside water and molecular pressures and dies quickly. Since human cells do not contain a cell wall, the results of treatment of penicillin in bacterial cell death without affecting human cells.
Gram-positive bacteria have thick cell membranes containing levels of peptidoglycan, while gram-negative bacteria are characterized by thinner cell membranes with low levels of peptidoglycan. The cell membranes of gram-negative bacteria are surrounded by a layer (LPS) of lipopolysaccharide that the antibiotic seat in the cell. Therefore, penicillin is the most effective against gram-positive bacteria where the activity of DD-transpeptidase is highest.
Resistance
Bacteria reproduce rapidly and are genetic mutations prone to grow in the presence of environmental pressures, such as an antibiotic. Over time, genetic mutations that provide a survival benefit may arise in the bacterial population, allowing bacteria to continue to grow and multiply in the presence of the antibiotic. This leads to the creation of a resistant deformation, which can be killed only with the use of the option, stronger antibiotics. The potential for antibiotic resistance increases with repeated or incorrect use of an antibiotic. Bacterial deformations can become resistant to more than one antibiotic, leading to the creation of “superbugs” that are extremely difficult to treat medically.
Bacteria generate antibiotic resistance through several mechanisms. Some bacteria can become resistant to penicillin by producing beta-lactamase, a bacterial enzyme that destroys the beta-lactam ring of penicillin and makes it ineffective. A common example is Staphylococcus Aureus, which produces levels of beta-lactamase and causes infections in the blood, skin, or lungs. Most deformations of Staphylococcus AureusThey are now resistant to penicillin. In the reaction, scientists have developed a synthesized form of penicillin that is resistant to beta-lactamase, called penicillin-resistant penicillins or second-generation penicillins. These include dicloxacillin, oxacillin, nafcillin, and methicillin. Soon after the development, the researchers quickly determined methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus Aureus, called Methicillin-Staphylococcus Aureus.resistant (MRSA). Use of MRSA a second resistance method of overcoming methicillin-that is, upregulating a lower-affinity form of the penicillin-binding protein that does not bind the antibiotic and whose activity is not inhibited. To date, MRSA has demonstrated the combined resistance to all beta-lactam antibiotics and is an extremely serious health risk. | https://articlesonhealth.net/how-does-penicillin-kill-bacteria/ |
In India, recently, doctors discovered it’s first cases of a truly frightening superbug.
This bug was causing blindness, flesh-eating infections and meningitis.
And disturbingly, it seemed resistant to antibiotics.
“Klebsiella pneumoniae” was found in patients at the Christian Medical Collage in Vellore, over a two year period.
First identified in Taiwan in 1981, it spreads fast through the bloodstream.
The strain has been associated with high mortality of up to 42% in other countries.
However, the Vellore study found a mortality rate of up to 84%.
And this new strain keeps showing up.
On August 25th 2016, a patient in here 70s was admitted to a hospital in Nevada with Klebsiella pneumonia. She had just returned from an extended trip to India where she had fractured a hip.
The patient, isolated in a room in the hospital, survived a few days as doctors experimented with 26 different antibiotics.
Nothing worked.
And there is now a growing fear that this superbug could spread through one of a number of hugely populous countries are facing a losing battle against superbugs.
Our time with antibiotics is running out
In fact, there is mounting evidence that bacteria is evolving to resist antibiotics faster than ever.
Just this month, The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimated resistant infections could kill about 2.4 million people in Europe, North America and Australia by 2050 unless more is done to tackle the problem, which it describes as “one of the biggest threats to modern medicine”.
“This includes about 1.3 million deaths in Europe and 90,000 in Britain.”
A 2014 British government-backed review went further.
They estimated that by 2050, “the issue could kill an extra 10 million people a year and cost up to $100 trillion if it is not brought under control”.
Part of the problem is the pace of drug discovery.
It takes scientists ten or more years to develop a new antibiotic and get FDA approval.
And there is little in the way of financial reward.
Pharmaceutical companies can earn a lot more money from drugs that are taken daily to manage chronic conditions – such as anti-retrovirals for the treatment of HIV. Antibiotics are less attractive, because they are used for courses lasting just a few days at a time.
Meanwhile, harmful micro-organisms keep evolving…
The incredible usefulness of antibiotics means that they are extremely widely used. And this creates a survival ‘incentive’ for bacteria to evolve resistance.
The more resistant strains thrive and outcompete their older, non-resistant rivals.
As these new strains are better equipped to deal with the hostile, antibiotic-filled environment, they in turn start to become the dominant strains.
This has given rise to what are often life-threatening ‘superbugs’, versions of bacteria such as salmonella, staphylococcus aureus (which is behind the MRSA hospital-acquired infections we hear so much about) and e-coli, which can’t easily be killed with antibiotics.
Alexander Fleming, the discoverer of penicillin, saw all this coming.
“Bacteria are very clever and will form some bacteria which will not be killed by my penicillin”.
That was in 1936.
His prediction was that overprescription of penicillin would be responsible for “the death of man”.
How we get out of this mess
So what can we do?
Well we could stop over prescribing antibiotics to people, says the OECD.
But this is a losing battle.
In Brazil, Indonesia and Russia, for example, between 40% and 60% of infections are already drug resistant, compared to an OECD average of 17 percent.
And so doctors in these countries are doubling down.
Globally, total antibiotic consumption soared 65% between 2000 and 2015.
At the forefront were India with a 103% increase, China with 79%, and Pakistan with 65%, according to an international team led by Eili Y. Klein of the Center for Disease Dynamics.
Then there’s the problem of the use of antibiotics in agriculture.
Consider this statistic: in America 80% of antibiotics are not given to humans at all – they are given to farm animals.
Crammed together in minimal space and conditions that are hardly conducive to good health, the risk of infection is extremely high. Rather than wait for it to happen, farmers go wild with the antibiotics.
Livestock raised for food in the US are dosed with five times as much antibiotic medicine as farm animals in the UK.
These antibiotics help “growing animals to digest their food more efficiently, to get maximum benefit from it and allow them to develop into strong and healthy individuals”.
As a result, they are also used in animal feed as “growth promoters”.
So the farming industry has come to depend upon the drugs for both animal health and higher yields (more meat per animal), and it is fighting a vigorous campaign to maintain their use.
A company such as Anpario (AIM: ANP) could help solve this problem.
The firm sells an alternative to antibiotics to farmers across the world: natural feed additives that prevent and treat diseases in livestock: mainly for pigs, poultry and fish.
Definitely a company to keep a close eye on.
The Ultimate Bacteria Killer
But what we urgently need is an alternative to antibiotics.
And there is one extremely promising avenue of research: phages.
Phage therapy began during World War 1 when a microbiologist, Felix D’Herelle, was tasked with investigating an outbreak of dysentery among French soldiers.
Curious about why some soldiers became gravely ill while others survived, he grew the soldier’s fecal bacteria in his lab.
In the bacteria from recovering soldiers, he saw these spots – patches of invisible microbes which seemed to be aiding immunity.
Phages, we now know, are viruses that devour bacteria.
They thrive where bacteria do – in sewage, open water, salads.
Billions of years of evolution have made them the ultimate bacteria killers.
E. COLI‘S NIGHTMARE: This false-colour micrograph of a T4 bacteriophage (red)
shows a series of spidery tail fibers, which it uses to attach to and infect E. coli.
Phages start by recognising and landing on the right bacteria.
It lands, and then injects its DNA, creating copies of itself, producing toxic chemicals that rupture the bacterial host from the inside out.
It’s a ruthless killer – stealthy and targeted.
Resistance is also much less likely to develop with phages because each type injects a specific type of bacteria.
In fact, hotdogs and sandwiches are routinely sprayed with Listex, a cocktail of several phages already approved by the FDA.
However, right now phage therapy is only used in isolated medical cases.
The problem is finding the right phage to battle the bacteria.
But that could soon change.
There are a number of companies that I am following closely have been using DNA sequencing and AI to match the right phage to the right bacteria
And when you consider the scale of the problem, there is potential for enormous returns.
This is not a magic bullet for the superbug crisis.
There are several problems with phage therapy that we will need to overcome.
1. Antibiotics work most of the time. And they are cheap. This means that the market is small (phage would be used only as second- or third-line therapy) and pricing power would be low.
2. Phage are intrinsically narrow spectrum agents. Not only are they restricted to a single bacterial species, but usually to a subset of strains within that species. Dozens of phage strains are thus needed to cover the likely sources of any given infection.
3. Phage are cleared rapidly from the bloodstream and provoke a response from the immune system. Using them for a systemic infection would be challenging, and you couldn’t use them a second time on a patient.
That said, this is hugely promising area of research.
And I’ll keep you up to date here on the most promising companies as we surely see breakthroughs in this escalating crisis in 2019. | https://www.monkeydarts.co.uk/bulletin/how-do-we-stop-a-rising-tide-of-superbugs/ |
How do you know if your body is resistant to antibiotics?
Your healthcare provider may take a sample of your infected tissue and send it to a lab. There, the type of infection can be figured out. Tests can also show which antibiotics will kill the germs. You may have an antibiotic-resistant infection if you don’t get better after treatment with standard antibiotics.
How do you test for antibiotic resistance?
The standard method for identifying drug resistance is to take a sample from a wound, blood or urine and expose resident bacteria to various drugs. If the bacterial colony continues to divide and thrive despite the presence of a normally effective drug, it indicates the microbes are drug-resistant.
What is the process of antibiotic resistance?
Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria change in response to the use of these medicines. Bacteria, not humans or animals, become antibiotic-resistant. These bacteria may infect humans and animals, and the infections they cause are harder to treat than those caused by non-resistant bacteria.
Is antibiotic resistance a problem?
Summary. Antibiotic resistance is a serious public health problem. Some bacteria that are capable of causing serious disease are becoming resistant to most commonly available antibiotics. Antibiotic resistant bacteria can spread from person to person in the community or from patient to patient in hospital.
Do probiotics help with antibiotic resistance?
Probiotics are specifically selected to not contribute to the spread of antibiotic resistance and not carry transferable antibiotic resistance. Concomitant use of probiotics with antibiotics has been observed to reduce the incidence, duration and/or severity of antibiotic-associated diarrhea.
Is it OK to take antibiotic after Covid vaccine?
Is it safe to take an antibiotic before or after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine? COVID-19 vaccines do not influence or interact with antibiotics, so when indicated, antibiotics may be taken at any time relative to COVID-19 vaccine administration.
How long after taking an antibiotic can you take a probiotic?
You want to start taking a probiotic the same day you start taking an antibiotic, but not at the same time. A quick rule of thumb is to take your probiotic two hours before or two hours after taking your antibiotic. This will give sufficient time for the antibiotic to work while not killing off the beneficial bacteria.
What is Era FM?
Era Fm is devoted to beautiful and enticing playlists has created a place of its own among the heart of all the radio lovers of Malaysia. Era Fm radio station was born first on 1 st August 1998.
What are the instructions inside the 2015 Form 1040?
Inside the 2015 Form 1040 Instructions you will find: 1 Checklist for using Form 1040. 2 Line instructions for Form 1040. 3 Earned Income Credit (EIC) instructions. 4 Mailing address for where to send your forms. 5 IRS income tax table for Form 1040.
What are some of the most popular programs on Era FM?
Era Fm is no exception in that regard, some of their popular programs are as follow: 1 Morning Johara ERA 2 Music ERAthon (10-1) 3 Music ERAthon (1-4) 4 Show Features 5 Meletop 40 ERA 6 Dance ERA 7 Performing ERA 8 Weekend More
Why Era FM is the number 1 hit radio station in Malaysia?
Their devotion for best music has been paid off by the sheer number of listeners they have got regularly which is a huge number of loyal listeners of about four million each day. Vision: The vision of Era Fm is clear and that’s to become the Number 1 Hit radio station of Malaysia. | https://fistofawesome.com/contributing/how-do-you-know-if-your-body-is-resistant-to-antibiotics/ |
Antibiotics were invented by bacteria and fungi during thier conception in this universe. Used to control microbial niche environments, it wasn't until 1928 that Fleming (and subsequently Florey and Chain) began the widespread use of the antibiotic penicillin to control bacterial infections in humans. And so, the antibiotic revolution began.
Subsequent use (and misuse) of antibiotics has given rise to various resistant strains. These are becoming a vast problem in the treatment of diseases that once were "easily" curable, including the well-publisized MRSA and XDR-TB, as well as many others.
This paper, coming out of Harvard University, describes the isolation of bacterial strains that can live on antibiotics as their sole carbon source. Current thought states that resistance in a bacterial population occurs because of exposure in clinical settings (or a popular theme of dumping antibiotics down the drain). However, the authors show that even secluded environmental isolates have the ability to subsist on both natural and synthetic antibiotics.
Our antibiotics are just variations on themes we have seen in nature, and because of this, the environment represents a vast source of antibiotic resistance mechanisms that we have yet to discover. In niches exposed to antibiotics (ie. clinical pathogens) complete resistance is preferential. However, antibiotic metabolism (as described in this paper) would confer an advantage, even if it is only small in comparison.
I find it fascinating that in 11 different soils (urban, farm, and pristine), bacteria were present that could thrive on 18 different antibiotics as carbon sources! These bugs were not just living with the antibiotics, but were actually eating them!
We have much more to discover about antibiotic resistance mechanisms, this study clearly shows a direction that we can head to begin this task. Just as we looked to nature to develop antibioitcs, so must we look to nature to study how resistance works.
Dantas, G., Sommer, M.O., Oluwasegun, R.D., Church, G.M. (2008). Bacteria Subsisting on Antibiotics. Science, 320(5872), 100-103. DOI: 10.1126/science.1155157
Further Readings
Timebomb : The Global Epidemic of Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis
Good Germs, Bad Germs: Health and Survival in a Bacterial World
Teaming with Microbes: A Gardener's Guide to the Soil Food Web
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Wild Bacteria That Eat Our Antibiotics? Of Course! | http://www.phagehunter.org/2008/04/wild-bacteria-that-eat-our-antibiotics.html |
Urinary tract infections may become resistant to antibiotics through the “overuse of antibiotics in the farming industry”, BBC News has said.
The news is based on research on the bacterium E. coli, a common cause of urinary tract infections. The researchers looked at E. coli grown from the urine and stool samples of humans and from the stool samples from various animals.
They tested the urine and stool’s resistance to an antibiotic called gentamicin. Animal and human samples that proved resistant were found to have specific genetic sequences in common, suggesting that the strains had transferred genes for resistance between each other.
The study did not look at how antibiotic resistance in the bacteria could be transferred between animals and humans, therefore it does not indicate whether it is possible to transmit resistance through eating meat. Regardless, it is well known that when dealing with infections patients should correctly use prescribed antibiotics and take their whole course of treatment to help prevent bacteria from developing antibiotic resistance.
Where did the story come from?
The study was carried out by researchers from the University of Hong Kong, and it was funded by the university and the Hong Kong government. The study was published in the peer-reviewed Journal of Medical Microbiology.
What kind of research was this?
Urinary tract infection in women is often caused by the bacteria E. coli. Some strains of E. coli are resistant to antibiotics such as gentamicin, tobramycin and nitilmicin. The researchers suggested that some of the antibiotic-resistant E. coli may have acquired their resistance while living in food-producing animals that had been given these antibiotics.
This was a Hong Kong-based laboratory study that used isolates (samples of bacteria) from humans and animals gathered from previous studies of antimicrobial resistance. It used these bacterial isolates to assess the distribution of antimicrobial resistance among the samples, and to identify which specific genetic changes in the bacteria had enabled them to become resistant to antibiotics.
What did the research involve?
The researchers grew 249 bacterial isolates taken from various human and animal sources; 103 isolates from the urine of women with uncomplicated urinary tract infections, 82 isolates from the faeces of food-producing animals and 64 isolates from the faeces of children and adults.
They assessed antimicrobial resistance by examining whether the bacteria was able to grow on an agar medium containing an antibiotic called gentamicin. They also looked for specific genes that are associated with antibiotic resistance, including four genes that produce AAC(3) enzymes – types of enzyme which in turn cause resistance to these antibiotics.
Bacteria can transfer parts of their DNA called plasmids through cell-to-cell contact. This is called ‘conjugation’ or ‘horizontal gene transfer’. To see whether E. coli could pass genetic resistance to gentamicin between themselves, the researchers mixed gentamicin-resistant bacteria with bacteria sensitive to the antibiotic in a ratio of 1:10. They measured this transfer by analysing the bacteria’s DNA.
What were the basic results?
Of the 249 isolates tested, 160 were gentamicin-resistant and 89 gentamicin-sensitive. They found that 84.1% of the human samples and 75.5% of the gentamicin-resistant animal isolates possessed resistance gene aacC2. However, none of the 89 gentamicin-sensitive isolates contained the gene.
They found that gentamicin-resistant E. coli from 10 animal samples and 10 human samples had two aacC2 gene alleles (different versions of a gene). The presence of these alleles was equal between the animal and human samples. One of the alleles, called AAC(3)-II, had a genetic sequence identical to the published sequences of various types of bacteria from around the world. In light of this, the researchers suggested that different species of bacteria can transfer mobile genetic elements containing this gene between each other.
When they looked at the dynamics of transferring antibiotic resistance between bacteria, they found that for each 10,000 resistant donor cells the resistance would in turn be passed on to between one and 100 non-resistant cells.
How did the researchers interpret the results?
The researchers suggested that a substantial proportion of the gentamicin resistance in E. coli found in outpatient urinary samples was attributable to resistance genes that are widespread among faecal samples from food-producing animals.
They say that this observation provides further support to concerns over the transmission of antibiotic resistance between food-producing animals and humans.
Conclusion
This was a small study, which found that resistance to the antibiotic gentamicin was granted by the same gene sampled from both animals and humans. However, it did not look at the possible routes by which this resistance may be transmitted between animals and humans. For example, it could not say whether consuming animals with antibiotic-resistant E. coli in their guts is a possible route of transmission. It did however highlight the way that antibiotic resistance can be transferred between bacteria.
This study was carried out in Hong Kong where meat consumed by the population is produced by Chinese farms. It is not clear whether the antibiotic use in Chinese farms would differ from antibiotic use in British farms. It is well known that antibiotic resistance is a great public health concern, and antibiotics should be carefully prescribed by doctors and vets. It is also important that if patients are prescribed antibiotics, they should take the whole course of treatment in order to avoid pathogenic bacteria in their bodies developing antibiotic resistance. | https://www.nhs.uk/news/medical-practice/drug-resistant-urinary-infections/ |
An important part of the work MSF does in Bossangoa includes the development of local staff working at the hospital here. They are already doing an amazing job but are eager to learn further. This is why we try to regularly organise training events, not only with the MSF staff but also with the staff employed by the Central African Ministry of Health.
For example, this week I organised an Excel training oriented toward supply logistics, to allow my team to gain in autonomy and increase their analytical skills.
I also participated as a special guest in a training about bacteria which are resistant to antibiotics. This is an important topic to cover because antibiotic resistance makes it harder for our teams to treat infections and to help patients recover.
Marc, the pharmacist of the project, came up with a great idea to transmit the message in a fun way.
One evening he asked me: "Antoine, I need a volunteer to participate in a little play I’m planning at the hospital about antibiotics. You won’t know anything about it and you have to promise me that you won’t be mad..."
Of course, I accepted; how bad could it be?
So here I am, one Wednesday morning, standing in front of all the hospital staff. Blindfolded.
Marc goes on with a bit of theory about how antibiotics help us fight infection, and how bacteria can become resistant to them. Then he introduces me and Eric, the other “special guest”.
"Here are two bacteria, Antoine and Eric. Antoine is bacteria which are susceptible to antibiotics. Eric is bacteria which are resistant to them."
He gives us each a big handful of confetti and tells us to stick them in our pockets. He explains that these tiny pieces of coloured paper represent the bacterial structures that the antibiotics should destroy.
I can’t see anything because of the blindfold, but I put the paper in my pocket.
"Now, the doctor prescribes antibiotics to kill the bacteria."
Suddenly I’m drenched in water. At that point Marc had thrown a bucket of water representing the antibiotics... As I was blindfolded I was quite surprised, but Marc went on: "Antoine does not have a protective layer, he is wet and all the structures and proteins in his pockets are destroyed."
Taking off my blindfold, I realised that Eric, playing the other bacteria, was wearing a raincoat!
"Bacteria Eric has a protective layer, which means the contents of his pockets have not been destroyed. He resisted the antibiotics. He will continue to proliferate, causing more infection."
"And this is why antibiotics have to be prescribed with care. We have to ensure that no more resistant Eric bacteria will appear."
The training went on like this with several other small plays, and in each one I played a bacteria which was not resistant to antibiotics.
As I was always the non-resistant bacteria I finished the training completely soaked, but the staff had a good laugh and I think will definitely remember something about antibiotic-resistant bacteria. | https://www.msf.ie/article/car-blindfolds-raincoats-and-antibiotics-training-team |
Bacteria are staging a comeback. The ability of some bacteria to counter the effects of antibiotics, has led to the emergence of drug resistant strains. These bacteria continue to survive and multiply in the presence of antibiotics, and can no longer be controlled or killed by the drugs that were effective against their ancestors. | https://indiabioscience.org/columns/general-science/discipline:health-and-medicine/theme:ip |
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This page regroups important resources on antimicrobial resistance, material for UICC's members and partners, infographics, videos and other important documents and links.
The threat of antimicrobial resistance to cancer treatment and survival is a priority for UICC. Currently, knowledge and awareness of the impact of antimicrobial resistance on cancer outcomes within the cancer community is low. It is urgent that oncology professionals, cancer advocates, programme managers, patient groups and other stakeholders working in the field of cancer understand and address the factors that contribute to the development and spread of AMR and strategies for infection control.
In this regard, UICC will develop information to increase awareness and support the cancer community to come together and drive policy change, taking forward the WHO global action plan on antimicrobial resistance.
Antibiotics help our bodies to kill the types of bacteria that make us sick.
Some of the bacteria that make us sick get better at defending themselves against antibiotics, meaning resistant bacteria are harder to kill. This is called antibiotic resistance.
The resistant bacteria start to multiply, making our antibiotics less and less effective. | https://www.uicc.org/what-we-do/thematic-areas-work/antimicrobial-resistance/antimicrobial-resistance-resources |
Staphylococcus aureus is a type of bacteria that is commonly found on the skin and in the noses of healthy people—up to 30% of adults. These bacteria can normally be killed by antibiotics, but over time, some become able to resist the effects of certain antibiotics. When Staphylococcus aureus bacteria become resistant to the antibiotic methicillin, they are called "methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus" or MRSA, and they are more difficult to treat than non-resistant bacteria.
In general, Staphylococcus aureus bacteria tend to infect the skin, often causing boils. However, they can also travel through the bloodstream and infect almost any site in the body. If left untreated, MRSA infections may develop into serious, life-threatening complications by infecting the bloodstream, the bones or the lungs. People with weakened immune systems and chronic illnesses are most susceptible to these infections. | http://www.alpha-pharmaceuticals.com/health/bacterial-infections |
A potential second case of the antibiotic-resistant bacteria gene MCR-1 may have found its way to American shores. Pending further study, it is believed this superbug was found in a sample of E. coli bacteria obtained from a patient in New York. This development follows closely on the heels of its appearance last month in a patient in Pennsylvania with a UTI. Its presence and the possibility of its spread is a source of great alarm within the international healthcare community.
What is MCR-1?
MCR-1, discovered last year in China, is a gene that makes a bacterium resistant to treatment with antibiotics, most significantly colistin, an antibiotic of last resort. Typically, though, UTIs are treated with the antibiotics Macrobid or Bactrim. Of great concern is that bacteria can share the MCR-1 gene, making it possible for it to transfer to other bacteria, including the carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae, or CRE. And, because the MCR-1 gene is able to transfer, these now antibiotic-resistant bacteria are able to survive, multiply, and replace those that were killed off. The existence of these superbugs poses tremendous healthcare problems, both nationally and worldwide, with multiple international health agencies tracking its spread.
How Do Bacteria Become Antibiotic-Resistant?
Bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics at an alarming rate, primarily due to over or indiscriminate use of antibiotics. Whenever an antibiotic is taken, it kills bacteria that are susceptible to its effects. However, if all of the bacteria are not killed, they mutate slightly in response to the drug, increasing the likelihood they will no longer be vulnerable to its effects. Through the basic processes of genetic mutation, adaptation, and reproduction, bacteria are evolving at a rate that is faster than medical research can maintain.
In addition, some bacteria have the ability to neutralize an antibiotic’s effects before they can be harmed or alter the target zone of the drug so it does not interfere with the organisms functionality.
If MCR-1 continues to spread unchecked, the health consequences will be devastating, resulting in untreatable illnesses and infections, more extensive health problems, an increased death rate, and skyrocketing healthcare costs.
Antibiotic Resistance Diagram
How to Slow Down or Prevent the Growth of Antibiotic Resistance
The primary cause of the development of drug-resistant bacteria has been the widespread use of antibiotics to treat non-bacterial illnesses or diseases, particularly viruses. While dosing with an antibiotic to treat a cold or the flu may seem like the right thing to do, it is only a placebo effect; in fact, it actually creates multiple problems. Because antibiotics attack only bacteria, not viruses, every dose increases the likelihood that surviving bacteria will become more resistant while at the same time the drug will have no impact on the illness or condition. Thus, the individual is still sick while bacteria actually get healthier and stronger. Contrary to popular myth, it is not the individual who develops resistance to antibiotics, it is the bacteria that does.
It is important that antibiotics only be used to treat bacterial infections and on a controlled basis. After a diagnosis is made, germ-specific (rather than broad spectrum) antibiotics can be prescribed to treat the condition. In addition, it is vital that patients take the full regimen of medication to ensure that all the offending bacteria have been eliminated to reduce the risk of their developing resistance. | https://www.helprx.info/blog/antibiotics/antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-mcr-1-spreading |
Massive and inappropriate use of antibiotics to treat or prevent disease in farmed fish fosters the development of resistant bacteria that have the potential of harming humans. This was the finding of a recent study conducted by researchers from France’s Institute of Development and Research (IRD) and Center for International Cooperation in Agronomic Research for Development (CIRAD).
The study also showed that antimicrobial resistance is already a reality in several countries that are highly vulnerable to climate change, according to a press release from CIRAD.
“Resistant bacteria in aquaculture can either spread or transmit their resistance genes to non-resistant bacteria that infect humans, thus causing diseases that are difficult to treat in both animals and humans,” said Samira Sarter, a microbiologist with CIRAD.
Bacteria resistant to antibiotics have been found to be responsible for some 700,000 deaths each year worldwide, according to a report from the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance.
These health risks linked to antibiotic use are not restricted to aquaculture. They also apply to terrestrial farms, according to CIRAD.
“Some 60 per cent of the infectious diseases that currently affect humans are of animal origin. If a resistant bacterium or its genes were to be transmitted to humans, and existing antibiotics were ineffective, we could face a steep rise in mortality rates as a result of antimicrobial resistance,” Sarter said.
The researchers from IRD and CIRAD belonging to the Institute of Evolution Sciences of Montpellier’s Fish Diversity and Aquaculture team (DIVA, UMR ISEM) examined data from more than 400 scientific articles referring to over 10,000 bacteria of aquaculture origin from 40 countries.
A meta-analysis allowed the researchers to study the effect of temperature on the mortality rate of aquatic animals infected with pathogenic bacteria commonly found in aquaculture.
The researchers then conducted a systematic review on the abundance of resistant bacteria found on fish farms and calculated the Multi-Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) index for 40 countries.
They found high antimicrobial resistance indexes for 40 countries that account for 93 per cent of global aquaculture production.
Global warming links
The study also linked global warming to antimicrobial resistance.
“Our results show that global warming promotes the development of pathogenic bacteria, hence disease development on fish farms,” said Rodolphe Gozlan, an IRD specialist in biodiversity-health relations.
Aquatic bacteria are temperature-sensitive, according to Miriam Reverter, a post-doctoral student at IRD,
“Global warming will therefore push up mortality rates on fish farms, which is likely to mean increased antibiotic use,” Reverter said.
Use of antibiotic alternatives urged
The researchers strongly recommended that aquaculture operators adopt alternatives to antibiotics in treating and preventing fish disease.
“We urgently need to help producers in the global South find alternatives to treat and prevent disease on fish farms,” said Gozlan. “This means encouraging research that makes use of the One Health or EcoHealth approaches, i.e. that is multi-disciplinary and multi-sector.“
For instance, certain plants are highly effective for boosting disease immunity in fish. Their use on fish farms could help reduce antibiotic use, Gozlan said.
Researchers are also developing more resilient aquaculture systems based on the principles of agroecology, in the aim of reducing disease rates. Agroecology is the study of ecological processes applied to agricultural production systems. | https://www.rastechmagazine.com/research-links-aquaculture-to-antimicrobial-resistance-global-warming/ |
Acute wound: Alteration in skin integrity such as a simple laceration or a surgical wound that moves normally through the healing process and heals in a predictable timeframe without complication.
Antibiotic resistant: Organisms that have the ability to alter themselves genetically so that antibiotics do not have an inhibitory or lethal effect on them, thus allowing continued proliferation.
Antimicrobial resistant: Microorganism such as bacteria, viruses, and some parasites with the ability to resist antimicrobial agents.
Chronic wound: A wound that has not shown signs of significant improvement or progress toward healing within 30 days of onset.
Colonization: The presence of bacteria within the wound that multiply or initiate the host reaction.
Contamination: The presence of non-replicating bacteria. The host controls the environment, and healing is not impaired by these bacteria.
Critical colonization: The proliferation of bacteria in the host, resulting in delayed wound healing, but still without an overt host reaction. Usually associated with increased pain previously not reported.
Hospital-acquired infection: Infections are caused by viral, bacterial, and fungal pathogens; the most common types are bloodstream infection (BSI), pneumonia (eg, ventilator-associated pneumonia [VAP]), urinary tract infection (UTI), and surgical site infection (SSI).
Infection: The invasion and multiplication of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites with an associated host reaction.
Multidrug-resistant organism: Bacteria, fungi, yeasts, and viruses that have developed resistance to antimicrobial drugs.
Needle aspiration culture: Culture performed on tissue or fluid obtained by aspiration with a fine-gauge needle.
Normothermia: Condition of normal body temperature or an environmental temperature that does not cause more or less activity of body cells.
The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the author, and do not represent the views of WoundSource, Kestrel Health Information, Inc., its affiliates, or subsidiary companies.
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About antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infections
Antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infections are a type of infection that do not respond to most – or any – of the most common treatments. Find out more about antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infections and the care patients will receive.
Have you ever been diagnosed with an antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infection (UTI) which is essentially an infection of your water works? This uncomfortable and often painful infection affects 10-20% of women at some point in their life, and some men, too. You can find out more about UTIs in general on our common infections page, or read on for information about antibiotic-resistant UTIs.
Antibiotic resistance occurs when the bacteria causing an infection either develop or acquire a mechanism that protects them against antibiotic treatments.
Who is at risk from antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infections?
Those at greatest risk of antibiotic resistant infections are often those with other underlying medical conditions, who have weakened immune systems either due to illness or as a side-effect of current treatment. Those often affected have already been taking antibiotics or have been in hospital. Older people, such as those in care facilities or those undergoing catheterisation may also be affected by ongoing or recurrent resistant UTIs.
The biggest risk is that untreated or resistant infections can lead to kidney problems (like pyelonephritis) or even more serious conditions like sepsis (or urosepsis). However, it is also very difficult living with the ongoing symptoms of recurring or resistant UTIs.
What type of bacteria usually cause urinary tract infections?
The most common bacterial cause of UTIs are E coli. These bacteria usually live harmlessly in the gut of healthy people but can cause problems if they get into the bladder or other parts of the urinary tract. Uncomplicated infection of the bladder, also called cystitis, is common and can be very painful.
Some strains of E. coli bacteria have begun to produce enzymes called extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (often summarised to ESBL E coli). These can make the bacteria resistant to certain antibiotics, and so the bacteria continue to multiply and spread. This causes more severe infection which becomes much more difficult to treat. Another type of bacteria which often causes antibiotic resistant UTIs is ESBL klebsiella pneumoniae. You can read more about extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing bacteria (ESBLs) here.
E. coli belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family of Gram-negative bacteria. This family of bacteria also include klebsiella pneumoniae and enterobacter cloacae. The Enterobacteriaceae family can all cause UTIs and are often treated with the beta-lactam antibiotic, carbapenem, for which there are specific ESBL enzymes. The carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) that have developed, have become a real risk to health as the main antibiotic becomes useless and their presence increases in hospitals and care settings.
What are the symptoms of an antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infection?
You can find out more about the symptoms of a UTI on our common infections page. The main difference between a regular UTI and an antibiotic-resistant UTI is that the medicines usually used to treat such infections do not often work against antibiotic-resistant UTIs. While the antibiotics may appear to work at first, they are only killing those bacteria sensitive to the antibiotic, but not dealing with the resistant organisms. This means it is really important that if antibiotic resistant bacteria are present, they are diagnosed and identified as early as possible so the right antibiotics are used to kill them.
To identify if you have a UTI, your doctor will usually ask you to provide a urine sample which they will test with a dip stick. This is a quick way to establish if you have a urine infection. If positive, then a sample of your urine will normally be sent to the local microbiology laboratory for testing.
Are urinary tract infections contagious?
You cannot pass a UTI on to another person. However, if you have an infection of any type – particularly one that is antibiotic resistant – there is always a risk that the bacteria causing the infection could infect those around you if you do not adhere to proper hygiene standards. If you have an ESBL resistant infection, you will often be kept in isolation in a hospital ward, to decrease the risk of spreading these bacteria to other vulnerable patients. For prevention of UTIs, it is particularly important that you wash your hands after using the bathroom and after sexual contact, and maintain a clean environment.
Find out more about what you can do to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria.
How are antibiotic-resistant urinary tract infections usually treated?
For most common UTIs, there is usually a ‘first-line’ antibiotic that is often used as standard, although these vary across the UK. If you have had a UTI, the chances are you are familiar with these drugs. So GPs will usually follow guidance to treat a UTI immediately with first line therapy according to local guidelines. If this doesn’t eliminate the infection, a urine culture is often sent to the lab to test what the bacteria actually is and what antibiotic is likely to kill it. Other antibiotics such as fosfomycin and pivmecillinam might be used where first line antibiotics have not worked. Fosfomycin is an oral broad-spectrum antibiotic that acts against many multidrug-resistant pathogens in the urinary tract.
What is colonisation and biofilm?
When people have had several UTIs, and several courses of antibiotics for a UTI, antibiotics may initially appear to work and symptoms often resolve for a while. However, the more resistant organisms are known to sometimes attach themselves to the bladder wall as well as forming colonies of resistant bacteria within other parts of the body such as the kidney.
These colonies of resistant bacteria can multiply in number over time, and become immune to the effect of the antibiotics. The bacteria become harder to eradicate, even when taking powerful antibiotics, as they form a biofilm. This is where the colonies of resistant bacteria form a protective layer around themselves, making it even more difficult for antibiotics to reach and kill them.
Resistant UTIs can then become a chronic condition and can often cause frequently recurring outbreaks of infection, with an increased risk of serious kidney infection (pyelonephritis) and even sepsis.
What happens if I have a multidrug-resistant urinary tract infection?
Some strains of bacteria are now resistant to all of the most commonly used antibiotics. When UTIs recur or don’t go away with treatment, urine samples are usually tested at a microbiology lab, and if resistant organisms are discovered they are often found to be ESBL E. coli or ESBL Klebsiella. If you have a UTI with either of these resistant bacteria, you will probably be treated in hospital by an infectious disease doctor and their team. They will often prescribe a specific antibiotic via an intravenous (IV) drip (or combination of antibiotics) known to be active against ESBL- producing bacteria – such as a carbapenem antibiotic. These are considered ‘last resort’ antibiotics which are kept especially for those highly resistant bacterial infections.
If you have an antibiotic-resistant UTI, you’re not alone. There are many different support groups online where people suffering with resistant UTIs can help one another.
Preventing UTIs using natural products
Many of those who suffer with recurring or resistant UTIs are keen to find ways of reducing the risk or occurrence by using natural products such as D-Mannose, cranberry products (like triple strength tablets or juice), Kefir /probiotics, manuka honey and so on.
Anecdotally, many report finding some of these useful in the prevention of UTIs; however, there is very little published evidence to support the effectiveness of these natural products, and more research is needed.
How quickly will the infection spread? Is there anything I can do to stop it getting worse?
The speed at which an infection spreads depends on many factors, including the type of bacteria causing the infection, how long they infection has been present for, the genetics of the bacteria involved and the health and habits of the person affected. It remains important to maintain good hygiene and follow the advice of your doctor or clinical specialist, and to let them know if you notice any changes in your condition. The biggest risk is that the infection is not treated quickly enough or effectively and the risk of developing kidney infection, inflammation or urosepsis increases. When the bacteria spread from the urinary tract or bladder into the bloodstream, it is commonly called urosepsis, and can be very serious.
What do I do if I have a question about antibiotic-resistant infections?
If your question is about your own health, please contact your GP or medical specialist treating you.
If you are feeling unwell but the problem is not a medical emergency, call 111 ( or your own local Out Of Hours telephone number) to find out whether you need to attend hospital.
