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Washington, Dec 11 (IANS) NASA’s first spacecraft sent to collect sample from an asteroid has found water locked inside asteroid Bennu — a remnant from early in the formation of the solar system.
Launched in September 2016, the Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security-Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission will help scientists investigate how planets formed and how life began, as well as improve our understanding of asteroids that could impact Earth.
Spectral observations made by the spacecraft’s two spectrometers, the OSIRIS-REx Visible and Infrared Spectrometer (OVIRS) and the OSIRIS-REx Thermal Emission Spectrometer (OTES) revealed the presence of molecules that contain oxygen and hydrogen atoms bonded together, known as “hydroxyls”.
These hydroxyl groups exist globally across the asteroid in water-bearing clay minerals, meaning that at some point Bennu’s rocky material interacted with water.
While Bennu itself is too small to have ever hosted liquid water, the finding does indicate that liquid water was present at some time on Bennu’s parent body, a much larger asteroid, NASA said in a statement on Monday.
“The presence of hydrated minerals across the asteroid confirms that Bennu, a remnant from early in the formation of the solar system, is an excellent specimen for the OSIRIS-REx mission to study the composition of primitive volatiles and organics,” said Amy Simon from NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland.
“When samples of this material are returned by the mission to Earth in 2023, scientists will receive a treasure trove of new information about the history and evolution of our solar system,” Simon added.
Initial assessment of Bennu’s regolith indicates that the surface of Bennu is a mix of very rocky, boulder-filled regions and a few relatively smooth regions that lack boulders.
However, the quantity of boulders on the surface is higher than expected. The team will make further observations at closer ranges to more accurately assess where a sample can be taken on Bennu for later return to Earth.
The findings on Bennu brings scientists “a step closer to the possibility of asteroids providing astronauts on future missions into the solar system with resources like fuel and water”, said researchers from the University of Arizona.
After travelling through space for more than two years and over two billion kilometres, OSIRIS-REx spacecraft reached Bennu on December 3.
The mission is currently performing a preliminary survey of the asteroid, flying the spacecraft in passes over Bennu’s north pole, equator, and south pole at ranges as close as 4.4 miles (7 km) to better determine the asteroid’s mass.
The spacecraft’s first orbital insertion is scheduled for December 31, and OSIRIS-REx will remain in orbit until mid-February 2019, when it will exit to initiate another series of flybys for the next survey phase.
During the first orbital phase, the spacecraft will orbit the asteroid at a range of 0.9 miles (1.4 km) to 1.24 miles (2.0 km) from the centre of Bennu – setting new records for the smallest body ever orbited by a spacecraft and the closest orbit of a planetary body by any spacecraft. | https://newsd.in/nasa-probe-finds-water-on-asteroid-bennu-lead/ |
How long can powder formula be refrigerated? You can use pre-made formula for up to 24 hours. Open containers of ready-made formula, concentrated formula, and formula prepared from concentrate can be stored safely in the refrigerator for up to 48 hours. Do not store unmixed powder in the refrigerator.
Can you refrigerate powdered baby formula? Any prepared formula — mixing powder or concentrate with water or opening a ready-to-feed formula bottle — can sit out at room temperature for two hours. After that, you should feed it to your baby or refrigerate it, says Adler. Unused but open ready-to-feed bottles can stay up to 48 hours.
How long is powdered formula good for after mixing? Use prepared infant formula within 2 hours of preparation and within one hour from when feeding begins. If you do not start to use the prepared infant formula within 2 hours, immediately store the bottle in the fridge and use it within 24 hours.
How long can you leave powder formula in the fridge? If you do not have an ice pack, or access to a fridge, the made-up infant formula must be used within 2 hours. If made-up formula is stored: in a fridge – use within 24 hours.
How long can powder formula be refrigerated? – Related Questions
What happens if i accidentally double baking powder?
Too much baking powder can cause the batter to be bitter tasting. It can also cause the batter to rise rapidly and then collapse. (i.e. The air bubbles in the batter grow too large and break causing the batter to fall.)
Can i take powder supplements on a plane?
Powdered substances are generally allowed in your carry-on. If the amount of powder you want to fly with exceeds 12 ounces (the size of a soda can), it may require additional screening, which may include opening the container so TSA can sniff around a bit.
How long does cinnamon powder last?
Properly stored, ground cinnamon will generally stay at best quality for about 3 to 4 years. To maximize the shelf life of ground cinnamon purchased in bulk, and to better retain flavor and potency, store in containers with tight-fitting lids.
Can you make banana muffins without baking powder?
Cream Butter and Sugar – This step adds air to the batter giving it rise in lieu of baking soda or baking powder. Add Eggs, Vanilla and Banana – Fold in until just combined. Make the Batter – Add flour, cinnamon and salt until just combined. Bake – Pour into prepared loaf pan and bake.
What is neptune’s poseidon powder?
According to Urban Dictionary, poseidon’s powder is actually cocaine. … He wants to be Mr Krabs right hand and eventually maybe even the Manager aka the cocaine boss.
Can you use expired baby powder formula?
No. Do not buy or use infant formula after its use-by date. Dating is required on infant formula under the Food and Drug Administration inspection, but dates on baby food are not required. If the manufacturer has put a date on the baby food, however, use it before the date expires.
What is blooming in powder paint?
A: Blooming is a white haze that develops on the surface of a coating. It can often be removed by wiping down the part after it is cured, but that can be labor intensive and costly.
Can vegan protein powder cause weight gain?
If the rest of your diet isn’t in check or otherwise doesn’t allow for protein supplements, you could be getting more calories than you actually need. This could increase your risk of obesity, as is the same with any other food.
Can i add acrylic powder to nail polish?
Not only does acrylic powder preserve your polish for longer, it also creates the look of strong, healthy, glossy nails.
What is the purpose of setting powder makeup?
Setting powder is applied after your foundation to combat shine and set makeup. Setting powder may be loose or compressed, and either translucent or skin-toned. The right formulation will create a smooth, undetectable finish over your foundation, making a dewy foundation more matte without over-drying it.
What to drink with whey protein powder?
Drinking a shake of whey protein mixed with cold water or milk within 30 minutes of finishing your training session will initiate recovery by flooding your bloodstream with amino acids, which are quickly shuttled into your muscle cells to become new muscle tissue. Protein powder can also be taken at other times.
How much baking powder to plain flour?
Just add 2 teaspoons of baking powder for each 150g/6oz/1 cup plain flour. Sift the flour and baking powder together into a bowl before using, to make sure the baking powder is thoroughly distributed (or you can put both ingredients into a bowl and whisk them together).
Why does my ice have white powder?
If you notice white particles floating in your beverage as your ice begins to melt, this may be calcium carbonate. … As water freezes, the dissolved minerals solidify into tiny particles. These particles can appear when the ice begins to melt.
Can collagen powder hurt your heart?
Collagen provides structure to your arteries, which keep blood flowing to and from your heart. Studies have shown that taking collagen supplements can reduce artery stiffness and increase levels of “good” HDL cholesterol in the body. This means it can help reduce your risk of developing heart conditions.
Why no aluminum in baking powder?
If your baking powder is aluminum-free, it means that the ‘leavening agent’ inside baking powder will start working once it’s been added to the dough. So when using aluminum-free, you’ve gotta be stealthy. Add it as your last ingredient, and don’t dawdle around finishing the dough and getting it into the oven.
What is the best cocoa powder for keto?
Cocoa powder has no sweeteners and can, therefore, be used in keto baking. This means you can absolutely use Hershey’s cocoa powder while doing keto!
Can i add malt powder to vanilla ice cream?
A classic vanilla ice cream enhanced with the distinctive toasty-sweet notes of malted milk powder goes great with Red Berry Summer Pudding.
What makes baking powder rise?
Both baking powder and baking soda are chemical leavening agents that cause batters to rise when baked. … One of the acid salts reacts with the baking soda and produces carbon dioxide gas. The second reaction takes place when the batter is placed in the oven. The gas cells expand causing the batter to rise.
What is the yellow powder from pine trees?
As you probably know, the yellow dust covering everything that doesn’t move this time every year is pine pollen. Pine trees produce large (very large) amounts of pollen each spring in order to ensure that the seeds get fertilized and the species can survive.
How do i use vanilla bean powder?
Most recipes call for a teaspoon or less of vanilla powder. Pure vanilla powder made from vanilla beans can be sprinkled on baked goods like chocolate chip cookies, doughnuts, or toast for sweet, fragrant flavor. Add it to coffee, or use it to infuse your homemade pancake or waffle mixes.
How do you apply face powder after foundation?
It’s best to apply powder after your other beauty products such as concealer and foundation. It works to set the makeup. To apply, dip the brush in the powder and pat it on the side of the container to remove any excess. You can also blow on the brush. | https://jacanswers.com/how-long-can-powder-formula-be-refrigerated/ |
Shin splints, also known as medial tibial stress syndrome, are one of the most common running injuries. Symptoms can vary from slight discomfort to severe pain in the front lower leg. In most cases, the muscles along the shinbone have become swollen and the shin bone or tibia is sore to touch.
At the onset of this condition, pain is usually only felt after a run. If the condition worsens, pain may be felt continuously while running and afterwards. If a runner ignores this condition and continues to run with shin pain, it may develop into a tibial stress fracture requiring many weeks of rest to heal and recover.
This running injury is not caused by soft tissue damage as was originally thought. Bone scans have produced evidence to indicate the presence of low bone density believed to have been caused by stress placed on the shin or tibia bone while running.
There are a number of possible causes of shin splints. Over-training is one of the most common causes. Check your running log to ensure you have not increased your training too quickly in intensity or quantity. Too much too soon is often the cause of this injury.
Biomechanics or an improper running form is another common cause. Check your running posture and ensure you are not over-striding. Your feet should land directly beneath your center of gravity as your run.
Notice how your foot lands while running also known as your running foot strike. Heel striking can also contribute to this problem especially if the foot remains in a dorsiflex position (toes pointing up) longer than necessary. This contracts the shin muscles and causes tension in the area. If you are a heel striker, perhaps you may want to consider trying a forefoot or midfoot strike to reduce stress and tension on the lower legs and knees.
Other possible causes:
If the pain is severe, stop running. Rest and seek professional advice as it could develop into a stress fracture or chronic compartment syndrome if ignored. If you suspect a stress fracture, you may want to have an x-ray to confirm if a fracture exists. Fractures require immediate attention and running must cease completely.
Most cases of shin splints are not serious and the pain often disappears as the muscles relax during a run. There are a number of self-treatments you can try to ease the pain and correct the problem.
To ice the area, use a paper cup. Freeze water in the paper cup and then tear the top rim off the cup to expose some of the ice. Rub the exposed ice along your shin. The remaining part of the cup will keep your hand from freezing. It is recommended to ice for 10-20 minutes three times a day when pain is still present in the area.
Stretch the area by pointing and flexing your toes. Also try standing on stairs and while holding onto the rail, rising up on your toes (calf raises). While also standing on stairs with ball of foot at edge of bottom step, let one heel drop down and hold for 30 seconds (heel drop). Repeat with other foot. Repeat these exercises throughout the day. These exercises will strengthen and stretch the area, making it stronger, more flexible and will help ease the pain.
Increasing your strike frequency or cadence to 180 steps per minute will help reduce impact as your ground contact time is reduced. This of course reduces the stress on your bones and muscles thus reducing the risk of shin splints.
Running on a hard surface in minimal shoes helps to build strength and reduce leg stiffness. Soft surfaces and soft cushioned shoes have been shown to increase leg stiffness.
If you have suffered from shin splints, please share your story in the comments below. How long did you experience pain and what did you do to help speed recovery?
Back to Top of Shin Splints
Return to Are You Prone to Running Injuries?
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Learn more. | https://www.thepeacefulrunner.com/shin-splints.html |
Readers of Reversing Hermon know that this information is in an appendix to that book. But in the book these allusions are given in full and are listed by Pseudepigraphical source. That’s one reason that appendix is so long!
We should all thank Warren Hart for something much more compact and readable. Warren has produced an index in chart form. Here it is as a PDF:
Index of New Testament Allusions to Books of the Pseudepigrapha – Sorted
It’s arranged by books of the NT. It also includes page number references in Reversing Hermon for Scripture references that correspond to the allusions to books among the Pseudepigrapha. Here’s a screenshot: | https://drmsh.com/index-of-new-testament-allusions-to-books-of-the-pseudepigrapha/ |
Almost 84% of parents in Ukraine consider believe the course of coding should be added to school curriculum as a separate subject, according to the findings of the survey carried out by Gorshenin Institute together with the EVEREST group of companies, the vice-president of the Institute, Viktor Sokolov, has said.
The survey, which was held in April-May 2019, looked at the prospects of early coding in Ukrainian schools. The pollsters interviewed Ukrainians who have children of school age.
"83.8% of respondents said that coding should be embedded into school curriculum. That is, it should be introduced as a separate subject apart from ICT. Asked "Should the subject of coding be introduced in primary school", 69.1% answered in the affirmative," Sokolov said.
Some 88.8% of parents expect programmers or coders to be in demand in 5-10 years.
Some 84% of respondents are confident that the basics of coding will be a necessary skill for various jobs, not just programming.
Parents agree that learning coding develops logical and analytical thinking (86.2%), facilitates teamwork skills (62.7%), imagination and creativity (77%), ability to solve difficult problems by splitting them into smaller ones (76%).
At the same time, 69.9% of parents are concerned that children's health may be affected if coding is introduced as a subject. Some 52% of respondents consider coding to be an overly difficult subject.
Some 57% of respondents believe the earlier children start to learn coding the better. Some 35% of parents are confident the subject is as good for boys as it is for girls.
A statement that coding will make children competitive in their future professional career found support among 79.8% of respondents.
A total of 1,000 respondents were interviewed in all regions of Ukraine (excluding the temporarily occupied territories of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Sevastopol, certain districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions). The margin of error does not exceed +/- 3.1%. | https://en.lb.ua/news/2019/06/03/7459_most_parents_ukraine_want_coding.html |
BOSTON – July 20, 2011 – In keeping with the Patrick-Murray Administration’s unprecedented commitment to the protection of open space, Massachusetts Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Commissioner Mary Griffin today announced that a public-private partnership between DFG and the Berkshire Natural Resources Council (BNRC) has resulted in the permanent protection of 290 acres of conservation land in West Stockbridge. These newly protected public lands feature recreational opportunities such as fishing, hunting, and bird watching, while preserving critical habitat for waterfowl and several rare plant and animal species.
“This conservation project is vitally important for protecting wildlife biodiversity, providing recreational opportunities and conserving open space in the Berkshires, and is a prime example of the land conservation legacy the Patrick-Murray Administration is building,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Richard K. Sullivan Jr., whose office includes DFG. “Since 2007, under the leadership of Governor Patrick, the Commonwealth has taken action to permanently protect more than 75,000 acres of land across the state.”
Located in the southwest corner of West Stockbridge, the new parcel includes 273 acres just north of the Massachusetts Turnpike, which will be named the Flat Brook Wildlife Management Area. The acquisition incorporates an additional 17 acres south of the Turnpike into the existing Maple Hill Wildlife Management Area. Both properties will be managed by DFG’s Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (MassWildlife), which oversees more than 190,000 acres of conservation land in Massachusetts, all of which are open to the public for hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, and nature observation. The acquisition provides public access to Crane Lake, Flat Brook, and Cranberry Pond, which will greatly improve fishing opportunities in the area.
“Most of the acreage we purchased is core habitat for several state-listed species of rare plants and animals, and it is superb habitat for waterfowl and other wildlife,” said DFG Commissioner Mary Griffin. “The acquisition of these rich and productive lands along Flat Brook is a highlight of our land protection accomplishments this year, and we’re especially pleased to have accomplished this with the invaluable assistance of the Berkshire Natural Resources Council.”
The Commonwealth expended $1,115,800 on the purchase, using a combination of open space bond funds and Land Stamp revenue derived from the sale of fishing and hunting licenses. The BNRC served as a project facilitator for the multiple landowners and state officials, and privately raised $237,200 to augment the state’s investment.
“Any project of this scale and significance is complex. This was no exception with nine entities – including landowners, trusts and private organizations – involved in working patiently and efficiently together to make this tremendous investment in the Berkshires a reality,” said BNRC Director of Land Conservation Narain Schroeder.
“This is a great day for land protection in Massachusetts. In one outstanding moment, the collective efforts of state government, private landowners, and the non-profit community have conserved a landscape having phenomenal natural resources – a pristine pond and wetland complex, a healthy cold-water stream, extensive habitat for rare and endangered species, and the opportunity to connect to other lands of environmental significance,” said George Darey, Chairman of the state Fisheries and Wildlife Board, which approves DFG agency land purchases. “The Maple Hill Farm project is an example of forward-looking partnership at its very best.”
Landowners involved in the sale are the H. George Wilde 1989 Trust, Heirs of Arthur P. Gennari, Sr., Balgen Machine, Inc., and JDL Nominee Trust. The project’s private funders include The Open Space Institute, Saving New England Wildlife Fund, the Nion Robert Thieriot Foundation, Pamela B. Weatherbee, and the Trustees of the Natural Resources Damages Fund for the Housatonic River.
The newly acquired land is open to the public for non-motorized passive recreation and will be managed by the Division of Fisheries & Wildlife’s Western Wildlife District office. DFW and BNRC have engaged in preliminary discussion of how best to install and maintain access amenities, including parking, controls against illicit use, and other improvements.
The Department of Fish and Game (DFG) is responsible for promoting the conservation and enjoyment of the Commonwealth’s natural resources. DFG carries out this mission through land protection and wildlife habitat management, management of inland and marine fish and wildlife species, and ecological restoration of fresh water, salt water, and terrestrial habitats. DFG promotes enjoyment of the Massachusetts environment through outdoor skills workshops, fishing festivals and other educational programs, and by enhancing access to the Commonwealth’s rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. | https://www.outdoorhub.com/news/2011/07/20/patrick-murray-administration-announces-land-conservation-project-to-benefit-wildlife-habitat-and-recreational-opportunities-in-berkshire-county/ |
I found these on a page ripped from an old magazine while I was clearing out my room, and thought they might be useful for some people. The 'fitness-guru' claims that you will be 'body-confident' if you follow this workout three times a week for six weeks. But don't they all say that! However, exercises like these do make a difference, and I think these ones are great for beginners.
Something to bear in mind is that, you might have the most toned muscles in the world, but they won't be visible if you have excess body fat. Aerobic exercise is the key, and the magazine recommends skipping, trampolining and frisbee-throwing. I actually think these are quite good ideas, as I get so bored just running on the treadmill. Other fun ways to get your aerobic exercise are things like DDR, playing twister with your friends, or just going for a walk and taking pictures on a nice day.
Tempo Squats
Works your: Hips, bum, front thighs
How to: Stand straight with your feet shoulder-width apart and your toes angled out slightly. Squat down with your body straight, and as you do so bring your arms out in front of you for balance. Squat down as low as the height of a bench or low seat - your knees should be bent at 90 degrees - so that you feel some pull in the front of your thighs. As you squat, your feet should be in a flat position, with your weight in your heels. Return to the starting position.
Repetitions: Do 10 fast squats followed by 10 slow ones, holding the position at the lowest point for 5 seconds.
I already do these in my gym workout, but I put a yoga ball against the wall and lean my bum on it, then let it roll into the small of my back as I squat. It makes them a lot easier to do, and you don't lose your balance, but you have to do a few more to compensate ;)
Pulsing Crunches
Works your: Tummy and waist
How to: Lie on your back with your legs in the air, knees bent at 90 degrees and your hands by your ears. Contract your stomach muscles so your lower back is on the floor, then curl your upper body and head off the ground and up towards your knees - while lifting your knees towards your head. Slowly return to the starting position, keeping your stomach muscles contracted as you lower your body. You can tone your waist by twisting your body slightly whilst doing the crunches, so that your left elbow reaches towards your right knee and then your right elbow goes towards your left knee.
Repetitions: Ten times, but work towards 25 repetitions as your strength improves.
Press Ups
Works your: Chest, upper arms, shoulders
How to: Kneeling down, put your hands on the floor in front of you, shoulder-width apart, making sure that your back is straight. Bend your elbows and lower your upper body in a controlled way, until your nose almost touches the ground. You should feel it in your arms and chest. Using your knees as a lever, push yourself back up to the starting position.
Repetitions: Do three sets of 10-15, with a one-minute break between each.
This is the easy version of the press-up, but as I have zero arm strength, I do the even easier version. Put your hands against the wall and your feet about a metre away from it and, with your body straight, push your self away from and towards the wall, like a regular press up but vertical! As you get better, move your legs further away from the wall. Hopefully someday I'll be able to progress to doing them on the floor ;)
Single Leg Hip Extensions
Works your: Bum, back, thighs
How to: Kneel on the floor with your hands flat on the ground and your back straight. Your hands should be directly under your shoulders and your knees under your hips. Slowly lift one leg, keeping the knee bent at a 90 degree angle until your heel is facing the ceiling and hold. This is essential for working your bottom muscles and your hamstrings. Then bring your knee slowly back to the floor. If possible, wear 3-4kg ankle weights.
Repetitions: Do 20 times with the weight then 20 times without, or just 40 times without weights.
Dumbbell Curls and Presses
Works your: Arms
How to: Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart with one foot slightly in front of the other. Hold two dumbbells (or full 750ml bottles of water) down by your sides, with your palms facing forwards. Slowly curl the dumbbells up to shoulder level, keeping your upper arms still. Then twist your arms so you are looking at the back of your hands and raise your arms above your head. Do this in reverse, taking three seconds to bring the dumbbells to your shoulders. Untwist, then take another three seconds to return to start position with dumbbells at your side.
Repetitions: Repeat the complete exercise 10-15 times. | https://community.livejournal.com/--loveandlattes/102032.html |
1.31-“I see, O Madhav (Krishn), inauspicious portents, and I can perceive no prefix in the idea of slaughtering kinsmen in the battle.”
Arjun sees adverse signs of the impending war. He does not see anything propitious in the slaying of his own family. How can any good result from such killing?
1.32-“I aspire, O Krishn, after neither victory nor a realm and its pleasures for of what avail is sovereignty to us, O Govind (Krishn), or enjoyment, or even life itself?”
Arjun’s whole family is on the brink of war. So he does not wish for either victory or the kingdom that this victory may bring him, or even the pleasures of that kingdom. Of what use will be a kingdom or enjoyment or life to him? He then states the reasons for his reluctance to fight in the war.
1.33 -“They for whose sake we crave for a kingdom, pleasures, and enjoyments are formed up here, putting at stake both their life and wealth.”
The family, for whose sake Arjun has desired the happiness of a kingdom and other pleasures, is now mustered on the battlefield despairing of its life. If he had desired a kingdom, it was for them. If he had hungered for the pleasures of wealth and indulgence, it was because he wanted to enjoy it along with his kith and kin. But he now desires neither a kingdom nor pleasures, nor enjoyment, because he sees his kinsmen standing against him without any hope of life. Whatever he had desired was dear to him for their sake. But he does not need these things if he has to get them at the cost of his kinsmen.Desires remain as long as there are family ties. Even a poor man having only a wretched hovel to live in will not accept an empire extending over the entire length and breadth of the world if for this he has to kill his family, friends, and kinsmen. Arjun says the same thing. He is fond of pleasures and he loves victory, but of what good can they be to him if the very people for whom be desires these rewards are no longer with him? Of what use will enjoyment of pleasures be in their absence? After all, who are the people he will have to kill in the war?
1.34/35-“Teachers, uncles, nephews as well as granduncles, maternal uncles, fathers-in-law, grandnephews, brothers-in-law, and other kinsmen. Though they might slay me, I yet have no desire to kill them, O Madhusudan (Krishn), even for a realm made up of the three worlds, still less for this earth alone.”
The people to be slain are Arjun’s own flesh and blood. As he tells Krishn sorrowfully, he does not wish to harm his kinsmen although in doing so he might lose his own life at their hands, even for ruling over all the three worlds.
In an army formed of approximately 650 million men Arjun can see only his own family. Who really are these innumerable kinsmen? Arjun verily is an image of tender devotion. His dilemma is the one that faces every devotee when he sets out on the path of worshipful adoration (bhajan). It is everyone’s desire that he should attain the highest reality by reverence and worship. But he is filled with despair when, under an experienced and accomplished teacher’s tutelage, he comes to understand the fundamental nature of the conflict between the material body and the divine Self, and realizes against whom he has to wage his war. He wishes that his father’s family, his wife’s family, his maternal uncle’s family, people who love him, friends, and teachers should all live with him in happiness, and that, while providing for all of them, he should also attain to God.
So he is confused when confronted with the fact that in order to forge ahead in his task of worship he has to abandon his family. Because of his attachment, the prospect of severing the bonds of kinship confuses and unnerves him.
Most revered Gurudeo uses to say , “To be a sadhu (ascetic) is the same as to die.” Even if the universe has beings whom he regards as living, there is no one whom the ascetic can regard as belonging to his own family. As long as there is such a one, the feeling of attachment remains. As for this weakness, the one who is striving to realize his Self is a winner only when he rejects and destroys his attachment as well as all the other associated feelings. What is this world but an extension of the ties of attachment? What is there in it for us in the absence of these bonds? The world as we know it is only an extension of the mind. Yogeshwar Krishn has portrayed the same extension of the mind as the world. The man who has withstood and subdued its power has conquered the whole universe.
Sri Krishn tells Arjun in the nineteenth verse of Chapter 5,”The whole cosmos is overcome even in this world by those whose minds repose in equality.” Such a state of calm, of mental equipoise, is made possible by the complete annihilation of ego. This frees the mind from its self-centered subservience to the material world. After ego has ceased to exist, only the Self remains in a pure state. So this is the way to attainment of salvation and final beatitude (brahmavastha) which transcends the transitory life of nature. It is thus that those who have realized this state are not subject to the limitations of the material world.
It is not that only Arjun is confused. Affectionate attachment resides in every heart, and everyone with such a feeling is in a state of confusion. Kith and kin are always in the foreground of a man’s consciousness. At the beginning he believes that his sacred adoration will be helpful in his endeavour to make his kinsmen happy. He looks forward to enjoying his acquisitions along with them. But what shall he do with the happiness if his own people are no longer with him? So is it with Arjun. His vision has so far been limited to the pleasures that can be had from a kingdom and heaven.
He has till now envisaged the ultimate happiness in terms of heaven and a realm composed of the three worlds. If there is any reality beyond this, Arjun yet has no inkling of it.
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- “Principles of relinquishment and of renunciation through metaphysical vision of Bhagavad Gita!!!”
- The significance of OM, Tat, and Sat through metaphysical vision of Bhagavad Gita!!!
- Distinction between three kinds of yagya, penance, and alms, that are like three kinds of food according to individual taste!!!
- What is the property-sattwa, rajas, or tamas of persons who albeit worship with faith but in disregard of scriptural ordinance?
- In whom do the wealth of divinity and demoniacal impulses abide as per metaphysical vision of Bhagavad Gita?
- The attributes of the treasure of divinity which subsist only in a seeker whose meditation has ripened to maturity as per Bhagavad Gita!!
- Most subtle of all knowledge by knowing the essence of which a man gains wisdom and accomplishes all his tasks as per Gita!!!
- The glories of the Self of realized sages through metaphysical vision of Bhagavad Gita!!!
- What is the form of that ultimate state which is achieved by renunciation through metaphysical vision of Bhagavad Gita?
- The world is a tree which yogi who are seeking for the supreme goal have to cut down as per teachings of Bhagavad Gita!!!
- “Tell me, O Lord, the attributes of the man who has risen above the three properties and the way by which he transcends these??”
- Supreme knowledge which is the noblest of all knowledge to achieve the ultimate perfection through metaphysical vision of Gita!!!
- It is only by gradual stages that God controls his three-propertied nature by the exercise of yog-maya and manifests himself!!!
- To get enlightened well on that which is to be known and after knowing which mortal man achieves the quality of deathlessness!!!
- A precise declaration of the concept of the sphere within human body through metaphysical vision of Bhagavad Gita!!!
- Enumeration of way of life of worshipers who have attained to the ultimate peace through metaphysical vision of Bhagavad Gita!!!
- Which one of two kinds of devotees, they who worship manifest God and they who contemplate the unmanifest Spirit, are superior?
- The one way to attain to Supreme Spirit is perfect intentness as per teachings of Bhagavad Gita!!!
- “How should I, O Yogeshwar, know you by incessant contemplation and in what forms, O Lord, should I worship you?”
- How Yogi constantly adore God as per metaphysical vision of Bhagavad Gita?
- Listen again, O Arjun, to the mystic and compelling words I wish to speak because of my concern for the good of a beloved pupil…!!!
- The profit that will accrue from the worshiper’s attainment of his state through metaphysical vision of Bhagavad Gita…!!!
- What is the lot of those who are liberated from all desire through metaphysical vision of Bhagavad Gita?
- Who is the real performer of yagya, the healer and the sacred prayer through metaphysical vision of Bhagavad Gita???
- What is that which maya creates by assuming the property that belongs to Lord through metaphysical vision of Bhagavad Gita?
- What the yogi does and about accomplishment by such great Souls through metaphysical vision of Bhagavad Gita?
- “I shall instruct you well with analogy in this mysterious knowledge, knowing of which liberates from this sorrowfull world.”
- When even men of steady devotion are within the limits of rebirth and when they are beyond it through metaphysical vision of Gita??
- Yogi knows when the night of ignorance falls and when the day of knowledge dawns, and also the limits of the dominance of time…!!!
- Sphere of rebirth expounded through metaphysical vision of Bhagavad Gita!!!
- What is the ultimate state that should be the worshiper’s goal and how it may be attained as per teachings of Bhagavad Gita….??
- What the object of meditation should be and how God is perceived at the time of departing from the body as per Bhagavad Gita…?? | https://blogs.geetadhara.org/bhagavad-gita-true-metaphysical-perspective-chapter-one-expositions-verses-thirty-one-thirty-fivesummed/ |
- Develop a career plan for a specific trade or technical field.
- Work safely and in accordance with applicable acts, regulations, legislation, and codes to enhance personal and public safety.
- Select and use tools and equipment to complete a specific task within the trades.
- Solve routine technical problems by applying fundamental mathematics and scientific principles.
- Prepare and interpret basic drawings, blueprints and other related documents and graphics to complete a trade and/or technology task..
- Maintain project records, logs, inventories and other required documentation.
- Solve trade and technology-related problems, using the computer software and tools.
- Assemble, test, and modify basic products using a variety of technology- and trades-related techniques.
Courses and Descriptions
Semester 1
Applied Welding/Cutting Processes
This course will introduce the student to the welding industry. The student will learn techniques in OFW (Oxy-Fuel Welding), OFC (Oxy-Fuel Cutting), SMAW (Shielded Metal Arc Welding) and GMAW (Gas Metal Arc Welding). In addition to technique practices, the student will be taught the industry standard for safety and proper operation with a variety of welding and cutting equipment.
Career Investigations
This course will allow students to investigate types of work performed within the skilled trades sector. Students will gain an understanding of potential jobs or career opportunities available to them. This course, along with the trades related courses offered in Trades Fundamentals, should provide a better understanding of the type skilled trade they would like to continue with in in the future.
Health and Safety for the Trades
Students will learn many aspects of personal, co-worker and public health and safely in the trades. Topics include: Health & Safety Awareness in 4 Steps, New and Young Worker (MOL), Personal Protective Equipment, Slips, Trips and Falls Awareness, Spill Awareness, Traffic Control Awareness, Safe Workplaces, Workplace Hazards (including Asbestos and Mould Awareness), Manual Material Handling, Back Safety Protection, WHMIS (Certificate), Propane Handling, Fire Extinguisher Basics, Construction Site Safety Awareness
Introduction to Carpentry Skills
This course will introduce students to basic carpentry skills with a focus on safe operation, maintenance and use of hand and power tools, shop safety, material handling and essential employability skills. Students will develop their knowledge of proper carpentry techniques of measuring, marking, cutting, nailing and tool selection when constructing shop projects.
Introduction to Sketching and Measuring Systems
This course will introduce the student to the basic introductory skills required for print reading and sketching for the trades. The student will demonstrate a working knowledge of the types of construction, principles of measuring systems and basic fundamental skills for sketching drawings.
Measurement and Tool Fundamentals
This course will introduce the student to basic introductory skills required to demonstrate a working knowledge of the types of tools, principles of operation, maintenance and safe workplace usage of measuring tools, fasteners and hand and power tools for the trades.
Introduction to Indigenous Studies
This course is an introduction to the study of Indigenous (First Nations, Metis, and Inuit) peoples in Canada. Students will explore the complex historical and contemporary relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples. The course will also guide students to begin to understand the diversity and depth of Indigenous societies, worldviews, and knowledge through a multi-disciplinary lens.
Semester 2
Autocad Fundamentals
Discover the benefits of computer-aided drafting using AutoCAD. Learn drawing setup, construction and modification, the use of layers, dimensioning, hatching, the creation and use of blocks, and the Design Centre with the objective of producing industry-standard drawings.
Pre-Requisites
Cooking Fundamentals for the Trades
This course is designed to allow the learner to explore the Trade of Cook. This hybrid delivery model will allow the learner to develop a basic understanding of key concepts and industry pathways. Hands-on lab applications, paired with a Food Safety and Sanitation micro-credential, will provide the learner with a "Taste" of the cooking trade. Topics of study include an introductory to cooking, baking and butchery skills that are required for today's industry professionals.
Electrical Fundamentals
This course will introduce students to basic wiring, circuits, connections and equipment involved in the residential electrical trade. It will provide students with a basic understanding of tools, equipment and materials used to install electrical connections and fixtures through practical, hands on learning.
Introduction to Trade Calculations
This course will enable students to develop and enhance foundational mathematical concepts while advancing their numeracy skills important in various Trades, such as Welding and Carpentry. It is designed to prepare students for success in Trades Calculations I.
Residential Mechanical Systems
This course will cover basic residential mechanical systems such as plumbing, heating and cooling, fire suppression and the materials and equipment associated with each. It will provide students with the opportunity to apply practical skills required for installing, servicing, and maintaining residential mechanical systems.
Trade Science
The course covers the basic concepts and principles of science and its relation to the skilled trades. Course topics will include lessons in mechanics, heat, light, sounds, electricity, weights, fluids and magnetism related to trades through hands on learning.
General Education Elective
All graduates of diploma programs require general education credits. These courses allow you to explore issues of societal concern by looking at the history, theory and contemporary applications of those issues.
Your program has designated some required general education courses. In addition, you have the opportunity to choose from a list of electives each semester.
Many of these courses and some other general education courses are also available through evening classes, by distance education, or on-line. See our Part-Time Studies Calendar for these opportunities.
You may already possess general education equivalencies from other colleges or universities. Please see the General Education Co-ordinators at the Peterborough and Lindsay locations for possible exemptions. | https://flemingcollege.ca/programs/trade-fundamentals/curriculum?start=september-2023 |
The Developmental Games module helps children to develop the ability to imagine and to solve problems creatively, looking for their own novel solutions and learning to check that these solutions are plausible. They learn to look at a single simple feature and visualise an entire structure. They learn to consider how a given situation changes when we apply a set of rules to it.
Creativity can unfold spontaneously but we can also foster its development. There are steps we can take that go beyond celebrating evidence of self-expression when we come across it and at the same time take care not to stifle the capacity for originality.
Creativity depends on the free flow of imagination and on flexible thinking. However, free flowing imagination and flexible thinking are most productive when we are able to direct them towards solving the tasks we set ourselves.
In addition to this, we need to develop a mindset which assumes that there can be many different solutions to problems, and that urges us to seek actively for new ways of resolving them. Last, but not least, we need to have enough confidence in our ideas to express what we think, to be able to make good use of constructive feedback yet back our own ideas in the face of opposition, and to persevere when we discover that an idea hasn’t worked as we expected.
The Developmental Games module offers structured activities which encourage young children to develop and express feelings and ideas about the world in a variety of different contexts. These include looking at schematic drawings and visualising a range of possible pictures or stories; using geometric shapes to create a variety of different objects; and visualising and creating their own completed pictures based on a schematic drawing or an incomplete image. In all these tasks, a wide variety of responses are expected, with children encouraged to share their ideas, listen to others and offer feedback. A critical feature of the activities is the emphasis on encouraging children to explore a range of possible solutions to each task, either by carefully organising the materials they use or by specifically prompting them to offer several ideas.
There are also structured activities requiring practical problem solving and logical analysis. These include spotting errors in images; spotting discrepancies; matching pictures showing problems with pictures that show appropriate solutions; checking each other’s work and offering feedback; temporal sequencing; and understanding a chain of events using if/then logic.
As with all the Key to Learning modules, Developmental Games deliberately and systematically focuses on the key cognitive processes of symbolisation, modelling, logical analysis and creative expression.
In particular, the module emphasises language and communication skills, as well as helping children learn to concentrate, to recognise symbols and to develop the social and emotional skills they require to work cooperatively in small groups. | https://keytolearningathome.com/developmental-games/ |
With the arrival of Summer also comes the arrival of problems caused by overheating. Some of the most common overheating problems like A/C wiring and disconnects melting and shorting out or circuit breakers tripping are caused by things as simple as loose connections. These can be easily avoided with annual maintenance.
I know, I know how can some thing that is not mechanical or moving need maintenance? What you may not realize is that wiring connections do move and the environment they are in is constantly moving with the changes in temperature or seasons. Wiring connections especially loose ones create heat through resistance causing the wiring to expand and contract making poor connections worse. Even to the point where there is no connection at all. This same resistance and heat build up can cause circuit breakers to trip as well. What we in the electrcial field refer to as "nuisance tripping."
Nuisance trips are just that, a nuisance because they trip in the middle of the night or when it is 110 degrees in the shade and my favorite, the breaker for the freezer you just spent $300 stocking trips on Friday right after you have left to go to the lake for the weekend. When you arrive back home on Sunday evening to a huge puddle of water in your garage and the smell of rotting 1" thick T-
While problems with overheating can still happen at some point costly repairs can be reduced with a simple inspection of your electrical connections and panel in the spring to summer time frame to locate small problems before they become huge. Think of it as a yearly physical for your home. | http://abstractelectricok.com/blog/index.php?id=wl5vmd03 |
As technology spurs dramatic changes in the workplace, the pressure is on for school districts to play catch-up and equip students with the skill set to thrive in the information age. The rigid, factory-model classroom is in desperate need of a reboot to meet the demands of the future workforce, which calls for agile and collaborative critical thinkers.
By rethinking classroom design, facilities leaders can play an active role in nurturing these valuable traits to support both students and teachers.
At the K12 Facilities Forum, senior administrators shared how their districts are embracing new classroom models centered around collaboration, technology, and project-based learning. Marijke Smit, partner and principal of San Francisco-based architecture firm MK Think, moderated the conversation. Participants included:
- Brian Busby, Chief Operating Officer, Houston ISD (TX)
- Kiffany Lychok, Director Of Educational Innovation, Boulder Valley School District (CO)
- Travis Palangi, Executive Director, Facilities & Operations, Olathe Public Schools (KS)
An Inclusive Process In Houston
According to Busby, Houston ISD’s $1.89 billion 2012 bond program was focused on both future-ready learning spaces and a more inclusive, community-driven design process.
“Our goal was to listen to the community and then come back to them with images to say, ‘This is what your school will look like today and tomorrow,’” Busby said. “The process involved teachers, students, principals, the community, and external stakeholders.”
Condit Elementary School, the first school to break ground under the program in 2014, more closely resembles a college campus than a traditional elementary school. Reflecting the community’s desires resulted in interchangeable learning spaces, open-concept common areas, and flexible seating. The building also has the ability to be redesigned in itself for future generations and the inevitable changes that are sure to come.
Busby also discussed two standout high schools from the bond program: Booker T. Washington High School and Energy Institute High School. The former was designed to provide a next-level STEM experience for students and includes makerspaces, specialized science and engineering labs, and flexible learning spaces that support project-based instruction. The building easily accommodates the companies and mentors who frequently visit so students can “learn by doing.”
For the design of Energy Institute High School, the project team took a different, less-community-driven route, and instead worked with top-performing energy companies to learn what features would prepare students for success in the real world. Special touches include makerspaces, touch-screen desktops, 3D printers, and interchangeable walls. While this school is unique in its emphasis on energy, Busby emphasized that all districts should be looking at ways to give kids hands-on experience within the school, regardless of subject matter.
Busby also explained that the principal of Energy Institute built strong relationships with energy companies, many of whom decided to invest in the school, which helped to lessen the financial burden. “These companies anticipate an ROI in human capital, and choose to invest in future workers by investing in the building,” Busby said.
Student-Driven Engagement in Kansas
For Olathe Public Schools in Kansas, Palangi shared that their 2016 bond program emphasized student feedback more than ever before. He shared that student surveys (which revealed a lack of engagement with teachers) were the main driver behind the design of their newest high school, Olathe West High School.
Now in its second year, Olathe West clearly reflects that self-directed learning has replaced lecture-style instruction. Instead of a traditional “teaching wall,” there are open, modular learning spaces and movable furniture. The school’s first survey since opening showed that students feel extremely engaged, comfortable approaching teachers, and supported by the built environment.
Now, the question moving forward is what to do with the district’s remaining high schools.
“Does it involve tearing down walls or is it a furniture-based solution? Or do we start at elementary schools and work our way up? Right now, we’re exploring this question,” Palangi said. “No matter what changes, what will be essential is providing professional development to help the staff acclimate.’
A Learning Community Model In Colorado
At Boulder Valley School District, Lychok is in her fourth year as Director of Educational Innovation. Her role is to support schools in implementing innovative learning environments and teaching practices. It’s safe to say Lychok has her hands full: The district passed a $576 million bond in 2014, the largest in Colorado history.
The bulk of the bond went to deferred maintenance, and four new schools were also built.
“There’s always the equity question: who gets the shiny new stuff? With our plan, there’s a bucket of funds provided for each school that’s not undergoing a complete renovation. Every one of our 57 schools gets touched by this program,” Lychok said, sharing that the amount of money scales up from elementary school to high school (and also depending on the size).
By far, the biggest change from the bond program has been the new “learning community” model. This model replaces the traditional one-teacher, one-grade classroom. Now, a maximum of 150 students across two grade levels are housed in a suite of spaces, with five to six teachers who co-plan/co-teach.
“The teachers collaborate and determine how to best meet students at their individual learning needs. This was a huge shift in how we viewed instruction,” she shared, emphasizing that BVSD is focused on getting out of the way of their teachers.
Another change is learning studios, which connect through clear glass partitions that can be quickly moved, and “flex studios,” which are areas for kids to learn by doing. Common areas that allow for collaboration are everywhere.
For Lychok, the biggest takeaway has been that it’s essential to put instruction first. “Facilities leaders need to focus on environments that are going to help support teachers,” she said.
The Future of Classroom Design
Lychok wrapped up the discussion by sharing six innovation principles that helped guide the redesign process in BVSD.
- Learning should be founded in inquiry.
- Learning fosters a culture of curiosity and risk-taking.
- Learning is a social process.
- Students should be able to demonstrate mastery of learning in multiple ways.
- Learning is powerful when students create solutions to authentic challenges that impact their community.
- Learning is personalized and learner-led.
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Join us at the K12 Facilities Forum! | https://info.k12facilitiesforum.com/blog/how-to-design-classrooms-for-collaborative-learning |
Shah's official portrait. WikipediaI remember the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, in 1979. Shah is another name for king. As world events went, it was right up there in terms of impact and import, even to my then college-aged sensibilities. Wikipedia says
A secular Muslim, Mohammad Reza gradually lost support from the Shi'a clergy of Iran as well as the working class, particularly due to his strong policy of modernization, secularization, conflict with the traditional class of merchants known as bazaari, relations with Israel, and corruption issues surrounding himself, his family, and the ruling elite. ... By 1979, political unrest had transformed into a revolution which, on 17 January, forced him to leave Iran. Soon thereafter, the Iranian monarchy was formally abolished, and Iran was declared an Islamic republic led by Ruhollah Khomeini. (source)The revolution was considered a surprise to most Western observers. Unlike in other revolutionary situations, there had not been an extended period of demonstrations or protests, nor did unrest seem to have permeated the kingdom to any threatening extent. Yet between September 1978 and February 1979, Iran was transformed.
Ruhollah Mūsavi Khomeini known in the Western world as Ayatollah Khomeini, was an Iranian Shia Muslim religious leader, revolutionary, politician, the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the leader of the 1979 Iranian Revolution which saw the overthrow of the Pahlavi monarchy and Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, the Shah of Iran. Following the revolution, Khomeini became the country's Supreme Leader, a position created in the constitution of the Islamic Republic as the highest-ranking political and religious authority of the nation, which he held until his death. He was succeeded by Ali Khamenei. Khomeini was a marja ("source of emulation") in Twelver Shi'a Islam, a Mujtahid or faqih (an expert in Islamic law) and author of more than 40 books. (source)The Ottoman Empire was in existence from 1299 to 1923, yet we forget the power, force, violence, Mohammedans" if they mentioned Muslims at all, apart from the oil.
Ayatollah Khomeiniand duration of the historical Islamic kingdom. That's one reason why the Iranian Revolution was such a shock, at least to us lay people. The tectonic shift in the balance of power and stability in the Middle East with the coming of the revolution in the Middle East cannot be overstated. Prior to the Ayatollah Khomeini's appearance and elevation to power, mostly we were only familiar with Islam when we saw flashes and clips on the news of desert people wearing turbans and the announcer was speaking of oil. We were not familiar with Islam, and indeed many of the Western religious leaders of the times prior to the 1970s simply referred to the adherents as "
Then came the Ayatollah Khomeini. His influence and power was another thing that was underestimated.
He was named Man of the Year in 1979 by American news magazine TIME for his international influence, and has been described as the "virtual face of Islam in Western popular culture" where he remains a controversial figure. He was known for his support of the hostage takers during the Iran hostage crisis, his fatwa calling for the death of British Indian novelist Salman Rushdie, and for referring to the United States as the "Great Satan". Khomeini has been criticized for these acts and for human rights violations of Iranians (including his ordering of execution of thousands of political prisoners), and the pursuit of victory in the Iran–Iraq war that ultimately proved futile.All this to set the foundation for what I'm writing next. The above quote mentioned that Ayatollah Khomeini wrote 40 books. He was a revered figure in Islam, who lectured often. One series of those lectures was made into a book and is the foundation for the political attitude of his and succeeding generations of Iranians.
He has also been lauded as a "charismatic leader of immense popularity", a "champion of Islamic revival" by Shia scholars, who attempted to establish good relations between Sunnis and Shias, and a major innovator in political theory and religious-oriented populist political strategy. (source)
In Iran, the Revolution was not merely an outgrowth of economic unrest or instability. It was not merely dissatisfaction with political status quo. Islam is not a religion. It is a government.
One of the books that Ayatullah Sayyid Imam Ruhallah Musawi Khomeini wrote was, Islamic Government: Governance of the Jurist. From the website Al-Islam.org, we read the Ayatollah's works. Remember, the concepts contained in the Khomeini lectures a mere 8 years later formed the basis for the government that Iran governs itself still today. In the Introduction of the book,
This book originated in a series of lectures given at Najaf between January 21 and February 8, 1970. Three major points emerge from the lectures. The first is the necessity for the establishment and maintenance of Islamic political power for Islamic goals, precepts, and criteria. The second is the duty of the religious scholars (the fuqahā) to bring about an Islamic state. Third, a program of action for the establishment of an Islamic state, including various measures for self-reform by the religious establishment.The faith branch of Islam is the mechanism by which citizens of the Caliphate learn about how to live their lives under the Law- Sharia law. The faith IS the government, because the Quran is their constitution given by Allah through Mohammad. The mosque is where they go to learn about how to govern themselves, according to Allah's dictates, which again, is contained in the Quran. I will quote from Ayatollah Khomeini's book, Islamic Government: Governance of the Jurist. This is from the chapter, The Form of Islamic Government-
Islamic government is neither tyrannical nor absolute, but constitutional. It is not constitutional in the current sense of the word, i.e., based on the approval of laws in accordance with the opinion of the majority. It is constitutional in the sense that the rulers are subject to a certain set of conditions in governing and administering the country, conditions that are set forth in the Noble Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Most Noble Messenger (s). It is the laws and ordinances of Islam comprising this set of conditions that must be observed and practiced. Islamic government may therefore be defined as the rule of divine law over men.You are beginning to see that Muslim faith and Muslim governance are intertwined and never shall an adherent reject one or the other. He would not be a Muslim if he did. To continue with quotes from the Ayatollah's book, the chapter on The Necessity for Islamic Government,
A body of laws alone is not sufficient for a society to be reformed. In order for law to ensure the reform and happiness of man, there must be an executive power and an executor. For this reason, God Almighty, in addition to revealing a body of law (i.e., the ordinances of the sharī‘ah), has laid down a particular form of government together with executive and administrative institution. The Most Noble Messenger (s) headed the executive and administrative institutions of Muslim society. In addition to conveying the revelation and expounding and interpreting the articles of faith and the ordinances and institutions of Islam, he undertook the implementation of law and the establishment of the ordinances of Islam, thereby, bringing into being the Islamic state.The precepts are not for a previous time, with only the faith portion of Islam to be followed by the faithful Muslim. No, the intertwining of with and government is inextricable and permanent. Islamic government includes performing all the typical tasks as, say the United States Government does. I'd remind us all again that these quotes are from the book which formed the foundation for the successful revolution of the nation of Iran and is their basis for governance today. They are not cherry-picked quotes from an obscure Imam or from a discredited segment of Islam.
He did not content himself with the promulgation of law; rather, he implemented it at the same time, cutting off hands and administering lashings, and stonings. After the Most Noble Messenger (s), his successor had the same duty and function. When the Prophet (s) appointed a successor, it was not only for the purpose of expounding articles of faith and law; it was for the implementation of law and the execution of God’s ordinances.
According to one of the noble verses of the Qur’an, the ordinances of Islam are not limited with respect to time or place; they are permanent and must be enacted until the end of time. They were not revealed merely for the time of the Prophet, only to be abandoned thereafter, with retribution and the penal code no longer be enacted, or the taxes prescribed by Islam no longer collected, and the defense of the lands and people of Islam suspended. The claim that the laws of Islam may remain in abeyance or are restricted to a particular time or place is contrary to the essential creedal bases of Islam.
Therefore as the Ayatollah outlined the Necessity of Islamic Government, and then the Form of Islamic Government, he instructs on the Program for the Establishment of Islamic Government. Here is how to get the job done, and remember, he actually did:
You teach the people matters relating to worship, of course, but more important are the political, economic, and legal aspects of Islam. [underline mine] These are, or should be, the focus of our concern. It is our duty to begin exerting ourselves now in order to establish a truly Islamic government. We must propagate our cause to the people, instruct them in it, and convince them of its validity. We must generate a wave of intellectual awakening, to emerge as a current throughout society, and gradually, to take shape as organized Islamic movement made up of the awakened, committed, and religious masses who will rise up and establish an Islamic government.
It worked in Iran, and it is working in the rest of the coming caliphate with al-Qaeda and ISIS.
The major point here is that the religion aspect of Islam is NOT the important aspect. It is only the important aspect in that it teaches the men who attend mosque as to the duties and rules regarding 'Allah's' divine command for establishing an Islamic government. Here is the Ayatollah again-
Propagation and instruction, then, are our two fundamental and most important activities. It is the duty of the fuqahā to promulgate religion and instruct the people in the creed, ordinances, and institutions of Islam, in order to pave the way in society for the implementation of Islamic law and the establishment of Islamic institutions. [underline mine] In one of the traditions we have cited, you will have noticed that the successors of the Most Noble Messenger (s) are described as “teaching the people”—that is, instructing them in religion.
