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The Greek writer Hippocrates first described the benefits of hydrotherapy in the fifth century and hydrotherapy also has a long history in China and Japan. Since ancient times, race horse owners in Western Europe have been swimming their horses in the sea to improve health and fitness. Hydrotherapy was first practiced scientifically by horse owners in the nineteenth-century with the invention of special facilities that imitated the effects of swimming in sea water. Then greyhound racing enthusiasts recognised that they could improve their dogs' fitness with hydrotherapy.
Gradually hydrotherapy came to be used widely, not only as means of improving dogs' fitness, by also for treating injuries and health conditions. In recent years hydrotherapy has become recognised as a valuable therapuetic tool for treating a wide variety of conditions. | <urn:uuid:84c79972-4996-4ab3-823c-4f94565e1b36> | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | https://121hydrotherapy.co.uk/index.php/hydrotherapy/hydrotherapy-history | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347396163.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20200527204212-20200527234212-00359.warc.gz | en | 0.978462 | 161 | 3.03125 | 3 |
Art teacher draws out students
Crook County High School art teacher Judy Page offers inspiration to her studentsArt can play an important role in the lives of high school students who are lucky enough to have it as part of the curriculum. Judy Page at Crook County High School believes that all of her students have talent, and once they acquire the basics, they can blossom into successful artists.
Art reaches a student on many levels and can provide a creative emotional outlet - opening up a whole new world of expression. For some students at Crook County High School art is just a hobby, but many of the students look toward incorporating art as a career focus and are taking their studies with Page quite seriously.
Page said that when she was a student in school the opportunity to take art classes was not always available. Perhaps this the one reason she is so dedicated to the program today.
This art teacher has been the driving force behind the art program at the local high school for almost 30 years. "This was my first job and I was the first art teacher here at CCHS, and once I started working here, I just really enjoyed it," she said.
Page feels so strongly about art being part of a young person's learning experience that she has been striving to make sure that every student has the opportunity to experience it as part of their studies. "I think art is so important to teenagers," she explained. "They need a way to express themselves."
Art studies under Page's direction include classes for beginners. This introduction into the world of art teaches students basic drawing techniques and launches them into work with watercolor and clay. The class samples just about every area of art, giving the student the chance to explore and develop natural talents and follow their own interests.
These students can then move on to advanced art, which focuses more on painting and drawing. And for those who have an inclination to continue working with clay, they have the option of taking a ceramics class delving deeper into hand and coil building, working on the wheel, as well as experiencing three dimensional sculpting.
Page believes that anyone can be an artist, as long as they have a willingness to learn. She indicated that her role as a teacher is most fulfilling when a student finishes a piece and presents it to the class, showing pride in that achievement.
Page's students seem to rely on the far reaching expertise and guidance she offers. Whenever she is drawn to a student's work, her eye for detail is unmistakable and she is most generous handing out praise. Her ability to relate to and communicate with the kids in the classroom is remarkable, and would surely set an example for all teachers.
"Art is just like a sport, if you don't practice you won't get better at it," she said. "Born artists are the ones who love it even before they get started in class, but they still have to practice."
"The times have changed, and there are so many art jobs out there now that it's just amazing," she explained. Today, if a student is truly interested in pursuing a career in art there are many good paying jobs available, particularly due to the advent of computers and the ever expanding world of computer graphics. The "starving artist" stigma is gradually falling away and skilled artists are in ever greater demand, especially in areas such as marketing and advertising.
Like many artists, Page said she has always been compelled to do what she loves, and particularly enjoys working with the mediums of oil paint, watercolor and clay in her free time.
With her retirement coming up next year, she indicated she also looks forward to spending time in her new ceramic studio. | <urn:uuid:881a1944-3196-40d4-8722-ae0c54f262a6> | CC-MAIN-2014-35 | http://portlandtribune.com/component/content/article?id=189125 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-35/segments/1409535921550.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20140901014521-00037-ip-10-180-136-8.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98467 | 748 | 2.515625 | 3 |
A supernova is the catastrophic death of a star, which is tremendously radiant and causes a burst of radiation that habitually – albeit briefly – outshines an entire galaxy before vanishing from view.
|Science Recorder Pro|
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According to a new report from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, an international team of scientists has solved the mystery of how stars explode in supernovae. The report appears in the February 20 issue of the journal Nature. | <urn:uuid:ac3a43f2-6ba8-4ac0-904a-1b8eafc17968> | CC-MAIN-2014-23 | http://www.sciencerecorder.com/news/astronomers-solve-mystery-of-how-stars-explode/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1406510271654.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20140728011751-00073-ip-10-146-231-18.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.899067 | 117 | 3.3125 | 3 |
A skinny materials despatched nerve-like indicators to an alloy fibre in a synthetic eye mannequin, inflicting the attention’s pupil to dilate and contract in response to various mild ranges, which may in the future assist deal with sure visible impairments
17 March 2022
The creation of a bionic eye that mimics the widening and shrinking of the pupil could deliver us one step nearer in the direction of serving to individuals with sure visible impairments.
Gentle enters the attention through the pupil, earlier than travelling to the retina in the back of the eyeball. The retina then converts the sunshine stimuli into nerve impulses, that are despatched to the mind for processing through the optic nerve.
The so-called pupillary mild reflex compensates for adjustments in mild ranges by adjusting the pupil’s dimension, permitting individuals to see in excessive decision, whereas defending the retina from brilliant mild. This course of will be impaired in individuals with an harm to their optic nerve or oculomotor nerve, which regulates eye muscle motion, leading to double imaginative and prescient, mild sensitivity or problem specializing in close by objects.
Xu Wentao at Nankai College in China and his colleagues have now developed a fabric that mimics the pupillary mild reflex in a synthetic eye mannequin.
If people ever need to use bionic eyes, this reflex must be recreated, says Xu.
The fabric is predicated on the mineral perovskite, which is understood to behave as a synthetic synapse. A synapse is the hole between two neurons by way of which nerve indicators are transmitted, permitting the cells to speak.
In a laboratory experiment, Xu’s workforce added the 625-nanometre-thick materials and an alloy fibre to a synthetic eye. When uncovered to mild, the fabric despatched neural-like indicators to the fibre, which then managed the dilation and contraction of the attention’s pupil.
“It really works in all mild circumstances,” says Xu.
The following step is to develop a synthetic eye that perceives color, says Xu. “Human eyes can recognise thousands and thousands of colors and decode them at excessive decision,” he says. “We plan to combine this operate in our synthetic eye sooner or later.”
Robert Lucas on the College of Manchester within the UK says a synthetic eye with a pupillary mild reflex could possibly be helpful.
“Any synthetic eye must cope with the issue of resolving patterns during which variations in native mild depth could differ by just a few per cent in opposition to a billion-fold variation in general scene brightness between starlight and daylight,” he says.
“A light-weight-responsive pupil could possibly be one solution to deal with that drawback, as it might act to maintain the full quantity of sunshine reaching the light-detecting floor extra secure.”
Extra on these matters: | <urn:uuid:d45c5093-1163-4e81-be98-5d19c6f0a97c> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://hub-ct.com/bionic-eye-that-mimics-how-pupils-respond-to-light-may-improve-vision/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224646937.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20230531150014-20230531180014-00607.warc.gz | en | 0.936217 | 608 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Whether you are heading off on your travels to go and party on exotic islands, discover the world, or maybe a mix of both, the one thing you’ll need to have the best time possible is sleep.
You’ll find research papers aplenty that confirm the facts when it comes to highlighting how losing sleep has a detrimental effect on your well-being, along with a full list of other health-related issues. Obviously, when you are travelling it is vital to stay as healthy as possible, and if you do the right things then there is no reason why you can’t.
How Much Sleep Is Enough?
According to The Sleep-Advisor, the level of high-quality slumber any single person needs does depend on a few things, but as a general rule of thumb, teenagers need in the region of 9 hours per day, while adults typically require 7-8 hours each day.
This can be spoiled by sleeping in new environments and staying out late, etc., but if you neglect the importance of what sleep can offer, then the following areas can be affected…
Memory Troubles Develop
Lose sleep in your life and your body can lose a grip on its capability to take care of your cognitive ability, meaning your thinking and information processing is compromised. Sleeping lets your brain get to work on doing the admin for the body, and acts like a secretary who is filing all your memories.
Just contemplate the potential issue that will arise if your memory is affected while travelling, just from not sleeping enough:
- Losing your luggage
- Missing planned transport
- Misplacing your passport
Don’t run the risk of forgetting important things as part of your travels; this is meant to be a life-changing experience for the better!
Lowered Immune System Predicaments
Experts support the fact that losing out on good levels of sleep has the potential to increase the chances of becoming ill. If this becomes a regular thing, your immune functions are at risk, and this can lead to proneness to colds, the flu, and other unwanted illnesses.
Your friend sleep helps your body run those health checks while your rest and fight against any illness if you do happen to come down with something.
Being ill when you’re travelling will only dampen the time you are away, so keep sleep on board and reap the benefits.
Stress Levels Become Affected
This point covers off how you can become worked up and stressed out with the strains of different modes of transport while travelling.
If you’ve not been to cities and heavily populated areas, then you won’t be used to the overcrowded transport, which is, of course, part of the adventure, but everything is congested.
Organising travel when busy can be a stress-inducing task made more stressful if you aren’t getting sufficient levels of sleep while you’re away. Your cortisol release in the body will be doubly higher, which is not what you want.
Essentially, high amounts of cortisol induce spikes in anxiety, snowballing the stress on your body once more; you see how this is going, and it’s all from not sleeping enough! If you feel that your lack of sleep is causing an overwhelming amount of stress and anxiety, click here to talk to a licensed professional and get the support you deserve.
Don’t bank on travel planning going to plan and working out perfectly, because the chances are there will be slight hitches and complications along the way. But, with the help of sleep, you’ll be able to tackle whatever lies ahead and take it in your stride.
Reduction in Performance
Quite simply, if you don’t sleep enough, you won’t be able to function properly, and this is an issue you really do want to avoid. Your reflexes and fine motor skills will suffer.
Officials claim that around 20% of accidents on the roads in the UK are brought on by sleep-related mistakes.
Take the stat we just mentioned and then consider the ramification if you are driving a car or motorbike while you’re in a foreign country. The difficulties you can face in a country that isn’t your own can make everything significantly more stressful.
If you’re at fault with an accident, insurance of various kinds (travel, credit card, etc.) won’t always cover you and you run the risk of being sued. This is a financially scary thought when you’d have to pay out of your own pocket. You can slim this risk down notably by staying on top of your sleep.
Not too dissimilar to the previous point, a reduced level of sleep can hinder your reading of occurrences. If you get rich, recommended amounts of sleep, you’ll continually make sound judgements on various scenarios. Lose those sleep levels though, accurately assessing situations becomes reduced. | <urn:uuid:805c8845-6a59-4ac6-a1db-c0b4041dd9ad> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://karolinapatryk.com/getting-good-sleep-when-youre-traveling/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224654012.67/warc/CC-MAIN-20230607175304-20230607205304-00416.warc.gz | en | 0.941054 | 1,020 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Christmas is celebrated all over the world every year. And even though there are some common traits in the way people celebrate, the holiday carries the charm of every separate culture and reflects the local traditions and worldview. Read on to find out how people celebrate in different countries.
In Australia celebrations are similar to those in the USA and the UK. Christmas can’t do without the plump Santa Claus in his red suit and his long white beard, the Christmas tree and beautiful decoration, as well as the traditional Christmas songs. People gather and sing Christmas songs at special events (usually to raise funds for the church or charity for children).
The main difference between the Australian Christmas and the celebrations in the USA and the UK is that the holiday is in summer. Australians may sing the usual songs about a white Christmas and snow, but they’re on the beach eating seafood.
Because of India’s strong relationship with the UK, Christmas there is widely celebrated, even though Christians are fewer than 3% of the population. In India Christmas is mostly a secular event known as Bada Din, the Big Day, and it is marked by shopping.
Most Chinese are not Christians Christmas is not an official holiday there. However, some regions like Hong Kong, have strong relations with the Western World, and officially celebrate Christmas. Despite that, Christmas in China is a secular holiday. Western traditions such as gift-giving and sending cards are imitated, mostly out of curiosity and interest in western culture.
Mexico has built Christmas traditions to match its own concept and Roman Catholicism. For nine days groups of neighbours go from house to house to honour Joseph and Mary, who sought shelter for themselves and the unborn baby Jesus. Even though it’s widespread in Mexico, Christmas has preserved its religious meaning and it’s not as secular as in the northern neighbour, the USA.
Japan has a lot of the Christmas spirit as well. It may not be an official holiday, but it has its traditions. In addition to giving gifts and sending cards, the Japanese bake traditional Christmas treats – a white cake covered in cream and decorated with strawberries. | <urn:uuid:85d6948a-f944-41bd-a423-fc177fa0f456> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://mitratranslations.com/en/christmas-around-the-world-part-1/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370509103.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20200402235814-20200403025814-00463.warc.gz | en | 0.964261 | 431 | 3.015625 | 3 |
Journal of Dental Hygiene
Cold plasma is a state of matter that contains a large number of particles that are electrically charged. Plasmas generate chemically reactive species and ultraviolet radiation making them useful in decontamination applications (Kong & Laroussi, 2003). Research regarding the inactivation of gram-positive bacteria by cold plasma has been studied by Laroussi et al (2003); however, there is limited research regarding the germicidal effectiveness of cold plasma on Geobacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus cereus microorganisms. The purpose of this study was to determine if cold plasma technology inactivates Geobacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus cereus vegetative cells and spores. This study consisted of 981 samples; 762 experimental samples exposed to cold plasma at various times and 291 controls. Experimental samples were inoculated and exposed either directly or indirectly/remotely to cold plasma. After exposure the samples were incubated for 12 to 16 hours and colony forming units (CFU) were quantified. The percentage kill and log concentration reductions were calculated from the CFU counts. Data was analyzed using one-way ANOVA, Kruskal Wallis and Tukey's tests at the .05 level. There was a statistically significant difference in the inactivation of Geobacillus stearothermophilus vegetative cells for indirect exposure (p=.0001), direct exposure (p=.0013), as well as for Bacillus cereus vegetative cells and spores (p=.0001). Exposure of Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores to cold plasma demonstrated no statistically significant differences in inactivation for indirect exposure (p=.7208) and direct exposure (p=.0835). Results indicate that cold plasma exposure significantly inactivated Geobacillus stearothermophilus (vegetative) and Bacillus cereus; however, Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores were not significantly inactivated. Funding for this project was provided by ADHA IOH.
Original Publication Citation
Morris, A.D., McCombs, G.B., Tolle, S.L., Laroussi, M., & Hynes, W.L. (2007). Bactericidal effects of cold plasma technology on geobacillus stearothermophilus and bacillus cereus microorganisms. Journal of Dental Hygiene, 81(4), 103-103.
Morris, Angela D.; McCombs, Gayle B.; Tolle, Susan L.; Laroussi, Mounir; and Hynes, Wayne L., "Bactericidal Effects of Cold Plasma Technology on Geobacillus Stearothermophilus and Bacillus Cereus Microorganisms" (2007). Dental Hygiene Faculty Publications. 21. | <urn:uuid:b44b9286-9669-4a00-b4f9-10d098d9e649> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/dentalhygiene_fac_pubs/21/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934806842.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20171123142513-20171123162513-00075.warc.gz | en | 0.864961 | 582 | 2.890625 | 3 |
By: Teacher Almira
Everyone learns differently, so if you want to improve your English listening skills, you have to use the method that works best for you. While some people find classroom learning effective, others prefer self-studying or practicing on their own.
If you want to improve your English listening skill, read on. Are you ready to get started? First, here are a few courses of action you can take:
- Don’t be too hard on yourself. Initially, it will be challenging to understand everything you hear from a native speaker since English is your second language.
- Stay calm and relaxed when you do not understand; do not use translators to translate it in your language.
- Focus on the main idea of the conversation. Do not concentrate on every word and detail.
1. Active Listening
It takes effort to listen and understand the general idea of the message. Active listening shows the speaker that you’re interested and ensures that you correctly understand what was said.
Active listening techniques:
A) Paraphrase what the speaker had said to show understanding
B)Gestures- non-verbal (nodding, eye contact, etc.)
C)Verbal affirmations (“I see,” “Really,” “I know,” “Thank you,” etc.)
D) Show concern and Build rapport
2. Just listen! Don’t Interrupt
Get the message gist of the speaker rather than being focused on composing your immediate response. Understanding the message gist will lead you to the composition of the appropriate response.
Don’t get distracted by your thoughts and feelings outside the conversation. Remember to pay attention and relax; balance out how you feel while listening to the native speaker.
3. Do not directly translate.
When you listen to an English native speaker, you get tempted to translate some statements into your native language. Doing this creates a communication barrier between yourself and the person speaking.
When this temptation becomes dominant, your listening attention slowly declines since your brain focuses on the translation process. Translation leads from less to no more understanding.
4. Watch Movies or Series or English Tutorial Videos
There are various media resources and are accessible in electronic gadgets. Wherever you are, it will be easy for you to watch and listen, You can always play, pause and repeat the scenes.
You are not only developing your listening skill, but also your pronunciation skill when you do this. | <urn:uuid:e8089e3c-4f6c-4038-96a2-cfbe1d3f3cca> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://englishblog.net/3-major-strategies-for-english-listening-skill-improvement/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224655092.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20230608172023-20230608202023-00696.warc.gz | en | 0.920362 | 515 | 2.921875 | 3 |
Despite its status as a Special Administrative Zone of China, Macau should not go its own separate way when it comes to addressing the threat of global warming, according to Professor C.S. Kiang, chairman of the Sustainable Development Technology Foundation and the founding dean of the College of Environmental Sciences at Peking University, a Beijing-based research institution.
Macau, along with Hong Kong, is one of China’s two Special Administration Zones. Under the policy of "one country, two systems," the Central People's Government is responsible for the zone’s defense and foreign affairs, while Macau maintains its own criminal justice system and currency, and customs and immigration policies.
But in a speech delivered last week at the 2013 Macau International Environmental Co-operation Forum & Exhibition (MIECF), Professor Kiang urged the administrative zone’s leadership to “think outside the box”—literally—or in this case, outside its borders.
According to the Macau Daily Times, the academic said that by joining with nearby Zhuhai and Hengqin, Macau could start a global hub for sustainable energy. Professor Kiang elaborated, “Instead of regional competition, we need to think of regional collaboration. Macau should not limit itself to the city. We should think of how to integrate the Pearl River Delta, and how to integrate it with Asia—and how Asia can integrate with the rest of the world.”
Indeed, Professor Kiang suggested that, as the eco-technology center of the world, the greater Macau- Zhuhai -Hengqin area would attract eco-tourism and cultural tourism.
“Macau has many casinos,” he said, “but casinos are not enough.”
Among the platforms Professor Kiang suggested would be advanced in the new eco-technology hub, is grid-tied distributed energy. He said, “I strongly recommend we establish an energy integration system that combines wind, solar, and other forms of energy technology, to create a one-stop shop for environmental technologies and pollution control.”
He also advised Macau to establish a development fund for investing in relevant projects, and a municipal data management center to collect and use relevant intelligence.
Finally, to drive the technology toward early adoption, Professor Kiang called for the creation of a “decision-making center” for urban and regional planning; “The most difficult thing about the development is, sometimes, the decision-making process….So the decision center is very important,” Professor Kiang stated.
Edited by Braden Becker | <urn:uuid:ec666270-97e7-4a22-bb38-50bf1ebe9a48> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://technews.tmcnet.com/green/topics/green/articles/2013/03/25/331785-beijing-scholar-envisions-an-expanded-macau-as-global.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886120573.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20170823152006-20170823172006-00123.warc.gz | en | 0.934809 | 541 | 2.625 | 3 |
Reviewed By Brunilda Nazario, MD
Your grandmother, father, and cousin may have heart disease, but even with a
strongly inherited predisposition to the condition you can cut your risks
dramatically by pursuing a heart healthy lifestyle -- and it's easier than you
Over 800,000 Americans died from heart attacks and other cardiac illnesses lasts year, but most of those deaths -- four out of five -- were preventable. With a few key tips from a world-renowned heart expert you can be on your way to building a healthy heart that will last a lifetime.
Do You Eat What's Best for a Healthy Heart?
With all the mixed messages about "good" and "bad" foods in the media, it's not surprising that many people just give up trying to figure out what they should eat. If you're confused, you're not alone.
"Our research has shown that the No. 1 thing people are confused about when it comes to heart health is what the best diet is," says preventive cardiologist Lori Mosca, MD, founder of Columbia University Medical Center's Preventive Cardiology Program and author of Heart to Heart: A Personal Plan for Creating a Heart-Healthy Family. "Every week there's a conflicting research study or a new book that refutes last year's book."
Forget the competing headlines -- the best way to eat heart healthy is to follow national guidelines from organizations like the American Heart Association. "These are established by experts who monitor research, and are not focused on the latest fads and trends. It's actually much simpler than people realize," Mosca says.
5 Simple Steps to a Heart Healthy Diet
Ready to step up to a diet rich in the healthy nutrients your heart craves? The experts recommend staring here:
- Eat a diet rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and fiber.
- Eat fish at least twice a week.
- Limit how much saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol you eat. Only 30% of your daily calories should come from fat, with very little of that from saturated fats.
- Select fat-free, 1% fat, and low-fat dairy products.
- Cut back on foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils to reduce trans fat in your diet.
- Limit your salt intake.
One way to make sure that your diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, and fiber, and low in saturated fats, is to divide your plate at each meal: half vegetables, 1/4 high-quality protein (like legumes -- terrific sources of protein and great for a healthy heart!), and 1/4 for fish or a very lean meat.
And remember, you should get your nutrients from foods themselves, the antioxidants and other heart-healthy goodies found in foods like blueberries, beans, and artichokes don't pack the same punch when they're not in food form.
And avoid fad diets, advises Mosca. "Almost every one may result in short-term weight loss but leave you weighing even more a year later, and preventing weight gain is one of the best ways to prevent developing heart disease risk factors."
Is Your Exercise Routine Really Helping You Have a Healthy Heart?
It's easy to get discouraged about exercise: It's hard to fit into a busy lifestyle. The people at the gym look like they spend hours there. You haven't run a mile since college. But no excuses -- like eating right, getting the exercise your heart needs is easier than it looks.
If you're not overweight, all you need to maintain a heart healthy lifestyle is 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five or more times a week. And you don't have to do it all at once -- 15 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes in the evening are just fine.
"Getting that amount of exercise has substantial benefits for your heart," says Mosca. Just how much is hard to quantify, but research shows that being physically inactive is a major risk factor for developing coronary artery disease.
And exercise is the gift that keeps on giving. That's because regular, moderate exercise also helps:
If you need to lose weight, it's going to take a little more effort. "For weight management, we want low to moderate intensity activities for 60 minutes per day," says Mosca. "The only way to really lose weight is to decrease calories in and increase calories out, and what works best is a modest approach to both. If you just reduce your caloric intake, for example, your body slows its metabolism to compensate."
Exactly what kind of exercise you do is less important than simply doing it in the first place. One way to make sure you don't skip it: Structure family time around physical activity.
For example, Mosca, her husband, and son have found a track team they can all participate in, and they often hang out at their local swim club. Your local YMCA is often a great place to start in finding opportunities for your family to get heart-healthy exercise together.
Do You Know Your Other Heart Health Risk Factors?
A heart-healthy lifestyle is about more than just diet and exercise. The single most dangerous thing you can do to your heart is to smoke. Just by itself, cigarette smoking increases your risk of heart disease, but it also worsens other factors that contribute to heart disease:
- It increases blood pressure
- It increases the tendency of blood to clot
- It decreases levels of HDL -- the good cholesterol
If you smoke a pack a day, you have more than twice the risk of a heart attack than someone who doesn't smoke.
"Every cigarette you cut back matters," says Mosca. "The goal is always complete cessation, but even eliminating one cigarette a day can make a difference. Start there, and then try to keep going until you've quit altogether."
A big plus: It doesn't take long for your body -- and your heart in particular -- to reap the health benefits of quitting. Twenty minutes after your last cigarette, your heart rate and blood pressure drop. Two weeks to three months later, your circulation and lung function improve. Just one year after quitting, your excess risk of coronary heart disease is just half that of a smoker's.
You may have other risk factors for heart disease that are not on your radar. Mosca calls anxiety, anger, depression, and social isolation "silent epidemics" that are very prevalent, commonly missed, and potentially dangerous for your heart.
"Depression, for example, is very common, and it's very strongly linked to heart disease," she says. "If you or someone you love is depressed or harboring a lot of anger, or seems isolated, encourage them to seek help. There are many methods to help you deal with these risk factors."
A Healthy Heart: What's Up Your Family Tree?
There are some risk factors for heart disease that you can't control, and family history is one of them. If a close relative, like a mother, father, sister, or brother had a heart attack or died of heart disease -- especially at a young age -- then the health of your heart may be at greater risk as well.
"Families can share a predisposition to heart disease both because they have shared genes and a shared lifestyle," says Mosca. You get half your genes from mom and half your genes from dad -- but you probably also get your eating and exercise habits from them, too.
"If you have a family history of heart disease, it's important that you have yourself checked out," says Mosca.
You may find, for example, that you have high cholesterol and it needs to be managed with medication. On the flip side, you may be greatly reassured to find out that Dad's heart attack probably had to do with smoking and being overweight, and you don't share those risk factors. Either way, you can do something about your risk: genetics is not destiny.
The most important thing to understand about a healthy heart is that many of the factors that put you at risk for disease lie within your power to control.
"Even if you're not at high risk now, your most important goal should be to prevent yourself from developing increased risk," says Mosca. "You can do that through a heart-healthy lifestyle."
SOURCES: Lori Mosca, MD, PhD, director, preventive cardiology program, Columbia University Medical Center, New York City. Walter Willett, MD, professor of epidemiology and nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Cambridge, Mass. American Heart Association, Dallas. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Md. American Cancer Society, Atlanta. WebMD Medical Reference: "Heart Disease: Smoking and Heart Disease."
© 2008 WebMD Inc. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:462a45ab-88ba-4d74-9ecc-fdaf939066dc> | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=86837 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347413786.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20200531213917-20200601003917-00184.warc.gz | en | 0.954234 | 1,805 | 2.609375 | 3 |
Plantagenet Of Lancaster
Henry VI's Minority
The last king of the Lancastrian dynasty, Henry VI was born at Windsor Castle on 6th December, 1421 the son of Henry V and Catherine of Valois, daughter of Charles VI of France. Henry became King of England in his cradle, he was barely nine months old when his famous father, Henry V, died of dysentry on campaign in France. Two months later he became King of France also, when his grandfather, the mentally unstable Charles VI, died.
During Henry's minority, the war in France had been executed loyally and ably by his paternal uncle, John, Duke of Bedford. He struggled with the almost impossible task of retaining his brother's conquests in France. England was ruled by a council lead by Humphrey Duke of Gloucester, the youngest of Henry V's brothers.
In November 1429, the young king was considered old enough to undergo the arduous coronation ceremony and was crowned at Westminster Abbey at eight years old. The following year, at the age of nine, he crossed to his French kingdom and was crowned King of France at Notre Dame. In the streets of Paris he was observed from an upper storey window by his notorious grandmother, Isabeau of Bavaria, the wanton widow of Charles VI, whom the young king courteously doffed his hat to.
Henry's mother, Catherine of Valois, died in 1437 amidst scandal, when it was discovered that the Dowager Queen had contacted a secret marriage with her Welsh clerk of the wardrobe, Owen Tudor and had borne him several children, three sons and a daughter. Henry later created the eldest of these half-brothers, Edmund and Jasper Tudor, Earls of Richmond and Pembroke respectively. Both were later to play leading parts in the Wars of the Roses, the elder, Edmund was to become the father of King Henry VII, the founder of England's Tudor dynasty. Owen Tudor was summoned before the king's council to explain his conduct, but was released without punishment, he ended his days in 1461, when after fighting on the Lancastrian side at the Battle of Mortimer's Cross, he was beheaded on the orders of Henry's supplanter, Edward IV.
The wheel of fortune had begun to turn against the English in France. Joan of Arc lead the French to victory, and by 1453, all of the great Henry V's conquests, apart from Calais, were lost.
According to the terms of a peace agreement with France, Henry married Margaret of Anjou, daughter of Rene, Duke of Anjou and titular King of Jerusalem and Isabella, Duchess of Lorraine. Margaret was also the niece of the French King, Charles VII. The match was unpopular amongst disaffected elements in England. Margaret, unlike her husband, was a strong headed character, who was unyielding and belligerent, none of which augured well for her future in England.
Henry himself was a gentle, devout and kindly man, but early in his reign is said to have been "unsteadfast of wit". He did not appear to enjoy wearing the magnificent clothing expected of a sovereign and often dressed simply "like a farmer". Unlike his warlike father, Henry possessed a strong aversion to violence and was deeply, even obsessively, devoted to religion.
Contemporary Description of Henry
'He was a man of pure simplicity of mind, truthful almost to a fault. He never made a promise he did not keep, never knowingly did an injury to anyone. Rectitude and justice ruled his conduct in all public affairs. Devout himself, he sought to cherish a love for religion in others. He would exhort his visitors, particularly the young, to pursue virtue and eschew evil. He considered sports and the pleasures of the world as frivolous, and devoted his leisure to reading the scriptures and the old chronicles. Most decorous himself when attending public worship, he obliged his courtiers to enter the sacred edifice without swords or spears, and to refrain from interupting the devotion of others by conversing within its precincts.
He delighted in female society, and blamed that immodest dress, which left exposed the maternal parts of the neck. "Fie, fie, for shame!" he exclaimed "forsooth ye be to blame." Fond of encouraging youth in the paths of virtue he would frequently converse familiarly with the scholars from his colllege of Eton, when they visited his servants at Windsor Castle. He generally concluded with this address, adding a present of money: "Be good lads, meek and docile, and attend to your religion."
He was liberal to the poor, and lived among his dependants as a father among his children. He readily forgave those who had offended him. When one of his servants had been robbed, he sent him a present of twenty nobles, desiring him to be more careful of his property in the future, and requesting him to forgive the thief. Passing one day from St. Albans to Cripplegate, he saw a quarter of a man impaled there for treason. Greatly shocked he exclaimed "Take it away, take it away, I will have no man so cruelly treated for my account."
In his dress he was plain, and would not wear the shoes with the upturned points, then so much in fashion, and considered the distinguishing mark of a man of quality. Where are warm baths in which they say the men of that country customarily refresh and wash themselves, the King, looking into the baths, saw in them men wholly naked with every garment cast off. At which he was greatly displeased, and went away quickly, abhorring such nudity as a great offence.'
The Wars of the Roses
In 1453, at the age of 32, Henry VI began to exhibit signs of serious mental illness. By means of a "sudden fright" he entered into a trance-like state reacting to and recognising no one. Catatonic schizophrenia or depressive stupor have been suggested as a likely diagnosis. This was probably an inheritance from his maternal grandfather, Charles VI of France, who himself suffered from bouts of schizophrenia, which is reported to have come on suddenly in 1392 when he was then aged 24, into which he then suffered relapses for the next 30 years. Charles VI's mother, Joanna de Bourbon, also exhibited signs of mental illness, as did various ancestors of hers, including Louis I, Duke of Bourbon, Peter I, Duke of Bourbon, Louis II, Duke of Bourbon.
The king's cousin, Richard, Duke of York was appointed protector, to the annoyance of the Queen, who strongly felt that she and her party should govern England. An intense personal rivalry developed between Richard of York and Margaret's favourite, Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset. Somerset was descended from John of Gaunt's liaison with Catherine Swynford.
Richard Plantagenet, Duke of York, stood very near to the throne, his mother, Anne Mortimer, was by the strict rules of primogeniture the true heir of Richard II and York was her only son. Anne's claim derived from her descent from Edward III's second surviving son, Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence. Henry VI's claim, although in the direct male line, was only through Edward's fourth son, John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. Plantagenet Genealogy
Two months later, Queen Margaret gave birth to a son , Edward of Lancaster. Rumours abounded, fed by the Yorkists, that the child was not the feeble minded king's but Somerset's, all of which threw more fuel on the fires of discontent. The Queen, "a strong laboured woman", was fiercely protective of her son and his rights. Henry eventually recovered his senses and when showed his son, declared himself pleased and enquired about the child's godfathers. Adding to existing doubts about the child's paternity, he declared that Edward must have been fathered by the Holy Ghost.
York, dismissed from office, was discontented. His position, he realised, was now a precarious one, exposed as he was to the suspicion and venom of the Queen, who once again controlled the government.
A great council was called at Leicester. York and his allies, Richard, Earl of Warwick and his father, Richard Neville, Earl of Salisbury, suspecting unimpartial treatment, travelled south with an army. Attempts at discussion between the factions evoked further anger on both sides.
The First Battle of St. Albans was fought on 22nd May 1455. Margaret's favourite, Edmund Beaufort, Duke of Somerset was killed and Henry captured by the victorious Yorkists. York was appointed Protector of England. Margaret, true to character, was not going to accept this meekly. She gathered an army to advance her son's cause and York, Salisbury and Warwick were forced into flight before her.
The rebel lords gathered support and in retaliation took London. Warwick met the forces loyal to the king at Northampton, defeated them, and took the unfortunate Henry captive back to London. York returned from exile and laid formal claim to the throne. When asked why he had not previously done so, he responded that "though right for a time lies silent, yet it rotteth not, nor shall it perish." A compromise was agreed on, whereupon Henry VI was to keep the throne for the rest of his lifetime but the succession was to go to York and his heirs. No one for a moment expected that the spirited Margaret would accept the disinheriting of her son and this proved to be the case.
Queen Margaret lead a Lancastrian army to attack the Duke of York at his castle at Sandal at Wakefield. The Duke was killed leading an impulsive charge against the Lancastrian forces, as was Salisbury and York's second son, the seventeen year old Edmund, Earl of Rutland, whose pleas for his life were ignored. The Queen had their heads impaled on spikes on the city walls of York.
Edward, Earl of March, York's able eldest son, aged eighteen and now leader of the Yorkist cause, retaliated and defeated the Lancastrians at Mortimers Cross. He continued to utterly crush the Lancastrian cause at the decisive and bloody Battle of Towton in Yorkshire. Margaret and her son took flight to Scotland where they found refuge and the new Duke of York was crowned at Westminster as King Edward IV. King Henry VI was eventually taken prisoner in Lancashire and imprisoned in the Tower of London.
The Restoration of Henry VI
Edward IV shocked the nobility when he announced he had been secretly married to Elizabeth Woodville, the beautiful but penniless widow of a Lancastrian knight. The new King had hoped to make the highly attractive Elizabeth his mistress, but she held out for marriage and Edward eventually succumbed to her charms. The old established nobility, and in particular Warwick, where alienated by the meteoric advancement of the new Queen's large and needy family. In 1470, Warwick, later referred to as the Kingmaker, seething with hatred of the "upstart" Woodvilles, changed his allegiance to the House of Lancaster and was re-united with Margaret of Anjou under the auspices of Louis XI.
Edward IV was forced to flee the country before Warwick and King Henry VI was briefly restored. A sad and pitiful figure, he was paraded through the streets of London in a shabby blue gown by George Neville, Archbishop of York and set up as a puppet King, whom the ambitious Warwick ruled through. Edward IV returned to England and defeated and killed his cousin Warwick at the Battle of Barnet. On Edward's return to London, Henry greeted him, stating, "Cousin of York, you are very welcome. I hold my life to be in no danger in your hands." The Yorkist King returned Henry to his former lodgings in the Tower and rode out to meet Margaret and her son who had landed in England on the day that Barnet was fought.
Their two armies clashed at Tewkesbury on 4th May 1471. Edward, the Lancastrian Prince of Wales, was killed either in battle or during its aftermath, there are several versions concerning how Edward, the , met his end, one states he was cut down as he fled north in the aftermath of the Battle of Tewkesbury, another states that following the rout of the Lancastrians at Tewkesbury, a small contingent of men under the Duke of Clarence found Edward near a grove, where he was immediately beheaded on a makeshift block, despite pleas for mercy to his brother-in-law Clarence. An alternative version was given by three other sources: The Great Chronicle of London, Polydore Vergil and Edward Hall, which was the version used by Shakespeare. This records, that Edward, having survived the battle and was taken captive and brought before Edward IV who was with George, Duke of Clarence; Richard, Duke of Gloucester; and William, Lord Hastings. The king received the prince graciously, and asked why he had taken up arms against him. The prince replied defiantly, "I came to recover my father's heritage." The king then struck the prince across his face with his gauntlet hand and those present with the king then suddenly stabbed Prince Edward with their swords.
The fate of Margaret of Anjou
Queen Margaret was defeated at last by the death of the son she had fought so long and hard for. She was imprisoned in the Tower of London. Her beloved son's widow, Anne Neville, later married one of his suspected killers, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, through this marriage, Gloucester eventually obtained much of Warwick's vast estates.
Margaret's ageing but ebullient father, Rene of Anjou, remained unconcerned about his daughter's fate, having recently remarried, he was preoccupied with his new young wife. Margaret was later removed to Windsor Castle, then on to Wallingford. She remained a prisoner until she was ransomed by her kinsman, Louis XI, at the Treaty of Picquigny in 1475. The embittered ex-Queen retired to her native Anjou, where she took up residence at the Chateau of Dampierre, she died there in August, 1482, aged fifty-three.
The Murder of Henry VI
Henry VI met his death in the Tower of London, on the night of the Vigil of the Ascension, 21st -22nd May, 1471. The demise of his son at Tewkesbury had sealed his fate. While Edward of Lancaster still lived, he rendered the removal of Henry pointless.
The Yorkist version of his end, that he died of "pure melancholy and displeasure" on hearing on of his son's death was not much accepted, even at the time. His death so soon after that of his son seems unlikely to have been a coincidence.
The majority of contemporary chroniclers believed Henry had been murdered. After the passage of over five hundred years this can never be properly ascertained, Richard Duke of Gloucester was known to be present at the Tower that night, as where others.
W.J. White in his discussion in 'The Death and Burial of Henry VI, A Review of the Facts and Theories, Part I', White reveals that the earliest sources recording Henry's death do not name a murderer, although they assume that there was a murder and that Edward IV must have given the order for it. The first to name Richard of Gloucester as the murderer is probably the Frenchman Philippe de Commines writing in around 1490 and John Rous in his Historia de Regibus Anglie, written around the same time. Ultimately, the responsibility for Henry's murder can only be laid at the feet of Edward IV. Edward had now exterminated the direct line of the House of Lancaster with ruthless efficiency.
Henry was buried at Chertsey. The cult of 'Holy King Henry', although actively discouraged by Edward IV, grew up after his death, when miracles were supposed to have occurred on pilgrimage to his tomb.
Henry's body was moved to Windsor by Richard III, an act perhaps occasioned by an uneasy conscience and his overriding desire for the souls of his victims to rest in peace. An unsuccessful attempt was made by Henry VII, the first Tudor monarch, to have his half-uncle canonized.
Due to controversy over the manner of his death, George V gave permission to exhume the body of King Henry VI in 1910. The skeleton was found to have been dismembered before being placed in the box and not all the bones were present. Three very worn teeth were found and the only piece of jaw present had lost its teeth before death. The bones were recorded as being those of a strong man measuring five feet nine to five feet ten inches tall. Light brown hair found matted with blood on the skull confirmed that Henry VI had died as a result of violence.
A marble tablet placed in the Wakefield Tower in his memory marks the spot where Henry VI is traditionally said to have met his untimely end. Each year, on the eve of the anniversary of his death, the ceremony of the lilies and the roses is played out, white lilies for Eton College and white roses for King's College, Cambridge are placed there in memory of their founder.
Biographies of the Dukes of Lancaster- biographies of the Plantagenet Dukes of Lancaster | <urn:uuid:474d98d7-d029-4f45-bd1d-802cf777121e> | CC-MAIN-2013-48 | http://englishmonarchs.co.uk/plantagenet_11.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-48/segments/1386163870408/warc/CC-MAIN-20131204133110-00010-ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.986699 | 3,612 | 3.265625 | 3 |
1. Watch video on Physical Geography, take notes.
2. Use the video and your textbook on pages A8-A11 to answer the questions below.
3. Write down your answers for a 10 point homework assignment that we will review tomorrow.
1. What are the different aspects of physical geography?
2. Which Latin America countries contain the largest variety of climates?
3. What two countries contain most of Latin America's oil resources?
4. What do you think are the advantages of living in a country with diverse physical geography?
Use the knowledge you learned to complete A Physical Map: South America | <urn:uuid:ebd1ce0c-4460-424b-9cf0-bd8b3defc3a0> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | https://www.sophia.org/tutorials/physical-geography | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187820930.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20171017072323-20171017092323-00446.warc.gz | en | 0.855546 | 128 | 3.625 | 4 |
Following the publication of the first article, problems including setting the temperature base year in some cases to 1950 and others to 2000, smoothing errors, and other errors were discovered. Therefore, Loehle and McCulloch published a correction of the original paper, with improved confidence intervals. The corrected series below is very similar to the original, although for data reasons, the last point now represents the 29-year average temperature centered on 1935.