If you are experiencing a health emergency, you should call 999 or attend your nearest accident and emergency, taking all of your medications with you.
If you are not seeking health advice, but would like to talk to someone who understands antibiotic resistance and can help you find more information, get in touch with our Patient Support Officer, Arlene.
Contact Arlene on [email protected] or call her on 07367 784114. Calls are charged at your usual mobile or landline rate. However, you can request a call back from Arlene by text, email or by leaving a message.
Find out more
Explore our website to find out more about antibiotics, bacteria and the common infections they cause, and our research.
Disclaimer: Any medical information referred to in or through our website is given for information purposes only and is not intended: to constitute professional advice for medical diagnosis or treatment; to replace consultation with a qualified medical practitioner; to advocate or recommend the purchase of any product; or to endorse or guarantee the credentials or appropriateness of any health care provider. You are strongly advised to consult with an appropriate professional for specific advice tailored to your situation. Instead, information provided on our website is intended to provide helpful signposting towards further information and support and to provide an opportunity for you to simply share and discuss matters relating to antibiotic resistance with our Patient Support Officer. | https://www.antibioticresearch.org.uk/find-support/urinary-tract-infections-utis/ |
CATCH is set in a near future where antibiotics have stopped working due to antibiotic resistance.
Antibiotic resistance occurs when an antibiotic drug has lost its ability to effectively kill bacteria or control their growth. The bacteria have evolved to be "resistant" to the drug, and continue to multiply in the presence of the antibiotic, so continue to infect and potentially harm the person they are infecting. | http://www.catchshortfilm.com/antibioticsresistance |
The problem of infection has continued to exist even after the introduction of antibiotics and the emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) has become a worldwide issue that threatens individual healthcare, economic and social welfare [10-12]. Despite increased efforts in recent years, the problem of ARB continues to grow [9,13]. Especially, ESKAPE pathogens are mostly resistant to antibiotics and the risk of infection is growing due to mechanisms including inactivation or alteration of antimicrobial molecule, modification of the site of action, inhibition of cell membrane function, and reduction of antibiotic penetration/accumulation [11,14,15]. Extensive resistance to antibiotic requires discreet infection prevention, development of new antibiotics and treatment methods. Most previous studies reported on systemic infections in medical field caused by ESKAPE pathogens and different antibiotics that effectively treat ARB.
Only a few researches have been performed on ESKAPE infection and treatment of oral and maxillofacial region. Among the various bacteria,
However, methicillin resistance should also be taken into consideration in clinical situation. Most common methicillin-resistant
These MRSA strains are resistant to many antibiotics such as β-lactam antibiotic, aminoglycosides, macrolides, and choloramphenicol . In most cases, glycopeptide antibiotics, such as vancomycin and teicoplanin, are used as first-line of antibiotics for of MRSA infections [11,28,29]. Emergence of vancomycin-resistant
Like other bacteria, infection of
Carbapenems are conventionally used to treat persistent infections caused by gram-negative bacteria and were first administered to other ESKAPE bacteria except for MRSA, and it can be used in conjunction with colistin to treat
Various antibiotics are being administered depending on the bacteria, and antibiotic resistance is developed accordingly. Inadequate use of antibiotics increases the risk of drug resistance, leading to impairment of a patient's condition. For effective treatment of ARB, early diagnosis is essential .
Early detection of causative agents and selection of corresponding antibiotic is stressed [12,52]. Empirical prescription of antibiotics and antibiotic-susceptibility test (culture test) should be performed . Based on the results of culture testing, non-resistant and sensitive antibiotics must be selected and treated. Evaluating the patient's clinical condition is also important. If other bacteria are found in culture test, it is necessary to see if they respond to the currently prescribed antibiotics. In other words, the most appropriate antibiotics should be selected in cooperation with the Infectious Disease Department. Many papers suggest that immunosuppressed patients are more susceptible to infection [32,33]. An article studied patients with human immunodeficiency virus and another article studied with diabetes mellitus [22,40]. In diabetic patients, certain infections were more predominant, and some outbreak appeared almost exclusively. Diabetes was also associated with increasing severity of the infections and increased chance of complication. Diabetic patients had compromised immune system in several aspects . Accordingly, systemic conditions can influence the progress of infection, and patient's comprehensive health condition is crucial in the course of treatment.
However, according to other studies, the frequency of infection by ESKAPE pathogens is not significantly different from that of the non-ESKAPE group in terms of gender, the presence of systemic disease, and the frequency of occurrence by infection site [55,56]. However, it was found that the treatment period was longer in patients with systemic diseases of ESKAPE-group than in patient of non-ESKAPE group.
This study confirmed high rate of SSI and BSI by ESKAPE pathogens. Fifty percentage of the studies reported healthcare-associated infection that can be also affected adversely to patients who admitted to the intensive care units.
Most nosocomial infections can be derived from exogenous sources and transferred by either direct or indirect contact between patient, healthcare workers and contaminated objects . As a result, clinicians should be mindful to prevent infection. Especially, dentists should take proper precautions to prevent cross contamination of bacteria in the dental clinic and hospitals, where infection is easily spread by aerosols. Infection by ESKAPE pathogens is associated with a longer treatment period, higher cost of care and a higher mortality rate compared to that of non-ESKAPE pathogens [57,58]. A systematic approach to surveillance, infection prevention, antimicrobial stewardship and clinical guidelines ensures best practice for infection control and reduces the spread of antimicrobial resistance . Directing attention to the ESKAPE pathogens can better address the broader challenges of MDR.
We expect some difficulties in our study and acknowledge some limitations. First, literature reviewed in this paper did not have consensus over the definition of the outcomes. Following a single published guidance on assessment of outcomes of different infection sites should provide more statistically meaningful conclusions. Second, there was a limitation to the fundamental analysis due to lack of the number of papers on infection focused with ESKAPE pathogens in the oral and maxillofacial regions, and the gold standard treatment option cannot be proffered. Third, due to the variety of infection areas and variety of antibiotics empirically prescribed for treatment, the effect of antibiotic resistance could not be properly analyzed. Fourth, not all identified pathogens were tested against the administered antibiotics and it is difficult to analyze and compare various antibiotic resistance rates by bacteria. In the future, comparing different strains applied with the same antibiotics will yield a more meaningful conclusion. In addition, there were limitations in classifying risk factors.
Many studies worldwide reported infections associated with ESKAPE pathogens, but only limited number of studies targeted infection in oral and maxillofacial regions. Infection by ESKAPE bacteria can have fatal consequences if the cause of the infection is not properly identified and characterized in an early stage. Further research is required with more data on ESKAPE bacteria and their infection, especially in oral and maxillofacial regions.
No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported. | https://www.journalomp.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.14476/jomp.2021.46.3.75 |
At the dawn of the 20th century, the top three causes of death in the U.S. were infectious diseases - pneumonia, influenza, and tuberculosis. By mid-century the balance in the longstanding battle between bacteria and the human race shifted in our favor. Public health policy which encouraged widespread immunization helped tip the balance. The real game changer though was the rapid development of multiple antibacterial drugs, beginning with the introduction of penicillin in 1947. During the so-called "golden age of antibiotics" between 1940 and 1962, more than 20 new novel classes of antibiotics were discovered. Bacterial resistance to an antibiotic was met with a new and stronger drug. As we began the 21st century, the death rate due to infections had declined 97%! Heart disease and cancer now topped the mortality rankings. Seemingly the "bugs" were on the ropes. Antibiotics were the widely acclaimed "wonder drugs." Unfortunately, multiple bacteria resistant to one or more classes of antibiotics have emerged over the last decade, while the development of new antibiotics has slowed significantly. Only 2 new classes of systemic antibiotics have been introduced since 2000. Deaths in the U.S. related to multiple drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections now exceed 23,000 per year. A just released report commissioned by the U.K. estimates that these so-called "superbugs" could account for 10 million deaths internationally by 2050 - one death every three seconds! To confront the escalating national and international threat, in 2015 the White House published an executive order outlining a national action plan for combating antibiotic resistant bacteria. Antibiotic stewardship programs are a key element of the multi-pronged strategy.
The Evolutionary Response to Antibiotics: Superbugs
Bacteria are have survived on the planet for more than 3 billion years. They are a normal inhabitant of our own bodies, e.g. in the gut. Because they reproduce rapidly - minutes rather than days or weeks, bacteria are capable of rapidly evolving in response to selective pressure including antibiotics. As the drug effectively eliminates most "sensitive" bacteria, those with genes conferring resistance survive and become dominant. Bacteria are capable of rapidly sharing genes for resistance to an antibiotic, commonly via transmission of plasmids - DNA containing structures carrying resistance genes for multiple antibiotics. With these advantages, development of antibiotic resistance is not surprising and somewhat inevitable. Unfortunately, doctors and patients have accelerated the process by overusing and misusing antibiotics. A common scenario is regular prescription of an antibiotic for cold or flu symptoms which are usually viral in origin. Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. Needlessly eliminating non-resistant bacteria promotes survival and selection of more resistant strains. A recent study of outpatient antibiotic prescribing in office based and emergency room settings found 30% of prescriptions were inappropriate based on national guidelines. This is probably an underestimate as the study didn't include non physician prescribers such as nurse practitioners and dentists. Fully 50% of antibiotic prescriptions for upper respiratory conditions were deemed inappropriate. Similarly, insufficient dose or duration of treatment may promote selection of resistant strains. Widespread use of preventive antibiotic therapy in livestock or crops may hasten development of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria in these food sources.
The Scourge of the Superbugs
The consequences of MDR bacteria are the growing number of difficult-to-treat, life-threatening infections. I'll describe a few examples but the list is much longer. The most common cause of Clostridium Difficile diarrheal illness is antibiotic exposure. About 250,000 cases of C. Difficile illness were reported in 2013, commonly in hospitalized or recently discharged patients. Approximately 14,000 deaths from the infection occur annually, a near 400% increase since the mid-2000's, largely a result of development of antibiotic resistance to previously effective fluoroquinolone antibiotics. 90% of deaths occur in persons over 65 years of age.
The ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus, Staph, Kebsiella, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter) are a group of 6 bacterial classes which are responsible for most serious in hospital infections due to MDR bacteria. Methicillin-resistant staph aureus (MRSA) is best known but the others are equally threatening and difficult to treat. For example, more than 50% of Acinetobacter infections are now MDR, accounting for 500 deaths annually.
Infections typically treated in the outpatient setting are also increasingly resistant to previously very effective antibiotics. Camphylobacter infection causes a gastrointestinal illness usually acquired by eating uncooked or raw chicken infected with the bacteria, some of which are antibiotic resistant due to preventive treatment of the animal. 25% of the 1.3 million Camphylobacter infections occurring in the US each year are now antibiotic resistant. Of the 820,000 cases of gonorrhea reported in the U.S. in 2013, 30% were resistant to at least one antibiotic.
It's important to note that these infections are not only life-threatening in some cases, but very costly. Roberts, et al reported the cost of a bacterial resistant infection between $18,588 - $29,069 with an increased hospital of stay ranging up to almost 13 days.
These examples underline the urgency of the problem. Kickstarting a search for new antibiotic classes to combat resistance is important but even with federal support will take years. Antibiotic stewardship programs aimed at reducing the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in health care and food production offer an immediate approach to decrease the emergence and spread of resistant bacterial infections. The White House executive order sets a goal of having antibiotic stewardship programs in all hospitals by 2020.
What is Antibiotic Stewardship?
Antibiotic stewardship programs seek to ensure that patients receive the right antibiotic at the right dose and right duration to achieve a superior clinical outcome while minimizing the impact of development of resistance. An important corollary of this approach is "de-escalation" to treatment directed at the specific bacteria causing the infection. In essence this involves earliest possible identification of the involved bug and using antibiotics aimed directly at that bacteria once culture information is available. Usually this means switching from a "big gun" broad spectrum antibiotic (more likely to accelerate MDR) to a narrower spectrum drug to which the organism is susceptible. Most programs restrict the use of selected antibiotics, requiring pre-approval by the program's steward, usually either an infectious disease physician or pharmacist. Educating prescribers is a high priority. The Joint Commission is in the process of establishing antibiotic stewardship programs as a requirement for health care institutions and providers across the continuum of care.
The Infectious Disease Society of America and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America recently released a guideline outlining 28 recommendations meant to serve as foundation for antibiotic stewardship programs. Selected key elements include:
- Pre-authorization of antibiotics and/or prospective audit of usage
- Facility specific clinical practice guidelines
- Use of order prompting - time outs and stop orders
- Clinical decision support in the EMR
- Increased use of rapid viral and bacterial testing
- Inclusion of nursing homes and other post acute settings
The Central Role of Health IT
Leveraging health IT to provide institution specific, up-to-date evidence-based guidance in antibiotic selection, appropriate dosing and duration of therapy to clinicians at the point of is an extremely effective tool in reducing misuse. Dorsata has partnered with Barnes Jewish Hospital to provide such information in an easily accessible Iphone application. As bacterial succeptibility and sensitivites change, the app is easily updated, promptly disseminating this critical information to clinicians. Within the "smart" EMR, clinical decision support programs have been shown to decrease antibiotic use and length of hospital stay while increasing prescriber satisfaction with considerable cost saving. In addition to flagging allergies, smart EMR based ordering systems can incorporate other stewardship features such as recommended adjustments for kidney function, required laboratory monitoring, and recommended consultations. As many serious infections such as osteomyelitis or bacterial endocarditis require several weeks to months of ongoing treatment, a well designed EMR should promote antibiotic management across the full continuum of care from acute hospitalization into the outpatient post acute home care phase of treatment.
The White House National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria reinforces the seriousness of the threat nationally and internationally. Antibiotic stewardship programs supported by smart health IT are the first line of defense. Technology must be our ally in this fight.
I welcome your thoughts and comments. | http://blog.dorsata.com/antibiotic-stewardship-dealing-with-bad-bugs-and-fewer-drugs |
At the dawn of the 20th century, the top three causes of death in the U.S. were infectious diseases - pneumonia, influenza, and tuberculosis. By mid-century the balance in the longstanding battle between bacteria and the human race shifted in our favor. Public health policy which encouraged widespread immunization helped tip the balance. The real game changer though was the rapid development of multiple antibacterial drugs, beginning with the introduction of penicillin in 1947. During the so-called "golden age of antibiotics" between 1940 and 1962, more than 20 new novel classes of antibiotics were discovered. Bacterial resistance to an antibiotic was met with a new and stronger drug. As we began the 21st century, the death rate due to infections had declined 97%! Heart disease and cancer now topped the mortality rankings. Seemingly the "bugs" were on the ropes. Antibiotics were the widely acclaimed "wonder drugs." Unfortunately, multiple bacteria resistant to one or more classes of antibiotics have emerged over the last decade, while the development of new antibiotics has slowed significantly. Only 2 new classes of systemic antibiotics have been introduced since 2000. Deaths in the U.S. related to multiple drug resistant (MDR) bacterial infections now exceed 23,000 per year. A just released report commissioned by the U.K. estimates that these so-called "superbugs" could account for 10 million deaths internationally by 2050 - one death every three seconds! To confront the escalating national and international threat, in 2015 the White House published an executive order outlining a national action plan for combating antibiotic resistant bacteria. Antibiotic stewardship programs are a key element of the multi-pronged strategy.
The Evolutionary Response to Antibiotics: Superbugs
Bacteria are have survived on the planet for more than 3 billion years. They are a normal inhabitant of our own bodies, e.g. in the gut. Because they reproduce rapidly - minutes rather than days or weeks, bacteria are capable of rapidly evolving in response to selective pressure including antibiotics. As the drug effectively eliminates most "sensitive" bacteria, those with genes conferring resistance survive and become dominant. Bacteria are capable of rapidly sharing genes for resistance to an antibiotic, commonly via transmission of plasmids - DNA containing structures carrying resistance genes for multiple antibiotics. With these advantages, development of antibiotic resistance is not surprising and somewhat inevitable. Unfortunately, doctors and patients have accelerated the process by overusing and misusing antibiotics. A common scenario is regular prescription of an antibiotic for cold or flu symptoms which are usually viral in origin. Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. Needlessly eliminating non-resistant bacteria promotes survival and selection of more resistant strains. A recent study of outpatient antibiotic prescribing in office based and emergency room settings found 30% of prescriptions were inappropriate based on national guidelines. This is probably an underestimate as the study didn't include non physician prescribers such as nurse practitioners and dentists. Fully 50% of antibiotic prescriptions for upper respiratory conditions were deemed inappropriate. Similarly, insufficient dose or duration of treatment may promote selection of resistant strains. Widespread use of preventive antibiotic therapy in livestock or crops may hasten development of antibiotic resistant strains of bacteria in these food sources.
The Scourge of the Superbugs
The consequences of MDR bacteria are the growing number of difficult-to-treat, life-threatening infections. I'll describe a few examples but the list is much longer. The most common cause of Clostridium Difficile diarrheal illness is antibiotic exposure. About 250,000 cases of C. Difficile illness were reported in 2013, commonly in hospitalized or recently discharged patients. Approximately 14,000 deaths from the infection occur annually, a near 400% increase since the mid-2000's, largely a result of development of antibiotic resistance to previously effective fluoroquinolone antibiotics. 90% of deaths occur in persons over 65 years of age.
The ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus, Staph, Kebsiella, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter) are a group of 6 bacterial classes which are responsible for most serious in hospital infections due to MDR bacteria. Methicillin-resistant staph aureus (MRSA) is best known but the others are equally threatening and difficult to treat. For example, more than 50% of Acinetobacter infections are now MDR, accounting for 500 deaths annually.
Infections typically treated in the outpatient setting are also increasingly resistant to previously very effective antibiotics. Camphylobacter infection causes a gastrointestinal illness usually acquired by eating uncooked or raw chicken infected with the bacteria, some of which are antibiotic resistant due to preventive treatment of the animal. 25% of the 1.3 million Camphylobacter infections occurring in the US each year are now antibiotic resistant. Of the 820,000 cases of gonorrhea reported in the U.S. in 2013, 30% were resistant to at least one antibiotic.
It's important to note that these infections are not only life-threatening in some cases, but very costly. Roberts, et al reported the cost of a bacterial resistant infection between $18,588 - $29,069 with an increased hospital of stay ranging up to almost 13 days.
These examples underline the urgency of the problem. Kickstarting a search for new antibiotic classes to combat resistance is important but even with federal support will take years. Antibiotic stewardship programs aimed at reducing the misuse and overuse of antibiotics in health care and food production offer an immediate approach to decrease the emergence and spread of resistant bacterial infections. The White House executive order sets a goal of having antibiotic stewardship programs in all hospitals by 2020.
What is Antibiotic Stewardship?
Antibiotic stewardship programs seek to ensure that patients receive the right antibiotic at the right dose and right duration to achieve a superior clinical outcome while minimizing the impact of development of resistance. An important corollary of this approach is "de-escalation" to treatment directed at the specific bacteria causing the infection. In essence this involves earliest possible identification of the involved bug and using antibiotics aimed directly at that bacteria once culture information is available. Usually this means switching from a "big gun" broad spectrum antibiotic (more likely to accelerate MDR) to a narrower spectrum drug to which the organism is susceptible. Most programs restrict the use of selected antibiotics, requiring pre-approval by the program's steward, usually either an infectious disease physician or pharmacist. Educating prescribers is a high priority. The Joint Commission is in the process of establishing antibiotic stewardship programs as a requirement for health care institutions and providers across the continuum of care.
The Infectious Disease Society of America and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America recently released a guideline outlining 28 recommendations meant to serve as foundation for antibiotic stewardship programs. Selected key elements include:
- Pre-authorization of antibiotics and/or prospective audit of usage
- Facility specific clinical practice guidelines
- Use of order prompting - time outs and stop orders
- Clinical decision support in the EMR
- Increased use of rapid viral and bacterial testing
- Inclusion of nursing homes and other post acute settings
The Central Role of Health IT
Leveraging health IT to provide institution specific, up-to-date evidence-based guidance in antibiotic selection, appropriate dosing and duration of therapy to clinicians at the point of is an extremely effective tool in reducing misuse. Dorsata has partnered with Barnes Jewish Hospital to provide such information in an easily accessible Iphone application. As bacterial succeptibility and sensitivites change, the app is easily updated, promptly disseminating this critical information to clinicians. Within the "smart" EMR, clinical decision support programs have been shown to decrease antibiotic use and length of hospital stay while increasing prescriber satisfaction with considerable cost saving. In addition to flagging allergies, smart EMR based ordering systems can incorporate other stewardship features such as recommended adjustments for kidney function, required laboratory monitoring, and recommended consultations. As many serious infections such as osteomyelitis or bacterial endocarditis require several weeks to months of ongoing treatment, a well designed EMR should promote antibiotic management across the full continuum of care from acute hospitalization into the outpatient post acute home care phase of treatment.
The White House National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria reinforces the seriousness of the threat nationally and internationally. Antibiotic stewardship programs supported by smart health IT are the first line of defense. Technology must be our ally in this fight.
I welcome your thoughts and comments. | http://blog.dorsata.com/antibiotic-stewardship-dealing-with-bad-bugs-and-fewer-drugs |
Researchers have shown that, outside of a few specific examples, antibiotics do not promote the spread of bacterial antibiotic resistance through genetic swapping, as previously assumed.
While the overuse of antibiotics is undeniably at the heart of the growing global crisis, new research published online April 11 in Nature Microbiology suggests differential birth and death rates and not DNA donation are to blame. The results have implications for designing antibiotic protocols to avoid the spread of antibacterial resistance.
Researchers at Duke University suggest that differential birth and death rates of microbes and not DNA donation are to blame. The results have implications for designing antibiotic protocols to avoid the spread of antibacterial resistance.
“The entire field knows there’s a huge problem of overusing antibiotics,” noted senior study author Lingchong You, Ph.D., associate professor of engineering at Duke University. “It is incredibly tempting to assume that antibiotics are promoting the spread of resistance by increasing the rate at which bacteria share resistant genes with each other, but our research shows they often aren’t.”
Investigators have known for decades that bacteria can swap genetic elements through a process called conjugation, which allows helpful genes to spread quickly between individuals and even between species. Because the number of resistant bacteria rises when antibiotics fail to kill them, many researchers have assumed that the drugs increased the amount of genetic swapping taking place. The Duke researchers, however, hypothesized that the antibiotics were killing off the two “parent” lineages and allowing a newly resistant strain to thrive instead.
“Previous studies haven’t been able to tease these two ideas apart, but our work decoupled them,” explained lead study author Allison Lopatkin, a doctoral student in Dr. You’s laboratory. “We showed at the single-cell level that the exchange of resistant genes is not influenced by antibiotics at all, which is in contrast to the literature.”
In the study, the researchers put bacterial cells in a quasi-state of suspended animation, where they could neither die nor reproduce, but could still swap genes. With birth and death rates no longer a variable, the researchers could see how the frequency of gene exchange responded to antibiotics.
The Duke team tested nine clinical pathogens commonly associated with the rapid spread of resistance and exposed them to ten common drugs representing each major class of antibiotics. Interestingly, the rates of gene exchange in each test remained flat and, in a few cases, actually decreased slightly as the concentration of antibiotics grew.
The findings from this study were published recently in Nature Microbiology through an article entitled “Antibiotics As a Selective Driver for Conjugation Dynamics.”
“It would seem that when antibiotics are applied, the DNA swapping has already occurred and continues to do so,” Dr. You remarked. “Depending on their doses, the drugs can let the newly resistant bacteria emerge as the winners. When this occurs, the new strain is much more prevalent than before—if tests are run after some growth of the new strain.”
While there are a few proven examples of antibiotics directly inducing the expression of the genes responsible for donating resistance, they are very specific. For instance, the antibiotic tetracycline induces the expression of genes that only transfer tetracycline resistance.
This new study shows that despite these outliers, antibiotics do not promote resistance spread through the induction of global changes at the cellular level. The researchers are looking to further their research in the future, with the hope of helping clinicians design better antibacterial protocols. | https://www.medicilon.com/press-events/2016415144459-2/ |
A new report concludes that patients with antibiotic-resistant infections caused by salmonella bacteria are more likely to suffer potentially deadly bloodstream infections than are patients with non-resistant salmonella. Salmonella, a leading bacterial cause of food poisoning, is responsible for 1.4 million food poisoning cases and about 500 deaths per year.
The study, published in the Feb. 15 issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases, notes that the antibiotic resistance in salmonella bacteria chiefly results from using antibiotics in food animals.
The large-scale, industrialized operations that dominate meat production in the U.S. today routinely feed poultry, swine and beef cattle the same types of antibiotics that doctors use in human medicine, such as sulfa drugs and penicillins. Massive quantities of these medically important antibiotics – an estimated 13 million pounds each year – are used as animal feed additives. These antibiotic feed additives are not used to treat sick animals, but for growth promotion and to compensate for the stressful and crowded conditions within the industrial animal operations.
"This study shows that resistant bacteria not only result in harder to treat infections, but also make people sicker in the first place" said Margaret Mellon, J.D., Ph.D., director of the Food and Environment Program at the Union of Concerned Scientists. "Added to the many other studies linking antibiotic overuse in animal agriculture to human health problems, this study underscores the urgent need to reduce the massive overuse of antibiotics in animal agriculture in order to protect human health." | https://www.salmonellablog.com/salmonella-watch/new-study-strengthens-link-between-antibiotic-overuse-in-food-animals-and-dangerous-complications-of-food-poisoning/ |
Advanced research on natural resource as a lubricant in transportation and industrial application is an interesting topic in green technology whereas the natural resources can be used to fulfill the demand and control the impact of human involved. Many researchers had been suggesting that vegetable oil has a potential as an alternative lubricant for engineering process although it has some disadvantages aspect such as poor or low temperature properties. The use of vegetable oils as a helical gear lubricant has not been studied before. This study is to analyse the performance of corn oil, sunflower oil and soybean oil as a helical gear lubricant. Oils sampling was taken periodically fiom the gear test rig within 80 running hours. The oil performance properties such as kinematic viscosity at 40°C and 100°C were measured using Brookfield LVDV-I1 with PRO digital programmable viscometer. Viscosity index for each oil sample was then calculated by using ASTM D2270 method. The experimental data will then be compared to the ideal performance of the synthetic gear lubricant. The finding shows that sunflower oil has good lubricant properties as compared to soybean and corn oil. Sunflower oil has good high temperature properties which is suitable for heavy duty gear application. | http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/id/eprint/4513/ |
TOP 1 Synthetic Gear Oil LSD is a multipurpose gear lubricant designed specifically for high performance automotive applications using a high quality synthetic base oil. TOP 1 Gear Oil LSD reduces wear and provides cleanliness in extreme conditions. This thermally stable gear lubricant is designed to operate and protect in both high and low extreme-temperature conditions.
This is suitable for use in BMW, Mercedes, Lotus, Volvo, Toyota, Mitsubishi, GM and Ford. It provides excellent limited slip performance and outstanding protection against low speed/high torque wear. | http://top1oil.com.ph/?p=658 |
QUASISYN is a superior performance synthetic-technology lubricant for use in gas/steam turbines, compressors, pumps, bearings, and gears. QUASISYN is suitable for users who are looking for high levels of performance but without the additional cost of a fully synthetic product.
QUASISYN achieves its performance advantage over competing mineral oil and some synthetic oils through its advanced blend of synthetic technology base oils and our proprietary additive technology. This unique additive
technology is proven to make equipment run better for longer and more efficiently. QUASISYN will reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs beyond that of mineral oil and some synthetic oils. | https://www.revolutionoil.co.za/quasisyn |
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FIELD PERFORMANCE OF SYNTHETIC AUTOMATIC GEAR LUBRICANTS
- B. J. Beimesch, M. A. Margeson, J. E. Davis
- Engineering
- 31 October 1983
This paper reviews a series of durability field performance tests that resulted in the development of an all-synthetic automotive SAE 75W-90 gear lubricant. The synthetic gear lubricant meets the… Expand
Synthetic Lubricant Basestocks from Monohydric Alcohols
- J. B. Boylan, B. J. Beimesch, N. Schnur
- Materials Science
- 15 June 1981
Viscosity and volatility characteristics of some model SAE 5W-30 engine oil formulations
- B. J. Beimesch, J. E. Davis
- Chemistry
- 1986
Caracteristiques de viscosite et de volatilite de quelques modeles de formulation d'huiles de moteur SAE 5W-30
Improved mist lubricant compositions
- E. Zehler, Clark J Rlake, B. J. Beimesch
- Materials Science
- 20 June 1986
Mist lubrication method and composition for it. | https://www.semanticscholar.org/author/B.-J.-Beimesch/91564264 |
Loctite® ViperLube® High Performance Synthetic Lubricant Gear Oil - 90W extends equipment life and reduces oil changes and energy costs. Recommended for use on gear sets, bearings, circulating oil systems, chains and worn gear units.
Specifications
Product Category
Industrial Lubricants
Functions
Lubricant; Bearings
Composition / Chemistry
Industry Applications
More Information
Similar Products
Everlube Products
RS Components, Ltd. | https://datasheets.globalspec.com/ds/4164/HenkelCorporationIndustrial/D465177F-1CDC-4897-9233-BFA93CF166D7 |
Fully Synthetic 5W/30 C3 engine oil is produced from high quality synthetic base oils and top-tier performance additives.
Mid Sulfated Ash, Phosperus & Sulphur content.
FEATURES / BENEFITS
Suitable for use in petrol and diesel engines requiring VW specified lubricant performance
Blended to ensure fuel efficiency, reduced wear and low emissions.
Low SAPS technology delivers a high level of engine cleanliness and protection from combustion contamination.
Provides optimum performance and engine protection at temperature. | https://www.kensonlubricants.com/product/hyperdrive-kxr-5w30-c3-full-synthetic-engine-oil-mid-saps1199l/ |
Fuchs Renolin SE 100
Fuchs Renolin SE 100 is a synthetic air compressor lubricant based on advanced synthetic ester technology, containing a synergistic blend of antiwear, anti-corrosion and anti-oxidant additives to enhance performance. It is suitable for use in reciprocating and vane compressors, depending on the viscosity requirements of the compressor. The fluid is miscible with mineral oils, although residual mineral oil in the system will degrade the performance of the Fuchs Renolin SE 100 fluid. A complete oil change is recommended.
Advantages
• Synthetic ester base
• Proven lubrication performance in reciprocating and vane compressors
• Low coefficient of friction
• Reduced power consumption, potentially reducing energy costs
• Highly resistant to oxidation
• Reduces carbon deposits (e.g. in valves and filters)
• Reduced maintenance and down-time costs
• Extended oil drain intervals
• Extended oil lifetime
• Suitable for extreme working conditions
Specification
Fuchs Renolin SE 100 exceeds the requirements according to: | https://www.gz-supplies.com/fuchs-renolin-se-100/ |
Shell Morlina S4 B 220 is a high performance synthetic bearing and circulation lubricant, based on high performance base fluids. It offers outstanding lubrication performance under severe operating conditions, including improved energy efficiency and long service life even in severe operating conditions.
Shell Morlina S4 B oils are recommended for systems including moderately loaded gearboxes, operating under severe conditions such as low or high temperatures or with wide temperature variations.
The long oil life of Shell Morlina S4 B oils make them suitable for use in certain ‘lubricated-for-life’ systems.
Suitable for use in systems containing plain or rolling element bearings, including those highly loaded bearings such as those found in cement or quarrying applications.
DIN 51517 Part 3 (CLP Oils).
Siemens/Vai Morgan “Morgoil” Lubricant spec new oil (rev.1:1). | https://www.gofuel.co.nz/products/shell-morlina-s4-b-220-p20l |
Citation: Bredsguard, J.W., Thompson, T.D., Cermak, S.C., Isbell, T.A. 2016. Estolides: Bioderived synthetic base oils. In: Sharma, B.K., Biresaw, G., editors. Environmentally Friendly and Biobased Lubricants. Boca Raton: CRC Press. p. 35-49.
Interpretive Summary:
Technical Abstract: One novel technology to reach the lubricant market in recent years is the estolide, a class of high-performance, environmentally acceptable lubricant base oils. Estolides have been tested against a set of similar competing base oils from the marketplace, and the results show that they have excellent performance in the areas of oxidative stability, hydrolytic stability, evaporative loss (volatility), viscosity index (VI), and wear protection, in addition to environmental benefits including high renewable content, biodegradibility, and nonbio-accumulative nature. These benefits, among others, have led formulators to begin using estolides in a variety of industrial and automotive lubricant applications. For example, a high-performance estolide-based motor oil formulation has been certified by the API as having met the most current performance specifications for motor oils, API SN-RC (International Lubricants Standardization and Approval Committee [ILSAC] GF-5). In addition, a field trial using estolide-based formulations was conducted in Las Vegas, Nevada, where estolides demonstrated their ability to keep engines looking clean with minimal varnish. Furthermore, an estolide-based motor oil underwent environmental testing to determine the effect on biodegradability, if any, of (1) blending the estolide-based oil with additives and (2) using the formulation in an engine. The results show that blending the base oil with additives did not have an effect on the biodegradability of the estolide, and using the formulation in an engine appeared to slightly improve the biodegradability of the estolide. | https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=312491 |
Product Description:
Optima C4 LSR 5W-30 is a new generation fully synthetic low SAPS (sulphated ash, phosphorus and sulphur)
multigrade engine oil formulated using the latest developments in synthetic technology together with state of the art
additive chemistry which sets new standards in engine oil performance.
Optima C4 LSR 5W-30 has been developed to provide outstanding performance, e.g. in terms of engine cleanliness
and fuel economy benefits, along with effective emission control and full compatibility with emission control aftertreatment systems such as diesel particulate filters. Low SAPS additive technology ensures a high level of continuous
pollution control thereby minimising environmental damage.
Benefits:
• Effective environmental protection
• Ensures lubricant performance over extended drain intervals
• Effective fuel efficiency
• Very high standards of engine cleanliness
• Exceptional long term anti-wear and oxidation stability
• Excellent high and low temperature performance
• Exceptional long term additive response
Applications:
Optima C4 LSR 5W-30 is suitable for both petrol and diesel engines, including turbocharged, in both passenger cars
and light commercial vehicles. In particular this product is formulated for modern Renault vehicles with after
treatment systems such as diesel particulate filters.
Product Specification: | https://www.lubetechshop.co.uk/product/optima-lsp-5w30-low-saps-fully-synthetic-engine-oil-20-litre/ |
High performance synthetic lubricant base fluid and additive.
Soldoc 130 is a low viscosity, oxidatively stable, biodegradable and hydrolytically stable polyol ester, suitable for use in four stroke engine oils, both as base oil and additive. Soldoc 130 offers a good balance between low temperature flow performance, oxidative stability and lubricity. | https://iqlubricants.iql-nog.com/home/66-soldoc-130.html |
Author(s) :
Volume/Issue :
Volume 6
,
Issue 10
(10 - 2019)
Abstract :
The present work focuses on the performance evaluation of zinc ferrite nanoparticles added to SAE50 oil as lubricant in turning operation. In addition , the minimum quality lubricant(MQL) technique is adopted for turning of AISI1040 steel with uncoated carbide tool, under variable machining conditions and to study its effect on cutting forces, tool temperature and surface roughness of the machined component and also to find the best weight percentage of nanolubricant. After analysing the experimental results, it is concluded that the increase in cutting forces and tool temperature result in the increase in the surface roughness and thereby contributes for the decrease in surface quality.
No. of Downloads : | https://www.ijmter.com/published-papers/volume-6/issue-10/the-influence-of-zinc-ferrite-nanoparticle-based-sae50-oil-as-lubricant-under-variable-machining-conditions/ |
100% synthetic lubricant developed for the latest performance Side-by-Side (SxS) & ATV vehicles. For use where a xxW- 50 grade engine oil is recommended for extreme duty conditions. High anti-wear protection. Improved oil film resistance at high temperature and high RPM. | https://www.motul.com/us/en-US/products/atv-sxs-power-4t-10w50 |
The guidelines for restoration and use evaluate the complete protected zone of castles, including the exterior, gardens and non-residential buildings. They list ownership details, previous conservator analysis, current use and source of investments.
Documentation is currently available for Krapina-Zagorje County as the project continues to expand across other regions and will include all 101 castles in the Register.
Following the on-site inspection and comparing data to the Register, the Ministry of Culture determined that 101 castles are located in 14 counties.
More than half are considered to be in good condition, while the remaining have structural issues and require complete restoration.
The biggest challenge for renovation and maintenance is ownership. One third is privately owned, and the government and various associations own the rest. Only twelve were supported by EU funds, while 36 were restored under the Program for Public Needs in Culture.
Castles are categorised according to specific features, architectural style and interior design. Conservation guidelines are divided into five degrees of protection.
The highest degree includes thorough restoration and protection that will be applied to the castle building. This level of restoration includes minimal intervention and preservation of the historic interior design. Materials and techniques used represent a specific period and identity of the region.
Artistic value visible on murals, furniture and other decorative elements provide insight into the lifestyle Croatian nobility had, and their preservation is essential.
The most significant number of castles belong to the second degree of protection. This level will refurbish structural elements and restore original interior pieces that had to be replaced due to a lack of maintenance in the past. Interiors will be adapted to the new functions they will have while preserving as much of the original elements as possible .
The third degree of protection includes castles that have replaced or are missing pieces of the original building. Still, the exterior is well preserved, and its protection is valuable in the landscape.
