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Minsk fears no troubles amid constitutional vote — senior judge
In his words, the present-day task is to promote constitutional changes among the country’s citizens
MINSK, October 3. /TASS/. Pyotr Miklashevich, the chair of the Constitutional Court of Belarus and the head of the Constitutional Commission drafting amendments to the country’s principal law, sees no grounds to expect that the country’s opposition will use the vote on constitutional amendments to stir up tensions in the country.
"I think there are no grounds to expect somebody to stage provocations. There are sufficient forces and opportunities to prevent such attempts at the state level and hold the referendum [on constitution] in a calm atmosphere," he told the Belarus-1 TV channel on Saturday.
In his words, the present-day task is to promote constitutional changes among the country’s citizens, "so that they are treated positively by the majority of citizens."
Miklashevich went on to say that due to the post-election situation in the country last year, the Constitutional Court adopted a special act "for the defense of the constitutional order," according to which any violent action aimed at changing the constitutional order or grasping state power will be punished by the law.
Earlier, the Belarusian authorities said the referendum on the new edition of the Belarusian constitution will take place no later than February 2022.
Presidential elections were held in Belarus on August 9. Incumbent President Alexander Lukashenko won by a landslide, garnering 80.10% of the vote. His closest rival in the race, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya, came in second, with 10.12% of the ballot. However, she refused to recognize the election’s outcome, and left Belarus. After the results of the exit polls were announced late on August 9, mass protests erupted in downtown Minsk and other Belarusian cities. During the early post-election period, the rallies snowballed into fierce clashes between the protesters and police. The demonstrations carried on for several months. The authorities repeatedly said that the protests had been orchestrated from abroad.
Amid the protests, Lukashenko stated the need to amend the constitution and his readiness to delegate some presidential authority to other branches of power.
According to Miklashevich, 53 chapters of the Belarusian constitution are to be amended, and 14 new ones created. The essence of the proposed changes is to preserve the presidential form of government by defining functions of the president, the parliament and the government. The legislative function of the parliament will be fully defined, and its supervisory and personnel powers will be broadened. Besides, the government’s powers will also be expanded, and the cabinet will become more independent in decision-making within the framework of the executive branch. | |
Sloan’s UPPERCUT manual dual-flush flushometer. Photo courtesy of Sloan.
One of the many hats I get to wear is that of president of the American Society of Plumbing Engineers Research Foundation. The foundation is involved in just what is says, research.
The research done by ASPE RF often makes its way into discussion on the codes and standards level. Two such recent projects have had an impact on plumbing engineering design and the codes.
I previously wrote about the roof drainage project. That research report was the basis for the complete rewrite of the storm drainage sizing method in the ICC International Plumbing Code. In addition to the code changes, this research is being used as a basis for a new standard. ASPE and IAPMO are developing a joint standard for testing roof drains. This new standard will be used to establish the flow rate through a roof drain at a given head height.
Another completed published project relates to the impact of food waste disposers on combination drain and vent systems and systems using air-admittance valves. The result of the testing proved that food waste disposers have zero impact on venting.
Some had claimed that food waste disposers create a pumping action that could result in the loss of the trap seal. This had been all speculation with no test data to prove the impact one way or another. The ASPE RF testing shows the waste stream from a food waste disposer is basically the same as the waste stream from a kitchen sink without a disposer.
This report recently was used at the ICC code hearings to change the International Residential Code plumbing section to allow sinks with food waste disposers to discharge to a combination waste and vent system. The current code prohibits such a discharge. The change will appear in the 2015 code.
This report is available for download free of charge on the ASPE website at www.aspe.org www.aspe.org. Included with the report are video clips of the waste stream during testing.
Inside the bathroom
The other three projects currently underway also will have an impact on the codes and standards profession. One project that has taken time to develop the test protocol is a test on biofilm development in automatic and manual faucets. The study is intended to compare the difference between the two faucets.
If a biofilm can develop, it provides an area for bacterial growth, including legionella bacteria. Different groups have claimed that one faucet is better than the other. Claims are inconsistent with some saying automatic faucets do better and others saying manual faucets do better. The ASPE RF testing is an attempt to use a controlled environment to compare the two types of faucets. It is anticipated there will be a report from this testing presented at the ASPE Biennial Convention next September in Chicago.
The other two research projects are being conducted together. One project will evaluate the water use of manual flush water closets without a dual-flush handle and with a dual-flush handle. The purpose of the testing is to determine if there is water savings with a dual-flush handle.
One would automatically think that a dual-flush handle results in water savings. However, there have been claims that the public doesn’t understand that you have to activate the handle differently if you only urinate. If the public fails to use the dual-flush handle correctly it is possible there would be little to no water savings.
The testing will evaluate a number of buildings to determine the difference in water use. In those buildings, manufacturer instructions will be posted. Hence, standard information will be provided to the public on how to use the dual-flush handle.
Running in conjunction with the dual-flush handle test is an automatic faucet test. The same buildings will evaluate the use of manual lavatory faucets compared to automatic lavatory faucets. First, the rate of water usage with manual faucets will be measured. After a period of time recording water use, the faucets will be changed to automatic faucets and water usage data will again be recorded.
Most engineers believe automatic faucets save water. I happen to agree. However, this will be a comprehensive test to determine if there is a water savings and how much water will be saved.
These last two research projects will have an impact on the green codes. They will also have an impact on LEED-accredited buildings. The data will be able to be used for acquiring points for water conservation. The data from the dual-flush handle testing may be used in the plumbing codes for establishing the flush volume for dual-flush water closets.
The dual-flush and automatic faucet research project is scheduled to be completed by June 2014. The research report will be presented at the ASPE convention in Chicago.
Within a span of three years, ASPE RF will be producing a number of research reports that will be extremely beneficial to the plumbing engineering profession. This has been the purpose of the Research Foundation.
You may be asking if there is more on the horizon. The answer is yes. As you can imagine, the problem always is money. It takes a substantial amount of money to conduct these research projects. Funding for research is always the stumbling block.
Fortunately, ASPE RF has received funding from ASPE members and chapters. They also have been fortunate to receive corporate donations from plumbing manufacturers that believe in plumbing research. All the donations go directly to funding the research projects.
To learn more about the ASPE RF, check out the ASPE website. If you have an idea for a research project, drop a line to the ASPE staff. | https://www.pmengineer.com/articles/90906-aspes-research-foundation-is-in-the-midst-of-multiple-code-impacting-projects |
The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision today released its document "International Convergence of Capital Measurement and Capital Standards: A Revised Framework." The Framework (also referred to as Basel II) represents the outcome of the work of the Basel Committee, with active participation by the U.S. banking and thrift agencies (Agencies), over recent years to secure international convergence on revisions to regulations and standards governing the capital adequacy of internationally active banking organizations. The Framework will form the basis upon which the Agencies, and representatives of the other Basel Committee member countries, develop proposed revisions to existing capital adequacy regulations and standards.
The Framework is available on the Basel Committee's web site at www.bis.org, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency's (OCC) web site at www.occ.treas.gov, the Federal Reserve Board's (Federal Reserve) web site at www.federalreserve.gov, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's (FDIC) web site at www.fdic.gov, and the Office of Thrift Supervision's (OTS) web site at www.ots.treas.gov.
U.S. Implementation Plans
The Agencies have developed a comprehensive plan to incorporate the advanced risk and capital measurement methodologies of the Framework into regulations and supervisory guidance for U.S. institutions. This plan will ensure that U.S. implementation efforts are consistent with the Framework; reflect the unique statutory, regulatory and supervisory processes in the United States; and appropriately seek and consider comments on individual aspects of the plan from all interested parties.
Prior to implementation, it is expected that institutions using Framework-based regulations and guidance will first be subject to a year of "parallel running;" i.e. application of the advanced approaches in tandem with the current risk-based capital regime, beginning in January 2007. The Agencies anticipate that the Framework would become fully effective in the United States in January 2008. The Agencies plan to apply prudential floors to risk-based regulatory capital calculations in the two years immediately after adoption of the Framework. Qualified institutions that opt in to the Framework subsequent to the initial implementation period would be subject to a similar phase-in schedule (i.e. parallel running and floors).
Given the investments needed to qualify for the advanced approaches of the Framework, the Agencies believe that it would be prudent for banking organizations that expect to adopt the Framework on or near the effective date to begin planning their implementation efforts. In order to facilitate such efforts, the Agencies have described below the significant milestones in the development of Framework-based regulations, guidance, and policies. Additional information on these activities will be forthcoming.
Supervisory Guidance
The Agencies have previously published for notice and comment draft supervisory guidance on Internal Ratings-Based Systems (IRB) for Corporate Credit and on the Advanced Measurement Approaches (AMA) for Operational Risk. See 68 Fed. Reg. 45949 (August 4, 2003). The Agencies expect to publish for notice and comment draft supervisory guidance on IRB Systems for Retail Credit in the third quarter of 2004. Over the course of the next year, the Agencies will publish for comment additional guidance on other aspects of IRB Systems.
Institutions that expect to adopt the Framework are encouraged to consider the supervisory standards articulated in the guidance in developing their implementation plans for the adoption of Framework-based systems. Specifically, institutions should begin to self-assess the extent to which their systems and processes comply with or differ from proposed supervisory standards. The Agencies expect to publish additional information regarding the process that will be used to assess individual institutions' efforts to meet IRB and AMA qualifying standards.
Additional Quantitative Impact Study
Although other countries may undertake joint or independent reviews similar to QIS-4, the forthcoming study, as implemented in the United States, will be tailored to the domestic interests of the Agencies and will focus on the effect of the proposal on U.S. banking organizations, especially those large internationally active institutions that the Agencies have proposed to require to conform to Framework-based regulations. Other institutions that anticipate adhering to Framework-based regulations on a voluntary basis may also participate in the study in order to understand better the nature of the internal risk measurement information that the new rules would require and to estimate their resulting capital requirements.
As before, the Agencies will request that participants submit requested information by completing a series of computerized spreadsheets--the Agencies will ensure consistency in responses through detailed instructions, questionnaires, and supervisory oversight. The Agencies expect to finalize and distribute survey materials to participating institutions in October 2004 and to request that institutions complete and return the survey results by mid-January 2005. Institutions that want to participate in the study should discuss the project with their federal supervisor(s) by the end of July 2004.
Revision of Capital Adequacy Regulations
As provided in the ANPR, the Agencies expect that some U.S. banking organizations would use the most advanced approaches set forth in the Framework to determine their risk-based capital requirements, while others would continue to apply the existing capital rules. As a result, the United States would have a bifurcated regulatory capital framework. In conjunction with the assessment of U.S. risk-based capital adequacy regulations relating to the Framework, the Agencies are assessing possible changes to capital regulations for U.S. institutions not subject to Framework-based regulations.
Importantly, all U.S. banking organizations would continue to be subject to a leverage ratio requirement under existing regulations, and Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) legislation and implementing regulations would remain in effect.
The Agencies expect that a notice of proposed rulemaking on possible revisions to risk-based capital adequacy regulations relating to the Framework will be published in mid-2005. After fully considering all comments, the Agencies expect to be in a position to publish final rules on this proposal in the second quarter of 2006. Possible changes to capital regulations for U.S. institutions not subject to the Framework-based regulations will be considered and addressed in this same general timeframe. | https://www.federalreserve.gov/boarddocs/press/bcreg/2004/20040626/default.htm |
With a history that spans more than 100 years, the Georg Jensen brand represents quality craftsmanship and timeless aesthetic design, producing lifestyle products ranging from jewellery to watches and home products.
Georg Jensen’s support of the Instyle Women of Style Awards is perfectly aligned as the brand appeals to the modern woman in every way; a woman that does not want to follow trends but to create her own. Georg Jensen has been a strong supporter of women right from the very beginning, training young women in the art of silversmith back in 1904 in a male dominated industry and this support continues today. | https://www.instylemag.com.au/georg-jensen |
The American Chemical Society (ACS) and the Brazilian Chemical Society (SBQ) have announced this year’s winners of the Brazilian Women in Chemistry and Related Sciences awards.
The accolades are designed to promote gender equality in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) in Brazil and to advance understanding of the impact of diversity on scientific research and the field of chemistry.
The winners will be honoured on Oct. 15 during a symposium on fighting inequity in science, which will be part of SBQ’s 43rd Annual Meeting.
Paola de Azevedo Mello, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry at the Federal University of Santa Maria, won the Emerging Leader Award, which recognizes the achievements of an outstanding young chemical scientist or entrepreneur.
The Leadership in Academia Award has been awarded to Ana Flávia Nogueira, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry at the University of Campinas. This award honours an established academic who has made an important contribution with a global and societal impact on scientific research in chemistry or a related science.
Sonia Maria Cabral de Menezes, Ph.D., petroleum chemist and senior consultant at Petrobras, garnered the Leadership in Industry Award. It recognises an industrial chemist whose research and creative innovations have led to discoveries that contributed to commercial success and the good of the community and society.
“Through our collaboration with the Brazilian Chemical Society and other supporting organizations, we have been able to identify three outstanding individuals who are working to advance the chemical sciences in Brazil and beyond,” says Bibiana Campos Seijo, Ph.D., editor-in-chief of ACS’ weekly news periodical Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN) and vice president of C&EN Media Group.
“We will celebrate their talent and contributions at an event that will bring many great scientists together to develop action steps to create a more diverse and inclusive environment for all.” The awards are co-sponsored by C&EN and CAS, a division of ACS, and receive support from ACS and SBQ. This is the third year they have been given out.
Each winner will receive a $2,000 cash prize, a three-year CAS SciFindern subscription, a three-year ACS membership and an award certificate. | https://www.womeninplastics.com/news/winners-announced-for-brazilian-chemist-awards-that-encourag/ |
The Agency’s main aim is to help member countries improve their inclusive policy and practice in the field of education.
Our work focuses on supporting the development of inclusive education systems to ensure every learner’s right to inclusive and equitable educational opportunities. This enhances learners’ life chances and possibilities for actively participating in society.
We provide member countries and stakeholders at the European level with evidence-based information and guidance on implementing inclusive education systems.
While recognising that there are differences in countries’ policies, practices and educational contexts, the Agency has the following strategic objectives:
- to promote quality in the field of special needs and inclusive education by maintaining a long-term framework for extended European collaboration;
- to facilitate effective exchange of knowledge and experience among, as well as within, member countries;
- to identify key factors that hinder or support progress and provide countries with information and guidance;
- to analyse and review policy developments in countries in order to support the development of sustainable and effective inclusive education systems. | https://www.european-agency.org/about-us/what-we-do |
Consumer Demand for Supply Chain Transparency and Fresh, Local Food Drives Farm-to-Table into Fast Casual Dining
Consumer preferences for healthy, nutritious food continue to drive trends in the food industry. The farm-to-table concept, which involves reducing the distance food travels before it arrives at the consumer’s table, is an old but still relevant concept. Farm-to-table sources food through as few intermediaries as possible and uses ingredients in their freshest state.
Not only are consumers thrilled to have same-day harvests on their plates, they are increasingly drawn to brands that demonstrate sustainability and supply chain transparency. This presents several opportunities for food businesses. | https://blog.foodlogiq.com/topic/consumers/page/4 |
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a colour picture tube provided with a slot type colour selection electrode. More particularly, it relates to an exposure apparatus for exposing to light phosphor films of a colour picture tube having a fluorescent screen composed of stripe-shaped phosphors or films of non-luminous substance coated between stripe- shaped phosphors of the so-called black matrix type colour picture tube.
There are many types of colour selection electrodes for use in colour picture tubes such as dot type, stripe type and slot type. In a colour picture tube incorporated with a slot type colour selection electrode it is not sufficient to form the phosphor to have dimensions and configurations which correspond to the slots formed in the effective area of the colour selection electrode. More particularly, when considering the landing error of the electron beams transmitting through respective slots it is necessary to form the phosphor in the form of continuous stripes extending in the longitudinal direction of the slots. To form such phosphor it has been proposed to use exposure apparatus provided with a plurality of collimeters which are juxtaposed in the direction of the slots or a collimeter provided with an elongated light source. With these exposure apparatus, however, an image of a mercury arc lamp or of the collimeter itself tends to appear in the exposure light so that it is difficult to obtain a desired brightness distribution on the inner surface of the panel on which the fluorescent screen is to be formed. Especially, in the latter type exposure apparatus, since there is a limit on the length of the linear light source it is impossible to perform satisfactory exposure. Such difficulty is especially remarkable in the so- called black matrix type colour picture tube wherein the deviation in the brightness determines most of the white uniformity.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved exposure apparatus capable of eliminating the deviation in the brightness when exposing to light stripe shaped phosphors or films of non- luminous substance applied between the stripe shaped phosphors.
Another object of this invention is to provide an improved exposure apparatus capable of producing exposure light of substantially uniform brightness by utilizing an essentially point light source.
Still another object of this invention is to provide new and improved exposure apparatus capable of preventing decrease in the effect of a correction lens caused by the variation in the direction of refraction due to the movement of the exposure light source.
According to this invention these and other object can be accomplished by providing exposure apparatus adapted to expose to light the phosphor on the face plate of a colour picture tube provided with a slot type colour selection electrode of the type comprising an exposure light source and a correction lens disposed between the light source and the colour selection electrode, characterized in that the exposure light source is mounted on a carriage movable with respect to the colour selection electrode and that the carriage is moved by driving means at a substantially constant speed.
This arrangement can eliminate the images of the collimeter and a linear light source thus assuring uniform exposure of the phosphor.
According to one modification the correction lens is reciprocated in synchronism with the carriage. In another modification, the light source is mounted on a rotary disc mounted on the movable carriage.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Further objects and advantages of the invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing one example of the exposure apparatus embodying the invention;
FIG. 2 shows graphs useful to explain the relationship between an exposure light source and a colour selection electrode wherein FIG. 2A shows the positional relationship and FIG. 2B is a graph showing the brightness distribution corresponding to FIG. 2A;
FIG. 3 is a graph showing the variation in the brightness distribution when the exposure source is moved;
FIG. 4 is a graph corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a manner of forming stripe shaped phosphor films;
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view of one example of the exposure apparatus embodying the invention;
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view of a modified embodiment of this invention;
FIG. 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of still another modification of this invention and
FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a light source unit utilized in the exposure apparatus of this invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, the panel 1 of a colour picture tube provided with a slot type colour selection electrode 2 is supported on a suitable support, not shown. The colour selection electrode 2 comprises a mask 4 provided with a plurality of parallel slots 3 (some of them are shown exaggerated) and a frame 5 for supporting and reinforcing the mask 4. Beneath the colour selection electrode 2 is positioned a base 6 on which are positioned a pair of guide members 7a and 7b extending in parallel with slots 3 for slidably supporting a movable carriage 8. A nut 9 is secured to the lower surface of the carriage 8 for receiving a feed screw 11 driven by a reversible motor 10 mounted on the base 6. The reversible motor 10 adapted to move the carriage 8 at a substantially constant speed is controlled to rotate in the forward or reverse direction by means of a pair of microswitches 12 and 13 positioned on the base 6 at the limits of the stroke of the carriage.
A light source unit 14 is mounted on the carriage 8 for directing exposure light toward and panel 1 of the colour picture tube. The light source unit 14 contains a reflective mirror 15, a mercury arc lamp 16 and a collimeter 17 and the light emitting from one end of the collimeter 17 is corrected or compensated for by a correction lens 18 positioned between the collimeter and the panel. The light corrected by the correction lens 18 is projected upon the mask 1. Although, in the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 the light source unit 14 is constructed to be movable substantially in parallel with the slots 3, it will be clear that any arrangement can be used that can provide relative movement between the light source unit and the panel 1 of the colour picture tube.
The exposure apparatus shown in FIG. 1 operates as follows. With reference now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, when the exposure light source is positioned at a point A in FIG. 2A, the brightness distribution on the exposed surface of the panel 1 is generally shown by the graph shown in FIG. 2B. As the carriage 8 is moved at a constant speed in parallel with the slots, the brightness distribution on the exposed surface varies in accordance with the stroke l of the exposure light source as shown by the graphs a through e shown in FIG. 3. Since, as the light source moves from point A over a distance l/2, the incidence angle of the light upon the exposure surface decreases gradually, so that not only the brightness on the exposure surface increases but also the amount of exposure increases since the light quantity is integrated with time. Consequently, the distribution of the light intercepted by the mask 4 also varies as the exposure light source moves. Between the point at a distance l/2 from point A.sub.1 and point B.sub. 1 the incidence angle increases and the brightness on the exposure surface decreases. However, as the light quantity is integrated with time the exposure light quantity increases as a whole. The stripe shaped phosphor films produced by using the exposure light quantity shown in FIG. 3 take the configurations as shown in FIG. 4a' through FIG. 4c'. In order to form stripe shaped phosphor film d' having the most desirable configuration, it is necessary to provide an exposure light distribution as shown in FIG. 4d' which can be provided by determining the stroke l of the exposure light source in accordance with the following equation. ##EQU1##where n is equal to an integer larger than 1, a.sub.0 represents the pitch of the slots in the longitudinal direction, L represents the distance between the exposure light source and the exposed surface of the panel and q represents the distance between the mask and the exposed surface of the panel.
Actually, however, the valves of a.sub.0, q and L are different at the central portion and the peripheral portion of the panel so that in order to eliminate the colour shading at the peripheral portion, it is necessary to determine the l calculated in accordance with the above described equation to satisfy a relation l.sub.0 < l < l.sub.1 where l.sub.0 and l.sub.1 represent the values of the strokes at the central portion and the peripheral portion of the panel, respectively, which are calculated in accordance with the equation described above.
FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of the exposure apparatus constructed in accordance with this invention which comprises a cylindrical casing 19 having a flange 19a at its upper opening for securing a base 23 by means of screws, not shown. The panel 1 of the colour picture tube provided with the slot type colour selection electrode 2 is mounted on the base 23. Within casing 19 are disposed the correction lens 18, light source unit 14 and carriage 8 in the order mentioned. The light source unit 14 provided with a light source 16 in the form of an mercury arc lamp, for example, and the collimeter 17 is mounted on the upper surface of the carriage 8. A link 22 is connected to one end surface of the carriage 8 and extends through an opening at the lower side wall of the casing 19 and the outer end of the link 22 engages the peripheral surface of a heart shaped cam 21 mounted on a rotary shaft 20. The upper end of shaft 20 is journalled by the flange 19a and the lower end is connected to the constant speed driving motor 10 via bevel gears 24.
The height of the base 23 is adjusted so as to mount the panel 1 while maintaining the distance L between the exposure light source and the exposed surface of the panel at a prescribed value. When the driving motor 10 is energized, the carriage 8 is reciprocated through shaft 20, cam 21 and link 22. At the same time, the mercury arc lamp 16 is lighted from a suitable source, not shown, for emitting a substantially point light beam from collimeter 17. As this point light beam is reciprocated while maintaining a predetermined relationship among the longitudinal pitch of the slots of the mask, the distance to the exposed surface of the panel, and the distance between the mask and the exposed surface of the panel, continuous stripe shaped phosphor films can be formed.
In the modified embodiment shown in FIG. 6, instead of being fixedly supported in the casing as shown in FIG. 5 the correction lens 18 is supported by a reciprocating plate 25 which is operated by a heart shaped cam 27 through a link 26. Cam 27 is mounted on shaft 20 driven by motor 10. By shaping both cams 21 and 27 to have the same contour it is possible to reciprocate the correction lens 18 in synchronism with the carriage 8 thereby eliminating the difficulty which occurs when the correction lens is held stationary, that is, the erroneous correction caused by the variation in the direction of refraction of the light due to the movement of the exposure light source.
FIG. 7 shows another modification of this invention provided with a rotary disc 28. The lower end of the rotary disc 28 extends through the bottom of the casing 19 and connected to a driving motor, not shown. Thus, the light source unit 14 is mounted on carriage 8 through the rotary disc 28 rotating about the axis of the collimeter 17. With this construction, as the light source unit 14 is rotated while being reciprocated it is possible to make uniform the brightness distribution of the exposure light source in the radial direction thereof which is an essential condition for forming the films of the non-luminous substance. This rotary light source is advantageous where it is difficult to obtain an ideal point light source, thus simplifying the manufacturing of the filters utilized to expose the blue, red and green phosphor films.
FIG. 8 shows the detail of the light source unit 14 comprising a light shielding cylinder 29 provided with a small opening 30 at the center of the top wall. Inside the cylinder 29 are contained collimeter 17 with its apex positioned to oppose the opening 30, the mercury arc lamp 16 and reflecting mirror 15 which are disposed in the order mentioned. With this arrangement it is possible to provide a light source that can be deemed as a point light source although a linear mercury arc lamp is used.
As can be noted from the foregoing description, the invention provides an effective exposure treatment of the fluorescent screen in which uniform distribution of the exposure light will not be disturbed by the image of the collimeter which was unavoidable with the prior art exposure apparatus. | |
8 pm at U City Shul, the Weinreb Brothers present a free concert, "Keeping It Together". All are welcome.
Davening Times: 7:30 AM, 9:00 AM & 5:35 PM
Sha'a Zmanis/Zmanit: 53 minutes
Alos/Alot: 6:02 AM
Earliest Tallis/Tallit: 6:29 AM
Sunrise: 7:23 AM
Latest Sh'ma: 10:04 AM
Chatzos/Chatzot: 12:44 PM
Mincha Gedola: 1:14 PM
Plag Mincha: 4:59 PM
Sunset: 6:06 PM
Tzeis/Tzeit: 6:48 PM
Davening times above are computer-generated and may change. Please see the announcements for the most accurate times.
Schedule of Services
Shabbos/Shabbat: Shacharis/Shacharit
Hashkama: 7:30 AM
Regular minyan: 9:00 AM
Teen minyan: 9:45 AM
Tot Shabbat (preschool) and youth groups (grades K-4): 10:30 AM
Shabbos/Shabbat: Mincha/Maariv
Erev Shabbos/Shabbat, winter: 5 minutes before candlelighting
Erev Shabbos/Shabbat, summer (daylight savings time): 7:00 PM
Shabbos/Shabbat: 35 minutes before sunset
Weekdays: Shacharis/Shacharit
Sundays and Legal Holidays: 8:00 AM
Mondays and Thursdays: 6:30 AM
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays: 6:40 AM
Weekdays: Mincha/Maariv
20 minutes before sunset
Notes on Davening
- We use the RCA Artscroll Ashekenazi siddur. Our baalei tefilla use either the Sephardic or Ashkenazi havarah, depending on their personal preferences.
- Our minhagim generally follow the Luach Ezras Torah.
- For Shabbos/Shabbat candlelighting times and exact times for mincha, please see the bulletin.
- On days school is not in session (summer and Chol Hamoed) there may be an additional Shacharis/Shacharit Shacharit minyan at 8 am; check the announcements.
- Legal Holidays are New Year's Day, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and December 25th.
- On weekdays when the Torah is read, Shacharis/Shacharit follows the Monday-Thursday schedule.
- The actual algorithm for weekday mincha is 20 minutes before the earliest sh'kia for that week, rounded up to the next multiple of 5 minutes. The actual algorithm for mincha on erev Shabbos/Shabbat is candlelighting time, rounded down to the previous multiple of 5 minutes. | http://youngisrael-stl.org/davening.php?date=2017-10-28 |
Hotel Rex Plaza offers its clients all the facilities and amenities required for a comfortable stay. We provide a choice of single or double occupancy rooms.
Each of our rooms is furnished with individual a/c control, attached bath with hot and cold running water, colour TV with satellite cable communication, STD communication facilities and 24-hour room service.Internet access, telephone and private bathroom. Every room is comfortable and promises guest revisit. | http://hotelrexplaza.in/Home/Rooms?Length=4 |
The invention discloses a clamping device of a splitting machine for paper tube processing. The clamping device of the splitting machine for the paper tube processing comprises a support, the two ends of the support are each provided with a rotating shaft, the tail end of each rotating shaft is fixedly connected with a connecting shaft, and each connecting shaft is provided with a rotating column and a guide column in a sleeved mode; the rotating cylinders is connected with the outer circle faces of the corresponding connecting shafts in a matched mode, and the guide columns are connected with the corresponding connecting shafts in a matched mode through threads; one end face of each rotating column is matched with the tail end of the corresponding rotating shaft, and the other end face of the rotating column is provided with a thread, the end faces, corresponding to the threaded faces of the rotating columns, of the guide columns are each provided with multiple grooves which are evenly distributed, a sliding block is installed in each groove in a matched mode, and each sliding block is provided with racks matched with the threads of the rotating columns. By means of the splitting machine, the work efficiency is improved, and the cost is reduced. | |
I’m going to be honest. I was so heavily inspired by the water bending in Avatar that I’m not sure much else could have influenced Poseidon’s powers. Avatar was on every day after school for years of my younger life. If you haven’t seen that series, watch it. Plot and character development wise, it’s perfect. The magic system and world building is also just incredible.
So, since I’ve just got that one example, here’s a bonus scene from Venus and Adonis so you can see Poseidon’s powers in play.
*Spoiler Warning if you haven’t read the first three books**
~@~
The passengers raised their arms in unison and slashed at the shield, the strobe lights turning the fluid motion jerky. The shield shuddered, but held. Without the weapons none of them would look particularly threatening. The boy in the middle barely looked old enough to have gotten in the door of the club. He had shaggy brown hair, wore jeans, a blue cotton t-shirt and sneakers. Next to him stood an out of place looking man with a comb over, glasses, and a tacky brown suit. My mind latched onto these details like they mattered. My gaze slid to the next passenger, a brunette in a striking hot pink dress, then to the man with black hair, thick, black-rimmed glasses, khakis, and blue collared shirt.
I suppressed a hysterical giggle, inexplicably reminded of characters in different cell phone and computer ads.
“Your kind aren’t welcome here,” Verizon Wireless hissed, pushing his glasses up his nose with his index finger. Mac and PC stepped around him, Olympian Steele gripped tight in their hands. I couldn’t take my eyes off the glittering stakes.
Poseidon let out a string of curses that would shock any sailor. “Get behind me.” He had to shout to be heard over the music. He held out a hand, ready to push me back if I didn’t comply. His trident appeared in his other hand with a flash of gold so bright in the darkness that I found myself blinking away sparkling dots. “And get ready to run.”
“Run?” I demanded. “Why can’t we teleport?” Poseidon could grant me authorization in a second.
“And leave your demigod as collateral?”
I laced my voice with as much sarcasm as I could. “We could always go get him.”
T-Mobile attacked first, with all the grace of a zombie. She leapt forward, hacking and slashing at the air with the Olympian Steele before she even got within a foot of Poseidon. She was trying to miss. The flashing lights illuminated a wild struggle in her dark eyes that told me she was resisting the charm as best she could, but what hope could a mere mortal have over a divine force of will?
“And risk porting straight into a trap?” Poseidon dodged her with ease, then seemed to remember me and threw himself between the two of us, trident whirling to block her Steele. ”
Damn it, Poseidon had a point. You couldn’t shield yourself while teleporting. We might be able to throw up a shield the second we arrived but we’d at least be vulnerable for a second.
“We’re dealing with this now,” Poseidon declared.
I summoned my charm, gritting my teeth against the pain that ripped through my stomach thanks to my proximity to Poseidon. The charm slid off the passengers like water. Swallowing hard, I stepped back, bumping into a barstool. Run? From humans? How screwed up was that? Of course, the weapons in their hands that could kill us with a single scratch did tip the scales a bit.
I threw up a shield, power flaring to life within me. Gods, that hurt. Gritting my teeth, I ignored the gut-wrenching pain and pushed the shield at the charmed passengers just as Mac joined the fray, Steele shattering my shield in a second.
I froze. Fighting wasn’t in my skill set. Unlike Persephone, I’d never seen the point in spending my spare time learning self-defense or honing my powers so I’d be ready for a combat situation. My charm could quell even gods. Why would I ever need anything more than that?
Poseidon shoved me to the side, intercepting the Steele with his trident. PC leapt to Mac’s aid, slashing at Poseidon with the Steele, but Poseidon sent him flying into the bar, crashing into a wall of bottles with enough force to shatter them. PC hit the ground with a thud, alcohol and glass raining around him. The bartender, unperturbed, kept pouring drinks. What the hell? A quick glance around me confirmed everyone else was still dancing. Was everyone charmed? Holy hell, what kind of power were we dealing with?
Don’t just stand there! I commanded myself. Do something. Taking a deep breath, I tuned out the pulsing music and concentrated. With effort, I picked out several more charmed passengers as well as a shield enveloping the entire bar. “Poseidon, break the shield!”
A wave of power swelled from Poseidon. The shield shattered. My stomach wrenched as I blanketed the room with charm in a desperate bid to gain control of the passengers before they panicked and fled the bar. They could come in handy.
Gods! The effort of channeling my powers had me doubling over in agony.
Gritting my teeth, I pushed past the pain, concentration breaking when another passenger lunged at me, knocking me to the floor. Rolling out of the way, I slid across shattered glass. The broken bottles sliced my skin. I leapt to my feet. The uncharmed passengers, suddenly aware of the fight in their midst, screamed and rushed toward the door. “Crap!” Pushing past the pain, I refocused my power on the crowd as the music shut off and regular, fluorescent lights flickered on.
“Are you cut?” Poseidon spared me a glance, throwing up a shield to gain the half-second to determine whether or not I was all right.
“Not by Steele.” Taking a deep breath, I forced my charm to take hold of the other passengers. “Help me!”
The bar came to life as passengers threw themselves in between me and the Steele wielding zombies.
“Go!” Poseidon shouted, trident swinging in a wild arc. T-Mobile ducked around the blow, slashing at Poseidon, but got intercepted by a crew-member acting under the influence of my charm. I ran, Poseidon on my heels. The crowd split in front of me, forming a narrow hallway that closed behind us as we ran. A living shield.
Scattered within the crowd I could pick out the passengers that weren’t under my control just waiting for us to get close enough to strike. “Red dress! Glasses! Waitress behind the table!” I shouted warnings to Poseidon as soon as I picked out the passengers who would attack, glancing back to gauge his success.
Poseidon’s trident flashed. Now I understood why Demeter and Hades had been so determined to get him on their side against Zeus. Poseidon wasn’t just powerful. He fought in a way most gods were too complacent to even consider. I couldn’t tell where his powers stopped and his physical prowess began. A flash of green lightning erupted from the trident, followed by a punch, a kick, a shield inverted around a passenger to restrain them. He seemed to be everywhere at once until they tried to strike back, and then he was nowhere. “You’re incredible!” I hadn’t meant to speak out loud, and by rights I shouldn’t have even been audible over the fight, but somehow Poseidon still heard and flashed me a grin.
“You sound surprised. I thought that was common knowledge.” His grin faded. “Watch out!”
I ducked as another charmed passenger broke through the crowd, slashing at the place I’d been with the shimmering stake. Poseidon was there in a flash. The passenger went flying into the wall as limp as a rag doll.
We broke free of the bar and dashed through a hallway decorated to resemble the night sky. If anyone thought it odd that we were running like our lives depended on it, I didn’t notice. “Where are we going?” I cried.
“Water.”
Right. I veered toward the atrium as the hall opened up into a lobby full of gift-shops, tables, and photographers posing random passengers in front of pretty backdrops. The charmed passengers were right on our heels. “This way!” I cried, rushing across the atrium and up the curved, golden staircase.
I shrieked as a hand closed around my ankle and yanked me down the steps. For a second, all I could focus on was the Olympian Dagger centimeters from my face. The weapon didn’t move. My gaze shifted up the arm of the passenger carrying the Steele. His face contorted in a grimace of agony. With a violent jerk he was flung off of me, and slammed into the wall by an invisible force.
“What?” Leaping to my feet, I found Poseidon, one arm up as he cast and recast a shield to keep the passengers at bay almost as fast as they slashed through it, the other arm stretched toward the man, trident extended. “How did you do that?” Telekinesis was not in our skill set.
“Salt water,” Poseidon panted, the strain from casting a new shield every time the Steele broke through his existing one and doing whatever the hell he’d just done to that passenger evident on his face. “Run!”
I scrambled up the steps, mind reeling. There were whispers, rumors, that the original six were capable of manipulating the human body via built in fail-safes. A control for each god. Water for Poseidon, trace minerals from the earth for Demeter, and the four aspects of the soul, living and dead, for the rest. But I’d only heard rumors. Precious little information about human creation had passed down the bloodlines.
And no one could say for certain whether those same controls were built into us. Forget that for now! How have you not been cut? I’d been knocked over, pushed, and outright missed a statistically improbable number of times not to have sustained a single injury from the Olympian Daggers.
This fight didn’t make sense. I’d been on this ship surrounded by these people for the last day and a half. Why not take me out then?
Maybe I’m not the target.
What if I was just in the way? Poseidon was the one they addressed at the beginning of the fight. He’d been behind a shield almost the entire time he’d been on board. Maybe they’d attacked like this because taking down his shield would be noticeable no matter what they did. If you can’t go for surprise, go for strength?
I burst through the exterior door and slammed into the railing, gasping for breath.
“Stay against the rail.” Poseidon instructed, sliding to halt in front of me. He drew in a deep breath, wiping the sweat from his brow.
“Here?” I took a nervous look around. The bit of deck we occupied reminded me of a sidewalk. The narrow strip of white wooden planks and painted metal rails ran parallel to the main lobby, separated by windows and glass doors. The charmed passengers stood in an open doorway, hacking at Poseidon’s shield. If we kept running down this deck, we’d be at the pool. I could hear Caribbean music and laughter coming from that crowd. What if they were armed too? I glanced at the exterior steps, wondering if we had time to make it up one more deck.
“Here.” Poseidon’s shield broke and I felt the power ricochet back to him. “Can you break the charm?”
I hesitated. I’d never succeeded in freeing Persephone from Zeus’ charm, no matter how hard I’d tried. And I’d tried hard. But I’d gotten enough practice in to have plenty of theories for how breaking charm could be done. “I can try.”
Poseidon nodded. “Try then. I’d rather not have to kill anyone.”
“Really?” It wasn’t like I thought Poseidon enjoyed death and violence…much, but I hadn’t expected him to care one way or another about whether the people attacking us lived or died. I was a bit surprised he hadn’t just sunk the whole ship the moment they attacked.
Poseidon shrugged, and added. “I don’t want to give Hades any excuse to come to my realm.”
Right. Gods had to respond to divine causes of death. Figures that’s what Poseidon would be worried about right now. The sea god turned to the door the passengers would come through any second. “I’ll buy you as much time as I can. You may want to duck.”
I dropped to my knees, hands going over my head as a wall of water rushed above me, whipping around the deck as the charmed passengers poured through the doorway.
Go inside, nothing to see here. My stomach twisted as I let that command blanket the ship, fueling the order with every bit of power I could manage. Get to your room and stay there until morning.
The effort of maintaining hold of so many passengers twisted my stomach into painful knots. Oh gods, this hurts! Water roared around me, disrupting my concentration. Squeezing my eyes shut, I waited until I could sense the passengers under my control retreat all across the ship. I imagined doors closing, and gave them a few seconds to get settled, making sure to leave a strong desire imprinted in their minds to stay put until sunup before releasing them from my charm. Even out of my control they would most likely obey the subconscious command. Now I could assume that anyone out and about was against us.
I narrowed my focus, ignoring the passengers who I could influence in favor of those who were under foreign control. They were all headed toward this deck.
How many in total? I gave up counting at thirty and shifted my focus to the eight fighting Poseidon.
I could sense the charm holding them, but something about the power signature seemed off. Charm was like a thread of power extending from god to man. A thread. But the charm holding the humans hostage wasn’t a solitary thread but many weaving together like a rope.
“There’s more than one controller,” I realized.
“What?” Poseidon shouted.
My answer got swallowed in the roar of the water. PC lunged at Poseidon, but was whipped away by the current. The water animated and whirled around Poseidon, suspended in the air like the arms of an octopus, lashing out every time one of the passengers got too close. But he wouldn’t be able to keep up the fight forever. I gritted my teeth and focused on gathering more power.
We weren’t dealing with another deity like me or some super-charged Titan. What was it Hades told me Zeus had said? “You think you saved the world by killing me, but you’ve doomed it. What’s coming is worse. And Hades, they’re armed.”
They’re armed. Plural. This was a group. An army even.
I kept my eyes closed, tuning out the screams, grunts, and occasional flashes of green lightning to separate each power signature I found connected to one of the charmed passengers. The threads of power were braided together in an intricate chain of charm.
But the woman in the pink dress did fight the foreign control. Maybe she wasn’t the only one. I opened my eyes for a second. The jerky movements of the passengers confirmed my theory. Gritting my teeth against the gut-wrenching pain that came with using my powers so close to Poseidon, I focused on a single thread of charm, ignoring the rest of the rope for now.
The individual threads were weak.
“Aphrodite!” Poseidon snapped. “Any time now!”
More passengers joined the battle. I hadn’t opened my eyes to check, but I could sense them. How many? Ten? Twelve? “I’m trying!” I focused on channeling my power through the gaps between threads of charm. Sweat bathed my face. Using my powers shouldn’t hurt this much.
Almost got it. I pushed at the gaps, pouring more and more power into the effort.
My stomach lurched. It was a good thing I was already sitting down, because there was no way I’d still be on my feet otherwise.
I felt the charm controlling them snap and my eyes flew open. “Got it!” I called triumphantly. “I–” I broke off with a gasp. The passengers hung suspended in a wall of water before Poseidon. | https://kaitlinbevis.com/2015/05/27/way-back-wednesday-water-powers/ |
Lots of families head out to Duke Gardens every year. But not many know about the gardens' family backpack adventures.
For a $5 fee and $5 deposit, families can check out one of seven backpacks from the desk at the Doris Duke Center, the main building at the entrance to the gardens, for several hours.
The backpacks are filled with five different activities that give families an opportunity to deepen their experience at the gardens. There are five activities in each of the backpacks. They include a look at the Duke ducks and a study of some of the flowers, for instance. The activities are geared to kids ages 5 to 12.
Annie Nashold, director of children's education at Duke Gardens, showed me one of the backpacks. Check them out in this video and click here to learn about all of the other programs for kids that Duke Gardens has to offer. | https://www.wral.com/go-on-adventure-with-duke-garden-backpacks/7747357/ |
Alive Mindfully offers week-long MBSR retreats in Eastern BC. It is a great way to learn the MBSR deeply and experiential in a tranquil group setting.
This week will balance time between learning new skills, group discussions, and free time to relax and enjoy the exquisite setting at Clear Sky Center.
The MBSR program started in the Stress Reduction Clinic at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in 1979 and is now offered in over 200 medical centers, hospitals, and clinics around the world.
Mindfulness practice is ideal for cultivating greater awareness of the unity of mind and body. It is a useful way to discover how unconscious thoughts, feelings, and behaviours can undermine emotional, physical, and spiritual health.
The mind is known to be a factor in stress and stress-related disorders. Meditation has been shown to positively effect a range of physiological processes, such as lowering blood pressure and reducing arousal and emotional reactivity.
In addition to mindfulness practices, MBSR uses yoga to help reverse the prevalence of disuse atrophy from our culture’s largely sedentary lifestyle. The program brings meditation and yoga together so that the virtues of both can be experienced simultaneously.
Contact Maureen for information on upcoming MBSR Retreats. | http://alivemindfully.ca/book/mbsr-retreat/ |
Amoebozoa: Characteristics, Taxonomy, Morphology, Nutrition
Amoebozoa is one of the broader phyla of the Protista Kingdom. It houses a large number of organisms, of the most varied characteristics. Flagellate cells can be found, with a protective shell, with a variable number of nuclei, among others.
This phylum in turn includes two subphiles: Lobosa and Conosa. Within the first group the classes Cutosea, Discosea and Tubulínea are grouped. In the second the classes Variosea, Archamoeba and Mycetozoa are grouped.
