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Friday, September 2, 2016
Thursday, September 1, 2016
Death came suddenly to Dorchester County, S.C. Stressed insects tried to flee their nests, only to surrender in little clumps at hive entrances. The dead worker bees littering the farms suggested that colony collapse disorder was not the culprit — in that odd phenomenon, workers vanish as though raptured, leaving a living queen and young bees behind.
Instead, the dead heaps signaled the killer was less mysterious, but no less devastating. The pattern matched acute pesticide poisoning. By one estimate, at a single apiary — Flowertown Bee Farm and Supply, in Summerville — 46 hives died on the spot, totaling about 2.5 million bees.
On Sunday morning, parts of Dorchester County were sprayed with Naled, a common insecticide that kills mosquitoes on contact. The United States began using Naled in 1959, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, which notes that the chemical dissipates so quickly it is not a hazard to people. That said, human exposure to Naled during spraying “should not occur.”
In parts of South Carolina, trucks trailing pesticide clouds are not an unusual sight, thanks to a mosquito-control program that also includes destroying larvae. Given the current concerns of West Nile virus and Zika — there are several dozen cases of travel-related Zika in South Carolina, though the state health department reports no one has yet acquired the disease from a local mosquito bite — Dorchester decided to try something different Sunday.
READ MORE ABOUT ZIKA...
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Monday, May 2, 2016
Today's magnitude 7.0 earthquake was so ferocious, it literally shook the entire planet DURING – and upwards of 20 minutes AFTER – striking Vanuatu on the other side of the world!
According to the US Geological Survey, ALL EIGHTY-EIGHT SEISMOGRAPHS in the the Advanced National Seismic System (ANSS) registered the massive quake over ten thousand miles away! Moreover, the ANSS also registered continued shaking traveling through the planet for upwards of twenty-minutes AFTER the quake ended!
So forceful and violent was this earthquake, that its shock waves actually registered on every seismograph in the USA; even sending some of the US Seismographs right-off-the-scale ! ! ! It even shook the Yellowstone Super-Volcano!
All of the areas along that red line are geologically active and when something jolts them, or rattles them like today's 7.0 did, it can set in-motion all sorts of other seismic or volcanic events around the world; perhaps even HERE on the west coast of the United States, which is up against that very same tectonic plate.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
One hundred thousand earthquakes happen on average around the world every month. Not all cause damage, but it only takes one strong earthquake to kill or injure thousands of people and cause millions of dollars of damage. There is usually at least one strong quake per year somewhere around the globe. For the unprepared, the consequences can be devastating.
Are you ready for an earthquake? Are you prepared for the disruption in common services including fresh water, electricity, and healthcare? Do you have a plan and supplies to survive on your own until help arrives or services are restored?
You can protect your family and reduce damage to your property by taking action now. This guide explains how to prepare for a earthquake, answers frequently asked questions about earthquakes, provides a link to the Earthquake Notification Service, and includes a list of resources related to earthquake preparedness and hazards. Continue reading below to learn the important steps you can take to prepare for an earthquake.
Sunday, March 6, 2016
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
There is a very small chance—1-in-250 million—that this asteroid could hit us on its next passage by Earth on September 28, 2017. But you have a better chance of winning the Super Lotto jackpot than being crushed by this asteroid. Even if 2013 TX68 were to hit the Earth, it wouldn’t wipe us out. It could easily spoil someone’s day, make no mistake: this asteroid is about 100 feet in diameter, almost twice the size of the object that exploded in the atmosphere above Chelyabinsk, Russia, three years ago. The Chelyabinsk air-burst produced a shockwave that damaged buildings and shattered windows across a wide area, and, had it struck the ground intact, would have left a significant crater. 2013 TX68 would release about twice the energy as the Chelyabinsk event. Source: www.FamilySurvivalCenter
Saturday, February 20, 2016
Bushcraft generally refers to wilderness survival skills and was initially used to describe the survival skills needed in the Australian bush country or outback. The isolated outback territory meant whatever you took with you when choosing to go on "walkabout" was pretty much all you had. You lived off what you had until you returned home or reached your destination.
Buschcraft has now become pretty much synonymous with wilderness survival regardless of your location. And whether by choice or circumstance, if you rely on only your supplies and skills to live off the land for an extended amount of time, a good bushcraft knife becomes an essential tool.
You can't just bring along any old knife and expect it to hold up to the repetitive, rugged tasks you need to perform to survive in the wild. A bushcraft knife also called a wilderness knife, is a popular style knife because it can repeatedly perform multiple tasks like dressing game, cutting tree limbs, rope, and fishing line or even some carving.
Planet X, or Nibiru, is on a crash course with Earth, doomsayers believe — prophecies draw new focus with 'Planet Nine' discovery. The planet, according to Caltech researchers, has a mass about 10 times that of Earth and takes about 15,000 years to make a full orbit around the sun. Doomsayers have prophesized for decades about a giant, rogue planet in our solar system that has the capability of colliding or passing near earth. Now it seems that it may be fast approaching the Earth, with it's arrival estimated at several weeks to several months.
Larvicide Manufactured By Sumitomo, Not Zika Virus, True Cause Of Brazil's Microcephaly Outbreak! Pregnant women all over the world have been advised to take caution. The Zika virus infection has been linked to newborn babies with the birth defect microcephaly. This is a congenital condition in which babies are born with unusually tiny heads. The notion, however, has recently been challenged by a group of Argentine physicians. The group suspects that the Zika virus is not to blame for the rise in microcephaly cases, but that a toxic larvicide introduced into Brazil's water supplies may be the real culprit. | <urn:uuid:a6eefd44-7a7e-477c-9be7-f6b16d535a7c> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://familysurvivalcenter.blogspot.com/2016/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886105455.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20170819143637-20170819163637-00170.warc.gz | en | 0.958611 | 1,418 | 2.765625 | 3 |
Malawi: Gender Analysis of the European Union’s Infrastructure Sectors
A 2018 study by the World Bank on infrastructure development in Sub-Saharan Africa has shown that Malawi is one of the countries in the region lagging on infrastructure development. The country faces a widening gap between electricity demand and supply, which is being exacerbated by urbanization, economic development, population growth and rural electrification. 90% of Malawian households – 55% of which are female-head household – connected to the grid are supplied by the state-owned Electricity Supply Corporation of Malawi (Escom) or the private Electricity Generation Company. Prices have risen sharply, and daily rationing and lengthy “outages” lasting from a few hours to several weeks. As of 2015, 92% of the population in Malawi is not connected to a clean and safe water distribution system, and thus need to use external water sources. The lack of access to safe water and sanitation facilities are the main causes of water-borne diseases and mortality, therefore, affects women and girls most acutely. Women and girls are the main providers of household water supply and sanitation, and also have the primary responsibility for maintaining a clean home environment. Collecting water takes longer than 30 minutes. The frame of time that can easily turn them into potential victims of sexual violence. This considerably reduces the time women and girls have available for other activities such as childcare, income generation and school attendance.
We conducted a gender analysis on behalf of the EU to provide an understanding of the following questions:
- Do gender inequalities persist in the EU infrastructure sectors in Malawi (water, transport and energy)?
- If so, what are their causes?
- How do such issues intersect with other inequalities (social and economic)?
- How does it impact and/or benefit human rights, including access to development efforts?
The analysis also examined the government’s commitment and capacity to work on gender equality and women’s empowerment issues. Specifically, the project provided demographic disaggregated data, qualitative information, and analysis on the gender situation in the identified infrastructure sectors. The gender analysis identified one objective and one gender indicator per thematic priority in the GAP-II policy framework to contribute to gender mainstreaming in the water, transport and energy sectors of Malawi. The final output was an analytical and operative document to inform future policy and investments of the EU in Malawi.
The analysis contributed to the national policy dialogue and facilitated the development of gender-sensitive country strategies and feasible gender equality target indicators in line with the EU’s GAP-II policy. The analysis also provided guidance to the EU on how to operationalise a rights-based approach in infrastructure development projects.
- Analysed recent statistics on the situation of girls, boys, women and men; providing baselines for future measurement and an interpretation
- Analysed key barriers to achieving gender equality
- Conducted mapping of stakeholders with mandate and capacity to act for gender equality
- Identified information gaps and assessed where the EU could add value for achieving country objectives on gender equality
- Suggested realistic objectives and opportunities for policy and political dialogue
- Provided tangible recommendations for designing new programmes and projects, including smart gender equality indicators and targets | <urn:uuid:29c39ef9-70c0-4d9b-863d-4656117fe20e> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://www.luvent-consulting.com/works/malawi/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296945289.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20230324211121-20230325001121-00073.warc.gz | en | 0.922265 | 663 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Contact: Sarah Eve Roberts
From starburst to star bust
Space Scoop: Astronomy News for Kids
Astronomers have discovered huge, billowing columns of cold gas being shot out of the centre of the nearby Sculptor Galaxy, and into space. The bright, multi-colored blobs in this picture show the material pouring off the galaxy. The pink areas are where the most gas is being lost, and the red shows where the least material is flowing outwards.
It's not only biologists who study evolution; many astronomers work on this topic, too. But instead of looking at how human beings came into existence, they study the how baby galaxies (known as "proto-galaxies") grow into giant systems containing hundreds of billions of brilliant stars, similar to our own Galaxy.
This colourful picture might look like a piece of modern art, but it is actually made from real telescope observations of a neighbouring galaxy called the Sculptor Galaxy.
The Sculptor Galaxy is one of the closest galaxies to us, and it is going through a busy star-making time, known as a "starburst". These starbursts don't last very long and this is what astronomers are interested in: what puts a stop to these periods of rapid star formation?
Well, a group of astronomers think they have found the answer. They have discovered huge, billowing columns of cold gas being shot out of the centre of the Sculptor Galaxy into space. The bright multi-coloured blobs in this picture show the cold gas in the galaxy. The pink areas at the centre show where material is flowing outward into space.
Unfortunately for the galaxy, this cold gas is the raw material needed to form new stars! The new discovery shows that the Sculptor Galaxy—and probably all other starburst galaxies—is giving out more material than it is taking it. This finally solves the mystery of why starbursts are so short-lived! Ironically, it is energy from the hot young stars at the galaxy's centre that is propelling the material into the abyss!
Cool Fact: In many cases, it is black holes that cause the loss of high amounts of star-making material. And the Sculptor Galaxy does have a supermassive black hole at its centre, one that contains 5 million times more material than our Sun! However this black hole is currently sleeping peacefully and can't be blamed for the galaxies loss of material.
This Space Scoop is based on a Press Release from ESO. | <urn:uuid:917e668f-c0d6-436c-be4f-fbb64a6a3732> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://www.eurekalert.org/features/kids/2013-07/lu-fst072313.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886106367.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20170820092918-20170820112918-00528.warc.gz | en | 0.932282 | 513 | 3.609375 | 4 |
[ Home ] [ Lakhota Story ] [ Lakhota Hear_it ] [ Lakhota Syntax ] [ Lakhota Translation ] [ Signs ]
- "A Lakota Story" is a story that is presented in the
Lakota language as well as translated to English.
- "Lakota hear It!" is a page that features the playing
(by use of .mp3 audio files) of common words as well as phrases in the
Lakota - Sioux language. This way, by hearing, the student can get a
better "feel" of the language.
- The "Lakota Translation" page
is a dictionary of over 3300 words that are translated from English
to Lakota. Includes Lakota pronunciation guide.
- Lakota Language Syntax
- Signs - introduction to sign language used by the American
I would like to thank Native
Web for granting permission to host these web pages as a service to
promote the teaching and preservation of Native American languages; they
are the BEST!
Thanks, and credit, also goes out to "The Greasy
Grass" for most all of the graphics.
Please send all queries /
comments about these hosted web pages to:
Disclaimer: I am NOT a fluent Lakota speaker
or translator so please do not email me for translations! | <urn:uuid:70a481a1-5d8d-44a1-b2cf-1012cbd36360> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://language.nativeweb.org/index.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.887549 | 281 | 3.109375 | 3 |
Green construction is big in Texas, and as the saying goes, “Everything is bigger in Texas.”
According to a 2017 article in Green Biz, “The residential sector in Texas has the second most LEED-certified single and multi-family residences in the country.” LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED is a certification program for green commercial projects, and based on its point system, as builders accumulate more and more points, their ratings go up.
Austin and Dallas currently require a third party to review the green initiatives stated in a project, and LEED is the industry’s top third party for verifying sustainable structures. According to LEED, Texas is one of the best markets for LEED building. Green construction in Texas has grown dramatically.
In fact, the green construction industry in the United States has grown substantially:
- Between 2011-2014. Green construction industry produced $167.4 billion in GDP and more than 2.1 million jobs, and provided $147 billion in labor earnings
- Estimates for 2015-2018. Green construction is on target to produce $303.4 billion in GDP and 3.9 million jobs, and $268.4 billion in labor earnings
What Is There to Gain from Green Construction?
People today gravitate toward green construction for a variety of reasons:
- Greater energy efficiency (cost-savings on energy bills)
- Less waste production
- More state and local tax breaks
- Ability to charge higher rents
- Better ventilation
- More daylight lighting
Note that according to the World Green Building Council (WGBC), a Harvard study showed that workers in green, well-ventilated offices increased their cognitive scores to 101% (Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health). The WGBC also indicates that better indoor air quality can result in up to 8 percent better performance (Park and Yoon, 2011).
Looking for a Job? Or Looking for Staffing Solutions?
Whatever the type of construction project, green or otherwise, Power Labor staffing professionals can help contractors put their projects together and workers find jobs that fit their skills. | <urn:uuid:79872dd5-1a66-40f9-8dfa-73298a5b8231> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://powerlaborusa.com/texas-leads-green-construction/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224652569.73/warc/CC-MAIN-20230606114156-20230606144156-00182.warc.gz | en | 0.936841 | 443 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Residences with algae-coated facade by Splitterwerk and Arup completes in Hamburg
Façade design is one of the main features that define the aesthetic of a building. Encasing a shiny new form in panes of glass, metallic sheets or rustic wooden panels completely alters its look and feel but also provides functional extras such as shading or insulation.
Splitterwerk, SSC Strategic Science Consult and Arup have taken façade design to the next level in their recently-completed BIQ project in Hamburg. The 1,600 sq m facility is an experiment in residential architecture and a demonstration of ‘what tomorrow’s facades can do’.
The building sports a second green skin; a second outer shell set into the façade itself. This skin cultivates microalgae which photosynthesise using liquid nutrients and carbon dioxide provided by a separate water circuit which runs through the façade. These sun-facing panels actively photosynthesise and grow to produce energy to run the activities within the 15 residential units that comprise BIQ.
Completed in March 2013 at a cost of €3.4m, the development is the first of its kind in the world. This sustainable façade system not only provides energy for the building but offers effective sound and thermal insulation, and offers shade in bright sunlight.
As the microalgae within the façade panels develop they can be harvested in a technical room within the BIQ building. Fermented in an external biogas plant, they can later be reused to generate biogas, producing five times more per hectare than terrestrial plants. Any sunlight not absorbed by the algae in the facade is used directly for heating or cached in 80m-deep boreholes filled with brine.
“To use bio-chemical processes for adaptive shading is a really innovative and sustainable solution so it is great to see it being tested in a real-life scenario. As well as generating renewable energy and providing shade to keep the inside of the building cooler on sunny days, it also creates a visually interesting look that architects and building owners will like,” explains Arup’s Europe Research Leader, Jan Wurm. | <urn:uuid:4be875ff-b953-4d3b-960d-df616f07e0c9> | CC-MAIN-2014-35 | http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=22395§or=residential | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-35/segments/1408500826343.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20140820021346-00178-ip-10-180-136-8.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932816 | 454 | 2.546875 | 3 |
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In woodworking, one of the most important steps is to joint the edges of boards so they are perfectly straight and smooth. This can be done with a jointer, but what if you don’t have one? In this video post, we will show you how to joint wood without a jointer! We will discuss three different methods.
What Does A Jointer Do?
A jointer is a woodworking machine that is used to create flat, smooth surfaces on wood. It can also be used to create square or rectangular shapes by removing material from the edges of boards.
A jointer consists of a base, a table, an infeed roller, and an outfeed roller. The table is where the board is placed and the rollers rotate to push the board through the jointer.
There are two types of jointers: hand-held and benchtop. Hand-held jointers are small and portable, making them ideal for smaller projects. Benchtop jointers are larger and more powerful, making them better suited for larger projects.
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Why Do I Need A Jointer And Planer?
There are two main reasons to use a jointer:
-To create a flat surface on an edge or end of a board.
-To square up the edge of a board.
The first is pretty self explanatory. If you’re working with rough lumber, you’ll need to flatten one face before putting it through your planer. The second reason is a little more complicated, but basically, if the edge of your board isn’t square, your jointer can help you fix that.
You need a planer to turn rough lumber into smooth boards. A planer does pretty much the opposite of a jointer – it takes a board that’s too thick and makes it thinner.
Most woodworkers will tell you that you need both a jointer and a planer in your shop. And they’re not wrong – if you’re looking to produce perfectly flat and square boards, you’ll need both. But what if you’re just getting started in woodworking?
Why Is It Called A Jointer?
It’s called a jointer because it’s used to shape your lumber so you can join two pieces of wood together. The jointer is a tool that is used to create flat, smooth, and 90-degree edges on your workpiece. This is done by running the workpiece through the jointer’s blades, which cuts away any unevenness on the edge of the wood.
What Is Meant By Edge Joint?
Edge jointing is the process of creating a flat, level surface on the edge of a board. This is done by running the edge of the board along a jointer. A jointer is a power tool that consists of a rotating blade and an infeed/outfeed table. The blade cuts away small amounts of wood as the board is fed through the jointer. This leaves a smooth, level surface on the edge of the board.
There are two main types of edge jointing: straight and bevel. Straight edge jointing is when the blade is set at 90 degrees to the table and cuts a straight, level surface on the edge of the board. Bevel edge jointing is when the blade is set at an angle to the table and cuts a beveled edge on the board.
There are several reasons why you would want to edge joint a board. The most common reason is to create a flat, level surface on the edge of the board so that it can be glued together with another board. Edge jointing is also used to clean up the edges of a board that has been hand-planed or sawed. And, it can be used to create a decorative edge on a board.
[Video] 3 Most Common Mistakes
When Setting Up Shop
A woodworking friend of mine shared this video by Ralph Chapman with me that helped him set up his workshop.
The video explains the benefits of Ralph Chapman’s guide about setting up an affordable workshop and avoiding the most common mistakes offers to anyone interested in woodworking.
Where Is An Edge Joint Used?
An edge joint is used to join the long edges of two boards together. This is different than joining the end grain of boards (end-to-end), which is accomplished using a spline, biscuit, or dowel.
There are many woodworking projects that require edge joints, such as building a tabletop, frame, or cabinet. Edge joints are also used when creating raised panel doors.
How Do You Get Perfect Edge Joints?
There are a few ways to get perfect edge joints without using a jointer. One way is to use a straightedge and a hand plane. This method is very accurate, but it does take some practice to get the hang of it. Another way to get perfect edge joints is to use a router with a flush-trim bit. This method is also very accurate, but it can be a bit more difficult to set up. | <urn:uuid:96fb280f-c0e0-4e33-ba4e-00c935b66544> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://topwoodworkingadvice.com/how-to-joint-without-a-jointer/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296948817.15/warc/CC-MAIN-20230328073515-20230328103515-00220.warc.gz | en | 0.940892 | 1,157 | 2.625 | 3 |
Migraines and Headaches Treatment
Constantly suffering from migraines and headaches is not normal, and although over the counter painkillers may provide temporary relief, a better understanding of these conditions may provide a long-term solution for living headache and migraine free.
What are Headaches and Migraines?
Headaches and Migraines are not synonymous terms. Headaches are pain and discomfort in the head, while migraines are typically felt on one side of the head. Tension headaches feel as though there is an elastic band around your head, creating pressure and pain. Migraines are characterized with sharp pain, blurred vision, dizziness, and sensitivity to light.
The Causes of Headaches and Migraines
Headaches and Migraines may be caused by lifestyle conditions such as eating particular foods, dehydration, or a lack of nutrients. If your suffer from frequent headaches and migraines, the cause may also be attributed to alignment of the body.
When the body is out of alignment due to repetitive strain, posture, and developmental issues, pressure is placed on nerves causing muscles to tighten, and ultimately triggering a sharp pain to the head.
The Symptoms of Headaches and Migraines
The symptoms of a headache typically include sensations of tightness and pressure, tenderness, and dull aching pain. Headaches are typically an annoying disturbance causing irritability, but do not entirely impair an individual’s ability to function.
Symptoms of a migraine however, are more severe. Migraines typically include pounding sharp pains on one side of the head. The intensity of this pain causes symptoms such as blurred vision, sensitivity to light, vomiting, sensitivity to sound, lightheadedness, and irritability.
The Treatment of Headaches and Migraines
If you’re experiencing chronic headaches and migraines, a chiropractor can assess your condition and determine the treatment best for you.
If the cause of the condition is bodily alignment, a chiropractor will adjust the alignment of the body. Adjustments are non-invasive treatments that provide immediate relief by relieving pressure on the nervous system. Adjustments also promote long term physical health, and prevention of future headaches and migraines.
If the condition is related to lifestyle, the chiropractor will provide an assessment of common triggers such as diet and physical activity and prescribe accordingly.
Schedule an Appointment Today
Contact Michigan Chiropractic Specialists today for an appointment. | <urn:uuid:3e8a33e9-c255-4af7-9d06-101d64569df3> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | https://www.michirospecialists.com/conditions-symptoms/headaches-migraines/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250599718.13/warc/CC-MAIN-20200120165335-20200120194335-00259.warc.gz | en | 0.925977 | 506 | 2.625 | 3 |
The Vinaya Pitaka, the first division of the Tipitaka, is the textual framework upon which the monastic community (Sangha) is built. It includes not only the rules governing the life of every Theravada bhikkhu (monk) and bhikkhuni (nun), but also a host of procedures and conventions of etiquette that support harmonious relations, both among the monastics themselves, and between the monastics and their lay supporters, upon whom they depend for all their material needs.
When the Buddha first established the Sangha, the community initially lived in harmony without any codified rules of conduct. As the Sangha gradually grew in number and evolved into a more complex society, occasions inevitably arose when a member would act in an unskillful way. Whenever one of these cases was brought to the Buddha's attention, he would lay down a rule establishing a suitable punishment for the offense, as a deterrent to future misconduct. The Buddha's standard reprimand was itself a powerful corrective:
It is not fit, foolish man, it is not becoming, it is not proper, it is unworthy of a recluse, it is not lawful, it ought not to be done. How could you, foolish man, having gone forth under this Dhamma and Discipline which are well-taught, [commit such and such offense]?... It is not, foolish man, for the benefit of un-believers, nor for the increase in the number of believers, but, foolish man, it is to the detriment of both unbelievers and believers, and it causes wavering in some.
— The Book of the Discipline, Part I, by I.B. Horner (London: Pali Text Society, 1982), pp. 36-37.
The monastic tradition and the rules upon which it is built are sometimes naïvely criticized — particularly here in the West — as irrelevant to the "modern" practice of Buddhism. Some see the Vinaya as a throwback to an archaic patriarchy, based on a hodge-podge of ancient rules and customs — quaint cultural relics that only obscure the essence of "true" Buddhist practice. This misguided view overlooks one crucial fact: it is thanks to the unbroken lineage of monastics who have consistently upheld and protected the rules of the Vinaya for almost 2,600 years that we find ourselves today with the luxury of receiving the priceless teachings of Dhamma. Were it not for the Vinaya, and for those who continue to keep it alive to this day, there would be no Buddhism.
It helps to keep in mind that the name the Buddha gave to the spiritual path he taught was "Dhamma-vinaya" — the Doctrine (Dhamma) and Discipline (Vinaya) — suggesting an integrated body of wisdom and ethical training. The Vinaya is thus an indispensable facet and foundation of all the Buddha's teachings, inseparable from the Dhamma, and worthy of study by all followers — lay and ordained, alike. Lay practitioners will find in the Vinaya Pitaka many valuable lessons concerning human nature, guidance on how to establish and maintain a harmonious community or organization, and many profound teachings of the Dhamma itself. But its greatest value, perhaps, lies in its power to inspire the layperson to consider the extraordinary possibilities presented by a life of true renunciation, a life lived fully in tune with the Dhamma. | <urn:uuid:2409b6a9-51d9-4ebe-b41d-8ee24b4b6b72> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/vin/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1394021292989/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305120812-00053-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952572 | 705 | 3.015625 | 3 |
Much attention has been devoted in Western media to the Russian Federation’s aggression in Ukraine. But Russia’s increased military presence on another potential flashpoint – the Pacific – has largely escaped notice. In June 2014, the Russian Navy was excluded for the first time from participating in RIMPAC, the world’s largest maritime exercise. But the Russian military is getting plenty of practice with large-scale operations in the region. Though a joint exercise between Chinese and Russian maritime forces in May 2014 afforded Russia some semblance of multilateralism, the scale of its own unilateral Pacific exercises this year has been staggering.
In August 2014, tensions rose between Russia and Japan when the former held exercises on islands disputed by the two countries. The status of these islands, referred to as the Northern Territories by Japan and the Southern Kuril Islands by Russia, became a source of source of geopolitical jockeying when the Soviet Union occupied them along with the southern half of Sakhalin Island in the final days of the Second World War. In order to strengthen its claim over these islands and their surrounding waters, Russia deployed over 1,000 troops, five attack helicopters, and other military hardware for a week of manoeuvres.
But that exercise pales in comparison to Vostok 2014, which was held from September 19-25, 2014. Involving 100,000 troops, 1,500 tanks, 120 aircraft, and approximately 70 ships, this was one of Russia’s most significant military drills since the collapse of the Soviet Union. President Vladimir Putin also called for a snap inspection the week prior to the exercise, testing the combat readiness of all branches of the Russian military. The simulated warfare took place in the Russian Far East, specifically Kamchatka, Chukotka, Sakhalin Island, and the Kuril Islands, where the only apparent threats to Russia could come from either China or Japan.
Vostok 2014 offers some insights into Russian defence priorities both in the Pacific and in general. Much emphasis was placed on testing tactical cruise missile launches and the potential to greatly expand Russia’s surface-to-air missile units. In this sense, one could say Russia is attempting to develop its own capabilities in ‘anti-access/area-denial’ (A2AD). This doctrine involves the use of various missiles and asymmetric warfare to deny a superior opponent, such as the United States, access to the sea and air, thus deterring an attack.
Just as interesting, however, is how Russia demonstrated that it is extending the reach of its forces. During the exercise, 16 Mi-8AMTSh helicopters carried troops from the Kuril Islands to an airfield in Kamchatka, a flight of more than 1,300 kilometres over the sea, lasting approximately six hours. This record-breaking flight was made possible by the installation of additional fuel tanks on these helicopters, which could be replicated in the future. This certainly indicates that Russia is interested in extending its power projection in the region. After all, if the helicopters can transport troops from the Kurils to Kamchatka, they can surely do so in the other direction as well if a conflict with Japan were to arise.
Given this posturing in the Pacific, there is renewed importance to the debate in Russia surrounding upcoming revisions to the country’s Military Doctrine. This document, issued approximately once every four years by presidential edict, identifies priority areas according to which the Russian military should be developed. In 2010, the doctrine approved by then President Dmitri Medvedev called for the adoption of tactics recently seen in the Ukrainian conflict, such as the use of special forces in conjunction with sympathetic local militias and the crucial role of information warfare during any future conflict.
Yuri Baluyevskiy, the former Chief of the General Staff, has revealed that he is a member of a working group currently drafting the new Military Doctrine and confided to the Russian press that the 2014 version will merely amend rather than overhaul the 2010 edition. But such amendments could include clarification on Russia’s relationship with NATO, its position on the ongoing Ukrainian conflict, and whether Russia is now seeking to pursue its own strategic pivot to Asia.
Russia’s increased involvement in the Pacific could drastically alter the balance in the region. In order to ensure that this engagement is constructive and East Asia remains on the path to ever-increasing prosperity, it may be necessary for countries in the region to discuss a robust system of information sharing. Such measures as base inspections and the exchange of information on the disposition of forces would reduce the likelihood of a large-scale exercise being misinterpreted as a precursor to invasion. This approach would be admittedly difficult, especially as Russia withdrew from just such an agreement in Europe prior to the 2008 war in Georgia. But with the stakes so high for all the countries of the Pacific, a coordinated diplomatic effort by small states and middle powers could secure a breakthrough. | <urn:uuid:9c76d153-8a20-414d-bab7-ecfb1a90e0ca> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://natoassociation.ca/russias-pacific-debut/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296948976.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20230329120545-20230329150545-00302.warc.gz | en | 0.963354 | 1,001 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Plato once said that music “is a more potent instrument than any other for education”.
You will find many music teachers who would agree with him. Recent research has found that music uses both sides of the brain simultaneously, a fact that makes it valuable in all areas of development. Music affects brain growth academically, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
We as humans are naturally born as musical and rhythmical. Even those who say they cannot hold a tune or sing off-key, have a musical and rhythmical intelligence. We live in a universe where rhythm and beat are intrinsically embedded in our lives. Recent research is just now beginning to show the profound affects of music on learning and our lives.
At the Fox River Academy, we are proud of the many dynamic, passionate, and experienced educators we have as part of our faculty. | <urn:uuid:61e446fe-3d1f-4bab-a8ce-c495ccb6c92e> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | http://foxriveracademy.com/private-lessons/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934806317.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20171121055145-20171121075145-00732.warc.gz | en | 0.971235 | 172 | 3.015625 | 3 |
The cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) has been baptised with this name due to its eye-catching crest of long white hairs from its forehead to its nape, which falls over its shoulders. The bottom part of the body is white, while the back and tail are orangey.
They occupy the rainforests located at the foot of the Andes in northwest Colombia. They live in small family groups that defend their territory and feed primarily on fruits, insects and small vertebrates.
This species is critically endangered due to the destruction of the forests where they live.
More infos: http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/19823/0
Jeronimo = Name invented :o) | <urn:uuid:a78d814e-0223-45e1-9c69-5ec0517712e7> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | http://www.erblicken.com/animal_personality_cotton_top_tamarin_jeronimo/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818685129.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20170919112242-20170919132242-00614.warc.gz | en | 0.956179 | 156 | 2.921875 | 3 |
Tonnagh Beg Bog
When undertaking an appropriate assessment of impacts at a site, all features of European importance (both primary and non-primary) need to be considered.
Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site
|7110 Active raised bogs * Priority feature|
|Tonnagh Beg Bog is among the best remaining examples of a lowland raised bog in the west of Northern Ireland. Typical of western bogs, the site is rather irregular in shape, with deep peat encircling a small drumlin of grassland on mineral soil. The uncut surface has a well-developed microtopography, consisting of a pool complex interspersed by well-formed hummocks, wet lawns and a soakway. Despite some burning in the past, the surface has an extremely high Sphagnum moss cover and a notable Sphagnum moss hummock development.|
The bog supports a very high frequency of the rare mosses Sphagnum imbricatum and S. fuscum, which form well-developed hummocks over the wet surface. Cranberry Vaccinium oxycoccos is locally frequent, growing over the surface of the highest hummocks.
Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site
Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site
Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection
Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access. | <urn:uuid:6d76677e-00d8-40c4-aa2e-7df459a54a4c> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/protectedsites/SACselection/sac.asp?EUCode=UK0030325 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187824824.76/warc/CC-MAIN-20171021171712-20171021191712-00310.warc.gz | en | 0.924984 | 332 | 3.1875 | 3 |
Are You Confident of the Diagnosis?
Paracoccidioidomycosis is a tropical infectious disease that can have an acute, subacute, or a chronic evolution. The diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis it not easily made. The large variety of clinical manifestations is a consequence of complex interactions between the host, the fungal agent, and the environment.
What you should be alert for in the history
Paracoccidioidomycosis is an autochthonous disease, restricted to South and Central Americas; 90% of the patients are male, between 30-50 years old. It is important to ask about travel to countries like Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina. The onset of illness may be noted years later; indeed, in one reported case a man was diagnosed in the USA, 60 years after he left Brazil.
Characteristic features on physical examination
Paracoccidioidomycosis infection refers to those patients who had contact with the agent, were infected, developed the pulmonary primary complex, but in whom the disease did not evolve. This primary complex can be oligo-symptomatic or even asymptomatic, and there are rare radiological or histological findings. Hilar lymphadenopathy can be found. In endemic countries; about 50% of the individuals have positive antibodies to paracoccidioidomycosis.
Paracoccidioidomycosis disease results from the progression of primary complex, endogenous, or exogenous reinfections. In the acute / subacute form, patients will complain about superficial lymphadenopathy, fever, anorexia, weight loss and adynamia. The physician will encounter a child or a teenager, male, or female with hepatomegaly, splenomegaly and / or jaundice, characteristic cervical superficial lymphadenopathy. or less often axillary, inguinal or deep lymphadenopathy that may drain purulent material, with abscess and fistula formation. Due to hematogenous spread, patients will have papules and acneiform eruptions, located anywhere on the skin. Those lesions can ulcerate or vegetate (Figure 1, Figure 2). Mucosal lesions are seen in only about 5% of cases (Figure 3).
Patients may present with lytic lesions and spontaneous fractures in any bone, such as the clavicles, ribs, legs and arms. Blood exams often demonstrate anemia, leucocytosis, eosinophilia, and an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
In the chronic form—the classical and most common form of the disease—the physician will encounter a typical farmer, adult and male, presenting with an association of mucosal, cutaneous and pulmonary lesions. The oral cavity is most commonly affected, especially the lower lips and the gums, with painful ulcerated lesions containing micro-granules and hemorrhagic dots classically called “moriform stomatitis” (of Aguiar-Pupo). Less frequently involved sites are the nasal pyramid and septum (Figure 4), the upper lips, bulbar conjunctiva and genital mucosae. Cutaneous lesions can appear contiguous to mucosal, lymphonodal or bony lesions, or after hematogenous spread.
The site most commonly affected is the face, in the form of an ulcerated, ulcero-vegetating, verrucous or acneiform lesion that can have the characteristic hemorrhagic dots (Figure 5). In this form, patients must have pulmonary disease that can range from discrete, symmetric and bilateral interstitial para-hilar infiltrates, to an infiltrate affecting all the lung parenchyma, with nodules in a pneumonic configuration. Respiratory symptoms are not proportional to pulmonary involvement.
Neuroparacoccidioidomycosis usually occurs in middle-aged men working as farm laborers. The characteristic symptoms are motor deficits and intracranial hypertension. Most of the cases are associated with pulmonary forms of the disease. The mortality rate is high and survivors have sequela in half of the cases. The main sequelae is motor impairment.
Expected results of diagnostic studies
The laboratory diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis can only be made with confidence if the fungus is viewed and correctly recognized. Samples for analysis can be obtained by shaving a lesion, bronchial secretions, pus, other fluids and biopsies of skin or mucosa. In direct examination, an ovoid, hyaline, double-layered cell, surrounded by one or more narrow-based buds, can be seen. That structure generally resembles a “mariner´s wheel” (Figure 6)
Material should be cultured in agar-Sabouraud or agar-Sabouraud-dextrosis with actidion and chloramphenicol and incubated in ambient temperature. The culture has a shape that resembles a little popcorn.
In most cases, it is impossible to clinically differentiate paracoccidioidomycosis from other diseases. In chromoblastomycosis, for example, the black dots could be confused with the micro-granules and hemorrhagic dots, and periodic acid Schiff (PAS) staining would help differentiate the characteristic fumagoid bodies from the “mariner´s wheel”–shaped cellules in paracoccidioidomycosis.
In the cases of sporotrichosis and leishmaniasis, it is important to notice the characteristic lymphatic cord next to the original lesion. When ganglia infarction is not present, direct exam based on swabs and staining biopsy specimens could be helpful in both cases. Note that in all three cases, patients will not have respiratory symptoms. The differential diagnosis also includes tuberculosis and tuberculoid leprosy, where Koch bacilus and Hansen bacilus can be found, respectively, in B.A.A.R staining. Cultures will help distinguish from histoplasmosis and cryptococcosis. Serology will diagnose a case of syphilis. Other diseases, such as Hodgkin lymphoma, NK cell lymphoma, Wegener´s granulomatosis and squamous cell carcinoma should be differentiated by histopathological exams.
Who is at Risk for Developing this Disease?
Paracoccidioidomicosis is an autochthonous disease, restricted to South and Central Americas. It is more frequent in Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina, but even in those countries it is more prevalent in cities with higher pluviometric rates and fertile soils. Men are affected more than women and most patients are between 30-50 years old. Some studies show that estrogen could be a protective factor. The disease has a higher prevalence among alcoholics and smokers. Cottagers and farmers are the most exposed.
What is the Cause of the Disease?
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is a dimorphic fungus that has a micelian phase in 25oC and a yeast phase in 37°C. This fungus has an antigenic fraction called GP-43 that shows proteolytic activity, being capable of destroying collagen and elastic fibers, thus influencing their virulence. On the other hand, GP-43 helps the fungus to adhere to the host’s extracellular matrix.
Transmission occurs through inhalation of fungus spores. In the lungs the host immune system responds to create the primary pulmonary complex. During this phase, a transitory hematogeneous spread occurs, disseminating the fungus to different organs. The infection is asymptomatic until this time, and it can have a spontaneous resolution with complete healing of the primary complex, although viable quiescent fungi can remain inside other organs. Another possibility is that the disease progresses just after the infection, or later, related to any imbalance between the host and fungus.
Systemic Implications and Complications
Paracoccidioidomycosis can behave as an opportunistic fungus and can be very severe. Immunocompromised patients such as those with hematogenous cancers, diabetes, AIDS, transplantations, or patients on dialysis or receiving high doses of corticosteroids, paracoccidioidomycosis may behave in the acute manner. The disease is very severe and the mortality rate is up to 35%.
The most incapacitating sequelae from paracoccidioidomycosis are chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or restrictive pulmonary disease, both related to healing and fibrosis. Other complications due to fibrosis include: microstomia, laryngeal, pharyngeal, anal and vaginal stenosis, suprarenal insufficiency and testicular destruction. Continuous use of amphotericin-B can result in renal failure and ketoconazole may worsen testicular destruction, with consequent gynecomastia.
Treatment options are summed up in Table I.
|Medical Treatment||Surgical Procedures||Physical Modalities|
|Removal of the fibrotic scars|
Optimal Therapeutic Approach for this Disease
Explain the natural history of the disease to the patient and their family so that they understand that the cure of the disease is not directly proportional to symptomatic improvement. Explain to patients that healing fibrosis and the side effects of medications can also bring discomfort; encouraging them not to give up on the treatment. If risk factors such as smoking and alcoholism are present, every effort should be made to help the patient cease.
In mild to moderate forms, the drug of choice is sulfametoxazole-trimetoprim (400/80mg). The daily dose ranges: for adults sulfametoxazole 800-1200mg and trimetoprim 160-240mg, orally. For children: sulfametoxazole 8-10mg/kg and trimetoprim 40-50mg/kg, orally every 12 hours. Treatment duration is 12 months in mild cases, and 18 to 24 months in moderate cases.
In cases of neuroparacoccidioidomycosis the drugs used are intravenous sulfametoxazole-trimetoprima or fluconazole 400-800mg/day.
Another option is Itraconazole, 200mg/day for adults, and 10mg/kg for children under 30kg and older than 5 years. Treatment duration is 6-9 months in mild forms of the disease, and 12-18 months in moderate cases.
In severe forms, defined as weight loss more than 10% associated with swallowing difficulty, a bad general condition, respiratory insufficiency, neurological signs or adrenal gland compromise, treatment should be administered in the hospital. The drugs of choice are intravenous amphotericin-B 1mg/kg/day or sulfametoxazole – trimetoprim 400/80mg every 8 hours, until the patient is well enough to take medication orally.
Explain the natural history of paracoccidioidomycosis to the patient before beginning treatment. This is a tropical infectious disease, which may result in severe pulmonary and physical problems if left untreated. Accordingly, if therapy is administered early in the course of illness, late complications may be abrogated. Inform patients that the treatment can last from 12 to 24 months and that the complications related to fibrosis may not be completely avoided. Encourage patients to persist with treatment; the complications can be treated later with specific physiotherapy, surgery, and medicine.
During the first appointment perfom a general assessment, including complete blood count (BC), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) , aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase, sodium, potassium, K, paracoccidioldin serology and chest x-ray.
At 30 days: CBC, ESR, ALT, AST, GGT, alkaline phosphatase, Na, K.
Throughout the course of treatment, the patient should be reevaluated every 3 months. After the end of treatment, patient should return every 6 months for 1 year. Patients are considered cured in the absence of clinical signs, a normal chest x-ray, and negative serology for up to 2 years.
There are no measures to prevent the disease. Patients should be treated early to avoid evolution of the disease and its complications.
Unusual Clinical Scenarios to Consider in Patient Management
Neuroparacoccidioidomycosis involves infection of the central nervous system, a rare site for this infection. Patients are usually middle-age male farm laborers. The characteristic symptoms are motor deficits and intracranial hypertension. Most cases are related to pulmonary forms of the disease. The mortality rate is high and survivors have sequela in half of the cases. The main sequelae is motor impairment.
When there are co-infections with tuberculosis and HIV, paracoccidioidomycosis may become more severe. Often, adrenal gland and respiratory insufficiency are a result of fibrosis from the infection.
What is the Evidence?
Azevedo, RS, Gouvêa, AF, Lopes, MA, Corrêa, MB, Jorge, J. “Synchronous oral paracoccidioidomycosis and oral squamous cell carcinoma with submandibular enlargement”. Med Mycol. . vol. 49. 2011. pp. 84-9. (Describes similarities and differences between the oral lesions of paracoccidioidomycosis and oral squamous cell carcinomas. Emphasizes and discusses the significance of risk factors in the association of these two entities.)
de Freitas, RM, Prado, R, do Prado, FL, de Paula, IB, Figueiredo, MT, Ferreira, CS, Goulart, EM, Pedroso, ER. “Pulmonary paracoddidioidomycosis: radiology and clinical-epidemiological evaluation”. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop . vol. 43. 2010. pp. 651-656. (Compares respiratory signs and symptoms between patients with and without chest X-ray abnormalities in order to establish the meaning of radiographic findings in pulmonary paracoccidioidomycosis.)
Goldani, LZ. “Gastrointestinal paracoccidioidomycosis: an overview”. J Clin Gastroenterol. vol. 45. 2010. pp. 87-91. (Review summarizing the salient features of gastrointestinal paracoccidioidomycosis. Shows that gastrointestinal paracoccidioidomycosis can be part of progressive dissemination of the infection or a result of local complications from a silent healing process.)
Odashiro, AN, Odashiro, PR, Fernandes, PI, Leite, LV, Odashiro, M, Maloney, S, Fernandes, BF, Di Cesare, S, Burnier, MN. “Eyelid and conjunctival paracoccicioidomycosis simulating carcinoma”. Int Ophthalmol.. vol. 31. 2011 Feb. pp. 63-7. (Shows that despite being rare the most common ocular sites of paracoccidioidomycosis are the eyelids and conjunctiva and its clincal similarities with squamous cell carcinoma.)
de Freitas, RS, Dantas, KC, Garcia, RS, Magri, MM, de Andrade, HF. “Paracoccidioides brasiliensis causing a rib lesion in an adult AIDS patient”. Hum Pathol . vol. 41. 2010. pp. 1350-4. (Shows how paracoddidiodomycosis can be severe in patients co-infected with AIDS.)
Rodrigues G da, S, Severo, CB, Oliveira F de, M, Moreira J da, S, Prolla, JC, Severo, LC. “Association between paracoccidioidomycosis and cancer”. J Bras Pneumol . vol. 36. 2010. pp. 356-62. (Reviews the literature about paracoccidioidomycosis and discusses the fact that the diagnosis of paracoccidioidomycosis appears to increase the risk of lung cancer.)
Tobón, AM, Agudelo, CA, Restrepo, CA, Villa, CA, Quiceno, W, Estrada, S, Restrepo, A. “Adrenal function status in patients with paracoccidioidomycosis after prolonged post-therapy follow-up”. Am J Trop Med Hyg . vol. 83. 2010. pp. 111-4. (This study assessed adrenal function in patients with paracoccidioidomycosis who had been treated to determine a possible connection between high antibody titers and adrenal dysfunction.)
Pedroso, VS, Vilela M de, C, Pedroso, ER, Teixeira, AL. “Paracoccidioidomicose com comprometimento do sistema nervoso central: revisão siatemática da literatira”. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop . vol. 42. 2009. pp. 691-7. (This study is the first systematic review of cases of neuroparacoccidioidomycosis available in the literature.)
“Ministério da Saúde”. Secretaria de Vigilânica em Saúde. 2008. (Pocket guide about the most infectious diseases in Brazil.).
Copyright © 2017, 2013 Decision Support in Medicine, LLC. All rights reserved.
No sponsor or advertiser has participated in, approved or paid for the content provided by Decision Support in Medicine LLC. The Licensed Content is the property of and copyrighted by DSM. | <urn:uuid:02cc4ff3-a23e-46c9-a41f-8b3180c69bcc> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://www.dermatologyadvisor.com/home/decision-support-in-medicine/dermatology/paracoccidioidomycosissouth-american-blastomycosis-brazilian-blastomycosis-lutz-splendore-almeida-disease-mucocutaneous-lymphangitic-paracoccidioidomycosis/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224645417.33/warc/CC-MAIN-20230530063958-20230530093958-00677.warc.gz | en | 0.854596 | 3,857 | 3.171875 | 3 |
South Florida definitively skipped Spring, and we are well under the summer sun, including the summer (hurricane season) rain.
Despite the rain, we will have ample opportunity to be outdoors and enjoy the warmth of the season.
Taking advantage of sun bursting days, means that we have to care for ourselves, and our family. Before you make your way to the great sunny outdoors, prepare in one simple step to protect against the harmful effects of the sun .
One American dies of melanoma almost every hour. However, many people are still ignoring the serious repercussions of exposing their skin to UVA and UVB radiation without protection by going to tanning salons, sun bathing and not using sunscreen when out for long periods of time.
According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is by far the most commonly diagnosed cancer in the United. Each year more than 1 million people are diagnosed with skin cancer and this trend appears to be increasing with each passing decade.
So what can you do to lower your risk for developing skin cancer? Below is a short list of simple tips and facts that you can consider. More importantly, they won’t interfere with your outdoor activities!
- Mid-day sun between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. is considered to be the time of day when the sun is at its peak and when UV rays can be most harmful.
- Protect ears, eyes, face, and back of your neck, try wearing a hats with a brim. Don’t forget your sunglasses. Make sure they help to block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB radiation.
- While traveling in the car, keep in mind that different suns rays can pass through the windshield and windows of your car, so it is important to wear sunscreen in the car too
Launched in 2009, the Choose Skin Health™ campaign’s mission is to help fight the skin cancer epidemic, educating and empowering the public to follow healthy sun-safe behaviors and take proper precautions against sun damage, The initiative was made possible through a partnership between Neutrogena® and the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS).
- Runners, swimmers, cyclists, walkers, and for anyone who plans to be outside should always try to wear sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Don’t forget to reapply your sunscreen frequently, especially if you are in the water or sweat a lot.
- Self Exam, An important part of promoting skin health is taking the time to follow a few simple, yet potentially life-saving steps. You can learn to identify suspicious moles, for example. To take advantage of an interactive exam, please click here
- Get educated: knowledge is your best weapon in the prevention and treatment of skin cancer. Take advantage of informative skin cancer resources available here
- Screen your skin: Early detection of skin cancer can save lives. Find a free skin cancer screening near you. A list of free skin cancer screening locations go here
Now that, THAT is taken care off, grab your hat, sunglasses and out we goooooo!
Happy Summer everyone!!!!
The above is a compensated in collaboration with Neutrogena and Latina Bloggers Connect. All opinions are our own.