Many of the ordinances of Islam that refer to worship also pertain to social and political functions. The forms of worship practiced in Islam are usually linked to politics and the gestation of society. For example, congregational prayer, the gathering on the occasion of hajj, and Friday prayer, for all their spirituality, exert a political as well as moral and doctrinal influence.Ayatollah Khomeini was not simply a religious figure, as some biographies put it. For a decade he was formerly the Supreme Leader of Iran, a nation with borders and a population of 40 million people at the time. Islam is a government, and they want and are aiming for global theocratic rule by Islamic jurists.
The Ayatollah and Iran itself are Shia Muslim, one of two branches that comprise the major points of Islam. However Shia Muslims comprise only 15% of all Islam, Sunni Muslims make up the rest. The Iranian Revolution was an empowering event for Shias, which make up most of Syria also.
There are a few differences between Shia and Sunni but they are not major in terms of how non-Muslims are to be treated, nor do they wildly differ in terms of Sharia Law.
The important thing about Sharia law is that it is perfect and sacred. Law based upon democratic process is offensive to Islam because such law is based upon people. Sharia law is based upon the Koran and Mohammed, the only perfect guidance. Therefore, it is an offense to Islam for Muslims to have to live under democratic constitutional law. (source)Because Islam is a political institution which rejects government by democracy, Islam and a Constitutional Republic are incompatible. A Muslim who lives under a democracy and not Sharia is living treasonously to Islam and if they are a Muslim living under Sharia Law in the US (or working toward that end) they are living treasonously to the Republic.
In my own opinion we can safely say that to deny a Muslim's practice of his religion is not a violation of the Second Amendment protection of religion, because it is not a religion- it is a government. A divided government cannot stand. Just as Jesus said that one cannot live divided between the world governance of satan and the kingdom of God, so our democracy and a Sharia enclave of Muslims cannot live peacably together (as we have repeatedly seen in Beirut, Baghdad, Paris, San Bernardino CA and elsewhere).
And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. "If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? (Matthew 12:25-26)
Our spiritual loyalties are with the One True God, but in our earthly life as Christians we submit to government. Ours in America happens to be a Constitutional Republic. We look forward to the day when we will become not only full citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven as we are now, but are physically present in our homeland. Until then, if you are an American as I am, it is sad to see our once-great nation and our once-strong country succumb to divided loyalties and self-indulgence and outright sin.
EPrata photo
Due to America's continued rebellion against God, I fully expect His wrath to be poured out on us as Romans 1:18-32 states. The Wrath of Abandonment is a difficult thing to watch, and I am sorrowful that God may indeed decide to use Islam as the hammer against which He will render His verdict against us here in America. It seems that in coming months or years, it may be a bloody time, a difficult time, and a sorrowful time. The flood of false religion will not be stopped,because it is prophesied that apostasy will rise (Matthew 24:10, 1 Timothy 4:1, 1 John 4:3) until the Great Apostasy takes over and the world staggers under the sin of its one world religion. (2 Thessalonians 2:3-4).
We have hope, a secure and a glorious hope. We cling to the promises of His soon return, His everlasting kingdom, and the TRUE theocracy under which we Christians are subject. The Lamb reigns!
And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." (Revelation 19:16)
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Further reading:
Shia and Sunni Muslims: Do You Know the Difference? The link goes to a page with nation-by-nation listing of who is what and also the main differences between the two branches. | https://en.paperblog.com/islam-is-not-a-religion-it-is-a-government-1374752/ |
6 things you need to know about the fight for land in Colombia
Today, Friday, February 7th, at 9:30p EST, our new Fault Lines episode “Colombia: The Deadly Fight For Land” airs on Al Jazeera America.
Traveling through Colombia’s remote jungles and countryside Fault Lines investigates the threats facing farmers struggling to return to their land.
We will have more from the episode in the coming week as it repeats on Al Jazeera America on February 8, 2014, 5:30p ET, and premieres on Al Jazeera English later in February 2014.
Join us as we livetweet this episode Friday from our main Twitter account, @ajfaultlines
Before the episode, check out the background reading!
“Displaced Colombians seek to reclaim land,” Al Jazeera English, July 11, 2013
“Land disputes have been at the heart of the Colombian conflict since 1964, when the left-wing FARC emerged in order to “end social, political and economic inequalities”, according to its foundation charter. As a result of the conflict, hundreds of thousands of displaced people have abandoned their land, while others were forced to sell under threats of violence.
According to the latest report issued by the Norwegian Refugee Council, Colombia is thought to have 4.9 to 5.5 million internally displaced people - more than any other country in the world.
The agreement has been celebrated by both sides as key to ending a conflict that has lasted more than half a century, and left hundreds of thousands of people dead.”
“Land reform key for Colombia peace talks,” Al Jazeera English, May 28, 2013
“Colombian government and guerrilla delegates have announced an agreement on the question of land reform – an important step in the peace talks that began six months ago in Havana.
“This first document…is the ‘golden gate’ for the continuation of talks on the rest of the issues,” Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) negotiator Andrés París said shortly after Sunday’s announcement.
“This is a firm step towards a final agreement to end the conflict,” he said, adding that the peace process “is being strengthened as the government’s spirit of change and reform grows stronger and as Colombians begin to see a future of peace in these talks, as well as changes that benefit them and improve their living conditions.”
Land reform is the first item on the agenda for the peace talks aimed at putting an end to the conflict that began in 1964, when the FARC emerged on the scene.”
“Peace talks with FARC rebels set to resume, says Colombia,” Al Jazeera America, August 25, 2013
“FARC, or the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, is a Marxist–rebel organisation that has been fighting the Colombian army since 1964.
Santos’ decision on Friday to recall his team in Havana came after FARC declared a pause in talks to study a government proposal on how to ratify a final peace accord.
Santos has said he wants talks concluded by the end of the year.
FARC has insisted a constituent assembly be formed and be charged with incorporating the content of the peace deals into the country’s constitution. The government has rejected that demand.
The fighters have also proposed a bilateral ceasefire during the talks, but the government has rejected the proposal, saying it could be used to strengthen the insurgency militarily.
FARC claims to be an armed peasant movement with an anti-imperialism agenda inspired by Bolivarianism.
The group now has about 8,000 fighters, according to the Defence Ministry.
A government commission last month estimated that 220,000 people have lost their lives in the nearly 50-year-old conflict.
Other estimates run as high as 600,000 dead.”
“Tens of thousands march in Bogota in support of farmers’ strike,” Al Jazeera America, August 30, 2013
"About 30,000 people marched in the Colombian capital, Bogota, Thursday to support a strike by small farmers who are protesting the government’s agricultural policies, which they say are driving them into bankruptcy.
The largely peaceful protests have involved teachers, students and health workers.
Demonstrators chanted, “Long live the farmers’ strike.” Some clashed with riot police, who responded with tear gas to disperse them[…]
By Thursday, relative calm was reported in the countryside.
Santos, an economist and former defense and foreign trade minister, has been buffeted by protests since taking office in August 2010.
University students took to the streets the following year to demand reforms. Truck drivers have protested high gasoline prices, and indigenous groups have demanded that security forces and guerrillas quit their territory[…]”
“Renewed Violence Keeps Colombia Farmers from Getting Back Their Land,” PRI.org, August 30, 2013
"Land lies at the heart of Colombia’s war. One of the main grievances for peasant farmers, who formed Marxist guerrilla groups in the 1960s, was lack of access to farmland.
The war made things worse.
Legions of small farmers have been killed or uprooted by right-wing paramilitaries who accused them of collaborating with the rebels. Others were run off their land by guerrillas. All told, they left behind nearly 15 million acres, roughly the size of Maryland and Massachusetts put together.
"Instead of land reform having occurred in Colombia," says Max Schoening, a Colombia researcher for Human Rights Watch, "there has been a counter land reform that’s been driven by atrocities like massacres in which armed groups would enter into towns and start killing civilians, torturing them in public. And after they abandoned that land, they would acquire it for themselves."
In 2011, the Colombian government passed a land restitution law that aims to return millions of acres to displaced peasants over the next decade. But the armed groups that stole the land in the first place are still operating in many parts of the country. These gunmen have killed more than a dozen land-rights activists in the past two years and have threatened hundreds more who have tried to reclaim their farms, according to a new Human Rights Watch report, written by Schoening.
The land restitution law was designed to help places like the state of Arauca, where fighting has displaced more than a third of all residents[…]”
“Dying for the promised land: Colombia struggles with land restitution law”, Alfonso Serrano for Al Jazeera America, February 6, 2014
“Alicia Ramos began receiving death threats immediately after returning to the farmland she inherited from her father — 120 acres in Necocli, in Colombia’s northwest, near the Panama border. Left-wing guerrillas seized the plot in the 1980s and forced Ramos’ family out. Now she is back, thanks to a government land restitution program that provides her with armed guards, security cameras and a bulletproof vest.
“They killed my neighbor recently — I don’t feel very secure,” said Ramos, a mother of three, referring to Urabeños, a neo-paramilitary group with a strong presence in the region. “They follow my car and ransacked my house when I stepped out recently, so now I don’t leave very often.”
Like Ramos, thousands of Colombian farmers are attempting to recover land usurped by paramilitary groups and leftist rebels during decades of armed conflict with the central government. Their struggle is the subject of a “Fault Lines” investigation, “Colombia: The Fight for Land,” premiering Friday at 9:30 p.m. ET.
Backed by the 2011 Victims and Land Restitution Law, Colombians have filed roughly 40,000 claims for 11,000 square miles of land. But unless it is modified, the law is doomed to fail, say analysts and civil rights groups. Up to 50 claimants have been killed since 2011, according to the Colombian attorney general’s office. And at least 500 have received death threats in the past year. But no arrests have been made[…]”
Further Coverage: | http://america.aljazeera.com/watch/shows/fault-lines/FaultLinesBlog/2014/2/7/colombia-the-deadlyfightforlandbackgroundreading.html |
By Dr. Jean-Paul Gagnon | 25 February 2011
The central argument of this work is that “democratic constitutional legitimacy” probably does not currently exist in the politics of any country internationally. This inherent problem in constitutionalism is an endemic governance problem most citizenries should be dealing with, only that we are not in a large extent doing so and haven’t been historically. This position was ascertained using a form of Beck and Grande’s (2010) cosmopolitan methodology in my doctoral thesis (which we shall return to). It is argued that every constitution is in need of considerable rethinking so as to bring its statutes in line with the interests of the plurality of individuals it oversees. Finally, this work attempts to show that research in this area of democratic constitutional legitimacy is lacking in the literature as only a few scholars presently engage the issue (namely Simone Chambers).
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Dr. Jean-Paul Gagnon
This work was conceived in 2007. It was a finding that came out of a particularly unique (or at least I thought it to be) review of the extant literature concerning the history of democracy. That was during the early stages of my doctoral research. The central question that gripped me then, and continues to hold me now, is whether we can determine if democracy has a historically reasoned number of endemic problems which are still to be proven to be present today. In my doctoral dissertation I reasoned there to be seven problems of this nature: one of them being constitutional issues, or what many have come to call “constitutionalism” (see, for example, Nergelius, 2008; Tsagourias, 2007; Arjomand, 2007; Krey, 2009; and Klabbers, 2004).
I was not able to investigate this endemic problem to a greater degree until recently. The central question of this investigation concerns constitutional legitimacy: specifically democratic legitimacy. It is important to keep this in mind as I argue this specific problem area of constitutionalism to be a gap in the literature few have contributed to. One exceedingly important contribution in this regard comes from Chambers (2004). She convincingly argues
that as our notions of autonomy and respect have evolved and become more sensitive to pluralism, there has been a corresponding shift in the popular sovereignty stories we find plausible. Those stories can no longer rely so heavily on hypothetical arguments but must include what citizens say on the subject of their own constitution. This means that successful constitution-making is not only about entrenching the right first principles, it is also about including citizens in the process of constitution-making in the right way. I call this move to inclusion, the democratization of popular sovereignty. (Chambers, 2004: 153)
The extant literature has produced diverse arguments regarding which parameters an institution must meet to be considered legitimate (see, for example, Thornhill, 2008; Shvetsova, 2005; Richards, 1986; and Estella, 2005). And in a previous work, I have attempted to show that my theory of basic democracy might be used as a measure for democratic legitimacy. This work is brought into this discussion because it may allow us to use a set of basic democratic parameters to measure whether a constitution (in its formation or subsequent amendments) conforms to democratic legitimacy. And I reason this investigation to be of utmost importance as, through my limited cognitive abilities, it seems this is not something we are widely thinking about.
For an institution to be democratically legitimate, it is argued that it must be based on at least two core premises: communication and inclusivity. In other words, there must be substantial evidence showing that the pluralities of any polity or society affected by a constitution should be involved in the process. It is, after all, a legal document that structures a country’s supreme laws.
A short thought experiment may have some utility here. Let us take the United States of America’s (hereafter “USA”) constitution as our case study. The formation and ratification of this document was done in secrecy for the obvious reason that the members involved in this endeavour did not want to be hung for treason. This was an important strategy for the cause of the USA’s secession from the British Empire. However, we must still ask ourselves if this process was done in an inclusive manner. In a manner that permitted the wide discussion of the document and the involvement of all vested interests: of course not. But if we look into later work on the constitution in the form of amendments, we see that the processes of inclusivity and communication were not followed either. Here, however, we no longer have the ability to reason that such was not possible on account of angry King George the 3rd. We see a failure of democratic thinking, and hence, a failure of legitimacy.
This thought experiment can probably be extended to any constitution one might wish to scrutinize for democratic legitimacy. Let us take China as a good contemporary example. The latest constitution was ratified and put into use in 1982, which is helpful as the process the state took to form this legal framework is rather recent (see White III, 2009; Holcombe, 1946; Cohen, 1978; and Das, 1984 for further evidence). We see that Holcombe (1946:2), criticizing a previous constitution of China, states that a central tenet of Confucianism is that the “people must have faith in their rulers” or else there is nothing for the state to stand on. The same can be said for the constitution of China only that a critical analysis of the document using the parameters of democratic legitimacy will be necessary as “faith” is probably easy to manufacture through clever public relations. It is felt that a cursory analysis of the most recent Chinese constitution, or previous constitutions, will show that inclusivity and dialectics were completely insufficient in the process.
A good counter-argument to my work is the process of “constitutional development” (see Kellogg, 2009). We might argue that because of judicial and legislative review as well as proposed amendments with popular referendums, constitutions will continue to reflect the current population it oversees. But judicial and legislative review is not a sufficient guarantor for the inclusion of the vested pluralities. This is common knowledge especially when we consider much of the critical literature regarding representative governmental and judicial systems. Now amendments to the constitution are rarely tied with popular referendums unless the amendment is going to severely impact the state (we can see referendums used in cases of the secession or creation of territories). However, this brings us yet again into the depths of another body of critical literature dealing with the problems associated with referendums in that they are not a sufficient institution for dialectic participation.
Perhaps what might be of use in this work is the consideration that we probably will need to improve upon or develop new institutions to increase the legitimacy of our constitutions. This could be assisted through internet and software for the countries that have a wide diffusion of such technology, or radio and SMS for countries that do not. It could be a process of several referendums, or tiered-governmental discussions and preliminary votes. It could also incorporate periods of discussion and counter-argument between votes. We might even see the necessity of having every tier of government from local to country-state vote “yes.” The possibilities in this regard are many. What is worrying is that most, if not all of them, are not being used or widely engaged.
To add some depth concerning my main argument, mulling over any constitution in this way is not a recent phenomenon. In 1930, A. K. Rogers was questioning the almost holy reverence in which Americans held their constitution. Let us take a closer look:
There are few things more characteristic of American politics than its professions of regard for the Constitution [notice the capitalized ‘C’]. A vague notion has existed that a particular form of law is somehow the necessary foundation and guaranty of our liberties; it is there everlastingly to depend upon, and to relieve us from the necessity of facing and settling matters of principle. This notion of law as an entity existing apart from the hesitating opinions and wavering wills of men in a higher realm of pure reason [I disagree with this elitist position] is a product of that inveterate love of the human mind for glittering generalities which is always likely, when uncorrected, to lead us into trouble in the practical world [this is an important point]. And especially when we find it utilized for the express purpose of putting a check upon the experimental spirit which is the natural corollary of democratic theory, the situation merits all the critical attention it is now beginning [emphasis added] to receive. (Rogers, 1930:289)
That was written over 80 years ago, and is still a relevant argument today. We can see that the American constitution holds a sacred place in popular culture from films, to art, to activism, and to certain pieces of parochial political analysis. In the context of the USA, the pluralities within that country would do well to distance themselves from this almost mystical attachment to a document removed from current realities. If that does not give us reason for concern, I am uncertain as to what will. There is, however, one point from Barnett (2003) which, although I do not agree with his analytic structure, theoretical reasoning, or conclusion, is lucid and poignant to the point I am trying to make.
The Constitution’s legitimacy cannot, then, simply be assumed [note once more the capitalized ‘C’]. Unless we openly confront the question of its legitimacy, we will never know whether we should obey it, improve upon it, or ignore it all together. It is, therefore, extremely odd that, for all the verbiage published annually about the Constitution of the United States, one almost never hears the issue of its legitimacy addressed systematically. Perhaps this is because, for many, the Constitution is sacred and any serious treatment of its legitimacy would have to admit the possibility that it does not pass muster. It is as though we are afraid to find that there is no man behind the curtain. (Barnett, 2003: 111)
Let’s look at this thought experiment from a different angle. The constitution was initially conceived and built by a select few men, of Caucasian descent and colonial background. Women, indigenous people (the rightful owners of the Americas), Africans, and nearly the entire majority of other colonial men with vested interests in the USA were not included in this process. The document was formed by this select few to address a specific political situation: even a cursory glance at the USA’s constitution can lead one to this conclusion.
So we are left with a document created by a select few, one that addresses a set of specific political demands from the late 18th century and one that was not representative of the wants or needs of the plural societies in the USA. This document now governs a plurality, population and set of political contexts vastly different to the situations of 1763-1812. When we think of any constitution in this way, I think we immediately create a white elephant: one that asks us how this is logical.
As earlier mentioned, some might argue that subsequent amendments to the USA’s constitution have made it legitimate, or more legitimate than before. But without the participation and discussion of these proposed amendments by all vested pluralities in American society at the time, we simply cannot consider amendments to the constitution a democratic victory. This is often a good time to branch of into Kantian ethics and argue that certain amendments are still legitimate even if they did not happen to satisfy inclusivity and dialogical requirements because they were “a good.” I am inclined to agree with this, especially in regard to empowering women, African Americans and indigenous peoples. But we are left with the question of whether amendments of this nature could have been better: whether they could have been more representative of the aforementioned peoples’ wants and needs. But that is a discussion better suited to a different forum than the one herein.
I am now stuck in something of a theoretical and practical mire. This discussion can lead us to the conclusion that perhaps all modern constitutions are not democratically legitimate, or at least severely lacking in this regard. The extant literature has been explaining to a greater degree that the nexus of an independent judiciary, a bi-cameral government and the allowance of a civil society to exist are insufficient guarantors of legitimacy in government. Judiciaries do not open their decisions to inclusive pluralistic discussion (see Bellamy, 2007); lower or upper houses of government are very well-covered by the literature in regards to the short-comings of the representative governing system; and simply giving space for civil society to operate in is not as effective at keeping government accountable, transparent and anti-corrupt as previously thought. This has been leading academics, practitioners and activists into seeking structural reform for our democratically styled systems. An example of this, and perhaps a poor one, can be seen in Chapter 7 of my doctoral dissertation.
The mire I am in concerns the following questions: are we ethically bound by our own demands of democratic rights to reform our constitutions in an inclusive manner allowing for consensus to be reached through discussion? And if this is the guarantor of constitutional legitimacy, how often are we to do this? Will frequent referendums suffice? What are the periods of time, stages of votes, or other decisional structures for such a process? Is there a percentage of the population that must vote? If not, what percentage of the voting body is required for an amendment to be considered legitimate (surely not 51%)? Who is to regulate this process independently (should “independently” ever be possible) and what teeth will such a body or bodies have?
What strikes concern in me is that these questions are not answered. What is perhaps cause for even greater concern is that some of these questions are not widely asked or thought about (consensus or deliberative angles are, however, hot topics). I think this is evident for academic thought as well, or at least the literature has so led me to reason. I hope that this work might make a small contribution. That it, in the very least, will bring greater attention to this gap in the literature and our set of concerns in cosmopolitan society.
I simply cannot accept that a text written by a select few, in a way that was not representative by any democratically legitimate means of the vast plurality of a given society, is the supreme law of a completely different society in a completely different political situation. It is theoretically absurd and confounding in the practical dimension of consideration. Perhaps this small work might assist in our understanding of modern problems with constitutions. Hopefully it will lead to works by greater minds than my own paltry one so that we may derive greater insight into this important realm of thought.
Works Cited
Arjomand, Saïd Amir. 2007. “Islamic Constitutionalism,” Annual Review of Law and Social Science. 3: 115-140.
Barnett, Randy E. 2003. “Constitutional Legitimacy,” Columbia Law Review. 103 (1): 111-148.
Bellamy, Richard. Political Constitutionalism: A Republican Defence of the Constitutionality of Democracy.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Chambers, Simone. 2004. “Democracy, Popular Sovereignty, and Constitutional Legitimacy,” Constellations.11(2): 153-173.
Cohen, Jerome Alan. 1978. “China’s Changing Constitution,” The China Quarterly, 76: 794-841.
Das, Naranarayan. 1984. “China’s New Constitution: Triumvirate on Trial,” 20: 47.
Estella, Antonio. 2005. “Constitutional Legitimacy and Credible Commitments in the European Union,”European Law Journal. 11(1): 22-42.
Holcombe, Arthur N. 1946. “Chinese Political Thought and the Proposed New Constitution,” The Journal of Politics, 8(1): 1-23.
Kellogg, Thomas E. 2009. “Constitutionalism with Chinese Characteristics? Constitutional Development and Civil Litigation in China,” International Journal of Constitutional Law, 7(2): 214-246.
Klabbers, Jan. 2004. “Constitutionalism Lite,” International Organizations Law Review. 1: 31-58.
Krey, Patrick. 2009. “Constitutionalism 101,” The New American. 25(11): 23-28.
Nergelius, Joakim. (ed). 2008. Constitutionalism: New Challenges: European Law from a Nordic Perspective.Leiden: Brill.
Richards, David A. J. 1986. “Constitutional Legitimacy and Constitutional Privacy,” New York University Law Review. 61: 800-862.
Rogers, A. K. 1930. “Constitutionalism,” The International Journal of Ethics. 40(3): 289-304.
Shvetsova, Olga. 2005. “Mass-Elite Equilibrium of Federal Constitutional Legitimacy,” Constitutional Political Economy. 16: 125-141.
Thornhill, Chris. 2008. “Towards a Historical Sociology of Constitutional Legitimacy,” Theory and Society.37(2): 161-197.
Tsagourias, Nicholas. (ed). 2007. Transnational Constitutionalism: International and European Perspectives.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
White III, Lynn T. 2009. “Chinese Constitutional Currents,” Modern China, 36(1): 100-114.
Dr. Jean-Paul Gagnon is a social and political theorist with a Ph.D. in political science. He completed his doctorate at the Queensland University of Technology under the aegis of Australia’s prestigious Endeavour Award. This article is derived from a working paper titled “Constitutional Legitimacy: Defining a Gap in the Extant Literature.”
“Democratic constitutional legitimacy” or the “democratization of popular sovereignty” (Chambers, 2004:153) addresses the fact that most, if not all, constitutions in this world were conceived and implemented in non-democratic ways. The majority of constitutions and subsequent amendments were not done in an inclusive manner and did not have extensive dialectical frameworks for individuals to engage with. This throws the legitimacy of constitutions into light as from a democratic perspective; these legal bodies appear more despotic than democratic.
I do have my reservations concerning the legitimacy of a constitution being pegged on the principles of Islam unless this is, of course, derived from an inclusive and dialogically-based process concerning the entire societal plurality governed by an Islamic constitution.
See http://www.tfd.org.tw/docs/dj0602/001-022%20Jean-Paul%20Gagnon.pdf for more information about this theory. | https://cesran.org/constitutional-legitimacy-an-international-ill-and-gap-in-the-literature.html |
Changes to food labelling have been in place since December 2014 and this legislation is called the EU Food Information for Consumers Regulation (EU FIC).
They help provide allergen ingredients information in a clearer and more consistent way. For example, any of the 14 allergens that are on the regulatory list are to be emphasised on the label of a pre-packaged food if they are used as ingredients.
Schools have to comply with this new legislation and therefore allergen posters with the menu details are now placed in both primary and secondary kitchens. The 14 allergens are: eggs, milk, fish, crustaceans, molluscs, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame seeds, cereals (containing gluten), soya, celery, mustard, lupin, sulphur dioxides and sulphites.
As a service we accommodate special dietary requirements through our special diets procedure and in liaison with the school and individual families. Menus for pupils with special dietary requirements are available once the special diets procedure has been completed. Please inform the relevant school if a special diets menu is required. Examples of menus available are listed below. | https://sthelens.gov.uk/article/5325/Allergies |
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Shopping in Florence was a lot more fun than Venice as there was a massive shopping district, however I still found that there wasn't a great variety of stores, with only a couple of reasonably priced stores, a bunch of expensive designer stores, a couple of boutiques, and a strange amount of lingerie stores which I wasn't in the market for.
Today was my shopping day and I bought a jumper from this store called Top Girl which had some funky other pieces like shaggy jumpers and fur jackets that I would have loved to have bought but I already had similar pieces at home. I really like the quirky eye print as I've been looking for more bold pieces. I've been trying to buy some coloured pieces of clothing but it is slim pickings over here with the dominant colours in store being black, grey and dark reds, blues and greens.
I also bought a pair of sunglasses from Zara. I bought away with me a simple pair of black wayfarer style sunnies, but I've been wanting a pair a bit more colourful and patterned. It was also really great for them to also give me the pleather sunglasses case which feels so sturdy and will be able to handle my bag being thrown around for another two months of travel.
Florence has been such a lovely place, my family and I haven't been to too many famous sights, just seeing the major ones that we've really wanted too. Otherwise we've spent most of our time eating the yummiest pastries and gelato and walking it off around the streets.
We have visited the il Duomo, this beautiful massive church that has the most detailed exterior design I have ever seen, we walked up to the Piazzale Michelangelo which is a lookout over the whole city, we also visited the famous statue Michelangelos David which was incredible, I definitely saw the reason why it is so admired. I also took some sneaky pics of him which I wasn't supposed to but shh...
The weather has been actually bearable here so I've been able to wear my new jacket from Pull and Bear!
Sorry for not posting in a while, I had nonexistent internet in Venice and my days here in Florence have been full on! I'm usually out all day and then am too tired to do anything in the evenings.
Venice was so beautiful that none of my pictures do it justice, it felt like I was in a movie, everything was so picturesque. My family and I spent our three days there walking each day and just taking in all the sights. The island of Venice is quite small so it easy to see a lot in one day, it is also easy to get lost in all the little alleyways but somehow you'll always manage to find your way home. My one tip would be to stay where the people are, they generally know where they are and where they are going!
I was disappointed however by the shopping, all the stores were either too touristy, selling masks, leather goods or murano glass, or they were too expensive, which isn't a problem if you have a bottomless pit that is your wallet, yet for me who is on a limited budget that has needed to stretch across six weeks it is a bit difficult.
Monday, December 16, 2013
What a beautiful time we had in Munich, full of great food and beautiful buildings and scenery. We also made a day trip by train into Salzburg where the movie The Sound of Music was filmed which I am such a huge fan of. In Munich we went into the tourist part of the city at Marienplatz where we visited lovely churches and had lunch at a famous beer garden. That evening we also visited a huge Christmas market which I mentioned in my last post.
In Salzburg we took a sightseeing bus all around the city and saw all the major sights where The Sound of Music was filmed. We also took a cable car up to the top of one of the Alps mountains where we played around in the snow.
On our last day we visited the concentration camp at Dachau which was a very somber experience as we got to see the horrid conditions that these people lived in.
As I write this I am sitting at a train station waiting to board our train to Venice which I am so excited about! Two weeks in Italy is going to be amazing!
Because we only had a few days here in Munich I wasn't really able to go on a huge shopping spree like I have been able to in Paris and Berlin, but that was fine as I really enjoyed walking around and seeing all the beautiful historic buildings in the city and also when we went to Salzburg for a day trip.
I did manage to buy though this gorgeous ring from a Christmas market in Theresienwise. It is actually an old spoon that had been turned into a ring, which I thought was really funky. I love how unique it is and also the fact that it will never tarnish like the usual cheap rings I buy.
I thought that this was a great piece that will forever remind me of my time in Munich!
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Today I had a day to myself where I went shopping of course! I wore my new Zara coat with my Ziggy denim jeans and snow boots. I travelled along the Kurfursten-dame street which is this massive 3.3km shopping street. I had a great time browsing through all the stores, Berlin had a lot more variety in more reasonably priced stores than Paris however I did find that a lot of these cheaper stores stocked the same sort of styles that did not have the best quality.
Some of the stores I went to included Mango, Forever 21, H&M, Pim Kie, COS, & Other Stories, Pull and Bear, Zara, C&A and a couple of others. I absolutely loved Pull and Bear, they had great variety in their pieces, it wasn't just all different versions of the same style which is what most stores seem to do these days. I also really enjoyed & Other Stories, they had such beautiful pieces and great accessories however I felt that some of the clothes were almost trying too hard to be fashion forward - lots of stiff neoprene and thick felt dresses - although the pieces looked great in the lookbook photos, I felt that for the average person they would not be flattering for everyday.
From Mango I bought this basic black top, it has a really great texture and a really flattering shape to it.
From & Other Stories I bought this beautiful watercolour tank. There was also this lovely wrap dress that I tried on that I now regret not buying, but I'm sure I'll come across another store somewhere else in either Europe or America.
Sorry for the horrible flash but being in difficult lighting it's hard to show you the detail on the great pieces I bought from Pull and Bear. I got this great mini skirt with beading all over the front, and a bomber style jacket with this sleek embroidery design on the back.
I still have 4 and a bit more weeks left in Europe and I'm already running out of money - haha. I have a feeling that I'm going to have to borrow a bit from the parents to last me...
My family and I have spent the last five days in Berlin walking around the city and visiting all the famous sites of World War Two and the Cold War and drinking lots of hot chocolate! It has been remarkable to stand in the same places that so many famous historical figures have stood before. Berlin however certainly hasn't been as beautiful as Piaris, most likely because of the wars that have ravaged the city, but I have still really enjoyed the experience. Berlin apparently has a pretty amazing night life but since I'm not a big party-er nor have been with my friends here I've missed out on that, so that's maybe what might bring me back one day.
Some of the places my family and I have visited include the Reichstag building, the Topography of Terror, Checkpoint Charlie, the Berlin cathedral, the KaDeWe, the Berlin Wall gallery, the Brandenburg gates, and many memorials. Out of these I would have to say that my favourite has been the Berlin Wall gallery, however it was very disappointing to see the senseless graffiti that has ruined these great works of art.
Monday, December 9, 2013
I'm on the otherside of the world and I am still thinking of these flatform shoes from Wittner that I tried on just before I left on my holiday. I am seriously contemplating buying them and having them shipped to the people house sitting my house, or is that too crazy....
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On this day in 1980, Mount St. Helens volcanically erupts in a major geologic event still holding various records for severity. Located in Skamania County, in the State of Washington, the eruption (a VEI 5 event) was the most significant volcanic event to occur in the contiguous 48 US states since the 1915 eruption of Lassen Peak in California.
It has often been declared as the most disastrous volcanic eruption in US history. The eruption was preceded by a two-month series of earthquakes and steam-venting episodes, caused by an injection of magma at shallow depth below the volcano that created a large bulge and a fracture system on the mountain’s north slope.
Following an earthquake at 8:32:17 a.m. PDT (UTC−7) that Sunday the 18th, the entire weakened north face slid away, creating the largest landslide ever recorded. This allowed the partly molten, high-pressure gas- and steam-rich rock in the volcano to suddenly explode northwards toward Spirit Lake in a hot mix of lava and pulverized older rock, overtaking the avalanching face.
The eruption column rose 80,000 feet, or 15 miles into the atmosphere, and deposited ash in 11 states and British Columbia. At the same time, snow, ice and several entire glaciers on the volcano melted, forming a series of large lahars (volcanic mudslides) that reached as far as the Columbia River, nearly 50 miles to the southwest.
Upwards of 57 people were killed directly, including innkeeper Harry R. Truman, photographers Reid Blackburn and Robert Landsburg, and geologist David A. Johnston. Hundreds of square miles were reduced to wasteland, causing over a billion US dollars in damage ($3 billion in 2018 dollars), thousands of animals were killed, and Mount St. Helens was left with a crater on its north side. Owned by Burlington Northern Railroad at the time of the disaster, the area was later preserved, as is, in the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument as a parcel of the US Forestry Service.
Since New Years Day 2018, Mount St. Helens has experienced 40 earthquakes within its vicinity as aftershocks continue every few hours. The most powerful earthquake January 3 had a magnitude of 3.9 that occurred around midnight west coast time about 5 miles from Mount St. Helens and 23 miles from the town of Morton.
On a less optimistic note, St. Helens and the region sit in the Cascadia Subduction Zone, a fault line deep in the belly of the planet under the Pacific Ocean. It’s gargantuan size and potential power amaze earthquake experts, who say it could cause the worst natural disaster in the history of North America. If the Cascadia were to experience a large-magnitude earthquake and rupture, the temblor and resulting tsunami could kill more than 13,000 people, injure more than 26,000, and displace or disrupt nearly 3 million, according to one FEMA model.
So there’s that. | http://theblueroute.org/will-mt-st-helens-explode-again/ |
Mosquitoes are the most important vectors of emerging infectious diseases. During the past decade, our understanding of the diversity of viruses they carry has greatly expanded. Most of these viruses are considered mosquito-specific, while there is increasing evidence that these viruses may affect mosquito vector potential. Metagenomics approaches have focused on specific mosquito species for the identification of what is called core virome. However, in most ecosystems, multiple species may participate in virus emergence and circulation, while there is lack of understanding on the viruses-carrier/host network for both vector-borne and mosquito-specific viruses.
Results
Here, we studied the core mosquito virome in a diverse ecosystem comprised of 24 different mosquito species. Analysis of these 24 diverse viromes resulted in the discovery of 35 viruses with known genetic traits and 9 novel viruses. Comparison of the viromes of the 24 individual species revealed novel relationships between mosquito species and virus families, as most of the mosquito species had never been analysed in the past. Groups of related viruses and mosquito species from multiple genera formed a complex network in the ecosystem. Analyses of whole traps of mosquitoes of variable composition not only showed a stable core virome for each species but also a relationship between mosquito population and virome composition.
Conclusions
Our study highlighted the importance of a holistic approach regarding mosquito viromes in rich and diverse ecosystems. Our data further supported the idea of a stable core virome, characteristic of each mosquito species. The remarkable stability of the core virome seemed to determine the composition of the total mosquito core virome of a habitat in the ecosystem. | https://www.researchsquare.com/article/rs-229254/v1 |
Etymology: Anemone: an ancient Greek name from anemos, "wind"
Plants: erect, perennial, 1'-3' tall forb
Leaves: basal leaves stalked, deeply palmately-divided, whorl of 3 smaller stalked leaves at the base of the flowering stalks, and 2 leaf-like bracts midway on some of the flower stalks
Flowers: greenish to white, 5-parted, 3/4"-1" wide, petal-like sepals; mostly 1-3 long stalks of a solitary flower; blooms June-Aug.
Fruits: dry seeds on a 1/2"- 1 1/4" densely woolly, oval to cylindrical cluster
Habitat: semi-shade; dry to moderate moisture; woods, prairies, inland sands
Hazardous: Careful, this plant is hazardous!
Conservation Status: Native
Flora of North America: Flora of North America Floristic Rating: Coefficient of Conservatism = 5, Wetland Indicator = NI USDA Plants Database: Federal Distribution and detailed information including photos Dan Tenaglia's The Missouri Flora: Fabulous photographs; detailed descriptions; color and leave arrangement key. Illinois Wildflowers: Wonderful photographs; detailed descriptions; color and leaf arrangement key Southwest School of Botanical Medicine: Britton & Brown Illustrated Flora - 2nd Edition (1913) "An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada" | https://wisflora.herbarium.wisc.edu/taxa/index.php?taxon=2536&cl=Marathon%20County%202016 |
The inaugural WTCC race at the Shanghai International Circuit took place today, and despite a disappointing qualifying session on Saturday, Honda Racing Team JAS were looking to repeat the Civic WTCC’s promising performance shown in its debut race in Suzuka, Japan, last month.
Race 1:
The 13 lap Race 1 got underway at 2:45pm local time in Shanghai and starting from 17th on the grid, Honda driver Tiago Montiero had it all to do. With lots of contact in the first lap, which claimed championship leader Muller, it wouldn’t be easy for the Portuguese driver. But Monteiro, sticking to strategy, avoided all the collisions and shot to 11th. With the circuit’s wide and fast track, perfect for overtaking, the opening laps saw further changes of position, and by lap 3 Tiago had improved his position to 9th. The Civic WTCC climbed further through the field on lap 5, and after battling hard against Swiss driver Barth, took 7th on lap 7. Monterio maintained the top ten position until the chequered flag fell; finishing in the points 30.032 seconds behind Menu, who led Race 1 from lights to flag.
Race 2:
The start of Race 2, at 4:00pm local time, mirrors that of Race 1, with a number of collisions on lap 1 as the pack heads to the first corner. But Monteiro has another clean start and moves up to 11th. The Civic WTCC continues to perform well, allowing Monteiro to make further progress; moving to 9th and into the points on lap 5. A fantastic race then ensues between Brits Boardman in 8th and Turkington in 10th, with Monteiro sandwiched in between. Despite swapping paint with both, Monteiro maintains his position for six laps, but fails to get in front of Boardman who keeps the door shut. There’s disappointment on lap 11 as Turkington makes a move on the Civic WTCC, getting in front of Tiago and pushing him back to 10th. Monteiro continues to battle hard to secure a second top ten finish, but it seems that’s its not to be, with Italian Cirqui coming from behind to take Tiago on the final lap. However luck is on Monteiro’s side. 2nd place Muller receives a thirty second time penalty from the Stewards for hitting team-mate Alain Menu earlier in the race; pushing Muller back to 12th and promoting the Honda Racing Team JAS driver to 10th place.
The final two rounds of the 2012 WTCC will be held at the Circuito da Guia in Macau on the 16 and 18 November.
Driver Tiago Monteiro: "It’s been a very positive weekend. In Race 1 we were given a great opportunity because everybody got very hot and excited. I am very happy with the result. There were some problems during the beginning of the weekend, so we had to try many things. We missed Q2 by a narrow margin, but we knew that we could do something to improve. Again, I’ve learnt a lot about the car and now understand it more, so I am more confident about it. The balance of the car was very good through both of the races. I was able to push and attack and I felt very comfortable with it. I think we’re travelling in the right direction and this has been a very valuable weekend."
Honda Racing Team JAS Team Principal, Alessandro Mariani: "Yesterday, we were not at the top of our potential with some mechanical problems and mistakes. Fortunately today, Tiago did very well in both races. Starting from 17th and recovering positions is not easy, but he was able to stay away from crashes to achieve a very good result. A seventh place after only two races is fantastic. Of course, we still need a lot more experience, testing and work, but we are very proud to have made the top 10 in both races."
Chief Engineer for Civic WTCC Development, Daisuke Horiuchi: "To be honest, I’m delighted by the result of Race 1. I am very satisfied with the fact that we went past ten cars and moved up to seventh. Tiago did a very good job. In Race 2, we dropped a place at the end, which is a little disappointing, but I am happy that we climbed some positions and completed the race in the top ten. I would like to thank Tiago for his effort in the close fights. Regarding the car, in the races, we applied the set-up we had used in Practice 1 yesterday because we thought it provided the best balance, and I think it worked well to get these results. I feel that the car has been improving gradually, but there is still a gap between the top cars and us, so we need to further improve the potential of our car for next year. We will do our best in the last event to help with these preparations." | https://www.prwave.ro/honda-civic-wtcc-fights-back-to-finish-races-1-and-2-in-7th-and-10th-respectively/ |
Candidate campaign page: http://www.thomas4culvercity.org/
A frequent bike-commuter and member of the Culver City Cultural Affairs Commission, Thomas Small shows an exceptional grasp of the concepts of – and need for – livable streets. In his response to Bike The Vote L.A, Mr. Small strongly declares that Culver City “need(s) more bike lanes and paths that are separated entirely and protected from cars,” and displays a willingness to make tough decisions to ensure quality bike infrastructure, including to “seriously consider dedicating the space from on-street parking” to create protected bike lanes. Mr. Small supports expeditiously bringing a bike share system to Culver City and to coordinate its implementation with current and future transit-oriented development. In consideration of recently removed crosswalks on Jefferson Blvd, Mr. Small makes it clear that pedestrian and bike access should be prioritized for the benefit of Culver City residents over desires vehicular throughput. Thomas Small is a superb candidate with a vision to improve livability and increase mobility options in Culver City.
Bike The Vote L.A. 2016 Grade: A
(See below for full candidate questionnaire response)
1. What would an ideal transportation system for Culver City consist of? What mode options, considerations for people of different ages and abilities, and innovative features would that transportation system include?
Small: The design and enhancement of our sidewalks, walking paths, bike lanes and bike paths must be advanced to a higher priority. Every destination in our city must be safely and easily accessible by bike and by foot. Culver City should become the most innovative and advanced community in the world in regard to connectivity and transit options for the “last mile” from the Expo Train stations to all the other destinations in our city. Bike sharing, Zip Cars and other car sharing services, electric scooter sharing (http://www.scootnetworks.com/) as in San Francisco, Pedi cabs, shuttles, corporate and other volume discount agreements with Uber and Lyft, Uber pool arrangements, and other innovative strategies will be imperative to the vitality of our city. All of these options need to be integrated into a master plan including the new developments and the school district.
2. With so many people on foot and on bike killed each year while commuting in Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles recently adopted a “Vision Zero” policy to work towards eliminating traffic deaths in the City of L.A. by 2025. Would you support adopting Vision Zero for Culver City?
Small: Yes. The transportation system needs to evolve and be upgraded with the system described above so that car traffic can slow down a little to make it safer for bikes. We also need more bike lanes and paths that are separated entirely and protected from cars.
3. Culver City is considering implementing protected bike lanes – bike lanes separated from vehicles by a physical barrier – in two key locations: 1) on National Blvd to close the gap between the two halves of the Expo Bike Path that extend to USC/Expo Park to the East and Santa Monica to the West, and 2) on Washington Blvd connecting the Expo Line Culver City station to Downtown Culver City. Do you support these projects, which may require a dedication of developer land and/or a reduction of on-street car parking spaces?
Small: Yes. We need to require this and work with the developers to accomplish it – all of them whose projects are in the immediate area to make both of these projects happen. The bike lanes need to be prioritized. The Lowes Company at Ivy Station, the Platform, Access Culver City, and the new development at Surfas all need to collaborate with the Culver City Public Works, Metro, Los Angeles, and any other agencies and jurisdictions to make this happen. The overly narrow sidewalk on the west side of National south of Washington also needs to be widened and the light poles need to be removed. We should seriously consider dedicating the space from the on-street parking to these projects.
4. Would you support bringing a bike share system to Culver City, and if so, what will you do to expedite its installation?
Small: Yes. We need to study the systems promoted by Metro and being used in Santa Monica to determine which system would be best for Culver City, and mandate collaboration with the TOD developer and the other developers of new projects. The City Council should move forward with this immediately.
5. The City Council recently voted to prioritize vehicular travel through Culver City over providing pedestrian access for local residents to businesses and Culver City Park. Do you support the removal of crosswalks at Duquesne & Jefferson and Summertime Lane/Jordan Way & Jefferson?
Small: I think that decision was a mistake. We need to move forward on the alternative transportation options as outlined above so that we are less dependent on private cars to get around the city. And we need to prioritize pedestrian and bike access.
6. Do you presently bike in Culver City? What are your experiences, or if not, what would it take to make you feel comfortable biking on city streets?
Small: I ride my bike regularly as does my wife and my two 8-yr old third graders at Linwood Howe Elementary School. We built our sustainably designed house on Carson St near downtown specifically to be able to walk and bike to downtown, to school, to the Expo Station, to Helms Bakery, to several parks and to many other locations in Culver City. I often take my scooter to the train and then ride it to meetings or concerts in downtown LA after taking the Metro. There are many places in Culver City that do not have good bike access, where the bike lanes and paths are not well designed, and where the design favors the car traffic over bikes and pedestrians. When I ride to City Hall, the bike lanes through downtown Culver City are particularly bad, as they are in West Culver City as well. Let’s fix it. | https://www.bikethevote.com/post/140861578360/culver-city-candidate-small |
A reflection by Tearfund’s Dan Preston, one of the organisers of The Justice Conference.
I’d never heard a positive word about them before, but last weekend I joined with 500 others as we shared some mutual appreciation for the much maligned mosquito. I was at the first ever Justice Conference in the UK. Hosted by Tearfund, it was two days spent exploring the theology of justice, hearing from people on the frontline of various ministries and charity work, and sharing inspiration, ideas and encouragement.
Celia Apeagyei-Collins shared something in her talk that became my key takeaway from the event. ‘You describe the elephant by its size, but the mosquito by its impact,’ she said. ‘Even the smallest thing has an impact.’
We know the mosquito’s impact is a negative one – at best an inconvenient buzz, at worst magnifying the spread of disease. But what struck me is how we’re often quick to dismiss the contributions we could or do make, as insignificant.
We all have a part to play
It can feel like any impact we have is small, but even small actions have the potential to make a difference in the lives of others. At Tearfund, we’re privileged to see this first hand. We see it when one small petition card is the tipping point for governmental change, and when a short, faithful prayer makes all the difference. We see it when a supporter runs a sponsored event that raises crucial funds.
We see the power of seemingly small things in the communities we work with around the world, too: that one new farming technique that doubles a harvest; that act of kindness and inclusion that restores someone’s hope and confidence.
I left The Justice Conference last weekend thinking, ‘How can I use the power of small actions to change the world?’ Sometimes, we feel as small as a mosquito, not as big as an elephant, and that’s OK. God calls us to use what we have to make a difference – no matter how small it seems.
Please pray
Father, we praise you for the incredible ways that you take our small actions and turn them into lasting change for your glory. Thank you for using us to help build your kingdom. Please open our eyes to opportunities and ways that we can make a difference. In Jesus’ name, Amen. | https://www.tearfund.org/stories/2018/11/the-elephant-and-the-mosquito |
Native News Weekly (December 12, 2021): D.C. Briefs
WASHINGTON — In addition to news already covered during the previous week, each Sunday Native News Online provides an overview of activity in Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country during the past week.
Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Hearing Focused on Addressing Violence in Native Communities
On Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held an oversight hearing to hear testimony that addressed the violence in perpetrated against women in Indian Country.
A discussion draft of the tribal title for the upcoming Violence Against Women Act reauthorization was released at the hearing by Chairman Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Vice Chairman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK).
“In 2013 with the last VAWA reauthorization … this Committee came together – on a bipartisan basis – and voted to restore Tribal criminal jurisdiction over non-Indians who commit domestic violence in Indian Country. That vote – one of the first that I took as a new member of the Senate and of this Committee – was Congress’ first real step toward restoring justice for Native communities,” Sen. Schatz said. “Congress can help Tribes and Native communities build on this success in the next VAWA reauthorization.”
“While issues of tribal jurisdiction are confusing and esoteric, I want to emphasize that the impacts on the ground in Native communities, particularly in places like rural Alaska, are very real and very tragic. In 2019, we had the Attorney General come to a small Native village. He looked around, he talked to the people, he left and declared a law enforcement emergency. It was based on the fact that Alaska has the highest per capita crime rate in the country and we face a unique jurisdictional landscape. Jurisdictional complexity should not deny safety or justice, and that is what we are seeing,” Sen. Murkowski commented on the unique tribal jurisdiction in Alaska.
Michelle Demmert of the Alaska Native Women’s Resource Center was also invited to testify at the hearing. She was asked about the jurisdictional landscape in Alaska and how a state-specific pilot project will bring much needed support and projections for Alaska Natives.
The full tribal discussion draft can be viewed here. Public comments on the draft are due by December 22, 2021 and can be sent to [email protected] and will be shared with all members of the SCIA.
“In the eight years since Congress reauthorized VAWA, we have seen Tribal Nations combat domestic violence against Indian women while protecting non-Indian rights in an impartial Tribal forum. By exercising their inherent sovereignty and jurisdiction, many Tribal Nations have increased safety and justice for victims, who had previously seen little of either,” National Congress of American Indians President Fawn Sharp testified.“Removing the gaps in Tribal jurisdiction, ensuring all 574 Tribal Nations can exercise jurisdiction, and providing the resources and tools for implementation together can dramatically change the environment in Indian Country by empowering Tribal sovereignty and safety.”
The U.S. Commerce Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) on Monday expanded eligibility for grants to include for-profit tribal entities that expands access for up to $100 million designated to Indigenous communities. These funds are part of the $3 billion in federal funding made available to the EDA through the American Rescue Plan Act.
In September, tribal representatives met with the EDA which resulted in the regulations being changed to include for-profit entities that are wholly owned by and established exclusively for the benefit of a tribe.
Overall, this change should result in more COVID relief available to Native communities and is a big step in closing the funding opportunity gap.
Legislation to Confirm Tribal Trust Land for Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians Passed by the House
The House of Representatives on Wednesday unanimously passed H.R. 897 authored by Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA). This bill will take more than 2,500 acres of land in the San Jacinto Mountains into trust land for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians. This allows the tribe to further their conservation efforts and practice consistent forest management.
“The passage of H.R. 897 represents one of the final steps in bringing approximately 2,560 acres of land owned by the Tribe into trust for the Tribe and making those lands part of the Reservation,” Chairman Jeff L. Grubbe of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians said. “The action of bringing this land into trust will improve land management that directly benefits ongoing management of trails, invasive species and endangered Big Horn Sheep habitat. In addition, the Tribe will manage conservation lands that have long-standing cultural and natural resource value to our people. These final steps mean that the Tribe once again is the primary steward of land for the benefit of all future generations. The Tribe looks forward to Senate approval and moving the bill on to the President’s desk.”
This bill would fulfill a 1999 agreement between the Bureau of Land Management and the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians to acquire and exchange lands within the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument. These lands would then be managed in a cooperative and coordinated manner.
House Passes Bipartisan Package of Bills Addressing Critical Issues in Indian Country
In a series of votes from the last two weeks a package of bills were passed. This package included a bill written by Chair Teresa Leger Fernandez of the Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States, the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021 (STOP Act).
This bill increases penalties for trafficking tribal cultural patrimony, explicitly prohibits the export of these objects, and establishes federal frameworks to assist in the repatriation of stolen tribal objects between federal agencies and tribal governments.
Other bills passed in the bipartisan package include:
R. 4352(Rep. McCollum), to amend the Act of June 18, 1934, to reaffirm the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for Indian Tribes, will authorize the U.S. Department of the Interior to take land into trust for all federally recognized tribal governments regardless of the date they received federal recognition.
R. 2930(Rep. Leger Fernández), the Safeguard Tribal Objects of Patrimony Act of 2021, will establish federal frameworks for assisting in the repatriation of tribal cultural patrimony to tribal governments and prohibit the trafficking of such items through increases in criminal penalties.