Amoeba proteus. Source: By Cymothoa exigua [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons
Also within this edge are free-living organisms, symbionts and even parasites of some mammals, including humans. Many can cause pathologies such as dysentery and granulomatous amoebic encephalitis, among many others.
Although it is true that many of the species that belong to this phylum have been very well studied and many aspects of them are known, such as Amoeba proteus, there are also others that remain practically unknown.
This is why the Amoebozoa phylum continues to attract the attention of many specialists, so that in the future many more contributions of this phylum to environmental balance will be discovered.
Article index
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one
Taxonomy
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two
Morphology
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3
General characteristics
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4
Habitat
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5
Nutrition
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6
Breathing
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7
Reproduction
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8
References
Taxonomy
Taxonomy
The taxonomic classification of the phylum Amoebozoa is as follows:
Domnio: Eukarya
Kingdom : Protista
Phylum: Amoebozoa
Morphology
Morphology
The organisms of this phylum are eukaryotic unicellular. Internally it can be seen that the cell is divided into two zones, a spherical and transparent one known as ectoplasm and an internal one known as endoplasm.
Similarly, depending on the species, cells can have several presentations: sometimes they have a covering made up of a simple membrane or a layer of scales; They may also have a harder and more rigid shell, known as a shell, or they may simply not have any of these structures.
A curious fact is that, in the case of those with a shell, it can be made from organic molecules secreted by the same organism. However, there are others that are formed as a product of some particles that are added, such as diatom shells or sand cements.
Likewise, some species exhibit cilia on their surfaces. Within this group you can find organisms with a single cell nucleus, with two or many more.
General characteristics
General characteristics
As mentioned, Amoebozoa organisms are unicellular, which implies that they are made up of a single cell.
As this is a fairly broad edge, here you will find free-living organisms, with a commensal lifestyle and parasites. For example, Naegleria foweleri is free-living, Entamoeba coli is a commensal of the large intestine, and Balamuthia mandrillaris is a disease-causing parasite in humans.
Regarding locomotion, most of the members of this phylum move making use of some extensions of their body, known as pseudopods.
Due to the wide variety of organisms in this phylum, the process of displacement varies from one species to another. There are some in which the cell becomes a single pseudopod to move, as well as others that have the ability to form multiple pseudopods.
In its life cycle several forms can be seen involved, such as the trophozoite, the cyst and in very specific cases, the spores.
Size is also another parameter that is highly variable in the phylum Amoebozoa. There are organisms so small that they measure 2 microns and there are others so large that they can reach up to several millimeters.
Habitat
Habitat
Members of the phylum Amoebozoa are found primarily in freshwater bodies. They can also be found at ground level. There are a few that live in the human body as symbiotes or commensals.
Some others function as human pathogenic parasites. In short, the Amoebozoa phylum is versatile, as its members can be found in various environments throughout the world.
Nutrition
Nutrition
Members of the phylum Amoebozoa use phagocytosis for their nutrition and feeding process. In order to achieve this, pseudopods play a vital role in the uptake of food and nutrients.
When it recognizes a food particle, the pseudopods surround it and enclose it in a kind of bag that is trapped inside the cell.
Digestion and degradation is carried out by a series of digestive enzymes that act on food, breaking it down and converting it into molecules that are easily assimilated.
Later, by simple diffusion, these fragmented nutrients pass to the cytoplasm, where they are used for various processes specific to each cell.
In the vacuole remain the residues of the digestive process, which are going to be released outside the cell. This release occurs when the vacuole fuses with the cell membrane to come into contact with the outer space of the cell and get rid of waste and undigested particles.
Breathing
Breathing
Although it is true that the organisms that are part of this edge are varied and different, they also coincide on certain key points. Breathing is one of them.
These organisms do not have specialized organs for the breathing process. Therefore they resort to simpler mechanisms to satisfy their oxygen needs.
The mechanism by which respiration occurs in cells of the genus Amoebozoa is direct respiration, based on passive transport of the simple diffusion type. In this, oxygen moves inside the cell, crossing the plasma membrane.
This process occurs in favor of the concentration gradient. In other words, the oxygen will go from a place where it is highly concentrated to another where it is not. Once inside the cell, oxygen is used in various cellular processes, some of which are a source of energy.
Product of the use of oxygen, carbon dioxide (CO2) can be formed, which can be toxic and harmful to the cell. Therefore, CO2 must be expelled out of it, a simple process that is carried out, once again, with cell diffusion.
Reproduction
Reproduction
The most frequent method of reproduction among the organisms of this phylum is the asexual form. This does not involve any type of genetic material between cells, much less the fusion of gametes.
This type of reproduction consists in that a single progenitor cell will generate two cells that, genetically and physically, will be exactly the same as the one that originated them.
In the case of members of the phylum Amoebozoa, the most frequent asexual reproduction process used is binary fission.
The first step in this process is the duplication of genetic material. This is necessary because each resulting cell must have the same genetic makeup as the parent.
Once the DNA has been duplicated, each copy is located at opposite ends of the cell. This begins to lengthen, until its cytoplasm begins to undergo a strangulation, until it is finally divided, giving rise to two exactly the same cells.
There are a few species of this phylum that reproduce sexually. In this case, a process called syngamy or gamete fusion occurs that involves the union of sex cells.
References
References
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Adl et al. 2012. The revised classification of eukaryotes. Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology, 59 (5), 429-514
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Baker, S., Griffiths, C. and Nicklin, J. (2007). Microbiology. Garland science. 4th edition.
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Corliss, JO (1984). “The Kingdom Protista and its 45 Phyla.” BioSystems 17 (2): 87–126.
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Schilde, C. and Schaap P. (2013). The Amoebozoa. Methods in Molecular Biology. 983. 1-15
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Tortora, G., Berdell, F. and Case, C. (2007). Introduction to Microbiology. Editorial Médica Panamericana. 9th edition. | https://psychicair.com/amoebozoa-characteristics-taxonomy-morphology-nutrition/ |
Undoubtedly, France, much like Greece will need a bailout if it escalates to that point.
The ECB has also elected to provide unlimited 3-year loans to risky nations. This in essense, takes liquidity risk off the table in regards to investor concerns. With unlimited loands for the ECB and financial backing from the IMF, France will have a great possibility of avoiding calapse as long as it institutes austerity measures.
The U.S. is currently in a gridlock in Congress in an effort to raise the debt ceiling and to reduce government spending. There is the possible default on the debt and subsequent possible downgrade of the United States credit rating. This is very similar to the situation that was facing France. They also have to reduce their spending to address the growing deficit or increasing the debt ceiling will be a conversation that will have to be repeated.
In addition, French banks are required to increase their capital reserves in the event of a collapse. Capital Requirement is by the most basic definition the amount of money that a business needs to pay for its normal operations. In the banking industry, capital requirements is the amount of cash a bank needs to keep on hand based on a percentage of risk weighted assets that they hold in an effort to ensure the safety and strength of the financial system (Dowd, Hutchinson, & Hinchliffe, 2011). These guidelines were originally created in 1988 under the Basel Accord, or Basel I, which was created by the Basel Committee, which is a group of international central bankers (Dowd, Hutchinson, & Hinchliffe, 2011). More recently, Basel III has been introduced and is set to be implemented by member countries, which includes the United States, on January 1, 2013 (Group of Governors and Heads of Supervision announces higher global minimum capital standards, 2010). Basel III will increase the common equity requirement to a total of 7%, the "Tier 1 capital requirement, which includes common equity and other qualifying financial instruments based on stricter criteria, will increase from 4% to 6% over the same period" and "A countercyclical buffer within a range of 0% - 2.5% of common equity or other fully loss absorbing capital will be implemented according to national circumstances" (Group of Governors and Heads of Supervision announces higher global minimum capital standards, 2010).
Basel III also does something in regard to Collateralized Debt Obligations (CDO). Most banks utilized Special Investment Vehicles or other off -- balance sheets conduits, to move the CDOs from their balance sheet. In Basel III it was found that "off-balance-sheet risks cannot...
This basically translates to higher information requirements about the underlying risk and, depending on the information or if it is not provided, there will be a higher capital requirement for these asset backed securities (Proposed enhancements to the Basel II framework).
Economists Reinhart and Rogoff completed a GDP study based on two hundred years of data, different countries and circumstances in 2010 (Reinhart & Rogoff, 2010). The study found that above the gross debt to GDP of 90% "median growth rates fall by 1%, and average growth falls considerably more" and it was found that the French have a higher than expected inflation when the debt to GDP ratio is high (Reinhart & Rogoff, 2010). As of May 2011, economic growth has slowed to 1.8% and inflation is currently 3.1% (Arends, 2011).
The an economic body that represents more than thirty countries, and the Institute of International Finance (IIF), a global association of commercial and investment banks, have both made predictions on the effect of Basel III on the GDP. The OECD predicted that the new requirements would decrease the Frances GDP "by .07% per year between 2011 and 2019, while the IIF estimated a higher "0.5% per year between 2011 and 2015" (Vaughan, 2010).
At this point, prior to any change in capital requirements, France is facing a probably further decrease in the GDP with growing inflation due to the growing deficit. The current government budgetary landscape does not seem to indicate that this will improve anytime soon. The GDP would then be further affected by this change anywhere from .07%-.5% per year. This will not help the economic situation in France. I believe that the rates should be increased to the rates indicated in Basel III for the purpose of financial stability of French banks, which would hopefully decrease the possibility of another bank financial crisis bank failure and perhaps it will have a positive impact on consumer confidence. This is doubtful as the average consumer does not have a clear understanding of the cause of the financial crisis or even capital requirements. In the past, professionals in the financial sector of the French have found loopholes and found ways to stay within the letter of the law. I believe that there will have to be addition legislation, regulations or requirements regarding ethics, oversight and clarity to would have a better overall impact on consumer confidence. | https://www.paperdue.com/essay/france-provide-a-statistical-profile-56225 |
Evaluating Health and Well Being of Postgraduate Students in NUI Galway
In order to address the issues facing Postgraduate students at NUI Galway in the most effective way, this project underscored the areas and facilities in which Postgraduate students felt were most lacking and provided a strategy document to inspire change. Primarily an investigation of student health and well being, the project concluded with a strategy document that was presented to the Student Union and to Graduate Studies. Through constructing a thorough survey instrument including a generic instrument for psychometric testing, delivering the survey face to face and analysing the data to a publishable standard, this project highlighted a new and innovative strategy to underscore issues and provide pragmatic and deliverable solutions. The ultimate aim was that the study’s recommendations will be implemented. It is hoped that the same survey will be carried out annually to chart the changes in Postgraduate student’s attitudes relative to the successful implementation of the recommendations.
Resources
Project Updates
March 2012
Work has commenced on the construction of a survey instrument and literature is being reviewed in terms of choosing generic instruments suitable for capturing well being.
Interviews are scheduled to take place next Wednesday 14th March, for the Masters in Economics (Health) placement who will be assisting with the roll out and analysis of the survey. Four students have applied for this placement.
April 2012
The applicant chosen from the Masters in Economics (Health) was Anne Mc Devitt. A mature student from North Donegal, Anne returned to education through the Access 21 programme. She commenced her BA Honours Degree in Economics and Social Studies in St. Angela’s College, Sligo and finished her Degree in NUIG in 2011 with a 1st class honours. Anne hopes to continue on after the Masters programme to a PhD in Health Economics.
The Project is still in the construction process. Survey instruments are being reviewed, a study protocol is being designed and the application for ethics approval is being drawn up. It is expected that the survey will be ready for distribution across campus in early June. This survey will be conducted face to face for maximum response, rather than distributed online.
June 2012
An extensive review of the literature, on the “Health and Well-Being” of college students, PhD students in particular has been carried out. From this literature, Health and Well-Being surveys used in other settings were consulted, a survey structure was identified and a survey draft sample was constructed. The sample survey was pretested with the help of a focus group of 7 PhD students across four Colleges. Richéal Burns chaired the group, Anne McDevitt observed and took notes, and Professor Ciaran O’Neill was present in a supervisory capacity.
Discussion took place around item and response choices as well as method of survey delivery. As a result of this discussion it was agreed some changes should be made to the original sample survey and the survey should be delivered online to capture responses from students based off campus for the summer months.
Following careful consideration of the literature it was agreed by the team the most suitable generic quality of life instrument for our project would be the SF-36, which is a well-validated 36-item questionnaire developed in the U.S. in the late 1980s and early 1990s to provide a comprehensive measure of physical, emotional and social well-being. The license for this has been sought.
The ethics application has been drafted and is ready for submission.
The ideas of the focus group have been incorporated into the survey and the projected launch date is Wednesday 4th July, pending ethics.
JULY 2012
The survey was launched on July 18th and was open for two weeks. Overall 156 PhD students across the five Colleges responded to the online survey. Analysis is currently underway and a report will be available in August.
The draw for the Kindle will take place in early August and the winner will be notified by email. | https://services.su.nuigalway.ie/explore_projects/project/4/evaluating-health-and-well-being-of-postgraduate-students-in-nui-galway/ |
A two-day symposium introduces the DLA project Atlantic World Forum: Reimagining the Online Scholarly Roundtable, Reshaping the Global Digital Humanities, Reframing Transatlantic Cultural Histories at Middlebury. All interested faculty, students, and staff are heartily invited to participate (if you wish to access readings or contribute to the multi-authored website or be included as a participant in the project, please feel free to contact [email protected]).
Project Overview
Partnering with a larger French-Brazilian-led endeavor, Transatlantic Cultures, AWF harnesses the interactive and multimedia dimensions of the digital domain to foster international dialogues on circum-Atlantic cultural history. Each Atlantic World Forum roundtable assembles a group of five to seven scholars from various countries and focuses on a particular theme. The participants meet and exchange ideas by digital means as each one works on a multimedia essay. Projects might also include their exchanges leading to the multimedia essays and after their publication. Other digital work will emerge as well: maps, timelines, databases of primary source material, and invited commentary by additional experts. We seek to distribute the forum in digital modes accessible in various places, whether it be by the web in the US and Europe or by mobile phone in West African countries or even paquetes in Cuba. One to two distinct forums are planned for each year.
Through a proposed seminar taught each semester at Middlebury by DLA Acting Director and historian Michael Kramer, students combine historical pedagogy in Atlantic World history, from its origins in Anglo-American colonial studies to later work on the Black Atlantic to other approaches, with hands-on digital and experiential learning. They work with the participating scholars to conduct research, develop digital and multimedia components for essays, hone editing and project management skills, and innovate new modes of digital humanities collaboration, narrative, and scholarly communication. Potentially, students at other institutions can join the project as well.
Faculty at Middlebury are able to contribute to roundtables, advance their own research when applicable, and incorporate the project into teaching when appropriate. Faculty and students at the Translation and Interpretation program and Middlebury Institute Globe Multilingual Language Services will work with the project on translation of the AWF into multiple languages. Faculty and students at Middlebury’s Schools Abroad and Monterey courses in Intercultural Competency, Intercultural Rhetoric, and Intercultural Digital Storytelling can participate as well in future meetings and exchanges so that AWF contributes to the substantive strengthening of Middlebury’s global networks of scholarship.
Click for Program Schedule
Click for List of Participating Scholars
Generously funded by the DLA, Rohatyn Center for Global Affairs, DLINQ, Middlebury Academic Enrichment Fund, and Middlebury Pedagogy Enrichment Fund. | http://awf.middcreate.net/ |
Surveys indicate that a large number of women still do not undergo regular examinations despite the high availability of gynaecologists. This is due to the fact that gynaecological diseases are often perceived as taboo subjects that nobody talks about, yet they affect a large part of society. Ailments such as endometriosis can be very dangerous to your health, so it is very important to diagnose it quickly. What is endometriosis?
What is endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a chronic disease characterized by the presence of endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus in other parts of the body than the uterine cavity. Very often it affects the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bladder and even the intestines. In extreme cases, it can also affect the lungs or diaphragm
The growths on various internal organs may develop into acute inflammation or various types of tumors, which are directly able to threaten health and life, so it is very important to detect and treat this disease as early as possible.
What are the symptoms of endometriosis?
This disease is very often called hidden and invisible. One of the main symptoms of endometriosis is severe pain in the lower abdomen especially during menstruation, but not only then. Pain can also occur during different parts of the cycle, during bowel movements and urination, and during intercourse. Endometriosis is very often diagnosed in infertile women, so infertility may be one of its symptoms. Doctors also confirm that many people who suffer from endometriosis struggle with depression and chronic fatigue
It should also be remembered that endometriosis affects not only sexually active women and those with menstruation. Very often, post-menopausal and hysterectomized women can become patients, so it is important to attend regular visits to the gynecologist and report any suspicions of any disease. Unfortunately, however, endometriosis is often diagnosed after many years of chronic pain because its symptoms are often underestimated.
Where do the difficulties in diagnosing endometriosis come from?
The difficulty in diagnosing this chronic disease is often due to underestimating the first symptoms, which are severe lower abdominal pain. This symptom is usually classified by doctors as painful menstruation syndrome, but if we are not completely satisfied with the diagnosis, it is worth going for a consultation with another specialist.
In addition, the detection of this disease is difficult, because often its symptoms are unnoticeable on ultrasound, and the only method for a certain diagnosis is laparoscopic surgery. Unfortunately, research into this condition is quite limited due to the small amount of money allocated to this health issue. Without money, it is impossible to perform the amount of research needed, so there will remain limited options for diagnosing endometriosis for a long time to come.
Where to seek help if you suspect this disease in yourself?
If you have any symptoms of endometriosis, it’s a good idea to visit a gynecologist for a consultation and examination. Unfortunately, if he trivializes our symptoms and they still occur, it is worth consulting another gynecologist, who may have more experience in diagnosing this type of disease and will be able to fully explain the cause of our discomfort
It is extremely important to take care of your own health and informing your doctor about any disturbing symptoms that you notice yourself is in a way our duty, especially if you want to recover quickly.
Diseases such as endometriosis can affect any woman and are able to threaten life and health, so it is very important to regularly – at least once a year, to go for gynecological examinations and keep your doctor informed of any alarming symptoms that may signal not only endometriosis, but also other diseases. | https://beasmetics.com/womens-issues/why-is-endometriosis-still-difficult-to-diagnose-and-treat/ |
Adaptation of postural response to voluntary arm raises during locomotion in humans.
Adaptation of the response to voluntary rapid arm flexion during 3 phases of the step cycle in humans are examined. The onset of arm movement was similar to the standing condition and was unaffected by the phase of the step cycle. The locomotor cycle in contrast was altered. These changes improved the stability of the subjects by shortening the appropriate stance or swing phase of the step cycle. Only the onset of the ipsilateral biceps femoris response which represents the postural adaptation was dependent on the phase of the step cycle. When the subjects were asked to flex their arm in early swing, the biceps femoris was enhanced after the onset of the arm movement. This suggests that the postural responses during locomotion may not necessarily be anticipatory in nature, but more functional.
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The COVID-19 brought more than a dangerous virus: It upended our lives in ways large and small. It also brought questions to the minds of some Spears School of Business Department of Finance faculty and students:
- How is the stock market reacting to the pandemic, more specifically with respect to the airline, hotel and tourism industries?
- Are investors utilizing rationale to make their investment decisions or is it a panic and mass selloff type of event?
Dr. Betty Simkins, professor and head of Oklahoma State University’s Department of Finance; Dr. David Carter, professor of finance; Mazumder Sharif, graduate student; and Eric Sisneros, assistant professor of professional practice, offered their research in a paper called The Market Reaction to COVID-19: The Case of Airline and Tourism Stock Returns.
When it became apparent the coronavirus was a pandemic that would reach further than Asia, European and American markets responded, creating large declines in stock indices, Sisneros said. This made sense because essentially everything was shutting down, and a main driving force of stock prices is future revenues, which were abruptly halted.
The stock market began seeing declines from mid-February through the third week of March 2020. Within this time frame, OSU researchers analyzed and measured market data to determine if there was a rational response across various sectors.
“Are they selling everything or are they selling specific types of firms?” Sisneros said. “When you look at it more granularly, you find that yes, indeed the market is going down, but it’s not just a contagion effect where everyone is selling everything, no matter what. They are selling rationally with respect to types and characteristics of the firms.”
The best performing sectors were health care, consumer staples and technology, which are non-discretionary sectors as opposed to more discretionary sectors, which showed a decline. The health sector fared well due to the nature of the crisis, while consumer staples saw an increase because of the necessity for essential items no matter the state of the economy. Technology also did well due to the increase in telework and the need to create alternative ways to interact.
Discretionary items, such as travel were delayed and thus more highly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The worst performing sectors were financial services and energy. Financial services hold the loans for airlines, hotels and other non-essential industries. If they are predicted to do poorly and default on their loans, banks also suffer. The energy sector underperformed because travel bans cut demand for energy and gas.
A correlation was seen between people-intensive and travel-linked sectors, which thrive through tourism, and negative returns. Airlines, hotels and restaurants are all highly linked to travel and impacted by people, which is why those sectors saw a decline.
“Airlines have a significant probability of failure,” Sisneros said. “They have historically failed and then you add travel restrictions, and it creates a higher probability of failure because they are burning a lot of cash every day even if they are not flying.
“Since March 20, we’ve had positive returns and overcome the old high pre-COVID-19 decline,” Sisneros said. “We’ve actually advanced beyond that in all of the indexes.”
So what is the significance of this data? It provides information on how the stock market could react in the next crisis. There is an assumption that there is rationality in the market, and this research shows evidence of that. Although the market will sell off again, investors can determine the best place to invest by analyzing the nature of the crisis and the industries it will affect.
“One of the main things the research tells us is if you are a sophisticated investor and do your homework with respect to valuation, then you actually can find different firms that offer potential going forward,” Sisneros said. | https://news.okstate.edu/magazines/business/discover/articles/2021/back_to_bull.html |
This item features a polished oval shaped peice of gold Tiger Eye with a unique wire wrapped finding. Each pendant is sold individually.
Tiger Eye is believed to be a stone of protection, grounding, power, courage, and grace. It is thought to release toxins, heal eye disorders, and alleviate pain.
This Tiger Eye pendant weighs approximately 10 to 20 grams and measures approximately 3 to 4cm long. Each specimen is unique. Product may not be exactly as shown; picture is a typical example. | https://www.thecrystalman.com/product/tiger-eye-pendant-oval-wire-wrapped-tge3647p-b068/ |
New Delhi:
The Delhi High Court has prohibited the unauthorised recording, sharing, or dissemination of live-streamed proceedings or archival information of proceedings. The court docket notified the foundations for stay streaming and recording of court docket proceedings, and mentioned, “To imbue higher transparency, inclusivity, and foster entry to justice, it’s expedient to arrange infrastructure and framework to allow stay streaming and recording of proceedings.”
These guidelines had been notified within the official gazette on January 13, 2023.
The High court docket has outlined stay streaming as a stay tv hyperlink, webcast, audio-video transmission by way of digital means or different preparations whereby any individual can view the proceedings as permitted beneath the foundations. The court docket shall have the unique copyright over the recording and archival information, it mentioned.
The notified guidelines shall be relevant to the High Court of Delhi and to the Court and tribunals over which it has supervisory jurisdiction.
No individual/entity (together with print and digital media, and social media platforms) aside from an unauthorised individual/entity shall document, share and/or disseminate stay streamed proceedings or archival information. This provision shall apply to all messaging purposes, the foundations mentioned.
Any individual or entity appearing opposite to the foundations shall be prosecuted as per legislation, the foundations mentioned.
It has been offered that any unauthorised utilization of stay streaming can be punishable beneath the Indian Copyright Act, 1957 and contempt of court docket together with different legal guidelines.
However, it has additionally been offered that using authorised recordings of their authentic kind could also be permitted to “disseminate information and for coaching, educational and academic functions.”
It additionally mentioned that Archival Data means audio and visible information recorded throughout the conduct of the proceedings and retained by the court docket. | https://thebestdealindia.com/court-notifies-rules-on-unauthorised-sharing-of-proceeding-live-footage/ |
The North-East Development Commission (NEDC) under the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of NEDC, Mohammed Goni Alkali to construct 2500 houses across the region.
The North East Youth and Elders Peoples Forum National President Alhaji Salihu Magaji disclosed this in a statement made available to Journalists on Wednesday.
He said the Managing Director would layed a foundation for the construction of the 500 Mass Housing Units in Adamawa State
According to him, since the Establishment of NEDC it has been awarded contracts for the construction of 2500 houses in the region, as part of its effort to bring succor to the people of North East .
“1000 building was completed in Borno State, while construction of 500 houses each was awarded in Yobe and Bauchi and today
“In addition there will be Flagging off of the distribution of Food and Non-food items to address the rapidly deteriorating food insecurity situation in the North East Region and nay Adamawa State.
“While in Adamawa Commissioning/Handing over of the Burn Centre at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola which would cater for the high incidences of burn injuries and other associated incidences in the State.
He added that the commissioning/Handing over of the fully equipped Molecular Laboratory at the State Specialist Hospital, Yola.
“Inspection tour of the ongoing reconstruction work at the three destroyed bridges on the Mubi to Madagali Highway.
“Inspection visits to some State Government owned Technology Skills Acquisition Centres currently slated for resuscitation and operationalization by the Commission.
“Inspection visits to other completed and ongoing projects by the Commission in the State,”he said.
The National President NEYEPF explained the North-East Development Commission (NEDC) was established to address developmental challenges in the northeast region and to restore means of livelihood of the people, following the effects of over 12 years-long insurgencies as a result of activities of Boko Haram in the region
“The effects of insurgency led to a massive influx of people into the urban areas with most of them taking shelter at any available public spaces, homes, Schools, huts, abandoned and uncompleted buildings,
“While many troops moved to neighboring North eastern States, hundreds settled in the Internally Displaced Persons IDP camps across the States,” he said.
He stressed that when the commission was established part of its mandate included rehabilitation and reconstruction of destroyed homes and commercial premises of citizens in the Region.
Magaji said experts revealed that the stock of houses in the northeast states before the insurgency was about 4 million, out of which over 500,000 structures (houses and commercial premises) were destroyed or irreparably damaged,
“Even before the insurgency, there was a Housing deficit in all the States of the Region. Therefore, the insurgency only further aggravated the situation. In all of this, Borno State being the epicentre of the crisis is worst affected with the largest number of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs)”.
Magaji recalled that sometime in 2019, Because of the confidence he has in Dr Alkali President, Muhammadu Buhari approved a special Presidential intervention in Borno State (SPIB) in order to reduce the desperate situation that displaced communities in the state had found themselves.
“Through the construction of 10,000 houses and the establishment of Technical and Vocational Skills Acquisition Centres for the IDPs amongst others,
Execution of the SPIB, it was resolved that the NEDC undertook the construction of the first 1,000 houses and fully funded the equipping of the Technical and Vocational/Skills Centres around the State.
He said Dr Alkali constructed the first 1,000 Houses at Ngowam Village, Mafa Local Government of Borno State and handed over the Houses to the Governor of Borno State, Professor Baba Gana Umara Zullum.
“Alkali delivered a town with all social amenities, these are all the efforts of the Commission to reflect on its mandate, and the decision to replicate same in the other five states of the region by the construction of 500 houses in each state.
“Alkali started the construction of 500 houses to other States in the North East when he started with Yobe where he performed the ground breaking ceremony of building 250 houses; in Damaturu, in Buni Yadi, 50 houses; in Geidam, 50 houses; in Potiskum, 50 houses; in Gashua, 50 houses; in Nguru, 50 houses”,
“The types of Houses he is building are of the cluster block style which consists of blocks of four units of 2-bedroomed bungalows with veranda and courtyard, each block sits on four hundred square meters,
“With a fence separating each twin-facing houses, covered kitchens and toilets/bathrooms, and ample space for home living activities, adding that the facilities would also be provided with street lights, reticulated water supply system, commercial spaces among others,” The National President said.
He said NEDC had flag-off of the distribution of food and non-food items, and the issue of imminent food insecurity in the region had been a matter of discourse for a long time.
“Alkali Handed over , bags of rice (25kg) 12,000 Gallons of vegetable oil, 10,000Bags of sugar 2,000, cartons of spaghetti, 3,000 cartons of macaroni and donated non-food items, blanket PCS 2,000 (Pcs), Mats 2,000 (Pcs), mosquito nets 2,000 (Pcs), mosquito hand band 10,000(Pcs)”.
Magaji added In the area of ICT training in the region NEDC trained 2,400 youths in 2 batches across the six states and he donated an equipped infectious Diseases Laboratory for the testing of COVID – 19 and other diseases. It was commissioned in Yobe, Bauchi and Taraba states while Adamawa and Gombe states will be done soon”.
“In Bauchi NEDC brought more developmental projects of construction of 500 mass housing units which the foundation laying ceremony will be laid by His Excellency Senator Bala Mohammed Abdulkadir Executive Governor of Bauchi state. and the distribution of food and non-food items to people .
”NEDC under Alkali is constructing two gigantic historic roads that defy previous administrations both military and civilians . The roads are Alkaleri – Futuk road I Alkaleri LGA and Alkaleri -Kirfi- to Gombe Abba road in Kirfi LGA.
NEDC awarded the construction of Soro cattle market in Ganjuwa LGA. and the work has reached an advanced stage and its renovating Fistula Hospital in Ningi. NINGI LGA,” Magaji said.
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Government
Gov Fintiri Meets CAN Leadership, Reels Out Scorecard
—I’ll Definitely Take You To The Adamawa Of Your Dream – Gov Fintiri
By Muhammad B Muhammad
Ahead of the forthcoming elections, Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State who is seeking for re-election under the platform of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has met with leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in the state.
He was at the CAN State Secretariate in Yola Monday at the instance of the leadership where the officials asked him what he intends to do for the state if re-elected for a second tenue in office.
He started with the security sector where he narrated how his administration has redefined the security architecture that was hitherto in the state of shamble.
He said the government has injected thinking and funds that changed the narratives, enabling the citizens sleep with their two eyes close across the state.
On education, Fintiri said his administration has inherited a comatose system but injected a lot of commitment and resources to revive the sector.
According to him, the successes recorded has helped the government to renovating 5,000 classrooms, announcing that arrangements are in the pipeline to upgrade ten legacy schools in the state.
He added that the government has provided free education and relieved parents burden of payment of WAEC and NECO adding however that UNICEF has also built eighty schools in Fufore and Guyuk and it is set to construct more.
Governor Fintiri has made clarifications over some unwarranted rumours on the workforce, saying his administration has never sacked 10,000 workers as being speculated in some quarters.
He said the Government has only stopped the last minute biased recruitment of 1,500 teachers by then outgoing administration and employed 2,000 competent teachers through a clean process.
Speaking on the Health sector, Fintiri said over 100 primary healthcare centres were built and renovated, eight new cottage hospitals with staff quarters were built and equipped with modern facilities while health workers were also employed.
The Governor said his administration is also reforming the infrastructural sector, as the government has constructed 347km rural roads, built many urban roads in the state capital and some towns.
Governor Fintiri said his administration has initiated Adamawa Agribusiness Support Programme to tap the potentiality in the agric sector for youth employment, improve revenue generation and welfare of the citizens.
He said the Government has also cleared backlog of gratuity of retired workers to the tune of N5b, improved payment of monthly pensions and welfare of retirees across the state.
The Governor has also spoke on environment, housing, Internally Generated Revenue among other sectors and sought for support of the Chiristian Leaders, promising to redouble efforts if reelected.
Earlier, the State Chairman of CAN, Bishop Dami Mamza said Christians in the state are committed to Adamawa unity as according to him, God has endowed the state with all the potentialities to achieve greatness for the citizens.
Hightlight of the meeting was questions and answers session.
Government
Adamawa: Primary Sch Teachers, Health Workers, LG Staff To Enjoy National Minimum Wage
By Muhammad B. Muhammad
It appears that the incessant calls by Primary School Teachers, Primary Health Care and Local Government Workers in Adamawa State on salary increment have come to an end as henceforth they will start enjoying the national minimum wage.
Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri revealed this while addressing Primary Health Care Workers who were on a one thousand man march solidarity visit in the Government House, Yola, Monday.
He said arrangements have been concluded for the payment, assuring them however that the government will also address the issues of their leave grant allowances and promotions.
The Governor further told the workers that the government is working on some structural reforms to enable primary Health Care Workers’ remuneration go intune with Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS).
The Executive Secretary Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Suleiman Saidu said the visit was to show solidarity for Governor Fintiri for his numerous achievements not only in the health sector but the entire state as a whole.
Speaking separately, Malam Yahaya Sa’idu, Lawan Abubakar Umar and Emanuel Cartwell commended Governor Fintiri for providing them motivation that enabled them to achieve excellence and vowed as grassroot workers to mobilize massive votes for his re-election.
The State Chairman of Medical Health Care Workers Union of Nigeria, Comrade Usman Babbada thanked Governor Fintiri for implementing promotion benefits at the hospital services management board up to 95%.
The one thousand man march solidarity to Governor Umaru Fintiri by the primary school health workers was commenced from Women Development Centre, Yola and terminated at Banquet Hall Government House, Yola.
Government
Adamawa Govt Approves 16.6km Roads Network At 1,000 Housing Estate Malkohi
By Muhammad B. Muhammad
Adamawa State Executive Council at its first 2023 meeting has approved 16.6km roads network at the 1,000 Housing Units Malkohi in Yola South Local Government Area at the cost N3.744b.
According to the resolution of the council meeting presided over by Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, the project was awarded to Messrs Jodas Salamu Global Nigeria Limited.
State Commissioner of Works and Energy, Alh Adamu Atiku Abubakar revealed this to newsmen after the council meeting that held in the Council Chambers, Government House, Yola Monday.
Abubakar added that the road network project which is to be completed in 12 months, is inline with the policies of the present administration to ensuring rural and urban renewal.
The Commissioner further said the Council after deliberations has approved construction and renovation of 12 lots of classroom blocks, laboratories and library in Government Secondary School Fufore.
He said the project awarded at N151m is being spread across 12 independent contractors adding that work will soon commence. | https://sahelreporters.com/2021/09/21/just-in-nedc-set-to-construct-500-housing-units-in-adamawa/ |
Where are the satellites going?
Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO)
Will they be attempting to recover the first stage?
Yes
Where will the first stage land?
~653 km downrange on A Shortfall of Gravitas
Tug: Kurt Crosby; Support: Bob
Will they be attempting to recover the fairings?
The fairing halves will be recovered from the water ~665 km downrange by Bob
Are these fairings new?
TBD
How’s the weather looking?
The weather is currently >90% GO for launch (as of October 4, 12:00 UTC)
This will be the:
– 180th Falcon 9 launch
– 118th Falcon 9 flight with a flight-proven booster
– 122nd re-flight of a booster
– 44th re-flight of a booster in 2022
– 146th booster landing
– 72nd consecutive landing (a record)
– 46th launch for SpaceX in 2022 (a record)
– 99th SpaceX launch from SLC-40
– 131st orbital launch attempt of 2022
Where to watch
Official Livestream
What’s This All Mean?
SpaceX is set to launch two communication satellites to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) for Intelsat. The Galaxy 33 & 34 satellites will be launched from SpaceX’s launch pad Space Launch Complex 40, at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, in Florida, USA. Following deployment from the second stage, the satellites will spend the coming months raising their orbits to their operational orbit in geostationary Earth orbit (GEO). It is expected that the satellites will be operational by November 2022.
What are the Galaxy 33 & 34 satellites?
The Galaxy 33 & 34 satellites are replacements for Intelsat’s aging satellites in 133º and 129º GEO slots, respectively. Each of these satellites are C-band-only communication satellites, allowing the satellites to service North America with television broadcasting.
The satellites are thought to be based on the GEOStar-3 satellite Bus and is equipped with the IHI BT-4 propulsion module. Built by the Japanese company IHI aerospace, the BT-4 is a pressure-fed engine that runs on N2O4 and Hydrazine. It produces 500 N of thrust in a vacuum with an ISP of ~320 seconds. This engine is also used on Cygnus and HTV — two ISS resupply vehicles.
These satellites are a part of Intelsat order of six new satellites: four of which will be built by Maxar Technologies and two which will be built by Northrop Grumman. If all of these satellites are operational by December 5, 2023, Intelsat will receive $4.87 billion from the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) in the FCC’s attempts to clear the 300 MHz spectrum, which is used in cellular 5G networks.
The satellites have an expected lifespan of 15 years, and they are powered by two deployable solar arrays and batteries. While neither Intelsat or Maxar have released the mass of the satellite, it is expected that the satellite masses roughly 3,500 kg based on previous satellites and the Falcon 9’s performance.
What Is Falcon 9 Block 5?
The Falcon 9 Block 5 is SpaceX’s partially reusable two-stage medium-lift launch vehicle. The vehicle consists of a reusable first stage, an expendable second stage, and, when in payload configuration, a pair of reusable fairing halves.
First Stage
The Falcon 9 first stage contains 9 Merlin 1D+ sea level engines. Each engine uses an open gas generator cycle and runs on RP-1 and liquid oxygen (LOx). Each engine produces 845 kN of thrust at sea level, with a specific impulse (ISP) of 285 seconds, and 934 kN in a vacuum with an ISP of 313 seconds. Due to the powerful nature of the engine, and the large amount of them, the Falcon 9 first stage is able to lose an engine right off the pad, or up to two later in flight, and be able to successfully place the payload into orbit.
The Merlin engines are ignited by triethylaluminum and triethylborane (TEA-TEB), which instantaneously burst into flames when mixed in the presence of oxygen. During static fire and launch the TEA-TEB is provided by the ground service equipment. However, as the Falcon 9 first stage is able to propulsively land, three of the Merlin engines (E1, E5, and E9) contain TEA-TEB canisters to relight for the boost back, reentry, and landing burns.
Second Stage
The Falcon 9 second stage is the only expendable part of the Falcon 9. It contains a singular MVacD engine that produces 992 kN of thrust and an ISP of 348 seconds. The second stage is capable of doing several burns, allowing the Falcon 9 to put payloads in several different orbits.
For missions with many burns and/or long coasts between burns, the second stage is able to be equipped with a mission extension package. When the second stage has this package it has a grey strip, which helps keep the RP-1 warm, an increased number of composite-overwrapped pressure vessels (COPVs) for pressurization control, and additional TEA-TEB.
Falcon 9 Booster
The booster supporting the Galaxy 33 & 34 mission is B1060, which has supported thirteen previous flights. Hence, its designation for this mission is B1060-14; this will change to B1060-15 upon successful landing.
B1060’s missionsLaunch Date (UTC)Turn Around Time (Days)GPS III SV03June 30, 2020 20:10N/AStarlink V1.0 L11September 3, 2020 12:4664.69Starlink V1.0 L14October 24, 2020 15:3151.11Türksat-5AJanuary 8, 2021 02:1575.45Starlink V1.0 L18February 4, 2021 06:1927.17Starlink V1.0 L22March 24, 2021 08:2848.09Starlink V1.0 L24April 29, 2021 03:4438.50Transporter-2June 30, 2021 19:3162.66Starlink Group 4-3December 2, 2022 23:12155.15Starlink Group 4-6January 19, 2022 02:0247.22Starlink Group 4-9March 3, 2022 14:3543.52Starlink Group 4-14April 21, 2022 17:5149.14Starlink Group 4-19June 17, 2022 16:0956.93Galaxy 33 & 34October 6, 23:07111.29
Following stage separation, the Falcon 9 will conduct two burns. These burns aim to softly touch down the booster on SpaceX’s autonomous spaceport drone ship A Shartfall of Gravitas.
Falcon 9 Fairings
The Falcon 9’s fairing consists of two dissimilar reusable halves. The first half (the half that faces away from the transport erector) is called the active half, and houses the pneumatics for the separation system. The other fairing half is called the passive half. As the name implies, this half plays a purely passive role in the fairing separation process, as it relies on the pneumatics from the active half.
Both fairing halves are equipped with cold gas thrusters and a parafoil which are used to softly touch down the fairing half in the ocean. SpaceX used to attempt to catch the fairing halves, however, at the end of 2020 this program was canceled due to safety risks and a low success rate. On Galaxy 33 & 34, SpaceX will attempt to recover the fairing halves from the water with their recovery vessel Bob.
In 2021, SpaceX started flying a new version of the Falcon 9 fairing. The new “upgraded” version has vents only at the top of each fairing half, by the gap between the halves, whereas the old version had vents placed spread equidistantly around the base of the fairing. Moving the vents decreases the chance of water getting into the fairing, making the chance of a successful scoop significantly higher.
An active Falcon 9 fairing half (Credit: Greg Scott)
Falcon 9 passive fairing half (Credit: Greg Scott)
Half of the fairing being taken off Go. Navigator. (Credit: Lupi)
A passive fairing half being unloaded from Shelia Bordelon after the Starlink V1.0 L22 mission (Credit: Kyle M)
Galaxy 33 & 34 Countdown
All times are approximate
HR/MIN/SECEVENT00:38:00SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for propellant load00:35:00RP-1 (rocket grade kerosene) loading underway00:35:001st stage LOX (liquid oxygen) loading underway00:16:002nd stage LOX loading underway00:07:00Falcon 9 begins engine chill prior to launch00:01:00Command flight computer to begin final prelaunch checks00:01:00Propellant tank pressurization to flight pressure begins00:00:45SpaceX Launch Director verifies go for launch00:00:03Engine controller commands engine ignition sequence to start00:00:00Falcon 9 liftoff
The post Galaxy 33 & 34 | Falcon 9 Block 5 appeared first on Everyday Astronaut. | https://roqett.com/galaxy-33-34-falcon-9-block-5/ |
MedShare, a 501(c)3 humanitarian aid organization dedicated to global health, honored Sutter Health with a Global Humanitarian Award, which was accepted by Sutter Health’s President and CEO Sarah Krevans Thursday evening. The event was in recognition of Sutter Health’s outstanding leadership in supporting at-risk communities that require medical supplies and equipment.
“We are honored to give Sutter Health our 2017 Global Humanitarian Award,” said Charles Redding, CEO of MedShare. “Sarah’s leadership and vision for Sutter Health has been inspiring and we look forward to doing more with them for many years to come.”
As a major supporter to MedShare’s mission, the not-for-profit Sutter Health has made a significant impact in the following areas:
- Donated more than $8 million worth of lifesaving medical supplies and equipment to improve global health—including a recent donation of 20 pallets of medical supplies such as stents, foley catheters, central line trays, medicated dressings, chest tubes and phlebotomy needles
- Focused specifically on Maternal and Child Health in developing nations
- Helped MedShare provide high-quality care for over 442,000 people worldwide, including to free clinics in the San Francisco Bay Area
- Contributed to MedShare’s 2 Million Mothers campaign, which focuses on providing clean birthing kits to prevent infant mortality
The MedShare Global Humanitarian Award is given to organizations truly committed to expanding access to quality healthcare in medically underserved communities worldwide. The organization recognized Krevans in particular as someone who has a background in serving vulnerable communities, which has informed her leadership at Sutter Health and motivated the organization’s generosity to MedShare’s mission. | https://www.sutterhealth.org/newsroom/medshare-honors-sutter-health-2017-global-humanitarian-award |
Recognised as a leader in violin expertise, Peter Biddulph's certificates of authenticity are highly sought after by owners of fine violins worldwide. He also provides valuations for clients and has served as a consultant expert to Christie's and Sotheby's auction houses.
Biddulph's influential exhibition "The Violin Masterpieces of Guarneri del Gesù" at New York's Metropolitan Museum was hailed as a major contribution to violin scholarship. This led to the publication of "Giuseppe Guarneri del Gesù", a ground-breaking study of Guarneri's life and work. We have also published two important books about Antonio Stradivari, as well as a collection of photographs of musicians by Clive Barda, entitled "Performance!".
