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Saturday, April 21, 2012
A history of the Subject – Subject Theory Explained – part 2
Even before Kant philosophers have argued about the meaning of the subject. Is the subject autonomous? Does the subject have a stable essence? What conditions the subject? Does it abide by any laws? Is the subject rational? And what are the relations between the subject and society? Questions like these are all symptomatic of the philosophy since the Enlightenment began.
"Subject" is semantically related to "subjection", hinting that subject is something which is subjected to something else. The subjection of the subject was as source of interest for many critical thinkers who sought to explain how social and cultural forces condition subjective consciousness. The most fundamental example for this line of thought is that of Marx. These trends of relating to the subject subvert the modern perception of the subject as autonomous and independent.
According to the Marxist tradition the subject is subjected to material historical forces which determine his (false) consciousness. In psychoanalysis, the subject is subjected to hidden mental content which is hidden in the subconscious. In linguistics, de-Saussure points to the manner in which language conditions the subject's perception of reality. Structural theory, following de-Saussure, saw the subject is the product of social and cultural structures. Critical thinkers such as Michel Foucault, Judith Butler and Louis Althusser all see the subject as the product of cultural systems which shape what is falsely perceived as sovereignty, free choice and self-consciousness.
Here we can see the process which has eventually led to the announcement about the "Death of Subject", or the fragmentation of subject in FredrickJameson's phrasing. The subject moved from being a "master of its own reality", as it were, for Kant to being site of social conditioning and control for post-modern thinkers. Thus we can see how the term subject is a contested one that was born as free, autonomous, intelligent and aware and that has metaphorically died as subaltern, conditioned, controlled and unaware.
see also
Book you should check out:
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How do I change the PATH variable in Windows?
How do I set PATH variable in Windows?
Finding the Windows Path Variable
1. Open the Start Menu.
2. Right-click on Computer and click Properties.
3. Click Advanced system settings.
4. Make sure you’re on the Advanced tab.
5. Click Environment Variables.
6. Under System variables, scroll to find the Path Variable.
7. Click on Path and then click Edit.
How do I change the path in CMD?
Setting Temporary Path
1. Open command prompt in Windows.
2. Copy the path of jdk/bin directory where java located (C:Program FilesJavajdk_versionbin)
3. Write in the command prompt: SET PATH=C:Program FilesJavajdk_versionbin and hit enter command.
How do I change my system path?
To change the system path, perform these steps:
1. Start the System Control Panel applet (Start — Settings — Control Panel — System).
2. Select the Advanced tab.
3. Click the Environment Variables button.
9 окт. 2005 г.
What is the Windows PATH variable?
PATH is an environment variable on Unix-like operating systems, DOS, OS/2, and Microsoft Windows, specifying a set of directories where executable programs are located. … The PATH variable prevents us from having to write out the entire path to a program on the CLI every time we run it.
Read more How do I set up remote access for Windows 10?
How do I set the PATH variable in Windows 10?
Add to the PATH on Windows 10
2. Click the “Environment Variables…” button.
4. The “Edit environment variable” UI will appear.
17 мар. 2018 г.
How do I find my path in Windows?
1. Select Start, select Control Panel. double click System, and select the Advanced tab.
2. Click Environment Variables. In the section System Variables, find the PATH environment variable and select it. …
What is path in command prompt?
PATH tells DOS which directories should be searched for external commands after DOS searches your working directory. DOS searches the paths in the order specified in the PATH command. … If you enter the PATH command without options , the program will display the currently set path designations.
How do I open a path in CMD?
Go to the destination folder and click on the path (highlights in blue). type cmd. Command prompt opens with the path set to your current folder.
How do I change the path in Windows 10 command prompt?
Edit %PATH% Variable in Win 10
1. Click on Start Button and type cmd in the search box. …
2. To add file or directory path to your User %PATH% environment variable type the command `pathman /au` followed by the path to the directory or file, such as: `pathman /au c:ProgramsPython35`
Read more How do I delete everything on my computer windows 7?
13 янв. 2020 г.
How do you add multiple paths to environment variables?
In the Environment Variables window (pictured below), highlight the Path variable in the System variables section and click the Edit button. Add or modify the path lines with the paths you want the computer to access. Each different directory is separated with a semicolon, as shown below.
How do I change the path on my laptop?
1. Right-click on the My Computer icon on the right side of the Start Menu.
2. Click “Properties” from the context menu.
3. Click “Advanced system settings”
4. Go to the “Advanced” tab.
5. Click “Environment Variables…”
6. Click variable called “Path” and click “Edit…”
What is PATH variable in REST API?
The @PathVariable annotation is used to extract the value from the URI. It is most suitable for the RESTful web service where the URL contains some value. Spring MVC allows us to use multiple @PathVariable annotations in the same method. A path variable is a critical part of creating rest resources.
Why do we need to set environment variables?
Environment variables are useful to store system-wide values, for examples, PATH : the most frequently-used environment variable, which stores a list of directories to search for executable programs. OS : the operating system.
How do Environment variables work?
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Everyone knows what Google is and it’s quite common today to hear the phrase ‘Google It’ if someone is looking for information. But who is Google? Who created the giant? How did it revolutionise online data organisation? Well, here at Digital Next we look into the history of the internet colossus by ‘Googling’ Google!
Google originally started as a research project in 1995 by the founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin who were PhD students at Stanford University. Conventional search engines ranked websites by the frequency of keywords on a website page, however, the main focus of the 2 student’s research project was creating a better search engine system by analysing the relationships between websites.
The first ever Google computer was actually enclosed in a custom made structure from Lego bricks located at Stanford University.
Google's first computer
Their new search engine was originally named ‘BackRub’ because of how the system worked by checking backlinks to determine the importance of the site. The name ‘Google’ was officially born in 1997 from a misspelling of the mathematical term ‘Googol’, which is the number 1 preceding 100 zeros and was chosen to reflect their mission of organising an infinite amount of information on the web. Google.com was officially registered later in the year on 15th September ’97 and so the story of internet revolution and revelation began.
backrub search engine
In August, 1998 Andy Bechtolsheim handed over a check for $100,000 to Google Inc – an entity which didn’t even officially exist yet. That is until 4th September ’98 when the company Google was officially founded, a bank account opened by Larry and Sergey with the cheque from Andy Bechtolsheim deposited.
Originally the company was set up in a garage owned by Susan Wojciki and they hired their first employee, Craig Silverstein, in September 1998 and their first 4 legged friend, the company dog ‘Yoshka’ joined them in April 1999. Their headquarters is now at Mountain View, California not far from Stanford University where Google was born from a research project.
googles first doodle
The first ever doodle was also created in August 1998 when Larry and Sergey incorporated the iconic Man in to Google’s logo to let people know where the Google crew would be at the Burning Man Festival, Nevada Desert for a few days.
The first Doodle 4 Google contest was launched in the UK in November 2005 and since then the contests are run all over the world with thousands of Doodles submitted worldwide. In May 2014, the first ever 3D doodle of the Rubik’s Cube was created to celebrate its 40th birthday.
google 3d rubiks cube
From that point onwards Google continued on it’s path to colossal domination of the search world, adding other useful features including Google Images, Gmail, Adwords, Google Toolbars, Google Maps, Google Drive, Google News, Google Analytics, Google Webmaster Tools and Google Shopping. Most of their products were created from their ‘Innovation Time Off’ policy which was create to motivate it’s engineers, so they spend around 20% of their time on projects that interest them personally.
google car
There really is no stopping Google when it comes to the next generation of technology, particularly with their self-driving cars, virtual reality apps, wearable technology and even a command-responsive teddy bear! One thing is certain that without Google it is likely that digital marketing companies like Digital Next wouldn’t exist as we know them. The story of Google is only just beginning and we’re sure that the phrase ‘Google It’ won’t be going out of fashion anytime soon!
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If I say, "the choice fell on me", does it mean, "It became my responsibility to choose among the options available", or, "I was the one chosen to do something"?
The phrasal verb to fall on, usually means to become someone's responsibility (see meaning 4). Yet, to fall means also to occur (see meaning 4)
To give a context:
I'm telling a friend about a discussion I had with my flatmates on who should wash the dishes. And I say, "eventually the choice fell on me." Does it mean, "I had to choose who should wash the dishes", or, "I was chosen to wash the dishes"?
• 1
Could you provide the context in which you read this? It sounds as if someone is confused about the idiomatic expression, as I think it's normally "the choice fell to me". A different idiom uses "fall on"
– Andrew
Mar 20 '19 at 6:19
• I added a context
– Fra
Mar 20 '19 at 6:26
• 1
As @Andrew said, fell to would unambiguously mean that the choice was yours to make. Based on "flatmates" I assume you're looking for BrE, but for what it's worth I do sometimes hear people say that a choice fell on them with the same intended meaning here in my part of the US -- perhaps the burden of deciding rests on their shoulders?
– A C
Mar 20 '19 at 7:26
• Yet, on ngram "the choice fell to me" is not even found. books.google.com/ngrams/…
– Fra
Mar 20 '19 at 7:31
• The is precisely the problem with ngram. In English, a choice falls to this or that person or group.
– Lambie
Aug 20 at 13:38
"The choice fell on me" sounds odd, as the more common idiom is "The choice fell to me", meaning that I was the one required to choose.
Since no one else would do it, the choice fell to me to decide what color to paint the house -- a thankless task, since no matter which color I picked I knew someone would object.
However, I don't think it's wrong as much as rare. I found a couple of results in older scientific journals:
In regard to Streptomycin the committee's choice fell on Selman Waksman, the bacteriologist who had ascertained the effect unambiguously and also published it.
For insulation, the choice fell on expanded rigid polyvinyl chloride, usable in sandwich form ...
From context it's clear the phrase means that whatever the choice fell on is what was chosen, not what did the choosing.
However, I recommend against using this idiom as it may be confusing. When no actual choice is involved, you can use the more common, "it fell on me" (as in your linked definition) to do something, meaning that you were forced to do it by lack of other options.
After a week I couldn't even see the kitchen counter for all the piled-up dirty dishes, and we were completely out of clean ones. Since clearly none of my roommates would do it, it fell on me to do the washing-up if I didn't want to live in squalor. But I vowed I'd make them pay for it ... somehow, someday.
• What would you recommend, instead of 'the choice fell on smb', if I want to put the chosen person at the end to emphasize the identity of that person? Dec 12 '19 at 20:08
From the examples provided on google
The choice fell on a Japanese painting, lovely in colors, and depicting busy people.
it implies choice fell on sth means sth was choosen
Just because something appears on Google does not mean that it is correct English. There are many, many things published in academic journals that are written by foreign scholars and never edited by a native English speaker. The sentence above about Japanese painting is gibberish, and the phrase "investigational centers" in the other sentence should tell you everything you need to know about the writer's level of English proficiency.
Your Answer
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Reticulocytes are elevated
Reticulocytes are not the most well-known component of blood, which plays an important role in the normal functioning of the body. These particles are not fully formed young forms of red blood cells. Seeing in the analysis that the reticulocytes are increased, it is not always necessary to experience. And yet sometimes this phenomenon can really indicate serious health problems.
Reasons for an increase in reticulocytes in an adult
Like all blood particles, reticulocytes have a certain norm. In the blood of a healthy adult, these components should not be more than 0.2-1.2% of the total number of erythrocytes. Reticulocytes perform a very important mission, supplying oxygen to tissues and organs. Looking at the amount of these constituents of blood, a specialist can determine how quickly the bone marrow produces red blood cells.
A sharp increase in the fraction of immature reticulocytes demonstrates the regenerative capacity of the bone marrow. Therefore, tests for the number of blood corpuscles are appointed to assess the state of the bone marrow after transplantation, as well as the body's response to treatment with folic acid, vitamins B12, iron.
Elevated reticulocytes in the blood are observed with severe blood loss (including secretions) and signal about such diseases:
In many patients, reticulocytes increase with the use of antipyretic drugs, Corticotropin, Levodopa, Erythropoietin.
Specialists managed to find out that the amount of not completely formed red blood cells in the blood increases in smokers and pregnant women. The probability of excess of the norm of reticulocytes will be quite high if one takes an analysis from a person who has just risen to the height.
Treatment of an increased number of reticulocytes
To assign effective treatment, you need to conduct a survey and determine what exactly is the cause of a sharp increase in the number of reticulocytes. After the diagnosis is established, the preparation is carried out in the first place - the patient's condition is stabilized: if necessary, he is prescribed painkillers, detoxification or plasmapheresis is prescribed. Only after this is prescribed etiological and pathogenetic treatment.
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Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Medical, Wikipedia.
see SanSan
..... Click the link for more information.
the oldest indigenous population of southern and eastern Africa. The Bushmen live in the Namib and Kalahari deserts, in the vicinity of the Etosha depresion in Namibia, and regions adjacent to it in Botswana, Angola, and the Republic of South Africa; there is a small number in Tanzania. Total population is approximately 50, 000 (1967 estimate). They speak Bushman and Bantu languages. At one time the Bushmen were settled throughout southern Africa, but they were driven back by Bantu peoples migrating from the north and European colonizers (from the south); the latter systematically exterminated the Bushmen. They lead the life of nomadic hunters and gatherers of wild fruits.
The Bushmen are widely known as skillful masters of expressive paintings on rocks. These paintings, executed with mineral and earth pigments, including lime and soot, which aie diluted in water and animal fat, are preserved on the territory of the Republic of South Africa, Lesotho, Rhodesia, and Namibia. The dating of the oldest of these paintings is associated with various theories on the origin of Bushman art and ranges from thousands to several hundreds of years B.C. Motifs in the paintings include realistically depicted animals, dynamic hunting and battle scenes filled with expression, human figures in very elongated proportions, and fabulous creatures. The oldest layers were done with one pigment (red or brown), whereas recent layers (late 19th century) are multicolored with soft transitional tones.
Ellenberger, V. Tragicheskii konets bushmenov. Moscow, 1956. (Translated from French.)
Tonque, H. Bushmen Paintings. Oxford, 1909.
References in periodicals archive ?
These traits were shoveling, Bushmen canine, distal accessory ridge and cusp of Carabelli.
Anyway, once I had a .22 Magnum rifle I could shoot the odd impala for visiting clans of bushmen coming to visit their children at the mission.
The bokmakierie (a bushshrike, Telophorus zeyloms) was said to come to inform Bushmen (not involved in the theft) of other Bushmen stealing cattle, telling them of 'bad things which it knows'.
“Despite exploring an area notorious for large game, the team will be protected by the San bushmen's intuitive ability to read the land, the animals and fresh tracks.”
The bushmen will track a wounded animal for days, if necessary, and nearly always find it.
"Survival has written to dozens of tour operators in Africa, Europe, Asia and the USA, including Trailfinders, Intrepid and Absolute Travel urging them to suspend their trips to Botswana over the disgraceful treatment of the last hunting Bushmen in Africa; and will be launching a new advertising campaign in travel magazines around the world," the organisation (http://www.survivalinternational.org/news/9586) said in a statement.
The Nyae Nyae !Kung Bushmen think of the Sun as a "death thing" because of its searing heat and the association with thirst, hunger, and exhaustion.
Cue a chorus of tongue-clicking from the bushmen. I couldn't be sure but I took it to mean, "nice work, son".
"What I read was that as late as the early 1900s, you could buy a hunting license to shoot bushmen, like shooting a wild animal.
Michael Wessels se Bushman letters: interpreting /Xam narrative (2010), verskyn teen hierdie agtergrond--asof dit 'n antwoord op Solomon se oproep is, maar ook baie kort op die hakke van Shane Moran, sy Natalse kollega in Durban aan die Universiteit van Kwazulu-Natal, se uitdagende Representing Bushmen: South African and the origin of language (2009).
The court's decision reverses a July 2010 ruling that banned the Bushmen, also known as the Basalava, from drilling for water on their ancestral lands in the Kalahari Game Reserve.
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Difference Between Evidence-Based Practise And Research In Nursing
Difference Between Evidence-Based Practice And Research In Nursing
Evidence-based practice is different from research in many ways. It is mainly because this practice does not try to prove the available data or even try to find out new information about the patients and nursing practices. It involves using the available evidence to make the best experiences for the patients. It goes beyond the research and also means the preferences and the values of the nurses and the patients. It is the process of implementing the evidence on the patients.
On the other hand, research is the process of acquiring new knowledge based on a theory or proving the already available data. It mostly puts into use the systematic and scientific inventions using various methods to come into conclusions. For this activity to be valid, the exact sequential steps should be. All this is always acted upon already available data. Unlike in the evidence-based practice, the research is hard. It is because the evidence is in the evidence-based practice.
A research project is not considered an evidence-based intervention project. It is because there is no evidence of the research topic. In any case, the researcher goes into the field to work on the theory. He will have to come with the results at the end of the day. This, therefore, disqualifies it from being an evidence-based intervention project.
Differentiating research, evidence-based practice, and quality improvement – American Nurse Today. (2019). Retrieved 29 October 2019, from www.americannursetoday.com/differentiating-research-evidence-based-practice-andquality-improvement/
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Let them dream of the future
One day.
We all have something we promise ourselves we will do one day. A dream for the future that we strive towards, no matter how big or small. It could be travelling the world, learning a new language, or starting a family.
There may be barriers in the way but still we believe we will do it, somehow, and that dream can give us purpose even when times are hard.
Imagine a world where the barrier to your dreams is a disease that does not just take away hopes for the future, it takes away the joy of the present.
Rabies kills over 59,000 people every year. But the needless deaths are only part of the story.
Rabies disproportionally affects the poorest in society, people who already face countless challenges in their lives.
40% of those that die from rabies are children under the age of 15.Children that will never get to realise their potential and achieve their dreams. Leaving behind parents who will never get to see them grow up and have families of their own.
Rabies' effect on children is not just limited to those who catch it. If a child loses a parent to rabies it often means they have to give up school in order to work and support their family, robbing them of the education that could give them a brighter future.
School children
Globally rabies causes economic losses of 8.6 billion USD every year
But worse than the economic loss, it robs people of their future. The Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY's) are the number of years of potential life lost due to early death. For deaths from rabies this is over 3.7 million years every single year.
3.7 million years taken away by rabies. 3.7 million years of people's futures and dreams stolen. And the worst thing is it that this cruel disease can be prevented.
Rabies can be stopped, and the best solution is the most cost effective one.
99% of human cases of rabies come from dogs. By vaccinating stray and pet dogs in rabies hotspots we can take this threat away, protecting dogs and people.
We all have something we promise ourselves we will do one day. For people living in fear of rabies the one thing they want is for rabies to be gone.
Make today the day you help them become the Final Rabies Generation.
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Investing in our future: a comprehensive agenda for the health and well-being of children and adolescents
Policies & Strategies
46 p.
Attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, which is essential for the future health and prosperity of societies, depends on children and adolescents reaching their full potential. The foundations of health, education, productivity and social and emotional well-being are built from pre-conception, to form human capital that has an impact throughout the life-course. In addition, the gains made are transmitted to the next generation. The aim of the new agenda is to ensure that all children and adolescents survive and thrive. In other words, to ensure that every person 0–19 years old is optimally healthy, being raised in a safe, secure environment, is appropriately prepared physically, mentally and emotionally to accomplish developmentally appropriate tasks, will reach adulthood successfully and eventually contribute socially and economically to their society.
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A flaw in transferring money or thinking like a hacker
Tram Ho
I repeat: in a recent conference, I said in early 2017 I found a loophole that allowed to steal money from any account of 4-5 banks in Vietnam.
The picture above is a slide in my talk. This is a cyber security lecture, so I use this form to show participants how to think like a hacker. I think this is an effective approach, without having to go into the technical details, because not everyone who looks at the money box can think of “ah, I’ll enter negative numbers”. .
The flaw that I discovered was real, it did not lie in the negative transfer amount, but in the exchange of the recipient and sender’s account. Some readers have questions and doubts about this vulnerability. I suspect it is true that I did not believe my own eyes when I found this flaw.
I can’t disclose which bank or product is, for obvious reasons, but I can explain more about this pretty interesting flaw specification. The Zen master gamma95 once said it was hard to convince others that sugar was sweet, if they had never tried it before. Therefore, believe it or not, it is predestined ;-).
A Mobile Banking solution usually consists of a mobile app and an API server that provides functions such as account inquiries and transfers.
Question: If you were tasked with designing the API to transfer money on the server, what would your API look like?
The answer is not difficult, but if it has never been, there are many things to think about. Before you continue reading, try writing down your own answer.
To transfer money, the server needs at least 3 parameters:
1 / Receiving account
2 / Deposit account
3 / Amount
The receiving account and the amount will be entered by the user into the mobile app, then the mobile app transfers to the server. But where does the account come from?
What if I let users choose, what if they enter someone else’s account? That is, the server must check whether the user has the right to transfer money out of that account or not (authorization). To do so, the server must first authenticate the user (authentication).
On the web, after the client logs in, the server returns an HTTP cookie, the browser remembers and uses the cookie to authenticate subsequent requests. As popular web-making technologies (such as .NET, Spring, PHP, or Ruby On Rails) already have this part ready, developers don’t need to do anything else.
The problem is that on mobile there is no technology available such as HTTP cookies, so developers often have to invent their own authentication methods. Someone using solutions like OAuth or JWT. In this case, the product uses a homemade authentication solution.
Before talking about that solution, available here, I’d like to talk a bit more about solutions like cookies, OAuth, or JWT. By the way, these solutions are the same in that after the customer logs in, the server will issue the mobile app a token representing the customer. The mobile app will attach tokens when sending requests to the server. How the server checks the token is the crux of the problem.
For example, this is easy to understand. Every time you send a motorbike, the garage gives you a voucher. This card has the same role as the token I mentioned above. To get your car back, you have to give it back and the garage will have to check the following:
1 / The vote is still valid. How is it valid, depending on the place, usually they will rely on the date, seal, signature on the slip. For example, if the place did not park the vehicle overnight, you gave the voucher yesterday, which means that the voucher is problematic.
2 / The voucher is given to the vehicle you are trying to remove. This is important, because if not, I can send in a bicycle, use the ticket of the bike to steal a good motorbike. To cover this gap, the garage often put the votes on the saddle. When you pull the car out, they will check to see if the number on the ticket and the seat number are the same. Anyone who thinks like a hacker will immediately see the flaw: what if someone deleted the number on the saddle, recorded another number? The common solution is to write the car number on the parking card. When you take the car out, the garage will check whether the number of cars on the ticket matches the number of cars on the license plate or not.