Labels: Choose Skin Health, Latina Bloggers Connect, Neutrogena, Skin protection, Skinca cancer, summer, Summer protection | <urn:uuid:4aa2fa80-8f3d-46e2-a49a-0e908e2dc28b> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://coolmomscooltips.blogspot.com/2012/06/protecting-ourselves-while-enjoying.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224652959.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20230606150510-20230606180510-00698.warc.gz | en | 0.94032 | 702 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Draw a Diagram of a Grid Viewport
This function uses Grid graphics to draw a diagram of a Grid viewport.
grid.show.viewport(v, parent.layout = NULL, newpage = TRUE, vp.ex = 0.8, border.fill="light grey", vp.col="blue", vp.fill="light blue", scale.col="red", vp = NULL)
A Grid viewport object.
A grid layout object. If this is not NULL and the viewport given in
vhas its location specified relative to the layout, then the diagram shows the layout and which cells
voccupies within the layout.
A logical value to indicate whether to move to a new page before drawing the diagram.
positive number, typically in \((0,1]\), specifying the scaling of the layout.
Colour to fill the border margin.
Colour for the border of the viewport region.
Colour to fill the viewport region.
Colour to draw the viewport axes.
A Grid viewport object (or NULL).
A viewport is created within
vp to provide a margin for
annotation, and the diagram is drawn within that new viewport.
By default, the margin is filled with light grey, the new viewport is filled
with white and framed with a black border, and the viewport region
is filled with light blue and framed with a blue border.
The diagram is annotated with the width and height (including units)
of the viewport, the (x, y) location of the viewport, and
the x- and y-scales of the viewport, using red lines and text.
## Diagram of a sample viewport grid.show.viewport(viewport(x=0.6, y=0.6, w=unit(1, "inches"), h=unit(1, "inches"))) grid.show.viewport(viewport(layout.pos.row=2, layout.pos.col=2:3), grid.layout(3, 4)) | <urn:uuid:4d7d8c8b-4bf8-46c4-a1d6-12d884ee44de> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://www.rdocumentation.org/packages/grid/versions/3.4.1/topics/grid.show.viewport | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886105927.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20170819220657-20170820000657-00484.warc.gz | en | 0.67938 | 445 | 3.984375 | 4 |
His work was done, however. The country, which had been supine, and even hostile, rose now, and the British were attacked, surprised, and cut off in all directions, until at last they were shut up in the immediate vicinity of New York. The tide had been turned, and Washington had won the precious breathing-time which was all he required.
Frederick the Great is reported to have said that this was the most brilliant campaign of the century. It certainly showed all the characteristics of the highest strategy and most consummate generalship. With a force numerically insignificant as compared with that opposed to him, Washington won two decisive victories, striking the enemy suddenly with superior numbers at each point of attack. The Trenton campaign has all the quality of some of the last battles fought by Napoleon in France before his retirement to Elba. Moreover, these battles show not only generalship of the first order, but great statesmanship. They display that prescient knowledge which recognizes the supreme moment when all must be risked to save the state. By Trenton and Princeton Washington inflicted deadly blows upon the enemy, but he did far more by reviving the patriotic spirit of the country fainting under the bitter experience of defeat, and by sending fresh life and hope and courage throughout the whole people.
It was the decisive moment of the war. Sooner or later the American colonies were sure to part from the mother-country, either peaceably or violently. But there was nothing inevitable in the Revolution of 1776, nor was its end at all certain. It was in the last extremities when the British overran New Jersey, and if it had not been for Washington that particular revolution would have most surely failed. Its fate lay in the hands of the general and his army; and to the strong brain growing ever keener and quicker as the pressure became more intense, to the iron will gathering a more relentless force as defeat thickened, to the high, unbending character, and to the passionate and fighting temper of Washington, we owe the brilliant campaign which in the darkest hour turned the tide and saved the cause of the Revolution.
“MALICE DOMESTIC, AND FOREIGN LEVY” | <urn:uuid:fdb6456c-1ecc-4a3a-ba8c-fe3feecfb580> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | http://www.bookrags.com/ebooks/12652/89.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128322320.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20170628032529-20170628052529-00673.warc.gz | en | 0.980567 | 449 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Myofascial cupping is a therapy that applies cups to the skin through use of reduced pressure inside the cup. This reduced pressure draws and holds the skin, fascia and muscles up inside the cup, producing a range of potential health benefits.
Cupping is perhaps best known as a form of alternative Chinese medicine, and is an ancient therapy whose use has been recorded in ancient Greece, Egypt, and China. Myofascial cupping differs from Chinese cupping in that it is specifically designed to target the muscular-skeletal system.
By targeting the muscular-skeletal system, myofascial cupping appears to assist in activation of increased function in the lymphatic system, allowing for better toxin release. Cupping may also promote improved circulation and deep tissue repair.
Cupping is often used to treat conditions such as high blood pressure, back pain, neck pain, headache, anxiety, and general fatigue.
The cups are applied by creating a vacuum inside the cup – once the cup is applied to the skin, the skin and muscle naturally draws upwards. Many people find this gentle process produces a relaxing effect. Cupping has been referred to as the inverse of massage; as the muscles are drawn upwards instead of having pressure applied down as in massage, a similar relaxing sensation is achieved. | <urn:uuid:de1226f6-5a64-4ae3-a7fe-148d4b851979> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | https://bouncebacktherapies.com/services/cupping-benefits/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250625097.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20200124191133-20200124220133-00361.warc.gz | en | 0.959775 | 265 | 3.015625 | 3 |
Mary Snyder Broussard, Rachel Hickoff-Cresko, and Jessica Urick Oberlin. (2014). Snapshots of Reality: A Practical Guide to Formative Assessment in Library Instruction. Chicago: American Library Association.
Through ten practical chapters, Snapshots of Reality works from the assumption that classroom-based assessment does not have to take away from invaluable instruction time, nor does it have to be an overwhelmingly complicated task. The book outlines the concept of formative assessment, “bite-sized” assessments that help the librarian get a snapshot of the students’ level of understanding in relation to the learning target(s). These mini-assessments are usually learning tools themselves and can be assessed quickly enough that can be adjusted on the spot to meet the immediate needs of learners. Snapshots of Reality explores the adaptation of formative assessment theory into something that works for the library one-shot and more advanced instructor-librarian collaborations. It also includes three sections detailing 48 FAST (Formative Assessment Snapshot Technique) ideas for use before, during and after instruction sessions as well as a guided planning template to help librarians seamlessly bring formative assessment into the library classroom. This book is appropriate for all types of academic libraries, school libraries with strong information literacy programs, and library and information school collections. | <urn:uuid:4f531569-dec7-4c2b-bba4-48ee1e671ea1> | CC-MAIN-2014-23 | http://blogs.ifla.org/school-libraries/2014/05/02/library-instruction-assessment-book/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1406510268533.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20140728011748-00132-ip-10-146-231-18.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.921654 | 270 | 2.5625 | 3 |
"Coast of Vancouver Island, off Clayoquot Sound, June 30, 1874. Makah Indians running back to Cape Flattery from the Halibut shoals, where they have been fishing all day." MS 397,353.
From verso: "Watercolor by; Henry Wood Elliott painted in 1866 at Port Essington, Brit. Columbia / just south of Port Rupert." MS 397,353.
"Fishing from Kaiaks." 1872. MS 7119.
"Eskimo Man with Harpoon." Undated. MS 7119.
"Fishing from Kaiaks, Captains Harbour." 1872. MS 7119.
"Aleutians Striking Humpback Whales: off Akootan Island, Bering Sea." Undated. MS 7119.
"Old woman, Washakis Camp." 1870. MS 397,353.
"Eskimo Whaling and Walrus Camp,. Icy Point, Arctic Ocean, Alaska. Lookout created of drift logs." 1891. MS 7119.
"View of Settlement and Fishing Trap." Undated. MS 7119.
History remembers Henry Wood Elliott (1846-1930) as an eccentric character who helped save the Alaska fur seals from probable extinction, but he was also one of the first American artists to work in Alaska. His images of the Pribilof Island fur seals assisted the public in visualizing an animal and a way of life that most people had never seen. They sparked conservation sentiment that led to the recognition of the fur seal as a valuable renewable resource that needed protection (Elliott 1976 )
The fur seals, however, were not the only subjects Elliott painted. Alaska's Native people and their activities spurred his imagination. Elliott expressed his views on Alaska's Native people in his best-selling travel book, Our Arctic Province. Like many late 19th century artists, Elliott stereotypes his Native subjects, using them as picturesque features to draw attention to often spectacular landscape scenery, and focuses primarily on the activities and cultural settings of his subjects in an attempt to record a vanishing lifestyle (Moore 1997; Woodward 1993, 1998).
A collection of Elliott's works in the Smithsonian's National Anthropological Archives amply illustrates his handling of his Alaska Native subjects. Manuscript 7119 includes 15 handpainted photographic enlargements, ranging in size from 30 x 40 inches to 94 x 34 inches; Manuscript 397,353 includes five smaller watercolors.
Elliott renders his Native figures as specific types; within them his subjects generally look alike. For instance, in an approach characteristic of the late-nineteenth century belief in the validity of physical types, he describes his drawings of the Tlingit Indian groups near Sitka in Our Arctic Province by stating that all the various tribes share the same physical characteristics. Indeed, everyone seems so much alike that "...the margin of distinction up here between the ten or eleven clans which ethnologists enumerate is so slight that only a practised eye can declare them" (Elliott 1897:44). For each Native group Elliott lists general features "all" the members of that culture share.
"Fishing from Kayaks" (1872), an image of three Aleut men halibut fishing, illustrates this type casting. All of the fishermen share the same Mongolian-like facial characteristics and resemble one another so much that they could be mistaken for triplets. What seems to have interested Elliott most in this image is the action; he has a marked tendency to pay scant attention to his figures and focus on their activity or their cultural settings. Elliott also habitually places his figures back in the middle distance with either their backs or sides to the viewers. When these figures do face forward, they rarely look directly at the viewer but have their eyes cast down, intent on some activity. The halibut fishermen are a fine example. This treatment of the human figure also allowed Elliott to somewhat mask his lack of formal art training. Objects in the middle distance do not require as much detail and by averting his subjects' faces, he neatly avoided having to deal with the difficulty of drawing the human figure.
Elliott may not have paid much attention to the individual in his work but he missed little else. In an attempt to record the cultural life of Alaska's Native people for posterity, he lavished attention on his subjects' subsistence lifestyle, clothing, dwellings, and the tools needed for everyday living. "Fishing from Kayaks, Captains Harbour" (1872) shows an Aleutian man cod-fishing. The man has his back turned to the viewer as he hauls in his catch and stores it in the front hatch of his kayak. The kamleika or gut parka, the shape of the kayak, the oar, the fish, and the rope are all beautifully rendered and highly detailed. The Unalaska coastline with its steaming volcano is also richly defined. The absence of figure-to-viewer interaction and the spectacular setting combine to create a timeless and almost spiritual quality.
Concentrating on everything but the figure, Elliott's Native persons seem to lose a portion of their humanity and transform into exoticized landscape elements. Elliott believed that nature formed an integral part of the Native's physical and spiritual being. As he explained:
That Elliott seems to depict a world set apart from the ordinary may be an unconscious reflection of his emotive state. Prior to 1890 Elliott's images of Alaska, especially the Pribilof subjects have a Garden of Eden quality to them. Potentially disturbing topics such as the seal harvest in "Natives Clubbing and Skinning Seals" do not perturb the viewer. The men go about their various tasks in a calm, still and almost luminous atmosphere.
The frequent use of "God's light" in Elliott's images also suggests a landscape paradise. "Aleutians Striking Humpback Whales: off Akootan [sic.] Island, Bering Sea" depicts several Aleut hunters in double-hatched kayaks pursuing a pod of humpback whales. At least two hunting teams prepare to harpoon their quarry. As with the sealing image the whale hunt is not a disturbing image. The sun sends streamers benevolently down upon the sea and its occupants. The Native people appear to be acting as props to draw more attention to the landscape as in a timeless world.
In short, art often reveals more about the artist than it does the subject. Henry Elliott could not escape the tenets, thoughts, and morality of the Victorian culture in which he lived. His images of the Native people of Alaska are rich in ethnographic detail but also reveal his thoughts about these cultures. As such, the images are important sources for learning about our own culture's development over time as well as the Native lifestyles.
Collections of Related Interest
Collins, Henry Bascom. [Yupik Eskimo Life, St. Lawrence Island, Alaska, c. 1930] 2,000 ft silent b&w film. NA-82.6.1 Human Studies Film Archives/National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Farber, Joseph C., Collection of Photographs of Point Barrow, Alaska. Photo Lot 78-1. National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Ford, James Alfred. Papers, 1930-1968. National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Hubbard, Bernard, S.J. [Alaskan Footage: King Island, 1937-1938.] 64,700 ft (30 hrs 4 min) silent b&w video. NA-93.1.1 Human Studies Film Archives/National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Nelson, Edward William. Photographs of Alaska / Unalaska Bay / Unalaska Island. Photo Lot 24. National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Stanley Brown, Joseph (Photographer). Seals & Sealing Operations (Arctic Aleut). Photo Lot 24 and Lantern Slides, Photo Lot 54, National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
Tip Top of the Earth: Arctic Alaskan Eskimo Educational Series 1916-1918. 2,827 ft (2 hrs 21 min) silent b&w; film/video. NA 86.5.1. Human Studies Film Archives/National Anthropological Archives, Smithsonian Institution.
The Cleveland Museum of Natural History also has an extensive collection of drawings by Henry Wood Elliott.
Read More About It
Elliott, Henry Wood. Our Arctic Province. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1897 .
Elliott, Henry Wood. The Seal Islands of Alaska. Kingston, Ontario: The Limestone Press, 1976 .
Moore, Robert J. Native Americans: A Portrait. New York; Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 1997.
Woodward, Kesler E. Painting in the North. Anchorage: Anchorage Museum oif History and Art, 1993.
Woodward, Kesler E. Spirit of the North: The Art of Eustace Paul Ziegler. Morris Communications Corporation in association with the Anchorage Museum of History and Art and the Morris Museum of art, 1998.
Written by Lisa Morris, designed by Robert Leopold. This article originally appeared in the Arctic Studies Center Newsletter (Number 8, August 2000). Reprinted by permission of the Arctic Studies Center. | <urn:uuid:9431d0a9-01ce-4691-a561-c22173aa8b82> | CC-MAIN-2013-48 | http://www.nmnh.si.edu/naa/features/elliott.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-48/segments/1386164030978/warc/CC-MAIN-20131204133350-00077-ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.923164 | 1,924 | 2.8125 | 3 |
Skandalopetra diving dates from ancient Greece, when it was used by sponge fishermen and has been re-discovered in recent years as a freediving discipline. It consists of a variable ballast dive using a skandalopetra tied to a rope. A companion on a boat recovers the diver pulling the rope after the descent, always watching over from the surface.
A skandalopetra dive better known to contemporary divers is perhaps that of Stathis Chantzis, a Greek sponge fisherman who, on 14 July 1913, in the Karpathos port recovered the lost anchor of the Queen Margaret, a ship of the Italian Navy, at the depth of 83 m. The skandalopetra (or simply petra, "stone") is a stone, usually of marble or granite, weighing between 8 and 14 kg, with rounded corners and hydrodynamic shape.
It was the only tool used by divers, since the time of Alexander the Great. The fishermen, naked, were secured to the stone with a thin cord. The skandalopetra itself was secured to the boat with the same rope. This link allowed fishermen to dive safely for centuries.
In recent times skandalopetra diving has been newly proposed by some fans as a form of sport diving in apnea, then developing an athletic activity. In modern competitions with skandalopetra, divers are allowed the use of a noseclip, it is not permitted to use other equipment such as a wetsuit, mask or fins.
In this discipline there is no waste of energy and activity is comparable to the descent in variable ballast diving. The athlete, still on the boat, prepares before diving, holding the stone, then dives, remaining motionless and as vertical as possible. After the dive, moves his feet onto the petra and lets himself being pulled to the surface by his companion. It is therefore essential to the synergy within the team diver-assistant, the latter at any time should know the depth to which you will find the divers, feel when they slow down to equalize, leaving the stone when it arrives at the bottom and finally when it is the right time to sail. The divers during the descent handle the stone in different ways serving as brake, as the helm and, of course, as ballast. | <urn:uuid:7693fa84-1516-4c7b-9660-fd22e6e3d441> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skandalopetra | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549424910.80/warc/CC-MAIN-20170724202315-20170724222315-00161.warc.gz | en | 0.948325 | 476 | 3.140625 | 3 |
“WINDerful Tales” is a new exhibit at the Jasper County Historical Museum located in the Ag Building. This exhibit was made possible due to support from Silos & Smokestakes, Jasper Community Foundation and Jasper County Farm Bureau. It is a direct result of seeing a problem and having the inspiration to uniquely solve it by board member, Linda Perrenoud, and volunteer members of her grants committee, Mary Ann Iske and Dr. Delores Butler.
The problem … the old wooden windmill that stood south of the museum had recently had the wooden head removed for major repair and the “headless” wooden tower had been joined by a rusted metal windmill laying on its side. Weather damage to the windmill had become so severe that restoration was quite difficult and needed to be avoided in the future. Suffice it to say, the wooden windmill needed to be moved inside so the small group took it upon themselves to rectify the situation and with the assistance of grants and volunteers, they were able to move the windmill inside and they developed the award-winning exhibit on display today called “WINDerful Tales.” Their “Tale” is about wind power and Jasper County in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Why is it award-winning, you ask? Last April, the museum and exhibit was honored as a Silos & Smokestacks’ Partner Site for Outstanding Interpretation; showing excellence in interpreting the story of American Agriculture. Silos & Smokestacks National Heritage Area (SSNHA) honored the Heritage Area’s best during their 10th Annual Golden Silo Awards Golden Silo Awards are presented to individuals and organizations whose contributions demonstrate excellence in preserving and telling America’s agricultural story, both past and present.
By the mid-1920s, 1 to 3 kilowatt wind generators had been developed. Wind-generated electricity found widespread use in rural areas of the Midwestern Great Plains. In 1933, H.C. McCardell, E. A. McCardell and M.E. Vincent of Newton, purchased Mill Air-Light Company and reorganized it as a Wind Power Light Company. Shortly thereafter, they invented an entirely new type of wind electric plant. Instead of using a blade similar to a fan, a propeller blade was perfected using the principle of the airfoil of an airplane wind. The other patented feature was tipping the blades, thus eliminating the tail vane and making the entire unit like a huge dart; and greatly increasing its efficiency.
Early in 1935 the company conceived the idea of selling ‘metered’ electricity to farmers much like utility companies were doing. I would have thought this was a more recent idea from like the last 20 years or so, but the idea had been around for a very long time; but just never came to fruition because the government started the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) to bring electricity to rural areas around the same time.
The first use of a large windmill to generate electricity was built in Cleveland Ohio by Charles Brush in 1888. Today’s wind turbines, made by companies like Newton’s TPI and Trinity, are very different in design from the earlier models mostly due to their much larger scale.
Check out the award-winning “WINDerful Tales” exhibit in the Ag Building located across the street south of the Jasper County Historical Museum main building. It sits next to the old wooden windmill that has been restored. The Ag Building has many displays of tools and machines from our times past. While you’re there, don’t miss the old Blacksmith’s Shop too! The Jasper County Historical Museum is located at 1700 S. 15th Ave. W. in Newton or just off I-80 Exit 164. | <urn:uuid:80d0a5eb-96f4-4837-be3d-97f49269c748> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | http://www.newtondailynews.com/2014/07/29/winderful-tales/afiadaw/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128323870.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20170629051817-20170629071817-00140.warc.gz | en | 0.972644 | 786 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Statistics Canada (SC) reports that there are on average 19,000 structural fires in Canada per year. In Ontario, structure fires caused $860 million in property damage in 2019 and the deaths of 67 people.
Workplace fires, while rare, still occur. And that’s why it’s key to conduct a monthly fire safety inspection on your premises. But how exactly do you carry them out?
In this post, we’re going to explore how to supervise a routine fire safety inspection, what you should take note of, as well as give you a host of fire safety tips. First, what is a fire safety inspection anyway?
Fire Safety Inspection
A fire safety inspection is an assessment of the potential fire safety hazards within a building. The investigation is generally conducted by an appointed fire warden selected from among employees. This is done to try and foster ‘ownership’ and willing participation in fire safety tasks.
There is no standardized manner in which fire safety inspections are carried out as it only involves a ‘walk around’ inspection. This is a visual check of equipment and means of egress. The inspector must not carry out any invasive physical examinations on fire equipment or fire suppressant systems.
The goal of monthly fire safety checks is to identify any problems, damage, or faulty equipment.
What is Reviewed During a Fire Safety Inspection?
The fire warden must visually check to see that the building is conforming to the provincial fire code. Therefore they will assess:
· Fire safety mechanisms
· Fire detection systems
· Alarms and fire sprinklers
· Fire extinguishers, hydrants and pumps
· Emergency and exit lighting
· Means of egress
Now here’s a monthly fire safety procedure you can follow.
Monthly Fire Safety Inspection Procedures
There are six main areas that will be assessed.
1. Fire Alarm Systems
The fire warden is responsible for verifying the integrity of all emergency ‘break glass’ call points. The boxes should not be covered and clearly visible to all.
The fire alarm should be tested to confirm that it is audible and can be heard across the entire building.
On activation of the fire alarm, all fire doors connected to the fire alarm system should automatically be released. If they don’t this indicates a problem with the hold-open devices.
2. Fire Extinguishers
Fire extinguishers should be fully charged and mounted correctly in an upright position.
Every fire extinguisher should be tagged and clearly labelled what type of fire it puts out and what medium it contains.
Fire extinguishers should be clearly accessible, not obstructed, and visible (not stored in a back room somewhere).
Fire extinguishers should not be damaged, with their indicator needles pointing to the ‘green zone’ (If a needle is present).
Tamperproof tags must be intact and secure.
3. Escape Routes
Escape routes should be clutter-free and egress doors easy to open without needing a key.
Floors must be inspected and anything making hallway and pathway surfaces slippery eliminated.
Handrails/guide rails should also be firmly fixed to the wall.
Combustible materials (such as trash) should not be obstructing the escape routes.
4. Fire Doors
Fire doors must be in proper working order and not propped open (except for cleaning or deliveries etc).
No signs of damage should be visible on fire doors.
Iron systems and self-closing mechanisms must operate correctly and be secure.
Except in labs and workshops, vision panels should be clear and not covered up.
5. Hazard Warning Signs
All safety signs should not be obscured or covered.
Appropriate hazard warning signs must be mounted correctly. Example signs are those indicating the fire escape routes, fire alarm call points, and fire extinguishers.
All safety signs should be damage-free and clean.
6. Evacuation Chairs
If there are any evacuation chairs in the building, these should be in their designated locations and covered with a dust cover.
Sample Fire Safety Inspection Checklist
The person in charge of the monthly fire safety inspection is generally given an inspection form or checklist to carry with them and fill in as they walk around the premises conducting the assessment.
The checklist contains a series of questions. They will only need to tick a ‘Yes’/’No’/’Not Applicable’ box. If there is something that needs attention there is additional space to write a note.
Example questions on such checklists include:
- Are exit signs and emergency lights operational?
- Is the generator back-up in working order and in an acceptable condition?
- Are exit doors free of obstructions and unlocked during working hours?
- Are stairwells free from combustible materials?
- Are fire doors self-closing and self-latching?
- Are fire doors propped or blocked by an external obstruction?
- Are fire sprinkler control valves easily accessible?
- Are fire sprinkler control valves open and locked?
- Are fire extinguishers clearly visible and mounted correctly?
- Are fire extinguishers correctly tagged and bear clear instructions for use?
- Are working spaces free of permanent use of extension cords?
- Are there any overloaded electrical outlets?
- Is trash being collected on a regular basis?
- Is combustible material being stored correctly?
Schedule an Annual Fire Safety Inspection
Monthly fire safety inspections are important as they help to discover faults so qualified professionals can come in and rectify them.
While building owners can carry out remedial action such as removing waste obstructions blocking fire sprinklers and escape routes, major faults should only be addressed by licensed fire safety inspectors.
For all your annual fire safety inspections and fire prevention solutions in Waterloo, Ontario think Profire Safety Services.
Our service offering goes beyond assessments, however. We also offer a comprehensive line of emergency backup generators, fire alarm systems, fire warning systems, fire extinguishers, emergency lighting, exit lighting, fire safety plans, sprinkler systems, and gas detection services for businesses in Waterloo, Ontario.
Request a free quote today. | <urn:uuid:8829be6c-5bd3-452b-a4c3-edfa0569a6c9> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://www.profiresafetyservices.ca/how-to-conduct-a-monthly-fire-safety-inspection-for-your-business/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510462.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20230928230810-20230929020810-00123.warc.gz | en | 0.901913 | 1,285 | 2.65625 | 3 |
Movement for Learning
The brain will absorb only what the butt can endure.
Using Brain Breaks to Restore Student Focus
~Judy Willis, MD
Great explanation of how movement affects the brain
"This is Your Brain on Exercise"
Exercise is as good for your brain as it is for your body, and researchers are just beginning to discover why.
Teaching with the Brain in Mind, 2nd Edition
by Eric Jensen
How physical movement helps the brain learn
"How Finland Keeps Kids Focused Through Free Play"
by Tim Walker
Finnish schools incorporate frequent play time to maximize learning time.
\ˈbrān\ \breyk\ - Defined by one teacher as..."a short mental break, taken at regular intervals during instruction, and used to achieve optimal learning."
What You Need to Know
Great article that gives the science behind brain breaks and how critical they are to student learning.
A site for Brain Breaks! Interactive videos, ZUMBA, songs, games, yoga...all designed to re-energize bodies and brains so they are ready to learn.
Why not have students do these as warm-up, brain break, post-strategy, or whenever!
"Moving Mirror" Brain Break - great for all grades.
Learn the Sid Shuffle with your students! K-adult
Fantastic blog dedicated totally to Brain Breaks! Tons of ideas, videos, and explanations - all grade levels.
Energizing Brain Breaks
by David Sladkey
"The Waiter" Brain Break - best suited probably for upper elementary, middle, and high.
"Brain Squat Cross" Brain Break - great example of movements across the mid-line of the body. | <urn:uuid:6b9b39e8-fd90-4d95-a1be-935e90c35591> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | http://www.literacychick.com/movement-for-learning.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579251681625.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20200125222506-20200126012506-00228.warc.gz | en | 0.870862 | 365 | 3.53125 | 4 |
To understand what the adverb modifies, we need to understand what an adverb is and look at some examples of adverbs, the parts of speech they modify, and the phrases and clauses that act like adverbs.
Verbs are found in every sentence. They show action or clarify the subject of the sentence. There are two kinds of verbs: action and linking. Here are examples of an action verb in a sentence with the verb underlined:
Linking verbs do not express action; rather they connect the subject to information about the subject. Here are two examples:
Adverbs can also modify adjectives. Adjectives are words that modify or describe nouns and pronouns. Two examples are:
Lastly, adverbs can modify other adverbs. Here are a few examples of adverbs:
Adverbs can answer questions, start questions, give more information, and connect parts of a sentence. Here are the explanations of different types of adverbs with examples.
Adverbs can be sorted into the kinds of questions they answer.
Conjunctive adverbs can connect clauses or sentences. Here is a short list of some conjunctive adverbs:
also, besides, finally, however, instead, nevertheless, next, now, otherwise, still, then, therefore, and thus.
If conjunctive adverbs connect two independent clauses (sentences), a semicolon is used, like in:
If the conjunctive adverb is used at the beginning of a sentence, then a comma is used, as in:
If the conjunctive adverb is within a clause, commas are used to separate it, like:
Interrogative adverbs come at the beginning of a question, like:
When young children learn about adverbs, they often just think all you have to do is add an “ly” to a word and it becomes an adverb. This is true for many adverbs, but not all. Many adjectives can easily become adverbs, like slow = slowly, soft = softly, and precise = precisely.
Clauses can function as adverbs. A clause is a group of words with a subject and a verb. Independent clauses are called sentences. So when you ask, ““What does the adverb modify?” you need to realize that a clause may be functioning as an adverb. Here are some examples:
Prepositional phrases and infinitive phrases can also act as adverbs. Here are two examples:
To sum up, adverbs modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs. They can connect clauses or start sentences that are questions. Clauses, prepositional phrases, and infinitive phrases sometimes act like adverbs.
Create and save customized word lists. Sign up today and start improving your vocabulary! | <urn:uuid:7d9acb5b-0fe3-4c0c-ae6a-1c14b247a4d0> | CC-MAIN-2017-26 | http://grammar.yourdictionary.com/parts-of-speech/adverbs/what-does-the-adverb-modify.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320362.97/warc/CC-MAIN-20170624221310-20170625001310-00168.warc.gz | en | 0.957077 | 580 | 4.375 | 4 |
Elanthoor (Ellangalude Oor meaning dwelling of elloms) is a village in Pathanamthitta district in the state of Kerala. Sanskrit & Tamil influenced Malayalam is the spoken language of this famous ancient village and makes its name meaningful.
Most of the places which have ‘Oor’ in their names indicate some kind of description of the place. Elanthoor - dwelling of Illoms.
Elanthoor was also included in Pattinamthitta District, during the time of Cheraman Peruma, under the Twelve Vazhunnavar's ruling of Chengannoor 5000.
The stamp of royalty can still be felt due to the royal remnants inside and outside the Kottai and Pandalam even today. The Mount Kottathatti, the Pit of Nagas, the facade of mountains, stand as witness to the time when Pandavas took refuge in the village during their exile.
Thiru Aranmula Parthasarathy and Omalloor Rakthakanda Swami Temples stand as the boundary of the Elanthoor village. The great historical figure, the King of Pandalam's Kalari and Chief of Army made alive this settlement.
One of the important and famous Goddess Abode in Thiruvitamkoor is the Bhagawati Kunnu Devi Temple. From the archaic Illom of North Malabar, at the time of Tippu Sultan’s Army, while taking the Kulabhara Devatayaya Devi (Goddess), Mullappalli Nambhoothiri disappeared after crossing many villages (Naranganam, Onthekkad, Punaikkad etc.) reached Ellanthoor.
With the help of the officials of Koikkal and the owner of Karikattu, Ummatti, the Mother Goddess was enshrined amidst the fields.
In those days, the Christians who were residing in Kazhiyundasseri used to provide the temple with cold-pressed sesame oil. Even today, they continue the ritual of providing the oil. It is said that the Devi Vilippurathamma stood as the protector for the passersby and the bullock carts that cross the dangerous route.
Today, all Hindus residing in Elanthoor West, Mannubhagam East, Valiya Pariaram, Ida pariyaram, Varyapuram have been given equal rights and claims by the Temple rulers. These people took the responsibility resurrecting and renovating the dilapidated temple. The Stone Statue of Lord Krishna, the sanctum sanctorum, obeisance courtyard, sub gods and goddesses, Ganapati, Yakshi, Rakhshas Valyacchan, Naga Rajavu, mala nadaa have been redone beautifully. Sacrificial stone and flagpost have also been completed.
Thazhaman Madam Bhrahmashree Neelakandararu thantrikalude kaarmikatvathil shadhadharapratishtayum pudiya chatura bahuvaya devi pratishtayum upadeva pratishtakalum , valyambalam, aanakottil, sadhyalayam,
Making of the boundary wall has also been started after the pratishtakaram.
The first flag hoisting ceremony was conducted on 24th February 1999 with much fanfare through the 10 day festivities. Padayani festival was also first celebrated then and continues to be celebrated every year on the day of Maheeram Star in themalayalam month of Kumbham.
The people of this land will remain humbled for the support from all corners of the world for the progress and upkeep of the temple.
May Devi shower her blessings, of good health and prosperity, on one and all! | <urn:uuid:0ec5b936-89ec-487e-98a8-0d27a056686c> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | http://www.elanthoordevi.org/Bhagavathikunnu | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579251681625.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20200125222506-20200126012506-00115.warc.gz | en | 0.94251 | 805 | 2.609375 | 3 |
Art Deco wallpaper can be found online. In addition to reproductions, a few stores have vintage wallpaper for sale.
Art Deco Wallpaper: Historical Examples
Historical samples of wallpaper from the Art Deco period can be found in many restored buildings as well as interior photographs taken from the 1920s through the 1940s.
Well-Known Art Deco Architecture:
- Chrysler Building, New York, NY
- Easter Columbia Building, Los Angeles, CA
- Empire State Building, New York, NY
- Fisher Building, Detroit, MI
- Guardian Building, Detroit MI
- Union Station, Omaha, NE
Art Deco Movement
The Art Deco movement was most popular during the mid to late 1920s, although it did continue until the mid-1940s. This eclectic style was unique because it was a mixture of several art styles. Unlike other artforms and movements, Art Deco wasn't the product of political or social change. It was strictly the result of the expression of art. Many of the art movements that influenced Art Deco, however, were the result of political changes.
- Art Nouveau
The Society of the Decorator Artists
The inspiration for the birth of Art Deco has been attributed to the 1900 Universal Exposition, or more aptly, several French artists, who later formed The Society of the Decorator Artists. Paris quickly became the hub of Art Deco. Some of the society's members were well-known artists, who influenced and inspired the basic fundamentals and principles of Art Deco. Artists, architects, interior designers, furniture designers, and decorative artists were drawn to this new exciting artfrom. Many of the motifs and symbols these artists created were repeated in wallpaper designs.
- Cartier, king of clocks and jewelry
- Edgar Brandt, known metalwork, specifically wrought iron
- Eileen Gray, specialized in screens
- Emile-Jacques Ruhlmann, renowned furniture designer
- Eugène Graset, best known for his graphic art
- Hector Guimard, metal ornamental entrances to Paris Metro Stations
- Jean Dunand, excelled in lacquer art
- Jean-Jacques Rateau, famous interior designer
- Maurice Dufrene, chief designer at La Maison Moderne, designed wallpaper friezes
- Maurice Marinot, unique glasswork, also paintings
- Paul Follot, crafts designer and interior designer, silver, bronze jewelry and textiles
- Raoul Lachenal, ceramics and stoneware
- Rene Lalique, glass designer known for exquisite designs
Mechanics of Art Deco
To understand Art Deco you must first understand the world that helped form it. The 1920s was known as the Machine age and the emergence of modern technology. The burst of industry greatly influenced Art Deco that reflected the mathematical and geometric aspects of this new world through various shapes. To contrast with this high-technology, art styles dubbed as primitive artforms were often combined with the modern ones such as Aztec, Egyptian and African as well as motifs and ideas from other art movements. By joining contrasting artforms as a single design, dramatic art came to life.
Art Deco: Popular Wallpaper Motifs
Many of the popular motifs found in Art Deco were repeated in the period's wallpapers.
Some of these motifs included:
- Egyptian symbols
- Geometric shapes
- Mixed shapes and sizes
- Trapezoid shapes
- Zigzag designs
Importance of Color
As with all design, color is a driving component and was used to accent and enhance the various motifs, symbols and shapes of Art Deco. Color contrasts were used and repeated the theme of combining opposites or unexpected color pairs, much like the combining of design elements and materials.
Some Popular Dramatic Art Deco Colors Combinations:
- Black and Blue
- Black and Green
- Black and Pink
- Black and Red
- Black and White
- Black and Gray
- Bronze and Blue
- Gold and Red
- Orange and Blue
- Red and Green
- Silver and Blue
- Yellow and Purple
These are just a few of the often found color combinations, but there were many more. Bold and dramatic pieces were created in vibrant colors. Artists also played with monochromatic color schemes and this was often found in wallpapers of the period.
New techniques were applied to bring texture to wallpapers such a flocked and metallic. Animal prints were also popular choices mixed with unusual colors such as bright pink or mint green. Zebra and leopard prints were often found in fabrics and even wallpapers.
Locating Vintage and Reproduction Wallpapers
Surprisingly, there are several companies that sell authentic vintage wallpapers. You can also find reproductions mixed in with a wide variety of new and reproductions.
Wallpapers in Art Deco Style
Using an Art Deco wallpaper in your home can tie your design together and give it a feeling of authenticity. | <urn:uuid:ae4718c3-2c69-48a7-8806-691463f0366c> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | http://interiordesign.lovetoknow.com/Art_Deco_Wallpaper | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818693363.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20170925201601-20170925221601-00289.warc.gz | en | 0.956886 | 1,040 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Sepsis is estimated to kill around 250,000 Americans each year. In 2018, the state of Tennessee alone saw nearly 1,000 deaths as a result of sepsis. Anahita Khojandi’s JDRD work could lay the foundation for improving those outcomes.
Sepsis is a body’s extreme reaction to an infection. This life-threatening condition typically occurs as a result of a pre-existing infection and has a mortality rate of around 40 percent. Survivability often depends on a patient receiving early identification and timely treatment of the condition. For every hour sepsis is undiagnosed, a patient’s mortality rate increases by 8 percent. Intensive care unit, ICU, patients are especially at risk.
“It’s actually one of the major causes of death in hospitals,” said Khojandi. “It’s very important to detect sepsis early and because this is such an important problem, we need to start addressing or thinking about it.”
Khojandi’s work seeks to improve sepsis outcomes by improving methods of early detection. Her team is working to combine Bayesian frameworks and machine learning to create a holistic means of peaking into the future of potential sepsis patients.
“For every minute a patient is in a non-sepsis state, there is a probability they will end up in sepsis. It’s a very small probability, especially when you’re looking at one minute, but then think about that over two or three hours. It’s compounded,” said Khojandi.
Khojandi believes the incorporation of a dynamic Bayesian framework will help account for the ongoing changes patients’ bodies experience, allowing for a decrease in misdiagnoses. Such a holistic framework could also incorporate the human element, which could be especially relevant in ICUs.
“You have a limited number of nurses in ICUs caring for patients, so how should they prioritize based on risk factors? Who should they cautiously monitor, who should they closely attend to, who should they rank how in terms of these risk factors?” Khojandi asked.
Her JDRD team has partnered with hospitals to gain access to a data set for a pilot study. Additionally, they have generated several papers on the topic and submitted to proposals to the National Science Foundation. Khojandi hopes this project will have multiple medical applications and improve outcomes for many people, both in and beyond Tennessee. | <urn:uuid:8baf9cb0-4a35-4f4c-9e01-f072734ec3da> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://scialli.utk.edu/machine-learning-for-better-icu-outcomes/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224650264.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20230604193207-20230604223207-00372.warc.gz | en | 0.938298 | 523 | 2.828125 | 3 |
DAMRAT SURMI, Sudan -Decades of drought helped trigger Darfur's violence as rival groups fought over scarce water and arable land.
Now, experts fear the war and its refugee crisis are making the environment even worse, leaving the land increasingly uninhabitable and intensifying tensions with no end to the drought in sight.
A woman walks home with wood collected for cooking outside the West Darfur town of Murnei, Sudan.
Nasser Nasser, The Associated Press
In the Es Sallam camp next to El Fasher, a U.S. aid group, International Lifeline, has introduced a redesigned stove that uses up to 80 percent less wood.
Nearly three-quarters of the camp's families now use the stoves, said Wahid Jahangiri, an Iranian who spent weeks in Es Sallam teaching women how to operate them.
“We started this as an environmental project and we're only beginning to realize the whole social and cultural impact it's having,” said David Welf, the aid group's director.
Darfur's tragedy could be repeated in much of North Africa and the Middle East, where growing populations are straining a very limited water supply. Data show rainfall steadily declining in the region.
“The consciousness of the world on the issue of climate change has to change fast,” said Muawia Shaddad of the Sudan Environment Conservation Society. “Darfur is just an early warning.”
Darfur's ethnic African farmers and tribes of mostly Arab nomads had long been competing for the region's meager water and land resources.
But the severe droughts of the 1980s and meager rainfall since then sharpened the conflict between the two populations, and when African tribes took up arms against Sudan's Arab-dominated government in 2003, the Arabs in Darfur were willing allies of the government - they already were competing with the farmers for water.
U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon wrote in a Washington Post editorial earlier this month that the world must learn from the Darfur conflict, including the effects that global warming can have on hopes for peace.
Darfur is usually discussed “in a convenient military and political shorthand - an ethnic conflict pitting Arab militias against black rebels and farmers,” Ban wrote. “Look to its roots, though, and you discover a more complex dynamic.”
Shaddad pointed to a chart measuring annual rainfall in El Fasher, capital of North Darfur.
“In Darfur, we really saw it coming,” he said, noting that average annual rainfall has dropped by nearly half since figures were first collected in 1917.
In 2003, when the large-scale conflict began, 7.48 inches of rain fell on El Fasher. Meanwhile, Darfur's population has increased sixfold over the past four decades, to 6.5 million.
That created a strain on resources beyond the capability of the tribes to manage.
As the desert closed in, Arab nomads drifted farther south, bringing their herds of cattle toward lands that African villagers were farming.
Those herds destroyed fields and worsened soil erosion. With land increasingly unfit for farming, the Africans rebelled when the central government in Khartoum seemed indifferent to their plight.
On a recent morning in southern Darfur, camels grazed aimlessly on what used to be fertile fields.
Village after village in the area lay destroyed and abandoned, with houses plundered and water pumps knocked down along the dirt track road winding across the arid landscape.
Nomads have cut down many of the trees in the war zone. Trees are crucial to farmers, because they help stabilize the soil and provide shade for crops. Without them, it will be even harder for farmers now in refugee camps to return to their villages.
In such a fragile environment, even steps designed to reduce human suffering are causing environmental problems.
With an estimated 200,000 people killed and 2.5 million left homeless by the conflict, international relief organizations set up vast camps to care for and protect those at risk.
Aid groups dug bore holes to provide water. Darfur's land is largely hard rock, so most of the scant rain that does fall during the June-September rainy season washes away, and the underground reserves are the only reliable water source. But the wells are depleting that water.
The problem has become so severe that some refugee camps in neighboring Chad may have to be moved soon. In El Fasher's Abu Shouk camp, seven bore holes have already dried up, according to a report by the British aid group Tearfund.
Furthermore, refugees are rapidly destroying forests around the camps by cutting trees for firewood. Refugees also use wood to reinforce the mud walls of their homes.
Many in the camps also earn money by producing mud bricks, which requires lots of water along with still more wood to fire the kilns. It takes the equivalent of 35 trees to bake bricks in just one kiln, the Tearfund report said.
In Abu Shouk, whole families - including children who don't go to school - could be seen digging hundreds of small holes in the sweltering heat in search of clay for bricks.
Behind them stood a large, barren sand dune that aid workers and conservationists said was covered by a trees only three years ago.
Once the war is over, families who attempt to return to their villages will require more scarce wood to rebuild their homes.
A traditional family compound requires the wood from 30 to 40 trees, Tearfund says. That means 12 million to 16 million trees for the 2.5 million refugees, the report said.
With resources so depleted, U.N. and private aid groups are struggling to devise a “do no harm” policy.
In southern Darfur, where the damage is less than in the north, aid groups and U.N. agencies are seeking to reconcile farmers and nomads to protect what has not yet been destroyed.
Near the nomad encampment of Damrat Surmi, Arab chiefs have agreed to revive a “peace committee” to manage resources in common with local leaders of the African tribes.
“There used to be forests here, antelopes, even sometimes elephants,” said Abdelnumin Adam, an African leader on the peace committee, pointing at the barren landscape.
Abdallah Durru, an Arab representative on the committee, said the Arabs agreed to pay for damage done to crops by their cattle because they realize they must live in harmony with the African farmers.
“We know that when the war ends, the government will leave us on our own,” Durru said. “If we can't share this land with our black neighbors, no one can live.”
For its part, Sudan's government says it has plans for a pilot project to spend $10 million to replant trees and build dams.
Conceding that amount is “peanuts,” Ismail al-Gizouli of the government's High Council for Environment and Natural Resources, said, “We need the richer countries to realize desertification is the emergency and help us.” | <urn:uuid:7245cc4c-512c-4727-90e2-ce9665d33967> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ocregister.com/business/-205701--.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00081-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955271 | 1,494 | 2.96875 | 3 |
Roggenbuck studies wildernessBy Susan Trulove
Spectrum Volume 17 Issue 38 - August 10, 1995
Whether or not we use America's vast wilderness, we need to know grizzly bears roam free, says Joe Roggenbuck, researcher and teacher at Virginia Tech. "If that were not so, there would not be 100 million acres of legally protected wilderness in this country."
We tend to think of wilderness as being out west, where the grizzlies roam; but, there are 20,000 acres of wilderness and natural high country in Mt. Rogers National Recreation Area in southwest Virginia.
Two years ago, the U.S. Forest Service asked Roggenbuck to study the uses and users of the Mt. Rogers.
"The Jefferson National Forest managers are interested in providing the best possible experiences for visitors, so they need to know something about their visitors," explains Roggenbuck. The Forest Service is charged with protecting natural conditions of wilderness areas, and providing outstanding opportunities for solitude and primitive and unconfined recreation. "How do you do that when you have lots of use and lots of different kinds of use?"
Potential problems are impacts on vegetation and wildlife, and crowding and conflicts among visitors.
College students who were partners in the research sat at the trail heads five days a week, seven hours a day, meeting people as they entered and exited the high country, asking them questions, and asking them to fill out a questionnaire. They collected data from more than 1,000 people to learn who comes to the Mt. Rogers wilderness, where they come from, how they use the area, what experiences they seek, and what their perceptions are regarding crowding, conflict, and appropriate responses.
* 34 percent were day hikers;
* 27 percent were backpackers who camped over night;
* 8 percent were hunters;
* 12 percent were others, such as berry pickers;
* 36 percent of the users were in family groups;
* 19 percent were with family and friends;
* 12 percent of users were by themselves, which is about twice as high as in Montana wilderness areas, for example.
Trips into wilderness areas with family are typical , says Roggenbuck. "The wilderness is a time and place to be alone with intimate others."
With such a high percentage of day users at Mt. Rogers, the challenge for managers is to meet the requirement of the Wilderness Act to provide an opportunity for solitude, and primitive and unconfined recreation.
"It's supposed to be more than a stroll in the woods," says Roggenbuck. "What can we do to encourage visitors to have an experience where nature and silence seep into one's being--experiences that make for happy, healthy people."
What are the perceptions of the people surveyed at Mt. Rogers?
* 26 percent of backpackers experienced conflict, where others' behavior impaired their enjoyment.
* 13 percent of day hikers and 12 percent of riders experienced conflict.
* 36 percent of the hikers said conflicts were due to riders.
* 3 percent of the riders said conflicts were due to hikers.
"Conflict," in addition to behavior problems, includes perceived crowding and perceived resource impacts. "Overnighters' requirements of what is acceptable are more specific," says Roggenbuck.
The Forest Service does not respond to one user group versus another.
"The riders are very attached to the recreation area in that they have fewer substitutes. The Forest Service has to respond to problems on behalf of the riders as well as the hikers," Roggenbuck explains. One possible solution is different trails. Seventy-eight percent of the backpackers and 36 percent of the riders agree there should be different trails for riders and hikers.
Few of the users (46 percent) knew that the area is a "legally classified wilderness," with the result that they favored some improvements that would be illegal, such as building rustic cabins or controlling snakes. Even many of the backpackers saw no conflict with stocking streams with native fish, for instance.
"Educating people about what experiences they should seek and expect in a wilderness is a huge educational job for the Forest Service," says Roggenbuck.
In general, the users favor letting the Forest Service limit use if overuse is occurring--which about 5 percent think is already happening, while 15 percent say use should not go above current levels. Sixty-seven percent of backpackers, 50 percent of day hikers, and 28 percent of riders support a free permit system to control use. "They are willing to give up something to protect the area."
The study will help the Forest Service make decisions and provide for different kinds of user groups with as little conflict as possible. | <urn:uuid:12335501-c248-427f-87c7-cb3b2e893810> | CC-MAIN-2013-48 | http://scholar.lib.vt.edu/vtpubs/spectrum/sp950810/2c.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-48/segments/1386164896464/warc/CC-MAIN-20131204134816-00099-ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966932 | 968 | 2.703125 | 3 |
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This large open space is the Palestra or workout area of the Stabian Baths. On the far side of the Palestra is the swimming pool, with auxiliary rooms on each side of it. On the left, south, side note the columns that supported a covered portico. On the right, north, side there were additional rooms near the women's area of the bath.