The second paper states, “The corrected data continue to show the Medieval Warm Period (MWP) and Little Ice Age (LIA) quite clearly. The confidence intervals “indicate that the MWP was significantly warmer than the bimillennial average during most of approximately 820 – 1040 AD, at the 5% level (2-tailed). Likewise, the LIA was significantly cooler than the bimillennial average during most of approximately 1440-1740 AD.”
Loehle, C. 2007. A 2000-year global temperature reconstruction based on non-tree ring proxies. Energy and Environment, 18, 1049-1058.
Loehle, C. and J.H. McCulloch. 2008. Correction to: A 2000-year global temperature reconstruction based on non-tree ring proxies. Energy and Environment, 19, 93-100. | <urn:uuid:765637c5-4a2a-42ff-bee3-f245f7ad8815> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://hockeyschtick.blogspot.com/2009/12/2000-year-global-temperature.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1393999671301/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305060751-00045-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943265 | 271 | 2.796875 | 3 |
health: The Maternal Infant Health Program is becoming the face of pregnancy prevention
Recently, the importance of access to affordable family planning services has gained national recognition. Not only is access to affordable birth control a national concern, it is also a concern for residents of Washtenaw County.
A recent study indicated that 28.2 percent of births in Washtenaw County were to mothers who were not married at the time of delivery (The Right Start in Michigan). Research has shown that unmarried women who are pregnant are more likely to report that the pregnancy was unintended with "almost seven [unintended pregnancies] of every 10 among unmarried women" (Right Start in Michigan and Its Counties - 2012).
Each unintended pregnancy is preventable, and it is important to do so, since "studies have shown that children born in these circumstances often suffer from poor comes in health, education, and employment" (Right Start in Michigan and Its Counties - 2012).
While advocating for health insurance coverage of birth control methods is important, often, encouraging women to access family planning services involves more than just a financial component. Social and psychological factors, such as embarrassment or lack of knowledge regarding resources, are also barriers that can inhibit women from accessing even free or low cost birth control services.
The Maternal Infant Health Program works with at-risk women who are pregnant or parenting a child under one year. At each visit, MIHP staff meets with women and, among other things, address their willingness to use a method of birth control in order to prevent future unintended pregnancies.
A social worker in the Maternal Infant Health Program had been working with a single mother with three children, all of whom were unintended and the result of unprotected sexual activity. This mother stated that she wanted to use condoms as her primary form of birth control but was uncomfortable with the idea of being seen purchasing them at the store. At each visit the MIHP social worker would stress the importance of using birth control and would provide her with free condoms from the Adult Health Clinic at Washtenaw County Public Health. Together, the social worker and the mother created a plan for how to access condoms free of charge and free of stigma.
At one visit, the mother indicated that she had run out of condoms and had been about to engage in unprotected sex with a partner when all of a sudden the social worker's face popped into her head. She stated that she knew the social worker would be disappointed when she learned that the woman had risked another unintended pregnancy. The woman was proud to tell the MIHP social worker that she decided not to engage in sexual activity again until she could do so safely.
So, what is Public Health doing to address this issue? Apparently, the MIHP staff are becoming the actual faces of safer-sex practices and pregnancy prevention in Washtenaw County. | <urn:uuid:9bf40063-cf0c-4164-886d-5d67637c3bd2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://annarbor.com/health/recently-the-importance-of-access/?cmpid=mlive-@mlive-health-a2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706624988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121704-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97796 | 576 | 3.046875 | 3 |
An estimated 40,000 tons of salmon, 8,000 tons of sardines, and masses of dead whales have washed up on the beaches across Chile in recent months.
The mass creature deaths are thought to be as a result of the El Niño that arrived at the beginning of 2016, which authorities say have choked the sea life to death.
That is about 12 percent of annual salmon production in Chile, the world’s second-biggest producer of the fish after Norway.
This month, some 8,000 tons of sardines were washed up at the mouth of the Queule River. And thousands of dead clams piled up on the coast of Chiloe Island.
On the shores of Santa Maria Island off the center off Chile’s long coast, cuttlefish have been washed up dead in the thousands.
Scientists largely blame the anomalies on El Niño, a disruptive weather phenomenon that comes with warming sea surface temperatures in the equatorial Pacific.
Chiles has 4,000 kilometers (2,485 miles) of Pacific coastline making it highly vulnerable to El Niño.
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- Spanish Judge Issues Arrest Warrant For Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu - August 21, 2017 | <urn:uuid:e4591d74-8414-4e2e-a3f6-57dae8f16d2b> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://newspunch.com/thousands-of-dead-creatures-appear-on-chiles-beaches/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886110471.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20170822050407-20170822070407-00058.warc.gz | en | 0.887998 | 309 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Using social video improve our understanding of complex events. Rashomon would allow visitors to study an event from multiple perspectives, zooming in on particular moments to examine sequences in detail.
With the Rashomon tool, activists, journalists, investigators, and ordinary citizens will be able to assemble a more complete view of contested events than could be gained by single-source video footage alone. This comprehensive perspective will better inform the public about the succession of events and could contribute to more just outcomes of court proceedings or investigative commissions. This capacity is valuable in numerous contexts, from the Occupy protests or other political demonstrations in the United States to the deadly clashes between rebels and government forces in the Middle East. We anticipate that the multi-perspective chronologies the Rashomon tool produces will be viewed by tens of thousands of citizens, as well as legal professionals. For example, the Syrian Justice and Accountability Center is collecting video footage of clashes between government and rebel forces in the region. A tool like Rashomon could help strengthen evidentiary claims of war crimes or other atrocities, should the leaders be brought before the International Criminal Court or other tribunal. Our goal is to have the tool successfully used to address and resolve two or more controversies arising from important events within the first two years. | <urn:uuid:c0f03653-ca95-4828-a95f-22416afe4dd4> | CC-MAIN-2014-15 | http://youmightfindyourself.com/post/32340708199/the-rashomon-project-multi-perspective-chronology | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1397609539066.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20140416005219-00088-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932803 | 251 | 2.625 | 3 |
Just like every nation Lithuanians have certain national heroes who have many streets and institutions named after them, who are depcited on banknotes and are immortalized in statues. This is a short introduction to the stories that are hidden behind the names you will undoubtedly see frequently while in Lithuania.
The earliest and some of the best known figures are the largely pagan Lithuanian leaders of 13th-16th centuries who made Lithuania the Europe's largest country. That mighty Grand Duchy eroded over the centuries and was completely destroyed by Russian invasion in 1795 however. Therefore the 19th century National Revival is another era where many famous Lithuanians hail from (almost all Litas banknotes have their faces on the obverse).
Other groups well represented in street names include artists, writers and other wise men of Lithuania Minor, writers and artists of early 20th century, heroes of interwar independent Lithuania and controversially some Soviet writers. Religious (Christian) and mythological figures are also represented.
Modern Lithuanian celebrities (post 1990) are not yet honoured by street names but they dominate newspapers, magazines and TV shows.
Take note that Lithuanian is a syntetic language therefore the final letters of a name are written differently when that name appears different contexts. For instance a street name after Grand Duke Gediminas would be called “Gedimino” (nominative case).
The leaders of 13th-15th century Lithuania are still venerated as the original founders of the state. They were either pagan or converted to Christianity in their adulthood therefore their names are original Lithuanian rather than localized Christian names.
First among them was Mindaugas, the only king of Lithuania recognised by the Pope whose 1253 conversion to Christianity failed to Christianize the whole country (26 urban streets). Subsequent pagan leaders, such as Vytenis (12 urban streets), also styled themselves as “Kings” but now are commonly named “Grand Dukes” as to be a king in the contemporary Europe you had to be a Christian. Famous among these leaders was Gediminas (1275-1341; 35 urban streets), the alleged founder of Vilnius. Then there was Algirdas (1296-1377; 22 urban streets) who swiftly expanded Lithuania eastwards and southwards, tripling it in size, and Kęstutis, legendarily marrying a vaidilutė (a virgin pagan priestess) Birutė (he has 40 urban streets named after him and she has 49).
Finally there were two cousins Jogaila (1348-1434; 4 urban streets) and Vytautas (1350-1430; 58 urban streets). Jogaila, a convert to Catholicism, was crowned a king of Poland (where he is called Jagiello), starting the Jagiellonian dynasty that vied for European domination against the Habsburgs. Vytautas ruled Lithuanian Grand Duchy, expanding it from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. Later historians saw the era of Vytautas as the time of ultimate Lithuanian glory and styled him “The Great” (“Magnus” in Latin or “Didysis” in Lithuanian).
Jogaila and Vytautas together managed to finally extinguish the threat of Teutonic Knights that plagued Lithuania for centuries in a decisive victory at the battle of Žalgiris (Grunewald).
The names of subsequent Jagiellonian monarchs are less commonly visible in Lithuania. There are multiple reasons for this. Firstly, the center of power shifted from Lithuania to Poland in what eventually (in 1569) became a federation. Secondly, the kings lost political importance to the nobility, and, finally, the federation itself was relegated to a minor power.
While in large areas of Lithuania a process of polonization was taking place whereby the Lithuanian language was relegated to that of peasantry, a different situation prevailed in the Lutheran German-ruled Lithuania Minor.
It was in Lithuania Minor where Martynas Mažvydas (8 urban streets) published the first Lithuanian book (a cathechism) on 1547 and a priest Kristijonas Donelaitis (19 urban streets) wrote the first Lithuanian novel (actually a long poem imitating Homer in style) in late 18th century.
The last famous man of culture to hail from Lithuania Minor was Vydūnas (real name Vilhelmas Storosta, 1868-1953; 13 urban street names). He was the first philosopher to write in Lithuanian language. He was interested in the Hindu tradition and theosophism.
In 16th-19th centuries the literature of Lithuania-proper (excluding Lithuania Minor) was written largely in Polish. The Lithuanian and Polish nations were not yet fully separated. A kind of diglossia developed where people even referred to themselves in different names in different languages. The tradition of 19th century National Revival put a special imporatance on Lithuanian language, thus downplaying local historical personalities who published their work in the other languages. However, some luminaries of the era, such as Adomas Mickevičius (1798-1855, Adam Mickiewicz in Polish; 6 urban streets) receive a fair share of interest despite publishing major works in Polish.
After a long period of decline and persecution the Lithuanian spirit rose again in late 19th century when the Spring of Nations influenced Lithuanian aspirations to restore independence. The Russian Empire that ruled Lithuania at the time regarded the territory as unquestionably Russian, leading to a cultural struggle, that also led to many deaths, deportations and imprisonments among the Lithuanian elite.
At the vanguard of the national revival stood a handful of men, each of them helping to safeguard and shape the Lithuanian identity in a particular sphere of life.
Simonas Daukantas (1793-1864; 28 urban streets) was the first historian to publish history of Lithuania in the Lithuanian language, that way breaking with the tradtition which prefered the use of Latin and Polish languages for science and humanities.
Motiejus Valančius (1801-1875; 21 urban streets) was a Catholic bishop of Samogitia (by that time the Diocese of Samogitia covered the majority of modern-day Lithuania). He is best known for having established the Sober Movement that fought against the Russian pratice to make the peasants addicted to alcohol (because it is easier to rule them that way).
Vincas Kudirka (1858-1899; 37 urban streets) is the author of Lithuanian national anthem “Tautiška giesmė”, written in 1898 and adopted in 1918. At the time when Lithuanian press was banned by the Russian government he published illegal Lithuanian newspaper Varpas.
Jonas Basanavičius (1851-1927; 36 urban streets) is frequently styled the Patriarch of the Lithuanian nation. He put a lot efforts to advance the idea of independent Lithuania and eventually saw it to bear fruits when he was among the 20 sigantories of the independence declaration on 1918.
Maironis (real name Jonas Mačiulis, 1862-1932; 30 urban streets) was a priest famous for his volumes of patriotic poetry that have inspired generation after generation of Lithuanians, not only in the 19th century but also under the Soviet occupation.
Jonas Jablonskis (1890-1930; 8 urban streets) was a linguist who standartized the Lithuanian orthography and coined countless neologisms to change the then commonly used Russian and Polish loanwords. Only a part of these neologisms took hold but still the efforts of Jablonskis altered the face of Lithuanian language. If you read a 19th century Lithuanian text it will be quite different from the language today. The 1920s Lithuanian language however is quite similar to that of today.
Most Lithuanian litas banknotes depict people from this historical era.
In the late 19th and early 20th century less political Lithuanian art flourished as well.
Th emost famous artist in the era was symbolist painter and composer Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis (1875-1911; 18 urban streets). He created a unique form of art synthesis by writing music to be listened while watching his particular paintings. He has a following outside Lithuania as well; a mountain range in Russia and an asteroid are named after him. His followers claim that should he been born in the West he would have enjoyed a major worldwide fame. A gallery of his paintings is in Kaunas.
There were more famous Lithuanian writers than painters in the era, including Žemaitė (1845-1921; 44 urban streets) who described spartan village life, Jonas Biliūnas (1879-1907; 24 urban streets), the creator of emotional short stories including the allegorical “Phleron of Joy”, Antanas Baranauskas (1835-1902; 11 urban streets) and Pranas Vaičaitis (1876-1901, 9 urban streets).
History ensured that many of the famous people of the interwar era are still not properly commemorated. In the 1930s they were still alive while when they passed away Lithuania was not independent and the Soviet regime regarded most of them as ideological enemies.
The one exception are Steponas Darius and Stasys Girėnas (39 urban streets), always mentioned together and so depicted on 10 litas banknote. They were the first Lithuanians to cross the Atlantic ocean piloting an aircraft, their journey from New York to Kaunas cut short by a tragic accident in Germany. They instantly became regarded as martyrs and symbols of Lithuanian heroism. Many streets were renamed for them and there is a statue for them as far away as in Chicago, erected by the local Lithuanian community.
Famous politicians of the era were presidents Kazys Grinius, Aleksandras Stulginskis and, of course, authoritarian Antanas Smetona, who ruled from the 1926 coup to 1940 occupation.
Lawyer Mykolas Romeris, beatified bishop of Vilnius Jurgis Matulaitis and military officer Povilas Plechavičius, known for succesfully disrupting German plans to establish a Lithuanian SS legion, are other famous people of the era. Partisan general Jonas Žemaitis led the guerilla warfare against the Soviet occupation in late 1940s.
A large share of the interwar elite are not even buried in Lithuania as they were forced to flee by the invading Soviets. Hence their graves are in places like Chicago or Cleveland. In the USA the interwar Lithuanian culture continued in 1950s-1980s. Many famous Lithuanian writers and artists, such as poet Bernardas Brazdžionis, novelist Antanas Škėma and others, lived and published there (their publications were banned in the Soviet Union). The tragedy of homeland loss was always among the dominant themes.
When the Soviet Union occupied Lithuania in 1940 and again in 1944 the Soviets obliterated old street names, statues and other reminders of the past. All that was changed by names and images of communists, both local and foreign, as well as Russian heroes.
After the Lithuanian independence was restored in 1990 a large share of old street names were restored and fallen statues rebuilt (while the communist statues were transferred to Grūtas park museum). Therefore you won’t find Lenin or Kapsukas names in public anymore. However, sometimes controversially, the names of communist pro-Soviet artists who were venerated in the Soviet Union were not removed. These people were:
Salomėja Nėris (1904-1945; 27 urban streets) a leftist poet who wrote pieces praising Joseph Stalin and supported the Soviet occupation of Lithuania. Her early non-political works are short but emotional. Other pro-Soviet poets include Julius Janonis (1896-1917; 24 urban streets) and Liudas Gira (1884-1946; 18 urban streets).
Sportsmen, particularly basketball players, are the Lithuanians that come closest to worldwide fame. They earn millions at the best NBA and Europleague clubs and are well known in nations where basketball is popular. 1990s-2010s basketball stars include Arvydas Sabonis (b. 1964), Šarūnas Marčiulionis (b. 1964; both among the first Europeans to join NBA), Žydrūnas Ilgauskas (b. 1975), Šarūnas Jasikevičius (b. 1976), Linas Kleiza (b. 1985) and Jonas Valančiūnas (b. 1992).
Achievements in other sports lack the regularity of basketball triumphs but Virgilijus Alekna dominated the male discus throwing for 8 years, winning two Olympic golds and a bronze. Žydrūnas Savickas is equally notable in strongman scene.
In early 1990s not even the mighty basketball victories could have matched in importance the work of the "architect of Lithuanian independence" Vytautas Landsbergis (b. 1932), a major force behind the collapse of Soviet Union. His local arch-opponent was Algirdas Brazauskas (1932-2010), a former communist later embracing independence.
Rolandas Paksas enjoys a dubious fame of being the sole European head of state ever to be succesfully impeached (in 2004), while another president, Lithuanian-American Valdas Adamkus (b. 1926), is listed in the Guiness World Records as the person who lived the least in the country prior to being elected its head of state. Forced to flee Lithuania by the advancing Soviet armies as a young adult in 1945 he returned from Chicago only for his campaign in 1998. Mayor of Vilnius Artūras Zuokas (b. 1968) is locally notorious for corruption but his publicity stunts attracted worldwide attention which even earned him an Ignobel prize (for a staged Youtube video where he used a tank to crash an ilegally parked car).
Most other local celebrities are, in fact, celebrities only locally. Lithuanian musicians largely perform to the local market save for an occasional visit to emigrant communities. Cinema also fails to pass national frontiers save for a few festivals. English translations of Lithuanian literature are rare and while Lithuanian theater is regarded to be succesful few non-cinema actors or directors could expect to become worldwide household names.
Lithuania being a Christian country many streets are named after Saints. Lithuanian abbreviation “Šv.” indicates a saint on the street names. Religious figures, primarilly Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary, are also well represented in folk art and roadside chapels. Rūpintojėlis traditional wooden sculpture of a sad/contemplating Jesus is a popular theme.
Gods and godesses of the pagan pantheon are not forgotten in the street names either, including Žemyna, Gabija, Medeina and, of course, Perkūnas.
Among the mythological figures the fisherman Kastytis and sea princess Jūratė (two doomed lovers) are the most popular. | <urn:uuid:1f0ae80b-a703-468e-a753-b65c4673446a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.truelithuania.com/topics/history-and-politics-of-lithuania/famous-lithuanians | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709947846/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131227-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964311 | 3,231 | 2.90625 | 3 |
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Moment #3: Women took vacations to camp to escape the drudgery of life in the city . . .
In 1874, the Philadelphia chapter of the YWCA (Young Women’s Christian Association) founded Sea Rest in Asbury Park, New Jersey. This summer boarding and vacation house was for "tired young women wearing out their lives in an almost endless drudgery for wages that admit no thought of rest or recreation." | <urn:uuid:8f78d07a-d468-43bc-af0c-1cc7959713aa> | CC-MAIN-2013-48 | http://www.acacamps.org/blog/history/moment-3-women-took-vacations-camp-escape-drudgery-life-city | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-48/segments/1386163053003/warc/CC-MAIN-20131204131733-00030-ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930374 | 111 | 2.578125 | 3 |
How Scientists Are Moving Climate Change Conversation Forward
Last January, I wrote an op-ed for the New York Times—If You See Something, Say Something—about my feelings of duty as a climate scientist to engage with the public. I hoped it would help other scientists feel more comfortable speaking out to the public about the dangers of a world warmed by human emissions.
Photo credit: Shutterstock
Little did I know that exactly two months later, the largest scientific organization in the world and publisher of the leading academic journal Science would launch an initiative aimed at doing just that—move the conversation forward by telling Americans “What We Know.” It boils down to three main points—97 percent of climate scientists agree that climate change is here and now, that this means we risk abrupt and irreversible changes to the climate, and the sooner we act, the lower the costs and risks we face.
The focus of this initiative of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is to help Americans understand climate change, but also to inform us of some of the less probable but more painful risks we face by our continued inaction. By consulting with economists, the report was able to address the fact that the sooner we take action, the lower the cost and the less risk we face.
That last point is one that warrants a little unpacking. While climate contrarians have suggested for the past few decades that we take a “wait and see” approach, legitimate scientists work hard to tease out the influence of climate change on the frequency and magnitude of extreme weather events.
This detective work of pinning down exact contributions of humans is known as attribution, as in “exactly how much climate change can we attribute to humans?” Originally this question was very important, as its answer determined if mankind was responsible for warming. Thanks to decades of research, we know that humans are to blame with the same certainty that smoking and cancer are linked. Attribution studies continue though, as some scientists seek to pin down attribution of specific extreme weather events. The thinking, I suppose, is that only if we can say a particular event was 100 percent caused by climate change, can we meaningfully talk about the impact that climate change is having on extreme events. I am unconvinced, however, that this is an especially useful way of looking at how climate change is impacting weather extremes. It is a bit like trying to prove that a particular home run hit by a baseball player on steroids was due to the steroids. It’s asking the wrong question.
And this latest report shows us that the contrarian “wait and see” is not a prudent course of action, and that we don’t have time to work out exactly how much more dangerous and destructive certain types of extreme events (heat waves, prolonged drought, and superstorms) are being made by our escalating CO2 emissions. You don’t wait to see if the fire will spread through the whole building to attempt to extinguish the flame. You don’t wait until after you get into a car accident to buy insurance. And you don’t wait until you’re critically ill to go to the doctor. So why would you wait for increasingly damaging climate changes to start reducing emissions?
Which brings us to the point: we need to get serious about dealing with this crisis or we risk increasingly damaging and potentially irreversible climate change impacts. The excessive equivocation all too characteristic of scientific discourse (the phenomenon that Naomi Oreskes refers to as “erring on the side of least drama”), is often inappropriately leveraged as a justification for inaction by those opposed to reducing fossil fuel usage. Nuanced language is standard and necessary in academia, but just doesn’t translate when talking to the public. As I state in the epilogue of my book The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars:
Despite the battle scars I’ve suffered from having served on the front lines in the climate wars—and they are numerous—I remain convinced that there is nothing more noble than striving to communicate, in terms that are simultaneously accurate and accessible, the societal implications of our scientific knowledge.
So because my “see something say something” advice seems to have been heeded, let me try on a new meme: If you know it, show it. As scientists, we need to stop dancing around the point and use plain English in describing what we do know. Rather than confusing the public with obscure and often misleading science-speak, we must explain, in plain terms, the nature of what we do know: That we face great peril if we do nothing to avert the climate change crisis.
Any sober assessment of the problem demonstrates that the costs of inaction will greatly outweigh the cost of action, and the sooner we start, the easier it will be to transition to a clean energy economy. Precisely what policy measures we should pursue to encourage that transition is a worthy matter of debate. But we cannot, and should not, continue to pretend that inaction is a viable strategy.
Since we know that climate change poses a real threat to us, what are we going to do about it? Do we want to be a leader in the transition to a clean energy economy, much as it was a leader in fossil fuel energy revolution of the 1800s? Or do we want to take the “wait and see” approach, knowing that doing so not only risks our climate, but also our country's economic position in the race to a future powered by clean energy? It really is that stark a decision that we face. Let’s make the right choice. | <urn:uuid:67613c45-996f-4570-a80d-27c4bae68cf0> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | https://www.ecowatch.com/how-scientists-are-moving-climate-change-conversation-forward-1881880099.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818685129.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20170919112242-20170919132242-00532.warc.gz | en | 0.959951 | 1,151 | 2.84375 | 3 |
Books instead of Bombs
A document published in March by UNESCO reports that more than twenty-eight million children in those countries affected by conflicts do not receive education. If rich countries transferred monies from their military spending for just six days over to education, in 2015, the objective of Education for Everyone could be achieved.
Save the Children is an institution which has protected children since 1919. It is the largest NGO in the world and has spent decades “working for quality education in countries affected by conflicts.” The following information comes from this source and the most recent report on monitoring Education which UNESCO published a few days ago. The findings are awful.
*“In the Democratic Republic of Congo* – they explain- *sexual violence is systematically used in the on-going conflict in the country”*. As regards education it adds that *“there are over 2 million displaced people in the Congo and a huge proportion of girls and boys in the affected communities are not attending school. This happens despite the fact that the families living in this situation put the opportunity for their sons and daughters to have an education at the top of their priorities.”*
The Education for Everyone in the World 2011 Monitoring Report, which UNESCO published in March, highlights the fact that half of the 69 million boys and girls who don’t receive education are in countries in conflict. Moreover, it indicates that *“if the international community doesn’t act now, by 2015 the number of boys and girls out of school could be more than double today’s figure.”*
As the report clearly indicates, a potential source of funding which would enable this scenario to be avoided would be to achieve a cut in global military spending. *“If rich countries transferred their military spending for six days to help the development of basic education, they could collect the 16,000 million dollars which they need to achieve the objectives in Education for Everyone set for the year 2015.”*
However, we have to look at the hidden side of the arms trade: military spending is a priority for emerging States: *“21 of the poorest countries in the world spend more on military expenditure than on primary education. In some cases, the difference is far greater: Chad, for example, which has some of the worst education indicators in the world, spends four times more on weapons than on primary schools. In Pakistan, military spending is seven times greater than education spending. If these countries cut their military spending by 10%, they could give more than 9.5 million dollars to schools (the equivalent of a 40% reduction in the population out of education in their countries). The report offers substantial arguments to both donor countries and developing countries to identify the potential to turn unproductive spending on bombs into investments in schools, books and children”*
For those of us who aspire to a World Without War and Without Violence, every day the reason for our support is more evident, our arguments more logical and just, and the need for global disarmament more urgent.
*translation by Kirsty Cumming* | <urn:uuid:bb6e607c-13e2-4838-aa5a-7e32ac113fc0> | CC-MAIN-2014-23 | http://www.pressenza.com/2011/04/books-instead-of-bombs/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1406510260734.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20140728011740-00169-ip-10-146-231-18.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940155 | 626 | 2.75 | 3 |
Would you like to orientate yourself in the theory of lending? Are you interested in how the loan interest is calculated and what influences the interest rate?
You do well, because before signing any contract you should be 100% sure that you understand everything you sign with your signature.
Be clear about terminology
It is often not easy to understand financial terminology. If you want to be clear about the interest calculation or the interest rate calculation, you should learn to distinguish these two terms.
What is the interest rate?
The interest rate is the price of the loan expressed as a percentage and informs you how much the loan amount will increase over a certain period . There are different types of interest rates .
The first criterion is the value of the money borrowed:
- Nominal – the credit rate you normally find in the contract. However, it does not include inflation.
- Real – reflects the true value of the money borrowed. Compared to the nominal interest rate, it also takes into account the inflation rate (a decrease in the purchasing power of money).
Furthermore, we can divide interest rates in terms of their changes during the loan:
- Fixed – the rate does not change over the set period (in the financial sphere you often encounter the phrase “fix for three years”).
- Variable – may vary according to current market conditions. To calculate the interest rate, individual institutions take into account the Good Finance (current rate on the interbank market) and their own rate (in the case of the Mortgage Loan the GFI Money as rate).
What is loan interest?
Loan interest is a specific amount of money that you actually pay to a bank or other non-banking institution in addition to the amount borrowed (principal).
Interest is calculated according to the following formula:
principal x interest rate x number of days
Interest = ——————————————–
What influences the interest rate?
- Loan amount – each lender has this factor set differently and it cannot be unambiguously stated whether a higher loan is more expensive or vice versa. For comparison, it is easiest to use the company’s credit calculator.
- Duration of repayment – the longer the repayment period, the higher the interest rate. A creditor who has tied funds in a given loan at all times runs the risk of default.
- The creditworthiness of the borrower – banks and other lenders often take into account your payment discipline (whether you pay in time, what your income is, etc.), but that does not expect you with the mortgage loan.
- Economic factors – mainly inflation and central bank interest rates. | <urn:uuid:3db6b1a4-bf15-4f47-8ad2-080a33ddc499> | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | http://www.msnse.com/2019/11/19/calculation-of-interest-rate-and-interest-on-the-loan/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655908294.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20200710113143-20200710143143-00381.warc.gz | en | 0.94954 | 536 | 3.421875 | 3 |
Franz Peter Schubert (31 January 1797 – 19 November 1828) was an Austrian composer. Schubert died before his 32nd birthday, but was extremely prolific during his lifetime. His output consists of over six hundred secular vocal works (mainly Lieder), seven complete symphonies, sacred music, operas, incidental music and a large body of chamber and piano music. Appreciation of his music while he was alive was limited to a relatively small circle of admirers in Vienna, but interest in his work increased significantly in the decades following his death. Felix Mendelssohn, Robert Schumann, Franz Liszt, Johannes Brahms and other 19th-century composers discovered and championed his works. Today, Schubert is ranked among the greatest composers of the late Classical and early Romantic eras and is one of the most frequently performed composers of the early nineteenth century. | <urn:uuid:23d62faf-7c4c-4d80-bbfd-980f6840ad76> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://www.neurecords.com/franz-schubert/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296943704.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20230321162614-20230321192614-00272.warc.gz | en | 0.985637 | 185 | 3.015625 | 3 |
Cooking for the IBS Patient
Preparing and serving foods tailored for someone with IBS is an important part of helping your loved one with the condition.
Everyone suffers from tummy troubles from time to time. Fortunately, for many, the stomach and abdominal pain, bloated feeling, and diarrhea or constipation are short-lived. But for the more than 58 million Americans who suffer from irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), the gastric miseries go on and on.
If you care for someone who has IBS, what you cook — and how you prepare the food — can play a key role in symptom management. (This is particularly the case for children and teenagers, who may be less likely to make wise food choices to ease their symptoms.) With a bit of food knowledge, those who care for someone with IBS can help make daily life more pleasant and normal.
IBS: The Role of Diet
No one single food is the cause of IBS. Rather, a variety of foods and drinks can be "triggers" that kick-start IBS.
The IBS culprits can include:
- Foods that are high in fat
- Deep-fried food
- Fiber that is digested less easily (insoluble fiber)
- Caffeinated beverages (even decaf coffee)
- Carbonated beverages such as soda pop and sparkling water
- Artificial sweeteners, especially sorbitol, which cannot be digested
- Red meat
- Dairy products (for those who are lactose-intolerant)
When consumed, these foods can irritate the gastrointestinal tract, causing painful muscular reactions, or can stimulate the production of an immune system compound called immunoglobulin G (IgG). A diet that does not contain IgG-stimulating foods can lessen the IBS symptoms. "Identification of food intolerances is paramount," says Anthony Starpoli, MD, director of gastroesophageal research and endosurgery at St. Vincent's Hospital in New York City and an assistant professor of medicine at New York Medical College in Valhalla, N.Y.
IBS and Diet: Things to Do
If the bad IBS news is that there are plenty of dietary pitfalls, the good news for those with IBS and their caregivers is that effective choices can be made that don't sacrifice proper nutrition. Here are some ideas:
Figure out which foods work and which don't. By keeping a journal that charts the foods eaten and the resulting intestinal happiness or upset over time, you can pinpoint a list of no-go foods. Sticking to the friendly foods will help lessen the IBS symptoms. Be patient; this step takes time.
Learn to read labels. Labels carry a lot of information on the ingredients that may trigger IBS misery.
Avoid large meals. Studies have indicated that eating four to five smaller meals a day can lessen cramping and diarrhea, compared with the traditional breakfast, lunch, and dinner routine.
Put less gas in your tank. Some people are prone to gas. For these folks, curbing broccoli, onions, beans, brussel sprouts, and garlic can relieve gas. Keeping a diet and symptom journal will help identify the gassy foods to avoid.
Eat foods that are low in fat. Low-fat food is absorbed by the digestive tract more easily than high-fat food.
Try selected dairy products. Although milk, cream, sour cream and even ice cream can be time bombs for the lactose-intolerant, other dairy products, including yogurt and cheese that contain living bacteria such as acidophilus, can help digest lactose and provide an intestinal coating of beneficial bacteria.
Be selective with fruits. Citrus fruits such as oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and limes can increase IBS discomfort.
"A sound, soluble diet and plenty of water is the foundation," says Dr. Starpoli.
IBS: Cooking Hints
Food preparation can also influence the types and severity of IBS symptoms that develop. Any preparation that encourages children and teens to eat what's on the plate is a good start.
"If children and teenagers are finicky eaters, it may be more of a challenge to provide the right foods for them to eat. Keep in mind that many foods that are healthy for someone with IBS are eaten daily anyway and would not be a huge adjustment to incorporate more frequently into the diet," says Anna Lieber, a dietitian with the Capital District Health Association in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, whose experience includes treating children and teens with IBS.
Helpful hints include the incorporation of barley and fennel (which can be soothing to the digestive tract) in casseroles and soups, baking with nut-based flours, and looking for gluten-free alternatives to foods such as pasta and bread. There are also many cookbooks with recipes tailored to IBS sufferers.
If you care for someone with IBS, be sure she avoids trigger foods, eats smaller meals, and generally pays attention to what she puts into her body. With the right diet, you can help your loved one with IBS reduce her uncomfortable symptoms. | <urn:uuid:c408d825-a056-42eb-bc3f-76c2f310bcb9> | CC-MAIN-2014-15 | http://www.everydayhealth.com/ibs/ibs-patient-cooking.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1397609535745.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20140416005215-00589-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948957 | 1,068 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Read this tip to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Protective Clothing and other Safety Products topics.
One of the major disadvantages of wearing protective clothing is the inability to have data or statistics on the actual level of safety the protective clothing provides.
This is due to fact that protective clothing is tested within laboratories under precise and easily repeated conditions. However, when the protective clothing is worn during the workplace, other factors can affect the level of protection the clothing provides.
Even though this disadvantage exists, this is no incentive to stop wearing protective clothing because the level of protection is decreased compared to the test conditions in the laboratory in which the clothing was subjected to. | <urn:uuid:9773f8a8-c339-41c8-9deb-ca22e67d018d> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://safetyproducts.lifetips.com/tip/116499/protective-clothing/protective-clothing/a-disadvantage-of-protective-clothing.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886105712.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20170819182059-20170819202059-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.950434 | 148 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Many climate scientists concerned about human activity’s role in warming the world were disappointed by the non-binding agreement (see .pdf) signed in Copenhagen last year.
California climate scientist V. “Ram” Ramanathan is not one of them. He believes the accord is important because the signatories acknowledge that “climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time,” and that the planet should be allowed to warm no more than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees F).
Nevertheless, Ram realizes, actually doing this will be a “Herculean” challenge if the planet continues to respond as scientists expect to increasing greenhouse gas emissions. In light of the Copenhagen deal, Ram decided to precisely outline what governments need to do to meet the 2 Celsius goal.
|<img alt="Ramanathan_V04.jpg" src="http://blogs.chron.com/sciguy/archives/Ramanathan_V04.jpg" width="273" height="288"
What he found is that governments can’t just focus on carbon dioxide cuts (which must be more than 50 percent by 2050), but also must include other significant measures.
These issues are outlines in a new article in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (see abstract)
Carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases are essentially a blanket covering the atmosphere, trapping heat like a blanket on a cold winter night. By adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, then, climate scientists equate this to trapping energy at the Earth’s surface.
In this case, they measure it as watts of energy per square meter (W/m2). To contain the Earth’s increase in temperature due to human activity to 2 degrees Celsius, Ram’s calculations indicate the “radiant blanket” from greenhouse gas emissions should not exceed 2.5 W/m2.
Problem: Human activity’s radiant barrier is already about 3.0 W/m2. So why haven’t we seen 2-degree warming?
“By sheer dumb luck,” Ram says.
Human industrial practices have, in addition to greenhouse gases, pumped a lot of particles into the atmosphere such as sulfur dioxide that act as mirrors, blocking the sun’s energy back into space before it reaches the Earth.
Now, as governments have stepped up their efforts to clean the air, the levels of these particles have fallen. This is one reason why scientists believe warming will accelerate. So what do do about it?
1. First of all, it’s the greenhouse gases. To prevent carbon dioxide’s radiative blanket from getting thicker, humans need to cut their carbon dioxide emissions from 35 billlion tons a yer, to 15 billion tons by 2050. This massive decarbonization will cost an estimated $46 trillion, he says. And that’s just the first step.
2. Thin the radiative blanket. Unlike carbon dioxide, which lives in the atmosphere for centuries, powerful greenhouse gases like methane have much shorter lifetimes. So we need to dramatically cut down methane emissions (i.e. prevent natural gas leaks, scrubbing methane from animal production, capturing methane from waste dumps and use it as energy) and other potent greenhouse gases.
3. Projections call for a 60 percent reduction in sulfur dioxide by 2050. This is good for clean air, but will allow the plant to warm further. This effect can be offset by dramatically reducing levels of carbon black, which absorbs the sun’s energy, and ozone (smog), which also is a greenhouse gas. Cleaner cars (i.e. electric) would significantly reduce ozone levels.
That’s all. No big deal, right? | <urn:uuid:417697b7-7be9-409d-abd5-0821c025f96e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.chron.com/sciguy/2010/05/climate-scientist-46-trillion-in-carbon-cuts-are-just-one-third-of-climate-solution/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700132256/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102852-00089-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.910884 | 777 | 3.375 | 3 |
Pierre-Auguste Renoir (1841-1919)
French painter originally associated with the Impressionist movement. His early works were typically Impressionist snapshots of real life, full of sparkling color and light. By the mid-1880s, however, he had broken with the movement to apply a more disciplined, formal technique to portraits and figure paintings, particularly of women.
In 1854 he began work as a painter in a porcelain factory in Paris, gaining experience with the light, fresh colors that were to distinguish his Impressionist work and also learning the importance of good craftsmanship. In 1862 he entered the studio of Gleyre and there formed a lasting friendship with Monet, Sisley, and Bazille. His relationship with Monet was particularly close at this time, and their paintings of the beauty spot called La Grenouillre done in 1869 are regarded as the classic early statements of the Impressionist style. Like Monet, Renoir endured much hardship early in his career, but he began to achieve success as a portraitist in the late 1870s and was freed from financial worries after the dealer Paul Durand-Ruel began buying his work regularly in 1881
- More works by this artist | <urn:uuid:a9a95b94-7f24-4147-852d-42f0ce8d1820> | CC-MAIN-2020-34 | https://www.designtoscano.com/product/dance+in+the+country%2C+1883-+canvas+replica+painting-+grande+-+da3164.do | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-34/segments/1596439738727.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20200811025355-20200811055355-00483.warc.gz | en | 0.986671 | 255 | 3.359375 | 3 |
Our Role as Family Physicians in Vaccine Safety
Am Fam Physician. 2001 Jan 15;63(2):207-208.
The success of the childhood immunization initiative in the United States is clearly demonstrated by the low incidence of vaccine-preventable diseases. With the widespread use of vaccines in the United States and the near-eradication of many childhood diseases that were common just a generation ago, parental concern has shifted from the harm and suffering caused by vaccine-preventable diseases to possible adverse events associated with vaccination.
Policies have changed over the past two years to enhance vaccine safety, as seen on the Recommended Childhood Immunization Schedule.1 These changes include removal of thimerosal from infant doses of hepatitis B and Hib vaccines, use of the all-inactivated poliovirus vaccine series for poliomyelitis prevention, removal of rotavirus vaccine due to the risk of intussusception, and use of acellular diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine instead of whole-cell diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and pertussis vaccine. Family physicians can take several measures to help with vaccine safety and preserve the public's confidence in vaccines.
First, provide patients or their legal guardian with the most current Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) before vaccination. Under the Public Health Service Act, health care providers who administer any vaccine containing diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, poliovirus, varicella, hepatitis B or Haemophilus influenzae type b antigens are required to provide a copy of the relevant VIS to the patient before vaccination. Every available VIS may be viewed and downloaded in multiple languages from the following Web sites: http://www.cdc.gov or http://www.immunize.org/vis/index.htm. For vaccines that have no VIS available, physicians should provide information about the risk of the disease, the protection afforded from vaccination, the risk of vaccine adverse events and what to do if a serious adverse event occurs.
Second, report any adverse reactions temporally related to vaccination. Health care providers are required by federal law to report certain adverse events and should report any adverse events following vaccination to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). VAERS forms and instructions may be obtained by calling 800-822-7967. This system received reports of cases of intussusception following rotavirus vaccination; this led to an investigation by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which revealed the reaction and ultimately led to its withdrawal from the market.
Third, document the manufacturer, lot number, administration date and person administering the vaccine (including name, title and address) whenever a vaccine is administered. The ability to track vaccine failures or adverse events by lot number will enable authorities to determine whether incidents are lot-dependent or not.
As physicians, we can take comfort in the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP), which provides for no-fault compensation that can be awarded for specified injuries that are temporally related to administration of vaccinations against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, poliovirus, hepatitis B, varicella or H. influenzae type b. For vaccines covered by the VICP, the program has reduced the risk of litigation for providers and vaccine manufacturers following adverse events. Information about specific adverse events that are covered is available from the Health Resources and Services Administration by telephoning 301-443-6593.
Richard K. Zimmerman, M.D., M.P.H., is an associate professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine with a secondary appointment in the Department of Health Services Administration.
