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A local variable is any variable beginning with a lowercase letter. It exists within the lexical scope that it is initially used. Any other code within that scope can refer to a local variable first used in that scope. The "scope" referred to here

A local variable is any variable beginning with a lowercase letter. It exists within the lexical scope that it is initially used. Any other code within that scope can refer to a local variable first used in that scope. The "scope" referred to here is roughly equivalent to the indentation level of your code. As long as a variable is first used in a scope at or above the current scope, it can be used. For every location in Ruby code, there is what's referred to as a "binding." This binding holds the state of that particular scope. The variables defined there, as well as methods, the object self refers to and various other things are stored in the "binding." This is also referred to as an "execution context." Understanding bindings is important in understanding variables scopes in Ruby. In a typical method defined outside of any classes, the binding refers to only that method. Therefor, any local variable declarations are declared in that binding. If you were to prepend a symbol to any variable accesses such as the $ (dollar sign), Ruby would then go to the global variable binding to resolve that variable access. At any given time, there is a local binding, a global binding and perhaps an instance or class binding. But the topic

Chapter abstracts are short descriptions of events that occur in each chapter. They highlight major plot events and detail the important relationships and characteristics of characters and objects. The Chapter Abstracts can be used to review what the students have read, or to prepare

Chapter abstracts are short descriptions of events that occur in each chapter. They highlight major plot events and detail the important relationships and characteristics of characters and objects. The Chapter Abstracts can be used to review what the students have read, or to prepare the students for what they will read. Hand the abstracts out in class as a study guide, or use them as a "key" for a class discussion. They are relatively brief, but can serve to be

From Health Facts Asthma affects up to 10% of the world’s population and is on the increase in the industrialized world due to increasing levels of pollution in air, water and food. It is more common in children under

From Health Facts Asthma affects up to 10% of the world’s population and is on the increase in the industrialized world due to increasing levels of pollution in air, water and food. It is more common in children under 10 years of age and in people who live in urban environments. Generally speaking, the younger a person is the more likely asthma will be caused by food; the older a person is the more likely the trigger is inhaled allergens. |Causes||Dietary Factors, Smoking, Allergies, Infections| |See Also||Respiratory Conditions, Food Reactions, Herbicides and Pesticides, Hypochlorhydria, Environmental Allergies| |Books||Books on Respiratory Conditions| |Articles||Articles on Respiratory Conditions| |Article||Do Environmental Toxicants Contribute to Allergy and Asthma?, Alt Med; 2012;Vol17(1)| |Article||Nutritional Supplement Therapy Improves Oxidative Stress, Immune Response, Pulmonary Function, and Quality of LIfe in Allergic Asthma Patients: An Open-Label Pilot Study, Alt Med; 2012;Vol17(1)| |Article||Use of a Standarized Extract from Echinacea angustifolia (Polinacea) for the Prevention of Respiratory Tract Infections, Alt Med; 2012;Vol17(1)| |Check out this book||Asthma and Bronchitis (By Appointment Only)| |Article||Petasites hybridus (Butterbur root) Extract in the Treatment of Asthma in An Open Trial, Alt Med; 2004;Vol9(1)| In order to stimulate the innate ability of the body to heal the causes of disease must be identified and addressed. A detailed assessment is required to determine which factors are contributing. Asthma can be triggered by a wide number of factors. Individuals, especially children, with asthma typically have a history of food, environmental or chemical sensitivities early in life. Also, those that tend to suffer from asthma would also be classified as having a reactive or sensitive immune system. - Food is one of the most common causes for the onset and ongoing triggering of asthma symptoms. It plays a role with respect to - Early weaning of newborns and the introduction of solid food too early are contributing factors. - Physical activity and excitement may induce asthma symptoms especially when there is a Vitamin D deficiency - Emotional State |Article||The Effect of Inhalant Allergies and Chemical Sensitivities on Asthma, Vital Link; 2007 Fall| - Environmental allergens, cold or dry air, air pollution, water contanimants, and soil contaminants are also common causes for the onset and ongoing triggering of asthma symptoms. - Asthma symptoms can be triggered by infections. - smoking is a common cause an aggravating trigger for asthma. - Chemicals in perfumes and personal care products can trigger asthma. - Household Products - Chemicals in household or gardening supplies can trigger asthma. - The pertussis vaccine can trigger asthma. - Prescription Medications - Aspirin can induce asthma in children. can trigger asthma - Asthma and breathing pattern disorders share some of the same signs and symptoms and as many as 30% of those labeled asthmatic, suffer from hyperventilation. Those who suffer from inflammatio

College Of Arts And Sciences | Mind, Values, and Our World E103 | 4002 | Eisenberg, P. The fundamental topic of this course is the way in which careful philosophical consideration of one question leads on to

College Of Arts And Sciences | Mind, Values, and Our World E103 | 4002 | Eisenberg, P. The fundamental topic of this course is the way in which careful philosophical consideration of one question leads on to consideration of many other issues related to the first one. The questions we shall examine in this course include: the meaning of life; free will and determinism; the nature of mind and mind's relation to the body; the nature of knowledge as distinct from (true) belief; and the possibility of proving God's existence. Throughout most of the course the brief essays to be read, which were written relatively recently, will be arranged in pairs, pro and con, so that in-class discussion and debate can be facilitated. At the end of the course, however, we shall look at somehwhat longer writings by some very great philosophers of the past. The course grade will be based on class participation, on quizzes, and on several short essays in which the students will be asked to offer assessments of particular philosophical views or of arguments presented in the assigned readings for or against those views. The goals of the course are to introduce students to philosophical thinking, and to develop the skills needed for it. These skills include careful reading (and listening) and critical thinking. The philosophical issues to be discussed are ones which people throughout the ages have found to be important to them; and all college students can benefit in all of their courses from having mastered some skills involved in critical thinking.

A WebQuest for 7th Grade Social Studies by Jennifer Bourque and Lisa Cerulli Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page Slavery was one of the major causes of the Civil War.

A WebQuest for 7th Grade Social Studies by Jennifer Bourque and Lisa Cerulli Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion | Credits | Teacher Page Slavery was one of the major causes of the Civil War. Some slaves were able to escape their bondage through the underground railroad, which was a network of people that worked together to help slaves escape to freedom. However, there were other issues that divided North and South in the 1800s. These issues were cultural, economic, and political in nature. The election of 1860 proved to be the breaking point, and what followed was the "War between the States," or Civil War, which lasted from 1861-1865. Your task is to create a quilt about the events leading up to the Civil War. Read the directions below to create your quilt. Your quilt will be constructed of Nine, 8 x 8 paper squares. Each square will have its own set of directions for completion. When all squares are completed, attach them by using glue, tape, or staples. You may also attach them to a poster board. Other than the center square, the quilt can be arranged in any pattern. Center Square (square 1) - CAUSES OF THE CIVIL WAR In this square you will explain one of the major causes of the Civil War. Use the links to help you explain why this issue was a cause of the Civil War. Choose from the following: Compromise of 1850 Dred Scott v. Sandford Uncle Tom's Cabin John Brown's Raid on Harper's Ferry Square 2 - ELECTION OF 1860 Explain the important issues at stake in this critical election. Use the sites to answer these guiding questions. Write your answer in paragraphs. You may include a picture of the candidates. 1. Who were the candidates, and what were their platforms? 2. Why was the outcome of this election so important? 3. What does "secession" mean? 4. What was the outcome of the election? Square 3 - CHOOSING SIDES After the Election of 1860, South Carolina seceded from the Union. Over the next few months, 10 more states followed. Which states sided with the Union? With the Confederacy? Which slave states remained in the Union? Your teacher will provide you with a U.S. map. Use the links, and textbook page 485, to help you label and color the map to show: 1. Union States and Confederate States 2. Slave States that remained in the Union 3. A timeframe for secession (when did states secede?) Square 4 - UNDERGROUND RAILROAD OVERVIEW Using the sites provided below, you are to write a paragraph summarizing what you have learned about the underground railroad. Be sure to include information about how it got its name, when it was in operation, who was involved, and how the railroad worked. (Remember that the Underground Railroad was a network created to help slaves escape to the North. Secret escape routes was passed on through secret codes used by the "conductors" and by slaves themselves. These codes could be found in slave songs as well as hand sewn quilts. Include some of this information in your summary). Square 5 - UNDERGROUND RAILROAD ROUTES (MAP) Contrary to popular belief, the underground railroad was not one set route. Use the sites below to explore the many routes that escaped slaves took. In this square you will draw a map of an escape route that you may have taken if you were slave trying to reach freedom in the north. Give a brief explanation of why you chose the route that you chose and include why you chose your final destination. Square 6 - JOURNAL ENTRY OF AN ESCAPED SLAVE In this square you will write a journal entry depicting what it would have been like to be an escaped slave traveling on the underground railroad. Use what you already know about the underground railroad to make your journal entry realistic. Be sure to include what you see, who you meet, and how you feel. The information should be based on the route that you have chosen to take (square 3). The site below provides excerpts from journals of slaves, railroad conductors, and abolitionists to help guide you. Square 7 - SIGNIFICANT FIGURES IN THE CIVIL WAR PERIOD Choose one of the famous people from the Civil War period. Use the link provided to research that person. On this square, you will include a picture of this person which can be downloaded from the internet. You must write a brief biography of this person. Be sure to include his/her role in the Civil War. Squares 8 and 9 - ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES How prepared was the North and the South to fight the war? Each side had advantages and disadvantages at the beginning of the Civil War. Square 8 should focus on the North and square 9 should focus on the South. Explain the advantages and disadvantages of each side on these two squares. Your teacher will provide you with the rubric. You will receive a timeline for completing each of the squares from your teacher. Congratulations!! If you have made it to this point, you have successfully navigated your way through the WebQuest. You have gained a much broader understanding of the causes of the Civil War and of those who were involved. Credits & References Ideas and resources gathered from the following sites:

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition - adj. Fearless and daring; courageous. - adj. Requiring or exhibiting courage and bravery. See Synonyms at brave. - adj. Unduly forward

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition - adj. Fearless and daring; courageous. - adj. Requiring or exhibiting courage and bravery. See Synonyms at brave. - adj. Unduly forward and brazen; impudent: a bold, sassy child. - adj. Clear and distinct to the eye; conspicuous: a bold handwriting. - adj. Steep or abrupt in grade or terrain: bold cliffs. - adj. Printing Boldface. from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License - n. A dwelling; habitation; building. - adj. Courageous, daring. - adj. having thicker strokes than the ordinary form of the typeface - adj. presumptuous. - v. To make (a font or some text) bold. - v. To be or become bold. from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English - adj. Forward to meet danger; venturesome; daring; not timorous or shrinking from risk; brave; courageous. - adj. Exhibiting or requiring spirit and contempt of danger; planned with courage; daring; vigorous. - adj. In a bad sense, too forward; taking undue liberties; over assuming or confident; lacking proper modesty or restraint; rude; impudent. - adj. Somewhat overstepping usual bounds, or conventional rules, as in art, literature, etc.; taking liberties in composition or expression. - adj. Standing prominently out to view; markedly conspicuous; striking the eye; in high relief. - adj. Steep; abrupt; prominent. - transitive v. To make bold or daring. - intransitive v. To be or become bold. from The Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia - Daring; courageous; brave; intrepid; fearless: applied to men or animals: as, bold as a lion. - Requiring or exhibiting courage; planned or executed with courage and spirit: as, a bold enterprise. - Confident; trusting; assured. - Forward; impudent; audacious: as, a bold huzzy. - Overstepping usual bounds; presuming upon sympathy or forbearance; showing liberty or license, as in style or expression: as, a bold metaphor. - Standing out to view; striking to the eye; markedly conspicuous; prominent: as, a bold headland; a bold handwriting. - Steep; abrupt: as, a bold shore (one that enters the water almost perpendicularly). - Deep, as water, close to the shore; navigable very near to the land. - To make bold; embolden; encourage. - To become bold. from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. - adj. clear and distinct - n. a typeface with thick heavy lines - adj. very steep; having a prominent and almost vertical front - adj. fearless and daring Middle English, from Old English bald; see bhel-2 in Indo-European roots.(American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition) From Middle English bold, from Old English bold, blod, bolt, botl ("house, dwelling-place, mansion, hall, castle, temple"), from Proto-Germanic *budlan, *buþlan (“house, dwelling”), from Proto-Indo-European *bheu-, *bhū- (“to grow, wax, swell, live, dwell”). Cognate with Old Frisian bold ("house") (whence North Frisian bol, boel, bøl ("house")), North Frisian bodel, budel ("property, inheritance"), Middle Low German būdel ("property, real estate"). Related to build. (Wiktionary) From Middle English bold, bald, beald, from Old English bald, beald ("bold, brave, confident, strong, of good courage, presumptuous, impudent"), from Proto-Germanic *balþaz (“strong, bold”), from Proto-Indo-European *bhel-, *bhlē- (“to bloat, swell, bubble”). Cognate with Dutch boud ("bold, courageous, fearless"), Middle High German balt ("bold") (whence German bald ("soon")), Swedish båld ("bold, dauntless"). Perhaps related to Albanian ballë ("forehead") and Old Prussian balo ("forehead"). For semantic development compare Italian affrontare ("to face, to deal with"), sfrontato ("brave,daring"), both from Latin frons ("forehead"). (Wiktionary)

Driver configuration files pass information about device drivers and their configuration to the system. Most device drivers do not have to have configuration files. Drivers for devices that are self-identifying, such as the SBus devices on many systems, can usually obtain

Driver configuration files pass information about device drivers and their configuration to the system. Most device drivers do not have to have configuration files. Drivers for devices that are self-identifying, such as the SBus devices on many systems, can usually obtain all the information they need from the FCode PROM on the SBus card using the DDI property interfaces. See ddi_prop_get_int(9F) and ddi_prop_lookup(9F) for details. The system associates a driver with its configuration file by name. For example, a driver in /usr/kernel/drv called wombat has the driver configuration file wombat.conf, also stored in /usr/kernel/drv, associated with it. On systems capable of support 64-bit drivers, the driver configuration file should be placed in the directory in which the 32-bit driver is (or would be) located, even if only a 64-bit version is provided. For example, a 64–bit driver stored in /usr/kernel/drv/sparcv9 stores its driver configuration file in /usr/kernel/drv. The value of the name property (see the name field, below) needs to match the binding name of the device. The binding name is the name chosen by the system to bind a driver to a device and is either an alias associated with the driver or the hardware node name of the device. The syntax of a single entry in a driver configuration file takes one of three forms: name="node name" parent="parent name" [property-name=value...]; In this form, the parent name can be either a simple nexus driver name to match all instances of that parent/node, or the parent name can be a specific full pathname, beginning with a slash (/) character, identifying a specific instance of a parent bus. Alternatively, the parent can be specified by the type of interface it presents to its children. name="node name" class="class name" [property-name=value...]; For example, the driver for the SCSI host adapter may have different names on different platforms, but the target drivers can use class scsi to insulate themselves from these differences. Entries of either form above correspond to a device information (devinfo) node in the kernel device tree. Each node has a name which is usually the name of the driver, and a parent name which is the name of the parent devinfo node it will be connected to. Any number of name-value pairs may be specified to create properties on the prototype devinfo node. These properties can be retrieved using the DDI property interfaces (for example, ddi_prop_get_int(9F) and ddi_prop_lookup(9F)). The prototype devinfo node specification must be terminated with a semicolon (;). The third form of an entry is simply a list of properties. A property created in this way is treated as global to the driver. It can be overridden by a property with the same name on a particular devinfo node, either by creating one explicitly on the prototype node in the driver.conf file or by the driver. Items are separated by any number of newlines, SPACE or TAB characters. The configuration file may contain several entries to specify different device configurations and parent nodes. The system may call the driver for each possible prototype devinfo node, and it is generally the responsibility of the drivers probe(9E) routine to determine if the hardware described by the prototype devinfo node is really present. Property names must not violate the naming conventions for Open Boot PROM properties or for IEEE 1275 names. In particular, property names should contain only printable characters, and should not contain at-sign (@), slash (/), backslash (\), colon (:), or square brackets (). Property values can be decimal integers or strings delimited by double quotes ("). Hexadecimal integers can be constructed by prefixing the digits with 0x. A comma separated list of integers can be used to construct properties whose value is an integer array. The value of such properties can be retrieved inside the driver using ddi_prop_lookup_int_array(9F). Comments are specified by placing a # character at the beginning of the comment string, the comment string extends for the rest of the line. The following is an example of a configuration file called ACME,simple.conf for a PCI bus frame buffer called ACME,simple. # # Copyright (c) 1993, by ACME Fictitious Devices, Inc. # #ident "@(#)ACME,simple.conf 1.3 1999/09/09" name="ACME,simple" class="pci" unit-address="3,1" debug-mode=12; This example creates a prototype devinfo node called ACME,simple under all parent nodes of class pci. The node has device and function numbers of 3 and 1, respectively; the property debug-mode is provided for all instances of the driver. The following is an example of a configuration file called ACME,example.conf for a pseudo device driver called ACME,example. # # Copyright (c) 1993, ACME Fictitious Devices, Inc. # #ident "@(#)ACME,example.conf 1.2 93/09/09" name="ACME,example" parent="pseudo" instance=0 debug-level=1; name="ACME,example" parent="pseudo" instance=1; whizzy-mode="on"; de

Gene Researchers Have Identified Gene Variants That Influence Lifespan By comparing the DNA of children to that of elderly people, genetic researchers have identified gene variants that influence the lifespan by either raising the risk of disease or by providing protection from disease.

Gene Researchers Have Identified Gene Variants That Influence Lifespan By comparing the DNA of children to that of elderly people, genetic researchers have identified gene variants that influence the lifespan by either raising the risk of disease or by providing protection from disease. Study leader Hakon Hakonarson, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Center for Applied Genomics at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, said of the study, hwich was published in the Jan. 30 edition of the journal PLoS ONE: "This research is the first genome-wide, population-based study of copy number variations in children associated with human longevity." Copy number variations, or CNVs, are losses or gains in DNA sequence that are usually rare, but often play an important role in raising or lowering the risk of disease. For the study, the researchers compared the rates of CNVs in a sample of 7,313 subjects under the age of 18 from the Children's Hospital network to a a group of 2,701 Icelandic subjects aged 67 years old or above that were recruited by the Icelandic Heart Association. The scientists used microchip arrays to perform the whole-genome CNV analyses. Hakonarson said that they assumed that CNVs appearing in children, but not in the elderly were more likely to be disease-causing, while CNVs that were proportionately higher in the elderly were more likely to be protective, which would allow them to live longer. After performing a replication study in an independent U.S. cohort of 2,079 children and 4,692 older people and making statistical adjustments to address population stratification, the researchers found seven significant CNVs. Three of the CNVs were deletions of DNA sequence, and four were duplications. The genes that were impacted by the CNVs disproportionately involved alternative splicing, which is an important biological mechanism in which instead of one gene simply expressing one protein, modifications to messenger RNA result in different protein products based on the same underlying DNA code in a given gene. The CNVs found to be overrepresented in children may represent novel targets implicated in short lifespan. Hakonarson said that if such CNVs are incorporated into early clinical screening tests in the future, their presence could be prognostic markers indicating which patients should take individualized preventative health measures.

July 23, 2012 — Researchers sponsored by Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC), a leading university-research consortium for semiconductors and related technologies, developed new sensor-based metrology technology that can significantly reduce water and related energy usage during

July 23, 2012 — Researchers sponsored by Semiconductor Research Corporation (SRC), a leading university-research consortium for semiconductors and related technologies, developed new sensor-based metrology technology that can significantly reduce water and related energy usage during semiconductor manufacturing. The sensor-based real-time monitoring approach showed 30% less water and energy used for ultra-clean chip production. The SRC Engineering Research Center (ERC) for Environmentally Benign Semiconductor Manufacturing team at the University of Arizona (UA) calls this “the most significant metrology improvements for the rinse and cleaning of wafers in more than a decade.” |Figure. In-situ monitors provide unprecedented control of water and chemical usage during surface preparation for silicon wafers. Highly sensitive sensors, like those shown in this micrograph of a sensing channel, can reduce the amount of resources needed for the cleaning of surfaces.| Surface preparation, when semiconductor wafers are cleaned, rinsed, and dried to prevent defects between various front end of line and back end of line (FEOL/BEOL) steps, is one of the largest water-consuming processes in semiconductor manufacturing. The International Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors (ITRS) identifies lower resource utilization at current and future fabrication steps among its goals. Also read: Semiconductor fabs use significantly less energy today, but work remains from ISMI. The ERC team’s real-time monitoring approach is applicable to current cleaning processes for 300mm silicon wafers, and the gain is expected to be especially beneficial when the industry transitions to 450mm wafers. At 450mm, chipmakers will need to clean and prep a wafer surface that is more than twice the size of current state-of-art wafers. Current surface preparation practices are recipe-based and not controlled with real-time, in-line monitoring of the process steps. Surface prep is carried out without feedback or control, with a large cushion of safety to overcome lack of regulation. This sizeable safety factor creates unnecessary waste of chemicals, water and energy. “The challenge is how to balance a minimal application of precious resources with the grave risk of allowing contamination to occur, which can kill huge investments made elsewhere in the fabrication process,” said Dr. Steve Hillenius, executive vice president for SRC. The next step is to commercialize the monitoring technology, said Farhang Shadman, lead researcher and the ERC director at UA for the SRC-funded research. Semiconductor equipment and manufacturing companies, as well as other industries that use ultra-clean for planar or patterned surfaces and small structures could use the real-time metrology technology to improve resource management. Examples include optics, optoelectronics, and flat panel display (FPD) makers. For more information about the research, please visit http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/TSM.2010.2089542. Contributors for the joint effort include K. Dhane, J. Han, J. Yan, O. Mahdavi, D. Zamani, B. Vermeire and F. Shadman. SRC defines industry needs, invests in and manages the research that gives its members a competitive advantage in the dynamic global marketplace. For more inf

you eat the right foods and stay active, thereís a good chance your bones could carry you well into your old age. "There are several well-established guidelines we recommend to patients that will help keep bones healthy and prevent bone loss

you eat the right foods and stay active, thereís a good chance your bones could carry you well into your old age. "There are several well-established guidelines we recommend to patients that will help keep bones healthy and prevent bone loss," says Dr. John England of Orthopaedic Associates of Wisconsin in Waukesha. Calcium-rich foods top the list of a bone-friendly diet. "It is important to get 1,000 to 1,500 milligrams of calcium each day. You can get that in three to four daily servings of dairy products. You can also get calcium in dark green leafy vegetables and broccoli, but the absorption rate is much lower," England says. And, of course, you can take calcium supplements. "Calcium citrate is more readily absorbed than calcium carbonate," he adds. Magnesium is needed for the body to absorb calcium. A daily dose of 250 milligrams of magnesium is sufficient. In fact, some calcium supplements are combined with magnesium. Being physically active is important for maintaining bone health and strength. It might even make you feel good. "Weight-bearing exercises like walking, jogging, running and racket sports are especially good for bone health. Weight training is important, too," says Jill Urban, a physical therapist at Keystone Physical Therapy in Brookfield. Other types of exercise such as swimming and yoga can also be good for bone health. Yoga contributes to balance and flexibility, which helps to prevent falls. "Strengthening your core or the center of your body is good. A solid center contributes to a stronger spine," Urban says. Exercise puts some stress on the bones and prompts the body to make them stronger. "There are a lot of different options when it comes to exercise. I tell people to find something that works for them. You need 30 to 60 minutes a day three to five times a week," Urban says. "I recommend that you start slowly and build up. An exercise physiologist or personal trainer can help you develop a plan." Never underestimate the importance of strong, healthy bones. The younger you are when you start taking care of your bones, the better your chance of avoiding osteoporosis or loss of bone density, which affects women in particular. Strong bones mean easier movement and a more enjoyable lifestyle. M More than 770,000 joint replacement surgeries are performed in the United States every year, according to the National Institutes of Health. These surgeries mean relief from pain and the return to an active lifestyle for most individuals. But many wonder just how long they can count on that new joint ó whether itís a knee, hip, shoulder or wrist ó to hold up. "Thatís the million-dollar question," says Dr. Todd Swenson of Blount Orthopaedic Clinic in Milwaukee. "Artificial joints are made of a metal alloy and plastic or ceramic. As new products come out, they get tested on robots that simulate human activities. But until we have

Kentucky, Death Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)Edit This Page From FamilySearch Wiki |This article describes a collection of historical records available at FamilySearch.org.| Access the records: Kentucky, Death Records, 1911-

Kentucky, Death Records (FamilySearch Historical Records)Edit This Page From FamilySearch Wiki |This article describes a collection of historical records available at FamilySearch.org.| Access the records: Kentucky, Death Records, 1911-1955. The collection consists of an index of Kentucky death certificates. Statewide death registration began in 1911. The information in the records may include the following: - Name of the deceased - Date of birth - Place of birth - Marital status - Age at death - Date of death - Time of death - Place of death - Address of the deceased - Parents’ names - Places of birth of the parents - Date of burial - Place of burial - Cause of death - Name and address of the informant How to Use the Records To begin your search you will need to know - The name of your ancestor - Other identifying information such as the birth date, death date or death place Search the Collection To search the collection fill in the requested information in the boxes on the initial search page. This search will return a list of possible matches. Compare the information about the individuals in the list to what you already know about your ancestors to determine if this is the correct family or person. You may need to look at the information on several individuals comparing the information about them to your ancestors to make this determination. Keep in mind: - There may be more than one person in the records with the same name. - You may not be sure of your own ancestor’s name. - Your ancestor may have used different names, or variations of their name, throughout their life. - If your ancestor used an alias or a nickname, be sure to check for those alternate names. - Even though these indexes are very accurate they may still contain inaccuracies, such as altered spellings, misinterpretations, and optical character recognition errors if the information was scanned. For tips about searching on-line collections see the on-line video at FamilySearch Search Tips. Using the Information When you have located your ancestor’s record, carefully evaluate each piece of information given. Download a copy of the record, or extract the genealogical information needed. These pieces of information may give you new biographical details. Add this new information to your records of each family. The information may also lead you to other records about your ancestors. For example use the places to search for census, church and land records Tips to Keep in Mind - Continue to search the index to identify children, siblings, parents, and other relatives who may have died in the same place or nearby. - When looking for a person who had a common name, look at all the entries for the name before deciding which is correct. Unable to Find Your Ancestor? - Look for variant spellings of the names. You should also look for nicknames and abbreviated names. - Search the indexes and records of nearby localities. - Try alternative search methods such as only filling in the surname search box (or the given name search box) on the landing page leaving the other box empty and then click on search. This should return a list of everyone with that particular name. Related Wiki Articles Contributions to this article |We welcome user additions to FamilySearch Historical Records wiki articles. Guidelines are available to help you make changes. Thank you for any contributions you may provide. If you would like to get more involved join the WikiProject FamilySearch Records.| Citing FamilySearch Historical Collections When you copy information from a record, you should list where you found the information. This will help you or others to find the record again. It is also good to keep track of records where you did not find information, including the names of the people you looked for in the records. A suggested format for keeping track of records that you have searched is found in the wiki article Help:How to Cite FamilySearch Collections. Citation for This Collection The following citation refers to the original source of the information published in FamilySearch.org Historical Records collections. Sources include the author, custodian, publisher, and archive for the original records. - "Kentucky, Death Records, 1911-1955." Index. FamilySearch. https://familysearch.org : accessed 2013. Kentucky Office of Vital Statistic, Frankfort, Kentucky. - This page was last modified on 6 November 2013, at 21:49. - This page has been accessed 5,828 times. New to the Research Wiki? In the FamilySearch Research Wiki, you can learn how to do genealogical research or share your knowledge with others.Learn More

January 3, 2012 So what can this unusual library tell us? First, there is the simple parts list. The most common component was organic material, present in 40 of the 63 particles – exactly what is unclear,

January 3, 2012 So what can this unusual library tell us? First, there is the simple parts list. The most common component was organic material, present in 40 of the 63 particles – exactly what is unclear, but it could be anything from pollen to sloughed-off bits of researcher. Quartz, found in 34 particles, came next, followed by carbonates (17 particles) and gypsum (14). “The minerals blow in,” says Coe. “They come from all over the world.” Other ingredients included air pollutants and fertiliser chemicals. Anyone counting will also have noticed that there are already more components than particles. That is because most specks of dust are conglomerates, which means they may take an infinite variety of forms, much like snowflakes. The next obvious step was to find out what individual conglomerates looked like, but pinpointing exactly which speck corresponded to which spectrum wasn’t going to be easy. So Coe launched a competition. The first person to capture an electron microscope image of a particle that had already been analysed with infrared light would get to name it. And, if that was not enough, there was a free dinner on offer too. What student could fail to rise to that challenge?