Biddulph Recordings has been hailed by Musical America as "the best historical label in the world". Our extensive catalogue features performances by the great musicians of the early 20th century, including Jascha Heifetz, Fritz Kreisler, Yehudi Menuhin, William Primrose and Pablo Casals. | http://peterbiddulph.com/ |
The Mike Balter Ultimate 114B Medium Birch Marimba Mallets are similar to the 113 but can cover a slightly lower register to the marimba.
The Ultimate Marimba Mallet series is designed to produce a full, rich, warm sound with a very strong fundamental. Heavily weighted rubber cores with a latex underlayment wound with an extremely durable synthetic material on slightly thicker and longer handles. The wide variety of the Ultimate Series makes them the preferred choice for every solo, ensemble, indoor or outdoor situation.
Musical Suggestion: Album for the Young by Robert Schumann
Color: Red Polyester
Handles: Birch
Hardness: Medium
Head Diameter: 1 1/2"
Overall Length: 16 5/8”
No reviews available. | http://www.westmusic.com/p/mike-balter-ultimate-114b-medium-birch-marimba-mallets-254463 |
SYDNEY, May 18, 2011 (AFP) – American novelist Philip Roth was on Wednesday announced as the winner of the fourth Man Booker International Prize, beating off competition from 12 other authors.
The award is presented every two years for an achievement in fiction on the world stage.
“For more than 50 years Philip Roth’s books have stimulated, provoked, and amused an enormous, and still expanding audience,” chairman of the judging panel Rick Gekoski said in announcing the prize in Sydney.
“His imagination has not only recast our idea of Jewish identity, it has also reanimated fiction, and not just American fiction, generally.”
Roth is a literary giant and one of the world’s most prolific and celebrated writers.
He is best known for his 1969 novel Portnoy’s Complaint, and for his late-1990s trilogy comprising the Pulitzer Prize-winning American Pastoral (1997), I Married a Communist (1998), and The Human Stain (2000).
Roth is the most decorated living American writer, winning the National Book Award at 26 for his first book, Goodbye, Columbus in 1960, and in 1995 for Sabbath’s Theater.
He has won two National Book Critics Circle awards and three PEN/Faulkner awards. In 2001 he was awarded the gold medal for fiction by The American Academy of Arts and Letters.
His most recent book, Nemesis, was published in 2010. | https://www.capitalfm.co.ke/lifestyle/2011/05/18/philip-roth-wins-man-booker-international-prize/ |
As part of Digital Business Services’ ongoing commitment to help our customers adopt a business-first approach to digital transformation, we have become a member of the Initiative on the Digital Economy (IDE) in the MIT Sloan School of Management.
This new association gives us exposure to MIT/Sloan’s in-depth research and analysis that will fortify our approach to digital.
The IDE is committed to breaking new ground in the study of the digital revolution and its profound impact on society, work, and the economy. It is developing a constant stream of research results on critical topics, organized around four key pillars, or subject areas:
Productivity, Employment, and Inequality
What will the workforce of the future look like? How can we accelerate the transformation of institutions, organizations, and human skills to keep up with the quickening pace of digital innovation?
New Digital Business Models
What new business models are made possible by digitalization? How can entrepreneurs more quickly implement them in ways that create widespread benefits?
Big Data
IDE believes the real power of big data lies not only in its scale, but also in its granularity. How can the fine-grained, real-time data now available be harnessed to answer age-old questions and identify new opportunities?
Social Analytics
How do new technologies and new means of social interaction impact productivity, consumer demand, political mobilization, and public health?
The IDE membership is an important step in the growth of Dell Digital Business Services. To learn more about how Dell Digital Business Services can help you in your Digital Transformation, visit us on the web, or follow us on Twitter.
You can also connect with me on Twitter. | https://www.dell.com/en-us/blog/dell-digital-business-services-joins-mit-s-initiative-on-the-digital-economy/ |
Ah, mosquitos. That tiny little creature that everyone hates. It’s like the 21st-century insect only a few of us can see. Even I get annoyed with those things sometimes when they come in big numbers. This post is about animals that eat mosquitoes and go as far as to be known as mosquito-eating machines or nature’s mosquito hunters.
My kids enjoy this topic and it doesn’t hurt to spread awareness about all animals including mosquitoes because we need them as well for our ecosystem to remain balanced.
Most of us think of the mosquitoes as small, blood-sucking flying insects that bother us to no ends. However, contrary to our belief, there are over 3,000 different mosquito species globally, out of which only a few are known for biting people or spreading diseases.
We would indeed go to any lengths to rid ourselves and our homes of these annoying pests, which is why we use several repellents and sprays to keep them away. But what if we told you that these insects could be taken care of naturally as well?
This article will talk about different bird, fish, reptile, amphibian, and insect species that are the natural predators of mosquitoes.
Contents
- Birds that eat mosquitoes
- Fish that eat mosquitoes
- Reptiles that eat mosquitoes
- Amphibians that eat mosquitoes
- Insects that eat mosquitoes
Birds that eat mosquitoes
Bats (Chiroptera)
With their rodent-like appearance, except for the forelimbs that have evolved into wings, the bats are the only mammals capable of a fully-sustained flight. These nocturnal creatures have over 1,400 different recognized species so far, which is how they form the second-largest mammal order (after the rodents).
The bats’ family can broadly be divided into two different categories: Microbats (Microchiroptera) and Megabats (Megachiroptera). Apart from their size, there are two main differences between the megabats and microbats; the first one is that while most microbats can use echolocation, megabats can’t; the second difference is that most megabats are fruit-eaters, whereas the microbats are mostly insectivores.
As you might’ve gathered by now, the microbats are the main predators of mosquitoes. These feed on various insects, including mosquitoes, crickets, moths, beetles, mayflies, termites, wasps, grasshoppers, caddisflies, and bees. Some of the microbat species that feed on mosquitoes are:
- Mexican Free-tailed Bats (Tadarida brasiliensis)
- Brown Long-eared Bats (Plecotus auritus)
- Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus)
Blackpoll Warblers (Setophaga striata)
Weighing as much as a ballpoint pen, the Blackpoll Warblers are small passerine birds that belong to the New World Warblers’ family. They have a fairly tiny body with a white face, streaked brown back, and a remarkable black cap on their head, often used as an identification mark.
The foraging style of the blackpoll warblers is significantly different from the other warblers; they are relatively inactive and stay perched in thick vegetation where they can’t be spotted.
Being insectivores like the other warblers, these birds have a quite diverse diet that includes locusts, mosquitoes, ants, cankerworms, gnats, termites, lice, sawflies, aphid, and webworms. When they migrate in the winters, they have also been spotted feeding on seeds and berries.
Barn Swallows (Hirundo rustica)
The Barn Swallows have been ranked as the most widespread species of swallows in the world. Although fairly common, these swallows have a remarkable appearance that sets them apart from the other species; they have a deep blue head, back, and upperparts, white underparts, with a brownish hue around their beak.
The feeding habits of the barn swallows are not much different from the other swallow and swifts. Because they cannot fly too fast, they usually hunt for insects in open areas or on the ground.
Additionally, they also pick their prey from walls, plants, and on the water surface. Although they eat all kinds of insects, large flies make about 70% of their diet, with aphids and mosquitoes contributing to the rest of it.
Muscovy Ducks (Cairina moschata)
Although insects like mosquitoes are a part of the diet of most duck species, if any duck specializes in eating them, it’s the Muscovy Ducks.
Endemic to Central and South Americas and Mexico, the Muscovy Ducks are a large duck species whose wild and feral breeding populations have spread to several states of the United States and many other parts of North America.
These ducks are sexually dimorphic, with the males being considerably larger and heavier than the females. Both sexes have a black and white body; although the back feathers of males are much shinier than the drab feathers of the females. The color of their beak varies in both sexes and can be pink, black, yellow, or a mixture of all these colors.
The muscovy ducks generally hunt for food by dabbling in the shallow water for aquatic plants, small-to-medium-sized fish, amphibians, crustaceans, reptiles, and insects like mosquitoes and other nasty bugs.
Downy Woodpeckers (Dryobates pubescens)
Although the piculets’ subfamily consists of the smallest woodpeckers in the world, if you’re looking for the smallest woodpecker species in North America, Downy Woodpeckers are the answer.
These woodpeckers are completely black and white in appearance, which is why they appear to be a miniature version of the Hairy Woodpeckers (Leuconotopicus villosus). While their underparts are white, the black upperparts consist of white bars both above and below their eyes, along with white spots scattered on their tail feathers.
Although both sexes of the downy woodpeckers look alike, the males have a small but remarkable red patch at the back of their heads that the females lack.
Although the downy woodpeckers are omnivores, the insects and the larvae residing in the tree barks are a major portion of their diet. These woodpeckers mainly feed on pest insects such as mosquitoes, bark beetles, tent caterpillars, apple borers, corn earworms. Only a quarter of their diet comes from the plant materials like grains, berries, and acorns.
Purple Martins (Progne subis)
Although the Purple Martins are called “purple”, they’re not actually purple but have a blackish-blue plumage instead. However, when light falls on the iridescent sheen of their body, it appears to be deep purple or navy blue. Known for their agility and speed, these birds are the largest members of the swallow family.
Purple Martins are primarily insectivores and tend to catch their prey mid-flight. Their diverse diet of flying insects includes mosquitoes, bees, moths, flies, and so on.
Although the purple martins will eat mosquitoes when given the opportunity, mosquitoes don’t make a major part of their diet because these birds fly at a height where mosquitoes are rarely found.
Fish that eat mosquitoes
Mosquito Fish (Gambusia affinis)
As you can easily gather from their name itself, the mosquito fish are a voracious mosquito-eating fish species that are endemic to the eastern part of the United States.
These freshwater fish are also commonly referred to as “gambezi”. They were named “mosquito fish” because of their surprising ability to gobble down mosquito larvae; they can eat about 500 mosquito larvae in a single day. For this reason, mosquito fish are often used for the biological control of the mosquito population.
The mosquitofish are sexually dimorphic, wherein the males are smaller in size than the females. Even though these fish are useful for eradicating mosquitoes in a particular area, you’d be surprised to learn that the mosquito larvae only make up a small portion of their diet.
In addition to mosquito larvae, these fish also eat zooplankton, water beetles, caddisflies, and mayflies along with their larvae, and other aquatic invertebrates.
Goldfish (Carassius oratus)
Goldfish are undoubtedly the most popular aquarium fish in the entire world. Although most people expect all goldfish to be golden-orange in color, there are many other color varieties found in these fish, such as yellow, red, brown, white, and black.
Apart from their coloration, the goldfish are also known to vary in their shape, size, and fin configuration. Belonging to the carp’s family, the goldfish are endemic to East Asia and were selectively bred for more colors in China about 1,000 years ago.
Being a freshwater fish like the other carp, the goldfish prefer to inhabit slow-moving or still water, just like the mosquito fish, which makes them obvious predators of the mosquito larvae. They are omnivores and feed on detritus, other small insects, and crustaceans in addition to the mosquito larvae.
Guppies (Poecilia reticulata)
Also known by the names of “Rainbow Fish” and “Million Fish”, the Guppies are a tropical freshwater fish species that rank among the most popular aquarium fish species. These live-bearing fish have high adaptability and are known to thrive in diverse environments.
Although the guppies have been named after the rainbow, they’re sexually dimorphic with only one sex being blessed with various colors: the males. The females, although they’re longer in size than their counterparts, usually have a drab grey body.
Guppies are omnivore fish that are quite fond of the algal remains, making a large portion of their diet. Other than these remains, they also feed on mineral particles, plant fragments, and the larvae of insects like mosquitoes.
Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio)
Belonging to the same family as the goldfish, the Common Carp are a freshwater fish species that are endemic to the lakes and rivers of both Asia and Europe.
Although these fish were earlier found only in these two continents, they have been introduced to all parts of the world after their domestication. The common carp have adapted to all new regions so well that their name has been added to the world’s 100 worst invasive species. They are also referred to as the “European Carp”.
The common carp are omnivores in nature and can easily sustain on a herbivore diet of the aquatic plants. However, they prefer to scavenge the bottom of the water for small insects, zooplankton, and crustaceans to feed on. The crawfish and benthic worms are one of their favorites.
Although these fish don’t seek out mosquitoes or their larvae actively, if they come across them, they will certainly feed on them.
Reptiles that eat mosquitoes
Red-eared Sliders (Trachemys scripta elegans)
Also known as the “Red-eared Terrapin”, the Red-eared Sliders are a semi-aquatic turtle species that belong to the family of the terrapins or marsh turtles.
Although these turtles are native to the southern parts of the United States, they have grown as an invasive species in many different parts of the world. Because of their attractive appearance and calm temperament, the red-eared sliders are quite popular as pets.
Being omnivores, these turtles feed on a variety of aquatic vegetation, small fish and insects, including mosquitoes, and dead and decaying amphibians.
Amphibians that eat mosquitoes
Green Tree Frogs (Ranoidea caerulea)
The Green Tree Frogs are an Australian species of tree frogs that are quite common as pets due to their docile nature. Although they are omnivores, their diet mainly consists of insects like moths, cockroaches, mosquitoes, and locusts.
Spadefoot Toads (Scaphiopodidae)
The Spadefoot Toads are a family of North American toads that have 7 separate species. Because of their vertical pupils and the absence of their parotoid glands, these toads are not considered to be true toads.
They’re usually dull green or brown in color which helps them blend in with their surroundings and avoid detection. The diet of an adult spadefoot toad consists of flies, crickets, mosquitoes, snails, caterpillars, earthworms, and spiders.
Insects that eat mosquitoes
Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata)
Every time you look for the insects that are the main predators of mosquitoes, the names of dragonflies, and their less-popular cousins, damselflies, are bound to pop up.
They are predatory insects and have a similar diet of flying insects such as mosquitoes, butterflies, midges, moths, and bees. Additionally, some larger dragonflies are also known for eating other dragonflies.
Jumping Spiders (Salticidae)
Known for having the best vision among all arthropods, the Jumping Spiders are a large family of spiders that consist of over 6,000 recognized species. As their name suggests, these spiders are known for their agility in jumping, which comes in handy when hunting down their prey or trying to escape a sudden threat.
The jumping spiders have a varying diet. While some species are purely carnivorous, others drink nectar. It is the predatory jumping spider species that feed on many small insects including mosquitoes.
Pitcher-plant Ants (Colobopsis schmitzi)
Also referred to as “Diving Ants” or “Swimming Ants”, the Pitcher-plant ants are an insectivorous species endemic to Borneo’s island. These ants are popular for their unique feeding technique.
They have a strange understanding of the pitcher plants, which is how they enter their pitchers to retrieve the arthropods caught by the plants and feed on them. Mosquitoes are one of the most common insects that these ants find in the pitcher fluid.
Conclusion: What Animals Eat Mosquitoes?
As part of my research in creating this blog post series on how animals eat mosquitoes, I learned that there’s so much more to it than I had originally assumed. It was really cool to see the variety of ways each animal did so. In a way, that makes me feel better about the battle we humans have in trying to eradicate mosquitoes!
This article does not claim to be a comprehensive list of animals that eat mosquitoes. However, it is good for a glimpse into the wonderful and diverse realm of mosquito-eating animals.
If you feel like there are more animals that eat mosquitoes out there we should add to the list, let us know! | https://animalhype.com/facts/animals-that-eat-mosquitoes/ |
What is pain?
Pain is the body’s warning system, an unpleasant sensation alerting you that something is wrong. Specialized nerve cells transmit pain signals in response to tissue damage or injury.
Most forms of arthritis are associated with two types of pain: acute and chronic. Acute pain is temporary. It can last a few seconds or longer but goes away as healing occurs. Chronic pain ranges from mild to severe and may last for months, years or a lifetime.
What is the impact of arthritis pain?
Chronic pain is a major health problem in the United States and is one of the most debilitating effects of arthritis. More than 40 million American suffer from some form of arthritis, and many have chronic pain that limits daily activity.
What causes arthritis pain and why is it so variable?
The pain of arthritis may come from different sources, such as inflammation of joint tissue, tendons or ligaments muscle strain and fatigue. A combination of these factors contributes to the intensity of the pain.
Doctors do not yet understand completely why the pain of arthritis varies so widely from person to person. Factors that contribute to pain include swelling within the joint, the severity of inflammation (associated with heat or redness), and the extent of damage within the joint. Activities affect pain differently: Some patients note joint pain after first getting out of bed in the morning, while others develop pain after prolonged use of the joint.
Each individual has a different threshold and tolerance for pain. A person’s subjective experience of pain is affected by both physical and emotional factors. These can include depression, anxiety and even hypersensitivity at the affected joints due to inflammation and tissue injury.
How do doctors measure arthritis pain?
Pain is a private, unique experience that cannot be seen. The most common way for a doctor to measure pain is to ask you about your symptoms. The doctor may ask you to describe the intensity of your pain on a scale from one to 10. If you use terms like aching, burning, stinging, throbbing or others as appropriate, you give the doctor a clearer idea of what type of pain you’re feeling.
Since doctors rely on your description of pain to help guide treatment, you may want to keep a pain diary to record your pain sensations. Describe factors that cause or alter your pain, the type of pain you’re feeling, and any steps that help alleviate it. This information will give your doctor some insight into the course of your arthritis.
Who can treat arthritis pain?
Both you and your physician should be involved in treating and managing your arthritis pain. Other health care professionals, including other medical specialists, may also play an active role but should communicate well with you and your primary physician as part of a team-based approach.
No specific pain treatment works for all people with arthritis. However, your doctor or medical team should develop a pain management plan designed to minimize your specific pain and improve your joint function.
What treatments are used to provide short-term relief for arthritis pain?
- Medications
Because people with osteoarthritis have little or no inflammation, pain relievers like acetaminophen (e.g., Tylenol®) may be effective. People with rheumatoid arthritis generally have pain caused by inflammation and often benefit from aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (e.g., Motrin® or Advil®).
- Heat and cold
The effectiveness of either heat or cold for joint pain depends on the type of arthritis; before using these methods for pain relief, discuss them with your doctor or physical therapist. Moist heat, such as a warm bath or shower, or dry heat, such as a heating pad, may relieve pain if placed on the painful area of the joint for about 15 minutes. An ice pack or bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a towel and placed on the sore area for about 15 minutes may help to reduce swelling and stop pain. If you have poor circulation or suffer from Reynaud’s phenomenon, do not use cold for pain.
- Joint protection
Using a splint or brace to allow joints to rest and protect them from injury can be helpful. Ask your doctor or physical therapist for recommendations.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)
TENS works by blocking pain messages to the brain and modifying your perception of pain. A small electronic device is used to send mild electric pulses to nerve endings beneath the skin in the painful area. This technique may relieve some arthritis pain. Studies are ongoing to determine the effectiveness of TENS in relieving arthritis pain.
- Massage
A therapist lightly strokes and/or kneads the painful muscle, to increase blood flow and bring warmth to a stressed body area. However, arthritis-stressed joints are very sensitive; so the therapist must be knowledgeable about arthritis.
- Acupuncture
This procedure should only be done under sanitary conditions by a licensed acupuncture therapist. The therapist inserts thin needles at specific points in the body. Scientists think that this stimulates the release of natural, pain-relieving chemicals produced by the brain or nervous system.
What treatments are used to provide long-term relief for arthritis pain?
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
These drugs, which include aspirin and ibuprofen, reduce pain and inflammation and may be used for both short- and long-term pain relief for people with osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
- Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
These drugs are thought to influence and correct the abnormalities of the immune system that are responsible for diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. They include methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, penicillamine, gold injections and newer, recently approved drugs. Treatment with these medications requires careful monitoring by a physician because of possible side effects.
- Corticosteroids
These drugs reduce inflammation, and can be very effective in treating arthritis, although they also may have significant side effects. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis may take prednisone by mouth, while patients with either osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis may receive injections of corticosteroids directly into the affected joint. Since frequent injections may damage the joint cartilage, this procedure should be done only once or twice a year.
- Weight reduction
Being overweight puts extra stress on weight-bearing joints such as the knees and hips. Studies show that losing only 11 pounds can substantially reduce the risk of developing osteoarthritis in the knees — and even if a person already has osteoarthritis in one knee, weight reduction will reduce the risk of it occurring in the other knee.
- Exercise
Swimming, walking, low-impact aerobic exercise and range-of-motion exercises may reduce joint pain and stiffness. In addition, stretching exercises are helpful. Your doctor or your physical therapist can help plan an exercise program that will give you the most benefit.
- Surgery
Surgery may be necessary in certain patients with arthritis. Surgeons can perform operations to remove inflamed joint tissue, realign the joint or replace severely damaged joints with artificial ones. These joint replacements have disadvantages, but in appropriate cases they can provide not only pain relief but also improved motion in the involved joint..
What alternative therapies may relieve arthritis pain?
Many people look for other ways of treating their arthritis, such as special diets or supplements. Although these methods are not necessarily harmful, there also is no real proof that they help. Because the pain of arthritis may come and go, a person taking an alternative treatment may mistakenly think that the remedy worked.
It’s also true that pain is a very subjective experience, and people with pain sometimes feel better simply because of their strong faith in a particular treatment. This is why researchers rely on clinical trials involving hundreds or thousands of people. In such trials, patients and doctors are not told what medications are being taken until the end of the trial, before they claim that a new method for relieving pain works.
If your doctor agrees that an alternative treatment helps you to cope without doing any harm, it can be incorporated into your treatment plan. However, don’t let yourself be taken advantage of by unscrupulous people who promise quick and easy answers to the pain of arthritis, then sell you “remedies” that may be ineffective or even harmful. Consider carefully whether the claims of an alternative treatment are reasonable or likely and ask your doctor before taking such a treatment.
How can you cope with arthritis pain?
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are chronic diseases that may last a lifetime. Learning how to manage your pain is important in controlling the disease and maintaining a good quality of life. Be sure that you and your doctor are working together on this goal and that you have chosen a caring doctor whom you respect.
Maintain a positive attitude. Don’t dwell on negative thoughts, and use distraction or relaxation techniques to reduce your stress and focus your thoughts outside of your body on the things you enjoy. Studies show that depression, stress and anxiety increase your perception of pain. If you can improve your sense of control and mental well-being, your perception of pain will be lessened and you will feel better even if the physical causes of your pain don’t change.
Try to eat a healthy diet and get enough sleep at night, again to lessen your perception of pain and increase your ability to cope with it. Join a support group with people in the same situation as yours, and stay informed about research on new methods for managing arthritis pain. | http://www.actforlibraries.org/health/how-to-manage-arthritis-pain |
There are five sections in this article. In the first, we discuss about the importance of afterlife. Section two considers the possibility of survival from the standpoint of mind-body dualism and section three deals with the possibility of survival on a materialistic view. Section four addresses the afterlife in terms of empirical evidence. In section five, reasons are advanced for thinking that the reasonability of beliefs about an afterlife depends on the reasonability of metaphysical convictions.
کلیدواژهها [English]
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Sabom, Michael, 1982, Recollections of Death: A Medical Investigation, New York: Harper and Row.
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منابع اینترنتی دیگر
Augustine, Keith, 2008, Hallucinatory Near-Death Experiences, extensive critical survey of the evidence concerning NDEs.
Near-Death Experience, a brief presentation of a skeptical view of NDEs. | http://hikmat.isramags.ir/article_79516_10507.html |
We all want our students to do well on the standardized tests that are coming our way. But let’s teach them how to take tests in a smart way. Our main job is to help our kids become strong, strategic readers. In this way, they will be able to navigate the test language and do well.
We agree with what Greene and Melton say, “In order to be effective test takers, students must first be effective readers” (2007, p. 15). There is so much more to being a proficient reader than a passing standardized test score.
Test preparation can be easily integrated into the daily reading workshop if standardized tests are viewed as a specific genre. We use the language, format, and structure of tests in our mini-lessons during our regular reading workshop. But we do this for only a few weeks before the tests. We don’t sacrifice months of quality teaching in a sound reading workshop for test preparation.
In their wonderful book Test Talk (2007), Greene and Melton show how teachers can teach the test genre while maintaining best practice teaching. Test Talk includes sections on finding the main idea, identifying author’s intent, and inferring with very specific classroom lessons.
In this era of testing frenzy, teachers need to take a stand for keeping the teaching of literacy at the heart of our day — not test preparation. You do not need to purchase expensive workbooks or test prep software. Teaching children how to be good test takers can be done on the same material they are reading each day in reading workshop without giving up the essential elements of a comprehensive literacy approach.
How do you feel about the balance you provide between time spent on test prep and time spent on supporting students to be strong, strategic readers?
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President Joe Biden is throwing his support behind two separate proposals in a move that has become increasingly emblematic of his legislative strategy in 2022: bowing to Congress’s lead in addressing top issues.
Biden and Democrats are under pressure to address gun violence and extremely elevated gas prices. Gun violence has been a consistent wedge issue for Democrats dating back to the Sandy Hook shooting, and the recent mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, re-elevated the topic to the forefront of voters’ minds heading into the 2022 midterm elections. Gas prices, inflation, and the economy have nevertheless consistently polled as the most important issues for both parties heading into November.
Over the past week, the president has endorsed bills attempting to address gun violence and the economy, yet both face an uphill battle toward passage, and neither originated at the specific urging of the president.
Biden called on Congress Wednesday to enact a three-month suspension of federal taxes on gas and diesel fuel. A number of lawmakers have already introduced legislation toward that end, with Sens. Mark Kelly (D-AZ) and Raphael Warnock (D-GA) introducing gas tax holiday bills in February.
However, Biden’s Wednesday calls received lukewarm responses at best from both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA). Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) explicitly stated that he would not vote for such a proposal.
Following Biden’s speech, Schumer would not tell reporters if he supported the president’s proposal and declined to say if he would bring any of the prior gas tax bills to the floor for a vote.
Pelosi similarly declined to offer her opinion on Biden’s remarks but did say she would bring the issue up for discussion with the Democratic caucus.
“It is unacceptable that American families are being squeezed at the pump while Big Oil rakes in massive profits at their expense in the middle of Putin’s War,” she said in a statement. “We will see where the consensus lies on a path forward for the president’s proposal in the House and the Senate.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters during Wednesday’s briefing that Pelosi’s comments did not indicate a negative response.
“We have immense respect for the speaker. I think she also said that she was going to bring this to her caucus, which is also important to note,” she demurred. “Look, this is just the beginning of the process. The president talked about this about an hour and a half ago, and we will continue to have conversations with Congress, congressional members, and their staff.”
Biden’s gas tax holiday proposal actually mirrors his initial flip-flop on banning Russian energy products, which in part led to elevated prices at the pump.
The president stated that he would not target Russian energy during the opening weeks of the war as a means of protecting U.S. consumers but eventually caved to bipartisan pressure from lawmakers in early March.
Biden was significantly more forward with his approach to gun violence and directly called on Congress to pass a number of reforms in the wake of the Uvalde and Buffalo mass shootings, such as reinstituting 1994’s ban on assault rifles and high-capacity magazines and raising the minimum purchase age for all firearms to 21.
Simultaneously, a bipartisan group of lawmakers led by Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and John Cornyn (R-TX) began negotiations on a “commonsense” reform bill that has since cleared its first procedural hurdle in the Senate.
But the bill itself features very little of what Biden actually proposed.
The bill includes the following provisions:
$750 million in state funding to stand up crisis intervention programs Closing the “boyfriend” loophole Requiring independent sellers to register as Federally Licensed Firearms Dealers and take part in federal background checks Incentivizing states to create their own regulations against improper firearm transfers New funding for mental health and school safety programs
The bill will not institute federal red flag laws, expand the federal background check system, or repeal liability shields granted to gun manufacturers.
The president chose not to take part in the bipartisan negotiations personally at the specific request of the working group.
“I think the Senate needs to do this ourselves,” Murphy said in a June interview with CNN. “I’ve talked to the White House every single day since these negotiations began, but right now, the Senate needs to handle these negotiations.”
The White House in turn spun Biden not interacting with Murphy and Cornyn’s group as a seasoned decision from a 40-year Senate veteran to give lawmakers ample space to reach a compromise. | https://g3box.org/news/world/on-guns-and-gas-biden-punts-top-issues-to-congress/ |
Apologies for the long delay between posts but I finally have a little time to write. At the end of my previous post I promised to write about score marking, so here it is!
What do I mean by “score marking”? Well, contrary to the opinion of some orchestral musicians, conductors scores are not filled with diagrams and comments like this………
So if a score is not filled with such helpful diagrams, what does a conductor write in their score?
At this point, I should note that some conductors write little or nothing in their scores. Some find it a distraction, some are lucky enough to have a photographic memory (I believe Lorin Maazel is in this category) and some just add some very small pencil markings where necessary. This is perfectly acceptable – there is, in my opinion, no right or wrong when it comes to how you treat and use your scores.
Other conductors, like me, write all manner of information in their scores. Why? Firstly, it is a really good way of learning a score. Not wishing to sound too big-headed, but after 20 years of playing the violin professionally, I know most pieces in the repertoire very well. But even with this exposure, you find things in a score every time you look at it, your ideas and thoughts on a piece change, so it is worth writing it down.
So, how do I start?
Firstly, I do my preliminary work. I go through the score from start to finish drawing a red line between the systems, should a page have more than one system on it, like this……
But while I am doing this, I add another marking. Here is an example……
This is a little marking telling me that on the previous page, Fig.70 is one bar away. Or, should I say that the first bar on this page is 2 bars after Fig.70. The reason for doing this is apparent when you are rehearsing. Often, when looking for somewhere to start, a conductor will leaf through his score trying to find a rehearsal figure – often they are far apart, often they are just over a page. Knowing where these rehearsal marks are helps cut down on time wasted but there is a second benefit. As I said, the first bar of that page is 2 after Fig.70. But if you didn’t know that, you could have asked the orchestra to go from 8 bars before Fig.71, as this is equally true. This means less time spent for the musicians to count out their bars and avoids the inevitable smart ass comment, “you mean 2 after 70?”
Trust me, it takes time writing them in, but it saves rehearsal time!
So having done the “boring stuff”, what next?
I use coloured pencils to mean different things. I use red to signify anything I to do with beating time, tempo, accelerandos, rits etc. Some typical tempo markings are shown in this next photo……
You may also have noticed some blue – any blue markings are for dynamics, articulations and balance. Often all I am doing is making the composers markings more visible, especially in smaller sized scores. It is good to glance down and see something clearly and quickly when required.
Next are cues. Some publishers don’t list the instruments on the left hand side of every page, and some cues need marking in any way as the player has been inactive for a long time. For this I use a normal 3B pencil and mark something like this…….
What you see here is my sign for timps, clashed cymbals and tam-tam. You can use any abbreviation you like, but I use the following, which, I hope, are fairly self explanatory!
Fls ( or Fl 1 for just First Flute)
Po
Obs (Ob1)
CA
Kls (K1)
BKl
Fg (Fg1)
Cfg
HNS (H1, H2 etc)
Tpt
Tbn
Tba
Hp
V1
V2
VA
Vc
Cb
As I said, you can use your own, but it is a good idea to make them easily recognisable at a very quick glance. You could argue my markings for Trumpet, Trombone and Tuba look a little similar but I am stuck with them now! (I could, and maybe should have used POS for the trombone?)
There, in a nutshell, is how I mark my scores. Extra to this, I write in bowings, slurrings, phrase shapes, historical references if needed, notes to myself on balance, misprints I might have discovered over the years (and they are many!), colours I might strive to achieve, tempo thoughts and how they relate to the architecture of the piece – the list is endless! I am big enough to admit that whilst a lot of this is carried around in my head, some of it is not and it is worth noting it down and having it there for posterity.
One word of caution – if, as happened to me in 2011, you have to use someone else’s score, or you lose yours (or an airline loses it for you!), you must be flexible enough to quickly put some simple pencil markings in a new score at a moments notice.
In the end, marking up a score must serve one purpose more than any – to help you learn the piece to such an extent that your head is no longer in the score! It seems a little bizarre to say it, but it is true. The greatest feeling of all is conducting without a score, but until then, and especially in rehearsal, your score should be your bible and your friend and if it takes markings to help, then so be it.
I promise my next post will be sooner rather than later – until then, happy marking! | http://michaelseal.com/wp/making-your-mark/ |
He’s a modern-day Hollywood heavyweight. But it’s easy to forget that it’s not long ago at all that Damien Chazelle was the industry’s hottest new thing. He’s a director who has rapidly risen up the ranks but someone whose intelligence is visible in the subjects he tackles and the breadth of his influences. So it’s for this reason that we’ve put together 15 fascinating Damien Chazelle quotes for writers and filmmakers to get inspired by.
Wunderkind to Hollywood Heavyweight
Unsurprisingly, Damien Chazelle was training to be a musician before filmmaker (although he has said filmmaking was his first love). At Princeton High School, Chazelle was part of a studio band and has cited this experience as inspiration for his breakout film, Whiplash.
He failed to make it as a jazz drummer and so pursued his first love instead. But the two disciplines would overlap. Indeed, Damien Chazelle’s first three films take music as their subject matter. Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench tells the story of a couple navigating love amidst various jobs in music. Whiplash tells the story of a brutal jazz teacher and student. Whilst La La Land uses the language of a musical to tell the story of a romance between an aspiring jazz musician and an aspiring actor.
All of Chazelle’s films arguably deal with the chasing of a dream and the realities of such a chase. He seems fascinated by what goes into being an artist and the folklore that comes with it. Even his film about Neil Armstrong, First Man, is about the imagery of dreams and the reality of dealing with success and fulfilled aspirations.
Each of his films has, in some way, progressed on the idea of showbiz aspiration. From the out-of-work musician to the budding student to the jobbing musician. Even the context of Hollywood’s transition from silent to sound films in the 1920s (Babylon) provides a background of music and the movies as a playground for aspiring artists.
Damien Chazelle, therefore, seems uniquely placed to provide insight into the process of being an artist and the allure of Hollywood. Through the below 15 Damien Chazelle quotes, it becomes even more evident that he’s a filmmaker obsessed with the life of the artist.
Damien Chazelle Quotes on…Inspiration
1. “There something to be said for having even unrealistic dreams. Even if the dreams don’t come true – that, to me, is what’s beautiful about Los Angeles. It’s full of these people who have moved there to chase these dreams.”
2. “If you want to make a movie, there may be many forces trying to pull you down, but really, a lot of it is willpower. You can will it into being if you just believe that you are going to make a movie.”
3. “Certainly, grades only matter so much when you’re in Hollywood. But I became an utterly motivated, devoted, committed student. I was a good student because I was convinced that it would somehow help me in my quest to become a filmmaker.”
4. “Whiplash scared me. I feel you should only do projects that scare you to some degree. I get motivated by those sorts of feelings.”
5. “My motivation for being a good drummer was born out of fear, which, in a way, seems so antithetical to what art should be.”
6. “I do truly believe that the smallest stories can wind up being the biggest because it’s through the specific that a writer can best access the universal.”
Damien Chazelle Quotes on…Music and Cinema
7. “If you’re an artist, you want to draw from real life; you want to draw from experiences, emotion, and it’s something that a lot of musicians juggle with. I’ve always found it so fascinating.”
8. “I love the idea of using film language similarly to how musicians use music – combining images and sounds in a way that they create an emotional effect.”
9. “I love the idea of thinking of cinema as not that far from music. A lot of my favourite movie makers, the way they move their cameras or the way they cut just feel very musical – even if the movies have no music in them at all.”
10. “In some ways, jazz is the most precise of art forms and the loosest in the sense that it’s all about improvisation, but the musicianship required is kind of insane. To actually play with real jazz musicians is a different level of musicianship that almost has no equal in any other form of music in the world.”
Damien Chazelle Quotes on…Creating Stories and Making Work
11. “When you’re trying to paint a portrait of a very specific world, you’re trying to show what makes the world different. So, sometimes it means exaggerating certain kind of aspects, but I don’t think it’s that important or it’s that much of an issue as long as you get an emotional truth across.”
12. “The go-to reflex all over Hollywood is still likeability. I’ve always had a problem with it because I think I have a weird barometer in the sense that some of the characters I’ve cared about the most in movies are characters that are often thought of as despicable.”
13. “Whiplash was just a lucky kind of convergence of events in that I’d been trying to get a bigger project off the ground with no success for a while, and then finally, out of frustration, I just wrote this leaner, meaner, personal script about my experiences as a jazz drummer, and that’s the one that wound up getting made.”
14. “I don’t like the idea the viewer can kind of sit there and go, ‘Make me like this person.’ People aren’t inherently sympathetic.”
15. “Real practice means working on stuff you’re not good at. Real practice is about butting your head against the wall repeatedly until you get it right.”
Feeling inspired by these Damien Chazelle quotes? Take a look at our list of Nora Ephron quotes and Martin McDonagh quotes for some more inspiration.
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My child’s father visits her once a week is he still allowed to do this?
The UK Govt guidance is that children under 18yrs can move between parents – while children should not normally be moving between households, they recognise that this may be necessary when children who are under 18 move between separated parents. This is permissible & has been made clear in the guidance. UK Cabinet Minister Michael Gove has confirmed this on Twitter.
Where can I go for information and help?
ClanChildlaw can provide free advice on children’s rights and the law. Their phone number is 0808 129 0522.
Parentline Scotland provides advice to families. Further information is available on their website.
The Scottish Child Law Centre also provides advice and information about children’s rights and child law. Please email [email protected] if you have any queries. If you are a child or young person under the age of 21 there is a helpline – free from a mobile 0300 330 1421 or from a landline 0800 328 8970.
Your question hasn't been answered?
Please complete the fields below. One of our advisers will review your question and provide an answer within 3 working days. Check back on the board to see your question answered. We don't publish answers to questions if the subject and answer is sensitive, we will email you back directly if this is the case. | https://opfs.org.uk/?question=q-my-childs-father-visits-her-once-a-week-is-he-still-allowed-to-do-this |
“Person of interest” detained but no charges brought forward
A woman was found dead inside an apartment following reports of a disturbance Tuesday afternoon in the first block of South Soledad Street, police said.
Multiple 9-1-1 calls were made Tuesday around 4:46 p.m. reporting a disturbance between a man and a woman in the complex. Several callers reported a “chaotic situation” and officers responded and found the deceased victim, whose identity was withheld Tuesday, said Anthony Wagner, spokesman for the Santa Barbara Police Department.
A person of interest, a Latino man, was detained at the scene and taken to the police station for questioning, Mr. Wagner said.
As of Tuesday night, police were continuing to interview the person of interest to establish the relationship between he and the victim. The person of interest was not facing any charges, Mr. Wagner told the News-Press.
Police were in the process of obtaining and serving a search warrant at the residence. The warrant was expected to be served at some point Tuesday night, which would allow police to examine the contents of the apartment and the “disposition of the deceased,” Mr. Wagner said, adding that the police department is working with the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Coroner’s Bureau to determine the cause of death.
Several patrol units were on scene after the call came through dispatch. Traffic was shutdown in the area for at least an hour as authorities began the investigation. Detectives remained on scene for several hours collecting information, interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence, Mr. Wagner said.
More than a dozen people stood outside along the sidewalk, some pulling out their phones to take pictures. Many asked questions of the media members nearby about what had happened, and expressed fear that Tuesday’s incident was linked to the homicide that occurred Saturday night just a few blocks away in the 1300 block of Cacique Street.
On Tuesday, police identified the victim of the homicide as Alberto Suarez Torres, 29, of Santa Barbara.
At 1:15 a.m. Saturday, police responded to the area and located a man who had just been assaulted. Police located Mr. Torres, who was unconscious, and began emergency life-saving efforts as other law enforcement arrived on scene.
Mr. Torres suffered multiple stab wounds from a sharp object. He was transported to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital where he died from his injuries, Mr. Wagner said.
An investigation is continuing. No suspects have been identified and no arrests have been made.
Mr. Wagner told the News-Press that it did not appear those incidents were related.
“While there have been some notable events in the city and in our neighboring jurisdiction, none of these events seem to be connected and thus far (Tuesday’s incident) appears to be an anomaly,” Mr. Wagner said. | https://newspress.com/woman-found-dead-inside-apartment/ |
The idea that personal interests motivate all human actions—termed “universal selfishness” by social scientists—has been widely held since the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes presented the individual as a basically selfish being. In his new, 864-page tome Altruism: The Power of Compassion to Change Yourself and the World, French-born Tibetan Buddhist monk Matthieu Ricard challenges this idea by arguing that altruism—selfless concern for the well-being of others—is real, can be cultivated, and will benefit us personally and globally.
Since 2000—when he teamed up with Richard Davidson, a scientist in Madison, Wisconsin, studying meditation’s effect on brain structure—Ricard has been a central figure in the dialogue between science and Buddhism. In Altruism, Ricard makes his arguments by drawing on his years of practicing meditation, recent scientific studies, and many anecdotal stories. “New advances in the theory of evolution allow us to envisage the possibility of an extended altruism that transcends the ties of family and tribal proximity,” he writes, “and emphasizes the fact that human beings are essentially ‘super-cooperators.’”
Ricard suggests that large, complex questions about income inequality, individual happiness, and environment destruction all boil down to whether we are altruistic or selfish creatures. These challenges are difficult, he tells us, because they exist on three different scales of time—the short-term ups and downs of the economy on a daily basis, the mid-term quality of life measured in decades, and the long-term state of the environment that should be considered for future generations. | https://www.spiritualityhealth.com/reviews/books/2015/07/19/book-review-altrusim |
Oprime aqui para leer el articulo en Español.
By Jorge E. Cuéllar
President Nayib Bukele’s much-applauded Territorial Control Plan (PCT), the Salvadoran government gang-control plan, marches forward under the cover of the novel coronavirus. While details still remain unclear, PCT is focused on bolstering security presence in ungovernable zones, eliminate extortion networks, end the sale of illicit drugs, and sever the link between prisons and street-level cliques. The emergency has provided an opportunity for the Bukele administration to accelerate its anti-crime objectives, giving rise to a military-police apparatus throughout the country. Many groups characterize these measures as authoritarian, dictatorial and undemocratic.
COVID-19 has enabled the Salvadoran government to advance its strategy of total security and to field-test techniques of surveillance and social control. The recent increase in gang-related homicides has made it possible to convince the public about the indispensable urgency and necessity of these security measures, guaranteeing that stricter enforcement techniques are the vaccine to what is, in effect, a protracted structural crisis. Whether it expresses itself as repression against prisoners or in illegal arrests of citizens who violate quarantine, punitive control mechanisms are a dominant feature of Bukele’s narrow, short-sighted and naïve sense of law and order.
Images on the National Civilian Police’s Twitter account provide a glimpse of the double work of enforcement in El Salvador: the aerial photography from surveillance drones, for example, functions as a way to document and display effective police work throughout the country while also revealing the rhythms of an altered social reality: the sanitary stations, quarantine patrols and vehicular checkpoints to check the spread of the coronavirus also demonstrate the increased footprint of security personnel throughout the country. Media reports focus almost exclusively on criminal arrests or the confiscation of arms and drugs; the armed forces’ Twitter feed exhibits more of the same.
Military-police presence is, in the first instance, considered necessary to stop virus transmission, flaunted as an exemplary way of using security forces to support municipal precautions against COVID-19. Indeed, the police and military have contributed to spraying vehicles, disinfecting people and ensure quarantine compliance—some have helped to distribute seeds and basic foodstuffs. However, as measures have tightened, with authorities given carte blanche, constitutional and human rights violations have, predictably, increased. Thus, a secondary effect is the normalizing of social conditions and surveillance habits to establish police and military presence as the exclusive and indispensable guarantors of order. During quarantine and its eventual after, state security presence is likely to continue at comparable intensity, to the detriment of Salvadorans’ constitutional rights.
