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Shipment & Transport-Sea, Air, Rail, Road, Pipeline
The mode of transportation is an important consideration when planning the shipment process. Besides the costs, the urgency of the shipment, the value of the goods being shipped as well as the size and weight of the goods need to be evaluated when determining the form of transportation.
Seaborne trade accounts for about 90% of the global trade, and as per UNCTAD, 1687 million tons (2015 estimate) were carried in around 177.6 million containers (2015 estimate) covering 998 billion ton-miles (2016 estimate).
Because of size or volume, there are several types of cargoes that cannot be or is economically unviable to move by other modes of transport than the sea.
Ocean freight is a less expensive method of shipping goods, but the drawback is a longer transit time. Another benefit for ocean freight is while size and weight may be an issue for air; it is not for ocean freight.
Ocean freight is used quite extensively for the movement of bulk commodities such as agri-products (wheat, maize, soya, etc.), coal, iron ore or for wet bulk products such as crude oil and petroleum. Also, larger, odd-shaped items including engines and propellers may move via this mode as well, depending on how sensitive the delivery time is.
Ocean freight is also a preferred mode of transport for the movement of high volume and heavy cargo such as minerals, metals, ores, steel coils, etc. which would be impossible to move by air freight.
Additionally, businesses are placing more of an emphasis on the environmental impact on shipping. An air freight service emits a higher amount of polluting gases with less space capacity compared to sea freight services which are considered a much greener transportation mode with a higher carrying capacity.
Key benefits of ocean freight include
- Suitable for wide range of products with long lead times
- Large volumes. A single, ultra-large container ship can carry +/-20,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU)
- Most environmental friendly among all modes of transport
- Liner shipping is the most efficient mode of transport for goods
- Extensive coverage around the world
- Multiple carrier options for the shippers
Over the next 15 years, as the world GDP grows, there will be a demand for higher value goods. As per Boeing’s 2016 – 2017 world air cargo forecast, there will be a proportionate growth in the value per ton of total traded goods around the world.
To meet the demand for growth, world air cargo traffic is forecasted to grow an average 4.2 percent per year.
Air freight is a critical mode of transport. It serves markets and supply chains that demand speed. One of greatest examples goes back to 1997 when Apple began innovating on the nitty-gritty details of supply-chain management. Almost immediately upon Steve Jobs’ return. At the time, most computer manufacturers transported products by sea, a far cheaper option than air freight.
Steve Jobs took advantage of the benefit of air freight and used an innovative strategy. He paid $50 million to buy up all the available holiday air freight space to ensure that the company’s new, translucent blue iMacs would be widely available during Christmas season giving them a massive competitive advantage over their rivals. – “It was an ‘Oh s—’ moment,” recalls former HP supply chain chief Mike Fawkes.”
Other industries such as the automotive and retail industry also utilize air freight to achieve ‘just-in-time’ (JIT) inventory replenishment. JIT option allows stores, production lines to place order fulfillment based on demand as, and when required. It provides greater flexibility and reduces inventory and storage costs.
Also, perishable goods such as foods, flowers, and some pharmaceuticals also take advantage of shorter transit time. Another positive for air freight is that there’s less handling of cargo overall, so the likelihood of damage or theft is less likely when utilizing air.
But air freight also has its own disadvantages such as being one of the most expensive due to the requirement of speed and the fuel that is used.
It also has its size and weight limitations. Regulatory bodies limit what can and cannot be transported by air, and as such, oddly shaped or very large items may be more suitable for other modes of transport.
Key benefits of air freight include
- Quick transit
- Less handling of cargo
- Less documentation
- Reliable arrival and departures
- Enhanced level of security for your cargo
Another mode of transport which is also considered a ‘green’ option is rail. Trains burn less fuel per ton-mile than road vehicles and a train, which can have as many than 100 wagons, only needs one driver. There are, however, some additional costs which are incurred in a rail journey: at each end of the rail transit, a road delivery will be needed, and there will be a lift cost to transfer the container between the train and the road vehicle.
On average, longer journeys tend to be less expensive by rail, and shorter journeys are less costly by road. Where the point of cost neutrality comes is governed by many factors which are route and commodity specific, but in general, the point of cost neutrality can be expected to lie in the range of 130 to 150 miles.
In 2015, the first freight train carrying ISO freight containers from China arrived in the Port of Rotterdam in 18 days as against the normal 44 odd days by the sea.
This movement of containerized cargo by rail from China to logistics hubs in Europe such as in the Netherlands, UK is seen as a significant step in the development of trade between the two continents. It has encouraged multinationals such as Hewlett-Packard and Ricoh to use the route from Europe to China for their cargoes.
The Manager of European Transport at Ricoh notes that if one can set up an effective planning, rail is a relatively quick mode of transport taking only 20 days to China. In addition, the move by rail also has some advantages such as all containers being transported to the location in one go, while being environmentally friendly as a train releases far less CO2 than a plane.
Key benefits of rail freight include
- Reliable transit times and schedules
- Railroads are the most efficient form of land transportation. One train can haul the equivalent of over 400 trucks
- Fast and cost-effective deliveries over long distances. Typically over 500 miles
- Traditionally, rail has a strong safety record.
- Helps in alleviating road congestion, thus lowering emissions
Road freight is one of the most common of all modes of transportation. It is widely used in continents such as Europe, Africa, and North America. The single customs document process provides a seamless movement of goods even across various states and countries.
Road freight provides several advantages over other modes of transportation such as
- Quick and scheduled delivery
- Local, over border, long or short haul deliveries even in rural areas
- Flexible service
- Saving in Packing Cost compared to other modes
- Track and trace of cargo and truck
- Complete door-to-door service and it is one of the more economical means of transport.
However, truck transport is limited somewhat as to what it can carry by the size of the vehicles used and by size and weight restrictions. Another limitation is that it is affected by weather, road conditions and traffic.
Pipeline transport is the long-distance transportation of a liquid or gas through a system of pipes—a pipeline—typically to a market area for consumption. The latest data from 2014 gives a total of slightly less than 2,175,000 miles (3,500,000 km) of pipeline in 120 countries of the world. The United States had 65%, Russia had 8%, and Canada had 3%, thus 75% of all pipeline were in these three countries.
Pipeline and Gas Journal’s worldwide survey figures indicate that 118,623 miles (190,905 km) of pipelines are planned and under construction. Of these, 88,976 miles (143,193 km) represent projects in the planning and design phase; 29,647 miles (47,712 km) reflect pipelines in various stages of construction. Liquids and gases are transported in pipelines and any chemically stable substance can be sent through a pipeline. Pipelines exist for the transport of crude and refined petroleum, fuels – such as oil, natural gas and biofuels – and other fluids including sewage, slurry, water, beer, hot water or steam for shorter distances. Pipelines are useful for transporting water for drinking or irrigation over long distances when it needs to move over hills, or where canals or channels are poor choices due to considerations of evaporation, pollution, or environmental impact.
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12. Definition — In this Part, unless the context otherwise requires, “the State” includes the Government and Parliament of India and the Government and the Legislature of each of the States and all local or other authorities within the territory of India or under the control of the Government of India….
Right to Equality
14. Equality before law — The State shall not deny to any person equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws within the territory of India.
15. Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth — (1) The State shall not discriminate against any citizen on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them. (2) No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth or any of them, be subject to any disability, liability, restriction or condition with regard to — (a) access to shops, public restaurants, hotels and places of public entertainment; or (b) the use of wells, tanks, bathing ghats, roads and places of public resort maintained wholly or partly out of State funds or dedicated to the use of the general public. (3) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any special provision for women and children. (4) Nothing in this article or in clause (2) of Article 29 shall prevent the State from making any special provision for the advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
16. Equality of opportunity in matters of public employment — (1) There shall be equality of opportunity for all citizens in matters relating to employment or appointment to any office under the State. (2) No citizen shall, on grounds only of religion, race, caste, sex, descent, place of birth, residence or any of them, be ineligible for, or discriminated against in respect or, any employment or office under the State….
17. Abolition of Untouchability — “Untouchability” is abolished and its practice in any form is forbidden. The enforcement of any disability arising out of “Untouchability” shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law.
18. Abolition of titles — (1) No title, not being a military or academic distinction, shall be conferred by the State….
Right to Freedom
19. Protection of certain rights regarding freedom of speech, etc. — (1) All citizens shall have the right — (a) to freedom of speech and expression; (b) to assemble peaceably and without arms; (c) to form associations or unions; (d) to move freely throughout the territory of India; (e) to reside and settle in any part of the territory of India; and (f) [removed]; (g) to practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business.
…Nothing in sub-clause (a)… (b)… (c)… (d)… (e)… (g)… of Clause (1) shall affect the operation of any existing law, or prevent the State from making any law, in so far as such law imposes reasonable restrictions on the exercise of the right conferred by the said sub-clause in the interests of the sovereignty and integrity of India….
20. Protection in respect of conviction for offenses — (1) No person shall be convicted of any offence except for violation of a law in force at the time of the commission of the act charged as an offence, nor be subjected to a penalty greater than that which might have been inflicted under the law in force at the time of the commission of the offence. (2) No person shall be prosecuted and punished for the same offence more than once. (3) No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness against himself.
21. Protection of life and personal liberty — No person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to procedure established by law.
22. Protection against arrest and detention in certain cases — (1) No person who is arrested shall be detained in custody without being informed, as soon as may be, of the grounds for such arrest nor shall he be denied the right to consult, and to be defended by, a legal practitioner of his choice. (2) Every person who is arrested and detained in custody shall be produced before the nearest magistrate within a period of twenty-four hours of such arrest excluding the time necessary for the journey from the place of arrest to the court of the magistrate and no such person shall be detained in custody beyond the said period without the authority of a magistrate. (3) Nothing in clauses (1) and (2) shall apply — (a) to any person who for the time being is an enemy alien; or (b) to any person who is arrested or detained under any law providing for preventive detention. (4) No law providing for preventive detention shall authorize the detention of a person for a longer period than three months unless — (a) an Advisory Board consisting of persons who are, or have been, or are qualified to be appointed as, Judges of a High Court has reported before the expiration of the said period of three months that there is in its opinion sufficient cause for such detention;… (5) When any person is detained in pursuance of an order made under any law providing for preventive detention, the authority making the order shall, as soon as may be, communicate to such person the grounds on which the order has been made and shall afford him the earliest opportunity of making a representation against the order. (6) Nothing in clause (5) shall require the authority making any such order as is referred to in that clause to disclose facts which such authority considers to be against the public interest to disclose….
Right Against Exploitation
23. Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labor — (1) Traffic in human beings and begar and other similar forms of forced labor are prohibited and any contravention of this provision shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law. (2) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from imposing compulsory service for public purposes….
24. Prohibition of employment of children in factories, etc. — No child below the age of fourteen years shall be employed to work in any factory or mine or engaged in any other hazardous employment.
Right to Freedom of Religion
25. Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion —(1) Subject to public order, morality and health and to the other provisions of this Part, all persons are equally entitled to freedom of conscience and the right freely to profess, practice and propagate religion. (2) Nothing in this article shall affect the operation of any existing law or prevent the State from making any law — (a) regulating or restricting any economic, financial, political or other secular activity which may be associated with religious practice; (b) providing for social welfare and reform or the throwing open of Hindu religious institutions of a public character to all classes and sections of Hindus….
Cultural and Educational Rights
29. Protection of interests of minorities — (1) Any section of the citizens residing in the territory of India or any part thereof having a distinct language, script or culture of its own shall have the right to conserve the same. (2) No citizen shall be denied admission into any educational institution maintained by the State or receiving aid out of State funds on grounds only of religion, race, caste, language or any of them….
34. Restriction on rights conferred by this Part while martial law is in force in any area – ..Parliament may by law indemnify any person in the service of the Union or of a State or any other person in respect of any act done by him in connection with the maintenance or restoration of order in any area within the territory of India where martial law was in force or validate any sentence passed, punishment inflicted, forfeiture ordered or other act done under martial law in such area….
51-A. Fundamental duties — It shall be the duty of every citizen of India — (a) to abide by the Constitution and respect its ideals and institutions, the National Flag and the National Anthem; (b) to cherish and follow the noble ideals which inspired our national struggle for freedom; (c) to uphold and protect the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India; (d) to defend the country and render national service when called upon to do so; (e) to promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities; to renounce practice derogatory to the dignity of women; (f) to value and preserve the rich heritage of our composite culture; (g) to protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers and wild life, and to have compassion for living creatures; (h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform; (i) to safeguard public property and to abjure violence; (j) to strive towards excellence in all spheres of individual and collective activity so that the nation constantly rises to higher levels of endeavour and achievement.
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Gúthwinë was the sword that belonged to Éomer.
It was borne by him at the Battle of the Hornburg, and presumably at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields and the battle before Morannon.
In Old English, Gúthwinë means "Battle-friend".
Portrayal in adaptationsEdit
The Lord of the Rings film trilogyEdit
In The Two Towers, Gúthwinë is shown as having a fullered blade and both the guard and the pommel were of bronze. The guard was shaped like horses' heads, one on each side of the blade.
The sword slew many orcs in its time, especially Uruks of Isengard, and earned a large reputation as the sword of Rohan.
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, Book Three, Chapter VII: "Helm's Deep"
- ↑ Parma Eldalamberon, Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
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The robot in the picture above is called YOLO, which stands for “your own living object.” It’s pretty weird looking—not like something you or I would design if someone were to tell us to design a social robot, right? And that’s because YOLO is a robot that was designed by, and for, children. Not adults making the kind of robot that they think kids will want, mind you, but actual children doing the designing from scratch.
Getting children to design a robot was not easy. It took years to take YOLO from concept to physical reality, incorporating considerations for simplicity, cost, and a level of durability that’s compatible with open-ended play. The end result was something completely different, and also something that was very effective at helping kids tell better stories.
Human-centered design of robots can be very challenging, because once you’ve gotten a robot to a point where you’re ready for user testing, the kinds of major changes that you can easily implement are typically pretty minor. On the other hand, if you try and get user input earlier, you’re generally restricted to things like interviews or questionnaires or asking people to look at images or animations, and none of that stuff is very reliable at providing useful feedback in the same way that interaction with a physical robot would be.
When you start talking about children, things get even more difficult, because even those questionnaires don’t work nearly as well as they would with an adult. This is a big problem because social robots are potentially (I would argue) very valuable for children as tools for education and social development. We’re not there with social robots yet, of course, but understanding how to design robots for kids is, if not step one, still one of the things that we need to figure out early.
What’s so cool about YOLO is how unapologetically child-centric the entire process is; there doesn’t seem to be even a little bit of adult going on in that robot. But it took input from 142 children to get to this point. For the humans working on this, YOLO has been quite a journey.
For more details on YOLO and the thought and process behind the design, we spoke with YOLO’s creator, Patrícia Alves-Oliveira.
IEEE Spectrum: What are your general impressions of the current generation of social robots for children?
Patrícia Alves-Oliveira: Social robots seem to be the new generation of toys for children. Toys, in general, are the most important tool in a child’s life because while manipulating them, children learn to explore the world. Toys are the very first tool children use to express their own emotions and thoughts. The way we use tools, and toys in the case of children, can deeply influence and transform how we learn and experience the world. If we think of social robots for children as the new generation of tools, it feels that children can have access to a richer playset which enables them to be stimulated in new ways that traditional toys cannot elicit. Consequently, they can experience the world in richer ways.
What kind of toys are social robots?
Social robots can include robots for play and robots for learning. Robots for play usually take the form of an animal or a doll, and often include human-like features, such as eyes and a mouth. When children use robots for play, they are not only being entertained, but also stimulated. For example, they learn about problem solving, conflict resolution, and social-emotional skills while paying. This is possible because the robot can play back to them, resulting in bi-directional play, or social play. The play does not only depend on the child’s imagination, but also on the relationship that they can build with this artificial embodied system.
By contrast, robots for learning are deliberately designed to teach children something specific. They’re a tangible way of learning about abstract concepts that otherwise would be hard to digest. For example, children can use robots to learn about geometry—perhaps they need to program a robot to make a right angle, so they learn that 90º means a right angle, and that if the robot continues making right turns, it can actually make the shape of a rectangle. These types of robots are generally less animal-like or human-like, and instead have a more practical shape, such as a cube on wheels.
Can you describe what makes YOLO different?
YOLO is a robot whose purpose is to stimulate creativity in children during play. To do this, YOLO uses two techniques called “mirroring” and “contrasting.” These two techniques derive from creativity research and serve to develop convergent and divergent thinking, which are two different types of creative thought that we all have.
When YOLO uses mirroring, it means the robot mimics the same play patterns that children perform while manipulating the robot. So, if children move the robot to the right, YOLO memorizes this movement, and then mimics it. If we imagine what this means within a storytelling context, we can imagine a child moving the robot to the right because “the robot is going to school.” As the robot mimics this movement, the child understands that as a “yes, YOLO is continuing going to school.” The mirroring technique stimulates convergent thinking, related to the elaboration and exploration of details about one single idea.
When YOLO uses contrasting, it means the robot is contrasting the child’s play pattern. Taking the same school example, if a child moves the robot to the right to signal it’s going to school, the robot will then contrast that movement by moving to the left. In the context of storytelling, the child might think “oh, there is something the robot is afraid of in school!” This will shift the story, and children are likely to make a shift in their story narratives. The contrast technique stimulates divergent thinking, as children need to incorporate the novel behavior of the robot in their story in such a way that the story continues to make sense.
Note: the following video is an example of an original story created by a Portuguese child playing with YOLO. To protect the privacy of the child, the story was animated by an artist.
Why is this approach with YOLO valuable?
The value of YOLO lies in its interaction with children. The main idea is that through the interaction between children and YOLO, children’s creative abilities can be stimulated. While this robot uses creativity stimulation techniques, it’s also simple enough for children to play with it as a normal toy. YOLO incorporates both the benefits of social robotics combined with already known benefits of traditional toys. Overall, when creating stories with YOLO, children have more original ideas.
The reason why we were able to create such a robot is because children were involved in the entire design of the robot from the beginning. My major design principle for YOLO was that it can fit a child’s world. The way I accomplished this was to test and test and test YOLO with children until the robot was as natural to use as a toy.
If you had been asked to design a robot to perform YOLO’s function without the input of children, how do you think the robot would be different?
I believe YOLO would be very different. But I also believe that YOLO would be very different if another sample of children was brought in during the design process. My key insight has been that even if the way the robot looks changes, the essence of YOLO’s interactions with children would remain stable. This is because we can keep the key aspects of YOLO’s operation constant, including creativity provocation, open-ended play, ease of use, and abstract non-anthropomorphic design. This means that YOLO can have a different shape and express itself using different physical behaviors, while still using the same creativity techniques.
Why is avoiding anthropomorphism important?
The main reason is that it’s much harder to fulfill expectations if we design a robot that looks like a human, because people will expect the robot to behave as a human, which is never the case due to technological shortcomings. Staying away from designing human-like robots also ended up being a gift in disguise as this opens new spaces when thinking of robots: if not like us, how should a robot look? I think this question is beautiful, and can open doors for many creative and innovative applications of robots.
When you design with children, how do you separate physical robot design, and robot purpose and functionality?
The design of YOLO began with the basic idea of moving a cube around. Many children’s toys have geometric shapes, so I started by building paper cubes using origami techniques. The paper cubes I built were of different sizes, and I asked children to create a story using the cubes as their characters. I then just observed how children as they played with the cubes, and based on their play, I made design decisions about YOLO.
For example, I started noticing that while grabbing the paper cubes, children would grasp the edges of the cube, making the edges round with use. I realized that these edges were not ideal for grasping and so I gave the children a new design with rounded edges. This is when the shape of the robot started being designed.
To design YOLO’s behaviors, I listened to how children told stories while using the paper cubes. They generally attributed specific personality traits to their paper cube characters. One character was grumpy, another was shy, and so on. This led me to think that YOLO should also exhibit personality as a way to engage children in their storytelling, and I started reading about personality research, specifically looking at non-verbal behaviors associated with personality expression. The next step was to translate the personality requirements onto the shape of the robot. For a grumpy personality, YOLO would move fast and with high amplitude movements. For a shy robot, YOLO would move slowly and with low amplitude movements, almost saying “don’t look at me, I am not here!”
A series of images showing different iterations of the YOLO robot, from sketches, to paper models, to designs of different sizes and shapes.Patrícia Alves-Oliveira
How much iteration did it take to arrive at YOLO’s final design?
I refined the robot a lot, changed the shape, the size, and the multimodal expression. I always included children to test every change, and I drew from their behavior as inspiration for the next design iteration. To give an example, at some point YOLO was making abstract sounds as an expressive modality. When children interacted with this prototype version, they completely ignored the sounds and talked on top of the robot, sometimes yelling over it. This indicated hat the sounds of the robot were obstructing their own expression in the story, so sounds were removed, and YOLO is now a silent robot.
Another example was the inclusion of touch as a social feature. When I was testing the first actuated prototype, YOLO would start moving while children were holding it, and the movements of the robot scared children. I remember one child actually said, “the robot does not like me, it wants to go away.” After this testing session, I incorporated a touch sensor in YOLO, so when it recognizes touch, YOLO does not move because a child is holding and playing with it. YOLO starts moving only when the touch sensor does not recognize touch anymore, to ensure that the play of children is not interrupted. This made a huge difference in the flow of the interaction.
Close up images of the YOLO robot showing wheels, a touch sensor, and a forest of small plastic whiskers with LEDs under them growing out of the robot’s headPatrícia Alves-Oliveira
How do you incorporate multiple children (who may feel and want different things) into the design process for a single robot?
I’ve included children from 7-9 years old in the design of YOLO. Within this specific age group, children are in the same developmental stage where they attach abstract concepts to concrete situations and use objects locally present as a tool to learn and understand the world. Although there are differences related to a child’s personality and preferences, the way children use, manipulate, and understand objects is quite similar at this age. This was true also in the context of the robot’s design. Knowing the developmental stage of children helped me choose the activities and materials to use during the design sessions to best define the design requirements for the robot.
While designing YOLO, I faced a question that I think many designers face: When is the robot design finished? It is easy to fall into feature creep and keep adding and adding and adding features. To avoid this, I focused on design principles rather than designing features. The distinction between a principle and a feature is that when you design for a feature, you add or remove the exact option the user is asking for. This can make the design short-sighted.
Take the example of a child getting scared if YOLO started moving while they were holding it. Designing for features would mean removing the ability of the robot to move. However, if we design for principles, we require a deeper understanding of the interaction between the child and the robot. Once we have this, it’s clear that the main problem here was not the robot moving, but the timing of the robot staying still. So the child does not necessarily want a stationary robot; but rather a robot they can have some control over, and instead of removing the navigation possibility, we added a touch sensor that would stop the robot from moving while being held.
Do you think this long process was worthwhile?
Building YOLO, the way I did, was a 4-year journey that enabled me to explore many aspects about how robots can be used to nurture intrinsic human abilities, such as creativity. While I was designing and building YOLO, I faced many questions, such as what does it mean to build a robot for creativity? What methods do I need to develop to successfully include children in the design of the robot? How can I measure the success of using YOLO for creativity stimulation? Being able to answer all of these questions was a valuable part of designing and fabricating YOLO, and I feel that as we answer these questions with a robot like YOLO, we are also contributing to many other fields, such as psychology, design, and engineering more broadly.
A paper detailing the design of YOLO received the best paper award in the design track of the HRI 2021 conference, and you can see Patrícia Alves-Oliveira give a talk about her research here.
Source: IEEE Spectrum
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Metal additive manufacturing (AM) is growing at a fast-paced spurring the world’s current economy. According to the Wohler’s Report metal AM grew nearly 76% from 2012 to 2013. Much of this growth is due to the advancement of metal AM from prototyping applications to part production in aerospace, energy and medical industries. Powder bed fusion is the current market leader in metal additive manufacturing. In this AM technique a high power continuous fiber laser is used to melt layers of powdered metal by scanning the laser over a powder bed, melting the powder and bonding it to a 2D substrate. The use of a continuous fiber laser makes the instrumentation expensive and the scanning requirement, and associated controls of laser spot size, power and velocity, makes the build process very time consuming. Continued growth will require penetration of new markets with new metal AM techniques that address cost and speed of production.
LLNL scientists have developed a new metal additive manufacturing technique that uses diode lasers in conjunction with a programmable mask to generate 2D patterns of energy at the powder surface. The method can produce entire layers in a single laser shot, rather than producing layers spot by spot as is currently done in powder bed fusion methods.
Cost reduction is achieved. Diode lasers cost typically 20 times less than currently used fiber lasers (on a $/W basis).
Scalability is enhanced. Entire layers are produced at one time by using diodes and patterned masks.
Accelerate the production rate of additive manufacturing, especially those of metal systems where the energy input required is highest.
Proof of concept has been achieved at a laboratory scale. Patent protection for a portfolio of intellectual property is being pursued. Published patent application 2014/0252687
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The region Bergisches Land is located in southern part of North-Rhine-Westfalia in Germany. Geologically it belongs to the Rhenish Slate Mountains. Its western border is the river Rhine and on the east side it merges into the so called Sauerland, one of the Central German Uplands. The major part of the area is characterized by a low mountain landscape rich in variety with forests, meadows, hills and V-shaped river valleys. Many of the rivers are dammed up to artificial lakes, which serve either as reservoirs for drinking water or industrial water, or as recreational areas. There are more than 20 artificial lakes in this small region, which is unique in the world. Some of the recreational lakes serve as popular dive sites, but conditions vary widely throughout the year. As the lakes are fed and drained by rivers, which carry or swirl up sediments, conditions seem to depend on weather conditions, flow rates and the water level among other factors. All these may as well influence the overall water quality and biodiversity. In order to monitor these factors our volunteer team will regularly collect corresponding data. As a first step we will focus on water temperature, visibility, water level and easily accessible chemical data as pH-value and nitrate. Furthermore, according to our suggestion that weather conditions may have an influence on current water status, we will list meteorological data as the average air temperature, total precipitation and sunshine hours on a monthly base. We plan to measure more demanding parameters as saprobic index and algae growth in the future as resources hopefully grow. Basically the Project is not limited to a defined number of sites, but as resources are limited we will start with one site, which is the so called Wuppertalsperre.
HOW TO SUBMIT DATA
There are two ways to submit data to the Project Baseline database. You can submit data for existing projects, and you can submit data for projects that are not currently hosted (ad-hoc) in the database.
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The investigation of past cultures of the modern nationstate of France through the study and scientific analysis of material remains (i.e., osteological, artifactual, architectural, etc.).
Related categories 1
Archaeological Guides of France: Great Archeological Sites
Monographs published by the French Ministry of Culture on prehistoric or ancient sites or towns, or describing the ruins of a region. Abstracts online.
Britain and France in Dispute Over Cave Art
From the Telegraph, British claim the French may have exaggerated their age by 18,000 years under official pressure to promote them as the oldest cave paintings in the world.
The Cave of Lascaux
The French Ministry of Culture provides a virtual tour of this famous Paleolithic cave with text links on its history and artwork.
Cave Reveals Spectacular Secrets
From the BBC, French archaeologists find a cave in the Dordogne covered with drawings which they think are almost 30,000 years old.
An illustrated art-historical analysis of coins of the Coriosolites of Brittany by John Hooker, based on the La Marquanderie hoard from Jersey. Maps of hoard discoveries and mint zones.
History of its discovery, and pictures of the finds, and the scientific research
The French Ministry of Culture describes a Paleolithic art gallery in a cave that can be accessed only through a 175-meter tunnel beneath sea level. Photographs of the animal drawings and hand stencils that decorate it.
Excavations at Colletière
The French Ministry of Culture describes the 'farmer-knights' who settled c.1010 CE on the wooded shores of Paladru lake and the techniques that have uncovered the evidence for them.
France Cave Paintings & Rock Art Archive
Provides photographs and information on the cave paintings of southern France.
Lascaux Cave Paintings and Location
Photographs and information on what may be the most beautiful Paleolithic painted cave in the world.
Saint-Denis: A Town of the Middle Ages
Maps and 3D images, objects, a slide show, games, animations and educational materials reveal the city's portrait and its shape as it changed over time. Includes details of the town's archaeological unit and its work.
Dietler Discovers Statue in France that Reflects an Etruscan Influence
From the Chronicle, life-sized statue of a warrior discovered in southern France reflects a stronger cultural influence for the Etruscan civilization throughout the western Mediterranean region than previously appreciated. (February 19, 2004)
Archaeologists Trace early Britons in Brittany
The Oxford University Gazette reports that excavations at Le Yaudet under Profs. Barry Cunliffe and Patrick Galliou suggest that Britons fled there from the West Country. (December 11, 1997)
Other languages 2
Last update:January 3, 2015 at 13:35:10 UTC
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Agreement On Food Safety
International trade rules continue to change as they adapt to the global economy. Rights and obligations under international trade agreements have challenged the balance of food security, food regulation and trade flows. Article 20 of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) allows governments to act in trade to protect the life or health of humans, animals or plants, unless they discriminate or use it as protectionism in disguise. In addition, two specific WTO agreements deal with food safety and animal and plant health and safety, as well as product standards in general. Both are trying to figure out how to respond to the need to apply standards while avoiding disguised protectionism. These issues are increasingly important due to falling customs barriers, with some comparing them to the sea rocks that occur at low tide. In both cases, it is less likely that a country, when applying international standards, will be legally challenged in the WTO than if it sets its own standards. The agreement still allows countries to apply different standards and different methods of product inspection. So how can an exporting country be sure that the practices it applies to its products are acceptable in an importing country? If an exporting country can demonstrate that the measures it applies to its exports achieve the same level of human health protection as in the importing country, the importing country is expected to accept the standards and methods of the exporting country.
The Agreement contains provisions on control, inspection and authorisation procedures. Governments should inform new or amended sanitary and phytosanitary legislation in advance and establish a national information body providing information. The agreement complements the agreement on technical barriers to trade. The evaluation of the implementation of the HACCP system in contract catering companies and the evaluation of the knowledge, attitudes and practices of grocers were the main objectives of this study. It was carried out in 20 companies throughout Spain, with a visual inspection of the establishments and activities of grocers, as well as the distribution of a self-managing questionnaire among the 105 participating catering workers. In addition, samples of finished surfaces and tableware were taken from each kitchen for microbiological evaluation. The results of the questionnaires reflect a broad knowledge and correct behaviour of respondents with an average or higher level of education, stability in the same workplace and more responsible positions. However, the observation of hygiene practices revealed systematic errors in 60% of the kitchens. Most of the variations observed were related to lack of HACCP training and information, temperature of finished dishes, storage areas, and proper cleaning and disinfection. In summary, this study confirms the inherent difficulties of the restoration company in the effective implementation of the HACCP system, such as. B the lack of well-trained staff, the lack of motivation or responsibility of workers in this system and the lack of financial and economic resources to remedy the shortcomings of the establishments.
Specific education programmes and grants are needed for proper implementation of HACCP in this sector. The agreement also contains a code of conduct for governments and non-governmental or industrial organizations for the preparation, adoption and implementation of voluntary standards. More than 200 standards bodies apply the code. Strengthening intra-African agricultural trade is an opportunity to both boost economic growth and improve access to safe and nutritious food across borders. . . .
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Many good novels in the past have had films produced about their storyline. However, producers often modify the plot, change the characters and introduce new events and ideas to try and make the film more appealing to viewers. As a result the novel Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian has been reproduced in the 1998 classic called Good Night Mr Tom starring John Thaw and Nick Robinson. This essay will explore the differences between the book and the film as well as focussing on whether the film has captured the characters of Tom and Will representing them as the novel intended.
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The novel Goodnight Mr Tom by Michelle Magorian is set in Little Weirworld a small town near London, England. The novel was set during World War Two while The Blitz was occurring. This was where the Germans were bombing London, and everyone was instructed to erect black out curtains. Both the novel and film portrays the story of a young boy called William Beech who is sent to live with an old man called Tom Oakley.
In the novel William is depicted as a shy, troubled, young boy, around the age of 9, who is beaten by his abusive, single mother. His mother believes he is a selfish boy. William does not talk much and has been taught to never ask questions. He is “assigned” to old Mr Tom Oakley, a tough widower who lost his young wife and small son many years ago. William finds it difficult at first to communicate and live in the village with many strangers. “No one had ever said they liked him. He had always excepted no one did.”(Chap 6) He vomits from excitement and wets the bed nightly, often fearful he would be in trouble. Mr Tom struggles to reach out to poor Willie, realising he has never been taught to read and write. Tom soon discovered that William is a very talented artist who loves to draw. As William feels more comfortable he meets a friend at the post office named Zacharias Wrench, eventually with other friends they form a group where they come together and write a newspaper. Gradually Mr. Tom’s kindness and encouragement rises above Willie’s fears, and he becomes a happy, normal boy who loves his carer and friend dearly.
In the film the character of William is very similar to the novels portrayal, although he doesn’t seem as weak or frightened. Both the film and the novel allow the readers or viewers to witness the immense changes in William in the way he acts compared to the beginning of the film or novel. Novels are able to explain what goes on in a character’s mind, but films often only show what can be seen and heard, thus we learn about William from the novel than the film. However even though the film did not describe William as much, it gives a fair representation of the character William.
The relationship between Mr Tom and William is central to the film and the novel. However, the limited time frame of the film does not allow for this relationship to be presented with as much detail as the novel. Mr. Tom has a reputation for being unkind and harsh, but the reader soon learns he is withdrawn because he is grieving for his deceased wife and child. While Mr Tom is a stern, old, grumpy man at first, he turns into a lovely, caring man with feelings for his new found child and friend William. Chapter one describes Mr Tom as “Well into his sixties, a healthy, robust, stockily built man with a head of thick white hair.” Mr. Tom always let William be himself, loved him for who he was, and tried desperately to communicate this to him. Mr Tom lives alone in a small house, loves to garden and has a dog called Sam. When William first arrives at his new house, afraid of the barking dog Will attempts to beat Sam. Mr Tom grabs the stick and stops him. Will had been taught that dogs were the devil. Mr Tom struggles to reach out to poor Willie, giving him his first birthday party, taking him fishing and encouraging him to draw. Together they form a trusted friendship enough for Mr Tom to rescue him from London during the bombing. While Mr Tom has been very good for William, this has enabled Mr Tom to also move on and heal from his past loss.
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While the film captures the nicer side of Tom it doesn’t give a fair representation of his tougher side. Both the film and the novel give minimal insight into his past family relationships. The film shows Mr Tom being sad and visiting the grave of his Wife and Son every morning, thus capturing his loneliness and grief, this has been shown better in the film than the novel. While the novel can’t describe everything it does capture the characters feelings, whereas the film can’t include everything in the short space of viewing time. However the film shows good visual representations of Tom an William
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In January we began a survey of the history of American orchestral music with George Bristow, born in 1825. Now in December we end 2016 with two composers who lived into the 1940s, wrapping up an American century with Frederick Shepherd Converse and Carl Busch, representing American music as well as any other two.
New Englander Converse could be a model for the American composer at that time. The son of a wealthy businessman, his musical gifts overrode his father’s desire for him to join the business. He studied composition with John Knowles Paine and George W. Chadwick, then went to Munich and studied with Chadwick’s teacher Joseph Rheinberger. Returning to the States, he taught at Boston’s New England Conservatory of Music (Chadwick having in the meantime become its director), then at Harvard. But after only eight years total of teaching, Converse left academia to compose full-time.
He wrote choral and orchestral works, as well as operas. The Irish-themed The Pipe of Desire was the first opera by a native-born American to see the stage of the Metropolitan Opera. The small Serenade for strings was followed by his grand tone poem, The Mystic Trumpeter, which was based on Walt Whitman, and premiered by the young Philadelphia Orchestra in 1904.
Along with The Mystic Trumpeter, his much later Flivver Ten Million has become his most-played orchestral work. Flivver humorously celebrates the ten-millionth Ford Model T to roll off the conveyor belt. Converse said he wondered “what Mark Twain would have done with such a theme if he had been a musician.”
The Danish composer and violinist Carl Busch studied in Brussels and Paris, and at 25 was invited to Kansas City, Missouri by the Danish consulate there. He formed a string quartet, came to the United States, and stayed. He became the leading musician in Kansas City, directing the Philharmonic Choral Society and the Kansas City Symphony Orchestra.
Busch fell in love with American Western and Native American cultures. Many of his works use home-grown melodies, including, in his Four North American Legends, Chippewa tunes. The so-called Indianist Movement in music, though a short-lived phase, grew out of the urge to find unique American folk elements from which to craft an American classical music. The irony that Americans were partly spurred on in this quest by foreigners has not been lost. Antonin Dvorak famously wrote the very thing in the 1890s while here, and the Danish-American Carl Busch was one of those who led the way.
Discoveries from the Fleisher Collection, Saturday, December 3rd, 5 to 6 pm, with hosts Kile Smith and Jack Moore.
Frederick Shepherd Converse (1871-1940). Serenade (c.1903)
Converse. The Mystic Trumpeter (1904)
Carl Busch (1862-1943). Omaha Indian Love Song; Chippewa Lullaby, from Four North American Legends (1918)
Busch. Elegie (1899)
Converse. Flivver Ten Million (1926)
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Wednesday, October 13, 2010
SEEDS OF CHANGE- JEN CULLERTON JOHNSON
"Those trees you are cutting down today were not planted by you but by those who came before. You must plant trees that will benefit the community to come, like a seedling with sun, good soil, and abundant rain, the roots of our future will bury themselves in the ground and a canopy of hope will reach the sky."
SEEDS OF CHANGE is the biography of Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai. Maathai grew up in Kenya and attended college in the United States. When she returned to Kenya, Matthai was deeply saddened by the deforestation of her country. She started the Greenbelt Movement, a group which restored the Kenyan countryside by planting over thirty million trees. Matthai was a groundbreaker many times over-- when she was growing up, not many girls went to school, or continued on to college, or became university professors. At one point, she was even jailed by corrupt politicians more concerned about profits than reforestation. This is a well-told story with gorgeous, vibrant, richly illustrations (by artist Sonia Lynn Sadler) that beg to be closely examined.
I could use this book in a hundred ways. Our second graders are doing a science unit on trees and plants right now. Almost every day, a very serious seven-year-old reminds me that I should not cut down any trees because they give oxygen to the earth. I'll start by giving the book to them this morning. Our third graders are working on ecosystems and this book would be perfect for that unit. It's also a great biography. Or would be perfect in a unit on courage. Or change. Or the power of the individual. Or it might be fun to look for other books about Nobel Peace Prize winners and string them together. And then there are those illustrations, that just beg to be studied and imitated…
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Japan is set to be nuclear power-free, for just the third time in more than four decades, and with no firm date for re-starting an energy source that has provided about 30 percent of electricity to the world’s third-largest economy.