Due: by midnight Monday, October 8, 2012. For this program, you can work with a single partner. Be sure to specify in your listing who worked on it. If you've been having a lot of trouble, try

Due: by midnight Monday, October 8, 2012. For this program, you can work with a single partner. Be sure to specify in your listing who worked on it. If you've been having a lot of trouble, try to find someone to work with who has not been having trouble. But make sure that you understand what your group is doing. Your program listing should have the following information. # Files: Stack.py, Calculator.py # # Description: # # Student's Name(s): # # Student's UT EID: # # Course Name: CS 313E # # Date Created: # # Date Last Modified: The mathematical notation that we use is called infix, because the operator comes between the arguments. It is actually much less convenient for machine processing than several other possible notations because you need precedence rules and parenthesis to make it unambiguous. Nevertheless, it's what we're stuck with. Your assignment is to write a simple calculator that prompts the user for input, inputs an expression, evaluates and prints the value of the expression (or an error message if the expression is ill-formed). Your calculator should take input either in infix notation or in postfix notation. The default should be infix, but allow the user to input strings "infix" or "postfix" to toggle between the two. Exit the program when the user types "stop". Note that this is not directly related to the Calc class we defined earlier, though you may adopt ideas from that if you like. On the other hand, that may just confuse you, so feel free to ignore that in doing this assignment. Input may contain positive integer constants and the following operators: + (plus), - (minus), * (times), and parentheses (for infix). Use spaces to separate tokens in your input. That is, you should input "( 12 + 7 ) * 3" rather than "(12+7)*3". This allows your numeric constants to be more than a single character long. Coding this will involve the following steps: felix:~/cs313e/python> python Calculator.py This is a simple calculator. Enter expressions in infix (default) or postfix notation. Enter 'infix' or 'postfix' to toggle the mode. Enter'stop' to exit. Tokens in your expression must be separated by spaces. Expressions can involve integers and any of +, *, -. Infix expressions can use parentheses to disambiguate. Enter an infix expression: 3 + 2 * 4 The answer is: 11 Enter an infix expression: ( 3 + 2 ) * 4 The answer is: 20 Enter an infix expression: postfix Enter a postfix expression: 3 2 4 * + The answer is: 11 Enter a postfix expression: 3 2 + 4 * The answer is: 20 Enter a postfix expression: 3 + Ill-formed expression Enter a postfix expression: infix Enter an infix expression: 3 + Ill-formed expression Enter an infix expression: a + b Ill-formed expression bad token a Enter an infix expression: ( 3 + 4 ) The answer is: 7 Enter an infix expression: stop felix:~/cs313e/python>

According to Ann Tatum, Warmer Weather Requires Increased Safety Measures Ann Tatum is offering her thoughts on a new article that details how to avoid pests during time outside. SANTA BARBARA, Calif., April 29, 201

According to Ann Tatum, Warmer Weather Requires Increased Safety Measures Ann Tatum is offering her thoughts on a new article that details how to avoid pests during time outside. SANTA BARBARA, Calif., April 29, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Ann Tatum, owner of Outdoor Adventures with Ann, has issued comment on a new article dealing with springtime problems, such as mosquitoes and poison ivy. The piece explains that warmer weather brings excitement and longer days, but can also increase an individual's risk of coming into contact with some less-than-pleasant parts of the outdoors. A trip outside will never be free of hazards, but some caution is required in order to stay safe and enjoy the outing. Mark Beason, spokesman for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks, advises individuals to venture into nature with a clear understanding of potential hazards. When speaking about dangerous plants such as poison ivy and poison oak, he explains, "You need to be able to identify what they look like and teach your kids to stay away from them." Ann Tatum comments on this advice noting, "Before heading outside for a hike, an individual should take a minute to know what poison ivy and poison oak look like. Either pick up a guidebook or do some research online. Steering clear of these forms of vegetation will make any time spent outdoors much more enjoyable and safe for everyone involved." When it comes to venturing outside with children, parents need to come prepared. Scrapes and cuts happen, especially when young boys and girls are out climbing trees, rollerblading, playing games, and riding bikes. The most effective way to treat a scrape is by washing the area thoroughly with soap and warm water. Then parents should apply an antibiotic ointment like Neosporin, and place a bandage on top of the affected area. Because scrapes and falls do happen, it is imperative that parents make young outdoor enthusiasts wear a helmet any time they want to get on a bike. Injuries that occur during cycling and four-wheeling accidents can prove fatal, making it essential that a child dons a helmet any and every time he or she gets on a bike of any kind. Individuals should also keep an eye out for dangerous bugs after a long day outside. Ticks frequent tall grass, and can live in a backyard or trail too. Prior to coming inside after an expedition, an individual should check his or her skin and clothing for signs of these creatures. A person should take care to check behind the ears, in the scalp, and anywhere where an elastic band lies. Should a tick be present, an individual should pinch it as close to the

We're entering the science fair season, when schools teach children about science by making their parents conduct experiments. Across America, grown men and women will be watching crystals grow, grapes shrivel, pennies corrode and scuzz form in petri

We're entering the science fair season, when schools teach children about science by making their parents conduct experiments. Across America, grown men and women will be watching crystals grow, grapes shrivel, pennies corrode and scuzz form in petri dishes -- except for the most ambitious parents, who, out of love for their children and a desire to see them advance to science fairs at the city, regional, national, global and galactic level, will build fully operational communications satellites and nuclear fusion reactors. But it all starts with the Question. Many students may worry that the best questions (like, "Why does a can of Diet Coke float in water while regular Coke sinks?") have already been asked. Balderdash. There are an infinite number of good questions. For example, there's the one Vicki Silvers Gier, a psychologist at Central Missouri State University, asked a few years ago: What happens when you read material that has been incompetently highlighted with a yellow marker? Scientists had already shown that students benefit from highlighting their own reading material. But Gier and a colleague were the first to show that students who read material that has been badly highlighted by someone else (with unimportant words marked and important words not marked) will have dramatically reduced comprehension -- even if they're warned in advance that the highlighting will be terrible. "You cannot ignore it," she says. "Even when you try to ignore it, it's there." Scientific conclusion: Stupid people make us dumber. I met Gier at the recent meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in St. Louis, where she attended a presentation by Marc Abrahams, founder and editor of the Annals of Improbable Research. Every year, Abrahams and his colleagues give out their version of the Nobel Prizes: the Ig Nobel Prizes. Gier is an Ig Nobel laureate from 2002, after her paper on "The Effects of Pre-Existing Inappropriate Highlighting on Reading Comprehension" appeared in the journal Reading Research and Instruction. Abrahams, who has a vast knowledge of improbable scientific literature, compares Gier's work to that of two Cornell scientists who showed that one attribute of extreme incompetence is "that the person so afflicted is incapable of knowing that he is incompetent." The study, titled "Unskilled and Unaware of It," demonstrated that people who scored, on average, at the 12th percentile in tests of humor, grammar and logic assessed themselves to be, on average, at the 62nd percentile. Incompetence at the extreme is a double-whammy, the authors declare: "Not only do these people reach erroneous conclusions and make unfortunate choices, but their incompetence robs them of the metacognitive ability to realize it." (Which explains Washington, in a nutshell.) The Annals of Improbable Research is like an ongoing tribute to science fair projects with a demented streak. "It's about stuff that first makes people laugh, and then makes them think. What they think is up to them," Abrahams says. He doesn't ignore the humanities (Ig Nobels have gone to the Apostrophe Protection Society for its efforts to "defend the differences between plural and possessive," and to the Lithuanian creator of the amusement park called Stalin World), but Abrahams is particularly gifted at discovering scientific marvels, such as: · Two scientists who, since 1927, have studied the rate at which a glob of tar drips through a funnel. Answer: One drop every nine years. · The inventor of an alarm clock that rolls away and hides, forcing you out of bed to turn it off. · Three scientists who proved that Kansas is flatter than a pancake (under a powerful microscope, "a pancake appears more rugged than the Grand Canyon").

Fire officials say that progress is being made on the 10 major wildfires burning in California. Meanwhile, the Rim fire near Yosemite National Park has grown to 187,466 acres and is 23 percent contained. It remains the 7th largest

Fire officials say that progress is being made on the 10 major wildfires burning in California. Meanwhile, the Rim fire near Yosemite National Park has grown to 187,466 acres and is 23 percent contained. It remains the 7th largest wildfire recorded in California. Read more: Tahoe visitors, Sierra resdients endure smoky days as Rim Fire rages The largest wildfires in state history as listed by the National Weather Service: 1. Cedar fire, San Diego County, 273,000 acres in 2003. 2. Rush fire, Lassen County, 271,000 acres in 2012. 3. Zaca fire, Santa Barbara County, 240,000 acres in 2007. 4. Matilija fire, Ventura County, 220,000 acres in 1932. 5. Witch fire, San Diego County, 197,000 acres in 2007. 6. Klamath fire, Siskiyou County, 192,000 acres in 2008. 7. Rim fire, Tuolumne County, 187,466 acres in 2013. In Placer County, the American Fire northeast of Foresthill is 94 percent contained this morning, according to Cal Fire. The wild land blaze has consumed 26,000 acres. The majority of the large wildfires are burning on federal land. Cal Fire and local fire departments are working in support of U.S. Forest Service firefighters. Nearly 9,000 firefighters have been battling the blazes. About 4,200 of the firefighters are deployed at the Rim fire. PHOTO CAPTION: While monitoring a controlled backfire along Highway 120 at the southwestern edge of California's Yosemite National Park, Captain Russell Mitchell with Yosemite Fire glances up as a U.S. Forest Service firefighting aircraft flies overhead on Tuesday, August 27, 2013. Don Bartletti/ Los Angeles Times

inverted word order please send me something about this topic, some explanation, helllppppp!!!!!! it is my hw. :? :wink: tnkx adding my e-mail EMAIL REMOVED - Send PM to

inverted word order please send me something about this topic, some explanation, helllppppp!!!!!! it is my hw. :? :wink: tnkx adding my e-mail EMAIL REMOVED - Send PM to This User Instead Re: inverted word order Certain sentence types require inverted word order, in which a verb is placed before the subject. These types include interrogative sentences, that begin with 'when', 'where', 'what', and conditional clauses that begin with negative or restrictive words such as never, rarely, scarcely, hardly ever, and not only. For example: Rarely am I late for my classes. Originally Posted by sofia Hardly a week goes by without a distaster happening in some part of the world. Seldom have I read such a good book. Little did we know about what was going on at that time. Rich as you may be, you can't buy sincere friends. Had I known who she was, I would not have come on her that hard. By Tdol in forum Intermediate Last Post: 16-Aug-2009, 13:43 By mas94010 in forum Frequently A

On hard disks, throughput and seeking is often faster towards the beginning of the disk, because that data is stored closer to the outer area of the disk, which has more sectors per cylinder. Thus, creating the swap at the beginning of the disk

On hard disks, throughput and seeking is often faster towards the beginning of the disk, because that data is stored closer to the outer area of the disk, which has more sectors per cylinder. Thus, creating the swap at the beginning of the disk might improve performance. For a 2.6 Linux kernel, there is no performance difference between a swap partition and an unfragmented swap file. When a swap partition/file is enabled by swapon, the 2.6 kernel finds which disk blocks the swapfile is stored on, so that when it comes time to swap, it doesn't have to deal with the filesystem at all. Thus, if the swapfile isn't fragmented, it's exactly as if there were a swap partition at its same location. Or put another way, you'd get identical performance if you used a swap partition raw, or formatted it with a filesystem and then created a swapfile that filled

Beetle grubs can turn a fine looking lawn into a patchwork quilt of yellow spots. But before you reach for the insecticide bottle, there are a number of organic alternatives that will help you cope with the gr

Beetle grubs can turn a fine looking lawn into a patchwork quilt of yellow spots. But before you reach for the insecticide bottle, there are a number of organic alternatives that will help you cope with the grubs without poisoning yourself or your family. What are these grubs? The grubs that you see in the lawn are the larvae of Japanese beetles, June beetles, and chafers. These grubs are C-shaped, off-white in color with a dark head. They eat the roots of grass, causing the grass to die and form brown patches. Lawns that are heavily damaged by grubs will have a yellowish tinge and will feel spongy when walked on. The sod itself can be easily lifted, a sure sign that the brown patches were not caused by dog urine. Adult beetles emerge, mate, and lay eggs from late June until early August. The eggs hatch in about two weeks and the tiny grubs grow quickly. The yellowing patches of sod usually appear in late August and September, when the grubs are vigorously feeding and the turf is otherwise water-stressed. In October or November, when soil temperatures begin to cool, the grubs stop feeding and move deeper into the soil, where they spend the winter. They return to the root zone and resume feeding early the following spring. What to do Just a couple grubs per square foot are not a problem to an otherwise healthy lawn. Ten or more per square foot are necessary to justify treatment. Predatory nematodes are available for use in Canada and the US as a biological control for white grub. The use of these nematodes requires that the soil be kept very moist and it is very important that the application instructions for this product be followed closely, as nematodes are living organisms. Treat the entire lawn. Do not attempt to control lawn pests by spot applications. Water the lawn thoroughly after application to wash in the nematodes. When to treat the lawn? The younger the grubs are, the easier they are to control. The best time to apply grub control measures is from mid-July to August and September when the grubs are small and near the soil surface. Although treatments can be made after this time, grubs will be more difficult to kill (because of their larger size). The second best time is March to April when the grubs are once again near the soil surface but a little larger. Encourage natural enemies Certain species of wasps parasitize white grubs. They are sometimes seen hovering over the turf in late summer in search of green June beetle grubs on which to lay their eggs. They are not aggressive and normally will not sting people. The wasp larva feeds externally upon the grub, eventually killing its victim before spinning a fuzzy, brown, jelly bean-size cocoon in the soil. Predators such as ground beetles and ants also take their toll on eggs and young white grubs. Managing your lawn to minimize damage Lawns that are heavily managed and watered regularly may actually attract beetles. They prefer grassy areas where the soil is constantly moist such as lawns, pastures, and meadows in close-cropped grass. Frequent irrigation in June and July may attract egg-laying female beetles to the turf, especially if surrounding areas are dry. In contrast, adequate soil moisture in August and September (when grubs are actively feeding) can help hide root injury. If grub damage starts to appear in late August or September, watering will promote tolerance and recovery. Deep, periodic soaking of the turf is more beneficial than frequent, light watering. Terra Viva Organics http://www.tvorganics.com Supplies predatory nematodes on-line. University of Florida Factsheet - Microbial A great overview of the advantages and disadvantages of using nematodes, Bt, and other biological insecticides. Ohio State FactSheet http://ohioline.ag.ohio-state.edu/~ohioline/hyg-fact/2000/2500.html Good description of grubs, ignore the chemical advice Arzeena Hamir is an agronomist and garden writer based in Vancouver, BC.

Boosting anemic broadband speeds and wireless networks stuck in the 20th century By Adam M. BrightPosted 02.02.2010 at 10:34 am 11 Comments The U.S. ranks 17th

Boosting anemic broadband speeds and wireless networks stuck in the 20th century By Adam M. BrightPosted 02.02.2010 at 10:34 am 11 Comments The U.S. ranks 17th worldwide in broadband access, but not for long—last year's stimulus package allotted $7.2 billion for upgrading our underperforming broadband infrastructure. Our legacy copper wiring just can't carry the data to support HD-video streaming, for instance, and next-gen wireless networks are slower to roll out than in, say, Japan, because of the sheer size of this country. But advances in fiber-optic cables and broadband blimps could bring serious speed increases to homes and smartphones. In a world of real-time Twitter search and smartphones that whisk pictures and videos around a very mobile Web, it's hard to believe that data transfer rates to and from space often border on dial-up speeds. The ISS is one of the most advanced pieces of technology man has ever dreamed up, yet crew members got their first Internet connection just last week. If it were up to us, everything would be faster by at least one order of magnitude, but the laws of physics often get in the way of unlimited speed and efficiency. Take fiber optic data transfer: the pulses of light carrying data through the worldwide network of fiber optics move really fast, but alas, cannot go any faster than they do. However, scientists at Cornell University have figured out a way to pack more data into those pulses of light, using a system they're calling a "time telescope," which has the potential to increase fiber optic data speeds by 27 times.

The collapse of bits of plaster and stone from the 2,000 year old monument, where gladiators once did battle with each other and against wild animals such as lions, wolves and bears, has raised fears of serious injury to visitors.

The collapse of bits of plaster and stone from the 2,000 year old monument, where gladiators once did battle with each other and against wild animals such as lions, wolves and bears, has raised fears of serious injury to visitors. The metal barrier will ring the monument, one of Italy's most popular tourist attractions, at varying distances of between six and 15 yards, authorities said. "Where the Colosseum is highest, the distance will be greater – a fragment that falls from 50 metres has a different trajectory to one that falls from a height of 15 metres," said Mariarosaria Barbera, a cultural heritage official. A £22 million restoration, to be funded by Diego Della Valle, the multi-millionaire founder of th

Ashfaqulla Khan was a loyal friend, a great revolutionary, a real martyr who sacrificed his life for the cause of freedom... History has witnessed the coming and going of many great civilisations. Through its long history, the Hindu civilisation

Ashfaqulla Khan was a loyal friend, a great revolutionary, a real martyr who sacrificed his life for the cause of freedom... History has witnessed the coming and going of many great civilisations. Through its long history, the Hindu civilisation has endured numerous attacks and attempts at its destruction. However, it has also produced a long line of heroes and warriors to rise up and protect their motherland from the fate of every other ancient civilisation. Bajirao Peshwa was one of the greatest warriors and protectors of Hindu Dharma in the History of Bharat in the 18th Shrimant Bajirao Peshwa (August 18, 1700 – April 28, 1740) : The rebirth of Hindu polity after the Vijainaygar Kingdom under the nomenclature of Hindu Pad Padshahi, well founded by Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, attained shape during the ascendency of the Peshwas. Expert swordsman, outstanding rider, master strategist and leader by example, Bajirao I succeeded his father as Peshwa when he was only twenty years of age…launching into an illustrious military career that occupies its own special place in the history of Hindustan. Peshwa Bajirao, the great Maratha general and statesman, changed the map of India in the mid-eighteenth century. His military campaigns were classic examples of his genius. In the havoc of the religious intolerance continued by the tottering Mughals after Aurangzeb, Bajirao stood out as the champion of Hinduism as he protected Hindu Dharma from the onslaught of Islamic rulers. was he who expanded the Hindu Kingdom beyond Maharashtra across the Vindhyas and got it recognised in Delhi, the capital of the Mughals who kept Bharat (India) under their rule for many hundred years. The Hindu Kingdom created by its founder, Shivaji, and later expanded by Bajirao reached its peak during his son’s reign twenty years after his death. After driving the Afghans out of the Punjab, they raised the saffron flag of Hindus not just on the walls of Attock, but even beyond. Bajirao is thus acknowledged as one of the greatest warriors of Hindu Dharma and the most famous ruler in the history of Bharat. He was a noted general who served as Peshwa (Prime Minister) to the fourth Chhatrapati (Emperor) Shahu. Birth and early life of Bajirao : Baji was born on August 18, 1700, as the eldest son of Peshwa Balaji Vishwanath Rao who had taken the 'Peshwaship' to a new height. He belonged to the reputed, traditional Chit-Pawan Brahmin family of Konkan. Balaji Vishwanath (Father of Bajirao), though third among the Peshwas, had overtaken his predecessors as far as his achievements were concerned. Thus, Bajirao was an infant with a silver spoon in his mouth. Bajirao was well trained by the Maratha cavalry generals who were distinguished in the war of 27 years. For the young Bajirao, in the absence of his mother, his close association with his father was a mobile school of politics. Bajirao, even while he was quite young, rarely missed the military campaigns of his father. This provided maturity to Bajirao, in practical military science. Father Balaji’s role in Bajirao’s life was similar to that played by Mother Jijabai in Chatrapati Shivaji’s life. In 1716, Maharaja Shahu's army-in-chief Dabhaji Thorat treacherously arrested Peshwa Balaji. Bajirao also chose to accompany his father for two years till he was released. Bajirao shared the torture bestowed upon his father during his imprisonment. This experience brought him face to face with their treachery. The post-imprisonment career of Balaji Vishwanath reached a new dimension in the history of the Maratha-Mughal relationship. Young Bajirao was eye-witness to all this development. In 1718 AD he travelled to Delhi along with his father. In the capital he witnessed unimaginable intrigue and learnt quickly to cope with the devious ways of political machinations.These and other experiences coupled with his own youthful energy, vision and skill prepared him for the position that he was to rise to. He was a natural leader who preferred to lead by example, inspiring his troops by his own skill at using the deadly circular danapatta sword of the Marathas and riding a horse into the thick of battle. Share Your View via Facebook Crusader against corruption Dr. Subramanian Swamy has told a TV channel that he would soon be joining NDA. Dr. Swamy said.. Now, ‘made in China’ doctors in India Twenty eight Chinese universities are promoting their MBBS degrees and a.. Human race is diverse, so too its cultures and belief systems. Though religion is born in a particular race and nat.. If there were no rules, would we be corrupt? Do rules make us corrupt? After all, only when there are rules can rules be b..

Watch the Cancer: Early Detection video Cancer: Early Detection By 2030, cancer cases are expected to have doubled worldwide. Will you help more people survive cancer through earlier detection? The most common forms of cancer worldwide are lung,

Watch the Cancer: Early Detection video Cancer: Early Detection By 2030, cancer cases are expected to have doubled worldwide. Will you help more people survive cancer through earlier detection? The most common forms of cancer worldwide are lung, breast, colon, stomach, prostate and liver. For lung, breast and colon cancer, early detection and treatment significantly reduce mortality. However, screening for these cancers through CT scans, mammography and colonoscopy is limited by patient acceptance, side-effects, staff expertise and cost. The reduction in deaths from these cancers due to screening is between 16-24%. Many lives could be saved by an improved test for earlier detection of solid cancers that affect organs. The world’s first Centre of Excellence for Autoimmunity in Cancer (CEAC) was established at the University in 2011. Our team work with international collaborators and industry to develop blood tests for early detection of cancer. The tests look for antibodies, produced by an individual’s immune system in response to cancer. Early detection blood tests can detect breast cancer up to four years earlier than a mammogram and can detect lung cancer significantly before patients present with symptoms. Our research helped launch the world’s first autoantibody test for the early detection of lung cancer, EarlyCDT™-Lung, in the USA in 2010 in collaboration with Oncimmune, a University spin-out company. Initial results have shown the test performs as predicted and it is expected to be launched in the UK by 2012. Building on the success of our blood test for lung cancer, we are working to develop tests for early detection of further cancers, including breast and colon cancer, so treatment can start before the disease has spread. Our tests will save lives around the world. Early detection of cancer leads to less aggressive treatments, better survival rates and a longer life expectancy. The screening has no side effects and will be more widely accepted by patients. Blood tests are also cheaper and simpler as they don’t call for expert screening staff or specialist equipment. Early detection of cancer leads to less aggressive treatments, better survival rates and a longer life expectancy. The screening has no side effects and will be more widely accepted by patients. Blood tests are also cheaper and simpler as they don’t call for expert screening staff or specialist equipment. What will your Impact be? Your support for Cancer: Early Detection will have a genuine impact on the quality of life of patients in the UK and worldwide and will save more people who might otherwise die from cancer. University staff sign up to Support Heartlight Under the Small Change: Big Impact scheme, staff at The University of Nottingham are choosing to round their net pay down to the nearest whole pound, with the pennies collected automatically going to support a Campaign project. In 2012 staff donations supported HeartLight, with more than £300 per month being directed towards this vital research and helping to save the lives of newborn babies every month. In 2013 Small Change Big Impact will support the University’s research into the early detection of cancer. Staff reading this and wishing to sign up should log on to their Intranet Portal and click into the ‘Other Services’ tab. Bowel cancer is curable by a simple operation when detected early. Despite this, many patients present with late-stage bowel cancer because of the embarrassment associated with current screening tests and the fact that symptoms are non-specific. Screening tests involving stool samples or an invasive internal examination have compliance rates of less than 50%. The advent of a simple blood test represents an exciting opportunity to revolutionise bowel cancer screening and cure more patients. John Scholefield, Professor of Surgery, Consultant General and Colorectal Surgeon I believe the technology CEAC is working on has the potential to change the current paradigm of screening and early diagnosis to an initial blood-based test, with subsequent confirmation of cancer by more interventional tests. The potential future opportunities to use the technology in selecting patients for prevention therapies is novel and particularly exciting. It continues to build on the great strength of The University of Nottingham in many aspects of immunology. Professor Peter Boyle, Scientific Research Committee, Centre of Excellence for Autoimmunity in Cancer (CEAC). The formation of CEAC by the University is an endorsement of the science we have pursued over the last 15 years. It has resulted in the first blood autoantibody test for the early detection of (lung) cancer. I believe the autoantibody technology will lead to earlier detection of most solid cancers as well as help stratify patients for specific anti-cancer treatments. Professor John Robertson, Director of CEAC

Wind energy is becoming one of the most commonly discussed forms of renewable energy. Here’s how it works: when the wind blows, it turns the blades of large wind mills (or turbines) that connect to a generator and turn it into electricity.