Richard D. Clover, M.D., is chairman and professor of family and community medicine at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Ky.
Address correspondence to Richard K. Zimmerman, M.D., M.P.H., University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Department of Family Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, M200 Scaife Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15261.
1. Recommended childhood immunization schedule— January 2001 to December 2001. Am Fam Physician. 2001;63:152–3.
Copyright © 2001 by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
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Want to use this article elsewhere? Get Permissions | <urn:uuid:40438885-593e-4513-9410-22327ccde2e5> | CC-MAIN-2014-23 | http://www.aafp.org/afp/2001/0115/p207.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1405997901076.42/warc/CC-MAIN-20140722025821-00119-ip-10-33-131-23.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.907477 | 1,018 | 2.90625 | 3 |
Hip Arthroscopy: Repairing Femoroacetabular Impingement
Excess bone has formed on the edge of the “ball” (femoral head) and/or the “socket” (acetabulum) of your hip. This is called femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). FAI can cause pain and limit movement. Your healthcare provider has suggested a procedure called arthroscopy. Using only small incisions and special instruments, arthroscopy can repair FAI.
In the Operating Room
Just before surgery, you may be asked several times which hip is to be treated. This is a standard safety measure. In the operating room, you will likely receive general anesthesia to make you sleep.
During the Procedure
After you are sedated, your leg is gently pulled to distract, or widen, the hip joint. Next, the surgeon makes a few small incisions called portals. Through these portals, he or she inserts surgical tools, including the arthroscope. The arthroscope sends images of the joint to a video screen. These images allow the surgeon to look inside the joint. The joint is filled with sterile fluid to help the surgeon see more clearly.
Repairing Femoroacetabular Impingement
To treat FAI, the area is reshaped by removing excess bone. FAI can lead to other problems, such as labral tears or chondral damage. If present, these problems are also treated. Once the surgeon finishes the procedure, the portals are closed and bandaged. Then you are taken to the recovery room. | <urn:uuid:3f804d94-6648-47fe-81a9-7f2b8d23cee3> | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | https://www.baycare.org/health-library/hip-arthroscopy-repairing-femoroacetabular-impingement | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593657169226.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20200716122414-20200716152414-00597.warc.gz | en | 0.953497 | 334 | 2.734375 | 3 |
For Women’s History Month, we’ll be highlighting a powerhouse female in music history every Wednesday. Today, we’re shining a light on Renaissance Woman, Isabella D’Este (1474-1539).
Isabella was co-regent of the Mantuan state, a major patron of the arts, a fashion icon, a gardener, a musician, and much more. She was a true renaissance woman, and undoubtedly ahead of her time. Isabella is perhaps most well-known for gathering one of the greatest collections of art (visual, musical, fashion, etc) in the world and that she kept these incredible pieces in her studiolo, which she designed herself.
UNC Department of Music Associate Professor Anne MacNeil is co-director of IDEA: Isabella d’Este Archive (http://isabelladeste.web.unc.edu/). Just this past year, the National Endowment for the Humanities awarded IDEA with a Level II grant that will enable The Virtual Studiolo team to complete the first two phases of the Virtual Studiolo project. Check out the preview video below, and visit IDEA’s website to learn more about the illustrious Isabella d’Este. | <urn:uuid:a9841f48-f301-4aad-b68f-2fbb32c2f732> | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | https://music.unc.edu/2019/03/06/womens-history-month-spotlight-isabella-deste/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347407289.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20200530040743-20200530070743-00499.warc.gz | en | 0.907793 | 263 | 2.734375 | 3 |
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Teens born with HIV not telling partners
A significant number of sexually active U.S. teens who were born with HIV either didn't know their own status when they started having sex, or they knew it but didn't disclose it to their first sex partners, a new study says.
These findings underscore the need for counseling on sex practices to youth who have been living with HIV since birth, said the study, which appears in the Dec. 1 issue of Clinical Infectious Diseases.
It is "extremely important for health-care providers, school counselors and family members to reinforce the importance of practicing safe sex, taking medication regularly and disclosing HIV status to potential partners," said Dr. Rohan Hazra, study co-author and researcher at the pediatric, adolescent and maternal AIDS branch of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development at the National Institutes of Health.
The new study is the first to focus on factors associated with the initial sexual activity of young people who acquired HIV before, during or soon after birth.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that some 10,000 children and teens are living with HIV after being infected with the virus before or at birth. Medical advancements are making mother-child transmission of HIV rare in the U.S., but dozens of perinatal infections still occur each year, often because the mother doesn't know she has HIV.
The study involved 330 HIV-positive children and teens, ages 10 to 18, in the federally funded Pediatric HIV/AIDS Cohort Study.
From 2007 to2009, these youth were asked several times about their sexual experiences through computer-assisted self-interviews.
Ninety-two young people, or 28 percent, said they had sexual intercourse at least once, with debut typically around their 14th birthday. More than half of these youth said they had unprotected sex at least once.
Of 67 who answered questions about whether they disclosed their HIV status to their first sexual partners, about 12 didn't know they were HIV positive before they first had sex. Of the rest, two-thirds didn't tell their HIV status to their sex partners, although most used condoms anyway.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends counseling for parents and caregivers of HIV-positive children so this issue can be fully addressed at the right time. "Adolescents should know their HIV status," the academy added, so they can be fully informed about health issues, "including sexual behavior."
"It's not easy" to talk about one's HIV-status, even as an adult, said Dr. Laura Guay, vice president of research at the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation.
Many times, parents or caregivers will tell children with HIV that they're going to doctors because "you have an illness, or your system is weak and you have to take these pills to make you stronger or fight infection," Dr. Guay said. As a result, children may not hear the actual words, "HIV" and "AIDS," until they are age 10, 12 or later.
As for sex education, programs are aimed at helping teens avoid getting AIDS, not dealing with it all one's life, she noted.
While using condoms and protecting oneself is an important message, HIV-positive teens need additional support and education about how to prevent transmission and still have a normal and healthy life, said Dr. Guay, adding that the Elizabeth Glaser foundation has HIV-positive teen "ambassadors" who speak on these very issues to other teens.
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About the Author
Cheryl Wetzstein covers family and social issues as a national reporter for The Washington Times. She has been a reporter for three decades, working in New York City and Washington, D.C. Since joining The Washington Times in 1985, she has been a features writer, environmental and consumer affairs reporter, and assistant business editor.
Beginning in 1994, Mrs. Wetzstein worked exclusively ...
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Mature trees are pruned differently than their younger variety. They must be trimmed so that dead branches are removed to allow for new growth. This also keeps the tree healthy by removing any branches that are diseased. This pruning type is referred to as cleaning. Certain types of trees such as citrus, mulberry, & pines require specific pruning in certain seasons to allow for proper growth.
Removing and thinning both live and dead branches prior to heavy storms will help to keep trees standing through the season. If routine pruning isn’t completed the trees become too top heavy and result in storm damage to the tree. When a tree branch brakes away as part of the natural process of pruning it’s not an issue, when it happens across your drive way, it is an issue. Preventative pruning not only promotes healthy growth it also serves as a safety measure for eliminating fallen limbs and branches.
This is particularly important given the severe monsoon storms that sweep through the valley during the months of July through September. Trimming the tops of the trees prior to monsoon season helps keep branches from breaking in high winds. This process is what an Arborist refers to as “thinning the crown.” Our Arborists have the skill set and experience to evaluate whether thinning the crown is the proper procedure to perform. Just as critical, they will know what specific branches to remove and which to keep.
At times the crown and longer branches on the tree need to be cut back to ensure their length does not exceed in weight that the branch can handle. Taking lower branches off the tree is a term called “raising”. This allows for more sunlight underneath the tree.
Yes, even young trees need to be maintained. Pruning young trees allows them to grow healthy. In their natural setting taller trees out muscle the smaller ones by towering over them and fighting for sunlight. This fight for survival in the forest environment allows for smaller trees to grow in ways that stand alone trees planted in urban settings won’t achieve without human intervention. Branches that are removed allow the young tree to grow straight and avoid the accumulation of branches in one area causing the tree to be lopsided or heavy. Routine trimming and pruning of young trees allows them healthy as they mature by allowing proper spacing of branches.
Here at Design Tree we have arborists that are trained and certified to evaluate your trees. Every type of tree species is different and every homeowner has their own unique goals. We take the time to create custom plans for your trees to ensure the highest quality of maintenance is performed. | <urn:uuid:e8749acc-7508-4c0a-ae72-c392e421303f> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://designtreeaz.com/services/tree-pruning/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510387.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20230928095004-20230928125004-00181.warc.gz | en | 0.960469 | 538 | 3.125 | 3 |
Fault Tree Analysis
This quick subject guide provides an overview of the basic concepts in fault tree analysis (FTA, system analysis) as it applies to system reliability, and offers a directory of some other resources on the subject.
History of Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
Fault Tree Analysis (FTA) is another technique for reliability and safety analysis. Bell Telephone Laboratories developed the concept in 1962 for the US Air Force for use with the Minuteman system. It was later adopted and extensively applied by the Boeing Company. Fault tree analysis is one of many symbolic "analytical logic techniques" found in operations research and in system reliability. Other techniques include reliability block diagrams (RBDs).
What is a Fault Tree Diagram (FTD)?
Fault tree diagrams (or negative analytical trees) are logic block diagrams that display the state of a system (top event) in terms of the states of its components (basic events). Like reliability block diagrams (RBDs), fault tree diagrams are a graphical design technique, and as such provide an alternative methodology to RBDs.
An FTD is built top-down and in term of events rather than blocks. It uses a graphic "model" of the pathways within a system that can lead to a foreseeable, undesirable loss event (or a failure). The pathways connect contributory events and conditions, using standard logic symbols (AND, OR, etc.). The basic constructs in a fault tree diagram are gates and events, where the events have an identical meaning as a block in an RBD and the gates are the conditions.
Fault Trees and Reliability Block Diagrams
The most fundamental difference between fault tree diagrams and RBDs is that you work in the "success space" in an RBD while you work in the "failure space" in a fault tree. In other words, the RBD looks at success combinations while the fault tree looks at failure combinations. In addition, fault trees have traditionally been used to analyze fixed probabilities (i.e., each event that composes the tree has a fixed probability of occurring) while RBDs may include time-varying distributions for the blocks' success or failure, as well as for other properties such as repair/restoration distributions.
Drawing Fault Trees: Gates and Events
Fault trees are built using gates and events (blocks). The two most commonly used gates in a fault tree are the AND and OR gates. As an example, consider two events (called input events) that can lead to another event (called the output event). If the occurrence of either input event causes the output event to occur, then these input events are connected using an OR gate. Alternatively, if both input events must occur in order for the output event to occur, then they are connected by an AND gate. As a visualization example, consider the simple case of a system composed of two components, A and B, where a failure of either component causes system failure. The system RBD is made up of two blocks in series (see RBD configurations), as shown next:
The fault tree diagram for this system includes two input events connected to an OR gate which is the output event or the "top event"). If the top event is system failure and the two input events are component failures, then this fault tree indicates that the failure of A or B causes the system to fail.
Relationships Between Fault Trees and RBDs
Although the symbols and structures of the two diagram types differ, most of the logical constructions in a fault tree diagram can also be modeled with an RBD. In general, a fault tree can be easily converted to an RBD. It is generally more difficult to convert an RBD into a fault tree, especially if one allows for highly complex configurations. The following table shows gate symbols commonly used in fault tree diagrams and describes their relationship to an RBD. (The term "Classic Fault Tree" refers to the definitions as used in the Fault Tree Handbook (NUREG-0492) by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission).[basics/fault-tree/gates_table.htm]
Table 2: RBD Constructs without a Traditional Fault Tree Equivalent
|Function||FTA Equivalent||Description||RBD Equivalent|
|Dependency (load sharing)||Not used in classic FTA.||Allows for modeling event dependency (or load sharing). The output event occurs if all input events occur; however, the events are dependent (i.e.m the occurrence of each event affects the probability of occurrence of the other events).||Load sharing parallel configuration|
|True Standby with a quiescent failure distribution||A priority AND gate can be used. However, this does not account for quiescent failure probabilities.||Standby redundancy configurations consist of items that are inactive and available to be called into service when/if the active item fails (i.e., on standby). Items on standby can also fail (quiescent) while waiting to switch.||Standby parallel configuration|
Table 3: Traditional Fault Tree Gates without an RBD Equivalent
|Name of Gate||Classic FTA Symbol||Description||RBD Equivalent|
output event occurs if exactly one input event occurs. In a
two component system the event does not occur if both or none
of the inputs occur.
When modeling system reliability, this implies that the system is successful if none of the components fail or if all of the components fail.
|Cannot be represented and does not apply in terms of system reliability. In system reliability, this would imply that a two-component system would function even if both components have failed.|
The gates in a fault tree are the logic symbols that interconnect contributory events and conditions. An event (or a condition) block in a fault tree is the same as a standard block in an RBD, in that it can have a probability of occurrence (or a distribution function). However, unlike traditional RBDs, where a single graphical representation is utilized to represent the block (or event), fault trees use several graphical block representations. Table 4 discusses these graphical representations.
Table 4: Traditional Fault Tree Event Symbols and their RBD Equivalents
|Primary Event Block||Classic FTA Symbol||Description||RBD Equivalent|
|Basic Event||A basic initiating fault (or failure event).||Block|
|External Event (House Event)||An event that is normally expected to occur. In general, these events can be set to occur or not occur (i.e., they have a fixed probability of 0 or 1).||Block
that cannot fail or that is in a failed state.
|Undeveloped Event||An event which is no further developed. It is a basic event that does not need further resolution.||Block|
|Conditioning Event||A specific condition or restriction that can apply to any gate.||Block: Placement of the block will vary depending on the gate applied to.|
Table 5: Additional Fault Tree Constructs and their RBD Equivalents
|Primary Event Block||Classic FTA Symbol||Description||RBD Equivalent|
|Transfer||Indicates a transfer continuation to a sub tree.||Subdiagram block|
A fault tree diagram with a voting gate and the RBD equivalent.
Fault trees and complex RBDs: The best example of a complex reliability
block diagram is the so-called "bridge." The following RBD represents
such a bridge.
Representation of this bridge as a fault tree diagram requires the
utilization of duplicate events, since gates can only represent components
in series and parallel. An inspection of this system reveals that any
of the following failures will cause the system to fail: Failure of components 1 and 2. Failure of components 3 and 4. Failure of components 1 and 5 and 4. Failure of components 2 and 5 and 3. In probability terminology, we have: (1 And 2) Or (3 And 4) Or (1 And
5 And 4) Or (2 And 5 And 3). These sets of events are also called minimal cut sets. It can
now be seen how the fault tree can be created by representing the above
set of events in the following fault tree. Conversion of the above fault tree to an RBD (note that components
with same name are mirrored blocks).
Representation of this bridge as a fault tree diagram requires the utilization of duplicate events, since gates can only represent components in series and parallel. An inspection of this system reveals that any of the following failures will cause the system to fail:
Failure of components 1 and 2.
Failure of components 3 and 4.
Failure of components 1 and 5 and 4.
Failure of components 2 and 5 and 3.
In probability terminology, we have:
(1 And 2) Or (3 And 4) Or (1 And 5 And 4) Or (2 And 5 And 3).
These sets of events are also called minimal cut sets. It can now be seen how the fault tree can be created by representing the above set of events in the following fault tree.
Conversion of the above fault tree to an RBD (note that components with same name are mirrored blocks).
Additional ReliaSoft Resources and Publications
Additional Resources and Publications on Other Sites
FAULT TREE ANALYSIS A Bibliography from the NASA Scientific and Technical Information (STI) Program. http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20000070463.pdf
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The Permanent Committee for Islamic Monuments decided to register the Kaaba cover (Kiswa) manufacturing factory in Cairo as an archaeological site.
Minister of State for Antiquities Mohamed Ibrahim said in statements on Monday 2/9/2013 that the decision was taken in view of the unique mission of the 100-year-old factory located in the Gamaleya neighborhood near the Citadel.
The factory was built in 1816 and it was a house of a prince before being turned into a factory, he said.
The factory continued to carry out this mission until 1962, when Saudi Arabia decided to move this manufacture to the Kingdom.
Kiswa is the cloth that covers the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. It is draped annually on the 9th day of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, the day pilgrims leave for the plains of Mount Arafat during the Hajj.
The kiswa of the Kaaba is changed every year.
The present cost of making the kiswa amounts to 17,000,000 Saudi riyals. The cover is 658m2 and is made of 670 kg of silk. The embroidery contains 15 kg of gold threads. It consists of 47 pieces of cloth and each piece is 14m long and 101 cm wide. The kiswa is wrapped around the Kaaba and fixed to the ground with copper rings. | <urn:uuid:51f00646-3f29-45a5-adca-7c78a6b886e2> | CC-MAIN-2013-48 | http://allafrica.com/stories/201309031355.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-48/segments/1386163053894/warc/CC-MAIN-20131204131733-00045-ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966897 | 284 | 2.75 | 3 |
The behavior and ecology of the Eurasian lynx during the snowless season, particularly from the second half of April till the end of October (hereafter the warm season), is still searchless, and several important questions of study on the species in this seasonal period are seemingly even unknown. The main hassle is that the prevailing research method of GSM GPS telemetry fails to investigate those questions. Basically this method only records coordinates and how active or passive the individual is. It looks like currently the single possible way to learn about the behavior and ecology during the warm season goes through much routine habitat inspection, art skills to read activity signs of lynxes in snowless period and smart extensive camera-trapping.
This study approach is not cheaper than telemetry (intensive usage of off-roaders and many camera traps, which disappear and collapse all the time etc.) and it does not bring much reportable information. Therefore, it is almost impossible to apply this research approach within the project system that is mainly used in the academic zone, where a researcher’s life consists almost only of reporting, preparing scientific articles and applying for a next project. Respectively, many modern carnivore researchers have to be in their offices too much, instead of close to the species they investigate. In turn, such cabinet-based researcher can not read activity signs of lynxes, and smart camera-trapping of the species is not available in this case, too. Perhaps, all those are the main reasons why warm-season ecology and behavior of Eurasian lynx is still almost unknown.
What are the main pressing questions on the topic? First of all, there is the question regarding the denning in Eurasian lynxes in non-rocky regions (this is actually where most of the individuals of the species live in Eurasia). We (me, Irina Rotenko from the Naust Eco Station and Wild Naliboki team) have already addressed the question in the separate blog post and in our pilot book on the lynx behavior and ecology (Sidorovich et al., 2018). So, here I will not consider this question.
The second strikingly essential question is, do adult male lynxes take part somehow in raising of kittens, and if they do, how does the particular adult male lynx choose the mother lynx, for which he will serve? It is really curious, taking into account the fact that we revealed in our study that polygamous mating in Eurasian lynxes is not rare and was documented for both sexes. Adult male lynxes were found to commonly mate with two or even three females with some time lag in between mating, during the mating season in the second half of February till the middle of April (at least 8 precise registrations). Females sometimes mated with two males, intersected with some time lag (2 precise registrations).
Coming back to the plausible aspect of adult males taking part in family life, I would like to state that in our gained data, the majority of the traced lynx mothers with litters were under at least some care of an adult male. Such an adult male was frequently registered in the close proximity to the mother lynx with kittens in May-October. Surely, that was not just an irregular interest of the adult males to the presence of mother with kittens in his home range, because males were registered too close to the females with kittens and too often. At least, we assume that adult males protected the family house areas by local intensive marking and territorial calls. Just in May and June we found the third well-marked increase in lynx territorial calls from trees. Remarkedly, that such adult male behaviour was registered mainly in the areas where lynx family groups stayed (5 such areas were traced for this behavior). There is another evident question. Does an adult male lynx bring food to a family or maybe he takes part in the hunting activities of the mother? Those questions are still entirely unknown. Also, perhaps sometimes an adult male lynx stays with the kittens and guards them (why not?) – that is still a searchless question, too.
At the left and center you see lynxes at the trees of their territorial calls in May (just after jumping down from the trees). At the right you see adult male lynx is calling from the declined tree in the early June.
Another relative question is, where do lynx kittens mostly stay after the early denning period, when their mother is gone for foraging. We numerically registered kittens staying at abandoned or nearly abandoned badger setts for a few days or even up to almost a month (17 registrations). We documented them in treefalls (3 registrations) or in thickets from fern-young spruce or willow-hop or just high grassstand on a small forest glade (altogether 7 registrations). But such documentations are seemingly not sufficiently frequent in relation to our high efforts to reveal this and the rather high density of lynxes (up to 6 inds per 100 km2 in winter) and the many family groups in the study area in Naliboki Forest. I assume that in July-October, lynx families mainly (for 70-90%?) use another type of sheltered (from wolves, wild ungulates, mosquitos and flies) spots for stay (resting then may be combined with the mother’s ambush hunting). That is, trees with some kind of branch platform, in particular when one tree is inclined on another tree, preferably if the trees are spruces. Quite often there is like a real comfortable platform at the point, where the trees touch each other. There, a lynx family may couch.
Perhaps, sheltering of kittens on such a tree-based platform is the reason of their rather high survival, for instance, compared with wolf pups. Indeed, till winter usually approximately 40 to 60% and even up to 90% of wolf pups die (Sidorovich and Rotenko, 2019). Wolf pups were documented to be killed by lynxes and trampled by wild ungulates for a number of cases. At the same time, lynx kittens are rather good survivors. We are not ready to assess lynx kitten survivorship still, but we may already say that, for instance, in Naliboki Forest in Belarus, lynx kitten survival is not lower than 80% till winter and 60% till May. It means that the mortality in lynx kittens is usually 2-3 fold lower and even up to 5 fold lower than that in wolf pups. There should be a clear reason for that. It looks like staying a lot on a tree height is the reason, but that should be proved by plenty of registrations. We are still pressed for a sufficient amount of such registrations.
At the left mother lynx with kittens in treefall. At the right lynx kittens staying at abandoned log pile.
From telemetry on lynxes I know that during summer, both sexes of the species use several small house areas, where they stay the main part of their time, while the other parts of their home ranges are rather seldom visited by them (Sidorovich et al., 2018). Despite of the fact that we discovered many such lynx house areas that were used during the warm season, it could be too self-confident to point out the particular habitat types, which lynxes prefer, even by following the telemetry (including GPS GSM) data because of the great habitat heterogeneity of the forested terrain we investigated lynxes in Belarus. Such data in relation to the habitat usage by lynxes during the warm season were published from several studies. But even in the case of GPS GSM it’s hard to believe that the gained data is accurate enough to reveal relevant information on micro habitat usage, if the forested terrain is not too homogeneous. Under the data accuracy I mean a correspondence between the fixed coordinates and the particular spot lynx actually used. Having even top-quality expensive transmitters, we did not find such a sufficient accuracy in our very heterogenous terrain. So, we believe that the habitat types which lynxes (separately different lone individuals and family groups, at least) actually prefer during the warm season is still a much unknown question. We assume that it is correct to study on this topic only by means of extensive camera-trapping. From the preliminary data that were obtained on the question it looks like not only presence of some types of habitats in lynx house area plays an important role , but first of all the specific situations that provides sufficient availability of suitable prey (Sidorovich et al., 2018) and beneficial habitat package that favors easy foraging. However, in our case it is still more hypotheses than clear results, so, this demands a lot of further study.
Perhaps, during the warm season, lynxes provide in their diets easily by catching young prey (that is a question at the same time). Here the main pressing question is, how often in the warm season the staying of a lynx in a particular point is actually ambush hunting and how often that is just resting with sleeping. Our (still small) gained data on the question suggest that it is about three fourths ambush hunting, but anyway during warm season, lynxes sleep seemingly more than in the cold season.
A relative question is , how often is such a point situated on a tree height. By applying up to 70 camera traps and registering lynx footprints, hair and claw marks, we found staying of lynxes in many spots at the ground level such as treefall, burrows of wolves, badger and even beaver and tall grass stand. Also, lynxes tend to groom on open sand spots. Nevertheless, the too low frequency of lynx registrations in such spots compared to the rather high lynx population density in the main study area in Naliboki Forest (3-6 inds per 100 km2) suggested again that mainly they stay somehow on trees. That is very reasonable, because, by staying on a tree in a relevant point, lynxes combine ambush hunting with avoiding aggression of wolves and ungulates (it is rather important in the case of kittens) and avoiding of mosquitos and flies.
Ok, but that is a consistency merely. Such a hypothesis should be proved on large enough materials. We started gaining such a material by means of lynx claw mark registration on trunks as well as by camera-trapping. As to applying camera traps, there are problems on the way. Being at a marking point, normally lynxes do not react on a presence of camera trap, and there is not any problem to register all the lynx behavior at marking point. Quite opposite, we noticed that at a point where a lynx is staying it is rather sensible to the noise of camera working and even on the presence of camera trap itself. In effect, they often escape and even do not come back to the spot. Not all lynxes behave like that, but it is fairly often..
Coming back to the usage of trees as a spot of staying, I would like to notice that still our dataset is not large enough, but the registrations we made suggest that the tree-staying hypothesis seems to be right. Such a point of lynx staying on a tree height in the warm season seems to be characterized by a lot distinctive features compared to those of the trees applied by lynxes for territorial and mating calls. Respectively, the question is, what are the traits of such ambush hunting-resting trees and their adjoining habitats? In our case, we still have a too small sample size to analyze that in details. Two evident traits are surely known. Such spots on trees should have some kind of sitting platform and should be situated nearby the potential prey pathway or their foraging place. Concerning the other small questions, it is curious to know which factor actually drives the tree-related stay of lynxes in warm season: the easier hunting (detecting of prey on a relevant distance) or avoidance of mosquitos and fly attacks? Concerning the above we guess that lynx mother with kittens try to stay on tree height as much as possible (to save kittens), whereas adult males stay there, when there are too many mosquitos and flies.
Mother lynx with kittens and adult male lynx in the same spot on the declined tree
Lynxes are grooming on open sand spots
Also, one of the question is how often lynxes are actually outside of their small house areas during the warm season and for which needs are they there? Here it is important to explain why lynxes are generally reluctant to mark their home ranges, perhaps, with the exception of adult male marking of house areas of family groups. | <urn:uuid:4168da41-8477-43af-8c7e-af8bd5268040> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://sidorovich.blog/2019/11/01/enigmatic-warm-season-behavior-and-ecology-in-eurasian-lynxes-pressing-questions-hypotheses-and-results-up-to-date/?shared=email&msg=fail | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370493818.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20200329045008-20200329075008-00118.warc.gz | en | 0.964096 | 2,590 | 2.609375 | 3 |
Few things are worse for a gardener than watering your plants regularly and still seeing them wilt and dry up.
If your garden’s soil is drying out too quickly, or if you are watering your garden regularly and your plants still look parched, the most important thing you can do is add organic matter in the form of compost and manure. Encouraging earthworms to find your garden will help in the long run as well.
Dry garden soil can cause severe damage to your plants if you don’t act fast. To learn more about reviving your garden, keeping your plants healthy, and your soil hydrated, read on.
1. Utilize Organic Matter to Improve Water Retention
When soil looks dry and lifeless, it’s mostly because it lacks organic matter, which is vital for water retention. The rule of thumb here is that the higher the organic content in the soil, the higher its water retention capacity.
Garden soil with enough organic matter naturally retains water much more than soil with less organic matter.
Therefore, adding enough organic matter, such as compost materials, goes a long way to revive your garden.
Compost is one of the best fixes for dry soil because it acts as a sponge, allowing water to be retained for extended periods. It also improves the structure of the soil, and provides nutrients for healthier plant growth.
You can easily buy compost or prepare it from decaying food or plant remains at home. For example, peat moss is effective in helping your garden soil retain more moisture due to its highly porous structure.
2. Apply Manure to the Garden Soil
Animal manures are also used to treat soil dryness, in addition to their use as fertilizer. They contain various organic materials that help keep the soil moist enough for healthy growth. Old animal manure, for example, prevents runoff and leaching of nitrates in the soil. It’s also easy to find.
However, it is advisable to allow the manures to dry before use. This enables bacteria to act until it turns dark and odorless.
3. Cover the Garden Soil with Mulch
Mulch refers to any material used to cover the surface of the soil, in this case, your garden soil, to reduce the rate of moisture evaporation. Mulching your garden helps keep the underneath soil wet because it acts as a cover for it.
Not only does mulching help with moisture retention, but it also prevents weeds from sprouting in your garden. To fix your dry garden soil, spread a layer of mulch over the whole garden.
4. Water Your Garden Regularly
Watering your garden is a great way to minimize dry soil and have your garden plants looking fresh and healthy.
Adding water regularly to dry garden soil is one sure fix for it. However, this alone may not be as effective, especially if the soil’s dryness is due to a lack of organic matter. In such instances, you’d have to treat the soil with organic matter first and then wet it regularly.
Even with enough organic material in your soil, inconsistent or no watering at all will give you dry, dehydrated land. You should water your garden frequently but not too much that it causes a runoff.
Also, pay attention to the time of the day that you’re watering. When the sun’s not up, watering your garden to avoid quick evaporation and dry soil is advised. You should also water your garden more frequently when the weather is hot and dry and less frequently during the colder months.
For optimal results, the best time to wet your garden is in the morning and evening hours when the sun is down. This will ensure the water gets a chance to soak thoroughly into the soil.
5. Introduce Worms to Your Garden
Research has shown that worms can help water retention in soil. They do so by moving organic matter from the surface of the soil deep down for further decomposition. Once in the soil, this organic matter helps keep the soil moist.
Applying animal dungs, fodder crops, and other organic materials to the soil’s surface attracts worms. Simply increasing worm activity in your garden will promote better water retention in the soil.
You can do this naturally by introducing organic matter to the area around your garden. (Think shredded leaves and stuff for worms to eat, not just the compost I mentioned in the section at the top of the post.)
6. Use Blood Meal
Blood meal (or bone meal) is a mixture of dried blood that serves as a slow-release fertilizer. It also improves water retention in the soil.
Aside from that, bone meal is an excellent source of nutrients for your garden. It releases nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorus into the ground that helps improve the overall health of your soil and vegetation.
How To Tell if Your Garden Soil Is Dry
Garden soil needs to maintain consistent moisture levels in order to keep your plants healthy. Fortunately, it’s pretty easy to tell when your soil is dehydrated. Here are some things to look for.
- If you begin to notice your plants wilting or changing colors, even though you’re watering them regularly, this could be a sign of dehydration.
- Another sign is if the soil doesn’t rapidly absorb the water when poured. When the water poured sits on the ground’s surface and takes some time before soaking into the dirt’s pores, it’s safe to assume your soil is very dry.
- If you pour a small amount of water on the ground, you may notice it beading up and sitting there instead of soaking in. If the ground isn’t level, it may just run off.
- Depending on the type of soil you have, you may see the soil beginning to crack or compact into a hard layer.
- After watering, you can get a small spade and dig a shovel full of dirt. If the dirt just below the surface isn’t moist, you may have a problem.
The danger of dry soil is that only the top layer of soil absorbs moisture, and the rest of the water will find the path of least resistance down through the earth – leading to large pockets of soil that remain bone dry even after being watered.
This means that less water reaches the deeper part of the soil, where the plant roots should absorb it. Therefore, your plants are deprived of much-needed moisture to grow and develop. Instead, they end up withered or dead.
In addition, dry soil can also end up hydrophobic, meaning that it repels water without absorbing it. This can be detrimental to your plants, especially in the hot and dry seasons.
Once you notice that your garden soil is dry, it’s imperative to take quick action to get it back into a healthy condition and create the ideal environment for your plants again.
Dry garden soil can negatively affect your plants and cause them to die out or stunt their growth. It’s important to take steps to keep your soil hydrated, such as watering frequently, adding mulch to the soil, or introducing worms to move more organic matter. These steps can improve your soil’s moisture levels and water retention, and ensure that your plants have the perfect environment to continue growing. | <urn:uuid:da1bbad5-d4f2-4430-88df-1eb8d607422e> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://sfuaa.org/dry-garden-soil/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224648911.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20230603000901-20230603030901-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.938822 | 1,517 | 3.328125 | 3 |
Health professionals and offline resources are central, but people use online social tools, too.
This report sets out to illuminate the different ways people seek health information as well as how people use online social tools to share knowledge with loved ones, fellow patients, and caregivers.
When asked to think about the last time they had a health issue, 71% of adults in the U.S. say they received information, care, or support from a health professional. Fifty-five percent of adults say they received such help from friends and family. Twenty-one percent of adults say they turned to others who have the same health condition for information, care, or suppport. The vast majority of respondents say those interactions happened offline.
However, three-quarters of U.S. adults (74%) use the internet and, of those, many participate in an online conversation about health. For example:
- 80% of internet users have looked online for information about any one of 15 health topics such as a specific disease or treatment. This translates to 59% of all adults.
- 34% of internet users have read someone else’s commentary or experience about health or medical issues on an online news group, website, or blog.
- 14% of internet users have signed up to receive email updates or alerts about health or medical issues.
- 6% of internet users have posted comments, questions or information about health or medical issues on a website of some kind, such as a health site or news site that allows comments and discussion.
- 5% of internet users have posted health-related comments, questions, or information in an online discussion, a listserv, or other online group forum.
- 4% of internet users have posted such comments, questions or information on a blog.
These findings are similar to those we reported in 2009.
This survey is the first time we collected the following data point:
- 25% of internet users have watched an online video about health or medical issues.
Internet users living with one or more chronic conditions are more likely than those who report no conditions to have done three of the above activities: 37% have read someone else’s health commentary online (vs. 31% of those reporting no chronic conditions), 31% have watched a health video online (vs. 22% of those reporting no chronic conditions), and 23% have signed up to receive email updates about certain health topics (vs. 9% of those reporting no chronic conditions).
Wireless users outpace other internet users on every one of the above activities by significant margins. For example, 37% of wireless users have read about someone else’s health experience online, compared with 24% of other internet users. Twenty-seven percent of wireless users have watched an online health video, compared with 21% of other users.
Social network sites are popular, but used only sparingly for health updates and queries.
As of September 2010, 62% of adult internet users report using a social network site like MySpace or Facebook. Of that group:
- 23% of social networking site users have followed their friends’ personal health experiences or updates on the site. This translates to 11% of all adults.
- 17% have used social network sites to remember or memorialize other people who suffered from a certain health condition.
- 15% have gotten any health information on the sites.
- 14% have raised money for or drawn attention to a health-related issue or cause.
- 11% have posted comments, queries, or information about health or medical matters.
- 9% have started or joined a health-related group on a social networking site.
People caring for loved ones are more likely than other adults to use social network sites to gather and share health information and support.
More than a quarter of adults in the U.S. provide unpaid care to a loved one. Twenty-seven percent of adults care for an adult relative or friend; 5% of adults care for a child with a health condition or disability.10
Caregivers are one group that is significantly more likely than others to use social network sites for health-related pursuits: 28% of caregivers who use social networks sites say they follow friends’ health updates, compared with 21% of other social network site users. Twenty percent of caregivers who use social network sites say they have gathered health information on such a site, compared with 12% of other users.
Social network sites are not a significant source of health information for most people, but they can be a source of encouragement and care. In a book about social support, Consequential Strangers, authors Melinda Blau and Karen Fingerman write about how people in our wide circles of acquaintance “offer practical assistance, firsthand information, and a special brand of no-strings emotional comfort.”11
On a practical level, the vast majority of people living with chronic conditions never attend traditional, in-person support group meetings, although studies show they could benefit from such groups.12 Instead, people often mobilize their “social convoy” of family members, friends, colleagues, fellow patients, and fellow caregivers – many of whom are now connected online via email, social network sites, or by other means. As Blau and Fingerman describe it:
A natural network provides a safety net and puts the patient in charge—a good balance in any situation. Think of it as customizing your convoy. If people who are already on board don’t have the information, experience, or empathy you need, you enlist others who do.13
In a pattern that matches this observation, people living with one or more chronic conditions and those living with disability14 are significantly more likely than other social network site users to gather health information on these sites. Twenty percent of social network site users living with chronic conditions do so, compared with 12% of social network site users who report no chronic conditions. Twenty-three percent of social network site users living with disability get health information on these sites, compared with 13% of those who report no disability.
Relatively few use hospital ranking and doctor review sites.
Hospital and doctor review sites have not yet become health care decision-making tools for most consumers. One national survey found that only 6% of American adults are aware of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid’s Hospital Compare tool.15 Our current survey finds a similarly low usage of such sites among adult internet users, matching trends we first reported in 2009.16
- 16% of internet users have consulted online rankings or reviews of doctors or other providers.
- 15% of internet users have consulted online rankings or reviews of hospitals or other medical facilities.
- 4% of internet users have posted a review online of a doctor.
- 3% of internet users have posted a review online of a hospital.
Again, caregivers are more likely than other groups to engage in these activities. For example, 21% of online caregivers consult online doctor reviews, compared with 13% of internet users not currently caring for a loved one. Twenty percent of online caregivers consult online hospital reviews, compared with 12% of other internet users.
Eighteen percent of internet users living with one or more chronic conditions have looked online for doctor rankings or reviews, compared with 14% of internet users who report no conditions. Six percent of internet users living with chronic disease have posted such a review, compared with 3% of those who report no conditions. Both of those differences are statistically significant, but more importantly, they are significant because of the context of who is most likely to be a frequent health care consumer: someone living with a chronic condition.
Internet users living with disability do not report a higher or lower likelihood to consult hospital rankings and doctor reviews. However, they are more likely than other internet users to post reviews of doctors and other health professionals online: 8% do so, compared with 4% of those who report no disability.
One in four adult internet users have consulted online reviews of drugs or treatments.
In November 2009, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration held a public hearing on how companies use the internet, particularly social media, to promote prescription drugs, medical devices, and other regulated products.17 No regulations have been issued to date. But because of this heightened interest in how consumers gather and share information about drugs, we added a new category of online reviews to the current survey and find:
- 24% of internet users have consulted online reviews of particular drugs or medical treatments.
- 4% of internet users have posted their experiences with a particular drug or medical treatment.
Fully 38% of online caregivers have consulted online drug reviews, compared with 18% of internet users who do not take care of a loved one. Seven percent of online caregivers have posted such a review, compared with just 2% of other internet users.
Thirty-one percent of internet users living with one or more chronic conditions have looked at online drug reviews, compared with 20% of internet users reporting no conditions. Six percent of internet users living with chronic disease have posted an online review of a drug or treatment, compared with 2% of those with no conditions.
Internet users living with disability are just as likely as other people to look up drug reviews, but they are more likely than other people to say they have posted their own treatment experiences online. Nine percent of internet users living with disability say they have posted a review of a drug or treatment, compared with 2% of those who report no disability.
In a separate question we find that 24% of internet users say they go online to look for information about drug safety or recalls.18
One in four adult internet users track their own health data online.
Carol Torgan, a health science strategist, points out that anyone who makes note of their blood pressure, weight, or menstrual cycle could be categorized as a “self-tracker.”19 Add an online component, and you have the ingredients for a social health application or an electronic health record. Our survey finds that 15% of internet users have tracked their weight, diet, or exercise routine online. In addition, 17% of internet users have tracked any other health indicators or symptoms online. Fully 27% of adult internet users say yes to either question.
Wireless users are more likely than other internet users to track health data online. Eighteen percent of wireless users have tracked their weight, diet, or exercise routine online, compared with 9% of internet users who do not have a wireless-enabled laptop or other device. Nineteen percent of wireless users have tracked any other health indicators or symptoms online, compared with 11% of non-wireless internet users.
Separately, looking just at the 85% of adults who own a cell phone, 9% say they have software applications or “apps” on their phones that help them track or manage their health.
More people report being helped, rather than harmed, by online health information.
One in three adults in the U.S. (30%) say they or someone they know has been helped by following medical advice or health information found online.
Fully 44% of caregivers report that online health resources have been helpful. Adults who went through a recent personal health change – gaining or losing a lot of weight, becoming pregnant, or quitting smoking – are also especially likely to report being helped by online resources: 40% do so, compared with 28% of other adults.
Ten percent of adults living with two or more chronic conditions – unfortunately a large and growing slice of the population in the U.S. – say they or someone they know has received major help from online health information, compared with 5% of adults who report no conditions.
Just 3% of adults say they or someone they know has been harmed. | <urn:uuid:cf596fea-266b-423a-aceb-79117bc70495> | CC-MAIN-2020-34 | https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2011/05/12/social-media-in-context/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-34/segments/1596439738653.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20200810072511-20200810102511-00385.warc.gz | en | 0.934156 | 2,413 | 2.75 | 3 |
- Strong’s ID:
- Greek Word:
- Part of Speech:
- Usage Count:
- Find “toutois” in the Bible (New Testament)
Strong’s Greek Lexicon
dative case plural masculine or neuter of G3778; to (for, in, with or by) these (persons or things):—such, them, there[-in, -with], these, this, those.
Owing to changes in the enumeration while in progress, there were no words left for numbers 2717 and 3203–3302, which were therefore silently dropped out of the vocabulary and references as redundant.