Back to the money transfer API design story. In addition to the 3 parameters of the recipient’s account, the sender’s account and the amount, the mobile app needs to attach the customer’s token. The server will have to check the following:
1 / Token is valid. Similar to the parking ticket, a valid token will have, for example, a valid electronic signature, expiry date, has not been revoked, etc. Many places use stateless solutions like OAuth or JWT. , but these solutions have many problems. No matter what, I want to save homework for readers.
2 / Token is owned by a user and he or she is allowed to transfer money from the sending account. In case each customer has only one account, the account number can be recorded on the token (like on the parking ticket with the vehicle number written on it). In case each customer can have multiple accounts, on the token can write a user ID (a phone number for example). From this user ID, you can retrieve (from core banking, for example) a list of accounts that users can transfer money to. The server will have to check to make sure the number of sending accounts is on this list.
I found out that the server did not perform the second step. In other words, I used a token of my own to pass the first check, but I changed the number of the sending account by the victim’s account number. I want to steal money. Before transferring money, the server requires OTP authentication via SMS. But, instead of sending OTP to the phone number of the sending account, the server sends OTP to the phone number in the token, which is my phone number.
I write “understand” because this product is not authenticated by token, but using a solution “growers” is quite confusing, but can summarize like this:
1 / The solution uses electronic signatures to authenticate customers.
2 / The server generates an RSA key set for each client.
3 / Mobile app uses the private key (private key) of the customer to sign all requests sent to the server, including authentication requests.
The obvious question is: how does a mobile app have a customer’s private key? Because the key set is created on the server (this is another vulnerability), the mobile app will have to download the private key from the server. Anyone who thinks like a hacker will immediately see a chicken and egg problem here: to authenticate you need a private key, but to have a private key you need to authenticate first!
The “solution” they use is to add an API that allows the mobile app to download any customer’s private key, just by knowing that customer’s phone number. In other words, this is an unauthenticated API where I can get my private key and thereby impersonate any account.
In short, this solution is only safe when people do not understand the protocol between the server and the mobile app. This is a violation of the Kerckhoff principle when designing security protocols.
A security system is an open system, everyone knows how it works, but no one can break it. If the security of the system depends on the assumption that no one knows how it works, sooner or later the system will be attacked. Tampering with the code or hiding the way the software works does not mean that it does not work to enhance the security of the system, but they cannot be the only protection. Translating software code is difficult, but a lot of people can do it.
The design of the system needs to be open because it only protects against vandalism, intrusion from the inside, which is the biggest threat to the banking system. Many bankers understand the protocol between a mobile app and a server, if these people want to steal money, how to stop them? They are still employees today, but what if they think about it later? This question can only be answered by building the system assuming that the attacker already knows the source code and design documentation.
Happy hacking!
Update : I would like to write a bit more about designing security solutions (security engineering) because this topic is related to the main article on situation and network security policy in Vietnam.
Designing and building authentication solutions for a mobile banking product is a hybrid of applied security and product security. This is neither easy nor difficult, but I think there are few people in Vietnam who do. The majority of security professionals in Vietnam focus on finding vulnerabilities, or network security, very few people can build solutions to solve common security issues such as identity access management including authentication, authorization and auditing, key / secret management or data protection.
What I wrote above, the questions I ask contain many suggestions for beginners in this area. If there is a confusing place, leave the jar, I will try to explain, but I recommend reading carefully, ponder, then design an authentic solution, try to break it and repeat. This is the best way to learn.
Chia sẻ bài viết ngay
Nguồn bài viết : Techtalk
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Computer Mcqs
MCQ: Computers, combine both measuring and counting, are called________________?
1. Analog
2. Digital
3. Hybrid
4. All of these
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Computer Mcqs
MCQ: Which key is used to increase left indent in Ms Word?
MCQ: which statement describe “Hackers”?
MCQ: To select a block of text, click at the beginning of the selection, scroll to the end of the selection, position the mouse pointer at the end of the selection, hold down the _________ key, and then click (or drag through the text) in Word Document.
MCQ: In which generation Computers vacuum tube were used?
MCQ: Shortcut key to insert a new worksheet in Excel is ____________.
MCQ: Note book, laptop,palm,hand-held computers are coming under the category of__________computer?
MCQ: The CPU and memory are located on the__________?
MCQ: In Microsoft Word the shortcut SHIFT+DELETE is used to____________?
MCQ: C’ in CPU denotes___________?
MCQ: Which option on the custom animation task pane allows you to apply a preset or custom motion path?
MCQ: Window key + U
MCQ: RTF stands for ________?
MCQ: Basic unit of a computer worksheet in which you enter text and numbers is known as __________ ?
MCQ: In MS-Word to insert Mathematically sign we use option:
MCQ: Small squares, called _________, on the selection rectangle that surrounds a graphic can be used to change the dimensions of the graphics in Ms Word.
MCQ: Where can you change the Vertical Alignment in Word Document?
MCQ: How can you disable extended selection mode in Ms Word?
MCQ: Which of the following can NOT be used to create parallel style column in Ms Word?
MCQ: Shimmer, Sparkle text, Blinking Background etc. are known as_________?
MCQ: You can embed a MS-Organization Chart in a slide by_____________?
MCQ: which of the following should you use if you want all the slides in the presentation to have the same look?
MCQ: The keyboard F12 key in Ms Word opens a____________?
MCQ: The _________ indents all the lines of a paragraph except first line in Ms Word.
MCQ: Ctrl + E Shortcut key is used in Ms Word to____________?
MCQ: A device through which we enter data in a computer known as ___________?
MCQ: What is the overall term for creating editing, formatting, storing, retrieving and printing a text document?
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Recruiting Back-end Developers in Belarus
What is a back-end developer?
Back-end refers to server-side development. This is a programmer who is responsible for the internal layout of the site (software, applications) and its internal logic. That is something a regular user doesn't see when using the site. But this is the basis without which the work of a front-end developer is simply impossible. They focus on databases, scripts, and website architecture. They contains behind-the-scenes actions that occur when performing any action on the website. This can be logging in to an account or making a purchase in an online store. Code written by back-end developers helps browsers interact with database information.
The most common example of back-end programming is when one reads a blog article. Fonts, colors, designs, etc. make up the front of the page. While the content of the article is rendered from the server and retrieved from the database. That's the internal part of the application.
To put it simply and clearly, the blood and the brain are the back-end, and the face and the looks are the front-end.
What a back-end developer should know and be able to do
Generally, of course, a back-end developer must have the skills to implement algorithms and solve system problems. The job of a back-end developer is to understand the goals of the website and come up with effective solutions. Another important task is data storage, as well as making sure that it is displayed to the user that is supposed to have access to it.
Designing a payment processing system for receiving data, storing that information securely, and charging for the payment. Managing API resources that run on different devices. They may be involved in the system architecture and data analysis. Developers are responsible for organizing the logic of the system that runs across different devices.
A back-end developer should also be involved in creating frameworks or architectures to facilitate programming.
Among the necessary skills, one could mention:
- Web development languages (such as Java, Python, Ruby, .Net, etc.);
- Database and cache (Knowledge of various DBMS technologies is one of the important skills. MySQL, MongoDB, Oracle, SQL Server, and Redis are widely used for this purpose. Knowledge of caching mechanisms, such as varnish, Memcached, Redis, is a plus);
- Server (Impact on the processing of Apache, Nginx, IIS, Microsoft IIS servers is desirable. A good background in Linux helps a lot in server administration);
- API (REST & SOAP) (Knowledge of web services or APIs is also important for full-stack developers. Knowledge of the creation and consumption of REST and SOAP services is desirable);
- Knowledge of front-end basics.
In general, the knowledge of a back-end developer can be divided as follows, depending on their level:
Average salary of a back-end developer in Belarus
The average salary of a back-end developer in Belarus ranges from $900 to $3,500. But one should understand that the figure will depend on the experience and skills of the developer. In our experience, there were also cases when the client was ready to agree on the salary suggested by the candidate, if, of course, the latter was up to par.
Average salary of a back-end developer in Russia
The average salary of a back-end developer in Russia ranges from $700 to $3,000. The salary of an intern will be about 40,000 Russian rubles, a Junior specialist -- about 60,000 Russian rubles, a Middle developer -- 100,000 Russian rubles, a Senior developer -- 180,000 Russian rubles, and a Lead -- 250,000 Russian rubles.
English knowledge requirement for a back-end developer
For any programmer (and back-end developers are no exception), knowledge of English is already a requirement, and, as a rule, with a technical bias. To date, it is very difficult to progress in the field of programming without knowledge of English, so, as a rule, we try to recruit developers with a level of English not lower than upper-intermediate. If the client does not need a developer with knowledge of English (and this does happen), we can very quickly help find a developer without knowledge of a foreign language.
Where back-end developers are trained in Belarus
There are many opportunities for obtaining education in the field of back-end development: such as various schools, online courses. Very often in practice, we meet guys who initially learned back-end development on their own (and this is not uncommon). Various IT companies conduct their own courses on back-end development, after which, if successful, candidates are offered a job in these companies.
In practice, it is often much more difficult to become a back-end developer than a front-end developer, because back-end developers often need to have a mathematical/physical education in order to better understand algorithms, functions, and patterns. Again, it is best to study on a real project, because it is in it that one will truly understand what back-end really is.
How to find us
If you'd like to use our back-end recruitment services, as well as get a quotation, please contact us:
+ 375 29 366 44 77 (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber)
Email address:
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Lithium-ion storage gives a big boost to rooftop solar deployment
Many major cities like Bengaluru in India, have frequent power cuts. Businesses and home owners have adapted and use lead acid battery packs for storage to tide over short power cuts. For longer power cuts, most businesses and some home owners make use of diesel generators. Although cheap, lead acid battery packs don’t last long. They are also bulky, heavy, and generate hazardous gases so one cannot keep them indoors. Diesel generators on the other hand are noisy, create smoke, and are a headache to maintain. Where do we go from here? How about looking up to the Sun!
In the last ten years, installation of rooftop solar power generation systems have been picking up steam, mainly due to fall in prices of solar panels. Solar panel prices have dropped from ten dollars per watt a decade ago to less than a dollar per watt. Even then, with out subsidy, the return on investment (ROI) for rooftop solar installation takes more than eight years. The economics can be improved if cheap battery storage is incorporated, i.e. energy generated during the day is stored for later use such as during the night. So far cheap battery storage has been elusive, but things are about to change for the better. Lithium-ion batteries for storage, which do not have any of the drawbacks of lead acid batteries, are getting cheaper because people are seeing the benefits of owning an electric vehicle (EV). Nearly all EVs use Lithium-ion batteries to store energy, which is used to propel and operate the vehicle. The question is why would someone be interested in getting an EV when internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle that uses petrol is so widely available. “If the costs are the same, then there is no question an EV is superior in every way to an ICE vehicle,” said P Venkat who camped overnight to put deposits for two Model 3 Tesla electric cars with a base price of $35,000 on March 31, 2016; about 18 months before delivery. The excitement was so palpable at Model 3 launch that Tesla received deposits for over 300,000 cars in a matter of days. “Compared to an ICE car, an electric car drives like a sports car but is quiet, has drastically low maintenance, is safer, emits zero toxic gases, and you start the day with full range,” added P Venkatesh. Seeing the rush in demand for EVs, over the next few years, nearly 20 new electric cars and SUVs will be launched by major car companies worldwide. India’s Mahindra already has the e2o (previously called REVA) on the market and Tata’s subsidiary in UK (Jaguar LandRover Ltd) is slated to release an all electric SUV in 2018.
Jaguar's I-PACE Concept
Jaguar’s I-PACE Concept
Each electric car carries a battery pack with thousand of lithium-ion cells which are charged and discharged (while in use). Because of the projected exponential increase in demand for lithium-ion cells world-wide, more suppliers have cropped up and prices have come down. The price of lithium-ion cells have fallen by 50% in the last year. Just recently Tesla announced the Lithium-ion cell based Powerwall 2 battery pack with double the capacity (14KWH) for the same price as Powerwall 1 (7KWH)
Powerwall 2
Powerwall 2
solar roof
Rooftop solar becomes much more economical and useful with storage incorporated, especially when grid supply is unreliable.
rooftop solar
Rooftop solar with storage and grid connection
In addition, if for all the good reasons you own an EV, your energy consumption doubles and having reliable power source becomes critical. For a typical home that uses 10-15KWH of energy a day, a 5KW solar panel installation would suffice. With about 5 hours of sunlight, about 25KWH of solar energy is generated a day. After powering the home, 10-15KWH can be stored in the battery. This can be used either to charge your electric car or during power (grid) shut downs. The Mahindra’s e2o electric car carries a 14KWH battery pack, so it can be easily be charged to get 140KM range daily. Where are we today? The cost of Lithium-ion battery storage is more than 50% of the cost of rooftop solar deployment. Lithium-ion battery manufacturing industry is at it’s nascent stage in India, so government can play an important role here. Government can help reduce the cost of Lithium-ion cells by incentivizing companies and entrepreneurs to manufacture Lithium-ion cells in mass-scale.
Ravi Lingarkar
Ravi Lingarkar is a serial entrepreneur with 2 successful exits with one of them being an IPO. <!--more-->Ravi Lingarkar is a serial entrepreneur with 2 successful exits with one of them being an IPO
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What is search engine optimization
Search engine optimization or more commonly known as SEO is a procedure undertaken which aims to improve a website’s appeal to the search engines. It is a process which involves a lot of tasks. Search engine optimization is essentially the process of optimizing a website or web application so that it can rank better in the search engine results. In relation, you may now be wondering what a search engine is. Almost everyone who has intermediate knowledge about the internet would know what it is. People with basic knowledge, like children or illiterate people, wouldn’t know what it is.
If asked the question, people would answer Google, Yahoo, Bing, Ask, etc. These though are examples of search engines. In definition, a search engine is an organized collection of data, otherwise known as a database, that uses algorithms to get the information you are requesting at a fast speed. The person using it only needs to input keywords. The search engine then looks for the most relevant information and lists all of them. This is the purpose of a search engine.
Once we fully understand how search engines work, we will also understand what SEO is. Search engines use “spiders” that gather information from the title, heading, description, content and several other areas of every site (or at least as many as possible) and check its relevance with the entered keyword. This process is called crawling or spidering.
An analogy of this can be made. Take into consideration a real spider. Its primary food is insects. Let’s say its favorite is flies. Flies are therefore considered the top priority because it was specified. However, if there are many types of flies, the spider will have a hard time picking. Though they are all considered flies, the spider needs to be specific sometimes. This is also true of real people searching on the web. Oftentimes they don’t have specific keywords. They only perform a vague search and therefore end up with many results. Though they are relevant, it will take time before they really find the thing they desire.
If you notice on some search engines, there are sponsor results that are always placed on top. These results are paid for and are therefore always visible. This service is called Paid/Pay per Click (PPC). This service is entirely different from SEO which aims to bring in traffic naturally at no cost.
By now, you already know how search engines operate. You were also made familiar with the goals of SEO or search engine optimization and how it can help anyone who understands it. SEO is your friend. So what are you waiting for? Start optimizing your website now.
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Rewrite the rules for how dollars reach students.
A district’s responsibility to their students and communities is not limited to spending dollars effectively or efficiently—they must also be spent equitably.
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Compare "what if" scenarios
With Allovue, districts can compare alternative “what if?” scenarios (with different enrollments or class size ratios, for example) and understand the effect on the way dollars flow to schools.
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Steer funding to student groups
Whether your allocation model is driven by staff assignments or student groups, you can distribute resources equitably with careful consideration for how student needs are embedded into the formula with Allovue.
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Explain school-level funding
With funding formula calculation breakdowns and easy-to-read summaries, Allovue’s turnkey reports help your district and wider community make sense of why schools get different levels of funding.
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Model and compare different funding formulas in seconds.
Whether you distribute dollars using a staffing model, student-based budgeting, or anything in between—modeling even minor changes can mean days of work. One partner reported that Allocate took their funding model prep from 3 weeks to 3 hours.
If student populations or enrollments are in flux, being able to quickly model the differences between scenarios is key to making data-driven decisions. With the ability to create an infinite number of enrollment projections and models for side-by-side comparison, Allocate makes distilling and communicating the nuance of different paths forward a breeze.Approach funding formula work confidently with Allocate >
Make sure the right resources are reaching your students.
Every student is different and requires different resources to educate—this process starts at the district-level when dollars are allocated to schools. Allocate allows districts to make student-based, data-driven decisions on how dollars should flow.
See Allocate in action>
After allocations are made and budget planning begins, communicating how principals and budget managers plan to utilize dollars to increase student outcomes is critical. With a budgeting tool that can support either “bucket” budgeting or line item granularity, dollars can be stewarded clearly and effectively.
Streamline your process with Budget >
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Turn data insights into actionable changes.
The journey toward resource equity is just as much about identifying what’s working as it is about identifying what’s not working. When a particular school or program performs well, digging into the data can illuminate initiatives that should be recreated elsewhere in the district.
Manage can help with that >
Whether you are considering lowering class sizes, closing or opening a school, or staffing a new program or initiative, calculating the cost is often an arduous process and can stall strategic conversations at key moments. With the ability to model changes instantly, questions about cost can be answered as they arise—keeping strategic work on track.
Get immediate insights with Allocate >
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Plan district and school budgets together in a collaborative online environment.
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The Surprising Ways Sleeping Positions Can Impact Health
Switching up the way you steal those Zzzz’s at night can transform how you feel during the day! Find out what the best sleeping position might be to maximize overall health.
The Surprising Ways Sleeping Positions Can Impact Health
Many people are aware of the physical and mental benefits of sleep, but what about how different sleep positions can impact health? Although it may seem far-fetched, switching up the way you steal those Zzzz's at night can transform how you feel during the day!
Find out how different sleeping positions can affect the quality of sleep and overall health here.
How Sleeping Affects Health
Considering humans spend nearly one-third of their life sleeping, optimizing it is essential, and factors beyond quantity matter. Many people think about aspects like light/darkness, mattresses, and pillows but do not even realize that sleeping position is important too.
Generally speaking, different sleep positions can affect health in the following ways:
• Increase or decrease risk of certain neurological diseases
• Promote or reduce aches and pains
• Improve or worsen functions of the gastrointestinal tract
• Improve or worsen spine alignment
• Promote positive or negative skin
• Promote or reduce breathing
Pros and Cons of Different Sleeping Positions
Indeed, all the different kinds of sleeping positions can impact health differently and the main pros and cons of each position are as follows.
Beyond being the best position for those who suffer from sleep apnea or snoring, there are not too many additional benefits. Using a thin head pillow can help reduce neck stress and slipping one under the pelvic region may reduce lower back pain. Interestingly, stomach sleeping is occasionally associated with better digestion, but mechanisms are still unclear as to why.
Unfortunately, stomach sleeping is known to:
• Cause neck and back pain
• Add stress to muscles and joints
• Increase pressure on the nerves in the hands and arms
• Compromise breathing by reducing lung volumes, thus restricting the movement of the diaphragm and rib cage
So for all those stomach sleepers, read on to find better sleep positions!
Fetal Position
The most popular one of all, the fetal sleeping position can reduce neck and back pain more than stomach sleeping, but less so than sleeping on the back. Mimicking how the baby is resting inside the uterus, the fetal position may be suitable for pregnant women.
The main cons of this position include poor neck and back alignment over time because the abnormal curvature strains the spine considerably and may limit breathing. Increased joint pain and stiffness are also associated with sleeping in the fetal position.
To mitigate some of these downsides, keep sleeping posture loose and relaxed when curled. Also, keep legs relatively extended or insert a pillow between the legs/knees.
Left Side
Laying on the left side at night can benefit sleep apnea and snoring because it optimizes breathing. This position is also associated with reducing neck and back pain, acid reflux, and joint pain/stiffness. Blood circulation fares better on this side, so it is especially helpful for improving blood flow and lessening pressure for pregnant women.
While this position improves breathing, it does not optimize heart function because the internal thoracic organs shift and put pressure on the heart. As a response, the heart may kick the kidneys into overdrive, increasing urination throughout the night. This position can also contribute to shoulder, lower back, and hip pain due to shifting spine curvature.
Right Side
Right side sleeping is not drastically different than its counterpart. While it doesn’t improve breathing, it can benefit the heart and subdue kidney function at night, meaning fewer trips to the restroom. This position is really only recommended if pain on the left side of the body is a problem.
On the other hand, gravity will naturally cause the heart to essentially fall onto the right lung, reducing the volume and function of that lung. The decreased lung volume can compromise blood oxygen levels and further strain the whole cardiovascular system. Thus, it is not recommended for anyone with pulmonary conditions to sleep in this position. Right side sleeping can also incur the same nerve and pain problems as the left side, but of course, on the right side of the body instead.
Upright sleeping usually only occurs when someone accidentally falls asleep in a chair. However, some adjustable mattresses also support this uncommon position as well. Sleeping in this position can reduce the collapse of the airway, diminishing snoring and acid reflux due to increased gravitational pressure of the lower esophageal sphincter. When positioned properly, it can potentially reduce back pain as well.
Beyond it being difficult for many to fall asleep in this position, thus reducing sleep quality, cons are minimal. However, one would not reap the benefits of some of the other sleeping positions in this one. Overall, it is a pretty neutral position to sleep, but again, not worth it if it affects sleep quality.
Sleeping on the back offers the most health benefits because it protects the spine and may also help relieve hip and knee pain. The Cleveland Clinic discusses how back-sleeping naturally uses gravity to keep the body in alignment over the spine, subsequently reducing unnecessary pressure on the spine and on joints.
Putting a pillow behind the knees may help support the natural curve of the back. Propping feet on a pillow can also reduce swelling of the feet and ankles and reduce the impacts of chronic heart failure.
In addition, this position keeps skin youthful by protecting it from the pillow or gravity-induced wrinkles. It is also safest for infants as it minimizes the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Conversely, back sleeping is a poor choice for anyone who suffers from sleep apnea or snoring as it can make the condition worse and snoring louder.
Conditions Most Affected by Sleep Position
Certain health conditions can be affected by sleep, including sleep apnea and even skin health.
Back & Neck Pain
As already alluded to, back sleeping is best for reducing lower back pain. Back sleeping sometimes upper back and neck pain as well because it best preserves spine alignment.
Experimenting with different pillows and mattresses can also help improve these conditions.