R. 897(Rep. Ruiz)Agua Caliente Land Exchange Fee to Trust Confirmation Act, will transfer approximately 2,560 acres of land in California into trust for the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians for cultural and historical preservation purposes.
R. 2074(Rep. Young), Indian Buffalo Management Act,will establish a permanent program within the U.S. Department of the Interior to develop and promote tribal ownership and management of buffalo and buffalo habitats on tribal lands.
Neely Bardwell (descendant of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians), a Michigan State University student who is interning with Native News Online, contributed to these briefs.
This month, we’re asking our readers to help us raise $20,000 to fund our Indigenous-led newsroom. If you’re a regular reader of Native News Online, you know that we bring a Native perspective to the news and report important stories that the mainstream media often overlooks. While our news is free for everyone to read, it is not free to produce. That’s why we’re asking you to make a donation this month to help us keep producing quality journalism and elevating Indigenous voices. Any contribution of any amount — big or small — gives us a better, stronger future and allows us to remain a force for change. Donate to Native News Online today and support independent Indigenous journalism. Thank you.
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Berlin is a modern city rebuilt on a tumultuous past. Let history surround you in Berlin, as you see the future boldly reflected in the architecture, innovation, and culture that characterize this great city today. Berlin - Metropolitan Studies Stroll through the streets of Berlin and around one corner you will see soaring modern buildings that incorporate cutting-edge sustainable technology. Around another corner, you will see art galleries, cafés, and shops lining old cobblestone streets. As a city that has been built and rebuilt over the past century, Berlin remains a city of contrast and of innovation. Come and study in Berlin, and experience the energy and excitement of this amazing city. Using Berlin as a case study, this English-taught program examines issues relevant to major cities today. Through comparative and interdisciplinary courses, you will study topics such as architecture, cultural identity, gender and sexual politics, multiculturalism, popular culture, and urban studies. Berlin will be your classroom. Imagine touring the neighborhoods of Berlin and exploring the architecture as you learn about metropolitan development and urban planning, or attending and then discussing a local theater event as part of your pop culture class. Welcome to study abroad! Wherever possible, our courses take advantage of the many historical, artistic, and cultural sites in Berlin, and several courses include a hands-on, practical component. In addition, your learning is enhanced by extended field study trips to Istanbul, Turkey and St. Petersburg, Russia that provide a first-hand comparative context for your studies. In these cities, you tour neighborhoods, visit museums, attend lectures, and meet with local university students and professors to discuss the topics you are learning about. Finally, we want you to feel at home in Berlin, so we will do everything we can to help you integrate into life in Berlin, from cultural events to volunteer opportunities. You even have the option to improve your German language skills through a language partner program.Interested in seeing our Center through a Virtual Tour? Check out https://www.iesabroad.org/study-abroad/virtual-tours to learn more! | https://www.diversityabroad.com/partner/ies-abroad-4/programs?program=ies-abroad-berlin-metropolitan-studies-semester |
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6 Key Steps to a Successful Website Migration
Our clients often ask, “How quickly can you migrate our website into a Content Management System (CMS), while updating and improving the content, user experience, and design?” As simple as that request sounds, a website migration from one CMS to another is often extremely labor intensive and time-consuming. Many steps go into a successful website overhaul and migration, and this article covers a few steps we consider essential for success.
Step One: Get Organized
The most important aspect of any digital project is to be highly organized from the start. As an Engagement Manager, I make sure every project begins on a solid foundation that ensures deadlines are met and budgets stay on track. One of the most critical steps is to set up recurring internal team and client status meetings to ensure our team is reaching milestones and are aligned on project action items. By establishing and adhering to timelines, checklists, JIRA tickets, daily standups, and weekly status meetings, we can shepherd a project past any unexpected issues and ensure the project is successful.
Step 2: Focus on Migrating the Most Important Content
A website migration is the perfect opportunity to evaluate your website and clean up any unnecessary or outdated content. During our initial website audits, our team spends a significant amount of time analyzing user flows, page traffic, site search data, click-through rates, average time spent on page, and other analytics to evaluate page relevance and user interest when determining which pages to keep versus delete. This cleanup should take place prior to content migration to reduce time, effort, resources, and ultimately costs, so the focus can be on placement of the most important content. To meet predetermined goals, we focus on prioritizing content that aligns with business needs.
Step Three: Track Everything
When starting a website migration, we typically run a web crawl of the site to obtain all URLs and content data from the current website. The results of the web crawl are maintained in a spreadsheet that we use to track content as it’s migrated to the new website, which details the purpose of each page, what the users’ goals are, and any data sources used on that page. This provides an ongoing reference for any pages we have moved, archived, modified or kept as-is in the event old or missing information is needed in the future.
Step Four: Keep Your Client and Stakeholders Involved in the Process
World-class customer service and clear communication is the secret sauce for a successful migration project. Keeping stakeholders informed and actively involved during migration planning and execution is critical to the project's success. Our digital team's expertise, combined with key stakeholder knowledge of the subject matter, is the winning combination that keeps a migration on track. Regularly scheduled meetings between the Engagement Manager and client provide opportunities for stakeholder buy-ins and keep both teams aligned on milestones at every step of the process.
Step Five: Enlist an Unstoppable Team
A successful migration team is comprised of many specialized disciplines.
Engagement Managers are responsible for creating a solid foundation to keep the project on track and focus on delivery of a project, including deadline management, budget, and resource tracking.
Quality Assurance Specialists apply User Acceptance Testing (UAT) protocols to test the full functionality of the website in common iterations of browsers and devices by manually testing every page and component prior to release.
User Experience (UX) Designers create seamless experiences that allow customers to achieve their goals as quickly as possible, while also increasing customer retention and satisfaction.
Art Directors and Creative staff bring UX designs to life, ensuring they are as visually appealing as they are functional.
Step Six: Refine, Refine, RefineWe conduct multiple rounds of revisions and refinements to double and even triple-check all page links, content hierarchy, spelling, grammar, and images. Broken links cause 400-level errors that can harm your search engine rankings and cause poor user experiences. To alleviate this, we run a broken link checker and perform various rounds of testing to ensure all redirects are set up properly. Typically, we perform our own UAT, along with a two-week client UAT period. This ensures enough time for all necessary eyes to review and test the newly migrated website, as well as resolve any must-fix issues prior to website launch.
Sagepath has successfully completed a number of content migrations for leading companies across the country. If you're ready to take advantage of the latest features contemporary content managing systems offer, drop us a line and we'll put our proven process to work for you.
All text, graphics, audio files, code, downloadable material, and other works on this website are the copyrighted works of Sagepath, Inc. Any unauthorized redistribution or reproduction of any copyrighted materials on this website is strictly prohibited. Other product and company names are trademarks of their respective owners.
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can go.
In case you're wondering how memory can be so important in the process, think how hard it is to recall the phone number of your always-complaining-you-never-call-me grandmother, in comparison to how easy it is to remember your best friend's number (the person you call every day). Inevitably, repetition and frequent use have a role to play in memory and retention.
The same goes for vocabulary. If you want to expand and actually know your vocabulary at the unconscious level that is essential to fluent speech, you need to perform certain activities to keep your memory active and your vocabulary alive.
Repetition
Looking up a word's definition doesn't mean you've automatically added that word to your vocabulary (unfortunately). Unless you use the word repeatedly, you'll probably forget it fairly quickly. The most crucial yet systematically overlooked part of learning new vocabulary is your ability and willingness to put those words into use.
Frequent contextual usage will keep the word easily retrievable. The more you use it the faster you'll master it. Once you master a word, it's nearly impossible to forget it.
Curiosity
As kids, we tend to constantly bombard family and relatives with questions. However, this habit gradually fades as our own knowledge of the world reaches an efficient level that allows us to survive. Re-discover that natural propensity to be curious, and you'll discover new vocabulary wherever you look. For example, if you start looking for information on how airplanes fly, or how books are bound, you'll come across words you've never seen before, but will likely be able to use in the future.
By seeking information on subjects seemingly irrelevant to vocabulary, you won't be able to avoid a plethora of unknown words, which are just awaiting discovery. At the same time, you'll be working on expanding and keeping your memory fit, simply by revisiting past knowledge and building upon it further. This is one of the most effective, though indirect, ways of learning new vocabulary.
Exploration
Stepping out of your comfort zone immediately makes your senses sharper. Take advantage of this heightened awareness to build your vocabulary and stretch your memory.
Don't be afraid to explore unknown territories; pick up a novel in a genre you are not familiar with, or read a scientific journal article. Learning new things will improve your vocabulary knowledge and indirectly prompt your memory to absorb the incoming new data. The only prerequisite is willingness.
Practice
Memory is like any other skill; unless you work at it, it won't work for you. Fortunately, there are many activities that can help you sharpen your memory, like word games and quizzes. Such games and other interactive activities can be found in several vocabulary building software systems available on the market. Through word games, your memory will learn to be more effective in absorbing new information. In return, your enhanced skills will allow you to explore new vocabulary territories. | https://www.ezschool.com/Articles/Vocab22.html |
The Caregiver Training was created to prepare caregivers to help children living in international children’s homes understand and accept their pasts; form relationships built on trust, love, and respect; and interact with the world around them in a positive way, that they may be confident in their identity and reach their full potential. We designed this training to serve caregivers working with children who are approximately 6-18 years of age, live in a children’s home setting, and do not have any guarantee of permanency outside of the children’s home (meaning neither adoption nor reunification with birth family is a possibility or the objective for their future). We have expanded the training to include younger children. Additionally, there is an amended version that equips caregivers who are providing care for children that may be adopted or reunified at some point in their future.
The Caregiver Training is divided into three central parts: educating caregivers on the children’s background, equipping caregivers to help the children develop various skills they will need throughout their lives, and equipping caregivers to help themselves.
We believe that to truly be able to help these children, it is necessary for their caregivers to understand the trauma these children have undergone, the sense of loss they feel, and the grief they experience. As a result, these children do not trust readily or easily form attachments to other people. These children need holistic care provided to them in light of a thorough understanding of these realities. We also believe that there are many essential skills these children need to learn as they grow up in the children’s home in order to effectively enter society as an adult – these skills include decision-making, planning for the future, learning the concepts of ownership and value, responding to change, managing their behavior, and many others. Lastly, we believe it is essential for these caregivers to also help themselves (by dealing with personal trauma and practicing self-care) so that they are able to fruitfully help these children.
We believe that these caregivers have been appointed by God specifically for the task of caring for these children, for this season of their lives. We believe that the love, care, and example these caregivers provide can continue to impact these children throughout their futures – the caregiver may be temporary, but their investment is eternal! Therefore, we want to pour into, disciple, and empower these caregivers, so they, in turn, can pour into, disciple, and empower these children. True, lasting change in the lives of these children and the societies in which they live can only take place through the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and discipleship in His Word. Amen! | https://lifelinechild.org/life-skills-education-training/ |
Macbeth, a tragedy, starts with a dying, bloody Captain talking about the valor with which Macbeth fought. How does this brave, devoted, valiant soldier become an insane, cold-blooded murderer, killing men, women, and children alike? The story of his downfall begins with his new-found ambition to become king after three witches tell him of his “imperial theme.” After fighting so courageously in battle, Macbeth, Thane of Glamis a title inherited from his late father, and fellow nobleman Banquo, encounter three witches. They greet Macbeth by his current title, by a title soon to be bestowed upon him, and last by the title of king. Immediately, Macbeth is intrigued by their prophecies, but unsure since the King and the Thane of Cawdor were alive and well. Banquo was given the prognostication of fathering a line of kings. Shortly after, Macbeth is awarded the title of Thane of Cawdor by Angus and Ross who had just spoken with King Duncan. At first, Macbeth questions them, saying “why do you dress me/ In borrowed robes” (1. 3. 109-10) (Shakespeare). Macbeth is curious about how he would become king, knowing the quickest and easiest way would be to remove the King by whatever means necessary. The idea horrifies him, saying to himself “…why do I yield to that suggestion/ Whose horrid image doth unfix my hair/ And make my seated heart knock at my ribs…” (1. 3. 138-40) (Shakespeare). Despite his yearnings, at the end of the third scene of Act I, Macbeth decides to leave the last of the witches’ prophecies to fate. However, he writes a letter to his beloved wife, detailing his account with the witches. Just as quickly as her husband, Lady Macbeth contemplates murdering King Duncan. Unlike Macbeth, she wants to be que...
... middle of paper ...
...d he is so shaken up that he forgets to leave the daggers with the chamber-mates. Of course, Lady Macbeth’s own guilt grows throughout the play. However, the fact still remains that she forced Macbeth into killing Duncan, through which all his problems have resulted. This is particularly evident when Macbeth convinces the murderers that Banquo and his son need to be killed. One could argue that this matter is entirely Macbeth’s fault, since neither the witches nor his wife told him to have Banquo and Fleance murdered. On the contrary, Lady Macbeth’s emotional manipulation is present in the third scene of the second act when Macbeth taunts the murderers to prove their manhood by killing Banquo and Fleance. In addition, Macbeth only assumes the dominant role in his relationship with his wife after he murders Duncan, almost like he believes that murder proves manliness.
Need Writing Help? | https://www.123helpme.com/tragedy-of-macbeth-by-william-shakespeare-preview.asp?id=670249 |
As I write this, University of Florida Scholars are heading out into the BWCA and it is an unbelievably balmy 78 in Ely, Minnesota!
UFL’s expedition packing list was interesting: parkas, rain gear, mittens, boots and lots of layers. Be prepared for snow or rain, ice or open water. We told students they might practice their j-stroke, or they might drag and skid canoes over ice. Right now, Miami is a sunny 82, so perhaps these young adults are not too far out of their comfort zone today (tomorrow will likely be a different story– this is MN after all–if you don’t like the weather, wait 5 minutes).
Here in St. Paul, we’ve got Miami beat– it’s an unseasonable 86. Maybe that nasty mountain of dirty snow just off of Lexington Parkway will finally disappear. These days, it seems we’ve got to be prepared for just about anything.
Always the journey, never the destination.
Simon Rattle
Some things are fairly predictable, though. May is typically a month of celebration, and preparation. In times of key transition, it seems we walk a knife edge of sorts. No matter if we are saying, “farewell” to winter, or, “hello” to college, we glance back and reflect while simultaneously keeping the compass trained on our true north. May is full of graduations– graduations from endeavor and achievement, and graduations to the the next adventure and challenge.
Life is my college. May I graduate well, and earn some honors!
Louisa May Alcott
Many of our students, like the Florida Scholars, will head out into the field for capstone experiences this spring and summer. They embark on challenging expeditions that call on them to harness and hone skills they’ve spent years growing.
This month, the University of Southern Mississippi will head out for 7 days on the Superior Hiking Trail. Two crews of athletic leaders–most of them women–will synthesize a year of learning and experience gained through a rigorous tenure in the USM’s Leadership Academy. We can’t wait to see what this crew learns to leverage on their Outward Bound expedition.
In June, the young men and mentors of St. Paul’s own New Lens Urban Mentoring Society will head out for two expeditions to celebrate the achievements of a journey they started last fall. An expedition is not a static celebration; it is a call to strive with greater confidence, a chance to employ skills among peers with leadership in mind. We love to work with local organizations year ’round because we see students realize great benefits from a progression of programming that builds relationship thoughtfully and consistently.
I have found the best way to give advice to your children is to find out what they want and then advise them to do it.
Harry S. Truman
Sometimes we drive toward student growth through a series of single day adventures that move students into greater capacity and community over time. When they reach the end of the year, students have developed personal strengths and identified group assets, and they are ready for a “final”– the expedition. Although expeditions do test students, this isn’t a typical “test.” The expedition is an opportunity to grow autonomy and deepen community. It is a time to say, “Who am I today? Who will I be tomorrow?” Speaking of New Lens, the May issue of Minnesota Conservation Volunteer is hot off the press. Rock, Rope, and Risk covers the story of our partnership with New Lens, and the impact of experiential education on young lives. We’d like to thank author, Ryan Rodgers, and photographer, Tom Thulen, for telling such a vivid story.
Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
This May, three young men will graduate from Open World Learning Community. Today they are college-bound, but they went Outward Bound way back in middle school. Their journey started with a program we call STRIVE. “STRIVE,” as former VOBSter Laura Greenlee-Karp once said, “is for students on the cusp of greatness.” These young men are now STRIVE graduates and high school graduates. Not only did they progress through three years of programming with VOBS, they, in turn, mentored the next generation of STRIVE and became school leaders.
Once upon a time, these now mature and measured young men were a bit impulsive and they had some trouble finding their “true north.” Today, Christian wants to become a mechanic, Lee Andrew wants to start his own business and Malik wants to be an artist who helps others “live a good life.” A lot of achievement is in the rearview mirror, and still more is out there on the horizon.
Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.
Nelson Mandela
As we celebrate with those we serve, we’d also like to take a moment to thank our partners for accepting the challenge of collaboration. Planning, recruitment, investment– we know how hard our partners work to make greatness possible for students. Like you, we strive to help families, funders and champions understand the power of experiential learning. We appreciate your determination and we will do our best to support your efforts. As we look ahead and make plans for greater partnership, we’d like to share an opportunity with you. Target is accepting applications for transportation funding. We realize that sometimes transportation is a very real and expensive hurdle. Maybe this opportunity can help.
We’d not only like to help you get your students to course, we’d like to help you get them on course. Fall and winter are great seasons to consider an expedition. We still have calendar flexibility for fall/winter opportunities and we have a lot of lead time for designing just the right program. Please reach out if you are interested in connecting your students to the power of a multi-day experience. Where there is a will, there is a way!
[email protected] | 651-401-0641
Thank you for your commitment to our communities!
You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated. In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it. | https://vobs.org/blog/expedition-always-journey/ |
Wet and Windy
Toni’s been getting back on it this week. In the UK the Olympics and other summer sports are rapidly sliding off the sports pages as football (soccer for you U.S. readers) resumes its usual domination. Toni and I are happy to be swept along. We’re discussing coaches in football, more specifically the foreign coach. I’m fascinated by the amount of column inches and airtime dedicated, not to players or teams, but to head coaches. The role of the coach is a topic we’ve visited many times in our conversations and I wonder aloud if things might be about to change,
“Maybe we’re finally seeing the rise of the coach in the UK?”
“Very different styles but what links them is that they are all remarkable students of their sport and of people”
“Although they’re not actually from the UK….”
“Take a look around at our other sports, Rugby and Cricket with Trevor Bayliss and Eddie Jones from Australia…”
“Wayne Bennet in Rugby League…”
“And do you know how many UK coaches delivered a track and field medal at the Olympics this time round?”
I play along (of course), “Let me guess. One? Toni Minichiello?”
“Correct. But we do have Sam Allardyce in football”
“Sam and Toni. Last of a dying breed. I find it shocking that we’re not producing more home grown coaching talent. We’d better get some DNA from you two”.
As I reflect on the situation, my humour slips away, “Or we need to make some serious changes to the way we look at coaching in this country?”
The stage now well and truly belongs to Toni,
“I think there’s a fundamental misunderstanding between what coaching is and what a Coach is, specifically and elite Coach”.
“Go on”.
“The role of a coach is to add value. The key is understanding what value means”.
“I guess it means different things at different levels? Pep Guardiola’s answer is probably going to be different than someone working with a young Heptathlete”.
“A coach needs the ability to identify where their individual or team is and what support they require in the context of their ability and aspirations. Coaching exists on a spectrum”, he pauses, gathering his thoughts, “at one end of that spectrum you’ve got instructional, right the way through to enabling. Instructional is all about teaching and delivering basic skills and movement. Enabling is, well, just that.
As a coach you then need the self-awareness, skills and knowledge to know how to respond. In effect you need be able to slide up and down the spectrum. When you’re able to do both of these things effectively and that takes time, then I believe you’ve earned the right to be called an elite Coach”.
‘Whilst all the time seeking to improve yourself?”
‘Of course”.
Toni and Jo
“It sounds like you need to be a person for all seasons. That’s a lot of knowledge coupled with a whole range of other skills?”
‘David Priestley at Arsenal talks about this. You should never separate out the craft from the theory. You absolutely have to have the academic underpinning but without the ability to connect and work with people it’s worse than useless.
Fundamental to effective coaching is relationships, it’s people. But you also need to understand and manage environments, draw on and direct the knowledge of a range of specialists and drive process”.
“So, there’s coaches and then there’s coaches?”
“You can be a hugely effective at a given point on the spectrum and that can be invaluable for the right athlete at the right stage of their development”.
“Like teaching kids the basics?”
“Yes. But that shouldn’t be confused with someone who is able to move up and down the spectrum in relation to the varying needs of an athlete or team. With Jess I might need to move across the entire spectrum in one competition dependent on the discipline and how she is performing and feeling”.
Having witnessed Toni at work it doesn’t end there. It’s hard to think of a role that is much more multi-faceted than that of an elite coach.
“So how do we address the current shortfall at the highest level?”
“We need to start over with coach education and coach application. Be braver, be more creative. Stop relying too much on numbers and statistics. Be more expansive, lose our straight jackets”.
“Maybe one for another blog?”
“Agreed”.
For now Toni is back coaching and sitting down with various members of the team to review the summer and work out what the next year holds. Don’t worry, when the time is right the low down on Jess’ decision from Toni’s perspective will appear here first.
Toni with Andy Masiter from Adidas
The week also includes more media, sponsor, governing body and agent meetings. Plus there is a raft of emails from August that need answering – mainly from athletes, or parents of athletes, that would like to be coached by Toni. Things are almost back to, err, normal.
“You’re turning into coaching’s Renaissance man”
“Is that a compliment?”
“It is”.
“Then I’ll take it. Cheers”. | https://coachtorio.com/coaching-creativity/ |
Since Stitch Fix is a retail company at heart, we operate on the merchandising calendar. The merchandising calendar is used by the retail industry for accounting of sales, inventory and payroll. It originated in the 1930s and became widely adopted by the 1940s. The primary reason for its creation was to guarantee the same number of weekends in comparable months since a large percentage of retail sales occur on weekends. Also the calendar ensures that any end date of a period falls on the same day of the week.
Fiscal Year
An example you may be more familiar with is the fiscal year calendar. A specific month is chosen for the fiscal year end and in that month a day is chosen. If the last Saturday of the month is chosen in some arbitrary month, it will be comparable to all other fiscal year ends. Between fiscal years, day in week and week in month are both comparable.
4-5-4 Calendar
The “4-5-4” calendar is the most widely adopted merchandising calendar. Each quarter of the calendar is composed of 13 weeks. The weeks within a quarter are grouped into two 4-week months and one 5-week month. The order is: one 4-week month at the beginning, one 5-week month in the middle and one 4-week month at the end. Take a look at the layout in this 3 year “4-5-4” calendar. The first quarter of 2016 shown below demonstrates this pattern.
First Quarter of 2016
Here are the months in the first quarter of 2016. The “4-5-4” pattern is demonstrated below. Also note that the month of January is the end month of the previous merchandising year. Therefore January 2016 in the Gregorian calendar is January 2015 in the merchandising calendar.
February 2016:
- W1
- W2
- W3
- W4
March 2016:
- W1
- W2
- W3
- W4
- W5
April 2016:
- W1
- W2
- W3
- W4
The
merch_calendar gem
Since most of us mortals are far more comfortable with the Gregorian calendar, sometimes we need to convert between the the merchandising calendar and the Gregorian calendar. Doing this manually doesn’t lend itself well in the world of software. We ended up wrapping up the logic into a gem called the merch_calendar.
Original Implementation
Our first implementation used a simple database. An entry existed for each day in a year. These entries stored the Gregorian date, as well as the merchandising date. In addition to storing the dates, it also stored information about the quarter and season. Here is an example:
|Field||Value|
|
||20171230|
|
||Sat, 30 Dec 2017|
|
||48|
|
||“Dec W5”|
|
||2017|
|
||2017|
|
||47|
|
||“2017:48 Dec W5”|
|
||“Dec”|
|
||“Nov”|
|
||“Q2”|
|
||“Q1”|
|
||“Fall / Winter”|
This was less than ideal, but it worked well enough for some time. However, as we began to grow, the overhead of constantly querying that table began to show. Having the database also made testing more difficult - developers needed to have a copy of the
merch_dates table locally, otherwise they would run into problems.
We needed a solution that did not depend on pre-generated values, and that performed much faster than a database.
Current Implementation
The problems explained above led us to create the merch_calendar gem. This library can be easily shared across projects, and did not have any database dependencies. The library is also much more performant.
This library now allows us to replicate most of the functionality that the database provided. We are quickly able to convert Gregorian dates to merchandising dates, as well as gather information about the number of weeks in a given year.
The heart of the implementation lies in the
start_of_month method:
def start_of_month(year, merch_month) # 91 = number of days in a single 4-5-4 set start = start_of_year(year) + ((merch_month - 1) / 3).to_i * 91 case merch_month # Months 1,4,7,10 are at the beginning of a 4-5-4 set # thus, they are not shifted at all # The second month in a 4-5-4 set. # They need to be shifted 4 weeks when 2,5,8,11 start = start + 28 # These are the 3rd months in a 4-5-4 set. # They need to be shifted (4 weeks + 5 weeks) when 3,6,9,12 start = start + 63 end return start end
This method calculates the 4-5-4 group that a month lies within, and then based on the month calculates the correct offset. In the library, nearly every other calculation depends upon this method.
By using the merch_calendar gem, we have significantly reduced both our database overhead and the amount of maintenance required to maintain a list of individual date mappings.
A special thanks should be given to Brian K for his excellent StackOverflow post that explained various implementations of merchandising calendars. | https://multithreaded.stitchfix.com/blog/2016/04/05/merch-calendar/ |
From the moment you arrive at Cordy House, a disused building in Shoreditch, you know you’re not in for a traditional night at the theatre.
Adrian Jackson and Farhana Sheikh’s play, in a production by Cardboard Citizens (the UK’s only homeless people’s professional theatre company), is a cleverly devised and incredibly intriguing piece of promenade performance that leads you on a fascinating journey through various locations including bomb sites, air raid shelters and a 1940’s mortuary.
Major William Martin is dead and upon his arrival at a somewhat drab looking heaven is asked the question: “who are you?”
Being unable to remember his life and subsequent death he is taken on a trip back through time with Head Angel Charlie to serve as his guide.
He discovers he was part of Operation Mincemeat, the deception that convinced the German High Command that British troops were intending to invade Greece and Sardinia instead of Sicily, which was the actual target.
This was done through the discovery of ‘Top Secret’ documents that were deliberately placed in a briefcase manacled to a soldier who was left washed up on a beach in Spain. Mincemeat follows Major Martin as he endeavours to sift fact from fiction while also asking the ultimate question of what determines who we really are.
The play starts off with a bang when a white van enters and a group of animal-masked anarchists jump out to reveal they have kidnapped an aged Ewen Montague (the Officer behind Operation Mincemeat) in order to question him. We quickly learn that this is merely a false start and the real play will begin just as soon as we make our way into the next room. The audience are then lead into different rooms and across a number of floors as they too undergo a mission to find the truth behind the fiction.
It does take a moment or two to fully understand what is happening around you, but the production, as directed by Jackson, is a brilliantly crafted and thoroughly engaging look into identity and what makes us who we are. The repetition of the statements, “You are who people say you are/You are who you say you are” and “You are what you have” are particularly effective at making you think about what makes you, you.
The emphasis placed on the idea that our understanding is simply based on our limited knowledge, further makes you think about the countless time you’ve gotten the wrong of the stick in situations and how fluid opinions and points of view really are.
While the apprehensive thought of spending the two and a half hours on your feet isn’t instantly appealing, the effectiveness of the play is enhanced greatly due to its location and staging and I seriously doubt it would have been as successful if it were staged in a traditional theatre using traditional techniques.
Each different room was designed to fit with the themes of the play perfectly and luckily the production team had the hindsight to include space to either stand or sit in each space.
Although at that length Mincemeat feels a little long, and sitting on the floor did become a tad uncomfortable as the night wore on, the self-reflective script combined with the cast’s spot on performances make this a unique and exciting theatrical experience. | https://www.musicomh.com/theatre/mincemeat-cordy-house-london |
Christie Whitman-led group calls for new ethics laws in the age of Trump
WASHINGTON -- Congress should require presidential candidates to disclose personal and business income tax returns, allow the government ethics agency to enforce its laws, and regulate White House contacts with federal law enforcement officials.
"We cannot ignore the erosion of standards and norms that have historically guided political behavior and prevented abuse of power," said Whitman. "Now is the time to start talking about this before it becomes the norm."
But it was not motivated by Trump's disregard of ethical norms, such as his refusal to release his tax returns nor divest himself from his business holdings, said Whitman and co-chair Prett Bharara, a former U.S. Attorney and an Eatontown native.
"What we're proposing is about the future," said Whitman, a frequent critic of Trump. "It would be a waste of time if this whole task force was about the Trump presidency."
On the contrary, it is about restoring Americans' faith in their institutions. A Quinnipiac University poll last month put Trump's approval rating at 38 percent and Congress' at 18 percent.
A 54-page report offered 11 proposals designed to repair the ethical norms that have guided public officials but have been eroded.
They included creating a task force to update financial disclosure rules, which haven't been changed in four decades; requiring presidential and vice-presidential candidates to disclose three years of personal income and business tax returns; and conducting a national security review of senior officials' financial holdings.
They also want to enforce the constitutional clause against public officials profiting from investments while in office, expand safeguards to protect against conflicts of interest. and giving the Office of Government Ethics the power to enforce ethics laws.
Other proposals directly addressed Trump actions. That includes his pardons of former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, who disobeyed a federal judge's order, and conservative pundit Dinesh D'Souza, who made illegal campaign contributions to Republicans.
It also addresses Trump's threats to fire special counsel Robert Mueller, his attacks on the Justice Department and FBI, and his claim that he could pardon himself.
They would establish standards on how the White House can interact with law enforcement officials; require the president to justify pardons of close associates in writing; have Congress pass a resolution condemning self-pardons; such as the Attorney General; and protect special counsels from being removed improperly.
Whitman and Bharara acknowledged the difficulties in passing legislation, but noted that when Franklin D. Roosevelt ended more than a century of tradition and ran for a third term as president, the Constitution was changed to prevent a repeat.
"The hardest thing to do is amend the Constitution," Bharara said. "The more people become aware of the evisceration of some standards and ethics and the more discussion there is about them and the more thoughtfulness there is about them, the greater the likelihood of something passing."
Whitman said the proposals have been discussed with the House Problem Solvers Caucus, a bipartisan group of four dozen representatives co-chaired by Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-5th Dist.
Gottheimer is one of 19 Problem Solvers Caucus members (Rep. Leonard Lance, R-7th Dist., is another) who said they would not vote for a House speaker who does not support changes to House rules to allow bipartisan legislation to reach the floor for a vote, even if leadership opposes the measure.
"The idea is to be able to drive reform and govern again," Gottheimer said. "No matter what happens in the next election, things have to get done." | |
Unresolved Grief and Loss
One of the most upsetting and regrettably frequent situations people go through is losing a loved one. Most persons going through typical grief and bereavement experience sadness, apathy, and sometimes even guilt and resentment during this time. These emotions gradually pass, allowing you to accept the loss and move forward in life.
Some people's grief-related feelings are crippling and don't get better over time. Unresolved grief, often known as persistent complex bereavement disorder, is what is causing this. Unresolved grief causes painful emotions to endure for such a long time and be so intense that it is difficult to move on from the loss and resume your own life.
Different people go through the grief process in different ways. Individuals may differ in the sequence and timing of these phases:
- recognizing the truth of your loss
- allowing oneself to feel the loss's discomfort
- getting used to the new reality of the deceased being absent
- possessing additional relationships
These variations are typical. However, if you're still experiencing these stages a year or more after losing a loved one, you may be experiencing unresolved grief. If so, get help from a licensed mental health counselor in Florida. Depression treatment in Florida may assist you in accepting your loss and regaining a sense of acceptance and tranquility.
Symptoms
Many symptoms of natural grieving and unresolved grief are similar in the initial months following a loss. The symptoms of unresolved grief, on the other hand, persist or worsen over time while those of normal mourning gradually start to subside. Unresolved grief is comparable to living in a constant, intense state of sadness that prevents you from moving past it.
Signs and symptoms of unresolved grief may include:
- intense grief over the loss of a loved one, anguish, and reflection
- concentrate only on your loved one's passing.
- excessive concentration on or avoidance of memories of the departed
- intense, ongoing yearning or pining for the dead
- accepting death is difficult
- unease or detached feeling
- resentment for your loss
- feeling that there is no point or value to existence
- a lack of faith in people
- inability to savor life or recall happy memories with a loved one
Unresolved grief also may be indicated if you continue to:
- have difficulty performing daily tasks
- shun social interactions and withdraw from them.
- feel depressed, unhappy, guilty, or guilty of yourself
- thinking you did something wrong or that you could have done something to stop the death
- feeling that without your loved one, life isn't worth living.
- wish you had passed away with your loved one.
Diagnosis
Grieving is a very personal experience for each person, and it can be challenging to tell when normal sadness turns into unresolved grief. When the intensity of your grieving hasn't subsided in the months following the death of a loved one, you may be dealing with unresolved grief. When sorrow remains intense, persistent, and incapacitating after a year, a therapist in Broward county may identify unresolved grief.
Unresolved grief and serious depression share many characteristics, yet they also differ significantly. Clinical depression and unresolved bereavement can occasionally coexist. A thorough physical and psychological examination is frequently performed since determining the right diagnosis is crucial for receiving the right treatment.
Treatment
Your specific symptoms and situation are taken into account by a Florida psychotherapist or mental health professional in South Florida when establishing the most effective course of treatment for you.
Psychotherapy
Unresolved grief therapy is a type of psychotherapy that is frequently used to treat unresolved grief. Specifically for unresolved sorrow, it is similar to therapeutic procedures used for depression and PTSD. Both an individual and a group therapy session for this condition may be successful.
During therapy, you may:
You can treat additional mental health issues like depression or PTSD, which can coexist with unresolved grief, with the use of other forms of psychotherapy. | https://neweratherapynow.com/unresolved-grief-and-loss-therapy/ |
- Python is a general purpose programming language. Over the last few years, more and more tools developed in Python for bioimage analysis and this looks set to continue and increase.
- Both CellProfiler and Ilastik are written in Python. Jython is an implementation of the Python programming language designed to run on Java platforms so can be used within FIJI for example.
Facility Resources
- We plan to create guides for using Python for image analysis. Once complete, they will be found here or as videos here.
- More general information on image analysis concepts and terms, like classification, can be found here.
External resources
- The RMS Image Analaysis Focused Interest Group (IAFIG) ran a Python for Image Analaysis course in December 2019. You can see the materials for that here along with a general Python introduction course here. The course is due to rerun December 2020.
- A YouTube playlist introducing image analysis in Python.
- Some libraries, frameworks and other tools, commonly used for bioimage analysis workflows are listed below. Some are more general mathematical or data analysis tools while some have been specifically developed with image analysis in mind: Napari (an image viewer for Python), ImagePy, scikit-image, pandas, NumPy, SciPy, matplotlib, Seaborn, Jupyter. | https://igmmimaging.com/bioimageanalysis/software/python/ |
Following any disaster, whether a commercial or residential property, damage to contents can form a large part of any loss. Water or smoke ingress can cause issues with corrosion, mould and odour. Whether electrical equipment, white goods, soft furnishings, or artwork, you have to understand the types of damage present, as well as the value of the contents.
DF&A’s independent consultants specialise in assessing contents. We provide an independent investigation into the extent and severity of damage, providing scientifically supported advice to allow informed decision making on whether contents can be successfully restored or should be disposed of.
DF&A will:
- Carry out a thorough visual inspection of contents, assessing their function, age, component parts and extent of damage suffered
- Provide an estimate on their valuation and a truly independent assessment of their capacity for restoration, as DF&A have no vested interest in the level of works undertaken
- Perform contamination profiling or further specialised scientific testing to assess the severity of damage e.g. odour testing to soft furnishing, microscopy analysis of electrical
- components etc. | https://www.davis-french-associates.co.uk/services/practical-2/contents-assessment/ |
Have you ever wondered if a messy, or worse, a dirty home, has a negative impact on market value? If you answered yes, you’re not alone. I’m asked this question often. It’s usually asked by homeowners whose homes are, well, either messy or dirty.
There are several things to consider. Let’s talk about them.
DISHEVELED HOMES
In some homes I have appraised, the interior is very disheveled, with underwear hanging from doorknobs, bathroom towels on the floor and clutter everywhere. Often, it is these types of situations, that the homeowner asks if this is going to have an impact on market value.
When appraising for a refinance, if the home is messy, it may not have a major impact on market value. Appraisers are looking beyond the mess. We are looking at the condition and quality of a home. Usually, we assume that if a person goes to sell their home, they are going to clean up the mess to help the marketability of their home.
Why, even when a home is foreclosed upon, typically banks will remove the content of the home to make it more marketable, among other reasons. So, when it comes to appraising a home for a refinance, a disheveled home is typically not going to have much of an impact on the appraiser’s opinion of value. However, it can!
I have appraised some homes that appear to be owned by hoarders. (I am not qualified to make that diagnosis) This is a disorder that some people suffer from. I have seen some homes in which the clutter was so bad, that it did affect my opinion of value. Some homes have so much clutter that it may create a health and safety issue. In those situations, market value will be adversely affected.
This video demonstrates a good example of this.
However, clutter that reaches this level is rare. What about selling a home? Can a cluttered home impact market value? It can. It really depends on the who’s looking to purchase the home. Some buyers may be able to look beyond the clutter, while others may be turned off by it, which could impact what they are willing to offer.
Currently, most parts of the country are experiencing a shortage of inventory on the market. With less homes to choose from, buyer’s may be more willing to look beyond the clutter right now. However, if competing homes are not cluttered, buyer’s are likely to be more attracted to the home that is not disheveled. So, yes, having a cluttered home can impact market value in this situation.
It’s one thing to have a disheveled home. It’s another thing to have a dirty home.
DIRTY HOMES
I think that to some degree, a dirty home is a matter of opinion. Some homes are always immaculate. They may consider their home dirty if it has not been vacuumed in a week. While other people may have homes that are so dirty, it is obvious that deep cleaning is needed. When it comes to value, the latter is where we run into value issues.
A home that is lived-in, is generally not going to have a major impact on market value. Most homes these days are more lived-in than they used to be, due to the current pandemic.
However, when the level of dirt gets to the point that it is very obvious, or even worse, begins to affect the condition of the home, than you can be certain that it will impact market value negatively. A home that is filthy may create doubt in the buyer’s mind about what other parts of the home may have been neglected, that are unseen.
Part of valuing a home is to measure the market’s reaction to that home. This includes more than just gross living area, lot size and room count. Market appeal has to be considered. If the home is cluttered or dirty, beyond what is typical, this has to be considered. How does an appraiser determine what is typical? Appraisers go into homes as part of our work. So, we have a pretty good idea of what is typical and what is not.
HOME STAGING
Real estate agents see firsthand how buyers react to different situations. They can provide excellent recommendations to a homeowner, about what will help their home sell more quickly, and at a higher price.
Ironically, while a home filled with clutter may be a turn-off to buyers, a home with no furnishings at all, may also not show as well as a home with some well-arranged furnishings. That’s why staging a home can be helpful.
Here is some information taken from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) which you might find interesting.
Staging a home can help a buyer’s first impression of a home to be positive. Staging can also help potential buyers picture themselves living in different spaces. All of this can add to the market appeal of a home. The higher the market appeal, the higher the value, at least to a certain degree.
So, which is worse on value? A dirty or disheveled home? It really depends on many factors. But one thing is for sure! When a potential buyer is looking at two homes, priced for the same amount, with all other things being equal, the cleaner and more organized home is going to win. Hopefully, I have given you some food for thought when it comes how a dirty or disheveled home may impact value.
Thanks as always for being here! Have a safe two weeks out there!
I leave you this week with some re-tooled Nickelback songs. I hope you enjoy! | https://clevelandappraisalblog.com/2020/08/20/dirty-vs-disheveled-which-is-worse-on-value/ |
Draw conclusions and make inferences from text.
The student will read and demonstrate comprehension of fictional texts, narrative nonfiction, and poetry.
No resources have been tagged as aligned with this standard.
Draw conclusions using the text for support.
draw conclusions about text to make meaning.
Draw conclusions about text.
Draw conclusions/make inferences about text. | https://sharemylesson.com/standards/virginia-doe/5.5.i |
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Amaravati, Oct 3 (IANS) The Andhra Pradesh government on Saturday sanctioned Rs 10 crore for the renovation of Shilparamam Park in Tirupati.
The AP Shilparamam Arts, Crafts, and Cultural Society will use the funds to renovate the entrance plaza, art and crafts village with stalls and open ground, training centre for artisans, crafts, and emporium with souvenir shop.
Similarly, foods courts will be constructed, and toilet blocks and amphitheatre renovated.
“The Society will complete the works in scheduled time to ensure that there were no additional financial commitments on the sanctioned works,” said Special Chief Secretary Rajat Bhargava.
Established in 2004, the Tirupati Shilparamam, a park aimed at popularizing, promoting and preserving the cultural heritage of the country in general and Andhra Pradesh in particular, is presently in a dilapidated condition. | https://newsd.in/andhra-sanctions-rs-10-cr-to-renovate-tirupati-park/ |
10:15 - 10:30 Words of welcome by IAP RAS, CMG and IUGG.
10:30 - 10:50 Ismail-Zadeh Alik Centennial international cooperation in Earth and space sciences.
Plenary talk
11:05 - 11:45 Gvishiani Alexei Significant, strong and strongest earthquake-prone areas recognition: systems analysis aspects.
Session 1
Meeting 1
Monday, June 25
9:00 - 9:30 Volodin Evgeny Simulation of climate system with climate model of INM RAS (invited).
9:30 - 10:00 Khairoutdinov Marat Simulation of General Circulation by a Global Cloud-Resolving Model (GCRM) (invited).
10:00 - 10:20 Sukhodolov Timofei Simulating evolution of stratospheric aerosol after Pinatubo eruption using coupled aerosol-chemistry climate models.
10:20 - 10:40 Yurova Alla Regions of strong land biogeophysical coupling to planetary climate in Northern Eurasia.
10:40 - 10:50 Belikovich Mikhail Microwave measurement of mesospheric ozone: gravity wave detection.
10:50 - 11:00 Ostanin Paul New INM RAS Earth ionosphere F region global dynamical model.
Meeting 2
Wednesday, June 27
9:00 - 9:30 Mareev Evgeny Global Electric Circuit modeling and its implications to Earth system models (invited).
9:30 - 10:00 Sukhodolov Timofei Entire Atmosphere Global model (EAGLE): development, first version and preliminary results (invited).
10:00 - 10:20 Chernov Ilya Marine biogeochemistry in the Global ocean as a part of the INMCM model of the Earth system.
10:20 - 10:40 Evtushenko Andrey Laboratory modeling of high-altitude discharges.
10:40 - 11:00 Kulyamin Dmitry Modelling of upper atmosphere and ionosphere using INM RAS global circulation models.
Sessions 2&3
Meeting 1
Sunday, June 24
9:00 - 9:30 Ditlevsen Peter Predictability, waiting times and tipping points in the climate (invited).
9:30 - 10:00 Kravtsov Sergey Global-Scale Multidecadal Variability Missing in State-of-the-Art Climate Models (invited).
10:00 - 10:15 Hallerberg Sarah Critical transitions and perturbation growth directions.
10:15 - 10:30 Gvishiani Alexei INTERMAGNET for directional drilling in the polar region.
10:30 - 10:45 Dijkstra Hendrik Stochastic marine ice sheet variability.
Meeting 2
Sunday, June 24
15:30 - 16:00 Lovejoy Shaun Using scaling for macroweather predictions and climate projections (invited).
16:00 - 16:30 Bodai Tamas Predictability of fat-tailed extremes (invited).
16:30 - 16:45 Shkolnik Igor Future changes in climate extremes across Northern Eurasia as inferred from an ensemble of regional climate projections.
16:45 - 17:00 Kurths Juergen Predictability of extreme climate events via a complex network approach.
17:00 - 17:15 Feigin Alexander Empirical modeling of climate systems.
Meeting 3
Sunday, June 24
17:35 - 18:05 Mukhin Dmitry Dynamical mechanism of the mid-Pleistocene transition (invited).
18:05 - 18:35 Goswami Bedartha Abrupt transitions in the Indian Summer Monsoon during the last glacial (invited).
18:35 - 18:50 Seleznev Aleksei Dynamical neural networks an instrument for data-driven complex systems modelling.
18:50 - 19:05 Bialecki Mariusz A universal solvable model of slow accumulation of energy and its abrupt releases with smooth transitions from exponential to inverse-power distributions.
19:05 - 19:20 Kravtsov Sergey Synchronization and causality across time-scales in El Niño/Southern Oscillation.
Session 4
Meeting 1
Monday, June 25
11:30 - 12:00 Kondrashov Dmitri Multiscale Stuart-Landau Emulators: Application to Wind-driven Ocean Gyres (invited).
12:00 - 12:15 Kovchegov Yevgeniy Random self-similar trees and applications in geosciences.
12:15 - 12:30 Khain Alexander New approach to description of advection of microphysical variables in cloud-resolving models.
12:30 - 13:00 Soloviev Anatoly Mathematical tools for analysis of ground based and satellite geomagnetic data streams for advanced monitoring of the Earth's magnetic field (invited).
13:00 - 13:15 Ismail-Zadeh Alik Direct and Inverse Problems in Models of Lava Flow.
13:15 - 13:30 Rheinwalt Aljoscha A network-based flow accumulation algorithm for point clouds: Facet-Flow Networks (FFN).
Meeting 2
Monday, June 25
18:15 - 18:45 Dubinkina Svetlana Relevance of conservation laws for an Ensemble Kalman Filter (invited).
18:45 - 19:00 Perezhogin Pavel On the systems of hydrodynamic type that approximate two-dimensional ideal fluid equations.
19:00 - 19:15 Paldor Nathan Harmonic and Trapped waves in narrow and wide zonal channels on the beta-plane.
19:15 - 19:30 Lucarini Valerio Convergence of extreme value statistics in a two-layer quasi-geostrophic atmospheric model.
19:30 - 20:00 Bodai Tamas The forced response of the climate system: Three application (invited).
Meeting 3
Wednesday, June 27
11:30 - 11:45 Lucarini Valerio A Statistical Mechanical Approach for the Parametrization of the Coupling in Geophysical Flows.
11:45 - 12:00 Perezhogin Pavel On the turbulence parameterizations in the two-dimensional barotropic jet instability simulation problem.
12:00 - 12:15 Gritsun Andrey Unstable periodic orbits in simplified atmospheric models.
12:15 - 12:30 Kornev Andrei On a deflation-type method for the study of nonlinear nonstationary processes.
12:30 - 12:45 Kostrykin Sergey Stationary regimes in the problem of intense wind-induced circulation in the shallow layer of viscous rotated fluid.
12:45 - 13:00 Tomos David Influence of the tides on the evolution of early tetrapods: numerical and statistical perspectives.
Session 5
Meeting 1
Wednesday, June 27
18:15 - 18:40 Beroza Gregory Data Mining Continuous Seismic Wavefields (invited).
18:40 - 18:55 Doubravova Jana Automatic event location method based on the principal component analysis.
18:55 - 19:20 Chen Xiaofei An innovative method for effectively extracting higher-mode dispersion curves of Rayleigh wave from ambient seismic noise data (invited).
19:20 - 19:35 Shapiro Nikolai Observations and possible mechanisms of low-frequency seismicity, comparison of tectonic and volcanic settings.
19:35 - 20:00 Obermann Anne Christine Imaging medium changes using probabilistic body-and surface-wave sensitivity kernels (invited).
Session 6
Meeting 1
Tuesday, June 26
12:15 – 12:45 Weiss Jerome Faulting of quasi-brittle materials: New insights from lab experiments and progressive damage models (invited).
12:45 – 13:15 Donnellan Andrea Quantitative Determination of Crustal Deformation from Geodetic Imaging Observations (invited).
13:15 - 13:30 Zaliapin Ilia Earthquake clustering in relation to preparation of large events and seasonal strain signals.
Meeting 2
Thursday, June 28
10:45 – 11:10 Denolle Marine Towards the temporal evolution of the earthquake energy budget (invited).
11:10 – 11:30 Zhang Haijiang Structural control on earthquake behaviors revealed by high-resolution seismic imaging of fault zones (invited).
11:30 - 11:45 Vavrycuk Vaclav Local stress anomaly caused by interaction of faults in the West Bohemia swarm region, Czech Republic.
11:45 – 12:00 Renaud Toussaint Thermal effects in the propagation of a crack front in disordered papers and polymers.
Session 7
Meeting 1
Saturday, June 23
11:45 – 12:15 Martyshko Petr 3D density Earth crust models creation based on joint inversion seismic and gravity data (invited).
12:15 – 12:45 Faccenda Manuele Subduction zones dynamics and structure from coupled geodynamic and seismological modelling (invited).
Meeting 2
Saturday, June 23
13:05 – 13:20 Borisov Dmitry Waveform Inversion of Surface and Body Waves for Onshore Imaging.
13:20 – 13:35 Dubinkina Svetlana A data assimilation method that is fit to high-dimensional inverse problems.
13:35 – 14:05 Nissen-Meyer Tarje Dark Earth matters: Complexity-driven wave propagation, resolution limits and inferring from invisibility (invited).
14:05 – 14:35 Capdeville Yann Homogenization, effective geological media and full waveform inversion (invited).
14:35 – 14: 50 Kachanov Mark Rough fractures vs Cracks: similarities and differences in mathematical modeling.
Session 8
Meeting 1
Tuesday, June 26
15:00 - 15:30 Tolstykh Mikhail Simulation of the atmosphere circulation at seasonal and interannual time scales with the SL-AV global atmosphere model (invited).
15:30 - 15:45 Fadeev Rostislav Coupled atmosphere-ocean model SLAV-INMIO: implementation and first results of verification.
15:45 - 16:00 Ranganathan Meghana Learning in Data Assimilation.
16:00 - 16:15 Sai Ravela Learning to Parameterize Fluid Dynamical Systems.
Meeting 2
Thursday, June 28
9:00 - 9:30 Glazunov Andrey Large eddy simulation of turbulence and Lagrangian particle transport in atmospheric boundary layer (invited).
9:30 - 9:45 Mortikov Evgeny The structure of intermittent turbulence in stably stratified plane Couette flow.
9:45 - 10:00 Lushnikov Alexey The dynamics of random networks.
10:00 - 10:15 Iakovlev Nikolay The Arctic Ocean hydro- and sea ice dynamics: Nonlinear physics and Numerical modeling.
Poster Session (common to all Sessions)
- Serykh Ilya ENSO predictability based on the Global Atmospheric Oscillation.
- Gavrilov Andrey Empirical modeling of ENSO using linear dynamical mode decomposition.
- Matveeva Tatiana Modification of ENSO generation mechanism in future climate.
- Skakun Aleksandra A causal link between TSI and climate oscillation indices during last century.
- Arshad Amin Remote sensing of the urban heat island effect in Srinagar city of IndianHimalayas.
- Svechnikova Ekaterina High-energy events in the atmosphere and their relationship to the electrical structure of the cloud (P).
- Chunikhina Evgenia Entropy and entropy rates of Self-Similar Random Trees.
- Rozanov Evgueni The evolution of the ozone layer under influence of the natural and anthropogenic factors.
- Belikovich Mikhail Microwave measurement of mesospheric ozone: gravity wave detection.