Thayer’s Greek Definitions
Thayer’s Definitions are as edited by the Online Bible of Winterbourne, Ontario. They removed the etymology, cross-references, and Greek phrases and changed some of Thayer’s Unitarian doctrinal positions concerning the work and person of Christ. | <urn:uuid:0cb488d1-7e42-4ec3-8202-69d69bd9dd66> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.equipgodspeople.com/lexicons-word-study/new-testament-greek/strongs-g5125 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100286.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20231201084429-20231201114429-00529.warc.gz | en | 0.868889 | 205 | 2.875 | 3 |
Celebrate Children’s Day by Eradicating Child Labour
Children are the future of any nation. They are the very foundation on which the development and success of a nation can be established. India celebrates its children on the 14th of November every year. Known as Children’s Day (Baal Divas), this day commemorates the birth date of the erstwhile Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.
Pandit Nehru, fondly known as Chacha Nehru was very fond of children, and worked towards their development and progress through the establishment of various educational institutions; as well as planning for their free primary education, free meals including milk to the school children in order to prevent child malnutrition in India. Children’s Day is a time to re-establish the awareness among the people of India of the importance of safeguarding the rights and privileges of the children, for they are the future of our nation.
India and its Children
While India celebrates Children’s Day on 14th November ever year, the state of children in India is a far cry from what it is supposed to be. Child labour is a menace and India is in the forefront in this regard. India is sadly the home to the largest number of child labourers in the world.
- As per a census conducted in 2011, there are 82 lakh child labourers in India. About 4,00,000 children, mostly girls, are employed in cottonseed production across the country, toiling 14-16 hours a day.
- 40% of the labour in a precious stone cutting sector is children.
- Child labourers are being employed in mining industry in Bellary District in Karnataka in spite of a harsh ban on the same.
- The Zari and Embroidery industries in urban areas employ children as unskilled labour.
- Even in this day of progress and development, India faces the issue of bonded labour, where children are under a bond to work against a sum of money taken as a loan by the parents.
- While the agricultural sector sees the maximum number of child bonded labour, in recent times this menace has seeped into other sectors including beedi-rolling, brick kilns, carpet weaving, commercial sexual exploitation, construction, fireworks and matches factories, hotels, hybrid cottonseed production, leather, mines, quarries, silk, synthetic gems, and many others.
- Last but not the least is the employment of children as domestic workers where there is no regulation. Children are literally slaves and work for very low wages. Cases of sexual, physical and emotional abuse are very common in case of children working as domestic help.
The menace of child labour in India has spread like venom to every nook and corner, finding roots, and making it a difficult task to be removed.
The main causes of child labour in India are of course poverty and lack of social security. The vast gap between the rich and the poor, the neo-liberal economic policies and privatisation of basic services have resulted in a vast majority of the population without employment and thus, devoid of the basic necessities of life.
Children belonging to the families falling below the BPL level are adversely affected. They have no other option but to fend for themselves by working as unskilled labour, when they should be attending schools and playing in parks like other children. The main causes of the continuation of child labour in India are as follows:
- Laws that protect children from hazardous labour are not being implemented properly, and therefore, ineffective.
- The actual number of child labourers goes undetected because of the vast area and population of the country.
- There is a lack of quality education in the country, which is resulting in school dropouts among the poor children, who then join the labour force with no skills whatsoever.
Laws that Protect the Children of India
The Indian Constitution protects the rights of children of India as follows:
- As per Article 24, children below the age of 14 are not to be employed in any factory or in any hazardous employment.
- Article 39 (f) protects children and youth from exploitation and moral and material abandonment.
- Article 45 requires the State to provide free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of 14 years.
- Article 14 provides equality before law and equal protection of laws.
- Article 15 (3) empowers the State to make special legal provision for children. It makes mandate to the government to ensure children’s welfare constitutionally.
- Article 23 puts total ban on forced labour & is punishable under the Act.
- Article 51 A clause (k) & (j) states that the parent or the guardian has to provide opportunities for education to his child or as case may be ward between the age of 6- 14 yrs.
- Preamble Commitment: Justice, liberty, equality, & fraternity for all the citizens including children are the main purpose of the Constitution.
- Directive principles in Constitution of India also provide protection for the children such as, Article 41, Article 42, Article 45, & Article 47.
There also exists an array of laws which under the Constitution govern the protection of children from child labour.
- The Factories Act of 1948 prevents the employment of children below 14 years in any factory.
- The Mines Act of 1952 prohibits the employment of children below the age of 18 years.
- The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act of 1986 prevents the employment of children below the age of 14 years in life-threatening occupations identified in a list by the law.
- The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection) of children Act of 2000 made the employment of children a punishable offence.
In spite of laws and rules and regulations, the employers flout the provisions of the various laws covering the prohibition of child labour just for the sake of availability of man-power at low cost.
Eradicating Child Labour
India, to progress in the real sense needs to eradicate child labour in the following ways:
- Strict implementation of labour laws is essential in order to prevent exploitation of children by parties or multinational companies.
- Amendments are required in the present child labour prohibition law in order to implement strict measures to control the situation.
- The minimum working age of fourteen years needs to be increased to at least eighteen.
- The Government should take steps towards abolition of child trafficking, elimination of poverty, free and compulsory education, and providing the basic standards of living to one and all.
- The World Bank and International Monetary Fund should be approached for loan for the purpose of removing the vast gap between the rich and poor in India.
Let’s celebrate Children’s Day in the truest spirit
We, the people of India, are also responsible for its children. We cannot blame the state of the children of India on organisations, for you and I are equally to be blamed for their plight, for turning a blind eye is also a crime. So how can we elevate the condition for the children in India so that they can grow into healthy and educated citizens of the country?
- Let’s stop employing children in our homes as domestic help.
- Let’s fund the education of at least one poor child in our lifetime.
- Let’s inform the nearest NGO when we see child beggars at traffic signals, or children employed in tea stalls and roadside eateries.
Every child, whether yours or mine, whether rich or poor, is the same. Then why is it that the poor children have to lose their childhood because of poverty. Let’s join hands. Let’s help the children of India. For in doing so, we will be helping the progress and development of the nation.
Child labour in India
Amendments in the Child Labour Law: The Real Picture
Child Labour in Diamond Industry Continues in India Despite Abolition
‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ Scheme – To Ensure the Rights of the Girl Child
Child Trafficking in India | <urn:uuid:7051a3e6-2caa-45fb-ab9f-4b94d68e7b16> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | https://www.mapsofindia.com/my-india/india/celebrate-childrens-day-by-eradicating-child-labour | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187823255.12/warc/CC-MAIN-20171019065335-20171019085335-00799.warc.gz | en | 0.938669 | 1,653 | 3.296875 | 3 |
All computers and laptops produce heat, but what happens if that heat builds up? Why should you be aware of overheating?
Overheating – some background information
All electronic devices produce heat, some equipment like your computer or laptop produce enough heat to require cooling. This cooling usually takes the form of a heatsink (normally copper or aluminium based, with fins or channels to allow air to pass through) and a fan. If this cooling system is not working properly or becomes blocked, it can lead to overheating, which can have a major impact on the performance and life span of your PC or laptop.
Why should I care about overheating?
If your heatsink or fan becomes clogged with dust, your computer will start to overheat. This can lead to poor performance and a reduced life span of your equipment. It is particularly important in laptops due to their compact nature and is one of the top reasons your laptop will fail completely, costing you money to replace it. However, it is completely preventable with servicing.
If we compare this to your car for example, you service your car every year, because you know it could fail if you don’t, leaving you with expensive repair bills. The car filters and vents become clogged over time and need changing or cleaning. It’s exactly the same with your computer, yet so many people do nothing until it’s too late.
I can’t stress enough how important regular servicing is to the health of your computer or Laptop and how it can save you money in the long run.
What are the warning signs of overheating?
You will notice that the fan/s will be running all the time, and probably more loudly than they used to.
You will be experiencing poor performance. As your computer struggles to cope with the heat it will slow itself down to try and compensate.
In the worst cases your computer will turn itself off with no warning (as if you had removed the plug).
On a laptop you will notice the base of the laptop getting very hot, despite the fan being on most of the time you cannot feel any hot air coming out of its vent.
If you notice any of these warning signs, please do not ignore them. If serviced quickly enough your computer or laptop will be absolutely fine, however if left unchecked it can and often does lead to the death of the machine.
PC Guy recommends a routine service at least once a year. If it has been longer than this since your computer last had a service then it’s very possible your machine could already be overheating.
This is what could be happening to the fans and vents within your laptop or desktop if it hasn't been serviced recently.
The cost of a service buys you peace of mind and could save you the cost and hassle of buying a new computer. If you have any concerns, or would like to arrange a service please contact PC Guy, I will be glad to help and I cover Ellesmere Port, Chester and Wirral areas. | <urn:uuid:880b8f5a-c95c-4ccf-b9c0-422aa79f6674> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | https://www.ellesmereportpcguy.co.uk/overheating | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250614880.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20200124011048-20200124040048-00201.warc.gz | en | 0.95211 | 624 | 2.921875 | 3 |
Before Dr. Harry Messmore was an internationally-known doctor and drug researcher, he was a U.S. Army volunteer who moved up the ranks to lead an important World War II mission in France. Messmore received the Bronze Star Medal for his service in 1944 and now -- 66 years later -- is also gaining recognition from France.
When we spoke last week, Messmore looked back on his time in the war and on his career as an oncologist and hematologist specializing in research of the blood-thinning drug Heparin.
Talk about your service during World War II that resulted in you winning this award.
France started this awarding of the Legion of Honor to World War II veterans who fought in France who had already received a [U.S] Army medal. It is, of course, 66 years after the fact. I got the Bronze Star Medal from the [U.S] Army in December 1944 following a military engagement with the Germans along the southern coast of Brittany. Germans had 15 different large pillboxes (bunkers) set up to protect the entrance to the river. [German] u-boats were coming in to refuel and get more supplies. They had to have protection. The pillboxes were set up for that purpose. Our purpose was to knock out those pillboxes. I had the military responsibility for training and commanding troops firing cannon. I was ordered to go back to the French coast. There were three special types of cannon dropped off on the beach by the U.S. Navy. I went back there with my men and picked up [the] cannon for firing up at the pillboxes up on this rocky shore.
I followed pathways onto the rocky hills, hiding behind bushes and trees to look at where the pillboxes were. I put little white pieces of cloth on bushes all the way back down, so when I brought my troops up we could find our way in the dark. The [cannon] each weighed two tons and they were pulled by hand -- each one pulled in by 10 men. They were put in places I marked the day before. We would have to wait until dawn. The pillboxes were neutralized by the fire of [our] artillery. This completely took the Germans by surprise. Fifty-four Germans surrendered. Three weeks later, there was a general order sent out from my division awarding Harry Messmore the Bronze Star.
After five years of military service, I was discharged in February 1946. I graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago in 1952 and served an internship in Detroit until 1953. I went to practice for 11 years among the old order Amish community of central Illinois. Then I decided I wanted to be a specialist. I came up to Chicago and took four more years of training to become a hematology-oncology specialist. I also had a research interest in blood-thinning drugs. That research went from about 1972 to even the present time. I'm still doing research on that although I retired from active clinical practice at Loyola [University Health System] in 1992. I have remained as a volunteer consultant. I still have a small research laboratory at Hines VA Hospital. I have been blind for the last three years due to macular degeneration and glaucoma -- I have both. I'm still able to do my research by having people in the library and my granddaughters and other people read medical journals to me and read my email. I keep mentally active.
What made you want to be a physician?
My father was a veterinarian taking care of large animals. He graduated from the Chicago Veterinary College 100 years ago this year. When I was in the third grade, my teacher said, 'You should be a doctor.' That's how I got the idea. When I was coming back from my duties in France in World War II they happened to assign me to a ship that had nothing on it but a medical detachment who was in Germany for a field hospital for wounded soldiers. I had a 10-day trip with them coming back. One of the doctors on the ship said, 'You're getting into medicine too late. They exciting part is already over. Whatever can be learned has already been learned.' Another guy there said, 'There's a long way to go.'
Heparin, one of my main research objects, was first used clinically in the 1940s. I got into it early and had the chance to do lots of research on Heparin.
Image, top: Harry Messmore during World War II
Image, bottom: Dr. Harry Messmore, current | <urn:uuid:ddd20925-f73c-411d-9551-f9683c6cf3c5> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/pure-genius/from-world-war-ii-hero-to-expert-on-blood-thinning-drugs/4484 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1394010956215/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305091556-00004-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.987037 | 937 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) is a type of vasculitis that mainly affects medium-sized arteries. Vasculitis includes a group of diseases where your immune system attacks the blood vessels and results in inflammation. Inflammation of the arteries can lead to narrowing or blockage of blood vessels, causing a lack of blood supply to affected body tissues. However, inflammation can also result in thinning of the blood vessel walls and aneurysm formation (dilation of the blood vessel) which can sometimes rupture. In some cases, PAN can be caused by chronic hepatitis B virus infection. In most cases, no cause is found (idiopathic). PAN most commonly affects the skin, nerves, gut or kidney arteries. Some forms of PAN affect only the skin (cutaneous PAN) or one body organ (localized PAN), while in other cases, the disease affects multiple organ systems (systemic PAN).
Who gets Polyarteritis Nodosa?
People between the age of 40 years and 60 years are most often affected. Men may be affected more than women. In most cases, we do not know why people get PAN. Some cases of PAN occur in patients with chronic infection with the hepatitis B virus.
PAN mainly affects the medium-sized arteries in the body. The symptoms of PAN depend on the arteries and body tissues that are affected. Symptoms vary from person to person and not all symptoms are present in everyone with the diagnosis.
Symptoms may include:
- feeling tired
- decreased appetite
- rapid and sudden weight loss
- skin rash or sores
- muscle aches
- joint pain
- abdominal pain
- blood in the stool
- flank pain
- testicular pain in men
- chest pain
- difficulty breathing
- difficult to treat hypertension (high blood pressure)
- numbness or tingling of the hands or feet
- sudden loss of strength in the hands or feet
There is no specific test to diagnose PAN. The diagnosis of PAN is based on symptoms, physical examination, laboratory tests and specialized imaging studies. Since PAN often affects the blood vessels that supply the gut and kidneys, an angiogram (dye-based study of the blood vessels) may be needed to make the diagnosis. This may show areas of narrowing of the blood vessels (stenosis) or aneurysms. CT or MRI scans with dye may also be useful to look for changes in blood vessels and internal organs. In some cases of PAN, a tissue biopsy may be necessary for diagnosis.
In cases of PAN related to Hepatitis B, treatment often consists of glucocorticoids (steroids), anti-viral medications and sometimes plasma exchange. For the idiopathic form of PAN, treatment consists of glucocorticoids (steroids, such as prednisone) and immunosuppressive medications that are used to suppress the immune system. These may include a chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide) or other medications such as methotrexate or azathioprine. This depends on the clinical situation.
There is no cure for PAN but the disease and its symptoms can be managed. The long-term prognosis depends on the severity of the organs involved.
The goal of treatment is to prevent further progression and damage from the disease. Most people do well with treatment but relapses can occur. Patients require close follow-up with their doctors with periodic monitoring of the disease activity which is done based on symptoms and laboratory evaluations. In addition to monitoring for disease relapses, patients also need to be monitored for side-effects or complications from the treatment.
What’s new in Polyarteritis Nodosa?
Forms of vasculitis like PAN are uncommon and likely under recognized. The symptoms can be non-specific and can result in delayed diagnosis. People suspected of having PAN should be evaluated and treated in specialized centers with experience in the management of vasculitis.
Prevention of Hepatitis B infection by vaccination appears to have lowered the number of new cases of PAN due to Hepatitis. Newer medications that treat chronic viral infections have been useful in the treatment of PAN related to Hepatitis B.
Observational cohorts of patients with PAN (where patients are followed long-term) have provided us with invaluable information on the prognosis and long-term complications of therapy. Clinical trials through multi-center and international collaborations continue to provide us with insights on how to treat this disease.
Given the significant side-effects of current treatments, researchers continue to look for better and safer medications. This remains an area of active research. Other areas of research include the pathogenesis of this condition, biomarkers and prognostic markers that may help follow patients over time.
Revision: September 2012
The Vasculitis Foundation gratefully acknowledges Dr. Tanaz A. Kermani and Kenneth J. Warrington from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, for their expertise and contribution in compiling this information.
Patient Advocacy Group(s): | <urn:uuid:c4d79990-4fab-4473-8115-ab854078631c> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | https://www.vasculitisfoundation.org/education/forms/polyarteritis-nodosa/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818690340.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20170925055211-20170925075211-00258.warc.gz | en | 0.922948 | 1,032 | 3.234375 | 3 |
Expectations give rise to more efficient processing in the human brain
Our expectations have a measurable effect on how our brains process information, according to a recent study at the Radboud University, at the Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour in Nijmegen.
Although we tend to believe that we see the world around us as it really is, how we perceive reality is strongly influenced by our expectations. Prior knowledge of our surroundings and the world in general help us recognise objects and people quickly and accurately, even when the image we receive is noisy or unclear, such as cyclists in the park at dusk, or athletes playing a given sport on a TV with bad reception.
During the study at RU, participants' brain activity was monitored with an MRI scanner as they were shown both expected and unexpected images. When participants viewed expected images, regions of the brain known to be involved in visual processing were less active than when they viewed unexpected images.
Surprisingly though, these regions contained a clearer representation of the expected images than of the unexpected ones. This "clearness" was determined by using a so-called "brain-decoder," a computer algorithm that attempted to decode which image a participant saw based on their brain activity.
As it turns out, the brain-decoder was more successful at decoding brain activity and correctly linking it with expected images than unexpected ones, an indication that the activity in these brain regions contained a less ambiguous signal for expected images.
Based on the study, the researchers conclude that expectations lead to less but more effective processing in the human brain.
Published in the journal Neuron. You can read the abstract and link to a (paid) copy of the full report here.
Leave a comment | <urn:uuid:70aa5a30-26b5-4f03-aa77-ffaecf3d5592> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://www.iamexpat.nl/expat-info/dutch-expat-news/expectations-give-rise-more-efficient-processing-human-brain | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296945317.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20230325064253-20230325094253-00765.warc.gz | en | 0.957556 | 386 | 3.546875 | 4 |
Why won’t a female sea turtle lay her eggs in the ocean? How do baby turtles know where the ocean is when they hatch from their eggs? – Jasmine and Shereen, 8, Gainesville, Fla.
Dear Jasmine and Shereen,
Sea turtles spend almost their entire lives in the ocean. Even as babies, sea turtles’ bodies have special traits for living at sea, helping them glide and paddle through the water. After emerging from their eggs, baby sea turtles (called “hatchlings”) scramble to the ocean to live the rest of their lives. Only female sea turtles return to land as adults, to lay eggs and begin the cycle again.
I talked with my friend Frank Paladino to learn more about sea turtles. He completed his Ph.D. at Washington State University. Today he is a professor at Purdue University-Fort Wayne and former president of the International Sea Turtle Society. He is especially interested in leatherbacks, the largest living turtle.
I learned that a female sea turtle must return to the beach to lay eggs, even though she is most comfortable in the ocean. This is because her eggs can only survive on land.
Baby sea turtles breathe through their eggs before hatching. Oxygen passes through the eggshell and membrane, a thin barrier surrounding the turtle. Even buried in sand, the turtle can still breathe through the egg. But they cannot breathe if the egg is in the water.
Sea turtle eggs also need warm temperatures to grow properly. Beaches provide the right conditions to help eggs develop. Mother sea turtles bury their group of eggs (called a “clutch”) in sandy nests to protect them until they are ready to hatch.
But when lots of humans are around, a beach can be a difficult place to lay eggs. “Normally, female turtles do not lay their eggs in the water. But if disturbed when on the beach and distracted multiple nights from returning to the nest, they will dump their clutch in the ocean,” Paladino said.
Humans can also cause problems for hatchlings as they leave the nest and head toward the ocean.
To find the ocean, hatchlings follow the brightest light source. Have you ever noticed how a pond or lake sparkles in the sun? This is because light bounces off the surface of the water. Under natural conditions, the ocean is brighter than the beach because it reflects light from the sun and the moon.
But when humans are around, other light sources can confuse turtle hatchlings. “Lights from houses and hotels on turtle beaches distract them. Instead of going to the sea, they will head toward the house lights which are the brightest horizon,” Paladino said.
Light pollution can be dangerous for hatchlings, so some places have created rules to protect them. Paladino told me that turtle nesting beaches in Florida have shields to block human sources of light. There are even special street lights designed not to confuse hatchlings looking for the ocean.
Sea turtles follow their instincts, in a cycle that takes them from the land to the ocean. Although humans pose challenges to sea turtles, science can help them live alongside each other. | <urn:uuid:0f7b12d8-fa91-4175-adb8-a0909e928210> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | http://updates.fruitportareanews.com/2020/03/07/ask-dr-universe-sea-turtles/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233506623.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20230924055210-20230924085210-00218.warc.gz | en | 0.955146 | 663 | 3.375 | 3 |
Modelling of the Gold Coast Seaway tidal inlet, Australia
MetadataShow full item record
The Seaway entrance is a tidal inlet located on the Gold Coast (Queensland, Australia). Before the 80s, the entrance was highly variable in terms of inlet location and sand bar characteristics. The Seaway stabilisation with two training walls combined with an artificial sand bypassing system were completed in 1986 with the aims of fixing the entrance, maintaining a safe navigable channel, preventing shoreline erosion to the north and a buildup of sand to the south. Despite these training works, the dynamics of the Seaway is still poorly understood: channel infilling problems and navigation issues remain. For these reasons, the present study aims to develop a comprehensive model of the entrance to be used for further dredging and training work issues. The present investigation is carried out in two stages. The first stage is based on historic aerial photograph analysis of the Seaway before training works. It shows that the mouth was periodically driven northward by the longshore drift, with an average cycle time of 10 years. The second stage is based on numerical modelling after training works. Refined Delft3D modelling is undertaken with a 2DH approach on the Seaway area, taking into account the training walls and the sand bypassing system. This local model is coupled with MIKE21 implemented on a regional scale to provide accurate tide and flow forcing at the boundaries. After calibration, the analysis of flow patterns shows that the Gold Coast Seaway is ebb-dominated and that the more intense flow velocities are observed in the northern channel. Morphological evolution of the inlet is also investigated with a qualitative approach. Results indicate the pathways and rate of the sand movement within the tidal inlet in its current configuration and provide information about a planned 400 m extension of the southern training wall. A significant calibration work, involving sediment transport and bathymetry measurement, is required for the model to be used as a comprehensive tool for further dredging and dumping strategies within the entrance.
Journal of Coastal Research
Copyright 2007 Coastal Education and Research Foundation Inc (CERF). Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version. | <urn:uuid:51499ef6-2634-4d49-a4f9-4263dca7538b> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au/handle/10072/17986 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549426372.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20170726182141-20170726202141-00621.warc.gz | en | 0.934683 | 448 | 2.625 | 3 |
In this chapter, we will look at a variety of ways to digitize macroscopic point-to-point transfer functions corresponding to a desired impulse response :
Next, we'll look at the more specialized technique known as commuted synthesis, in which computational efficiency may be greatly increased by interchanging (``commuting'') the series order of component transfer functions. Commuted synthesis delivers large gains in efficiency for systems with a short excitation and high-order resonators, such plucked and struck strings. In Chapter 9, commuted synthesis is applied to piano modeling.
Extracting the least-damped modes of a transfer function for separate parametric implementation is often used in commuted synthesis. We look at a number of ways to accomplish this goal toward the end of this chapter.
We close the chapter with a simple example of transfer-function modeling applied to the digital phase shifter audio effect. This example classifies as virtual analog modeling, in which a valued analog device is converted to digital form in a way that preserves all valued features of the original. Further examples of transfer-function models appear in Chapter 9. | <urn:uuid:2bcdc2b7-cec9-4b7e-afc2-ee3fbea75c64> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | https://ccrma.stanford.edu/~jos/pasp/Outline.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1394678663927/warc/CC-MAIN-20140313024423-00023-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922017 | 229 | 3.375 | 3 |
AGVISE Laboratories has been doing soybean cyst nematode (SCN) testing at our Benson, Minnesota, laboratory for four years. There has been a large increase in the number of SCN samples in the last two years, apparently due to nematodes occurring over a larger area as soybean acres increase. Laboratory equipment and techniques have been evolving as the researchers have been developing more accurate and consistent procedures. Sampling for SCN can be very difficult due to the extreme variability of nematode populations within a field. This is especially true when the SCN density is low. Hot spots may test very high, and other areas of a field may test zero eggs. Examining roots in late June and early July for SCN females, along with a SCN soil test, is a good method for determining the level of infestation. SCN symptoms can be similar to iron chlorosis symptoms at times, but SCN symptoms usually occur in late June to early July, and iron chlorosis usually shows up in early June. Soil testing the hot spots in a field will help you determine the presence or absence of SCN, along with the root examination during the mid-summer months.
Based upon University of Minnesota research, they use the following guidelines based upon nematode egg counts:
- < 200 eggs/100 cc of soil: Plant a susceptible variety.
- 200 – 2,000 eggs/100 cc: Plant a resistant variety.
- 2,000 – 10,000 eggs/100 cc: Resistant variety recommended, but yield loss may still occur.
- > 10,000 eggs/100 cc: Resistant or susceptible variety should not be planted.
Rotation Management Strategies If SCN Detected
Year 1 – Corn or other non-host crop such as small grains or alfalfa
Year 2 – SCN resistant variety (PI 88788 or Peking resistance source)
Year 3 – Corn or other non-host crop
Year 4 – SCN resistant variety (resistance source different than year 2 variety)
Year 5 – Corn or other non-host crop
Year 6 – Susceptible soybean variety
Continue to monitor for the level of SCN in your growers’ fields. | <urn:uuid:cb6d9189-1598-4bf4-a52f-5293ca8c5624> | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | https://www.agvise.com/educational-articles/soybean-cyst-nematode-testing/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655933254.67/warc/CC-MAIN-20200711130351-20200711160351-00389.warc.gz | en | 0.913567 | 460 | 2.515625 | 3 |
The Liturgy of the Hours is part of the heartbeat of our religious life, which, along with Eucharistic Adoration and the Mass, gives a rhythm to our daily life. The cycle of readings which we go through each year is another element of this rhythm, and at different times of the year we can look forward to rereading our favorite books of the Old or New Testament as we come upon them in the Office of Readings.
Yesterday we began reading the Book of Esther. It only takes a few days to read through before beginning the book of the prophet Baruch, so we spend less time with it than we do with some of the other Old Testament books in the Office of Readings. But just because it’s short, doesn’t mean it isn’t important. Esther is one of the prefigurements of Our Lady which we find in the Old Testament. There were many different women who foreshadowed or mirrored the role Our Lady would have in salvation history: Eve, Judith, Esther and Ruth, to name just a few Marian types found in the Old Testament. The Church Fathers recognized this as early as the second century. Here’s a great blog post about Esther and Our Lady from Fr. Joseph of the Contemplatives of Saint Joseph. | <urn:uuid:ae655105-2fff-4cf2-a9c1-8ac6f589be72> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | https://blog.texasnuns.com/2014/10/20/a-queen-who-intercedes-for-her-people/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934806844.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20171123161612-20171123181612-00517.warc.gz | en | 0.959367 | 264 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Macro photography is the art of capturing images of small objects or details with a high level of magnification and detail. Whether you are interested in taking pictures of insects, flowers, or other tiny subjects. By having the right camera equipment is crucial to achieving the best results. In this article, we will discuss some of the key factors to consider when selecting a camera for macro photography. Including resolution, lens compatibility, autofocus capabilities, and more. By the end, you will have a better understanding of what to look for in a camera that is well-suited for macro photography.
Overview of Macro Photography
Macro photography is a specialized form of photography that involves capturing images of small objects or details at a high level of magnification. The camera for macro photography is to produce images that reveal details and textures that are not visible to the naked eye. This type of photography can be challenging. It requires a specialized set of equipment, including a dedicated macro lens, a tripod, and often specialized lighting.
Macro photography is popular among nature photographers who want to capture close-up images of flowers, insects, and other small creatures. It is also used in product photography to highlight small details in jewelry, electronics, and other items. In recent years, macro photography has become more accessible thanks to advances in digital camera technology. Which has made it easier for photographers to achieve high levels of magnification and detail.
What to Look for in a Camera for Macro Photography?
When choosing a camera for macro photography, there are several key factors to consider:
- Resolution: A high-resolution camera will allow you to capture fine details in your macro images. Look for a camera with at least 16 megapixels or higher.
- Lens compatibility: A dedicated macro lens is essential for macro photography, as it allows you to focus at close distances and achieve a high level of magnification. Make sure the camera you choose is compatible with the macro lens you want to use.
- Autofocus capabilities: Macro photography often requires very precise focusing, so look for a camera with good autofocus capabilities. Some cameras also have a focus stacking feature that allows you to combine multiple images with different focus points to create a single, sharp image.
- Sensor size: A larger sensor will allow you to capture more detail and produce higher-quality images. Full-frame cameras are ideal for macro photography. But they can be expensive. APS-C cameras are a good alternative.
- Image stabilization: Macro photography often requires shooting at slow shutter speeds. Which can result in blurry images if the camera is not stabilized. Look for a camera with built-in image stabilization to ensure sharp images.
Overall, the most important factor in choosing a camera for macro photography is compatibility with a dedicated macro lens. Beyond that, consider the other factors mentioned above to ensure that you get the best results from your macro photography.
Selecting the Right Lens
Selecting the right lens is crucial for macro photography, as it allows you to focus at close distances and achieve high levels of magnification. Here are some factors to consider when choosing a macro lens:
- Focal length: Macro lenses are available in a range of focal lengths, from 50mm to 200mm or more. A longer focal length will allow you to achieve greater magnification. But it may also be heavier and more expensive. A shorter focal length is more versatile, as it can be used for both macro and general photography.
- Maximum aperture: A wider maximum aperture will allow you to shoot in lower light conditions and create a shallower depth of field for creative effects. However, lenses with wider apertures tend to be more expensive.
- Magnification ratio: The magnification ratio determines how close you can get to your subject and still achieve focus. A 1:1 magnification ratio means that the image projected onto the camera sensor is the same size as the subject itself. Look for a lens with a high magnification ratio if you want to capture very small subjects.
- Image stabilization: Some macro lenses come with built-in image stabilization, which can be useful when shooting at slow shutter speeds or in low light conditions. However, image stabilization can add weight and cost to the lens.
Ultimately, the best macro lens for you will depend on your specific needs and budget. Consider the factors listed above and try out different lenses to find the one that works best for you.
Quality Lighting and Accessories
In addition to a camera and lens, quality lighting and accessories are essential for macro photography. Here are some of the key items to consider:
- Tripod: A sturdy tripod is essential for macro photography, as it allows you to keep your camera steady and ensure sharp images. Look for a tripod with a center column that can be adjusted to various heights and angles.
- Macro focusing rail: A macro focusing rail is a specialized accessory that allows you to make very small adjustments to the position of your camera for precise focusing.
- Ring flash or LED light: Macro photography often requires additional lighting to achieve proper exposure and highlight small details. A ring flash or LED light can provide even illumination and eliminate harsh shadows.
- Reflector: A reflector can be used to bounce light onto your subject and create a more even, natural-looking lighting effect.
- Diffuser: A diffuser can be used to soften harsh light and create a more flattering lighting effect for your subject.
Investing in quality lighting and accessories can help you achieve better results in your macro photography. Consider your specific needs and budget when selecting these items, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different techniques to find what works best for you.
Achieving Optimal Focus
Achieving optimal focus is critical for macro photography, as even the slightest movement or change in distance can result in a blurry image. Here are some tips for achieving optimal focus in macro photography:
- Use manual focus: In macro photography, autofocus can often struggle to lock onto the correct part of the subject. Using manual focus can give you greater control over the focusing process.
- Use a small aperture: When shooting close-up, using a small aperture (such as f/11 or higher) will increase the depth of field and make it easier to achieve sharp focus throughout the image.
- Use a focusing rail: A focusing rail allows you to make small, precise adjustments to the position of your camera to achieve optimal focus.
- Check the magnification ratio: Make sure that you are using the correct magnification ratio for your subject. Different magnification ratios require different focusing distances and adjustments.
- Use a tripod and remote shutter release: Keeping your camera steady is essential for achieving sharp focus in macro photography. Use a sturdy tripod and a remote shutter release to eliminate camera shake.
By following these tips, you can increase your chances of achieving optimal focus in your macro photography. Remember to be patient and take your time to ensure that your images are sharp and in focus.
Editing Software for Finishing Touches
After capturing your macro photos, editing software used to make final adjustments and enhance the overall image. Here are some popular editing software options for macro photography:
- Adobe Photoshop: Adobe Photoshop is a widely used and versatile image editing software that allows you to make a wide range of adjustments.
- Lightroom: Lightroom is a powerful image editing and management software that is particularly popular among photographers. It offers a range of editing tools, including color correction, exposure adjustments, and selective edits.
- Capture One: Capture One is a professional-grade image editing software that offers advanced color correction tools, noise reduction, and image sharpening.
- Affinity Photo: Affinity Photo is a newer but powerful image editing software that offers a wide range of tools, including advanced selection tools, image stitching, and HDR merging.
- GIMP: GIMP is a free and open-source image editing software that offers a wide range of tools for basic image adjustments and more advanced manipulations.
Regardless of which editing software you choose, some common adjustments you may want to make to your macro photos include color correction, sharpening, noise reduction, and cropping. With practice, you can learn to make subtle adjustments that bring out the best in your macro images and take your photography to the next level.
Macro photography can be a challenging but rewarding genre of photography. Allowing you to capture the beauty and intricacy of the natural world. By investing in a good camera and lens, quality lighting and accessories, and taking the time to achieve optimal focus. You can capture stunning macro photos that showcase the details of your subject. Finally, editing software used to enhance your images and bring out the best in your macro photography. With practice and patience, you can master the art of macro photography and create images that are truly breathtaking. | <urn:uuid:a99e15a9-bccb-407b-9113-05706d471084> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://watchtodaynews.com/what-to-look-in-a-camera-for-macro-photography | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510781.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20231001041719-20231001071719-00782.warc.gz | en | 0.92657 | 1,795 | 2.8125 | 3 |
Advances in digital photography have given us the opportunity to capture the beauty and freedom of birds in the wild like never before. In January 2011, the Wild Bird Trust set up a Facebook page with the intention of celebrating free flight and birds in the wild from around the world. Here are the “Top 25 Wild Bird Photographs of the Week” drawn from thousands of photographs submitted to the Wild Bird Trust. Almost 17,000 photographs from 100 photographers from around the world have been emailed to us or posted on our Facebook wall so far. Celebrate the freedom and splendor of birds in the wild with us and stimulate positive change by sharing how beautiful the birds of the world really are with the world…
Please join the Wild Bird Trust page on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to receive all wild bird photo updates and join the Wild Bird Revolution. Submit your own photos and become part of this important effort to bring the magic of wild birds to the world. Prepare to be blown away every week…
Yellow-billed hornbill with an amazing caterpillar. These hornbills have adapted to live in the harsh dry winters of the African subtropics... (Adam Kotze / Samantha & Adam Kotze Wildlife Photography)
Fischer's lovebirds in Ndutu (Tanzania). They were originally discovered in the late 19th century and first bred in the United States in 1926 (Adam Riley / www.rockjumperbirding.com)
Red-capped Robin-Chat are found in subtropical or tropical dry forests throughout Africa... (Ronald Krieger)
Hamerkop striking pose. These amazing birds are able to build simply massive nest that remain for many, many years and are used by multiple species. (Adam Kotze / Samantha & Adam Kotze Wildlife Photography)
King Penguin with their chicks in St Andrews Bay on South Georgia Island in the Antarctic. (Adam Riley / www.rockjumperbirding.com)
Sanderling in Norway. They are circumpolar Arctic breeders that undertake long-distance migrations, wintering in South America, southern Europe, Africa, and Australia. (Geir Jensen)
Baby thick-knee wobbling its way into the world... Please assist with ID. (Adam Kotze / Samantha & Adam Kotze Wildlife Photography)
Black vulture is a "New World vulture" whose range extends from the southeastern United States to Central Chile and Uruguay in South America. (Maria Aleli Ruiz / https://www.facebook.com/AngaAleliMedia)
Little bee-eater in perfect focus. These relatively common and widespread bee-eaters are expert hunters that have spread over a vast distributional range in subtropical Africa. (Ronald Krieger)
Pied kingfishers have spread throughout Africa and Asia, mastering rivers, lakes, and coastlines. (Bart Hoffman)
Male Ruff in summer breeding plumage in Inari (Finland) (Antero Topp)
Little Crake spotted this month in the Clovelly wetlands. This is the first ever sighting in southern Africa! (Michele Nel)
Grey heron faces up to crocodiles while stalking a small fish attracted to the melee of a nile crocodile feeding frenzy (Crocodile River, South Africa). (Leon Marais)
Green bee-eater in Yala National Park (Sri Lanka). Due to their wide distributional range and migrations several regional plumage variations are known and several subspecies have been named. (Adam Riley / www.rockjumperbirding.com)
Common cranes flying in formation in Sweden. They breed in wetlands in northern parts of Europe and Asia. (Lennart Hessel)
Cape Bulbul strikes a pose. They are an endemic resident breeder in coastal bush, open forest, gardens and fynbos in southern South Africa. (Michele Nel)
A small of Cape parrots cavorting in a tree in King William's Town. After the first good rains in 2 years its looks like the beak and feather disease epidemic has burnt out... There are less than 1,000 Cape parrot remaining in the wild. (Rodnick Biljon)
Ferruginous pygmy-owl in Patagonia (Argentina). They are also found as far north asin south-central Arizona in the USA. (Art Wolfe / Art Wolfe Stock)
Close-up of a giant kingfisher in the Kruger National Park (South Africa). They are the largest kingfishers in Africa and are residents in most of the continent south of the Sahara. (Kevin Hutchinson)
Collared sunbird strikes a pose on a flower... These radiant sunbirds prefer forests. (Samantha Kotze / Samantha & Adam Kotze Wildlife Photography)
Chestnut-mandibled toucan peering through the leaves in Colombia. They are resident breeders in moist lowland forest. (Art Wolfe / Art Wolfe Stock)
Carmine Bee Eater photographed in the Unity State, South Sudan. (Sue-Leslie Norgate)
White-fronted Plover is resident in much of Africa south of the Sahara on rocky, sandy or muddy coasts and large inland rivers and lakes. (Sharon Brink)
Perfect pelican reflection in Lake Nakuru National Park (Kenya) (Guy Dekelver / www.picsfromthewild.com)
Western capercaillie during a mating display. A simply stunning bird. Although this species is declining in western Europe, it is not considered to be vulnerable due to the large population (global estimate is 15-40 million individuals) and slow rate of decline. (Lennart Hessel)
See the last “Top 25 Wild Bird Photographs of the Week” blog post on National Geographic News Watch:
The Wild Bird Trust was founded in South Africa in August 2009 with the primary objective of keeping birds safe in the wild. The trust aims to encourage the use of flagship endangered bird species as “ecosystem ambassadors” in their indigenous habitat. The trust focusses on linking ordinary people with conservation action in the field through innovative marketing campaigns and brand development. Saving Africa’s birds is going to take a determined effort from all of us.
The main aims and objectives of the Wild Bird Trust are to:
- To advance the research in, education about and conservation of all birds in the wild as well as the related habitat.
- Focus will be placed primarily on African species that act as ecosystem and biodiversity indicators although other species and geographical areas will be considered as well.
- To work with all interested and involved parties including government, private sector, NGOs, education and research institutions, aviculture and bird-watching sectors without losing objectivity and independence.
In the pursuit of these aims and objectives the Wild Bird trust works closely with relevant local and international entities and persons, including: government authorities; educational institutions; conservation organizations; and avicultural organizations. The trust is funded entirely by its founder members, charitable donations and conservation grants.
See the Africa Birds & Birding Facebook page for amazing wild bird photos from Africa! https://www.facebook.com/Africa.Birds.Birding | <urn:uuid:d21959c3-edb4-4a2f-a6d0-c724ba3067ba> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/04/06/top-25-wild-bird-photographs-of-the-week-9/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382989/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.907167 | 1,501 | 2.5625 | 3 |
You can access the objectives and list of specific assignments for each day by clicking the text within each date.
Definite and Indefinite Articles
Understanding Definite & Indefinite Articles
Students will take notes on the rules and use of definite and Indefinite Articles from an Instructional PowerPoint entitled Spanish Articles PP. Access the PowerPoint below.
Definite & Indefinite Articles Practice
Students will learn and practice uses of articles by completing the assignment below. They will use their objects in the classroom vocabulary cards to complete the assignment.
Online Practice Definite & Indefinite Articles
Cosas en el Clase
Classroom Activities Practice Onlin
Below are activities for practicing the classroom vocabulary online.