The fourth degree will require complete reconstruction of the building following historical records and maintaining the footprint of the original structure.
The fifth degree of protection will be applied to only a few castles, where the new function of the building requires an entirely new annexe to be constructed. The architectural design will be supervised by historians and conservators, maintaining the visual aspect of the original castle.
The value of gardens and non-residential buildings is recognised as the most significant potential for restoration. Areas outside the castle building will play a crucial role in establishing the new function that each castle will have.
Conservation guidelines suggest the protection of gardens, rich with plants of which many date back to the 19th century. Restoration of gardens and meadows are an essential part as they complement the identity of each castle.
The current progress of the project
Currently, the Ministry of Culture has completed an analysis of the Krapina- Zagorje county. This included a total of 24 castles, out of which the most important are Veliki Tabor, Miljana, Stubički Golubovec and Hellenbach.
They are protected under the highest degree, with limited restoration options. The remaining castles were rated as well preserved. Over time they have seen structural and design adaptations that will require special attention from conservators.
Only two castles will require a complete restoration of the interior, with new architectural solutions inside that will enable the new functionality as planned. The exterior will be completely preserved and restored following available historical records.
The Ministry of Culture continues to work on this project to complete a database with conservation guidelines for all castles in the Register as they represent the most valuable architectural heritage of Northern Croatia. | https://croatianhub.com/culture/castles-conservation-guidelines-for-restoration-and-use/ |
Renovate Your Historic Building Using Preservation Best Practices
Before you undertake a renovation project on your historic house or building, you should understand the difference between historic preservation, or restoration and remodeling. Your preservation or restoration project should be designed in accordance with some very specific definitions under the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. These terms are defined in relation to the period of time when a house or building was historically significant. In contrast, remodeling is not based in historical appearance and has no particular reference to any point in the past. Therefore, a remodeling project could destroy the historic character of your house or building.
To maintain the original historic and architectural character of your property, you must make good choices before and during your renovation project. You can use the following best practices to guide your efforts toward genuine preservation.
Preservation Best Practice 1: Retain Your Original Architectural Style
Milwaukee County. Decorative masonry elements such as the ones seen in this photo are character-defining and should be retained. Source: WHS - State Historic Preservation Office.
Your first goal during a renovation project is to retain the original architectural style of your historic house or building. The architectural style of any building can be categorized as either high style or vernacular. A high style building has all or most of the commonly identified traits of its particular architectural style. The building is noteworthy for its detailed features, masterful design and generally impressive architecture. A vernacular building, on the other hand, clearly conveys a sense of history without having highly embellished design. Often, vernacular buildings represent a common floor plan rather than an architectural style. Vernacular buildings are equally important as high style buildings because they illustrate popular trends in how people organized and used building space. Some buildings are a mix of styles because they were built during a period of architectural transition. Others include a mix of styles due to remodeling decisions.
The original design of your house or building may have been obscured by previous remodeling projects. If you are having trouble determining the style of your building, you should research your building to determine its original appearance.
Preservation Best Practice 2: Stay True to Your Original Design
When you make renovation design decisions, you should not try to change the appearance of your house or building into a style it never was in the first place. The aim of historic preservation is to retain the original form and character of a building, not to create an idealized version of a particular architectural style. Your house or building represents a style or form that was popular during its time of construction. Any attempts you make to create a historic appearance or force a different style through remodeling would be counter to the principles of preservation.
Try to find an old picture of your house or building and stay true to its original design. Do not introduce any new style feature that is not in the historical record for your structure. Keep in mind that although certain features define a style, most historic buildings are a hybrid of several architectural styles.
Preservation Best Practice 3: Follow Preservation Principles for Maintenance and Repair
Waupaca County. Glazing compound on this window muntin is deteriorated and should be removed. Window repairs such as this can be completed by contractors, carpenters and painters. Source: WHS - State Historic Preservation Office.
Regular maintenance should always be a first step in preserving your historic house or building. By properly maintaining your historic property, you will help to prevent the deterioration of original features and decrease the need for repair and replacement. Typical maintenance tasks include the following:
- Rust removal
- Caulking
- Re-application of paint
- Cyclical cleaning of roof gutter systems
Even with regular maintenance, you will need to make many repair and replacement decisions about original features in your house or building. In many instances, it will be possible for you to repair a historic feature, and this approach is always preferable to replacement. Repairs are warranted when the physical condition of a character-defining feature or material fails or deteriorates. When you repair a historic feature, you should use the least degree of interference possible, such as patching, piecing-in, splicing, consolidating or otherwise reinforcing or upgrading the damaged material.
You may find that you want to expand your historic house or building for additional space. Before you design an addition to your structure, make sure that you cannot use existing space within the footprint of your building for expansion. You might have unused space in your attic or basement that could meet your needs rather than altering your property with an addition. Keeping as much of the original historic materials and design of your building is always preferred to replacement and expansion.
Preservation Best Practice 4: Replace with Matching Materials If Repair is Not Possible
Columbia County. The face of soft stones can spall leaving the masonry unit vulnerable to water infiltration. Spalled stones may be repaired either using a specifically formulated mortar, reversing the stone or replacing it with a new stone to match the original. Source: WHS - State Historic Preservation Office.
Replacement is appropriate when an entire character-defining feature of your historic house or building cannot be repaired. If you must replace a feature, use long-lasting materials that closely match those of the original feature. The best replacement option is always to replace the entire feature with the same original material. This approach will not always be technically or economically feasible, so you may need to choose a compatible substitute or alternative material. With all of your replacement choices, your goal should be to avoid creating a false sense of historical appearance to your house or building.
Your best choice to replace a missing or deteriorated feature is an “in-kind” replacement, which means a material and design that matches the original as closely as possible. You may find sections of the feature intact that you can use to match the original. If the feature is completely missing, look for physical or historical evidence to help you replicate the original. The design of the replacement should be in keeping with the style and character of your building. | https://www.wisconsinhistory.org/Records/Article/CS4194 |
The DPA presented its annual Preservation Awards May 16 at the Clyde Iron Works, 2920 West Michigan Street.
Plaques
The bridge was restored to its original design using a stone veneer pattern that replicated the original stones and lights similar to the original ones. Walls were rebuilt, and the road surface refurbished with the addition of a waterproofing system and better drainage.
This building originally housed one of the first auto dealerships in the community, and then for decades was an auto repair shop. The building was renovated in recent months to become the headquarters for ZMC Hotels Inc. On the outside, the brick facade was replaced, tile added below the windows, wood siding removed, new windows installed, roof replaced and period-style carriage doors built.
The former plant was turned into a restaurant, bar and event center with room for shops. The exterior brick was tuck-pointed, cleaned or replaced. New windows, doors and roof were installed. Inside, doors and tabletops were salvaged from a demolished building and 300,000 bricks salvaged and used for repairs and to build an oven. A crane was saved and a mural installed based on an old glass negative.
Letters of Recognition
Restoration:
Built new garage to match
the era of the house.
Restoration:
Restored original garage and built a second garage mimicking details of the house, salvaged front porch door, painted exterior in varied colors to accent detailing, landscaped. Inside, plaster walls were repaired, painted and wallpapered. Hardwood floors were refinished and period-style light fixtures and kitchen were installed.
Restoration:
Outside, stucco and sagging porch were repaired, missing skirt was replaced, concrete was redone,
painting was done in colors to accent features, gutters were replaced, a fence was removed
and relocated and landscaping was done.
A community effort led by Debbie Isabel-Nelson and supported with various grants
and the work of many volunteers. | https://duluthpreservation.org/archives/duluth-preservation-awards/2011-preservation-awards/ |
New Year Brings New Restoration Projects to Körner’s Folly
Historic Körner’s Folly is pleased to announce the continuation of Operation Restoration, a long term project with the goal of restoring and preserving the Victorian house museum. Körner’s Folly will be kicking off 2018 with the restoration of three rooms – the Cellar, Smoking Lounge, and Den. Work began in early January and is expected to take three months. Tours will continue while restoration is being completed.
From 2012-2015, the first major restorative work took place at Historic Körner’s Folly, completely stabilizing the exterior structure of the 1880s Victorian House. The foundation was repaired, the porches were restored, and the entire roof was replaced. Now that the home is water-tight and structurally stable, interior restoration work is underway. This new chapter of interior restoration work focuses on restoring and preserving Jule Körner’s original interior décor for the education and enjoyment of the public. These three rooms are facing the greatest deterioration from decades of water damage, and pose real concerns.
Of the project, Dale Pennington, Körner’s Folly Executive Director says, “The Smoker, Den, and Cellar are three of the most badly deteriorated rooms inside of Körner’s Folly. It takes great forethought by donors to support the rooms in most need of restoration. All of the rooms in the house have been given a ranking based on deterioration, safety concerns, and historical significance. These three rooms hit all three of those markers and are our highest priority for restoration, so it’s especially exciting to see these work begin.” Once complete, these rooms will make push Korner’s Folly several steps closer to being fully restored, leaving 10 remaining rooms in need of donations for restoration.
The Smoker, also called the Men’s Smoking Lounge, and the adjacent Cellar will be returned to their 1890s appearance and color scheme. The Sewing Room, which is being renamed “The Den” based on new documentary evidence will be returned to its 1906 appearance. “Since Jule Körner was constantly changing and renovating Körner’s Folly, it is important to us to represent a variety of time periods throughout the house through the restoration process. As an interior designer, Jule was always experimenting with new colors, wall papers, tiles, and finishes, and we want Körner’s Folly to be reflective of that, so visitors can better understand how the house changed over time.” There were two major periods of renovations for Körner’s Folly that are well documented: in the early 1890s, after Jule married his wife and they started having children, they renovated the home to accommodate the growing family, and again from 1903-1908, when Jule reportedly spent $17,000 to renovate the house (over $400,000 in today’s dollars) after his children left home for school.
Restoration is the process of depicting the form, features, and character of a property at a particular period of time. All three rooms sit on the original concrete slab foundation, which caused significant water and moisture issues over the years. The water issues have been remediated, and now the interior plaster and carpentry can be repaired and replicated without further threat of damage. The restoration in these rooms will include removing modern elements added over time, replicating and repairing missing or damaged woodwork and tile, refinishing and cleaning the architectural surfaces, and returning the rooms to their original color schemes.
The home will remain open for tours throughout the restoration. It is a very unique time to see Historic Restoration in action, so be sure to ask staff about the restoration process while on tour. Tour routes may be altered slightly to accommodate the work, and at times, 1-2 rooms may periodically close, call ahead for information on closings (336) 996-7922.
Körner’s Folly is open for self-guided tours Wednesdays-Saturdays 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and on Sundays 1 – 4 p.m. The last tickets are sold at 3 p.m. to allow visitors adequate time to explore and enjoy the museum. Private guided group tours are available by appointment. | https://www.kornersfolly.org/interior-restoration-continues/ |
The benefits of owning a historic home are many. You have a beautiful place to live in that is also a part of your town’s history. In addition, the design elements of historic homes are often unmatched by the elements included in newer buildings. Owning a historic home also comes with challenges. The biggest one of which is how to preserve the home and its history while also making it livable and functional by today's standards.
Are you rehabilitating or restoring your home? Rehabilitation, along with the common term “adaptive re-use”, is seen as the act of making a historic building usable in a modern setting through repairs, alterations, and additions to the building while preserving the elements of the building that give it its historic, cultural, and architectural significance. Restoration is considered the act of returning a building to its original condition and appearance or its condition and appearance from a particular time that is significant to its history. Restoration does not include updating the building for modern day use. In each case, the historic building is being preserved. In the case of a historic home, the rehabilitation of the home to make it a functional place to live takes precedence over restoring the home as exactly as possible to its original condition.
There are many steps that must be taken in order to preserve a historic building or home. First it must be determined what is considered historic. The most general guide for determining if a building is considered historic is its age. The minimum age for a building to be considered historic and worthy of being preserved is fifty years. Other factors that play into determining if your home is of historical significance can be things like if it is part of a community of buildings of the same type and style that were built around the same time period and should be preserved to keep the historic appearance of the community there as a record to that time period and its architectural style, if the home played a role in historic events, or who the previous owners of the property were.
After you have determined if your home is a historic home it is time to determine what pieces, elements, or features of the building give it its historical significance. These are considered the character - defining features of the building and include things like the materials it was built from, the ornamentation and style of ornamentation used, the textures of the finishes, and the actual type and style of the home itself.
Once you have determined what features of the home need to be preserved and what things need to be changed in order to make the building usable in the present day, a Certificate of Appropriateness must typically be obtained from your town’s Historic Architectural Review Board. This is generally the case if your home is in a recognized historic district. A Certificate of Appropriateness is a document that states that specific work has been approved to be carried out on a historic building. A Certificate of Appropriateness is almost always required before exterior changes are made or work on the building is done, and for changes involving new construction, demolition, reconstruction, alteration, major maintenance, and permanent landscaping . It is also required before a building permit can be issued. Once the proper authorizations and permits have been obtained, construction can begin on the home.
When working to preserve a historic home, the methods that are least likely to cause major changes to the building are considered first. This means that before the replacement of historic elements of the home is considered, work is done to protect and maintain existing features or repair features that have deteriorated. Replacement of a historic building’s feature is considered only if the deterioration of a feature is bad enough that it cannot be repaired.
Protecting and maintaining existing features consists of more minor and temporary maintenance such as the removal of rust from metal elements that have started to deteriorate, caulking, paint removal and reapplication, application or reapplication of protective coatings, and cleaning. Taking the time to protect the features of a historic home can make repair or replacement unnecessary, saving both time and money for the owner and preserving the integrity of the home and the materials used to create it.
If an element of the home does need to be repaired, care is taken to ensure that the repair is done in a way that does not undermine the integrity of the existing materials or negatively change the way the element appears. Repair consists of patching elements, piecing-in materials, splicing, consolidating, and reinforcing materials or features to maintain their integrity. Materials, finishes, and textures of repairs are kept the same as the original element whenever possible. The process of repair does include limited replacement if there is a surviving example of the damaged element to work off of. In kind materials are always used whenever possible, but if they are not available materials that look the same as the original visually may be considered.
The last option, replacement, is the process of replacing an entire character defining feature of the home once it is determined that the deterioration of the feature is too extreme for it to be repaired. When replacing an element of a historic home the preferred method is in-kind replacement. This means that the new feature is created to be the same size, shape, and style as the original and made with the same type of materials and finishes as the original whenever possible. If the same materials are not able to be used, other materials that give the same appearance as the original materials may be considered.
Sometimes it is necessary to do more than preserve existing elements of a historic home to make it functional. In the case of altering or adding on to a home, care is taken to not obscure or take away from the character-defining features of the building. The new construction must be differentiated from the historic parts of the building so that it does not create an inaccurate historical appearance, while also merging with it in a way that is aesthetically pleasing. As with replacement of elements in a historical building, additions and alterations are considered as a last resort and should be carried out only after it is determined that the needs of the occupants cannot be met in other ways.
If you are looking to preserve, rehabilitate, alter, or add on to a historic home, or have questions about the process of historic preservation Phillips and Donovan Architects, LLC would be happy to help. Our architects have worked on many projects involving historic preservation. Please feel free to reach out to us. | https://www.phillipsdonovanarchitects.com/post/historic-preservation-you-preserving-your-historic-home |
As set forth in the 1978 El Paso Landmark Preservation Ordinance Number 6243, the City Council of El Paso has committed our community to the protection, enhancement, preservation, and use of historically valuable landmarks. These landmarks represent our unique and irreplaceable architectural, archaeological, cultural, social, economic, ethnic, and political heritage. They serve as open-air exhibits of our colorful patrimony, educating the public, validating our history and bi-national culture, promoting civic pride and tourism, stabilizing and improving property values, and contributing to the general prosperity and well-being of the people.
To those ends, the Historical Preservation Office has adopted design guidelines for restoration, remodeling, rehabilitation, and even new construction in historic neighborhoods to protect our city's historical treasures and create a harmonious and supportive environment.
Most interiors of historical buildings and homes may be modernized to the taste and convenience of the owners, subject, of course, to current safety and building codes. The outside features, however, must conform as much as possible in historical integrity to the original. For minor improvements, the Historical Preservation staff may review an application and approve or deny it on the spot. If approved, the owner must request any required building permits.
For major work, the Historical Landmark Commission must involve the City Council to approve or deny an application. The process could take up to 30 days, in order to be included on the Council meeting agenda. If the application is approved, the Commission will mail the owner a Certificate of Appropriateness (COA), and work may start once the building permits are secured. If the application is denied, the owner may file an appeal with the City Clerk within 15 days. The City Council will hear the appeal at its next meeting. If the appeal is approved, the owner must secure building permits before commencing work. All proposed work must comply with current City Codes and with the Administrative Review Design Guidelines.
The Historic Landmark Commission requires a public hearing for any new construction in a historic area; any major alterations to the facades, porches, garages, and appurtenances of existing property; demolition or removal of any portion of a structure in a historic district or with an independent H-Overlay; and any complaints concerning demolition by neglect.
Concerned with STREETSCAPES, the Commission aims for the aesthetic and architectural integrity of the area. Height, scale, and building proportions should conform to the pattern and rhythm set by existing properties. Setbacks and building boundaries should not be disturbed. Any new additions should conserve the character-defining features of the original and be minimally visible from the public right of way.
PARKING AND DRIVEWAYS should be retained in their original locations and as originally designed. If more parking is required, it should be located at the rear of the property, using approved materials and allowing for 50% of the surface to be landscaped in permeable materials or trees or ground cover.
FENCES AND WALLS may be rock, brick, wood, and wrought iron - any material that is consistent with the neighborhood and compatible in design, scale, location, height, and size with neighboring properties. Chain link, concrete block, landscape timbers, railroad ties, and other modern materials, are not appropriate. The height and style of a fence should complement and not eclipse the structure as viewed from the street.
EXTERIOR LIGHTS may include genuine or replica fixtures reflecting the property's vintage. Modern lighting should be simple and must comply with the city's dark sky ordinance requirements. Floodlights, security lighting on standard height power poles, and directional site lighting and motion detectors that invade adjacent properties are not appropriate.
SITE FEATURES include swimming pools, playground equipment, concrete pads and basketball goals, sheds, tree houses, pergolas, terraces, and gardens and should be in the rear yards. Dumpsters and trash receptacles, in particular, should be adequately screened from view from the public right of way and adjoining residences with appropriate fencing and/or vegetation. Prefab metal structures are not appropriate.
RARE HISTORICAL DETAILS AND FIXTURES, such as hitching posts, stepping blocks, water troughs, decorative downspouts, and cast iron fences should be preserved, as they are irreplaceable.
WINDOWS should look as much as possible like the original in size, style, and materials, as they are character-defining features. Replacement windows similar to the original in appearance and structural purpose, regardless of construction materials, may be permitted. However, on the main facade, they should match the originals in style, type, operation configuration, and finish. A sash window with six panes, for example, must not be replaced with a fixed pane picture window. On secondary facades, any deviation from the standard will be judged on a case by case basis. Unpainted aluminum, anodized, and other types of unfinished metal storm windows are not permitted.
Like windows, DOORS must match the building's architectural style. When possible, damaged doors should be repaired by patching, splicing, consolidating, or otherwise reinforcing the deteriorated parts to avoid removing historic parts. When repairs are not possible, door and window products will be reviewed for architectural and historical compatibility, comparison to the original, and historical significance to the architecture of the building. Storm and screen doors must not conceal historic doors.
ROOF style may not be changed. The distinctive features of the roof, whether flat with parapets or hipped or gabled with front facing gables or with dormers should not be altered. When original roofing materials are no longer available or manufactured, replacement materials must match the original or existing materials as much as possible. Masonry tiles may not be painted. CHIMNEYS should be maintained, not removed or shortened, and if spark arrestors are installed, they should meet city code requirements.
Paint COLOR must be selected from a palette of neutral or muted tones commonly and historically used in the area. Wood may be painted, but not stuccoed or spray textured. It is inappropriate to sandblast or otherwise remove paint from masonry with high-pressure methods, which permanently damage the masonry. It is also inappropriate to paint brick, stone, terra cotta, copper, bronze, concrete, or cement block surfaces that had not been painted before. It is not appropriate to strip down exterior wood and refinish with varnish. Replacing wood siding that shows visible texture with new siding is not appropriate, either.
This article barely scratches the surface. The Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings provides comprehensive, practical advice for cleaning and repairing masonry and other historical elements and addressing myriad questions owners of historic properties all over the country may have. It also addresses retrofitting buildings with modern components, such as air conditioning and solar equipment and other issues that you may not even have thought of. The guidelines are available online.
Further information is also available locally at the Office of Historic Preservation, 2nd Floor, 801 Texas Avenue, El Paso, TX 79901 (915) 212-1567. | http://www.elpasorealtor.com/news_detail/whats-the-big-deal-about-historical-properties-part-2 |
de Havilland Fabrication & Welding were winners of the structural engineering awards in 2021 and 2022 from the Institue of Structural Engineers in the category Heritage/Bridge award for the Big Lock Footbrige in Middlewich, Cheshire.
The Bridges Award for New Life (<£5million): Big Lock Footbridge
Background
Big Lock Footbridge is a Grade II listed heritage structure built in the Victorian era. It is owned and maintained by the Canal and River Trust (The Trust) and has played an important role in the town historically and financially. The bridge is still a vital community link between the east and west sides of the Trent and Mersey Canal.
The bridge is at the heart of the local community, connecting people to the town centre, recreation areas, sports clubs, as well as businesses. Additionally, the bridge is adjacent to ‘The Big Lock’ pub and restaurant and is central to the Middlewich Folk and Boat festival, an annual event attended by over 30,000 people and 400 boats to celebrate the town’s industrial heritage. The Trust was committed to ensuring that a key part of the town’s history is well preserved for the future. Arcadis was appointed
to provide a full renovation of the bridge deck, abutments, and approaches with minimal intervention to meet its original appearance and harmony with the existing environment. The project started in April 2019 and the bridge was reopened in June 2021. The overall value for the restoration of the bridge was £330,000.
New Life Refurbishment
Before refurbishment, the bridge was in poor condition. It had been condemned, closed, and replaced with an adjacent scaffold bridge. Collaboratively, the Trust and Arcadis provided a sympathetic restoration design which could achieve the modern-day loadings and safety standards and bring the structure back to its full operational status for the benefit of the local community. To provide the required live load capacity of the structure, the u-frame stiffness of the bridge needed to be improved. To keep the heritage of the structure, a Victorian styled curved u-frame was added to every existing bay of the bridge truss.
To undertake the restoration work, the bridge was lifted out of position, a challenge which required a bespoke steel cradle due to the nature of the crumbling structure and to avoid any contamination to the surrounding environment. In the workshop, the structure was grit blasted prior to finalising design details and fabrication. The bottom plan bracings were restored, and connections upgraded to ensure lateral wind loads could be carried by the deck. The original Victorian elements were retained to the maximum extent possible, only being replaced where necessary for strength or safety reasons. Where replacement was required, the unique historical features were closely replicated, such as the heavily corroded post bases and damaged parapet infill rails. The design ensured minimal expenditure on new steelwork, and the appearance of the bridge remains largely unchanged besides the addition of the new u-frames.
Low maintenance, cost-effective elastomer pad bearings were provided to guarantee adequate support to the structure and relieve longitudinal deck movement stress from the abutment walls. The elastomeric bearing pads being of rubber only (no metal inserts) are not expected to need replacement in the next 100-years.
A fibre reinforced plastic (FRP) Polydeck system was proposed as a lightweight deck material to replace the existing heavy concrete deck, reducing the permanent load of the structure. FRP is a modern, durable, and economic material which has an elegant appearance, and provides a long-lasting maintenance free deck system. The deck structural elements are painted in a black anti-graffiti finish, matching the original colour scheme, and decreasing any future repainting costs.
The existing parapets were deemed to be climbable, and as such Arcadis worked in collaboration with the Trust and the fabricator (De Havilland) to provide a mesh panel that could be connected to the existing bridge parapets to mitigate this risk. The panel is the same woven mesh used at the Eden Project and is so light in appearance that it appears to be invisible when viewed from a distance, allowing the structure to appear very much as it did originally.
Many local residents came out to watch as the newly restored bridge was craned back into position, one year after restoration works began, including a couple who had gotten engaged on the bridge many years ago. One man played the penny whistle as the bridge was lifted into place and another man stood watching with a parrot on his shoulder. It was an exciting moment for the community with people lining the apartment balconies looking over the bridge and gathered at the adjacent pub and towpath to
cheer as the councillor officially opened the refurbished bridge.
Outcome
Arcadis,The Trust, the contractor, and the fabricator, rose to the challenge of providing a new life for Big Lock Footbridge. The successful collaboration resulted in a sympathetic restoration of an elegant Victorian structure, which is a key part of the town’s history that will now continue well into the future for the benefit of the local community. | https://dehavillandfabrication.co.uk/news/ |
Nearly one hundred years after beautifully ornate light fixtures were installed in the Oklahoma Senate Chamber 11 of the original 20 fixtures have been discovered in attic space above the sixth floor of the Capitol. The artifacts were discovered during the ongoing historic restoration of a large conference room on the fifth floor that had been divided up into small offices decades ago. In connection with the project, Senate Information Systems Director John Warren was moving computer cables above the fifth floor ceiling and happened to notice an opening to a long-forgotten part of the attic. That led to the discovery of the fixtures.
Dr. Bob Blackburn, Executive Director of the Oklahoma State Historical Society said a black and white photo of the chamber from 1918 helped confirm they were the original fixtures, or sconces. He said the discovery was important for the historic preservation of the State Capitol, the symbol of unity for Oklahoma.
“When you think about our history, what connects the people in Cimarron County with the people of McCurtain County? What connects all of our communities together? The symbol is the State Capitol itself,” Blackburn said. “We don’t have an Alamo. We don’t have battlefields. We have the State Capitol.”
The discovery of the sconces comes just one year before the 100th anniversary of the groundbreaking for the Capitol, which was completed in 1917. Over the next several decades, numerous changes were made to the building, with little or no concern about the original architectural designs. Hallways, conference rooms and other spaces were turned into offices. Stained glass was hidden by lower ceilings installed to conceal air conditioning ducts and other modernizations. The original sconces were eventually replaced with fluorescent lighting.
In the late 1980’s, a major historic restoration project was undertaken during the administration of then-governor Henry Bellmon. A mini-grand staircase that had long been covered up and turned into offices, was uncovered and restored to help commemorate the centennial of the Land Run of 1889. Four years later Sen. Charles Ford led a project to restore the Senate Chamber.
“We looked and looked and looked when we restored the chamber in ’93, looking for these fixtures, or at least one of them,” said Ford. The search ended in disappointment.
Paul Meyer, managing member of M A+ Architecture, was the Capitol architect at that time. He called the discovery of the original Senate Chamber sconces “fantastic.”
“When we restored the Senate Chamber in 1993…we did not have the budget to replicate these light fixtures even though we had the original drawings,” Meyer said. “We replicated as closely as we could, but they weren’t anywhere near as magnificent as these are.”
Trait Thompson serves as Vice Chair of the Capitol Preservation Commission, which was formed more than 30 years ago with the mission of overseeing the preservation and restoration of the building. He said finding the original sconces was one more important step in restoring the building.
“There is value in honoring the history of the State of Oklahoma,” Thompson said. “We have this beautiful building here that was completed in 1917 that really speaks to the spirit of Oklahoma. Any time you can restore any part of the building to its original condition, it’s a good thing.”
Blackburn noted other original pieces from the Senate Chamber, such as the floor lamps, still need to be found. He’s hopeful other artifacts will be discovered. | https://www.tulsatoday.com/2013/06/27/12512/ |
Blue Road will try for a third time to get Historic Preservation Board approval for their proposed 116-room hotel near the Miami Beach Convention Center. Jorge Savloff and Marcelo Tenenbaum purchased the Park Terrace Apartments located on the corner of Park Avenue and 19th Street in March 2018 with the intent of adding to their stable of Blue Road hotel properties, 12 of which are in Miami Beach. At both their May and July meetings, the HPB rejected architectural plans citing incompatibility with the neighborhood and not enough retention of the character of the existing buildings.
Modified drawings submitted for the September meeting are generally supported by City Planning staff though they expressed some reservations in their report to the Board indicating they would like to see still more restoration or reintroduction of some important features of the contributing building.
In order to build a 5-story addition, the plans call for the substantial demolition of the existing building which was designed by MacKay & Gibbs in the Post War Modern style of architecture and constructed in 1951. The existing structure is approximately 20 feet, 6 inches in height. The proposed building would be 48 feet, 4 inches tall.
“The existing 2-story apartment building, only minimally altered, is capable of having most, if not all of its significant architectural elements restored,” according to the staff report. “These features include an elevated pedestrian walkway, decorative scored stucco, exterior catwalks, projecting eyebrows, projecting window frames, raised stone clad planters, bean poles, projective eaves and a courtyard plan, all characteristics which are representative of the Post War Modern Garden style of architecture in Miami Beach.”
Responding to earlier concerns, Revuelta Architecture has relocated and internalized the elevators within the shell of the proposed building and relocated stairs to the courtyard. The stairs will be clad in a vertical trellis system to grow climbing vine plants. The staff report also indicates a greater portion of the Park Avenue façade would be retained.
“Collectively, these modifications result in a design that achieves a greater level of compatibility with the surrounding historic district,” the report notes. “To this end, the disconnection and relocation of the elevator and stair structures has significantly reduced the perceived mass of the proposed addition.”
While indicating they are “highly supportive of the revised design of the project,” the staff recommended that “all exterior architectural features located on the Contributing portions of the building be fully restored and/or reintroduced in a manner consistent with available historical documentation, including the original screen features.”
According to The Real Deal, Blue Road paid $14.27 million for the 32-unit apartment building.
Details of the application and latest proposed plans can be found here.
Historic Preservation Board
Monday, September 9, 9:00 am
City Hall, Commission Chambers
Renderings: Revuelta Architecture International
Third time’s a charm for Blue Road proposed hotel design?: | https://www.remiamibeach.com/south-beach/third-times-a-charm-for-blue-road-proposed-hotel-design/ |
- Exterior decoration works. The facade will be repaired and painted, fake windows, decorative rendering of corners, limestone window sills and limestone walls will be restored. The exterior staircases and balustrades will be repaired. The clock will be reconstructed.
- Interior decoration works. The central staircase and other wooden, metal and stone staircases will be restored, the props of ceiling will be removed, the ceiling construction will be strengthened, the missing window shutters will be added. Interior doors will be restored, walls, floors, ceilings and dados will be redecorated, stoves and fireplaces will be repaired as interior elements.
- Modernizing works. Special entrance for persons using a wheelchair will be built. The entrance can be reached over a concrete pavement. A lift will be installed that goes up to all main three floors of the building. For fire compartments fire blocking door will be built. A cloakroom, toilets and a bathroom that meet modern requirements will be built. A forced ventilation system will be installed to the basement floor, cloakroom and to the first floor assembly hall. The technical equipment, the personnel rooms and furniture of the canteen and cafe block will be renewed. The water, sewerage, and string-and weak-current installations (incl. facade lighting) that have been inadequate up to now, will be modernized,
- Activities concerning historical paintings. Ceiling paintings will be cleaned, restored and fixed to ensure their conservation,
- Renewal of interior. Unsuitable furniture and inventory will be changed, suitable interior elements will be added (curtains, mirrors, couches etc).
Aruküla Manor
Vääna Manor
Illuka Manor
Grants given over the period 2004-2009
- Viru-Nigula municipality „The development of the Vasta manor complex into a regional education and tourism centre“. Grant 477 634 Euros. Project duration 05.05.08-29.01.10
- Kõpu municipality „Renovation of the Kõpu manor house for the preservation and display of the historical mille“. Grant 926 183 Euros. Project duration 25.06.08.-21.02.12.
- Olustvere School of Service and Rural Economics „The preservation and expansion of the potential uses of the Olustvere manor complex as an architectural monument“. Grant 1 212 043 Euros. Project duration 05.05.08.-11.06.10.
- Väike-Maarja municipality „Reconstruction of Kiltsi Manor School“. Grant 1 157 129 Euros. Project duration 05.05.08.-12.11.11.
- Haanja municipality „Renovation of the northern wing of Rogosi“. Grant 542 543 Euros. Project duration 05.05.08.-09.07.09.
- Koigi municipality „Koigi manor school as an upholder of architectural and cultural heritage“. Grant 959 999 Euros. Project duration 05.05.08.-28.07.10.
- Türi municipality „The restoration of the Laupa manor school“. Grant 1 109 813 Euros. Project duration 23.04.08.-28.04.11.
- Puurmani municipality „Puurmani manor as a tourist object“. Grant 1 002 024 Euros. Project duration 30.12.08.-21.02.12.
- Väätsa municipality „The creation of prerequisites for the development of the primary school and visitor centre for the Väätsa Rural Municipality through the development of the Väätsa manor“. Grant 1 002 720 Euros. Project duration 05.03.09.-25.11.11. | https://www.kul.ee/en/restoration-projects |
What Do International Preservation Standards Say About New Architecture in Historic Places?
Daniel Liebskind’s startling addition to the Military History Museum in Dresden, Germany presents us with what appears to be a historic classical building brutally penetrated by a stiletto-like glass shard. Thrilling to fans of “transgressive” contemporary architecture and horrifying to defenders of historic places, the project—by no means unique in its apparently contemptuous treatment of a handsome older building—is at the center of current debate about how new architecture should relate to historic structures and contexts.
While Liebskind’s projects in Dresden and elsewhere may be extreme cases, current tendencies in design worldwide have tended to dramatize contrast with historic neighbors in the design of additions and infill buildings. People are often shocked to learn that in some cases preservation authorities not only have not prevented the resulting visually dissonant interventions, but have actively encouraged them. The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission has approved a number of counter-contextual projects, such as Jeanne Gang’s addition to the Natural History Museum, raising the question of what, in the end, preservationists are preserving if they allow historic places to be radically altered by additions.
Professionals in the leadership of preservation in the United States and Europe often justify such decisions by reference to two doctrinal documents—in the US, the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation of 1977 and, internationally, the ICOMOS Venice Charter of 1964—but few have closely examined what these texts actually say.
The National Park Service published the standards as eligibility criteria for preservation projects receiving federal matching grants or tax credits. Though never intended as a universal preservation policy, many local review boards nationwide apply them in contexts never contemplated by their authors. Problems arise in interpreting the language of Standard Nine: “New additions, exterior alterations, or related new construction shall not destroy historic materials that characterize the property. The new work shall be differentiated from the old and shall be compatible with the massing, size, scale, and architectural features to protect the historic integrity of the property and its environment.”
The need for a distinction between historic and new work is one of the core values of conservation theory dating back to the nineteenth century, when modern completions of damaged ancient monuments in Rome used subtly different materials to make this distinction while also presenting the monument as a whole. This interpretation seeks to balance visual continuity with an avoidance of confusion between original and restored features but, given the tendency of modern designers to celebrate what separates contemporary and historic work, they have often sought a more conspicuous distinction. Stylistic and material contrast presents an uncomplicated and unambiguous way to differentiate, though at the risk of visual dissonance. What began as a need to avoid deceiving later restorers who might mistake a previous addition or restoration for original material, ended up as a difference that precludes any sense of harmony or wholeness.
Standard Nine’s call for compatibility with respect to massing and size suggested another simplification: The new construction is acceptable if about the same size as the historic structure, or at least no larger. Reducing compatibility to size made it quantifiable, thus making judgment seem less subjective, even if doing so disregarded the remaining issues of scale and “architectural features.”
This interpretation of Standard Nine was for many years reinforced by the Guidelines published by the Park Service illustrating banal additions that were in almost every case visual blots on their host buildings (though unmistakably not historic and not too big). Only in 2010 did the Park Service issue a revised edition of its Preservation Brief 14: New Exterior Additions to Historic Buildings: Preservation Concerns, for the first time illustrating additions that satisfy Standard Nine but are stylistically harmonious with the historic structures they join. In recent years, a more subtle balance between distinction and continuity has remained elusive, and the Park Service’s revision of the Guidelines just last year did little to clarify the matter. To be sure, Liebskind’s signature violations of historic buildings would never be accepted under Standard Nine, but other, less egregious cases have been approved, especially by local authorities, when “differentiation” is prioritized over “compatibility.”
In Europe, the reigning document is the 1964 ICOMOS Charter of Venice. In what is mostly unexceptionable guidance about monument conservation, the key passage, under the heading “Restoration,” appears in Article 9: “…restoration…must stop at the point where conjecture begins, and in this case moreover any extra work which is indispensable must be distinct from the architectural composition and must bear a contemporary stamp.”
Many interpret this language, too, to require a contrasting modernist style for new elements and to prohibit new work using traditional styles. Supporters often point to Carlo Scarpa’s contemporaneous renovation of the Castelvecchio of Verona,,in which the new and historic elements are sharply juxtaposed, as an exemplary illustration of Article 9. But this interpretation violates other articles in the same charter, such as Article 6, which says, “No new construction… which would alter the relations of mass and colour must be allowed.” Despite this contradiction, the language of Article 9 has been applied far beyond the originally intended scope. Scarpa’s work, like it or not, is not a restoration at all, but a highly creative remodeling that also entailed extensive demolition of post-medieval layers. Since the point of preservation is to safeguard historical significance, the Castececchio is an inappropriate model for ordinary preservation projects.