The arbitrariness of security in El Salvador has proven painful to few, and uncomfortable for many. Salvadoran police and military—operating like medical corps of armed sanitarians—have made everyday activities quite tense. I, as the designated errands runner for my family must constantly assess and reassess my travel, ensuring I never forget my paperwork in case I’m stopped to prove that I am moving about for an expressly legitimate reason. With sanitary cordoning becoming frequent practice, many are rightly worried that they may inadvertently be barred from returning to their homes. The experience of Metapán, La Libertad and parts of San Salvador are key examples here, interrupting already minimal survival activities, paralyzing the work of fishing communities, and stranding many in places they likely do not call home.
These events, along with the continuation of practices that randomize daily routine, intimidate citizens who are afraid of being rounded up, placed in detention and criminalized as “quarantine breakers.” Flying in the face of the Constitutional Court and defying the Legislative Assembly, Bukele continues testing citizen endurance to constitutional violations, all rationalized as required to combat the virus, but which are in practice, exhausted strategies to manage disorder.
States of Emergency
The unrolling of the security apparatus has, if official statistics are to be believed, flattened two curves in El Salvador. First, the worst effects of coronavirus in the country have ostensibly been tempered —as of writing, there are 695 confirmed cases—yet questions persist regarding state claims of strategic mass testing, the circumstances of recent preventable deaths, quarantine conditions, and the accuracy of Bukele’s March 21 “mathematical projections,” which, panic notwithstanding, was in actuality a statistical ruse. The second curve, of course, is the social problem of the marero or pandillero, the criminal gang member that percolates, as constant threat and source of all evil, in the Salvadoran mind.
In the first year of Bukele’s rule, homicides had been, unexpectedly, down-trending. Late March saw two consecutive days with zero registered homicides throughout the country. This anomaly, a cause for celebration, suggested El Salvador might be on an improved trajectory from recent years of abysmal numbers, serving as self-evident proof of the PCT’s success. While such milestones are welcome in a country that had for years reached (and even surpassed) “wartime” levels of violence, this security benchmark has also aroused suspicion from policy analysts, journalists and criminologists, suggesting that Bukele’s government is perhaps privately negotiating with gangs. The implication is that decreases in homicides might not be the sole feat of the power of hardline tactics.
Displacing all coronavirus news, the perpetual boogeyman—the maras—reemerged as front-page news in late April, after earlier videos had shown how gangs were also enforcing quarantine. Through a series of homicides—from the 24th to 28th—reports claimed the maras had unleashed a wave of violence against citizens, leading to more than 70 deaths in the span of four days, seemingly out of nowhere. Many were initially puzzled by the homicide spike. Analysts sought to explain the uptick as a message by gangs to reassert power, an exhibition of continued territorial control despite the state’s alleged monopoly on violence—through the use of slain Salvadorans as encrypted messages—contradicting the accomplishments of Bukele’s anti-gang efforts.
The explanation for these acts—attributed specifically to MS-13, which did not disclaim authorship—are actually protests against the putrid state of prisons, a demand to end the ban on family visitations and a call for improvement of hygiene conditions given the coronavirus, according to several reports. From their overcrowded, humid, places of confinement, gang members are keenly aware that their lives are viewed as disposable, and that, as a recent WhatsApp audio posited, if a gang member were in a situation where a respirator was needed to save his life from the novel coronavirus, he would likely not be afforded the support necessary for survival. They would, for all intents and purposes, be left to die.
The decrepit reality of El Salvador’s prison system is well-known. The highly-spectacular “gang cages” that warehouse criminals have not improved since Bukele came to power. In fact, life in these prisons has become unbearable for those who previously had privileges earned through good behavior or by collaborating in criminal investigations. These zero-tolerance approaches, while callbacks to failed manodurismos past, are for Bukele’s supporters necessary to treat the scourge of the gangs. Gangs—made up of murderers, extortionists and abusers— are perceived as an unredeemable part of Salvadoran society. The administration’s punitive messaging repeats these views over and over again, fanning the flames of moral panic by reinscribing maras as folk devils and playing on popular desires for retributive justice. Thus, Bukele’s mandate to take back El Salvador from criminal gangs is an important discursive pivot—a guaranteed applause-line—that animates much of his political decisions as revealed in early February. The state’s self-styled moral superiority in its endless war against gangs is, much like in previous administrations, familiar costuming necessary for rule.
From the start of the homicide spike, the prison emerged as the central focus for deciphering the phenomenon. In the last 30 years the prison has transformed as the base of operations for gangs—mara schools—where now-consolidated street power is used to transmit orders, oftentimes from veteran shot-callers who direct the actions of gang cells on the outside. This phenomena, as researcher José Miguél Cruz reminds us, must be understood as a direct consequence of mass incarceration in Central America. In a system where rehabilitation, redemption and other forms of social integration are seen as purposeless, the penal system will continue to be used for political pandering that actively disqualify reinsertion efforts and much-needed restorative forms of justice.
On April 27, Nayib Bukele declared a state of emergency in the prisons, an aggressive but not uncharacteristic response to gang authority. Reports later revealed that the violence was almost exclusively perpetrated not by all maras but MS-13 alone. Rival gang Barrio 18-S released a video communique denying any involvement, situating itself as supporters of 18-S controlled communities missed by emergency aid. Nevertheless, all gang-affiliated prisoners were lined up in only their underwear and made to kneel on the cold concrete of prison yards across El Salvador, facing forward as if submitting to Bukele’s authority. The photographic humiliation of the marero rapidly circulated. Bukele would then transform the prison ecosystem by mandating what was previously unthinkable—mixing rival factions in shared quarters, pitting them against one another in already-congested cells.
Gangs were ordered on lockdown for 24-hours, preventing communication across lockups. General Penitentiaries Director Osiris Luna declared that prisoners would be forbidden from receiving a single ray of sunlight. Cell windows, jail bars and other airways were welded up with steel laminate sheets, worsening already sweltering dungeon-like conditions. These undoubtedly alarming images have received due criticism, raising more red flags about Bukele’s approach to crisis management. Anticipating retaliation from gangs, Bukele would also authorize the use of lethal force to ensure police and military could respond if necessary, as a measure for security teams to protect themselves and others from gang attacks or ambushes.
Bukele’s government, like past administrations, has reiterated that it does not value the lives of criminals. It is clear now that the homicides are a gang message to the state regarding the wholesale banning of family visitation for prisoners, a call to change the medieval conditions lived inside the prison system and a protest against other community-level pressures such as overpolicing, harassment and extrajudicial violence. Police and military are using these measures in marginalized zones, relying on the PCT to justify their actions. Likewise, prolonged quarantine conditions in general have negatively affected gang revenue from extortions. Gang economies are now forced to raise rents on delivery and food services that are still operating during quarantine. On an existential level, the cramped living conditions inside Salvadoran prisons are the real issue. As at Rikers Island in New York or Cook County jail in Chicago and prisons elsewhere, overcrowding creates outbreak-prone environments. Coronavirus, at some level, is viewed by gangs as a vector that could offer the state a convenient excuse for gang extermination.
Until further notice, prisons are now in enhanced lockdown, while the rest of the country is also living its own situation of maximum security on the outside, backed by an emboldened military-police apparatus. As part of Bukele’s #PlanControlTerritorial, police and military are now free to exert discretionary pressure on the public to ensure quarantine obedience. The two lockdowns reveal that state security is heavily invested in the political capital generated by crisis management. In El Salvador, where the dream of social order is never realized but merely performed, the gangs, the state, and its media are the technologies of punitive spectacle—the country’s most popular drama.
A Tale of Two Pandemics
Security issues in El Salvador are complex. They are necessarily embroiled in a web of institutional, social, and economic realities in which the theater of politics provides an ongoing crude spectacle of discipline, in which punishment is its moral consequence. The recent images of shirtless, tattooed gang members, a familiar image that surfaces at least once every administration, reveals as much. The way in which these images have circulated feeds the voyeurism of the marero as an animalistic, bloodthirsty savage deserving of harsh correction, a display of the state’s punitive measures and moral discourse as proportional to arrogant criminality. Thus, Bukele’s scapegoating of gangs must be understood as a pandemic not of public health but of public safety, which in El Salvador are qualitatively equivalent. With readymade punitive responses, coronavirus shows us that the state’s steadfast commitment to militarization during the pandemic serves the dual purpose of indeed, containing the virus, all the while never losing focus of ridding the country of its preexisting infection: the maras.
Explanations of the marero as a chaotic subhuman creature are inhumane, irresponsible and needlessly antagonistic. Yet, these explanations remain politically advantageous and register as “good governance” in the Salvadoran imaginary, an example of what Sonja Wolf, the author of Mano Dura: The Politics of Gang Control in El Salvador calls the repression-retaliation cycle. Framing gangs as political actors or as individuals deserving of “human rights” slips into the inadvertent acknowledging of the humanity of the gang member. This perspective is unconscionable for a population whose experience of gang violence is everyday pain, and where justice routinely fails the victim.
Thus, the state’s unproductive interpretation of gang activity as a meaningless barbarism is itself part of a political ecology, shaped through generations of punitive policies, to placate populations as a form of restitution. While previous administrations have tried engaging with gangs to find other pro-social forms of rehabilitation, these political projects have spectacularly failed. Those political parties that have supported these measures were forever marred for “negotiating with terrorists.” These failures are also linked to political unpopularity and elections, that in turn, generate policies ruined by short-termism, always to be reinvented by each incoming administration. What is constant, however, is that maras cannot be afforded dignity, lest the government run the risk of being exposed as ineffective, corrupted and weak.
The semblance of order achieved since March 10, was in fact, total fiction. The machinery of state repression, while working overtime for Bukele’s increasingly strict and extended pandemic measures, remains inadequate for mitigating the inherent vulnerabilities in a system that willfully misunderstands the nature of the threat (pandemic or otherwise). The state dismisses alternative approaches to resolving the enduring contradictions arising from social abandonment and economic damnation. Unfortunately, there is no perceptible end in sight to this incurable pandemic. For as long as it remains politically useful for garnering support, for securing power, for distracting the public from their misery, this pandemic (and its tightening measures) will persist.
Only time will tell if maximum security protocols hold inside the prisons. It is highly possible, however, if these strict measures hold, gangs will respond with maximum insecurity on the streets and in rural hamlets across the country sooner rather than later. This will, once again, push El Salvador into another round of violence, with homicides acting as a lever for gangs to bring the state to the table. Some speculate the arbitrary mixing of gang factions might also, like a virus, prompt further mutations of gang structures—though early reports claim otherwise. This gang panic in the middle of emergency quarantine might preview what social life will be like in the Salvadoran post-pandemic, which unsurprisingly, feels eerily similar to how it did before coronavirus.
The horizon of decarceration is not yet visible in El Salvador. The state and the people are ill-equipped to rethink the state of prisons, even temporarily, like in Iran or even parts of the United States. For the two pandemics in El Salvador: one will wane and will surely run its course through the body politic in due time, while the other, whose political utility appears boundless, appears poised for a new outbreak.
Jorge E. Cuéllar is Mellon Faculty Fellow (2019-2021) and Assistant Professor (2021-) of Latin American, Latino & Caribbean Studies at Dartmouth College. He discusses Central American politics and culture via @infrapolitics on Twitter. | https://revista.drclas.harvard.edu/book/el-salvador%E2%80%99s-two-pandemics-maximum-insecurity |
Materials research has become a key discipline in the 21st century.
For designers, material driven design methods and experimental materials research open up interdisciplinary fields of action and new challenges in dealing with materials. These become the junction and interdisciplinary scope for design and adjacent fields of competence that were originally not very much connected to design. Nowadays, materials are in complex contexts that enable new cross-connections to technology, natural science or materials research, challenge and provoke them.
The hybrid material developments go hand in hand with a fusion of different disciplines, whereby the boundaries between these are blurred and a clear separation can hardly be made out. The material itself, as a medium of transdisciplinary activity, consequently takes on a new meaningful function. The increasing interferences between design, technology, natural science and materials research, which allow design to act as a cross-sectional discipline, lead to new design methods and knowledge contexts. I would like to build on this interdisciplinary area of tension with my research. My research in design studies deals with the material driven design process in product design and the associated role of the material as a transdisciplinary medium, which immediately opens a discussion about design as a cross-sectional discipline.
In the course of the doctorate, creative-practical and scientific approaches to dealing with materiality should be linked with regard to interdisciplinary methods. The aim is to supplement and re-accentuate the debate about the interlinking of design and related knowledge competencies, transdisciplinarity as a research mode and the cross-cutting concept in design.
The practical part of the research project is about the material-oriented examination of starch-based composite materials in the field of tension between design and natural science. The experimental practical work on the material is linked to the strongly interdisciplinary interpretation of design in the sense of material design, as it is understood at the Institute for Material Design IMD at the Hochschule für Gestaltung (HfG) Offenbach. The practical part of the research work takes place in cooperation with the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen.
Tutors: | https://hfg-offenbach.de/en/pages/carolin-pertsch |
I lie slim, upright body, long neck, and long legs of this species are typical of whistling-ducks. In flight the head and neck are extended and droop slightly downward, giving the bird a humpbacked look. Plumed Whistling-Ducks are sociable birds, living in noisy flocks close to water, moving from area to area as wetlands dry out seasonally. Pairs stay together for life and nest on dry land, later leading the young back to the water. They also feed on land, eating leaves and seeds of grasses and low-growing plants. They visit marshes during drier periods to feed on sedges and rushes.
• nest a hollow in the ground among vegetation, lined with grass and usually sheltered by a bush, hidden a little distance from water.
• Distribution n. and e. Australia.
• remark The name is derived from the loud, whistling calls that ducks in a flock constantly utter to one another. | https://www.birdwatchingblog.us/south-america/distribution-ang.html |
Jon Simons: What Makes a Memory Come Alive?
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Learning Songs with the Help of Dopamine
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Learning from experience: How our brains remember the past and shape our future
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Brain anatomy and function
[1:20:38] Jeanette Norden, Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, Emerita, Vanderbilt University School of M…MORE
Where Are Memories Stored?
[6:27] How does my brain store memories again?? Great question! There are a lot of questions about how memories are stor…MORE
Who was Patient HM?
[4:06] For decades, one of the most famous patients in neuroscience was a man who lost most of his hippocampus after a rad…MORE
In a flash – dissecting memory with light
[3:40] Hideji Murakoshi*, Myung Eun Shin*, Paula Parra-Bueno, Erzsebet Szatmari, Akihiro C. E. Shibata, and Ryohei Y…MORE
How well can you focus your brain? | https://www.themindvoyager.com/category/brain-mind/know-your-brain/memory/ |
Following its release in cinemas, there have been hundreds of organized screenings of Five Seasons. These events have helped galvanize urban planning, community-building, and environmental initiatives, as well as to simply feed the joy of garden, art and design lovers around the world.
The coronavirus pandemic has temporarily deprived us of these communal gatherings. But we believe the need to virtually recreate those experiences is even more vital. We have designed a simple platform to encourage collective streaming of the film that also invites a range of interactive engagement, from chat-based Q&A’s to live teleconference panel discussions, as well as tailored Calls to Action.
While we also pursue arrangements to eventually make the film available for individual home viewing, we sincerely hope these virtual community screenings can be a valuable and engaging way to bridge the distance the pandemic has put between us. | https://www.fiveseasonsmovie.com/organize-a-virtual-screening/ |
Patterns and interrelationships of body-fat measures among rural Chinese children aged 6 to 18 years.
Our goal was to compare BMI and waist circumference with dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry-based measures of adiposity and to describe the pattern and interrelations of these surrogate and direct adiposity measures in prepubertal and pubertal rural Chinese children. This was a cross-sectional study of 2493 children aged 6 to 18 years from a population-based cohort of twin pairs. Dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry-based measurements included total body fat, percentage of body fat, trunk fat, and percentage of trunk fat. Age- and gender-specific patterns and interrelationships among BMI, waist circumference, and dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry-based measurements were described by using smoothing plots and age- and gender-specific correlation analyses. In girls, BMI, waist circumference, total body fat, percentage of body fat, trunk fat, and percentage of trunk fat all increased linearly with age. In boys, BMI and waist circumference increased linearly with age, but total body fat, percentage of body fat, and trunk fat did not increase significantly with age. In both genders, percentage of trunk fat reached a nadir around 12 years of age and then increased with age. Before puberty (6-11 years), BMI and waist circumference were correlated well with total body fat, percentage of body fat, and trunk fat in both genders. During puberty (12-18 years), the correlations between BMI and each of the dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry-based measurements were higher in girls than in boys. Similar trends were found in the correlations between waist circumference and each of the dual-energy radiograph absorptiometry-based measurements. In this relatively lean rural Chinese population, BMI and waist circumference were highly correlated with each other and were good surrogates of total body fat, trunk fat, and percentage of body fat in prepubertal children of both genders and in pubertal girls. However, both BMI and waist circumference overestimated total and trunk fat, especially percentage of body fat in pubertal boys.
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1. Perception selects, it makes the world you see. It literally picks it out as the mind directs. The laws of size and shape and brightness would hold, perhaps, if other things were equal. They are not equal. For what you look for, you are far more likely to discover than what you would prefer to overlook. The still, small voice for God is not drowned out by all the ego’s raucous screams and senseless ravings to those who want to hear it. Perception is a choice and not a fact. But on this choice depends far more than you may realize as yet. For on the voice you choose to hear and on the sight you choose to see, depends entirely your whole belief in what you are. Perception is a witness but to this, and never to reality. Yet it can show you the conditions in which awareness of reality is possible, or those where it could never be.
2. Reality needs no cooperation from you to be itself. But your awareness of it needs your help, because it is your choice. Listen to what the ego says and see what it directs you see, and it is sure that you will see yourself as tiny, vulnerable, and afraid. You will experience depression, a sense of worthlessness, and feelings of impermanence and unreality. You will believe that you are helpless prey to forces far beyond your own control, and far more powerful than you. And you will think the world you made directs your destiny. For this will be your faith. But never believe because it is your faith it makes reality..
3. There is another vision and another Voice in which your freedom lies, awaiting but your choice. And if you place your faith in them, you will perceive another self in you. This other self sees miracles as natural. They are as simple and as natural to it as breathing to the body. They are the obvious response to calls for help, the only one it makes. Miracles seem unnatural to the ego because it does not understand how separate minds can influence each other. Nor could they do so. But minds cannot be separate. This other self is perfectly aware of this. And thus it recognizes that miracles do not affect another’s mind, only its own. They always change your mind. There is no other.
4. You do not realize the whole extent to which the idea of separation has interfered with reason. Reason lies in the other self you have cut off from your awareness. And nothing you have allowed to stay in your awareness is capable of reason. How can the segment of the mind devoid of reason understand what reason is, or grasp the information it would give? All sorts of questions may arise in it, but if the basic question stems from reason, it will not ask it. Like all that stems from reason, the basic question is obvious, simple, and remains unasked. But think not reason could not answer it.
5. God’s plan for your salvation could not have been established without your will and your consent. It must have been accepted by the Son of God, for what God wills for him, he must receive. For God wills not apart from him, nor does the Will of God wait upon time to be accomplished. Therefore, what joined the Will of God, must be in you now, being eternal. You must have set aside a place in which the Holy Spirit can abide, and where He is. He must have been there since the need for Him arose, and was fulfilled in the same instant. Such would your reason tell you, if you listened. Yet such is clearly not the ego’s reasoning. Your reason’s alien nature to the ego is proof you will not find the answer there. Yet if it must be so, it must exist. And if it exists for you, and has your freedom as the purpose given it, you must be free to find it.
6. God’s plan is simple; never circular and never self-defeating. He has no Thoughts except the Self-extending, and in this your will must be included. Thus, there must be a part of you that knows His Will and shares it. It is not meaningful to ask if what must be is so. But it is meaningful to ask why you are unaware of what is so, for this must have an answer if the plan of God for your salvation is complete. And it must be complete, because its Source knows not of incompletion.
7. Where would the answer be but in the Source? And where are you but there, where this same answer is? Your Identity, as much a true Effect of this same Source as is the answer, must therefore be together and the same. Oh yes, you know this, and more than this alone. Yet any part of knowledge threatens dissociation as much as all of it. And all of it will come with any part. Here is the part you can accept. What reason points to you can see, because the witnesses on its behalf are clear. Only the totally insane can disregard them, and you have gone past this. Reason is a means that serves the Holy Spirit’s purpose in its own right. It is not reinterpreted and redirected from the goal of sin, as are the others. For reason is beyond the ego’s range of means.
8. Faith and perception and belief can be misplaced and serve the great deceiver’s needs as well as truth. But reason has no place at all in madness, nor can it be adjusted to fit its end. Faith and belief are strong in madness, guiding perception toward what the mind has valued. But reason enters not at all in this. For the perception would fall away at once, if reason were applied. There is no reason in insanity, for it depends entirely on reason’s absence. The ego never uses it, because it does not realize that it exists. The partially insane have access to it, and only they have need of it. Knowledge does not depend on it, and madness keeps it out.
9. The part of mind where reason lies was dedicated, by your will in union with your Father’s, to the undoing of insanity. Here was the Holy Spirit’s purpose accepted and accomplished, both at once. Reason is alien to insanity, and those who use it have gained a means which cannot be applied to sin. Knowledge is far beyond attainment of any kind. But reason can serve to open doors you closed against it.
10. You have come very close to this. Faith and belief have shifted, and you have asked the question the ego will never ask. Does not your reason tell you now the question must have come from something that you do not know but must belong to you.? Faith and belief, upheld by reason, cannot fail to lead to changed perception. And in this change is room made way for vision. Vision extends beyond itself, as does the purpose that it serves, and all the means for its accomplishment.
In this world we are captivated by our perception. We judge each other with impunity. We take one little scrap of information about another and build a whole case from it. We pick one little attribute of someone’s whole life and make a laughingstock of them, joking about it for years, holding them up in ridicule to get a cheap chortle at someone else’s expense. What we find about others to point at, to draw attention to, to judge and condemn we are often, if not always, projecting outward to avoid identifying the ego within ourselves. Because perception goes outward, not inward, when we rely upon our human self to hear and to see, perception will mislead us into more separation – an us-against-them way of thinking and relying upon our own judgments to thrive and survive in the temporal world of pain, suffering, and death.
The quiet Voice for God is not drowned out by the perceptual world, but Holy Spirit is only heard when we want to hear it. As long as I am seeking to find justification for my scorn and contempt for you, as long as I am scouring through Facebook and Twitter and googling your name to search for the big scoop about you, I will not hear the Voice for God for that is not what I am seeking. I am seeking reasons to see you as different from me, to not recognize our oneness.
As long as I content myself on looking upon you as not my equal in holiness and Sonship, as long as I want to put myself here and you there, I am engaging with ego perception and not the perception of Holy Spirit. I am getting a weird sense of pleasure from collecting facts about you, I am getting a false sense of power from knowing what you have been up to and mistaking that for true knowledge of you. Whether I know it or not, what I truly believe about myself is exactly what I believe about you – that I am a body and not a Spirit, that my flesh life determines who and what I am; that my tiny little, scattered and shattered perceptions make my reality and build my world. Our extremely limited and mistaken perceptions will never teach us the reality of who and what we really are, but it can show us how to recognize where reality is not.
Reality is reality – it does not need me to believe in it to be reality. But to become aware of reality is a choice I must make. In paragraph two we learn that when we follow our ego-driven perceptions we will see ourselves as small, helpless, and fearful. We will be prone to severe sadness, sorrow, feelings of worthlessness, uncertainty, and stupidity. We will believe that our destiny is determined by powers beyond our control. Putting our faith in the perceptual world – in the powers that seem to be – we will seek outside of ourselves for meaning, pleasure, attention, and a sense of fulfillment and connection. We will make special relationships and expect these special people in our lives to make us happy and fulfill our needs. This is an impossible demand for when we live for the flesh our connections and our happiness will be tossed to and fro like the waves of the sea. I can never really know you in the flesh nor can you know me. When we put our faith in the perceptual world we are on very shaky ground. When we believe this shaky ground directs our destiny, we will adjust ourselves, we will normalize the ongoing sense of uncertainty, doubt, and fear of the world, and this will be our reality. To make this world real we must make all kinds of adjustments to our beautiful Identity. We must adjust our ever-loving Spirits to love only special people and be wary of all the rest; we must deny our oneness and limit what we share with one another. When we perceive that someone cherishes a jealous, spiteful nature, we adjust our ever-sharing, ever-inclusive Spirit to seldom if ever share with that particular someone the truth about ourselves and all the fun we may enjoy with someone else. What we learn from schoolyard and workplace bullies, teaches us hard lessons about the perceptual world, which we mistakenly call the “real world.” We adjust to this “reality,” and in adjusting to this realm, we learn to deny the reality of who and what we really are and the reality of God’s Kingdom.
But Jesus tells us that all of us have access to the memory of reality, to the Vision and to the Voice which awakens us from our enchantment with flesh and bodies. When we learn to place our faith in the Vision and the Voice, we perceive another self – a higher Self, our real and everlasting Self. This One is naturally loving, giving, and helpful and knows of its oneness with all because it is the One Mind of Sonship. When we find our Self in us, when we get past the low-minded flesh and body and reach out for the high mind of Christ, miracles are recognized simply as a change of mind. We exchange the low mind for the high mind. And when we change our minds, all minds follow.
When I no longer see you as different from me, reason is restored for now I am functioning in the higher mind where reason resides. Reason is not available in the low realm of flesh and egos. There is no reason in lack of any kind. There is no reason in thoughts of sin, shame, judgment, condemnation, fear, and death. There is no reason in what we are going to eat next and where we are going to go and what we are going to do. Nothing about the flesh realm is capable of reason. There is no reason for some people to be born rich and some poor. There is no reason in going to war to resolve conflict. There is no reason in discord among races, cultures, and ethnic groups. There is no reason for karmic cycles of ongoing drama and trauma. The low mind is utterly incapable of reason because its reality is a sham; it is a world not of substance but of opposition to substance, a chaotic perceptual world of opposites.
Reason has never left us – it has always been in the high mind and there it remains. Reason is alien to the ego, and we will never find reason in any human endeavor. In everything we do, all the places we go, all the things we build, all the ways in which we bring food to our table, enlarge our families, join together in matrimony and acrimony, we will never find reason. It is just a circular, self-defeating, ongoing cycle which has no real purpose except to prolong itself through time. All of us know this – it nags at us, but it is the thing the ego always keeps us from addressing – what is the meaning of all this, what is the reason?
The only reason can be from the Source, can be from our Identity not in death cycles but in eternal life. For if we are not eternal, our lives have no reason – we are born to live and to die and to stay in the grave forever or to come back and repeat the same thing over and over and over again. No matter what we may strive for in this life, no matter what great feats we may accomplish, there is no reason for it without our Source. This is where Reason points to – we can all see it very clearly – only those who have been driven entirely insane by the fear-based perceptual world can fail to grasp it.
Reason serves the purpose of Holy Spirit which is to reestablish our true Identity as holy and as Spirit. Reason is beyond the ego – for the ego has no reason and seeks no meaning. It is like an ongoing soap opera – melodramatic but lacking in creativity and serving no function.
Faith, perception, belief can all be placed in ego – we have all experienced the terrible deeds of misplaced faith, perception, and belief. But reason can never be found in that kind of madness. You will not find reason in a religion or a cult that has a petty tyrant as the head and demands blood allegiance to a set of ridiculous claims. You will not find reason in teachings of sin and shame and sacrifice. You will not find reason in any part of the hellish realm. You will not find reason in any flesh endeavor – in fact perception falls away the moment we would ask for reason. There is no reason in a realm that is made mad with fear. There is no reason in nature gone rogue, but insanity keeps it out of our consciousness, and we carry on as if we can thrive and survive without it!
Reason is in the high mind of Sonship. In the high mind of Sonship, we are holy, and we are Spirit, united with our Father. When we use reason, we have gained a means which cannot be applied to sin for sin has no reason. Reason is a function that opens every place in our mind we have closed against reality, against truth, against the Knowledge of God.
Jesus tells us that we have come very close to this. We have shifted our faith and belief in the world, and we have asked the question the ego will never ask. What is the reason – for all this drama and trauma, this flesh that will die, this identification with bones and blood and body? Our reason informs us that we are more than flesh simply by recognizing the lack of reason in it and for it. Upheld by reason, faith and belief cannot be misplaced in the ego’s religions that would keep us trapped in flesh and idolizing our humanity. This line of reasoning changes our perception and builds our faith in our spiritual sight. When we gain spiritual sight, we see beyond this world; we see beyond the veil of death and darkness; our faith and belief is restored to the eternal Kingdom of God.
A Course in Miracles. Chapter 21 Reason and perception. V The function of reason. Foundation for Inner Peace, Second Edition (1992).
For daily 2021 Workbook lessons visit www.i-choose-love.com courtesy of Linda R. | https://eckiefriar.com/2021/08/30/acim-chapter-21-reason-and-perception-v-the-function-of-reason/ |
We present a conversation between NoViolet Bulawayo and Chinelo Okparanta, two of the most talented writers of our time. The focus of the interview is on Okparanta’s debut short story collection, Happiness, Like Water, but the writers cover other topics as well: food, the creative process, literary awards, multiple identities, and future writing projects. Bulawayo’s questions are thoughtful and engaging, and Okpranta’s answers a precise and incisive.
Chinelo Okparanta was born in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. She received her BS from Pennsylvania State University, her MA from Rutgers University, and her MFA from Iowa Writers’ Workshop, where she served as a Provost’s Postgraduate Visiting Writer. She is the author of ‘America’ (2012), which was shortlisted for the 2013 Caine Prize for African Writing. She has been nominated for a United States Artists Fellowship in Literature, and her collection of short stories, Happiness, Like Water (2013) was long-listed for the Frank O’Connor International Short Story Award.
NoViolet Bulawayo is the winner of the 2011 Caine Prize for African Writing and a recipient of the 5 under 35 Award from the National Book Foundation. Her first novel, We Need New Names, was short-listed for the 2013 Man Booker Prize. She is currently a Wallace Stegner Fellow at Stanford University.
This is a topic you are probably tired of at this point, but still, congratulations at being most recently shortlisted for Africa’s leading short story prize, the Caine Prize for African Writing. What did that mean to you?
Yes, it’s a topic that has been coming up a lot lately. Many thanks for your congratulations. It was wonderful to have my work recognized by the Caine Prize. It was my first experience in a literary prize situation, and it was definitely a learning experience. I am grateful to all the wonderful readers who came out both privately and publicly to express their support for my writing. People say that they never forget an insult. For me, it’s the encouragement and the kind words that I never forget. Kindness is so rare these days that it startles. As for the Prize itself, all prizes are political and, like anything else in this world, they are flawed. But prizes are also essential in promoting readership; and as writers often write about important sociopolitical topics, literature—and the prizes that support it—can be seen as gateways to change.
Which is all to say that I was pleased by the nomination.
Read the rest of the interview here and join the dialogue. | http://munyori.org/2013/11/in-conversation-noviolet-bulawayo-and-chinelo-okparanta/ |
A school board recently found that a report on blended learning raises questions as to how effective it is over traditional approaches.
In Lawrence, Kansas, the report presented to the school board on the blended learning teaching method indicated that while there were increases in scores in math and reading for fifth and sixth graders, the results were uneven due to the fact that not all classrooms are blended so long term progress data is unavailable.
“The question we hear a lot in teaching and learning (department) is does blended learning work?” said assistant superintendent Angelique Nedved. “Well, I think that we need to take it further than that. We wouldn’t say do textbooks work? Or does lecture work? All of those things work given the context and if it’s the right tool for the student.”
Nedved presented an earlier report to the board in February that included teacher anecdotes. School board members had requested more data.
In blended learning, lectures are integrated with small group activities or individual projects that rely on online resources. there are approximately 300 blended learning classrooms in the Lawrence school district. | https://www.howtolearn.com/2016/05/report-on-blended-learning-raises-questions/ |
Wildflower Identification Guide
Select a color category below:
The photos in this wildflower identification guide are intended to help you identify the wildflowers that you may see in Mount Diablo State Park throughout the blooming season.
The color of the flower is sometimes difficult to classify for a variety of reasons (such as lighting, camera used, or device used to view the picture), so if you don't find the flower in one color category, try another or use site search.
Bloom dates vary from year to year depending on the weather. The same plant may bloom at different times, depending on its location and elevation.
Check out What's Blooming Now on Mount Diablo. This list is maintained by Steve Beatty and Steve Smith, along with our many “Flower Finders” roaming the mountain.
Learn more about the Plants of Mount Diablo
Some additional resources: | https://www.mdia.org/wildflower-guide |
Flea beetles—including Altica spp. flea beetles and the redheaded flea beetle, Systena frontalis—are significant challenges to production of high-quality nursery stock across the Eastern U.S. The Southern Regional IPM Center recently developed a pest management strategic plan and flea beetles were rated as their second most important insect pest. This group of insects is moderate to somewhat difficult to control when encountered in nurseries. Flea beetle feeding delays the seasonal sale of plants until a new flush of growth occurs.
Figure 1. The redheaded flea beetle, Systena frontalis, sitting on a leaf early in the morning. Notice the brick reddish-colored head capsule. Photo: Brian Kunkel.
Redheaded flea beetles (Figure 1), also known as the cranberry flea beetle, are probably shipped from one nursery to another accidentally in the root balls of various plants, and have become a prevalent pest in the mid-Atlantic and southeast regions during the past decade. The larval stage (Figure 2) is found in root balls, but doesn’t cause noticeable injury to plants.
Joseph et al. (2021) surveyed nurseries and found that most need to manage S. frontalis on a yearly basis. This beetle feeds on plants from over 10 different families of plants, and some of the more commonly injured plants were hydrangea, itea, weigela, salvia, ilex, roses and azaleas.
Most of the survey respondents make insecticide applications that target adult beetles with neonicotinoids, carbaryl, pyrethroids or an organophosphate. Many respondents felt there’s a need for more effective insecticides. Few growers utilized entomopathogenic nematodes or entomopathogenic fungi.
Redheaded flea beetles overwinter in the soil as eggs with larval feeding on plant roots in the spring. Larvae are creamy-white to yellowish, somewhat flattened and elongate, and pass through three instars. They have a small fleshy projection off the terminal segment of the abdomen and may appear to have a thin reddish-brown coloration within their body (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Late instar of redheaded flea beetles, Systena frontalis, found crawling on the outside of the root ball of itea after being removed from the container. Photo: Nancy Gregory.
The timing of insect activity may fluctuate depending on where a nursery is located. For example, larval stages have been found between 242 to 370 growing degree days with a 50F (10C) base (GDD50) in the mid-Atlantic with black locust in full bloom as a plant phenological indicator, whereas Lauderdale (2017) found larvae active 250 to 480 GDD50. Adult activity has been observed with Magnolia grandiflora flower buds swelling or beginning to open or 517 to 1028 GDD50 in the mid-Atlantic. This information is useful when scouting for insect activity, but many growers feel there’s still an inadequate amount known about the biology of this insect that could be used to better target management strategies.
Little is known regarding host plant preferences, adult beetle dispersal from weeds to crops, natural enemies or the number of generations per year. Research presented in the remainder of the article discusses results regarding insecticide efficacy and observed host plant preferences.
Insecticide efficacy. The first trial examined the efficacy of a variety of insecticides (Table 1) against the adult stage of the redheaded flea beetle feeding on Itea virginica var. Little Henry. Plant damage was determined by estimating the percentage of leaves showing the skeletonization or holes caused by adult beetle feeding.
The damage estimates were recorded at 17, 24 and 42 days after the initial treatment (DAT). The second data collection point was 10 days after an insecticide application and the third data collection point was seven days after the final insecticide application in the trial.
Host plant selection. This set of observations examined the amount of damage found on three different species of hydrangea found at nurseries growing in the mid-Atlantic with similar levels of adult redheaded flea populations. Fifteen plants of Hydrangea macrophylla, Hydrangea paniculata and Hydrangea serrata were observed for two minutes for the number of adults found on the plant (not presented). The percent of skeletonization or defoliation caused by flea beetle feeding was estimated by three people for each plant and averaged before analysis.
Data analysis. Data was collected as described in each section and analyzed with an ANOVA and Tukey HSD means separation procedure (α=0.05) when significance was indicated. Data was transformed as needed for the analyses.
Flagship significantly reduced adult redheaded flea beetle feeding damage on itea after 17 DAT (F=4.0; P=0.0113). Although BeetleGone was applied weekly prior to the first data collection, the amount of damage wasn’t significantly less than the control (Figure 3). Flea beetle populations were unusually low during the first portion of the experiment and may account for low percentages of damage found on plants in June.
None of the insecticides significantly reduced feeding damage to plants compared to controls during the second evaluation. Flea beetle populations greatly increased in the second half of the trial, and only Scimitar and Mainspring significantly kept feeding damage significantly less than untreated plants (F=7.1; P=0.0006; Figure 3). Untreated plants averaged 30% of the foliage damaged by beetle feeding at the conclusion of the trial.
Different species of hydrangeas are often grown close to each other at nurseries in the mid-Atlantic; consequently, each species is exposed to the same level of redheaded flea beetle feeding pressure. Observations found that H. paniculata suffered significantly greater foliage damage when compared to H. serrata or H. macrophylla (F=63.5; P<0.0001; Figure 4). Hydrangea paniculata suffered five to six times the amount of foliage damage on average compared to the other two species.
The redheaded flea beetle, Systena frontalis, continues to be a difficult insect to manage in nurseries throughout the eastern half of the United States. Scimitar and Mainspring significantly reduced adult beetle feeding by the end of the insecticide efficacy trial (Figure 3). Flagship reduced damage during the first evaluation, however, the residues from the application appear to be lessening at the conclusion of the trial.
Drench applications of Flagship or Mainspring may provide different results than those found in the trial presented here. Neither Xxpire nor BeetleGone reduced beetle feeding. Some research has found that imidacloprid applications also reduces adult feeding damage.
Redheaded flea beetles fed more on H. paniculata than other species of hydrangea in our study. There’s little information to suggest why redheaded flea beetles choose one species over others. The waxiness or toughness of leaves may contribute to host plant selection.
Some preliminary research and anecdotal observations suggest that plant fertility may play a significant role in host selection for the redheaded flea beetle. A better understanding of the roles played by soil moisture, host selection, plant fertility and dispersal capability of the redheaded flea beetle would help in developing a successful management strategy and needs further investigation. GT
Acknowledgements: Helene Doughty and Pete Shultz at Virginia Tech HRAREC have provided extensive support and efforts to this collaborative project. I also thank all the lab assistants for contributing to the completion of our different projects.
Brian Kunkel is an Ornamental IPM Extension Specialist at the University of Delaware in Newark, Delaware. | https://www.growertalks.com/Article/?articleid=25339 |
A Mexican pork roast with bean salsa is a good way to give a new spin to your Sunday roast. Tender, moist and flavorful, this pork roast goes great with homemade corn tortillas and guacamole.
So what do you need to make a Mexican pork roast of your own? Select a lean pork shoulder and let it marinate overnight in a mixture of herbs, spices and orange zest. Once you begin roasting your meat, continue to baste it with its own juices and a bit of stock. The result will be superb.
For the bean salsa, you will need white beans, green beans, peppers and some aromatics. For maximum flavor, mix together and let stand for at least 20 minutes so all the flavors comingle. | https://www.finedininglovers.com/blog/food-drinks/mexican-pork-roast/ |
Featured Posts
The time, how it flies
Driving in the car last week our youngest asked me if there were “different numbers of days in each year”.
“No”; I said… each year has 365 days (choosing to leave out the explanation of a leap year). Gus pondered this answer before asking “why does it feel like this year has less days”?
My heart broke a little bit… you’re not supposed to think the years are going by quickly when you’re only 7 years old.
“Well”; I said… “this year has been really, really busy for our family which makes it feel like it has gone quicker… We’ve lived in 2 different houses and 2 different apartments; we’ve had to set up our old/new house; we’ve helped my parents move states and have been to Lennox Head to stay with them in their new house; Tess has been doing her final year of VCE; we’ve had a new babysitter and helper come into our world; we’ve ridden the roller coaster of having 2 American therapists come and work with Will in our house as well as Will going interstate for the first time to see a new therapist; we’ve been involved with Richmond FC winning their first Grand Final in 37 years and we’ve tried to squeeze in everyday life in the gaps!”
Gus was happy with that response and moved on pretty quickly… but it sat with me for some time.
You see, dealing with an injured or incapacitated family member is bloody busy… it’s time consuming… it’s all consuming!
I’ve been really frustrated with myself this year that I’ve dropped the ball on so many things…updating Will’s community and support network being one of them… staying in contact with friends, getting involved with the kids’ schools, spending time with my little kids and generally just looking after myself. I feel like I am getting no where with anything… nearly 2 years down the track with this injury…that’s not how it’s supposed to be. I’m supposed to be finding my feet - not finding it more difficult, more exhausting, more hectic.
This is no reflection on Will - he’s working hard, he’s social and engaged and continuing to get small gains and changes all of the time…but our routine and our management of our situation… well, I thought it would be getting easier by now.
We’ve been blessed that prior to Will’s accident we’ve never had to deal with chronic illness or injury with any family member. I’ve known many people that have and I’ve always tried to show them great empathy - but I have always assumed that as time goes on they adjust and find a new rhythm and start to make progress.
Now, living it, I’ve discovered it doesn’t quite work like that. As the adrenalin and shock wears off and grief and reality kicks in you get tired… really tired. Despite the supporters around you, you get a sense of isolation… you become overwhelmed and worn out.
This post is not to whinge or to illicit pity - but rather, this post is to shine a light on everyone who is suffering or who is caring for someone who is suffering.
I want people to know that they won’t always tell you how hard it is because they don’t want to be known as “that” person.
They won’t always ask for help because most of the time they don’t even know where to start or they feel like they’ve asked that person one too many times.
They don’t instantly adjust and find a new normal - they just get really good at finding better ways to manage the struggle.
I also want people to know that they won’t view their situation as “all bad” because they’ll have a new perspective and an appreciation for the small things, the good things that they may never have had before.
They “do” love and gratitude and joy pretty darn well… it’s just often blanketed by a layer of weariness!
And above everything else they spend every spare minute praying and wishing for a cure, a miracle healing.
Perhaps I’m making assumptions about others that are not right. Thankfully, I’ve never had any close dealings with cancer, or dementia, aquired brain injury, MND or any one of the myriad of diseases or disabilities that strike people and their families down. But I feel like they would share many of my emotions… and I know, by the sheer number of foundations and charities and events that flood my social media feeds… they are just as desperate for a magic cure as we are.
A presumption again, but if I could guess what they want you to know it’s that they truely wish they didn’t need to ask for help and more then anything they wish they didn't need to rely on the success of scientific research or money raised by a foundation for the future of their family member or friend.
They don’t circulate or promote fundraising activities for any other reason but they are desperate to improve their own situation and to also prevent others from such suffering in the future.
But most importantly, I believe they would want you to know that they don’t expect anything big, anything more than what you can afford to give - for some that’s a positive thought, a prayer, a like, a share… for others it’s loose change and then there’s those in the fortunate position to give significantly more… what they want you to know is every little bit counts.
Whilst Will spends each and everyday focused on recovery through active based rehabilitation - the reality is, repairing his spinal cord with stem cells is the most exciting and promising recovery option for him. Consequently, Will has recently added a new and cutting edge form of therapy to his regime. Will recently went to Newcastle to embark on a program which, according to Neurogenisist Rohan O’Reilly, is a form of “prehab” for stem cell transplant surgery. Stem Cell therapy for SCI is still in trial stages and the research has a long way to go. But, as featured on Catalyst recently, Rohan O’Reilly from Smart Bodies, Smarter Minds is doing some incredible things with the introduction of Virtual Reality and games into an individual’s program with the aim to generate neuroplasticity and plasticity of the emotional and mental systems.