Snoring & Sleep Apnea
Because the airways collapse during sleep in people with sleep apnea, this can lead to pauses in breathing and heightened snoring.
Sleeping on the left side optimizes breathing most, but any of the side positions are slightly better than the fetal. They are also much better than the back for these conditions.
Heartburn & Acid Reflux
These two annoyances can greatly benefit from the upright sleep position or lying on the back as they reduce the instance of acid moving in the wrong direction. Both of these sleeping ways utilize natural gravity to keep the esophageal sphincter closed.
Sleeping on the right side in any fashion aggravates heartburn and acid reflux, thus, is not recommended.
Skin Health
First of all, who knew that sleep positions affected skin health so vigorously? But alas, gravity is at play here again. Stomach and side sleeping can pull the skin down over time, leading to bacteria build-up (hello acne) and more wrinkles.
The sleep jury concludes that back sleeping minimizes these problems.
IBS & Stomach Aches/Pains
Little research supports how sleeping on the stomach reduces IBS irritation, but anecdotal evidence frequently references this. Instead, research does indicate that left-side sleeping aids digestion by increasing waste elimination.
Basically, it allows for the small intestine to naturally transfer digested food and waste to the large intestine located in the lower right abdomen.
Interestingly, left-side sleeping also helps clear interstitial waste, cleansing the brain and reducing the risk of developing Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other neurological diseases as well.
The Takeaway
By now, most understand the impact of getting enough sleep on overall health. However, many fewer people are aware that sleep position can affect the quality of that sleep.
Some sleep positions like the back promote better spine alignment, therefore reducing pain. However, others such as stomach sleeping contribute to an over-curved spine and, thus, increase neck and back pain. Sleeping on the side can promote optimal breathing, and the left side even more so. Moreover, certain positions also affect neurological, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and skin conditions.
Lastly, while it can feel irritating to train the body to sleep differently, practice and perseverance are the best tools to utilize. Over time, new positions will become easier to maintain until, one day, they actually feel comfortable!
Chesak J. How These 3 Sleep Positions Affect Your Gut Health. Healthline. Published June 29, 2018.
Choosing the Best Sleep Position. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
Peters B. The Best and Worst Sleep Positions for Health Conditions. Verywell Health. Medically Reviewed January 15, 2020.
Sutton J. Best Sleeping Position for Better Sleep and Health. Healthline. Updated December 3, 2018.
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Written By Sydney Lappe, MS, RDN. Published on April 28, 2021. Updated on May 20, 2021.
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What is Ash in Dog Food & Its Importance in 2021
Why do they print Ash on Dog Food Package and What is Ash in Dog Food? Let me tell you it is not what you think it is, read along to find out more. Most Importantly, It’s not a filler intentionally used to dilute a recipe.
Lets say, You stroll into a pet shop.
You are searching for some heavenly nourishment for your little furball.
Then run over the expression “Ash” and that without a doubt doesn’t sound appealing, on the contrary, it feels gross.
Indeed, reading the term ash on pet food can open ways to confusion and ambiguity.
By and large, the term ash on pet food is generally mixed up by fillers that are added to build up and dilute the food.
Ash otherwise called crude ash speaks to the mineral substance accessible in your canine food, as for the terminology, it is likely a result of the extras i.e. they are non-flammable components that are left when you burn nutrients.
One thing for sure is ash at moderate levels is something worth being thankful for.
Peruse along to discover what precisely ash is and how it can profit your little fuzzy fella.
What Does Ash Mean in Dog Food?
No, no, it is not what you think it is, albeit the name might be confusing.
Yes, reading ash as content in dog food seems very discomforting as to why would someone use ash in food and why would someone eat it.
The term Ash or Crude Ash labeled on Dog Food packaging simply is a group of mineral content present in the food and is measured the same way as protein and fibers. It is mentioned as inorganic material or crude ash on the backside of the label. The included minerals are phosphorous, copper, calcium, selenium, and so forth.
If you take a full bag of dry pet food and burn it then most of the nutrients present will burn without a trace, however, what’s left will be the minerals.
They are the inorganic minerals or substances that are present in the food.
Therefore, when you find the term ash, crude ash, incinerated residue, inorganic substance it simply means those leftover minerals.
These minerals are necessary for dogs and so dog’s food cannot be made without ash.
The level of ash content should be adequate and it will be a deciding factor when it comes to the quality.
Bones in some diet also adds up to the level of ash content, as bones are known for containing a ton of minerals.
Ash levels are really important as you get a clear idea of how much minerals you want and whether they are in excess or not for your dog.
Fact | Corn gluten meal in dog meal is a by-product of processed corn. It’s an excellent source of protein and amino acids for your dog.
Why Ash is Used in Pet Foods?
Ash or otherwise known as the incinerated residue is also found in the Guaranteed Analysis label, it is also made from bones, scales, and shells of marine animals.
They are high in calcium and phosphorous which are beneficial for animals as well as for fishes.
Ash is never used as a single ingredient but it is recorded on the name as a pointer of mineral substance.
Minerals are another class of nutrients that is necessary for your pet’s body and health.
They must be incorporated to ensure a solid and healthy diet. Minerals such as calcium, magnesium, and phosphorous are great for animals’ body functioning and development.
So they are used in pet food to maintain the nutritional requirement of your pet.
As they are minerals their intake amount should be adequate and limited.
Your pet’s need for nutrients should be met by his daily diet.
But once the requirement is met there is no need to increase the levels of ash content.
Note: Read about what is venison meal in dog food here and find out why it is good in your dog’s food.
Importance of Ash in Dog Food
Ash content in dog food
Nutrition is key for pets to grow and function properly.
For a healthy body, nutrients are the first thing to look for, and as mentioned before that minerals belong to nutrients that are necessary for your canines growth and healthy body.
Ash is the needed filler for dogs. They require about a minimum of 2% ash content in wet food to keep their nutritional requirements in check as well as improving body fluid.
As it contains phosphorous, calcium, and other trace minerals it also enhances the bone and teeth of your pup.
Ash content varies and depends on the product.
Generally, you will find that most of the commercial pet products have ash around 5 to 8% which is adequate for dry foods. So ash content anywhere between 5 to 7% is great but more than that is high.
It is important to note that higher amounts of ash content are not good for your dog’s body.
A lot of ash can be a problem as well, it could cause gastrointestinal issues and too much of one mineral can repress the take-up of another, either straightforwardly or by binding.
Not to mention, the excess of phosphorous can lead to several kidney problems.
Looking ash on the label should not be a matter of concern as it is required for your dog’s survival. Just make sure that it is taken in moderation and at adequate levels.
Note: Canola meal in dog food is an ingredient that remains after removing the oil from the seed. It has a great amount of protein, vitamins, and minerals with an excellent amino acid profile that helps dogs to build their muscles.
Is Low Ash Content Good?
Lower ash content is great and it typically means that the pet food has fewer fillers and high quality of food.
The more pertinent question is understanding how much mineral your dog requires and how much the food is offering.
This way you get the idea of how it is going to affect your dog and whether it is healthy or not.
Traditionally, wet foods come between 1 to 2% ash content while dry food comes between 5 to 8% and it has been observed up to 10%.
The percentages vary according to the product and ingredients used. Usually, fish and chicken meat will have less amount of ash content whilst red meat have higher content.
Mostly higher quality of meat will contain less amount of ash content as it contains less bone than other meats.
Generally, you’d have to include a low ash content food if you happen to have large breeds puppies or dogs with some urinary or kidney tract problems.
For large breed puppies, it is recommended to feed them a low ash content diet.
The main reason for this is as high ash content contains huge amounts of calcium and phosphorous.
And feeding them would result in unnecessary growth which may have a negative impact on their bones and joints.
Similarly, high traces of phosphorus can be the culprit in the formation of bladder stones or kidney problems.
So if your canine is suffering from any sorts of kidney problems then they are better off with high-ash content food.
Know More: Chicken Meal In Dog Food | Beef Meal In Dog Food | Lamb Meal In Dog Food
Is Ash in Dog Food Safe for Dogs?
If you find ash in your dog’s food label then there is no reason to worry about it is completely healthy and safe.
It denotes that your dog is getting the needed nutrition for better body development and functioning.
Just so you know, the main thing here is to understand the percentages and how much your pooch actually needs.
If you are looking for numbers then the food with ash content above 10% means that there are more filler and lower quality of meat which you should totally avoid.
With that being said, the best way to ensure that your puppy is getting the ideal amount of balanced ash content is by feeding higher quality meat as well as moisture in his/her diet.
This can be achieved by simply removing meat by-products and low quality of meat. Additionally, you can also feed them dehydrated, freeze-dried, canned, air-dried, and raw dog foods.
Do you know? Turkey meal and salmon meal in dog food are protein rich ingredients
Ingredients Labelled as Ash in Dog Food
Many state guidelines require pet food to ensure the rough rates of crude protein and fat as well as the greatest rates of moisture and crude fiber.
This is known as Guaranteed Analysis, the term crude represents the particular strategy for testing the item, not the nature of the supplement itself.
Ingredients Labelled as Ash in Dog Food
A few producers incorporate guarantees for different nutrients as well. The maximum percentage of ash is mostly guaranteed, for canine food the least levels of phosphorous, calcium, sodium, linoleic acid, zinc, iron, magnesium, sulfur, and iodine are found on certain items.
Do you know? There are many benefits of adding pork meal to dog food. Find all the benefits here.
What is crude ash in dog food?
As per FDA, Incinerated residue or otherwise known as Ash or crude ash is just the indicator that shows the mineral content of your dog’s food. It represents minerals such as iron, phosphorous, magnesium, calcium, and so forth. It is also referred to as inorganic matter, so when you find crude ash mentioned on your pet food, it simply means the amount of minerals.
Is ash bad for dogs?
Ash is crucial for your little furry companion’s growth and body functioning as it contains necessary minerals. So it is good for your dog, but with that being said, make sure that your pup is receiving it in healthy amounts.
How to determine ash content in dog food?
If you are using a dog food that hasn’t mentioned the ash content then you can estimate the percentage of 2.5% for wet dog food and 8% for dry dog food, give or take a few percentages. Another way to find ash content can be by burning your canines food, which will burn the organic materials and leave behind the inorganic matter or also known as ash.
Is ash added to dog food is a single ingredient?
No, ash represents the mineral content as a whole, so ash is not a single ingredient, but it is an indicator that displays the mineral content of a particular food.
The Final Note
So now that you are acquainted with what ash is in dog food and its importance.
The next time you see the ash labeled on the dog food, you don’t have to worry.
You can take a sigh of relief as it is not some burned content of a tree. With that being said make sure to check out with your vet that if your pooch needs a high ash content or low ash content diet.
Ash is just the indicator of mineral contents available in your dog’s food and that is crucial for your dog’s growth. As long as you are taking and feeding your pup with moderate and adequate levels of ash content then there is no cause for concern.
Just a recaller, that 5 to 8% of ash content is healthy for your dog if you are feeding dry food, and as far as wet food is concerned then it is about 2% of ash content.
For balanced intake make sure to look for food with high-quality meat or if possible no meat meals and by-products.
Also Read:
1. Rendered Ingredients in Dog Food
2. Alfalfa Meal In Dog Food
3. Duck Meal in Dog Food
1. Pet Food Labels – General [1]
2. Pet Food Quality Assurance and Safety and Quality Assurance Survey [2]
3. How to Understand a Dog or Cat Food Label [3]
4. Evaluation of phosphorus, calcium, and magnesium content in commercially available foods formulated for healthy cats [4]
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A direct romantic relationship exists when ever two elements X and Y are related to each other in such a way that 1 influences the other without being dependent on the other due to the existence. These kinds of a marriage exists when ever there is an exchange of something great for something cambodian mail order bride else of alike or lower value. An example of a direct marriage is the relationship among how much meals was used at a gathering and the total food consumption in the meeting.
Correlation is also you on the concepts that explain how come there is a proper relationship among two elements. This concept made use of in psychology studies the connection among variables A and Con and talks about why some variable Con will cause an opposite correlation between Times and Unces. Let us look at an example using basketball. The correlation inside the data place between a player’s record production as well as the number of meets he gets per game, his shooting percentage and rebounding statistics, each and every one come out being a negative relationship. However , whenever we find that participant A obtains more splashes per game but possesses a low rebounding percentage afterward we can deduce that this person is a poor rebounder and doesn’t rebound well.
But once we find that player C has a high rebounding percentage but consumes more splashes per video game then we can conclude that this person is an effective rebounder so, who enjoys good touch. This conclusion could be the opposite of player A’s assumption. As a result, we have a direct relationship between X and Con and we own another sort of parallel the distribution. Parallel distribution is also utilized for statistics showing a normal the distribution. Therefore , it is also possible to draw a horizontal sections through the data set by simply calculating the related decrease over the x-axis and applying this kind of to the y-axis.
Graphs can easily illustrate human relationships between two variables by making use of a least square imply. For instance, the information set represented by the plotted lines can be used to illustrate the direct marriage between temperatures and humidity. The data collection can represent the normal the distribution or the journal normal and also the exponential contour. An appropriate graph could highlight the extreme value along one of the x-axis and the severe value along the y axis. Similarly, we are able to plot a normal curve or maybe a lognormal competition and use the appropriate graphical language to depict the relationship depicted in the graph.
Visual representations can be made with mountains and interceptors by using the trapezoidal function. All of us denote the interceptor because S and denote the slope on the curve or perhaps line while A. Once the trapezoid is created the stand out stand, you can pick the appropriate worth for the regression, which can be the Individual Variable, the dependent adjustable, the regression estimate, the intercept and slope within the independent adjustable. These worth are entered into the cellular material representing the details points for the dependent variable.
Also, you’ll have the ability to locate a simple solution for each question that you will be facing, and you’ll be able to make it through the learn professional research paper writing service entire process without wasting a lot of your time.
Correlation describes the direct romantic relationship between two independent variables. For instance, the correlation among temperature and humidity is huge when the temps is chilled and low when the temperature is incredibly hot. The high value indicates the relation among these two factors is positive and hence there is also a strong possibility for their relationship to be valid. More precisely, the slope of the series connecting the 2 x-axis worth represents the correlation amongst the dependent variable plus the independent varying. The intercept can also be entered into the formula to indicate the slope with the correlation between two factors. Hence, the relationship depicts the direct relationship between the structured variable plus the independent variable.
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• Dillon Andrews - Jandamarra descendant and tour guide who retraces the steps of Jandamarra. (The Point)Source: The Point
At Tunnel Creek, 120 years ago, a Bunuba man was killed and a legend was born.
Craig Quartermaine
3 Apr 2017 - 10:46 AM UPDATED 3 Apr 2017 - 9:02 PM
He’s been described as a criminal, traitor or even a rebel but to the Bunuba people Jandamarra was a hero. The Bunuba warrior who made a stand and his story has grown from legend to Australian history.
The mighty Fitzroy River is flooded, the spill ways and rivers of the Kimberley are flowing heavily this wet season – the water has breathed life into a landscape that was home and protector to the warrior Jandamarra, 120 years ago. Jandamarra’s home land where the King Leopold Ranges and Wadjina Gorge sheltered the Bunuba from the encroaching Europeans.
Jandamarra’s mother would eventually move to the cattle stations of the area for work and brought her son where he learned how to ride horses and would become a master of the rifle.
It’s this early interaction with the European settlers of the Kimberley that Jandamarra’s ability to resist was born. According to historian Howard Pederson Jandamarra was known as Pigeon and was taught to use those skills to shoot and worked with the white man so he had no fear and so was taught the skills he would later use to resist the oppressors.
Pederson has made Jandamarra’s story his life’s work after hearing about the legendary warrior while back packing through the Kimberley as a young man. It was that research that was combined with the shared knowledge of the Bunuba people where the Jandamarra legend took on new life, ultimately taking form in the 2011 documentary Jandamarra’s War.
Jandamarra lost his connection to his people and his culture for a tragic period of his life where he would help track and capture other Aboriginal people after befriending an Englishman named Richardson. A personal conflict grew in Jandamarra when he was challenged by an Bunuba Elder named Ellemarra to decide between his friend or his people. Jandamarra would shoot and kill Richardson, escaping back in to the bush began his life as an outlaw.
On the 10th of November 1894 Jandmarra would be a part of an ambush on five white men herding cattle through Bunuba country it was believed to be the first time attack of its kind in Australia. Premier John Forrest reacted by launching a man hunt for the criminal Jandamarra, calling for the head of the Bunuba warrior.
For three years Jandamarra elluded authorities and frustrated the police who captured and killed Aboriginal people believed to be hiding Jandamarra - his legend only grew.
The Premier grew desperate and brought in an Aboriginal tracker from the Pilbara known as “Mingo Mick” or “Roebourne Micky” following a three day shoot out Jandamarra was wounded. While he lay down bleeding from the deadly shot of Ming Mick, the local Chief of Police stepped by insisted on firing the kill shot.
Jandamarra’s head was taken like so many warriors of the past as a trophy, but his name and legacy lives on in the land and with the Bunuba people.
Pemulwuy and other Indigenous heroes now in HSC mix
One of Australia’s most feared but largely unknown resistance fighters, Pemulwuy, could soon have his legacy taught in schools throughout New South Wales.
8 war heroes you didn't learn about in school
The Frontier Wars was the bloodiest conflict on Australian soil. We look at eight of the warriors who fought for their people and their land against colonial forces.
Join hosts Karla Grant, Rae Johnston, Allan Clarke, Ryan Liddle and Natalie Ahmat for hard hitting news and current affairs when The Point returns weeknights at 9pm.
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Black-billed cuckoo
Black-billed cuckoo
Coccyzus erythropthalmus
Photo by JimFenton (Birds of the Bible for Kids)
Common name:
black-billed cuckoo (en); cuco-de-bico-preto (pt); coulicou à bec noir (fr); cuclillo piquinegro (es); schwarzschnabelkuckuck (de)
Order Cuculiformes
Family Cuculidae
This species is found breeding in southern Canada, from Alberta east to Quebec, and in the eastern United States, from Montana to Maine and south to Texas and South Caroline. They migrate south to winter in Venezuela, Colombia and through Ecuador and Peru into Bolivia and extreme western Brazil.
These birds are 28-31 cm long and have a wingspan of 34-40 cm. They weigh 40-65 g.
The black-billed cuckoo is found breeding in woodlands such as aspen, poplar, birch, sugar maple, hickory, hawthorn, and willow, and also in scrublands, especially near rivers, streams and lakes. They winter in tropical forests and scrublands. This species occurs from sea level up to an altitude of 2.000 m.
They are omnivorous, mainly eating large insects, such as cicadas, caterpillars, katydids, butterflies, grasshoppers, beetles, bugs, dragonflies and crickets, but also the eggs of other birds, fruits and seeds, and also snails, aquatic larvae and even fish.
Black-billed cuckoos breed in May-September. They are monogamous and both sexes help build the nest, which consists of a shallow cup made of twigs and grasses and lined with dead or green leaves, pine needles, stalks, plant fibres, rootlets, mosses, and spider webs. It is placed among the leaves of a tree or scrub, up to 2 m above the ground. The female lays 2-5 greenish-blue eggs, which are incubated by both parents for 10-11 days. The chicks are fed by both parents and fledge 16-17 days after hatching and become independent 1 weeks later. Each pair raise 1-2 broods per season.
IUCN status – LC (Least Concern)
This species has a very large breeding range. There is no reliable population estimate, but the population has undergone a small decrease over the last 4 decades.
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Political System _ Confederations and federations
Saturday, 04 July 2020
(Continued from Yesterday)
The simple forms of oligarchic rule associated with pre-industrial societies are, of course, rapidly disappearing. Industrialization produces new, differentiated elites that replace the small leadership groupings that once controlled social, economic, and political power in the society. The demands of industrialization compel recruitment on the basis of skill, merit, and achievement rather than on the basis of inherited social position and wealth. New forms of oligarchic rule have also made their appearance in many advanced industrial societies. Although governing elites in these societies are no longer recruited from a single class, they are often not subjected to effective restraints on the exercise of their power. Indeed, in some circumstances, the new elites may use their power to convert themselves into a governing class whose interests are protected by every agency of the state.
Oligarchic tendencies of a lesser degree have been detected in all the great bureaucratic structures of advanced political systems. The growing complexity of modern society and its government thrusts ever greater power into the hands of administrators and committees of experts. Even in constitutional regimes, no fully satisfactory answer has been found to the question of how these bureaucratic decision makers can be held accountable and their powers effectively restrained without, at the same time, jeopardizing the efficiency and rationality of the policy-making process.
Constitutional government
Constitutional government is defined by the existence of a constitution _which may be a legal instrument or merely a set of fixed norms or principles generally accepted as the fundamental law of the polity_that effectively controls the exercise of political power. The essence of constitutionalism is the control of power by its distribution among several state organs or offices in such a way that they are each subjected to reciprocal controls and forced to cooperate in formulating the will of the state. Although constitutional government in this sense flourished in England and in some other historical systems for a considerable period, it is only recently that it has been associated with forms of mass participation in politics. In England, for example, constitutional government was not harnessed to political democracy until after the Reform Act of 1832 and subsequent 19th-century extensions of the suffrage. In the contemporary world, however, constitutional governments are also generally democracies, and in most cases they are referred to as constitutional democracies or constitutional-democratic systems.
The contemporary political systems that combine constitutionalism and democracy share a common basis in the primacy they accord to the will of the majority of the people as expressed in free elections. In all such systems, political parties are key institutions, for they are the agencies by which majority opinion in a modern mass electorate is mobilized and expressed. Indeed, the history of the political party in its modern form is coincidental with the development of contemporary constitutional-democratic systems. In each case, the transition from the older forms of constitutionalism to modern constitutional democracy was accompanied by the institutionalization of parties and the development of techniques of party competition.
The essential functions of political parties in a constitutional democracy are the integration of a multitude of interests, beliefs, and values into one or more programs or proposals for change and the nomination of party members for elective office in the government. In both functions, the party serves as a link between the rulers and the ruled: in the first case by allowing the electorate to register an opinion on policy and in the second by giving the people a chance to choose their rulers. Of course, the centralized, autocratically directed, and ideologically orthodox one-party systems of totalitarian regimes perform neither of these functions.