Recent research suggests the apparent contradiction in the Venice Charter is due to a translation error. A more accurate English translation of the original French text of Article 9 would be “any extra work that is indispensable is a matter of architectural design and therefore will bear the imprint of our time.” There is no requirement for a contrasting style but simply a call for a distinction between restoration proper and new design, which, in any case, must not alter the visual character of the setting.
In 2005, the Vienna Memorandum declared that “…urban planning, contemporary architecture and preservation of the historic urban landscape should avoid all forms of pseudo-historical design, as they constitute a denial of both the historical and the contemporary alike.” In this case, the “differentiators” tried proscribing any new work in the same style as the historical building because it would undermine the conventional understanding of art history as an irreversible succession of distinctive styles and periods. To maintain that fiction, the historical timeline must remain “legible.”
The memorandum thus shifts the emphasis from preserving the character of the place to prioritizing how buildings express their time. This attitude underlies the view of those preservationists who see any new traditional design as “false history” or “pastiche.” This widespread prejudice arises from a misconception of history and encourages the kind of alien forms that Liebskind uses in his assault on the Military History Museum. But this view is contrary to the aims of historic preservation, which should involve safeguarding heritage sites and their contexts, not determining what style of architecture ought to represent “our time.”
Recognizing the need for clarity, the ICOMOS General Assembly’s Valletta Principles of 2011 return the focus of conservation to preserving the character of historic places and explicitly reject stylistic or material contrast as a required strategy for new construction: “Regardless of style and expression, all new architecture should avoid the negative effects of drastic or excessive contrasts and of fragmentation and interruptions in the continuity of the urban fabric and space. Priority must be given to a continuity of composition that does not adversely affect the existing architecture but at the same time allows a discerning creativity that embraces the spirit of the place.”
Even though the Valletta Principles carry the same authority as the Venice Charter of a half-century before, many in the preservation field remain stuck on the conventional misinterpretation of the earlier document. This is why we must look at the entire series of Charters and declarations where, despite some dissenting examples, we can trace an emerging consensus: Historic preservation should neither require nor prohibit any style of new construction, but should support continuities of character, scale, materials, and craft that can bring harmony to the dialogue between old and new.
Official guidance in the field, interpreted correctly, offers valuable perspective on issues of new building in old places. For this reason, students in the graduate program in historic preservation at the Notre Dame School of Architecture closely read the international documents on conservation during their semester in Rome, and are currently preparing a study guide to make this information more available to professionals and students everywhere. This should open up new directions for architectural design in heritage settings, too long locked into a contrived and ultimately destructive opposition.
Featured image: Daniel Libeskind’s contemporary addition to the Military History Museum, in Dresden, Germany. Photo via Studio Libeskind. | https://commonedge.org/may-is-preservation-month-what-do-international-standards-say-about-new-architecture-in-historic-places/ |
The Beatty-Cramer House is currently unavailable for tours. We apologize for any inconvenience.
The Beatty-Cramer House Site
Frederick County Landmarks Foundation is the proud owner of one of the most architecturally unique, and oldest known, standing buildings in Frederick County, Maryland. The Beatty-Cramer House site is home to three structures. The primary building is a combination of the c.1732 Beatty portion of the house, the c.1855 Cramer addition, and later renovations. The two outbuildings are an 18th century spring house and a 19th century smoke house.
It is located on the 2.9 acre site, located at 9010 Liberty Road (MD Route 26), northeast of Frederick. The site is 0.7 miles east of MD Route 194 on the north side of the road, on the east bank of Israel Creek.
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Significance
The rarity of the existing early 18th century architectural features in the Beatty portion of the house was, and remains, the motivating factor for the preservation of this building. It is one of the six most important historical houses in Maryland, according to the Maryland Historical Trust (MHT). In 1987, Orlando Ridout V, Chief of the Office of Survey and Registration for MHT, stated, “I cannot think of any other building that combines so many uncommon features in one place.”
Edward Chappell, Director of the Architectural Research Department at Colonial Williamsburg in 1987, also visited the site at that time. He said the Beatty-Cramer House “is most important as vivid evidence of the diversity of European cultural survival and change in the 18th century colonies” and is “extremely valuable in historical and architectural terms.”
“The Maryland Historical Trust considers this to be one of the most important restoration projects in the state,” according to Mr. Ridout. The site is protected by a MHT Deed of Easement which helps to insure the preservation of this historic building. Mr. Ridout has also said “The building is in extremely delicate condition.” Frederick County Landmarks Foundation has accepted the challenge presented by the fragile condition of the primary structure and made the commitment to preserve this important building for the future.
The Buildings
The Beatty-Cramer House
The house, as it stands now, looks like an ordinary two-story farmhouse with green siding. Under this outer layer, the building incorporates the c.1732 Beatty structure, the c.1855 Cramer addition, and later renovations. The current structure contains many early house parts in their original location as well as many that have been reused throughout the building. Some of the reused materials have been identified as part of the Beatty portion of the house, such as baseboard and chair rail, which aid in the interpretation of the building, and some are from unidentified sources. The current configurations of the roof and floor levels of the house represent further renovations that occurred after 1855.
Structural stabilization and weather protection for the primary building were part of the early preservation efforts implemented to address settlement issues and prevent possible further damage. The work included structural support for the foundation, the framing, the interior floors and ceilings, and the entire roof structure. Additional work included modification of the damaged central chimney, repairs to the roof and gutters, repainting of the roof, capping of the two currently visible chimneys, and various minor weatherproofing tasks.
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c.1732 Beatty Structure
The Beatty portion of the structure was built as a 20 x 40 ft. H-bent timber frame building with brick nogging, featuring a rare interior wall construction technique and multiple floor levels. The foundation of the building is stone and the visible exterior brick work is laid in Flemish Bond. The building featured exposed and decorated framing members that were designed to be seen, including a cornice carved directly into the top framing plate. H-bent construction is a framing method consisting of posts traversing the full building height with the anchor-beams (second floor beams or joists) tenoned directly into the posts. Nogging is the term for the brick material used to fill the open spaces in the wooden frame. The interior wall construction, known as “Dutch Biscuit”, consists of horizontal wooden slats, surrounded by mud and straw, set in guide channels between the framing members.
The importance of the H-bent structural framing, at this location, is that it is an identifying feature of Dutch Colonial architecture, and while it is most commonly associated with buildings in New York and New Jersey, it is a rarity in Maryland buildings. Several other original architectural features of the Beatty portion of the building are also identified as characteristic of Dutch Colonial construction although the building does exhibit a blend of Dutch and Anglo-American carpentry techniques. The exact construction date of the Beatty structure is not known, nor are the names of the designer or the builders, but we do know that the Beatty family lived in a Dutch area of New York, and intermarried with Dutch families, prior to relocating to Maryland.
The Beatty structure consisted of at least four main rooms, on multiple levels which are still visible in the current structure, plus a cellar and an attic. The four main existing rooms, for descriptive purposes, are identified as the parlor, the kitchen, the kitchen chamber, and the loft. There is evidence that the loft was partitioned into more than one room, but little evidence exists to define the room configuration of the kitchen or the chamber above it.
The Beatty structure originally had two fireplaces: one centered on the east wall in the parlor and a larger fireplace on the west wall in the kitchen. The design of these fireplaces is uncertain; either, or both, of these fireplaces may have been of the Dutch “jambless” design, featuring a hood but no side walls, or they may have been Anglo-American in design. Almost all of the interior walls were plastered and there is evidence that the parlor contained decorative chair-rail and moldings and two outside “Dutch” doors. The parlor also had an unusual window arrangement on the south wall, with three large windows side by side and a smaller casement window next to them at the southeast corner. The location of a second casement window in the parlor is also still visible on the north wall.
The renovations to the floor levels have greatly altered the configuration of the kitchen and the kitchen chamber. The original kitchen elevation was lower (approximately 4 feet) than the parlor and was probably accessed by a small ladder-type stair. The location and possible size of the kitchen fireplace can be determined from the visible framing details but few other original details exist. Access to the chamber above was probably in the southwest corner of the kitchen, as evidenced by the existence of first period plaster continuing into the upper level. There is also speculation, based on existing masonry details, that the cellar below the parlor could be accessed from the kitchen.
The kitchen chamber retains few original details but the existence of an attic above the room can be determined from the framing details. There is possible evidence that this room, when first built, had no access to the loft above the parlor, although a later opening was created, probably before the floor levels were altered. This evidence would make it appear that the original loft could only be entered from a small outside door that is visible in the east gable end. Other visible details indicate that the loft was divided by a board partition and originally had three casement windows; one of the window frames still exists and was in its original location until the early 1990’s. One small section of the interior wall in the loft was never plastered, unlike the rest of the building, and the panel was only partially whitewashed; the “unfinished” portion may indicate the location of a built-in cupboard or bin.
The cellar below the parlor retains many original features, including two small wooden window openings. The underside of the original parlor floor is visible in the cellar and a majority of the floorboards are pit-sawn. This early technique was employed when water-driven saw mills were non-existent or inaccessible. The existing masonry details of the cellar have led to unconfirmed speculation that the cellar could be accessed from the kitchen, and that no outside entrance originally existed.
c.1855 Cramer Addition
The Cramer addition, when it was added to the west side of the original Beatty structure, was a 20 x 20 ft. one-story v-notched log wing built above a stone cellar. The addition was used as a kitchen and has a fireplace on the east wall and a reused diagonally sheathed door that at one time featured ornate strap hinges. Most of the wooden materials used to construct the Cramer addition show evidence of prior use and the cellar beneath the addition contains a large fireplace lintel, obviously not in its original location. A stone cistern was also built, at a later date, sharing the south wall of the cellar.
Other Renovations
Some of the other renovations to the building may have occurred in conjunction with the one-story addition, and certainly, after 1855, further renovations to the entire structure were performed. The floor and roof levels of the building were modified and the one-story addition was raised to two floors. The winding staircases were built, the chimneys were reworked, and new plaster and woodwork were installed. At some time, first and second-floor porches were added to the north side of the building, and have since been removed. The existing porches on the south side of the building are both late 19th century additions. In the course of time, plumbing and electrical upgrades were made, layers of siding were added, and other minor renovations were made.
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The Spring House
The spring house is a 18’4” x 15’1” two-story, whitewashed stone structure banked into the hillside along Israel Creek, believed to be built in conjunction with the Beatty structure. Currently, the spring flows directly into the creek, due to intentional or accidental modifications to the northwest corner of the building and the springhead. Occasionally, when the creek is high, during even minor flooding, the spring enters the building and fills the interior water trough.
The ground floor room retains many original features, such as window jambs and hardware, although the water trough has been modified and a concrete floor was installed. There is visible evidence that the trough was originally covered by a protecting partition. The ground floor room also shows evidence of a jambless, or hooded, fireplace (there were no sidewall jambs extending to the floor). This common Dutch Colonial architectural feature is very rare in Maryland, especially in a spring house. The unusual chimney arrangement above a jambless fireplace would pass directly through the second floor room without providing an opening; however, a stove-flue opening has been cut into the chimney in this room but cannot be dated. Two other openings exist in the chimney as it passes through the attic, where there is evidence that the attic was used for smoking meats. The second floor of the spring house was accessed by an outside door several feet above ground level; however, the original staircase no longer exists. The room was finished with plastered walls, baseboard, and chair rail, and retains many of the original materials. The two windows in this second floor room contain most of the original framing although they have been repaired and the sashes have recently been replaced. There is evidence in the plaster that a ladder-type stair led from this room to the attic. The ceiling/attic floor was replaced with reused boards at an unknown date.
The original roof of the spring house has also been replaced and repaired several times. The earliest replacement was with side-lap wooden shingles, followed by repairs with standard-lap wooden shingles and the installation of tin roofing over the existing materials.
The stabilization and weatherization of the spring house was critical, and has been completed. The tasks included major repairs to the roof framing, removal of the damaged roof, and installation of the new roof. Other tasks included repair of the floor framing, rebuilding of most of the chimney, and repair of the stonework and pointing. Repairs to the door and window openings were completed and newly made doors, window sash, and interior cellar shutters were installed. These replacement elements were handmade, using methods and materials that were historically appropriate for the spring house. The weatherization included installation of gutters and the re-whitewashing of the building.
The Smoke House
The smoke house is a 14’2” x 12’5” stone structure located behind the Beatty-Cramer House and retains many of its original features and materials. There are no windows and one door opening, with a very recent door. The roof framing is thought to be original but the tin roof is not. The smoke house is believed to have been constructed in the mid 1800’s, probably in conjunction with other changes made to the primary structure.
Some Historical Facts – Some Unanswered Questions
In 1691 John Beatty, an immigrant from Ireland, though believed to be of descent from Prince Geoffrey of Scotland, married Susanna Asfordby, who was probably born in New York, and is believed to be a descendant of English royalty, in Esopus (Kingston), New York.
At that time, John Beatty was serving as a Sheriff of Ulster County, a position that suggests he had been a resident long enough to establish his worthiness of the post. Between 1693 and 1711 ten children were born to John and Susanna Beatty and the family moved to Marbletown, New York, where he served as a town Trustee. In 1719, a 700 acre tract of land was confirmed to him by the Trustees of Marbletown, indicating that he was a large landholder there. John Beatty also served as the Deputy Surveyor for the State of New York, and in that position surveyed and laid out the famous Manor of Robert Livingston. John Beatty made his will in April of 1720 and died before March 9, 1721 when his will was proved. He willed Susanna most of his New York land (approximately 1,200 acres) and all of his belongings. He willed a 20 acre site to his son John, Jr. to whom he also left his one-third “share in the mill” and another parcel of land to his oldest son Robert, and he divided a woodlot amongst his children.
By 1732, Susanna and eight of her grown children, some already married with children of their own, had moved to Maryland from New York with several other families from the New York/New Jersey area. On July 17, 1732, Susanna Beatty received title to 1,000 acres of land on “Dulany’s Lot.” Daniel Dulany was the earliest recorded private owner of the land on which the Beatty-Cramer House is located; Susanna Beatty was the second recorded owner.“Dulany’s Lot” was originally surveyed on May 28, 1724 and included 3,850 acres. Dulany began selling individual lots in 1732 although he did not receive title to the land until it was patented to him on April 7, 1737. This leaves unanswered questions regarding possible leases, residents, or structures on the land prior to Dulany’s ownership, as well as between 1724 and 1732. The 1737 patented survey of “Dulany’s Lot” includes a 1,000 acre area marked within the tract that matches the outlines of the land owned by Susanna Beatty. The survey does not mention Susanna Beatty by name and the designated area was not on the original 1724 survey. The outline could have been added to the survey certificate any time before the patent date of 1737. The price Susanna Beatty paid for the “Dulany’s Lot” land was £200, or 4 shillings an acre.
It is important to note that three of Susanna’s sons, who ventured to Maryland with their mother, filed surveys for their own land in 1732. Some of the sites were along waterways, suitable for mill locations, perhaps indicating some prior knowledge of the “lay of the land.” In May of 1733 Susanna Beatty purchased an additional 939 acres known as “Rocky Creek” from John Stoddard, making her a large landholder in the growing Maryland community of “Monocosey.”In March of 1739 Susanna distributed most of her Maryland land holdings to her children and her son James became the third recorded owner of the Beatty-Cramer property. The records indicate that he received two non-contiguous pieces of land on “Dulany’s Lot” (142 acres where the Beatty-Cramer House is located and 18 acres on the east bank of the Monocacy River), and one at “Rocky Creek” (85 acres).
Susanna wrote her will on June 20, 1742, although it was not probated until October 1745, and James prepared his will on November 4, 1742. His will was probated on January 29, 1743, indicating that he preceded his mother in death. There is no record of James being married and his possessions were divided between his brothers and sisters, and probably included the early timber-frame structure. As was often the case, the property was “purchased” by one brother, Thomas, from the other siblings, then through inheritance and other family transactions, remained in the Beatty family until 1796. The last Beatty to own the property was living in Fayette County, Kentucky, when it was sold in 1796.
Between 1796 and 1855 the site (at 191 acres) was owned by three successive owners: Sebastian Graff, John Thompson, and John Myers (or Meyers). In 1855 Jeremiah Henry Cramer became the owner of the property and it is during his residency that most of the architectural changes were made to the main structure. According to Cramer descendants, the one-story log wing was added to the original house in 1854, not 1855, when the Cramers were tenant farmers on the property and were still negotiating the purchase of the land.
It is uncertain when the heirs of J. Henry Cramer sold the property to Robert Bradley as the date is not recorded in the land records. Between 1918 and 1996 the property was successively owned by Charles Harshman, Ida and Vernon Sanner, Kieffer Delauter, Lena Sanner, Stanley and Ruby Sanner, and the Blake Construction Company. For many years the house was occupied by renters and almost as soon as it was unoccupied vandals destroyed the windows, and doors and much of the hardware were stolen. In 1985 the owners opted to let the local volunteer Fire Department burn the building as a training exercise for firefighters.
Frederick County Landmarks Foundation was informed of the proposed demolition and given permission to document the features of the buildings before they were burned. What they saw prompted them to contact the Maryland Historical Trust and begin efforts to preserve this rare structure. The owners, Blake Construction, and the representatives the Foundation worked with, Dr. Robert Leonard and Mr. Howard Bender, were very cooperative and generous when they understood the architectural significance of the building. Frederick County Landmarks Foundation acquired the Beatty-Cramer House on June 18, 1996.
Preservation, Restoration and Stewardship
An important part of the Frederick County Landmarks Foundation mission is to repair and maintain the Beatty-Cramer House site for public education and enjoyment. Currently the structure is not open for public viewing or tours. Through preservation, research and documentation, and interpretation, the Foundation will continue to present the site as an integral part of the history of Frederick County and the State of Maryland. Our goals are varied and challenging: “preservation” is the first step and “restoration” would be an ideal final step; stewardship is the on-going commitment.
One of the earliest preservation efforts at the site was the establishment of a Maryland Historical Trust Deed of Easement which helps to insure the long-term preservation of this historic building. Other early efforts included various structural evaluations in the main building and the spring house, and the production of a Conditions Assessment Report. The main building was assigned a HABS (Historic American Building Survey) designation and measured drawings of the structure were created.
Early stewardship activities included stabilization and weather protection for the main building to address immediate concerns and prevent possible further damage. The work included structural support for the foundation as well as for the interior floors and ceilings. Various specific repairs were implemented and the entire roof structure was stabilized. Another major preservation activity was stabilization, partial restoration, and weatherization of the spring house, which was in critical condition. The spring house tasks included major repairs to the roof framing, removal of the damaged roof, and installation of a new roof. Also included were repairs to the floor framing, rebuilding of most of the chimney, and repairs to the stonework and pointing. Repairs to the door and window openings were completed and newly made doors, window sash, and interior cellar shutters were installed. Weatherization included installation of gutters and the re-whitewashing of the building.
In April of 2005, the Beatty-Cramer House Committee, with the cooperation and supervision of a National Park Service Architectural Historian, revived the HABS (Historic American Building Survey) project to provide accurate documentation for the three structures. The purpose of this project is to produce HABS drawings to be filed in the Library of Congress American Memory Collection, where they will be available for a variety of local, state and national preservation efforts in the future. The project will also provide an assesment of the current conditions to aid in the determination of future projects and efforts, as well as provide improved educational interpretation of the structures.
(The interesting architectural features of the buildings and the interpretive presentation at the Beatty-Cramer House site could provide - if properly maintained and funded, a multitude of educational and recreational experiences: for school children, for historians, for architects, for people interested in learning the restoration trades and for the general public. The potential enjoyment of the site could include a trail that features the Monocacy River and Israel Creek and could provide a variety of recreational opportunities to many future visitors.)
In support of the Beatty-Cramer House preservation efforts and on-going stewardship commitment, The Society of Colonial Wars in the State of Maryland, in cooperation with Frederick County Landmarks Foundation, established The Beatty-Cramer House Endowment Fund. This fund, held by The Community Foundation of Frederick County, provides an opportunity and means for public participation to support preservation and stewardship activities, as well as to ensure the future of the Beatty-Cramer House site.
Your Involvement
You are invited to become involved in the preservation of this historic landmark. You will find there are a variety of ways to support the Beatty-Cramer House site.
You can visit the (exterior) site and experience the architectural and cultural heritage of the early 18th century.
You can provide financial support for the preservation of this historic site; tax-deductible donations directly to the Beatty-Cramer House are always welcome, as are gifts to the Endowment Fund. Arrangements for annual sponsorship donations are also available.
You can join Frederick County Landmarks Foundation and become an active participant in the many local preservation efforts the Foundation supports, including the operation and stewardship of the c. 1758 Schifferstadt Architectural Museum. | http://frederickcountylandmarksfoundation.org/fclf_bcgen.html |
One of the most interesting implications of Virtual Reality and new interface devices is the potential of providing a new dimension of immersion to games. But what exactly is immersion? What are the distinct characteristics of immersion for games? When does a player get immersed in a game? And how do you design for that to happen?
Because of the breadth of this subject, this will be a multi-part article.
In this first article, let’s find a definition of immersion for us to start with. Immersion occurs in more than just videogames; you can become immersed in a book, a movie, or a real-life role-playing game. There is a broader definition of immersion available, like “language immersion” where a person is being taught in a non-native language during classroom instruction, and “immersion journalism”, where a journalist immerses himself in a certain situation and the people involved in order to report a deeper story. But for this research project we’re going to focus on the type of immersion related to media, specifically for storytelling and entertainment purposes.
In Hamlet on a Holodeck, Janet Murray explains the term immersion from its metaphorical origin:
“Immersion is a metaphorical term derived from the physical experience of being submerged in water. We seek the same feeling from a psychologically immersive experience that we do from a plunge in the ocean or swimming pool: the sensation of being surrounded by a completely other reality, as different as water is from air, that takes over all of our attention, our whole perceptual apparatus. We enjoy the movement out of our familiar world, the feeling of alertness that comes from being in this new place, and the delight that comes from learning to move within it.” 1
Although this definition is still very abstract, it gives some very useful insights on the development of virtual reality and the new gaming input devices: we, as consumers of entertainment products and stories, are seeking to plunge into an alternate reality, something novel and different. Being able to understand, navigate and act within this new world is what provides is with enjoyment.
Alternative terms for immersions that are commonly used among game designers are engagement, incorporation, embodiment and presence. Each of these terms show different perspectives on immersion, some of which are very usable for our research, and will be explored more during the course of this project.
Another term that is being used often in immersive media is the “suspension of disbelief“, which means the willingness to participate in a make-believe world, to temporarily set aside real-life expectations when engaging with a fictional product. The term was coined in 1817 by the poet and aesthetic philosopher Samuel Taylor Coleridge, who suggested that:
If a writer could infuse a “human interest and a semblance of truth” into a fantastic tale, the reader would suspend judgement concerning the implausibility of the narrative.2
This definition gives an interesting view on what immersion and virtual reality could and should entail: that there should be a human and/or truthful element present in a product in order for us to become immersed into its fictional reality.
What does this definition mean for designing a virtual reality product for immersion? What considerations are necessary to maintain the consumer’s suspension of disbelief?
We will take a more closer look at these practical applications of immersion in the next article. | http://interfaceresearch.jackhoefnagel.nl/?p=171 |
Why do video games make for good thought experiments? Does it mean anything to say we have choice? Can you kill a character you’ve grown to know over hours of play, if it would save others? Is it ever right to take another life? And how do we cope with our own death? Some philosophers deny that there is any such thing as good or bad, or they deny there is any objective way of finding out whether an action has a particular moral status, while normative ethics suggests that something is considered immoral or un-ethical if it falls outside the boundaries set by a particular set of rules or codes. The question then becomes whether the moral rules of the real world apply to the story arcs of video games. From the objectivist philosophy of governance in Bioshock to the compatibilist chaos system of Dishonored to the crisis of the creative spirit in The Beginner’s Guide, video games are microcosms of experienced reality, scenarios composed of counterfactual narratives that allow the player to act on their own intuition within an embodied experience as opposed to the simple mimetic representation of books or films. As video games continue to mature and developers continue to push the boundaries on virtual reality technology, thinning the line between fact and fiction, the “story-driven” game becomes a compelling medium through which to engage in philosophical thought. Using video games like Mass Effect, Life is Strange, Bioshock Infinite, Pokémon Sword and Shield, Dishonored, The Stanley Parable, Portal, Pyre, and more as our points of departure, this module will introduce a “virtue and virtual” based approach to the philosophy of video games, giving students the writing, speaking, and discussion tools that will allow them to think critically about the choices they make, the lives they affect, and to consider what those choices say about them as rational beings.
Goals:
- To introduce the basics of moral philosophy, determinism, and normative ethics
- To gain a broad understanding of video game creation and the essential structure of a compelling narrative
- To undertake critical discussion and debate regarding the philosophical dimensions of good, evil, and free will
- To construct a coherent, persuasive argument in the form of a philosophical hypothesis
- To engage with modern media and VR technology in the form of academic scholarship
- To compile a well-sourced and properly-cited bibliography
- To have fun and (maybe) play a game or two
Assignments:
Individual presentations: Students will choose both a video game and a related philosophical topic to construct a persuasive argument. They will be expected to take and defend a position
in a five-minute presentation in front of their peers, who will then pose questions to the presenter.
Readings: Students will be assigned readings or videos for class discussion. Material may include excerpts from:
- G.E.M. Anscombe's "Modern Moral Philosophy" | https://summer.sas.upenn.edu/programs/high-school/summer-prep/modules/pspr-073-920-2020 |
A Look Into The Metaverse – Explanation and Examples
The word “Metaverse” was coined in 1992 by Neal Stephenson, a science fiction writer of the novel Snow Crash. The idea behind it isn’t new, it has been around for several decades, but the word itself started before the internet. Wait, that just got confusing, right?
How come the concept of a Metaverse has been around for much much longer than the internet? That doesn’t make sense at all.
The thing is, throughout human history, people have thought of a concept of an alternate reality, a different universe on top of ours, an intangible place that can or cannot be seen. It sounds like mysticism, now that I think of it, but think of it that way…only with technology.
Okay, okay. The short answer is, it’s like the book/movie Ready Player One. I mean, it is one version of a Metaverse. It’s basically an alternate reality where people can be “in”, experience a new reality through it, and at the same time it is where companies, individual creations, games, products, and whatever you can think of, are all connected.
Still confusing, I know, so let’s go back to the basics. As an example, think of hundreds of thousands of services that are all connected into one alternate reality – which is the Metaverse. Unlike the current internet where you have to login to Facebook, login separately to Twitter, login separately to Minecraft just to access their own “space”, within the Metaverse, everything is connected through a global and alternate network.
Examples of “a” Metaverse in Pop Culture
To make things easier to understand, let’s look at some theoretical and actual examples that would help build up to the Metaverse.
The Movie Ready Player One
If you’ve seen Ready Player One, it’s exactly like that. But if you haven’t yet, think of a virtual reality where the Iron Giant, Gundams, Mortal Kombat characters, Lara Croft, Pokemons, and other characters from different worlds are in one place, connected, and are free to interact with each other. That’s the basic premise of Ready Player One.
And within the world of Ready Player One, people can build, destroy, transact, and live an alternate life, away from actual reality.
Fortnite Concerts
In 2019, Fortnite launched a live concert within the game’s virtual space. Players were able to attend Marshmello’s live concert within the game. It’s a prime example of a virtual space, players, celebrities, music, are all interconnected in one place.
But that is basically nothing, not a Metaverse or anything close to it. However, one step closer to it is another concert by Fortnite, which will be available globally through the game’s virtual space. It will be attended by several big names in the music industry like Mohamed Hamaki, Tones And I, Aya Nakamura, Emicida, and Gen Hoshino. And players, or in this case, the audience, can interact with the artists too.
One supporting evidence here is back in 2019 when Will Hershey, CEO and co-founder of the investment firm Roundhill asked Tim Sweeney, the CEO of Epic Games, if Fortnite is a game or a platform. Tim Sweeney answered:
“Fortnite is a game. But please ask that question again in 12 months.”
Imagine, in just a couple of years, Fortnite’s virtual world will be connected with Epic Games’ other virtual worlds. In which case, it will be one step closer to integrating into the Metaverse.
Augmented Reality (AR)
I am sure you’ve heard of AR before, but for the sake of explaining things, basically AR is a world on top of our own that can be seen through a device like an AR glasses or through your phone’s camera.
A perfect example would be the popular AR game Pokemon Go. When you use your phone’s camera, you can see Pokemon around you which you can fight against and capture. But this is just limited to the Pokemon Go universe…for now. In fact, Niantic, the creators of Pokemon Go, are already preparing to dip themselves into the Metaverse too.
However, instead of “abandoning” reality and immersing oneself into the digital world, what they are planning for the long-term is to fully integrate augmented reality into the Metaverse, which is to say, integrate it to our daily lives. Much like how Pokemon Go works, it doesn’t work on your screen, but on the real world.
On a similar note, Google’s AR and VR is a perfect example of how it could work on the outside world. But take note that as of writing this, Google or it’s parent company ABC are yet to announce any interest in building with the Metaverse.
In any case, imagine if these AR companies all connect to the Metaverse? That would mean that you, as a user, will be able to utilize all their features within the Metaverse by just using one device. Unlike now, if you wish to use Google’s features, you’ll have to use Google Lens.
If you want to use other AR technologies, you’ll have to make use of their respective devices too. Quite the hassle, right? But with the dawn of the Metaverse, this will probably not be the case.
Games like Axie Infinity, Sipher, and Illuvium
These games are already confirmed to be in the Metaverse, and are actively building towards it.
As an example, if you have Axies, you can probably use it in a mini-game within a different game that is hosted in the Metaverse. Who knows, maybe your Axie can one day battle with Illuvials? Not just that, if you have a rare NFT weapon on one game, it is 100% possible that you can use it on another game within the Metaverse.
Another exciting thing here is, for in-game celebrities, they can tour around the new world without boundaries!
How Can The Metaverse Come to Life?
There are three main things needed in order to breathe life into the Metaverse, and it’s not exactly that far-fetched from what we have now. If you think about it, most of the pieces are already there, it’s just that no one is there yet to put the Lego blocks together.
Hardware
The first thing that needs to be addressed is the hardware that will house the Metaverse, as well as the hardware that will be used to access it. How much data will there be to create an alternate reality that is much much bigger and dynamic than our own?
At the moment, we have powerful servers and supercomputers all over the globe, but these are mostly used by businesses to deliver or house large amounts of data, with just a fraction of it available to the public. So, just imagine an entire world…where can we store it?
The answer is: the Blockchain. The examples I said above are centralized data storages, but for the blockchain, it is a decentralized computing system that is run by millions of machines around the world. No one exactly owns it, but everyone can use it to run transactions.
The details of how this will work? I’ll leave that to the engineers who are pioneering the creation of the Metaverse.
Software
The software is already here. Rather, they are already here…and the number is still growing. But wait, which ones exactly?
Aside from the games I mentioned above, Axie Infinity, Sipher, Illuvium, practically everything that has a user-base like online marketplaces, games, social networks, and the like, can connect to the Metaverse. It’s just a matter of them making the connection and building their presence in this alternate world.
Users
Like with every other pioneering technology, the amount of interest and actual users, evangelists, and creators will determine the success of the Metaverse. If no one will use it or build worlds inside it, then it will definitely fail.
But my guess? And I’m confident about it…it’s going to take off and the Internet as we know it will become a thing of the past.
Who is Building The Metaverse?
It would be incorrect to assume that one single company will build the Metaverse, especially because of its decentralized nature (hopefully!). But one thing is for sure, leading tech companies will help build it. At first, there could be multiple instances of a Metaverse developed by different organizations, but it will eventually coalesce into one.
As a prime example, Facebook has pledged $50 million for the research and development of the Metaverse, and of course they will be collaborating with industry-leaders, policymakers, and experts worldwide.
In fact, Mark Zuckerberg said that Facebook will be transitioning from a social media company into a Metaverse company.
Even Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, has big plans for Microsoft and the Metaverse.
Epic Games is also another sure-ball collaborator to this. A lot of the things that they are doing, especially within Fortnite, gears towards the future of the Metaverse.
Another example is Enjin, a distributed organization that builds interconnected tools with the purpose of building the first Metaverse. They provide a platform by which individuals and groups can build virtual worlds, and of course these worlds are connected, in which their NFTs can be transferred or be used between worlds. That’s the basics of it at least. But one thing to know is it’s an established company, since 2009, and has since created 1.16 billion digital assets.
Challenges of Building The Metaverse
There are a couple of things that need to be addressed in order to responsibly build the Metaverse. It’s not just something that people who can build it should build it just because they can. Like when the Internet was first created, the core tenet was to provide accessible information to everyone, the builders of the Metaverse should also think about the societal, philosophical, and economical impact too.
For example, within the Internet, privacy and security are always a topic of discussion. This will be the case for the Metaverse too.
This could be an essay of its own so I will not delve in deeper, but who will govern the Metaverse? Who will set the rules? Will there be a government? Or will corporations run it like they are, on their own within the Metaverse, a nation?
The list for discussion goes on and on for engineers and thinkers.
How Will It Change The Internet?
Not to be dramatic, but as I can see it, the dawn of the Metaverse will change the entire face of the Internet. Slowly at first, then all at once.
And I say this with reason, not just feeling.
Think about when there was a revolution when it comes to instant communication. Before, people were tethered to their landlines, then came the pager which was a game-changer.
But shortly after that, mobile phones were invented…and it totally displaced pagers. When the internet was adopted worldwide, print publications and traditional media’s presence started to dwindle. And when instant messaging applications like ICQ, Yahoo Messenger, and AIM were created, people just started talking through them instead of sending letters to each other.
But let me go back a little bit. Wired phones, pagers, mobile phones, and then came smartphones. For each of these technologies, their predecessor has, if not completely, disappeared. It took a long time, sure, and the process is still ongoing, but can you imagine how it will change things?
Another example will be…the first video games. They first started as just black and white dots on the screen, then came colors, and with more resolution. From 2D to 3D, and now we’re already enjoying Virtual and Augmented Reality games. While the adoption is not yet full, there is a growing interest in these…and the Metaverse will just boost it.
On another note, online shopping will take a different turn. Instead of looking at images or videos, you get to see the actual items. If it’s clothes, you can try them on. You can even change your hair color, or zoom in to look at more details before purchasing…and purchasing can simply be done within the Metaverse, without the need to login to a different website. Cool? I think so.
To End
The Metaverse is coming, and it is going to arrive sooner than you expect. It is already being built. The race is on on who can do it first, and I am certain that the first to do it and launch it for everyone will change the entire landscape of the internet, the global economy, technology, and basically the entire flow of information.
Are you ready, player? | https://www.hongkiat.com/blog/metaverse-explanation-examples/ |
The power to influence the world is something virtually every single person on Earth covets, dreaming of the fantasy world where their actions actually have a meaningful impact on everything. For most of us, however, the ability to shape and manipulate the world is extremely limited by our tremendous lack of resources and relative unimportance in the eyes of others. We simply accept that we cannot control all that much beyond ourselves and choose to go on with our lives while channelling these desires through various means, such as writing stories, making music… essentially, through any creative activity. Video games are an especially interesting medium in that regard as they could potentially allow players an unprecedented control over their environment and the people in it. This turns them into a means of escape from reality that only becomes increasingly powerful as the technology allows the games to be more immersive… something our protagonist Jason discovers in Travis Bagwell’s highly-acclaimed Awaken Online: Catharsis.
As the story begins we are introduced to Jason, a man who is basically fed up with his reality, with his inability to influence it to his contentment. There are no real redeeming factors or rays of hope for him to look forward to, and so he seeks a means of escaping his existence, a prayer answered in the form of a new virtual reality game called Awaken Online. It promises players an unprecedented level of fidelity, enough to make them forget the real world ever existed. Needless to say, Jason quickly decides to give it a shot but finds his expectations heavily subverted as he finds himself without any goals or enemies. Slowly but surely, the realization dawns on him: he is not meant to be the hero, but rather the villain.
Video game novels are understandably a very recent phenomenon, but it’s been gaining in popularity very quickly as a genre thanks to many stellar entries from celebrated authors. The one main problem that plagues many of the more average video game novels is the fact that the authors are simply incapable of building a truly believable gaming world that follows the logic of video games rather than the real world. In many novels out there it becomes apparent that the author only has the vaguest of familiarities with video games, using archaic beliefs and outdated stereotypes as building blocks. Thankfully, exactly none of those problems are present in this novel.
Bagwell is quite obviously well-acquainted with this literary genre as well as the video gaming industry and he succeeds in creating a world that is completely believable with flying colors. The world is very detailed and realized to the fullest, making us feel like there is history behind every single item and character we encounter, even if it’s never explicitly stated. The rules are laid down in a very clear and concise manner, completely logical and understandable without requiring any additional suspension of disbelief. All in all, the setting was seamlessly crafted, and in turn this set the stage for a powerful plot.
As far as the plot itself goes, I have to say that it was incredibly interesting to see things from the other side of the hill, to really get a good, book-long look at the face of villainy and what drives it. It’s quite fun to be rooting for the bad guy for a change, especially since it’s taking place in a video game, the one place where being a sinner is perfectly acceptable. The story that takes place in the virtual world is the real meat of the course, so to speak, presenting lots of engaging characters and thrusting them into glorious battles that keep you sitting on pins and needles. More often than not you will find yourself wondering how the tides of battle will turn and whether or not this will be the one where Jason loses big. Many conflicts are won by little more than a hair’s breadth, and even as Jason grows in power his battles escalate appropriately. The action is simply terrific with vivid descriptions and will have you flipping one page after the next.