>Kansai Electric Power Co’s 1,180 MW Ohi No.4 reactor is scheduled to be disconnected from the power grid late on Sunday and then shut for planned maintenance. It is the only one of Japan’s 50 reactors in operation after the nuclear industry came to a virtual halt following the March 2011 Fukushima disaster.
Japan last went without nuclear power in May-June 2012 – the first shutdown since 1970 – a year after a massive earthquake and tsunami triggered reactor meltdowns and radiation leaks at the Fukushima facility. The country’s nuclear reactors provided close to a third of the electricity to keep the $5 trillion economy going before the Fukushima disaster, and utilities have had to spend billions of dollars importing oil, gas and coal to make up for the shortfall. […]
Japan consumes about a third of the world’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) production, and will likely boost LNG demand to record levels over the next couple of years. LNG imports rose 4.4 percent in volume to a record 86.87 million tonnes, and 14.9 percent in value to a record 6.21 trillion yen ($62.1 billion) in the year through March.
Imports are likely to rise to around 88 million tonnes this year and around 90 million tonnes in the year to March 2015, according to projections by the Institute of Energy Economics Japan based on a mid-scenario that 16 reactors will be back on-line by March 2015.<
See on www.scientificamerican.com
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Modern humans crowded out Europes Neanderthals
Scientists have long debated what caused the Neanderthals to die off rather suddenly, making way for the thriving population of more advanced Homo sapiens who likely moved in from Africa.
The latest theory, published in the journal Science, is based on a statistical analysis of artifacts and evidence from the Perigord region of southern France, where lies the largest concentration of Neanderthal and early modern human sites in Europe.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge found more sites where modern humans settled, larger settlement areas, greater densities of tools and bigger amounts of animal and food remains, suggesting Neanderthals were crowded out.
Homo sapiens also likely had more elaborate social networks and possibly sharper brains, as evidenced by the stone tools, jewelry and artwork they left behind which was much more advanced than Neanderthal creations.
Their arrival in such large numbers likely forced Neanderthals from their habitual settlements and into places where food and shelter were harder to find, said lead author Paul Mellars of Cambridge University.
“It was clearly this range of new technological and behavioral innovations which allowed the modern human populations to invade and survive in much larger population numbers than those of the preceding Neanderthals across the whole of the European continent,” he said.
“Faced with this kind of competition, the Neanderthals seem to have retreated initially into more marginal and less attractive regions of the continent.”
The last traces of Neanderthals, who had survived on the continent for some 300,000 years, have been uncovered in caves in modern-day Spain and Gibraltar.
Mellars suggested a final death blow may have been delivered by a harsh cold snap, a theory that has been debated in the scientific community for many years.
The Neanderthals’ extinction may have been “accelerated further by sudden climatic deterioration across the continent around 40,000 years ago,” he said.
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USGS Groundwater Information
Groundwater Resources Program
New & Noteworthy
Press Release: High Plains Aquifer Groundwater Levels Continue to Decline
USGS Groundwater Watch
USGS maintains a network of active wells to provide basic statistics about groundwater levels.
Other Water Topics
USGS in Your State
USGS Water Science Centers are located in each state.
Recession-Curve Displacement Method for Estimating Groundwater Recharge In Humid Regions
References for the Recession-Curve Displacement Method
Bevans, H.E., 1986, Estimating stream-aquifer interactions in coal areas of eastern Kansas by using streamflow records, in Subitzky, Seymour, ed., Selected papers in the Hydrologic Sciences: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Supply Paper 2290, p. 51-64.
Chen, W.P., and Lee, C.H., 2003, Estimating ground-water recharge from streamflow records: Environmental Geology, vol 44., p. 257-265.
Coes, A.L., Spruill, T.B., and Thomasson, M.J., 2007, Comparison of recharge rates estimated from multiple methods for a shallow unconfined aquifer: Hydrogeology Journal, accessed online Feb 7, 2007 at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10040-006-0123-3
Daniel, J.F., 1976, Estimating groundwater evapotranspiration from streamflow records: Water Resources Research, v. 12, no. 3 p. 360-364.
Delin, G.N., Healy, R.W., Lorenz, D.L., and Nimmo, J.R., 2007, Comparison of local- to regional-scale estimates of ground-water recharge in Minnesota, USA: Journal of Hydrology, vol. 334, no. 1-2, p.231-249.
Dumouchelle, D.H., and Schiefer, M.C., 2002, Use of streamflow records and basin characteristics to estimate ground-water recharge rates in Ohio: Ohio Dept. of Natural Resources, Division of Water, Bulletin 46, 32 p.
Flynn, R.H., and Tasker, G.D., 2004, Generalized estimates from streamflow data of annual and seasonal ground-water-recharge rates for drainage basins in New Hampshire: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5019 27 p.
Glover, R. E., 1964, Ground-water movement: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Engineering Monograph Series no. 31, p. 31-34.
Halford, K.J., and Mayer, G.C., 2000, Problems associated with estimating ground water discharge and recharge from stream-discharge records: Ground Water, vol. 38, no. 3, p. 331-342.
Lorenz, D.W., and Delin, G.N., A regression model to estimate regional ground-water recharge in Minnesota: Ground Water Vol 45, no. 2, p 196-208.
Mau, D.P., and Winter, T.C., 1996, Estimating ground-water recharge from streamflow hydrographs from a small mountain watershed in a temperate humid climate, New Hampshire, USA: Ground Water, vol. 35, no. 2, p. 291-304.
Risser, D.W., Conger, R.W., Ulrich, J.E., and Asmussen, M.P., 2005a, Estimates of ground-water recharge based on streamflow-hydrograph methods: Pennsylvania: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2005-1333, 30 p.
Risser, D.W., Gburek, W.J., and Folmar, G.J., 2005b, Comparison of methods for estimating ground-water recharge and base flow at a small watershed underlain by fractured bedrock in the eastern United States: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2005-5038, 31 p.
Rorabaugh, M.I., 1960, Use of water levels in estimating aquifer constants in a finite aquifer: International Association of Scientific Hydrology, Publication 52, p. 314-323
Rorabaugh, M.I., 1964, Estimating changes in bank storage and ground-water contribution to streamflow: International Association of Scientific Hydrology, Publication 63, p. 432-441.
Rorabaugh, M.I. and Simons, W.D., 1966, Exploration of methods relating ground water to surface water, Columbia River basin – second phase: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report, 62 p.
Ruhl, J.F., Kanivetsky, Roman, Shmagin, Boris, 2002, Estimates of recharge to unconfined aquifers and leakage to confined aquifers in the seven-county metropolitan area of Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 02-4092, 32 p.
Rutledge, A.T., 1997, Model estimated ground-water recharge and hydrograph of ground-water discharge to a stream: U.S. Geol. Survey Water Resources Investigations Report 97-4253, 29 p.
Rutledge, A.T., 1998, Computer programs for describing the recession of ground-water discharge and for estimating mean ground-water recharge and discharge from streamflow data – update: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 98-4148, 43 p.
Rutledge, A.T., 2000, Considerations for use of the RORA program to estimate ground-water recharge from streamflow records: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 00-156, 44 p.
Rutledge, A.T., 2002, User guide for the PULSE program: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 02-455, p. 34.
Rutledge, A.T., 2004, Use of RORA for complex ground-water flow conditions: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 2003-4304, 5 p.
Rutledge, A.T. and Mesko, T.O., 1996, Estimated hydrologic characteristics of shallow aquifer systems in the Valley and Ridge, the Blue Ridge, and the Piedmont physiographic provinces based on analysis of streamflow recession and base flow: U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 1422-B, 58 p.
Sun, Honging, 2004, Estimating the fate of precipitation from stream discharge: A case study in New Jersey: Bulletin New Jersey Academy of Science, vol 49, no. 2, p. 9-15.
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We all know the human heart helps pump blood throughout our bodies, but there are some components involved in the heart that most people don’t know about. The more we learn about something, the better we can understand. The University of Tokyo created a virtual simulation of the heart and its function.
Using something called the Finite Element Method, they showed the amount of energy consumed in each part of the heart. The virtual representation viewed the heart’s surface and the differences in thickness of the heart’s muscle and interior structure. It goes on to explain how the heart has two sides, in which the right side has the right atrium and ventricle that connect to the pulmonary artery. The left side has the an atrium and ventricle as well but is connected to the aorta.
Located between the left atrium and ventricle is the mitral valve, and aortic valve is located between the left ventricle and the aorta. The lungs give oxygen to the blood which goes from the pulmonary vein into the heart then to the left atrium. The left ventricle, found behind the mitral valve, pumps blood and rotates it 180 degrees in the direction of the aortic valve. Oxygen and nutrients are carried throughout the body when blood is strongly pushed toward the aortic valve and eventually goes through the aorta. The phrase blood pressure comes from the pressure of the aorta. A person’s blood pressure goes up as the heart contracts and goes down as it relaxes.
The more we understand the heart, then the better doctors can more accurately predict a patient’s results. Devices like an ambulatory cardiac monitor help doctors assist patients in regards to their heart’s activity and increase patient’s chances of avoiding any serious heart issues. For more information on ambulatory cardiac monitors, contact Medicomp at (800) 23-HEART.
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It is frequently cited that more than half of us now live in cities. But it might come as more of a surprise to learn that the largest 300 cities, from New York to Guangzhou, account for nearly half (48%) of world economic output ... yet contain only 19% of world population.
Some cities are so powerful economically that they dwarf the rest of their country. The number of jobs they house and GDP they generate can account for almost half of their nations' output, if not more. They are no longer just cities: they are approaching the status of city-state.
London, for example, produces more than 30% of Britain's entire GDP. Neither is it the most extreme example: it is just 30th on our list of cities that most dominate their countries (see below).
The ranking is led by the "classic" city-states – Luxembourg, Macau, Hong Kong, Singapore, places where the city essentially is the country. But look at Brussels (59% of national GDP), Copenhagen (55%) or Tel Aviv (54%). Is it time we start calling them city-states, too?
(Note that in a small number of cases, the metro area boundaries extend beyond country borders. This explains why the GDP and employment of Luxembourg City actually exceed those of Luxembourg country. You could almost say Luxembourg country is a "state-city". More detail here [pdf].)
What's more, even the smaller cities may be on their way toward city-statehood: according to Brookings' Global Metro Monitor, between 2011-12 most cities in the world grew faster than their countries, either in jobs or GDP.
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At the start of the 20th century:
Lawrence produced nearly 25% of all the woolen cloth in the U.S.
65% of manufacturing output, 67% of all the capital invested, and 66% of expenditures for material were from woolen mills.
52% of the city’s wages came from the woolen mills.
“…there are two very desirable luxuries in the city of Lawrence, Mass., among the mill operatives, that is, molasses on their bread and water.”
— Lawrence city official testifying at the March 1912 Congressional hearings on the strike
At the time of the strike half of the workers in the four Lawrence mills of the American Woolen Company were girls between 14 and 18.
Spinners worked in extremely damp and humid rooms and were vulnerable to tuberculosis and pneumonia. In the years before the 1912 strike, one third of Lawrence’s spinners would die before they had worked ten years. According to Dr. Elizabeth Shapleigh, a Lawrence physician at the time of the strike, “A considerable number of the boys and girls die within the first two or three years after beginning work.” Thirty-six of every 100 of all men and women who work in the mills die before or by the time they are 25 years of age.
From the U. S. Immigration Commission (1912): “Thus while probably not over half of the present population is foreign born, only 1/7 of the population is American; that is either not of foreign birth or immediate foreign parentage. The result of this changed situation, due to sixty years of continuous immigration, is both favorable and unfavorable to the assimilation of the immigrant population… The presence of a large semi-Americanized foreign population makes it less and less certain that the newly arrived stranger will be brought into direct contact with American influences and traditions…”
In 1910, 65% of mill workers, most of whom eventually struck, lived in the United States less than 10 years; 47% less than five years. The New England Magazine crudely referred to recent immigrants as “the off-scourings of Southern Europe” who “will not be assimilated and have no sympathy with our institutions.”
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The ease of doing business rankings for 2017 was recently released by the World Bank. It revealed that India has made a rank progress over 2016. That looks pale in front of the 12 ranks progress made in 2016.
The ease of doing business is a composite ranking on 10 parameters (shown in the table below). Though India has improved on the overall rank, its rank has gone down on certain parameters like starting a new business, dealing with construction permits and getting credit, where as it has gone up significantly on certain others like getting electricity and enforcing contracts.
It is to be noted here that India’s absolute performance (as measured in Distance to Frontier or DTF score) has risen across all the parameters (except three where it has remained the same). It’s the other countries who have done better and gone up in the ranking list.
It’s a competitive world and simply doing good is not good enough, a country has to do better than others in order to improve its rank.
World Bank Methodology
Economies are ranked on their ease of doing business, from 1–190. A high ease of doing business ranking means the regulatory environment is more conducive to the starting and operation of a local firm. The rankings are determined by sorting the aggregate distance to frontier scores on 10 topics, each consisting of several indicators, giving equal weight to each topic. The rankings for all economies are benchmarked to June 2016. Read the methodology, explaining how the ease of doing business rankings and the distance to frontier measure are calculated (PDF).
The distance to frontier score helps assess the absolute level of regulatory performance over time. It measures the distance of each economy to the “frontier,” which represents the best performance observed on each of the indicators across all economies in the Doing Business sample since 2005. One can both see the gap between a particular economy’s performance and the best performance at any point in time and assess the absolute change in the economy’s regulatory environment over time as measured by Doing Business. An economy’s distance to frontier is reflected on a scale from 0 to 100, where 0 represents the lowest performance and 100 represent the frontier. For example, a score of 75 in 2016 means an economy was 25 percentage points away from the frontier constructed from the best performances across all economies and across time. A score of 80 in 2017 would indicate the economy is improving. Source – http://www.doingbusiness.org/ /rankings.
India’s Distance to Frontier score on most of the parameters have improved over the last one year.
The road ahead for India – Maximum Governance Analysis
The ease of doing business rank is going to be a key indicator of India’s ability to turn around the various initiatives to its advantage. Many of the key reforms started during the last one decade have evolved. Coupled with massive policy reforms undertaken by the current government, their effects shall come in the next few years. We believe that the cumulative effect of policy reforms, initiatives and capacity building for implementing them shall bring a big impact by 2018 and significantly improve our ease of doing business for 2019 (to be released in 2018). That in a way may serve as a holistic report card for the current government’s ability to help boost economy by building the right environment before the general elections of 2019.
Though there are multiple initiatives and reforms undertaken by the Government, we discuss here three domains of focus for improving India’s ease of doing business rank:
1. A huge opportunity remains in the areas of ‘enforcing contracts’ and ‘resolving insolvency’, both of which fall in the domain of Judiciary. A strong reform measure needs to be taken to bring down the cost of litigation and time taken for judgment and enhance the rate of recovery. India’s current DTF score on both the parameters is in the 30s and offers a big room for improvement. Government recently passed THE INSOLVENCY AND BANKRUPTCY CODE, 2016, which shall help improve the condition.
2. The second area needing great attention is that of ‘dealing with construction permits’, a domain of civic bodies. A large number of processes need to be completed (43 in Mumbai and 29 in Delhi) to get clearance for using physical sites for offices, warehouses, godowns etc. It requires simplification by reducing the number of processes and enhancing the speed of delivery.
3. The third area of big leverage is the ‘paying taxes’ domain. We believe with GST becoming a reality, the number of indirect taxes shall drastically reduce making it a lot simpler. The government is also planning to offer the businesses easier and convenient ways to pay GST.
As discussed in the article Unified Digital Identity for Ease of Doing Business, a big push to ease of doing business can be achieved by giving one single identity to the business entity. Rather than interacting with multiple departments of the government with multiple identities (as many numbers and passwords), can there be a single window, which allows to complete all the formalities of starting and running a business. The case of Singapore CorpPass is a great example. Even in India, the work has begin towards that end with Income Tax integrating with TDS portal and Ministry of Labour and Employment issuing one unique Labour Identity Number (LIN) to comply with as many as 44 regulations related to the work force. Another level of integration at the higher level may be required and add immensely to ease of doing business.
Last but never the least is the need for greater speed and agility in rolling out these reforms. As highlighted at the beginning of the article, it’s the relative progress vis-à-vis other countries that matters.
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They may be small but these mighty berries has a lot to offer.
Here’s the list of their mighty benefits:
1.They Fight Against Diseases
Both wild and cultivated blueberries has the highest total of antioxidant capacity. Antioxidants fight disease-inducing free radicals in our body.
2.Helps in Reducing Weight
Blueberry intake affected genes linked to fat burning and storage.
3.Prevents High Blood Pressure
The Blue- Red pigments found in Blueberries which are called “Anthocyanins” helps prevent high blood pressure by lowering the triglycerides and cholesterol level in the body.
4.Aids in Memory Retention
The good thing about Anthocyanins in blueberries is that, they not only helps prevent high blood pressure, but anthocyanins also increases neuronal signalling in brain centres for better memory retention.
5.Lowers your risk of Having Cancer
Pterostilbene, a compound in blueberries has the ability to suppress colon tumour growth, as well as key inflammatory markers.
6.Protects your Kidneys and Urinary Bladder
Like cranberries, blueberries contains compounds that prevents bacteria from adhering to bladder walls, which helps remove Urinary Tract Infections. (UTI)
Source: Better Health Publishing
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This is ‘What If’
and here’s how you can survive as the last person on earth.
So, you wake up one day
and find that you’re the only person left in the world.
Kind of cool, right?
No obligations, no rules, no limits.
没有了责任 没有了规则 没有了限制
Go for the exotic fruits first.
If your mangos and bananas are imported from overseas,
chances are they’ll be hard to come by.
So eat them while you can, and enjoy every last bite.
You might think that with no one stopping you,
you could go anywhere!
But not so fast!
All those abandoned cars, boats, and planes you see lying around
will be useless in about 2 years when their fuel goes stale.
Guess you’ll be sticking around. But for how long?
If water, food, and shelter are your basic needs,
shelter would be the easiest to come by.
You’d literally have a world of homes to choose from!
But be careful where you settle down.
Cities would become dangerous, since without proper maintenance,
they’d start to fall apart pretty quickly.
Nature’s elements: rain, frost, and heat, would take their toll.
Rot and mold would become widespread,
and vegetation would crack through concrete and break through glass.
But even if you were able to fight back against nature’s reclamation of the land,
all it takes is one bolt of lightning to start a city-wide fire.
And you can’t call the fire department. So run for the hills!
But even the country isn’t all that safe.
First of all, there are predators you’d need to defend against.
Wild dogs, feral cats… bears…
野狗 野猫 熊……
But you’d only have to worry about them as long as you could still breathe.
There are more than 400 nuclear power plants in the world.
And once their automated safety systems
began to fail without human supervision,
there would be meltdowns across the planet,
rendering many regions simply uninhabitable.
In terms of food, the city would be your best bet.
Supermarkets have enough canned and frozen food to last you for decades!
Whereas in the country, crops and livestock would start to dwindle
without proper care or protection from predators.
But if natural is more your style,
you’d have to go back to the old ways of hunting with a spear or a bow,
since ammunition would be limited and harder to come by.
Maybe you could grow your own little vegetable garden,
but that would cut into your water resources.
Without other humans, you’d be without electricity.
Water pumping stations and treatment works would shut down,
and the fresh water kept in reservoirs would go stale quite quickly.
You could rely on bottled water,
and you’d probably have thousands of litres to go through,
but eventually, you’d have to learn how to purify your own.
You’d have to teach yourself a lot of things,
but lucky for you, you’ve got a lot of time on your hands,
and millions of books out there with all the information you’d need
to survive effectively on your own.
So, while it might be hard at first,
you could technically survive as the last human on Earth.
But would you really want to?
Humans evolved together as social creatures in order to survive.
We joined forces against hunger and harsh weather;
and built families and communities to share stories, empathize,
and keep each other happy and healthy.
Human contact has been scientifically proven to build trust and reduce stress.
科学证明 人类的交往可建立信任 减少压力
So, while it’s apt to cramp your style, be glad it’s a small world,
we need each other more than you think!
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Tisbe biminiensis is perhaps the most recognized copepod species in the Reef Aquarium Hobby. This is for good reason as this species’ rapid reproductive rate, outstanding nutritional profile and diverse diet make it perfect for seeding both new and aged aquariums. When it comes to Tisbe and Reefs, one cannot go wrong.
Copepods act as the vital translator between microbial and animal nutrition. Lipids, amino acids, pigments, sugars and other essential nutritious elements all derive from photosynthetic organisms (phytoplankton, photosynthetic bacteria, macroalgae etc.). Copepods are adept at concentrating this nutrition by grazing on these various microbes. Some copepods, such as the pelagic calanoids (Parvocalanus, Pseudodiaptomus) are specifically adapted to strictly open-water life styles, only preying on live microalgae cells. Other copepods are far more cosmopolitan in their diet, and are able to graze on a meride of prey items ranging from live microalgae, to bacteria biofilms, to detritus, to formulated powdered feeds. Tisbe biminiensis is such a copepod of universal hunger.
Tisbe biminiensis is a harpacticoid copepod in the family Tisbidae. The species is tropical in origin, yet is so ubiquitous it may be difficult to discern a specific range. They survive in both oceanic and estuarine environments and rarely seem to survive below 20ppt. Like other harpacticoids, Tisbe are defined by a free-swimming larval stage (nauplii) eventually metamorphosing into a ‘crawling’ adult copepod. The adult Tisbe spends the majority of its time on substrate but will make periodic suarez into open water through a ‘scooting’ locomotion. After mating, females will develop a large egg sac, almost equal to her own body size, composed of several dozen eggs. The egg sac will be larger and more pigmented as females age and/or receive better nutrition. Eggs hatch into nauplii of about (50-75um) in size which metamorphose into a series of adolescent copepodite instars until eventually becoming full grown adults of around (500-750um) in size. Tisbe biminiensis copepods become sexually mature at (5-8) days and can reproduce several times in their (2-4) week life span. Tisbe copepods have a ‘boom and bust’ life cycle characterized by rapid reproduction followed by acute collapse if the population is not controlled by grazing or can expand to new habitat.
Tisbe Copepods as Micro cleanup Crew in the Reef Aquarium
Harpacticoid copepods act as the vital translator of lost nutrition. Wastes of all varieties (uneaten feed, feces, mucus etc.) accrue into the collective detritus. In both wild and aquarium ecosystems, detritus is a largely inaccessible treasure trove of amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and probiotics. Both the morphology and behavior of Tisbe copepods have evolved to seek out and utilize such lost nutrition. Tisbe biminiensis is a generalist grazer, possessing specialized mandibles for the consumption of bacterial and microalgal biofilms. Such microorganisms directly utilize inorganic detritus and grow rapidly into complexes, which on-mass, visually dirty the glass and rockwork of aquariums. Pest diatom biofilms have a particular appeal to harpacticoid copepod species due to their likely elevated level of pigments and Golden Fats (ARA/EPA/DHA). Adult Tisbe biminiensis occupy the various substrates where these unattractive biofilms accrue and microscopically scrape these surfaces. Furthermore, adult Tisbe copepods are negatively phototactic, meaning they impulsively flee the light. This means that Tisbe copepods prefer to live in the deepest, darkest crevices where detritus accrues…in the aquarium, this is likely the live rock, mechanical filtration and greater sump. This species will reproduce rapidly in any environment which is remotely favorable, creating a surplus population to colonize and clean new areas of detritus. This collective grazing has an added benefit in these detritus-prone regions as it allows for increased flow and oxygenation…which may promote more favorable microbial communities and reduce future buildup of wastes. This is why harpacticoid copepods are often referred to as an essential micro cleanup crew of reef aquariums.
Pod with Golden Guts
The gastrointestinal infrastructure and microbiome is where the Tisbe jewel sources its sparkle. This species is able to dramatically improve the quality of food received in its diet. The magic behind this are enzymes which are able to elongate and desaturate fatty acids. This means that this species can and will survive and thrive off a variety of inferior food items ranging in nutritional value from detritus to baker’s yeast. They are then capable of converting the lesser fats in their forage into Golden Fats (PUFAs), more suitable for consumption by fish and corals. This is essential for being able to recuperate and recycle waste lipids back into nutritious live feed. Tisbe copepods are also more than capable of utilizing premium quality food items such as powdered coral feeds and live microalgae. When they receive good nutrition from the start, Tisbe copepods exhibit pleasant hallmarks such as enhanced fatty acid profile, accelerated growth, larger adult size, greater pigmentation. Alejos Cabrera et al. 2022 observed over 50% retention of dietary PUFAs (ARA, EPA, DHA) in Tisbe biminiensis fed a diet of live Tisochrysis lutea microalgae. Golden Fats are an important but not isolated aspect to the nutritional potential of this species. The gut of Tisbe biminiensis contains many important elements including enzymes, proteases and probiotics…all of which remain stable and intact until they are bestowed upon the fish or coral lucky enough to consume a Tisbe copepod.
Tisbe Copepods as Functional Fish Food
As localized populations of Tisbe biminiensis copepods increase over time, new generations will be forced into less and less favorable habitat. This is when mass amounts of adult Tisbe copepods will likely be seen on the glass and in other highly illuminated parts of the aquarium. Copepods in these zones are feasting upon photosynthetic biofilms which are likely of a significantly higher nutritional value than unilluminated detritus. Better yet, individual copepods in these areas are highly available to fish. Many species of reef fish such as dragonets (Callionymidae), seahorses (Sygnathidae), and anthias (Anthiinae), are especially adapted to forage for copepods. Such species are defined by a fast metabolism and small cardiac stomach…meaning they display a strong preference for small, live prey offered continuously rather than in large, period feedings. For instance, a single adult mandarin dragonet (Synchiropus splendidus) can consume hundreds to thousands of copepods in a 24 to 72 hour period. It is therefore favorable to have sustained populations of Tisbe copepods colonizing the rockwork, refugium and filtration of a reef aquarium, so that there is a continuous surplus population which becomes discharged into the main tank display.
Because Tisbe biminiensis copepods are able to utilize organic detritus as well as algae/bacterial biofilms as a food source, they truly function as a sustainable fish food. Organics and organisms that would be a pest/chemical liability in excess can become recuperated and recycled in the form of highly nutritious microcrustaceans. Because of their robust gastrointestinal system and microbiome, Tisbe biminiensis is a functional live feed rich in essential amino acids, golden lipids, proteases, enzymes, bioactive vitamins, minerals and probiotics. As long as there are supple Tisbe copepods available, small-mouthed fish will never starve.
Tisbe Copepods As Food for Corals, Anemones & Jellyfish
Tisbe copepods are also invaluable food for a wide range of zooplankton-feeding invertebrates. It is the early nauplii stage which is most valuable as a feed for corals and anemones. Nauplii are free-swimming and can be continuously produced thousand-fold by a robust adult population. Adult Tisbe copepods can also be subject to coral grazing, especially during a ‘feed period’ when pumps are temporarily ceased and coral food (powdered, live microalgae, amino acids) is broadcast or target fed. Adult Tisbe copepods are likely to be attracted to any added coral feeds and will congregate around corals at such times. Feeding high densities of Tisbe copepods from an external culture benefits photosynthetic coral species which are currently very limited in the hobby.
There are many potential applications for this species in the husbandry of various jellyfish species. The circular chrysal-style aquariums used to house many pelagic jellyfish species are often difficult to clean with conventional scrapers. It is therefore highly invaluable to have a dense population of Tisbe pods to reduce accumulation of the exhibit’s unsightly algae/bacterial biofilms, while at the same time, being grazed upon by its jellyfish residents. Utilizing Tisbe, and other copepod species, as a live feed will allow for both the public and private aquarist to have access to a much greater assortment of novel display species.
Tisbe Copepods in Greater Global Aquaculture
There is a growing appreciation of Tisbe copepods for improving the production in commercial aquaculture hatcheries. Tisbe has many advantages over conventional live feed species such as rotifers (Brachionus sp.) and Artemia sp. Firstly, they effectively cover the sixe needs for both of the former, as Tisbe nauplii are comparable in size to even SS rotifers (Brachionus rotundiformis), while adult copepods are the same useful size as newly hatched Artemia franciscana nauplii. Secondly, aquacultured copepods have far less risk of bacterial contamination than dehydrated Artemia cysts, which often arrive coated in Vibrio sp. Spores. Thirdly, Tisbe biminiensis cannot prey on fish/invertebrate larvae even as an adult, unlike adult Artemia. Fourthly, copepods have a far better nutritional profile, having the ability to retain far higher concentrations of the Golden Fats ARA, EPA and DHA. Furthermore, these fats are biocontextualized by an array of copepod enzymes, prebiotics and probiotics. With these advantages in mind, it is no wonder that Tisbe copepods are becoming growingly embraced by commercial marine aquaculture of all kinds.
Kahan et al 1982 used Tisbe biminiensis nauplii and adults as an effective feed for Gilthead Seabream larvae (Sparus aurata), an important food fish species in the Mediterranean. Heath et al 1997 used Tisbe copepods to supplement Artemia nauplii in the feeding of Dover Sole (Solea solea) larvae, observing better growth, survival and pigmentation. Similar findings were observed in larviculture experiments of Turbot (Scopthalamus maximus) as well as various Dab species (Limanada sp.). da Lima et al 2013 used Tisbe copepods to rear the larvae of Cobia (Rachycentron canadum), though noted that success was dependent on dietary enrichment of the copepods with microalgae.
There is also a host of growing evidence that Tisbe biminiensis can be applied to penaeid shrimp farming. Lima et al 2011 noted that the larvae of Pacific White-Legged Shrimp (Litopaneus vannamei) could be successfully fed Tisbe biminiensis nauplii and copepodites. In this study, reduced Vibrio contamination risk was cited as a major advantage of copepod use. The same author proposed the potential of mass-scale Tisbe biminiensis production in salt evaporation ponds traditionally used to cultivate Artemia.
Tisbe Copepods in Advancing a Sustainable Reef Aquarium Industry
Just as it has great potential to enhance the aquaculture of food fish and invertebrates, Tisbe copepods are also actively accelerating the sustainable aquaculture of several reef aquarium species. Olivotto et al 2008 observed marked improvement in the hatchery production (in terms of growth and survival) of Clark’s Anemonefish (Amphiprion clarkii) larvae fed Tisbe biminiensis and rotifers versus rotifers alone. Perhaps no realm of aquaculture has embraced copepods as live feed more than seahorse breeders. Tisbe copepods have been directly applied to the large-scale cultivation of species such as the Slender Seahorse (Hippocampus reidi). Souza-Santos et al 2013 observed strong preferential grazing in H. reidi larvae for Tisbe biminiensis nauplii and rotifers (Brachionus plicatilis) over the nauplii of Artemia salina. There are likely thousands of reef organism larvae which can be fed enriched Tisbe nauplii…making this copepod species an incredibly invaluable tool for advancing the sustainable aquaculture of these organisms for the enjoyment of the Reef Aquarium Industry.
When it comes to the copepod Tisbe biminiensis, there is more than one reason to praise and appreciate this jewel of the reef underground. In external cultures it can be raised at ridiculous densities (200+ individuals/ml!) at a rapid rate. This has made it an invaluable tool for advancing aquaculture both for food security and for the aquarium industry. Because of the ‘crawling’ behavior of this copepod, it is able to survive, thrive and persist in newly cycling or well aged reef aquariums. In both, this species performs profound ecological services, acting as a micro cleanup crew all the while supplying fish, corals and invertebrates with premium microcrustacean live feed. Cleverly applied, Tisbe copepods can be used to introduce a new wave of zooplankton-eating organisms into the hobby. Tough, nutritious and at the service–this is a copepod of the people. When it comes to Tisbe and Reefs, one cannot go wrong.
Alejos Cabrera, R. M., Gaspar Reyes, W. A., Flores Ramos, L., Ynga Huaman, G. A., Ruiz Soto, A., & Nino Velasquez, A. F. (2022). Effect of time in culture on fatty acid composition of copepods Tisbe sp. and Apocyclops sp. Journal of the World Aquaculture Society, 53(2), 475-484.
Ananth, S., & Santhanam, P. (2019). Intensive Culture, Biochemical Composition Analysis, and Use of Zooplankton Tisbe sp.(Copepoda: Harpacticoida) as an Alternative Live Feed for Shrimp Larviculture. In Basic and Applied Zooplankton Biology (pp. 329-362). Springer, Singapore.
Araújo-Castro, C. M. V., & Souza-Santos, L. P. (2005). Are the diatoms Navicula sp. and Thalassiosira fluviatilis suitable to be fed to the benthic harpacticoid copepod Tisbe biminiensis?. Journal of experimental marine biology and ecology, 327(1), 58-69.
Arndt, C., & Sommer, U. (2014). Effect of algal species and concentration on development and fatty acid composition of two harpacticoid copepods, T isbe sp. and T achidius discipes, and a discussion about their suitability for marine fish larvae. Aquaculture Nutrition, 20(1), 44-59.
França, R. C., Amaral, I. P., Santana, W. M., Souza-Santos, L. P., Carvalho Jr, L. B., & Bezerra, R. S. (2010). Proteases from the harpacticoid copepod Tisbe biminiensis: comparative study with enzymes from farmed aquatic animals. Journal of Crustacean Biology, 30(1), 122-128.
Heath, P. L., & Moore, C. G. (1997). Rearing dover sole larvae onTisbe andArtemia diets. Aquaculture International, 5(1), 29-39.
Kahan, D., Uhlig, G., Schwenzer, D., & Horowitz, L. (1982). A simple method for cultivating harpacticoid copepods and offering them to fish larvae. Aquaculture, 26(3-4), 303-310.
de Lima, L. C., & Souza-Santos, L. P. (2007). The ingestion rate of Litopenaeus vannamei larvae as a function of Tisbe biminiensis copepod concentration. Aquaculture, 271(1-4), 411-419.
Lima, L. C., & Souza-Santos, L. P. (2011). Growth of the brine shrimp Artemia fed on offspring of the copepod Tisbe biminiensis Volkmann-Rocco, 1973. Revista Brasileira de Engenharia de Pesca, 6(1), 48-55.
de Lima, L. C. M. (2011). Use of Harpacticoid copepods in aquaculture.
de Lima, L. C., Navarro, D. M., & Souza-Santos, L. P. (2013). Effect of diet on the fatty acid composition of the copepod Tisbe biminiensis. Journal of crustacean biology, 33(3), 372-381.
Lin, Q., Tian, J., Yang, W., Li, M., Hu, W., Shao, J., ... & Wang, K. (2017). Yeast and corn flour supplement to enhance large-scale culture efficiency of marine copepod Tisbe furcata, a potential live food for fish larvae. Israeli Journal of Aquaculture-Bamidgeh, 69, 20892.
Ma, X., & Johnson, K. B. (2017). Comparative phototaxis of calanoid and harpacticoid copepods. Marine biology, 164(1), 1-13.
Mélo, R. C. S., Santos, L. P. D. S., Brito, A. P. M., Gouveia, A. D. A., Marçal, C., & Cavalli, R. O. (2016). Use of the microalga Nannochloropsis occulata in the rearing of newborn longsnout seahorse Hippocampus reidi (Syngnathidae) juveniles. Aquaculture Research, 47(12), 3934-3941.
Miliou, H., Moraitou-Apostolopoulou, M., & Argyridou, M. (1992). Biochemical composition of Tisbe holothuriae (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) and its differentiation in relation to developmental stages. Ophelia, 36(2), 159-166.
Nanton, D. A., & Castell, J. D. (1998). The effects of dietary fatty acids on the fatty acid composition of the harpacticoid copepod, Tisbe sp., for use as a live food for marine fish larvae. Aquaculture, 163(3-4), 251-261.
Olivotto, I., Avella, M. A., Sampaolesi, G., Piccinetti, C. C., Ruiz, P. N., & Carnevali, O. (2008). Breeding and rearing the longsnout seahorse Hippocampus reidi: rearing and feeding studies. Aquaculture, 283(1-4), 92-96.
Olivotto, I., Capriotti, F., Buttino, I., Avella, A. M., Vitiello, V., Maradonna, F., & Carnevali, O. (2008). The use of harpacticoid copepods as live prey for Amphiprion clarkii larviculture: effects on larval survival and growth. Aquaculture, 274(2-4), 347-352.
Pinto, C. S., Souza-Santos, L. P., & Santos, P. J. P. (2001). Development and population dynamics of Tisbe biminiensis (Copepoda: Harpacticoida) reared on different diets. Aquaculture, 198(3-4), 253-267.
Puello-Cruz, A. C., González-Rodríguez, B., García-Ortega, A., & Gómez, S. (2004). Use of a tropical harpacticoid copepod Tisbe monozota Bowman, 1962 (Copepoda: Harpacticoida: Tisbidae) as live food in marine larviculture. Contributions to the study of East Pacific Crustaceans, 3, 177-187.
Ribeiro, A. C., & Souza-Santos, L. P. (2011). Mass culture and offspring production of marine harpacticoid copepod Tisbe biminiensis. Aquaculture, 321(3-4), 280-288.
Ribeiro, A. C., & Souza-Santos, L. P. (2013). Mass culture of the harpacticoid copepod tisbe biminiensis fed inert diets. Blue Biotechnology Journal, 2(4), 583.
Sales, R., Mélo, R. C. S., de Moraes Junior, R. M., da Silva, R. C. S., Cavalli, R. O., Navarro, D. M. D. A. F., & de Souza Santos, L. P. (2016). Production and use of a flocculated paste of Nannochloropsis oculata for rearing newborn seahorse Hippocampus reidi. Algal Research, 17, 142-149.
Silva, R., Vinagre, C., Kitahara, M. V., Acorsi, I. V., Mizrahi, D., & Flores, A. A. (2019). Sun coral invasion of shallow rocky reefs: effects on mobile invertebrate assemblages in Southeastern Brazil. Biological Invasions, 21(4), 1339-1350.
Souza‐Santos, L. P., Pastor, J. M., Ferreira, N. G., Costa, W. M., Araújo‐Castro, C. M., & Santos, P. J. (2006). Developing the harpacticoid copepod Tisbe biminiensis culture: testing for salinity tolerance, ration levels, presence of sediment and density dependent analyses. Aquaculture Research, 37(15), 1516-1523.
Souza-Santos, L. P., Regis, C. G., Mélo, R. C., & Cavalli, R. O. (2013). Prey selection of juvenile seahorse Hippocampus reidi. Aquaculture, 404, 35-40.
Støttrup, J. G., & Norsker, N. H. (1997). Production and use of copepods in marine fish larviculture. Aquaculture, 155(1-4), 231-247.
Støttrup, J. G. (2000). The elusive copepods: their production and suitability in marine aquaculture. Aquaculture Research, 31(8‐9), 703-711.