Practice Spanish classes available on the links below. Youtube link to video below, HTML version follows
Los Numeros Ordinales
Ordinal Numbers Activities Practice Online
Below are activities for practicing the ordinal numbers online.
Practice Possessive Pronouns & Adjectives
Practice & learn about possessive pronouns & adjectives available on the links below. | <urn:uuid:b28d81f1-fe4b-4dce-85f3-aefe25ba6396> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | https://www.nesshistory.org/unit-iv-spanish-i-assignments--curriculum.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250590107.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20200117180950-20200117204950-00271.warc.gz | en | 0.764323 | 223 | 4 | 4 |
What to do with this activity?
Talk to your child about how they are getting on with reading. If your child is struggling to understand what they read, it might help to suggest these tips to your child:
- Link the story to their own experience and things they know already. For example think about "The time I did...went...saw"
- Make a guess about what is coming up next in the story. For example "I think that next..."
- Pause every now and then to think back over what they’ve just read. This will help them realise if they have lost the meaning - then they can read back and check or ask somebody before reading on.
- Ask questions before, during and after reading. For example "I wonder why...?". Ask the questions that begin with "Who; what; where; when; and how" are useful.
- Think about how the characters or the place or thing might feel and why? Can they link the characters to people they know?
- Create a mental picture in their head of what is happening as they read.
Writing a note of the main point in a paragraph will help as well.
It’s important to encourage whatever reading your child is doing at this age. Children have their own interests and hobbies so they will be more inclined to read information about these subjects. Having comics, papers or magazines around the house will make it easier for your child to get into reading. Your child might find it appealing to read online and you might like that the book can be read by an automated voice. E books can be looked at when you are on the move, making sure that your child is careful with your computer or phone.
Your child might like to read a section of the newspaper or a magazine – the sports, fashion or cooking sections - depending on their interests. They might like to read a short piece from a newspaper and underline facts with a pen and opinion with a pencil. You can then talk about the difference between fact and opinion (there are good examples in sports writing). Encourage your child to read instructions for mending bikes, building models and playing new games.
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1 = Poor, 5 = Great. | <urn:uuid:3e9c3060-7c6b-43dc-b2fb-e566300f49dd> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | http://www.helpmykidlearn.ie/activities/10-12/detail/understand | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371662966.69/warc/CC-MAIN-20200406231617-20200407022117-00130.warc.gz | en | 0.970528 | 467 | 4.0625 | 4 |
Growing up in South Texas I knew to avoid the short scrubby velvet mesquite trees that grew on the undeveloped land behind my house. Short and squatty, covered in thorns, they bloom with a yellow flower each spring and drop long mesquite seed pods every fall. They are not attractive. The mesquite leaves are fern-like in appearance and sparse, not lush or shady. The sharp, thorny trees have a bad reputation among landowners in the Lone Star State, but they really don't deserve it.
Mesquite trees, at least the honey mesquites that are prevalent in the Lone Star State, are really "trees" in name only. Mesquites (or Prosopis glandulosa if we're taking Honey Mesquite) are actually from the legume family that is native to the southwestern United States and Mexico. According to Florida State University, the bean pods they bear don't split open when ripe, which allows the seeds to be distributed by wildlife that eats them. In Texas, cows unwittingly transported mesquite trees on long cattle drives by eating the bean pods.
Widely considered to be trash trees, it's standard practice for landowners to cut down this plant species on their property and burn them. Mesquite roots can grow close to 200 feet underground and regenerate if the tree is chopped down making them pesky trees to remove. However, they have several uses that shouldn't be overlooked. The taproots are popular choices for firewood.
They replace the nutrients in the soil
According to Victoria County Master Gardeners, species of mesquite are nitrogen-rich plants, so leaving them on your land rather than cutting them down (if you're able to successfully battle their ruthless root system) and burning them can improve the nutrient content of your soil.
Mesquite trees tend to be short and scrubby like a bush, but that's usually because cutting them down causes them to grow back in all directions. However, if you prune them properly they will grow a central trunk and get taller and more tree-like.
Telling a Texan to prune a mesquite tree is akin to advising someone to wash their garbage before they throw it out. Sure, some people really do it, but most people will just laugh at you. However, if you want to reenergize overgrazed soil by giving it an extra food source, mesquite trees are a good way to do that. Pruning them will make them look a tad better (hopefully).
You can sell the mesquite wood to restaurants
Most people know that mesquite is a great wood to smoke meat. In fact, barbecue restaurants in the northern U.S. and Canada have it shipped in specifically for that purpose.
Texans may scoff at the folly of spending money to have mesquite wood shipped internationally, but a Texan pit master admitted to using a truckload of mesquite per week at his business. If you have a surplus of Mesquites, you could sell the wood to restauranteurs.
They can be made into furniture, mesquite flour and maybe even fuel
Those who view mesquite trees as a short, scrubby bush may be surprised to learn that artisan carpenters have been turning mesquite wood into high-end furniture for many years.
Some folks grind up the beans from mesquite pods for use as a flour alternative. People who have tried it say the flour has a sweet, almost caramel-like taste to it. (I wonder what cookies made of mesquite beans tastes like?)
Texas A&M AgriLife has been studying the possibility of turning unwanted mesquite wood into ethanol fuel since 2006.
So the next time you see a squatty, thorny mesquite tree, appreciate the many ways mesquite trees can actually be useful instead of cursing it and lamenting how much water it drinks. | <urn:uuid:e393a77f-d343-4d48-8b1e-a84daf68bd72> | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | https://www.wideopencountry.com/mesquite-trees-the-most-important-trash-trees-in-texas/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655879738.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20200702174127-20200702204127-00400.warc.gz | en | 0.959692 | 792 | 2.828125 | 3 |
1 (philosophy) the doctrine that knowledge is acquired by reason without resort to experience
2 the theological doctrine that human reason rather than divine revelation establishes religious truth
3 the doctrine that reason is the right basis for regulating conduct [syn: freethinking]
- Croatian: racionalizam
- Czech: racionalismus
- German: Rationalismus
In epistemology and in its broadest sense, rationalism is "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification" (Lacey 286). In more technical terms it is a method or a theory "in which the criterion of the truth is not sensory but intellectual and deductive" (Bourke 263). Different degrees of emphasis on this method or theory lead to a range of rationalist standpoints, from the moderate position "that reason has precedence over other ways of acquiring knowledge" to the radical position that reason is "the unique path to knowledge" (Audi 771).
BackgroundWithin the Western philosophical tradition, " begins with the Eleatics, Pythagoreans, and Plato, whose theory of the self-sufficiency of reason became the leitmotif of Neoplatonism and idealism" (Runes 263). Since the Enlightenment, rationalism is usually associated with the introduction of mathematical methods into philosophy, as in Descartes, Leibniz, and Spinoza (Bourke 263). This is commonly called continental rationalism, because it was predominant in the continental schools of Europe, whereas in Britain empiricism dominated.
Rationalism is often contrasted with empiricism. Taken very broadly these views are not mutually exclusive, since a philosopher can be both rationalist and empiricist (Lacey 286–287). Taken to extremes the empiricist view holds that all ideas come to us through experience, either through the five external senses or through such inner sensations as pain and pleasure, and thus that knowledge is essentially based on or derived from experience. At issue is the fundamental source of human knowledge, and the proper techniques for verifying what we think we know (see Epistemology).
Proponents of some varieties of rationalism argue that, starting with foundational basic principles, like the AXIOMS of geometry, one could deductively derive the rest of all possible knowledge. The philosophers who held this view most clearly were Baruch Spinoza and Gottfried Leibniz, whose attempts to grapple with the epistemological and metaphysical problems raised by Descartes led to a development of the fundamental approach of rationalism. Both Spinoza and Leibniz asserted that, in principle, all knowledge, including scientific knowledge, could be gained through the use of reason alone, though they both observed that this was not possible in practice for human beings except in specific areas such as mathematics. On the other hand, Leibniz admitted that "we are all mere Empirics in three fourths of our actions" (Monadology § 28, cited in Audi 772).
Philosophical usageThe distinction between rationalists and empiricists was drawn at a later period, and would not have been recognized by the philosophers involved. Also, the distinction was not as clear-cut as is sometimes suggested; for example, the three main rationalists were all committed to the importance of empirical science, and in many respects the empiricists were closer to Descartes in their methods and metaphysical theories than were Spinoza and Leibniz.
History of rationalism
Classical Greek rationalistsSocrates firmly believed that, before anyone can understand the world, they first need to understand themselves. And the only way to accomplish that is with rational thought. In order to understand what this means, one needs first to appreciate the Greek understanding of the world. Man is composed of two parts, a body and a soul. The soul itself has two principal parts, an Irrational part, which is the emotions and desires, and a Rational part, which is our true self. In our everyday experience, the irrational soul is drawn down into the physical body by its desires and merged with it, so that our perception of the world is limited to that delivered by the physical senses. The rational soul is beyond our conscious knowledge, but sometimes communicates via images, dreams, and other means. The task of the philosopher is to refine and eventually extract the irrational soul from its bondage, hence the need for moral development, and then to connect with the rational soul, and so become a complete person, manifesting the higher spiritual essence of the person whilst in the physical. True rationalism is therefore not simply an intellectual process, but a shift in perception and a shift in the qualitative nature of the person. The rational soul perceives the world in a spiritual manner - it sees the Platonic Forms - the essence of what things are. To know the world in this way requires that one first know oneself as a soul, hence the requirement to 'know thyself', i.e. to know who you truly are.
Socrates did not publish or write any of his thoughts, but he was constantly in discussion with others. He would usually start by asking a rhetorical (seemingly answerable) question, to which the other would give an answer. Socrates would then continue to ask questions until all conflicts were resolved, or until the other could do nothing else but admit to not knowing the answer (which was what most of his discussions ended with). Socrates did not claim to know the answers, but that did not take away the ability to critically and rationally approach problems. His goal was to show that ultimately our intellectual approach to the world is flawed, and we need to transcend this in order to obtain a true knowledge of what things are.
NeoplatonismNeoplatonism (also Neo-Platonism) is the modern term for a school of philosophy that took shape in the 3rd century AD, founded by the Egyptian philosopher Plotinus and based on the teachings of Plato and earlier Platonists. Neoplatonists considered themselves simply "Platonists", and the modern distinction is due to the perception that their philosophy contained enough unique interpretations of Plato to make it substantively different from what Plato wrote and believed.
Neoplatonism took definitive shape with the philosopher Plotinus, who claimed to have received his teachings from Ammonius Saccas, a dock worker and philosopher in Alexandria. Plotinus was also influenced by Alexander of Aphrodisias and Numenius. Plotinus's student Porphyry assembled his teachings into the six Enneads.
Subsequent Neoplatonic philosophers included Hypatia of Alexandria, Iamblichus, Proclus, Hierocles of Alexandria, Simplicius of Cilicia, and Damascius, who wrote On First Principles. Born in Damascus, he was the last teacher of Neoplatonism at Athens. Neoplatonism strongly influenced Christian thinkers (such as Augustine, Boethius, Pseudo-Dionysius, John Scotus Eriugena, and Bonaventura). Neoplatonism was also present in medieval Islamic and Jewish thinkers such as al-Farabi and Maimonides, and experienced a revival in the Renaissance with the acquisition and translation of Greek and Arabic Neoplatonic texts.
René Descartes (1596–1650)Descartes thought that only knowledge of eternal truths – including the truths of mathematics, and the epistemological and metaphysical foundations of the sciences – could be attained by reason alone; other knowledge, the knowledge of physics, required experience of the world, aided by the scientific method. He also argued that although dreams appear as real as sense experience, these dreams cannot provide persons with knowledge. Also, since conscious sense experience can be the cause of illusions, then sense experience itself can be doubtable. As a result, Descartes deduced that a rational pursuit of truth should doubt every belief about reality. He elaborated these beliefs in such works as Discourse on Method, Meditations on First Philosophy, and Principles of Philosophy. Descartes developed a method to attain truths according to which nothing which cannot be recognised by the intellect (or reason) can be classified as knowledge. These truths are gained "without any sensory experience", according to Descartes. Truths that are attained by reason are to be broken down into elements which intuition can grasp, which, through a purely deductive process, will result in clear truths about reality.
Descartes therefore argued, as a result of his method, that reason alone determined knowledge, and that this could be done independently of the senses. For instance, his famous dictum, cogito ergo sum, is a conclusion reached a priori and not through an inference from experience. This was, for Descartes, an irrefutable principle upon which to ground all forms of other knowledge. Descartes posited a metaphysical dualism, distinguishing between the substances of the human body ("res extensa") and the mind or soul ("res cogitans") . This crucial distinction would be left unresolved and lead to what is known as the mind-body problem, since the two substances in the Cartesian system are independent of each other and irreducible.
Gottfried Leibniz (1646–1716)Leibniz was the last of the great Rationalists, who contributed heavily to other fields such as mathematics. His system however was not developed independently of these advances. Leibniz rejected Cartesian dualism, and denied the existence of a material world. In Leibniz's view there are infinitely many simple substances, which he called "monads" (possibly taking the term from the work of Anne Conway).
Leibniz developed his theory of monads in response to both Descartes and Spinoza. In rejecting this response he was forced to arrive at his own solution. Monads are the fundamental unit of reality, according to Leibniz, constituting both inanimate and animate things. These units of reality represent the universe, though they are not subject to the laws of causality or space (which he called "well-founded phenomena"). Leibniz therefore introduced his principle of pre-established harmony, in order to account for apparent causality in the world.
Immanuel Kant (1724–1804)Immanuel Kant started as a traditional rationalist, having studied the rationalists Leibniz and Wolff, but after studying David Hume's works, which "awoke [him] from [his] dogmatic slumbers", he developed a distinctive and very influential rationalism of his own which attempted to synthesise the traditional rationalist and empiricist traditions.
- Audi, Robert (ed., 1999), The Cambridge Dictionary of Philosophy, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 1995. 2nd edition, 1999.
- Blackburn, Simon (1996), The Oxford Dictionary of Philosophy, Oxford University Press, Oxford, UK, 1994. Paperback edition with new Chronology, 1996.
- Bourke, Vernon J. (1962), "Rationalism", p. 263 in Runes (1962).
- Lacey, A.R. (1996), A Dictionary of Philosophy, 1st edition, Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1976. 2nd edition, 1986. 3rd edition, Routledge, London, UK, 1996.
- Runes, Dagobert D. (ed., 1962), Dictionary of Philosophy, Littlefield, Adams, and Company, Totowa, NJ.
- 17th Century Philosophy
- Cartesian linguistics
- Higher criticism
- John Ruskin
- Natural philosophy
- Nature versus nurture
- Philosophical realism
- Poverty of the stimulus
- Platonic realism
- Psychological nativism
- Rationalist International
- Rationalist movement
- Rational mysticism
- Tabula rasa
- Markie, Peter (2004), "Rationalism vs. Empiricism", Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Edward N. Zalta (ed.),
- John F. Hurst (1867), History of Rationalism Embracing a Survey of the Present State of Protestant Theology
rationalism in Catalan: Racionalisme
rationalism in Czech: Racionalismus
rationalism in Danish: Rationalisme
rationalism in German: Rationalismus
rationalism in Modern Greek (1453-): Ορθολογισμός
rationalism in Spanish: Racionalismo
rationalism in Persian: خردگرایی
rationalism in French: Rationalisme
rationalism in Croatian: Racionalizam
rationalism in Indonesian: Rasionalisme
rationalism in Italian: Razionalismo
rationalism in Hebrew: רציונליזם
rationalism in Georgian: რაციონალიზმი
rationalism in Dutch: Rationalisme
rationalism in Norwegian: Rasjonalisme
rationalism in Norwegian Nynorsk: Rasjonalisme
rationalism in Japanese: 合理主義哲学
rationalism in Uzbek: Ratsionalizm
rationalism in Polish: Racjonalizm filozoficzny
rationalism in Portuguese: Racionalismo
rationalism in Russian: Рационализм (философия)
rationalism in Finnish: Rationalism
rationalism in Simple English: Rationalism
rationalism in Slovak: Rozumové poznanie
rationalism in Turkish: Akılcılık
rationalism in Ukrainian: Раціоналізм
rationalism in Urdu: عقلیت
rationalism in Chinese: 欧洲理性主义
Buddhology, Mariolatry, Mariology, Mercersburg theology, apologetics, canonics, crisis theology, deduction, deductive reasoning, demonstration, dialogical theology, discourse, discourse of reason, discursive reason, divinity, doctrinalism, doctrinism, dogmatics, eschatology, existential theology, hagiography, hagiology, hierology, induction, inductive reasoning, logical thought, logos Christology, logos theology, natural theology, neoorthodox theology, neoorthodoxy, patristic theology, phenomenological theology, philosophy, physicotheology, proof, ratiocination, rationality, rationalization, rationalizing, reason, reasonableness, reasoning, religion, scholastic theology, secularism, sophistry, soteriology, specious reasoning, sweet reason, systematics, theology | <urn:uuid:5791f275-fa68-4aef-8c35-654f077da124> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | https://rationalism.askdefine.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323711.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20170628153051-20170628173051-00561.warc.gz | en | 0.935005 | 3,087 | 3.484375 | 3 |
Thank you for the details of an historical milestone.
On July 19th 1799, during Napoleon Bonaparte’sEgyptian campaign, a French soldier discovered a black basalt slab inscribed with ancient writing near the town of Rosetta, about 35 miles north of Alexandria.
More startlingly, the Greek passage announced that the three scripts were all of identical meaning. The artefact thus held the key to solving the riddle of hieroglyphics, a written language that had been “dead” for nearly 2,000 years.
When Napoleon, an emperor known for his enlightened view of education, art and culture, invaded Egypt in 1798, he took along a group of scholars and told them to seize…
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Categories: Historic world events | <urn:uuid:69e28665-8787-411c-b315-5d643f9d5932> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | https://technicality.me/2012/07/20/july-19-1799-rosetta-stone-found/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187823220.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20171019031425-20171019051356-00012.warc.gz | en | 0.972793 | 163 | 3.359375 | 3 |
The origin of the term “Leap Year”
Hello, readers. Happy Leap Year!
What are you going to do with your extra day?
Comment below and let us know or spend some time of your extra day checking out today’s Leap Year List to learn about the origin of the term “Leap Year!”
Did you know…
- … that the term “Leap Year” is thought to have originated because adding an extra day to the year caused a “leap” in the Church calendar of festivals? (Word Histories and Mysteries)
- … that Leap Year is a year that contains one more day than the usual calendar year, and that the additional day is now added at the end of February, on today’s date: February 29th? (Collins Dictionary of Astronomy)
- … that according to the Collins Dictionary of Astronomy, the year is extended during Leap Year to contain one more day so that the average length of the year is brought closer to the tropical year of 365.2422 days or to the lunar year? (Collins Dictionary of Astronomy)
- …. that in the Gregorian calendar – any year whose date is a number exactly divisible by four is a Leap Year, except for years ending in 00, which must be divisible by 400 to be Leap Years? (The Crystal Reference Encyclopedia)
Enjoy your extra day this year! | <urn:uuid:6b56eaab-ca79-4778-84c4-ac7f6383185d> | CC-MAIN-2014-35 | http://blog.credoreference.com/2012/02/the-origin-of-the-term-leap-year/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-35/segments/1409535924501.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20140909014252-00491-ip-10-180-136-8.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.929732 | 298 | 3.234375 | 3 |
A Samurai of Antarctic Exploration.
Nobu Shirase (1861-1946) was a man of outstanding qualities and passion. As a boy he developed an enduring interest in polar exploration. Military conflicts punctuated his life and hampered his dreams.
He was seven when Japan was convulsed by the civil Boshin War of 1868-69. The conflict was partially triggered by foreign interference in Japanese affairs, but in the end it accelerated the process of modernisation. A photo from this period illustrates these trends, where the old-style samurai mingled with warriors in military uniforms. If born earlier Shirase could have become a samurai, but instead he went to military school and at the age of 20 joined the Army.
In 1893-94 Shirase spent a year in the Alaskan Arctic on a covert military assignment. He experienced extreme deprivation and hardship in the polar winter which decimated his crew – Shirase was one of two surviving officers. The first Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95 was not an ideal time for exploration, nor was the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05.
Shirase must have had ambitious ideas, possibly to march to the North Pole. When two Americans - Frederick Cook and Robert Peary - claimed they reached the North Pole in 1908 and 1909, Shirase turned his eye to the South Pole. It was hard to raise enough money or to find sponsors in the post-war period. However, he received small donations from individual people whom he described as from the ‘student class’.
In November 1910 the Shirase expedition of 27 men and 30 dogs was ready to depart to the Antarctic. By then the Norwegian expedition led by Roald Amundsen and the British expedition by Robert Falcon Scott were on the way. They both reached the South Pole just one month apart, in December 1911 and January 1912 respectively. Meanwhile Shirase attempted to land on the Antarctic in March 1911, but it was too late in the season and the party sought shelter, additional provisions and money in Sydney where they arrived in May.
Unfriendly reception and suspicion of espionage made Shirase’s seven months camping at Sydney Harbour a highly distressing experience. It’s possible that the helping hand and friendly support offered by Professor Tennatt David propped up Shirase’s resolve and made the 1912 exploration of the Antarctic possible. David, a celebrated geologist and polar explorer, only three years earlier took part in the Mawson expedition to locate the South Magnetic Pole. On his departure from Sydney, Shirase gave David his highly treasured samurai sword as a gesture of respect, gratitude and friendship.
The Shirase party explored the Ross Ice Shelf some 160 miles ‘inland,’ as well as the coastal areas of King Edward VII Land. He returned to Tokyo in 1912 as a hero. But he dedicated many years to repay the enormous debt for the expedition and to document and publish the records of the explorations. He witnessed the turbulent times of Japanese military expansion during the World War I and the tragedy of the Second Sino-Japanese War of 1937-45 (World War II). These tumultuous times were not favourable for explorations which required peace and international cooperation.
During the last years, nearly forgotten, Shirase lived in a modest rented room above a fish shop where he died in 1946.
Samurai were the warriors or military nobility in pre-industrial Japan. The term can be found in the 10th century Japanese poetry.
Chet Ross. 2010. Lieutenant Nobu Shirase and the Japanese Antarctic Expedition of 1910-1912: A Bibliography. Published Adelie Books, Santa Monica | <urn:uuid:1956b929-fa26-444e-b247-fad181991a5f> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://australianmuseum.net.au/BlogPost/Science/Our-Global-Neighbours-Nobu-Shirase | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1393999677501/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305060757-00041-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969924 | 746 | 3.28125 | 3 |
From Ohio History Central
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English soldiers under various commanders, including Henry Bird and Henry Hamilton, conducted raids with their native allies against American outposts, such as Fort Laurens, in the Ohio Country. American military commanders, such as Archibold Lochry, George Rogers Clark, Daniel Brodhead, David Williamson, Edward Hand, and William Crawford, also attacked the British and their Native American allies. On several occasions, the American military destroyed native settlements and murdered Indian captives. The most brutal example of this was the Gnadenhutten Massacre in 1782. Once the war ended in 1783, tensions continued to remain high between the Americans and the Indians. Violence continued as settlers moved into the territory won from the English in the American Revolution.
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Those six novelists were featured in 300 different articles, published since 1967.
With 112 scholarly articles, Toni Morrison has been a featured author more than any other writer in AAR.
During the 1970s, Richard Wright was the most featured author.
But by the late 1980s, scholars began to write about Morrison more than Wright and others.
The largest number of articles were written about Baldwin, Ellison, Hurston, Morrison, Wright, and Walker during the 1990s and 2000s, which signaled a notably generative moment in the scholarly discourse on African American literature.
The scholarly articles were produced by 282 different scholars. Only 11 of the articles were co-authored. | <urn:uuid:7a86b9d8-b0a9-49d5-8b1b-f3f39321bcdf> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | http://blacklitnetwork.org/data-gallery/aar-featured-authors/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296943746.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20230321193811-20230321223811-00678.warc.gz | en | 0.986664 | 139 | 2.65625 | 3 |
Amnion is a protective tissue that forms the amniotic sac surrounding a baby during pregnancy. The amniotic membrane is carefully recovered and donated after a full-term, healthy delivery (by Caesarean section). Amnion is rich in growth factors and anti-inflammatory proteins that may aid in the healing process and reduce scar tissue formation.
The use of amnion is relatively new in the field of orthopedics. However, early research has demonstrated that the use of amnion is beneficial for wound and soft-tissue healing after surgery. Amnion comes in different forms, including thick and thin patches and a liquid, for different applications in orthopedics. Your surgeon will discuss the potential use and effects of amnion and how it may help your condition. | <urn:uuid:6dbe4e38-1abe-4d85-ab49-4ef2f21167c5> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | https://www.orthoillustrated.com/orthobiologics/amnion | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250604849.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20200121162615-20200121191615-00026.warc.gz | en | 0.962953 | 162 | 2.84375 | 3 |
Definition from Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Audio (US) (file)
- Country in East Asia whose territory consists of the northern part of Korea. Official name: Democratic People's Republic of Korea
2013 April 9, Andrei Lankov, “Stay Cool. Call North Korea’s Bluff.”, New York Times:
- A closer look at North Korean history reveals what Pyongyang’s leaders really want their near-farcical belligerence to achieve — a reminder to the world that North Korea exists, and an impression abroad that its leaders are irrational and unpredictable.
Democratic People's Republic of Korea | <urn:uuid:d508d792-7656-4b94-902c-4ec40c7dd3ee> | CC-MAIN-2014-23 | http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/North_Korea | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1406510273766.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20140728011753-00263-ip-10-146-231-18.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.828712 | 131 | 3.28125 | 3 |
Exploring the Intersections of Trauma and Gender
“After a traumatic experience, the human system of self-preservation seems to go onto permanent alert, as if the danger might return at any moment.”
Trauma has been a part of human history for centuries. Wars, natural disasters, accidents, and other forms of violence have affected people’s lives and have had left long-lasting consequences. It can have a profound impact on individuals, families, and communities, affecting their physical, emotional, and psychological wellbeing. The term ‘trauma’ has been derived from the ancient Greek word ‘τραύμα’ meaning injury. However, the systematic study of trauma began much later in the 20th century AD. Charcot reported that many patients of hysteria had a history of childhood abuse. Eventually Freud also coined the ‘concept of repression’ which involves suppressing traumatic memories away from our consciousness. Then around the world wars, it was observed that many of the war soldiers reported symptoms like hypervigilance, insomnia, anxiety, nightmares etc. It was assumed that the shock that the brain suffered in war has led to the symptoms and hence the historical diagnosis of ‘shell shock’ became prevalent. However, later it was noticed that even those who had vicariously witnessed the trauma of war manifested similar symptoms and thus came about the diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or PTSD. Anyone can experience trauma, regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, or social status. However, men and women have different experiences of trauma and may exhibit different symptoms and this has significant implications for their recovery and healing.
Men are more likely to experience trauma because of accidents, natural disasters, and exposure to war and conflict. They may exhibit symptoms such as anger, aggression, and emotional detachment. Women, on the other hand, are more likely to experience trauma because of sexual and physical violence. They may exhibit symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Gender differences in trauma are significant and have implications for recovery and healing. Men and women may experience trauma differently and may exhibit different symptoms. For example, women who have experienced sexual violence may experience symptoms such as shame, guilt, and low self-esteem. Men who have experienced trauma may feel pressure to be strong and may be less likely to seek help.
One form of trauma that disproportionately affects women and girls is the trauma of gender-based violence. Gender-based violence includes physical, sexual, and emotional violence that
is directed at women because of their gender. It can include domestic violence, sexual assault, rape, forced marriage, and female genital mutilation. It is a human rights violation and a significant public health concern. It affects millions of women and girls worldwide, leading to long-lasting physical, emotional, and psychological consequences. Women who experience gender-based violence may suffer from depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health issues. They may also experience physical health problems such as sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies, and reproductive health problems.
Trauma-informed care is an approach to healthcare that recognizes the impact of trauma on individuals and seeks to create a safe and supportive environment for healing. Trauma-informed care involves understanding the unique experiences of trauma survivors and providing care that is sensitive to their needs.
Trauma-informed care can be particularly effective in addressing gender-based violence. It involves creating a safe and supportive environment for survivors to disclose their experiences, providing education about trauma and its impact, and offering appropriate support and referrals to services. Trauma-informed care also involves recognizing the impact of trauma on healthcare providers and creating a supportive work environment for them. Trauma is a significant public health concern that affects millions of people worldwide. Raising awareness about gendered aspect of trauma is an essential step towards creating a safer and more equitable society.
Author: Dr. Shalini Mittal,
Assistant Professor (Psychology),
School of Liberal Arts, | <urn:uuid:2b6dbc1a-dd8e-4307-bcef-65a037f2bb9c> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://www.bennett.edu.in/media-center/blog/exploring-the-intersections-of-trauma-and-gender/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510983.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20231002064957-20231002094957-00800.warc.gz | en | 0.963499 | 823 | 3.90625 | 4 |
Worksheet ExamplesThe following includes a set of examples of worksheet where some students have had difficulties. If you use these examples as a guideline, it will help to improve your work.
You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these examples.
Worksheet 3 - Recalled Food Intake
Worksheet 6 - Food Guide Pyramid
Worksheet 7 - Food Label
Worksheet 12 - Energy Needs
Worksheet 13 - Carbohydrate Recommendations
Worksheet 15 - Fat Recommendations
Worksheet 18 - Protein Recommendations
Worksheet 21 - Caloric Balance | <urn:uuid:4b214e1c-892d-48ad-887c-6883cf27b48e> | CC-MAIN-2014-35 | http://faculty.deanza.edu/coltrindorothy/stories/storyReader$74 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-35/segments/1409535919066.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20140901014519-00017-ip-10-180-136-8.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.769054 | 114 | 3.125 | 3 |
The American Heritage Dictionary defines accident : An unintentional and unexpected undesirable event. as “an unexpected undesirable event.”
Many of the experts who study accidents and encourage safe practices believe that there is some personal or physical factor responsible in every accident. Some of the personal factors that may be responsible for causing accidents are:
- Stress: People who are under stress may be distracted from their work by thoughts of worry, anger, sorrow, love, or hate.
- Illness: When a person is ill, he or she may not be able to give all the attention necessary to a task.
- Fatigue: If a person does not get sufficient sleep, for whatever reason, he or she may be less alert to the requirements of the job.
- Lack of Job Knowledge: When a person is not sufficiently trained for the job or task and its safety hazards, accidents can more readily occur.
- Age: There are more accidental deaths at age 18 than at any other age. As people age, they normally have a reduction in vision and strength and an increase in reaction time. Wisdom and a concern for the results of personal actions normally increase with age. However, the age at which these changes take place varies considerably.
- Lack of Wisdom: This is the lack of intelligence and experience to know when an action may cause an accident. “Horseplay” and practical joking have no place in a shop. There are too many hard and sharp items that you could bump into or fall on.
- Poor Attitude: How you feel about yourself and your job has much to do with a good attitude toward safety rules, housekeeping, and the wearing of safety equipment and guards.
- Drugs: The use of alcohol, street drugs, and some prescription drugs will affect reflexes, perception, coordination, and judgment.
Some of the physical factors responsible or involved in shop accidents are:
- Equipment Failure: Hazardous equipment that is poorly maintained is an accident waiting to happen.
- Time of Day: Starting and quitting times may be the most congested and dangerous periods in the shop. After lunch, some people become less attentive.
- Housekeeping: Metal pieces, hoses, cables, dirt and oil on the shop floor, and poorly stored cylinders and combustibles often are factors in shop accidents.
Most of the conditions listed are in the control of the worker. Even if you cannot control them, you should be aware of their effects on safety. Three of the most important factors in safety on the job are:
- Staying healthy in mind and body.
- Becoming well-trained in the required job or task and its possible hazards involved.
- Having a good attitude toward safety rules, equipment, and training on the job. | <urn:uuid:e91732f3-edaf-4d90-b472-3d089f14db23> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | http://www.halversoncts.com/11-accidents.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371880945.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20200409220932-20200410011432-00430.warc.gz | en | 0.947211 | 564 | 3.28125 | 3 |
Most teen and young adults are influenced by technology. Technology is a great thing in today’s society. It makes everything at least 10x’s faster than doing it by hand or the traditional way. Although there is one big thing that comes with technology, that is Social Media. Since this has become popular, there has been a lot conflict and also a lot of benefits that come with of Social Media.
For example, Social Media has had a good impact by showing our generation a “short-cut” to the more difficult things we encounter daily. These “short-cuts” though may not be healthy for our generation or the next. One particular way in which Social Media and technology has a negative impact would be its role in schools. Students are more tempted to go to Google and type in a question and get the answer rather than using a book or notes to find the answer themselves. It is believed that in the long run, minds will be damaged and people will become incompetent without technology.
Despite the negative effect that comes out of technology and social media today, there are several advantages that are given. Technology makes everything much faster. Pressing send on a text message can send a text message hundreds of thousands miles away in just seconds. While 20+ years ago that wasn’t possible and you’d have to write things by hand and send it in the mail. Social Media can give quick access to friends you’ve lost contact with and gives you a chance to follow the lives of famous celebs and music artist.
With the changes in the world and the huge impact of Social Media will our generation become technology consumed? Will there be in class teachers? Will the world become a cyber circle? Or will the world stay at the same level of technology today?
Summer Youth Intern | <urn:uuid:bc135554-ca91-4b0b-9538-48ecbcec9a2d> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | http://www.dpsfdn.org/impact-of-technology-social-media-on-our-generation-1980-2005-by-tamia-morrissette/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128322873.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20170628065139-20170628085139-00465.warc.gz | en | 0.960529 | 371 | 3.140625 | 3 |
Keeping everything and everybody clean is a noble goal for camping but children and dirt have a mutual attraction that is a big part of the fun of camping.
A good goal is to ensure you have some clean clothes and some wet wipes, or warm water and a face washer to de-grime before jumping in the car for the return journey; never underestimate the awesome de-grubbifying ability of a face washer and soapy water.
Camp etiquette relates to managing your impact on the people and landscape around you. As a broad guide the following guidelines are very important to ensure you share the space well and protect the landscape you are enjoying:
- Stay on track: try to avoid as much as possible impacting too heavily on the bush around you. The reason you love going camping is the interaction with nature but that can only happen if we do what we can to not scar or damage the landscape.
- Pack it in - pack it out: anything you take into the bush needs to be taken back out so pack accordingly.
- For self-supported expeditions a strong waterproof dry sack can be used to compress rubbish down. They can also be used in cars as they keep the contents and smells in. This also helps keep the wildlife from taking too close an interest in your rubbish. A great idea for car-based camping is a strong waterproof bag that can be tied to the roof rack or, in the case of 4wd vehicles with a spare tyre on the back door, attached to the spare.
- Make sure any rubbish you do put in is crushed down to as small a space as possible.
- Leave it as you find it (with the possible exception of footprints).
- Keep wildlife wild; avoid feeding local wildlife, it disrupts their natural feeding patterns and can also lead to unwanted interactions with campers. Observe and take photographs by all means but give them as much space as possible. This may be difficult with wildlife that is determined to get to your supply of chocolate but be sure to store as much of your food as you can in airtight containers.
- Share the space: be considerate of other people as well as the wildlife so keep the noise down after dark and please, loud music, engines and generators can really impact on other peoples enjoyment so be mindful of other people’s right to enjoy the great outdoors as well.
- Toilets: the majority of established campsites have, at the very least, pit toilets. If caught short or if you are in an area without pit toilets the golden rule is to bury human waste as deep as you can; in a hole at least 20cm deep and at least 100m from a trail or stream. | <urn:uuid:84661a89-67fb-45e4-8e2f-b3c7e4496c1a> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | http://www.natureplaycbr.org.au/things-to-do/camping-climbing/intro-to-camping-videos/episode-8-keeping-it-clean | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320823.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20170626152050-20170626172050-00023.warc.gz | en | 0.966562 | 549 | 2.53125 | 3 |
If we talk about flowers, then there are many benefits we can’t write down completely. When we imagine life and nature without flowers, it seems like a black and white movie or a drama without sound. The gift of nature, flowers are very beautiful gifts we are blessed with. Here we are going to tell you about the importance of flowers in this article you should know. So here you go!
The primary objective behind blossoms is to help in plant multiplication. Blossoms give an eye-getting quality to a generally plain, green-leaved plant. At the point when creepy crawlies, winged animals, and a few bats plunge down to investigate the bloom and take its nectar, they are unintentionally pollinating the plants by moving dust or plant sperm from the male stamens to the female pistils. That’s how it works and helps to get more and more flowers around you. So, now you know how nature beautifies our earth through flowers!
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Nectar For Insects, Birds, and Bats
There is an assortment of creepy crawlies that devour the nectar of blossoms, yet the most remarkable ones are honey bees, wasps, ants, and butterflies. Since these blossoms depend on an external source to fertilize them, a few plants have developed to make themselves much more alluring to their pollinators. The honey bee orchid has even advanced to show up as though a female honey bee is on the orchid when the truth is told, the “honey bee” is important for the blossom. The hibiscus and trumpet plant blossoms have developed with the goal that their nectar can be effectively taken and their dust effortlessly communicated by hummingbirds and sunbirds.
Nectar and dust eating bats feed on blossoms from agave, organ line, carbon, and saguaro. As indicated by Katy Hinman, these plants have advanced uniquely to open their flowers around evening time, consequently delivering their nectar and dust when advantageous for bats. In case you are about to order flowers online for your beloved ones, order some plants too for your backyard so that you can help some other living creatures around you.
Food Source for Humans
Rose or other flower petals, like daylilies, dandelions, carnations, clovers, and daisies have been utilized in cooking and teas for quite a long time. Citrus and banana blossoms can likewise be a food source. The blooms from chives, garlic, basil, jasmine, lavender, oregano, and sage can be utilized as spices and flavors in food dishes. Many teas are made from flowers or herbs that help you to get fit and delicate health. From little things to big, there are lots of things we go from flowers or nature. Without them, our lives would be meaningless and impossible.
Food Source for Animals
Herbivorous animals like rabbits and deers are the monster bloom hunters in the animal section collectively. Pansies and Geraniums are the first to be eaten, as are blossoming vegetables. Raccoons, skunks, and groundhogs likewise snack on blossoms occasionally. This is how nature helps animals to have food, give them shelter.
We depend on nature and animals to live healthy and easy lives, but animals only depend on nature like it is their home. So, learn the importance of nature and play your role in making the environment healthy and safe.
Numerous blossoms have restorative uses, for example, begonia for killing poisons in the body and calendula, sunflower, and honeysuckle to treat sore throats and tonsillitis. Cornflower can be utilized to treat skin inflammation, while valerian and California poppy mitigate feminine issues. Cats even use blossoms to cause heaving and accordingly wipe out stomach trouble.
Moreover, some plants like Peace Lily work as air purifiers. So, if you want to send flowers online to Chandigarh for your loved ones, you can give them a plant having the flowers of Lilies.
Flowers are the best thing that we can take first in the process of sharing our love feelings. When we feel shy and short of words, flowers express your heart’s feelings and complete your words. Every sentiment can be represented by flowers such as a red rose to express the love feeling; yellow flowers express true friendship, white flowers express purity and respect towards the relationship.
Beyond expressing feelings, they work as mood changers. In the competitive life, everyone has to struggle with something eviler and worse, in that if we present them flowers, the gloomy face turns into a smiley one. Thus, we can say that flowers are known for happiness and positive vibes. | <urn:uuid:9413ac1d-7410-4104-bd08-85035175fd01> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://getdailybuzz.com/importance-of-flowers-in-nature-you-should-know-about/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233508959.20/warc/CC-MAIN-20230925083430-20230925113430-00270.warc.gz | en | 0.944779 | 1,005 | 2.953125 | 3 |
I've never worked on a Atari 2600 before. The first time I did, I wasn't getting anything on my old box TV. Not being able to do much at the time, I decided to check the voltage. The output voltage is 9v DC, but I was getting 15v DC. Yesterday I got my hands on another Atari 2600, so I decided to check the voltage again... it's also 15v DC. Is this the actual voltage, or do both power supplies have a short (or something)?
The design of the Atari 2600, and many other devices that use "9-volt DC" wall bricks, doesn't really care about receiving exactly 9 volts, subject to a few constraints:
The voltage must be far enough about 5 volts to allow a cheap regulator circuit to convert it into 5 volts.
There is an upper limit which will cause essentially immediate damage--typically somewhere between 15-35 volts.
Heat dissipation in the regulator will be proportional to product of load current times the amount by which the input exceeds 5 volts. A 13-volt supply will produce twice as much heat in the regulator as a 9-volt supply, but under conditions of light loading that won't be an issue.
