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Wind and solar are too intermittent to comprise much of electric grid power now, according to Steven Chu, former US energy secretary. In 2010, Chu said, “Without technological breakthroughs in efficient, large-scale energy storage, it will be difficult to rely on intermittent renewables for much more than 20-30% of electricity.”
Unless a major breakthrough in batteries happens, we will continue to require natural gas fueled power plants to ramp up and down quickly to cope with intermittent sources of power. “When you ramp power plants up and down they lose efficiency” according to Haresh Kamath of the Electric Power Research Institute in Washington DC.
Some batteries cannot survive deep discharge cycles
An inability to withstand deep discharge cycles means, in effect, that additional capacity needs to be installed in order to provide effective capacity. Thus, if a technology were deployed that were limited to 50 percent discharge, it would be necessary to provide twice the capacity of a technology of one that had no such limit. Thus, a storage system with a 50 percent limit would in effect need 12,000 MWh of storage where the study had determined that a 3,000 MW, 2-hour unit was required (CEC).
And keep in mind, for the long run, these batteries need to have a positive EROEI over their entire life cycle from mining and crushing of rocks for metals to fabrication to delivery. If they require more energy to construct across the life cycle than they more energy to create than at least 5 times the energy stored and discharged, our way of life can’t continue.
In addition, batteries must be composed of cheap and abundant materials. Platinum, lithium, and many other metals are scarce and take too much energy to extract.
Without energy storage, conventional power generation plants are harmed
Without the use of storage, ramping of combustion turbine generators and hydro?electric generation is likely to increase. This may likely have detrimental effects on equipment maintenance costs and life of the equipment, and greenhouse gas emissions because the resources will be asked to generate more often at less than optimal production ranges as well as to remain committed-that is, on?line-in anticipation of ramping needs The 3,000 to 4,000 MW of storage which could be used to address renewables management requires a ramp rate capacity of 5 to 10 MW/second, or 0 to full power charging / discharging in 5 minutes. This equals or exceeds the ramping capabilities of most conventional generating units, and particularly the larger combustion turbines. Smaller combustion turbines in the California ISO database can meet this ramp rate requirement, but there are insufficient quantities of such units to provide the required 3,000 to 4,000 MW of fast ramping (CEC).
Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) storage
Existing molten salt thermal storage is both expensive and operationally challenging. New technologies are needed now before the large solar plants are all designed and built.
CEC. June 2010. Research evaluation of wind generation, solar generation, and storage impact on the California Grid. Prepared by KEMA, Inc for the California Energy Commission.
Hal Hodson. 2 Feb 2013. Greening the Grid. NewScientist. | <urn:uuid:dc246ec1-8245-4be8-a55e-8546d5fca150> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | http://energyskeptic.com/2013/renewable-energy-cant-supply-more-than-30-of-electric-grid-without-revolutionary-battery-breakthrough/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187822851.65/warc/CC-MAIN-20171018085500-20171018105500-00126.warc.gz | en | 0.93259 | 652 | 3.265625 | 3 |
Customize your JAMA Network experience by selecting one or more topics from the list below.
Kingham TP, Kamara TB, Cherian MN, et al. Quantifying Surgical Capacity in Sierra Leone: A Guide for Improving Surgical Care. Arch Surg. 2009;144(2):122–127. doi:10.1001/archsurg.2008.540
Lack of access to surgical care is a public health crisis in developing countries. There are few data that describe a nation's ability to provide surgical care. This study combines information quantifying the infrastructure, human resources, interventions (ie, procedures), emergency equipment and supplies for resuscitation, and surgical procedures offered at many government hospitals in Sierra Leone.
Site visits were performed in 2008 at 10 of the 17 government civilian hospitals in Sierra Leone.
Main Outcome Measures
The World Health Organization's Tool for Situational Analysis to Assess Emergency and Essential Surgical Care was used to assess surgical capacity.
There was a paucity of electricity, running water, oxygen, and fuel at the government hospitals in Sierra Leone. There were only 10 Sierra Leonean surgeons practicing in the surveyed government hospitals. Many procedures performed at most of the hospitals were cesarean sections, hernia repairs, and appendectomies. There were few supplies at any of the hospitals, forcing patients to provide their own. There was a disparity between conditions at the government hospitals and those at the private and mission hospitals.
There are severe shortages in all aspects of infrastructure, personnel, and supplies required for delivering surgical care in Sierra Leone. While it will be difficult to improve the infrastructure of government hospitals, training additional personnel to deliver safe surgical care is possible. The situational analysis tool is a valuable mechanism to quantify a nation's surgical capacity. It provides the background data that have been lacking in the discussion of surgery as a public health problem and will assist in gauging the effectiveness of interventions to improve surgical infrastructure and care.
Traditionally, treating surgical diseases in developing countries has not been a priority in the public health sector. Large global programs have been successfully established for evaluating and treating diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus infection and malaria, but similar efforts for surgical diseases have been limited. Awareness of surgery as a branch of public health, however, is beginning to gain momentum. It is estimated that 11% of the world's disability-adjusted life years are caused by injuries, malignant neoplasms, and obstetric complications.1 Treating surgical diseases in developing countries has recently been shown to be cost-effective compared with immunizations.2,3 Because it is economically efficient to treat surgical diseases and these diseases compose a significant portion of the overall burden of disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) established a Global Initiative for Emergency and Essential Surgical Care (GIEESC).4
It is impossible to precisely gauge the true state of surgical need in most developing countries. Reports from single institutions or districts are available, but it is rare that an entire country's capacity is described. Sierra Leone, however, is a sufficiently small country that surgical capacity can be effectively studied. Although infrastructure is slowly improving after its civil war that spanned 1991 through 2002, Sierra Leone ranks near the bottom of most lists that organizations such as the Central Intelligence Agency create to rank a population's health, such as life expectancy and infant mortality. The infant mortality rate, for example, is 156 per 1000 live births, the second highest in the world, and life expectancy is 40 years.5 There are 3 types of hospitals in Sierra Leone—government, mission, and private. The government hospitals were decimated during the civil war, but they form the backbone of surgical care for most of the country's population.
This report examined the infrastructure, human resources, interventions (ie, procedures), and emergency equipment and supplies for resuscitation offered at most government hospitals in Sierra Leone. It is the first time the WHO's GIEESC Tool for Situational Analysis to Assess Emergency and Essential Surgical Care, adapted from the WHO Integrated Management for Emergency and Essential Surgical Care (IMEESC) toolkit, has been used to gain a snapshot of the surgical capacity of an entire country.6 The results of this study are striking in that they quantify the crisis in surgical care in Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone consistently ranks at the bottom of the United Nations' Health Development Index, so these data will serve as the foundation for building surgical capacity and evaluating the impact of interventions.
The surgical needs assessment instrument, Tool for Situational Analysis to Assess Emergency and Essential Surgical Care, was developed by the GIEESC in 2007. The needs assessment in Sierra Leone was performed in all of the government hospitals in Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, and in other government hospitals throughout the country. In total, 10 of the 17 government civilian hospitals where surgery is performed were surveyed. Kono Government Hospital, Kailahun Government Hospital, Pujehun Government Hospital, Kenema Government Hospital, Bonthe Government Hospital, Kabala Government Hospital, and Kambia Government Hospital were not included in the survey owing to logistical difficulties in traveling throughout the country. In addition, these 7 hospitals only have a medical officer who is trained in basic surgical skills and 1 gynecologist/obstetrician. The private hospital in Freetown was surveyed by one of us (T.P.K.) in February 2008. The mission Emergency Hospital was surveyed by one of us (R.A.G.) in July 2008.
The assessment was made using a questionnaire that evaluated a hospital's infrastructure and personnel, surgical interventions that were performed, and availability of supplies. The form was filled out by two of us (T.P.K. and T.B.K.) in collaboration with local surgical personnel. Visits lasted between 1 and 5 hours and were conducted in February 2008. District populations were taken from WHO estimates for 2007 (obtained directly from the Sierra Leone Ministry of Health). The surgical procedures that were performed at each facility were captured from the surgical log books from October 1, 2007, to February 20, 2008. The harvest season is during the dry season, from December to February. Surgeons at Connaught Hospital report a change in the types of cases during this period, with an increase in road traffic accidents due to passable roads and increased work requirements. There is, however, a decrease in elective surgical cases until the harvest has been completed. For the purposes of this article, 38 of the 256 data points were selected for comparison.
The infrastructure of all public facilities in Sierra Leone was devastated by the civil war that spanned from 1991 to 2002, and as a result, government hospitals have severe shortcomings (Table 1). There were a total of 1353 hospital beds in the 10 surveyed hospitals, averaging 135 beds per institution and 306 surgical patients per year per institution. All of the hospitals surveyed reported serving more than 200 000 people. Dependable water supplies and electricity are rare throughout most of Sierra Leone. Since January 2008, the 5 hospitals in Freetown have received electrical power at an increasingly steady rate. They use generators when electricity is unavailable. The 5 other hospitals surveyed depended on generator power, but owing to the scarcity and cost of fuel, patients' families were sometimes required to provide the necessary fuel to power generators during surgical procedures. Even when electricity was available, lighting was a problem, given there were approximately 6 individual lightbulbs that worked in all of the dome lights throughout Sierra Leone. Most operating rooms subsisted with a portable light or sunlight.
Bo Hospital and Connaught Hospital were the only 2 institutions that had more than 1 functional operating room (both had 2). Connaught Hospital has 6 operating rooms that were built when the hospital was reopened in 2006, but at the time of the survey only 1 was fully functional, and a second operating room has limited supplies. Basic supplies such as oxygen and anesthesia machines were severely limited. Sixty percent of hospitals had an interrupted supply of oxygen, and 40% had no oxygen. The only mode of oxygen delivery was oxygen concentrators. Twenty percent of the hospitals had a functioning anesthesia machine. Generally, anesthesia was provided via spinal injection or sedation with ketamine hydrochloride with the anesthetist monitoring the patient via a stethoscope attached to the patient's chest.
There are 59 full-time medical health professionals employed by the 10 public hospitals surveyed who are responsible for caring for patients, including physicians, nurses, technicians, and several volunteer employees (Table 2). There were a total of 10 fully trained Sierra Leonean surgeons in the government hospitals to serve a population of 5.3 million people. Until 2008, there had not been an opportunity for postgraduate training in surgery in Sierra Leone. Most Sierra Leonean surgeons have a professional history that includes completing medical school and their 2-year medical officer training in Sierra Leone and then traveling to countries such as Nigeria, Egypt, Russia, and China for formal surgical training. The mean (SD) age of the fully trained surgeons surveyed was 57 (7) years. Most of the surgeons are formally retired but have agreed to work on contract for the government. When other medical officers who perform surgeries are included, the mean (SD) age decreases to 52 (11) years.
The ability to perform important surgical procedures was surveyed at each hospital. Categories were divided into trauma, general surgery, obstetrics/gynecology, and subspecialties. Of the 10 hospitals evaluated, none offered all of the surveyed procedures identified as trauma procedures (Table 3). While personnel at each hospital had training in basic resuscitation, there was a severe lack of supplies, including intravenous fluids, to accommodate effective resuscitation. Although amputations were performed at all except 2 hospitals, advanced orthopedic care was available only at Connaught and Bo Hospitals. Referral patterns are dependent on personnel, supplies, training, and geography. While the distances between hospitals in Sierra Leone is small (eg, 224 km from Connaught Hospital to Bo Hospital), the poor condition of the roads makes even short trips difficult for the average patient. The average travel distance to a government hospital is often less than 80 km, but this distance can be a multiday journey, and in the rainy season many areas are impassable.
From October 1, 2007, to February 20, 2008, there were 724 procedures performed at the surveyed hospitals. Of these procedures, 593 (81.9%) were appendectomies, cesarean sections, or inguinal hernia repairs. Hydrocele resection, dilation and curettage, hysterectomy, and umbilical hernia repair were performed at many of the hospitals but in a small number. At Bo Hospital, there were 16 laparotomies for acute abdomens and 3 trauma laparotomies performed. At Connaught Hospital, laparotomies, prostatectomies, mastectomies, breast lumpectomies, urethroplasties, colon resections, and orchiectomies had been performed. Only Bo and Connaught Hospitals had the capability for performing most general surgery procedures (39% of all cases were performed at these 2 hospitals) and advanced pediatric surgical care (Table 4). All institutions were capable of performing appendectomies and inguinal hernia repairs. The 6 most often referred procedures were cleft lip and palate (10 of 10 referred), obstetric fistula, joint dislocation, intussusception, and imperforate anus (9 of 10), and clubfoot (8 of 10).
Of the 10 hospitals surveyed, all of them failed to meet the 7 requirements for essential equipment or supplies (Table 5). These items were chosen for the survey as representatives of important facets of providing basic surgical care. Currently, patients are required to purchase the necessary supplies at local pharmacies and to provide them to the surgeon. This system fails to allow for emergency access to supplies once pharmacies are closed, so surgery at night is often performed with few supplies.
Choitram Hospital is the private hospital in Freetown. It has 20 surgical beds and 200 surgical admissions per year. It has running water, oxygen, a functioning generator, and an anesthesia machine. There are 5 surgeons and 1 obstetrician on staff. All surveyed procedures were performed at Choitram Hospital. All supplies listed in the needs assessment were available on the premises of the hospital. It is unknown how many procedures are performed there. The largest mission hospital is the Emergency Hospital established by the Italian nongovernment organization Emergency. It is the largest hospital in the country, with 97 surgical beds; 1023 major surgical cases per year, of which 53% are pediatric; 2 major operating rooms; 2 expatriate surgeons; 1 Sierra Leonean surgeon; 3 part-time surgeons; and 3 medical officers. All procedures listed in the needs assessment except for obstetric/gynecologic services are performed at Emergency Hospital. They have all of the equipment included in the needs assessment.
There are several studies that have described surgical services in districts in developing countries. Many of these studies have described case variety or training initiatives. Of the few recently published studies on the general availability of surgical services, 1 reported on adult surgical emergencies in Anambra State, Nigeria.7 Of the surgical emergencies, 75% were composed of appendectomies, motor vehicle crashes, gunshot injuries, acute urinary retention, and intestinal obstruction. Another study described the outcomes of surgical missions to rural southern Sudan, where local medical practitioners were trained in basic surgical skills.8 Forty-two percent of the procedures they performed were hernia repairs, and 77% of their cases were elective. The authors concluded after 6 years that the need for surgical care was still unmet and 10% to 20% of deaths of young adults were iatrogenic and directly attributable to inadequate surgical knowledge. A study from Uganda has shown there are 75 specialist-trained surgeons in the country to serve a population of approximately 30 million people.9
While these studies considered the workforce or the types of procedure performed in individual institutions, we studied an entire country and addressed the existing infrastructure and availability of supplies, to put the surgical capacity of the country into perspective. Given that surgery has recently been acknowledged as a critical component of public health in developing countries, systematic, quantitative descriptions of surgical capacity at the country level are required.10 In creating a snapshot of an entire country's surgical infrastructure and workforce, our needs assessment identified several striking shortcomings of available services. Every aspect of providing surgical care in Sierra Leone is severely limited. We found that the infrastructure is insufficient, with basic amenities such as running water absent throughout the country. Oxygen is supplied only by oxygen concentrators, and all except a few were broken. It is impossible to assess exactly the impact of such difficult conditions on the morbidity and mortality of surgical care in Sierra Leone, but the overall picture is one of no supplies, few surgeons, and most hospitals that are limited in the procedures that can be performed.
As Sierra Leone begins to rebuild in a peaceful political climate, there is an opportunity to improve hospital infrastructure and supplies. Currently, individual hospitals have no ability to store and administer supplies. Local responsibility for maintaining emergency supplies will allow hospitals to improve their trauma and emergency care and bolster confidence in the government hospitals. Basic hospital supplies are available through several nongovernment organizations, and these can be used to assist in building more functional government hospitals. In addition, basic infrastructure, such as lighting in the operating room, is an example of a small investment that can have an enormous effect. The lightbulbs required in Sierra Leone, for example, were found to cost less than US $0.50 at a factory in China. Coordinated needs assessments are vital to assist ministries of health in documenting and prioritizing their infrastructure and supply deficits.
Lack of human resources is a problem with surgical care in Sierra Leone. Low salaries, poor conditions, limited opportunities for professional development, professional isolation, and lack of infrastructure and supplies all factor into the surgical workforce shortage. One difficulty in retaining trained personnel is that nongovernment organizations pay much more (often up to 50% higher) than the government can afford, leading to an internal brain drain that draws valuable health care workers away from the government hospitals and labor-intensive fields such as surgery.11 There are fewer than 10 fully trained Sierra Leonean surgeons, and only 1 is younger than 50. There is no next generation of surgeons in the country. Although Connaught Hospital was recently awarded certification by the West African College of Surgeons to establish a surgical residency, it will be years before another generation of surgeons is fully trained. Some lessons can be learned from Papua New Guinea, where they established a sustainable surgical training program 35 years ago.12,13 They found the elements to success were adjusting training goals to local needs, training with a local institution, and careful consideration of foreign experiences. Similarly, the newly established residency program in Sierra Leone could consider selective long-term collaboration with foreign surgeons to assist in providing training as the Sierra Leonean surgical community sees appropriate.
In Sierra Leone, most surgical procedures performed outside of Connaught and Bo Hospitals were hernia repairs, appendectomies, and cesarean sections. Another solution to the workforce shortage is to train paramedical personnel in 2-year programs to perform safe, basic surgical procedures, as they have done in Mozambique, Tanzania, and Malawi. In Mozambique, paramedical personnel called tecnicos de chirurgia train for 3 years to get a bachelor's degree, and after 2 additional years of supervised training, they are licensed to practice.14 In a study of 2000 cesarean deliveries performed in Mozambique, there was no difference in outcome between those performed by paramedical personnel and those performed by fully trained surgeons.15 There are paramedical personnel who are trained in Sierra Leone as clinical health officers, so the infrastructure exists to allow some of these personnel to shift tasks and become paramedical surgical providers. The World Health Assembly, in 2006, established the Task Force for Scaling Up Education and Training for Health Workers. It reported the average cost of educating physicians in Africa was 5 times greater than the cost of educating community health workers, such as clinical officers, making the avenue of training nonphysicians even more attractive.
There are several limitations to this study. First, the study relied on the interviewees at many hospitals to provide information about the ability to perform surgical procedures. To verify these data, physical inspection was done to examine supplies and surgical log books. The government hospitals that were not studied were the smallest district hospitals that are difficult to reach geographically and that do not have a surgeon assigned to them. The Ministry of Health and surgeons at Connaught Hospital thought that historically these hospitals had such a small volume that their absence in the study would not affect the results of the study. There are several mission hospitals and 1 private hospital in Sierra Leone that treat patients.
The massive disparity in care provided by the government hospitals and the private and mission hospitals was evident by results of this needs assessment. The private hospital is not a reasonable option for the large majority of patients in Sierra Leone. Relying on mission hospitals is problematic as well because they are not affiliated with the public health system, and if they were to leave the country, the government hospitals would need to handle all surgical care. The mission hospitals in Sierra Leone provide an immensely valuable service to the many patients they treat. They cannot, however, provide a national network of hospitals available to all citizens of Sierra Leone. It is for this reason that the disparity evident between the mission hospital with a foreign sponsor and foreign surgeons and all of the government hospitals is so important to document to assist the government in improving its own health care system.
The documentation of the insufficiency of surgical capacity in Sierra Leone is unlikely to be an isolated example of the conditions in developing countries. Even though there were striking findings illuminated by this assessment, the demonstration of the situation in Sierra Leone probably represents only a fraction of the patients who have a need for surgical care. A next step in characterizing surgical need would be to perform an inquiry into the incidence of surgical diseases at the village level using a cluster sampling technique. When combined with the baseline information on capacity described in this study, interventions such as increased training and salary support, improved infrastructure, and additional supplies can be evaluated objectively to determine their success or failure.
Correspondence: T. Peter Kingham, MD, Society of International Humanitarian Surgeons, 303 E 60th St, Suite 28E, New York, NY 10022 ([email protected]).
Accepted for Publication: September 11, 2008.
Author Contributions: Drs Kingham, Kamara, Cherian, Simkins, Meissner, Foray-Rahall, Daoh, Kabia, and Kushner had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. Study concept and design: Kingham, Cherian, Foray-Rahall, and Kushner. Acquisition of data: Kingham, Kamara, Gosselin, Daoh, and Kushner. Analysis and interpretation of data: Kingham, Cherian, Gosselin, Simkins, Meissner, Kabia, and Kushner. Drafting of the manuscript: Kingham, Kamara, Simkins, Meissner, and Kushner. Critical revision of the manu-script for important intellectual content: Kingham, Cherian, Gosselin, Foray-Rahall, Daoh, Kabia, and Kushner. Statistical analysis: Kingham, Simkins, Meissner, and Kushner. Obtained funding: Kayaba, Ishikawa, and Tsutsumi. Administrative, technical, and material support: Kingham, Kamara, Cherian, Daoh, and Kushner. Study supervision: Kingham, Cherian, Gosselin, Foray-Rahall, Kabia, and Kushner.
Financial Disclosure: None reported.
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While the earliest European explorers of the Americas were Scandinavians in the 10th century, it was not until Columbus' explorations that significant numbers of Europeans came to the Americas. When they did arrive, they had certain expectations about what they would find. Address the following question in an essay (200-300 words): What were the expectations and thoughts of the explorers and colonizers who came to America? Must use reference
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298 Experts Online | <urn:uuid:bec6e34b-40ad-4a2f-8f07-78921e92448d> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://www.calltutors.com/Assignments/while-the-earliest-european-explorers-of-the-americas-were-scandinavians-in-the-10th-century-it-was-not-until-columbus39-explorations-that-significant-numbers-of-europeans-came-to-the-americas-when-they-did-arrive-they-had-certain-exp | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510697.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20230930145921-20230930175921-00453.warc.gz | en | 0.975289 | 92 | 3.78125 | 4 |
One of the consequences of contracting chicken pox (Varicella zoster) is that the virus is not destroyed by the body’s immune system. Once the symptoms of chicken pox disappear, the virus hides itself in the basal root ganglion, unseen by the immune system. Even though the body generated an immune response to the original zoster infection, after several decades, the response is either weakened or disappears.
Eventually, due to unknown factors (such as stress or other illnesses), the zoster virus “moves” along the nerve bundles, and causes a second infection with much more serious consequences to the patient. This second infection is called herpes zoster (despite being the same exact virus, it was given a different name probably because it was originally thought to be two different viruses, but in this case, it’s not given a formal biological binomial name), or more commonly, shingles. This infection usually happens when the patient is in their 50’s and older, though it can happen at any time.
Shingles is incredibly painful depending on the location. It can cause a blindness, disfigurement of the area infected, permanent pain, and other conditions. It can be treated with antivirals, but only if the infection is recognized and treated within 24-72 hours, a time frame that might not allow most individuals to get to their doctor. The initial symptoms may even appear like acne or some other skin condition, which many people might ignore.
The only way to prevent a shingles infection is to boost the immune system with a new immunization against the zoster virus. Zostavax has just been approved by the FDA for prevention of shingles in 50-59 year olds (and it has previously been approved for 60-69 year olds). Since I don’t work for the FDA nor the pharmaceutical company that manufactures the vaccine (Merck & Co.), I’d ask your doctor for it when you’re in your 40’s, even if it’s off-label.
Just to pre-empt the silly anti-vaccination memes out there, let’s review:
- Chicken pox is a dangerous disease.
- If you had chicken pox, then it’s latent form, Herpes zoster, is even more dangerous, painful, and disfiguring. There isn’t anything you can do to prevent it. There isn’t anything you can do to cure it, unless you’re lucky enough to recognize the early symptoms and get to a physician for anti-viral drugs.
- Vaccines prevents prevent both forms, and booster shots are necessary. | <urn:uuid:71d01d4e-2852-488c-9333-710f3a2e0f4a> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | http://www.skepticalraptor.com/skepticalraptorblog.php/fda-approves-zostavax-vaccine-prevent-shingles-individuals-50-59-years-age/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549424623.68/warc/CC-MAIN-20170723222438-20170724002438-00679.warc.gz | en | 0.936673 | 558 | 3.09375 | 3 |
17 Common Mortgage Terms To Know
When dealing with the lending world, it can sometimes feel like everyone is speaking a foreign language. Learning the following key mortgage terms can help the process go more smoothly.
Appraisal: A written analysis of the estimated value of a property, as prepared by a qualified appraiser. The lender uses this in determining your qualification for a loan.
Closing: The meeting where the lender, homebuyer and seller meet to complete the sale and mortgage process. After closing, the home officially belongs to the buyer.
Closing costs: This mortgage term refers to the money paid at closing to the lender. It includes a loan origination fee, points, appraisal fee, title search and insurance, survey, taxes, deed recording fee, credit report charge and other costs assessed at settlement. The closing costs are usually about 2 percent to 6 percent of the mortgage amount.
Credit report: A report of your credit history that a lender uses to determine your creditworthiness. It shows your history of borrowing and repaying money.
Down payment: The amount of cash a homebuyer pays to make up the difference between the purchase price (plus closing costs and fees) and the mortgage amount. Usually, 20 percent of the purchase price is the required down payment to avoid having to pay for private mortgage insurance.
Equity: The difference between the fair market value of your home and the current amount left on your mortgage. It is also referred to as the owners interest.
Interest rate: The annual interest on a loan, based on a percentage of 100. The lower your interest rate, the lower your monthly payment.
Lock-in: A guarantee from a lender that you will be granted a certain interest rate for a specific time period, such as thirty days prior to closing.
Mortgage refinancing: When you pay off one mortgage with the proceeds from another, you are refinancing. You may do this to get a better interest rate, change your mortgage product, change the terms of your mortgage, get money to renovate your home, or to pay off debt.
Origination fee: The fee charged by a lender for processing a loan.
Points: An amount that can be paid to a lender to lower the interest rate on your loan at closing. Each point is equal to 1 percent of the loan amount (e.g. two points on a $200,000 mortgage would cost $4,000).
Pre-approval: Getting pre-approved for a mortgage requires that you complete a mortgage application and supply a lender with all the necessary documentation to check your financial background and credit rating. You will then be told the exact mortgage amount for which you are approved.
Pre-qualification: Occurs when a lender estimates what size loan, usually a mortgage, you can afford. A prequalification estimate is non-binding.
Principal: The amount of debt, not counting interest, left on a loan.
Private mortgage insurance (PMI): If you put less than 20 percent down on a home, lenders often require you to take out private mortgage insurance (PMI). It is typically added to your monthly mortgage payment and protects the lender in the event that you default on the loan.
Term: The time period for your loan.
Title: The document that shows ownership of the property. | <urn:uuid:d2d058f3-75e1-46df-a65a-c89d8a1266dc> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | https://www.lendingtree.com/home/mortgage/common-mortgage-terms/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500550977093.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20170728183650-20170728203650-00508.warc.gz | en | 0.94382 | 682 | 2.5625 | 3 |
This essay The Male Sexual Anatomy has a total of 1178 words and 5 pages.
The Male Sexual Anatomy
In Greek art, the male human nude was used as a canon of human perfection. The sensuous male form in motion was considered the crowning achievement of Greek sculpture. Its asymmetrical balance, this motion while at rest, and the resulting harmony of opposites is the essence of male beauty. The following will discuss the male sexual anatomy, physiology, and overall sexual health. In examining the male sexual body, the anatomy encompasses both the external and the internal sex organs. The external sex organs consist of the penis and the scrotum. The internal sex organs consist of the testes, genital ducts, and the fluid producing glands. The systems of internal and external organs that are the male genitals are also referred to as the urogenital system.
The penis is the male organ that is responsible for the transmission of urine and semen from the body. It is an expanding flexible rod which, splits into an Y and is attached to the underside of the pubic bone. It consists of fibrous tissue, nerves, blood vessels, and three cylinders of erectile tissue. This tissue soaks up blood and expands when the brain signals certain arteries to begin pumping blood through, which produces an erection. The purpose of an erection in the reproductive process is to allow the penis to become firm enough to enter a vagina.
The scrotum is a loose sac of skin, fascia, and smooth muscle that encloses and supports the testes outside the body at an optimum temperature for the production of sperm. The scrotum is divided into two parts with each containing a testis. The testes produce sperm and the sex hormone testosterone. "In most men the left testis hangs somewhat lower than the right one, although the opposite may sometimes occur." (Byer 153) The epididymis is a coiled tube about 20ft long, which runs along the posterior side of the testis. It stores sperm and can retain them for up to six weeks, during which time the sperm become mature. The viability of the sperm in the testes is dependent upon the relative lower temperature of the testes in comparision to the body temperature. When the environmental temperature is low the testes move closer to the body by way of the spermatic cord and relaxes when the temperature is too high and moves away from the body. The spermatic cord is covered with skeletal muscle and it suspends the testes in place.
"In the unlikely event that both of your testicles were removed ?you could get by. Your doctor would drop prosthetic testicles into your scrotum. And he'd prescribe a testosterone patch or biweekly injections. Testosterone can be replaced and there will be no decline in the sexual function. Testosterone, rather than causing an erection, only provides the desire for one. You couldn't make babies, but you'd have no trouble making love." (Caine, 323)
The genital ducts of the male reproductive tract carry the mature sperm from the testes to the exterior of the body. The ductus (vas) deferens is the continuation of the epididymis. It is a straight tube located within the spermatic cord. A vasectomy (male sterilization) is the surgical removal, or interruption of a section of the vas deferens, followed by the sealing or tying of each end. The junction of the ampulla and the seminal vesicle duct forms the ejaculatory duct, which receives secretions from the seminal vesicles and the prostate gland before being ejected into the urethra. The urethra is a small tube extending from the bottom of the urinary bladder to the exterior of the body. Its function is to convey both urine and semen to the exterior of the body, each at different times.
The fluid-producing glands include the seminal vesicle, the prostate, and the Cowper's glands. These glands can also be referred to as accessory glands. The seminal vesicles secrete a viscous, alkaline fluid rich in fructose, which serves to nourish and protect the sperm. This secretion constitutes more than half the bulk of semen. Semen is a grayish white, sticky mixture that consists of sperm and other fluids from the accessory glands. The prostate gland secretes a milky, alkaline fluid that is essential in the neutralization of the acidity in the vagina during intercourse. The Cowper's glands secrete an alkaline, mucous-containing fluid into the penile urethra that is lubricating and protective and adds to the bulk of the semen. An ejaculation is
Topics Related to The Male Sexual Anatomy
Mammal male reproductive system, Testicle, Vas deferens, Reproductive system, Testosterone, Seminal vesicle, Scrotum, Prostate, Male reproductive system, Sex organ, Bulbourethral gland, Semen, lisa bowen, anatomy physiology, male genitals, sexual anatomy, sex organs, greek sculpture, hormone testosterone, asymmetrical balance, external sex, flexible rod, production of sperm, sexual body, human perfection, male organ, male beauty, optimum temperature, epididymis, fibrous tissue, urogenital system, pubic bone
Essays Related to The Male Sexual Anatomy | <urn:uuid:4077c737-e2ef-4ada-80fe-349ef01eec1d> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | https://4freeessays.com/essays/the-male-sexual-anatomy | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549425407.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20170725222357-20170726002357-00585.warc.gz | en | 0.917821 | 1,101 | 2.625 | 3 |
Some exciting reviews of underwater Roman ruins.
First, a discovery almost 50 acres of ruins off the coast of Tunisia. The North African city of Neapolis is believed to have been submerged after a tsunami in the 4th century AD destroyed most of it, as recorded by Roman soldier and historian Ammianus Marcellinus. The natural disaster also badly damaged Alexandria in modern Egypt and the Greek island of Crete. This discovery seems to confirm this.
This is a two minute long segment, and below is a link to an article with more details:
Another appetiser is this little bit of Caligula’s pleasure barges. Built during his reign in 37-41 CE, these floating palaces on Lake Nemi were a symbol of decadence. These ships were sunk towards the end of his reign or soon after, and recovered in an archaeological operation in the 1930’s during Mussolini’s fascist regime. What’s particularly interesting about this sample of elaborate inlaid marble mosaic, is that it has somehow managed to end up as a coffee table in New York. Talk about bizarre twists of fate. The piece has been returned to the Italian government, and is on display in its embassy in NYC.
From a sunken ship to a sunken port. Another stunning discovery is the Roman port at Corinth. The city straddles the narrow land bridge to the Peloponnese peninsula, with harbours on both sides. Sacked by Rome in 146 BC in one of the most notorious and atrocious acts of war vandalism, it was later rebuilt by Julius Caesar. Thought to have been destroyed in earthquakes in the 6th or 7th centuries, the Lechaion port on the north-west side has been excavated and found to be amazingly preserved.
Full article (with video): https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/ancient-biblical-city-thought-to-have-been-destroyed-by-an-earthquake-1400-years-ago-found-intact-underwater/ar-BBGW2NM. They also have a Facebook page with more news.
Before we get to the main course of Roman seafood, here is another thrilling discovery. In the depths of the Black Sea, at a level where there is not enough light and oxygen for the organisms that rot wood to survive, a veritable graveyard of ships was found. Around 60 ships, starting from the 4th or 5th century BCE through the Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman eras were found.
Or – in a last digression, I promise – a whole sunken city. This one is about 5,000 years old (possibly the oldest known sunken city), and is right off the coast of Greece. I really should send Felix snorkeling some time soon.
Now, as promised, the main event. Here is an hour long documentary of the sunken city of Baiae. It was an ancient Roman town situated on the northwest shore of the Gulf of Naples, and was a fashionable resort for centuries, particularly towards the end of the Roman Republic. At the time, it was reckoned as superior to Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Capri by the ultra-rich who built luxurious villas here. Parts of it were later sunk due to the volcanic activity of Vesuvius. You can see underwater archaeologists explore the ruins here: | <urn:uuid:e164acd0-632a-45e9-948c-d89d3b0da734> | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | https://egretia.com/2018/01/23/roma-underwater/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593657170639.97/warc/CC-MAIN-20200715164155-20200715194155-00153.warc.gz | en | 0.968874 | 706 | 2.640625 | 3 |
Until relatively recently, scientists believed that life was mostly a biochemical process. The idea that magnetic fields could significantly influence living systems seemed far-fetched. Perspectives have shifted rapidly, however, and many scientists now believe that fundamentally we are electromagnetic creatures. This radical paradigm shift has profound medical implications because modern medicine has focused on biochemical processes. If these processes are influenced by our electromagnetic nature, any healing approach that focuses exclusively on them will, ultimately, be limited.
Life’s Magnetic Nature
Examples of life’s magnetic nature are now plentiful. Many creatures, such as homing pigeons, butterflies, and bees navigate using Earth’s magnetic field. Even humans can roughly sense magnetic direction. These abilities, in part, appear to be mediated through a magnetic substance called magnetite, which has been discovered in the tissue, including the human brain, of many living things. Researchers have found magnetite clusters near the brain’s all-important, magnetically-sensitive pineal gland, which secretes hormones affecting the entire body.
Not only are we affected by magnetic fields but we also generate them. For example, scientists can measure the brain and heart’s magnetic fields with instruments called the magnetoencephalograph and magnetocardiogram, respectively. Life’s magnetic potential is so great that we can even defy gravity under the right circumstances. For example, scientists can levitate frogs by using high-intensity magnetic fields. When subjected to such strong fields, spinning electrons within the frog align themselves to cumulatively create a small magnetic field. Like a compass needle repulsed by a bar magnet, the large external field repels the frog’s small field sufficiently to counteract gravity.
Life’s magnetic frequencies are found to increase with the use of light. Density defies movement and light increases its flow within all life forms, including the human body. In nature, the atomic realm of the material world moves at a slower rate than the auric light-filled realm. This realm, which is composed of the quickened impulse of energy that is essential to all form, is known as the devic realm.
Our physical body and its magnetic field align with gravity. Light and the healing forces of love, emotion, music, sound and color vibrate with a frequency that is quickened, and seemingly invisible. We cannot touch or feel it; however, we do have direct contact with its force on a daily basis. An essential aspect of vibrational healing connects us to this indirect, yet potent energy field on a conscious level.
When magnets are placed on different parts of the human body they can affect the rotation of our auric energies:
Evidence suggests that roughly 80% of chronic pain sufferers could benefit from magnetic therapy…When held against the skin, magnets relax capillary walls, thereby boosting blood flow to the painful area.
The ancient Hindus recognized that within the body the Chakra System has seven different points of energy that rotate back and forth. The human body’s energetic axis is supposed to flow in an uninterrupted cyclical pattern, and when this cycle is interrupted, or if a Chakra is “clogged,” it can be detrimental to one’s health. Magnets placed on the body can help to unblock improperly spinning Chakra energy.
Human beings have an intuitive connection to the earth that is partially an energetic magnetic draw, and partially a spiritual connection to the core of the earth’s sensitivities. Sometimes we are capable of extra-sensory perception relating to the earth and our current location. Certain extra-sensitive people can sense the location of water buried deep within the earth with dowsing rods:
In 1970, Duane Chadwick of Utah State University carried out a series of experiments on 150 dowsers and found that the dowser's rod movements were related to minute variations of the Earth's magnetic field.
The likeness between the earth’s physical make-up and the human body is striking: as liquids flow through our internal organs, water also moves deep down within the inner layers of our planet. Some of us have a magical, intuitive ability to sense this body-earth link with dowsing rods.
Flowers and humans share this energetic bond, as well. We are synergistically connected biochemically and research offers evidence that nature and humanity are profoundly interdependent. An out of balance energy system will eventually withdraw its own life force. Our connection with the floral world facilitates a balancing of the energies of light and gravity. Nature can be seen as a medicine chest to the soul, for flowers are a vital living essence of earth, sending out subtle wavelengths of light that penetrate into form.
On a vibrational level, humanity may increase its sensibilities by aligning to the highest essence of the plant: flower essences. Flower essences contain the essential energetic life template of the flower’s magnetic energy. When taken orally, the magnetic field of the plant is absorbed into the density of the life form and offers an expansive infusion of light filled properties.
As the evolutionary impulse quickens and humanity undergoes various magnetic shifts in energy, our human nervous systems mirror these changes. We have every opportunity to reconnect to the magnetic forces needed to maintain health and balance through education and the use of vibrational medicine. We are gifted with opportunities to work within a vibrational framework that is progressive and in attunement with nature and science. Our evolution is dependent upon this vital flow of magnetic energy to heal body and earth.
Isha Lerner an international astrologer, tarot scholar, consultant, flower essence practitioner, internationally renowned author, and owner of the Power of Flowers Essence Company. She has lectured internationally and is well known for her expertise and research into fairy tale mythology, the study of archetype, her karmic imprint and past life astrological counseling known as Power Mapping, and the symbolic association of the human soul and nature. Read the original article here. | <urn:uuid:a6e80f55-4b49-420e-bcc9-6a24d17ead02> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | http://innerhealers.blogspot.com/2011/10/magnetism-human-body-and-nature.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549436330.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20170728042439-20170728062439-00199.warc.gz | en | 0.932702 | 1,219 | 3.140625 | 3 |
Exploration of Young People and
Educators’ Views of Mental Health
Literacy and Ways to Increase Mental
Health Literacy Within Schools
Submitted by Katie Atkins to the University of Exeter as a thesis for the degree of Doctor of Educational Psychology in Educational, Child and
Community Psychology May 2019
The prevalence of common mental health (MH) problems is on the rise among the populations of western nations (Ohrnberger, Fichera & Sutton, 2017). Mental health problems (MHPs) can have serious consequences, including sleeplessness, drug and alcohol addiction, family conflict and suicide (Gaddis, Ramirez & Hernandez, 2017; Lo, Gupta & Keating., 2017). Furthermore, support for young people (YP) with MHPs within the United Kingdom (UK) is lacking (Frith, 2016).
One way to facilitate YP accessing support for a MHP, is by increasing YPs knowledge of MH, reducing stigmatising views and increasing awareness of available support (Jung, Sternberg & Davis, 2016; Gaddis et al., 2017; Lo et al., 2017). These elements can be conceptualised as ones’ mental health literacy (MHL) (Jung et al., 2016).
This research thesis was designed to investigate the extent of YPs MHL. A role for MHL programmes was explored, as were relationships between MH knowledge, stigmatising views and attitudes towards help seeking. Both pupil and educators’ views as to how best to raise MHL in schools were also explored. A mixed-method, 2 phased design was employed. Phase 1 consisted of the administration of a questionnaire which was composed of 3 measures: Mental Health Knowledge Schedule (MAKS), Evans-Lacko, Little, Meltzer, Rose, Rhydderch, Henderson and Thornicroft, 2010; Peer Mental Health Stigmatization Scale (PMHSS), McKeague, Hennessy, O’Driscoll & Heary, 2015; Mental Health Seeking Attitudes Scales (MHSAS), Hammer, Parent and Spiker, 2018. 398 participants aged 12-13 years took part in phase 1 and results were analysed using SPSS. Phase 2 consisted of 3 focus groups with 13 year old pupils (n=22). Phase 2 also included semi-structured interviews with 3 special educational needs coordinators (SENCos) which were thematically analysed.
The results of this study identified an opportunity to enhance YPs MH knowledge (mean score = 20.4, where a score of 0 = completely incorrect MH knowledge, a score of 30 = totally correct MH knowledge and a score of 18 = neutral MH knowledge). Results also showed that perceptions of societal stigma (m = 10.4) were significantly higher than personal stigma levels (m = 6.2) where p<0.01. Phase 2 of this study identified barriers to receiving MH support, including limited MHL. Phase 2 identified prospective ways to increase the MHL of YP, including: staff training; parental involvement; integration of MH into curriculum; resources within school; links with external services. Implications of these findings were discussed, including the role of the educational psychologist.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following people, as without their support, completion of this thesis would not have been possible.
The members of staff within each of the four schools who helped organise and facilitate the administration of questionnaires.
The three special educational need coordinators who gave up their time and shared their experiences and ideas with me during interview.
The young people who took the time to complete the questionnaires. The young people who participated in the focus group sessions, providing
me with insight into their experiences.
My research supervisors, Drs Christopher Boyle and Andrew Richards, for their invaluable guidance.
Lastly, but certainly not least, my wonderful family; my husband Scott and children Alfie and Lily. Thank you for your patience, understanding and precious periods of rest and play. Your support and encouragement has been instrumental to the undertaking of this thesis.
Chapter Section Page
Chapter 1 1.0 Introduction 15
1.1 Authors Background 15
1.2 Establishing the Issue and Prevalence of
Youth Mental Health Problems 15
Chapter 2 2..0 Literature Review 19
2.1 Introduction to Literature Review 19
2.2 Literature Search Procedure 19
2.3 The Importance of Mental Health Literacy
for Seeking Support 20
2.4 Methods to Measure Mental Health Literacy
2.5 Stigma 22
2.6 Educational Programmes Aimed at Raising Mental Health Literacy
2.7 Social Cognition Models Linking Mental
Health Literacy to Actions 30
2.8 Future Research Suggestions 31
2.9 Current Research 32
Chapter 3 3.0 Methodology 34
3.1 Restating Aims of the Research 34
3.2 Research Questions 35
3.3 The Concept of Methodology 36
3.4 Research Design 36
3.5 Ethical Issues 37
Chapter 4 4.0 Phase 1 Methodology 39
4.1 Phase 1: The Construction of The Questionnaire
4.1.1. Rationale for selecting the Mental Health Knowledge Schedule
4.1.2. Rationale for selecting the Peer Mental
4.1.3 Rationale for selecting the Mental Health
Help Seeking Attitudes Scale 41
4.2 Analysis of Data from Phase 1 42
4.3 Rationale for Using Questionnaires 42
4.4 Phase 1 Pilot 43
4.5 Phase 1 Sample Population 44
4.6 Phase 1 Procedure 45
4.7 Phase 1 Data Entry 45
Chapter 5 5.0 Phase 1 Results 46
5.1 Demographic Data 46
5.2 Mental Health Knowledge Schedule 47
5.3 Peer Mental Health Stigmatization Scale 52
5.3.1. Societal stigma: Items 1-12 on the Peer Mental Health Stigmatization Scale
5.3.2. Personal stigma: Items 13-24 on the Peer Mental Health Stigmatization Scale
5.3.3. Differences between societal and personal
5.3.4. Gender differences between personal and societal stigma
5.4 Mental Health Help Seeking Attitudes Scale
5.5 Gender Differences Between all Scales 60
5.6 Correlation Between Scales 62
5.6.1 Correlation between mental health
knowledge and societal stigma 62 5.6.2. Correlation between mental health
knowledge and personal stigma 63 5.6.3. Correlation between personal stigma and
attitudes towards seeking help 63 5.6.4 Correlation between societal stigma and
attitudes towards seeking help
5.7 Reliability 64
Chapter 6 6.0 Phase 1 Discussion 66
6.1.1 Knowledge and links to phase 2 66
6.1.2 Stigma and links to phase 2 70
6.1.3 Gender differences 72
6.1.4 Summary 72
6.1.5 Attitudes towards seeking help and links to
phase 2 73
6.1.6. Summary to research question 1 75
6.2 Research Question 2 75
6.3 Correlation Between Stigma and Attitudes
Towards Seeking Help 77
Chapter 7 7.0 Phase 2 Methodology 80
7.1 Restating the Aims of Phase 2 80
7.2 Construction of the Focus Groups 80
7.3 Rationale for using Focus Groups 81
7.4 Construction of the Semi-Structured Interviews
7.5 Rationale for Using Semi-Structured
Chapter 8 8.0 Phase 2 Method 84
8.1 Focus Group Pilot 84
8.2 Focus Group Sample Population 84
8.3 Focus Group Procedure 84
8.4 Focus Group Qualitative analysis 84
8.5 Semi-Structured Interview Pilot 86
8.6 Semi-Structured Interview Sample Population
8.7 Semi-Structured Interview Procedure 86
8.8 Semi-Structured Interview Qualitative
Chapter 9 9.0 Phase 2 Results 88
9.1 Thematic Analysis of the Focus Groups: Phase 2a
9.2.0 Coding the data and finding the themes 88
9.2.1. Theme 1: attitudes towards seeking help 90
9.2.2. Sub-theme: fear 90
9.2.3 Sub-theme: apathy 92
9.3 Theme 2: Stigmatising Views Around Mental Health Problems
9.3.1 Sub-theme: perceived weakness 93
9.3.2. Sub-theme: embarrassment 94
9.4 Theme 3: Barriers to Seeking Support for
a Mental Health Problem 95
9.4.1 Sub-theme: lack of knowledge 95
9.4.2 Sub-theme: relationship to teacher 96
9.4.3. Sub-theme: fear 97
9.5 Theme 4: Ways to Support Young People with a Mental Health Problem in Schools
9.5.1. Sub-theme: safe space 99
9.5.2. Sub-theme: peer support groups 100
9.5.3. Sub-theme: access to more resources 101
9.5.4. Sub-theme: creative subjects 101
9.5.5. Sub-theme: mental health lessons 102
9.6. Semi-Structured Interviews Thematic Analysis
9.7. Theme 1: Barrier to Young Person Getting
9.7.1. Sub-theme: stigma 104
9.7.2. Sub-theme: lack of support from external
9.8 Theme 2: Barriers to Improving Young Person’s Mental Health Literacy
9.8.1 Sub-theme: teacher skills 106
9.8.2. Sub-theme: funding 107
9.8.3. Sub-theme: lack of support from external
9.9 Theme 3: Ways to Improve Young
Peoples’ Mental Health Literacy 108 9.9.1 Sub-theme: students supporting each
9.9.2. Sub-theme: mental health to become an integral part of the curriculum
9.9.3. Sub-theme: school resources 110
9.9.4 Sub-theme: more support from external services
9.9.5 Sub-theme: working within the community, including parents and carers
9.9.6 Sub-theme: staffing 112
Chapter 10 10.0 Phase 2 Discussion 111
10.1 Research Question 3 111
10.1. Mental Health Literacy Programme Content 112
10.1.1 Interactive sessions 112
10.1.2 Explicit knowledge 112
10.1.3 Skill building 114
10.2 Broader Ways in Which Schools Can
Support Young Peoples’ Mental Health 115 10.2.1 Accessible safe space, separate to other
special educational needs support rooms
10.2.2 Peer support groups 117
10.2.3 Access to counsellors 119
10.2.4 Participating in more creative subjects 120
10.3 Summary to Research Question 3 122
10.4 Research Question 4 123
10.4.1 Supporting staff 123
10.4.1.1 Staff wellbeing 123
10.4.1.2 Increasing teacher mental health literacy 126
10.4.2 Peer support 127
10.4.4 Working within the community, including
parents and carers 128
10.4.5 More support from external services 130
10.4.6 Mental health to become an integral part of the curriculum.
10.5 Summary to Research Question 4 132
Chapter 11 11.0 Overall Discussion 134
11.1 Introduction 134
11.2. Links Between Phase 1 and 2 134
11.2.1 Stigma: prevalence and implications 134
11.2.2 Awareness of available support in schools 135
11.2.3 Physical, health, social and emotional lessons
11.3 Links to the Theory of Planned Behaviour 135
11.4. Elements of a Mental Health Literacy Programme
11.5. Implications for Practice 138
11.5.1 Research question 5 138
188.8.131.52 Teacher training 139
184.108.40.206 Staff supervision 140
220.127.116.11 Direct therapeutic work 141
18.104.22.168 Improve community and parent involvement
22.214.171.124. Improving relationship between external
agencies and schools 142
126.96.36.199 Research 143
188.8.131.52 Whole school support 144
11.6 Limitations 146
11.6.1 Questionnaires 146
11.6.3 Generalisability 147
11.6.4 Focus groups 147
11.6.5 Thematic analysis 147
11.6.6 Even distribution of questionnaires across
11.7 Future Research 148
11.8 Concluding Comments 149
Chapter 12 12.0 References 152
Chapter 13 Appendices 180
1 Application for ethical approval 181
2 Certificate of ethical approval 195
3 Letter to parents and guardians, phase 1 197
4 Letter to parents and guardians, phase 2a 199
5 Letter to SENCOs, phase 2b 201
6 Questionnaire, phase 1 203
7 Descriptive statistics, MAKS 1-12 210
8 Descriptive statistics, PHMSS 1-12 213
9 Descriptive statistics, 13-24 215
10 Descriptive statistics, MHSAS 217
11 SPSS output, Pearson correlation t tests 219
12 SPSS output, Cronbach’s alpha reliability 222
13 Focus group schedule, phase 2a 227
14 Semi-structured interview schedule, phase 2b
15 Example of focus group collaborative mindmap, phase 2a
16 Transcript from focus group one, phase 2a 234
19 Full thematic Table, phase 2b 253
20 Participants codes, phase 2a 255
21 Phases of thematic analysis 257
22 SPSS output, multiple t tests 259
List of Tables and Figures Table or
Figure Title Page
Table 1 Missing data 46
Table 2 Participant Numbers, Percentages and Gender 46
Table 3 The Balance between Schools 47
Table 4 Participants Responses to Questions 2, 3, 4 and 5 48
Table 5 Paired Sample T Test to show Difference between Participants
Societal Stigma and Personal Stigma Levels 53
Table 6 Frequencies of Responses to the Question Exploring ‘Looking
Down’ on Someone who has a Mental Health Problem
Table 7 Frequencies of Responses to the Question Exploring
Intelligence of people with a MHP
Table 8 Frequencies of Responses to the Question exploring Being
Friends with Someone with a Mental Health Problem
Table 9 Paired Samples T Test to show Difference between Personal
Stigma and Societal Stigma between Boys and Girls
Multiple t test comparisons to show Gender Difference across
all five scales 61
Participant codes 89
Figure 1 Total score on MAKS 1-6 51
Figure 2 Total score on MAKS 7-12 53
Figure 3 Total score on societal stigma 54
Figure 4 Total score on Personal stigma 56
Figure 6 Gender split between all scales 62
Figure 7 Theme 1: Thematic Map 92
Figure 8 Theme 2: Thematic map 95
Figure 9 Theme 3: Thematic map 97
Theme 4: Thematic map 101
11 Theme 1: Thematic map 106
Theme 2: Thematic map 107
Theme 3: Thematic map 110
Illustration of the theory of planned behaviour (Ajzen, 1991)
applied to seeking help for a mental health problem 136
Diagram representing the ways in which the educational psychologist can facilitate change at every level of the child or young person’s ecosystem (Bronfenbrenner, 1979).
ARE Age related expectations
CAMHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health
CYP Child or young person
EH4MH Early Help for Mental Health
EP Educational psychologist
FG Focus Group
MAKS Mental health knowledge schedule
MHSAS Mental health seeking attitudes scale
MH Mental health
MHL Mental health literacy
MHP Mental health problem
PBC Perceived behaviour control
PSHE Physical, social, health and
PMHSS Peer mental health stigmatization
SD Standard deviation
SENCo Special educational needs
SEN Special educational needs
SEND Special educational needs and
SSI Semi structured interview
TPB Theory of planned behaviour
UK United Kingdom
1.1 Authors Background and Introduction to the Topic
I am a trainee educational psychologist working in the South West of England and studying for a Doctorate in Educational, Child and Community Psychology, through Exeter University. I have a keen interest in the mental health (MH) of children and young people (CYP) which partly originates from my time working as a swimming teacher and teaching assistant, as well as personal experiences with my own children and their social networks. These avenues offered me an insight into the difficulties that some young people (YP) face and the impact upon their MH. How they are subsequently supported differs dramatically between individuals and it is this imbalance of opportunities that I find hard to accept. As such, I explored a career in educational psychology whereby I have opted to research the extent of MH support within schools.
1.2 Establishing the Issue and Prevalence of Youth Mental Health Problems
The World Health Organization (WHO) characterises mental health (MH) as the ability to realise one’s full potential, cope effectively with stress, work productively, and contribute to community (World Health Organisation, 2014). WHO (2014) define a mental health disorder as comprising a broad range of problems, with different symptoms, generally characterised by a combination of abnormal thoughts, emotions, behaviour and relationships with others. Examples are schizophrenia, depression, anxiety and disorders due to drug abuse (WHO, 2014). Mental health disorder and other terms, such as MH problem (MHP) and mental illness, are used interchangeably with definitions overlapping (Mind, 2017). For the purpose of this thesis, I will refer to the term ‘MHP’, which is described as ranging from common problems such as depression and anxiety to rarer problems such as schizophrenia and bi polar disorder (Mind, 2017).
Prior to exploring the prevalence of MHPs, it should be noted that the universality of MH encompasses stress and that it is common for individuals with positive MH to experience stress (Mental Health Foundation, 2019a). Stress can be defined
as the degree to which one feels overwhelmed or unable to cope as a result of pressures that are unmanageable (Mental Health Foundation, 2019a). Experiencing stress can be an appropriate response with beneficial effects e.g. motivation, removal of self from a dangerous environment. However, sometimes stress can become excessive which can impact negatively upon ones MH. Schools can present as considerable sources of stress to some YP and as such it is important that the promotion of positive MH and wellbeing is encouraged as a means of preventing the development of MHPs (O’Reilly, Svirydzenka, Adams & Dogra, 2018).