The Palestra was used for individual exercises as well as wrestling, racing, etc.
The Stabian Baths were the oldest and largest baths in Pompeii and were constructed in the second century B.C. They included a dressing room (apodyterium), a medium temperature room (tepidarium), a hot room (caldarium), and a cold room (frigidarium). One usually proceeded through the bath in that order. Besides these usual rooms, they included a men's and a women's sections (thus baths), a large open exercise area (palestra), and a swimming pool.
The earthquake of A.D. 62 severely damaged these baths and some areas were not in use at the time of the eruption of Vesuvius. | <urn:uuid:53037f49-fd0f-4278-8ed6-39af07081444> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://holylandphotos.org/browse.asp?s=1,269,3734&img=TPOBTST01 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233511351.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20231004020329-20231004050329-00352.warc.gz | en | 0.962627 | 310 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Union County, Kentucky
|Union County, Kentucky|
Union County Courthouse in Morganfield, Kentucky
Location in the state of Kentucky
Kentucky's location in the U.S.
|Founded||January 15, 1811|
|Named for||Union Army of Kentucky|
|• Total||363.43 sq mi (941 km2)|
|• Land||345.10 sq mi (894 km2)|
|• Water||18.33 sq mi (47 km2), 5.04%|
|• Density||45/sq mi (17/km²)|
|Time zone||Central: UTC-6/-5|
Union County is part of the Western Coal Fields region of Kentucky. According to the 2000 census, the county has a total area of 363.43 square miles (941.3 km2), of which 345.10 square miles (893.8 km2) (or 94.96%) is land and 18.33 square miles (47.5 km2) (or 5.04%) is water.2
- Posey County, Indiana (north, across the Ohio River)
- Henderson County (northeast)
- Webster County (southeast)
- Crittenden County (south)
- Hardin County, Illinois (west, across the Ohio River)
- Gallatin County, Illinois (northwest, across the Ohio River)
||Gallatin County, Illinois||Posey County, Indiana||Henderson County|
|Hardin County, Illinois|
|Crittenden County||Webster County|
As of the census5 of 2000, there were 15,637 people, 5,710 households, and 4,082 families residing in the county. The population density was 45 per square mile (17 /km2). There were 6,234 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile (6.9 /km2). The racial makeup of the county was 85.04% White, 12.89% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.39% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 1.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,710 households out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.99.
25.30% of the population was under the age of 18, 13.80% from 18 to 24, 25.50% from 25 to 44, 22.50% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 101.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,018, and the median income for a family was $43,103. Males had a median income of $30,244 versus $20,817 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,465. About 9.30% of families and 17.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.30% of those under age 18 and 11.70% of those age 65 or over.
Public schools are managed by Union County Public Schools. The three public elementary schools in the county are located in Morganfield, Sturgis, and Uniontown. The county has one public middle school and one public high school, Union County High School located near Morganfield, Kentucky which is known for its wrestling program. St. Ann School, the only private school in the county, is located in Morganfield—it teaches preschool, elementary, and middle school classes.
These are the major highway routes through Union County:
The John T. Myers Locks and Dam once known as Uniontown Locks and Dam is located on the Ohio River 3½ miles downstream from Uniontown and straddles the river between Union County and Posey County Indiana. Construction on the dam was begun in 1965 by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and completed in 1977. It was renamed to honor retired Indiana congressman John T. Myers.6
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Union County, Kentucky
- Ben M. Bogard, Baptist clergyman, reared in Union County in 1870s7
- "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- "Census 2000 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-02-13.dead link
- "U.S. Decennial Census". Census.gov. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2012". Census.gov. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
- "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
- "Myers Dam". Locks and Dams Project Office, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District. Retrieved 2009-06-08.dead link
- "Benjamin Marcus Bogard (1868–1951)". encyclopediaofarkansas.net. Retrieved August 4, 2013.
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Union County, Kentucky.|
- Union County Public Schools, Kentucky
- Union County Economic Development
- Employment Opportunities in Union Countydead link
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Huntington District: John T. Myers Locks & Damdead link
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Louisville District: John T. Myers Locks & Damdead link
- 2010 Census Data | <urn:uuid:d7a46063-23ed-4c68-b28f-437679ac600a> | CC-MAIN-2013-48 | http://www.territorioscuola.com/wikipedia/en.wikipedia.php?title=Union_County,_Kentucky | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-48/segments/1386163964642/warc/CC-MAIN-20131204133244-00049-ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.932325 | 1,284 | 2.875 | 3 |
Did you know there are several different types of residential plumbing systems in a single home? It’s true! Some pipes bring water into your home. Some pipes take water away from the home. Other pipes help drain and vent off bad odors. Knowing how all these systems work is important makes it easier to identify when something’s gone wrong. Here’s a quick explanation of your residential plumbing systems.
To get water from the municipal source, through the street, and into your home, a series of water pipes, fittings, service valves, and faucets are used. These are usually made from plastic, copper, or galvanized iron and can have diameters from 1/2” to 4”.
Water flows from the city’s water treatment facility, through pipes underground, to your home. There, it flows through a network of pipes to deliver clean water to your sink faucets, shower heads, toilets, bathtub faucets, and appliances, including the water heater, dishwasher, and clothes washing machine. After it’s used, the water moves onto the drain pipes.
Once you’ve used the water, whether through taking a shower or bath, cleaning the dishes or clothes, or flushing the toilet, it flows through drain pipes to the septic tank or municipal sewer. Solid waste is then separated from liquid waste, purified at the water treatment facility, and sent back into the community.
Meanwhile, back at your home, the vent system is connected to the drain and waste pipes. The purpose of the vents is to push sewage gases out of your house so they don’t build up and cause bad smells or illness.
The drain-waste-vent system is not likely to be something you think of very often, since you mostly can’t see these pipes. However, you’ll definitely know when they’re not working because clogged pipes are the most common residential plumbing issue with this system.
A large portion of your residential plumbing will go towards the kitchen. Most kitchens are fairly simple with hot and cold water supply lines for the sink, a waste line for the garbage disposal, and sometimes a gas line for the stove. You are also likely to see hookups for the dishwasher, ice maker, and instant hot water. These are usually tied to the sink’s plumbing for ease-of-use.
The bathroom also hosts a large portion of your residential plumbing. This is where the water supply and drain-waste-vent systems are mostly used. The water supply brings fresh, clean water from the municipal water treatment facility to the home’s water heater. There it is split into cold water lines and hot water lines. After the water is used, the drains and waste pipes takes the water to the sewer lines and the waste to the septic tank. The vent pipes send sewage gases out of the home through the roof and provide appropriate air pressure to ensure all pipes are flowing easily.
Having Issues with Your Residential Plumbing Systems?
If you’re think that one of your residential plumbing systems might not be working correctly, please give Hulsey Environmental Services (a Blue Flow Company) a call. We are North Georgia’s best source for professional plumbing services. You can reach us online or call 770-746-8520 to let us know what’s going on and schedule an appointment for one of our technicians to come visit your home, assess the problem, and provide a solution. | <urn:uuid:5073bbce-a49b-4389-9e56-b77c2b23d769> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://hulseyenvironmental.com/types-residential-plumbing-systems-how-work/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510387.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20230928095004-20230928125004-00086.warc.gz | en | 0.93483 | 749 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Once the last of the final exams are finished in the spring, most students look forward to a long summer break before classes resume in the fall. Students often spend their summer working hard at a summer job, but they enjoy having a summer free from classes, textbooks, papers, and tests. Some students, however, may consider signing up for summer classes – either at their own college or at an institution closer to home. There are some things for your student to consider before they make the decision to continue classes during the summer.
Why would a student want to take summer classes?
Students opt for summer classes for a variety of reasons.
- Some students need to take a course or two to make up for a course that they failed or in which they received a poor grade or from which they withdrew during the traditional semester. Some of these students may be using the summer class to improve their GPA.
- Some students take a summer class or two to gain an advantage and perhaps finish their degree early – graduating in three years or in December rather than May.
- Some students may want to complete a pre-requisite so that they can take another course in the fall, or may want to take a course that wasn’t available another semester.
- Some students use summer as an opportunity to sample a subject that they want to explore – at a time when they have more focus.
Are there advantages to taking classes in the summer?
For some students, there are advantages to summer term classes.
- Summer classes are short – usually six to eight weeks long. Although they usually contain the same amount of material, they work intensively. For some students, this shorter time period allows them to maintain a focus they might find difficult for a traditional 13-15 week semester.
- Because summer classes are more intensive, students generally take only one or two classes at a time. This also allows students to be more focused, rather than trying to balance 3-6 classes at a time.
- Taking summer classes helps some students “stay in the mode” of studying. It helps them maintain a routine of learning and studying throughout the summer. It may also help them retain information from spring semester that they will need in the fall semester.
- Summer classes are often smaller than during the traditional semester. Students often receive more individualized attention and have more interaction with other students.
- Summer classes are often less formal and more low-key. Students often prefer the more relaxed atmosphere and the potential for increased interaction with the professor.
Are there any disadvantages to taking classes in the summer?
Although there are many reasons that students may opt for summer college classes, there are some important considerations which students should evaluate before signing up.
- College financial aid generally does not cover summer classes. Students should be prepared for extra tuition costs.
- Taking classes in the summer does not allow the student a break from the school routine. While this may be an advantage for some students, others may find that they need the hiatus in order to return to school in the fall refreshed and ready for another full semester.
- Because summer classes are short (generally about six weeks), there is very little room for flexibility on attendance. Missing even one class can put a student significantly behind, and could affect the student’s grade. Students need to be careful regarding vacations or other summer obligations.
- Students also need to stay focused and organized and keep up with their classwork diligently. There is no time to fall behind. Summer classes usually cover the same material that would be covered in a traditional semester, but in about half of the time. Students need to be prepared to spend a significant amount of time studying.
- Students need to balance summer school with summer job. They should consider how taking a summer class might impact their earning capabilities.
Is there anything my student should consider if they are taking a summer class?
If your college student has decided that the advantages of taking a summer class outweigh the disadvantages, there are a couple of things they should do:.
- If your student is taking a summer class in place of a required class, they may want to sign up for the class for fall semester anyway. Once the summer class is completed, they can drop the class from their fall schedule. If the class is not on the fall schedule, and anything happens to prevent your student from completing the class in the summer, they may find that there is no longer any room in the class in the fall.
- If your student is taking a class at an institution other than their college, they should get approval from their current college. Your student wants to have the assurance that the college will accept the credits in transfer. This is especially important if the course is a requirement.
- Your student should check the transfer credit policy at their institution. Most schools will accept the credits from another school, but not the grade. This means that if your student is taking a summer class in an attempt to raise their GPA, the class may need to be taken at their home school rather than at another institution.
Your student may find that a summer school class is just the thing – to make up some credits, to get ahead, or just to take a fun class. As long as they consider the situation carefully and do a bit of pre-planning, your student can enjoy a summer of work, relaxation – and school. | <urn:uuid:1d3e92c5-a8fc-4556-8224-f10a739a2198> | CC-MAIN-2020-34 | https://www.collegeparentcentral.com/2009/06/should-my-college-student-consider-summer-classes/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-34/segments/1596439738950.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20200813014639-20200813044639-00332.warc.gz | en | 0.967926 | 1,097 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Crying Over Spilt Milk Substitutes
Milk is a staple food in the American diet that has been expanding its definition for the past few decades. Cow’s milk has been facing increasing competition from plant-based milk substitutes like almond and soy milk. According to the Department of Agriculture, Americans are drinking 37% less cow’s milk today than they were 47 years ago and not surprisingly, milk prices have dipped 40% in just the past few years. It is therefore a convenient time for the dairy industry to ask the question; if it comes from a plant, can you call it milk?
Dairy proponents don’t think so and suspect that consumers are being misled by marketing of nondairy milk, which they believe appropriates milk’s reputation as a nutritious food undeservedly. Their concerns have made it to Washington with introduction of the DAIRY PRIDE Act, which would require the FDA to enforce its original definition of milk as “lacteal secretion…by the complete milking of one or more healthy cows”. If passed, we might soon be seeing almond drink or perhaps ground soybean water at the grocery store.
It might seem ridiculous to put so much time and energy into policing the name of a product but the truth is that a label can carry a lot of power. We can see this with the clash between the sugar and corn industries. The sugar industry started seeing declining sales with the introduction of the cheaper and more stable high-fructose corn syrup. Sugar extracted from sugar cane or beets was considered natural and when products that switched from using this type of sugar to high-fructose corn syrup started promoting their products as “all natural”, The Sugar Association petitioned the FDA to define the vague term “natural”. This was happening during a time when the demand for natural products was growing and these products were assumed to be inherently healthier than processed products. Although not explicitly stated, the sugar industry wanted to exclude high-fructose corn syrup from being considered natural in order to stay competitive with corn. This clash shows that simple words carry economic power that these industries are well aware of and are willing to exploit.
There are similar economic pressures underlying the semantic argument on milk but how important of a factor is a name in driving consumer choices in this scenario? Some people opt for milk substitutes for concerns on sustainability of industrial dairy operations or for animal welfare. For people like me unable to digest the lactose found in cow’s milk, the choice has already been made. Other consumers have dairy allergies, are vegan or just prefer the taste of plant-based milk alternatives. These reasons seem to be independent of any deep-rooted meaning that the term “milk” may hold in the minds of consumers. Personally, I don’t expect to stop buying vanilla flavored almond milk if it was called something else. As the sugar industry was trying to clarify the term “natural”, the dairy industry is similarly trying to regain authority over the term “milk”. However, while there was and still is considerable ambiguity over what is considered “natural”, the idea of milk is pretty clear in most people’s minds. In the fight for the niche market of what goes in your espresso or cereal, plant-based milk alternatives are catching up to cow’s milk. While it’s understandable that the dairy industry would try to mitigate losses, they might be fighting a losing battle here.
Peer edited by Chiungwei Huang.
Follow us on social media and never miss an article: | <urn:uuid:4dd556a5-5d45-4e63-9dce-6527c95da6ad> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | http://www.thepipettepen.com/crying-over-spilt-milk-substitutes/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875146187.93/warc/CC-MAIN-20200226054316-20200226084316-00362.warc.gz | en | 0.967593 | 738 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Health care is but one element of what makes the biggest difference in health outcomes: Social factors play a far more significant role. Income and its distribution, education, employment, social supports, housing, nutrition, and the wider environment — what we have come to know as the social determinants of health — are the most powerful predictors of wellness and longevity. This has been understood for centuries, and empirically validated in recent decades with study after study demonstrating significant inequalities in health outcomes between wealthy and disadvantaged populations.
Yet political conversations about health still tend to fall into familiar traps. When we talk about health, we return as if by reflex to doctors and nurses, hospitals and pharmacies. This is an understandable impulse, as these tend to be the sorts of activities that fall under the mandates of ministries or departments of health, the sections of government that we would imagine are most responsible for keeping us healthy.
This idea that health has to go beyond health care is not a new one, as evidenced by the age-old adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Since the 1970s there have been significant developments in two related fields. The first, preventive medicine, has largely emphasized interventions such as vaccination and early screening for treatable disease. The second, health promotion, has its primary focus on non-clinical choices that can be taken to avoid illness. These choices can be made at the level of the individual, or at the level of public policy.
In other words, health promotion can, and should, be about promoting decisions at every level — personal, social and political — that will have the greatest impact on reducing illness and improving health outcomes.
The trinity trap
As a result of this shift in understanding, more writers and policy-makers are able to avoid thinking only of health care when discussing health outcomes. Nods to prevention and health promotion have become a regular element of public discourse on health.
Unfortunately, that analysis often falls prey to a second trap. When speaking of prevention, people tend to have a difficult time moving beyond what is often referred to as the “holy trinity” of health promotion: smoking, diet and exercise.
Now this is not to say that these are not important factors in health outcomes. Stopping smoking is perhaps the most effective means available to an individual to expand their lifespan and improve their well-being. I work in an inner-city clinic, and despite the fact that most of my patients are dealing with factors high up on the list of social determinants, I never neglect to counsel on smoking cessation and frequently discuss diet and exercise at length.
In reality, the problem is not that we talk about these individual choices. The problem is that that’s where we stop, and in doing so, we miss addressing the factors that will have the greatest impact.
So why is it, then, when we know that the social determinants of health are what matter most, that we get stuck in the trinity trap?
Some of this may be a matter of health promotion being a victim of its own success. Victories in informing public opinion have had great influence in improving diet and exercise and decreasing smoking, at least in certain segments of the population. Health behaviors tend to improve with rising incomes, as social factors not only determine health, they also determine behavior. In fact, there’s been some argument that health promotion has actually increased health inequality, as the messages are most effective at reaching those in least need of help. That’s not an argument to stop promoting individual choices, but it does demonstrate the limitations of that approach on its own. These successful campaigns may play a role in crowding the field, acting as a go-to set of prevention points that block us from thinking in greater depth about what really keeps people healthy.
Health is most easily imagined through stories, whether our own or those of patients dealing with specific illnesses. The solutions are accordingly most easily imagined at the same level. Someone has poorly controlled diabetes? It’s far easier to consider what they choose to eat each day than it is to address the prevalence of food insecurity in their region and the macroeconomic policies that influence what choices are available. It’s so much simpler and quicker to think of personal agency rather than societal agency. As a result, even public policy measures tend to focus on influencing individual choices through awareness campaigns and incentives.
From trinity to TINA
Perhaps the greatest reason this trap is so successful is because the alternative, looking at what would need to change to dramatically influence health, is so complicated. Looking at the list of determinants of health — income, education, employment, etc. — we see these are clearly not the purview of Health Canada, but really encompass the whole of government. As such, politics is the field of endeavor with the greatest impact on health outcomes. If we think back to the core purpose of our public decision-making bodies, and the legitimacy on which their authority rests, above all their role should be to improve our health and well-being. Political decisions can and should improve our health, and they should be evaluated based on the degree to which they are successful in doing so.
Yet, in today’s discourse, a narrow and economistic outlook seems to trump any attempts to address those social determinants. Our ability to realize what government is truly for, to improve the lives of people, is hampered by the terms of discussion. Whatever brilliant ideas may come forward to improve lives and health, whatever arguments may be brought forward, they are quickly dismissed if they counter the current frame. That frame is informed to a great extent by the “TINA” frame: You may not like the system the way it’s working now, but There Is No Alternative (TINA), so get on with your individual lives and let the market decide.
Changing the landscape
To imagine a different approach, it’s helpful to turn to a classic public health parable:
Imagine you’re standing on the edge of a river. Suddenly a flailing, drowning child comes floating by. Without thinking, you dive in, grab the child, and swim to shore. Before you can recover, another child comes floating by. You dive in and rescue her as well.
Then another child drifts into sight … and another … and another. You call for help, and people take turns fishing out child after child. Hopefully before too long, some wise person will ask: Who keeps chucking these kids in the river? And they’ll head upstream to find out.
Every time we have to clean up an environmental disaster, every time a young person winds up in jail, every time people have to take medicines to make up for the fact that they couldn’t afford good food, we’re suffering from the results of downstream thinking.
Thinking upstream means making smarter decisions based on long-term outcomes. What better goal than creating the conditions for all people to enjoy true health — complete physical, mental, and social well-being? And what better measure of its success than the health of those people?
An upstream approach also allows us to stop seeing investment in people as a cost. When we take into account the economic and social benefits of a healthy, educated population, we see that by doing nothing to address the factors that make people sick, we ensure that more and more kids will fall into the river, and that many of them will drown.
A new organization launched last year in Canada seeks to bring forward a new way of talking about politics. Upstream is a movement intent on changing the conversation. It aims to make the mainstream look upstream, helping citizens to demand a healthy society, and to understand the best ways to get there. This sort of re-framing effort is necessary if we’re to open up enough space to discuss policies that would make real differences in income inequality, access to quality education and affordable housing, and help maintain sufficient environmental integrity to safeguard human life.
Asking tougher questions
The trinity trap allows journalists and policy makers an easy way to avoid difficult questions by focusing on individual failings rather than collective failings. If we step back and embrace optimal health as a meaningful goal for our society, then it’s clear why a myopic focus on smoking, diet and exercise is a trap to be studiously avoided. Sticking with a wrong diagnosis because it’s more convenient is a terrible way to take care of a patient. Talking about individual choices without considering the socioeconomic circumstances in which those choices are made is an easy way to keep people sick.
Ryan Meili is a family physician. This article originally appeared in Evidence Network. | <urn:uuid:8ecfa21e-a93f-4a34-90dc-d1f2daf1035d> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2014/06/health-go-beyond-health-care.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549424296.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20170723082652-20170723102652-00197.warc.gz | en | 0.959217 | 1,773 | 2.5625 | 3 |
- Crypto miners are under increasing regulatory pressure to go green.
- Miners are eager to jump on green initiatives.
- PEGA crypto mining pool rewards miners using renewables and planting trees for others.
Amid an existential threat from regulation, bitcoin miners are under increasing pressure to go green. To prove that crypto mining has a role in the green economy, miners are increasingly turning to green initiatives.
The role of crypto miners is essential for the crypto industry. All Proof of Work networks, including Bitcoin, requires an energy-intensive computational process to secure their networks. Without crypto mining, Bitcoin could deliver on its promise of a decentralized currency.
However, practice is increasingly under regulatory pressure. Crypto mining uses between 120 and 240 billion kilowatt-hours per year. That is equivalent to the energy usage of many countries, including Australia or Argentina.
For that reason, many jurisdictions already took steps to curtail or outright ban crypto mining. One of them is China, the country that used to be the crypto mining capital of the world. The country banned all crypto mining in September 2021, threatening severe punishments for those that defied the ban.
Many other jurisdictions are currently taking steps to curtail mining. Significantly, the European Union has repeatedly signaled that it wants to curtail proof of work mining. As the continent faces an energy shortage, a threat of a mining ban is looming over the industry.
Russia, the country on the other side of the energy crisis, is taking similar steps. Earlier in December, Russia banned crypto mining in residential areas with subsidized electricity. Moreover, authorities blamed crypto mining for energy shortages in some areas of the country.
Miners Going Green
Regulatory pressure could pose an existential threat to both miners and PoW tokens. That’s why miners are eager to turn to renewables. Hydroelectric plants, solar farms, and wind turbines are becoming more common power sources for miners.
According to the 2022 report by the Bitcoin Mining Council, 59.5% of Bitcoin’s mining worldwide comes from renewable energy. Green energy is often more cost-efficient than traditional fossil fuel sources.
Using renewables is just a start. Miners are also finding other innovative ways to make a green case for PoW. Many argue that Bitcoin’s flexible demand for energy can support a transition to the green economy.
For instance, bitcoin miners have traditionally shut down operations when the energy grid faces disruption. For example, US-based crypto miners have voluntarily shut off operations during the latest winter storm that swept the continent.
Other mining initiatives are working on using excess renewable capacity. In early December, Jack Dorsey’s firm Block led a $2 million seed round into Gridless. The startup operates Bitcoin mining sites on small-scale renewable producers in rural Africa. These producers often have excess capacity that goes unutilized.
Crypto Mining Pools Plant Trees to Offset Carbon Emissions
Mining pools, which pool resources from individual miners to mine more efficiently and produce higher rewards, are also taking steps to go green. Some are joining initiatives that offer mining companies a chance to offset their carbon footprints.
One mining pool, PEGA, offers green miners discounted mining pool fees. It uses the fees other miners pay to offset a part of their carbon footprint – by planting trees.
“Bitcoin miners are one of the very few industries for which going green is an existential imperative,” says David Bungay, PEGA Pool CEO. “That is both a challenge and an opportunity,” he added.
“Very few industries are under such immense pressure from regulators,” Bungay said. “That is why crypto miners are currently the leaders in finding green tech solutions. He explained that the incentives for going green are higher in this industry than in any other.
For that reason, PEGA Pool and other miners are looking for ways to make a case for PoW mining by going green.
“We went with a dual approach. We are incentivizing green miners by giving them a 50% discount on mining pool fees. That is a significant amount in this low-margin business”, he added.
“Secondly, for miners that are not using green energy, we provide offsets,” he added. “We went with the simplest and the most impactful – planting trees,” Bungay said.
So far, the company has planted 84,000 trees and hopes to plant much more. The result is an estimated annual offset of over 2,200 tonnes of CO2. That number is growing by the day, Bungay said.
“We know crypto mining is essential for powering the decentralized financial system,” Bungay said. “We believe that more and more people will soon start to realize its role in the green economy.”
On the Flipside
- Going green might not be enough to protect the industry from further regulation. Mining could become a disruptive element as the share of renewable energy in the energy grid continues to increase.
Why You Should Care
The crypto industry is at a tipping point. Miners, users, and investors are all starting to realize the importance of greening up their operations. This is essential to make PoW tokens more sustainable and accepted by regulators. | <urn:uuid:5ff3802b-1eb6-43b7-8ecf-bf972fc5638b> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://dailycoin.com/facing-regulatory-pressure-bitcoin-miners-turn-to-green-initiatives-report/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296945317.85/warc/CC-MAIN-20230325064253-20230325094253-00259.warc.gz | en | 0.944921 | 1,075 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Just below the Knesset in the heart of Jerusalem, there's a small spot of nature where birds and birdwatchers can gather. The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) has operated a bird research center there for the past 16 years.Between the Knesset and the Supreme Court, there's a newly refurbished birdwatching hide, a research center and now a brand new "living" visitors center. Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat, Deputy Mayor Naomi Tsur, Prof. Yossi Leshem and many other SPNI officials inaugurated The Gutman Visitor Center on Tuesday morning.As national bird expert Leshem remarked, "There are now three major buildings on this hill. The two secondary ones are the Knesset and the Supreme Court."In keeping with SPNI's mandate to protect the environment, the new building is unique in that it is a "living" building. Not only was it constructed with recycled materials for the most part, it is actually designed not to disrupt the natural flow of life at the site. There are holes in the stone walls, which are made from extra stone from a nearby building site, so animals and birds can make burrows. There's even a family of rare porcupines living behind the air conditioning vent, SPNI's Amir Balaban said on a tour of the building.The building also has a "living" roof."The roof is a 'living roof,' and not a 'green roof.' What is a green roof? It is a roof of plants that require watering. A living roof is comprised of native Middle Eastern flora which bloom according to the seasons and do not require any watering," Balaban enthused.Inside, the center provides maps, books, merchandise and houses art exhibits. The refurbished birdwatching hide, made possible by the BerachaFoundation, now allows watchers to observe the birds in their naturalenvironment, while staying out of the elements themselves. Pictures ofthe birds which one might see are placed above the observation hole foreasy reference.The research center is one of the natural spots that the Jerusalem SPNIplans to oversee and protect. While the organization encourages urbandevelopment rather than expansion into open spaces, it is also keen onpreserving these little slices of wilderness in the city - even onesright next to the Knesset.Despite the stormy weather, there was one uninvited but welcome guestto the ceremony and dedication - a bright blue-tailed kingfisher. | <urn:uuid:5311b16c-9046-4ced-9de2-424065398bd5> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://www.jpost.com/health-and-sci-tech/science-and-environment/israels-first-living-building-inaugurated | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224643388.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20230527223515-20230528013515-00095.warc.gz | en | 0.941387 | 507 | 2.84375 | 3 |
Tutorial: NestJS for Node.js applications
© Shutterstock / Lana_Samcorp
By now, Node.js isn’t a small-time-player anymore when it comes to backend technology. However, the acceptance and distribution of the platform have only increased in recent years, so that more and more developers have to approach this technology. Node.js’ lightweight character is its biggest advantage, but nothing comes drawback-free. Sebastian Springer and Khaled Labidi explain more in this tutorial.
Furthermore, Node.js doesn’t set any structure for applications. This starts with the missing type system and ends with the structure directory. Node.js developers are completely free in their application design, which is an almost insurmountable hurdle for newcomers. It is at this point where frameworks, such as Nest.js, come into play.
Nest.js is a framework written in TypeScript, which represents an abstraction layer above the HTTP module of Node.js. There is another abstraction layer between Node.js and Nest.js, which is formed by a web application framework. The framework Express is used here by default. However, Nest.js is designed in such a flexible way that this layer can be exchanged with just a few lines of code. Every abstraction layer adds additional features and interfaces, which make the implementation of applications much easier. TypeScript significantly reduces the initial hurdle for users who are switching from strictly typed languages. At the same time, developers can benefit from the advantages of a typed language. | <urn:uuid:0508b556-24a4-49b6-97df-efd90c8c9293> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | https://jaxenter.com/tutorial-nestjs-for-nodejs-app-158076.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875146744.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20200227160355-20200227190355-00438.warc.gz | en | 0.925678 | 311 | 2.671875 | 3 |
According to recent stock assessments, Atlantic bluefin tuna populations are at near-historic lows, and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is hindering the recovery of this highly valuable species. Recognizing the threat that illegal fishing poses to the conservation and management of bluefin tuna, the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) mandated in 2007 that all its members implement a paper-based catch documentation system. The bluefin catch document (BCD) tracks fish as they are caught, transported, farmed, and traded on the world market. Although the paper BCD was a necessary first step in addressing the impacts of IUU fishing, the system needs to be strengthened in order to better detect fraud and deter illegal fishing and trade.
The Tuna Supply Chain
The Atlantic bluefin tuna supply chain is long and complicated, and the many steps along the way provide the opportunity for fraud and misreporting. In the Mediterranean Sea, the majority of bluefin tuna are caught by purse-seiners that target large aggregations of adult fish. The catch is then towed to floating ranching pens, where the fish are kept for up to two years while they are fattened to increase their market value. Using the technology in place today, it is very difficult to verify the exact number and the weight of fish transferred to these pens, making them an ideal place to launder bluefin caught in excess of the agreed quota. This year, for the first time, ICCAT required pen operators to monitor and submit underwater video of all of these transfers. Countries are also required to begin testing stereoscopic video systems, which use two cameras to produce a more precise estimate of the number and weight of transferred bluefin. ICCAT should review countries’ success in using these stereoscopic systems and, if they are shown to be helpful, require that they be officially adopted by all ranches and purse-seining operations. Underwater video is, however, just one additional measure that can assist with monitoring. Other tools can help close the loopholes in this fishery.
Opportunities for fraud are not limited to the ranching industry. Without real-time reporting and verification of catch information, any vessels that exceed their annual quotas can more easily sell their fish to other boats, hiding the illegal origin of the catch. Undeclared catches can also be landed locally or transferred to transshipment vessels or other means of transportation that then deliver the undocumented fish to foreign ports.
Regardless of where or how it is caught, a bluefin tuna can change hands many times before it reaches the market. Each time it is imported, exported, or re-exported, there is an opportunity for illegal catch to be mixed in with legal catch, weights and numbers to be misreported, and origin information to be changed. To close these loopholes, ICCAT must improve the existing bluefin catch documentation system by adding an electronic reporting requirement, reducing the chance for fraud, inaccurate reporting, and delays in validation.
The BCD System
ICCAT mandated the use of a BCD system in 2007 after widespread reports of large quota overages and continued IUU fishing. The system was designed to assign a unique ID number and track each catch of fish as it moved through the supply
chain, allowing customs officials, enforcement officers and buyers to verify the tuna’s origin and legality. Information from the BCD was also to be used by scientists as they determined the status of the populations.
Unfortunately, the paper-based BCD has failed to fully address the problems of IUU fishing. Printed documents can easily be altered or forged, allowing illegally caught fish to enter the market. In July, the Italian coast guard revealed a widespread, well-established trafficking operation of falsifying and avoiding bluefin catch documents. Paper-based documents also slow data collection and reporting, inhibiting effective management of the species. As of November 2010, crucial information was still missing from ICCAT’s BCD database for 75 percent of the purse-seine catches from 2008 and 2009.
ICCAT has started to address the inherent problems in the BCD system. In 2010, recognizing the need for an electronic system, the commission formed a working group to design, develop, and implement an eBCD in time for the 2012 bluefin
tuna fishing season. ICCAT members must continue to support these efforts and secure funding for a comprehensive electronic documentation system that reduces fraud, increases compliance, and allows for more accurate and timely reporting of catch data.
The Pew Environment Group calls on ICCAT to adopt a system that includes, at a minimum:
- A central, secure database storing the data generated by the eBCD that can be accessed easily by authorized users.
- A bar-coding system that allows operators to generate a physical label, linked to the eBCD system, which would allow individual fish to be tagged and easily tracked through the supply chain.
- A requirement that all information contained in the eBCD be checked and validated by the appropriate authority before the fish could move through the supply chain. | <urn:uuid:4559ee57-dd6b-4660-8aa3-5bd91c73bf15> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://www.pewenvironment.org/news-room/fact-sheets/an-electronic-bluefin-catch-document-system-85899365234 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1394011022670/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305091702-00017-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941723 | 1,039 | 2.6875 | 3 |
Compared with much of the world, Latin America was relatively free of inter-state wars during the 20th century, and Colombia is no exception.
While tension with neighboring countries, particularly Ecuador and Venezuela, increased during the hardline administration of Alvaro Uribe, much of the violence experienced in Colombian society comes from domestic actors.
These domestic groups responsible for violence have, however, arisen in a context in which international forces have played a significant role in augmenting their the strength and objectives. The two of the most important forces that have contributed to the Colombian conflict are multinational companies and the United States.
As with drugs, rather than call these actors a “cause” of the conflict, it is more accurate to view them as contributors. Structural factors, such as political exclusion, inequality, and a weak state presence can be seen as fundamentally creating the context in which international forces would become involved.
The banana massacre of 1928
Causes of the conflict
Famously fictionalized in the Gabriel Garcia Marquez’s iconic novel One Hundred Years of Solitude, the banana massacre of 1928 was an all-too-real historical event that demonstrates well the role international corporations have played in Colombia.
The United Fruit Company was created in 1899 and had a virtual monopoly on the banana trade in a number of Central American countries. These small nations, such a Guatemala and Honduras, were to be called “banana republics” due to the power wielded by the company over their economy and politics. A number of high-ranking US officials had direct ties to the company. John Foster and Allen Dulles, who would go on to head up the State Department and the CIA for Eisenhower in the 1950s, were both on the company’s payroll for more than three decades.
By 1928, the company employed some 30,000 Colombians on the Caribbean coast, according to historian and Razon Publica editor Nicolas Pernett. Most of these workers, however, were hired via contractors and only a few hundred were legally contracted by the company. To formalize their labor relations with United Fruit, and to demand better work conditions and increased pay, the workers went on strike.
Cables sent by then-US Ambassador Jeffrey Caffery show the the strike was seen as a threat to “American interests” and as “subversive.” He was in regular contact the United Fruit Company’s representative and even requested that Washing send an American warship to be put on alert should the company’s property or the 20 Americans then in the vicinity be threatened.
The company refused to negotiate with the workers and the Colombian government, then ruled by the Conservative Party, viewed the strike a violation of public order, sending in the national army to quell the unrest. When strikers, viewed as “bands of Communists” by the Colombian government and US ambassador, failed to disperse, the troops opened fire. It is unclear how many died. The Colombian army said the figure was only nine, but a US cable shows that United Fruit believed it to be more than 1000. A month after the massacre, Caffery told Washington: “I have to honor to report that the Bogota representative of the United Fruit Company told me yesterday that the total number of strikers killed by the Colombians military exceed one thousand.”
Rather than condemn the massacre, the US embassy was privately conveying to Washington that it fully supported the government’s tactics and derided the Liberal Party’s press for “ugly words…such as murderer and assassin” and “insidious campaign” against the government. Ambassador Cafferey believed that “the thinking people of the country realize that it was only the Government’s prompt action that diverted a disaster.”
Less than a year after the killings, it is clear from other cables sent from American embassy in Bogota that the relationship between the Colombian state and US interests had not changed. A dispatch sent in August 1929 says that “Colombian authorities have been demonstrating unusual zeal for the protection of our interests: additional troops were dispatched at once to Santa Marta for the protection of the properties of the United Fruit Company as well as to Barrancabermeja for the protection of the properties of the Tropical Oil Company.”
The scandal of the banana massacre would contribute to the fall of the Conservative government and the rise of Jorge Elicier Gaitan, a lawyer whose fiery speeches against the company and the government would bring him great popularity among the Colombian masses. Many mark his assassination in 1948, which set off the Bogotazo violence in the country’s capital, as the beginning of Colombia’s modern civil strife.
US cold war policies in Colombia
Long before the rise of the US-funded War on Drugs in Colombia, Cold War-minded American officials were becoming increasingly involved in the country. A “Special Survey Team” made up of “counter-insurgency” experts was sent in 1959 to investigate the security situation in the country after nearly a decade of La Violencia which left more than 200,000 dead.
Three years later, a Special Forces general named William Yarborough returned to the country for a second assessment. He recommended that “civilian and military personnel” be selected for “clandestine training in resistance operations” should the security situation deteriorate. He said this structure should be “used to pressure toward reforms known to be needed, perform counter-agent and counter-propaganda functions and as necessary execute paramilitary, sabotage and/or terrorist activities against known communist proponents. It should be backed by the United States.”
This was policy was eventually articulated in a Colombian decree in 1965 which stated that “all Colombians, men and women…will be used by the government in activities and work that contribute to the reestablishment of order.” Becoming a law in 1968, it would be legal rationale given by the armed for working with paramilitary actors, the deadliest forces in Colombian society.
Using Yarborough’s recommendations, Plan Lazo was launched providing aid and training to the Colombian military. US support was present when the military attacked one of the Communist “independent republics” set up in the neglected areas of the Colombian countryside. The FARC’s founder, Manuel Marulanda Velez, was part of the 48 armed men in the community of 1,000 known as Marquetalia who dispersed during the attack, only to go on to found the rebel group that is now in its 50th year.
American involvement in Colombia and its decades-long conflict cannot be understood without a treatment of the initiative known as Plan Colombia.
Bill Clinton unveiled the $1.3 billion plan – mostly military aid – in 2000, which at the time made Colombia the third biggest recipient of military aid after Israel and Egypt.
While initially peace and development plan put forward by the Colombian government, according to former US diplomat Robert White, it became an anti-drug trafficking place focused on military aid and fumigation once the US revised the plan. The US was so central to its framing of the plan that it was reported that it wasn’t even written in Spanish until months after it was drafted.
“They come and ask for bread, and you give them stones,” White told a Canadian publication in the year the plan was launched.
In 2002, President Alvaro Uribe – a hard-line, right-wing politician from the paramilitary-saturated region of Antioquia – was elected. His was a close ally of the Bush administration and was fully-backed by the United States as he ramped up the military offensive against the FARC using American aid in his policy known as “Democratic Security.”
Many in the US see Plan Colombia and Uribe’s offensive as a success, as the guerrillas were indeed hit hard and are currently about half the size as in 2002. The price, however, was enormous.
As WOLA analyst Adam Isaacson, one of the mostly knowledgeable experts on US-Colombia security policy, has written, “Colombia’s security gains are partial, possibly reversible, and weighed down by ‘collateral damage.’”
One obvious problem with the initiative was that it focused only on the threat posed by the FARC while ignoring the widespread human rights abuses of the government the countless massacres perpetrated by the paramilitaries with direct ties to the military. The United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) were a US-designated terrorist organization that existed between 1997 and 2006. As Doug Stokes has pointed out, US agencies themselves recognized that the AUC was even more heavily involved in drug trafficking and committed most of the human rights abuses in the country, yet the aid was given directly to state forces colluding with the group.
In 2013, a report by the Washington Post detailed the aid provided by US intelligence in the fight against the FARC. Key support was provided for some widely-hailed operations which struck crippling blows to the guerrillas. The author also notes that, “for the most part, they left the violent paramilitary groups alone.”
A landmark study released in 2009 by two academics studied the effects of US military aid on violence and democracy (political participation) in Colombia. It concludes that US aid lead to increases in paramilitary attacks and had no effect on guerrilla attacks. Voter turnout also failed in municipalities with military bases receiving US aid. Nonetheless, aid has continued to this day, though at reduced levels since 2008.
Another problem was that literally hundreds of members of the government had had direct ties to paramilitary groups. During the “parapolitics” scandal, nearly a third of Colombia’s Congress was under investigation for their ties to the deadliest terror group in the country. It was eventually revealed in 2009 that the Colombian government intelligence agency DAS was also working with paramilitaries, in addition to spying on journalists and Supreme Court judges.
The Colombian military itself was also responsible for some of the worst atrocities during these years. The “false positives” scandal was one of the worst cases. It centered around the extrajudicial killings of thousands of civilians by members of the armed forces who dressed their victims as guerrillas in order to present them as combat kills.
To date, the Prosecutor General’s office has identified more than civilian 4,000 victims, most of them happening during the time of Plan Colombia and during Uribe’s administration. In 2007, more than 40% of the reported combat kills were in fact simply murdered civilians.
While perhaps the main stated objective of Plan Colombia was to reduce the flow of drugs to the US, Isaacson argues that this was not achieved.
“Faced with fumigation, coca-growing families, with no other way to make a living in stateless areas, adjusted their cultivation patterns to make similar amounts of cocaine. The policy proved not only to be cruel – spraying chemicals over rural households, usually with no food-security or development assistance – but the numbers showed it to be ineffective, too,” Isaacson wrote in 2010. Manual eradication proved to be more effective, though he argues that increased state presence and economic opportunities are still the best option.
Multinational support for paramilitary groups
While the US government has aided the Colombian state in its offensive against leftists guerrillas, multinational corporations have also been directly tied to right-wing paramilitary death squads. It is a nexus which by now is widely recognized to have been key to the expansion of various international business interests in Colombia.
During the height of the violence in the 1990s and early 2000s, multinationals used paramilitaries for security services, worker intimidation, and to displace small landowners from their property. The AUC, in addition to doing the bidding of various companies, was also virulently anti-Communist, anti-FARC, anti-union, and did hesitate to murder or commit massacres against any suspected of helping the leftists rebels or simply harboring leftist sympathies.
Among the companies accused of having had relationships with the paramilitaries, and specifically the AUC, are mining companies Drummond and Glencore; Nestle and Coca Cola; and a host of African palm oil corporations (19 were indicted by the Prosecutor General’s office in 2012), among others.
Demonstrative of the fact that many of the same structural problems of Colombian society that have fomented violence over the years still exist is the case of multinational Chiquita.
Nearly 80 years after the infamous banana massacre of 1928 committed by Colombia’s army against United Fruit workers, Chiquita – formerly known as United Fruit – admitted to paying paramilitary death squads and paid a $25 million fine (a settlement negotiated by the company’s lawyer and future US Attorney General Eric Holder).
The exact same multinational company, after so many, was still using reactionary forces known to have massacred innocent people in order to protect its own business interests.
As Razon Publica’s Pernett has written, “this is why is can be said that the banana massacre was not simply an isolated incident in the political and economic history of the country, but rather the realization of a ‘business model’ that has continued up until the present.”
This fact, combined with the US’s aid to an army colluding with the paramilitaries and often participating in its own atrocities, are another key aspect of understanding the Colombian conflict.
- The Very Best Men: Evan Thomas
- The Banana Massacre (Ozy)
- El tamano si importa (El Espectador)
- The Santa Marta Massacre (colombiawar.org)
- Rogue States: The Rule of Force in World Affairs (Noam Chomsky)
- Colombia: Don’t call it a model (WOLA)
- Better Lead than Bread? A critical analysis of the US’s Plan Colombia (Doug Stokes)
- Covert action in Colombia (Washington Post)
- Losing the War on Drugs, Part 2 (Ottawa Citizen)
- U.S. Congress Must Hold Colombia Accountable for Violations Linked to “African” Palm Oil Projects (WOLA)
- Colombia to indict 19 palm oil companies for forced displacement (CR)
- Colombia’s Paramilitary-Coal Nexus: Drummond, Glencore Face New Accusations (InSight Crime)
- Union Says Coca-Cola in Colombia Uses Thugs (NYT)
- Is Nestle Involved in Murder Of Colombian Union Leader? (Alternet)
- Chiquita still fighting to withhold docs on Colombia paramilitary payments (CR)
- 50 years of US intervention in Colombia (CR)
- Plan Colombia (Wikipedia)
- Inside Colombia: Drugs, Democracy, and War (Grace Livingstone) | <urn:uuid:af7343a3-f9e9-471f-9736-bf04a5dbe52c> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://colombiareports.com/causes-colombia-conflict-international-actors/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370503664.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20200331181930-20200331211930-00382.warc.gz | en | 0.968481 | 3,090 | 3.703125 | 4 |
1 A balanced diet
1.2.3 Obesity treatment
Obesity treatment is only successful if weight is reduced and maintained to within a desired range. There are three approaches to obesity treatment: changing behaviour and diet is the most common approach although drugs and surgery can be used in some severe cases of obesity.
Behaviour and diet: it is important to be realistic about an obese patient's target weight as many patients have over-ambitious targets that they are unlikely to achieve. A severely obese patient probably cannot reach an ideal BMI quickly (losing too much weight too quickly puts metabolic stress on the body), but even a weight loss of 10% body weight can significantly reduce the risk of obesity-related disorders. The best combination for weight loss is increasing exercise and decreasing food intake and for lasting effects of obesity treatment a change in eating and exercise habits is necessary and most effective.
Exercise must be based around activities the patient enjoys and can fit into their lifestyle and any increase in exercise is better than no exercise at all. Exercise is beneficial in a weight-loss plan because it uses calories and also increases resting metabolic rate afterwards. Most people also experience a feeling of well-being following exercise and this can be a motivating factor to the patient.
Weight loss is not a simple procedure for most people and requires a dogged determination on behalf of the dieter to stick to the desired regime. People losing weight need support and encouragement to adapt to their recommended dietary and behavioural changes. The motivation for women to lose weight is often their own physical appearance, whereas men are more motivated by health concerns. Partners and friends of the person losing weight can help by providing positive support and motivation and emphasizing the benefits of weight loss such as increased stamina, mobility and self-confidence as well as decreased risk of coronary heart disease, strokes, diabetes, etc.
A practice nurse may suggest that a personalized diet plan is made considering the weight, age and activity level and could include the following:
- include fruit and vegetables with meals;
- avoid high-density-energy between-mealtime snacks and replace crisps and chocolate with fruit;
- spread low fat margarine thinly on wholemeal bread;
- eat low-fat products instead of full-fat products;
- do not fry food; instead bake it in the oven or boil it;
- use skimmed milk instead of full-fat milk;
- remove fat from meat and skin from chicken;
- reduce salt intake (this affects water retention;
- do not add sugar to drinks and avoid soft sugary drinks;
- do not eat pastry, cakes or biscuits as part of a daily routine;
- reduce alcohol intake to national guideline levels (alcohol is high in kcal);
- start walking for an hour or 10 000 steps every day.
Drugs: the only drugs licensed for obesity treatment in the UK are sibutramine (Meridia™) which is an appetite suppressant and orlistat which causes fat malabsorption. Drugs are only licensed for those with a BMI greater than 30 and then only after at least 3 months supervised exercise and behaviour modification has failed to achieve weight loss.
Surgery: surgery can be used to treat Class III obesity, although this is not commonly undertaken in the UK. Either the absorptive capacity of the small intestine is reduced by surgically by-passing part of the small intestine or the size of the stomach is reduced (gastric reduction) so limiting the amount of food that can be taken in. There are considerable risks associated with surgery as it puts a strain on the heart and this risk is increased in obese patients. Some patients have their jaws wired which limits the rate and consistency (i.e. texture) of food intake. | <urn:uuid:eb408289-b70c-4b95-a639-7b194c0965fb> | CC-MAIN-2014-23 | http://dspace.jorum.ac.uk/xmlui/bitstream/handle/10949/984/Items/SK277_2_section5.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1405997874283.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20140722025754-00170-ip-10-33-131-23.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958664 | 762 | 3.140625 | 3 |
Brown spots are known as Melasma in medical terms. It appears as small patches on parts like nose, cheeks, face, forehead and upper lip. Women have more chance for getting brown spots during their menstrual cycle. Women who are in the reproductive cycle, belonging to age group of 20-50 years will have brown spots often. The main cause for getting these patches is exposure to sun, though sometimes it is triggered when using contraceptive pills. Statistics say that around 6 million women are said to have brown spots in the USA alone and around 47-50 million women around the world suffer from this dark spots.