- Ostanin Paul New INM RAS Earth ionosphere F region global dynamical model.
- Adamova Petra Classification of focal mechanisms and moment tensors of micro-earthquakes occurring in 2008-2014 in West Bohemia, Czech Republic.
- Ben-Zion Yehuda To be announced.
- Gualandi Adriano Slow Slip Events in Cascadia: evidence of chaotic behavior from geodetic position time series.
- Koshurina Alla Micromechanics of heterogeneous materials.
- Debolskiy Andrey Tests of one-dimensional version of INMCM5 model's vertical diffusion scheme. | http://cmg2018.iapras.ru/program |
The current volatility within global share markets has had a negative impact on the short term returns of super funds. At times like these, it’s important to look at the bigger picture and to take the time to consider the context of market volatility and remember that your super is a long-term investment. Find out more about managing your super in the current environment.
Mercy Super has continued to deliver strong investment returns – working hard to deliver better outcomes for our hard-working members like you. Here’s how Mercy Super’s default MySuper Balanced option has performed against the industry median1 to 29 February 2020.
The investment returns for this option remain in the top 10 over 1, 3, 5, 7 and 10 years to 29 February 2020 – one of only a handful of super funds that have achieved sustained out performance over these periods1.
1 Industry median from SuperRatings SR50 (60-76) Index at superratings.com.au. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. | https://mercysuper.com.au/still-with-a-top-10-performer/ |
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, Secretary of Labor Acosta and South Dakota Governor Daugaard outline their plan for interstate compacts that allow holders of an occupational license in one state to receive a temporary license for that occupation when moving to another state within the compact. Archbridge Director of Policy Research Ben Wilterdink explains why this does nothing to resolve the barriers to mobility caused by occupational licensing.
Is the American Dream dead for young Americans? Dr. Edward Timmons of Saint Francis University and coauthor of Barriers to Mobility, says there are good arguments that it may not be as bleak as it seems. Economists agree, however, that many poor children remain poor in adulthood. Timmons examines the growth of occupational licensing as a possible cause.
Entrepreneurship and economic mobility go hand in hand. Policy solutions aimed to alleviate poverty should take into account the power of entrepreneurship in allowing people the opportunity to climb the income ladder. President and CEO Gonzalo Schwarz makes this case utilizing the latest research.
Ben Wilterdink, Director of Outreach and Policy Research, reviews Dream Hoarders by Richard V. Reeves, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. By focusing on relative economic mobility, Reeves determines that the advantages upper middle class parents give their children are disadvantaging other children. Wilterdink asserts that Reeves’s focus is misplaced: Public policy should aim to increase absolute economic mobility.
President and CEO Gonzalo Schwarz pens an op-ed for The Hill, arguing that the current focus across the world on inequality is misguided. To improve lives, we must instead try to improve economic mobility. Recent survey results demonstrate that people find it more important to have a fair shot at improving their economic standing than reducing inequality.
Archbridge President and CEO Gonzalo Schwarz writes for Donors Trust’s regular series on how to be more strategic in charitable giving. Politicians—and therefore public policy—are increasingly focused on inequality, when they should be working to increase opportunity for all. But natural barriers to economic mobility cannot be resolved with one-size-fits-all government policies. The institutions of civil society must step in to address the personal and cultural barriers to flourishing. | https://www.archbridgeinstitute.org/category/commentary/page/10/ |
Kansuke Yamamoto is seen as an established artist, who originates from Japan, like other well-known artists such as Chie Fueki, Tatsumi Orimoto, Tomio Seike, Tamiko Kawata, and Koji Nakano. Kansuke Yamamoto was born in 1914.
Further Biographical Context for Kansuke Yamamoto
Born in 1914, Kansuke Yamamoto's creative work was largely influenced by the 1930s. on a global scale this period can be best characterised by the conflict between the world’s predominant political philosophies - Marxist Socialism, Capitalist Democracy, and the Totalitarianism of both Communism and Fascism. The era assumed a sinister turn with the beginning of National Socialism in Germany, and Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in 1933. The decade would conclude in the inset on the Second World War; a political and social tumult that preoccupied not only artists, but great swathes of the world’s population. | https://www.artland.com/artists/kansuke-yamamoto |
In the front office of a laboratory in Bangalore, colour-coded tubes that have just arrived are being sorted and sent away—a journey into deep, searching questions. Merely looking at the assortment of machines they will pass through won’t give a full sense of the intricate steps involved because these are automated. The samples in the tube contain DNA—those knowledgeable little molecules must be extracted first. Then, the strings of DNA are cut and made into libraries, small enough for the machine to read. Think of it—millions of unknown strands stacked up, copied, sequenced. A mind-boggling scrabble game with the four alphabets—ATGC—that make up the building blocks of DNA. In a few hours, the code that defines a human being somewhere in the country is ready. Then, an intense search begins: the hunt for spelling errors in that vast bibliotheca which has thrown that person into a debilitating descent.
That’s where the story starts, for some. Since actual numbers are hard to come by in India, we have to fall back on estimates of global incidence rates. About 70 million Indians are likely to be suffering from rare genetic diseases, most of them with no cure yet. Usually, the road to a diagnosis is long and brooding, strewn with red herrings along the way till a clinical geneticist actually connects their ailment to a genetic mutation, that spelling error. It’s taken years in many cases, some even up to a couple of decades for a correct diagnosis. Yes, costs of genome sequencing are plummeting. Most times you don’t need to sequence the entire genome with all its hereditary information to locate the gene mutations that caused a genetic disorder. Sequencing only the exome, the genome’s portions with the protein-coding genes, would be enough. That cost around Rs 80,000 five years ago. Today, it’s about Rs 30,000, the price of a mid-range smartphone. But after the diagnosis, a question haunts several thousand families in the country. Now what?
Genetic diseases, however, refer to a large collection of disorders. Some are exceptionally rare—where the odds are one in 10 million—and each with a small set of silent sufferers. But, as genome sequencing got more accessible, it turns out that many diseases once thought rare weren’t actually so rare after all.
Shilpi Bhattacharya, 36
GNE myopathy, New Delhi.
Photograph by Jitender Gupta
Take both ends of the spectrum: Shilpi Bhattacharya, 36, a law professor in Delhi, learnt Bharatanatyam as a kid. Back then, parents Alok and Sudha Bhattacharya noticed that her gait was different and that she couldn’t walk fast. At first, it looked like she was being lazy. In college, after a dance recital for an annual day event, friends even joked that she was the girl who could dance but not walk. But, as a young adult, the symptoms began showing—after many years and several doctors, the family finally found out that Shilpi had GNE myopathy, a rarest-of-rare genetic disorder caused by gene mutations that lead to muscle wasting. “We never dreamed that it was something in her genes,” says Sudha, a molecular biologist. There’s no cure for GNE myopathy, no treatment either. As Sudha puts it, there’s a diagnosis, but no doctor to treat it.
Karanveer, 18
Duchenne muscular disease (DMD) Bangalore.
Photograph by Ajay Sukumaran
Now look at Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), another muscle-related disorder caused by a gene mutation that alters the body’s ability to produce the protein dystrophin. Since the dystrophin gene sits on the X chromosome, it mostly affects only boys. “We assume India has the largest number in the world,” says Bangalore-based Ravdeep Singh Anand, whose struggle with DMD started in 2003 when his son Karanveer, 18, was diagnosed. Again, he’s going by worldwide statistics: DMD affects one in 3,500 boys. But Anand is an even rarer parent—in his despair, with no treatment in sight, he started a lab to develop a drug that could help his son to live with the disease.
Other genetic diseases, especially blood-related disorders such as haemophilia and thalassaemia, are common. The good news is that research initiatives into gene therapy are showing promise—for instance, several clinical trials of gene therapy for haemophilia are at an advanced stage globally, with an approved product likely in the next year or two. A gene therapy product for thalassaemia has recently been approved in Europe. In India, a programme has been initiated to develop gene therapy for both haemophilia and thalassaemia at the Centre for Stem Cell Research (CSCR)—a unit of the Bangalore-based research institute inStem at the Christian Medical College in Vellore. A clinical trial has been proposed for haemophilia A, a first in the country, and is awaiting regulatory approval. Other clinical trials will follow as product development progresses.
“I think we are on the edge of possibilities for genetic disorders that didn’t exist till recently,” says Vijay Chandru, co-founder of Strand Life Sciences, a genomic profiling company. But the story of genetic diseases threads together several chapters—the plight of sufferers, the world’s most expensive drugs, government policy and the hope of new therapies. “There are many battles here to be fought,” says Chandru.
On a recent weekday morning, five patients visited the rare diseases ward at Bangalore’s government-run Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health for their periodic infusions, all of them aged below 18. The ward—a day care set up by the Organisation of Rare Diseases India (ORDI), Centre for Human Genetics in Bangalore, and the Karnataka government—carries out 112 infusions on an average every month. The IV drip takes four to five hours. The kids usually watch cartoons on TV or are glued to a movie on their phones. The infusions—once a week or fortnight—help them to live normally.
Average diagnosing period is seven years and India doesn’t have enough geneticists.
Among the regular visitors here are about 25 patients with Lysosomal storage disorders. This is a group of about 50 disorders, of which about seven or eight have treatments. These patients afford the treatment through different routes. Some come under a charitable access programme by the drug manufacturer. The others are government-funded or get compensated through the Employees State Insurance Corporation. Karnataka was among the first states to commit money towards the treatment of some rare diseases, but often this still comes via court cases. It’s a classic conundrum on perennial loop—how do we save patients who need lifelong infusions that cost lakhs every month?
Of these, Gaucher disease may actually be well-known in India. Not because it is easily recognisable; it presents just like maybe malaria would—distended spleen, big stomach and anaemia—so only an expert eye can suspect Gaucher at first look. But rather, for its treatment—a vial costs upwards of Rs 1 lakh and patients need regular infusions running into lakhs of rupees annually, lifelong. The disease framed the context of a landmark 2014 Delhi High Court judgment by Justice Manmohan on a plea by rickshaw-puller Mohammed Sirajuddin to save his son, Mohammed Ahmed. Invoking Martin Luther King Jr—“of all forms of inequality, injustice in healthcare is the most shocking and inhumane”—the judge directed the Delhi government to provide the boy with free enzyme replacement therapy as and when required. On the court’s prodding, the Union health ministry came up with the National Policy on Treatment of Rare Diseases 2017, only to make a U-turn and withdraw it this February. The ministry has sought time to frame a fresh policy.
Debosmita, 8
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) Calcutta.
Photograph by Sandipan Chatterjee
“Something was better than nothing,” says Prasanna Shirol, co-founder of the Organisation of Rare Diseases India, an association of parents. “It’s a setback because applications from patients seeking help are piling up. Now, they say there was no Rs 100 crore budget. They say the policy was not good enough.”
Shirol doesn’t buy the argument that the states weren’t on board. “Our argument is, the states didn’t agree for GST or Ayushman Bharat, yet they found a way to implement it. I don’t see any effort was made to implement the policy in true spirit. It was eyewash,” he says.
Since insurance companies won’t cover genetic diseases, things naturally fall back on government guidelines for treatment. “The problem will continue as long as we don’t have a right to public health,” says Ashok Agarwal, a Delhi-based lawyer who has argued cases for several patients over the years. “Every step of managing these diseases presents a challenge,” says Shirol, whose daughter Nidhi, 20, is among India’s first recognised patients of Pompe disease—a degenerative neuromuscular condition where muscles get damaged and progressively weaken because of an enzyme deficiency. She’s been on a portable ventilator since age eight because her breathing muscles too were weak. She went to school and then college on a wheelchair with the ventilator by her side. Fortunately, Shirol was able to enroll her in a charitable access programme by drugmakers Sanofi-Genzyme for the treatment that, for a girl of her weight, 30kg, costs about Rs 1.2 crore annually. She needs an infusion every fortnight.
There are also many genetic conditions about which something can be done a bit more easily. “Something effective, not necessarily cures,” says Dr Meenakshi Bhat of the Centre for Human Genetics in Bangalore. A child with beta thalassaemia, which would require a monthly blood transfusion for life, can be treated with a matched stem cell transplant. Inborn errors of metabolism—large family of disorders where enzymes that do key digestive tasks are missing—often turn up in infants with the first feed and rapidly progress. But over a dozen such fatal metabolic disorders can be managed with special diets, some of which are now manufactured locally. “Where infant mortality rates go down to 30 per 1,000, genetic diseases take priority for morbidity and mortality. This is a well-known fact,” says Bhat. Many Indian states have achieved those IMR levels, so newborn screening programme should be ramped up, she suggests. “We should be looking at these disorders.”
Shirol of ORDI says the average diagnosing period for a genetic disorder in India or worldwide is around seven years. But the larger problem is that India doesn’t have enough trained geneticists. There may be roughly about 100 clinical geneticists in the country in 30 centres, reckons Bhat. “That’s a hundred times less than what we need,” she says. There are only about half-a-dozen training programmes in the country, including her institute, offering speciality fellowship training in clinical medical genetics.
The gene therapy is promising; a product for haemophilia is likely in a year or two.
“We want clinicians to understand that this is not a small group (of patients),” says Sudha Bhattacharya. She likens it to cancers. “If you talk about each and every type of cancer, the number of patients may be small. But when you put them all together, it’s large. It’s the same thing here.”
Awareness has been slowly growing, thanks to multi-pronged efforts. Genomics research and diagnostics company Medgenome Labs, set up in 2013, says there has been a big up in the number of samples at its lab in the past two years. “Even today, 95 per cent of my samples come from metro cities,” says Dr V.L. Ramprasad, the chief operating officer. “Cystic fibrosis, for example, is a fairly regular diagnosis at his lab. What you would call rare elsewhere is not rare in India. Our scale is completely different.”
Meanwhile, genome sequencing costs are dropping faster than Moore’s Law for semiconductors. Think of it: by 2014, less than 15 years after the first human genome was sequenced, you could sequence a genome for $1,000 (roughly Rs 70,000). “So, a hundred dollars for a whole genome is on,” says Vijay Chandru of Strand. “If not in two years, in three or four years we’ll be at a situation where we can sequence the entire human genome for $100 (roughly Rs 7,000).” Genomic medicine research is also pushing the frontiers, holding out the promise of a one-time cure for genetic disorders that were so far being managed by regular infusions.
Of course, these technologies were pioneered on cancers. But in the recent past, the first gene therapies for two genetic diseases have received approval—the European Union gave American firm ‘bluebird bio’ a conditional marketing authorisation for gene therapy for patients (aged 12 and above) of beta thalassaemia who were dependent on blood transfusion, while the Novartis company AveXis won a US Food and Drug Administration nod for a treatment for spinal muscular atrophy (in paediatric patients under two).
Globally, there are several attempts to crack these puzzles. A 2018 report by Goldman Sachs listed at least 42 companies working on gene therapies across a wide range of genetic disorders. Generally, gene therapy relies on two approaches—the idea being to introduce a good gene into the body. One is ‘gene introduction’, which means delivering a ‘normal’ gene through a harmless virus which will find its way to the right location. The second method is by ‘gene correction’ which means correcting the defective gene by different methods. In India, the Centre for Stem Cell Research in Vellore, which is funded by the department of biotechnology, is investigating both vector-based and CRISPR/Cas9 based gene replacement and correction approaches for the treatment of haemophilia and the major haemoglobin disorders such as thalassaemia and sickle cell disease.
Some gene-editing approaches are nascent, like those using CRISPR Cas9—a protein that, like a pair of scissors, can cleave a DNA molecule so that a tailored change can be made at the site of cleavage. Think of a word processor file which has a typo somewhere in the middle. “You take the cursor there, press the back button, put in a new letter and you save the file. This is exactly what is happening,” says Debojyoti Chakraborty, senior scientist at CSIR’s Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, who is working on a gene-editing approach for sickle cell anaemia. “So there is a typo in the DNA, we take the Cas9 which is like the cursor, make a double-strand break and put in the new nucleotide and then the cell repairs the break and replicates. Therefore the information is saved.”
There are about 100 clinical geneticists… 100 times less than what India requires.
Chakraborty says proof-of-principle studies are mostly done and the lab is now going into pre-clinical studies likely on mouse models. “What we have been heavily investing in is trying to make this process very safe, very precise because Cas9 being a protein, it can also make mistakes,” he says. A mistake means instead of going to a site where the mutation is, the protein might go to another site where there is no mutation and still make a DNA break. “There is a lot of research across the world in trying to make this system very precise,” he says.
Like elsewhere, India too has guidelines now for fast-tracking orphan drugs. But that, in itself, as Vijay Chandru says, doesn’t solve the problem which is to get innovators to start working on these medicines. “We need to come up with the right financial instruments here,” he reckons. “In the meantime, you need something for these patients.”
It’s the parents’ groups that are pushing hard, in every direction. “The time is now right for India to forge into it because the technologies weren’t there earlier. Now, gene therapy is very much there,” says Sudha Bhattacharya. Ten years ago when their daughter Shilpi was diagnosed with GNE myopathy, geneticists Sudha and Alok were hopeful about a treatment because at least three labs in the world were working on it. But time is passing, and the urgency has only increased. “We must take it to the logical conclusion of going to the patients,” say the couple. For that, you need more hands on the deck. Elsewhere in the world, there are scores of startups doing only gene therapy,” they point out. “That’s something that has bothered us.”
Over the years, they set up an organisation to create awareness among the medical fraternity and scientists in the country about GNE myopathy. “You will be quite surprised. The number may not be large but almost every month a new patient is getting added to the list,” says Sudha. “Who’s going to do it if we in India don’t do something about it?” | |
We want to ensure LGBT patients receive good, safe care, says Chair of RCGP as, together with the Government Equalities Office (GEO), they launch a suite of e-learning resources to support GPs to deliver the best possible care for LGBT patients
This is an edited version of an article first published by the Royal College of GPs.
The Royal College of GPs, in partnership with the Government Equalities Office (GEO) has launched a suite of e-learning resources to support GPs and other healthcare professionals to deliver the best possible care for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) patients.
The six new online learning modules, as well as podcasts and screencasts, aim to ensure users have access to evidence-based, up-to-date information to deal with the unique health needs LGBT patients may have.
The first-of-its-kind learning hub is designed to be accessible to busy GPs working under considerable time pressures with modules ranging from 15-30 minutes in length. The six modules are:
Inequality in healthcare provision – the current state of LGBT health: providing a current overview of LGBT health in the UK, identifying health inequalities and exploring how these could be improved.
Creating an inclusive primary care environment: exploring changes that can be made both in the GP surgery and during the GP-patient consultation to have a positive impact on LGBT patient outcomes.
Mental health and suicide prevention: highlighting health, wellbeing and service provision issues affecting LGBT patients and looking at how they can be addressed.
Screening issues in the LGBT population: exploring issues around screening in the LGBT community, specifically best practice for the cervical smear process in trans men and non-binary people with a cervix.
The older LGBT patient: exploring the unique health needs of older LGBT patients
Sexual and reproductive needs of the LGBT community: exploring sexual and reproductive health needs of LGBT patients, including advice for LGB women who wish to conceive and the use of pre and post exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV.
In 2017, there were an estimated 1.1 million people in the UK, aged 16 and over, who identified as LGB1. According to the latest National LGBT survey, the community can experience inequalities when accessing healthcare. To address this, the RCGP was commissioned by the GEO as one of 13 organisations to deliver the government’s LGBT Action Plan.
Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the RCGP, said: “GPs are highly-trained to deliver high-quality, non-judgemental care to all our patients. We want to ensure LGBT patients receive good, safe care, and that they can access our services when they need them.
“We hope that the new e-learning resources – based on the latest clinical evidence – will prove valuable in supporting frontline GPs and our teams to deliver the best possible care for every LGBT patient we see.”
Baroness Williams, Minister for Equalities, said: “Everyone must be able to access appropriate healthcare and be treated with respect no matter their sexuality.
“It’s great medical professionals now have access to these online modules, allowing this vital training to fit around their busy schedules, developing their delivery of LGBT inclusive healthcare.”
Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, or connect with us on LinkedIn! | https://practicebusiness.co.uk/rcgp-launches-trailblazing-lgbt-e-learning-suite-for-family-doctors |
Some people have even contended that there may be a scientific basis for these terminologies, citing the alleged existence of “brain cells” in the heartand implying that the blood-pumping organ might indeed have a mind of its own.
But can you really think with your heart?
It’s time for some myth busting.
Let’s first take a look at the claim that there are brain cells in the heart. The human brain, like all other parts of the body, is made up of cells. One crucial cell type in the brain is the neuron, a specialized cell with structures that allow it to send and receive information from other cells using electrical signals called action potentials. Our brains contain a whole lot of neurons — roughly 86 billion.
But neurons are found in other parts of the body too, including the gut and the heart. These neurons are part of the autonomic nervous system, which regulates vital functions like digestion and heart rate.
The heart contains far fewer neurons than the noggin, and their job is not to “think” in the way that folks have misinterpreted. They help the heart react to the various demands placed on it by the body. Because the heart has such an important job, it needs to have cells that help regulate its beating. For example, our hearts must adjust every time we stand up or sit down to keep our blood pressure at the right level and ensure we don’t pass out. But this system acts largely unconsciously, which should be a relief: imagine if you had to consciously control your heart’s activities every time you moved!
The neurons in the heart do communicate with the brain by providing feedback signals, which in turn may affect our emotions. When we experience something physically, it can change our emotional state: when our hearts race, we may feel anxious. This communication does not mean the heart is thinking for itself, however: as clinical neurologist Dr. Steven Novellaexplains, “Neurons alone do not equal mind or consciousness. It takes the specialized organization of neurons in the brain to produce cognitive processes that we experience as the mind.”
So despite the presence of neurons in the heart, we can see that the heart does not have a mind of its own. Our hearts are complex, vital organs, but the association between heart and mind is best left to metaphor, not real life.
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Discover our latest articles on brain health, cognitive development and wellbeing:
- The Inner Critic—Your Biggest Obstacle to Happiness
- How To Deal With Family Issues
- How To Be The Best In Bed (& We Don’t Mean Sleeping)
- How To Be The Best At Getting Body & Brain Fit On A Budget (& It Includes Snogging)
- How To Be The Best At Saving Money Without A Baked Bean Overload
All information featured in Peak – Brain Training articles are provided for informational purposes only and are not substitutes for medical or physician advice. | https://blog.peak.net/2018/11/01/cardiac-consciousness-can-we-really-think-with-our-hearts/ |
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
0001 This patent application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/472,133, entitled System and Method for Foot Measurement for Athletic Footwear, filed May 21, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
BACKGROUND
SUMMARY
0002 The invention relates to the field of foot measurement, and more specifically, a system for and method of automating the measurement of a foot using a foot pad and associated computing platform.
0003 Proper foot measurement is critical to providing appropriately sized footwear. Unfortunately, few people realize that one's shoe size is not the same across various types of footwear. For example, in an athletic shoe, one will often wear a size to a size and a half larger shoe than in a dress shoe. This is due to the fact that when placing repeated stress on the foot, for example when running, the foot will spread out. While various shoe sizing devices exist, none provide sizing directed at the athletic shoe market.
0004 The Brannock Device, designed in 1927, has been the standard foot measuring device employed in retail stores for over seventy-five years. The Brannock Device measures heel-to-toe length, heel-to-ball length (arch length), and foot width to provide a recommended shoe size and width. The Brannock Device comprises a pair of heel cups (right heel cup and left heel cup), a moveable arch length pointer, and a moveable width bar. The Brannock Device is complex to use and if often improperly used by sales associates. The following illustration of the operation of the Brannock Device will demonstrate its complexity.
0005 To use the device, the width bar should be set to its widest position and the arch length indicator should be slid back, so the foot can be positioned easily on the device. Next, the customer removes his footwear and stands, placing his right heel into the right heel cup. The customer should stand with equal weight on both feet to ensure that the foot being measured has elongated and spread to it's maximum size. The heel is properly located against the back of the heel cup, by grasping the customer's ankle and device together. The associate presses the customer's toes flat against the base of the device and looks straight down over the longest toe (not necessarily the first toe) to read toe length.
0006 Next, the associate places his thumb on the ball joint of the foot, and slides the moveable arch length pointer forward, so that the inside curve of the pointer fits the ball joint of the foot and two high ribs on the pointer come in contact with the associate's thumb. When the pointer is properly located, the lower middle rib will be against the ball joint on the side of the foot. This yields the arch measurement.
0007 Finally, the associate compares the arch length to the heel-to-toe length and uses the larger of the two measurements as the correct shoe size. If the arch length and heel-to-toe length are the same, this will be the shoe size. If the heel-to-toe length is larger than the arch length, then fit to the heel-to-toe size. If arch length is larger than heel-to-toe, then fit to arch length. Unfortunately, even if used properly, the Brannock Device is designed to provides appropriate shoe sized for dress shoes and not athletic footwear. In athletic footwear, the shoe size needs to by size to a full size larger than in a dress shown. Also, as can be seen from the above description, few sales associates have been properly trained to used the Brannock Device and fewer still actually go through these complex steps.
0008 Others have attempted to overcome the deficiencies of the Brannock Device, but, as is evident from their lack of commercial success, they have failed to gain a toe hold in the market. In general, a great deal of their effort has been in making electronic or optical gradiated platforms intended to take measurements of the foot through pressure readings or light sensor readings, respectively. However, these systems are inadequate because pressure readings from the feet may fail to account for curved areas of the foot that do not place pressure on the pad, yet may result in additional, unaccounted for length and width of the foot. In addition, none of these efforts have been directed at sizing feet for athletic footwear.
0009 The present invention is directed to overcoming the one or more problems or disadvantages associated with the prior art.
0010 A method of recommending an appropriate size of athletic foot wear utilizing a gradiated pad is disclosed. The method comprises: receiving a heel-to-toe length measurement into a computer, wherein the foot-to-toe length measurement is a first shoe size; receiving an arch length measurement into the computer, wherein the arch length measurement is a second shoe size; if the first shoe size is greater than the second shoe size, then using the computer to recommend an athletic foot wear size equal to first shoe size plus an additional one-half to full size; and if the first shoe size is less than the second shoe size, then using the computer to recommend an athletic foot wear size equal to the second shoe size plus an additional zero to one-half size.
0011 7. A system for recommending an appropriate size of athletic foot wear utilizing a gradiated pad is further disclosed. The system comprises: a display for displaying the recommended size of athletic foot wear; a memory; and a processor coupled to the memory and the display. The processor is operable to: receive a heel-to-toe length measurement, wherein the foot-to-toe length measurement is a first shoe size; receive an arch length measurement, wherein the arch length measurement is a second shoe size; if the first shoe size is greater than the second shoe size, then recommend an athletic foot wear size equal to first shoe size plus an additional one-half to full size; and if the first shoe size is less than the second shoe size, then recommend an athletic foot wear size equal to the second shoe size plus an additional zero to one-half size.
0012 The foregoing summarizes only a few aspects of the invention and is not intended to be reflective of the full scope of the invention as claimed. Additional features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following description, may be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. Moreover, both the foregoing summary and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
0013 The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate a system consistent with the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
0014FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present invention in its operating environment.
0015FIG. 2 is an illustration of a gradiated platform for use in an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present invention.
0016FIG. 3 is an illustration of operational measurement of foot length using the gradiated platform in an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present invention.
0017FIG. 4 is an illustration of operational measurement of arch length using the gradiated platform in an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present invention.
0018FIG. 5 is a system diagram of hardware elements within the computing platform in an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present invention.
0019FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a foot measurement process of an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present invention.
0020FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a foot length and arch length measuring process of an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present invention.
0021FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of an athletic shoe size calculation process of an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
0022 Reference will now be made in detail to the present exemplary embodiments consistent with the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.
0023 In general, the measurement system according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention operates by taking two or more foot measurements from one or more feet, for example right foot length and right arch length, and, utilizing a series of equations or lookup tables, provides a recommended athletic shoe size. Athletic shoe sizes tend to run zero to a full size larger than dress shoe sizes. The system uses an algorithm that recommends 0.5 to 1 size larger than dress shoe size if the foot length is larger than the arch length and 0 to 0.5 sizes larger than dress shoe size if the foot length is less than the arch length.
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0024FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present invention in its operating environment. A customer wishing to have measurements taken of her feet stands without shoes upon a gradiated platform . The gradiated platform is in communication with a computing platform . Computing platform , in connection with gradiated platform , measures the heel-to-toe length (foot length) and the length from the heel to the metatarsal-phalangeal joint (mp joint) (arch length) to compute a recommended athletic shoe size.
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0025FIG. 2 is an illustration of a gradiated platform for use in an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present invention. The gradiated platform may be coupled to the computing platform via Universal Serial Bus, USB2, Firewire, PCI, or serial connection, for example. A gradiated platform utilized in an exemplary embodiment of the invention is the Medicapteurs PEL 38 Platform. This platform can acquire pressure data from a 3232 sensor pad of sensors of 1 cm.1 cm. at over 100 images per second. Further advanced Medicapteurs platforms suitable for use with the invention feature a 4848 sensor pad of sensors of 0.8 cm0.8 cm. As will be seen from the following description, a pressure platform, such as the Midcapteurs PEL 38 Platform, is not necessarily required to practice the present invention; other non-output producing platforms can be used in conjunction with a text or mouse input device to replace the output producing functions of the pressure pad, with the non-output producing platform containing comparable markings and fittings.
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0026 Gradiated platform may comprise a heel resting T-bar , foot length gradiations , arch length gradiations , an input slider , and input gradiations . As a customer stands on gradiated platform , resting her heels against T-bar , foot length gradiations indicate the length of the customer's feet. Arch length gradiations provide measurements of the arch length of the customer. Input slider slides up and down the central column of T-bar and comprises a button and a sight . As a measurement needs to be entered into the measurement system, sight may be lined up with the foot length measurement taken from foot length gradiations and button pressed down upon the pad to indicate the foot length. Similarly, where the customer's mp joint lines up with arch length gradiations , sight may be aligned with arch length gradiations and button pressed down upon the pad to indicate arch length. While slider and gradiated platform are utilized to provide the inputs to computing platform , those skilled in the art will appreciate that visual readings could be taken off gradiated platform , with the data being entered by the customer or another directly into computing platform without computing platform receiving any direct, electrical input from gradiated platform .
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0027 For illustrative purposes, FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate operation of the system with respect to only the right foot. The same procedure would apply to measurement of the left foot. FIG. 3 is an illustration of operational measurement of foot length using the gradiated platform in an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present invention. As the customer stands upon gradiated platform , her foot print is shown on the gradiated platform . To measure the foot length, the foot length is measured from the longest portion of her foot . In this example, this would indicate a length of 11 from the foot length gradiations . Once the foot length is determined, input slider is slid along the central column of T-bar until sight aligns over the 11 on input gradiations . At this point, button may be pressed providing a pressure input to gradiated platform . Gradiated platform will provide this y coordinate to computing platform which may use a lookup table or equation to determine that an 11 has been input as the right foot length.
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0028FIG. 4 is an illustration of operational measurement of arch length using the gradiated platform in an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present invention. Appropriate arch length gradiation is selected based on which arch length gradiation aligns with the customer's mp joint. Slider is slid along T-bar until sight aligns with this gradiation . At this point, button is pressed providing a pressure input to gradiated platform . Gradiated platform will provide this y coordinate to computing platform which may use a lookup table or equation to determine the measured arch length of the right foot.
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0029 A similar process may be repeated for the left foot. Computing platform may provide visual or audio prompts to the operator of the measurement system to prompt for the series of inputs: right length, right arch, left length, left arch. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the system will function comparably with different ordered input or even with measurement being only taken for a single foot. Once the measurements are taken, computing platform will provide a recommended athletic shoe size or range of athletic shoe sizes.
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0030FIG. 5 is a system diagram of hardware elements within the computing platform in an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 5, a system environment of the computing platform may include a display , a central processing unit , an input/output interface , a network interface and memory coupled together by a bus. Computing platform is adapted to include the functionality and computing capabilities to implement the described measuring and computing functions of the measurement system. The input, output, and monitoring of the system may be provided on display for viewing.
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0031 As shown in FIG. 5, Computing platform may comprise a PC or mainframe computer for performing various functions and operations of embodiments of the invention. Computing platform may be implemented, for example, by a general purpose computer selectively activated or reconfigured by a computer program stored in the computer, or may be a specially constructed computing platform for carrying-out the features and operations of the present invention. Computing platform may be separate or integral to the platform . Computing platform may also be implemented or provided with a wide variety of components or subsystems including, for example, one or more of the following: one or more central processing units , a co-processor, memory , registers, and other data processing devices and subsystems. Computing platform may also communicate or transfer customer records and reports via I/O interface and/or network interface through the use of direct connections or communication links to other elements of the measurement system. For example, a firewall in network interface , prevents access to the platform by unpermitted outside sources.
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0032 Alternatively, communication between computing platform and modules , , and can be achieved through the use of a network architecture (not shown). In the alternative embodiment (not shown), the network architecture may comprise, alone or in any suitable combination, a telephone-based network (such as a PBX or POTS), a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), a dedicated intranet, and/or the Internet. Further, it may comprise any suitable combination of wired and/or wireless components and systems. By using dedicated communication links or shared network architecture, computing platform may be located in the same location or at a geographically distant location from modules , , and .
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0033 I/O interface of the system environment shown in FIG. 3 may be implemented with a wide variety of devices to receive and/or provide the data to and from the measurement system and platform. I/O interface may include an input device, a storage device, and/or a network. The input device may include a keyboard, a mouse, a disk drive, video camera, magnetic card reader, or any other suitable input device for providing records to the measurement system.
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0034 Network interface may be connected to a network, such as a Wide Area Network, a Local Area Network, or the Internet for providing read/write access to records.
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0035 Memory device may be implemented with various forms of memory or storage devices, such as read-only memory (ROM) devices and random access memory (RAM) devices. Memory device may also include a memory tape or disk drive for reading and providing records on a storage tape or disk as input to the measurement system. Memory device may comprise: an operating system , a fitting module for measuring and calculating foot size and recommended athletic footwear size; and a platform interface module for reading information from platform .
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0036FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a foot measurement process of an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present invention. Initially, a customer stands upon the gradiated platform or pad. At stage , the first foot, e.g., the right foot, heel-to-toe, or foot length, reading is taken. At stage , the first foot arch length reading is taken. At stage , the second foot foot length reading is taken. At stage , the second foot arch reading is taken. Finally, at stage , the recommended athletic shoe size is calculated and provided to the customer.
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0037FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a foot length and arch length measuring process of an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present invention. At stage , the user places her foot on the pad. At stage , the user views the length of the foot, from the foot length gradiations, and enters this length into the system using, for example, the input slider at stage . At stage , the user views the position of the mp joint, follows the arch length gradiations from the input joint to the input gradiations on the pad, and, at stage , enters the mp joint position into the system using, for example, the input slider. A similar process may be repeated for the second foot.
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0038FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of an athletic shoe size calculation process of an exemplary embodiment consistent with the present invention. At stage , the calculation process begins. At stage , the first foot foot length is compared to the first foot arch length. If the first foot foot length is greater than the first foot arch length, then, at stage , the recommended first foot athletic shoe size is set to the first foot foot length plus another one-half to full size. If the first foot foot length is less than the first foot arch length, then, at stage , the recommended first foot athletic shoe size is set to the first foot arch length plus another zero to one-half size.
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0039 At stage , the second foot foot length is compared to the second foot arch length. If the second foot foot length is greater than the second foot arch length, then, at stage , the recommended second foot athletic shoe size is set to the second foot foot length plus another one-half to full size. If the second foot foot length is less than the second foot arch length, then, at stage , the recommended second foot athletic shoe size is set to the second foot arch length plus another zero to one-half size.
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0040 At stage , the recommended athletic shoe size is set to the larger of the first foot recommended athletic shoe size and the second foot recommended athletic shoe size.
0041 Those skilled in the art will appreciate that all or part of systems and methods consistent with the present invention may be stored on or read from other computer-readable media, such as: secondary storage devices, like hard disks, floppy disks, and CD-ROM; a carrier wave received from the Internet; or other forms of computer-readable memory, such as read-only memory (ROM) or random-access memory (RAM).
0042 Furthermore, one skilled in the art will also realize that the processes illustrated in this description may be implemented in a variety of ways and include multiple other modules, programs, applications, scripts, processes, threads, or code sections that all functionally interrelate with each other to accomplish the individual tasks described above for each module, script, and daemon. For example, it is contemplated that these programs modules may be implemented using commercially available software tools, using custom object-oriented code written in the C programming language, using applets written in the Java programming language, or may be implemented as with discrete electrical components or as one or more hardwired application specific integrated circuits (ASIC) custom designed just for this purpose.
0043 It will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art that various changes and modifications of an obvious nature may be made, and all such changes and modifications are considered to fall within the scope of the appended claims. Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims and their equivalents. | |
Bartlett is home to more than 54,000 people, making it the second largest city in Shelby County and the 10th largest in the state of Tennessee. Visitors will find plenty of things to see and do in the city, so get on a charter bus in Bartlett, Tennessee, today and give the area a tour.
Check the Bartlett Performing Arts & Conference Center, where you can catch various performances and other event. You can also go to the Bartlett Branch Library, a place where you can find children- and family-friendly programs, arts and crafts sessions, musical programs, animal encounters, book signings, reading clubs, and other activities.
There are also festivals in the city that you may want to witness and experience. You have the Bartlett Festival and Car Show, a free weekend family event during early fall that features live music, a carnival, amateur cooking contests, arts and crafts, children's activities, food, vendors, and a car show. There's also the Pickin' Picnic Bluegrass Festival every spring which honors the legacy of Lucy Opry and of bluegrass music.
Get on a charter bus in Bartlett, Tennessee, and take a tour of the Bartlett Station Historic District, where you can find historic structures. There are industrial and retail businesses, churches, old houses, and city amenities.
There are two places in the city that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the Nicholas Gotten House, which was built in 1871 in the New England saltbox style and which now houses the local history museum called the Bartlett Museum; and the John H. McFadden House.
You may also want to visit the Davies Manor Plantation, which includes the oldest log house in Shelby County, a gristmill, several gardens, walking and nature trails, and other outbuildings.
Head out to the Bartlett Recreation Center, which has sports and recreational facilities like a swimming pool, basketball courts, racquetball courts, a running track, and workout rooms.
There's also the Bartlett Boulevard Soccer Park, which has lighted soccer fields as well as a space for other field games. Meanwhile, Easthill Park has athletic fields, a fitness trail, and a playground for kids.
Ellendance Park, on other hand, has lighted athletic fields, tennis courts, and other amenities like a playground, a picnic area, a fitness trail, and a pavilion. Other parks in the city with athletic fields and facilities for other sports are W.J. Freeman Park, Freeman Smith Park, Deermont, Shadowlawn, Dixon/Brewer Park, and Madison Arthur Byrd Park.
You can take the kids and the whole family to any of the city's parks and outdoor destinations, where you can enjoy open spaces, playgrounds, picnic areas, walking trails, lakes, and other amenities, as well as admire the beauty of nature.
You can go to Nesbit Park, the Municipal Park, Rivercrest Park, Quail Ridge, Rockyford Park, Stoneridge Park, Sugartree Park, and Yale Road, among others. You can also explore the 90 acres of Rivercrest Natural Area.
Do you need a charter bus in Bartlett, Tennessee? Book one now! Contact us online or call 1-866-569-2012.
Call BusRental.com at 1-866-569-2012 to make a reservation for a charter bus in Bartlett, Tennessee. You can also request a free online quote by simply filling out a short form you can find on our site. | https://www.busrental.com/bus-charter-rental-tennessee-bartlett |
The teachings of Bill Eagle Feather, Sun Dance chief and medicine man of the Rosebud Sioux, as told by his apprentice.
• Reveals personal accounts of important Native American rituals such as the yuwipi and the sun dance.
• Includes stories and teachings from the last years of Bill Eagle Feather's life.
Lakota medicine man Bill Schweigman Eagle Feather gained widespread recognition as an uncompromising spiritual leader in the 1960s when he defied a U.S. government ban on Indian religious practice and performed the Sun Dance ritual with public piercing. He continued on as Sun Dance chief and teacher of the Lakota way of life until his death in 1980.
Author Henry Niese met Bill Eagle Feather during a sweatlodge ceremony preceding a Sun Dance on the Rosebud Sioux Reservation in 1975. That was the beginning of the relationship between student and teacher that is captured with humor and respect in The Man Who Knew the Medicine. Niese brings readers along on his journey from outsider to initiate to elder, a transformation guided by Bill Eagle Feather. He describes sacred traditions such as the sweatlodge, the yuwipi, and the powerful Sioux Sun Dance, which Niese participated in for 16 years on the Rosebud reservation. His firsthand accounts provide a portal into a sacred reality as well as insight into the struggles of the Indian community to perpetuate its values and religious truths in the context of contemporary America. Above all, The Man Who Knew the Medicine offers the opportunity to experience the unique personality of a fascinating individual and respected healer through the eyes of a friend and a student. | https://books.apple.com/us/book/isbn9781591438564?at=101rBC&ct=manwhoknewthemedicin_9781591438564_sscom |
Tibetan while working in farms.
In 1981 he escaped into India, where he later joined Tibetan Medical and Astrological
Institute (TMAI). After completing five years study of traditional Tibetan medicine in 1947, Dr dakpa
became as the resident doctor at the branch clinic in Zanskar, Ladakh.
In 1991, along with late Trogawa Rinpoche, Dr Dakpa established Chakpori Memorial
College and became a lecturer there. He rejoined Tibetan Medical and Astrological Institute in 1995
where he was made the resident doctor at their branch clinic in Holland. He was a professor of Tibetan
medicine at the College of Tibetan Medicine and Astrology in TMAI, Dharamshala, from 2002 to 2004.
His previous title was Benefits of Tibetan Herbal Pills. Dr. Dakpa has now settled in Canada.
Foreword
Tibetan medicine, which follows the principle of service to others, is one of the ‘five major sciences’
of Tibet. It is this seminal branch of science that all human beings depend upon to fulfil their desire to
maintain healthy life, to be free from diseases and to prolong their lives. This healing system is
essential and beneficial in any society and is relevant at any time in history.
The Tibetan science of healing has four major methods to treat a disease that a physician
recognizes. Amongst these the ingredients needed to compound medicines - including medicinal plants
- are the most important. The principle texts and tantras of Tibetan medicine have codified these
medicinal plants, their tastes, therapeutic values and methods to compound herbal pills from them.
It is important that the objective of any book on medicinal plants should be to recognize
herbs and their curative values to the same standards as the traditional source texts. In keeping with such
an ideal, Dr Tenzin Dakpa has brought out a new title called Tibetan Medicinal Plants: An Illustrated
Guide to Identification and Practical Use, which I feel is an important work on this subject. It is without
doubt that this book will be of immense value to those who have an interest in learning and carrying out
research into Tibetan medicinal plants. I compliment Dr. Tenzin Dakpa on this exemplary work and hope
that in future he will continue to do more research in this field.
Back of the Book
This book, containing nearly three hundred medicinal plants, was compiled based on a wealth of botanic
and medical references, so that ordinary people can easily identify and use them in their daily lives.
Avoiding technical complexities, each plant is identified and presented in seven sections.
Tibetan Name Botanical NameLocations Parts of the Plant Used
Collection Time and After Treatment Taste and Potency, and Medicinal Value. | https://www.exoticindiaart.com/book/details/tibetan-medicinal-plants-idc358/ |
The Tsunami disaster that occurred towards the end of 2004 resulted in a huge burden on the community both in physical terms and psychological trauma. A big number of the population lost their lives and property worth millions of dollars was destroyed. In addition, members of the families that were diseased were left with psychological trauma that affected them after the event. The community and government were left with a major challenge of how to cope with the physical and psychological stress that was quite evident.
Many individuals were not only in need of material assistance, but also psychosocial care to help them cope with the psychological trauma they went through. Most of the individuals suffered from anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, as well as post traumatic stress disorders (PTSD). PTSD is a disorder people go through after experiencing a dangerous event. This is a severe disorder and can last for a few days to months.
The severity depends on the intensity of the dangerous event as well as the surrounding circumstances. PTSD is also experienced by solders after taking part in wars and the symptoms can affect them for the rest of their lives. Most of the Tsunami victims experienced PTSD which affected their family life, social life as well as their work. Most of them had to shelter in camps since most of their houses were destroyed. It is in these camps that they received both physical and psychological help. This paper will look at what is meant by PTSD and the symptoms of this disorder. It also gives an overview of the Tsunami disaster including the physical and psychological effects of the dangerous events. It will go further to highlight the recovery response that was initiated to help the Tsunami PTSD patients and conclude by looking at the psychoanalysis theory developed by Sigmund Freud.
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder is an anxiety people go through after experiencing a dangerous event. When people are in danger, they are normally engraved with fear and uncertainties of the outcomes of such an event. This is a health response and it is meant to help the body as it defends itself against danger. However, a person who experiences post traumatic stress (PTSD) may have a damaged reaction. Individuals under PTSD most of the time feel strained and terrified even when out of danger. They fear for their lives and most of them suffer from sleepless nights because they are even afraid of sleeping (Myers, 2010).
The occurrence of the dangerous event keeps recurring on people’s mind causing anxiety and depression. If a person is not treated early, he may suffer from PTSD for the rest of his life and may even lead to untimely death. Any person can be a victim of PTSD; it affects children, the youths, and even old people. It normally affects people who have gone through a dangerous situation or witnessed a dangerous event. Events that can cause PTSD include war, sexual assault, motor accidents, and natural disasters such as earthquakes, fires, the tsunami, and many others. However, it is worth noting that not every person that experiences PTSD has actually experienced a dangerous event.
There are people who get PTSD after receiving bad news, for instances, news about the death of a loved one or a friend.
Symptoms of PTSD
The symptoms of PTSD vary with the kind of danger. These symptoms can be classified into three classes as follows: 1. Re-experiencing symptoms- this includes flashbacks about the dangerous event, bad dreams, or terrifying thoughts. These symptoms may interfere with a person’s daily routine because of lack of concentration. Some people even day dream and may bust out crying, shouting or running for help. Symptoms may be re-experienced where object or even prevailing situations may elicit the signs (Myers, 2010). These symptoms require professional help to deal with because a person experiencing them live with self denial and does not accept what he is going through.
They can last for 4-6 weeks or even months after the event but this depends on a person’s willingness to accept assistance and the desire to change. 2. Avoidance symptoms- a person experiencing PTSD tries to keep away from any object or situation that will be a constant reminder of the event. Others even withdraw themselves from the society and their participation in social activities diminishes. At times, they may be overcome by feel emotions and start carrying without a reason. Other people experience depression, worry or remorse, while others may tend to shun away from activities that they found enjoyable before the event took place. The first step in helping a person with these symptoms is to remove all objects that may act as a constant reminder of the event and also to change his environment so that he is able to see life from another angle.
3. Hyper arousal symptoms- they include feeling tense, insomnia, or being angered easily. These symptoms are hardly triggered by objects that remind a person about a dangerous event but they are rather constant. They make a person to feel stressed and angry most of the time which may not be pleasant especially in a work place (Myers, 2010).
These are the most severe symptoms since they do not only affect the individual psychology but also that of the people around him. It is very normal to go through these symptoms after going experiencing a dangerous event. Some people experience them for a short period of time while others may experience them for months if not years.
The Tsunami and the Psychological Effects
A great tsunami occurred on December 24, 2004 and affected a large population from some parts of East Africa and South Asia. It was a natural disaster that did not only take the lives of many people but also destroyed a lot of property.
In Sri Lanka (which was the most hit region) alone, 31, 187 people were reported dead, more than four thousand were reported missing, over twenty thousand had been injured and almost half a million people were displaced (Tull, 2009). As it is normal in many dangerous events, the tsunami was not an exemption as many people were left with psychological problems especially those who witnessed the disaster in Sri Lanka. A study that was carried out about 4 weeks after the tsunami discovered that about 39% of children were suffering from PTSD (Daily News Sri Lanka, 2005). A similar study found out that more than 40% of adolescents and about 20% of adult women showed symptoms of PTSD 4 months later (Daily News Sri Lanka, 2005). However, the researches do not provide enough information about the long-term effects of the crisis but according to WHO a bigger percentage of people gradually developed symptoms of PTSD due to the event. To verify this claim, an international research group was formed to study the post-tsunami effect. A study was carried out in Peraliya in Sri Lanka district about one year after the disaster.
This is an area where more than 2, 000 people had lost their lives and proximately 450 families had been displaced, and the entire society was in a mess. A part from the natural disaster, many people had gone through many psychological effects. For instance, about 80% feared for their life because they could still visualize the event that took place. More than 50% had already lost at least one member of the family and they had constant flashback of the event while approximately 80% had lost a friend. On the other hand, part of the population that was interviewed explained how some of their family members and friends had been seriously injured as a result of the crisis and they could spend sleepless nights. Out of all the participants of the study, 21% experienced PTSD, 16% suffered from severe depression, 30% had relentless anxiety, while more than 22% had somatic signs (Tull, 2009). Some of the symptoms that were common among many victims of the Tsunami were tension, fear, anxiety, confusion, flashbacks, plus other permanent emotional scars. Other people expressed pessimistic thoughts, withdrawal from social activities, among other physical symptoms.
Some people were able to cope with these psychological effects while others needed professional care. Some of the disaster survivors developed psychiatric disorders including but not limited to anxiety disorders, depression disorders, and PTSD. Most of the victims suffering from PTSD depressed and could not understand what was happening to them (Daily News Sri Lanka, 2005). They resorted to crying a lot to at least try to ease the pain although this did not work. Some of them wished to die because they could not carry the burden that was imposed on them. It was difficult for family members trying to help those suffering from PTSD because they too were still in agony. It is not always easy to witness the death of a loved one and lead a normal life.
What was happening to the post-tsunami victims was normal and it is associated to all dangerous events.
Post-Tsunami Management of PTSD
Many people can recover from PTSD on their own if they are given proper education, they are supported, and their lifestyles modified. The first step in helping a person under PTSD is to help him come into terms with the condition he is going through and to reassure him that what he is going through is normal and is as a result of the traumatic event that he experienced. Also support from family members, friends, and other professionals helps a person to recover quickly from PTSD.
Some anxiety management strategies such as breathing techniques and involvement in social activities have also been known to play a big part in the recovery process. However, patients with severe symptoms of PTSD such as recurrent flashbacks, and lack of sleep and those not responding to PTSD treatment should be referred to a psychiatrist (WHO, 2005). Most of people who were displaced from tsunami crisis lived in relief camps. Following the disaster, many people were concerned with what had happened and were ready to offer their help in order to help the victims recover from the psychological trauma they went through. A large number of volunteers all over the world visited these camps to sympathize with the victims. They carried their toolboxes of psychosocial and trauma recovery activities which added confusion and amusement to the people who benefited from their activities as well as the authorities that were concerned with the recovery process.
Psychosocial and mental health programs were initiated in the relief camps by the United States agencies, non-governmental, and governmental institutions to help the victims come into terms with the event. These programs revived political support, which accelerated the recovery process and many PTSD patients were able to benefit from these programs. In addition, the president of Sri Lanka supported psychological intervention process both financially and psychologically. He gave these processes the first priority among all the programs that started as part of post-tsunami recovery plan.
He realized that if those victims continued to suffer psychologically, no amount of material support would help them come out of the crisis. The president went further to caution all authorities involved in the recovery program to make sure that all personnel hired to conduct the post-trauma counseling were qualified and had enough experience (WHO, 2005). This is for the reason that some people may be so much willing to offer their help but such assistance may sometimes not be professional and may be only based on belief which can engrave the problem instead of solving it. The acronym PTSD and the word psychosocial were used too often and they became part of the post-tsunami recovery plan. They even became the widely used terms by both politicians and news columnists. As a team, we also took part in helping the internally displaced persons from the Tsunami.