The prevalence of common MHPs is on the rise among the populations of western nations (Ohrnberger et al., 2017). Research shows that half of all MHPs manifest by the age of 14 years, with 75% manifest by age 24 years (Kessler, Berglund, Demler, Jin, Merikangas & Walters, 2005). Furthermore, almost a quarter of CYP in the United Kingdom (UK) show some evidence of a MHP, including anxiety and depression (Frith, 2016) and 90% of school leaders have reported an increase in the number of students experiencing anxiety or stress over the last five years (Association of School & College Leaders, & National Children’s Bureau, 2016). With child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) turning away nearly a quarter of children referred to them (Frith, 2016) a significant number of YP are experiencing MHPs and are in need of adequate support. Recent evidence suggests that the average maximum waiting time for a first appointment with CAMHS is 26 weeks, and 42 weeks until the start of treatment (Frith, 2016).
Researchers place an emphasis on a burdened MH service, stressing an excess of referrals and a requirement to reduce waiting times for CAMHS (Frith, 2016). However, little evidence exists regarding the effectiveness of CAHMS. Measuring outcomes are challenging due to the diversity of the population and the variety of measures (Wolpert, Jacob, Napoleone, Whale and Edbrooke-Childs, 2016). Nonetheless, on behalf of the Child Outcomes Research Consortium (CORC) Wolpert et al., (2016) conducted an analysis of data related to outcomes for children seen across a selection of services between April 2011 and June 2015. Findings indicate that 4 in 5 children endorsed receiving ‘good help’ with 9 in 10 parents agreeing. One in three children stated that they had ‘recovered’ with 3 in 10 parents agreeing. One in two children selected that they had ‘reliably
improved’ and 1 in 10 children selected that they had experienced a ‘reliable deterioration.’
When we consider that 38% of responses indicated ‘no reliable change’ and a response rate of 73%, arguably results do not suggest a strong evidence base for CAHMS. Furthermore, with the lack of a comparator group, it could be suggested that a proportion of recovery rates may not be due input from CAHMS but rather spontaneous remission (Wolpert et al., 2016). In addition, analysis included 21 different child report measures and 15 different parent measures; different scales use different approaches to calculate thresholds, presenting challenging when comparing across scales and populations (Wolpert et al., 2016). Therefore, all data should be treated tentatively (Wolpert et al., 2016).
More evident within the literature, is the view that MHPs can have serious consequences, including sleeplessness, drug and alcohol addiction, family conflict and suicide (Gaddis et al. 2017; Lo et al., 2017). Research suggests that the impact of serious MHPs on life expectancy is higher than that of recognised adverse exposures, such a smoking and obesity (Chang et al., 2011). Youth MHPs are associated with poor academic performance, disrupted psychosocial development, lower rates of high school completion, and increased health risks (Moon, Williford & Mendenhall, 2017). A recent analysis of the British Cohort Study demonstrated that emotional health in childhood is by far the most important indicator of life satisfaction and personal outcomes as an adult (Layard, Clark, Cornaglia, Powdthavee & Vernoit, 2014).
Recognising the negative impact of MHPs and its growing prevalence in the UK, in January 2017, UK Prime Minister Theresa May, unveiled a commitment to tackle the high levels of MHPs, by putting forward a comprehensive package of reforms to improve MH support at every stage of a person’s life (DoH, 2017). It is widely recognised that early intervention is fundamental to MH recovery (Pinfold, Stuart, Thornicroft & Arboleda-Florez, 2005) and as such May pledged to raise awareness of MH in both primary and secondary schools (DoH, 2017). Schools have been identified as an ideal point of entry to MH care for children given the significant amount of time children spend in school due to mandatory attendance policies (Moon et al., 2017). Schools are a universal service, accessed five days
a week by most children. This means that over the course of their education, children spend over 7,800 hours at school (Organisation for Economic Co- operation and Development, 2014).
As such, in December 2017, the Department for Education together with the Department of Health unveiled a Green Paper outlining forthcoming aims (DoH & DfE, 2017). One goal is for every school and college to have a designated MH lead by 2025. The MH lead will oversee the help that the school gives to pupils with MHPs and help staff to identify signs of MHPs. In preparation for the new role of MH lead, the Government has stated within the Green Paper that they aim to seek people’s views on how CYP should learn about MH within schools. However, training just one member of staff within a school arguably gives the impression that pupil MH is a specialist issue, rather than something that all staff should take ownership of. To effectively promote the MH of students, MH awareness needs to be embedded throughout schools and this requires the training or up skilling of all staff and pupils (YoungMinds, 2017).
One way to raise awareness is to increase the MH literacy (MHL) of YP (Wong, Cheng, Zhuang, Ng, Pan, He & Poon, 2017). MHL is defined by Jorm (2000) as “Knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders which aid their recognition, management or prevention” (p.396). Research indicates that people who do not have MHL may have difficulties recognising the symptoms of MH issues and disorders within themselves and in others, and cannot adequately communicate information regarding symptoms to others (Wong et al., 2017). Furthermore, an individual with limited MHL experiences difficulty in obtaining health information using medical services, which can lead to greater depression, unhealthy lifestyle and a higher risk of mortality (Jung et al., 2016). Therefore, higher levels of MHL are associated with reduced duration and severity of MHPs (Drake, Haley, Akhtar & Lewis, 2000).
In summary, MHPs amongst YP within the UK is increasing in prevalence (Ohrnberger et al.,2017) with detrimental consequences including poorer educational outcomes and health implications (Gaddis et al. 2017; Lo et al., 2017). Current government agenda seeks to raise the level of MH support YP receive within educational settings. One way to increase MH support within schools is by developing YP MHL (Wong et al., 2017). In line with the societal aims described, an exploration of how to raise the MHL of YP was attempted as
part of this thesis. The next section will cover individual themes found within the literature concerning MHL and interventions designed to raise MHL.
2.0 Literature Review
2.1 Introduction to Literature Review
Within this literature review, I shall provide a critical overview of existing literature surrounding the concept of MHL including the benefits of having MHL and ways in which MHL can be raised.
I will offer an appraisal of relevant sources providing information within this area and critically discuss differing arguments. I will conclude by showing how my project fits with the existing literature.
2.2 Literature Search Procedure
The literature was gathered using PsycInfo, ScienceDirect, GoogleScholar, and ResearchGate databases. I also used the Google search engine to research the prevalence of the topic in the modern media. The following terms were used, in various combinations: Mental health literacy; measuring mental health literacy; young people; children; adolescents; mental health, mental health support in schools; mental health stigma; mental health literacy educational programmes; social cognition models. Each separate term achieved between 180,000 and in access of 2.5 million results. I refined the results by combining the terms and as such provided more specific themes e.g. ‘measuring mental health literacy young people’ and ‘adolescent mental health literacy educational programmes stigma’. MH awareness amongst YP within the UK is of growing concern and a topical subject (DoH & DfE, 2017). As such, there was an array of literature exploring aspects of YP MHPs with a significant amount of research originating in Australia. I propose that, in order to support YP MH within the UK, there is a role for increasing YP MHL within educational settings. I will support my argument by discussing information within the following sections.
2.3 The Importance of Mental Health Literacy for Seeking Support
According to Jorm’s (2000) widely accepted definition, MHL can be defined as “Knowledge and beliefs about mental disorders which aid their recognition, management or prevention” (p.396). MHL is an important factor in MH care, including help seeking, helping others and also reducing stigma (Jung et al., 2016).
Research shows that individuals with higher levels of MHL are better equipped to identify their own symptoms and are more aware of possible treatments (Jung et al., 2016; Gaddis et al., 2017; Lo et al., 2017). Moreover, these people are more aware of the importance and benefit of seeking professional help (Hom, Stanley, & Joiner, 2015). In addition, higher MHL is associated with recognising signs of MHPs in other people and helping them to access support. Furthermore, research suggests that YP experiencing MHPs are likelier to approach their peers for support than a professional (Gaddis et al., 2017; Lo et al., 2017; Jung et al., 2016).
Conversely, research indicates that low levels of MHL are associated with a delay in seeking help and early termination of treatment (Jung et al., 2016). Individuals with lower rates of MHL are less likely to identify their symptoms as signs of a MHP (e.g. sleeplessness, loss of weight) due to the limited knowledge they have surrounding MH (Drake et al., 2000). Furthermore, people with lower rates of MHL are less likely to seek help for an identified MHP due to feelings associated with shame, as they are aware of the negative beliefs and myths surrounding MHP e.g. that people with MHPs are intellectually challenged (Tatlow-Golden & McElvaney, 2015).
With the prevalence of MHPs amongst YP at an all-time high in the UK, together with limited access to professional support (Frith, 2016), it is arguably more important than ever that members of the public take ownership of their MH (Jorm, 2012). YP of today are the next generation of doctors, teachers, parents and community workers, thus it is of paramount importance that MHL of the young is explored in order to help create an understanding and supportive society for the future (Grove, Riebschleger, Bosch, Cavanaugh & Van Der Ende, 2017; Jorm,
2.4 Methods to Measure Mental Health Literacy
Studies exploring MHL tend to look at measuring MHL across diverse populations, evaluating the effectiveness of training programmes and examining factors related to MHL (Jung et al., 2016).
There is no consistent way to measure to MHL (Greig, MacKay & Ginter, 2019) and a lack of a standardised measure limits the comparison of MHL levels across populations and cultures (Jung et al., 2016). Questionnaires have been used to measure MHL (Dogra, Omigbodum, Adedokun, Bella, Ronzoni & Adesokan, 2012; Evans-Lacko et al., 2010; Hirai & Clum, 2000) but could be subject to desirability bias as participants select an answer they feel they should (Pinfold et al., 2005). Conversely, vignettes have been used as a measure of MHL, allowing participants to generate their own thoughts and beliefs rather than select one from a pool of answers (Burns & Rapee, 2006). However, it is argued that vignettes rarely cover the breadth of aspects of MHL e.g. knowledge of causes and effects (Jorm, 2000; Jung et al., 2016).
Recognising the many different components of MHL, Jung et al., (2016) developed a multi-component measure which looked at three factors: knowledge of MH; beliefs of MH; knowledge of resources for MH. In an attempt to bridge the gap between questionnaires and vignettes this questionnaire included a “don’t know” option as part of a Likert scale. The rationale for this was to reduce bias as it would help prevent participants selecting an answer which they did not agree with (Jung et al., 2016). This measure was found to have good reliability (coefficient alpha in the special case for dichotomous choices of Kuder Richardson 20 0.83) and provides a tool to promote early intervention by measuring MHL among adult community members i.e. not professionals (Jung et al., 2016).
Nonetheless, there is still no consistent way to measure MHL, with researchers selecting tools that measure different aspects of MHL (Greig et al., 2019). Wei, McGrath, Hayden & Kutcher (2015) conducted a systematic review of all measures of MHL in the UK and found 401 separate tools. When considering the
measures that were validated, 14 seek to explore knowledge of MH, 65 measures explore stigma and 10 explore help seeking behaviours. Researchers should consider the constraints within any measure, for example, the extent to which they cover the broad concept of MHL (Jung et al., 2016). Furthermore, many studies using CYP have used participants under the care of health-related services e.g. social work, nursing. Therefore, methodological concerns exist regarding the extent to which findings can be generalised to the wider population of CYP (Wei et al., 2015).
Public perception of stigma relating to MHPs refers to a set of negative attitudes and beliefs that motivate individuals to fear, reject, avoid, and discriminate against people with MHPs (Corrigan & Penn, 1999). Clement et al., (2015) outline several different types of stigma that someone experiencing a MHP can encounter. They are as follows: anticipated stigma (the anticipation of personally being treated unfairly); experienced stigma (having previous experience of being treated unfairly); internalized stigma (holding negative views about oneself); perceived stigma (ones perception of the general public’s level of stigmatizing views towards people with MHPs); stigma endorsement (the views of people experiencing a MHP towards other people experiencing a MHP); treatment stigma (the stigma associated with receiving treatment for a MHP)
Research suggests that stigma related to MHP is widespread worldwide (Natan, Drori & Hochman, 2017) and that stigma impacts negatively on those with a MHP (Wei et al., 2015). Stigma leads to low levels of hope, self-esteem, self-efficacy, and quality of life in people with a MHP (Mittal, Sullivan, Chekuri, Allee & Corrigan, 2012).
In addition, MH stigma can also act as a barrier to prevention and treatment (Wei et al., 2015); research shows that many people experiencing a MHP are reluctant to seek help as they are aware of the negative beliefs and myths surrounding MH (Tatlow-Golden & McElvaney, 2015; Jung et al., 2016). ‘Help seeking’ covers both the initiation of seeking help and also the engagement with care (Clement et al., 2015) and evidence suggests that there is a relationship between stigma and help
seeking (Clement et al., 2015; Schomerus & Angermeyer, 2008). Corrigan (2004) suggested that stigma may deter help seeking through two routes: by people attempting to avoid both public stigma and internalized stigma. Further adding to this argument, Schomerus and Angermeyer (2008) proposed that help seeking may be impeded by treatment stigma and internalized stigma. Clement et al., (2015) conducted a systematic review covering five electronic databases from 1980-2011. The researchers aimed to explore the relationship between stigma and help seeking by reviewing both quantitative and qualitative studies. Clement et al., (2015) concluded that there was a small to moderate detrimental impact of stigma on help seeking and that the key stigma types involved in this relationship were treatment stigma and internalized stigma, adding to the existing evidence base. The findings of this review also highlighted other barriers to help seeking; issues of confidentiality within disclosure, a want to deal with the problem alone and not recognising a need for care (Clement et al., 2015).
Therefore, widespread stigma can mean that people experiencing MHPs may feel ashamed and as such are less likely to seek help than if they were experiencing a physical problem (Tatlow-Golden & McElvaney, 2015). Stigma may decrease help-seeking behaviour from a MH professional (Blais & Renshaw, 2013; Mittal et al., 2012; Reynders, Kerkhof, Molenberghs, & Van Audenhove, 2014) and as a consequence, lead to worsening health outcomes (Shim & Rust, 2013). Dell’ Osso, Glick, Baldwin & Altamura (2013) proposed that the outcomes for untreated MHPs include longer duration of illness and higher severity of symptoms. Dell’ Osso et al., (2013) suggested that this relationship was especially strong when considering individuals experiencing psychosis, bipolar disorder, depression and anxiety disorders
Stigma can also decrease the social interaction that people experiencing a MHP can encounter, due to feelings of shame and low confidence when interacting with others (Lo et al., 2017). Moreover, general members of the public can hold negative beliefs, making them less likely to want to interact with someone that has a MHP, for example, to believe that people experiencing a MHP are dangerous (Jung et al., 2016). In addition, when referring to people with MHPs, YP with lower levels of MHL tend to use terms such as “psycho” and “wacko”, leading to further social exclusion (Rose, Thornicroft, Pinfold & Kassam, 2007).
The ignorance, prejudice and discriminatory views that people can hold surrounding MH, is linked to MHL (Evans-Lacko et al., 2010). Research indicates that those with higher MHL have lower stigma (Jorm, 2012) and that improving public knowledge about MH can impact positively on stigma (Jung et al., 2016; Evans-Lacko et al., 2010).
2.6 Educational Programmes Aimed at Raising Mental Health Literacy
Attempts to raise the MHL of pupils via educational programmes have been attempted, with examples in Australia, Korea, the UK and America (Choi, 2017; Weist & Albus, 2004). Chisholm, Patterson, Torgerson, Turner, Jenkinson & Birchwood (2016) explored the impact of contact with an individual with experience of a MHP. Participants were Year 8 children from a secondary school in Birmingham, UK. Participants participated in a one day educational programme, either with contact and education or education alone. In terms of raising MHL and reducing stigma, results indicated significant improvements in the education alone group, compared to the contact and education group. However, with less than 700 participants from only one school setting, the scale of the study was small. Furthermore, measures of MHL and stigma were taken only two weeks after the intervention; it could be argued that a large sample and longer-term study is needed.
Choi (2017) reported that in Korea, a MHL programme was developed for immigrant women and that it successfully decreased stress levels and raised knowledge and awareness of MH. Participants completed an eight-week course delivered by practitioners specifically trained for the purposes of the study. However, given that participants were Korean women, findings cannot be generalised to UK adolescents.
Schools have been identified as an ideal environment for MHL programmes due to the volume of YP attending and the amount of time spent there (Coles, Ravid, Gibb, George-Denn, Bronstein & McLeod, 2016; Kutcher, Bagnell & Wei, 2015; Pinfold et al., 2005). Furthermore, research shows that people experiencing MHPs are more likely to approach their peers for support, thus stressing the importance of students having good MHL (Jung et al., 2016). Moreover, research in America suggests that MH programmes operated in schools are effective for
serving hard-to-reach populations such as children in rural areas or racial and ethnic minority children (Weist & Albus, 2004).
The MHL of teachers and educators is also recognised as an important factor in supporting the MH of pupils, as teachers can act as important role models for YP (Wei et al., 2015). However, few studies have focused on the MHL of educators (Wei et al., 2015). Aside from acting as role models, school support staff are regarded as important MH support resources that have been traditionally underutilized (Atkins, Hoagwood, Kutash & Seidman, 2010). However, many teachers feel under-skilled to offer guidance on MH (Walter, Gouze & Lim., 2006; Moon et al., 2017). In June 2015, the Teacher Voice Omnibus Survey reported that two thirds of teachers felt they lacked the appropriate training to help identify MHPs in pupils (DoE, 2015). Furthermore, recent research (Frauenholtz, Mendenhall, & Moon, 2017) has noted that limited MHL among educators might impede the effective collaboration among interdisciplinary teams.
Supporting the above view that MHL of educators is a fundamental aspect to raising the MHL of pupils, research exists stressing the importance of developing a system to enhance adults' awareness and knowledge of YP MHP (Atkins et al., 2010; Coles et al., 2016; Jensen et al., 2011; Walter et al., 2006). In the USA, school administrators and educators have been found to have a desire to boost their MHL by increasing their knowledge and understanding of MHPs, behaviour management techniques and specialised skills (Moon et al., 2017)
Furthermore, in the UK, as part of an enquiry into MH and education, in March 2017, YoungMinds carried out a survey of 452 YP aged 11-18 on behalf of the Health and Education Select Committees. Eighty one percent of YP said that they would like their school or college to teach them more about how to look after their MH and 90% of the YP surveyed said that they would like MH to be more important to their school or college (YoungMinds, 2017).
Given the existing evidence which supports a need for MHL programmes (YoungMinds, 2017; Moon et al., 2017; Atkins et al., 2010; Coles et al., 2016) what naturally follows are the questions surrounding a suitable structure and content. When designing a MHL intervention it is useful to consider previously successful frameworks. Weare (2015) took evidence from a systematic review
looking at educational programmes which aimed to raise the emotional wellbeing of pupils and respond to the MH needs of pupils. Weare (2015) highlighted that many of these programmes had positive outcomes including: academic learning (motivation, readiness to learn); staff wellbeing (improved teaching ability); pupil happiness; development of social and emotional skills; prevention and reduction of MHPs. However, it has been proposed that such positive outcomes are dependent upon how well designed and implemented the programmes are and that a whole school approach should be adopted (Banjeree, McLaughlin, Cotney, Roberts & Peereboom, 2016). This means that all parts of the school organisation work coherently together and that there is genuine involvement from all staff, pupils, governors, parents, community members and outside agencies (Weare, 2015; Banjeree et al., 2016). Therefore, implying that assigning a single MH support worker within a school does not account alone for a sufficient MH intervention.
Another key aspect to a whole school approach is the ethos of the classroom; evidence suggests that the programme should concentrate on the core values, attitudes, beliefs and culture of the classroom which will build on the feelings of acceptance, respect and sense of belonging that people experiencing a MHP will have (Weare, 2015; Banjeree et al., 2016; Short, 2016). Therefore, when attempting to implement a whole school approach a goal should be to create an environment in which all people within the environment feel listened to, understood and empowered
Part of the process of people feeling empowered and listened to within a whole school approach, arguably begins within the design of the programme as there is an opportunity for the target audience to have their views heard. Dunsmuir and Cobbald (2016) suggested strategies for EPs when working with schools to promote child MH. One strategy was to gain multiple perspectives from all involved, including pupils and teachers. Kelly, Jorm and Wright (2007) suggested there were seven key components to a successful MH education programme, the first one being to carry out preliminary research with the target audience. The remaining six suggested components are as follows: 1. To base the intervention on a theoretical model e.g. the suicide intervention project applied the theory of planned behaviour (Ajzen, 1991) 2. To divide the intended audience into relatively
homogenous groups. 3. Messages should be designed and tailored to the separate groups 4. Messages should be placed using the appropriate types of media, according to the group i.e. a newspaper for a parent. 5. Evaluations should be carried out throughout the intervention to ensure the messages are reaching the target audience. 6. A final evaluation should take place to explore whether the intervention successfully changed attitudes and or knowledge.
Concepts within a whole school approach are advocated by Kelly et al., (2007) and Weare (2015) and supported further by Jones and Bouffard (2012) who stated that there is a “need to shift our attention from a sole focus on ‘programmes’ to a ‘continuum’ approach that can provide an integrated, everyday foundation” (p.12). However, other research suggests that whole school multi- component approaches are no more successful than the single-component of a classroom based only intervention (Durlak, Weissberg, Dymnicki, Taylor & Schellinger, 2011). That being said, the researchers did point out that the difficulties that are encountered with the implementation of a whole school approach may be a barrier to their success; with a multi-component model comes extra organisational and logistical difficulties (Durlak et al., 2011). Thus, this research arguably does not undermine the positive outcomes of a whole school approach but rather it highlights the practical difficulties.
In addition to the practical and logistical difficulties of the implementation a whole school multi-component approach to raising MHL, is the argument that whole school approaches are sometimes too vague and diluted to be effective (Lendrum, Humphrey & Wigelsworth, 2013). Lendrum et al., (2013) suggested that for a whole school approach to be effective it needs to be undertaken over realistic, incremental steps.
Another key aspect to consider when designing a MHL programme or intervention, is the highly technical world that YP now live in, with a high prevalence of social media use (Coles et al., 2016). Kaplan and Haenlein (2010) define social media as “a group of internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of user generated content” (p.61). Online social networking is a two-way and direct communication that includes sharing of information between
several parties amongst social media platforms (Moorhead, Hazlett, Harrison, Carroll, Irwin & Hoving, 2013) and represents a prominent form of communication in many people’s lives (Naslund, Aschbrenner, Marsch & Bartels, 2016; Shepherd, Sanders, Doyle & Shaw, 2015).
People experiencing MHPs are increasingly using social media platforms to share their experiences or seek advice (Naslund et al., 2016). An online survey of 207 young adults conducted by Gowen, Deschaine, Guttadara and Markey (2012) found that those experiencing MHPs were more likely to express their personal views and build connections with others on social media, than YP who did not have a MHP. In fact, 94% of the participants who were experiencing a MHP used social media to connect with others. Social media can provide a safe platform for people with differing MHPs to connect and support one another (Highton-Williamson, Priebe & Giacco, 2015) and such online communities can be referred to as ‘peer to peer support’ (Naslund et al., 2016). Peer to peer support may present new opportunities to promote recovery as certain barriers are removed, e.g. treatment stigma (Hert et al., 2011). As discussed previously within this thesis, there are many barriers to seeking help, including fear of stigma and not wanting to disclose identity (Clement et al., 2015). Thus, online peer to peer support enables one to avoid these barriers and feel empowered by the amount of control they have over what they disclose and when (Naslund et al., 2016; Highton-Williamson et al., 2015). Moreover, connecting with others experiencing similar MHPs can be a catalyst for seeking formal care (Naslund et al., 2016). However, it is important to consider the risks of peer to peer support; due to the limited regulation of online communities one could be subjected to uncredible and/or unrealistic advice as well as hostile communications (Lawlor & Kirakowski, 2014; Kaplan, Salzer, Solomon, Brusilovskiy & Cousounis, 2011). Furthermore, without professional moderation, participants may be exposed to dangerous advice or to people that may seek to take advantage of their vulnerability (Kaplan et al., 2011).
Given the research suggesting that social media can provide support to people experiencing MHPs, it has been suggested that social media is uterlised as part of a MHL programme (Alvarez-Jimenez et al., 2013). However, an online intervention has been attempted and results were inconclusive (Naslund et al.,
2016); Alvarez-Jimenez et al., (2013) delivered an evidence based psycho- education intervention enhanced by moderated peer to peer support, called ‘Horyzons’. The project took place over a one month pilot study and included 20 participants who had experienced a first-time episode of psychosis. Some participants reported that they found the intervention empowering and increased their social connections (Alvarez-Jimenez et al., 2013) however other participants did not report this. Having said that, the researchers report that there was a significant decrease in depressive symptoms one month post intervention (Alverez-Jimenez et al., 2013) and so it has been argued that results are mixed and as such, inconclusive (Naslund et al., 2016). However, this study used a manufactured social media site, indicating that results cannot be generalised to established social media sites as the network in the study lacked the dynamics, norms and atmosphere of a genuine social media site (Lawlor & Kirakowski, 2014).
Other studies have explored social media as a resource of MH support (Shepherd et al., 2015; Kaplan et al., 2011). Shepherd et al., (2015) focused on a specific discussion on the social media network ‘Twitter’ and conducted a thematic analysis of the comments made. Twitter allows users to communicate in statements (tweets) of up to 140 characters in length. Communication between users can be facilitated through the use of ‘hashtags’ whereby users can contribute to existing conversations by including the said hashtag to their statement. Shepherd et al., (2015) identified the hashtag conversation #dearmentalhealthprofessionals and conducted a thematic analysis on 515 tweets containing this hashtag. The role of Twitter as a social space for communication regarding the experience of MHPs was explored, as was the means of Twitter in allowing users to communicate their feedback on their experiences of MH care. Results suggested that the Twitter platform did not give way to in-depth discussion as each statement is limited in length. However, Shepherd et al., (2015) suggested that it did allow the opportunity for users to provide links to external support, illustrating the strength of social media platforms as a ‘central hub of discussion facilitating the coordination of groups of individuals with shared experience or interests’ (p.6). In other words, this study suggests that social networks can facilitate larger support networks or direct communication
between service users and MH professionals. However, the extent to which these results can be generalised is questionable as the individuals who participated in this particular conversation were said to be mostly from the United Kingdom (UK) and America; some discussions were specific to one particular country, e.g. insurance costs of professional care.
Given the existing research concerning the opportunity to utilize social media (Alvarez-Jimenez et al., 2013) as well as the guidance regarding the framework of a successful intervention (Weare 2015; Kelly et al., 2007) together with the aims within the Government’s Green Paper to seek the views of YP (DfE & DoE., 2017) it is important to explore the views of YP with regard to an intervention and in particular barriers to accessing support and the potential of online support. When designing a MHL programme, as well as exploring YP views, professionals should also consider the research surrounding how best to facilitate behaviour change. With that in mind, the next section will explore social cognition models that seek to explain health related behavior.
2.7 Social Cognition Models Linking Mental Health Literacy to Actions
The ability to predict and explain health related behavior is important to a range of researchers and professionals concerned with developing interventions to change behaviours (McEachan, Conner, Tylor & Lawton, 2011). Different social cognition models exist which address the process by which people behave (Von Wagner, Steptoe, Wolf & Wardle, 2009) and I shall now discuss how the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) (Ajzen, 1991) can be applied to interventions concerned with raising MHL.
The TPB (Ajzen, 1991) is a frequently cited and influential model for predicting Garcia, 2016) and is concerned with the predictions of intentions. The theory states that behavior is determined by intention (INT) and perceived behavioural control (PBC). INT is the motivational component and is determined by an individual’s attitude towards the behavior (e.g. “Is the action of seeking MH support positive or negative?”) and subjective norms (e.g. “What will people think if I seek MH support?”). PBC is the extent to which people perceive they have control over engaging in the behaviour and, as such, is weighed up between how
powerful inhibiting factors are versus how powerful facilitating factors are. For example, having lots of spare time to access MH support (medium factor) versus the financial cost (big factor).
McEachan et al., (2011) conducted a meta-analysis of research which had applied the TPB to the analysis of behaviours across both adolescents and adults. The studies were concerned with many different types of behaviours (e.g. healthy eating, visiting the doctor) and results indicated that overall the TPB provided strong predictions of intention and behavior. The age of the sample of participants moderated the relationship between the components of the model and when considering adolescents, social norms within INT appeared to have the largest role in predicting behaviours.
Therefore, when considering educational programmes aimed at raising the MHL of YP, the application of the TPB further supports the notion that the MHL of YP is fundamentally important in indirectly assisting an individual to seek MH support; social norms (e.g. “What will people think if I go and visit the counselor?”) will arguably become more positive as levels of MHL rise. Thus, exploring MHL of YP and ways to increase it is very important in terms of attempting to influence the MH behaviours of YP.
2.8 Future Research Suggestions
It is widely accepted that people with higher levels of MHL are better placed to support other people with MHPs and also to help themselves in terms of prevention and treatment (Jung et al., 2016; Jorm, 2015; Wong et al., 2017; Tatlow-Golden & McElvaney, 2015). Research also highlights a need and desire, from both staff and pupils, for education programmes aimed at raising the MHL of YP and educators (Natan et al., 2017; YoungMinds, 2017). There is a need for training to enhance educators’ MHL to increase their ability to support YP with MHPs (Anderson, Werner-Seidler, King, Gayed, Harvey & O’Dea, 2019). A notable gap in prior research is a lack of studies that focus on the skills that educators would need in order to support their pupils MHL (Moon et al., 2017; Wei et al., 2015) Therefore, there is a lack of research looking into exactly what an education programme aimed at raising MHL for students would entail; research needs to focus on ways to raise MHL of pupils as well as ways to upskill
teachers (Andeson et al., 2018; Moon et al., 2017; Wei et al., 2015).
There is a gap in research exploring educators’ readiness to commit to MHL programmes (Anderson et al., 2019). Moreover, most studies concerning this concentrate on urban areas and it could be argued that findings cannot be generalised to rural areas, given that urban areas may have greater access to MH services (Moon et al., 2017).
Research also identifies a need to explore the views of the YP regarding MHL, existing MHL programmes and potential education programmes (Burns & Rapee, 2006; Coles et al., 2016; Lo et al., 2017). In order to design an education programme accessible and relevant to the YP of today, it is important to explore how adolescents use the internet and social media to seek help (Coles et al., 2016). As discussed in the previous section, there appears to be potential in utilizing social media as a means of MH support for YP (Naslund et al., 2016; Highton-Williamson et al., 2015) however more research in this area is needed to add to the evidence base.
When considering the gap within research exploring YP views regarding MHL, it is also important to explore the relationship between stigma and help seeking (Clement et al., 2015). Clement et al., (2015) identified that stigma has a detrimental effect on help seeking within adults but suggested that research was needed to explore this relationship within the younger community. Furthermore, Clement et al., (2015) identified that a barrier to seeking help is an unrecognition of there being a need to seek help. Thus, there is an opportunity to investigate the extent to which YP recognise the importance and benefit of seeking help.
2.9 Current Research
My review has highlighted some gaps in research, namely the exploration of the following: pupil and educators’ views with regards to ways in which MHL could be increased; necessary teacher skills to implement MHL programmes; YPs attitudes towards seeking help for MHPs; online MH support. When considering the gaps, together with the growing prevalence of MHPs, I have identified a research area which is both current and relevant to both theory and practice; an
exploration of YP and educators’ views with regards to MHL programmes. The proposed research is relevant as it responds to current Government policies aimed at raising awareness of MH in schools. The proposed research is unique as it taps into many gaps in the existing literature by exploring YP and educators’ views of prospective MHL programmes, including the prospect of online support. Preliminary research with the target audience group has been argued as the most important factor when designing an intervention programme (Kelly et al., 2007). Thus, this research could impact upon practice by adding to the limited literature concerning pupil views of MHL programmes and thereby informing future MHL interventions.
I aim to investigate the extent of MHL of YP. For clarity, the operational definition of MHL that I will be using in this research is ‘knowledge of MH (signs and symptoms); beliefs of MH (stigma); knowledge of resources of MH (help seeking) (Jung et al., 2016). By measuring these three components of MHL I hope to explore whether there is an opportunity for MHL programmes and also to investigate relationships between MH knowledge, stigmatizing views and attitudes towards help seeking. I also aim to explore both pupil and educators’ views as to how best to raise MHL in schools, with a focus on social media as a means of support and a whole school versus single component approach to MH awareness.
The reasoning behind this research is; to improve the MHL of YP, empowering them to recognise the signs of symptoms of MHPs within themselves and others and to become better placed to access support. Research suggests that raising the MHL of YP can reduce the stigmatising views they hold regarding MH, thereby helping to create a more accepting and inclusive environment for the next generation.
3.1 Restating Aims of the Research
The aims of this research are:
o To gather YP views of MH
o To gain a broad sense of whether low MHL is associated with stigma towards MH
o To identify what needs there are for MHL programmes in schools
o To explore the views of YP regarding prospective MHL interventions
o To gain the perspective of SENCos regarding existing MHL of YP in schools
o To explore the views of SENCos regarding prospective MHL interventions
o To identify a role for the EP in raising the MHL of YP within schools Having established the aims of the current research, I then shaped these aims into specific research questions (Thomas, 2017). Given the exploratory nature of the research, the questions needed to investigate a complex issue yet needed to be precise enough to ensure it was possible to find an answer (Thomas, 2017). Furthermore, I anticipated that the questions within phase 2 would emerge from the answers derived from phase 1 (Creswell & Clark, 2017).
3.2 Research Questions Phase 1
RQ1: To what extent do Year 8 (12 and 13 year old) children have MHL? A thorough literature review has identified to me that a significant amount of YP in the UK are experiencing MHPs. Research also suggests that MHPs are less prevalent within those YP who have a higher level of MHL. The MHL of the YP in this research needs to be explored in order to inform the next phase of the research; what areas of MHL are lacking and how can these be improved.
RQ2: To what extent does MH knowledge correlate with stigma?
Research suggests that holding stigmatising views towards MH is a barrier towards seeking help for MHPs. There is a lack of research exploring the stigmatising views of YP in the UK towards MH and how this links to their MH knowledge.
RQ3: What are the views of Year 8 pupils (12 and 13 year olds) regarding prospective MHL programmes in schools?
As part of the green paper (DoH & DfE, 2017) the Government seeks to explore YPs views in order to guide intervention. Currently, research within this area is lacking.
RQ4: What are the views of SENCos regarding prospective MHL programmes in schools?
SENCos will be responsible for implementing MHL programmes in schools yet their views are seldom sought. If the Government is to successfully raise the MHL of YP, it is important that those responsible for implementing MHL programmes are consulted prior to their design.
RQ5: How might EPs facilitate MHL programmes in schools?
There is a lack of research exploring the views of YP and educators with regard to MHL programmes in schools. Such a qualitative method may provide the opportunity to identify a key role for the EP in facilitating such programmes.
3.3 The Concept of Methodology
Methodology is the study of method (Thomas, 2017) and this chapter will present and discuss the methods used in this research project. Methodology can be seen as a strategy of enquiry that guides a set of procedures (Denzin and Lincoln, 2000; Creswell, 2009). The beliefs of researchers about different methodologies and the component research methods is associated with a particular approach to knowledge.
Before I explain the methods used in this study, I must first explain the paradigm, or approach to knowledge, that I have taken. A paradigm is a fixed set of assumptions about the way inquiry should be conducted (Thomas, 2017; Ghiara, 2019) and one’s paradigm is therefore inextricably linked with the research one does (Ghiara, 2019). The paradigm that I used was pragmatism.
Pragmatism suggests that what is true is subjective for individuals (Feilzer, 2010) and that reality is subject to change (Braun, Clarke & Terry, 2014). Given that the pragmatic approach supports the view that there are multiple realties, pragmatism supports a ‘what works’ attitude towards selecting research methods (Tashakkori & Teddlie, 1998) by emphasising the importance of common sense and practical thinking (Mertens, 2007). Therefore, a pragmatic approach embraces methods that are most appropriate for the purpose of the research question (Creswell, 2009) and such approaches demonstrate that both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection are beneficial in research (Briggs, 2019). A pragmatic approach is therefore congruent with mixed-methods as both methods can help researchers to understand different aspects of human experiences (Tashakkori & Teddie, 1998).
By adopting a pragmatic approach to this research, I am focusing on the research problem and the potential consequences of the research, thereby attempting to solve the problem of raising MHL amongst YP in the ‘real world’ (Briggs, 2019; Creswell & Clark, 2017).
3.4 Research Design
In line with the pragmatic approach, this research collected data in a sequential manner using methods from quantitative and qualitative traditions (Creswell &
Clark, 2017) and as such adopts the research design, mixed-methods. This has the advantage of compensating the weaknesses from both methods whilst benefitting from the strengths of both methods (Creswell & Clark, 2017). That is to say, the strength of objective data gathered in phase 1, will add support to the subjective data gathered in phase 2. Also, the strength of the production of rich descriptions from the qualitative data in phase 2, will support the quantitative data gathered in phase 1 (Denscombe, 2014). Adopting a mixed-method approach provides stronger inferences through both the breadth of quantitative data and the depth of qualitative data (Tashakkori & Teddie,1988). Furthermore, using mixed-methods provided me with an opportunity to explore divergent findings from different viewpoints (Tashakkori &Teddie, 1998). Investigating differing viewpoints, enables triangulation of data; the ability to fill in any gaps (Denscombe, 2014).
This research followed two phases; phase 1 used a quantitative method and phase 2 used qualitative methods of data collection. The sequence of these methods was important as the data obtained from phase 1 informed phase 2 (Tashakkori & Teddie, 1998). In other words, the data obtained from phase 1 helped me to narrow down the questions posed to participants in phase 2 and conclusions drawn from this this research will be based on both phases 1 and 2.
3.5 Ethical Issues
This research thesis received ethical approval from The University of Exeter, Graduate School of Education Ethics Committee (see Appendix 2 for certificate and Appendix 1 for ethics application). All four schools informed parents/carers of the research taking place by emailing them a letter from myself (see Appendix 3). Consent was passive for phase 1 and active for phase 2, with selected parents and carers receiving a separate email for phase 2 (see Appendix 3 and 4 respectively).
Information on the participants’ rights to not take part were included at the beginning of the questionnaire, as well as a verbal reminder by myself. Given the nature of the topic, there was a possibility of evoking an emotional response from the YP involved in both phases of the research. As such, measures were taken
to prevent harm coming to participants and are discussed in detail within the ethical application (Appendix 1).
The SENCos in phase 2 received a written information and consent letter, of which they signed and returned prior to the interview (see Appendix 5).
I was present at all schools during the data collection phases of this study should any issues or questions arise. | <urn:uuid:7bebbdab-f9ef-4390-8b90-1b4456bf9675> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://1library.net/document/y4k8gprq-exploration-people-educators-mental-literacy-increase-literacy-schools.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296945282.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20230324113500-20230324143500-00577.warc.gz | en | 0.925927 | 14,404 | 2.6875 | 3 |
With paper no. 14 the authors begin discussing the constitutional and institutional issues that should be addressed before composing a federal European system. Following their point of departure that the creation and construction of the American Constitution is the best practice for a European Constitution, Klinkers first describes the structure and content of the former. Surprisingly, the American Constitution is a very compact document: it encompasses only seven articles and mainly focuses on a clear definition of the trias politica. In the knowledge that the confederal governing system could not guarantee sufficient unity and that in a federal organization the establishment of a power above the individual States may endanger their newly-won freedom, in 1787 the Americans concentrated on an accurate demarcation of the legislative, executive and judicial powers, so as to prevent one power overruling another. Klinkers mentions that the seven articles of the American Constitution have been supplemented with 27 Amendments. However, all in all this compact Constitution is by far preferable to the 55 plus 358 articles of the (two component treaties of the) Treaty of Lisbon. Those seven articles contain the nucleus of what the people want to be guaranteed and secured, constitutionally and institutionally; there is no need for more.
European Federalist Papers © Leo Klinkers & Herbert Tombeur, 2012-2013
What might a European Federation look like, from a constitutional and institutional point of view? Before I can answer this question I have to solve a linguistic problem.
How should we understand the words ‘constitutional’ and ‘institutional’? ‘Constitutional’ means that something is based on an agreement which lays the foundation for the operation of an organization. This word stems from the same origin as ‘constitutive’, meaning ‘establishing’, or ‘setting’. We speak of a constitutive judgment when a judge establishes a legal status. If that basic act concerns a State we call it a Constitution. ‘Institutional’ refers to the organizational content of that Constitution. Together, ‘constitutional and institutional’, mean only one thing: the organizational order of a State.
Here we are dealing with a so-called hen-dia-dys, a linguistic phenomenon from the ancient Greek, using two words to indicate one matter. Literally it is one (hen) through (dia) two (dys). We also see this phenomenon in the English language, for example ‘he came despite the rain and weather’; or to look ‘with eyes and envy’. Thus, a figure of speech in which two nouns joined by and are used in place of one noun.
The concept of ‘constitutional and institutional’ is used to refer to the legitimate basic organization of a State or of any other construction, for instance the Benelux or Europe.
Esteemed Tombeur, in previous Papers we have tried to explain that it would be wise to follow the best practice of 1787-1789 North America, although you have criticized firmly, in Paper no. 9, the often detached and opportunistic behavior of the United States with regard to Europe. However, this does not change the fact that America has served, both constitutionally and institutionally, as a model for the stately composition of many other countries in the world. We would throw out the baby with the bath water if we – due to America’s pursuit of its own economic and military interests – would negate or minimalize its political wisdom at the end of the 18th century.
The way in which some leading figures at the Convention of Philadelphia understood that tinkering with the Confederation would be useless, therefore deciding to design a Federal Constitution, has led us to the statement – as argued in our Papers 10, 11 and 12 – that again and again repairing the shortcomings of the European intergovernmental system is, and always will be, useless. A Federation will never emerge from the repeated reparations, changes or adaptations of that Treaty. One cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.
Although the State of the Union of September 12th, 2012, by chairman of the European Commission Barroso is sympathetic, he finds it necessary to adapt, once again, the present treaties in order to compose a renewed European Union in the sense of a ‘Federation of States’. It is hard to understand why he keeps focusing on what is essentially a stalemate. Barroso does not see that the misery that he correctly criticizes is caused, again and again, by the intergovernmental system itself; and never can be solved by alterations within that system. Take this quote from this State of the Union: “On too many occasions, we have seen a vicious spiral. First, very important decisions for our future are taken at European summits. But then, the next day, we see some of those very same people who took those decisions undermining them. Saying that either they go too far, or that they don’t go far enough. And then we get a problem of credibility. A problem of confidence.”
The vicious spiral he is talking about is the typical phenomenon of the positive feedback mechanism that I explained earlier in Paper 11. The fact that government leaders undermine their decisions immediately after they were taken, is typical for the intergovernmental system, that always creates losers: they try to compensate their loss by repudiating their own decisions. If Barroso immediately after this complaint states that questions with respect to the future cannot be answered with tools of the past, he uses exactly the instrument from the past that is the prime cause of his problems, namely by stating “more unity demands more integration”. On the contrary.
As mentioned in earlier Papers: integration is a sympathetic word, but one should know when and where to use it. More integration within an intergovernmental system – how often adapted or changed – produces more centrally imposed uniformity which is vaporizing nation states. And that is exactly why national politicians and citizens feel that something is wrong. The proper need is allocating some sovereign powers to a governing body above the States while those States keep their own sovereign powers. Not hierarchically organized, no top down decision-making, but a complex of sovereign powers for a federal body and for the States as well.
Coming to this point, I would like to refer to a Dutch television broadcast on October 15th, 2012. A journalist was talking to Ben Bot (former Minister of Foreign Affairs and in Maastricht 1992 Secretary General of that ministry), Frits Bolkestein (former Euro Commissioner) and Maarten van Rossem (emeritus Professor of American Studies). It concerned the question as to whether the Netherlands should cooperate in federalizing Europe. Well, the journalist and the first two political figures mentioned above showed a bewildering absence of knowledge about the essentials of a federal system. They used ‘Federation’ and ‘Super State’ as synonyms.
The journalist posed only one relevant question, luckily enough to Van Rossem: “What will we lose if Europe becomes a Federation?“ Van Rossem gave the perfect answer: “Nothing. We will only get something extra.” That brings me back to the example that I have used in Paper no. 2, to explain the difference between intergovernmentalism and federalism. Namely by referring to what is known in the Netherlands as the Association of Owners of apartment buildings. Living in such buildings resembles a federal organization: within your apartment you are free to do whatever you like. You decide yourself how you derive your income and how you spend your money. Nobody above you has the power to decide how you should live. No one can take your money. But you know that living in that apartment requires attention to matters that you cannot take care of yourself. Those are matters of common concern: the maintenance of the roof and the foundation, the elevators and the stairway. To take care of that you pay a monthly sum into an association (elected by the owners) that takes care of these common interests. Thus, within such an association you will not lose anything, but instead you gain an extra: the knowledge that you do not need to worry about these essential matters as they are efficiently managed.
Even a Brit, and not someone to ignore, understood this: the sociologist Anthony Giddens, who circa ten years ago served as advisor to Prime Minister Tony Blair. In his book ‘Europe in the Global Age’ he states that the European Union, as of the beginning, has achieved more than individual countries would have achieved by themselves. Let me quote from an interview with Giddens by Knack in 2007: “Take for instance the consultation within an institute such as the World Trade Organization. Because the Union as a whole carries more weight, it is able to achieve more for its citizens than the Member States individually. In the same manner as an organization it can do more against, for instance, the risks of climate change, terrorism and international crime. Contrary to what many, especially new Member States think, in the end shared sovereignty leads to more sovereignty. (…) Present-day intergovernmental Europe has too many restrictions. Government leaders always give way to national interests. (…) If the rules remain as they are, the Union has no future. The change of the upmost necessity relates to the way of decision-making. Due to the manner in which matters are organized now minorities can block a decision forever.” Could the added value of a separate federal governing layer for interests on a wider scale than national interests be better phrased?
Thus the European Federation should be designed – just as the 18th century North American Federation – independently of and besides the existing intergovernmental system.
If we want to use America’s process of federalization at the end of the 18th century as the best practice, we have to take the American Constitution (as the outcome of that process) as a benchmark for composing the constitutional and institutional aspects of a European Federation – naturally adapted to today’s insights. Perhaps it is superfluous to mention that I do not intend to refer to or draw from the Treaty of Lisbon in any way. That political-legal monster can never guarantee an authoritative constitutional and institutional foundation for European cooperation. It contains far too many articles, all signs of convulsive attempts at keeping each and everyone on board. And hence utterly vulnerable to the saying: “The more rules, the more fouls.”
The worst aspect of the Treaty of Lisbon is visible in the dozens of protocols and exceptions made towards the end. Any first-year law student learns that law making – by definition – should be generally binding. Legislation which, following the generally binding articles, formulates arrays of exceptions is the worst imaginable way of law making. This explains why the intergovernmental system does not work, and why it provokes so much criticism. People who have to live in a house with a foundation constructed by non-professional builders rebel as a natural reaction when they experience cracked walls, doors and windows that do not close, a leaking roof and faulty electricity and water supplies.
Well, enough said about the deficiencies of the intergovernmental system. Time for more constructive texts. Before I design a federal European Constitution together with you, colleague Herbert Tombeur, I would like to elaborate on the primary characteristics of the American Constitution.
The draft was designed in 1787 by the Convention of Philadelphia, coming into force on March 4th, 1789. The importance Americans placed on their Constitution was strikingly worded by Eric Janse de Jonge in the opening sentences of his book ‘Amerikaans Staatsrecht’ (American State Law): “The first question that Americans pose when confronted with a legal question of a stately nature is: what would the founding fathers of the Constitution have thought about this?” More than in any other country in the world the American Constitution appears to be a document that keeps people together.
The most striking aspect of the American Constitution is its compact nature. It contains only seven articles. Over centuries they have been sufficient to keep fifty States together. Some articles contain many sections. Moreover, over the years 27 Amendments have been added. However, all in all the Constitution encompasses only a very limited amount of pages.
Let us compare this with the two sub-treaties of the Treaty of Lisbon: 55 plus 358 articles to accommodate 27 Member States. But that is not all. Behind the Treaty we find – as mentioned before – no less than 37 elaborated protocols specifying the working of the articles of the Treaty, or formulating exceptions to the rules for certain countries. These are followed by 65 Declarations in which Member States formulate which article is, or is not, applicable to a specific country. Everyone who enjoyed a decent law study knows that the legal status of such a Treaty is nil.
The American Constitution only formulates the principle of federalism and the trias politica. Through Amendments following soon after 1789 a Bill of Rights (1791) was adopted. Striking is the emphasis on federalism and the trias politica. This was all they needed as a foundation for the development of the mightiest country in the world.
Within the trias politica the American Constitution has built an utterly ingenious system of checks and balances; an art of stately balancing of the highest quality. It is the expression of their hard-won freedom: no person or institute would ever again rule over everyone. The checks and balances are an ingenious elaboration of the rule of law: nobody stands above it.
The Constitution consists of two primary balances. Firstly, the vertical division of powers between the federal body (= the sovereign body preserving the unity of the country) and the power of the Member States (= each State’s sovereign power, preserving diversity within the country). That is the federal system’s basis: sovereignty for both parts (the federal and the state parts) without a hierarchy. Thus a sharing of sovereignty by the States and the Federation. Secondly, there is a horizontal division of powers, usually called the trias politica: the legislative, executive and judicial powers operate separately in their own territory and none of these are allowed to impede the work of any of the other two.
However, within these primary balances we find many more checks and balances. In practice the trias politica cannot be carried out rigidly. Often, the three powers have to cooperate, which is the case in any country. To prevent one power overruling the others, extra balances have been created.
To give some examples, with respect to the federal system: the Constitution can be amended but only if the federal body and the governments of the Member States agree. With respect to the trias politica: the President has the power to appoint Ministers and Ambassadors, but he needs the advice and consent of the Senate. With respect to legislation: the President can veto draft-legislation by the Houses of Congress but the Houses are able to overrule that veto by a two-third majority. There are more examples, but I confine myself to these. The essence is that the American Constitution blocks any possibility of hierarchical excesses.
To curb the legislative and the executive powers Alexander Hamilton states in Paper no. 78: “There is no liberty if the power of judging be not separated from the legislative and executive powers.” In order to prevent the judge from always being granted the last word, however, the legislature will counter undesired judicial judgments with new rules that restore the balance between the two powers.
The founding fathers of the federal Constitution were not only driven to create this ingenious system of checks and balances to avoid losing their hard-won liberty, but also in the hope and expectation that precisely this limited constitutional and institutional system would produce prosperity and welfare. Thus, next to the defense-oriented agenda of creating an obstacle against a possible new supremacy they also had a positive driving force: a Constitution which self-evidently would create political, social and economic progress. The federalists considered this compact Constitution the best instrument for the preservation of their hard-won independence on the one hand and the growth of national strength and progress on the other. History proves them right. A federal European Constitution, based on the American model, may realize the same progress.
Thus far the main characteristics of the American Constitution. Now I would like to give some substantive observations. Articles I, II and III describe the three powers: the legislative, executive and judicial powers. Articles IV-VII deal with the basic elements of federalism.
However, at this point I have to make a comment. The original text of the American Constitution stated that the Senate would be appointed by the legislatures of the individual States. In 1913 Amendment 17 stated that two Senators per State would be elected by the people of the State. I wonder if this is not a breach of the original classical federal system. An impairment of the aforementioned vertical division of powers, one of its characteristics being – as we know – the protection of the States’ sovereignty. The House of Representatives, elected by the people, represents the interest of the federal body. The Senate, to be appointed by State legislatures, represents the interests of the States. That is one of the checks and balances that makes the American system so ingenious. By introducing the Senate elected through the people in 1913 a lot of power (or even too much power?) has shifted progressively from the States towards the federal body. Anno 2012-2013 it appears that this process has increasingly led to question marks regarding the correct balance of power between the federal body and the States. It would not surprise me if they would come up with an Amendment to repeal Amendment 17, in order to restore the original 1787 text.
Let’s return to the Articles of the Constitution. Article I explains the way in which both Houses of Congress are elected. The Representatives (435) represent the people and are elected every two years. The size of the State’s population determines the quantity of the representatives per State. This House chooses its own chairperson and officials. The Senate (100) – two from each State, regardless of their size – represents the States (here I repeat my observation that they are elected by the State’s people since Amendment 17 of 1913). They occupy a seat for six years. The Vice President is qualitate qua chairperson of the Senate. If the President is on trial due to severe misdemeanors the Supreme Court’s chairperson will chair the Senate. Both Houses determine by themselves the way in which their elections take place. The President has no power to dissolve Congress.
Both Houses are entitled to make laws. However, making federal fiscal laws is the prerogative of the House of Representatives. All laws need the consent of both Houses. The executive government does not design laws; it has the duty to execute the laws of the Houses. That’s why members of the President’s Cabinet do not appear in Congress. Thus, all laws are products on the initiative of members of Parliament.
The majority of European countries do not have a presidential system, but a so-called parliamentary democracy. This means that parliament is the boss of the executive power, being legitimized to hold responsible a prime minister and members of his cabinet for what they do. This implies the power to send them away if they no longer possess parliamentary trust. Parliamentary democracy does not exist in a presidential system like the United States. Congress and the President are elected by the people, so they are accountable to the people.
This explains the large system of parliamentary committees and the magnitude of personnel in both Houses. It also explains the elaborated lobby system from the part of the executive body to convince members of both Houses to initiate certain laws. The President and his Ministers do not sit down, waiting for draft laws to arrive, but operate actively behind the curtains of the Houses to stimulate the Houses to initiate laws.
Thus, each draft law comes from one of the Houses and is sent to the President. It may be signed, or sent back with an argued veto. In that case the House where it originated can rethink the draft. If that House, and also the other House, accepts the draft with a two third majority, the law will pass. I leave details regarding this procedure aside, referring to the aforementioned book by Eric Janse de Jonge on American State Law.
The powers of Congress are related to matters of national interest. For instance the national currency, the federal fiscal system, commercial relations with other countries, foreign affairs and defense. There are more, limitatively enumerated, matters. This limitative enumeration is a typical characteristic of the federal system: Member States are allowed to do anything that is not explicitly granted to the federal body. In a detailed way it is settled that the federal body is not allowed to interfere in subjects belonging to the complex of State powers. See here the protection of the State’s sovereignty. Vice versa, it is also determined that the States are not allowed to interfere with the federal body, unless given permission by Congress.
Here appears one of the primary differences between intergovernmentalism and federalism: no hierarchy between the top and the bottom; no (undue) influence by the States in federal affairs; plus sovereign legislative powers for the federal body as well as for the component parts of the Federation, the States. Thus no external interference by States on the federal level, nor any external interference by the Federal level in the State level. This is precisely the point that refutes popular misconceptions, as if a Federal State were a Super State destroying and absorbing the Member States’ sovereignty. Quod non. This is the more remarkable since the European intergovernmental system increasingly grants more power to national parliaments in order to influence the decision-making process in Brussels, for instance with regard to the Economic and Monetary Union. This only amounts to piling up conflict upon conflict. In a federal system powers are kept separate.