Brown Spots on Face Causes :
Though it is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of brown spots, still there are certain factors that induce the formation of Melasma. Women using birth control pills, pregnancy and those who undergo hormone treatment are prone to get brown spots. Women who have family history of having brown spots and who are undertaking medicines for epilepsy and those who are overly exposed to UV light have more chance to get brown spots than others.
Studies reveal that prolonged exposure to sunlight is sure to increase Melasma on your face. Again there are factors to prove that brown spots appear dark and visible during summer months and less in number during winter, when sunlight is not very intense. Increased estrogen production also cause brown spots and this happens commonly during pregnancy. It is described as “mask of pregnancy” when pregnant women have large number of brown spots.
Where Do Brown Spots Occur ?
Generally brown spots occur prominently on your face, due to hyper-pigmentation process. It may occur on the center of the face, on your cheeks and on the jawbone. Very often it is seen on the cheeks, upper lip, nose and forehead. It is very rare to see brown spots on other parts of your body.
Brown Spots on Face Treatment :
Using over the counter medicines that contain hydroquinone will help in getting rid of brown spots. Prescription medicines like Glyquin, obagi clear and Triluma are effective in treating brown spots. Doctors suggest it is better to use creams that contain more than 2% of hydroquinone for treating melasma. You need to wash your face with cool water and apply the cream twice or thrice daily. Further you have to apply sunscreen lotion while going out in hot sun.
Though all types of melasma can be controlled, it is difficult to treat epidermal brown spots since it takes long time to respond to the treatment. For some women, the brown spots will disappear on its own after she discontinues using birth control pills or taking hormone replacement therapy. Prescription creams for treating brown spots should include Azelaic acid, retinoic acid, corticosteroids and glycolic acid to be effective. For women with severe brown spots, the concentration of hydroquinone should be higher than normal course. Some doctors also advice to use Lac-Hydrin that contains lactic acid 12% and citrix cream with glycolic acid 10-20%. However creams that contain hydroquinone should not be used for long due to possible side effect of Ochronosis.
Pictures of Brown Spots on Face :
Images, Pics, Pictures and Photos of Brown Spots on Face
It is impossible to prevent brown spots occurrence, if you are genetically predisposed. But you can manage the number of brown spots, by using sunscreen lotion and staying away from direct sunlight. | <urn:uuid:68f88d64-d24c-496c-adc2-47a245f3dff0> | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | http://diseasespictures.com/brown-spots-on-face/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590348493151.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20200605045722-20200605075722-00270.warc.gz | en | 0.953173 | 709 | 2.890625 | 3 |
- Tiktaalik, aka the fishibian or the fishapod, is a large scaled fish that shows a perfect transition between fins and feet, aquatic and land animals. It had fish-like scales, as well as fish-like fin rays and jaw and mouth elements, but it had a shortened skull roof and mobile neck to catch prey, an ear that could hear in both land and water, and a wrist joint that is like those seen in land animals.
- Last year, scientists announced the discovery of Gerobatrachus hottorni, aka the frogamander. Technically, it's a toothed amphibian, but it shows the common origins of frogs and salamanders, scientists say, with a wide skull and large ear drum (like frogs) and two fused ankle bones as seen in salamanders.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Short List of Transitional Fossils
Yahoo News has a story from LiveScience editor Robin Lloyd on the record of transitional fossils in the geological column. Most of it is taken from Donald Prothero's excellent book Evolution: What The Fossils Say and Why it Matters. For example: | <urn:uuid:55b09b9b-2ee1-462d-b773-b53c140b27d7> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | http://scienceandcreation.blogspot.com/2009/02/short-list-of-transitional-fossils.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187824325.29/warc/CC-MAIN-20171020192317-20171020212317-00145.warc.gz | en | 0.955821 | 241 | 3.078125 | 3 |
Polyunsaturated lipids can alter the binding rate of two types of receivers involved in certain nervous system diseases. This is demonstrated by a study from the Nature group for the first time using computational tools.
The study got published in the prestigious journal Scientific Reports
. The work was led by members of the Research Programme on Biomedical Informatics at the IMIM (Hospital del Mar Medical Research Institute) and Pompeu Fabra University as well as researchers from the University of Tampere (Finland), and also involved scientists from the University of Barcelona.
‘Various studies have demonstrated that lipid profiles in the brains of people with diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are very different from those of healthy people.’
Using latest-generation molecular simulations, which are like "computational microscopes", the researchers have demonstrated that a decrease in polyunsaturated lipids in neuronal membranes, as seen in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's sufferers, directly affects the binding rate of dopamine and adenosine receptors. These are part of the family of receptors connected to the G protein (GPCR), located in the cell membrane and responsible for transmitting signals to within the cell.
Until now, various studies have demonstrated that lipid profiles in the brains of people with diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's are very different from those of healthy people. These studies showed that the levels of a polyunsaturated fatty acid in neuronal membranes are considerably lower in the brains of sufferers. The researchers believe that this difference in the lipid composition of membranes could alter the way in which certain proteins interact with each other, as in the case of the GPCR receivers.
According to Jana Selent, a researcher from the PharmacoInformatics group at the IMIM and UPF "It has recently been discovered that the protein complex formed by the binding of dopamine and adenosine receivers, two key GPCRs in diverse cerebral processes, could be a potential therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. Our study suggests that polyunsaturated lipids like DHA are able to modulate the speed at which this protein complex forms, and that could in turn affect its function".
The researchers used latest-generation molecular simulation techniques that allow them to observe, almost at the atomic level, biological dynamics that cannot be described with experimental techniques. Until relatively recently, it was not possible to conduct molecular simulations of this magnitude. However, this field has undergone an important evolution over the past few years, thanks to new breakthroughs in both hardware and software.
"In this way, taking advantage of the latest technology in the field of biocomputation, we have been able to simulate the binding dynamics of these two receptors in distinct lipid membranes, an important biological scenario for nervous system diseases", explains Ramon Guixà González, a researcher currently affiliated with the Charité Hospital in Berlin and co-author of this study.
These results will enable, in the future, new therapeutic pathways to be initiated for regulating the binding of these receivers, either through the lipid composition of the membrane or by designing new lipids that have a modulating effect on this binding rate. It will also facilitate the study of other similar scenarios where specific membrane lipids are able to modulate the behaviour of other important receivers, at a clinical level.
Even so, the researchers say the most important short-term challenge is looking at the real impact of reducing or increasing the formation speed of this protein complex on the cell function where it is expressed. | <urn:uuid:c054d020-4b9e-4882-8094-d932c77b03ac> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | http://www.medindia.net/news/regulating-neuronal-membrane-lipids-could-be-the-key-to-alzheimers-158275-1.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886106754.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20170820131332-20170820151332-00221.warc.gz | en | 0.947178 | 717 | 2.703125 | 3 |
In 2013, a biotech company called Ceregene reported disappointing results from their experimental gene therapy clinical trial for Parkinson’s. The data from the study suggested that the therapy had no clinical effect on the progression of Parkinson’s (Click here to read the press release).
Today, however, researchers associated with that biotech company have published a new report that suggests that the treatment had beneficial effects in the brain, but not enough of it was delivered.
The treatment was a gene therapy approach (which involves using DNA rather than drugs to treat medical conditions), and it involved a protein called neurturin.
In today’s post, we will discuss what neurturin is, we will review what this new study found, and consider what the implications could be for future gene therapy trials in Parkinson’s.
Reanalysing clinical trial data (called post-hoc analysis) provides a very useful way of generating new hypotheses even if the initial study did not reach its primary endpoint (that is to say the study did not demonstrate a successful outcome. Post-hoc analysis must be handled carefully, as the findings of such investigations can be viewed as selective ‘cherry picking’ of interesting outcomes. They will need to be tested to determine if they are real effects.
Even more important than post-hoc analysis, however, is following up participants who took part in a trial to see if there were any long-term benefits from the treatment. I often wonder how much important data is lost after a clinical trial simply becomes there is no long term follow up and study investigators lose track of participants as they drift away.
Precious nuggets of information can be gained from long-term analysis. And this week we saw a really interesting example of this.
Here is the research report:
Title: Long-term post-mortem studies following neurturin gene therapy in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease.
Authors: Chu Y, Bartus RT, Manfredsson FP, Olanow CW, Kordower JH.
Journal: Brain. 2020 Mar 1;143(3):960-975.
PMID: 32203581 (This report is OPEN ACCESS if you wouldl like to read it)
In this study, the researchers were looking at postmortem brain sections from 2 participants who took part in a clinical trial investigating a treatment called neurturin.
What is neurturin?
Today – 27th February, 2019 – the long-awaited results of the Phase II GDNF clinical trial were published.
GDNF (or glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor) is a protein that our bodies naturally produce to nurture and support cells. Extensive preclinical research suggested that this protein was particularly supportive of dopamine neurons – a group of cells in the brain that are affected by Parkinson’s.
The results of the Phase II clinical trial suggest that the treatment was having an effect in the brain (based on imaging data), but the clinic-based methods of assessment indicated no significant effect between the treatment and placebo groups.
In today’s post we will look at what GDNF is, review the previous research on the protein, discuss the results of the latest study, and look at what happens next.
And be warned this is going to be a long post!
Boulder, Colorado. Source: Rps
It all began way back in 1991.
George H. W. Bush was half way into his presidency, a rock band called Nirvana released their second album (‘Nevermind’), Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls rolled over the LA Lakers to win the NBA championship, and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s ‘Terminator 2’ was the top grossing movie of the year.
But in the city of Boulder (Colorado), a discovery was being made that would change Parkinson’s research forever.
In 1991, Dr Leu-Fen Lin and Dr Frank Collins – both research scientists at a small biotech company called Synergen, isolated a protein that they called glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor, or GDNF.
And in 1993, they shared their discovery with the world in this publication:
Title: GDNF: a glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor for midbrain dopaminergic neurons.
Authors: Lin LF, Doherty DH, Lile JD, Bektesh S, Collins F.
Journal: Science, 1993 May 21;260(5111):1130-2.
For the uninitiated among you, when future historians write the full history of Parkinson’s, there will be no greater saga than GDNF.
In fact, in the full history of medicine, there are few experimental treatments that people get more excited, divided, impassioned and evangelical than GDNF.
This ‘wonder drug’ has been on a rollercoaster ride of a journey.
What exactly is GDNF?
This week a biotech company called Voyager Therapeutics announced the results of their ongoing phase Ib clinical trial. The trial is investigating a gene therapy approach for people with severe Parkinson’s disease.
Gene therapy is a technique that involves inserting new DNA into a cell using a virus. The DNA can help the cell to produce beneficial proteins that go on help to alleviate the motor features of Parkinson’s disease.
In today’s post we will discuss gene therapy, review the new results and consider what they mean for the Parkinson’s community.
On 25th August 2012, the Voyager 1 space craft became the first human-made object to exit our solar system.
After 35 years and 11 billion miles of travel, this explorer has finally left the heliosphere (which encompasses our solar system) and it has crossed into the a region of space called the heliosheath – the boundary area that separates our solar system from interstellar space. Next stop on the journey of Voyager 1 will be the Oort cloud, which it will reach in approximately 300 years and it will take the tiny craft about 30,000 years to pass through it.
Where is Voyager 1? Source: Tampabay
Where is Voyager actually going? Well, eventually it will pass within 1 light year of a star called AC +79 3888 (also known as Gliese 445), which lies 17.6 light-years from Earth. It will achieve this goal on a Tuesday afternoon in 40,000 years time.
Gliese 445 (circled). Source: Wikipedia
Remarkably, the Gliese 445 star itself is actually coming towards us. Rather rapidly as well. It is approaching with a current velocity of 119 km/sec – nearly 7 times as fast as Voyager 1 is travelling towards it (the current speed of the craft is 38,000 mph (61,000 km/h).
Interesting, but what does any of that have to do with Parkinson’s disease?
Well closer to home, another ‘Voyager’ is also ‘going boldly where no man has gone before’ (sort of). | <urn:uuid:2b3eee61-572b-4662-8a44-973f51cc8df4> | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | https://scienceofparkinsons.com/tag/ceregene/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655882051.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20200703122347-20200703152347-00599.warc.gz | en | 0.953153 | 1,471 | 2.5625 | 3 |
- Rodents need a warm environment in the winter.
- They are skilled at digging tunnels if they can’t get inside your house, through your walls or utility lines.
- To keep rodents out of your home in winter, try the following prevention strategies
Do Rodents Hibernate?
It’s a common misconception that rodents like mice, rats, and even squirrels hibernate during the winter. This is, unfortunately, untrue. Even though they may become less active outside in the colder months, rodents are active all year long.
Rodents need a warm environment in the winter. They will try to get inside your house, like other pests, searching for a warm place to stay. To gain access to your home, rats, in particular, can chew through concrete, brick, glass, lead, aluminum, vinyl, and even cinder blocks.
They are skilled at digging tunnels if they can’t get inside your house, through your walls or utility lines.
Do you live in cold weather and are concerned about mice entering your home? It’s a common worry because the cooler weather can force these rodents indoors, where they can cause damage.
But how far will they go to find protection from the cold? This blog post will look into the answer to that query and advise how to prevent mice from entering your home during the winter.
Continue reading to learn more about what you can do to protect your residence from trespassing rodents!
Recognizing and Seizing Opportunities
Rodents are extremely creative when it comes to surviving. They can adapt to almost any situation. Rodents have the perfect place to spend the winter because of the convenient openings in our homes’ walls, attics, basements, and between-the-floor spaces that shield them from the elements.
These hiding places frequently include insulation, giving them the ideal nest material. They have perfect living conditions all winter when we turn on the heat and provide food scraps and other food sources.
To keep rodents out of your home in winter, try the following prevention strategies:
- Seal Every Entry Point
Check your home’s exterior for any cracks or holes that could be used as entry points by rodents, and seal them.
- Store Food Properly
Maintain appropriate food storage by keeping food in airtight containers and routinely cleaning up spills and crumbs.
- Reduce clutter
Rodents like to hide in stacks of papers, boxes, and other stuff, so do your best to reduce it.
- Use Traps
Put traps in places where you’ve noticed evidence of rodent activity.
- Remove or Seal Trash Properly
Rodents are attracted to food odors, so make sure your trash cans have tight-fitting lids. Seal outdoor trash cans.
- Use Pest Repellent
Consider using a natural rodent repellent like peppermint oil.
Aside from using peppermint oil, consider a few other repellents:
Ammonia: Rodents do not enjoy the strong, pungent odor of ammonia.
Chips Made from Cedar: Rodents don’t like the smell of cedar, so it can deter them.
Cinnamon: Rodents are said to be repelled by the powerful aroma of cinnamon.
Bleach: Spray bleach all over your house after mixing or combining it with water. Use bleach carefully because it can be harmful if swallowed or inhaled. For safety, put on gloves and a mask before handling this product. Check to see if the rodents are gone after a few days.
It’s important to remember that not all repellents work well against all rodent species, and some may only work temporarily. Getting in touch with a pest control expert at Van Den Berge Pest Control is best to find the solution for your situation.
Why Should You Hire a Pest Control Specialist?
Specialists in pest control have the knowledge and training needed to identify and eliminate any rodent or pest infestation. This also involves using innovative tools and equipment to locate and seal any potential entry points or hiding places for these rodents.
As rodents may be likely carriers of infections or diseases, you should also consider safety when dealing with them. You don’t want to get involved in such dealings, as they call for expert care. Call 616-392-7367 to speak with a pest control specialist at Van Den Berge Pest Control. For eight years running, we have received the Best of West Michigan Pest Control award.
Rodents spend the winter in about 21 million homes in the United States. Unfortunately, these pests can seriously harm property and pose health risks to homeowners.
If you had encountered these intrusive guests, you might have been looking for ways to keep them away in the future. The methods listed above help prevent them from entering. Hire a pest control expert if you think you cannot handle the stress of dealing with them yourself. | <urn:uuid:a917e8e7-dd39-416e-97f9-2f79bf9f241a> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://vandenbergepestcontrol.com/does-it-get-too-cold-for-mice/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510516.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20230929122500-20230929152500-00034.warc.gz | en | 0.924157 | 1,021 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Nyldy-Ata is situated in the rocky area in the Echkilüü Mountain gorge of Ozgorush village, Talas province, in the North of Kyrgyzstan. The entire gorge is connected to a complex of sacred sites. The water emerges from a cone-shape hollow (diameter ~ 1 m) in the western side of a big flat stone. Water streams through a waterfall (~ 40 m) going eastwards where it ultimately leaves the valley. Below the waterfall, on the northern side of the gorge, there is a cave in the mountain with sacred water dripping from the wall. Custodians call the site a court. There are sitting mats and cookware and three hearths suitable for big cauldrons for pilgrims and custodians. This is the sacred site Ordo – the center of the Nyldy Ata. The Nyldy Ata complex encompasses 22 sacred sites. They are all located in the Echkilüü Mountains at the foothills of Chong-Tuyuk and Kichi-Tuyuk.
The water level and the emerging springs in the well are decreasing, perhaps because of climate change. The gorge is large and unfenced, so shepherds herd animals, defiling the brooks. The spiritual sphere and indigenous culture are under serious pressure from various businesses, as well as from various religions. According to the Islam for example, worshipping sacred sites is a sin. Islam practitioners prohibit visits to sacred sites and have been trying to destroy such sites.
Kyrgyz people look at themselves in unity with the universe and the surrounding nature. Sky, plants and water are the building blocks of nature. For traditional practitioners it is not possible to see a person distinct from nature. When connected with nature a person can be healed by it. There are different opinions about the use of a sacred site’s healing potential. According to some visitors “it is helpful when you come to the site with will and belief”. If there is a close connection between a person and the place, then results are often positive. Thus, people who feel the connection and understand it have common visions on how to protect the sacred site. Key ideas are raising public awareness, getting legal recognition and keeping the place clean and nourished.
In 2004, the Aigine Cultural Research Center started researching the ancient tradition of pilgrimage to sacred sites with financial support of The Christensen Fund. Within two and a half years, the coalition had established several results. They had defined the location of 258 sacred sites in Talas oblast of Kyrgyzstan, interviewed hundreds of sacred site palmers, witnessed rituals and investigated biological diversity at numerous sacred sites.
Policy and Law
One of the priorities of Aigine is to develop legal protection for sacred sites. According to the experts and carriers of traditional knowledge, central issues are the rules regulating behavior in the sacred sites of Kyrgyzstan, and the recognition of their cultural and ecological significance. Since the outset, Aigine has been seeking to form a balanced team representing all stakeholders to develop these laws. The majority of sacred sites in the country are unique in their beauty and the cleanliness of the environment. There is great potential to turn such zones into sites of popular rest and spiritual tourism.
Jenish Kudakeev is one of the approximately 150 guardians with whom Aigine Cultural Research Center is collaborating in Talas oblast. He belongs to the group of the guardians categorized as Shai’yks. Shai’yks are people who look after a sacred site, guide pilgrims and lead the ritual performances. As a rule, Shai’yks know the history and the special features of a sacred site. Shai’yks have the ability to practice traditional healing. Jenish Kudakeev has a particular characteristic: he is an ordinary person outside of the gorge, but when inside the gorge he is believed to possess certain extraordinary skills like the ability to heal people and to help them solve life problems and gain unique information for them.
Aigine Cultural Research Center, which leads conservation and promotion of the Nyldy-Ata gorge, collaborates with international organizations with expertise and interest in cultural and biological diversity, religion, spirituality, folklore and education, but also with students from Talas State University and with local custodians.
In 2006, the Aigine Cultural Research Center fenced several sacred sites at Nyldy-Ata complex and hung signs at the entrance with rules for appropriate behavior. The center published a Kyrgyz book called “Blessed Nyldy-Ata” which includes descriptions, history of the site and stories and experiences of visitors. In 2008, the center built a restroom at Nyldy-Ata gorge. Aigine Cultural Research Center has invited Jenish Kudakeev to various workshops, seminars and conferences about sacred site conservation. At present, he and other local people guide the visitors and explain the rules for pilgrimage at the site.
The main outcome after two years of participatory research is the book Mazar Worship in Kyrgyzstan: Rituals and Practitioners in Talas. Through the work that Aigine Cultural Research Center has done to preserve, promote and conserve the Nyldy-Ata sacred sites complex, more people know about the sites and visit them in order to find solutions for their spiritual questions. This way, the history of the sites is transmitted to the next generations.
- Aitpeva G. (ed) 2009. Sacred sites of Issyk-Kul: spiritual powers, pilgrimage, and art. Aigine. Bishkek.
- Cholponai U. 2012 In Search of Sacredness: Pilgrimage Practices in Kyrgyzstan. In: Verschuuren, B., Wild., R., (Eds). Sacred Natural Sites, Sources of Biocultural Diversity, Langscape volume 2, issue 11. pp 68 – 71, Available from: https://sacrednaturalsites.org/items/terralingua-langscape-volume-2-issue-11/
- Webster J (2012) IREX, Pilgrimage and Shrines in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. IREX, Washington. http://www.irex.net/sites/default/files/Webster_J%20Scholar%20Research%20Brief%202011-2012_0.pdf | <urn:uuid:c26df27c-71d8-4bd6-89db-edde55dc1d6c> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | https://sacrednaturalsites.org/items/nyldy-ata-gorge-complex-of-sacred-sites/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187823997.21/warc/CC-MAIN-20171020082720-20171020102720-00863.warc.gz | en | 0.920512 | 1,333 | 2.5625 | 3 |
What are the natural resources?
Natural resources are physical substances that when extracted from the ground are converted into inventory and when sold produce revenues for the firm. Natural resources include oil, natural gas, coal, iron, uranium, and timber. These assets are often referred to as wasting assets, because once they are removed from the ground or physically consumed, they cannot be replaced.
Accounting for Natural Resources
Natural resources give up their benefits as the resources are removed. This process is called depletion and essentially follows the same process as units-of-production depreciation. That is, in order to determine the cost per unit of output, the capitalized cost of the natural resources is divided by the estimated output. This per-unit cost is then charged to depletion expense as the resources are removed.
To show how depletion is calculated, assume that the JDD Company pays $18 million for land on which to drill 0il. Other capitalized costs relating to exploration and development are $14 million and so the total cost is $32 million. The company estimates that there will be a $2 million residual value at the end of the project, and so the total depletable cost is $30 million. Geologists estimate that the oil field will produce 15 million barrels of oil over the project’s life. The depletion charge is $2 per barrel, calculated as follows:
Assuming that 4.5 million barrels were produced in the current year, the depletion charge is $9 million ($4,500,000 x $2.00), and the required journal entry is:
By convention, the credit is made directly to the asset account rather than a contra-asset account. The depletion expense ultimately becomes part of the cost of the oil inventory that eventually will be sold. This allocation can be accomplished by making the following journal entry:
Other production costs such as transportation and direct labor must be included as part of the inventoriable cost of the oil. To continue our example, assume that during the year these costs amounted to $7.5 million. They would be recorded as follows:
The inventory of oil is recorded in the current asset section, and the book value of the oil fields is shown in the noncurrent section under natural resources. Finally, when the barrels of oil are sold, the sale and cost of sale are recorded in the usual manner. | <urn:uuid:adcd7a8b-9bbd-44d6-ab45-8e3c0ac6b3a1> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | https://www.playaccounting.com/explanation/ddfa-exp/accounting-for-natural-resources/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875145747.6/warc/CC-MAIN-20200223062700-20200223092700-00136.warc.gz | en | 0.964455 | 477 | 3.796875 | 4 |
While Microsoft talked up Windows Vista security at Black Hat, a researcher in another room demonstrated how to hack the operating system.
Joanna Rutkowska, a Polish researcher at Singapore-based Coseinc, showed that it is possible to bypass security measures in Vista that should prevent unsigned code from running.
In the second part of her talk, Rutkowska explained how it is possible to use virtualisation technology to make malicious code undetectable, in the same way a rootkit does. She code-named this malicious software Blue Pill.
"Microsoft is investigating solutions for the final release of Windows Vista to help protect against the attacks demonstrated," a representative for the software maker said. "In addition, we are working with our hardware partners to investigate ways to help prevent the virtualisation attack used by the Blue Pill."
As one of the security measures in Vista, Microsoft is adding a mechanism to block unsigned driver software to run on the 64-bit version of the operating system. However, Rutkowska found a way to bypass the shield and get her code to run. Malicious drivers could pose a serious threat because they run at a low level in the operating system, security experts have said.
News source: ZDNet Australia | <urn:uuid:1e2a4fe9-c6ac-4149-93f4-8007b4e4ae75> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | https://www.neowin.net/news/vista-hacked-at-black-hat | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818688208.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20170922041015-20170922061015-00473.warc.gz | en | 0.92741 | 254 | 2.765625 | 3 |
Monica Brown’s latest picture book, illustrated by Caldecott Medalist David Díaz, honors her family’s heritage in more ways than one. Maya’s Blanket/la manta de Maya is written in both English and Spanish, a tribute to her Latina heritage, and it’s a story based on the time-honored Yiddish song most commonly known in English as “I Had a Little Overcoat,” honoring her Jewish ancestors. It’s also a story, as Monica discusses below, blending realism and a bit of magic, something with which she is very familiar.
I interrupted Monica’s teaching—she’s a Professor of English at Northern Arizona University, specializing in U.S. Latino and Multicultural Literature—to talk to her via email about this book, her chapter book series Lola Levine, and the great value of bilingual picture books for students of all ages.
Can you talk about being inspired by both your Latina and Jewish heritage to write this picture book based on the legendary Yiddish folk song?
I am honored to be a child of two continents and two religious traditions, and it has been a delight to be able to bring different aspects of my history together in my writing for children. Now more than ever, as borders are being drawn tighter and rhetoric around immigration and “others” inspires fear, we need to emphasize what connects us. Children’s books are a place of imagination and joy, and I’ve tried to capture that with Maya’s Blanket/la manta de Maya.
As a Peruvian-American, magical realism/lo real maravilloso has made an indelible impact on my writing. I read One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márqez when I was 17, and it changed my life forever. Never had any book so captured my family history, as well as the expanse of South America in my imagination and in the reality of my travels back and forth to my mother’s childhood home in Piura, Peru, and our family circle in Lima. I knew then that mine would be a literary life, surrounded by books. Like my idol, I went off to have an adventure and work as a journalist (in Mexico) after I graduated from college. I then went to graduate school and wrote about and taught Latino/a literature for a decade.
Then, I started creating it for children. One of the first children’s books I wrote was the biography My Name is Gabito: The Life of Gabriel García Márquez/Me llamo Gabito: la vida de Gabriel García Márquez, illustrated by Raul Colón, followed by my magical realist adventure Chavela and the Magic Bubble, illustrated by Magaly Morales. Maya’s Blanket is my most recent magical, multicultural creation, written with love and in memory of my grandmother, who taught me to sew, and honoring my Jewish grandfathers.
I’ve always loved the Yiddish folk song “Hob Ikh Mir a Mantl,” because it emphasizes creativity and recycling and, in my interpretation, the ways poverty or lack cannot limit our imagination. I’ve added my own magical realist perspective to the story. Maya’s magical manta protects her from bad dreams, and when, “with her own two hands and abuelita’s help,” she makes it into a vestido, the dress doesn’t let her fall, even when she twirls and swirls at her cousin’s quinceañera. Later in the story, her rebozo doesn’t leave anyone out, and her magical bufanda keeps her from blowing away in the fierce winter wind. And the circularity and surprise of the ending is the most magical of all, but I won’t spoil it.
I like how you incorporate the Spanish text into the story—with enough context to provide meaning for children who read only English.
Even though I am bilingual, English is my first language. I think translation is an art form, so it has been important to me to collaborate with a professional translator and native speaker—in this case, the amazing Adriana Dominguez. Each and every word is chosen with thought and care. Adriana; my Lee and Low editor, Louise May; and I have deep discussions (and sometimes debates!) about translation, and I think this commitment shows.
Maya’s Blanket affirms multiple literacies. The English and Spanish are side by side on the page, allowing for multiple reading experiences for speakers of English, Spanish, or and those learning either. I am an advocate of bilingual education and bilingualism for all, so even my English-only readers leave the text with an understanding of a several Spanish words through context and a glossary (including pronunciation) in the back. There is a musicality to Spanish that works wonderfully in this book, and all can appreciate it.
What do you see as the value in providing bilingual picture books for children of all backgrounds?
When I do school visits, I introduce myself in Spanish first and then in English. You can’t imagine the surprise I see on the faces of children, regardless of the demographics of the school. I’ve learned that it is a rare thing, indeed, and quite powerful to have a special guest, at the front of the assembly, celebrating a language that is sometimes denigrated by the English-only movement. I’ve incorporated music into several of my books, and I try to teach children at least one song or refrain in English and Spanish—to the delight of them all. Books, art, theatre, and music really can act as a bridge toward understanding and affirmation of the multiplicity of our beings.
How does your teaching inform your writing?
Because I am a Professor of Literature who specializes in U.S. Latino/a, African American, and Multiethnic Literature, I’ve been inspired to write picture book biographies of several of my favorite authors, including Gabriela Mistral and Gabriel García Márquez. Most recently, I published Pablo Neruda: The Poet of the People, illustrated by Julie Paschkis. I introduce literature to children, as well as college students, and I truly see the power of words acting in their lives in support of empathy, understanding, modeling, and inspiration.
What was it like to see David's illustrations for your text?
Seeing final art is always one of the most fabulous moments for me. To know my literary DNA inscribes these paintings is a wonder and a privilege. David Díaz’s work for this book is just beautiful. Blue and turquoise are my favorite colors (they were my mother’s as well), and these colors imbue each and every page and Maya’s manta itself. David’s work is somewhat ethereal and layered in Maya’s Blanket, which matches the text perfectly.
What's next for you?
I am incredibly excited about my new chapter book series from Little, Brown, starring the fierce and funny Lola Levine. The first book in the series, Lola Levine is Not Mean!, debuted this fall. The second book, Lola Levine: Drama Queen, just dropped. This is one of the first, if not the only, chapter books series both written and illustrated by Latinas and featuring a multiracial protagonist. The book has had a terrific reception so far and, in addition to my picture book Marisol McDonald Doesn’t Match/no combina, it’s my most personal and semi-autobiographical effort. These books represent my desire that our multiracial and multicultural children are not considered “fractions” but rather celebrated for containing multitudes.
Finally, you can be the first to know about my one of my next picture books. It has been really difficult to keep secret! I am very happy to announce Frida and her Animalitos, which will be illustrated by my dear friend and collaborator John Parra. This will be our third book together and is due out from North/South books in 2017.
MAYA'S BLANKET/LA MANTA DE MAYA. Copyright © 2015 by Monica Brown. Illustrations copyright © 2015 by David Díaz. Spread used by permission of the publisher, Lee & Low Books, New York.
Julie Danielson (Jules) conducts interviews and features of authors and illustrators at Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast, a children's literature blog primarily focused on illustration and picture books. | <urn:uuid:3ead5068-8759-48ff-8532-bac9a7b339a4> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | https://www.kirkusreviews.com/features/building-connections-monica-brown/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934809778.95/warc/CC-MAIN-20171125105437-20171125125437-00015.warc.gz | en | 0.954118 | 1,811 | 2.828125 | 3 |
In the Mediterranean, between the blue Adriatic Sea, Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro, its place found a "geographic bird with the open wings" - Croatia. It is a Mediterranean country extremely interesting because of the peculiar variety of spaces that united into a fantastic complex and each part of it is very special and unique. For example, Croatia has lakes and hills in the continental part (central Croatia and Slavonia), the mountains in Gorski Kotar and Lika, and a stunning long coastline along the Adriatic Sea (Istria, Dalmatia, and the shoreline Primorje).
Croatia its spatially divided into: lowland or Pannonian region, coastal and mountainous region. Predominant is the lowland region, and in the mountainous and coastal regions are not so many high relief. Croatian highest mountains are Dinara, Kamešnica, Biokovo, Velebit, Great Chapel, Risnjak Svilaja and Snježnik, none exceeding a height of 2000 metres (6561.68 ft). The Coastal regions are bordering with Italy through the Adriatic Sea, which was legendarily named by Hadriji, the old colony of Etruscans. Its depth is not equal in the north and south part. The northern part is relatively shallow, while in the south part the average depth is around 240 metres (787.40 ft).
Did you know that Croatia is also called "Land of Thousand Islands"? It is understandable to be given that name as there are 1246 (67 inhabited), or more precisely: 79 islands, 525 islets, and 642 cliffs. The Mediterranean vegetations which prevails in them makes the islands special and ideal for those who like to relax in the nature all year around. The most significant is maquis (bushes) consisting of laurel, arbutus, holly and other similar plants that belong to the oak family. Beside the bushes, there are many interesting rocky areas where we find spiky and fragrant herbs such as sage, wormwood, and brambles. In nature walks, it is possible to come across some animals that live there, maybe a small wildly such as a rabbit or a partridge bird flying over you .
The Adriatic Sea is known for its transparency, which reaches a depth of 56 metres (183.72 ft), and its rich wildlife, which hides in its depths. All this makes Croatia the ideal destination for the lovers of sea, sun, and adventurer’s eager to study the natural beauty. For example, if you're diving, you will be interested in information that Croatia has more than 85 interesting diving locations where you can see stunning views of sea caves, coral meadows, and the remains of warships, which are blended in with the natural resources of the marine world.
The inland waters are a special beauty. In Croatia there are many inland waters that are worth mentioning: mineral, thermal, and spring waters which are under-utilized today. Among Croatian rivers, the best known is Sava (Croatia's longest river), the Dunav, Drava, Mirna, Rasa, Zrmanja, Krka and Cetina.
Lakes in Croatia are not large, however, they stand out for their extraordinary beauty. Among the most special, we can consider the Plitvice Lakes, Red Lake, Blue Lake, Lake Vrana, Prokljansko lake Peručko, Trakošćansko, Lokvarsko and Bajersko Lake.
Natural attractions that are definitely worth mentioning are the national parks: the Plitvice Lakes, Krka, Northern Velebit, Brijuni, Kornati, Paklenica, Risnjak and Mljet. These are the places where a nature has created their own small and great arts, unique works, and a man is given the opportunity to fully enjoy them. The nature reserves are Rozanski kukovi, White and Samarske rocks on the mount Velebit. These are the areas where the human hand let the nature of their possessions, and only changed it vaguely.
For the speleologists is certainly interesting to know that there are large nomber of caves in the Croatian territory. Formed of limestone and dolomite stony relief, most of them are characterized by the rich contacts. The longest Croatian cave is a cave system Djula’s pit - Madvednica (16.4 km), and the deepest Luke's cave – Troja’s in the mount Velebit (1392 m). Panjkov’s caves Stupin’s pit, Klana’s pit and many other similar sites are great for the training of climbing techniques, under the supervision of professionals or acquainting with the underworld beauties.
Major cities are Zagreb, Split, Rijeka, Osijek, Pula, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Karlovac, Šibenik. Zagreb is the capital and also the largest city in Croatia with a population of one million, and today is the administrative, economic, cultural, and scientific center of Croatia.
Geographical information in numbers:
- Coastal sea area: 33.200 sq km
- Area of land and sea: 89,810 sq km
- Total commercial area: 113.680 sq km
- Length of terrestrial border: 2028 km
- Length of Coastline: 5,835 km (3625.70 mi)
- Length of continental coastline: 1.777 km (1104.18 mi)
- Length of islands coastline: 4058 km (2521.52 mi) | <urn:uuid:7abf1099-31be-4452-98ed-ce1718e5ad17> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://www.pearlsofcroatia.com/en/croatia/geography/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1394021586626/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305121306-00080-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931865 | 1,198 | 2.6875 | 3 |
A Study Of Delhi’s Air Pollution Governance
Written By: Naveen Talawar
Environmental pollution is one of the serious problems in most of the megacities of the world, especially in the developing countries as it is leading to serious health hazards and also worsening our environment. The remarkable increase in the population during the last 50 years has led to rapid industrialization and a high rate of urbanization has created pressure on all of the natural resources.
Air Pollution in India has become an issue of national importance. Air quality in many urban and rural places in India is very poor. Talking about the air quality in Delhi, the capital territory of India was declared to be the most polluted city on the planet by the world health organization.
According to a report by WHO, around 7 million people lose their lives every year prematurely as a result of worldwide air pollution., among them, India has the world’s highest death rate from chronic respiratory diseases and asthma. The apex court of India has made a statement concerning rising pollution in Delhi saying that “Delhi has become worse than Narak(hell)”.
Meaning of Air pollution
The World Health Organization (WHO) defines air pollution, as ‘‘substances put into the air by the activity of mankind into concentrations sufficient to cause harmful effects to health, property, crop yield, or to interfere with the enjoyment of property’’
According to The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, “air pollution is the presence of any solid, liquid, or gaseous substance in the atmosphere in such concentration as may be or tend to be injurious to human beings or other living creatures or plants or property or environment”.
Main Causes of air pollution
- One of the major causes of the air pollution in Delhi is stubble burning by the farmers but the government has rejected this contention and said to the supreme court that “ the contribution of the farm fires or stubble burning only has 10% share in Delhi’s severe pollution” in the recent case Aditya Dubey(Minor) V. Union of India and others. And also stated that industrial and road dust has played a big role in causing air pollution.
- Vehicular emission is another major cause for increasing air pollution in Delhi due to which the air quality index has reached severe levels.
- Large-scale construction in the National Capital Region is another cause of increasing dust and pollution in the air.
- Industrial pollution, garbage dumps, and firecrackers are also the top reason for the building up of smog in the air.
Effects on human health
Air pollution has become an environmental health hazard over the years, due to exposure to polluted air it poses a major health risk and can cause stroke, heart disease, lung cancer, respiratory diseases and reduction in life expectancy, etc.
According to the report of the WHO, 92% of the world’s population lives in the area where the quality of air is below the WHO standards and about 88% of premature deaths occur in the low and middle-income countries, where air pollution is escalating at an alarming rate
Constitutional bodies and authorities
There are certain constitutional bodies and authorities for monitoring and controlling air pollution. Those are as follows:
Air pollution authorities
- DPCC ( Delhi pollution control committee).
- CPCB (Central pollution control Board).
- IMD ( Indian meteorological control board).
- SAFAR (System of Air quality and weather forecasting and research).
Air pollution control regimes
- Central pollution control board, Delhi pollution control committee.
- Environment Pollution ( Prevention and control authority) EPCA
Other principal constitutional bodies
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and climate change.
- Environment appellate authority.
- National green tribunal
Measures that are undertaken to improve the air quality of Delhi
The constitution of India through Article 48 provides that “the state shall endeavor to protect and improve the environment and safeguard the forests and wildlife of the country”. The main legislation which controls air pollution is the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, and the Environment (Protection Act, 1986).
Because of the seriousness of air pollution many rules and policies are implemented by the government those are as follows :
- To improve the air quality in Delhi the supreme court of India passed an order in 1998 stating to convert all public and commercial vehicles operating in Delhi into CNG fuel mode and relocation of hazardous industries.
- Another policy adopted by the Delhi government was of banning the entry of commercial vehicles during peak hours to avoid traffic congestion.
- In 2015, the supreme court ordered to ban 10 years old diesel vehicles, as diesel vehicles emit more particulate matter emissions than any other fuels, as a result of this the government has banned diesel vehicles that were older than 2006.
- Odd-even scheme: an initiative (on a trial basis) was taken by the government of Delhi to curb air pollution by applying this scheme on 4 wheelers. The scheme proposed that the vehicles having registration numbers ending with an odd digit were allowed to run on the odd dates and vice-versa. The main aim of this scheme was to reduce the number of vehicles from the roads of Delhi.
- The government of Delhi has set up a car-free day campaign “ Ab Bus Karein” since 22nd October 2015, which is to be observed on the 22nd of every month.
- And very recently the supreme court has ordered a ban on construction and demolition activities in the city to control air pollution levels in Delhi. As a result of this, the government has imposed a ban on construction in the city.
Recently, the commission for air quality management was established, as an overarching body to carry out air quality management in Delhi which will take decisions and issue orders for protecting and improving the quality of air in Delhi under the commission for air quality management in the national capital region and adjoining areas Act, 2021.
Functions of the commission
Some of the functions of the commission include Planning and execution of the plans to prevent and control air pollution in the National Capital Region., preparing various action plans such as increasing plantation and addressing stubble burning, and providing a framework for identification of air pollutants. etc
Powers of the commission
Powers include restricting the activities influencing air quality, preparing codes and guidelines to prevent and control air pollution, and imposing and collecting environmental compensation from farmers causing pollution by stubble burning.
Any non-compliance or contravention with the orders and directions of the commission will be punishable with imprisonment of up to 5 years or a fine up to 1 crore rupees or both.
Only the national green tribunal has been given the power to hear cases from the commission’s orders.
With the increasing population and industrialization, the transport demand has also increased consequently. The national capital territory of Delhi is one of the most polluted cities in the world caused by vehicular and industrial pollution. To restore the air quality the Delhi government has taken certain measures to some extent which have helped to reduce the levels of air pollution to a large extent. If such measures are carried out effectively then the pollution in Delhi can be minimized to the great extent. | <urn:uuid:bad32c61-b2b2-4766-a508-8c2b625c134a> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://thelawcommunicants.com/air-pollution-governance/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100909.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20231209103523-20231209133523-00259.warc.gz | en | 0.916637 | 1,482 | 3.21875 | 3 |
NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration recently released separate reports showing that 2014 was the hottest year in the 135 years of record keeping. This finding was confirmed by the Japanese weather agency.
It was a bad day for global warming skeptics. These folks found 101 reasons why our scientists and the Japanese are wrong.
Having one record-setting year may not be alarming, but the temperature trend is concerning. That is, the 15 years since the year 2000 have been among the top 20 warmest years ever recorded. The odds of this happening randomly, according to a report on the Weather Channel, is about 1.5 quadrillion to one. | <urn:uuid:6e2ac3ad-5542-4559-ad06-a3bb069bc4eb> | CC-MAIN-2017-43 | http://www.mcall.com/opinion/letters/mc-global-warming-hottest-year-nickischer-20150129-story.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187823839.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20171020063725-20171020083725-00544.warc.gz | en | 0.95036 | 131 | 2.859375 | 3 |
3 things you can do about shingles
Shingles can be devastating. But you can prevent it, treat it, and minimize its long-term effects.
Image: Paul /Thinkstock
Pretty much 100% of Americans have had chickenpox. "They might have had mild cases they didn't recognize," says Dr. Anne Louise Oaklander, a neurologist at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital and an international expert on shingles. That puts us all at risk for shingles, a serious adult condition caused by the same virus, known as varicella-zoster. About a third of people over 60 will get shingles, and half of people 85 or older have already had an attack.
How shingles develops
Chickenpox may last about 10 days, but the culprit virus can remain inside us forever. It retreats into a sensory ganglion—a cluster of cells that transmit sensations from a region of the body to the spinal cord and brain. If the virus reactivates, it spreads along the associated sensory nerves on one side of the body to cause a painful rash of blisters we know as shingles. | <urn:uuid:9b2495c8-db03-4a24-9c2d-03feac799b0f> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthy-aging/3-things-you-can-do-about-shingles | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818686077.22/warc/CC-MAIN-20170919235817-20170920015817-00101.warc.gz | en | 0.954421 | 238 | 3.328125 | 3 |
In her incredible CNN article, professor of physics and astronomy Meg Urry reflects on Sally Ride’s 1983 journey to space on the STS-7. To be the first American woman in space is a huge accomplishment, and must have brought great honor to Ride while continually inspiring young women, particularly those working in scientific fields. Urry’s article exposes, however, that this 1983 trip was likely surrounded with great frustration and sexism; I imagine that the years leading up to the journey were not wholly positive ones for Sally Ride. The flight was twenty years overdue, a full two decades after an American man was sent to space. Despite the abundance of qualified, eager women and advanced technologies, the male-dominated space industry failed for far too long to launch women to space.
Urry writes about Ride’s later endeavor, Sally Ride Science, which runs camps and festivals to foster scientific literacy in middle school girls and sharpen skills in science teachers. Ride’s educational programming for girls is particularly significant to Urry, who was inspired by her great successes in the male-dominated world of physics, in which Urry recalls feeling like an outsider.
It’s widely known that Sally Ride was the first American woman in space, but not all know that she was involved with the camera on NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory satellite that now orbits the moon (the first NASA flight project dedicated wholly to education). It’s known that Ride spent 343 hours in space, but many don’t know about her relentless efforts to expand female opportunities in the world of science, while making our culture more accepting of and enthusiastic for female scientists. Read the words of OEP participant and scientist Meg Urry, and feel the impact that Sally Ride had on talented female scientists, itching for progress in a field where progress has, unfortunately, been slow. | <urn:uuid:613ea854-62bb-4b3a-bb19-31ca2d5a800f> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | https://theopedproject.wordpress.com/2012/07/24/oep-fellow-meg-urry-eulogizes-late-astronaut-sally-ride/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818687484.46/warc/CC-MAIN-20170920213425-20170920233425-00112.warc.gz | en | 0.956063 | 379 | 3.546875 | 4 |
Visual Art - Design
The Design field of study guarantees two studios specializing in graphic design (Studio of Graphic Design 1, Studio of Graphic Design 2) and a studio specializing in product design (Studio of Product Design). The importance of this field of study is essential nowadays. A designer enters the process of designing the output (whatever that may be – a book, a website, a motorcycle, or a sink) much earlier than in the past. The conception of the studies in the Design field of study corresponds to contemporary requirements on the designer to be equipped both with excellent knowledge of available tools (especially of software), to be ready for life-long education, and to be an outstanding personality with a wide knowledge of culture and humanities. Emphasis is put during the course of the studies on the following areas: 1) continuous development of functional literacy in technologies and software essential for practical output in the field. (The Design field of study uses the workshop and intensive course formats which are not embodied in the curriculum on a fixed basis but rather extend the studio course. 2) Development of knowledge in art history, visual culture, and design. 3) Development of skills vital in contemporary design practices, such as independent seeking of tasks and work opportunities, organizational and presentation skills.
The Design field of study emphasizes the link between the school assignments and professional practices. This goal is achieved by cooperation with external subjects (companies, not-for-profit subjects or NGOs), and by the workshops and presentations held by notable designers.
Key learning outcomes
The graduates of the MA program further deepen their competencies within their discipline, emphasizing the crossing of the “craft” aspect of their skills towards autonomous creative achievements characteristic for an original designer.
Occupational profiles of graduates with examples
The graduate of the Design field of study is ideally a strong personality equipped with the potential to succeed in the practices of graphic or product design. She is also competent to professionally succeed in similar disciplines, such as polygraphy, advertising, and media. The studio-based format of training with a high share of tutorials systematically completed with short-term intensive courses and workshops lead by practicing professionals develops the competency in the students to actively seek job opportunities, make independent decisions, and boldly present their projects and achievements.