Going interstate for Will was a big milestone in itself - but in his usual way, with a healthy dose of teenage resistance thrown in, Will spent 10 days in Newcastle with some incredibly positive and measurable results.
Who knows if stem cell transplant will one day be a viable option for Will and millions of other SCI sufferers around the world… but if it is, it’s exciting to know that his body will be in the best state possible to recover! It makes us, as a family, feel incredibly fortunate and blessed that all of you have enabled Will to have access to such incredible programs. Fingers crossed the wildly talented, passionate and dedicated researchers led by Australian of the Year 2017, Prof Mackay-Sim, can go on to make the breakthroughs and progress that we’re all praying for.
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Homeschool students are facing off against their public-school peers in U.S. robotics contests, and they are winning.
The “Family Instructors of the Northern Suburbs” Christian homeschool team placed second in T-shirt design and third for overall achievement in a regional championship this month in Colorado.
“This is our first year coaching, and my husband said all along this is a learning year,” said coach Amy Farrey. “We were amazed. We had a lot of tears and a lot of surprised looks.”
Perhaps Farrey shouldn’t be surprised, given the experience of other homeschool students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Some showed early interest and potential in these pursuits; others discovered them later by chance. But all their stories point to homeschooling as a foundation to encourage critical thinking and problem-solving – skills many educators agree are crucial for today’s workforce and even our national security.
Freedom to pursue interests
Perhaps homeschooling’s most obvious advantage lies in its flexibility to adapt to each child, instead of a one-size-fits-all package to encompass as many children as possible.
Take Sam Krug, who struggled when he started first grade at a public school in Washington.
“I was very bored in school,” he said. “My brain just shuts down. I couldn’t stand sitting in a class for six hours.”
Fortunately Sam’s parents recognized his potential, as they saw his projects at home – including three-dimensional structures with 3,000 dominoes and coding modifications for the Minecraft video game.
“I developed a fascination with problem solving and patterns,” he said. “It seemed like a game that I could figure out.”
Because his parents advocated for Sam, the family worked out a hybrid homeschool program for him at the military base school he attended in Japan. Although he took some classes at school, he and his parents selected homeschool courses to supplement his education.
“It was one of the first times he was really stretched,” said Sam’s mother, Alli. “I think it’s important to experiment with the outer bounds of what your kids can do – especially in the safety of their own home.
“Instead of feeling frustrated and powerless, he was helping find his own way forward and charting a course that is not very typical, but which allowed him the freedom to learn at his own pace, and across a breadth of subjects and activities that is not really feasible on campus.”
Exploring diverse communities, experiences
Does this mean homeschool students can grow too isolated as they focus on their own interests?
Hardly, as the story of Evan Erickson shows. He won a gold medal at the 51st International Physics Olympiad in 2021 as a 17-year-old Minnesotan representing the United States.
However, this gold medalist has found plenty of time to socialize with people of all interests and abilities. He’s worked odd jobs ever since he was 11 years old.
“He started as a paper boy and now is a manager at an ice cream shop,” said his mom, Rena.
Erickson also found time to participate in the Minnesota State High School Mathematics League, placing fifth in the league and being named captain of the all-state math team.
When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020, Erickson launched an online math camp with a friend to help students who were experiencing lockdowns. Over 100 students participated.
As to his win at the Olympiad, Erickson wished the competition could have taken place in person instead of online. But he appreciated the attempts that organizers made to facilitate social activities among the participants.
“I was on a trivia team with the Netherlands and Norway,” he said – crushing the stereotype of a sheltered homeschooler living in a family bubble.
Creating ‘life lessons’ by solving modern-day problems
Homeschool students don’t always know where they will excel, but they can turn this to their advantage by solving problems others may not even know exist.
For example, 13-year-old Lacey Blamire used to struggle with math until her mother pulled her out of public school in 2020.
Homeschooling allowed her to advance to a year ahead of her public-school peers. She also found time to hone her dancing and gymnastics skills outside school hours.
But that’s not all Lacey does. She’s an entrepreneur, managing a café in the online gaming platform Roblox with an estimated 1 million customers.
Even with a virtual café, the administrative load is real – hiring real-life gamers to work as chefs and cashiers, designing outfits and enforcing codes of conduct.
“It amazes me that she’s learning so many real-life things through this game,” said Lacey’s mom, Lindsay. “I’m hoping she can earn some real money for what she’s doing.”
Because of the inherent risks in online gaming, Lindsay has put rules in place to help Lacey explore safely. These include monitoring usage, keeping copies of passwords, and turning off computers and other devices at certain times of the day.
However, even these risks can provide learning opportunities for her children, Lindsay says.
“I personally believe that when kids go out in the real world, I can’t protect them from everything,” she said. “I try to be proactive and have these conversations ahead of time.”
All these homeschool success stories demonstrate that STEM-related opportunities don’t necessarily have to come from costly, government-funded initiatives.
Instead, our best hope could lie in bringing educational policy-setting back to families as parents help their children flourish in practical skills that prepare them for their future careers.
“I want my kids to be able to come and talk to me when they’ve made mistakes,” Lindsay said. “We look at these things as life lessons.”
STEM resources homeschool families recommend in the Kansas City area
If you’re looking for STEM-specific opportunities for your homeschooled child, check out the following links:
- Metro Homeschool Robotics forms a team to compete in the FIRST Robotics Competition each year. Competition season starts in January and lasts until March.
- A homeschool dad and owner of a robotics integration company is planning STEM classes in Greenwood for children 6 years and older.
- Coding centers Code Ninjas have locations in Lenexa, Leawood, and Lee’s Summit. | https://readlion.com/2022/12/20/want-your-child-to-thrive-in-stem-consider-homeschooling/ |
Admiral Spire is a Lord High Admiral of the Imperial Navy, and the commander of the Mechyrdian-Imperial Military Attaché. Originally a Captain, Spire quickly rose through the admiralty's ranks due to his skill in the 12th Black Crusade, playing a vital role in keeping artifacts out of Abaddon's hands during the war.
He and his fleet returned from the warp during the 13th Black Crusade, discovering that Cadia had been destroyed. During the renewed war around the former Cadian Gate, Spire met the reborn Roboute Guilliman and retained his position of high command.
When Mechyrdia made first contact with the Imperium, they formed a naval attaché at Guilliman's behest. Spire was selected to lead this attaché, and was sent to Mechyrdia. Some suspect that the Inquisition had a rule in selecting Spire, as they believed him to be a threat due to his great skill.
Contents
Quotes
- "The reason my tone of voice sounds so bored is because I am bored. I've seen it all."
- "Petty political squabbles have no place where the survival of humanity is at stake."
- "Democracy seems nice on paper, but far too often it has been subverted by the agents of Chaos. The most of it that planetary governments should use is a guided, authoritarian democracy."
- "Communism? Many planets have already tried to put that into effect, where everyone receives what they need to live and works for the God-Emperor's glory. But it doesn't work out without an incentive, as the working class often isn't bright enough to comprehend the idea of serving something greater than themselves. I apologize if I seem insulting, that is merely what I have observed."
- "Fascism can work on planetary governments, so long as the people idolize the Emperor's example and not any mortal governor. We've seen what that leads to during the reign of Goge Vandire."
- "For the last time, the Imperium is not fascist! Fascism implies a massively centralized government, and while the Imperium may be authoritarian due to the Inquisition, it is not centralized! Its government is probably the most decentralized in the entire galaxy!"
- "I've allied with the Aeldari twice, and I would do it again, but only if necessary."
- Spire: "The Adeptus Astartes are humanity's finest warriors. I--"
Commodore Kage: "Is Guilliman paying you to say that?"
Spire: "No, no. Well actually, yes. He is." | https://franciscusrex.dev/wiki/Admiral_Spire |
Botanical Name: Leonurus cardiaca.
The Latin species name cardiaca comes from the plant’s reputation in the past as an effective medicine to treat heart diseases.
Other Common Names: Common motherwort, throw-wort, lion’s ear, lion’s tail, hjertespand (Danish), Herzgespann (German), agripalma (Spanish), agripaume cardiaque (French).
Habitat: Motherwort is found throughout northern Europe. The species is also common in Asia and has been introduced and naturalized in North America, where in many places it is now considered a bothersome weed.
Motherwort has been cultivated since medieval times as a medicinal plant which is probably a contributing factor in how widespread the plant has become.
The plant thrives best in humus-rich soil in bright sunny places. The plant can be grown from seeds in the spring or early summer or be propagated from the roots in autumn or late spring.
Motherwort grown from seeds is too small to be harvested during the plant’s first year but during the second year, it can be harvested twice.
Description: Motherwort is a perennial plant that belongs to the mint or deadnettle family (Lamiaceae). It has an erect stem and grows to 50-120 cm tall.
The stalks are branched square, hollow and dark red.
The leaves are opposite and light green and the flowers are pink or pale purple and contain nectar in abundance which makes them very attractive to bees. The flowers appear in July and August. Motherwort reproduces by seeds.
Plant Parts Used: All of the above ground parts of the plant are utilized as herbal medicine.
The herb is collected when in bloom before the seeds are formed and then dried for later use in tinctures, liquid extracts, and powder extracts.
The herb has a somewhat unpleasant odor and a quite bitter taste.
Therapeutic and Traditional Uses of Motherworth
Active Ingredient and Substances: The plant contains alkaloids, flavonoids, iridoids, tannins (5-9% ), terpenoids, citric acid, malic acid, oleic acid, some bitter substances, carbohydrates, choline and a fenolglykosid.
Related Plants Tend to Have Similar Medicinal Properties and Uses
When different cultures in different parts of the world use related plants for similar or identical purposes, it is a very likely that there is a rational explanation for its use.
Motherwort and its related species Chinese motherwort (Leonurus heterophyllus) have been used, both in Europe and China to increase blood circulation, regulate menstruation and as a diuretic agent.
In Europe, motherwort was also applied as a remedy for menstrual cramps and lowering high blood pressure. There it was also known for its sedative and astringent properties.
In China, Chinese motherwort is used to reduce swelling (edema) and for healing by promoting the formation of new tissue.
Motherwort Uses as Heart Medicine
For centuries, motherwort has been used as a medicinal plant to treat heart diseases. The herb has diuretic properties and may inhibit artery calcification formation.
It is also used as a remedy for milder forms of Graves’ disease (an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid) and for hypertension.
Motherwort is considered more effective in lowering blood pressure than valerian (Valeriana officinalis), and the plant’s high content of vitamins A and C also add to its beneficial effect.
Extracts of the plant have been used as a treatment for mild and chronic cardiac and vascular diseases, especially in the elderly.
It has also been used for rapid heart rate, some other minor irregularities in the heart’s rhythm and to reduce the risk of blood clots (thrombosis).
Many herbalists consider the plant particularly effective in treating palpitations (tachycardia), especially when this is due to anxiety. The herb has been used traditionally for most heart-related problems associated with anxiety, tension, and stress.
The German Commission E states that motherwort can be used for irregularities related to the heart caused by overstimulation of the thyroid gland (Hyperthyroidism/thyrotoxicosis).
Research Done on Motherwort
In a world where heart disease is now one of the main causes of death, at least in the Western world, it is strange that the historical or traditional use of both the European and Chinese species of motherwort as a treatment for heart-related disorders has not provided a stronger basis for greater interest and more research on the plant’s health properties.
Still, some research exists but more and thorough studies are needed. In one case Chinese scientists found that the herb, or extracts from it, increased the volume of blood circulation, stimulated uterine activity and promoted the flow of urine.
Clinical reports also from China (although there are no available controlled clinical studies performed with western methodology) have confirmed this positive results when using the herb to treat heart disease, high blood pressure, irregular menstruation, excessive menstrual bleeding and kidney diseases.
Other recently performed studies indicate that the herb has antioxidant, immune-boosting and cancer protective properties. A study done on laboratory animals has indicated that certain alkaloids found in the herb can lower blood pressure and have a positive effect on the central nervous system.
A Herb for Women’s Health
The English common name “motherwort” refers to the herb’s value for women´s related health issues, especially when it is in connection with childbirth.
The herb has traditionally been used as a remedy for stress and tension during the later stages of pregnancy and the birth and the postnatal period. It was believed if the herb was ingested two to three times daily until the end of pregnancy, it would promote more coordinated contractions of the uterus.
Motherwort has also been used traditionally to treat painful, delayed or missing menstruation. It has been considered likely that two of the alkaloids present in the herb are responsible for promoting uterine contractions.
Another claim of the herb is that it can prevent miscarriage, relieve false labor pains, and contribute in bringing the uterus back to normal after childbirth.
Laboratory experiments have shown that low concentrations of the alkaloid leonurine, a compound found in motherwort promotes uterine contractions, while high concentrations inhibit contractions. This opposite effect can explain the herb’s ability both to initiate birth and menstruation, and having a relaxing effect on the uterus after birth.
Since the herb has a reputation in strengthening the heart, it may be useful during late pregnancy and during the birth, a time when the heart is subjected to high levels of stress.
A Herb that Calms the Nerves
Motherwort is thought to have a calming effect on the nervous system and could be an useful remedy for stress, panic attacks and anxiety. The herb has many of the same health properties as valerian (Valeriana officinalis) and an alcoholic extract or tincture of motherwort is considered to be more effective than preparations made from valerian.
Therapeutic Dosages
Dried herb: 2-4 grams when prepared as herbal tea, usual dosage is three times daily.
Liquid extract: 4.2 ml (1: 1 in 25% alcohol), three times daily.
Motherwort tincture: 2-6 ml (1: 5 in 45% alcohol), taken three times daily.
Side Effects and Interactions of Motherworth
In spite of the long traditional use and the conflicting information about whether motherwort should be contraindicated during pregnancy, it does contain the alkaloid stachydrine that could expedite birth so the herb should never be used by pregnant women without the supervision of a healthcare professional.
Women experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding should not use this herb.
Since the herb is known as a heart stimulant it should only be used under a doctor’s supervision, especially for people taking synthetic heart medicine.
Motherwort can cause contact dermatitis in certain sensitive individuals.
Supporting References
Balch, Phyllis A.: Prescription for Herbal Healing. New York, Avery 2002.
Barnes, Joanne; Linda A. Anderson & J. David Phillipson: Herbal Medicines. A guide for healthcare professionals. Second edition. London, Pharmaceutical Press 2002.
Bown, Deni: The Royal Horticultural Society New Encyclopedia of Herbs & Their Uses. London, Dorling Kindersley 2002.
Duke, James A.: The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook. Rodale / Reach 2000.
Foster, Steven: 101 medicinal herbs. Loveland, Interweave Press 1998.
Hoffmann, David: Medicinal Herbalism. The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, Healing Art Press 2003.
Mills, Simon & Kerry Bone: The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety. St. Louis, Elsevier 2005.
Príhoda, Antonín, Ladislav Urban & Vera Nicová: The Healing Powers of Nature. Leicester, Blitz Editions 1998.
van Wyk, Ben-Erik & Michael Wink: Medicinal Plants of the World. Portland, Oregon, Timber Press 2004. | https://www.herbal-supplement-resource.com/motherwort-benefits.html |
NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) has developed an early warning system for predicting fog cover and visibility, which will for the first time look at the role of pollution (aerosols) in fog and dropped visibility in the Delhi-NCR during winters, scientists said on Thursday.
This system will not only help agencies prepare for severe fog spells that Delhi sees in December and January, but will also help in gauging its impact on the region's air quality, said scientists. The fog prediction system, which has been launched by IITM in collaboration with the UK Met office on an experimental basis, will give out advance forecasts of fog, visibility across the Indo-Gangetic Plains (IGP) and will also show how aerosols present in the atmosphere are impacting these.
"Basically, it will be an air quality forecast system coupled with fog and visibility prediction. Based on the past data, it has been observed that many a times, swelled aerosols (having consumed water from moisture content in the atmosphere) become heavier and form a thick layer, while there are no droplets of fog as such present in it, which reduce the visibility below 300 metres," said Sachin Ghude, scientist at IITM Pune.
IITM scientists said that at present, on an experimental basis, the system is giving predictions for two days in advance, but the technology is being studied and will be verified of its accuracy before the portal is launched full-fledgedly.
The system can predict probability of dense fog cover, when air quality reduces to less than 200 metres and up to 50 metres. Besides, it also shows the size of dust particles and its impact on visibility. "Most aircrafts cannot operate below 75 metres visibility. They can land but not take off when visibility is that low. We had been getting requests from the Delhi airport to develop a system that can help gauge the fog scenario in advance and help them prepare ahead of it," said Ghude.
This November, Delhi saw a similar smog episode when a thick layer of pollutants reduced the visibility at the city airports — IGI and Safdarjung — to below 300 metres. Meanwhile, the city saw a relatively cold day on Thursday, with the maximum temperature falling to 19.8 degrees C — three notches below normal for this time of the year.
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Stefan Beckman designed the set for Alexander Wang FW 2015 show at New York Fashion Week. The grunge and gothic vibes in a dark and mysterious environment perfectly reflected each look on the runway. The designer played with textures and layers, utilizing contrasting materials such as lace, embellishment and metal details. The edgy yet stylish look is realized by punk and rock elements, like studs and eyelets, that are recognizable through the entire collection.
Stefan Beckman is part of Exposure NY's photography division. Exposure NY is photography agency / stylist agency in New York City. | https://www.exposureny.com/news/stefan-beckman-for-alexander-wang-10 |
Pre-test probability scoring and blood tests for deep venous thrombosis (DVT) assessment are sensitive, but not specific leading to increased demands on radiology services. Three hundred and eighty-five patients presenting to an Emergency Department (ED), with suspected DVT, were studied to explore our actual work-up of patients with possible DVT relating to risk stratification, further investigation and follow up. Of the 205 patients with an initially negative scan, 36 (17.6%) were brought for review to the ED Consultant clinic. Thirty-four (16.6%) patients underwent repeat compression ultrasound with 5 (2.4%) demonstrating a DVT on the second scan. Repeat compression ultrasound scans were performed on 34 (16.6%) patients with an initially negative scan, with essentially the same diagnostic yield as other larger studies where 100% of such patients had repeat scanning. Where there is ongoing concern, repeat above-knee compression ultrasound within one week will pick up a small number of deep venous thromboses.
Introduction
Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) occurs in 84 people per 100,0001. The 9th Edition of the American College of Chest Physicians guidelines advocate the use of an objective method of risk stratification. Clinical assessment alone has proven unreliable2,3. Algorithms using a combination of a pre-test probability score, D-Dimer, and ultrasonography are now the norm. The most commonly used pre-test probability score is the Wells score, which combines patients’ symptoms, signs and history to provide a risk stratification for the possibility of DVT4. D-Dimer is a sensitive but not specific marker for DVT5. Elevated levels are also seen in the presence of infection, inflammation, malignancy, and trauma. Above-knee or whole-leg ultrasonography are now the imaging modalities of choice. In above-knee-only compression ultrasound, the inability to compress the femoral and popliteal veins under gentle pressure, visualisation of thrombus and lack of augmentation of flow on manual compression of the calf muscles are considered diagnostic of a DVT. Propagation into the proximal venous system of an isolated calf vein DVT generally occurs within 5 to 7 days6. In order to detect extension, repeat compression ultrasonography within one week should be performed according to some authors7,8. Whole-leg ultrasound has been advocated as a once off investigation for DVT9. It detects DVTs in both the proximal and distal venous system, obviating the need for repeat testing. However, debate is ongoing as to whether isolated distal DVTs are clinically relevant, and whether they require anticoagulation with its associated risks3. This study was conducted to assess the investigation of DVT over a one-year period in an adult ED in the context of performance of pre-test probability risk stratification, D-Dimer, and ultrasound investigation.
Methods
The study was conducted in the Emergency Department of a large teaching hospital providing care to 50,000 ED presentations per year. During the working week, patients presenting with a possible DVT were assessed by a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) service within the department. This is overseen by the senior Emergency Clinician. Each patient was managed according to a DVT algorithm consisting of a pre-test probability score (Wells score), D-Dimer and if indicated, ultrasonography. Outside of these hours, the assessment was made by the ED medical team. Patients with a low pre-test probability as evidenced by the Wells score and who had a negative D-Dimer were discharged. Patients with a ‘DVT likely’ pre-test Wells score and a positive or negative D-Dimer had an initial above-knee ultrasound. If this was negative, a decision was made as to whether the patient was required to attend an ED review clinic and potentially have a repeat ultrasound. All ultrasonographic examinations were conducted in the radiology department by ultrasound radiographers. The images were subsequently interpreted by a radiologist. A retrospective study of all patients who presented to the Emergency Department with suspected Deep Venous Thrombosis (DVT) in the year 2010 was performed. Ethical approval for the study was granted by the Beaumont Hospital Research Ethics Committee.
Three sources of potential DVT patient details were searched: the DVT nurse specialist’s logbook, the six ultrasound logbooks for 2010 and the ED review clinic book for the year were used. Blood results, presenting complaints and the ultrasound results for patients were all retrieved using the Patient Information Profile Explorer system, an internal information technology system used in the hospital. All data from the computer system were cross-referenced with the information taken from the other three sources. Data for 404 patients was collected. Nineteen (4.7%) were excluded due to an incomplete data set. Logistic regression modelling was used for the statistical analysis with odds ratios (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI), used to define relative risk of a positive score. Univariate methods were initially employed, and subsequently multi-factorial models were implemented to determine independently significant variables in the presence of potential confounders. Box plots were used to describe D-Dimer and Wells scores between US groups. A P-value < 0.05 was deemed to be significant. Statistical analysis was conducted using Stata (version 10, College Station, Texas).
Results
The flow of patients through the investigation algorithm is demonstrated in figure 1. Of the initial 385 patients, 151 (39.2%) had a low pre-test probability, negative D-Dimer, and did not require further investigation. Of the 234 patients who underwent ultrasound scan, 29 (12.4%) patients had a positive above knee compression ultrasound scan (CUS). Of the 205 with an initially negative scan 169 (82.4%) were deemed not to require a repeat ultrasound. Thirty-six (17.6%) patients whose initial scan was negative were sent to the ED review clinic, of whom 34 had repeated ultrasonography. Five (14.7%) of these patients had a positive scan. As expected, patients who had a positive result on compression ultrasonography were more likely to have a significantly higher mean pre-test probability (Wells) score. Those with a negative scan were more likely to have a higher score than those who received no scan at all. Logistic regression (multifactorial model) for a positive US result showed (Wells) score to be highly significant (OR 3.1, CI 1.76- 5.44, P<0.001). Higher D-Dimer results were found in those with a positive scan. Patients who were referred for an initial ultrasound had significantly higher mean D-Dimer results than those who did not have any imaging. Logistic regression for a positive US outcome demonstrated significance for high D-Dimer (OR 1.43, CI 1.16-1.75, P=0.001). Patients who attended the review clinic and had repeated ultrasonography, had a significantly higher mean pre-test probability score and again regression analysis of a positive outcome showed this to be significant (OR 1.55, CI 1.08- 2.22, P =0.015).
Discussion
The data from the 385 patients included in this study demonstrate significant correlation with previous research conducted by Wells et al.4,5,10 insofar as those patients diagnosed with a DVT were more likely to have a high pre-test probability score (P <0.001, OR 3.1, CI 1.76- 5.44). This confirms that in our department pre-test probability, informs the decision to investigate further. Clinicians were more likely to refer patients to the review clinic if they had higher pre-test probability scores with a view to a repeat ultrasound being performed, suggesting that, despite a negative initial scan, the clinician remained concerned about the possibility of a DVT. As expected, when the D-Dimer results were correlated between the ‘no ultrasound performed’, ‘negative ultrasound’ and ‘positive ultrasound’ groups, those patients with a DVT were more likely to have higher D-Dimer values (P<0.001, OR 1.4, CI 1.16-1.75). Those with a higher D-Dimer value after an initially negative compression ultrasound were more likely to be sent to the review clinic and have a repeat scan. Therefore, marked elevation of the D-Dimer was associated with ongoing clinical concern, even when initial scans were negative. The pre-test probability scores and D-Dimer values overlap between the patients not referred for a second scan and those who were. We would suggest that the pre-test score, D-Dimer, history and examination are not taken in isolation but combined to inform the clinical decision as to whether or not to perform a second ultrasound. This decision-making process resulted in only 36 (17.6%) of a possible 205 patients with initially negative scans being asked to attend the review clinic. Five (2.4% of those with an initially negative scan) of whom had a DVT on repeat scan.
With regard to repeated above knee only compression ultrasonography or once off whole leg scanning, the recent ACCP guidelines have advocated patient preference, such as those unable to return for serial testing, and institutional access as factors in the decision to utilise one modality over the other3. Bernardi et al. conducted a prospective, randomised, multicentre study of consecutive symptomatic outpatients (n=2098) with a first episode of suspected DVT of the lower extremities11. Patients were randomised to undergo 2-point compression ultrasound with D-Dimers, or whole-leg ultrasonography. The main outcome measure was a confirmed 3-month incidence of symptomatic venous thromboembolism in patients with an initially normal diagnostic workup. In the compression ultrasound/ D-Dimer group, the initial diagnostic yield was 20.7% (12.4% in our study). Of the 256 patients with a normal compression ultrasound but abnormal D-Dimer, 5.4% were found to have a proximal DVT on the repeated compression ultrasound (2.4% of patients in our study). Ten patients (26.4%) of the whole leg ultrasound group were diagnosed with an above or below-knee DVT and anti-coagulated. At three-month follow up, the study found that symptomatic venous thromboembolism occurred in 7 of 801 patients (0.9%) in the 2-point compression ultrasound group and in 9 of 763 patients (1.2%) in the whole-leg group. They concluded that the two strategies were equivalent. In this context, our department’s strategy of performing above-knee ultrasound would appear reasonable.
Rather than all patients with an initially negative scan undergoing repeat above knee compression ultrasound, in our study only 16.6% (34/205) of patients did. 14.7% (5/34) demonstrated a DVT on the repeat scan where the initial scan had been negative. Five out of 205 (2.4%) patients who had an initially negative compression ultrasound, demonstrated a DVT on repeat scan. This detection rate from a repeated scan is in line with other large-scale studies, which demonstrate a diagnostic yield of 2%12,13. One hundred and seventy one fewer repeat compression ultrasound scans were performed with a targeted approach of repeat above-knee ultrasound with the same diagnostic yield as in studies where all patients were re-scanned. The data would suggest that clinicians on the emergency department floor are using pre-test probability scores, D-Dimer results and clinical gestalt to influence their clinical assessment of the patients’ complaint and in deciding on whether or not to perform an initial and repeated compression ultrasound. In doing so, large savings can be made in terms of ultrasonography, staff labour, and the financial burden on patients having to re-attend the hospital. This study was performed in a single ED and so may not apply to other settings. Nineteen of the original 404 population had an incomplete data set and were not included in the study, which may have influenced the results. Kappa values evaluating inter-rater reliability regarding the calculation of Wells Scores were not calculated.
Decision making is what doctors do and whilst guidelines assist us, ultimately we make an informed decision in the best interests of our patients. This study demonstrates the same diagnostic yield for DVT on repeat scanning as other international studies but with significantly less repeat diagnostic testing. In the context of an initially negative above-knee compression ultrasound with a positive D-Dimer, where there is ongoing concern, a repeat ultrasound within one week will pick up a small number of deep venous thromboses.
Correspondence: P Gilligan
Emergency Department, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9
Email: [email protected]
References
- Anderson FA Jr, Wheeler HB, Goldberg RJ, Hosmer DW, Patwardhan NA, Jovanovic B, Forcier A, Dalen JE. A population based perspective of the hospital incidence and case-fatality rates of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. The Worcester DVT Study Arch Intern Med 1991;151:933–8.
- Guyatt GH, Akl EA, Crowther M, Gutterman DD, Schunemann HJ. Executive Summary: Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 9th ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines Chest 2012;141:7S-47S
- Bates SM, Jaeschke R, Stevens SM, Goodacre S, Wells PS, Stevenson MD, Kearon C, Schunemann HJ, Crowther M, Pauker SG, Makdissi R, Guyatt GH; American College of Chest Physicans. Diagnosis of DVT: Antithrombotic Therapy and Prevention of Thrombosis, 9th ed: American College of Chest Physicians Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines Chest. 2012; 141:e351S-e418S.
- Wells PS, Owen C, Doucette S, Fergusson D, Tran H. Does This Patient Have Deep Vein Thrombosis? JAMA 2006;295:199-207.
- Wells PS, Anderson DR, Bormanis J, Guy F, Mitchell M, Lewandowski B. SimpliRED D-Dimer can reduce the diagnostic tests in suspected deep vein thrombosis Lancet 1998;351:1405-6.
- Kearon C, Julian JA, Newman TE, Ginsberg JS. Noninvasive diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis. McMaster Diagnostic Imaging Practice Guidelines Initiative Ann Intern Med 1998;128:663-677
- Kearon C, Ginsberg JS, Douketis J, Crowther, MA, Turpie AG, Bates SM, Lee A, Brill- Edwards P, Finch T, Gent M. A Randomized Trial of Diagnostic Strategies after Normal Proximal Vein Ultrasonography for Suspected Deep Venous Thrombosis: D-Dimer Testing Compared with Repeated Ultrasonography Ann Intern Med 2005;142:490-496
- Dewar C, Selby C, Jamieson K, Rogers S. Emergency department nurse-based outpatient diagnosis of DVT using an evidence-based protocol Emerg Med J 2008;25:411–416
- Zierler BK. Ultrasonography and diagnosis of venous thromboembolism Circulation 2004; 109:I9-I14
- Wells PS, Anderson DR. Diagnosis of deep-vein thrombosis in the year 2000. Curr Opin Pulm Med 2000;6:309-313.
- Bernardi E, Camporese G, Büller HR, Siragusa S, Imberti D, Berchio A, Ghirarduzzi A, Verlato F, Anastasio R, Prati C, Picciolo A, Pesavento R, Bova C, Maltempi P, Zanatta N, Cogo A, Cappelli R, Bucherini E, Cuppini S, Noventa F, Prandoni P; Erasmus Study Group. Serial 2-Point Ultrasonography Plus D-Dimer vs Whole-Leg Color-Coded Doppler Ultrasonography for Diagnosing Suspected Symptomatic Deep Vein Thrombosis. A Randomized Controlled Trial JAMA 2008;300:1653- 1659
- Michiels JJ, Gadisseur A, Van Der Planken M, Schroyens W, De Maeseneer M, Hermsen JT, Trienekens PH, Hoogsteden H, Pattynama PM. A critical appraisal of non-invasive diagnosis and exclusion of deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in outpatients with suspected deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism: how many tests do we need? Int Angiol 2005;24:27–39
- Cogo A, Lensing AW, Koopman MM, Piovella F, Sirgusa S, Wells PS, Villalta S, Buller HR, Turpie AGG, Prandoni P. Compression ultrasound for diagnostic management of patients with clinically suspected deep-vein thrombosis: prospective cohort study. BMJ 1998;316:17–20. | http://imj.ie/dvt-presentations-to-an-emergency-department-a-study-of-guideline-based-care-and-decision-making/ |
"How parents themselves react and get used to the divorce impact the method the kids change - they look towards the moms and dads for assurance and indications that they can make it through this together," he said."It is essential for parents to assist the kid feel safe, protected and enjoyed throughout the procedure."In the process of a divorce, younger children may find out that both moms and dads do not love each other any longer and fear that the parents do not love them too, stated Mr Lim.
Reducing disruptions to the kids's daily regimen would assist provide a "sense of security, control and stability", as they manage the changes at home, he added. Moms and dads must stay civil to each other and keep dispute, stress, negativity and blame away from the children, he said. If there is more than one child in the home, moms and dads should not show bias when each child reveals different approaches of coping.
Having an active role in the child's everyday lives ensures that their needs are met and keeps close relationships with both moms and dads."For effective co-parenting, parents will need to separate their personal relationship from the co-parenting relationship, he added."No matter how bad the divorce was, parents need to make shared choices when it pertains to their child and interact with each other so that the child will feel positive of the love of both parents and will have the ability to adjust faster to brand-new living conditions."Eventually, stated Alex, after experiencing the break down of her parents' marital relationship and their subsequent divorce, she believes that couples must just remain together if they respect each other, and do not bring out the other's worst qualities."There are certainly material and financial advantages to having moms and dads staying together, however do these advantages come at an emotional and psychological cost for both the parents and for the kids long-lasting?" she said.
I think parents need to consider how they are going to raise functional, respectful and mentally fully grown children in general. Whether they do that, married or divorced, depends on their relationship and situations."* Names have been changed to safeguard personal privacy.
An Interim Custody, Care and Control (ICCC) order is the temporary order for care plans for the Children of a marital relationship before a final divorce order is approved. The marital relationship may be failing but couple has not started the divorce proceedings. Or, the divorce proceedings have just begin, depending on Parties' settlement, or whether there is mediation or perhaps trial, the typical plan from start to end might often take months, even years to totally conclude.
You can request an ICCC Order at any time throughout the marriage, the separation or the Court procedures for a divorce to ensure that your rights to your Child and his welfare are safeguarded. Such scenarios include however not restricted to:- Your partner has actually left the country and is uncontactable.
The main guiding principle for ICCC is the welfare of the Kid. Generally, the "welfare of the Child" refers to the general welfare of the Kid, not simply supplying monetary or physical conveniences. Well-being includes all elements of his upbringing consisting of like: Daily care; Child's education; Health; Morality; Religion; Emotions; Rights to have access to both moms and dads and so on.
This likewise avoids your partner from alleging that you have no interests in calling the kids and that you are a reckless parent. If you are the parent who wishes to keep the kids with you during the breakdown of the marriage or throughout the divorce procedures, you may want to obtain an ICCC order to avoid your partner from interrupting your child's life by "snatching" the child away - Professional Annulment Procedures Guidelines .
With an order in hand, your partner may not be able to "nab" the child away. When you require police's aid, the cops might depend on the Order for ICCC to see who the kids ought to follow. There might be remarkable cases where an ICCC Order may not be instantly efficient in compelling the other moms and dad to follow, for circumstances when the other Celebration continues to disregard the Order.
If you are concerned about the care of your kids, do listen prior to making any decisions. We use a with a lawyer so that you can get all the facts about the legal problems.
Care and Control Kid custody provides parent(s) authority to make crucial decisions for his/her child. The important choices are, for instance, health conditions, education and matters of religious beliefs. Care and control, on the other hand, is given to only one moms and dad and this moms and dad will look after all the daily matters of the kid.
New York law puts a cap on the income of the payer's earnings for functions of the estimation, however if the payer's earnings is higher than the cap, the court is required to look at several other elements in order to reach a simply result for the spousal support figure. Experienced And Easy Separation Process .
These aspects consist of age and health, earning capacity, length of the marriage and for how long the parties were together before the marriage, whether one spouse quit their profession to support the other spouse and much more elements. The judge in fact has a fair bit of discretion although they start the alimony calculation with a statutory formula.
When a married couple gets a divorce, the court may award "spousal support" or spousal assistance to one of the previous spouses, based either on an agreement between the couple or a choice by the court itself. This is separate from the department of marital property and is selected a case-by-case basis.
Child support. Spousal support is different than child assistance payments because child assistance cash can just be used for minor children while they are in the custodial parent's care. The following is a discussion of the fundamentals of spousal support and spousal assistance. What Is Alimony? The purpose of alimony is to restrict any unreasonable financial effects of a divorce by offering a continuing earnings to a non-wage-earning or lower-wage-earning spouse.
Spousal Support and Support Orders Although awards might be tough to estimate, whether the payer spouse will adhere to a support order is even more difficult to evaluate. Spousal support enforcement is not like child assistance enforcement, which has the "teeth" of wage garnishment, liens, and other enforcement systems. The recipient could, nevertheless, return to court in a contempt case to force payment.
A growing number of, the tradition of males paying and females receiving spousal support is being eroded, and orders of alimony payments from ex-wife to ex-husband are on the increase. Spousal support trends are likewise changing as an outcome of the U.S. Supreme Court's choice legalizing same-sex marital relationship across the country. This has actually generated alimony orders in same-sex divorce cases where partners with higher incomes will be needed to pay alimony to a reliant same-sex spouse.
How long general term alimony lasts typically corresponds with for how long the marital relationship lasted. Spousal support can't be required for more than 50 percent of the variety of months you were wed. If you were married for 60 months, you could be bought to pay or receive alimony for up to 30 months.
Alimony can't be needed for more than 70 percent of the number of months you were married. Spousal support likewise typically stops if: Either partner dies The partner receiving the spousal support gets married again.
The spouse paying the alimony reaches "complete retirement age" (unless the judge orders something different). Judges can select to continue spousal support for a longer amount of time if there's a good factor. If alimony is supposed to end, however you feel you require to receive spousal support for longer, you can file a Problem for Adjustment.
When partners get separated, one spouse can ask the other to pay support. Different Types of Assistance Payments Support payments can be made in various ways: regular payments, for example, $500 each montha lump-sum payment, for example, one payment of $50,000 Support payments can be made for various lengths of time: a repaired length of time, for example, $500 each month for five yearsa duration of time with no set end date, for example, $500 each month How to Get Assistance Payments The spouses can agree on the right to support payments and how much one will pay the other.
Or, one spouse can ask the other for support in an ask for divorce, called an "application", or in the reply to this application. The spouse can also ask the court to buy short-term support payments while awaiting the divorce application to be heard. What the Judge Considers in an Ask For Spousal Assistance The judge takes these factors into account when deciding whether a spouse has the right to support payments: the spouses' monetary needs, funds and the scenario of each spousehow long the spouses lived togethertheir functions during the marriageany court decisions or contracts already offering support to one of the partners, such as a court decision on legal separation These factors also affect the quantity of the assistance payments and how long they will be paid.
If the partner can't manage to pay both types of support, child assistance takes concern over spousal support. Throughout their marriage, Elise practiced medication and Denis stayed house to care for the kids.
Elise is doing well economically however Denis is not. Professional And Easy Divorce Procedures. They lived together for 24 years, which is thought about a long marital relationship. Elise was the breadwinner, while Denis took care of the family. Under this plan, Elise had a fantastic career and will also delight in a comfortable retirement. Denis, on the other hand, remains in a difficult financial scenario.
For additional information, see our article Divorce: What Is "Parenting Time" and What to Do When Moving. Optional Guidelines To figure out just how much assistance one spouse needs to pay the other, 2 Canadian professors have actually developed mathematical solutions based on the aspects the law states to take into consideration and the objectives of the law.
Getting Assistance From a Lawyer An attorney can help a spouse with the following questions: if he has a right to support payments or if he needs to pay supporthow much assistance he can request or will need to payhow long the assistance payments will last To do this, the lawyer can do the following:.
See What elements will a judge consider when deciding whether I get alimony? for more details. Alimony payments can be purchased to begin while the divorce is still pending in court (called interim or short-lived spousal support)2 and for a period of time after the divorce is settled. | https://accident-lawyers-sgp.attorneyfact.com/ignorance/experts-experts-resolving-annulment-lawyer-issues-near-sg-prince-georges-park-ilP12Wv-LrVB |
Star system in hotels
Hotel categorization is the system under which it is proposed to unify the quality standards expected of them. For its part, the number of stars is a system whose main objective is to satisfy the requirements of various criteria requested from these establishments.
Among other particularities, the number of stars specifies the quality of the facilities in the rooms, restaurants, and bars, as well as the operation of the hotel and the availability of other additional services. The more stars a hotel has, the higher the quality standards in the services it offers.
1 star
Hotels that offer simple facilities with basic services. The hotel rooms are very small (from 8m²) and have a bed, wardrobe, nightstand, and sink. The bathroom may be located outside the room. The telephone is only at reception and the hotel may not have a restaurant or bar.
2 stars
Small rooms (from 9 m²). In addition to the basic furniture, the rooms have a private bathroom, telephone, and television. They usually include breakfast in the price of the stay. The hotel has a garage for its guests.
3 stars
Medium tourist category establishments. Rooms with bathroom, television, telephone, and air conditioning. The cleaning service offers daily linen change, as well as towels and general cleaning of the room. The hotel must offer closed parking to its clients, restaurant, laundry, and rental of recreational equipment. | https://ambassadorsgroup.com/2021/02/19/evaluation-of-hotel-standards-according-to-their-stars/ |
In March this year, as part of the field work for her Graduate Diploma in Conservation Administration, Alison Lewis went to the rainforests of Paraguay to study the butterflies.
Alison was based at the Kanguery Biological Station, which is in the Guyra Reta Reserve. This reserve forms part of the 16,700 acres owned and protected in San Rafael by WLT's partners, Guyra Paraguay. Most of San Rafael is privately owned which means that its protection is not adequately enforced, but it is still the last sizeable fragment of the Atlantic Rainforest to survive in Paraguay.
Alison's research on the butterflies focussed on comparing them in different habitats in and around the forests. She was hampered by record-breaking storms (15cm of rain in 24 hours), but still managed to gather some valuable data, which she is now evaluating.
Alison was one of the first researchers to stay at the recently completed facilities at the Kanguery Biological Station, which can now accommodate up to 16 students.
The Graduate Diploma in Conservation and Project Administration is a postgraduate course run jointly by the World Land Trust (WLT) and the University of East Anglia (UEA), Norwich. UEA are planning more research programmes for the future. For further information on the Graduate Diploma visit WLT's Education Pages.
Save acres of threatened habitat in Paraguay
If you would like to help protect the wildlife in Paraguay's Atlantic Forest and other threatened habitats, the Chaco-Pantanal and Dry Chaco, then please support the Paraguay Chaco/Pantanal Project. | https://www.worldlandtrust.org/news/2010/04/butterflies-in-the-rainforest-student-braves-record-breaking-storms-to-do-research-in-paraguay/ |
This blog on th!nk!ng, concludes our February 2017 ‘How not to…..’ sequel.
We all think and moreover in a particular manner, for as long as we are awake and conscious.
Growing up as a child in Nakabugu Village Uganda, our mother, an accomplished educator always reminded us that the quality of everything we do is influenced by how an individual applies brain-power to different problem contexts. In my mother’s world, one’s brain should never be looked at in abstract terms. The human brain has to be manipulated for it to apply different thinking power and style, to different problem domains.
It was brain manipulation at its best albeit, in a laywoman’s non-scientific setting. Our mother knew that she could not biologically change the brains God gave her children, but that she could manipulate them to help us apply different brain power and thinking style, to different problem domains.
Maama always used the phrase in my local dialect Lusoga: ‘muuna, kyoka katonda….bureini wajivaaku, kale boona oyoo!’, literally translated as: ‘’friend, you have to respect God for creating this ‘thing’ called the brain in humans…it’s different for everyone!’
It is beyond the scope and expertise of this blog to get into matters related to the science of Intelligence Quotient (IQ). However, it is not far-fetched to write on this blog that the type of thinking exhibited by humans significantly influences cognition and problem-solving outcomes.
We all interact/ed with peers and teachers at school and college as well as colleagues at work. And yet what we take for granted, is a significant driver of how productive we may be or not, in a particular work context – i.e. the thinking-type. The type of thinking that your brain ‘emits’ influences how much value you add to solving a particular problem.
Problem-solving, we believe, is influenced by the thinking-type and not necessarily the energy/intensity of thinking. At college, you must have come across peers that put in twelve hour plus days of revision time but still performed poorly compared to those that put in much fewer hours. At work, you may like discussing matters finance, while a peer feels at home whenever they discuss new product invention. Both yourself and the peer may not be considered stupid until you are told to problem solve outside your thinking-type
Therefore, effective problem solving boils down to matching different thinking-types to problem-solving situations.