Article II covers the complex powers of the executive system under the leadership of the federal President. It formulates, among others, his election, the supreme command of the defense, the appointment of ambassadors, officials and the judges of the Supreme Court. This Article is also the basis for the State of the Union, the yearly declaration by the President in Congress. In addition we find in this Article the famous impeachment clause, the possibility to send a President or Vice President away on the charge of severe misdemeanors (‘Treason, Bribery or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors’). In 1974 – due to the Watergate affair – this led to the abdication of President Richard Nixon. Article II also contains the sentence with which the President accepts his office ‘I do solemnly swear …’
Thus, as is the case with the powers of Congress, Presidential powers are also limitatively enumerated. This does not alter the fact that over the years the legislature, as well as the executive power, have acquired so-called implied powers. However, these cannot overrule the powers as explicitly formulated in the Constitution.
An example of those implied powers are the so-called Presidential Executive Orders. Although there is, strictly speaking, no legal basis for such orders, the President can give order to officials within the executive branch to act as he deems appropriate within the context of this law. Those orders have the power of a federal law because they are supposed to emerge from the law in question. Within European legal systems we would call them discretionary powers; even though, also in this domain, the principle of checks and balances plays a role. If Congress does not agree with a Presidential Executive Order it can try to remove it by designing a draft law. Then the President may veto that draft. Congress may respond to that by adopting the law with a two third majority. Even the Supreme Court is entitled to declare a Presidential Executive Order unconstitutional. Thus, on the one hand optimizing the effectiveness of the executive branch, while on the other hand sufficiently guaranteeing the prevention of an arbitrary use of discretionary powers.
Article III rules that the federal Supreme Court possesses the ultimate judicial power. Its members are appointed for life, thus they are not removable. This guarantees their independent judgment. It is the President who decides upon their appointment, after the advice and consent of the Senate. Next to the Supreme Court the so-called federal inferior courts exist, dealing with conflicts regarding federal laws. An important aspect is the judge’s power to review laws and treaties against the Constitution and constitutionally agreed treaties: the judicial review. The Supreme Court is the one and only institution to safeguard the Constitution. This Article is also the basis for trial by jury. We do not have this in the Netherlands. In Belgium it exists in the form of the Courts of Assisen in cases of capital crimes.
Article IV covers matters within and between States, including the relation between the States and the federal body. Furthermore it deals with procedures for privileges and immunities for citizens of States, rules with respect to the extradition of criminals between States, the admittance of other States into the Federation with the observation that it is forbidden to create a new State within an existing State, and the guarantee that each State is ruled by ‘a Republican form of Government’.
Earlier I have explained that the 1789 word ‘republican’ meant ‘representative democracy’ as opposed to ‘direct democracy’ or ‘popular democracy’ in the strictest sense of the word: ‘everybody is entitled to co-decide upon everything’. Each of the thirteen Confederal States designed after their independence from England in 1776 their own state form, only to get hopelessly stuck in endless debates about democracy – varying from continuing the constitutional monarchy that they knew from England to popular sovereignty with each vote being co-decisive. This subject was one of the reasons to organize, in 1787, the Convention of Philadelphia. At that occasion the concept of ‘democracy’ acquired the character of ‘representative democracy’ within a Federal Constitution. From the annals of the Convention Ralph Ketcham draws the following sentences in his ‘The Anti-Federalist Papers and the Constitutional Convention Debates’: “Equally discredited was ‘mere democracy’ which still meant, as Aristotle had taught, rule by the passionate, ignorant, demagogue-dominated ‘voice of the people’. This was sure to produce first injustice, then anarchy, and finally tiranny.” Evidently, this interpretation of democracy was discarded.
Article V deals with Amendments. Both Houses, as well as the States, can present Amendments to the Constitution. However, it requires consent between the federal body and the stately powers for an Amendment to be passed. This is one of the ingeniously built-in checks and balances of the American Constitution.
Article VI states that judges of each State (thus not the federal judges) are tied to the Constitution, the federal laws and all constitutionally agreed treaties, even if these treaties do not match the laws of that State. This is the supremacy clause, being the prime elaboration of the rule of law. Each public functionary, including officials of the executive and judiciary, has to make an oath or a vow. Even though, without the requirement of an investigation into someone’s religious beliefs to be able to get an appointment in a public office.
Finally, Article VII deals with the provision that the Constitution will come into force upon ratification of the draft Constitution by nine of the thirteen participating States. This majority was achieved in 1789. Following this, the remaining four States entered as well; the last State in 1790. This article stands out due to the fact that the concept of federalization at that time did not yet cover the idea of ‘all together at the same time’. There was room for a ‘decision by majority’ rather than the requirement of complete consensus by all participating thirteen States.
Well, this is the American Constitution in a nutshell. The seven Articles have been supplemented with 27 Amendments. The first ten Amendments cover fundamental rights (Bill of Rights, 1791), issues that Europeans have included in Constitutions and Treaties.
The Constitution applies to all citizens of a State. This document is a federal asset. In addition, States are able to make their own laws as part of their sovereignty. These laws do not need to be synchronized. A well-known example is the death penalty. Some States carry this, others do not. Perhaps unnecessarily I repeat: all States keep their own parliament, government, courts, police, fiscal system, educational system et cetera. Their Governor is elected by the citizens. Who dares to state that within a federation the Member States lose their sovereignty? Or that this evaporates and absorbs the nation state? Nothing could be further from the truth.
I would like to emphasize that care is needed when using the term ‘Nation State’. I categorically reject the manner in which Thierry Baudet praises the Nation State. Keep in mind the birth certificate of the European Nation States: the Westphalen Treaty (1648). Sovereignty, as was then granted to the European States, was a mutually excluding sovereignty, primarily aimed at saving the interests of one’s own country. A source of repeated perfidious excesses. No one has formulated this better than Altiero Spinelli in one of the first sections of the 1941 Ventotene Manifest, the birth certificate of modern European Federalism: “Absolute sovereignty of the nation state always results in supremacism because all feel threatened by the power of the other.” That is why after Westphalen many wars still raged throughout Europe. While we evolve towards a federal Europe the ones who keep praising the Nation State should learn that in the context of a Federation sovereignty is shared, aimed at solidarity.
But this aside.
The Constitution is America’s highest form of codified law. It was established by the people and is therefore the foundation of the Nation. It is the Constitution of the people. To the establishment of a European Federation the same should be applied. Nothing characterizes better the difference between the intergovernmental system – reconfirmed through consecutive treaties – and the Federation, constitutionally established by the people.
I am optimistic with regard to the question as to whether the European citizen would endorse such a Federation. Let’s remember what Guy Verhofstadt states in his book ‘The United States of Europe’, namely the fact that three times (in 2003, 2004 and 2005) no less than 25,000 citizens from Member States were questioned about the European Constitution which at the time was being prepared: “A clear majority found that there should be a Constitution, that there should be one Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Union, that there should be a European President and that the European Parliament should be granted more powers.” If this perception of European citizens is still valid after ten years we may count on a mandate of the people in favor of a European Constitution. Especially if that document – contrary to the previously drafted Constitution – will be compact and will be carrying the predicate ‘federal’.
This quotation by Verhofstadt legitimizes the contradiction of an observation by Luuk van Middelaar: his statement that it is understandable that government leaders convene in the European Council to defend the interests of their own citizens. Of course, each country has citizens who see their interests as primary, requiring their leaders to fight for those when convened in Brussels. But when push comes to shove the majority of citizens think otherwise. The only thing they want is good governance, alert and able to anticipate to possible developments, bad or good, with an adequate approach to problems, the compass directed at taking care of common interests. | <urn:uuid:7ba8d002-8c94-4a55-a7d4-0615f5d7b6a9> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | http://europeanfederalistpapers.eu/index.php/en/component/content/article/9-papers-uk/53-nr-14-klinkers-october-2012 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549424200.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20170723002704-20170723022704-00542.warc.gz | en | 0.95838 | 6,509 | 3.21875 | 3 |
“I can live for two months on a good compliment,” said Mark Twain, the American author.
That’s a long time to go without food, shelter, and Amazon Prime—but I see his point.
Compliments are powerful.
A single sentence—delivered by the right person in the right way—can completely change a person’s life.
You may have heard stories about how a famous poet, novelist, artist, or leader attributes their success to a small compliment given by a teacher or mentor.
In the microcosm of your organization, compliments can have a profound impact. Perhaps we’re not comfortable complimenting people. Maybe we don’t understand how. Maybe we just don’t know what to say. Or maybe we don’t realize how transformative compliments can be.
Merriam-Webster defines a compliment as “an expression of esteem, respect, affection, or admiration.”
To understand the science of compliments, we need to understand how people respond to kindness or to human behavior in general.
Social psychologists have come up with a theory called the “norm of reciprocity” or “rule of reciprocity.” It’s become such an established finding that scientists have no problem calling it a “rule,” in the same way that 2 + 2 = 4.
The idea is this: When humans receive a favor, they feel a sense of obligation to return that favor.
In one experiment, a sociologist named Dr. Phillip Kunz mailed hundreds of Christmas cards to random strangers. Each note was handwritten. In the Christmas letter, he included a picture of him and his family.
Guess what happened. 37% of Kunz’s recipients responded. Remember, he mailed these Christmas cards to total strangers—hundreds of them. Why? Kunz was just a normal looking dude, so it certainly wasn’t his photograph.
Kunz himself was taken aback: “I was really surprised by how many responses there were. And I was surprised by the number of letters that were written, some of them three, four pages long."
How do we explain this? The rule of reciprocity.
Pretend with me for a minute. Let’s say you stand up from your chair and walk out of your office and down the hall. You pass a colleague in the hallway. “Hey, Dave,” she says. (Maybe your name isn’t Dave. That’s not the point.)
What do you do after she says, “Hey, Dave”? Most likely, you turn, smile, and say, “Hey, Sarah.” (Or whatever her name is.) Why? Because you are reciprocating her friendly behavior and greeting. If you didn’t say anything, look at her, or respond, it might seem rude.
Reciprocation rules our lives. From the way we interact in our marriages, with our children, among our colleagues, or toward our employees, its implications are enormous.
Woven into the application of this rule is the act of giving a compliment. When person A gives person B a compliment, person B feels obligated to give back in some way. The rule of reciprocity governs the interaction.
Compliments are powerful because humans are responsive creatures. We are hardwired to respond to fellow humans in a similar way.
Look at compliments through the lens of the communication model. Complimenting is a two-way street. You give the compliment. The other person receives the compliment. And then you, the sender, receive feedback based on the receiver’s behavior.
The entire process is rewarding and reciprocated. Kindness begets charity. A smile elicits a smile. And a compliment can revolutionize an individual’s behavior.
It’s hard to quantify the impact of a compliment, much less to describe its effect in a few bullet points. Nonetheless, here are a few observations about compliments.
At this point, I need to issue a little disclaimer.
Compliments are not flattery. These are two very different things, even though they look a lot alike. The difference lies in the giver.
A flatterer gives to get. A complimenter gives to give.
Someone who delivers compliments does so to benefit others.
If you give compliments (and I hope you will) please do so with a sincere focus upon others and their well-being, not your own benefit or reputation.
Here are a few tips on giving a meaningful compliments to your team members:
The more you compliment, the better you’ll get at it. And the better you’ll feel about yourself, your team members, and your work environment.
Just be real. Don’t overdo it, overthink it, or try too hard.
Simply say what you mean, and mean it. | <urn:uuid:35d0876d-1d8c-4b49-904b-5ad1f52570c2> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | https://www.teamgantt.com/blog/the-psychology-and-practice-of-complimenting-your-team | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250616186.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20200124070934-20200124095934-00481.warc.gz | en | 0.955118 | 1,032 | 2.53125 | 3 |
- freely available
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2014, 15(1), 1315-1337; doi:10.3390/ijms15011315
Published: 20 January 2014
Abstract: Cardiac tumors are rare, and of these, primary cardiac tumors are even rarer. Metastatic cardiac tumors are about 100 times more common than the primary tumors. About 90% of primary cardiac tumors are benign, and of these the most common are cardiac myxomas. Approximately 12% of primary cardiac tumors are completely asymptomatic while others present with one or more signs and symptoms of the classical triad of hemodynamic changes due to intracardiac obstruction, embolism and nonspecific constitutional symptoms. Echocardiography is highly sensitive and specific in detecting cardiac tumors. Other helpful investigations are chest X-rays, magnetic resonance imaging and computerized tomography scan. Surgical excision is the treatment of choice for primary cardiac tumors and is usually associated with a good prognosis. This review article will focus on the general features of benign cardiac tumors with an emphasis on cardiac myxomas and their molecular basis.
Cardiac tumors are rare and are divided into primary and metastatic tumors with an autopsy series showing metastatic cardiac tumors to be about 100 times more common than primary cardiac tumors . In another autopsy series, the prevalence of primary cardiac tumors was found to be 0.001%–0.03% . Amongst primary cardiac tumors, about 90% are benign and of these the most common are cardiac myxomas (50%–80%) . Other benign primary cardiac tumors include papillary fibroelastoma (PFE) (26%), fibromas (6%), lipomas (4%), rhabdomyomas, hemangiomas and atrioventricular node tumor . Recent studies show that papillary fibroelastomas are the most common primary benign cardiac tumors [5,6]. Amongst the primary malignant cardiac tumors, the most common ones are sarcomas (90%) followed by lymphomas .
The clinical presentation of primary cardiac tumors depends on their site, size, mobility and infiltration of adjacent structures. Up to 12% of primary cardiac tumors are completely asymptomatic and are diagnosed at incidental investigation (most commonly an echocardiogram) or at postmortem examination . Others present with one or more signs and symptoms of the classical triad of hemodynamic changes caused by a mobile intracardiac mass, with obstruction, pulmonary or systemic embolism and nonspecific constitutional symptoms [7,8]. Malignant primary cardiac tumors may cause symptoms relatable to metastases to different organs such as the lungs, brain and bones.
2. Cardiac Myxomas
Cardiac myxomas (CM) are the most common benign primary cardiac tumors in adults with an incidence of 0.5–1 case per 106 individuals per year . They are three times more common in females and 90% are diagnosed in the fourth to sixth decades of life [6,10]. They are rarely seen in children, in whom they constitute 15% of cardiac tumors [6,11,12].
CM can be seen anywhere in the heart, but arise most commonly in the left atrium (60%–80%), in the region of the interatrial septum and the fossa ovalis [6,8], followed by the right atrium (15%–28%), the right ventricle (8%) and the left ventricle (3%–4%) [8,11]. About 10% of CM are reportedly biatrial, however, this may be a misconception, since a close examination of these, has shown that the neoplasm extends through the fossa ovalis, usually from the left to the right side . Ventricular myxomas are usually seen in women and children . Occasional case reports of CM originating from the mitral and aortic valves, pulmonary vessels, inferior vena cava and superior part of the interventricular septum do appear in literature [15–18].
About 90% of CM occur sporadically, while 5%–10% of cases show a familial inheritance and occur as a part of the Carney complex (CNC) [19,20]. The Carney complex, first described in 1985 , is an X-linked autosomal dominant disorder which shows complete penetrance but variable phenotypic expression. It is characterized by CM, extracardiac myxomas (mucosal and cutaneous), osteochondromyxoma, spotty skin pigmentation, myxomatous tumors of the breast, ductal adenoma of breast, blue nevi, endocrine overactivity and tumors (hypercortisolism, pituitary adenoma with acromegaly or gigantism, thyroid tumors, testicular large cell calcifying Sertoli cell tumors (LCCST) and psammomatous melanotic schwannoma (PMS)) and paradoxical positive response of urinary glucocorticoids to dexamethasone administration (PPNAD) during Liddle’s test [22,23]. The diagnosis of CNC is made in the presence of two or more major manifestations of the syndrome, or in the presence of one major criterion if the patient is a carrier of inactivating mutation of PRKAR1A (cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase type I-alpha regulatory subunit) .
Although histologically similar, sporadic myxomas are usually seen in middle-aged women as solitary left atrial masses. Familial myxomas are often multicentric, seen in a younger age group, in sites other than the left atrial septum, show no female predilection, and are prone to recurrence in greater than 20% of cases following surgical resection [7,14,25].
CM are benign neoplasms whose cell of origin is still not fully established, though they are believed to develop from multipotent mesenchymal stem cells present in the fossa ovalis and surrounding the endocardium [3,14].
Sakamoto et al. supported the hypothesis that CM arise from the primitive mesenchymal cells which are capable of undergoing cardiogenic, neuroendocrine and endothelial cell differentiation by demonstrating increased expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL8), chemokine ligand 1 (CXCL1) and growth related oncogenes, and absence of stem cell factor, hepatocyte growth factor and granulocyte colony stimulating factor in CM . In addition, some CM also express genes specific for chondrocyte development (sex determining region-box9 (SOX9), melanocyte inhibitory activity (MIA) and secreted phosphoprotein1 (SPP1)), which further support this hypothesis .
CM express transcription factors for primitive cardiomyocyte phenotype (Nkx2.5/Csx, GATA-4, MEF2 and eHAND), stem cell markers for endothelial cell precursors (Flt-1 and FlK-1), markers of primitive endothelial cells (CD34), and markers of early cardiogenic differentiation CALB2, MMP2, TIMP-1, Sox9, Notch1 and MMP-1 [28–30]. They also express α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), which is expressed in cardiac muscles in the early period of fetal development. They are negative for myosin light chain kinase v2 (MLC-2v) and α-skeletal actin (α-SKA) and focally express α-cardiac actin (α-CA), all of which are markers of terminally differentiated cardiac myocytes, suggesting that CM develop from multipotent mesenchymal progenitors that show cardiomyogenic differentiation [28,30–32]. In addition, coexpression of CD34 and α-actin by some CM further supports their origin from a common cardiac early precursor cell .
Pucci et al. detected the expression of neuroendocrine markers such as protein gene product 5.5/PP9.5, S100 and neuron-specific enolase (NSE) in 94%, 89% and 57% cases, respectively of CM. In addition, 57% of cases of CM were positive for all these markers, while the chondroid looking areas were positive for S100 and NSE . Teraccianno et al. also detected strong and diffuse cytoplasmic and nuclear expression of calretinin (CALB2) in CM, suggesting neuroendocrine differentiation .
CM express markers of endothelial cell differentiation such as the von Willebrand factor vWF/FVIII, CD31, CD34 and Ulex europeus agglutinins (UEA-1) in vascular endothelium cells, vascular like aggregates and in stromal cells, suggesting endothelial differentiation .
The glandular epithelial structures sometimes seen in CM express epithelial cell markers CK9p and CEA (Carcinoembryonic antigen) and suggest epithelial differentiation .
2.2. Clinical Presentation
About 10%–15% of patients with CM are asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis . Non-specific constitutional symptoms such as fever, lethargy, physical weakness, fatigue, anorexia, painful erythema, loss of weight and appetite, are seen in up to 90% of cases due to autocrine cytokine production such as IL-6 and IL-8 [8,36]. Non-specific laboratory findings such as chronic hemolytic anemia and thrombocytopenia (due to cellular destruction caused by abnormal blood flow across the tumor surface), polycythemia, erythrocytosis and leukocytosis, raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate, serum C-reactive proteins and immunoglobulins may also be seen in some CM [37,38]. These can lead to misdiagnosis of infective endocarditis, rheumatic heart disease, vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and collagen vascular diseases and often resolve after tumor resection [7,39–42].
About 70% of CM can present with signs and symptoms of intracardiac obstruction such as left and right sided heart failure, with dyspnea, orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, ascites, hepatomegaly and peripheral edema [43,44]. Large atrial myxomas can cause episodic mitral or tricuspid valvular stenosis and the patient can present with intermittent syncope, dizziness, or sudden death . Left atrial myxomas can produce valvular insufficiency due to the “wrecking ball effect” produced by the back and forth motion of the mass which interferes with valvular closure and can damage the chordae tendinea . Right atrial myxomas can embolize to pulmonary vessels and produce signs of pulmonary hypertension . Large ventricular myxomas can produce signs and symptoms of pulmonary and aortic valvular stenosis .
Embolic manifestations are seen in 30%–50% cases of CM, and these are due to fragmentation, detachment and dissemination of parts of the tumor, overlying thrombi or vegetation . The emboli most commonly involve cerebral and retinal arteries (>50%) producing signs and symptoms such as vision disorders, cerebral infarcts, seizures, hemiparesis, aphasia, and progressive dementia [49,50]. Other arteries involved are those of the lower extremities producing claudication, visceral, renal and pulmonary arteries producing pulmonary hypertension and nonspecific symptoms such as myalgia, arthralgia, hyperhidrosis, facial edema and nocturnal hemoptysis [38,51,52]. Very rarely CM may embolize to coronary arteries and can produce myocardial infarction [53,54].
Approximately two-thirds of CM are round to oval, sessile, polyploid masses of varying sizes (average 5–6 cm), with a short broad base and smooth or slightly bosselated, glistening surface covered with thrombus and are attached to the interatrial septum (Figure 1). The cut surface is usually bosselated and has a variegated appearance composed of fibrous, gelatinous, myxoid and hemorrhagic areas. One-third of CM are soft, gelatinous, fragile, with papillary or finger-like villous extensions, and prone to fragmentation, embolization and erosion [8,53] Figure 2a–c. The polyploid myxomas usually cause obstructive symptoms while papillary myxomas are usually associated with embolic and neurologic manifestations [53,57].
CM arise from the endocardium, do not invade the interatrial septum or underlying myocardium and are covered by a single layer of flat endothelial cells [8,42,58] (Figure 3). They are characterized by the presence of stellate, polygonal (lepidic) cells in an amorphous, basophilic, afibrillar myxoid stroma containing mucopolysaccharides [6,14] (Figure 4a,b). The cells have indistinct cell membranes, a small amount of eosinophilic cytoplasm, round, oval or elongated nucleus and dispersed chromatin. At the surface of the lesion, the cells are arranged in the form of single cells, parallel clusters, syncytial cords, tubular structures or perivascular cuffing [30,59]. Inflammatory cells may be present throughout the lesion. The base of the lesion usually contains prominent chronic inflammatory cells (lymphocytes, plasma cells, and macrophages), areas of old and recent hemorrhage with hemosiderin-laden macrophages, and thick walled vessels, which are likely related to the solid phenotype and chronicity of the lesion [13,57,60] (Figures 5a–c, 6a,b). Occasionally, multinucleated tumor giant cells, blood cells, histiocytes, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, mucin-forming glands, ring structures (single or multiple concentric layers of myxoma cells surrounding the capillaries), artery-like vessels, superficial thrombi, calcification, chondrocytes, osteoblasts, metaplastic bone, cysts, Gamna-Gandy bodies (degenerated collagen encrusted with iron or calcium), thymic rests and foci of extramedullary hematopoiesis are also seen (Figures 7a,b, 8a,b). Very rarely, mitotic figures can also be seen [6,8,14,61–63].
About 80%–90% of CM express vimentin, Notch1, α smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), calretinin, caldesmon and tenascin C. CD34 positivity is seen in 66.7% cases of CM which stains multinucleated cells in superficial tumor area and lacunae, ring structures, and endothelial cells in arterial-like structures. α-SMA positivity is seen in interstitial and perivascular multinucleated cells and in parietal cells in vascular and ring structures. Other occasionally positive immunohistochemical stains in CM are MMP1, MMP2, TIMP-1 (36.7%), factor VIII, (36.7% in vascular structures), cytokeratin (6.7% in gland like structures), Flt-1 (26.7%), S100 (13.3%) and α-cardiac actin (10%) . Some cases of CM show positive staining for: PGP9.5, NSE, synaptophysin, endothelin-1 in lepidic cells; for CD8, CD45 and CD68 in lymphocytes and hemosiderin-laden macrophages; for UEA and CD31 in vascular structures; and EMA, CEA, NSE, S100 and chromogranin in glandular structures [26,33,62,64] Figure 9a–d.
2.6. Electron Microscopy
Electron microscopy of CM shows lepidic cells with single, round, elongated nuclei, with or without nucleolus. The cytoplasm of these cells shows abundant rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum, polyribosomes, lysosomes, varying shapes and sizes of mitochondria, pinocytic vesicles, numerous filaments and iron deposits [65,66].
2.7. Differential Diagnosis
The differential diagnosis of CM includes organizing thrombus, and primary or metastatic sarcomas such as low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma, myxofibrosarcoma, myxoid liposarcoma, and inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor [58,67,68]. Rare case reports of myxoid leiomyosarcoma and angiosarcoma mimicking clinically, radiologically and grossly as myxoma are present in the literature [69–71]. However, histological features such as presence of “ring structure”, absence of cytologic atypia, mitotic activity, myocardial invasion, metastasis and recurrence (except in Carney complex), slow growth rate and immunohistochemistry in CM helps to differentiate it from primary or metastatic sarcomas (Table 1) [3,67,72–74].
2.7.1. Organizing Thrombus
The perivascular arrangement of myxoma cells helps to differentiate it from organizing thrombus .
2.7.2. Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Tumor
Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor is characterized by the presence of loosely arranged plump spindled myofibroblasts in an edematous myxoid background with abundant blood vessels and an infiltrate of lymphocytes, plasma cells and eosinophils resembling granulation tissue. Occasional mitosis and foci of necrosis may be present. The tumor cells are large with oval vesicular nuclei and prominent nucleoli. Nuclear pleomorphism and mitotic figures are seen .
2.7.3. Low-Grade Fibromyxoid Sarcoma (LGFMS)
Low-grade fibromyxoid sarcoma is a variant of fibrosarcoma that is characterized by a mixture of heavily collagenized, hypocellular zones and more cellular myxoid nodules. Bland spindle cells are seen in short fascicles and whorling growth patterns. Tumor cells are small, with poorly defined, pale eosinophilic cytoplasm, round to ovoid nuclei and absent to indistinct nucleoli. The vasculature consists of an arcade of small vessels, and arteriole-sized vessels with perivascular sclerosis. The myocardial infiltration and scattered hyperchromatic cells may be seen but mitosis and atypia are extremely rare. It is differentiated from CM through the presence of myxoma cells, abundant organizing hemorrhage, absence of mitotic figures, and high cellularity in the latter [67,68,75].
2.7.4. Myxoid Liposarcoma (MLS)
Myxoid Liposarcoma is a malignant tumor composed of a mixture of uniform round to oval shaped primitive non-lipogenic mesenchymal cells and small signet ring lipoblasts in a prominent myxoid stroma, rich in a delicate arborizing, “chicken wire” capillary vasculature. Large pools of extracellular mucin and interstitial hemorrhage are seen. The typical MLS lacks nuclear pleomorphism and significant mitotic activity. The presence of lipoblasts and “chicken wire” vasculature and the absence of “ring structures” help to differentiate MLS from CM [67,68].
Myxofibrosarcoma was previously considered a myxoid variant of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) . The cellular myxofibrosarcoma is easy to differentiate from CM because of the presence of spindle and histiocyte like cells in a herring-bone pattern. However, the hypocellular myxofibrosarcoma is difficult to differentiate from CM. The hypocellular variant is characterized through the presence of plump, spindled or stellate hyperchromatic tumor cells in a myxoid background. A characteristic finding is the presence of prominent, elongated, curvilinear thin walled blood vessels and vacuolated neoplastic fibroblastic cells (pseudo lipoblasts). The tumor cells exhibit minimum nuclear pleomorphism and mitosis [67,68,77].
Leiomyosarcoma is composed of compact bundles of spindle shaped cells with blunt-ended nuclei oriented at sharp angles or 90° to one another in a myxoid background. The tumor cells are arranged in the form of palisade or storiform, and have cytoplasmic glycogen and perinuclear vacuoles. The tumors cells show marked nuclear pleomorphism and mitotic figures. Large areas of necrosis are also seen. Angiosarcomas are characterized by the presence of irregular, anastomosing, sinusoidal vascular channels and papillary structures lined by pleomorphic and atypical cells with large amounts of eosinophilic cytoplasm, hyperchromatic nuclei and prominent eosinophilic nucleoli. The cells show marked nuclear pleomorphism, mitoses and occasional cytoplasmic vacuoles [67,77].
3. Diagnosis of Primary Benign Cardiac Tumors
Various radiological investigations are recommended to diagnose cardiac tumors and to differentiate them for other cardiac masses such as vegetations and thrombi (Table 2). Echocardiography is highly sensitive, and specific imaging modality to detect cardiac tumors . It provides excellent anatomical and functional information and is the only imaging modality required preoperatively .
The treatment of choice for benign primary cardiac tumors is surgical excision. Immediate surgical excision is indicated in CM and large (>1 cm) PFE because of the high risk of embolism [87,88]. Surgery is also indicated for fibromas, lipomas and lipomatous hypertrophy causing hemodynamic compromise. Palliative tumor debulking is done in large unresectable tumor with rapidly progressive symptoms. Small asymptomatic PFE and rhabdomyomas do not usually require surgical excision because the latter have a tendency to undergo spontaneous regression . Preoperative chemotherapy followed by surgical excision is indicated in some primary malignant cardiac tumors. Primary cardiac lymphomas are treated by systemic chemotherapy with or without radiotherapy . Rarely heart transplantation is indicated in cardiac fibromas and inoperable cardiac tumors.
Prognosis of primary benign cardiac tumors is excellent following surgical excision . However, intracardiac recurrence after surgical excision is seen in 12%–22% of familial cases of CM and 1%–4% of sporadic cases and occurs due to undiagnosed multicentric primary lesion, incomplete surgical removal and existence and proliferation of reserve cells in the myocardium [14,90]. Extracardiac recurrence of CM occurs due to intraoperative dissemination and survival of neoplastic cells in embolic fragments or overlying thrombi, and their growth at the site of dissemination .
6. Molecular Genetics of Cardiac Myxomas
There are 34 protein markers reported so far to be involved in the histogenesis and development of CM . (Table 3) These markers have overlapping functions (such as: development of cell, heart, muscle, epithelial, ectoderm, epidermis, skeletal muscle, ossification, bone; cell proliferation, adhesion, migration; endothelial to mesenchymal transformation; and angiogenesis and differentiation to mesenchymal cells, neuronal cell and muscle cells) and act through overlapping signalling pathways (such as G protein coupled receptors, TGFβ receptor, VEGF receptor, MAP kinase, growth receptor signalling pathways, cytokine-cytokine receptor and intracellular signalling cascades) [14,38].
Sporadic CM show upregulation of protein gene product 9.5, S100, neuron specific enolase, CALB2, THBD, calretinin, bFGF, FGFR1, SOX9, NOTCH1 and NFATc1 . Microarray analysis has detected that combined expression of MIA, PLA2G2A and PLTP is highly specific for CM .
Papillary myxomas show increased expression of matrix-metalloproteinases such as MMP-1, MMP-2 and MMP-9, which causes degradation of the extracellular matrix and promotes tumor embolization . Increased expression of MUC1, IL6 and α1-globulin in CM is associated with increased risk of embolization [36,101]. Recently plakophilin-2 has been identified as adherens junction protein in CM .
6.1. Markers of Poor Prognosis
Sporadic CM shows a 10-fold greater expression of MIA (melanoma inhibitory activity) and altered expression of S100 protein, both of which are markers of poor prognosis in malignant melanoma, and correlate with malignant transformation [27,107]. However their exact role in sporadic CM as a marker of malignant transformation needs further evaluation . CM also coexpress CXCL1 (angiogenic factor) and growth related oncogenes, which promote their malignant potential. Overexpression of IL-6, VEGF, PCNA, FGFβ, FGFR1, VEGF, VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 is seen in highly proliferative, angiogenic and malignant myxomas .
6.2. Drug Targets in CM
The main disease pathways in CM include (CCR2, FMOD-TGFβ, S100-FGFR, NKX2.5-GATA4-SOX9-FGFR, HAND1-GATA4 and MUC1), through which other disease pathways work. The potential drug targets in CM were identified to be the key-nodes (CCR2, TGFβ, MUC1, FGFR, EGFR, GATA4 and HAND1) along with their upstream and downstream regulators (MYC, FOS and MMP9). Blocking the key nodes and their regulators can block the pathways involved in CM development [14,38].
DNA analysis has detected that CM have a diploid or aneuploid DNA pattern and exhibit heterogenicity in karyotype [8,35]. Cytogenetic analysis has revealed two major loci of susceptibility genes in CNC [108,109].
The CNC1 susceptibility gene is the PPKAR1A gene, which acts as a tumor suppressor gene. It is found in 80% of cases of familial CNC, is located at 17q22–24, and encodes for R1α subunit of cAMP dependent protein kinase A (PKA), involved in the G protein receptor signalling pathway [13,23]. There can be 80 different mutations in the PRKAR1A gene of which the most common leads to a premature stop codon (short premature transcripts) and subsequently nonsense mediated mRNA decay (NMD), which leads to R1α haploinsufficiency (absence or reduction in the mutant protein level) and increased PKA enzyme activity [110,111]. However, occasionally when PRKAR1A mutations are not associated with NMD, the outcome of the disease is aggressive . Bertherat et al. have identified a hot spot c.491–492del TG mutation which was more significantly associated with CM. They also suggested a role of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of CM considering earlier and frequent occurrence of PPNAD disease in female carriers having PRKAR1A mutation .
Recently, missense mutation (Arg674Gln) in another CNC gene, perinatal isoform of the myosin heavy chain gene MYH8, located at 17p12–31, has been identified. Although the exact mechanism of CM development is not known, it is proposed that mutation in MYH8 promotes the survival of multipotent progenitor cells in the mature heart and provides a substrate for secondary tumorigenic events .
A small subset of families with CNC syndrome shows amplification in the CNC2 gene, located on 2p16, without PRKAR1A mutation. These subjects have negative family history, present later in life and usually do not develop myxomas, PMS, thyroid tumors and LCCSCT [108,110].
In contrast, no single gene mutation has been identified for sporadic CM. However, structural rearrangement in PRKAR1A has been identified in one-third of cases of sporadic CM .
Experimental models have suggested that various epigenetic factors such as DNA methylation, posttranslational modifications of proteins and miRNA molecules may play a role in the histogenesis of CM by causing reactivation and ectopic expression of early embryonic heart genes such as NKX2.5/CSX, GATA4, HOX, HAND, MYOD, SOX4-6, S100 and TGFβ .
It is predicted that the combination of microRNA (let-7, miR-125, miR205, miR-214, miR217 and miR-296) can help in the treatment of CM by targeting the key nodes and their potential upstream and downstream regulators. However, the exact role of these microRNA molecules in the treatment of CM is yet to be established .
CM are amongst the most common primary benign cardiac tumors of uncertain histogenesis. It is postulated that they develop from multipotent mesenchymal stem cells capable of undergoing cardiogenic, neuroendocrine and endothelial cell differentiation. The majority of CM occurs sporadically, while some occur as a part of the Carney complex (CNC). Various studies have detected 34 protein markers that have overlapping functions and act through overlapping pathways and play a role in the development of cardiac myxomas. Cytogenetic analysis has detected two genes, CNC1 and CNC2, which are suspected to be involved in the pathogenesis of the Carney complex. No single gene mutation has been identified for sporadic CM, although, structural rearrangement in PRKAR1A has been identified in some cases. The role of epigenetic factors has been suggested in the histogenesis of CM. Various experiments are being conducted to evaluate the role of micro-RNA in the treatment of CM by targeting the key nodes, along with their upstream and downstream regulators. A comprehensive, multi-institutional approach is required to obtain a more complete understanding of the molecular basis and pathogenesis of cardiac myxomas in order to develop improved treatment.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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|Table 1. Immunohistochemical profile of CM imitators.|
|Inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor||F||+||+||F||−||−||−||−||−|
|Low grade fibromyxoid sarcoma||−||+||−||−||−||−||−||−||−|
Abbreviations: CK, cytokeratin; Vim: Vimentin; SMA, α smooth muscle actin; Myo, myogenin; FVIII, Factor VIII; F, Focal; + positive; − negative.
|Table 2. Investigations in primary cardiac tumors.|
|Chest X-ray||Radiation exposure||Enlarged cardiac silhouette; pericardial effusion; calcification; left atrial enlargement and pulmonary hypertension in CM [8,79]|
|Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE)||Ideal initial imaging modality, simple, non-invasive, readily available, cost effective||Tumor size, shape, extent, location, attachment, mobility, relationship to adjacent cardiac structures; adherence to the cardiac wall; calcification; hemodynamic consequences |
|Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE)||Additional resolution than TTE||Better visualization of posterior cardiac segment tumors and small tumors <5 mm; valvular abnormalities (stenosis and regurgitation), adequacy of valvular repair, results of valvular replacement, absence of shunting or leakage around intracardiac patch repair, guides weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass; visualization of left and right atrium and their appendages [6,81,82].|
|Contrast echocardiography||Contrast nephrotoxicity||Detects tissue perfusion; differentiates tumor from thrombus |
|Three dimensional echocardiography (3D Echo)||Better temporal and spacial resolution |
|Cardiac MRI||Expensive, limited availability, no radiation exposure, contrast safer||Staging and treatment planning; best tissue characterization; detects relationship of tumor to adjacent structures; infiltration into the myocardium, pericardium, surrounding structures; tumor vascularity, presence of fat, degree of tissue edema, iron content; incompatible cardiac device; valvular and ventricular function |
|CT scan||Radiation exposure, contrast nephrotoxicity||Helpful when MRI is contraindicated; staging and treatment planning; better spacial resolution; detects small tumors; tumor vascularity, calcification, presence of fat, thoracic extension; coronary artery assessment |
|Transvenous cardiac biopsy||Suspected malignancy|
|Color flow Doppler||Vascularity|
|CT angiogram||Detects coronary artery disease; involvement of coronary artery by the tumor or by the planned resection|
|Table 3. Molecular markers in cardiac myxomas and their functions.|
|Cell development||EDN1, FGF2, MIB1, NKX2.5, NOTCH1, SPP1,TIMP2|
|Heart development||ACTC1, EDN1, ENG, GATA4, HAND1, MIB1, MYH10, NFATC1, NKX2.5, NOTCH1, PKP2, SOX9|
|Epithelial development||CD44, ENG, KDR, MIB1, VEGFA, VEGFR2|
|Ectodermal and epidermal development||KRT9, NOTCH1, PDGFA, SOX9|
|Muscle cell differentiation and development||ACTA2, ACTC1, ENG, FGF1, GATA4, HAND1, KRT19, MYH10, NKX2.5, NOTCH1, PDGFRβ, RB1, TNC|
|Skeletal muscle development||EDN1, FGFR1, MMP2, MMP9, MMP14, PDGFRA, PDGFRβ, PFGF-BB, SPP1, SOX9|
|Ossification||MMP2, MMP14, SPP1|
|Bone development||MMP2, MMP14, SOX9, SPP1|
|Angiogenesis||CD44, EDN1, ENG, FGF2, FGFR1, FLT1, HAND1, IL6, IL8, KDR, MCP1, MIB1, MMP2, MMP14, NKX2.5, NOTCH1, PDGFA, TYMP, VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2|
|Extracellular matrix remodeling||MMP1, MMP2, MMP3, MMP9, MMP14|
|Neural differentiation||CD44, EDN3, FGFR1, IL6, MIB1, MYH10, NKX2.5, NOTCH1, NSE, SPP1, TIMP2, UCHL1,VEGFA|
|Endothelial to mesenchymal transformation||NFATC1, NOTCH1, SOX9|
|Mesenchymal cell differentiation||EDN1, EDN3, NFATC1, NOTCH1, SOX9|
|G protein signaling markers||C3, CCR2, CXCL1,EDN-1, IL8, MCP-1, VIP|
|Cell proliferation||CXCL1, FGF2, FGFR1, IL-6, IL-8, MIA, MIB1, MMP14, MYH10, NOTCH1,PCNA, PDGF-AA, UCHL1,VEGFA|
|Cell adhesion||CD34, CD44, CEACAM, ENG, FVIII/vWF, FN1, ITGB4, MCP-1, MIA, MUC5AC, PDGF-AA, PDGFRβ, PFGF-BB, PECAM-1, SOX9, SPP1, TNC, VEGFA|
|Cell migration and metastasis||CD34,CD44, EDN3, ENG,FGF2, FN1, IL6, IL8, MCP-1, MMP2, MMP9, MMP14, MYH10, PFGF-BB, PDGFRβ, VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VIM|
|Growth receptor signalling pathway||FOS, MMP9, MYC|
|VEGFR signaling pathway||PFGF-BB, PDGFRβ|
|TGFβ receptor signaling pathway||ENG, FMOD, MCP-1, PDGF-AA, SMAD6|
|MAPK signaling pathway||FGF2, FGFR1, PDGF-AA, PFGF-BB, PDGFRβ, PLA2G2A|
|Cytokine-cytokine interaction||CXCL-1, CCR2, IL6, IL8, MCP-1, PDGF-AA, PDGFRβ, PFGF-BB, VEGFA,VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3|
|Intracellular signaling cascade||CCR2, CEACAM, CXCL-1, EDN-1,EDN-3, FGF2, IL6, IL8, MCP-1, NFATC1,PCNA, PDGF-AA, RB1,VEGFR1|
|Enzyme linked receptor signaling pathway||ENG, FGF2, FGFR1, FMOD, MCP-1, PDGF-AA, PDGFRβ, PFGF-BB, SMAD6, VEGFA, VEGFR1, VEGFR2, VEGFR3|
|Transmembrane receptor serine/threonine kinase signaling pathway||ENG, FMOD, MCP-1, PDGF-AA, SMAD6|
Abbreviations: ACTA2, actin, alpha2, smooth muscle [33,91]; ACTC1, actin, alpha, cardiac muscle1 ; C3, Compliment component 3 ; CCR2, chemokine receptor 2 ; CD34 and CD44(Indian blood group) [93,94]; CEACAM, carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 5 [32,95]; CXCL1, chemokine ligand1 ; EDN1 and EDN3, endothelin1 and 3 ; ENG, endoglin ; FVIII/vWF, factor VIII related antigen/ von Willebrand factor [30,33]; FGF2, fibroblast growth factor2 ; FGFR1, fibroblast growth factor receptor1 ; FLT1/VEGFR1, fms-related tyrosine kinase 1 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor) [30,97]; FMOD, fibromodulin ; FN1, fibronectin ; GATA4, GATA binding protein 4 ; HAND1, heart and neural crest derivatives expressed 1 ; IL6 and IL8, interleukin 6 & 8 ; ITGB4, integrin beta4 ; KRT19, keratin19 ; MCP1, Monocyte chemoattractant protein1 ; MIA, melanocyte inhibitory activity ; MIB1, mindbomb homolog1 ; MMP, matrix metallopeptidase ; MUC5AC, mucin5AC ; MYH10, myosin, heavy chain10 ; NFATC1, nuclear factor of activated T cells ; NKX2-5, transcription factor related locus 5 ; NOTCH1, Notch homolog1 ; PCNA, proliferating cell nuclear antigen [96,103]; PDGF-AA, alpha platelet derived growth factor alpha ; PECAM1, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule [33,103]; PKP2, plakophilin 2 ; PLA2G2A: phospholipaseA2 ; RB1, retinoblastoma1 ; SMAD6, family member 6 ; SOX9, (sex determining region)-box9 [27,30]; SPP1, secreted phosphoprotein1 ; TNC, tenascin C ; TIMP2, tissue metallopeptidase inhibitor2 ; TYMP, thymidine phosphorylase ; UCHL1/PGP9.5, ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal esteraseL1 ; VEGFRA, vascular endothelial growth factor A [97,98]; VIM, vimentin ; VIP, vasoactive intestinal peptide .
© 2014 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/). | <urn:uuid:4ab74563-d50d-4da3-8a90-a7d4cae034b5> | CC-MAIN-2014-23 | http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/15/1/1315/htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1406510272940.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20140728011752-00168-ip-10-146-231-18.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.746978 | 16,598 | 2.515625 | 3 |
What Causes White Areas On Fingernails?
White areas on fingernails can have various causes, ranging in severity from 'needs attention' to 'generally fatal'. Finding the true cause means ruling out or confirming each possibility – in other words, diagnosis.
Diagnosis is usually a complex process due to the sheer number of possible causes and related symptoms. In order to diagnose white areas on fingernails, we could:
- Research the topic
- Find a doctor with the time
- Use a diagnostic computer system.
The process is the same, whichever method is used.
Step 1: List all Possible Causes
We begin by identifying the disease conditions which have "white areas on fingernails" as a symptom. Here are eight possibilities:
- Nephrotic Syndrome
- Metal Toxicity
- Mercury Toxicity
- Cirrhosis Of The Liver
- Iron Deficiency Anemia
- Chronic Renal Insufficiency
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Heart Disease
Step 2: Build a Symptom Checklist
We then identify all possible symptoms and risk factors of each possible cause, and check the ones that apply:
severe tongue swelling
history of occult blood
regular painful urge to defecate
unexplained missed periods
great loss of muscle tone
being very easily irritated
showers cause fatigue
regular unexplained nausea
occasional unexplained vomiting
... and more than 120 others
Step 3: Rule Out or Confirm each Possible Cause
A differential diagnosis of your symptoms and risk factors finds the likely cause of white areas on fingernails:
|Chronic Renal Insufficiency
|Iron Deficiency Anemia
|Cirrhosis Of The Liver
* This is a simple example to illustrate the process
Arriving at a Correct Diagnosis
is our online diagnosis tool that learns all about you through a straightforward process of multi-level questioning, providing diagnosis at the end.
Do you have any white areas (not spots) on your fingernails that are not due to nail injury/trauma?
→ No / don't know
→ Pink at the base, turning white towards the ends
→ 80% or more of nail beds are white, including base
→ White lines from side to side, do not move
→ White lines from side to side, move as nails grow
Based on your response to this question, which may indicate nails turning white towards the ends, nails that are mostly white, stationary white lines across nails or moving white lines across nails, The Analyst™
will consider possibilities such as:
Cirrhosis of the Liver
|Mainly white nails, or Terry's Nails, are a significant indicator of hepatic cirrhosis. [Terry (1954) Lancet, 1:757]|Coronary Disease / Heart Attack
|Hypoalbuminemia can be caused by certain heart conditions such as congestive heart failure or pericarditis that lead to low albumin levels in the blood.|Mercury Toxicity (Amalgam Illness)
|All heavy metals cause Mees' lines on the nails. These usually begin a few months after significant exposure starts and may be useful in identifying the source of exposure – dental amalgams or some unrecognized source – if you remember when they started.| | <urn:uuid:097b3f9d-a094-4fd5-ae17-52d15bb31394> | CC-MAIN-2014-15 | http://www.diagnose-me.com/what-causes/white-areas-on-fingernails.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1397609537271.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20140416005217-00575-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.834132 | 686 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Madrid’s eclectic modern architecture blends seamlessly with her historic past to create a vibrant city, mindful of her history without being in thrall to it. Madrid’s tumultuous past underpins her exciting present.
The Founding of Madrid
We first hear of Madrid in historic records, in the 9th century, when Spain was under Islamic rule. Emir Muhammad I commissioned a fortress to be built in the village of Mayrit. It is understood that the name, ‘Mayrit’ means ‘plenty of waterways’ and is a reference to its location on the banks of the river Manzanares. Mayrit or Madrid as it became known, was part of the Islamic world until it was conquered by Alfonso VI of Castile in 1083.
A Cosmopolitan History
In fact, during this period, as the Christians reconquered Spain, Madrid passed between Muslim and Christian hands a number of times. This explains the region’s mixed cultural heritage, and perhaps its cosmopolitan nature today. It was in 1329 that Ferdinand IV of Castile first assembled the Cortes Generales. This was the foundation of what would eventually become the Spanish Parliament.
Madrid becomes a Royal City
In the centuries which followed, Madrid grew, gradually moving towards the layout which we see today. The Plaza Mayor or ‘Main Square’ was established in the 13th century under John II. It was Enrique III who ordered the El Pardo Palace to be built so that the royal family would have somewhere suitably grand to stay when they visited. The city continued to grow over the centuries and in 1561, the decision was taken to move the court from Toledo to Madrid. In fact it did briefly move again to Valladolid in 1601, but five years later it returned to Madrid. This time to stay.
Spain’s Journey to Independence
Madrid played a key role in Spain’s turbulent history of the 19th and 20th centuries. In 1808 the city rose up against French occupation, in a revolt, which resulted in much bloodshed. In effect, this was the start of the Spanish War of Independence. The city’s dramatic history continued in the 20th century. It was after the death of General Franco, as part of the Spanish Constitution, finalised in 1978, that Madrid was finally confirmed as the capital city of Madrid. 1979 saw the first democratic local elections in Madrid, through which the first city mayor was chosen and elected.
When we see the exciting, vibrant, modern city, which Madrid has become today, it is difficult to comprehend that it was so recently that she started on the path to democracy. Since this time, Madrid has made incredible progress, and is now considered to be one of the most dynamic and progressive of Europe’s cities. Madrid is a thriving modern city, which is a cultural and artistic hub, a centre for contemporary architecture and a prosperous commercial centre, which is home to people from all over the world. Today’s buzzing city of Madrid is a far cry from its humble beginnings as the village fortress of ‘Mayrit’. | <urn:uuid:01485dc1-2930-4234-9543-4ac74fdadf55> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | http://madrid.com/general/madrid-history/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875142323.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20200217115308-20200217145308-00150.warc.gz | en | 0.975302 | 641 | 3.09375 | 3 |
On her trip to New York, Jo meets this person, a German man with a thick accent. He is a stout, educated, older man who takes care of his two orphaned nephews, Franz and Emil. Because he is a bachelor, he undertakes such domestic tasks as cleaning and darning his own socks.
Mr. John Brooke
This person is Laurie's tutor.
Although Mr. Laurence offers to help this person, the young man refuses, preferring to make his own way without incurring any debt. He takes a job as a clerk and earns a modest living for himself and his new bride.
This person is the March family's housekeeper. She is colorful and energetic, and she loves the family dearly. She has been with the family since Mr. and Mrs. March married, and she gave Mrs. March her first cooking lessons.
This person is Laurie's...
This section contains 808 words
(approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) | <urn:uuid:e3755e41-78ef-4b63-887f-f122aea46bc6> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://www.bookrags.com/lessonplan/littlewomen/characters.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886105922.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20170819201404-20170819221404-00442.warc.gz | en | 0.978916 | 202 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Charging management system
A technical means for managing the charging of electric vehicles.
With a charging management system, both vehicle fleets and communal garages and car parks can optimise the distribution of the output across all the electric vehicles being charged. Not only can high investment costs associated with expanding your grid connection be avoided, but peak loads can also be reduced or prevented entirely. Depending on your requirements, a charging management system can optimise the charging process in the following ways.
Static charging management
Equal distribution of the available charge output to all charging points.
|Connection capacity||215 kW|
|Installed capacity (all charging points)||233 kW|
|Charging capacity demand||211 kW||233 kW|
|Charging capacity used||211 kW||215 kW|
|Reduction of charging capacity (wall boxes)||18 kW|
Passive charging management
All vehicles can be charged with maximum capacity.
Active charging management
The charging capacity is distributed proportionally to all vehicles.
Dynamic charging management
With dynamic charging, the overall performance of the object is considered: alongside vehicle charge points, this system takes into account the demand of the building or property.
If, for example, the demand for power increases in the building, the available charge output for vehicles will be reduced.
Scheduled charging management
Depending on times of use, vehicles are charged at full output.
Vehicles at charging points with 150 kW and 50 kW at full output, full time
Vehicles A, B and C with 11 kW charge output in a defined time slot.
During the charging periods set out, charging of a vehicle at other charging points is not possible.
The charging periods can be flexibly configured at each charging point. | <urn:uuid:2f845493-6672-4d1e-a63e-40bc621e89f1> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.stromnetz.berlin/en/technology-innovations/electric-mobility/charging-management-system | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370507738.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20200402173940-20200402203940-00129.warc.gz | en | 0.895433 | 359 | 2.609375 | 3 |
What’s the difference between natural and organic? When it comes to food products, one-third of consumers don’t know, according to a new survey by an association looking to create more standardized terminology.
What, exactly, is the difference between natural and organic foods?
Organic foods must be certified by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. According to California Certified Organic Farmers: “Organic meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products come from animals fed 100% organic feed and forage, given no antibiotics or growth hormones, and raised in conditions that follow their natural behaviors.”
Similar mandates protect plant foods: “As for the land — certified organic produce is grown on soil that has been free of prohibited substances for three years prior to harvest to ensure that the crops will not be contaminated.”
You can dig into the details on the USDA’s site, but in short, foods labeled organic must meet a number of different criteria.
But what about “natural” foods? That’s a different story. Washington Post food reporter Roberto A. Ferdman notably called the word “utterly meaningless.”
The food industry now sells almost $41 billion worth of food each year labeled with the word “natural,” according to data from Nielsen. And the “natural” means, well, nothing. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t even have an official definition or delineation of what “natural” actually means.
The real issue here is that consumers don’t understand the difference between the two labels. One is a standard for quality, while the other is a marketing term. A recent study from the Organic & Natural Health Association [PDF] “found that 1 in 3 consumers do not make a quality distinction between the terms ‘natural’ and ‘organic.'”
Here are a few other findings that ONHA CEO and Executive Director Karen Howard pointed to, in support of the association’s campaign for a clear definition of “natural” foods:
“Forty-six percent of consumers surveyed [believe] that the government regulates the term ‘natural.'”
“While three-fourths of consumers perceive that Organic foods must be at least 95% free from synthetic additives, almost two-thirds of consumers expect the same standard from ‘Natural’ foods.”
“[A percentage of] Consumers indicated that they were more likely to use ‘natural’ than ‘organic’ foods.”
Hungry for Change
Based on the results of this study, ONHA plans to establish a “meaningful definition for natural foods.”
“Our goal is to support increased access through consumer research and education and we are now embarking on the development of a program that will create a clear, meaningful definition for natural foods, followed by a definition for natural supplements,” Howard said in a news release.
Traceability is a big part of enforcing that new definition. As devices and individuals become more connected, some food products are already part of the Internet of Things.
“When it comes to traceability, which directly relates to quality, Organic & Natural is taking a value-added approach, accepting documentation from recognized, demonstrated effective, seals and programs,” Howard said. “This includes documentation of each company’s supply chain, including monitoring and testing of raw ingredients.” | <urn:uuid:3854c485-1d13-4d2c-bc11-777151eb74b5> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | https://associationsnow.com/2015/10/survey-organic-natural-health-association/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934806708.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20171122233044-20171123013044-00689.warc.gz | en | 0.942668 | 729 | 2.828125 | 3 |
Spin Cycle: recycling and reclaiming textile traditions
By Margot Fagan, Rachel MacHenry
Throughout history and across cultures, people have always reconstructed, refashioned, and reinvented textiles, both in response to personal and cultural expressions and to the needs of day-to-day living. Today, we call this “recycling” and we practice it in the name of ecological preservation and concern for the future of our planet. Spin Cycle aims to draw parallels between current interests and innovations in recycling, ecology and technology, and the many precedents found in historical and ethnographic textiles from around the world.