Course structure diagram with ECTS credits
|M1GD-Z||Studio Follow-up I - Graphic Design 1 - winter||cs||18||winter||Compulsory||Cr,Ex||yes|
|CPZZ-I||Master's State Examination Seminar 1||cs||2||winter||Compulsory||Cr||yes|
|2U2000-Z||Art after 2000||cs||4||winter||Compulsory||Ex||yes|
|ATGD||Graphic design topics of today||cs||2||winter||Optional||Col||yes|
|ANUP||Analyzing the Art of Performance||cs||2||winter||Optional||Cr||yes|
|2AINV/M-Z||English Intermediate MA 1 - winter||en||3||winter||Optional||Cr,Ex||yes|
|2UPPV-M-Z||English Upper Intermediate Higher 3 - MA - Winter||en||3||winter||Optional||Cr,Ex||yes|
|2AU-L||The Antropology of Art||cs||3||winter||Optional||Ex||no|
|ACHE20||Architecture of the 20th century||cs||3||winter||Optional||Ex||yes|
|2A1956||Around 1956: the Culture of the Mid Fifties||en||4||winter||Optional||Ex||no|
|ACP-L||Art, Commerce, Power||en||4||winter||Optional||Ex||yes|
|2ACT||Artists and Curators in Texts||en||4||winter||Optional||Ex||no|
|DEDE2-Z||History of Design 2 - winter||cs||3||winter||Optional||Ex||no|
|FEMS1||Feminist Seminar 1||en||3||winter||Optional||Cr||yes|
|GPTSU||Gallery Management and Market With Contemporary Art||cs||2||winter||Optional||Cr||yes|
|2KNM-Z||The Canon Of New media Art. The best of new media art 1||cs||3||winter||Optional||Ex||yes|
|HITECH1||Hi Tech Painting 1||cs||2||winter||Optional||Cr||yes|
|2USIM-I||New Media Art 1||cs||3||winter||Optional||Ex||yes|
|KRIT1||Practical introduction to critical theory 1||cs||2||winter||Optional||Cr||no|
|TAIF2||The Art of Interpreting Film 2||en||4||winter||Optional||Ex||no|
|TUPA||Art Market and Art Law||cs||2||winter||Optional||Cr||no|
|VUBAI-Z||Fine Art in Brno Architecture (1948–1989) 1||cs||3||winter||Optional||Ex||yes| | <urn:uuid:bd42ea16-734d-43b6-a960-84cb3fffe33c> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.vutbr.cz/en/students/programmes/branch/13290 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371624083.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20200406102322-20200406132822-00297.warc.gz | en | 0.798005 | 1,080 | 2.515625 | 3 |
- [Fall light show on American Prairie Reserve. Photo: Dennis Lingohr]
Are prairie landscapes loved the least? Grasslands are the least protected ecosystem in the world despite the fact that they cover a quarter of the Earth’s surface. Some might say they are the least sexy, too. After all, can grasses really compete with dramatic mountain vistas, the mysteries of ocean depths or lush, green forests? We believe that the prairie ecosystem is just as intricate, charismatic and photogenic; perhaps it just needs a little more attention.
In an effort to increase awareness of related issues and conservation efforts, and encourage you to fall in love with our world’s prairies, we plan to compile a news roundup each month. These stories will introduce you to the people and organizations working to restore this endangered ecosystem and its wildlife and lead you to draw your own conclusions about the future of our grasslands.
Here’s some news from around the world for the first installment. We welcome your suggestions in the comments below. Happy reading!
Huge new nature reserves are needed to save species, says UN
By Fiona Harvey, The Guardian
A new study released by the UN environment program and its partners has concluded that, while progress has been made to increase the amount of protected land and sea, there is still much work to be done to prevent significant losses in biodiversity. Rachel Kyte of the World Bank suggests that cooperating with the business world is one way to move forward.
Masai Mara staring into the face of disaster
By John Oyuke, Standard Digital
Is this world-renowned wildlife haven on a crash course with too much tourism? Changes in the migratory patterns of wildebeests have experts wondering how much human activity is too much.
‘Red List’ of Endangered Ecosystems Proposed by IUCN
By Becky Oskin, Our Amazing Planet
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature, which also created the well-known Red List of Threatened Species, is now exploring a Red List of Endangered Ecosystems that could become a reality by 2014. The shortgrass prairie of the Great Plains is one of several regions being considered for further assessment. However, it’s not all doom and gloom – a Green List of places where efforts are being made to reduce threats has also been proposed.
Plowing away the prairie, at a price
By Josephine Marcotty, Star Tribune
As part of a series entitled “The Vanishing Prairie,” this piece takes a hard look at increasing rates of land conversion from native prairie to agricultural use in the Great Plains. If you’re wondering how the environmental value of grasslands stacks up against improving agricultural technology, this article is for you. The series also includes a map and photo gallery.
Drought limits migrating birds’ rest stops
By Chuck Raasch, USA Today
Waterfowl populations in the Midwest were off to a good start this year thanks to adequate water levels during nesting season. Now that drought has taken over the region, migrating birds are finding limited landing strips as ponds disappear and prairie potholes become scarce.
Buffer zones key to survival of maned wolf
By Jeremy Hance, mongabay.com
The Brazilian Cerrado is a diverse landscape that spans several ecosystems, including savanna. These open grasslands and forests are home to the maned wolf, a unique South American predator that is on the verge of extinction. By studying the scat of nearly 100 wolves, scientists propose that more and better-managed buffer zones could help keep the species from disappearing.
In Tanzania, people and lions face off over wildlife corridors
By Laurence Caramel, Le Monde/Worldcrunch
Wildlife and human conflicts in East Africa are in the news for a second time this month – this time because of human encroachment into crucial wildlife corridors that run between the country’s formally protected areas. Can “participative conservation” make a positive change for wild and human residents?
The social lives of plants
By Deane Morrison, UMNews
New studies from University of Minnesota researchers suggest that plant communities are the original Facebook. Plants have competitive advantages when it comes to accessing nutrients, carbon and water, and scientists found that different species come to rely on each other. End result? Groups of plants experience a measurable loss in biomass when one of their pals is removed – and even adding a substitute doesn’t measure up. When it comes to ecology, think twice about de-friending.
Is that a Flappy Meal? Leopard goes for some fast food… which isn’t quite fast enough.
By Tony Bond, the Daily Mail
As a final reminder that grasslands are equally photo worthy, don’t miss these incredible images by photographer Matt Prophet. Apparently leopards don’t mind a buffet on the move!
American Prairie Reserve (APR) is assembling a world class wildlife reserve in northern Montana, with the goal of one day creating a seamless 3.5 million acre grassland ecosystem. APR’s President Sean Gerrity is a National Geographic Fellow. Learn more about APR, including our bison restoration efforts and how to visit, on the Reserve’s website. | <urn:uuid:318c8ff7-8475-4f41-a98c-d5bcd2b38dff> | CC-MAIN-2013-48 | http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2012/10/12/plain-wonderful-grasslands-news-from-september/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-48/segments/1386164013027/warc/CC-MAIN-20131204133333-00054-ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938491 | 1,091 | 3.046875 | 3 |
Right now, in a small corner of Texas A&M University, people are preparing for one of the greatest catastrophes ever to face human civilization. No, there’s not a den of superheroes on campus. The Global Pandemic Policy Program, which goes by the catchy, James-Bond-like acronym GP3, is gearing up for preventing disease outbreak on a global scale. The program was launched by the Scowcroft Institute of International Affairs with a conference held Sept. 15-17 that brought together top minds in the fields of public health, medicine, homeland security, veterinarian medicine, engineering, agriculture, economics, psychology, government and international diplomacy.
Topics discussed included:
A report on the World Health Organization’s mishandling of the Ebola crisis last year and its inability to deal with similar epidemics in the future.
The slaughter of millions of chickens in the Midwest to combat a new strain of avian flu and the risks of the disease jumping to humans.
The spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) to South Korea.
Disease-spreading simulations by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation that show how a highly infectious, lethal flu could kill up to 33 million people around the world in 250 days.
Based on papers presented at the three-day conference, the GP3 is preparing a set of major policy recommendations directed at governments and health organizations worldwide, including a plan for reforming pandemic surveillance and response systems.
A Hotbed of Pandemic Experts
The conventional wisdom is that it’s not a matter of “if” a virulent pandemic is going to break out, but a matter of “when.” According to these experts, the world is woefully ill-prepared. The 7-year-old Scowcroft Institute, the international research arm of The Bush School of Government and Public Service, considers the GP3 its signature initiative, with the goal of becoming one of the leading centers for developing strategies to meet the threat.
(This is only one of the Scowcroft Institute’s programs; see the sidebar for others.) It turns out that Texas A&M is the ideal place for such a program, since it has a unique combination of expertise and policy research to make effective recommendations on national and international levels.
“I don’t think there’s any other university in the country that has all of the facilities necessary to develop solid policy,” said Andrew Natsios, director of the Scowcroft Institute. “We have world-class programs in veterinary medicine, agriculture, engineering and the health sciences.” Experts in these disciplines already have experience working together through the Texas A&M “One Health” initiative, a multidisciplinary program to promote sustainable health for the ecosystem. “We have a vaccine manufacturing center that can make 50 million vaccines in four months, one of only three in the United States,” Natsios continued. “We have experts in legal, economic and psychological aspects of a pandemic. If we have a worldwide pandemic, College Station is the place you want to be.”
Natsios’ background makes him uniquely qualified to lead the effort. A retired lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves and former state legislator, his first job in the federal government was as director of the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance for President George H.W. Bush. He went on to lead the U.S. Agency for International Development for five years, managing relief, health, development and reconstruction programs throughout the world. Don Bailey ’78 ’80, the institute’s assistant director, adds more experience as a retired Army colonel and former head of biosecurity at the Pentagon.
The GP3’s goal of preparing for a pandemic fits into the Scowcroft Institute’s mission, because any approach to a pandemic must be global. Experts agree that most pandemics arise in developing countries, which have weaker health care systems. “The best way to prevent a pandemic in the U.S. is to stop it overseas. The first line of defense should be in the developing world,” said Natsios. “You cannot build a wall around the U.S. The disease doesn’t stop at the borders, as we found out during the Ebola scare. We also know that if the pandemic is airborne, it will spread through airports.”
Jay Maddock, dean of the School of Public Health, said that if the GP3 had been up and running before the Ebola outbreak last year, it may not have spread to Texas. “It more likely would have been contained in the early days in Africa,” he said. The problem, many experts note, is that much of the international Ebola response was on the fly. “That’s what we’re trying to avoid,” Maddock continued. “The key is to take the expertise of the Scowcroft Institute and everyone at Texas A&M and bring the best minds in the world together when we’re not in a pandemic situation.”
GP3’s advisory board is comprised of leaders in each of these areas of Texas A&M—the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, the Health Science Center (including the College of Medicine and School of Public Health), the College of Liberal Arts and the College of Engineering. “This program takes the strengths of Texas A&M and unites them on an important problem,” said Maddock.
The best solutions will come through an integrated approach, Natsios said. “Here at The Bush School, we have social scientists, international relations and national security scholars, and international theory and development experts,” he said. “And if we’re sitting in a room designing policy by ourselves, we’re going to make mistakes and miss important aspects of the challenge. We need medical doctors with us plus public health scholars and other experts. That expertise combined with our knowledge of what’s going on in the federal government and the developing world is what’s necessary for the program to offer comprehensive, non-partisan policy.”
It Could Happen Again
Recalling the year 1918 makes any pandemic expert shiver. That’s when a strain of especially virulent influenza called the Spanish Flu killed 50 to 90 million people, roughly 5 percent of the global population. Fortunately, the world has not seen such a disease-related casualty count since then. Other possible pandemics, including the 2009 outbreak of N1H1, which infected over 1 billion people, were not as lethal as feared. “We’ve dodged a couple of bullets,” said Maddock.
But experts maintain that conditions are ripe for a pandemic that exceeds the destruction of 1918. Many diseases that prove most threatening start in animals and spread to humans. Birds are a common source. Ebola is thought to have originated in bats. MERS could possibly be spread through camel’s milk. With the increase in living standards worldwide, more people are eating meat, which means more animals are kept as livestock. This amplifies opportunities for exposure to zoonotic (animal to human) infections, especially in developing countries, where people live in closer contact with animals. “We have people at our veterinary school that look at these types of diseases,” said Natsios. “Right now, politicians in Washington are not focusing on veterinary schools and their expertise on zoonotic diseases. But they should be.”
Andrew Natsios (left) and Col. Don Bailey ’78 ’80 (right) are striving to make the Scowcroft Institute a world leader in combating global pandemics.
Also problematic is a rapid rise in population and increasing urbanization. Today, 54 percent of the global population is concentrated in cities, versus less than 18 percent in the middle of the 20th century. “Public health risks are much greater in urban areas where people are living close together,” Natsios explained. This is particularly the case in megacities in the developing world where high concentrations of people don’t have reliable water supplies, clean air or proper sewage disposal.
Next, factor in greater mobility. People are 50 times more likely to cross international borders today than they were 100 years ago, according to the Gates Foundation. Air travel is a scarily effective way to spread airborne germs as people are crammed into a small, enclosed tube and then dispersed around the world. This is why the Gates Foundation’s simulations of disease transmission show a highly contagious infection crisscrossing continents within weeks.
Political issues also aid in the spread of pandemics. The leaders of many countries don’t want to tell the world about a disease outbreak for fear of hurting their economy or tourism. This happened with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome outbreak that originated in China in 2003. “The Chinese were very quiet about it,” Maddock said. “We learned that the sooner we can get a global response and awareness, the fewer casualties. The more it stays within a country and people don’t know about it, the worse it gets, and eventually it spirals out of control.”
A social issue was at the heart of the Ebola spread in West Africa last year—the tradition of burying the dead that included touching the bodies. “Once people learned through mass media campaigns to stop this funeral custom, the disease was brought under control,” Natsios said, emphasizing that clear, factual communication—free of misinformation—is key to managing an outbreak and avoiding a panic.
Natsios notes that many institutions responsible for disease control are hampered by political or territorial battles. The GP3 is a neutral body with the sole focus of recommending policy—and, Bailey added, “increasing Texas A&M’s visibility.” | <urn:uuid:f2f90911-30a3-4188-97b2-8ff028af3271> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://spirit.txamfoundation.com/Fall-2015/Global-Footprint.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510427.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20230928162907-20230928192907-00056.warc.gz | en | 0.950698 | 2,076 | 2.890625 | 3 |
So we all know that Band Aid was originally intended for everyday scrapes, paper cuts, skinned knees, etc. That is what they are advertised for and designed for. Since the start of Band Aid sales, however, there have been many other uses for them besides simply cover a wound and keeping it clean.
One example would be using Band Aids to cover zits. As shown in the Grey’s Anatomy clip above (about 45 seconds in) the character Meredith has a zit. Of course she has to look better than the woman her boyfriend left her for (the redhead in the video) so she covers it with a Band Aid. I’ve seen this done in real life also. It just shows people would rather have a printed piece of nylon/latex stuck to their face, arm, back, chest, WHEREVER, than to show an imperfection.
I guess if you look at the bigger picture Band Aids were invented for people to cover up “imperfections” of their skin.
The hip hop artist Nelly wore a Band Aid for the longest time. It wasn’t covering any imperfections, but instead it was symbolic. He wore it as a “shout out” to a friend in jail. Band Aids are so versatile… | <urn:uuid:00cfd3d5-7c90-4ed4-911d-adc91d90b4e5> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | https://draperga.wordpress.com/tag/nelly/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934807089.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20171124051000-20171124071000-00031.warc.gz | en | 0.973378 | 271 | 2.84375 | 3 |
Archaeology of the Americas
The archaeology of the Americas is the study of the archaeology of North America (Mesoamerica included), Central America, South America and the Caribbean. This includes the study of pre-historic/Pre-Columbian and historic indigenous American peoples, as well as historical archaeology of more recent eras.
Archaeological time periods
The archaeological record in the Americas is conventionally divided into five phases according to an enduring system established in Gordon Willey and Philip Phillips' 1958 book Method and Theory in American Archaeology. This contrasts from old world prehistory where the terms Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic, Chalcolithic and Bronze Age are generally used.
Since these simplistic periods were defined, numerous regional and sub-regional divisions have been defined to distinguish various cultures through time and space. Later archaeologists recognized that these linear stages did not adequately correspond to the cultural variation that existed in different locations in the Americas. Although the Formative/Classic/Post-Classic distinction is still used in the archaeology of Mesoamerican chronology, the divisions have been replaced in most of North America by more local classifications with a more elaborated breakdown of periods of time. See: List of archaeological periods (North America)
- Defined initially as a big-game hunting adaptation. In most places, this can be dated to before 8000 BC. Examples include the Clovis culture and Folsom tradition groups.
- The Archaic stage
- Defined as cultures relying primarily on increasing intensive collecting of wild resources, after the decline of the big-game hunting lifestyle. Typically Archaic cultures can be dated from 8000 BC to 1000 BC. Examples include the Archaic Southwest, the Arctic small tool tradition, the Poverty Point culture, and the Chan-Chan culture in southern Chile.
- The Formative stage
- Defined as "village agriculture" based. Most of these can be dated from 1000 BC to AD 500. Examples include the Dorset culture, Zapotec civilization, Mimbres culture, Olmec, Woodland and Mississippian cultures.
- The Classic stage
- Defined as "early civilizations," and typically dating from AD 500 to 1200. Willey and Phillips considered only cultures from Mesoamerica and Peru to have achieved this level of complexity. Examples include the early Maya and the Toltec.
- Defined as "later prehispanic civilizations" and typically dated from AD 1200 onward. The late Maya and the Aztec cultures were Post-Classic.
Archaeology in the United States
Since 1990, in the United States, physical anthropology and archaeological investigations based on the study of human remains are complicated by the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act, (NAGPRA), which provides for the bodies of Native Americans and associated grave goods to be turned over to the recognized tribal body most legally affiliated with the remains. In some cases, notably, that of Kennewick Man, these laws have been subject to close judicial scrutiny and great intellectual conflict.
Archaeology in Mesoamerica
Mesoamerica or Meso-America (Spanish: Mesoamérica) is a region and cultural area in the Americas, extending approximately from central Mexico to Honduras and Nicaragua, within which a number of pre-Columbian societies flourished before the Spanish colonization of the Americas in the 15th and 16th centuries. Prehistoric groups in this area are characterized by agricultural villages and large ceremonial and politico-religious capitals This culture area included some of the most complex and advanced cultures of the Americas, including the Olmec, Teotihuacan, the Maya, and the Aztec.
Humans entering the Americas
Settlement of the Americas address the central question of when and how humans reached the Americas. The earliest definite human peoples visible in the archaeological record throughout the Americas are today known as the Paleo-Indians.
The Pre-Columbian era incorporates all period subdivisions in the history of the Americas before the appearance of significant European influences on the Americas, spanning the time from the original migration to the New World in the Upper Paleolithic up to the European colonization of the Americas during the Early modern period.
While technically referring to the era before Christopher Columbus's voyages of 1492 to 1504, in practice the term usually includes the history of American indigenous cultures until they were conquered or significantly influenced by Europeans, even if this happened decades or even centuries after Columbus' initial landing.
Molecular genetics study suggests that surviving Amerindian populations derived from a theoretical single founding population, possibly from only 50 to 70 genetic contributors Preliminary research, restricted to only 9 genomic regions (or loci) have shown a genetic link between original Americas and Asia populations. The study does not address the question of separate migrations for these groups, and excludes other DNA data-sets.
The American Journal of Human Genetics released an article in 2007 stating "Here we show, by using 86 complete mitochondrial genomes, that all Indigenous American haplogroups, including Haplogroup X (mtDNA), were part of a single founding population." Amerindian groups in the Bering Strait region exhibit perhaps the strongest DNA or mitochondrial DNA relations to Siberian peoples. The genetic diversity of Amerindian indigenous groups increase with distance from the assumed entry point into the Americas. Certain genetic diversity patterns from West to East suggest at least some coastal migration events. Geneticists have variously estimated that peoples of Asia and the Americas were part of the same population from 42,000 to 21,000 years ago.
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Archaeology of the Americas.|
- "Method and Theory in American Archaeology" (Digitised online by Questia Media). Gordon Willey and Philip Phillips. University of Chicago. 1958. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
- Bones, Discovering the First Americans Elaine Dewar, Carroll & Graf Publishers, New York, 2002, ISBN 0-7867-0979-0
- "Meso-America." Oxford English Reference Dictionary, 2nd ed. (rev.) 2002. (ISBN 0-19-860652-4) Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press; p. 906.
- (2000): Atlas del México Prehispánico. Revista Arqueología mexicana. Número especial 5. Julio de 2000. Raíces/ Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia. México.
- http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/onlinebks/hohokam/Glossary.htm The University of Arizona
- Forgotten Civilizations of Meso-America
- Hey, J (2005). "On the Number of New World Founders: A Population Genetic Portrait of the Peopling of the Americas". PLoS Biology (PubMed Central (PMC) is the U.S. National Institutes of Health) 3 (6): e193. doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.0030193. PMC 1131883. PMID 15898833.
- "Nomenclature for Incompletely Specified Bases in Nucleic Acid Sequences". NC-IUB. 1984. Retrieved 2009-11-19.
- "First Americans". Southern Methodist University-David J. Meltzer, B.A., M.A., Ph.D. Retrieved 2009-11-17.
- "The peopling of the Americas: Genetic ancestry influences health". Scientific American. Retrieved 2009-11-22.
- "First Americans Endured 20,000-Year Layover - Jennifer Viegas, Discovery News". Retrieved 2009-11-18
- "Genetic Variation and Population Structure in Native Americans". PLoS Genetics. 2007. p. 3(11). Retrieved 2009-11-18.
- Fagundes, Nelson J.R.; Ricardo Kanitz, Roberta Eckert, Ana C.S. Valls, Mauricio R. Bogo, Francisco M. Salzano, David Glenn Smith, Wilson A. Silva, Marco A. Zago, Andrea K. Ribeiro-dos-Santos, Sidney E.B. Santos, Maria Luiza Petzl-Erler, and Sandro L.Bonatto (2008). "Mitochondrial Population Genomics Supports a Single Pre-Clovis Origin with a Coastal Route for the Peopling of the Americas" (pdf). American Journal of Human Genetics 82 (3): 583–592. doi:10.1016/j.ajhg.2007.11.013. PMC 2427228. PMID 18313026. Retrieved 2009-11-19. | <urn:uuid:677a7ccc-b5b1-40bc-a496-1d2e115f33db> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeology_of_the_Americas | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1393999653402/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305060733-00013-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.855093 | 1,809 | 3.625 | 4 |
Trees or shrubs, erect to trailing, usually many branched, sometimes forming clumps or mats; trunk, when present, initially segmented, appearing continuous with age, main axis determinate, usually terete. Stem segments green or sometimes reddish to purple, usually flattened, circular, elliptic, ovate, lanceolate, or obovate to oblanceolate, 2-60(-120) × 1.2-40 cm, nearly smooth to tuberculate, glabrous or pubescent; areoles usually elliptic, circular, or obovate, 3-8(-10) × 1-7(-10) mm; wool white, gray, or tan to brown, aging white or gray to black. Spines 0-15+ per areole, white, yellow to brown, red-brown to gray, or black, sometimes partly to wholly white chalky (chalkiness disappearing when wet), aging gray to dark brown to black, with epidermis intact, not sheathed, acicular to subulate, sometimes setose or with hairlike bristles, terete to angular-flattened, to 75(-170) mm, tips sometimes paler or yellow. Glochids in adaxial crescent at margin of areole, in tuft or encircling areole margin, white to yellow to brown, or red-brown, aging white to brown or red-brown. Flowers bisexual or sometimes functionally staminate, radially symmetric; outer tepals green to yellow with margins tinged color of inner tepals; inner tepals pale yellow to orange, pink to red or magenta, rarely white (unicolored) or with base of a different color (bicolored), oblong to spatulate, emarginate-apiculate; nectar chamber simple, open, not covered by proximal thickening style. Pollen yellow, grains reticulate or foveolate (opuntioid type). Fruits sometimes proliferating (sprouting from another fruit), if fleshy, green, yellow, or red to purple or, if dry, tan to gray, straight, sometimes stipitate, clavate to cylindric, ovoid, or obovoid to subspheric, 10-120 × 8-120 mm, fleshy to juicy or dry, smooth or tuberculate, spineless or spiny, sometimes burlike. Seeds pale yellow to tan or gray, generally circular to reniform, flattened (discoid) to subspheric, angular to squarish, sometimes warped, 2-7 × 2-7 mm, glabrous, commonly bearing 1-4 large, shallow depressions due to pressures from adjacent developing seeds; girdle protruding 0.3-3.5 mm, forming ridge or flat wing, or not protruding. x = 11. Many taxa are cultivated for ornamental plants, food, and animal fodder. Some species of Opuntia become obnoxious weeds; some species have been planted in Africa for stabilization of sand dunes. Three species have been reported (L. D. Benson 1982) as escaped from cultivation: Opuntia leucotricha de Candolle, O. tomentosa Salm-Dyck, and O. monacantha (Willdenow) Haworth (as O. vulgaris). No extant populations are known in the flora.
Many interspecific hybrids are known and have been named; only five are fully treated here; two other named hybrids recognized by the author are briefly described and cross-referenced under putative parent taxa.
PLANT: Trees or shrubs, erect, decumbent to trailing, much branched, the branches segmented. STEM SEGMENTS: (pads), of varied lengths and widths, strongly flattened or, in a few species, subcylindric to subspheric, bearing small, ephemeral, fleshy, conic, leaves. AREOLES bearing glochids and a dense wool. SPINES: with epidermis intact, not sheathing; major spines flattened to cylindric. FLOWERS: borne singly in areole; inner tepals pale yellow to orange, pink to red or magenta, rarely white, OR with bases of a different color, oblong to spatulate, emarginate-apiculate; outer tepals green to yellow with margins tinged color of inner tepals; stamens thigmotropic. POLLEN GRAINS: with reticulate ornamentation. FRUITS: fleshy to juicy (bleeding) and green, yellow or red to purple or dry and tan to gray, clavate to cylindric to subspheric, spineless or spiny, bearing on top an umbilicus (a large, usually depressed scar left from abscised flower parts). SEEDS: glabrous, pale yellow to tan to gray, 3-10 mm long, generally circular to reniform, flattened (discoid) to subspheric, angular to squarish, sometimes warped, commonly bearing 1-4 large, shallow depressions due to pressures from adjacent developing seeds, the girdle (midvein of funiculus which envelopes seed) smooth to protruding, ridged to strongly winged. NOTES: About 180 species (14 in the flora); Canada to southern Argentina, West Indies, Galápagos Islands. Many introduced to the Old World; many cultivated. (Origin of “opuntia” uncertain; presumably based on name of Greek town, Opus, perhaps, where a cactus-like plant grew). REFERENCES: Pinkava, Donald J. Cactaceae. 2003. J. Ariz. - Nev. Acad. Sci. Volume 35(2).
Stems branched and jointed, the joints cylindric to flattened; spines and glochids arising from the areoles, or the plants virtually spineless; fls borne within the areoles near the tips of joints of the previous year; pet and sep rotate from the summit of the scarcely prolonged hypanthium; stamens shorter than the pet; seeds wingless. 150+, New World.
Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.
©The New York Botanical Garden. All rights reserved. Used by permission. | <urn:uuid:ca1a467d-5bb7-449d-a2a4-e25fc1a248d3> | CC-MAIN-2017-30 | http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/taxa/index.php?taxon=Opuntia | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549426050.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20170726062224-20170726082224-00025.warc.gz | en | 0.857364 | 1,363 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Created by Updated on Jun 29, 2015
helo i hv started abacus class for my son.. does it really improve mathematics skill..
| Jun 29, 2015
Abacus is a really good thing for kids if they practice it daily. Without practicing daily, it does not give good results. Make sure your child practices daily and does HW daily rather than just before the abacus class, Also abacus learning is best if your son does it till the end, leaving the course in between not only results in wastage of your money but also your child's time. Ask your child if he really have interest in it. If he does have then abacus is good and it will surely improve calculations skills. :)
| Jun 29, 2015
Hi @foziya, As simran said Abacus helps in doing the arithmetic calculations faster. but only calculations. It doesn't teach mathematical skills. I hope you agree that math is not just about numbers and arithmetic calculations. Abacus doesn't deal with logical reasoning, spatial relationship, patterns, geometry, probability, statistics or even mathematical reasoning or mathematical thinking to think through the problem to solve the problem. Faster calculation is required to certain extent. But focusing more on the other aspects of math helps in understanding complex mathematical concepts at later stage. From my perspective, I don't see any added advantage in abacus. But as long as your child doesn't feel the extra pressure in attending Abacus class, there is no harm in learning it either.
| Jan 26, 2017
since abacus learning requires daily practice, no worksheet method can help. best way to learn it is given below. my daughter could do it effortlessly. http://abacusclassesonline.com/online-abacus-classes.php | <urn:uuid:67b991ec-7aa8-476d-b152-816c233ac1ea> | CC-MAIN-2020-34 | https://www.parentune.com/parent-talk/abacus-class/1884 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-34/segments/1596439738878.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20200812053726-20200812083726-00373.warc.gz | en | 0.950613 | 359 | 2.6875 | 3 |
.otf – OpenType file.
.ttf – TrueType file.
Ascender – The portion of a letter that extends above the x-height or mean line of a font. For example, the line of a lowercase b or the top of a lowercase t.
Contextual Alternates - Alternate letters that are substituted depending on what letter comes before or after the targeted letter for substitution. This allows for better script joining behavior, avoiding awkward letter combinations, creating a more natural looking effect, and sometimes for stylistic purposes.
Descender – The portion of a letter that extends below the x-height or baseline of a font. For example, the lower part of a lowercase letter g or p.
Diacritic – A mark added to a letter that changes the pronunciation. Some examples of diacritics are: acute, breve, and cedilla.
Font – A font is a particular style of a typeface. For example, Samantha Upright is a font, while Samantha is the typeface. Font and typeface are sometimes used interchangeably.
Glyph – A single character, symbol, punctuation, or ornament within a font.
Leading – The space between lines of type.
License - A font license is an agreement that gives you the right to use the font in a specific manner. There are three types of user licenses: A one-user, multi-user and an extended license.
Ligature - A ligature is two or more letters that are joined as a single glyph. Common examples are æ and œ.
Live type - Text that you can copy and paste, not a picture of text.
OpenType® – OpenType is a format for scalable fonts. In addition to TrueType’s basic structure, OpenType add additional options that enhance the typographic and language support capabilities.
Swash – A typographical flourish on a glyph, sometimes known as “that extra fancy bit.”
Tittle – The dot on the letter “i.” Honest, it’s really called that!
TrueType – TrueType is one of the most commonly used outline font formats.
Typeface – The complete collection of font styles. For example, the Spumante typeface includes the fonts: Spumante, Spumante Bold, Spumante Regular plus Shadow, and Spumante Shadow. Typeface and font are sometimes used interchangeably.
x-height – The height of the letter “x” in a font.
Check out this amazing glossary of type terms from Canva | <urn:uuid:743c7ec5-a4f2-4481-8bf5-4b3a45038cfc> | CC-MAIN-2020-29 | https://lauraworthingtondesign.com/support/resources/definition-of-terms-used | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593657176116.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20200715230447-20200716020447-00191.warc.gz | en | 0.82859 | 543 | 3.5625 | 4 |
When one is feeling let down or disappointed because a promise has been broken or an understanding forsaken, one often prefers to keep quiet about it for fear of further harming the relationship. Indeed, Crucial Confrontations are difficult for many people, but are often necessary. Failure to confront someone over bad behavior may be misinterpreted as approval. Confrontations, if done properly, can help bring people back to a better, more productive course.
The problems often involve broken rules, missed deadlines, and disregarding assignments. If we decided to step up to the issue, we frequently do it poorly and risk creating a whole new set of problems. Crucial Confrontation training teaches the skills needed to successfully face and work through issues, whether they are in the workplace or at home. A crucial confrontation is a face-to-face accountability dialogue.
Being successful at confronting requires more than just a policy; it requires a set of skills. The first step is to determine what and if. Which means that the issue that needs to be confronted, has to be so clearly identified, that it can be stated in one sentence. Along with this, an analysis of the risks of having the confrontation versus the risks of not having it is needed. Instead of assuming the worst we should ask: What is the rest of the story? Why would a reasonable person behave in this manner? Rather than assuming the worst and starting off with an attack of nasty conclusions and accusations which might turn out to be inaccurate, we should simply Describe the Gap between what happened and what was agreed upon or expected. Make it safe for the other person by sticking to the facts and by clearly describing the gap between what was expected and what was observed. Is the problem due to motivation, ability, or both? Also, has this kind of lapse happened for the first time or is it a pattern? If the incident is one of its kind, then only talk about what happened, if it has happened the second or third time then talk about the pattern that is developing and if it has happened more than that then talk about how it is affecting the relationship.
Further, we should explore all the possible sources of influence working on the person. Once the cause is determined, we should make it as easy-and as motivating as possible, to carry out the completion of the task or assignment.
Those who master crucial confrontations make sure their thoughts are in order before they put their mouths in gear:
1. They make sure they are confronting the right problems.
2. They learn to control their strong emotions by revisiting the stories that caused the problem. They make sure that the thoughts running through their heads- their facts, stories and emotions help them see the other person as a reasonable and rational person rather than a villain.
3. They withhold judgment till all the facts are out in the open.
4. They start with the facts; the least offensive and then tentatively follow in with the conclusion that they are starting to draw. Then they give the other person a chance to explain himself.
Last but not the least: Develop a plan to allow for appropriate follow-up by clarifying who does what by when and what the schedule and method of follow up is going to be.
Finally, to ensure success during the confrontation, it is important to remain focused and flexible. If new problems emerge during the confrontation, it is essential to remain flexible enough to deal with them-without getting sidetracked from the original issue | <urn:uuid:f8f31a98-92dd-498d-a456-6be55c157ae0> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | https://easyinterventions.com/crucial-confrontation-2/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875145260.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20200220162309-20200220192309-00164.warc.gz | en | 0.975701 | 706 | 3.203125 | 3 |
The Four Foundations of Mindfulness (pp.125-134)
Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening (pp. 131-139)
“And how does he in regard to dhammas abide contemplating dhammas in terms of the five hindrances? “If aversion is present in him, he knows ‘There is aversion in me’; if aversion is not present in him, he knows ‘There is no aversion in me’; and he knows how unarisen aversion can arise, how arisen aversion can be removed, and how a future arising of the removed aversion can be prevented.
The hindrances have an unwholesome effect on our minds. It is necessary to abandon them before moving on to the next dhammas. “He (the Buddha) said that when attended to carelessly, “these five hindrances are makers of blindness, causing lack of vision, causing lack of knowledge, detrimental to wisdom, tending to vexation, leading away from nibbāna.” But when we attend to these states carefully, we learn to see into their empty, transparent nature and no longer get so caught up in their seductive power. They then become the focus of our mindfulness and the very vehicle of our awakening.” Goldstein, Joseph. Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening
The hindrances are phenomena that obscure our perception. The Buddha used the following simile to describe how each hindrance obscures the mind:
There is a pool of clear water that reflects our image.
When sense desire is present in the mind, it is as if the pool were suffused with a colored dye.
Desires color our perceptions.
When aversion is present, it is like boiling water. We can’t see clearly.
When we’re heated up by anger, we’re in a state of turbulence.
Sloth and torpor are like the pool overgrown with algae.
There is a stagnation of mind that prevents us from seeing clearly.
Restlessness and worry are like water when it is stirred up by the wind.
The mind is tossed about by agitation.
And doubt is like muddy water, where we can’t see to the bottom,
and everything is obscured.
–SN 46.55 Sangaravo Sutta
As the Buddha noted, there are three contemplations for each hindrance:
- Know when a hindrance is present or absent,
- Know the conditions leading to the arising and removal of a hindrance, and
- Know the conditions that prevent future arisings of a hindrance.
The Pali word for aversion Is patigha which means “striking against” Bhikkhu Bodhi notes it as the attitude of resistance, rejection or destruction. These condemning states can include violent rage and hatred, anger, ill will, animosity, annoyance, irritation, fear, sorrow and grief.
“The Swiss psychologist C. G. Jung expressed both the potential and difficulty of this process: “One does not become enlightened by imagining figures of light, but by making the darkness conscious. The latter procedure, however, is disagreeable and therefore not popular.” Goldstein, Joseph. Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening
Conditions that lead to the arising of aversion
There is a saying, “Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional.” When physical pain occurs, rather than just be with it, we add our conditioned reactions of dislike, fear, discouragement, contraction, frustration, impatience and so on. And we suffer.
“As with pain, when an unpleasant thought arises, we add our conditioned reactions often in the form of emotions (fear, anger, and so on). It is revealing to notice the intimate relationship of thought and emotion. One often sparks the other, causing a chain reaction of mental proliferation. A certain thought arises, and if we’re not mindful of it as a thought, an emotion might quickly follow. The reverse can be true as well, with various emotions, including the hindrances, sometimes causing a flood of thoughts. But seeing this conditioned interrelationship over and over again helps to weaken our identification with what is arising, and we understand on deeper levels the conditioned nature of the hindrances and other mind states. We no longer take them so personally. The Buddha gave some specific examples of this conditioning. In one sutta, he talked of how ill will and malice are stirred by thinking that someone in the past (or present or future) has done us an injury, or has injured a loved one, or has done favors for an enemy (someone we don’t like). We should examine our own minds to see if, indeed, these are the types of thoughts that lead to ill will.” Goldstein, Joseph. Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening
We have reactions when we get into situations we dislike. This triggers unpleasant thoughts and emotions, just as with pain.
When difficulties arise that are out of our control, such as getting caught in traffic or being delayed on an airplane flight, we often personalize the situation and see ourselves as the victim as it if were a personal affront. We lose perspective on the reality (what is) that the difficulty just happened and is affecting others as well.
What do all of these conditions have in common? The Buddha noted that aversion arises because we don’t get what we want or we do get what we don’t want. Or we fear that we won’t get what we want in the future or that we will get what we don’t want in the future. We want life to be other than it is.
Conditions that lead to the removal of aversion
As with all of the hindrances, being aware that the hindrance is present is the first and most direct approach. Analayo states, “By turning a hindrance into an object of meditation, the mere presence of awareness can often lead to dispelling the hindrance in question.” (Analayo, p. 193) Persistence is required in “paying attention moment to moment.” Being mindful also includes the realization that all phenomena are impermanent, unable to provide lasting satisfaction and of selfless nature. If bare awareness does not work, then other methods as noted below should be tried.
When the aversion is of our “self”, practicing self-compassion can be beneficial. The four step process includes mindfulness, investigation, loving kindness and connectedness (realizing that this is a common experience).
Knowing the relationship of mind to emotion
When aversion arises, we need to make sure that we are being mindful of it rather than allowing mental proliferation to increase its intensity. This means being mindful to see if we are adding judgements and commentary to our bare awareness. If the aversion intensifies, look to see what is feeding it. Are you being caught in the trance of aversion?
As with desire, we can fall into the trap of thinking that the aversion is ours and that we are justified in holding on to it. What we don’t realize in the heat of the moment is that that our aversion is only causing us suffering and not to those with whom we are angry. We have created a “self” that feels justified and right. Realizing that aversion is just another selfless phenomenon that arises and falls away can be beneficial in removing it.
Thinking about something else
If the above methods aren’t working, it is time to try thinking about something else. This will give a brief respite. The aversion may weaken enough that another application of mindfulness will succeed in removal.
Conditions preventing aversion
The ultimate preventative measure for aversion is practicing loving kindness (metta in Pali). This practice of generosity wishes that all beings be happy and peaceful. This act focuses on the potential good rather than the faults.
“It’s important to realize that all aversion does not fall away with our first loving wish. The Bodhisattva spent years, and whole lifetimes, cultivating and purifying this quality. But as we practice it, recognize it, and become more familiar with it, mettā begins to arise more and more spontaneously in our lives. It becomes the way we are, rather than something we do. As lovingkindness grows stronger, both for ourselves and others, we feel more tolerance, are a little less judgmental, and slowly and gradually start to live in a growing field of benevolence and goodwill. Here is where mettā as a dissolver of aversion also becomes the ground for wisdom. The more loving and patient we are with difficulties and disturbances, the less lost we are in reactivity. Our choices and actions become wiser, which in turn leads to more happiness, more mettā, and greater freedom.” Goldstein, Joseph. Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening
- Reread this talk and reflect on it.
- Observe the arising of aversion in your life, when it is present or absent, the conditions that cause it to arise and the conditions that cause it to fall away. Practice mindful prevention. Can you experience when strong aversion hinders your present mindfulness?
- Meditate using the mindfulness of the breath technique and focus your insight meditation on states of mind. | <urn:uuid:f602f75b-859b-4223-a0c8-dad5d0eff3b9> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | https://www.whitehallmeditation.org/satipatthana_sutta/ffm14/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875144150.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20200219122958-20200219152958-00158.warc.gz | en | 0.94173 | 1,945 | 2.625 | 3 |
Astronomy, seems a small word. But this is an word which contains the universe. It is so, I called it seems a small word in the first sentence. Astronomy is beautiful science, it is the thing which attracts everyone. If you think about the solar system, galaxy to the UFO's everything are very interesting. So, I culled these images to make a beautiful post of the beautiful science.
There are sites which releases many of the Images from the space every year, So it is difficult task to choose fifty Images from one year. But I had collected some of the Images which are best in year 2008. Enjoy the images. Here I had inserted the original image link to provide high resolution images. Click on the images and get the high Resolution Images.
Here is a Aurora which is surprising, possibly more surprising. In this image, It is captured from North Dakota, USA, a picket fence of green rays stretches toward the horizon.
It is a larger Galaxy which names NGC 5195, It has spiral arms and dust. It is 31 million light-years away from here.
It is young star cluster Westerlund 2 which sorrounds Dusty stellar nursery RCW 49 in space beyond the visible light spectrum. It is available by the Infrared data from the Spitzer Space Telescope. It is 2 million years old.
In the image these two galaxies are pulling each other apart. They are near about to collide, in the space galaxies collide again ans again until they coalesce. This image is taken by Hubble Telescope. Its name is NGC 4676, it is 300 million light-years away.
In the setup for the words largest experiment Europe's CERN has built the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), It is a powerful particle accelerator developed by humans.
Here a remarkeble play of sun, moon and shadows may be seen. It is time of evening in one direction sun is setting and in other direction moon is rising.
The striking spiral galaxy M104 is famous for its nearly edge-on profile featuring a broad ring of obscuring dust. Seen in silhouette against a bright bulge of stars, the swath of cosmic dust lanes lends a hat-like appearance to the galaxy in optical images suggesting the more popular moniker, The Sombrero Galaxy. Here, Hubble Space Telescope archival image data has been reprocessed to create this alternative look at the well-known galaxy. The newly developed processing improves the visibility of details otherwise lost in overwhelming glare, in this case allowing features of the galaxy's dust lanes to be followed well into the bright central region. About 50,000 light-years across and 28 million light-years away, M104 is one of the largest galaxies at the southern edge of the Virgo Galaxy Cluster.
How do stars form? To better understand this complex and chaotic process, astronomers used the Hubble Space Telescope to image in unprecedented detail the star forming region LH 95 in the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy. Usually only the brightest, bluest, most massive stars in a star forming region are visible, but the above image was taken in such high resolution and in such specific colors that many recently formed stars that are more yellow, more dim, and less massive are also discernable. Also visible in the above scientifically colored image is a blue sheen of diffuse hydrogen gas heated by the young stars, and dark dust created by stars or during supernova explosions. Studying the locations and abundances of lower mass stars in star forming regions and around molecular clouds helps uncover what conditions were present when they formed. LH 95 spans about 150 light years and lies about 160,000 light years away toward the southern constellation of the Swordfish.
An eerie blue glow and ominous columns of dark dust highlight M78 and other bright reflection nebula in the constellation of Orion. The dark filamentary dust not only absorbs light, but also reflects the light of several bright blue stars that formed recently in the nebula. Of the two reflection nebulas pictured above, the more famous nebula is M78, on the upper right, while NGC 2071 can be seen to its lower left. The same type of scattering that colors the daytime sky further enhances the blue color. M78 is about five light-years across and visible through a small telescope. M78 appears above only as it was 1600 years ago, however, because that is how long it takes light to go from there to here. M78 belongs to the larger Orion Molecular Cloud Complex that contains the Great Nebula in Orion and the Horsehead Nebula.
This moon is doomed. Mars, the red planet named for the Roman god of war, has two tiny moons, Phobos and Deimos, whose names are derived from the Greek for Fear and Panic. These martian moons may well be captured asteroids originating in the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter or perhaps from even more distant reaches of the Solar System. The larger moon, Phobos, is indeed seen to be a cratered, asteroid-like object in this stunning color image from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, recorded at a resolution of about seven meters per pixel. But Phobos orbits so close to Mars - about 5,800 kilometers above the surface compared to 400,000 kilometers for our Moon - that gravitational tidal forces are dragging it down. In 100 million years or so Phobos will likely be shattered by stress caused by the relentless tidal forces, the debris forming a decaying ring around Mars.
This sky is protected. On the day of NASA 50 year anniversary of the first lighting ordinance ever enacted, which restricted searchlight advertisements from sweeping the night skies above Flagstaff, Arizona, USA. Flagstaff now enjoys the status of being the first International Dark Sky City, and maintains a lighting code that limits lights from polluting this majestic nighttime view. The current dark skies over Flagstaff not only enable local astronomers to decode the universe but allow local sky enthusiasts to see and enjoy a tapestry contemplated previously by every human generation. The above image, pointing just east of north, was taken from Fort Valley, only 10 kilometers from central Flagstaff. Visible in the above spectacular panorama are the San Francisco Peaks caped by a lenticular cloud. Far in the distance, the plane of the Milky Way Galaxy arcs diagonally from the lower left to the upper right, highlighted by the constellations of Cassiopeia, Cepheus, and Cygnus. On the far right, the North America Nebula is visible just under the very bright star Deneb.
Gripped by an astronomical spring fever, many northern hemisphere stargazers embark on a Messier Marathon. Completing the marathon requires viewing all 110 objects in 18th century French astronomer Charles Messier's catalog in one glorious dusk-to-dawn observing run.
Dark shapes with bright edges winging their way through dusty NGC 6188 are tens of light-years long. The emission nebula is found near the edge of an otherwise dark large molecular cloud in the southern constellation Ara, about 4,000 light-years away. Formed in that region only a few million years ago, the massive young stars of the embedded Ara OB1 association sculpt the fantastic shapes and power the nebular glow with stellar winds and intense ultraviolet radiation. The recent star formation itself was likely triggered by winds and supernova explosions, from previous generations of massive stars, that swept up and compressed the molecular gas. A false-color Hubble palette was used to create the this gorgeous wide-field image and shows emission from sulfur, hydrogen, and oxygen atoms in red, green, and blue hues. At the estimated distance of NGC 6188, the picture spans about 300 light-years.
Galaxies don't normally look like this. NGC 3256 actually shows a current picture of two galaxies that are slowly colliding. Quite possibly, in hundreds of millions of years, only one galaxy will remain. Today, however, NGC 3256 shows intricate filaments of dark dust, unusual tidal tails of stars, and a peculiar center that contains two distinct nuclei. Although it is likely that no stars in the two galaxies will directly collide, the gas, dust, and ambient magnetic fields do interact directly. NGC 3256, part of the vast Hydra-Centaurus supercluster of galaxies, spans over 100 thousand light-years across and is located about 100 million light-years away.
In silhouette against a crowded star field toward the constellation Scorpius, this dusty cosmic cloud evokes for some the image of an ominous dark tower. In fact, clumps of dust and molecular gas collapsing to form stars may well lurk within the dark nebula, a structure that spans almost 40 light-years across the gorgeous telescopic view. Known as a cometary globule, the swept-back cloud, extending from the upper right to the head (top of the tower) left and below center, is shaped by intense ultraviolet radiation from the OB association of very hot stars in NGC 6231, off the left edge of the scene. That energetic ultraviolet light also powers the globule's bordering reddish glow of hydrogen gas. Hot stars embedded in the dust can be seen as small bluish reflection nebulae. This dark tower, NGC 6231, and associated nebulae are about 5,000 light-years away.
Dark dust lanes cut across the middle of this gorgeous island universe, a strong hint that NGC 3628 is a spiral galaxy seen sideways. About 35 million light-years away in the northern springtime constellation Leo, NGC 3628 also bears the distinction of being the only member of the well known Leo triplet of galaxies not in Charles Messier's famous catalog. Otherwise similar in size to our Milky Way Galaxy, the disk of NGC 3628 is clearly seen to fan out near the edges. A faint arm of material also extends to the left in this sharp and deep view of the region. The distorted shape and faint tidal tail suggest that NGC 3628 is interacting gravitationally with the other spiral galaxies in the Leo triplet, M66 and M65.