Thinking types:
Linear thinking:
Linear thinking follows a stepped pattern. Linear thinking is like climbing the staircase in your house. You always want to climb the staircase in a sequential, step by step manner. You do not want to jump from the beginning of the staircase to the middle or end – that will stretch the muscles in your legs, use up more energy, and you risk tripping on the stairs. A broken staircase is even harder to navigate – just like it is with ‘broken thinking’.
Similar to the staircase mechanism, linear thinkers tend to seek a response to a problem before moving to the next and perhaps tougher part of the problem. Linear thinkers do not usually tolerate breakage in their thinking pattern. They are not comfortable with discontinuity.
Examples of linear thinkers: the teachers we see in most of our public schools in Uganda and perhaps East Africa are linear thinkers. Apparently, even accountants tend to fall in the linear thinking bucket. We should also be careful not to stereotype certain occupations. You will indeed find accountants and teachers that aren’t the linear-thinking type – and very good ones at that
Critical thinking:
Critical thinkers are sought after by the contemporary firm. All schools with an international tag in Uganda and most of East Africa want to differentiate themselves along the lines of teaching ‘critical thinking’. Critical thinkers will approach problem-solving in this manner: they analyze the challenge from multiple perspectives; gather information; identify a range of solutions from the various elements at play; subject the options they have identified to rigorous questioning, plus, they will ensure that all elements in their thinking pattern influence their conclusion.
Examples of critical thinkers: business analysts
Holistic thinking (Zig-Zag):
Holistic thinkers are what the Effectiveness lab calls zig-zag thinkers. They embrace a multi-dimensional thinking pattern. Their thinking pattern manifests in tectonic-like brain-waves. They are the big-picture type and understand the interconnectedness of the various elements on the table.
Examples of holistic thinkers: strategy consultants and career politicians
Creative thinking:
Creative thinkers always break from the norm – they challenge the status-quo. They are the innovators. At the Effectiveness lab, we have used the term risk-junkies to describe them. They are ‘out-side-the-box’ thinkers and will accomplish outcomes that are different from the norm. Creative thinkers are known to challenge the status-quo all the time
ALSO READ:
How leaders can turn a risk-taking culture and failure into an asset
Ok. then:
- What thinking type are you?
- What about your children or even spouse?
- Can you in a seamless manner, switch your thinking-type from one type to the other, to fit changing problem-domains?
- For those of you that manage individuals and teams, do you match different thinking-types to problem-solving situations?
- And our final question on this blog, do you have a thinking-type map of your team?
Managers should consider using in a more deliberate manner their staff thinking-type grid whenever they are assigning tasks to individuals/groups. Sustaining effective work outcomes at the modern firm calls for a different approach to task assignment. It can no longer be by function, department or seniority – this is too linear and won’t derive effective solutions to systemic company problems.
Effective problem-solving at companies is driven by the thinking-type needed for a particular problem domain. | https://gabazira.com/2017/02/26/how-not-to-thnk/ |
Back to: Module: Helping Students Read
Humans are born with minds and bodies equipped for learning oral language. Most of us are born with the ability to hear and the capacity to talk. It mostly just takes time for that capacity to mature. As soon as we’re born, our brains get busy building the connections that make it happen. Over time, we build a network of nerve connections that stores everything we need for listening and speaking.
But we need something else, too—our brains need something to work with. We have to interact with adults (and older children) who talk and use language in different ways. Without listening to their example, children will never learn language. We know this because, throughout history, a few children have actually grown up without any language in their environments.
Interestingly, any of us can learn any language as babies. Later on, nothing so complicated will ever be so easy to learn! But interaction with adult caregivers is crucial.
The process is pretty straightforward. When children make sounds and later begin to form words, adult caregivers should respond positively. Soon, the adults will start helping children recognize words and phrases.
For example, if adults hear a baby say “ba, ba, ba, ba,” they might give the baby a bottle. If the adults keep doing this, the baby will see a connection and say “ba-ba” to get milk in a bottle. Eventually the baby will use “ba-ba” to mean “give me a bottle.”
Whatever the language might be—English, Spanish, Chinese—the process works the same way naturally. And the steps—from recognizing words, to saying word-like sounds, to saying words clearly, and to using phrases and sentences—are the same for almost everyone. The process takes longer or follows a somewhat different pathway for some individuals, such as children who are born deaf or those (e.g., refugees) who do not have continuous exposure to the same language.
Spoken language is the foundation for reading and writing (that is, literacy). But humans aren’t hard-wired for reading or writing. As with learning oral language, however, most of us are born with another natural ability that helps us read: sight. Literacy in English relies on building a connection between the areas of the brain that process what we hear (spoken language) and the areas that process what we see (vision). This connection doesn’t develop naturally: These skills must be taught.
The English language is made up of 44 individual sounds or phonemes. Every word is a combination of these 44 sounds. But the English alphabet contains only 26 letters. These letters combine in hundreds of possible ways to produce the 44 phonemes we hear. For example, the “f” in “fun” represents the same sound as the “ph” in “phone” and even the “gh” in “enough.”
When we teach reading, we’re teaching the connection between what we see and what we hear. This is known as the alphabetic principle, or the concept that the letters on the page (what we see) are a code that corresponds to spoken language (what we hear). | https://www.opepp.org/lesson/hsr-unit2-connecting-oral-language-to-literacy-the-alphabetic-principle/ |
3. concept of institution
The Government Statistical solution (GSS) harmonised process on institution suggests that, wherein one particular question for you is included in records range, the theory that needs to be sized was religious association. The 2021 Census: appraisal of primary individual demands on articles for Great Britain and Wales: Religion subject review (PDF, 780KB) describes spiritual association as a€?how respondents connect or identify with a religion, whether the two earnestly practise ita€?.
In keeping with this, estimates delivered with this production capture the idea of spiritual association. However, even though the 2021 Census topic assessment identified good consumer necessity for data on religious organization, there was clearly additionally proof of interest in facts including religious beliefs and tactics. The GSS Harmonisation teams intend to run an implementation article on the institution standard to spot the way it has been made use of across federal. The end result of this testimonial will advise destiny work in this area, which might consist of extra inquiries determine ideas just like belief and asian dates mobile exercise.
4. stuff you want to know on this production
The data displayed are actually offers and since for all estimates, there exists an even of anxiety of these people. Just where accessible, 95per cent esteem periods have been demonstrated. These signify the number within which we’d assume the true value to sit for 95 from every 100 examples pulled randomly from public. Wide self-confidence stretches, typically linked to little sample models or large sample difference, suggest a wider variety of ideals within which we will expect the genuine appreciate to rest.
Throughout this launch there is considered mathematical importance utilizing non-overlapping self esteem times. This method provides the limitation that some estimates with overlapping self esteem stretches may be considerably various but may not be defined as this (which, the false-negative rates shall be filled). Plus, no manipulations have been made for many reviews.
Generally, test shapes for particular spiritual communities are actually small and self-esteem times happen to be large and overlap with each other. This makes it challenging to build robust compare between teams. Just statistically substantial variations (as characterized in each part of the production) tend to be mentioned in this release. Extreme care should therefore feel used when making some other reviews between spiritual collections as noticed variations is almost certainly not statistically significant.
The 2011 Census query on religion am voluntary and just over 7per cent of the populace of Great Britain and Wales chosen to not reply to they, equivalent to just over 4 million people in utter. If some religious organizations comprise more inclined than others to not react to this problem, then census data may not show a genuine picture of these organizations, although the voluntary quality for the question for you is one particular standard in having a person rights-based method to records collection (PDF, 292KB), permitting people to pick whether or not to expose their own identification.
On the basis of the 2011 Census, points in all online surveys concerning institution tend to be voluntary and respondents can opt not to outline the company’s religious affiliation. Throughout this production, we have thought that delivery of outcomes of non-respondents within the different religious communities is similar to that those who has reply. However, if this supposition don’t put, this could possibly impact the results introduced.
5. dimensions of the spiritual populations
One particular updated established shows belonging to the public pinpointing with the various religious beliefs in England and Wales can be purchased through the census, which was latest applied last year. Rates are available for Wales from the household group study (APS), though these don’t shoot the full array of religious teams.
The ONS might checking out an approach for creating way more latest reports making use of APS, nevertheless these are presently merely demonstrative offers and then we are generally actively desire comments on both approach and so the efficiency among these rates. The tactic adjusts the APS rates (which omit many people staying in public organizations) in order that they deal with the society and therefore are consistent with the mid-year inhabitants rates.
This research revealed that on nationwide degree for Britain, using the means provides a delivery of spiritual association very similar to the census. There can be a fall for your a€?Christiana€? team, counteracted by high proportions for your more communities, employing the premier elevates seen for your a€?Muslima€?, a€?None plus Definitely not stateda€? and a€?Othera€? communities. The grade of estimates created by this approach for hometown and unitary authorities (LAs and UAs) happens to be a great deal less crystal clear. The completeness at LA and UA degree doesn’t at this time seem good enough for us to suggest the incorporate.
The main advantage of the census is the fact quotes are obtainable at a larger standard of granularity than are doable with family surveys, allowing studies for offered for Britain and Wales individually, disaggregated by several characteristics. The census has the benefit of even more full plans associated with human population, including males residing in communal industries, and youngsters, even though it will probably be grown ups through the house who report on behalf of younger kids. Both associations are off reach for reports of individual houses, where lots of certified report tend to be founded, nevertheless, there are several online surveys being specifically targeted at children, most notably several cohort investigations and schools-based studies such as the Longitudinal research of teens in The uk.
Balanced against these strengths might be limitation that census info are simply up-to-date every ten years, supplying a snapshot at a specific instant, as well populace may transform quite a bit between censuses. | https://silversteelengineering.com/2021/10/26/according-to-this-reports-delivered-in-this-launch/ |
That is right, Han Solo. As soon as I heard that line, I knew this was a character I could relate to. Han had to fight his way out of Corellia and constantly prove people wrong. Even when the odds were against him, he looked past the obstacles and welcomed the challenges. Also, he has a great sense of humor and makes witty remarks, which I admit, I sometimes do, too.
A few of you might already know this about me, but I live with a genetic disease called Cystic Fibrosis. You might be asking, "What is Cystic Fibrosis?" I will give you the short and to the point explanation. Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects the lungs, digestive system, and other organs in the body. Everyone has mucus in their bodies, but with Cystic Fibrosis, the mucus is thick and sticky. This thick, sticky mucus clogs the ducts of organs making it hard for the organs to work properly. Chronic lung infections develop as the disease progresses. Those who have Cystic Fibrosis do breathing treatments and take different medications to assist the organs. Currently, there is no cure; approximately 70,000 people worldwide are affected by this illness and 30,000 people live in the United States.
Now, I know that is a lot of information that I just gave you. I do not share this with you seeking sympathy, but rather the complete opposite. I told you this to educate you. My goal as someone living with Cystic Fibrosis is to be an advocate and bring light to the reality of invisible illnesses. I face statistics, probabilities, and different obstacles every day. There are people who tell me that I cannot do certain things because of my illness, but you know what? That does not stop me. I simply tell them to "never tell me the odds." I am more than a statistic, more than a number, and more than Cystic Fibrosis. | https://unmistakablystarwars.com/articles/nevertellmetheodds |
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Minority women are less likely than white women to be adequately screened for breast cancer, a new study shows, and that disparity could account for why African-Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with advanced-stage tumors and die from the disease.
The study, led by a University of California, San Francisco, radiologist, looked at more than 1 million women older than 40 who had received mammograms from 1996 to 2000. The data show blacks, Hispanics, Asians and American Indians are less likely than white women to get mammograms every one to two years, as recommended.
It is the first research to directly link the pattern of how regularly a woman gets a mammogram with the stage of her tumors at the time she's diagnosed. Researchers hope to use the study to generate more targeted screening for minorities.
"I think we've been a little complacent because we thought disparity was no longer a persistent issue," said lead author Rebecca Smith-Bindman, associate professor of radiology at UCSF.
Of the million-plus women screened, 17,558 were diagnosed with breast cancer. The researchers evaluated whether overall and advanced cancer rates were similar across racial and ethnic groups, and whether these rates were affected by the use of mammography.
"It turns out all racial minorities were inadequately screened," Smith-Bindman said.
Compared with 72 percent of white women, 63 percent to 68 percent of black, Hispanic, Asian and American Indian women were frequently screened.
Black, Hispanic and Asian women were more likely to have their first mammogram because of a physical-examination finding or breast-cancer symptom.
Of those with cancer, 18 percent of white women versus 35 percent of black women had not received recommended breast-cancer screening every one to two years. Hispanic women also had longer intervals between mammograms and, like blacks, were more likely to have advanced-stage tumors at diagnosis and to die of breast cancer than white women.
Although Asian and American Indian women had fewer mammograms than white women, they also had significantly lower rates of cancer and lower rates of advanced tumors. | https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-2006-04-22-cancer22-story.html |
Hey arduinians,
I was working on a keypad one day when i came up with my own math problem that I could not solve!
Keypads are 0-9, I was trying to figure out the least number of digital pins needed using the on/off method rather than the resister/analog method.
I call this method, the and-gate-method.
(Someone probably came up with it already)
To confuse us less, lets say the keypad is A-Z and the numbers are digital pins.
with 1 pin i can have 1 letter
with 2 pins i can have 3 letters
with 3 pins i can have 7 letters
with 4 pins i can have 15 letters!
Confused? Example (3 pins):
A=1
B=2
C=3
D=1+2
E=1+3
F=2+3
G=1+2+3
The Ultimate Math question you’ve been waiting for!
What is the formula? | https://forum.arduino.cc/t/high-level-math-question/1033 |
- Commensurate with qualifications and experience. Commuting and housing allowances will be applied.
- Posted
- October 17 2018
- Discipline
- Life Sciences, Neuroscience
- Position Type
- Full Time
- Organization Type
- Academia
- Job Type
- Faculty, Group Leader/Principal Investigator
The RIKEN Center for Brain Science (CBS) was launched in April 2018 following the strong 20-year foundation of its predecessor, the Brain Science Institute (BSI). CBS aims to meet society’s ever-growing expectations for brain research.
Now we are newly seeking outstanding neuroscientists for tenure-track Team Leader positions (equivalent to U.S. Assistant or Associate Professors). However, exceptional applications from internationally established neuroscientists may be considered for tenured Team Leader positions (equivalent to U.S. Full Professors). This is our first round of faculty recruitment at CBS, and in the coming several years CBS plans to open approximately 10 new Team Leader positions for outstanding neuroscientists.
At RIKEN CBS, Team Leaders have full intellectual independence, generous internal funds including a highly competitive start-up package and access to ample communal facilities in a collaborative environment. Successful candidates for the Team Leader position must have demonstrated the ability to develop an original, independent and internationally competitive research program.
We encourage applications from all disciplines of neuroscience at the molecular, cellular, circuit, systems and/or cognitive levels using any model animals and/or involving human subjects. Neuroscientists with research interests in psychiatric/neurological diseases or computational/theoretical approaches are also encouraged to apply.
Applications received by the end of November 2018 will be screened in the first round of review, although the call will remain open until the positions are filled.
Applicants should submit the electronic files of a cover letter with a brief summary of their research program and plan, curriculum vitae with copies of five major publications, a detailed statement of current and proposed research, and the names, affiliation and contact details (telephone no. and email address) of three referees along with the information about their relationship to the applicant, to the following address <[email protected]>. In addition, the applicants are requested to arrange for the three reference letters to be sent directly to the same address <[email protected]>. If possible, one of the three referees should be the current supervisor, and the letters should be signed and addressed to Dr. Yasushi Miyashita, Director of RIKEN Center for Brain Science. All files and recommendation letters should be written in English.
[For details, see our home page ：https://cbs.riken.jp/en/careers/open_faculty_positions/?utm_source=display&utm_medium=science ]
Email: [email protected]
Search Committee, RIKEN Center for Brain Science
2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
Fax: +81-48-462-4914,
RIKEN CBS is located just outside of the international metropolis of Tokyo. English is the primary language used in activities at CBS, including seminars and administration. Institutional support is available to help non-Japanese speaking scientists, whom we particularly encourage to apply. RIKEN Center for Brain Science is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Women are strongly encouraged to apply.
For further inquiries please contact the RIKEN CBS Search Committee
< [email protected]>. | https://jobs.sciencecareers.org/job/486217/faculty-positions-in-neuroscience/ |
Introduction {#sec1}
============
Amphiphilic polymers capable of self-assembly have attracted much research interest in many fields, including medicine and biology.^[@ref1]^ In particular, self-assembled polymeric micelles have been tested as drug carriers for hydrophobic anticancer drugs.^[@ref2],[@ref3]^ The advent of "living polymerization" methods^[@ref4],[@ref5]^ facilitated the synthesis of the well-defined polymers with desired structures. More recently, living ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP), a variation of the olefin metathesis reaction, has emerged as a powerful method for synthesizing polymers with tunable sizes, shapes, and functions. The technique has found tremendous utility in preparing materials with interesting biological, electronic, and mechanical properties.^[@ref6],[@ref7]^ Furthermore, the polymer structure can be fine-tuned by modulating the overall molar mass, amphiphilicity, and choice of blocks. In aqueous media, the formation of polymeric micelles may help encapsulate hydrophobic therapeutic compounds.^[@ref8]^ Most studies on polymeric micelles have focused on amphiphilic block copolymers.^[@ref9]^ In contrast, random copolymers have not been extensively studied due to their ill-defined properties^[@ref10]^ and structures.^[@ref11]^
Thermoresponsive polymeric micelles based on poly(*N*-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) were studied as drug carriers.^[@ref12]−[@ref16]^ Zhuo and co-workers reported that micelles formed by poly(*N*-isopropylacrylamide-*b*-methyl methacrylate) (PNIPAM-*b*-PMMA) showed a thermoresponsive switching behavior for the release of prednisone acetate.^[@ref14]^ Thermoresponsive polymers composed of oligo(ethylene glycol) are more promising compared with their PNIPAM-based polymers in such applications since they are neutral, nontoxic, and nonimmunogenic.^[@ref17],[@ref18]^ Lutz et al. developed oligo(ethylene glycol) methacrylate-based thermosensitive polymers with a tunable could point (CP).^[@ref19],[@ref20]^ These oligo(ethylene glycol)-based copolymers were conjugated with trypsin and exhibited a higher enzymatic activity than unmodified trypsin.^[@ref20]^ Slugovc and co-workers studied the polymerization behavior of norbornene derivatives with oligo(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether moieties with Grubbs catalyst. Monomers bearing short oligo(ethylene glycol)monomethyl ether moieties allowed for controlled polymerization. These polymers all showed satisfactory water solubility and CPs.^[@ref21]^ Cholic acid, an important natural compound existing in large quantities in animals, is an ideal building block for biomimetic systems due to the rigidity of its steroid ring, amphiphilic property, and the possibility of functionalization.^[@ref22],[@ref23]^ It is thus of interest to design polymers consisting of oligo(ethylene glycol) and cholic acid with thermoresponsive and self-assembly properties. Polymers bearing a dendritic cluster of cholic acids and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) were tested as carriers for anticancer drugs. They were found to form nanocarriers with high drug-loading capacity and excellent stability *in vitro* and *in vivo*.^[@ref24],[@ref25]^
Our group has developed functional responsive polymers based on (meth)acrylic derivatives of bile acids.^[@ref26]−[@ref30]^ In this work, we prepared new monomers of PEG and cholic acid based on norbornene derivatives and made block and random copolymers via ROMP method. The self-assembly and thermoresponsive properties of these copolymers were studied. *In vitro* drug release and cytotoxicity of paclitaxel-loaded micelles from these copolymers were also investigated.
Experimental Section {#sec2}
====================
Materials {#sec2.1}
---------
Paclitaxel (PTX) was purchased from AK Scientific Inc. (Mountain View, CA). Dialysis membrane with 3500 MWCO was purchased from Spectrum Laboratories, Inc. Cholic acid, 5-norbornene-2-methanol (mixture of *endo* and *exo*, 98%), 5-norbornene-2-endo,3-exo-dicarboxylic acid, tetraethylene glycol monomethyl ether, 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP), ethyl vinyl ether, 3-bromopyridine, 1-ethyl-3-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC·HCl), pyrene, (1,3-bis(2,4,6-trimethylphenyl)-2-imidazolidinylidene)-dichloro(phenylmethylene)(tricyclohexylphosphine)ruthenium (second generation Grubbs' catalyst), and CellTiter 96 AQ~ueous~ MTS Reagent Powder were purchased from Promega (Madison, WI, USA). Milli-Q water was used throughout the experiments. Dichloromethane (DCM) was dried using a solvent purification system from Glass Contour. Hexane, methanol, and ethyl acetate were used without further purification. Third generation Grubbs' catalyst was synthesized from second generation Grubbs' catalyst as described previously.^[@ref31]^ The purities of the monomers used in this study were confirmed by NMR and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) (\>95%).
Characterization {#sec2.2}
----------------
^1^H and ^13^C NMR spectra in CDCl~3~ or D~2~O were recorded on a Bruker AV400 spectrometer operating at 400 MHz for ^1^H and 100 MHz for ^13^C. Fluorescence spectra were recorded on an FLS-900 (Edinburgh Instruments, UK) fluorescence spectrophotometer equipped with Xe-900 lamp. The slit widths of excitation and emission were 5 and 0.2 nm, respectively. The amounts of pyrene were chosen to reach a pyrene saturated concentration in the final suspension of 6 × 10^--7^ M. The samples were equilibrated by shaking overnight at 20 °C. Excitation spectra were recorded in the range of 300--360 nm with a fixed emission at 390 nm. The critical micelle concentration (CMC) is taken as the intersection of the tangent to the curve at the inflection with the horizontal tangent through the points at low polymer concentrations.
Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) was performed on a Breeze system from Waters equipped with a 717 plus autosampler, a 1525 Binary HPLC pump, and a 2410 refractive index detector using three consecutive Waters columns (Phenomenex, 5 μm, 300 mm × 7.8 mm; Styragel HR4, 5 μm, 300 mm × 7.8 mm; Styragel HR6, 5 μm, 300 × 3.8 mm). DMF containing 0.1 M LiBr was filtered using 0.2 μm nylon Millipore filters for eluent solvent (flow rate: 1 mL/min). Poly(methyl methacrylate) standards (2500--608 000 g/mol) were used for calibration.
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was done on a FEI Tecnai 12 TEM equipped with a Gatan 792 Bioscan 1k × 1k wide-angle multiscan CCD camera with an accelerating voltage of 120 kV. The samples were prepared by placing a drop of polymer solution (0.1 g/L in water) on 300 mesh carbon-coated copper grids (Carbon Type B with Formvar, from Ted Pella, Inc.). The solution was frozen in liquid nitrogen, followed by the removal of water through freeze--drying.
The cloud point (CP) of the polymers was determined by the optical transmittance on a Cary 300 Bio UV--vis spectrophotometer equipped with a temperature-controlled sample holder. The absorbance was accessed with continuous heating or cooling rate of 0.5 °C/min with different concentrations over various temperature ranges. The CP was determined from the middle point between the onset and the offset of the transmittance curve as a function of temperature.
Dynamic light scattering (DLS) measurements were performed on a Malvern Zetasizer NanoZS instrument (Malvern CGS-2 apparatus) equipped with a He--Ne Laser at a wavelength of 633 nm and a scattering angle of 173°. The temperature was controlled in the range of 20--70 °C. Intensity-average hydrodynamic diameters of the dispersions were obtained by DLS using non-negative least-squares (NNLS) algorithm. The suspensions were prepared with the concentration of 2.0 g/L and filtered through 0.2 μm Millipore filters to remove dust. The sample was heated at 2 °C intervals within 300 s equilibration time.
The static light scattering (SLS) experiments were conducted on a CGS-3 compact goniometer (ALV GmbH) equipped with an ALV-5000 multi τ digital real time correlator at selected temperatures using a Science/Electronics temperature controller. The laser wavelength was 632 nm. The angular range was between 30° and 150° with increments of 10°. The polymer solutions (2 g/L) were filtered in an atmosphere of filtered air through a 0.2 μm filter (Millipore) directly into precleaned 10 mm tubes (Wilmad Glass Co.). The SLS experiments were conducted at fixed temperatures (25 and 50 °C). The samples were heated from 25 °C to the desired temperature with a heating rate of 0.5 °C/min and then measured after the stabilization of the temperature. The standard (toluene) and solvent (water) used to calculate the Rayleigh ratio, *R*~vv~(*q*), were also measured at each temperature. The weight-average molar mass (*M*~w~) of the micelles at different temperatures were measured according to the previous literature.^[@ref32]^
Monomer Synthesis {#sec2.3}
-----------------
Cholic acid-based norbornene monomer (NCA) was prepared as described previously.^[@ref33]^ 5-Norbornene-2-endo,3-exo-dicarboxylic acid bis(tetraethylene glycol monomethyl ether) ester (NOEG) was synthesized according to the literature with minor modifications.^[@ref34],[@ref35]^ 5-Norbornene-2-endo,3-exo-dicarboxylic acid (3.20 g, 17.57 mmol) and excess thionyl chloride (25 mL, 352.19 mmol) were added into a dry round-bottom flask. 5-Norbornene-2-endo,3-exo-dicarboxylic acid chloride was obtained by refluxing the mixture above for 4 h at 90 °C and subsequently removing excess of thionyl chloride under reduced pressure, and then dissolved in dry DCM (35 mL) without further purification. Tetra(ethylene glycol) monomethyl ether (9.13 g, 43.91 mmol) and 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP, 0.215 g, 1.76 mmol) were added. The reaction mixture was cooled with an ice bath, and pyridine (3.5 mL, 43.45 mmol) was added dropwise. The mixture was stirred for 24 h at room temperature (CHCl~3~:MeOH = 20:1; detection: KMnO~4~ solution). The white precipitate was removed by filtration and then the organic layer was washed with 5% HCl solution and dried with Na~2~SO~4~. The crude product was purified by column chromatography (silica; CHCl~3~:MeOH = 100:1). Yield: 76%. FT-IR (ATR mode): ν (cm^--1^), 2871 (CH~2~), 1727 (C=O), 1108 (C--O). ^1^H NMR (CDCl~3~, 400 MHz): δ (ppm) = 6.28 (dd, *J*^1^ = 3.2 Hz, *J*^2^ = 5.6, 1H), 6.08 (dd, *J*^1^ = 2.8 Hz, *J*^2^ = 5.6, 1H), 4.24 (m, 4H), 3.73--3.55 (m, 28H), 3.44 (t, *J* = 4 Hz, 1H), 3.39 (s, 6H), 3.3 (br s, 1H), 3.15 (br s, 1H), 1.82 (s, 1H), 1.62 (d, *J* = 8.8 Hz, 1H), 1.45 (dd, *J*^1^ = 1.6 Hz, *J*^2^ = 8.8, 1H). ^13^C NMR (100 MHz, CDCl~3~): δ (ppm) = 174.3, 173.1, 137.5, 135.1, 71.9, 70.6, 70.5, 69.1, 63.9, 63.6, 59.0, 47.9, 47.7, 47.2, 47.1, 45.8. HRMS (ESI Pos): found for C~27~H~46~O~12~ \[M + 1\]^+^: 563.307 *m*/*z*, calculated 563.306 *m*/*z*.
Polymerization {#sec2.4}
--------------
All polymerizations were performed under argon atmosphere. Solvents were degassed by a freeze--pump--thaw procedure. The block copolymers were prepared by the sequential addition of the respective monomers. The general synthetic procedure of block copolymer PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ is described below. NOEG (214 mg, 0.38 mmol) in 1 mL DCM was added into an argon-flushed Schlenk tube equipped with a magnetic stir bar. Third generation Grubbs' catalyst (10.0 mg, 11.3 × 10^--3^ mmol) in 0.1 mL DCM was added to the monomer solution under stirring. The polymerization was carried out at room temperature for 3 h until all NOEG was consumed. NCA (48.0 mg, 0.09 mmol) in 0.25 mL DCM was added to the above mixture and stirred for 3 h at room temperature until all NCA was consumed. The solution was stirred for 1 h after adding ethyl vinyl ether (50 μL, 0.52 mmol). The polymer was obtained by pouring the mixture into excess cold hexane and dried *in vacuo* to yield 256 mg (98.0%) of PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~. Here is a typical synthetic procedure of the random copolymer P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~. NOEG (413.5 mg, 0.735 mmol) and NCA (91.4 mg, 0.18 mmol) were dissolved in DCM (3.9 mL). Third generation Grubbs' catalyst (20.0 mg, 22.6 × 10^--3^ mmol) in 0.1 mL DCM was added to the monomer solution under stirring for 3 h. The solution was stirred for 1 h after adding ethyl vinyl ether (50 μL, 0.52 mmol). The polymer was obtained by pouring the mixture into excess cold hexane and dried *in vacuo* to yield 478 mg (94.8%) of random copolymer P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~. The other block and random copolymers with different ratios of NOEG to NCA were synthesized under similar conditions.
Preparation of PTX-Loaded Micelles {#sec2.5}
----------------------------------
PTX was loaded into the micelles by the solvent evaporation method as described in the literature.^[@ref36]^ Briefly, 1 mg PTX and 10 mg of block copolymer were first dissolved in chloroform in a 10 mL round-bottom flask. The organic solvent was rotaevaporated under vacuum to form a thin film, which was further dried under high vacuum for 30 min to remove residual organic solvents. One milliliter of PBS was added to rehydrate the thin film, followed by sonication for 30 min to disperse the polymer--drug nanoconstruct into water. The loading capacity and efficiency of PTX in the micelles were determined by HPLC analysis of drug concentration of the micelle solutions before and after filtration through 0.22 μm filters. HPLC analysis used a mobile phase of 55% acetonitrile in water and a ZORBAX SB-C18 5 μm 4.6 × 150 mm column. The drug loading was calculated according to a calibration curve of the HPLC peak area versus drug concentrations.
Drug Release Study {#sec2.6}
------------------
The *in vitro* PTX release profile was studied by dialysis technique. Aliquots of the PTX-loaded micelle solution (with an initial PTX concentration of 1 g/L) were placed in a dialysis bag with a 3500 MWCO and dialyzed against 4 L water solution at room temperature with stirring at 100 rpm. The concentration of PTX remained in the dialysis cartridge at various time points was measured by HPLC and water reservoir was refreshed at the time of sampling. Values were reported as the means for each triplicate sample.
Cell Culture {#sec2.7}
------------
SKOV-3 human ovarian adenocarcinoma cell line was purchased from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC, Manassas, VA, USA). SKOV-3 cells were cultured in McCoy's 5A Medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, 100 U/mL penicillin, and 100 mg/mL streptomycin at 37 °C using a humidified 5% CO~2~ incubator.
*In Vitro* Cell Viability {#sec2.8}
-------------------------
The MTS assay was used to evaluate the *in vitro* cytotoxicity of empty and PTX-loaded micelles from block and random copolymers against SKOV-3 cells. 4 × 10^3^ cells in 95 μL culture medium were seeded in 96-well cell culture plate (Falcon) and then incubated for 24 h at 37 °C prior to the treatment. Five microliters of various formulations of PTX with different dilutions were added to each well. The cells were incubated for 72 h. MTS was added to each well and further incubated for 1--4 h. The absorbance at 490 nm was detected using a microplate ELISA reader (BioTek Synergy 2 Microplate Reader). Untreated cells served as a control. Results were shown as the average cell viability calculated from the measured optical density (OD) \[(OD~treat~ -- OD~blank~)/(OD~control~ -- OD~blank~) × 100%\] of triplicate wells. The cells were also treated with empty micelles with different dilutions and incubated for a total of 72 h in order to evaluate polymer-related toxicity.
{#sch1}
Results and Discussion {#sec3}
======================
Synthesis of Copolymers {#sec3.1}
-----------------------
Block copolymers bearing cholic acid pendant groups were synthesized via ROMP of norbornene derivatives, as shown in Scheme [1](#sch1){ref-type="scheme"}, and random copolymers were also prepared by the same procedure except that both comonomers were added together ([Figure S1](#notes-1){ref-type="notes"}). Generally, ROMP catalyzed by third generation Grubbs' catalyst provides control of the molecular weight, polymer composition, and distribution of pendant group along the polymer chain. Thus, the ratio of monomer to catalyst allows stoichiometric control of the molecular weight. The composition can be easily varied by changing the amounts of monomers in the feed. The molecular weights of the block and random copolymers range from 21 to 29 kDa, while their PDIs are all relatively narrow (1.10--1.25).
In general, the polymerization proceeded very fast and most of the monomers are consumed in less than 1 min. Attempts to withdraw samples at various intervals for kinetics analysis were not successful. We have shown previously that the homopolymerization of cholic acid-drivatived norbornene proceeded well with Grubbs catalyst.^[@ref33]^ More importantly, the final diblock had a distinctly higher molecular weight than the first block (blue vs red curves in [Figure S2](#notes-1){ref-type="notes"}). There is no evidence of remaining PNOPG homopolymer in the SEC traces of the final diblock copolymer, indicating efficient chain extension of the living polymerization. This agrees well with the controlled character of the polymerization process observed by Slugovc and co-worker of norbornene-based monomers.^[@ref21]^ Small shoulders in the SEC traces of the copolymers ([Figure S2](#notes-1){ref-type="notes"}) appeared at twice the molar mass of the primary peak. These were occasionally observed and attributed to end coupling of two polymer chains through bimolecular termination with trace amounts of oxygen.^[@ref37]^ These shoulders were not easily resolved from the main peak and hence were included in PDI calculations. The characteristics of these polymers are summarized in Table [1](#tbl1){ref-type="other"}. The use of the hydrophilic NOEG and hydrophobic NCA monomers can vary the amphiphilicity of the copolymers.
Thermoresponsive Properties {#sec3.2}
---------------------------
Aqueous solutions of both PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ and P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~ show sharp phase transitions (Figure [1](#fig1){ref-type="fig"}) with CPs at 57.3 and 56.3 °C, respectively. Their CPs seems to depend only on the molar ratios of the monomers. The phase transitions of both copolymers are reversible with a certain hysteresis (Figure [1](#fig1){ref-type="fig"} dashes lines). The hysteresis can be ascribed to the additional interchain hydrogen bonding formed in the collapsed state at higher temperatures, which was extensively studied by Wu and co-workers for aqueous solutions of PNIPAM.^[@ref38]^ The monomer ratio of NCA to NOEG has a dominant effect on the phase transition temperatures of both block and random copolymers. The CPs of these copolymer solutions (Table [1](#tbl1){ref-type="other"}) show a decreasing trend with increasing NCA contents. The CP of PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ shifts to a higher temperature (58.5 °C) at a lower concentration (1.5 g/L). The phase transition becomes much broader and its CP increases further at a concentration of 1.0 g/L (Figure [1](#fig1){ref-type="fig"}A). In contrast, the phase transition of P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~ is much more sensitive to concentration changes (Figure [1](#fig1){ref-type="fig"}B). The aqueous solution of P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~ exhibits a phase transition over a broader temperature range (60--80 °C) at a concentration of 1.5 g/L and becomes no longer thermoresponsive when investigated at a concentration of 1.0 g/L and beyond. The broadening of the transition upon dilution, consistent with our results for other polymers,^[@ref39]^ is probably related to the formation of stable large aggregates rather than macroscopic phase separation when heated above the CP when the polymer concentration is between 0.1 and 1.0 g/L, as investigated by several research groups.^[@ref40]−[@ref42]^
###### Composition and Characteristics of the Block and Random Copolymers
polymers[a](#t1fn1){ref-type="table-fn"} NOEG: NCA[b](#t1fn2){ref-type="table-fn"} yield (%) *M*~n~[c](#t1fn3){ref-type="table-fn"} (g/mol) PDI[c](#t1fn3){ref-type="table-fn"} CP
------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------- ----------- ------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------- ------
PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ 5.3:1 98.0 23 000 1.18 57.3
PNOEG~36~-*b*-PNCA~18~ 3.4:1 96.7 29 500 1.17 52.7
P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~ 5.0:1 94.8 28 000 1.18 56.3
P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~3:1~ 3.1:1 95.2 25 000 1.20 53.1
PNOEG \- 92.6 16 000 1.14 68.4
The subscript indicates the molar ratio of monomers in the feed.
Molar ratio of NOEG:NCA in copolymers calculated from ratio of ^1^H NMR peak integrations.
Determined by SEC. Reaction time in all cases was 3 h.
{#fig1}
Self-Assembly of Block and Random Copolymers {#sec3.3}
--------------------------------------------
Amphiphilic block copolymers are well-known to form nanosized micelles in aqueous milieu via intra- and/or intermolecular segregation. The CMC values of the block and random copolymers were determined by fluorescence spectroscopy with pyrene as a probe.^[@ref43]^ The ratio (*I*~336~/*I*~333~) of excitation intensities at 336 and 333 nm reflects the transition of pyrene from a polar environment to an apolar micellar core.^[@ref44],[@ref45]^ The excitation spectra of pyrene in solutions of copolymers show that the peak at 333 nm shifts to a longer wavelength as the copolymer concentration increases. The CMC values of PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ and P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~ are estimated to be about 5.3 mg/L and 6.0 mg/L, respectively (Table [2](#tbl2){ref-type="other"} and [Figure S3](#notes-1){ref-type="notes"}). The block and random copolymers with similar *M*~n~ and comonomer ratios but different structural sequences show CMC values close to each other, indicating that the monomer ratio has a dominating effect on the formation of micelles. The molecular sequence in the copolymers has no significant effect on their CPs in this case, probably due in part to the relatively low molar masses of the samples.
###### Micellar Properties of Block and Random Copolymers at Different Temperature in 2.0 g/L Aqueous Solutions Studied by SLS
polymer CMC[a](#t2fn1){ref-type="table-fn"} (mg/L) temperature (°C) *M*~w~ (g/mol) *N*~agg~[b](#t2fn2){ref-type="table-fn"}
----------------------- -------------------------------------------- ------------------ ---------------- ------------------------------------------
PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ 5.3 25 2.09 × 10^6^ 77
50 1.99 × 10^6^ 73
P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~ 6.0 25 6.37 × 10^5^ 19
50 1.35 × 10^6^ 41
CMC in water measured by fluorescence with a pyrene probe at room temperature.
Aggregation number calculated from *M*~w~ of the micelles and of the polymers.
The intensity-average size distribution of PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ and P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~ (Figure [2](#fig2){ref-type="fig"}A and C) indicates that these copolymers can both self-assemble into micelles. The average hydrodynamic diameters of the micelles formed by PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ and by P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~ are around 65 and 20 nm, respectively. Both show unimodal distributions. The smaller size of the polymeric micelles formed by random copolymers is interesting and intriguing; to the best of our knowledge, the comparison of the micelles formed by random and block copolymers of similar composition remains a subject not yet much studied. The difference in micellar size may result from the different self-assembled core--shell structures of the block and random copolymers. The hydrophilic PNOEG block forms the shell of the micelles of the block copolymer, whereas only short PEG side chains self-assemble into the shell in the case of the random copolymer (Scheme [2](#sch2){ref-type="scheme"}). Therefore, the shell of the micelles formed by the block copolymer may be much thicker than that of the random copolymer, leading to the larger apparent size of the micelles formed by the block copolymer. Note that the aggregation numbers for the micelles of the block copolymer are also larger (Table [2](#tbl2){ref-type="other"}).
The formation of micelles by both the block and random copolymers with a hydrophobic cholic acid core surrounded by a hydrophilic PEG shell leads to the disappearance of the ^1^H NMR signals from the core components ([Figure S4B](#notes-1){ref-type="notes"}).^[@ref46]^ The signals of the methylene of PEG chains (3.3--3.7 ppm) and methyl group of cholic acid (0.6--1.1 ppm) were clearly observed in CDCl~3~. For example, the peaks of PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ in CDCl~3~ at 0.70, 0.90, and 1.01 ppm were assigned to methyl protons of cholic acid at positions 18, 19, and 21, respectively ([Figure S4A](#notes-1){ref-type="notes"}). The peak at 3.40 ppm was associated with the methoxyl protons on PEG chains. When the CDCl~3~ was replaced by D~2~O in the ^1^H NMR experiment, no signal of the methyl proton on cholic acid was observed ([Figure S4B](#notes-1){ref-type="notes"}), indicating that the core--shell micellar structures of the block copolymer in water. In contrast, for the D~2~O solution of the random copolymer, weak signals of methyl groups on cholic acid moieties were observed ([Figure S4C](#notes-1){ref-type="notes"}), indicating a greater mobility of the cholic acid-containing segments in this case.
{#fig2}
TEM images (Figure [2](#fig2){ref-type="fig"}B and D) show that both PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ and P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~ self-assemble into micelles and are well dispersed as individual nanoparticles with a regular shape. However, the diameter of micelles formed by PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ (ca. 30 nm in Figure [2](#fig2){ref-type="fig"}B) is slightly smaller than that measured by DLS, whereas the diameter of some micelles formed by P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~ (ca. 35 nm in Figure [2](#fig2){ref-type="fig"}D) is somewhat larger than that measured by DLS. This may be interpreted in terms of different core--shell structures of the block and random copolymers. In the case of the block copolymer, the thick hydrophilic shell is sufficient to stabilize the core of the micelles in solution. These micelles shrank during the drying process,^[@ref47]^ so that the diameter measured by TEM is slightly smaller than that measured by DLS. With regard to the micelles formed by the random copolymer P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~, the relatively thin PEG shell (Scheme [2](#sch2){ref-type="scheme"}) may not be sufficient to stabilize the core of the isolated micelles. SLS results revealed the weight-average mass (*M*~w~) of the micelles formed by P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~ increased from ca. 6.37 × 10^5^ to 1.35 × 10^6^ as the temperature rose from 25 to 50 °C (Table [2](#tbl2){ref-type="other"} and [Figure S5](#notes-1){ref-type="notes"}), effectively doubling the aggregation number (*N*~agg~) of the micellar aggregates. In comparison, the *N*~agg~ of the micelles formed by PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ remained unchanged with rising temperature since its *M*~w~ changed from ca. 2.09 to 1.99 × 10^6^ in the same temperature range. Note that micellar clusters may also form during the drying process, as the TEM images also show heterogeneity of the size of the aggregates.
The CPs of PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ and P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~ did not exhibit any significant difference as shown by the temperature-dependent DLS results (Figure [3](#fig3){ref-type="fig"}A). However, the hydrodynamic diameters (*D*~h~) of the micelles formed by the block and random copolymers (Figure [3](#fig3){ref-type="fig"}A) showed different temperature-dependent behaviors below their CPs. The *D*~h~ of the micelles formed by PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ gradually decreased from 65 to 30 nm when the temperature was raised from 20 to 54 °C. In contrast, the micelles formed by P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~ showed a small increase in size from 20 to 26 nm in the same temperature range. These behaviors may be related to the different self-assembled core--shell structures of the block and random copolymers. The thick hydrophilic shell of micelles formed by PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ may shrink below its CP due to the reorganization of the interdigitated PEG chains, which is consistent with the results reported previously.^[@ref48],[@ref49]^ The micelles formed by the random copolymer are more dynamic in solution, probably facilitated by the thinner hydrophilic shell. The SLS results confirmed that the micellar aggregation number (*N*~agg~) of the micelles formed by the random copolymer increases with rising temperature,^[@ref50]^ leading to the swelling of the micelles, while those formed by the block copolymer remains more stable in the same temperature range (Table [2](#tbl2){ref-type="other"}). Interestingly, the swelling of the micelles formed by P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~ was almost perfectly reversible during cooling cycles as shown in Figure [3](#fig3){ref-type="fig"}B, whereas the shrinkage of the micelles formed by PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ below CP is not reversible during cooling ([Figure S6](#notes-1){ref-type="notes"}).