We organized a small fund rising within the school compound where we collected money, clothing as well as food. We visited the victims at the camps and donated some of the material things we had managed to collect and went a head to talk with then. We played with the children who looked depressed to help them come to terms with their predicament.
Since we could not offer any professional psychological help, we just had a general talk with some of the victims and assured them that, they are people out there who care for them and a ready to offer a should to cry on.
The Theory of Psychoanalysis
From research, it has been found that psychoanalysis forms part of the recovery treatment for people under PTSD. This theory was first developed by Sigmund Freud. He is one of the ancient psychologists. The aim of this theory was to study the psychological functioning of human beings and their behavior. Fraud established clinical procedures that would be used to treat mentally ill persons.
According to him, individual personality is developed from childhood experiences. The aim of this therapy was to convey reserved thoughts and mind-set into consciousness in order to free the patient from suffering recurring fuzzy emotions. These reserved thoughts and feelings are brought to consciousness by encouraging a conversation between the doctor and the patient. Patients are encouraged to talk freely and express their dreams and experiences (Asiado, 2007). According to Freud, psychoanalysis is a process used to treat individuals suffering from psychological problems. He called it “The doctor’s ‘treatment’ and it involves eliciting repressed memories from the patient by interpreting the responses to his questions” (Asiado, 2007).
He observed that a person suffering from psychology problems would be encouraged to re-live previous experience and this would be used as a technique for treatment. The theory involves intervention such as confronting and illuminating the patient’s pathological suspicions, desires, and guilt. Through analysis of individual’s conflicts, psychoanalysis treatment can be used to prove that patients’ unconsciousness is the worst threat of causing symptoms. This progression assists in determining solutions for the reticent conflicts. In the psyche, the interpretation of Dreams, Freud proposed that dreams can be used to demonstrate the judgment of the unconscious mind.
He described dreams as the noble road to the unconscious. In the unconscious mind painful memories are repressed but can be accessed through psychoanalysis treatment.
Conclusion
PTSD can affect, children, adolescent, and even adults.
It knows no borders and affects everyone including soldiers who are believed to be the ‘hardest’ persons. Some of the symptoms of PTSD include: recurrent flashbacks, anxiety, depression, insomnia, bad dreams, and pessimistic thought. They are people who exhibit these symptoms for a very short period of time while others continue to suffer for months if not years. An example of a dangerous event that left many people with PTSD is the great Tsunami of 2004. Apart from the physical damage that resulted from this event, many people suffered from psychological disorders including PTSD.
Children, adolescents, and adults were displaced and were sheltered in relief camps. Some of the symptoms exhibited by the individuals suffering from PTSD included flashbacks, depression, stress, anxiety, loss of self control, pessimist thoughts, and many more. Most of the people who were displaced were sheltered in relief camps where they received both local and international visitors who sympathized with their predicament. This is where many non-governmental, governmental and U.S. agencies offered their assistance to the victims. They were given both material support and psychological support.
Psychological intervention programs were initiated with the support of the president of Sri Lanka to help the people who were suffering from PTSD. The psychological treatment which they received was based on the psychoanalysis theory developed by Sigmund Freud.
Reference List
Asiado, T. (2007).
Sigmund Freud and His Couch. Retrieved from http://greatthinkers.suite101.
com/article.cfm/sigmund_freud_and_freud_couch Daily News, Sri Lanka (2005). Editorial: The Primacy of Mental Health Protection.
(12 February 2005). Colombo 10: Lake House Press. Myers, D.G. (2010).
Psychology (9th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers Tull, M. (2009). The Psychological Impact of the 2004 Tsunami. Retrieved from http://ptsd.
about.com/od/causesanddevelopment/a/tsunami.htm WHO (2005). Psychosocial Care of Tsunami-Affected Populations. | https://housecleaningwestpalm.com/effect-on-people-who-have-been-through-tsunami/ |
Surface-supplied-air and mixed-gas diving has many advantages over traditional SCUBA-gear diving. Divers utilizing a hard hat and surface-supplied air or mixed gas are continually tethered to the surface. In this mode of diving, air for breathing is normally supplied by a surface compressor, fed through a volume tank, and delivered to the diver through an umbilical.
In addition, in surface-supplied-air and mixed-gas diving, a back-up supply of air, normally contained in a high-pressure bottle, is plumbed into the system for use in an equipment failure. Divers also commonly wear what is referred to as a “bail-out bottle,” a SCUBA bottle that can provide air in the event that the first two systems fail. These redundancies significantly elevate the safety of the divers.
The diver’s umbilical includes a communication cable, which allows clear and constant communication between the diver and surface personnel, and a pneumofathometer hose, which permits constant monitoring of the diver’s depth and also provides yet another source of air to the diver in an emergency. The umbilical can also provide electricity to power underwater lights and a helmet-mounted underwater camera, for real-time monitoring and recording. Finally, the umbilical includes a hose that can supply hot water to a diver’s hot-water suit, enabling a diver to remain at the work site far longer and to work more comfortably and efficiently.
These features make surface-supplied-air and mixed-gas diving far superior to SCUBA diving in terms of safety, efficiency, and versatility. The commercial diving industry maintains a strong preference for surface-supplied-air and mixed-gas diving in all but a few rare situations. | http://www.ukports.com/news/?p=553 |
The Alameda County Fatherhood Summit, hosted by the Alameda County Fathers Corps (ACFC), is set for March 16, 2019, at Merritt College in Oakland.
ACFC is excited to present this first-of-a kind free, all day event designed to provide 1,000 fathers and father figures with a safe space for dialogue, networking and resource exchange focused on supporting the journey through fatherhood. The groundbreaking Summit will be a first-of-its-kind event in Northern California. The Summit will also serve as the launch for several new programs and services provided by the Fathers Corps.
Established in 2013, the Alameda County Fathers Corps (ACFC) is a county-wide team of male service providers working to help strengthen families by helping men be the best fathers they can be. ACFC’s goal is for every father to be fully engaged and supportive of their children and that community and public agencies are fully prepared to help them succeed.
Summit attendees can choose from a broad range of workshops which will pack their leadership toolbox with skills and resources for becoming successful parents and contributors to a healthy family life. Summit keynote speakers will include nationally recognized scholar, author and activist, Marc Lamont Hill and race relations authority, Jerry Tello.
Topics will cover a range of healing, coping, and informational topics such as “How You Doing: A Primer on Men's Complete Health” and “Healthy Living on a Budget.” Sessions on fatherhood will include, “How Your Child Grows: Understanding the Importance of Fathers in Early Childhood,” “Putting Family First: Success Strategies for Co-Parenting,” “Parenting for the Unparented,” and “Honoring the Diversity of Fatherhood: Embracing Gay Fathers and Father Figures.”
Planned Sessions on immigration and legal rights include, “Current Immigration Practices and Policies,” “Know Your Rights: Safely Navigating Encounters with Law Enforcement,” “Get Active: The Basics of Social Justice and Responsibility,” as well as “My Rights. My Responsibilities: Understanding Child Support and Custody.”
Sessions on how to achieve economic success include “You and Your Money: Building a Financial Legacy” and “Entrepreneurship: Be Your Own Boss. Pathways to Freedom - Educational and Career Alternatives.”
Specifically, for the formerly incarcerated father, sessions will include, “Re-Entry, Re-Connect” and “Been There, Survived That: Tales of Re-entry from Men Who Have Successfully Done So.”
A growing body of evidence shows that fathers who are actively engaged in children’s lives raise children that are far more likely to achieve success in school, careers, relationships and other aspects of life.
Sponsors and key partners include First 5 California, Kaiser Permanente, First 5 Alameda County, Alameda Alliance for Health, California Wellness Foundation, Alameda County Public Health Department, Heising-Simons Foundation, Oakland A's, and Comcast. A growing list of community partners includes local nonprofit organizations, government entities, public safety, social service and health care agencies.
The summit is free and lunch will be served. Pre-registration is required at fatherhoodsummit2019.eventbrite.com by March 1, 2019. | http://lajonesmedia.com/gallery/fatherhood/ |
It’s common knowledge that working together often promotes creativity and even increases the overall productivity of the group. Whilst this is obviously a great thing, many often untold challenges come hand-in-hand when working with others either in the workplace of for recreational activities. If not dealt with correctly, these challenges have the power to ruin a team and create a horrible environment in which you often are forced to go to, in the case of a job. This is why you should read the following article on how to combat some of the most prevalent issues in the workplace.
In this article, you will see some of the most common challenges that come across people working with others that you might even be suffering from. Make sure to read along and correctly identify how to combat these problems in order to make your workplace a much more friendly and productive environment! You will see how to combat:
- Lack of trust
- Low self-awareness
- Lack of communication
- Negative attitude
Through checking each sub-heading with the problem on it that you believe is challenging your team the most, you will find why the problem occurs and how to stop it from happening in the first place. As-long as you follow this advice, the group bickering when you’re trying to complete a task will be no more!
1. Lack of trust
As you may know, trust is the quintessential building block of most relationships, whether they be family or work-related. Trust is critical for a team to be successful, and a lack of trust can completely ruin a team due to it creating a toxic culture, shutting down communication and then becoming detrimental to productivity. This then completely de-motivates team members to strive for a good outcome, and results in a pretty shoddy end product of the job in question.
To help combat this, start by just being yourself in the workplace or other environment. This is a really good way to establish trust with the group members and then break down the barriers of miscommunication that stand in your way. When you show up to the job as your own authentic self, it is way easier to establish healthy interpersonal relationships that have been built on honest and open exchanges. This will then allow you to communicate your truthful thoughts on what direction you think the job is going in, which then lets your team members understand that you are open and honest with them, thus creating a relationship built on trust.
Once you have created a high trust environment, people will be able to work productively and happily due to them feeling safe and connected to others. Amy Edmondson, a Harvard business school professor has done a large amount of research relating to a trust benefiting teamwork and productivity, as seen in the following link. She has been able to conclude that interpersonal trust and mutual respect are the two things that characterize a functional team, due to it being in this environment that people are most comfortable in themselves. Evidently, trust is a pretty vital tool necessary for the success of a project that involves working with others.
2. Low self-awareness
If you have ever done much work with others in the past, you will know the feeling of frustration that comes hand-in-hand when working with someone who demonstrates the many traits of low self-awareness. This means that they are resistant to any and all feedback, appear to know everything about everything, blame others for all failures and take credit where credit is certainly not due. These irritating traits are actually much more common than you might think, with a recent Harvard business study indicating that ‘despite 95% of people believing they are self-aware, only 5-10% actually is’. On top of this, they also go into say ‘low self-aware team members go on to cut the chance of success for a group in half’. Evidently, team members with low self-awareness can detriment a project pretty bad, so how can we go about combatting this?
First, you need to understand what the real problem is and if they are actually lacking self-awareness or are just currently living in a stressful environment. Some key factors to look out for in low self-aware individuals is that they won’t accept any feedback, cannot empathize with others, have difficulty understanding the social situation, posses an inflated opinion on their contribution to the task and are hurtful to others without realizing it. Now that you have possibly identified this type of individual, you can see if they are aware or unaware they are acting this manner by how they react to certain benchmarks in the group progress. For example, an unaware individual would praise the group for completing something, despite him negatively contributing to it, and an aware individual would not only lack a contribution but would then let everyone know their opinion on how bad the project is going. To help the unaware, you must talk to them about what they are doing, and provide them with honest feedback on how they can change to make the group more successful. This may be a steep climb, with research showing that only 31% of individuals who tried to better their colleagues were successful in the process.
If individual self-awareness were to be increased, then the quality of connections inside the group would improve, and so too would your likelihood of successfully working with others. This then improves the team’s engagement levels, and before you know it a high quality finished product will be completed as a result of you taking the action to let a low self-aware individual improve on their social skills.
3. Lack of communication
When working with others, the most important thing that you can do is to establish good communication with your team members, allowing you to be productive and produce high-quality work. A lack of communication means that there will undoubtedly be room for misinterpretation, which then allows for mistakes to occur that may only be discovered when it is too late. When lacking an understanding of what your team-members think due to a lack of communication, the overall job will suffer and you may get some angry superiors. So, to help combat this, here are some helpful tips to make communication easy.
You can establish a form of a voting system to prove that each opinion is valued and no-one is better than anyone else. For example, say you wish to print the work on an A3 document, but another person wishes to print it on an A2 document, then you should take this to the group and have a quick raise of hands to see who thinks what should happen. It’s important not to take the answers personally if no-one chooses your offer, as they are only acting with the best interest of the project at heart. You could also establish a baseline of which to measure progress and success, which comes from an initial assessment of problem areas. This baseline then provides evidence as to what is working well, so you can then adjust this in the near future and improve upon your overall communication.
With successful communication, you will able to reap numerous benefits that will be great for your team project as a whole. Communication allows the group to express their ideas and themselves, which in turn allows them to feel more comfortable in the working environment which as mentioned will improve the productivity of the team. Communication is possibly the most essential part of a functional working team, which is why you must meticulously follow the aforementioned steps to make sure that you are getting the best out of your time in a group project.
4. Negative attitude
When there is a problem when working with others, there are two types of people. The people who complain about it and shout at others to fix it, and the people who quietly get on with it and efficiently fix the issue. This negativity is also contagious, meaning if someone turns to have a complaint about something, the person they are telling will either just recite this back to them or another individual. It creates a cycle of inefficiency which is extremely detrimental to the team’s success, which is exactly why there should be no room for a negative attitude in the workplace.
A way to combat this is to take your complaint through the proper channels. It is extremely understandable to have an issue with the way a group project is going, but to deal with this by simply shouting and complaining at the first person you see is not the right way to go. You need to figure out who in the group is the right person with whom to discuss your concerns, and then in a calm manner relay your concerns upon them, without the sense of blame in your voice. This then allows the negativity aspect of the concern to completely disappear, and the issue will be met efficiently and smartly.
Conclusion
Evidently, a positive attitude will benefit your team through numerous brilliant ways. Whether it be the way it eradicates the snarkiness and rudeness associated with loudly complaining about an issue, or how it allows a problem to be solved productively, one thing is for sure: A positive attitude strongly improves your team’s capabilities, making it much easier to work with others. | https://girltechblog.com/what-are-the-challenges-of-working-with-others/ |
The November Interfaith Vigil will be hosted by the First UU Church of Berks with Rev. Sandra Fees, Ebee Bromley, Director of Music, Tonya Wenger, and others leading us in prayer, song, and messages of hope. While many of the asylum-seeking women and children have been released or deported, the center continues to detain immigrant families. Our commitment continues to be putting an end to family detention. Please come out to help keep the pressure on state leaders to shut it down and to let those in detention know they are not forgotten.
Shut Down Berks Interfaith Witness and Make the Road will be holding a vigil at the Berks (Family) Detention Center on October 22nd at 3:30pm. This month's vigil will be hosted by John-Michael Pickens of the PA Council of Churches.
The next annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association will be held June 20-24 in Kansas City, Missouri. Attendees worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy. The 2018 focus will be on our call to meet the demands of our time with reflection on these questions:
Learn about Dia de Los Muertos and share some food as a community.
If you would like to learn more about becoming a member of our church please join us for our Considering Membership Class October 15th at 11:45am
Our book Discussion group will begin meeting in Monthly starting in October.
October 10th: Great Small Things by Jodi Picoult
November 14th: Waking Up White and Finding Myself in the Story of Race by Debbie Irving
December 12th: Waking Up White -Continued
January 16: Waking Up White -Continued
February 20th : Struggling in Good Faith: LGBTQI Inclusion from 13 American Religious Perspectives by Mychal Copeland and D'vorah Rose
April 10th: Citizen: An American Lyric by Claudia Rankin
Please join or support our First UU Berks County team in the Reading-Berks CROP Hunger Walk on October 8 at Grings Mill along the Tulpehocken Creek. The annual CROP Walk raises money for anti-hunger efforts around the world.
You won't want to miss this special opportunity to be in community with UUs from Pennsylvania's other historically Universalist churches and to hear and participate in important social justice presentations and programs. The weekend of Oct. 6-8 our congregation will host the annual gathering of the Pennsylvania Universalist Convention. Representatives from the eight historically Universalist congregations in Pennsylvania will gather at our church to share news of their congregations, have a keynote presentation relevant to Unitarian Universalists today, and spend time in community. | https://www.uuberks.org/news?page=7 |
United States Court of Appeals
Fifth Circuit
F I L E D
IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS
FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT July 22, 2005
Charles R. Fulbruge III
Clerk
No. 04-60671
Summary Calendar
MASOUD YADEGAR,
Petitioner,
versus
ALBERTO R. GONZALES, U. S. ATTORNEY GENERAL,
Respondent.
--------------------
Petition for Review of an Order of the
Board of Immigration Appeals
BIA No. A78 588 417
--------------------
Before REAVLEY, HIGGINBOTHAM and CLEMENT, Circuit Judges.
PER CURIAM:*
Masoud Yadegar, a native and citizen of Iran, petitions for
review of an order of the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA)
dismissing his appeal of the immigration judge’s (IJ) decision to
deny his applications for asylum, withholding of removal, and
protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT). The
petition is DENIED.
*
Pursuant to 5TH CIR. R. 47.5, the court has determined that
this opinion should not be published and is not precedent except
under the limited circumstances set forth in 5TH CIR. R. 47.5.4.
No. 04-60671
-2-
The BIA’s order dismissing Yadegar’s appeal expressly
adopted and affirmed the IJ’s finding that Yadegar was not a
credible witness. Although our review ordinarily is limited to
the BIA’s decision, when the BIA adopts the decision of the IJ,
this court may review the IJ’s decision. See Mikhael v. INS,
115 F.3d 299, 302 (5th Cir. 1997). Because the BIA adopted the
IJ’s credibility finding without stating additional reasons, we
review the IJ’s decision.
The IJ must determine the credibility of witnesses. Chun v.
INS, 40 F.3d 76, 78 (5th Cir. 1994). This court does not
substitute its judgment for that of the IJ or BIA with respect to
witness credibility and the ultimate factual findings based on
credibility determinations. Chun, 40 F.3d at 78. When a finding
regarding credibility is based on “a reasonable interpretation of
the record and therefore supported by substantial evidence,” it
will be upheld. Id. at 79. “[A] credibility determination may
not be overturned unless the record compels it.” Lopez De Jesus
v. INS, 312 F.3d 155, 161 (5th Cir. 2002) (citing Chun, 40 F.3d
at 78)).
In addition to arguing the merits of his claims for asylum,
withholding of removal, and protection under the CAT, Yadegar
challenges the IJ’s finding that he was not a credible witness.
The IJ’s credibility finding is amply supported by the record.
See Chun, 40 F.3d at 79. The record thus does not compel a
credibility determination contrary to that of the IJ. See Lopez
No. 04-60671
-3-
De Jesus, 312 F.3d at 161. Because the credibility determination
is supported by substantial evidence, Yadegar’s petition for
review of the BIA’s order is DENIED.
| |
NASA scientists announced they’ve found evidence that Ganymede, the largest moon in the solar system, has a vast subsurface liquid ocean that contains more water than the Earth’s surface. Ganymede is already unique in other ways — it’s larger than the planet Mercury (but less than half Mercury’s mass), twice the mass of our own moon, and the only satellite known to have its own magnetosphere. Like Europa, Ganymede may have an incredibly thin atmosphere of oxygen. The discovery of a liquid ocean on Ganymede increases the chances that life exists or has existed within its depths.
“This discovery marks a significant milestone, highlighting what only Hubble can accomplish,” said John Grunsfeld, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters, Washington. “In its 25 years in orbit, Hubble has made many scientific discoveries in our own solar system. A deep ocean under the icy crust of Ganymede opens up further exciting possibilities for life beyond Earth.”
Ganymede’s magnetic field is the reason Hubble was able to peer across the void and detect the presence of subsurface water. Just as Earth has the northern and southern lights (Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis), Ganymede has its own auroral belts, as shown below:
Water is what’s known as dimagnetic, meaning it generates a weak magnetic field in opposition to whatever magnetic field is applied to it. The aurora around Ganymede are expected to rock back and forth in response to Jupiter’s magnetic field (Ganymede’s self-generated magnetic field is embedded in Jupiter’s as shown below):
What the scientists found is that the rocking motion across the surface was much reduced compared to what they’d expect to see if there was no water underneath the surface of the moon. Current thinking is that the ocean is an estimated 60 miles deep, but buried 95 miles beneath the icy crust.
We’ve known for decades that Ganymede contained significant amounts of water ice, but the presence of liquid oceans was less certain. At 95 miles below the surface, the oceans could run quite hot. For reference, the average temperature on the surface at the Kola Superdeep Borehole in July is just 52F / 11C, while the temperature at the bottom of the shaft, 49,000 feet below the surface, was 356F / 180C. At more than 10x the depth, Ganymede’s hypothetical ocean would be insulated from the cold vacuum of space and warmed by the moon’s active core.
Enceladus shares the spotlight
Ganymede isn’t the only water-related news this week. NASA has also detected hot springs and hydrothermal vents operating beneath the icy crust, within subsurface oceans. It’s long been known that Enceladus had significant water reserves, the moon periodically emits particle blasts and we’ve detected cryovolcanoes — volcanos that emit frozen compounds rather than magma — actively on the surface.
Finding hydrothermal vents, however, is still a first since Earth was previously the only planet known to have them. It’s not clear if Enceladus’ core is active or if proximity to Saturn and its orbital resonance with other moons keeps it warm via tidal heating, but either way, it’s another example of how we continue to learn about the planets and moons within the solar system. Recent years have proven that water — essential to human life and and to any future colonization efforts — is far more common within the solar system than was previously believed. | https://www.extremetech.com/extreme/201093-nasa-detects-subsurface-ocean-on-solar-systems-largest-moon |
Inspects functioning of PHC Sonamarg
GANDERBAL: In order to have a firsthand appraisal about the availability of essential services at Sonamarg tourist destination Deputy Commissioner (DC) Ganderbal, Krittika Jyotsna today took whirlwind tour of Sonamarg and Inspected the facilities available there.
During the visit, the DC was accompanied by CEO, Sonamarg Development Authority (SDA), Tehsildar besides officers of various line departments.
On the occasion the DC took stock of availability of essential services including water and electricity supply, health care facilities, traffic management besides snow clearance from main road and other link roads.
CEO, SDA briefed the DC about the availability of essential services and informed that all facilities are available throughout the Sonamarg including power and water supply.
While inspecting the snow clearance operation, the DC was informed that main road is open for vehicular movement upto Sonamarg.
DC was further informed that snow was cleared as per the laid down plan from Gagangeer to Sonamarg to ensure that road remains open while inner link roads were also cleared in a time bound manner.
The Deputy Commissioner complimented all the departments and the staff stationed there including Beacon and police who are engaged in keeping essential services available during winters in Sonamarg because of which Sonamarg remains open for the first time in the month of January.
Meanwhile, the DC inspected the functioning of PHC Sonamarg and Police station Sonamarg and took stock of facilities available there.
While inspecting the PHC, it was informed that PHC is fully functional with sufficient availability of medical and paramedical staff and essential medicines.
The DC instructed the health authorities to keep a team of doctors along with medical aid stationed at the sledge and snow biking points where tourists visit so that medical help is provided in real time at these points whenever needed.
Keeping in view of a spike in Covid cases and looming threat of Covid 3rd wave, the DC directed the concerned to ensure Covid SOPs are followed strictly besides random Covid sampling is also done.
While enquiring about the winter activities being run in Sonamarg, the CEO informed that Sledge and snow biking activities are continuously going here besides first ever professional Ski course was also run in Sonamarg in last week carried by Jawahar Institute of Mountaineering and Winter Sports in which over 70 students participated.
Interacting with the officers on the occasion, the DC said that the District Administration is committed to promote Sonamarg as one of the best winter destinations in the whole UT and instructed all officers to ensure tourists visiting Sonamarg may not face any inconvenience and every possible support shall be provided to visiting tourists.
Pertinently, earlier, Sonamarg Tourist Destination remained closed during the winter due to heavy snowfall and avalanches in Gagangeer area and district administration is taking all necessary steps to ensure Sonamarg remains open for the rest part of January also. | https://kashmirreader.com/2022/01/17/dc-ganderbal-visits-sonamarg-takes-stock-of-essential-services/ |
For decades IT groups have been using increasingly advanced tools to manage their various servers, storage systems, networks and printers. Data center physical infrastructure is just as important as these IT systems and deserves the same level of management if they are to deliver consistent, reliable performance.
With that in mind, Schneider Electric’s Energy University is offering a free online course, “Physical Infrastructure Management Basics,” that provides a good foundation upon which to build a solid data center infrastructure management strategy.
To describe the disciplines inherent in physical infrastructure management, the course uses the same terms employed in the Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL). ITIL is a popular framework that many customers and equipment suppliers have found helpful in understanding the various aspects of management.
ITIL is all about adhering to processes when it comes to management and it describes various connected processes. As the course explains, the most important ones to consider when managing physical infrastructure are:
- Availability management
- Change management
- Capacity management
- Incident management
Incident management is concerned with returning to the normal service level as soon as possible, with the smallest possible impact on the business activity of the organization and user, after any incident that disrupts service.
You’ll learn about the challenges inherent in incident management and why a system-level view that allows you to see relationships between interconnected components is crucial to addressing them.
Availability management is all about identifying availability and reliability requirements and, when necessary, introducing improvements to allow the organization to achieve and sustain optimum quality levels at a justifiable cost. With respect to physical infrastructure, that means monitoring service levels and understanding the potential downtime that can result from individual components failing and what the impact of such failures would be on the entire system.
The course explores in depth specific challenges associated with incident management, including: availability metrics reporting; advance warning for failure; planned downtime; and infrastructure improvement.
Capacity management is concerned with providing the required IT resources at the right time, at the right cost, aligned with the current and future requirements of the internal customer. Power, cooling, rack space, and cabling are all IT resources that require capacity management.
Here again, you’ll learn how to address the challenges associated with capacity management, including: monitoring and recording data center equipment and infrastructure changes; providing physical infrastructure capacity; optimizing the physical layout of existing and new equipment; as well as incrementally scaling the data center infrastructure.
Finally, change management is the process concerned with methods and procedures for making changes to infrastructure with the lowest possible impact on service quality, and is increasingly critical for optimizing business agility.
The course covers change management challenges including: executing “moves, adds, and changes” of IT equipment and software without impacting availability; implementing firmware changes in individual physical infrastructure components; maintaining all physical infrastructure components, and maintaining spares at compatible firmware revision levels.
When implementing a new management strategy, many companies have trouble deciding where to start. The course offers guidance here, too, recommending this 4-step plan:
- Implement an incident management system
- Set and measure availability targets
- Monitor and plan for long term changes in capacity
- Get change management processes in place
That may sound overly simple, but as the course explains, organizations typically focus on fully implementing each management process for three to six months before moving on to the next one. So you’ve got some time.
You’ll also learn about the difference and interconnection between a building management system (BMS) and an enterprise management system (EMS) such as HP’s OpenView or IBM’s Tivoli, as well as best practices around physical infrastructure management standards.
By the end of the course, in less than 60 minutes, you’ll have a good understanding of what physical infrastructure management is all about, the challenges in implementing it and how to address them, and the key standards and best practices to be aware of.
Get schooled on management by taking the free online course, “Physical Infrastructure Management Basics.” You’ll find it in the College of Data Centers at Energy University. | https://blog.se.com/datacenter/data-center-architecture/data-center-operations/2014/02/04/get-schooled-basics-physical-infrastructure-management-energy-university/ |
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Representatives of Indigenous Peoples,
Ladies and gentlemen,
During this, the 71st session of the General Assembly, the General Assembly will convene a high-level event to mark the 10 year anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
It is an important milestone, and one that gives us the opportunity to reflect on our global progress towards the full and effective realization of indigenous people’s rights.
While the growing global recognition of indigenous peoples’ rights at domestic, regional and international levels is to be acknowledged and welcomed, indigenous peoples continue to remain amongst our most marginalized and vulnerable. Despite constituting only five percent of the world’s population, indigenous peoples account for 15 percent of the world’s poorest. And many suffer the compounding effects of poverty, marginalization, discrimination, social, economic and political exclusion, and a failure to have all of their human rights realized. Women and girls are particularly vulnerable.
For many indigenous peoples, the impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, rising sea levels, overfishing, and the cycle of decline of our oceans, have had a particularly deleterious impact, jeopardizing their food security and livelihoods, and driving them away from their traditional lands.
As we – the international community – now begin the hard task of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, it is imperative that we ensure that the development gains of our countries reach indigenous populations, and that the 17 SDGs are realized for all indigenous peoples.
An important part of achieving this is ensuring that indigenous peoples are able to participate in discussions on issues that affect their lives.
The decision last year, by the UN membership, to begin a consultation process on measures “to enable the participation of indigenous peoples’ representatives and institutions in meetings of relevant UN bodies on issues affecting them”, could therefore not be more timely.
The purpose of today’s informal briefing is, consequently, three-fold:-
- To assure delegations, indigenous peoples representatives, and representatives from existing relevant UN mechanisms, of my commitment to overseeing the continuation of an open, transparent and inclusive process, that is able to reach a positive conclusion during the 71st session;
- To thank the four Advisers who have helped to guide the General Assembly through the consultation process to date – namely, H.E. Mr. Kai Sauer, Permanent Representative of Finland; H.E. Ms. Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee, Permanent Representative of Ghana; Dr. James Anaya; and Dr. Claire Winfield Ngamihi Charters – and to welcome their decision to continue on in this role during the 71st session, in order see the process move through to a successful conclusion; and
- To provide an early opportunity for me and my Advisors to engage directly with Member States and indigenous peoples, and to ensure that the process towards a positive conclusion.
I am aware that both Member States and indigenous peoples made clear during the last General Assembly session the importance of having sufficient time: to undertake discussions domestically, regionally, and with local constituencies; to ensure existing relevant UN mechanisms are able to contribute to discussions; and to allow adequate time to complete and finalize the process.
We have heard this call loud and clear, and this is why we are launching the process today – and so soon after the start of the 71st session.
In terms of where the consultations are currently at, in line with General Assembly resolution 70/232, the former President of the General Assembly, circulated under the cover of a letter dated 8 July 2016, a compilation of views presented during the consultations process to date, including providing concrete recommendations on the way forward.
Consistent with resolution 70/232, it is now intended that this compilation will form the basis of a draft resolution which makes clear the procedural and institutional steps, and selection criteria, to enable the effective and meaningful participation of indigenous peoples’ representative and institutions at the United Nations.
I will now invite the Advisers to brief you all on how they intend to conduct the next stage of the consultation process.
You will also have the opportunity to make interventions and ask questions, towards the end.
In conclusion, I encourage you all to engage actively in this process, to provide your full support and cooperation to the four Advisers, and to proceed with the commitment and momentum that this important issue deserves.
Thank you. | https://www.un.org/pga/71/2016/10/03/launch-briefing-for-consultations-process-on-possible-measures-to-enable-the-participation-of-indigenous-peoples-at-relevant-united-nations-bodies/ |
Welcome to the new format of the PNR Weekly Digest. The Weekly Digest is a compilation of news and information from the National Network of Libraries of Medicine, National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, professional development opportunities, and other items of interest for the Pacific Northwest Region. We hope you find the information useful for you and those you serve.
The Pacific Northwest Region (PNR) of the National Network of Libraries of Medicine (NNLM) offers regional programs, funding, and training to improve access to health information, increase community engagement about health, expand professional knowledge, and support outreach. The NNLM PNR invites you to participate in a regional needs assessment via this survey. The insights you provide in our survey will help to shape NNLM PNR programs going forward.
Items regarding COVID-19 information are indicated with an *
Read All About It: May is Mental Health Month
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought widespread stress and uncertainty which may take a toll on our mental health. What an appropriate time to recognize May as Mental Health Month. The NNLM Reading Club features three books to spark a book club discussion on different facets of mental health…read the full post
NNLM Educational Opportunities:
NNLM offers training on a variety of topics related to health information. A complete listing of NNLM educational opportunities is available. Please note you need to create an NNLM account prior to registration if you don’t already have one. This is not the same as being a member of NNLM. Learn how to register for classes and create a free account
I am … Safe Zones: Sticks and Stones LGBTQA 101: What better sexual identities way to learn about than to list out social norms, stereotypes, media images, rumors, jokes, and slang! This is a safe space for any and all kinds of interactive discussions regarding Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Heterosexual identities. Part 7 of the ” Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Nine Conversations that Matter to Health Sciences Librarians with Jessica Pettitt” webinar series. May 13 at 9:00 a.m. PT. (1 MLA CE) Register
Braving the Elements: PubChem Resources to Weather any Situation: PubChem is the world’s largest collection of freely accessible chemical information. You can use PubChem to search chemicals by name, molecular formula, structure, and other identifiers. And, you can use PubChem to find chemical and physical properties, biological activities, safety and toxicity information, patents, literature citations and more. Join this session of the NNLM Resource Picks on May 27 at 12:00 p.m. PT. (1 MLA CE) Register
Health and Wellness @ the Library: The Essentials of Providing Consumer Health Services: Centered around eight core competencies, this interactive 4-week online course provides a rich learning experience to build all the essential skills for providing consumer health information services. Obtain the MLA Consumer Health Information Specialization (CHIS) by taking this class. August 3 – 28. (12 MLA CE) Register
From Problem to Prevention: Evidence-based public health for CHES CECH: This class will explain the basics of evidence-based public health (EBPH) and highlight essentials of the EBPH process such as identifying the problem, forming a question, searching the literature, and evaluating the intervention. This is a registration page for Certified Health Education Specialists to receive continuing education credit for viewing the recording of the NNLM class From Problem to Prevention: Evidence-based public health, which took place on February 26, 2020. This recording will be available for CHES CECH through August 26, 2020. After registering, you will receive an enrollment code via e-mail and a link to the recording. After viewing the course recording, you will be asked to complete a quiz based on the course content. (1 MLA CE) Register
Additional Educational Opportunities:
These learning opportunities are provided by organizations beyond NNLM. All are free unless otherwise indicated.
Overview of COVID-19 and CDC’s Response to the Pandemic with a Highlight of Federal COVID-19 Resources: This FDLP Academy webinar will provide information on the CDC’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. May 5 at 11:00 a.m. PT. Register
Navigating Benefits.gov: A Resource for Community Advocates: During this FDLP Academy webinar, attendees will learn how to navigate Benefits.gov and its many resources. Representatives from Benefits.gov will provide a tutorial of the Benefit Finder questionnaire, the newsroom, help center, and continuously developing COVID-19 resources. May 11 at 10:00 a.m. PT. Register
New England Science Boot Camp for Librarians 2020: New England Science Bootcamp for Librarians will host a free virtual conference on June 11, 2020, from 6:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. PT. Topics may include, depending on speaker availability:
Learn more and register for this conference
*COVID-19 is an emerging, rapidly evolving situation.
Check out the May issue of NIH News in Health with articles covering concussions, vaping, social isolation and more
*“Rising to the COVID-19 Challenge: Rapid Acceleration of Diagnostics (RADx)”, from the NIH Director’s blog
*NIH mobilizes national innovation initiative for COVID-19 diagnostics
*NIH clinical trial shows Remdesivir accelerates recovery from advanced COVID-19
* Honoring Health — What Your Community Needs To Know About COVID-19 — April 2020
Learn about over-the-counter hearing aids, which will be available soon
New study links severe sleep apnea to higher blood glucose levels in African Americans
NIDA launches drug education booklet series for middle school students
*Shareable Resources on Coping with COVID-19
*Resources from the Disaster Information Management Research Center:
*Resources: COVID-19:
Telehealth: Health Care from the Safety of our Homes
The HHS Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is encouraging healthcare practitioners to integrate telemedicine into their practice. As part of this effort, HRSA has launched telehealth.hhs.gov as a resource for both healthcare providers and patients. It provides helpful information about telemedicine and links to tools and resources for practitioners.
*53% of Americans Say the Internet Has Been Essential During the COVID-19 Outbreak
The coronavirus outbreak has driven many commercial and social activities online and for some the internet has become an ever more crucial link to those they love and the things they need. As Americans turn to the internet for critical purposes, there are rekindled debates about how the digital divide – that is, the gap between those who do or do not have access to technology – may hinder people’s ability to complete everyday tasks or even schoolwork. Learn more about this new Pew Research Center survey conducted in early April
*Helpful Questions and Answers about Coronavirus (COVID-19) and Your Pets
FDA offers some helpful questions and answers about keeping your pets safe during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
National Prevention Week May 10 – 16, 2020
SAMHSA’s National Prevention Week (NPW) is a public education platform that promotes prevention year-round through providing ideas, capacity-building, tools, and resources to help individuals and communities make substance use prevention happen every day. NPW culminates in May by recognizing the important work that communities have done throughout the year to inspire action and prevent substance use and mental disorders. Each day this week, SAMHSA will focus on a specific health theme related to prevention. SAMHSA provides free publications, tip sheets, and resource centers for each of the 2020 daily themes to educate and discuss in your community. Check out the Planning Toolkit (available in English and Spanish) for templates, tools, and support for organizing your own prevention events and activities. | https://news.nnlm.gov/pnr/pnr-weekly-digest-may-5-2020/ |
In This Section
Yarra Ranges Council have a 24/7 cat curfew in place which means residents must keep their cats within their property boundary at all times.
Cats can be kept:
For more information on cat enclosures visit the Cat confinement - enclosures and fencing page on the Agricultural Victoria website.
Our Safer Communities Officers will make all reasonable attempts to reunite the cat with its owner by checking registration and microchip details. If we are unable to identify the owner we would take the cat to the Animal Aid Pound in Coldstream.
If we are unable reunite a cat with its owners and it is taken to the pound there will be fees associated with its release. These will vary depending on whether the cat is registered, microchipped or desexed. These costs are set by the pound and not collected by Council.
If we cannot identify your cat or get in touch with you, the cat will be taken to the Animal Aid Pound by our Safer Communities Team.
What do I do if a cat is wandering onto my property and causing a nuisance?
If you know the owner of the cat, we would encourage you to speak with them first. If the issue cannot be resolved and you wish to make a formal complaint please contact us on 1300 368 333 or email [email protected].
Before trapping, we encourage you to talk to the cat’s owner to discuss the issue. If this is not possible, or does not resolve the issue, you may trap a cat that wanders onto your property.
The trap must be an approved, humane trap with a step plate trigger. All other traps, including those with hook actioning mechanisms, must not be used and are prohibited.
Once the cat is trapped, you may return it to the owner, contact our Ranger to collect it or take the cat to the Animal Aid Pound in Coldstream.
Yes, you will still need to pay your cat registration and any related fees.
Pet registration and the associated fees are a State Government requirement. Registration makes it much easier for us to help reunite owners and pets if they get lost or wander away, as well as being an essential part of responsible pet ownership.
If you are having a problem with a local cat we encourage you to speak with its owner first. If problems persist, contact our Safer Communities Team by phone on 1300 368 333 or by email at [email protected] for assistance. | https://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Environment/Pets/Owning-a-pet/Cat-Curfew?lang_update=637921814351084610 |
What is a data breach?
A data breach is a term given to any breach of security that leads to accidental or unlawful loss, destruction, alteration, unauthorised disclosure or access to personal data.
Data breaches are more than just a hack of a database by a cybercriminal, they can often be the fault of organisations who do not have proper procedures or training in place to handle personal data.
Some examples of a data protection breach may include: confidential or personal information being sent to the wrong email address, an unauthorised person gaining access to a laptop without permission, or personal information being lost or corrupted by an organisation.
Get in touch with us today if you think you’ve been affected by a data breach.Get In Touch
Personal data breach gdpr examples
Read the examples below to see if any sound familiar to your case, or let us know about your case and we’ll help to determine if you have a valid claim.
GDPR breaches can take many forms, and can be much more than data simply being lost. From a broad perspective, they typically entail a breach of security resulting in personal data being accessed, lost, altered, disclosed or destroyed.
Read our overview of data breach examples below.
GDPR Data Protection Breach Examples
- Data breaches can be caused either accidentally or deliberately.
- Database hacking is an example of an unauthorised party gaining access to personal data. This could lead to a loss of availability or even alteration.
- Local authority and council breaches typically involve personal data being sent to the incorrect recipient, but can also include personal data being lost or stolen.
- Cardskimming and finance attacks are deliberate actions by third-parties, but data controllers/processors can also be at fault through their inaction.
- Clerical errors can be caused deliberately or accidentally by the controller, and often involve personal data being sent to the wrong recipient.
- Loss or compromise of electronic devices and can lead to further breaches related to 3rd party access, alteration and loss of availability.
What are the different categories of personal data breaches?
There are several types of data breaches that occur across a multitude of industries, below we’ve provided you with an explanation for each, including examples of recent and historic cases.
Database Hacking
Errors accounted for 21% of all data breaches in a study of over 41,686 security incidents conducted by Verizon, which is good evidence that many data protection breaches are not caused intentionally. However, they also found that 71% of breach were financially motivated, with 52% of all breaches involving hacking in some form. Hackers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to crack valuable data stores and any organisation which holds some kind of personal data is now considered to be a target.
Database Hacking Breach Examples
Local Authorities & Council Data Breach Examples
The Information Commissioner’s office has confirmed that there were 223 data breaches involving local governments in the UK in the final quarter of 2018 alone. The majority of these involved data being posted, faxed or emailed to the wrong incorrect participant, but also included loss or theft of paper work from an insecure location.
Local councils often deal with large amounts of highly sensitive data regarding their constituents, so the scope for damage can be considerable. Figures from the ICO highlight a failure to use BCC in emails as being a particular issue for authorities dealing with education and childcare.
Local Authorities & Council Breach Examples
Cardskimming & Finance Attacks
Unsurprisingly, the majority of breaches that take place involve the loss of financial data which leads to £190,000 a day being lost to victims from around the UK. Whether by sophisticated scams or intelligent hacking of payment systems, cyber criminals have proven themselves more than capable of compromising some of the world’s biggest brands. In some cases, hackers have been able to surreptitiously access booking systems and then skim personal details from users as they make their payments. In this circumstance, those responsible for the system would be at fault for not providing proper protection for their users.
Cardskimming & Finance Attack Breach Examples
Clerical Errors
Every industry involves some use of administration, which necessitates the storing of personal data. This data could relate to employees of the company, clients or beneficiaries of the organisation. Regardless of whom the data is connected to, those responsible for processing it can often be the ones responsible for accidentally breaching it. Clerical errors can include simple mistakes such as sending an email containing personal data to the wrong recipient, or a letter sent to the wrong address but can also include verbal disclosure of personal data and incorrect disposal of paperwork.
Clerical Error Data Breach Examples 2020
Loss Or Compromise of Mobile Electronic Devices
In a Mobile security report from Verizon, 671 professionals responsible for the management of mobile devices within their organisations admitted to not protecting their assets as well as they would other devices. Whether by theft, loss or malicious attack, mobile electronic devices are vulnerable to more threats than their desktop counterparts and often contain valuable tranches of personal data. The ICO confirmed that there were 112 report of lost or stolen devices containing personal data in Q4 of 2018.
Examples: Glasgow City Council breach, Heathrow USB Stick breach
About Data Breach Help
Operated by Cobleys solicitors – one of the UK’s top law firms – we have experienced solicitors that are well-versed in every aspect of data breach law. Vastly experienced in data breach litigation, we have utilised our wealth of resources and knowledge to claim data protection breach compensation for a multitude of clients from both public and private organisations.
If you think that you’ve been affected by a data breach like one of the examples above, let us know and we might be able to help you secure compensation for your loss. | https://www.data-breaches.co.uk/data-breach-protection-claims-and-compensation/examples/ |
Time For Tiger Woods To Mind His Manners?
MELISSA BLOCK, host:
Tomorrow marks the start of the PGA championship, or as some are calling it, Tiger's last chance. It is the final major tournament of the year in men's golf. Woods is ranked number one in the world and he's had some wins this season, but no majors, which have become his measure of success. And at last month's British Open, his poor play was punctuated by angry outbursts, profanity included.
Those outbursts have become a Tiger trademark; and for some, a tired act, as NPR's Tom Goldman reports.
TOM GOLDMAN: He turned pro as a 20-year-old. And over the last 13 years, we have watched Tiger Woods grow into a man who is master of his craft. But part of him always has been stuck in the terrible twos.
Mr. TIGER WOODS (Professional Golfer): Six, I meant to say. God damn you (Beep).
Unidentified Man #1: Oh. Well…
Unidentified Man #2: Well…
Unidentified Man #1: …no more commentary necessary.
Unidentified Man #2: That made my commentary look pretty mild.
GOLDMAN: Golf announcers and fans have learned to cringe through Woods' salty language and thrown clubs as they've learned to marvel at his miracles. So why upset the balance now and wonder whether it's time for Tiger to tame the tantrums? Blame Tom Watson.
(Soundbite of cheering)
Unidentified Man #3: Watson bogies the 72nd hole in a zero confidence putt.
GOLDMAN: After 59-year-old Watson blew his chance to win last month's British Open, heard here on ABC TV, he still managed a smile.
Mr. TOM WATSON (Professional Golfer): It was fun out there. It was fun to be in the mix of it again and having the kids, who were my kids' age out there, just look up at you: What he doing out there, doing this, they'd say? All right. Nice going.
GOLDMAN: The lasting image of Tiger Woods in Scotland was an errant tee shot in the second round followed by a slammed club and profanity. The contrast with Watson's grace in defeat was too great for some journalists to ignore.
ESPN's Rick Reilly wrote: In every other case, I think Tiger Woods has been an A-plus role model. But this punk act on the golf course has got to stop.
In his story on the British Open, Sports Illustrated golf writer Michael Bamberger described the Woods outburst but without judgment.
Mr. MICHAEL BAMBERGER (Golf Writer, Sports Illustrated): As a reporter, I'm just trying to identify what he's like on the golf course. And it is very different from Nicklaus and Tom Watson.
GOLDMAN: Not very different, however, from the legendary Bobby Jones when he was a young man.
Mr. BAMBERGER: Oh, he was a club thrower of the highest order.
GOLDMAN: Jones eventually stopped; maybe Woods will with age. But should he? Bamberger doesn't think it'll hurt Woods' legacy if Woods doesn't because, Bamberger says, the hissy fits are a byproduct of being one of the greatest athletes of any sport in the history of sport.
Mr. BAMBERGER: An unbelievably driven person. I can't think of another golfer in which you see it to that degree.
GOLDMAN: But what about all those little Tiger wannabes out there? Doesn't a hands-off attitude toward Woods' behavior ensure a generation of kids hurling F-bombs on the links? I turn to a man whose job it is to help kids be better sports.
So when you see Tiger and his meltdowns, you don't think to yourself professionally, boy, what I could with that guy if I got him in my office?
(Soundbite of laughter)
Dr. JOE LENAC (Sports Psychologist): No, I think I'd leave him completely alone.
GOLDMAN: Joe Lenac is a sports psychologist in St. Louis. He doesn't exactly endorse the bad language and hurled clubs, but Lenac thinks Woods' sporadic meltdowns actually can be a teaching tool for controlled behavior.
Dr. LENAC: Most athletes would just melt down for the rest of the round. Tiger is so good. He blows up. He might slam the club, but then on he goes, and he's back in the round. It's incredible.
GOLDMAN: The problem of being wildly wealthy and talented and iconic is that you're not often thought of as human. The angry explosions, says psychologist Joe Lenac, help humanize Woods because what golfer out there hasn't felt rage on the course?
So, as we watch Tiger try to win his 15th major this week at the PGA, it is perhaps the critics who need to change not Woods, and accept him for those flashes.
Mr. WOODS: God damn you, (Beep).
GOLDMAN: …when he morphs from Tiger Inc. into Joe Six-Iron.
Tom Goldman, NPR News.
NPR transcripts are created on a rush deadline by Verb8tm, Inc., an NPR contractor, and produced using a proprietary transcription process developed with NPR. This text may not be in its final form and may be updated or revised in the future. Accuracy and availability may vary. The authoritative record of NPR’s programming is the audio record. | https://www.npr.org/transcripts/111814935 |
After the kids move out, you may start thinking about downsizing to a place with fewer bedrooms. All of that extra space in your home represents equity that could be converted into cash for your retirement. But before you sell your home, ask yourself these four important questions.
1. Why Do You Want to Sell Your House?
Although it’s important to look at the financial numbers when weighing your options, the truth is that the decision to sell is about more than just the money. It’s also about making your life easier.
According to a recent study by Merrill Lynch, 64% of seniors who downsized in retirement did so to lower their monthly housing costs, and 44% felt that a larger home is too much work.
If you do decide to sell, you’re more likely to buy the home you really want, because you have certain advantages over younger buyers. You’ll have more cash to offer, school districts aren’t an issue, and neither is proximity to the workplace. That makes it more likely you can purchase just the property you’re looking for.
2. Should You Buy or Rent in Retirement?
Your first instinct might be to go shopping for a smaller home or condo to buy. But in some cases, renting actually makes more sense.
If you’re tired of the constant upkeep and surprise repair costs that come with owning a home, then renting could be the better choice. Besides making things easier, it also keeps your monthly expenses predictable.
Renting also gives you the opportunity to change your mind. After moving to a smaller home, you may discover that you miss certain amenities, or that you actually need more space than you thought.
If you’re moving to another part of the country, you may want the opportunity to get a better feeling for the area before you buy, and renting makes that possible.
Renting may also be a good option if you’re moving closer to other family members. If there’s a chance that they might move in the next few years, renting gives you more flexibility.
3. Do You Want to Pile Up Extra Cash for Retirement?
Many retirees who downsize soon discover new expenses that they had never considered. Moving to a new climate, for example, may require a complete change in clothing and furniture.
Although downsizing from a large home to a townhouse or condo can result in significant cost savings, you may also have additional HOA fees and surprise maintenance costs.
Your lifestyle and health needs may change in retirement, as well. It’s to your advantage to set aside some of the proceeds from the sale of your home against future expenses.
4. Can You Afford to Fix Up Your Old House?
Generally, the longer you live in the same house, the more time and money it will cost to get it ready to show. After you’ve lived in a house for 20 or 30 years (or longer), preparing it to sell can become an expensive undertaking.
If you don’t have the ready funds or the inclination to take on a home renovation project, consider contacting a real estate investor who will buy your home as-is for cash. That will save you the trouble and expense of fixing up your old home, listing the property, and paying a real estate agent to sell it.
Downsizing your home means you could pay off the mortgage, travel, or just pay living expenses. It’s up to you.
Most importantly, selling your house and downsizing can bring you peace of mind. You can look forward to retirement knowing that you have a large financial cushion for whatever life brings you next. | https://www.homevestors.com/blog/selling-house-retirement-4-questions/ |
Since the early 1990s, the U.S. economy has been marked by rising productivity, leading commentators to speak of "America's productivity wonder." -- Belief in these productivity gains has fueled the spectacular rise in share prices since the early 1980s. -- But according to this 2002 piece by Henry C.K. Liu, the second in a series billed by the Asia Times Online web site as "The Complete Henry C.K. Liu," "The productivity boom in the U.S. was as much a mirage as the money that drove the apparent boom." -- "While published government figures of the productivity index show a rise of nearly 70 percent since 1974," says Liu, "the actual rise is between zero and 10 percent in many sectors if the effect of imports is removed from the equation." -- Henry Liu, a Hong Kong-born and Harvard-educated entrepreneur with interests in international relations and economics as well as in architecture and urban design, has earned a following in online discussions of radical economics by developing a doctrine of "dollar hegemony." -- In this piece, titled "The Economics of a Global Empire," Liu argues that "the economic boom that made possible the current U.S. political hegemony was fueled by payments of tribute from vassal states kept perpetually at the level of subsistence poverty by their own addiction to exports. Call it the New Rome theory of U.S. economic performance." ...