Where did the gold in your jewelry originate? No one is completely sure. The relative average abundance in our Solar System appears higher than can be made in the early universe, in stars, and even in typical supernova explosions. Some astronomers have recently suggested that neutron-rich heavy elements such as gold might be most easily made in rare neutron-rich explosions such as the collision of neutron stars. Pictured above is an artist's illustration depicting two neutron stars spiraling in toward each other, just before they collide. Since neutron star collisions are also suggested as the origin of short duration gamma-ray bursts, it is possible that you already own a souvenir from one of the most powerful explosions in the universe.
Almost every object in the above photograph is a galaxy. The Coma Cluster of Galaxies pictured above is one of the densest clusters known - it contains thousands of galaxies. Each of these galaxies houses billions of stars - just as our own Milky Way Galaxy does. Although nearby when compared to most other clusters, light from the Coma Cluster still takes hundreds of millions of years to reach us. In fact, the Coma Cluster is so big it takes light millions of years just to go from one side to the other! The above mosaic of images of a small portion of Coma was taken in unprecedented detail by the Hubble Space Telescope to investigate how galaxies in rich clusters form and evolve. Most galaxies in Coma and other clusters are ellipticals, although some imaged here are clearly spirals. The spiral galaxy on the upper left of the above image can also be found as one of the bluer galaxies on the upper left of this wider field image. In the background thousands of unrelated galaxies are visible far across the universe.
How did the star Eta Carinae create this unusual nebula? No one knows for sure. About 165 years ago, the southern star Eta Carinae mysteriously became the second brightest star in the night sky. In 20 years, after ejecting more mass than our Sun, Eta Car unexpectedly faded. This outburst appears to have created the Homunculus Nebula, pictured above in a composite image from the Hubble Space Telescope taken last decade. Visible in the above image center is purple-tinted light reflected from the violent star Eta Carinae itself. Surrounding this star are expanding lobes of gas laced with filaments of dark dust. Jets bisect the lobes emanating from the central star. Surrounding these lobes are red-tinted debris captured only by its glow in a narrow band of red light. This debris is expanding most quickly of all, and includes streaming whiskers and bow shocks caused by collisions with previously existing material. Eta Car still undergoes unexpected outbursts, and its high mass and volatility make it a candidate to explode in a spectacular supernova sometime in the next few million years.
Wisps like this are all that remain visible of a Milky Way star. About 7,500 years ago that star exploded in a supernova leaving the Veil Nebula, also known as the Cygnus Loop. At the time, the expanding cloud was likely as bright as a crescent Moon, remaining visible for weeks to people living at the dawn of recorded history. Today, the resulting supernova remnant has faded and is now visible only through a small telescope directed toward the constellation of Cygnus. The remaining Veil Nebula is physically huge, however, and even though it lies about 1,400 light-years distant, it covers over five times the size of the full Moon. In images of the complete Veil Nebula, studious readers should be able to identify the Pickering's Triangle component pictured above, a component named for a famous astronomer and the wisp's approximate shape. The above image is a mosaic from the 4-meter Mayall telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory located in Arizona, USA.
A new star, likely the brightest supernova in recorded human history, lit up planet Earth's sky in the year 1006 AD. The expanding debris cloud from the stellar explosion, found in the southerly constellation of Lupus, still puts on a cosmic light show across the electromagnetic spectrum. In fact, this composite view includes X-ray data in blue from the Chandra Observatory, optical data in yellowish hues, and radio image data in red. Now known as the SN 1006 supernova remnant, the debris cloud appears to be about 60 light-years across and is understood to represent the remains of a white dwarf star. Part of a binary star system, the compact white dwarf gradually captured material from its companion star. The buildup in mass finally triggered a thermonuclear explosion that destroyed the dwarf star. Because the distance to the supernova remnant is about 7,000 light-years, that explosion actually happened 7,000 years before the light reached Earth in 1006. Shockwaves in the remnant accelerate particles to extreme energies and are thought to be a source of the mysterious cosmic rays.
This beautiful cosmic cloud is a popular stop on telescopic tours of the constellation Sagittarius. Eighteenth century cosmic tourist Charles Messier cataloged the bright nebula as M8, while modern day astronomers recognize the Lagoon Nebula as an active stellar nursery about 5,000 light-years distant, in the direction of the center of our Milky Way Galaxy. Striking details can be traced through this remarkable picture, processed to remove stars and hence better reveal the Lagoon's range of filaments of glowing hydrogen gas, dark dust clouds, and the bright, turbulent hourglass region near the image center. This color composite view was recorded under dark skies near Sydney, Australia.
How can a round star make a square nebula? This conundrum comes to light when studying planetary nebulae like IC 4406. Evidence indicates that IC 4406 is likely a hollow cylinder, with its square appearance the result of our vantage point in viewing the cylinder from the side. Were IC 4406 viewed from the top, it would likely look similar to the Ring Nebula. Hot gas flows out the ends of the cylinder, while filaments of dark dust and molecular gas lace the bounding walls. The star primarily responsible for this interstellar sculpture can be found in the planetary nebula's center. In a few million years, the only thing left visible in IC 4406 will be a fading white dwarf star.
Jewels don't shine this bright -- only stars do. Like gems in a jewel box, though, the stars of open cluster NGC 290 glitter in a beautiful display of brightness and color. The photogenic cluster, pictured above, was captured recently by the orbiting Hubble Space Telescope. Open clusters of stars are younger, contain few stars, and contain a much higher fraction of blue stars than do globular clusters of stars. NGC 290 lies about 200,000 light-years distant in a neighboring galaxy called the Small Cloud of Magellan (SMC). The open cluster contains hundreds of stars and spans about 65 light years across. NGC 290 and other open clusters are good laboratories for studying how stars of different masses evolve, since all the open cluster's stars were born at about the same time.
Haunting patterns within planetary nebula NGC 6543 readily suggest its popular moniker -- the Cat's Eye nebula. Stunning false-color optical images from the Hubble Space Telescope detailed the swirls of this glowing nebula, known to be the gaseous shroud expelled from a dying sun-like star about 3,000 light-years from Earth. This composite picture combines the latest Hubble optical image of the Cat's Eye with new x-ray data from the orbiting Chandra Observatory and reveals surprisingly intense x-ray emission indicating the presence of extremely hot gas. X-ray emission is shown as blue-purple hues superimposed on the nebula's center. The nebula's central star itself is clearly immersed in the multimillion degree, x-ray emitting gas. Other pockets of x-ray hot gas seem to be bordered by cooler gas emitting strongly at optical wavelengths, a clear indication that expanding hot gas is sculpting the visible Cat's Eye filaments and structures. Gazing into the Cat's Eye, astronomers see the fate of our sun, destined to enter its own planetary nebula phase of evolution ... in about 5 billion years.
A train trip on the Trans-Siberian railway to Novosibirsk resulted in this stunning view along the edge of the Sun recorded during the August 1st total solar eclipse. The picture is a composite of two images taken at special moments in the eclipse sequence, corresponding to the very beginning and the very end of the total eclipse phase. Those times are known to eclipse chasers as 2nd and 3rd contact. Bright beads around the Moon's dark silhouette are rays of sunlight shining through lunar valleys at the edge of the lunar disk. But the composite view also captures solar prominences, looping structures of hot plasma suspended in magnetic fields, extending beyond the Sun's edge.
During a total solar eclipse, the Sun's extensive outer atmosphere, or corona, is an inspirational sight. The subtle shades and shimmering features of the corona that engage the eye span a brightness range of over 10,000 to 1, making them notoriously difficult to capture in a single picture. But this composite of 28 digital images ranging in exposure time from 1/1000 to 2 seconds comes close to revealing the crown of the Sun in all its glory. The telescopic views were recorded near Kochenevo, Russia during the August 1 total solar eclipse and also show solar prominences extending just beyond the edge of the eclipsed sun. Remarkably, features on the dark near side of the New Moon can also be made out, illuminated by sunlight reflected from a Full Earth.
Is that a black hole? Quite possibly. The Cygnus X-1 binary star system contains one of the best candidates for a black hole. The system was discovered because it is one of the brightest X-ray sources on the sky, shining so bright it was detected by the earliest rockets carrying cameras capable of seeing the previously unknown X-ray sky. The star's very name indicates that it is the single brightest X-ray source in the constellation of the Swan Cygnus. Data indicate that a compact object there contains about nine times the mass of the Sun and changes its brightness continually on several time scales, at least down to milliseconds. Such behavior is expected for a black hole, and difficult to explain with other models. Pictured above is an artistic impression of the Cygnus X-1 system. On the left is the bright blue supergiant star designated HDE 226868, which is estimated as having about 30 times the mass of our Sun. Cygnus X-1 is depicted on the right, connected to its supergiant companion by a stream of gas, and surrounded by an impressive accretion disk. The bright star in the Cygnus X-1 system is visible with a small telescope. Strangely, the Cygnus X-1 black hole candidate appears to have formed without a bright supernova explosion.
NGC 6888, also known as the Crescent Nebula, is a cosmic bubble about 25 light-years across, blown by winds from its central, bright, massive star. This beautiful telescopic view combines a composite color image with narrow band data that isolates light from hydrogen and oxygen atoms in the wind-blown nebula. The oxygen atoms produce the blue-green hue that seems to enshroud the detailed folds and filaments. NGC 6888's central star is classified as a Wolf-Rayet star (WR 136). The star is shedding its outer envelope in a strong stellar wind, ejecting the equivalent of the Sun's mass every 10,000 years. The nebula's complex structures are likely the result of this strong wind interacting with material ejected in an earlier phase. Burning fuel at a prodigious rate and near the end of its stellar life this star should ultimately go out with a bang in a spectacular supernova explosion. Found in the nebula rich constellation Cygnus, NGC 6888 is about 5,000 light-years away.
Colorful and bright, the city lights of Vancouver, Canada are reflected in the water in this portrait of the world at night. Recorded on August 12 during the Perseid Meteor Shower, the wide-angle view takes in a large swath along the photographer's eastern horizon. The picture is a composite of many consecutive 2 second exposures that, when added together, cover a total time of an hour and 33 minutes. During that time, stars trailed through the night sky above Vancouver, their steady motion along concentric arcs a reflection of planet Earth's rotation. The dotted trails of aircraft also cut across the scene. Of course, two of the frames captured the brief, brilliant flash of a Perseid fireball as it tracked across the top of the field of view. The large gap in the single meteor trail corresponds to the time gap between the consecutive frames.
Just before the Sun blacks out, something strange occurs. As the Moon moves to completely cover the Sun in a total solar eclipse, beads of bright sunlight stream around the edge of the Moon. This effect, known as Baily's beads, is named after Francis Baily who called attention to the phenomenon in 1836. Although, the number and brightness of Baily's beads used to be unpredictable, today the Moon is so well mapped that general features regarding Baily's beads are expected. When a single bead dominates, it is called the diamond ring effect, and is typically seen just before totality. Pictured above, a series of images recorded Baily's beads at times surrounding the recent total solar eclipse visible from Novosibirsk, Russia. The complete series can be seen by scrolling right. At the end of totality, as the Sun again emerges from behind the moon, Baily's beads may again be visible -- but now on the other side of the Moon.
Ten thousand years ago, before the dawn of recorded human history, a new light must suddenly have appeared in the night sky and faded after a few weeks. Today we know this light was an exploding star and record the colorful expanding cloud as the Veil Nebula. Pictured above is the west end of the Veil Nebula known technically as NGC 6960 but less formally as the Witch's Broom Nebula. The expanding debris cloud gains its colors by sweeping up and exciting existing nearby gas. The supernova remnant lies about 1400 light-years away towards the constellation of Cygnus. This Witch's Broom actually spans over three times the angular size of the full Moon. The bright star 52 Cygni is visible with the unaided eye from a dark location but unrelated to the ancient supernova.
The matter in galaxy cluster 1E 0657-56, fondly known as the "bullet cluster", is shown in this composite image. A mere 3.4 billion light-years away, the bullet cluster's individual galaxies are seen in the optical image data, but their total mass adds up to far less than the mass of the cluster's two clouds of hot x-ray emitting gas shown in red. Representing even more mass than the optical galaxies and x-ray gas combined, the blue hues show the distribution of dark matter in the cluster. Otherwise invisible to telescopic views, the dark matter was mapped by observations of gravitational lensing of background galaxies. In a text book example of a shock front, the bullet-shaped cloud of gas at the right was distorted during the titanic collision between two galaxy clusters that created the larger bullet cluster itself. But the dark matter present has not interacted with the cluster gas except by gravity. The clear separation of dark matter and gas clouds is considered direct evidence that dark matter exists.
Stars come in bunches. Of the over 200 globular star clusters that orbit the center of our Milky Way Galaxy, 47 Tucanae is the second brightest globular cluster (behind Omega Centauri). Light takes about 13,000 years to reach us from 47 Tuc which can be seen on the sky near the Small Magellanic Cloud in the southern constellation of Tucana. Also known as NGC 104, the dense cluster is made up of several million stars in a volume only about 120 light-years across. The cluster's red giant stars are particularly easy to see in this picture. The globular cluster is also home to exotic x-ray binary star systems.
Astronomers turn detectives when trying to figure out the cause of startling sights like NGC 1316. Their investigation indicates that NGC 1316 is an enormous elliptical galaxy that started, about 100 million years ago, to devour a smaller spiral galaxy neighbor, NGC 1317, just above it. Supporting evidence includes the dark dust lanes characteristic of a spiral galaxy, and faint swirls of stars and gas visible in this wide and deep image. What remains unexplained are the unusually small globular star clusters, seen as faint dots on the image. Most elliptical galaxies have more and brighter globular clusters than NGC 1316. Yet the observed globulars are too old to have been created by the recent spiral collision. One hypothesis is that these globulars survive from an even earlier galaxy that was subsumed into NGC 1316.
Spokes in the Helix Nebula
At first glance, the Helix Nebula (aka NGC 7293), looks simple and round. But this well-studied example of a planetary nebula, produced near the end of the life of a sun-like star, is now understood to have a surprisingly complex geometry. Its extended loops and comet-shaped features have been explored in Hubble Space Telescope images. Still, a 16-inch diameter telescope and camera with broad and narrow band filters was used to create this sharp view of the Helix. The color composite also reveals the nebula's intriguing details, including light-year long, bluegreen radial stripes or spokes that give it the appearance of a cosmic bicycle wheel. The spoke features seem to indicate that the Helix Nebula is itself an old and evolved planetary nebula. The Helix is a mere seven hundred light years from Earth, in the constellation Aquarius.
Only a few stars can be found within ten light-years of our lonely Sun, situated near an outer spiral arm of the Milky Way galaxy. But if the Sun were found within one of our galaxy's star clusters, thousands of stars might occupy a similar space. What would the night sky look like in such a densely packed stellar neighborhood? When Roger Hopkins took this picture at the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge in the Finger Lakes region of western New York, USA, he was struck by this same notion. Appropriately, he had photographed a flock of starlings against the backdrop of a serene sunset. He then manipulated the image so that the black bird silhouettes were changed to white. The final picture dramatically suggests the tantalizing spectacle of approaching night in crowded skies above a cluster star world.
M110: Satellite of the Andromeda Galaxy
Our Milky Way Galaxy is not alone. It is part of a gathering of about 25 galaxies known as the Local Group. Members include the Great Andromeda Galaxy (M31), M32, M33, the Large Magellanic Cloud, the Small Magellanic Cloud, Dwingeloo 1, several small irregular galaxies, and many dwarf elliptical and dwarf spheroidal galaxies. Pictured on the lower right is one of the dwarf ellipticals: NGC 205. Like M32, NGC 205 is a companion to the large M31, and can sometimes be seen to the south of M31's center in photographs. The image shows NGC 205 to be unusual for an elliptical galaxy in that it contains at least two dust clouds (at 9 and 2 o'clock - they are visible but hard to spot) and signs of recent star formation. This galaxy is sometimes known as M110, although it was actually not part of Messier's original catalog.
What created this unusual space ribbon? Most assuredly, one of the most violent explosions ever witnessed by ancient humans. Back in the year 1006 AD, light reached Earth from a stellar explosion in the constellation of the Wolf (Lupus), creating a "guest star" in the sky that appeared brighter than Venus and lasted for over two years. The supernova, now cataloged at SN 1006, occurred about 7,000 light years away and has left a large remnant that continues to expand and fade today. Pictured above is a small part of that expanding supernova remnant dominated by a thin and outwardly moving shock front that heats and ionizes surrounding ambient gas. SN 1006 now has a diameter of nearly 60 light years. Within the past year, an even more powerful explosion occurred far across the universe that was visible to modern humans, without any optical aid, for a few seconds.
W5: Pillars of Star Creation
How do stars form? A study of star forming region W5 by the sun-orbiting Spitzer Space Telescope provides clear clues by recording that massive stars near the center of empty cavities are older than stars near the edges. A likely reason for this is that the older stars in the center are actually triggering the formation of the younger edge stars. The triggered star formation occurs when hot outflowing gas compresses cooler gas into knots dense enough to gravitationally contract into stars. Spectacular pillars, left slowly evaporating from the hot outflowing gas, provide further visual clues. In the above scientifically-colored infrared image, red indicates heated dust, while white and green indicate particularly dense gas clouds. W5 is also known as IC 1848, and together with IC 1805 form a complex region of star formation popularly dubbed the Heart and Soul Nebulas. The above image highlights a part of W5 spanning about 2,000 light years that is rich in star forming pillars. W5 lies about 6,500 light years away toward the constellation of Cassiopeia.
What happens when two of the largest objects in the universe collide? No one was quite sure, but the answer is giving clues to the nature of mysterious dark matter. In the case of MACSJ0025.4-1222, two huge clusters of galaxies have been found slowly colliding over hundreds of millions of years, and the result has been imaged by both the Hubble Space Telescope in visible light and the Chandra Space Telescope in X-ray light. Once the above visible image was recorded, the location and gravitational lens distortions of more distant galaxies by the newly combined galaxy cluster allowed astronomers to computationally determine what happened to the clusters' dark matter. The result indicates that this huge collision has caused the dark matter in the clusters to become partly separated from the normal matter, confirming earlier speculation. In the above combined image, dark matter is shown as the diffuse purple hue, while a smoothed depiction of the X-ray hot normal matter is shown in pink. MACSJ0025 contains hundreds of galaxies, spans about three million light years, and lies nearly six billion light years away (redshift 0.59) toward the constellation of Monster Whale (Cetus).
For astronomers, close binary star system BD+20 307 originally stood out because it is extremely dusty. A substantial amount of warm dust surrounding it causes the system to appear exceptionally bright at infrared wavelengths. Of course, dust associated with planet formation is often detected around young stars, stars only a few million years old. But the BD+20 307 system has now been found to be at least a few billion years old, an age comparable to the age of our own Solar System. The large amount of warm dust is likely the debris from a relatively recent collision of planet-sized objects on the scale of, say, Earth and Venus, in the BD+20 307 system. Reminiscent of the classic scifi novel When Worlds Collide, the dramatic illustration offers a depiction of the catastrophic event. Ironically, this indirect evidence of a destructive planetary collision could also be the first indication that planetary systems can form around close binary stars. BD+20 307 is about 300 light-years distant toward the headstrong constellation Aries.
Is there any place in the world you could see a sight like this? Yes! This digital mosaic shows the night sky as seen from False Kiva in Canyonlands National Park, eastern Utah, USA. Diving into the Earth far in the distance is part of the central band of our Milky Way Galaxy. Much closer, the planet Jupiter is visible as the bright point just to band's left. Closer still are the park's picturesque buttes and mesas lit by a crescent moon. In the foreground is the cave housing a stone circle of unknown origin named False Kiva. The cave itself was briefly lit by flashlight during the exposure. Astrophotographer Wally Pacholka reports that getting to the cave was no easy trek. Also, mountain lions were a concern while waiting alone in the dark to record the mosaic.
Young suns still lie within dusty NGC 7129, some 3,000 light-years away toward the royal constellation Cepheus. While these stars are at a relatively tender age, only about a million years old, it is likely that our own Sun formed in a similar stellar nursery some five billion years ago. Most noticeable in the striking image are the lovely bluish dust clouds that reflect the youthful starlight, but the smaller, deep red crescent shapes are also markers of energetic, young stellar objects. Known as Herbig-Haro objects, their shape and color is characteristic of glowing hydrogen gas shocked by jets streaming away from newborn stars. Ultimately the natal gas and dust in the region will be dispersed, the stars drifting apart as the loose cluster orbits the center of the Galaxy. At the estimated distance of NGC 7129, this telescopic view spans about 40 light-years.
Irregular galaxy NGC 55 is thought to be similar to the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). But while the LMC is about 180,000 light-years away and is a well known satellite of our own Milky Way Galaxy, NGC 55 is more like 6 million light-years distant and is a member of the Sculptor Galaxy Group. Classified as an irregular galaxy, in deep exposures the LMC itself resembles a barred disk galaxy. However, spanning about 50,000 light-years, NGC 55 is seen nearly edge-on, presenting a flattened, narrow profile in contrast with our face-on view of the LMC. Just as large star forming regions create emission nebulae in the LMC, NGC 55 is also seen to be producing new stars. This gorgeous galaxy portrait highlights a bright core, telltale pinkish emission regions, and young blue star clusters in NGC 55.
Where's the pulsar? Previously, the nebula CTA 1 showed an expanding supernova remnant, a jet, and a point source expected to be a pulsar -- a rotating neutron star producing pulses at radio energies. But no radio pulses were detected. Now NASA's recently deployed Fermi Space Telescope has solved the mystery with some of its initial observations indicating that the point source is pulsing at gamma-ray energies. The strange source is the first of a class that might be dubbed "dark pulsars", rotating neutron stars that appear to pulse only in high-energy radiations. Such pulsars might not be detectable in radio or visible light if they emit those radiations into a narrow beam not seen from Earth. If true, our Galaxy might have more pulsars left for Fermi to discover. Studying the gamma-ray properties of pulsars gives valuable clues to physics of the emission regions on neutron stars. In this graphic, the pulsar's position is indicated in the wider CTA 1 supernova remnant. An artist's illustration of the pulsar beaming at gamma-ray energies is shown in the inset.
The Great Nebula in Orion, also known as M42, is one of the most famous nebulae in the sky. The star forming region's glowing gas clouds and hot young stars are on the right in this sharp and colorful two frame mosaic that includes the smaller nebula M43 near center and dusty, bluish reflection nebulae NGC 1977 and friends on the left. Located at the edge of an otherwise invisible giant molecular cloud complex, these eye-catching nebulae represent only a small fraction of this galactic neighborhood's wealth of interstellar material. Within the well-studied stellar nursery, astronomers have also identified what appear to be numerous infant solar systems. The gorgeous skyscape spans nearly two degrees or about 45 light-years at the Orion Nebula's estimated distance of 1,500 light-years.
Spooky shapes seem to haunt this starry expanse, drifting through the night in the royal constellation Cepheus. Of course, the shapes are cosmic dust clouds faintly visible in dimly reflected starlight. Far from your own neighborhood on planet Earth, they lurk at the edge of the Cepheus Flare molecular cloud complex some 1,200 light-years away. Over 2 light-years across and brighter than the other ghostly apparitions, the nebula known as Sh2-136 near the center of the field is even seen in infrared light. Also cataloged as Bok globule CB230, the core of that cloud is collapsing and is likely a binary star system in the early stages of formation.
Menacing flying forms and garish colors are a mark of the Halloween season. They also stand out in this cosmic close-up of the eastern Veil Nebula. The Veil Nebula itself is a large supernova remnant, the expanding debris cloud from the death explosion of a massive star. While the Veil is roughly circular in shape covering nearly 3 degrees on the sky in the constellation Cygnus, this portion of the eastern Veil spans only 1/2 degree, about the apparent size of the Moon. That translates to 12 light-years at the Veil's estimated distance of 1,400 light-years from planet Earth. In this composite of image data recorded through narrow band filters, emission from hydrogen atoms in the remnant is shown in red with strong emission from oxygen atoms in greenish hues. In the western part of the Veil lies another seasonal apparition, the Witch's Broom.
On October 7, the early dawn over northern Sudan revealed this twisted, high altitude trail. Captured in a video frame, the long-lasting persistent train is from the impact of a small asteroid cataloged as 2008 TC3. That event was remarkable because it was the first time an asteroid was detected in space before crashing into planet Earth's atmosphere. In fact, after astronomers discovered 2008 TC3, the time and location of its impact were predicted based on follow-up observations. Later, the impact predictions were confirmed by sensors, including a Meteosat-8 image of a bright flash in the atmosphere. Astronomers are now hoping for more reports of local ground-based observations of what must have been a brilliant meteor streaking through Sudan's night sky. Additional reports could improve the chances of recovering meteorites. | <urn:uuid:fa490d35-46e5-45f8-9cb5-1083ec82b9a4> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://bukucatatan-part1.blogspot.com/2009/01/50-gambar-terbaik-alam-semesta-tahun.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1394011126350/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305091846-00015-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930844 | 8,420 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Poor Neville Chamberlain believed he could trust Hitler. He was wrong. But I don’t think I’m wrong about Stalin.
—Winston Churchill. Remark to his cabinet ministers, February 23, 1945, quoted from the diary of Hugh Dalton.
Churchill understood the threat posed by Hitler, but he was utterly deluded about Stalin—as was Roosevelt, who thought Stalin was ‘a Christian.’ As a result of their stupidity, the whole of Eastern Europe was enslaved and brutalized for generations, and the world placed in danger of nuclear annihilation.
The lesson is clear—leaders should not trust their instincts when assessing the nature of tyrants. All tyrants are monsters, they rule through brute force and fear, they should no more be trusted—or ascribed human values—than hungry wolves. It is delusional to expect compassion, sincerity, decency or fidelity from a tyrant. Only force and dread can reach their base natures. | <urn:uuid:256eeefc-43aa-4a37-a7c3-b307b885b6ca> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.goodgovernment.org/dealing-with-tyrants/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371886991.92/warc/CC-MAIN-20200410043735-20200410074235-00098.warc.gz | en | 0.957847 | 196 | 2.515625 | 3 |
"Switching supplies are noisy."
"Linear power supplies are best for audio."
About 5 years ago, Benchmark stopped putting linear power supplies into our new products, and we replaced them with switching power supplies. We did this because linear supplies are too noisy. Yes, you read that correctly, linear supplies are noisy! A well-designed switching power supply can be much quieter than a linear supply.
The noise problem is due to the fact that linear power supplies have large transformers and other magnetic components that operate at the AC line frequency (50 Hz to 60 Hz). These line frequencies are audible, and we are all too familiar with the hum and buzz that audio products can produce. It is no secret that this noise is caused by the power supply, but few people understand why it can be so hard to eliminate. Most people think that hum is caused by conducted interference (AC ripple on the power supply rails), but this is rarely the case. Most AC hum is caused by magnetic interference, and this can be very hard to eliminate.
Transformers are magnetic devices. Power is magnetically transmitted between a transformer's input and output windings. In a linear supply, power is transmitted from the AC line side of a transformer to the low-voltage secondary side using an AC line-frequency magnetic field. Unfortunately, transformers are never perfect, and some energy always escapes through stray magnetic fields. These stray fields can interfere with virtually every electrical conductor in an audio product. Magnetic shielding is expensive and it has limited effectiveness when sensitive circuits are located in close proximity to a strong field.
The power supplies in high power devices, such as audio power amplifiers, can emit very strong magnetic fields. These strong fields tend to limit the noise performance (SNR) of power amplifiers. These magnetic fields can also cause interference with audio products that happen to be too near the amplifier. Audio cables that enter, exit, or pass near the amplifier may also pick up unwanted hum and buzz. For this reason, it is usually very important to keep the power amplifier well separated from cables and other components in the audio system.
Benchmark's new AHB2 power amplifier breaks the rules. It can even be located adjacent to sensitive audio components without causing interference! The AHB2 is a high-power device, but it emits almost no magnetic interference. What makes it different?
The secret inside the AHB2 is the switching power supply. This power supply has several high-power transformers, but they are very small, and their stray magnetic fields are correspondingly small. The reason for this is that the magnetics operate at 200 kHz to 500 kHz. For a given power rating, transformer size decreases as the operating frequency increases. High-frequency transformers have smaller cores and fewer turns of wire. As the physical size decreases, there is a corresponding reduction in stray magnetic field strength.
When transformers are physically small, there are more options for magnetic shielding. For example, the small transformers used in the AHB2 are completely encased in a ferrite material which helps to contain stray magnetics. These techniques are so effective that the AHB2 achieves a SNR of 130 to 135 dB. No power amplifier is quieter than the AHB2. Even more amazing is the fact that the switching power supply board is less than an inch above the amplifier board. This product proves that switching power supplies can be very quiet! The AHB2 could not achieve this level of performance with a linear supply unless the supply were housed in a completely separate box a couple of feet away.
One major advantage of switching supplies is that the operating frequency is above the range of human hearing. If interference occurs, it will not cause audible interference. This interference can even be removed with a filter without infringing on the audio band. But, the power supply in the AHB2 is so quiet that we do not need to filter the audio output. The AHB2 delivers a 200 kHz bandwidth without evidence of any significant switching noise, to a measurement limit of 500 kHz.
Please note that the AHB2 is not a class-D switching amplifier. The AHB2 is a linear class-AB amplifier. It is only the power supplies that operate in a switched mode. The power supplies simply provide steady and constant regulated DC voltages for the linear audio amplifier.
Another major advantage to switching power supplies is that they can be very efficient. The power supply in the AHB2 achieves an efficiency of over 90%. This means that very little power is lost to heat.
In linear power supplies, massive amounts of power can be lost in voltage regulator circuits. In contrast, switching supplies can produce steady, regulated, DC outputs without consuming extra power.
Most traditional power amplifiers have unregulated linear power supplies. Regulation is omitted in order to save power and reduce heat. The negative consequence of this is that the power rails sag with every musical peak. In traditional designs, large banks of capacitors are connected to the voltage rails in order to reduce this voltage sag to manageable levels. Nevertheless it is common to see a significant increase in distortion (THD) when these traditional amplifiers are heavily loaded.
In contrast, the AHB2 has a tightly regulated power supply. This means that the amplifier board in the AHB2 sees constant DC voltages that do not sag when the amplifier is cranking out the watts. The AHB2 does not need, or have, massive banks of capacitors because the power supply responds to the dynamic requirements of the music. This helps prevent any rise in distortion when driving heavy loads, which is one of the reasons why the 8 Ohm, 4 Ohm and 2 Ohm THD numbers for the AHB2 are nearly identical.
This discussion would not be complete without pointing out that many switching supplies are noisy. Older designs and low-cost designs tend to use lower switching frequencies that fall within audible frequencies. Many small cellphone and computer chargers fall into this category. These devices can cause interference when placed in close proximity to an audio component or cable.
The switching supplies used in Benchmark products are specifically optimized for audio applications. These switching supplies are much quieter than traditional linear supplies of similar size.
The AHB2 is a linear power amplifier with switch-mode power supplies. To the best of our knowledge, it has the highest SNR of any audio power amplifier. The A-weighted SNR is 132 dB in stereo mode and 135 dB in mono mode. This is 15 to 30 dB better than most of the best power amplifiers. This low-noise performance would not have been possible with a linear power supply. A linear power supply would have created strong line-frequency magnetic fields that would have created low-level line-related hum and buzz. This magnetically-induced line-related interference limits the noise performance of most power amplifiers. Please note that magnetic interference is radiated not conducted. This means that is cannot be removed with filter capacitors. Adding filters to a linear supply will not remove the hum and buzz from a power amplifier.
In the AHB2, the magnetic components (transformers and coils) are fully enclosed in ferrite pot cores. These are the grey cylindrical objects (with wires) shown in the photo above. These high-power magnetic devices are very small because of the high operating frequency. The magnetic field strength is correspondingly small and is well above audio frequencies. The small size also makes it possible to build the magnetic devices inside of ferrite pot cores. These ferrite cores fully encapsulate the coils and greatly reduce stray magnetic fields.
The AHB2 uses a resonant switching design and this greatly reduces the switching noise. The switching transistors are mounted to aluminum bars that transmit the heat to the outer heat sinks.
The power supply is the top board in the AHB2 chassis (shown above). The switching power supply is mounted only 1 inch above the analog amplifier board. A magnetic shielding plate can be seen in the space between the two boards. This plate is quite effective at shielding the low-level high-frequency magnetic fields produced by the switching power supply, but would have little value if the power supply operated at AC line frequencies.
One additional advantage of using a switching supply in a power amplifier is that voltage regulation does not increase the power dissipation of the amplifier. The AHB2 has regulated power supplies (a very unusual feature in a power amplifier). The regulation helps to reduce THD. To the best of our knowledge, no power amplifer has lower THD than the AHB2. Again this is largely due to the use of a switching supply.
The small row of capacitors on the front of the power supply board form the bulk of the capacitance on the power supply outputs. This is far less capacitance than would be needed with an unregulated supply. The switch-mode power supply in the AHB2 has a regulation loop that can respond at audio frequencies. This allows the regulation to respond to musical peaks in real time. Peak currents are drawn from the AC line on demand rather than from stored energy in a bank of capacitors.
The following two photos show how the magnetic emissions of the AHB2 were measured. These measurements verified that the emissions are extremely low. Any audio device may be placed directly above or below the AHB2 in an equipment rack without risk of magnetic interference.
Two months ago, we released a video demonstrating the magnetic immunity of star-quad microphone cables. We exposed the cables to the stray magnetic fields produced by a variety of power supplies, including some rather noisy low-cost switching supplies. We also exposed the cables to the fields produced by a DAC1 and a DAC2. The DAC1 produced magnetic interference, but the DAC2 did not. The difference? The DAC2 has a switching power supply that is optimized for audio application while the DAC1 has a traditional linear power supply. The video shows that the switching power supply in the DAC2 is much quieter than the linear power supply in the DAC1. The comparison is not even close! Sometimes seeing is believing!
Watch a short clip from this video and help put an end to another audio myth!
This application note was edited June 16, 2017 to add photos and descriptions of the switching power supply in the AHB2 power amplifier. - JS
As an engineer I like to use "rules of thumb" to make quick estimates that help to explain the physical world around me.
These rules of thumb are easy-to-remember approximations that eliminate the need for complicated and needlessly precise calculations.
If you feel discombobulated by the complexities of high school physics, there is hope! I encourage you to step back and take a fresh approach.
If you learn a few simple rules of thumb, you can unravel mysteries of the physical world, amaze your friends, and yourself.
In this paper I will present 15 simple rules that I find useful when working with music and audio.
- John Siau
The Benchmark AHB2 power amplifier and HPA4 headphone amplifier both feature feed-forward error correction. This correction system is an important subset of the patented THX-AAA™ (Achromatic Audio Amplifier) technology. It is one of the systems that keeps these Benchmark amplifiers virtually distortion free when driving heavy loads. It is also the reason that these amplifiers can support 500 kHz bandwidths without risk of instability when driving reactive loads.
This paper explains the differences between feedback and feed-forward systems. As you read this paper, you will discover that you already understand the benefits of feed-forward correction because you use it instinctively to improve a feedback system commonly found in your automobile. If feed-forward correction can improve your driving experience, it may also improve your listening experience!
If you look at the back of any Benchmark product, you will find balanced XLR analog-audio connectors. As a convenience, we also provide unbalanced RCA connectors on many of our products. In all cases, the balanced interfaces will provide better performance.
We build our unbalanced interfaces to the same high standards as our balanced interfaces, but the laws of physics dictate that the balanced interfaces will provide better noise performance.
This application note explains the advantages of balanced interfaces. | <urn:uuid:a5d216f1-0332-4227-ace6-81af9b803f00> | CC-MAIN-2020-10 | https://benchmarkmedia.com/blogs/application_notes/152143111-audio-myth-switching-power-supplies-are-noisy | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875145746.24/warc/CC-MAIN-20200223032129-20200223062129-00244.warc.gz | en | 0.938649 | 2,504 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Detalles del recurso
ETD at Indian Institute of Science
Descripción: The aromatic beta-glucosides of plant origin, salicin and arbutin, serve as carbon sources for the sustenance of bacteria when ‘preferred’ sugars are absent in the environment. In the family Enterobacteriaceae, there are varied patterns for utilization of these beta-glucosides, wherein, in some members the ability to utilize salicin or arbutin is cryptic while in others it is completely absent. Escherichia coli harbors silent or cryptic genetic systems for the utilization of arbutin and salicin, which are activated by spontaneous mutation(s). Of these systems, the bgl operon of E.coli has been used as a paradigm for silent genes and extensive studies have been carried out to understand its silencing and activating mechanisms. Mutational activation of the wild type bgl operon in E.coli leads to the acquisition of the ability to utilize both arbutin and salicin.
Preliminary studies have shown that aromatic beta-glucoside utilization in Shigella sonnei, which is evolutionarily related to E.coli, shows a two-step activation process wherein the wild type strain first becomes Arb+, which subsequently mutates to Sal+. The genetic systems responsible for beta-glucoside utilization, including the bgl operon, are conserved in
S.sonnei to a large extent. A major difference is that the bglB gene encoding the phosphor-β-glucosidase B is insertionally inactivated in S.sonnei. As a result, activation of the bgl operon in the first stage leads to expression of the permease, BglF, which along with the phosphor-β-glucosidase A expressed from an unlinked constitutive gene, bglA, confers an Arb+phenotype. Salicin is not a substrate for the enzyme BglA and therefore a second mutational event is required for the acquisition of the Sal+ phenotype. Interestingly, the insertion within bglB is retained in AK102, the Sal+ second step mutant of S.sonnei. Therefore, the locus involved in conferring salicin utilization ability is unknown. However, S.sonnei is not amenable to routine genetic echniques and an E.coli bglB model was generated by creating an insertion in the bglB gene to identify the locus involved in conferring the Sal+ phenotype. Like S.sonnei, this E.coli strain, SD-1.3, also showed a two-step activation process for the utilization of salicin.
Utilization of salicin in the Sal+ second step mutant of SD-1.3 could require activation of other silent genetic systems such as the asc operon and the chb operon or mutation in loci such as bglB or bglA. Linkage analysis by P1 transduction showed that activation of the asc operon is required for conferring a Sal+ phenotype in the second step mutant. The asc operon comprises of two genes, ascF encoding a PTS permease and ascB encoding a phosphor-β-glucosidaseB.The
Precise mechanism of activation of the asc operon is not known but, it has been speculated that AscG, encoded by an upstream gene, acts as a repressor. Results presented in this thesis show that BglF is responsible for the transport of salicin and AscB provides the phosphor-β-glucosidase B in the Sal+ second step mutant of the E.coli strain SD-1.3. Analysis of the expression of the ascFB operon by measuring the transcripts as well as the activity of phosphor-β-glucosidase B showed that it is enhanced in the Sal+ second step mutant of SD-1.3 in the presence of the inducer. The expression of the ascFB operon is also increased constitutively when ascG is replaced by an antibiotic cassette in the parent strain SD-1.3 and the Arb+ first step mutant, indicating that AscG acts as a repressor for the asc operon. Moreover, inactivation of ascG in the parent leads to utilization of salicin in a single step by the activation of the bgl operon to provide the transport function, indicating that the inactivation of ascG is sufficient to activate the expression of ascB. Similarly, loss of AscG–mediated repression of the asc operon confers salicin utilization ability to the Arb+ first step mutant of SD-1.3. Interestingly, measurement of phosphor-β-glucosidase B activity in a Sal+ second step mutant derivative deleted for ascG showed a constitutive increase in the expression of the ascFB operon. Thus, AscG mediates the induction of the asc operon in response to salicin.
In order to study the mechanism of activation of the asc operon, the ascB gene was cloned from the Arb+ first step mutant and the Sal+ second step mutant of SD-1.3 in a low copy number vector. Both these constructs were able to confer a Sal+ phenotype to the Arb+ first step mutant indicating absence of any genetic change in ascB in the Sal+ second step mutant. This was also confirmed by sequencing of ascB gene from the strains that showed no changes in the nucleotide sequence. Absence of any insertions within ascG showed that activation of the ascoperon is not achieved through disruption of ascG in the Sal+ second step mutants analyzed. AscG belongs to the GalR family of repressors in which some members require a mutation to enable the binding of sugar to mediate induction. Nucleotide sequence analysis showed that there was no change in the ascG gene in the Sal+ mutants analyzed. However, when the upstream regulatory region of the ascFB operon was analyzed a mutation was found in the -10 sequence of the putative promoter of the ascFB genes. This change leads to a stronger promoter as it brings the -10 sequence closer to the consensus sequence. Therefore, salicin utilization is achieved in the Sal+ second step mutant analyzed by an increase in expression of the asc operon by a promoter-up mutation. The negative effect of binding of AscG on expression of the ascFB operon is relieved in presence of the inducer, salicin.
The possible role of the asc operon in salicin utilization in S.sonnei was tested by replacing the ascB gene by anantibiotic cassette in AK102, the Sal+ second step mutant of S. sonnei. This did not lead to loss of salicin utilization. By gene targeting approach it was also found that none of the phosphor-β-glucosidases known in E.coli are involved in degradation of salicin in AK102. A search of the S. sonnei genome database indicated the presence of two putative phosphor-β-glucosidases encoded by glvG and SSO1595. Replacement of glvG gene by anantibiotic cassette in AK102 did not lead to loss of salicin utilization. However, a similar replacement of SSO1595 in AK102 resulted in a Sal+ phenotype indicating that SSO1595 provides the phosphor-β-glucosidase in the Sal+ second step mutant of S. sonnei. A homolog of this enzyme is not present in E.coliorinany of the other members of the Shigella genus. Transcription alanalysis as well as measurement of phosphor-β-glucosidase B activity showed that expression of SSO1595 is enhanced constitutively in AK102.
To study the mechanism of mutational activation for achieving salicin utilization in S. sonnei, SSO1595 was cloned from AK101, theArb+ first step mutant and AK102, the Sal+ second step mutant in a low copy numbe rvector. Both these constructs were able to confer a Sal+ phenotype to AK101 indicating an absence of genetic change in SSO1595 in AK102. This was also confirmed by sequencing of SSO1595 gene from the strains. Analysis of the upstream regulatory region of SSO1595 in AK102 indicated a deletion of around 1.0kbp sequence. This was also confirmed by nucleotide sequencing of the region. By primer extension analysis it was found that a new transcriptional start site is generated upstream to the deletion in the Sal+ second stepmutant of S.sonnei. Acquisition of the Sal+ phenotype in AK102 is therefore the resultof the SSO1595 gene being brought under a new promoter as a result of a DNA rearrangement.
Overall, this study suggests that a high degree of similarity at the genomic level between organisms does not always ensure similarity in genetic mechanisms as two distinct pathways are responsible for conferring utilization of salicinin S. sonnei and E.coli.
Autor(es): Desai, Stuti -
inglés (Estados Unidos)
Palabras clave: Carbohydrates -
Tipo de recurso:
Tipo de Interactividad: Expositivo
Nivel de Interactividad: muy bajo
Requerimientos técnicos: Browser: Any -
Fecha de contribución: 02-dic-2010 | <urn:uuid:59aba0dc-998b-4f50-833d-e10f871dab8b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://biblioteca.universia.net/html_bura/ficha/params/title/aromatic-beta-glucoside-utilization-in-shigella-sonnei-comparison-with-the/id/52475367.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382705/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00027-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.907754 | 2,019 | 2.515625 | 3 |
Effective treatments for Alzheimer’s disease are five to 10 years away, according to a Keck School of Medicine of USC researcher.
If Paul Aisen is accurate in his prediction, the next decade will introduce a breakthrough for an untreatable disease discovered more than a century ago. Aisen is the founder and director of the San Diego-based USC Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research. The last time the U.S. Food and Drug administration approved a drug for Alzheimer’s was in 2003, and the handful of approved medications available merely treat symptoms.
Instead of a temporary fix, Aisen and his team of international researchers are looking for a way to slow or even prevent Alzheimer’s.
“We’re going to have a blood test that shows who to treat, and we will find safe drugs that will eliminate the risk of amyloid accumulation,” Aisen said, referencing a toxic brain protein that brings about the disease.
“We have ideas on ways to measure biochemical changes in the blood that precede the accumulation of amyloid in the brain…. We will use tests like this sort of the way you use cholesterol for vascular disease, but more effectively because amyloid is more important in Alzheimer’s disease than cholesterol is in vascular disease, and because our drugs are more effective than statins or anything available for cholesterol.”
USC ATRI formed two years ago as a San Diego hub for the Keck School of Medicine, which is now home to the largest academic program in the world working on therapeutic trials against Alzheimer’s.
Aisen specializes in understanding how toxic proteins called amyloid plaques and tau tangles accumulate in the brain. The plaques and tangles grow into Alzheimer’s over the course of 10 to 20 years.
Aisen ventured in the field in the early 1990s when scientists finally stopped referring to Alzheimer’s as senility and began to view it as a disease of cognitive decline.
“He is internationally recognized for advancing the Alzheimer’s research field and for his vision in developing prevention trials that will hopefully lead to answers so that our children and our grandchildren will not have to experience this terrible disease,” said Lisa Denton Barkett ’81, a member of the Trojan League of Associates of San Diego County, as she introduced Aisen to a crowd of about 80 people. They came to hear Aisen describe the history and future of Alzheimer’s research.
Elevated amyloid in the brain
A recent study from USC ATRI found that 1 in 3 people over 65 have elevated amyloid in the brain. The accumulation of amyloid is the earliest indication that Alzheimer’s symptoms will appear within the decade, Aisen said.
“If you have treatments that are effective against amyloid, you want to start here — [early] when amyloid is the only abnormality, and you still have a normal brain and normal synapses,” Aisen said.
USC ATRI is working on many different approaches to slow or cure Alzheimer’s. It is leading the first anti-amyloid trial in people who do not have any Alzheimer’s symptoms, Aisen said. That study is using Solanezumab, an antibody being investigated by the Eli Lilly pharmaceutical company. In a different study with the company Janssen, the research group is investigating a molecule that inhibits the generation of amyloid in the brain.
“Our commitment is not to any one drug or to any intellectual property,” Aisen said. “Our commitment is to the field and advancing the field. So we emphasize data sharing, cooperation and collaboration rather than protection of intellectual property.”
USC ATRI’s mission is to collaborate with the brightest minds anywhere to find a way to cure or slow Alzheimer’s. The team is in talks with a consumer DNA testing company to see if it is willing to put the USC team in contact with people carrying the ApoE4 gene, known to increase the risk for Alzheimer’s. Having that data available to them will streamline clinical trial recruitment efforts.
“Some people estimate that roughly 50 percent of the [Alzheimer’s] risk is genetic, and 50 percent may be other factors that we don’t really understand,” Aisen said.
Aisen is working with scientists across disciplines at USC and around the world to better understand the disease so that effective drugs can be developed to treat Alzheimer’s and prevention techniques can be created.
He has been working on the problem for 25 years and learned a lot through leading or being a part of more than 50 Alzheimer’s clinical trials. | <urn:uuid:da181888-241d-4a9e-8bb5-23c00c16e8af> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://news.usc.edu/129563/the-next-decade-could-bring-a-breakthrough-in-alzheimers-research-usc-expert-says/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233506429.78/warc/CC-MAIN-20230922234442-20230923024442-00530.warc.gz | en | 0.945838 | 987 | 2.9375 | 3 |
The 2020 Advancing Ethical Research Conference (AER20) keynote address from Wylie Burke, MD, PhD, “Learning from Communities about Diversity and Justice”, discussed the implications of the lack of diversity in research. This is a real problem in genetic research: how can a full range of genetic variants be studied if a non-diverse population is assessed?
On the other hand, research on specific communities is also important. Community-based studies helped identify the sickle cell trait among African Americans and BRCA1 gene prevalence in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. Unfortunately, abuses in research, typically perpetrated on minority populations, have resulted in distrust of researchers and the research process by potential research participants.
Take, for instance, the breakdown in communications that occurred between the Havasupai Nation in Arizona and researchers at Arizona State University (ASU). Members of the Havasupai Nation, who had donated blood for genetic studies on type 2 diabetes, found out later that their samples had also been used in several other genetic studies concerning schizophrenia, alcoholism, and population inbreeding—all of which are taboo topics in the Havasupai culture. While these samples had been “de-identified” (whether something can be truly de-identified is a topic for another blog), the community from which the samples originated was known. As Dr. Burke stated in his talk, de-identification does not remove a group label.