The two major types of constitutional democracy in the modern world are exemplified by the United States and Great Britain. The United States is the leading example of the presidential system of constitutional democracy; Britain, although its system is sometimes referred to as a cabinet system in recognition of the role of the cabinet in the government, is the classic example of the parliamentary system. The U.S. presidential system is based on the doctrine of separation of powers and distinguishes sharply between the personnel of the legislature and the executive; the British parliamentary system provides for the integration or fusion of legislature and executive. In the U.S. system the separation of legislature and executive is reinforced by their separate election and by the doctrine of checks and balances that provides constitutional support for routine disagreements between the branches; in the British system the integration of legislature and executive is reinforced by the necessity for their constant agreement, or for a condition of “confidence” between the two, if the normal processes of government are to continue. In the U.S. system reciprocal controls are provided by such devices as the presidential veto of legislation (which may be overridden by a two-thirds majority in Congress), the Senate’s role in ratifying treaties and confirming executive nominations, congressional appropriation of funds and the exclusive ability to declare war, and judicial review of legislation; in the British system the major control device is the vote of “no confidence” or the rejection of legislation that is considered vital.
A third type of constitutional democracy is the hybrid presidential-parliamentary system, exemplified by the government of France. In such systems there is both a directly elected president with substantial executive powers and a presidentially appointed prime minister, who must retain majority support in the legislature.
If the president’s party or coalition also controls a legislative majority, the prime minister is generally a secondary figure, responsible for the day-to-day running of the government. However, the office of prime minister becomes more important when one party or coalition controls the presidency and a rival party or coalition retains majority support in the legislature. During such periods the president generally appoints the leader of the legislative majority as prime minister.
Contemporary levels of government
Most national societies have passed through a stage in their social and political development, usually referred to as feudalism, in which a weak and ineffectively organized national government competes for territorial jurisdiction with local power holders. In medieval England and France, for example, the crown was perennially threatened by the power of the feudal nobles, and a protracted struggle was necessary before the national domain was subjected to full royal control. Elsewhere, innumerable societies continued to experience this kind of feudal conflict between local magnates and the central government well into the modern era. The warlords of 19th- and 20th-century China, for example, were just as much the products of feudal society as the warring barons of 13th-century England and presented the same kind of challenge to the central government’s claim to exercise sovereign jurisdiction over the national territory. By the 1970s, feudalism was almost extinct. The social patterns that had formerly supported the power of local landowners were rapidly disappearing, and central governments had generally acquired a near monopoly of communications and military technology, enabling them to project their power into areas once controlled by local rulers.
In nearly all national political systems, central governments are better equipped than ever before to exercise effective jurisdiction over their territories. In much of the developing world, nationalist political movements and a variety of modern economic forces have swept away the traditional structures of local government, and the quasi-autonomous governments of village and tribe and province have been replaced by centrally directed systems of subnational administration. Even in the heavily industrialized states of the modern world, there has been an accelerating tendency toward greater centralization of power at the national level. In the United States, for example, the structure of relationships among the governments at the national, state, and local levels has changed in a number of ways to add to the power of the federal government in Washington. Even though the system of national grants-in-aid appears to have been designed as a means of decentralizing administration, the effect has been decidedly centralist, for the conditional character of the grants has allowed the federal government to exercise influence on state policies in fields that were once invulnerable to national intervention.
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The DALC Project - Amethyst Mine
View the Entire Cleanup Slideshow
Located on the Amethyst vein, the Amethyst Mine was likely the Creede Mining District’s richest producer. At its height, miners were extracting 35 tons of ore each day. An aerial tramway was constructed to transport this ore two miles from the top of West Willow’s steep canyon slopes to a set of holding bins on the Denver Rio Grande Railroad in North Creede. Several buildings were constructed including a surface plant, sorting plant, assay shop, and mill.
Mining began in 1891 and continued until the 1930’s.
The WCRC implemented BMPs at the Amethyst waste rock pile to reduce sediment and metal loading in West Willow Creek. The project included pulling back waste piles from the creek, constructing a deep channel to divert run-off, and placing rip rap along the creek to anchor the waste pile slope. The area was then vegetated with an appropriate seed mix.
Closer to the creek, debris and water control structures were installed to reduce sediment loading from road and waste pile erosion. A portion of the Amethyst pile lies in a very narrow canyon with an essential road crossing. Therefore water control is necessary to keep the creek in its channel and reduce the risk of significant erosion of the waste during a high-water event.
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Teachers, save “Capitalization and Punctuation” to assign it to your class.
Paige Coulter
Student Instructions
Capitalization and Punctuation
1. Tap add Add to open the activity. 2. Read each sentence and notice the capitals and punctuation marks. 3. Use drawing to circle the errors. 4. Use label to write the sentence correctly. 5. Tap check and upload to your journal.
3rd Grade, Writing, English Language Arts, English Language Learners
1288 teachers like this
Students will edit this template:
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Karl Deisseroth profile: using light to control neurons, understand brain diseases
Image from the NIH
Nature ran a great profile of our grantee Karl Deisseroth, who has a New Faculty Award to develop ways of controlling neurons derived from stem cells. He’s the Stanford bioengineer who recently made such a splash with his see-through brain (that’s the technology on display in this most awesome video ever).
Deisseroth’s career path changed during a medical school rotation in psychiatry:
“Everything changed when I did my psychiatry rotation. A person can be right in front of you who looks intact, not obviously injured, and yet their brain is constructing for them a completely different reality. At the same time I saw how deep the suffering was.”
His work since then reflects that interest in understanding and treating diseases of the brain. Many stem cell projects involve maturing stem cells in a lab dish to become a type of neuron that goes awry in particular diseases. These studies–called disease-in-a-dish–have been effective for learning how diseases form and beginning to develop drugs, but Deisseroth told Nature that he wanted to understand those functions in the context of the whole brain. That’s easier said than done, given that studying an actual functioning brain is hardly straightforward.
That’s where the bioengineering comes in.
Deisseroth and his collaborators found a way of getting neurons to incorporate a type of protein from algae that is sensitive to light. Researchers can then use a certain wavelength of light to essentially turn those cells on and off. As part of his New Faculty Award, he and his team used the technology to, among other things, understand which neurons should be stimulated to reduce symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. The technique, called optogenetics, was named Method of the Year in 2011. (Bruce Goldman at Stanford wrote a remarkably understandable story about this complicated technique and its discovery.)
In his public description of his New Faculty Award, Deisseroth wrote:
This process of “stem cell differentiation” is slow, costly, laborious, variable, prone to error and contamination, and ultimately rate-limiting in the long road leading to clinical translation.
Although his work hasn’t eliminated all of those barriers, it’s a significant step toward the ultimate goal of developing stem cell therapies for the types of diseases that first turned his attention to understanding the brain.
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A brief and also incomplete history of Windows localization
The process by which Windows has been localized has changed over the years. Back in the days of 16-bit Windows, Windows was developed with a single target language: English. Just English. After Windows was complete and masters were sent off to the factory for duplication, the development team handed the source code over to the localization teams. “Hey, by the way, we shipped a new version of Windows. Go localize it, will ya?” While the code that was written for the English version was careful to put localizable content in resources, there were often English-specific assumptions hard-coded into the source code. For example, it may have assumed that the text reading direction was left-to-right or assumed that a single character fit in a single byte. (Unicode hadn’t been invented yet.) The first assumption is not true for languages such as Hebrew and Arabic (which read right-to-left), and to a lesser degree Chinese and Japanese (which read top-to-bottom in certain contexts). The second assumption is not true for languages like Chinese, Japanese, and Korean, which use DBCS (double-byte character sets). The localization teams made the necessary code changes to make Windows work in these other locales and merged them back into the master code base. The result was that there were three different versions of the code for Windows, commonly known as Western, Middle-East, and Far-East. If you wanted Windows to support Chinese, you had to buy the Far-East version of Windows. And since the code was different for the three versions, they had different sets of bugs, and workarounds for one version didn’t always work on the others. (Patches didn’t exist back then, there being no mechanism for distributing them.) If you ran into a problem with a Western language, like say, German, then you were out of luck, since there was no German Windows code base; it used the same Western code base. Windows 95 tried out a crazy idea: Translate Windows into German during the development cycle, to help catch these only-on-German problems while there was still time to do something about it. This, of course, created significant additional expense, since you had to have translators available throughout the product cycle instead of hiring them just once at the end. I remember catching a few translation errors during Windows 95: A menu item Sort was translated as Art (as in “What sort of person would do this?”) rather than Sortieren (“put in a prearranged order”). And a command line tool asked the user a yes/no question, promting “J/N” (Ja/Nein), but if you wanted to answer in the affirmative, you had to type “Y”. The short version of the answer to the question “Why can’t the localizers change the code if they have to?” is “Because the code already shipped. What are you going to do, recall every copy of Windows?” At least in Windows 95, the prohibition on changing code was violated if circumstances truly demanded them, but doing so was very expensive. The only one I can think of is the change to remove the time zone highlighting from the world map. And the change was done in the least intrusive possible way: Patching four bytes in the binary to make the highlight and not-highlight colors the same. You dare not do something like introduce a new variable; who knows what kinds of havoc could result! Having all these different versions of Windows made servicing very difficult, because you had to develop and test a different patch for each code base. Over the years, the Windows team has developed techniques for identifying these potential localization problems earlier in the development cycle. For a time, Windows was “early-localized” into German and Japanese, so as to cover the Western and Far-East scenarios. Arabic was added later, expanding coverage to the Mid-East cases, and Hindi was added in Windows 7 to cover languages which are Unicode-only. Translating each internal build of Windows has its pros and cons: The advantage is that it can find issues when there is still time to make code changes to address them. The disadvantage is that code can change while you are localizing, and those code changes can invalidate the work you’ve done so far, or render it pointless. For example, somebody might edit a dialog you already spent time translating, forcing you to go back and re-translate it, or at least verify that the old translation still works. Somebody might take a string that you translated and start using it in a new way. Unless they let you know about the new purpose, you won’t know that the translation needs to be re-evaluated and possibly revised. The localization folks came up with a clever solution which gets most of the benefits while avoiding most of the drawbacks: They invented pseudo-localization, which simulates what Michael Kaplan calls “an eager and hardworking yet naïve intern localizer who is going to translate every single string.” This was so successful that they hired a few more naïve intern localizers, one which performed “Mirrored pseudo-localization” (covering languages which read right-to-left) and “East Asian pseudo-localization” (covering Chinese, Japanese, and Korean).
But the rule prohibiting code changes remains in effect. Changing any code resets escrow, which means that the ship countdown clock gets reset back to its original value and all the testing performed up until that point needs to be redone in order to verify that the change did not affect them.
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Chapter 1
Look before you write
Writing effective instructions is an achievement. Modern instructions shouldn’t just be a list of useful directions. They embrace the aesthetic and conventions of our time: highly visual, sleek, interactive, and well-designed. And when they’re done right, they’re a pathway to empowerment.
A fixed car
Right now, you’re probably excited to get writing. But before you start galloping off into the tech writing sunset, know this: most of the manuals and guides out there are written by people who have no firsthand knowledge of the subject matter. We think that’s a problem. It takes more than just writing skill to write a good manual: it also takes understanding. There are two laws of tech writing:
1. Know thy product and process
2. Talk to thy experts
Know thy Products and Process
The first requirement for tech writing is knowledge. You can’t teach someone how to do something until you’ve done it yourself. If you’re writing assembly instructions, put the product together. If you’re writing about software, use the program. If you’re writing a product manual, you should know the product inside and out. Use it, take it apart, figure out how it works and what it’s meant to do.
Once you think you know the process, try to teach it to someone else. Teaching is a great way to solidify your knowledge, and what you learn from watching your student struggle will make your manual better.
Talk to thy Experts
If you’re not an expert at what you’re writing about, talk to someone who is. Chat with the developers, technicians, or designers. Ask them to give you a walkthrough of the product, process, or software. Ask them how it’s made, how it’s done, and why things are the way they are. Then, keep asking if you need more help.
Glean as many stories from them as you can. Understanding the process that goes into making something will clarify your understanding.
How manuals are usually written
How manuals are usually written: Tech writers create a first draft based on initial functional specifications. Of course, the real product barely resembles the spec by the time the manual is written. The first draft is a total waste of time. As part of the frustrating review process, engineers give the writers hand-scribbled notes. Tech writers assemble another draft, which engineers promptly rip apart. And the process starts over again. Finally, the document is published.
But it doesn’t have to be that way. The faster and more frequent the interactions between engineer and writer, the better the final product will be.
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Ian Cleary
The Fibromyalgia Test and what it means
November 17, 2015IanChronic Fatigue Syndrome & ME, Chronic Pain/ Fibromyalgia, Depression, anxiety and other conditions, NeuroplasticityComments Off on The Fibromyalgia Test and what it means
The Fibro Diagnositic Test-
Better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick (because that would hurt EVERYONE).
There is normally a large and exhaustive range of tests that people undergo on their journey to get a diagnosis. But the simple diagnostic test for Fibro is pretty straight forward. Prod someone in various parts of the body. If 11 out of 18 points, spread over the body are tender or hurt and have hurt for 3 months or more you have Fibromyalgia.
It an important test and understanding it is really important. Unfortunately what some people take from the widespread pain finding is that their body is ‘broken’ all over. This couldn’t be further from the truth and I hear it enough that I thought it would be useful to discuss the test.
The doctor prods you and you hurt. The actual points are almost irrelevant. The point is that you hurt when you shouldn’t hurt (i.e. other people wouldn’t feel pain with the same level of touch) It shows that the person is highly physically sensitive. The doctor will prod your arms, legs and torso, front and back. It is important that sensitivity is over the four quandrants of the body. This confirms that the issue is an all over issue and instantly points to general hypersensitivity of the nervous system. This is known as ‘Central Sensitisation’. (‘Central’ refers to the cental nervous system – i.e. brain and spinal cord)
The most important thing to take from this is not that the bit that hurts is damaged in any way. That is the mistake people often make. The problem is the nerves taking information to the brain about the state of the body are amplifying the message. The body is fine but the message getting to the brain is that it is not.
This is where people start thinking I am saying that Fibromyalgia is all in the head and not a real illness. So here is a bit of basic neurophysiology that might help.
Neurobiology of Pain 101
Sensors cover your body that send information back to your brain. A sensor is triggered when you are prodded and that message (light prod in leg) travels along a nerve. It is not a continious ‘wire’ that runs from your leg sensor to your brain but instead, it is a series of connected ‘wires’ running end to end. There are tiny gaps between nerves (synaptic gaps) where the electric signal (light prod) triggers a chemical signal (neurotransmitter) to cross the gap. This then triggers an electrical message in the next nerve and the message continues (light prod). This is a brilliant system but it is critical that the ‘message’ from one nerve to the neighbouring nerve is the same. Central Sensitisation is where the message gets amplified as it crosses the gap. A light prod message gets distorted to be nasty prod. The implication is that the brain receives exaggerated information. Good health requires accurate information getting to the brain so the brain can respond appropriately. If the message is amplified the brain is responding inappropriately and will show up in many ways. The list of potential issues that Central Sensitisation can cause is understandably huge, and people will often present with a complex array of symptoms. See very, very long list below. *
So the nervous system becomes hyper-senstivie. Like the Princess and the pea story, being hyper-sensitive can lead to unnecessary unpleasantness including a poor night’s sleep which is a major issue with Fibro. The muscles will also tend to tense more than they need to and stay tense for longer than they need.
But how does hypersensitivity tie in with Pain? You might think that the pain message is getting exaggerated but it isn’t quite the case. Pain messages don’t travel up the nervous system. It’s only information about the state of the body. So it is THIS message (the prod message for example) that is getting exaggerated. A light prod message gets to the brain and the brain perceives it as a large nasty prod. The next step is pretty straight forward. We now know that pain is 100% of the time in the brain. Pain is a brain’s response to the assessment of a threat. So when the nervous system is hyper-sensitive, ‘safe’ messages gets read as ‘dangerous’ and the brain responds inappropriately. Central Sensitisation has the brain putting a threat value on safe things. So it is an issue with the nervous system sensitivity and brain processing. It sure feels like it is broken (and is the exact same pain messages as if it was broken) but it is not.
So it is pretty straight forward what is happening. The big question is what to do about it. Can you retrain a sensitive nervous system? Well in 1990 a Nobel prize went to the person who looked at Neuroplasticity and showed just that – a nervous system could be trained to become hyper-sensitive and then retrained to become normalised. (Further reading on Kandel’s Nobel prize winning work on sensitivity and neuroplasticity can be found The Brain that Changes Itself by Norman Doidge.)
So how can YOU do it?
To treat Fibo, patients are often given anti-depressants. This is often not well explained and people are left feeling like the doctor thinks they are crazy or depressed. The aim of the anti-depressants however are to attempt to dampen the sensitivity of the system to hopefully correct the amplified messages getting to the brain so the brain doesn’t turn the pain on. For this same reason it can help with sleep. (People on anti-depressants often feel ‘flat’ or numb’ as a result). But success with antidepressants is minimal and the side effects for some make it not an option.
Luckily the brain and the nervous system are highly and rapidly adaptable without drugs. We are of course a little more complex than the sea snails used in the Nobel Prize work but we have also learnt a lot since then. One of the things we have learnt is that after a period of time in pain, there are changes in the brain that also have to be addressed. Calming the nervous system is often not enough which is why drugs are often not effective for longer term pain. You can calm the nervous system but the brain has ‘learnt’ that pain is appropriate and continues the pain message. So it is a two step process. Normalise the sensitivity of the nervous system and retrain the brain to respond appropriately rather than historically.
So the work I do requires people to be willing to take a broad approach to address reasons why the nervous system is hyper-sensitive and also retrain their brain to respond appropriately rather than historically. Some of the work revolves around the role stress hormones play in creating synaptic sensitivity, beliefs, behaviours, emotions, poor sleep and immobility and past traumas. We also can work with a range of techniques that specifically target how the brain is processing information to help turn off the pain message.
This video is a simple over view of chronic pain in general and explains why the best approach is a patient driven broad approach to retraining the brain and nervous system. It needs to be patient driven because what is driving the sensitisation in one person will be different from the person sitting nest to them with the same diagnosis.
So hopefully the take home message from a diagnosis of Fibro is not that your body is broken. It is the focus on the body that often leads people down a rabbit hole of treatments and moving into ongoing management mode.
The really exciting news is that nervous system sensitivity and the brain function is highly and rapidly adaptive.
*From Central Sensitization Syndrome and the Initial Evaluation of a Patient with Fibromyalgia: A Review
Kevin C. Fleming, M.D.1,* and Mary M. Volcheck, R.N.2
These May Suggest Central Sensitization Syndrome (Especially If Copious)
• Abdominal bloating
• Abdominal pain, chronic abdominal pain
• Adrenal insufficiency, adrenal fatigue
• Alopecia, hair loss, trichotillomania
• Anxiety
• Atypical facial pain
• Atypical or non-cardiac chest pain
• Autoimmune disorder
• Autonomic disorder
• Black mold, toxic black mold
• Brain fog, fibrofog
• Burning mouth syndrome
• Burning tongue
• Candida or chronic yeast infection
• Chiari malformation
• Chronic low-back pain
• Chronic non-specific lightheadedness
• Chronic pain
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Chronic prostatitis
• Chronic tension or migraine headaches
• Chronic testicular or scrotal pain
• Chronic whiplash-associated disorders
• Chronic widespread pain
• Complex regional pain syndrome
• Delusions of parasitosis
• Depression or bipolar disorder
• Dizziness
• Edema or swelling complaints not evident on examination
• Ehlers–Danlos syndrome
• Fatigue or chronic fatigue
• Fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalitis
• Hormone imbalance
• Hyperventilation
• Hypoglycemia
• Immune deficiency
• Interstitial cystitis, painful bladder syndrome
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Joint pains
• Low testosterone or hypogonadism
• Lupus
• Lyme disease, chronic Lyme disease
• Meniere disease
• Morgellons disease
• Multiple chemical sensitivities
• Multiple drug allergies or intolerances
• Multiple food allergies or intolerances
• Myofascial pain syndrome
• Palpitations
• Panic disorder, episodes, attacks
• Pelvic pain, chronic pelvic pain, premenstrual syndrome
• Polycystic ovary syndrome
• Porphyria
• Post-deployment syndrome
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
• Pseudotumor cerebri
• Schamberg disease, soft tissue tumors
• Sick building syndrome
• Sjögren syndrome (blamed for multiple symptoms)
• Temporomandibular disorders, temporomandibular joint pain
• Thyroid disease
• Tinnitus
• Vulvodynia, vulvar vestibulitis
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How can I tell if a mole is cancerous?
What does a cancerous mole look like?
The edges are irregular, ragged, notched, or blurred. The color is not the same all over and may include shades of brown or black, sometimes with patches of pink, red, white, or blue. The spot is larger than ¼ inch across – about the size of a pencil eraser – although melanomas can sometimes be smaller than this.
When should you be worried about a mole?
Can a doctor tell if a mole is cancerous just by looking at it?
A visual check of your skin only finds moles that may be cancer. It can’t tell you for sure that you have it. The only way to diagnose the condition is with a test called a biopsy.
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Is a melanoma raised or flat?
What does Stage 1 melanoma look like?
What does a suspicious mole look like?
Can a mole appear overnight?
Is a new mole something to worry about?
Almost all moles are benign (noncancerous). But new moles in an adult are more likely to become cancerous than old moles. If a new mole appears when you’re older, or if a mole changes in appearance, you should see a dermatologist to make sure it’s not cancerous.
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What percentage of biopsied moles are cancerous?
Lab testing showed that more than 90 percent of biopsied moles were completely removed by using the single procedure, with 11 (7 percent) diagnosed as melanoma, one of the most aggressive forms of skin cancer.
Is Stage 1 melanoma serious?
Is melanoma a death sentence?
Stage 4 melanoma used to be a death sentence. The disease doesn’t respond to radiation or chemotherapy, and patients survived, on average, less than a year. But over the last decade, doctors are successfully using a new approach, one significantly different than the treatment options available for the last 150 years.
What is early stage melanoma?
The earliest stage melanomas are stage 0 (melanoma in situ), and then range from stages I (1) through IV (4). Some stages are split further, using capital letters (A, B, etc.). As a rule, the lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. A higher number, such as stage IV, means cancer has spread more.
Can you have melanoma for years without knowing?
“You could have melanoma for a long time before you realize it, because some types are not so obvious. Some aggressive forms, like nodular melanoma, grow fast, are visible and can hurt or bleed.” While certain groups may be at a higher risk for melanoma, anyone can get the disease.