The story also bears a great deal of philosophical weight, examining the moral ambiguity that comes with being a bad guy, even if it is in a virtual world. We explore the way in which Jason’s experiences in the virtual world shape his perception of the real one, how the two worlds interconnect and interact with each other. Jason is an interesting thinker and his deliberations are always a welcome addition to any chapter. While it is true that there is a corny love story in there, it’s certainly not a major plot thread and while it will make you roll your eyes a couple of times, it won’t hinder your enjoyment of the book.
Travis Bagwell is without a doubt an exceptional writer with a whole world’s worth of talent and potential left to explore. Awaken Online: Catharsis is his first novel and it’s definitely one of the best books you can find in the LitRPG genre. It has everything you could possibly want from a novel in this genre, including diverse and interesting characters, captivating plot threads, a well-realized and believable game world, nail-biting battles, and even some philosophical considerations. If you are a fan of this literary genre or are looking to see just how good it can get, then I absolutely recommend you get your hands on this novel. If it’s any indicator, Travis Bagwell’s works may very well be considered classics one day. | https://bookwormex.com/awaken-online-catharsis-travis-bagwell-review/ |
FAR WORLDS is a virtual reality game that we have developed for arcade use. This game was made to order for the company E.REEL SARL.
In this game, each player collaborates with his teammates to solve a set of enigmas in different and fantastic worlds. Two, three or four people can play at the same time.
Each player evolves in a 3x3m space. Physically separated in the real world, they interact with each other in the virtual worlds.
They can see each other, exchange objects, talk to each other and live the exact same experience in real time.
In 2019, thanks to the quality of the images and the gameplay we have created, « Marie Claire » Magazine lists FarWorlds among the « Top Escape Games » in France.
Objective of the project
The objective of the game was to design game mechanics that could create emotions such as tension, collaboration, satisfaction, action and reflection in virtual reality environments.
All of this in a 45-minute time frame.
Our job : Escape Game iu Virtual Reality
FarWorlds is probably one of the first virtual reality games developed specifically for arcades.
First, the client EREEl told us what type of emotions they wanted to create in their player and then we designed several game worlds that they quickly accepted.
The development of the game took us about 6 months including 2 months of playtesting. During this time, we invited the client several times to come and test and give feedback on the game.
More information of the project: | https://www.ihmtek.com/farworld-en/ |
If you read or watch enough science fiction over time, there are certain tropes that tend to appear almost everywhere. Most of them are centered around external forces that provide a mirror to look back on ourselves. This alien world happens to be populated by a race that has an extreme philosophy that mirrors one of our own. This other creature we thought wasn’t intelligent has made us question our prejudices. These seemingly natural phenomenon are trying to communicate with us, making us question the nature of life itself. Sometimes these tropes will fall into cliche if done improperly, while they tend to say something of value if done correctly. But not all of these mirroring tropes happen to be external forces – sometimes they’re man-made.
Our own creations, or things that we do to ourselves, are often good reflections on what kind of people we are and what’s important to us. When we’re writing stories of artificial intelligence, genetic engineering, or science run amok, we tend to show not only our general motivations as a species but also our fears of our own ability to screw it up. However, there are other tropes about things that we create that are much more mundane in concept but still give us just as much of an insight into what we hold important. And, lately, one of those fantastic but strangely mundane technologies has been catching my attention more often -virtual reality.
When I say virtual reality I don’t just mean VR headsets but just about any technology that happens to simulate a different world for us. From the VR gear in Ready Player One to the holodecks on Star Trek, there’s a wide variety of approaches in sci-fi that reflect our efforts in the real world. And, despite how fantastic it may sometimes appear, we’ve been making great strides in this technology in the last couple decades to the point that a lot of graphics cards and game consoles now have VR support built right in. But while our real world vision of how to use VR can be a tad stunted from time to time, generally reserved for gaming, the world of sci-fi has shown us a variety of other uses that we only briefly touch on here in the day to day.
And, it’s strange, because when I look at the potential of fully immersing in fictional worlds, I actually think traditional video games are the least likely to take the lead…
Recreational Recreations
For as long as there’s been fiction there’s always been some desire to become immersed in the world portrayed within. In the days where our medium was restricted to just pictures and the printed word that immersion was limited to our imaginations or, if you were lucky, a stage adaptation. But as technology has progressed we’ve found more and more ways to make that immersion more accessible to everyone. The invention of film allowed physical adaptations to be mass produced in a way that stage adaptations just couldn’t be. With the introduction of television, those mass produced adaptations could be displayed right in the home. But the desire to actually participate in the ongoings was never quite satisfied – so of course we were going to start trying to make it interactive.
The earliest video games didn’t have anything resembling a plot, most of them were what we would consider “casual” games today, but it didn’t take us long for us to start trying to change that. With the creation of Colossal Cave Adventure in the 1970s, the “Text Adventure” genre was born and video games started on the path to achieving that dream of actually being a part of the story rather than just a bystander. Decades later, video games have gone from being simple pixels on a screen and a series of scripted text responses to being complex narratives that now play out more like interactive films. In a video game, you get to be the hero of the story, and in the last couple decades they’ve been making more strides in letting you decide just what exactly that means.
So it would certainly make sense that, if anything were to make that transition, video games feel like the most likely to dominate the realm of virtual reality. They’re already doing the most to create fully interactive fictional worlds and the skills required to do that are pretty much tied to the industry right now. Sure, there are plenty of digital effects artists in the film industry, but few of those artists have to create entire worlds and the physical laws within them from scratch. To find the teams with that skill set, you almost exclusively find them working on video games. And yet, while they’re the industry most likely to try VR, history has shown that traditional video games and virtual reality have a really hard time coexisting.
If you look through the history of video game peripherals over the last three decades you’ll find dozens of attempts at increasing player immersion that just didn’t pan out. The most visible of these trends right now is the recent reintroduction of virtual reality headsets, but just a decade ago all of the same companies were trying their best to make motion controllers a thing. And, while some casual observers would think the Wii was where motion control first caught on with the industry, the truth is video games have actually been trying to use motion controllers of one form or another since at least back in the 1980s, with examples of home console motion controllers like the Sega Activator being available for the Genesis back in 1993. And as for those virtual headsets? Let’s just say everyone learned some painful lessons about that around the same time.
And the reasons why things like the Virtual Boy, Sega Activator and even Nintendo’s Wiimote never take over the entire market the way everyone thinks they should tend to be the same every time. The fact is, no matter how much we may want to be in the middle of the action, being a protagonist in a traditional video game is disorienting, painful, terrifying, and exhausting. Virtual headsets in general have had a notorious history of making people dizzy, nauseous, or becoming a little too real for comfort (i.e. It’s one thing to stand at the top of a skyscraper in a video game but it’s another to actually feel like you’re standing there personally). And to add to that problem, as much as we take all of it for granted with a controller in our hands, most of the actions taken in video games are damn near impossible in the real world and, unfortunately, our bodies are in that real world. After all, only in the world of video games can a chubby dude in overalls jump 20 feet into the air from standing.
So, while you can compensate for the player to a degree, the jump into a fully immersive artificial reality for recreational purposes probably needs to be something less dizzying and physically taxing. You’d need it to be within the realm of physical possibility without being a world class athlete while still having the player feel like they’re making an impact on the story. And there are games that actually follow this model, but they tend to be on the fringe of the market and sometimes aren’t even really considered “video games” by the industry or its fans. Rather, many of these fall into the domain of what is known as the “visual novel” – a genre fairly popular in countries like Japan. And, for those familiar with the likes of Star Trek, that may sound pretty similar to a “holonovel” – which is where I think the medium is really destined to go.
Though the idea of the “holonovel” always felt strange to me as a kid since it always felt more like an RPG than a novel to me, I’ve come to realize that it actually makes a lot of sense when you consider those visual novels. The chief difference between visual novels and other video game genres is the level of emphasis on different aspects of the gameplay. Within a visual novel, the narrative aspects are the core mechanic while everything else serves to support it. This is almost exactly how it works with holonovels too – you’re there to play through the narrative while the gunplay, sword fights, and whatever else you might have is there to push the narrative along rather than being the point. Sure, Dixon Hill had to use a gun a couple times and Sheriff Worf had to win a duel against a bandit that looked like Data, but the point of both of these was just to play out the character arc (much to Worf’s chagrin).
I think the missing link between modern VR entertainment and these sorts of virtual novels is actually a matter of scale. As it’s become easier for smaller teams with fewer resources to make games on their own there’s been a surge in indie games that have taken more risks with genre conventions, and it’s only a matter of time before the same happens with VR as well. Bigger companies, focused on more profitable genres, tend to build the tools necessary for smaller teams to follow in their footsteps through the creation of engines that those smaller teams can eventually use. And, as the engines become more versatile and intuitive, the sizes of those teams can shrink down until eventually it becomes profitable to start churning out these virtual novels. Before long, as it becomes more profitable, the number of teams dedicated to such productions would grow until eventually the industry finally shifts towards these sorts of productions dominating the medium.
But, in the meantime, there are a couple compromises that will likely have to be taken. First, the video game establishment is probably going to have to take the lead on developing those tools, so we have to accept that the early industry is going to be dizzying, uncomfortable, and physically taxing. Second, those early teams to take the tools are going to have to go through a great deal of trial and error to get the right mix for a good experience so we’re probably in for some stinkers. But third, something that might not really be a “compromise” for some, early indie projects will probably need to follow more profitable fringe genres from time to time to get seed money for their dream projects. Or, to put it more bluntly…
We’re probably in for a lot of erotica. | http://jeremyvarner.com/blog/2019/01/virtual-entertainment/ |
Analytical games explore a problem or a domain with a research purpose. Considerable research is ongoing to investigate improvements to analytical game design, execution and exploitation. Moreover, the fast-paced technological developments in many fields, such as artificial intelligence and virtual reality, make it even more compellingto account for the advantages and limitations of these new capabilities. In game design, the use of digital means is often regarded as a mere technical factor that relates to the platform selection, facilitator support and data recording processes. In this work a shift in perspective is proposed, to move from technology-oriented design selection criteria towards a broader assessment of the design choices. In fact, the introductionof technology (i.e., automation and autonomy) will not lead to a substitution of tasks, but will intrinsically change the game environment. This work introduces a framework to provide a structured guidance on the aspects to be factored in the different design phases of an analytical game, including the potential impact of the adoption of automation and autonomy. The proposed approach is based on previous research in the fieldof simulation-based serious gaming, model-driven engineering and human factors engineering. The framework is applied to Knowledge Acquisition Analytical Games as a case study.
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Copyright (c) 2021 Francesca de Rosa, Alessandro De Gloria
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
IJSG copyright information is provided here. | https://journal.seriousgamessociety.org/index.php/IJSG/article/view/456?articlesBySameAuthorPage=4 |
One of the mysterious aspects to people about the lives of priests is what they do in their downtime. The sorts of hobbies that take a priest’s interest can be as varied as you would find in any of the people of God. Golf is the stereotype; the gym is now a more regular option and cooking is one hobby from which it seems everyone benefits. With the millennial generation now in active ministry in many parts of the world, there are a growing number of priests who enjoy video games.
I cannot guess how many hours of video games I played as I grew up. And as I get older, the more I find myself still preferring video games to other media. My ongoing interest in video games stems mostly from my love of narratives and the deep, complexly woven stories that they present, which require my full, conscious and active participation. I very much enjoy television where these sorts of narratives can be found – often in varying styles such as in animation. There is also a growing number of Korean, Russian, Spanish, Latin American and other international drama series that streaming services can bring us which open up other worlds and storytellers to those on couches in Australia.
However, I do find at times – especially in our social media-dominated world – that TV shows can seem so passive and force-fed. Just as the stories presented can enrapture us and lead us to thoughtfully engage with ideas, television can also resort to demanding we obediently chug whatever content is poured into our senses, usually laced with appeals to our vices for wealth, power, pleasure and honour. Sometimes the occasional existential question is proposed so it can be considered “thought-provoking”, but this is usually a garnish in the cocktail of other addictive elements.
On the other hand, video games call the person to engage actively with the narrative, often to make decisions that affect the lives of characters presented. Unlike a book where the reader has no say in the development of the story, a video game calls the gamer to play an active role in how the narrative develops. The modern Role-Playing Game (RPG), which has for a long time allowed gamers to customise the visual look of their character, has enriched its own mechanics with a complex and dynamic moral dimension that has an impact on how the story unfolds. Very often the gamer is asked to make decisions and often decisions with great consequence, that impact how the story progresses and how their character is formed.
My long-running interest in Star Wars introduced me to the games, especially the Knights of the Old Republic games, where the choices you made determined who you became. Each choice helped form your character into a paradigm Jedi of the Light side of the Force or a Dark Lord of the Sith (or neither) and the choices you made along the way impacted not only you, but your companions and their relationship with you. I have found this even more so with the Mass Effect Series where your choices in one of the earlier games has an impact on the narratives and those choices available in the sequels, often released years apart.
Often video games can act as moral thought experiments which place the moral agent in situations that are unlikely for them in reality but require a decision based upon the gamer’s choices. Few Melbourne Catholics are likely to find themselves in Ancient Greece and without the benefits of modern medicine, forced to decide whether a family of four infected with a plague that could destroy the whole island should be killed or if they should be spared with the hope of them getting better, unless they end up in front of Assassin’s Creed: Odyssey.
Equally unlikely, are we ever going to be asked which member of our team we would choose to save on a mission – the one holding off the advancing forces or the one who has armed the nuclear bomb to wipe out the facility and whose position is being overrun by enemy forces – both facing certain death.
Yet every time a gamer is asked by the game to choose whether to steal or buy the item they need, to follow the rules or follow their morals, each time the choice is either intimidate, kill or persuade, an auxiliary conversation occurs quietly about what this says about me
or how my values play a part in my life. Are there morally acceptable times to kill? Is stealing always morally wrong? Do the environmental principles in Laudato Si’ apply if I’m playing The Legend of Zelda:
Breath of the Wild? As we enter into the world and narrative of the game via our character, our own moral values are called upon in the circumstances that we find ourselves in. This asks us to really consider how our values and beliefs play a part in our lives.
Most games will require a certain amount of moral disengagement due to the nature of video games requiring us to suspend a substantial amount of the laws of reality to adequately engage with the phantasy presented. Nevertheless, it is interesting that studies show there is no difference in enjoyment between those who choose morally upright and morally disengaged choices in video games.
This choice to morally engage or disengage becomes more pertinent when we play games with others online. So often as human beings we can take what we intend to use for the good and turn it into a cesspool of the darker parts of our hearts. Just as with social media and web forums, it is easier to justify to ourselves the malice and cruelty we show to others (often by our use of chat functions and actions in the game) by directing it to their avatar/characters, with the excuse of, “It’s just a game. I’m not really hurting anyone”.
Does who we are in the real world play a part in how we make moral decisions in the virtual world?
It is often to the digital frontier that we are encouraged to bring our faith and that does not exclude our gaming online. Just as we should remember that Christ will call us to account for our Facebook posts or Instagram usage on Judgement Day, so we should perhaps consider Christ on our squad or the opposing team as we play games online. Can others see from how we play games online (fairly, charitably, prudently, temperately) the image of Christ given us at Baptism? Do we game like a Christian?
Horror stories often make the media because they sell papers or produce clickbait. Nevertheless, there do exist stories of great and small acts of kindness: a group of teenagers expressing kindness and companionship in Minecraft; a young player who, in the midst of a terrible situation, was reminded on his birthday that there are good people in the world and something worth living for; and the story of people travelling from all over Europe to Oslo for the funeral of a young, disabled man who never physically left his family home but touched the lives of many by his kindness and friendship in World of Warcraft.
If as Christians we are called to spread the Gospel to the ends of the Earth, perhaps those “ends of the earth” can also be found in the digital frontier, whereby our actions we can further the Kingdom of God and restore all things to Christ. | https://melbournecatholic.org/news/faith-mode-on-video-games-and-the-digital-frontier |
Virtual Reality workshop inspires computational thinking
Nineteen Year 9 students from Stamford High School have been immersed within the world of virtual reality through a workshop designed to help them develop their computational thinking skills.
Students were required to use their knowledge to problem solve within multiple gaming formats. A team Cluedo board game and individual games of Minesweeper were followed by paired sessions within the Play Station Four virtual reality game ‘Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes’. The latter game, which requires clear communication and problem-solving abilities, involves one student playing the ‘expert’ and another playing the ‘actor’. The actor is alone in a room with a ‘bomb’, and the experts have the manual needed to defuse it, the catch being that the experts cannot see the bomb, therefore requiring intense communication to beat the clock! | https://www.stamfordschools.org.uk/about-stamford/news/virtual-reality-workshop-inspires-computational-thinking/ |
Director | Owner2011 - PRESENTBlunderboffins, Inc.
Technologies: Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), Web, MacOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Unity3D, C#
- Owned and operated an art studio, primarily making alternative videogames.
- Created a large number of small video games for varying devices including PC/Mac, web, and mobile.
- Co-designed, coded, and created the visual art for Shu's Garden—a sandbox game nominated for the best social/casual game at the Canadian Video Game Awards in 2014.
- Researched and experimented with interactive story techniques; including a substantial fictional work created with funding from the Ontario Arts Council.
- Wrote algorithms for simulating ecosystems and procedural generation of flora (Shu's Garden).
- Explored themes of humanity's relationship to nature and the contradictory reliance and delicacy of natural ecosystems.
Lead Software Engineer and Co-Producer2019 - 2020Patch & Path LLC
Technologies: Augmented Reality (AR), Unity3D, ARKit
- Developed an Augmented Reality adventure videogame for iOS.
- Contributed to design and production from the early phase through launch.
- Created custom editing tools for creating a story and puzzle scenarios without additional code work.
Mobile AR Unity Developer2019 - 2019QLI, Inc.
Technologies: Unity2D, Unity3D, ARKit
- Created a small AR app for iOS and Android.
- Implemented ARKit face-tracking for supported devices.
Virtual Reality Unity Developer2018 - 2019Mind Brain Behaviour Hive
Technologies: Biometrics, Google Daydream, HTC Vive, Unity3D
- Created virtual reality experiences which leveraged biometric data as input.
Unity AR Developer2018 - 2018Clipo, Inc.
Technologies: Dependency Injection, ARKit, Unity3D
- Helped build a concept app using the Unity engine and Apple's ARKit.
- Provided guidance and advice for further development.
- Structured app using extremely modular code and dependency injection.
Unity/ARKit Engineer2017 - 2018Fast Rope Labs
Technologies: ARKit, Unity
- Engineered and assisted in the design of an ARKit-powered app.
- Built a project from scratch in Unity.
- Contributed to the interactive design and visual aspects of the project.
- Created an augmented-reality app which anchored a virtual world to a real-world location and provided a historical recreation overlaid on the present-day site.
VR Consultant2016 - 2017Mind Brain Behaviour Hive
Technologies: Virtual Reality (VR), Web-based VR
- Created sample content using a proprietary VR experience editor called DiVR.
- Provided quality assurance services for the alpha version of this toolset.
- Gave technical and design guidance on the further development of the toolset.
Unity Engine Consultant2016 - 2017Postopian Games, Inc.
Technologies: Google Cardboard, C#, Unity3D
- Implemented a virtual reality video game with interactive story content.
- Provided technical guidance for the art pipeline.
Unity Engine Consultant2016 - 2016Secret Location
Technologies: Samsung Gear VR, C#, Unity3D
- Revised a prototype for a VR video viewing application.
- Provided technical guidance on implementing virtual reality (VR) with the Unity Game engine.
- Gave design guidance on and implemented several UX models for the above prototype.
Unity Consultant2016 - 2016Digital A.I.R.
Technologies: SmartAR, Kudan SDK, Vuforia, C#, Unity3D
- Provided technical guidance for an augmented reality startup.
- Created and helped to create various augmented prototypes using a wide range of AR toolkits within the Unity engine.
- Provided the design guidance for creating AR experiences.
Unity Engine Consultant | Developer2012 - 2015AWE Company Ltd
Technologies: Tango, Google Cardboard, Meta AR Glasses, C#, Unity3D
- Created augmented reality installations with historical dramatic content.
- Managed team members in the creation of a second-screen TV episode and interactive app.
- Created various prototypes for VR and AR apps.
- Worked primarily in Unity3D, using various AR and VR SDKs and equipment.
Lead Story Designer2008 - 2011AAA Game Studio in Toronto, Canada
Technologies: Trac, C#, Playstation 3, Xbox 360
- Researched source material and wrote draft scripts for a story-heavy AAA action game.
- Worked with a scriptwriter and scenario design team to revise scripts.
- Assisted in voice recording and motion capture sessions.
- Directed a team of four in the creation of in-engine cutscenes; including art direction and schedule management.
- Created a rich script-writing tool to produce industry-standard scripts for actors and directors, as well as subtitles for the game data in seven languages.
- Monitored and edited text material in the game, the manual, and website.
- Led, in my last five months, the localization of a mobile social game. | https://www.toptal.com/resume/jason-rt-bond |
Can virtual reality replace the real world?" Many might think that this metaphysical question arose only with the introduction of new technologies in the 21st century, but actually, it has existed since ancient times, as in the Allegory of the Cave by Greek philosopher Plato.
German theater director Susanne Kennedy, whose work focuses on providing post-human, post-anthropocentric perspectives, has also been interested in this topic. When the concept of metaverse started to spread recently, she focused on the similarity between the theatrical play and the metaverse, which are both types of "illusions," and decided to combine the two in "Ultraworld," which premiered in Germany in January 2020 and will be performed for the second time at the National Theater of Korea (NTOK), from Thursday to Saturday.
"In many traditions, virtual reality is something that people thought about for a long time, like Plato's Allegory of the Cave. The question of simulation: 'Do we live in a simulation?' 'Everything is an illusion.' Theater is also an illusion. Theater is also a technology of simulation. We have another tool to reflect back on our own reality," Kennedy told reporters on Wednesday.
Taking inspiration from by James Carse's book "Finite and Infinite Games," which sees life as a series of infinite and finite games, she sets up the story of Frank, the lead male character, who is placed as an avatar in a game world called "Ultraworld," where he struggles in this infinite game, so that audiences can also follow his journey of finding meaning in life.
Stressing that the repetitive game setting is also reflected in Korea's megahit Netflix original series "Squid Game," she said, "Frank stands for everybody. We have to discover how to live this life. We follow him. He basically learns that the people he loves die. He refuses the basic setup of the game. That is life. He can only continue in the game when he accepts that. But it take a long time to learn. In that sense, Ultraworld is a reflection of our own struggles of mortality."
She added that after experiencing the death of one of her colleagues when she was younger, she realized that mortality is everyone's fate and that confronting death is more helpful than being passive about it.
Kennedy added that she wanted to express big questions via this theatrical work, such as "Who are we?," "Where do we come from?," and "Where do we go?" while aiming to portray a person's journey of self-realization in a way that is not too dark.
One of the unique things about the play is that the director not only introduces the concept of the metaverse, but she also abundantly employs techniques that are not often used in plays. The stage set is all designed by computer and a projector sends videos and images onto the stage ― transforming the bare set, while the actors "wear" the projections ― which helps produce the sense that audiences are viewing a virtual environment. The lines, music and sound effects have been pre-recorded, and the actor does not speak any lines with his real voice.
The play will be performed in German and English, while Korean subtitles will be provided. | http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/art/2021/11/690_319493.html |
Researchers have concluded that sewer plants serving municipalities worldwide offer a major option for capturing carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
Andlinger Center program yields summer exploration, new pathways
January 11, 2019
Undergraduates sponsored by the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment in its eight-week summer internship program worked in labs throughout the University and, for the first time, at two national environmental organizations.
Ethics course explores risk and responsibility in engineering
January 08, 2019
Jay Benziger teaches the undergraduate course “Ethics and Technology: Engineering in the Real World.” Unlike the certainty of bench science, he noted that questions of ethics often lack precise answers.
Ethics in Engineering
January 08, 2019
This magazine offers a sampling of ways in which ethics is an important part of research and teaching in the School of Engineering and Applied Science.
Effort pushes computer scientists to consider uses of technology
January 08, 2019
Computer courses usually concentrate on technology, but Princeton researchers are revamping parts of the computer science curriculum to teach students how the technologies they develop will affect society.
Princeton collaboration brings new insights to the ethics of artificial intelligence
January 08, 2019
“Princeton Dialogues on AI and Ethics” is an interdisciplinary research project that brings engineers and policymakers into conversation with ethicists, philosophers, and other scholars.
Course equips graduate students to 'confront big problems'
January 08, 2019
“Responsible Conduct in Research” is a graduate ethics course that examines issues of personal ethics, student-adviser relationships, and academic publishing, as well as broader topics in engineering ethics.
Researchers track hurricane’s effects on river pollution and beneficial bacteria
January 07, 2019
Peter Jaffe’s research group in civil and environmental engineering are investigating nutrient cycling and pollution along North Carolina's Neuse River in the wake of Hurricane Florence.
From mechanics and materials to robots and rockets, a department with outsized ‘intellectual breadth and impact’
January 04, 2019
Howard Stone, the Donald R. Dixon '69 and Elizabeth W. Dixon Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and chair of the department, highlights innovative faculty and students, and research that bridges many fields of science and engineering.
Norman and Margareta Augustine endow three Professorships in Princeton’s School of Engineering
January 02, 2019
Alumnus Norman R. Augustine and his wife, Margareta “Meg” Engman Augustine, have made a gift to Princeton University to endow three professorships in the School of Engineering and Applied Science. | https://engineering.princeton.edu/news/archive?id=669&page=18 |
The application of artificial intelligence algorithms in the justice system - for example to decide which offenders are eligible for alternatives to custodial sentences - will be among the first items on the agenda of a year-long investigation into the impact of technology opened by the Law Society. The Public Policy Technology and Law Commission - Algorithms in the Justice System, will meet in public three times, its chair Christina Blacklaws, who next month assumes the presidency of the Law Society, announced last night.
The commmission’s formation reflects growing concern about the advent of so-called ’Schrodinger’s justice’ - in which decisions are taken by self-learning systems impervious to examination or challenge. Pressure group Big Brother Watch revealed yesterday that it has instructed human rights firm Leigh Day to take action against the Metropolitan Police over to demand the withdrawal of ’dangerously authoritarian’ automated technology for recognising faces at public events such as the Notting Hill Carnival.
Blacklaws told an event at Chancery Lane last night that facial recognition systems in effect require ’a degree of privacy to be surrendered in return for a promise of greater security’ - but that the technology had so far failed to work. At last year’s Notting Hill Carnival ’the system was wrong 98% of the time, falsely telling officers on 102 occasions it had spotted a suspect’.
Recommendations for the regulation of algorithm-driven artificial intelligence are a possible outcome of the commission - though Blacklaws stressed that its members would approach the issue with an open mind. Three public sessions over the rest of this year will collect evidence from citizens, law enforcement, academia, computer scientists and ethicists as well as the legal profession, she said. The other lead members are Sylvie Delacroix, professor in law and ethics at the University of Birmingham Law School and Sofia Olhede, professor at the Department of Statistical Science,University College London.
The first evidence session, scheduled for late July, will provide an insight into the current state of play with regards to the development, sale and use of algorithms in the justice system of England and Wales, Blacklaws said.
In September a second session will consider the future of algorithms and the third ’will examine what a framework for algorithms in the justice system should look like’, Blacklaws said. The commission is provisionally scheduled to report in February next year.
To help the discussion, the Law Society yesterday published a ‘horizon scanning’ report on AI and the Legal Profession. It explores developments of the use of artificial intelligence in legal practice, such as document analysis and delivery, legal adviser support and case outcome prediction. ’Over the next few years there can be little doubt that AI will start to have a noticeable impact on the legal profession,’ Blacklaws said. | https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/commission-to-consider-regulation-of-artificial-intelligence/5066513.article |
The application of artificial intelligence algorithms in the justice system - for example to decide which offenders are eligible for alternatives to custodial sentences - will be among the first items on the agenda of a year-long investigation into the impact of technology opened by the Law Society. The Public Policy Technology and Law Commission - Algorithms in the Justice System, will meet in public three times, its chair Christina Blacklaws, who next month assumes the presidency of the Law Society, announced last night.
The commmission’s formation reflects growing concern about the advent of so-called ’Schrodinger’s justice’ - in which decisions are taken by self-learning systems impervious to examination or challenge. Pressure group Big Brother Watch revealed yesterday that it has instructed human rights firm Leigh Day to take action against the Metropolitan Police over to demand the withdrawal of ’dangerously authoritarian’ automated technology for recognising faces at public events such as the Notting Hill Carnival.
Blacklaws told an event at Chancery Lane last night that facial recognition systems in effect require ’a degree of privacy to be surrendered in return for a promise of greater security’ - but that the technology had so far failed to work. At last year’s Notting Hill Carnival ’the system was wrong 98% of the time, falsely telling officers on 102 occasions it had spotted a suspect’.
Recommendations for the regulation of algorithm-driven artificial intelligence are a possible outcome of the commission - though Blacklaws stressed that its members would approach the issue with an open mind. Three public sessions over the rest of this year will collect evidence from citizens, law enforcement, academia, computer scientists and ethicists as well as the legal profession, she said. The other lead members are Sylvie Delacroix, professor in law and ethics at the University of Birmingham Law School and Sofia Olhede, professor at the Department of Statistical Science,University College London.
The first evidence session, scheduled for late July, will provide an insight into the current state of play with regards to the development, sale and use of algorithms in the justice system of England and Wales, Blacklaws said.
In September a second session will consider the future of algorithms and the third ’will examine what a framework for algorithms in the justice system should look like’, Blacklaws said. The commission is provisionally scheduled to report in February next year.
To help the discussion, the Law Society yesterday published a ‘horizon scanning’ report on AI and the Legal Profession. It explores developments of the use of artificial intelligence in legal practice, such as document analysis and delivery, legal adviser support and case outcome prediction. ’Over the next few years there can be little doubt that AI will start to have a noticeable impact on the legal profession,’ Blacklaws said. | https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/law/commission-to-consider-regulation-of-artificial-intelligence/5066513.article |
Computers are getting smarter and more creative, offering spectacular possibilities to improve the human condition. There’s a call to redefine Artificial Intelligence as Augmented Intelligence, to emphasize the potential of humans working with AI as opposed to being replaced by AI. In this program, AI experts, data scientists, engineers, and ethicists explore how we can work alongside machines, when we should trust machines to make cognitive decisions, and how all of society can benefit from the productive and financial gains promised by advances in AI. | https://www.snowdropsolution.com/documentary/the-future-of-augmented-intelligence-if-you-cant-beat-em-join-em/ |
White paper lays out Google position on government involvement in AI
Google has laid out its position on government regulation of artificial intelligence in a white paper, suggesting a limited approach to legislation, and calling for government involvement in five specific areas.
Perspectives on Issues in AI Governance (PDF) is a 34-page document which calls for governments to work with civil society and industry stakeholders on explainability standards, fairness appraisal, safety considerations, human-AI collaboration, and liability frameworks. The white paper also notes some of the trade-offs inherent to the discussion, such as between explainability and safeguarding security.
In the section on safety considerations, Google suggests that like electrical products in Europe are required to demonstrate their safety through CE certification, the same could be done for AI.
“For example, biometric recognition technology in smart lock systems could be tested against a representative, randomized dataset to ensure they exceed pre-set accuracy standards, before being certified safe for use.”
Google Global Policy Lead for Emerging Technologies Charina Chou, who co-authored the report, tells Wired that the motivation is to respond to government questions about what practical steps they can take to ensure responsible AI use. She cautions that further dialogue is needed before drafting new laws.
“At this time, it’s not necessarily super obvious what things should be regulated and what shouldn’t,” Choi says. “The aim of this paper is to really think about: What are the types of questions that policymakers need to answer and [decisions] we as a society have to make?”
Internet Institute researcher Sandra Wachter told Wired that high-level abstract claims such as that AI should be fair are of limited value at this point.
“I think it’s a good initial list. Where I’d say there is still a gap is how to govern those things,” she says.
Google’s suggestions are more abstract but also much broader than Microsoft’s recent proposals about regulation of facial recognition, and would apply to other biometrics as well. Lawmakers meanwhile continue to move ahead with proposed restrictions on biometrics and other AI technologies at various levels. | https://www.biometricupdate.com/201902/white-paper-lays-out-google-position-on-government-involvement-in-ai |
A world of possibilities opened up in 2008 for neuroscientists when brain organoids were developed from human stem cells which organize itself in a brainlike structure with neurons that are electrically active. Though smaller than a pea, these small organoids have played a big part in helping scientists better understand the workings of the brain.
However, it comes with an ethical dilemma. As much as scientists want it to be more human, in doing so, it could violate the ethical issue of using living humans.
So, the question of whether brain organoids could be sentient and how scientists could tell if it poses consciousness remains unanswered in the field of neuroscience.
The Beginnings of Sentient Organoids
In August 2019, Alysson Muotri, a neuroscientist at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) and her colleagues published a paper in Cell Stem Cell that detailed the creation of human brain organoids that produced coordinated waves of activity that looks like the ones seen in babies.
It continued for months until the project was stopped. Nature reported that this type of brain waves is one of the properties of a conscious brain. Ethicists and scientists have raised moral and philosophical questions about whether organoids should be allowed to reach this level.
Moreover, they also questioned whether conscious organoids might be treated with special rights not given to any clumps of cells. The discovery of Moutri and her colleagues could mean that consciousness could be created from scratch.
Read Also: Scientists Explored the Use of 'Organoids' For a More Accurate Cancer Therapies to Treat Tumors
Bodiless, Self-Aware Brains
Neuroscientists have already thought of bodiless, self-aware brains in the past. A few months earlier, scientists from Yale University announced that they had partially restored the life of the brains of pigs that have been killed hours earlier.
They did it by removing the brains from the skulls and infused them with a cocktail of chemicals. They successfully revived the cellular functions of the brain neurons and its ability to transmit signals.
Meanwhile, other experiments involved adding human neurons to mouse brains which also raised a lot of questions from other scientists and ethicists, who argued that this type of experiment should not be allowed.
These studies have opened the stage for debate between those who want to see complex organoids as a means of studying devastating human disease and those who want to avoid the creation of consciousness.
Moutri and many scientists believe that brain organoids can be used in understanding autism, schizophrenia, and other unique human conditions that are impossible to study using mouse models. To do this, Moutri said that the creation of consciousness would be necessary.
Moreover, Popular Mechanics said that the real ethical standard for developing sentient organoids would likely include several criteria that scientists can turn into a compound metric. For other scientists who have been using lab animals in testing, the difference may be small, but that is why ethicists exist to ask questions and push scientists to answer them.
Read More: Everything You Need To Know About Gene Editing
Check out more news and information on Organoids in Science Times. | https://www.sciencetimes.com/articles/27954/20201029/lab-grown-brains-raise-ethical-questions-become-sentient.htm |
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We created Giskard because we were frustrated at how difficult it is to ensure the Quality of AI models.
We are former Data Scientists, Software Engineers & AI Ethicists from Dataiku & Thales. We combine 20 years of experience in business-critical AI systems.
We are driven by
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from mature engineering practices: manufacturing and software.
Partners of AFNOR, we want to help bring AI into the age of Quality.
We believe in good engineering and collaborative software. We are:
Passionate about building robust solutions to real-life problems
Driven by customer needs and outstanding user experiences
Hungry to learn and improve every day
Conscious about technology's role in our society
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Interested in joining? You'll love it here! | https://www.giskard.ai/about |
Richemont has a strong ambition to transform its business model towards New Retail. The group is pursuing its strong development into the digitisation of its commerce value chain, relying for instance on the recent acquisition of YNAP, Watchfinder, and the strategic partnerships with Alibaba Group and Farfetch. In order to successfully deliver its ambition, Richemont is reinforcing its data and analytics capabilities. A Group Data Office has been created, led by the new appointment of a Chief Data and Analytics Officer, and an AI Centre of Excellence is being built. A critical role in the AI operating model is the Senior AI Use Case Manager, designer and orchestrator of AI Use Cases leading cross-functional feature teams to support our Maisons, which include Cartier, Van Cleef & Arpels, Montblanc, Roger Dubuis, Vacheron Constantin, etc in their strategy and business impact delivery.
- You will be driving Business Impact by:
- Translating business problems to solve into design of AI Use Cases, breaking it down into smaller problems, data product needs and KPIs/OKRs to measure
- Orchestrating AI Use Cases agile delivery at each phase of the use case life-cycle
- Facilitating performance and measurement for use cases along all relevant phases of the operating model, from strategic prioritisation to continuous improvement,
- Manage and communicate on risks and blockers, both on business dynamics and data foundations (e.g. Data Technology, Data Governance).
- You will lead AI Feature Teams by
- Coordinating cross-functional feature team of business and technical members -e.g. Data Scientists, ML Engineers – with a one-team, fast-performing and fun mindset
- Ensuring contribution and inclusion of all relevant partners in decision making,
- Framing very clear objectives, questions or requirements to each team member
- You will be contributing to the Data Strategy by:
- Developing AI use case strategic roadmaps in collaboration with and serving Business strategy of Maisons, Functions and Regions,
- Evangelizing stakeholders on AI value creation, what it is, what it takes
HOW WILL YOU EXPERIENCE SUCESS WITH US?