Sixteen designers and artists from Canada, the U.S, Japan and the European community have been invited to participate in this exhibition. Their work epitomizes the scope of what environmentalism is bringing to contemporary textile design. Unconventional materials and techniques are partnered with a variety of art, craft and design practices. In some cases, their work addresses the concept of reuse and serves as potent and delightful models of possibility. In others, ecological concerns have resulted in practical design applications.
We have also invited a number of manufacturers to participate, each of whom is at the forefront of the “greening” of the textile industry. Companies today cannot afford to ignore the need to eliminate the risks of pollution, due both to public concern and to changes in the law. And the global nature of textile production and trade means these changes are being felt around the world. We have included representatives from both the resurging eco-fibre and recycled fibre industries. The eco-fibre produced work uses organically grown natural materials including Fox Fibre® cotton, hemp, nettle and ramie. In the recycled textile industry, pop bottles, industrial waste and clothing are incorporated into new textile products. In both sectors, efforts have been made to investigate less harmful dyes and finishing processes. However, this area of production is new, constantly evolving and operating with little regulation. Some of the processes are controversial and people need to be informed about them in order to make educated decisions about their use; we have provided a resource area in the exhibition where audiences can read about the various materials and processes shown.
Recycling once meant coming from an impoverished setting and “making do” with what was at hand out of economic necessity. Today it is a vibrant, creative and constantly evolving area involving the disciplines of design, craft and art, as well as large and small industry. This diverse group is exploring how ecological thinking can move us towards a more meaningful and sustainable future.
© 2007 Textile Museum of Canada | <urn:uuid:5e73385b-5a59-49d3-aaf7-380b1edfd431> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | http://www.textilemuseum.ca/exhibitions/past-exhibitions/exhibition-essays/spin-cycle-recycling-and-reclaiming-textile-tradit | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187825473.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20171022222745-20171023002745-00339.warc.gz | en | 0.962161 | 536 | 2.734375 | 3 |
How good is eyesight after treatment?
It is extremely difficult to give a definite prediction of how good a child's eyesight will be after treatment, especially when the child is very young. Many children with glaucoma who have been treated do have excellent vision in adult life and many of them have effectively normal vision. However, the most important thing is control of the intraocular pressure and then, following that, further treatment if necessary with glasses and patches to ensure that the vision develops normally. As the child grows older the specialist will have a better idea of how good their long-term vision will be.
Following successful treatment, the child will need to return to the clinic at regular intervals for check ups. In fact, children with glaucoma need to have their condition monitored for life.
The main problem with these operations is scarring. Young eyes heal especially well and scar tissue can form, which may block the flow of fluid out of the eye. This results in a further rise in eye pressure. However, through research, new methods continue to be devised to help prevent this happening and these have considerably improved the results of the surgery. Some of these treatments may include the drugs 5-fluorouracil or mitomycin-c, or beta radiation. Very tiny doses of these agents are given only to the treatment area (an area a quarter to a half the size of your little fingernail) and continue to improve long term results of the surgery.
During the anaesthetic, or later on in the clinic, the power of the eyes will be checked. This can be done while the child is asleep by using a series of special lenses and a light which reflects off the back of the eyeball (retinoscopy). In older children this can be done in the clinic. If it is found that glasses are needed, these will be prescribed. Sometimes glasses need only be worn during the patching treatment, and sometimes they will be dispensed for continuous wear. If necessary, a pair of tinted glasses will also be dispensed for use in bright light because of the sensitivity to light found in many children with congenital glaucoma. | <urn:uuid:9a3a2532-6ad9-4307-af69-0f507d216044> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | https://www.glaucoma-association.com/about-glaucoma/glaucoma-in-babies-and-children/eyesight-after-treatment | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579251728207.68/warc/CC-MAIN-20200127205148-20200127235148-00217.warc.gz | en | 0.958626 | 441 | 2.796875 | 3 |
An Exceptional terroir
BY CORNEL VAN LEEUWEN
Bordeaux Sciences Agro Bordeaux Professor
THE CLIMATE, THE GRAPE VARIETIES, THE SOIL
The 1855 grands crus classés owe their exceptional character in part to the efforts of the winemakers over the decades, but also largely to the exceptional qualities of the terroir. Terroir is a French word from the Latin territorium. Yet terroir means much more than just the soil in which the vine grows. It refers to all the characteristics of the vineyard that influence the finished wine, such as soil, climate, exposure to the sun, and so on. The terroir is the bond between the bottle of wine and the place that made it what it is.
Winemakers were aware of the influence the terroir could have on the quality of the wine as early as Roman times. In the Bordeaux region, the notion of the terroir was developed in the Middle Ages, when wines were named after the village where they were grown. Evidence survives to show that prices varied according to the village, suggesting that some villages had a reputation for producing better wine than others. Already we can see an as yet very primitive hierarchical classification emerging in the Bordeaux region. In the Middle Ages, however, judging the quality of wines was a far more hit-or-miss affair than today, because all of the wines from the same village were sold at roughly the same price, independent of their quality. It was not until the seventeenth century that the notion of individual estates began to emerge. In purely chronological terms, Château Haut-Brion was the first estate to sell its produce separately. As a result of this change, the notion of the terroir became much more clear-cut, as the place of origin of a wine would now be traced to within a few acres on an individual estate rather than the thousands of acres that a whole village’s vineyards might cover. Perhaps surprisingly, the English wine market played a decisive part in this development, as the English were prepared to pay high prices for excellent wines, and one way of guaranteeing consistent high quality was to identify the terroir.
The famous philosopher John Locke visited Bordeaux in 1677, and wrote an account of his travels in the region. This account is a valuable source of information on how contemporary winemakers understood the effects of the terroir on the wine. Locke’s voyage to the Bordeaux region was akin to a pilgrimage—so impressed was he by the quality of the Haut-Brion wines he had drunk in London that he decided to go and see the estate for himself. He noted that the owner of the estate explained that the superb quality of his wine was due to the porous, gravelly soil and good slopes, light composting, and old vine stocks. These are precisely the qualities recognized as producing the finest wines today. It is amazing to think that over three centuries ago, winemakers had already discovered this.
John Locke’s journey also illustrates the remarkable traceability of wines from the great terroirs, like the wines included in the 1855 classification. Whereas vins de marque—vintage wines—are blends of wines from various estates, a vin de terroir will always be made of grapes grown on one single estate. This is what gives it its principal characteristics and qualities, and it also means that wine lovers can visit the vineyard, admire the very vines that produced the grand cru classé, and talk to the winemaker who produced it. Nowadays, the issue of traceability has become vital in the food industry as a whole, but the 1855 classification recognized its importance a century and a half ago.
The growth of the vine and the ripening of the grapes are very dependent on weather conditions such as the average temperature, rainfall, hours of sunshine, and wind. Vines are extremely vulnerable to cold snaps, unexpected late frosts, and hailstorms, which can destroy a crop representing a year’s labor—not to mention income—in just a few hours. The quality and character of wines are greatly influenced by the weather. The word terroir includes this notion of the vine’s sensitivity to the prevailing weather conditions.
For the grapes to ripen, the vine needs warmth and light. If the weather is too hot, the grapes will produce too much sugar. They can still be used for wine, but the high sugar content is bad for the taste. According to the well-known wine experts Ribéreau-Gayon and Peynaud, if the weather is too warm, the grapes ripen too quickly, burning up the essences which give great wines all their finesse. In other words, the best wines are produced in regions that enjoy clement weather, sufficiently warm to ripen the grapes, but not so hot that they reach maturity too quickly. The climate in the Médoc region is perfect for winegrowing. The average annual temperature is 55°F (13°C), and 68°F (20°C) in July and August.
The average rainfall is less important. Grapevines are very adaptable, capable of surviving extreme droughts. They can be cultivated without the need for irrigation in regions with an average of just sixteen inches (400 mm) of rainfall annually, as long as the water does not drain away too quickly. They will also adapt to very wet conditions where the average rainfall can be as much as forty inches (100 cm). However, in such conditions, the vine will put its energy into growing shoots rather than building up sugars in the grapes, and fungal diseases will be harder to prevent. The average annual rainfall in the Médoc region is thirty-three inches (850 mm), slightly over the level where grapes attain the perfect sugar concentration. However, this is not a problem because the soil allows ample drainage.
The Médoc is rarely affected by hailstorms, probably because it is not a very hilly region. The Atlantic seaboard and the Gironde estuary regulate the climate to a certain extent so that the region is hardly affected by unexpected rises or drops in temperature. Late frosts are an unusual occurrence. In 1991, for example, a terrible late frost hit the Bordeaux region in the night of the 20 to 21 April. The crus classés from estates lying along the banks of the Gironde, such as Château Latour, were relatively unaffected, and went on to produce wines of excellent quality that year.
Weather conditions in the Bordeaux region can vary dramatically from one year to the next. This results in a marked variation in the quality and character of the wines, depending on the year the grapes were harvested. This is why the question of the vintage is so important. The wine’s character reflects the weather in the year it was bottled. Wines tell us that the years 1945 and 1947 had long, hot summers that produced great vintages, that 1963 and 1965 were very rainy—so wet, in fact, that many winegrowers did not even bother to bottle the weak, insipid wine under the estate label. Quite apart from the question of the quality of the wine, the vintage is a way for each estate to produce a different wine each year while maintaining the particular style for which the cru is appreciated. The vintage is a way of exploring various facets of the cru with each grape harvest. In years like 1978 and 1988, when the summers were rather cool, the grapes ripened slowly and the harvest was later than normal, giving the grapes more time to develop their aroma and producing a wine of great finesse. Hot summers like those of 1982, 1989, 1990, and 1995 give powerful wines. Since average rainfall in the Bordeaux region is slightly higher than the ideal level, it is perhaps unsurprising that all of the greatest vintages were harvested in years when rainfall was below average for the region in the months from June through September.
The Grape Varieties
Several thousand grape varieties are cultivated throughout the world. Each variety is the result of careful crossbreeding by generations of winegrowers to develop certain characteristics, such as early or late ripening or ideal sugar content. However, just a few dozen of these varieties are considered suitable for use in truly great wines. The grape variety must be capable of adapting to the prevailing weather conditions, especially the time the grapes take to ripen fully. An early ripening variety in a hot climate will produce mature grapes earlier than elsewhere. They are harvested in August—or February in the southern hemisphere—and will have a high sugar content, but will be lacking in freshness and the aromatic compounds that give great wines their subtlety. On the other hand, a late-ripening variety planted in cooler northern climes may not produce ripe grapes at all and will produce an acidic, grassy wine lacking in color. Part of the reason the grands crus classés of 1855 are so outstanding is that the grape varieties are perfectly adapted to the prevailing weather conditions, ripening at exactly the right moment, except in unusually cold years such as 1972. The grapes ripen slowly, allowing them to develop the aromatic compounds that give the wine its rounded body. This perfect harmony of grape varieties and weather conditions is very difficult to achieve. The same grape varieties in a slightly warmer or cooler climate will produce a different wine altogether. The 1855 crus classés, like other Bordeaux wines, are the result of a careful blend of grape varieties. The art of choosing complementary varieties is what give the wines their stunning complexity. Expert winemakers vary the proportion of grapes used in a wine to balance out the less desirable qualities of each variety.
Cabernet Sauvignon is held to be the most noble of the grape varieties. It is the most widely used variety in the 1855 crus classés. Some seventy percent of the vineyards that produce the First Growth crus classés Margaux, Latour, Lafite-Rothschild, and Mouton Rothschild are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon. It is a relatively late-ripening variety, and in order for the grapes to reach their full potential, the vines must be planted on the very best soil that will speed up the ripening process. It gives average-sized but fairly regular yields. The bunches and the grapes themselves are relatively small. It will not produce a very high sugar content, but the ripe grapes are rich in color and tannin. Cabernet Sauvignon produces aromatic wines dominated by dark fruit such as blackcurrants while the wine is still young. After aging, the wine takes on an extraordinary complexity of aromas, notably with notes of cocoa and mint.
Merlot grapes are nearly always used alongside Cabernet Sauvignon. This variety is planted on a third of some vineyards such as Haut-Brion and in a few cases, such as Palmer, half the land is given over to it, the other half being planted with Cabernet Sauvignon. It ripens around two weeks earlier than the Cabernet Sauvignon variety, which means it reaches maturity every year even when the weather is cool, when Cabernet Sauvignon will struggle to ripen. Merlot is better adapted to wetter ground conditions. But to allow it to reach its best, its natural generosity must be curbed. Merlot produces colorful, sugary grapes with full-bodied tannins. When young, the predominant aromas are red and dark fruits, which develop into candied fruit, leather, and fur as the wine matures. Merlot wine tends to age a little faster than Cabernet Sauvignon wine.
Cabernet Franc is the third most important red grape variety in terms of surface area in the Bordeaux region. It is more at home in the Libernais than the Médoc, although no one has yet quite fathomed why. It ripens later than Merlot, but earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon. Some people find its taste too light, but it is capable of great finesse. Some crus classés have succeeded in producing outstanding Cabernet Francs on very old vines in ideal soil conditions.
Just a small proportion of the Bordeaux vineyards is planted with Petit Verdot, but this variety plays a key role in some vintages. It is a late-ripening variety, which means the wine it produces varies in quality from year to year depending on the weather. As the signs all indicate that the global climate is getting warmer, we should expect to see more and more Petit Verdot vines being planted in the region in the years to come. It is a difficult, demanding variety that needs to be planted in conditions that will encourage the grapes to ripen as soon as possible, with a moderate amount of watering that must be carefully judged not to deprive the vines of the precious liquid they require. Once these conditions are fulfilled, Petit Verdot gives a very rounded wine that could almost stand on its own without blending.
After the climate and the grape variety, the soil is the third factor that goes to make up the terroir. The roots of the vine draw all the water and nutrients the plant needs from the soil. Soil conditions can vary a great deal depending on the texture, gravel and mineral content, the capacity to hold water, and the depth of the soil layer. As Dr. Seguin, a specialist at the Faculty of Oenology at Bordeaux University and an acknowledged expert in soil types, has established, there is no one ideal soil type. The quality of the wine depends on the interplay of a number of factors. Having said that, certain characteristics are indispensable to grow good quality grapes.
The mineral content of the soil varies greatly from one place to another. The winegrower can add mineral fertilizers as he sees fit to enrich the soil with the nutrients it lacks naturally. As a general rule, the best winegrowing soils are not over-rich in minerals. In the Médoc, the mineral content of the soil is often reduced by the presence of large quantities of flint and gravel which do not feed the soil. No research has yet succeeded in proving the direct influence of any given chemical element on wine quality.
The winegrower may need to water his vines if the soil allows the rainfall to drain away too readily. This is a vital factor in wine quality. The ideal is to reduce the vine’s water intake during the summer, halting the growth of the branches and the grapes themselves and producing a high concentration of sugars. However, too little water, and the grapes will simply not ripen fully. This is an extremely rare occurrence in the Bordeaux region, mainly affecting very young vines whose root system is still very shallow in the course of unusually dry summers.
As the Bordeaux climate is rather rainy, the best way of limiting the vines’ water intake is to plant them in well-drained soil. The best Médoc soils are perfect, as they have a very high gravel content. Because the rainfall rapidly drains away, the soils warm up easily in the spring sunshine, encouraging the grapes to ripen quickly. This is particularly important in vineyards planted with a late-ripening variety such as Cabernet Sauvignon.
Gravelly soils are common to all the cru classé estates. These soils are warm and help the grapes ripen quickly. The water drains easily from them and they make it possible for the winegrower to control the amount of water taken up by the vines and thus improve the quality of the grapes. The wines grown on gravelly soil are rich in tannins and are best left to age for several years. They often boast exceptional finesse, particularly when Cabernet Sauvignon is the principal grape variety. Some of the finest wines in the 1855 classification, for example Château Latour, have vines that grow on very clayey soil. This type of soil often produces the best grapes, although few winedrinkers associate Médoc wines with clay soil. The real advantage a clay soil offers is to allow the grower to control the wine’s water intake, giving powerful wines with full-bodied tannins. All four principal grape varieties can be grown on clay soils.
The Bordeaux region also has some clay-limestone soil, particularly in the Margaux appellation around the village of Saint-Estèphe and in Haut-Brion. Clay-limestone soil is excellent for vines, but it retains water better than gravelly soils, which means the grapes ripen a little later. It is therefore best suited to growing Merlot, producing powerful wines with a relatively high alcohol content that complement wines grown on gravelly soils superbly in blends.
The 1855 crus classés are often grown on sandy or sandy-gravelly soil. Patches of sandy soil mostly lie at the foot of gravel outcrops or on the western fringes of the region, where they can be rich in humus. Vines grown in these soil conditions tend to be vigorous and give an abundant yield. The winegrowers control this vigor by limiting the amount of fertilizer used and sowing grass between the rows of vines to draw off some of the nutrients. This allows them to produce excellent wines, particularly with Merlot grapes. When young, these wines are bursting with fruit notes. Since they age quickly, they are especially suited for use in blends of seconds vins, the second wines that many of the great châteaux produce alongside their principal output.
Each type of soil in the Médoc has its own unique characteristics. The grapes that go into the 1855 crus classés are grown on several different types of soil. After harvesting, the grapes are vinified in different vats according to the type of soil. This means that the same fermentation cellar can produce wines with strikingly different personalities. During the blending process, the winemaker will play to the strengths of each to produce a wine that draws on the best features of each variety. The result is far more subtle and complex than each grape variety could produce on its own. The rest of the harvest generally goes to make the second wine, which can be an excellent way of discovering the crus classés without breaking the bank. The exact blend that goes into a grand cru classé varies from year to year, as the grapes grown on each soil type react differently to the prevailing weather conditions. The diverse range of soil types and the size of the estates are in fact a major asset for the winemakers, giving them a lot of scope to produce the finest blends possible.
The terroir is a subtle harmony resulting from the effects of the soil, the weather, and the grape variety, skillfully combined by the winemaker. Other parts of the world share conditions and soil types similar to those found in the Bordeaux region. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes, which owe their reputation to the excellence of the 1855 crus classés, are now grown all over the world. But what makes the 1855 grands crus classés so unique is the remarkable harmony of the soil, the climate, and the grape varieties. Cabernet Sauvignon grapes are brought to perfect ripeness by the Bordeaux climate, as long as the soil is warm enough to hasten the process. The well-drained soils draw off the excess rainfall and prevent the vines from taking up too much water, building up sugar levels in the perfectly ripened grapes. But the terroir would be nothing without the expertise of the master winemaker. It is entirely due to the efforts of generations of skilled vintners that this southwestern corner of France has become one of the greatest winegrowing regions in the world. | <urn:uuid:e03d385a-566a-4e4a-9f70-184b7fd74e4a> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | https://gcc-1855.fr/the-grands-crus-classes-1855-terroir/the-terroir-of-the-medoc/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579251681412.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20200125191854-20200125221854-00416.warc.gz | en | 0.959346 | 4,109 | 3.203125 | 3 |
Knowing the Answer Can Make a Big Difference in Analytical Test Results
Laboratory gases will always play a significant role in the everyday life of anyone working in any lab. A gas chromatograph (GC) or a mass spectrometer (MS) is just a sizable paperweight without gases. But with the myriad gases and gas grades to choose from and gas company representatives who are not always up to speed on the upper end of the specialty gas spectrum, how does one make the best choice?
Industrial gases versus specialty gases
Standard gases that are used in tasks such as welding or metal cutting are called “industrial gases.” Tanks are filled with the gas of choice for the application and shipped out to the customer. When the tank comes back empty it is simply refilled, and out the door it goes again.
This is not the case with specialty gases. A specialty gas must meet or exceed a particular set of specifications and should never be allowed to leave the gas company’s gas lab until the cylinder in question has proven its worth under great scrutiny. Using ultra-high-purity (UHP) helium as an example, let’s walk through the process involved in earning the coveted “ultra high purity” status. First, the cylinder is fitted with a positive open/ closed valve that ensures a high level of leak integrity. Second, the cylinder must be treated to a baking process to remove any contaminants from the inside of the cylinder walls. The tank is placed in an oven and baked for eight hours at 140ºF. During the baking process, the tank is purged with an inert ultra high purity gas and then quickly placed under vacuum. This purge/ vacuum sequence is repeated seven times during the eight-hour baking period.
The purpose of this process is to break the polar bond of any existing moisture molecules that have affixed themselves to the inside of the cylinder walls. This thermal energy transfer frees the molecules from the cylinder walls and the purge/vacuum process removes the contaminants from the tank. Trapped within these moisture molecules are other harmful contaminants such as hydrocarbons and particulates. When this process is complete, the cylinder is clean enough on the inside to accept and maintain the integrity of an UHP gas. We can introduce our prepared cylinder (now under vacuum) to its new occupant, the UHP helium. Once the cylinder is filled it goes to the lab, where chemists put the cylinder through a battery of tests to check for contaminants such as moisture, total hydrocarbons and oxygen. Once the cylinder has passed that test, it moves on to the gas chromatograph to again prove its worth. Passing the analysis by the GC earns the tank a shrink-wrapped valve and a place within the “specialty gas” family. If these procedures are not followed, it is akin to putting clean milk in a dirty thermos—you are going to get dirty milk out. Dirty gas delivered to equipment that is expected to utilize UHP gases will cause adverse results.
Trying to save a few dollars on gas purchases might seem like a frugal thing to do, but it can come back to bite the unsuspecting buyer. If a gas company is not quite up to speed with specialty gases and their applications as well as the adverse results to the customer’s equipment, it may very well deliver an industrial gas to a life science or R&D lab. The results can be very damaging for the end users. Industrial-grade helium used in a GC will jam the columns with moisture in the hundreds or thousands of parts per million (PPM) level and render the test results useless. Another contaminant that will wreak havoc is hydrocarbons, which will surely be in excess and cause additional problems. This scenario always results in a repeat of the failed analysis, repeat processes, replacement of the gas tank and repair work to the GC along with a considerable dose of aggravation. Any gas that needs to meet a particular specification is a specialty gas and is truly special. Trying to replace a specialty gas with an industrial gas in order to save a few dollars at the onset will surely cost the buyer considerably more money downstream.
Ultra-high-purity helium must meet the following specifications:
|Total hydrocarbons (THC)|
By contrast, industrial-grade helium may have many hundreds or even thousands of PPM of each contaminant.
Gas-related equipment is critical
Even with the right UHP helium in your lab, you are not yet ready to deliver it to your process. The gas pressure regulator that goes on the tank is as important as the gas grade itself. If an industrial-grade regulator is put on an ultra high purity gas cylinder, the gas will be contaminated right back down to an industrial grade quality. Industrial-grade regulators commonly have neoprene diaphragms, and neoprene is a hydrocarbon (contaminant). They also have a very low leak integrity and can draw moisture (contaminant) into the gas stream along with a dose of oxygen (contaminant) from the air.
A good choice for UHP helium is a pressure regulator that has a leak integrity of 1 x 10-9. It will also have stainless steel diaphragms and Teflon and Tefzel seats and seals. This regulator will maintain the integrity of the UHP helium and deliver it to your process as intended, with no issues.
Don’t forget the process line either. We would hate to go through all the trouble above just to have someone put a rubber-based hose on the regulator to deliver the gas to process. UHP helium requirea stainless steel hose with a stainless steel core. A standard stainless steel pigtail is commonly Teflon lined, and very fine helium molecules will find their way right through the Teflon and out into the atmosphere. Go the last step to ensure the integrity of the gas by purchasing the right hose.
Now you have the right grade of gas, the right regulator and the right hose to deliver the gas to process. What is left to do? Enjoy your analytical test results without fear of contamination from the gases or gas-related equipment.
Partner your business with a gas company that has the answers to your questions and has the right people in the field with a broad knowledge base regarding the products they sell and the equipment you use. Be sure there is an elevated level of service that goes along with your gas purchases. | <urn:uuid:49b23ec2-a9b5-45fd-83af-afc487ad166e> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | http://www.labmanager.com/business-management/2009/01/what-s-so-special-about-specialty-gases- | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187828356.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20171024090757-20171024110757-00640.warc.gz | en | 0.939909 | 1,323 | 2.953125 | 3 |
Top Ten Tips for Reading Aloud by Matt Renwick
1. Schedule It
Reading aloud shouldn’t be left to that few minutes before lunch. Richard Allington, in his ASCD article Every Child, Every Day, states that students should listen to a fluent adult read aloud every day; it is an essential element of reading instruction in classrooms. As a principal, I try to model this practice. My teachers schedule me in to read aloud in their classrooms for half hour time slots, anywhere from twice a week to once every two weeks.
2. Be Intentional
Classroom time is important, so my visits should be connected to learning. What helps are the learning targets posted on the board. As I visit classrooms, I can see the concepts being taught. This information gives me ideas for books that would work well with what students are studying. For example, poetry is a focus at 4th grade, which led me to read aloud Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein.
3. Start Small
The first book I share usually rhymes, has a beat, is a captivating story and/or is short. These are the “can’t miss” stories, books that are guaranteed to capture the students’ attention. Titles that come to mind include Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin and Neville by Norman Juster at the primary level, and Thank You, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco and The Wretched Stone by Chris Van Allsburg for intermediate grades.
4. Assess Your Listeners
Teachers know that every class they inherit is different from year to year. To get a read on my new listeners, I pay attention to how the students respond as I read aloud to them. I use formative assessments to alter my instruction for learning. A great resource about formative assessment is Checking for Understanding by Doug Fisher and Nancy Frey. Strategies they recommend include noticing nonverbal cues like puzzled looks and boredom, as well as having student “Think-Pair-Share” during the story.
5. Plan Ahead
Classroom success comes to those prepared. For me, I don’t read aloud a book to a classroom until I have read it myself. This is the best way to determine if it will make a good read aloud. Did I have a hard time putting the book down? Would I recommend it to others after I finished it? Was it character or story driven? If I don’t have time to do this, I often refer to The Read Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. It has great recommendations for read alouds as well as research and tips for supporting this practice. I have also nixed books I had high hopes for, but realized it is more of a read alone story upon review.
6. Build Stamina
Unfortunately, some kids enter school without a lot of stories read aloud to them. This is evident when we assess our five-year-olds and too many cannot even recognize sounds and letters. To expect kindergarteners to sit through twenty minutes of James and the Giant Peach on the first day of school may be unrealistic. Once I have Started Small (#3), I recognize their growing abilities to listen to stories with specific comments such as, “Wow, you sat for ten whole minutes while I read you A Day’s Work by Eve Bunting!”. For more on building reading stamina, check out The Daily Five by Gail Boushey and Joan Moser.
7. Pick the Right Text
Just because a book is an award winner doesn’t mean it will make a good read aloud. In fact, many of my favorites don’t have this recognition. I get recommendations from colleagues, local bookstores and on Goodreads. These experts help me find stories that have short chapters, limited dialogue, interesting plots, and characters kids can relate to. I also read aloud nonfiction and informational text. Two of my favorites are Meet the Dogs of Bedlam Farm by Jon Katz and Animals Nobody Loves by Seymour Simon.
8. Set Up the Story
In Strategies That Work, Stephanie Harvey describes the process of introducing the think-aloud (a guided version of reading aloud). The idea is to get students thinking during the story, not just at the end. Reading a book cold doesn’t activate students prior knowledge, which is necessary for getting the most out of it. I start a story by first reading the title and the author’s name. Next, I might ask an open ended question related to the book or do a picture walk and make predictions. This modeling creates a bridge to developing independent readers.
9. End as You Began
As I read, I give opportunities for students to predict what may happen next, ponder a question, or make an interesting observation. Once completed, we go back to how we started. For example, when I have read aloud The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles, the students and I first discussed what “courage” means. I collected their responses and started the story. As I read, I asked students to identify examples of courage and marked that text with a Post-it note. At the end, we took our notes and revised our previous definition as a whole group. Other fun ways to wrap things up are writing a book review and doing book talks on stories in the same genre or by the same author.
10. Stick With It
No doubt there are days when I feel like I don’t have time to get into classrooms and read. That is why scheduling it in my calendar is so critical. I also remind myself of all the benefits: Kids are introduced to authors and stories that might not otherwise have been exposed to, both students and teachers see how much I value literature, I am able to stay current on what kids are reading, and I connect with students in a positive and fun way. I cannot think of many things I do as a principal that are more important than sharing myself as a reader in school.
Matt Renwick is a principal of an elementary school in Central Wisconsin. He regularly visits his teachers’ classrooms to share great literature with students. Prior to becoming an administrator, Matt was a 5th and 6th grade teacher. You can follow him on Twitter at @HowePrincipal and read more of his posts at howeprincipal.wordpress.com. | <urn:uuid:fca1710a-d56d-4f36-afb5-5f2d7d046930> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | https://nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/2012/10/06/top-ten-tips-for-reading-aloud-by-matt-renwick/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187823605.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20171020010834-20171020030834-00590.warc.gz | en | 0.959909 | 1,314 | 3.234375 | 3 |
How will you react to what you see and hear?
- Accept passively?
- Asking questions of yourself in an effort to reach a personal decision about the worth of what you have experienced?
Critical Thinking to the Rescue
Questions are helpful when you are asked to:
- react critically to an essay or to evidence presented in a textbook,
- judge the quality of a lecture or speech,
- form an argument,
- write an essay based on a reading assignment, or
- participate in class.
The Sponge and Panning for Gold: Alternative Thinking Styles
Sponge approach -- absorbingadvantages
The two approaches complement each other. To evaluate arguments we must possess knowledge.
An Example of the Panning-For-Gold Approach
Panning for Gold: Asking Critical Questions
You must be an active searcher -- ask questions.
Advantage: permits you to ask searching questions even when you know very little about the topic being discussed.
The Myth of the "Right Answer"
physical sciences -
social sciences -
Thinking and Feeling
Efficiency of Asking the Question, "Who Cares?"
Some controversies will be much more important to you than others.
Your time is valuable -- ask "Who Cares?"
Weak-sense and Strong-sense Critical Thinking
weak-sense -purpose -
strong-sense -purpose -
Strong-sense critical thinking does not necessarily force us to give up our initial beliefs.
The Satisfaction of Using the Panning-for Gold Approach
Trying Out New Answers
Search for better answers.
Effective Communication and Critical Thinking
-- will improve the quality of your writing and speaking
The Importance of Practice
You cannot learn simply by being told what to do or by watching others. You have to practice.
Return to PHL110 Syllabus
Return to PHL110 Outline
Return to PHL110 Notes
Return to Critical Analysis Home Page | <urn:uuid:e367d700-60b6-49fe-88c9-52b9d088ecca> | CC-MAIN-2013-48 | http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl110x/chnotes/ch1.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-48/segments/1386163816314/warc/CC-MAIN-20131204133016-00029-ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.851056 | 401 | 3.5 | 4 |
This material must not be used for commercial purposes, or in any hospital or medical facility. Failure to comply may result in legal action.
is a long-term lung disease that is most commonly caused by smoking. It is part of a group of lung diseases called chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Emphysema damages the air sacs (alveoli) in your lungs. This makes it hard for your lungs to send oxygen to the rest of your body.
Your signs and symptoms
may develop over time. You may not notice them until they start to interfere with your daily activities.
- Shortness of breath that gets worse with activity, such as climbing stairs
- A bluish tint to your skin, lips, or nails
- Weight loss
- Barrel chest (rounded, bulging chest)
- You feel better if you breathe through pursed lips
Call 911 if:
- You have pain, pressure, or fullness in your chest that lasts more than a few minutes or returns.
- You have pain or discomfort in your back, neck, jaw, stomach, or arm.
Seek care immediately if:
- You have shortness of breath that is so severe you cannot talk.
- You have a sudden cold sweat.
- You cough up blood.
- You are confused, dizzy, or feel like you may pass out.
Contact your healthcare provider if:
- You have a fever.
- You have trouble doing your usual activities because it is hard to breathe.
- You need to use your inhalers or take breathing treatments more often than usual.
- You cough up more sputum than is normal for you.
- You wheeze more than is normal for you.
- Your legs or ankles are swollen.
- You have questions or concerns about your condition or care.
Do not smoke:
Nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes and cigars can cause lung damage. Ask your healthcare provider for information if you currently smoke and need help to quit. E-cigarettes or smokeless tobacco still contain nicotine. Talk to your healthcare provider before you use these products.
The most important thing you can do to treat your emphysema is to stop smoking.
- Medicines to open your airways, decrease swelling and inflammation in your lungs, or treat an infection may be given. You may need 2 or more medicines. A short-acting medicine relieves symptoms quickly. Long-acting medicines will control or prevent symptoms. Ask your healthcare provider for more information about the medicines you are given and how to use them safely.
- Pulmonary rehabilitation is a program to help you manage your symptoms and improve your quality of life. It may include nutritional counseling and exercise, such as walking, to strengthen your lungs.
- Oxygen may help you breathe easier and feel more alert if you have severe COPD.
- Surgery is sometimes done if all other treatments have failed. A lung reduction is surgery to remove part of your damaged lung. A lung transplant is the replacement of your lung with a donor lung. Ask your healthcare provider for more information about surgery for emphysema.
An exacerbation of emphysema
is when your symptoms suddenly get worse. You may have a harder time breathing, your cough may get worse, and you may cough up more sputum. You may have a fever, increased heart rate, or feel sleepy. An exacerbation may be caused by a lung infection, air pollution, or other lung irritants. Sometimes the cause of an exacerbation is unknown. Your healthcare provider or pulmonologist may change your treatment to help relieve exacerbations.
Manage your emphysema and help prevent an exacerbation:
- Avoid irritants. Wear protective gear if your workplace has dust or chemicals that bother you. Stay inside when air quality is bad.
- Seek treatment. Get early treatment if your symptoms are getting worse. This may help you recover faster. Know what to do in case of an exacerbation.
- Exercise daily. Talk to your healthcare provider about the best exercise plan for you. Exercise can help decrease breathing problems and improve your health.
- Use pursed-lip breathing. Pursed-lip breathing can be used any time you feel short of breath. It can be especially helpful before you start an activity.
- Count to 2 while you take a deep breath in through your nose.
- Slowly breathe out through your mouth with your lips slightly puckered. You should make a quiet hissing sound as you breathe out.
- Repeat this exercise 4 or 5 times a day Once you are used to doing pursed-lip breathing, you can use it any time you need more air.
- Use sleep positions that help you breathe better. Sleep with your upper body raised if you have trouble breathing when you lie down. Use foam wedges or elevate the head of your bed. Use a device that will tilt your whole body, or bend your body at the waist. The device should not bend your body at the upper back or neck. You may sleep better in a recliner.
- Ask your healthcare provider about the flu and pneumonia vaccines. All adults should get the flu (influenza) vaccine every year as soon as it becomes available. The pneumonia vaccine is given to adults aged 65 or older to prevent pneumococcal disease, such as pneumonia. Adults aged 19 to 64 years who are at high risk for pneumococcal disease also should get the pneumococcal vaccine. It may need to be repeated 1 or 5 years later.
Follow up with your healthcare provider or pulmonologist as directed:
Write down your questions so you remember to ask them during your visits.
© 2017 Truven Health Analytics Inc. Information is for End User's use only and may not be sold, redistributed or otherwise used for commercial purposes. All illustrations and images included in CareNotes® are the copyrighted property of A.D.A.M., Inc. or Truven Health Analytics.
The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you. | <urn:uuid:82db6d1b-3370-4187-9139-be6d20a8f9a0> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | https://www.drugs.com/cg/emphysema-ambulatory-care.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549423764.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20170721082219-20170721102219-00410.warc.gz | en | 0.923257 | 1,283 | 3.4375 | 3 |
Whoever wrote “Right or wrong, corporal punishment can produce winners” (The Foreign Element, March 12) picked an excellent pseudonym.
“Richard Parker” has a long fictional and actual history.
In the Marvel Universe, Richard Parker is the father of Peter Parker, Spider-Man.
You’d think that would be a good thing, but considering Richard Parker died from torture, perhaps not.
Then there was Richard Parker of “The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket,” Edgar Allan Poe’s 1838 novel. In it, Richard Parker is a cabin boy, eaten alive by his starving shipmates.
Of course, that was only a novel, it didn’t happen. Until the 1884 sinking of the yacht Mignonette and the actual eating alive of cabin boy Richard Parker.
Two Richard Parkers, dead in fictional fear and terror. One Richard Parker, dead in real fear and terror.
Which makes using “Richard Parker” to excuse fear and terror highly ironic and most appropriate!
Send your comments on the issue of corporal punishment to The Community Chest at [email protected]. For more views on the Richard Parker article, check out the comments below the original article online and last week’s Community Chest column, “Consensus: Corporal punishment in sports misguided, demoralizing, backward,” on our website. | <urn:uuid:acf84e06-1ee0-447a-b092-8201060acfdf> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2013/04/02/voices/using-richard-parker-pseudonym-to-excuse-terror-fear-is-most-apt/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818686705.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20170920071017-20170920091017-00280.warc.gz | en | 0.909758 | 302 | 2.90625 | 3 |
For more than 60 years starting in 1892, Ellis Island served as one of the primary immigration processing centers in the United States. It’s estimated that 40 percent of living Americans today can trace at least one ancestor whose gateway to America was through this island just off the coast of Manhattan. Germans, Poles, Czechs, Italians and many other Europeans all made the arduous journey to Ellis Island, nearly all were escaping war and famine. America, for them, was a last gasp of desperation and Ellis Island was a new beginning. Today the place is a fascinating monument to human immigration. Visit the restored Main Arrivals Hall and the museum, which runs a self-guided tour through the complexes history. At the American Family Immigration History Center, visitors can do multimedia searches through the archives. Who knows? You just might turn up a lost ancestor.
Most Helpful Reviews
Attractions & Landmarks | <urn:uuid:6209fe1a-2c99-463a-b1d4-4725810d1e21> | CC-MAIN-2014-23 | http://travel.aol.com/travel-guide/united-states/new-york/new-york/ellis-island-thingstodo-detail-372689/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1405997894260.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20140722025814-00054-ip-10-33-131-23.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946201 | 181 | 3.359375 | 3 |
Our Expectations: Magnets for Success or Weights that Hold Us Back
Updated: Aug 1, 2020
“High achievement always takes place in the framework of high expectation.” – Charles Kettering
Our expectations are the stories we tell ourselves about how things will go in our life.
Different than mere wishing or wanting, the expectations we have for ourselves are powerful. More powerful than magic, even.
Expectations vs. magical thinking
First off: simply expecting things to happen, will not make them happen.
Renowned child psychologist, Jean Piaget, found that developmentally, young children cannot often differentiate between the objective, real world and the often fanciful one in their minds. He called it ‘magical thinking’ when children expect all sorts of things to happen – rational or not.
While Piaget’s research showed that children outgrow magical thinking at around age 7, it does appear that looking around these days, mind-over-matter is an increasingly grown-up hobby as well.
Wishful thinking may be comfortable, but it doesn’t get the job done.
Despite how tremendously inviting it may be to hang our hopes on a particular outcome - like expecting a pandemic to magically disappear, for example – it’s still necessary to draw the line between the realistic and the outright delusional.
“Hope don’t get the job done.” – Roman J. Israel, Esq.
Expectations vs. hopes and dreams
We all want good things to happen.
But tying our happiness to a hope of something happening or the desire to do well, is considerably different than tying it to true expectations of success.
High aspirations are helpful but it is the expectation of achievement, not the hope, that makes the difference. It's the real, deep belief in the possibility or even probability, of being successful at whatever we are trying to achieve.
Research has shown how expectations and aspirations were considerably different when it comes to student success. Often, students with low expectations for academic achievement - even with high hopes - performed poorly when compared to students with high expectations.
Other studies have shown that with students, increasing hopes or aspirations doesn’t actually lead to accomplishment. The Education Endowment Foundation (2018) found that attempts at raising hopes of student educational success turned out to have no real positive impact.
The divide between wanting something, and profoundly believing you can achieve it - is wide.
Expectation as a self-fulfilling prophesy
Expectations of parents, of teachers, of ourselves; it’s the expectation that sets the bar. The expectation is where we aim. It sets the tone.
“Mama exhorted her children at every opportunity to 'jump at the sun. ' We might not land on the sun, but at least we would get off the ground.” – Zora Neale Hurston
Expectations set the foundation for what’s attainable – for both ourselves and for others. They can serve as a beacon to pull us forward or as a weight to hold us back.
Dozens of studies have shown that the expectations we have for ourselves, and that others have for us, are powerful and can influence actual performance. Overall, achievement is generally improved by higher expectations, and performance undermined by low expectations of success.
High expectations can also include the motivation and willingness to act on behalf of our goals. Low expectations come with just the opposite.
“I think America’s greatest wound is low expectations. We have different expectations for different people depending on where they’re from, what they look like, who their parents (are), what community they’re in.” - Wes Moore
The expectations others have for us can become our own
The expectations that we have for ourselves find their foundation in those others had for us; of our parents, teachers, even society’s biases and stereotypes.
Psychologist Robert Rosenthal’s research on the power that the positive expectations of others can have, is also referred to as the Pygmalion effect. The opposite is the Golem effect: whether placed upon us or by us, low expectations set a low bar and negatively impact our performance and potential.
Whether high or low, when the expectations of others are internalized and become our own, they set the tone for our actions or inaction that follow.
Expectations bring reinforcements
The idea, the want, even the expectation is one thing. Our behavior either moves us toward the reality of that expected outcome or not.
Our behavior will tend to support the expectations we have for ourselves. With high expectations, we are more willing to expend effort, work hard and create reasons to believe the expectation can be fulfilled.
Expectations tend to come with choices and planning and action. Expectations have feet on the ground. Wishing and wanting don’t come with reinforcements.
Difficult and unattainable are totally different things
Expectations are not only about the end result. They are just as much about the process.
In a world of short attention-spans and instant gratification, the expectations we have and the assumptions we make about what it truly takes to get from here to there, can make a big difference - including how quickly, easily or directly things will happen in life.
Expectations of everything going according to plan are unrealistic and will at some point lead to disappointment. Broadening the picture and exercising flexibility muscles can help.
“The universe constantly and obediently answers to our conceptions; whether we travel fast or slow, the track is laid for us.” – Henry David Thoreau
Expectation is like a magnet. Obstacles, pauses and challenges do not stop the inevitable pull and progress; despite what’s in front of us, what we expect for our life is still possible, even probable.
That’s not what it’s supposed to look like
The narrower and more specific our expectations, the picture we have in our head becomes the standard to which reality must live up. Uh, have you met reality?
Our expectations become the gauge by which we judge our life and our happiness.
Depending on the goal, both high and low expectations can serve us.
High expectations for success. Low expectations for contentment.
When we want to encourage ourselves or others to improve, grow or achieve, high expectations are essential. But if contentment and satisfaction are the goal, scientists have found that the key to happiness may be keeping expectations low.
“The secret to happiness is low expectations.” - Barry Schwartz
Expectations and happiness
Neuroscientist Robb Rutledge and team of the University College London (2014), found that our level of happiness is not dependent on how our life is developing in general but rather, whether life is exceeding our expectations.
Basically, if our expectations are lower, the odds are, circumstances will beat those predictions and increase happiness levels in turn. Happiness is relative and determined in large part by what we expect to happen.
The world often does not cooperate with our expectations, leaving disappointment in its wake. By dialing down what we require to make us happy, everything that exceeds that is gravy.
In fact, research has also uncovered that positive expectations unto themselves, sparked happiness – outside of any outcome at all. In this case, the expectations of something good happening is enough – unaffected by real life's uncertainties.
Disappointment squashes contentment. There is value and power in managing expectations that can either encourage our own happiness or dissatisfaction with life.
“My expectations were reduced to zero when I was 21. Everything since then has been a bonus." – Stephen Hawking
It was not the result itself that drives happiness levels but rather how that result compares to what we expect to happen. The key is in managing the space between where we are now and what we expect to happen.
It’s all relative. A repair bill for $500 doesn’t sound like it could make anyone happy – unless, the expected bill was a cool grand. Coming in at half the expense can actually spark joy. On the other hand, even objectively positive outcomes can lead to misery if initial expectations are too high.
Even capturing a star can be unfulfilling and disappointing, if our entire heart was set solely on the moon. If the actual experience doesn’t match the high expectations, there’s no place to go but down.
Expectations vs. standards
Expectations are about how we believe things will happen moving forward. Expectations are about potential and intention.
A standard is different. Knowing the difference between the two is especially helpful when it comes to relating to other human beings.
Standards represent a level of quality.
Our standards denote a line whereby anything on one side is unacceptable. It is a line below or over, we will not cross - whether it’s about the quality of the products we buy or how we’re treated by others.
When it comes to others, having standards, and creating and upholding boundaries, are the key to healthy relationships. Our standards, like the high expectations we set for ourselves, empower our responsibility and ownership for what happens to us in life.
We have control over what we will accept and will not accept.
Expectations and other people
Expectations for ourselves, reasonable or not, are one thing. It’s when our expectations involve other human beings where things can go sideways.
Expecting something to happen, requires buy-in and participation from all parties concerned. That’s why it’s rational to have expectations of ourselves, and less so when expecting others to behave the way we want them too.
In relating with others, people expect all kinds of things. We expect people to treat us a certain way, we expect people to change, we expect people to not change. This is only exacerbated further when our expectations of others often go uncommunicated.
We compare and judge our life and the people in it, to pictures and expectations we have in our head.
The issue may not be the person failing to live up to our expectations, but rather the expectations themselves.
“Expectations are premeditated resentments.” – Big Book, Alcoholic Anonymous
Long used as a tool in recovery programs, giving up expectations of others is a tool for one’s own well-being. If we can give up the need to control, to be right, and have it our way, we release ourselves from disappointment.
Recovering from something or not, releasing the expectations we have of others is similar to forgiveness and acceptance - it's a gift we give ourselves.
#expectations #highexpectations #magicalthinking #JeanPiaget #pandemic #delusion #wishfulthinking #hope #achievement #success #Thoreau #selffulfullingprophesy #lowexpectations #WesMoore #parents #parentalexpectations #Rosenthaleffect #Pygmalioneffect #Golemeffect #contentment #happiness #StephenHawking #expectationmanagement #aspirationgap #standards #boundaries | <urn:uuid:5c655ba3-e4a8-4d80-96c8-87594613f964> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://www.urbannaturaldesigns.com/post/our-expectations-a-magnet-for-success-or-a-weight-to-hold-us-back | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224645089.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20230530032334-20230530062334-00097.warc.gz | en | 0.940221 | 2,348 | 3.046875 | 3 |
In my many years of designing and teaching TOEFL preparation courses, I found that there is one underlying skill that all my high-scoring students had in common – strong Academic Vocabulary. Every section of the TOEFL test depends on it, directly or indirectly.
Academic Vocabulary and TOEFL Reading
In the Reading section, you actually have to answer a number of questions directly related to vocabulary. You need to pick synonyms for particular words, in the given context. These questions make up more than 20% of all the questions in the Reading section.
Knowing the most common or most widely used meaning of the word is often not enough. You need to know more than that – other possible meanings, word forms and collocations. If you have done some TOEFL Reading practice , you’ve probably already discovered that the correct answer choice (for the vocabulary questions) is rarely the one that seems most obvious or most familiar.
Academic Vocabulary and TOEFL Listening
When it comes to the Listening section, the stronger your Academic Vocabulary, the easier time you’ll have following and understanding the lectures. These academic materials make up more than 1/2 half of the section; out of six listening materials scored for you, only two are campus related conversations; the remaining four are actual, grade 12 level, lectures. Consequently, it’s impossible to score more than ten out of thirty points without the knowledge of the key terms.
Academic Vocabulary and TOEFL Speaking
As for the Integrated Speaking, you will not only better understand the reading and listening prompts, but you’ll also be able to produce a higher scoring answer, if you can use the appropriate Academic Vocabulary in your speech.
Prior to August 2019, the Academic Speaking questions used to comprise one third of the Speaking Section. A good command of the Academic Vocabulary often meant the difference between scoring in low twenties , and getting more that 24 or 26 iBT points, which is a requirement for many Professionals in the Medical, Legal and some other fields.
Now that the Academic Speaking questions make up 1/2 of the Speaking Section, it is crucial to have advanced knowledge of the Academic Vocabulary.
Academic Vocabulary and TOEFL Writing
The same goes for the Integrated Writing. Remember that, although you do have access to the reading prompt the entire time you are writing your Integrated Essay, it’s not a good idea to copy directly. Instead, you are encouraged to paraphrase the key points from this prompt, whenever possible.
The listening prompt is likely to be an even bigger challenge – you will only hear it once, and unless you can follow and take notes efficiently, as well as show your understanding of the key concepts in a well written Integrated Essay, it will be near impossible to score high in the Writing Section (as this essay counts for 1/2 of the section score)
Academic Vocabulary and TOEFL – how to learn
First of all, it’s important to understand that no vocabulary can be learned over night. It takes time, repetition and application to acquire new vocabulary. Unfortunately, this is not likely to happen when you rely on memorizing word lists or study using resources that don’t provide in-depth understanding of the Academic vocabulary. In addition, it is of utmost importance to have a lot of practice in applying the newly acquired vocabulary to your speaking and writing.
The good news is – a place where you can learn Academic Vocabulary efficiently, actually does exist. It’s our ACADEMIC VOCABULARY WORKSHOP, the ONLINE version of our offline Academic Vocabulary Masterclass. (follow the links to find out more) | <urn:uuid:5228c051-54cb-4b16-8d07-1e9974de8f9a> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://proesltestprep.com/academic-vocabulary-and-toefl/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510149.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20230926043538-20230926073538-00190.warc.gz | en | 0.938313 | 770 | 2.859375 | 3 |
The Klamath River corridor has an over-arching signature of remarkably diverse flora and fauna. This phenomenally diverse area biology is foundationally dependent on a supporting diversity in geology. The metaphor of the “Klamath knot has been used to describe the bunching up and pushing together of several varied tectonic plates and larger geologic formations to create a tangled mass of rock and mineral types. It is this geologic diversity that underpins the Klamath biologic diversity.
This diversity is so remarkable, yet so often invisible to the un-trained eye that some environmental overseers have pushed to create a new national monument in hopes of preserving this ecosystem unique in species diversity. The “Siskiyou Crest National Monument is a politically hot topic and generally pits local property owners and local resource managers against larger and often more distant, and ideological management forms. While residents fight for local management of the resources, the proponents of the new monument argue for more federal oversight and more restrictive policies.
“This wildland complex can be referred to as the “Siskiyou Land Bridge” because of its important connectivity functions. It is not only a biological crossroads through space and time, but is a literal crossroads for wide ranging species. It provides the only high quality habitat connections between the Marble Mountains to the south, the Kalmiopsis Wilderness to the north and west, and the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument to the east.”
As I read the dialogue between opposing positions in the arguments over creating another national monument, the point of diversity in local human cultures is largely unspoken by the monument proponents. What will be the impacts of another monument on the sustaining of a remarkably diverse set of peoples that claim this area as their home? Will a more restrictive management of these resources create a less diverse human ecology in the area?
In my resident community of Somes Bar, California, the population hovers around 100 residents. In this small mix of neighbors there are native peoples, gold miners, chocolatiers, teachers, loggers, fishing guides, organic farmers, home-craft artisans, carpenters, cannabis growers, Forest Service staff, highway crews, and nearly every political and religious segment you could imagine. The dominant theme to our community is pursuit of personal liberties and a fierce love of our home. The love of local community binds us tightly together in spite of our vastly different cultural choices and histories. Where else would you find a large-scale pot grower paying tithes to the local Christian church? The cultural diversity here is just as striking as is the variety of inanimate rock types that we walk over. All of us residing here have adapted to the middle Klamath ecosystem in remarkably different yet effective ways and we thrive in part because of personal liberties in accessing local resources.
The Klamath River Corridor’s diversity of flora, fauna, geology and also human diversity, has an interesting effect on human migration patterns through the area as well. We have a seasonal evolution of humanity that migrates through our community, as much as we have a corresponding seasonal migration of birds and fish. As an owner/operator of a dude ranch tourist destination, I depend on the surrounding ecosystem to entice in-bound traveling tourists to target this area. Magnificent mountain vistas, and lush riparian river corridors draw vacationers that find edification just through temporarily being in the Klamath living canvas. Visiting travelers can momentarily becoming players in an epic story that somehow seems larger and more relevant than passing through life entirely as an urban lock-up.
The Klamath National Forest and surrounding area is also a white water mecca. World-renowned white water rivers of this region attract rafting and kayaking enthusiasts and their passage through the area additionally adds to the community cash flow. These same rivers are also the target for a mass of new 49ers that relive the California gold rush on a small scale as they pursue an impassioned hobby seeking placer gold.
Rugged mountain ranges thrown upwards in the Klamath Knot provide the gradient to create a myriad of pristine rivers and streams. These Klamath area rivers and streams seasonally fill with steelhead and salmon returning to their natal spawning waters. Waterfowl and other migratory birds utilize the Klamath as a bridge during seasonal migrations. In concert with the stream-bound fish, the highway bound sport fishing masses also follow the piscatorial wave as if they were a natural part of this epic spawning ritual. Hunters as well as other sportsmen pass through Klamath communities and support fishing lodges, guides, gas stations, grocery stores, auto shops and nearly every business they pass by via trickle-down cash flow. Tortured rocks make rough mountains, which make high gradient rivers, which provide habitat to wildlife, and which in turn bring credit card carrying visitors. Simply put, lots of different rocks bring money from lots of different places! For better or worse, the Klamath geologic knot plays a role in supporting a variety of diverse commerce types as well.
Personally, I also depend on the historic and cultural experience of the old west Klamath in our offerings at Marble Mountain Ranch. Tourists visiting Marble Mountain Ranch hunger for a brief and transient immersion into a remarkably beautiful natural setting, and they hunger for a connect to culture and history that is vastly different from their personal experience. We do this partly by accessing the surrounding wilderness in a low-impact fashion by traveling through on horseback, raft, kayak, or river dory, and by taking home only memories and photographs.
As hosts to a portion of the area tourist population, we see visitors from nearly every global community. While our primary audience is sourced from the continental USA, we also have regular guests visiting from Europe, Asia, Australia and Canada. The Klamath geologic diversity, the resultant varied flora and fauna and the diversity of local culture is drawing inward an equally diverse traveling public. If diversity of rocks, plants, and animals are valuable, I propose that diversity in the human experience is equally important and worth preserving. The world I live in draws culturally diverse human interlopers, briefly bonding in an enormous outdoor stage filled with more variety in flora, fauna, rocks and yes¦peoples than can be found in their home neighborhoods.