How quickly can Melanoma appear?
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Simply Scheme Chapter 19 – Implementing Higher-Order Functions
My work on
This chapter is about writing higher-order procedures.
I compare my work to other people’s solutions some in order to gain perspective on different ways of solving some problems.
I am also consciously trying to “oversolve” procedures from different angles.
Chapter Notes
The chapter contrasts every and map:
The key difference is the use of cons, car, and cdr in map versus se, first, and butfirst in every.
map will preserve a structured list whereas every won’t, because every uses se to combine the elements of the result, wheres map uses cons:
Regarding accumulate, the book says you might expect to have to provide the combiner, the values to be combined, and the identity element in order to generalize the pattern involved in accumulate, but the book folks dropped the need for the identity element by simply returning the remaining element when you’re down to one element. Nice trick.
The book says how robust to make a program in terms of the program behaving politely when given incorrect input is a matter of judgment.
✅ 19.1
What happens if you say the following?
The cdr procedure is applied to every element within the list, leading to the output '(lennon mccartney harrison starr).
How is this different from using map, and why?
With every the result is “flattened” into a sentence due to the use of sentence to join results in every. With map the sublists remain: '((lennon) (mccartney) (harrison) (starr)).
How about cadr instead of cdr?
every cadr has the same output as every cdr. To discuss one of the elements in detail, cdr of '(john lennon) is '(lennon) and cadr of '(john lennon) is 'lennon. You might thus expect the values returned by every cadr to vary from every cdr, but the results are combined internally in every using sentence and so the nested lists are flattened into a single “sentence” list that appears the same regardless of whether the Beatle names being dealt with are words or sentences.
OTOH, map cadr varies significantly from map cdr. Because map cadr deals with the Beatle names as words, there’s no nesting in the resulting list – the output is a single flat list that is the same as in the every examples.
✅ 19.2
My Solution 1 – No Combine
Write keep. Don’t forget that keep has to return a sentence if its second argument is a sentence, and a word if its second argument is a word.
My answer:
I did not write a combine procedure cuz it seemed unnecessary. Instead, I used an if within the consequent of the second cond clause.
I did make keep2 a “screener” procedure designed to check for a problematic case (when no input is provided for the second argument). If that check is passed, then the function and input are handed off to real-keep2.
I gave keep2 the following tests:
and I got the following outputs:
These outputs were as expected.
My Solution 2 – Combine
I then decided to try writing a version with combine.
We want to look at whether arg2 is a sentence within combine because, if a sentence is provided as the input, the second arg will always be a sentence, even if an empty one, whereas the first arg might be a word. See (keep3 even? '(3 4 5 6 7 8)) as an example:
real-keep2 worked differently because it checked whether the whole input to the procedure was a word?, instead of checking whether first input (the first element of the word or sentence) was a word.
The keep3 procedure managed to produce the desired output for the tests mentioned earlier.
buntine’s solution
Here’s buntine’s solution:
buntine actually made the combiner the thing that did the real work in his procedure, whereas I just used it to combine two arguments at a time.
buntine actually passes in a null-value to his combine, which is something I managed to avoid doing by returning the actual null value of the input when it became empty.
I looked at how keep was actually implemented in the scheme variant used in the book, but it was longer than I expected and had some stuff I did not understand.
✅ 19.3
Write the three-argument version of accumulate that we described.
My answer:
It produces the correct output for the three cases they give as examples above.
buntine used car and cdr instead of first and butfirst but his solution is essentially the same.
✅ 19.4
Our accumulate combines elements from right to left. That is,
computes 2−(3−(4−5)). Write left-accumulate, which will compute ((2−3)−4)−5 instead. (The result will be the same for an operation such as +, for which grouping order doesn’t matter, but will be different for -.)
for regular acccumulate the output we get using the above example is -2. For left-accumulate we expect -10.
for left-accumulateI started with Chapter 19’s version of accumulate but changed both the order of the arguments to the combiner and changed the selectors from first and butfirst to last and butlast:
I didn’t see any need to change the base case, as when you’re only down to one element it doesn’t matter whether you’re checking for the first or last element – it’s all the same.
Anyways those changes seemed to do the trick. This trace result and output is what I would expect if left-accumulate was working correctly:
You can see left-accumulate working its way down to the base case, returning 2, then performing (2 - 3) and returning -1, and so on, till we get the expected -10.
I tried another test:
And compare this with their accumuate procedure, which I gave a different name so that I could trace it:
You can see that the procedures proceed through the same input in exactly the opposite manner.
My answer is almost the same as Meng Zhang’s, a guy with a Simply Scheme github repository I just discovered. He changed the base case selectors to butlast and last and didn’t import all the stuff from the book into his main left-accumulate procedure, but otherwise our solutions are very close.
✅ 19.5
So my previous answer was:
And here’s an example of the desired behavior:
Looks pretty straightforward.
My answer:
I looked at a couple of other answers and mine seemed like the most elegant solution to me 😊
✅ 19.6
Hmm this one’s interesting 🤔
My Solution
My answer:
I’m really getting a lot of mileage out of that trick they described in Chapter 19 re: accumulate, where you check if bf stuff is empty and then return the last element of the list. Here I extended that a bit, and did the list equivalent of checking if (bf (bf stuff)) was empty. That’s what cddr input is checking for, basically – it’s seeing if there’s a third element in the list. If not, cddr input will be empty, and so we can run the function fn on car input and cadr input (the first and second elements, respectively, that remain in our list) and get that result and wrap the procedure up.
However, if there is actually a third element, then we invoke or with a couple of arguments. We use or here because we want to know if any of the pairs return true for the procedure, whereas in the last problem we wanted to know if the elements were all true for the function, so we used and. Anyways, the first argument to the or is the function called with the first two elements of our list. The second argument is a recursive call to true-for-any-pair?. The arguments to that recursive call are of course fn and also cdr. We do cdr because we need to test each adjacent pair, so even though we might have already tested an element as the second argument to the function, we still need to test it as the first argument to the function.
My procedure assumes that the input sentence has at least two elements. If you give it a one element list or an empty list you will get an error:
The procedure will stop running as soon as it hits a true value:
Meng Zhang’s Solution
Meng Zhang also had an elegant solution:
His approach is slightly different. First, he uses a cond rather than an if. Also, his base case is a one element list. Therefore, his procedure can handle one element lists and only gives an error on the empty list. Furthermore, he explicitly returns true and false values. There are some other differences. Anyways, I thought it was pretty elegant.
✅ 19.7
So this problem was a gimme in light of my solution and discussion of 19.6. For 19.6 we used or because we wanted to return true if any pair was true. For 19.7 we want to return true only if all the pairs are true, so:
✅❌ 19.8
Technically solved this but didn’t really respect the spirit of how to use the helper function.
Rewrite true-for-all-pairs? (Exercise 19.7) using true-for-any-pair? (Exercise 19.6) as a helper procedure. Don’t use recursion in solving this problem (except for the recursion you’ve already used to write true-for-any-pair?). Hint: You’ll find the not procedure helpful.
Problem requirements:
1) use true-for-any-pair? as a helper procedure in true-for-all-pairs?
2) do not use recursion in true-for-all-pairs?
Cases that need to be addressed:
I) predicate fn is not true for all pairs
II) predicate fn is true for all pairs
Incomplete solution:
the case i addressed in my incomplete solution is only a subset of case I
if i had a true-for-some-but-not-all-pairs? procedure, i could do something like this
My Solution
This works but I don’t think it’s what they were looking for. However, it does meet the technical requirements of the problem:
Some explanation:
1. Within true-for-all-pairs?, (let ((secondlist (append (cdr input) '(())))) makes a second that consists of the cdr of the first list with an empty list appended. So if the first list was (a b c d e) then secondlist is (b c d e ()). The empty list is created so that both lists have the same number of elements, which is a requirement for map to be invoked on two lists.
2. (map make-pair input secondlist) returns a list from the the initial input list. This new list consists of a list of pairs from the input plus an empty value at the end. So for input '(a b c d e), this line generates ((a b)(b c)(c d)(d e)()). This is accomplished using the helper procedure make-pair.
3. remove-empty removes the empty list from the lists of lists now that we don’t need an empty list placeholder anymore.
4. (lambda (arg) (true-for-any-pair? fn arg) returns a procedure true-for-any-pair? with the given fn.
5. andmap applies the true-for-any-pair? from the lambda to each element in the list of lists we generated, and then “sums up” the resulting truth values from those invocations of true-for-any-pair? by applying the logical operator and to them.
The reason I say I don’t think this is what the book was looking for is we’re not really using true-for-any-pair? in any important way here. we could take this approach to solving true-for-all-pairs? without needing to use true-for-any-pair?. Also we didn’t use not in our main procedure.
Meng Zhang’s Solution
With Zhang’s solution you check whether each pair is NOT true for the predicate. if it’s the case that any pair is NOT true, then true-for-any-pair? would return false, but for the opening not. but then he has the NOT around the whole true-for-any-pair? procedure. so the logic is, if it’s NOT the case that the predicate is NOT true for any pair, that’s the same as saying that the predicate is true for all pairs, so we return true.
✅ 19.9
Explanation of Sort
Ok. Here’s the original sort procedure from chapter 15 with its supporting helper procedures:
To recap (and since I didn’t do detailed analysis on this procedure before in Chapter 15 and its coming up again): the purpose of this procedure is to sort words in a sentence alphabetically. This procedure works by the following method: sort first looks for the earliest-word in the sentence.
The real action as far as finding the earliest word occurs in earliest-helper. earliest-helper takes two arguments: the first word of the sentence (so-far) and the remaining words in the sentence (rest). If we “run out” of rest words in earlier helper – that is, if rest becomes empty? – then we know that so-far is in fact the earliest word and we return that.
While we still have words remaining in rest, we check – and this is the really key part for my solution to this problem – whether so-far is before? the first value of rest. before? is a Scheme primitive. So basically we’re checking if the current candidate (so-far) for the earliest word in the sentence comes before the first sentence of the remaining candidates for the earliest word in the sentence – (first rest). If so-far does indeed come before (first rest), then so-far retains its status as the current candidate for earliest word in the sentence, and this is reflected in the resulting recursive call we make – (earliest-helper so-far (bf rest))). We keep so-far the same and decide to check it against the next potential candidate. OTOH, if so-far does not come before (first rest), we move to the else line, which replaces so-far with (first rest) as the new so-far.
Jumping back to the sort procedure, sort joins the result of (earliest-word sent) together in a sentence with a recursive call to itself, but the particular argument used is interesting. sorttakes a sentence as an argument. sort recursively calls itself with the first instance of the earliest word in the sentence removed from the sentence. In this way, the earliest word can be found.
My Solution (Editing Sort)
So my procedure in solving this problem was pretty straightforward. I decided that before? was the critical thing that made this procedure an “alphabetical sorter”. If we wanted to generalize the functionality, we’d need to get our function into the earliest-helper procedure so that it could replace before?. So I made the necessary adjustments to the arguments (and changed the name to sort2) and did just that:
With these adjustments, the procedure produced the desired output. We’ve generalized a sorting procedure! 🙂
My Solution (Editing Mergesort)
The same basic method — adding a fn argument and passing that down the chain of procedures to replace before? – worked for editing mergesort:
❌ 19.10
This problem is really underspecified IMHO. They should have at least given an example desired output like they do with lots of problems.
Here’s what they said about deep-map:
This procedure converts every word in a structured list to Pig Latin. Suppose we have a structure full of numbers and we want to compute all of their squares. We could write a specific procedure deep-square, but instead, we’ll write a higher-order procedure:
They want a tree-map. Here’s what I find confusing … deep-map can navigate a tree, I think? Like datum just takes the car of something and children just takes the cdr of something. Is this just about trying to get us to respect the data abstraction like they talked about in Chapter 18?
This was my attempt, which seemed kinda lame to me but I couldn’t figure out exactly why:
This seemed to work. For example, I could run pass a plural function in and get the country names in the world-tree pluralized. But I was still feeling a bit stuck about what they were even asking for, so I decided to look at some other people’s answers.
Here’s Andrew Buntine’s:
This solution uses mutual recursion. It also makes use of make-node.
When I tried to use plural on the world-tree with this solution, I got an error:
✅ 19.11
Write repeated. (This is a hard exercise!)
First Attempt (failed)
repeated was described way back in chapter 8:
Here are some relatively straightforward examples of how it works:
I’ll name my procedure repeated2.
First I’ll try doing what I want to accomplish in the interactions window. Here’s what I imagine I want my procedure to do for ((repeated2 square 2) 3) (meaning: square 3 a total of two times):
Here was my first attempt:
For one copy of a procedure, it works fine:
But for two there’s a problem:
It looks like a procedure is being passed to the procedure I’m using as the fn in this example, square, instead of a number being passed to it. Why would that be happening? And why would it only be happening on the recursive call?
What I imagined happening in my mind was that repeated2 would arrive at the base case and then that base case lambda would “grab” the input value (in this example, “3”), run the square procedure, and then percolate the calculation on up through the chain of recursive calls before arriving at an answer.
I think what is actually happening is that the base case lambda doesn’t “grab” anything. Instead, it gets evaluated as being a procedure, and then that procedure gets fed in as the arg for the lambda one “step” up in the recursive chain, and then square tries to evaluate that procedure, and then goes “wtf this is not a number! it is a procedure.”
So that’s why this failed.
Second Attempt (success!)
I borrowed some code from my solution to Exercise 9.13 in chapter 9:
If the number of copies desired is greater than 1, repeated2 invokes compose with fn as the first function and the second function as the result of recursively calling repeated2 with 1 less than the current number of copies. So we build up a chain of compose fn (compose fn ... until ultimately arriving at one copy, in which case we just invoke the fn on an argument. So for something like ((repeated2 square 3)2) we get…
When the base case of 1 copy is arrived at, lambda procedure gets evaluated and a procedure that applies a function fn to an argument arg is returned. This unnamed lambda procedure gets composed by the compose closest to the base case, and compose is, after all, looking for a procedure g that takes an argument arg to compose with f. And then we have a procedure (fn (fn arg)) serving as g to an instance of compose “further up” the recursive tree, which in turn gets composed with fn once again. And since compose returns a procedure, this last instance actually gets returned and can be applied to the value we want to work on.
So, step by step, when the lambda in the base case gets evaluated, we have a procedure that applies a function to an argument.
This function gets passed as the g to compose, which is a higher-order procedure, and which outputs another function, which takes a function of a function applied to an argument. With the example we are consider, this procedure takes the square of the square of an argument.
When we get to 3 copies of the procedure, we have the following:
This, I think, is what the recursive invocations of compose resolve into once the base case is reached and the evaluations begin. And I can see why it works … like the syntax makes sense. In my first attempted solution, the way I structured the procedure was such that I was providing one procedure another procedure as an argument when it expected a value (like a number). But here, we don’t have that. Things are getting the arguments they expect to get.
❌ 19.12
I tried this but it’s pretty limited and requires manually specifying identities:
I tried looking at buntine’s solution:
It seems to work. What’s going on here?
If the tree is null, tree-reduce returns false. Otherwise it invokes the function on the datum of the tree and then invokes tree-reduce-in-forest on the children of the tree.
tree-reduce-in-forest just calls the func if the tree is null. I think this addresses the issue I was having with wanting to return the identity. A bunch of procedures return the identity if you invoke them with nothing:
Anyways, if the tree isn’t null, the procedure invokes the argument function on the result of calling tree-reduce with the car of tree and tree-reduce-inforest with the cdr. This is mutual recursion.
I also checked out Meng Zhang’s solution:
I intuitively like this one a bit better.
So if the tree is a leaf, we just return the datum of the tree. Otherwise we invoke the combiner argument function (such as +) on the result of getting the (datum tree) and the value returned by the forest-reduce procedure invoked with the children of tree. We see another mutual recursion pattern here.
Within forest-reduce, if the cdr forest is null (in other words, if the node being examined represents a leaf) then the car of the node is passed back to tree-reduce, where the datum will ultimately be returned. Otherwise, we invoke the combiner on the result of calling tree-reduce with the car of the node and forest-reduce with the cdr.
✅ 19.13
My Solution
I figured out a couple of variants that seemed to work on the test input the book gives.
First, I imported some procedures from The Little Schemer:
Here’s my first variant procedure that seems to work:
And here’s the second:
Both variants return the lst when it’s an atom, apply the function fn to the list when it’s a list of atoms, and otherwise dig deeper into the function while invoking the fn on the results of that digging.
Other Solutions
I compared my answer to some others.
Here’s Meng Zhang’s:
I wonder about testing for word? here, since that kind of hardcodes what data type you’re looking for.
You can see that all the real action happens in the real-deep-reduce procedure. Also his deep-reduce is kind of a mirror of my deep-reduce-helper – both check if the structure is empty, and return the identity of the combining function if it is.
Here’s Andrew Buntine’s:
I’d wondered if it was possible to do everything in one procedure.
So Andrew’s solution uses the calling-the-function-to-return-the-identity-element trick in the null check.
Then if the first element is a list, it calls deep-reduce on both the car and the cdr of the list.
Otherwise, it applies the function to the car of the list and calls deep-reduce on the cdr.
I found this procedure easy to follow in terms of figuring out what was going on.
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Finding Parallels Between Wellness and Life
Tips on Natural Things That Can be Used to Hasten Healing
The body of a human being can heal itself. There are many resources in the environment that are effective in helping people to heal.
There is an extract from marijuana which does not have a psychoactive effect. The CBD oil can assist in pain relief and has elements that help to fight harmful microorganisms. It can be used as a vape to help in quick recovery. You can consume it by adding the oil to the food.
Clearing the mind to forget about your health challenges is very helpful. Train your mind to have a state of calmness. Meditation allows the body to be eased of mental stress which enhances healing in the body. There is a change in the psychological state of an individual. The stress hormones are also after during this period thus helping the body to de-stress. Many people have engaged in meditation which has proved very beneficial to their health.
Music is helpful in ensuring your body has the right rhythm. This regulates the sleeping patterns. Depression subsides by listening to music. Select your favorite music. If you want to be energized, you can choose music with a high tempo while cool music will help you calm down during anxiety or if you ‘re going to sleep.
You can benefit a lot from being exposed to the sun. Lack of sunlight can make your body and mind dull. Have some few minutes in the sun every morning and you will experience beautiful results.
Sleep is helpful as the body can repair itself when you are asleep. Enough sleep boosts immunity as well as keeping you young. You should sleep for around 7 to 8 hours every day.
Socialization is a potent therapy. You can get encouraged while talking to people. Socializing removes worry momentarily. Sick people who speak a lot have a higher chance of recovery.
Being happy is curative. It makes the body to improve. Due to the movement of lungs when you are laughing, you tend to open your lungs to an improved intake of air. Look for comedies and watch them today.
Breathing exercises assist you help in breathing in and out of the lungs. You should be careful to ensure that the activities are done correctly.
You can strengthen the heart by eating food made of natural spices. It has anti-bacterial elements and enhance the immunity system. Spices enhances the functions of the blood in your body.
Each aspect discussed in this article is beneficial to your health.
Another Source: over here
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Op-ed | Building on the Artemis Accords to address space sustainability
It’s past time for a multilateral agreement on the principles governing space traffic management and sustainability
Space actors, whether public or private, must recognize their own self-interest in the development of a sustainable space environment, writes Jennifer A. Manner. Credit: Adobe Stock/SpaceNews
In early October, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, Luxembourg, the United Arab Emirates, Italy and Canada entered into the Artemis Accords, which established agreed principles for cooperation in the civil exploration and use of the moon, Mars, comets and asteroids for peaceful purposes. The Artemis Accords build on multiple treaties that have shaped the behavior of nations and their commercial industries in the exploration and use of space, including the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, the 1972 Liability Convention and the 1975 Registration Convention. These prior multilateral agreements have a significant number of signatories and, accordingly, have been widely adhered to as binding international law, whereas the Artemis Accords today have eight signatories committing to implement a set of agreed principles through bilateral agreements. Therefore, it has been almost 50 years since any significant changes have been made internationally to address the evolution in the use of space resources, despite the dramatic increase in space activities during these past decades. With countries and commercial users planning increased short-term and long-term space missions, including for human habitation, mining, communications and energy, the Artemis Accords, while welcome, are overdue.
But perhaps even more overdue is a multilateral agreement — which the Artemis Accords are not — on the principles governing space traffic management and space sustainability. In the late 1970s, shortly after our last major treaty on space sustainability was in place, NASA was already predicting the Kessler effect, a theoretical scenario in which the density of low Earth orbit objects increases due to space pollution and becomes high enough that collisions between objects could cause a cascading effect, increasing the risk of further collisions. This would ultimately foreclose use of low earth orbital resources. If true, this would mean that even objects heading to geostationary orbit or farther into space (e.g., to the moon and Mars), would face increasing dangers as they travel through lower orbits.
While we may not be there quite yet, today we do know there are approximately 29,000 objects of 3.9 inches in size or more floating around in space. And we know this number is growing. There are many megaconstellations planned to operate in low earth orbit for communications. For example, Starlink has proposed 42,000 satellites in multiple planes operating above the globe and has already launched close to 1,000 satellites, and Kuiper plans to have over 3,000 satellites when its constellation is in place. Each of these systems adds a new risk to the already risky space environment, especially since the rules required to address space traffic management and sustainability issues/challenges raised by these systems are not in place.
And this is just one part of the problem. We have a growing number of experimental and small satellite systems that lack maneuverability capability and an increase in the number of space vehicles, including for space tourism. This does not even take into account the number of rocket launches needed to propel each of these objects into space, nor the debris left by these rockets.
The Artemis Accords were not designed to address this problem, although the signatories to the agreement in Section 9 “intend to use their experience under the Accords to contribute to multilateral efforts to develop international practices and rules applicable to preserving our outer space heritage.” Article 7 also recognizes the need to register space objects under the Registration Convention. These provisions, however, are not sufficient. Outer space is a scarce resource and, according to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, “the province of mankind.” Yet, despite this recognition, the world is falling behind in protecting this very important and delicate resource.
Today we have some countries, like the United States and the United Kingdom, that are looking at ways to ensure space sustainability (at least until more formal international action is taken), but many of the proposed approaches fall short. For example, the United States’ Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has recently proposed broad indemnification and bond requirements as a way to deter or punish communications satellite operators that act in an unsafe manner or fail to de-orbit their satellites safely. However, such post-hoc regulations are no substitute for creating a regulatory framework that enables and encourages good behavior across the globe. Regulators must work to develop frameworks that set standards that allow operators to determine the best way to meet them. If these standards are not met, then enforcement would be appropriate. But enforcement without sufficient standards, as the FCC is proposing, will not be successful over the long term.