- You have a successful track record in
- excellent translation of business strategy into AI use case roadmap
- demonstrated results in driving AI use cases impact at scale with agile methods
- proficient project management and use of KPIs / OKR metrics in AI operations
- managing cross-functional teams in complex and distant environments
- You have relevant education – e.g., Master’s Degree in Business, Engineering, Advanced Analytics, MBA or related field – with about 10 years of relevant experience; a combination of management consulting and industry a strong plus
- And also these skills:
- Superior communication skills to executives, business and technical audiences
- Self-starter; thriving in the ambiguity and probabilistic approach of AI innovation
- Utter business pragmatism, and able to evangelize on it
- Serving leadership, achieving success with and through others
- Excellent understanding of Data Science; previous coding experience a plus
- Experience in omnichannel-related use cases and retail industry a plus
- International experience, with ability to adapt style to different cultures
- Willing to travel
- Speak fluent English; French and Chinese are a plus.
HOW DO WE KEEP YOU SMILING?
The Senior AI Use Case Manager will be in charge of facilitating business impact with AI Use Cases in very close working collaboration with Maisons, functions and regions. She/he will contribute to AI strategy and be the orchestrator of AI Use Case feature teams. She/he will report to the AI Centre of Excellence Director and collaborate with other data leaders, in particular the Head of Data Science, but also Data Governance, Strategy and Technology, as well as Legal and Security when necessary. She/he will be based at our HQ in Geneva, with some travel overseas.
This is a fantastic opportunity to join the leader of luxury digital distribution as a builder of excellence for such a transformational practice. The business impact up for grasps, the AI use cases and diversity of stakeholders will make it rich, fast-paced, multicultural and fun for the right candidate.
YOUR JOURNEY WITH US:
1. If your application is selected, we will reach out to you ASAP for an informal introductory call.
2. The next steps from there would be interviews with Group Data Office leadership members and our HR Business Partner. | https://jobs.richemont.com/Richemont/job/Meyrin-AI-Use-Case-Manager-GE/657813101/ |
Summary: How Will We Know When Artificial Intelligence Is Sentient?
July 2, 2022
Ethicists debate what sentience means for AI, while computer scientists struggle to test for it.
- LaMDA, Google’s artificially intelligent (AI) chatbot, sent these messages to Blake Lemoine, a former software engineer for the company.
- For context, philosopher Thomas Nagel wrote that something is conscious if “there is something it is like to be that organism.” If that sounds abstract, that’s partly because thinkers have struggled to agree on a concrete definition.
- As to sentience, it is a subset of consciousness, according to Rob Long, a research fellow at the Future of Humanities Institute at the University of Oxford.
- Instead, likelier candidates are AI programs that learn for extended periods of time, perform diverse tasks and protect their own bodies, whether those are physical robot encasements or virtual projections in a video game.
- Computer scientists have moved onto more sophisticated tests like the General Language Understanding Evaluation (GLUE), which Bowman helped to develop.
- Tononi’s integrated information theory, for example, proposes a physical substrate for consciousness, boiling the brain down to its essential neural circuitry. | https://www.ai-summary.com/summary-how-will-we-know-when-artificial-intelligence-is-sentient/ |
Good things are going to happen in the field of Artificial Intelligence. Tech-giants such as Facebook, Amazon, Microsoft, IBM and Google have partnered to educate the people on Artificial Intelligence and help them understand on how it really works. The organization is called as Partnership on AI to benefit people and society.
The companies will have an open dialogue by discussing on the advancements and conducting research on AI. Partnership on AI aims to support research and recommend best practices in areas including ethics, fairness, and inclusivity; transparency and interoperability; privacy; collaboration between people and AI systems; and of the trustworthiness, reliability, and robustness of the technology.
Partnership on AI is already in talks with other professional and scientific organisations such as the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence and non-profit research groups including the Allen Institute for Artificial Intelligence about how they can work together.
Financial support will be coming from the initial tech companies that are members of the group, but in the future, membership and involvement is expected to increase. User activists, nonprofits, ethicists and other stakeholders will be joining the discussion in the coming weeks. | https://www.techdotmatrix.com/2016/09/facebook-google-ibm-microsoft-amazon-team-partnership-ai/ |
Citizen science refers to activities conducted by scientists in collaboration or consultation with the public at any stage of a research project.
It can range from citizens and local communities photographing and analysing new auroral phenomena, collecting samples of fruit flies in rural areas, to using geographical analysis and visualisation tools coupled with their local environmental knowledge, or annotating performed music structures in an online platform.
Citizen science plays an important role in encouraging public engagement with research and tackling real-world problems. Research involving citizens and allowing them to gain more insight into the scientific process can lead to more trust in science in general. Also, our environmental, health, social, economic and political challenges require scientists, citizens, policymakers, and in general, a broader range of stakeholders, to find new ways of collaborating with each other.
By sharing lessons learnt and best practices within and across scientific domains, the following challenges faced by both scientists and citizens will be addressed:
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Participation and motivation: What are the main reasons for scientists to engage with citizens and for citizens to engage in science? How do participants benefit from their experience? What are the key obstacles for widening participation?
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Strategies for engagement: What are the best ways to attract and sustain participation over time? How can communities of practice that encourage engagement and learning be created? What is the best way to combine physical and online tools/techniques?
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Quality and impact: What type of knowledge can be generated and according to which standards? Is engagement with citizens a way to enhance the quality of science, or only to enhance science impact in the wider society? What is the concrete impact on scientific practices and everyday lives of citizens? What are the key enablers for citizen science?
Registration
Morning sessions: ERCEA premises in Brussels and online.
Afternoon talk: online only.
The full event will be webstreamed and respective links will be shared closer to the date.
Agenda
Morning (ERC premises in Brussels + online)
9:00 – 9:10 | Opening
Maria Leptin
President, European Research Council
9:10 – 10:00 | Setting the scene: What is citizen science and why it matters?
Moderator
Maria Leptin
President, European Research Council
Speakers
Mordechai Haklay
UCL (University College London)
Josefa Gonzalez
CSIC (Spanish National Research Council)
Frans Snik
Leiden University
10:00 – 10:20 | Coffee/tea break
10:20 – 11:30 | Sharing experiences: what methodologies, approaches, conditions work best to conduct citizen science?
Moderator
Angela Liberatore
Head of the Scientific Department, ERCEA
Speakers
Minna Palmroth
University of Helsinki
Elaine Chew
King's College London
Stefania Milan
University of Amsterdam
Kris Verheyen
Ghent University
Sarah Lebeer
University of Antwerp
11:30 – 12:10 | Harvesting session: does citizen science help pushing the frontiers of knowledge? Does frontier knowledge matter for citizens? | https://erc.europa.eu/news-events/events/citizen-science-and-frontier-research-erc-annual-event-2022 |
The 2021 Brussels Privacy Symposium is the fifth-annual academic program jointly presented by the Brussels Privacy Hub of Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and the Future of Privacy Forum (FPF) and is a global convening of practical, applicable, substantive privacy research and scholarship.
On November 16, 2021, the Brussels Privacy Symposium, “The Age of AI Regulation: Global Strategic Directions”, will occur as a virtual international meeting where policymakers, academic researchers, and civil society will discuss how the EU and other jurisdictions around the world envision fostering the deployment of, but also addressing the risks to fundamental rights posed by, artificial intelligence (AI) systems through regulation.
The development and use of AI systems of various degrees of complexity are seemingly becoming ubiquitous and are already having an impact on the daily lives of individuals – as consumers, employees, taxpayers, parents, students, and so forth. While some existing national and regional data protection and sectoral laws already place restrictions on some uses of AI-based solutions, legislators in several jurisdictions have started to put forward proposals that tackle specific challenges brought by AI technology.
Earlier this year, the European Commission proposed a first-of-its-kind comprehensive legal framework for AI systems, which proposes a risk-based approach, scaling legal obligations to the severity of risks that specific AI systems may pose. The framework is generally centered around ensuring such systems function safely for the health and fundamental rights of individuals, and with appropriate human oversight. This approach – which also includes prohibiting certain particularly high-risk AI practices – may serve as an inspiration for policymakers in other jurisdictions. But we are already seeing different approaches to AI regulation in different parts of the world – such as the US, Brazil, and China, in accordance with local traditions, legal systems, and economic priorities.
In this year’s Brussels Privacy Symposium (which will take place online), leading rule-makers, lawyers, academics, and civil society representatives will discuss the merits and potential flaws of the EU’s and other jurisdictions’ approaches to AI regulation, and see whether common global principles exist or need further development. | https://fpf.org/fpf-event/brussels-privacy-symposium-2021-the-age-of-ai-regulation-global-strategic-directions/ |
Keynote Speakers:
“Transformative Language Teaching Practices”
Stacey Margarita Johnson (Vanderbilt University)
At its best, language instruction connects students to multiple perspectives within the L2 community, helps students develop intercultural competence, and leads to truly transformative learning. The question many of us have is: what does that look like on a day-to-day level in our classrooms? With transformative learning theory as our framework, we will explore how transformation happens in the classroom as well as task- and lesson-level strategies for promoting the kind of deep, meaningful learning we want for our students.
“The Emotional Labor of Language Teaching: Experienced Teachers’ Accounts of Emotional Challenges, Rewards and Management Strategies”
Elizabeth R. Miller (UNC-Charlotte)
The work that language teachers undertake in order to manage the emotional aspects of their professional practice is often misunderstood and rarely acknowledged as a key component of that practice. For this presentation, I draw on interview accounts produced by fifty experienced language teachers (mean number of years: 14) working in four national contexts (the U.S., the U.K., Germany and Norway) as they talk about the situations that they find most emotionally challenging and the emotional rewards that they experience when they successfully work through them. Working from these same accounts along with related research on teacher emotions, I will discuss emotion management strategies that language teachers report as most beneficial. In closing, we will critically reflect on the socio-culturally constituted nature of teacher emotions in order to consider ways that language teachers can reframe and reorient to difficult as well as desirable emotions.
Concurrent Presentations – Session 1 (10:00-10:30 a.m.)
“Working for Understanding: Productive Tensions in Doing Exploratory Practice”
Laura Bilanceri, Laura Casa, Della Chambless, Cori Crane, Bethzaida Fernández, and Melissa Simmermeyer, Romance Studies and Germanic Languages and Literatures
Abstract: Exploratory Practice (EP) is a productive model for continuing professional development among language teachers. In EP practitioners investigate ‘puzzles’ about learning and teaching to develop a deeper understanding of their classroom practice. What does working for understanding look like? What kinds of structures are needed to support this type of reflective practice? Presenters will discuss how to maintain perspective while focusing on individual vs. group puzzles; how to balance the pull to investigate multiple puzzles while recognizing the need to pursue a single topic; and how to create adequate structure and accountability that help maintain the reflective practice.
“Could Google Translate Become a Friend of the Language Classroom”
Eunyoung Kim, Yuseon Yun, and Eunjung Ji, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Abstract: The aim of this presentation is to promote an overall state of awareness in Korean writing through the process of post-editing documents translated by Google Translate (GT). For this research, English text translated into Korean by GT for post-editing was given to participants. The data included surveys and one-on-one interviews about students’ post-editing experiences pertaining to the usage of grammar, register, vocabulary, writing style, etc. This presentation explores students’ perceptions of GT post-editing and further investigates how it affects their linguistic competence beyond translation skills.
Concurrent Presentations – Session 2 (10:30-11:00 a.m.)
“Building Community: Applying Exploratory Practice to Collaborative Teaching and Learning Portfolios”
Laura Casa and Della Chambless, Romance Studies
Abstract: The focus of this presentation is the restructuring of learning portfolios in Elementary Italian within the framework of Exploratory Practice. Presenters discuss their shift from a structured goal-oriented approach to more open-ended reflective practice in which learning goals are de-emphasized and problems to be solved are reframed as “puzzles” to get curious about. Students and teachers select puzzles to follow throughout the semester, trying to better understand how they relate to their learning environment. Student and teacher reflections are integrated in shared platforms and in-class activities, contributing to the strengthening of a safe and stimulating learning community within the classroom.
Concurrent Presentations – Session 3 (11:15-11:45 a.m.)
“Making Meaning of Cultures: Perspectives and Practices through Projects”
Lisa Merschel, Joan Munné, and Liliana Paredes, Romance Studies
Abstract: In this presentation, we present ways for instructors to integrate cultural texts in the language class, mitigating the perceived need of a cultural authority in the classroom. As participants in cultural communities, instructors and students can work collaboratively to engage with cultural texts. Through this approach to culture, learners develop critical thinking skills as they use the target language to identify, investigate, interpret, compare, and reflect on the relationship between products, practices, and perspectives of the cultures studied. Presenters will show examples of activities (and students’ products) from elementary to advanced Spanish language classes to illustrate these shared meaning-making processes.
“Process-Oriented Assessment Tasks to Minimize Speaking Anxiety”
Merve Yildirim, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Abstract: As foreign language educators, we often face the challenge of engaging students in speaking in the target language. The ability of learners in oral communication skills seems to be reduced when anxiety is a factor; therefore, it is quite unlikely that students would perform at their best in speaking exams. In order to provide a safer environment for students to display their communication skills, process-oriented tasks can be applied. In this session, I will talk about how process-oriented assessment tasks can be utilized in a curriculum to minimize the speaking anxiety of students.
“Promoting Student Agency and Reflection through Cover Notes”
Daniel McCarthy and Rebekah Callari-Kaczmarczyk, English for International Students
Abstract: This presentation will present how cover notes – a brief letter to the instructor that students include at the beginning of an assignment – can be used in the language learning classroom to promote student agency, self-reflection, and student-centered feedback. This presentation will include examples from current courses and suggestions for how cover notes could be utilized in a wide range of language course assignments. Ultimately, by attending our presentation, language instructors will be able to recognize the purpose, benefits, and applications of cover notes and will be able to apply similar methods in their own classrooms.
Concurrent Presentations – Session 4 (2:00-2:30 p.m.)
“Techniques for Teaching Students Language Prosody”
Carolyn Quarterman, English for International Students
Abstract: When learning pronunciation of a foreign language, students need to learn not only segmental language features (consonant and vowel sounds) but also suprasegmental features, or prosody. Prosody includes using volume, tempo, rhythm and pitch changes to convey a speaker’s message. While the prosody of various languages differs, this presentation introduces techniques used in teaching prosody to English learners that may be useful for teaching prosody of other languages. Techniques to raise students’ awareness of two features of English prosody will be introduced as well as activities providing opportunities for students to practice and evaluate their production of them.
“Weaving Oral History into Language and Culture Classes”
Carolyn Lee and Maha Houssami, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Abstract: In this presentation, we will introduce a community-based and cross-program learning activity in exploring cross-cultural understanding of the diasporas from Chinese and Arabic speaking countries. We will highlight the peculiarities of the student-led first-hand audio interviews, the profiles of the students and faculty involved, and the composition of the participants from the community. This cross-program initiative is instrumental in terms of globalizing the classroom and preparing adult learners to be informed global citizens who can use their inter-cultural competence for a better understanding of the world. We will discuss the benefits and challenges of the activity and conclude with recommendations.
Concurrent Presentations – Session 5 (2:45-3:15 p.m.)
“Techniques for Enhancing Speaking Skills in L2 Classes with Podcasts”
Kusum Knapczyk, Asian and Middle Eastern Studies
Abstract: The proposed presentation reports on a project that models how to improve speaking skills in foreign language classes. The presentation will proceed in three stages. First, I will demonstrate a podcast and highlight the features that can be used in connection with guidelines and learning objectives. I will show step by step how my students reached the stage to create a high-quality podcast. Second, I will discuss the technology used in the creation of these materials and discuss alternative tools. Finally, I will provide suggestions for incorporating the podcasts in the lesson plan successfully and for publishing these on the Duke Web page.
“Developing Temporal-Spatial Meaning in Personal Recounts of Beginning L2 Learners of German”
Cori Crane and Michael Malloy, Germanic Languages and Literature
Abstract: Personal recounts represent a core narrative genre that novice second language (L2) learners encounter. A key feature of recounts are temporal-locational “circumstantial” meanings, often realized lexico-grammatically through adverbial and prepositional phrases, that give structure to the genre and guide movement through a sequence of habitual actions and reported happenings. This presentation reports on the literacy development of beginning L2 learners of German. Pre- and post-tests of learners’ comprehension of recounts on summer vacations and written recounts of their own vacation experiences provide information about learners’ developing facility with the genre and ability to recognize and express temporal-spatial ideational meaning.
Concurrent Presentations – Session 6 (3:15-3:45 p.m.)
“Brain, Language, and Culture: Understanding the Neural Correlates of Proficiency”
Edna Andrews, Slavic and Eurasian Studies and Linguistics
Abstract: This presentation will focus on the central research findings that are essential for understanding how languages are mapped in the brain and how these mappings are relevant to understanding the achievement of high levels of proficiency in second and third languages. Topics include important new discoveries in applications of electrophysiological and hemodynamic imaging technologies (focusing specifically on cortical stimulation mapping (CSM), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and longitudinal studies) with proficiency testing, why there is no language in the one and the role of collective consciousness in human languages, how lesion-deficit studies and healthy subject research can inform each other, sensory-motor interactive modeling of language and brain, understanding speech acts and the construction of meaning, and crucial next steps in improving our methodologies to enhance student learning and higher levels of proficiency outcomes.
“Game-Based Learning and Gamification Experiences in My SFL Classroom”
Luis Navaro, Romance Studies
Abstract: This presentation will show the different activities designed, created or adapted for my Spanish as Foreign Language classes during the last semesters, as well as the professional development and training needed to acquire game-based learning and gamification tools. The decision to incorporate games and gamification respond to different needs perceived in the learning sequence of my teaching plans, sometimes related to the practice of vocabulary, grammar evaluation or communication simulation and practice. Actually, I can validate the positive effects of the game-based learning approach and gamification regarding to motivation and student engagement, memory and recalling words or structures, and real communication practice learned from the bibliography on this area. | https://sites.duke.edu/dukelanguagesymposium2020/abstracts/ |
The Confucius Institute of Hong Kong (CIHK) has tided over eleven years. With the support from the Confucius Institute Headquarters/Hanban and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), and under the excellent leadership of the former Director, Professor Chu Hung-lam, CIHK has developed its own unique feature and walked out its own path. According to Hong Kong’s particular historical background and social situation, CIHK has positioned itself as a “research-oriented Confucius Institute” ,with special focus on promoting Chinese culture and scholarship in three aspects: 1) combining both Chinese and Western resources to foster young sinologists; 2) organizing academic conferences, high level lecture series, and conducting research projects; 3) designing and offering general education courses and cultural education diplomas, in order to introduce and promote Chinese culture and scholarship to students and local people. Through designing and holding varied and efficient activities, CIHK has achieved remarkably in promoting Chinese language and culture, developing academic research in sinology, and academic exchange among young sinologists.
As in previous years, in 2017 we have successfully held various cultural education and dissemination activities to meet the interests of different participants, including courses of Chinese language and culture for PolyU and international students, lectures on Chinese culture and religion by distinguished scholars, specialist lectures on Chinese history and culture, forums for teaching Chinese as a foreign language, study tours to historical sites for PolyU staff and students, and Chinese culture and arts appreciation sessions for the general public. We also presented a series of postgraduate seminars on Chinese history and culture for students from universities in Hong Kong, Macau and the Pearl River Delta area. We held the second research conference on Chinese ancestor halls and veneration rites, a symposium of various forms of Chinese arts presented by Hong Kong artists of Chiu-chow origin and artists from Wenzhou for sharing and exchange, as well as a workshop on the book project “Series of New and Popular Studies of Chinese History and Culture” .Through these activities, the participants had forged understanding more deeply in Chinese history, culture, thought, scholarship, language, writing, and contemporary social and national situations, and together contributed to the development of Chinese historical and cultural studies.
In 2018, apart from continuing all these teaching programmes, lecture and seminar series, cultural tours, and artistic activities, we plan to hold four conferences and workshops. The first is the 2nd Workshop of the Book Project “Series of New and Popular Studies of Chinese History and Culture”; the second is Social Responsibility and Individual Values: International Conference on the Modern Implications of Classical Confucianism; the third is International Young Scholars Forum on Chinese Religious Studies; and the fourth is Seminar on Research and Co-development of Confucius Institutes. More information on these programmes and activities can be found in this booklet. CIHK will continue its research-oriented mission and endeavour in combining Chinese and Western resources to promote international sinology in all these events in the coming year.
We wish to express our heartfelt gratitude to all those who have supported and participated in our activities and hope to have your support in the coming new year. Let us work together to make new contributions to the promotion of Chinese culture and scholarship. | https://cihk.org.hk/about-us/message-from-the-director/ |
Discover a wealth of interesting, entertaining and informative stories in each issue, delivered to you six times per year.
MAXINE HILDEBRANDT: Good afternoon to you all. My name is Maxine Hildebrandt. I'm so honoured to be here to speak with you today.
My teaching journey at Mother Earth's Children's Charter School has afforded me with many rich learning experiences over the past ten years. As an Indigenous educator, I'm proud of my Cree-Métis heritage, and I'm happy to be able to teach Indigenous students in school where they are free and encouraged to embrace their own cultural heritage.
My school's philosophy believes in a holistic learning approach, and our mission supports the individuals' development of strength, resiliency, personal, culture, and academic growth.
I find that my own teaching philosophy supports this holistic approach as well, and I'm committed to incorporating both an Indigenous pedagogical approach as well as a Western pedagogical approach in my teaching practice.
I value Indigenous knowledge systems and recognize that Elders and community members may hold teachings and insights into Indigenous culture that may enrich the educational experience of my students.
I'm also interested in doing what I can to work toward the advancement of reconciliation. For many years, Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Canada have endured strained relationships as racism, discrimination, and negative stereotyping has proliferated in Canadian society.
In my years of teaching, I often meet teachers of non-Indigenous descent who are interested in learning how they can incorporate Indigenous pedagogy and perspectives into their teaching practice.
They have a sincere desire to learn about history from Indigenous perspectives so that they can have a better understanding of Indigenous issues. They're not content to simply infuse Indigenous concepts or content into their lessons, but rather, they seek a deeper understanding of truth.
They want to understand Indigenous perspectives on topics like Treaties, and the legacy of residential schools. As an educator, I feel I can play a pivotal role in advancing reconciliation by promoting inclusivity and tolerance toward others who are culturally different.
In 2017, I initiated a culture exchange program in my school to create safe ground for students and neighbouring schools with different cultural backgrounds to explore topics from traditional Indigenous and non-Indigenous perspectives.
A teaching colleague of mine, Lisl Gunderman, from a nearby rural K-9 school, agreed to enter her students into a cultural exchange program with my students. Many of the students from her school had strong ties to Ukranian roots, but also people of German, Métis, and African-American descent.
The goal of our exchange was to introduce our students to one another and to develop positive relationships through a number of learning activities. Our students shared aspects of their cultural heritage with one another and took part in four memorable field trips.
Students learned about topics such as sustainability, conservation, and land stewardship from Western perspectives as well as Indigenous perspectives. The Seven Sacred Teachings and Medicine Wheel teachings helped provide students with an understanding of how we respect, value, and use our natural resources in Alberta.
Sharing one another's stories unified our groups with differing perspectives and resulted in the formation of meaningful and transformational bonds between teachers, students, and communities.
The important thing we realized was that even though we come from different cultural backgrounds and held different perspectives and world views, in the end, we were just people who were willing to humble ourselves and learn from one another.
By appreciating one another as people and building friendships, we tore down cultural barriers that may have existed. We laid aside preconceived notions of one's cultural groups and instead we created a space where we could come together and appreciate the uniqueness of individuals.
My colleague Lisl and I were new acquaintances, only having briefly met each other at an outdoor education teachers' workshop in the summer of 2016.
I was impressed by Lisl's manner when she talked about wanting to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into her teaching in a way that was respectful and genuine. This chance meeting stayed with me for months, and I knew there was sincere teachers out there that wanted to approach teaching of Indigenous perspectives in the right way.
When an opportunity came my way to apply for a grant to participate in a cultural exchange program, I knew right away that I wanted to approach Lisl and collaborate with her. So, I contacted her six months after our first brief meeting, and found that she was most willing to work with me.
We entered the exchange as strangers, but we emerged from it as dear friends. Lisl and I were recognized as recipients of the Governor General's History Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2018 for our efforts in promoting healthy relationships for our students throughout our cultural exchange program.
This program produced such positive results in the first year, that my superintendent, Ed Wittchen, supported me to continue on with the cultural exchange program on an ongoing basis within our school.
Since then, our cultural exchange program has grown to involve four more schools collaborating with us for four additional years. Indigenizing education is one of our foremost charter goals as set out in our school's education plan.
Through Indigenization, students will gain a conceptual understanding of curricular content by exploring learning through Indigenous knowledge
systems and Indigenous practices. Indigenous knowledge is holistic and relational.
Indigenizing education involves connecting with Elders, engaging in experiential learning, and land-based learning opportunities. Last fall, my school's administration approved a budget to create an outdoor cultural classroom where we could provide rich learning for our students.
This site features an all-weather tipi, an open fire pit on a large concrete pad, a sturdy lean-to shelter, and an all-weather outdoor portable washroom. Students have enjoyed partaking in Stoney and Cree lessons as they sat around a warm fire, and have participated in talking circles within a comfortable tipi.
There were beautiful autumn days where students learned from Cree elders how to make traditional dried meat smoked over a low fire. Students have also learned how hunting and fishing played an important role in sustaining our ancestors and continue to be an important role in our lives today.
Students learned how to ice fish and to cook fish over an open fire. The school provided warm jackets, clothing, winter boots, toques, hats, mittens, everything that they would need to spend time learning in the outdoors.
We held a grand opening event for the outdoor classroom in mid-December, when it was really cold. We wanted to inform the school community of our commitment to cultural programming in a very special place.
We named our cultural classroom Oski Kisikaw Ena Makochih, which in Cree and Stoney means a New Day for Mother Earth. Our school's philosophy and mission guides the work that we do in educating our students, and we see Indigenizing education as a new way forward representing the dawn of a new day for learning.
As nice as this classroom is for our students, an important part of our school's charter is to promote collaboration and cultural understanding with others.
It is our sincere hope that as we move forward in the upcoming school years, we can invite schools to bring their students out to share in some of the rich cultural learning experiences we can enjoy in our cultural classroom.
We already have plans to expand our space to include an additional tipi, an outdoor 3D archery range, and other amenities as required. I am looking forward to forging relationships that are cultural bridges with others who are from different cultural backgrounds.
I also know firsthand how effective a tool cultural exchanges may be for educators who seek to promote cultural understanding among their Indigenous and non-Indigenous students.
I attribute the success of my cultural exchange program to the ability that I had to work with other educators who shared mutual goals of mine, and maintained a positive mindset to achieve cultural understanding amongst students.
In a closing note, here...one thing that I heard over and over again is the talk about creating a space, and I feel like, watching a lot of you here today and listening to your stories, that I feel like, that space is, that opportunity to create a space between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people, coming together, that's what it's going to take to advance reconciliation and make meaningful change going forward.
Thank you all for having me here today. | https://www.canadashistory.ca/explore/canada-s-history-forum/presentation-by-maxine-hildebrandt/maxine-hildebrandt-transcript |
To Build More Inclusive Learning Environments, Listen to Students
Giving students agency and voice can help them feel more welcome.
Opinion by Tracie Marcella Addy
During a roundtable discussion at a recent conference, my co-facilitators and I invited participants to think quietly about a time when they either felt as if they did or did not belong, or were not treated equitably. This reflective task preceded a conversation on inclusive teaching, instruction that promotes a sense of belonging and is equitable for a diverse student body. The activity invited participants to make personal connections with the topic prior to delving deeper into its significance in learning environments. It also brought to the forefront how feeling included is something we can experience in various social settings—and that we may not be aware when others feel excluded in such spaces.
Similarly, our students may have unheard experiences and perspectives on inclusion from which we can gain insights to design more equitable and welcoming STEM learning opportunities. Listening to student voices is critical for effective inclusive instruction.
A variety of instructional strategies can interweave student voices within courses and curricula to advance inclusive teaching efforts. As feasible, giving students agency to incorporate topics or projects into a course can enhance equity and engagement. For example, instructors can allow students to add readings of interest or related topics to the syllabus or encourage learners to make choices in how they complete assignments, such as a final product in a project-based learning activity.
At the beginning of the course, allowing learners to voluntarily and anonymously share details about themselves can build community and send a message to all students that they are valued. I and my team developed the “Who’s in Class?” form (https://bit.ly/3dIzXdH) in collaboration with students, faculty, and staff members. It provides students with an outlet to share information about themselves as well as to offer their perspectives on inclusion. Instructors receive the information in aggregate to protect student privacy.
With a better understanding of the makeup of their classes, and often in partnership with their center for teaching and learning or other support office, instructors can tailor their inclusion efforts for a particular course. Students’ responses can help instructors modify small aspects to make the class more equitable and welcoming. For example, some instructors who discovered through the form that students in their class had difficulty purchasing course materials chose resources that were open access or made copies available. Additionally, instructors were often surprised by the number of hours students worked in outside employment. With that knowledge, they typically put more careful thought into course workload and assignment deadlines.
Facilitating opportunities for students to cocreate guidelines for class discussions or for group activities and projects is another way to incorporate student voices. Learners can share criteria, such as their fellow students meeting group deadlines, that would enable them to be successful in accomplishing the goals of the activity. Students can also set expectations for meeting outside of class for group projects, as well as for their individual roles and responsibilities when completing activities.
Inclusion requires ongoing intentional actions throughout a course. Giving students opportunities to share feedback on the class’s inclusiveness through an anonymous survey, available throughout the semester, can also generate helpful information. Students can be invited to offer suggestions for improvement that would enhance the inclusivity of the course. At midterm, students can be asked to anonymously share whether the course is inclusive, and the instructor can make modifications as needed.
Using their voices beyond the course level, students can also provide valuable feedback on departmental curricula. Enabling learners to give their perspectives on the diversity and breadth of content in the curriculum can be an insightful exercise. Revisions that take into account students’ perspectives have the potential to lead to improved and more equitable learning experiences and help students better identify with the course material.
While requiring humility and vulnerability, learner-centered approaches incorporating students’ voices can help us develop more inclusive STEM classes. No time is better than the present to get started.
Tracie Marcella Addy is the associate dean of teaching and learning and director of the Center for the Integration of Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship at Lafayette College, where she partners with instructors across all divisions and ranks on their teaching efforts. In addition to her center work, she actively publishes, and is a coauthor of the book What Inclusive Instructors Do: Principles and Practices for Excellence in College Teaching.
This piece was adapted from “Let’s Not Underestimate the Power of Student Voice,” a guest blog post for ASEE’s Commission on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Read it online: https://bit.ly/3sCBgPF. | http://www.asee-prism.org/last-word-7/ |
Edmund Dudley looks at why it is important for our teenage students to learn about culture in their English lessons.
Millions of young people around the world are currently learning English, making it a truly international language. In addition, many teenagers regularly use English to communicate and interact with others online. This raises a number of questions about the cultural content of any English course for teenagers.
What do we mean by culture in the context of a language lesson?
Let’s begin by thinking about English-speaking countries. Take Britain as an example. When you think about British culture, what springs to mind? What examples could you give? Take a moment to think of three things.
So what did you say? Your answers reveal something about what you think culture is.
Perhaps you chose traditional rituals or ceremonies, such as the Changing of the Guard or carol singing in December; you might have gone for annual events, such as the FA Cup Final, the Notting Hill Festival or Hogmanay.
On the other hand, your examples of British culture might have been more linked to the day-to-day habits and behaviour of ordinary people: leaving the house with wet hair in the morning, queuing at bus stops, or buying ‘rounds’ in pubs.
All of these various aspects of culture are of potential interest to students. Day-to-day activities can be just as revealing as special occasions. If we want to get the full picture of life in English-speaking countries and communities, then thinking about how people eat soup can be just as interesting and revealing as learning about how people celebrate New Year’s Eve.
Whose culture are we talking about?
Given that English is used around the world, should we only be concentrating on the culture of English-speaking countries? Not exclusively. Any meaningful discussion of culture involves comparison and reflection. So, although in the lesson we might be looking at an aspect of life in Ireland, New Zealand, Canada or another English-speaking country, ultimately, however, students are being encouraged to think about themselves and their own culture. And besides, being able to describe aspects of life in your home country to others is a crucial part of sharing cultures and making friends when you are away from home or welcoming guests from abroad.
How can culture get students thinking – and talking?
Culture can be subjective. Think about words such as cold, sweet, crowded, angry, quiet, and dangerous: they are culturally loaded and so it is easy to disagree about what they mean. Take cold, for example. Two people from different countries might have very different views about whether a child playing on a playground swing on a spring afternoon should be wearing a coat or not.
Examples like this can be used as the basis for classroom discussions, role-plays, drama activities – even creative writing tasks. Does the child need a coat or not? Who is right? What does it depend on? And how can the situation best be resolved?
By looking at the situation as a cultural puzzle, we can challenge our students to try and interpret the situation from different cultural perspectives. Promoting empathy with others is not only a great way to promote tolerance and understanding, it also shines a new light on our own beliefs and assumptions. This is what makes dealing with cultural topics so interesting: we sometimes begin to see how the attitudes and values below the surface influence the way we see the world.
Is there now a global teen culture?
Young people are more connected today than ever before – even if they live on different continents. The internet is enabling today’s teenagers to create a shared global cultural identity. What do a teenager in South America and a teenager in Eastern Europe have in common? Well, for starters they are both probably comfortable using technology and also learning English at school. Then you have movies, computer games, apps, pop music and sport – all of which are probably shared tastes. The result is a new kind of international cultural identity: young, online and learning English.
Putting it into practice
Culture is there to be exploited, and our students are the ones who can benefit. Hopefully, they will not only learn something about various parts of the world, but will also gain fresh insights into their own culture and new perspectives on who they are, what they value, and what they aspire to. | https://oupeltglobalblog.com/tag/cultural-identity/ |
What is... Contemporary Visual Culture?
Offering the benefits of an arts degree taught in an art and design school, students learn about the theory and practice of visual culture across the fields of art, design, film, photography, curating, digital and print media. The programme brings past and present together to understand how visual culture functions in today’s world. Taught in tandem with studio-based courses, it provides an industry-focused grounding in theories of contemporary visual culture, art and design history and a range of related subjects including aesthetics, gender studies and exhibitions. Teaching applies theory to practice featuring project-based learning, work placements, and visits from leading industry practitioners.
Graduates will be able to work in visual culture industries, in sectors promoting and mediating visual culture. These roles include researchers, audience advocates, exhibition planners, project archivists, cultural policy advisors, research developers, and cultural journalists: critics, writers and broadcasters for publications and popular media on visual culture.
Graduates who achieve the appropriate honours standard may have access to a range of taught Masters, MPhil and PhD degrees by research in DIT or elsewhere in Ireland and abroad.
On the BA Contemproary Visual Culture is centred on academic excellence in research practice, writing and presentation skills. With a blend of individual and group learning, written assignments and presentation work, you will apply your research to the contemporary industries of visual culture: from art galleries, design companies and museums to publishing and media outlets.
Yes, in the second year on the Contemporary Visual Culture programme students may study with an international Erasmus partner.
Contemporary approach to cultural studies and the study of the visual in every form, the BA in Contemporary Visual Culture is a collaboration of theory based learning, discussion, cultural critique and group learning. You learn critical skills, visual history and its modern importance.
My favourite part of the programme is the diversity between modules, ranging from Typography to Philosophy.
Learn the importance and relevance of images and visual culture in everyday life; how to think and analyze critically, engaging with contemporary art and visual culture. I have gained an appreciation for art, exhibitions, museums and visual culture generally.
You study philosophy, visual arts and cultural studies - it is a unique course as it is hard to get these subjects together in any other college.
The modules help you learn new ways to think about the world and yourself in it.
I enjoy exploring cultural identity, fine art, using philosophy within the arts, going to galleries and events as part of the programme.
We work in groups, review and interpret readings and visual culture. I particularly like the modules in web design, aesthetics and the study of research.
The BA in Contemporary Visual Culture is the study of visual culture, past and present and the theories surrounding the production and dissemination of visual culture. You learn how to analyze visual culture in a critical context and how to assess the role of the visual in society today. | http://www.dit.ie/studyatdit/undergraduate/programmescourses/allcourses/contemporaryvisualculturedt533.html |
Explore the latest questions and answers in Project-Based Learning, and find Project-Based Learning experts.
Questions related to Project-Based Learning
Hello everybody,
Could anyone please suggest some journals with publication fees or free that publish quickly in the domain of education for a topic titled "Project-based learning?" My university asks for indexed journals in WOS, Scopus, ESCI, and JCR.
Thank you very much.