Wind energy is becoming one of the most commonly discussed forms of renewable energy. Here’s how it works: when the wind blows, it turns the blades of large wind mills (or turbines) that connect to a generator and turn it into electricity. Modern wind turbines are very large, with the diameter of the blades ranging from 150 to 300 feet. Anyone who has ever seen a wind turbine in action knows how majestic and powerful it is! Wind energy has grown at a rapid rate in recent years and the U.S. Department of Energy has announced a goal of obtaining 6% of U.S. electricity from wind by 2020, which is consistent with the current rate of growth of wind energy nationwide. As public demand for clean energy grows, and as the cost of producing energy from the wind continues to decline, it is likely that wind energy will provide a growing portion of the nation's energy supply. Fun facts about wind energy:

(NaturalNews) Scientists at Pennsylvania State University have recently conducted a study to investigate how spices, such as cinnamon, oregano, basil and turmeric, can influence the blood levels of unhealthy fats. Published in the prestigious Journal Of Nutrition,

(NaturalNews) Scientists at Pennsylvania State University have recently conducted a study to investigate how spices, such as cinnamon, oregano, basil and turmeric, can influence the blood levels of unhealthy fats. Published in the prestigious Journal Of Nutrition, their research reveals that the regular consumption of fresh, or freshly ground spices, can effectively reduce the body's negative response to eating high-fat foods. Associate professor of biobehavioral health, Sheila West, who led this investigation, explained that "when you eat a high-fat meal, you end up with high levels of triglycerides, a type of fat, in your blood." She warned us "if this happens too frequently, or if triglyceride levels are raised too much, your risk of heart disease is increased." To test the effects of spices on the human body, West used a group of 6 overweight, but otherwise healthy, men between the ages of 30 and 35. She and her team prepared special meals for the subjects on two separate days. Each test meal was seasoned with two table tablespoons of rosemary, oregano, cinnamon, turmeric, black pepper, cloves, garlic powder and paprika. "We selected these spices because they had potent antioxidant activity previously under controlled conditions in the lab.", said Ann Skulas-Ray, a postdoctoral fellow who participated in this study. The control meals were identical to the test meals in every way, except that they did not contain any added spices. The science team drew blood every 30 minutes from all subjects, over a 3 hour period. After the final data was collected for comparison, the researchers made some unique and encouraging discoveries. "We found that adding spices to a high-fat meal reduced triglyceride response by about 30 percent, compared to a similar meal with no spices added," said West. West later added that the seasoned meals were also able to decrease the body's insulin response by 20%. Multiple studies in recent medical research indicate that oxidative stress plays a major role in the occurrence of heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and other health complications. Professor Sheila West further revealed that "Antioxidants, like spices, may be important in reducing oxidative stress and

Leaky blood vessels that lose their ability to protect the spinal cord from toxins may play a role in the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, according to research published in the April issue of

Leaky blood vessels that lose their ability to protect the spinal cord from toxins may play a role in the development of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, better known as ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease, according to research published in the April issue of Nature Neuroscience. The results mark the first time that scientists have witnessed molecular changes occurring long before key nerve cells start dying. The unexpected finding opens up a new front in studies of ALS, a disease in which motor neurons in the spinal cord die off for unknown reasons, resulting in dramatically weakened muscles. Patients lose their strength, their ability to move or swallow, and eventually lose their ability even to breathe. Most patients live only a few years after diagnosis. “We believe these changes contribute to or possibly initiate the onset of ALS,” said lead author Berislav Zlokovic, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Rochester Medical Center. “It’s clear that these changes occur before the loss of neurons, and it’s well known that the types of changes we are seeing certainly injure or kill these types of cells, which are extremely sensitive to their biochemical environment.” The results, discovered by studying mutant mice that have an inherited form of the disease, were made by a collaboration of

Print version ISSN 0042-9686 Bull World Health Organ vol.90 n.9 Genebra Sep. 2012 Mahmoud F FathallaI,*; Rebecca J CookII IAssiut University

Print version ISSN 0042-9686 Bull World Health Organ vol.90 n.9 Genebra Sep. 2012 Mahmoud F FathallaI,*; Rebecca J CookII IAssiut University, 71414 Assiut, Egypt IIUniversity of Toronto, Toronto, Canada The World Health Organization (WHO) has released an update of its 2003 publication Safe abortion: technical and policy guidance for health systems.1 The guidance contained in the original publication has been widely used by governments, nongovernmental organizations, providers of women's health services and women's health and human rights advocates. The updated guidance is thus certain to be well received and put to good use by all public health officials and medical personnel who care for women's health and rights. The substantial revisions in the 2012 update reflect developments not only in safe abortion methods and clinical care, but also in the application of human rights principles in policy-making and in legislation related to induced abortion. The updated publication was prepared in accordance with WHO standards and requirements for evidence-based guideline development and the draft recommendations were reviewed and revised by an international panel of experts. Notably, these recommendations provide guidance about the range of safe options available to women seeking an elective abortion and highlight the importance of having the woman participate in the choice of abortion method, pain control and post-abortion contraception. Some women will obviously always refuse to have an induced abortion, a subject that has sparked heated controversy in every epoch and continues to do so today. However, exposure to unsafe abortion is gravely detrimental to women's health and human rights. At present, an estimated 22 million abortions continue to be performed annually under unsafe conditions throughout the world. About 47 000 women die every year from the complications of these unsafe abortions and an additional 5 million are left disabled.2 Access to safe elective abortion early in pregnancy could prevent nearly every one of these deaths and cases of disability. Women throughout history have resorted to induced abortion to deal with unwanted pregnancy, but often at risk to their health or even their lives. Although use of contraceptives has resulted in decreased rates of unintended pregnancy, it has not eliminated the need for safe elective abortion because every method of contraception has an intrinsic failure rate, even if used strictly as prescribed. According to estimates based on 2007 data on contraceptive use and failure rates, every year approximately 33 million women worldwide get pregnant accidentally while practising contraception.1 Unsafe induced abortion is not only a public health problem; it is also a human rights issue.3 Governments are obligated by their national constitutions or by legally binding international human rights conventions to protect a set of fundamental human rights, namely, the right to the highest attainable standard of health; to non-discrimination; to life, liberty and personal security; to education and information, and to freedom from inhuman and degrading treatment. WHO's 2012 guidance explains how national courts and regional and international human rights bodies, including the United Nations treaty monitoring bodies, have increasingly applied human rights principles to facilitate women's transparent access to safe abortion services.1 As unsafe elective abortion is a multifaceted problem involving politicians, lawyers, religious groups and medical staff, addressing the human rights of women who face an unplanned pregnancy may facilitate helpful dialogue among these stakeholders. In a consensus statement issued in 1999, the United Nations General Assembly prescribed that "in circumstances where abortion is not against the law, health systems should train and equip health-service providers and should take other measures to ensure that such abortion is safe and accessible".4 Restrictive abortion laws are not associated with lower abortion rates.5 In countries where induced abortion is highly restricted by law, safe abortion has frequently become the privilege of the rich, while poor women are left with little choice but to resort to unsafe providers. Even in places where abortion is allowed only to save a woman's life or to protect her health, trained providers and good services and treatments must be made available to manage the complications of unsafe abortion. In updating its guidance on safe abortion, WHO, with support from an international consensus and prompted by human rights obligations, has responded to a major neglected public health need of women. The writers of this editorial, a health professional and a lawyer, submit that until abortion is decriminalized, the tragedy of unsafe abortion will continue to haunt us and to threaten the life, health and rights of women. Furthermore, research aimed at developing simpler, improved methods for performing induced abortion has the potential to save the lives of millions of women globally. Competing interests: None declared. 1. Safe abortion: technical and policy guidance for health systems. 2nd ed. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2012. [ Links ] 2. Unsafe abortion: global and regional estimates of the incidence of unsa

I am a direct descendent of the Dobbs Ferry line and recently have read a number of wrong historical information about the founding of Dobbs Ferry that needs correcting. The following may help set the record straight. The name Dobbs dates back to

I am a direct descendent of the Dobbs Ferry line and recently have read a number of wrong historical information about the founding of Dobbs Ferry that needs correcting. The following may help set the record straight. The name Dobbs dates back to 11th century in England. As for America I can date it back as early as the mid seventeenth century specifically with that of Walter Dobbs in New Amsterdam, New York. Walter was a mariner involved with trade at a time when all colonies along the Atlantic Ocean were interested in this activity from Bristol, England to West Caucases. Walter Dobbs and Mary Merritt married and lived on Barren Island, settled on leasehold of 282 acres on Frederick Philipse’s Manor at present Dobbs Ferry, Westchester County New York about 1698. His Brother-in-Law William Merritt and the husband of his wife’s sister, Edward Meeks, were also Mariners. Walter and Edward Meeks both died in 1689. William Merritt gave up the sea to become a wealthy merchant in New York, was elected Mayor of New York for three terms, 1695-1698 and Vestryman of Trinity Church in 1697. He died in 1708. Mary Merritt, widow of Walter Dobbs was born in England in 1632 and died on Barren Island in March 1737 at the astonishing age of 104 years 9 month. The children of record of Walter and Mary Dobbs are: The Village of Dobbs Ferry derives its name from William Dobbs, who in 1730 established a ferry from Willow Point to Sneden's Landing directly across the river. The family business was taken over by his sixth child, Jeremiah Dobbs, and the area formerly known as Wysquaqua became, through general acceptance, "Dobbs Ferry." There seems to be a lot of confusion as to the founders of Dobbs Ferry. The above appears to be the most accurate and is part of the historical record. Later this same family had several men who served in the Revolutionary War. One noted is that of Captain William Dobbs who spied for General George Washington and was noted by the General as one of his most capable pilots. Another was Jarvis Dobbs (twin brother of Jeremiah) who served and fort in the battles of Long Island and resided in Flushing, New York.

I saw another example this week (post here). Some combinations of words are possible in English, while others are not possible. Every native speaker of English can easily judge that ‘Home computers are now much cheaper’ is a possible English sentence, whereas

I saw another example this week (post here). Some combinations of words are possible in English, while others are not possible. Every native speaker of English can easily judge that ‘Home computers are now much cheaper’ is a possible English sentence, whereas “Home computers now much are cheaper” is not, because they know that “much” is wrongly positioned in the second example. The ability to recognise such distinctions is evidence that in some sense native speakers already know the rules of grammar, even if they have never formally studied grammar….”Most of my students did not know what the words "such distinctions" referred to. They did not know that the authors were alluding to the distinction they had just made, in the previous sentence, between ‘Home computers are now much cheaper’ and 'Home computers now much are cheaper.' An Introduction to English Grammar by Sidney Greenbaum and Gerald Nelson My students understood the first two sentences of the paragraph perfectly. That wasn't the problem. They were having a specific problem with the words "such distinctions." They believed that the author had brought up a new issue referring to something 'out in the world,' and they were stumped because they couldn't tell what that new issue might be. What distinctions, out in the world, were the authors talking about? So now we're focusing directly and explicitly on anaphora in the texts we read. At the moment I'm thinking you could produce a huge jump in reading comprehension in an awful lot of students just by teaching anaphora comprehension explicitly and making sure students become fluent in reading and understanding anaphora. I'm also thinking this may be a skill students can pick up quickly.

Halitosis (hahl-ih-TOE-sihs), or 'bad breath,' can be caused by tooth decay, gum disease, dry mouth, sinus or respiratory infections, medical disorders, medications, or poor oral hygiene habits.

Halitosis (hahl-ih-TOE-sihs), or 'bad breath,' can be caused by tooth decay, gum disease, dry mouth, sinus or respiratory infections, medical disorders, medications, or poor oral hygiene habits. Your dentist can help determine the problem, treat the condition, or refer you to a medical doctor. Daily brushing and flossing and regular trips to your dentist can help prevent the tooth decay and gum disease that can cause halitosis. If your condition is due to a buildup of plaque, your dentist may recommend using an antimicrobial (an-tie-my-KROW-bee-uhl) mouth rinse and suggest that you remove excess plaque by brushing your tongue while brushing your teeth. Another cause of halitosis is gum disease, which occurs when your gums pull away from your teeth and pockets of bacteria form. When these pockets are deep, regular brushing isn't enough to remove the plaque; a professional cleaning is needed. Bad breath is also caused by dry mouth, which occurs when saliva is decreased due to a vari

Gout - Treatment Overview The goals of treatment for gout are rapid pain relief and prevention of future gout attacks and long-term complications, such as joint destruction and kidney damage. Treatment includes medicines and steps you can take at

Gout - Treatment Overview The goals of treatment for gout are rapid pain relief and prevention of future gout attacks and long-term complications, such as joint destruction and kidney damage. Treatment includes medicines and steps you can take at home to prevent Gout is treated with medicines to relieve symptoms and measures to eliminate causes. Specific treatment depends on whether you are having an acute attack or are trying to prevent future attacks. To reduce the pain, swelling, redness, and warmth of the affected joint(s) in an acute gout attack: - Rest the affected joint(s). Take one or more of the following medicines at the first sign of a gout attack, as prescribed by your doctor. To prevent recurrent attacks: - Take a medicine that reduces uric acid levels in the blood, which reduces the risk of future attacks. - Take steps to reduce the risk of future - Control your weight. Being overweight increases your risk for gout. If you are overweight, a diet that is low in fat may help you lose weight. But very low-calorie diets increase the amount of uric acid produced by the body and may bring on a gout attack. For more information, see the topic - Limit alcohol, especially beer. Alcohol can reduce the release of uric acid by the kidneys into your urine, causing an increase of uric acid in your body. Beer, which is purines, appears to be worse than some other beverages that contain alcohol. - Limit meat and seafood. Diets high in meat and seafood (high-purine foods) can raise uric acid - Talk to your doctor about the medicines you take. Certain medicines that are given for other conditions reduce the amount of uric acid eliminated by the kidneys. These include pills that reduce the amount of salt and water in the body (diuretics, or "water pills") and niacin. Regular use of low-dose aspirin may raise the uric acid level. Low-dose aspirin may be important for the prevention of stroke or heart attack, so your doctor may want you to continue to take it. - Follow a moderate exercise program. If your doctor prescribes medicine to lower your uric acid levels, be sure to take it as directed. Most people continue to take this medicine for the rest of their lives. If the blood uric acid is high but a person has never had an attack of gout, treatment is rarely needed. But people with extremely elevated levels may need regular testing for signs of kidney damage. And they may need long-term treatment to lower their uric acid levels. Your blood uric acid level may be watched by your doctor until it is lowered to normal levels.

Listening to the National Farmers' Union, the Countryside Alliance and the Country Land and Business Association, you could be forgiven for believing that the only people who live in the countryside are farmers and landowners. In fact, there are 9.

Listening to the National Farmers' Union, the Countryside Alliance and the Country Land and Business Association, you could be forgiven for believing that the only people who live in the countryside are farmers and landowners. In fact, there are 9.8 million people living in rural England (defined as settlements with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants). Of these, 140,000 are farmers, or the business partners, directors and spouses of farmers. In other words, they constitute 1.4% of the rural population (and 0.3% of the total population). Yet rural policy seems to be tailored largely to their needs. It's not enough that (in the UK as a whole), taxpayers give farmers and landowners – among whom are the wealthiest people in Britain – £3.6bn a year in the form of agricultural subsidies. Under the Cameron government the landowners must also be permitted to decide how and for whom the countryside is run. 99% of rural people, and 99.7% of the nation as a whole, are marginalised from decision-making in the countryside. There is no better illustration of this than the letter from Natural England in the Guardian today. Natural England is supposed to regulate the relationship between those who own, farm and use the countryside, and the wildlife and natural places which are valued by so many of the nation's people. But successive governments have pulled its teeth. Under New Labour its mandate was subtly changed. The Hampton Principle, incorporated by the gove

Raclette is also a dish indigenous to parts of Switzerland. The Raclette cheese round is heated, either in front of a fire or by a special machine, then scraped onto diners' plates; the term raclette derives from the French

Raclette is also a dish indigenous to parts of Switzerland. The Raclette cheese round is heated, either in front of a fire or by a special machine, then scraped onto diners' plates; the term raclette derives from the French word racler, meaning "to scrape," a reference to the fact that the melted cheese must be scraped from the unmelted part of the cheese onto the plate. Traditionally the melting happens in front of an open fire with the big piece of cheese facing the heat. One then regularly scrapes off the melting side. It is accompanied by small firm potatoes (Bintje, Charlotte or Raclette varieties), gherkins, pickledonions, and dried meat, such as jambon cru/cuit and viande des Grisons. In the Swiss canton of Valais, raclette is typically served with tea or other warm beverages. Another popular option is to serve raclette with white wine, such as the traditional Savoy wine or Fendant, but Riesling and Pinot gris are also common. Local tradition cautions that other drinks – water for example – will cause the cheese to harden in the stomach, leading to indigestion. Raclette was mentioned in medieval writings, in texts from Swiss-German convents dating from as far as 1291, as a particularly nutritious meal consumed by peasants in mountainous Switzerland and France (Savoy region). It was then known in the German-speaking part of Switzerland as Bratchäs, or "roasted cheese." Traditionally, the Swiss cow herders used to take the cheese with them when they were moving cows to or from the pastures up in the mountains. In the evenings around the campfire, they would place the cheese next to the fire and, when it had reached the perfect softness, scrape it on top of bread. A modern way of serving raclette involves an electric table-top grill with small pans, known as coupelles, to heat slices of raclette cheese in. Generally the grill is surmounted by a hot plate or griddle. The cheese is brought to the table sliced, accompanied by platters of boiled or steamed potatoes, other vegetables and charcuterie. These are then mixed with potatoes and topped with cheese in the small, wedge-shaped coupelles that are placed under the grill to melt and brown the cheese. Alternatively, slices of cheese may be melted and simply poured over food on the

How and why do myths arise? Myth: A Very Short Introduction By Robert A. Segal It is trite to say that one’s pet subject is interdisciplinary. These days what subject isn’t? The prostate? But myth really

How and why do myths arise? Myth: A Very Short Introduction By Robert A. Segal It is trite to say that one’s pet subject is interdisciplinary. These days what subject isn’t? The prostate? But myth really is interdisciplinary. For there is no study of myth as myth, the way, by contrast, there is said to be the study of literature as literature or of religion as religion. Myth is studied by other disciplines, above all by sociology, anthropology, psychology, politics, philosophy, literature, and religious studies. Each discipline applies itself to myth. For example, sociologists see myth as something belonging to a group. Within each discipline are theories. A discipline can harbor only a few theories or scores of them. What makes theories theories is that they are generalizations. They presume to know the answers to one or more of the three main questions about myth: the origin, the function, or the subject matter. The question of origin asks why, if not also how, myth arises. The answer is a need, which can be of any kind and on the part of an individual, such as the need to eat or to explain, or on the part of the group, such as the need to stay together. The need exists before myth, which arises to fulfill the need. Myth may be the initial or even the sole means of fulfilling the need. Or there may be other means, which compete with myth and may best it. For example, myth may be said to explain the physical world and to do so exceedingly well — until science arises and does it better. So claims the theorist E. B. Tylor, the pioneering English anthropologist. Function is the flip side of origin. The need that causes myth to arise is the need that keeps it going. Myth functions as long as both the need continues to exist and myth continues to fulfill it at least as well as any competitor. The need for myth is always a need so basic that it itself never ceases. The need to eat, to explain the world, to express the unconscious, to give meaningfulness to life – these needs are panhuman. But the need for myth to fulfill these needs may not last forever. The need to eat can be fulfilled through hunting or farming without the involvement of myth. The need to express the unconscious can be fulfilled through therapy, which for both Sigmund Freud and his rival C. G. Jung is superior to myth. The need to find or to forge meaningfulness in life can be fulfilled without religion and therefore without myth for secular existentialists such as Albert Camus. For some theorists, myth has always existed and will always continue to exist. For others, myth has not always existed and will not always continue to exist. For Mircea Eliade, a celebrated Romanian-born scholar of religion, religion has always existed and will always continue to exist. Because Eliade ties myth to religion, myth is safe. For not only Tylor but also J. G. Frazer, author of The Golden Bough, myth is doomed exactly because myth is tied to religion. For them science has replaced religion and as a consequence has replaced myth. “Modern myth” is a contradiction in terms. The third main question about myth is that of subject matter. What is myth really about? There are two main answers: myth is about what it is literally about, or myth symbolizes something else. Taken literally, myth is usually about gods or heroes or physical events like rain. Tylor, Eliade, and the anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski all read myth literally. Myth taken literally may also mean myth taken historically, especially in myths about heroes. The subject matter of myth taken symbolically is open-ended. A myth about the Greek god Zeus can be said to symbolize one’s father (so Freud), one’s father archetype (so Jung), or the sky (so nature mythologists). The religious existentialists Rudolf Bultmann and Hans Jonas would contend that the myth of the biblical flood is to be read not as a explanation of a supposedly global event from long ago but as a description of what it is like for anyone anywhere to live in a world in which, it is believed, God exists and treats humans fairly. To call the flood story a myth is not to spurn it. I am happy to consider any theory of myth, but not the crude dismissal of a story or a belief as a “mere myth.” True or false, myth is never “mere.” For to call even a conspicuously false story or belief a mere myth is to miss the power that that story or belief holds for those who accept it. The difficulty in persuading anyone to give up an obviously false myth attests to its allure. Robert A. Segal is Sixth Century Chair in Religious Studies at the University of Aberdeen. He is the author of Myth: A Very Short Introduction and of Theorizing about Myth. He is presently at work editing the Oxford Handbook of Myth Theory. He directs the Centre for the Study of Myth at Aberdeen. Image credit: Thetis and Zeus by Anton Losenko, 1769. Copy of artwork used for the purposes of illustration in a critical commentary on the work. Source: Wikimedia Commons.

Landfill Gas Powers GM Plant for New Fuel-sipping Cars When production of the fuel-efficient 2012 Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano begin this fall, 40 percent of the energy to power the General Motors Orion Assembly Plant where they

Landfill Gas Powers GM Plant for New Fuel-sipping Cars When production of the fuel-efficient 2012 Chevrolet Sonic and Buick Verano begin this fall, 40 percent of the energy to power the General Motors Orion Assembly Plant where they are built will come from burning landfill gas created nearby. The use of the landfill gas, which saves GM $1.1 million a year in energy costs, also cuts the amount of greenhouse gases, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released in the air. During most of the year, the system runs exclusively on landfill gas primarily to generate steam for heating and compressed air. "Orion is a great example of the latest technologies employed by GM manufacturing around the globe," said Eric Stevens, GM vice president of Global Manufacturing Engineering. "As we converted the facility to support the small car program, we took every opportunity to engineer in flexibility and lean manufacturing concepts." Use of landfill gas is just one of the sustainable methods that lessen the plant's environmental impact. Others include: - Lighting system upgrades that saved more than 5,944 megawatts of electricity per year and $430,000 while also cutting CO2 by 3,676 metric tons. Plant workers track energy use on an hourly basis with sophisticated software, enabling them to see real-time usage by department to improve their equipment shut-down activities. - Plant workers reduced total waste by 26 percent from 2005 to 2009. - An upgraded paint shop is heated by natural and landfill gas, and uses half of the energy per vehicle of the one it replaced. Both the Sonic and Verano use a new eco paint that eliminates the need for a primer oven and increases quality and appearance due to waterborne base coats. "Environmentally friendly choices often translate to higher efficiency and quality," said Maureen Midgley, GM executive director of Global Manufacturing Engineering. "Take our new paint shop – it was designed for optimal efficiency and delivers premium paint appearance for our vehicles. "With these improvements, we'll reduce greenhouse gas production by about 80,000 metric tons at a full three-shift capacity," Midgley said. "This is equivalent to the emissions from 14,000 vehicles per year, and the electricity reduction equals at the output from 3,500 homes." Some of the diverted material is directed to the cars being made. Recycled cardboard packaging from Orion and other GM plants and used denim are part of the Verano's sound insulation. Orion also has embraced flexible manufacturing, allo

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley, [1754-65], at sacred-texts.com 4 Kings (2 Kings) 10:5 kg2 10:5The house - The chief governor of

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley, [1754-65], at sacred-texts.com 4 Kings (2 Kings) 10:5 kg2 10:5The house - The chief governor of the kings palace. City - The chief magistrate or military governor. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 10:7 kg2 10:7Sent them - Jehu justly required this, because the sovereign lord of all mens lives commanded it, but the Samaritans wickedly obeyed it, without any knowledge of, or regard to God's command. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 10:11 kg2 10:11Left none - In that place and kingdom; for he did leave some of the royal seed of Judah. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 10:15 kg2 10:15Rechab - A Kenite, Ch1 2:55, and a man of singular prudence and piety. Coming - To congratulate with him, for the destruction of that wicked family; and to encourage him to proceed in fulfilling the will of God. Him - Jehu saluted Jehonadab. Is, &c. - Dost thou heartily approve of me, and my present proceedings. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 10:18 kg2 10:18Jehu said - The words being manifestly false, and spoken with a design to deceive, cannot be excused, this being an unmovable principle, That we must not do the least evil, that the greatest good may come. 4 Kings (2 Kings) 10:25 kg2 10:25City - To some buildings belonging to this house of Baal, which may be here called the city; because they were very numerous and capacious. For as there were divers chambers and rooms built without the temple, belonging to it, for the use of the priests, and Levites. So it may probably be conceived, That this famous temple of Baal had many such buildings; in some of which, the priests of Baal, or of the groves, (whereof there were great numbers belonging to the king's court, Kg1 18:19,) peradventure might dwell; and others of

Justices let EPA regulate greenhouse gas - Alan Alda's science contest asks: What is color? - Rule on cross-state pollution has chance - Super-hardy roach found in NYC - GOP bill sets low drilling-tax rates in

Justices let EPA regulate greenhouse gas - Alan Alda's science contest asks: What is color? - Rule on cross-state pollution has chance - Super-hardy roach found in NYC - GOP bill sets low drilling-tax rates in Ohio - Columbus will add apartments, condos to recycling pickup - EPA is asked to make Ohio, 8 other states curb ozone - Mars lake could have supported life, scientists say - NASA: Martian lake may have supported life WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court allowed the Environmental Protection Agency’s ability to regulate greenhouse-gas emissions as a pollutant to stand yesterday, even as it agreed to examine how the agency could demand greater pollution controls through the permitting process. Groups including the oil and chemical industries had challenged several aspects of the EPA’s regulatory authority, such as whether carbon dioxide constituted a pollutant under the Clean Air Act and whether the agency could limit greenhouse-gas emissions from motor vehicles and power plants. Both sides welcomed the Supreme Court’s announcement yesterday, though climate activists had more reasons to celebrate. “Today’s orders by the U.S. Supreme Court make it abundantly clear, once and for all, that EPA has both the legal authority and the responsibility to address climate change and the carbon pollution that causes it,” said Vickie Patton, general counsel for the Environmental Defense Fund. However, Harry Ng, the American Petroleum Institute’s vice president and general counsel, said the decision to take up half a dozen cases shows that “the EPA is seeking to regulate U.S. manufacturing in a way that Congress never planned and never intended.” “The Clean Air Act clearly only requires pre-construction permits for six specific emissions that impact national air quality — not greenhouse gases,” Ng said. “That kind of overreach can have enormous implications on U.S. competitiveness and the prices that consumers pay for fuel and manufactured goods.” The question of how much the Supreme Court could scale back the federal government’s ability to curb greenhouse-gas emissions is unclear. Sean H. Donahue, the attorney representing several environmental groups in the case, said a ruling against his side would not have a major impact because the EPA would retain the flexibility to require carbon controls from power plants emitting other pollutants.