Willadino, L., Souza-Santos, L. P., Mélo, R. C., Brito, A. P., Barros, N. C., Araújo-Castro, C. M., ... & Cavalli, R. O. (2012). Ingestion rate, survival and growth of newly released seahorse Hippocampus reidi fed exclusively on cultured live food items. Aquaculture, 360, 10-16.
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Santuario Nuestra Señora de las Lajas
Church history from Viva Travel
One day in 1750 (more or less), María Mueses de Quiñónez was walking from Potosí to Ipiales. Upon her back she carried her young, deaf-mute daughter Rosa. They decided to rest at Pastarán cave on the banks of the Río Guáitra. When doña María awoke from a nap, she discovered her daughter had wandered off. Upon finding her, Rosa said, “Mamacita, the Mestiza called to me!” She pointed to an image of a woman holding a child and two men.
Thus begins the story of Santuario Nuestra Señora de las Lajas.A small adobe chapel was built to protect the image of the Virgin in the shallow cave, forming the “altar screen” of the temple. Over the centuries it expanded to the impressive neo-Gothic structure that now spans the Guáitra River. Many Colombians and Ecuadorians make the pilgrimage to this site, beseeching the Virgin Mary for her intercession. The cliff walls are covered with thousands of plaques thanking her for miracles. (The Vatican only recognizes one.)
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The hen harrier in England could soon become extinct, with its survival haging by athread, warn conservationists. Figures show just seven pairs of the bird of prey had nested successfully this year. According to an annual survey, only 12 pairs attempted to nest, while the number of pairs successfully raising chicks to fledging, seven, was just one more than last year. Three years ago, the number was 14.
The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds calculates there is sufficient habitat for 300 pairs in England, but that persecution of hen harriers remains "devastatingly common" despite the birds having full legal protection.
Of the successful pairs, five nested on the United Utilities estate in the Forest of Bowland in Lancashire, the remaining stronghold of the bird in England.
Dr Mark Avery, the society's director of conservation, said: "Persecution, associated with land managed for driven-grouse shooting, remains the main reason for the hundreds of missing pairs.
"Even though these birds now have the full protection of the law, the persecution of birds of prey remains devastatingly common."
And he said: "Now that the future of the hen harrier in England hangs by a thread, we now need to consider all measures necessary to prevent the extinction of this bird in our uplands."
Hen harriers come into conflict with upland grouse shoots as they eat the game birds.
The RSPB is calling on the Government to address the problem of illegal persecution, and as a first step wants the coalition to confirm that the future of the National Wildlife Crime Unit is secure.
Dr Avery said: "It is shocking that protected birds of prey are still being killed illegally in the UK.
"In this International Year of Biodiversity, we challenge the coalition government to provide the leadership and political will necessary to address the problem and reiterate our challenge to moorland owners and managers to allow hen harriers to settle and breed."
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The Speech: The Story Behind Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream
Monday, November 18, 2013 - 7:00pm
Please join us at Shepherd University for a lecture and discussion by Gary Younge on the topic of the American values and ideals given expression in the famous "I Have a Dream" speech of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., drawing on the subject of his most recent book, The Speech: The Story behind Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Dream (2013).
Sponsored by The George Washington Institute of Living Ethics
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It was a sweltering eighty-seven degrees when Martin Luther King Jr. took the stage at the Lincoln Memorial in 1963. He was the final speaker after a long day. The crowd, which numbered in the tens of thousands, had begun to leave. King took a deep breath and threw back his shoulders. ‘I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream.'—From the Introduction
Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his powerful “I Have a Dream Speech” on August 28, 1963. Fifty years later, the speech endures as a defining moment in the civil rights movement. It continues to be heralded as a beacon in the ongoing struggle for racial equality. This gripping book unearths the fascinating chronicle behind “The Speech” and the revealing events surrounding the March on Washington.
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From ABC News' Chief Medical Editor Dr. Timothy Johnson:
Today's issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) contains two articles ? and an excellent editorial ? addressing the question of whether the benefits of the Gardasil vaccine outweigh its risks. The vaccine is designed to prevent infection by two strains of the HPV (Human Papilloma Virus); these strains are said to account for about 70% of cervical cancer cases. The vaccine is now recommended for 11-12 year old girls before they become sexually active. For the first time in my career, I cannot recommend a vaccine for its intended population ? in this case, young girls. Therefore I am going to say that any parent considering this vaccine for their daughter should read the editorial in JAMA
and then talk to their doctor before deciding.
"The theory behind the vaccine is sound: If HPV infection can be prevented, cancer will not occur. But in practice, the issue is more complex. First, there are more than 100 different types of HPV and at least 15 of them are oncogenic. The current vaccines target only 2 oncongenic strains: HPV-16 and HPV-18. Second, the relationship between infection at a young age and development of cancer 20 to 40 years later is not known. HPV is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection, with an estimated 79% infection rate over a lifetime. The virus does not appear to be very harmful because almost all HPV infections are cleared by the immune system. In a few women, infection persists and some women may develop precancerous cervical lesions and eventually cervical cancer. It is currently impossible to predict in which women this will occur and why. Likewise, it is impossible to predict exactly what effect vaccination of young girls and women will have on the incidence of cervical cancer 20 to 40 years from now. The true effect of the vaccine can be determined only through clinical trials and long-term follow-up."
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Know more about the Product
Digital Thermometer. Thermometers are probably one of the most important tools in cooking and baking. In restaurants, fine dinings, or a pastry shop, cooks and bakers are alike. For them to be able to cook or bake probably, they must know the current temperature of the food or liquid substance that they are about to use or serve.
- Measuring Range -58F- 572F (-50C- 300C)
- Display Resolution +-0.1
- Measuring Accuracy +-1 degree at temperature from -4F- 392F (-20C- 200C). +-2 degrees at other temperatures
- Talking and LED night function
- Auto Shut Off
- Reads Temperature in 4 Seconds
- Talking and LED Display:
- A tool that can broadcast the current temperature of your food to voice.
- LED lit display.
- Fast Reading Thermometer:
- Reads temperature in 4 seconds.
- Auto shut off function.
- The temperature can be viewed at Fahrenheit or Celsius.
- Wide Temperature Range:
- Measuring Range from -58F TO 572F (-50C- 300C).
- With just +/- 1 degree deviation at temperatures from 4F- 392F (20C- 200C)
- +-2 degrees at other temperatures
Digital Instant Read Thermometer
If you’re into cooking or baking or both, there’s a high possibility that you have used a traditional temperature measuring tools such as the classic cooking thermometer. These classic temperature measuring tools usually take about 20 to 30 seconds of holding it steady to get the right temperature of either your food or a liquid substance.
With the Surround Point Digital Thermometer, you can get an almost 100% accurate temperature reading in just 4 seconds with +/- 1-degree deviation at temperatures from 4F- 392F (20C- 200C). It’s quite easy to use too. With its long stainless steel sharp probe, you can easily slide it into any kind of meat.
This digital temperature measuring tool also comes with a speaker that tells you the temperature reading. Making it an ideal cook tool thermometer for people who are visually impaired.
Furthermore, its small compact and user-friendly design make it a space-saving tool and operatable by anyone.
Other Ideal Uses
This tool is also great for other uses.
Keep your chocolate fondue melted and delicious at the right temperature with this tool. Furthermore, make pastries or desserts without compromising the taste because of temperature misreading.
Setting The Right Temperature For Baby Bath
We all know that bathing babies are not like any ordinary bath. Babies are sensitive to temperatures, they have a lot of difficulties regulating their base temperature, which is around 37°- 37.5°C. They are very sensitive to variations in temperature, whether cold or hot. That is why it’s important to make sure that their bath time will be comfortable for them. With this tool, you can easily make sure that the bathwater is comfortably warm but not hot before putting your baby in. Water that’s warmed to about 37 degrees C (98.6 degrees F) is just right.
Our Verdict – Surround Point Digital Thermometer
Overall, the Surround Point Digital Thermometer is a great tool for measuring temperature as fast as possible without compromising accuracy and precision. What makes this tool great is its fast temperature reading, its capable of telling you the temperature via display or voice, and its compact and user-friendly design. However, the downside of this tool is the use of batter. Unlike traditional thermometers that work without the need for electricity or battery, this thermometer requires a battery to operate. It’s also not waterproof so that’s one thing to note of when using this tool.
You can also try ThermoPro TP20 Wireless Remote Digital Cooking Food Meat Thermometer it has features of probe and wire can withstand up to 716°F (380°C), timer and temperature settings, and splash-proof receiver.
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- What is Flooding in Great Britain?
- How Floods in Great Britain Affect People, Wildlife and the Environment
- Navigating Flooding in Great Britain Step-by-Step: What You Need to Know Today
- Frequently Asked Questions About Flooding in Great Britain: Your Ultimate Guide
- Top 5 Facts You Should Know About Flooding in Great Britain
- Human Intervention and Climate Change: Examining the Causes of Frequent Flooding in Great Britain
- Dealing with the Aftermath of Flooding in Great Britain: Recovery, Aid and Support Services Available
- Table with useful data:
- Information from an Expert
- Historical fact:
What is Flooding in Great Britain?
Flooding in great britain is an event where water overflows onto land that is normally dry causing damage to property, infrastructure and sometimes loss of life. Areas vulnerable to flooding include low-lying regions surrounding rivers, coasts or areas without adequate drainage systems.
Some must-know facts about flooding in Great Britain are:
1. The UK has a long history of experiencing some of the most severe floods with almost 5 million people living at risk of flooding.
2. Climate change and increased rainfall intensity have led experts to predict that flood risks may increase further across many parts of the country.
3. Flood warnings can be issued by the Environment Agency who monitor river levels regularly through gauges installed at various locations throughout the UK coastline.
Using a paragraph works well for this featured snippet as it succinctly summarizes what flooding in Great Britain means while also providing vital information on why and how it happens. Adding specific data such as those provided creates more interest around its effect giving audiences looking for general Information reason not just awareness but also perspectives they probably haven’t thought about before concerning severe weather patterns like these one resulting from climate change .
How Floods in Great Britain Affect People, Wildlife and the Environment
Floods are natural disasters that impact not only people but also the environment and wildlife. The United Kingdom, specifically Great Britain, has been no stranger to floods in recent years. These catastrophic events have disrupted life for both humans and animals alike, and have caused significant damage to the natural ecosystem.
Firstly, let’s start with how floods affect people in Great Britain. Whether it be homes, businesses or infrastructure; flooding can cause a great deal of destruction leading to financial as well as emotional loss for those affected by it. Homes get submerged underwater leading to dampness which causes mold growth and other health hazards impacting individuals living there long-term resulting in either an expensive renovation process or moving out altogether. Flooded roads lead to traffic chaos causing inconvenience leaving travelers stranded without any means of transportation which may result in delayed work or school commitments affecting them indirectly too.
Not only does this disrupt daily lives but also tourism is negatively impacted due to closed attractions during the high season making an adverse economic effect on small towns dependent upon tourist trade. Furthermore, food suppliers lose crops resulting from excess water that impacts agricultural production posing further problems both for farmers and citizens’ nutrition supply chain.
Now let’s discuss how flood affects Wildlife: When extreme weather conditions amplify such calamities like overflowing rivers habitats are destroyed forcing land-based species most at risk including deer populations seeking safety while drowning risks aquatic inhabitants like fish who need a specific level of oxygen concentration within their habitat force them to shift location sometimes triggering migrating movements threatening some delicate ecosystems’ survival dependant primarily on balance stimulating dangerous advantages through predators being driven outside their usual hunting ground.
Furthermore, floods prompt soil erosion weakening many indigenous trees whose roots corrode as they cannot access adequate support required under more stable soil-less entrenchment risking extinction of certain animal species suffering from scarce breeding opportunities along with limited shelter involving death rates piling up- thus slow-paced repopulation difficult given less opportunity area available following rampant flooding repercussions.
Finally, let’s consider how floods impact the environment: The aftermath of a flood event can have long-term effects on environmental health. Water pollution levels rise due to an influx of industrial and agricultural waste products unable to be processed by sewage systems leading to unsanitary conditions-and requiring consolidation into suitable tech hence becoming more environmentally friendly for future use. This impacts aquatic biodiversity, flora communities and discharges toxins causing mishaps in humans suffering from deadly diseases ultimately impacting overall ecosystems’ delicate balance which may lead some species susceptible intolerable exposure living within such contaminated waters.
Additionally, prevailing flood disruptions increase greenhouse gases forcing several countries including GBR looking at innovation renewable energy options as natural resources slowly erode making most vulnerable threatened by climate change measurements noted globally prompting aggressive green-tech opportunities with alternative sources powering rural towns lacking power lines exponentially increasing safety measures through clean-energy adaptation suggesting realizations following concerning matters about global warming disrupting otherwise balanced ecology surrounding Great Britain- highlighting moving towards sustainable solutions becomes paramount importance soon rather than later!
In conclusion, Floods significantly impact people’s livelihoods; animals lose habitat diversity whilst ecosystems suffer under pollution damaging all species’ viability consequently evolved over many years sustaining healthy practices. Therefore emphasis upon working together urgently would afford feasible innovations creating higher community continuity prosperity supporting more dignified approaches undoubtedly vital stepping stones securing prosperous earth awaiting mankind boldly taking modern trends advancing evolution forward!
Navigating Flooding in Great Britain Step-by-Step: What You Need to Know Today
Flooding has become increasingly common in Great Britain with climate change and a rapidly growing population. The effects of flooding can be devastating, from loss of life to property damage and disruption of daily activities. However, navigating flooding doesn’t need to feel overwhelming or chaotic. There are plenty of steps you can take today to mitigate the impact of floods.
Secondly, you should consider safeguarding your home before a flood occurs. This could include installing water-resistant doors and windows which minimise the amount of water entering a building during a flood plus making use sandbags around doors that might let crawl spaces fill up quickly with water etc.
If you live in an area prone to frequent flooding, it’s worth investing in flood insurance policy which ensures compensation if any destruction is caused due to unforeseen circumstances. Always make sure that your possessions and valuables are properly insured too!.
Thirdly, create an emergency kit made up survival supplies including high nutrition food items stored safely away from potential Flooding Areas thus allowing easy access provided this package includes basic medical necessities like band-aids Gauze And alcohol wipes along with other essential day-to-day essentials like phone chargers and batteries
Fourthly, know evacuation routes out of danger zones especially flash-flood-prone areas while recording key contacts related organisations i.e government agencies as well as family members who may aid rescue operations all Furthermore so always be vigilant since Floods occur at irregular times – not just after rainstorms!
Finally note: It’s also advisable never drive through flooded roads since visibility isn’t perfect in them causing even minor pools filled by heavy rains full setbacks once vehicles submerge – this could put yours-mine-ours lives at higher risk!
In conclusion, with good planning and foresight, navigating flooding in Great Britain doesn’t have to be a difficult task filled with overwhelming panic and confusion. By taking practical measures such as staying informed about flood warnings issued by relevant authorities or safeguarding your property against the worst-case scenario floods you can effectively manage potential disaster situations. After all – preparation is key when it comes down to safeguarding resources , valuables && human lives alike ensuring survival during inevitable natural disasters like flooding that occur worldwide regularly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Flooding in Great Britain: Your Ultimate Guide
Flooding in Great Britain can be a major concern for many people, particularly during the winter months when heavy rainfall and snowmelt can cause rivers to overflow their banks. Given the increased frequency of severe weather events attributed to global warming, it’s important to educate yourself about flooding should you find yourself at risk.
In this ultimate guide, we’re going to answer some frequently asked questions about flooding in Great Britain so that you stay safe and well-informed!
Q: What is flooding?
Flooding occurs when water overflows onto land that is usually dry. This can happen when there has been heavy rain or fast melting snow which causes rivers, lakes or other bodies of water to rise above their normal levels. Flooding can also occur as a result of human activities such as blocking natural drainage paths with buildings, roads or litter.
Q: How common is flooding in Great Britain?
Great Britain experiences frequent episodes of flooding due to its geography and climate. Winter storms often bring extreme weather conditions causing widespread damage across large areas from Scotland down through England’s West Country and Wales.
Q: Where are the most flood-prone areas in Great Britain?
The Environment Agency specifies more than 5 million homes and businesses are situated within postcodes deemed ‘high-risk’: on top of that 3 million more properties are expected to come under threat with the upcoming decade if urgent action isn’t taken against Climate Change–so no one area stands out above another although low-lying river valleys tend overall have higher exposure compared with upland landscapes where morphologies would naturally discourage settlement.
Q: Can I protect my property from flooding?
There are several steps you can take before floods arrive:
-Investing into flood barriers
Make sure vulnerable objects like power sockets and carpets aren’t too close to floors prone suddenly arriving right inside your house; try taking less irreplaceable items upstairs first followed by heavier appliances then abandoning your gas and electric supplies. It’s also wise keep foodstuffs out of lower cupboards or you run the risk of cross-contaminating produce.
Q: What should I do during a flood?
It’s important not to panic, but have an emergency plan in place before floods arrive so that everyone knows what they need if disaster strikes!
If it’s safe to do so, move valuable items upstairs or take them with you when evacuating your home/family vehicle away from waterlogged danger zones–make sure gas/electric services are switched off first though!
Most importantly, stay tuned into any updates from emergency situations happening real-time information via established regional news outlets- likely repeated on social media; local authorities’ accounts on Facebook/Twitter will provide options for force assistance.
A quick recap:
Flooding can devastate lives and livelihoods alike as well as cause distressing upheavals within neighbourhood areas. So we know preventing flooding is unlikely under circumstances where nature collides with anthropocentric factors. Preparedness may lessen negative effects. Keep track of weather advisory alerts and educate yourself properly in how best to react- this way there’ll be less uncertainty when those warnings ring true.. The next time there is severe weather heading our way, make sure you’re prepared! Stay vigilant folks!
Top 5 Facts You Should Know About Flooding in Great Britain
Flooding in Great Britain is a serious issue that should not be taken lightly. Every year, numerous parts of the country experience devastating effects due to excessive rainfall, tidal surges or any other factors which may cause water levels to rise beyond their capacity.
Here are 5 significant facts you need to know about flooding in Great Britain:
1. Flooding has become more frequent and severe:
Climate change is one of the biggest reasons behind the increased frequency and severity of floods in Great Britain. With climate reports suggesting increases in heavy rainfall over certain regions, it’s no wonder why we see news headlines warning residents about potential flood threats on an almost weekly basis.
2. The economic impact can be colossal:
Aside from causing personal devastation for those directly affected by floods, they can also have a huge impact on local businesses and economies as well. Insurance premiums skyrocket following every major flooding event; roads and infrastructure are damaged leading to costly repairs, and tourism industries often suffer severely.
3. Your home insurance policy does not necessarily cover flood damage:
Many homeowners falsely believe that their regular home insurance policies provide sufficient coverage against flood damages but this isn’t always true. Specialised “flood insurance” must typically be purchased separately or bundled into your existing plan at an additional cost if you want comprehensive protection against potential water-related disasters within your property.
4. You don’t need to live near a river or coastline to be at risk:
Although many image floods being caused only by rivers bursting their banks or coastal areas being battered by stormy seas, flooding can happen anywhere – even miles away from any body of water! Blocked drainage systems (caused by littering habits) faulty plumbing installations could result in water damage owing tens thousands pounds worth repair costs if left unattended – so keep drains clear!
5.Responding promptly through Flood Warnings saves lives:
Monitoring updates issued via government channels such as social media platforms will help you to prepare and act accordingly in the event of a potential flood, from how to safely protect yourself during the emergency through life-saving steps you can take immediately until rescue mission team arrives. Speed may truly be critical as even water levels that appear harmless at first glance could suddenly become dangerously high in mere seconds.
In conclusion, being aware about flooding situations around Great Britain will help you to plan ahead – which is always beneficial regardless if it spells security against your property or your personal safety & those among whom you love. Keep track of the latest communications by following credible sources but remember: better preparedness provides optimum defence!
Human Intervention and Climate Change: Examining the Causes of Frequent Flooding in Great Britain
Climate change, as a result of human intervention, has been responsible for numerous natural disasters across the world. In recent times, Great Britain has experienced an increase in flooding incidents which have left many people wondering about the causes of these occurrences.
Human action such as deforestation and industrialization contribute greatly to climate change resulting in warmer ocean temperatures that have caused widespread flooding. The increased frequency of hurricanes and typhoons are one of their products leading humanity towards unimaginable floods.
Furthermore, modern-day settlements are located on floodplains or coastal areas without due consideration given to risks posed by rising sea levels or water catchment systems built around them specifically because urban development is necessary considering population growth trends within the UK’s territory over decades. This disregard for nature’s inherent cycles leads us towards this unnatural flooding surge happening now.
Another common cause of frequent floods in Great Britain is poor drainage infrastructure – our undersized drainage channels cannot cope with heavy rainfall patterns throughout different parts hence increasing the likelihood of flash flooding especially if other preventative measures aren’t deployed beforehand at vulnerable regions including low-lying terrains near flowing rivers rushing through cities/municipal centres alike.
In addition, there may be some immediate contributions from anthropogenic factors; waste materials deposited carelessly like plastic bottles widely found outside our homes gradually find their way into gutters blocking flood drains which pose major setbacks during times already ravaged by overflowing streams/rivers until respective agencies complete long-term cleanup drives maybe weeks after all damages incurred per region/situation
It’s important therefore not just to make bold statements calling out effects but also acknowledging intentional/harmful actions by humans ourselves that ultimately lead us onto unforeseen routes directly threatening life support systems & properties in general even though we possess knowledge enabling management/prevention mechanisms/actions against avoidable loss upon them happening.
To summarize, although it would be impossible to eliminate any chance of natural phenomena like dry spells resulting in droughts or intense precipitation leading to floods, we can keep man-made interferences to a minimum by recognizing these all-important factors in order to limit our impact. By acknowledging the causes of frequent flooding in Great Britain and taking appropriate action where necessary, we can create a safer environment for ourselves, our loved ones and flora/fauna that depend on this rich ecosystem supporting us daily as partakers within it.
Dealing with the Aftermath of Flooding in Great Britain: Recovery, Aid and Support Services Available
Floods are becoming increasingly common in Great Britain as the country experiences periods of intense rainfall and unpredictable weather patterns. This can leave many people with a sense of vulnerability, stress and despair as their homes become submerged under water. But don’t worry – help is at hand! There are numerous recovery, aid and support services available to those affected by flooding.
One of the first things you should do if your home has been flooded is contact your insurer or broker. Most insurance policies cover flood damage but it’s essential that you check this out in order to take advantage of the coverage afforded by your policy.
In addition to insurance providers, there are various charities providing aid for victims of flooding such as The British Red Cross and The Salvation Army. Both organisations offer practical assistance along with emotional support during these difficult times.
Furthermore, local authorities also provide information and resources for individuals who have been impacted by floods. Informational leaflets regarding flood prevention techniques as well as cleanup operations provides some much-needed guidance on how affected persons can be better prepared next time around (fingers crossed!).
If you’re struggling with repairing damage caused by floods then government grants may be worth exploring. Depending upon individual circumstances homeowners may qualify for funding towards repair costs from central government funds administered via Local Authorities across Great Britain.
It’s just not humans suffering losses due to frequent flooding – our cute animal friends often get caught up too! RSPCA offers 24 hour advice lines during natural disasters aiming at supervising animal welfare in disaster-hit regions throughout UK including rescuing distressed pets/animals f wild species without owners present!
On top of all these different supports those still looking for further assistance might want to look into available volunteer opportunities wherein they could make a real difference at least marginally mitigating threats posed my worsening environmental calamities plaguing UK!
When coping with post-flood trauma one shouldn’t shy away from seeking professional help.. Here therapists/counsellors play a pivotal role lending patients years of valuable experience to aid recovery from emotional stress.
Finally, various online resources offer support services such as discussion boards for those affected and links to relevant emergency departments offering immediate relief. We hope our brief overview helps you navigate through this difficult time – the bottom line? Don’t lose hope! Help is available if needed!
Table with useful data:
|Year||Number of Floods||Worst Affected Areas||Estimated Cost|
|2019||34||Derbyshire, Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Gloucestershire||£110 million|
|2018||98||Cumbria, Lancashire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Suffolk||£1.2 billion|
|2017||46||Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Norfolk, Suffolk||£0.6 billion|
|2016||62||Cumbria, Northumberland, Lancashire, Yorkshire||£1.3 billion|
Information from an Expert
As an expert in the field of flooding, I can attest to the fact that Great Britain has seen a rise in flood incidents over recent years. The causes are multifaceted and include increased urbanization, climate change and more extreme weather events. It’s essential for individuals and communities to take steps towards flood prevention such as investing in appropriate infrastructure or taking measures like planting trees which absorb water. Adapting to changes brought about by these challenges is critical, and only through concerted efforts can we hope to mitigate this growing problem facing many regions throughout the UK.
From 1607 to 1930, Great Britain experienced several devastating floods that caused significant damage and loss of life. The most severe of these occurred in January 1607 when floodwaters swept across the Bristol Channel and killed an estimated 2,000 people.
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Stabilize and restore the landscape and community following a wildfire event.
Post-fire recovery efforts can affect susceptibility. Explore your community’s risk.
About Post-Fire Recovery
It can take months and even years to recover from the emotional, financial, and ecological impacts of a wildfire. The healing process for a community requires extensive resources and support.
Landscape stabilization and rebuilding homes and communities following a wildfire can be stressful and overwhelming. While immediate action is needed to address landscape rehabilitation, infrastructure repairs, post-fire flooding mitigation, and neighborhood restoration, long-term care is required to ensure personal well-being, financial stability, community health, and a renewed sense of place. Pre-fire mitigation steps—such as wildfire preparedness, home hardening, land use planning, and addressing community health and safety—can reduce the work required to recover post-fire.
After the Fire: Resources for Recovery
The Natural Resources Conservation Service is available to assist with site specific questions and provide technical assistance for landowners as they begin to restore the landscape following a fire. In addition, there may be financial assistance available through regular Environmental Quality Incentives Program or special state initiatives to help address resource concerns on private and tribal land.
After the Flames
After the Flames is a curated list of post-fire recovery and restoration information. The resources are useful for communities as they work to establish plans and priorities that protect citizens, homes, essential infrastructure, and resources from the destruction that occurs after a catastrophic wildfire. After the Flames is an initiative of Coalitions and Collaboratives, Inc. (COCO).
AIM: Action, Implementation & Mitigation
The Action, Implementation, and Mitigation Program (AIM) seeks to increase local capacity and support for wildfire risk reduction activities in high risk communities. Selected participants in AIM will receive technical and financial support and become affiliate members of Coalitions and Collaboratives, Inc. (COCO).
Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Teams
The BAER program is designed to address emergency stabilization issues related to wildland fire. The BAER teams perform emergency stabilization actions within one year of wildfire containment. These actions are intended to stabilize and prevent unacceptable degradation to natural and cultural resources, minimize threats to life or property resulting from the effects of a fire, or to repair, replace, or construct physical improvements necessary to prevent degradation of land or resources.
Community Mitigation Assistance Team (CMAT)
Community Mitigation Assistance Teams are a national interagency resource designed to work collaboratively with local partners to build sustainable mitigation programs focused on community fire adaptation actions on the ground. A CMAT works with communities at high risk of wildfire to analyze their mitigation programs and barriers, develop workable solutions to help move mitigation forward, share best mitigation practices for achieving outcomes, and build successful partnerships.
FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
The Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) manages several grant opportunities for wildfire in their Hazard Mitigation Assistance program. The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post-Fire provides mitigation assistance for Fire Management Assistance declarations on or after October 5, 2018.
Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network
The Fire Adapted Communities Learning Network connects and supports people and communities who are striving to live more safely with wildfire. The purpose of FAC Net is to exchange information, collaborate to enhance the practice of fire adaptation, and work together and at multiple scales to help communities live safely with fire. This includes embracing resiliency concepts and taking action before, during and after wildfires. They offer a Fire Adapted Communities Self-Assessment Tool (FAC SAT) to help communities assess their level of fire adaptation and track their capacity to live safely with fire over time
NACo County Wildfire Playbook
The National Association of Counties (NACo) produced this county leadership guide to help communities become more fire adapted and learn to live with wildland fire. The playbook has been designed by county commissioners, for county commissioners, as they endeavor to fortify and protect communities from high severity impacts of wildland fire.
Research & Science
- After the Fire. Federal Emergency Management Agency. (2019). Emmitsburg, MD: U.S. Fire Administration.
- Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Program. (n.d.). USDA Forest Service.
- Recovering from the wildfires. (2020). American Psychological Association.
- Wildfire recovery as a “hot moment” for creating fire-adapted communities. Schumann RL, Mockrin M, Syphard A, Whittaker J, Price O, Gaither CJ, Emrich CT, & Butsic V. (2020). International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 42. 101354.
- Wildfire Recovery: Ways to Move Forward. (2006). Wildfire Recovery, 1(1). Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University Extension Service.
Learn how these actions align with federal policies and initiatives.
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This process involves primarily "white" fat found mainly in the fat cells that lie under our skin. This is our energy, or calorie storage fat. The "brown" fat, or the "good" fat, actually burns calories for body heat. This fat is deeper and surrounds and protects our organs. Normal fatty acid metabolism supports and nourishes the brown fat. The storage, or white, fat is where our body puts the extra calories from dietary sources that we do not utilize. When we diet regularly or our weight goes up and down, our internal weight control system fears starvation and will store more fat as energy for the future. With repeated weight loss and weight gain, the same number of calories in our diet may keep us at a higher weight because we have a higher set point.
When we have developed more fat cells during our growth periods (infancy and adolescence), we will tend to have more fat, a slower metabolism, and a higher set point, and we will be more likely to have a higher weight. Once this pattern develops, such as by being overweight early in life, it is very hard to change. It takes work and a new self-image! Regular exercise and increasing exercise capacity are the main physical ways to improve the set point and lose weight and then to be able to maintain our weight with a reasonable number of calories. This is a far healthier approach than taking thyroid pills or one of the many possible diet stimulants.
Other ideas about individual weight suggest two opposing views. One school says that people are thin because they do not overeat as much as fat people, since they are guided more by internal signals of hunger and the types of food that their bodies want. Overweight people on the other hand respond more to external signals, such as the presence of food or other people and social situations, or they may react more emotionally to the normal internal messages.
Others believe that obese people do not really eat a great deal more than thin people; they just have a different set point and a slower metabolic rate. Heredity and early conditioning play a major role here. Heavier people’s food choices may not be as wholesome as those of thin people, with higher-fat and higher-calorie foods predominating. Malnutrition from nutrient deficiencies and food allergies can also be influential. Obesity is really a combination of these many factors. Of course, most of us know overweight people who eat a lot of food. Then again, we may know overweight people who eat lightly, as well as trim people who can really put it away. Most overweight people, I believe, have overeaten at some point to develop their capacity for obesity, unless there is some hormonal imbalance, which is not very common.
We need to start as early as possible to achieve dietary control. Children need both wholesome, nutritious foods and loving guidance! Only about 10 percent of elementary school children are overweight, yet between 20 and 30 percent of high schoolers are at least moderately obese. To lose weight and maintain it, behavior must change. Behavior modification is a form of therapy that can be effective in helping us change from an overweight person to a trimmer one. This can be practiced by ourselves or with the help of a close friend, spouse, or diet "buddy," but a behavioral or other counselor can often assist with it.
An important beginning is to try to get in touch with our level of hunger. Most "fat" people do not eat from hunger; in fact, many rarely experience this natural guide to eating. Using an eating diary to evaluate what, when, and where we eat, how much, our level of hunger, and what else we are doing at the time can be very revealing. An example of this form is found in Taking Charge of Your Weight and Well-Being by Joyce Nash and Linda Ormiston (Bull Publishing Co., Palo Alto, CA., 1978). Keeping such a diary for several weeks can help us to see more clearly our relationship to eating. We can then make a plan incorporating our new, positive habits and use new rules to change our behavior in weak areas. For example, if we snack while we make dinner or pick at the leftovers in the kitchen, we can make a commitment to eat food only at the dining room table and allow no eating in the kitchen or when standing. It may be difficult at first; constant awareness is needed. Behaviorists claim that it takes three weeks to change a habit and create a new one, so keep at it. Part of our eating behavior is affected by psychological aspects, such as our self-image, relationships to family or partner, sexuality, and general stress. Often, counseling is important to help change behavior to meet our dietary challenge.
Successfully achieving a new weight means changing our diet, not "going on a diet." When we return to our old, "normal" diet, we will create the same body we had before, and likely add another pound or three. First we change our diet by substituting wholesome foods for the more high-calorie and chemical foods in the diet. Next, we work to create good habits. The following list offers some suggestions for behavior patterns, food choices, and activities to help reach and maintain our optimum weight.
Before beginning a new diet plan, a health evaluation may be important, especially for those with recent weight gain or symptoms of medical problems. Before embarking on any low-calorie diets, we should have a complete exam, general biochemistry panel, and, if over 45, an electrocardiogram. A complete thyroid hormone panel is often useful to rule out low thyroid function, which could be a cause of weight gain or difficulty in losing weight. Blood fats, protein, potassium, and calcium levels are also important monitors in the process of weight loss. A positive side effect of diet change and weight loss is reduction of blood cholesterol and triglycerides and high blood pressure, yet also watching for mineral depletions, particularly of potassium, is a good idea.
A food allergy evaluation may be a valuable step on the path to a trim and healthier body. Many people have internal reactions to foods, with increased immune response, cellular irritation, and many possible symptoms. These can cause inflammatory activity and water retention, as well as poor utilization of other foods. Currently, the best way to isolate problem foods is a blood test that measures levels of IgG antibodies to specific food antigens (the protein stimuli of the food). This reveals delayed or "hidden" food allergy or hypersensitivity. Measuring IgE levels can determine foods causing more immediate reactions, such as hives, asthma, or eczema, though these reactions are relatively uncommon, which is why skin tests, which measure the IgE reactions, are not very helpful. Cytotoxic testing, looking at cellular reactions, is no longer used because interpretations of its results were too subjective. Antibody measurement is more reproducible.
Testing food reactions ourselves by trying different foods in the diet and observing how we feel can be very useful for the astute person, but the reactions may involve other variables besides the foods. TV doctor Dean Edell feels that the best method is double-blind testing—giving patients encapsulated dried foods as well as placebos, without the patient or tester knowing which is which, or even what food is being tested. This is a good method, but it is time consuming, and it assumes that food reactions occur so dramatically and immediately that people can be aware of them. Some reactions do happen at once, but many are more subtle and occur 12–24 hours later. Avoiding the causes of these quieter internal reactions contributes to the body’s fine-tuning and makes weight loss easier. Food allergy testing followed by a rotation diet avoiding the reactive foods plays an essential part in reaching and maintaining optimum weight and health (see more in the Allergy program in this chapter).
Several possible diets can be used as long-term plans for people who have problems maintaining their optimum weight. These are all generally healthier diets than those of the general population. There are literally thousands of quick-weight-loss, low-calorie, nutrient-deficient diets available to consumers. That is not what we are looking for to achieve our goals. I do not usually recommend fasting for weight loss, but if someone wants to lose a quick five to ten pounds in a short period of time, I will work with them, after an evaluation, with the overall intention of using that period to create a new eating plan to be used when the fast is over. Fasting is very valuable at increasing food awareness and sensitivity to both bad and good foods and eliminating addictive food and eating patterns, so that people can come back to eating with new enthusiasm and attention. A one-day-a-week fast on water or juices can be a valuable tool for many people who want to lose or maintain weight as it reemphasizes the importance of food choices and food awareness.
Behavior Patterns for Optimum Weight
- Focus on decreasing caloric intake and increasing calories out (exercise).
- Eat most foods early in the day for best utilization of calories.
- Drink eight to ten glasses of water daily, but not with meals.
- Drink two glasses of water 30 minutes before meals to reduce appetite.
- Eat lots of fruits and vegetables—as snacks, too.
- Walk a lot and exercise regularly.
- Avoid fats in the diet—they are more caloric.
- Use only low-fat or nonfat milk products.
- Minimize salad dressings, cream soup, and meats.
- Lessen or avoid alcohol and caffeine; minimize salt intake.
- Rotate foods—eat a variety; isolate allergenic foods and avoid them.
- Practice food combining.
- See a nutritionist to help with the eating plan or for food-habit counseling.
- Use smaller plate and portions.
- Fill up first on lower calorie foods, such as soups or vegetable.
- Avoid high-calories snacks and desserts.
- Wait 10–15 minutes before taking seconds—hunger will decrease.
- At restaurants, avoid overeating and take any extra food home.
- Take at least 20–30 minutes to eat a meal, even snacks.
- Eat at only one or two places in the home.
- Sit and relax before eating.
- Avoid eating while watching TV, driving, or doing other things.
- Shop for food only after eating, not when hungry.
- Create a schedule for eating.
- Plan meals and food choices ahead, snacks included.
- Carry food with you to work or when going out so that you have the right choices.
- Put snacks and sweet foods away at home.
- Stay out of the kitchen, cupboard, and refrigerator unless preparing food.
- Plan activities to occupy your free time when you might snack.
- Tell family and friends to support you and not push food.
- If you blow it, go right back to your plan, and do not make it an excuse to indulge.
- Weigh yourself only once every week or two.
- Learn about food, fats, calories, and so on , so you know what you are doing.
- Keep a good self-image and positive attitude toward life.
- Allow yourself to indulge (within reason) once weekly without guilt or self-judgement.
- Realize that it is ultimately up to you.
The essential aspects of a healthy weight-loss diet are lean protein (for example, fish and poultry), low fat, and lots of vegetables. High-fiber foods, with some complex carbohydrates, are also helpful, especially with an orientation to vegetables and vegetable-protein combinations such as grains and legumes. Eating a variety of foods and rotating those foods every few days is important. Cold-pressed vegetable oils are the main fats, with some low-fat dairy products if tolerated. Saturated and hydrogenated fats are minimized. Refined sugar and flour foods, including baked goods, candy, sodas, and other sweets, are avoided. Alcohol is out, and caffeine is minimized. We need to drink lots of water instead to support normal weight and healthy skin and internal functions.
Meals are restructured to include a moderate breakfast, great lunch, and light dinner. Snacks are low-calorie foods, such as fruits, vegetables, popcorn, or crackers. Overeating is prohibited. We must take breaks during big meals to let the body balance and let us know whether it needs more food. It usually does not; we really require a lot less food than our overweight mind tells us. Our satiation meter needs to be turned down, and that will take a golden key, which is not always easy to find. It may require going through our past, our emotional and psychological barriers, to find our creative spark and drive to be our best self and not let food interfere with this path of power. It really takes responsibility and a commitment to our new body-to-be, and a knowledge and belief that we can do it. We need to think more about eating to survive and feeding our body with the best possible fuel. Taking the time to eat, chewing each bite thoroughly, is essential to short-term digestion and absorption and the long-term health of the whole digestive tract. Being aware of the process of eating and of what food is eaten is a must.