We are calling for a paradigm shift in engineering education. In times of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (“4IR”), a myriad of potential changes is affecting all industrial sectors leading to increased ambiguity that makes it impossible to predict what lies ahead of us. Thus, incremental culture change in education is not an option anymore. The vast majority of engineering education and training systems, having remained mostly static and underinvested in for decades, are largely inadequate for the new 4IR labor markets. Some positive developments in changing the direction of the engineering education sector can be observed. Novel approaches of engineering education already deliver distinctive, student-centered curricular experiences within an integrated and unified educational approach. We must educate engineering students for a future whose main characteristics are volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity. Talent and skills gaps across all industries are poised to grow in the years to come. Therefore, promote an engineering curriculum that combines timeless didactic tradition, such as Socratic inquiry, project-based learning, and first-principles thinking with novel elements (e.g. student-centered active and e-learning by focusing on the case study and apprenticeship pedagogical methods) as well as a refocused engineering skillset and knowledge. These capabilities reinforce engineering students’ perceptions of the world and the subsequent decisions they make. This 4IR engineering curriculum will prepare engineering students to become curious engineers and excellent communicators better navigating increasingly complex multistakeholder ecosystems.
What are your opinions?
What are your insights?
Do you know great articles or books which cover this topic well?
Many thanks for your perspective!
Dear colleagues,
I have some doubts about the correctness of the following analysis.
A class of 79 students underwent three different teaching methods that chronologically presented themselves in this sequence:
(a)Project based learning 1 (b)Traditional lecturing (c) Project-based learning 2
The first methodology (PBL1) and the last (PBL2) are the same although their implementations have been slightly changed in aspects external to the structure that scientifically makes them define as such. The idea was to verify that there was a compliance of data (performance at the examination and perception of the learning experience) despite the diversity of content involved, variations in the demands on the final product and different time location.
For the collection of data on the perceptive aspect, a 5-point Likert questionnaire was used (not at all, little, enough, very, very much) which investigated the following aspects:
PERSONAL PERCEPTION OF THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Items (a5 b5 c5; a8 b8 c8); (a6 b6 c6);(a9 b9 c9); (a12 b12)
PERCEIVED PRESENCE OF SPECIFIC DIDACTIC ELEMENTS DURING THE LESSON
Items (a1 b1 c1) ;(a3 b3 c3) ;(a4 b4 c4) ;(a5bis b5bis c5bis) ;(a6bis b6bis cbis6) ; (a7 b7 c7)
As you can see, for each methodology, students were asked the same types of questions (however, spaced out in the questionnaire). E.g. Sense of usefulness and meaningfulness conveyed to students (a4 b4 c4)
VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
As far as Validity is concerned, it has been searched with data already acquired through the EXPLORATORY FACTORIAL ANALYSIS as follows:
The items, already selected on a theoretical basis after a first phase of questionnaire design, have been uploaded and refer to the PERSONAL PERCEPTION OF THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
It has been searched the number of factors with:
- EIGENVALUES above 1 (not parallel analysis, given the small number of the sample: 79 students).
- Rotation - oblique - oblimin
- Values above 0.3
RESULT: two factors emerge. Factor 1 items (a)+(c); Factor 2 items (b)
The items, already selected on a theoretical basis after a first phase of questionnaire design, have been uploaded and refer to THE PERCEIVED PRESENCE OF SPECIFIC DIDACTIC ELEMENTS during the lesson.
It has been searched for the number of factors with:
- EIGENVALUES above 1 (not parallel analysis, given the small number of the sample: 79 students).
- Rotation - oblique - oblimin
- Values above 0.3
- Items that do not load or load on more than one factor have been excluded
RESULT: two factors emerge. Factor 1 the items (a)+(c); Factor 2 the items (b)
As far as reliability is concerned, CRONBACH'S ALPHA has been used.
In the PERSONAL PERCEPTION OF LEARNING EXPERIENCE and in the PRESENCE PERCEPTION OF DETERMINED DIDACTICAL ELEMENTS DURING THE LESSON the items (a) and (c) were analyzed together as they refer to the same methodology (Project-based learning) while the items (b) on the traditional lesson apart:
a5, a6, a8, a9, a12, c5, c6, c8, c9 Cronbach's alpha 0.780
b5; b6; b8; b9; b12 Cronbach's alpha 0.740
In the PRESENCE PERCEPTION OF DETERMINED ELEMENTS DURING THE LESSON
a1, a3, a4, a5bis, a6bis, a7, c1, c3, c4, c5bis, c6bis, c7 Cronbach's alpha 0.780
b1, b3, b4, b5bis, b6bis, b7 Cronbach's alpha 0.703
I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS:
- Is the validation and reliability procedure correct?
- Was it right to separate for the factorial analysis and Cronbach's alpha DIDACTICAL ELEMENTS from LEARNING EXPERIENCE?
- Would it be more correct to analyze all items (a) together, then all items (b) together and all items (c) together (which I have already tried and they load each time only one factor and always reliable)?
Dear colleagues, Focusing on PBL promotion for some time now, we grew to start questioning its effectiveness. Are you familiar with any studies looking into it? What methods and tools have been used? What are the results? Thank you!
Martin
Main Research Areas & Publication Papers:
Project-Based Learning Gamification Innovation (Organizational & Technology) Project Management Education & Educational Research STEAM Didactics & Pedagogy Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics & Chemical Engineering Education
I am a Japan based TESOL professional looking to collaborate with other educators from around the world on research into the emerging paradigm of telecollaborative learning.
Many see technology in the classroom as a teaching gimmick, and rightly so if it is used without any pedagogical framework. However, technology provides great potential to enhance learning in many pedagogically sound ways. The use of technology to connect students from around the world in collaborative projects has been shown to help students develop not only knowledge of a particular subject matter, but also language skills and intercultural sensitivity. Use of technology to connect students from different geographical locations in such collaborative learning projects is commonly referred to as telecollaborative learning. Current technology (such as the Google Apps suite) provides powerful, easy to use, and a quite often free interface for connecting students and teachers interested in pursuing telecollaborative learning.
I have already begun the groundwork for such a study through three preliminary Japan based studies. One study demonstrates that motivated Japanese university students can teach each other the technological skills necessary to complete a complex term-long multimedia intercultural project with minimal teacher input and little or no prior experience. Another study reveals social pressure as being the strongest factor motivating the completion of such collaborative projects among Japanese university students. And a third study quantifies the development of intercultural sensitivity among Japanese university students through online cultural exchange. If you are interested in joining me in a project to connect university students from your country with university students in Japan in a study of telecollaborative learning, please contact me and we can discuss the details of setting up such a project.
Designing a summer school program is challenging since we always need to ensure the quality and making learning easier & fun. Let's discuss the different teaching methods can be used for a Summer School program at Bachelor Level.
Example: One of the teaching methods is 'Assigning group projects to the participants based on lessons taught in a Summer School'
I have been looking at different types of inductive teaching for mathematics. These include inquiry-based, discovery, problem-based, project-based, case-based, just-in-time, and a hybrid of project and problem-based.
Is there an inductive teaching approach or curriculum that uses everyday topics and students learn the mathematics needed to understand different pieces of it? For example, a class is discussing gardening. So the students learn how to calculate area of their garden. Then they look at mixture problems (fertilizer and soil). Then they see how Fibonacci plays into petals and seed patterns.
It doesn't quite fit one of the inductive teachings exactly. I think it is a combination of several.
Who has done research on this? Who/what should I be looking for?
Hello, can you help me by filling out this electronic questionnaire for the development of my research?
We are addressing the analysis of the influence of project-based learning on student competencies. If possible, please refer it to other subject matter experts.
The link is: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSemwvB3aTF76CD1MNonQVEchXtTK2FJnlTdxhrLTUhjU0Pedw/viewform?usp=sf_link
Thank's for your time!
How to encourage deep learning of your students and discourage their habits of shallow or superficial learning?
What is the project method? What opinions do you have about it? Which experiences - good or bad - have you made with it?
The project method is one hundred years old now. That's what many believe, because in 1918 William H. Kilpatrick published has famous article entitled "The project method: The use of the purposeful act in the educative process", which started a lot of project initiatives all over USA.
However, as (Knoll 1997, 2012) points out, the project method is much older. It may be as old as the rise of vocational education and training, going back some 400 years ago in the Middle Ages in Italy.
Do we re-invent the wheel over and over again? It seems so. We are masters in inventing and adopting new names for apparently new practices, which - when looked upon carefully and critically - are just the old ones in new clothes.
Nowadays, the project-based method is part of what is called authentic learning approaches. And again, this is as old as the master-apprentice or master-disciple relationship which was once (and still is?) widespread over the old and new worlds.
Nevertheless, I ask you to ponder a little bit about your knowledge of and experience with the project method, and share your thoughts with us.
Link to authentic learning on Wikipedia:
Link to apprenticeship on Wikipedia:
How to motivate university students who are new to project-based learning and who have been in a lecture-based learning throughout their entire education.
I have taught my first project based learning (PBL) design course this semester to fourth year civil engineering students. I wonder if any educator here would like to share her/his experience so that we exchange thoughts.
Dear colleagues, I am supervising a research project for a student and we need a questionnaire asking the opinion of EFL teachers on PBL (Project-Based Learning).
I really appreciate your help in advance.
Regards
Bearing in mind issues related to (1) what students might think about PBL and (2) what they do in response to PBL encounters
I am currently starting a research on the effects of multimedia assisted project-based learning in enhancing adult ESL learners' grammatical accuracy. Your comments and suggestions will be helpful and appreciated. Thank you.
In what way can Project-Based Learning foster students' learning? Do we have any evidence from higher education research to support any such impact on learning?
Hi everybody,
we are in the process of planning a publication that is aiming to point out the basic foundations and practice potential of improvisation from an interdisciplinary point of view. Which aspects would you like to be added to the below listed alphabetic content samples? Looking forward to suggestions from many different perspectives such as Media and Communication, Cultural Studies, Arts, Cybernetics, Epistemology, Cognitive Research, Philosophy, Pedagogy, Psychology, Medicine, Management, Organization, Politics, Anthropology...
Editors: Leon Tsvasman & Martin A. M. Gansinger
Proposed titles:
Foundations of Improvisation. Compendium for Best Practice.
The Interdisciplinary Directory of Improvisation. Concepts and Practice Potential.
The Large Handbook of Improvisation. Best Practice, Concepts and Foundations.
Aim: to contribute to the emancipation/legitimation/acceptance of the improvisational principle in socially relevant areas such as education, culture, politics, and economy – using the innovative and interdisciplinary approach of a concise compendium focused on extemporaneous concepts and practices
Need for publication: contribution to the improvement of interdisciplinary grounded, improvisation-based forms of communication, organization, and learning in accordance with an increasingly interconnected/participative/media-supported society
Usability:
● independent learning for better personal orientation in relevant areas of practice and individual creative activity
● didactic relevance regarding the possible incorporation of extemporaneous techniques and improvisational practices in the context of innovative working- and learning-environments: interactive teaching, group tasks, project-related tasks, presentations etc.
● application of derived improvisational principles in the fields of management, economy, culture, and politics: providing concepts for differentiated perspectives on organizational, operational and performative tasks
Unique Selling Point: high didactic and economic relevance, based on a unique conceptual approach using a constructivist-inspired, cybernetically justified, epistemological structure that has already been utilized for ''Das grosse Lexikon Medien und Kommunikation'' (Ergon, 2006):
● Definition of term
● Positioning
● Inherent aspects
● Practical context
● Ethical, political, economic, didactic aspects
● Outlook and perspectives
Contributors:
Next to a number of self-authored lemmata within the range of their own expertise and disciplinary borders, the editors rely on a network of valuable contributors from various fields, consisting of authors for ‘‘Das grosse Lexikon Medien und Kommunikation’’ and international researchers of improvisation.
Content samples:
Acting
Actuality
Allopoiesis
Attention
Anticipation
Autopoiesis
Awareness
Cognition
Consciousness
Consistency
Experience
Extemporarity
Extempore speech
Implicit knowledge
Improvisation
Incorporation
Integrated learning
Interaction
Interdependency
Intersubjectivity
Intuition
Knowledge
Leadership
Learning
Mediality
Mediation
Memory
Memory-based learning
Meta-reflection
Music
Orality
Orientation Objectivity
Perception
Potentiality
Presence
Processual action
Project-based learning
Relevance
Repetition
Responsibility
Selection
Specialization
Subjectivity
Spontaneity
Standardization
Technology
Thematic improvisation
Time
Workflow
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Students' conceptions of Project-based learning (PBL). We wanna apply phenomenography to investigate students conceptions. Therefore we would like to know the difference between 'Phenomenography' vs 'Phenomenology'
Can anyone direct me to paper on studies on assessment in Project-based learning recently?
Thank you in advance
Project-based learning in Grade 3 pupils about force and motion.
I am especially interested in courses leveraging peer learning, collaborative project assignments, authentic problem solving and design tasks.
What assessment/grading system have you used with what results?
What interesting studies are out there?
- Does it help to increase Higher Order Thinking (HOT's)?
- Does it inculcate self-directed learning
Share your best practices at institutions using Project-based as a part of learning strategy.
Today’s students, more than ever, often find course-based learning to be boring and meaningless.
In PBL, students are active, not passive; a project engages their hearts and minds, and provides real-world relevance for learning.
After completing a project, students remember what they learn and retain it longer than is often the case with traditional instruction.
Because of this, students who gain content knowledge with PBL are better able to apply what they know and can do to new situations.
What do you think about established this type of center in your country?
I'm looking for relatively current (less than 10 years old) quantitative research on project-based learning. I've found plenty of qualitative, but quantitative is hard to find. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
Nina
I am conducting research to assist a faculty member in the Management department.
I have trouble finding complete papers and reseaches. Thanks
Most research on the flipped classroom employs group-based interactive learning activities inside the classroom, citing student-centered learning theories based on the works of Piaget (1967) and Vygotsky(1978). The exact nature of these activities varies widely between studies. Similarly, there is wide variation in what is being assigned as "homework". The flipped classroom label is most
often assigned to courses that use activities made up of asynchronous web-based video lectures and closed-ended problems or quizzes. This implies that technology is central to the success of this approach
I would like to use cloud computing to connect students from different universities in different countries to collaborate on poster projects in order to research ESP (English for Specific Purposes) in an ELF (English as a Lingua Franca) context. I believe this will both motivate and legitimize English education for its real world purpose, both in Japan and around the world. Anyone interested in collaborating on such a project? | https://www.researchgate.net/topic/Project-Based-Learning |
Click on the link below to find session titles and presenters. Many, many thanks in advance to all the session presenters who are the heart of the conference!
This presentation will demonstrate how this teacher uses news and current events, history,biography and other non-fiction themes as source material for comprehensible input activities and storytelling. Examples of story development and vocabulary practice will be included, as well as ideas for how textbook CI and stories can be tied directly to textbook themes.
The National Network of Early Language Learning (NNELL) session is an opportunity for early language educators (Pre-K to grade 8) to meet for an open discussion to swap ideas and professionally connect regarding ways in which we are preparing our students to be "world ready" using the new ACTFL World-Readiness Standards. There will be Round Table discussions on this topic and others of your choice--including the integration of technology to facilitate teaching and learning at the Pre-K to grade 8 levels.
Inclusivity and Intersectionality in the Modern Language Classroom: We recognize that each student brings a unique set of identities and perspectives into the language learning environment. How do we make our language classes safer and more welcoming spaces for all of our students to learn and grow in their understanding of language and culture?
The most important aspect of a language classroom is what students can do with the language; do our assessments value that? A popular blogger, Will Richardson, once wrote “if we do not find ways to measure what we value,we shall simply end up valuing what we measure.” Come learn how Integrated Performance Assessments (IPAs) measure what we value in a language classroom, help students acquire diverse perspectives, and engage students in activities that go beyond our classroom walls. We will reference ACTFL’s published book, “Implementing Integrated Performance Assessments”, which has been inspirational in one district’s work with performance assessments. Concrete examples will be shared of how to design, create, and implement IPAs that assess students in their 3 communication modes: interpretive,interpersonal, and presentational. Time will also be given to address unit design with IPAs and the grading implications of these assessments as well.
High School Circling is the key to providing repetitions of Target Language structures in the Interpersonal Mode without seeming repetitive. Circling is a series of questions around one statement. You can circle details in a TPRS story, statements about a picture, a video, a prop or a student’s reply to a question. Though it seems easy, mastering circling takes some practice and this session will teach you how to teach yourself how to circle.
See how two instructors teach reading using compelling input to generate community and cultural proficiency. Use fundamental, research based techniques to drive your curriculum with reading and accelerate the learning acquisition process. Launch your own personal style and discover the ease and simplicity that engagement with the right material can bring.Leave with the practical strategies and confidence to power your way to an even better classroom.
The presenters of this session, both professors of Hispanic Studies at University of Minnesota Duluth, will share tips on how to successfully recruit and retain students in university programs in languages and cultures during the challenging climate of higher education of budgetary cuts. They will discuss key initiatives that faculty members of their Spanish major and minor programs have undertaken to foment community and engagement among faculty, students, potential students, and the university community, such as study abroad opportunities, weekly events on campus,intentional curriculum design, and hands-on advising. Participants will leave with take home tips that they will be able to incorporate in their own programs.
This session features two award winning grants won by Young Scholars at the University of St.Thomas and an overview of the mentoring process. Since linguistic and cultural competence are linked, how is the learner's interculturality related to an understanding of the target culture? Research projects include the memorialization of NS-homosexual victims in post war society and mass-immigration after WW II, touching on the Gastarbeiter program and culminating in the current refugee crisis.Questions of identity and belonging are explored and xenophobia and racism are contrasted with the notion of responsibility from either culture to facilitate successful assimilation.
Participants will learn how to create the centers to focus on different language skills and what makes a good learning center. Participants will also go back to their classroom knowing how to get students to use the target language and stay on task during the center. Teachers will leave with many new ideas about IPads, partner activities, reading and writing tasks, both high tech and low tech.
Have you started TPRS for your German classes and are wanting to connect with others? Have you had success with TPRS and have all of the answers to share with your colleagues? This session hopes to bring together new and experienced German teachers who use CI and/or TPRS in their classrooms.
We often hear that "a picture is worth a thousand words". This is especially true in the world language classroom, where our students have limited vocabularies. In this session, we will learn how to introduce new vocabulary and grammar structures through Picture Talk; how to "ask" a TPRS story based on an image; how to use visuals to engage students in the lesson;and how to teach culture through works of art,photos of historical events, and snapshots of daily life. We will conclude this session with a tour of several online image databases and a brief discussion about copyright.
Teaching language and culture with interactive lessons through comprehensible input is a great way to engage your students as they learn about the Spanish-speaking countries around the world. The methods and strategies in this session can be applied to any cultural unit. With blended learning we will include the use of technology (e.g., Nearpod, Kahoot, Quizizz, Quizlet), authentic cultural examples with foods and crafts, and NUA literacy strategies. Bring a device and participate in our interactive activities that you can adapt to your own lessons! Examples are made for elementary level Spanish, but can be modified for any level.
Just started teaching and ready to give up? This session will focus on providing you with ways to save your weekends, as well as your sanity! We will discuss organizational tips for the classroom, sources for finding new lesson ideas,formative assessment strategies that don’t require hours of grading, and activities to fill in those last five minutes to ensure bell-to-bell teaching. Participants will be able to brainstorm and share their own ideas.
Movement, creating community and understanding proficiency levels are key elements in creating a 90%+ environment where students are using language. Through purposeful questioning sequences students are naturally pushed to the next level of acquisition. In this interactive and transformational session,participants will experience a sustainable and inspiring way to apply research to practice by individualizing learning and creating a student generated curriculum.
Comprehensible Input is the key to facilitating language acquisition, and compelling input is the key to maintaining student engagement. Learn simple techniques for staying in the Target Language and keeping input comprehensible, and discover practical and powerful interpersonal activities that unconsciously inspire Higher Order Thinking and inherently facilitate SLA...from day one!
Language and culture are inseparable. The use of children’s and young adult literature in both the target language and English is a creative way to teach culture in the world language classroom. Beginning language learners can interact with authentic target language texts and gain confidence in approaching a new language. Connections can be made with characters who speak and represent the target culture. Language is put into a real, cultural, and historical perspective. Topics covered in this presentation include how to choose texts, ideas for classroom activities, and how to incorporate literature into the world language syllabus.
This workshop is for those who would like giveback and/or develop leadership within the field by mentoring an emerging teacher. Participants will walk out with a solid sense of what is expected of the U of MN Co-Teacher and the Teacher Candidate, co-teaching models,evaluation of Minnesota Standards of Effective Practice, and an exciting new dynamic evaluation of dispositions. What does research say about co teaching? Who would be ready to mentor in this capacity? What responsibilities come with being a Mentor teacher? How do I evaluate? What time commitment does it require? If you are ready to give back and wonder if mentor teaching is for you, we welcome you.
Heart of the Sky Fair Trade has been involved in Guatemala solidarity work for the past 20 years.This session will focus on the current political situation in Guatemala as well as how Guatemalan community leaders are organizing in defense of their rights.
Get inspired and reignite your enthusiasm for language teaching and learning! Attend an interactive, fun and stress-free Swedish lesson taught by a master teacher. She engages learners with culturally authentic material and demonstrates how to keep the language totally comprehensible. Even though this demo is in Swedish, hopefully you will be motivated to study the language of your choice! Lean back,become a novice learner and get a taste of what your students experience.
Basado en mis experiencias en Honduras en febrero con Witness for Peace, voy a presentar una lección que podrá enseñarse en varios niveles de clases de español con el objetivo de explicar por qué hay menores de edad que cruzan todo México solos para llegar a la frontera de los EE.UU. ¿Por qué salen de sus países? ¿Cómo llegan? ¿Qué pasa con ellos cuando cruzan la frontera?
The ACTFL Assessment of Performance toward Proficiency in Languages (AAPPL) is a performance-based assessment of standards based language learning across the three modes of communication (Interpersonal, Interpretive,and Presentational) as defined by the World Readiness Standards for Learning Languages. AAPPL Measure assesses Interpersonal Listening/Speaking (ILS), Interpretive Reading(IR), Interpretive Listening (IL), and Presentational Writing (PW) in an online format. AAPPL Measure assesses performance and leads to a performance-assessment environment. The presenters will report on their pilot of AAPPL in the SMSU College Now program and how this assessment tool is affecting curriculum design and instruction.Plus students actually enjoy it!
Explore tech options for students to design, compose, and plan while staying in target language. Featured apps and tech tools are contextualized in a variety of L2 learning levels and can be used across platforms (mobile, iPad, laptop, iOS, Android, Chromebook, desktop). Ideal session for WL teachers engaged in 1:1 settings or districts preparing for one. Session website chock-full of learning resources, support, and ideas. Delivered in English with examples in Spanish.
This presentation shares naturally emerged opportunities of teaching Chinese linguistics politeness in telecollaboration between first year U.S. learners of Mandarin Chinese and native speakers who are pre-service teachers of Chinese as second/foreign language. Belz (2007) suggests that telecollaboration is ideal for pragmatic competence development. Investigating the use of telecollaboration in first semester Chinese classes is worthwhile as it may shed light on the effective instruction of pragmatics especially to beginners.
Most world language teachers in Minnesota are white. Most of our students, especially in metropolitan areas are not. The presenter will share her strategies, tips and understandings that lead to a more equitable classroom that encourages success for all students. This session is intended to foster sharing among professionals around the topic of cultural competence and how that can lead to actions in our classroom that align with our beliefs. Together, we can re-examine our practices and work towards success that motivates.
Participants will learn all the programmatic logistics required to successfully launch a new immersion school from a great idea to a reality where students and teachers are learning in the target language. This presentation will share the successful story of La ola del lago Spanish Immersion in Prior Lake, MN.
Was bedeutet "Dreiländereck"? Eine Präsentation von einer persönlichen Erfah rung in Freiburg beim Goethe Institut, Sommer 2015. Die Teilnehmerin hat 2 Wochen in Freiburg verbracht und hat sich mit vielen Einwohnern getroffen. Teilnehmer warden auch eine Beschreibung von dem Upper Rhine Valley Project bekommen.
309. ROUND TABLES: Spanish Curriculum and Assessments Join us for our first ever MCTLC Round Tables! This format will give you a chance to hear from and interact with numerous presenters focused on the teaching of Spanish. You may even win a door prize!
In my presentation, I would like to address a few fundamental questions: Is it possible to learn a foreign language in a virtual classroom? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the virtual setting? How does the pedagogy in an online setting differ from the traditional classroom setting? I will explore these questions through my own experience as an Online Spanish/French teacher and the research that I have done in this area. I will engage the 5 C’s to show how these are used in virtual space to help students advance in their language.
Join Language teachers as we discuss the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines using authentic student work. Using unaided (dictionary and translator free)student writing samples, we will discuss how to place student work at an appropriate proficiency level based on ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. We will discuss what each level “looks” like and attempt to identify benchmarks for each level. While samples will be provided,please feel free to bring unaided student writing samples from your classroom to add to the discussion. Samples will be provided in Spanish.
During this session you will hear how I have put together a unit on the complicated topic of immigration. 21st century learners must be able to sift through biased media outlets and information to come to their own conclusions.I will share what I have learned through the process (my observations on what has worked and what to avoid), resources I drew upon that are available for you to use and options on how to adapt the unit. I used this for a high school Spanish 4 advanced class but it can be adapted to many levels and ACTFL proficiencies.
Students find this to be a deeply meaningful,communicative and highly engaging experience. Using IPA (Integrated Performance Assessment) as a framework, this session will explore the many possible steps in the process of finding a job, culminating in a job fair. Students will create materials in each step in the process,which helps them see the value of language in the workforce, gaining real-world insight and critical thinking skills. Working with Level IV students, with Advanced Low as the target, participants will go home with a Thematic Unit in Spanish, a developed IPA, and rubrics in English ready to implement in the classroom the next day.
The subjunctive mood in Spanish grammar can alienate students from the language as it is often not a verbatim translation from English and can seem too abstract. This session demystifies this tricky concept of Spanish instruction and provides a clear and comprehensive approach for teaching it.
There are countless opportunities to use your school's computer lab or laptop carts for elementary language learners. I will be discussing how to use programs like Seesaw,Google Street View, Señor Wooly and more to enhance curriculum for 3rd-5th grade students. The lab is ideal for creating and organizing activities to be used in conjunction with ACTFL proficiency targets. Using tools like computers that are relevant to students' daily lives makes learning a language more hands on and exciting. As an added bonus, you will learn a Spanish line dance at the end of the presentation!
Hear from two German teachers, including one who teaches with ITV, who use anticipatory sets to engage students with various aspects of language and life. Learn how we use anticipatory sets to engage with videos, music, dates, questioning, vocabulary and pronunciation, as well as how a few simple technologies have helped make these successful in our classrooms.
The purpose of this session is to discuss how to incorporate authentic tasks into the foreign language curriculum. The presenter will share examples of project-based assessments that not only engage students in solving real-life problems, but also encourage them to learn the language in a meaningful way. Participants will also discuss their best practices by sharing assignment ideas and resources needed to create meaningful and authentic tasks.
Students learn by taking risks and failing. They are willing to take these risks in a safe environment once they have been engaged through personalized fun activities. You will experience and reflect on approaches to engage students, provide fun personalized opportunities to play and practice, and maintain a safe motivating environment for the learner.Participants will receive a packet of materials and have the opportunity to share examples and ideas that incorporate interpersonal,interpretive, and presentational examples.
Minnesota’s bilingual and multilingual seals and world language proficiency certificates have been in place for more than a year with students earning seals and certificates in a variety of languages. This session provides information about: 1) seals and world language proficiency certificates earned by students since the legislation was passed; 2) the process of obtaining seals; and 3) what the proficiency levels required by the seals look like in practice.
A cultural immersion program can bring incredible benefits to your students and community, but it may seem like a challenge to get a program off the ground or gain approval from your board or district. This session will walk you through the process of planning a travel abroad or international hosting program for your students and provide you with clear guidelines and recommendations for gaining approval for your program. You’ll leave feeling empowered to establish and recruit for a cultural immersion travel program or to bring the world to your community by hosting international students.
The 2016 CSCTFL French language teacher scholarship winner will present the process and learnings from 3 weeks in Trois Rivières, Québec. Cultural insights, language observations and useful information for use in the classroom will also be presented. Québec,c'est le fun!
Speaking portfolios that students carry on their phone? The Extempore App encourages unscripted speaking practice beyond the classroom, allows for individualized feedback,and is compatible with student-centered pedagogical strategies such as portfolio-based self-reflection and self-assessment. Moreover,75% of students regularly using Extempore feel more confident speaking in the target language with the app than without it. Participants in this session will leave with a number of standards-based Extempore activities to promote speaking. Those with access to Android or iOS (iPhone, iPad) mobile devices will have the opportunity to experiment hands-on with the app.
In this presentation, the benefits of virtual field trips will be highlighted and overcoming challenges will be discussed. The presenters will demonstrate a variety of Web 2.0 technologies that can be used to create virtual field trips and examples from K-16 Spanish, Japanese, Arabic, Latin, and German teachers will be presented. There will be time for brainstorming and sharing, and all materials will be made available via a Padlet, which will remain active for participants as they collaborate and create virtual field trips for their own students in the future.
YouTube can be a great resource in the classroom. It is a great way to connect students with the Spanish-speaking world and encourage them to speak the language. This session will feature YouTube videos that have been used successfully in class and will provide you with ideas for using YouTube in your classroom. You will leave with engaging activities that take little preparation and can be used next week or anytime in your Spanish classroom.
Come see how I have used a program called Seesaw to transform my classroom. Seesaw is a student friendly, teacher managed program that can be used in a million ways. I will demonstrate some of the ways that I have used it to teach vocabulary, get students speaking to each other and an audience, and assess students without the stress of traditional "tests"or performance assessments.
The first in a series of tried and true activities!In this first session, you will learn 5 community building activities you can put into practice on Monday morning. Participants will actively try all five activities, which will give conference attendees a chance to meet each other and network as they learn practical activities.Participants will receive detailed plans for these five activities: I Am Mixer, Train Wreck, I Am Unique, Name That Voice, and Speed Dating.The session will be run in English for accessibility, but these activities are designed to keep your students in any target language.
Why aren’t there more boys in upper level foreign language classes? We often hear about the achievement gap with girls in math and science, but why is no one talking about the similar gap with boys and upper level World Language acquisition? In this session you will learn how to engage and excite boys in your classroom to help them become advanced language learners who are active participants that see the value in continued World Language study.
Are you interested in spicing up your assessments? Create engaging integrated performance assessments, with and without innovative technologies that allow students to show understanding of their own identities,demonstrate intercultural competence, and convey knowledge of academic content,meeting the Communications, Cultures,Connections and Comparisons World-Readiness Standards. The presenters will provide adverse example from their own German classrooms, ranging from novice to intermediate high proficiency levels. In each example, the presenters will emphasize how they crafted each IPA to align with the World Readiness Standards. There will be also be small group and whole group discussion and sharing.
Channel some of the excitement associated with this holiday toward the co-creation of a lighthearted story. Attendees will get ideas for establishing meaning of vocabulary and asking personalized questions, as well as witness the story asking process play out from a tried-and true script. Follow-up aural and reading activities will be explored. Presentation will assume a basic familiarity with TPRS, but all are welcome to attend.
The goals of many institutions are to bring new social dynamics to their education system, as well as increasing diversity within and between institutions. One area through which this goal is reached involves International Student Programs across the nation. However,complications arise as professors fail to take into account the mindset and ingrained educational principles of these students,influenced by their respective culture.Therefore, Writing and Reading courses should shift their focus to not only build the area of comprehension, but also to study the Psychology behind writing, looked at through the lens of Multicultural Psychology and Contrastive Rhetoricians.
Teaching a foreign language involves vocabulary instruction and strategies to engage students into putting them to use in order to achieve rich and meaningful communication skills in the 3 modes, interpersonal, interpretive, and presentational. materials motivate students to speak, to create a context with which their speech has meaning, and they contribute to students’ long term memory. Well-designed scaffolding strategies play an instrumental role in leading students to reach desired performance. will demonstrate how to maximize a class through the use of visuals and scaffolding strategies within a specific thematic unit.
Explore a unique approach to immersive language learning that supports students in crafting their own personal narratives.Brainstorm how to help students identify how their narratives change through connections with a new culture in the target language. The result of these connections is a culture that both parties belong to and have power to shape: third culture. Collaborate with fellow educators to construct lesson plans that support students in composing personal narratives and embracing the third culture space they share with other fellow global citizens. | http://mctlc.org/Sessions2016 |
A bill to establish a Centre for Igbo Language, Research and Development aimed at promoting, preserving and restoring the use of Igbo Language in Imo State, has passed second reading at the state House of Assembly.
The bill, when passed into law, would make teaching and learning of Igbo Language compulsory for students in schools across the state.
Sponsored by Ekene Nnodumele of Orsu State Constituency, the bill may be cited as the Centre for Igbo Language Research and Development (Amendment) Law 2020.
The sponsor said it would also encourage the preservation of other aspects of Igbo culture and traditions, which many believe, would soon go into extinction if something was not done about it urgently.
Speaking at plenary on Thursday, Nnodumele canvassed the promotion, understanding and appreciation of Igbo Language by organising lectures, discussions, refresher courses, symposia, exhibitions, performances, demonstrations, quizzes, debates and other cultural activities to further keep the Igbo Language alive in the state.
“This bill is needed to encourage corporate bodies as part of their social corporate responsibility (CSR) in their host communities to initiate programmes and educational activities aimed at advocating and promoting the use of Igbo Language and further developing it,” he said.
Co-sponsors of the bill, Deputy Speaker, Amara Iwuanyanwu (Nwangele), Arthur Egwim (Ideato North), Chiji Collins (Isiala-Mbano), Uche Ogbuagu (Ikeduru), Michael Onyemaechi (Ihitte-Uboma), Emeka Nduka (Ehime-Mbano) and Uju Onwudiwe (Njaba), commended the Nnodumele for his ingenuity. | https://newswirengr.com/2020/12/11/imo-state-assembly-considers-law-making-igbo-language-compulsory-in-schools/ |
Geography Stages 4, 5 and 6
A study of Geography builds on students' prior learning and experience to enable them to explain patterns, evaluate consequences and contribute to the management of physical, social, cultural and built environments. Geography does this by:
- focusing objectively on the physical components of environments – this enables students to view a community as part of the wider global environment
- providing a basis for recognising and responding to the constant changes taking place in environments at local, regional, national and global scales
- providing geographical methodologies that contribute to an understanding of the world
- examining the various perspectives of people in communities and the consequences of their actions on environments
- developing an appreciation of the intrinsic value of environments – this may enrich the lives of those who experience them
- empowering students with a knowledge of civics that enables them to exercise citizenship.
The study of Geography develops a wide range of skills such as gathering, organising and evaluating geographical information from a variety of sources, including fieldwork. Through the spatial dimension, geography enables students to identify and analyse the physical, social, economic, political, legal and technological factors that influence where things are and why they are there. The ecological dimension requires students to identify and analyse the ways humans interact with environments and in so doing develops students' skills in evaluating arguments and problem-solving. Culture is a key determinant of people's lives and worldview and through the study of Geography students develop knowledge and understanding of different cultures and develop perspectives that enhance their understanding of the world.
The study of Geography enables students to critically assess the ideas and opinions of others and to form and express their own ideas and arguments. In so doing it forms a basis for active participation in community life, ecological sustainability, creating a just society, promoting intercultural understanding and lifelong learning. Through the study of civics and citizenship students develop knowledge of the decision-making processes that exist at a variety of scales, which informs them of ways they can participate as responsible and informed members of society.
Program Aim:
The aim of the Geography Years 7–12 Syllabus is to stimulate students' enjoyment of and interest in the interaction of the physical and human environments. Students achieve this as they develop geographic knowledge, understanding, skills, values and attitudes and engage in the community as informed and active citizens.
Knowledge and understanding
Through the study of Geography, students will develop knowledge and understanding about:
- the characteristics and spatial distribution of environments
- how people and communities modify, and are affected by, the environment
- how physical, social, cultural, economic and political factors shape communities, including the global community
- civics for informed and active citizenship
Skills:
Through the study of Geography, students will develop skills in:
- acquiring, processing and communicating geographical information
- choosing and applying appropriate geographical tools
- using the information skills processes of:
- Defining
- Locating
- Selecting
- Organising
- Presenting
- Assessing and applying these processes to reading, writing and research tasks.
Values and attitudes:
Through the study of Geography, students will develop interest in, and informed and responsible attitudes towards, people, cultures, societies and environments, with a commitment to:
- Ecological sustainability
- A just society
- Informed and active citizenship
- Lifelong learning. | https://pennanthil-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/learning-at-our-school/human-society-and-its-environment/social-science.html |
The Office of the Provost hosts an annual summit that convenes mentors, advisors, and coaches to discuss new trends and best practices in mentoring and advising.
The summit focuses on specific tools, techniques, theories, and concepts that support students as they chart clear goals and direction for the future, develop enduring networks of colleagues and mentors, and sustain their pursuit of success after graduation.
Benefits:
- Network with other faculty and staff who mentor, advise, and coach students.
- Get up-to-date information on topics, trends, and successful strategies, locally and nationally.
- Learn best practices that you can adapt for your own program and students.
- Explore new and emerging technologies that facilitate informed, effective, and efficient mentoring and advising.
- Share your innovative solutions and strategies with colleagues.
2022 Mentoring and Advising Summit
The fifth annual Mentoring and Advising Summit explored ways to continue building a strong culture of inclusion and belonging in our mentoring and advising work.