In addition, to succeed, countries cannot act on their own. Space is a global resource, and so any long-term solution must be global. Regional actions, like the Artemis Accords, are important first steps, but governments must come to the table, like they did in the late 1960s and early 1970s when we first explored space, if the space resource is going to be truly sustainable. This also means that space actors, whether public or private, must recognize their own self-interest in the development of a sustainable space environment. We are already heading down a path to space pollution that is hard to correct. Accordingly, we must act now and with urgency to preserve this important scarce resource for future generations.
Jennifer Manner is senior vice president of regulatory affairs at EchoStar/Hughes Network Systems.
This article originally appeared in the Dec. 14, 2020 issue of SpaceNews magazine.
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How to safely discharge capacitors
How to deal with a potentially dangerous charge on a capacitor.
Power supplies usually contain a reservoir capacitor which can hold a dangerous charge long after disconnection from the mains. You need to know how to discharge it safely.
Always treat charged cpacitors with great respect.
Where you will find them
Switch mode mains adapters (i.e. those without a heavy iron-cored transformer) use a reservoir capacitor to smooth the mains after it has been rectified. This will be charged to over 300V.
Cameras containing a discharge tube flash (rather than a LED one) and separate flash guns contain a circuit which generates a voltage of hundreds of volts in order to create the discharge. This is stored in a reservoir capacitor until needed.
Microwave ovens contain a reservoir capacitor which is charged to thousands of volts. Needless to say, this is extremely dangerous, and our advice is to leave any repair to a professional.
A reservoir capacitor is usually recognised quite easily as an aluminium cylinder with a plastic sleeve marked with its value and rating. The bare aluminium end is usually scored with a cross and two leads enter the other end through a rubber plug. Sometimes the second lead is welded to the exposed aluminium end.
How not to do it!
The quick way to discharge a capacitor is with an insulated screwdriver across its leads or the circuit board traces they are soldered to.
This will result in a loud crack and a nice spark and may startle you and any bystanders, even if you are expecting it.
Apart from startling people, this is not a good idea because the discharge current is likely to be many amps and may well damage the capacitor.
How to do it safely
Before doing anything else, disconnect from the mains.
There may be several reservoir capacitors on the high-voltage side of a switch mode power supply. You must make sure they're all discharged. It may be that most of the charge in the capacitors will have drained away through the attached circuitry or by leakage, but start by assuming they still hold a dangerous charge. You don't want to discover your mistake by getting a shock!
You will need a capacitor discharger which you can very easily make out of a suitably prepared high-power resistor with well-insulated wires (apart from the tips) - for example see Constructing a Capacitor Discharge Tool for more information about constructing a capacitor discharger.
Taking great care not to touch any connections at all, locate the reservoir capacitor or capacitors and one-by-one discharge them using a capacitor discharger.
This won't reduce the voltage instantaneously - to discharge a capacitor value C (uF) to a twentieth of its initial voltage using a resistor R (kΩ) will take roughly R*C/330 seconds. For example a 100uF capacitor charged to 300V discharged through a 10kΩ resistor takes about 3 seconds to reduce the voltage to 15V. A further 3 seconds would reduce that 15V to a twentieth of 15V, i.e. 0.75V.
Always double-check that the capacitors are in fact discharged using a multimeter - apply the capacitor discharger for longer to reduce the voltage further, aiming for 10V or less.
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Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Technology Improves Teaching - Cintiq Monitor
When I was in school in the Mesolithic Age we actually drew on this thing called paper with devices known as pencils. Now days art students often draw on electric tablets or monitors even though we encourage our students to stick with the paper and pencils for a while longer. But all of this technology has not only sped up the illustration process and made it much easier to make corrections - it's also made it much easier to teach!
The Cintiq monitor by Wacom or other pressure sensitive graphics monitors have enabled teachers to perform "draw overs". I just started doing draw overs last year for both my online and UVU students. In the past I had to do a little drawing off to the side of my students work - it was good but really doesn't compare to actually drawing on top of their drawing to show what decisions I would have made. If I had done that on an original drawing on paper it wouldn't allow for seeing the students drawing without my "drawover" - in other words the original drawing would be altered forever with my crappy drawover on top. The student would have had no way to continue working on their drawing after my critique.
It is amazing for teaching online because we're only dealing with sketches that have been scanned and emailed to us. We have to be able to show our students what we're talking about - so this technology has actually been a key factor in us being able to teach online. Above you can see some of my UVU students work (draw a polar bear / Viking) and my rough little drawover which doesn't go into detail but focuses on general construction. It makes teaching so much more satisfying and - fun!...Thank you Wacom!
1. I agree and disagree. Agree that it is making teaching easier for the reasons you mentioned.
My caveman mind say that drawing is easier to learn and better with a stick and sand or paper and pencil ..... Anyone who has drawn on a tablet knows that there is just not the same feel ..... it is slippery. Slippery surfaces make learning things more difficult because of the lack of control (ice skating, drawing). Eventually you will learn to adapt to the surface since it is really only a different tool.
I think the other problem when drawing on a computer is the ability to "zoom" in. With a paper and pencil you only have so much ability to noodle the detail. Drawing on a computer is a different beast and I see students zoomed in way too much... like anything over 100% .... and, really, on many screens 100% is almost 3 times as large as if you were working on paper. I know, screens are becoming higher res but the zoom drug is more enticing with higher res screens.
There is an awful lot of nasty "tracing" that happens too. Nothing worse that taking bits and pieces from different images, cobbling them together, and tracing the result. No matter what anyone thinks...that has nothing to do with drawing.
I have seen too many drawings done on a computer where the perspective is awful and round objects (wheels, etc) are anything but. There is no excuse when using a tool where you can draw prefect elipses and perspective grids to have basic things horribly wrong unless you don't know how to draw anyway. Then the computer just makes you look stupid and unskilled.
You should learn to make things look good traditionally first and then switch to digital when you have the chops to bend the tool to your will.
So much for the rant. It does make artists faster...those that know what they are doing...and it does make teaching easier. IMHO
1. Great rant - couldn't agree more... It's made my life easier but I've also had to resist a lot of the "goodies" digital lures me with...knowing when and when not to is the key...which you must learn through the traditional.
2. I wonder if the technology that students are growing up with is hampering their patience learning a craft or skill. They're seeing the end results of years of progress and process on Pinterest with a few clicks, then get frustrated when they are unable to create at the same level of skill. I love tech, and love that I can take classes online, but even for myself I have to dial it back when it comes to my expectations regarding my improvement. I also agree with the detail aspect. Digital really enables you to overwork something. I had a friend tell me that in order to really be skill in illustration, you have to be willing to ruin your drawing, e.g. to try something at a new level. With digital, there isn't as much risk, so the discovery aspect of a happy accident is muffled a bit too...
Feel free...
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By Daniel G. Amen, MD & Pastor Buddy Owens, Saddleback Church
After working with thousands of patients, we have discovered that there are usually many combined biological, psychological, social, and spiritual factors that lead to problem behaviors, including chronic overeating and addiction (and in my opinion, chronic overeating is an addiction problem).
In order to change any unwanted behaviors, you must address all four pillars. You must look at the underlying biology of the problems, as well as your psychology or mind set, the social situation you find yourself in, and your spiritual beliefs. If you miss any of them, you will not be able to heal effectively.
As far as biology, we need to look at brain function, genetics, family history, physical health (know your numbers!), and dietary issues underlying any problems.
Brain injuries: After looking at more than 60,000 brain scans, it has become clear to me that even mild physical trauma can damage the brain and increase your risk for mental health problems, alcoholism, drug abuse, and eating disorders.
Family history: Having a family history of obesity, mental health problems, alcoholism, or other issues increases your risk.
Mental health problems: Having mental health issues, which are actually brain disorders, such as ADD, depression, bipolar disorder, or anxiety disorders, can fuel overeating and addiction.
Dementia: Dementia has been linked to an increased risk for compulsive behaviors and addiction.
Exposure to environmental toxins: Common environmental toxins, such as mold, insecticides, tobacco smoke, paint, and phthalates (found in thousands of plastic products), pose a risk to brain function and increase the incidence of brain disorders that can look like ADD.
Food allergies: Having allergies or sensitivities to certain foods or food additives can alter the way your brain functions and lead to physical, emotional, behavioral, and learning problems. Headaches or migraines, joint pain, chronic sinus problems, gastrointestinal issues, sleep problems, lack of concentration, anxiety, aggression, and violence are just some of the symptoms associated with food sensitivities and allergies. Plus, food allergies and sensitivities can make you crave the very foods you are allergic to.
Medications: Some medications have side effects that can interfere with your health goals.
Sleep: Getting less than six hours of sleep a night has been associated with lower overall brain activity, which can affect your judgment, thinking, and self-control.
Exercise: Lack of physical exercise negatively affects blood flow in the body, and subsequently to the brain. Low blood flow equals low activity, which equals lowered self-control.
Poor nutrition: Eating a diet high in fat and sugar and low in nutrients can lead to a host of other problems.
From a psychological standpoint it is important to look at how you are shaped by your thinking patterns and past experiences. Negative psychological factors may drive you to seek solace in unhealthy substances or behaviors. Some of the many psychological issues at play include the following.
Negative thinking: After treating thousands of patients, we have realized that negative thinking patterns can crush your efforts to change your habits.
Past emotional trauma: In order to change any unwanted behaviors, you must deal with any past emotional issues.
Upbringing: Being raised in a chaotic environment without a lot of affection and nurturing damages your psychological well-being. These early hurts can be long-lasting and can influence your behavior into adulthood.
Self-image and outlook on life: People with a negative self-image are far more inclined to engage in unhealthy behaviors.
Past successes and failures: People who see their lives as littered with perceived failures have a tendency to use food, alcohol, drugs, or other behaviors to deal with this negative view. Focusing on your successes—at school, in relationships, in sports, or at work—can mitigate any failures and help keep you from feeling the need to overindulge.
Readiness to change: Ask yourself how ready you are to change. Have you accepted that you have a problem, or are you still in denial? Do you understand what you need to do in order to change, or do you need help learning what to do? Are you highly motivated to change, or do you need other people to keep you motivated to stay on the right track? Be honest with yourself.
From a social perspective we will look at the current stresses in your life from family, relationships, work, and finances.
Relationships: Your relationships with your parents, grandparents, siblings, children, significant other, friends, and coworkers are so important to your health and well-being. In today’s mobile society, however, it can be difficult to develop meaningful relationships. Many people move away from their hometown to find work, commute long hours from home to work, or move around a lot, making it harder to forge lasting friendships and strong family ties. The high rate of divorce in our society also splits up families and abruptly severs friendships.
A lack of social connections causes negative changes in the brain that can lead to trouble in your life. The quality of the relationships in your life is just as important as the quantity.
Work and school: Mean bosses, rude customers, backstabbing coworkers—the people at work can make your life miserable. Having a demanding workload or performing a job you hate can also add to the stress in your life. Similarly, problems with classmates or teachers at school can cause problems with self-image and confidence. Trying to “do it all” at work, at school, at home, at church, and in your relationships can sap your energy and leave you feeling frazzled.
Finances: Financial problems can be a tremendous source of stress, and many people blame money woes for their problems. Often, people suffering from economic hardships turn to food, other substances, or unhealthy behaviors that temporarily help them forget their troubles.
Thrilling behavior: I also ask my patients about their daily habits and participation in thrilling behaviors that might be altering their brain chemistry. Are you constantly texting or checking your Facebook page? Do you play a lot of video games, watch a lot of TV, or spend a lot of time on your computer? Taking stock of your social situation can help you navigate your journey to better health.
Joining a small group can be very beneficial to your social health.
From a spiritual standpoint, it is critical to look at your relationship with God and what your life means and if you have a sense of purpose or a connection to something greater than yourself. Spiritual factors also tie in to you core values and sense of morality—what is right and wrong in your eyes. If you don’t feel like your life matters, you are less inclined to take good care of yourself.
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Aug 10, 2020
Improving treatment options for neurotrophic keratITIS to prevent blindness
Dr. Gregory Borschel
Dr. Gregory Borschel (The Hospital for Sick Children, Research Institute) is one of our 2020 research grant awardees. Dr. Borschel, a surgeon and assistant professor at the University of Toronto, will use the grant funds, made possible by the generous support of our donors, to find ways to improve treatment options for neurotrophic keratitis (also called neurotrophic keratopathy). Neurotrophic keratitis, a degenerative blinding eye disease, can affect anyone who’s corneal nerves are damaged, including individuals with diabetes, eye injuries, genetic conditions or cancers of the eye. Keep reading to learn more about neurotrophic keratitis and Dr. Borschel’s research.
Neurotrophic keratitis
Neurotrophic keratitis affects the clear outer layer of the eye, called the cornea, which bends (or refracts) light and is responsible for focusing most of the light that enters the eye.
Image showing nerve cells in the cornea
The cornea contains many nerve endings and is one of the most sensitive tissues in the body. These nerves help prevent injury by triggering safety responses like blinking, production of tears, and wound healing in response to stimulation such as touch, foreign particles, pain or extreme temperatures.
In neurotrophic keratitis, these corneal nerves are damaged and patients can’t feel the surface of their eye. As the cornea loses the ability to sense stimulation, it can’t activate safety responses which can lead to repeated injury, scarring and eventually vision loss as light cannot penetrate the injured cornea.
Research into Neurotrophic Keratitis
There are some treatments for neurotrophic keratitis which can improve corneal healing or reduce the risk that the cornea will get injured, however there is currently no reliable cure or way to prevent vision loss. Recently, Dr. Borschel in collaboration with his colleague Dr. Asim Ali pioneered a new surgery where new nerve fibres from donors were implanted, allowing the cornea to feel some stimuli again. While in some patients, this technique has been able to prevent vision loss and even restore sight, it has not worked for every patient. This is the root of Dr. Borschel’s FBC funded project, to find ways to improve this new surgery and identify other treatment options, such as drug treatments to increase corneal nerve regrowth.
Dr. Borschel’s research team has developed an animal model of neurotrophic keratitis which they will use to answer a number of questions including: Are stem cells essential for corneal healing and are these stem cells lost in neurotrophic keratitis? Are there other cell types or molecules secreted by cells that are important for successful nerve transplantation and corneal healing? Are there any drugs to help transplanted nerves survive and improve how quickly the cornea can heal?
Dr. Borschel’s hope is that this work will lead to better and less-invasive treatment options for this debilitating eye disease. As Dr. Borschel explains,
“This project sets the stage for visual restoration in patients that have lost vision due to long-standing neurotrophic keratitis. It also will have the potential to prevent loss of vision in those newly diagnosed with neurotrophic keratitis. Support from FBC is critical to address the needs of patients suffering from conditions such as neurotrophic keratitis, which are potentially treatable thanks to ongoing research.”
With your support, vision researchers like Dr. Borschel are helping advance new discoveries and treatments for blinding eye disease. Support FBC’s fight against blindness by making a donation today!
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A baby was discovered to have three penises, probably the first case in modern human history in Iraq.
A Kurdish child from Duhok, Iraq was reportedly born with three penises a medical phenomenon called triphallia, the baby had swollen testicles.
According to the New York Post doctors measured the two additional penises are about 2 centimeters (0.8 inch) near his primary penis and 1 centimeter hidden underneath his scrotum.
Following the discovery, the two extra penises were surgically removed by the doctors, both had no urethras and served less functionality.
According to reports, doctors were unable to determine how the baby grew extra penises, tests were run to determine whether the baby was exposed to alcohol or drugs during the pregnancy but this was not the case.
Medical history has rarely recorded such cases in its history book.
In 2015 a similar case was reported in India, but the child reportedly had no anus, according to Daily Mail.
The newborn’s triphallia was not documented in the official medical journal, because the parents removed them and their speculations.
International Journal of Surgery Case reported that an individual with tripahllia may have medical and cosmetic difficulties, and would require regular visits for medical follow-ups.
“A combined multidisciplinary team is usually required for the management and long term follow up is usually required,” according to the International Journal of Surgery Case.
The rare condition of diphallia, having additional penis affects one in every five to six million boys.
The case was first reported in 1609, media reported.
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No. You don’t. (pdf)
Research from the USDA suggests that we are generally wrong—by quite a bit—about what we’re eating and how much. Researchers asked people to estimate how much food they eat in each nutritional category and then to keep records for 14 days of what they actually eat. There was a big gap.
Across age and gender, we underestimate the amount of grains we’re consuming and wildly overestimate the amount of fruit. (We think we’re eating about 2-1/2 times as much fruit as we actually are. And even the fruit we think we’re eating would not be sufficient to meet federal nutrition guidelines.) Generally speaking, we’re pretty accurate about how many veggies we get. We’re consuming about half as much dairy as we think we are. And we’re actually eating between 2/3 and 3/4 of the meat that we report.
The truth is, we eat about the right amount in the meat/protein/beans category. We eat a bit too much in the grains/cereal category. And we don’t get enough of anything else.
Oh, there is one other category that we get enough of: "fats, oils, and sweets." The USDA does not recommend an amount, it only warns us to "use sparingly," a warning that is apparently going unheeded. Women consume about 50 percent more than they say they do and men consume about double what they report. And both genders are reporting that they eat more "fats, oils, and sweets" than they should.
It could be that the first obstacle to good nutrition is simply getting people to accurately assess their eating habits. It’s awfully hard to combat obesity or encourage nine servings of fruits and veggies a day (the new federal guidelines for men) if we don’t even know what we’re eating in the first place.
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Does Graphics Card Affect Video Quality? [Answered]
Modern graphics cards can handle more complex tasks than ever before, like manipulating computer graphics and image processing.
There are two types of GPU – integrated and dedicated.
An integrated GPU is built into the central processing unit (CPU) and shares the same memory, creating an efficient, power-saving system.
A dedicated GPU is a separate processor from the CPU, which has different components. It does not share the memory with the central processing unit.
A dedicated GPU has a power source, and it’s own video RAM that allows for much higher performance.
Depending on the workload, the computer shares the load between the iGPU and dedicated GPU. A dedicated GPU however, provides a much better video quality with increased detail.
Does Graphics Card Affect Resolution?
The graphics card is limited by the display resolution. For example; if your laptop display is 1920 x 1080, and the max resolution for the graphics card is 3840 x 2160, you would get 1080P resolution.
If and when you connect an HDMI to a TV and disable the built-in display that is 4K, your UI would render in that resolution.
Does GPU Affect Video Streaming?
To some extent, GPUs affect the quality of a video streamed off the internet. If you’re on a low-end GPU, it would not be able to consume high-resolution content, as there would be frame skipping and freezing.
You would have to lower settings to enjoy yourself without glitches.
Does GPU Affect Video Editing?
If you are talking about video editing, it would be better to purchase a CPU over a GPU. This is because, video editing is an intensive activity which requires multi-core processors.
However, that does not mean a GPU is absolutely useless when video editing.
Whenever graphically demanding tasks such as: after effects, 3D modelling are done, the presence of a dedicated graphics card makes the process fluid.
Does Graphic Card Affect Image Quality?
Yes, a GPU would slightly increase picture quality, by producing a much sharper image, reduce image noise.
Graphics cards help the display map the colours to match the colour range of the output display, and give a much more accurate image.
Do I Need A Graphics Card For 4K Video?
No. A dedicated graphics card is not needed to play 4k videos. Many of the modern CPUs would handle it with ease.
Do I Need A Graphics Card For 4k Movies?
As a user, if you wish to consume content in 4k, you need to have a CPU that is powerful enough to handle instructions, shared by the GPU otherwise, you’d experience low frames, lags, and frame skips on a regular.
In a computer, there 2 ways in which higher resolution is decoded.
• Software decoding. In much older PCs that do not support hardware encoding, the CPU handles it through software virtualization. Hence, the increased demand for your processor.
• Hardware decoding. This uses the CPU and Integrated GPU and a hardware decoder, although some processors might not support 4k acceleration.
Does Graphics Card Affect Video Quality?
GPUs have many uses, and displaying video content is one of them.
Content consumption above 1080P might sometimes require a dedicated graphics chip, but most modern computers have CPUs and GPUs that support either software or hardware decoding.
This makes things much easier for the computer and therefore enables users to watch movies and stream videos with ease.
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How to concatenate multiple C++ strings on one line?
C++Server Side ProgrammingProgramming
Here we will see how to concatenate multiple strings in one line in C++. There are few different methods to do that. The easiest method is by using the plus (+) operator. The strings can be concatenated using +. We can place + sign between two strings to make them concatenated.
Input: Some strings “str1”, “str2”, “str3”
Output: Concatenated string “str1str2str3”
Step 1: Take some strings
Step 2: Concatenate them by placing + sign between them
Step 3: Display the string
Step 4: End
Example Code
Live Demo
#include <iostream>
using namespace std;
int main() {
string str1, str2, str3;
str1 = "Hello";
str2 = "C++";
str3 = "World";
string res = str1 + str2 + str3;
cout << res;
Published on 28-Mar-2019 08:52:19
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Sunday, November 15, 2020
Preserving Eggs with Limewater
The best way to keep eggs fresh is to keep them in the chickens. This is one of the benefits of having your own backyard flock, along with pest control and entertainment.
One of the problems with home flocks, though, is that you get too many eggs in spring and not enough in winter. A consistent supply requires a method of preservation.
Two primary things cause eggs to go bad: bacteria penetrating their shells and causing decomposition; and liquids inside the egg evaporating out through the shell.
Fresh, unwashed eggs have a cuticle, or membrane, called the “bloom”. It helps seal their porous shells, slowing down bacteria going in as well as liquids evaporating out.
Cool temperatures will further slow down bacteria.
Assuming that you are starting with eggs collected from your own nesting boxes on the day they were laid, and that they are clean but not washed, you can reasonably expect them to last well over a month at room temperature, and around six months in a refrigerator.
So, refrigeration is the obvious solution.
But perhaps there isnt room in your refrigerator for twenty or thirty dozen eggs. Or perhaps electricity is unreliable where you live. What a pity it would be to lose your annual stock to a power outage.
In 1898, Canada’s Department of Agriculture began a 15-year experiment with 25 different methods of preserving eggs, and concluded that immersion in limewater was “the most satisfactory".