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State's eighth-graders need to improve writing
CALIFORNIA National testing of eighth-graders finds just 25% in state perform at grade level
Published 4:00 am, Friday, April 4, 2008
California's eighth-graders write well enough to convey information, but their words and sentence structures "are often simple and unvaried," according to the latest state-by-state writing test known as the Nation's Report Card.
Yet the simple and unvaried truth is that 13-year-olds in nearly all states write in similarly bland fashion, labeled "sufficient."
Results released Thursday by the U.S. Department of Education show that only one state - New Jersey - reached the "skillful" level, in which students routinely churn out clearly organized essays. No state reached the "excellent" level, where readers feel compelled to read to the end.
Within the national band of sufficient mediocrity, eighth-graders in California write less well than their peers, ranking 38th out of 47 states and jurisdictions that took part in the survey.
That means just 25 percent of the state's eighth-graders scored at grade level in writing, compared with 56 percent in top-ranked New Jersey.
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The national average was 31 percent writing at grade level. Mississippi posted the lowest scores, with 15 percent scoring at grade level.
California students have improved, however. The writing test was last administered in 2002, when 23 percent of the state's students scored at grade level. In 1998, 20 percent did as well.
Depending on the year, the test is given to a sampling of students in grades 4, 8 or 12 in a variety of subjects. State participation is voluntary. This writing test was administered in 2007 to 165,000 students nationwide in grades 8 and 12, with state results provided only for eighth-graders.
Most educators take the Nation's Report Card seriously because it serves as a sort of academic Olympics in which states are pitted against each other, emerging as academic stars or duds.
But a frequent criticism is that the scoring is unfair because states with large numbers of English learners and low-income students - like California - are compared with sample groups that are primarily white and more affluent.
On Thursday, state Superintendent Jack O'Connell noted that California had more English learners taking the test than any other state. He said that when similar groups of students are stacked up against each other, California looks better.
"It is of interest to note that when compared to the national results, California's English learner population scored the same as English learners nationally, although the average score for English learners fell far below their counterparts who are fluent in English," he said.
Nearly half of California students tested were Latino, compared with 19 percent nationwide. Just under a third were white, compared with 58 percent nationwide. About 12 percent were Asian American, compared with 5 percent nationwide. And 7 percent were black, compared with 17 percent nationwide.
-- To see the full report, go to links.sfgate.com/ZCXK.
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Earth Day 2015 marks 45 years of celebrating this one of a kind planet that we call home. Started in 1970, Earth Day organizations have spawned both grass-roots movements as well as the EPA, or environmental protection agency. Many laws that protect both the land and the wildlife we share this earth with have come from the EPA and related organizations.
And despite being in its 45th year, the purposes behind Earth day are more important now than they ever were. Every year we have more tools with which to protect the earth and to decrease our carbon footprint. And every year we need to start creating new eco-friendly habits, and inspiring others to do the same. But don’t get daunted: you can take small steps that will lead to big changes down the road.
Consider volunteering at a recycling center, or organizing a local recycling drive. Or research the local addresses and phone numbers for recycling facilities, and what they offer, to share at school, work, and extra curricular activities. Even reusing scrap paper, biking or carpooling to work, and supporting eco-friendly products helps. And be sure to share your tips and tricks with others. Because sometimes the biggest thing holding people back from change is researching the who, what, when, where, and how.
Even doing something as simple as wearing eco-green pins to spread the word and start conversations with people can help inspire change. PinMart has an entire line of pins that are made from recycled materials, and can be worn year round to remind others to do their part on Earth Day, and every day.
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Guest Blog provided by UNH Cooperative Extension’s Education Center
For many vegetable gardeners, peak harvest season has passed and we find ourselves solemnly imagining how life will be without the option of harvesting fresh produce for our plates daily. Luckily there is still time to try seeding some cool season crops that can handle colder temperatures and actually taste better once cool weather arrives.
To start with, you will want to make sure that your soil is well prepared and free of large soil clods and rocks. Most greens seeds are small and won’t germinate as well in such conditions. While working the soil, apply a balanced fertilizer to ensure that your greens are well-fed throughout remainder of the season.
In certain soils that are very clumpy or tend to form a crust when dry, make a very small trench or depression just 1/8 inch deep. I generally use a board turned with a corner pointed down and press lightly to make the depression. The end of a hoe handle can also be used to mark out the row and leave the shallow trench. Seeding into this trench and covering with a fine seed starting mix or compost will ensure that germinating seedlings can easily push up through the soil surface. Another good technique for sowing greens mixes is to simply take a metal garden rake, the one with the thick metal teeth, and rake one direction across the bed down the entire length. Do this only to a depth appropriate for the crops you are sowing, often only ¼ inch deep. This will make several of the shallow planting trenches to hold your seeds. Then broadcast your mix across the entire bed, scattering the seeds so that you have one land every inch or so. Next, simply rake very lightly across the bed again, but this time rake perpendicular to the direction you raked before. This will cover the majority of your greens seeds with enough soil for good germination. That’s it. Water sufficiently to moisten the top inch of soil and seeding is complete.
Once your greens are seeded, they absolutely must remain moist during the germination and establishment period. A watering wand with a gentle shower setting is a good choice to avoid washing soil and seeds out of the rows while watering. The first two weeks from seeding through germination, emergence and early growth are critical where adequate moisture is concerned. Thin seedlings as needed and keep weeds under control, especially early on as the greens become established.
What type of greens can be grown during the late summer, fall and into winter?
A basic mesclun, or salad mix is a great choice. If you like a bit of a spicy bite in your mix, consider sowing mustards, arugula, mizuna and tatsoi. You can purchase pre-made mixes or create your own custom tailored to your own taste preferences.
Some crops are hardier than others or simply quicker to grow to a harvestable size. The most reliable group includes spinach, baby kale, tatsoi and claytonia. Next would be arugula, mizuna, cress and pac choi, followed by baby lettuces, baby Swiss chard and radishes.
Planting calendars for winter harvest of these crops are available online, and the best of them take into consideration the effect that shorter days have on plant growth rates. All of the crops listed in this article can be grown under protective covering such as a small hoop structure when seeded as late as the third full week in September, while the hardiest options like spinach, baby kale tatsoi and claytonia could be seeded up until mid-October. Of course, gardeners farther north would need to plant on the early side for best results.
One of the great things about growing greens late in the season is that many of the pest and disease pressures that we deal with early in the season begin to lighten up. Additionally, the sunny days and cool night temperatures result in higher sugar levels in the plants, which means great flavor on the plate.
Protect Your Plantings
To really get the most out of your planting, you’ll need to use floating row covers to help protect your greens from cold temperatures, drying winds and early frosts. This lightweight spun-bonded fabric allows light, water and air to pass through it, but offers a few degrees of frost protection that could result in a substantially extended harvest season.
Floating row covers get their name because they are actually used by some growers by just pulling them over the plants and allowing them to “float” or rest on top. During heavy frosts, the plants can still get burnt where they are in contact with the fabric. To remedy this, use heavy gauge wire, pvc piping, or even metal conduit bent into the shape of an arch and placed every 4 to 5 feet down the bed. Essentially, you are making a tiny hoop house with a protected microclimate inside. Consider using the heavier weight row covers, which are measured in ounces per square yard. Clear plastic can also be used for this purpose, but much greater care should be taken in managing ventilation to avoid buildup of excess heat and humidity. Adding a layer of clear plastic over the row cover after a few heavy frosts will provide additional protection and extend the harvest further yet. Experimenting with seeding dates, crop mixes and season extension techniques can result is harvest well in to the fall and winter.
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Only 10% of South African snakes are venomous (I am not sure of the proportion in other countries), the younger snakes having a higher concentration of venom that the adult snakes.
Snakes have either teeth or fangs. Fangs can either be found in the back of the mouth or in the front, and can either inject the venom into your skin or squirt it into your eyes. Problems that you will face are:
Can you identify the snake? Most people cannot.
Is the snake venomous? This can only be known by the identity of the snake.
If the snake is venomous, what type of venom was injected into you? Once again, the identity of the snake will solve this one.
How long will you live for? That depends on how old the snake was, how much venom was actually injected and the concentration of the venom.
TYPES OF VENOMOUS SNAKE BITES
Cobras and Mambas inject Neurotoxic venom which will affect the nervous system and cause initial muscle weakness, blurred vision, difficulty in swallowing and breathing and eventually paralysis.
Adders inject Cytotoxic venom which will cause massive swelling and bruising to the area that was bitten, and could eventually burst the skin open.
Boomslange and Vine Snakes inject Haemotoxic venom which destroys the platelets in the blood and causes major internal bleeding in the lungs, liver, kidneys, spleen etc., and blood will also leak out of all orifices in your body, including minor wounds and bruises.
Berg Adders are highly dangerous as they inject both Neurotoxic and Cytotoxic venom into you.
TREATMENT OF SNAKE BITES
What NOT to do:
Do not panic and run around as this will increase the blood circulation and transport the venom quicker around the body.
Do not make a tourniquet (this means to tie a cloth tightly around the arm or leg) as this will kill the arm or leg below it and it might have to be amputated later, as well as concentrate the venom (if it was a venomous bite) in the area and kill that body part off quicker.
Do not cut and try to suck out the venom as we see them do in cowboy movies, as the venom will still get absorbed into your blood stream through your gums and cheeks.
What TO do:
Do loosen the clothing, reassure the patient, and keep him calm and quiet.
Do dress the wound with a bandage and keep it cool (in the shade). This will stop your blood vessels dilating and decrease the blood flow in that area.
Do watch the patient carefully, if he loses consciousness, apply the ABC's (see below).
The ABC's (these three things are useful to remember in the majority of first aid situations):
A = Airways, tilt his neck backwards to get the tongue away from the back of his throat and stop him from choking on it. Do not put a blanket or anything under his head.
B = Breathing, look, listen and feel to check if he is still breathing. If he has stopped breathing, give him one breath every five seconds.
C = Circulation, check his pulse in his neck, on either side of his windpipe, or listen for a heartbeat by putting your ear next to his chest.
Once the situation has been assessed, then get help as quickly as possible. He would need to get to hospital soon. In hospital, if the snake is unknown, they would treat the patient symptomatically, that is, they would put him on a breathing machine if he stops breathing, give antibiotics if he shows signs of infection, etc.
Most people that get brought to hospital for snake bites, don't know much about the snake, so the practice of giving the patient an anti-venom is only done is certain cases.
(Besides, anti-venom is only housed in Cape Town and Pretoria, so anyone hiking in the Drakensberg - South Africa - and that gets bitten by a snake, will probably get brought to a Durban hospital, hence the symptomatic treatment which is given - this applies to South Africa).
Short note about the author
Gerald Crawford was born in South Africa, studied electronics, telecommunication, eco-travel and african travel concepts. He taught responsible tourism in South Africa. If you have any questions or comments please e-mail me on. E-mail Address: [email protected] Website Address: http://www.12234455.co.za.
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Otto made his first public appearance as a representative of the House of Habsburg at the tender age of four, at the funeral of his great-great-uncle Emperor Franz Joseph in November 1916.
The funeral procession was an impressive spectacle and remained engraved on the memory of many participants and onlookers. The young Otto walked behind the catafalque wearing a brilliant white tunic with a black sash which stood out against the sombre procession. As a symbol of innocence and new beginnings he attracted the sympathy of the crowd in a time of war-weariness and lack of hope. The child’s presence was a public relations coup, given that the dynasty no longer enjoyed undivided support after the death of the aged emperor.
As a child Otto experienced the fruitless efforts of his parents to regain the power they had lost. Aged nine he witnessed his father’s death agony: Karl insisted that his son be present so that he could see ‘how a Christian returns to his Creator’.
As he was the eldest son, Otto was groomed to be his father’s successor after the latter’s early death. From his earliest years he was brought up as the future head of the dynasty who might one day regain the throne. Thus immediately after his father’s death Otto was addressed as Imperial Majesty, and those around him had to accord him every obeisance due to an emperor, despite the straitened circumstances they were living in. When Otto attained his majority in 1930, his mother put the political legacy of his father into his hands and he was formally recognized as the head of the dynasty.
This claim was also reflected in his education: taught at first by private tutors, for the last few years of his schooling he attended the secondary school run by the Benedictine Abbey at Clairvaux in Luxemburg. Even his school leaving exams were co-opted as a declaration of his status: the former emperor’s son was examined by a panel of Austrian and Hungarian teachers in accordance with the regulations that had pertained before 1918.
After this he began to study law and political science at the University of Leuven in Belgium, where he was matriculated under the pseudonym ‘Count of Bar’. The latter was one of the titles borne by the head of the Habsburg-Lorraine dynasty, and was also a clear reference to his Lotharingian roots.
While spending a term studying in Berlin in 1932/33 he witnessed the National Socialist takeover of power on 31 January 1933 and left Germany immediately. In 1935 he completed his studies and received his doctorate in law. In 1936 he began to be active in the Pan-Europa movement. This had been founded by the Bohemian aristocrat Count Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi with the aim of uniting Europe on the principles of democracy and Christian ideals as a counterweight to the totalitarian tendencies of the chauvinist-nationalist and Communist factions.
In the meantime the political climate in Austria had changed, and public opinion – at least in Conservative-Catholic circles – increasingly began to see positive sides to the Habsburg legacy. Otto won support from the ‘Iron Ring’ monarchist association which became a platform for the hitherto unorganized legitimist tendencies.
In 1931 Otto was made a freeman of the town of Ampass in Tyrol. This was the first sign of a changed attitude towards the dynasty. This initiative gradually became a veritable movement; by 1938 Otto had been made a freeman of 1,603 towns in Austria.
Translation: Sophie Kidd
Baier, Stephan; Demmerle, Eva: Otto von Habsburg, Die Biografie. 5. Aufl., Amalthea, Wien 2007
Brook-Shepherd, Gordon: Otto von Habsburg. Biografie. Verlag Styria, Graz-Wien-Köln, 2002
Leidinger, Hannes; Moritz, Verena; Schippler, Berndt: Schwarzbuch der Habsburger. Die unrühmliche Geschichte eines Herrscherhauses, 2. Auflage, Innsbruck, Wien 2010
Riedl, Joachim: Ein letzter Hauch der Monarchie. Mit dem Tod von Otto Habsburg geht ein Kapitel österreichischer Geschichte endgültig zu Ende. In: Wochenzeitung Die Zeit, Nr. 28, 7. Juli 2011, Österreich-Ausgabe, S. 14.
- The Habsburgs in exile I: from Switzerland to Madeira
- Attempts to regain power
- Putsch attempts in Hungary
- Habsburgs in exile II: 1922-1945
- Zita – to the very last for ‘God, Emperor and Fatherland’
- Otto, the last ‘crown prince’
- Otto and Austrofascism
- The ‘Habsburg Crisis’
- The beatification of Emperor Karl I
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Number of schools
Medium Home Price
Median Household Income
Wenatchee is the largest city in Chelan County and technically sits on the West side of the Columbia river. East Wenatchee is literally right across the river, but lies in Douglas County and is considered a separate entity. Wenatchee might be most famous for the apple orchards that are liberally scattered throughout the area. There is quite the history of hydroelectric power activity in the area as well, with multiple dams in close proximity to Wenatchee.
- Wenatchee is currently the the 33rd largest city in the State of Washington.
- According to the latest Census data taken in 2010, Wenatchee is home to about 32,000 residents.
- It used to known as the Buckle of the Power Belt of the Northwest. This was because of all the hydroelectric power generated in the region.
- Wenatchee was named for an Indian tribe. The original spelling was “Wenatchi”.
- Physical size: About 8 sq miles.
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For more than a decade, no single issue has caused more frustration or curiosity for Python novices and experts alike than the Global Interpreter Lock.
An Open Question
Every field has one. A problem that has been written off as too difficult, too time consuming. Merely mentioning an attempt to solve it raises eyebrows. Long after the community at large has moved on, it is taken up by those on the fringe. Attempts by novices are undertaken for no other reason than the difficulty of the problem and the imagined accolades that would accompany a solution. The open question in Computer Science of whether P = NP is such a problem. An answer to the affirmative has the possibility to literally change the world, provided a "reasonable" polynomial time algorithm is presented. Python's hardest problem is less difficult than crafting a proof of P = NP, to be sure. Nevertheless, it has not received a satisfactory solution to date, and the practical implications of a solution would be similarly transformative. Thus, it's easy to see why so many in the Python community are interested in an answer to the question: "What can be done about the Global Interpreter Lock?"
A Low Level Look at Python
To understand the GIL and its implications, we must start at Python's foundations. Languages like C++ are compiled languages, so named because a program is fed in to a compiler where it is parsed according to the language's grammar, transformed into a language agnostic intermediate representation, and linked into an executable comprised of highly optimized machine code. The compiler is able to optimize the code so aggressively because it is seeing the whole program (or large, self-contained chunks) at once. This allows it to reason about interactions between different language constructs and make informed decisions about optimization.
In contrast, Python is an interpreted language. The program is fed into an interpreter in order to be run. The interpreter has no knowledge of the program before it is run; rather, it knows the rules of Python and is capable of dynamically applying those rules. It too has optimizations, but optimizations of a rather different class. Since the interpreter cannot reason about the program proper, most of Python's optimizations are optimizations of the interpreter itself. A faster interpreter means faster program execution "for free". That is, when the interpreter is optimized, Python programs need not change to realize the benefit.
This is an important point, so it bears repeating. The execution speed of a Python program, all other things being equal, is directly tied to the "speed" of the interpreter. No matter how much optimization you do within your program itself, your program's execution speed is still tied to how efficiently the interpreter can execute your code. It is clear, then, why much work has been devoted to optimizing the Python interpreter. It is the closest thing to a free lunch Python programmers can get.
The Free Lunch Is Over
Or is it? A generation of programmers have learned to write code while Moore's Law was delivering hardware based speedups with predictable timing. If one wrote code that was slow, simply waiting a bit for faster processors was oftentimes the easiest solution. Indeed, Moore's law still holds true and likely will for quite a bit longer, but the way in which it holds has fundamentally changed. No longer are clock rates steadily increasing to dizzying speeds. Instead, multiple cores are used to take advantage of transistor density increases. Programs wishing to capitalize on new processors must be rewritten to exploit parallelism.
When most developers hear "parallelism" the immediately think of multi-threaded programs. Utilizing multiple threads of execution is by far the most common way to take advantage of multi-core systems. While multi-threaded programming is a good deal tougher than "sequential" programming, the careful programmer may nevertheless exploit parallelizable portions of his or her code to great effect. The implementation language should be an afterthought, since almost all heavily used modern languages support multi-threaded programming.
A Surprising Fact
Now we come to the crux of the issue. To take advantage of multi-core systems, Python must support multiple threads of execution. Being an interpreted language, Python's interpreter must be written in such a way so that doing so is both safe and performant. We all know the issues that multi-threaded programming can present. The interpreter must be mindful not to operate on internally shared data from different threads. It must also manage user's threads in such a way that the maximum amount of computation is being performed at all times.
What, then, is the mechanism by which data is protected from simultaneous access by different threads? The Global Interpreter Lock. The name is instructive. Quite literally, it is a global (in the sense of the interpreter) lock (in the sense of a mutex or similar construct) on the interpreter. This approach is certainly safe, but it has (for the new Python programmer), a startling implication: in any Python program, no matter how many threads and how many processors are present, only one thread is being executed at any time.
Many discover this fact by accident. Newsgroups and message boards are littered with messages from Python novices and experts alike asking "why does my newly multi-threaded Python program run slower than when it had only one thread?" Many feel silly even asking the question, since of course a program with two threads where before there was just one will be faster (assuming that the work is indeed parallelizable). In fact, the question is asked so frequently that Python experts have crafted a standard answer: "Do not use multiple threads. Use multiple processes." But this answer is even more confusing than its question. I shouldn't use multiple threads in Python? How can multi-threading in a language as popular as Python be so broken as to have experts recommending against its use? Surely I'm missing something?
Sadly, nothing has been missed. Due to the design of the Python interpreter, using multiple threads to increase performance is at best a difficult task. At worst, it will decrease (sometimes significantly) the speed of your program. A freshman CS undergrad could tell you what to expect when threads are all competing for a single shared resource. The results are often not pretty. That said, there are many times that multi-threading works well, and it is perhaps a testament to both the interpreter implementation and the core developers that there are not more complaints about Python's multi-threading performance.
What Now? Panic?
So what, then, can be done? Are we as Python developers meant to give up the idea of using multiple threads to exploit parallelism? Why does the GIL need to guarantee only one thread is running at a time anyway? Couldn't finer-grained locks be added to protect individual objects from simultaneous access? And why has no one attempted something like this before?
These are useful questions with interesting answers. The GIL protects access to things like the current thread state and heap allocated object for garbage collection. There is nothing special about the Python language, however, that requires the use of a GIL. It is an artifact of the implementation. There are alternative Python interpreters (and compilers) that do not make use of a GIL. For CPython, though, it's been there pretty much since the beginning.
So why not get rid of it? Many are not aware, but this was attempted back in 1999 for Python 1.5 in the oft-cited but poorly understood "free threading" patches from Greg Stein. In the patches, the GIL was completely removed and replaced with finer grained locking. Its removal, however, came at the expense of execution speed for single-threaded programs. It was perhaps 40% slower when running with a single thread. Two threads showed an increase in speed, but beyond that the benefits did not scale linearly with the number of cores. Because of the degradation in execution speed, the patches were rejected and largely forgotten.
The GIL is Hard. Let's Go Shopping!
The "free threading" patches are instructive, though, in that they demonstrate a fundamental point about the Python interpreter: removing the GIL is hard. Since the time of the patches, the interpreter has come to rely on more global state, making the removal of today's GIL that much more difficult. It should be noted that it is precisely for this reason that many become interested in attempting to remove the GIL in the first place; hard problems are fun.
But perhaps this is all a bit misguided. Let's consider what would happen if we had a magical patch that removed the GIL with no performance penalty to single threaded Python code. We would have what we said we wanted all along: a threading API that properly makes use of all processors simultaneously. Now that we've got what we want, is it actually a good thing?
Thread based programming is hard. There are no two ways about it. Every time one thinks he or she understands everything there is to know about how threading works, a new wrinkle is uncovered. A number of high-profile language designers and researchers have come out against the threading model because it is simply too difficult to get right with any reasonable degree of consistency. As anyone who has written a multi-threaded application can tell you, both developing and debugging are exponentially more difficult compared to a single threaded program. The programmer's mental model, while well suited for sequential programs, just doesn't match the parallel execution model. The GIL, then, unintentionally serves to help protect a programmer from his or her self. While synchronization primitives are still required when using threads, the GIL actually helps preserve consistency of data between threads.
It seems, then, that Python's most difficult question may be asking the wrong thing. There's a good reason that Python experts recommend using multiple processes instead of multiple threads, and it's not to hide the inadequacies of the Python threading implementation. Rather, it is to encourage developers to use a safer and more straightforward concurrency model and reserve multi-threaded programming for when it is absolutely necessary. To many, it is not clear what, if any, is the "best" model for parallel programming. What is clear to most, however, is multiple threads is not it.
As for the GIL, don't think it just sits there static and unanalyzed. Python 3.2 saw a new GIL implementation by Antoine Pitrou with encouraging results. It was the first major change to the GIL since 1992. The change is too large to explain here, but at a high level, the old GIL counted Python instructions to determine when it was time to give up the GIL. As it turns out, a single Python instruction can comprise a large amount of work, as they don't translate 1:1 to machine instructions. In the new GIL, a hard timeout is used to instruct the current thread to give up the lock. When a second thread requests the lock, the thread currently holding it is compelled to release it after 5ms (that is, it checks if it needs to release it every 5ms). This leads to more predictable switching between threads when work is available.
It is not a perfect change, however. Perhaps the most active researcher into the effect of the GIL on various types of work is David Beazley. In addition to what is likely the most in-depth look at the pre-3.2 GIL, he has researched the new GIL implementation and discovered a number of interesting program profiles for which even the new GIL performs quite poorly. He continues to drive the discussion surrounding the GIL forward with practical research and published results.
Regardless of one's personal feelings about Python's Global Interpreter Lock, it remains the language's most difficult technical challenge. To understand its implications requires a thorough understanding of operating system design, multi-threaded programming, C, interpreter design, and the CPython interpreter implementation. Those prerequisites alone preclude many developers from investigating it more thoroughly. Nevertheless, the GIL shows no signs of going away any time soon. For the time being, it will continue to both confuse and surprise those new to the language while simultaneously intriguing those interested in trying to solve very difficult technical problems.
The preceding is based on my research to date into the Python interpreter. While there are many other parts of the interpreter I hope to write about, none is more well known than the Global Interpreter Lock. The technical details were researched thoroughly against the CPython repository tip, though I imagine there are some inaccuracies. If you spot one, please let me know so that I may correct it as quickly as possible.Posted on by Jeff Knupp
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Ever wonder how you can remember the lyrics of a song that was popular and you sang along with maybe 20 years ago, but still forget what you may have had for breakfast?
We spend a lifetime using our brains during every waking and sleeping moment to acquire knowledge. Some refer to our brains as the infinite resource being able to solve a multitude of problems on a daily basis. It is obvious that we must have knowledge to solve problems in our work or home whether it be social, emotional or even functional. In order to be successful in formulating a pathway for solution, we need a reservoir of information and data that we acquire from our reading, communicating with others, and by doing formal study. Having facts, ideas, and methods available in our memories we can analyze, conclude, and understand. The more knowledge we gain, the more curious we become and innovation is not far behind.
So the question is; What are the best techniques for students to study so that they may retain the greatest amount of knowledge which they need in their daily schooling? The brain makes connections on bits of information it is presented and formulates ideas on what follows in memory. Cognitive scientists have been working for years on how the brain processes thoughts and makes sense of various stimuli. The latest research suggests that spaced repetition is one of the most powerful vehicles to help us learn. Simply quizzing ourselves often pays great benefits. Each time our brain tries and is successful in retrieving information, the greater its capacity to solidify in memory. As an independent school, we find that reviewing information or practicing at the right time is critical for durable learning. Spaced repetition or “Distributed Practice” refers to reviews that take place after some time from the original learning event, as opposed to reviews that occur immediately following the original learning event (termed massed practice).
Using Spaced Practice takes a little of planning to begin with; however, in the long run information will remain in memory longer and will actually reduce study time. Here’s how it works! Using a vehicle such as flash cards is the easiest way to begin. Studying your cards for five hours spread out over two weeks is better than the same five hours all at once. Review information from each class, but not immediately after class. After reviewing information from the most recent class, make sure to go back and study important older information to keep it fresh. Just like in sports, practice makes perfect. Using flash cards or apps. like Anki or Quizlet are much more powerful than just re-reading your class notes. At first this may seem difficult and you may forget some information from day-to-day, but this is actually a good thing! A little struggle forces the brain to retrieve information from memory making topics more understandable and cased in stone as they say. Creating small spaces between study while doing a little bit over time adds up in the future.
In the research literature, the learning advantage of distributed over massed practice is known as the spacing effect. In general, the research is clear that spaced practice is superior for long-term learning and retention. The reason that spaced repetition seems to work is that each time the information you are attempting to remember is recalled your brain has to search for this information and this deep process of retrieval over time strengthens the neural connections. It is also thought that this practice is the secret to long term retention of knowledge since this process helps connect related material and presents the brain with the opportunity to become creative to solve problems in life.
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TRAIL TO EAGLE
Significance of the Eagle Scout Rank
The fact that a young man is an Eagle Scout has always carried with it a special significance, not only in Scouting but also as he enters higher education, business or industry, and community service. The award is a performance-based achievement whose standards have been well-maintained over the years. Not every boy who joins a Boy Scout troop earns the Eagle Scout rank; only about 5% of all Boy Scouts do so. This represents more than 2 million Boy Scouts who have earned the rank since 1912. Nevertheless, the goals of Scouting—citizenship training, character development, and personal fitness—remain important for all Scouts, whether or not they attain the Eagle Scout rank.
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Borage nutrition facts
Borage or bee plant is one of the chosen culinary herbs used by our grandmothers to make their meals look and taste better, be it to make popular green sauce, to garnish salads or to pamper children with candied flowers! This ancient garden herb exudes characteristic cucumber aroma to the recipes it added to...thus making it as one of the most sought after herb in the households.
Botanically, it belongs to the family of Borabinaceae, of the genus Borago and has scientific name: Borago officinalis. The herb is known also as starflower since it bears five petal deep blue color star-shaped beautiful flowers in clusters. Some other common names include bee bread, burrage, common bugloss...etc.
Borage is annual hollow stemmed plant with bristly hairs and reaches about 75-90 cm in height. It grows in plentiful all over the wild highlands of Eastern Europe and Asia Minor regions.
The plant features broad oval shaped dark green fuzzy leaves. In general, its leaves are harvested from the plant just after the flower buds form but before flowering. Younger leaves are used in salads while older leaves are used as greens. However, as the plant gets older, the leaves get tougher, larger, more fuzzy, and bitter in taste.
Health benefits of borage
Borage is one of very popular culinary herb especially in Mediterranean countries. The herb contains many notable phyto-nutrients, minerals, and vitamins that are essential for optimum health and wellness.
The herb parts contain essential fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), typically in concentrations of 17-20%. Linolenic acid is omega-6 fatty acid that play vital role in restoration of joint health, immunity, healthy skin and mucus membranes.
Fresh burrage herb has high levels of vitamin C (ascorbic acid); provide 35 mcg or 60% of RDA per 100 g. Vitamin C is one of the powerful natural anti-oxidant help remove harmful free radicals from the body. Along with other anti-oxidants, it has immune booster, wound healing and anti-viral effects.
Burrage herb contains very high levels of vitamin A (140% of RDA) and carotenes . Both these compounds are powerful flavonoid anti-oxidants. Together, they act as protective scavengers against oxygen-derived free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) that play a role in aging and various disease processes.
Vitamin A is known to have antioxidant properties and is essential for vision. It is also required for maintaining healthy mucus membranes and skin. Consumption of natural foods rich in vitamin A and carotenes are known to help body protect from lung and oral cavity cancers.
The herb has good amount of minerals like iron (41% of RDA), calcium, potassium, manganese, copper, zinc, and magnesium. Potassium is an important component of cell and body fluids, which helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Manganese is used by the body as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase. Iron is an important co-factor for cytochrome oxidase enzyme in the cellular metabolism. In addition, being a component of hemoglobin inside the red blood cells, it determines the oxygen carrying capacity of the blood.
The herb is one of the good sources of B-complex vitamins, particularly rich in niacin (vitamin B-3). Niacin helps lower LDL cholesterol levels in the body. In addition, it has riboflavin, thiamin, pyridoxine, and folates in adequate levels. These vitamins function as co-factors in the enzymatic metabolism inside the body.
|Principle||Nutrient Value||Percentage of RDA|
|Total Fat||0.70 g||2%|
|Pantothenic acid||0.041 mg||1%|
|Vitamin A||4200 IU||140%|
|Vitamin C||35 mg||60%|
Selection and storage
Borage should be fresh for use in salads and in cooking. While buying from the markets look for fresh herb leaves with stout succulent stem and delicate cucumber flavor, which emanate when you hold the plant from short distance. Like other greens such as spinach, borage can stay fresh only for few days and looses flavor rather sooner. In addition, unlike other herbs (like oregano); dried borage leaves are out of flavor and hence used only when they are fresh.
Avoid sunken, yellow or dried leaves as they are out of flavor and taste.
Once at home, store borage as you do it for spinach or like any other greens.
Preparation and serving methods:
Wash fresh herb in cold running water or rinse for few minutes to remove any dust or any pesticide residues. The herb can be used in large quantities like green vegetables. Remove tough leaves and stem using paring knife.
Here are some cooking tips:
Young tender borage leaves add flavor of cucumber to salads.
Mature leaves can be used as a green vegetable in much the same way as spinach. It mixes well with other greens, green beans, carrots, potato, tomato etc.
Tender leaves used to make cool juice with added lemonade.
Borage flowers are often cooked in batter as fritters. They can also be candied.
Borage is one of the common ingredients along with parsley, chervil, chives, watercress, sorrel, and salad burnet in the preparation of traditional German green sauce.
Fresh herb can also be added to sausages, pizza and in poultry stuffing.
Borage tea is popular refreshing drink in the European countries.
Medicinal uses of borage herb
Borage herb parts especially its seeds contain many health benefiting essential oil such as gamma-linolenic acid. This omega-6 fatty acid (18:3 fats) has recommended in the treatment of arthritis, dermatitis, pre-menstrual painful conditions... etc.
- An infusion of leaves and seeds is used in traditional medicines to increase breast milk production in the nursing mothers.
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Origin of percipientClassical Latin percipiens, present participle of percipere: see perceive
Origin of percipientLatin percipiēns percipient- present participle of percipere to perceive ; see perceive .
- per·cip′i·ence per·cip′i·en·cy
(comparative more percipient, superlative most percipient)
- Having the ability to perceive, especially to perceive quickly.
- (psychology, education, dated) Perceiving events only in the moment, without reflection, as a very young child.
- Over time children advance from the percipient stage to the perceptive stage, in which they begin to reflect on the significance of events.
From Latin percipient-, root of percipiens, present participle of percipio (“to perceive")
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National Rehabilitation Awareness Week is a time to celebrate all of the wonderful ways rehabilitation can help individuals get back to doing the things they love. But what exactly qualifies as “rehab” and what does a rehab professional do? There are several disciplines within rehab and many settings where rehab professionals work including physical therapy and occupational therapy.
Physical therapy requires the care and guidance of a licensed physical therapist or PT. PT’s are skilled in performing examinations, diagnosis, and using evidence-based practice to develop a treatment plan. All PT’s are required to have a bachelor’s and master’s degree or clinical doctorate.
For many patients, it’s now easier than ever to get physical therapy. You can schedule directly with a PT and we will send the doctor of your choice our initial evaluation with plan of care. We also accept referrals from the following providers: MD’s, PA’s, NP’s, DO’s, PDM’s, DDS’s and DC’s.
Physical Therapy Assistants (PTA’s) are licensed clinicians that work under the supervision of a PT to provide care. They hold an associate’s degree from an accredited school and many also have a bachelor’s degree. Both PT’s and PTA’s must complete 30 hours of continuing education every 2 years to maintain their licenses.
Similar to physical therapy, the purpose of occupational therapy is to enable people to fulfill, or work towards fulfilling, their potential as occupational beings. Occupational therapists promote function, quality of life and the realization of potential in a person experiencing occupational deprivation, imbalance or alienation.
If your life is interrupted due to a developmental problem, orthopedic or neurological injury or disease or having difficulty with normal limitations that occur with aging, occupational therapy may help you gain/regain life skills, adapt the environment to make activities of daily living easier or teach you to compensate in order to be as independent as possible.
After earning a master’s degree from an accredited Occupational Therapy program, an OT may work in schools, hospitals or independent clinics. OTs serve persons with hand injuries, after stroke, spinal cord injuries, neurological disease, head injury including concussion, cerebral palsy, Down Syndrome, autism and many more. So if you cannot put on your socks or you can no longer sign your name, Occupational Therapists can help you learn ways to return to self care, home care, work and leisure tasks.
Esther Hendler, MOT is an Occupational Therapist at Ochsner Therapy and Wellness in Metairie. To schedule an appointment, please call 504-842-4348.
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Items you will need
Electric cross cut saw or saw
Building a concrete water trough for cattle that is strong and secure is essential to herd health. On average, a cow drinks 12 gallons of water per day, eats one to five pounds of grain per day, and one to three percent of their body weight in forage, such as hay or grass. Building a trough that can accommodate several cows at the same time is ideal, because it promotes herd harmony and allows each cow to get the nutrients they need.
Place the tire in the location you have chosen for the trough. A tire that is 42-ply thick is ideal and will hold up in extreme heat and cold. Cut the bead off the top of the tire with a saw to create a wider opening at the top of the trough. The bead is the side of the tire. Leave the bottom and treads of the tire, as they will act as insulators in extreme conditions.
Pour the concrete into the tire. It will take about half a yard of concrete to fill the tire. The concrete will adhere to the rubber, forming a strong bond that will resist cracking and leaks. Allow the concrete to dry thoroughly.
Pour an additional concrete pad that is four to six inches thick around the tire to insulate it further, if you live in a cold climate. You may also use gravel around the trough to protect the ground from cattle walking on it frequently.
- BananaStock/BananaStock/Getty Images
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Every year, millions of Americans create original works - books, music, research and other forms of creative expression. All of these creations are intellectual property, and all of them are protected by copyright. For writers, editors, and publishers, understanding copyright issues is essential, especially now that the production of counterfeit and pirated goods, including written works, has become so prevalent. Indeed, according to the OECD, the value of imported fake goods worldwide based on 2016 customs seizure data was $509 billion, up from $461 billion in 2013 (2.5% of world trade).
While all U.S. businesses are vulnerable to IP theft, small businesses are often at a particular disadvantage. This is especially true for writers and small publications - with more than 20,500 magazines and over 7,600 daily and weekly newspapers in the nation, there is a wealth of material for IP thieves to steal. And now that the Internet has made copying and distributing protected material easier than ever before, it is critical that you understand the basics of protecting your original work.
That's why the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, along with other government agencies, is reaching out to small businesses to help them protect their intellectual property. Our campaign includes a web site, www.stopfakes.gov, specifically designed to help individuals and small businesses learn how to protect themselves in all types of intellectual property.
In order to protect yourself from IP theft, it's important to know the basics about your rights. For writers, editors and publishers, this means taking a look at the basics of copyright: what it is, what it protects, and how to secure it. With this information in hand, you should be well prepared to defend yourself and your original works from the threat of IP theft.
Source USPTO: Copyright Basics
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The Lupus Foundation of America is involved in an initiative named “Ask the Experts” based on a series of educational presentations focusing on several topics related to lupus. This initiative is a free service that allows participants to learn about the disease and ask questions to world’s leading lupus experts.
The topic of May 2015 is entitled “Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Lupus Anticoagulant” and is presented by Dr. Elisabet Svenungsson, Associate Professor of Rheumatology at Karolinska University Hospital in Sweden. The presentation can be found here.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a severe autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system is abnormally activated, leading to an attack on healthy joints and organs, resulting in inflammation, swelling, pain, disability and often in tissue destruction and multi-organ damage. SLE is linked to circulating harmful autoantibodies.