{#fig3}
Based on these results, a mechanism is proposed for the thermally induced phase transition of these copolymers. In Scheme [2](#sch2){ref-type="scheme"}, the aggregation process is illustrated and the relative changes in size and aggregation number are also shown schematically. First, both the block and random copolymers in water self-assemble into well-defined micelles above their CMCs. When the temperature is below their CPs, the micelles formed by the block copolymers showed a broad and gradual shrinkage, whereas a slightly gradual swelling was observed for the micelles formed by the random copolymers. When the micellar solution is heated to the phase transition temperature, the dehydration of the PEG corona caused by the disruption of hydrogen bonds between the polymer and water leads to the formation of larger aggregates of the micelles for both the block and random copolymers.
{#sch2}
Loading and Release of PTX {#sec3.4}
--------------------------
PTX was loaded into micelles at a polymer concentration of 10.0 g/L and a theoretical drug loading content (DLC) of 10.0 wt %. The micelles formed by PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ and P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~ exhibited PTX loading efficiencies of 79.1% and 88.8%, respectively (Table [3](#tbl3){ref-type="other"}). Contrary to conventional thinking, after drug loading into the micellar core, the hydrodynamic diameter of resulting micelles actually showed a significant decrease in size. This is intriguing but not unusual, and may be attributed to the tightening of the micelles caused by the enhanced hydrophobic interaction between the drug and the micelle core.^[@ref51]^*In vitro* drug release studies were carried out at room temperature with a dialysis tube (MWCO 3500) in water. As shown in Figure [4](#fig4){ref-type="fig"}A, 78% and 24% of PTX were released at the point of 24 h in the cases of PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ and P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~, respectively. The release of PTX from the random copolymer-formed micelles was significantly slower than from the block copolymer micelles at room temperature. This result is quite interesting and even somewhat unusual, and may be attributable to the more densely assembled micellar structure of the random copolymer P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~ at relatively low temperatures, as illustrated in Scheme [2](#sch2){ref-type="scheme"}.
###### Physicochemical Properties of PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ and P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~
polymers[a](#t3fn1){ref-type="table-fn"} CMC[a](#t3fn1){ref-type="table-fn"} (mg/L) micellar size[b](#t3fn2){ref-type="table-fn"} (nm) PTX loading efficiency[c](#t3fn3){ref-type="table-fn"} (%) micellar size with PTX[d](#t3fn4){ref-type="table-fn"} (nm)
------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------- ---------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------
PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ 5.3 65 79.1 ± 2.6 24
P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~ 6.0 20 88.8 ± 4.0 17
Determined in water by fluorescence with a pyrene probe at room temperature.
Size of empty micelles formed by block and random copolymers.
PTX loading efficiency of the micelles, in the presence of 10 g/L of block and random copolymers, measured by HPLC.
PTX loading of micelles was 1 g/L, respectively.
The antitumor activity of PTX-loaded micelles (Figure [4](#fig4){ref-type="fig"}B) was investigated in SKOV-3 cell with MTS assay. The cells were incubated with PTX-loaded micelles or free PTX for 72 h. The results showed that the PTX-loaded micelles formed by PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ and P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~ induced pronounced antitumor effects to the ovarian cancer cells. The viability of SKOV-3 cells was reduced to about 40% following 72 h incubation with 100 ng PTX equiv/mL PTX-loaded micelles. Notably, PTX-loaded micelles displayed similar efficacy with the free PTX formulation in SKOV-3 cell. The maximal half-inhibitory concentrations (IC~50~) were determined to be 27.4, 40.2, and 44.5 ng of PTX equiv/mL for the drug-loaded micelles formed by the block and random copolymers, respectively. The higher antitumor activity of PTX-loaded micelles of the block copolymer in comparison to the random copolymer might be due to their faster drug release in cell culture, which is in good agreement with *in vitro* drug release results. The empty micelles formed by the block and random copolymers were practically nontoxic (cell viability ∼100%) up to a tested concentration of 1.0 g/L, supporting that micelles based on cholic acid-based polymers possess good biocompatibility. With the slower and almost linear drug release profile and the similar anticancer effect (Figure [4](#fig4){ref-type="fig"}), the PTX-loaded micelles formed by the random copolymer may be more appropriate for *in vivo* anticancer treatments, since less drug leakage into the blood circulation for the slower release profile may reduce the adverse effects of drug toxicity and deliver more drug content to tumor site via the enhanced permeability and retention effects.
{#fig4}
Conclusion {#sec4}
==========
Both block and random copolymers containing cholic acid and PEG pendent groups were synthesized via ROMP. These copolymers are amphiphilic in nature and exhibited responsive properties toward temperature. The phase transition temperature of the copolymers could be tuned by variation of the monomers ratios. DLS and TEM results revealed both the block and random copolymers self-assembled into micelles in water. Below their CPs, the dynamic nature of the micelles formed by the random copolymer caused an increased *N*~agg~ with rising temperature leading to a gradual swelling while the micelles of the block copolymer exhibited a gradual shrinkage in the same temperature range. Through *in vitro* drug release experiments and MTT assay, we have demonstrated that micelles formed by the block and random copolymers can actively load a hydrophobic anticancer drug PTX and can also efficiently deliver and release PTX into tumor cells, achieving high antitumor activity comparable to that of free PTX. The micelles from cholic acid-based polymer are highly promising for the delivery of hydrophobic anticancer drugs. The random copolymer may be better suited for the drug release application due to the close to linear release profiles. The *in vivo* tumor targeting and anticancer effects of these two formulations will be further evaluated.
The synthetic scheme of the norbornene monomer NCA and NOEG as well as the random copolymer, SEC traces of the block copolymer PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~, CMC determination, and ^1^H NMR spectra of the PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ and P(NOEG-*r*-NCA)~4:1~, as well as hydrodynamic diameter of PNOEG~34~-*b*-PNCA~8~ under heating and cooling cycle. This material is available free of charge via the Internet at <http://pubs.acs.org>.
Supplementary Material
======================
######
bm5002262_si_001.pdf
The authors declare no competing financial interest.
Financial support from NSERC of Canada, FQRNT of Quebec, and the Canada Research Chair program is gratefully acknowledged. The authors of U de M are members of CSACS funded by FQRNT and GRSTB funded by FRSQ. C.Y. Shi and J.T. Luo are supported by NIH/NCI R01CA140449 and Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Foundation. We thank Dr. S. Strandman for her help with the TEM, Ms N. Xue for her help with the SLS measurements.
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There are many different species of cannabis plants, but their psychoactive properties mainly depend on the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which may vary according to genetic factors and environmental influences. On the basis of the THC content all cannabis plants are divided into fibre-type and drug-type plants. The fibre-type plant does not exceed 0.4 per cent of THC while the drug-type plant usually contains up to 5 per cent of THC, though higher percentages (up to 10 per cent) have been reported. A study of the characteristics of cannabis seeds and the influence of environmental conditions on the content of THC in cannabis plants grown in northern, southern and insular Italy has shown that the fibre-type plants contain mean values of THC in a range from 0.058 to 0.299 per cent. The content of THC in the drug-type plants grown in Sicily and Tuscany ranged from 0.82 to 1.31 percent ± 0.49 percent. In 1984, the Commission of the European Communities prepared a regulation to prevent diffusion of the drug-type cannabis, providing that raw material could not be imported if its THC content exceeded 0.5 per cent from 1984 to 1987 and after that period the maximum limit would be set up to 0.3 per cent.
Both the fibre-type and drug-type plants contain different concentrations of Δ
9-tetrahydrocannabinol, and other cannabinoids, including isomeric Δ
8-tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabinol (CBN) and cannabidiol (CBD). The concentration of cannabinoids in a cannabis plant depends on genetic factors and on environmental influences such as light, temperature, moisture and oxygen. In a mature plant the maximum content of psychoactive substances is in the flowering tops, much less in the leaves and traces only in the stems and branches
[
1]
[
2] .
* This research has been carried out within a Special Project on Drug Abuse (Grant 840217856) which has been partly supported by the National Research Council, Italy.
The intensity of psycho-active activity of the preparations derived from cannabis
* mainly depends on the concentration of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and to a certain degree on the mode of cannabis use. Cannabis is mainly smoked and less often inhaled or eaten. The intensity of the effects of cannabis use also depends on whether pure cannabis material (such as marijuana and hashish) is taken or cannabis in combination with other psycho-active substances, such as tobacco
[
3] . Cannabis smoking or inhalation acts much faster than its oral use. The inhalation of THC is 2.6 to 3 times more effective than THC ingestion
[
4] . The use of THC develops a high degree of tolerance, which requires substantial increase (10 to 20 times) of the initial doses
[
5] .
The pharmacologic activity of THC use is usually measured in humans by the effects of such use on the heartbeat frequency, memory, attention, alert state, muscular co-ordination and electroencephalogram. In most cases THC dosage of 3 to 4 mg or higher give rise to significant changes in these parameters.
The THC content of the different species of cannabis plants varies according to genetic and environmental factors
[
6]
[
7] . In the fibre-type plants the THC content does not exceed 0.4 per cent, while in the drug-type plants it exceeds this level, usually up to 5 per cent; but higher percentages, even up to 10 per cent, have been reported
[
2] .
To distinguish the fibre-type from drug-type cannabis plants the following ratio was proposed: (CBN percentage + THC percentage)/(CBD percentage)
[
8]
[
9] . If the obtained ratio is greater than 1, the cannabis plant is classified as drug-type, and if it is less than 1, as fibre-type
[
8]
[
9] . In some cases, a young plant with a THC content less than 0.4 per cent can, however, be classified as drug-type, although the percentage of the active substances of the plant is low
[
10] .
The fibre-type plants are legally cultivated in some regions of the Mediterranean area. During the last ten years there has been some uncertainty in the Italian law concerning the content of psycho-active substances in cannabis plants, which has led to a number of interventions of the legal authorities against the cultivators of the fibre-type cannabis plants
[
11] .
* The term "cannabis" in this article refers to cannabis plant, resin and the psycho-active cannabinoids.
During 1978 and 1979 the Agriculture and Forests Society, supported by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, carried out research on the characteristics of different types of cannabis seeds and the influence of environmental conditions on the content of THC in the growing areas of northern, southern and insular Italy
[
12]
[
13] . During the first year of the project ten species of genetically differentiated hybrids were planted. During the second year of the project the aim of the research was to evaluate the individual variability of the THC content in the two species:
Carmagnola and
Eletta Campana. The first of the two species had previously yielded the lowest and the latter the highest THC content.
One hundred plants, 50 male and 50 female, were analysed in the Hygiene and Prophylaxis Laboratory of the Forli Province
[
14] . The following analytical conditions were adopted: the chloroformic extract of the plant material was chromatographed on 1.2m x 0.3cm ID column of 2 per cent OV 17 supported on 80 - 100 mesh Chromosorb WHP. The separation temperature was 235°C using helium as carried gas and decachlorophenyl as internal standard. The mean values of the THC content of the plants grown in the three areas ranged from 0.058 to 0.299 per cent of the total dry substance. The THC content in flowering tops of the male plants was considerably smaller than in the female plants. In
Carmagnola species, the THC content for the male plants ranged from 0 to 0.04 per cent and a similar result was obtained for the female plants. In
Eletta Campana species, the THC content of the plants grown in the two peninsular areas of Italy for both male and female plants ranged from 0 to 0.04 per cent, whereas in the area of insular Italy it ranged for male plants from 0.12 to 0.16 per cent and for female plants from 0.20 to 0.24 per cent.
The minimum THC content (0.82 per cent) was found in flowering tops of female fecundated cannabis plants seized by police in Sicily and the maximum (0.96 per cent) in female non-fecundated plants
[
15] . In both cases plants were cut at the beginning of the flowering stage. The THC content found in 114 young and adult cannabis plants in Tuscany was 1.31 per cent ±0.49 per cent
[
16] .
The results of research carried out in Italy and other countries in Europe have made it possible clearly to distinguish fibre-type from drug-type cannabis plants. Such a distinction is based on the percentage of THC content found in a given cannabis plant. In order to avoid the diffusion of the drug-type cannabis plants, the Commission of the European Communities reached an agreement in 1984 to regulate the matter
[
17] . The following are the main points of the regulation draft:
The import of cannabis and cannabis seeds, not offering enough guarantees for the safeguard of human health, should be avoided; to this end controls on the imports of this product should be set up;
Raw cannabis may be imported only if its THC content in weight, compared to the weight of an adequately defined sample, does not exceed 0.5 per cent for the period 1984 - 1987 and is less than 0.3 per cent for the following years;
Sample-taking as well as analyses of the THC content should be performed according to a uniform method to be followed by the countries of the European Community;
The determinations needed for the analyses must be carried out on a sample of the product to be imported and the sample must be prepared and dried according to specified conditions;
The sample includes the upper third of the plant or the entire plant deprived of the stems and seed, in case the upper third of the plant cannot be separated;
The sample should be dried to constant weight under control.
With a view to revising the schedule of the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs
[
18] , some Member States have expressed the opinion that, on the basis of THC content, the distinction should be made between the drug-type and fibre-type cannabis plants, setting as a discriminating value a threshold content ranging from 0.3 per cent to 0.5 per cent of THC obtained from the flowering tops and from the leaves of any section of the plant.
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MemoBo. A mare magnum of possibilities: the Bolognese “Memoriali" and their digitisation (1265-1452)
The Officium Memorialium was set up by the Commune of Bologna in 1265 to summarize and register all contracts between private individuals, payment receipts, and pacts stipulated in the city and its contado (countryside) whose value was in excess of 20 lire of Bolognini. The aim of this initiative was to prevent manipulation and forgery and thus to guarantee security of acquired rights.
The legal acts had to be registered by notaries employed by the Commune in special books called libri memorialium. The registration had to be done within one day after the stipulation of the contract, which otherwise would be invalidated.
Due to its overarching nature and its continuity over time, this source is an invaluable entry point to investigate the everyday life of the city, its main economic and social activities and its protagonists, something even more important considering the gaps in the Bolognese notarial documentation from that period.
The series of the libri memorialium is very well known, also because its pages contain several poetic attestations in the vernacular written by the notaries who held the office, including some very early evidence of the circulation of Dante Alighieri's texts. However, this type of source is difficult to use, unless one proceeds by analysing just some essays, due to its breadth and complexity, as well as to the fact that it is almost completely unpublished. At the same time, the libri memorialium are unanimously considered one of the richest documentary series on the history of communal Italy: 322 registers, drafted between 1265 and 1452 and preserved at the Archivio di Stato di Bologna, which is a partner of the project.
See also: bibliography
The project stems from the desire and need to make the series of the libri memorialium more accessible, through an analysis of individual unpublished acts, the extraction of their most significant data and the inclusion of the latter in a open access online database.
This first phase will be followed by the possibility of expanding the database by transcribing the documents in their entirety and by digitally reproducing them.
The expected main results are:
a) The creation of an open-access search tool with different access keys to the documentary fund.
b) The organization of serial data that will provide scholars with a solid basis allow for more detailed research on economic, social, and legal history of a main medieval city.
c) The training of university students and early career scholars in historical research on unpublished sources and their digital processing.
The start-up phase of the project (2020) was characterized by the creation of a specific software for data recording and indexing, which was built in partnership with Regesta.exe.
The development of the IT tool and its testing were carried out by means of an initial survey of two registers (no. 69 and no. 229), chosen for their relevance: the first contains the oldest record of a poem by Dante, while the second concerns the year 1348, when Bologna was hit by the Black Death.
Within this exploratory phase, the financial support provided by both the Department of History and Cultures of the University of Bologna and the Fondazione del Monte di Bologna e Ravenna, made possible to involve in the projects both undergraduates and master students and early career scholars (PhD candidates and postdocs) and to cover the costs of their training and of their work in the start-up filing operations.
This phase aims to expand the team of scholars involved in the project in order to refine the software, complete the data set of the two volumes explored in phase I and, at the same time, start the analysis of register no. 1.
Furthermore, the research group is preparing a workshop where, in addition to the presentation of the first results of the project, there will be the possibility for collective and multi-faceted reflections on methodologies, opportunities and challenges connected with the creation and use of digital tools for in historical research.
In the third phase of the project ( since September 2021) the implementation of the database is in progress, through the indexing of some sample registers; furthermore, thanks to this, it has been possible to continue a process of refining the software form, in order to make it as consistent as possible with the research demands and the complexity of the data.
In addition, a preparatory phase began with the establishment of a line of research aimed at experimenting, through artificial intelligence technologies, the possibilities offered by machine learning and handwritten recognition, instruments that could allow greater access to the most conspicuous documentary series, such as the Memorials.
In the " Learning" line of the project, master's degree theses and internships aimed at the training of young scholars have been launched and the multidisciplinary laboratory within the master's degree course in Historical and Oriental Sciences is underway.
An essential feature of the project is the participation of "new generations" of scholars and researchers: their active involvement is intended both in terms of a highly interdisciplinary training (which involves palaeographic, historical, archival, digital humanities science) for the purposes of the project, and in terms of providing new skills to scholars of the historical past, who cannot ignore the use of new media and new digital tools (including the new problems posed by them).
This aspect is a fundamental part of MemoBo's project. This goal will be pursued through ongoing collaboration between researchers with different backgrounds, in a continuous exchange of interdisciplinary skills, and through ad hoc training sessions organized as part of the project itself.
Starting from the academic year 2021/22 a "Laboratory of Medieval studies" (6 cfu) will be set up within the Second cycle degree in History and Oriental Studies.
Students of the Second cycle degrees in History and Oriental Studies; in Italian Studies, European Literary Cultures, Linguistics; in Philology, Literature and Classical Tradition will be able to choose to carry out their curricular internship (6 cfu) in the MemoBo project.
Second cycle degree students can write their Master's thesis by taking part in the project.
Scientific supervisors are:
To contact us, please click on the name.
The international scientific board: | https://site.unibo.it/memobo/en/progetto/ |
An objective mortal sin is an act which is objectively gravely immoral under any of the three fonts of morality.
1. a gravely immoral intention, such as intending to cause grave harm to your neighbor
2. a gravely disordered (intrinsically evil) act, such as murder
3. an act whose bad consequences can be reasonably anticipated to gravely outweigh the good consequences
When any one font is gravely immoral, the overall act, including all three fonts, cannot be less than an objective mortal sin. Although the other two fonts can make the act a more serious mortal sin, or a less serious mortal sin, the other two fonts cannot change the grave moral disorder in the one font from mortal to venial.
When an objective mortal sin is committed with full knowledge of the grave immorality of the act, and with full consent, then the act is also an actual mortal sin.
It is also possible to commit an actual mortal sin, even when the chosen act is not objectively a mortal sin, or is not objectively a sin at all, if the person believed that the act was gravely immoral at the time that the act was chosen. | http://www.catholicplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?s=64fb4164e61e9ab9c9fef1b73aef9363&t=4200 |
"Dharma Bums" manuscript
When Jean-Louis "Jack" Lebris de Kerouac moved into the small College Park house his mother was renting at 1418 Clouser Ave. in July 1957, he was still a writer in search of a career. His only previous novel, a fairly conventional coming-of-age work, “The Town and the City,” had appeared seven years earlier and had not sold well. Within two months, his second book, “On the Road,” was published to rapturous reviews that established Jack Kerouac as both king of the beats and the voice of his generation.
Inspired by both his new fame and publishers clamoring for his work, Jack sat down in the cozy College Park cottage and wrote “The Dharma Bums” in a frenzy of creativity between Nov. 26 and Dec. 7. Relying on the spontaneous prose and autobiographical material that had made “On the Road” a cultural phenomenon, “The Dharma Bums” solidified Kerouac’s leading position among America’s post-war writers.
After reporter Bob Kealing wrote a story in 1997 about Kerouac’s time in College Park, a group of residents formed the Kerouac Project of Orlando to buy and maintain the house as a home for the Jack Kerouac Writer in Residence program, which brings four writers in each year for periods of up to three months. As part of its ongoing educational mission, the group also purchased the original edited typescript of “The Dharma Bums.” On Dec. 8, the Kerouac Project announced that the manuscript would be housed on permanent display in the Rollins College Olin Library Archives.
In bringing the manuscript to Rollins, Bruce Gordy, president of the Kerouac Project, announced that the document had found an ideal home and should prove “the start of a promising relationship between Kerouac and Rollins.” In thanking him, Phil Deaver, a professor of creative writing and writer in residence, commented that the work offers students and the community “a treasure, a rare look into the blood and sweat that must flow to make a good book.”
Deceptively simple in appearance, the typescript has, in Library Director Jonathan Miller’s words, “at least three layers within it: the text, the editorial comments and Jack’s occasionally ironic responses to those comments.” The college archivist, Wenxian Zhang, added that the work’s new home “will facilitate the study of the work … while ensuring the preservation of the original manuscript.”
In thanking Bruce Gordy, Rollins Vice President and Treasurer Jeff Eisenbarth, the Olin Library staff and longtime Kerouac Board members like Summer Rodman, Jill Jones, a professor of English and president of the Rollins Arts and Science faculty, echoed the hopes of everyone involved that this new relationship between the Kerouac programs and Rollins would both strengthen and add significantly to the cultural diversity of Central Florida. | https://www.orangeobserver.com/article/kerouac-manuscript-arrives-rollins |
Is it useful to combine taxanes with targeted agents in mCRPC patients—have we hit the target in this phase II study with docetaxel and curcumin allowing going for a phase III study?
Pathogenesis of acute gastroesophageal reflux disease might be changing
Defining differential roles for microglia and infiltrating macrophages in the growth and neovascularization of glioma
Immune infiltration, glioma stratification, and therapeutic implications
Can combination chemotherapy be standard therapy for sensitive relapsed small-cell-lung cancer?
Chemotherapy plus intercalated or continuous EGFR-TKI in advanced non-small cell lung cancer
miRNA based signature for predicting epithelial ovarian cancer relapse-progression: a step forward to prime time clinical adoption?
Immune checkpoint regulator: a new assignment proposed for the classic adhesion molecule P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1
Tregs, Helios and tumor immunity: the sun has not yet risen
Pancreatic cancer immunotherapy: coming of age
Glioblastoma: does PET shed light to a difficult problem?
Hypofractionation for postoperative breast cancer radiotherapy: is acute toxicity a limiting factor?
Hypofractionated radiotherapy for breast cancer: too fast or too much?
The addition of bevacizumab to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in HER2-negative inflammatory breast cancer, more not necessarily better
Pancreatic cancer-derived exosomes: new role in paraneoplastic syndromes?
What is the role of stereotactic body radiotherapy to treat inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma?
Radiofrequency ablation and stereotactic body radiotherapy as non-surgical options for hepatocellular carcinoma
The potential of proteogenomics in oncology
Beyond genomics: biologic insights from the CPTAC proteogenomic analysis of breast cancer
Intravenous and intraperitoneal paclitaxel with S-1: new hope for patients with pancreatic cancer and peritoneal metastases?
Deciphering ZIC2/OCT4 signaling as a vulnerability in liver cancer stem cells
Autophagy is required for PTEN-loss driven prostate cancer
Targeting pancreatic stellate cells to improve pancreatic cancer radiosensitivity
Resistance mechanisms in glioblastoma stem cells: finding opportunities in challenges
Shuttling towards a predictive assay for radiotherapy
Macrohistone H2A1 takes the center stage in cancer research as a regulator of stemness
Emerging role for USP1 in glioblastoma stem cell maintenance and radioresistance: a potential target for glioblastoma therapy
Perspective
Role of the lncRNAs in malignant melanoma and their involvement in metastasis
Apatinib for gastric cancer: are we moving the antiangiogenic strategy any forward?
Perspective on therapeutic application of selective internal radiotherapy in colorectal cancer liver metastasis
A new fertility risk rating system for surgical, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy interventions used in testicular cancer
Glioblastoma stem cells differentiation through epigenetic modulation is driven by miR-296-5p/HMGA1/Sox2 axis
PIK3CA mutated, hormonal receptors and HER2: individual targets but partnered in the escape to targeted therapy in breast cancer
Can we stop the progression of chronic liver disease to hepatocellular carcinoma?
Genomic analysis of circulating tumor DNA to predict endocrine resistance and clonal evolution in patients with prostate cancer: Clinical perspectives and research opportunities
Emerging mutations and functional changes of androgen receptor associated with treatment resistance in prostate cancer
New insights into patient radiosensitivity in relation to the biology of the ATM protein
Commentary
Diagnostic performance of [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of treatment response to induction chemotherapy followed by definitive chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma
Emerging molecular mechanisms underlying cancer metastasis: the rising role of the long non-coding RNA GAS5
A new angle on Notch combination therapies
Intracranial activity of crizotinib: something to rely on?
Selective FcγR engagement by human agonistic anti-CD40 antibodies
New applications for deep sequencing of the T cell receptor repertoire in cancer patients
The prospective correlation between GGN and CAG repeat polymorphisms of androgen receptors and testicular cancer
The challenge for precision medicine: all tumor genomes are different and all cancer patients are different in their own way
In vivo modeling of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with the myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MYD88) L265P mutationon
Perspective towards the clinical application of eribulin in soft tissue sarcomas
Risk stratification in prostate cancer treated with radiation therapy: a window of opportunity for new clinical trials
Prospecting for prostate cancer with precision medicine
Novel therapeutic strategies against cancer and chronic infection by targeting P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 as an immune T cells response regulator
The immunogenicity of cancer mutations and implications for T cell therapy
CIS is a negative regulator of IL-15-mediated signals in NK cells
An unhealthy diet: making sense of a fatty niche for leukemia stem cells
Vagus nerve-preserving distal gastrectomy may improve the quality of life after gastrectomy in early stage gastric cancer patients
Glutamine dependence and PIK3CA mutations in colon-rectal cancer cells: ATF4 enters the stage
Is there any role for liver resection in the treatment of liver metastases from gastric carcinoma?
Malignant pleural mesothelioma: beyond the mathematical models
Phenotype: the result of a complex and still largely unknown interplay between molecules
S-1: changing the facets of adjuvant chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer?
Breast cancer following childhood cancer—more to the story than we thought
Should pertuzumab be used as part of neoadjuvant treatment prior to the release of the APHINITY trial results?
MicroRNA master regulator of hematopoiesis may also hold the key to B-cell lymphoma pathogenesis and therapy
Comparison of quantitative faecal immunochemical tests for haemoglobin (FIT) for asymptomatic population screening
Targeting the ubiquitin proteasome system in glioblastoma
Correspondence
Targeting long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) with oligonucleotides in cancer therapy
Novel mechanism of immune evasion involving PD-L1 in various cancers
Challenges and opportunities of CYP3A5 as novel drug target in pancreatic cancer subtypes
The role of PET CT in the management of advanced nodal head neck cancer post chemoradiotherapy
Disclosure:
This supplement was published without any sponsorship or funding. | https://tcr.amegroups.com/issue/view/200 |
Clarissa Harlowe Barton, called Clara, the most women that are honored US history. Barton risked her life to create materials and help to soldiers on the go throughout the Civil War. She founded the United states Red Cross in 1881, at age 59, and led it for the following 23 years. Her comprehension of the means she could offer assist to individuals in distress guided her throughout her life. Because of the force of her individual instance, she started paths to your brand brand new industry of volunteer solution. Her devotion that is intense to other people lead in sufficient achievements to fill a few ordinary lifetimes.
Portrait of Clara Barton, 1860s or 1870s
Clarissa Harlowe Barton came to be on 25, 1821 in North Oxford, MA december. She ended up being the child that is fifth of and Sarah Barton.
Clara Barton Homestead in North Oxford, Massachusetts
Available to the general public as a memorial towards the “Angel of this Battlefield”, Clara Barton’s home is restored since nearly as you possibly can into the condition whenever she came to be within the western parlor bedroom. | http://biekan3.top/blog/category/farmersdatingsite-price-2/ |
Join ONE Lab contributor, RISD Critic, and Digital Media professor Eric Forman for a discussion of his work at the intersection of art, design, and technology!
Eric is a New York-based artist working with interactive installations and responsive sculpture. He develops his own circuits and software to create objects and spaces that are aware of their environment and can dynamically respond to it. His work crosses boundaries between fine art, design, and robotics – combining the technical rigor of engineering with the open-ended exploratory nature of the art experience. Eric’s creations employ modalities of interactivity not found in dominant forms of new media: subtle, slow, thoughtful, perhaps disturbing. His work gives us the magical and exhilarating qualities of the new, yet also plays on our uneasy fascination with the intersections of human and technology.
Click here for more free New York City events & things to do. | http://www.niftynyc.com/2013/05/27/tuesday-may-28th-eric-forman-art-design-technology/ |
documentation from any mitmproxy screen.
Flow list¶
The flow list shows an index of captured flows in chronological order.
- 1: A GET request, returning a 302 Redirect response.
- 2: A GET request, returning 16.75kb of text/html data.
- 3: A replayed request.
- 4: Intercepted flows are indicated with orange text. The user may edit
these flows, and then accept them (using the
akey) to continue. In this case, the request has been intercepted on the way to the server.
- 5: A response intercepted from the server on the way to the client.
- 6: The event log can be toggled on and off using the
eshortcut key. This pane shows events and errors that may not result in a flow that shows up in the flow pane.
- 7: Flow count.
- 8: Various information on mitmproxy’s state. In this case, we have an
interception pattern set to
.*.
- 9: Bind address indicator - mitmproxy is listening on port 8080 of all interfaces.
Flow view¶
The Flow View lets you inspect and manipulate a single flow:
- 1: Flow summary.
- 2: The Request/Response tabs, showing you which part of the flow you are
currently viewing. In the example above, we’re viewing the Response. Hit
tabto switch between the Response and the Request.
- 3: Headers.
- 4: Body.
- 5: View Mode indicator. In this case, we’re viewing the body in hex mode. The other
available modes are pretty, which uses a number of heuristics to show you a friendly
view of various content types, and raw, which shows you exactly what’s there without any
changes. You can change modes using the
mkey.
Grid Editor¶
Much of the data that we’d like to interact with in mitmproxy is structured. For instance, headers, queries and form data can all be thought of as a list of key/value pairs. Mitmproxy has a built-in editor that lays this type of data out in a grid for easy manipulation.
At the moment, the Grid Editor is used in four parts of mitmproxy:
- Editing request or response headers (
efor edit, then
hfor headers in flow view)
- Editing a query string (
efor edit, then
qfor query in flow view)
- Editing a URL-encoded form (
efor edit, then
ffor form in flow view)
- Editing replacement patterns (
ofor options, then
Rfor Replacement Patterns)
If there is is no data, an empty editor will be started to let you add some. Here is the editor showing the headers from a request:
To edit, navigate to the key or value you want to modify using the arrow or vi navigation keys, and press enter. The background color will change to show that you are in edit mode for the specified field:
Modify the field as desired, then press escape to exit edit mode when you’re
done. You can also add a row (
a key), delete a row (
d key), spawn an
external editor on a field (
e key). Be sure to consult the context-sensitive
help (
? key) for more.
Example: Interception¶
mitmproxy‘s interception functionality lets you pause an HTTP request or response, inspect and modify it, and then accept it to send it on to the server or client.
1: Set an interception pattern¶
We press
i to set an interception pattern. In this case, the
~q filter
pattern tells mitmproxy to intercept all requests. For complete filter
syntax, see the Filter expressions section of the documentation,
or the built-in help function in mitmproxy.
2: Intercepted connections are indicated with orange text:¶
3: You can now view and modify the request:¶
In this case, we viewed the request by selecting it, pressed
e for “edit”
and
m for “method” to change the HTTP request method.
4: Accept the intercept to continue:¶
Finally, we press
a to accept the modified request, which is then sent on to
the server. In this case, we changed the request from an HTTP GET to
OPTIONS, and Google’s server has responded with a 405 “Method not allowed”. | https://mitmproxy.readthedocs.io/en/v2.0.2/mitmproxy.html |
Over the past year there has been an increase in the number of homeowner violations. Keeping up appearances, in regards to your home, will go a long way in keeping Whittier beautiful.
- The HOA has to spend your homeowner’s dues towards removing bulk trash/litter when residents dump these items on common property. This problem results in high costs to the Whittier Community Association. If you need to dispose of large items, the City collects bulk trash two times a year in April and August. Whittier’s next bulk pickup is scheduled for April 4-7, 2005. For further information call (301) 694-1848. You can also take bulk items to the Frederick County landfill located at 9031 Reichs Ford Rd. (exit 55 off of Rt. 70 East). The landfill is open Monday-Saturday.
- Compare your homes shutter color to your front door color. Please be sure that they match and that both are painted the original Ausherman approved color. It has been particularly noticeable the number of town homes that have badly faded shutters/front doors and or front doors that have been painted while the shutters on their homes were left unpainted. Painting your front door and shutters at the same time will prevent this problem. You can contact Vanguard Management at 301- 253-5052 (local call) who will forward any requests to the townhouse committee for assistance.
- Residents are reminded that regular lawn maintenance is required in Whittier. Please weed, feed and mow on a regular basis and don’t forget to include the grassy strips that are between the common sidewalk area and the curb directly in front of your home within your property boundaries.
- All residents are reminded that if you have a fence you must trim/mow the grass directly on the OUTSIDE of your fence as well as the inside of your fence. It is a maintenance violation to leave grass to grow under your fence.
- Front yards are not to be used as storage areas. Please be respectful of your neighbors by putting all children’s bikes, scooters, skateboards, and large toys away each night. Residents are reminded of the City of Frederick Ordinance to never obstruct the “right of way” on the common sidewalks.
- Items left on HOA property will be confiscated and discarded.
- Changing car oil in Whittier’s parking lot is prohibited.
- Any nuisance howling/barking dog anytime of the day or night falls under the Frederick County noise ordinance. Call Animal Control at 301-694-1546
- Keep trash in its place. This includes cigarette butts. Please be courteous and pick up your litter.
- Neighborhood watch works! Please keep an eye out on anything suspicious activity or if you witness vandalism call the police. Look out for your neighbors and they will look out for you!
- Be respectful of parking your vehicles. Parking spaces are at a premium in the town home and condo sections of Whittier. If you have a garage or driveway-use it before parking in visitor parking. Double parking is not allowed. Ever!
- All trashcans and recycling bins must be stored out of public view.
- If you believe there is a violation, you can report it in writing (by mail or email) to the management company. You can report something anonymously but it must be in writing. You can email the community manager Nancy Keen, who is an employee of Vanguard Management at [email protected]. The management company also notes obvious violations. | https://whittieronline.org/node/28 |
foreign policy. In Europe at any rate, and most certainly since the downfall of the Byzantine Empire in 1453, the action and reaction of its several countries on one another have been so powerful, that Giuseppe Ferrari's suggestion of writing history in a binary form ought to have been carried out long since for every one of them, as fortunately it actually has been for some.
In the latter half of the fifteenth century the whole tenor and nature of state-craft and policy changed from what it had been in the preceding centuries. The Middle Ages knew only of two "universals" in politics, the Empire proper, that is, the Holy Roman Empire, and the Catholic Church; the Byzantine Empire having little if anything to say in questions of Western policy since the days of Charlemagne. Of those two empires that of the Church alone possessed adequate organisation and means for the purpose of efficient government. The Holy Roman Empire was a fiction, or at best an ideal, lacking all the realities of power. In the face of that vague "Empire," the less ambitious but more practical smaller sovereigns and lords in Germany, France, Spain, and Italy, and likewise those of Bohemia, Hungary, and Poland, endeavoured during the twelfth, thirteenth, and fourteenth centuries, to build up well-knit and well-organised smaller realms. In this some of them succeeded but too well; and by about 1475 Europe was again divided into two groups,—but groups of a character totally different from the medieval classification. | https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Page:Cambridge_Modern_History_Volume_1.djvu/377 |
Surveillance video released Monday shows the moment a slow moving car plowed into a Walmart store in Wayne, West Virginia after a pair of dogs accidentally put the running car in motion.
READ MORE: Firefighters smash window to rescue toddler from hot car in Edmonton
The woman who owned the car went into the store to shop Friday and left her car running with the A/C on so her dogs would stay cool.
But as the woman was inside the store, the dogs somehow managed to put the car in gear, sending it creeping towards the store entrance.
Video shows other shoppers swarm the car only to discover the dogs behind the wheel.
“Dogs can be your best friend,” shopper Ryan Estep told WSAZ. “In this situation they can be your enemy too.”
One witness reported seeing one of the dogs roll down the window after the crash.
Other shoppers could not help but make light of the accident.
“Next thing you know you’re gonna see them shopping or something,” said onlooker Tiffany Bowen.
READ MORE: Dogs recovering after left on hot tar roof that was ‘bubbling, boiling’
Experts recommended pet owners leave their animals at home when they go shopping.
“We definitely don’t want you to leave your pet in a car if it’s not running, and apparently if the car is running, that’s not a good idea either,” said Amanda Clark, who co-owns a pet training centre across from where the Walmart.
Police responded to the accident, but no official report was filed.
The crash caused minimal damage to the vehicle and the store, and the woman was able to drive home. | https://globalnews.ca/news/2860351/caught-on-camera-dogs-crash-car-into-walmart-after-owner-leaves-vehicle-running/ |
Continued growth of tourism has led to concerns about direct and indirect impacts on the ecology of coral reefs and ultimate sustainability of these environments under such pressure. This research assessed impacts of reef walking by tourists on a relatively pristine reef flat community associated with an 'ecoresort' on the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Heavily walked areas had lower abundances of live hard coral but greater amounts of dead coral and sediment. Abundances of macroalgae were not affected between sites. Coral-associated butterflyfish were less abundant and less diverse in more trampled sites. A manipulative experiment showed handling holothurians on reef walks had lasting negative impacts. This is the first study to show potential impacts of such handling on holothurians. Ecological impacts of reef walking are weighed against sociocultural benefits of a first hand experience in nature. | https://researchers.mq.edu.au/en/publications/ecological-impacts-and-management-implications-of-reef-walking-on |
Burak is mostly Introverted.
Introverted individuals prefer solitary activities and get exhausted by social interaction. They tend to be quite sensitive to external stimulation (e.g. sound, sight or smell) in general. Read more
Burak is mostly Intuitive.
Intuitive individuals are very imaginative, open-minded and curious. They prefer novelty over stability and focus on hidden meanings and future possibilities. Read more
Burak is mostly Feeling.
Feeling individuals are sensitive and emotionally expressive. They are more empathic and less competitive than Thinking types, and focus on social harmony and cooperation. Read more
Burak is mostly Judging.
Judging individuals are decisive, thorough and highly organized. They value clarity, predictability and closure, preferring structure and planning to spontaneity. Read more
Burak is mostly Turbulent. | https://www.16personalities.com/profiles/19ea956f7d530 |
This article is part of the Twingate Infosec Compliance Series. Written for IT admins, security ops, and anyone else tasked with implementing infosec requirements imposed by compliance standards, this series explains common standards, how they relate to information security, and how to get started with attaining compliance.
It can be imposing to embark on the compliance process for a new standard - particularly if you haven’t had prior experience with it before. Fortunately, although compliance standards vary significantly in content, the approach to tackling each one is actually very similar. The compliance process can be viewed as comprising three main components:
- Attaining Compliance: Bringing the organization up to speed and meeting all of the requirements for the first time.
- Maintaining Compliance: Compliance is almost never a “one and done” event. Compliance is an ongoing process that needs to be sustained indefinitely, and determining how to efficiently maintain compliance year in, year out is important.
- Demonstrating Compliance (or Ascertaining Compliance, if you want to make it rhyme!): In addition to simply doing what a compliance standard says, you will often need to create evidence of your compliance, such as by preparing documentation. For example, some standards are certified, meaning that they are only issued after a third party auditor has been able to verify your compliance.
1. Attaining Compliance
Initially attaining compliance is typically the most intensive stage of any compliance program.
Start with Project Management
Compliance standards usually contain a laundry list of requirements, so the first step from an infosec perspective is to identify all the infosec requirements in that list. You should compile them into its own list so you can review and track them individually. During that review, you should assign each requirement to a directly responsible individual (DRI) who is tasked with ensuring the requirement is met, and for reporting progress towards satisfying the requirement. Even if you think you have already met a requirement, a DRI should still be assigned to confirm that is the case.
While implementing each of those requirements is the bulk of the work, project management is a critical part of ensuring success. Project management is a discipline that others are more qualified to write about, but suffice to say, organizations should appoint a project manager (or a PM team) who is responsible for tracking the overall status of the project, identifying roadblocks, escalating decisions when needed, etc. Tasks are frequently cross-functional, so project managers are important for facilitating communications between teams to ensure everyone is on the same page.
If a compliance standard isn’t exclusively about infosec, another team may be responsible for project managing compliance and will delegate the infosec requirements to you. You may, in turn, decide to have your own project manager for those requirements.
A wide variety of tools and frameworks exist to help with managing compliance projects. You may also want to consider retaining a consultant familiar with the compliance standard to act as a project manager.
Implementing Requirements
Security requirements can generally be grouped into physical, organizational/administrative and technical requirements that variously involve:
- Procuring and deploying new technology systems or reconfiguring existing systems (for example, setting up an intrusion detection system, or hardening a server)
- Developing new, or editing existing, processes, policies and documentation (for example, establishing a formal written approval process for granting systems access to new employees)
- Disseminating new policies and processes throughout an organization (including providing training to affected teams)
Most infosec compliance standards aren’t super prescriptive when it comes to implementation, and they leave the exact details up to the organization. This means that there’s flexibility to select a solution based on the organization’s profile and resourcing constraints. A typical goal here is to seek the most efficient solution, while also keeping in mind future scaling needs. Sometimes the most efficient short-term solution will be a manual one, but they tend not to scale well. As an IT professional, you’ll be best placed to judge what approach makes the most sense for your organization.
For example, a common infosec requirement relates to having an offboarding process to ensure that systems access for departing employees is revoked. This can be achieved by having a manual process where you maintain a list of systems to manually review each time an employee is offboarding, disabling the employee’s account wherever it exists. This process may work initially, but maintaining the list will become challenging, and reviewing each system on the list will become more time consuming and error prone as time progresses. With a little additional upfront investment, you can implement a system like Twingate that avoids the need to maintain a separate list of systems and enables offboarding from most or all systems with just a few clicks (or even programmatically through an API). Organizations will need to assess when it’s the right time to invest in scalable solutions.
Should You Get Outside Help?
It can make sense for companies with resource constraints or tight deadlines to hire a security consultant or firm to help. If you don’t have prior experience with a compliance standard, they can help you get oriented quicker. The experience that consultants gain from working with multiple clients also allows them to advise on the different approaches to implementing requirements that your peer companies take, and to recommend technology or services in the market that may be helpful. Make sure you define a scope of work that gets you the best bang for your buck. Consultants can help with a little (being available to answer questions on an ad hoc basis) or a lot (project management plus implementation).
An example of an area where a consultant can be particularly helpful is documenting security policies and procedures. This can be a very time consuming task, even if you are starting with templates, such as those from the SANS Institute. Having someone who comes in and takes care of interviewing your team and getting your policies down on paper for the first time can alleviate much of your workload. (Stay tuned for our forthcoming article about our SOC 2 audit process and the tools we used to help us get ready for it.)
2. Maintaining Compliance
Attaining compliance is a major step, but it is only the first step. Compliance is an ongoing process that needs to be sustained over the long term. Some ongoing compliance requirements are event-driven (e.g. in response to a security incident or hiring of an employee) and some follow a regular schedule (e.g. quarterly reviews of security policies or conducting annual training).
Ensuring compliance obligations continue to be met over time requires establishing operational processes supported by tools and systems that help to ensure the processes are actually carried out as intended. For example, scheduling reminders, or having automated systems that monitor activity and send out alerts when certain events occur so that further action can be taken. As mentioned above, investment into better systems and automation can make compliance easier as an organization grows in size and complexity, and prevent you from falling out of compliance.
3. Demonstrating Compliance
Many modern compliance standards not only require compliance, but they require organizations to be able to demonstrate or prove that they are in compliance.