The preservation I hope to support will also secure diversity of human expression. Lets preserve the cowboy and the Indian, the pot grower and the church-goer, the civil servant and the private entrepreneur, the woodsy hippy and the traditionalist. Culturally diverse Klamath humans also thrive because we live on top of a geologic “knot. Here is where large tectonic plates are pushed together in a single convoluted conglomerate that passes through the eternities as a larger phenomenon. And this is also where a remarkably diverse human community lives together and shares a small piece of tangled rock as they too pass through the eternities together.
See you on the trail, Doug | <urn:uuid:cd2fdd22-0a81-46a4-95e5-e3948d76723d> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | http://www.marblemountainranch.com/california-dude-ranch/human-diversity-in-the-klamath-knot/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187828189.71/warc/CC-MAIN-20171024071819-20171024091819-00129.warc.gz | en | 0.934014 | 1,441 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Without it would any of us have Kidney Stones?
And when people are autopsied it is stated that many of them have had Kidney Stones but that they did not affect their health. That is one of the most irresponsible concepts in medicine that has ever been put forth! It really invalidates the credibility of the entire medical community!
The carbonated beverages are soda, wine and beer. You should all be drinking distilled water.
Free Carbon becomes the building base molecule in your body. Hence once it is separated from Oxygen it attracts calcium to it? Forming calcium oxalate Kidney stones. Which brings up another point in that some diseases are stated to only affect one side of the body. Could a kidney stone on that side of the body cause those problems? And for example can a father having a kidney stone on the left side of his body cause a son to be born with scoliosis of the spine? Are people given steroid shots in the back for back pain when it is really caused by something else? Like hemorrhoids or metabolic waste back up and inflammation "spread" from a kidney stone?
Thomas Paul Murphy
Originally published on 02 26 2014 at: www.themilwaukeeandwisconsinnews.blogpsot.com
Copyright 2014 Thomas Paul Murphy | <urn:uuid:91c7f0a2-e92f-46c2-bb98-3f58e928bbe5> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | http://themilwaukeeandwisconsinnews.blogspot.com/2014/02/carbon-dioxide-in-drinks-02-26-2014.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128321426.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20170627134151-20170627154151-00283.warc.gz | en | 0.958671 | 262 | 2.609375 | 3 |
- Apotactics• The adherents of a heresy which sprang up in the third century and spread through the western and southern parts of Asia Minor
Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006.
- ApotacticsApotactics† Catholic_Encyclopedia ► Apotactics(From Gr., apotassomai, to renounce).The adherents of a heresy which sprang up in the third century and spread through the western and southern parts of Asia Minor. What little we know of this obscure sect we owe to the writings of St. Epiphanius. He tells us that they called themselves Apotactics (i.e. renunciators) because they scrupulously renounced all private property; they also affected the name of Apostolics, because they pretended to follow the manner of life of the Apostles. The saint regards them as a branch of the Tatians, akin to the Encratites and the Cathari. "Their sacraments and mysteries are different from ours; they pride themselves upon extreme poverty, bring divisions into Holy Church by their foolish superstitions, and depart from the divine mercy by refusing to admit to reconciliation those who have once fallen, and like those from whom they have sprung, condemn marriage. In place of the Holy Scriptures, which they reject, they base their heresy on the apocryphal Acts of Andrew and Thomas. They are altogether alien from the rule of the Church". At the time when St. Epiphanius wrote, in the fourth century, they had become an insignificant sect, for in refuting them he says: "They are found in small groups in Phrygia, Cilicia, and Pamphylia, whereas the Church of God, according to Christ's promise, has spread to the ends of the earth, and if marriage is an unholy thing, then they are doomed to speedy extinction, or else they must be born out of wedlock. If they are born out of wedlock, then they themselves are impure. And if they are not impure, although born in wedlock, then marriage is not impure.... The Church praises renouncement, but does not condemn marriage; she preaches poverty, but does not intolerantly inveigh against those who possess property inherited from their parents with which they support themselves and assist the poor; many in the church abstain from certain kinds of food, but do not look with contempt upon those who do not so abstain." St. Basil mentions these heretics in his Epistles. He gives them the name of Apotaktitai (Apotactites) and says that they declared God's creatures defiled (inquinatam). They are also briefly mentioned by St. Augustine and by St. John Damascene. They were condemned in the Code of Theodosius the Great as a branch of the Manicheans. St. EPIPHANIUS, Hær., in P. G., XLI, 1040 sqq.B. GULDNERTranscribed by the Cloistered Dominican Nuns of the Monastery of the Infant Jesus, Lufkin, Texas Dedicated to the Bremberg Family
The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VIII. — New York: Robert Appleton Company. Nihil Obstat. 1910. | <urn:uuid:f704e89e-d74d-41df-87ff-56dab0bd87c2> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://catholicism.academic.ru/946/Apotactics | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886105712.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20170819182059-20170819202059-00681.warc.gz | en | 0.955507 | 677 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Educational creativity refers to the creation of new methods and methods in instructing and learning. https://pittcon-2017.org/2019/05/26/pittcon/ It includes the development of a fresh curriculum, instructing methods, and classroom resources. It also involves the trespassing of new technologies and the emergence of numerous forms of liability.
Education is mostly a social financial institution through which people get basic academics knowledge and abilities, as well as cultural norms and values. As a result, innovations in education are necessary for society to prosper and progress.
Among the many aspects for educational innovative developments, time may be a particularly prominent one: makes an attempt to save this and raise its productivity are quite prevalent. In addition , ground breaking ways of using technology for speeding up and extensive learning have already been shown to own a positive effect on educational efficiency.
The success of education innovative developments could be evaluated simply by various evaluation indicators. Examples include learning effects, teacher formative and summative assessments, scholar self-assessment, yet others.
According to the theory of prepared change, educational innovations could be labeled as evolutionary (sustaining) or innovative (disruptive). Major innovations result in incremental improvement but need continuity. Revolutionary innovations, on the other hand, completely change the field of education.
In addition , innovations in the education program can be homegrown (come from the inside the field) or brought in from outdoor it. Cabs based on fresh ideas or fashion, revolutions or perhaps technological innovations, or advanced international hypotheses and techniques (see The positive effect of Education chapter).
Nevertheless , if an development is to make an impact, it must not only be created nevertheless also distributed and applied across schools and universities. This really is a demanding task that will require the involvement of an army of implementers together with encouraging conditions designed for the invention to spread and produce a final result. | <urn:uuid:8f861151-5957-4ab4-8b85-a44e3afdcb8b> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://zerolabfirenze.it/2023/05/01/education-and-innovative-developments/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224654031.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20230608003500-20230608033500-00074.warc.gz | en | 0.94606 | 384 | 3.46875 | 3 |
|THE WORK OF THE AFRO-AMERICAN WOMAN|
" The value of any published work, especially if historical in character, must be largely inspirational; this fact grows out of the truth that race instinct, race experience lies behind it, national feeling, or race pride always having for its development a basis of self-respect." The emancipation of the Negro race came about at the entrance to that which has been aptly termed the Woman's Century; co-education, higher education for women, had each gained a foothold. The "Woman's Suffrage" movement had passed the sierra of ridicule and entered upon that of critical study. The Woman's Christian Temperance Union had become a strong factor in the reform work of the nation. These facts made the uplifting of the womanhood of this race a more hopeful task than might otherwise have been, and gave to the individual woman of the race opportunities to reach a higher plane of development with less effort than would have been possible under a more unfavorable aspect of the woman question. Trammelled by their past condition and its consequent poverty, combined with the blasting influence
The men of the race, in most instances, have been generous, doing all in their power to allow the women of the race to rise with them. "Woman's Work in America," by Anna Nathan Myer, garners up the grain from the harvest field of labor of our Anglo-American sisters. I would do for the women of my race, in a few words, this work that has been so ably done for our more favored sisters by another and abler pen. Accepting largely the divisions laid down in the above mentioned volume, we have, along the line of successful educational work in the North, that most successful teacher and eloquent lecturer, Mrs. Fanny J. Coppin, principal of the Institute for Colored Youth at Philadelphia. Mrs. Coppin, one of the early graduates of Oberlin College, developed into one of the most noted educators in the United States. Hundreds of her graduates have filled positions of honor; hundreds of them are laboring as teachers for the up building of their race. The grand work of establishing an Industrial School in connection with the Institute did not satisfy the heart of this noble benefactress of her race, but she at once set about establishing a boarding home for pupils from a distance. The effort is prospering and will no doubt be an assured fact in the near future. This lady is a very busy
Miss Julia Jones, Miss Lottie Bassett, and Miss Frazelia Campbell, of the same institution, Caroline R. Le Count of the O. V. Catto School, of Philadelphia, Mrs. S. S. Garnet, principal of Grammar School 81, 17th Street, New York City, Edwina Kruse, principal of the Howard School, Wilmington, Del., are able educators. In the East, we have Miss Maria Baldwin, principal of the Agassiz School, Cambridgeport, Mass. In the South, we have Mrs. Anna J. Cooper, of the High School, Washington, D. C., Prof. Mary V. Cook, Miss Bessie Cook, of Howard University, Miss Lucy Moten, principal of the Normal School of Washington, who was one of the honorary vice-presidents of the World's Educational Conference at the World's Fair, and Miss Mary Patterson; passing farther southward, Miss Lucy Laney, of the Haynes Industrial School at Augusta, Ga., Miss Alice Dugged Cary, and scores of others, who are doing good work. Mrs. Wm. Weaver, who with her husband is laboring against great odds in the upbuilding of the Gloucester Industrial School, Va., deserves honorable mention. In the West, we
Miss Florence and Miss Cordelia Ray, Miss Mary Eato and Miss Imogene Howard have all secured the degree of master of Pedagogy from the University of New York; Miss Mollie Durham and Miss Annie Marriot of Philadelphia have secured Supervising Principals' certificates in that city.
Have the women of this race yet made a record in literature? We believe that we can answer this question in the affirmative. Phyllis Wheatley, our first authoress, gave to the world a most creditable volume of poems. The beautiful verses of the little slave girl, who though a captive yet sung her song of freedom, are still studied with interest.
The path of literature open to our women with their yet meagre attainments has been traveled to some purpose by Mrs. Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, who has through a long widowhood sustained herself and her family by her pen and by her voice as a lecturer on
Miss Florence and H. Cordelia Ray are the authors of an exquisite memorial volume in honor of their father, the late Charles B. Ray, of New York City. "Aunt Lindy," a story from the pen of Mrs. Wm. E. Matthews, president of the Women's Loyal Union of Brooklyn, N. Y., is our latest contribution to authorship. Mrs. Matthews is widely known by her chosen nom de plume "Victoria Earle." | <urn:uuid:c787457f-70bd-4b8e-a243-cad3fc8ba59e> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | http://digilib.nypl.org/dynaweb/digs/wwm9729/@Generic__BookTextView/216;td=2;pt=2743 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370497042.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20200330120036-20200330150036-00289.warc.gz | en | 0.962917 | 1,060 | 2.75 | 3 |
While medicines can help you stay healthy, inappropriate prescriptions and drug interactions can lead to dangerous, and even life threatening side effects.
How many bottles are in your medicine chest? If you’re in your 60s or beyond, chances are you take at least one drug — and probably a cocktail of them — to lower your blood pressure, ward off a heart attack, manage thyroid disease, ease depression, or slow the progress of other health conditions.
In a 2016 survey of adults ages 62 to 85, more than a third of respondents reported taking at least five prescription drugs. Nearly 40 percent took over-the-counter medicines, and almost 65 percent were on dietary supplements. While medicines can help you stay healthy, they also come with risks. Inappropriate prescriptions and drug interactions can lead to dangerous, and even life threatening side effects.
Here’s what you need to know about medication safety for seniors.
Inappropriate drug prescribing
About one out of every five drugs prescribed to seniors is inappropriate for them, and therefore more likely to cause side effects, according to a 2012 study in PLos One. Diphenhydramine (Benadryl, Dramamine, Nytrol) and amitriptyline (Elavil) were two of the most commonly prescribed inappropriate drugs with a high risk of side effects, the researchers found.
A drug you take to treat one disease could make another condition worse. A more recent PLoS One study found that about 20 percent of older adults take medicines that counteract each other. “More than 9 million older adults in the U.S. are being prescribed medications that may be causing them more harm than benefit,” said Jonathan Lorgunpai, study co-author and medical student at the Yale School of Medicine. “Not only is this potentially harmful for individual patients, it is also very wasteful for our healthcare system.”
As you get older, your body no longer metabolizes medicines in the same way. Your kidneys and liver don’t remove medications from your body as efficiently as they once did. This means one dose doesn’t have a chance to clear your system before you take the next dose. As medicines build up in your body, they increase your risk for side effects like falls, confusion, kidney failure, and GI bleeding.
An estimated 100,000 Americans age 65 and older are hospitalized each year for adverse drug reactions, according to a 2011 study in The New England Journal of Medicine. Most of these reactions are blamed on a handful of drugs, including diuretics, NSAID pain relievers, clot preventing drugs, and diabetes medicines.
The more medicines you take, the more likely some of them won’t get along. “Older adults are the largest consumer of prescription drugs,” said Stacy Tessler Lindau, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago Medical Center. “We find that they commonly combine these prescription medications with over-the-counter medications and dietary supplements, which can increase their vulnerability to medication side-effects and drug-drug interactions.”
For example, taking an anti-clotting drug like clopidogrel (Plavix) or warfarin (Coumadin) with aspirin or naproxen (Naprosyn) increases your risk for bleeding. A statin drug plus the cholesterol drug niacin (Niaspan, Niacor) can cause muscle damage. Aspirin and other NSAIDs can slow the rate at which your body removes immune-suppressing drugs like cyclosporine and heart medicines such as digoxin.
How to avoid drug side effects and interactions
Seeing multiple doctors to manage several conditions can increase your risk of getting inappropriate prescriptions or having drug interactions. To prevent these issues, keep a running list of all the medicines you take, and share it with every doctor you see, and your pharmacist (you should also use only one pharmacy). “Patients need to inform their providers about all medications they use – prescription and nonprescription – and should ask their physician or pharmacist about interactions any time they start a new drug, on their own or following the doctor’s recommendation,” said Lindau.
Whenever you get a new prescription, ask the doctor what side effects it can cause, and what to do if you experience those side effects. Don’t just read the package insert, which can be confusing to anyone without a medical degree. Also ask your doctor to explain how to take the medicine. Some drugs shouldn’t be taken at the same time, or with certain supplements or foods.
Once a year, go over your entire list of medications with your primary care doctor and pharmacist. Find out if you can wean off any of your medicines. If you ever develop side effects while taking a medicine, let your doctor know right away.
April 06, 2017
Janet O’Dell, RN | <urn:uuid:bc8fdb43-ad35-42ba-96bb-ee245da24914> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | https://www.yourcareeverywhere.com/life-stages/healthy-aging/medication-safety-for-seniors.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579251700675.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20200127112805-20200127142805-00392.warc.gz | en | 0.932846 | 1,016 | 2.84375 | 3 |
$19.95 Buy and instantly download this paper now
This paper discusses the conflict between Thoreau's views of nature as peaceful and as hostile, as well as how he reconciles his vision of nature with Robert Frost's view.
From the Paper:"What happens to the link between the human and the natural in "The Shipwreck" when Thoreau confronts hostile nature is very different from the domesticated one of "Concord" and "Walden Pond". The tranquil view of nature in "Concord" and "Walden Pond" makes Thoreau want to immerse himself in nature. This perspective renders nature inspiring, calming reviving and fascinating-a view in which Thoreau feels at one with nature. At "Walden Pond" he actually integrates himself into nature, separating himself from the accouterments of civilization to find his..."
Cite this Analytical Essay:
Thoreau's Views of Nature (2008, December 01) Retrieved April 24, 2014, from http://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/thoreausviews-of-nature-125470/
"Thoreau's Views of Nature" 01 December 2008. Web. 24 April. 2014. <http://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/thoreausviews-of-nature-125470/> | <urn:uuid:1f617f8f-e2de-41c9-9d76-048fc1086b77> | CC-MAIN-2014-15 | http://www.academon.com/analytical-essay/thoreausviews-of-nature-125470/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1398223206118.10/warc/CC-MAIN-20140423032006-00223-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.906318 | 291 | 2.65625 | 3 |
During the summertime, sunscreen becomes a part of the daily routine. Sunscreen often found in the form of a lotion, foam, or spray works to protect the human skin from harmful effects of sun exposure, such as sunburns. While the sun provides vitamin D for the skin, exposure to ultraviolet rays of the sun can have a negative impact on human skin. The skin is composed of three main layers: epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. The outermost layer, the epidermis, contains melanin to protect the skin from ultraviolet light. These rays can damage skin cells and reduce elasticity of the skin, which encourages rapid aging, wrinkles, and reddened skin. It is clear that sunscreen is crucial for adequate skincare.
What is SPF?
There are a variety of sunscreens currently available on the market, with ranging SPFs. SPF, or the sun protection factor, is a numeric measurement of the amount of time it will take for ultraviolet rays of the sun to affect the skin after application of the product, relative to no product use. For example, a sunscreen with an SPF of 60 indicates that once that sunscreen is applied, it will take 60 more minutes for the sun to potentially cause damage to the skin than the amount of time it would take if the product was not used. While higher SPF sunscreens are intended to be more protective than lower SPF sunscreens, research has shown that individuals who use higher SPF sunscreens will spend more time in the sun and reapply less often. Dermatologists recommend reapplying sunscreen approximately every two hours while outdoors.
What does broad spectrum mean?
The colour of light is determined by its wavelength. There is a full electromagnetic spectrum of varying wavelengths, and visible light is only a portion of that spectrum. The section of the spectrum that is important in terms of skin damage is ultraviolet light. Ultraviolet, or UV light, ranges from 10 nanometers to 400 nanometers. The ultraviolet rays of the sun that penetrate the earth’s atmosphere are divided into two categories: UVA and UVB. Exposure to UVA rays can cause aging and wrinkles as they are able to travel deep within the layers of the skin. Exposure to UVB rays normally leads to sunburns. Both types of rays are responsible for the development of malignant and benign skin cancers. Generally, most sunscreens provide strong protection from UVB rays however, they are not always effective in protecting from UVA rays. Sunscreen products that are labeled as “broad-spectrum” indicate that those products offer proportional protection from UVA rays in relation to the protection from UVB rays. The FDA has developed a test that if passed, allows the product to be listed as a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
Types of Sunscreen
Mineral sunscreen is also often referred to as physical sunscreen. This type of sunscreen protects the skin by building a layer on top of the skin to reflect the rays of the sun. This reflective layer is developed using minerals such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. As there are individuals with many different skin types, physical or mineral sunscreen is a safe option, particularly for sensitive skin. It is moisturizing and causes less skin irritation. Due to its properties and mechanism, this type of sunscreen traditionally does not blend well, causing an effect on the appearance of the skin. To address this issue, recent mineral sunscreen products have added colour and matte characteristics for an improved appearance when applied.
Chemical sunscreen, unlike mineral sunscreen does not sit on the skin. Rather, it enters into the epidermis and absorbs ultraviolet rays of light from the sun that are exposed to the skin. Certain chemicals in the sunscreen such as oxybenzone, avobenzone, and octinoxate are responsible for converting the absorbed ultraviolet rays to heat. The heat is then released from the body. Dermatologists recommend a chemical sunscreen to individuals who are involved in physical activity or produce excessive sweat during the time of exposure to the sun. This type of sunscreen is also beneficial for those who are swimming or exposed to water due its water-resistant properties.
The skin is the largest organ in the human body and due to its anatomical location, it is important to protect the skin from environmental factors such as heavy sun exposure. Sunscreen is a vital tool for skincare, and it is important to understand how sunscreen works, the mechanisms and properties of various types of sunscreens with differing SPF levels and broad-spectrum characteristics.
Written by Shrishti Ahuja, MSc
Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. (n.d.). Questions and Answers: FDA announces new requirements for over-the-counter (OTC) sunscreen products marketed in the U.S.: FDA. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/drugs/understanding-over-counter-medicines/questions-and-answers-fda-announces-new-requirements-over-counter-otc-sunscreen-products-marketed-us
Harvey, D. (n.d.). The difference between physical and chemical sunscreen. Retrieved from https://www.piedmont.org/living-better/the-difference-between-physical-and-chemical-sunscreen
Vorvick, L. J. (2019, September 11). Sun’s effect on skin – Health Video: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/anatomyvideos/000125.htm
Wang, S. Q. (2019, August 19). Ask the Expert: Does a High SPF Protect My Skin Better? Retrieved from https://www.skincancer.org/blog/ask-the-expert-does-a-high-spf-protect-my-skin-better/
What is the difference between UVA and UVB rays? (2018, October 9). Retrieved from https://uihc.org/health-topics/what-difference-between-uva-and-uvb-rays
Image by chezbeate from Pixabay | <urn:uuid:51273074-0592-4d03-8fab-12bb3e0093c8> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | https://medicalnewsbulletin.com/how-does-sunscreen-work/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875143455.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20200217235417-20200218025417-00003.warc.gz | en | 0.919573 | 1,271 | 4 | 4 |
Most experts recommend that you go to your dentist for a check-up at least once every six months. These check-ups are important for you to maintain good oral hygiene. In this post, we’ll discuss what happens during a regular dental visit and how it can benefit you.
What happens during a check-up?
Besides checking for tooth decay, your dentist in Sydney will also perform a head and neck examination, examine your gums, and also check for signs of diabetes, vitamin deficiencies and oral cancer. Following this is the dental cleaning process. During this, dentists are especially attentive to plaque and tartar as these can build up in a very short time if oral hygiene is ignored. Plaque, if not removed, can harden your teeth and cause irritation in the gum tissue which can further lead to gum disease.
The Dental Examination
After the head and neck examination, where your dentist in Sydney CBD examines your face, neck, lymph nodes and lower jaw joints, he or she will conduct a thorough clinical dental examination which includes the following:
- Gum examination for signs of gum disease
- Checking for loose teeth
- Examining tissues inside the mouth
- Examining the tongue and bite
- Inspecting the teeth for signs of tooth decay
- Checking for broken teeth and damaged fillings
- Evaluating possible dental appliances
- Checking teeth contact
- Taking X-rays
During this stage, your dentist will check the cleanliness of your gums and teeth, remove plaque and tartar, polish and floss your teeth, and recommend any measures that you might have to take.
Author Bio: Melanie Stewart is a former dentist in Sydney CBD and writes about dental health and aesthetics. She also works with several health centres such as Premier Dental Sydney to offer her assistance in special cases. | <urn:uuid:e7dee562-e33e-48b1-bd8d-5d7e230bb17f> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | http://www.premierdentalsydney.com.au/dental-check-up/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934804125.49/warc/CC-MAIN-20171118002717-20171118022717-00174.warc.gz | en | 0.947618 | 372 | 2.75 | 3 |
Aaron Burr opens earliest predecessor firm
In September 1799, the Manhattan Company opened its doors at 40 Wall Street. The Bank of The Manhattan Company was the second commercial bank established in New York City.
In September 1799, The Bank of The Manhattan Company was established, becoming the second commercial bank formed in New York City.
The earliest predecessor of JPMorgan Chase, the Manhattan Company was founded by Aaron Burr in April of that year. Burr led a group of prominent New Yorkers, including Alexander Hamilton, in obtaining a charter from the New York State Legislature for a company to supply "pure and wholesome" water to the residents of New York City, whose inferior water was thought to be the cause of frequent epidemics of yellow fever.
The unusual charter included a clause allowing the company to employ its excess capital in any activity “not inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States.” This provision enabled the company to engage in banking activities. The establishment of The Bank of The Manhattan Company represented the end of the Federalist's banking monopoly in New York City. Within a few years, The Bank of The Manhattan Company was well established as a vital New York financial institution. | <urn:uuid:381dc1f7-29a1-4f28-bdcf-3355070d1406> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | https://www.jpmorgan.com/pages/jpmorgan/about/history/month/sept | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1394010216492/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305090336-00037-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955762 | 239 | 3.40625 | 3 |
. . . . .The ancient Egyptians called this
"The Place of Truth". It is a barren desert valley far from the land
of the living. Standing at the far end of the valley is the mountain
of Thebes, it creates a natural pyramid under which the pharaohs of
the 18th, 19th and 20th Dynasty came to seek their immortality.
. . . . .It contains more then 60 royal tombs from the New Kingdom. Some of Egypt's greatest rulers were buried here. They built wonderfully decorated tombs that were cut deeply into the valley floor and filled them with riches beyond our wildest imagination. Although efforts were made to protect these tombs from plunder the lore of this treasure was to great. The tombs made easy targets for robbers, their locations remembered long after their doors were sealed and the guards had left.
. . . . .It is rather ironic that the only tomb to have survived with it's treasure almost completely intact was that of a lesser known pharaoh, a mere boy who's deeds were probably forgotten shortly after his untimely death and quick burial. That boy was the young King Tutankhamen. The discovery of this tomb in 1922 by Howard Carter has dramatically changed the way we look at Ancient Egypt.
. . . . .For more then 70 years the valley has yielded nothing to compare with the magnitude of Howard Carters discovery. Until recently that is, in 1995 Dr. Kent Weeks decided to look once more at a tomb that had been thought to be unimportant and in poor condition. A tomb that was about to be lost to the world under the construction of a new parking lot. This tomb called KV5 (Kings Valley 5) has turned out to be a huge underground complex, both larger and more extensive then anyone dreamed. This was the tomb built for the 50 or more sons of Ramesses II. The work at KV5 is ongoing and discoveries are still being made, and once again the world looks to this desolate valley with anticipation. | <urn:uuid:74f79e19-9149-45c4-af39-89db77233889> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://egyptartsite.com/vk.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702447607/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110727-00084-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981091 | 413 | 2.578125 | 3 |
A Shuttle is a small, short range spacecraft carried by larger vessels. They are used when landing the carrier spacecraft is impractical. The life-support and interiors are designed to handle four passengers and they have the ability to break atmo from a wide orbit.
A passenger shuttle was a small utility starship that was used to ferry passengers or cargo from ship to planet. They were carried aboard larger vessels. | <urn:uuid:88d9ed07-570d-44e5-994b-529b3805178e> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | http://firefly.wikia.com/wiki/Shuttle | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320582.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20170625203122-20170625223122-00503.warc.gz | en | 0.983942 | 81 | 3.515625 | 4 |
■ the first person singular
Japanese has dozens of words for "I," but most are reserved for particular dialects, occupations or time periods. Still, in everyday conversation at least six words are commonly heard. (See top table below.)
Many of the words are variations or shortenings of the common わたし /watashi/.
Quite a few also mean "you," a fact which may seem puzzling at first. When the aspect of social status is taken into account for the choice of pronoun, it becomes less perplexing why, for example, a word used by men to refer to themselves might come to be used by women to also refer to men. (A modern example of this is 僕 /boku/.)
Using one's own name instead of a pronoun is not common, but it is not unheard of.
The table below is a general list of pronouns with links planned to individual pages for more details. The most common are given at top after which they are listed in 五十音図 (Japanese) order.
|私||watashi||The most versatile. Used almost exclusively by females as well as by males in polite and neutral speech. Acceptable in environments from formal to colloquial.|
|私||atashi||A female variant|
|僕||boku||Used mainly by younger males|
|俺||ore||Warning: Although 俺 is common in male speech, offense may be caused by use in an improper context.|
|自分||jibun||Also means "self"|
|あだし||From Sigma-section/Speak about Speech/971130|
|あっし||Used by artisans|
|おい||From Sigma-section/Speak about Speech/971130|
|己||おら||Used at least in the Akita dialect and by women in Ibaraki Prefecture|
|小生||しょうせい||Humble, used sometimes in business correspondence.|
|拙者||せっしゃ||Used by samurai when talking with social equals or inferiors.|
|朕||ちん||Used by the Emperor until the end of World War II|
|吾輩||わがはい||This term is familiar from the title of the 1905 novel 『吾輩は猫（ねこ）である』by 夏目漱石（なつめそうせき）, translated as "I am a Cat."|
This entry was created by Benjamin Barrett, with additional contributions by Paul Flint.
Created 2000-07-18. Typo corrected and 漱石 title added by PF 2000-07-24. Revised 2000-08-01 by BB with contributions from Maynard Hogg. | <urn:uuid:43bc74eb-8134-44d8-a808-92d124482efa> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | http://www.jekai.org/entries/aa/00/nq/aa00nq00.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187820556.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20171017013608-20171017033608-00218.warc.gz | en | 0.859729 | 633 | 3.578125 | 4 |
Book title “Egypt: An Economic Geography” Written by Fouad and Barbara Ibrahim. Ancient Egyptians established a unique culture and an unprecedented advanced civilization thousands of years ago. Before industrialization started in Europe, Egypt was well equipped to compete with its neighbours beyond the Mediterranean, but its current state of development is not easy to assess. In modern times it has fallen behind countries in other parts of the world in terms of development. It fits neither into the category of a developing country, nor into that of an industrialized one. Egypt’s economic and social characteristics provide contradictory indicators, some showing advancement, others the opposite. To read more download the complete book in pdf format. | <urn:uuid:7b3a9d8e-71fc-4690-bb7a-7065661584b3> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.pdfbooksfree.org/2012/01/egypt-economic-geography-by-fouad-and.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370504930.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20200331212647-20200401002647-00171.warc.gz | en | 0.924915 | 137 | 2.640625 | 3 |
A first wave of reconnaissance would identify enemies and jam radar signals. (Credit: DARPA) To rule the skies above future combat zones, the United States military is developing swarms of interconnected drones and missiles. The military’s research arm, the Defense Advanced Research Agency (DARPA), is developing what it’s calling a “system-of-systems,” or, more simply, technology that allows drones to deploy hordes of other drones that perform a series of functions to, in DARPA’s words, “impose asymmetric costs on adversaries.” In other words, destroy the target in unison.
How It Works
A video released by DARPA illustrates a hypothetical scenario showing how a “system-of-systems” approach works. When a human pilot flying an F-35 encounters enemy anti-aircraft missile launchers, he sends a signal to spur a drone mother ship into action. At a safe distance, the drone mother ship, basically a modified C-130 transport aircraft, launches three surveillance drones that make a beeline to the enemy.
Three drones work together to beam back information about an enemy's location, and blocks their radar signals. (Credit: DARPA) The first wave of drones gathers images and other data about the enemy, and they also work in unison to jam the enemy’s radar. The data collected is beamed back to the pilot, who, after confirming it’s an enemy, commands the mother ship to launch a pack of cruise missiles that speed toward the target. Essentially, the “system-of-systems” approach distributes reconnaissance and combat amongst a large number of unmanned vehicles to keep a pilot safe while also overwhelming the enemy with sheer numbers. DARPA envisions a mostly autonomous system that digests gathered data to give the pilot just enough to make a decision. The pilot basically plays the role of the middleman, initiating attack sequences or choosing another tactic based on the data received. DARPA announced the project late last month.
After receiving a signal from a human pilot, the drone "mothership" unloads a swarm of guided missiles. (Credit: DARPA)
The purpose of the “system-of-systems” approach is to build a combat system that is effective and cheap. Rather than develop more complex, highly expensive drones that can accomplish more functions, DARPA’s system relies on relatively simple, inexpensive drones that, when combined in swarms, get the job done effectively. DARPA’s project is still in the conceptual phase, but the agency would like to begin experimenting with this technology by 2017 and move to full-scale testing by 2019. The keys moving forward are to make the technology simple for pilots, and also ensure enemies can’t hack into its software. DARPA has already awarded contracts to Boeing, Lockheed Martin and others to develop “system-of-systems” capabilities. Although the agency hasn’t indicated this, one has to wonder whether DARPA’s quadruped robots might also fit into the “system-of-systems” approach. The thought of robotic shock troops converging from the ground and the sky is a strong impetus to give peace a chance. | <urn:uuid:987ed363-0bd0-400c-9ca9-7ce60e1076c6> | CC-MAIN-2020-34 | https://www.discovermagazine.com/technology/darpas-plan-to-overwhelm-enemies-with-swarming-drones | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-34/segments/1596439740733.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20200815065105-20200815095105-00429.warc.gz | en | 0.920069 | 672 | 3.265625 | 3 |
We had a great class today discussing questions students had on Skill Sheet #1. We also reviewed the format of how homework pages should be set up and expectations around complete answers and sentences.
See below for set up of the homework
Investigation 1.1 and 1.2 ACE Problems NAME: _______________
ACE # 1 - 3 p. 16 and 19 Date:
In the homework for tonight we see the first set of "Worked Problems." These problems can be identified because they placed in purple boxes. Answers are given and the students are asked to explain the mathematical thinking.
ACE #1-3 on pages 16-19 are homework for tonight. | <urn:uuid:1a54701c-7b94-4611-9f52-1533b4cda610> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | http://7thgrademathyarmouth.blogspot.com/2012/09/september-12th-class.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187824820.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20171021152723-20171021172723-00143.warc.gz | en | 0.95259 | 135 | 3.046875 | 3 |
The Ptolemaic system is distinguished not just by being geocentric, but also by its intricate system of epicycles.
The first point about the geocentric system is that it is practically useful. The mathematical calculations used by sailors for celestial navigation, being concerned with the sky as it appears from earth, are still geocentric.
When the Copernican system was invented in the Renaissance, it assumed that planets moved around the sun in circular orbits. This was actually wrong; it was less accurate in predicting planetary movement that the Ptolemaic system, which had planets moving around the earth in complex orbits consisting of a main circular orbit and tiny circles known as epicycles. It was not until Kepler revised the heliocentric system to account for planets moving in elliptical orbits that it actually became as accurate in predicting planetary movements as the Ptolemaic one. | <urn:uuid:8daa3b05-76c4-4a12-a9f5-f8875bfa9f06> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/what-three-arguments-favor-ptolemaic-earth-365716 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549423812.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20170721222447-20170722002447-00140.warc.gz | en | 0.981805 | 184 | 3.84375 | 4 |
What is an open standard?
Over the last several decades, open standards have become ever more important for a wide range of embedded and specialized computer applications, big and small.
What do we mean by an open standard? Definitions vary, but for the embedded computer world it usually means a succinct definition of everything a vendor needs to know to build equipment (and write software) that will work with compatible products offered by other vendors.
The first really impactful open standard was that of the IBM Personal Computer, first released in 1981. The ISA bus used therein was easy to understand, easy to design and build to, and it is fair to say there would not be the massive amount of powerful, inexpensive off-the-shelf hardware and software available today that exists for both personal and industrial computers without the hardware and software being open. The initial personal computer hardware wasn’t particularly rugged and didn’t need to be, so standards more suited for industrial, communications, transportation, and military applications emerged, including the first PCI-ISA, i.e. PICMG 1.0 standard, followed by SHB Express, CompactPCI, ATCA, MicroTCA, COM Express, VME, and a host of others.
One of the great values of an open standard is that it is not controlled by any single company, and the development and updating of these standards is controlled by a large group of interested parties working under the umbrella of an industry consortium using well defined and well tested processes.
Why use PICMG open standards?
Developers or vendors of PICMG compliant products may be large companies with broad technical skills or small organizations that are expert in a few areas only. Any vendor, large or small, can participate and profit from the large global ecosystem for these products.
Users benefit because they are not beholden to a single supplier, as is often the case when proprietary technologies are used. Suppliers of proprietary products know they own you and technology upgrades are often slow in coming and arriving. Users of open standards can pick and choose their vendors, who must compete on both price and performance continuously. With thousands of PICMG compliant products commercially available, users can change vendors if they want to and upgrade systems easily and efficiently.
Using PICMG open standards allows an equipment supplier to avoid having to design everything from scratch, and they can concentrate on the application specific portion of their product.
Click here to view the 2017 PICMG Brochure
How are open standards developed?
This is usually done through non-profit industry consortia like PICMG. These consortia have rules and procedures that facilitate the process, and they work hard to ensure that it is fair and equitable.
The process is fairly simple. Groups of individuals or companies who realize the power of open standards get together, rough out an idea, and then invite others that belong to the appropriate consortium to join in the detailed engineering work.
Why is PICMG a leading standards organization?
PICMG has over 150 member companies that bring an extremely wide and deep talent base to the table. Unlike some other consortia, PICMG is not controlled by one or a few companies. It is governed by the approximately 50 Executive Members. They approve processes, procedures, elect officers and approve budgets. PICMG maintains a one company-one-vote policy, so no single company can dominate the standards development process. In operation since 1994, PICMG technologies are used world-wide and our processes are open and transparent. PICMG also has one of the best – if not the best – Intellectual Property Policy that ensures that members must submit IP declarations throughout the standards development process, where they can be accepted for use or rejected. All PICMG members are bound by their membership to offer RAND (Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory) licensing for any IP that is chosen to be included. To date, no PICMG standard or specification requires any user licenses or royalties, and anyone can build equipment to or use PICMG standards whether they are members or not. PICMG is truly an open organization.
Why join PICMG?
By joining an organization like PICMG, anyone can play an important role. Participants have access to thought leaders in areas they or their company may lack expertise. They come to know experts in a wide range of engineering disciplines. The groups who develop these open standards do so because they are interested in getting something done in a finite amount of time, and bureaucracy and politics are kept to a minimum whenever possible. Members of these development groups have a common goal: to create standards that are widely used and that each company involved can make money from. Companies can specialize in their areas of expertise without needing to be good at everything. In addition to technical collaboration, business collaborations often evolve in a symbiotic way.
Companies who participate in standards development also have the very important advantage that they are already up to speed when the standard is released and can be first-to-market with compliant and leading edge products.
In its 20 plus years of operation, PICMG has published almost 50 open industry specifications that are part of nine basic standards families developed by participants from hundreds of companies. Work across a wide range of technologies continues and PICMG members have some big plans for the next decade as the boundaries of datacom, telecom, industrial, mil/aero, and deeply embedded computing blur. | <urn:uuid:7f958dfc-a93c-4da1-9e86-642dce7d05db> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | https://www.picmg.org/values-of-open-standards/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579251788528.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20200129041149-20200129071149-00277.warc.gz | en | 0.956673 | 1,112 | 3.234375 | 3 |
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Photo of the Day # 7: Capitol Columns Washington DC
No, this is not some ancient ruin in Italy or Greece. These Corinthian columns, also called the Capitol Columns, can be found in the National Arboretum Washington DC. But why are there columns standing in a park like this? Good question. These columns were originally intended for the US Capitol. They were made in 1828, but then the architects decided to make the dome of the US Capitol larger than in the original plan. Larger dome meant they needed larger columns to support the extra weight and the original columns became redundant.
It wasn’t until 1980 that the Capitol Columns found their final resting place at the Arboretum in Washington DC though. They were brought to the Arboretum by Ethel Garrett, who thought the 20 acre meadow would be a great setting for them. The Capitol Columns are really a cool sight and I highly recommend to check out the Arboretum. The park is huge and you can see all kinds of landscapes, from Bonsai Gardens to colorful Azaleas and Asian inspired retreats that make you think you are in Japan. It is absolutely beautiful there.
I went to the Arboretum for the first time last spring and it was absolutely stunning, especially the blooming Azaleas. Here is a little sneak peak, but if you want more photos, you have to check out my post 50 Shades of Pink.
Have you been to the Arboretum in Washington DC and seen the Capitol Columns? If you have the chance, go check it out. I know that I can’t wait to see this place in the fall, when all the leaves are changing colors or in the winter, when everything is draped in a white blanket of snow! | <urn:uuid:1b5f8edb-1733-4968-9373-755846c4543f> | CC-MAIN-2020-34 | https://mariaabroad.com/capitol-columns-washington-dc/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-34/segments/1596439735851.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20200804014340-20200804044340-00403.warc.gz | en | 0.95416 | 376 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Combined Heat and Power Partnership
Dry Mill Ethanol
- The CHP for Ethanol Facilities Fact Sheet summarizes the technical, economic, and environmental benefits of using CHP to provide electricity and steam for a dry mill ethanol production facility. Download a PDF version (4 pp, 275K) to print and share.
- EPA's CHP Partnership wrote an article for District Energy Magazine (PDF) (9 pp, 350K) that details innovative joint ownership CHP projects between ethanol facilities and local utilities.
- EPA's CHP Partnership team has conducted a preliminary evaluation of the ability of CHP systems to serve as VOC oxidizers for ethanol facilities. To learn more, download the white paper: Integration of VOC Destruction and CHP in the Ethanol Industry (PDF) (13 pp, 64K).
An Innovative Solution
An innovative partnership between an ethanol plant and rural electric utility is located near the city of Macon, Missouri, where a CHP system was built in 2003. A partnership was forged between the Macon Municipal Utilities (which purchased a natural gas-fired 10 MW combustion turbine) and Northeast Missouri Grain, LLC (which built the CHP system's housing and control building).
Each organization pays for half of the cost of the natural gas that powers the turbine. The project supplies 10 MW of electricity to the utility at 50 percent lower natural gas costs than traditional generation capacity. The project provides nearly 60 percent of the plant's steam needs for ethanol production, while reducing its natural gas costs by 20 percent per year.
The CHP project requires approximately 25 percent less fuel than the typical system of onsite boilers and purchased electricity, and based on this comparison, reduces CO2 emissions by an estimated 30,200 tons per year. EPA recognized the energy and environmental benefits of this project by presenting Macon Municipal Utilities with a 2007 ENERGY STAR® CHP Award.
Analysis by the EPA's Combined Heat and Power (CHP) Partnership shows a strong technical fit for CHP in ethanol facilities and a potential reduction of approximately 15 percent in the energy intensity of dry mill ethanol production. Given the massive construction activity in this sector, the time is right to integrate CHP into new and expanding dry mill ethanol facilities and to ensure that CHP is part of the base design for future cellulosic ethanol biorefineries.
CHP can be a compelling application for ethanol production facilities because:
- Energy is the second highest cost of production.
- Electric and steam demands are large and coincident. For a 15 to 50 million gallon per year (MGY) facility:
- Typical power demand is 2 to 6 megawatts (MW).
- Typical steam use is 40,000 to 150,000 pounds per hour (lb/hr).
- Electric and steam profiles are relatively flat.
- Facilities usually run 24 hours per day, seven days per week.
As of May 2008, more than 145 dry mill ethanol plants are operational in the United States, with a total capacity of approximately 8,500 MGY, and an additional 61 plants are under construction or are undergoing an expansion, with a collective capacity of approximately 5,000 MGY. EPA has been providing outreach and technical assistance to the ethanol industry for the past five years to raise awareness and assist ethanol developers in implementing CHP. Seventeen dry mill ethanol plants now use CHP to generate steam and electricity reliably and efficiently on site; another seven are under construction.
A variety of CHP system configurations are available for dry mill ethanol facilities:
- Boiler/Steam Turbine CHP: Proven technology fired by solid fuel, including coal, biomass, or cofiring. Sized for thermal loads, may limit electrical production. If coal-fired, may pose permitting challenges.
- Gas Turbine CHP: Requires supplemental steam when the turbine is sized to meet the facility's electric load. By adding supplemental firing to the system, it can be sized to meet electric and thermal loads.
- Biomass CHP With Gasification: Least expensive fuel, but the technology is capital-intensive and still being commercialized. Considered "green" electricity if sold; tax credits could be available.
- Integrated Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Destruction: Produces power with steam from thermal oxidizer or incorporates VOC destruction in turbine or boiler systems; can minimize compliance costs.
- Ethanol/Utility Partnerships: Public power companies and rural electric cooperatives are engaging in joint CHP ownership arrangements with ethanol facilities as thermal hosts in states including North Dakota, Missouri, and Kansas. For details on these win-win projects, see the CHP Partnership's article in District Energy Magazine (PDF), (8 pp, 118K).
The Partnership works closely with The Midwest CHP Application Center to promote CHP in ethanol plants. The Midwest CHP Application Center has developed a number of case studies for CHP at ethanol plants.
The CHP Partnership has presented at numerous workshops and conferences to promote CHP at ethanol plants.
- 2006 Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo, June 2006 (PDF) (14 pp, 171K) describes the voluntary CHP Partnership, depicts typical CHP efficiency for ethanol plants, and outlines a business case for incorporating CHP into the ethanol industry. Includes calculations describing potential fuel savings for natural gas-fired ethanol plants.
- Governors' Ethanol Coalition, February 2006 (PDF) (16 pp, 692K) describes CHP for the ethanol industry; outlines CHP basics and the technology's efficiency and environmental benefits; and features the Russell, Kansas, ethanol plant and its partnership with a local municipal utility.
- Sixth International Decentralized Energy and Cogeneration Conference and Exhibition, October 2005 (PDF) (40 pp, 1.3 MB) outlines the growth in the ethanol industry, including the effect the Renewable Fuels Standard will have on the industry, and how CHP can generate significant cost savings for ethanol production plants. CHP technology and system options are also described.
- Governors' Ethanol Coalition, March 2005 (PDF), (26 pp, 521K) supplies information on the ethanol industry and how CHP is an excellent fit for ethanol businesses. Also includes diagrams and descriptions of CHP technology options appropriate for installation at ethanol plants. Briefly describes some of the policies that states can adopt to improve adoption of CHP by the ethanol industry. | <urn:uuid:72e0f6cc-57fd-4e97-b156-c7f242d0c8b1> | CC-MAIN-2014-23 | http://epa.gov/chp/markets/ethanol.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1405997894275.63/warc/CC-MAIN-20140722025814-00140-ip-10-33-131-23.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.914593 | 1,315 | 2.5625 | 3 |
One of my Sunday morning routines is to scroll through Twitter… scanning the posts of the people that I follow – many of whom work in education all over the world. Yesterday, I kept coming back to this graphic – and found myself wondering, “What would the school day look like, if these questions drove the agenda?” – I won’t pretend to know how to organize a day, with 31 different learners (I include myself in that number), all with different goals and interests, strengths and needs, levels of maturity and self-regulation – all pursuing their own agendas, but I do wonder if it would work – would everyone learn? be engaged, on-task, & motivated? What do students need to effectively direct their own learning?
A great search engine that allows students to do internet searches from three unique levels: elementary, middle school, high school. It is Britannica Schools. When at school students can get in anytime. At home, they can use the Login:avonmait and the PW: avon3028. Also has a read-to-me feature.
I had the chance to chat with Mr. Connolly of Stratford Central SS. He showed me this amazing project he put together last year with several other teachers (Dave Bond, Tony Theodoropoulos and Stuart Wilson). They received some funding from the Ontario Teachers’ Federation and came up with this very cool design for a mobile sound booth. It comes in very handy in our NGL classrooms, with all the multimedia work being created by students.
An interesting addition to the discussion on the use of devices in the classroom.
There are a wide variety of teaching strategies that support student success. Each of these strategies is designed to help students achieve and build essential learning skills. Some examples include: purposeful feedback, promoting self-regulation, making learning collaborative, offering inquiry-based tasks and explicitly teaching thinking strategies.
These approaches are proven to help students make real progress over the course of their education. So, with all these robust strategies, why bring iPads into the mix? The answer to this question, is that mobile technology amplifies each one of these teaching strategies, making them even more powerful.
For example, mobile technology makes providing feedback more dynamic. Text and audio feedback can be provided outside the regular school hours. Online tools allow feedback to be interactive and sharable. Technology helps to promote self-regulation by providing students with organizational tools like digital calendars, reminders, alarms and online notifications. Using these tools, students can learn to better manage themselves, and the rhythm of projects, assignments, testing and deadlines. Digital technology provides students with virtual collaborative spaces. Blogs, shared documents and online meetings offer forums to practice and build collaborative skills.
Technology can also support inquiry-based approaches to learning. With access to the internet, students have the collected knowledge of human history at their finger tips. When engaged by rich questions and guided by their teacher, this combination provides a powerful learning opportunity. With regard to thinking strategies, technology doesn’t teach students how to think. It does, however, provide tools through which students can make their own thinking more visible. Multimedia platforms allow teachers and students to differentiate their presentations and reach a wider audience.
iPads, by themselves, are simply devices. But when linked to good teaching strategies, this technology can amplify the reach and impact of teachers. In this way, iPads become a great way to support and magnify student achievement.
Yesterday, I was privileged to be part of a very sweet exchange, via the “chat” window in Showbie, with one of my Grade 4 students. This wasn’t a ground-breaking conversation, no breakthroughs or major discoveries were made… it was just, as the speech bubbles on our respective screens suggested, a “chat” – but it brought home to me how technology facilitates student-teacher communication, and helps us build relationships with the kids in our classrooms.
Allow me to set the stage for the conversation shared in the screenshot below: As we prepare to dig deeper into problems that require multiplication and division of whole numbers, my Grade 4’s have been working on mastering times-table facts. Many of them have met the challenge head on, drilling their multiplication tables whenever they have a spare moment, playing card games that require them to master the facts, and they are enjoying seeing their efforts result in increased speed and accuracy.
On Tuesday evening, knowing I was going to be away at a meeting on Wednesday morning, I sent each student a brief note in his/her Showbie account, commenting on their progress and making some suggestions for next steps. There’s a strong element of “cheerleading” in my message – which is intentional – multiplication facts are not, by their nature, very exciting…. I’m doing my best to pump them up 🙂
The child whose “voice” is featured in the screenshot below started texting me, via her Showbie account, about the work she was doing at school, while she was in class in Stratford Wednesday morning, and I was in a meeting room at the Education Centre.
This is a conversation that likely would not have occurred face-to-face at school – the classroom is too busy, the day too full of activity, sometimes, to allow for exchanges like this one. Also, this child would not likely have said to me, in person, the things she said in the text messages. In the past when I’ve commented positively on something she’s achieved, or praised her efforts, she shyly ducks her head, gives me a smile, and whispers “Thanks”. But communicating via text on our iPads gave her a degree of confidence she sometimes lacks in face-to-face conversations – allowing her to say things like “I’m really proud of myself!”
Here’s part of the exchange. Since Showbie chat windows order themselves from most recent to least recent, I cut & pasted them in the order that I actually received them, so that you could read from top to bottom, instead of bottom to top.
I am really enjoying the many ways in which technology allows me to communicate with my students, and finding it helps build relationships, especially with the somewhat quieter, more reserved kids who are less likely to work to get my attention at school. No matter how important I understand it to be, and how much I try to spend time with everyone, I know that I don’t converse with every child as much as I should… technology doesn’t replace face-to-face conversation, but it helps fill a gap.
For you Google lovers out there, here are a couple of very cool tools to make your Google experience even “Googlier”. (is that even a word).
Synergyse training is a built-in help desk for every Google App you are visiting. A small icon shows up in the top right corner of every Google page you are on. (Calendar, Search, Mail etc.)
iChrome is your customizable Google Home Page. You can add your email, your calendar, a news feed, the weather……to create a one-stop-shop page.
This organization seems to be a great fit with many of the socially-responsible, forward-thinking activities taking place in classrooms across our Board. Enactus Canada…” is shaping generations of entrepreneurial leaders who are passionate about advancing the economic, social and environmental health of Canada.
As a national charity and a global network, we apply our passions, talents and ideas to impact individual lives. We work side-by-side with people to create opportunity through our community projects and student entrepreneurs so every person and community we touch is empowered to live up to their fullest potential.”
Check it out through the link above.
There are three things that technology does well in the classroom. Just three.
The first is communication. Most people would admit that technology has been an important factor in modern communication. The telegraph, the telephone and other devices have provided the means to get connected to people around the globe. The quality of those communications are up to the participants, but the tools work.
In classrooms, this means that teachers and students can communicate with each other in powerful ways. Teachers can gather student work, their ideas, their understanding, both quickly and accurately. Students can collaborate in class and from separate homes. Other teachers can be accessed online and a world of information is at everyone’s fingertips.
It should be noted that, at this point in time, computers are not very good at complex communications. Understanding the nuances of human interactions is currently beyond machines. Emotion, passion, and the illogical behaviours of people are not understandable. They just don’t compute. Fortunately for employed teachers, students are always ready with emotions and illogical behaviours.
The second thing technology is good at is engaging students. The power of technology often lies in its ability to draw in the user. Users feel the power of the tool and revel at what they are able to do with the tool in their hands. This can be a well-balanced paintbrush or a new iPad. The hook is the places you can get to, once the tool is in your hand.
Our students are engaged as soon as they hear the iPads are on the way. They see iPads as fun. They think about games, and online searches. They think about being successful and exploring topics of interest. The teacher can be an important guide in this process.
Teachers can use this engagement in the tool to facilitate an engagement with the curriculum. Students need to see that the real engagement comes from the creations they make and the new learning they can accomplish. I often tell teachers that we never put the artist’s tools on the wall, just their art.
Technology can bring kids into the classroom in a new way. It gives them new tools to explore and create. With a little direction, the tool quietly disappears and the content comes alive.
The third thing technology can do is build creative spaces. This includes creative classrooms and digital spaces.
From ancient Greece to modern times, the place where people learn has always benefited from technology. From drawing with a shaped stick to the iPad, creative spaces are supported by technology. Mobile technology has asked we make changes to the physical setup of our classrooms. This has included changing libraries into learning commons. Further, the classroom has been rearranged to suit digital learning.
Desks are on wheels. Tables are replacing desks. Video booths and green-screens are popping up. Teachers are recycling their old desks and moving out into student spaces. Having one-to-one, mobile, connected, digital tools is reshaping our ideas about classrooms.
The modern classroom also benefits from virtual spaces. Students can write, video, draw and express their creativity in an online environment. These “digital workshops” allow students new tools and spaces to be creative. I find that digital spaces allow students to express themselves in novel ways. They fly through Minecraft worlds of their own creation. They publish words for a global audience. The digital spaces seem to be without-end.
In the end, people make a classroom. Their complex, nuanced relationships allow for learning. The emotions and illogical behaviour are just part of the learning that takes place.
Technology does three things in a classroom. Just three. | <urn:uuid:35bdefbe-0133-4755-9fd9-bc8a131b65af> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | http://edublog.amdsb.ca/ngl/page/2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934807344.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20171124085059-20171124105059-00670.warc.gz | en | 0.96155 | 2,349 | 3.203125 | 3 |
- Careers & Salaries
An accountant is a business professional that assists an organization with bookkeeping, payroll, budgeting, and taxes. Accounting professionals at the entry level typically manage budgets, process invoices, and create balance sheets and income statements. Upper-level positions with executive responsibilities, such as lead controllers, often oversee entire departments of accountants.
Employers that hire accountants typically require an undergraduate degree in accounting or higher (such as an undergraduate degree in business administration and a master of science in accounting). In some countries, accountants must hold additional certifications and licenses. For example, in the U.S., most upper-level accounting positions require that professionals are "Certified Public Accountants" or hold a "CPA." Some bachelor's and master's degree programs will provide students with a CPA. Other times, students are required to obtain these types of certifications on their own in addition to their degree.
According to a variety of industry growth reports, accounting will be one of the most demanded fields in business in the coming years. For example, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment growth is expected to increase faster than average between 2008 and 2018.
Average Accountant Salaries
Additional Resources for Accounting Students
Start Here Go Places
A website by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants that specifically discusses careers in accounting in the United States.