Global Economy
THE ECONOMICS OF A GLOBAL EMPIRE
By Henry C K Liu
Asia Times Online
August 14, 2002
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/DH14Dj01.html
The productivity boom in the U.S. was as much a mirage as the money that drove the apparent boom. There was no productivity boom in the U.S. in the last two decades of the 20th century; there was an import boom. What's more, this boom was driven not by the spectacular growth of the American economy; it was driven by debt borrowed from the low-wage countries producing this wealth. Or, to put it a tad less technically, the economic boom that made possible the current U.S. political hegemony was fueled by payments of tribute from vassal states kept perpetually at the level of subsistence poverty by their own addiction to exports. Call it the New Rome theory of U.S. economic performance.
True, exports can be beneficial to an economy if they enable that economy to import needed goods and services in return. Under mercantilism and a gold standard, for example, an economy that incurred recurring trade surpluses was essentially accumulating gold which could reliably be used for paying for imports in the future.
In the current international trade system, however, trade surpluses accumulate dollars, a fiat currency of uncertain value in the future. Furthermore, these dollar-denominated trade surpluses cannot be converted into the exporter's own currency because they are needed to ward off speculative attacks on the exporter's currency in global financial markets.
Aside from distorting domestic policy, the export sector of the Chinese economy has been exerting disproportionate influence on Chinese foreign policy for more than a decade. China has been making political concessions on all fronts to the U.S. for fear of losing the U.S. market from whence it earns most of its foreign reserves, which it is compelled to invest in U.S. government debt. This is ironic because according to trade theory, a perpetual trade surplus accompanied with a perpetual capital account deficit is not in the economic interest of the exporting nation. China is not unique in this dilemma. Most of the world's export economies face similar problems. This is the economic basis of US unilateralism in foreign affairs.
When Chinese exporters invest China's current account surplus in dollar financial assets, the Chinese economy will see no benefit from exports as more goods leave China than come in to offset the trade imbalance. True wealth is given away by Chinese exporters for paper, at least until a future trade deficit allows China to import an equivalent amount of goods in the future. But China cannot afford a balanced trade, let alone a trade deficit, because trade surpluses are necessary to keep the export sector growing and for maintaining the long-term value of its currency in relation to the dollar. The bulk of China's trade surpluses, then, must be invested in U.S. securities. This is the economic reality of U.S.-China trade.
The gap between the perceived value of the accumulated fiat currency (U.S.) of the importing economy (U.S.) and the value of that currency when dollar-denonimated investments are finally cashed in at market price represents the ultimate difference in the quantity of goods and services eventually received between the trading economies. Since the drivers of trade imbalances are overvalued currencies of the importer or undervalued currencies of exporters, obviously the one-sided trade can only end when the exporter has wasted away all its expandable wealth, or the importer has run deficits to levels that exceed the willingness of the exporter to accept more of the importer's debt. Interest rate policies of central banks are usually the culprit in this matter as they drive investment flows in the direction of a high interest economy, making necessary the perpetual trade imbalance. Other forms of waste of wealth, such as pollution, low wages and worker benefits, neglect of domestic development, and rising poverty in both export and non-export sectors, are penalties assumed by the exporter.
China exported 4.07 billion pairs of shoes in 2001, up 2.55 percent from the previous year. But the value of those exports, US$10.1 billion, was an increase of only 2.48 percent over 2000. Actual value growth per unit, then, was a negative. Guangdong province is China's largest shoe-making region, with annual production at around three billion pairs, accounting for almost a third of the world's total. Assuming the number of Chinese workers making shoes to be constant, Chinese productivity dropped in the shoe industry in 2001. The only way productivity could have remained the same or improved would have been if the Chinese shoe industry had cut workers, thus contributing to China's growing unemployment problem.
Imports from China are resold in the U.S. at a greater profit margin for U.S. importers than that enjoyed by Chinese exporters in production for export. In part, this has to do with the inflated distribution costs in the importing country (U.S.) because of overvaluation of its currency, and the higher standard of living in the U.S. made possible partly by Chinese exporter credit. Thus a $2 toy leaving a Chinese factory is a $3 part of a shipment arriving at San Diego. By the time a U.S. consumer buys it for $10, the U.S. economy registers $10 in final sales, less $3 in imports, for a $7 addition to gross domestic product (GDP). The GDP gain to import ratio is greater than two, in this case two-and-a-third. The GDP gain to export ratio is zero if the $2 export price becomes part of the importer's capital account surplus. If 50 percent of the $2 export price is used for paying return to foreign capital, then the ratio is in fact negative.
The numbers for other product types vary greatly, but the pattern is similar. The $1.25 trillion of imports to the U.S. in 2000 are directly responsible for some $2.5 trillion of U.S. GDP, almost 28 percent of its $9 trillion economy.
The $400 billion of Chinese exports are directly responsible for a loss of $800 billion in Chinese GDP of $1 trillion as compared to a GDP if that export were consumed domestically. In other words, if it were to not export at all, China would almost double its GDP by redirecting the equivalent productivity toward domestic development. On a purchasing power parity basis (PPP), the GDP loss to exports would be four times greater. The higher the trade surplus in China's favor, meaning more goods and services leaving China than entering, the more serious its adverse impact on China's GDP.
Viewing the greater margins available in the importing country as a result of a currency valuation imbalance and understanding that retailing and distribution are operationally less efficient relative to manufacturing, it can be observed that imports raise apparent productivity because sales per employee increase as one goes from the factory floor towards the final consumer. Also, the closer in function the factory floor is to the retail space, the higher its apparent productivity. Through marketing and proximity to customer, a seller can gain advantage in the assembly of imported major parts to order.
Thus a U.S. assembler who out-sources its content parts can win final sales away from the offshore integrated manufacturer who makes the same parts and assembles them abroad. In the high technology arena, time to market of design innovation is key. By hiding costs through the use of employee stock options for compensation (an issue of current debate in U.S. corporate governance), a local in the importing country can use the high valuation of his stock, driven by creative accounting and artificially low production costs and interest rates at the exporter country, to raise funds to further subsidize the production costs of the final product, be it software or hardware. The content of the product will increasingly come from low-wage, low-margin exporting nations, and the out-sourcing assembler's manufacturing involvement may be little beyond snapping out-sourced parts in place, advertised ad nauseum as a U.S. brand. Dell is a classic example, as is Disney's licensing empire.
To quantify the order of magnitude of the effect of imports on apparent U.S. aggregate productivity, a direct relationship to the trade deficit can be observed. The productivity gain observed is not as strong as presented by aggregate data. The 4 percent productivity rise cited in U.S. government statistics can be primarily attributable to sharp import increases. The gain in net productivity is much smaller, on the order of 1.8 percent, since the technology revolution began affecting the economy a whole decade earlier. Much of the rest of the improvement has to do with normal cyclical behavior of productivity, the result of normal rise in capacity utilization during boom times from a bubble economy.
There is another measure of increases in trade flow volume that stems from the appreciation of the trade-weighted dollar. The trade-weighted dollar measure shows improvement consistently because of the attempts of European, OPEC, and Japanese holders of U.S. debt to retain value in the dollar by creating dollar-denominated debt in emerging economies that actually produce something, as opposed to the U.S. which gains foreign income primarily through the use of international protections for intellectual property.
For the purpose of this discussion, one need focus only on the broad trade-weighted dollar index being put in an upward trend, as highly indebted emerging market economies attempt to extricate themselves from dollar-denominated debt through the devaluation of their currencies. The purpose is to subsidize exports, ironically making dollar debts more expensive in local currency terms. The moderating impact on U.S. price inflation also amplifies the upward trend of the trade-weighted dollar index despite persistent U.S. expansion of monetary aggregates, also known as monetary easing or money printing.
Adjusting for this debt-driven increase in the value of dollars, the import volume into the U.S. can be estimated in relationship to these monetary aggregates. The annual growth of the volume of goods shipped to the U.S. has remained around 15 percent for most of the 1990s. The U.S. enjoyed a booming economy when the dollar was gaining ground, and this occurred at a time when interest rates in the U.S. were higher than those in its creditor nations. This led to the odd effect that raising U.S. interest rates actually prolonged the boom in the U.S. rather than threatened it, because it caused massive inflows of liquidity into the U.S. financial system, lowered import price inflation, increased apparent productivity, and prompted further spending by U.S. consumers enriched by the wealth effect despite a slowing of wage increases.
This was precisely what Federal Reserve Board chairman Alan Greenspan did in the 1990s in the name of pre-emptive measures against inflation. Dollar hegemony enabled the U.S. to print money to fight inflation, causing a debt bubble. For those who view the U.S. as the New Roman Empire with an unending stream of imports as the spoils of war, this data should come as no surprise. This was what Greenspan meant by U.S. "financial hegemony."
The transition to offshore production is the source of the productivity boom of the "New Economy" in the U.S. The productivity increase not attributable to the importing of other nation's productivity is much less impressive. While published government figures of the productivity index show a rise of nearly 70 percent since 1974, the actual rise is between zero and 10 percent in many sectors if the effect of imports is removed from the equation. The lower values are consistent with the real-life experience of members of the blue collar working class and the white collar middle class.
This era of declining reward for manual effort coincides with the Reagan shift to having workers pay for their social benefits, while promoting heavy subsidies of corporations, particularly in the earlier stages of corporate growth, through pro-business tax policies and regulatory indulgence.
Historical timelines for the actual levels of productivity in the U.S. may be traced back to the introduction of computer-assisted accounting by IBM and later EDS in the late 1960s. This cleared the labor-intensive accounting pools of the large corporations and mammoth government agencies. Automation of scientific work began even earlier and entered mainstream engineering by the mid 1970s. By 1980, the ordering-inventory and inter-corporate billing systems were computerized to a great extent, as had occurred in banking and finance in the 1970s. By the 1990s, computerized trading and market modeling actually transformed market efficiency into systemic risk of unprecedented dimensions.
The current process is one of standardization and inclusion, as well as reintroduction of regulatory restraint. Inventory management in the current "just in time" manner was not attractive until high U.S. real interest rates made the holding of inventory unattractive. Prior to this, during periods of real inflation, inventory was a profit center, not a cost problem, thanks to FIFO (first in, first out) accounting where inflation would produce an annual statement of higher ending inventory value, a lower cost of goods sold and a higher gross profit. Now that the world has organized away the inventory that cushions supply disruptions and price inflation, we are quite defenseless against them. Never before has Murphy's Law (if something can go wrong, it will) a better chance to demonstrate itself with a cruel spate of price inflation.
The result of this distortion driven by the monetary system is a decline in real living standards of producers in all of the exporting and indebted world, and in the U.S. Indeed, reward has been divorced from real effort and reassigned to manipulators. There have been enormous strides in productivity around the globe, but few of them came in the U.S. It has been the seigniorage of the dollar reserve system granted to the U.S. without economic discipline that allowed the import of productivity from abroad and the superficial appearance of prosperity in the U.S. economy.
World trade has been shrinking. The conventional wisdom of market fundamentalism is that the global economy is slowing to work off excess debt, causing global trade to shrink temporarily. The world is waiting for a rebound in the U.S. economy so that other countries can again export themselves out of recession.
Yet a case can be made that global trade is shrinking because it transfers wealth from the have-nots to the have-too-muches, and after two decades, the unsustainable rate of wealth transfer has slowed, leading to slower economic growth worldwide. Those economies that have been dependent on exports for growth will do well to understand that the recent drop in exports in more than a cyclical phenomenon. It is a downward spiral unless balanced trade is restored so that trade is a supplement to domestic development rather than a deterrent. Regions like Asia and Latin America should restructure their export policies to focus on intra-regional trade that aim at development instead of those that transfer wealth out of the region. Places like Shanghai, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Tokyo should stop looking for predatory competitive advantage and move toward symbiotic trade policies to enhance regional development.
The purpose of the $30 billion IMF loan of Brazil -- an unprecedented figure -- is not so much to help the Brazilian economy escape its debt trap as it is to bail out U.S. transnational banks holding Brazilian debt. The net result is to force the Brazilian economy to export more wealth to the tune of $30 billion plus interest on top of the mountains of debt it already has and could not service. Brazil would be better off defaulting as Russia did. Economist Paul Krugman lamented in his New York Times column that he mistakenly bought into the Washington consensus and now his confidence that market fundamentalists had been "giving good advice is way down."
The line between honest mistakes in pushing the regulatory envelope and fraud is now debated regarding corporate finance and governance in the U.S., and many executives and their financial advisors are being charged with criminal liability. Are economists who knowingly pushed the ideological envelope beyond the limits of reality above the laws of conscience? | https://www.ufppc.org/14-news/us-a-world-news/3862-analysis-the-new-rome-theory-of-us-economic-performance |
The Voices of Diversity
View the Voices of Diversity: Ability and Disability video of Social Work faculty sharing their perspectives and experiences.
Identify an idea, fact, or statement in the video that inspires you to learn more. Conduct research online or in the Walden Library and identify one professional or scholarly resource that furthers your understanding.
Analyze what you learned from the Voices of Diversity video regarding perspectives and experiences related to ability and disability.
Then, summarize your findings from at least one professional or scholarly resource focusing on themes of ability and disability.
How do your findings apply to social work practice with clients with varying abilities? | https://perfectcustompapers.com/the-voices-of-diversity/ |
Tens of thousands of anti-war demonstrators marched in Washington on Saturday to express fierce opposition to the US-led occupation of Iraq.
With the Washington Monument looming in the background, people gathered before the march to hear dozens of speakers from various political and social walks of life denounce President Bush’s decision to go to war.
“As more troops start to come home in body bags, more and more people don’t know what we’re doing there,” said Bill Hackwell, a spokesman for Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) the coalition that organised the march along with another advocacy group, United for Peace and Justice.
Hackwell estimated that 100,000 people attended the demonstration, though that number could not be independently verified.
A spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police Department said it no longer gave crowd estimates. Reuters reported that police on the scene put the figure at roughly 30,000.
An overwhelming number of protesters seemed to believe the Bush administration lied to the American people about Iraq’s alleged weapons of mass destruction programme and led the United States into an unjust war, driven by oil and imperialist designs on the Middle East.
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“Don’t give Bush $87 billion. Don’t give him 87 cents.”Reverend Al Sharpton,
civil rights activist
Demonstrators from across the country arrived carrying signs that read “No more Bush, no more blood,” “No blood for oil,” and “Peace over dictatorship.”
One of those protesters, Philip Booth, said he drove all night on a bus from Michigan to tell the president that “we were lied to.”
“I hope this is a demonstration to the Bush administration that the anti-war, anti-imperialist movement is very alive,” Booth said.
Calls for impeachment
Like many in attendance, Booth called for the president’s impeachment, saying Bush had violated his oath of office by misleading the public.
“I think the crimes that Bush committed are much more grave than the crimes that [former President] Clinton committed,” he said.
Richard Kaziny, a demonstrator from Chicago, Illinois, expressed anger at what he perceived to be the administration’s manipulation of intelligence on Saddam Hussein’s threat to US national security.
“This country was in no danger from Iraq,” Kaziny said. “It was just a made-up fairy tale of an excuse for war for oil and business interests.”
Although the organisers of the march are pushing the administration to “Bring the Troops Home Now,” Bill Dobbs, a spokesman for United for Peace and Justice, said the message was more thematic than literal.
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Thousands demonstrated near
“That is the rallying cry… Exactly how that happens is going to require some level of international cooperation,” Dobbs said.
But Hackwell said he was not buying the argument that the United States needed to maintain a long-term military presence in Iraq in order to keep the peace.
“There’s this colonial mentality that we’re over there now and we have to finish the job and that’s a racist mentality,” he said.
Patriotic criticism
Many protesters and speakers at the rally insisted their criticism of the White House was not unpatriotic, as supporters of the president might suggest.
“We’re the real patriots,” said Reverend Al Sharpton, a well-known civil rights activist and one of the Democratic candidates for president. “We want to stop the misuse of American lies in Iraq.”
Sharpton also urged the US Congress to vote against the $87 billion spending bill requested by the administration for costs in Iraq next year.
“Don’t give Bush $87 billion,” he said. “Don’t give him 87 cents.”
For some, the purpose was more personal than political. Susan Shuman, a representative of Military Families Speak Out, took the podium at the rally to plead with the administration to withdraw US troops immediately.
Her son Justin, a member of the Massachusetts National Guard, has been serving in Iraq since the beginning of the war in March.
“Our children and [Iraqi] children continue to die,” Shuman said. | https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2003/10/26/anti-war-marches-in-washington/ |
Division: Programs Department:
Field Processing Location:
Pretoria, South Africa
Primary Purpose
This position is primarily responsible for assisting eligible refugee applicants prepare the best possible case file for an interview with an Officer of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for final adjudication.
Supervision
This position reports to the Field Processing Supervisor.
Essential Duties
- Achieves and maintains a high performance standard based on a thorough knowledge of, and adherence to, established Church World Service Resettlement Support Centre (CWS RSC Africa), Department of State (DOS), United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), and Refugee Processing Centre (RPC) policies and procedures regarding current refugee processing eligibility criteria, database, and file management guidelines, the role of US Resettlement Agencies and refugee producing country conditions.
- Travels throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, as assigned, to conduct resettlement interviews with refugee applicants, collecting biographical information and establishing refugee claims, in a dignified and professional manner.
- Primarily conducts the AOR Screening and Pre-Screening One interview, per the daily minimums set by Field Team Management, in a non-confrontational, objective, and dignified manner. This includes:
a. Determining case composition and ensures all refugee cases are cross-referenced according to established standard operating procedures.
b. Establishing the validity of an applicant’s identity through verification of all demographic and biographic information including, but not limited to, names, nationalities, birth dates, and locations of all immediate family members in order to complete the refugee case history as required.
c. Collecting all identity information including photographs, height, and weight.
d. Documenting applicant’s persecution claim.
e. Analysing, evaluating, and assessing the eligibility of refugee applicants for final adjudication by USCIS officers.
- Runs Quality Check reports to ensure complete and accurate files, as well as identifies and correct processing errors prior to USCIS adjudication.
- Identifies and reviews cases pending Prescreening and USCIS interviews in preparation for scheduling, schedules the cases in WRAPS, generates reports for refugee/partner notification, ensures that the reports are centrally filed for easy retrieval, and updates WRAPS accordingly.
- Prepares cases for CIS, including reviewing physical and WRAPS files and constituting physical files.
- Works with other Operations departments as necessary to properly update the appropriate cases.
- Assists as needed in preparing circuit rides.
- Assists Adjudications Circuit Rides as needed, which includes completing post-Adjudication review, updating decisions and fingerprints, and preparing and distributing decision letters.
- Completes and updates all case files all database records.
- Writes deferrals and info memos for referring agency action, as required.
- Conducts file reviews in accordance with RSC and USCIS guidelines, paying close attention to detail.
- Assists in various administrative tasks including but not limited to: research, locating files, data entry, and case analysis.
- Analyses complex cases in consultation with Supervisors in accordance with established policies and procedures, while remaining open to supervisory direction.
- Contributes to the development of Field Team training procedures and their implementation.
- Trains new staff as required.
- Contributes to the development and updating of standard operating procedures for the Field Team in coordination with Field Team.
- Performs additional duties and special assignments as needed to facilitate the efficient processing and operation of the United States Refugee Admissions Program in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Qualifications Education:
Bachelor’s degree or four (4) years of paid work experience in lieu of a Bachelor’s degree is required.
Experience:
Casework or previous resettlement experience is preferred.
Knowledge/Skills:
· Strong verbal and written English language skills;
· Second language an advantage; Somali, Tigrinya, French, Amharic, Kinyarwanda or Arabic preferred;
· Demonstrated computer skills, especially Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook;
· Strong organizational and time management skills;
· Meticulous attention to detail.
Abilities:
The Caseworker must have the ability to:
· travel extensively throughout the regions, sometimes on short notice and under difficult conditions;
· accurately type 40 WPM at 96% accuracy in order to be confirmed at the end of probation;
· pass a job knowledge assessment in order to be confirmed at the end of probation;
· pass a yearly job knowledge assessment with a score of 80% or higher;
· maintain a high performance standard with attention to detail;
· communicate effectively both verbally and in writing;
· follow instructions from the Supervisor with a positive and receptive attitude;
· deal effectively and courteously with a large number of associates, outside agencies, refugees and members of the general public;
· conduct oneself in a professional and courteous manner to represent the best interests of RSC Africa and CWS/IRP;
· maintain a high performance standard with attention to detail;
· carry out all of the duties of the position efficiently and effectively with minimal supervision;
· work independently and contribute to overall operations of CWS RSC Africa;
· take initiative in the development and completion of projects;
· lead others and address issues as they arise;
· maintain strict confidentiality with CWS RSC Africa administrative and operational information;
· manage a large and diverse workload under pressure with competing priorities;
· analyse and solve complex problems;
· work well as a team in a multi-cultural environment while maintaining a high level of motivation
· effectively manage RSC Africa’s resources;
· manage cash advances and report expenses accurately;
· actively participate in the implementation of the U.S. Government Refugee Admissions Program.
Working Conditions
Physical: This position requires bending, squatting, climbing, kneeling, sitting, standing, walking, pushing/pulling, handling objects (manual dexterity), reaching above shoulder level, using fine finger movements and lifting/carrying heavy loads.
Environmental: Incumbents in this position will be exposed to excessive noise, marked changes in temperature and/or humidity, dust and infectious diseases, harsh weather climates, long work hours, bumpy roads, extended travel, excessive sun exposure, and non-ventilated spaces.
Special Requirements
· A clear MIE background check is required before the start of employment.
· Candidate selected must be legally eligible to work in South Africa.
A valid passport and the ability to maintain a valid passport throughout the entire appointment is required, which includes having enough passport pages for travel. The candidate should be of good health, willing and able to travel extensively in often difficult conditions, and have a high degree of flexibility. Must have proof of Yellow Fever vaccination before traveling for RSC Africa. Employee will be entrusted with the receipt, custody and payment of money.
Licensing/Certification
None required. Competencies Communication
Ensure effective exchanges of information with others. Examples of skills and behaviors include speaking to others respectfully; expressing ideas in a logical, organized way; sharing information appropriately; and clarity and conciseness in written communication.
Relationships
Ensure constructive and supportive interactions with others. Examples of skills and behaviors include being positive and supportive when working with others; sharing information and resources freely; resolving conflict constructively; and proactively working to remove obstacles to success for others.
Job Knowledge
Utilize and apply job related knowledge to complete job tasks at a level that meets or exceeds expectations. Examples of skills and behaviors include utilizing job knowledge to solve problems or develop new approaches; maintaining or enhancing skills through continuing education; and taking on projects that will develop or enhance skills.
Teamwork
Work effectively and contribute as a member of a team. Examples of skills and behaviors include supporting other team members by sharing information; covering the work of others during absences, vacations etc.; and actively participating in developing ideas for ways to increase team effectiveness.
Problem Solving
Analyze information and develop solutions to challenges that arise during the course of performing a job. Examples of skills and behaviors include researching and collecting facts; defining the issues and the parties affected; formulating options/solutions for addressing the problem; and engendering support for and implementing the solution.
Program Planning and Management
Organize work and/or plan projects and ensure timely completion and/or successful implementation. Examples of skills and behaviors include identifying and analyzing program options; identifying the tasks and deliverables required for successful completion; managing one’s time; monitoring the resources involved and ensuring that they are directed most effectively; and working with all involved to ensure successful completion.
Leadership
Guide and direct oneself or other individuals and groups toward a desired outcome. Examples of skills and behaviors include taking the appropriate level of initiative to resolve problems or remove obstacles, bringing individuals together around a common goal; evaluating information and making decisions; navigating conflict and obstacles; and ensuring that communication takes place between all parties involved.
Resource Building and Stewardship
Balance the acquisition or investment of organization resources with responsible use of those resources in line with the organization’s mission. Examples of skills and behaviors include taking advantage of all opportunities to cultivate potential donors; evaluating situations to identify the best use of resources; and making responsible investments of resources that increase organization effectiveness. | https://www.job-southafrica.com/jobs/medical-healthcare/caseworker-pretoria-37928/ |
There are many possible causes of stomach churning, including bloating; abdominal pain; nausea; vomiting; diarrhea; constipation; pelvic pain . bloating and gurgling; abdominal pain that comes in waves; inability to pass. Stomach growling, or borborygmi, is a normal phenomenon that anyone can experience. if accompanied by other symptoms such as pain, constipation, or diarrhea. Issues that can cause stomach growling include. Gastroenteritis is commonly known as an upset stomach (also called traveler's Symptoms depend on the cause and how long the condition has been present, or rumbling sounds from gas moving through the intestines and diarrhea.
stomach gurgling and pain
Stomach churning is an uncomfortable sensation caused by a variety of stomach and intestinal issues. These can range from indigestion to. Find possible causes of diarrhea based on specific factors. Check one or more Bloating or abdominal swelling; Bloody stools Stomach growling or rumbling. Too much of certain sugars may cause a noisy tummy. just one stick of diet gum) may cause diarrhea, flatus, and increased intestinal noise.
My stomach makes these gurgling noises and it's pretty sore on the inside. The medicine they have me on for diarrhea makes me feel out of it and it doesn't. Gastroenteritis (inflammation of the gut): this is a common cause of diarrhoea due Uncomfortable feeling in the stomach; Gurgling and passing wind; Frequent. Abdominal cramps – often relieved by emptying the bowels; Change in bowel habit; either diarrhoea or constipation or an alternating pattern need to go to the toilet; A feeling of incomplete bowel evacuation; Gurgling stomach noises There is no definitive cause of IBS but the bowel is often more sensitive and reactive to.
how to stop stomach gurgling and diarrhea
Learning about the common causes of diarrhea after meals will help you be able to work .. 9 Signs That Your Stomach Issues May Not Be IBS. I have had a look at these and it does not mention rumbling tummy I will report back as if others suffer this particular symptom it might be a. As well as the tummy pain, you might also have rumbling and gurgling diarrhoea or constipation, urinary problems, and/or loss of appetite. A lot of things can cause this; mainly food that wasn't edible anymore or an illness , but if you have these problems regularly, look at your diet. Other causes of stomach rumbles: when accompanied by abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, diarrhea or constipation. Stomach bugs and food poisoning can be difficult to tell apart, but there are subtle Food poisoning is an illness that can cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhea. You wonder, was it something you ate or a stomach virus? The constellation of symptoms — nausea, abdominal pain, diarrhea and vomiting. You might have diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and pain, but the experience bloating or notice gurgling or other stomach noises after. What are the signs and symptoms of gastroenteritis? Diarrhea or gas; Nausea, vomiting, or poor appetite; Abdominal cramps, pain, or gurgling. Stomach Bloating And Gas And Diarrhea Growling Abdomen Back Pain Lower Discomfort >You have to dig deeper and find out why your dealing with. | https://henrisjewelry.com/brain-puzzle/what-causes-stomach-rumbling-and-diarrhea.php |
TECHNICAL FIELD:
BACKGROUND ART:
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS:
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION:
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Thirteenth Embodiment:
The present invention relates to an improved surface analysis technique. More particularly, the invention relates to a surface analysis method for addressing the qualitative and quantitative analysis of residues remaining on the surface of samples to be analyzed, and to an apparatus for carrying out the same method.
To scale down the size of semiconductor devices requires establishing a viable fabrication technique for dealing with the levels of dimensions below deep submicrons. For example, the production of 256-Mb DRAM's necessitates fabricating contact holes as small as 0.2 µm in diameter and 2 µm in depth. To establish the fabrication technique of this magnitude of precision requires providing techniques for evaluating the precision of what is fabricated. Of such evaluation techniques, what is particularly in demand is one for analyzing qualitatively and quantitatively any residues that remain on the surface of wafers after dry etching. In analyzing such residues, it should be noted that the wafer surface is not necessarily flat; areas with large ups and downs symbolized by the contact holes above also need to be analyzed.
Heretofore, the analysis of residues over appreciably undulating areas has been generally carried out by cutting the fabricated wafer and by observing the cross section thereof using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). This method has a number of disadvantages. One disadvantage of the method is that it is simply for observing the shape of the residues and not for identifying them. Another disadvantage is that, the observed wafer cannot be returned whole into the fabrication process. A further disadvantage is that the conventional method is not fit for observing residues on the order of several nanometers. When the development of Gb-order semiconductor integrated circuit devices is concerned, the above-mentioned disadvantages are critical in that they can significantly degrade yield and analysis accuracy.
One conventional method that bypasses the need to cut the wafer for observation is the so-called fluorescence X-ray analysis. Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 243855/1988 discloses an example of this method in the form of an analyzing apparatus using charged particles. The disclosed apparatus irradiates an electron beam to a sample and observes fluorescence X-rays emitted therefrom. The observation of fluorescence X-rays involves the use of crystals arranged at 22 degrees with respect to the center axis of the electron beam irradiated.
In analyzing residues qualitatively and quantitatively using fluorescence X-rays, what matters is where to locate means for observing the X-rays. That is, it is necessary to avoid the absorption of the fluorescence X-rays emitted from the sample by locating the observation means so that the position from which the X-rays emanate will be observed directly. However, there have been no definite criteria for locating the means for observing fluorescence X-rays, with little attention paid thereto. Illustratively, whereas the above-mentioned analyzing apparatus using charged particles has its crystals arranged at 22 degrees relative to the center axis of the generated electron beam, the angular arrangement is not fully capable of avoiding the absorption of the fluorescence X-rays emitted from the sample. In particular, the above analyzing apparatus is incapable of addressing DRAM's of 4 Mb or greater in capacity, the mainstay of semiconductor devices from now on, in analyzing qualitatively and quantitatively the surface residues of their samples.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a surface analysis method for analyzing residues on the surface of a sample (such as a wafer) qualitatively and quantitatively with high accuracy without cutting it, and an apparatus for carrying out the same method.
In carrying out the invention, there is provided a surface analysis method for analyzing residues on the surface of a sample by irradiating an accelerated and focused electron beam onto the sample surface and by observing fluorescence X-rays emitted therefrom in return. The method characteristically involves observing the fluorescence X-rays near the center axis of the electron beam, the X-rays being emitted from the sample surface in response to the electron beam irradiated thereto.
tan
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According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a surface analysis method for analyzing residues inside small holes on the surface of a sample by irradiating an accelerated and focused electron beam into the small holes and by observing fluorescence X-rays emitted therefrom in return, the surface analysis method comprising the step of observing the fluorescence X-rays within an angle α with respect to the center axis of the electron beam, the angle being defined as
where, multiplied by 2 stands for the inner diameter of any one of the small holes and for the depth thereof.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a surface analysis method for analyzing residues on the surface of a sample by irradiating an accelerated and focused electron beam onto the sample surface and by observing fluorescence X-rays emitted therefrom in return, the surface analysis method comprising the step of observing the fluorescence X-rays within an angle of 20 degrees with respect to the center axis of the electron beam.
The residues to be analyzed may include at least one atom selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and silicon atoms. The energy of the electron beam is preferably such as to excite, for the purpose of fluorescence X-ray emission from the sample, at least one atom selected from the group consisting of carbon atoms, oxygen atoms and silicon atoms. Specifically, the energy of the electron beam is preferably not greater than 5 keV or not greater than 10 times the energy of the fluorescence X-rays to be observed.
The fluorescence X-rays may be observed by use of an annular X-ray detector which spectrally detects the fluorescence X-rays, the annular X-ray detector having a center hole coaxially arranged around the center axis of the electron beam. In this setup, the electron beam may be irradiated onto the sample surface through the center hole of the X-ray detector. The X-ray detector may be located inside an electron lens for focusing the electron beam.
The fluorescence X-rays may be observed by use of an X-ray detector located on the center axis of the electron beam, the X-ray detector detecting the fluorescence X-rays spectrally. In this case, the electron beam may be deflected to bypass said X-ray detector before being irradiated onto the sample surface.
The fluorescence X-rays may be observed by use of an X-ray reflector located near the center axis of the electron beam and by use of an X-ray detector located outside the center axis of the electron beam, the X-ray reflector reflecting the fluorescence X-rays, the reflected X-rays being spectrally detected by the X-ray detector. In this setup, the X-ray reflector may be a total reflector for totally reflecting the fluorescence X-rays. The X-ray reflector may also be a plane mirror. Alternatively, the X-ray reflector may be a cylindrical mirror, a spherical mirror, a toroidal mirror, or a non-spherical mirror comprising a revolutional conicoid. The curvature of the reflecting surface of the X-ray reflector may be varied as needed. Of course, if the fluorescence X-rays can be detected without setting the X-ray reflector, the X-ray detector located near and outside the center axis of the electron beam is only used for detecting the fluorescence X-rays.
The fluorescence X-rays may be observed by use of a multilayer film reflector located near the center axis of the electron beam and by use of an X-ray detector located outside the center axis of the electron beam, the multilayer film reflector spectrally reflecting the fluorescence X-rays, the spectrally reflected fluorescence X-rays being detected by the X-ray detector. Furthermore, the multilayer film reflector may be rotated to vary the spectral condition of the fluorescence X-rays, the X-ray detector being relocated in synchronism with the rotation of the multilayer film reflector so as to detect the spectrally reflected fluorescence X-rays.
The fluorescence X-rays may be observed by use of diffraction gratings located near the center axis of the electron beam and by use of an X-ray detector located outside the center axis of the electron beam, the diffraction gratings spectrally reflecting the fluorescence X-rays, the spectrally reflected fluorescence X-rays being detected by the X-ray detector.
The X-ray detector for detecting the fluorescence X-rays reflected spectrally by the multilayer film reflector or by the diffraction gratings may be a two-dimensional detector having a plurality of X-ray detecting devices arranged two-dimensionally.
The electron beam may be arranged to be deflected immediately before incidence on the sample surface.
Preferably, that spot on the sample surface to which the electron beam is irradiated is heated locally. The local heating is carried out preferably at a temperature between 100°C and 200°C. The local heating may be carried out by focusing a light beam onto the spot to be heated. The light beam for the local heating may be either a visible ray beam or an infrared ray beam.
tan
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According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a surface analysis apparatus comprising electron beam irradiating means for irradiating a finely focused electron beam into small holes on the surface of a sample, and fluorescence X-ray observing means for observing fluorescence X-rays emitted from the small holes in response to the irradiation of the electron beam, wherein the fluorescence X-ray observing means includes a function for spectrally detecting the fluorescence X-rays emitted within an angle α with respect to the center axis of the electron beam, the angle being defined as
where, multiplied by 2 stands for the inner diameter of any one of the small holes and for the depth thereof.
According to an even further aspect of the invention, there is provided a surface analysis apparatus comprising electron beam irradiating means for irradiating a finely focused electron beam onto the surface of a sample, and fluorescence X-ray observing means for observing fluorescence X-rays emitted from the sample surface in response to the irradiation of the electron beam, wherein the fluorescence X-ray observing means includes a function for spectrally detecting the fluorescence X-rays emitted within an angle of 20 degrees with respect to the center axis of the electron beam.
In a preferred structure according to the invention, the surface analysis apparatus may further comprise measuring means for measuring that spot on the sample surface to which the electron beam is irradiated, and calculating means for calculating the distance between two different spots with reference to the sample surface spot measured by the measuring means. This surface analysis apparatus may also comprise means for automatically determining the location to be analyzed on the sample surface in accordance with the data of the pattern coordinates established on the sample surface. The surface analysis apparatus may further comprise display means for displaying both the pattern coordinate data and an observed picture of a sample surface area including the location to be analyzed. The display means may have a function for displaying a schematic cross-sectional view of the sample surface area designated by the process data resulting from the surface processing carried out on the sample surface to be analyzed.
The operating principles of the invention outlined above will now be described. Irradiating an electron beam to a substance causes fluorescence X-rays to be emitted therefrom. The energy (wavelength) of the fluorescence X-rays is specific to the elements making up the substance. The invention takes advantage of this characteristic and is embodied to identify the elements, and the substance made thereof, by analyzing the energy of the fluorescence X-rays detected therefrom (i.e., qualitative analysis). Based on the emission intensity of the fluorescence X-rays detected, the invention makes it possible to acquire the quantity of the substance under observation (i.e., quantitative analysis).
Determining how to observe fluorescence X-rays is important in executing the analysis of residues over a considerably undulating surface of a wafer without breaking it. Principal residues from the process of semiconductor device fabrication include silicon oxide films and photo-resist. To identify such residues requires detecting low Z elements such as C, O and Si. CKα X-rays and OKα X-rays generated by irradiation of an electron beam have low levels of energy (< 1 keV). This means that these fluorescence X-rays cannot pass through an obstacle if any exists between their source and the means for observing them and thus cannot be detected. How such a situation can be brought about under the severest condition will be described below in more detail.
h
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Fig. 2 shows an electron beam 1 being incident into a small hole on the surface of a sample 2 to be analyzed. Fluorescence X-rays 5 are emitted from that spot of the hole bottom to which the electron beam is irradiated. As mentioned, the fluorescence X-rays 5 must be observed on condition that no obstacles exist between the source of the rays and the means for observing them. Referring to Fig. 2, the fluorescence X-rays 5 need to be observed from within a region A (referred to as "near the axis of the electron beam 1" hereunder). The angle α is defined as
where, multiplied by 2 stands for the inner diameter of the small hole and for the depth thereof. An example of the small hole is a contact hole of a DRAM. Fig. 3 depicts how the angle α changes along with the aspect ratio (2) of the small hole for DRAM's of varying integration densities. As evident from Fig. 3, DRAM's with integration densities of 4 Mb or greater, which are the mainstay of semiconductor devices from now on, need to be observed for the fluorescence X-rays within 20 degrees of angle α. Illustratively, the analyzing apparatus using charged particles disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 243855/1988 has crystals for fluorescence X-ray detection arranged at an angle of about 22 degrees with respect to the center axis of an incident electron beam. It follows that the disclosed apparatus is incapable of analyzing the inside of contact holes of DRAM's 4 Mb or greater in integration density. By contrast, the means for observing fluorescence X-rays according to the invention has part or all of the X-ray receiving surface of the X-ray detector located within the region A designated by the angle α in Fig. 2. Alternatively, the means of the invention for observing fluorescence X-rays has part or all of optical devices located within the same region A, the optical devices being furnished to guide fluorescence X-rays into the X-ray detector. The observing means of this kind may be embodied in diverse fashion, as will be described later. The use of such observing means permits qualitative and quantitative analysis of residues not only on the sample surface of negligible ups and downs but also on appreciably undulating surfaces of samples.
The acceleration energy of the electron beam will now be described. In an experiment, an electron beam was irradiated to silicon oxide films of varying thicknesses at acceleration energy levels of 2 keV and 5 keV. Fig. 4 shows how the resulting fluorescence X-rays (OKα X-rays having an energy level of about 0.5 keV) vary in intensity depending on the oxide film thickness. As shown in Fig. 4, the lower the acceleration energy of the electron beam, the higher the intensity of the fluorescence X-rays. The yield of fluorescence X-rays is a function of the acceleration energy of the electron beam irradiated. If the energy of fluorescence X-rays is represented by E, the yield thereof tends to be maximized when the acceleration energy of the irradiated electron beam is approximately equal to E multiplied by 3 (A. G. Michette; Optical Systems for Soft X-rays; Prenum Press, New York, 1986; p. 22). Further experiments revealed that CKα X-rays (having an energy level of about 0.3 keV) could be detected as an indication of the presence of residual photo-resist films on the order of nanometers when an electron beam was irradiated to the sample at energy levels of 1 to 2 keV. It was also revealed that the irradiation of an electron beam having an energy level of 2 through 5 keV was optimum for detecting the fluorescence X-rays emanating from silicon. From these experiments, it became clear that residues including such low Z elements as C, O and Si on the order of nanometers in thickness can be detected if the acceleration energy of the irradiated electron beam is limited to 5 keV or less.
x
x
The spatial resolution of fluorescence X-ray analysis will now be described. What primarily causes the spatial resolution to drop in analyzing fluorescence X-rays is the presence of reflected electrons. The effects of reflected electrons were examined in an experiment in which a pattern was formed using a silicon oxide film on a silicon wafer, with a 3-keV electron beam irradiated to a location at a distance from the pattern side wall. When the reflected electrons caused fluorescence X-rays (OKα X-rays) to emanate from the pattern side wall, their intensity was measured. As illustrated in Fig. 5, irradiating the electron beam to a location 25 nm (distance ) away from the pattern side wall resulted in sufficiently low levels of the intensity of the fluorescence X-rays (OKα X-rays) emitted. It was found that the effects of the reflected electrons were negligible. Similar results were obtained when an electron beam 1.5 keV in acceleration energy was irradiated to resist patterns. More detailed experiments revealed that the effects of fluorescence X-rays caused by reflected electrons are virtually eliminated if the acceleration energy of the irradiated electron beam is not greater than 10 times the energy of the fluorescence X-rays to be detected. The spatial resolution as induced from Fig. 5 (on the order of nanometers) is sufficiently small compared with the minimum pattern size of DRAM's (about 1 µm for 4 Mb, 0.1 µm for 4 Gb). Thus the techniques proposed by the invention are favorable in analyzing the surface of semiconductor devices that are to be developed from now on.
As described, the invention involves irradiating an electron beam to the surface of a sample at an acceleration energy level of 5 keV or less and observing, near the axis of the electron beam, the fluorescence X-rays emitted from the sample surface. With the sample left unscathed during observation, any small residues over the sample surface on the order of nanometers are analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively with a spatial resolution of 0.1 µm or less.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention and the manner of realizing them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will best be understood from a study of the following description and appended claims with reference to the attached drawings showing some preferred embodiments of the invention.
Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a surface analysis apparatus embodying the invention;
Fig. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing where an X-ray detector is to be located in connection with the invention;
Fig. 3 is a graphic representation depicting how various parameters of DRAM's change in connection with the invention;
Fig. 4 is a graphic representation indicating typical dependence of the intensity of fluorescence X-rays on the thickness of silicon oxide films;
Fig. 5 is a graphic representation showing changes in the intensity of fluorescence X-rays emitted from the pattern side wall upon irradiation of reflected electrons to the wall;
Fig. 6 is a schematic view of another surface analysis apparatus embodying the invention;
Fig. 7 is a schematic view of another surface analysis apparatus embodying the invention;
Fig. 8 is a schematic view of another surface analysis apparatus embodying the invention;
Fig. 9 is a schematic view of another surface analysis apparatus embodying the invention;
Fig. 10 is a schematic view of another surface analysis apparatus embodying the invention;
Fig. 11 is a schematic view of another surface analysis apparatus embodying the invention;
Fig. 12 is a schematic view of another surface analysis apparatus embodying the invention;
Fig. 13 is a schematic view of another surface analysis apparatus embodying the invention;
Fig. 14 is a schematic view of another surface analysis apparatus embodying the invention;
Fig. 15 is a schematic view of another surface analysis apparatus embodying the invention;
Fig. 16 is a schematic view of another surface analysis apparatus embodying the invention;
Figs. 17 (A), 17 (B) and 17 (C) are schematic cross-sectional views showing some processes of fabricating semiconductor devices by use of another embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 18 is a schematic view of a display screen practiced by another embodiment of the invention; and
Fig. 19 is a schematic view of another surface analysis apparatus embodying the invention.
Preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 schematically shows the most basic embodiment of the invention. Referring to Fig. 1, an accelerated electron beam 1 is irradiated perpendicularly to the surface of a sample 2 (e.g., semiconductor wafer) through a hole 9 at the center of an X-ray detector 8. The diameter of the electron beam 1 is sufficiently small compared with the area of the residues to be analyzed on the surface of the sample 2 (e.g., the area being equivalent to the diameter of a small hole thereon). The acceleration energy of the electron beam 1 is limited to 5 keV or less. The electron beam 1 is focused and accelerated by electron lenses 3 and 11. The hole 9 may be between 0.1 and 5 mm in diameter.
Irradiating the electron beam 1 to the surface of the sample 2 causes fluorescence X-rays to emanate from the residues thereon. The emitted fluorescence X-rays are detected by an X-ray detector 8 furnished coaxially along the electron beam 1. The X-ray detector 8 is capable of analyzing energy and is typically implemented in the form of an X-ray solid state detector (SSD) or a harpicon (pickup tube). The detector 8 may be located anywhere in the axial direction of the electron beam 1; it may be located between the electron lenses 3 and 11 as shown in Fig. 1, or it may be located inside of the electron lens 3. What is important in setting up the X-ray detector 8 is that part or all of the X-ray receiving surface thereof must be positioned within the region A indicated in Fig. 2 (where the angle α is 20 degrees or less). It is under this condition that the X-ray detector 8 measures the fluorescence X-rays 5 for energy and intensity, whereby the residues on the sample surface are analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively.
Illustratively, fluorescence X-rays 6 having high energy levels such as SiKα X-rays can pass through a sample substance about several micrometers thick. Fluorescence X-rays of such high energy may be detected using an X-ray detector 4 located on one side of the position to which the electron beam is irradiated. This X-ray detector, too, can be one capable of analyzing energy such as an X-ray solid state detector. Comparing the signal output intensity of the X-ray detector 8 with that of the detector 4 makes it possible to know the attenuation rate of the fluorescence X-rays 6 having passed through the sample substance. The attenuation rate thus obtained is in turn used to acquire the transmission length of the fluorescence X-rays 6 through the sample substance. The transmission length thus known allows the observer illustratively to know the depths of small holes on the surface of the sample 2.
Irradiating the electron beam 1 to the surface of the sample 2 causes secondary electrons 7 to be emitted therefrom. A detector 10 is furnished to detect these secondary electrons 7. With the electron beam 1 scanning the surface of the sample 2, detecting the emitted secondary electrons 7 provides a secondary electron image of the sample surface. An observation of the secondary electron image makes it possible to grasp where the residues to be analyzed are located on the sample surface. That in turn makes it easy to determine the location to be analyzed on the sample surface.
With the first embodiment of the invention, the fluorescence X-rays 5 emitted from the surface of the sample 2 are observed near the axis of a low-energy electron beam 1 irradiated thereto. This makes it possible to analyze qualitatively and quantitatively any residues on a considerably undulating surface of the sample, accurately and without breaking the sample. Having undergone non-destructive analysis, the sample (e.g., semiconductor wafer) may be placed unscathed back to the fabrication process.
Fig. 6 schematically depicts a second embodiment of the invention. This embodiment addresses the case where an X-ray detector 15 cannot have any hole (corresponding to the hole 9 in Fig. 1) made at the center thereof for letting the electron beam 1 pass through. The second embodiment utilizes an electron beam deflector 13 to deflect the electron beam 1 in one direction to let the beam bypass a housing 14 of the X-ray detector 15. Having passed by the housing 14, the electron beam 1 is deflected in the opposite direction by another electron beam deflector 12. As a result, the electron beam 1 returns to its original optical axis for perpendicular irradiation to the surface of the sample 2. The fluorescence X-rays 5 emitted from the sample surface upon irradiation of the electron beam 1 thereto are detected for energy analysis by the X-ray detector 15 located on the optical axis of the electron beam.
The housing 14 accommodating the X-ray detector 15 may be moved perpendicular to the optical axis of the electron beam 1. Where the position of the residue to be analyzed is to be determined illustratively by use of a secondary electron image, this setup allows the housing 14 to be retracted laterally from the optical axis. The electron beam 1 is arranged to scan the surface of the sample 2 for irradiation thereto while the deflectors 12 and 13 are not yet used to deflect the electron beam 1 (to bypass the X-ray detector). This makes it possible to observe the secondary electron image of the sample surface. After the location to be analyzed is identified by observation of the secondary electron image, the housing 14 is moved forward so that the detector 15 will be located on the optical axis. With the electron beam 1 deflected by the deflectors 12 and 13 (to bypass the X-ray detector), the electron beam 1 is irradiated to the target position on the surface of the sample 2. Because the electron beam 1 is not deflected while the position to be analyzed is being determined by observation of the secondary electron image, the target position may be determined with high resolution.
The second embodiment of the invention makes it possible to analyze residues on the sample surface particularly where a hole through which to pass the electron beam cannot be furnished at the center of the X-ray detector. The other effects of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment.
Fig. 7 is a schematic view of a third embodiment of the invention. This embodiment utilizes an X-ray reflector 16 for guiding the fluorescence X-rays 5 from the surface of the sample 2 to an X-ray detector 17. Irradiating the electron beam 1 to the surface of the sample 2 causes fluorescence X-rays 5 to be emitted therefrom. The emitted fluorescence X-rays 5 from the sample surface are reflected by the X-ray reflector 16, reaching the X-ray detector 17 located off the optical axis of the electron beam. Although the X-ray reflector 16 may be made of any suitable material, the third embodiment has its reflector 16 equipped with a light reflecting surface composed of a gold or platinum layer deposited on a silicon wafer. (The deposited gold or platinum is effective in promoting the reflectance of X-rays.) Although Fig. 7 shows the X-ray reflector 16 as a plane mirror, a reflector with a curved surface may be used alternatively. Mirrors of the latter kind include a cylindrical mirror, a spherical mirror, and a non-spherical mirror such as a toroidal mirror or an ellipsoidal mirror. The X-ray reflector 16 may be located anywhere appropriate. The use of the X-ray reflector allows the fluorescence X-rays 5 within the region A of Fig. 2 to be guided efficiently towards the X-ray detector 17 positioned off the optical axis. The other features of the third embodiment are the same as those of the first or the second embodiment. The third embodiment offers the same effects as the first embodiment.
Fig. 8 schematically depicts a fourth embodiment of the invention. As described, the first through the third embodiments use an X-ray detector capable of energy analysis for detecting fluorescence X-rays. Alternatively, the third embodiment (Fig. 7) may be arranged to have its reflector 16 furnished with a function of wavelength dispersion. That arrangement permits the use of an X-ray detector with no function for energy analysis. The fourth embodiment incorporates an arrangement of this kind.
Referring to Fig. 8, irradiating the electron beam 1 to the surface of the sample 2 causes fluorescence X-rays 5 to be emitted therefrom. The emitted fluorescence X-rays 5 are reflected by a reflector 18 before being detected by an X-ray detector 19. The reflector 18 comprises on its surface a multilayer reflecting film for X-ray reflection. The reflector 18 is located slightly off the center axis of the electron beam (0.1 to 2 mm away) so as not to obstruct the irradiation of the electron beam 1 to the sample surface. Alternatively, a plurality of reflectors may be arranged to encompass the center axis of the electron beam 1. The reflector 18 is furnished rotatably on a center axis 23 in parallel with the Z axis. The rotation, not shown, of the reflector 18 is carried out by a rotating mechanism using a pulse motor or the like.
2D sinϑ
= λ
The multilayer film reflector is a reflector constituted by a plurality of thin films of two different substances (e.g., Mo and Si) deposited alternately and cyclically on a substrate. If D stands for the thickness of one cycle of the deposited component films and ϑ for the incident angle of X-rays on the reflector, only the X-rays having the wavelength λ that satisfies the relation
are reflected by the X-ray reflector. Thus if the incident angle ϑ of X-rays is varied using a multilayer film reflector whose length of one cycle D is known, it is possible to analyze spectrally the X-rays that are incident on the reflector (i.e., energy analysis). The length of one cycle D for the multilayer film reflector is set preferably to 1 through 20 nm.