Müller, Meier, Schulz: German family names An estimated 600,000 people in Germany have the family name Müller, while Schmidt, Schneider, Fischer, Weber, Meyer, Schäfer, Becker and Koch are among

Müller, Meier, Schulz: German family names An estimated 600,000 people in Germany have the family name Müller, while Schmidt, Schneider, Fischer, Weber, Meyer, Schäfer, Becker and Koch are among the other leaders at the top of the same list. Indeed, the first 14 spots are actually occupational titles. “These professions are the least individualized names,” explains Judith Schwanke from the Namenberatungsstelle (an office for name consultation) at the University of Leipzig. She conjectures that so-called patronyms, which can be traced back to the given name of the father, are typically more diverse than the occupational titles. In northern Germany, for example, there are far more family names derived from male first names than in southern Germany: Hansen or Petersen, for instance, where the added syllable “sen” means “son”. In many cases the family name developed directly from the given name, making names like Werner, Herrmann or Otto quite common. Names tell a story In Germany there are about 850,000 unique family names, and researching and analyzing them is the main task at Schwanke’s office in Leipzig. Interest is high, too, because names typically tell a part of the family or regional history. Of course, many names are not as easy to decipher as Müller or Schmidt. In order to find out more about the origin or significance of a name, researchers like Schwanke first try to get an overview of its regional distribution. Church records or digitalized versions of telephone books are helpful here as they provide access to roughly 38 million families and their names. If there is a conspicuous regional frequency of one particular name, researchers use special dictionaries with linguistic patterns or features from the area to find possible interpretations. Names preserve language Unlike the family names in Germany, which to a large extent have gone unchanged since they emerged during the period between the 12th and 14th centuries, the German language has been in a constant state of flux. This can make it difficult to recognize the various elements of many family names without digging a bit further. Baumkratz, for example, is an interpretation of Pankratius (Saint Pancras). Other interpretations and phonetic touchups have made Slavic names into German ones, as with Milobrat and Mühlbrett, or Sigrun and Seegrün. The first German family names came from what is now southwestern Germany before spreading throughout the German-speaking territories. Family names then took on increased significance with the development of medieval cities and dense populations centers. Whereas Hans was pretty easy to recognize in a small village, additions became necessary in the cities to distinguish which Hans was which. We ended up with “Little Hans”, “Hans from Kirchdorf” or “Hans of the creek”. Many German family names go back to descriptions of peoples’ appearances (small, thin), the region they were from (Kirchdorf, Backhaus), or other natural features of their region (Bachmann, Talmann – creek man, valley man). In the 19th century, registry offices began codifying names and making them an inherited trait, thereby ending the

Extensive defoliation of deciduous shrubs and trees in Southcentral Alaska has received considerable attention over the last couple of years. Even for those who may not be attentive to what is going on in their natural surroundings, the conspicuous patches of

Extensive defoliation of deciduous shrubs and trees in Southcentral Alaska has received considerable attention over the last couple of years. Even for those who may not be attentive to what is going on in their natural surroundings, the conspicuous patches of dieback on Skyline and Fuller Lakes Trail on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, and at Summit Creek on the Seward Highway, would have been hard to miss. Lately, the Bruce spanworm (Operophtera bruceata) and Epirrita undulata have been the main defoliators of willows, alders, and aspens in the sub-alpine. Birch leafroller (Epinotia solandriana) has been damaging birch on the lowlands, but other herbivorous insects are also involved. Two Old World moths closely related to two of our defoliators (Operophtera brumata and Epirrita autumnata) have been well documented in similar tree line systems in Scandinavia. There, severe outbreaks are cyclical, occurring about every decade and lasting for 2-3 years. The cause of this cyclicity remains unknown, but increasing prevalence of parasitoids and disease within the moth populations over the course of outbreaks does contribute to mortality of moths. In 2012, entomologists with the U.S. Forest Service began investigations on the present defoliation event in Southcentral Alaska, seeking to relate these outbreaks to changes in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO). The PDO is a 20- to 30-year cycle of variation in sea surface temperatures in the Pacific Ocean and is an important determinant of Southcentral Alaska’s climate. Outbreaks of spruce bark beetles in Southcentral Alaska have been linked to the PDO, tending to occur after a change from the predominantly cool phase to the warm phase of the PDO. The PDO has been mostly in the warm phase since 1978, but appears to have switched to a cool phase around 2008. It has been suggested that lower temperatures associated with the cool-phase PDO may favor external-feeding herbivores like the Bruce spanworm and Epirrita undulata. It’s difficult to associate shrub and hardwood defoliation in Alaska to the PDO because we lack long-term quantitative records of defoliation other than the Forest Service’s annual aerial survey data. These data are useful for documenting outbreaks and determining the cause of outbreaks, but the surveys are limited in spatial extent, only covering the narrow path which was flown, and they are spatially inconsistent, not always covering the same areas every year. To overcome these limitations, I analyzed the thirteen years (2000-2012) of available imagery from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellite to look for patterns of insect-caused defoliation over the Kenai Peninsula. I used MODIS’ Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI) product, a measure of the concentration of active chlorophyll (that is, greenness) that is updated every two weeks. The idea behind the analysis is simple. Plants are less green in years when they are heavily damaged by foliage-eating caterpillars than in normal years. To detect defoliation, I first made a composite image representing near maximum productivity by selecting, for each pixel, the third highest value of EVI observed over the 13 years. Within each growing season, I identified pixels having EVI values at least 20 percent lower than the composite image as having been potentially defoliated. I removed water, snowfields, barren areas, and recent burns from consideration. I was able to detect defoliation events generally in agreement with the Forest Service’s aerial survey data, though my current algorithm appears to overestimate the area damaged compared to the aerial survey data. One reason for this discrepancy is that my MODIS-derived maps provide no information as to the agents that reduced greenness, which could include diverse herbivores, plant diseases, persistent snow (retarded phenology), and urbanization. Upon first perusal of the satellite-derived defoliation maps, I did not perceive evidence of cyclicity of defoliation events within the 13 years considered. The amount of area damaged was high in the years 2005, 2009, and 2011-2012, with 2012 showing the most area affected (680,000 acres) of all years. In 2012, there appeared to be large areas affected by defoliators in the Kenai Mountains, in the hills above Homer, and on the south side of Kachemak Bay. I do not know why 2012 was such a big year for defoliation. Perhaps especially deep snow cover over the winter of 2011-2012 could have provided unusually good insulation for the moths’ eggs, which spend the winter on branches of the host plants where they would usually be exposed to extreme cold. In 2013, I will be collabora

This is of concern in our area as coastal agriculture and wells are affected by increased salinity due to ocean rise along with well overdrafts, not to mention coastal erosion putting homes at risk.http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impact

This is of concern in our area as coastal agriculture and wells are affected by increased salinity due to ocean rise along with well overdrafts, not to mention coastal erosion putting homes at risk.http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/impact... impactssea The impacts of climate change are likely to worsen many problems that coastal areas already face. Shoreline erosion, coastal flooding, and water pollution affect man-made infrastructure and coastal ecosystems. Confronting existing challenges is already a concern. Addressing the additional stress of climate change may require new approaches to managing land, water, waste, and ecosystems. Bringing it home.http://www.centerforoceansolutions.org/... ariability From 1964 to 1997 the Pajaro Valley groundwater basin is thought to have lost over 300,000 acre-feet of freshwater storage, two-thirds of which has been attributed to saltwater intrusion (11). The current rate of saltwater intrusion for the Pajaro Valley basin is estimated at 100 to 250 feet per year (30-73 m/yr), meaning that saltwater is moving inland this distance each year, and contamination can currently be seen seven miles inland in the 180 foot aquifer.

Why would a city pay to force its residents to ingest nocuous industrial waste for no reason? That’s what the reams of documents on fluoridating water, the conflicting claims and counter-claims threatening to bury city council, boil down to

Why would a city pay to force its residents to ingest nocuous industrial waste for no reason? That’s what the reams of documents on fluoridating water, the conflicting claims and counter-claims threatening to bury city council, boil down to. I was horrified to find out where the fluoride added to our drinking water comes from: it’s an industrial derivative called hydrofluorosilicic acid, and it comes from the scrubbers of smokestacks at fertilizer factories. As Dr. Hardy Limeback writes in a letter to council, “I find it absurd that industrial toxic waste is shipped to the water treatment plants in large tanker trucks and trickled into the drinking water of major cities in North America.” Limeback is a dentist and former head of preventative dentistry at the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Toronto who has studied the effects of fluoride on teeth and bone. He also served on the U.S. National Academy of Sciences subcommittee on fluoride in drinking water. He’s not a crank. He was a leading authority on fluoride who was often cited by health officials defending fluoridation – until he could no longer ignore the research. In 1999, he changed his position and apologized to his faculty and students, saying he had “unintentionally misled” them. Why did he change his mind? “I was initially concerned with the chronic accumulation of fluoride in teeth causing dental fluorosis and in bone causing changes in our skeletal system, which was the focus of my research at the University of Toronto,” he told me in an interview, “but then I found out industrial waste was being used to fluoridate the drinking water. The chemicals used in over 90 per cent of cities in North America are fluorosilicates: they are contaminated with cancer-causing arsenic and radioactive particles and have never been tested for safety in humans.” Fluorosis is irreversible scarring or mottling on children’s teeth, and it has increased significantly in North America. No one, not even proponents of fluoridation, disputes that it’s caused by fluoride. Limeback calls it a biomarker for fluoride poisoning. The main source is fluoridated water. It’s worse in cities with fluoridated water, and it decreases in cities that stop adding fluoride to their water. Municipalities in New Hampshire are required to put warnings on their water bills about fluorosis. If fluoride damages tooth enamel, it made sense to question whether or not it also damages bone, Limeback reasoned. Indeed, studies suggest that fluoride accumulates in bone with age, making it more brittle and increasing the risk of hip fractures in the elderly. Fluoride has also been associated with lower IQ, adverse effects on the thyroid and pineal glands and increased risk of bone cancer, and more studies have been recommended. The people conducting this research aren’t cranks, either. They’re from institutions like the National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council in the U.S. and the Harvard School of Public Health. These studies are published in places like the Journal of the American Medical Association. There are Nobel laureates who oppose fluoridation. Yet many public health officials, including local Medical Officer of Health Dr. Allen Heimann, continue to defend fluoridation, saying there “needs

AP European History Introduction and the Later Middle Ages Day 1 : Regression and Recovery in Students to read course introduction Europe : the Medieval Period. and Syllabus.C11 Course Introduction: students to discuss questions; why

AP European History Introduction and the Later Middle Ages Day 1 : Regression and Recovery in Students to read course introduction Europe : the Medieval Period. and Syllabus.C11 Course Introduction: students to discuss questions; why study AP history? Why study AP EUROPEAN history? What skills will I need to Day 2: The importance of the church in Students to review 1x- 1xix of Kagan2 Day 3: Fuedalism and the rise of nation Students to read primary source p1xvii states. on ‘ The Carolingian Manor’ C33 Heresy and Schism. Students to define Day 4: Church versus the State.(revival key terms and be able to give and challenges to Papal Authority) examples of both using p302-310 of Day 5 : Social and Political Breakdown. Students to study a series of primary sources of Black Death answer DBQ ‘ how do these sources show regression and recovery in this Unit 1 : The Renaissance and the age of discovery. Day 6: Renaissance: continuity from Students to read p318- 320 of kagan the Medieval World or a revolution in for homework. C24 Discuss reasons ideas and knowledge? for the Renaissance and life in the What is it? Why Italy? Italian City states. T1 and T3 5 The course emphasizes relevant factual knowledge about European history from 1450 to the present to highlight intellectual, cultural, political, diplomatic, social, and economic developments. The Western Heritage, Kagan, Ozment and Turner. The course includes extensive instruction in analysis and interpretation of a wide variety of primary sources, such as documentary material, maps, statistical tables, works of art, and pictorial and graphic The course teaches students to analyze evidence and interpretations presented in historical scholarship Theme 1 Intellectual and Cultural History ( Secularization of learning and culture), theme 3 (the role of urbanization) Historical context and chronology:key Day 7: The Medici : Lorenzo the Watch PBS video on the Medici and magnificent. follow up work on website Day 8: Art and Politics in the Machiavelli’s the Prince (homework) renaissance. Students to develop understanding of chronology and geographical location of the renaissance.C1 Students to develop understanding of the city states. Day 9: Women of the Renaissance. Comparative study of key women of the Renaissance, a change in popular Day 10 Humanism and the Northern Definition. Students to read excerpts Renaissance from the Erasmus and Machiavelli in a practice mini DBQ.Erasmus and More. Day 11 the Conquistadors An Overview.Students to make links between conquistadors and the Day 12 Test (30 multiple choice and one free response question) C1 Unit Two: The Reformation. Day 13 Review and grading of the test, Place in historical context/ chronology. how might the Renaissance and Students to read 353 to 356 and Reformation be linked? summarise origins and causes of the Day 14 The German Reformation. Students to analyze excerpt from movie “Luther” in looking at causes of Day 15 The Peasant’s revolt Students to examine list of Peasant’s Intellectual and Cultural History, changes in popular culture. Political and Diplomatic History, Relationship between Europe and the rest of the world. T1 Intellectual and Cultural History. (Changes in Religious thought and institutions. grievances and summarise the main Day 16 The Reformation Elsewhere. Students to look at Swiss Reformation and the impact of Anabaptists and Day 17 The English Reformation. Students to look at causes and impact of the break with Rome. Day 18 Family during the age of Students to look at the impact of the Reformation. Reformation on the social fabric of Day 19 and Day 20 Practice DBQ Students to use past test paper on (2008 DBQ) Students to be given core scoring rubric will break into groups to discuss sources before taking paper. Unit 3 The Wars of Religion and the rise of Anti Semitism. Day 21 War in France Huguenots V Catholics, religious or political? Lecture, students to record key dates, people and places. Day 22 Spain The first European Superpower? Students to examine reasons for the rise of Spain as the dominant force in Europe and the challenges to this rule from the Netherlands. Day 23 The decline of Spain and rise of Students to use ‘Elizabeth I’ to analyse Elizabeth. reasons for Spain’s defeat and the Day 24 The Elizabethan Settlement Look at relationship between Religious,Political and foreign policy.11 Day 25 The Thirty Years W

Luther Burbank's Plum Tree In 1955 I was spending the summer camping in Wyoming, Montana, British Colombia, Washington, Oregon and California with my family and a friend. In Santa Rosa, California, we were lucky to visit

Luther Burbank's Plum Tree In 1955 I was spending the summer camping in Wyoming, Montana, British Colombia, Washington, Oregon and California with my family and a friend. In Santa Rosa, California, we were lucky to visit Luther Burbank's home—part of which was surrounded by his test gardens. Burbank was a horticultural genius and created many new crops that we take for granted today—including the russet potato, Shasta daisy and spineless prickly pear cactus. Hidden among these gardens was a plum tree, about twenty-feet high and as large in diameter, with many branches. We discovered that it was not just a normal plum tree—but one with 30 to 40 varieties grafted on it! Just think—a full spectrum of colors, flavors and maturation dates all on one tree! Just One or A Few Fruit Trees? This got me to thinking. It is easier to take care of a few trees. You can make sure that the soils are in good shape, that the trees are exquisitely pruned and that each fruit is harvested on time. But would just one or a few fruit trees produce sufficient fruit for a family of four? Here’s what I discovered might be possible: One full-sized apple tree is placed on offset spacing 40' apart and grows high 40’ high. At intermediate yields, the tree is capable of producing 1,200 pounds of apples. This would be up to 300 pounds per person each year! Pretty good! That is a little under a pound a day for the whole year! If you graft many different varieties on each tree, you will have just as many different colors, flavors and maturation dates. If you choose a good combination, you can harvest apples from late June until early December! A full-sized pear tree is placed on 15' offset spacing. At intermediate yields the tree is capable of producing 90 pounds of pears. If you grow three pear trees, your productivity would be 360 pounds of pears, or about one pound of fruit per family each day. Again, you can take advantage of grafting different varieties on each tree. Full-sized peach trees are placed on 15' offset spacing. At intermediate yields the tree is capable of producing up to 202 pounds of peaches, or a little over a half pound of fruit per family each day. You can graft different varieties on each tree as well. Full-sized cherry trees are placed on 20' offset spacing. At intermediate yields the tree is capable of producing up to 134 pounds of cherries annually. Two trees could produce up to 268 pounds of fruit per family each year, or about two-thirds of a pounds of cherries daily. Grafting works here too. Regular-sized apricots are planted on 25' offset spacing. At intermediate yields a tree is capable of producing up to 376 pounds of apricots daily, or about one pound per family daily. Grafting works for apricots as well. Regular-sized plums are planted on 18 to 24' offset spacing. At intermediate yields a tree is capable of producing up to 291 pounds of apricots yearly, or about two-thirds of a pound per family each day. Grafting works for plums, and there are lots of varieties to try! If you have a mild enough climate without winter frosts, Navel and Valencia oranges are planted on 22' and 24' offset spacing respectively. At intermediate yields a tree is capable of producing up to 232 and 363 pounds of sweet juicy oranges respectively, or about two-thirds of a pound and one pound respectively per family daily. Exciting! Which Fruits and How Many Trees Should I Grow? The choices are yours. The important thing is to realize that it does not take a lot of trees to grow a lot of fruit. It does take about seven years for a tree to reach full production, so start as soon as is practical! If you do not have room for a tree, why not get together with a friend and share one? • Luther Burbank Gardens http://www.lutherburbank.org • Western Fruits, Berries and Nuts: How to Select, Grow and Enjoy. by Lance Walheim and Robert L. Stebbins. H.P. Books. Out of print. Get through your library's Interlibrary Loan Service. Excellent. Worth several lifetimes of experience. Good for all tree raisers—not just Western ones. • How to Select, Grow and Enjoy Fruit, Berries and Nuts in the East and Midwest by Theodore James Jr. H.P. Books. Out of print. Get through your library's Interlibrary Loan Service. • Citrus: How to Select, Grow, and Enjoy by Richard Ray and Lance Walheim. Out of print. Get through your library's Interlibrary Loan Service. Visually exciting. Includes colors of juices made from different citrus crops. • The Fruit Garden Displayed by Harry Baker. London: Cassell Educational Limited for the Royal Horticultural Society. Excellent. • Fruit, Berry and Nut Inventory edited by Kent Whealy. Seed Savers Exchange. • How to Grow More Vegetables and Fruits, Nuts, Berries, Grains and Other Crops Than You Ever Thought Possible On Less Land Than You Can Imagine by J

Firstly, a few planets have been discovered around binary or trinary systems, mostly Neptune sized or larger. An example is are the two planets described in the NASA article "Kepler-47: Our First Binary Star 2-Planet System

Firstly, a few planets have been discovered around binary or trinary systems, mostly Neptune sized or larger. An example is are the two planets described in the NASA article "Kepler-47: Our First Binary Star 2-Planet System", where they are described as: Now Kepler mission has discovered Kepler-47b and 47c, the first transiting circumbinary system — multiple planets orbiting two suns. To compound the excitement of the discovery, one of those planets is in the binary system's habitable zone (where liquid water may exist) (A representation of the Kepler 47 system is pictured below) The second planet discovered in the system, Kepler 47c, is within the binary stars' habitable zone, but is slightly larger than Neptune and is likely to be a gas giant - but that raises the potential for terrestrial satellites. Another example is the Saturn sized Kepler 16b reported in the article "Weird Exoplanet Discovered Orbiting Two Stars" (Klotz, 2011), which orbits 2 stars that are smaller than our sun, thus has habitable zones closer to their parent stars, in this case, the equivalent of the Venus' orbit. In terms of the habitable zones around multiple star systems, the article "Habitable Binary Star Systems" suggests a major advantage of a binary (indeed a trinary) system is that the combined energy between the stars could indeed extend the habitable zones, particularly, Low-mass twins could make the best hosts, because their combined energy extends the habitable region farther away than would exist around a single star. However, temperatures would vary significantly and the orbits would be irregular, and in simulations reported in "Double-Star Systems Can Be Dangerous for Exoplanets" (Wall, 2013) results in such disruptions that one or more of the planets therein could be ejected and sent hurtling into interstellar space. But such perturbations are likely to take a considerable amount of time (millions of years) to fully occur. This is also discussed in "Exoplanets Bouncing Between Binary Stars" (Moeckel and Veras, 2012), where the planet in such as system is described as 'bouncing' between the binary stars, then resuming a relatively regular orbit. The recent discovery of a terrestrial-like planet in the Alpha Centauri system, as reported in "Discovery! Earth-Size Alien Planet at Alpha Centauri Is Closest Ever Seen" (Wall, 2012) - despite this planet not being in the habitable zones of either star, this does raise the hopes for the possibility of Earth-like terrestrial planets existing in the habitable zones of other multiple star systems. There is also the possibility that an Earth sized moon could orbit the larger planets such as those in the Kepler systems mentioned earlier.

- ACRL Competencies for Special Collections Professionals (2008) This statement is intended to define our profession and to foster a sense of community and common identity among special collections professionals, while helping others to understand our work. - ACRL Guidelines for

- ACRL Competencies for Special Collections Professionals (2008) This statement is intended to define our profession and to foster a sense of community and common identity among special collections professionals, while helping others to understand our work. - ACRL Guidelines for Borrowing and Lending Special Collections Materials for Exhibition (2005) These guidelines are written to encompass the needs of as wide a range of institutions and materials as possible. - ACRL Guidelines for the Interlibrary Loan of Rare and Unique Materials (2004) These guidelines were adopted by the Association of College and Research Libraries in 1994. This revised version, completed in 2004, is published here for broad professional review. - ACRL Guidelines for the Security of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Other Special Collections (2006) Draft revision of Guidelines for Security of Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Other Special Collections - ACRL Guidelines on the Selection and Transfer of Materials from General Collections to Special Collections (2008) Guidelines from Association of College and Research Libraries on selection criteria for moving materials from general collections to special collections. - Rare Books and Manuscripts Section (RBMS) A section of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), a division of the American Library Association (ALA). RBMS strives to represent and promote the interests of librarians who work with rare books, manuscripts, and other types of special collections. - Wikiography of Special Collections in Children's Literature A bibliography that briefly identifies collections that are of use to scholarly researchers studying children and their literature. This wikiography has been created by the ALSC Committee: National Planning of Special Collections in Children's Literature.