The Atari 2600 draws a moderate amount of current itself, but cartridges draw additional current from the same supply, so total current draw may depend upon what cartridge is being used. On the other hand, a typical unregulated "9 volt" supply will only produce voltages significantly above 9 volts under conditions of light loading when heat dissipation isn't likely to pose a problem. | <urn:uuid:69862b3e-5879-4941-ab54-af4b03c0b7c6> | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | https://retrocomputing.stackexchange.com/questions/1709/atari-2600-high-voltage-output | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593657147031.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20200713225620-20200714015620-00223.warc.gz | en | 0.95426 | 321 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Pushing the limits of infrared spectroscopy
The Berkeley Synchrotron Infrared Structural Biology (BSISB) imaging program is a national user program at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) in Berkeley, California. BSISB offers specialized experimental capabilities that make use of the high-intensity (bright) synchrotron radiation produced by the Advanced Light Source (ALS) — a ring-shaped particle accelerator — to study organisms and biomaterials at spatial dimensions smaller than the eye can see.
The acceleration of electrons along the curved path of the ALS ring to near the speed of light causes the emission of a broad spectrum of bright light, ranging from x-ray to infrared wavelengths. While x-rays can rupture molecular bonds, infrared light only has enough energy to excite their natural vibration modes. At BSISB, we take advantage of this principle to use a broad spectral range of infrared light to probe a sample’s biomolecular composition, or even to observe biogeochemical processes happening in real time. The use of non-invasive synchrotron infrared (SIR) light also allows us to work with living cells in a non-destructive, label-free approach.
BSISB is the only user resource sponsored by the US Department of Energy Biological and Environmental Research program (DOE/BER) to solely employ SIR light for experimental research. Through ALS beamlines 1.4, 2.4, and 5.4, BSISB users have access to world leading synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared (SR-FTIR or sFTIR) spectromicroscopy and synchrotron infrared nano-spectroscopy (SINS) capabilities.
We actively collaborate with ALS staff to develop new capabilities — such as a bi-modal chemical imaging technique that combines sFTIR spectromicroscopy with spatially resolved mass spectrometry — as we strive to push the limits of this exciting analytical field. With SINS, we can now achieve a less-than-20-nm spot size (spatial resolution) on biological samples using plasmonic tips with an atomic force microscopy (AFM) setup.
This is just a brief introduction to synchrotron infrared spectroscopy and the Capabilities that BSISB offers. To learn more about recent scientific breakthroughs supported by our program, continue reading below and then visit our Highlights and Publications pages. We use infrared radiation beamlines to study live materials and organisms.
Enabling scientific breakthroughs
Did you know that a microbial community’s climate history dictates its metabolic response to future changes in climate? That’s what a team of LBNL earth and environmental science researchers recently discovered, using a combination of field experiments and laboratory work — including sFTIR spectromicroscopy, through the BSISB program.
Have you ever wondered what “disease” looks like at the cellular level — or how a complex disease can manifest from just a single cell? BSISB is helping scientists answer this question by developing new capabilities to support live cell imaging. Using microfluidic membrane devices, we’re supporting the development of new methods for the rapid identification of time-dependent infrared spectral features that could be indicative of chemical abnormality associated with disease in individual cells.
Can we engineer living biomass systems for use in targeted bioremediation efforts, or the production of biodiesel? Researchers around the world are exploring these and similar challenges — and many of them bring their experimental work to BSISB. Our staff helped a team from the country of Georgia to track the time-dependent accumulation of toxic heavy metals in soil bacteria, as they work to develop targeted bioremediation technologies.
Of course, these are just a few examples of the variety of work that BSISB supports. To learn more, visit our Capabilities page, read some of our recent Publications, and then explore our FAQs page.
This SIR spectral time series was captured using a microfluidic membrane device. (Holman et al., 2021)
Engineered strains of cyanobacterium produce distinct hydrocarbon signatures that correlate with lipid content. (Hu et al., 2013)
Supported by DOE/BER and other funding organizations
BSISB is primarily supported by the US Department of Energy’s Biological Science Systems Division/Structural Biology Program, through the agency’s Biological and Environmental Research (DOE/BER) program, under contract no. DE-AC02-05CH11231.
The DOE/BER program supports scientific research and facilities to achieve a predictive understanding of complex biological, earth, and environmental systems with the aim of advancing the nation’s energy and infrastructure security.
Other synergistic contributions from funding organizations include the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the Targeted Evaluation of Ionizing Radiation Exposure (TEI-REX) program of the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Agency (IARPA). | <urn:uuid:cc7df95d-135f-4152-b3c5-d02bcabbf0f5> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://bsisb.lbl.gov/wordpress/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296943484.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20230320144934-20230320174934-00326.warc.gz | en | 0.881451 | 1,026 | 3.03125 | 3 |
To exchange something is to give it to someone for something that they give you. The verb exchange is used with both for and with. There is a difference, though.We exchange something for something. We exchange something with someone.
I exchanged my old fridge for a new one. (= I gave my old fridge and got a new one.)
She exchanged her old clothes for new utensils.
She is eager to exchange her job in the private sector for a post in government.
We have to exchange dollars for rupees.
I would like to exchange my old desktop computer for a brand new laptop.
Gift coupons can be exchanged for goods.
The students exchanged pleasantries with each other. (NOT The students exchanged pleasantries for each other.)
I always exchange clothes with my sister.
They exchanged a few words with one another and left in haste. | <urn:uuid:f4506b98-9c48-4bb9-8129-f526f62a9200> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | http://perfectyourenglish.com/blog/exchange-for-vs-exchange-with/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224644506.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20230528182446-20230528212446-00531.warc.gz | en | 0.976113 | 187 | 3.234375 | 3 |
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THE LIFE AND WRITINGS
THE premature and lamented death of Lord Byron has deprived England of the brightest genius that has adorned the age in which we live. That he was entitled to the first place among living poets will hardly now be denied by any one. Those persons who, from the most honest feelings, regretted the levity and censured the immorality of some of his latter productions, were never backward in acknowledging the pre-eminence of talents which they wished to have seen otherwise directed it was only by the malignant and the envious that his powers were decried; and even their venom, now that the grave has closed upon Lord Byron, will be spared, because it is equally insignificant and impotent
To say that he had faults, and that they were many and great, is only to say that he was human: they were the faults of his age, of his education, of unfortunate circumstances-perhaps of a constitutional eccentricity. They were not so enormous but that a small portion of Christian charity may enable us to excuse them: their consequences fell on his own head; and we cannot but believe that the sufferings of his proud and wounded spirit would, if they could be appreciated, be allowed, even by his most severe censurers, to have expiated his offences.
But while those failings by which his character was marked, and which are the lot of humanity, are remembered, let it not be forgotten that he possessed rare and supreme powers, which, if they did not raise him above his species, made him one of its chief ornaments.
As a poet, he stands among the most eminent that England has ever
produced. Few, indeed, (and, among those who live, we may say, fear. less of contradiction, none,) have possessed at the same time an energy and intellectual grasp like his, together with his facility and gracefulness. There is no style of poetry that he has not essayed; there is none in which he has failed; there are some which he has left better than he found them, and which will, perhaps, owe their perfection to the genial influence of his example.
As a British nobleman, bis reputation is unsullied: he supported his rank with as much dignity as modesty. He was a gentleman of strict honour; a firm and warm-hearted friend ; a fervent lover of real liberty; and a patron of true merit and sound learning.
These are his claims to the respect of his cotemporaries-these are his titles to the admiration of posterity. That they may be fully understood, and that the honours which his memory deserves may be rendered to it universally, the following concise account of his life and writings has been undertaken. It is a debt which the country owes to itself and to him, that the merits of such a man should be known to the whole community. In the work which follows an attempt has been made to combine with a history of the principal events of Lord Byron's life so full and impartial an account of his works as may convey an accurate idea of their merits.
It was expected that the Memoirs written by the uoble deceased, and given by him to the author of Lalla Rookh,' would have been published. Had that hope not been frustrated, this work would probably never have seen the light. From a motive of delicacy towards the feelings of living persons, which, though it may be mistaken, is so amiable and disinterested that it deserves the highest praise, those Memoirs have lately been destroyed, and are lost to the world for ever. This posthumous record of the deceased nobleman had been deposited in the keeping of Mr. Thomas Moore, and designed as a legacy for his benefit. This gentleman, with the consent and at the desire of Lord Byron, had long ago sold the manuscript to Mr. Murray, for the sum of two thousand pounds. Since the death of Lord Byron, it occurred to some of the relatives of his lordship, that, although the noble author himself had given full authority for a disclosure of the document, some of his family might be wounded or shocked by it. Mr. Moore, therefore, appointed a time for meeting a near connexion of the noble lord (we believe his sister, Mrs. Legh); and, after a deliberate perusal of the work, finding that this lady apprehended from it much pain to the minds of many persons still living, though no
sort of imputation on her brother's memory, Mr. Moore, with a spirit and generosity which the better part of mankind will be at no loss to appreciate, placed the manuscript in the lady's hands, and permitted her to burn it in his presence! This sacrifice of self-interest, to lofty feeling was made on the 17th of May, and the next morning the two thousand pounds were repaid to Mr. Murray by Lord Byron's selfdestituted legatee.
To supply the deficiency occasioned by the loss of the Memoirs this history has been written, and it has been thought that no means could be more likely to effect its object than by putting the public in a situation to judge for themselves of the noble bard's merits; and since that appeal, which he had prepared with his own band, to be offered to those who should survive him, has been buried with him, his works must speak for him; and the history of his poetry must furnish forth the history of his life, accompanied by particulars derived from private and peculiar sources, and which have never yet been laid before the public.
Great as his loss would have been at any time, it is more to be regretted at this period, when he seemed to be about to lay aside for ever the extravagances which had marked his character, and to devote the energies of his exalted mind and his whole fortune to one of the noblest canses that ever called forth the sympathy of freemen.
Such, however, is the uncertainty of mortal events-such the disappointments which lie in wait to check the most honorable enterprises!
Fame is the spur that the clear spirit doth raise
To scorn delights and live laborious days;
But the fair guerdon when we hope to find,
Comes the blind Fury with th' abhorred shears
THE late Lord Byron was descended from a family more re markable for its antiquity, and for the heroism and talent which have at all times distinguished its various branches, than for the extent of the possessions which have been annexed to it. If it were worth
while, it would be easy to trace the ancestors of the late noble poet to those days of chivalry, when, the darkness of the age precluding men of ardent genius from the intellectual exertions which they now make with so much success, they carved themselves a lasting reputation by their bravery and prowess. It may, however, be sufficient for our present purpose only to remark, that the Byron family is at least as honorable as it is ancient; and that in England its history commences with the period of the Conquest, when we find that there were two nobles bearing the name of Buron, or Byron, in both of which ways it seems to have been commonly written. The consanguinity of these barons is not clearly made out; but that they were important personages, as well from their achievements as from the magnitude of their respective domains, is satisfactorily known. The more important of these barons, and that one from whom his English pedigree is to be traced, was Ralph de Burun, who, in the reign of William the Conqueror, held Horestan Castle, in the park of Horseley, and was besides the lord of other very extensive domaius in the counties of Derby and Nottingham. He was succeeded by his son Hugh de Burun in his title and estates. The eldest son of the latter, who was also called Hugh de Burun, almost as soon as he had reached man's estate, devoted himself to a religious life; and, having joined with his father in alienating a considerable portion of the family estate to the use of the Lenton Priory, in Nottinghamshire, he professed himself a monk of that religious establishment, and assumed the name of De Meschines. The diminished patrimony and the honours of his house then descended on his brother, Roger de Burun, who seemed also to be smitten with the family passion for giving to the Church some portion of their property; for, in the reign of Henry II. he appears to have granted lands to the monastery of Swiusted. John de Horestan, one of the members of this family, was distinguished among the English Crusaders under Richard I. for his zeal and courage. He fell at the siege of Askalon, and was buried in the church of the Holy Sepulchre.
In the reign of Henry II. we find the family name written Biroa, or Byron, instead of Burun, and thus it has remained ever since. Robert de Byron, the son of the last-mentioned Roger, added largely to the family possessions by his marriage with the heiress of the wealthy family of the Claytons, of Clayton, in Lancashire, at which place the family seat continued to be until the reign of Henry VIII. From Robert de Byron the glory of the family was transmitted by a succession of warriors, who all bore a prominent part in the domestic and
foreign contests in which the nation was engaged. In the reign of Henry VIII. we find Sir John Byron Constable of Nottingham Castle and Master of Sherwood Forest. He seems to have held a high place in the favour of his sovereign, as well by the offices which were intrusted to him as by the share he received of the spoils which the rapacity of the tyrant tore from the Church. On the dissolution of the religious houses, the church and priory of Newstead, the adjacent manor of Papelwick, and the Church patronage annexed to it, with certain other lands, were granted by Henry VIII. in the thirty-second year of his reign, to this Sir John Byron.
This abbey of Newstead, or De Novo Loco, was founded in the year 1170, by Henry II. as a Priory of Black Canons, and dedicated to the Holy Virgin. Its revenues had been increased by various benefactions, so that, at the Dissolution, they were estimated at about two hundred pounds. Sir John immediately fitted up part of the edifice; but the church was suffered to go to decay, though the south aisle was actually incorporated into the dwelling-house, and now contains some of the most habitable apartments. It has remained the family seat from the period we have mentioned to the present time; but, owing to some unfortunate family differences between the grandfather and the father of the late Lord Byron, the elder nobleman was induced to sell every thing belonging to the mansion, and not only to suffer every part, both of the house and grounds, to go to decay, but even to dilapidate great part of it, until he was stopped by an injunction in Chancery. During the minority of the late Lord Byron it remained nearly in this state; and even when he came of age his finances were not adequate to the task of repairing and restoring it thoroughly. Although much has been done to it since, its appearance is not greatly altered from that described in the following account, which was written in the year 1812. Lord Byron's poetry has rendered every thing relating to Newstead Abbey interesting; and it is impossible to read this description of the halls of his ancestors without feeling that its local peculiarities must have had a considerable share in producing that romantic and melancholy tone which pervades the greater and the better part of his productions:
The front of the abbey church has a most noble and majestic appearance, being built in the form of the west end of a cathedral, adorned with rich carvings and lofty pinnacles.
The castellated stables and offices are still to be seen, as the visitor enters into a sombre deserted court-yard, in the midst of which is a | <urn:uuid:ba188845-e800-4880-9cd5-6173461c4625> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://books.google.com.mm/books?id=_yyW-Wuwz6gC&pg=PA3&vq=%22From+peak+to+peak,+the+rattling+crags+among,+Leaps+the+live+thunder+!+Not+from+one+lone+cloud,+But+every%22&dq=editions:UOM39015020440569&lr=&output=html_text | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510924.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20231001173415-20231001203415-00741.warc.gz | en | 0.989149 | 2,524 | 2.8125 | 3 |
There is always something mysterious and difficult about term paper writing. If I were to tell you, you are given an assignment to travel to the unusual place and to provide the description of the surroundings in a manner of controversy, what would you do? Same can be applied to the term paper writing. There is a strong need to choose a standing-out controversial topic in the fields you are well acquainted with and write a custom essay or a term paper on the chosen topic. The topic can be chosen from the field of computer science or computers. You can show the reader the impact of computers on the modern society of today. You can concentrate on talking about impact of computers on children of today.
It is important to convince your reader through the series of undeniable or well-thought out and logic facts that what you are saying is completely true. After reading your term paper, the reader must share and support your point of view that is completely logically correct. Your term paper arguments must be laid out in a way you are presenting a speech and it is crucial for you to convince the auditory of investors to invest into your idea.
Here are a few strong tips you can follow while writing a good term paper. First tips, make sure to familiarize your audience with the topic using general terms and simple words. Second tip, go further deeper into description of the chosen topic. Third tip, present a controversial idea connected with the topic being discussed. Fourth tip, make sure to provide a whole array of the arguments or facts to support your main term paper topic or idea. Fifth tip, concentrate on providing evaluations along with opposing facts and arguments. Sixth tip, finish up with accurate fact presenting conclusion supported with short logical explanation. Seventh tip, make sure to provide short recommendation or solution to the discussed issue or problem. | <urn:uuid:7794b086-c5f0-4749-9409-4f69332dac6a> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://termpaperwritings.com/blog/term-papers-for-sale/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296945292.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20230325002113-20230325032113-00327.warc.gz | en | 0.952191 | 361 | 2.515625 | 3 |
This website, by Craig Goldwyn, documents a remarkable stereo photography technique from the 20th century, that enabled creation and viewing of stereo or 3D photos.
Many people will remember the View-Master which transported millions to beautiful and exotic places such as the redwood forests and the Taj Mahal.
The website features an antique stereo viewer cabinet, where you can view the first the first stereographs were made in the 1840s. You can see the stereo effects of stereo pairs if you have the necessary equipment.
In the website's Camera section you'll find than overview of the camera history, in the Viewer section you'll find the tools to display stereographs and in the Gallery section there is a handful of artists doing superb work in this medium.
Stereo photography has apparently lost its magic in the 21st century. Stereo or 3D digital cameras have not emerged in the consumer market. Regular film cameras are still available from Loreo Asia Ltd., but for the real digital die-hards, the only solution for creation of digital 3D images is to use techniques with dual digital cameras. | <urn:uuid:28e2a97f-1ac6-4058-9a6b-1a2991e2c7e4> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://www.dcviews.com/links/hl20900.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1394011017001/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305091657-00051-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.93076 | 224 | 3.0625 | 3 |
An executor is the person appointed in a will to administer the estate of a deceased person. He/she is entitled to take out a grant of probate to the estate of the deceased.
An administrator (administratix if female) extracts a grant in an intestate situation or in a testate situation where the executor has died.
Both executors and administrators are known as ‘legal personal representatives’.
Once a person undertakes the role of personal representative of an estate his/her role as a personal representative never ceases.
Who Can Be an Executor?
Pretty much anyone, provided they are not under a disability, and this includes a beneficiary can be an executor.
A professional such as an accountant or solicitor can also act as an executor. However an executor is not entitled to be paid for his services as of right so there should have been a charging clause inserted in the will.
An executor can be appointed expressly in the will or “according to tenor”-this derives from the tenor of the will and the functions assigned to them in the will.
There is no limit on the number of executors that can be appointed but no grant of administration shall be granted to more than 3 persons unless the Probate Officer otherwise directs.
An executor does not have to act; he can accept, reserve or renounce the executorship.
The Courts have decided that only in very serious cases will it order the removal of an executor.
The Role of an Executor
An executor’s job is to extract a grant of probate to the estate of the deceased and to administer the deceased’s estate.
The powers and duties of the executor date from the date of death of the deceased with the whole estate devolving to the executor.
An executor does not have to act and may renounce but once he/she takes on the role, he/she cannot renounce at a later date.
The Duties of an Executor
The first duty of an executor is to dispose of the body of the deceased. In practice, this will probably have been done by the deceased’s family.
The executor then needs to ascertain the precise value of the assets of the estate and protect them. This will involve ensuring that insurance is in place, where appropriate.
The executor must also ascertain all the liabilities of the estate such as taxes, outstanding claims, and outstanding debts. He/she must also ascertain all of the beneficiaries of the estate and check into prior gifts/inheritances that they may have received.
Then, the executor must prepare and swear an Inland Revenue affidavit which will list all assets and liabilities of the estate.
The executor then must lodge all the relevant documents in the Probate Office and extract a Grant of Probate. Once the Grant issues, he will gather in all the assets and dispose of those not being given to beneficiaries.
The executor must also pay all of the debts and expenses of the estate and distribute the assets, making sure that all taxes are paid. These taxes will include taxes due by the deceased prior to his death, all taxes arising out of the administration of the estate itself, and any inheritance taxes and capital gains taxes arising from distribution of assets.
Lastly, the executor must prepare an administration account where he accounts for all monies received and disbursed during the administration period.
- an executor cannot delegate his authority but may engage the services of other people to help him, eg experts such as a solicitor, accountant, taxation specialist, auctioneer to value property etc.
- an executor is not entitled to be paid for carrying out his duty but he is entitled to recover expenses incurred by him in the carrying out of his duty
- there is no obligation on the executor to give a copy of the will to anyone before it is admitted to probate, nor to inform a beneficiary of his interest
- the duties of a personal representative are for life
- there is no limit on the number of executors that can be appointed
- an executor can be appointed in a will or by implication, ie according to tenor (eg no executor is appointed in the will but someone is given the function of discharging the debts of the deceased).
The Powers of an Executor
An executor is given wide ranging powers by statute (the Succession Act, 1965) and by the will itself.
The statutory powers include:
- the power to sell all or any part of the estate to pay debts and to distribute the estate among the persons entitled
- the power to act as a trustee for the purposes of the Settled Land Acts
- the power to appropriate any part of the estate towards satisfaction of any share in the estate (subject to the provisions of section 55 of the Succession Act, 1965)
- the power to appoint trustees for an infant beneficiary
- the power to lease property for the administration of the estate
- the power to mortgage
- the power to settle claims and disputes.
Powers typically granted in a will include
- the power to appropriate without serving any notices or consents
- the power to invest or purchase authorised securities
- the power to employ agents/managers.
Executor, Guardian, and Trustee-What’s the Difference?
The role and duties of the executor have been set out above.
A trustee’s job is to carry out the wishes of the settlor as indicated in the trust.
The guardian’s role is to act in loco parentis to the child for whom he is appointed guardian.
If you are a personal representative, you would be well advised to seek the advice of a solicitor who can help advise you on all matters relating to the administration of the estate and who will explain fully all the declarations and documents that you will be required to sign.
By Terry Gorry Google+ | <urn:uuid:e5cd09ad-94bb-4280-8e15-2ac943acc7aa> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://makingawillireland.com/the-role-duties-and-powers-of-an-executor-in-the-administration-of-estates-and-probate/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886104634.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20170818102246-20170818122246-00536.warc.gz | en | 0.963954 | 1,229 | 2.765625 | 3 |
Dear EarthTalk: What ever happened to the idea of turning Mt. St. Helens into a national park?
— Esther Monaghan, Boston, MA
Mt. St. Helens, one of the less prominent yet massive peaks of Washington State’s Cascade Range, made history on May 18, 1980 by erupting with the force of 500 atomic bombs, devastating 230 square miles of formerly verdant forest and killing 57 people. After considerable debate about what to do with the decimated landscape in the aftermath, Congress sided with scientists advocating it be left alone for research and education. In 1982 Congress created the 172-square-mile Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument to be managed by the U.S. Forest Service, which had already been overseeing the forests on the flanks of the mountain as part of the surrounding 1.3 million acre Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
But in 2007 federal budget cuts coupled with diminishing visitation led the Forest Service to close one of its two primary visitor centers at Mt. St. Helens and scale back on its interpretive and management services. At that point, representatives from surrounding communities and environmental groups and U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell came together in an effort to convince Congress to switch Mt. St. Helens over to a national park, which would ensure a larger funding pool for visitor services and amenities and ideally spur more visitation, which would in turn mean more business for struggling local communities.
Instead of pushing for national park status, however, Cantwell and her Congressional colleagues asked the Forest Service to detail how they plan to protect Mt. St. Helens while expanding visitor services and recreational opportunities. The Forest Service subsequently put into place a new plan which, with help from the recently formed Mt. St. Helens Institute, would expand services and explore new options for overnight visitation. Tourism has since grown, but many still want to see Mt. St. Helens a national park.
Indeed, recent research by Michigan State University shows that national parks are huge economic engines, pumping nearly $13 billion in economic activity into gateway communities while supporting 250,000 jobs. “For every dollar spent on national parks, four dollars are returned to the economies of gateway communities,” says Sean Smith, policy director for the National Parks Conservation Association. “More than seven million people visited Washington’s national parks last year alone and national parks nationwide received near record-breaking visitors, despite one of the toughest economies in decades.”
But perhaps more important, says Smith, is that Mt. St. Helens “is likely the most iconic American landscape currently not in the national park system [with] natural, cultural and historic wonders on par with other parks such as Olympic, Zion, and Crater Lake.” He adds that national park status would better protect Mt. St. Helens’ natural treasures from potential housing developments and even a proposed open pit gold mine that would be visible from the main visitor center and would decimate one of the most remote and pristine parts of the Gifford Pinchot National Forest adjacent to Mt. St. Helens’ lower flanks.
While the debate continues, Mt. St. Helens remains an amazing example of Mother Nature’s fury and her restorative powers. Whether it’s a national monument or a national park, it’s well worth a visit. | <urn:uuid:17248583-87bb-44cf-bbe0-22f16f5ea766> | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | https://emagazine.com/mt-st-helen-struggles-for-national-park-status/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347402885.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20200529085930-20200529115930-00516.warc.gz | en | 0.942007 | 699 | 3.40625 | 3 |
In the world of electrical conductivity, resistance has been an unwelcome companion. This phenomenon, which converts electrical energy into heat, presents a pervasive challenge. Everyday encounters with this challenge, such as heating a laptop during extended use, underline the reality of energy loss due to resistance.
Superconductivity, first discovered in the chilly depths of liquid helium temperatures by Heike Kamerlingh Onnes in 1911, is the phenomenon where a material can conduct electricity without resistance. Imagine a world without the nuisance of electrical resistance, where power loss is a tale of yesteryears. The snag? Maintaining the extreme conditions required for superconductivity is like keeping a snowflake intact in the Sahara.
However, the advent of room-temperature superconductors, with the extraordinary ability to conduct electricity without resistance, promises to alter this landscape dramatically. If superconducting circuits were to power your laptop, it would not heat up during operation, thereby extending battery life and promoting energy efficiency.
While the potential impact on personal electronics is considerable, the transformative reach of superconductors extends far beyond individual devices. Many industries stand to be revolutionised, potentially heralding a radical overhaul of our global energy landscape.
This game-changing potential of room-temperature superconductors has been brought to the fore today by the ground-breaking work of researchers Sukbae Lee, Ji-Hoon Kim, and Young-Wan Kwon. Their new paper, “The First Room-Temperature Ambient-Pressure Superconductor“, heralds a seminal breakthrough in superconductivity.
Until now, the practical application of superconductors was limited by the necessity for extremely low temperatures – costly and challenging conditions to maintain outside of a laboratory setting. However, the creation of the first room-temperature superconductor changes the game. This paves the way for the widespread use of superconductors, promising to bring the benefits of superconductivity into our daily lives and revolutionising everything from personal electronics to global infrastructure.
The promise of a future powered by superconductors could signal the onset of a global energy revolution. With virtually no energy loss during transmission, superconductors could enable countries to become hubs of energy export, transmitting electricity directly across thousands of kilometres of superconducting cables. This could lead to a global price per MWh, as lossless electricity could span the globe, making electricity cheaper and more accessible.
Picture sprawling solar arrays in the arid deserts of Saudi Arabia, selling electricity to a house in the frosty depths of a Polish winter. The possibilities for renewable energy generation and global distribution are vast and exciting. Some arguments against solar and wind power – namely that the sun must be shining and the wind must be blowing locally to access power from these generaton assets – may be redundant, as power might be transmitted from wherever these weather conditions are occuring.
Turning to transportation, electric vehicles (EVs) stand at the forefront of the shift towards greener alternatives. Adopting superconductors could create lighter, more energy-efficient batteries, significantly extending the range of EVs and hastening our transition from fossil fuels. Given the current limitations of batteries, it may open up opportunities for electricity to be used in aviation.
Data centres, the powerhouse of our digital world, could also transform. These vast repositories of servers generate substantial heat, necessitating energy-intensive cooling systems. Superconductors could eliminate this need, leading to a dramatic increase in energy efficiency and a significant decrease in operational costs.
Superconductors are used in Magnetic Resonance Machines (MRIs). They currently require expensive and scarce liquid helium for cooling. Room-temperature superconductors could eliminate this requirement, significantly reducing the cost of medical imaging, potentially making MRIs much smaller and more accessible.
In digital currencies, Bitcoin mining is renowned for its energy intensity, mainly due to the cooling needs of servers. Introducing superconductors could dramatically reduce the energy expenditure associated with cooling, leading to more efficient mining operations and a significantly reduced environmental footprint.
Despite the challenges associated with producing these superconductors on an industrial scale and integrating them into existing systems, the potential rewards are monumental. The promise of a more sustainable and energy-efficient world makes this a compelling prospect, from revolutionising various industries to bringing about a global electricity revolution.
In the discourse surrounding environmental sustainability, two distinct narratives often emerge. On one hand, there are those who advocate for stringent restrictions and regulations in the name of environmental preservation. This group of unimaginative enviro-cultists tend to promote a narrative of limitation and constraint. On the other hand, there are those who champion human ingenuity and market-based innovation as the keys to addressing environmental – and most – challenges.
The former approach, while rooted in a concern for the environment, often overlooks the potential of human creativity and innovation. By focusing on restrictions and limitations, it risks stifling freedom, human progress and opportunity. It’s akin to placing a ceiling on human potential, advocating for a world of ‘less’ rather than ‘better’.
This approach can also fall into the trap of presenting environmental sustainability as a zero-sum game, where human progress must inevitably come at the expense of the environment. This can lead to policies that restrict economic growth and limit human opportunity, creating a narrative of sacrifice rather than advancement.
In contrast, the narrative of human ingenuity and market-based innovation recognises that solving our greatest challenges requires not less human endeavour, but more. It is through the continued application of our collective creativity, channelled by the forces of the market, that we can develop solutions to even the most daunting of problems. Room-temperature superconductivity serves as a testament to this truth. This breakthrough, the product of years of research and development, has the potential to transform our energy landscape, offering a glimpse of a future where efficient energy use and environmental sustainability go hand in hand. It is a shining example of how fostering innovation, rather than imposing restrictions, can lead to better outcomes for both humanity and the environment.
As we stand on the cusp of a golden age of technological advancement powered by room-temperature superconductivity, we look to a future where energy loss due to resistance is a thing of the past. In this new era, the promise of a sustainable, energy-efficient world isn’t a distant dream but an imminent reality. | <urn:uuid:10354da5-879b-46c6-937a-f1ff3b910d86> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://thefrant.com/2023/innovation-technology/here-we-go-room-temperature-superconductors/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233506339.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20230922070214-20230922100214-00713.warc.gz | en | 0.911319 | 1,311 | 3.625 | 4 |
Understand your blind-spotsIn the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder in May 2020 there was huge uptick in organisations seeking D&I professionals. That may have had positive aspects but in some cases, this meant outsourcing the need to be an inclusive leader to the person with the D&I job title. That’s wrong; all leaders need to think about how they can be more inclusive. If you don’t think that there’s a job to be done, then look again – you probably have blinkers on! These may be hard for you to see because your background, upbringing and life experiences have firmly welded your blinkers to your head.
The best way to see your own blind-spots more clearly is to listen to a whole range of your employees and understand the diverse perspectives of others. It can be particularly enlightening if you focus on understanding behavioural examples, especially around micro-aggressions in everyday interactions. You need to be able to be self-reflective and understand your own biases, but in both hearing others and understanding yourself, empathy is key.
Understanding to actionFurther to the above, understanding alone will never be enough, to become an inclusive leader you need to be able to translate this understanding into actions and behaviours. These need to be constantly reinforced so that over time they will seem natural. Don’t feel that you must do something earth shattering – simply looking at smaller day to day hacks such as how meetings are run can be more compelling as that leads to constant reinforcement of inclusive values. Inclusive meetings allow everyone to feel comfortable that their ideas can be heard. This is where empathy and listening will be key for leaders to figure out what that means across the team and in new hybrid working environments.
No struggle, no progressIt’s also important for inclusive leaders to know that inclusion does not mean making everyone happy. Frederick Douglass the 19th century US social reformer said, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
To create a culture which places D&I at its core, leaders will need to make difficult decisions and some of these may disadvantage those who have traditionally had more advantages. Inclusive leaders may need to make some hard decisions and be prepared to ride out the discomfort. Large scale changes will be more difficult. If we look back at the civil rights movement in the US with the luxury of our 2021 perspective, it seems logical that Black people should have equal rights and desegregation should be abolished. But if we read the stories of the schoolchildren like Ruby Bridges who became the first Black child to attend an all-white school in Louisiana, that victory was traumatic and hard won and certainly not making everyone happy. Bridges was greeted by crowds of protesters, including a woman carrying a miniature coffin with a black doll in it. She had to be guarded by federal agents and for many years only one teacher would agree to teach her.
By trying to keep everyone happy, particularly those who have historically benefitted from our societal and organisational systems, positive change will not happen. This can be difficult for general counsel, who may be inclined to avoid risk or change but without questioning the status quo, whether in your own team, wider organisation, or suppliers your culture cannot become inclusive.
This is perhaps one of the hardest lessons for leaders, including legal leaders, in trying to be inclusive leaders – realising that there will be discomfort in creating new ways of behaving.
But if you are going to be an inclusive leader you must be wholly committed to that change.
Stuck in the middle?
You also need to have a zero-tolerance approach to those who do not comply to your vision of an inclusive culture. An easy mistake which many leaders fall into is assuming that because they value inclusivity all their direct reports will be inclusive leaders as well.
A report from Wharton School of Business in June this year showed that middle managers are the lynchpin in success or failure of D&I as they: “are responsible for the daily operation of the enterprise and are tasked with carrying out policies that directly affect the lives of employees. That discretion over policy, along with their close interaction with employees, gives them great power in dictating workplace culture.”
Leaders need to ensure that D&I is permeating throughout their organisations and teams and does not get stuck at this middle level. If it does, that makes a disconnect between what leadership says and the lived experiences of many diverse employees.
D&I is at the core of a successful company because it produces more ideas and satisfaction; together those two qualities create more innovation and competitive advantage and that’s something every leader should aim for.
In our upcoming Brave New Law webinar, we will be discussing what inclusive leadership means and how it is displayed in action with legal leaders from a variety of organisations.
Tuesday 9 November, 1:00 – 2:00pm GMT
register for the inclusive leadership webinar
Author: Dr. Catherine McGregor | <urn:uuid:bcb38515-d265-4ee0-8fd7-d6bc33874836> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://dwfgroup.com/en/news-and-insights/insights/2021/10/inclusive-leadership-in-action | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224657720.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20230610131939-20230610161939-00511.warc.gz | en | 0.96453 | 1,025 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Most of my memories from elementary school are foggy, but I vividly remember playing Word Munchers on an orange screen computer in kindergarten. It is surprising to me that 30 years later, my own children talk about how they have to wait two weeks to get computer time at school, but at home they can code and build web pages easily. I would have thought that by now, computers would be integrated into everything we do in schools and there wouldn’t be a rotation with a two-week wait time. Technology shouldn’t be on a rotation in my kids’ classrooms, and it shouldn’t be on the back burner of education.
In the opening splash quote to the 2013 video What Most Schools Don’t Teach, Steve Jobs highlights this notion perfectly:
There is nothing more important than teaching our students how to think. Our schools are the PERFECT place to teach future generations all the soft skills they will need in our rapidly changing world.
When I showed the video on our school news channel to promote our new coding club back in 2013 (see my Nov. 6, 2013 blog post here). He said: “We all depend on technology to communicate. And none of us know how to read and write code.” So true.
So what can we do about it? At my school, we started a Minecraft club, and then a coding club. On our first day of coding club back in 2013, over 80 students stayed after school to attend the meeting, where we had a developer present. That afternoon, and on many since, our students learned how to program the simplest forms of their favorite games.
Fast forward to this fall. Now that we are 1:1 with Chromebooks, the learning opportunities are endless and students’ minds are open to a whole new world. We are even offering our first technology education elective, a computer science class from Project Lead The Way. When I described this class to my students, the response was overwhelming. They ALL wanted to sign up.
We should offer classes like this in all of our schools. But more importantly, we should integrate foundational skills, like solving problems collaboratively and thinking outside the box, throughout our current framework for education.
Some of my math teachers have shifted their thinking just in this way. Last winter, they went to the national math conference and came back with many new ideas to focus more on the process of problem-solving, not just whether or not students can get the right answer.
When we encourage outside-the-box thinking, we help build foundational skills for the future. We need future technologists who can problem-solve, think critically, be creative, work collaboratively and have a growth mindset. We can teach these skills in schools.
We must build into our education system the soft skills that kids need to go on to program computers, code and work in one of the 2.8 million STEM jobs openings predicted for 2018. Focusing on career readiness means focusing on developing the skills that will allow our students to be college and career ready for their futures, not our past.
Naida Grussing-Neitzel is in her first year as an assistant principal at Maple Grove High School. Previously, she was an assistant principal at Valley View Middle School in Bloomington and taught Spanish at Patrick Henry and Robbinsdale Cooper High Schools. She lives with her family (including her former-teacher husband!) in Robbinsdale, and spends her time focusing on educational equity, excellence and achievement for all learners. Naida’s looking forward to sharing ideas on how schools can foster strong relationships—which she believes are the foundation to everything.
The MinnCAN blogging fellowship allows Minnesota teachers, administrators and parents to share their thoughts on key education issues. MinnCAN supports fellows seeking to advance the conversation around public education, though fellows' views and opinions are solely their own. | <urn:uuid:671f1c07-cbe4-48dc-b0ea-d0de26ec3e4e> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://minncan.org/blog/coding-in-schools-creating-a-culture-of-innovation-in-education/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224648000.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20230601175345-20230601205345-00137.warc.gz | en | 0.954833 | 908 | 2.671875 | 3 |
The first generation of Celeron's that Intel made had no level
2 (L2) cache which made them a joke of a processor. Cache stores
frequently used data that can be accessed at high speeds, much
faster than going to RAM (Random Access Memory), so you can
see why it is so important for a processor to have level2 cache.
Cache is used a lot of the time and can really speed up performance.
The Celeron core that contained no level2 cache is called Covington.
These were manufactured at speeds of 266 and 300mhz respectively.
Then, Intel, needing to gain ground in the budget system war,
proceeded to add 128kb of Full-Speed Level2 Cache to the processor.
This provided a big performance boost over the first generation
chipís name was 300a because the early Celeron 300's were made
without a level2 cache. Celeron chips that are manufactured
on the Mendocino core have 128kb of full speed L2 cache. The
addition of the cache made this processor and continues to make
it a huge success and will far into the future. Another thing
that made it such a big success is that the Celeron 300a is
one of the best overclockable chips that we have ever seen and
there may never be a more overclockable processor than it. Most
of the line of Celeron chips are overclockable to a degree but
as higher clock speeds are attained less and less Overclockability
will be available. (Below is a picture of the slot 1 celeron).
Celeron's are currently manufactured in speeds ranging from
266mhz to 466mhz. Intel manufactures this chip with its advanced
0.25 micron CMOS process technology that it uses for its Pentium2/3
line of processors.
Celeron's are not that much different than Intel's line of Pentium2
chips. There are some differences though and I will cover them
in this paragraph. First off as I have mentioned earlier the
Celeron is equipped with 128kb of full-speed Leve2 cache. This
is contrary to the Pentium2's which have 512kb of level2 cache
clocked at half the processor speed. Many people thought that
this would cripple the Celeron compared to the Pentium2 but
benchmarks have shown that this is not the case. | <urn:uuid:6468982a-1dcf-4fca-8c88-77c276fd4dca> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | http://speedy3d.com/articles/knowing_celeron/index.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296945472.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20230326111045-20230326141045-00663.warc.gz | en | 0.940194 | 541 | 2.984375 | 3 |
Social activism for issues such as clean water, better housing, industry regulation, and other areas have been important for democracies since the 19th century. Groups promoting various causes, however, have only recently begun to realize the potential of geospatial approaches and technologies that can help promote causes.
More than a decade ago, activists, academics, and others shared geospatial data on areas of interest, such as the location of missile sites, areas of environmental concern, and locations where injustice is reported. These were loaded onto mostly desktop GIS applications where data would known to those involved in activist endeavors. Since the mid to late 2000s, the emergence of neogeography, or the use of geospatial technologies for personal or community activities, has allowed social activists to greatly increase their utilization of GIS and GIS-related tools. One example is a participatory art project in China, where people expressed themselves through artistic contributions that were geospatially referenced through social media. The project was a subtle protest against perceived state and economic injustices. In fact, user communities in China have become very active in using Web 2.0 and geospatial technologies on their phones to report events or observations to community sites.
Citizen participation initiatives have been called volunteer geographic information (VGI), where handheld devices and crowdsourced data sharing have fueled greater use of geotagged information within social media applications. Among other technologies that have enabled and facilitated the ease of sharing data include Google Earth and Microsoft’s Virtual Earth. These technologies, the ease of their use, and widespread presence of mobile devices have now made it more prevalent for social activists to share data and post to community sites that take advantage of freely available software APIs such as Google Earth that allow people to create their own applications to post community shared geospatial data or what has been called VGI. This has now led to much more rapid reactions to events by organized activist communities, as information for events and where they are become quickly shared, where previously organizing actions would have taken far longer and greater effort to establish. Corporations such as Esri are even facilitating geographic-based activism using their platform.
For more on a relatively early article on GIS and its use for social activism, see: Warren, Stacy. 2004. “The Utopian Potential of GIS.” Cartographica: The International Journal for Geographic Information and Geovisualization 39 (1): 5–16.
For more on this art community project in China, see: Lin, Wen. 2013. “Situating Performative Neogeography: Tracing, Mapping, and Performing: Everyone’s East Lake” Environment and Planning A 45 (1): 37–54.