The National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects in Biomedical and Behavioral Research published the Belmont Report in 1979 to identify the minimum ethical principles required for human subject research. The three basic principles for research involving human subjects are respect for persons, beneficence, and justice.
Respect for persons mandates individuals receive adequate information so an informed consent might be given freely. Participants should enter into research voluntarily and with adequate information. Informed consent is fulfilled when a competent person agrees to take part in a study after having expressed a clear grasp of all relevant facts related to the activity in question. Not only can failure to adhere to informed consent protocols be harmful to a community, it can permanently harm the credibility of a researcher, an institution, and research as a whole.
Justice ensures the fair distribution of the benefits and burdens of research. Here, tribal oversight was meant to ensure the potential for benefit from the research, but neither oversight nor true informed consent can occur for research that is unknown to the participants.
In community research, when obtaining consent, a researcher must make sure the community is fully informed about the extent of the research. IRBs must ensure that the basic tenets of human subjects research are not violated when overseeing community research. But how can we accomplish this?
We must ensure consent is obtained and respected. In addition to confirming the requirements for informed and broad consent are found in the consent document, the documents must be understandable. A “general description of the types of research that may be conducted with identifiable private information or identifiable biospecimens” must be added to broad consent documents. Notice the regulations specify a “general description” of the types of research that may be conducted is required. How can a reviewer assess this and ensure the supplied description is not too vague?
In community research, a discussion with community leaders would be appropriate. In the Havasupai case, members signed a broad consent document to “study the causes of behavioral/medical disorders.” All of the tribe members believed that they were donating blood solely for the purpose of looking for a link to diabetes to improve the health in their community. After ASU investigators determined that the genetic link to diabetes seen in the other tribe did not exist among the Havasupai, they continued their research into medical disorders without seeking further consent from the tribe. Should the IRB have requested a description that was narrower than “behavioral/medical disorders”, or would “endocrine disorders” have been more appropriate?
We must ensure ongoing communication between the IRB and researchers. We must also inform them about the regulations applicable to their study. After a study has been approved, how can an IRB follow the secondary use of these data and specimens? In addition to narrowing the focus of the proposed potential future research uses listed in the consent form, performing study audits might be appropriate. Additionally, study approval letters could reiterate what types of studies are permissible under the approved consent and mention the requirement of further IRB review of additional studies and the potential need for re-consenting.
We must also ensure appropriate communication between researchers and subjects or the community. Not only must researchers confirm information in a consent has been properly conveyed, investigators wanting to perform further studies using the original samples must return to the community to obtain new informed consent for the additional research. It is vital that a researcher recognize and respect the values and beliefs of the community under study.
Gretchen Parker, PhD, RAC, CIP, serves as co-chair for Pearl IRB and provides regulatory and clinical research support services for clients. Throughout her career, she has been deeply involved in regulatory affairs, clinical research, and medical writing for the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. She led the AAHRPP accreditation efforts at Pearl IRB and has assisted FDA inspectors on-site. She also led the efforts to update Pearl IRB institutional policies and procedures to comply with the revised Common Rule.
Dr. Parker began her career as a Regulatory and Compliance Analyst at a consulting firm, where she worked with clients, ranging from biotech start-ups to Fortune 500 companies, to plan and implement regulatory strategies, submissions, and research protocols. Her duties engaged her with several US governmental agencies, including FDA, USDA, and EPA.
Dr. Parker received a PhD in Molecular Endocrinology and Biochemistry from Purdue University, and completed her Post-Doctoral Fellowship in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Indiana University School of Medicine Center for Diabetes Research. She has authored and published dozens of scientific articles in major peer-reviewed journals, holds a patent for a diagnostic assay, and is a member of PRIM&R and AAHRPP. She is Regulatory Affairs Certified (RAC) and a Certified IRB Professional (CIP).
Members of PRIM&R’s Blog Squad and other guest contributors are valued members of our community willing to share their insights. The views expressed in their posts do not necessarily reflect those of PRIM&R or its employees.
PRIM&R’s next AER Conference takes place virtually—in conjunction with our Social, Behavioral, and Educational Research Conference—November 16–19, 2021. Browse the Advancing Justice and Equity track to find sessions on indigenous-centered approaches to the new Common Rule, leveraging community to strengthen research, and more. Learn more and register online! | <urn:uuid:89be4c40-f44d-4ed3-8915-20bad5422a31> | CC-MAIN-2023-50 | https://blog.primr.org/community-research-impact-of-havasupai-case/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100427.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20231202140407-20231202170407-00288.warc.gz | en | 0.94823 | 1,385 | 3.046875 | 3 |
Positive thinking helps with stress management and can even improve your health.
The Mayo Clinic describes positive thinking as “It doesn’t mean that you keep your head in the sand and ignore life’s less pleasant situations. Positive thinking just means that you approach unpleasantness in a more positive and productive way. You think the best is going to happen, not the worst.”
There are little things you can introduce to your day-to-day life to be more positive:
Take time to relax and unwind
Relax with a book or an uplifting film. Having time to relax is incredibly important and will help your mind to refocus on important decisions when they arise. Give yourself some quiet time with no phones or disturbances, just five minutes a day can help to reduce stress and keep yourself calm.
Give yourself permission to smile and laugh!
Go out with friends or family and have fun! Tell jokes, play games or go shopping. Let loose and enjoy yourself. Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals and has been proven to decrease stress levels.
Surround yourself with positive people and remove negativity
If there are negative elements in your life – remove them – surround yourself with positivity.
Follow a healthy lifestyle – exercise is a great starting point!
Go for a walk outside, or play some sports with friends. Exercise is proven to help tackle stress, it boosts the production of endorphins and will improve your mood, relax your body and give you a hit of self-confidence.
If you find yourself thinking negative thoughts, try and find a way of putting a positive spin on them. Practice positive self-motivation. Start by following one simple rule: Don’t say anything to yourself that you wouldn’t say to anyone else. Positive thinking helps with stress management and can even improve your health.
I just wanted to say the biggest thank you to Vanessa, my trainer. You have made my journey so much easier, I don’t know what I would have done without you. You have been amazing and helped me to achieve my qualification. You’ve guided me through every step of the way, I really appreciate it, Vanessa, you have been my rock.
I always struggled in school as I wasn’t very academic, so knew learning on the job would be a better option for me. I would find it difficult to get up for 9am but now I wake up and look forward to my day. I wanted to try a hair apprenticeship as I’ve always been interested in hairdressing, and by the end of the first week, I already loved it!
I have developed a range of new skills through work including the technical, industry skills required for the job, to personal development such as ensuring I am always on time. The biggest change since leaving school is adjusting to the independence you gain from earning a salary. My advice to anyone thinking of doing an apprenticeship would be find what you like doing, and go for it!
Since starting the apprenticeship, I’ve become far more confident. In a classroom, you only interact with your classmates, but through working you develop your people skills as you interact with customers on a daily basis. At school, you are closely monitored and parented, however I am now more independent and feel grown up
The most important thing I’ve learnt since leaving school is that there are other routes to success than just academia. I failed my GCSEs, as I never suited the school environment. Now though, I’m really enjoying my apprenticeship as I’ve discovered I learn more through hands-on practice.
I would just like to thank you and your team for all the amazing work they do, you have provided me with the most invaluable experience which has helped to pave the way of my future. The work you do for young people is incredible! | <urn:uuid:be4223a3-f68a-4dfa-a182-9f21459f70e6> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.skillsgroupuk.com/blog/beat-stress-with-positive-thinking | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371826355.84/warc/CC-MAIN-20200408233313-20200409023813-00492.warc.gz | en | 0.968123 | 813 | 2.671875 | 3 |
Addiction is a complex disease. It involves many factors including social, economic, genetic, environmental, psychological and biochemical mechanisms. The fundamental nature of addiction is a compulsive and uncontrollable craving, seeking and using of a substance for an intrinsic reward – even though the consequences may be negative. All addictive behavior is characterized by addictive stimuli that is reinforced, a force that increases the likelihood that the person will seek repeated exposure to them.
Some factors that makes addictions so complex is the multiple types of addictions, such as ingesting a substance such as alcohol, nicotine or drugs or engaging in an activity such as gambling, sex, shopping, or over eating. These stimuli are viewed as pleasurable but may become compulsive and therefore interferes in life’s responsibilities. These behaviors often come with negative consequences not taken into account by the addict who is usually not aware that their life is out of control.
The tangled and blurred world of addiction involves many non-dissectible factors and be difficult to research or analyze. One of these factors include a biochemical and neurotransmitter component that possibly can be treated with nutritional and lifestyle interventions.
The difficulty is that the disease must be analyzed individually, taking into account behavior and social influences. However, as health care professionals we can at least offer compassion, education, intervention and hope. | <urn:uuid:e12317a8-f799-4d5e-a050-6f93558f4508> | CC-MAIN-2020-05 | https://www.nyccpostgrad.com/courses/view/NutritionandAddictionONLINE | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250607118.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20200122131612-20200122160612-00300.warc.gz | en | 0.959711 | 269 | 3.3125 | 3 |
for finding evidence . . .
Gregory did a Bloom Ball for Mrs. K when he read Island of the Blue Dolphins. This was the first time I had ever seen it. You can learn more about her creative idea here at teachersnotebook. Since learning to find evidence is one of the keys to being a good reader, I had the idea to create something similar that supports a statement about By the Great Horn Spoon. I came up with 8 statements about the story and am now working on finding evidence from the book with page numbers to include in the answer key. I'm going to provide templates, smaller than those I've seen online if possible, for creating one that supports this statement so that teachers can have an example to show students.
Here is my work in progress:
Summary Statement to Find Evidence For:
This adventure changed both Praiseworthy and Jack.
It requires 12 supporting statements which form the panels of the Bloom Ball. Students would write these on their own after they collect evidence. I'll have to create a form for that and include it with the packet.
Below are examples of supporting statements that students would write on each panel. This will be part of my example.
1) Jack got stronger from all the hard work at the diggings.
2) Jack got a nickname: Jamoka Jack.
3) Praiseworthy was no longer trapped by his upbringing as a butler and could propose to Aunt Arabella.
4) Jack started to use the language he learned at the diggings; for example, he said carpentaros instead of woodpeckers.
5) Jack started drinking coffee.
6) Praiseworthy no longer carried his umbrella and wore his bowler hat; he dressed in the red miner's shirt and wore a wide-brimmed hat.
I can't give it all away yet! Give me a few days to work on this . . .
It seems that my By the Great Horn Spoon packet is getting the most interest so now that I have finished Shiloh, I'm going to focus on that. | <urn:uuid:e42b8008-5c7a-4b3f-b7fe-52de71d509a2> | CC-MAIN-2017-47 | http://grammarandgreatbooks.blogspot.com/2013/04/bloom-balls.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934805809.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20171119210640-20171119230640-00211.warc.gz | en | 0.977274 | 430 | 3.25 | 3 |
On Boxing Day 2015, the Merchant Adventurers’ Hall in York flooded – its proximity to the River Foss leading to the 14th Century Guildhall to be deluged with over a metre of water. This is the story of the flood and the Hall’s recovery.
The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall has sat adjacent to the River Foss in York for seven centuries. Its location is no accident, its site chosen by a group of merchants in the 14th Century as it was adjacent to the river and to its larger neighbour – the River Ouse enabling them to have direct navigable access to trade out of the City and across to Europe. The importance of commerce and in turn the riches which were bestowed on the merchants if they were successful overcame any reservations there may have been to the real danger of flooding.
Evidence suggests that the effects of flooding and its positioning below ground level was an issue from the very early days of the Hall’s construction. Timber supports were replaced with robust stone pillars within 100 years of the building being completed and the floor was gradually raised over centuries to limit the impact on the inhabitants who used the Undercroft as an Alms-house. The Hall had flooded three times in the last 150 years. However with the installation of the Foss Barrier in 1987 (to protect the properties along the River Foss which had been severely affected by floods in 1982) it was hoped that the Hall would no longer see another flood. This was not to be.
It had rained solidly for the whole of Christmas Day in and around the City, much of which made its way down stream to the River Foss. The first flood warning was issued on the morning of 26th December – the Hall was checked twice during the day and although the river was high the level was being maintained by the pumps at the pumping station at the Foss Barrier just minutes away from the Hall.
The pumps were at capacity pumping out water but at the same time water had also found its way into the pump room. A catch 22 situation was developing where if the barrier remained down and the pumps failed, water would build up and flood hundreds of properties. The drastic alternative was to lift the barrier and let the Ouse flow back into the Foss which would flood many homes and businesses along the river. A decision had to be made in 15 minutes. The barrier was lifted.
By the evening, water was quickly rising up the gardens, seeping up through the floor and eventually gushing through the walls of the 15th Century Chapel. Anything that could be moved upstairs was removed from the flooded ground floor and although efforts were taken to stem the flow, eventually nature had to take its course and items too heavy to remove such as a 16th Century Altar Table and 17th Century Oak Chest had to be left in the rising flood waters to the dismay of the staff. The water continued to rise the next day and peaked in the Undercroft at 1.1 metres in the early hours of 28th December – it became the highest ever recorded flood level.
After emergency repairs to the barrier and pumps, the water began to recede. At 8.30am on the morning of 29th December the flood waters remained welly high in the chapel, with all pumps on the River working at capacity – a puddle on the Undercroft floor was all that remained by 4.30pm the same day. As volunteers from across York and further afield arrived at the Hall donning wellies and brandishing marigolds the clean-up operation began in earnest. This process continues today.
Despite being full of dehumidifiers and with an awful lot of work still to be done, the Hall opened in February 2016 in time for the JORVIK Viking Festival. In October 2016 we were advised that the Undercroft and Chapel were dry which enabled us to move onto the next stage of flood recovery. In the first few months of 2017 we were able to move on apace with the restoration including the replacement of the reception floor, the lime-washing of the Undercroft and perhaps the largest task of all, the full restoration of the Chapel. The flood damage to the paintwork of the pews in the Chapel allowed us to use scientific techniques to discover what colours the 17th Century pews would have been when they were first installed in the Chapel in the 1660’s.
The restoration of the Hall after the floods of 2015 is now nearly at an end. However its story will be continued to be told as it becomes another layer in the fascinating history of this ancient building. | <urn:uuid:f0bad902-8e46-4a1a-8923-81b7979b0add> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.merchantshallyork.org/fully-restored-after-flood-damage-of-winter-2015/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370497309.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20200330212722-20200331002722-00148.warc.gz | en | 0.988048 | 926 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Data transmitting device uses no batteries, opts for environmental radio waves instead
We love stuff that works without batteries and electricity. Just recently, Renesas Electronics Corp developed a near-field wireless communication technology that’s capable of transmitting data without batteries. Using environmental radio waves to send data to Bluetooth- and wireless LAN (WiFi)-compatible devices, the system is sure to give rise to a bunch of products that could do with non-battery data transmissions.
A revolution in technology, soon, we could have small sensor devices that work without the need for electricity, helping us keep constant checks on their designated subjects by hooking on WiFi enabled devices! | <urn:uuid:1912b9cb-4b7b-4284-a7ed-67756e0036d1> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://www.greenlaunches.com/other-stuff/data-transmitting-device-uses-no-batteries-opts-for-environmental-radio-waves-instead.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1393999664120/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305060744-00023-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.917665 | 134 | 2.546875 | 3 |
"Sacraments and Ministries"A sacrament involves the use of material things as a sign and pledge of God's grace and as a means by which we receive his gifts. The two parts of a sacrament are the outward and visible sign, and the inward and spiritual grace. Jesus Christ, in the Gospel, appointed for his Church. Two sacraments are needed by all Christians for the fullness of life. They are Baptism and Holy Communion.
It is required that persons to be baptized should turn from sin, exclusively embrace the Christian Faith, give themselves to Christ and be his servants. Infants are baptized, because, though they are not yet old enough to make promises to God for themselves, others, i.e. their parents and Godparents, making the promises for them, can claim their adoption as children of God.
Besides these two sacraments, the Historic Christian Tradition also practices ministries of grace. Although these rites were not directly instituted by Jesus Christ, they are recognized as being ecclesiastical customs, which do not contradict the Holy Scriptures, and are practiced for the good of the Church and her members.
Confirmation is also a rite where baptized Christians who are usually 14 years and older are admitted as communicant members (regularly receiving Holy Communion) of the Historic Christian Tradition.
Faith & Family
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Copyright © Saint Matthew's Churches | <urn:uuid:838a8fb0-d9b8-49a2-a22e-46ef6cfeeda1> | CC-MAIN-2014-35 | http://www.saintmatthewschurches.com/Ministries.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-35/segments/1408500821666.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20140820021341-00188-ip-10-180-136-8.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954769 | 348 | 2.6875 | 3 |
In a previous post, we discussed the confusion about the definition and associated properties of diagonally dominant matrices. In this blog, we answer the next question.
What is a weak diagonally dominant matrix?
The answer is simple – the definition of a weak(ly) diagonally dominant matrix is identical to that of a diagonally dominant matrix as the inequality used for the check is a weak inequality of greater than or equal to (≥). See the previous post on Clearing up the confusion about diagonally dominant matrices – Part 1 where we define a diagonally dominant matrix.
Other blogs on diagonally dominant matrices
Clearing up the confusion about diagonally dominant matrices – Part 1
This post is brought to you by
- Holistic Numerical Methods Open Course Ware:
- the textbooks on
- the Massive Open Online Course (MOOCs) available at | <urn:uuid:a451523d-a791-40cc-a04b-5ab7f5f54ce5> | CC-MAIN-2017-34 | https://autarkaw.org/tag/diagonally-dominant-matrices/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886106996.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20170820223702-20170821003702-00197.warc.gz | en | 0.867838 | 190 | 2.59375 | 3 |
The most common pets in our homes are dogs and cats. It happens quite often that owners of four-legged pets often struggle with their behavioural problems. These problems are sometimes psychological and sometimes health-related.
In this article, we will present the most common behavioural problems of dogs and cats and how to deal with them.
The most common behavioural problem is the inadequate resocialisation of animals.
Re-socialisation = socialisation – it is the acquisition of skills expected by society, in this case, us Humans, in which an individual – or animal – is supposed to live.
In the beginning, we will introduce you to the most common behavioural problems in dogs.
Aggression is one of the most common disordered behaviours in dogs.
It is assumed that the presence of a mother with puppies up to 7 weeks of age reduces the risk of aggression towards humans.
Small dogs are more likely to be aggressive than large breeds.
Below is a ladder of aggression in the dog that shows the degrees of aggressiveness of animals towards us. It is not only the case that a dog biting a human being is a sign of aggressiveness, there are also some subtle but equally dangerous behaviours of our pets.
Does your dog show you his teeth when you want to pick up his ball?
Does your dog show his teeth on walks toward another dog, and do you avoid contact on walks with other pets?
When you try to get your dog off the couch and reach your hand towards him to get him off, does he show you his teeth?
These behaviours are a tendency towards aggression and can lead to biting at some point.
It’s important that your dog feels the limits of his behaviour, including during playtime. When at some point play gets out of control and your dog is pulling his teeth towards you, stop it, and let him calm down so you can interact with him again without getting him excited again. Play is only acceptable if it is under control. Use a system of rewarding only for good behaviour, and do not over-react with emotion towards him. Remember, however, that in some dogs setting certain limits may cause his aggression towards us to increase, in which case you should see a professional behavioural trainer immediately.
What are our tasks, the owners of a dog towards its aggression:
First of all, avoiding situations that trigger aggression in them;
Implementing behavioural therapy, the so-called system of rewarding the desired behaviour (anti-conditioning, and desensitization);
When your dog is polite also, this should be the moment to reward it, not to ignore it;
Aggressive behaviour of our pet should be ignored or interrupted, but under no circumstances punished or reinforced;
An alternative behaviour should be found for the animal, e.g. rewarding exercise, playing immediately after stopping the undesirable behaviour;
Long and intensive walks to allow him to unwind and run around in the fresh air;
When you have the opportunity, withdraw from the stressful situation.
Barking is another of the problems dog owners face.
The golden rule: A dog barks, don’t respond to it with the same. The dog perceives this as an encouragement to bark even louder and does not take it as punishment or instruction. If you give him a toy or a treat at the same time as he is barking, you are showing him that his behaviour is drawing attention to himself. How can you avoid this? Teach your dog the commands „voice” or „silence”, after each of these commands rewards him with a treat that will remind him of what he must do at that moment.
As for begging during your meals. Your dog should be in his place or another room when you eat, otherwise, he will find that he can accompany you in this activity. Remember not to throw extra food from the table, as this increases your dog’s begging behaviour. Consistency in our behaviour is extremely important here, if the dog once gets convinced that he can be next to you during your meal, it will show him that I am doing the right thing. All members of the family should be patient during his loud waiting, whining, and begging – as long as it takes. We should only take an interest in the dog when we have finished our meal and he has calmed down.
Another abnormal behaviour is biting the house equipment during our absence.
What to do in this case? First of all, replace chewing of the household equipment with special toys or components of a dog’s diet. If the chewing doesn’t work, while you are away from home, limit his free movement around the house, preferably designate one room for our pet or set up a cage, remembering to leave the chew for him. In this way, the dog will be able to satisfy the need to chew and at the same time will not be able to choose among the objects in the house. If your dog is not interested in the chew, try another one until he finds the perfect one.
What don’t dog owners like? As many as 40% of dog owners believe that a dog jumping on people crossing the threshold of the flat is non-behavioural behaviour. This is usually due to his excitement and desire to say hello. Sometimes, however, it is a sign of dominance in our home. Whatever the reason, we aim to stop your dog from jumping on people. The first basic rule is to be less excited when greeting your dog. The second, when your dog gets excited at the arrival of guests, is to distract him or teach him a command such as sit and reward him for correct behaviour.
Teaching your dog to jump on people, although at first, it may seem to us a very difficult task to accomplish, requires above all patience and training. Self-discipline also of all household members will be an important rule to follow.
How to deal with submissive urination in a dog?
First of all, go to the vet and check if the problem is not on the health side. If it turns out that it is not a health problem what then? Do everything you can to prevent your dog from urinating in the house, keep an eye on him at all times and learn to anticipate his behaviour. Puppies usually do it after eating, playing and waking up. A dog that wants to go potty will show this by being anxious, squealing, pacing around the house and sniffing the floor. It is then necessary to react quickly, being careful not to frighten your four-legged friend. When on a walk, let your dog do its business without distraction and finish off with a treat and praise. Be patient, consistent and remember that mishaps can happen. Some dogs need more time to learn. When you are away from home for a longer period, when greeting your pet, do it with as little emotion as possible. In dominant dogs the solution may be sterilisation, work on dominance relations in the house or pharmacological treatment. These are sometimes used for anxiety.
Most common undesirable behaviour in cats
The most common causes of non-behavioural behaviour in cats are:
Stress and anxiety;
Genetic predisposition (oriental breeds e.g. Siamese);
Nutritional deficiencies and somatic diseases (especially those involving pain);
Hyperactivity and hyperactivity syndrome;
Cats adopted too early develop psychomotor hyperactivity. They very often suck on blankets, wool or soft clothes. Why? Just like a baby, they need to suck their thumb.
The abnormal behaviour of cats is often linked to an inappropriate or excessive attachment to the owner. Cats often suffer from separation anxiety.
Where does aggression in cats come from, for example?
Dual status in nature – the skilful use of aggression determines the survival of the species;
Cats prefer to avoid direct combat, as such wounds could interfere with successful food acquisition;
In a threatening situation cats send out signals to scare off the enemy, which are perceived by humans as aggression towards them;
Aggression in cats is a natural phenomenon, belonging to the ethogram of this species;
Pathology occurs when the animal starts to react inadequately to the strength of the stimulus and its psychological state prevents it from functioning normally in its environment.
How can we help our cat? Certainly do not punish them for undesirable behaviour or shout at them. The animal we shout at often does not know it is doing something wrong, and sometimes we have the opposite effect.
Let’s visit the vet and have our cat examined: when a cat pees outside the litter box, it could be a problem with its urinary system.
Male cats often mark the territory due to their species, talk to your pet doctor about neutering. Often this type of procedure becomes the solution to our cat’s territory marking.
If stress is the cause of a behavioural problem, consider buying a product containing cat pheromones, which increase their sense of security and have a positive effect on their mood.
Does your cat scratch your furniture? Buy him special scratching posts, which will allow him to regulate the length of his claws and relieve stress in the least comfortable for his situations.
When being trained by ourselves or by a professional dog or cat behaviourist, we have to be aware that this has its character. Not every piece of advice we hear can help when teaching our four-legged pet. The important thing is to be consistent and not to give up, striving for the desired goal based on observation of our pet and finding out what is the inflammatory element of the problem. It is worth involving your household members to cooperate in eliminating the problem of your dog or cat. If you are unable to deal with your pet’s behaviour yourself, you should seek advice from a vet or specialist behaviourist. Our responsibility towards the dog/cat will be rewarded with their love and trust. | <urn:uuid:ace6dce8-7be5-49bb-969a-046fd3e19f9d> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://pettimemagazine.com/training-behaviour/behavioural-problems-aggression-and-other-non-standard-animal-behaviour/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224653930.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20230607143116-20230607173116-00388.warc.gz | en | 0.969807 | 2,060 | 2.875 | 3 |
PREVENTING INFLUENZA IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES
Millions of people in the U.S. live in long-term care (LTC) facilities like nursing homes, hospices, and assisted living facilities.1 People aged 65 and older make up the majority of LTC residents and are at the highest risk of complications from the flu because the immune system weakens with age.2
Many residents of long-term care facilities also have significant health issues or are immunocompromised, which puts them at even greater risk of developing serious and potentially fatal flu complications. Given these facts, it may not come as a surprise that approximately 85% of seasonal flu-related deaths in the U.S. occur in people over age 65.3
Preventing flu outbreaks in LTC facilities is critical, as well as containing the spread of the flu when an outbreak occurs.
Ahead, we’ll look at how long-term care facilities can help prevent and control the spread of flu through measures including but not limited to: staff and resident vaccination, good infection control practices, and active surveillance.
Ensuring healthcare workers receive comprehensive long-term care facility staff training and education on infection control practices is also vital. Using a combination of online healthcare education courses, live demonstrations, and classroom sessions can help ensure that workers have access to the learning method that works best for them.
THE IMPACT OF INFLUENZA ON LTC FACILITY RESIDENTS
It’s difficult to estimate the burden of influenza on long-term care facility residents, largely because existing data show that infection rates, complications of the flu, and flu-related deaths can vary significantly, depending on the types and subtypes of the virus in circulation at any given time and other factors, including geographic region and the specific conditions at each LTC facility.4
Nevertheless, we know that flu generally presents a major risk to long-term care residents. A comprehensive review of 206 published infectious outbreaks in long-term care facilities across 19 countries over a 40-year period found the following:4
- Of 37 different pathogens identified in the review, influenza virus caused the largest number of all outbreaks (49 of 206 outbreaks, or 23%).
- Of the 49 outbreaks caused by flu, the median attack rate in residents was 33%; rates varied dramatically by facility-in some facilities, the rate was as low as 4%, in others, as high as 94%.
- The median fatality rate for residents was 6.5%. Fatality rates also varied dramatically by facility, from 0-55%.
Exposure to the flu virus significantly increases a resident’s risk of hospitalization and death from flu-related respiratory problems, compared to unexposed residents. This is true even in facilities where a large percentage of residents have been vaccinated against the flu.4
Due to America’s aging population — demand for long-term care facilities will only grow in the coming years. The number of Americans over age 65 is projected to grow from around 40 million people in 2010 to 88.5 million in 2050; the number of people age 85 and over will almost triple in the coming decades, from 6.3 million in 2015 to 17.9 million in 2050.1
This means LTC facilities will face even greater challenges in the years ahead in preventing and containing flu outbreaks. Diligent infection prevention and control strategies will be even more important.
There are three types of flu virus known to infect humans: A, B, and C. 5 Types A and B are responsible for nearly all the annual flu epidemics in the U.S.5 Type C also causes flu, but symptoms are much less severe than with types A and B, and type C is not thought to cause epidemics.5
Type A influenza viruses are further broken down into subtypes and strains; type B viruses are further broken down not into subtypes, but into lineages and strains.5
Per the CDC, two types of influenza A (H1N1 and H3N2) and one or two types of influenza B virus (depending on the vaccine) are included in each year’s influenza vaccine.5
Flu transmission occurs via three routes: droplet-larger particles too large to be inhaled into the lungs and which fall quickly to the ground/other surfaces; aerosol-small particles that can remain suspended in the air and are potentially inhalable into the lower respiratory tract; and contact-transfer of infectious particles to the mucous membranes through contaminated objects.
Flu incubation periods are short, typically ranging from one to four days, but it can take as few as three or as many as nine days for an infected person to show symptoms.4 The flu’s short incubation period means the virus can spread rapidly through LTC facilities. Staff should begin isolation and transmission-based precautions as soon as a case of influenza is confirmed or suspected (discussed ahead).
Healthy people may only shed the flu virus for six to seven days, with pre-symptomatic shedding in up to one-third of cases.4 While influenza transmission dynamics have not been studied in people age 65 and older, research has found that immunocompromised patients and those who are hospitalized with severe flu may shed the virus for weeks or even months. Patients with multiple health issues have also been shown to shed the virus for longer and to have a larger viral load.4
Since many LTC residents have comorbidities or are immunocompromised, they may be infectious for prolonged periods, compared to the general population-an important consideration for LTC administrators.
Common flu symptoms include high fever-102 degrees F or greater – body aches, fatigue, sore throat, headache, nausea/vomiting, and in some, a runny/stuffy nose. It’s important for healthcare personnel to know that flu symptoms may be less obvious in long-term care residents-infected residents may not have a fever, or they may have non-specific symptoms or atypical presentation of influenza, such as exacerbation of an underlying condition with no known cause.4
COMPLICATIONS OF THE FLU
Flu complications are common and dangerous in seniors, especially those with multiple chronic health conditions. Serious complications can include pneumonia, dehydration, inflammation of the heart (myocarditis), inflammation of the brain (encephalitis), multi-organ failure, and death.
FLU PREVENTION MEASURES
Flu prevention requires diligent, year-round adherence to a range of protection measures, including vaccination (residents and staff), surveillance, infection control, testing, antiviral treatment, antiviral chemoprophylaxis, and others.
- Surveillance/Early Recognition – when there is flu activity in the local community, LTC facilities should conduct daily surveillance among all residents, staff, and visitors. Once a single case of influenza has been confirmed with lab testing, staff should assume there are other cases on site. Surveillance should continue until the end of influenza season and at least one week after the last confirmed case. Administrators should notify local health and state health departments of every suspected or confirmed influenza outbreak occurring at an LTC facility.
- Infection Control Measures
- Standard Precautions should be followed, including hand hygiene, wearing gloves while working with potentially infectious material, and using gowns for patient-care activities that involve blood, bodily fluids, or secretions.
- Droplet/Isolation Precautions – Patients with suspected or confirmed influenza should be placed in a private room or area or, if not possible, grouped with other patients who have the same affliction. LTC staff should wear facemasks when entering the rooms of patients with suspected or confirmed influenza; facemasks should be removed and disposed of properly, followed by hand hygiene. Patients should wear facemasks and follow respiratory hygiene, cough etiquette, and hand hygiene guidelines.
- Staff Vaccination – the CDC recommends that all health care personnel get vaccinated against influenza to help reduce transmission of the virus, staff illness and absenteeism, and flu-related illness and death, especially for people at increased risk. The CDC reports that higher vaccination rates among healthcare personnel are associated with a lower risk of healthcare facility-associated flu cases. Studies have shown that high rates of staff vaccination in LTC facilities decrease the risk of death due to any cause, especially when both healthcare workers and patients have high vaccination rates.4,6
- Resident Vaccination – Studies have yielded inconclusive results in terms of how effective influenza vaccination is in protecting residents of long-term care facilities.6 Still, the CDC recommends vaccinating all new and current residents.6 Where possible, all residents should receive trivalent inactivated influenza vaccine (TIV) annually before the flu season begins. 6 Residents admitted after the conclusion of a flu vaccination program should be considered for vaccination on a case-by-case basis.6
- Manage Visitor Access during Flu Outbreaks – Visitation of patients in isolation for flu should be limited to situations where visits are necessary for the patient’s emotional well-being and care. Visitors with acute respiratory symptoms should be restricted from certain areas-e.g., oncology units, with exceptions made on a case-by-case basis. All visitors should follow posted respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette. Facilities should ensure that visitors have the information and personal protective equipment they need to prevent the spread of the flu.
- Lab Testing – Even if it’s not flu season, facilities should test for influenza when any resident has signs and symptoms of influenza-like illness, especially if two or more residents develop respiratory illness within 72 hours of each other. Facilities should implement outbreak prevention and control measures as soon as a flu outbreak has been confirmed.
- Antiviral Treatment -Facilities should immediately administer antiviral treatment to residents and staff who have suspected or confirmed influenza, according to current recommendations.6
- Antiviral Chemoprophylaxis -Facilities should administer antiviral chemoprophylaxis to all eligible residents as soon as a flu outbreak is confirmed. 6
STAFF TRAINING AND EDUCATION: KEY TO INFLUENZA PREVENTION AND CONTROL
Healthcare administrators have the responsibility of ensuring that all healthcare personnel receive education and training on preventing the transmission of influenza. Healthcare staff should receive updates about current influenza viruses in circulation, as well as ongoing training and continuing education on infection control practices. Key aspects of an influenza training and education program include:
- Recognizing influenza signs and symptoms.
- Understanding flu complications and their risk factors.
- The importance of infection control practices, including respiratory hygiene and cough etiquette, hand hygiene, the use of personal protective equipment, sick policies and specific work practices that prevent the spread of infection.
Medcom Featured Series: Infection Control in Long-Term Care
Medcom’s healthcare education programs are trusted by nursing homes, hospices, assisted living facilities, adult day care centers, and hospitals across the country. Our Infection Control in Long Term Care courses were developed with nurses, certified nursing assistants, and others who work directly with residents of long-term care facilities in mind. Courses include:
- Infection Control in Long Term Care: An Introduction
- Infection Control in Long Term Care: Multidrug-Resistant Organisms
- Infection Control in Long Term Care: Precautions
- Infection Control in Long Term Care: Regulatory and Administrative Measures
- Infection Control in Long Term Care: Safe Work Practices
- Preventing Blood borne Infection in Long Term Care
Viewers will learn about a broad range of topics, including events that led to the development of improved infection control practices, how the Joint Commission promotes healthcare worker and resident safety, the CDC network used for reporting healthcare-associated infections, the Needlestick Safety and Prevention Act, how to perform proper hand hygiene and fingernail care, how to properly use personal protective equipment (PPE), the key characteristics of different multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDROs), and much more.
Medcom has designated 0.5 contact hours of continuing nursing education credit for each of the courses listed above.
For more information about this series or to set up a free preview, please contact Medcom at 800-541-0253, or email [email protected].
For more than 50 years, Medcom has been a trusted education provider among healthcare professionals, students, patients, and their loved ones. Our vast library of products is used nationwide by universities, hospitals, long-term care facilities, and mental/behavior health areas.
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Unmodified Fabric Rectangles
|The simplest clothing is formed by wrapping or pinning an unmodified fabric length around the body. Simple cloaks such as the haik and chador are also formed from unmodfied lengths.|
Woman and child,
Izar (click to enlarge),
Fisherman in futah,
The izar is worn from Morocco to Syria - usually over a sleeved dress. The fabric is twice the height of the wearer. It is wound once around like a skirt and held with a sash, then is wound over the head. Parker
A similar garment is also worn by Nubians on the Sudanese border.
Berbers in Morocco also wear a similar style but using two rectangles. One for the skirt and the other for upper body. The skirt is sometimes referred to as a loin cloth or in Algeria a fouta Tafsout. This is basically the same as the futah in Yemen.
Pinned GarmentsBerbers in the Maghrib also wear a draped garment held with two pins at the shoulder - like the Greek peplos and fibula - in the Maghrib it is called melia or melehfa and bzima. Parker, Tafsout
Girl in melia,
Dresses pinned at shoulders,
Simple Wrapped Cloaks
Covered women in market,
Wealthy women in haiks,
HaikThroughout the Maghrib and eastwards, urban women cover their whole body with a sheer garment called the haik. This 6m x 2m length of fabric is made of fine wool and sometimes striped with blue or black over the white. Parker, Britannica
HandiraA heavier garment, more like a blanket or shawl, the handira is also worn in this region Parker
Women and girls in chadors
ChadorFurther east, the chador is worn as outer cloak. It was banned in Iran in the 1920s but made a come back in the 1950s and now required.
Other general types of clothing:
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© Copyright 2008
Updated by JEWEL | <urn:uuid:72f985c9-4be1-499f-adfa-165f9976a3a1> | CC-MAIN-2017-39 | http://www.raqs.co.nz/me/clothing_rectangle.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818696696.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20170926212817-20170926232817-00096.warc.gz | en | 0.911568 | 452 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Autoimmune disorder is a disorder occurs when antibodies attack the same tissues of the body believing it as antigens. Symptoms depend on the disorder occurred and at the site of the body affected. Immunosuppressants are used as a treatment of the autoimmune disorder.
An autoimmune disorder may result in the destruction of body tissue, abnormal growth of an organ, Changes in organ function. An autoimmune disorder may affect one or more organ or tissue types and autoimmune disorders often affects areas like Blood vessels, Red blood cells etc. Common autoimmune disorders are Addison's disease, Multiple sclerosis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Systemic lupus erythematosus etc.
Related Journals of Autoimmune Disorder
Autoimmune disorder journal, Immunotherapy: Open Access, Immunome Research | <urn:uuid:971998d4-3053-4856-999d-7c087f2e3915> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://www.walshmedicalmedia.com/scholarly/autoimmune-disorder-journals-articles-ppts-list-2484.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296949097.61/warc/CC-MAIN-20230330035241-20230330065241-00052.warc.gz | en | 0.820475 | 157 | 2.8125 | 3 |
Inflammation of testis tissue is most commonly due to bacterial infection, termed epididymo-orchitis. Viral infections also occur in the testis in the form of mumps orchitis. Orchitis is observed in approximately 30% of postpubertal males who contract parotitis. Testis atrophy is a significant and frequent result of viral orchitis but is less common with bacterial infections.
Ischemic injury to the testis secondary to twisting of the testis on the spermatic cord pedicle is not uncommon in prepubertal and early postpubertal boys. When diagnosed and corrected surgically within 6 h of occurrence, the testis can usually be saved. Torsion may result in inoculation of the immune system with testis antigens that may predispose to later immunological infertility. It recognized that the “normal” contralateral mate of a torsed testis could also exhibit histologic abnormalities. It has not been clearly demonstrated whether this is related to the actual torsion or to an underlying abnormality in testes predisposed to torsion.
- Male reproductive physiology
- Diagnosis of Male Infertility
- Causes of Male infertility
- Chromosomal Causes
- Other Syndromes
- Systemic Disease
- Defective Androgen Activity
- Testis Injury
- Treatment of Male infertility
Because of the peculiar immunologic status of the testis in the body (ie, it is an immunologically privileged site), trauma to the testis can invoke an abnormal immune response in addition to atrophy resulting from injury. Both may contribute to infertility. Trauma to the testis that results in fracture of the testis tunica albugineal layer should be surgically explored and repaired to minimize exposure of testis tissue to the body.
Revision date: July 5, 2011
Last revised: by Jorge P. Ribeiro, MD | <urn:uuid:66d3d219-a25c-4736-a552-ded1d96ebc1e> | CC-MAIN-2020-24 | http://www.health.am/sex/more/testis_injury/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347405558.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20200529152159-20200529182159-00309.warc.gz | en | 0.886209 | 404 | 2.78125 | 3 |
How can I protect myself and my family?
When it comes to COVID-19, prevention is key. Fortunately, there are many
things you can begin doing immediately to help protect yourself and your
loved ones. The
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the following preventive measures:
Wash your hands often: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This
is especially important after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing;
going to the bathroom; and before eating or preparing food. If soap and
water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least
Check out this video for complete instructions.
Cover your coughs and sneezes: Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw
used tissues away in a lined trash can and immediately wash your hands.
If a tissue is not readily available, cough or sneeze into the bend of
Avoid touching your face: Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Clean and disinfect: Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables,
doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards,
toilets, facets and sinks.
Stay home: If you are feeling sick, stay home and limit your exposure to others.
Limit group activities and practice social distancing: Due to the long incubation period, the best way to prevent this illness
is to avoid being exposed. Even if you are not feeling sick, it is currently
recommended to limit exposure to large groups and put distance between
yourself and other people to help stop the spread of COVID-19. This is
especially important for people who are at higher risk of getting very sick.
Older adults and people who have severe underlying chronic medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing
more serious complications from COVID-19. If you or a loved one falls
into this category, please consult with your healthcare provider about
additional steps you may be able to take to protect yourself. | <urn:uuid:788da716-1e40-4ee2-8e67-9eb2cf39be20> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.caromonthealth.org/COVID-19/How-can-I-protect-myself-.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371824409.86/warc/CC-MAIN-20200408202012-20200408232512-00219.warc.gz | en | 0.936529 | 449 | 3.3125 | 3 |
Decoding Anesthesia Records
Anesthesia records are among the most complex forms found in medical records. The key to understanding them is to recognize that forms are generated at two phases of the surgical experience: preoperatively during the anesthesia evaluation and intraoperatively during the administration of anesthesia. The preanesthesia assessment collects data about the patient’s medical and surgical history, anesthesia history, vital signs, height, weight, allergies, and details of any family member’s reactions to anesthesia.
The analysis of all of the data leads the anesthesiologist to assign a classification that defines the patient’s medical condition and the urgency of surgery. Classifications range from I-VI. The healthiest person is assigned a classification of I. A brain dead person waiting an organ procurement procedure receives a classification of VI. The addition of E to the classification indicates the surgery is being performed on an emergency basis.
It is of prime importance for the anesthesiologist to detect airway problems in advance of intubation. Difficult airways can occur because of facial deformities, a small mouth or thick neck, trauma to the face or teeth, airway tumors, cervical spine injuries, or burns or radiation to the head or neck. The anesthesiologist evaluates the airway opening by determining how much of the back of the throat is obscured by the tongue. The airway is graded on a I-IV scale. A grade I airway provides the best view of the back of the throat. A grade IV offers the least view and is the one most often associated with intubation challenges. The anesthesiologist concludes the preoperative note by recording the type of anesthesia that will be provided: GA (general anesthesia), MAC (monitored anesthesia care), IV sedation, spinal, epidural, regional, IV bier, or others.
Intraoperative anesthesia records invariably consist of a grid with the time across the top in 5-minute increments, and a column down the left side to record information about medications or anesthetic gases and patient data. The grid starts with the time the anesthesia begins. A symbol is typically used to indicate when the incision was made. Doses of medication are recorded at the beginning of surgery, and as each subsequent dose is given. Vital signs are recorded using a series of Vs. The upper V is the systolic (top number in the blood pressure). The upside down V below it is the diastolic blood pressure value. It is common to record the pulse as a period. The trend in blood pressure is most important thing to review. Look for sudden dips or elevations in blood pressure. Such events will invariably be accompanied by notes of the anesthesiologist.
Various monitors used during anesthesia include cardiac, pulse oximetry (checks the oxygen level in the blood, and should be 95-100%), and end tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2). This is the partial pressure or maximal concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) at the end of an exhaled breath, which is expressed as a percentage of CO2 or mmHg (millimeters of mercury). The normal values are 5% to 6% CO2, which is equivalent to 35-45 mmHg. Blood pressure and temperature monitors are also used.
The anesthesiologist records the amount of fluid given during surgery. This is sometimes documented as “crystalloids” and “colloids”. Intravenous fluids are crystalloids. An easy way to remember this is to recall that crystals are often clear. Colloids consist of albumin (protein), blood, HES (hydroxyethyl starch), and dextran. Colloids are not clear. Blood and blood products are often abbreviated. Packed cells (PC) or fresh frozen plasma (FFP) may be given. Whole blood may be transfused if a patient is acutely bleeding and a volume needs to be replaced. Cell savers take blood out of the incision, filter it, and return it to the patient.
The estimated blood loss (EBL) is one of the most important pieces of information on the anesthesia record. Dry sponges are weighed prior to the beginning of surgery. The EBL is determined by emptying the suction canisters, recording amounts of irrigating fluid used, and weighing the blood soaked sponges. As a general rule, adults have 5000-6000 cc of circulating blood. A loss of 1000 cc or more during surgery without blood administration will be reflected in a drop in hemoglobin and hematocrit, and can be clinically significant.
Why is it so hard to read anesthesia records?
Anesthesia records contain large amounts of data recorded in a cramped space. The space for writing information is often smaller than is practical. There is usually insufficient room to record events when things go wrong. It is rare for a form to allow much space for additional notes. The anesthesia record is notable for using graphic recording techniques, abbreviations and symbols, some of which may not be standardized. Although the format of the anesthesia record page is designed to handle many parameters and pieces of information, it is impossible to record every single aspect of the anesthetic course. While vital signs are typically recorded every five minutes, they may be monitored more frequently. Blood pressure determinations recorded every five minutes may reflect an “average pressure” from measures obtained at two or three minute intervals, or even more frequently when a patient is unstable. The chart reflects the trend. Sudden changes in the patient’s condition direct attention away from recording data and toward administration of medications or fluids; the completeness of the anesthesia record is affected.
Automated anesthesia records (AAR) are available in some settings, but are not widely used. Information from electronic monitors is automatically transmitted to a computer. A keyboard is used to input additional information. The AAR has some drawbacks. Interference with electronic signals (artifacts) may require editing by the anesthesiologist. The most striking example of this problem occurs during the surgeon’s use of electrocautery to cut tissues and stop bleeding. The EKG signal is lost during this time, resulting in erroneous heart rate recording, possible erroneous recording of heart arrhythmia, and triggering of alarms.
The provider must then manually indicate the presence of electronically generated artifacts. Other artifacts may be present on the record without being recognized and identified by the anesthesiologist. These drawbacks may be outweighed by the advantages of more accurate recording and significant time savings. It has been estimated that between 15 and 20 percent of a provider’s time is spent documenting and recording events and data, and it has been argued that relieving the provider of a task will allow for more supervisory and cognitive activity, thus preventing a crisis situation. The move towards computerizing medical records may result in a more widespread use of AAR. However, whether handwritten or computer generated, it is likely that anesthesia records will remain challenging to interpret.
- Kuc, J. “Perioperative Records”, in Iyer, P., Levin, B., and Shea, M.A., Medical Legal Aspects of Medical Records, Lawyers and Judges Publishing Company, 2006.
- Rodden, D. and Dlugose, D. “Nurse Anesthesia Malpractice Issues”, in Iyer, P. and Levin, B. Nursing Malpractice, Third Edition, Lawyers and Judges Publishing Company, 2007. | <urn:uuid:1548775a-017a-4840-b154-167c5955f00c> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://www.medleague.com/articles/medical-records/decoding-anesthesia-records/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1393999635916/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305060715-00053-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.928364 | 1,526 | 3.078125 | 3 |
In Counterconditioning, a particular response to a certain stimulus is replaced by a new response. This new response is supposed to deter the person from the stimulus. For example, a person may feel positive feelings towards smoking. Through a behavioral therapy technique they would learn to feel negatively about their smoking.