Two other methods were nearly as effective: coating with Vaseline, and immersion in waterglass" (sodium silicate).
Vaseline, however, tended to impart its own flavor, and who wants Vaseline and bacon for breakfast? And waterglass is somewhat expensive and unpleasant to work with.
So if you want to preserve eggs, and you dont have refrigeration, limewater is your best option.
“Limewater" is the common name for a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide, Ca(OH)2. It is strongly alkaline, which will inhibit bacteria, but it won’t react with the egg shell and affect taste.
A saturated solution can be made by mixing one ounce (about three tablespoons, or two heaping tablespoons, or 28 grams) of calcium hydoxide with one quart of water. (Its easiest to make a paste first. Then pour the milk of lime into the remaining water, and stir it, or shake it in a jar.)
Keep it well-mixed for a few hours, then allow it to settle. Some solids will precipitate out of the solution. The liquid left above is saturated. This is your limewater", ready to be poured off to cover your eggs.
A quart of limewater is about the right amount for a half-gallon container once the eggs have been added.
Use clean-but-unwashed eggs fresh from your nesting boxes. (Dirty eggs should be washed and used rather than preserved. Store-bought eggs won’t keep well because they’ve been washed, which removes the protective “bloom” from the shells. Besides, they may already be weeks old by the time you buy them.)
Place the eggs in a wide-mouth jar, fill it to the top with limewater, which should be quite cold, and screw on the cap to prevent dehydration.
A half-gallon jar will hold up to 18 eggs depending on size; a gallon jar up to three dozen.
Make sure all the eggs stay completely submerged.
Store in a cool, dark place.
Rinse the eggs when you take them out for use.
After six months the yolks will be flatter and the whites runnier than fresh, but the taste will still be almost as good.
After about eight months, quality seems to degrade.
After a year, there will be a noticeable difference in flavor and texture, but they’ll still be okay fried or scrambled. You won’t notice the difference in baked goods.
Eventually the whites will darken slightly, and the eggs will take on a slightly stale - but not rotten - smell. But they will still be useable for at least baking.
Use only the highest quality, freshest, unwashed eggs. You get clean eggs by keeping your nesting boxes clean.
Date your containers, and try not to move them - if one egg cracks, it’ll ruin the whole batch.
Duck eggs will keep longer than chicken eggs due to their thicker shells.
Do not re-use limewater; make a fresh batch every year.
When in doubt about the edibility of an egg, do the “Sink or Swim” test. If the eggs sink in water and lay flat on their side, they're still fresh. If they sink, but stand on one end at the bottom, they're not as fresh but still edible. Eggs that float have gone bad.
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Suitable Woods for Axe Handles
The properties desirable in a handle for a striking tool are:
1. Hardness. (Don’t want the handle deforming inside the eye or getting too many dents where we grip it.)
2. Modulus of rupture - how much of a load the wood can withstand perpendicular to the grain.
3. Modulus of Elasticity. This is the stiffness - how much the wood will bend perpendicular to the grain. In other words, how much shock it will absorb rather than transmit to your hands.
Of these, modulus of rupture is probably the most important consideration for an axe handle. This is usually measured in pound-force/square inch (lbf/in2) or a metric pressure unit called megapaschals (MPa).
Bear in mind that individual pieces of wood can vary greatly, but:
The gold-standard wood for axe handles has long been shagbark hickory, at 20,200 lbf/in2 (139.3 MPa).
White oak is 14,830 lbf/in2 (102.3 MPa). It was commonly used during the golden age of lumbering in the northeast, because it was the best of what was locally available in commercial quantities. Obviously it worked.
White birch averages 12,300 lbf/in2 (84.8 MPa). It was almost exclusively used in far northern lands simply because that’s all there was. While not optimum, it was clearly adequate.
Other North American woods, in descending order, that would seem to be very suitable:
Black locust: 19,400 lbf/in2 (133.8 MPa)
Osage orange: 18,650 lbf/in2 (128.6 MPa)
American Persimmon: 17,700 lbf/in2 (122.1 MPa)
Yellow birch: 16,600 lbf/in2 (114.5 MPa)
Sugar (hard) maple: 15,800 lbf/in2 (109.0 MPa)
White ash: 15,000 lbf/in2 (103.5 MPa)
American Beech: 14,900 lbf/in2 (102.8 MPa)
A few more interesting tidbits:
Grain orientation is important with ring-porous species (which have pores in the spring growth rings between the summer growth rings, such as ash). This is why ash baseball bats are wielded with the trademark up, so that the edge grain is what makes contact with the ball.
Grain orientation is much less important with diffuse-porous woods (where the density is even across both spring and summer growth rings, like sugar maple). Such woods actually resist impacts on the flat grain better than on the edge grain. This is why the best orientation for maple baseball bats is the opposite of that for ash baseball bats.
With ring-porous species, faster-growing wood (second growth, fairly young trees, which are characterized by a low number of rings-per-inch), is stronger than relatively slow-growing wood (old growth, large trees, with many rings-per-inch), because they have fewer pores.
With diffuse-porous species, rings per inch make no difference in strength.
With any type or species of wood, the overwhelmingly important consideration for use as a handle is slope-of-grain, or run-out. The closer to parallel the grain of the wood is with the longitudinal axis of the handle, the stronger it will be. This is why split billets make stronger handles than sawn billets.
Bottom line: while many woods make suitable axe handles, shagbark hickory is king, at least among what’s readily available. It’s a ring-porous species, so young, second-growth trees are strongest. The grain should follow the handle as closely as possible, and the edge-grain should take the impacts rather than the face-grain.
Monday, December 29, 2014
What it is like to shoot an elephant:
There was a young bull elephant in Zimbabwe named Buddy, who had been fed when he was little. He grew up to be the African equivalent of a nuisance bear in Yellowstone Park. He began chasing cars. A professional hunter named Sam was tasked with executing him. I was to back up Sam. He had me study elephant anatomy and read books by the famous Great White Hunters: Selous, Ruark, Selby, Corbett, Bell, etc. An elephant's brain is the size of a loaf of bread, surrounded all the way around by about 18" of bone. I practiced every day with a .458 Winchester Magnum. The recoil was very unpleasant. Every shot knocked me backwards two steps, and after five shots I'd have a headache for the rest of the day.
We baited him with alfalfa cubes, trying to get him downwind from the rest of the herd so that they wouldn't get involved. After three days we finally got him alone in neck-high elephant grass. I was facing him from about seventy-five yards away. Sam worked around to his side to get a lateral brain shot. I was looking through my rifle's scope head-on at Buddy when Sam fired. The impact was incredible. His whole head bounced like Jello, and dust came off all around. He spun 180 degrees and started running away. I should have been shooting by then, but I was stunned and simply couldn't believe that he had survived that impact. Sam shot him again, in the ass. Buddy slammed on the brakes, spun back around, and started scanning the grass like a radar. The only thing sticking up above it was me, like the idiot in one of those Far Side cartoons. I heard the trackers behind me take off running. Buddy locked onto me and started coming.
When elephants charge, they fan out their ears and trumpet. It's difficult to stand your ground, but it's the only viable option. If you run, they will catch you. If you climb a tree, they'll pick you like an apple. If you hide, they'll sniff you out. My rifle felt tiny, and I wished that I had a larger one.
I willed myself to be deliberate and pulled off a shot that seemed perfect. I knew it was beautiful when the trigger broke. Right between the eyes. Buddy didn't react at all, and kept on coming. Sam shot him in the side of the head again. He kept on coming. I had this sense of disbelief, that it just wasn't possible for him to absorb that much energy. I still wonder how many people have had that as their last thought. Buddy put his head down to use his tusks, and I shot him farther up his forehead. He came down like a falling building, and a cloud of dust rolled over me. We measured the distance at 27 yards, but it seemed like half that at the time. Turned out that all the head shots but the last had angled up over his brain without penetrating it.
Shona who we hadn't even realized were watching started popping out of the bush with axes and knives. They dragged out the innards and were running around inside the rib cage. Scores of huge dung beetles arrived. Fascinating bugs that look like flying turtles. They each rolled a grape-fruit sized ball of dung away. The trackers started a fire and cooked Buddy's heart. We ate it to get elephant magic. They call it "muti". The local chief staggered away carrying the trunk. We filled a pickup truck with meat. In a few hours, everything was gone.
On the flight back to the US a couple days later, the movie was "Godzilla". Japanese soldiers were shooting him with bazookas as he crossed a bridge, but he just wouldn't die. I knew exactly how they felt.
I told some flight attendants that I'd shot an elephant. Some shunned me like an Amish apostate. Others confronted me to share their (negative) opinions. I've discovered that flight attendants don't appreciate my elephant muti as a rule.
The Last Witches:
There are many biblical passages dealing with witchcraft, such as Exodus 22:18 (“Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live”). In 1484, Pope Innocent VIII ordered the Inquisition to move against witches as well as heretics. The fever for witch hunting reached a peak between 1560 and 1630, then slowly faded.
The Dutch Republic executed its last witch around 1613.
In Denmark, Anna Palles was the last, in 1693.
Scotland: Janet Horne had a daughter with deformed hands and feet. Neighbors accused her of using her daughter as a pony to ride to the Devil. Horne was stripped, tarred, paraded through the town on a barrel and burned in 1727.
England: Mary Hickes and her nine-year-old daughter Elizabeth were hanged in 1716, for taking off their stockings in order to raise a storm. Janet Wenham was accused of flying and bewitching a servant in 1712. A magical potion was found under her pillow. She was searched and "witch marks" (blemishes obtained when a pact is made with Satan) were discovered. She requested the swimming test, in which hands and feet are bound and the accused is cast into water. (Since witches spurn baptism, water - a pure element - rejects their bodies and prevents them from sinking.) She was instead ordered to recite the Lord's Prayer. (Witches are unable to do so without mistakes.) She stumbled. Fortunately, a sympathetic aristocrat secreted her in a cottage on his lands until she died in 1730.
France: Louis Debaraz in 1745.
Germany: Anna Schwegelin was convicted in 1775, but her sentence was not carried out.
Switzerland: Anna Göldi was a maidservant reported to have put needles in bread and milk through supernatural means. She confessed under torture to having a pact with the Devil, who appeared to her as a black dog. She withdrew her confession after the torture ended, but was beheaded in 1782.
Poland: two women with inflamed eyes, who were said to have enchanted their neighbor's cattle, were burned in 1793.
Europe's witch hunts ended with the execution of Barbara Zdunk in Prussia. She was a 38-year-old woman with a teenage boyfriend and a fondness for magic. Her conviction was upheld through several appeals, including to the King. She was burned at the stake in 1811
In the New World, Indians were commonly thought to be devils, or at least devil worshippers. Colonists first turned on themselves in Connecticut. Witches were executed in Windsor, Fairfield and Hartford. Connecticut sniffed out its last witch in 1697.
In Massachusetts, witches were executed in Boston, Charlestown, Dorchester, Cambridge and Springfield. The largest hunt was in 1692, when 24 were executed at Salem, Massachusetts.
Most of the witchcraft trial records for the southern colonies were destroyed during the Civil War, but accusations seem to have been taken less seriously than in Puritan New England, and penalties were less severe. In Virginia, Grace Sherwood was accused of bewitching pigs and cotton. The swimming test was administered. She floated. "Witch Duck Creek" is named for her. She was imprisoned until 1714.
The last formal witchcraft trial in the mainland colonies was probably that of a woman named Mary, also in Virginia, who was whipped 39 times in 1730 for using magic to find lost items. That same year, Benjamin Franklin published a satire that helped shift American perception of sorcery from terrifying reality to puritanical fantasy.
Witches are still being hunted on a small scale in New Guinea and northern India. They are being hunted on a large and growing scale in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Nigeria. The practice is spreading rapidly with the Pentecostal movement there. The accused have traditionally been the elderly, the disabled, and albinos, but children are increasingly being targeted.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
My Squirrel Jihad
Squirrels empty our birdfeeder every day. And they eat every peach on every tree, every summer. They don't eat the whole peaches, they just take one bite out of each of them. They do the same thing with the tomatoes. They chew down the corn and drag the whole stalks into the woods. They even dig underground to take a bite out of every potato. They carry off every blueberry and every gooseberry. They don't stop when they have enough for the winter. They're like those magic brooms in Fantasia who won't stop carrying water.
I whack them from the kitchen window with a silenced .22.
Scores of them. It started as a jihad. But it's become more performance art. The dogs run to the window and whine to alert me of their malevolent presence. Slowly, silently, I crank the window open, freezing for long moments when necessary to avoid detection. I settle the crosshairs, take a deep breath, let it halfway out, and concentrate on sight alignment and trigger control until the shot breaks.
When I go out to retrieve my trophies, I carefully step around the overripe persimmons splattered all over our driveway. Joggers come by and see me tip-toeing in zig-zags, barefoot and in a bathrobe, carrying a silenced rifle. I go back inside and wait for the police to arrive.
My record is 24 in one day. But it's like taking buckets of water out of the lake. More just keep coming to fill the vacuum.
They shouldn't go to waste, especially since they're made of the finest black sunflower seeds and organic, tree-ripened peaches.
I'm from South Carolina, where squirrels are a natural part of the diet.
I have a recipe for squirrel sausage. I am not making this up. An empathetic friend who makes venison sausage gave me a bag of spices to use. Liz can't remember where she put it.
She doesn't seem very motivated to look. I think she's trying to sabotage my squirrel sausage project. I am passive-aggressively filling the freezer with squirrels until her memory improves.
The dogs, on the other hand, are completely with me on this, enthusiastic about both squirrels and sausage. Dogs understand me.
Friday, February 28, 2014
Civil Disobedience in Connecticut
By some estimates, more than 300,000 previously law-abiding Connecticut citizens who believe the Bill of Rights applies to them are now felons. They've refused to comply with the state's new gun registration law. So far, most Connecticut gun owners have quietly gone underground, like California's and New Jersey's before them. But some outraged politicians and the editor of the Hartford Courant are demanding aggressive enforcement. If Connecticut does choose to get heavy-handed with the 'potential domestic terrorists' who have called their bluff, here's some fun hypothetical math:
Let's be really conservative and say that only 100,000 Connecticut citizens are disobeying the order to line up and register like sex offenders.
And let's further say that 90% of them will eventually be intimidated into complying.
That still leaves 1,000 doors for SWAT teams to kick down in the middle of the night.
Let's say 90% of those homeowners submit and quietly go to jail when their dogs have been shot and they're looking down the barrel of a police "patrol rifle". (Have you noticed that AR-15's are "assault weapons" when citizens possess them, but "patrol rifles" when police do?)
That still leaves 100 who will resist.
Let's say 90% of those who resist are killed before they can defend themselves.
That still leaves 10.
Remember the hysteria ONE cop-killer (Chris Dorner) had the entire west coast in not so long ago? Nervous, trigger-happy cops riddling houses and parked cars and innocent people as they somehow mistook hispanic women and a white man for the black suspect?
If there are 1,000 middle-of-the-night, no-knock raids, how many of them will hit the wrong house, or the wrong guy?
Even if every single raid goes "well", how many people will be gunned down in their own homes in front of their families before even the most naive lefty realizes something is wrong?
If the Connecticut State Police start attacking the homes of citizens they suspect of being armed, America is a totalitarian police state. If armed Connecticut citizens start defending themselves from the Connecticut State Police, the next revolution is on.
The police and DHS have shiny new military assault vehicles, but sooner or later they have to get out of them. When was the last time the US won an insurgency? The enforcers in the tanks have homes and families among the 'insurgents'. The politicians who passed this legislation and who will order the raids live among the 'insurgents'. They have homes and families among the insurgents. They may become active participants, willing or not.
Andrea Stillman, 5 Coolidge Ct., Waterford 06385-3309
Kevin Kelly, 240 York St., Stratford 06615-7952
Steve Cassano, 1109 Middle Tpke, E Manchester 06040-3703
Andres Ayala, PO Box 55106, Bridgeport 06610-5106
Bob Duff, 50 Toilsome Ave., Norwalk 06851-2425
Toni Boucher, 5 Wicks End Ln, Wilton 06897-2633
Paul Doyle, 38 Thornbush Rd., Wethersfield 06109-3554
Carlo Leone, 88 Houston Ter., Stamford 06902-4449
Dante Bartolomeo, 167 Reynolds Dr., Meriden 06450-2568
Gayle Slossburg, 14 Honeysuckle Ln., Milford 06461-1671
Catherine Abercrombie, 64 Parker Ave., Meriden 06450-5945
Brenda Kupchick, 85 Liberty St., Madison 06443-3258
David Alexander, 277 Pearl St., Enfield 06082-4368
Claire Janowski, 263 Hany Ln., Vernon 06066-2740
Edwin Vargas, 141 Douglas St., Hartford 06114-2422
Angel Arce, 248 Franklin Ave., Hartford 06114-1841
Susan Johnson, 120 Bolivia St., Willimantic 06226-2818
Joe Aresimowicz, 248 Lower Ln., Berlin 06037-2231
David Kiner, 5 Cranberry Hollow, Enfield 06082-2200
Christina Ayala, 506 Brooks St., Bridgeport 06608-1303
Terry Backer, 125 Jefferson St., Stratford 06615-7810
David Baram, 5 Warbler Cir., Bloomfield 06002-2233
Elissa Wright, 51 Pearl St., Groton 06340-5732
Geoff Luxenburg, 45 Chatham Dr., Manchester 06042-8522
James Maroney, 22 Saranac Rd Milford 06461-9401
Larry Butler, 70 Blackman Rd., Waterbury 06704-1203
Brandon McGee, 43 Warren St., Hartford 06120-2117
Michelle Cook, 499 Charles St., Torrington 06790-3420
John Shaban, 29 Ledgewood Rd., Redding 06896-2916
Mike D'Agostino, 575 Ridge Rd., Hamden 06517-2519
Russ Morin, 495 Brimfield Rd., Wethersfield 06109-3209
Prasad Srinivasan, 268 Grandview Dr., Glastonbury 06033-3946
Bruce Morris, 315 Ely Ave., Norwalk 06854-4619
Mitch Bolinsky, 3 Wiley Ln., Newtown 06470-1812
Mike Demicco, 6 Deborah Ln., Farmington 06032-3031
Sandy Nafis, 49 Whitewood Rd., Newington 06111-2133
Joe Diminico, 26 Finley St., Manchester 06040-5616
Elaine O'Brien, 1321 Hill St., Suffield 06078-1024
Kim Fawcett, 234 Collingwood Ave., Fairfield 06825-1877
Christie Carpino, 29 Sovereign Rd., Cromwell 06416-1136
Mae Flexer, 452 Main St., Danielson 06239-2104
Daniel Fox, 14 Carter Dr., Stamford 06902-7013
Mary Fritz, 43 Grove St., Yalesville 06492-1606
Linda Gentile, 158 Hodge Ave., Ansonia 06401-3236
Minnie Gonzalez, 97 Amity St., Hartford 06106-1001
Ezequiel Santiago, 991 State St., Bridgeport 06605-1504
Jeffrey Berger, 134 Gaylord Dr., Waterbury 06708-2181
Bob Godfrey, 13 Stillman Ave., Danbury 06810-8007
Tony Hwang, PO Box 762, Fairfield 06824-0762
Joseph Serra, PO Box 233, Middletown 06457-0233
John Hampton, 33 West Mountain, Simsbury 06092
Charlie Stallworth, 35 Wickliffe Cir., Bridgeport 06606-1929
Themis Klarides, 23 East Ct., Derby 06418-2640
Noreen Kokoruda, 85 Liberty St., Madison 06443-3258
Jack Hennessy, 556 Savoy St., Bridgeport 06606-4125
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CND/Henry Kenyon Protestors in the United Kingdom demonstrate against nuclear weapons.(file)
The Security Council on Monday marked the 25th anniversary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, with calls for its entry into force and the elimination of nuclear weapons everywhere.
Speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) pointed to its “near universal adherence”, with 185 signatures and 170 ratifications.
He said that the Treaty “has created and sustained a norm against nuclear testing so powerful, that less than one dozen tests have been conducted since adoption, and only one country has violated it this millennium.”
A proven record
Before the adoption of the treaty in 1996, the average explosive yield of nuclear tests each year was equivalent to nearly 1,000 Hiroshima-sized bombs.
“Nuclear testing not only created geopolitical instability and supported the development of more powerful and deadly nuclear weapons, it also caused untold human suffering and environmental damage. Because of the CTBT, we have left this world far behind,” Mr. Floyd said.
In addition to its core mission, the Treaty includes a verification regime in the form of a global network, that provides useful data for civil and scientific purposes, including tsunami warning and climate change studies.
Established under the treaty, the International Monitoring System (IMS), provides round-the-clock, real-time monitoring of any explosive nuclear activities on Earth, and is now more than 90% complete, with over 300 stations certified.
A renewed push
Despite its 185 signatures, the Treaty is yet to enter into force, which would require ratification by eight countries (the US, China, Iran, Israel, Egypt, India, Pakistan and North Korea).
For Mr. Floyd, “anniversaries are a time for renewal of commitments.”
He cited a “real appetite for civil society and youth engagement” on the issue, and declared that the ultimate objective is clear: the total elimination of nuclear weapons.
“But we cannot hope to achieve a nuclear weapons-free world without a universally applied, non-discriminatory, and verifiable prohibition on nuclear testing,” he argued.
A continuous threat
Still to this day, there are still 13,400 nuclear weapons around the globe. Some countries continue to seek nuclear capabilities, and others are working to expand their nuclear arsenals.
Addressing Council Members, the UN Under-Secretary-General of Disarmament Affairs, Izumi Nakamitsu, pointed to a “worrisome trend towards the modernization and expansion of nuclear arsenals.”
“As the global arms control regime has crumbled, multilateral nuclear disarmament diplomacy has atrophied. As relations continue to decline amongst States that possess nuclear weapons, we cannot take for granted that the norm against nuclear testing will hold,” she said.
‘Lasting damage’
For Ms. Nakamitsu, nuclear testing “has done lasting damage to pristine environments, human health and some of the most vulnerable communities”, from the deserts of Nevada, to the steppes of Semipalatinsk; from the outback of Australia to the atolls of the South Pacific.
Besides those impacts, she argued that the tests have also “enabled the quantitative and qualitative improvements of nuclear weapons, announcing the arrival of new nuclear-armed States and facilitating dangerous growth in the arsenals of their predecessors.”