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) can occur in association with SLE. It corresponds to an autoimmune disorder characterized by a hypercoagulable state induced by antibodies against phospholipids, the major component of all cell membranes. These antibodies can impair normal blood vessel functioning, leading to narrowing and abnormalities of the vessel (vasculopathy), and cause the formation of blood clots (thrombosis) within arteries and veins in several parts of the body such as the lungs, heart, kidneys and brain. The damage it can induce is dependent on the extent and location of the blood clot. APS can cause heart attack and stroke, and also pregnancy morbidities such as miscarriage and premature delivery. Anticoagulant treatment is usually required to manage the disorder.
The 2006 “Sidney criteria” classification has established that APS is diagnosed when a patient presents at least one clinical symptom (blood clots or miscarriage event) and one positive laboratory test. These laboratory tests assess the present of antibodies against membrane phospholipids, namely lupus anticoagulant, anti-beta-2 glycoprotein I and anticardiolipin.
According to Dr. Svenungsson, 30 to 40% of the SLE patients have antiphospholipid antibodies and less than half actually develop clinical symptoms of APS. Based on the antibody tests, is not possible to accurately predict who is at risk of developing clinical complications, although patients who are positive for all three antibodies are assumed to be at a higher risk.
After seeing the presentation, lupus patients, caregivers, loved ones and the population in general are invited to submit a question by no later than May 15, 2015. Of the questions made, 15 will be selected and the answer will be available in June. If you would like to participate, please submit your question here.
If you are interested in checking other presented topics in the “Ask the Experts” series, please visit www.lupus.org/ask.
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[/caption]Take a look at that ceramic toilette or sink in your bathroom. Ever think to yourself that it has something in common with glass, mica, plastic, or even dry air? Ever consider that it might be useful in the construction of capacitors. Probably not, but that’s because this material has a property that is often overlooked. It is a dielectric, meaning a substance that is a poor conductor of electricity, but a good means of electrical storage. Whether we are talking about ceramic, glass, air, or even vacuum (another good dielectric), scientists use what is called the Dielectric Constant, which is the ratio of permittivity of a substance to the permittivity of free space. Or, in layman’s terms, the ratio of the amount of electrical energy stored in a material by an applied voltage, relative to that stored in a vacuum.
Confused? Well, perhaps a little explanation is necessary to dispel some of the technical roadblocks to understanding. First of all, a dielectric is defined as an insulating material or a very poor conductor of electric current. When dielectrics are placed in an electric field, practically no current flows in them because, unlike metals, they have no loosely bound, or free, electrons that may drift through the material. Instead, electric polarization occurs, where the positive charges within the dielectric are displaced minutely in the direction of the electric field, and the negative charges are displaced minutely in the direction opposite to the electric field. This slight separation of charge, or polarization, reduces the electric field within the dielectric itself. This property, as already mentioned, makes it a poor conductor, but a good storage medium.
In practice, most dielectric materials are solid. But, as already mentioned, dry air is also dielectric, as are most pure, dry gases such as helium and nitrogen. These have a low dielectric constant, whereas things like metal oxides have a high constant. Materials with moderate dielectric constants include ceramics, distilled water, paper, mica, polyethylene, and glass. As the dielectric constant increases, the electric flux density increases (the total amount of electrical charge per area), but only if all other factors remain unchanged. This in turn enables objects of a given size, such as sets of metal plates, to hold their electric charge for long periods of time, and/or to hold large quantities of charge.
Because of they constitute good insulating material (or dielectric), metal oxides, dry air and vacuum are often used in the construction of high-energy capacitors as well as radio-frequency transmission lines, where electrical energy is stored at radio frequencies.
We’ve also recorded an entire episode of Astronomy Cast all about Electromagnetism. Listen here, Episode 103: Electromagnetism.
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We want to thank you for developing the perfect Science vocabulary flash cards to help support our English as a Second Language (ESL) students. We initially ordered them with just our ESL students in mind, but as it turns out they have been helping many of our students who struggle with some of the more difficult science terms. If you are debating about purchasing these cards, you won’t be disappointed. You can tell a lot of thought went into choosing the right photos to help students understand and remember what many of the key science terms mean.
Spillane Middle School
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I’ve avoided proofs unless absolutely necessary, but the relation between the same eigenvector expressed in two different bases, is important.
Given that AS is the linear transformation matrix in standard basis S, and AB is its counterpart in basis B, we can write the relation between them as:
where C is the similarity transformation. We’ve seen this relation already; check here if you’ve forgotten about it.
Continue reading Matrix Theory: An essential proof for eigenvector computations
I return to the first example about basis vectors, when I spoke of linear transformations. The linear transformation we had was this:
The operation it performed on basis vectors of the standard basis S was one of scaling, and scaling only. When operated on by a linear transformation matrix, if a vector is only scaled as a consequence, that vector is an eigenvector of the matrix, and the scalar is the corresponding eigenvalue. This is just the definition of an eigenvector, which I rewrite below:
Continue reading Matrix Theory: Diagonalisation and Eigenvector Computation
Understand that there is nothing extremely special about the standard basis vectors [1,0] and [0,1]. All 2D vectors may be represented as linear combinations of these vectors. Thus, the vector [7,24] may be written as:
Continue reading Matrix Theory: Basis change and Similarity transformations
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Skilled Help with Writing Faith Essays
Reaching across many ages and cultures in addition to many subjects including Literature, History, Anthropology and Philosophy, religion is a varied and contentious area. So it is possible to find a number of different methods to approach the task of writing an excellent essay on spiritual issue.
Normally speaking a faith essay uses lay academic instruments that help us comprehend and assess spiritual views and thoughts. These lay tools are employed by research workers of different religions in communicating with each other.
The theories, procedures, and assumptions used in the Humanities and Social Sciences can function as useful tools of investigation while composing an essay on spiritual research paper subject or motif. It’s also possible to turn to logic and philosophy to offer techniques for assessing religious texts, or investigate a religious text as literature.
Whatever strategy you could select your goal in composing a paper stays unchanged: to expand the knowledge of religious texts and encounters.
These suggestions will probably be useful while composing your paper:
– contemplate your sources;
– consider the present dialogue;
– keep in your mind that religious texts need specific citation procedures;
– don't let quotes speak for religious.
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Wat Thmey, otherwise known as Siem Reap’s Killing Fields, is a site of loss and hope.
Many people who visit Cambodia don’t fully grasp how horrific the country’s recent history is until they get here. And, unless they visit Phnom Penh and head to S21 and The Killing Fields, they may just think of Cambodia as another developing country. However, it is much more than that.
In 1975, the Khmer Rouge took hold of Cambodia. Over the next three and a half years, they reduced their citizens to nothing, stripping them off their dignity, forcing them to migrate to different ‘zones’ in Cambodia, losing contact with their families and having a direct impact on the death of over two million innocents, which represented 25% of the population at the time.
The bodies of the deceased were often dumped together in fields, pagodas and schools. There are many of these ‘Killing Fields’ all over the country. One significant Killing Field in Siem Reap is at Wat Thmey. This pagoda was used as a Khmer Rouge prison to house thousands of prisoners (note: prisoners were mostly innocents who were ‘tried’ on crimes they didn’t commit, and later were Khmer Rouge soldiers who were accused of treason). These prisoners were killed and buried inside two pits and six water wells located about 250 meters south of the prison. It is estimated that around 8,000 people were murdered at this pagoda during the Khmer Rouge regime.
In 1995, when Wat Thmey was renovated, a substantial amount of bones and skulls of the victims were placed in a memorial stupa. These are on display so both locals and tourists can visit and remember the tragic history of Cambodia.
Nowadays you can find a photo exhibition at Wat Thmey, a combined project from US Aid and the Documentation Center of Cambodia. This exhibition shows photos of the forced transfer of Cambodians during the Khmer Rouge period. The vision of this exhibition is that visitors are actively engaged in the study, reflection and memory of victims and survivors. There are four other exhibitions at four other locations around Cambodia, so the memories of those who died during the regime and during the forced relocations is kept alive.
Although it may be confronting, I would highly recommend a visit to Wat Thmey. This horrendous history needs to be remembered, and we need to pay respect to those who pointlessly lost their lives.
|Opening Hours||Daily from 6am to 6pm|
|Location||Road to Angkor Wat (across from Charming City), Siem Reap|
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Big data is a hot topic right now. Now, more than ever, companies are using big data to help them in their business, and big data analysts are in short supply. Getting trained to analyze and work with big data will make you an asset to any company you work for. Big data is a tool of the present, and will continue to grow into the future. Don’t get left behind. Jump into a big data course.
1. What is big data?
Big data is a large data set which, when analyzed, can give information about trends and patterns in people’s behaviour. The term big data can be deceiving though, it really does not have anything to do with the size of the data, but rather what the company does with the data they have.
Taking a course in big data will help you understand exactly what “big data” means and how to identify it.
2. What do companies do with big data?
Companies are able to use big data to follow trends in their business. For example, it can help retail businesses to know which products to put on sale, and when. Companies have trained big data analysts find the trends and patterns in the data they collect.
Big data provides so much information, that companies are now doing what is called prescriptive analytics. Offering the customer what they want, before they want it. In this case, analysts are able to find out what customers like, and share new things with them that they know, based on the data, the customers will like.
3. What is the future of big data?
Big data is expected to grow, change and adapt. This is not the kind of thing you want to be left behind on. Jobs around big data will change as things become more and more automated, and as more data is collected in new ways.
The reality though is that nobody really know what the future of big data is, exactly. People can guess – more data will be collected and robots will take over – but the best way to handle all the changes to come is to learn about them now and grow with the industry as it continues to develop. Big data, as a concept, is rather new – become a pioneer of the big data of tomorrow.
4. What will a big data course teach?
Learning how to work with and analyze big data means working with coding and programming, and working with different data processing software. The big data courses should teach the basics of using the most important programs and software, as well as making sure students have a solid understanding of what big data is, and how that data will actually be used – specifically, what they will do to make that data make sense, or make it useful.
5. Why take a course in big data?
Big data is a pretty new concept, so new, in fact, that a lot of people still believe it can’t actually be defined. Data shows that jobs in big data really only started popping up around 2011, which isn’t so long ago.
As of right now, the industry has a shortage of big data analysts, and of people who can make sense of the data and really figure out what it means.
Because big data is so new, it means that there are a lot of opportunities within the industry. Many businesses are looking for big data analysts for the first time ever, not trying to fill an old position. Alternatively, freelancing is new and interesting way to work in big data.
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What do we mean by disability?
Under the Disability Discrimination Act 2005 (updated by Equality Act 2010) a disabled student may be a student with:
- specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD) including dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
- mental Health difficulties (including anxiety and depressive disorders, psychological and psychiatric illness)
- long term medical conditions such as arthritis, epilepsy, diabetes, asthma, chronic fatigue syndrome
- autistic Spectrum Disorders such as Asperger’s’ Syndrome
- sensory impairments
- neurological conditions such as Multiple Sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy
- mobility difficulties
A person can be defined as disabled if their physical or mental impairment:
- has a substantial effect on them
- is long term and has lasted or is expected to last 12 months or more
- has an adverse effect on his/her ability to carry out normal day to day activities
Sharing information and confidentiality
Many disabled people have impairments that are not visible, e.g. medical conditions or mental health issues. For a range of reasons, a student or a member of staff might share information with a staff member or a line manager, but ask that this information is kept confidential.
Due to the sensitive nature of information relating to disability issues, it is imperative that staff maintain appropriate levels of confidentiality. Staff should work with students and colleagues in accordance with the law as set out on The Data Protection Act 1998, and within existing University and professional bodies' policies and Codes of Practice. Students and staff need to feel that any information they give will be treated with respect and only made available to others if they (the student or colleague) have consented to sharing information or if there are exceptional circumstances which override confidentiality.
These exceptional circumstances can be summarized as:
- where the student or colleague represents a danger to the safety of others or causes them fear or severe distress or where the student or colleague is affecting the safety and well-being of people in general
- where the student or colleague actually attempts to seriously harm themselves or others, or is threatening to do so in the immediate future
- where the law or University policies requires certain information to be disclosed to others
Under the Single Equality Act, once a person has shared that they have an impairment that falls within the definition of disability under the Act, the University is deemed to have knowledge of this. The University then has a legal obligation to make any 'reasonable adjustment' necessary for that person to ensure that they are not disadvantaged.
Request not to share information
Making your documents accessible
The University of Bradford has a legal l responsibility under the Equality Act 2010 to ensure that electronic information is accessible to all. To gain further knowledge of the accessibility issues associated with online documents and to develop skills to create accessible documents, you may find the following documents useful:
Making your documents accessible guidelines
It is essential that disabled students get the reasonable adjustments they need and are entitled to while they are out on placement. This is to make sure that they have every opportunity to succeed and to make sure that they are not disadvantaged for disability related reasons.
Placement procedure guidelines
Placement procedure process map
Placement support agreement form
Request not to share information with placement
Health, Wellbeing and Fitness for Study
It is essential that the University adopts a pro-active and positive approach to promoting and managing the physical and mental health of our students. Where there are concerns about a student’s engagement, behaviours or academic performance that are a result of impairment, underlying health or mental health difficulty, it is important that we take consistent, co-ordinated and appropriate steps to support that student.
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Yes you can, but it will be like a text file. For example: you save a file with an extension rndm. So on the desktop the file looks like: example.rndm. When you click on it, it will say: Windows doesn't know how to open this file. Please select a program and you can open it with your TextEditor or IDE. It will open just like a text document. So, there is really is no point for changing up the file extension (Although, I guess it makes you feel cool). Also, if you change your file extension to .exe or .vbs ... They are already predefined so you might lose all your data in the file. That is why it is safe to save text files with no extension, because libraries like <iostream> etc.. are just "Files" with no extension.
I believe this correct but if someone else with more knowledge could come in and help that would be nice.
In linux/unix systems, file extensions don't matter as much. You can either have them or do without them. Windows on the other hand is quite fussy about this.
Filename extensions are really just the type of encoding the content of your file is in. So, if you are making a new programming language, you have to find a way to teach your computer the encoding and syntax of your program then create an extension for it which the computer will recognize.
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- By Kizzy Lewis-Phillips
- Posted Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Dental Health for Kids
Practicing proper dental health for kids is an important part of enjoying good dental health when they become adults. This program will share the importance of practicing good dental health habits in a fun and enjoyable manner that will delight kids. Everyone will have fun as they learn how to prevent tooth decay.
Wednesday, August 10th at 11:00 am
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It may seem odd, but some of us use peptides without even realizing it. Insulin is probably the best example we can give. Insulin is the most commonly know peptide that is used to regulate the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats and protein by promoting the absorption of glucose from the blood into liver, fat and skeletal muscle cells.
In recent years, medical research has found many ways in which the power of peptides can be harnessed to speed up and improve healing, and to address a number of other health concerns, including everything from maximizing physical performance, assist with weight loss, reduce inflammation, memory loss and anti-aging therapies or to increase muscle mass.
But before we get ahead of ourselves, what are peptides, and how can we use them?
What are peptides?
If you already know proteins, peptides are basically the same thing, just smaller in size. Proteins are very large structures composed of many amino acids. They have a very complex role, and some of them make up complete body structures. For example, the muscle tissue is filled with millions of protein filaments. Each one of these filaments is impressively large on a molecular scale.
In contrast, peptides are very small. They are also made up of amino acids, but only a handful of them. Their role is also simple compared to large proteins. Most peptides work as messenger molecules. They travel long distances in the bloodstream to communicate with distant cells and help your body function in unison. Some may act like neurotransmitters, while others may act like hormones. They bind to receptors on the cell surface and tell other cells and molecules what to do. Peptides are very specific which makes them safe, well tolerated and more importantly allow them to control and influence how our bodies react to physical exercise and diet. As of January 2015, there were over 60 US FDA-approved peptide medications, 140 peptide drugs being evaluated in clinical trials, and 500 in pre-clinical development.
& peptide therapy?
As we age, production of essential amino acids and peptides decreases. As a result, our bodies begin to show signs of aging and cease to perform at an optimal level.
Peptide therapy is the targeted use of peptides to produce a specific reaction in the body. Peptides have a wide range of therapeutic applications.
People with different health and performance goals often consider therapeutic peptides. Since peptides are small and straightforward, they can be developed quite easily and go directly to where they are needed. They go directly to stimulate a specific receptor or trigger a particular function, making them practical, selective, and very safe to use.
When people suffer from issues like chronic back, major joint pain or generalized pain from injuries, inflammation, immune deficiencies, decreased natural HGH levels and decreased libido, doctors typically focus on simply covering up the issue. Peptide therapy treats the root cause of these issues and helps you find ways to maintain a healthier, more energized, pain-free lifestyle.
Stop letting age or injury hold you back!
Health benefits of peptides
Insulin was first used as a treatment for diabetes back in 1920. Since then, we have used this and other peptides as a part of medical treatments. But nowadays, we have many different peptides, and even healthy patients can benefit from their health properties. They mimic normal body functions and trigger a healthy and natural response in the body. For instance:
- CJC 1295/Ipamorelin: This is a growth hormone secretagogue. Simply put, it stimulates the pituitary gland to synthesize and release the growth hormone. While exogenous growth hormone can correct growth deficiencies, this peptide promotes muscle growth, weight loss, increase cellular repair, regeneration, collagen production, bone mineralization, promotes healthier sleep and improves energy levels.
- BPC 157: Not all peptides need to be injected, and this is a suitable example. It is a Body Protection Compound that accelerates wound healing (muscle, ligament, tendon, nerve) and prevents tissue damage and has been shown to decrease pain in damaged areas. It is also helpful to treat gastrointestinal inflammatory problems such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Protects and heals inflamed intestinal epithelium (leaky gut). Protects liver from toxic insults (alcohol, antibiotics, etc) and promotes healing. There is even evidence of neuroprotection and nerve regeneration (improves memory & focus)
- GHK-Cu: Peptide benefits are also useful for the cosmetic industry, and this is an example. GHK-Cu has a variety of roles in the human body including promoting healthier skin (tightens loose skin and reverse thinning of aged skin) Repairs protective skin barrier proteins, Improves skin firmness, elasticity, and clarity. Reduces fine lines, depth of wrinkles, and improves structure of aged skin.
How do they work?
All of these peptides are made up of amino acids. They are organic compounds that feature an amine and a carboxyl group. Peptides contain somewhere between 2 and 50 amino acids. If they have more than 50, they will be called polypeptides and proteins if they have more than 100.
Once the peptide is assembled, it falls into different categories depending on its functions. Some of them are enzymatic peptides, which bind a target substance and modify its chemical structure. In contrast, hormonal peptides will stimulate a cell receptor and bring messages to different parts of the body.
There are many types and benefits, and the best part is that peptides can be combined in many different ways to treat ailments, prevent health problems, and help you achieve your wellness goals. At Fitat60 we are now working on developing a range of products for our customers. We are finding and developing the best products and programs for people over 60. No corners cut.
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Rosa Luxemburg (1871-1919) was a revolutionary socialist author and educator in the German Social Democratic Party before World War I. When the party supported the German government, she broke with it and later founded the Independent Social Democratic Party and the Communist Party of Germany. In 1919 the social democratic government instructed the elite paramilitary unit (GKSD) to suppress the communists, and they captured Luxemburg and Karl Liebknecht in Berlin; both were dead within hours. Luxemburg was shot and shoved into a canal.
"The Beginning" (an excerpt)
Against the Current, No. 200, May/June 2019
Marxist Theory and the Proletariat
Against the Current, No. 197, November/December 2018
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Different Types of Hearing Loss
Hearing loss can be experienced in varying degrees, such as mild, moderate, moderately-severe, severe or profound. Additionally, this loss can also vary depending on pitches or frequencies. A series of hearing tests can determine the amount of loss you experience compared to an average of many other adult listeners with typical hearing.
The volume of sounds you hear is measured in decibels (dB), 15-20 dB being the softest whisper and 120 dB being a jet engine. The softest sounds one can hear are called thresholds. Normal hearing thresholds for adults are considered 0-25 dB across the range of frequencies tested. Speech testing is also conducted as a part of this series of evaluations and helps to assess the levels of particular words you can hear clearly. These tests can help determine the type of hearing loss you’re experiencing, which can be categorized conductive, sensorineural or mixed.
Conductive hearing loss
Conductive hearing loss occurs when there is a problem with the way sound is conducted to the inner ear and a structure called the cochlea. The problem may lie in the ear canal, eardrum (tympanic membrane) or the middle ear (ossicles and Eustachian tube). The inner ear and auditory nerve remain unaffected in this type of hearing loss.
Symptoms for conductive hearing loss are similar to the other types; however, individuals may complain of sounds being muffled or far too quiet.
Some causes of conductive hearing loss can include:
- Outer or middle ear infections
- Complete earwax blockage
- Deterioration of the middle ear bones (ossicles)
- Otosclerosis, the fixation of the ossicles
- Perforated tympanic membrane or a hole in the eardrum
- Absence of the outer ear or middle ear structures
Conductive hearing loss may be temporary or permanent, depending on the source of the problem. Medical management can correct some cases of conductive hearing loss, while hearing instruments may be a recommended treatment option in long-standing or permanent cases.
Sensorineural hearing loss
Sensorineural hearing loss occurs when there is a problem with the sensory receptors of the hearing system, specifically in the cochlea of the inner ear or auditory nerve. The majority of sensorineural hearing loss occurs as a result of an abnormality or damage to the hair cells in the cochlea. This abnormality prevents sound from being transmitted to the brain normally, which results in a hearing loss.
Individuals with sensorineural hearing loss may hear muffled speech, suffer from tinnitus (or ringing in the ears), have difficulty hearing in background noise or clarity of speech problems.
There are a number of causes of sensorineural hearing loss, including:
- Congenital: These hair cells have been abnormal since birth, which is considered a congenital condition.
- Damage to hair cells: A deficit in hearing also occurs when the cells are damaged as a result of genetics, infection, drugs, trauma or over-exposure to noise (late-onset or acquired).
- Presbycusis: Age-related hearing loss
Sensorineural hearing losses are generally permanent and may remain stable or worsen over time. Routine hearing tests are needed to monitor the hearing loss. Hearing aids are the most common and successful treatment, allowing hearing professionals to adjust settings as needs change.
Mixed hearing loss
Mixed hearing loss occurs when a person has a sensorineural hearing loss in combination with a conductive hearing loss. This means there is a problem in the inner ear as well as in the outer and/or middle ear.
The conductive hearing loss may be temporary or permanent, depending on the source of the problem. Mixed hearing loss can sometimes be treated with medical management and hearing aids are a common treatment recommendation.
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The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction (NC DPI) sets out that in order for a student with a learning disability to get special education services and protections he or she must first be found eligible for special education in the category of Specific Learning Disabilities. The process and criteria in North Carolina are found in the NC Policies and the Addendum.
North Carolina has recently changed how students with a learning disability are evaluated and identified in order to get special education services and protections. An explanation of these changes is provided in Current Advocacy Issues.
Parents’ rights in the special education process are provided in the NC DPI parents’ rights handbook.
Last Updated – April 2017
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Dear Sonoma County Neighbor:
Did you know that our Sonoma County Department of Health Services wants to add fluoridation chemicals to our public tap water in an attempt to prevent cavities in some of our lower-income kids who currently lack access to good dental care?
Did you know that water fluoridation, no matter how well-intentioned, is not effective at preventing tooth decay, and is not safe for our health, the health of our kids, or the health of our environment?
Everyone in Sonoma County deserves access to safe, effective, individualized dental care. But fluoridation of the entire public water supply without regard for need or safety is the wrong way to deliver dental care to our community.
Here are just some of the reasons why fluoridating our water is not a good idea, brought to you by the researchers at Fluoride Action Network:
It's Not Safe: Recent Science Confirms Serious Health Risks
The Sonoma County government has identified hydrofluorosilicic acid, an unpurified Class One hazardous waste byproduct of the phosphate fertilizer industry, as the fluoridation chemical it would add to Sonoma County's drinking water.
Major scientific studies from the National Academy of Sciences, Harvard University and other health organizations and universities have proven serious uncertainties and risks from fluoridated drinking water, including decreased childhood IQ, kidney and thyroid disorders, and skeletal fluorosis. Even the ADA a warns against mixing infant formula with fluoridated water to avoid excessive exposure for infants and their developing bodies and brains.
And what's more, water fluoridation poses a major risk because there's no way to control the dose of these chemicals. That's because it's impossible to regular how much water people drink -- and therefore, how much fluoridation chemicals they ingest. This poses an inevitable risk that some people will ingest far too much fluoride, while others won't get the optimal dose proponents say they need. This is not a safe way to prevent cavities in our children.
It's Not Effective: Studies Show Water Fluoridation Does Not Work
Study after study around the world shows that ingesting fluoride internally is not effective for preventing cavities. That's because fluoride works topically -- it needs to be put directly on the teeth to be effective.
Across the United States cities that have been fluoridated for decades are still dealing with dental health problems. And around the world there is no difference in the rate of tooth decay in countries that have used fluoridation chemicals compared to those that have not.
It's Not Practical: 99% of Fluoridation Chemicals Would be Wasted
The public water supply is the least efficient delivery mechanism for any substance intended for human ingestion, let alone controversial fluoridation chemicals.
99% of our tap water in Sonoma County goes down the drain, and just a fraction of the remaining 1% that's used for drinking actually reaches the kids who are most in need of better dental care. That's because many of the lower-income kids in Sonoma County who are suffering from tooth decay don't drink tap water, according to the 2013 SMILE report.
There are Better Alternatives For Kids' Teeth
Increasing access to dental care, prevention and education is the only real solution to improving kids' dental health.
Instead of spending millions of dollars to begin fluoridating the public water, and $350,000 or more a year on fluoridation chemicals that are largely wasted, why don't we invest that money in directly dental care that actually reaches at-risk kids?
Want to know more? Go to our Get the Facts page
Fluoridation is an obsolete measure that's simply not worth the risk.
Let's come together to find
safe, effective ways
to solve dental health problems.
Read more and get links to videos and other resources on our Get the Facts pages.
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As a teenager, it is very important to have a good diet plan in order to have a better physical and mental health. In the present scenario, fast food and unhealthy diet plans have led teenagers towards obesity. What you eat has a great impact on your lifestyle and daily activities. Your food act as a fuel for your body, it energizes you and makes you able to move, think and breathe. So, being a teenager, it is very necessary to include healthy foods in your regular diet plans.
Here are some healthy diet plans for teenagers.
Eat your breakfast like a king. A glass of juice or milk with cereals and a vegetable sandwich made of whole wheat bread is always a good option. For non-vegetarian persons, a vegetable sandwich can be replaced by a ham sandwich or either chicken. Avoid over eating but eat enough to fill yourself until the time of lunch. For the variety, you can add white egg omelette, a bowl of oats with a fruit shake, couple of toast and smoothie, boiled eggs and some fruits. Enrich your breakfast with a combination of fiber, protein, vitamins and minerals. Combine your cereals with fruit to give it a tangy twist.
Have a good diet at the lunch. You can have salads, baked beans or grilled chicken. Tacos (a Mexican dish consisting of a fried tortilla (a thin, flat pancake of cornmeal or flour, eaten hot or cold, typically with a savory filling), which is typically folded, filled with various mixtures, such as seasoned meat, beans, lettuce, and tomatoes) stuffed with lettuce and cheese can be used as the source of protein. Beef steaks with tofu and chickpea salad can be a very nutritious lunch to have. Avoid junks such as burger, pizzas, wafers and soft drinks. For the variety add fish, ham, spinach and soups to your meal. Try to have less fatty food with more and more fiber or proteins.
Take a light meal at the evening snacks, have fruits and raw vegetables. Peanut butter can be another good option. Turkey sandwich with a glass of juice or the coffee is always preferred. For the variety add Greek yogurt, with vegetables, tortilla and spicy popcorn. Don’t eat too much in the snacks and keep it fresh.
Dinner is the last meal of the day so it needs to be light. Eat less in the dinner and go for a walk after it. You can have chicken breast with sprouts, roasted chicken avocado and chicken fingers. For vegetarians, lemony lentil soup and a spinach pasta can be so yummy and healthy to eat.
For the mental fitness of the body, vitamins and minerals such as iron and calcium are vital elements. And for physical health protein along with other vital minerals and vitamins are very important. The foods mentioned in above diet plans enrich in all these essential nutritional parameters. Apart from the diet plan, physical exercise is also important for physical as well as mental health. Do exercise daily for at least 30 minutes or involve yourself in physical sports such as basketball, football or rugby. Follow the above diet plan and have a healthy lifestyle without even compromising in taste.
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Name: Ryan M.
As both an aspiring artist and scientist, I have always
been perplexed by the contradiction between the two as far as primary
colours are concerned.In science the primary colours are red, green and
blue. This makes sense as it can be proved with a ray box. However, in
art the primary colours are said to be blue, red and yellow and red
which is believable as with these colours all other colours can be
The theory of color is NOT straightforward. It involves chemistry, physics,
physiology, and psychology.
In fact it is possible to create color from "black and white" transparencies
exposed using different filters!!
And the now common place digital cameras produce colors from electronic
pixels that have no intrinsic color at all. What is a poor artist to do?? I
have just finished reading the best presentation of this complicated subject
from an artist's perspective, which you will find very readable and
fascinating. The book is titled:
"Bright Earth: Art and the Invention of Color" by Philip Ball [ISBN
0-226-03628-6] The University of Chicago Press. Fascinating reading for
scientist and artist alike.
The first thing to realize is that the number of "primary" colors depends
on the type of creature that is doing the looking. Normal cones in the
human eye sense light in broad color bands in the red, green and blue-violet
regions of the spectrum. These bands overlap a great deal.
Thus, for humans, mixing various amounts of three colors of light (red,
green and blue) will produce all colors that can be perceived. That is for
an additive source like a computer monitor or TV screen that produces
The human eye is sensitive to broad bands of light wavelengths, and thus the
eye is not a spectrometer: it interpolates colors depending which of the
three cones are receiving light. For example, there are two ways to make
"yellow" light. 1) use equal amounts of red and green light. These
stimulate the red and green cones, and the brain sees "yellow". 2) use a
wavelength of light that is between red and green (about 565nm). Because
the response of the red and green cones overlaps, this single color also
stimulates both the red and green cones. The brain sees "yellow in both
There are three types of color blindness, depending on which color sensor is
For pictures using paint or ink, it gets a little more complicated because
what happens to the light before it strikes the eye is a two-step process.
Inks are subtractive. They block various colors of light and only the
colors that are NOT blocked are reflected from the paper to your eyes.
For example, yellow ink absorbs blue light, but allows red and green light
to reflect from the paper. The human eye sees yellow which is red and
green. Cyan, which is a sort of green/blue, absorbs red, but lets blue and
green light reflect from the paper. So if you put both yellow and cyan ink
on the paper, only green light gets through to the eye. Similarly, magenta
is a purplish-red color that absorbs green.
Dogs seem to have only two kinds of color receptors in the eye. They see
fewer separate colors. Many birds have four or more types of cones (the
extra one is ultraviolet). They see potentially many more colors than
humans, depending on how the brain perceives this color. Birds would need a
TV with four primary colors, or paper with four different kinds of inks for
their full color vision.
More information can be found in encyclopedias.
The easiest thing to do is point you to the following web site which I
believe does a good job describing the differences between
Red-Green-Blue, Red-Blue-Yellow, and Cyan-Magenta-Yellow and what is
meant by Primary Colors.
The colors of paint and crayons do not add color to the light we see; they
absorb light from it. A "perfect" set of paint colors is in fact magenta,
yellow, and cyan. For most human eyes, magenta is very close to red and
cyan is very close to blue. Yellow is yellow. Red, yellow, and blue will
work almost as well as magenta, yellow, and cyan. Also, red, yellow, and
blue are all well known colors, easier to talk about.
Magenta paint will remove green from white light, reflecting back red and
blue. Yellow removes blue light, reflecting back red and green. Cyan
absorbs red, reflecting green and blue. If you combine cyan and yellow
paint, red and blue are absorbed. In white light, this reflects only green.
This is why blending blue and yellow paint gives you green.
Math, Science, Engineering
Illinois Central College
The spectral primaries are pure colors and deal with light sources. The
light impinging on an object is, for example, red. No matter what "color"
the object might appear when illuminated with white light it will appear
red when the light source is pure red (assuming at least some of the light
is reflected instead of absorbed).
In are you very rarely have light of a pure color. Instead, an object
appears red because it absorbs all colors except red. The red light is
reflected to our eyes.
This difference is why when you mix red, green, and blue light sources you
perceive white light but if you mix red green and blue colors you get
black. The red color absorbs green and blue, green absorbs red and blue
and blue absorbs red and green. The net result is all colors of light get
absorbed and you perceive black.
Click here to return to the Physics Archives
Update: June 2012
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Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Legal, Acronyms, Wikipedia.
Related to artificial respiration: artificial ventilation
artificial respiration,any measure that causes air to flow in and out of a person's lungs when natural breathing is inadequate or ceases, as in respiratory paralysis, drowning, electric shock, choking, gas or smoke inhalation, or poisoning. Respiration can be taken over by an artificial lung (especially in respiratory paralysis), a pulmotor, or any other type of mechanical respirator (see resuscitatorresuscitator
, device used to revive a person whose normal breathing has been disrupted. Several types are in wide use. The automatic tank resuscitator consists of a face mask that fits tightly over the nose and mouth and is connected by a tube to one or more tanks of gas.
..... Click the link for more information. ). In emergency situations, however, when no professional help is available, rescuers undertake the mouth-to-mouth or mouth-to-nose method of artificial respiration. First, any foreign material is swept out of the mouth with the hand. The victim is placed on his back, with the head tilted backward and chin pointing upward so that the tongue does not block the throat. The reviver's mouth is then placed tightly over the victim's mouth or nose, with the victim's nostrils or mouth held shut. For a small child or infant, the reviver places his mouth firmly over the mouth and nose. The reviver takes a deep breath and blows into the victim's mouth, nose, or both. If there is no exchange of air, the reviver checks the position of the head. If there is still no exchange, the victim should be turned on his side and rapped between the shoulder blades to dislodge any foreign matter that may be blocking the air passages. A child can be held by the ankles and rapped between the shoulder blades. The reviver stops blowing when the chest expands, turns his head away, and listens for exhalation. If the victim is an adult, blowing should be vigorous, at the rate of about 12 breaths per minute. A child's breaths should be shallower, about 20 per minute, and an infant's breaths should come in short puffs. When victims vomit, they must be turned on their side and the airway cleaned before continuing artificial respiration. If the victim has had the larynx removed, the above method is used, but the reviver must breathe into the stoma (surgical opening made in front of neck for breathing). Breathing into the subject should be continued until natural breathing resumes or until professional help arrives. Since the heart often stops beating when breathing is interrupted, cardiopulmonary resuscitationcardiopulmonary resuscitation
(CPR), emergency procedure used to treat victims of cardiac and respiratory arrest. CPR can be done in a hospital with drugs and special equipment or as a first-aid technique.
..... Click the link for more information. (CPR) is typically administered simultaneously. This entails compressing the chest above the heart at 60 or more thrusts per minute, with two breaths being administered after every 15 chest thrusts. See first aidfirst aid,
immediate and temporary treatment of a victim of sudden illness or injury while awaiting the arrival of medical aid. Proper early measures may be instrumental in saving life and ensuring a better and more rapid recovery.
..... Click the link for more information. .
artificial respiration[¦ärd·ə¦fish·əl ‚res·pə′rā·shən]
The maintenance of breathing by artificial ventilation, in the absence of normal spontaneous respiration; effective methods include mouth-to-mouth breathing and the use of a respirator.
1. any of various methods of restarting breathing after it has stopped, by manual rhythmic pressure on the chest, mouth-to-mouth breathing, etc.
2. any method of maintaining respiration artificially, as by use of an iron lung
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My head is still full of all the sights and textures of Quilt Market in Kansas City. I'm processing all the trends I saw there and considering how they translate to the kind of quilting and fiber art we do here in the Quilting Daily community.
One trend that stood out—literally—was dimension in fabric crafts. Fabric designers and fiber artists showed finished fabric art projects that were stuffed, twisted, and shaped into objects. I saw more trapunto in modern quilt designs than I have in a while.
|Triangular-based fiber art pyramids by C. June Barnes.
Speaking of modern quilts, even if they didn't have dimension, many of these graphic quilts featured hexagons, octagons, and triangles in stark relief, so they seem to pop out.
In quilt art, there are many ways to fold, piece, stitch, and manipulate fabric into dimensional shapes. A new book on the subject, Exploring Dimensional Quilt Art: Stitch, Fold, Embellish by C. June Barnes shows you how to create almost any kind of spatial dimension out of a stitched or quilted surface.
Spatial dimension can be achieved in the following ways, writes June:
Manipulating the surface of the quilted plane to achieve depth.
Adding to the surface to increase the depth.
Manipulating the quilted plane or layers through folding, wrapping, curling and so on to either construct a shape or create depth.
Constructing objects through various means, the outer layer being a quilted surface.
June draws a lot of her inspiration from nature as well geometry and offers templates, instructions, and examples for virtually any kind of dimensional shape you can imagine.
Here are her instructions for turning a quilted surface into a triangular base (or pyramid).
|Triangular base template from
Exploring Dimensional Quilt Art.
1. Start with an equilateral triangle that has sides roughly four times the finished height you require.
2. Mark the centers of each side of the triangle and mark them a, b, and c.
3. Draw a line between these points, creating a triangle within the triangle with sides a-b, b-c, and c-a.
4. Mark points that are half of the outside points x, y, and z.
5. To construct, finish all edges and join sides a-x to a-y, b-y to b-z, and c-z to c-x. Fold points outward along lines x, y, and z.
These dimensional shapes can be made into all kinds of fiber art, such as containers and vessels. They can be used as embellishments (a great way to make use of fabric scraps) or joined together to make a larger fiber art quilt or sculpture.
Anyone looking to take their fabric art to a new dimension will find inspiration and practical advice in Exploring Dimensional Quilt Art.
P.S. Have you been adding dimension to your fiber art projects? How? Share your experiments with the community below.
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Boethius was a good man, but a tyrant was about to kill him. This is not inspiriting and Boethius despaired until Philosophy came to the rescue. If you major in philosophy, one thing you can point out to skeptical parents is that if a tyrant imprisons you, the training will help.
Philosophy combined with Christian theology (as it was in Boethius) does help. Christianity provides the hope, data through revelation, and philosophy shows that this hope is rational. Nobody pushed to the bottom emotionally can use the promise of Disney or any other kind of magic. We need good news as real as the bad news.