Live Oak — In anticipation of our local rivers approaching flood stages, the Florida Department of Health in Suwannee County encourages residents located in potentially affected areas to be prepared for any flooding that may occur and be aware of the following: Moving Flood Water

Live Oak — In anticipation of our local rivers approaching flood stages, the Florida Department of Health in Suwannee County encourages residents located in potentially affected areas to be prepared for any flooding that may occur and be aware of the following: Moving Flood Water During flooding, the greatest threat comes from moving water. The deeper the moving water, the greater the threat. People should avoid driving in moving water, regardless of the size of the vehicle. Pooling Flood Water Flood waters can rise and pool on streets and throughout neighborhoods. In these situations, be aware of the following: Road surfaces become disguised and drivers can unknowingly steer into a deep body of water, such as a canal or pond. Electricity from streetlights and power poles may be present in standing water, causing a deadly shock to anyone coming in contact with it. Children playing in contaminated standing water can become sick or be bitten by snakes or floating insects. People coming into contact with floodwaters should thoroughly wash and rinse any exposed body parts with soap and disinfected water. Contaminated Water Supply Residents in flood-affected areas should take precautions to avoid consuming contaminated water. If your well is in a flooded area, your water may contain disease-causing bacteria and may not be safe to drink. DOH recommends one of the following: Boil water for at least 1 minute before using it for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes. Disinfect wat

Assessing Outdoor Air Near Schools Temple Elementary - Diboll, TX - Understanding the Monitoring Data - Initial Sampling - Initial Analysis - Additional Sampling - Final Analysis EPA selected this school for monitoring because it

Assessing Outdoor Air Near Schools Temple Elementary - Diboll, TX - Understanding the Monitoring Data - Initial Sampling - Initial Analysis - Additional Sampling - Final Analysis EPA selected this school for monitoring because it is located near at least one large industry that is a source of air toxics emissions. The pollutants monitored were different from school to school. Based on emissions from nearby sources, EPA identified key pollutants to measure in the air near this school. We reported concentrations of those key pollutants in the table below. Concentrations for other toxic air pollutants collected at the site are also available (PDF) (3pp, 69k). (For example, manganese may be the key pollutant at a monitoring site but other metals, such as arsenic, measured in the sample also are available.) About the Data The table below shows the levels of key pollutants in air samples collected at the monitoring site beginning in September 2009. The table also includes individual “sample screening levels” for each key pollutant monitored at the school. EPA developed these screening levels to help the Agency and the community get an early sense of what the data were showing. The sample screening level is a level of pollution in the air that is below what we expect to cause health problems from short-term exposures – all day, every day over a period ranging up to at least a couple of weeks (longer, for some pollutants). About The Table Compare the sample results to the short-term screening level at the top of the table. Numbers at or below that level indicate the pollutant is not likely to pose immediate health concerns. To use the screening level, compare it to each sample result: - a sample result at or below the sample screening level is not a concern for risk of health problems from short-term exposures. - a sample result above the screening level does not mean that there is a risk to children and adults at the school. It is a signal for EPA to further evaluate those and subsequent results for that pollutant. After monitoring was completed, EPA analyzed the potential for health concerns from long-term exposure. This analysis can be found under the Initial Analysis tab. Monitoring results are in the table below. |Sample Screening Level||0.7| –– = Sample not taken or invalid EPA did not analyze data for acrolein as part of the initial School Air Toxics Monitoring Project. Learn more. NOTE: Additional volatile organic compound samples were collected at this site. Previous samples were invalidated due to a sampler contamination issue. Please click here for more information. EPA has also monitored other pollutants at this school. To further evaluate sample results above a screening level, we considered: - information about the chemical and its health impacts, - information about collection of the sample (e.g., weather, activities around the monitor) - potential sources of the pollutant, and - the pattern of levels across multiple samples within the monitoring period. About Some of the Pollutants Monitored Some of the pollutants monitored (acrolein, acetaldehyde, benzene and 1,3-butadiene) may occur in the air at this school as a result of several different sources, including cars and trucks and the exhaust of other gasoline-powered engines. Because these types of sources are found almost everywhere where there are people, these pollutants are commonly elevated in urban areas across the country, and EPA has identified them as a nationa

Continuing safety messages are not enough to protect us from the unseen and potential hazards of the warehouse environment. The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 5,524 workplace deaths in 2002, along with 4

Continuing safety messages are not enough to protect us from the unseen and potential hazards of the warehouse environment. The U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics reported 5,524 workplace deaths in 2002, along with 4.7 million serious injuries. How many more workers became ill from environmental conditions such as poor air quality or inadequate lighting is tougher to pin down. While the Environmental Protection Agency is reporting that our outdoor air is getting better, air inside the buildings where we work might be getting worse. This is particularly true in distribution centers that use older or non-electric lift trucks. Certainly, new combustion-engine lift truck models have made monumental strides in protecting the air workers breathe all day. Increased delivery truck traffic at the material transfer zone presents another challenge for warehouses. Tighter inventory control programs, for example, increase the number of deliveries and departures, requiring doors be opened, risking air degradation via carbon monoxide. Ironically, some of the less healthy air is found in newer, energy-efficient buildings. It's called the sick-building syndrome and it costs businesses billions of dollars every year in lost productivity. When environmental factors in your warehouse are not right — things like lighting, heat and humidity — workers don't feel well. And when workers suffer, productivity suffers. Providing a healthy workplace Research indicates that we spend approximately 90 percent of our time indoors. While we are quick to protect ourselves when we venture out of doors, we're not so quick to ensure a protective environment indoors. Regardless of where you work in the distribution center, there are risks ranging from carbonless copy paper to carbon monoxide. Good industrial hygiene and work practices can reduce or eliminate many of the problems. Adequate ventilation, temperature controls and proper housekeeping go a long way toward improving the workplace environment. And as cliche as it sounds, improving circulation in the building doesn't cost, it pays. "High-volume low-speed [HVLS] fan technology is a simple concept with a multitude of benefits," says Peter Caruso, president and CEO, MacroAir Technologies. "The opportunity for cost savings is equal to employee comfort and improved productivity." "Promoting safety through technology is a way to make the workplace environment more productive as well as safe." The success of HVLS technology stems from the fact that these fans move huge volumes of air, making them more than just cooling systems. By circulating the air, moisture, for example, can be removed from floors and equipment surfaces. In colder climates, the fans, through a process known as destratification, move already-heated air down from the ceiling to mix with cooler air at other levels. "With heat destratification," says Caruso, "we typically expect 20 percent, or more, in heat-expense savings." Caruso bases this on the industry standard of a three percent to five percent saving for every degree of thermostat reduction. By circulating the air, HVLS prevents the thermostat from cycling as frequently. Typical heating systems in warehouses use blast heaters high in the ceiling, blowing hot air throughout the facility. It's not uncommon, says, Caruso, to have a 15-degree temperature difference between the ceiling and floor. "We've found," he says, "that an HVLS fan can move as much air as 25 48-inch fans, operating with essentially the same size motor." This translates to a fraction of the energy use, comparable to the amount of energy used by three light bulbs. A 24-foot-diameter fan uses one horsepower, or less, to run at low revolutions. Caruso says he talks with people at all management levels within a distribution center — from the boss to the maintenance supervisor. Everyone has different ways of looking at energy-cost problems. "The CEO," says Caruso, "sees the energy bills each month, while the maintenance supervisor's concerns are about comfort and safety." "Creating a safe, healthy workplace environment does not have to be an expensive proposition." Among the intangible benefits of proper circulation is that proper mixing of air makes employees more alert. If employees are stationed at desks and the air around them is not moving, they are surrounded by their own carbon monoxide and they start to nod off. Circulation brings fresh oxygen to the employees and keeps them alert. There are financial benefits to managing warehouse and plant environments in addition to the direct benefit to workers. Kraft Foods, working with Rockwell Automation, has embarked on a multiyear energy reduction initiative for its North American facilities. "Finding ways to reduce energy demand," says Fred Sherriff, vice president of manufacturing technical services, Kraft, "is consistent with our

King Jr. History And Heritage Benefit All This coming Sunday, January 15, will mark the 83rd anniversary of the birth in Atlanta, Georgia of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. King’s legacy includes the founding of the Southern

King Jr. History And Heritage Benefit All This coming Sunday, January 15, will mark the 83rd anniversary of the birth in Atlanta, Georgia of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. King’s legacy includes the founding of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, his “I Have A Dream” speech during the 1963 March on Washington, D.C., the 1965 voter registration drive in Selma, Alabama and a Nobel Peace Prize. An assassin’s bullet ended his life on the balcony of a Memphis, Tennessee motel room on Apr. 4, 1968. He was 39 years old. Some schools, libraries, streets and other endeavors nationwide were named for King. The house where he was born in Atlanta, including several adjacent structures and the tomb of King and his widow, Coretta Scott King, was named a National Historic Site in 1980 and he is the only African American to have a monument on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., but otherwise there are few physical monuments to the ordained Baptist minister with a PhD from Boston University. His legacy lives on in ways that perhaps not even he could have foreseen. Although King started his career battling segregation mostly in southern states, his efforts to secure civil rights for all brought benefits to every American. In 2008 we elected African American Barack Obama president of the United States. The Obama administration has women cabinet officers, the ranks of the United States Supreme Court include a Black and a Hispanic Justice, the latter also a female. Queens Borough President Helen Marshall is the first African American to hold the office of Queens borough president and the second woman to do so. The 55th governor of New York state, David Paterson, the first African American to hold that office, served from 2008 to 2010. On the “rising tides lifts all boats” premise, John Liu, in 2002 the first Asian- American elected to the New York City Council, became the first Asian-American to hold citywide elected office as Comptroller in 2010. Jose Peralta remains the first Hispanic American elected to the New York state Assembly. Martin Luther King Jr. laid the groundwork that made their achievements possible. King’s life and work helped to make Queens the most ethnically diverse county in the United States, a distinction of which we can and should be justly proud. Moreover, all Americans, whatever their ethnic background, have more opportunities to realize their full potential today, some 44 years after King’s death, because this Baptist preacher from Atlanta led the way. Next Sunday, his actual birthday, and on the national holiday that follows on Monday, let us pause and appreciate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. Because of him, whatever our background, a

Voice: Kylene Frank, Mt. Pleasant As a college student studying social work, I’ve had to look over multiple policies in my classes. One policy in particular has caught my attention. Michigan as well as other states have formed a policy

Voice: Kylene Frank, Mt. Pleasant As a college student studying social work, I’ve had to look over multiple policies in my classes. One policy in particular has caught my attention. Michigan as well as other states have formed a policy that prohibits bullying or harassment in the schools. The policy clearly states what the board believes harassment and bullying are defined as. The definition given of harassment and bullying is the abuse of one or more pupils inflicted on another pupil. Why is the definition strictly based on the students bullying each other? Even though I am not a parent, I still have concern for those who are. This policy should not only include the bullying and harassment between students, but also between teachers and students. The policy does imply that faculty should demonstrate appropriate behavior but it does not include the faculty in the definition of what bullying and harassment in the school system is or what correct disciplinary actions should be used if a teacher is the one harassing a student. There have been cases where a child has been harassed and bullied by a teacher and it’s almost as if they only get a slap on the wrist for it. Even though this policy has gone through major debate in the past, I think it’s time to look at the picture even bigger, and bring it back to be reformed. Bullying and harassment is bad enough between students, but it’s even worse for teachers and other faculty members to display this type of behavior as well toward their students.

A network to share best practices for children with special needs Just say the word "homework," and you'll notice almost everyone cringes. We have all had countless hours, at some point, struggling over getting homework done either for ourselves or

A network to share best practices for children with special needs Just say the word "homework," and you'll notice almost everyone cringes. We have all had countless hours, at some point, struggling over getting homework done either for ourselves or our children. Then there are teachers who think they are the only class your child is taking, so they pile it on even more. However, there is actual research which supports the benefit of homework (more on the secondary level than the elementary level) and its positive effect on academic achievement. So what about those homework blues? Well, here are a few tips for teachers, parents and students: Remember, homework is a time to practice previously learned skills, not to teach new skills. If your child is having trouble with homework, do what you can, and have them get help the next day. Most teachers will work with them. There's an old saying that applies to anything you want to learn - "practice makes perfect." While perfection is not always the goal, make it your child's homework habit to practice wisely. You’d be amazed what can be accomplished!

The USGS Water Science School Alright, Mayor (fill in your name here), you've got a water crisis in your city. You're running out of water! Your growing population and new industries demand more water, which you don't happen

The USGS Water Science School Alright, Mayor (fill in your name here), you've got a water crisis in your city. You're running out of water! Your growing population and new industries demand more water, which you don't happen to have. You're the mayor -- you're in charge. How will you solve the problem, since you want to do what's best for your community (and get re-elected)? There's only two things you can do, increase the supply of water and/or decrease the demand for water. By using the form below, give us your opinions on what measures you'd use to tackle the problem (which is a real situation happening at many places in the world every day).Maybe get a class discussion going about why you think some measures would work and some wouldn't. The discussion will get more complicated than you think! Click on the Ups and Downs icon to see good and bad points about each measure. What measures would you use to handle your water crisis? Select an answer from 4 to 1 stars: |- "Great idea, I'd use it"||- "Only a fair idea"| |- "Pretty good idea"||- "Bad idea, I wouldn't use it"|

After realizing the possible effects of COLOURS on our lives, we can make use of them to improve our quality of life and our productivity. Next, we will touch on some common industrial uses of colour and how the average person can use CO

After realizing the possible effects of COLOURS on our lives, we can make use of them to improve our quality of life and our productivity. Next, we will touch on some common industrial uses of colour and how the average person can use COLOURS to our advantage! Lighter shades of colours can be used on walls of small rooms to generate an illusion of large space. For added effect, another colour can be used on another wall in the same place as we perceive that panel to be on another plane altogether, expanding our view. Some hospitals opt for a light GREEN wall colour instead of GREY or WHITE as soft GREEN relaxes the mind, making it a more conducive environment for patients and staff alike. Similarly, bedrooms could be painted soft shades of colours to make it a desirable place to be in. Our group did a small experiment on the effect of wall colour on perceived temperature. This was inspired by a common complaint by office workers that offices often have unbearably low air-conditioning temperatures. When put in a room that was painted sky BLUE, our volunteers tended to feel colder than when they were in a room painted PEACH. This was so as BLUE is a cool colour and PEACH is a warm one. The experiment was conducted at temperatures of 18°C, 21°C and 24°C (optimum temperature). So, companies and bosses out there may consider painting their workplaces BLUE to save energy! What industries could have a greater emphasis on colours other than fashion and advertising? Psychologists have attributed up to 60% of our decision to accept something, to its colour. In other words, the colour of a product pretty much dictates our choices, especially for the more aesthetically-inclined females. In fashion, designers often play with colours to accentuate body shapes and to hide the unflattering parts. Wearing a totally BLACK outfit draws attention to the person as a whole, making it the colour of choice for power dressing. It is also the perfect solution to look slimmer, apart from dressing in similar shades of a colour. The slimming effect comes from colour being the most outstanding graphic quality of an object. It overshadows outline, form, design and may be more attractive than the subject itself. Dressing in similar hues also gives the impression of a better coordinated wardrobe and good fashion sense. One’s skin colour also affects the choice colours of a person. For instance, tanned people should avoid dark colours such as BLACK, DARK BROWN, GREY and BLUE, especially when it comes to tops. This is to avoid looking dull. To stand out, the tanned could opt for bright shades of YELLOW, GREEN or RED. If they want to avoid standing out, earth colours like BEIGE, LIGHT BROWN and WHITE could be used. Marketing strategies based on colour work especially well for females. Shops targeted at young girls are usually painted a light shade of PINK (and so are most of their products). Toys for boys come in more masculine shades of BLUE and BLACK. To draw attention, publicity pamphlets sometimes come in shocking shades of RED that warrants action. This is important as lasting impressions are made within the first 90 seconds of an encounter. Since colour is an important visual factor, it can also make or break the publicity campaign. Pleasant, clear colours should be chosen as the human brain requires a certain sense of order to accept what it sees. If an advertisement has too many colours in a mess, we generally tend not to have good impressions of it as it distracts us from the subject matter and gives us a negative feeling of disorder. Apt colour combinations can be used to attract and interest the target audience. Are the colours of A and B the same? When we look at coloured objects, our brain analyses its colour in its context (with the surrounding colours). Thus, identical colours may seem to be two different colours when their surroundings are changed. The opposite is true; our brains can be tricked into believing that two close colours are the same, with a little help from their surroundings. This characteristic is applied in art museums, where they often put faded or old artworks under spotlight in dimly-lit areas. This is to allow the colours in the artwork to stand out and seem brighter. The trick of this is to increase contrast so that the desired object can be more obvious. Occasionally, the fashion un-inclined will face the problem of not knowing what colours to match. Fret not, for an easy solution is here for you! Step 1: Take a sheet of black paper or cardboard,cut out a two to four inch square, br> Step 2: Look at the color of your outfit through this 'window' for about 30 seconds and then look at a blank sheet of white paper. br> Step 3: The color that appears on the paper will be the after-image - a complement of the original color.

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications. Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident. Men's Health Basic Physical and Mental Do's and Don'ts All men have to eat food for growth and maintenance of a healthy body, but men have different requirements as teenagers, young adults, adults, and seniors. For example, infants require feeding every 4 hours until they gradually age and begin to take in more solid foods. Boys develop into the more normal pattern of eating three times per day; however, as most parents know, most boys, teenagers, and young adults often snack between meals. Snacking is often not limited to these age groups because adults and seniors often do the same. Eat three meals a day (breakfast, lunch, and dinner). It is important to remember that dinner does not have to be the largest meal; choose lunch as the The bulk of food consumption should consist of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fat-free or low-fat milk products. meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts (with emphasis on beans and nuts); try to limit meats and dairy products to avoid fats and cholest

Mississippi River Critical Area Program The Mississippi River Critical Area Program is a joint local and state program that provides coordinated planning and management for 72 miles of the Mississippi River, four miles of the Minnesota River, and 54,000 acres of

Mississippi River Critical Area Program The Mississippi River Critical Area Program is a joint local and state program that provides coordinated planning and management for 72 miles of the Mississippi River, four miles of the Minnesota River, and 54,000 acres of adjacent corridor lands. The designated Mississippi River Critical Area Corridor stretches from Ramsey and Dayton, Minnesota, to the southern boundary of Dakota County on the west/south side of the river and the boundary with the Lower St. Croix National Scenic Riverway on the east/north side of the river, and runs through the heart of Minneapolis-St. Paul. To view a map of the corridor location, see Critical Area/MNRRA Corridor Map. The Mississippi River Critical Area Program works in partnership with the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area (MNRRA) Program, a unit of the National Park Service. In 2007, the Minnesota State Legislature directed the DNR to prepare a report on the status of the Mississippi River Corridor Critical Area (5.3 Mb). The DNR also conducted a survey of the thirty communities in the Mississippi River Critical Area Corridor to gather information on the communities' Critical Area plans and ordinances, and their experiences with the Program. A full discussion of the survey (4.7 Mb) was created as a separate report. For more detailed information on the Critical Area Program, refer to the links in the side bar at the left, under Mississippi River Critical Area Program. - Wild and Scenic Rivers Program - Shoreland Management Program - Variances in Shorelands, Floodplains & Other DNR-Protected Waterways - Rivers and streams information - River management - Dan Petrik, Land Use Specialist, (651) 259-5697, [email protected]

C Aryama Sundaram, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court Freedom of speech and expression is vital to a democracy and is given the status of a fundamental right protected by our Constitution. Any inroads through restrictions can only be on limited grounds: safety

C Aryama Sundaram, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court Freedom of speech and expression is vital to a democracy and is given the status of a fundamental right protected by our Constitution. Any inroads through restrictions can only be on limited grounds: safety and integrity of India, security of the state, foreign relations, public order, causing incitement to an offence, etc. And that too only through a law enacted by Parliament -not by executive fiat! So cherished is this right in Indian democracy that in the case of Jagjivan Ram versus Rangarajan, the Supreme Court, on the concern of the police that the film (in question) would incite violence, responded by asking that if there was a threat of violence, was it not the duty of the police to prevent it. The court hastened to point out that the purpose of the freedom was not to express a thought that was cherished by all but for the one that was hated. The Election Commission (EC), as important as this office is, would also be subject to the same limitation in impinging on the exercise of this right. The only elasticity that could be given to the EC is when testing the reasonableness of the restriction imposed. While in the normal course, such restriction would be severely scrutinised as to its reasonableness, the restriction would be considered from the larger propensity of causing such reactions during an election. But there the difference ends! The EC can claim no greater or other rights to curtail freedom of speech than allowed by the Constitution. Can a person speaking for a political party be prevented from voicing what is stated in the election manifesto of the party unless the manifesto itself is to be faulted and censored? Can a politician be prevented from making known his hope of bringing in a legislation in which he believes? Can it be said that such an expression of hope or promise would give rise to his losing his constitutional protection of free speech? Equally, would it amount to an apprehended corrupt practice or an impediment to the smooth conduct of a free and fair election? In the absence of these, the curtailment of a politician's expression of his hopes and intentions cannot be permitted. It is not democratic. Even if the curtailment is by as exalted a body as the EC.

According to Wikipedia, London Buses route 22 was introduced on May 17, 1909. By 1911 it had evolved into the route that serve as the link between my current home near Putney Commons and Piccadilly Circus

According to Wikipedia, London Buses route 22 was introduced on May 17, 1909. By 1911 it had evolved into the route that serve as the link between my current home near Putney Commons and Piccadilly Circus. (It was extended from Putney Bridge to Putney Commons in 1916). The route has evolved some since that time mainly being split into two pieces, the northern branch "shortworkings" designeated 22A, 22B, and 22C and later 242. The 22 was later stopped at Piccadilly and the Northern shortworkings were fully separate routes. Why is this of interest? Not only is continuous service provided on the same route, a continuously numbered bus route has managed to last nearly 100 years on largely the same route, longer than most rail services. One could attribute this to bureaucratic intertia, but it also helps locals at least retain knowledge about their transport geography. While consistent bus numbering was a positive aspect to come out of the reorganization of the London buses through the twentieth century, much was lost in term of information by the use of red for all city buses. The distinction between the red city buses and green country buses is well known (the green buses have lost their distinction with privatization). However, prior to that, buses along certain services in fact had their own colors (based on which Association was operating the service (Reed p. 10). The "General" was red, and since they were the survivors o

Nuclear Power in the World Today (updated November 2013) - The first commercial nuclear power stations started operation in the 1950s. - There are now over 430 commercial nuclear power reactors operating in 31 countries, with over

Nuclear Power in the World Today (updated November 2013) - The first commercial nuclear power stations started operation in the 1950s. - There are now over 430 commercial nuclear power reactors operating in 31 countries, with over 370,000 MWe of total capacity. About 70 more reactors are under construction. - They provide over 11% of the world's electricity as continuous, reliable base-load power, without carbon dioxide emissions. - 56 countries operate a total of about 240 research reactors and a further 180 nuclear reactors power some 150 ships and submarines. Nuclear technology uses the energy released by splitting the atoms of certain elements. It was first developed in the 1940s, and during the Second World War research initially focussed on producing bombs by splitting the atoms of particular isotopes of either uranium or plutonium. In the 1950s attention turned to the peaceful purposes of nuclear fission, notably for power generation. Today, the world produces as much electricity from nuclear energy as it did from all sources combined in 1960. Civil nuclear power can now boast over 15,500 reactor years of experience and supplies almost 11.5% of global electricity needs, from reactors in 31 countries. In fact, through regional grids, many more than those countries use nuclear-generated power. Many countries have also built research reactors to provide a source of neutron beams for scientific research and the production of medical and industrial isotopes. Today, only eight countries are known to have a nuclear weapons capability. By contrast, 56 operate about 240 civil research reactors, over one thrid of these in developing countries. Now 31 countries host over 430 commercial nuclear power reactors with a total installed capacity of over 370,000 MWe (see linked table for up to date figures). This is more than three times the total generating capacity of France or Germany from all sources. About 70 further nuclear power reactors are under construction, equivalent to 20% of existing capacity, while over 160 are firmly planned, equivalent to half of present capacity. Sixteen countries depend on nuclear power for at least a quarter of their electricity. France gets around three quarters of its power from nuclear energy, while Belgium, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Sweden, Switzerland, Slovenia and Ukraine get one third or more. South Korea, Bulgaria and Finland normally get more than 30% of their power from nuclear energy, while in the USA, UK, Spain and Russia almost one fifth is from nuclear. Japan is used to relying on nuclear power for more than one quarter of its electricity and is expected to return to that level. Among countries which do not host nuclear power plants, Italy and Denmark get almost 10% of their power from nuclear. Improved performance from existing nuclear reactors As nuclear power plant construction returns to the levels reached during the 1970s and 1980s, those plants now operating are producing more electricity. In 2011, production was 2518 billion kWh. The increase over the six years to 2006 (210 TWh) was equal to the output from 30 large new nuclear power plants. Yet between 2000 and 2006 there was no net increase in reactor numbers (and only 15 GWe in capacity). The rest of the improvement is due to better performance from existing units. In a longer perspective, from 1990 to 2010, world capacity rose by 57 GWe (17.75%, due both to net addition of new plants and uprating some established ones) and electricity production rose 755 billion kWh (40%). The relative contributions to this increase were: new construction 36%, uprating 7% and availability increase 57%. In 2011 and 2012 both capacity and output diminished due to cutbacks in Germany and Japan following the Fukushima accident. Considering 400 power reactors over 150 MWe for which data are available: over 1980 to 2000 world median capacity factor increased from 68% to 86%, and since then it has maintained around 85%. Actual load factors are slightly lower: 80% average in 2012 (excluding Japan), due to reactors being operated below their full capacity for various reasons. One quarter of the world's reactors have load factors of more than 90%, and nearly two thirds do better than 75%, compared with about a quarter of them over 75% in 1990. The USA now dominates the top 25 positions, followed by South Korea, but six other countries are also represented there. Four of the top ten reactors for lifetime load factors are South Korean. US nuclear power plant performance has shown a steady improvement over the past twenty years, and the average load factor in 201

Plover Prairie is truly unique in the plethora of plant and animal species that call this wet prairie home. The site’s newest resident, the greater prairie chicken, is being restored through cooperative efforts with private and public agencies, and is now

Plover Prairie is truly unique in the plethora of plant and animal species that call this wet prairie home. The site’s newest resident, the greater prairie chicken, is being restored through cooperative efforts with private and public agencies, and is now becoming more common to observe. Located in the heart of the Minnesota River Valley, Plover Prairie joins thousands of acres of state and federally owned lands to create a large block of habitat for plants and animals. The preserve is adjacent to Lac qui Parle and Pyramid wildlife management areas, which are managed by the state, and two miles southeast of Big Stone National Wildlife Refuge. From Bellingham, take State Highway 75 about three miles north to County Road 38. Turn east, and

The Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania Last Modified: May 7, 2013 If mesothelioma is found in the lymph nodes, does that mean that it has spread? AnswerKeith Cengel, MD

The Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania Last Modified: May 7, 2013 If mesothelioma is found in the lymph nodes, does that mean that it has spread? AnswerKeith Cengel, MD, Radiation Oncologist at Penn Medicine, responds: Having mesothelioma in the lymph nodes means the cancer has spread. If the lymph nodes are local (in the chest) this is different than if the nodes are elsewhere (e.g. the abdomen.) and can change the potential therapeutic options available.

Streptococcus agalactiae (also called Group B Streptococcus, or GBS) is a versatile pathogen that affects a variety of animals. Now studies by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their university colleagues

Streptococcus agalactiae (also called Group B Streptococcus, or GBS) is a versatile pathogen that affects a variety of animals. Now studies by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists and their university colleagues are revealing new information about this pathogen. The symptoms of GBS... Read More An interesting article on the field of optogenetics. Using bacteria, algae and light scientists may one day invent and input/output interface for the brain and lead to cures for diseases such as Parkinsons or chronic depression. Read More A chemist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., has developed a technology intended to rapidly assess any presence of microbial life on spacecraft. This new method may also help the military test for disease-causing bacteria, such as a causative agent for anthrax, and may also... Read More A former Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientist and a private company worked to develop a new chemical formulation that could help meat processing plants keep work surfaces free of contamination. Prior to her retirement, microbiologist Judy Arnold worked at the ARS Poultry Microbiologi... Read More Attach self-propelling bacteria to a cog and they'll set it spinning for you, say Italian physicists. Last year, we looked at an idea for a bacteria-powered motor dreamt up by Luca Angelani and pals from the University of Rome in Italy. Their idea was to place a cog with asymmetric teeth into... Read More Tonight, at the Koshland Science Museum in Washington, D.C., Amy L. Sonricker, MPH, Project Coordinator for the HealthMap project based at the Children's Hospital of Boston, and William Warshauer, Executive Vice President, Voxiva, will present a hands-on exploration of how computers, the interne... Read More Healthy eating, not supplements, is the best way to keep the good bacteria in your gut healthy, says a dietitian and researcher. As with vitamins, it's best to get the bacteria you need from healthy food rather than taking often expensive and potentially ineffective supplements, says Gail Cre... Read More Whatever you may think of our addiction to fossil fuels, there is no shortage of ideas on how to extract every last tonne. Field trials are now showing that all it takes is common fertiliser. Natural gas is often present in coalfields, clinging to the coal. It is extracted through wells drill... Read More This two-minute video is an update from Reuters on the current shortage of H1N1 vaccines. while short, the video does provide some interesting visuals of the production of H1N1 vaccine, as well as the reasons behind the delay. Read More The UK starts vaccinating people against swine flu today; in the US and Australia, vaccination has already begun. Can we be sure that safety hasn't been compromised in the race to test and produce the vaccine? Didn't vaccination hurt people during the last big swine flu scare? And do the benefit... Read More Tomatoes, corn, insect resistance in poplar trees, and switchgrass durability through climate change are just some of the focus areas of the $101.6 million that the National Science Foundation has granted this week for plant genome sequencing projects. Ranging broadly from $500,000 to $10.4 m... Read More Roche last week said that demand

A seismologist's conclusion an injection well used to dispose of fluids from oil and gas drilling is linked to minor earthquakes in that area should be investigated more thoroughly. If the Columbia University scientist is right, new restrictions on such wells will be needed

A seismologist's conclusion an injection well used to dispose of fluids from oil and gas drilling is linked to minor earthquakes in that area should be investigated more thoroughly. If the Columbia University scientist is right, new restrictions on such wells will be needed. Eleven minor quakes in the Youngstown area during the past year may have been caused by enormous amounts of brine wastewater pumped into the injection well, seismologist John Armbruster said last week. The well has been closed down while more information is gathered. It is important to remember the difference between injection wells and holes drilled to produce gas and oil, however. Compared to injection wells, most others use miniscule amounts of brine and other fluids in the fracking process. Injection facilities are used to dispose of fluid from scores of production wells. In other words, the seismologist's report should not prompt worries about earthquakes caused by production gas and oil wells. That said, the issue is a very serious one. Engineers, geologists and other scientists should mount a comprehensive investigation of injection wells, to guide legislators in deciding what, if any, special new regulations are needed for them. Officials in Ohio and West Virginia should be paying close attention.