2021 Mentoring and Advising Summit
Our 2021 Summit gave advisors, mentors, and coaches the opportunity to convene virtually to share, network, explore, and learn.
2020 Mentoring and Advising Summit
Colleagues from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh gathered to explore how we can continue to build a strong culture of inclusion in our mentoring and advising work.
2019 Mentoring and Advising Summit
As we strive to support Pitt’s goal of excellence in education, it is increasingly important that we grow in our capacity to bring together different ideas, critical perspectives, challenges, and ways of life.
2018 Mentoring and Advising Summit
Pitt’s first undergraduate Mentoring and Advising Summit will offer opportunities to network, share ideas, and explore useful tools that will help students to succeed in their academic choices, in their careers, and in their lives. | https://www.personalized.pitt.edu/mentoring-advising/mentoring-advising-summit |
The need for robust cybersecurity controls steadily grows as new technologies, regulations, and threats arise. Our dynamic team delivers solutions geared towards the satisfaction and success of our valued clients. We regularly serve hundreds of community banks, insurance companies, technology providers, healthcare providers, and businesses spanning a range of vertical markets. As our clients face new challenges, we adapt our approach to create practices and solutions aimed directly at solving real-life issues.
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Working closely with clients, our process enables business leaders to identify cybersecurity threats and their associated impacts. This assessment of the risk and control universe greatly reduces threats regularly faced by organizations. A passion and talent for threat analysis and risk mitigation helps clients get secure and stay secure.
We have you covered when it comes to:
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- Improved insight and finer control over data handling by third-party vendors
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Areas of focus include: | https://www.accumepartners.com/services/cybersecurity/ |
Jim Hare is a Distinguished Vice President in Gartner's Technology and Service Provider Research and Advisory group. His research coverage includes AI, data science, and analytics & BI. He is also the Gartner Vendor Lead Analyst for Amazon.
Mr. Hare advises tech providers on how to best adapt their product and go-to-market strategy to emerging technologies & trends, market dynamics, and buyer preferences.
Prior to joining Gartner, Mr. Hare built and led the go-to-market strategies at a variety of software companies in the bay area.
Actian
Senior Director, Product Marketing
IBM
Marketing Director
Cognos
VP, Product Marketing and Business Development
Analytics, BI and Data Science Solutions
Artificial Intelligence
Product Planning
Product Introduction
Messaging and Differentiation
M.S., System Management, University of Southern California
B.S., Aerospace Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder
1What are the key trends in AI that will impact my business?
2Where are the fastest-growing segments and emerging opportunities in analytics and BI?
3How should I adapt my go-to-market strategy to respond to the market dynamics?
4What capabilities are end users looking for in analytics and BI?
5How should my company respond to remain competitive? | https://www.gartner.com/en/experts/jim-hare |
The Catholic Leaders’ Symposium is an educational networking opportunity for Catholic-sponsored organizations of all sizes, as well as Religious Institute leaders and their Health Care Coordinators. Topics will address trends and changes within the Catholic senior housing and services sector, to enhance your understanding of the industry’s best practices and innovations.
We are in times of great change, not only throughout our national health system, but within the Catholic healthcare and elder care organizations who take care of some of the most vulnerable, needy populations. Chris Lowney, chair of one of the largest Catholic Healthcare organizations and renowned speaker and author, will talk about the responsibility within all of us to be heroic leaders. Learn how “heroic” leaders learn to adapt to a rapidly changing world and respect the dignity and potential of those around them.
Research Update: What We Know – U.S. Catholic Senior Ministries in a Time of Changing Need?
Catholic senior health and housing leaders need real-time data to plan your organization’s future. In this session, Lisa McCracken will share U.S. Catholic senior health and housing ministry research data and trends so you can benchmark how your ministries measure up in relation to other Catholic-sponsored organizations to plan for your future.
You’ve heard the research. Given the pressures on your ministries and congregations, where do you turn? What independent resources are available to assist you in creating and implementing a comprehensive, realistic, implementable and long-term sustainable plan? This session will not only identify the infrastructure and resources available to others, but will provide a macro view of Catholic Elder Care from national leaders.
Successful collaboration is no easy feat. Hear from four leaders who have “been there … done that.” You will be inspired as you learn the key elements to creating successful collaborations and solving shared challenges.
The gap between relevance and obsolescence has the potential to grow wider every day. If Catholic-sponsored single-site communities are to stay relevant then they must adapt to change, and they must do so before change beckons the call. Hear two leaders share how they’re staying relevant to be connected – internally with their employees, externally with customers and emerging market trends; to anticipate new direction.
It takes open eyes to see what we can change and curiosity to dig deep. It takes creativity to turn ideas into action. Take a deep dive into two organizations that are expanding their mission outreach and creating a better tomorrow for those they serve – in their communities, at home, and those they employ.
Copyright © 2019 • Catholic Leaders Symposium™ | Designed By Maneswork . | http://catholic-leaders-symposium.com/ |
How will upcoming technological trends affect the chemical industry?
Birte Golembiewski
In academic journals as well as in the press, the discussion on so-called “emerging” technologies is ubiquitous. Thereby, different technologies are named but their future role for industry and everyday life can only be presumed. This uncertainty presents a major challenge for companies. How should the chemical industry and related value chains e.g. deal with technologies involving far-reaching consequences such as hydraulic fracking? As a result, it is a never-ending task for companies to stay flexible and to decide how they want to handle emerging technologies. To which extent do they engage with upcoming technological trends? Do they only adapt to changed environments and policies or is the company even at the forefront?
In 2015, trends affecting chemical-related industries such as 3-D printing, the usage of GMOs or innovative catalytic processes might be pioneering whereas in some areas, e.g. renewable energy technologies or nanotechnologies, developments seem to stagnate or technologies are falling short of expectations. It will be exciting to observe the technological trends in the New Year as well as companies’ responses in order to get involved or even to stay ahead of new developments.
The research paper of this issue “Nanotechnology companies in the United States: A web-based content analysis of companies and products for poverty alleviation” by Thomas Woodsen and Duy Do deals with the social engagement of companies active in nanotechnology R&D and patenting. By analyzing information on companies’ websites, the authors identify characteristics of nanotechnology-related companies which are showing initiatives to promote CSR and poverty alleviation in particular.
The first paper of our Practitioner’s Section “Supply Value Management - A benchmarking study and a new theoretical approach show that procurement in the chemical, pharmaceutical and healthcare industry has only average performance” is written by Thorsten Makowski and Florian Walter. By presenting the results of a study series, the authors introduce three frameworks in order to provide a holistic approach to procurement and emphasize its manifold value creation levers. The article demonstrates specific features and gaps in managing procurement within companies of the chemical pharmaceutical and healthcare sector compared to the average results for all industries.
In the article “Chemical industry activity as a leading indicator of the business cycle”, Thomas K Swift describes the set-up of the Chemical Activity Barometer (CAB). This barometer displays the development of the chemical industry’s production. Due to the upstream position of chemical companies, this composite index serves as a leading indicator for future up- and downward trends in the US economy reflected by the Federal Reserve Board’s index of industrial production.
Please enjoy reading the first issue of the twelfth volume of the Journal of Business Chemistry. We are grateful for the support of all authors and reviewers for this new issue. | https://www.businesschemistry.org/article/?article=201 |
The global healthcare industry is preparing to ride the digital wave- contextualizing and implementing new technologies such as cloud, mobility, Big Data and analytics, and the Internet of Things (IoT)-to best align with care models. However, technology offers risks as well as rewards. The more healthcare ecosystems embrace digital technology, the more they expose themselves to emerging cyber risks. As healthcare providers progress toward predictive and prescriptive models to support real-time decision-making, their rich data becomes a strategic asset. They need to plan ways to mitigate their vulnerabilities and enhance their security against cyber risks now. Because of this, there is a significant market opportunity, and technology vendors can leverage their ecosystems to offer end-to-end security solutions to exploit state-of-the-art technology such as artificial intelligence (AI) and forensics.
Forward-thinking healthcare providers are pivoting towards a holistic cybersecurity approach to shore up their current positions. This approach will also ensure strong future-proofing elements by acknowledging ongoing changes that are in line with wider growth strategies. However, achieving a comprehensive cybersecurity approach requires involving people, processes, and technology that are relevant to detection, prediction, prevention, and rapid response in order to safeguard users from the myriad cyber breaches that healthcare players now need to confront.
Scope
This report provides in-house analyst expertise on the 14 most important cybersecurity technologies and identifies the winners in these high-growth cyber technology cycles. Components of the report include -
- Key Players: identify the big players in the cybersecurity industry and where they sit in the value chain.
- Trends in the Cybersecurity Industry: key trends driving the cybersecurity industry classified into five key categories - the changing nature of cyber threats, evolution of key cybersecurity technologies, industry growth drivers, healthcare governance trends, and cybersecurity trends in healthcare.
- Industry Analysis: analysis of the impact of cybercrime and key regulations around cybersecurity across global regulatory bodies.
- Impact of Cybersecurity in Healthcare: identify key cybersecurity models for the healthcare industry including case studies demonstrating how healthcare companies are using cybersecurity for improved outcomes.
- Value Chain: identify the 14 key cybersecurity technologies driving growth in the cybersecurity industry, highlighting the leaders in each category.
Reasons to buy
- Develop and design your corporate strategies through an in-house expert analysis of the key cybersecurity technologies impacting the healthcare industry.
- Develop business strategies by understanding the key cybersecurity models being used in the healthcare industry.
- Stay up to date on the industrys big players in the cybersecurity industry and where they sit in the value chain.
- Identify emerging industry trends in cybersecurity technologies to gain a competitive advantage.
Have query on this report?Make an Enquiry
1 Table of Contents 3
1.1 List of Tables 5
1.2 List of Figures 5
2 Players 6
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ULC members enjoy opportunities to:
Learn from the brightest minds and expertise.Learn More
ULC’s monthly, professional development webinar series features leading practices presented by experts from around the world as well as experts within the ULC community who share their experiences and offer solutions on topics that are important to the library. Registration for all 2020 ULC webinars is free for members.
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Stanley Consultants is a technology-driven company. We leverage partnerships, technology and innovative approaches to scale up quickly and deliver versatile solutions to our clients.
Our Approach
Finding ways to improve lives now and in the future requires using the best technology available to make impactful decisions. We embrace the latest in digital technologies in communications, software, computing and mapping to help unlock business-critical insights. With this modern approach, we develop smart systems that enable clients to streamline their businesses and optimize asset performance and efficiency.
Asset management is a cornerstone to engineering the future. Our solutions help infrastructure investments last longer and work more efficiently to save clients money and increase sustainability.
Engineering and design is at the heart of everything we do. Our approach centers on robust core competencies and continuously evolving technical skills to remain at the forefront of our field.
Our holistic solutions help clients adapt to and protect the changing environment and regulatory paradigm. We work to avoid serious consequences in the future by taking proactive steps today.
We understand that planning and consulting touch every aspect of engineering. Utilizing advanced technologies and data, our solutions support longevity, resiliency and productivity.
With a foundation in proven methods and procedures, we deliver successful project results by planning, organizing and coordinating every element of design and construction processes. | https://www.stanleyconsultants.com/business-insights/smart-systems |
For your convenience, this report is available in the following format:
PDF (548 KB)
Introduction
The purpose of this document is to:
- Provide information on the eligibility criteria for funding from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) under the Agricultural Clean Technology Program (Program).
- Provide directions and explanations to assist with completing the Project Application Form.
1. Clean Technology
The Government of Canada is committed to working with provincial and territorial governments and industry through the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, to support clean growth and innovation as Canada transitions to a low-carbon economy.
Budget 2017 committed $200 million over four years (2017-2018 to 2020-2021) to support research, development and demonstration, and adoption of clean technologies in Canada's natural resources sectors, which includes: energy, mining, forestry, fisheries/aquaculture and agriculture. This included $25 million in funding to AAFC, to develop a clean technology program for the agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products sector in Canada (Sector).
Clean technologies are defined as any process, product, or service that reduces environmental impacts through:
- environmental protection activities that prevent, reduce or eliminate pollution or any other degradation of the environment
- resource management activities that result in the more efficient use of natural resources, thus safeguarding against their depletion
- the use of goods that have been adapted to be significantly less energy or resource intensive than the industry standard
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) has developed and is responsible for administering the federal Agricultural Clean Technology Program (Program). The Program responds to the Government of Canada's priority for a clean environment and sustainable economy by enabling changes required within the Sector to help achieve these goals.
2. About the Agricultural Clean Technology Program
Program objective
The Program provides non-repayable, federal contributions to implement and deliver clean technology projects for the Sector that support activities across the innovation continuum. The innovation continuum ranges from research and development, to technology and knowledge transfer, to commercialization and adoption. These activities and the clean technologies must intend to generate positive impacts on land, water and air, while reducing the intensity of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agricultural production.
Innovation is defined as one of the following:
- an invention, new technology, new process or new service that is not currently available in the marketplace
- significant modifications to the application of existing technologies, processes or services that are applied in a setting or condition for which current applications are not possible or feasible
- an improvement to an existing technology, process or service that represents a significant (generally patentable) improvement in functionality, cost or performance of goods and services that are considered state of the art or new to the industry or the Sector
Below is a chart outlining the innovation continuum:
Description of image above.
Innovation Continuum
The Innovation Continuum is made up of three stages: Research (knowledge creation), Development (Pre-Commercialization/Pre-Adoption/Technology Transfer Phase) and Technology Transfer (Commercialization/Adoption Phase).
- the research phase consists of basic research and applied research
- the development phase may contain some applied research, followed by: prototype development, demonstration full scale, and product development
- the technology phase contains market ready and market development stages
2.1 Program priorities
The Program is intended to create an enabling environment for the development and adoption of clean technologies. In order to be eligible for funding, Applicants must clearly demonstrate how proposed projects will support the aim of eventual adoption of clean technologies in the Sector, in either the short or long term.
The Program prioritizes projects that invest in or promote two key areas of clean technology for the Sector: precision agriculture and agri-based bioproducts.
- Precision agriculture is an approach that uses a wide range of technologies to gather and process data for the purpose of guiding targeted actions that improve the sustainability, efficiency and productivity of agricultural operations.
- Agri-based bioproducts are renewable products, other than food and feed, which are derived from agricultural resources or wastes, such as manure and crop residues.
Examples of clean technology projects that may be eligible for funding through the Program include, but are not limited to:
- improving land and nutrient management and feed efficiencies through the development, adaptation and adoption of precision tools, technologies and practices in agricultural operations for the purpose of increasing energy efficiency, reducing GHG emissions, fostering innovation and/or maintaining competitiveness
- producing advanced materials and products that support regionally-specific bio-product value chains to create alternatives to fossil fuel-based technologies, materials, fuels and chemicals, and improve feedstock supply and quality to support the transformation of bio-based materials
- transforming waste streams and process outputs into lower carbon, bio-based products, energy and chemicals through the conversion of agricultural crops and waste into bio-gas for heat and power, and/or reduce on-farm emissions and enhance waste utilization
2.2 Eligible applicants
Eligible applicants are:
- provincial and territorial governments;
- for-profit organizations, incorporated in Canada, they may include:
- businesses and/or corporations
- co-operatives
- Indigenous groups
- not-for-profit organizations, incorporated in Canada, which operate solely for social welfare, civic improvement, pleasure or recreation, any other purpose except profit. They may include:
- academic institutions
- co-operatives
- Indigenous groups
Note: eligible applicants must be legal entities capable of entering into legally binding agreements.
2.3 Eligible and ineligible activities
Eligible activities pertaining to clean technology projects that invest in and/or promote precision agriculture and agri-based bioproducts, which benefit the Sector, are of the following nature and type:
- basic and applied research, including public-private collaboration
- developing clean technologies
- piloting and evaluating clean technologies
- demonstration and knowledge and technology translation/transfer activities
- commercializing clean technologies
- accelerating adoption of on-farm clean technologies
- sectoral awareness and communication-building activities that promote clean technologies
Examples of the above-mentioned activities may include, but are not limited to:
- developing and improving harvesting/production systems that enhance the quality of crops harvested by farmers for use in the production of bioproducts
- developing technologies in support of bioproducts
- developing and integrating bioproduct value chains
- developing, commercializing and/or demonstrating precision agriculture technologies, such as variable rate equipment, sensors, environmentally beneficial precision agriculture applications of aerial drones, and farm management software
- assistance to help individual producers, groups and organizations promote or undertake education/training, audit/assessments and planning, that support the adoption of new or innovative clean technologies by the Sector
- incentives to adopt new or innovative clean technologies in support of bioproducts and precision agriculture
- implementing activities to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) demonstrate commercial potential of technologies required to produce bioproducts that are themselves used in the manufacture of end-product materials
- commercializing technologies developed for SMEs
- commercializing technologies that can be used in the production of biofuels or biochemicals
Ineligible activities include, but may not be limited to:
- activities that do not provide a direct benefit to the Sector
- activities related to aquaponic food production, and to aquaculture, seaweed, fish and seafood production and processing
- development and enforcement of regulations
- automated applications that do not result in GHG efficiencies or other direct environmental benefits (for example, automated steering systems, robotic milking systems)
- renovations, site improvements, leasehold improvements, land lease or purchase, building purchase or construction
2.4 Funding and cost-sharing
Total funding available through the Program is $25 million over three years (2018-2019 to 2020-2021). Activities must be completed by March 31, 2021 to be considered for funding.
2.4.1 Maximum funding amounts
Applicants may apply for Program funding for up to 50% of total eligible projects costs, to a maximum of $5 million per project.
Once a project is approved under the Program, funding will be administered through a contribution agreement entered into between AAFC and the Applicant.
2.4.2 Cost-sharing
Eligible project costs will normally be shared as follows:
- a maximum contribution of 50% from the Program; and
- a minimum contribution of 50% from the Applicant
Projects benefiting the Territories, Northern communities, Indigenous peoples or other underrepresented groups, may receive up to 75% in Program funding toward total eligible project costs. For such projects, costs may be shared as follows:
- a maximum contribution of 75% from the Program; and
- a minimum contribution of 25% from the Applicant
Where the Applicant is a for-profit or not-for-profit organization, a 10% cash contribution is required from the provincial or territorial government supporting the project.
The Applicant must clearly indicate all sources of funding for the project, including their contribution and other sources of funding, such as:
- federal government departments and agenciesFootnote 1
- provincial/territorial governmentsFootnote 1
- municipal governmentsFootnote 1
- Indigenous communities
- non-government partners such as:
- industry associations and networks
- businesses
- academic and research institutions, such as universities and colleges
The Applicant must demonstrate that the funding will be sufficient to support overall project costs. Applicants must provide confirmation that all sources of funding for the project have been secured.
In-kind contributions and cash from future operations will not be considered in the calculation of project costs as they are not recognized as eligible under the Program. In-kind means the fair market value attributed for goods and the fair value attributed for services which are contributed to the project and require no outlay of cash, by the Applicant or a contributor, during the term of the contribution agreement.
2.5 Eligible costs and limitations
To be eligible for reimbursement through the Program, costs must be incurred and paid within the period specified in the contribution agreement, but not before April 1, 2018, or after March 31, 2021.
Costs incurred prior to the effective date and after the project completion date established by the Program will not be eligible for funding. Any costs incurred prior to the signing of a contribution agreement will be incurred solely at the Applicant's risk without any obligation of payment by the Program.
Eligible costs under the Program are the incremental, relevant, reasonable and essential expenses required to carry out the eligible activities to which they relate as specifically set out in the contribution agreement.
Eligible costs must be presented by cost categories in the Budget submitted for the project.
See the Program's How to Apply document for more details on eligible costs, cost categories and limitations.
3. Application process and timeline
Applications will be accepted on an on-going basis as of April 1, 2018, or until funding has been fully committed or otherwise announced by the Program. The Program ends March 31, 2021.
Applicants must submit a complete application package to be considered for funding through the Program. The application package consists of the following AAFC forms:
- Project Application Form
- Annex A – Work Plan
- Annex B – Budget
- additional supporting documentation as requested by AAFC to fully assess the project.
For-profit and not-for-profit organizations that apply to the Program must also include a letter of support from the provincial or territorial government of their primary project location.
For information on how to complete these forms, please consult the Program's How to Apply document.
To receive the application package, contact AAFC by email at: [email protected].
4. Expected results
The expected results of the Program are:
- increased investment in clean technology in agriculture
- increased development, demonstration, commercialization and adoption of clean technologies in agriculture
- improved environmental performance of the Sector in the long term
5. Assessment criteria
Applications to the Program will be assessed on the following criteria. AAFC officials will consider whether the project:
- supports the Program's objective and priorities
- initiates change to reduce GHG emissions through the development and adoption of clean technologies
- reduces environmental impacts and lowers GHG emissions
- benefits Canadian agricultural producers and other Sector stakeholders
Other considerations include:
- contributions from industry stakeholders toward eligible project costs
- previous funding received through the Program
- the state of adoption by the Sector of the clean technology to which the project pertains
- experimentation or testing of new or innovative clean technologies for the Sector to learn what works and what does not work
- benefits to underrepresented groups (for example, Indigenous Peoples, women and youth)
- benefits to Territories or Northern communities
Technical and financial aspects of projects will also be assessed by AAFC subject matter experts.
Additional information
AAFC may consult the Applicant to obtain clarification on details of the project and/or for additional information, where deemed necessary for the assessment. AAFC may modify the service standard to reflect any delays in the Applicant providing supplementary information. Information provided in the completed application will be used to assess the project, along with any additional information that might be requested by AAFC. Once the assessment process is complete, the Applicant will be sent an approval or rejection notification letter. If the project is approved for funding, the letter will specify the level of funding awarded and outline any other conditions that may apply. For approved projects, AAFC officials will work with the Applicant to complete a contribution agreement.
Applications under this Program will be assessed on a first-come, first-serve basis, on merit against the assessment criteria. The Program reserves the discretion to give precedence to projects that fall within the cited priority areas of the Program.
6. Reporting on your project
Should you be approved for funding, you will be required to report on finances, performance and results. These reports include:
- Progress reports
- You will be required to provide progress reports describing the activities completed and progress made towards deliverables, as described in the Work Plan.
- Performance reports
- You will also be required to provide performance reports annually and at the end of the project. The reports will track progress against mutually agreed to performance measures outlined in the contribution agreement.
- Financial reports
- Financial reporting is required with each request for reimbursement of expenditures, in addition to year-end accounting and other financial reports.
Other reports may be required at AAFC's discretion.
Upon completion of approved projects, recipients will be required to provide a final financial report and a final performance report to AAFC.
Reporting requirements will be further outlined in the contribution agreement.
7. Considerations
7.1 M-30 Act (Quebec organizations only)
The Province of Quebec's M-30 legislation may apply to Quebec based Applicants only. It is the Act Respecting the Ministère du Conseil exécutif (R.S.Q., c. M-30).
More information on the Act is available online or by contacting the Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation (MAPAQ) at [email protected].
M-30 applies to various types of Quebec organizations, for example, organizations located in Quebec and receiving more than half of their financing from the Government of Quebec, may be subject to the Act.
All Quebec based organizations will have to address this matter and demonstrate their compliance with the Act during the project assessment process, and prior to entering into a contribution agreement.
7.2 Intellectual property
The contribution agreement will contain an intellectual property clause which will confirm that all title to intellectual property created or developed by the recipient of contribution funding, or for the recipient of contribution funding by third parties, will vest in the recipient or in a third party, as may be negotiated by the recipient.
However, the Minister may, at his or her discretion, include provisions in the contribution agreement requiring the recipient to grant, or ensure that third parties grant, a non-exclusive, world-wide and royalty-free license to the federal Crown to enable it to reproduce or publish, in any form, on any deliverables, reports and supporting documents or other documentation provided to the Minister for the project or for the administration of the agreement, as well as to produce, reproduce, perform or publish, in any form, any translation of such documentation within AAFC, within the Government of Canada or to other governments, in whole or in part, for program administration purposes or for public good purposes.
Where the Minister deems that the purpose of the contribution funding under the Program is to support the development and use, for the public good, of standards or systems, the Minister may, at his or her discretion, include provisions in the contribution agreement requiring that the recipient publishes, or if applicable, that the recipient ensures that third parties (including ultimate recipients, if applicable) who are granted title to the intellectual property do so. The Minister may also, at his or her discretion, require that the recipient grants, or ensures that the third parties holding title to the intellectual property grant, the federal Crown a royalty-free, non-exclusive and world-wide license to publish for non-commercial purposes.
Where the Minister considers that the results of the recipient's research should be published, the Minister may, at his or her discretion, include provisions in the contribution agreement requiring that the recipient grants, or ensures that third-parties (including ultimate recipients, if applicable) holding title to the intellectual property grant the federal Crown a non-exclusive, royalty-free and world-wide license to use the intellectual property for scientific publication purposes.
7.3 Official languages
Language of service
You are encouraged to communicate with AAFC in the official language of your choice. AAFC reviews and assesses applications and project deliverables in both official languages.
Official languages considerations
AAFC is committed to enhancing the vitality of the official language minority communities (OLMCs), supporting and assisting their development, and promoting the full recognition and use of both English and French in Canadian society.
When it is determined that a project under this Program involve activities related to the development and transfer of knowledge and may have an impact on OLMCs or promote the use of English and French, AAFC will include appropriate linguistic commitments in the contribution agreement with your organization and ensure that additional expenses incurred as a result of these commitments are considered eligible for funding.
If funded, your organization may be required to publicly acknowledge AAFC's support for the project. In these cases, AAFC may request that such acknowledgments include text in both official languages.
8. After you apply
AAFC's service standard goals are to:
- respond to general inquiries made to our telephone number or email address before the end of the next business day
- acknowledge receipt of your application within one business day
- assess your application and send you an approval or a rejection notification letter within 100 business days of receiving a complete application package
- send a payment within 30 business days of receipt of a duly completed and documented claim. This is applicable only if an agreement is signed
An application should not be considered submitted until a notice of acknowledgement is received from AAFC.
Service standards for assessments begin only once the application is deemed to be complete. AAFC will advise the Applicant if an application is incomplete and identify what is required for the application to be deemed complete. The Applicant may then submit additional information or re-submit the application.
Please note that even if a project meets all eligibility criteria, the submission of an application creates no obligation on the part of the Minister or of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada officials to provide funding for the proposed project.
The Minister retains discretion to determine, based on other public policy and public interest considerations, whether an application that meets the criteria identified in this Applicant Guide will ultimately receive funding.
9. Contact us
For more information on the Program, or to request an application package, please contact us by:
- email: [email protected]; or
- telephone: 1-877-246-4682
Report a problem on this page
- Date modified: | https://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/agricultural-programs-and-services/agricultural-clean-technology-program/applicant-guide/?id=1521203650548 |
The Founder of Flying Doctors Nigeria, Dr Ola Brown, has advocated task shifting to solve problems in the Nigeria health care system.
Speaking during a town hall meeting on the state of health technology in Nigeria held last Friday in Lagos, Brown identified lack of funding and high mortality rate from road accidents, as well as high maternal and infant mortality rates as some of the challenges facing the health sector.
“The only way to solve the problems of the health care system is to focus on maternal and child health, expand primary care, centralise tertiary hospital care and adopt sustainable health care financing and task shifting.
“Task shifting involves looking at ways in which we can shift tasks completed by doctors to other health care professionals, such as pharmacists, biomedical scientists, nurses, and the rest. This is important because of the doctor-patient ratio,” Brown said.
Brown also said that the problem of health care financing could be solved if Nigerians key into the health insurance scheme.
“Health insurance can prevent people from excessive financial burden when paying for health care. Health care is expensive we know that, but there are ways we can shield individuals from the high cost of health care by pulling these people together and allowing them to draw from the pool when they need to pay for health care service,” she said.
The Chief Executive Officer of Bigcabal Media, organisers of the town hall meeting, Mr Tomiwa Aladekomo, said the event was organised to present a report put together by his organisation and to discuss the state of the health technology space in Nigeria.
“There are technologies that are being used in improving diagnostics. The cost of those machines can be expensive, but people are using technology to shrink that cost to create small machines and smaller solutions for diagnosing people,” Aladekomo added.
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. | https://punchng.com/brown-advocates-task-shifting-to-solve-health-care-problems/ |
Because the underlying information technologies will certainly improve significantly over the life-time of a system’s development and deployment, it is desirable to plan for the eventual incorporation of these improvements. Systems designers must thus pay particular attention to three areas:
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Sustainability of the technological environment selected. Technology selection and migration strategies have significant implications for sustainability. Initial choices of technologies from which systems will be built have long-lasting consequences, because they in effect freeze an enterprise’s infrastructure. It is therefore important to select mainstream, broadly used platforms. But because the information technology industry is so dynamic, even broadly accepted technologies may later be abandoned by the marketplace. As a result, for example, a company that in 1985 had selected CP/M as its basic operating system would have had to convert long ago in order to remain current. Because maintaining applications that run on platforms based on an abandoned technological substrate is in the long run a very expensive task, applications developers must have migration strategies to port their applications to new technological environments when the old ones become too expensive to use. These comments are not intended to suggest that developers should abandon current systems in favor of the very latest technologies—it is prudent to select relatively stable technologies that are achieving widespread adoption and are likely to enjoy longer-term support. Indeed some old but previously mainstream technologies continue to be supported by vendors because their widespread use keeps them a profitable business.
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Backward compatibility. To at least minimally protect investments in design, applications, and training, and provide at least a limited measure of interoperability across versions, commercial information technologies usually incorporate considerable backward compatibility from generation N to generation N + 1, and usually provide tools to facilitate user transition to the newer generation. However, support for backward compatibility is not unlimited, and at some point, support for the earliest generations is usually abandoned. (Thus, generation N – 3 may no longer be fully supported.) Indeed, given the rate of evolution of the processing and storage capabilities of the underlying commercial technologies—and the advances in applications that these improvements enable—it is unrealistic to maintain backward compatibility forever. Election officials will have to provide guidance to system designers for how long backward compatibility for both platforms (e.g., underlying relational database systems) and applications (e.g., VRD compatibility with nonelection systems, such as DMV or SSA databases)
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are to be maintained, if at all, and indicate a strategy for defining, batching, and sequencing system upgrades. In general, configuration control is required to provide operationally required interoperability and minimize deployment and training costs. The problem is made more difficult when the rate at which enterprise-wide upgrades take place is much slower than the rate of progress in the underlying technology.
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Uneven rates of modernization. Technology renewal and refresh for a widely deployed system rarely take place at a uniform rate at all installations. For example, County A in a given state will obtain funding for such purposes 3 years before County B, and thus will upgrade its configuration much sooner than County B. Depending on the nature and extent of the county configuration upgrade, there may be no impact on the county-state interface—this, of course, is ideal. If the upgrade does affect the county-state interface, there emerges a deeper technical issue than backward compatibility—managing and handling a new county-state interface with County A and the old county-state interface with County B means that everything from help desks to software interfaces to operating procedures may need to account for the differences in these interfaces, thus entailing greater support costs than if these differences did not exist.
In this context, configuration refers to the combination of the VRD application and the underlying platform on which it runs. Simultaneous technology renewal/refresh avoids these operational problems and the expense of supporting multiple configurations in the field. But it is very difficult to ensure the simultaneous deployment of a new configuration across a large organization. In states that provide counties with VRD applications (call these states Type 1 states), coordination of the deployment of new VRD applications is likely to be possible. But in states in which counties develop VRDs on their own and feed data to a statewide VRD (call these states Type 2 states), statewide coordination is likely to be virtually impossible. Furthermore, all counties face the question of when to upgrade the base platforms that run applications—and states rarely provide support for such upgrades.
As a practical matter, these observations suggest that all statewide VRD designers will have to support multiple underlying platforms. Also, in Type 2 states, statewide VRD designers must publish clear and complete standards for data exchange that provide guidance to county VRD designers so that new versions of county VRDs are compatible with the statewide VRD. Type 1 states would be well advised to roll out VRD upgrades simultaneously to the extent possible. (These comments are not intended to suggest that it is desirable to deploy for immediate use a new version of a VRD all at once in a “big bang.” Indeed, rolling out a new version of a system on a small scale (e.g., in a few jurisdictions) in order to shake out operational problems is often a sensible step to take before large-scale deployment. But at the very least, operational testing and shakedown in such an environment should be part of a deliberate plan to introduce a new version widely. Such a plan might require simultaneous support for two versions for a short period of time, but at least simultaneous support would not need to be continued indefinitely.)
The Help America Vote Act provided a substantial one-time infusion of money for states to acquire modern information technology for supporting election administration, including the statewide voter registration systems that have been deployed. However, all experience with information technology suggests that the initial acquisition cost of information technology is a relatively small fraction of its life-cycle costs. Indeed, after initial deployment, funding streams will be required to support:
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Maintenance and system upgrade (keeping the systems running, installing operating system and applications patches to fix bugs);
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Applications upgrade (introducing new functionality and capabilities into existing applications in the VRD system, such as those needed to improve functionality or comply with federal or state rule changes);
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Training (both for end users of these systems and for new generations of system maintainers trained in the internal operations of the system); and
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Technology renewal and refresh. Given the rapidity with which information technology evolves, voter registration systems will inevitably have to migrate to new platforms, because the cost of maintaining an existing platform will eventually exceed the cost of migrating to a more modern one.
As for the magnitude of the funding streams required, one study places the total cost of ownership of personal computers in a work environment at more than five times the acquisition cost,1 suggesting that as much as 80 percent of the initial system procurement cost must be budgeted every year to support nonprocurement expenses not related to data cleanup. Even if the use of more powerful computers and platforms (e.g., virtualized computers) could reduce the total cost of ownership to only twice the acquisition cost (unlikely), it only reduces the annual nonprocurement expenses to 50 percent of the initial procurement cost.
These costs do not account for data cleaning, which would add significantly to the total cost of operating the VRD system over time. (Cleaning data to facilitate comparisons with other databases is an essential component of database management. For example, addresses may need to be standardized if jurisdictions are to qualify for certain lower postage rates in their communications with voters—address standardization services are available but are not currently being offered for free. Other kinds of data cleanup may require communicating with individual voters, and so U.S. mail postage is likely to be a significant component of data cleanup expenses.)
In short, funding for VRD support will require—every year—a significant fraction of the sums spent for the acquisition of VRDs.
The above comments refer primarily to long-term sustainability of existing VRD systems. To implement many of the improvements described in the section on longer-term actions, additional funding may well be required. In some cases, such improvements will require a time-delimited investment associated with initial acquisition and deployment and a smaller stream of funding afterward; in other cases, they will require additional funding on a continuing basis as operating expenses. It is also possible that different kinds of spending will entail different political processes, as budget accounts for computer and system acquisition may well be separate from budget accounts for cleaning election-related data.
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See John Taylor Bailey and Stephen R. Heidt, “Why Is Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Important?” Darwin Magazine Online, November 2003, available at http://www.darwinmag.com/read/110103/question74.html. | https://www.nap.edu/read/12788/chapter/6 |
This guest post has been contributed by Dr. Talat Zehra, M.B.B.S, F.C.P.S. Dr. Zehra is a consultant Histopathologist in Pakistan. Since 2016, she has also worked as a lecturer at Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi. Her field of interest is digital pathology and its implementation in Pakistan.
It has been more than two decades since the adoption of digital pathology and artificial intelligence in developed parts of the world. Although the adoption for primary diagnosis in these countries was slow, it has now been established through FDA approval and recommendations from the College of American Pathologists (CAP). The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the fast adoption of primary diagnosis as it gave pathologists the opportunity to work from home as well as convenient and cost-effective remote diagnosis and consultation.
As far as underdeveloped countries are concerned, this adoption was even slower for several reasons. Pathology slide scanners and AI software are expensive and not within budget or even a priority for most government or private labs. Another reason is that light microscopy has been the gold standard of diagnosis for centuries. With whole slide imaging (WSI) being relatively newer, adoption will naturally take time. One more important contributor to late adoption is that we need strong technical support and additional professional supporting staff to operate this technology.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, life was going smoothly without digital pathology in underdeveloped countries like Pakistan, but suddenly the pandemic has affected almost every human being and has brought about a change in the lifestyle of people across the globe, irrespective of geographical borders. More than 1.3 million precious lives were lost in a span of just one year. No one knows exactly how long this pandemic will persist and if the vaccine will provide 100% immunity. How much of the population will get this vaccine? Will it be accessible to every human irrespective of their geographical location and financial status? These are questions with unknown answers, but we should still have hope.
The pandemic has changed the thought process of everyday life. Currently we are all living with the goal of protecting ourselves and others until the pandemic resolves completely. We are minimizing outside exposure by trying to stay home and only going out for unavoidable necessities.
Digital pathology and its tools provide pathologists, particularly senior ones, an opportunity to work from home, but this is not as easy as it sounds for underdeveloped countries due to the cost of scanners. However, there are relatively cheaper solutions available which can help in this pandemic, such as digital microscopes or manual WSI software.
The second half of digital pathology is the use of AI-based software, which will again take time to be adopted, but I believe it will in time. The world’s leading software organizations could work in underdeveloped countries for cheaper rates initially and hire and train people locally. I am confident they would be successful and would even recover their initial loss.
This is my humble request for the world leaders of digital pathology to come forward in underdeveloped countries. Like COVID-19, which penetrates our lives without discrimination, we must also come together without discrimination in the name of humanity. | https://blog.inspirata.com/digital-pathology-adoption-underdeveloped-countries-covid-19 |
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