If hope is not sturdy, then it does no good and philosophy makes hope invincible. Eventually, the presumptuous tyrant killed Boethius, but the old philosopher’s hope did not disappoint him. The unjust ruler made Boethius a world class writer, Boethius is remembered mostly for the book he wrote in prison, and prepared his soul for death. Everyone dies, but the the tyrant’s foolishness was to give philosopher time to prepare and so die with dignity.
What did Boethius learn in prison?
Boethius says that he could believe that though the particulars of his life made no sense, the plan of his life was in God’s hands. At first, the philosopher could not see the plan in what was happening to him. Philosophy did not come with cheesy cheer nor with a detailed picture of “what God was doing.”
Giving us The Plan in enough detail to “justify” God is impossible to develop for some very good reasons having to do with ethics, philosophy, and science. Ethically, God cannot betray His dealings with any individual to self-justify. Philosophically, God has knowledge that is too extensive to share, but would be necessary for us to learn in order to know His plan. This is true, because science reveals a radically interconnected world.
Instead of attempting the impossible (as Word of Faith preachers do), Philosophy demonstrated to Boethius two things:
- He could not possibly understand God’s plan.
- He reasonably could trust God’s goodness and so His plan.
God knows all, but, thank God, He does not tell all. He knows our innermost hearts and God keeps that to Himself. He is not so insecure that He must tell His dealings with us to justify himself to a Twitter atheist. Over time, and time keeps going, God heals, mends, and gives hope. Boethius is taught that God is timeless. He exists outside of the chronological dimension and so sees all in His Now. Today for God is the day of Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Completion. God knows. We can freely choose, because God is never foreseeing what we do, but seeing.*
Philosophy cannot give us the plan, but can point us to the Good, the very nature of God. If we see the Good, as Plato suggests in Symposium, and we see God’s nature, then we can trust God. We are told there is a plan to heal the evils done by free will and by contingency in the natural world. We know God does not lie, because God is good. This knowledge gives us reasonable hope and this substantial hope is the faith that saves.
God, have mercy on me a sinner.
*Start reading a defense of this idea in Stump and Kretzmann.
I was honored to hear both philosophers present these ideas. Eleonore Stump is the very model of a good philosopher.
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Build It, and They Will Code: “Hour of Code” Campaign Gets Kids Excited to Program
All kids care about these days is texting, right? Hour of Code proves the stereotype wrong by inspiring kids to code.
By Betsy Mikel (Contributing Writer, Women 2.0)
When you ask kids what they want to be when they grow up, it’s unlikely they’ll respond “computer scientist.” Is anyone surprised? According to Code.org, nine out of 10 schools don’t offer computer science classes. Yet computer science is the top-paying college degree and computer programmer jobs are growing at twice the rate of the national average.
To help inspire the next generation of tech-savvy computer scientists, Code.org is driving students and teachers to The Hour of Code website this week. The campaign aims to introduce students of all levels to coding with fun, interactive tutorials.
The Hour of Code kicked off the beginning of this week as part of computer science education week, and already millions of students from kindergarten through 12th grade have logged on to learn the basics of computer programming. The “anybody can do it” message behind the campaign has been endorsed by President Obama, tech moguls Mark Zuckerberg and Bill Gates, celebrities like Ashton Kutcher, and musicians like will.i.am.
“Don’t just buy a new video game… make one. Don’t just download the latest app… help design it. Don’t just play on your phone… program it,” said President Obama. No one’s born a computer scientist, but with a little hard work and some math and science, just about anyone can become one.”
The campaign has expanded beyond classrooms with both Apple and Microsoft offering sessions in their retail stores. And believe it or not, kids are even logging onto the website at home to learn more. According to the Washington Post, the number of participants in Hour of Code is outpacing the organizer’s expectations, and Code.org estimates 15 million students will have taken a coding course by the end of the week.
Even better news is that 60 percent of the participating students so far have been girls, co-founder Hadi Partovi told Washington Post.
“Two days ago, the number of girls doing computer science in this country was 18 percent,” Partovi said. “This is amazing.”
Have you seen other campaigns or initiatives that get kids excited to code?
Betsy Mikel is a freelance copywriter and content strategist who helps brands, businesses and entrepreneurs tell their stories. A journalist at heart, her curiosity drives her to find something new to learn every single day. Follow her on Twitter at @betsym.
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New data from several studies evaluating new techniques for early diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer are being presented at the first European Multidisciplinary Conference on Thoracic Oncology (EMCTO) in Lugano, Switzerland (1-3 May 2009).
"Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide and also in Europe. One of the reasons for this is that symptoms of lung cancer are very often lacking or occur only late in the course of the disease," said Prof Rudolf M. Huber from the University of Munich in Germany.
"The prognosis of lung cancer patients is very dependent on how advanced their disease is. In stage I for example, where the tumour has not yet spread, 5-year-survival rates are about 70%; whereas in stage IV, where it has metastasised to other parts of the body, survival is about 1%. Even for patients with locally advanced tumours, survival over 5 years is only about 10%. Therefore every effort should be undertaken to diagnose early in the course of the disease."
"Developing better tools for distinguishing between lung cancer and other lung diseases will help us offer greater hope for patients," added Prof Huber.
In one study presented at the conference, Italian researchers compare two computed tomography techniques for diagnosing indeterminate lung lesions, finding that a form of single-photon emission computed tomography could offer an alternative method in situations where positron emission tomography is not available.
In another abstract, UK scientists report that a new approach to diagnosis that ensures a patient has had a chest CT scan before they attend a clinic has the potential to reduce the time between their first abnormal chest X-ray and final diagnosis.
Also during the conference, Greek investigators suggest that they may have found a new factor that will help indicate a patient's prognosis at the time of diagnosis. Their work indicates that the expression of specific cell surface molecules on tumour cells correlates with clinical parameters. The results "could comprise a promising prognostic factor in lung carcinomas, thus presenting exciting possibilities for the future."
|Contact: ESMO Press Office|
European Society for Medical Oncology
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From pv magazine USA
Achieving the US government’s decarbonization goals of 100% carbon-free electricity generation by 2035 and net-zero economy-wide carbon emissions by 2050 will require the deployment of record levels of renewable technologies. The most common solar technologies to date are crystalline silicon and cadmium telluride (CdTe), the costs of which have dropped notedly in recent years. The US Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) said in order to meet 2035 targets, solar deployment has to double in the next three years, and ultimately ramp up to 100 GW by 2035.
While most development will use silicon and CdTe, SETO sees potential in nascent technologies like halide perovskites.
SETO finds that the power conversion efficiencies (PCE) of halide perovskites (over 25% in single-junction cells and over 29% in tandem cells with silicon) show promise. One advantage of perovskites is that they can be easily manufactured in high volume. However, significant technological challenges must be addressed before perovskites are ready for commercial power sector markets.
In a recent Energy Focus report, SETO covers the critical technical barriers, the commercialization pitfalls and opportunities, and efforts to overcome barriers and challenges to commercialization. It also references SETO-funded projects, which can be viewed in the Solar Energy Research Database.
One of the major barriers is cost. In order for perovskite to be commercially competitive, its levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) must be competitive with that of other technologies. And with the cost of silicon and CdTe modules dropping while warranty times are increasing, it will be a steep challenge for perovskite to compete on an LCOE basis.
“As researchers continue to develop perovskites, there are lessons to be learned from the fates of other photovoltaic technologies. SETO is focused on helping perovskite photovoltaic companies to avoid those pitfalls and spurring innovation in order to get this technology market-ready and accelerate the deployment of solar energy,” said Dr. Lenny Tinker, photovoltaics program manager, Solar Energy Technologies Office, US Department of Energy.
Module and cell durability
Durability is the largest technological risk for perovskite PV. For LCOE metrics to approach SETO’s 2030 goals of $0.02 kWh, perovskite PV will have to last at least 20 years in the field, which will require improving its ability to withstand various environmental conditions. Much testing is required, yet today’s tests are geared toward commercialized PV technologies (Si, CdTe, etc.) and are unlikely to capture all the failure modes relevant to perovskite modules in the field.
Existing tests may also be excessive or promote irrelevant or uncharacteristic modes of perovskite device failure. SETO has published some minimum durability performance targets which, if realized, would provide strong evidence that a prototype perovskite PV device is ready to enter an initial production stage. To this end, SETO funds considerable perovskite durability work as well as development of test standards.
Efficiency, often considered a strength of perovskite PV, requires significant improvement for large-area devices before they are ready for the commercial arena. While standardized cell and module form factors have yet to be finalized for perovskite PV, standards will be a crucial prerequisite to scaling the entire industry beyond initial demonstration projects.
To encourage industry standardization and communication, SETO is promoting collaboration among academia, the national laboratories, and industry – intended to bring diverse perspectives and expertise to bear on common problems, accelerate cycles of learning, and facilitate transfers of knowledge and skills. Industry consortia like PACT and the US Manufacturing of Advanced Perovskites (MAP) consortium allow companies to connect and share best practices within this industry.
The final major technical hurdle to commercialization is achieving high production yield, with narrow distributions in module efficiencies. Barriers related to process control and manufacturing yield are often underappreciated, and perovskite solar cells have not yet demonstrated broad process flexibility in the lab. Cost-effective deposition processes will need to tolerate small variations in factors such as deposition tooling conditions, deposition environment, and ink compositions.
SETO has emphasized process control in perovskite projects across its portfolio, ensuring that changes in performance or efficiency are statistically significant and robust from a process standpoint, while funding the development of which processes, when scaled up, might be easier to control.
The ability of perovskite PV technologies to secure investor financing with low interest rates, may be even more significant than the technical challenges to perovskite PV commercialization.
Financing will be necessary for scaled manufacturing lines and deployment projects. Bankability is directly related to the confidence financers have that (1) the technical challenges have been solved, (2) the financed assets will perform long enough to deliver a desired return on investment, and (3) the liability of product failure and warranty claims is low. Ensuring bankability and durability standards are met is a SETO priority.
These challenges faced by perovskite technology makes it uncertain as to if and when it can achieve gigawatt-scale deployment. In the meantime, there are many different applications that can support higher dollar-per-watt costs and durability issues including transportation, building integrated PV, military operations, aerospace, and Internet of Things. Substantial capital will be needed to scale the perovskite industry, which will come only once investors and financiers have confidence in the profitability of perovskite manufacturers and the long-term durability of perovskite module technologies.
Sustainable growth of the perovskite industry depends on avoiding these pitfalls and requires patient and careful investment that corresponds with the timeline and magnitude of progress needed to adopt this technology into products.
SETO has supported a wide range of perovskite startups in various stages of development, through different programmes, as SETO can support sustainable investment in the perovskite PV space by providing nondilutive capital to promising early-stage commercial entities. Startups further along in the product development cycle and closer to pilot manufacturing are encouraged to apply for funding through SETO’s Incubator program.
Overall, the opportunities for perovskites as a solar technology are great. It has the potential to develop into a high-efficiency, low-cost module technology for commercial power sector deployment, with throughput rates and energy payback times superior to state-of-the-art PV technologies. SETO calls for members of the perovskite community increase device size, demonstrate relevant outdoor durability, and make processes robust in order to tap the potential of perovskite in the solar energy sector.
This content is protected by copyright and may not be reused. If you want to cooperate with us and would like to reuse some of our content, please contact: email@example.com.
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- BBC Micro
Sinclair’s machines would not remain unchallenged for long. A former Sinclair engineer, Chris Curry, together with an Austrian friend named Hermann Hauser, cofounded a new competing company called Acorn Computers in 1978. After the first experiments, the company took off in 1981 thanks to winning the BBC’s Computer Literacy Project call for proposals. Two models were released in late 1981: the BBC
The BBC Micro, the most successful home computer on the educational scene with 1.5 million units sold, ran a 6502A CPU clocked at 2 MHz.
The space trading simulation Elite, programmed by Dave Braben and Ian Bell in 1984, was the best game for the BBC Micro and was considered to be a “system seller.” It was a ground-breaking game where players were free to play in any way they liked—as an honest trader or as a space pirate, for example—while exploring a vast universe.
Model A and Model B with 16 KB and 32 KB RAM, respectively, with more models to come in the following years.
BBC’s educational program made Acorn’s latest creation a common tool in all British schools and its success was so great that it was used later in similar programs in other Commonwealth countries, such as India, throughout the eighties.
Though it was not originally meant to play games, the BBC Micro would have a relevant role in the industry, mostly thanks to an extremely influential and groundbreaking game, Elite, which was first programmed on this system before being ported to many others and inspiring countless titles up to this very day.
Acorn was sold to Olivetti in 1985 but the BBC Micro was produced, in different iterations, until 1994.
- Amstrad CPC
Sinclair and Acorn were not the only players on the British home computer scene, though, and Amstrad, an electronics company founded in 1968 by Alan Sugar, soon played a major role. The Color Personal Computer (CPC) line of computers was launched in 1984 and soon gathered a large following, mostly in the UK and central Europe.
Games on the CPC were quite varied and, in the mid-eighties, most games
in Europe were ported to all of the three main platforms of the time: the C64, the ZX Spectrum, and the CPC. Amstrad also bought Sinclair in 1986, continuing the Spectrum line with different iterations that, unfortunately, were not able to match the machine’s early successes. The CPC line was ultimately discontinued in 1990 after an attempt to enter the video game market directly with a computer-turnedconsole model, the GX4000, that didn’t catch much attention.
The Z-80 powered CPC 464, the first model in the CPC line. It had 64 KB RAM and an internal cassette deck
MSX was the Japanese answer to American and European home computers. Actually, it was not just a “computer” but a full standard—spanning hardware and software—and it was designed so that different manufacturers would produce compatible machines on a common architecture.
Starting from mid-1983, several Japanese and Korean electronics companies,such as Sony, Sharp, JVC, Canon, Toshiba, Sanyo, and Daewoo, started developing MSX computers. Despite being strongly supported by Microsoft Japan from the very beginning,14 MSX didn’t really succeed in developing a following in the western
A MSX model by Philips. MSX computers were mounting a Z-80 and had different amounts of RAM, from 16 KB and upwards. The last MSX model, the MSXTurboR, was discontinued in 1995.
The beginning of a new, epic adventure: the first Metal Gear game by Hideo Kojima, published in 1987.
Though some earlier games did incorporate a stealth-based mechanic, it was perfected here and became the main game focus, starting a whole new genre.
world, where the market was already crowded. However, it became a very popular choice in countries like Japan and South Korea. Overall, MSX computers sold about five million units worldwide.
Despite its limited geographical relevance, the MSX played an important role in fostering the gaming industry in Japan, somewhat like the ZX Spectrum did in the UK.
In fact, some of today’s most beloved franchises created by Japanese developers, like Metal Gear, Bomberman, and Puyo Puyo, were actually created on MSX computers first before being ported to other systems.
- Apple II
Even though Apple refused to join the on-going price war and maintained a steep price tag on its models, the different iterations of the Apple II were still able to play an important role across the gaming scene, especially in North America where it often turned out to be the tool of choice by many talented developers.
The Apple IIe, with 64 KB of RAM and the ability to display both lowercase
and uppercase letters, was released in 1983 (see the figure on the top of page 90) and it was followed by the IIc in 1984, a compact and portable version that doubled the available RAM.
Overall, including the 16-bit Apple IIGS released in 1986, the Apple II series
was an “all-arounder,” equally at ease in the office, in a research facility, and at home.
It ended up selling between five and six million units, leaving a mark in the memories of many.
Several seminal games, like Jordan Mechner’s Karateka (1984), a side-scroller action game that served as a basis for the later Prince of Persia, were originally conceived on the Apple II.
The IIe was the Apple II model with the longest lifespan and it was produced until 1993
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Sneezing is a sudden and uncontrollable burst of air that passes through the mouth and nose. Sneezing is caused by irritation of the mucous membrane of the nose and throat. Sneezing might be bothersome to people, but it is not a sign of anything serious.1 Whenever sneezing, people cover their nose and mouth with a tissue to help prevent the spread of germs.2 You can sneeze in response to many external triggers and allergies, and it is usually not a sign of anything serious.1 Sneezing is manageable, and the remedies mentioned below might help in managing and preventing sneezing.
Sneezing can also be a symptom of hay fever or allergic rhinitis, but you need to consult with a healthcare professional or doctor to come up with a diagnosis.3
What Causes Sneezing?
A lot of factors can trigger sneezing. These factors are:
- External particles like pollen, mould and dust
- Common cold
- Inhaling corticosteroids (present in certain nose sprays)
- Withdrawal of certain drugs
- Triggers like dry air, spicy foods and strong emotions.1
Symptoms of Sneezing:
Sneezing itself can be a symptom of health conditions like cold and allergic rhinitis (hay fever). Allergic rhinitis is a condition in which the body’s immune system recognises and over-reacts to environmental factors like dust, pet dander and pollen.1,3
Sneezing presents itself with:
- A sudden burst of air passes through the nose and mouth.
- Expulsion of mucous, foreign matter and irritants from the nose.4
It is advised to cover your mouth and nose whenever you sneeze to help prevent the spread of viruses and germs.
Suggested Home Remedies for Sneezing:
Here are some home remedies that you can use to get rid of allergies that might be causing you to sneeze.
Eating honey might help with seasonal allergies that might be causing you to sneeze. However, there is a lack of sufficient information regarding honey providing benefits for sneezing. Also, you should avoid eating honey if you are allergic to pollen. Honey should not be used for children under one year of age.5 To use honey, you can mix some honey in a glass of warm water and drink it. You can also make honey ginger tea to deal with sneezing.
In a clinical trial, turmeric was found to be effective in providing relief from symptoms of allergic rhinitis like sneezing and nasal congestion. Turmeric is also effective in modulating immune reactions.6 There are several ways in which you can use turmeric. You can take turmeric as a part of your daily diet by:
- Putting turmeric in food items and dishes.
- You can also make turmeric milk by putting some turmeric in a glass of milk. You can also add honey for taste. However, if you are allergic to pollen, you should avoid putting honey. You can drink this turmeric milk as and when required to get rid of sneezing.
3. Black Pepper
Black pepper is a natural immunomodulator that is capable of modifying immune responses. Black pepper might be beneficial for sneezing due to allergies and over-reaction of the immune system (allergic rhinitis).3,7 To use black pepper for allergies, you can make black pepper tea. To make the black pepper tea, you can use black pepper, dry ginger, basil and cardamom. Drink this warm black pepper tea a couple of times a day to get relief from the symptoms of allergy.8
Ginger can help you deal with allergic rhinitis. To use ginger, you can combine the ginger powder with turmeric and Ashwagandha powder and mix it well. You can take this powder mixture along with milk to manage allergic rhinitis.8 Allergic rhinitis is one of the main causes of sneezing.3
Avoiding the exposure to the triggers that might be causing you the reactions is the best way to control the sneezing. You can control your sneezing in some ways that are given below.
5. Using Air Filters
Using air filters will help you keep the air clean. It will also help to avoid exposure to any particles or triggers that might be causing you to sneeze.1 Clean air will help you to manage and control sneezing.
6. Proper Washing of the Beddings and Sheets
Washing the linens can get rid of all the dust and particles that might be causing you to sneeze. It will limit your exposure to indoor allergens. It is important to clean all the beddings and sheets properly to avoid contact with external triggers. Also, washing linens in water helps in killing the dust mites.1
7. Pet Care
Pets might be carrying some animal dander (flakes of skin), which can cause an allergic reaction and sneezing. If you are allergic to pets, keeping pets out might help to avoid your exposure to allergens and pet dander. Also, you can follow this practice to further limit your contact:
- Wash your hands immediately after petting animals.
- You can change your clothing after meeting friends with pets.3
8. Avoiding Outdoor Exposure
You can manage your allergic symptoms by avoiding the triggers that might be present outdoors. If you are allergic to pollen, you should try to stay indoors as much as possible. Avoid hanging your clothing outside, as the pollen and dust might stick to them.3
When to Seek Medical Help?
You need to contact your doctor or healthcare provider if your sneezing is affecting your day-to-day activities. Also, if the home remedies do not work out, you should contact your doctor.1
Sneezing is nothing but a sudden outburst of air which comes out of the nose and mouth. It can be a symptom of an allergic condition called allergic rhinitis or hay fever. Sneezing is the body’s response to expel the irritants from the nasal cavity. You must cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when sneezing. It is important to follow good hygiene habits to avoid the spread of germs. Limiting your exposure to the triggers that might be causing you to sneeze is the best way to get relief from it. For example, you can restrict your indoor and outdoor exposure to dust mites, pet dander and pollen to get relief from sneezing. You can also use honey and turmeric to get rid of sneezing.
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Jaakkola, Antti and Yli-Halla, Markku (2008) Thirty years of growing cereal without P and K fertilization. In: NJF Report, Nordic Association of Agricultural Scientists, 4 (2), pp. 17-19.
Over thirty years a significant depletion of P and K in soil occured when the were not given in fertilizers. This caused a reduction in crop yield. An abundant P application exceeding the crop uptake very clearly prevented the yield reduction but did not raise the extractable P concentration in the soil. Severe K deficiency did not start to appear until 20 years of growing cereal without fertilizer K. K application compensating for the uptake by the crop did not prevent the decrease of its extractable concentration in this soil, but this decrease did not affect crop yield.
|EPrint Type:||Conference paper, poster, etc.|
|Type of presentation:||Paper|
|Keywords:||fertilization, potassium, phosphorus, cereals|
|Subjects:||Soil > Nutrient turnover|
|Research affiliation:||Finland > Univ. Helsinki|
|Deposited By:||Koistinen, Riitta|
|Deposited On:||11 Jun 2009|
|Last Modified:||12 Apr 2010 07:39|
Repository Staff Only: item control page
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Ibuprofen May Lower Risk of Parkinson's Disease
Study Shows About a One-Third Reduction in Parkinson’s Risk for Regular Ibuprofen Users
WebMD News Archive
How Ibuprofen Might Fight Parkinson’s
Other experts note, however, that a growing body of research supports the idea that ibuprofen may be uniquely protective of brain cells that produce the chemical dopamine.
Loss of those dopamine-producing neurons is thought to cause Parkinson’s, a disorder in which the brain gradually loses its ability to control the body’s movements.
People with Parkinson’s typically experience uncontrollable tremors or trembling in the jaw, face, arms or legs; stiffness; impaired coordination and balance; depression and other mood changes; skin problems; constipation; and trouble sleeping.
“The theory behind the inflammation and Parkinson’s goes back decades,” says Ali Samii, MD, associate professor of neurology at the University of Washington. “It’s biologically plausible. It’s not a very powerful protector, but it does reduce the risk.”
Samii published a study in 2009 finding that ibuprofen, but not other NSAIDs or aspirin, reduced the risk of Parkinson’s in regular users by about 25%.
“There are animal studies suggesting that the blood-barrier penetrations of NSAIDs are quite different from one another,” he says. “Ibuprofen itself may have some specific neuroprotective properties.”
In a test tube, for example, one study demonstrated that ibuprofen protected dopamine-producing nerve cells of rat brains from excessive stimulation, which can cause cell death.
For his part, Gao believes ibuprofen may work against Parkinson’s by activating a signaling pathway called the peroxisome, proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pathway.
“That pathway is very important for Parkinson’s disease because the PPAR pathway kind of inhibits apoptosis,” or cell death, he says. “It also plays a role in oxidative stress [and] it’s important for anti-inflammatory actions.”
Gao thinks that if scientists can discover how ibuprofen may protect brain cells, it may lead to the development of stronger and more targeted drugs that have the same effect.
“That would be a very good thing,” he says.
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¡ Bienvenidos a Chile! Language and Culture 2009 Memphis in May International Teachers’ Conference. Presented by Melissa Spain. Chile. Located in South America Situated between Pacific Ocean on the west and Andes Mountains on the right Intensive European flavor –
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Presented by Melissa Spain
settled by Italians, Germans, English, Spanish
Culture is defined as the customary beliefs,
social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious,
or social group ; the characteristic features of
everyday existence shared by people in a place or
culture. (2009). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
Retrieved February 7, 2009, from http://www.merriam- webster.com/dictionary/culture
Instead of pointing with the finger, which is considered rude or poorly educated, Chileans use their lips as a signal. The lips are used to point in the direction of interest. The pointing of the lips can indicate one specific direction, or the moving of the lips can indicate a larger area.
*In rural areas, businesses close at lunch traditionally for the siesta.
History of the Once : many years ago, men met at this time to enjoy an alcoholic beverage called Aguardiente. In order to conceal the true menu of the get together, a code name was formed. The number of letters in the word Aguardiente is eleven (once). Thus, tea hour has become known as once.
-Empanadas de Pino
A pastry made of flour, water, butter, and salt, full of beef, cut in cubes with onions, olive raisins, and hard boiled egg that is cooked in the oven.
-Bistec a lo Pobre
Steak with fried potatoes, fried onions, and fried eggs
Spicy dish made of poroto beans, corn, and pumpkin
A round bun filled with manjar or mermalade and covered with pulverized sugar
-Mote con Huesillo
Dehydrated peaches with boiled wheat or boiled corn often in water or peach juice
Manjar between two round and flat cookies covered in chocolate.
The valley just north of Santiago is known for its vineyards.
Shakira won the international award as a teenager competing in 1992
China, Italy, Estonia
KC and the Sunshine Band
And many others
Previous participating artists you may recognize include INXS, Duran Duran. Ricky Martin, Nelly Furtado, Earth Wind and Fire, Mr. Mister, Eddie Money, Sheena Easton, Air Supply, Journey
social and political life.
Christians celebrate Holy Week and Easter Sunday
In memory of the naval combat of Iquique
Fiesta de la Iglesia Católica
Catholic holiday to honor these saints
Catholics celebrate the assumption of the Virgin Maria
Chile proclaimed its independence from Spain on Feb. 12 1818. However, Chileans celebrate the independance on Sept. 18 each year. It is the anniversary of the first joining of the national government.
Honors the army and remembers the victories
All Saint’s Day
Catholics remember the Virgen Maria
“The House of the Spirits”, (novel) Spain 1982
“Eva Luna'”, (novel) Spain 1985
“Inés of My Soul”, (novel) Spain 2006 http://www.isabelallende.com/
(English, German, and indigenous languages also spoken)
Other countries that speak Spanish
Argentina El Salvador Nicaragua
Bolivia Guatemala Panama
Colombia Honduras Paraguay
Costa Rica Mexico Peru
Cuba Spain Puerto Rico
Ecuador Venezuela Uruguay
- vacation vs. holiday
Y’all vs you guys
Coke, soda, pop
The tendency with words that end with –ado is to condense the last syllable to create the sound –ao. This is a result of Chileans speaking very fast.
Por ejemplo: el tiempo ya está pasao
Por ejemplo: se encuentra al otro lao
The informal way to address a person in Spanish is “tú.” In this case, verbs are formed as following:
hablar = tú hablas
vivir = tú vives
querer = tú quieres
However, Chilieans use a modified version of the form “tu”. The from “vo” is created by conjugating the verb in vosotros and dropping the final “s”. The above mentioned examples are converted using “vo”
hablar = hablái
vivir = viví
querer = querí
¿Cómo estás? Bien po.
¿Fuiste al mercado? Sí, po
a, b, c, ch, d, e, f, g, h, i, j, k, l, ll, m, n, ñ, o, p, q, r, s, t, u, v, w,
x, y, z.
papa vs papá
te (object pronoun) vs té
intelligence , distance inteligencia, distancia
artist, dentist artista, dentista
tourism, optimism tourismo , optimismo
animal, capital animal, capital
actor, error actor, error
university, city universidad, ciudad
World Language Specialist
Memphis City Schools
Oak Forest Elementary
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By Amy Goodman
Thanksgiving is around the corner, and families will be gathering to share a meal and, perhaps, enjoy another annual telecast of “The Wizard of Oz.” The 70-year-old film classic bears close watching this year, perhaps more than in any other, for the message woven into the lyrics, written during the Great Depression by Oscar-winning lyricist E.Y. “Yip” Harburg. There’s more to the Scarecrow and the Tin Man than meets the eye, and Harburg’s message has renewed resonance today in the midst of the greatest financial collapse since the Depression.
Harburg grew up in New York’s Lower East Side. In high school, he was seated alphabetically next to Ira Gershwin, and the two began a friendship that lasted a lifetime and helped shape 20th-century American song and culture. Ernie Harburg, Yip’s son and co-author of the biography “Who Put the Rainbow in The Wizard of Oz?,” told me, “Yip knew poverty deeply ... it was the basis of Yip’s understanding of life as struggle.”
Harburg was deep in debt after the 1929 Wall Street crash. Gershwin suggested that Harburg write song lyrics. Before long, he wrote the song that captured the essence of the Great Depression, “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” Ernie said of the music industry then: “They only wanted love songs or escape songs, so that in 1929 you had ‘Happy Days Are Here Again.’ ... There wasn’t one song that addressed the Depression, in which we were all living.”
“Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?” became a national hit and remains a kind of anthem for hard times, corporate greed and the dignity of working people:
Once I built a railroad, I made it run, made it race against time.
Once I built a railroad; now it’s done. Brother, can you spare a dime?
In the 1930s, Harburg became the lyricist for “The Wizard of Oz.” He also added the rainbow to the story, which doesn’t appear in L. Frank Baum’s original 1900 book, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.” This led Harburg to write the famous song “Over the Rainbow,” sung by the then-unknown Judy Garland.
While academic debate persists over whether Baum intended the story as a political allegory about the rise of industrial monopolists like John D. Rockefeller and the subsequent populist backlash, there is no doubt that Harburg’s influence made the 1939 film version more political.
The film, says Ernie Harburg, is about common people confronting and defeating seemingly insurmountable and violent oppression: The Scarecrow represented farmers, the Tin Man stood for the factory workers, and the Munchkins of the “Lollipop Guild” were the union members. Ernie recalled: “There was at least 30 percent unemployment at those times. And among blacks and minorities, it was 50, 60 percent. And there were bread lines, and the rich kept living their lifestyle.”
“The Wizard of Oz” was to be “MGM’s answer to [Disney’s] ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,’ ” Ernie recounts. It was initially a critical success, but a commercial flop. Yip Harburg went on to write “Finian’s Rainbow” for Broadway. It addresses racial bigotry, hatred of immigrants, easy credit and mortgage foreclosures. In 1947, “Finian’s Rainbow” was the first Broadway musical with an integrated cast. It was a hit, running for a year and a half. When Harburg’s unabashed political expression made him a target during the McCarthy era, he was blacklisted, and was banned from TV and film work from 1951 to 1962. Ironically, in the middle of his blacklist period, CBS broadcast “The Wizard of Oz” on television. It broke all viewership records, and has been airing since, gaining global renown and adulation.
This October, “Finian’s Rainbow” began its first full Broadway revival—the first since it was originally produced six decades ago—to rave reviews. Yip Harburg would be especially proud, no doubt, to know that one of the actors, Terri White, who plays a black sharecropper in “Finian’s Rainbow,” is back on Broadway despite having recently been homeless. From sleeping on park benches to starring on Broadway once again, this is just the kind of tale that inspired Harburg.
In response to his blacklisting, Harburg wrote a satiric poem, which reads in part:
Lives of great men all remind us
Greatness takes no easy way,
All the heroes of tomorrow
Are the heretics of today.
Why do great men all remind us
We can write our names on high
And departing leave behind us
Thumbprints in the FBI.
Let’s give thanks to Yip Harburg and all heretical artists, past and present, who have withstood censorship and banishment just for talking turkey.
Denis Moynihan contributed research to this column.
Amy Goodman is the host of “Democracy Now!,” a daily international TV/radio news hour airing on more than 800 stations in North America. She is the author of “Breaking the Sound Barrier,” recently released in paperback.
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Shouting from Constricted Lungs, by K.J. Wells, is an important read for poets and those who enjoy reading and studying poetry. Exploring a range of subject matter and emotions, Wells takes the reader on a journey of the heart, profoundly commenting on important topics like war, death, love, and racism. The poet is precise with line length and word choices, and lines of poetry are well-thought out. Strong images in the poet’s work give us artistic beauty as well as contextual significance. Poignantly, Wells is able to use her words to remember those who shouldn’t be forgotten. Among these are family and friends who have shaped her life, especially the poet’s father, Victor Wells. Shouting from Constricted Lungs was published by AuthorHouse Books in May 2014 and is available on Amazon here.
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A cyst is benign, non-cancerous swelling that grows just under the skin.
Cysts are essentially sacs containing fluid. The sac lining or cyst wall develops from skin cells or cells around hair follicles. Inside the sac is a thick white or yellow liquid called keratin, which is found in skin and hair.
Cysts can occur almost anywhere on the body. They can be termed ‘sebaceous cysts’, ‘epidermoid cysts’ or ‘pilar cysts’ depending ontheir location. ‘Pilar’ cysts are usually seen in the scalp whereas ‘sebaceous’ or ‘epidermoid’ cysts occur elsewhere in the body.
Cysts can grow over months or years without causing any problems. As cysts enlarge, you may feel self-conscious of the unsightly swelling, especially if it is in a visible area.
Some patients may experience symptoms such as discomfort or the cyst may ooze pungent fluid. Cysts can also become infected leading to severe pain, redness and swelling of the area.
A skin cyst and a lipoma can be differentiated by their features. A skin cyst tends to be firm to the touch, it is attached to the overlying skin and may have a ‘punctum’ which is the origin of the cyst (visible as a small dark dot on the skin).
A lipoma is an overgrowth of benign fat cells which grows slowly over years. Lipomas feel softer, lie deeper in the tissues and are never attached to the overlying skin. They rarely cause any symptoms and never get inflamed or infected.
Only infected cysts may be drained on the NHS. The vast majority of cysts are removed in the private sector. Some GPs may offer cyst removal at their GP practice but will just reoccur if the sac lining is not completely removed.
Skin cysts can be normally removed underlocal anaesthetic. First, the outline of the swelling is marked on the skin and the skin incision is marked and orientated to lie in the natural skin lines to conceal the resulting scar. Local anaesthetic is then injected to numb the area and the overlying skin is cleaned with an anti-septic solution. An elliptical incision is made over the swelling and cyst is dissected free from the surrounding tissues and removed in its entirety with the sac lining. The wound is then cauterised to stop any bleeding and closed usually with stitches and a dressing applied.
Cysts can become inflamed or infected and become swollen, red and very painful. A course of antibiotics may resolve the infection. Drainage of the cyst may be required if the infection does not settle with antibiotics. Cysts can only be drained and cannot be removed whilst infected. The cyst can be formally removed 2 to 3 months later once the infection has fully settled.
There will be a permanent scar after removal of your cyst and this is unavoidable. Other risks include, wound infection, delayed wound healing or wound separation, poor scarring (with lumpy, stretched or pigmented scarring) and recurrence of the cyst.
Although there may be a small dressing following your minor surgery, you should be able to go home straight after the procedure and return to work the next day.
Skin stitches may be required after a small cyst removal and these are removed at 7 days on the face and 10 to 14 days on other areas of the body. After 2 weeks, the wound should be healed and the scar should be with massaged daily with a moisturiser.
Although gentle exercise such as walking is fine straight after surgery, more rigorous exercise such as swimming and gym classes should be avoided for 3 to 4 weeks after surgery to avoid wound infection and wound separation. Make-up should not be applied to the wound on the face for at approximately 3 weeks or until the wound has fully healed to avoid wound infection.
An infected cyst can be drained from around £450.00 and the cost of cyst removal can be from £650.00 but varies depending on the size, location and whether it is a recurrence.
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National Nutrition Month
March is National Nutrition Month. This year’s theme is “Go Further with Food.” The focus of the campaign, led by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, is to encourage healthy eating habits and to reduce food waste. For this reason, this is a great time to evaluate whether or not you are meeting your nutritional needs.
Is it enough?
According to the CDC, most Americans are not eating enough fruits and vegetables. Fewer than 1 in 10 children and adults eat the recommended daily amount of vegetables. Only 4 in 10 children and fewer than 1 in 7 adults eat enough fruit.
Lack of intake is only part of the problem. Most Americans also exceed the recommended intake levels of fats, added sugars, refined grains and sodium. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, about 90% of Americans eat more sodium than is recommended for a healthy diet. On average, U.S. adults consume 3,440 mg of sodium per day. If each person were to reduce the amount of sodium consumed by 1,200 mg per day, it could save up to $20 billion a year in medical costs. Diet and physical activity are the best preventative strategies to reduce the prevalence of chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity and hypertension.
ChooseMyPlate, is a great resource to ensure we are meeting the daily recommended amounts of key food groups. The amount of each group depends on a persons’ age, sex and level of physical activity. ChooseMyPlate can be used as visual aid to better understand proper portions and compositions for each meal. When preparing meals, it is important to choose foods and beverages with less saturated fats, sodium and added sugar.
Fruits & Vegetables
Fruits provide nutrients such as potassium, dietary fiber, vitamin C and folate. Avoid fruit juices and focus instead on whole, canned and frozen fruit. Keeping fruit in a visible area can serve as a visual reminder to eat your daily recommended amount of fruit. Try to incorporate a variety of fruit such as dried, frozen and canned into your diet.
Vegetables are beneficial for your health because they contain vitamins and minerals and are usually low in calories. A great way to incorporate vegetables into your diet is by preparing pre-packaged snacks ahead of time. Although fresh vegetables are ideal, frozen and canned vegetables can be just as nutritious.
Grains & Protein
Whole grains serve as a great source of zinc, magnesium, B vitamins and fiber. Be sure to look for the word “whole” at the beginning of the ingredient list to ensure the grain is in fact a whole grain.
Protein sources include both animal and plant-based foods. Good animal sources for protein include poultry, meat, seafood and eggs. Protein from plant sources include beans, peas, soy products and seeds. It is important to select lean meats and poultry, as well as to eat plant protein foods more often.
Dairy foods including milk, yogurt, cheese and fortified soy milk provide the necessary levels of calcium, vitamin D, potassium and protein needed for good health. It is important to select foods that are low-fat or fat-free. Be sure to also limit added sugars in flavored products such as milks and yogurts.
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Advanced Conversion Technologies is the term for technologies such as gasification and pyrolysis. These could become competitors with Anaerobic Digestion. In fact, a number of innovative advanced, high temperature processes for Energy from Waste/ Waste to Energy, are beginning to emerge from the far east.
These may become more efficient (after further development), than conventional processes and can offer a range of different types of energy from bio-based wastes. If so, they may compete with biogas plants for their feed biomass.
- wood waste and
- municipal wastes.
Woody wastes are not easy to digest through anaerobic digestion, and these new techniques may be much better suited to obtaining efficient Energy from Waste outputs from wood waste.
“Overview; Conventional technologies; Advanced conversion technologies; Environmental controls; Obstacles to energy from waste; Anaerobic digestion strategy …
Choice of an Advanced Conversion Technology Must First Comply with UK Waste Regs and the Waste Hierarchy
The sub-topic of our meme today is the UK Waste Regs. and how important it is when planning a UK energy from waste (EfW) project, not to “fall and get hurt by” the Waste Hierarchy!