In this city so crowded with religious symbols, where houses of worship vie with one another to render the religious past visible, no synagogue bears more symbolic weight than the one called the Hurva, in the heart of the Jewish Quarter. Just days ahead

In this city so crowded with religious symbols, where houses of worship vie with one another to render the religious past visible, no synagogue bears more symbolic weight than the one called the Hurva, in the heart of the Jewish Quarter. Just days ahead of its March 15 rededication ceremony, finishing touches still were being applied to the synagogue, once Jerusalem's grandest, which had remained in ruins for six decades. The rebuilt Hurva, made of the white stone that is Jerusalem's vernacular material, had already assumed its former prominence in the city's crowded skyline. Only interior details remained to be done. Early this month, as the Israeli architect Nahum Meltzer looked on, a whorled woodwork crown covered in gold leaf was hoisted to its perch atop a two-story holy ark. The ark, which stands beneath the building's gleaming 82-feet-high dome, is a nearly exact replica of the original that stood on the spot more than 150 years earlier, encapsulating the basic principle that guided Mr. Meltzer's reconstruction: not innovation, but historical accuracy. In a sense, however, this moment was the culmination not merely of eight years of construction, but of 300. The Hurva's story began in 1701, when a group of Polish immigrants to the Holy Land started to build a synagogue here. Two decades later, after the group had exhausted its funds and defaulted on loans, Arab creditors destroyed the building—and expelled the city's Ashkenazi (or European) Jews for good measure. For a century, the synagogue—which came to be called the Hurva, or "ruin"—lay in shambles, a reminder of expulsion. But with the passing decades, the yearning to rebuild it hardly abated, and in the 19th century, with the statute of limitations on the original loans expired and Ashkenazi Jews permitted by Ottoman rulers once more to settle in Jerusalem, the aspirations of renewal could at last be realized. With funds from Sir Moses Montefiore, the Rothschilds and communities as far-flung as St. Petersburg, Baghdad, Cairo and India, the sultan's architect, Assad Effendi, was hired to erect a domed structure in the neo-Byzantine style much beloved of the Ottomans. The impressive result, completed in 1864, became for the next eight decades not just the tallest Jewish landmark in Jerusalem and an architectural archetype for synagogues around the world. It also was a forum for public assemblies. Here the city's Jews held a memorial service for Queen Victoria; celebrated the coronation of King George V; thrilled to the orations of such Zionist leaders as Theodor Herzl and Zeev Jabotinsky; and, in 1942, conducted a mass prayer service for the victims of Hitler's genocide. Yet Jews were not alone in recognizing the Hurva's symbolic significance, a fact that made the synagogue the prize of the fierce battle for the Old City during Israel's War of Independence. On the afternoon of May 28, 1948, hours after the Old City of Jerusalem fell into Jordanian hands, and Jews once again were forced to flee, soldiers of the Arab Legion set off explosive charges and reduced the Hurva to rubble. This time, the Jews' exile was shorter. Very soon after Israel recaptured the Old City during the Six-Day War in 1967, several architects—including Philadelphia-based Louis Kahn—envisioned an ambitious new Hurva that would serve as a national religious edifice. According to Haifa-born architect Moshe Safdie, Mr. Kahn's plan, incorporating both modernist and archaic elements, was "an inspired design, which would have been a building for the generations." Mr. Kahn's masterpiece would remain unbuilt, undone perhaps by its own aesthetic audacity. Israeli critics of the plan, intimidated by Jerusalem's delicate religious balance, worried that a bold Hurva would compete with the Dome of the Rock and the Holy Sepulcher or overshadow the Western Wall. Instead, to commemorate the destruction of the Jewish Quarter, an austere 52-feet-high memorial arch was erected over the ruins. But symbols of defeat cannot be expected to last long in this country. Eight years ago, the Israeli government commissioned Mr. Meltzer to build a replica of the Hurva as it stood in its 19th-century glory. (According to Nissim Arzy, director of the state-run Jewish Quarter Development Company, which oversaw the project, two-thirds of the cost of construction was donated by the Ukrainian Jewish oligarchs Vadim Rabinovitch and Igor Kolomoisky.) The design decision, which some derided as

Natural Resources | Early History | Stephen Story | A Severe Winter| Pioneer Hunters | Lynch Law for Horse-Thieves The Half-Breed Line | The County Seat Troubles The Killing of Davis and Meek | County Roster |

Natural Resources | Early History | Stephen Story | A Severe Winter| Pioneer Hunters | Lynch Law for Horse-Thieves The Half-Breed Line | The County Seat Troubles The Killing of Davis and Meek | County Roster | the Epidemic of 1860 Claim Jumping | The Jayhawkers of '62 | The Underground Railway| The Grasshopper Scourge | Defunct Towns | War Record Milling Interests | Railroads Falls City: First Permanent Residents | City Officials| Postal Business | The Press | Fire Record | Societies Falls City (conts.): Banks | Manufacturing Interests| The Grain Business | Pork Packing | Falls City Hotels Hinton's Driving Park | Public Schools | The Public School Building 5 ~ 9: ADAMS ~ FRY | GALLAGHER ~ KREKER | LEE ~ POWELL | RANDALL ~ STRETCH | TARPLEY ~ YUTZY Humboldt: Early Events | Railway Interests | The Public School| Churches | The Press | Societies | Hotels | Banks and Bankers Manufacturing Interests, Etc. Humboldt: Biographical Sketches| Rulo: Charles Rouleau | Elie Bedard| Early Events | The Press | Business Interests | Churches Societies | Biographical Sketches Dawson: Early History | The Cyclone | Societies | Churches| Business Interests | The Old Mill | Biographical Sketches Salem: Early History | Hotels | The Public Schools| Churches | Societies | Business Interests | Biographical Sketches Arago: Biographical Sketches| Porter Precinct | Ohio Precinct | Franklin Precinct | Liberty Precinct Speiser Precinct | Barada Precinct | Preston List of Illustrations in Richardson County Chapter The town now known as Rulo was laid out in 1857, on lands belonging, under the provisions of the Prairie du Chien treaty, to the wife of Charles Rouleau. As first settled it was known as Roleau, and the orthography of the name probably should still be the same, but the constant pronunciation of the name by people of all nationalities has led to its phonetic spelling as Rulo. The old town, Rulo proper, incorporated in 1859, was embraced in the lands of Mrs. Rouleau, already mentioned, but very shortly after the laying out and first settlement of the town the part known as Rouleau and Bedard's addition was platted in. This addition was chiefly upon land belonging to Mrs. Bedard, the sister of Mrs. Rouleau, and with the old Rulo embraces all that is now the town site. It would be difficult to find anywhere in the fertile lands of this county along the bottoms of the Nemaha or the Muddy, or on the bluffs that the line the Nebraska shore of the Missouri, a more sightly location for a town. Below and to the left, the Missouri takes a grand sweep, lapping the level Missouri shore and shouldered away from the Nebraska side by tree-covered hills. Along the bank beneath the town runs the level bottom, about 500 feet in width, and above rise the hills of the town, lacking but little of the traditional seven hills of Rome. From the tops of these hills can be seen, in a radius of ten miles, the flats of Missouri almost to the town of Bigelow, the hills of northern Kansas, and the fertile slopes of Richardson County, becoming less and less in height as they recede from the river. Charles Rouleau, familiarly known to almost all the older inhabitants of the town as "old Charley Rulo," was born in Detroit, Mich., near the beginning of the second quarter of the present century, at exactly what time he never could tell. As the name implies, he was of French descent, presumably of Canadian French stock. Arrived at an age to start in life for himself, he joined Fremont's expedition across the plains, and with the great General saw the wonders of the new West. Returning, he married his Indian wife, and with Bedard and others took stock in land on the present site of Sioux City, Iowa. It was at about this time that he laid out Omadi, a town about ten miles west of Sioux City. In 1855 Rouleau made a trip from Sioux City to the lands which it was proposed to lay off in Richardson County to satisfy the demands of the half-breed treaty, and the following year he brought his wife to Rulo and occupied her lands. Although born in the United States, Rouleau was a typical Frenchman, hot-headed, warm-hearted and improvident. There are various wild stories extant of his lavish generosity, and in one instance he is said to have presented an entire block in the heart of the city to a comparative stranger who sang a song that took his fancy, while those who were unfortunate enough to incur his enmity could not procure land at any price. At the time of his death in 1876 he had succeeded in squandering the majority o

|This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2009)| |Part of a series on:| |Action video games| Shooter games (also known as'shoot em up' games) are a sub-genre of

|This article needs additional citations for verification. (July 2009)| |Part of a series on:| |Action video games| Shooter games (also known as'shoot em up' games) are a sub-genre of action game, which often test the player's speed and reaction time. It includes many subgenres that have the commonality of focusing "on the actions of the avatar using some sort of weapon. Usually this weapon is a gun, or some other long-range weapon". A common resource found in many shooter games is ammunition. Most commonly, the purpose of a shooter game is to shoot opponents and proceed through missions without the player character dying. Characteristics of shooters There are many criteria to determine the type of shooter; listed below are some of the major divisions. Using the following, it is possible to categorize almost all shooters developed. The player usually views the events from behind the eyes of the character (a first-person shooter) or from a camera that follows the character, usually a few feet behind (a third-person shooter). It is also possible for a game to have a fixed camera, especially shooting gallery games and some 2D overhead shooters such as Robotron 2084. Number of characters While most shooters are played as solo ventures, several offer the players the opportunity to control a squad of characters, usually directly controlling one, and giving orders to computer-controlled allies. Games which feature non-player characters fighting alongside the player, but which are not directly controllable (either by switching player control, or issuing orders to the character) are not considered squad-based games. If a shooter game is available online, there are several other sharp divisions it can take. Team games are where players are assigned to one of two (sometimes more, but very infrequently) factions which are competing for some goal. Co-Op games have several players on the same faction playing through either the single player or custom missions against computer-simulated enemies. Individual(often called Deathmatch) has all players competing with each other. Many times a game will offer differing modes which allow players to choose from among these various types. This is often an optional way to categorize a shooter, but in some cases it's needed to help distinguish it. A game may quite often heavily rely on stealth as opposed to direct action. Others might have large horror elements to them. However, the one thing in common with all shooters is that combat with a gun or similar long range/projectile weapon is the primary focus of gameplay itself. Shoot 'em up Shoot 'em ups are a specific sub-genre of shooters, wherein the player has limited control over their movement; if done with 2D gameplay, as in Ikaruga, this means that a moving background continually pushes the player forward, though they may move up and down and left and right around the screen, typically firing straight forward. Shoot 'em ups share common gameplay, but are often categorized by viewpoint. This includes fixed shooters on fixed screens, scrolling shooters that mainly scroll in a single direction, top-down shooters (sometimes to referred to as twin-stick shooters) where the levels are controlled from an overhead viewpoint, rail shooters where player movement is automatically guided down a fixed forward-scrolling "rail", and isometric shooters which use an isometric perspective. This genre also includes "run and gun" games which emphasize greater maneuvering or even jumping. The sub-genre includes fixed shooters such as Space Invaders and Galaxian, scrolling shooters such as Xevious and Darius, top-down shooters such as Bosconian and Time Pilot, rail shooters such as Buck Rogers: Planet of Zoom and Space Harrier, isometric shooters such as Zaxxon and Viewpoint, and run and gun games such as Thexder, Contra and Metal Slug. Shooting gallery games are often interchangeable with light gun games, although many can also be played using a regular joypad and an on-screen cursor to signify where the bullets are being aimed. When these debuted, they were typically played from a first-person perspective, with enemy fire that occurred anywhere on the screen damaging or killing the player. As they evolved away from the use of light guns, the player came to be represented by an on-screen avatar, usually someone on the bottom of the screen, who could move and avoid enemy attacks while returning fire. These sorts of shooters almost always utilize horizontal scrolling to the right to indicate level progression, with enemies appearing in waves from predestined locations in the background or from the sides. One of the earliest examples is the 1985 arcade game Shootout produced by Data East. A specific sub-genre of this type of game is the Cabal shooter, started by none other than Cabal, in which the player controls an on-screen avatar that can run and often jump around the screen in addition to being able to aim their gun. Other games in this sub-genre include Blood Bros., Dynamite Duke, NAM-1975, Wild Guns, and Sin and Punishment. As light gun games became more prevalent and started to make use of fully 3D backgrounds, such as the Time Crisis or House of the Dead series, these sorts of games fell out of popular production, but many like Blood Bros. still have their fanbase today. Other notable games of this category include Operation Wolf and Laser Invasion.

- Written by John E. Johnson, Jr. - Published on 21 October 2010 At one of the first CES conventions that I attended, I met a fellow who had a small booth against the rear wall. His name was John

- Written by John E. Johnson, Jr. - Published on 21 October 2010 At one of the first CES conventions that I attended, I met a fellow who had a small booth against the rear wall. His name was John Ulrick. His product was something called a Class D power amplifier. I had no idea how it worked, because I had not heard of Class D. He explained some of the inner workings, but what most impressed me was how powerful it was, and yet, how relatively small its chassis was. He explained that, mainly, this was due to its amazing efficiency. Regular Class AB amplifiers are about 70% efficient, while Class D amplifiers are about 95% efficient. This means that if you are playing music that demands 200 watts per channel output using a stereo Class D power amplifier, the amplifier is only drawing 420 watts from the wall. At 70% efficiency, it would be drawing 570 watts, which might not mean very much to you in terms of expense. After all, your refrigerator draws more than that. But, a principle advantage of this amazing efficiency is that very little heat is produced. Nearly all the power is going to the speakers. Only 5% is wasted as heat. With Class AB, 30% of your AC power is going up the chimney, so to speak. With Class A operation, it is even worse, as it is only 30% efficient, with the rest being dissipated as heat. So, Class A amplifiers tend to be very hot during operation, and heat, of course, is an enemy of electrical circuits. John Ulrick produced the first commercially available Class D power amplifier in 1974. - Design: Class D (Switching) Stereo Power Amplifier - Power: 600 Watts RMS x 2 into 8 Ohms, 800 Watts RMS into 4 Ohms, 1,200 Watts RMS into 2 Ohms, 1,500 Watts RMS into 8 Ohms in Bridged Mode - MFR: 20 Hz - 20 kHz, ± 0.1 dB - THD+N: 0.03% at Full Output, 20 Hz - 20 kHz - Inputs: XLR and RCA - Input Impedance: 50 kOhms Balanced or Unbalanced - Outputs: Five-way Speaker Binding Posts - Power Draw at Idle: 40 Watts - Dimensions: 5.25" H x 17" W x 14" D - Weight: 52 Pounds - MSRP: $3,995 USA The Class D amplifier runs very cool by comparison, because of its high efficiency. But, its efficiency and small size are not the only things that make a Class D amplifier worth considering for your listening room. The technology has sound advantages too, and the Spectron in particular, is unique. We have all heard about the use and misuse of negative feedback in amplifiers. This process feeds signal from the output back to the input, in the case of global negative feedback. The electrical phase of the feedback is inverted, and the difference between the input and the output is cancelled - not totally, but large enough to improve the quality of the output, because the difference between the input and output, besides the volume, is the presence of distortion. The circuit for negative feedback in a conventional amplifier usually consists of a resistor and capacitor. The resistor determines how much voltage (dBv) is fed back, and the capacitor determines the slope of the feedback, i.e., the relative amount of feedback in the low frequencies vs. the high frequencies. This is an analog process, and the time that it takes for the feedback to take place is about 2,000 nanoseconds, or 2 µs. Now, just think about this for a minute. A 20 kHz sine wave has a duration of 50 µs. So, because the negative feedback takes 2 µs to feed through to the output, the corrective effects of the feedback are 2 µs late, and extend 2 µs beyond the signal it is supposed to correct. The result is that we trade one type of distortion for another. While low order distortion is reduced, we end up with more higher order distortion. The bottom line with

At a Glance Why Get Tested? To help evaluate the bone marrow's ability to produce red blood cells (RBCs) and to help distinguish between anaemia related to blood loss or destruction and anaemia related to decreased RBC production

At a Glance Why Get Tested? To help evaluate the bone marrow's ability to produce red blood cells (RBCs) and to help distinguish between anaemia related to blood loss or destruction and anaemia related to decreased RBC production; to help monitor bone marrow response and return of normal marrow function following chemotherapy treatment, bone marrow transplant, or post-treatment follow-up for iron deficiency anaemia When to Get Tested? A blood sample obtained by inserting a needle into a vein in the arm or sometimes from pricking a finger (or the heel of an infant) The Test Sample What is being tested? This test measures the number and percentage of reticulocytes in the blood and serves as an indicator of the adequacy of bone marrow red blood cell (RBC) production. Reticulocytes are immature red blood cells. They are produced in the bone marrow when stem cells differentiate to the next stage of RBC development, eventually forming reticulocytes and finally mature RBCs. Most RBCs are fully mature before they are released from the bone marrow into the blood, but about 0.5 - 2% of the RBCs in circulation will be reticulocytes. The body attempts to maintain a stable number of RBCs in circulation by continually removing old RBCs (approximately 120 days old) and producing new ones in the bone marrow. If this steady state is disrupted by an increased loss of RBCs or by decreased production, then the affected patient will develop anaemia. Increased loss of red blood cells may be due to acute or chronic bleeding (haemorrhage) or haemolysis. The body compensates for this loss by increasing the rate of RBC production. When this happens the number and percentage of reticulocytes in the blood increases until the balance is restored or until the production capacity of the marrow is reached. Decreased RBC production may occur when the bone marrow is not functioning normally (due to a bone marrow disorder such as aplastic anaemia or due to marrow suppression from a variety of causes including radiation and chemotherapy treatments for cancer), because of insufficient erythropoietin (a hormone produced by the kidneys to stimulate RBC production) or because of deficiencies in certain nutrients such as iron, vitamin B12, or folate. This decreased production leads to decreased numbers of RBCs in circulation, decreased amounts of haemoglobin (an oxygen-carrying protein inside the RBC), a decreased haematocrit (the amount of cells versus plasma in the blood) and a decreasing number of reticulocytes as old RBCs are removed from the bloodstream but not fully replaced. Occasionally, both the reticulocyte count and the RBC count will be increased because of excess RBC production. This may be due to a variety of causes including inappropriately increased production of erythropoietin, disorders that chronically produce increased numbers of RBCs (polycythaemia vera), and even smoking. How is the sample collected for testing? A blood sample is obtained by inserting a needle into a vein in the arm or sometimes from pricking a finger or the heel of an infant. Ask a Laboratory Scientist NOTE: This article is based on research that utilizes the sources cited here as well as the collective experience of the Lab Tests Online Editorial Review Board. This article is periodically reviewed by the Editorial Board and may be updated as a result of the review. Any new sources cited will be added to the list and distinguished from the original sources used.

By Pam Frost Gorder A new form of clean-coal technology reached an important milestone recently, with the successful operation of a research-scale combustion system on west campus. The technology is now ready for testing at a larger scale. For 203

By Pam Frost Gorder A new form of clean-coal technology reached an important milestone recently, with the successful operation of a research-scale combustion system on west campus. The technology is now ready for testing at a larger scale. For 203 continuous hours, the Ohio State combustion unit produced heat from coal while capturing 99 percent of the carbon dioxide produced in the reaction. Liang-Shih Fan, professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and director of the Clean Coal Research Laboratory, ‘We carefully control the chemical reaction so it never burns — it is consumed chemically, and the carbon dioxide is entirely contained inside the reactor.’ - Liang-Shih Fan pioneered the technology called Coal-Direct Chemical Looping (CDCL), which chemically harnesses coal’s energy and contains the carbon dioxide produced before it can be released into the atmosphere. “In the simplest sense, combustion is a chemical reaction that consumes oxygen and produces heat,” Fan said. “Unfortunately, it also produces carbon dioxide, which is difficult to capture and bad for the environment. So we found a way to release the heat without burning. We carefully control the chemical reaction so that the coal never burns — it is consumed chemically, and the carbon dioxide is entirely contained inside the reactor.” Dawei Wang, a research associate and one of the group’s team leaders, described the technology’s potential benefits. “The commercial-scale CDCL plant could really promote our energy independence. Not only can we use America’s natural resources such as Ohio coal, but we can keep our air clean and spur the economy with jobs,” he said. Though other laboratories around the world are trying to develop similar technology, Fan’s lab is unique. The group studies coal in the two forms that are already commonly available to the power industry: Crushed coal “feedstock” and coal-derived syngas. The latter fuel has been successfully studied in a second sub-pilot unit, through a similar process called Syngas Chemical Looping (SCL). Each unit is contained in a 25-foot-high insulated metal cylinder that resembles a tall home water heater tank. No other lab has continuously operated a coal-direct chemical looping unit as long as Fan’s lab did last September. But as doctoral student Elena Chung explained, the experiment could have continued. “We voluntarily chose to stop the unit. We actually could have run longer, but honestly, it was a mutual decision by Dr. Fan and the students. It was a long and tiring week where we all shared shifts,” she said. Fan agreed that the nine-day experiment was a success. “In the two years we’ve been running the sub-pilot plants, our CDCL and SCL units have achieved a combined 830 operating hours, which clearly demonstrates the reliability and operability of our design,” he said. The units each produce about 25 thermal kilowatts of energy, which in a full-scale power plant would be used to heat water and turn the steam-powered turbines that create electricity. The researchers are about to take their technology to the next level: A larger-scale pilot plant is under construction at the US Department of Energy National Carbon Capture Center in Wilsonville, Ala. Set to begin operations in late 2013, that plant will produce 250 thermal kilowatts using syngas. The key to the technology is the use of tiny metal beads to carry oxygen to the fuel to spur the chemical reaction. For CDCL, the fuel is powdered coal, and the metal beads are iron oxide composites. Chung likened the sizes to talcum powder and ice cream sprinkles, though the mix is not nearly so colorful. The coal and iron oxide are heated to high temperatures. Carbon from the coal binds with the oxygen from the iron oxide and creates carbon dioxide, which rises into a chamber where it is captured. Hot iron and coal ash are left behind. Because the iron beads are so much bigger than the coal ash, they are eas

Jan 3, 2005 (CIDRAP News) – Canadian authorities have now confirmed a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in an older dairy cow suspected last week of having the disease. Canada's

Jan 3, 2005 (CIDRAP News) – Canadian authorities have now confirmed a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in an older dairy cow suspected last week of having the disease. Canada's second BSE case does not indicate an increased risk for food safety, wrote the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in an announcement yesterday. No part of the animal entered the human or animal food chains, CFIA noted. Canada mandates the removal of high-risk cattle parts, called specified risk materials (SRM) from the human food supply. The cow was tested because she couldn't walk, qualifying her as a high-risk animal under Canada's BSE surveillance rules. The cow was born in 1996, 1 year before Canada and the US banned the feeding of protein from ruminants to other ruminants. The announcement of a suspected case occurred as US officials announced plans to lift a ban on importing live Canadian cattle that had been imposed after the discovery of the first BSE case in May 2003. The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) said on Dec 29 that the borders will reopen to cattle younger than 30 months old and to other beef products beginning Mar 7. BSE is only rarely found in cattle younger than 30 months. Confirmation of a second BSE case doesn't rattle US confidence, according to a statement today by Ron DeHaven, administrator of the US Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). USDA remains confident that Canada's animal and public health measures, along with US rules "provide the utmost protections to US consumers and livestock," DeHaven said in a news release. The discovery of a second case is not surprising to those involved in surveillance efforts, CFIA noted, adding that additional cases may be found as testing of high-risk cattle continues. The country tested 22,000 animals in 2004, CFIA said. World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) rules identify a country as at minimal BSE risk if fewer than two cows for each million cattle older than 24 months are found to be ill during the previous 4 years, the APHIS announcement said. Canada has about 5.5 million cattle in that age range, which would allow for up to 11 BSE cases without jeopardizing its minimal-risk status. CFIA has identified the home farm of the BSE-infected cow and is searching for any other animals a

Electricity generating units that burn fossil fuels supply most of the nation’s electricity and are major sources of air pollution. Under the Clean Air Act, such units are subject to NSR, a permitting process that applies to (1) units built after

Electricity generating units that burn fossil fuels supply most of the nation’s electricity and are major sources of air pollution. Under the Clean Air Act, such units are subject to NSR, a permitting process that applies to (1) units built after August 7, 1977, and (2) existing units that undertake a major modification. Owners of such units must obtain from the appropriate permitting agency a preconstruction permit that sets emission limits and requires the use of certain pollution control technologies. EPA oversees states’ implementation of NSR, including reviewing and commenting on draft permits issued by state and local permitting agencies. GAO was asked to examine (1) what information EPA maintains on NSR permits issued to fossil fuel electricity generating units; (2) challenges, if any, that EPA, state, and local agencies face in ensuring compliance with requirements to obtain NSR permits; and (3) what available data show about compliance with requirements to obtain NSR permits. GAO reviewed relevant documentation and interviewed EPA, state, and local officials, as well as representatives from industry, research, and environmental groups. Daily Archives: July 23, 2012 Read the full story at Phys.org. A variety of public health issues plague the refugees from Burma living on the Thai border, not the least of which is drinking water contaminated by bacteria and pesticides. Yet few low-cost, sustainable and appropriate treatment technologies are available to people in rural and developing communities to ensure water safety. University of Colorado Boulder doctoral student Joshua Kearns may have a solution involving a 4,000-year-old technology — filtering water through charcoal — made more robust through intensive research and development. He just returned from six months in northern Thailand where he conducted field work on gasification methods for making sustainable, locally generated “biochar” from common agricultural residues such as corn cobs, sugar cane, bamboo and wood pruned from orchards. Read the full story at Forbes. Chad Lander, Sprint’s Director of Cell Phone recycling, knows firsthand the impact that Sustainability programs have on the bottom line of a business. Sprint’s phone recycling programs have helped the company avoid over $1 billion in cost. “I have to give a lot of credit to our CEO Dan Hesse,” said Lander. “His passion for sustainability has permeated the company, and allows for creative solutions that are good for business and good for the environment.” Just last July Hesse joined Michael Dell and Senior Executives from Sony as founding membe

When most people find out they have Type 2 diabetes, they are first instructed to make changes in their diet and lifestyle. These changes, which are likely to include routine exercise, more nutritious food choices, and often a lower calorie intake, are

When most people find out they have Type 2 diabetes, they are first instructed to make changes in their diet and lifestyle. These changes, which are likely to include routine exercise, more nutritious food choices, and often a lower calorie intake, are crucial to managing diabetes and may successfully lower blood glucose levels to an acceptable level. If they do not, a drug such as glyburide, glipizide, or metformin is often prescribed. But lifestyle changes and oral drugs for Type 2 diabetes are unlikely to be permanent solutions. This is because over time, the pancreas tends to produce less and less insulin until eventually it cannot meet the body’s needs. Ultimately, insulin (injected or infused) is the most effective treatment for Type 2 diabetes. There are many barriers to starting insulin therapy: Often they are psychological; sometimes they are physical or financial. But if insulin is begun early enough and is used appropriately, people who use it have a marked decrease in complications related to diabetes such as retinopathy (a diabetic eye disease), nephropathy (diabetic kidney disease), and neuropathy (nerve damage). The need for insulin should not be viewed as a personal failure, but rather as a largely inevitable part of the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. This article offers some practical guidance on starting insulin for people with Type 2 diabetes. When to start insulin Insulin is usually started when oral medicines (usually no more than two) and lifestyle changes (which should be maintained for life even if oral pills or insulin are later prescribed) have failed to lower a person’s HbA1c level to less than 7%. (HbA1c stands for glycosylated hemoglobin and is a measure of blood glucose control.) However, a recent consensus statement from the American Diabetes Association and the European Association for the Study of Diabetes suggested that insulin is a reasonable choice if a person’s HbA1c level remains above 7% while he is taking metformin alone. (The effects of metformin should be seen within three to four months of starting it.) Large studies of people with Type 2 diabetes have shown that only about 30% of people taking two oral medicines have an HbA1c level of less than 7% after three years. Insulin is usually recommended as the initial therapy for diabetes if a person’s HbA1c level at diagnosis is greater than 10% or if someone’s fasting blood glucose level is consistently above 250 mg/dl. Studies have shown that many doctors wait until someone’s HbA1c level is higher than 9% to start insulin therapy, which often results in months or years of high blood glucose and an increased risk of developing complications later on. One unfortunate reality is that many busy medical practices are not set up to address the needs of people who take insulin. Starting insulin requires education and easy access to health-care providers who are knowledgeable about insulin therapy, including diabetes nurse educators, pharmacists, and doctors. Types of insulin There have been significant innovations in insulin products over the last several years that have made insulin therapy more effective, more accessible, and safer. Before starting insulin, it is helpful to understand its function in the body. Insulin is needed for most cells throughout the body to take in glucose from the blood, which the cells use as fuel. In people without diabetes, the pancreas continuously secretes insulin at a background, or basal, level to provide a stable supply of glucose to the body’s cells and prevent a buildup of glucose in the blood as glucose is steadily released from the liver. In response to eating, the pancreas secretes a larger pulse, or bolus, of insulin. This bolus of insulin allows the liver to store energy from the food for later use instead of releasing it as glucose all at once, stabilizing the blood glucose level.