φ = 2ϑ
The fourth embodiment of Fig. 4 operates on the principle of spectrometry outlined above. That is, the reflector 18 is rotated around the center axis 23 so as to vary the incident angle ϑ of fluorescence X-rays 5 on the reflector 18. The X-ray detector 19 is moved in keeping with the rotation of the reflector 18 in order to detect the fluorescence X-rays 5 reflected spectrally by the reflector 18. The movement of the detector 19 is accomplished by relocating along a guide 22 a stage 20 that carries the detector 19. The relocation of the stage 20 is controlled by a relocating mechanism, not shown, which illustratively activates a pulse motor in synchronism with the rotation of the reflector 18 on condition that
where φ represents the angle formed between the center position of the detector 19 as viewed from the center axis 23 of the reflector 18 on the one hand, and the center axis of the electron beam 1 on the other. A collimator 21 is provided to prevent unnecessary X-rays from reaching the X-ray detector 19.
The reflector 18 shown in Fig. 8 has a slightly curved surface with the ability of focusing. However, it is not mandatory to furnish the reflector with the focusing capability. What is essential with the fourth embodiment is the use of a multilayer film reflector for spectrally reflecting fluorescence X-rays. The reflector 18 may be shaped and located as desired and as needed. The fourth embodiment also provides the same effects as the first embodiment.
Fig. 9 schematically depicts a fifth embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is another example of using an X-ray detector that has no function for energy analysis.
In place of the multilayer film reflector, the fifth embodiment utilizes diffraction gratings 24 as an optical device for spectral processing. The fluorescence X-rays 5 emitted from the surface of the sample 2 enter the diffraction gratings 24 located near the axis of the electron beam 1 for spectral diffraction. The diffracted fluorescence X-rays are detected by a defector 25. The detector 25 is a two-dimensional detecting device array comprising a large number of detecting devices arranged in two-dimensional fashion. Constituted in this way, the detector 25 permits spectral observation of multiple wavelengths on a concurrent basis. This means that the fifth embodiment takes appreciably less time than the fourth embodiment in executing the analysis. The other aspects of the fifth embodiment are the same as those of the fourth embodiment.
Fig. 10 is a schematic view of a sixth embodiment of the invention. This embodiment has a coaxial type X-ray detector 29 located inside an electron lens 26, the detector being capable of analyzing energy. The electron beam 1 that enters the electron lens 26 through an electron lens 27 passes through two holes: a small hole 28' made on the housing 28 that holds the X-ray detector 29, and a center hole 30 of the detector 29. Past these holes, the electron beam 1 is irradiated perpendicularly to the surface of the sample 2. The fluorescence X-rays 5 emitted from the sample surface are detected by the X-ray detector 29.
Although the sixth embodiment uses the coaxial type detector 29 to detect the fluorescence X-rays 5, the reflector 18 (Fig. 8) or diffraction gratings 24 (Fig. 9) may also be installed inside the electron lens 26. In the latter case, it is obviously necessary to secure a sufficient space inside the electron lens 26 through which to let the reflected or diffracted fluorescence X-rays 5 pass in such a manner that the X-rays 5 will reach the detector 19 or 25.
Because the sixth embodiment allows the detector 29 to be set up closer to the sample 2, a higher level of signal intensity is obtained. That in turn boosts the sensitivity of analysis and enables residues of smaller dimensions to be analyzed.
Fig. 11 schematically shows a seventh embodiment of the invention. To analyze the residue inside a small hole on the sample surface requires irradiating the electron beam in the form of a point beam into the hole having a diameter on the submicron order. If the degree of vacuum is insufficient inside a vacuum chamber where the sample is placed (i.e., sample chamber), point-beam irradiation of the electron beam can contaminate the irradiated area with carbon atoms or the like. The seventh embodiment is designed specifically to prevent this kind of contamination from occurring.
The seventh embodiment includes heating means for heating the surface of the sample 2 to prevent the above contamination. More specifically, a focusing lens 31 is used to focus light (e.g., visible or infrared rays) from a light source 32 for irradiation onto the sample surface. The surface of the sample 2 may be heated to a temperature between 100 and 200°C. There is no need to heat the entire surface of the sample 2; a limited area between tens of µm and 1 mm in diameter need only be heated locally, the area including the spot to which the electron beam 1 is irradiated. The heating of this kind is readily accomplished by getting a suitable lens to focus the light of a commercially available light source onto the sample surface for several to tens of seconds.
Although the seventh embodiment utilizes the lens 31 to focus the light for heating, other optical devices for heating purposes may be used instead. For example, the use of a total reflector permits focusing without chromatic aberration, which is convenient for heating a very small area. Needless to say, the heating means of the seventh embodiment for heating the surface of the sample 2 may also be added to any other embodiment of the invention.
Because the seventh embodiment of the invention heats that spot on the sample surface to which the electron beam is irradiated, it is possible to analyze residues with high accuracy thanks to the reduced effects of contamination. The seventh embodiment is particularly suited for high-precision analysis of residues that contain carbon atoms such as resist.
Fig. 12 schematically depicts an eighth embodiment of the invention. For the embodiments described so far, the locus of the electron beam 1 is substantially linear with the exception of the second embodiment. Meanwhile, there are cases where the setting of an X-ray detector is made simpler by gently bending the locus of the electron beam 1 before it reaches the surface of the sample 2. The eighth embodiment is designed to provide this feature.
The eighth embodiment causes the electron beam 1 gently to deflect immediately before incidence onto the surface of the sample 2 past electron lenses 34 and 33. The deflection is achieved illustratively by forming a magnetic field B perpendicular to the view of Fig. 12 as the reader looks at it. (Means for forming the magnetic field is omitted from the figure to clarify the essence of the eighth embodiment.) It is assumed that the deflected electron beam 1 is incident on the surface of the sample 2 in a substantially perpendicular manner. The fluorescence X-rays 5 emitted from the sample surface upon irradiation of the electron beam 1 thereto are detected by a detector 35 capable of energy analysis. The multilayer film reflector 18 of the fourth embodiment or the diffraction gratings 24 of the fifth embodiment may also be used as spectral processing means for the fluorescence X-rays 5.
Although the eighth embodiment utilizes the magnetic field B to deflect the electron beam 1, other deflecting means may also be adopted. What is essential with the eighth embodiment is that deflecting the electron beam 1 immediately before incidence on the surface of the sample 2 allows the detector 35 to be set up easily. That in turn makes it easy to detect the fluorescence X-rays 5 emitted near the axis of the electron beam 1 that is incident on the sample surface.
According to the eighth embodiment, the electron beam 1 is deflected before incidence on the surface of the sample 2 so that a wide space will be secured in which the detector 35 is set up more easily than before. With more diverse kinds of X-ray detector to choose from for use with the embodiment offering the above feature, the constitution of the embodiment is simplified.
Fig. 13 is a schematic view of a ninth embodiment of the invention. Whereas the eighth embodiment has the electron beam 1 deflected immediately before the surface of the sample 2, the electron beam 1 may also be deflected elsewhere. The ninth embodiment is an example in which the electron beam 1 is deflected away from the sample surface.
Referring to Fig. 13, the electron beam 1 is deflected between electron lenses 36 and 3. After deflection, the electron beam 1 is made perpendicularly incident on the surface of the sample 2. The fluorescence X-rays 5 emitted from the surface of the sample 2 (i.e., the fluorescence X-rays emitted near the axis of the deflected electron beam) are detected by a detector 37 located directly above the sample 2. As with the eighth embodiment, the electron beam 1 is deflected by use of the magnetic field B. The other aspects of the ninth embodiment are the same as those of the eighth embodiment. The ninth embodiment offers the same effects as the eighth embodiment.
Fig. 14 schematically shows a tenth embodiment of the invention. If the third embodiment (Fig. 7) has the curvature of the reflector 16 made variable, it is possible to focus more efficiently the fluorescence X-rays 5 emitted from the surface of the sample 2. The tenth embodiment is one example in which the curvature of the reflector is thus made variable to achieve that effect.
Referring to Fig. 14, the material of a reflector 38 is the same as that of the reflector 16 in the third embodiment. The difference is that the reflector 38 is physically flexible in its entirety. One end of the reflector 38 is fixed to a support base 39 which in turn is attached to a movable arm 40. The arm 40 may be moved in the arrowed direction. The other end of the reflector 38 is left free; the back of that end may be pushed by a fine-adjustment arm 41 whose movement may be fine-adjusted in the arrowed direction. The curvature of the reflector 38 is set as desired by operating the fine-adjustment arm 41 for adjusting the free-end position of the reflector 38. When the curvature of the reflector 38 is changed, the reflecting direction and focusing condition of the fluorescence X-rays 5 are also changed. This requires adjusting accordingly the location of a detector 42 capable of energy analysis. The location of the detector 42 is adjusted by moving in the arrowed direction a housing 43 containing the detector 42. The remaining constitutional aspects of the tenth embodiment are the same as those of the third embodiment.
Because the tenth embodiment allows the curvature of the reflector 38 to be varied, it is possible to focus the fluorescence X-rays 5 efficiently for incidence onto the detector 42. As a result, the sensitivity of residual analysis is improved.
Fig. 15 is a schematic view of an eleventh embodiment of the invention. Any one of the first through the tenth embodiments discussed above may be equipped with additional functions to expand its versatility. The additional functions include a function to measure lengths of fine patterns and a function to further accelerate the electron beam. The eleventh embodiment is one example in which these functions are implemented.
Referring to Fig. 15, the electron beam 1 from an electron source 44 is accelerated and focused by electron lens systems 48 and 49 for irradiation to the surface of the sample 2 placed within a sample chamber 46. Needless to say, the interior of the sample chamber 46 is evacuated by an evacuation system 49 to a high degree of vacuum. The fluorescence X-rays 5 emitted from the surface of the sample 2 upon irradiation of the electron beam 1 thereto are detected by the detector 8. The detector 8, capable of energy analysis, is located between the electron lens systems 48 and 49 and is coaxially close to the electron beam 1. A detection signal from the detector 8 is processed by a controller 50 before being sent to a controller-processor 53 whereby the results of the analysis are displayed.
With the eleventh embodiment, a controller 51 controls the operating conditions of the electron source 44 and electron lens system 48 so that the acceleration energy of the electron beam 1 will be varied as needed between 0.1 keV and 200 keV. At low levels of acceleration energy, the eleventh embodiment analyzes residues qualitatively and quantitatively by detecting fluorescence X-rays from the sample surface as described above; at high levels of acceleration energy (> 50 keV), the eleventh embodiment displays a scanning image of the surface of the sample 2 by detecting secondary and reflected electrons emanating from the sample surface. Because the electrons of highly accelerated energy are more likely to penetrate substances, detecting the reflected electrons makes it possible illustratively to observe the inner shape of small holes on the sample surface. An electron detector 54 is used to detect the secondary and reflected electrons emitted from the sample surface. This arrangement permits identification of the types of the elements making up the shape of the sample surface in addition to the observation of the latter.
The apparatus sketched schematically in Fig. 15 includes the function for measuring the lengths of fine patterns. The measurement of the lengths of fine patterns is accomplished by use of two additional means: means for measuring that spot on the sample surface to which the electron beam is irradiated, and means for obtaining the distance between two different beam-irradiated locations on the basis of the data about the irradiated spot thus measured. A typical setup may involve using the controller 51 to control the electron lens systems 48 and 49 so that, with the surface of the sample 2 scanned by the electron beam 1, the controller-processor 53 displays on its display screen a secondary electron image of the sample surface. In that case, the acceleration energy of the electron beam 1 may be 5 keV or less. Observing the secondary electron image makes it possible to designate two points on the fine pattern to be measured for length. The distance between the two points (i.e., pattern length) is known by obtaining the amount of deflection of the electron beam 1 therebetween, or by acquiring the amount of movement of a stage 55 driven by a controller 52 therebetween.
As described and besides analyzing residues on the sample surface qualitatively and quantitatively, the eleventh embodiment is capable of observing the shape of the target residue on the sample surface and of measuring the sizes of small holes thereon. Thus the eleventh embodiment provides more generalized information about fine patterns on the sample surface than is conventionally offered.
Fig. 16 schematically depicts a twelfth embodiment of the invention. This embodiment is an example in which the surface analysis apparatus of the invention is connected illustratively to equipment for fabricating semiconductors.
Referring to Fig. 16, a surface analysis apparatus 60 of the invention is connected to a path 63 via a gate valve 64. The inside of the path 63 is either evacuated or kept to a controlled atmosphere such as a nitrogen gas atmosphere. The path 63 has two other ends to which micro-fabrication apparatuses 61 and 62 are connected via gate valves 65 and 66, respectively. In the twelfth embodiment, the micro-fabrication apparatus 61 is implemented as an apparatus to form photo-resist patterns and the apparatus 62 as an etching apparatus.
A typical process for semiconductor fabrication by use of the twelfth embodiment will now be described with reference to Figs. 17 (A) through 17 (C). This process involves forming contact holes 77 on a non-conductive film 72 over a wafer (silicon substrate) 70.
First, the non-conductive film 72 on which to form contact holes is deposited over the wafer 70. A photo-sensitive resist layer 71 is coated over the non-conductive film 72. The wafer 70 is then introduced into the resist pattern forming apparatus 61 for resist pattern formation (Fig. 17 (A)). The formation of the resist pattern may be accomplished by use of known exposure and development apparatuses. The known exposure apparatuses include an ultraviolet exposure apparatus and an electron lithography apparatus, while the known development apparatuses comprise a wet development apparatus and a dry development apparatus using oxygen plasma.
After being subjected to pattern formation in the resist pattern forming apparatus 61, the wafer 70 moves on past the path 63 and enters the surface analysis apparatus 60 of the invention for examination. The surface analysis apparatus 60 distinguishes good holes 73 from defectively formed holes 744 with residual films left therein. Although Figs. 17 (A) through 17 (C) are schematic cross-sectional views, it is impossible in practice to cut an in-process wafer for conventional cross-sectional observation. In particular, any residue in a deep hole can only be detected by use of the surface analysis apparatus 60 of the invention.
If the wafer 70 is judged to have defectively formed holes 74, the wafer 70 is placed back into the resist pattern forming apparatus 61 for additional development in accordance with the amount of the residue detected. Because the wafer 70 is transported through a vacuum or through a nitrogen gas atmosphere, there is no possibility of the pattern surface getting adversely affected. This improves the controllability of the additional development process. If the wafer were transported through the atmosphere, the oxidation of the resist pattern surface and the absorption of moisture thereinto could disable the additional development process.
With the satisfactory resist pattern thus formed, the wafer 70 is placed in the etching apparatus 62 for dry etching of the non-conductive film 72. If the non-conductive film 72 is a silicon oxide film, the wafer 70 is subjected to dry etching using Freon gas. Generally, the speed of dry etching on fine, deep holes is known to drop frequently, resulting in defectively formed contact holes.
After etching, the wafer 70 is moved again into the surface analysis apparatus 60 of the invention for surface analysis and examination. If the wafer 70 is found to have any etching residue 76 left inside an etched hole 77 as shown in Fig. 17 (B), the wafer 70 is judged to be etched defectively. The defectively etched wafer 70 is placed back into the etching apparatus 62 for additional etching. Eventually, good holes (contact holes) 77 completely free of etching residues are formed on the wafer 70 as depicted in Fig. 17 (C).
When small holes are formed on the wafer while the treated state thereof is being monitored by the surface analysis apparatus 60 of the invention, it is possible to achieve high yield in fabricating semiconductor devices free of poorly formed holes (e.g., contact holes). In the setup of Fig. 16, the surface analysis apparatus 60 of the invention need not be always connected to the micro-fabrication apparatuses 61 and 62; the component apparatuses may be connected only when needed via the gate valves 65 and 66. Needless to say, any other micro-fabrication apparatus may be connected as desired to the surface analysis apparatus 60 of the invention via a reserved gate valve 67 provided on the path 63.
Fig. 18 is a schematic view of a thirteenth embodiment of the invention. When numerous small holes on the wafer are to be checked by the surface analysis apparatus of the invention with reference to semiconductor device patterns, the results of the analysis may be displayed effectively as follows:
The thirteenth embodiment involves displaying a real image 80 (secondary electron image) of the wafer surface pattern and a mask pattern image 81 side by side on a single screen. When coordinates of an analysis point 83 in the mask patter image 81 are designated by use of an analysis point determination area 82, the wafer stage is controlled accordingly so that the real image 80 of the corresponding region including the analysis point 83 on the wafer surface is displayed immediately on the screen. It should be noted that the positioning of the wafer stage is generally not perfectly accurate; the wafer position is slightly dislodged from the designated location. This requires correcting the wafer position based on the image processing of the real image 80 in order to display a real image (secondary electron image) 80 that coincides with the mask pattern image 81. In this manner, analysis points (e.g., positions of the holes to be analyzed) are designated successively in the mask pattern image 81 for automated consecutive analysis. The results of the analysis are illustratively classified by color and displayed on a screen identifying the principal elements that were detected. A classifying and displaying area 84 showing a breakdown of the classified display may be included in the same display screen. Pointers 83 may be furnished in the mask pattern image 81 or real image (secondary electron image) 80 to indicate analysis points. These pointers help to verify successively whether or not the analysis points are correct.
Fig. 19 is a schematic view of another surface analysis apparatus embodying the invention and comprising a mask information display screen 95. The apparatus includes an analysis part 90 and a control and display area 91. The control and display area 91 is made of a real image display screen 94 and another display screen 95 adjacent thereto. The real image display screen 94 displays a real image (secondary electron image) of the surface of a sample 92 (wafer) in accordance with a detection signal from a secondary electron detector 93. The display screen 95 displays mask information. Since semiconductor devices have a very large number of device patterns, the most efficient way to analyze the wafer surface is to display successively the design patterns (i.e., mask patterns) corresponding to the position of the wafer 92 and to designate desired analysis points consecutively in these mask patterns for analysis. The control and display area 91 may be arranged to admit process information on different wafer types. When a cross-sectional view of each designated position in a mask pattern is displayed on the mask information display screen 95, the results of the analysis are examined more efficiently.
As described above in conjunction with a number of embodiments, the invention utilizes various optical devices and X-ray detectors to observe the fluorescence X-rays emitted from the sample surface. To detect the fluorescence X-rays more effectively requires furnishing adjusting means for fine-adjusting the positions of the optical devices and detectors. These adjusting means may be additionally equipped with mechanisms, not shown, for fine adjustment of their positions. Needless to say, any combination of the above-described embodiments is also included in the scope of the invention. Furthermore, although not stated explicitly, the majority of the means for generating and detecting fluorescence X-rays are obviously set up in a vacuum. If the level of fluorescence X-rays absorbed by the particles in the atmosphere is sufficiently low, the sample may be placed in a vacuum of a relatively low degree.
As described in detail and according to the invention, a focused electron beam is irradiated to the sample surface and the fluorescence X-rays emitted from the residues thereon are observed near the axis of the electron beam. The scheme makes it possible to analyze qualitatively and quantitatively the residues with high accuracy even on an appreciably undulating surface of the sample. Since the surface analysis by the invention is non-destructive in nature, the analyzed sample can be placed unscathed back into the fabrication process.
As many apparently different embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments thereof except as defined in the appended claims. | |
Since its opening in 1976, the POLA Research Institute of Beauty and Culture has conducted research in a wide range of makeup-related areas, including the history of makeup, customs in different periods, makeup methods, makeup tools, and attitudes to makeup from ancient to modern times, centering on Japan and Europe and with the keywords "makeup, women, and esthetic sense." Through this research, we have obtained about 6,500 makeup tools and accessories as well as 15,000 documents, which are valuable materials. We are sharing our research results with university research centers, individuals, and companies, and are disseminating information in society at large through publications, our website, and exhibitions.
In 2017, we supported an exhibition called "History of Costume from the Late 17th Century to Early 20th Century in France," which was held at the Yamazaki Mazak Museum of Art (Nagoya, Aichi). We displayed early-modern European makeup tools, fans, hairdressing samples, and fashion plates from our collection. Moreover, we actively conduct surveys of the attitudes and lifestyles of women today. In 2017, we published four survey reports on our website, including "The Relationship between Cosmetics Information Gathering and Social Media." We also actively give lectures and teach at universities on the basis of insights gained from our research activities. | https://www.po-holdings.co.jp/en/csr/culture/laboratory/index.html |
If you enjoy water gardening you will want to attend one of two upcoming public forums to be held by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation.
The forums will address concerns involving certain species of aquatic vegetation used by water gardeners. The Wildlife Department has regulatory responsibility to control importation, transportation and propagation of any aquatic plant that may cause injury to the environment in Oklahoma.
"If accidentally introduced into the wild, certain non-native plant species used in water gardening have the potential to do harm to Oklahoma's aquatic environment. We have the responsibility to control the distribution and use of these plants before that happens, and we'd like the public's input in helping to shape these controls," said Kim Erickson, chief of the department's fisheries division.
The forums are intended for those with an interest in water gardening including hobbyists, nursery owners and growers. The first will be held Wednesday, Oct. 25 at the Zebco Cafeteria, 6101 East Apache, Tulsa, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
The second forum will be held Thursday, Oct. 26 at the Senior Citizen's Center at Will Rogers Park, 3501 Pat Murphy Cr., Oklahoma City, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. | https://www.newson6.com/story/5e36846d2f69d76f62099901/wildlife-department-to-discuss-noxious-aquatic-plant-concerns |
Background {#Sec1}
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The tutorial group and its dynamics are fundamental in the problem-based learning (PBL) educational approach. This dynamic is influenced by the tutor and how he or she interacts with the group \[[@CR1]\]. The tutor's roles range from influencing the learning climate to evaluating parts of the learning process \[[@CR2]\]. At a time when higher education faces economic constraints and flexible digital opportunities are suggested for PBL, the tutor's characteristics and contributions need informed consideration. Online resources have opened up many possibilities, and distance and blended settings are increasingly being used in health professions' education, with satisfying results both in individual and collaborative settings of inquiry-based learning \[[@CR3]--[@CR5]\]. The main appeal is their flexibility regarding time and place. However, the online setting changes the context for both small group dynamics and tutor interactions \[[@CR6], [@CR7]\].
Collaborative work in the small group setting has formed part of the PBL approach since its early beginnings \[[@CR8]\]. In its traditional format, the tutorial group consists of a maximum of eight students and a tutor, who meet in a designated room at a scheduled time \[[@CR8], [@CR9]\]. The small group has been considered to benefit the student learning process in motivational, social cohesion, cognitive and developmental perspectives \[[@CR10], [@CR11]\]. It is reasonable to assume that variations to the classic tutorial setting have implications for the tutorial group's cognitive and motivational aspects. As a consequence of using digital technology, the traditional PBL arrangements have been re-structured and thereby need a renewed awareness of the tutor and the setting's influence on group dynamics.
Several PBL aspects have been influenced by digital technology \[[@CR12]--[@CR14]\]. For example, instead of library visits, internet access provides immediate access to information, and the replacement of paper cases with virtual patients has influenced study practices \[[@CR15]\]. In general, technology adds value to the PBL process, such as accessibility, and it can be a way of revitalising the PBL learning situation \[[@CR5], [@CR16]--[@CR18]\]. The learning process, and not only its direct outcomes, is of interest in the PBL approach. Thus, it is of value to study the tutorial group's perceptions of cognitive and motivational aspects in different settings.
Slavin \[[@CR10]\] highlights two major complementary perspectives: the motivational perspective, which focuses on the students' responsibility for one another's achievements and reward and goal structures and the cognitive perspective, which involves the group's mental processing of information. These two aspects were operationalised into an instrument used to assess PBL tutorial groups based on their own ratings, the Tutorial Group Effectiveness Instrument (TGEI) \[[@CR19]\]. Educators and researchers can use the TGEI to gain knowledge about group effectiveness in different PBL settings \[[@CR20]\]. Few studies have reported these aspects by comparing face-to-face groups with synchronous and asynchronous online tutorial groups.
The aim of this study was to explore the role of tutor participation in variations of online and campus-based tutorial groups in relation to group effectiveness. A secondary aim was to validate a tool for assessing tutorial group effectiveness in a Swedish context.
Methods {#Sec2}
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Setting {#Sec3}
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The study was performed at a university medical faculty in southeast Sweden. PBL has been the pedagogical philosophy in all programmes and courses at this faculty since 1987. At the time of the study, there were eight specialist nursing programmes: midwifery, anaesthesia, intensive, surgical, medical, paediatric, public health and psychiatric care. The programmes are all at advanced level and comprise 60--90 credits, i.e. two to three semesters of full-time studies. Half of the programmes are offered as part-time studies.
Collaboration with other academic institutions has enabled study groups in other geographical areas. These students can carry out their clinical training in hospitals and health care clinics in their home counties as well as part of their theoretical studies. However, some parts of the education are only offered at the university campus.
Participation in tutorial groups was possible in three different ways: A.Traditionally, with scheduled meetings when all the students and the tutor meet in the same room.B.The students and the tutor participate in synchronous sessions from different locations via the internet.C.The students meet in the same room, and the tutor works as a consultant and gives the students comments asynchronously and digitally.
Participants {#Sec4}
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The participants were students, all registered nurses, attending one of the eight specialist nursing programmes. They were attending end of their first, second (fulltime students), or fourth (for 50% part-time students) semester. Thus, the questionnaires were answered in the middle (40% of the participants) and the end (60% of the participants) of the programme.
Instrument {#Sec5}
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The TGEI was used, as it has been shown to be valid and reliable \[[@CR19]\]. The instrument includes three subscales that measure different aspects of tutorial group learning and an overall rating of group effectiveness. The three aspects are cognitive (7 items), motivational (7 items) and demotivational (6 items). The demotivational scores are reversed in the analysis because of negative wording. The items are graded on a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 = strongly disagree to 5 = strongly agree. The last item asks the student to rate the overall effectiveness of the tutorial group from 1 to 5, where 1 is insufficient and 5 is excellent.
The validation of the Swedish version was carried out in four steps: The items were translated into Swedish by a bilingual person working in higher education.The wording was then individually evaluated by three PBL experts and an experienced tutor. Their suggestions were discussed in the research group.The item wording was further discussed in cognitive testing with a representative student group interview.A tutorial group piloted and discussed the latest version before the final version was established. Steps 3 and 4 contributed to the construct validity.
Based on arguments on that back-translation can provide a false security on content validity \[[@CR21]\], we chose to rely on content experts and cognitive student testing for content and construct validity.
Data collection {#Sec6}
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The TGEI was distributed to the students attending the different programmes in the spring semesters of 2016 and 2017. The paper form was distributed and collected in class; each form was returned in an envelope addressed to the first author, who was not involved in the courses, to ensure anonymity.
The students received written and oral information. They were informed that their participation was voluntary and anonymous and that their answers could not influence their study results. No student abstained from participation.
Statistics {#Sec7}
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Descriptive statistics are presented with means, standard deviations (SD), medians, quartiles and percentages. The Mann--Whitney U-test was used for the comparisons between two groups and the Kruskal--Wallis test for the three group comparisons. A *p* value \< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
The psychometric properties regarding reliability and homogeneity were estimated by Cronbach's alpha and Loevinger's coefficient *H*. The coefficient *H* estimates homogeneity, i.e. the degree to which a set of items measures the same underlying construct \[[@CR22]\]. A coefficient *H* \< 0.3 is not considered unidimensional. A coefficient *H* between 0.3 and 0.4 is considered weak, between 0.4 and 0.5 medium and above 0.5 strong. Cronbach's alpha \> 0.7 is considered to reflect adequate internal reliability \[[@CR23]\]. IBM SPSS Statistics 25 was used for all tests except for the coefficient *H*, for which R 3.3.2 was used with the Mokken 2.8.10 package.
Results {#Sec8}
=======
A total of 221 students participated in the study (100% response rate). There were 192 (87%) female and 29 (13%) male students, with a mean age of 32.4 (SD 6.2) years. Of the students, 126 (57%) had previous PBL experience, and 94 (43%) had no previous PBL experience. The mean (SD) and median (Q1--Q3) scores for each aspect and for the overall rating of group effectiveness are displayed in Table [1](#Tab1){ref-type="table"}. There was no difference in scores for any of the cognitive or motivational aspects or in the overall rating of group effectiveness between women and men or between students with and without previous PBL experience. Table 1TGEI subscale scores for all participantsItemsMean (SD)Median (Q1-Q3)Cognitive aspects722.3 (3.6)23 (21--24)Motivational aspects725.9 (4.5)26 (23--29)Demotivational aspects510.1 (4.1)9 (7--13)Overall rating of group productivity14.0 (0.78)4 (4--4)Number of scale items, summed mean, median and corresponding standard deviation and interquartile range
Comparison of the three tutorial groups {#Sec9}
---------------------------------------
The students participated in one of the following tutorial groups: the tutor was present in the room (A, *n* = 136); the tutor was present online (B, *n* = 17); and the consultant tutor was not present in the room and gave support asynchronously (C, *n* = 68). The summed mean (SD) and median (Q1--Q3) scale scores for each group are shown in Table [2](#Tab2){ref-type="table"}. Table 2Group comparison of TGEI scores(A) Tutor present in the room, *n* = 136(B) Tutor present Online, *n* = 17(C) Consultant Tutor, *n* = 68*p*-value^a^Mean (SD)Median (Q1-Q3)Mean (SD)Median (Q1-Q3)Mean (SD)Median (Q1-Q3)Cognitive aspects22.6 (3.4)23(21--24)24.6(2.2)24(23.5--25)21.3(3.8)22(20--23.8)0.0001Motivational aspects26.3 (4.6)27(24--30)27.7(2.4)28(25.5--29.5)24.5(4.4)25(22--27)0.002Demotivational aspects10.5 (4.2)10(7--14)8.8(3.7)8(6--10.5)9.6(3.9)9(7--13)n.s.Overall rating of group productivity4.1 (0.79)4(4--5)4.3(0.7)4(4--5)3.8(0.7)4(3--4)0.02^a^Kruskal-Wallis test
Tutor present in the room versus tutor present online {#Sec10}
-----------------------------------------------------
In a pairwise comparison between the two synchronous groups, the tutorial groups with the tutor present online (B) scored higher on cognitive aspects compared to the tutorial groups with the tutor present in the room (A) (Table [3](#Tab3){ref-type="table"}). Table 3Comparison of synchronous groups' TGEI scores(A) Tutor present in the room(B) Tutor present online***p***-value^a^median (Q1-Q3),\
*n* = 136median (Q1-Q3)\
*n* = 17Cognitive aspects23 (21--24)24 (23.5--25)0.01Motivational aspects27 (24--30)28 (25.5--29.5)n.s.Demotivational aspects10 (7--14)8 (6--10.5)n.s.Overall rating of group productivity4 (4--5)4 (4--5)n.s.^a^Mann-Whitney U
Comparison of synchronous and asynchronous groups {#Sec11}
-------------------------------------------------
When merging the data from the two synchronous groups that had a tutor either present in the room (A) or online (B) and comparing to the asynchronous group with a consultant tutor (C), the synchronous group had significantly higher scores on cognitive aspects, motivational aspects and overall rating of group effectiveness (Table [4](#Tab4){ref-type="table"}). Table 4Pairwise comparison of synchronous versus asynchronous groups on TGEI scoresSynchronous groups (A) and (B)\
Median (Q1-Q3), *n* = 153Asynchronous groups (C)\
Median (Q1-Q3), *n* = 68***p***-value^a^Cognitive aspects23 (21--25)22 (20--23.8)0.002Motivational aspects27 (24--30)25 (22--27)0.001Demotivational aspects10 (7--13)9 (7--13)n.s.Overall rating of group productivity4 (4--5)4 (3--4)0.001^a^Mann-Whitney U
Psychometric evaluation {#Sec12}
-----------------------
Reliability, as measured by Cronbach's alpha, was adequate on both the subscale and the aggregated levels. All three subscales displayed adequate homogeneity (coefficient *H* \> 0.3) when analysing each subscale separately. However, when taken together as a total summed score, the TGEI did not represent a homogeneous construct on this aggregated level (Table [5](#Tab5){ref-type="table"}). Table 5Psychometric evaluation of the TGEISubscalesHomogeneity (Coef. H)Cronbach's alphaNumber of itemsNumber of cases^a^Cognitive aspects0.410.807218Motivational aspects0.380.797211Demotivational aspects0.400.735221Total TGEI^b^,0.170.7820197^a^Incomplete cases discarded for each scale^b^Including the single ov;erall productivity rating item. Negative worded items 15--19 reversed
Discussion {#Sec13}
==========
This study explored the effectiveness of tutorial groups with varied settings and tutor presence. The main results indicate that the tutor's synchronous contribution is influential, regardless of the tutor's online or face-to-face presence. The students' prior PBL experience was not related to perceived effectiveness and neither were the motivational or cognitive aspects, as measured by the TGEI.
A tutor in the room did not seem to improve the students' motivational and demotivational aspects, and it had only a minor influence on the cognitive aspects compared with online synchronous tutoring. This is in accordance with the results of De Jong et al. \[[@CR18]\], who found face-to-face tutoring to be comparable with synchronous online tutorial sessions. However, the tutor's synchronous presence, whether in the room or online, appears to be an influential aspect on the learning process. The students, however, reported less overall effectiveness and slightly lower motivation with a tutor as a consultant, i.e. when the tutor gave the students comments asynchronously on how they handled the scenarios and solved the clinical problems. In line with Slavin's viewpoints on conceptual cooperative learning strategies \[[@CR10]\], it could be argued that synchronous tutoring supports the students' internal motivation and encourages participation and active involvement in the learning activities in a way that is impossible to achieve asynchronously.
Similar scores between the motivational and cognitive aspects in the groups were not surprising because the motivational and cognitive aspects are complementary and important for the learning outcomes \[[@CR10]\]. The motivational aspects include the group positively influencing individual student learning and a feeling of a responsibility for the group to succeed, all factors that could differentiate between tutor in the room or tutor online PBL groups. The results of our study support the priority of synchronous PBL tutoring and suggest that campus-based face-to-face settings need not be crucial for the effectiveness of the group. Core processes in the PBL approach, such as active and self-directed learning and tutor roles, can just as effectively be supported online \[[@CR24]\].
In our study, no differences were identified between students with or without prior PBL experience. One explanation might be that in all groups there was at least one student familiar with PBL, who could share experiences and guide the process when necessary. This collaborative effect is also relevant to other inequalities and is an inherent cornerstone of the PBL approach \[[@CR8], [@CR9]\]. Another explanation might be that the students were experienced as nurses and were therefore used to solving clinical problems as a team, which could have influenced their capacity to handle the PBL procedure that focuses on patient-centred scenarios.
The instrument for assessing PBL group effectiveness, the TGEI, is useful to evaluate important aspects of tutorial group work also in a Swedish setting. It was able to detect cognitive and motivational differences between the participant groups. The results show that the TGEI functioned well when analysing the three subscales separately, with acceptable reliability and homogeneity. However, despite good overall reliability, the sum scores on aggregated levels displayed low homogeneity. This indicates variations in what the subscales measure. Further research should investigate these differences before drawing far-reaching conclusions based on total sum scores. The expert group's assessment of the translation, in addition to the student interviews, validated the item wording to an acceptable level. However, a more extensive evaluation of the wording with e.g. bachelor's level student groups could further improve content validity.
The study has some limitations. The cross-sectional design was conducted in a regular educational setting, i.e. we did not assign students to the various settings in a controlled fashion, thereby reducing the possibility to draw conclusions about causal relationships. Moreover, the sample size differed between the groups, notably the online group B was comparatively small, which have to be considered when interpreting the findings. The participants were all studying at an advanced nursing level. These students are often well motivated, and our results might not be generalisable to students at other levels, such as bachelor's level, or to longer study programmes with more extensive PBL tutorial work. The results might also not be generalisable to longer programmes, which provide more experiences of working in tutorial groups. As no similar instrument was found available in Swedish, no validity comparison were performed with similar instrument. The statistical analyses and psychometric evaluation was performed with a modest sample size (*n* = 210 for the scale analysis). For scale analysis using the Mokken approach (coefficient *H*) Watson et al. state that a minimum sample size of *n* = 250 is required \[[@CR25]\], implying that our results should be interpreted with some caution.
Conclusions {#Sec14}
===========
The tutor's presence is productive for PBL group effectiveness with respect to cognitive and motivational aspects. However, the presence need not be in the actual room but can occur in online settings as long as the tutoring is not delayed in time. The TGEI is able to detect differences in perceived effectiveness in tutorial groups in a Swedish nursing education context. However, the total sum scores should be interpreted with caution because of low homogeneity between subscales.
PBL
: Problem-based learning
TGEI
: The Tutorial Group Effectiveness Instrument
SD
: Standard deviations
**Publisher's Note**
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
The authors would like to thank Thomas Wise for translating the TGEI into Swedish, Madeleine Abrandt Dahlgren, Gunvor Larsson Torstensdotter and Per Sandén for expert evaluation of wording, and the students who offered advice on further TGEI refinement.
SA, AJ, EM and PR conceived the idea. SE identified and led the TGEI translation work. All the authors contributed to the data collection. The analyses were performed by EM and SE and interpreted by all the authors. SA and AJ drafted the manuscript with critical contributions from SE, EM and PR. SE and PR performed the final manuscript editing. All authors have read and approved the manuscript.
The project plan received a grant in from the Linköping University educational development programme. The funder reviewed the project plan and rewarded a grant in competition with other applications. The funder did not influence the conduction of the project nor evaluated its outcome. Open access funding provided by Örebro University.
The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to consent is not stating this, but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
Ethical aspects of the study were discussed in the research group. In addition, the project plan was reviewed (and granted funding) in the University's educational development unit. No detrimental physical or psychological was involved, neither was personal data collected. Thereby, a formal ethical review was not required by national guidelines \[[@CR26]\].
Students received written information in connection to data collection that participation was voluntary, anonymous, analysed on group level, and not connected to the course performance. The written information was attached to each questionnaire, stating that "if you consent to participate in the study, please answer the questionnaire and put it in the attached envelope".
The questionnaires were sealed when collected, sent to and read only by a researcher (SE) not involved in the courses.
Not applicable.
The first author is a member of the editorial board (associate editor) of this journal. The authors have no other competing interests to declare.
| |
We use prepositions so much in our daily speech but we often take these things for granted.
Most of the time, it results in misuse of English prepositions or interchanging our ins and ons and ats. Therefore, a clear grasp (or a working knowledge at the very least) of English prepositions is in order before we could thoroughly learn about its French counterparts.
We operate on the premise that before you can take on another language, you have to be familiar with your how your very own language works first.
So on that note, let's take a quick look at what prepositions are in the English language.
- Prepositions function as linking words that show the relationship between the other words in the sentence.
- Prepositions help put into perspective the time and place of a certain topic.
- These include the words at, to, from, for, with, into, between, beside, under, within, and several others.
- Prepositions are followed by a noun, a pronoun, or an English word that ends in -ing.
Examples:
It's from her.
He's in trouble.
It's made for handling food.
REMINDERS ON WHEN AND HOW PREPOSITIONS ARE USED
- Prepositions are used before a noun or a pronoun.
- Prepositions can also appear after some adjectives, linking it to the rest of the sentence.
- In English, it is quite common for informal sentences to end in a preposition (though this is considered bad grammar), but in French, it is never allowed.
- Prepositions do not change its form. There are no plural forms, tenses, or genders (whew!!! Thank heavens!)
- Prepositions can have an object, but it can also be optional in some cases.
- Some prepositions consist of more than one word.
- In French, just like in English, the actual usage of some prepositions can be idiomatic. This means its use could often vary depending on the sentence itself.
- There is no actual 1:1 translation of English and French prepositions. The best we can do is learn the words which are more or less their equivalents.
Now let's get to the French prepositions list!
LIST OF PREPOSITIONS IN FRENCH
|French preposition||English equivalent||Tips|
|à||at, in, on, to||• This is not to be confused with the il/elle/on form of avoir (il a).
|
• Remember: à+le becomes au; à+les becomes aux
• There are varied uses of à.
• à can be used with de to mean from...to.
• Other uses of à are: to describe how someone looks or what he/she is wearing, what a certain thing is made of, how something is done, mode of traveling, what a thing is used for, to tell a certain time, for distances or rates, and in common sayings and phrases.
• Examples: à la maison (could mean at home or to the house depending on how it is used)
à la campagne (in the country)
au lit (in bed)
de Londres à Paris (From London to France)
au premier étage (on the first floor)
à Noël (at Christmas)
à bientôt (see you soon!)
|après||after||Examples:
|
après vous! (after you!)
après le déjeuner. (after lunch)
|avant||before||Examples:
|
avant toi (before you)
avant la maison (before the house)
|avec||with||Examples:
|
avec moi (with me)
avec mon père (with my father)
|chez||at/to __'s house or place; on/from the area of, from/at __'s||Examples:
|
chez moi (at my place)
Elle est chez Frederic (She's at Frederic's house)
Elle va chez Frederic (She's going to Frederic's house)
|contre||against||Example:
|
contre le mur (against the wall)
|dans||in(side), into||Examples:
|
dans deux mois (in two months)
ll est dans sa chambre. (he's in his room)
|de||of, from||• de+le becomes du, de+les becomes des
|
• de becomes d' when it comes before a word that starts with a vowel, h, or the word y.
• Used with à to mean from... to.
• Used to tell who or what something belongs to.
• Tells us what something is made of.
• Tells us what a thing is used for.
• Used in superlatives
• Used in phrases that refer to quantities.
Examples:
de Paris (from Paris)
un ami de la famille (friend of the family)
un tasse de café (a cup of coffee)
|depuis||since, from, for||• Can be used to talk about an action that started in the past and is still going on (present tense is used for this)
|
Examples:
je travaille depuis deux jours (I've been working for two days)
depuis 1922 (since 1922)
|derrière||behind||Example: derrière la porte (behind the door)|
|devant||in front of, outside (the front of)||Example: Elle est assise devant moi. (she's sitting in front of me)|
|en||in||• en is never followed by articles like le, du, des.
|
• Usually being used with feminine countries and some figurative expressions.
• Can also talk about years and months and seasons.
Examples:
Nous habitons en France. (we live in France)
en 1983 (in 1983)
en janvier (in January)
en hiver (in winter)
en train (in train)
|entre||between, among||• Entre...et means between..and in English.
|
Example:
Le bureau est fermé entre 13 et 14 heures. (The office is closed between 1 and 2 pm)
|envers||towards||• Envers is used to mean"towards" as in an action to a person. (Example: She was hostile towards him.)
|
• When referring to a physical motion such as going towards something, vers is used.
|environ||about, approximately||Example: environ 20 personnes. (about 20 persons)|
|par||by, through, per, with||Examples:
|
deux par deux (two by two)
par email (by email)
|pendant||During, for||Examples:
|
pendant l'été (during the summer)
pendant plusieurs mois (for several months)
|pour||For, in order to||Examples:
|
pour homme (for him)
pour Paris (for Paris)
|sans||without||Example:
|
sans sucre (without sugar)
|sauf||except||Example:
|
Tout le monde vient sauf lui. (everyone's coming except him.)
|selon||according to, depending on|
|sous||under(neath)||Example: sous terre (underground)|
|sur||on||Examples:
|
sur la table (on the table)
sur la politique (on politics)
|vers||towards||Also applicable for use with dates to mean "in around...", "circa..."|
OTHER PREPOSITIONS
Some prepositions contain more than a single word. These are the following:
|au bord de||at the edge of at the side of|
|au bout de||after|
|à cause de||because of|
|au-dessous de||below|
|au-dessus de||above|
|au fond de||at the bottom of|
|au milieu de||in the middle of|
Prepositions can be quite a headache to learn, whether in English or French. In fact, even advanced learners often experience confusion when it comes to the different prepositions and the out-of-the-box uses for some.
To thoroughly familiarize yourself with the proper uses of the different prepositions, we suggest that you immerse yourself with the French language through reading and listening. This way, the prepositions will come to you easier and you'll be able to recall them faster.
If you need clarifications about prepositions in French and this French prepositions list, do not hesitate to contact us in the comment section.
P.S. You would be doing me a HUGE FAVOR by sharing it via Twitter or Facebook.
Here are some FAQs about French Prepositions
How do you use prepositions in French?
French prepositions are used before a noun or pronoun, or after an adjective to link words into a sentence. Prepositions can have an object, but that isn’t always the case. They are never used to end a sentence, and fortunately don’t have genders, tenses, or plural forms!
The usage of a preposition varies depending on the sentence, and some prepositions can be more than one word. Since French prepositions have no straightforward translation in English, we need to know our prepositions well!
What are some French prepositions?
à (at, in, on, to)
avec (with)
dans (in[side], into)
de (of, from)
en (in)
par (by, through, per, with)
sur (on)
How do you identify prepositions in French?
Similar to English, French prepositions help link words in sentences to add information about time, place, or even the number or people. They help to elaborate, so it is important to know your prepositions. If you can find a linking word that precedes some extra information, chances are that it’s a preposition!
But please study your prepositions so that not only can you identify them, but you can use them in your own sentences! | https://www.talkinfrench.com/basics-french-prepositions/ |
A Protocol of Cooperation between Greece, Cyprus and Egypt that aims to strengthen cruise tourism in the Eastern Mediterranean was signed in Larnaca.
The European Council has adopted a regulation amending the Schengen border code in relation to the entry-exit system.
Airbnb’s penetration rate in Europe and the US appears to be slowing down, according to Morgan Stanley’s annual AlphaWise survey.
Fraport Greece has announced that major works have launched for the development and upgrade of the "Anna Pollatou" airport on the island of Kefalonia.
Authorities have managed to secure 1.5 million euros in EU funding for the restoration, maintenance and promotion of the Kasta tomb at the Amphipolis site.
The G & A Mamidakis Foundation is sponsoring the European Meet Up, titled “Tourism: The wealth-producing industry of the Greek Economy”, to be held on November 28, in Athens.
Travel commerce platform Travelport has entered into an agreement with My Holidays to provide the company with access to its travel content.
The 1st International Hospitality Forum in Athens will explore the new environment that will be shaped in the future for hotels and hospitality services.
Οι υπόχρεες τουριστικές επιχειρήσεις καλούνται να προχωρήσουν στην κατάθεση αιτήματος για την έκδοση ΑΕΠΟ έως τις 30 Νοεμβρίου. | https://news.gtp.gr/2017/11/21/ |
Goals and Objectives
The workshop will build collaborative processes between Nexus stakeholders in San Antonio and surrounding areas. It is anticipated that every iteration of the dialogue will deepen stakeholder understanding of the shared vision that will ultimately evolve into a set of collaborative actions regarding water, energy and food nexus sustainability research and actions. The lessons and outcomes of the workshop will lay the foundation for extrapolation to elsewhere in Texas and beyond.
To gather key Nexus stakeholders and engage in educational outreach and discussion about ongoing San Antonio Case Study pilot projects, current Nexus programs, and important Nexus-related issues such as existing data and research gaps, particularly as these relate to San Antonio and the South Texas Region, we will:
- Inform stakeholders about ongoing and planned Nexus research and educational activities.
- Identify possible and desirable information sharing opportunities and actions.
- Identify and “test” the concept of a coordinated stakeholder engagement plan for future Nexus-related matters.
- Establish an ongoing dialogue between scientists, Nexus-related policy makers, government officials, civil society advocates, and industry leaders. | https://nexus.water-texas.org/goals-objectives/ |
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Nicholas C. Sinclair, Mohit N. Shivdasani, Thushara Perera, Lisa N. Gillespie, Hugh J. McDermott, Lauren N. Ayton, Peter J. Blamey, for the Bionic Vision Australia Consortium; The Appearance of Phosphenes Elicited Using a Suprachoroidal Retinal Prosthesis. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2016;57(11):4948-4961. doi: https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.15-18991.
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© ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)
Purpose:
Phosphenes are the fundamental building blocks for presenting meaningful visual information to the visually impaired using a bionic eye device. The aim of this study was to characterize the size, shape, and location of phosphenes elicited using a suprachoroidal retinal prosthesis.
Methods:
Three patients with profound vision loss due to retinitis pigmentosa were implanted with a suprachoroidal electrode array, which was used to deliver charge-balanced biphasic constant-current pulses at various rates, amplitudes, and durations to produce phosphenes. Tasks assessing phosphene appearance, location, overlap, and the patients' ability to recognize phosphenes were performed using a custom psychophysics setup.
Results:
Phosphenes were reliably elicited in all three patients, with marked differences in the reported appearances between patients and between electrodes. Phosphene shapes ranged from simple blobs to complex forms with multiple components in both space and time. Phosphene locations within the visual field generally corresponded to the retinotopic position of the stimulating electrodes. Overlap between phosphenes elicited from adjacent electrodes was observed with one patient, which reduced with increasing electrode separation. In a randomized recognition task, two patients correctly identified the electrode being stimulated for 57.2% and 23% of trials, respectively.
Conclusions:
Phosphenes of varying complexity were successfully elicited in all three patients, indicating that the suprachoroidal space is an efficacious site for electrically stimulating the retina. The recognition scores obtained with two patients suggest that a suprachoroidal implant can elicit phosphenes containing unique information. This information may be useful when combining phosphenes into more complex and meaningful images that provide functional vision. | https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2556019 |
A processing method of flower fragrance type broken green tea comprises the following steps: re-scenting of scented flowers: mixing a raw material of broken green tea, 2% of chopped fresh michelia alba flowers and 50% of jasmine flower residues with remaining fragrance after scenting, and separating tea from flowers by a screening machine when the moisture content of a tea base is 18%-22%; baking:performing drying by a chain plate type dryer until the moisture content of the tea base is 6%-7%, and then, thinly spreading the tea base to room temperature; scenting: mixing fresh jasmine flowerswith the blooming rate being 80% or above and blooming degree being 90 degrees with the tea base, and separating tea from flowers by the screening machine when the moisture content of the tea base is18%-22%; baking: performing drying by the chain plate type dryer until the moisture content of the tea base is 4.8%-5%, and then, thinly spreading the tea base to room temperature; and final scenting:selecting large white fresh jasmine flowers with the blooming degree being 95 degrees, mixing the jasmine flowers with the tea base, and separating tea from flowers when the moisture content of the tea base is 7%-8% to obtain the flower fragrance type broken green tea. The processing method effectively improves the quality of the broken green tea and the flower fragrance type broken green tea isobtained. | |
Ours is a multi-religious country, a multi-lingual country; we have many different modes of worship. We believe in peaceful and harmonious co-existence.
Our frequent initiatives to normalize relations with Pakistan are not a sign of our weakness; rather, they are an indication of our commitment to peace.
I believe that democracy is the best guarantor for peace and cooperation among nations.
We want peace to be permanent.
We believe in resolving all disputes peacefully.
I believe India and Israel should focus on building bilateral relations on the basis of shared perspectives and commonalities between our two democracies.
Whatever understanding is reached with Pakistan has to be followed honestly, and everybody will have to rise above party politics and be actively committed to make India prosperous.
As we talk with candour, we open the doors to new possibilities and new areas of cooperation in advance in democracy, in combating terrorism, in energy and environment, science and technology and international peacekeeping.
If it is necessary for us to do anything (in view of peace), direct us and architect.
Peace, above all things, is to be desired, but blood must sometimes be spilled to obtain it on equable and lasting terms.
The safety of the republic being the supreme law, and Texas having offered us the key to the safety of our country from all foreign intrigues and diplomacy, I say accept the key… and bolt the door at once.
My dynamite will sooner lead to peace than a thousand world conventions. As soon as men will find that in one instant, whole armies can be utterly destroyed, they surely will abide by golden peace.
I intend to leave after my death a large fund for the promotion of the peace idea, but I am skeptical as to its results.
Good wishes alone will not ensure peace.
The science of the mind can only have for its proper goal the understanding of human nature by every human being, and through its use, brings peace to every human soul.