The current requirements for compliance of new AD plants (including feedstock changes) and new and existing energy from waste facilities, with UK Waste regulations need early consideration in any EfW project.
“Recovering energy from waste is only appropriate for waste that cannot be prevented, reused or recycled with less greenhouse gas emitted.Energy recovery can be a sustainable option for waste that would otherwise go to landfill and create landfill methane emissions.”
The report below defines two Advanced Energy from Waste Conversion Technologies, as follows:
Gasification is a type of advanced conversion that produces a combustible gas that is a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane. This gas can be used directly to generate heat and electricity.
Alternatively it can be upgraded to an ultra clean gas called syngas. This can be used to manufacture either biomethane, which can be injected into the national gas grid, or transport fuels such as hydrogen, ethanol, synthetic diesel or jet fuel. The energy given off can be harnessed to generate heat and power.
Pyrolysis is a type of advanced conversion that can be used to produce either a combustible gas, oil or solid char (sometimes known as bio-coal).
In the future, it will be possible to upgrade pyrolysis oil to produce petrol and diesel using oil refining techniques.
The choice of technology for any project depends on the type of waste available, local circumstances and finance. via the Gov.UK website here.
More information on the different technologies is available on the NNFCCwebsite.
Advanced Conversion Technology (ACT) Beset by Problems in UK
Advanced Conversion Technology (ACT), is seen as the next generation of thermal waste-to-energy technologies offering many benefits over conventional thermal treatment methods. In particular, once successfully implemented ACT should be more sustainable than present day incinerators.
But, following several high-profile setbacks for ‘advanced conversion technologies’, some are now questioning whether gasification and pyrolysis can ever work at a large scale to treat residual waste.
For well over a decade now, various forces in the UK have been trying to develop advanced conversion technology (ACT) for the treatment of residual waste as an alternative to landfill or mass-burn incineration.
Not Much Real Progress on ACT in the UK Since 2003
Way back in 2003, the previous Labour government launched its New Technology Demonstrator Programme with the aim of overcoming the ‘real and perceived risks’ associated with technologies like anaerobic digestion (AD), mechanical biological treatment (MBT), mechanical heat treatment (MHT), gasification and pyrolysis.
Indeed, only one ATT project – the ex-incinerator on the Isle of Wight that Energos retrofitted with gasification technology – was even able to complete the project to a meaningful degree. But, not for long when due to inefficient operation and high costs it shut down.
Rather than directly releasing energy, the processes produce ‘syngas’, made up of hydrogen and carbon monoxide, which can be used to produce energy through steam turbines, for instance, or can, in theory, be used directly as a fuel, which would result in higher conversion efficiencies. via resource.co
This article was first uploaded on 31 January 2013. Latest update 8 September 2019.
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What are the pug puppies?
The pugs are also thought to be the part of American kennel club’s toy group along with this they are also known as clowns of canine world for their great sense of humor.
These are Wrinkly, short-muzzled face and curled tailed dog’s breed. These dogs have a glossy coat of various colors, mostly of black or fawn and have a compact square body with well-developed muscles and big brown eyes.
These dogs originated in China and letter on in sixteen century they were brought to Europe and now are found almost everywhere in the world. Pugs are very sociable and gentle companion Dogs.
Table of Contents
- What are black Pug Puppies?
- Health Problems of Black Pug Puppies:
- How to Train a Pug Dog in 2018?
- Obedience Training for your puppy:
- How to live with pug dogs?
- Limit the number of treats :
What are black Pug Puppies?
The Black pug puppies have wrinkled, short-muzzled face and curled tail like all other pug breeds except its color. If you talk about the physical characteristics of black Pug puppies there are two distinct shapes of ears Rose and button; their ears are folded with front edges against the side of the head.
Pugs have straight and strong legs of medium size, well under set legs. Their shoulders are laid back. The black pug puppies usually have small feet and strong ankles. The black colored nails and well split up toes.
Pug breed along with black Pug puppies all are suitable for families especially with children because most of the breeds are fond of playing with children. There is no need to fear as pug breed are sturdy enough to properly play with children.
Health Problems of Black Pug Puppies:
- Pug dogs are small creative sharp and intelligent, so they need or attention and care. This breed has some health problems; we must know to keep them safe and to remain well aware of them.
- Pugs are very susceptible to eye injuries because they lack long snouts and a permanent skeletal brow ridge. Eye injuries include proptosis, scratched corneas, and painful entropion.
- Due to having compact breathing passageway they also have breathing difficulties as well as having difficulties in regulating their temperature through evaporation from the tongue by panting.
- They need more oxygen and cool environment to live in because if their body temperature reaches to 108F (42C), it will cause organ failure.
Adult age of black Pug breed :
When will pug stop to grow?
When a pug becomes one year old, he is deemed an adult with the achievement of 90% of his / her height and 80% of his /her weight. Even at this age, your dog may behave like a puppy, but when he/she reaches the age of 18 months, he/she is the complete adult with his/her maximum height and weight.
At this age, black pug breeds become muscular and no longer will he/she grow. If your dogs get more weight after the weight, the dogs have reached this age will be considered as unhealthy.
How to Train a Pug Dog in 2018?
Pug puppies at the beginning are very energetic and seem running around and playing with everything they get it will be funny and entertaining at first but as soon you will be done with this enjoyment you will not feel your dog feeling tired and will seem to troublemaking for you. To avoid your pretty dog to be a mess you need to train him to be obedient.
Obedience Training for your puppy:
The main quality of pug breed is that they in growing age try to learn and shape their habits whether you teach him or he will learn by himself.
The black pug puppies as are naughty, so all they will learn is bad habits like chewing your shoes entering in those places where you do not want him to be and running in your house.
Tips for training your black pug:
It is better to teach him whether letting him spoil himself and learn all those habits which will cause him to be disliked.
Very earlier steps you need to teach your dog are
- Teach him not to bite
- Teach your puppy to jump on furniture
- Teach your dog not to play with food
- Teach your puppy not to chew things like shoes
Why should black pugs breeds be trained earlier?
These dogs love to learn when they are still puppies and will make this learning’s as their habits. So you have to start teaching him every trick you want him to perform, at the very earlier time because when the dog is an adult, it will be hard for him to change his habits and for you to teach him.
How to live with pug dogs?
Black pug puppies have the flat baby like face and large brown eyes which convince most of the people to hug them.
These are very cute attractive and sensitive creature and need care.
For a happy, healthy and attractive puppy you need to take care of these things :
Feed them right food: feed your puppy with good quality food. Meat is the topmost ingredient in their diet Avoid feeding them foods containing high quantity cereal and soya.
Limit the number of treats :
By nature pug breed dogs are greedy and will try to convince you to feed them more .they will overweight if feed too much which will result in health problems
Black Pug puppies
Some more things you need to take care of.
- Set house rules for him
- Provide basic care for pug dogs
- Plan to spend more time with puppies
- Take pugs to veterinarian for regular check up
- Brush your pug daily
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Late one night, a man searches for something in a parking lot. On his hands and knees, he crawls around a bright circle of light created by a streetlamp overhead.
A woman passes, stops, takes in the scene.
“What are you looking for? Can I help?”
“My car keys. Any chance you’ve seen them?”
“You dropped them right around here?”
“Oh, no. I dropped them way over there,” he says, gesturing vaguely to some faraway spot on the other side of the lot.
“Then why are you looking here?”
The man pauses to consider the question.
“Because this is where the light is.”
New research from the Yale Child Study Center suggests that many preschool teachers look for disruptive behavior in much the same way: in just one place, waiting for it to appear.
The problem with this strategy (besides it being inefficient), is that, because of implicit bias, teachers are spending too much time watching black boys and expecting the worst.
Lead researcher Walter Gilliam knew that to get an accurate measure of implicit bias among preschool teachers, he couldn’t be fully transparent with his subjects about what, exactly, he was trying to study.
Implicit biases are just that — subtle, often subconscious stereotypes that guide our expectations and interactions with people.
“We all have them,” Gilliam says. “Implicit biases are a natural process by which we take information, and we judge people on the basis of generalizations regarding that information. We all do it.”
Even the most well-meaning teacher can harbor deep-seated biases, whether she knows it or not. So Gilliam and his team devised a remarkable — and remarkably deceptive — experiment.
At a big, annual conference for pre-K teachers, Gilliam and his team recruited 135 educators to watch a few short videos. Here’s what they told them:
Each video included four children: a black boy and girl and a white …
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Table of Contents
adjective. ['ˈvɪgɝəs'] characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity.
Rhymes with Vigorous
How do you pronounce vigorous?
Pronounce vigorous as ˈvɪgərəs.
US - How to pronounce vigorous in American English
UK - How to pronounce vigorous in British English
Sentences with vigorous
Pruning is an important part of caring for a healthy, vigorous Mandevilla vine.
Quotes about vigorous
1. There is in every child at every stage a new miracle of vigorous unfolding, which constitutes a new hope and a new responsibility for all.
- Erik Erikson
2. Age has no reality except in the physical world. The essence of a human being is resistant to the passage of time. Our inner lives are eternal, which is to say that our spirits remain as youthful and vigorous as when we were in full bloom. Think of love as a state of grace, not the means to anything, but the alpha and omega. An end in itself.
- Gabriel García Márquez, Love in the Time of Cholera
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Causes and Remedies of Canker Sores
Canker sores are a type of ulcer that is seen inside the mouth especially in the inside part of cheeks and lips and rarely on the tongue. They have a whitish grey or yellow center and a well defined red border. They are not contagious but they may reoccur after healing once. These canker sores are painful and may trouble you while taking food and drinks.
Causes for Canker Sores
Canker sores are a result of nutritional deficiency and the deficiency of zinc, iron, B12, folic acid causers canker sores. Acidity in the stomach is another reason and food allergies also contribute to the same. Stress, infection due to micro organisms, vigorous brushing, oily and spicy food etc causes canker sores.
Remedies for Canker Sores
Dust the affected area with baking soda powder or make a paste of baking soda with water and apply it on the affected area. Apply this paste several times in a day. You can also prepare a mouth wash with baking soda and luke warm water and use this to wash your mouth. Wash the mouth thoroughly with this mouth wash after having food and before going to bed.
Grapefruit Seed Extract
It has got excellent disinfectant and antimicrobial property. Mix five drops of this liquid with a glass of water and wash the mouth with this mixture. This will help you to relive the canker sores.
Honey and Turmeric
Take one teaspoon honey and mix it with ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder. Apply this paste on the cankers.
Aloe vera juice is found to be effective for canker sores. Apply this juice many times a day and you will surely be benefited.
Papaya fruits are good for treating canker sores. You can also chew fresh papaya leaves which will give you relief from the painful sores.
Apply freshly cut raw onion in to the affected area and you will get relief.
Tea Tree Oil
It has antiseptic property and 5 to 15 % solution can be used for curing sores.
Wash your mouth several times a day with salt water. This will help you to draw fluid from the sore and to help you to heal the sore.
Make a tea with three tablespoon dried sage leaves in one pint water. Then wash the mouth with this tea for three or four times a day. The drying and astringent property of sage will help you to cure the canker sores. You can also apply powdered sage leaves on the sores.
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When you have an attack, your breath is too short and shallow, meaning it worsens further symptoms. Once you feel the panic – stand up and start doing some simple stretching. If you manage to squeeze in a yawn, that will help you tame the attack even faster. Stretching and yawning instantly helps you relieve muscle tension and interrupt the vicious cycle that is just about to roll in full strength.
Anxiety disorders increase one's chances for suffering from other medical illness, such as cardiovascular disorders, including obesity, heart disease and diabetes. More specifically, increased body weight and abdominal fat, high blood pressure, and greater levels of cholesterol, triglycerides, and glucose have all been linked to anxiety. While it is still unclear what causes the high co-morbidity between anxiety and bad physical health outcomes, research suggests that changes in underlying biology that is characteristic of anxiety may also facilitate the emergence for these other physical health outcomes over time. For example, changes in stress hormones, autonomic responses, as well as heightened systemic inflammation are all associated with anxiety disorders and negative health outcomes. These shared physiological states suggest a shared underlying biology and that anxiety maybe a whole-body condition.
Behaving in an apprehensive manner produces the physiological, psychological, and emotional state of anxiety. When we behave apprehensively (worried, fretful, concerned, afraid), the body activates the stress response, which secretes stress hormones into the bloodstream where they travel to targeted spots in the body to bring about specific changes that enhance the body’s ability to deal with danger. The stress response is often referred to as the fight or flight response because of how it equips the body to either fight with or flee from danger.
As with most behavioral illnesses, the causes of panic attacks are many. Certainly there is evidence that the tendency to have panic attacks can sometimes be inherited. However, there is also evidence that panic may be a learned response and that the attacks can be initiated in otherwise healthy people simply given the right set of circumstances. Research into the causes of panic attacks is ongoing.
My grandparents, who I lived with my entire life, just passed away. One in june and the other in september. My girlfriend wants to spend the night with her sister and the thought of it scares me. I fear that I am pushing her away, thus for sending me into a state of anger at myself followed by a heavy cold sadness, panic and fear. Then I start to get a small headache, clammy feeling overcomea my body, I start feeling naucious and then the next thing I know, my girlfriend is waking me up trying to pick me up off the floor. Is this a simple anxiety attack that will go away?
Almost everyone experiencing symptoms of a panic attack needs evaluation. Unless the person has a history of having panic attacks, is otherwise healthy, and is experiencing a typical attack, they must be evaluated promptly by a doctor. The level of evaluation depends on many factors. Err on the side of safety when deciding whether to go to a hospital's emergency department.
Many of us may know what it feels like to be nervous before a party, or when meeting new people or making an important phone call. Those with social anxiety disorder have very intense versions of those fears — intense fears of being judged by others that cause them to avoid those kinds of situations. For most people, fears of social situations usually subside once the intimidating event has been faced. But in social anxiety disorder, these feelings are persistent and usually last for at least six months.
Since panic attacks are caused by overly apprehensive behavior or chronic stress, addressing our overly apprehensive behavior and stress can stop and prevent panic attacks, and eventually, panic disorder. The combination of good self-help information and therapy is the most effective way of addressing overly apprehensive behavior. Accessing good self-help information and applying it is a good way to reduce stress.
But over time, you may find yourself experiencing more panic attacks, in a variety of circumstances. Most of these will not be entirely unexpected. Most subsequent attacks occur in response to various cues such as entering a crowded area; a traffic jam; or simply worrying about having a panic attack. But there may still be some surprises: for instance, you might have a nocturnal panic attack, which wakes you out of a sound sleep. Or you might find yourself experiencing odd feelings of depersonalization as you kill some time with friends or colleagues.
Antidepressants are used to treat depression, but they can also be helpful for treating anxiety disorders. They may help improve the way your brain uses certain chemicals that control mood or stress. You may need to try several different antidepressant medicines before finding the one that improves your symptoms and has manageable side effects. A medication that has helped you or a close family member in the past will often be considered.
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The Certificate II in Electrotechnology provides the essential foundations for a career working in a variety of Electrotechnology related roles. Through this course students learn how to safely assemble electronic components, use of routine equipment and customer service.
What you will learn:
- Apply environment talk and sustainable procedures in the energy sector
- Apply OHS regulations, policies, codes and procedures in the electronics industry
- Identify and select components, accessories and materials for energy sector work activities
- Carry out routine work activities in an energy sector environment
- Use of routine equipment, plant, technologies in an energy sector environment
- Solve problems in d.c. circuits
Students are also introduced into the principles of sustainable energy and have the opportunity to acquire basic skills and knowledge of electrical principles that relate to Electrotechnology. This includes basic sustainable energy reduction in a domestic premises environment, develop skills to apply sustainable energy practices in daily activities and develop knowledge that promotes sustainable energy practices in the community.
The Certificate II in Electrotechnology is delivered over 5 terms. During the first term, all students also undertake the Vocational Preparation course.
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Kissing under sprigs of mistletoe is a well-known holiday tradition, but this little plant’s history as a symbolic herb dates back thousands of years. The Greeks were known to use it as a cure for everything from menstrual cramps to spleen disorders, and the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder noted it could be used as a balm against epilepsy, ulcers and poisons.
The plant’s romantic overtones most likely started with the Celtic Druids of the 1st century A.D. Because mistletoe could blossom even during the frozen winter, the Druids came to view it as a sacred symbol of vivacity, and they administered it to humans and animals alike in the hope of restoring fertility.
Another famous chapter in mistletoe folklore comes from Norse mythology. As the story goes, when the god Odin’s son Baldur was prophesied to die, his mother Frigg, the goddess of love, went to all the animals and plants of the natural world to secure an oath that they would not harm him.
But Frigg neglected to consult with the unassuming mistletoe, so the scheming god Loki made an arrow from the plant and saw that it was used to kill the otherwise invincible Baldur. According to one sunnier version of the myth, the gods were able to resurrect Baldur from the dead. Delighted, Frigg then declared mistletoe a symbol of love and vowed to plant a kiss on all those who passed beneath it.
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Mistletoe’s associations with fertility and vitality continued through the Middle Ages, and by the 18th century it had become widely incorporated into Christmas celebrations. Just how it made the jump from sacred herb to holiday decoration remains up for debate, but the kissing tradition appears to have first caught on among servants in England before spreading to the middle classes.
As part of the early custom, men were allowed to steal a kiss from any woman caught standing under the mistletoe, and refusing was viewed as bad luck. Yet another tradition instructed the merrymakers to pluck a single berry from the mistletoe with each kiss, and to stop smooching once they were all gone.
READ MORE: 25 Christmas Traditions and Their Origins
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In a recent op-ed in Al Jazeera, Caucasus political analyst Richard Giragosian argued that Russia, desperate to retain its influence in the former Soviet space, seeks to spark an armed conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh (Artsakh). Specifically, he asserted that the military build-up between Armenia and Azerbaijan has “greatly enhanced Russian power and influence” and that “the looming risk of ‘war by accident’ may be a tempting tool for Moscow to consolidate its leverage in the region by provoking, promoting and then exploiting renewed hostilities.”
The move, wrote Giragosian, could “garner greater dividends for Russian hard power.” He added that this “stems from the Russian desire to further project its power in the South Caucasus by seeking to spark further military confrontation in order to deploy Russian peacekeepers to Nagorno-Karabakh.”
The notion that Russia aims to purposefully instigate a war between Armenia and Azerbaijan is illogical and conflicts with the basic realities of the Caucasus region. The allegation by Giragosian is an extreme version of the idea of Russia using the Nagorno-Karabakh issue as a “divide and rule” mechanism to retain Armenia and Azerbaijan in its sphere of influence. This concept is derived from a flawed historical understanding of the origins of the dispute, which attributed the assignment of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan to the cynical interests of Stalin and Soviet Russia.
However, this myth has recently been put to rest. The historical research of the scholar, Arsene Saparov, persuasively argued that Nagorno-Karabakh was assigned to Soviet Azerbaijan based on the fact that it was, despite its overwhelming Armenian majority, controlled by Azerbaijan at the time of Sovietization. Simply put, it was easier for the Bolsheviks to sanction the pre-existing situation on the ground while giving the Armenians the concession of political autonomy, a solution that satisfied neither side. Stalin, far from the height of his power, played only a minor role.
This debunked divide-and-rule premise notwithstanding, the idea that Russia would want a war in Nagorno-Karabakh also runs contrary to Russia’s strategic interests in the region. Russia’s primary interest is stability and security, not war and chaos. This is especially important given Russia’s concerns with the rise of Islamic extremism in the North Caucasus. Specifically, Moscow wants to shore up its position in the region by having a secure buffer of friendly states south of the Caucasus Mountains that will help it contain and isolate this threat.
Armenia, Russia’s main military ally in Transcaucasia, is a key part of this strategy. Georgia, which has its own problem with Islamic extremists, is likewise an important component of it. However, Russo-Georgian tension, especially during Mikheil Saakashvili’s presidency, has hindered these efforts. The current Georgian government, led by the pragmatist prime minister Irakli Garibashvili, seeks to mend Russo-Georgian ties—and with good reason.
Georgia’s Pankisi Gorge, home to a Chechen subgroup known as the Kists, has become a prime target for ISIS recruiting efforts. One of its natives is Omar al-Shishani (born Tarkhan Batirashvili), a veteran of the 2008 war in Georgia and now a top ISIS commander. This has raised much concern in Moscow, which faces a similar problem across the border in the North Caucasus. In a recent 60 Minutes interview with Charlie Rose, Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that “more than 2,000 fighters from Russia and Ex-Soviet Republics” are fighting on Syrian territory.
This only underscores the need for cooperation between Tbilisi and Moscow. Both share a common interest in combating the spread of terrorism and Islamic extremism in Pankisi and in the Caucasus generally. Yerevan too shares this interest. In fact, for both Armenia and Georgia, the presence of ISIS in the neighborhood has reawakened bad historical memories. Having a large country like Russia nearby to ward off such threats is a major advantage for the security of both states.
Russia’s concerns in the Caucasus are not just limited to Islamic extremism. Moscow is also troubled by efforts, led by the United States, to expand NATO, to promote Western-backed energy projects, and to encourage pro-Western “color revolutions” in the region. Russia is perplexed by these moves, which it regards as a continuation of Cold War containment. These measures are also viewed by the Kremlin as creating the conditions for instability in the region, as the 2008 war in Georgia demonstrated.
Given this, a war in Nagorno-Karabakh, especially in light of recent events in Ukraine and Syria, is the absolute last thing that Russia wants or needs. This explains the reason for the Russian-backed Sochi summit on Nagorno-Karabakh in August 2014. Hostilities on the ceasefire line between the sides reached alarming levels and Russian President Putin sought to calm tensions between Baku and Yerevan. If Russia really wanted a war, it would have permitted the ceasefire violations to escalate until a major conflict erupted. Instead, Russia sought to avert that prospect.
In Giragosian’s view, “Russia has largely benefitted from the unresolved nature of the conflict” over Nagorno-Karabakh since the 1994 ceasefire. This is not the case. Although the tenuous ceasefire has maintained some peace and stability in the region, in the long term, Russia is not interested in seeing any renewed hostilities over Nagorno-Karabakh. At the same time, long-term solutions to the issue have been elusive; Putin and other Russian officials acknowledge this.
Nevertheless, Giragosian is correct on one point; Russia has indeed supplied both sides with weapons. It is true that Moscow has cautiously supplied weapons to Azerbaijan, in part to entice it to join the Eurasian Union. However, the political reality is that Armenia remains Russia’s major military ally and most reliable partner in Transcaucasia. Russia’s major military infrastructure in the region, including the 102nd military base at Gyumri, is located in Armenia. Further, Moscow’s military obligations and security guarantees to Yerevan remain firm.
The Russian-Armenian relationship, determined by hard political factors and security interests, is mutually beneficial for both countries. For Armenia, Russia remains the strongest guarantor for its security against potential threats and concerns from its hostile neighbors, Turkey and Azerbaijan. For Russia, Armenia remains an important and friendly pillar in a strategically vital region.
The conclusion of Giragosian’s piece is that, “…the danger of a ‘war by accident’ over Nagorno-Karabakh necessitates much more strategic scrutiny and greater attention by the West. This remote and fairly removed conflict can no longer be so easily ceded to Russian control. Moscow has been afforded too much room as a primary actor for far too long.” This conclusion is based on another troubling premise.
The West, he wrote, “can no longer so easily cede” the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute to Russia. However, is the dispute the West’s to “cede” at all? Conflicts, such as the one in Nagorno-Karabakh, are not pieces in a “great game” between the “great powers” on a “grand chessboard” (to quote Zbigniew Brzezinski). Instead, they are international disputes that require international cooperation, not competition.
In addition, the view that the West can “cede” the dispute to Moscow also implies that Armenia, Georgia, and other post-Soviet countries are objects that can be “ceded” from one power to another. According to this perspective, Yerevan, Baku, Tbilisi, Kiev, Astana, and others are not independent political players, whose relations with Moscow and the West are determined by savvy, pragmatic interests. In this view, they cannot decide for themselves what kind of future or political system they should have. This problematic position also arises from an outlook based on international competition, not cooperation. However, the Caucasus needs much more of the latter and much less of the former if is to find peace, security, and stability.
The views expressed by the author are his own and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Armenite.
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What acidifies and what deacidifies the body?
Acidification of the body without two tasks will have a negative impact on us. It is worth to learn how what we eat affects our body. It is good to know the foods that acidify the body and those that can help in its deacidification.
Acidification of the body can manifest itself in many different ways. The most common symptoms include general weakness, fatigue, and problems such as cold hands and feet. The strong smell of sweat and the sour smell of urine are also characteristic.
Effects of acidification on health
Acidification of the body affects our skin, because often during acidification a skin change, acne or dryness of the skin may occur. The tongue may have a specific bloom, the aftertaste in the mouth will be unpleasant. Often in the case of acidification we also have problems with caries, brittleness of hair, nails. In addition, bone and muscle pains may also occur.
Gastrointestinal and intestinal problems as well as constipation and flatulence often occur during acidification. The body's immune system will decrease significantly. We are much more susceptible to infections and colds. There may be a problem with allergies, rashes or urticaria. Orange peel, shadows under the eyes are also the result of the body's acidification.
Acidification of the body has a negative effect on us without a doubt. Read the article and find out how what you eat affects your body. Discover the foods that acidify your body and those that help you to deacidify it!
Acidifying products for the body
It is worth knowing what products will acidify and the list is really long. These will be fruits, cereals, seeds, milk products, alcohol, grains, legumes, pasta, animal proteins or processed products.
In particular, however, these will be such nutrients as wheat, white bread, pasta, sweetened juices, cranberries, dried plums, blueberries, dough and other sweets and pork, beef, poultry, mutton or cheese and peanuts, cashew nuts, pistachios, buckwheat groats, whole rice, rye and wheat flour, ketchup, mustard, marinades, highly processed products with plenty of salt.
Products deacidifying the body
Instead, you will have to focus on products that have an alkalizing effect on your body: green vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, fresh spinach, marrow, lettuce, courgette, onion, garlic, celery, parsley, herbal tea, olive oil, fruit juices (unsweetened!).), fruits such as grapefruit, pears, apples, grapes, melons, kiwi, lemon and its juice, mango, papaya, lime, watermelon, sweet potatoes, raisins, dates, almonds, figs.
Consumption of products from both groups will be important, but first of all the balance of these products, which must be about 80% alkalizing and 20% acidifying, must be put on the right balance.
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Coercion & Choice
People have a need to be autonomous and it is natural for us to dislike it when people try to control us. Most people don't like being told what to do and enjoy having choices. Providing students with as much choice as possible will have a positive effect on motivation. The presence of choice changes the brain’s chemistry by releasing endorphins, which reduces stress and increase the positive feelings associated with the learning experience.
How can choice be purposefully built into every learning experience? What will convince teachers to learn about the effects of coercion and opt instead to build in more choice in an effort to motivate students?
- One way people respond to coercion is to just comply and do what is necessary. The downside of this may be that they are never inspired to strive for more.
- People who have a very strong need for autonomy will not comply and may even fail in order to maintain control.
- Using coercion can have a negative affect on helping kids develop a love for learning.
- Classrooms that focus mainly on direct instruction often offer learners minimal choice.
- Lack of choice releases norepinephrine which affects attitude and motivation.
- Too little direction and too much choice = learners will only do things that are familiar.
- Too little choice and too much direction = learners don’t develop a passion for learning. Striving for a balance of choice and direction is best in a learning environment.
- Choice = lower stress levels (release of dopamine and serotonin) which in turn results in positive feelings about the experience.
- Choice theory, developed by William Glasser, MD, is based on the fact that people are internally motivated by our needs as opposed to being motivated by external factors. And that all of our behaviors serve the purpose of helping meet our human needs: safety & security, connection & belonging, power & competence, freedom & autonomy and enjoyment & fun. The strengths of the basic needs differ from person to person. Some people are more motivated to connect and belong while others are more motivated by freedom and autonomy. Developing an understanding of choice theory helps teachers not only develop learning experiences that meet standards but also help student's meet individual needs. This will in turn contribute to motivation.
- Structure the classroom experiences to meet student's needs so that students will be motivated to learn what we are teaching is very different from getting them to comply by using external reward systems and coercion.
- Limit controlling language and using expressions that offer choice (“You might like to try... Others have found... You may find… ”) puts the control in the learners mind.
- Many opportunities for students to make simple choices can be worked into the school day (order in which to complete tasks, where to sit, colors to use, etc.)
- There is always more than one way to arrive at the same destination. Offering choice often takes the emphasis off the "have to" and helps students feel more in control. Make sure students are aware of the choices provided to help them see the freedoms and help to eliminate power struggles. This can lead to increased motivation.
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Introduce movement, joy and success into the learning process by building the physical learning skills most conducive to cognitive, behavioral, and academic abilities. Improve general brain functions related to learning, coordination, communication and physical performance. Physical movement activates and grows the neural wiring throughout the body, making the whole body the instrument of learning, not just the brain. Fun-filled games and activities help children develop gross motor skills, increase balance, enhance directionality, and stress left/right discrimination. Activities for preschoolers and early childhood are helpful for skills development. Children learn best when they are engaged in an activity, and having fun. Preschool games and exercises help promote use of gross motor skills.
Physical movement activates and grows the neural wiring throughout the body, making the whole body the instrument of learning, not just the brain.
Balls and Ball Accessories
Therapy balls and ball chairs improve posture, sitting tolerance and attention to task. They are the ideal medium for balance, core strengthening and proprioceptive activities.
These lightweight mats allow for easy roll-up, storage, or carrying.
Putty helps strengthen fingers and hands while developing gross motor and fine motor skills.
The Courageous Pacers Program is a fun and easy-to-follow program developed to help students become more active.
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Commentary: a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more less permanently in one place
There was a three-story building on the corner.
Those are luxury apartment buildings.
You can park in the lower level of that building complex.
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 1
Commentary: the occupants of a building
The entire building complained about the noise.
My building meets in the common room for a weekly game of scrabble.
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 4
Commentary: BUILDING[+event] the activity of constructing or building something
The building of the skyscraper took three months.
During the building we had to take a detour.
His hobby was boat building.
The architect did not comply with certain building codes.
Protein is a major building block of our bodies.
You'll need a building permit to put up a greenhouse in your backyard.
The building materials we'll need for our patio include sand, bricks, and wood.
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 2
Building and steel have both lost workers in the last several years. (the industry as a whole)
They now run a major building firm in Ohio.
Workers in the building trades have rough hands.
WordNet 2.0 Sense Numbers: 3
Commentary: Automatically generated NOTA sense (bbn)
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Mya Maples, left, and Amanda Williams give a presentation on the the 'Tushy Cushy Chair Pad' they invented for their science project at Jessie Beck Elementary School.
- Filed Under
Jesse Beck Elementary School student Gianna Lotito's science experiment with night crawlers resulted in an interesting conclusion: Worms have a sweet tooth.
After feeding her worms foods like bread, fruit and chocolate, Lotito offered her conclusion in her presentation, entitled "Worm Food Mystery," to her peers at school, part of a two-day science conference that Beck teacher Ryan Brock organizes for the school's fifth- and sixth-graders.
It's science fair season in the Washoe County School District, when students like Lotito have the chance to explore their own ideas and pursue ...
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A new report by Biffa says there is a “once-in-a-generation” opportunity for the UK to make an £18 billion investment in dozens of new onshore recycling and energy facilities that will deliver the country’s ambitions for a net zero, circular economy.
Improving the recyclability of household packaging, banning plastic waste exports and increasing surplus food redistribution would also play key roles, the report from the sustainable waste and recycling firm says.
The move would unlock 43 million tonnes of circular raw materials annually to support sustainable manufacturing and consumption in the UK, Biffa says, creating 16,000 high-quality jobs, reducing carbon emissions by up to 7.1 million tonnes a year and improving domestic energy security.
The report, “From Waste Hierarchy to Carbon Hierarchy: Biffa’s Blueprint for Waste Net Zero”, says the UK’s waste sector has transformed from a landfill-dependent model to one prioritising recycling and energy recovery.
Too many materials are not designed for recyclability, and collections systems are often inconsistent and unclear.
In the report, Biffa called for several changes to policy. These included embracing the move from waste hierarchy to carbon hierarchy waste, driving more adoption of recycled plastics, considering a moratorium on more energy recovery facilities;
push for more action to phase out waste export, accepting that landfill will continue to play a role and championing a zero emissions, competitive collections market.
The report also recognises the “huge progress made”, with UK household waste to landfill falling by 50% from 2010 to 2020, and carbon emissions reducing by 69% from 1990, making the UK’s waste sector a stand-out contributor to carbon reduction. See how Greenzone are doing there bit here
In the report, Michael Topham, Biffa’s Chief Executive Officer, said: “Nonetheless, whilst this transition is to be celebrated, the task is nowhere near complete. The UK still produces too much waste and doesn’t recycle enough of it.
“After nearly two decades of success, recycling levels in the UK have plateaued at around 44%. Too many materials are not designed for recyclability, and collections systems are often inconsistent and unclear. And where we do recycle, we remain too dependent on export markets as an end destination for materials.”
Topham says the transformation can be achieved using “existing, proven technologies and processes, and that there is a vibrant, competitive, skilled sector with the access to the capital to make this happen”.
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Tuesday, January 18, 2011
As I posted earlier, this winter is going to be tough on the animals that try to survive the winter in the northern Great Plains. We are now only 10 inches shy of breaking the record for the greatest amount of snow during a winter and well above average (the word "normal" doesn't apply to any measures of Great Plains weather).
Earlier this week I was able to get out and watch a rather large herd of Pronghorn that has probably made their way from summer ranges in the border region between Montana and Saskatchewan.
Much of the herd was gathered in small groups resting on the slopes of the south facing hills that span the northern edge of the Milk River valley.
Others had moved out into the valley itself and were foraging in the deep snow.
They were working hard to find any forage in the snow, pawing and digging to get down to the grass.
They appeared to have hit all the easy patches and were working their way to the sage and grass remaining in the areas with deeper snow.
Animals were moving back and forth in small groups looking for additional patches of forage.
This is about as far south as this herd can get without crossing some rather large barriers. In the photo above behind the animals you can see a barb wire fence (which can be rather tough barriers for pronghorn movement), and probably more detrimental, the triple barrier of a major highway (US 2), a major railway, and the Milk River itself. Throughout much of the HiLine portion of Montana (along Highway 2) these features are very close to each other and do a pretty good job of limiting the ability of these animals to move further south. Only in one section do these features spread out enough that each of the barriers becomes surmountable and animals move south much more freely.
Posted by John Carlson at 7:20 PM
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- freely available
Challenges 2014, 5(1), 123-137; doi:10.3390/challe5010123
Abstract: Urban water systems face sustainability and resiliency challenges including water leaks, over-use, quality issues, and response to drought and natural disasters. Information and communications technology (ICT) could help address these challenges through the development of smart water grids that network and automate monitoring and control devices. While progress is being made on technology elements, as a system, the smart water grid has received scant attention. This article aims to raise awareness of the systems-level idea of smart water grids by reviewing the technology elements and their integration into smart water systems, discussing potential sustainability and resiliency benefits, and challenges relating to the adoption of smart water grids. Water losses and inefficient use stand out as promising areas for applications of smart water grids. Potential barriers to the adoption of smart water grids include lack of funding for research and development, economic disincentives as well as institutional and political structures that favor the current system. It is our hope that future work can clarify the benefits of smart water grids and address challenges to their further development.
Modern infrastructures—including urban water grids—face sustainability and resiliency challenges. Changes in climate and population are making water supplies scarcer in some areas [1,2,3]. Water systems often waste substantial quantities of treated water in both the distribution system and at the end-use location, mainly through leaks [4,5]. In many places, such as the Southwest U.S., water must be conveyed over long distances to water treatment plants, resulting in the use of significant amounts of energy for pumping . Maintaining water quality also remains a challenge in the distribution system, where contaminant intrusion and biofilms reduce water quality [7,8]. Problems with end-user plumbing can then further decrease water quality. The water distribution system is also vulnerable to targeted attacks through water poisoning, as well as catastrophic water main breaks due to undetected pipe deterioration [3,9].
Technological revolutions such as electricity and the combustion engine transform economies and societies, including supporting infrastructures supplying water, energy, and mobility. Information and communications technology (ICT) has been the dominant technological revolution for several decades. In addition to economic and social effects, ICT also drives changes in environmental issues and add to the portfolio of potential solutions . The benefits of ICTs can presumably be enhanced through intentional adoption for sustainability and resiliency.
Compared to manufacturing and service sectors, adoption of ICT in infrastructure is relatively slow. One factor is presumably longer replacement time scales. The last decade has seen progress in the development of the smart electrical grid . Smart electric meters and other two-way communication devices have been installed in homes and businesses to allow electric utilities to track electrical usage in real-time. This allows utilities to make continual adjustments to the system. Whether responding to a power transformer failure or trying to help shift electrical usage to off-peak time, the hope is that smart electrical grid will make power generation and delivery more efficient and resilient and less costly, while reducing total energy use .
Using ICTs in water systems could lead to smart water grids that are analogous to smart electrical grids. A smart water grid would integrate sensors, controls, and analytical components to ensure that water is efficiently delivered only when and where it is needed and help to ensure the quality of that water. Considering smart water grids as integrated systems is just beginning to be considered by researchers and utilities. In the literature, there are efforts to develop and analyze the components of smart water grids. Some of the literature focuses on the benefits of specific technologies such as smart pumps . Other research takes a step further and analyzes the implementation of specific smart technology systems, such as automated meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) for water infrastructure, which are two different systems for using smart water meters for residential and commercial water consumption billing [14,15]. However, integrative, strategic, and macro-level discussions of smart water grids are lacking in academic and other literatures.
This paper begins to fill this gap by presenting a vision of how smart technologies could be implemented at several scales and combined to contribute to more sustainable and resilient water systems. Additionally, this paper seeks to outline the challenges to the realization of smart water grids. It is interesting to note that the smart phone is a marvel of modern information technology that is owned by hundreds of millions of consumers around the world. In contrast, much of the technology for water distribution and use is similar to that of fifty, or even a hundred years ago. Outside of the water treatment plant, there is little use of information technology in water systems. Clearly, there are structural differences in markets for personal information products versus water infrastructure underlying this dramatic gap in adoption. It is important to understand the barriers to the adoption of smart water grids and in the following sections, some issues are proposed.
For this initial work, the focus is on drinking water distribution in an urban environment. Future work beyond the current scope would include more environments and other parts of the water cycle. For example, agriculture is an important part of a complete vision for the smart water grid given its high share of water use.