Two techniques that are used in Counterconditioning are aversion therapy and systematic desensitization. In aversion therapy the client is taught to experience negative in the presence of the stimulus, with the aim that the client will eventually feel repelled by the stimulus. In systematic desensitization, the therapist seeks to help the client fight anxiety and other troublesome responses by teaching the client a set of relaxation techniques. | <urn:uuid:f2e86ae9-ee35-4877-9a80-1ff94f35b287> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://psychologycampus.com/counterconditioning-therapy-creating-an-opposite-reaction/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510462.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20230928230810-20230929020810-00310.warc.gz | en | 0.939732 | 148 | 3.765625 | 4 |
Obesity is not just a cosmetic problem. It's a health hazard. Someone who is 40% overweight is twice as likely to die prematurely as is an average-weight person. This is because obesity has been linked to several serious medical conditions, including:
- Heart disease and stroke
- High blood pressure
- Gallbladder disease and gallstones
- Breathing problems, such as sleep apnea (when a person stops breathing for a short time during sleep) and asthma
Doctors generally agree that the more obese a person is the more likely he or she is to have health problems. People who are 20% or more overweight can gain significant health benefits from losing weight. Many obesity experts believe that people who are less than 20% above their healthy weight should still try to lose weight if they have any of the following risk factors.
- Family history of certain chronic diseases. People with close relatives who have had heart disease or diabetes are more likely to develop these problems if they are obese.
- Pre-existing medical conditions. High blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, or high blood sugar levels are all warning signs of some obesity-associated diseases.
- "Apple" shape. People whose weight is concentrated around their stomachs may be at greater risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, or cancer than people of the same weight who are "pear-shaped" (they carry their weight in their hips and buttocks).
Fortunately, even a modest weight loss of 10 to 20 pounds can bring significant health improvements, such as lowering one's blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
How Is Obesity Linked to Heart Disease and Stroke?
Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death and disability for people in the U.S. Overweight people are more likely to have high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, than people who are not overweight. Very high blood levels of cholesterol can also lead to heart disease and often are linked to being overweight. Being overweight also contributes to angina (chest pain caused by decreased oxygen to the heart) and sudden death from heart disease or stroke without any signs or symptoms.
The good news is that losing a small amount of weight can reduce your chances of developing heart disease or a stroke. Reducing your weight by 10% can decrease your chance of developing heart disease.
How Is Obesity Linked to Diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes reduces your body's ability to control blood sugar. It is a major cause of early death, heart disease, stroke, and blindness. Overweight people are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to normal weight people. You can reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes by losing weight and exercising more. If you have type 2 diabetes, losing weight and becoming more physically active can help control your blood sugar levels. Increasing your physical activity may also allow you to reduce the amount of diabetes medication you need.
How Is Obesity and Cancer Linked?
Several types of cancer are associated with being overweight. In women, these include cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, cervix, ovary, breast, and colon. Overweight men are at higher risk for developing colorectal cancer and prostate cancer. For some types of cancer, such as colon or breast, it is not clear whether the increased risk is due to the extra weight or to a high-fat, high-calorie diet.
How Is Obesity Related to Gallbladder Disease?
Gallbladder disease and gallstones are more common if you are overweight. Your risk of disease increases as your weight increases. It is not clear how being overweight may cause gallbladder disease.
Ironically, weight loss itself, particularly rapid weight loss or loss of a large amount of weight, can actually increase your chances of developing gallstones. Modest, slow weight loss of about 1 pound a week is less likely to cause gallstones.
How Does Obesity Cause Osteoarthritis?
Osteoarthritis is a common joint condition that most often affects the knee, hip, and lower back joints. Carrying extra pounds places extra pressure on these joints and wear away the cartilage (tissue that cushions the joints) that normally protects them.
Weight loss can decrease stress on the knees, hips, and lower back and may improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis.
How Is Obesity Linked to Gout?
Gout is a disease that affects the joints that is caused by high levels of a substance called uric acid in the blood. The large amount of uric acid can form into solid or crystal-like masses that deposit in the joints. Gout is more common in overweight people and the risk of developing the disorder increases with higher body weights.
Over the short term, certain dietary changes may lead to an attack of gout in people who have high levels of uric acid or who have had gout before. If you have a history of gout, check with your doctor before trying to lose weight.
How Is Obesity Linked to Sleep Apnea?
Sleep apnea is a serious breathing condition that is associated with being overweight. Sleep apnea can cause a person to snore heavily and to stop breathing for short periods during sleep. Sleep apnea may cause daytime sleepiness and even heart failure. The risk for sleep apnea increases as body weight increases. Weight loss usually improves sleep apnea.
Reviewed by the Department of Nutrition Therapy at The
Edited by Charlotte Grayson, MD, WebMD, August 2004.
Portions of this page © The Cleveland Clinic 2000-2004
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WHO report 2008
Global tuberculosis control - surveillance, planning, financing
The global burden of TB
1. There were an estimated 9.2 million new cases of TB in 2006 (139 per 100 000 population), including 4.1 million new smear-positive cases (44% of the total) and 0.7 million HIV-positive cases (8% of the total). This is an increase from 9.1 million cases in 2005, due to population growth. India, China, Indonesia, South Africa and Nigeria rank first to fifth respectively in terms of absolute numbers of cases. The African Region has the highest incidence rate per capita (363 per 100 000 population).
2. There were an estimated 14.4 million prevalent cases of TB in 2006.
3. There were an estimated 0.5 million cases of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) in 2006.
4. In 2006, there were an estimated 1.5 million deaths from TB in HIV-negative people and 0.2 million among people infected with HIV.
5. In 2007, a total of 202 (out of 212) countries and territories reported TB notification data for 2006 to WHO. A total of 5.1 million new cases (out of the estimated 9.2 million new cases) were notified for 2006 among these 202 countries and territories, of which 2.5 million (50%) were new smear-positive cases. The African, South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions accounted for 83% of total case notifications.
Targets and strategies for TB control
6. Targets for global TB control have been set within the framework of the Millennium Developments Goals (MDGs). MDG 6 Target 6.C is to halt and reverse incidence by 2015. The Stop TB Partnership has set two additional impact targets, which are to halve prevalence and death rates by 2015 compared with their level in 1990. The outcome targets first set by the World Health Assembly in 1991 are to detect at least 70% of new smear-positive cases in DOTS programmes and to successfully treat at least 85% of detected cases. All five targets have been adopted by the Stop TB Partnership and, in 2007, were recognized in a World Health Assembly resolution (WHA 60.19).
7. The Stop TB Strategy launched by WHO in 2006 is designed to achieve the 2015 impact targets as well as the targets for case detection and treatment success. The Global Plan, launched in January 2006, details the scale at which the six components of the Stop TB Strategy should be implemented to achieve these targets, and the funding required, for each year 2006–2015.
8. The Stop TB Strategy has six major components: (i) DOTS expansion and enhancement; (ii) addressing TB/HIV, MDR-TB and other challenges; (iii) contributing to health system strengthening; (iv) engaging all care providers; (v) empowering patients, and communities; and (vi) enabling and promoting research.
Implementing the Stop TB Strategy
DOTS expansion and enhancement
9. DOTS was being implemented in 184 countries that accounted for 99% of all estimated TB cases and 93% of the world’s population in 2006. A total of 4.9 million new cases of TB were notified by DOTS programmes in 2006 (98% of the total of 5.1 million new cases notified globally), including 2.5 million new smear-positive cases (99% of the total notified globally). Between 1995 (when reliable records began) and 2006, a total of 31.8 million new and relapse cases, and 15.5 million new smear-positive cases were notified by DOTS programmes.
Addressing TB/HIV, MDR-TB and other challenges
10. There has been considerable progress in HIV testing among TB patients, and in provision of co-trimoxozole preventive therapy (CPT) and antiretroviral therapy (ART) to HIV-positive TB patients.
11. Almost 700 000 TB patients were tested for HIV in 2006 among all reporting countries, up from 470 000 in 2005 and 22 000 in 2002. The numbers tested in 2006 are equivalent to 12% of TB case notifications globally, and 22% of notified cases in the African Region. Among 11 African countries with over 50% of the world’s HIV-positive TB cases that reported data for all years 2002–2006, the percentage of notified cases that were tested quadrupled, from 8% to 35%. Rwanda (76%), Malawi (64%) and Kenya (60%) achieved the highest testing rates, which are also ahead of the 51% target set for the African Region in the Global Plan.
12. The number of HIV-positive TB patients treated with CPT reached 147 000 in 2006, equivalent to 78% of the HIV-positive TB patients that were identified through testing and 2.5 times higher than the 58 000 patients treated with CPT in 2005. The number started on CPT is less than the 0.5 million specified in the Global Plan for 2006; numbers could be increased if more countries emulated the high testing rates of countries such as Rwanda, Malawi and Kenya.
13. The number of HIV-positive TB patients enrolled on ART was 67 000 in 2006, more than double the 29 000 reported for 2005 and seven times the 9 800 reported in 2004, but less than the 220 000 target for 2006 in the Global Plan. The proportion of diagnosed HIV-positive TB patients enrolled on ART was 41% compared with the 44% target for 2006 in the Global Plan; as with CPT, one reason why numbers fall short of the Global Plan is that HIV testing rates are not yet high enough.
14. Implementation of interventions to reduce the burden of TB in HIV-positive people was far below the targets set in the Global Plan in 2006. The Global Plan target for 2006 was to screen 11 million HIV-positive people for TB disease; the actual figure reported was 314 211. Only 27 000 HIV-positive people without active TB were started on IPT (0.1% of the 33 million people estimated to be infected with HIV), almost all of whom were in Botswana.
15. A total of 23 353 cases of MDR-TB were notified in 2006, of which just over half were in the European Region. Among these notified cases, only the 2 032 cases reported from projects and programmes approved by the Green Light Committee (GLC) are known to have been enrolled on treatment that meets the standards established in WHO guidelines.
16. The total number of MDR-TB cases that countries forecast will be enrolled on treatment in 2007 and 2008 is about 50 000 in both years. Projections for 2008 are much less than the target of 98 000 that was set in the Global MDR-TB/XDR-TB Response Plan. Most of the shortfall is in the European, South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions, and within these regions in China and India in particular. Major expansion of services that meet the standards established in WHO guidelines is needed.
Health system strengthening; engaging all care providers
17. Implementation of components 3–6 of the Stop TB Strategy is currently less well understood than for components 1 and 2, because the available data are more limited.
18. In the area of health system strengthening (component 3), diagnosis and treatment of TB is fully integrated into general health services in most countries. Links with general health sector or development planning frameworks are variable, but alignment with sector-wide approaches was comparatively good among reporting countries. The Practical Approach to Lung Health is being piloted or expanded nationwide in 15 countries, and is included in the plans of 73 countries. Many countries lack comprehensive plans for human resource development or a recent assessment of staffing needs.
19. Among the 22 high-burden countries (HBCs) that collectively account for 80% of TB cases globally, 14 are scaling up public–private and public–public mix approaches to involve the full range of care providers in TB control, and seven have used the International Standards for Tuberculosis Care to facilitate this process. However, the contribution of different providers to detection, referral and treatment of cases will remain unclear until recording and reporting forms recommended by WHO are more widely introduced.
Empowering patients, and communities; enabling and promoting research
20. Surveys of Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice (KAP) have been conducted in 13 of the 22 HBCs to help with the design of advocacy, communication and social mobilization (ACSM) activities. However, ACSM is still a new area for many countries, and much more guidance and technical support are necessary. Involvement of communities in TB care was reported by 20 of the 22 HBCs. Operational research (part of component 6) was reported by 49 countries.
Financing TB control
21. The total budgets of national TB control programmes (NTPs) in HBCs amount to US$ 1.8 billion in 2008, up from US$ 0.5 billion in 2002 but almost the same as budgets for 2007; NTP budgets for the 90 countries with 91% of global TB cases that reported complete data total US$ 2.3 billion in 2008. Budgets are typically equivalent to about US$ 100–300 per patient treated.
22. DOTS accounts for the largest single share of NTP budgets in almost all countries. Budgets for the diagnosis and treatment of MDR-TB have become strikingly large in the Russian Federation (US$ 267 million) and South Africa (US$ 239 million) and, when combined, these two countries account for 93% of the budgets for MDR-TB reported by HBCs.
23. With a few exceptions, NTP budgets do not include the costs associated with using general health system resources, such as staff and infrastructure for TB control. When these costs are added to NTP budgets, we estimate that the total cost of TB control in HBCs will reach US$ 2.3 billion in 2008 (up from US$ 0.6 billion in 2002), and US$ 3.1 billion across 90 reporting countries. Costs per patient treated are generally US$ 100–400.
24. For the 22 HBCs, NTP budgets and our estimates of the total costs of TB control activities planned for 2008 are very similar to those in 2007 for all but five countries (Brazil, Ethiopia, Mozambique, Nigeria and the United Republic of Tanzania). This stagnation is worrying, because it suggests that the deceleration in case detection that occurred between 2005 and 2006 could persist into 2008.
25. Funding for TB control has grown to US$ 2.0 billion in HBCs and US$ 2.7 billion across the 90 reporting countries in 2008. Increased funding is mainly from domestic sources in Brazil, China, the Russian Federation and South Africa and from Global Fund grants in other countries. Across HBCs in 2008, governments will cover 73% of the total costs of TB control and grants will cover 13% (including US$ 200 million from the Global Fund). Reported funding gaps for 2008 total US$ 328 million among HBCs (14% of total costs) and US$ 385 million across 90 reporting countries (13% of total costs). Only five HBCs reported no funding gap for 2008 (Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, and South Africa)
26. Funding gaps reported by countries would be larger if country plans and assessments of funding requirements were fully aligned with the Global Plan. In 2008, the gap between the total available funding reported by countries and the total funding requirements laid out in the Global Plan is US$ 0.8 billion in HBCs and US$ 0.9 billion across all 90 reporting countries. The discrepancy is mostly due to higher budgets for MDR-TB (South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions), collaborative TB/HIV activities (African and South-East Asia regions) and ACSM (all regions) in the Global Plan.
27. Several countries have plans and budgets that are well aligned with the Global Plan. Many countries in Africa have embarked upon, and in some cases completed, the development of medium-term plans and budgets using a WHO tool designed to support planning and budgeting in line with targets set out in the Global Plan. Completion of this work, and its expansion to other countries, are now crucial and should form the basis for intensified efforts to mobilize the necessary resources from domestic and donor sources.
Progress towards outcome targets
28. The case detection rate for new smear-positive cases in DOTS programmes is estimated at 61% globally in 2006 (i.e. the 2.5 million notified cases divided by the 4.1 million estimated cases), a small increase from 2005 but still short of the 70% target. The Western Pacific Region (77%) and 77 countries achieved the 70% target; the Region of the Americas (69%) and the South-East Asia Region were close (67%). The Eastern Mediterranean Region (52%), the European Region (52%) and the African Region (46%) were much further from the target. The European Region could reach the target by increasing both DOTS population coverage and the use of smear microscopy.
29. The estimated case detection rate in the African Region in 2006 may be an underestimate, given the difficulty of disentangling the effect of improved programme performance from the effect of the HIV epidemic on notifications. Analytical work of the type recently done in Kenya, and new surveys of the prevalence of disease planned in several African countries, will help to improve the current estimates.
30. The treatment success rate in DOTS programmes was 84.7% in 2005, just short of the 85% target. This is the highest rate since reliable monitoring began, despite an increase in the size of the cohort evaluated to 2.4 million patients in 2005. Treatment success rates were lowest in the European Region (71%), the African Region (76%) and the Region of the Americas (78%). The South-East Asia and Western Pacific regions and 58 countries achieved the 85% target; the Eastern Mediterranean Region (83%) was close.
31. Based on current data and estimates, the Western Pacific Region achieved both the 70% case detection target (in 2006) and the 85% treatment success target (in 2005), as did 32 individual countries including five HBCs: China, Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines and Viet Nam.
32. Progress in case detection decelerated globally between 2005 and 2006, stalled in China and India, and fell short of the Global Plan milestone of 65% for 2006. The African Region, China and India collectively account for 69% of undetected cases.
Progress towards impact targets
33. Globally, the TB incidence rate per 100 000 population is falling slowly (–0.6% between 2005 and 2006), having peaked around 2003. By 2006, TB incidence per capita was approximately stable in the European Region and in slow decline in all other WHO regions (from 0.5% between 2005 and 2006 in the South-East Asia Region to 3.2% between 2005 and 2006 in the Region of the Americas). MDG 6 Target 6.C, to halt and reverse the incidence of TB, will be achieved well before the target date of 2015 if the global trend is sustained.
34. Prevalence and death rates per capita are falling, and faster than TB incidence. Globally, prevalence rates fell by 2.8% between 2005 and 2006, to 219 per 100 000 population (compared with the 2015 target of 147 per 100 000 population). Death rates fell by 2.6% between 2005 and 2006, to 25 per 100 000 population (compared with the 2015 target of 14 per 100 000 population). These estimates and targets include cases and deaths in HIV-positive people.
35. If trends in prevalence and death rates for the past five years are sustained, the Stop TB Partnership targets of halving prevalence and death rates by 2015 compared with 1990 levels could be achieved in the South-East Asia, Western Pacific and Eastern Mediterranean regions, and in the Region of the Americas. Targets are unlikely to be achieved globally, however, because the African and European regions are far from the targets. For example, deaths are estimated at 83 per 100 000 population in 2006 in the African Region, compared with a target for the region of 21.
36. While DOTS programmes are reducing death and prevalence rates, a new ecological analysis suggests that they have not yet had a major impact on TB transmission and trends in TB incidence around the world. If this is correct, then the challenge is to show that the diagnosis of active TB can be made early enough, and that treatment success rates can be high enough, to have a substantial impact on incidence on a large geographical scale. The greater the impact of TB control on incidence, the more likely it is that prevalence and death rates will be halved by the MDG deadline of 2015. | <urn:uuid:0ef4f2ba-d151-4408-91b8-d5f7640ecb23> | CC-MAIN-2014-15 | http://www.who.int/tb/publications/global_report/2008/key_points/en/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1397609539447.23/warc/CC-MAIN-20140416005219-00453-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94216 | 3,462 | 3.09375 | 3 |
NCDC Cooling The Past Again
By Paul Homewood
Climate At A Glance
Yesterday, WUWT picked up the story of how the NCDC have been cooling past temperatures in the US, thereby creating a warming trend. Essentially the state temperatures now shown by NCDC are lower than the originally recorded ones, which are still available online.
The explanation given is that “they changed from the ‘Traditional Climate Division Data Set’ (TCDD) to a new ‘Gridded Divisional Dataset’ (GrDD) that takes into account inconsistencies in the TCDD. “. (In simple terms, the old system simply averaged together all stations in a state, ignoring any potential weighting issues, where there was, for instance, a preponderance of stations in one particular area, or in warmer cities. The new system allows for the full area of each state to be adequately represented).
This sounds fine in theory, but how does it all work out in practice?
I have taken a detailed look at November temperatures in Alabama, comparing 1934 with 2011. Why Alabama – it was the first one on NCDC’s list! Why 1934? It was 1934 that Anthony’s article homed in on. Why November? November 2011 is the latest available monthly report available on NCDC’s website.
As illustrated on the above graph, according to NCDC, November temperatures in 1934 were 57.0F, and compare with 55.5F in 2011. (The full data is available here.) However the mean temperature originally published by the US Dept of Agriculture in 1934 is shown as 57.6F, as in Figure 1.
Furthermore the latest state report, before any adjustments, issued by NCDC for Nov 2011 indicate a statewide average of 55.3F. (This figure is arrived according to the “old method” and is available here.) In other words, NCDC show Nov 1934 as being 1.5F warmer than 2011, but the state reports show 1934 as being 2.3F warmer, a discrepancy of 0.8F. But are the 1934 and 2011 reports directly comparable?
In 1934, as Figure 1 shows, the statewide temperature was worked out by averaging 40 stations together. The current method, however, takes 132 stations, spread across 8 divisions. Each division is then individually averaged, and the average of each of these 8 divisions can then be amalgamated to arrive at the state figure. The divisions are each deemed to be climatically significant, rather than purely political boundaries. This, of course, should go a long way to addressing the problem of weighting.
So how do 2011 temperatures on the latest list of stations compare with their 1934 ones? These are listed in Figure 2 and sub totalled by division.
|ALL DIVISIONS AVERAGE||57.4||55.1||2.3|
Bearing in mind, the NCDC figures show a difference of 1.5F, it is immediately apparent that in every division, the difference is much greater. Over the state, there appears to be a discrepancy of 0.8F. Remember, we are not concerned with absolute temperature, but relative changes, so the argument about weighting should not really factor. A number of points seem to raise themselves:-
- Out of the 132 stations now currently monitored, only 19 have records back to 1934. Equally, most of the stations used in the original 1934 report no longer exist. This must surely make any comparison with earlier decades highly problematic, and must involve considerable “guesswork”.
- Out of the 132 stations, in Nov 2011, 50 have no data at all. (This applies when more than 10 daily figures are missing, and can be seen here).
- In Division 5, Piedmont Plateau, there are no stations at all that report back to 1934, which again must call into question how accurate NCDC’s temperature comparisons can be.
- The overall average of 2.3F calculated from the above sample, is exactly same as the figure arrived at by comparing the 1934 and 2011 state reports, i.e
55.3F v 57.6F57.6F v 55.3F. This indicates that the 1934 methodology was probably pretty sound.
It is abundantly clear that, in Alabama at least, the extra warming trend shown by NCDC cannot be explained by the change to a Gridded Divisional Dataset. Which, of course, brings us back to “Adjustments”.
The individual station temperatures, above, it should be remembered, are all “raw”. Rather than adding a cooling adjustment to allow for UHI, the NCDC mincing machine adds 0.8F of warming. | <urn:uuid:5ed44147-0881-4f2f-b2dd-0c38f8ce3e1e> | CC-MAIN-2014-35 | http://notalotofpeopleknowthat.wordpress.com/2012/06/08/ncdc-cooling-the-past-again/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-35/segments/1408500834663.62/warc/CC-MAIN-20140820021354-00318-ip-10-180-136-8.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.91043 | 991 | 2.890625 | 3 |
(table available in print form)
Table 5 Mercury and Venus do not have Moons. Mars has asteroid type satellites whose radii cannot be determined and are listed in the source textbook below by dimensions. For example: Phobos is listed by dimensions 13*10*9 km. There are many other satellites not listed above either by radius or by dimensions. Source: The Cosmic Perspective, Bennett, Donahue, Schneider, Voit, fourth edition, 2007. | <urn:uuid:47569bc7-a5e9-4355-9081-fd9fd446053b> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://teachersinstitute.yale.edu/curriculum/units/2007/3/07.03.06/9 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233506479.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20230923030601-20230923060601-00270.warc.gz | en | 0.905424 | 93 | 2.765625 | 3 |
Despite Demographic, Education, or Background, Anyone Can Learn How To Code - Here’s How
Member guest blog written by: Kevin Hohl, Vice President of Sales — Codeboxx
Digital equity: when a person has equal access to choose and learn how to use technological skills to have the capacity to fully participate in society, democracy, and the economy, regardless of gender, socioeconomic status, background or other factors. Digital equity is an issue affecting a significant amount students as e-learning continues to become more prevalent among educators. According to the Pew Research Center, before the pandemic, nearly one in five teenagers in the US said they had been unable to complete homework assignments due to a lack of a reliable internet connection.
Implementing coding as a subject in school curriculum could help bridge the homework gap, especially for those disproportionately affected, such as Black and Latinx students. Coding is a multi-faceted skillset that teaches people complex problem-solving thinking, improves creativity, builds confidence and persistence, and equips students with future-ready skills for entering the workforce. Understanding and manipulating code provides a student the opportunity to enhance their ability to choose and use digital technology. Schools and educators that help students learn how to code will empower them with future-ready digital literacy skills to succeed and help bridge the digital divide.
The Impact of Coding
Coding is algorithmic. The entirety of the internet runs on code and the algorithms it creates. “Algorithms are a series of instructions to solve a problem,” says Dr Panos Parpas, a lecturer in the quantitative analysis and decision science ("quads") section of the department of computing at Imperial College London. Coding is responsible for the emails we send, the video games we play, the directions we use to get from point A to point B, and the apps we use. Online dating, online book recommendations, organizing and sorting spreadsheets, financial transactions, and voice commands are all made possible through algorithms, which requires a person skilled in the platforms of coding to create, repair, and manage. However, knowing how to code — and having enough code developers to manage existing algorithms and create new ones — can quickly become challenging.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates that the US will face a shortage of 1.2 million software engineers by 2026. In 2021, the median annual pay for software developers in the US was $109,020. This has created an extremely high need for companies and services that provide coding education, like CodeBoxx. As a digital equity-focused company, it offers a 16-week coding academy that produces workforce-ready software developers, and its students don’t pay any tuition until after they’ve secured a job. These proprietary programs teach the hard and soft skills relevant to meet market demand and enable students to be operational from day one. When participants enroll in a program like the one CodeBoxx offers, they will learn various technologies, from improving operating efficiencies to using artificial intelligence (AI) to solve complex business problems. If this curriculum was adopted more widely in public schools, the homework gap and digital equity would improve significantly.
Learning How To Code
Like almost anything else, starting with determining why you want to code is a good way to figure out what type of coding to learn how to do. There will be a set of basics to learn, but there is a wide array of different verticals to coding. For instance, if you are only interested in making the most amount of money possible through coding, being skilled in certain development platforms will garner a higher-paying salary than other platforms. There are two best ways of differentiating and understanding developers and programmers, both of which work together. Developers are professionals who design the interfaces an average user navigates and engages with, a concept known as “front-end configuration” that’s responsible for how an interface looks and moves. Programmers deal with the back-end configuration of software or apps, this is where a lot of the actual algorithmic writing happens.
As a beginner, coding isn’t easy, but over time, it will become more intuitive as you understand which platforms are designed for what type of coding. The easiest platform to start out with would be WordPress; it uses platforms that do not use data structures or too many advanced algorithms like HTML or CSS. If you are visually inclined, then starting with HTML and CSS is a good first step since the platforms are easily accessible, adopted worldwide, and not too complex.
If you’re interested in learning how to create algorithms and develop software, then you will want to learn how to become a programmer. Common programming platforms are for people who are more math-oriented thinkers and they use platforms like PhP, Ruby on Rails, or REACT.
Just like learning another language, coding is going to take a while to learn. However, once you learn one, jumping into another will be a lot easier and feel much more natural. Once you understand what kind of work you are interested in, combined with the reason why you want to learn how to code, you’ll be able to narrow down the best options before making your decision. It’s important to take your time to consider which platform to start with as it’s an investment, and stopping in the middle of one to change to another could result in more confusion. Depending on what type of computer you have will come with different advantages and challenges. Doing your research on the different facets and nuances of coding is well worthwhile to ensure you have a good experience.
There are many online courses and programs out there, but if you’re serious about turning this skill into a profession, you will want to consider joining a credible program with seasoned professionals who are in the business of educating. Many code developers offer courses as a side hustle, but they may not be the most equipped to teach. The majority of code developers are not as conscious about digital equity issues, and they can charge a fortune just because they have a lot of experience coding on paper. Join an educational program that’s focused on transforming lives from all walks of life based on potential, not privilege. | <urn:uuid:2b6c436b-366c-4aac-8e9a-842a2099aaf3> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://www.stpete.com/2022/11/02/learnhowtocode/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233506029.42/warc/CC-MAIN-20230921174008-20230921204008-00350.warc.gz | en | 0.94818 | 1,268 | 3.9375 | 4 |
Is it waterhemp or Palmer amaranth? Though identification can be difficult, University of Illinois associate professor of weed science Aaron Hager said early and accurate identification of Palmer amaranth plants coupled with implementation of an integrated management program are essential to reduce the potential for crop yield loss due to interference of this broadleaf weed.
Accurate identification of weedy Amaranthus species during early vegetative stages can be difficult because many look very much alike, Hager explained. "During the 1990s, waterhemp provided an excellent example of how difficult it can be to differentiate among the various Amaranthus species, especially when plants are small," he added.
To assist weed management practitioners in accurately identifying Palmer amaranth, Hager said researchers in the U of I crop sciences department will accept tissue samples from suspected Palmer amaranth plants and use tools of molecular biology to identify whether the sample is Palmer amaranth or another species of Amaranthus.
Information on how to collect and submit tissue samples from suspected Palmer amaranth plants is described on the Palmer amaranth identification form. Download the form, provide as much information as possible, and submit it along with the tissue samples to the address listed at the top of the form.
App for that
"Proper management of Palmer amaranth populations can help reduce the potential for seed production that will augment the soil seedbank and perpetuate the population in future growing seasons," he said.
Proper identification of weeds is important so that you choose an appropriate and cost-effective method of control, according to Kevin Bradley, University of Missouri Extension weed specialist. The University of Missouri developed an app to help farmers and crop consultants identify weeds like Palmer amaranth.
The app, ID Weeds, is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad running iOS 5.1 or later, and devices running Android 2.2 or later. It is free to download ad available for the iPhone at itunes or for Android users at Google play. There is also a web version available here.
Here is information to help you with the mobile phone download:
*iPhone and other iOS devices.
*Android: Search for "ID Weeds".
Sources: University of Illinois and University of Missouri | <urn:uuid:ecd3ed10-bbfc-48cb-8893-f5d39fa317bc> | CC-MAIN-2013-48 | http://farmprogress.com/story-early-palmer-amaranth-id-reduces-yield-loss-9-99115 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-48/segments/1386163037893/warc/CC-MAIN-20131204131717-00082-ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.920814 | 457 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Printed collection of texts (essays, articles, stories, poems), often illustrated, that is produced at regular intervals. Modern magazines have roots in early printed pamphlets, broadsides, chapbooks, and almanacs. One of the first magazines was the German Erbauliche Monaths-Unterredungen (“Edifying Monthly Discussions”), issued from 1663 to 1668. In the early 18th century Joseph Addison and Richard Steele brought out the influential periodicals The Tatler and The Spectator; other critical reviews began in the mid 1700s. By the 19th century, magazines catering to specialized audiences had developed, including the women's weekly, the religious and missionary review, and the illustrated magazine. One of the greatest benefits to magazine publishing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was the addition of advertisements as a means of financial support. Subsequent developments included more illustrations and vastly greater specialization. With the computer age, magazines (“e-zines”) also became available over the Internet.
Learn more about magazine with a free trial on Britannica.com.
Any of various small, usually avant-garde periodicals devoted to serious literary writings. The name signifies most of all a usually noncommercial manner of editing, managing, and financing. They were published from circa 1880 through much of the 20th century and flourished in the U.S. and England, though French and German writers also benefited from them. Foremost among them were two U.S. periodicals,
Learn more about little magazine with a free trial on Britannica.com.
Constellations is a quarterly peer-reviewed journal of critical and democratic theory. It is edited by Nadia Urbinati and Andrew Arato and published at the New School for Social Research. Past contributors include Jürgen Habermas, Richard Rorty, Jacques Derrida, Etienne Balibar, Ernesto Laclau,Rainer Forst, Axel Honneth, Ulrich Beck,Pierre Bourdieu and Seyla Benhabib, who is also a co-founding former editor. | <urn:uuid:7e4f54ea-f49f-4a08-868e-0d46401754ca> | CC-MAIN-2013-48 | http://www.reference.com/browse/journal | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-48/segments/1386163065880/warc/CC-MAIN-20131204131745-00007-ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963198 | 443 | 3.140625 | 3 |
Rethinking Early Atmospheric Oxygen
A general consensus exists that appreciable oxygen first accumulated in Earth’s atmosphere around 2.4 to 2.3 billion years ago. Though this paradigm is built upon a wide range of geological and geochemical observations, the famous “smoking gun” for what has come to be known as the “Great Oxidation Event” (GOE) comes from the disappearance of anomalous fractionations in rare sulfur isotopes.
“These isotope fractionations, often referred to as ‘mass-independent fractionations,’ or ‘MIF’ signals, require both the destruction of sulfur dioxide by ultraviolet energy from the sun in an atmosphere without ozone and very low atmospheric oxygen levels in order to be transported and deposited in marine sediments,” said Christopher T. Reinhard, the lead author of the research paper and a former UC Riverside graduate student. “As a result, their presence in ancient rocks is interpreted to reflect vanishingly low atmospheric oxygen levels continuously for the first ~2 billion years of Earth’s history.”
However, diverse types of data are emerging that point to the presence of atmospheric oxygen, and, by inference, the early emergence of oxygenic photosynthesis hundreds of millions of years before these MIF signals disappear from the rock record. These observations motivated Reinhard and colleagues to explore the possible conditions under which inherited MIF signatures may have persisted in the rock record long after oxygen accumulated in the atmosphere.
“This lag would blur our ability to date the timing of the GOE and would allow for dynamic rising and falling oxygen levels during a protracted transition from an atmosphere without oxygen to one rich in this life-giving gas,” Reinhard said.
Study results appear in Nature’s advanced online publication on April 24.
Reinhard explained that once MIF signals formed in an oxygen-poor atmosphere are captured in pyrite and other minerals in sedimentary rocks, they are recycled when those rocks are later uplifted as mountain ranges and the pyrite is oxidized.
“Under certain conditions, this will create a sort of ‘memory effect’ of these MIF signatures, providing a decoupling in time between the burial of MIF in sediments and oxygen accumulation at Earth’s surface,” he said.
According to the researchers, the key here is burying a distinct MIF signal in deep sea sediments, which are then subducted and removed from Earth’s surface.
“This would create a complementary signal in minerals that are weathered and delivered to the oceans, something that we actually see evidence of in the rock record,” said Noah Planavsky, the second author of the research paper and a former UC Riverside graduate student now at Caltech. “This signal can then be perpetuated through time without the need to generate it within the atmosphere contemporaneously.”
Reinhard, now a postdoctoral fellow at Caltech and soon to be an assistant professor at Georgia Institute of Technology, explained that although the researchers’ new model provides a plausible mechanism for reconciling recent conflicting data, this can only occur when certain key conditions are met — and these conditions are likely to have changed through time during Earth’s long early history.
Timothy W. Lyons, a professor of biogeochemistry at UCR and the principal investigator of the research project noted that this is a fundamentally new and potentially very important way of looking at the sulfur isotope record and its relationship to biospheric oxygenation.
“The message is that sulfur isotope records, when viewed through the filter of sedimentary recycling, may challenge efforts to precisely date the GOE and its relationship to early life, while opening the door to the wonderful unknowns we should expect and embrace,” he said.
The research was supported by an O.K. Earl Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences at Caltech to Reinhard, a National Science Foundation postdoctoral fellowship to Planavsky, and a NASA Exobiology grant to Lyons.
Publication of press-releases or other out-sourced content does not signify endorsement or affiliation of any kind. | <urn:uuid:dca06cf2-804f-43e3-adec-9533c3d03b9e> | CC-MAIN-2014-10 | http://www.astrobio.net/includes/html_to_doc_execute.php?id=5466&component=news | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1393999649814/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305060729-00008-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.937361 | 870 | 3.625 | 4 |
Recently, Russian forces have been spotted using KS-19 anti-aircraft guns during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. The Soviet-era artillery piece is without a doubt powerful enough to face modern-day armies, but with more sophisticated weapons readily available, what do the Russians see in the KS-19 that makes it reliable and worthy of action?
The KS-19 was developed during World War II as the B-34
The 100 mm air defense gun KS-19 is a Soviet-era anti-aircraft gun that began life as the B-34. It was equipped by ships during the Second World War, with a ground-mounted version developed in the early years of the Cold War. Dubbed the KS-19, it was designed to combat high-flying threats like mass bomber formations, which had been a key component of combat during World War II.
The KS-19 entered service in 1948 and can fire High Explosive (HE), High Explosive Fragmentation (HE-FRAG) and Fragmentation (FRAG) projectiles at in-air targets. It can also penetrate up to 185 mm of armor from a distance of 1,000 meters. In these instances, it’s equipped to fire Armor Piercing-Tracer (AP-T) and Armor Piercing Capped-Tracer (APC-T) rounds.
When used in conjunction with the SON-9 fire director radar and PUAZO-6/19 director, the KS-19 is deadly on the battlefield.
The KS-19 is as bulky as it is powerful
The 21,000-pound KS-19 is a towed weapon, typically hauled by heavy-tracked artillery tractors that require a 15-man crew. Once in place, ammunition is loaded as a single round into the loading tray, with the anti-aircraft gun capable of firing 15 rounds per minute – an impressive feat, given its size.
Some slight drawbacks to the KS-19 include its heavy weight and poor maneuverability. It can also prove deadly for those who operate it. While the crew stand behind a front-facing protective barrier, there’s no protection at the sides or overhead, which can prove fatal when bombers loom above.
Being a Soviet-made gun means that many of the between 5,000-10,500 KS-19s that were produced saw action in Korea and Vietnam. Its design was also shared with China, which developed its own version, dubbed the Type-55.
Currently, the anti-aircraft gun is equipped by the Armed Forces in Iran, Vietnam, Armenia and North Korea, among others.
Use on the frontlines during the Russo-Ukrainian War
Today, most modern militaries rely on surface-to-air missiles (SAMs) to defend against threats in the air, but, interestingly, the KS-19 was recently spotted by the Armed Forces of Ukraine during the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian War. In September 2022, Ukraine announced that troops had captured at least three of the anti-aircraft guns, which reveals an interesting fact about their Russian enemies.
#Ukraine: Ukrainian forces captured around 7 #Russia-n KS-19 100 mm air defense guns during the offensive in #Kharkiv.
H/t for ID @Rebel44CZ pic.twitter.com/nC9NSQf5vy
— Arslon Xudosi 🇺🇦 (@Arslon_Xudosi) September 8, 2022
If the Russian forces have resorted to using outdated, out-of-service guns, many experts feel this could mean the country is facing weapons shortages. This also isn’t the first time the Russian Army has been spotted using outdated equipment in Ukraine.
T-64 tanks, designed in the 1960s, have been spotted in southern Ukraine, along with other old artillery systems and vehicles. As well, videos have surfaced corresponding with a report from Britain’s Ministry of Defence, which claims Russia could be moving its fleet of T-62 tanks out of “deep storage” to use in Ukraine. Other sources have stated conscripted Russian troops are being sent to the frontlines with rusty AK-47s.
More from us: M61 Vulcan: A Modern Take On the Civil War-Era Gatling Gun
Whether the Russian Army was simply unprepared for the Ukrainian counteroffensive or Ukraine has successfully crippled the enemy through thorough attacks against opposing artillery and vehicles, there’s no denying Russia is digging into the past in an attempt to bring about success in this conflict. | <urn:uuid:48e5edb1-3ed4-4ffa-8443-a457e8fc8867> | CC-MAIN-2023-23 | https://www.warhistoryonline.com/guns/ks-19.html?safari=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224656675.90/warc/CC-MAIN-20230609100535-20230609130535-00641.warc.gz | en | 0.963134 | 942 | 2.703125 | 3 |
In September 1975, Joe Biden successfully pushed an anti-busing provision through an appropriations bill in the U.S. Senate.
At the very same time, San Antonio’s Northside Independent School District started fighting its own battle against government-mandated school busing.
Those two actions were consistent with the mood of the time, when even minority communities had come to question whether busing students to distant schools to break down segregation was an effective approach. A 1973 Gallup poll found that only 5 percent of Americans — and only 9 percent of African-Americans — considered busing the best desegregation strategy.
More than four decades after Biden took his place in the front lines of the busing fight, the former vice president finds himself forced to defend his history on the issue, a history that includes his description of school busing as an “asinine concept.”
Last Thursday, in a nationally televised Democratic presidential debate, California Sen. Kamala Harris touted the transformative effect of her own experience as a biracial child in northwest Berkeley who was bused to a predominantly white elementary school. She said Biden “worked with (segregationists) to oppose busing.”
San Antonio’s mid-1970s brush with mandated school busing illustrates how complicated and confounding the issue could be when put into practice.
Busing emerged out of frustration with school districts that disregarded the U.S. Supreme Court’s landmark 1954 Brown vs. Board of Education desegregation decision. For more than a decade after that case, Southern states found creative ways to maintain segregation, such as pretending to offer black families “freedom of choice” to move their kids to predominantly white schools, then consistently shutting down those requests.
The 1968 Green vs. New Kent County decision threw out freedom-of-choice plans and forced school districts to develop real desegregation strategies — such as busing.
The resistance was overwhelming in cities such as Boston and Louisville, Ky., and reached its vitriolic peak Sept. 9, 1974, when Massachusetts Sen. Ted Kennedy was chased into a federal office building by anti-busing protesters who shouted insults and threw tomatoes and eggs at him.
It was against this backdrop, in the summer of 1975, that the Texas Education Agency ordered NISD to bus 1,800 elementary school students between six schools or risk losing state funding and accreditation.
The issue revolved around three elementary schools — Esparza, Forest Hills and Cable — that had Mexican-American enrollment of around 80 percent, in a district where the overall Mexican-American student population was only 30 percent. The TEA wanted NISD to address that ethnic imbalance by pairing those schools with Oak Hills, Glenoaks and Meadow Village and busing students between those schools.
On Sept. 19, 1975, NISD filed a class-action lawsuit against the TEA in federal court and asked for a temporary injunction. The district said the agency’s busing requirement would be disruptive and cost NISD $10,000.
NISD argued that it had not intentionally segregated students. The district insisted that the ethnic makeup of the schools in question came about because of government-subsidized housing developments that grew around Esparza, Forest Hills and Cable well after the schools had opened.
The Health, Education and Welfare Department took NISD’s side.
The TEA seemed be operating out of a desire to give itself legal cover from a 1971 federal court order requiring districts to change the ethnic composition of any school with a minority enrollment of more than 66 percent.
Ultimately, U.S. District Judge Adrian Spears granted NISD a permanent injunction.
Then-Northside Superintendent Ed Cody concluded that the TEA had misinterpreted the 1971 court order.
“The agency didn’t interest itself in history,” Cody said, “but in numbers.”
In October 1975, Biden, then a 32-year-old U.S. senator from Delaware, stated in a National Public Radio interview that he had come to see busing as a failed example of social engineering.
“Busing doesn’t work,” Biden said. He added that it amounted to a “rejection of the whole movement of black pride.”
Dr. Henry Flores, professor emeritus of political science at St. Mary’s University, said it was a common view in the 1970s that the Education Department applied its busing mandates in an arbitrary manner.
“(Biden’s) position at that point was not unreasonable,” Flores said. “In the bigger picture, it appears unreasonable. But if you look at the context and the specific details, his position was not that unusual.”
Unfortunately, Biden is now running away from his 1970s statements. The day after his debate exchange with Harris, he insisted that he “never opposed voluntary busing.”
It would only benefit the current dialogue on race for Biden to own up to his old ideas and try to explain them. But that doesn’t look likely to happen.
Gilbert Garcia is a columnist covering the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read him on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | [email protected] | Twitter: @gilgamesh470 | <urn:uuid:f25ce48b-494a-4e00-9170-cdfe131efb41> | CC-MAIN-2020-16 | https://www.expressnews.com/news/news_columnists/gilbert_garcia/article/NISD-busing-case-coincided-with-Biden-s-14061316.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371830894.88/warc/CC-MAIN-20200409055849-20200409090349-00227.warc.gz | en | 0.974297 | 1,121 | 2.84375 | 3 |
In order to determine the quantity of g of pure mgso4 in 24 g of mgso 4 7h 2 o, one must first understand the nature of the compound. Mgso 4 7h 2 o is a hydrated salt, which means that it contains water molecules within its structure. The number 4 (7h 2 o) represents the moles of water molecules per mole of salt. In this case, there are four moles of water molecules for every mole of salt.
If we take 24 g of mgso 4 7h 2 o, we can assume that it contains 24 g of salt and 96 g of water. In order to determine the quantity of g of pure mgso4 in 24 g of mgso 4 7h 2 o, we must remove the water molecules from the equation.
To do this, we will need to use the molecular weight of each compound. The molecular weight is a measure of the mass of one molecule of a compound. For example, the molecular weight of water is 18.015 grams/mol. This means that one molecule of water weighs 18.015 grams.
The molecular weight of mgso4 is 246.47 grams/mol and the molecular weight of h2o is 18.015 grams/mol. This means that one molecule of mgso4 weighs 246.47 grams and one moleculeof h2o weighs 18.015 grams.
Now that we have the molecular weights for each compound, we can use them to determine how many molecules are in our 24 g sample:
There are 24g / 246.47g/mol = 0.097737molmgso4 in our sample
There are 96g / 18g/mol = 5.33 molesof h2o in our sample
There are 0 .097737 molmgso4 * (1 moleof h2o / 4molesof salt) = 0 .02439 molesof h2o per moleof salt in our sample
This means that for every moleof salt in our sample, there are 0 .02439 molesof h2o associated with it
In order to determine the quantity of pure MGso4 in 24G of MGso47h2o, we need to know the molecular weight of each compound. The molecular weight of MGso4 is 120.37 and the molecular weight of H2O is 18.015. This means that in 1 mole of MGso47h2o, there are 7 moles of H2O. Thus, we can say that 24g of MGso47h2o contains 0.667 moles of H2O. Since we know the ratio of moles between the two compounds, we can convert the grams of H2O to moles and subtract it from the total moles present in 24g of MGso47h2o. This will give us the quantity of pure MGso4 present in 24g of the impure compound.
In order to determine the quantity of pure MGSO4 in 24 g of MGSO4*7H2O, we will need to use the mole concept. In order to do this, we need to know the molar masses of both substances. The molar mass of MGSO4 is 120.37 g/mol and the molar mass of H2O is 18.02 g/mol. This information can be found on the periodic table of elements.
Now that we know the molar masses, we can use the mole concept to calculate the number of moles of each substance in 24 g of MGSO4*7H2O. To do this, we divide the mass by the molar mass. This gives us 0.2 moles of MGSO4 and 0.0133 moles of H2O.
Now that we know the number of moles, we can use the mole ratio to determine the quantity of pure MGSO4 in 24 g of MGSO4*7H2O. The mole ratio is simply the number of moles divided by the total number of moles (in this case 0.2 moles divided by 0.2 + 0.0133 = 0.93). This means that there are 0.93 moles, or 11 grams, of pure MGSO4 in 24 g of
Results and Discussion
The results for the percent composition of MgSO4·7H2O in the three trials are summarized in the table below.
As we can see from the table, the average percent composition of MgSO4·7H2O is 98.9%. This means that, on average, there is 0.1% impurity in our sample of MgSO4·7H2O.
From the above data, we can conclude that the quantity of pure mgso4 in 24 g of mgso 4 7h 2 o is 9.6g. | <urn:uuid:c9db488c-6583-4246-b89b-f946381906da> | CC-MAIN-2023-14 | https://theinventlabs.com/determine-the-quantity-g-of-pure-mgso4-in-24-g-of-mgso-4-7h-2-o-mgso47h2o/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296948684.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20230327185741-20230327215741-00784.warc.gz | en | 0.895567 | 1,029 | 3.109375 | 3 |
Darier’s disease is a rare skin condition that causes a number of disfiguring symptoms in its patients. Also called keratosis follicularis, and dyskeratosis follicularis, Darier’s disease is characterized by thick spots of reddish or brownish growth on the forehead. These spots may also appear on the scalp, in the folds of the nose, in the ears, and other parts of the torso.
Darier’s disease may not directly improve with marijuana use. However, marijuana may be helpful in reducing the discomfort associated with the condition. | <urn:uuid:74cdfc4e-bc2f-4f32-961a-3d1d2967e0a9> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://marijuanapatientcard.com/glossary/dariers-disease/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510983.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20231002064957-20231002094957-00642.warc.gz | en | 0.935765 | 121 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Written by Angela Shelf Medearis
Illustrated by Daniel Minter
What a wonderful story! I love how the author uses the seven principles of Kwanzaa in this story of constantly quarreling brothers, who are given the task of making gold out of seven spools of thread. In addition to weaving the principles into the story plot, the author provides historical details of the Kwanzaa celebration and how it began. Plus, there are instructions for weaving cloth to make a belt, similar to what the seven brothers create as a result of their aforementioned task. Read more >>
Originally posted on December 27, 2020. | <urn:uuid:56a780fd-8009-44e3-b212-0015d7aa8998> | CC-MAIN-2023-40 | https://brownlikemebooks.com/seven-spools-of-thread-angela-shelf-medearis/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510334.9/warc/CC-MAIN-20230927235044-20230928025044-00638.warc.gz | en | 0.936441 | 130 | 2.9375 | 3 |
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