We went to Austria to train and it was so peaceful. And I love coffee and the coffee was great.
It is not enough to win a war; It is more important to organize the peace.
We make war that we may live in peace.
I simply can’t build my hopes on a foundation of confusion, misery and death… I think… peace and tranquillity will return again.
When diplomacy ends, War begins. | https://www.quotiepie.com/quotes/4715/ |
I first heard of the term Ikigai a while ago in passing. Ikigai? What’s that? The term roughly translates into something that gives you being. I sat down for a long while and thought hard to myself – what’s my Ikigai? What makes me want to hop out of bed every morning?
Posts from the opinion Category
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When Do You Call Yourself An ‘Artist’?
Art in itself, has always been a very subjective topic. There’s many different styles and kinds of art – traditional, digital, expressionism, impressionism, modern, abstract… to name a few. While art is very flexible, when do you really label yourself as an artist? | https://mellowpaints.com/category/opinion/ |
The health concerns of older women are in the spotlight today due in part to their statistically longer lifespans and higher rates of specific health problems. Where medicine once treated the health needs of men and women the same, it has now been scientifically proven that women’s experiences with and treatments for gender-common conditions often differ significantly from those of men. (1)
Here are six health concerns of older women that you need to know for a better life.
Heart Disease
Among the health concerns of older women, heart disease is a biggie.
Heart disease is a blanket term referring to several conditions affecting the heart’s structure and function. It is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S. (2) However, women are more likely to die or become disabled. For example, according to the American Heart Association, 26% of women will die within a year of having a heart attack compared with 19% of men. Further, within five years of having a heart attack, 50% of women will die, have a stroke, or develop heart failure. (3) Additionally, the risk of having a heart attack increases in older women about ten years after menopause, partially due to decreased estrogen levels. (4)
A heart attack can be more disabling or deadly to women because they tend to have vague, “atypical” symptoms like jaw pain, chest discomfort, and stomach pain, leading to a delay in treatment or medical misdiagnosis.
Hypertension
Hypertension (high blood pressure) is a condition in which the blood pressure against your artery walls is consistently too high, which can eventually lead to heart disease or stroke. Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
Though more men have hypertension, it is potentially more dangerous for women. For example, in a 2014 study published in the journal Therapeutic Advances in Cardiovascular Disease, researchers examined 100 older women and men with untreated high blood pressure and made a startling discovery. Namely, they found that “Compared with men who had the same level of high blood pressure, women had 30-40% more vascular disease.” (5)
Vascular diseases affect your circulatory system, which can restrict blood flow to your heart, brain, extremities, and other areas depending upon where the blockage develops. Thus, this may be a factor in women’s higher death rates or disability from heart disease.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint condition characterized by pain and stiffness. The risk of OA increases with age and can cause considerable pain and disability. According to the CDC, “Arthritis is more common in women (23.5%) compared with men (18.1%).” (6)
There are a few reasons why women are more prone to OA. One of the most significant risk factors for this condition is obesity, which puts excess strain on the joints. As women often gain weight during menopause, this could help explain why rates of arthritis in women rise after age 55. Experts also theorize that the reduction in female hormones at menopause may play a role in OA development.
Autoimmune Diseases
An autoimmune disease is when the body’s immune system attacks its tissues and organs. There are more than 80 known autoimmune diseases, including type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and multiple sclerosis. Autoimmune diseases are difficult to diagnose, and most of them have no cures.
Statistics show an apparent gender bias with autoimmune diseases, with a “greater prevalence among women, occurring at a rate of 2 to 1.” (7) Put another way, women are twice as likely to get an autoimmune disease than men. However, in some cases, females are at even greater risk. For example, nine out of 10 of those with lupus are women. (8)
The reasons why women are more prone to autoimmune diseases are not known. However, research suggests it is due to variations in the sex chromosomes and hormonal changes and can be triggered by various environmental and lifestyle factors. (9)
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a condition where the bones become weak and brittle, leading to bone fractures. Osteoporosis is one of the prime health concerns of older women, as “one in four women 65 or older” in the United States is affected by this disease. (10)
This bone disease is prevalent among older women because of reduced estrogen levels. Estrogen protects bone density, but after menopause, the ovaries produce little of this hormone…and there indeed appears to be a link between menopause and bone loss. For example, studies show that “Women lose about 50% of their trabecular bone and 30% of their cortical bone during their lifetime, about half of which is lost during the first 10 yr after the menopause.” (11)
Other factors that increase the risk of osteoporosis include lack of weight-bearing exercise, poor nutrition (mainly calcium and vitamin D), cigarette smoking, and family history of the disease.
To prevent osteoporosis, you may want to consume higher amounts of calcium foods, such as sardines, kale, cheese, and spinach. Milk is not advisable because it contains 2.4 teaspoons of sugar per eight-ounce glass. You can also take daily calcium and vitamin-D supplements.
Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that gradually destroys memory and other cognitive skills leading to the inability to perform rudimentary tasks. It is the most common form of dementia in older adults.
Older women are at a significantly higher risk of Alzheimer’s than men. Statistics show that two-thirds of those with Alzheimer’s are women, and according to AARP, “A woman’s lifetime risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (after age 45) is approximately 1 in 5; for men, it’s 1 in 10.” (12)
Why is Alzheimer’s so prevalent among women? Experts believe that women’s higher stress levels and a significant drop in estrogen after menopause significantly increase their risk. In addition, there may be a genetic component.
Depression
Depression is characterized by persistent sadness and a lack of enjoyment in activities that usually bring pleasure. It is the leading cause of disability globally. (12a)
It is one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States and is particularly prevalent among women. After all, women are twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression as men. (13) Of course, this gender discrepancy in diagnosis could be due to the male’s reluctance to discuss their feelings of sadness with their health care provider.
But research suggests a few factors that make women more prone to depression, such as higher stress levels and hormonal fluctuations.
Health Tips for Older Women
Though women show a higher prevalence for the conditions listed above, there are things you can do to reduce your risk and make you feel better. Here are just a few of them.
Eat a Healthy Diet
Getting proper nutrition is crucial for supporting overall health and defending against disease. A healthy diet includes lots of fiber, primarily from nonstarchy vegetables, a moderate amount of high-quality lean protein, and a small amount of healthy fat. These foods fill you up and help stabilize your blood glucose levels.
In addition, you should significantly reduce or eliminate the following foods from your diet:
- Ultra-processed foods, i.e., potato chips, white bread, sweetened breakfast cereals.
- Processed meats, i.e., bologna, hot dogs, bacon
- Fast foods, i.e., almost anything served in fast food restaurants
- Sugar, i.e., white granulated sugar, brown sugar, fructose, high-fructose corn syrup
A well-balanced diet typically includes the nutrients you need for your health. Eating nutritious whole foods can also help you obtain and maintain a healthy weight, helping to prevent many health issues.
Get Regular Exercise
Research suggests that regular exercise can prevent or manage many health issues, including:
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Hypertension
- Osteoporosis
- Type 2 diabetes
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia
- Some cancers
Increasing your physical activity, in general, can help prevent or lessen the severity of chronic conditions. But it would help if you also took time to participate in a planned exercise program.
So, what type of exercise should you do? An exercise program for healthy adults should include a combination of moderate- to vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise and resistance training.
The CDC recommends that healthy adults get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity or 75 minutes of vigorous-intensity exercise per week, which should be spread out during the week. (You may also perform a combination of high- and moderate-intensity aerobic activity.) However, if losing weight is your goal, experts recommend increasing it to 300 minutes a week.
You should also do resistance training targeting all muscle groups at least twice a week. You can either use your body weight — i.e., squats or pushups–or lift weights.
Reduce Stress
Research shows that chronic stress may significantly increase the risk for many chronic conditions. For example, studies show that stress may contribute to obesity, Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and other conditions.
But you may be able to defend against these health problems by regularly practicing one or more of the stress-lowering activities below:
- Yoga
- Tai Chi
- Walking
- Meditation
- Breathing exercise
- Progressive muscle relaxation exercises
- Snuggle with your dog
Discover how these four little-known nutrients can have a powerful, transformative effect on a leaky brain, helping support the vibrant physical and mental health you deserve here! | https://bettermovie.com/6-health-concerns-of-older-women-wanting-to-live-better/ |
Q:
To what extent does culture affect emotion perception?
In a globalized world, in spite of cultural differences, we share, at least at the symbolic level (language level), lots of things. Considering pictures that display emotions (affect), such as those offered by the International Affective Picture System, could we speak of their 'international' character without affecting the specific and local cultural influence that might influence us in rating them?
A:
Long story short: at least in facial affect perception/expression, there is not a definitive answer to this. The field is only just beginning to get a handle on the fact that what have been long thought of as "universal" expressions of emotion don't seem to be, so there is considerably less work on how exactly culture affects these expressions. However, current consensus is that between-group affective judgments have lower agreement rates than within-group affective judgments.
There is longstanding work from Paul Ekman suggesting that perception of six basic emotions in faces is universal (he wrote an argument for this point of view here and, more recently, here). This was based on quite a lot of work showing that participants agreed at very high rates on the emotion displayed in a set of pictures of emotionally expressive faces. However, there are methodological weaknesses in this work (there is fulltext of an excellent review on it available here). Basically, these can be summed up as a preference for forced-choice (making participants choose from a limited list of answers about the emotion on display), within-subject designs, and stimuli from Ekman's original set; when different experimental design choices are made, the agreement largely disappears.
This opens the field for suggestions that most or all affective expression is in fact culturally influenced; a more recent study here found less agreement between groups than within groups, and more agreement between groups that had more exposure to eachother than groups that had less exposure to eachother. This paper is a highly detailed answer to your question, at least as currently understood.
References:
1) Universals and cultural differences in facial expressions of emotion. Ekman, Paul. Nebraska Symposium on Motivation, Vol 19, 1971, 207-283.
2) An argument for basic emotions. Ekman , Paul. Cognition & Emotion : Vol. 6, Iss. 3-4, 1992.
3) Is There Universal Recognition of Emotion From Facial Expression? A Review of the Cross-Cultural Studies. Psychological Bulletin 1994, Vol. 115, No. 1, 102-141.
4) On the universality and cultural specificity of emotion recognition: A meta-analysis.
Elfenbein, Hillary Anger; Ambady, Nalini. Psychological Bulletin, Vol 128(2), Mar 2002, 203-235.
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To help you guarantee that your applications stably and reliably run in Kubernetes, this topic describes the recommended Kubernetes cluster configurations.
Set the disk type and size
Select the disk type
We recommend that you select the SSD disk type.
For Worker nodes, we recommend that you select the Attach Data Disk check box when you create a cluster. This disk is provided exclusively for the /var/lib/docker file to store local images. It is designed to allow the root disk to store a massive number of images. After your cluster has run for a period, many images you no longer require remain stored. To quickly solve this, we recommend that you take the machine offline, rebuild this disk, and then bring the machine back online.
Set the disk size
Kubernetes nodes require a large disk space because the Docker images, system logs, and application logs are stored in the disk. When creating a Kubernetes cluster, you need to consider the number of pods on each node, the log size of each pod, the image size, the temporary data size, and the space required for system reserved values.
We recommend that you reserve a space of 8 GiB for the ECS instance operation system because the operation system requires a disk space of at least 3 GiB. Kubernetes resource objects then use the remaining disk space.
Whether to build Worker nodes when creating your cluster
When you create a cluster, you can select either of the following
Node Type:
Pay-As-You-Go, indicates that you can build Worker nodes when creating a cluster.
Subscription, indicates that you can purchase ECS instances as needed and add the instances to your cluster after you create you cluster.
Configure your cluster network settings
If you want to connect your cluster with services outside Kubernetes, for example, Relational Database Service (RDS), we recommend that you use an existing VPC, rather than create a VPC. This is because VPCs are logically isolated. You can create a VSwitch and add the ECS instances that run Kubernetes to the VSwitch.
We recommend that you do not set a small CIDR block of the pod network that only supports a minimal number of nodes. The CIDR block setting of the pod network is associated with the Pod Number for Node setting in Advanced Config. For example, if you set the CIDR block of the pod network to X.X.X.X/16, it means that the number of IP addresses assigned to your cluster is 256*256. Additionally, if you set the number of pods on each node to 128, it means that the maximum number of nodes supported by your cluster is 512.
Use multiple zones
Alibaba Cloud supports multiple regions and each region supports multiple zones. Zones are physical areas that have independent power grids and networks within a region. Using multiple zones enables disaster recovery across areas, but increases network latency. When creating a Kubernetes cluster, you can choose to create a multi-zone cluster. For more information, see Create a multi-zone Kubernetes cluster.
Claim resources for each pod
When you use a Kubernetes cluster, a common problem is that too many pods are scheduled to one node. This scheduling of pods overloads the node, making it unable to provide services.
We recommend that you specify the resource request parameter and the resource limit parameter when configuring a pod in Kubernetes. This recommended configuration enables Kubernetes to select a node with sufficient resources according to the pod resource requirements during the pod deployment. The following example claims that the Nginx pod uses 1-core CPU and 1024 MiB memory, and the pod cannot use more than 2-core CPU or 4096 MiB memory.
Kubernetes uses a static resource scheduling method, which means that instead of using the resources that have been used to calculate the remaining resources on each node, it uses allocated resources. Its calculation method is: the remaining resources = the total resources - the resources that have been allocated. If you manually run a resource-consuming program, Kubernetes is not aware of the resources that are being used by the program.
Therefore, you must claim resources for all pods. For the pods that do not have resource claims, after they are scheduled to a node, Kubernetes assumes that the resources used by them on the corresponding node are still available. Therefore, too many pods may be scheduled to this node.
Configure cluster operation and maintenance settings
Enable Log Service
When creating a cluster, select the Using Log Service check box.
Configure cluster monitoring
Alibaba Cloud Container Service is integrated with CloudMonitor. By configuring monitoring on nodes, you can implement real-time monitoring. By adding monitoring alarm rules, you can quickly locate the issues that cause abnormal resource usage.
When you create a Kubernetes cluster through Container Service, two application groups are automatically created in CloudMonitor: one for Master nodes and one for Worker nodes. You can add alarm rules under these two groups and these rules apply to all machines in the groups. When subsequent nodes are added to the corresponding group, the alarm rules in the group are automatically applied.
This means that you only need to configure alarm rules for the ECS resources.
Note
To monitor ECS instances, you need to set alarm rules for resources such as CPU, memory, and disk. We recommend that you set the /var/lib/docker file on an exclusive disk.
Set an application to wait for its dependent application after it starts
Some applications may have some external dependencies. For example, an application may need to read data from a database (DB) or access the interface of another service. However, when the application starts, the DB or the interface may not be available. In traditional manual O&M, if the external dependencies of an application are unavailable when the application starts, the application exits directly.This is known as failfast. This strategy is not applicable for Kubernetes, because O&M in Kubernetes is automated and does not require manual intervention. For example, when you deploy an application, you do not need to manually select a node or start the application on the node. If the application fails, Kubernetes automatically restarts it. Additionally, automatic capacity increase is supported through HPA when large loads occur.
For example, assume that application A depends on application B, and these two applications run on the same node. After the node restarts, application A starts, but application B has not started. In this case, the dependency of application A is unavailable. According to the strategy of failfast, application A exists and will not start even after application B starts. In this case, application A must be started manually.
In Kubernetes, you can set the system to check the dependency of the application during startup, and to implement polling to wait until the dependency is available. This can be implemented throughInit Container.
Set the pod restart policy
When a bug in the code or excessive memory consumption causes application processes to fail, the pod in which the processes reside also fails. We recommend that you set a restart policy for the pod so that the pod can automatically restart after failure.
OnFailure: indicates to automatically restart the pod when the pod fails (the exiting status of the process is not 0).
Never: indicates to never restart the pod.
Configure the liveness probe and readiness probe
A running pod may not necessarily be able to provide services because processes in the pod may be locked. However, Kubernetes does not automatically restart the pod because the pod is still running. Therefore, you must configure the liveness probe in each pod to determine whether the pod is alive, and whether it can provide services. Then, Kubernetes restarts the pod when the liveness probe detects any exception.
The readiness probe is used to detect whether the pod is ready to provide services. It takes some time for an application to initialize during startup. During the initialization, the application cannot provide services. The readiness probe can determine when the pod is ready to receive traffic from Ingress or Service. When the pod is faulty, the readiness probe stops new traffic being forwarded to the pod.
Set one process to run in each container
Users who are new to the container technology tend to use containers as virtual machines and put multiple processes into one container, such as monitoring process, log process, sshd process, and even the whole systemd. This causes the following two problems:
It becomes complex to determine the resource usage of the pod as a whole, and it becomes difficult for the resource limit that you set to take effect.
If only one process runs in a container, the container engine can detect process failures and it restarts the container upon each process failure. However, if multiple processes are put into a container, the container engine cannot determine the failure of any single process. Therefore, the engine does not restart the container when a single process fails even though the container does not work normally.
If you want to run multiple processes simultaneously, Kubernetes can help you easily implement that. For example, nginx and php-fpm communicate with each other through a Unix domain socket. You can use a pod that contains two containers, and put the Unix socket into a shared volume of the two containers.
Avoid Single Point of Failure (SPOF)
If an application uses only one ECS instance, the application is unavailable during the period when Kubernetes restarts the instance upon an instance failure. This issue also occurs when you release an updated version of the application. Therefore, we recommend that you do not directly use pods in Kubernetes. Instead, deploy Deployment or StatefulSet applications and set more than two pods for each application.
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The thyroid gland is a gland in the front of the neck that produces hormones that control metabolism. Hypothyroidism occurs when the thyroid gland doesn't produce enough thyroid hormone. The most common form of hypothyroidism is Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Hashimoto's thyroiditis is an autoimmune disorder. The immune system produces antibodies that attack cells of the thyroid gland.
Tests may include blood tests to check levels of thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) and/or free T4. Your doctor may recommend other tests to rule out health conditions that are similar to hypothyroidism.
Thyroid replacement therapy involves medication that replaces the function of the thyroid gland. This therapy may also prevent cancer cell growth in people who had surgery or radiation treatment for thyroid cancer.
People with Hashimoto's thyroiditis are monitored as long as they have normal thyroid function and remain symptom-free. Once function decreases or symptoms appear, treatment is started with thyroid replacement therapy.
Talk to your doctor about annual screenings if you're at high risk for developing hypothyroidism. | https://uvahealth.com/services/endocrine/hypothyroidism |
The 2016 Effective Altruism Global Research Meeting is an opportunity for Postgraduate students and early stage academics from a variety of disciplines to present research relevant to Effective Altruism. The meeting will take place on August 5th to 7th, 2016 at UC Berkeley alongside the Effective Altruism Global conference. The meeting will consist of two events, an academic poster session and a number of short oral presentations. Presentations will be awarded to the most exceptional submissions. Participants selected for presentations will still have the option to present a poster.
The Effective Altruism movement, which promotes the use of reason and evidence to determine the most effective ways to improve the world, has grown rapidly over the last three years. It is an interdisciplinary movement which has gained traction amongst academics in a wide range of fields, including Philosophy, Economics and Health. Last year’s Effective Altruism Global conference welcomed renowned philosopher Peter Singer and behavioral economist Dan Ariely, as well as 1000 attendees. This year, our speakers include Philip Tetlock (author of Superforecasting), Cass Sunstein (legal scholar and former Administrator of the White House OIRA), Thomas Kalil (Deputy Director for Technology and Innovation at the White House OSTP), Jaan Tallinn (Co-Founder of Skype) and Irene Pepperberg (noted animal cognition scientist).
Effective Altruism Global's featured topics include discussions of the replication crisis, prediction markets, decision making under uncertainty, CRISPR, our obligations to the global poor, as well as a number of other topics that are important to shaping the future. The Research Meeting will run alongside Effective Altruism Global to give academics access to the large audience of interested attendees, and expose the more than 1,000 expected philanthropists, CEOs, and students to research relevant to Effective Altruism.
Goals
The 2016 Effective Altruism Global Research Meeting aims to promote and stimulate research that helps individuals and institutions make better choices on how to do the most good. We will present the most interesting Effective Altruism-related research from a wide variety of disciplines to facilitate discussions among Effective Altruism-minded academics. The event also seeks to connect academics with an interest in doing good effectively with one another, philanthropists and policymakers.
Topics
The 2016 Effective Altruism Global Research Meeting is interdisciplinary, so submissions are expected to be from a range of different fields. Represented fields may include but will not be limited to: Decision Theory, Epistemology, Ethics (particularly Applied Ethics), Health Economics, Development Economics, Political Science, Sociology, and Psychology (particularly Animal Behavior).
To give you an idea of what kinds of research presentations we are looking for, here are some possible examples:
The moral relevance of the long-run outcomes of actions
Comparative study of successful and unsuccessful historical social movements
International policy goals for preventing global catastrophic risks
Managing the spread of antibiotic resistance
The psychology of speciesism
Submission Details
Participants should submit an abstract and a CV to [email protected] by July 10th. Abstracts should aim to be between 300 and 500 words. Submissions will be selected by the Center for Effective Altruism based on their relevance to Effective Altruism, quality of research, originality and potential impact. Please note that since the event is interdisciplinary, submissions should be aimed at informed non-specialists. Applicants will be notified if they have been accepted by July 15th. Applicants selected for presentations will also be notified at this time. Travel grants will be available on a limited basis. Please indicate if you would like to be considered for a grant in your application.
Important Dates:
Abstract and CV submissions: July 10th
Notification of acceptance: July 15th. | http://www.wikicfp.com/cfp/servlet/event.showcfp?eventid=55878©ownerid=95153 |
Walmart Inc. (WMT) will report its next earnings on Nov 17 BMO. The company reported the earnings of $1.34/Share in the last quarter where the estimated EPS by analysts was $1.18/share. The difference between the expected and actual EPS was $0.16/share, which represents an Earnings surprise of 13.6%.
Many analysts are providing their Estimated Earnings analysis for Walmart Inc. and for the current quarter 28 analysts have projected that the stock could give an Average Earnings estimate of $1.49/share. These analysts have also projected a Low Estimate of $1.4/share and a High Estimate of $1.82/share.
In case of Revenue Estimates, 23 analysts have provided their consensus Average Revenue Estimates for Walmart Inc. as 147.86 Billion. According to these analysts, the Low Revenue Estimate for Walmart Inc. is 144.85 Billion and the High Revenue Estimate is 150.67 Billion. The company had Year Ago Sales of 141.67 Billion.
These analysts also forecasted Growth Estimates for the Current Quarter for WMT to be 6.5%. They are projecting Next Quarter growth of 7.63%. For the next 5 years, Walmart Inc. is expecting Growth of 4.29% per annum, whereas in the past 5 years the growth was 12.58% per annum.
Some buy side analysts are also providing their Analysis on Walmart Inc., where 5 analysts have rated the stock as Strong buy, 0 analysts have given a Buy signal, 1 said it’s a HOLD, and 1 analysts rated the stock as Sell. (These Recommendations are for the Current Month Only reported by Yahoo Finance.)
The Relative Volume of the company is 1.12 and Average Volume (3 months) is 7.21 million. The company’s P/E (price to earnings) ratio is 21.07 and Forward P/E ratio of 25.39.
The company shows its Return on Assets (ROA) value of 8.2%. The Return on Equity (ROE) value stands at 26.4%. While it’s Return on Investment (ROI) value is 12.1%.
While looking at the Stock’s Performance, Walmart Inc. currently shows a Weekly Performance of 0.22%, where Monthly Performance is -4.04%, Quarterly performance is 5.54%, 6 Months performance is 20.57% and yearly performance percentage is 21.35%. Year to Date performance value (YTD perf) value is 22.83%. The Stock currently has a Weekly Volatility of 1.13% and Monthly Volatility of 1.34%.
Tractor Supply Company (TSCO) will report its next earnings on Oct 22 BMO. The company reported the earnings of $1.62/Share in the last quarter where the estimated EPS by analysts was $1.38/share. The difference between the expected and actual EPS was $0.24/share, which represents an Earnings surprise of 17.4%.
Many analysts are providing their Estimated Earnings analysis for Tractor Supply Company and for the current quarter 27 analysts have projected that the stock could give an Average Earnings estimate of $1.47/share. These analysts have also projected a Low Estimate of $1.38/share and a High Estimate of $1.61/share.
In case of Revenue Estimates, 24 analysts have provided their consensus Average Revenue Estimates for Tractor Supply Company as 2.68 Billion. According to these analysts, the Low Revenue Estimate for Tractor Supply Company is 2.59 Billion and the High Revenue Estimate is 2.74 Billion. The company had Year Ago Sales of 2.19 Billion.
These analysts also forecasted Growth Estimates for the Current Quarter for TSCO to be 20.7%. They are projecting Next Quarter growth of 16.9%. For the next 5 years, Tractor Supply Company is expecting Growth of -4.05% per annum, whereas in the past 5 years the growth was 42.74% per annum.
Some buy side analysts are also providing their Analysis on Tractor Supply Company, where 2 analysts have rated the stock as Strong buy, 0 analysts have given a Buy signal, 5 said it’s a HOLD, and 1 analysts rated the stock as Sell. (These Recommendations are for the Current Month Only reported by Yahoo Finance.)
The Relative Volume of the company is 0.83 and Average Volume (3 months) is 1.38 million. The company’s P/E (price to earnings) ratio is 23.08 and Forward P/E ratio of 22.99.
The company shows its Return on Assets (ROA) value of 12.2%. The Return on Equity (ROE) value stands at 46.7%. While it’s Return on Investment (ROI) value is 29.1%.
While looking at the Stock’s Performance, Tractor Supply Company currently shows a Weekly Performance of 5.79%, where Monthly Performance is 13.27%, Quarterly performance is 4.99%, 6 Months performance is 15.02% and yearly performance percentage is 61.3%. Year to Date performance value (YTD perf) value is 59.11%. The Stock currently has a Weekly Volatility of 2.34% and Monthly Volatility of 2.51%. | |
Melts will last varying lengths of time depending on the fragrance and/or burner used.
Top Notes: Eucalyptus, Lemon
Middle Notes: Citronella, Rosemary
Base Notes: Cedarwood, Patchouli
Warning: To prevent fire, hazard & injury remove packaging before use. Use only in tea-light or electric warmers approved for wax melts. Keep out of reach of children & pets. Do not add water. Do not melt on the stovetop. Use in well-ventilated areas away from flammable materials. Discontinue use if dish contains less than 1/2" of wax.
Ingredients - soy wax, fragrance oil.
Weight when packed 94g. | https://russellislandsoapery.com.au/collections/wax-melts/products/citronella-wax-melts |
Today, we're going to start looking at LLDB, and how you can use it for dynamic program analysis.
So in my past few pieces, I've reviewed how to examine programs compiled for iOS. I've used common UNIX staples like strings, and file; I've also used MacOS specific tools like oTool and class-dump. I've shown you how you can use tcpdump with Wireshark for communication analysis too. I haven't shown you how to do any binary analysis yet, either static or dynamic.
Static analysis involves using tools like r2, IDA, or Angr. You can use tools like the Retargetable Decompiler as well. Dynamic analysis involves running the program and looking for potential exploits. There's a slew of tools out there for this kind of thing too, including debuggers like GDB or LLDB.
The first thing you'll need to do is get your hands on a jailbroken iPhone. I've written a couple of pieces on how to do this, you can follow those as guides. The difficult thing at this point is that iOS has been updated to 10.0.2, and you'll need a device at 9.2 - 9.3.3 to successfully jailbreak today. There's iOS 10.0.X jailbreaks out there in the wild, but nothing that's been released publicly yet, unfortunately.
You need to connect your jailbroken iDevice to your workstation via gandalf, and you'll need to log in (the configuration you need to do this is covered in past articles too). Next, you need to sign the debugserver executable and move it to your iPhone (or iPad). You can follow the 64-bit section in this guide to configure and move your debugserver executable.
Now, you can debug executables remotely on your iPhone. Now let's configure your build environment.
Okay, so you need to find a copy of ldid and install it on your phone. This will allow you to pseudo-sign the executables we'll run. You can install ldid via Cydia, just like you did OpenSSH. There's other ways to sign executables, but this one is the easiest I think.
Anyway, now let's put together a simple program and makefile, and get the executable onto our phone.
This makefile uses clang as the C compiler on a mac. We have a simple program we'll compile, function.c, but we'll get to that later. We're going to compile the program with full debugging symbols (-g) and no ASLR (-wl,-no_pie). We're also going to compile a 32-bit program, not a 64-bit program, via the armv7s-apple-ios triple. We could compile for 64-bit using arm64-apple-ios, but then we can't turn off ASLR, and with ASLR off, the addresses won't shift around between executions. Also note the SDK we're using - iPhoneOS10.0.sdk. You might want to copy this somewhere for safekeeping - these SDKs are replaced based on your version of XCode, and old ones may not be maintained.
All we're doing is compiling a simple program that calls a function. We're using the values 0xcafed00d and 0xdeadc0de to identify locations in memory.
With this program next to your makefile, you should be able to compile function.c. Next time, we'll copy the program to your phone, sign it, and debug it. | https://dzone.com/articles/lldb-examining-a-program |
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Indulgence and RestraintAs a dimension of the variation in national cultures, indulgence versus restraint relates to the extent of liberty that a societys members have i...
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Clearly, the question seeks to establish a link, if any, between the system of globalization and the generation of a similar form of policy development and execution on a...
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The process of sustaining the economy in stable and emerging markets has created the need to integrate production activities for financial stability. The diversity nature... | https://proessays.net/essays/category/globalization |
As emerging technologies drive innovation, educators and administrators have an array of resources at their disposal. Thank to outstanding developments in technology which have greatly improved the delivery of distance education course delivery, the number of students and educators taking part in online education has grown exponentially.
Cases on Distance Delivery and Learning Outcomes: Emerging Trends and Programs provides a firm foundation of best practices for distance course delivery and learning outcomes in order to discuss the rapid developments in online education technologies. The cases presented in this reference publication detail best and emerging practices of distance education, issues that develop as distance education grows, and an international perspective on distance education. Discussing such topics as cost and design strategies of distance course design, communication and dealing with student conduct in distance courses, developing distance programs to meet student needs and how to manage the growth of these programs, as well as the use of new technology tools in distance courses, this essential reference publication provides professional developments through a case book for distance education practitioners, administrators, librarians, and students.
The many academic areas covered in this publication include, but are not limited to:
The cases of this book will provide the reader with an excellent basis of best practices for distance course delivery and learning outcomes, program based cases and cases from international authors. The field of distance education is often criticized for its lack of scholarly work to benefit the literature in the field. This case book will benefit the literature in a fast growing field.
This reference book on distance learning includes 15 solid chapters that emphasize the vitality of meeting the learning needs of today’s students in alignment with the learning objectives set by school administrations in higher education. It lays a good foundation for some of the curricular, pedagogical, ethical, technological, and cost-related affordances, issues, and challenges that design, development, delivery, implementation, and assessment of distance learning courses pose to schools, faculty, novice researchers, and students enrolled in these programs. With case studies additionally reporting on programs pertinent to e-Learning, online learning, and blended learning, it can be considered as one of the unique reference books in the field. Highly recommended. | https://www.igi-global.com/book/cases-distance-delivery-learning-outcomes/130 |
The condition in which one loses the sense of smell temporarily or permanently is called anosmia.
Temporary loss of smell can be caused by a common cold, in which case it usually clears up all on its own. It can also be caused by some sort of an obstruction in the nasal passage, most likely a polyp, and it clears up once the obstruction gets removed. A permanent loss of smell may be related to aging or maybe even a brain tumor.
Anosmia alone is not that serious, but it can lead to other complications if not treated on time. Since the sense of smell is a necessity in tasting food to its full extent, one may lose interest in eating properly, and that can lead to weight loss and malnutrition and even serious conditions like depression.
Without the sense of smell, a person can also get into trouble by not being able to smell spoiled food or smoke, which leads to poisoning and further complications.
One possible cause of the loss of smell may be caused by an irritation or even destruction of the mucus membranes which line the inside of the nose. This condition is usually triggered by a sinus infection, common cold or flu, or maybe a rhinitis but not the one associated with allergic symptoms.
An obstruction in the nasal passage, which physically blocks the air flow through the nose, can be a cause of anosmia as well. It could be a natural deformity inside the nose, a polyp or maybe a tumor.
Brain or nerve damage can also be the cause of anosmia. The olfactory system that provides the sense of smell contains receptors in the mucus lining of the nose and they send the information regarding the smell to the brain by means of nerves.
A loss of smell can be triggered if any of these elements get destroyed or damaged in any way. There are various conditions and diseases which can lead to this, and they include aging, various brain conditions such as aneurysms and tumors, diabetes, disturbed hormonal balance, malnutrition, multiple sclerosis, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease and many other conditions.
Minor cases of anosmia caused by colds, flu, allergies, and infections usually clear up on their own in a few days. If anosmia requires a doctor’s treatment, it usually gets treated by an antibiotic to clear the infection or to remove the nasal obstruction. For people over 60 years of age, anosmia is usually permanent. | https://ic.steadyhealth.com/a-lost-sense-of-smell |
The Dharma Meditation is a complimentary class followed by the Qi Gong/Tai Chi class. It is practiced in two parts. The first 30 minutes consists of a normal-paced meditative walking to prepare the body for 30 minutes of seated contemplation in silence and darkness.
The 10 Laws of Dharma
- Patience (dhriti) – Staying secure in your own inner peace.
- Forgiveness (kshama) – Letting go of things that don’t necessarily serve you.
- Piety or self-control (dama) – Knowing that the best things come to those that wait.
- Honesty (asteya) – This is really more about non-stealing; don’t take that which does not belong to you.
- Sanctity (shauch) – Cleanliness in mind, body, and soul.
- Control of senses (indraiya-nigrah) – Meditation and life force control.
- Reason (dhi) – Guiding your life with calm reason leads to great success.
- Knowledge or learning (vidya) – Gaining skills that significantly add to your ability to offer value is a huge step towards well-rounded success.
- Truthfulness (satya) -Realizing that truthfulness brings about the highest outcome for you and others.
- Absence of anger (krodha) – Anger poisons our ability to lead our lives in a positive and powerful way.
The Origin Temple of Chan Buddhism and the First Patriarch Bodhidharma (Damo)
According to the legend, Bodhidharma (Damo) was a royal prince of state king in Southern India in ancient Indian history. His teacher was Prajnatara, the twenty-seventh patriarch of Indian Buddhism. It took three whole years for Damo to travel all the way to Guangzhou. Hearing of Damo’s arrival, Emperor Wu Di sent a mission to take him to Nanjing, but since he found Wu Di not congenial to him, Damo crossed the river on a reed to the Songshan Mountains and for nine years meditated in a small cave on the Wuru Peak (a mount behind the Shaolin Temple.) The futurity addressed Damo as the founder of Chan (Chinese Zen) and thus Shaolin Temple was also called the Origin Temple of Chan Buddhism.
The Story about Damo and Second Master Huike
In the first year of North Wei Zhengguang (520A.D.) Shengguang came to Damo Pavilion to learn Buddhism and Damo was in meditation without paying any attention to him. Shengguang was waiting outside in the cold winter snows. When the daylight came out in the next day, the snow covered his knees, but Damo still ignored him and said firmly, “Only if it falls with red snow.” To show his sincerity, Shengguang took out a sharp knife and cut off his left arm to consecrate to the service of Damo. Seeing his sincerity, Damo granted his mantle onto him and gave him a Buddhist name of Huike. | https://shaolintemplela.org/zen.html |
Today, Cait reports live from The Burnout Panel. She joins Vanessa Zamy, Audrey Holst, Aileen Axtmayer, Dr. Sandra Lewis, and Dr. Sharon Grossman to talk about quiet quitting. These experts in the burnout field weigh in on what they believe is causing quiet quitting to be so rampant and the changes business leaders can make to help their employees feel included, safe, happy, and valued.
Quiet quitting is often a response to overwhelm and can be a coping mechanism for burnout. If your body does not feel safe in your work environment, you are likely going to start to disengage. It is also important to evaluate your current interests and values and see that they align with your role. When people choose to quiet-quit it tends to be due to no longer feeling aligned with their work. To get a handle on quiet quitting, first you need to regenerate your nervous system, so that it is not always on high alert for danger. In order for employees to feel valued, leaders must pay attention and create a safe, fun, and inclusive work environment. If employees start to feel undervalued, they will become resentful and more likely to engage in quiet quitting behaviors.
Quiet quitting is not always a choice, sometimes it is a natural reaction to burnout. When it is not being used as a coping mechanism and is instead a conscious choice, it is important for leaders to really pay attention to the work environment. If employees are actively choosing to disengage, they likely feel resentment for some perceived unfairness and they may even feel completely out of alignment with the work they are doing. When employees and employers understand the causes behind quiet quitting, changes can be made to make a better work environment for all.
Quotes
“There are two questions that the body is always scanning for is, am I safe, and do I belong. And this combination of perfectionism with an individual and within an organization can create a bit of a survival situation where people are showing up to work, their bodies are feeling like they are walking into a tiger's cage every single day, their body is getting flooded with cortisol on an everyday basis. And that is bouncing off of coworkers, and it's creating a really tough environment, which is creating those people who are starting to disengage out of survival.” (2:12-2:42 | Audrey)
“When you can create space as an employer or as an employee to really examine these parts of yourself and understand where you're at with each of them, you can then use that framework to understand where your work might not be in alignment anymore, and what you can do to really shift and feel like your values, interests, personality and skills are aligned with the work that you're doing.” (5:29-5:51 | Aileen)
“Achievement is what will allow you to feel pleasure once you've put in the work.” (7:33-7:41 | Dr. Sharon)
“Resentment and quiet quitting have one major thing in common and that is a feeling or perception of unfairness.” (8:34-8:42 | Cait)
“With support we can create conversations that allow resentment to be explored in a positive and beneficial way. Resentments turn into boundaries, and boundaries help protect us.” (9:17-9:28 | Cait)
“The first thing is to start with regenerating and rejuvenating our nervous system so that then we can start to hear our creativity again.” (11:15-11:21 | Dr. Sandra)
“Whether you're leading an entire business, or you're leading a team in a department, or you're about to become a leader, and you want to do it better than your current boss is, remember rewards, refreshments and recreation. Quiet quitting is preventable.” (13:51-14:04 | Vanessa)
“Quiet quitting is a coping mechanism for burnout when it is used not as a choice but as a natural reaction. So I think we have to separate choosing quiet quitting to protect yourself and quiet quitting because you're so burned out that you have no other choice and you're just trying to make it through your day and not get fired.” (14:48-15:09 | Cait)
Links
Connect with The Burnout Panel:
Aileen Axtmayer https://www.linkedin.com/in/aileenaxtmayer/
Cait Donovan https://www.linked.com/in/caitdonovan
Sandra Lewis https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandraylewis/
Audrey Holst https://www.linkedin.com/in/audrey-holst/
Sharon Grossman https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharongrossman/
Vanessa Zamy https://www.linkedin.com/in/zamyvanessa/
XOXO, | https://www.friedtheburnoutpodcast.com/post/bonus-episode-the-burnout-panel-talks-quiet-quitting |
A shorter time interval of 4.5 hours or fewer between meals is associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality compared with longer intervals, according to a large, new prospective study that looked at both frequency of and intervals between meals in US adults 40 years of age and older.
The study also indicates that eating one meal per day — compared with three — is associated with higher mortality, both cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related as well as all-cause mortality, although when participants with diagnosed CVD and cancer at baseline were excluded from the analysis the statistical significance disappeared.
As such, the findings may raise questions about the health benefits of limiting both the number of and interval between meals across the day, said lead author Yangbo Sun, MBBS, PhD, Department of Preventive Medicine, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis.
"At a time when intermittent fasting is widely touted as a solution for weight loss, metabolic health, and disease prevention, our study is important for the large segment of American adults who eat fewer than three meals each day," she said in a press release. "Our research revealed that individuals eating only one meal a day are more likely to die than those who had more daily meals."
"Among them, participants who skip breakfast are more likely to develop fatal cardiovascular diseases, while those who skip lunch or dinner increase their risk of death from all causes," compared with those who eat three meals a day, noted Sun.
"Based on these findings, we recommend eating at least two to three meals spread throughout the day," she said.
The findings were published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the authors believe it is the first study to show that among people eating three meals per day, an average interval between two meals of 4.5 hours or less was associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality.
Not When We Eat but What We Eat?
However, Courtney Peterson, PhD, Department of Nutrition Sciences, at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, has reservations about the study, which she explained to Medscape Medical News.
She pointed out that the devil is in the details, noting the researchers should have accurately accounted for, and discussed, the number of calories consumed, and most importantly, the diagnosed medical conditions and diseases at the study start.
"They had these great results that basically indicate that skipping a meal is bad for you no matter how you parse it, right?" she said, but added that "unfortunately, when they removed everyone who had cancer or heart disease to start with, almost nothing is statistically significant anymore."
Also commenting for Medscape Medical News was David Unwin, MBBS, a GP with a special interest in diabetes control using the low carbohydrate diet. In an email, he noted that as an epidemiological study, this research suggests associations not causation.
"A far better study seems to be contradictory," he notes. Published in BMJ in 2019, a meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies found that in trials relating eating breakfast to weight change and energy intake, "there was a difference in weight loss favoring participants who skipped breakfast," he said.
"For me, the quality of what we eat rather than its timing is far more important, especially the avoidance of hyper-processed 'junk foods'," added Unwin, referring to other published data showing that ultra-processed food consumption is associated with increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.
In particular, he noted, "sugar content was likely to account for the largest proportion of the relation between junk foods and mortality. My motto is 'Just eat real foods' like lots of green veg, meat, nuts, eggs, dairy, and berries."
How Does Meal Frequency, Interval Between Eating Impact Health Outcomes?
According to the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in 2009-2010, 40% of Americans skip meals and at least one in five skip breakfast or lunch, underlining the importance of understanding the risks and benefits of meal patterns and their relationship with premature mortality.
"We already know that skipping your breakfast is not a good idea for cardiovascular health, but we wondered about other meals of the day, like lunch and dinner. Also, we wanted to know whether the intervals between meals were associated with mortality," said Sun in an interview with Medscape Medical News.
The researchers also felt the need to address health outcomes associated with meal frequency, skipping, and intervals because recommendations around these aspects were omitted from the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans due to a lack of evidence.
A total of 24,011 adults from NHANES (1999-2014) aged 40 years or older participated. "We based our study on a nationally representative sample of US adults, the findings of which can be directly translated to the general population," Sun pointed out.
Eating behaviors, including surveys of 24-hour recall of foods and beverages and times of eating, were collected between 1999-2014, and using mortality data (up to December 31, 2015), any potential associations between eating behaviors and mortality including those specific to cardiovascular death and all-cause mortality were calculated.
Reduced Intervals Between Two Meals Show Worse Outcomes
Results related to the associations between mortality and meal frequency, intervals between two meals, and skipping meals.
When the frequencies (1 to ≥ 4 meals) of meals across the day were linked to CVD mortality and all-cause mortality, results showed that the less meals, the greater the mortality (Table 1).
Table 1. Meal Frequency and Mortality Rates
|Outcome||1 meal/day||2 meals/day||3 meals/day||≥ 4 meals/day|
|All-cause mortality,
|
no. of cases/participants
|224/1116||1137/6315||2424/13,626||390/2954|
|All-cause mortality, HR[a]||1.30||1.07||Ref||0.91|
|CVD mortality,
|
no. of cases/participants
|54/1116||242/6315||504/13,626||78/2954|
|CVD mortality, HR[a]||1.83||1.10||Ref||0.92|
However, when participants with baseline diagnosed CVD and cancer were excluded from the analysis, the results related to meal frequency were no longer significant.
Regarding the relative effect of skipping any meals, compared with skipping none, researchers found that according to the analysis adjusting for the factors listed earlier, missing breakfast had a nonsignificant hazard ratio (HR) of 1.11 for all-cause mortality but a significant HR of 1.40 for CVD-related mortality.
Skipping lunch was associated with a significant HR of 1.12 for all-cause mortality, but a nonsignificant HR of 1.15 for CVD-related mortality. Similarly, skipping dinner was significant for all-cause but not CVD-related mortality at an HR of 1.16 and 1.19 respectively.
And when researchers looked at the intervals between meals, they found mixed results. Eating at intervals of 4.5 hours or less or more than 5.5 hours – compared with 4.6-5.5 hours -- was significantly associated with all-cause mortality but nonsignificantly associated with CVD mortality (Table 2).
Table 2. Meal Intervals and Mortality Rates
|Outcome||
Meal interval
|
≤ 4.5 hours
|
Meal interval
|
4.6-5.5 hours
|
Meal interval
|
> 5.5 hours
|All-cause mortality,
|
no. of cases/participants
|666/3270||1111/5770||647/4586|
|All-cause mortality, HR[a]||1.17||Ref||0.98|
|CVD mortality,
|
no. of cases/participants
|136/3270||230/5770||138/4586|
|CVD mortality, HR[b]||1.22||Ref||0.98|
Reduced Interval Between Meals Overloads Metabolism
Sun and co-authors point out several possible reasons why skipping meals is a probable risk factor for disease and mortality. Firstly, they note food insecurity, which has been shown to be associated with higher CVD risk, adding that skipping breakfast, in particular, might be a behavioral marker for unhealthy dietary and lifestyle habits.
"However, the results remained significant after adjustment for food insecurity status, and a variety of dietary and lifestyle factors including smoking, alcohol use, physical activity levels, total energy intake, and overall diet quality, making them less likely explanations for the observed association between skipping meals and mortality," they write.
They also highlight that skipping meals usually means eating meals with a larger energy load, which could aggravate the burden of glucose metabolism regulation, leading to subsequent metabolic deterioration.
"This could also explain the association between a shorter meal interval; for example,4.5 hours, and mortality, as a shorter waiting time in between meals also means a larger energy load in a given period of time."
Senior investigator, Wei Bao, MD, PhD, epidemiologist from the University of Iowa, pointed out that, "Our findings are based on observations drawn from public data and do not imply causality. Nonetheless, what we observed makes metabolic sense."
Nevertheless, they conclude: "These findings need replication and assessment in other populations."
Sun, Bao, and Peterson have reported no relevant financial relationships. Unwin runs a not-for-profit diet program for people with type 2 diabetes.
J Acad Nutr Diet. Published online August 10, 2022. Full text
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Credit:
Lead image: Stephanie Frey | Dreamstime.com
Medscape Medical News © 2022 WebMD, LLC
Send comments and news tips to [email protected].
Cite this: Shorter Intervals Between Meals Linked to Higher Mortality - Medscape - Dec 01, 2022. | https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/984849 |
'SONG', a legendary fashion, art, and interiors concept store in Vienna was founded in the 1990s by Myung-il Song. As an early outpost of edgy design and emerging artists, it quickly became the city's most popular platform for avant-garde fashion. This book presents a retrospective of the 'SONG' fashion archives, with clothing by Dirk Van Saene, Martin Margiela, Walter Van Beirendonck, Dries Van Noten, Bernhard Willhelm, Stephen Jones, Kei Ninomiya, Paul Harnden Shoemakers , and Balenciaga. These unique and timeless pieces in Myung-il Song's personal collection have been re-photographed and are published here together for the first time.
- Hardcover
- Size: 9.4" x 1.4" x 12.2" | https://www.readbetweenthelines.com/products/ill-wear-it-until-im-dead |
Promoting Effective Teamwork
Many businesses organize themselves in teams for efficiency, but unfortunately not every supervisor or owner manages his team efficiently. The results of poor management over a team include insubordination and conflicts between members. Even the owner of a small company with just a few employees should take steps to promote effective teamwork. Hone your team-building skills to increase morale and productivity.
1
Seek a deeper understanding of the individual personalities on the team. Conflicting personalities become a source of inefficiency within a team, so learn more about each person including work style, who she likes on the team and what motivates her to succeed. Learn more about your employees by conducting surveys or hiring a specialist to come into your office to give each employee a personality test. Learn more about the various skills, knowledge and strengths each employee brings to the business.
2
Take your employees for a team building outing outside of the office. Here you can observe how the different personalities interact while giving them knowledge and tools they need to work together effectively.
3
Hold an initial meeting to clarify your overall goals as the company owner or project manager, as well as specific short-term goals for upcoming projects. Hold regular meetings to monitor the progress of your team over time and assure that everyone is still on the same page.
4
Strive to place people who get along well and have similar work styles on mini-teams. Blend people who compensate for each others' weaknesses on smaller teams whenever possible. For example, pair a person who likes to come up with ideas with another person who prefers to take action on those ideas. Be wary of matching people up who have the same personality type, because they may continually struggle for control.
5
Establish a written list of team rules, for instance, "No personal insults." Post the rules prominently in your office to eliminate confusion, and establish repercussions for employees who repeatedly disregard team rules.
6
Assign people to specific tasks and leadership roles yourself, as the owner or manager, instead of letting the teams make the decision. Allowing a team to come up with its leaders and tasks is a time drain and can create unnecessary conflict. Based on your research in steps one and two, you should know best who will work most efficiently at each task.
7
Provide a final word on any disagreements between team members. When you give your decision, deliver the news firmly and with finality. Give credit to each side of the argument and offer a solid reason for your decision so team members won't feel slighted. Create a compromise whenever possible to satisfy both parties.
8
Give enticing rewards, like monetary bonuses and gift certificates, to team members who exhibit a commitment to working effectively as a part of the team to encourage others to take on the positive behavior.
Writer Bio
Louise Balle has been writing Web articles since 2004, covering everything from business promotion to topics on beauty. Her work can be found on various websites. She has a small-business background and experience as a layout and graphics designer for Web and book projects. | https://smallbusiness.chron.com/promoting-effective-teamwork-963.html |
The aim of the study is to examine diagnostic potential of serum biomarkers depending on the presence or absence of viral (HHV-6, HHV-7, B19) infection biomarkers by direct comparing ME/CFS cases to healthy controls and applying the results from clinical testing and pathology to the pattern recognition algorithm random forest (RF), to widen marker patterns usable in ME/CFS patient stratification. A longer-term aim is to develop simpler diagnostic tools from routine data to assist health professionals to diagnose ME/CFS and to monitor therapeutic approaches. Examination of the diagnostic potential of serum biomarkers, both individually and in combination with viral infection markers will allow stratify ME/CFS patients and seek appropriate therapy and evaluate its efficacy. The investigation by measuring of symptom severity will also allow stratify the ME/CFS cohort into mild to severe disease classes. We hypothesize the cohort of ME/CFS patients is divided into a number of groups/subsets, one of which is a group/subset having primary autoimmune aetiology, another one which is triggered by viral infection. The group/subset triggered by viral infection could have also markers of autoimmunity. It is possible to find a set of markers of autoimmunity pointing towards ME/CFS, especially later after disease onset. It should be possible to find a set of markers allowing the stratification of ME/CFS patients according to pathomechanisms and also severity of clinical manifestations.
|Status||Active|
|Effective start/end date||1/01/20 → 31/03/22|
|Links||https://www.rsu.lv/en/project/selection-biomarkers-mecfs-patient-stratification-and-treatment-surveillance-optimisation|
Keywords
- ME/CFS,
- clinical testing
- markers of viral infection
- patients stratification
- serological biomarkers
- machine learning
Field of Science
- 3.5 Other medical sciences
Smart Specialization Area
- Biomedicine, medical technologies and biotechnology
Fingerprint
Explore the research topics touched on by this project. These labels are generated based on the underlying awards/grants. Together they form a unique fingerprint. | https://science.rsu.lv/en/projects/selection-of-biomarkers-in-mecfs-for-patient-stratification-and-t |
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