For Immediate Release: July 27, 2010 Jenny Slafkosky (415) 528-4367 About the Exploratorium’s Publishing Program Since the early days of the Exploratorium, we’ve reached

For Immediate Release: July 27, 2010 Jenny Slafkosky (415) 528-4367 About the Exploratorium’s Publishing Program Since the early days of the Exploratorium, we’ve reached out to people who are unable to visit the museum—or who want to revisit it—in a variety of ways. Among the many ways we do this is by offering engaging, informative publications. Below are three of our most recent books. Below that, in the tabbed areas, are some of the publications we’ve produced, grouped by audience. The Exploratorium Science Snackbook Our Teacher Institute created this unique, hands-on activity book that offers instructions for creating junior versions, or "snacks," of many of our exhibits. They can be used as classroom demos, labs, science projects, and more, and are easy to build with common materials. The Math Explorer Looking for a way to get middle schoolers interested in math? We created these games, puzzles, and science activities to help kids develop math skills while having fun. And you don’t have to be a math whiz yourself to do it! Through experiments, observations, and explanations, Exploratopia shows kids, eight and older, how to explore the world around them, ask questions, and experiment to find the answers. This book has more than 400 activities that use simple, readily available materials making it ideal for families, homeschoolers, and teachers on a budget. For Curious Adults The Inquisitive Cook (Accidental Scientist) by Ann Gardiner, Sue Wilson, and the Exploratorium: Henry Holt and Company, 1998 The following are out of print, but you may be able to find them by searching online. By Nature’s Design: An Exploratorium Book by Pat Murphy: Chronicle Books, 1993 The Color of Nature: An Exploratorium Book by Pat Murphy, Paul Doherty, William Neill: Chronicle Books, 1996 The Garden Explored (Accidental Scientist) by Mia Amato, and the Exploratorium: Henry Holt and Company, 1997 The Sporting Life (Accidental Scientist) by Susan E. Davis, Sally Stephens, and the Exploratorium: Henry Holt and Company, 1997 Watching Weather (Accidental Scientist) by Tom Murphree, Mary K. Miller, and the Exploratorium: Owl Publishing Company, 1998 Traces of Time: The Beauty of Change in Nature: An Exploratorium Book by Pat Murphy, Paul Doherty, William Neill, and Diane Ackerman: Chronicle Books, 2000 For Families and Kids Exploratopia by Pat Murphy, Ellen Macauley, and the staff of the Exploratorium: Little, Brown and Company, 2006 The Math Explorer: Games and Activities for Middle School Youth Groups by Pat Murphy, Lori Lambertson, Pearl Tesler, and the Exploratorium: Key Curriculum Press, 2004 The Science Explorer by Pat Murphy, Ellen Klages, Linda Shore, and the staff of the Exploratorium: Exploratorium 2002 The following are out of print, but you may be able tolocate and purchase them by searching online. Bending Light: An Exploratorium Toolbook by Pat Murphy, Paul Doherty, and Jenefer Merrill: Little, Brown and Company, 1993 Explorabook: A Kid’s Science Museum in a Book by John Cassidy and the Exploratorium: Klutz, 1991 Exploratorium: A Year of Discoveries by Ellen Klages and the Exploratorium: Chronicle Books, 1997 Glove Compartment Science by the Exploratorium: Klutz Press, 1999 Sparks & Zaps: Totally Shocking Science, The Wild Goose Company and the Exploratorium The Brain Explorer: Puzzles, Riddles, Illusions, and Other Mental Adventures by Pat Murphy, Ellen Klages, Linda Shore, Pearl Tesler, and the Exploratorium: Henry Hold and Company, 1999 The Science Explorer Out and About by Pat Murphy, Ellen Klages, Linda Shore, and the Exploratorium: Owl Publishing Company, 1997 Zap Science: A Scientific Playground in a Book by John Cassidy and the Exploratorium: Klutz, 1997 Exploratorium Guide to Scale and Structure: Activities for the Elementary Classroom by Barry Kluger-Bell and School in the Exploratorium: Heinemann, 1995 Human Body Explorations by Karen Kalumuck: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company, 2000 Math and Science Across Cultures: Activities and Investigations from the Exploratorium by Maurice Bazin, Modesto Tamez, and the Exploratorium Teacher Institute: New Press, 2002 Square Wheels and Other Easy-to-Build, Hands-On Science Activities (An Exploratorium Science Snackbook) by Don Rathjen, Paul Doherty, and the Exploratorium Teacher Institute: Exploratorium, 2002 The Exploratorium Science Snackbook by the Exploratorium Teacher Institute: Jossey-Bass, 2009 The Math Explorer by Pat Murphy, Lori Lambertson, Pearl Tesler, and the Exploratorium: Key Curriculum Press, 2004 The following titles were earlier editions of The Exploratorium Science Snackbook: Jossey-Bass, 2009 Hands-On Science: A Teacher’s Guide to Student-Built Experiments and the Exploratorium Science Snackbook: Exploratorium, 1993 The Cheshire Cat and Other Eye-Popping Experiments on How We See the World by Paul Doherty, Don Rathjen, and the Exploratorium Teacher Institute: John Wiley & Sons, 1995 The Cool Hot Rod and other Electrifying Experiments on Energy and Matter by Paul Doherty, Don Rathjen, and the Exploratorium Teacher Institute: John Wiley & Sons, 1996 The Magic Wand and Other Bright Experiments on Light and Color by Paul Doherty, Don Rathjen, and the Exploratorium Teacher Institute: John Wiley & Sons, 1995 The Spinning Blackboard and Other Dynamic Experiments on Force and Motion (The Exploratorium Science Snackbook Se

Education has changed greatly over the last several years. I hear complaints and concerns from many parents that they struggle with helping their children complete homework. Many of these parents who are having questions are parents of primary age children. Even parents of kindergarten, first

Education has changed greatly over the last several years. I hear complaints and concerns from many parents that they struggle with helping their children complete homework. Many of these parents who are having questions are parents of primary age children. Even parents of kindergarten, first and second grade children struggle with helping their child in school. It is not that the parents are not intelligent or smart. The cause for the confusion is due to a different method of teaching that is now being used. It has been many years since these parents have been in the primary grades. They have forgotten information and the new styles can be confusing to those who are not trained in the techniques. There are many new vocabulary words being used now in terms o reading that most parents are not aware even existed. Some of the terms that parents may see on phonics sheets and such that are sent home by teachers are listed below. Phoneme: This is the smallest part of a spoken word. In science the equivalent of a phoneme would be an atom. There are around 41 phonemes in the English language. Most words have more than one phoneme. However words such as a, I, and oh only have one phoneme. The word check has five letters but only three phonemes. The phonemes in the word check are /ch/ /e/ /k/. The / / around letters represent the letters’ sounds. Grapheme: While a phoneme is the smallest part of the spoken language, a grapheme is the smallest part of the written language that describes a phoneme. A grapheme can be a single letter or a combination. Some combinations that can be seen are ch, sh, th, ck, ea, igh. In a future article I will continue to discuss and define some reading terms that your child may know but may not be so familiar to you.

Light at Night - There is growing interest in the role that light plays on human health, particularly nighttime exposure to short-wavelength (blue) light. Although a logical link may exist between light at night and an increased risk for diseases, it is

Light at Night - There is growing interest in the role that light plays on human health, particularly nighttime exposure to short-wavelength (blue) light. Although a logical link may exist between light at night and an increased risk for diseases, it is important to point out that an empirical, scientific link between light at night of a given amount and spectral composition, and an increased risk of disease in humans has not yet been made. Exposure to Early Evening Sunlight in Spring Delays Sleep Times - In the spring, later sunset and extended daylight exposure delay bedtimes in teenagers, according to researchers at the LRC. Biologically, this increased exposure to early evening light in the spring delays the onset of nocturnal melatonin, a hormone that indicates to the body when itís nighttime. This extended exposure adds to the difficulties teens have falling asleep at a reasonable hour. Paper published in Chronobiology International. Lack of short-wavelength light during the school day delays dim light melatonin onset (DLMO) in middle school students. - Scientific paper published in Neuro Endocrinology Letters. Preliminary evidence that both blue and red light can induce alertness at night. - Scientific paper published in BMC Neuroscience. A personal light-treatment device for possibly improving sleep quality in the elderly: Dynamics of nocturnal melatonin suppression at two exposure levels. - Scientific paper published in Chronobiology International. A novel lighting system for postural control and stability in seniors - Scientific paper published in Lighting Research and Technology. Light Therapy for Sleep Disorders and Depression in Older Adults - Scientific paper published in Clinical Geriatrics. (2008) A proposed 24 hour lighting scheme for older adults - Scientific paper published in Light

Look to this day For it is life, the very life of life. In its brief course lie all the Varieties of your existence, The bliss of growth, the glory of action, The splendor of beauty... For

Look to this day For it is life, the very life of life. In its brief course lie all the Varieties of your existence, The bliss of growth, the glory of action, The splendor of beauty... For yesterday is already a dream And tomorrow is only a vision, But today, well lived, makes every Yesterday a dream of happiness, And every tomorrow a vision of hope. Look well, therefore, to this day! A direct understanding beyond scriptures and traditions, Not dependent upon words and symbols. Pointing directly to the mind, Seeing its nature and awakening. Zen practice involves both mental and physical disciplines that promote a healthy holistic worldview and an understanding of the universal laws of cause and effect (karma). Zen involves letting go of preconceptions, dualistic thinking, religious abstractions, and symbolic delusions. Practices include meditation (in both stillness and movement), mindfulness (fully responsive awareness) and personal development in both mental and physical disciplines that help incorporate spirituality into everyday life. Mountain Way Zen “Many paths lead up the mountain, but at the top we all look at the same bright moon.” The Mountain has long been a metaphor for spiritual practice. The walk to the summit is symbolic of our search for understanding and meaning. As in Zen, which teaches us that everyone has Buddha-nature, the Mountain is egalitarian – all who set out on the spiritual quest are peers, regardless of background and belief. Many paths lead to the top, and there are many ways to walk those paths. Some will journey alone, while others seek kindred spirits with whom to travel. Some will intently make their way to the summit, while others will spend more time on the journey, perhaps not reaching the summit at all. And some, who would be teachers, will walk back down the path to help others farther along. At Mountain Way Zen, we use the Mountain metaphor as a tool to help guide others in their Zen practice. Thus, in addition to more traditional Zen forms, we often extend our walking meditations to hikes along mountain trails and other wilderness paths. Combining the metaphorical trek up the mountain with this physical activity adds a more holistic dimension to our practice, allowing us to re-connect with nature and the very origins of our Zen heritage. By venturing back into the earth and opening our hearts to the silent wisdom it offers, we become as the hermit sages of old, wandering amongst the wooded hills and white clouds.

The ads make it look so easy to be a teen - everyone seems to be laughing, hanging out with friends, wearing exactly the right clothes. But if you're a young adult, you know that life can be pretty tough sometimes. You may

The ads make it look so easy to be a teen - everyone seems to be laughing, hanging out with friends, wearing exactly the right clothes. But if you're a young adult, you know that life can be pretty tough sometimes. You may face problems ranging from being bullied to the death of a friend or parent. Why is it that sometimes people can go through really rough times and still bounce back? The difference is that those who bounce back are using the skills of resilience. The good news is that resilience isn't something you're born with or not - the skills of resilience can be learned. Resilience - the ability to adapt well in the face of hard times; disasters like hurricanes, earthquakes or fires; tragedy; threats; or even high stress - is what makes some people seem like they've "got bounce" while others don't. 10 Tips to Build Resilience What are some tips that can help you learn to be resilient? As you use these tips, keep in mind that each person's journey along the road to resilience will be different - what works for you may not work for your friends. Get Together. Talk with your friends and, yes, even with your parents. Understand that your parents may have more life experience than you do, even if it seems they never were your age. They may be afraid for you if you're going through really tough times and it may be harder for them to talk about it than it is for you! Don't be afraid to express your opinion, even if your parent or friend takes the opposite view. Ask questions and listen to the answers. Get connected to your community, whether it's as part of a church group or a high school group. Cut Yourself Some Slack. When something bad happens in your life, the stresses of whatever you're going through may heighten daily stresses. Your emotions might already be all over the map because of hormones and physical changes; the uncertainty during a tragedy or trauma can make these shifts seem more extreme. Be prepared for this and go a little easy on yourself, and on your friends. Create A Hassle-Free Zone. Make your room or apartment a "hassle-free zone" - not that you keep everyone out, but home should be a haven free from stress and anxieties. But understand that your parents and siblings may have their own stresses if something serious has just happened in your life and may want to spend

|You are in: Science/Nature| Monday, 18 September, 2000, 09:13 GMT 10:13 UK Nature's lethal weapons Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones are the world's most

|You are in: Science/Nature| Monday, 18 September, 2000, 09:13 GMT 10:13 UK Nature's lethal weapons Hurricanes, typhoons and cyclones are the world's most violent and destructive storms. They are giant whirlwinds where air moves around a centre of low pressure - the eye of the storm - reaching high speeds in circular waves extending 20 or 30 miles from the middle. The word "hurricane" probably comes from the Mayan storm god Hunraken, or other Caribbean terms for evil spirit and big wind. And the terms "hurricane", "typhoon" and "tropical storm" all describe the same type of swirling wind activity. Click below to learn more: If the winds reach 118 kmh then they are redefined as hurricanes or typhoons, depending on location. The storm is a "hurricane" if it is in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Northeast Pacific Ocean east of the dateline, or the South Pacific Ocean east of 160E. Air circulation is counterclockwise in the northern hemisphere and clockwise in the southern hemisphere. "Typhoons" occur in the Northwest Pacific Ocean west of the dateline. Tropical storms are the only natural disasters with their own names. Until 1978, they were given women's names, but then US weather forecasters bowed to political correctness and agreed to alternate them with men's names. Tropical cyclones need a warm layer of ocean water and an unstable atmosphere to develop. Cool ocean winds at low pressure force hot, humid air high into the atmosphere forming a column. Moisture is forced up the column which condenses and releases latent heat energy, the primary source of fuel for tropical cyclones. At the centre is a calm sunlit eye, measuring tens of kilometres across. In simple terms, hurricanes are giant machines that convert heat energy from tropical ocean water into wind. They have the potential to devastate the world's insurance markets. A large hurricane can stir up more than a million cubic miles of the atmosphere every second, typically dumping 15-30cm of rain on landfall. Some hurricanes bring lots more rainfall and cause major flooding with storm surges and high surf. As they can move rapidly and erratically, the path the winds will take is hard to predict precisely. Hurricanes also affect the depths of the ocean. In 1975, instruments dropped from research planes in the Gulf of Mexico showed that Hurri

A Texas man has invented a machine that can make drinkable water out of air. The "drought master" can make five to seven gallons of pure water in a day. Making a gallon only costs four cents in electrical charges and building one

A Texas man has invented a machine that can make drinkable water out of air. The "drought master" can make five to seven gallons of pure water in a day. Making a gallon only costs four cents in electrical charges and building one only takes two h

All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.Article VI To finance the War of Independence, the American states and the

All Debts contracted and Engagements entered into, before the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation.Article VI To finance the War of Independence, the American states and the Continental Congress sold millions of dollars in public bonds to soldiers, ordinary Americans, and investors both within America and abroad. The Constitutional Convention first addressed the debt issue during its debates on the proposed powers of Congress. On August 21, 1787, the Convention considered this proposal: "The Legislature of the U.S. shall have the power to fulfil the engagements which have been entered into by Congress, and to discharge as well the debts of the U-S: as the debts incurred by the several States during the late war, for the common defence and general welfare." Whether Congress could discharge the state debts was left unsettled because the ensuing debate centered on a different question: Would the new federal government necessarily inherit the debt obligations of the old Continental and Confederation Congresses? There was precedent for such an action in Article XII of the Articles of Confederation, which declared that the Articles Congress was liable for "monies borrowed and debts contracted by" the old Continental Congress. Nor was this the only support. Writers on the law of nations, such as Hugo Grotius, held that the various forms of government were only different means by which political societies achieved the same basic ends. In their view, political societies existed prior to and separate from their particular forms of government (e.g., monarchy or aristocracy), and they could change that form without destroying their existence or altering their fundamental obligations to other countries. Elbridge Gerry objected that the August 21 proposal only gave the new Congress the "power" rather than the obligation to pay back the debt. He feared that this wording would allow Congress to neglect the rightful return on bonds due to the creditor "class of citizens." To Oliver Ellsworth and Roger Sherman, such a concern was misplaced because the "U-S heretofore entered into Engagements" by Congresses "who were their agents" and "will hereafter be bound to fulfil them by their new agents." While Edmund Randolph agreed that the United States was still liable for its obligations, he maintained that the "new Govt" was one of enumerated powers and thus would have only the power given to it by the Constitution. Without an explicit grant of constitutional power, the federal government would be in the strange position of not having the authority to pay off the debts still owed by the country. Unlike Randolph, James Madison held that the obligation to pay debts necessarily conferred the power to pay debts whether or not the Constitution gave the new government such a specific power. Madison argued that the new federal government would receive its constitutional power in domestic matters through enumerated grants from the people of the states; but the states themselves "never possessed the essential rights of sovereignty," which were "war, peace, treaties," and other powers over external affairs. Thus, in matters relating to repayment of debts to foreign bondholders, the new national government would inherit its powers directly from the Articles. Thus, Congress did not need an explicit grant of power from the new Constitution. In defending the clause against Anti-Federalist criticism, Madison maintained that its insertion was not a legal or constitutional necessity but was done only "for the satisfaction of the foreign creditors of the United States." The Federalist No. 43. Following a motion by Gouverneur Morris on August 25, the Convention changed the clause from a grant of power to Congress to an obligation of the United States. The change was then accepted by the Convention, which split the power to "pay the Debts," leaving it in Article I, Section 8, from the obligation to uphold "debts" and "Engagements," moving the latter to Article VI. A few commentators later thought that "engagements" also referred to the central government's obligations to the people of the Northwest Territory under the Northwest Ordinance (1787), but none of the Framers in Philadelphia made that connection while debating the clause. After some political struggles in the early 1790s, the new federal government made good on the bond obligations inherited from the Articles of Confederation, thus vitiating the possibility for serious constitutional controversy. Subsequently, early Supreme Court cases like Ware v. Hylton (1796) and Terrett v. Taylor (1815) settled constitutional issues of contracts and property rights from the pre-Constitution era, not by interpreting the Debt Assumption Clause, but by invoking the Supremacy Clause of Article VI. - Jeffrey Sikkenga - Associate Professor of Political Science - Adjunct fellow, John M. Ashbrook Center for Public Affairs - Senior fellow, University of Virginia Program on Constitutionalism and Democracy - Department of History & Political Science - Ashland University

November 20, 2013 | LUCKNOW: The maternal mortality rate across India as per Sample Registration System ( SRS) 2011 stands at a high of 212 per 1 lakh live births. The child sex ratio according

November 20, 2013 | LUCKNOW: The maternal mortality rate across India as per Sample Registration System ( SRS) 2011 stands at a high of 212 per 1 lakh live births. The child sex ratio according to Census 2011 is at its lowest ever with only 914 girls for every 1,000 boys. 47 out of every 1,000 live births do not complete their first year of life (SRS 2011), 22% of babies are born with low birth weight (as per National Family and health Survey-III). As high as 79% of children below 35 months of age are anemic and only 54% children receive full immunisation. November 22, 2013 | PATNA: Over 10.8% children in Bihar suffer from diarrhoea and 27.9% of them die, according to Annual Health Survey ( AHS) 2010-11. Only 13% kids receive antibiotics for treatment of pneumonia. In fact, encephalitis has claimed 111 kids in the state this year (till October 2013). The eye-popping figures were revealed by experts at a talk on 'Immunization is a key to reduce child mortality' here on Thursday. They said all this and much more can be prevented by making simple behavioural changes. July 15, 2010 | NEW DELHI: India's abysmal track record at ensuring basic levels of nutrition is the greatest contributor to its poverty as measured by the new international Multi-dimensional Poverty Index (MPI). About 645 million people or 55% of India's population is poor as measured by this composite indicator made up of ten markers of education, health and standard of living achievement levels. Developed by the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI) for the United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) September 18, 2010 | NEW DELHI: This is another ranking that India would hate to top. Close on the heels of reco

Controlling Latex Particle Size for Blush-Resistant Pressure-Sensitive Label Adhesives September 1, 2008 Many companies that use adhesives for label application are switching from solvent-based adhesives to water-based

Controlling Latex Particle Size for Blush-Resistant Pressure-Sensitive Label Adhesives September 1, 2008 Many companies that use adhesives for label application are switching from solvent-based adhesives to water-based latex pressure-sensitive adhesives. This shift has been well documented as firms put forth efforts to implement technologies with improved environmental profiles. Water-based latex pressure-sensitive adhesives have provided the solution for many companies looking to reduce their use of solvent-based adhesives, but they sometimes have found challenges to implementing the technology in broad-based applications. One limiting factor was its use on clear labels; latex films have a tendency to turn white or blush when exposed to water. Researchers at Ashland Inc. proposed a possible explanation for the blushing phenomena, and a practical solution. As a latex film forms, the adhesive particles initially come together at the side exposed to air (see Figure 1). Hydrophilic material becomes trapped between those particles and naturally attracts moisture. If the film composition is semi-permeable, the hydrophilic pockets will swell when exposed to water. The swollen pockets usually have a refractive index different from that of the polymer. As the pockets swell to above 40 nm, they scatter light and the film becomes cloudy. The degree of turbidity, or blush, depends on a number of factors. For example, if the time frame of film formation is long enough, some of hydrophilic material may follow the receding water phase. This may result in pockets with higher concentrations of hydrophilic material dispersed within the film. These pockets with more hydrophilic material will continue to swell and cause a normally clear film to blush. For example, air-dried films have been observed to have more blush than oven-dried films. In addition, the blushing of an air-dried film will not be improved by post-oven treatment. In some instances water itself can impact the blush resistance. In certain areas of the Northeast, where lead pipes are still in use, the pH of the water is lower than that of water in the Midwest. If the hydrophilic material is pH sensitive, a latex film that does not blush in the Northeast may blush in the Midwest. One way to improve blush resistance is to reduce the size of the hydrophilic-containing pockets. If the pockets are small enough, then even when they are fully swollen with water they will be less than 40 nm and not visible, which will result in a clear film. This can be achieved by lowering the average particle diameter to 80-90 nm. The relative difference in the size of the interstices between 85 and 300 nm particles is shown in Figure 2. Lowering particle size, however, may introduce a stability problem. If a 300-nm particle is stable with 1.75% surfactant, an 85-nm particle would require 6.2% surfactant based on just the surface area. Latex made with this level of surfactant will still blush b

Image description: Seventy-five percent of the world’s coral reefs are currently threatened by local and global pressures, according to a 2011 analysis. The most immediate and direct threats arise from local sources, which currently threaten more than 60%

Image description: Seventy-five percent of the world’s coral reefs are currently threatened by local and global pressures, according to a 2011 analysis. The most immediate and direct threats arise from local sources, which currently threaten more than 60% of coral reefs. Local threats include impacts from fishing, coastal development, and pollution. Left unchecked, the percent of threatened reefs will increase to more than 90% by 2030 and to nearly all reefs by 2050. Photo by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Ocean Service We welcome your comments if you are 13 or older, and hope that our conversations here will be polite. You are responsible for the content of your comments. We do not discriminate against any views, but may delete any of the following: - violent, obscene, profane, hateful, or racist comments - comments that threaten or harm the reputation of any person or organization - advertisements or solicitations of any kind - comments that suggest or encourage illegal activity - multiple off-topic posts or repetitive posts that are copied and pasted - personal information including, but not limited to, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, mailing addresses, or identification numbers In short: be nice and add to the discussion. If you continually violate this policy, we may limit your ability to comment in the future. If you have any questions or comments about this policy, please e-mail us.