Sometimes this is because the standard requires certification by a third party who must be able to verify compliance based on evidence. For example, a SOC 2 Type 2 report requires an independent auditor to verify that security controls have been attained and maintained over a defined period of time, and the auditor will request evidence (e.g. screenshots and written records) to do so.
Even if a compliance standard doesn’t require any formal certification (or is a self-certification standard), organizations may sometimes choose to voluntarily retain a third party auditor or consultant to review or double check their compliance and publish an unofficial compliance report which can be used to build trust with customers and partners.
Other times, the compliance standard itself requires compliance to be documented. For example, Article 5 of the GDPR contains an “accountability principle” that requires organizations to not only be responsible for compliance, but to “be able to demonstrate compliance with” its requirements.
Therefore, organizations should build into their compliance activities rigorous documentation and record keeping procedures, and ensure that those records are kept up to date.
How Twingate Helps with Infosec Compliance
Access controls are a cornerstone of all security compliance programs. When it comes to ensuring that the right people have access to the right systems and data, in the right context, Twingate makes attaining, maintaining and demonstrating compliance simple:
Attaining Compliance. Twingate makes attaining compliance easy by:
- Enabling access controls for all types of IT assets: Twingate allows Zero Trust-based access controls to be applied to all types of resources, including private apps, data, servers, and networks (whether on-prem or cloud-based) and public SaaS apps.
- Making deployment painless: IT teams have enough on their plates without having to worry about managing an intensive project to deploy a new system. Twingate can be deployed in 15 minutes without any changes to network infrastructure required. End users can self-onboard without any configuration or tech support needed.
- Least privilege access by default: Least privilege access is a security best practice and Twingate makes implementing it a reality. Twingate allows access to be assigned granularly at the user and application level.
- Identity provider integration: Leverage your existing IdP and apply SSO and MFA to any private app, service, or other resource.
- Supporting modern workforces: With remote work, independent contractors, and cloud-based resources becoming more prevalent, Twingate’s zero trust access model adapts to today’s dynamic work environment by tying access to user and device identities - not context-poor IP addresses.
Maintaining Compliance. Twingate makes maintaining compliance easier as well:
- Centralized access control: Manage access controls to any app across your entire organization from a single administrative console, instead of multiple app-specific ones. Twingate also makes periodic access reviews straightforward since you only need to review one system.
- Easy onboarding/offboarding: Twingate provides a single point of management, making onboarding and offboarding users a snap. The Twingate API also lets you automate access provisioning and deprovisioning tasks to further reduce workloads.
- Scaling: Have a growing organization? Adding more users is easy. And because Twingate takes care of scaling for you, you don’t have to worry about performance issues or outgrowing the solution.
Demonstrating Compliance. Twingate helps third parties determine whether you comply with access control requirements with less effort on your part:
- Enterprise-wide network visibility: Because Twingate manages access across the entire enterprise, our logging and analytics functionality provides you with enterprise-wide visibility, helping you detect and respond to anomalous events, and giving you insight into access patterns to help you refine your access policies.
- Single source of truth: Auditors only need to inspect a single system to understand who has access to what.
Contact us to learn more about how Twingate can lighten your security compliance workload. | https://www.twingate.com/blog/infosec-compliance-in-3-simple-steps/ |
This 'maa'' hanging is dyed using the mordant and resist dyeing technique on cotton tabby weave cloth. It features a motif of short blue lines with red dots.Mordant-dyeing describes a process of using a mordant as a fixing agent to bond the dye to the cloth. Resist-dyeing uses either molten wax or moist mud as resists to prevent the dye from colouring those areas. These two techniques may be used separately or in combination during the dyeing process. Large quantities of Indian textiles produced in various centres in Gujarat, the Deccan and Coromandel Coast were traded across Southeast Asia until the end of the 19th century. Among their functions, they served as attire for royalty and as diplomatic gifts, as displays on festive occasions, and as clothing for the populace at rites of passage and other ceremonies. These trade cloths had a strong influence on the development of Southeast Asia textiles as it is thought local makers began producing cloth, possibly borrowing patterns and motifs from earlier Indian examples, to make up for the shortage of the Indian ones that began to decline in numbers. | https://roots.sg/Roots/learn/collections/listing/1006082 |
Cyrilia Lopez is a multi-genre bending, singer-songwriter and performer from Trinidad-Tobago whose voice channels the multi-cultural history of her homeland: Indian, Spanish, African, British, Chinese, and French. Like many of her musical heroes, such as Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey, Cyrilia’s musical beginnings originate with the spirituals and gospel music she learned in church as a child, and her vocal delivery effortlessly blends the pristine phrasing of her heroes as well as the rhythmic calypso and melodic gumbo of Trinidad-Tobago. The sonic textures of her songs explore the emotional tapestry of our daily lives: introverted and extroverted, love and bitterness, compassion and greed, vulnerability and bravery, yet they are infused with momentum, shine like sunlight after rain, and defiantly speak truth to power with authenticity while celebrating the sweetness of life despite trauma and adversity. Since 2015, Cyrilia has been based in Asia, first in Beijing, China and later in Busan, South Korea, where she now resides. She has been steadily composing, performing, connecting with diverse audiences and furthering her musical career. Her first single, “Are You the One for Me” was released in 2019 on her EP “This is Me”. Her latest single, “Angels Singing,” a song dedicated to inspiring women to positively embrace their sexuality, was released in May of 2020, and her next single “So Empty” will scintillate the airwaves on September 21, 2020. Cyrilia Lopez has survived troubled waters and has arrived boldly into our collective now. She is here to stay, determined to sing from her heart until it runs out of beats.
There are a lot of terms used to explain the talent of a woman like Cyrilia Lopez that have been used across the ages. Jack of all trades. Renaissance woman. But whatever term you choose to go with, one thing is equal across all of them; this woman is super talented. And on her latest single, Angels Singing, she seeks to bring that talent to bear lending her powerful voice and unique sound .
To date, Cyrilia Lopez may be one of the most underrated artists and multitaskers on the market today. With a background so multicultural and diverse i believe she will be able to attract more fans in Britain and worldwide.
The production is apparent from front and center, crafting a space that is warm and organic, packed with earnest handclaps and toasty tones that accent Cyrilia Lopez’s buoyantly nuanced vocals that deliver the wholesome, engaging lyrics with ease on opener.
It’s rich, flowing, and engaging through and through and sets the table perfectly for the subtle beauty of her music.
We caught up with Cyrilia Lopez for a short quick fire round interview.
What inspired you to get into music?
Music become a source survival so I dealt with the pains of my childhood and I saw that I was able to eat, as a child when I saw the neighbours would give me food.
How would you describe your music?
Without boundary ,authentic and soulful and live . I live for life performances.
What would you say is your recording and song writing style?
I write from my experiences often when you hear a song from me. The lyrics are a reflection of things that I’ve experienced.
Where would you like to see your music career in 5 years time?
In five years time I would hope to still be making good music my voice works that’s the least I ask for. I hold onto the thought if at least my music reaches one person that’s enough to change the world. | https://www.camdenmonthly.com/multi-genre-singer-songwriter-cyrilia-lopez-talks-new-music/ |
Wang Fuman became known as "Frost Boy" after a photo of him, his hair encrusted with ice after his hour-long walk to school last winter, went viral and stirred a debate about poverty in China.
By
ÉloiLaurent
PARIS (Project Syndicate) — Forty years ago, on Dec. 29, 1978, the 11th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China released the official communiqué from its third plenary session, launching the greatest economic-growth experiment in human history. In newspeak understandable to CPC insiders, the country’s leaders, channeling the wishes of Deng Xiaoping, announced a series of unprecedented “modernizations” that would transform one of the world’s least developed countries into a leading economic power.
In 2014, China overtook the United States as the world’s largest economy (based on purchasing power parity). Its per-capita GDP, 40 times lower than that of the United States in 1980, has grown by a factor of 58, and is now just 3.4 times lower (according to IMF data). In effect, around 15% of humanity has experienced 10% average income growth every year for four decades.
Given the pace of China’s economic growth since 1978, its experience refutes this claim more powerfully than any other case.
One of the world’s most unequal countries
China, after all, is now one of the world’s most unequal countries. For the last 10 years, its Gini coefficient has hovered around 0.5, up from around 0.3 in 1980 (a coefficient of 1 means a single individual owns everything). In fact, the relationship between growth and inequality over time has followed a peculiar pattern: China’s Gini coefficient has increased with growth, and decreased when growth has slowed.
Moreover, according to data from the World Inequality Database, the share of China’s national income accruing to the richest 10% increased from 27% to 41% between 1978 and 2015, and doubled for the top 1%. At the same time, the share of national income going to the poorest 50% fell from 26% to 14%. These data are consistent with other sources showing that while per-capita GDP grew by a factor of 14 between 1990 and 2010, the top quintile’s share of national income increased at the expense of the bottom four.
Given such progress, one might think the Chinese have also grown happier. But the opposite seems to be true. In a chapter for the 2017 World Happiness Report, Richard A. Easterlin, Fei Wang, and Shun Wang make a convincing case that while China’s GDP has skyrocketed, its citizens’ reported subjective well-being has declined, especially among poorer and older cohorts. Even more surprising, though Chinese subjective well-being remains below its 1990 level, it actually ticked up over the past decade, when growth was slower than in the 1990-2005 period.
Capitalism with Chinese characteristics implies the presence of a strong state in all areas of national life. While the technocracy facilitates economic expansion, the state’s massive security apparatus muzzles civil liberties and political rights. Rather than becoming more democratic, China became a pioneer of the kind of authoritarian neoliberalism now seen in Turkey, Brazil, Hungary, India, and elsewhere.
Recent data show that China is now the largest extractor of natural resources in a global economy that is becoming ever more resource-intensive. In 2010, China represented 14% of global GDP, but consumed 17% of all biomass, 29% of fossil fuels, and 44% of metal ores. Its domestic consumption of all natural resources now accounts for one-third of the global total, compared to just one-quarter for all developed countries.
Moreover, China now contributes 28% of global carbon-dioxide emissions — twice as much as the U.S., three times more than the European Union, and four times more than India. Between 1978 and 2016, China’s annual CO2 emissions grew from 1.5 billion tons to 10 billion tons, and from 1.8 tons to 7.2 tons in per-capita terms, compared to the world average of 4.2 tons.
At the CPC’s 19th National Congress in October 2017, Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke of a fundamental “contradiction between unbalanced and inadequate development and the people’s ever-growing needs for a better life.” China, he confirmed, was committed to the transition to “ecological civilization” begun by the 13th Five-Year Plan in 2016. Apparently, the greatest episode of economic growth in human history has ended.
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Gym members who rode from Hucknall to Skegness raise more than £3,000 for City Hospital
A team of cyclists from a Hucknall gym has raised £3,674 for the haematology ward at Nottingham’s City Hospital after riding from the town to Skegness last month.
And although one of their party suffered a broken arm after falling off in a crash, everyone else came through unscathed and exhilarated by the experience.
Jenny Walter, gym manager, said: “Once the final total was in, we handed the cheque over to the Nottingham University Hospitals charity on September 11.
“The lady rider who broke her elbow is now recovering after having an operation, which included plates and pins.
Jenny says they are now looking at making the ride a regular event so they can raise money for different charities each year. | https://www.hucknalldispatch.co.uk/news/people/gym-members-who-rode-from-hucknall-to-skegness-raise-more-than-ps3000-for-city-hospital-3381318 |
Campus El Sabio has a total of 100 rooms to include single, twin (double), triple and quadruple rooms, providing accommodation for a total of 300 people.
All rooms contain the following:
- Air conditioning
- Central heating
- Private bathroom with shower
- Study area
- Two closets
- A double desk with chairs
- A single bed
Each floor is accessible by elevator, and some rooms are adapted for people with physical disabilities.
All room rates include wireless internet, library, swimming pool and gym access.
All prices included VAT. | https://campuselsabio.com/accommodation/ |
Our take —
This retrospective cohort study amongst child and adult inpatients at a hospital in Milan reports a higher proportion of asymptomatic infections in adults than in children. The study suggests that children are less likely to be asymptomatically infected, however the limited sample size, older age of adults (median 77 years), and single facility, provide insufficient evidence to conclude that children are at a higher risk of carrying SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatically than adults.
Study design
Retrospective Cohort
Study population and setting
The study included patients requiring hospitalization for noninfectious conditions after accessing the emergency department at the Fondazione Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico in Milan, Italy from March 1 to April 30, 2020. Subjects must have had two nasopharyngeal swabs and no symptoms nor history of COVID-19, nor known close contact with any COVID-19 cases. 83 children (34 girls and 49 boys; median age, 5.3 years [1.1-11.0] ) were included, as well as 131 adults (51 women and 80 men; median age, 77 years [57-84] ). The study retrospectively recorded data on age, sex, reason for admission, and development of any SARS-CoV-2 signs of infection within 48 hours of admission. A comparison of proportions between the pediatric and adult cohorts was made with the 2-tailed Fisher test.
Summary of Main Findings
Asymptomatic children were found to be less frequently SARS-CoV-2 positive than asymptomatic adults (1 in 83 children [1.2%] vs 12 in 131 adults [9.2%]; P = .02), with an odds ratio of 0.12 (95% CI, 0.02-0.95) compared with adults. None of the subjects developed signs or symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the 48 hours following admission. The study does not support the hypothesis that children are at higher risk of carrying SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatically than adults and suggests reconsidering their role as facilitators of the spreading of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Study Strengths
The retrospective design ensures complete data on all subjects and enables rapid turnaround of results. The simple study design facilitates repetition at other locations.
Limitations
The study had a limited sample size, only included cases requiring hospitalization, and only included a single medical facility. The testing protocol was not specified (particularly, cycles of PCR) which affects comparability. The older age of adult study participants also limits comparability and fails to capture the asymptomatic prevalence of young and middle aged adults. A community based study would yield stronger conclusions.
Value added
This study adds to the limited data available on SARS-CoV-2 among children and counters the hypothesis that children are at higher risk of carrying SARS-CoV-2 asymptomatically than adults. | https://ncrc.jhsph.edu/research/age-specific-sars-cov-2-infection-fatality-ratio-and-associated-risk-factors-italy-february-to-april-2020/ |
ISMIR-2018 will take place in several places in Paris.
Paris is the capital and most populous city of France. Situated on the river Seine in the north of the country, it is in the center of the Île-de-France region, also known as the région parisienne, "Paris Region". It is the home of the most visited art museum in the world, the Louvre, as well as the Musée d'Orsay, noted for its collection of French Impressionist art, and the Musée National d'Art Moderne, a museum of modern and contemporary art. The notable architectural landmarks of Paris include Notre Dame Cathedral (12th century); the Sainte-Chapelle (13th century); the Eiffel Tower (1889); and the Basilica of Sacré-Cœur on Montmartre (1914). In 2014 Paris received 22.4 million visitors, making it one of the world's top tourist destinations. Paris is also known for its fashion, particularly the twice-yearly Paris Fashion Week, and for its haute cuisine, and three-star restaurants. Most of France's major universities and grandes écoles are located in Paris
Check here the monuments you can visit in Paris.
Check the museums and other places to visit here. | http://ismir2018.ircam.fr/pages/participants-venue.html |
Job Description :
- 1+ years of experience in Business Development
- Experience in Mobile Technology, Internet Marketing, and Web Portal
- Do Internet Research and Data mining
- Keep prospective client database updated
- Build contacts with potential clients to create new business opportunities
- Good knowledge of Social Portal for lead generation(twitter, FB, LinkedIn, etc)
- Need to communicate with international clients (US/UK/Europe/Asia) via Skype, GoToMeeting, Whatsapp. Required good communication skills, and should have knowledge about US geography
- Validating business proposal with BA, and justification & negotiation with the client
- Arrange meetings for senior management with prospective clients
- Maintain knowledge of all product and service offerings of the company
- Follow company guidelines and procedures for the acquisition of customers, submission of tenders, etc
- Willingness to work odd hours to serve customers in their business time zones.
- Good PR and relationship building skills.
Competency skills required :
- Must possess strong customer service skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication
- Must have good negotiation skills
- Must be able to create good presentations
- Must have excellent interpersonal skills
- Must be detail-oriented and an active listener
- Ability to work under pressure
Impress this employer describing Your skills and abilities, fill out the form below and leave Your personal touch in the presentation letter. | https://www.kitjob.in/job/20487608/brainvire-infotech-executive-business-development-1-4-yrs-ahmedabad-gujarat-it-sales-marketing-tc-547-ahmadabad/ |
It’s an extremely improbable finding, which took researchers by surprise.
Some 115 million years ago, this mushroom began an improbable journey: from a lagoon on the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, it fell into a river, traveled around for a bit, and then got stuck in sediment, becoming a mineralized fossil preserved in the limestone in northeast Brazil, before being ultimately discovered by paleontologists and identified by a University of Illinois researcher.
Fungi are ecologically diverse, geographically widespread, organisms, but their fossil record is quite scarce — for a pretty straightforward reason. In order for anything to become fossilized, very specific conditions need to be achieved. Fungi are also soft, don’t have any bones or hard parts, so the fossilizing conditions are even more specific and rare.
“Most mushrooms grow and are gone within a few days,” said Illinois Natural History Survey paleontologist Sam Heads, who discovered the mushroom when digitizing a collection of fossils from the Crato Formation of Brazil. “The fact that this mushroom was preserved at all is just astonishing. When you think about it, the chances of this thing being here – the hurdles it had to overcome to get from where it was growing into the lagoon, be mineralized and preserved for 115 million years – have to be minuscule,” he said.
Before this discovery, the oldest mushroom fossil had been preserved in amber and had been discovered by Illinois Natural History Survey (INHS) mycologist Andrew Miller, who is also a co-author of the new report. Miller says that finding mineralized fossils of mushrooms is even rare than finding them in amber. In fact, this is the first mushroom mineralized fossil ever found — and just ten had been found in total before. Before, the all unique amber inclusions ranging from mid-Cretaceous (90 million years) to Early Miocene in age (22 million years).
“They were enveloped by a sticky tree resin and preserved as the resin fossilized, forming amber,” Heads said. “This is a much more likely scenario for the preservation of a mushroom, since resin falling from a tree directly onto the forest floor could readily preserve specimens. This certainly seems to have been the case, given the mushroom fossil record to date.”
The mushroom itself was pretty small, measuring about 5 centimeters (2 inches) tall. Paleontologists have studied it using electron microscopy and found that it had gills under its cap, technically called lamella. Gills are used by mushrooms to disperse spores and can be used to identify species.
The team named it Gondwanagaricites magnificus, a combination of Gondwana, the ancient supercontinent, the Greek word agarikon, “a mushroom.” The “ites” suffix indicates a fossil. There’s still much we don’t know about the evolution of mushrooms, particularly because the fossil record is so scarce; so this significantly pushes the boundary of our knowledge. | https://www.zmescience.com/science/news-science/mushroom-fossil-08062017/ |
Agape Community Center (ACC) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization which provides holistic social services and programs to all ages within the community.
ACC is an association of Golden Gate Christian Church (GGCC), which has been serving the community in the Richmond District of San Francisco for many years through its adult and children programs. ACC is registered as a non-profit organization formed in the Fall of 2002. A spectacular kick-off event for ACC called Holiday Fest was commenced in November 2002. Holiday Fest included a series of activities and workshops related to Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year celebrations: Cooking, Baking, Floral Arrangement, Beauty Care, Arts and Crafts, and Ballroom Dancing.
Currently, the Adult Program includes English classes, Tai-chi, Ballroom Dancing, Cooking, Health Exercise and a Senior Morning Tea Program. Special Events include computer workshops, health workshops and outdoor outings. The Children Programs are the Toddler Program and the Agapeland Summer Program. | https://accsf.org/about/ |
Cash rewards to employees for participating in wellness programs are taxable. A firm provides benefits under a wellness program at no cost to employees. Participants are able to earn cash awards or gym memberships from the employer. Those perks are taxable wages and subject to payroll taxes. | https://covenant-cpa.com/blog/blog/Benefit-Plants-13356 |
1. Personal data
Personal data is, for example, the name, address, date of birth, telephone number and email address.
Anonymous or anonymised data, by contrast, does not constitute personal data. It is not subject to the scope of data protection regulations. The Company tries to process data in an anonymised form wherever possible. This is carried out, for example, by the acquired data not being collected with your name but under a pseudonym, so that it is not possible to trace it back to a specific or identifiable person.
2. Determining and collecting personal data
The Company does not collect and gather personal data without a reason. In fact, personal data is collected in order to
- make this website as user friendly as possible for you,
- process information requests or complaints quickly,
- respond to service and product enquiries,
- provide information, marketing or newsletter content that is relevant to you,
- allow you to navigate this website,
- handle your job application,
- process orders and
- conduct statistical surveys on the usage of this Website.
The Company collects the personal data used to do this in a variety of ways. Personal data is collected when you notify of the specific personal data directly as part of data acquisition (e.g. form when you register, a product enquiry or subscribe to the newsletter). But personal data is also collected by ‘cookies’ when you navigate onto or through this website. Such data includes the IP address, the type of browser you are using, the language, the login times, the end device used, the data volumes transmitted, the navigation history, and the referrer.
3. Use of personal data
The Company always only uses personal data solely within the scope and on the basis of the applicable data protection regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679, Austria’s Data Protection Amendment Act (DSG 2018) and the Telecommunications Act (TKG 2003), in particular.
The Company only uses personal data if this is covered by the Company’s legal authority in terms of content and purpose of data usage and if your interests requiring protection are not breached. The Company’s legal authority arises on the basis of the granted business licence and the articles of association.
If consent is required, the Company will invite you to give such consent directly when this personal data is collected. The Company will explain to you in advance what types of data are used and for what purposes. Should usage also include transmission to third parties, you will also be informed about the recipients and purpose of the transmission. You will further be advised, once again, about your right to withdraw consent at any time.
The Company also safeguards your interests in secrecy requiring protection in that the Company’s or a third party’s overriding, legitimate interests require the use of your personal data. Your interests in protecting the particular personal data and the interests of the Company or of a third party in using this data will be considered. The interests of the Company or a third party predominate, in particular, if data is required to fulfil a contractual obligation between the Company and you or to assert, exercise or defend the Company’s legal claims.
If the Company has an overriding, legitimate interest in using the data, your personal data will only be used to the extent required to fulfil this particular purpose. For example, personal data that is required to implement the contract will not be used for marketing purposes.
4. Special data collection and use
The Company collects and uses personal data on the website on the following occasions:
- When you sign up to the online shop: If you sign up to the online shop, the following data is collected: First name, second name, company, street, house number, post code, town, country, tax ID number, email address, telephone number. The data is used to give you access to the online shop and, in the event of orders, to process the order. This data is taken into the Company’s ERP system to this end.
- Contact form: We collect the following data for the contact form: Title, first name, surname, email address, telephone number and the information about whether you want to be included on the newsletter’s distribution list. This information is saved on our CRM system and used to be able to process your enquiry or your contact requests.
- Newsletter: There is also an option for ordering the newsletter as part of the contact requests. The following data is collected here: Title, first name, surname, email address, and the information whether you want to be included on the newsletter’s distribution list. This information is saved on our CRM system and used to send you our newsletter.
- Application to a job advertisement or speculative application: The following data is collected when you apply for a position with the Company using the online application form: The position sought (job title), title, name, street, house number, post code, town, your email address, your telephone number, your date of birth, your CV and your school and work references, as well as personal skills to qualify for the position. This data is used to process your application and to contact you on this matter. Should this result in employment, the data will be taken into Company’s personnel records and subsequently used for personnel administration.
The Company also collects personal data using ‘cookies’ (see below). If personal data is entered during one of the aforesaid occasions across more than one webpage, it is cached by a session cookie, so it can be used again when you next visit the webpage.
5. Sharing/transmitting data
Data transmission is forwarding personal data to third parties, who in turn use this data for their own purposes or even use the data for another field of activity within the Company. Data sharing is forwarding personal data to third parties, who use this data on the Company’s behalf for the Company’s purposes.
All personal data is collected, processed and used in accordance with the respective requirements to protect personal data, first and foremost, for the purpose of the services commissioned by you and to process your enquiries.
The Company will never sell, lease or rent out personal data. Your personal data will only be provided to third parties, if and insofar as this is necessary to implement the contract and for information, marketing and newsletter services.
Your data will only be stored in a personalised form, insofar as is necessary for the purposes for which it is processed, and until the end of any guarantee, warranty, limitation and statutory retention periods unless otherwise stipulated in these data protection requirements.
As part of operating our website(s), we commission software service providers and agencies, which may have access to your personal data during the course of their activities. They are obliged in respect to us to adhere to the applicable data protection regulations. Generally, if we have appointed an external service provider to process the data, such service provider will also be obliged to adhere to data protection.
6. Cookies and analysis services
Cookies are tiny text files, which the website operator caches on a storage medium of the end device used by the website user (PC, notebook, tablet and smartphone etc.) using the browser. This information is accessed again during subsequent visits to the website and allows the website to recognise the end device. Both personal and non-personal data can be saved in cookies. User profiles can also be created by setting cookies.
Cookies are used by the Company to organise usage of the website in a more user friendly way, to continually improve performance of the website for you and to learn more about usage of the website. However, this website can also be viewed without cookies. It is possible for all Internet browsers to be set to determine if and what cookies are cached by your browser. The default setting for most browsers accepts all cookies. Adjust the browser settings accordingly should you not want this. To do this, access your browser’s help page and check your browser’s cookie settings.
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Wilhelm Schwarzmüller GmbH
Hanzing 11, 4785 Freinberg,
FN 364874f
Managing Director: Roland Hartwig, Georg Preschern
email: gdprschwarzmuellercom
Tel.: +43 (0)7713 8000
Fax: +43 (0)7713 800 297
Date: May 2018
A) Data processing by means of provision of information by the user
You may contact us via the app in a contact form. This involves sending the following personal data to us: IP, time, operating system, name, e-mail, phone number, free text. These data are transferred to us by the app via our mail sever and are then stored permanently for further communications. Once our service employees retrieve the e-mails, their content is therefore also retrieved by the employee computers and is stored permanently in order to reply to your query.
The legal basis for this is:
- Point (f) of Art. 6(1) GDPR
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Social media links
We integrate links to the social media profiles of the providers of Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. These links do not contain any explicit user-specific data but only the respective profile links of the provider. By clicking on the link, you leave the app and are transferred to the respective social media platform using your smartphone browser.
Third-party content
Map data of Google Maps is integrated into the app via the Google Maps API for the purpose of showing the maps in the menu item “Search Workshop”. After clicking on “Search Workshop”, you may select whether you want to directly enter a specific location or perform an automated location search based on your current location. In both options, personal data of your smartphone such as time, operating system and your current IP address are transmitted to Google to show you an appropriate section of the map.
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The Firebase service provided by Google and Google Analytics for Firebase is used for push notifications. The information generated about the use of the app is sent to a Google server after the IP address was anonymised and will be saved on that server. The function for IP anonymisation in Analytics turns the last eight-bit byte of user IP addresses of the IPv4 type and the last 80 bits of IPv6 addresses in the memory into zeros. Thus, the exact IP address of the user is not stored for Analytics. Google will use this information to evaluate your use of the app in order to prepare reports on activities for the app operators. Google may also transfer this information to third parties. If the user installs the app and allows push notifications, they consent to the processing of the data collected about them by Google in the way and for the purpose indicated above. These user data are the basis for statistical, anonymous evaluations and dashboards prepared by Google.
Since Google is a US company, your personal data may therefore be transferred to the USA under certain circumstances. We do not have any influence on the routing of your personal data. Google LLC is certified within the scope of the agreement between the EU and the US (EU-US Privacy Shield): https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI
The legal basis for this are: | https://www.schwarzmueller.com/en/info-contact/privacy-policy/ |
In this article, we’re going to give you tips to help you navigate interactions with difficult coworkers.
That’s right.
By the end of this post you’re going to learn how to deal with difficult nurses at work. Because let’s be real, we need all the help we can get when it comes to difficult nurse co-workers.
disclosure: some of these links might be affiliate links.
1. Stay Cool and Think of your Personal Brand
“…Since it’s not feasible to quit a job or transfer whenever you run into difficult co-workers (side note you will always have co-workers like this), you must learn how to deal with them…”— Thomas N. Uzuegbunem, BSN, RN
In the heat of our interactions with difficult co-workers, your initial reaction might be to lose your cool.
Not a good idea because you will more likely than not look bad.
Instead, I encourage you to think about your personal brand.
Your personal brand is a reflection of what people think about when your name comes up.
Are people going to think of someone who stayed cool during work adversity or will they think about someone who lost their cool at work?
Long-term the narrative won’t be you yelled or cussed out a coworker who was being very difficult.
It will probably just be you screamed and cussed out a coworker.
Even if you might think it’s warranted very rarely is yelling or “cussing out” a fellow employee a good idea.
It’s not conducive to managing your personal brand.
Like a bully, some people like to get a reaction from others. Be above it!
2. See Who Else is Affected
Are you the only one targeted by this problematic co-worker?
Are other people affected?
If so how long has it been going on?
Knowing these questions will help identify an appropriate approach.
If it impacts multiple people, you might be able to band together and have an intervention or escalate it through the proper chain of command.
The more people voicing disapproval of this employee the more seriously administration will take it, and it would also elicit a quicker response.
3. Confront the Difficult Co-worker
When dealing with difficult co-workers sometimes you must confront them.
Once again, this doesn’t mean start yelling or trying to “cuss somebody out.”
Try to have a calm dialogue with the disgruntled coworker.
If the difficult coworker takes on a less than pleasant attitude you can end the exchange, but you must remain calm.
This difficult coworker might not have known their actions were causing problems for other people.
Everybody goes through hard life circumstances at times, and while it is not an excuse for poor actions/attitudes some people need a reminder because he or she might genuinely not know how his or her actions affect others.
Even if talking to them doesn’t change their actions it could change your perspective about the situation.
4. Kill Them with kindness
When trying to figure out how to deal with difficult co-workers “kill them with kindness” might seem counter-intuitive to what you probably really want to do.
Don’t be a pushover, but it might be best to avoid adding gasoline to the fire.
If you are pleasant and respectful to them, it might inspire some attitude change on their part.
Even if it doesn’t, you should still be cordial and courteous to them.
People will remember how unpleasant the problematic coworker was, but unfortunately, they will also not forget how nasty you were to them.
Amid the difficulty, you want to keep in mind your personal nurse brand you created.
5. Build Rapport
When dealing with difficult co-workers at times it’s because you haven’t built a rapport with them.
Some relationships take time and effort to build.
Engage the difficult co-worker and see if that doesn’t change something.
6. Minimize Interactions
Minimizing interactions won’t work for all difficult nurses especially if you have to be around this individual for your work duties.
If it’s someone you could decrease interactions with you should.
In a practical light, reduce the time you spend in common areas including med rooms and break rooms.
You can even learn their particular schedule and avoid common areas during their usual break time and so on.
If you are in a position where you can delegate tasks that involve that person to someone who can tolerate being around them, even better.
7. Ignore Them
Sometimes minimizing interactions with difficult nurses at work is difficult.
If reducing the interactions doesn’t work or is not possible you might need to ignore them.
It is entirely possible that you have a nurse that for whatever reason (possibly long tenure) is difficult and everyone learns to deal with it.
If the difficulty with the nurse is minor and you can tolerate it, then it might not be a battle worth fighting.
If so, ignore them and try to focus on the more positive aspects of your job.
8. Document the Inappropriate Interactions
If there is a pattern of abusive behavior, you need to keep notes.
Your notes need to include dates, times, locations, and direct quotes if at all possible.
When the time comes to report the person, you want to be detailed and accurate.
It doesn’t have to be long paragraphs but just quick couple sentences or bullet points.
9. Report the difficult nurse using chain-of-command
Ideally, you would hope the conflict with the problematic nurse would resolve itself with time.
That might not be the case.
If the problem with the difficult nurse at work escalates, the next course of action might be to report the nurse using your employer’s chain of command.
You want to make sure that you follow the chain of command as listed in your employee handbook.
10. Seek to transfer or find a new job
If nothing else seems to be working, it might be time to look for a new nursing job so you can quit your current nursing job.
Before doing so make sure that you put in your resignation letter.
Some coworkers complicate a work environment so much that they make it very toxic to be around.
It can get to the point that you start dreading coming to work.
Seeking a transfer or finding a new job is not the first option but its something to consider if you feel anxious every time you go to work.
We spend too much time at work for such an awful feeling, and you don’t want patient care to be affected.
Conclusion
Hopefully, you found some tips you can use at work.
Remember.
Don’t compromise your brand (your reputation) at work for this person.
How have you handled a difficult nurse at your job? | https://nursemoneytalk.com/blog/how-to-deal-with-difficult-nurses-at-work |
.
Jonathan Chung D.C.
Journal of Upper Cervical Chiropractic Research ~ August 31, 2019 ~ Pages 48-55
.
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this report is to describe the positive health outcomes of two patients with persistent post-concussion syndrome presenting to a chiropractic clinic utilizing a low-force upper cervical technique.
Clinical Features: A 16-year old female with vertigo, brain fog, and headaches for 3 months after head trauma from a fall off a horse was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome by a neurologist. A 30-year old female with migraine headache and vertigo following a motor vehicle accident where she struck her head against the steering wheel. Both patients had no previous history of vertigo or headache prior to the described head trauma.
Intervention and Outcomes: Both patients were managed by a medical neurologist and had previously received Diversified-style chiropractic adjustments. At the time of presentation to the upper cervical chiropractor, there was no change in symptoms reported for vertigo or headache. Both patients reported reduction in frequency and intensity of headache and vertigo episodes shortly after beginning upper cervical chiropractic care. At a one-year follow up, the 30-year-old female experienced full resolution of headache and dizziness symptoms while the 16-year-old female experienced a re-occurrence of symptoms that resolved after upper cervical adjustment.
Conclusion: Low-force upper cervical technique to correct atlas subluxation complex may be an effective intervention for patients with post-concussion syndrome of cervicogenic origin. More studies are needed to determine the role of chiropractic in the care of patients with post-concussion syndrome. | https://vertebralsubluxationresearch.com/2019/08/17/improvement-in-post-concussion-syndrome-in-two-females-using-low-force-upper-cervical-chiropractic-care-a-case-series-review-of-the-literature/ |
###### Practice points
- Pilocytic astrocytoma tend to be more aggressive in adults than children with higher recurrence rates.
- No standard of care currently exists for treatment of adult pilocytic astrocytoma (APA).
- APA are highly vascular tumors with high levels of VGEF expression that may be uniquely sensitive to antiangiogenic treatments such as bevacizumab (BEV).
- Antiangiogenic treatment with BEV produced durable clinical and radiographic response in four adults with recurrent APA.
- BEV may have true antitumor activity and survival benefit in APA, unlike in adult high-grade gliomas.
- Multicenter prospective studies are warranted to further assess efficacy of BEV in recurrent APA.
Adult pilocytic astrocytomas (APA) are rare tumors with an incidence of 3.4 per 1 million \[[@B1]\]. These tumors usually arise from deep midline structures as well the brainstem and cerebellum. Juvenile piloytic astrocytomas occurring in children are curable with complete surgical resection \[[@B2]\]. Very few studies have prospectively investigated pilocytic astrocytomas in adults, but some retrospective studies and anecdotal reports suggest that APAs have a more aggressive clinical course when compared with Juvenile piloytic astrocytomas, with a higher incidence of tumor recurrence and progression \[[@B3]\]. Recurrence rates for APA have been reported as high as 30--42% \[[@B4]\]. Currently, no standard of care exists for treatment of APA, especially following recurrence.
Bevacizumab (BEV) is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against VEGF. The blocking of VEGF pathways has been demonstrated to decrease the permeability of vasculature and decrease perilesional edema in glioblastoma \[[@B5]\]. Several studies have shown no overall survival benefit with BEV in glioblastoma \[[@B6],[@B7]\], although antiangiogenic treatment alone has not been studied in APA. One case series demonstrated clinical and radiographic improvement with the combination of BEV and temozolomide (TMZ) \[[@B8]\]. TMZ is an alkylating chemotherapeutic agent that penetrates the blood--brain barrier and is currently approved for treatment of malignant glioma \[[@B9]\]. APA are known to be highly vascular tumors with high levels of transcription and expression of VEGF and its receptors \[[@B10]\]. Given their vascularity, we hypothesized that APA may be uniquely responsive to treatments that block VEGF such as BEV.
Case series {#S0001}
===========
We present a series of four consecutive adult patients with pathologically diagnosed WHO grade I pilocytic astrocytoma who had a robust and durable response to BEV at time of recurrence. The median age at diagnosis was 34 years (range: 23--66). Three tumors were located infratentorially (cerebellum, tectum and brainstem) and one in the lateral ventricle. Two patients underwent a partial resection, one a near total resection and one patient underwent biopsy only. Two patients developed hydrocephalus requiring placement of ventricular shunts. *BRAF v600E* mutation and *IDH* mutation were absent in all patients. Ki-67 proliferation index was 5--9%. Initial treatment was radiation alone in three patients and concurrent radiation and TMZ in one patient ([Table 1](#T1){ref-type="table"}).
###### **Patient characteristics.**
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
**Characteristics** **Patient 1** **Patient 2** **Patient 3** **Patient 4**
-------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
Age at diagnosis (years) 66 43 25 23
Tumor location Cerebellar vermis Lateral ventricle Tectum, thalamus Brainstem
Degree of surgical resection Partial Near total Biopsy Partial
Pathology Atypical pilocytic astrocytoma, WHO grade I Pilocytic astrocytoma, WHO grade I Pilocytic astrocytoma, WHO grade I Pilocytic astrocytoma, WHO grade I
**Immunochemical tumor features**
*BRAF* mutation Negative Negative Negative Negative
*IDH* mutation Negative Negative Negative Negative
Ki-67 proliferation index (%) 9 3 7 5
Initial treatment Radiation\ Radiation\ Radiation\ Radiation\
Concurrent TMZ Adjuvant TMZ Steroids Steroids
Time from diagnosis to recurrence (months) 4 7 10 11^†^
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
^†^Patient 4 did not clearly meet RANO criteria for tumor recurrence, but experienced persistent debilitating symptoms with no reduction in tumor size after first line treatment.
RANO: Response assessment in neuro-oncology; TMZ: Temozolomide.
Patient 1 {#S0002}
---------
A 66-year-old man presented with gait instability, vertigo, nausea and cognitive decline. Brain MRI showed a contrast enhancing cerebellar vermian lesion with mass effect on the fourth ventricle and obstructive hydrocephalus. He underwent a partial tumor resection with persistent diplopia postoperatively. Pathology was consistent with a pilocytic astrocytoma with atypical features and detection of *KIAA1549-BRAF* fusion. His MGMT promoter methylation status was indeterminate. He underwent treatment with concurrent radiation and TMZ. His course was complicated by a pseudomeningocele and required placement of a ventricular shunt. 4 months later, MRI brain with gadolinium showed a significant increase in APA contrast enhancement and a new region of nodularity. Given his worsening symptoms and performance status he was not a candidate for surgical re-resection.
Patient 2 {#S0003}
---------
A 43-year-old man presented with bilateral progressive hearing loss, tinnitus and headaches. Brain MRI showed a contrast-enhancing mass within the frontal horn of the right lateral ventricle with mild hydrocephalus. He underwent a near total resection of the mass without complications. Pathology was consistent with a pilocytic astrocytoma. He underwent radiation therapy alone. Repeat brain MRI with gadolinium seven months later showed significant interval increase of tumor enhancement, as well as new, irregular enhancing ependymal foci. He was then started on treatment with TMZ, which was complicated by thrombocytopenia.
Patient 3 {#S0004}
---------
A 25-year-old female presented with new onset headaches, nausea, emesis and left-sided numbness. Brain MRI demonstrated a contrast enhancing right dorsolateral tectal mass involving the right thalamus with moderate compression of the brainstem and acute obstructive hydrocephalus. A ventricular shunt was successfully placed to alleviate the hydrocephalus. She underwent biopsy of the tumor and pathology was consistent with pilocytic astrocytoma. Given the tumor location she was not a candidate for resection and was initially treated with 6 weeks of radiation therapy and steroids. 10 months later she developed diplopia, ptosis and worsening headaches, which were refractory to steroid therapy. MRI brain with gadolinium at that time showed increased contrast enhancement and tumor extension.
Patient 4 {#S0005}
---------
A 23-year-old female presented with new onset headaches in the setting of pregnancy. MRI of the brain revealed a contrast enhancing anterior brainstem mass with surrounding vasogenic edema and an ependymal nodule lining the fourth ventricle. She underwent partial surgical resection without complications. Pathology was consistent with pilocytic astrocytoma. She underwent radiation therapy and was treated with multiple courses of steroids. Her course was complicated by multiple bi-hemisphreic infarcts as well as complications of prolonged steroid use including Cushing syndrome and thoracic compression fractures. She was unable to successfully taper off of steroids due to mass effect and recurrence of neurologic symptoms. Contrasted MRI brain eleven months following diagnosis showed persistent tumor enhancement and mass effect.
Diagnosis/assessment {#S0006}
====================
Patients 1, 2 and 3 developed radiographic changes on MRI, including disease outside the radiation field, that were consistent with progressive disease based on Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria ([Figure 1](#F0001){ref-type="fig"}) \[[@B11]\]. Patient 4 had persistent contrast enhancement of her tumor and increased perilesional edema on follow-up MRI brain, despite prior radiation. The median time to recurrence was 8.5 months (range: 4--10 months).
{#F0001}
Treatment/management {#S0007}
====================
All patients were treated with BEV 10 mg/kg every 14 days for six cycles at the time of recurrence. Treatment with BEV was well tolerated and no patients experienced adverse effects. One patient also received adjuvant TMZ. Following treatment with BEV, steroids were able to be weaned and discontinued in all patients.
Outcome/implications {#S0008}
====================
At the end of treatment with BEV, all patients had achieved a significant clinical and radiographic response. MRI brain obtained after six cycles of BEV showed significant decrease or resolution of tumor contrast enhancement in all patients. All patients experienced a significant reduction in tumor size following BEV on follow-up brain MRI. Patients 1 and 3 experienced complete responses, with no radiographic evidence of tumor visualized on follow-up MRI. The median follow-up time after treatment with BEV is 22 months (range: 7--37). As of their last follow-up visit, no patient has recurred.
Discussion/conclusion {#S0009}
=====================
Although, BEV has failed to demonstrate an overall survival benefit to date in adult gliomas, it has been shown to prolong progression-free survival in glioblastoma \[[@B12]\]. This series suggests that BEV may have true antitumor activity in APA, improving both progression free and overall survival. Recurrence in APA in this series is consistent with previous reports. Sustained decrease in tumor size and contrast enhancement following BEV, suggest that it may be an important agent to achieve durable disease control. The imaging findings may have also had a component of radiation necrosis, which can spontaneously resolve. We believe that BEV at a minimum helped to hasten this response in addition to treatment of tumors outside of the radiation field. The unique features of APA including hyaline vessels and vascular proliferation may be affected by antiangiogenic treatment, resulting in decreased vascular permeability and proliferation and overall tumor reduction \[[@B13]\].
To date, there are no prospective studies evaluating the use of antiangiogenic treatments in pilocytic astrocytoma. This case series suggests that targeting angiogenesis may be a novel therapeutic approach in APA. Given the low incidence of this tumor, future multicenter studies to further assess efficacy are warranted.
**Financial & competing interests disclosure**
The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.
No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.
**Informed consent disclosure**
The authors state that they have obtained verbal and written informed consent from the patient/patients for the inclusion of their medical and treatment history within this case report.
**Open access**
This work is licensed under the Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 Unported License. To view a copy of this license, visit <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/>
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