Average monthly salaries for accountants from a variety of countries. | <urn:uuid:8a55f55e-4a95-4919-acaa-655cd885363f> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | http://bestbizschools.aacsb.edu/undergraduate/careers-and-salaries/accountants.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187821017.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20171017091309-20171017111309-00563.warc.gz | en | 0.93966 | 299 | 3.046875 | 3 |
This tank paper model is designed by Rawen. The scale of this papercraft is 1:100. Panzerkampfwagen VIII Maus (Panzer VIII Maus) was a German World War II super-heavy tank completed in late 1944. It is the heaviest fully enclosed armoured fighting vehicle ever built. Only two hulls and one turret were completed before the testing grounds were captured by the advancing Soviet forces.
These two prototypes (one with, one without turret) underwent trials in late 1944. The complete vehicle was 10.2 metres (33 ft 6 in) long, 3.71 metres (12 ft 2 in) wide and 3.63 metres (11.9 ft) tall. Weighing 200 metric tons, the Maus’s main armament was a 128 mm KwK 44 gun (55 calibers long barrel), based on the 12.8 cm Pak 44 anti-tank artillery piece already in use in the casemate-style Jagdtiger tank destroyer, with a coaxial 75 mm gun. The 128 mm gun was powerful enough to destroy all enemy armored fighting vehicles at close or medium ranges, and even some at ranges exceeding 3500 meters.
The principal problem in development of the Maus was finding a powerful enough engine for its weight that could be carried in the tank. Though the design called for a maximum speed of 20 kilometres per hour (12 mph), no engine was found that could power the prototype to more than 13 kilometres per hour (8.1 mph) under ideal conditions. The weight also made it impossible to cross most bridges; it was intended to ford or submerge and use a snorkel to cross rivers.
You can download this tank paper model from here: WWII Panzer VIII Maus Tank Paper Model Free Download
For this paper model, we recommend that you use the material (Paper, Paint, Glue, etc.) to make. Here are Great Deals, and here are 100s of card making ideas. There is FREE sewing patterns that you may need. | <urn:uuid:00a27ae9-2cfb-4e3b-9112-1dd1c39ca756> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.papercraftsquare.com/wwii-panzer-viii-maus-tank-paper-model-free-download.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702718570/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111158-00066-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954407 | 411 | 2.953125 | 3 |
The Lifesaver bottle is a portable water purification device. Designed by Michael Pritchard, the bottle filters out objects larger than 15 nanometres. The bottle has been used by people hit by disasters to create safe drinking water or while camping. It is also used by impoverished people around the world to make safe drinking water.
The bottle’s interchangeable filter can purify between 4,000 and 6,000 litres (1,050 to 1,585 gallons). It filters out objects bigger than 15 nanometres—including viruses, bacteria, and heavy metals. The carbon filter does not require chemicals. The process of filtering the water takes 20 seconds, allowing for 0.71 litres (1.5 pints) of water to be filtered. Once a filter has reached its limit, it will not allow contaminated water to be drunk. The Livesaver bottle has been used by soldiers for drinking water as well as cleaning wounds.
To filter the water, one puts contaminated water in the back of the bottle, then screws the lid on. The lid has a built in pump which is operated manually with a hand, the pumping action forces the contaminated water through the nano-filter and safe drinking water collects in another chamber in the bottle. The drinker then opens the top of the bottle from which safe drinking water comes out.
A much larger version of the Lifesaver bottle, called the Lifesaver Jerrycan, has the same filtering technology. The can allows for the filtration of 10,000 to 20,000 litres (2,650 to 5,300 gallons). One jerrycan filter can provide water for four people over a three-year span. | <urn:uuid:bf261276-b32e-4e46-915e-28706b1e7c0f> | CC-MAIN-2013-48 | http://goldchipinvest.com/?m=201205 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-48/segments/1386163037167/warc/CC-MAIN-20131204131717-00065-ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951145 | 341 | 2.828125 | 3 |
In today’s world, agreements play a crucial role in various aspects of our lives. From professional settings to personal transactions, having a clear and legally binding agreement is essential. In this article, we will explore different types of agreements and their significance.
Aeses Collective Agreement
One example of an important agreement is the Aeses Collective Agreement. This agreement ensures fair and equitable conditions for the employees covered under it. It outlines the rights, responsibilities, and benefits for both parties involved, providing a framework for a harmonious working relationship.
Free Printable Auto Lease Agreement
When it comes to leasing a vehicle, having a comprehensive agreement is crucial. You can find a free printable auto lease agreement that helps protect both the lessor and the lessee. This agreement clearly outlines the terms and conditions of the lease, such as payment schedules, maintenance responsibilities, and mileage limits.
Sama Agreement to Adjust
In some cases, parties may need to make adjustments to an existing agreement. The Sama Agreement to Adjust provides a framework for modifying the terms and conditions of an agreement. This allows parties to address changes in circumstances or unexpected events without the need to create an entirely new agreement.
Service Level Agreement Ziggo
In the realm of service providers, having a service level agreement (SLA) is essential. For instance, Ziggo, a popular internet service provider, outlines its commitment to its customers through a service level agreement. This agreement sets the expectations for service quality, uptime, and support, ensuring a satisfactory experience for customers.
Architectural Contract Agreement Sample Philippines
When engaging in architectural projects, having a solid agreement in place is crucial. A sample architectural contract agreement in the Philippines provides a template for architects and clients to define their responsibilities, scope of work, and payment terms. This agreement protects the interests of both parties and helps ensure a smooth and successful project.
Vendor and Contract Management Training Course Malaysia
For professionals involved in vendor and contract management, gaining the necessary skills and knowledge is important. Taking a vendor and contract management training course in Malaysia can provide individuals with the expertise to effectively handle vendor relationships, negotiate contracts, and ensure compliance. This training helps optimize vendor performance and mitigate risks associated with contracts.
Is a Verbal Agreement Legally Binding in PA?
While written agreements are generally preferred, there are instances where verbal agreements come into play. However, it’s important to understand the legal implications of such agreements. In Pennsylvania, for example, individuals may wonder, «Is a verbal agreement legally binding in PA?» This article explores the legal framework surrounding verbal agreements in Pennsylvania.
Facilities Management Agreement Template
When managing facilities, having a well-defined agreement is crucial. A facilities management agreement template provides a comprehensive structure for both the facility manager and the client. This agreement covers areas such as maintenance, repairs, emergency protocols, and financial arrangements, ensuring a smooth operation of the facility.
IATA Standard Line Maintenance Agreement
The aviation industry relies on agreements to maintain safety and operational efficiency. The IATA Standard Line Maintenance Agreement sets the standards for line maintenance activities between airlines and maintenance service providers. This agreement ensures compliance with industry regulations and promotes a consistent and reliable line maintenance process.
Law of Contract Act (Cap 23 PDF)
The legal framework surrounding agreements varies from country to country. In some jurisdictions, specific laws govern contracts. For example, in Singapore, the Law of Contract Act (Cap 23 PDF) provides a comprehensive guide to contract law. Understanding the legal principles outlined in this act is crucial for individuals and businesses engaging in contractual agreements in Singapore. | <urn:uuid:fee510a1-333a-477b-86eb-174ee90d737e> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://goreal.cr/es/the-importance-of-agreements-from-collective-agreements-to-auto-lease-agreements/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100710.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20231208013411-20231208043411-00217.warc.gz | en | 0.910802 | 730 | 2.609375 | 3 |
- A Healthy Diet Can Lower the Risk of Hearing Loss - June 11, 2020
- Communication At Work | May is Better Hearing and Speech Month! - May 14, 2020
- Common Excuses for Not Buying Hearing Aids - April 17, 2020
The National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) has reported that are nearly 30 million people in the United States who are deaf or hard of hearing. Some 15% of all Americans, across the entire age spectrum, are experiencing difficulties hearing—approximately two out of every 1,000 children are born with some form of hearing loss in one or both of their ears. Because there are so many people experiencing hearing loss, it is very important to understand how it is connected to a range of issues; namely, how people with untreated hearing loss can face serious mental and emotional decline. Knowing the relationships between hearing loss and social anxiety, in particular, may go a long way in helping people with untreated hearing loss feel more socially connected.
Our abilities to hear are intimately connected to our cognitive and emotional well-being: our hearing shapes how we feel connected to ourselves, to our loved ones, and to our surroundings. Untreated hearing loss of course makes it difficult for people to communicate with friends, loved ones, and coworkers. When left untreated, hearing loss, mixed with disconnection, can make people feel socially isolated, can make them feel overwhelmingly anxious to be in group settings, and can make going to work feel impossible. This is sometimes because hearing in complicated sound environments is very difficult: having conversations in restaurants, in large groups, and generally in places where there are multiple and overlapping sounds can exacerbate already difficult hearing scenarios.
Links Between Hearing Loss & Mental Health
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg recently conducted a study on how hearing loss affects people’s personalities and moods and they found that, when left untreated, hearing loss can affect people’s moods in subtle and sometimes drastic ways. They published a study in the Journal of Personality that was comprised of 400 people who were between 80 and 98 years old. They followed these study participants for six years, closely monitoring their physical and mental abilities every two years. The researchers found that people with increasing hearing levels became less outgoing over time.
Anne Ingeborg Berg, PhD, is a licensed psychologist, and was one of the lead researchers on the study. Regarding the study, she noted that, “To our knowledge, this is the first time a link between hearing and personality changes has been established in longitudinal studies.” She followed up by saying that, “Surprisingly, we did not find that declining overall health and functional capacity make people less outgoing. But hearing loss directly affects the quality of social situations. If the perceived quality of social interaction goes down, it may eventually affect whether and how we relate to others.”
Treating Hearing Loss
Treating hearing loss in order to remain more socially connected has another, hidden effect: slowing down the possibility of cognitive decline. Studies have been conducted linking untreated hearing loss to anxiety and depression, but also very serious cognitive issues such as dementia and Alzheimer’s Disease, in particular. So, while treating hearing loss can work wonders for people wanting to feel more connected to the people and environments that they engage in every day, it can also frankly save your life.
People with hearing loss can also take steps to alert people around them that they have unique hearing needs—they may need to be spoken to in one ear over the other, or they may simply need to have important conversations in quiet settings with no background noise. The conversations and treatment plan that one can have around hearing health can be critically important to improving a person’s mood in the short and long term. Beginning the conversation about what your community can do to help you feel more socially engaged and connected will often simply lead to more social engagement and connection.
Treating hearing loss with hearing aids is a safe and easy way to amplify the hearing already present. The first step is to visit us at Elite Hearing for a hearing test and then determining the care path that is best. Our team at Elite Hearing can fit you with a hearing aid, help you make tough decisions regarding your hearing needs and what styles might be best for you, and the pros and cons of a variety of hearing aid devices. | <urn:uuid:296f05f5-8da9-42d7-a4bf-bc13481e88bb> | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | https://elitehearing.com/blog/hearing-loss-helps-you-stay-socially-connected/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593657134758.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20200712082512-20200712112512-00541.warc.gz | en | 0.966029 | 885 | 2.984375 | 3 |
- Legislative Wrapup
- Track Education-Related Bills
- Sign Up for Email Updates
- How to Write a Letter to the Editor
- Who is My Legislator?
- Members of the Texas House
- Members of the Texas Senate
- FAQs on Texas Legislature
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- Information About the Capitol
- Contribute to TSTA-PAC
- Upgrade TSTA-PAC Contribution
- Watch the Action in the House
- Watch the Action in the Senate
How to Write a Letter to the Editor
Be a Voice of the People
Short and Sweet
Most newspapers prefer letters that are closer to 200 words than to 600. Keep sentence structures simple. Ideal paragraphs are from 50-80 words long. Stay away from using words with three or more syllables when a one or two syllable word applies. Instead of saying, “The Congressman supported the bill to propitiate his constituents,” say “The Congressman supported the bill to please his constituents.” And stay away from “edu-jargon.” Not everyone knows what NCLB or ESEA is.
Focus, Focus, Focus
Concentrate your letter into one distinct argument. With so little space to work, presenting a strong central concern and sticking with it throughout the letter is important. Jumping from one argument to the next will either make it impossible to contain your thoughts in the space allowed or weaken your main point. Newspapers may edit the small things, but they won’t restructure your entire entry.
Don’t Live in the Past
While Letters to the Editor don’t provide breaking news, they are intended to be a forum to discuss relevant topics. This means you must address an issue others are thinking about. While you may feel that the intricacies of the Iran Contra Scandal need to be discussed further, most people have moved on. Think about what you have been reading about in the newspapers. Try and refer to specific articles when making your point and remember that journalists have egos too. Compliment them on some part of the article or editorial before taking issue with a particular part of it.
Large newspapers like the New York Times and the Washington Post receive hundreds of letters a week, while smaller papers have to beg for letters. For every New York Times, there is a Rock Creek Current and Allentown Morning Call waiting for you to write them.
Act Like a Pro
Always type letters and make sure they are sent with care. Adhere to good writing practices: avoid the passive voice, use colorful verbs, and keep acronyms sparse. And above all else, be sure to spell check and proofread your letter.
Tell Them Who You Are
Include important contact information, including your phone number, when sending your letter and mention your position and the school where you work, as well.. Many newspapers will call to verify information before printing a letter. While only your name and city is usually printed, providing additional information is key.
Don’t Go Overboard
While passion will get printed, extremism will not. The purpose of the Letter to Editor is for the reader to express his or her opinion. Editors appreciate this when it is done with assurance, intelligence and reason. However, when the reader offers unbarred emotion, radical ideas or viciously attacks another person, most editors will reject the letter. | <urn:uuid:3f3365d8-e7ea-4a26-bc44-4fafa729fdff> | CC-MAIN-2014-23 | http://www.tsta.org/issues-and-action/take-action-at-the-state-level/how-write-letter-editor | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1406510264270.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20140728011744-00472-ip-10-146-231-18.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.917736 | 700 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Monkey Brush, also known as Combretum rotundifolium, is a climbing vine or shrub that is native to Africa, but is also cultivated as an ornamental plant in other parts of the world.
The plant produces large, showy clusters of flowers that are shaped like a brush or bottle, with a narrow opening at the end. The flowers come in shades of red, orange, and yellow, and bloom in the summer and fall. The plant also produces small, round, black fruit that are eaten by birds.
Monkey Brush can grow up to 20 feet in height and is a fast-growing plant. It is a woody vine that can be trained to climb on trellises or fences, or can be pruned into a shrub. It prefers full sun to partial shade and well-drained soil.
In addition to its ornamental value, Monkey Brush has a number of traditional medicinal uses. The plant has been used in Africa to treat a variety of ailments, including fever, headache, and digestive problems. The leaves and stem of the plant contain tannins and other compounds that have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
It should be noted that Monkey Brush can be invasive in some areas and is considered a noxious weed in some parts of the world. Gardeners should check with local authorities before planting Monkey Brush to ensure that it is not a threat to the local ecosystem. | <urn:uuid:49ea793b-55cd-481e-a775-3c677fd3b620> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://ivyparadiseplant.com/product/monkey-bush-plant/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233506045.12/warc/CC-MAIN-20230921210007-20230922000007-00679.warc.gz | en | 0.961641 | 290 | 3.296875 | 3 |
miércoles, 14 de octubre de 2009
GENETICA Y EVOLUCION
THE HISTORY OF LIFE ON EARTH
Life started out small perhaps 3.8 billion years ago and stayed that way for a long time. Eventually it exploded into a multitude of forms that came to include human beings.
By manipulating the information contained in DNA, scientists are raising hopes -and some fears- on a grand scale.
COMMON DESCENT WITH MODICATION
One of these principles has been labeled common descent with modification.
It holds that particular groups, or species, of living can undergo modification in successive generations, with such change something resulting in the formation of new, separate species- one species separating further. If you hand o videotape of this "branching" of species and then ran it backward, what you´d eventually see is a reduccion of all these branches into one, meaning that all living things on Earth ultimately are descend from single, ancient ancestor.
Publicado por CASTRO MACHA , GUSTAVO CARLOS. Founder - Principal en 12:55 | <urn:uuid:4ef9f467-b624-415d-9d5d-988558c570b3> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | http://biocharliecastro.blogspot.com/2009/10/genetica-y-evolucion.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187828411.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20171024105736-20171024125736-00705.warc.gz | en | 0.852912 | 228 | 2.984375 | 3 |
Iterative methods in research have become increasingly important in recent years, particularly in the field of Design Science Research (DSR) and the Delphi Method. These methods allow for developing and refining artifacts or models through iteration, reflection, and revision. Not enough researchers theorize as fully as they could. This section will provide an overview of iterative methods, including the DSR and Delphi Method, and discuss the theory’s role in initial artifact or model development.
In initial artifact or model development, theory serves as a guide for researchers. Theories provide a framework for understanding the problem and can help identify potential solutions. Current theories are often used as a starting point for developing initial artifacts or models. However, there are challenges associated with using current theories for this purpose. These theories may not fully capture the complexity of real-world problems or may be limited by their assumptions.
The aim of this blog post is to explore how iterative methods can be used to enhance theoretical advancements based on DSR or Delphi Method. Through iterative developments and reflection on changes made during the process, we can identify areas for improvement while also relating changes back to original theories to determine their effectiveness.
We can advance theory production by synthesizing findings from iterative developments while developing a refined theoretical framework that addresses identified gaps/limitations. This is particularly important for Ph.D. students seeking to contribute significantly to their field through original research.
DSR and Delphi Method are two examples of how iterative methods can be applied in research settings. DSR involves creating innovative solutions to real-world problems by designing new artifacts or systems. At the same time, Delphi Method uses expert opinions to refine ideas over multiple rounds until a consensus is reached.
In conclusion, this section has introduced the importance of iterative methods in research and provided an overview of Design Science Research (DSR) and the Delphi Method. It has also discussed the role that theory plays in initial artifact or model development and outlined the aim of the blog post to explore how theoretical advancements can be made based on iterative methods used in DSR and Delphi Method. In the following sections, we will delve deeper into each aspect of this process and provide practical strategies for enhancing theoretical frameworks.
Initial Artifact or Model Development Based on Theory
The development of artifacts or models is an essential step in the research process, as it helps researchers to identify and test theories. In this section, we will explore the role of theory in guiding the development of initial artifacts or models. We will also discuss the challenges and limitations of using current theories for artifact or model development.
Current theories are crucial in guiding initial artifact or model development, as they provide a foundation for researchers to build their work. By using existing theories, researchers can ensure that their work is grounded in established knowledge and can be easily compared to other studies in the field.
However, some limitations are associated with using current theories for artifact or model development. One challenge is that existing theories may not always be applicable to new research questions. Additionally, gaps in current knowledge may require researchers to develop new theories.
Furthermore, developing an initial artifact based on current theory may result in a ‘best case’ scenario bias. Researchers may only consider scenarios that align with their chosen theory and ignore other potential outcomes.
Despite these challenges, several examples of successful initial artifacts or model developments are based on current theories. For instance, previous research has utilized social cognitive theory to develop interventions promoting physical activity among older adults (Chapman et al., 2016).
To overcome these challenges and limitations associated with using current theories for artifact or model development, iterative methods such as DSR and Delphi Method can be utilized. These methods involve refining artifacts through multiple iterations while considering feedback from experts in the field.
Iterative developments allow researchers to identify areas for improvement while incorporating new variables/moderators into theoretical frameworks. The iterative process also involves reflection on changes made during each iteration, leading to further robustness improvements within theoretical frameworks.
In conclusion, a theory is essential in guiding initial artifact or model development. While challenges and limitations are associated with using current theories, iterative methods such as DSR and Delphi Method can help overcome these issues. Using these methods, researchers can develop robust theoretical frameworks that accurately reflect their research questions and findings.
Iterative Developments and Reflection on Changes to Theorize
Iterative methods are the backbone of many successful research projects, and in this section, we will explore the process involved in refining artifacts or models through iterative development. As we delve deeper into Design Science Research (DSR) and Delphi Method, we will move towards understanding how reflection plays a vital role in identifying areas that need improvement.
Iteration involves a process of continuous refinement by taking feedback from different stakeholders and then incorporating it into the artifact or model being developed. Through this process, researchers can improve their work by identifying gaps in their initial assumptions, testing ideas, and making adjustments as necessary.
In DSR, iterative development is an essential component of the research methodology. It involves repeated cycles of development where changes are made to the artifact or model based on feedback from various stakeholders. This approach ensures that the final product is well thought out and addresses all possible concerns.
Similarly, Delphi Method also relies heavily on iterations to refine its results. The Delphi Method is a structured communication technique that elicits expert opinions on complex problems. Each iteration involves providing feedback to experts regarding their responses to previous rounds’ questions while providing them with new information that may influence their thinking.
Reflection is an essential component of iterative development as it helps researchers identify areas for improvement. Reflecting on each iteration allows researchers to evaluate what worked well and what didn’t so they can make changes accordingly.
Incorporating reflection into an iterative process requires a willingness to be introspective about one’s work continually. Researchers must be open-minded about what they have done so far and willing to take constructive criticism from colleagues who have reviewed their work.
Reflection’s importance lies in its ability to help researchers identify potential blind spots or biases that may be affecting their results without them even realizing it. For example, reflecting on iterations may reveal some assumptions were incorrect or not considered initially; hence, changes were made to address these issues.
In conclusion, iterative development and reflection are essential to the research process. By incorporating these methods into your research methodology, you can ensure that your work is well-thought-out and addresses all possible concerns. Through reflection, researchers can identify areas for improvement and make changes accordingly. In the next section, we will explore how changes made through iterations relate back to original theories and identify gaps that must be addressed.
Relating Changes Back to Original Theories and Identifying Gaps
Iterative development is a crucial component of research, particularly in Design Science Research (DSR) and the Delphi Method. As such, it is important to assess the effectiveness of original theories based on iterative developments. In this section, we will explore how changes made during the iterative process can be related back to original theories and identify gaps that were not addressed by those theories.
The first step in this process is to revisit the boundary conditions of the original theory. Boundary conditions are parameters that define when a theory holds true or not. By revisiting these boundary conditions, we can determine if they are sufficient or need expansion. This allows us to ascertain if changes made during iterative developments fall within the scope of the original theory.
The next step is to evaluate how effective the original theory was based on iterative developments. We can identify missing elements, limitations, or areas for extension in original theories based on results from empirical studies stemming from iterative development. This helps researchers determine how well their initial theoretical framework has held up under testing.
Additionally, we must consider including new variables/moderators in theoretical frameworks since new discoveries may lead researchers in different directions than originally intended with their theories.
When making these modifications, it’s essential to maintain coherence between new findings and existing theoretical frameworks while ensuring they remain logically consistent.
Finally, abstracting from changes can provide insight into how theoretical advancements result from iterative methods used in DSR and Delphi Method. Adapting/refining theories based on empirical findings provides strategies for enhancing robustness within theoretical frameworks.
In conclusion, relating changes back to original theories and identifying gaps allows researchers to refine their initial artifact/model development while advancing their understanding of relevant topics through DSR or Delphi Methodology applied iteratively throughout a project’s lifecycle. These theoretical advancements have significant implications for PhDs and the broader research community. By using DSR or Delphi methods, researchers are able to develop robust theoretical frameworks that have the potential to impact future research and practice in a variety of fields.
Theorizing and Abstracting from Changes
As we have seen in the previous sections, iterative methods are crucial to developing robust and effective theories. In this section, we will delve deeper into the process of theoretical advancements through iterative methods used in Design Science Research (DSR) and the Delphi Method.
The aim of iterative methods is to refine initial artifacts or models based on empirical findings. As such, the refinement process involves adapting or refining theories based on empirical evidence. This is where theoretical advancements come into play.
Theoretical advancements occur when empirical evidence leads to adaptations or refinements of current theories. The result is a more robust and effective theoretical framework that addresses identified gaps or limitations. These advancements are vital for PhDs and broader research communities as they lead to new insights that can be applied in practice.
In DSR, theoretical advancements occur when an initial artifact is refined through iterative developments based on feedback from stakeholders. As the artifact becomes more refined, it becomes possible to identify elements that were previously missing from current theories. These elements can then be incorporated into the theoretical framework, leading to a more comprehensive understanding of the research problem.
Similarly, Delphi Method involves multiple rounds of data collection with experts in a particular field. Through each round of data collection, experts provide feedback on previous responses until a consensus is reached on a particular issue or question. This process allows for the refinement of initial assumptions and encourages experts to consider alternative perspectives that may lead to new insights.
Theoretical advancements also involve abstracting from changes made during iterative developments. Abstracting entails identifying core concepts from accumulated data over several iterations while discarding less relevant information. This leads to enhanced robustness within theoretical frameworks as only essential components are retained while non-essential ones are discarded.
Moreover, it’s important to refine existing theories and extend them beyond their original scope by carefully including new variables/moderators into theoretical frameworks not to compromise their integrity. Considering new variables/moderators in theoretical frameworks also help to identify limitations and boundary conditions that may affect the theory’s applicability in practice.
In conclusion, theoretical advancements through iterative methods are crucial to developing robust and effective theories. DSR and Delphi Methods provide excellent examples of how iterative methods can refine initial artifacts or models based on empirical findings, leading to theoretical advancements that address identified gaps or limitations. These advancements have significant implications for PhDs and broader research communities, leading to new insights that can be applied in practice.
The Final Theorization Process & Theoretical Advancements for Postgraduates
As we near the culmination of our exploration into Design Science Research (DSR) and the Delphi Method, it’s time to take a step back and reflect on the iterative journey we have undertaken thus far. We have refined our artifacts or models with each iteration, identified gaps in original theories, and advanced theoretical frameworks that address these gaps. This final section will synthesize our findings from iterative developments to advance theory production while developing a refined theoretical framework that speaks to PhDs and broader communities.
The theorization process has been challenging but rewarding. We began by identifying areas of improvement through reflection on changes observed during iterative developments. This helped us understand where original theories fell short and what modifications could be made to improve them. By relating these changes back to the original theories, we identified missing elements or limitations while revisiting boundary conditions to determine their sufficiency.
This information made it time to begin theorizing and abstracting from changes observed during iterations. We adapt/refine theories based on empirical findings while providing strategies for enhancing robustness within theoretical frameworks. This allows us to develop more comprehensive models for all variables needed in a given situation.
The final stage of the theorization process involved synthesizing findings from iterative developments into a single refined theoretical framework that adequately addressed identified gaps/limitations. This framework serves as a foundation for future research/practice while providing PhDs with a roadmap for advancing their own research agendas.
The impact of these advances is significant for PhDs and wider research communities as they provide insight into previously unexplored areas of study. As new variables/moderators are included in theoretical frameworks, they can serve as starting points for future investigations that build upon existing knowledge.
In conclusion, DSR and Delphi Method offer powerful tools for advancing theory production. Through iterative methods and reflection, we can identify gaps in original theories and advanced theoretical frameworks and develop comprehensive models that account for all variables needed in a given situation. These advancements have significant implications for postgraduate and wider research communities as they provide insight into previously unexplored areas of study while paving the way for future research agendas.
Throughout this blog post, we have explored the importance of iterative methods in research, with a particular focus on Design Science Research (DSR) and Delphi Method. We have discussed the role of theory in initial artifact or model development and how it guides the process of refining artifacts or models through iterative methods. In this concluding section, we will summarize the key takeaways from our discussions and highlight the implications of our findings for PhDs and broader research communities.
Iterative methods are critical to advancing theory because they allow for refinement based on empirical findings, reflection on changes, and identification of gaps or limitations in current theories. As seen throughout this blog post, DSR and Delphi Methods provide excellent examples of these iterative processes at work. Reflection is a vital component in this process as it helps identify areas for improvement.
We have also explored how theoretical advancements result from iterative methods used in DSR and Delphi Methods. Adapting/refining theories based on empirical findings is essential to enhance robustness within theoretical frameworks while considering new variables/moderators into theoretical frameworks.
Synthesizing findings from iterative developments is described here to advance theory production while developing a refined theoretical framework that addresses identified gaps/limitations. The final section underscores these advancements’ significance for both PhDs & broader communities by highlighting implications for future research/practice.
In conclusion, this blog post has emphasized the value of iterative methods such as DSR and Delphi Method in advancing theory production through reflection on changes that facilitate the identification of gaps/limitations within theoretical frameworks while considering new variables/moderators into these frameworks. The potential impact of theoretical advancements cannot be overstated as they provide valuable insights into various areas like management practices or marketing strategies that can benefit businesses worldwide. This blog post highlights that even though challenging aspects exist when using current theories for artifact or model development, researchers should not lose sight of their original aims as they continue down their respective research paths. | <urn:uuid:d879bc4f-1ede-45bb-b45e-011a06e4f755> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://lincolncwood.com/theorizing-dsr-delphi/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679099892.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20231128151412-20231128181412-00250.warc.gz | en | 0.929685 | 3,159 | 3.125 | 3 |
Most of the time, people with hearing loss don’t seek treatment right away. Why? For some, they may not know that they are experiencing hearing loss. For others, unfortunately, it’s often because of the unnecessary “stigma” as-sociated with hearing aids and hearing loss in general.
Here are some hard truths about delaying treatment for hearing loss.
● Hearing actually has less to do with your ears –but— everything to do with your brain.
● Untreated hearing loss is linked to many serious health concerns, includ-ing depression and even dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
● People with untreated hearing loss fall more often
● People with untreated hearing loss are likely to experience trouble with re-lationships at home and work.
Hearing is more than just one of five senses we use to experience the world. Hearing happens within the brain, and if signals aren’t being processed effectively in the brain, it simply doesn’t work as efficiently. Hearing is also the main way we communicate with one another, and when human connection is disrupted, we suffer from loneliness, sadness, even depression. If hearing loss is affecting us at work, it can lead to anger, anxiety, and even jeopardize our livelihood. If it affects us at home, relationships can suffer. At a time when many people are feeling more isolated than ever before, hearing aids can truly make a difference—allowing people with hearing loss to communicate better with friends and family via phone or video conference, as well as stay informed as to the “goings-on” in our community.
Now For Some Good News
The good news is that most hearing loss can be treated with a simple electronic device…you guessed it.
A hearing aid!
However, when people hear the words “hearing aid,” they often visualize a large, clunky, ear attachment that needs to be fiddled with constantly. Thankfully, that’s not the case anymore. Even the most basic of today’s hearing aids pack advanced technology into a relatively small package, and there are numerous options, including hearing aids that are completely hidden in the ear canal.
If you have hearing loss take a moment to ask yourself the following:
- What makes you look older: wearing a discreet hearing aid or continually asking people to repeat themselves?
- What is more embarrassing: wearing a low-profile hearing aid or constantly misunderstanding conversations?
- What makes you feel older: wearing a hardly-noticeable hearing aid or losing your mental acuity because hearing loss is affecting your brain health?
- What makes you feel incapacitated, wearing a hearing aid, or losing the ability to live independently?
We invite you to push back against the stigma of hearing loss and get your hearing aids sooner rather than later. Wearing hearing aids can keep you socially engaged, mentally sharp, and active in your career or hobbies. It can also improve your relationships and, by protecting your brain, actually keep you younger and healthier longer!
As is the case with many health conditions, issues with your hearing will not resolve on its own.
In fact, ignoring your hearing loss can be a recipe for disaster that, in most instances, can be avoided.
Contact Mary Ferriera, AuD, to schedule your non invasive pain free hearing test to learn how you can start living a better quality of life. | <urn:uuid:41429345-1fda-42f8-995e-765385b9e8ba> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://eliteentaz.com/hearing-loss/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510225.44/warc/CC-MAIN-20230926211344-20230927001344-00524.warc.gz | en | 0.959449 | 712 | 2.84375 | 3 |
What to do when you have hyperglycaemia (high blood glucose)
High blood glucose levels can be dangerous. Learn more about why this is, and what to do about it
A hypo is when your blood glucose is too low. It’s also known as:
Hypo- is from the Greek word for “under” or “less”. Hyper is from the Greek word for “above” or “to excess”. A hypo is usually defined as blood glucose levels below 4 mmol/L.
When there’s not enough glucose (a form of sugar) in your blood, your cells can’t get enough fuel and so can’t function properly. People with Type 2 diabetes who take medication to lower their blood glucose may be at higher risk of hypoglycaemia (a hypo) – as will people with Type 1 diabetes.
One of the real troubles with hypos is that low blood glucose can affect your thinking – you can quickly get quite confused and this can make it difficult to take the right action at the right time. It’s a good idea to have someone around who knows you have Type 2 diabetes, and knows to look out for the signs of a hypo.
“Occasionally, I have to get my wife to help me as I get a bit confused and, whilst I know something is wrong, I cannot work out, by myself, what to do about it.”
Mr RE, diabetes patient (aged 66), Newcastle
Symptoms of hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose) can include:
Think your blood glucose might be dropping too low? Here’s what to do right now:
If you notice any of these signs:
Be sure to act fast
Be sure to get help
Anger or irritability
Lack of concentration
|EAT or drink 15-20 g of sugar:|
– glucose tablets
– 3 or 4 Jelly babies
– sugary drinks like Coke
– fruit juice
|Call someone nearby|
Phone a friend or family member
Call your diabetes care team
If you have a blood glucose meter at home and think you might be having a hypo:
When you have Type 2 diabetes, it’s more likely that you’ll have high blood glucose levels rather than levels that are too low. However, hypos do still happen in Type 2 diabetes – and it may be more common than you think.
Diabetes UK did a survey of almost 2,000 people in 2009, and found that just about half (49%) of the people they asked with Type 2 diabetes had experienced at least one hypo in a 2 week period – and that didn’t even include the people who inject insulin.
When you’ve got Type 2 diabetes, your blood glucose can drop too low for a number of reasons:
If you test your blood glucose regularly, you’ll have a better idea about how your blood glucose levels are doing. It’s better to be in control and take action before your levels get too low, than to wait for symptoms to appear – a hypo can make you feel very ill very quickly.
If you don’t have a blood glucose meter, you may want to weigh up the pros and cons of getting one. They’re not essential for everyone with Type 2 diabetes, but some people find that keeping an eye on their blood glucose levels helps them stay in control. | <urn:uuid:cbae387b-34d9-40ab-8482-929c0ae1f09c> | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | https://www.better-living.co.uk/article/what-to-do-when-you-have-hypoglycaemia-low-blood-glucose/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347423915.42/warc/CC-MAIN-20200602064854-20200602094854-00270.warc.gz | en | 0.942879 | 727 | 3.25 | 3 |
Hurricane Irma could make the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season a historic one. The storm is currently barreling toward Florida as a Category 5 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of 185 mph. Over the next 12 to 24 hours, the Leeward Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are likely to bear the brunt of the storm. And the U.S. mainland is in its path.
The National Hurricane Center’s five-day outlook forecasts that on Sunday afternoon, Irma will be just south of the Florida Keys as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of about 140 mph. Such a storm could come ashore in the state with heavy rain and a potentially devastating storm surge.
The last Category 4 storm to hit Florida was Hurricane Charley in 2004. While cutting across central Florida, the storm directly or indirectly killed 33 people and caused billions of dollars in property damage. If Irma’s projected track is accurate, the hurricane would probably also be costly and deadly.
But it’s still too early to know whether Irma will make landfall in the U.S. mainland or where that could occur. Despite big strides in forecast accuracy over the last 27 years,1 the National Hurricane Center’s five-day forecast comes with a wide margin of error. An average five-day track forecast is off by greater than 200 miles. That’s over 60 miles wider than the distance from St. Petersburg on the western coast of Florida to Vero Beach on the east.
You can get an idea of why the error range is so wide by looking at all the paths that different hurricane models say Irma could take. Take a look at this group,2 plotted by the South Florida Water Management District, for example:
Although they’re not the only tools that meteorologists use to try to figure out the most likely path of a hurricane, these models are one of the most important. And you can see the variation among them: Some show the storm heading east of Florida and into the Carolinas or out to sea, while a few take the storm over Cuba3 and into the Gulf of Mexico.
So, if we combine the numerous paths that the models project with the historical forecast error five days out, the storm’s eventual path is still far from clear.
That’s why the hurricane center publishes a cone of uncertainty.
The error cone exists not out of an abundance of caution by a government agency but because of real mathematical uncertainty about where the storm will go. A track that takes Irma east or west of the Florida Peninsula — and anywhere in between — is still possible.
The most likely track, however, remains the center of that cone, which currently passes very close to the Florida Keys. That’s why the National Hurricane Center specifically mentions that the likelihood of “direct impacts from Irma beginning later this week and this weekend from wind, storm surge, and rainfall continues to increase in the Florida Keys and portions of the Florida Peninsula.”
Even if the forecasts about Irma’s path end up being accurate, the storm is unlikely to be a Florida version of Hurricane Harvey, which devastated Southeast Texas and southwestern Louisiana over the last few weeks with days of heavy rainfall. Unlike Harvey, Irma, at this point, is not expected to stall over the same area for a long period of time. And that means Florida wouldn’t get the tremendous amount of rain that Harvey dropped on Houston (although Irma could still spread a lot of rain over an even wider area).
But Harvey and Irma may join the history books together. Irma could make landfall in the continental U.S. as a Category 4 storm, as Harvey did in August. Since 1851, there hasn’t been another year in which two Category 4 storms have directly affected the continental U.S. The Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory points out that record-keeping for some of the smaller and older storms isn’t perfect, but regardless, two Category 4 storms hitting the U.S. in the same season would be very rare.
For now, people in the southeastern U.S. need to keep an eye on Irma. And people in southern Florida should start preparing for a possible impact. Key West has already ordered a mandatory evacuation of residents starting Wednesday night. | <urn:uuid:f421e4ee-c0b5-42a6-b5ef-10dfe7fc1f37> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/hurricane-irma-will-be-dangerous-no-matter-where-it-makes-landfall/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250611127.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20200123160903-20200123185903-00074.warc.gz | en | 0.942396 | 881 | 2.625 | 3 |
The human voice is the most communicative musical instrument of all. It is interesting to note that while modern voice synthesis techniques go back much farther than those for other musical instruments , it is one of the instruments that is farthest from reaching parity between the synthetic and natural versions. This seems to be primarily due to the complex fluidity of control involved and to the incompleteness of the physio-acoustic models used. Nevertheless, excellent singing voice quality based on a digital waveguide model has been achieved for isolated phrases by Perry Cook [12,13]. Since voice is in a class by itself relative to other musical instruments, and since it is addressed elsewhere in this special issue , it will not be discussed further here. | <urn:uuid:75693b3e-4797-429b-9407-fb12c3a6aa20> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | https://ccrma.stanford.edu/~jos/pmupd/Voice.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187822488.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20171017200905-20171017220905-00179.warc.gz | en | 0.958095 | 145 | 2.953125 | 3 |
Hopkins' Map of Pittsburgh's Fourteenth Ward, 1872
Pittsburgh's Fourteenth Ward
This hand colored map is a steel plate engraving dating to 1872 by the prominent American mapmaker G.M. Hopkins. It depicts what used to be the Fourteenth Ward of Pittsburgh, then defined by Aliquippa Street to the north, Boundary Street to the south, the Monongahela River to the west and Neville Street to the east. The township of Oakland makes up this portion of the Fourteenth Ward, and was annexed by the City of Pittsburgh in 1868. The area was named for an abundance of oak trees found on the farm of William Eichenbaum, who settled there in 1840. In 1906, Allegheny City was absorbed by Pittsburgh. Both old ward systems were discarded and a new 27 ward system was devised to incorporate the newly annexed Allegheny and older parts of Pittsburgh. The Fourteenth Ward was renamed the Fourth Ward after the annexation took effect in 1907. The area of Pittsburgh was named by General John Forbes in 1758, after the British statesman William Pitt. Pittsburgh was incorporated as a township in 1771, as a borough in 1794, and chartered as a city in 1816.
This stunning map has original hand coloring in shades of blue and green. This particular map comes from Hopkins' Atlas of the Cities of Pittsburgh, Allegheny, and the Adjoining Boroughs. This original antique map is single paged, as issued. Published by G.M. Hopkins at 320 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, in 1872.
- Jenna Hovis
Plate size: 17" x 15"
Condition: Some staining, great condition otherwise | <urn:uuid:68e843e9-a993-4ab3-91d8-1e0c1ee4da91> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | https://shawgalleries.com/products/hopkins-map-of-pittsburghs-fourteenth-ward-1872 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549423774.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20170721122327-20170721142327-00266.warc.gz | en | 0.959543 | 348 | 3.25 | 3 |
WHAT IS GROUND SOURCE?
A Ground Source Heat Pump uses a length of looping pipes buried in a garden to pump a special fluid that absorbs warmth from the ground. This heat then passes through a compressor to make it hotter, then passes to the heat exchanger to heat your water. The cooled fluid returns through the pipes again to create a continual flow of energy and heat.
The temperature under-ground is usually constant throughout the year, however, the length of the pipe required will all depend on the size of property and its energy requirements. Longer loops will draw more heat but in turn requires more space to be buried.
WHY CHOOSE GROUND SOURCE?
A Ground Source Heat Pump is an efficient and low maintenance way to heat your hot water and run your heating all year round.
If you are replacing conventional electrical heating with a Ground Source system you will find that your bills will be lower and you can potentially benefit from the Government’s Renewable Heat Incentive that will provide a regular payment for using this renewable technology.
Taken from the Energy Savings Trust here is a table of the potential fuel savings and RHI benefit that are achievable by replacing a system with Ground Source technology, based on a four bedroom detached house.
|Existing system||Fuel bill savings (£/year)||Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) payment (£/year)
1 Jan 2016 to 31 Mar 2016
|Carbon dioxide savings (kgCO2/year)|
|Gas older (non-condensing)||£410 to £595||£2,610 to £3,940||2,000 to 3,000 kg|
|Electric (old storage heaters)||£830 to £1,465||7,100 to 12,000 kg|
|Oil older (non-condensing)||£475 to £725||3,000 to 4,500 kg|
|LPG older (non-condensing)||£1,315 to £1,975||2,700 to 4,100 kg|
|Coal||£645 to £1,045||7,500 to 11,600 kg|
The domestic Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was designed by the Government to encourage households to switch to a greener, renewable method of generating heat.
For a 3+ bed detached house with an example heat demand of 23,000 kWh could provide an annual RHI payout to the homeowner of £4,393 (plus annual inflation) for seven years. (Source – Which)
Our Energy Advisers will thoroughly survey your property and your energy needs before providing their detailed recommendation (including predicted RHI payments if relevant) on what renewable heat products would best suit you and your pocket.
Please call us on 0800 652 3609 if you would like to arrange a free no-obligation survey. | <urn:uuid:dfc2dbec-f5cd-4acf-83a6-a04262627615> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | http://selffundingboilers.com/ground-source-heat-pumps/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818686983.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20170920085844-20170920105844-00271.warc.gz | en | 0.915877 | 598 | 3.65625 | 4 |
A Brief and Slightly Snarky Introduction
Yes, my dear friends, we are about to embark on a delightful journey into the world of microgreens - those tiny, leafy superstars that have been adorning plates and garnishing cocktails since...well, a surprisingly short time ago, actually. But fear not, for these little wonders pack a punch in both the health and beauty departments, and it is our mission today to explore their impact on our lives, or at least on our lunch menu.
Microgreens: A Definition for the Uninitiated
First, let us clarify what microgreens are not. They are not your average lettuce, spinach, or even the notoriously trendy kale. Oh no, microgreens are something far more diminutive and dainty. They are, in fact, the young seedlings of various plants that are harvested just a few weeks after sprouting. The result is a bite-sized, nutrient-dense, and aesthetically pleasing addition to any dish (or face mask, but more on that later).
Health Benefits: Tiny Leaves, Mighty Powers
It may come as a surprise to some, but these miniature greens can pack quite a nutritional wallop. A study published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry found that microgreens can have up to 40 times the nutrient content of their fully grown counterparts. Yes, you read that correctly - forty times! That means consuming a small amount of microgreens can provide the same nutritional benefits as munching on an entire salad. Quite impressive for such dinky little leaves.
- Antioxidants: Microgreens are rich in antioxidants, those heroic little molecules that help protect your body against the nefarious forces of free radicals. If left unchecked, free radicals can cause oxidative stress and lead to a whole host of chronic diseases. So, by adding microgreens to your diet, you're essentially enlisting an army of tiny green soldiers to fight off the forces of cellular destruction. Huzzah!
- Vitamins and Minerals: As mentioned earlier, microgreens can contain up to 40 times the nutrient content of their adult counterparts. This includes a veritable smorgasbord of vitamins and minerals such as vitamins C, E, K, and B, as well as essential minerals like iron, potassium, and calcium. These nutrients play a crucial role in maintaining your overall health, so go ahead and pile those microgreens high on your plate (or, more realistically, sprinkle them daintily).
- Low in Calories: In our ongoing quest to maintain our waistlines (or at least avoid expanding them), it's always a pleasant surprise to discover a food that is both delicious and low in calories. Microgreens fit the bill perfectly, providing a burst of flavor and nutrients without the added caloric heft. So feel free to indulge, knowing that you're doing your body a favor.
Beauty Benefits: Making You Look as Good as You Feel
Now that we've covered the myriad health benefits of microgreens, let's delve into their impact on our outer appearance. As it turns out, these tiny plants have a lot to offer when it comes to skin and hair care, which is great news for those of us who enjoy looking fabulous (so, everyone).
- Anti-Aging: Remember those antioxidants we mentioned earlier? Well, they're not just good for your insides; they're also great for your skin! Antioxidants help to neutralize the harmful effects of free radicals on your skin cells, which can prevent premature aging and keep your complexion looking fresh and youthful. Some microgreens, such as red cabbage and cilantro, are particularly high in antioxidants, so be sure to include them in your beauty regime.
- Skin Repair: Microgreens are rich in vitamins C and E, both of which play a vital role in repairing and maintaining the health of your skin. Vitamin C is involved in the production of collagen, a protein that provides structure and elasticity to your skin. Vitamin E, meanwhile, helps to repair skin damage caused by sun exposure and other environmental factors. Together, these vitamins can help your skin look supple, smooth, and radiant.
- Hair Health: While microgreens may not be able to magically transform your hair into a flowing, Rapunzel-esque mane, they can certainly contribute to its overall health. The vitamins and minerals found in microgreens help to nourish your hair follicles, promoting strong, healthy hair growth. So go ahead and toss some microgreens into your next salad - your locks will thank you.
Final Thoughts: Microgreens, Our New Favorite Superfood?
In conclusion, it seems that microgreens have earned their place in the pantheon of superfoods. Their impressive nutrient content and numerous health and beauty benefits make them a fantastic addition to any diet, and their tiny size and delicate flavor make them incredibly versatile in the kitchen. So why not give them a try? Your body and your taste buds will thank you. Article kindly provided by healthyvoices.net | <urn:uuid:e99cc9ba-239a-42ce-9487-55422349205c> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://www.healthyvoices.net/The-Role-of-Microgreens-in-Health-and-Beauty/I262.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510516.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20230929122500-20230929152500-00731.warc.gz | en | 0.937064 | 1,042 | 2.65625 | 3 |
Loneliness experienced by an individual and perceived as imposed by others and as a negative state or threat.
– immature Interest .
– Changes in physical appearance.
– Changes in mental status.
– Social behavior is not accepted.
– Social values not accepted.
– Altered state of being.
– Inadequate personal resources.
– Lack of family support.
– Emotional sad or off.
– Withdrawal, no communication, no eye contact.
– Concern for one’s own thoughts.
– Verbal and behavioral hostility.
– Presence of a physical and / or psychological.
– Expresses feelings of loneliness or rejection.
– Present feelings of indifference.
– Lack of meaningful goals in life and inability to meet the expectations of others. | <urn:uuid:da02d60e-d430-4361-aa27-5de7d446e8ce> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | http://www.nandanursingdiagnosislist.org/functional-health-patterns/social-isolation/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320679.64/warc/CC-MAIN-20170626050425-20170626070425-00080.warc.gz | en | 0.856513 | 162 | 2.703125 | 3 |
How To Talk To Children About Terror Attacks
23 May 2017, 13:20 | Updated: 23 May 2017, 13:24
Parents are being told it's really important to speak to their children about the terror attack in Manchester.
Child bereavement charity Winston's Wish has given Heart some advice for parents:
Things to remember
Talk to children using words they understand; give information to younger children a bit at a time
Try and encourage children to ask questions
Answer questions honestly and simply; talking about it won’t make it worse
Accept that some things can’t be ‘made better’
Show willingness to talk about difficult things and use this as an opportunity to reassure them
If children are asking questions, it is a good thing – it shows they trust you and it is better than keeping questions and worries to themselves
Remember that ‘super parents’ or ‘super teachers’ don’t exist.
Just do and say what you can
Don’t be afraid to show children how you are feeling
See the full advice from Winton's Wish here. | <urn:uuid:6c1f985b-f481-4004-9cc0-b929c7330a3c> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | https://www.heart.co.uk/gloucestershire/news/local/how-to-talk-to-children-about-terror-attacks/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875145648.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20200222023815-20200222053815-00526.warc.gz | en | 0.944865 | 229 | 3.171875 | 3 |
Reflecting sunlight to cool the Earth must be studied before climate change gets much worse, urges group of 60 scientists – CNBC
More than sixty scientists from prominent institutions are advocating for rigorous study into reflecting sunlight away from the Earth to mitigate the effects of climate change.
None of the scientists are endorsing the strategy, which is sometimes referred to as “solar geoengineering” and could have significant negative side effects.
Rather, they are advocating for a careful and coordinated study of the idea before the effects of climate change become so obvious and urgent that citizens and governments demand action. They believe this could happen in the next 10 to 20 years given the current trajectory of CO2-reduction plans.
“Climate change is causing devastating impacts on communities and ecosystems around the world, posing grave threats to public health, economic security, and global stability,” the scientists wrote in their open letter published on a website made expressly for the purpose of publicizing their scientific viewpoint. “Natural systems are approaching thresholds for catastrophic changes with the potential to accelerate climate change and impacts beyond humans’ ability to adapt.”
The scientists also emphasize that solar geoengineering is not a solution. Greenhouse gas emissions must be immediately and urgently reduced, as that’s the only permanent way to limit global warming.
The signatories come from prestigious institutions around the world, including Columbia University, Harvard University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and NASA. There is no organization or institution behind the letter, however. It was published as an independent effort by scientists.
Air pollution is masking some of the warming
The landmark Paris Climate Accord, signed in 2015, aimed to keep global warming “well below” 2 degrees Celsius compared with pre-industrial levels, and ideally below 1.5 degrees.
But the scientists believe that goal won’t be met because so many greenhouse gases have already been emitted over the last century and a half, and remain in the atmosphere long after they are released.
“Even with aggressive action to reduce GHG emissions it is increasingly unlikely that climate warming will remain below 1.5-2°C in the near term,” the scientists wrote. “This is because reversing current warming trends will require a significant reduction in the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, which significantly lag behind reductions in emissions due to their long atmospheric lifetime.”
Adding to the concern, air pollution is working to counteract global warming. Particles of air pollution, also released by human activity, mix into clouds and reflect sunlight away from the Earth for the time they remain in the atmosphere.
“Aerosols from human activities are currently estimated to be offsetting about a third of greenhouse gas climate warming,” the scientists wrote.
But governments are cracking down on air pollution, and as the air gets cleaner, it will lay bare the full amount of anthropogenic global warming.
“Reductions in aerosol emissions in the coming few decades will rapidly ‘unmask’ a significant but very uncertain amount of climate warming,” the scientists warned.
Meanwhile, technologies to remove CO2 from the atmosphere are too early along to help the world stay below 1.5 degrees of warming, experts say.
“There are substantial environmental, technical, and cost challenges in using carbon dioxide removal (CDR) at the scale needed to significantly reduce global warming. While using CDR to remain below 1.5°C may be physically possible, these challenges and the slow response of the climate system make it unlikely that CDR could be implemented rapidly enough or at sufficient scale to entirely avoid dangerous levels of climate warming in the near term,” the scientists wrote.
Reflecting sunlight away from the Earth is possible and can work quickly. Given our collective global warming status, it’s time to take it seriously, the scientists argued.
Three techniques for global cooling
The scientists break down solar geoengineering into three categories:
- Stratospheric aerosol injection, SAI, which involves putting aerosols such as sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere to reflect sunlight.
- Marine cloud brightening, MCB, which involves putting sea salt aerosols into low-hanging marine clouds.
- Cirrus cloud thinning, CCT, which involves putting aerosols into cirrus clouds to reduce the amount of infrared radiation that the Earth retains.
The first two, SAI and MCB, are generally referred to as solar radiation modification, or SRM.
Right now, there isn’t sufficient research to know exactly how these three techniques would affect the planet. In some cases, they might be less harmful if used in some combination, the scientists wrote.
But as the effects of global warming become more acute, “there will be increasing pressure” to use one of these adaptation techniques. That’s why the scientists say it is urgent to study them now, as “the current level of knowledge about SRM interventions is not sufficient to detect, attribute or project their consequences for climate risks,” the scientists wrote.
Peer-reviewed scientific research should include computer model simulations, observations, analytical studies, and small-scale field experiments, the scientists added. And all of the research should be open and transparent with open access to data.
Using any of these techniques should be subject to a global, international cooperation and decision making in a framework similar to the Montreal Protocol, which the scientists laud as a highly successful case of environmental global policy.
In addition, these kinds of sunlight reflection technologies should not be bought and sold in a commercial marketplace as a way to offset carbon emissions, the scientists wrote.
“The state of scientific knowledge about SRM is also currently insufficient for it to be included as part of a climate credit system or other commercial offering, as some have started to propose. Even for stratospheric aerosol injection (the most well-understood SRM approach), the amount of cooling achieved by the injection of a given mass of material and how SAI will affect the climate system are still highly uncertain,” they wrote.
“Even with improved understanding of these effects, since SRM does not address the cause of climate change, nor all of the effects of increased greenhouse gas concentrations, it likely will never be an appropriate candidate for an open market system of credits and independent actors.” | <urn:uuid:10b6c670-3373-467b-85b2-a7f123f3ec7a> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://mothernature.news/2023/02/27/reflecting-sunlight-to-cool-the-earth-must-be-studied-before-climate-change-gets-much-worse-urges-group-of-60-scientists-cnbc/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296945372.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20230325191930-20230325221930-00533.warc.gz | en | 0.93999 | 1,301 | 3.34375 | 3 |
Can We Get Geothermal Energy From Volcanoes?
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Volcanoes are some of the most impressive displays of power in nature. That power has caught the attention of some researchers as a potential source of green energy, especially as the need for alternative power sources grows. Harnessing geothermal energy from volcanoes could be a helpful way to decrease our reliance on fossil fuels.
There are roughly 1,350 potentially active volcanoes across the globe. These natural structures’ wide availability and high heat hold promise for green energy, but how would that work, and what are the advantages and disadvantages? Here’s a closer look.
How to Harness Geothermal Energy From Volcanoes
You can extract geothermal energy from volcanoes in a few different ways. The most straightforward is direct heating and cooling. In these systems, water and other fluids pick up volcanic heat underground and carry it through pipes to heat or cool an area.
Home heating and cooling alone is responsible for 441 million tons of CO2 emissions annually. While these volcano-powered heat pumps use some electricity, they need far less than other heating systems, resulting in massive emissions reductions. That’s not the only way to get power from volcanoes, either.