Riverside County officials are advising that for the first time in almost a decade, a ground squirrel in the San Jacinto Mountains has tested positive for exposure to fleas infected with bacteria that can cause plague. Norma Arceo with the

Riverside County officials are advising that for the first time in almost a decade, a ground squirrel in the San Jacinto Mountains has tested positive for exposure to fleas infected with bacteria that can cause plague. Norma Arceo with the California Department of Public Health said her agency confirmed results from the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health that the rodent was positive for the bacteria Yersinia pestis. The squirrel was collected Sept. 6 at the Fern Basin campground during routine testing by the county. The campground is north of Idyllwild. “Historically, positive test results have occurred routinely among ground squirrels in the mountain region. Despite positive tests in other California counties and regular, routine testing locally, Riverside County has had no positive tests for almost a decade. Further tests on animals in the area will be conducted this month,” Ray Smith, public information officer for Riverside County, advised in a news release today. According to the Centers for Disease Control, there are three forms of plague -- Bubonic, Septicemic and Pneumonic -- but they all derive from the same Y. pestis bacteria that can be transmitted from wild rodents to humans through bites from infected fleas, or by inhaling infected respiratory droplets in the case of pneumonic plague, which is transferable from human to human. Although there are no vaccines currently available to protect against plague, the CDC states the overall mortality rate in the United States is down to approximately 11 percent due to advances in antibiotic treatment for humans infected with the bacteria. “Plague can still be fatal despite effective antibiotics, though it is lower for bubonic plague cases than for septicemic or pneumonic plague cases,” the CDC states on its website. History books have chronicled the history of plague, including the "Black Death" or “Great Plague” pandemic that wiped out an estimated 60 percent of the European population during the 14th Century. County health officials said the risk of plague transmission to humans is minimal today if people take proper precautions. U.S. Forest Service officials and the campground host where the rodent was found were notified about the test results so that campers can be educated about taking proper precautions, Smith said, noting that county officials ensured that warning signs are clearly posted and recommend that visitors, hikers and campers follow the precautions to

English definition of “badly” /ˈbædli/ adverb (worse, worst) SERIOUSLY › very seriously: badly damaged/injured UNPLEASANT › in a way that is of low quality or

English definition of “badly” /ˈbædli/ adverb (worse, worst) SERIOUSLY › very seriously: badly damaged/injured UNPLEASANT › in a way that is of low quality or in an unpleasant way: to behave badly Some of the animals were very badly treated. They played badly in the first half.

How to Read a Nonprofit Financial Statement This course will develop your ability to appropriately interpret the major financial accounting statements that are used by non-profit organizations. Ideally, you will gain an understanding of the types of financial statements that are used by non

How to Read a Nonprofit Financial Statement This course will develop your ability to appropriately interpret the major financial accounting statements that are used by non-profit organizations. Ideally, you will gain an understanding of the types of financial statements that are used by non-profit organizations, and how they differ from for-profit financial reporting. Also, you should gain an appreciation of both the power and limitations of accounting information in assessing financial performance and decision-making. You will also learn the uses of financial statement analysis, or ratio analysis for non-profit organizations. This course is designed for adult learners involved or interested in non-profit management. Students will be able to: - Itemize the information in the income statement, balance sheet, and statement of cash flows for a non-profit company - Explain the important differences between accounting income and cash flow and between book value and market value - Describe the nature of business enterprises and non-profit organizations, as reflected by the statement of financial position - Define financial (ratio) analysis and explain its objectives and limitations - Identify the various categories of financial ratios used in non-profit analyses - Define and calculate the ratios within each category Topics covered include: - Annual Reports and Financial Statements - The Statement of Financial Position - The Statement of Activities - The Statement of Cash Flows - Using Ratios with Non-Profit Financial Statements - Financial Ratio Analysis - Financial Ratios and Benchmarking for Non-Profits - Financial Statements and the Question of Size - Non-Profit Financial Statements: Things to Watch Out For - Assessing Financial Statements - Financial Indicators Duration: 4 hours Powered by MindEdge No advance preparation required. This course has no prerequisites.

You have no items in your shopping cart. Problems Adding to Cart? Click here for assistance. * A complex inorganic salt, formed by reacting aluminum with hydrochloric acid. See also Aluminum Oxide. Works by altering the pH balance

You have no items in your shopping cart. Problems Adding to Cart? Click here for assistance. * A complex inorganic salt, formed by reacting aluminum with hydrochloric acid. See also Aluminum Oxide. Works by altering the pH balance of the skin and lessening the production of sweat. Mainly used in anti-perspirants and deodorants. Safety Measures/Side

Nonprofit or community organization Last modified: October 2, 2013, 6:22 PM Founded in 1825, the National Academy (www.nationalacademy.org) is the only institution of its kind that integrates

Nonprofit or community organization Last modified: October 2, 2013, 6:22 PM Founded in 1825, the National Academy (www.nationalacademy.org) is the only institution of its kind that integrates a museum, art school, and association of artists and architects dedicated to creating and preserving a living history of American art and architecture. Modeled after the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the National Academy was established for the purpose of education and exhibition, and is committed to the promotion of American art and architecture. The Academy's collection of over 7,000 nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first century works form a unique survey of American art and architecture. The National Academy is located on prestigious Museum Mile in the Carnegie Hill district.

While it is common knowledge that a majority of the population of the Gaza Strip are refugees, it is less well understood where they came from. The shocking reality is that many of the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip are a few miles away from the land

While it is common knowledge that a majority of the population of the Gaza Strip are refugees, it is less well understood where they came from. The shocking reality is that many of the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip are a few miles away from the land of their ethnically cleansed former villages, across the border fence in southern Israel. Like so much else with Palestine, you can’t understand Gaza if you don’t understand the Nakba. To give a few examples. In 1948, most of the Palestinians of al-Majdal had fled in fear by the time the Israeli army took the town. In November of that year, around 500 were expelled to Gaza. But during 1949, a good number of Palestinians managed to return. Those remaining Palestinians were “concentrated and sealed off with barbed wire and IDF guards in a small, built-up area commonly known as the ‘ghetto‘”. The ethnic cleansing of al-Majdal was completed between June and October 1950. And if you haven’t heard of al-Majdal before, I’m sure you know the Israeli port city built in its place: Ashkelon. Or take the village of Najd, whose inhabitants cultivated citrus, bananas, cereals and orchards. They were expelled by Israeli forces in May 1948 and you can find Palestinians from Najd in Jabaliya refugee camp. The Israeli city of Sderot was founded on its land.

Chest pain? New system helps to determine whether to head to ERDecember 15th, 2010 in Medicine & Health / Other (PhysOrg.com) -- Currently, when heart patients phone a health-care professional complaining of chest pains

Chest pain? New system helps to determine whether to head to ERDecember 15th, 2010 in Medicine & Health / Other (PhysOrg.com) -- Currently, when heart patients phone a health-care professional complaining of chest pains, they are advised to call 911 for transportation to the local emergency room in case theyre having a heart attack. About half of those patients are hospitalized, yet only 20 percent of them actually have heart attacks. At the same time, 2 percent of patients experiencing a heart attack are mistakenly sent home. To improve on these statistics, the Stanford Cardiac Rehabilitation Program has developed an online decision-support system to triage patients with previously diagnosed coronary artery disease. The program consists of an online survey that can be administered by a health-care professional in five minutes or less. Patients dont know when to go to the ER, said Robert DeBusk, MD, founder of the Stanford Cardiac Rehabilitation Program, which focuses on developing more effective methods of managing chronic diseases. They agonize, they wait. Once the patient does go to the ER, theres a high rate of unnecessary hospitalization. By streamlining the decision-making process, this system hastens the care of high-risk patients and provides more convenient care options for patients at moderate or low risk. The results of the first of three studies planned to evaluate the tool, published in the Nov. 23 issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes, found that it was quick three to five minutes and reliable in establishing a provisional diagnosis consistent with patients reported symptoms. The system is designed to prevent patients from falling through the cracks, DeBusk said. Somebody is responsible for the patient throughout the episode of illness, beginning with the initial phone contact. We always phone the patients physician regarding the appropriate triage decision, and we help to arrange for follow-up care. To test the new system, researchers recruited 20 healthy volunteer patients who used a printed script to report symptoms. The study was conducted at Stanford, where eight cardiologists and 12 cardiac nurses were recruited to use the online questionnaire to elicit patients symptoms over the telephone. The questionnaire asks patients to identify symptoms of chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness, weakness and visual changes. It can be administered by telephone, as in this study, or in urgent care clinics or ER settings. Questions ask about the nature and severity of symptoms, the response to medication and relationship of symptoms to activity. The system uses the guidelines developed by the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association to classify patients as low, moderate or high risk, depending on e

A fact-filled quick reference provides comprehensive coverage of Archie, Gopher, WAIS, and WWW search utilities, logging in and host names, finding resources, mailing lists and e-mail, and interactive information facilities. (Beginner). "?guides

A fact-filled quick reference provides comprehensive coverage of Archie, Gopher, WAIS, and WWW search utilities, logging in and host names, finding resources, mailing lists and e-mail, and interactive information facilities. (Beginner). "?guides even the most tentative surfer through the World Wide Web, refusing to breath through'simple' steps such as knowing you've got a modem and choosing an ISP?invaluable title?" (Internet Made Easy, December 2002) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title. As a computer writer, I am always delighted to discover new great book that makes understanding the computer. Many so-called Internet books are nothing more than printed collections of Web addresses. "The Internet For Dummies" is a guide designed just for newbies. Authors do an exceptional job of explaining a large number of Internet terms. You'll also find here a lot of tips for optimizing your browser for speed, building your first Web page, managing e-mail, subscribing to mailing lists, and go shopping on-line. "The Internet for Dummies" is a great start to learning the Internet.

Volunteer Monitor, Volume 20, Number 2, Fall 2009. (PDF) (16 pp, 1.3MB, About PDF) Draft National Lakes Report posted; public comments due January 22, 2010

Volunteer Monitor, Volume 20, Number 2, Fall 2009. (PDF) (16 pp, 1.3MB, About PDF) Draft National Lakes Report posted; public comments due January 22, 2010. Our nation's waters are monitored by state, federal, and local agencies, universities, dischargers, and volunteers. Water quality data are used to characterize waters, identify trends over time, identify emerging problems, determine whether pollution control programs are working, help direct pollution control efforts to where they are most needed, and respond to emergencies such as floods and spills. - Probability Surveys of the Nation's Waters conducted by the states and EPA - Water Quality Conditions reported to EPA by the states - Storing and Managing Water Quality Information through EPA's STORET database - Mapping and Displaying Water Information through EPA's WATERS website - Assessing Biological Condition of streams, lakes and estuaries - Guidance for Volunteer Programs monitoring water quality with trained citizens - The Volunteer Monitor Newsletter, a forum for citizen volunteer monitors, issued twice yearly - Outreach and educational materials, including items for children

updated Jun 27, 2008 2:30 am | 8,061 views Malware is an abbreviation or "brevity code" for the term "malicious software." The only safe assumption is to treat all unwanted

updated Jun 27, 2008 2:30 am | 8,061 views Malware is an abbreviation or "brevity code" for the term "malicious software." The only safe assumption is to treat all unwanted code as "malicious." While viruses and worms are the most obvious forms of malware, "unwanted code" describes a broad range of software that potentially violates an organization’s security policy. Malware is not always dangerous, but it is intrusive and irritating. There are a few weapons we all have that can prevent a lot of Malware from ever coming into contact with your computer; things like: Knowledge, Common sense, and Caution. However, the ability to perform a clean-up from a malware attack is also a useful capability to have. Background to Malware The internet, sometimes called Cyberspace, is made by people. It has all the good and bad bits that exist in the real world. So just because you think it’s a virtual world that you cannot touch and as such ‘it’ cannot touch you, think again! What you do on the net, where you go, what you read, look at, download, send or receive is information people can obtain and use. These people do not care about your privacy or your rights. They are in it to obtain data, your data. Whether the methods are legal or illegal, they want to influence, manipulate, and ultimately make money out of you. All this can be done without you knowing anything about it. Here are some firewall software sources that may be helpful in defending against malware. A very useful site, particularly if you need to clean up! Test your system for holes! Zone Alarm Kerio Symantec McAfee Norman Related White Papers and Webcasts Securing Firefox (Blogs) Microsoft XP firewall (Groups) Disclaimer: IT Wiki is a service that allows content to be created and edited by anyone in the community. Content posted to this site is not reviewed for correctness and is not supported by Toolbox.com or any of its partners. If you feel a wiki article is inappropriate, you can either correct it by clicking "Edit" above or click here to notify Toolbox.com.

The Commission recently published a Communication in which it encourages EU Member States to work together on improving their policies on early education and care of young children. The text calls for every child to have a better start in life, which would lay the foundation for

The Commission recently published a Communication in which it encourages EU Member States to work together on improving their policies on early education and care of young children. The text calls for every child to have a better start in life, which would lay the foundation for their future lifelong learning, social integration, personal development and employability. The Communication proposes action at a time when nearly 19 million European children are estimated to be at risk of poverty. Androulla Vassiliou, European Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth, said that “investing in early education and care is one of the best investments we can make for our children – and for Europe''s future”. She stressed that investing in quality pre-school education is much more effective than intervening later, as it gives children a better chance in life and saves money in the long run. “Breaking the cycle of poverty and disadvantage also means lower costs for the taxpayer for health and hospital services, remedial schooling, welfare and policing”, she pointed out. She said she believed that focusing on the needs of young children is a good way to prevent problems in later life, and reduce the risk of students dropping out of school before they have completed their secondary education. In most EU member states, compulsory full-time education starts at the age of five or six. For children who are too young to attend school, there are wide differences in the availability and provision of pre-school education and care services across the EU countries. The Commission''s proposals come in response to a request from education ministers’ meeting in May 2009, following their adoption of the Strategic Framework for Cooperation in Education and Training, to measure and analyse progress across the EU in improving access to early childhood education and care and to identify best practice. During the meeting, ministers agreed that 95% of four year-olds should have access to pre-school education. The current EU average is 92.3%, but there are wide variations in the number of hours per week as well as the quality of services. The Commission proposal aims to improve these figures and encourage all EU Member States to provide universal access to quality pre-school education, based on stable funding and good governance, and an integrated approach to education and care, taking account of children''s needs in a holistic way. The proposal also aims to ensure that education and care is accessible for all young children, including those from disadvantaged groups and ethnic minorities, such as the Roma. Improving the quality of pre-school education is seen as a key priority. This includes looking at the training and qualifications of staff, as well as their salaries and working conditions. Other important aspects stressed by the proposal are the need for age-appropriate curricula, quality assurance systems and standards to monitor progress in each country. At EU level, the Commission stressed it would work with the Member States to promote the exchange of good policies and practices, while supporting the development of innovative approaches by funding transnational projects and networks. The Member States will be encouraged to invest in these areas via the EU''s structural funds, in particular through supporting staff training and developing accessible infrastructure. The proposal’s aim is to contribute to the objectives of three Europe 2020 flagship initiatives ''Youth on the Move'', ''Agenda for New Skills and Jobs'' and the ''European Platform against Poverty'', with a further goal of contributing to two of the headline targets of the ''Europe 2020'' strategy – reducing the share of early school leavers to under 10% and to lift at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty and social exclusion. The proposal will be discussed by EU Education Ministers in May 2011. The Commission Communication, 17 February 2011, "Early childhood education and care: providing all our children with the best start for the world of tomorrow "

June 9, 2009 Overweight individuals who ate a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet high in plant-based proteins for four weeks lost weight and experienced improvements in blood cholesterol levels and other heart disease risk factors, according to a

June 9, 2009 Overweight individuals who ate a low-calorie, low-carbohydrate diet high in plant-based proteins for four weeks lost weight and experienced improvements in blood cholesterol levels and other heart disease risk factors, according to a report in the June 8 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. A high-carbohydrate, low-fat vegetarian diet also resulted in weight loss but without the additional cardiovascular benefits. "There is a dilemma relating to the proportion and source of fat, protein and carbohydrate that constitutes the optimal weight loss and cholesterol-lowering diet," the authors write as background information in the article. Newer dietary approaches for the prevention and treatment of chronic disease emphasize increased fruit and vegetable intake and reduced meat consumption. However, low-carbohydrate diets with increased meat consumption have also been promoted for body weight reduction and the prevention and treatment of diabetes and coronary heart disease. These diets have been shown to be effective in inducing weight loss, reducing insulin resistance, lowering blood fats known as triglycerides and raising high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C, or "good" cholesterol) levels, but have tended to increase low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C, or "bad" cholesterol) levels. "This lack of a benefit for LDL-C control is a major disadvantage in using this dietary strategy in those already at increased risk of coronary heart disease," the authors write. David J.A. Jenkins, M.D., of St. Michael's Hospital and the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and colleagues tested the effects of a low-carbohydrate diet high in vegetable proteins from gluten, soy, nuts, fruits, vegetables, cereals and vegetable oils among overweight men and women with high LDL cholesterol levels. A total of 25 participants were randomly assigned to consume this diet—the "Eco-Atkins" diet—for four weeks, while an additional 25 participants ate a control diet that was high-carbohydrate, lacto-ovo vegetarian and based on low-fat dairy and whole grain products. Study food was provided to participants at 60 percent of their estimated calorie requirements. Of the 47 participants who began the study, 44 (22 in each group) completed the four-week period. Weight loss was similar—about 4 kilograms or 8.8 pounds—in both groups. However, reductions in LDL-C levels and improvements in the ratios between total cholesterol and HDL-C were greater for the low-carbohydrate diet compared with the high-carbohydrate diet. The low-carbohydrate diet also appeared to produce beneficial changes in levels and ratios of apolipoproteins, proteins that bind to fats. In addition, small but significantly greater reductions were seen in both systolic (top number) and diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure for the low-carbohydrate vs. the high-carbohydrate group. Pending answers to important questions, including

Investors and industrialists from 14 companies met in Munich, Germany recently to formally launch Desertec Industrial Initiative, a €400 billion ($774 billion) collaborative project to provide 15% of Europe’s energy via solar power from Africa’s Sahara

Investors and industrialists from 14 companies met in Munich, Germany recently to formally launch Desertec Industrial Initiative, a €400 billion ($774 billion) collaborative project to provide 15% of Europe’s energy via solar power from Africa’s Sahara desert by the year 2050. Since it was formally announced earlier this year, the project has gotten mixed responses from development and renewable energy groups. Speaking about the benefits of the project MEED Magazine writes: Desertec’s backers say the scheme will create jobs and boost local economies. Some go so far as to claim it could even reduce the number of economic migrants to Europe. Governments on both continents will need to collaborate to define a regulatory and legislative framework for the scheme. If Desertec can overcome these hurdles, it will set a precedent for international energy co-operation. But critics of the project also give some strong points. New Scientist Magazine writes: Critics are lining up to point out the project’s shortcomings. They say it could make Europe’s energy supply a hostage to politically unstable countries; that Europe should not be exploiting Africa in this way; that it is a poor investment compared to covering Europe’s roofs with photovoltaic (PV) solar panels; and that, while deserts have plenty of sun, they lack another less obvious but equally indispensable resource for a solar thermal power plant – water. What do you think? Is the Desertec project good or bad for Africa and/or Europe? More about the project and it’s launch in the videos below. If you can’t see the videos click here

Ordering fractions and decimals |End of Stage 2 (end of Year 4)| |Grade A||Lee Lindsay| |Grade B||Jamie Chris| |Grade D||Riley Kerry| Foundation Statement strands The following strands

Ordering fractions and decimals |End of Stage 2 (end of Year 4)| |Grade A||Lee Lindsay| |Grade B||Jamie Chris| |Grade D||Riley Kerry| Foundation Statement strands The following strands are covered in this activity: Description of activity Students order fractions, decimals and percentages on a number line and record their reasoning. - Students are presented with a set of fractions, decimals and percentages:, 0.05,, 0.45, 20%, 90%, 65%,, 0.8. - They order and place the numbers on an empty number line and record their reasoning for the order. - Students select two of the numbers and list numbers between the two. The suggested time allocation for this activity is 30 minutes. Blank paper, pencils/pens Students have had experience ordering numbers less than one. They have had experience with fractions and decimals to two places and have modelled, compared and represented the relationship between tenths and hundredths. Board of Studies NSW, Mathematics K–6 Syllabus, pp 62, 63 Board of Studies NSW, Mathematics K–6 Sample Units of Work, p 101 Fractions and Decimals (NS2.4) Models, compares and represents commonly used fractions and decimals, adds and subtracts decimals to two decimal places, and interprets everyday percentages Applying Strategies (WMS2.2) Selects and uses appropriate mental or written strategies, or technology, to solve problems Uses appropriate terminology to describe, and symbols to represent, mathematical ideas Checks the accuracy of a statement and explains the reasoning used Criteria for assessing learning Students will be assessed on their ability to: - order given fractions, decimals and percentages on a number line - explain their reasoning in a given mathematical situation

Source: Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics Using thermometer air temperature records for the period 1850 to 2010, we present empirical evidence for a direct relationship between total solar irradiance (TSI) and the Equator

Source: Journal of Atmospheric and Solar-Terrestrial Physics Using thermometer air temperature records for the period 1850 to 2010, we present empirical evidence for a direct relationship between total solar irradiance (TSI) and the Equator-to-Pole (Arctic) surface temperature gradient (EPTG). Modulation of the EPTG by TSI is also shown to exist, in variable ways, for each of the four seasons. Interpretation of the positive relationship between the TSI and EPTG indices suggests that solar-forced changes in the EPTG may represent a hemispheric-scale relaxation response of the system to a reduced Equator-to-Pole temperature gradient, which occurs in response to an increasing gradient of incoming solar insolation. Physical bases for the TSI-EPTG relationship are discussed with respect to their connections with large-s

Wanting something to do this summer? Maybe consider taking a short walk or long hike along the popular Appalachian Trail. The 2,180-mile trail, characterized by its long, flat, rocky ridges, follows about 230 miles of Pennsylvania

Wanting something to do this summer? Maybe consider taking a short walk or long hike along the popular Appalachian Trail. The 2,180-mile trail, characterized by its long, flat, rocky ridges, follows about 230 miles of Pennsylvania's mountain ridges east of the Alleghenies to the Susquehanna River in a long section of trail notorious for its boot-destroying and foot-bruising rocks. Locally, the trail incorporates parts of West Penn Township, Lehigh Township, East Penn Township, Lower Towamensing Township, and Palmerton. About 10 miles south of the Susquehanna River, the trail crosses the Great Valley of the Appalachians to the Blue Ridge. Running through 14 East Coast states, the trail is one of the longest continuously marked footpaths in the world. The trail travels crests and valleys of the Appalachian Mountains, ranging from the southern terminus at Springer Mountain, Ga., to the trail's northern terminus at Katahdin, Maine. The trail, completed in 1937, is a unit of the National Park System and is managed under a unique partnership between the public and private sectors including the National Park Service (NPS), the USDA Forest Service (USFS), an array of state agencies, the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, and 31 local trail-maintaining clubs.

Researchers do not know the exact causes of pelvic pain. Often, pelvic pain signals that there may be a problem with one of the organs in the pelvic area. This organ could be a reproductive organ, such as the uterus (also called the womb

Researchers do not know the exact causes of pelvic pain. Often, pelvic pain signals that there may be a problem with one of the organs in the pelvic area. This organ could be a reproductive organ, such as the uterus (also called the womb), or other organs like the intestine or the bladder. Pain also can be a symptom of an infection. The extent of a woman's pelvic pain is not alwa

Study: Organic Foods Reduce Exposure to Pesticides Study doesn't find much difference in nutritional content, however Wednesday, September 5, 2012 A new study finds that consumers can markedly reduce their intake of pesticide residues and their

Study: Organic Foods Reduce Exposure to Pesticides Study doesn't find much difference in nutritional content, however Wednesday, September 5, 2012 A new study finds that consumers can markedly reduce their intake of pesticide residues and their exposure to antibiotic-resistant bacteria by choosing organic produce and meat. Researchers at Stanford University reviewed a massive body of scientific studies on the much-debated issue. They analyzed more than 230 field studies and 17 human studies conducted in the United States and Europe to compare pesticide residues, antibiotic resistance and vitamin and nutrient levels in organic and conventionally produced foods. The study, published Monday (Sept. 3), is available online at the website of The Annals of Internal Medicine. “The study confirms the message that EWG and scores of public health experts have been sending for years, that consumers who eat organic fruits and vegetables can significantly reduce pesticide concentrations in their bodies,” Sonya Lunder, senior analyst at Environmental Working Group, said. “This is a particularly important finding for expectant mothers and kids, because the risks of dietary exposures to synthetic pesticides, especially organophosphate and pyrethroid insecticides, are greatest during pregnancy and childhood, when the brain and nervous system are most vulnerable. These are two groups that should really avoid eating foods with high levels of pesticide residues,” Lunder said. Based on its review of the available research, the Stanford team also concluded that conventionally raised meat harbors more antibiotic resistant bacteria. It found that consumers of non-organic chicken or pork are 33 percent more likely to ingest three or more strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria than those who eat organic meat. “What jumped out at us in this study is that conventionally-raised meat treated heavily with antibiotics is much more likely to carry drug-resistant bacteria than meat produced on organic farms,” said EWG Senior Analyst Kari Hamerschlag, who focuses on organic and conventional agriculture. “Antibiotics, which are banned in organic production, promote the development of resistant super-bugs that are a serious risk to human health.” The researchers did not find “significant” or “robust” differences in nutritional content between organic and conventional foods. But Charles Benbrook, a professor of agriculture at Washington State University and former chief scientist at The Organic Center who reviewed the Stanford study and most of the underlying literature, had this to say in response: "This study draws a markedly different conclusion than I do about the nutritional benefits of organic crops. Several well-designed US studies show that organic crops have higher concentrations of antioxidants and vitamins than conventional crops. For crops like apples, strawberries, grapes, tomatoes, milk, carrots, and grains organic produce has 10 to 30 percent higher levels of several nutrients, including vitamin C, antioxidants and phenolic acids in most studies." The Stanford study also contradicts the findings of what many consider the most definitive analysis in the scientific literature of the nutrient content of organic versus conventional food. In that 2011 study, a team led by Dr. Kirsten Brandt of the Human Nutrition Research Center of Newcastle University in the United Kingdom analyzed most of the same research and concluded that organic crops had approximately 12 to 16 percent more nutrients than conventional crops. More like this story Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content. Please review our Policies and Procedures before registering or commenting