For more on using Web 2.0 in China’s social activist community, see: Wu, Fengshi, and Shen Yang. 2016. “Web 2.0 and Political Engagement in China.” VOLUNTAS: International Journal of Voluntary and Nonprofit Organizations 27 (5): 2055–76.
For more on VGI and shared geographic information, see: Elwood, Sarah, Michael F. Goodchild, and Daniel Z. Sui. 2012. “Researching Volunteered Geographic Information: Spatial Data, Geographic Research, and New Social Practice.” Annals of the Association of American Geographers 102 (3): 571–90.
For an example of Esri’s geographic sites used for activism, see: https://geonet.esri.com/groups/conservationtech/blog/2016/05/17/gis-for-conservationists.
- How Crowdsourced Mapping is Supporting Relief Efforts in Nepal
- The Role of Open Source Imagery in Monitoring Nuclear Activity
- Putting the Trees Back on the Map: How GIS is Helping Reforest South America | <urn:uuid:7f1ee57e-7fd7-46c5-83f5-ac0e9ff08ce0> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | https://www.gislounge.com/gis-social-activism/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934806586.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20171122122605-20171122142605-00575.warc.gz | en | 0.936001 | 798 | 3.28125 | 3 |
from The Century Dictionary.
- Having a horny spur on the pinion, as various birds. It is a weapon of offense and defense. It is sometimes double, as is well shown iu the cut under
Palamedea. See also cuts under jacanaand Plectropterus.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- adjective (Zoöl.) Having one or more spurs on the bend of the wings.
- adjective (Zoöl.) any one of several species of long-legged African geese of the genus Plectropterus and allied genera, having a strong spur on the bend of the wing, as the Gambo goose (
P. Gambensis) and the Egyptian, or Nile, goose ( Alopochen Ægyptiaca).
- adjective (Zoöl.) an Old World plover (
Hoplopterus spinosus) having a sharp spur on the bend of the wing. It inhabits Northern Africa and the adjacent parts of Asia and Europe.
Sorry, no etymologies found.
Birds include Denham's bustard Neotis cafra denhami, ground hornbill Bucorvus abyssinicus, violet turaco Musophaga violacea, spur-winged goose Plectropterus gambensis, white-faced tree duck Dendrocygna viduata, martial eagle Polemaetus bellicosus and bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus.
Occasionally we saw pairs of the stately jabirus, or adjutant-looking marabouts, wading among the shoals, and spur-winged geese, and other water-fowl, but there was scarcely a crocodile or a hippopotamus to be seen.
Large flocks of spur-winged geese, or machikwe, were common.
The large black and white spur-winged goose (a constant marauder of native gardens) springs up, and circles round to find out what the disturbance can be, and then settles down again with a splash.
- Northern spur-winged goose (Plectropterus gambensis gambensis).
The spur-winged jacanas are very skilful in their dainty treading of water-lily leaves; but here were good-sized insects rowing about on the water itself.
A cackle arose, so shrill and sudden, that it seemed to have been the cause of the shower of drops from the palm-fronds; and then, on the great leaves of the Regia, which defy simile, we perceived the first feathered folk of this single tropical glimpse -- spur-winged jacanas, whose rich rufus and cool lemon-yellow no dampness could deaden.
On the same islet are to be seen the eggs of the Indian river tern, the black-bellied tern, the swallow-plover, the spur-winged plover and the Indian skimmer.
Then it appeared, an old spur-winged gander, probably the king of the flock, flying so low that it only cleared the cliff edge by about twenty feet, and passed over not more than thirty yards up, an easy shot.
In the rainy season all the water holes and lagoons literally teemed with black duck, wood-duck, the black and white Burdekin duck, teal, spur-winged plover, herons and other birds, and a single shot would account for a dozen. | <urn:uuid:00fb42d9-2bc4-4ec7-a8f8-3b3ac12231b3> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | https://www.wordnik.com/words/spur-winged | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875145260.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20200220162309-20200220192309-00202.warc.gz | en | 0.880071 | 752 | 2.921875 | 3 |
Is python an easy language to learn? How to Learn Python?
With the invention of computers, programming languages have also been introduced. Because desktops and computer systems require program code to function properly. And program code can only be compiled with various programming languages. Over the past decade many programming languages have been introduced like Java, C, C++, Python, etc. But out of other languages, Python is the widely used programming language. Python is the most high-level, comprehended, and general-purpose programming terminologies which is very easy to use and influential.
Guido Van Rossum is known as the founder of python because he is responsible for developing it in the year 1991. Python is also termed as the scripting programming language for providing support to automatic memory management. It also offers support to multiple operations such as programming paradigms and implements the OOP concept on the programs. Through this language, both big and short projects are handled well. It’s library furnishes great assistance to internet strategies such as FTP and IMAP. Its designed syntax makes this language different from other programming languages. Explore your python skill at Python training in Noida at 3RI Technologies.
Python is highly used in framework development such as Django and Pyramid. This language is also a great part of content management systems such as Plone and Django CMS. Now, we have come to know that python is the simplest programming language to be learned by freshers and experienced. But how? Let us start learning about this in the blog.
How to learn this simplest programming language?
- Code everyday
You need to be consistent to learn Python. You should commit to coding regularly. However, you may find it hard to believe, but if you code every day. You are brushing on your coding skills. No need of coding for a longer time every day. You can fix a time slot like say for 30 minutes to learn about this easy programming language. If you start doing it, then you might see improvement in a very few days.
- Write it out
Now, you are embarking on becoming a programmer with Python knowledge. Hence you need to know that you are required to make notes of your skills. But this is nothing confusing. You should write down everything. It might not give you benefits in short term. But as years pass and you become a successful programmer and find something difficult to solve. Then you can refer to these notes to find the best solution. Writing out will help you in becoming the full-time developer. Before moving to computer, you can write down your coding.
- Go interactive
No matter what you are learning basic or advanced Python programming, python shell acts as the best memorizing device. It can also be referred as the Python REPL. For using it, you need to be sure that it’s installed on your computer and you should activate it by opening the terminal and running python 3 on your system.
- Take break
As you are learning the new programming language, you need to make sure to take a break and absorb the concepts. Here you may follow the step of studying and learning for half an hour then taking a few minutes break and then continuing to revise that python concept again. Through this, you will have an effective learning session and you will be able to grab the best knowledge of the concepts you have learned.
- Become a bug bounty hunter
As you are hitting the bug, you might start writing the complex programs which might run into bugging in your program code. But don’t let this bugging make you irritated. Instead, take these moments as pride and start becoming the bug bounty hunter. You must apply some methodological approach when debugging. Hence you can come to know where you are lagging.
- Surround yourself with other python candidates
You might find coding easier after various turns. But it becomes easier when you solve it in the group. You should have a group where all the individuals are working with the same motive of learning python. If you surround yourself with other people learning about python, you will find grabbing this programming knowledge more effortlessly. You can also share the tips, tricks, and your learning with fellow mates.
For learning something, it’s essential to teach the same things to other. Hence you can apply it in your scenario as well. As you are learning python and gaining some concepts knowledge. You can start teaching individuals and share your opinion about it. It will not only help them but you too to enhance your python knowledge.
These are some of the ways of understanding python most effortlessly. If you apply any of these in your learning path. Then this programming language will look simpler than it is. | <urn:uuid:0f4c234c-17c4-49fa-ba34-2377c6d5c664> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://www.iitsnews.com/2022/01/05/is-python-an-easy-language-to-learn-how-to-learn-python/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224649177.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20230603064842-20230603094842-00382.warc.gz | en | 0.951624 | 954 | 2.984375 | 3 |
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has heightened the uncertainty over food supply, a global market that was already feeling the effects of COVID-19 and the ongoing impact of climate change.
At this year’s World Economic Forum, the head of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala warned that a food crisis could last two years unless safe corridors are created to move Ukrainian food stocks. With the help of Goldman Sachs Research, we took a closer look at the regions most affected by surging food prices and the increasing cost of agricultural commodities and products.
Yulia Zhestkova, who has analyzed global food inflation for Goldman Sachs Research, notes that key drivers of food inflation – including unfavourable weather conditions, higher input costs and pandemic-driven disruption – were already in place before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Zhestkova says that the shocks are concerning for emerging markets, which are more susceptible to threats on food security. Here, a high proportion of consumer income is spent on food, so even a marginal increase in food inflation might hit households in these regions particularly hard.
“Food inflation is definitely being felt in a lot of countries in the CEEMEA region, like Turkey, but also in eastern Europe, in nations including Romania, Poland and Hungary. All of them are enduring meaningful surprises to the upside,” Zhestkova explained. “We have also seen a significant surge in prices in the big LATAM countries, like Brazil, Argentina and Mexico.”
Before the war in Ukraine, food inflation was increasing worldwide. Now the conflict is compounding the crisis. According to Goldman Sachs research, Ukraine and Russia account for more than 20% of global wheat and oilseed production. This has been disrupted by the war, with the combined dry bulk shipping activity from the region dropping by 40% compared with the 2021 average.
“March and April are when farmers are going to the fields and working on their summer harvests,” Zhestkova says. “For the first two months of war we haven’t seen any grain shipments coming from Ukraine, and although Ukraine has managed to return about 15-20% of exporting capacity since, the lack of fertilizers and general disruptions are hitting Ukraine’s grain harvest now and will drag the crisis on into the next year.”
As a result, many of the countries already feeling the impact of surging food costs are now feeling the effects of the conflict in Ukraine. Those nations that import soft commodities from Ukraine and Russia are the most obviously affected, according to Zhestkova, and alongside European neighboring states, these include large CEEMEA countries such as Turkey and Egypt, and in Africa, Nigeria and Sudan.
Countries in South America are also feeling the effects — albeit in a different way. Countries here are impacted primarily through inputs of agriculture production. “There has been a slow decline of fertilizer exports from eastern Europe,” Zhestkova says. “The price of fertilizers has increased 2.5 times since May 2019. Though this is the first year when the farmers are dealing with such extraordinarily high prices, and a contributing factor is that LATAM farmers rely on fertilizers produced in Russia and Belarus.”
Zhestkova believes the full effects on food prices from the war in Ukraine are yet to be felt. “I think most of the impact is still in the pipeline,” she concludes. “Low harvests, problems with supply chain distribution, and elevated input prices across the world were putting pressure on global food inflation to the upside. We now have added pressure on supply because there is a loss from the unharvested fields in Ukraine.”
Leave a Comment | <urn:uuid:36f31a7d-1ff2-44d1-bc94-0662a884fd1f> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://www.impactinvesting.ai/2022/06/08/the-war-in-ukraine-stokes-global-food-inflation-goldman-sachs/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224643784.62/warc/CC-MAIN-20230528114832-20230528144832-00137.warc.gz | en | 0.958456 | 784 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Claudia Black, Ph.D. and national expert on the Family Disease of Addiction, contends that most children in chemically dependent homes are often overlooked and underserved by school counselors and family service agencies, and even the juvenile justice system. Why?
One of the skills they have learned is to “fly under the radar.” They mask their pain using deeply developed defense systems in reaction to the unpredictable environments that often predominate the home affected by addiction. Black has named these survivor roles in her book, It Will Never Happen to Me – Growing Up with Addiction as Youngsters, Adolescents, and Adults. In pondering them, we may find they fit our children, and even ourselves.
Black’s work challenges us to consider survival scripts. She asks us to examine how you may have masked your pain as a child. You may recognize what your own children have done in an attempt to keep their family illness bearable, or at least hidden. She highlights how kids adapt in an attempt to re-stabilize the family system. These creative, although somewhat predictable, responses are employed to make life easier, and less painful.
Family systems seek homeostasis. They long to experience consistency, predictability, and emotional safety. Children develop roles to help their basic needs get met. Black categorizes those roles as follows:
- The Responsible child or “family hero”
- The Placater or “people pleaser”
- The Scapegoat or “acting out one”
- The Adjuster or “lost child”
Click here for more information about this exciting opportunity! | <urn:uuid:a48452f1-f92b-437f-8670-b5938f24516e> | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | https://blog.theretreat.org/abnormal-reactions-to-abnormal-situations-are-normal-survival-scripts-kids-learn-growing-up-with-addiction-in-their-homes | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593657149205.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20200714051924-20200714081924-00016.warc.gz | en | 0.959279 | 340 | 2.671875 | 3 |
- Research article
- Open Access
A DArT marker genetic map of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) integrated with detailed comparative mapping information; comparison with existing DArT marker genetic maps of Lolium perenne, L. multiflorum and Festuca pratensis
BMC Genomics volume 14, Article number: 437 (2013)
Ryegrasses and fescues (genera, Lolium and Festuca) are species of forage and turf grasses which are used widely in agricultural and amenity situations. They are classified within the sub-family Pooideae and so are closely related to Brachypodium distachyon, wheat, barley, rye and oats. Recently, a DArT array has been developed which can be used in generating marker and mapping information for ryegrasses and fescues. This represents a potential common marker set for ryegrass and fescue researchers which can be linked through to comparative genomic information for the grasses.
A F2 perennial ryegrass genetic map was developed consisting of 7 linkage groups defined by 1316 markers and deriving a total map length of 683 cM. The marker set included 866 DArT and 315 gene sequence-based markers. Comparison with previous DArT mapping studies in perennial and Italian ryegrass (L. multiflorum) identified 87 and 105 DArT markers in common, respectively, of which 94% and 87% mapped to homoeologous linkage groups. A similar comparison with meadow fescue (F. pratensis) identified only 28 DArT markers in common, of which c. 50% mapped to non-homoelogous linkage groups. In L. perenne, the genetic distance spanned by the DArT markers encompassed the majority of the regions that could be described in terms of comparative genomic relationships with rice, Brachypodium distachyon, and Sorghum bicolor.
DArT markers are likely to be a useful common marker resource for ryegrasses and fescues, though the success in aligning different populations through the mapping of common markers will be influenced by degrees of population interrelatedness. The detailed mapping of DArT and gene-based markers in this study potentially allows comparative relationships to be derived in future mapping populations characterised using solely DArT markers.
Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne) is the most important forage grass of N. Europe and is also grown widely in temperate regions worldwide. It is a member of a group of inter-fertile, largely outbreeding, related species which encompass a number of ryegrasses and fescues (Lolium and Festuca spp.) including, Italian ryegrass (L. multiflorum) and meadow and tall fescue (F. pratensis and F. arundinacea). Because of their economic significance and evolutionary relationships, there has been interest in characterising these grasses in molecular terms both as individual species and as ancestral and recent hybrids.
Genetic maps have been established for ryegrasses and fescues largely as a consequence of the desire to understand the genetic architecture of both QTL and single genes which confer agriculturally important traits. Marker-based maps have progressed from linkage groups developed largely from restriction fragment-length polymorphisms (RFLPs) [1–5] to those developed from combinations of random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPDs), amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) and microsatellites/simple sequence repeats (SSRs) [6–13]. While these have delivered their immediate aims, the lack of a comprehensive common set of reference markers has limited the number of opportunities to align these maps and, so, the associated trait data produced for different studies. Recognition of this for ryegrasses and fescues led to the manufacture of a Diversity Array Technology (DArT) array constructed from 40 ryegrass and fescue accessions and a related open access database . The hope was that this would encourage the use of a common marker set and so enable more efficient exploitation of the available genetic data for ryegrasses and fescues. This, in turn, would contribute towards both increasing our understanding of the genetics and biology of these grasses and the development of protocols for molecular breeding. The publication of perennial and Italian ryegrass and meadow fescue genetic maps and analyses of Lolium x Festuca hybrids [16, 17] integrating DArT markers indicates that this process is underway.
Ryegrasses are classified in the Pooideae subfamily within the Poaceae, along with wheat, barley, rye and oats, as well as the model monocot Brachypodium distachyon. Thus, ryegrasses and fescues are part of a group of closely related important model and crop species. Within the same clade (BEP), but in a different subfamily (Erhartoideae) is the other major monocot model and crop, rice. More distantly related grasses are classified in the PACMAD clade, which includes many of the tropical C4 cereals and grasses such as maize, Sorghum bicolor, pearl millet, sugar cane and Miscanthus spp . For three of these grasses in particular, rice , B. distachyon, and S. bicolor, comprehensive genome assemblies and pseudomolecules have now been released; these enable whole genome sequence comparisons to be made between these species. Additionally, this allows for the alignment of genetic maps constructed from sequence-based markers to be made with these whole genome assemblies, so identifying conserved marker/sequence orders between species. From these orders, macrosyntenic relationships can be imputed in the absence of comprehensive sequence-based assemblies for ryegrasses and fescues. Thus, in ryegrass, for which there is currently limited publicly available sequence information, it has been possible to use its conserved syntenic relationships with the sequenced model genome of rice [22, 23] to suggest candidate genes underlying QTL [13, 24, 25].
In this report, we will describe the construction of a genetic linkage map in ryegrass consisting predominantly of DArT and gene-based markers. This allows for the DArT markers to be assigned to putative comparative genomic regions within this framework.
The L. perenne (Lp) F2 mapping population (Lp1) used was based on a cross between inbred genotypes derived from the varieties Perma and Aurora. The development and use of this mapping population has been described previously .
Previous studies have reported the incorporation of RFLP, AFLP, isozyme, SSR and gene-based SNP markers into this F2 linkage map [2, 13, 22, 26, 27]. New markers developed from the present study were based on DArT technology.
For the DArT markers, DNA was extracted from 94 genotypes of the F2 family using the QIAGEN DNeasy 96 Plant Kit (QIAGEN, Crawley, UK). These samples were processed on the high-density Lolium/Festuca DArT arrays at Diversity Arrays Technology Pty Ltd, Canberra, Australia and segregating markers identified. All DArT markers were given the prefix D (substituting ‘loPt-‘) followed by the unique six number identifier. For the gene-based SNP markers used for placing DArT markers in a comparative genomics context, the development rationale, primer and marker sequences and assays have been described previously . Briefly, putative intra-exon PCR primers were designed based upon gene models developed as part of the rice (Oryza sativa; Os) genome sequencing programme using gene models which spanned all 12 pseudomolecules of the rice genome. Using these primers, amplicons were derived from a DNA template pool consisting of equal quantities of genomic DNA from 96 individuals of the Lp1 mapping family (effectively recreating the genomic constitution of the original F1). Potential SNPs were identified by visual inspection of the chromatogram files and detected in the mapping family using protocols based on KASP technology . KASP assays were developed and implemented by LGC Genomics Ltd., Herts., UK.
In order to minimise the number of missing data points the data was processed in two ways after scoring. Firstly, the family size was reduced to 86 genotypes which had been used for the generation of the majority of marker types (i.e., DArT, SNP and all the previously scored markers). Secondly, markers which gave identical segregation patterns, except for missing data, were all mapped as a single marker with missing genotype scores derived from the consensus. Genetic mapping on these datasets was carried out using JoinMap 3.0 using the default conditions. Markers which could not be incorporated in rounds one or two (see Joinmap 3.0) were omitted from the final maps, but their likeliest positions reported in Additional file 1.
As described by King et al. , where sequences had been generated for mapped markers (e.g. the SNP markers) or were already published (many RFLP markers), these sequences were aligned with complete pseudomolecule (PM) assemblies for Os ; (v6.1/all_con), Brachypodium distachyon (Bd) and Sorghum bicolor (Sb) (Bdistachyon_114.fa and Sbicolor_79.fa) using BLAST-generated sequence alignments with a cutoff threshold of e = <1e-005; see (Additional file 2). In each case, only the most significant BLAST alignment was used to assign putative orthology between the Lp marker sequences and the PM sequences for Os, Bd and Sb. The comparative relationships were described as plots of the genetic positions (cM) of sequenced markers on the Lp linkage groups (LG) against the physical positions (bp) of the putative orthologues on the Os, Bd and Sb PMs. In all cases, the genetic and physical positions were expressed as percentages of the total genetic distance of the LG or the complete PM length.
Genetic mapping using JoinMap3.0 incorporated the new DArT data into the existing framework maps for this F2 population giving an overall map length of 683 cM defined by 1316 markers; an additional 66 DArT, 3 SNP, 3 SSR and a single AFLP marker could be assigned ‘best-fit’ positions (Additional file 1). The average interval between segregating markers was 0.92 cM, with the largest interval being 13.4 cM. Significant regions of distorted segregation were detected on LGs 5 and 7, as has previously been reported for this family . The overall distribution of the markers was typical for linkage groups constructed for plant species with moderate to large sized genomes, with marked clustering (reduced recombination) around the putative centromeric regions and higher levels of recombination towards the ends of the linkage groups. The distribution of the different marker types is illustrated in Figure 1 and demonstrates the comprehensive genome sampling of the DArT markers relative to the gene-based SNP and other marker types, moderated by relative differences in recombination frequencies along the length of the LGs. Because of the low recombination frequencies in certain regions and the restricted family size, 771 markers (59%) showed no recombination with at least one other marker (Additional file 1).
DArT marker assays
Segregation data for a total of 1150 DArT markers was recorded, of which 942 could be associated with one or more markers in the existing LGs for the F2 family with a LOD ≥3. Of these 942, 867 could be assigned direct positions in the linkage maps and a further 66 ‘best-fit’ positions (Additional file 1). A comparison of maps produced with and without the inclusion of the DArT markers indicated no significant changes to marker orders (data not shown; compare with King et al. 2012 ). The overall total map length increased from 597 cM to 683 cM, this increase being due to the identification of new terminal markers, particularly on LGs 5, 6 and 7, rather than map expansion within the existing framework (Table 1). The DArT markers were fairly evenly distributed between the LGs except for LG4 to which 21% of the total number of DArT markers were assigned (mean per linkage group = 14.3%; Table 1). LG4 is also the longest linkage group (18% of the total genetic distance) and so the comparatively large number of DArT markers which map to LG4 may just be a reflection of this in combination with background variation. A similar pattern of results has previously been reported for Lp and Lm [16, 33]. However, it is possible that potential DArT markers (i.e.’ those selected for the array) may not have an even distribution across the genome.
A total of 315 gene-based markers mapped to the Lp1 family were used for establishing alignments with Os, Bd and Sb (Figure 2). These consisted of the 271 SNP markers, 37 RFLPs and 7 sequence tagged sites (STS). The mapping of these SNP markers in the absence of the DArT markers has been described previously and the results are highly consistent with that study in terms of map orders and derived conserved syntenic relationships and also consistent with other Lolium and Festuca spp. studies in terms of comparative genomics [2, 4, 5, 13, 23, 27, 34].
While molecular genetic technologies have transformed our understanding of plant genome compositions and their interrelationships, they have yet to have a major impact on the plant breeding of many crops. This is largely due to the perceived cost/benefit ratio of applying these molecular technologies in different biological and commercial contexts, i.e., as influenced by the breeding systems and genetic complexities of different commercial plant varieties and the immediate economic value of individual crops. Ryegrasses are particularly challenging for the molecular breeder in that: a) they are, in the main, obligate outbreeders and so highly heterozygous; b) marketed varieties are frequently synthetic populations which are, genetically speaking, very distant from the tractable inbred lines predominant for barley, wheat and the F1 hybrids of maize; c) the main commercial value of ryegrass breeding is in the products of grassland agriculture rather than in the seed sales per se. As a consequence, molecular breeding of ryegrasses is still very much in development. As a contribution to this, the major purpose of this report is to add to the public body of knowledge on the genetic distribution of available marker sets for ryegrass and the relationship of these to established molecular genetic platforms as represented by the sequenced plant genomes of Os, Bd and Sb. This should allow the molecular ryegrass breeder to obtain extra leverage from these genetic and genomic resources in terms of comparative QTL analysis, gene prediction and consequent marker development.
Currently, there are few ryegrass and fescue studies that have allowed for detailed genome-wide comparisons to be made between different genetic maps; where present, linkages between different studies are dependent on the use of either a limited number of ‘historic’ RFLP and/or SSR markers [2, 10, 13]. The development of a high-density DArT marker array for ryegrasses and fescues now means that a large, common marker set can be applied to different ryegrass and fescue populations which can result in high density genetic maps and measurements of population interrelatedness. The major disadvantage to using DArT markers (as with AFLPs) in many population types is their genetic dominance, i.e., a DArT marker (allele) scored as present in a genotype could be either in the homozygous or heterozygous form. This has consequences in terms of predictive ability for linkages, allele frequencies and for marker trait associations. However, this is balanced by the ability of DArT markers to ‘capture’ the genetic space and it is sometimes possible to infer the dosage of a particular allele from linked co-dominant markers.
In this study we have presented a genetic map which places DArT markers in a detailed comparative genomic context. In order to incorporate as many markers of different types as possible, a reduced population size was employed with marker redundancy kept as low as possible. This minimised the number of missing data points which simplified the process of marker ordering on the individual linkage groups using JoinMap3.0. The consequence of this is that we were less likely to discover rarer recombination events that may have broken up some of the larger non-recombinant blocks of markers (Additional file 1). However, the uneven patterns of recombination we observed are not, primarily, artefacts of this experimental design and such patterns are consistently reported in ryegrass mapping studies with different population sizes [1, 2, 8, 12, 16, 33]. In summary, while this mapping approach may not describe all the recombination present, we hope that by combining the maximum number of DArT and gene-based markers in a single map and demonstrating that the DArT markers encompass the majority of the ‘comparative genome’ (Figure 1 and 2) it will enable inferences to be made about putative comparative relationships in ryegrass and fescue mapping studies based mostly (or entirely) on DArT markers. This may be particularly useful in population surveys which are not based on bi-parental mapping family designs (for detailed alignments between L. perenne and wheat and barley, see ).
Tomaszewski et al. and Bartos et al. recently published studies which integrated DArT markers into linkage maps developed for L perenne. (Lp2) L. multiflorum (Lm) and F. pratensis (Fp) mapping populations. The total number of DArT markers mapped in the different populations varied from 867 to 149 (Table 2) and comparisons of the Lp1, Lp2 and Lm Lolium populations identified between 80 and 105 markers in common (on a pairwise comparison basis) of which >85% map to similar positions on homologous and homoeologous linkage groups (Figure 3; Additional file 3). Comparing the Lp1 and Lp2 populations, of the 297 possible shared loci (i.e. the smaller number of DArT markers mapped in either population) c. 28% were putatively allelic (i.e., the same marker designation mapping to a similar position on the homologous/homoeologous linkage group); equivalent figures for the Lp1/Lm and Lp2/Lm comparisons were 17% and 13%, respectively and for the Lp1/Fp, Lp2/Fp and Lm/Fp comparisons, 9%, 5% and 11%, respectively. Thus, as would be expected, the greater the genetic distance between two genotypes or populations, the fewer the number of DArT markers that they had in common (a similar low number of common markers between the Lp1 population and a different Fp genotype has also been observed by the authors; unpublished).
A number of DArT markers with the same identifiers were, apparently, non-allelic in different populations (Table 2 and Figure 3; Additional file 3). While it is possible that some of these ‘discrepancies’ result from genuine genome rearrangements, it is likely that many result from cross-hybridisation of similar sequences on the arrays. For the Lp1/Lp2 comparison, 6% (n = 87) of the DArT markers were non-allelic; for the Lp1/Lm and Lp2/Lm comparisons 13% (n = 105) and 10% (n = 42), respectively, were non-allelic. For the comparisons between Lp1, Lp2, Lm and Fp the equivalent figures were 50% (n = 28) 0% (n = 8) and 15% (n = 20), respectively. Clearly, the low numbers of common markers in these latter comparisons do not allow any firm conclusions to be drawn, but the Lp1/Fp results would suggest that non-allelic cross hybridisation is likely to complicate direct map comparisons in wider crosses. As more studies using the DArT marker array are reported, it will be interesting to see if a core set of ‘consistent’ markers emerges for mapping both within and between different populations of ryegrasses and fescues.
This study describes an integration of 866 DArT markers into a comprehensive map of ryegrass which can be aligned with B. distachyon, rice and S. bicolor. In so doing, it is hoped that this will be useful resource for guiding the alignments of different ryegrass mapping and population studies, in order to maximise mutual transfers of information. It is likely that, in the near future, the sequencing and resequencing of the ryegrass genome will precipitate the development of economic genotyping-by-sequencing approaches which will be able to characterise allelic variation at far greater depth. However, until that is achieved common marker sets and comparative genomics are likely to guide the way forward for molecular plant breeding of ryegrasses.
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This work was supported by research grant BB/E00654X/1 and an Institute Strategic Programme Grant (IBERS, Aberystwyth University) awarded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), UK.
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
JK, IK and IA conceived and designed the experiments; JK, AT, CJ and IA carried out the molecular genetic analyses; IA drafted the manuscript, JK, IK and IA compiled the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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King, J., Thomas, A., James, C. et al. A DArT marker genetic map of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) integrated with detailed comparative mapping information; comparison with existing DArT marker genetic maps of Lolium perenne, L. multiflorum and Festuca pratensis. BMC Genomics 14, 437 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2164-14-437
- DArT Markers
- Genetic Maps
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The Two Basic Forms of Ethernet Cables
Generally speaking, when it comes to Ethernet cable management, almost all manufactured Ethernet cables fit two primary types:
1. Solid Ethernet Cables: They’re somewhat better at shielding against electrical interference. Solid Ethernet cables are generally used on enterprise networks inside office walls or beneath Gridd® raised floors.
2. Stranded Ethernet Cables: Less inclined to physically cracks or breaks, which makes them a better choice for those traveling from site to site or with in-home network setups.
Below is a quick rundown of the distinct categories (abbreviated “cat” followed by a numeral or a numeral and a lowercase letter) of Ethernet cables presently in use:
- Cat3—Unshielded 10 Mbps 16 MHz
- Cat5—Unshielded 10 to 100 Mbps 100 MHz
- Cat5e—Unshielded 1,000 Mbps to 1 Gbps 100 MHz
- Cat6—Shielded or Unshielded 1,000 Mbps to 1 Gbps 250 MHz
- Cat6a—Shielded 10,000 Mbps to 10 Gbps 500 MHz
- Cat7—Shielded 10,000 Mbps to 10 Gbps 600 MHz
- Cat7a—Shielded 10,000 Mbps to 10 Gbps 1 GHz (1,000 MHz)
- Cat8—Shielded 25 Gbps to 40 Gbps 2 GHz (2,000 MHz)
Most technicians and IT administrators use the abbreviated terms listed above, thus, vendors selling Ethernet cabling supplies use these industry terms as well. Even though Ethernet cabling has evolved to Cat8, most organizations still prefer to use Cat5 and Cat6 802.3 cables due to their overall flexibility. The higher categories are far less flexible than Cat5 and Cat6 and transmit at a lower distance albeit at a much higher Gbps.
From Smoke Signals to Electromagnetic Waves
It’s hard to imagine that humankind has evolved from using smoke signals, drums, and bells as a method of communication, to transmitting over 100 Gbps of information over high-tech networks. Smoke signals were among the most ancient forms of long-distance telecommunication, a method used by ancient Chinese soldiers stationed along the Great Wall to alert other soldiers of an approaching threat. According to The History of Media, the Chinese military “used a mixture of wolf dung, saltpeter (potassium nitrate), and sulfur to create dense smoke that was easily seen from a distance,” allowing soldiers to send communications from around 300 to 750 miles away. However, since this involved setting a chain of smoke signals between signaling towers, this process took a few hours.
It wouldn’t be until 1726 that two French physicists (Pierre-Simon Laplace and André-Marie Ampère) and a German mathematician (Carl Friedrich Gauss) introduced the idea of communicating via electricity. Though they were initially unsuccessful, the trio’s research ultimately led to English inventor Francis Ronalds developing the first functional static electric point-to-point text messaging system in 1816. However, rather than transmitting AC/DC electric energy, telecommunications cables transmitted electromagnetic waves and are referred to as electromagnetic waveguides.
Electromagnetic waveguides eventually allowed Alexander Graham Bell to improve on the telegraph with his “harmonic telegraph.” At some point during the mid-1870s, Bell shared his idea with his father-in-law, Gardiner Greene Hubbard, who agreed to fund his project. Only a few years later, the first telephone line was constructed between Boston and Somerville, Massachusetts. By the beginning of the 1880s, nearly 48,000 people had a telephone in their home.
Amazingly, not much has changed when it comes to using waveguides to transmit data over Ethernet cables. Whether it’s a coaxial cable or an optical fiber cable, they’re both considered to be waveguides—the first being an “electrical” waveguide while the second is an “optical” (light) waveguide. Nevertheless, those aren’t the only differences between coaxial and optic fiber cables; there are numerous other characteristics that make the two strikingly different.
The Evolution of Ethernet
Ethernet technology turned 45 years old in 2018. Over the course of nearly five decades, Ethernet hasn’t changed much; it’s still the number one choice for local area networking (LAN) technology. This can be seen in market research that shows hundreds of millions—if not a billion—Ethernet network interface cards (NICs), switching hub ports, repeater ports, among other Ethernet-related devices, have been sold, to-date. And even with the proliferation of wireless LAN technology, the market for Ethernet continues to grow exponentially, outselling all other LAN technologies by a significant margin, as commanded by the ubiquitous Internet of Things (IoT)..
If Alexander Graham Bell is the Father of the Telephone, Bob Metcalfe is the Father of Ethernet. Metcalfe was recruited in 1973 by the Xerox Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) to create the first Ethernet network system. Historically speaking, Xerox was the first company to build a personal computer workstation which featured graphical user interfaces and a mouse pointing device. Xerox called it the “Xerox Alto.” In addition to that, Xerox had also built the world’s first laser printer intended to work in conjunction with the Xerox Alto. Of course, Metcalfe’s solution ended up being the first high-speed LAN technology to link everything together—Ethernet was born.
During the 1970s, Metcalfe would continue to build upon his Ethernet model, most likely one of the most revolutionary inventions since the telegraph. Most technology experts and historians agree that Ethernet has played an enormous role in how computers were used. It can be said that if it weren’t for Ethernet, there would have never been a Digital Revolution. By enabling computers to communicate with each other, Ethernet also supported the rise of information sharing applications such as the World Wide Web and subsequently Big Data, high-performance computing (HPC), and artificial intelligence (AI)—and where would the Information Age be without those technologies?
The IEEE 802.3 Standard: Fostering Improvements in Ethernet
In 1980, the DEC-Intel-Xerox vendor consortium published the original 10 Mbps Ethernet standard which was entitled The Ethernet, A Local Area Network: Data Link Layer and Physical Layer Specifications (also referred to as the “DIX Ethernet standard“). It included the specs for the performance of Ethernet, as well as the stipulations for single-media systems based on thick coaxial cable. The publishers amended the DIX standard, appending technical revisions, improvements, and minor enhancements.
The DIX V2.0 standard was the last amendment made to the DIX standard before the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) published its own standard entitled IEEE 802.3 Carrier Sense Multiple Access with Collision Detection (CSMA/CD) Access Method and Physical Layer Specifications. Even though Xerox had relinquished its trademark rights over the Ethernet name, the IEEE did not include the term “Ethernet” in its standard. The reason for this is due to the community’s sensitivity concerning commercial names that might suggest endorsement of one specific company or another. For this reason, the IEEE refers to Ethernet technology as 802.3 CSMA/CD, or simply 802.3, for short. Nevertheless, most everyone uses the name “Ethernet” when talking about network systems outlined in the IEEE 802.3 standard.
Since the IEEE created its standard, there have been numerous “IEEE Supplements” or amendments made to the original IEEE standard, particularly when a new media system or capability needs to be added. The additions might be comprised of one or more entirely new conditions and may include revisions to existing clauses. New supplements to the 802.3 standards are assessed by a panel of engineering experts at several IEEE meetings, where the supplements must pass a dogmatic procedure before even being voted into the whole IEEE 802.3 standard.
For anyone who’s been using Ethernet technology long enough, they know many manufacturers and vendors like to sell new varieties of Ethernet equipment before the IEEE completed or voted on new supplements. This exemplifies a problem typical in the computer technology sector: innovation, especially in computer networking, is continuously outpacing the deliberate and methodical method of developing and publishing standards. Thus, it’s vital that you, the consumer, know for sure that newly-released equipment is compatible with your network system.
As you can see, there is a lot behind the engineering design, development and subsequent evolution of the Ethernet 802.3. Entire books have been written on the subject. Hence, FreeAxez will be publishing further material on this subject as well as others concerning advancements in raised access floor technology for cable management. Until then, contact one of our experts today to learn more about Ethernet cable management and our revolutionary Gridd® technology. | <urn:uuid:dd52542f-b21e-4c15-b6e1-406a95e26a27> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://www.freeaxez.com/blog/the-evolution-of-ethernet-cable-types-understanding-ieee-supplements/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224647895.20/warc/CC-MAIN-20230601143134-20230601173134-00027.warc.gz | en | 0.940637 | 2,036 | 3.09375 | 3 |
Most of us have grown up with our parent’s telling us to “eat our vegetables”. These days, even the government has gotten in on the act, telling us all that our diets should contain at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Here’s a little known fact – that number is entirely arbitrary. For example, the Japanese government recommends that their citizens should eat at least twelve servings of vegetables a day, while the Scottish government recommends a lowly three. Still, it’s widely accepted that the health benefits of fruits and vegetables cannot be overestimated, and that they can help to protect our bodies from a variety of diseases and disorders, not the least of which is cancer. Research into the effectiveness of plants, vegetables and fruits in the fight against cancer is ongoing, and recent discoveries have uncovered a remarkable ally in that battle. Salvestrols – mighty little chemicals that hide in the best fruits and vegetables and kill cancer naturally while leaving healthy cells untouched.
Salvestrols – A Brief History
Salvestrols were discovered in 2005 by two British scientists, Gerry Potter and Dan Burke, who were conducting research into synthetic compounds that would kill cancerous cells while leaving healthy cells untouched. To their amazement, they found that nature had got there first. During their research, Burke and Potter found that many fruits and vegetables contained a natural compound, which they called Salvestrols, that had the innate ability to target and kill cancerous cells while leaving healthy cells untouched. Moreover, they found that Salvestrols did this quickly, safely, and efficiently.
How Salvestrols Work
The chemical compound Salvestrols is found in a variety of fruits and vegetables. It is an inert chemical that is only activated in the presence of CYP1B1, which is an enzyme found in cancerous cells. All cells within the body follow a natural life cycle. They are born, they grow, and ultimately they die. The CYP1B1 enzyme interrupts this natural life cycle, preventing the natural death of the cell, and allowing it to mutate and become cancerous. Healthy cells do not have the CYP1B1 enzyme. Salvestrols are drawn to cells that exhibit CYP1B1, they are then activated by the enzyme and through a natural chemical process instigate cell death in the cancerous cell. Healthy cells, which do not exhibit the CYP1B1 enzyme, are left untouched.
Where to Find Salvestrols
Salvestrols can be found in a wide variety of plants, fruits and vegetables. Adding these to the diet can help to protect the body from developing cancerous cells, and can actually kill existing cancer cells. The following is just a sampling of the fruits and vegetables that contain Salvestrols.
- Brussels Sprouts
- Bell Peppers
The list goes on and on. However, as common as Salvestrols is, there is a rub….
Salvestrols – Here’s the Rub
While the discovery of Salvestrols is definitely good news for people looking for natural ways to combat cancer, there are a few points to take note of. First, and foremost, many modern agricultural techniques (pesticides, fungicides, etc.) inhibit the growth of naturally occurring Salvestrols. Salvestrols is produced in plants as a protective mechanism to ward of blight, so when we divert the natural growing process we inhibit the development of the lifesaving chemical. That is why it so important to choose organically grown fruits, vegetables and herbs, and to eat them raw whenever possible. This cannot be stressed enough. Second, Salvestrols can only be obtained through a healthy diet, rich in organic fruits and vegetables. Because Salvestrols are so easily destroyed through processing, it is not possible to make an effective Salvestrols supplement.
Salvestrols is a mighty little chemical that is leading the way in the natural fight against cancer. Found in the food we often take for granted, this little might may be the key to unlocking a cancer free future for men and women everywhere. To put this mighty mite to work for you, remember that you must choose organic, and that the most benefit will be derived from raw fruits, vegetables and herbs. | <urn:uuid:b94102da-6e6c-437c-959d-a18d95759a5a> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | https://www.totalhealthinstitute.com/salvestrols-natures-mighty-mite-fight-cancer/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875146064.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20200225080028-20200225110028-00449.warc.gz | en | 0.958109 | 884 | 3.1875 | 3 |
When Paddington Bear comes to visit his relatives I’ve absolutely no idea how he finds them. Quite possibly they are easier to spot in “…deepest, darkest Peru…” , where he hails from, though I doubt it some how, for spectacled bears (Tyemarctos Ornatus) are an elusive creature and apparently much is still to be learnt about them. Which is why we’ve headed off the beaten track in the Imbabura province of northern Ecuador, in the hope of sighting one. To those in the know the bears do leave a calling card – they scratch and wee on trees – but I couldn’t identify a bear scratch on a tree any more than than I could identify the smell of its urine. So, in reality, we are two rank amateurs without a clue what we’re doing, except for possessing a nugget of information: spectacled bears have developed a taste for corn on the cob, meaning that we shall be taking a particular interest in all the maize fields we pass. Like much of the wildlife the world over man’s encroachment on their environment is ringing the death knell for so many vulnerable species, and the spectacled bear is becoming critically endangered by the human quest for land and resources. Here in the cloud forests of Imbabura the bears’ habitat is being diminished by subsistence farming and uncontrolled logging. Along these back-roads you soon witness the destruction of the forest, and the patchwork of fields taking its place: lines of maize, as well as cattle, march ever upwards into the thick cloud hanging over the hills. The bears’ habitual source of nourishment – frailjon plants, figs, wild avocados – are gradually disappearing. Not surprisingly they are developing a taste for the farmers’ crops and, very occasionally, a cow also appears on the menu. A male spectacled bear can grow to 2.2 metres in height and weighs up to 200 kgs. They are powerful creatures and have no problem killing a cow or a bull and dragging the carcass to a sheltered spot to eat it. In Ecuador’s northern Andes 87 attacks on cattle have been attributed to bears since November 2009. These subsistence farmers just cannot afford to loose their cattle and crops. Without a coordinated response from government the farmers, sadly, are going to continue reaching for their guns.