It’s also possible to generate electricity from volcanic energy. First, teams drill into the earth on or near volcanoes until they reach areas of high heat. Running water through these hot underground areas creates steam, which rises to the surface to spin turbines, producing electricity.
Volcanic Geothermal Energy Projects Today
These volcanic geothermal energy systems are more than just theoretical. Volcanoes already supply power across the world.
Roughly 20% of California’s renewable energy comes from one volcanic geothermal energy plant. While these turbines don’t drill into a volcano directly, they use geysers, natural hot water sources that come from underground volcanic activity. The volcanic field that powers these geysers hasn’t erupted for much of human history, but it’s active enough to supply a lot of energy.
Iceland, a nation famous for its volcanic activity, also gets much of its energy from volcanoes. This geothermal power accounts for 25% of electricity generation in the country and 66% of its overall primary energy use.
New Zealand is another country that relies on geothermal energy from volcanoes. Just one volcanic zone produces 1,005 megawatts (MW) of power, most of the nation’s geothermal energy. While the process looks much different today, New Zealand has used these geothermal power sources since before the 1870s.
Benefits of Geothermal Energy From Volcanoes
Drawing geothermal energy from volcanoes has many advantages. Here’s a glimpse at some of the most significant.
The most obvious benefit of volcanic geothermal energy is its sustainability. Generating electricity from volcanic heat or using it for direct energy doesn’t produce any greenhouse gas emissions. While it takes some electricity to run heat pumps or drill wells, if this comes from other renewable sources, volcanic power can be entirely emissions-free.
These energy sources are renewable, too. Volcanic heat is abundant across the earth, and harnessing it won’t affect global temperatures enough to make a difference. While volcanic geothermal plants do remove groundwater, they pump it back into the earth once it’s served its purpose, replenishing natural sources.
Geothermal energy from volcanoes is also reliable. Many other green power sources, like wind or solar, depend on fluctuating conditions. Changing weather and daylight will affect how much electricity these systems can produce, requiring complex battery storage to make them viable at scale. Volcanic energy doesn’t have that problem.
Volcanic zones’ heat doesn’t fluctuate like the wind or sun. These wells are deep enough underground that the earth provides enough insulation to keep high temperatures at a near constant. Consequently, power plants or buildings drawing on these energy sources can enjoy a consistent level of power, regardless of external conditions.
Another benefit of volcanic geothermal energy is its high capacity. The Geysers, the large geothermal plant in California, produces 725 MW of electricity, enough to power a city as large as San Francisco. As technology becomes more efficient, these natural energy sources could sustain even larger grids for more extended periods.
If renewables are to replace fossil fuels, they must have capacity like this. The world needs a lot of energy, and as industrial activity grows and electronics become more common, its electricity needs will likely keep rising. While technological advances will eventually reduce this demand, high-capacity energy generation is critical to sustain the transition in the meantime.
Given all of these benefits, you may wonder why harnessing geothermal energy from volcanoes isn’t more common. Part of that is simply the world’s reliance on fossil fuels, but volcanic geothermal power carries some complications, too.
One of the biggest drawbacks of all geothermal energy is its upfront costs. Digging deep enough into the earth’s crust to access the necessary heat and installing systems to capitalize on it is expensive. While electrical savings will make up for those costs over time, the initial investment may be too high for some applications.
In some situations, volcanic geothermal power plants can also damage the surrounding environment. When these facilities inject water back into the ground, it carries different properties than it did originally, which can throw off some areas’ delicate balance. While some geothermal plants, like those in Iceland, show remarkable resilience, other volcanic zones may decline over time from these changes.
There’s also a social argument against some volcanic geothermal plants. Volcanic zones and geysers in some regions are tourist attractions that people prize for their natural beauty. Installing unattractive power plants on top of them may generate social resistance.
With the Right Approach, Volcanoes Can Be Great Energy Sources
While some roadblocks remain, geothermal energy from volcanoes holds a lot of potential. With careful planning, research and a delicate approach, organizations can use volcanic systems to generate safe, clean and reliable power. As these projects grow, the world can move further away from fossil fuel-derived energy.
Volcanic geothermal energy is just one step we can take toward a greener future. Growing these systems alone isn’t enough to stop climate change in its tracks, but it could be a helpful part of the process. With more awareness of and investment in resources like this, the world can secure a healthy, sustainable future.
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About the author
Starting from an early age, Jane Marsh loved all animals and became a budding environmentalist. Now, Jane works as the Editor-in-Chief of Environment.co where she covers topics related to climate policy, renewable energy, the food industry, and more. | <urn:uuid:d9ea4835-9e26-4615-8b79-f95ad78a873d> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://environment.co/geothermal-energy-from-volcanoes/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296945315.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20230325033306-20230325063306-00124.warc.gz | en | 0.931396 | 1,470 | 3.671875 | 4 |
We are the poem in the poet’s mind.
In each of us is the poet’s genius and an original, but many of us are fighting against ourselves and the one who has drawn up the blueprints of our lives? It is probably because we do not have a clear understanding of what we want and who we are and how to get there.
Recently I saw a movie called “Music Within.” It is a true story of a motivational speaker by the name of Richard Pimentel. He had a talent for speaking. He loved to debate and had a winning personality. He had plenty of words to say, but a lot of words with no substance.
At Northwestern College, one of the professors, Dr. Ben Padrow, shattered his dreams. He said he was one of the best debaters he had ever seen, had an unusual gift for speaking but he didn’t have anything to say. His advice to the young man was, “Go out and earn a point of view.”
Feeling like a failure, Pimentel floundered and enlisted in the army for a tour of duty in Vietnam. A bomb blast took away his hearing and the story goes on. Out of determination, he learns to read lips not wanting to show his handicap. He discovered how others also with disabilities were treated with pity and disdain.
He tries to help his disabled friends with their needs, finding jobs for them and listening to their stories. Out of his own handicap came “his music within.” He became an advocate and set out to pass laws that recognized the handicap in the 1980s.
I was talking to a friend who was on a debate team in college. She laughed and said she loved debating and she could have changed sides very easily and debated for the other side. At that point in her life, she had not yet learned what was important to her; she had not earned a point of view, she just liked to debate. Maybe that is how many of us are.
Until we have drunk of life deeply we will not discover our own music within. Usually life has to unravel before hear the poem we are created to be and know the heart of the poet. We each have been designed with our own sound and lyrics, and we must learn to listen to our own music.
For artists and writers who paint and write with heart, they have “earned a point of view.” They have learned what is important to them. How did they earn that? It probably didn’t come easy but with a lot of hard knocks. It usually takes a lot of fight, a lot of rejection, a lot of determination and a lot of surrender to the Master of the blueprint.
Sometimes the direction of life pushes us along and adds clarity to where we are going and what we are all about. Things happen along the way in which we think are going to be our undoing but they become our doing.
Sometimes I think I have detoured from the blueprint of my own life and if I could have gotten a handle on my life earlier, I might have done it differently. I don’t know if I could have. I have always said I needed everything I got to make me who I am today.
The arts have been my best teacher. I’ve had to learn about me as I have honed my talent. I’ve learned how the creative mind works and how the arts feed the soul. It has taken me a life time.
Final brushstroke: There are no shortcuts. The blueprint is still on the drafting table; maybe we are just now learning how to read it and maybe we are learning how to hear our own music.
Let us hear from you. e-mail [email protected].
From a writer friend:
The article on Tebow, it seems to me Tebow had the cart before the horse. Those guys already knew of his convictions; they didn’t know him. His walking in and spouting his convictions instead of walking through a few valleys with these guys just turned them all off, I think. Just my opinion!
“The road to happiness lies in two simple principles: find what it is that interests you and that you can do well, and when you find it put your whole soul into it — every bit of energy and ambition and natural ability you have.” — John D. Rockefeller III. | <urn:uuid:87503f05-939e-42d0-9dd3-c56932f45970> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://pagosasun.com/archives/2010/06%20June/062410/artistslane.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1394021446249/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305121046-00081-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.988031 | 922 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Research outline papers
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Research outline papers
Outlining your first draft by listing each paragraph's topic. making an outline of each paragraph and its topic sentence after you. D. Gaps in the Research:. An outline is a formal system used to develop a framework for thinking about what the eventual contents and organization of your paper should be. An outline helps you. Use our sample 'Sample Argumentative Research Paper Outline.' Read it or download it for free. Free help from wikiHow.
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Sample Outlines for Research Papers. Research paper outline briefly gives a brief overview of what the rest of the paper is about. Learn about APA and MLA Outline Format, Research Paper Outline sample, download free Outline Template. Research better, faster. Browse thousands of articles on all topics Need a well-constructed research paper outline along with the paper? It comes for free if you order your research paper from us! Title: Outline for Research Paper Author: Library_Laptop Last modified by: Dell Created Date: 10/27/2008 5:56:00 PM Other titles: Outline for Research Paper
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Where to order custom research papers? Take a look here, the best research papers writing site will do your assignment from scratch on time. Where to order custom research papers? Take a look here, the best research papers writing site will do your assignment from scratch on time. | <urn:uuid:7b630f31-56a8-4425-acf9-e234ae3e689d> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | http://ikessayxlav.casestudyhouse26.com/research-outline-papers.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549423903.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20170722062617-20170722082617-00363.warc.gz | en | 0.890145 | 716 | 2.96875 | 3 |
Today is the 281st birthday of George Washington, despite the celebration earlier this week of Presidents Day that honors every chief executive from the Father of His Country to duds like James Buchanan and Warren G. Harding. In our post-modern age, respect for Gen. Washington is seen as sentimental claptrap. I don’t even bring up the myth of Washington, the lie, and the cherry tree with students anymore because I need the remainder of class to explain something that was once common knowledge to students who are hearing about a charming tale with serious cultural implications for the first time.
No matter. One thing worth mentioning about Washington that has nothing to do with gushing emotions is his dedication to the idea of a republic. A military man and Virginia aristocrat, he was used to people obeying when he first spoke. Yet, he dedicated himself to the primacy of civilian government throughout his career as both as an officer and public servant. The U.S. armed forces swear allegiance to the Constitution and the nation — which is by definition the people who share American identity within the nation-state called the United States of America — and take their orders from the commander-in-chief, who is an elected officeholder. The roots of civilian democracy in a modern sense are embodied by Washington’s attitudes and actions. That kind of integrity is rare. No wonder Washington was called “first in war, first in peace, first in the hearts of his countrymen.” Here’s an article that explains how Washington exercised his belief in civilian government while facing the very real possibility of a coup during the Revolution led by mutinous officers in the Continental Army. You will appreciate why the man who became our first president had the experience needed to help a young republic survive serious turmoil within our own nation. | <urn:uuid:033622ac-caad-41cf-91eb-f0b549f4c73c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://theshoutheardroundtheworld.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/first-in-war-first-in-peace-first-in-the-hearts-of-his-countrymen/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711515185/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133835-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975346 | 367 | 3.296875 | 3 |
The study, published in the latest Proceedings of the Royal Society B, provides the first evidence that dogs copy at least some of our body movements and behaviors in ways that are spontaneous and voluntary.
In other words, they can’t really help themselves when it comes to copying people.
“This suggests that, like humans, dogs are subject to ‘automatic imitation’; they cannot inhibit online, the tendency to imitate head use and/or paw use,” lead author Friederike Range and her colleagues conclude.
It’s long been known that humans do this, even when the tendency to copy interferes with efficiency.
“For example,” according to the researchers, “if people are instructed to open their mouths as soon as they see the letters ‘OM’ appear on a screen, responses are slower when the letters are accompanied by an image of an opening hand than when they are accompanied by an image of an opening mouth.”
In a scientific first, Range — a University of Vienna researcher in the Department of Cognitive Biology — and her team tested this phenomenon on dogs. Ten adult dogs of various breeds and their owners, from Austria, participated in the experiments.
All of the dogs received preliminary training to open a sliding door using their head or a paw. The dogs then watched their owners open the door by hand or by head. For the latter, the owner would get down on the floor and use his or her head to push up or down on the sliding door.
The dogs were next divided into two groups. Dogs in the first group received a food reward whenever they copied what the owner did. Dogs in the second group received a food reward when they did the opposite.
All of the dogs were inclined to copy what the owner did, even if it meant receiving no food reward.
“This finding suggests that the dogs brought with them to the experiment a tendency automatically to imitate hand use and/or paw use by their owner; to imitate these actions even when it was costly to do so,” the authors report.
The scientists suggest owners would do well to match their own body movements, whenever possible, to tasks at hand during training sessions.
For example, if an owner is trying to teach a dog to shake “hands,” the person might have more success if he stretched out his own hand to demonstrate. The observing dog would then be inclined to stretch out a paw, mirroring what the human did. At that point, a food reward could be offered to the dog, reinforcing the behavior.
The owner is reinforcing bonding and cooperation with the dog, too.
“Researchers have known that human beings prefer the behavior of other people who subtly imitate their gestures and other affects,” said Duane Alexander, M.D., director of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child and Human Development.
Alexander worked on another study showing that non-human primates automatically imitate each other. Certain birds do this, too, but it may be very rare in the animal kingdom for one species to almost subconsciously imitate the behavior of a completely different species.
The dog-human bond may therefore have few, if any, parallels.
“Dogs are special animals, both in terms of their evolutionary history of domestication and the range and intensity of their developmental training by humans,” Range and her team explain.
“Both of these factors may enhance the extent to which dogs attend to human activity,” they added, “but the results of the present experiment suggest it is the latter — training in the course of development — which plays the more powerful and specific role in shaping their imitative behavior.” | <urn:uuid:b45aff6d-3f4e-4c07-bad6-e509e604db25> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | http://kingsbrookvet.com/veterinary-blog/2010/11/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549424910.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20170724202315-20170724222315-00197.warc.gz | en | 0.970098 | 764 | 3.1875 | 3 |
Weight loss surgeries are relatively safer than previously thought, finds a new study.
The Longitudinal Assessment of Bariatric Surgery (LABS-1) revealed that short-term complications and death rates were low following bariatric surgery to limit the amount of food that can enter the stomach, decrease absorption of food or both.
Less than 1 percent of patients died within 30 days of surgery, further supporting the short-term safety of bariatric surgery as a treatment for patients with extreme obesity.
"Evaluating the 30-day safety outcomes of bariatric surgery in large populations is an essential step forward," the New England Medical Journal quoted co-author Myrlene Staten, M.D., senior advisor for diabetes translation research at NIDDK, part of NIH as saying.
"And LABS-1 data are from all patients who had their procedure performed by a surgeon participating in the study, not from just a select few patients," the expert added.
The major types of surgery undergone by participants in this study included laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding, laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass and open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
During the study, the researchers followed 4, 776 patients who had bariatric surgery for the first time, evaluating complications and death rates within the first 30 days after surgery.
Within 30 days of surgery, 4.1 percent of patients had at least one major adverse outcome, defined as death, development of blood clots in the deep veins of the legs or in the pulmonary artery of the lungs, repeat surgeries, or failure to be discharged from the hospital within 30 days of surgery.
Thirty-day mortality was low, ranging from no deaths in the laparoscopic adjustable gastric band group, to 0.2 percent in the laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass group, to 2.1 percent in those undergoing open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass.
The overall risk of complications also varied by procedure.
"There is a real need to determine safe and effective treatments for patients with extreme obesity and its associated medical conditions," said Susan Z. Yanovski, M.D., a co-author of the paper and co-director of NIDDK's Office of Obesity Research.
"This study's results can help patients and physicians make informed decisions about potential risks and benefits of bariatric surgery," she added. | <urn:uuid:95055465-500c-4d95-8622-5c4178f06f45> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | http://www.medindia.net/news/Bariatric-Surgery-Safer-Than-Previously-Thought-Study-55703-1.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320263.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624133941-20170624153941-00211.warc.gz | en | 0.957994 | 496 | 2.5625 | 3 |
We’ve all heard of the major national holidays, such as Christmas and Thanksgiving, but did you know there are animal-themed holidays that celebrate our animal friends? These celebrated holidays slip quietly through the year without a lot of people even noticing. However, there are plenty of reasons why we should be spreading the word about these animal-themed holidays. With the number of extinct animals increasing daily, the importance of spreading the love of these animals has never been more important. So, here are 12 animal-themed holidays to mark on your calendar in 2020.
National Bird Day – January 5
National Bird Day celebrates the beauty, song, and flight of birds as well as their importance as indicators of a healthy ecosystem.
Nearly 12% of birds are endangered or threatened species. Parrots and songbirds are especially at risk, mostly due to loss of habitat and a reduction in food resources due to development within their natural habitats.
Nearly half a million people celebrate this holiday, annually by bird watching.
If you’re looking for a way to do more than watch and would like to interact with birds in a natural environment, free-flight aviaries are an excellent way to achieve this.
The Gulf Breeze Zoo, a zoo in Florida, has a large free-flight aviary where visitors can appreciate the wonderful species of birds up close. Visitors can feed the Australian budgerigars treat sticks and observe hundreds of birds soaring above naturally.
National Hippo Day – February 15
Held annually, National Hippo Day will be held on February 15 this year. Unfortunately, these animals are hunted for their skin, meat, and bones, and are considered by some as more valuable than elephants. With more and more farmers taking over their land, too, hippos are seeing a decline in numbers, causing them to land on the vulnerable species list. However, with this national holiday, people can be reminded just how special these animals are and why we should protect them at all costs.
Learn about Butterflies Day – March 14
Butterflies are one of the most fascinating creatures on Earth, so encourage your children to celebrate this national holiday. This will not only widen their education about why it’s crucial to save the butterflies, but it will also show them just what amazing creatures they are. This year, Learn about Butterflies Day lands on March 14 and there are several ways that you can celebrate butterfly day:
- Create a butterfly garden
- Get crafty and make a butterfly out of paper
- Make a butterfly treat for them
- And, of course, you can learn about butterflies. For example, did you know that a butterfly can travel up to 3,000 miles?
Save the Elephant Day – April 16
It is a sad fact, but elephants are one of the most endangered species of animals to walk the earth. The gentle and intelligent creatures are hunted down for their tusks and as a result, have seen a decline in their numbers. Save The Elephant Day was put in place to try and stop the statistic from getting any worse. The more awareness about elephants, the more likely we have a chance of saving this incredible animal.
World Bee Day – May 20
Bees are the reason why our trees are green and why our plants are full of life. The international holiday was created to celebrate and acknowledge the hard work that bees do for us, even if we don’t always notice it.
Hug your cat day – June 4
Celebrate your love for your furry feline friend on June 4 by hugging your cat. While you may provide your cat with love every day of the year, show them that extra bit of love next year and cuddle up with them on the couch.
World Snake Day – July 16
Despite the bad rep that snakes get, there is so much to celebrate about them. With only 3,458 species left in the world, the importance of celebrating this holiday needs to be made aware.
National Homeless Animals Day – August 17
First established by the International Society for animal rights, this day is about raising awareness of the growing problem of homeless animals. More than 2.7 million cats and dogs die every year because there aren’t enough adoptive homes for them. Therefore, the national holiday is trying to put a stop to this.
To help minimize the number of animals killed every year, you can do several things:
- Have your current pet spayed or neutered
Save the Koala Day – September 27
Just like many animals are experiencing, as human life expands, a koala’s home becomes smaller. We are slowly taking over the land that koalas call home, and it is starting to affect the population. To spread awareness about the adorable animal when September 27 rolls around, why not plant a tree, change your social media picture to a koala or pin a leaf to your outfit?
International Sloth day – October 20
Be sure not to miss out on International Sloth Day on October 20 next year. The adorable animals that are famous for being slow-moving and tree-dwelling have plenty to be celebrated about.
Jellyfish Day – November 3
While Jellyfish are not always favored by many, there are many reasons why you should celebrate Jellyfish Day on November 3. For example, did you know that despite the name, Jellyfish are not actually fish? As November 3 comes around, be sure to celebrate these animals and learn more about them.
Wildlife Conservation Day – December 4
Every December, Wildlife Conservation Day serves as a reminder that we need to preserve and protect wild animals and their habitats. The day seeks to raise awareness about the dangers that wild animals face, as well as shine a light on the efforts being made to lower human impacts on wildlife. | <urn:uuid:290cc128-0436-46ce-a1e2-e7a60f8d26a6> | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | https://www.3kidsandus.com/tag/animal-themed-holiday/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655887046.62/warc/CC-MAIN-20200705055259-20200705085259-00501.warc.gz | en | 0.957971 | 1,184 | 2.90625 | 3 |
Failure of passive transfer in foals
November 6, 2019
Equine veterinary hospital Comments Off on Standing tieback surgery for ‘roarers’
Did you know that foals are not able to produce antibodies before birth and they do not receive them from the placenta? They rely entirely on the first milk received from the mare (colostrum) for the passive transfer of immunity. The vital antibodies they receive through the colostrum will protect them for the first 2 months of life.
Antibodies, also known as immunoglobulins, play a vital role in the immune system, the body’s defence mechanism. They are the first line action against intruders like viruses and bacteria. Antibodies bind to the intruders and help the cells of the immune system to recognise and destroy them. If none or only a few antibodies are present in the bloodstream, the cells of the immune system will not be able to recognise intruding antigens, significantly increasing the risk of life-threatening disease.
There is a multitude of reasons why this transfer of antibodies might not occur, including both maternal and foal related causes
1) The concentration of antibodies in the first milk rapidly decreases within the first 24 hours after lactation begins. Therefore it is imperative to recognise premature lactation in the mare as a risk factor even if the foal is alert and drinking early after birth.
2) In some cases, the quality of the mare’s colostrum is not good enough, as mainly happens in maiden mares and in older mares. You can evaluate the quality of the colostrum by appearance and by using a refractometer (typically used for assessment of wine). Good quality colostrum should be yellow and sticky in appearance and have a reading of ≥ 1.060 on the refractometer.
3) It is very important to ensure that the foal gets up and suckles quickly after birth; within the first hour of life. In some instances, however, the foal does not do this because of weakness, limb deformities or other diseases that make the process of getting up to suckle difficult.
Whatever the cause, inadequate absorption of antibodies by the foal, also called failure of passive transfer, happens in up to 38% of foals. Failure of passive transfer is not a disease on its own, but it predisposes to the development of the disease. A significant number of foals with failure of passive transfer (up to 35- 50%) develop disease requiring medical intervention within the first 3 months of life.
Therefore, it is highly recommended to determine whether the concentration of antibodies in the foal’s blood is adequate. This is done by taking a blood sample from the foal when it is approximately 24hrs old and measuring the concentration of a common type of antibodies in the blood (IgG). IgG levels ≤400mg/dl signify complete failure of passive transfer (FPT), IgG levels of ≥400mg/dl and ≤800mg/dl signify partial failure of passive transfer (pFPT) and IgG levels ≥800mg/dl signify the adequate passive transfer of immunity.
Management of FPT and pFPT depends on how high the infection pressure is in the foal’s environment and how good the level of protection is (FPT versus pFPT). Lowering infection pressure can be achieved by for example stabling the mare and foal away from yearlings and competition horses, keeping the stall and equipment clean, washing your hands before handling of the mare and foal and making sure the mare has been adequately dewormed prior to foaling. Adequate vaccination of the mare prior to foaling can also lower infection pressure and provides increased levels of antibodies in the colostrum.
When medical treatment of FPT is considered necessary, this consists of administering additional colostrum to the foal during the first 12 hours of life. When the foal is more than 12 hours of age, the antibodies cannot be sufficiently absorbed from the gut into the blood, and intravenous administration of plasma can then be used to increase the level of antibodies. | <urn:uuid:de8140df-0a92-474a-9e89-917cd10c82e6> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.camdenequinecentre.com.au/failure-of-passive-transfer-in-foals/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371604800.52/warc/CC-MAIN-20200405115129-20200405145629-00360.warc.gz | en | 0.947495 | 857 | 3.09375 | 3 |
What is jambient?
jambient is a style of music, and the instrument--a piece of software--for making it.
A way of jamming with digital audio samples, jambient is especially suited to audio collage, non-rhythmic ambient sound making, and exploration of spontaneously improvised sound environments. jambient is a musical instrument--it is for playing sound live.
With jambient you can play samples instantly, using simple drag and drop operations; manipulate their volume, pitch and pan, either singly, or in groups; use the joystick controlled Mix Pad to mix between four sets of sound--and not just volume, but pitch and pan as well, or two of these sonic dimensions at once!; position sounds in sonic space and use the joystick to travel through them; and write scripts to automate changes, respond to events, or set up relations between sounds. (See Features.)
How jambient is different from other music
Most available music making software, if not explicitly for scoring music, demands something akin to scoring: you choose patterns, melodies, instruments, rhythms, programs, presets, etc., in advance. If the software allows for improvisation, it is within these preset structures. jambient evolved from my attempt to get away from grids and advance choices to explore sound in a new way.
jambient is far more open ended than most sampling software. You can continuously evolve and layer the samples being played, and their mix. An improvising instrumentalist draws a pallet of sounds out of the acoustic possibilities of an instrument; jambient extends this gesture into sample space. The joystick and mouse become extensions of your ears and body, allowing you to dig around in sound.
Jambient also differs from DJ-software that tries to emulate turntabling. Even if such software were to make sounds that approach the subtleties of a turntable, there is no way of simulating the feel and weight of a platter under the fingers--and that is a big part of body-sound-machine that makes a turntable a musical instrument.
jambient is a new musical instrument
Rather than emulating an analog turntable in digital, jambient finds a new body-sound-machine system, by hooking you into digital samples through joystick and mouse. Turntabling turns turntables into a musical instrument, jambient turns Microsoft' s DirectX gaming platform into a instrument that lets you do things impossible with turntables or traditional sampler software.
Keep in mind that jambient is a musical instrument. You interact with it directly to play and change sound. Learning how to use it depends on that interaction--you can't learn to play it without listening to what happens, any more than you can learn to play a trumpet or turntable by reading about it. Also, in order to make jambient playable as an instrument, we had to move away from the typical Windows interface.
jambient's current incarnation is a result of over two years of playing the music and developing the software in concert. The evolution is notover. You're part of it.
Enjoy playing jambient, and please let us hear what you are doing with it.
Peterborough, August 2000 | <urn:uuid:80137e18-71ec-41b1-848e-e3244430ee4d> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | http://jambient.com/manual/WhatIsJambient.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934809160.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20171124234011-20171125014011-00123.warc.gz | en | 0.92849 | 675 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Ten miles north of Boston is the National Historic Site of the Saugus Iron Works, site of the first heavy industry in the country. It’s a pretty spot, and a great place for a picnic, which my family took advantage of a couple of weeks ago:
It’s a reconstruction of the first blast furnace and iron works in the US. It had its first pour in 1648 and last in 1668. The site was lost for centuries, until archaeologists uncovered it in the 1950s. They found the original hammer for the rolling mill (a 500-pound chunk of iron), found the remains of the wooden water wheels, and found the foundations of the brick furnace itself. Then volunteers found the plans and rebuilt the entire site, re-creating both the mechanisms and the buildings.
I’m sure that most visitors today see it as a charming piece of antique technology, the kind whose workings one can actually see and understand. You can trace just how the water runs down the spillway, drives the overshot wheel, and turns a crank to pull a bellows or a hammer up and down.
To me, though, it looks like a desperate attempt to build the highest technology of the day by people who were living on the edge of world. It’s as if the people of McMurdo Station in Antarctica attempted to build a semiconductor fab.
In the 1640s the Massachusetts Bay Colony was barely established. The main fleet of some 20,000 colonists had only come across in the 1630s. They had settled the coast of New England, and penetrated a few miles inland along water routes, but were faced with a vast and unknown continent to the west, full of hostile natives. Plus there were hostile French to the north and hostile Virginians and Spaniards to the south. Few others had come since then, since England was in the midst of a horrific civil war. King Charles II and Parliament were at each other’s throats over who was the actual master of England.
The colonists could grow their own food, weave their own clothes and build their own houses. The key technology they lacked was iron. Every nail and every axehead had to come from England. So in 1641 the Puritan leaders of Massachusetts set up a plan for “the discovery of mines”, and appointed the governor’s son, John Winthrop Jr., to lead it. He found financing for an iron works in England, and artisans to run it, but picked a bad site in Quincy Mass (now the John Winthrop Jr. Furnace Site) that was too far from the bog iron that would supply the furnace. Another man, Richard Leader, got money from the same investors and built the site in Saugus starting in 1646.
Saugus was ideal in that it was close to ponds and swamps for the bog iron, surrounded by forests for charcoal (it took an acre a day to feed the furnace), close to lime in Nahant for driving off the slag, and on the navigable Saugus River for transport. The furnace could produce 8 tons a week when running full out, and you wouldn’t want to move that by wagon. There’s a good description of the site here.
Its actual operation must have been hellish. Molten iron dissolves everything, and burns must have been routine. The cast iron blobs (“pigs”) were worked into square wrought iron rods by pounding them with an enormous water-driven hammer. The noise must been crippling. The Puritans themselves wouldn’t work there – they brought over prisoners of war captured in Cromwell’s Scottish campaigns and had them work off a multi-year indenture. The hard-drinking, foul-mouthed Scots did not get along with the Puritans, and much of what we know of the operation of the works comes from arrest records.
Although the quality of the iron produced was apparently quite good, the English investors ultimately fired Leader, and his successors didn’t last long either. The bog iron ran out, the forests were cut down, the Scots high-tailed it out of there, and the English forced fixed prices on the colonial industry and forbade them from selling to anyone else. It all dissolved in a welter of law suits, as high-tech ventures have from that day to this.
Maybe it was just too early. There were no other blast furnaces in the US for another 35 years, not until the early 1700s. That’s also about when Abraham Darby figured out how to use coke instead of charcoal in the furnace, strongly cutting its cost. A better technology had to come along before the provincials could actually master it. The colonists at McMurdo, stranded there by the Second American Civil War of 2025, will have to wait for the multi-ebeam direct-write-on-wafer semiconductor fab machines to come along before they can start making their own chips. | <urn:uuid:a6b473ad-b1c2-4369-bf1c-85105b4f245c> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | https://babelniche.wordpress.com/2010/05/12/a-failed-high-tech-gamble/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323970.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629121355-20170629141355-00615.warc.gz | en | 0.979694 | 1,033 | 2.65625 | 3 |
Your skin, the largest organ of the human body, has many functions:
Who Needs Sunscreen?
According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, nearly everyone needs sunscreen, which prevents skin cancer by protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful UVA/UVB rays. Anyone can get skin cancer, regardless of age, gender or race. In fact, an estimated one in five Americans will develop skin cancer in their lifetime.
What Sunscreen Should I Use?
The American Academy of Dermatology recommends everyone use a sunscreen that offers the following levels of protection:
A sunscreen product with these qualities, such as Vertra’s line of “Elemental Resistance” products, helps protect your skin from sunburn, early skin aging and skin cancer. However, sunscreen alone cannot fully protect you. In addition to sunscreen, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends taking the following steps to protect your skin:
When Should I Use Sunscreen?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, sunscreen should be worn every day that you will be outside exposed to the sun, which emits harmful UV rays year-round. Even on cloudy days, up to 80 percent of harmful UVA/UVB rays from the sun can penetrate your skin.
Snow, sand and water increase the need for sunscreen because they reflect the sun’s rays.
How Much Sunscreen Should I Use and How Often?
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, the amount of sunscreen you use should be determined by a number of factors, including:
Broad Spectrum Sunscreens Protect Against Both UVA and UVB rays. What is the Difference Between UVA and UVB Rays?
Sunlight consists of two types of harmful rays that reach the earth: UVA rays and UVB rays. Overexposure to either can lead to skin cancer. In addition to causing skin cancer, these rays also:
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services and the World Health Organization’s International Agency of Research on Cancer have declared UV radiation from the sun and artificial sources, such as tanning beds and sun lamps, as known carcinogens (cancer-causing substance).
There is typically no safe way to tan. Every time you tan, you are in danger of damaging your skin. As this damage builds, you speed up the aging of your skin and increase your risk for all types of skin cancer.
Who Regulates Sunscreens?
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates sunscreen products as over-the-counter drugs. The FDA has several safety and effectiveness regulations in place that govern the manufacture and marketing of all sunscreen products, including safety data on ingredients.
How do FDA Sunscreen Guidelines affect my Sunscreen?
Thanks to a 2011 FDA ruling, sunscreen labels now provide more information about what type of UV protection a sunscreen offers and what a sunscreen can do.
On the label, you’ll see whether the sunscreen:
Sunscreen manufacturers can no longer claim that a sunscreen is “waterproof” or “sweat proof,” as the FDA has determined that those terms are misleading. Even when using a water-resistant sunscreen, you should reapply after getting out of the water or after sweating.
Are Sunscreens Safe?
Scientific evidence supports the benefits of using sunscreen to minimize short-term and long-term damage to the skin from the sun’s rays. Using sunscreen, seeking shade and wearing protective clothing are all important behaviors to reduce your risk of skin cancer.
Is a High-Number SPF Better than a Low-Number SPF?
Most dermatologists recommend using a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30, which blocks 97 percent of the sun’s rays. Higher-number SPFs block slightly more of the sun’s rays, but no sunscreen can block 100 percent of the sun’s rays. Currently, there is not any scientific evidence that indicates using a sunscreen with an SPF higher than 50 can protect you better than a sunscreen with an SPF of 50. Importantly, one must remember that high-number SPFs last the same amount of time as low-number SPFs. A high-number SPF does not allow you to spend additional time outdoors without re-application. All sunscreens should be applied approximately every two hours or according to time on the label, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.
Skin Cancer Prevention and Early Detection
According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States, where doctors diagnose more cases every year than all other cancers combined. The number of skin cancer cases has been going up over the past few decades.
Most skin cancers are caused by too much exposure to UV rays. Most of this exposure comes from the sun, but some may come from man-made sources, such as indoor tanning beds and sun lamps.
Fortunately you can do a lot to protect yourself and your family from skin cancer through early detection. X-rays and blood tests are not needed to detect skin cancer early just your eyes and a mirror. If you have skin cancer, early detection is the best way to ensure successful treatment of the disease.
What is Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer starts in the cells of the skin. Some other types of cancer start in other parts of the body and can spread to the skin, but these are not skin cancers.
There are 3 main types of skin cancers:
How Many People Get Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer is the most common of all cancers. About 3.5 million cases of basal and squamous cell skin cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.
According to the American Cancer Society, melanoma, a more dangerous type of skin cancer, accounted for roughly 73,000 cases of skin cancer in 2015.
What are Basal and Squamous Cell Skin Cancers?
Basal and squamous cell skin cancers are by far the most common cancers of the skin. Both are found mainly on parts of the body exposed to the sun, such as the head and neck. These cancers are strongly related to a person’s sun exposure.
According to the American Cancer Society, basal and squamous cell cancers are much less likely than melanomas to spread to other parts of the body and become life threatening. Still, it’s important to find and treat them early. If left alone, they can grow larger and invade nearby tissues and organs, causing scarring, deformity, or even loss of function in some parts of the body. Some of these cancers (especially squamous cell cancers) can spread if not treated, and in some cases they can be fatal.
What is Skin Melanoma?
Melanomas develop from melanocytes, the cells that make the brown pigment that gives skin its color. Melanocytes can also form benign (non-cancerous) growths called moles. (Your doctor might call the mole a nevus.)
Melanomas can occur anywhere on the body, but are more likely to start in certain areas. The most common place for men to find melanoma is the trunk (chest and back) while women more often have melanomas on the legs. The neck and face are other common places for melanoma to start.
Melanomas are not as common as basal cell and squamous cell skin cancers, but they can be far more serious. Like basal cell and squamous cell cancers, melanoma is almost always curable in its early stages. But left alone, melanoma is much more likely to spread to other parts of the body, where it can be very hard to treat.
What are the Other Skin Cancers?
There are many other types of skin cancers as well, but they are much less common:
Together, these types account for less than 1% of all skin cancers.
It’s important for doctors to tell the types of skin cancer apart, because they are treated differently. It’s also important for you to know what skin cancers look like. This can help you find them at the earliest possible stage, when they are cured most easily.
What are the Risk Factors for Skin Cancer?
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Skin Cancer?
Skin cancer can be found early, and both people and their doctors play important roles in finding skin cancer. If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor:
How do I Protect Myself from UV rays?
Use sunscreen, like Vertra’s “Elemental Resistance” products, to help prevent skin cancer.
While sunscreen protects your skin from the sun’s harmful UV rays, sunscreen is just a filter that does not block all UV rays. Sunscreen should not be used as a way to prolong your time in the sun. Even with proper sunscreen use, some UV rays get through, so other forms of sun protection are also important.
Sunscreens are available in many forms (lotions, creams, ointments, gels, sprays, wipes, and lip balms, to name a few). Some cosmetics, such as moisturizers, lipsticks and foundations, are considered sunscreen products if they have sunscreen. Some makeup contains sunscreen, but you have to check the label (makeup, including lipstick, without sunscreen does not provide sun protection).
Read The Labels!
When choosing a sunscreen product, always read the label. Sunscreens with broad spectrum protection (against both UVA and UVB rays) and with sun protection factor (SPF) values of 30 or higher are recommended.
The SPF number is the level of protection the sunscreen provides against UVB rays, which are the main cause of sunburn. A higher SPF number means more UVB protection, but says nothing about UVA protection. For example, correctly applied SPF 30 sunscreen gives you get the equivalent of 1 minute of UVB rays for each 30 minutes you spend in the sun. So, 1 hour in the sun wearing SPF 30 sunscreen is the same as spending 2 minutes totally unprotected. People often do not apply enough sunscreen, so they get less actual protection.
Sunscreens labeled with SPFs as high as 100+ are available. Higher numbers do mean more protection, but many people don’t understand the SPF scale. SPF 15 sunscreens filter out about 93% of UVB rays, while SPF 30 sunscreens filter out about 97%, SPF 50 sunscreens about 98%, and SPF 100 about 99%. The higher you go, the smaller the difference becomes and no sunscreen protects you completely.
Sunscreens with an SPF lower than 15 must now include a warning on the label stating that the product has been shown only to help prevent sunburn, not skin cancer or early skin aging.
Broad Spectrum Sunscreen: Sunscreen products can only be labeled “broad spectrum” if they have been tested and shown to protect against both UVA and UVB rays. Some of the chemicals in sunscreens that help protect against UVA rays include avobenzone (Parsol 1789), ecamsule, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide. Only broad spectrum sunscreen products with an SPF of 15 or higher can state that they help protect against skin cancer and early skin aging if used as directed with other sun protection measures.
Water Resistant Sunscreen: Sunscreens can no longer allowed be labeled as “waterproof” or “sweat proof” because these terms are misleading. Sunscreens that claim to be “water resistant,” must state whether the protection lasts for 40 or 80 minutes of swimming or sweating, based on tests.
Expiration Dates: Check the expiration date on the sunscreen to ensure that the product has not expired. Most sunscreen products are good for at least 2 to 3 years, but you may need to shake the bottle to remix the sunscreen ingredients. Sunscreens that have been exposed to heat for long periods, such as if they were kept in a glove box or car trunk through the summer, may be less effective.
What is ultraviolet (UV) radiation?
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a major risk factor for most skin cancers. Sunlight is the main source of UV rays. Tanning lamps and beds are also sources of UV rays. People who get a lot of UV exposure from these sources are at greater risk for skin cancer.
Even though UV rays make up only a very small portion of the sun’s rays, they are the main cause of the sun’s damaging effects on the skin. UV rays damage the DNA of skin cells. Skin cancers start when this damage affects the DNA of genes that control skin cell growth.
There are 3 main types of UV rays:
Both UVA and UVB rays can damage skin and cause skin cancer. UVB rays are a more potent cause of at least some skin cancers, but based on what’s known today, there are no safe UV rays.
The strength of the UV rays reaching the ground depends on a number of factors, such as:
People who live in areas with year-round, bright sunlight have a higher risk of skin cancer. Spending a lot of time outdoors for work or recreation without protective clothing and sunscreen increases your risk.
The pattern of exposure may also be important. For example, frequent sunburns in childhood may increase the risk for some types of skin cancer many years or even decades later.
Skin cancers are one result of getting too much sun, but there are other effects as well. Sunburn and tanning are the short-term results of too much exposure to UV rays, and are signs of skin damage. Long-term exposure can cause early skin aging, wrinkles, loss of skin elasticity, dark patches (lentigos, sometimes called age spots or liver spots), and pre-cancerous skin changes (such as dry, scaly, rough patches called actinic keratosis).
The sun’s UV rays increase a person’s risk of cataracts and certain other eye problems, too. They can also suppress the skin’s immune system. Darker-skinned people are generally less likely to get skin cancer than light-skinned people, but they can still get cataracts and immune suppression.
The UV Index
As noted above, the amount of UV light reaching the ground in any given place depends on a number of factors, including the time of day, time of year, elevation, and cloud cover. To help people better understand the strength of UV light in their area on a given day, the National Weather Service and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have developed the UV Index. It gives people an idea of how strong the UV light is in their area, on a scale from 1 to 11+. A higher number means greater risk of exposure to UV rays and a higher chance of sunburn and skin damage that could ultimately lead to skin cancer.
The UV Index is given daily for regions throughout the country. Many newspaper, television, online, and smartphone weather forecasts include the projected UV Index. Further information about the UV Index, as well as your local UV Index forecast, can be found on the EPA’s website at www.epa.gov/sunwise/uvindex.html. Smartphone apps are available from the EPA at www.epa.gov/enviro/mobile. As with any forecast, local changes in cloud cover and other factors could change the actual UV levels experienced.
The information and advice provided here are general in nature and are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You are strongly encouraged to seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition. | <urn:uuid:f31f48bb-fb9c-4c57-ba58-4ec2857cbaea> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.vertra.com/the-sun/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371807538.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20200408010207-20200408040707-00292.warc.gz | en | 0.938276 | 3,261 | 3.34375 | 3 |
A is for App
Reading Fluency Apps for Struggling Readers in Primary School
A is for App supports struggling readers in primary school with advice on Apps that increase fluency in reading.
In 4 countries: Belgium, The Czech Republic, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom, a high quality fluency App is tested in a primary school with children aged 10-11.
In the United Kingdom, the University of Sheffield is testing LEXIA in the Worsbrough School in Yorkshire.
In our Teacher Toolkit find out more about:
Why Apps help fluency,
What Apps to choose at what stage of reading
LEXIA by watching a video made by Worsbrough teachers
How to organise your classroom when using Apps
Why gaming Apps work | <urn:uuid:918feecf-35bf-44c1-b877-9288f3d4dae6> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | https://www.aisforapp.eu/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579251690095.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20200126165718-20200126195718-00301.warc.gz | en | 0.936049 | 158 | 3.125 | 3 |
Over five million American citizens have Alzheimer’s disease, in fact every seventy seconds someone is diagnosed, with what is the sixth most likely cause of death at the present time.
A team of researchers from Britain have been testing a new medicine on a small sample of individuals and early signs are very promising.
Over a three month period five patients suffering from dementia were given the drug, CPHPC, and their condition remained stable.
A protein called serum amyloid P compound, SAP, is believed to contribute to Alzheimers by preventing the breaking down of existing plaques, it is found in both blood and the brain. CPHPC removes all the SAP and therefore these plaques can continue to disintegrate.
The new drug that is being tested will never actually cure Alzheimer’s but it could provide a longer prognosis for patients who suffer from the disease. The various Alzheimer’s groups worldwide have welcomed the results that were recently published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Science.
These very significant trial results will ensure that more testing will be carried out but on a much wider scale. Treatments already available for Alzheimer’s have little effect after 6 months or so and even in those early stages improvement is very small.
A large number with the disease have found no benefits at all and there is a desperate need for a potential cure to be found.
Any research, however small provides hope for those affected by this devastating disease. However, much more is required in the future to understand its cause and hopefully one day eradicate it all together. | <urn:uuid:32073f89-c62e-4f01-95d1-a0c92abd6af2> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://healthwatchcenter.com/2009/04/possible-new-alzheimers-treatment-found/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886104636.62/warc/CC-MAIN-20170818121545-20170818141545-00632.warc.gz | en | 0.967427 | 319 | 3.046875 | 3 |
Background. Influenza A is a major pathogen of humans and has the potential to cause worldwide pandemics. Natural killer (NK) cells are important effector cells in the innate immune response against viruses, including influenza A. Infants are more susceptible to severe influenza A viral infection, possibly attributed in part to their defective NK function.Methods.We compared the NK responses to influenza using umbilical cord blood (UCB) and adult peripheral blood (APB) mononuclear cells and purified NK cells.Results.Influenza A induced dose-dependent apoptosis of NK cells with down-regulation of NKp46 expression, which was more pronounced in UCB. Both UCB and APB NK cells responded to influenza infection by up-regulating CD69 and CD107a expression, a process further enhanced by interleukin (IL) 15. Influenza exposure also down-regulated perforin expression and K562 cytotoxicity in UCB NK cells, which was partially restored by IL-15. The production of interferon (IFN) γ and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) α by NK cells in responding to influenza was further enhanced by IL-15.Conclusions.Our findings show differential NK responses between newborns and adults. IL-15 may be beneficial in combating influenza by enhancing cytotoxic function and IFN-γ production.
|頁（從 - 到）||745-756|
|期刊||Journal of Infectious Diseases|
|出版狀態||已發佈 - 3月 1 2012|
ASJC Scopus subject areas | <urn:uuid:4a6b3dc7-c80b-45d1-85db-082b1018e73f> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://tmu.pure.elsevier.com/zh/publications/effect-of-influenza-a-infection-on-umbilical-cord-blood-natural-k | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296949093.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20230330004340-20230330034340-00421.warc.gz | en | 0.880457 | 449 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Hydrogen fuel cell and electric engine
There are three types of hydrogen engines:
- reaction engine;
- internal combustion engine;
- an engine that combines a fuel cell with electricity.
Principle of the hydrogen fuel cell and electric engine
This hydrogen engine couples a fuel cell with an electric engine. The fuel cell causes the oxidisation of the dihydrogen contained in a tank by the dioxygen in the air, thus generating heat, water vapour and an electric current.
The electricity produced then powers an electric engine that propels the vehicle, as in an electric or hybrid vehicle. A battery stores surplus energy.
The efficiency of this combination is between 50 and 70%. Several hydrogen vehicles are on the market today.
Volvo develops fuel cells for more autonomous vehicles. © auto-buzz.com
Hydrogen fuel cell and electric engine - 1 Photo | <urn:uuid:e980be1b-ec59-4d76-a8a8-f29a5f0ea524> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | http://www.futura-sciences.us/dico/d/sustainable-development-hydrogen-fuel-cell-electric-engine-50000740/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100551.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20231205105136-20231205135136-00268.warc.gz | en | 0.919989 | 180 | 3.53125 | 4 |
Australia began adding fluoride to drinking water in the 1960s. Now about 90% of us drink fluoridated water. Experts say that it’s a safe and effective method for achieving healthy teeth for children, and also adults. However, some people say we should stop, so it’s important to look at the facts.
What is fluoride?
Fluoride isn’t a medication – it’s a substance found naturally in air, rock, plants, soil and water. One argument against fluoride is that it’s listed as a poison and used as an insecticide. However fluoride is only a poison when used in excessive amounts.
Water fluoridation involves adding very small amounts of fluoride, which increases the amount already there naturally up to a level that is still safe.
Fluoride is similarly added to toothpaste and gels.
In addition, research on water fluoridation has not only finds it prevents tooth decay, there’s no evidence it causes health problems, such as weakened bones or cancer. It’s also the least expensive way to provide fluoride to all children and adults, by adding a benefit, over and above just using fluoride toothpaste and gels.
What to do?
In addition to drinking fluoridated water, your children’s teeth need protection as they develop, including:
- Start low-fluoride toothpaste at 18 months and continue until 6 years old
- Use a child-size toothbrush with soft bristles
- Use a pea-size amount of toothpaste, smeared over the toothbrush
- Supervise your child when they brush until you’re sure they can do it well
And if your water isn’t fluoridated, see a dental professional to discuss making up for it with additional fluoride.
- Speak with your dentist
- Visit the Australian Dental Association website | <urn:uuid:33c87d4a-ebf3-4b06-af89-496a7c8071d9> | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | https://www.yourhealth.net.au/articles/wellbeing/dental-health/water-fluoridation-the-facts/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347406365.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20200529183529-20200529213529-00293.warc.gz | en | 0.94138 | 391 | 3.265625 | 3 |
Workplace safety is an important issue that should be taken seriously by employees. By federal law, employers are required to inform workers about standard safety practices.
Mandatory fire drills provide workers with plenty of vital information about personal safety. Employees should be aware of fire exits inside a large building. Windows, stairways and exterior ladders provide escape routes when a building is set on flames. It’s also important to learn how to use a fire extinguisher that should be available on every level. Fire resistant blankets might also be available in some rooms that are prone to burning such as those without any firewalls.
Safety in Access Controlled Shelter
When there is a violent threat inside a building, workers should seek shelter behind doors that are regulated by access control systems such as digital keypads that require biometric scanning or key cards. During a lock down, employees should remain behind secure doors while also keeping any eye on windows that provide clear exterior views.
Elevators in modern commercial buildings might malfunction due to power outages, deliberate tempering or other accidents. All workers should know how to handle the emergency control panel inside an elevator. It’s important to remain calm and never try to forcefully open up doors or hatches without the assistance of firefighters and other professional personnel.
Most contemporary facilities have digital alarm systems that feature intercoms that can be used to speak directly to dispatchers. Workers should have an easy time calling for emergency response service like 911 Industrial Response Inc. when a medical problem arises inside an office. With the touch of a button, direct lines of communications are established with local police, paramedic and firefighter departments. Intercom systems can also be set on speaker mode so that users can provide some basic emergency care to others while following instructions from dispatchers.
Industrial and laboratory settings require workers to wear protective gear when entering certain facilities. Safety goggles, gloves, aprons and face masks might be required for anyone walking inside controlled environments. Even if safety gear is optional, workers should develop good habits in wearing anything that’s available including hard hats at construction or renovation sites. Sometimes, workers in chemical plants and healthcare facilities might have to wear hazmat body suits.
To be prepared for emergency situations, employees should establish good relations with onsite security staff. Additionally, all workers should know by name the in-house maintenance staff that can manage hardware and structural problems. | <urn:uuid:d28d4142-f685-470d-a3ae-648026b243c2> | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | https://www.dudelol.com/5-ways-to-ensure-your-safety-while-at-work/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655880616.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20200706104839-20200706134839-00579.warc.gz | en | 0.931628 | 488 | 3 | 3 |
Panoramic X-rays (also known as Panorex®) are wrap around photographs of the face and teeth. They offer a view that would otherwise be invisible to the naked eye. X-rays in general, expose hidden structures, such as wisdom teeth, reveal preliminary signs of cavities, and also show fractures and bone loss.
Panoramic X-rays are extraoral and simple to perform. Usually, dental X-rays involve the film being placed inside the mouth, but panoramic film is hidden inside a mechanism that rotates around the outside of the head.
Panoramic X-rays are generally taken for a baseline around the time the permanent teeth start to erupt. The Planmeca ProMax S3 Panoramic unit at SKY Pediatric Dentistry has the additional ability to take cavity-checking Bitewing X-rays from OUTSIDE the mouth. Please contact Dr. Ashley and the staff at SKY Pediatric Dentistry to learn more.
Panoramic X-rays are extremely versatile in dentistry, and are used to:
How are panoramic X-rays taken?
The panoramic X-ray provides the dentist with an ear-to-ear two-dimensional view of both the upper and lower jaw.
The Planmeca ProMax S3 equipment consists of a robotic arm that holds the X-ray generator, and a moving film attachment that holds the pictures. The head is positioned between these two devices. The X-ray generator moves around the head taking pictures as orthogonally as possible. The positioning of the head and body is what determines how sharp, clear and useful the X-rays will be to the dentist. The pictures are magnified by as much as 30% to ensure that even the minutest detail will be noted.
Panoramic X-rays are an important diagnostic tool and are also valuable for planning future treatment.
If you have questions or concerns about panoramic X-rays, please contact our practice. | <urn:uuid:97522768-2ab2-4227-a713-299f262e3d47> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://www.skypediatricdentistry.com/dr-mandy-ashley/pediatric-dentistry/panoramic-x-rays/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100327.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20231202042052-20231202072052-00888.warc.gz | en | 0.948245 | 414 | 2.953125 | 3 |
There have been two books sitting on the shelf in my office for as long as I can remember. They are picture books about the Terracotta Army of Qin Shi Huang, the first Emperor of China, constructed to serve the Emperor in the afterlife and buried around the time of his death in 210 BCE. The books I’ve had are children’s books, but at the time I became interested in the Army, there really weren’t any other books I could find on the subject.
I mention this to illustrate how it has long been a dream of mine to see the massive Terracotta Army in person, and on my recent trip to China I was finally able to visit this magnificent array of sculptures that has reasonably referred to as a “wonder of the world.”
I took a lot of pictures. This will be a long blog post. As always, you can click on individual photos to see them larger. But before we begin, let’s talk about what the Terracotta Army is, and its history.
On March 29, 1974, a group of farmers digging a water well in Shaanxi Province in China, not too far from Xi’an, came across a life-size and obviously very old figure of a soldier, made of fired clay (terracotta). They notified the authorities, who sent archaeologists to the site. The scientists soon determined that there was not one figure, but many — to date, it is estimated that there are probably some 8,000 terracotta figures, most still buried and in pieces. As noted, these figures were fashioned as part of the mausoleum of Emperor Qin Shi Huang (260-210 BCE), the first leader to unify the various warring states of China into a single country, which happened 221 BCE.
What is quite amazing is that nobody was aware that this massive collection of figures even existed. It is not as if Qin’s funeral complex was unknown: the Chinese historian Sima Qian (145-86 BCE) wrote about the massive funeral preparations for the Emperor, which apparently began in 246 BCE soon after Qin ascended the throne. The mausoleum reportedly required 700,000 workers to build, and the burial mound of the Emperor itself is said to contain a model of the Chinese empire, with rivers made of mercury. (In fact, tests around the burial mound showed high levels of mercury, lending credence to the claim.) But there is no mention in history of the massive Terracotta Army, which made it a particularly big surprise when it was (re)discovered.
Four pits for the army have been discovered, though the fourth was found empty, representative of work left incomplete after the Emperor died and his empire collapsed into chaos again. The pits are, curiously, about a mile away from the mausoleum of the Emperor. Originally, all four pits were covered by wooden ceilings, though all collapsed — either due to time or deliberate destruction — and the warriors within were entombed in hard-packed earth. Excavation and reconstruction of the figures, as we will see, is a painstaking process, and having seen the extent of the archaeological dig, I would not be surprised if it takes another hundred years to reconstruct the Army as fully as possible.
But, anyway, onto the photos! I went to visit the Army with my former postdoctoral advisor Taco and a pair of Chinese students who graciously came along to help. Due to road closures, it took us about 2 1/2 hours to get to the site. I was a little nervous on the whole ride there — would I really be seeing the legendary Terracotta Army after all? At last, we purchased our tickets and arrived at the gate of the complex.