In Section 2, we present an overview of the technological elements of the smart water grid in a systems context. Section 3 is a summary of sustainability and resiliency challenges for urban water systems and how smart water technologies could contribute to addressing these issues. In Section 4, example communities beginning to implement smart water grids are described. Finally, in Section 5, funding and economic issues we view are important challenges are summarized.
2. Overview of Smart Water Grid Technologies and Systems
2.1. General Overview
A theoretical smart water grid begins at the water source, where smart meters, smart valves, smart pumps, and flood sensors are installed. Water continues on through water treatment with more smart meters, valves, and pumps. Within the city water distribution system, there is the addition of water contaminant sensors. At the end-use locations (homes and businesses), end-use sensing devices, smart irrigation controllers, contaminant sensors, and smart meters may be used. Finally, water moves through the sewage system to wastewater treatment and final use or discharge, where the same technologies used at the beginning of the system are used here too. Figure 1 presents a visual depiction of a smart water grid.
2.2. Technological Description
2.2.1. Sensing Devices
Sensing devices that collect and transmit data about the water system on a real-time basis is the foundation of any smart water grid. At the municipal level, the most common way to monitor the water delivery system has been to manually read flow and pressure meters, while water contamination is commonly monitored by collecting water samples that are analyzed in a laboratory environment. In a smart water grid system, these parameters would be collected, stored, and transmitted to a computer by the meter itself, or from a sensor to detect contamination. This increases the amount and frequency of information about the system and decreases the need for field work. Smart sensors for municipalities include smart water meters for flow, smart water meters for pressure, and contaminant sensors and biosensors for contamination detection [16,17].
Smart water meters have additional advantages over manual meters. One of these advantages is increased sensitivity to low water flows, which increases data collection accuracy. Other advantages of these more sensitive meters include the ability to measure backflow, which can indicate a problem in the system. They are also less susceptible to corrosion from particles in the system .
Whether in a residential, commercial or industrial setting, the typical situation for water use detection is a single flow meter measuring total water consumption of a facility. How total water consumption breaks down for different uses is generally not measured. Only measuring total flow has two disadvantages: leaks are difficult to detect by metering and users lack information on potential inefficiencies in the system. One option is to install additional meters within a facility. With current technology, installing meters for every fixture would be prohibitively expensive for most end-users.
An alternative to installing additional flow meters is to use a device that measure pressure waves. Each fixture has a pressure “signature” that propagates through the piping system, and a sensitive pressure-gauge can distinguish between these signatures. The HydroSense technology developed by Jon Froehlich and others needs only one sensor to determine the disaggregated use of all fixtures (e.g., faucets, toilets, and dishwashers) in a single family home . If a fixture starts to leak, the end-use sensing device will pick up this flow as “noise” in the system. For larger end-users, multiple smart meters and end-use sensing devices would be more appropriate. The key point is that a combined flow meter and pressure sensor system requires fewer devices, substantially reducing costs.
A technological addition to the water system that is useful for water storage is the flood sensor. Flood sensors detect strain on water infrastructure, such as dams, and detect early flooding over flood embankments .
2.2.2. System Controls—Smart Pumps and Valves
Smart valves and pumps adjust their operations based on environmental conditions or signals from sensors. These adjustments can happen automatically or remotely by a human controller. The main benefit of smart controllers is increased efficiency. For example, variable speed pumps sense water conditions and will ramp up or down depending on those conditions. These pumps can also be equipped to sense clogs in the system and respond by breaking up clogs and/or reversing the flow. This is especially useful for wastewater and raw water conveyance. One manufacturer of a smart pump estimates up to 70% cost savings over the life cycle of the pump . Smart valves adjust or block the flow of water in pipes based on environmental conditions. They can be used as part of pressure management strategies, as a part of leak detection activities, or to prevent environmental contamination due to combined sewer overflows [21,22].
At the end-use level, smart irrigation controllers show promise in helping to save water that is wasted on landscape irrigation. Smart irrigation controllers can receive and/or collect weather data or sense soil moisture levels, as well as other parameters, which helps determine proper water scheduling. Using this information, the watering schedule can be updated automatically on a daily basis. The valves and pumps that implement the actual watering of the landscape will then turn on and off at best times possible .
2.2.3. Data Transmission and Power
Once data is collected and stored temporarily in a data logger connected to a sensing/control device, it needs to be transmitted to a centralized location. Direct line transmission via cable is ideal in principle, because there would be no practical limits on bandwidth. While direct connection is an attractive option within an end-user facility, it may not be practical to hardwire the water delivery system. Another possibility is to bridge the smart meter from the broadband systems of water customers to the utility, but this is organizationally infeasible as the utility cannot be dependent on the end-user.
These jurisdictional and technical issues make wireless data transmission an attractive approach. Because the smart water grid is comprised of various technologies with different data transmission goals, a variety of wireless technologies and protocols are potentially useful. This includes mobile broadband (cellular towers), wireless broadband (Wi-Fi), personal area networks (device-to-device transmission), and satellite communication. For example, AMR, which is a drive-by meter reading system via personal area networks, is already becoming a common alternative to manual meter reading for water utilities for their water billing programs. In addition, satellite communication is a common technology used by smart irrigation controllers companies to update landscape water scheduling on a daily basis. The regularity in spacing of smart water meters suggest that a mesh network design, in which each device is a communication hub for neighboring devices, is a promising approach for the smart water grid . Another promising technology for smart water grids is a wireless protocol able to broadcast a signal up to 45 miles that is designed specifically for smart meter communication .
Another issue that comes up with wired or wireless communication is the powering of devices. Direct connection to the power grid is feasible within a facility, but for devices on the water distribution system, off-grid power may be needed. This means that the power needed by the device to use a particular wireless technology/protocol will be an issue, along with the frequency of data collection and transmission by the device. Current off-grid power solutions include solar panels, water turbines, and long-life batteries [18,26,27,28]. The wireless communication protocol developed just for smart grids has the advantage of low-power usage .
3. Urban Water System Issues and Potential Smart Solutions
The section provides an overview of sustainability and resiliency issues for urban water systems: Losses, waste/overuse, quality, energy consumption, disasters and drought. The potential of the smart water grid to address each issue is reviewed, focusing not only on individual technological solutions, but also the combination of technologies to create a problem-solving system.
3.1. Water Losses
Water losses occur from leaks, unmetered consumption (legal or illegal), and meter inaccuracies . A multi-city study done by Mayer and DeOreo found that 13.7% of indoor residential water use is due to leaking water fixtures in the U.S. . At the level of the municipality and distribution system, the percent of water lost varies by location, from 3 to 8 percent in newer cities and 25 to 30 percent in older cities .
Smart meters and end-use sensing devices can help with leak detection. For example, continuous data from a residential smart meter could reveal a leak by showing a positive water flow when all fixtures are off. Finding leaks in municipal water supply could also be accomplished through smart step testing. Traditional step testing involves manually monitoring the flow rate on a section of pipe, while manually turning off valves in order to pinpoint the section of pipe a leak is located in—a water flow in an isolated pipe means there is a leak. With a smart step testing system, smart valves and smart meters can replace workers out in the field and would require only one person at a computer terminal. The process could even be automated, only requiring human attention if something goes wrong.
3.2. Water Waste/Over-Use
Water waste/over-use can be defined as consuming more water than is needed to achieve the desired function, e.g., maintaining landscape, flushing toilets, and cleaning dishes. Water conservation has seen improvement in recent decades through low-flow fixtures and educational campaigns . An area where water over-use has yet to be addressed is watering of urban landscapes in water scarce regions. Landscape watering is significant in these locations, where more than 50% of the total household water used goes to landscaping, especially in the summer months. Comparing three U.S. cities, a residential home in Las Vegas may use 100 gallons per day of water for outdoor uses, while Atlanta homes may use 21 gallons and in Seattle, 9 gallons .
In arid regions, irrigation controllers are often used to apply water to landscapes. It is challenging to use traditional irrigation controllers to both save water and keep plants healthy. Smart irrigation controllers have the potential to manage this for the homeowner. In studies of smart irrigation controllers in the Western U.S., on average homeowners save water, though there are cases where water use increases when the end-user was actually under-watering their landscape before installing the smart irrigation controller [31,32]. Currently, smart irrigation controllers are not economically profitable for most homeowners, even in the arid West. There are, however, many areas in the U.S. where the investment in a smart irrigation controller would be profitable given modest improvements in design and reduction in prices .
3.3. Water Quality
Water quality monitoring in the water distribution system and end-use pipe system is usually very limited. At the same time, 30 to 60 percent of contamination events occur in the water distribution system. These events are often detected by consumers who have already been exposed. Once the existence of a problem is discovered, it may take days to identify the source of the event in order to fix it .
The water quality in the drinking water distribution system can be affected by several factors including disinfectant depletion (water age), contaminant intrusion from pressure differentials and pipe work (i.e., installation, repair, and replacement), biofilms, pipe corrosion, accidents, and terrorism [7,8,34,35,36]. In a smart water grid, biosensors and multi-contaminant sensors could alert authorities to potential problems and their location immediately, while smart meters could detect leaks and pressure differentials that cause contaminant intrusion. Smart meters could also help in the monitoring of water age. Lastly, smart valves can isolate contaminated water to prevent its spread through the distribution system.
3.4. Energy Consumption
The most energy intensive portions of water delivery are usually source pumping and wastewater treatment [6,37]. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that it takes an average of 1.5 kilowatt-hours of energy to convey, treat, and distribute one thousand gallons of drinking water in the U.S. . In the southern Los Angeles basin the estimate is 9.9 kilowatt-hours per thousand gallons . This larger energy consumption is mainly due to the long distances and altitude changes for conveying water from source to drinking water treatment plant.
Undetected leaks and biofilms can also increase energy consumption. Leaks in the distribution system result in a loss of water pressure. Energy is required to rebalance this pressure loss. In turn, increasing the pressure actually increases the severity of the leaks, which means more water and energy lost . Biofilms increase the frictional resistance in pipes, slowing the water down, resulting in increased pumping to compensate .
If pumping distances in the Southwest U.S. cannot be reduced, the use of smart pumps has the potential to at least reduce the energy consumption of pumping water, because they adjust their power levels based on environmental conditions—ramping up when water is flowing slowly and ramping down when water is flowing quickly . Smart pumps can also be used in the distribution system as part of a smart pressure management program. Used in the same way as smart step testing described previously, smart pressure management with smart pressure meters, smart valves, and smart pumps can reduce pipe deterioration. This saves energy in the long-run, because leaky pipes lose pressure and require more energy to balance. Lastly, biosensors can locate problematic biofilms that slow the water flow.
Disasters that affect urban water systems include water main breaks, weather and geologic events, terrorism, and accidents. Pipes normally break down as they age. Their breakdown can be accelerated, however, due to corrosive elements in the water or surrounding the pipe, high water pressure, pressure transients, vibrations, and traffic loads . Eventually, the stress in the pipes may reach a point that causes a water main break.
Weather events, geologic events, terrorism, and accidents can directly cause damage to water infrastructure or damage water infrastructure through a domino effect [41,42]. For example, the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center caused significant damage to water mains and caused flooding that damaged communication infrastructure . Disasters can also shut down water treatment facilities and prevent the distribution of drinking water to taps. Flooding events can also overwhelm sewer systems and prevent the proper disposal of wastes.
Smart pressure management could manage and prevent premature pipe deterioration that leads to water main breaks. Flood sensors could also detect a pipe that is about to break and alert authorities. Smart flood management could detect flooding and respond to reduce the amount of damaged caused using flood sensors, smart valves, and smart pumps. Flood sensors could detect a pipe break, which would trigger a smart valve to shut off the water supply. Then, a smart pump could pump water away from the immediate area.
Drought is currently a resiliency challenge in many areas and climate change may increase the magnitude, frequency, and locations of impact [2,43]. A typical strategy that municipalities employ to deal with short-term drought is to impose blanket, outdoor watering restrictions on residential customers . There are several downsides to this strategy. First, it requires the type of enforcement that involves patrolling streets to look at people’s lawns, which is resource intensive, and neighbors reporting each other, which is socially negative. Second, it may result in a loss of a household’s landscaping. This type of loss would affect residents unequally, putting a heavier financial burden on lower income people. Lastly, it may not be an adequate strategy in times of extreme or long-term drought.
Long-term drought planning is a complex and is data and modeling intensive. The drought plan for the State of Arizona cites a lack of sufficient data and instruments to predict drought and mitigate its impacts. Two of the mitigation strategies that Arizona has chosen include increasing water storage and conservation .
The smart water grid enables more creative solutions for dealing with drought. For example, water restrictions could be managed better with a smart water grid system. Rather than using a simple lawn watering restriction that requires field enforcement and the potential loss of landscapes, a more flexible approach can be taken. If users are able to monitor their own water use on a disaggregated and real-time basis through the use of smart meters and end-use sensing devices, they can make decisions about how to save water during a drought. At the same time, utilities will be able to monitor on a real-time basis and from a remote location, what end-users are saving water during drought and what end-users are not.
Alternatively, smart water grids could support temporary drought pricing of water. In the same way that conservation-promoting tiered pricing and smart water meters can help people save money and conserve water on a daily basis through online tools and real-time data, drought pricing can also be supported by smart water grids. Consumers will be able to track their water rates and consumption more easily when drought prices and in use. If water utilities want to change the drought pricing in the middle of a billing period, consumers will easily be able to see this when using their online tools and can adjust their use patterns accordingly.
On the broader level of long-term drought and regional water planning, water saved from the reduction of water losses could be banked through water storage projects, creating more water availability during times of drought. Additionally, real-time data from smart water grids can feed into water resource planning and modeling, making drought and long-term water planning a more accurate and dynamic process.
3.7. Summary of Problems Potentially Addressed by Smart Water Grids
Table 1 summarizes the connections between smart technology and problems address. Components such as smart valves have the potential to address multiple issues, especially as part of a smart system such as smart step testing. Other components, such as flood sensor, are more limited in their contribution to a smart water grid.
|Component||Problem(s) Directly Addressed||Problem(s) Indirectly Addressed||Embedding System for Component|
|Smart Meters||Water losses, water quality, disasters, and drought||Energy consumption||Smart step testing and smart pressure management|
|Contaminant Sensors||Water quality||Energy consumption||Contaminant isolation|
|End-Use Sensing Devices||Water losses and drought||Energy consumption||N/A|
|Flood Sensor||Disasters||N/A||Smart flood management|
|Smart Valves||Water losses, water quality, and disasters||Energy consumption||Smart step testing, contaminant isolation, smart pressure management, and smart flood management|
|Smart Pumps||Energy consumption and Disasters||N/A||Smart pressure management and smart flood management|
|Smart Irrigation Controllers||Water waste/overuse||Energy consumption||N/A|
4. Example Communities that are Developing Smart Water Grids
A number of communities have begun to install smart water technologies—AMI and AMR are probably the most popular components of the smart water grid that are implemented—but not many have begun to plan and implement a comprehensive smart water grid. Two communities that are partially on the way to implementing smart water grids are Singapore and part of the San Francisco Bay Area.
In Singapore, large scale research and development funding has led to a number of smart water grid projects, including the development of a laser-based contaminant sensor and a smart water grid in the Singapore business district. The smart water grid in the business district tracks pressure, flow, and disinfectant levels in the distribution system. This data is transmitted via Singapore’s cell network to a computer center. At the computer center, modeling software is used on the data to locate problems in the water distribution system. Problems can be pinpointed to within 40 meters and when problems are found, an alarm is sent out to the utility [33,45,46]. Singapore has a multistage plan for implementing smart water grids in its city .
The East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) is the drinking water and wastewater utility for the eastern part of the San Francisco Bay Area. The EBMUD has several progressive programs including advanced leak detection device testing and deployment, smart irrigation controller rebates for consumers, and smart metering in conjunction with web-based tools for users. The web-based tools help consumers detect leaks on their property [48,49,50]. Data from the EBMUD’s pilot AMR/AMI program helped the utility discover problems on the consumer end of the water system. When these problems were fixed, there was an average water use reduction of 20% .
In Singapore, one of the reasons for the aggressive pursuit of the smart water grid is due to insecure water resources. Singapore relies heavily on rainfall to meet its water needs and does not have enough land for water storage. Whatever reason these communities have for being early adopters of smart water grids, however, they are in the unique position to spread the word about the smart water grid by sharing their research and lessons learned with other communities.
5. Implementation Challenges for the Smart Water Grid
Assuming that the smart water grid is desirable, in this section we discuss challenges to its development and adoption in a U.S. context. One challenge is obtaining the funding to implement changes, which includes the lack of a federal agency that focuses on water or the smart water grid and political and institutional barriers to funding and investment. Other challenges involve economic disincentives, such as the lack of new water markets, burdens on smaller utilities, and the cost of actually fixing problems found by a smart water grid.
5.1. Funding and Investment
The current U.S. water system has much deteriorating infrastructure due for replacement. It is estimated that it will take 325 billion dollars over the next 20 years to install needed replacements in the U.S. system, including new pipes and meters. One side effect of deteriorating infrastructure is water leaks. It is estimated that municipalities lose 3.4 billion dollars each year to water loses, which are mainly leaks . Presumably, some infrastructure replacements will include upgrades with smart technology, particularly smart water meters. However, many of the benefits of a networked system, like a comprehensive smart water grid, requires scale to be realized—scale that requires an investment that is difficult in the capital constrained environment of most U.S. water utilities.
One reason for the lack of investment in smart water grids is a lack of a federal agency’s mission to support its research and development. The electricity sector is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Defense. The societal benefits of smart water grids span environmental, energy and security issues, but smart water grids have yet to be recognized as important enough to merit significant federal attention.
Another reason for the lack of investment and funding in smart water grids is due to institutional and political legacies in the water sector. First, U.S. water utilities were founded on principles of delivering an invisible service at the lowest cost possible . Smart technology can have large upfront costs that many water utilities would be reluctant to pay. Second, water prices are often determined by boards whose membership is determined by popular election. Increasing water prices, even for sensible infrastructure maintenance, is often viewed negatively by voters. The general public tends to take supply of clean and inexpensive water as given. These factors constrain availability of capital.
5.2. Economic Disincentives
Water is a monopoly. While smart electrical grid holds promise to create new power markets, this is unlikely to happen for the smart water grid. Water resources are unlike smart electrical grids—the application of smart technology to create producer markets does not work for water, because water is a resource to be distributed (excepting desalinization) rather than something to be made (i.e., electricity) The general lack of incentives to innovate in utilities affects adoption of smart water grid technologies.
For any investment in new technology, the benefits should outweigh the costs for those paying. With technology that increases resource efficiency, there is typically a threshold payback period or return on investment. Smaller utilities typically have less capital to invest and water utilities tend to be smaller scale than electricity utilities. For end-use, property renters that pay their own utility bills may have leases that are shorter than the payback period for investments. In cases where property owners’ pay utility bills, property owners may make efficiency upgrades to decrease their utility bill or property owners may just pass on increased daily costs of inefficiency to renters in their monthly rent.
An economic issue for both utilities and consumers is the cost and other negative effects of fixing leaks once they are found by a smart water grid. Distribution pipes are often underneath other infrastructure, so accessing leaks to repair involves removing and repairing this other infrastructure. Repair restricts use of those infrastructures, including roads, causing inconvenience to residents. At the home level, some leaks such as faucet leaks or toilet flapper leaks are easy to repair, but some are not. Leaks that occur underground or behind walls may require professional repair, which can be expensive and take many years to pay back to the consumer through lower water bills .
Additionally, although the utility is most often responsible for paying for a smart water grid, many of the economic, sustainability, and resiliency benefits of a smart water grid are divided among actors beyond the utility. For example, an end-use smart meter helps the utility via automated meter reading and improved flow data, but also provides value to the end-user by informing efficiency actions. Another example is that a more secure water system benefits society as a whole, but from the perspective of the water utility, it is simply an additional cost.
Water infrastructure changes slowly. Many system elements such as pipes, valves and meters last for decades. Barring changes in water regulations, keeping the existing system going can make sense when its components are expensive and long-lived. A smart water grid system needs to achieve a certain size scale to realize many of its benefits, i.e., the utility of a network increases with the number of nodes in the network. Incremental replacement of failed system elements with smart technology will not realize these size scale benefits. This scale issue is qualitatively different for newly developing areas installing water infrastructure for the first time. Newly developing communities and countries have opportunities that established ones do not.
Potential benefits of smart water grids include improved leak management, water quality monitoring, intelligent drought management, and energy savings. It is not yet well understood how different implementations of smart water grids yield what benefits and costs. We argue that integrative analysis of multiple benefits for larger-scale smart water grid systems could help pave the way for the future. For example, while viewing the smart water grid purely as a way to reduce water losses might not justify the investment, considering water losses and drought management might tip the balance. In addition, as the benefits can accrue to a number of different actors, e.g., utilities, homeowners, and society as a whole, there are important questions as how to distribute costs among beneficiaries. Support for research and development is needed to enable such work, coupled with cooperation with municipal water utilities.
This research is supported by the National Science Foundation Office of Emerging Frontiers in Research and Innovation (EFRI) (grant #0836046).
Both authors contributed extensively to this work in all aspects. Eric William’s major contribution was leading the direction of the research, while Michele Mutchek’s major contribution was executing the research and writing of the paper.
Conflicts of Interest
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
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On Wednesday, the U.S. House of Representatives introduced a new bill to protect climate refugees.
The Climate Displaced Persons Act, written by Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.), would create a new federal program specifically for refugees displaced by climate change. If enacted into law, the U.S. would take in at least 50,000 climate refugees each year, beginning in 2020.
Although long overdue, backlash from both President Trump and the Republican-led Senate may stall any attempts to turn this bill into law. Regardless, this bill provides an important blueprint for future policies on climate-related migration.
And notably, this bill is the first of its kind to address the growing number of migrants displaced by climate change.
What is the Climate Displaced Persons Act?
Written in reaction to the rising number of people displaced by climate-related catastrophes, this bill would create an action plan on how the U.S. can help.
Since 2009, a climate-related disaster has displaced about one person every second. This rate accounts for extreme weather events, famine, drought, and rising sea levels, among other climate emergencies.
Overwhelmingly, 22.5 million people have been displaced due to climate change in the past decade. And the UN speculates that number could rise to 200 million forcibly displaced people by 2050.
Accordingly, this bill has two major aims. It intends to “establish a Global Climate Change Resilience Strategy and authorize the admission of climate-displaced persons,” according to its first draft.
In particular, the bill entails the U.S. taking on more responsibility in handling the global crisis.
It would create a humanitarian program separate from the U.S. refugee admissions program, specifically for those affected by climate change. The new program would guarantee the same benefits for climate refugees.
The legislation would also task the Secretary of State with devising a Global Climate Change Resilience Strategy. This is turn will create a Coordinator of Climate Resilience position within the State Department.
If made law, the bill will also provide a minimum of 50,000 climate migrants resettlement opportunities in the U.S. each year.
New legislation for climate refugees
To Rep. Velázquez, immigration policy must acknowledge the role of climate change.
“If we are going to meaningfully discuss comprehensive climate equity and climate justice, we must inject security assistance and resettlement opportunities for climate-displaced persons into our conversations,” she said in a press release.
So far, the U.S. has failed in this cause. Just last month, President Trump reduced the maximum refugee cap to 18,000 — a new low. And with his administration tightening up on immigration of all kinds, it’s unlikely he’ll loosen up on climate-related migration, to say the least.
But President Trump’s refusal to support climate science or immigration hasn’t dissuaded Rep. Velázquez.
“Despite this Administration’s efforts to strip the world’s most vulnerable populations of refuge, America will continue to stand tall as a safe haven for immigrants,” she insisted.
After its introduction on Wednesday, the House referred the bill to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. The Committees on the Judiciary and Energy and Commerce will also review the bill before the House continues its deliberation.
Democrat Edward Markey, a key supporter of the Green New Deal, has introduced a companion bill in the Senate.
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- By Jonah Lehrer
- July 28, 2010 |
- Wired August 2010
Social relationships are a powerful buffer against stress. In fact, several studies in Europe and the US have found that people with fewer friends and family members they’re close to have significantly shorter life expectancies. (The magnitude of the effect is roughly equivalent to smoking cigarettes.) One likely explanation for this phenomenon is the stress of loneliness. Studies of monkeys found that more socially isolated animals have higher levels of stress hormones, a reduced immune response, and a higher mortality rate.
Sleep deprivation is not just about feeling tired. Recent studies have found that even a single night of insufficient sleep — whether it’s spent working the night shift or playing World of Warcraft — triggers an automatic spike in stress hormones. And here’s where biology gets cruel: This stress response then makes it harder to fall asleep when you actually want to, since your sympathetic nervous system is revving at a higher rate. The result is more stress and more insomnia, which helps explain why sleep problems are such an important risk factor for depression.
While observing baboons, Stanford biologist Robert Sapolsky found there was a set of personality traits linked reliably with lower levels of stress hormones. One of these was the ability to walk away from provocations that might send a normal baboon into a snarling hissy fit. Interestingly, this less aggressive personality turned out to be exceedingly effective: The nice baboons remained near the top of the troop hierarchy about three times longer than the baboons who were easily provoked into a fight. They also had a lot more sex, which is a great stress reliever.
Numerous studies have demonstrated that even a short training session in meditation can dramatically reduce levels of stress and anxiety. In fact, a recent study led by Sian Beilock, a psychologist at the University of Chicago, demonstrated that a 10-minute lesson in mindfulness meditation seemed to reduce stress in those taking a high-stakes math exam, leading to a five-point increase on average. She argues that meditation allows people to do a better job of not fixating on negative and stressful thoughts, thus freeing up brain space to focus on the arithmetic.
When paratroopers are first learning to parachute, they experience a massive stress response. In fact, one study of Norwegian airmen found that this response started before the jump and lasted for hours afterward. But something interesting happened when the soldiers kept jumping out of planes. Instead of being stressed for hours at a time, they showed elevated levels of stress hormone only while in midair, which is precisely when they needed it. The chronic stress response that causes long-term harm had all but disappeared.
Alcohol is an anxiolytic — it melts away anxieties by dampening the response of the sympathetic nervous system and reducing the release of stress hormones. That’s why a beer tastes so good after a long day. But don’t get carried away: While the moderate consumption of alcohol might reduce the stress response, blood alcohol levels above 0.1 percent — most states consider 0.08 the legal limit for driving — trigger a large release of stress hormones. Although you might feel drunkenly relaxed, your body is convinced it’s in a state of mortal danger.
While exercise is remarkably effective at blunting the stress response, at least for a few hours, this effect exists only if you want to exercise in the first place. After all, a big reason working out relieves stress is that it elevates your mood; when mice are forced to run in the lab, their levels of stress hormones spike. So when you force yourself to go to the gym and then suffer through 30 minutes on the treadmill (lamenting the experience the entire time), you don’t reduce your stress levels. In fact, you might be making things worse.
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Welcome to my weekly fashion blog post. Each week I will discuss a female garment, fashion trend or influencer from the age of photography (1840s through the 20th century). My goal is to educate family researchers and genealogists about the clothing worn by our ancestors. Dating photographs is an issue we all struggle with as family archivists. Additionally, anyone who writes about their family’s history should be aware of the environment in which their ancestors lived. Period clothing is an important part of that environment from how it affects a person’s movement to their overall lifestyle. This week I introduce you to the Bolero and Zouave jackets.
A Dictionary of Costume and Fashion: Historic and Modern describes the Bolero jacket as a “short jacket no longer than normal waistline, with or without sleeves. Worn open in front over bodice or blouse. Spanish in origin.” In comparison, the Zouave jacket is described as a “woman’s short jacket with rounded front, made in imitation of [the] jacket of [the] Zouave uniform. Sometimes sleeveless.” The descriptions of the two types of jackets are quite similar. For this post it is not important to know the subtle differences between the two styles but rather that the style of jacket was popular during the Civil War years. One of the reasons behind the popularity was the use of a Zouave style jacket in many volunteer units. The French Zouaves were an elite military force during the nineteenth century. Because the Civil War was an overwhelming influence on the lives of all Americans (including women), ladies’ fashion adopted some military characteristics, including the use of a Zouave style jacket. While the construction of the garment could be quite simple, existing examples of these garments show extensive embroidery and trimmings.
Many of the popular ladies’ magazines published fashion plates and patterns for Zouave jackets. Godey’s Lady’s magazine published many versions of the jacket, including this early one from 1859. Below are some plates and patterns from other periodicals of the day.
The Library of Congress’ collection of Prints and Photographs has many examples of Zouave jackets, including these two photographs from between 1860-1865.
Costume historian and technician, Quinn M. Burgess, wrote an excellent piece on her website about the Bolero and Zouave jackets.
Brief article from the Smithsonian on the influence of the Zouave on Union and Confederate uniforms.
The Newberry Library and the Terra Foundation have an online exhibit “Home Front: Daily Life in the Civil War North.” They briefly discuss the Zouave soldiers in the Civil War and their influence on fashion.
While searching for additional images, I came across an online exhibit from the University of Maryland titled “Woman on the Border: Maryland Perspectives of the Civil War.“
Reddish brown silk dress, American, 1860-1865. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Accession no: C.I.50.105.16a, b
White with black embroidery promenade dress, American, 1862-1864. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Accession no: C.I.60.6.11a, b
Yellow pattern silk dress with green trim, French, 1862. Metropolitan Museum of Art. Accession no: 1973.244.1a–c
Thomas J. Watson Library, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Women 1862, plates 92
Thomas J. Watson Library, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Women 1863, plate 8
Unidentified woman, c1860-1863. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Collection. Call number: LOT 6286, p. 29
Unidentified soldier with two women, c1861-1865. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Collection. Call number: AMB/TIN no. 2703
Picken, Mary Brooks. A Dictionary of Costume and Fashion: Historic and Modern. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, Inc. 1985.
©2015 Deborah Sweeney
Post originally found: https://genealogylady.net/2015/09/06/fashion-moments-bolero-zouave-jackets/
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Science is closer than ever to proving that animals are capable of consciously monitoring their behavior in a manner similar to humans, according to researchers from the RIKEN-MIT Center for Neural Circuit Genetics.
Mysterious circular formations located off the coast of Denmark aren't the work of aliens so much as eelgrass plants growing amid highly toxic mud, according to a team of Danish researchers.
Global health security may be improved by the United States teaming up with foreign nations, a report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states.
The development of an ant colony's different castes is influenced by either novel or highly modified genes, evolutionary biologists at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) discovered in a recent study of gene expression.
Massive galaxies that formed and stopped producing stars soon after the Big Bang were created by violent star formation triggered by the collision of galaxies, a new study published in the Astrophysical Journal argues.
Neanderthals may have gone extinct thousands of years ago, but their genomic lineage lives on, particularly in skin and hair traits, a new study published in the journal Nature found.
NASA has discovered a novel way to measure the melt and growth of ice using a new laser technology.
That humans are not designed for spaceflight is a reality weighing heavy on NASA scientists working against the clock to put astronauts on Mars by the 2030s.
The discovery that the Black Death and Justinian Plague were caused by different strains of the same pathogen suggests a new strain of plague could emerge again, researchers warn.
Tuesday marks the 28th anniversary of the space shuttle Challenger tragedy, an event that resulted in the death of seven crew members and a 32-month hiatus in NASA's shuttle program.
Fire was tamed as many as 300,000 years ago, according to the recent discovery of the earliest evidence of repeated fire burning in one place over a period of time.
Cancer patients undergoing treatment gain key coping skills when they participate in music production, including writing lyrics and producing videos, according to a new study published in Cancer.
Los Angeles is especially vulnerable to any major earthquake that may take place south of the city of almost 4 million, a new method of constructing virtual earthquakes determined.
Ancient forests may have helped stabilize the Earth's carbon dioxide levels and, therefore, its climate, a new study published in Biogeosciences suggests.
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The history of aviation in Texas is the story of industry innovation, record-setting achievements, gravity-defying feats and the soaring human spirit. Texas has been, and continues to be, a leader in manufacturing, hospitality, science exploration and scholarship, driving the global economy year after year with new research and billions of dollars in revenue.
The year 2010 marks the centennial of flight in Texas. Since Frenchman Louis Paulhan's first flight in Texas on February 18, 1910, Texas has been on the leading edge of aviation.
The first U.S. military flight was in March 1910 from Fort Sam Houston, beginning Texas's long tradition of military aviation. The first person to build and fly a plane in Texas was L.L. Walker Jr. in Houston, exemplifying the spirit that has driven the aviation industry in Texas ever since.
Tango Alpha Charlie: Texas Aviation Celebration tells the story of Texas aviation -- past, present, and future -- in a special exhibition that will brag on the dynamic achievements of Texas aviators, designers, manufacturers, and services.
Included in the exhibit are 5 large scale models of aircraft including an AT-6 Texan, B-24 Liberator, Southwest Airlines Lone Star One, Mooney Acclaim Type S, a Bell V-22 Osprey, and a 1/2 scale Vought F-4U-4 Corsair.
Visitors can try their hand at flying a Curtiss Jenny, an AT-6 Texan, and a Bell XV-3 tiltrotor helicopter through interactive video simulators.
There are over 120 objects in the exhibit spanning everything from Benjamin Foulois's logbook detailing his first military flights in 1910, flight suits worn by Howard Hughes and Katharine Hepburn in the 1930s, astronaut Ed White's helmet from Gemini 4, and Jeana Yeager's ponytail from when she cut her hair to reduce weight on the non-stop round-the-world flight of Voyager in 1986, to uniforms from various Texas based commercial airlines, and a non-ablative rocket engine that will change the future of space travel.
With multimedia interactivity, artifacts, original research, and hands-on experiences for all ages, this exhibition will serve as the next great chapter in the already rich story of Texas aviation. The exhibition is organized by guest curator Barbara Ganson Ph.D., a professor of aviation history.
Admission to the Museum's exhibits, including Tango Alpha Charlie: Texas Aviation Celebration (September 12, 2010 - January 9, 2011): $7 for adults, $6 for seniors/military/college students (with valid ID), $4 for youth ages 5-18, free for ages 4 and under. The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum is located at 1800 N. Congress Avenue at the corner of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. For more information, call (512) 936-4649.
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© Photographed July 20, 2015
Erected 1990 by Delavan Historic Preservation Society
Delavan, Walworth County, Wisconsin
HISTORIC CIRCUS DISTRICT
This area was a hub of circus activity during the 1847-1895 period when 26 circuses quartered in Delavan. The three-story brick building, 117 Park Place, 100 feet northeast of this site, was the Park Hotel, built in 1848, where many circus performers lodged. In 1874, balloonist Rodley A. Palmer, while making an ascension from this park, struck the cornice of the hotel, sustaining injuries that later caused his death. Famed magician-illusionist, Harry Houdini, as a 12-year old runaway, slept in the hotel's basement livery stable. The three-story building at 124 E. Walworth Avenue, 125 feet southeast of this monuyment, was quarters for the 1879 Dr. George Morrison Colesium Circus which featured Al and John Ringling as performers. Circus wagon and blacksmith shops were once located adjacent to the park. A watering trough at the east end of the park was utilized by various animals. The part was the assembly area for many circus parades held in the past. The giraffe on the monument is symbolic of the many circuses that once quartered in Delavan and nearly 150 members of the 19th century circus colony who are buried in Spring Grove and St. Andrew's Cemeteries.
Delavan Historic Preservation Society
The marker is located at Tower Park on westbound East Walworth Avenue / County Highway O / Wisconsin Highway 11, at its intersection with South 4th Street, Delavan, Wisconsin 53115.
The marker is at the base of the giraffe.
The marker and giraffe are visible at the base of the
water tower, to the far left.
The marker is located in historic downtown Delavan, Wisconsin.
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Are you worried about a friend or a colleague?
Do you think that your friend/colleague is feeling upset, stressed, anxious, depressed or has emotional or psychological symptoms?
Has it been affecting their normal functioning for more than 4 weeks?
Your friend might be distressed – a global term to cover all sorts of psychological problems, mental health problems and issues.
Do any of the following behaviours describe someone you know?
- Looks down and miserable
- Tired, or sleepy
- Change from their normal physical appearance
- Overly sensitive and worried
- Changes in mood
- Seems different
- Suppresses emotion
- Change in sleeping habits, not being able to sleep or can’t wake up
- Change in eating habits, less healthy patterns
- Physical symptoms, e.g. Bowel upsets, feeling sick, shortness of breath, headaches, stomach pain, skin rash
- Panic attacks
- Change in their normal behaviour or habits
- Lack of interest in things normally interested in
- Not answering phone or responding to communication attempts
- Not engaging much in conversation or discussion
- Withdrawing from social activities
- Hard excessive partying
- Increasing use of alcohol and drugs, coffee, smoking
- Skipping classes or a deterioration in grades
- Self destructive, not caring about themselves or their safety
- Not coping with studies
- Not coping with normal life events
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One of the biggest offenders in our diets is an abundance of added sugars. (Find out how much sugar is too much here.) But until an "added sugars" category makes its debut on the Nutrition Facts Panel (the FDA has started to explore the possibility with a consumer study), it's challenging to know just how much added sugar is lurking in your favorite packaged foods. And although more and more food companies are ditching high-fructose corn syrup, their products aren't necessarily sugar-free. In fact, they may contain just as much sugar as before, just in a different form.
Here are 3 tips to sleuth out how much added sugar is in your food--as reported in EatingWell Magazine:
1. Read the Nutrition Facts Panel:
Under a food label's "sugars" designation, both natural and added sugars are included. Natural sugars (such as lactose in milk and fructose in fruit) are not usually a problem because they come in small doses and are packed with other nutrients, which helps slow absorption.
2. Check the ingredient list:
All of the following are aliases for added sugar. The higher up on the list they appear, the more sugar is in the product.
Dextrose, fructose, honey, invert sugar, raw sugar, malt syrup, rice syrup, sucrose, xylose, molasses, corn sweetener, fruit juice concentrate, high-fructose corn syrup, brown sugar, corn syrup, glucose, lactose, maltose, sucrose, evaporated cane juice, agave nectar, cane crystals, cane sugar, crystalline fructose, barley malt, beet sugar, caramel.
Don't Miss: Are Some Sugars Healthier Than Others?
3. Compare products:
Determine how much unhealthful added sugar your product contains by comparing it to a comparable sugar-free product, such as strawberry yogurt to plain yogurt or canned peaches in syrup to canned peaches in juice. (Find out here which healthy-sounding foods aren't actually good for you.)
Do you watch your added-sugar intake?
By Brierley Wright, M.S., R.D.
Brierley's interest in nutrition and food come together in her position as nutrition editor at EatingWell. Brierley holds a master's degree in Nutrition Communication from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. A Registered Dietitian, she completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Vermont.
Related Links from EatingWell:
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