Unsurprisingly, we draw a blank wandering the byeways in our car. Undoubtedly it’s time to get a bit more serious and head for the higher ground, more specifically the Cotacachi Cayapas Ecological Reserve, where I’m absolutely convinced we shall uncover our secretive friend. We must negotiate a high peak, muddy tracks and the odd landslide to reach the Laguna de Cuicocha, where we park, grab our rucksacks and binoculars and march into the information office for the latest information on the whereabouts of the spectacled bears. ‘To find the bears you must go much further into the park,’ the ranger tells us. ‘You must walk a long way.’ I don’t much like the sound of this. And anyway, I’m thinking to myself: how can a man who spends his days in an office be so sure where the bears are? Determined not to be diverted by this latest snippet of intelligence we head out into the wilds…or, I should really say, the 8 kilometres of marked trail encircling the lake. It doesn’t take long out on the trail before I know the ranger is talking a load of tosh. In several places I identify a path of flattened grasses leading off into the bush – quite clearly these have been caused by a bear. Camera in hand, I’m starting to get pretty excited. A kilometre later, when it’s necessary to wander a short distance off the trail to relieve myself, I note a flaw in my earlier observations: when I retrace my steps to the trail my passage through the grasses looks exactly like that made by a bear. Damn! I’m beginning to suspect that if I follow any one of these paths I spotted earlier, rather than uncovering a bear nonchalantly chewing on a corn cob, or a marmalade sandwich for that matter, all I’m likely to stumble upon is a pile of crumpled toilet paper. Perhaps the ranger was right. I gaze at the mist-shrouded peaks above me and decide…I really don’t want to go up there.
I have to admit to drawing a blank. As far as spectacled bears go, it seems I shall just have to be content with photos from the National Geographic. And I only hope some means of securing their future can be found, so that we may go on photographing them…when we can find them. Bears aside, the hike round the lake is in itself most spectacular. The mass of wild flowers are stunning, as are the frequent sightings of humming birds. It took us four and a half hours to get round, which seemed to quite impress the ranger.
For more information on the spectacled bear try http://www.andeanbear.org | <urn:uuid:69c51777-70bd-4a33-bd76-8d8d850ef0ab> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | https://cityofmythsriverofdreams.com/2014/03/09/on-the-trail-of-the-spectacled-bear/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320666.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20170626013946-20170626033946-00413.warc.gz | en | 0.95483 | 1,085 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
23 - Faecal osmolar gap
Faecal osmolality is used to determine the faecal osmolar gap. This is defined as the difference between the measured osmolality and an osmolality calculated from 2 x (Na+K).
If the gap is greater than 100 mmol/L this is consistent with an osmotic diarrhoea (eg carbohydrate (poor absorption, eg mannitol, sorbitol, lactulose); monosaccharides; short chain fatty acids; magnesium as used in antacids).
A normal faecal osmolar gap indicates a secretory diarrhoea indicating damage or irritation of the gastro-intestinal mucosa. This test can only be applied to faecal samples which contain a high fluid content. | <urn:uuid:273ebcf1-6b4c-4e1f-80f7-9e64d1330d7f> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | https://ourphysiology.blogspot.com/2009/04/23-faecal-osmolar-gap.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934805923.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20171120071401-20171120091401-00620.warc.gz | en | 0.841605 | 173 | 3.09375 | 3 |
Word wipe is an exciting and attractive puzzle game. It is a problematic word search problem. In this game, the squares are full of letters, you need to search for words according to the theme you choose, and it is best to find as many English words as possible as soon as possible.
Word wipe's game operations
Word wipe's game operation is simple and easy to use. Only the left mouse button is needed to connect the first letter with the last message, thus the word search can be completed.
Word wipe's game content
When playing the game formally, you can choose challenges from different regions. After selecting a functional area, you can select the keywords you want to search for words, such as fruits and vegetables. After starting the game, the time will be counted automatically. And you need to find out the corresponding keyword words in these horizontal and vertical letters and find out as many words as possible.
The game features of Word wipe
It not only tests your observation but also enables you to improve your vocabulary. Word wipe can give full play to your brain's thinking ability so that you can learn to solve problems and complete tasks faster when searching for words. | <urn:uuid:8d662399-0670-4239-8a27-40acc2fca6e7> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://www.dgames.net/g/word-wipe/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233506632.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20230924091344-20230924121344-00293.warc.gz | en | 0.951898 | 237 | 2.640625 | 3 |
A Salad from the Backyard: Wild Edibles of Idaho. There are many plants that commonly grow in Idaho that are edible. Dandelions, clovers and sunflowers are probably the most common and recognizable of these edibles.
However, some edible species you may not be aware of include Arrow-leaved Balsamroot and Stinging Nettle.
All parts of the dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) can be eaten raw. Dandelions are a good source of calcium, vitamins A and C and potassium. The roots can be roasted and then used as a coffee substitute. Dandelions are delicious and can add a pop of color to your summer salad.
Clovers (Trifolium spp.) are also a great addition to salads. The leaves and flowers can be eaten raw and the roots can be cooked and eaten. The seeds and flowers can be dried and used in cooking. The sprouts also have great taste. But beware, eating too much can cause bloating!
Sunflowers (Helianthus spp.) are a no-brainer. Everyone has had a handful of sunflower seeds before. The sprouts and the seeds are what you want to focus on for this delectable plant. Sprouts can be used in cooking or salads and the seeds can be eaten raw or baked with a pinch of salt for a cheap trail mix.
Arrow-leaved Balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata) is an Idaho native that can be consumed. The roots are bitter unless you slow cook them and the sweet taste comes out. The seeds can be eaten and the leaves are best when they are young. You can find this plant on stone slopes in the foothills. Pick with caution, this plant looks similar to Arnica -which causes severe stomach aches!
Lastly, you may be familiar with Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica). If you have ever brushed up against it in the woods, you know the hairs on this plant itch and burn for a good while. However, all parts of this plant are edible, but they do need to be boiled. Otherwise you may have a very unpleasant sensation in your mouth. Make sure you wear gloves when collecting this tasty edible.
CSR can provide many of these species for an edible garden in your backyard. These plants are beautiful and delicious, but remember to always bring your ID guide when collecting edibles. Many plants are dangerous to consume! | <urn:uuid:6a266b4a-583e-411d-b7d3-4ff528845657> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://nativeplants.wordpress.com/2011/02/08/wild-edibles-of-idaho/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1393999654052/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305060734-00008-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948622 | 513 | 2.75 | 3 |
How to Read PDF Files
PDF stands for Portable Document Format. It is a convenient and widespread method for distributing formatted documents. In order to read PDF files, you need a program that understands the format. The most common such program is Acrobat Reader, which is a free download from Adobe Systems.
You Probably Don't Need to Do Anything
Odds are, you already have a copy of it on your computer. But, you might not. If you would like to test, try to open a PDF. If it doesn't load, come back to this page and follow the directions in the next section. Now, try to load our sample PDF file.
If It Didn't Work...
...then you either don't have a PDF reader or your PDF reader is out of date.
You may download and install Adobe Acrobat Reader. It's available for almost every kind of computer and it's free. | <urn:uuid:ea036156-e27b-4765-9c1a-009ccbeca819> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://wap1.cchealth.org/help/acrobat.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224652116.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20230605121635-20230605151635-00572.warc.gz | en | 0.927541 | 186 | 2.765625 | 3 |
One can receive no value from anything in life unless one maintains an open mind. An open mind is like an open door. It allows new information to penetrate our mind which currently only houses old information. This new information actually penetrates the old information and stimulates a synthesis of the old and the new to form a new framework that was not there previously. New information forces change and adaptation to occur. It stimulates the thinking process. One cannot think “adequately” without processing new information. Without the consideration of new information, one can only think or process old information. By nature, this would be a closed system – uninfluenced by the new information.
Those having a closed mind often have it because they fear new information. They fear the change the new information may cause in them. They desire to cling to only what they know because it is a comfort to them. Yet, by closing their mind they rob themselves of the richness of life.
More importantly, by having a closed mind, one chooses to ignore truth. Information yields truth. To say that another way, the increase of information moves one closer to truth. Of course this assumes that one has the mental and intellectual capacity and analytical processes in place to properly analyze the new information in order to synthesize it with the old information – one must be able to think and think logically.
An open mind is the product of a decision. One decides to be open and actively pursues and welcomes new information. One does this because he does not fear the change that new information brings, but rather accepts and embraces the fact that change happens and is inevitable.
Overcoming fear of change is the first hurdle to cross in order to achieve an open mind. And this hurdle must be repeatedly crossed throughout life because new fears arise with life’s events and one must make a continual decision to remain open.
The rewards of an open mind are many even though such openness has its risks. Openness will mean constant challenge to ones mental framework and world-view. However, the risk is worth taking because the alternative is a life that is self-contained and closed off from the reality we live in – the world around us.
The first step to achieving an open mind is humility. I admit to myself and myself only that I do not know everything. This seems a simple admission, but it is not. If I believe within myself that I know everything, then my world seems secure. It puts me in control. Everything seems to operate within the bounds of my knowledge and understanding. Therefore, anything that happens can be explained according to the way I think about the world.
While this seems like a nice and comforting thought, it lies far from the truth. Reality and the world says that we are the opposite of this. We do not know everything. In fact, we know very little. We are finite creature that are born and die in the span of only a few years. The vast majority of time passes outside the scope of our lifespans. Therefore, there is a majority of information that we cannot possibly attain. Additionally, even if we somehow were to obtain all this information, out finite brains and intellectual powers would be vastly insufficient to grasp and understand all this information.
Therefore, what we are left with is partial information and a very limited capacity to understand it. So what do we do?
First, we admit to ourselves that we have these limitations and that we do not know or understand everything.
Second, we admit to ourselves that while we do have minds to process information, we are limited to by our own bodies. We, that is the personality and mental capacity of who we are is encapsulated or contained within a physical body. Information can only pass through our bodies and get into our minds by the physical “doors” that our bodies contain. Information passes through our eyes, ears, fingers to our brain where it can be processed and assimilated into our mental image of the world. There is a natural limitation in this and sometimes even a distortion of the information because of our physical senses.
Yet, we also admit that there are millions of other people around us, equally limited like we are in their ability to understand the world around them. However, an important fact exists. Each of these people have their own unique collection of experiences and understandings that have made them who they are just like us.
Therefore, when we admit to ourselves that we do not know everything (and cannot) our mind begins to open. It opens to the fact that there are other sources of information and understanding available to us. We realize we can learn from other people; glean new understanding of ourselves when those others share their understanding with us. Once we open our mind, we can begin to look for new information that will make us more whole. We look to other people to teach us about their experiences so that we may understand ourselves better.
By admitting we do not know everything and realizing that no one else does either we begin to realize that all people are in the same situation – we are all trying to figure out life together and we all possess the same limitations.
This humble admittance creates a grace within us. We become more graceful to others because we realize they are just like us and we are just like them. We are all collectively trying to understand life as best as we can. | <urn:uuid:d8d3199a-2ff9-4ea4-a538-3267bf3c4ed8> | CC-MAIN-2020-34 | https://thoughtcoalescence.com/tag/open-mind/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-34/segments/1596439738816.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20200811150134-20200811180134-00595.warc.gz | en | 0.969432 | 1,086 | 2.75 | 3 |
STANFORD, Calif. - For the first time, Stanford researchers have compared genetic patterns with archeological findings to discover that genetics can help predict with a high degree of accuracy the presence of certain artifacts. And they say the strength of this link adds credence to theories that prehistoric people migrated from the Middle East to Europe, taking both their ideas and their way of life with them. "The recovery of history is really a jigsaw puzzle," said Peter Underhill, PhD, senior research scientist in the department of genetics and one of the study's authors. "You have to look at genetics, material culture (archeological findings), linguistics and other areas to find different lines of evidence that reinforce each other."
The researchers' mathematical analysis showed that a pair of mutations on the Y chromosome, called Eu9, predicted the presence of certain figurines from the Neolithic period with 88 percent accuracy and the presence of painted pottery with 80 percent accuracy. The study is published in the September issue of Antiquity.
"The strength of the association is very surprising," said Roy King, MD, PhD, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford who co-authored the study. "The genetic measures are very precise, and archaeology is pretty precise - either a figurine is there or it isn't. The strength of the correlation is driven by the strength of our measures."
It is known that agriculture spread from the Middle East to Europe during the Neolithic period about 12,000 years ago, but for many years archeologists have debated how this occurred. Was it due to the movement of people or to the movement of ideas? Previous genetic analysis of people living today suggests a migration - that the people moved - but critics have questioned this view. The latest study reinforces evidence of a migration in which people brought their ideas and lifestyle with them.
Genetics can answer the question in a roundabout way. Human DNA sequences today may shed light on our ancestors because some portions of the human genome change very slowly. One of these is the Y chromosome. Women carry two X chromosomes, while men have one X and one Y. The X and Y cannot exchange DNA like the 22 pairs of non-sex chromosomes in humans or the paired X chromosomes in women. As a result, a man should have a carbon copy of the Y chromosome of his father, grandfather and so on. But sometimes a harmless mutation, a misspelling in the genetic code, occurs. The mutation will be passed on to all the man's male descendants. If millions of men have the same mutation, then they all share a distant paternal ancestor.
Underhill studies pairs of mutations on the Y chromosome in current populations. He combines data about the geographic distribution of the mutations with information about when the mutations arose to trace historical migrations.
While reading a previous paper on Y-chromosome mutations in Science that Underhill co-authored, King thought the geographic distribution of some pairs of mutations paralleled that of Neolithic decorative ceramics. King, a psychiatrist with a PhD in mathematics and a deep interest in art history, called Underhill and suggested they compare the two sets of data.
Critics argue that the contemporary gene pool does not reflect what happened thousands of years ago because people have moved around too much since then. Many also see genetics as an entirely separate line of investigation from archaeological work. Researchers had compared genetic studies to language evolution, but no one had attempted to link genetics and material culture. Underhill agreed to undertake the analysis with King.
The Science paper Underhill co-authored described the Y chromosomes of more than 1,000 men in 25 different Middle Eastern and European geographic regions. They found that the frequency of four pairs of mutations was highest in the Middle East but also significant in eastern and southern Europe. While it is likely that all the mutations studied originated prior to the Neolithic period, the distribution suggested a westward migration.
The researchers took the distribution of the four pairs of Y-chromosome mutations found to originate in the Middle East and compared it to the regions where certain decorated ceramics have been found in Neolithic sites. They focused on figurines and pottery with painted geometric and abstract designs. Most of the figurines are female; researchers have speculated that they were used for magic or religious purposes, as amulets or charms, or even as dolls for children, King said.
The researchers found a strong correlation in their study between the Y-chromosome mutations and the presence of certain artifacts. Nonetheless, Underhill remains cautious. "No gene on the Y chromosome is going to program you to make pottery," he said. Instead, the Y-chromosome mutation pairs used in the study are simply population markers that in this case were compared to ceramics. The same mutations could be compared to many different types of artifacts.
King and Underhill hope that archaeologists will follow them in trying to blend these two lines of historical evidence. They are continuing to gather genetic data from areas in Greece near Neolithic archaeological sites and in western Turkey, which researchers believe to be the jumping-off point for Neolithic migration.
Stanford University Medical Center integrates research, medical education and patient care at its three institutions - Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. For more information, please visit the Web site of the medical center's Office of Communication & Public Affairs at http://mednews.stanford.edu.
The above story is based on materials provided by Stanford University Medical Center. Note: Materials may be edited for content and length.
Cite This Page: | <urn:uuid:dbbd3bd3-5605-4cc1-b8e2-277bd954a91f> | CC-MAIN-2014-23 | http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/09/020911072622.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1406510267865.20/warc/CC-MAIN-20140728011747-00320-ip-10-146-231-18.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955537 | 1,148 | 3.75 | 4 |
To teach business education courses in a public school system, instructors are sometimes required by their licensing state to pass the PRAXIS II Business Education Exam. The test, which lasts two hours and is comprised of 120 multiple choice questions, assesses these areas of business education: professional business education; information processing; money management; office management and procedures; accounting and marketing practices; business environment; and economic systems in the United States.
To prepare for the 24 questions on the PRAXIS II Business Education Exam that deal with pedagogy, teachers should review instructional methodology, lesson planning, classroom management, business curriculum, and student business organizations. In order to prepare for the 20 questions that concern information processing, those who study for the PRAXIS II Business Education Exam should specifically review word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, medical transcription, and frequently transcribed data.
Seventeen questions on the PRAXIS II Business Education Exam deal with money management, 12 concern U.S. economic systems, and 17 regard accounting and marketing. To study for these test sections, examinees should review mathematical formulas found in business applications, consumer education, consumer rights, the principles of economics, government and banking, free enterprise, purchasing and distribution, and accounting systems.
The 30 questions on the PRAXIS II Business Education Exam about business environment and office management pertain to recordkeeping, business communication, writing, telecommunications, employment skills, ethics, productivity measurement, worker evaluation, insurance, bankruptcy, and legal issues. | <urn:uuid:41cc411f-d66a-4483-bcfe-e8d91d8c15fc> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://praxisii.net/business-education-exam.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1393999655239/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305060735-00096-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.912695 | 308 | 3 | 3 |
INDIAN ANTHROPOLOGICAL EXPEDITION 2018
Indian Anthropological Expedition 2018
The current stage of Russian physical anthropology development as a part of the wider human science, primarily biological, is characterized by several features, which, despite the objective and subjective difficulties, can be traced more and more distinctly. Firstly, it is the interdisciplinary openness, search for new ways to interact with other sciences, in which the connection with genetics and psychology is the most prominent. Secondly, it is the reconsideration of the term “race”, creating new approaches to its studies, among them – gathering new materials on different populations. There are not many foreign expeditions (recently Russian anthropologists have been, for instance, to Chili, Indonesia, Mongolia), however, the tendency to carry them out, as well as expeditions inside our country, is likely to strengthen. This report is about one of the events in this tendency of resurrecting complex anthropological expeditions.
The Indian Anthropological Expedition (the head of research – Dr. Denis Pezhemsky) was organized on the initiative of the Paleoethnology Research Center with its funding and established jointly with Timiryazev State Biology Museum in 2018. The goals of the new expedition are the following:
to mend the international scientific relations almost lost in the 1990s;
to gather data on the specifics of Hindu funeral ritual, primarily on the aspects important for physical anthropology and connected to the forensic expertise of cremated remains;
to assess the possibility of physical anthropology research in modern India and, if possible, to gather new population material.
The renewal of the relations with Indian professionals had several stages, as did the expedition itself. Fortunately, we met with our colleagues from the Anthropology Department of Delhi University (Dr. Anup Kapoor, Dr. Satvani Kapoor), the Anthropology Department of Pune Univeristy in Maharashtra (Dr. Shaunaka Kulkarni, Dr. Subhash Walimbe), the Anthropology Department of Kolkata University (Dr. Arup R. Bandyopadhyay). With the latter it was possible to conduct a field trip to the Santals of West Bengal immediately and to gather physical anthropology data near Bolpur town (Fig. 1).
The first stage of the expedition, conducted in Agra (Uttar-Pradesh state), was studying the process of cremating a human body within the rituals of the Hindu funeral tradition. The observation was carried out on an ancient ghat on river Jamuna bank 500 m to the west from Taj Mahal. The research was being conducted continuously during the daylight hours. All stages of the rituals performed were fixated in a special form as well as the weather conditions. Photo and video recordings were made, samples of the wood which the deceased were burnt on were gathered. In total, we managed to document about 50 cremations in detail and to describe about 50 more based on bonfire sites as cremations are carried out at the Jamuna Ghat almost incessantly twenty four hours a day. During the fixation of a cremation process we focused our attention on such aspects as the time needed for a corpse to burn down, the amount of calcined bones left, the changes in the bone bone tissue, etc. These materials are being processed and prepared for a separate publication at the moment.
Fig. 1. The geographical position of the places in which the Indian Anthropological expedition worked in 2018
At the second stage of the expedition a complex anthropological examination of the Santals of West Bengal organized by Dr. Arup R. Bandyopadhyay was conducted. The expedition set out from Kolkata to Bolpur which is near Shantiniketan. In the past Shantiniketan had been an estate of a famous Indian poet and educator Rabindranat Tagor (1861–1941). There he had founded Vishva Bharati University, which is now known throughout the world. In several kilometers from Shanteniketan there is a small Santal village Pearson Pally, where the Indian Anthropological Expedition members carried out their examination in a rural primary school.
The Santals belong to the Munda group which constitutes a branch of the Austroasiatic language family. Santal groups reside in India – in Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh and Assam as well as in such countries as Bangladesh, Nepal and Butan. The Santals speak Santali language, which has two dialects – mali and karmali. According to the census of 2011, there are over 7 million people in India who named Santali as their native language. Among them about 2.5 million live in West Bengal (Census of India, 2011; Linguistic Survey of India, 2016). By now, Santali language has been studied thoroughly. The researchers have composed several grammar books and dictionaries. Moreover, Santali has its own alphabet based on the Latin script and the Devanagari. According to our own field observations, many of the Santals of West Bengal also speak Bengali.
The Santals do not have caste distinction. Their traditional beliefs are still preserved and they comprise a complex synthesis of a higher deity worship, ancient solar cults, ancestors and mother goddesses worship, popular zoomorphic conceptions and worship of the demon spirits common to all Munda. Santal mythological tradition is rather rich, and Hindu motives can also be traced. It is worth mentioning that in the most ancient Santal folklore layers, connected to the Creation, whales and lobsters, impossible to be known to the residents of the areas far from a shore, act. This fact has led several researchers to an assumption about a past connection between the Santals and a sea, especially in light of the Santal ethnogenesis remaining a serious scientific issue. The Santals also have an abundant ritual culture, which is often accompanied by music and dancing. However, recently researchers have indicated a decline in the interest of young Santals in their traditional culture and Hindu customs’ assimilation (Hembrom, 2003).
Santal houses are usually of the pillar-based type. The main materials are bamboo, clay and cane. Santal clothes is rather similar to the one of the other residents of India. Women wear sarees, traditionally - white (often with a colored border) or checked ones. However, in the course of the fieldwork we observed sarees of most different colors. Also, women insert flowers in their traditional hairdo. Men wear dhotis or waistclothes, though nowadays “European” clothes, such as T-shirts, shirts, shorts or jeans, prevail.
It is important to mention that unlike many other Indian ethnic groups the Santals have extremely few nutritional prohibitions. For instance, they they eat meat of different animals freely. However, until recently a prohibiton of drinking bovine milk existed. The majority of Santal dishes contain rice in different forms. Regarding the drinks, two kinds of beer are widespread. One is made of rice and another one – of mahua flowers.
Traditionally, the Santals are farmers. At present, tillage farming prevails. The main cereal crop is rice. Several researchers are of the opinion that it was Munda people who had brought the rice cultivation technology to India. Except for rice, the Santals cultivate millet, mustard and several kinds of beans. In addition, the Santals are engaged in animal husbandry. They breed swines, goats, sheep, cows and buffaloes. It is interesting that the Santals continue to practice hunting. They hunt with dogs and use bows and arrows of different forms as weapons. The custom of a collective hunt in which all the residents of nearby villages participate is also still maintained. Gathering plays an important role in Santal economy too. Aside from traditional activities, more and more modern Santals do seasonal and industrial work. Santal men also work in big cities as rickshaws, at farms, at Assam tea planatations, they do brick-kiln labour. Women often do seasonal work in forests, on roads and dams (Gupta, 2007).
In colonial times as a result of British reforms the most of Santal community land was concentrated in possession of major landowners (mostly zamindars – immigrants from other areas of India) who would lease it to peasants through manjhis (the headmen). If a Santal did not pay the rent, he would find himself in debt serfdom. As a consequence, there were uprisings against the creditors and landowners-zamindars (e.g. the famous “Santal revolution” of 1850s). Later, the Santals started to migrate to the east to Bengal and to the north to Nepal looking for work in order to repay the debts. The vast majority of the Santals examined (or their ancestors) came to Pearson Pally from Bihar about 40-60 years ago.
All these circumstances must be taken into consideration while processing the gathered data. Overall, 240 individuals were examined, among them there were 214 individuals who identified themselves as Santals (Table 1). The majority of the examined were children or teenagers (52 boys and 61 girls). Adult Santals comprised a small and not genderly equal selection of 32 men and 59 women over 20 years old. The remaining 25 people are of different ethnic groups, mostly Bengali (10 men and 15 women).
The examination was conducted using as many methods as was possible under the given conditions with a mandatory social questionnaire (T.E. Kliuchnikova; Fig. 2) The questioning was carried out in several languages – English, Bengali and Santali. The rural school’s teachers, Vishva Bharati University (Shantiniketan) and Anthropology Department of Kolkata University helped us greatly with it.
Detailed measurements of head and face were taken (32 men and 59 women over 20 years old – E.A. Vagner-Sapukhina) and morphological elements of the face were described according to the “racial” program (83 male individuals and 119 female; - A.H. Gilmitdinova; Fig. 3).
Anthropological photographs of head and face were taken in three projections (88 male individuals and 121 female – Yu.A. Alekseev; Fig. 4).
Body measurements of the adults were taken in accordance to the full somathometric program (30 men and 59 women – A.H. Gilmitdinova) and of the children – in accordance with a short program (A.H. Gilmitdinova, E.A. Vagner-Sapukhina; Fig. 5).
Dermathoglyphic palmar prints were taken as well (88 male individuals and 119 females – D.V. Pezhemsky; Fig. 6). Dental system was examined, dental casts were gathered using the method conventional in the Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology RAS (70 male individuals and 86 females – N.A. Leybova; Fig. 7).
In addition, biological material (buccal swabs) was gathered in order to study DNA-polymorphism (49 male individuals and 45 females; N.A. Leybova). It was frozen upon our arrival to the Anthropology Department of Kolkata University and temporarily left in India.
Fig. 2. The work in progress – T.E. Kliuchnikova is conducting the social questioning with the help of a teacher
Fig. 3. The work in progress – A.H. Gilmitdinova is working on head and face morphological description
Fig. 4. The work in progress – Yu.A. Alekseev is taking photographs of the head and face
Fig. 5 The work in progress – E.A. Vagner-Sapukhina is gathering data on children’s body length
Fig. 6. The work in progress – D.V. Pezhemsky is gathering palmar prints
Fig. 7. The work in progress – N.A. Leybova in the process of a dental examination
Table 1. Gender and age structure of the anthropological selection examined in Pearson Pally village in 2018; Bolpur – Shantiniketan, West Bengal, India
We would like do draw your attention to the fact that while the Indian Anthropological Expedition of 2018 can not compete with the Soviet-Indian Anthropological Expedition of 1971–1983 in complexity of the methods used, the new materials contain data on the female part of the population, which the materials gathered earlier in India by Soviet and Russian specialists lack.
The first result of our work which we would like to share in this publication is the composite portraits of male and female Santals which show their morphological specifics (Fig. 8, 9). They are the result of processing the anthropological photographs taken in the field by Yu. A. Alekseev. The photographs were taken using the conventional method with the elaborations suggested by A. M. Maurer – in the three main projections (en face, three quarters and side view) with a millimeter scale allowing to adjust to scale and take measurements from a photograph. The composite portraits were made by A. H. Gilmitdinva with the help of a special software faceONface (developed by A. B. Savinetsky and G. V. Syroejkin).
The female composite portraits are based on 64 separate photographs en face, in three quarters and side view (Fig. 8). The age range of the individual portraits – 18-75 years old, the average age being 37 years.The male composite portraits are based on 37 separate photographs from all three views (Fig. 9). The age range at the individual level – 18-70 years old, the average age being 27 years.
Fig. 8. The composite portrait of a Santal female from Pearson Pally (n = 64; by A.H. Gilmitdinova)
Fig. 9. The composite portrait of a Santal male from Pearson Pally (n = 37; by A.H. Gilmitdinova)
The division into 12 kins (11 according to another sources) is still preserved in Santal community, among them – Soren, Murmu, Baski, Marandi, Hembram, Tudu, Hansda, Kisku, Chonre, Mardi and Besra, that we encountered during the fieldwork. According to some of the questioned Santals, Mardi and Marandi are the same kin, but this issue will need elaboration. All Santals consider themselves a member of one of the kins, however, the social role of a kin nowadays is not so big, it plays a part mainly during the life cycle.
In every Santal village there is a headman (manjhi) and a priest (naik) with several aides. Together with the most respected older men of the village they form panchayat. Panchayats resolve such issues as people breaking marital or other prohibitions. Santals are an endogamous community. If someone violates the endogamy, i.e. marries a non-Santal, the panchyat may sentence them to bitlakh – a corporal punishment. Cases of such beatings can be found in police reports even of the 1970s. According to our Indian colleagues, if a Santal violates this marital prohibition today, he or she will be banished and stop being a Santal. However, during the fieldwork of 2018, we came across cases of endogamy violations when the violators continued to live in a Santal village and the non-Santal spouse was accepted in the corresponding Santal kin. This circumstance will require very careful processing of the questionnaires’ data before we can go on to generate morphometric and morphological characteristics of the examined Santal group.
The comprehensive consultations with famous Russian specialists were very important for setting the goals and the tasks for the Indian Anthropological Expedition of 2018. The authors are deeply grateful for particularly valuable advice and recommendations to indologist V.E. Larionov; anthropologists Dr. G.L. Heet and Dr. N.A. Dubova; ethnologist, corresponding member of the RAS, Dr. S.A. Arutyunov (a participant of the Soviet-Indian Expedition of 1971–1983).
The fieldwork in West Bengal would be impossible without the help and support of young anthropologists of Kolkata University Parikshit Chakraborti and Swapan Sarder who did the most of the organizational work. Students from Vishva Bharati University Soumen Mardi and Namrata Santra provided invaluable help with the questioning. The members of the Indian Anthropological Expedition and the headship of the Paleoethnology Research Center express their most heartfelt gratitude.
Census of India Website: Office of the Register General & Census Commissioner, India. Population Enumeration Data (Final Population). 2011. http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/population_enumeration.html (дата обращения: 18.12.2018).
Gupta R. Tribal Contemporary Issues: Appraisal and Intervention. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company, 2007. 96 p.
Hembrom M. A Socio-Philosophical Change in Tribal Life // Changing Tribal Life /Ed. by P. Sen. New Delhi: Concept Publishing Company, 2003. P. 31–39.
Linguistic Survey of India. 2016.http://lsi.gov.in/MTSI_APP/(S(quexf155gvih2sijvq2rzs45))/Login_Pages/lsi_wb.aspx (дата обращения: 18.12.2018) | <urn:uuid:f3c028df-60d8-462e-afeb-976d01dfd494> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://paleocentrum.ru/science/indian-anthropological-expedition-2018.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510326.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20230927203115-20230927233115-00701.warc.gz | en | 0.948296 | 3,735 | 2.890625 | 3 |
Have you ever walked a road at night with your path lit only by starlight? In the barrios of the Philippines, stars are the lamps that guide the nighttime traveler. During the Advent and Christmas seasons, one will find parols (star lanterns) hanging from windows. Bamboo sticks and rice paper form a three-dimensional star in which a light bulb or candle is placed so it may glow.
Parols come from the Filipino celebration of Simbang Gabi or “church in the night.” The Catholic missionaries in the Philippines in the 16th century, conscious of the work schedule of the townspeople, began celebrating Mass early in the morning before farmers began their work in the fields and after the fishermen came in from their night’s work. This allowed the whole community to gather for Eucharist, catechesis, and fellowship. Parols lit their way to the church.
Simbang Gabi dates back to 1587 when Fray Diego Soria, prior of the convent of San Agustin Acolman in Mexico, asked the Pope for permission to hold Posadas (a nine-day commemoration of Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn to birth Jesus) outdoors because the church was not large enough to accommodate the many faithful wishing to attend. Though his request was granted, it was not until the 17th century that the nine-day religious celebration was introduced to the Philippines by missionaries and became a Filipino spiritual tradition.
In the 17th century, many Filipinos were fishermen or farmers who rose or ended their days with the dawn. To avoid the intense heat of mid-day, other laborers also began adhering to a schedule which began with the rooster’s call at crack of dawn. Due to the work schedules of the Filipino people, missionaries realized the best time to gather people together was at dawn. It was then that the missionaries introduced the devotion to the Virgin Mary, which takes place the nine days leading up to Christmas, to the Philippines. Since Mass began as early as 4:00 a.m. during these nine days, the Masses became known as the Misa de Gallo, Spanish for Mass of the rooster. Other names associated with these Masses are Misa de Aguinaldo, Spanish for Mass of the gift, or the Simbang Gabi, Filipino for night Mass.
These Masses came to be known as Misa Aurea or “golden Mass” or Misa de Gallo (“Mass of the rooster”) because they were celebrated at dawn. The Masses celebrated the Incarnation of the Word through Mary’s “yes.” They were festive celebrations with Christmas carols sung before Mass, catechesis, faith sharing, and of course, lots of food afterward. These nine days embodied God’s desire to be human and the Filipino’s joy for that humanness. | <urn:uuid:80b3bb1d-87b4-4c26-b63e-6b404a9041e3> | CC-MAIN-2014-15 | http://saintedwardparish.org/simbang-gabi/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1397609536300.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20140416005216-00103-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970774 | 604 | 3.25 | 3 |
Allergy Skin Testing
Skin testing is a simple series of tiny pricks made on your back. The pricks contain trace amounts of a single allergen such as pollen, mold, dust mite even animal dander. Positive results cause a small reaction on the skin usually within 15 minutes. This reaction is a small bump, like a mosquito bite, and may cause itchiness. This indicates that you are allergic to that specific trigger.
Following skin testing on the back, some patients may also receive intradermal testing when results are inconclusive. Intradermal testing takes a small amount of the allergen is injected under the skin of the arm to see if it causes a reaction.
Skin Testing Results
Patients will be made aware during their initial visit what allergens they have tested positive to. Depending on the results of your skin test, our providers will determine the best way to treat your allergy symptoms. | <urn:uuid:fe6d8c3b-881c-426f-9645-dcbf09eb1ed6> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | http://bazallergy.com/allergies/allergy-treatment/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187828189.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20171024071819-20171024091819-00619.warc.gz | en | 0.933632 | 188 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Monday, February 1, 2010
Forest Biome (Woodland Animal Habitat)
-------------- Here's what we did today with our forest
1) We sang the continent song and the kids placed the
continents in the world map (the world pin map is at the
top right almost out of the picture).
2) We talked about the fact that different places in the
world have different temperatures and different climates
(ie. different biomes). We talked about our own climate
3) We looked at pictures of the deciduous and coniferous
forests. Then we looked at the world biome map and put
the deciduous and coniferous forest pins in the right
place on the map.
4) We did a deciduous leaf matching game from prekinders.com
(we looked at them first and then played "memory."
5) Then we took turns laying out the the 3-part woodland
animal cards (from the Montessori Print Shop)
6)Then we went on to some squirrel crafts. | <urn:uuid:abde6a74-944e-4c4c-a1a9-81f2b3722061> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | http://thehomeschoolden.blogspot.com/2010/02/forest-biome-woodland-animal-habitat.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818688208.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20170922041015-20170922061015-00492.warc.gz | en | 0.91841 | 220 | 3.171875 | 3 |
Tadpoles ‘See’ Through Eyes Implanted in Their Tails
(NEW YORK) -- Researchers have implanted eyes in the tails of otherwise-sightless tadpoles, and report in a new study that they had some success in getting them to see, or at least detect colored light through them.
The findings, they say, may mean big things in the study of the nervous systems of other animals and even humans.
“The body stores information about its geometric shape and configuration of organs,” said Michael Levin of Tufts University in an email to ABC News. “This study was the first in our effort to understand how the brain and nervous system interact with this anatomical information network. We wanted to know if the brain can use data from organs in aberrant locations, so we grafted cells that will make an eye from one embryo (the donor) to another one’s tail.”
Levin is the director of Tufts’ Center for Regenerative and Developmental Biology. He and his co-author, post-doctoral fellow Douglas Blackiston, will have their research published in the March 15 edition of The Journal of Experimental Biology.
So, how exactly was the study conducted?
When a donor eye was grafted to the tail of a tadpole, researchers made note of how the nerves of the eye would grow and attach to the tissue around them. In some cases, the nerves would attach -- or innervate -- to the spine of the tadpole, sometimes the stomach, and sometimes the eye did not attach itself at all.
A test was then conducted to determine whether the implanted eyes actually worked. The tadpoles were placed in a round chamber with blue light on one side and red on the other. If they swam toward the red light, they got a tiny electric shock. Soon, some of the tadpoles learned to swim toward the blue area -- something they would have been unable to do unless they could sense the difference in color.
The tadpoles that successfully avoided the red light were ones whose implanted eyes had connected to the spine, part of the nervous system. If the implanted eye made nerve connections to the stomach, or none at all, the tadpole swam aimlessly -- showing it could not tell the difference between red and blue.
Levin said the experiment could have implications for regenerative medicine -- “replacing damaged organs with new, properly innervated, functional ones” -- or augmenting the senses -- “maybe you want an extra eye, one that sees in infra-red or UV perhaps?” He said it might help in the understanding of how bodies evolve, and maybe in the design of future robots.
Copyright 2013 ABC News Radio | <urn:uuid:3157725b-f98f-4867-be12-aeadab3577ce> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://www.eastidahonews.com/2013/03/tadpoles-see-through-eyes-implanted-in-their-tails/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1394021763647/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305121603-00042-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957155 | 566 | 2.984375 | 3 |
When we first learned to ride bikes as children, the two most trying ideas were remaining upright and steering. Balance came quickly, and with it a gut instinct about how to steer. Once dad took the training wheels off and we were darting up to the neighbor’s house (without a helmet, gloves, or a clear sense of which side of the street was correct), who knew that any more needed to be learnt?
As adults taking up the sport, that question may return: I know how to ride a bike, why should I think about steering? The answer is that making a few conscious changes in the way you handle your bike will make your rides safer, faster, and more enjoyable.
I wrote an extensive piece on cornering; The steps are outlined in the post, but I repeat them in brief here for convenience:
Look into the turn. Choose a line for the widest-possible but safest turn. Gauge your speed and brake before entering the turn. Lower your outside foot and press down, driving your foot toward the ground. As needed, apply gentle pressure forward to the inside handlebar. If you’re riding too fast, lean into the turn to keep your line.
In this post, I want to emphasize: focus on controlling your bike with your foot by driving it down toward the ground.
|Figure 1: Eyes up and looking at the exit to the turn. Original Image Credit.|
Generally, counter-steering is accomplished by getting your bike to lean in the direction of travel. Motorcyclists accomplish this by gentle pressure on the inside handlebar and by actively leaning into the turn. While you can do the same thing on a bicycle, that technique can make cyclists feel wobbly and cause unnecessarily and too-early braking.
Instead, as I learned at the Savvy Bike 201 Clinic, focusing on driving your foot down rather than pressing on the handlebar keeps your center of gravity over the bike making you feel much more stable and in control of the turn.
This is not an easy technique to master, even once you’ve figured out how to accomplish it. That’s why its important to think about the steps and practice them consciously on each ride: train yourself out of habit, and into proper form. Here’s a nice video demonstration of the technique.
There’s so much more to discuss. How to choose your line? Why not brake in the turn? When to lean your body? I’ll address each of these in future posts.
As always, please leave your notes, corrections, or suggestions in the comments!
Over the next couple months, I’m going to write a few articles with the lead-in title “Absolute Beginners,” explaining some of the basic principles of cycling. Most of the information is stuff I’ve learned from other cyclists, bike shop mechanics, classes I’ve taken, and Google searches. Please help me out and comment with corrections, additions, or supplements which will help my readers learn about how to operate their bikes! | <urn:uuid:776a62be-d1cf-4478-9bf6-d944f29c1886> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | https://bearalc.wordpress.com/2013/11/05/absolute-beginners-relearning-steering/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323711.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20170628153051-20170628173051-00183.warc.gz | en | 0.958191 | 634 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Subsets and Splits