I should note all the parasols — Chinese women usually carry them as shade from the hot sun. And it was hot during my trip to China; I suspect my hosts thought I had some sort of horrible fever from the amount I was sweating.
The Chinese government knows a good thing when they see one — it was immediately clear that immense resources had been dedicated to protecting and displaying the Terracotta Army, even though it remains an active archaeological excavation. Massive, beautiful buildings have been built to house the pits, as can be seen below.
Pit 1 is the original discovery, the largest collection of figures, and the collection that has been most reconstructed. We started there, and walking in the front entrance one is immediately greeted with the most amazing sight.
Warriors, marching in formation, almost as far as the eye can see. There was a big crowd at this end of the pit, which gives the best view of the warriors. I patiently waited for there to be an opening, and then took as many photographs as I could.
This image shows one of the truly remarkable things about the Warriors: every one is different. According to Wikipedia, the separate pieces of the figures — heads, arms, legs, torsos — were manufactured separately, in an early form of assembly line, but eight face molds were used and each figure had unique features added with clay afterwards. Each warrior therefore has his own look, even personality, and it makes them seem molded from life.
You will probably notice that the soldiers have empty hands. Originally, all of them would have had appropriate weapons, but many of these were probably looted after the death of the Emperor. Others that remained, made of wood, would have rotted away long ago. Nevertheless, a number of weapons and fragments in excellent condition have been recovered on the site.
Many horses have also been found and, as I will note later, remains of chariots. Some 130 chariots with 520 horses, as well as 150 cavalry horses, are estimated to be present.
Many of my pictures show the figures with a reddish hue. I think this is an artifact of the relatively low lighting in the building, as they did not appear red in person.
Many heads seem to be missing, even on apparently completed figures. Talking with Taco about it, we wondered if the heads of the Warriors were deliberately destroyed by vandals. It would be a symbolic way to destroy their spirits and show disrespect for them.
I could hardly tear myself away from looking at, and photographing, the figures. The variety of faces made every one feel like a new discovery.
As I noted, the Warriors have long been buried in hard-packed soil. With the excavated and reconstructed figures standing in place in front of unexcavated pieces, it often looks as if they were marching directly from the earth, putting themselves back together as they march.
Have I mentioned how amazing the faces of the Warriors are? Well, here are some more.
Below is a closer look at what looks to be a higher-ranking officer in the front of a back that we saw earlier.
Even at a distance — the observation walkway is quite high above the Warriors — one can pick out facial features. Below is a figure that we naturally started referring to as “Grumpy.”
Here are a few more faces up close. Again, note how different they are from those seen earlier.
It is really difficult to convey through photos how awe-inspiring the Terracotta Army is in person. Whenever possible, I tried to take panorama photos to capture the number of figures and the size of the formations.
All the pictures so far were taken just from the front of Pit 1! Circling around the building gives a different perspective of the Army, though an equally impressive one.
The side view of the Warriors gives a better impression of their true three-dimensional nature. No cardboard cutouts are these!
Once away from the front entrance, you can see the very spot where the farmers discovered the Army in 1974.
Here’s even more of the Warriors, up close.
A variety of different workshops fashioned the figures, and one would expect that there would be some variation in their quality. Some, like the following, appear almost cartoonish.
Near the back of the reconstructed Warriors, it appears even more like they are marching directly from the earth.
Near the back of the Pit 1 building, warriors and horses are being actively reconstructed. On display are many of the partially completed figures.
We weren’t quite sure why the figures were wrapped in plastic. Our best guess: the fixative used to put them back together may dry quickly in the air, and therefore dry much more quickly on the surface than underneath. By wrapping the figures in plastic, the fixative would presumably dry more evenly.
Later, in the museum, we would find just the head of a Terracotta Warrior wrapped in plastic, making it look the the aftermath of some sort of mafia hit job and disposal!
Other figures remained in pieces, in the process of reconstruction. It was here that one could really begin to appreciate the amount of effort required to just get a single soldier back into the Army.
Recently repaired figures were standing at attention, seemingly eager to rejoin their compatriots.
It was a particularly nice treat to see workers in the process of reconstruction. I can only wonder how many people are employed in excavating and repairing the Army.
I also felt quite lucky to be able to see a horse figure under reconstruction. Note the support under the horse’s midsection; it must be a challenge to not only reassemble the figures, but make them strong enough to support their own weight again.
Adjacent to the reconstruction area, a group of figures stood silently at attention. I assume that these were recently completed or almost completed figures, ready to rejoin the ranks.
At this point we had gone over halfway around Pit 1. On this second side, the right side from the entrance, were areas only partially excavated. I readily found myself pondering the impermanence of humankind’s works while looking down at the partially buried figures.
On this side, there were workers slowly excavating new figures from the hard-packed earth. The worker in the photo below seemed to be digging out a soldier’s armor, though it was difficult to tell.
I found the partially uncovered figures to be just as compelling, or sometimes even moreso, than the figures perfectly repaired. It is somewhat odd to think that, years from now, this scene will be gone and the figure will be standing in the ranks.
Having made a complete loop of Pit 1, we moved on to the Pit 2 building. Archaeological work at Pit 2 started a number of years after Pit 1, and it appears to be still quite untouched, though this appearance is deceiving, as we will see. Fragments of warriors and horses lie scattered where they were uncovered, looking like the casualties in a particularly vicious battle.
Along the way, we saw what I could only describe as the “memories of a horse.”
We passed along the left side of Pit 2, but there was not much to see on this side other than remains. We opted to move on to Pit 3, which as I have said was behind Pit 2, and circle back through on the way back.
Pit 3 is the smallest of the three, and contains a small number of figures. However, it was evidently the “command pit,” containing high-ranking officials and a war chariot. The chariot has evidently not been reconstructed (if anything remains), and it appears instead like a ghost chariot.
One group of figures, mostly without heads, had been arranged “facing” each other, giving the appearance of a phantom conversation.
From the other side of the pit, one gets a better view of the horses that pull the ghost chariot.
So where, exactly, are the war chariots? I didn’t see any reconstructed ones, but traces of them remain. Below is a photo that shows the remains of a chariot wheel that I saw back in Pit 2.
Have I mentioned that the Chinese are clever people? In the Pit 3 building, you can have your picture taken and merged onto the body of a Terracotta Warrior, for a price of course.
It is worth sharing a photo of the Pit 3 Building, to show how elegant a home the Chinese have built for their relics.
Passing back into the Pit 2 Building, we passed along the other side. More of the terracotta remains had been uncovered on this side, but still looked like a massacre long past.
This side of Pit 2 also, however, contains some of the most unique figures, reconstructed and up close. The first of these was a kneeling archer.
The archers were found in Pit 2, and 160 kneeling archers were uncovered. Much rarer is the next figure, a high-ranking officer.
Only seven of these high-ranking officers have been found. The style of clothing and ornate knots on the clothing indicate the high rank. He can be compared with the middle-ranking officer that was on display beside him.
The most impressive figure on display, however, was the cavalryman and his horse.
The horse is wonderfully detailed, as this side view shows.
116 similar cavalrymen with horses were found in Pit 2.
The final figure they had on display is one I like to call “kung-fu archer,” though he is actually a standing archer, missing bow and arrows. 172 standing archers were found in Pit 2.
Perhaps the coolest thing about Pit 2, however, is something quite new. A month before I made my trip to China, I became almost ecstatic upon learning that new excavations in Pit 2 have begun, and that I might have the chance to see this work in person. I was not disappointed!
The woman in the lower left corner of the photo was carefully cleaning off the head and torso of a Warrior, and the following pictures of her at work are perhaps my favorite of my entire collection.
Something about the lighting in this image, and the clear view of the warrior and the work being done on it, really resonates with me. Perhaps it is symbolic of new China connecting with the China of old?
In any case, there is clearly still much, much work to be done.
At this point in our visit, we had been around all the army pits. However, we still had the museum to explore, which held even more surprises.
You would be forgiven at this point if you assumed that the Terracotta Warriors look now very much like they did back when they were made. This is what I thought. In fact, however, the Warriors were originally very colorfully painted! This paint has been mostly lost through time and the elements, but a few figures have been uncovered that retain tantalizing glimpses of their original coloration. The museum has many of these figures on display.
I was rather surprised that the security guards weren’t preventing anyone from taking pictures. I assumed they allowed photos provided a flash wasn’t used, and I of course wasn’t using one.
It turns out the Terracotta Warriors are not the only figures that were made for the Emperor. Closer to his mausoleum proper, excavations have uncovered many other figures, including animals, acrobats, and public officials. One of the latter was on display in the museum.
This exhibit actually provided an answer to something that has puzzled me for years: why hasn’t the Chinese government excavated the tomb of the Emperor himself, especially since it supposedly contains such amazing wonders? Well, archaeologists found that the glaze and paint on the Warriors decayed rapidly once exposed to the air. It was a major problem for many years, and a satisfying chemical solution was only found in 2003. With this in mind, I understand that the Chinese are waiting until preservation technology has advanced sufficiently before opening the Emperor’s Tomb. However, I don’t know how they’ll decide what is “sufficiently advanced.”
So what did the Warriors look like when first completed? Researchers have determined what the original paints were, and have reconstructed the original appearance of several of the figures.
They look kind of gaudy, don’t they? Taco and I were discussing this, and were reminded of the relatively recent reconstructions of the colors of ancient Greek sculptures, which were similarly blinding. We concluded that detailed painting was a sign of wealth, and it hardly mattered whether the colors clashed or not — their very presence cried out “Hey! I’m important!”
There was still one more set of wonders to be seen in the museum. Excavations near the Emperor’s tomb also uncovered a pair of bronze funeral chariots, which are in amazing condition.
The chariots are not life-size like the Terracotta Warriors, but maybe 1/2 size. Apparently there was some limit to what the Emperor’s craftsman could build in bronze?
The second chariot was lower, and appears to be the one intended to hold the body of the deceased.
The details on the chariots, people and horses were amazing! Here is another look at the horses of the second chariot.
And here’s a close-up of the driver of the first chariot.
And with this, we had seen pretty much everything to be seen! I could easily have stayed another few hours and gone back through, examining the warriors in more detail, but it was getting late and it had already been a long day. On leaving the museum, I took one final panorama of the complex.
As I’ve said, visiting the Terracotta Army fulfills a near-lifelong dream of mine. I would happily go back to see it again if I return to Xi’an, and I would encourage anyone who has the opportunity to go see it as well. Pictures can’t fully capture the feeling of awe one has when looking on the silent army of Qin.
In concluding, I can’t help but note that I’m not the only one whose imagination has been fired by the Terracotta Army. It has appeared in several movies and video games to a greater or lesser extent. For example, in the 2003 movie Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life, Lara deals with a black market dealer who has a stolen collection of warriors for sale.
More recently, the Warriors took a more active role as the undead servants of the resurrected (and evil) Emperor, in The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008).
I happened to see this movie on television just before I left for China, and I joked that I was watching it to prepare for my trip.
In the 2003 videogame Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb, Indy races to find the tomb before the Nazis. Along the way, he battles animated Terracotta Warriors.
A much more mellow game appeared in 1995. In the puzzle game Qin: Tomb of the Middle Kingdom, the player takes part in an excavation of the tomb, and along the way passes by the Terracotta Army.
I’ve seen/played all of these, but nothing compares to the real thing.
I’ve still got more China adventures to blog about! In my next post on China, I’ll talk about my visit to the site where the famed Silk Road began.
Wow! That’s pretty amazing. Thanks for sharing this. China has some fascinating history.
Great photos, thanks for sharing. I dig the full-color warriors too.
If more of these guys were in a marching pose I’d start to work on building my own army…
(doh, forgot the link)
Nice! I may need to get myself some of these…
Emperor Qin Shihuang was China’s greatest emperor and created the first unified China. He unified the measurement scale of ancient China and the width of the road, but he spent too much national power to build his mausoleum and the Great Wall, leading to the decline of the country. | <urn:uuid:e826fa10-9021-4ae1-83f2-0e5f51c1b1f8> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://skullsinthestars.com/2015/06/23/dr-skyskull-in-china-part-3-the-terracotta-army/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224648695.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20230602140602-20230602170602-00319.warc.gz | en | 0.979635 | 4,184 | 3.34375 | 3 |
Like the name suggests, red eye is a condition where your eyes appear red and feel irritated. This is due to an inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva, the membrane that covers the inside of your eyelid and the white part of your eyes. The condition is known medically as conjunctivitis.
Allergies and other environmental factors can trigger conjunctivitis but the most common cause is infection. This form is known as Infectious Conjunctivitis and can be caused by a virus or bacteria. Infectious conjunctivitis or red eye, is sometimes referred to as pink eye.
The symptoms vary depending on which type of infection you have: viral or bacterial. Common symptoms consist of red, inflamed eyes. There may also be burning, itching and swelling of the eyelids.
In viral infection, you may have a watery discharge. The discharge is more thick in bacterial conjunctivitis causing the eyelids to stick together in the morning. One or both eyes may become infected.
Whatever your symptoms, leave the diagnosis to your eye care professional. Lack of treatment or incorrect treatment may lead to serious eye damage.
The treatment for viral and bacterial conjunctivitis differs as well. Viral infections are usually left to your body’s own immune system to clear up, however cold compresses can help relieve the burning and swelling. Bacterial infections usually require some form of antibiotic drops or ointment to kill the bacteria. Warm compresses can help keep your eyelids free of discharge and cold compresses can relieve burning and swelling. Your eye care professional will recommend the treatment that’s best for you.
Eye infections are very contagious and easily spread. To prevent spreading such an infection, the following precautions should be taken:
- Avoid touching your eyes.
- Use a separate towel or tissue for each eye.
- Don’t share towels, wash cloths, cosmetics or eye drops with anyone.
- Always wash your hands before and after applying drops or ointments.
- Avoid wearing contact lenses.
- Small children should be kept away from school or daycare until the infection has cleared up. | <urn:uuid:4619c456-0ccf-40fd-8bb6-2284a31bf0c8> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://www.ocularhealthcentre.ca/red-eye/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233511361.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20231004052258-20231004082258-00275.warc.gz | en | 0.930479 | 446 | 4.125 | 4 |
1. The impact of training on _____ is the most significant, but it is the most difficult effect to demonstrate.
2. _____ analysis is helpful in determining the special needs of a particular group, such as older workers, women, or managers at different levels.
3. When trainees are given the opportunity to practice far beyond the point where they have performed a task correctly several times, the task becomes second nature and is
4. In evaluating training programs, it is important to distinguish _____ from data-collection methods.
5. Which of the following is an example of an on-the-job training method?
6. The level of training needs analysis that focuses on identifying whether training supports the company’s strategic direction is called _____ analysis.
7. Which of the following is an example of the simulation method of training?
8. Training methods used to stimulate learning can be classified in three ways, one of which is
9. _____ refers to the material that is rich in association for the trainees and is therefore easily understood by them.
10. The evaluation phase is one phase of the process for effective training to occur. Which of the following is not a part of the evaluation phase?
11. Which theory is founded on the premise that an individual’s intentions regulate his or her behavior?
12. The level of training needs analysis that attempts to identify the content of the training is _____ analysis. | <urn:uuid:b781bc6c-780c-4090-a38b-74f52fa6f2c0> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | http://www.uopehelp.com/University-of-phoenix/HRM-531-Week-4-Quiz.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934805023.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20171118190229-20171118210229-00305.warc.gz | en | 0.954951 | 298 | 3.21875 | 3 |
Science is increasingly proving to us that what is going on in your brain can affect how the body heals, even from chronic conditions such as MS, chronic pain, HIV and COPD.
Obviously this should be used in conjunction with traditional treatments and medications, not instead of but science proves that what’s in your head can speed up and improve your body’s healing processes and it can influence everything from your immune system to pain control.
Our mental state has dramatic effects when it comes to the symptoms we experience like pain, fatigue, nausea and depression. Playing a virtual-reality game can ease pain in burn victims by 50% more than by drugs alone. Placebo painkillers trigger the release of natural pain-relieving chemicals called endorphins. Showing that our thoughts and expectations can have a similar effect that drugs do. If we feel stressed and alone then warning signs such as pain, fatigue and nausea are amplified and if we feel safe and cared for then our symptoms are eased. Ultimately are brain controls and creates the experience of any damage that has been caused to our body. Our mood and mental and emotional state plays a huge part in being able to amplify or ease symptoms. Studies have shown that patients receiving warm, friendly good quality care at the GP and hospitals showed an ease in their symptoms compared to those to had a more quick, abrupt, colder experience. So regardless of the treatment given, it can be how the care is delivered that can determine a patient’s outcome and our recent trend of shortened 10min appointment slots and reduced staffing levels are in fact proven to be detrimental to patient care and outcome.
The brain controls physiological functions from digestion to the immune system and therefore is also relevant for the physical progression of the disease too. We cant wish ourselves better but by modulating our responses to stress we can influence our own brain into control our internal processes in a positive way to help reverse the progression of chronic conditions.
Stress of a situation can cause just as much harm as a physical injury for example in an earthquake just as many die from heart attacks as from falling rubble. Studies show that patients who feel negative or anxious before an invasive procedure will suffer more complications during and afterwards. Relaxation techniques have shown to vastly reduce pain and anxiety as well as the rate of adverse effects. Stressful situations can also effect our bowel movements and patients with IBS have found that gut-focused hypnotherapy teaches patients to tackle stress and calm their digestive system and is highly effective.
Stress also affects the immune system and in cases of long-term chronic conditions it can disrupt the healthy immune response and result in infections and auto-immune disease. It can accelerate MS and HIV conditions and recent studies have shown that stress-management therapy can stall progressions in MS and that mindfulness mediation can slow HIV.
There is also evidence that the mind plays a role in cancer. Stress hormones have been shown to make some cancers spread faster and an imbalance in the immune system can encourage the growth of tumours. Early results from studies show that stress-management reduces inflammation but we are still waiting to see if that translates into increased survival rates. Even if this isn't found to happen, easing the fatigue and nausea from chemotherapy may encourage someone to stick to their treatment plan and indirectly improve survival.
Patients with COPD have found that through relaxation, meditation and stress management therapy they can ease their symptoms and reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations and reduce the amount of oxygen therapy they need.
The mind can’t heal everything but it is clear that our mental state does have wide-ranging physiological effects that can affect our health in many ways even with those suffering chronic serious diseases. Trying to stay positive, feeling cared for and dealing with stressful situations can benefit your health. | <urn:uuid:0c233d6a-80eb-4a3a-949a-8cfcf69804e9> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | https://oxygenworldwide.com/news/articles-and-information/706-your-head-can-heal-your-body-and-even-reduce-oxygen-therapy.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875145981.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20200224193815-20200224223815-00529.warc.gz | en | 0.956138 | 764 | 2.90625 | 3 |
On May 7th, 1915 a passenger ship crossing the Atlantic sank with the loss of 1200 lives. On board were some world-famous figures, including multimillionaire Alfred Vanderbilt. But this wasn't the Titanic and there was no iceberg. The liner was the Lusitania and it was torpedoed by a German U-boat.
Wilful Murder is the hugely compelling story of the sinking of the Lusitania. The first book to look at the events in their full historical context, it is also the first to place the human dimension at its heart. Using first-hand accounts of the tragedy Diana Preston brings the characters to life, recreating the splendour of the liner as it set sail and the horror of its final moments. Using British, American and German research material she answers many of the unanswered and controversial questions surrounding the Lusitania: why didn't Cunard listen to warnings that the ship would be a target of the Germans? Was the Lusitania sacrificed to bring the Americans into the War? What was really in the Lusitania's hold? Was she armed? Had Cunard's offices been infiltrated by German agents? And did the Kaiser's decision to cease unrestricted U-boat warfare in response to international outrage expressed after the sinking effectively change the outcome of the First World War?
Highly readable, highly researched Wilful Murder casts dramatic new light on one of the world's most famous maritime disasters.
"'The most comprehensive and accessible account of the sinking there has been or perhaps will be'"
"'Sets a standard which other books have not achieved'"
"'A fitting monument to a multiudinous loss'"
"'It is not easy, nowadays, to write an original book on the first world war...but Preston has succeeded'"
"'A book as majestic as its subject. Preston is a consumate popular historian and a stylish and elegant writer'" | <urn:uuid:eeb0148e-6db2-4d43-aeb3-44ea6f94c5a4> | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/1005070/wilful-murder--the-sinking-of-the-lusitania/9781446423462.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655884012.26/warc/CC-MAIN-20200704042252-20200704072252-00122.warc.gz | en | 0.962705 | 388 | 2.546875 | 3 |
How Does the Water Cycle Work?
For most young scholars, a visual depiction of the water cycle is one of the earliest - and most memorable - science lessons learned at school. Along with the ozone layer and its shielding of harmful ultraviolet rays, the constant replenishment of our water supply is a fundamentally critical component of life on Planet Earth.
Water Cycle's Basic Principles
More formally known as the hydrological cycle, the chart of how Mother Nature constantly recycles its finite supply of water is a familiar sight in elementary and secondary classrooms, featuring a 360-degree daisy chain of arrows and annotations. Water stored in the atmosphere falls back down to earth in the form of precipitation (rain, sleet, snow, humidity) and runoff from snow caps. Some of it seeps into the ground, some of it sits in bodies of water and another portion is pumped through living organisms and then expelled.
Evaporation, Evapotranspiration, and Sublimation
The main ways in which water is transferred back up to the atmosphere are evaporation, evapotranspiration and sublimation. Evapotranspiration is the combination of evaporation and transpiration. The latter refers to the way humans (through breath) and plants (through secretion) release absorbed water back into atmosphere and overall water cycle. Sublimation reflects the fact that in some cases, snow and ice turns directly back into a gaseous, vapor state, bypassing the liquid or water form.
Negative Impact on the Water Cycle
In 2010, a great amount of concern has grown over the potential impact on the water cycle of the historic British Petroleum (BP) oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Sadly, one study commissioned for the Russian government notes that the fallout effect of toxic rain could come not from the oil itself but from Corexit 9500, an oil dispersant widely used in the wake of the spill by BP. The report, prepared for Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin by scientists at the Shirshov Institute of Oceanology, is but one of many attempts to quantify what is expected to be a complex and long-lasting impact of the BP oil spill on the worldwide water cycle. | <urn:uuid:9df8da71-243a-47e5-a142-3e575b90d228> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sophisticatededge.com/how-does-the-water-cycle-work.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709000375/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125640-00057-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930933 | 446 | 3.734375 | 4 |
What is Fashion Merchandising?
The fashion industry is one of the largest industries present, this is because there is a lot that goes on from the creation of designs by the manufacturers down to its acceptance by the final users. As such, there are several career paths available for various talents to explore.
Fashion merchandising works towards ensuring a manufacturer or retailer has the right products available at the right price, in the right places, at the right time and in the right quantities. Fashion merchandisers serve as a sort of bridge between the designers who want their products brought to the market, and the market (retailers and consumers), who want the trendiest items in fashion.
The entire purpose of fashion merchandise to both manufacturers and retailers is to sell at a profit. For this reason, a fashion merchandiser should have a passion for fashion and business for a start and understand how to predict and respond to customers’ wants in a way that will maximize business sales and increase revenue.
It is the responsibility of Fashion Merchandisers to predict fashion trends, plan and design store layouts, purchase apparel, and collaborate with designers to align with their customer’s taste.
Relevance to the Fashion Industry
Fashion merchandising at the manufacturing stage is needed to predict the significance of trends and preferences, estimating the consumer’s demand in terms of style, size, colour, and quantity.
Fashion merchandisers at this stage would work closely with designers in selecting the fabrics, designing the packaging, pricing, and sales promotion activities, ensuring that products are affordable to the target market while making a profit for the whole chain of departments involved in the product from manufacturing to sales.
For retail fashion merchandising, their job is more focused on forecasting trends their target market would want and when they would be in demand. They would be expected to predict consumer’s needs by considering past sales and understanding and predicting correctly the fashion trends that would be attractive to their target customers.
Fashion merchandising for retailers includes influencing the arrangement and display of products in both physical and online stores in a manner attractive to the consumers, as well as promotions and pricing that would result in target sales.
Skills Required in Fashion Merchandising
In addition to a love for fashion and personality traits such as time management, an eye for detail, and a positive work ethic, fashion merchandisers are also required to have the following skills:
- Strong communication skills: Several fashion merchandising roles require excellent communication skills. The work of Fashion merchandisers requires that they negotiate with designers, get marketing messages out to customers, to convince prospective buyers; all of these duties require effective communication skills.
- Forecasting Ability: Fashion merchandisers constantly research and observe past and current trends and try to predict the products and sizes that would be appealing to the target market while making a profit for their client. To make an accurate prediction, they must be very much aware of current industry developments.
- Analytical Ability: While making decisions and predictions to suit a target market, you must also determine how well things fit into existing budgets and whether they meet the needs of consumers. It is necessary you have skills to help analyze a complex set of issues, including the client’s sales history and brand image that may influence marketing strategies alongside other decisions.
- Vast Fashion Knowledge: Fashion merchandisers are expected to be well-versed in all aspects of fashion, from garment construction to textile types. This is to allow them to give an accurate prediction of what consumers want before they even step into the store, so the more knowledge about fashion, the better. Fashion merchandisers would likely frequent fashion shows and explore resources such as industry magazines and blogs to keep up to date with fashion trends.
Careers paths in fashion merchandising
There are several career paths for people who have a love for fashion and an eye for business to explore in fashion merchandising. In most cases, more than one person is involved in the entire process, with everyone focused on particular job responsibility.
Some of the career paths in Fashion Merchandising are:
- Visual Merchandising: This role requires creative individuals with great attention to detail. They develop visual merchandising strategies for storefronts, online stores, or catalogues. They are skilled with the creativity to determine point-of-sale displays, stands and panels for exhibition, attractive to capture the attention of customers, promote products and services of fashion businesses, and stay up to date with fashion trends. These artists earn around the range of $27,129 to $62,997 annually.
- Fashion Buyer: This role requires observing fashion trends and working with designers by attending trade shows and showrooms. It is important that people who work in this role, have vast fashion knowledge and a natural ability to predict fashion trends, possess strong negotiation skills, fashion industry savvy, and retail experience. It is common for fashion buyers to build experience by working as assistants first. Fashion Buyers typically earn between$58,532 to $115,348 annually, depending on their level of experience.
- Fashion Marketing: This role requires analytical skills to assist in forecasting and making strategic recommendations for product marketing, using customer reactions to previous market trends. These professionals help their clients analyze marketing campaigns and branding efforts. Individuals in this role must be creative, have excellent communication and writing skills, and be able to handle a team. The annual salary range of professionals in these field falls between $42,282 to$99,362.
- Fashion Store Manager: A fashion store manager is responsible for the overall performance of a store to ensure it runs smoothly and meets sales target. This role may also come with the job of handling human resources and may require creating and maintaining budgets, to report to senior management. It is also necessary to have an in-depth knowledge of the fashion market, leadership skills, sales and marketing expertise, and previous experience in retail. To succeed in this role, managers should understand how to merchandise the product to be attractive to the customers, while balancing inventories as well as encourage staff productivity. The annual salary of Store Managers falls between $37,656 and $80,016.
- Fashion Coordinator/Director: This role requires an individual who would oversee the day-to-day functions of an entire fashion design department by working with creative and developmental fashion-team members to ensure all projects are running smoothly. A thorough understanding of the fashion industry, excellent networking and communication skills, leadership, and a creative mind is needed for this role. They would work with major designers to get new information on current fashion trends, organize photoshoots, fashion shows, and magazine events. Professionals in this field earn between $40,000 and $100,000 annually.
- Account Executive: This requires persons in this role to work closely with media outlets and advertising agencies to sell and promote brands to stores. Account Executives are responsible for presenting new lines to buyers and sharing product and promotional details. Account Executives typically earn between$43,112 and $86,114annually.
Educational requirements For a Career in Fashion Merchandising
A degree in fashion merchandising or a closely related field is the typical educational requirement for entry-level work in fashion merchandising. Fashion merchandisers typically have a well-rounded education in both business and fashion. Many schools offer Diplomas, Associate or Bachelor’s degrees in fashion merchandising.
Typically, Diplomas and Associate’s programs have the advantage of being shorter, but a Bachelor’s degree would be required for positions beyond entry-level.
Fashion merchandising courses would typically cover basic classes such as fashion marketing, retail marketing and promotion, fashion buying, retail management, consumer behaviour, textile design and production, history of fashion, and economics of the fashion industry.
It is also expected that during your degree programme, you will be equipped with skills relating to problem-solving, communication, business, and marketing to improve your forecasting abilities.
Universities ad Colleges where you can study Fashion Merchandising or related courses:
If you intend to study fashion merchandising or a related course either as a Diploma or a Degree programme, here are some of the universities to explore in the US:
• Fashion Institute of Technology, New York.
• Kent State University, Ohio.
• De Montfort University, Leicester UK
• Berkeley College, New Jersey
• Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Los Angeles
If you have any queries regarding degree options and career paths in Fashion merchandising, please click here to chat with our counsellors.
You may also like: How To Become A Film Director | Educational Requirements and Skills Required
Get career and educational articles and insights from our weekly newsletter. | <urn:uuid:719496e4-3943-459b-84e8-9248ecc45194> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://degreesandcareers.info/creatives/fashion-merchandising/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224646937.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20230531150014-20230531180014-00375.warc.gz | en | 0.949104 | 1,808 | 2.734375 | 3 |
Some research has suggested that consuming eggs may help to improve cognitive function in elderly individuals. Although the mechanism by which this occurs is not yet understood, one theory is that the choline in eggs helps to protect against age-related memory decline. Additionally, the high protein and vitamin D content of eggs may also be beneficial for cognitive health. Overall, eggs appear to be a nutritious food that may offer some benefits for cognitive function in older adults.
There is no clear answer to this question as opinions on the matter vary. Some people believe that eggs are a nutritious food for the elderly, while others believe that they may be more susceptible to food poisoning from eggs. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to decide whether or not to include eggs in their diet.
Are egg whites good for seniors?
Protein is an essential macronutrient that helps your body build strong muscles and maintain muscle mass as you age. Egg whites are a great source of protein and are low in cholesterol, making them a heart-healthy choice for people at risk for heart disease or stroke. Adding egg whites to your diet is a simple way to increase your protein intake and support your overall health.
Eating eggs can help seniors who have mild iron deficiency and low energy levels. One large egg provides 6 grams of protein and a useable source of iron that is more absorbable than iron supplements.
How many eggs a day should an elderly person eat
Eating eggs is a great way to get protein and essential nutrients, but it’s important to be mindful of how many eggs you’re eating. The American Heart Association recommends up to one egg a day for most people, fewer for people with high blood cholesterol, especially those with diabetes or who are at risk for heart failure, and up to two eggs a day for older people with normal cholesterol levels and who eat a healthy diet. So if you’re looking to add eggs to your diet, be sure to do so in moderation.
Studies have shown that cholesterol for people 65 and older is less affected by their diet than someone in their 30s and younger. This means that seniors can have up to two whole eggs per day if they have normal cholesterol levels. This is because eggs are a great source of protein for seniors.
What are the cons of eating egg white?
Raw egg whites are a potential health risk for some people, but the risks are generally small. Allergic reactions, food poisoning, and biotin deficiency are all possible risks associated with eating raw egg whites. However, these risks are typically small for most people. If you have any concerns about eating raw egg whites, please consult with your healthcare provider.
There are many healthy breakfast options that are perfect for seniors. Oatmeal topped with fruits and nuts or seeds is a great option. A veggie omelet with a side of whole-grain toast is another option. A whole-grain bagel topped with avocado and cherry tomatoes is a delicious and nutritious option. A smoothie with spinach, fruit and yogurt is a great way to start the day. Hard-boiled eggs with a side of fruit is another option that is packed with protein and nutrients.
What is the unhealthiest part of an egg?
Egg yolks are a good source of nutrients like vitamins, minerals, and healthy fats. However, they are also high in cholesterol. For people at an elevated risk of heart disease, it may be necessary to avoid eating egg yolks in order to reduce the amount of cholesterol in their diet.
Eggs are a nutrient-dense food and are an excellent source of protein, vitamins, and minerals. They are also relatively inexpensive, easy to prepare, and have a soft texture, making them a good option for older adults. Including eggs in the diet can help Older adults meet their nutrient needs and maintain their health.
Should elderly eat egg yolk
Eggs are an excellent source of protein for older adults. They are easy to digest and contain a significant amount of leucine, an amino acid that is important for muscle synthesis. Eggs also contain other nutrients that are important for older adults, including vitamin D and omega-3 fatty acids.
There is currently no limit as to how many eggs elderly people can eat per day, as part of a healthy and balanced diet. This is according to the National Heart Foundation. However, it is always best to consult with a doctor or healthcare professional to make sure that this amount is suitable for an individual’s specific health needs and requirements.
What should elderly not eat?
As you get older, it’s important to cut down on certain foods that can have negative impacts on your health. This includes raw or undercooked eggs, meat and poultry, as well as grapefruit. High-sodium foods, caffeine, sodas and sugary drinks can also be detrimental, so it’s best to avoid those altogether. “Sugar-free” drinks may seem like a good option, but they often contain alcohol which can be harmful. Finally, foods with empty calories offer little to no nutritional value and should be avoided.
There are many health benefits to eating egg whites, including their high protein content. However, it is important to stick to eating 8 egg whites or less per day, as consuming more than this can lead to health problems. Egg whites are a healthy and delicious way to get the protein your body needs, so make sure to include them in your diet!
At what age should one stop eating eggs
Eggs are a great source of nutrients like protein, vitamin D, and choline. And despite what you may have heard, research shows that the cholesterol in egg is not detrimental for human health if consumed in moderation. So people in their 40s should definitely have one egg everyday, without any hesitation, to meet the nutrient requirement of the body.
If you have any of the above risks for heart disease, it is recommended that you limit your egg intake to no more than 1 per day or 4-5 per week. This will help to reduce your chance of developing heart disease.
What should seniors eat daily?
A healthy diet should include a variety of different foods from each of the food groups listed above. Try to eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables every day, and include a source of protein and whole grains at each meal. Don’t forget to include dairy and healthy fats in your diet as well!
Whole eggs are the best choice when it comes to getting the most nutritional value from eggs. Egg yolks contain all of the important vitamins and minerals that are found in eggs, and these nutrients are lost when the egg whites are removed. Clearly, whole eggs are the winner when it comes to greater nutritional value.
Why is it better to just eat egg whites
If you’re looking to cut down on calories, opting for egg whites instead of whole eggs is a good choice. Egg whites are lower in calories and fat, and higher in protein than whole eggs. They also contain most of the eggs’ vitamins and minerals.
If your diet contains little other cholesterol, according to some studies, you can have up to one egg a day. If you are worried about the cholesterol in eggs, you can use only the egg whites. The egg whites contain no cholesterol but still have protein.
What foods give energy to the elderly
Nuts are full of healthy fats and proteins that give seniors nutritional energy. Berries are loaded with antioxidants that fight cell-damaging free radicals. Whole grains provide complex carbohydrates and fiber for sustained energy. Sweet potatoes are an excellent source of vitamins and minerals. Greek or plain yogurt is a good source of protein and calcium. Mushrooms are a good source of B-vitamins. Bananas are a good source of potassium. Beans and lentils are good sources of protein and fiber.
A sedentary 70-year-old male requires around 2,000 calories. Consume about 2,600 calories a day if you are active. A female older than 70 years should eat between 1,600 and 2,000 calories daily if she is sedentary to active.
What cereal is good for seniors
There are a few different breakfast cereals that are suggested for high fiber content. Bran Flakes, Raisin Bran, and Complete Wheat Bran are all examples of cereals with a high fiber content. Shredded Wheat is also a good option for those looking for a high fiber cereal.
Pasteurized eggs are safer to consume than raw eggs because they have been heated to a temperature that kills harmful bacteria. The FDA recommends using pasteurized eggs in recipes that call for raw eggs, such as in smoothies or raw cookie dough.
The WHO defines elderly as people aged 60 or over.
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the nutritional needs of elderly people vary depending on their overall health and activity level. However, in general, eggs are a good source of protein and other nutrients that can be beneficial for elderly people.
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A dog has always been considered as man’s best friend. They will protect their masters from burglars or thieves, ensure the safety of the public, or provide companionship to people. But sometimes things can go wrong and these dogs whom we consider as our best friend can suddenly attack and bite you. According to the website of The Benton Law Firm, dog bite injuries can be fatal and can cause severe injuries.
Recent figures from the Centers for Disease Control reveal that 4.7 million dog bite incidents occur in the United States per year. Half of that number are children ranging from 5 to 9 years old. In addition, 1 out of every 5 dog bites result to injuries needing medical attention. Among the various breeds, pit bulls account for 82% of deaths due to dog bites. This breed of dog comprise 6.6% of U.S. dog population. The combination of pitbulls and rottweilers was responsible for 91% of the total recorded deaths in 2015 as well as 76% of all fatal attacks from 2005 to 2015.
Why Do Dogs Bite?
Before we proceed with first aid for dog bites, it is worth knowing the reasons why these animals act in such a way. A dog will bite as a result of stress. When they feel scared or threatened, dogs will bite as self-defense or to protect their puppies or their masters. Another reason that these animals bite is when they are not feeling well or they are startled. By knowing these things, you can keep your pet dog from biting other people.
Treating Dog Bites
While you can treat dog bites with first aid, it is recommended to see a doctor. This is important if the dog that bit you is unfamiliar to you, if the bite is deep, there is continuous bleeding, or may be infected. Dog bites may cause infection that requires treatment with antibiotics. Here are some first aid that you can try first before going to the hospital:
- Stop the bleeding by placing clean towel over the injury
- Ensure that the injured area stays elevated
- Carefully cleanse the bite using soap & water
- Apply a sterile bandage to the affected area
- Add antibiotics to the injured area and do it on a daily basis
When it comes to dog bites, you need to bear in mind that treatment will be dependent on the circumstances and level of injury of the bite. For superficial wounds, use running water for cleaning the wound. Afterwards, apply hydrogen peroxide or isopropyl alcohol. Apply a topical cream before covering with a bandage.
For puncture wounds, let the wound bleed and wait for five minutes. By letting the wound bleed, you are also cleansing it. However, if you have lost a lot of blood or is gushing out forcefully or the wound is located in the head or neck, call 911 if this happens.
After five minutes, apply direct pressure to stop the bleeding. If it stops, rinse the wound using running water and mild soap for about five minutes. Again, if it does not stop, call 911.
For puncture wounds, avoid using rubbing alcohol, hydrogen peroxide, or Mercuchrome as this will slow down the healing process. Although puncture wounds do not require a bandage, you can put one if you want to but do clean it thoroughly first.
In the hospital, the doctor will check if the bite is deep enough to result to damage in the muscoles, tendons, nerves, or bones. They will then thoroughly cleanse the bite wound to remove dirt or bacteria as well as dead tissues. The doctor will do everything to prevent infection. If the health status of the dog is unknown or if it has rabies, the doctor will give you a rabies vaccine as well as a tetanus shot. | <urn:uuid:639ac7ec-8734-4ccf-8d9e-d773a3b079a5> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | http://www.fa-gaming.com/category/dog-bites-accidents/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250594705.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20200119180644-20200119204644-00332.warc.gz | en | 0.94996 | 772 | 2.890625 | 3 |
There are more than forty species of cats in this world. However, many of them have become solitary. It means that they are going to rare breeds.
Inbreeding, hybridization, poaching and loss of habitat are some of the causes of the extinction of the cats’ species, which include both the domestic and the wild ones.
Some of these rare cats are described here along with their look and temperament.
This species is somewhat between cross between Chinchilla Persian and Burmese. The origin of this species was started quite accidentally in 1980s in the UK. Obviously, there was an interesting story behind it. One day a gatekeeper left the door of a room open, and there 2 breeds had been waiting for their companions. Rather, they mated together; the kitties were really very sweet, and later they were named with the new breed.
It is the most beautiful and possibly the rarest cat breed in this world. The new breed was seen first in the USA (Philadelphia). This breed has existed for about forty five years; however, still, it is the exceptional one because of the problems to reproduce the right coat marks. The coloration of coat identified by associations or registries indicates point tint or coloration. This breed is highly vocal. In addition to it, they have also the capability of learning tricks or opening doors. Besides, it likes to play and swim on water.
It is one of the playful and intelligent breeds of cats, and is seen mainly in Russia. In these cats, we can find lots of affection as well as enthusiasm. Though the name of their species is Peterbald, the body of the cats is not without hair. Some of them have hair although they may lose it in due course. They are graceful and slim felines; however, we can get this species only in a few places of this world.
This is a very handsome species of cat. Unlike other rare cats’ breeds, this was not grown through selective reproduction. However, in Kuril Islands, this cat developed originally. The exceptional pom-pom tail is the most recognized features this breed. Moreover, this cat is intelligent and independent and has semi-cobby type of body. It is long hind legs, while its rear portion is little arched.
They are also very beautiful feline breeds and are recognized for the lengthy legs, marked bodies and big ears. They were grown with the crossing of Bengal Cat and Oriental Cat. This species is now still in stage of development in order to develop a cat, which looks like Serval.
This is a Spanish cat’s breed and has beautiful blue eyes. In the year 1984, in Mexico, a family saw some untamed cats that have sharp blue eyes. Almost after one decade, just ten of them existed. And today their population still remains low. The geneticists are dealing with few of them in order to decide on whether the species is now viable.
The stature of this cat is very short in stature, and it is the cross of Persian and Munchkin. The funny thing that is to be noted here is that Napoleon (the king) suffered from some ailment due to which it fears cats. Such hairy felines do not face the issues, which may come with the distinctive nose of Persian. But, they hold on to doll-faced appearance.
The coat of the cat can be wired; however, not its personality. This species is likely to be a peaceful and lenient. The preferred hobby of this cat is the watching of bird from a clear windowsill. The ability of its hunting is also very good. The weight of the cat is maximum eleven pounds. If you own this cat and socialize this species, it can also interact, when your guests come to your house.
This is average sized cat and athletic and shiny. It is about eight to twelve pounds. The external layer is often referred to as the silky, short and curly. It is a marvelous animal with the refined splendor. Most of these cats have very short tails. They are available in lilac and chocolate colors. They like to have fun so much that they can wake up the owner in the morning for playing with them. Energy is never an issue for them.
It is large or medium cat in terms of the size and the look. It has also large ears that are open. The round shaped eyes are little slant. The cheekbones are quite prominent. The eyebrows and whiskers are either in place or become sparse. Moreover, this cat has vigorous appetite as well as an extremely high metabolism.
Though the body of some Sphynxes is without hair, some others have hair. In fact, the body is covered with gossamer.
It is a rare domestic cat and has wide green ears. Dense fur is present on it body. The name has been extracted from a German term Nebel that denotes fog or mist. These cats look lovely and have distinctive soft blue-grey coating. The first Nebelung was seen in 1980s.
Their home is in western Asia and Arabian Peninsula. They have also hair, which develops between the toes. Generally, this feature can be seen in case of the arctic cats. Among all the felines, they are also thought to be the cutest one.
It looks like ocelot though it is quite smaller. Moreover, it is outstanding climber. It generally lives in an area, which extends from Central America to its Southern part. They reside in mainly rain forests region and chase at night, as most other species of cat.
They are the only cats that have the capability of rotating the hind legs almost one hundred eighty degrees. So, they can run as squirrels. They may also sling from branches with hind foot.
These are some species of cats that are found hardly in few places of this world. | <urn:uuid:2cca28c9-1485-4c49-ba8a-51cc22ce4ad5> | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | https://www.catfactsforkids.com/13-rare-cat-breeds/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347458095.68/warc/CC-MAIN-20200604192256-20200604222256-00187.warc.gz | en | 0.980238 | 1,202 | 2.890625 | 3 |
Enum Class BorderType
- All Implemented Interfaces:
public enum BorderType extends Enum<BorderType>
How the image border is handled by a convolution filter. Care should be taken when selecting a border method since some types will not produce meaningful results for all kernel types.
Nested Class Summary
Nested classes/interfaces inherited from class java.lang.Enum
Enum.EnumDesc<E extends Enum<E>>
Enum Constant SummaryEnum ConstantDescriptionThe pixels along the image border are extended outwards.The kernel is renormalized to take in account that parts of it are not inside the image.Access to outside the array are reflected back into the array around the closest border.Image borders are not processed and are simply skipped over.Also known as periodic.The image border is set to a fixed value of zero.
Method SummaryModifier and TypeMethodDescription
static BorderTypeReturns the enum constant of this class with the specified name.
values()Returns an array containing the constants of this enum class, in the order they are declared.
Methods inherited from class java.lang.Enum
clone, compareTo, describeConstable, equals, finalize, getDeclaringClass, hashCode, name, ordinal, toString, valueOf
Enum Constant Details
SKIPpublic static final BorderType SKIPImage borders are not processed and are simply skipped over.
EXTENDEDpublic static final BorderType EXTENDEDThe pixels along the image border are extended outwards. This is recommended for computing the gradient and many convolution operations.
NORMALIZEDpublic static final BorderType NORMALIZEDThe kernel is renormalized to take in account that parts of it are not inside the image. Typically only used with kernels that blur the image.
REFLECTpublic static final BorderType REFLECTAccess to outside the array are reflected back into the array around the closest border. This is an even symmetric function, e.g. f(-1) = f(1) = 1, f(-2) = f(2) = 2.
WRAPpublic static final BorderType WRAPAlso known as periodic. When a pixel outside of image is accessed it wraps around to the other side of the image as if the image is a loop. Primarily included for historical purposes and because other people use it. In most applications it has the potential of introducing structured noise, which is bad.
ZEROpublic static final BorderType ZEROThe image border is set to a fixed value of zero. Generates harsh edges that can cause artifacts in some applications.
valuespublic static BorderType values()Returns an array containing the constants of this enum class, in the order they are declared.
- an array containing the constants of this enum class, in the order they are declared
valueOfpublic static BorderType valueOf
(String name)Returns the enum constant of this class with the specified name. The string must match exactly an identifier used to declare an enum constant in this class. (Extraneous whitespace characters are not permitted.)
name- the name of the enum constant to be returned.
- the enum constant with the specified name
IllegalArgumentException- if this enum class has no constant with the specified name
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Three-Way Matching: Definition, Components, Objectives, Advantages, and Disadvantages | including PDF
Three-way matching of vendor invoices is an essential internal control process. Using this process, a company can bypass profit drains from making erroneous, duplicates, or fraudulent payments. It is a method for processing a vendor invoice to ensure that payment is complete and accurate. The primary objective of this process is to save businesses from overspending or paying for an item that they didn’t receive.
Three-way matching is the procedure for comparing the purchase order; the goods receipt note and the supplier’s invoice before accepting a supplier’s invoice for payment, which helps in figuring out whether the invoice should be paid partly or in its entirety.
Components of Three-Way Matching: Documents and Common Practices
AI-based Optical Character Recognition (OCR) can significantly speed up the three-way matching process, eliminating manual processes and increasing accuracy.
The three-way matching components and documents are including:
A purchase order is basically a company’s standards. It is the official confirmation of an order. Purchase orders include the name of the company purchasing the goods or services, the description, date of purchase, and quantity of the specific goods or services, billing and shipping address, vendor product number, product serial number, sales taxes, discounts offered, mailing address, price information, invoice address, payment information, and a purchase order number. The purchasing department of a company or business develops a purchase order based on a signed and approved purchase requisition after vendor selection.
A receipt is basically an electronic or physical document that shows the actual receipt of goods, as verified by the customer’s receiving department, matched with the itemized vendor packing slip included with the delivered products relating to the purchase order. A packing slip is the proof of payment and delivery. It includes details exactly the same as in the invoice.
A vendor invoice is a document that bills the customer based on deliveries from an authorized purchase order number. The invoice is delivered to the customer on the full or partial delivery of items from the supplier.
Like purchase orders, invoices are sequentially numbered for internal control, which promotes the invoice matching process. It also includes an invoice number and the same information as in the purchase order.
A vendor invoice delivered to the customer doesn’t require a supplier’s signature. Upon three-way matching in accounts payable without exceptions, documented confirmation of the invoice by an allowed approver is equal to a signature.
Three-Way Matching Objectives:
Here are some objectives of three-way matching:
1. Saves Business Money:
Checking that data is true across purchase orders, receipts, and invoices help businesses avoid overspending, paying for duplicate items, and paying for things they haven’t got. Having such close tabs on finances also helps reduce the risk of fraud.
2. Ensures Optimal Vendor Relationships:
Professional vendors appreciate the value of purchase orders, invoices, and receipts to the account’s payable process. Numerous mistakes on receipts and invoices can be a sign of a larger business issue and may show that it’s time to shop around.
3. Prepare Business For Audits:
Auditors are especially on the lookout for financial differences. Compiling these documents before an audit and checking that the numbers line up using the three-way matching process is a big step in the proper direction.
Three-Way Matching Roles and Duties
Procurement teams, vendors or suppliers, and finance teams are the main stakeholders in the three-way matching process.
Procurement teams, also known as purchasing teams, receive approved purchase requisitions from an employee desiring purchased goods or services. They play a significant part in the procurement to pay cycle in an organization’s supply chain management. Procurement teams verify vendors in a company’s supply chain and assessing their capabilities.
Procurement should consider vendor performance related to the purchase order and also check the supplier’s financial condition before placing an order.
Vendors and Suppliers
Vendors have the responsibility to accept or reject the purchase of the orders. Before receiving a purchase order, vendors should run credit reports on that customer to secure that the customer has the financial condition to pay for the products ordered.
Suppliers also play a role in testing and quality control. Vendors assure products delivered to the customer under the purchase order meet specifications and high-quality standards.
The finance team of a company (including accounting and accounts payable) records the purchase orders in their accounting software or EPR (Enterprise resource planning) system. When the receiving department enters receiving reports into the EPR system, then the account payable, finance team members and the operations department can access the data.
Account Payable Performs Three-Way Matching
Then the account payable performs three-way matching ensuring that the purchase order, purchase receipt, vendor invoice are in agreement or that only the actual goods are received and paid before the deadline.
Approvers Approves or Reject Invoices for Payment
Approvers, including managers responsible for the expenditures, chief financial officer, chief executing officers, and the board of directors review the matched invoices and supporting documents and approve the invoices for payments unless an exception exists.
Account Payable Department Pays Invoices
Account payable makes payments to the suppliers according to the company’s terms and policies on taking early payment discounts. If discounts aren’t provided by the vendor or received by the customer, the accounts payable department pays the full invoice amount by the deadline.
The vendor provides a two percent discount when the customer pays the invoice within ten days; else, the total invoice amount is due 30 days after the invoice date. Vendors cut off future order shipments to the customer until they secure payments if payment of customer invoices or account balances are held for too long.
Advantages of Three-Way Matching
Now I’m going to discuss some advantages of three-way matching;
1. Eliminate Fraud
By matching the numbers between the three documents, accounts payable can assure that your company doesn’t acquire the same costs multiple times. In this way, it is easy to bypass becoming a victim to fraudulent invoices or even original invoices with slightly changed figures.
2. Painless Audits
The first things an auditor looks for are purchase orders, shipping orders, and invoices. By constantly sorting out your company’s documents, you eliminate the need for an in-depth analysis of your business.
3. Increase Profits
Three-way matching helps secure business from unnecessary expenditures, which, in the long run, adds to your bottom line. It’s always simpler turning a profit when you are not wasting money on fraudulent claims.
4. Isolate Trouble Spots
Three-way matching supports liability through clarity. Mistakes can be investigated simply because they are easy to trace.
Disadvantages of Three-Way Matching
There are some problems in the three-way matching process. Here I’m discussing the most common and significant problem of this process;
This is one of the primary disadvantages of implementing the three-way match. Gathering all the documentation and analyzing it requires a lot of eyes, effort, and hours. This can affect payment delays and your business may catch fines for not satisfying the terms and conditions of payments. | <urn:uuid:1708f042-24a2-4a40-aa49-126509a6a369> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://educationleaves.com/three-way-matching/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224646257.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20230531022541-20230531052541-00125.warc.gz | en | 0.925497 | 1,593 | 2.53125 | 3 |
People learn at their own pace. Your training should incorporate adaptive learning pathways that accommodate faster and slower learners. Otherwise, learners will eventually disengage in frustration with a learning process that doesn't meet their needs.
Here are 10 reasons why individualized, adaptive reinforcement programs are beneficial to your training and learners:
When the course is organized in a modular fashion, learning is given a purpose with the use of defined objectives.
Intrinsic motivation acts as a powerful primary driver for learners engaged in training reinforcement. When learners can decide what and when to learn, their motivation is activated.
Rather than focusing on the ability to "be taught," an individualized reinforcement course places the capacity to learn front and center.
The modular design of a reinforcement program allows learners to measure progress, track goals, and plan their day in an informed manner.
When learners are provided a timeline, like through spaced learning, to help structure their learning goals, self-efficacy is reinforced. This can result increased retention and a more positive attitude.
When the learner takes ownership for completing courses in a timely manner, they can choose where they may need to spend more or less time.
Learners are encouraged to make responsible choices and "show up" for reinforcement learning.
With guided, individualized learning, behavior change is the focus.
Incentivizing employees to consume training reinforcement course material encourages self-management.
The natural outgrowth of this approach is more independent learning skills that will make your future training sessions more effective. When done correctly, adaptive learning benefits the learner not just during that program, but in future trainings, as well.
Learn more about how to determine your reinforcement objectives in our step-by-step guide. Download the 10-Step Guide to Determine Your Reinforcement Objectives.
This post was originally published on March 15, 2017. | <urn:uuid:c4ec8c2c-7b51-4509-ba7c-b64290f2b4f2> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://www.mindmarker.com/blog/10-key-benefits-of-adaptive-learning | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224643585.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20230528051321-20230528081321-00600.warc.gz | en | 0.950793 | 380 | 3.25 | 3 |
Automated Comet assay
The comet assay is a sensitive, well established technique for quantifying DNA damage in eukaryotic cells. Compatible with the detection of a wide range of DNA damaging agents, its principle consists in migration of fragmented DNA in an electrophoresis gel (damaged DNA forming the tail of the comet), while intact DNA moves at a slower rate (head of the comet). The percentage of fragmented DNA in the comet tail is a direct measure of DNA damage.
Micronucleus and H2AX assay
In response to clastogen DNA double strand breaks, H2AX is phosphorylated within minutes at Ser 139, and is then referred as γH2AX. Contrary to γH2AX, micronuclei are a late marker of damages either to DNA and be related to aneugens nor clastogens effect. By detecting both H2AX and micronuclei on our high content screening plateform, our assay provide a efficient tool to assess the genotoxicity properties of your compounds. | <urn:uuid:df0c8e67-e538-40db-a925-39d2f4690bd5> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | http://hcs-pharma.com/tag/toxicity/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818689779.81/warc/CC-MAIN-20170923213057-20170923233057-00602.warc.gz | en | 0.912287 | 215 | 2.71875 | 3 |
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