Overcoming challenges
For the Under-Secretary General, the 25th anniversary of the treaty is a reason to celebrate, but also to rethink what can be done to overcome the challenges that still lie ahead.
She argued that this can be done on several fronts.
First, further empowerment of young people. Second, it has to be understood that the CTBT does not operate in a vacuum, and that it works in tandem with other processes. Third, and finally, the international community must continue to strengthen the CTBTO’s technical capabilities.
Magdalene Wanyaga, a Kenyan member of the CTBTO Youth Group, also participated in the meeting, sharing her views on how civil society and youth can creatively contribute to this mission.
High-level conference
Last week, the high-level Conference on Facilitating the Entry into Force of the CTBT, included global calls for it to become binding and fulfil its potential to end all nuclear explosions.
Ministers and senior officials from more than 60 countries participated, joining UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, and UN General Assembly President, Abdulla Shahid.
At the event, Mr. Guterres urged eight key countries which have not yet signed or ratified the Treaty, to do so without delay.
“Given its necessity and readiness, it is both disappointing and frustrating that the Treaty has not yet entered into force. We all know the reason for this – the eight remaining Annex II States whose ratifications are required for the Treaty’s entry-into-force”, he said.
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You too can build a sustainable home, just do as this former submariner did
building a green home
Solar panels mounted on the terrace
Rooftop Solar panels mounted on a canopy at home of Commander Ganapathi. Pic credit: Commander Ganapathi Subramanyam
After I swallowed the anchor (a naval term for retirement), I settled down with my wife and two kids in an independent house in a suburb of Bengaluru. I was thrust into managing one’s own resource in terms of electricity, water and waste we generate unlike the days when the navy took care of all this.
My home is designed to be capable of generating its own power with minimal need of utilising power from the grid, and taking care of its water needs through proper conservation techniques, also a cool home which is not energy guzzling.
The principles that constitute a sustainable home can be put in four categories :-
1. Energy generation and conservation
2. Harvesting rainwater
3. Utilising grey water
4. Utilising food waste to generate compost and create a garden
So how does one build a self-sufficient and sustainable house on a 30×40 site?
We keep hearing about 30×40 size being too small for incorporating these ideas. But It is very much doable while adhering to the bye-laws and various other conditions laid down in building laws.
1. Energy generation and conservation
Energy generation for home use is through implementation of a Solar Roof Top Photovoltaic system (SRTPV). The solar panels are mounted on the terrace on top of a canopy. Typically, 1 kw of panels occupies around 6 sqm (roughly 70 sq ft).
The other accessories and batteries would take less than 4 sq ft and all of them can be mounted on the wall (generally this can be done in the space below the overhead water tank). The canopy, if well constructed, also provides shade to the entire house ensuring that the top floor does not heat up, thus reducing the need for air conditioning.
Other sustainable features such as solar water heater, fans with Brushless DC motors, LED lamps and other energy efficient home equipment ensures that energy conservation is taken care of. Typically, 4 kw solar panels would generate around 16 kw of energy per day and even at 50% consumption, the rest can be exported to the BESCOM grid.
A system of this kind would cost around Rs 5 lakhs. The larger impact is uninterrupted power supply with no dependency on the whims and fancies of BESCOM. This was put to the test during the lockdown with three working members being cooped up in the house and one school going child hogging the internet and the fans running throughout the day.
2. Harvesting rainwater
Water, the precious resource which quenches peoples’ thirst or the boiler’s needs, was always in my mind whilst ensuring the maintenance of various critical assets which generates potable water out of sea water in the Indian navy’s fleet of ships and submarines.
But at home, I turned towards the sky for water. Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is cost effective, simple and effective to meet your water demands. Bengaluru with an annual rainfall of 1000mm in a year would yield almost 75,000 litres of water in a year (allowing for proper construction of the house as per bye laws). A typical home consumes around 500 litres per day, which means the water from RWH is sufficient for five months of usage.
Every house has drain pipes on the roof to prevent stagnation of rain water. All that needs to be done is to connect these drain pipes, filter the water and store it in a sump tank. No house is without a sump and overhead tank. Fitting a water controller ensures that the water is automatically pumped from the sump to the overhead tank.
In an independent house, this can be installed at any time, either during construction or later. Since an existing house is equipped with a sump tank, overhead tank and drain pipes, it’s only a question of connecting the drain pipes through a filter to the sump tank. The overflow water from the sump can be used for recharging the groundwater, or let into the storm water drain to flow to the lakes. This method of rainwater harvesting will not only ensure reduced dependence on Cauvery during the monsoons, but also mitigate flooding of neighbourhoods and also prevent overflow of sanitary lines to which stormwater lines are usually connected. The cost of RWH, filter and ground water recharge pit will be less than Rs 30,000.
Sadly, people are unwilling to take these measures due to lack of knowledge/inertia. But the positive thing is that, people outside the city’s core areas (without Cauvery water supply or largely dependent on borewell/tanker water) have done this in large numbers and have benefitted.
Rain water harvesting sump.
Piping rainwater to storage tanks. Pic: Pragya Singh
Read more: Rs 3 lakh savings per year, and borewells that never dry: What a Bengaluru apartment gained from RWH
3. Grey water harvesting
My childhood summer holidays were spent in my maternal grandfather’s house in a suburb of Chennai. A two ground plot with a house and large vegetable garden with coconut trees, mehndi, lime tree, canna flowers, roses and a well brimming with water, flashed in front of my eyes. The trick in maintaining this garden was in the intricate network of gutters/moris in which flowed all the grey water generated by washing of clothes, utensils and bathing. The planting of the flowers and trees was done in a manner which takes care of the chemical nature of the water. (Voila! A truly circular ecosystem in the usage of water)
Whilst my grandfather had the luxury of open space for his intricate design of nallahs/gutters in the garden, I had to make do with the small piece of land on which my humble house stood. However, it struck me that I could go vertical. Studying the pipelines, I realised that the sewage water lines and gray water lines were separated. All that was needed was to trap the grey water in a set of drums at the ground floor, filter it and pump it to the overhead tank. Additionally, I connected this tank to all my WCs for flushing purposes.
The fresh water which we use for bathing and washing our clothes runs to the drains after our ablutions. This water is called grey water. Can this be used for any purpose? Yes, it can be. A dual piping system where sewage goes to the city’s sewage network and the gray water into a separate piping system can be put in place at the time of construction of the house.
The grey water is trapped in tanks and filtered and pumped to a separate overhead tank. This water can be used for watering plants and also for flushing purposes.
A family of four generates around 150 litres of grey water per day. So what is the impact? Since grey water, rather than fresh water, is used for flushing, almost 25% water saving is achievable. So the daily consumption of water will reduce from 500 litres to roughly 400 litres per day which means your harvested rainwater lasts for one more month.
In terms of monetary saving, I saved the cost of water tankers which would have been required for the purpose of flushing the loo. What a waste of fresh water for flushing purposes! Instead the grey water powers the loo and also waters the garden on my terrace.
On implementing this, my wife insisted that the quality of water was not good as it was using chemical soaps and detergents. This point was reinforced by my son, a chemical engineer who talked about the ill effects of SLS/phosphates, etc. Her long held desire to convert me to using organic soaps for bath and organic detergent for washing clothes fructified. Thus the grey water system with organic contents was born. It has served us well for five years.
Read more: Towards water security: How to set up a greywater treatment system
4. Utilising food waste
My wife’s green fingers acquired from her paternal grandfather stuck roots in the form of 150 pots on the terrace of our home, where she grows vegetables. Besides water, this vegetable garden required other nourishments too, which was made possible by looking inwards to food waste.
Food waste, instead of being dumped, can be composted and converted to manure. The manure can be used for nourishing your kitchen garden or exotic plants on your terrace. Remember, the solar canopy protects the plants from direct sunshine and the compost and the grey water provide the necessary nourishment. Using this technique, I have over 150 pots on my rooftop.
All these are achievable in a 30 x 40 site. The net impact has been no problems during the lockdown, no energy outage, no water scarcity, you can even grow your own food.
The pandemic has made us reevaluate many aspects of life that we had taken for granted. Being at home 24X7 for over 18 months has suddenly opened our eyes to the true meaning of the term ‘Home Sweet Home’. Many people have redecorated their homes, sprouted green fingers and pursued their hobbies enthusiastically as they can devote time to being at home.
My interest was building a sustainable home. And this idea of a sustainable home was put to test during the pandemic induced lockdown.
Also read:
About Commander Ganapathi Subramanyam 1 Article
Commander Ganapathi Subramanyam (retd) is an Indian Navy veteran passionate about water conservation and renewable energy.
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For architects of the past, a common conundrum was the question of designing a building that was aesthetically pleasing but also paid attention to providing a pleasant inside environment too. This led to the concept of the brise soleil.
The Brise Soleil
Often referred to as a sun blocker, you may know it as a sunshade but that’s essentially what the brise soleil is all about. When you have a building that receives too much direct sunlight, this can overheat the interior, making it uncomfortable and stuffy for those who must spend time inside. A smart way to reduce the temperature and save money on cooling, is the design of the brise soleil – an exterior structure that solves this problem.
Image credit
It means ‘sun breaker’ in French and it can be used to cover the entire side of a building, opening or window. They effectively restrict or reflect the amount of direct sunlight entering the building and can be designed to look fabulous too.
Other methods for creating shade and cooling areas include the use of awnings. For more information on Awnings Stratford Upon Avon, visit a site like Centurion, a leading supplier of Awnings Stratford Upon Avon.
In history
This concept is not new as people have long had a need to get out of the hot sun while balancing the need for adequate indoor lighting. Ancient examples are the Colosseum in Rome, which had awnings spread across the seats to provide shade from the hot sun.
Another historical example is found in the use of brise soleil in Hindu architecture. Architects in the past used screens with pierced holes in them called jalis which were then placed at the top of windows. They were able to filter sunlight to provide interior sufficient interior illumination, while keeping the room as cool as possible. An added bonus was that the pierced pattern stabbed into the fabric created an impressive display of patterns on the walls and floor of the room where they were hung.
This method was used by the Japanese as well. Sudare are reed or split bamboo screens that were hung from the roofs of houses. Sudare are not unlike curtains that we use today and can be rolled up when not needed and then unrolled when the sun gets too much.
Brise Soleil today
The need for shade never goes away but shades have been redesigned to become an integral part of modern architectural design. One defining moment for the modern use of brise soleil was the work of Le Corbusier. The swiss-french architect was very influential in the design of the 20th century and one of the leading advocates for studying the effects of the sun and sunlight on modern buildings. He applied the use of brise soleil to great effect when working in tropical climates where the need to cool the interior is essential.
Image credit
The Gustavo Capanema Palace in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil is an example of one of the first uses brise soleil. Le Corbusier designed the structure around 1936 and it is still regarded as one of the largest in American modernist design. Brise soleil fins are mounted in a grid-like frame with adjustable panels which allow occupants to control their environment throughout the season.
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Is rashes a sign of early pregnancy?
Is a rash an early pregnancy symptom? Skin rashes aren’t considered an early pregnancy symptom. In fact, many rashes don’t appear until later pregnancy.
How early can pregnancy rash start?
Typically, the PUPPP rash will appear during the third trimester of pregnancy. Your baby’s growth rate is very rapid during this time, especially during the last five weeks of pregnancy. It’s most likely to occur during a first pregnancy and during a multiples pregnancy, where the skin stretches even more.
What does pregnancy rash look like?
Prurigo of pregnancy involves a rash that consists of papules, which are small bumps filled with fluid. Pruritic folliculitis causes papules that resemble pimples, or acne. These conditions are uncomfortable but do not pose a risk to the pregnant person or the fetus. The rash will often disappear after delivery.
Can implantation cause a rash?
All rashes erupted within days from embryo implantation. Conclusions: The ‘implantation rash’ reported here is uncommon but not rare. It may be the consequence of abnormal maternal immune responses to embryo implantation in women with prior immune activation, associated with class II HLA compatibility between parents.
IT IS INTERESTING: Frequent question: Which pizza is safe during pregnancy?
Can I be allergic to pregnancy?
As your belly grows to keep up with your growing baby, skin discomfort in the form of itchiness and dryness can occur. Pregnant women can face more serious bouts of itchiness, hives or rashes, and 1 in 150 pregnant women will develop a more serious skin condition known as PUPP. Hives are caused by allergic reactions.
Can Pupps start on legs?
The earliest signs of PUPPP are red, itchy bumps near areas of stretch marks. These bumps may spread to other parts of the body, usually to the chest, arms, and legs. It is uncommon for the rash to appear on the face, palms, or soles of the feet.
Is it normal to have rashes while pregnant?
Itchy rashes are common during pregnancy. PUPPPs, pruritic urticarial papules and plaques of pregnancy, is the most common pregnancy rash. These itchy, red patches spring up around stretch marks – usually toward the end of pregnancy when your belly is stretched the most – and can spread to the arms, legs, and buttocks.
Can a rash during pregnancy harm baby?
Most rashes during pregnancy are unrelated to your pregnancy and instead are caused by other conditions, like contact dermatitis, allergies, or skin infections. These rashes during pregnancy are irritating but fairly harmless, not usually causing any serious problems for you or your baby.
How do you treat pregnancy rashes?
Safe OTC Rash Treatments to Use During Pregnancy
1. Benadryl cream (Do not take oral Benadryl at the same time)
2. Caladryl lotion or cream.
3. Hydrocortisone cream or ointment.
4. Oatmeal bath (Aveeno)
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5 авг. 2020 г.
What are the signs of successful implantation?
Further Signs of Successful Implantation
• Bloating. …
• Changing tastes. …
• Blocked nose. …
• Constipation.
26 нояб. 2020 г.
Is itching a sign of pregnancy?
Itching is not generally considered an early pregnancy symptom. In fact, many types of rashes typically only appear later in pregnancy and some may not resolve until after your baby is born.
Is Puppp rash contagious?
The rash might spread
“After it starts on your belly, all bets are off,” Dr. Levine warns. It can spread to your extremities, including your hands, arms, and legs, though it’s uncommon to see PUPPPs breakouts on your face, palms, or the soles of your feet.
Can sneezing cause miscarriage early pregnancy?
Why are my allergies so bad during pregnancy?
Is sneezing sign of pregnancy?
Pregnancy rhinitis often causes extra nasal congestion. This congestion can last for 6 weeks or longer during pregnancy and can cause many symptoms, including increased sneezing. During pregnancy, blood flow to the mucous membranes increases.
IT IS INTERESTING: Can hot drink affect pregnancy?
9 months
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Calories per protein
How many calories is 1g of protein?
A gram of protein also contains 4 calories . A gram of fat, though, contains 9 calories — more than twice the amount of the other two.
How many calories are in a protein powder?
All in all, with powder and a liquid base, you can expect your average protein shake to contain around 200 calories .
How many calories is 200 grams of protein?
Sample of a 200 Grams of Protein a Day Meal Plan for a Man The following eating plans are about 2000 calories , and they are fantastic for anyone who is on a cutting diet.
How many calories is 120g of protein?
Now for some math fun. Remember that 1 gram of protein is 4 calories , 1 gram of carbohydrates is 4 calories and 1 gram of fat is 9 calories . Let’s pretend your daily requirements are 1500 calories , 150 grams of carbs, 120 grams of protein, and 50 grams of fat.
How many calories is 3 grams of protein?
Carbohydrates provide 4 calories per gram, protein provides 4 calories per gram, and fat provides 9 calories per gram. You can view this information on the bottom of the Nutrition Facts Panel on food packages.
What food has more than 10g of protein?
Chicken is one of the most commonly consumed high protein foods. The breast is the leanest part. Three ounces (85 grams) of roasted, skinless chicken breast will provide you about 27 grams of protein and 140 calories ( 4 ). Some studies show that eating chicken on a high protein diet can help you lose weight.
Is it bad to drink 2 protein shakes a day?
The short answer is yes, you can have more than one protein shake per day . If you have a protein -heavy diet and you’re not undertaking much exercise, you probably don’t need to add lots of shakes into your daily routine.
You might be interested: Sliced turkey breast calories
Is it bad to drink protein shakes everyday without working out?
Since protein contains calories, consuming too much can actually make losing weight more difficult — especially if you drink protein shakes in addition to your usual diet, and you’re not exercising . The average adult needs 46 to 56 grams of protein a day, depending on weight and overall health.
Which protein is best for weight loss?
What is the lowest calorie protein?
Top 13 Lean Protein Foods You Should Eat Protein is an essential part of a balanced diet, but sometimes it’s accompanied by more fat and calories than you want. White-Fleshed Fish. Plain Greek Yogurt. Beans, Peas and Lentils. Skinless, White-Meat Poultry. Low-Fat Cottage Cheese. Lite Tofu. Lean Beef.
What happens if I eat too much protein?
How much protein is OK in a day?
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Is 100g of protein a day too much?
5 grams per pound. (If you weigh 200 pounds, that’s 100 grams protein per day .) The American College of Sports Medicine recommends endurance athletes need 1.2 to 1.4 grams per kilogram (. 54 to 63 grams per pound) and bodybuilders need 1.6 to 1.7 grams protein per kilogram body weight (.
Is 30 grams of fat a lot?
So if you’re following a 2,000-calorie-a-day diet, your target range for total fat is 44 to 78 grams a day. Of that, saturated fat should make up no more than 22 grams . To monitor the fat in your diet, simply add up the fat grams from the foods you ate during the day.
How can I eat 2200 calories a day?
Here is the basic breakdown for the 2200 calorie diet plan: Breakfast: 2 Protein + 1 Fruit (+ vegetables if desired) + 1 Starch/Grain. Snack: 1 Protein Snack. Lunch: 2 Protein + 2 Vegetable + Leafy Greens + 1 Starch/Grain + 1 Taste Enhancer + 1 Fruit. Snack: 1 Protein Snack + 1 Fruit or Vegetable.
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Home Reverse Dictionary Customize Browse Dictionaries Help
We found 41 dictionaries with English definitions that include the word disturbance:
Click on the first link on a line below to go directly to a page where "disturbance" is defined.
General dictionaries General (28 matching dictionaries)
1. disturbance: Merriam-Webster.com [home, info]
2. disturbance: Oxford Dictionaries [home, info]
3. disturbance: American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language [home, info]
4. disturbance: Collins English Dictionary [home, info]
5. disturbance: Vocabulary.com [home, info]
6. disturbance: Macmillan Dictionary [home, info]
7. Disturbance, disturbance: Wordnik [home, info]
8. disturbance: Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary [home, info]
9. disturbance: Wiktionary [home, info]
10. disturbance: Webster's New World College Dictionary, 4th Ed. [home, info]
11. disturbance: The Wordsmyth English Dictionary-Thesaurus [home, info]
12. disturbance: Infoplease Dictionary [home, info]
13. disturbance: Dictionary.com [home, info]
14. disturbance: UltraLingua English Dictionary [home, info]
15. disturbance: Cambridge Dictionary of American English [home, info]
16. Disturbance (BoA song), Disturbance (Test Dept. album), Disturbance (ecology), Disturbance (geology), Disturbance: Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia [home, info]
17. Disturbance: Online Plain Text English Dictionary [home, info]
18. disturbance: Webster's Revised Unabridged, 1913 Edition [home, info]
19. disturbance: Rhymezone [home, info]
20. disturbance: AllWords.com Multi-Lingual Dictionary [home, info]
21. disturbance: Webster's 1828 Dictionary [home, info]
22. disturbance: Free Dictionary [home, info]
23. disturbance: Mnemonic Dictionary [home, info]
24. disturbance: WordNet 1.7 Vocabulary Helper [home, info]
25. disturbance: LookWAYup Translating Dictionary/Thesaurus [home, info]
26. disturbance: Dictionary/thesaurus [home, info]
Business dictionaries Business (3 matching dictionaries)
1. disturbance: Glossary of Legal Terms [home, info]
2. DISTURBANCE: Bouvier's Law Dictionary 1856 Edition [home, info]
3. Disturbance (ecology), disturbance: Legal dictionary [home, info]
Computing dictionaries Computing (1 matching dictionary)
1. Disturbance (ecology), disturbance: Encyclopedia [home, info]
Medicine dictionaries Medicine (3 matching dictionaries)
1. Disturbance: MedFriendly Glossary [home, info]
2. disturbance: online medical dictionary [home, info]
3. Disturbance (ecology), disturbance: Medical dictionary [home, info]
Science dictionaries Science (4 matching dictionaries)
1. disturbance: Archaeology Wordsmith [home, info]
2. disturbance: Anthropology dictionary [home, info]
3. Disturbance: Glossary of Avian Terms For Use in Avian Conservation Biology [home, info]
4. DISTURBANCE: Weather Glossary [home, info]
Sports dictionaries Sports (1 matching dictionary)
1. Disturbance: Sports Definitions [home, info]
Tech dictionaries Tech (1 matching dictionary)
1. disturbance: Glossary of Meteorology [home, info]
(Note: See disturbances for more definitions.)
Quick definitions from Macmillan (
American English Definition British English Definition
Provided by
Quick definitions from WordNet (disturbance)
noun: the act of disturbing something or someone; setting something in motion
noun: a disorderly outburst or tumult ("They were amazed by the furious disturbance they had caused")
noun: an unhappy and worried mental state ("There was too much anger and disturbance")
noun: a noisy fight
noun: activity that is an intrusion or interruption ("He looked around for the source of the disturbance")
noun: electrical or acoustic activity that can disturb communication
noun: (psychiatry) a psychological disorder of thought or emotion; a more neutral term than mental illness
▸ Also see disturbances
Words similar to disturbance
Usage examples for disturbance
Popular adjectives describing disturbance
Words that often appear near disturbance
Rhymes of disturbance
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Phrases that include disturbance: emotional disturbance, tumultuous disturbance, sensation disturbance, upper air disturbance, bernhardts disturbance of sensation, more...
Words similar to disturbance: affray, commotion, disruption, fray, interference, noise, perturbation, ruffle, stir, to-do, turmoil, upset, hurly burly, mental disorder, mental disturbance, riot, todo, more...
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Testing Program-based Security Mechanisms
Security vulnerabilities in a program can lead to severe damage. The best solution to these problems is to change programming practices. However, this may not be practical due to the expense involved. This can be addressed by program-based security mechanisms which either fix the damage caused by an attack or detect the attack and kill the program. These mechanisms adjust some part of the system environment (such libraries, or the OS) or adjust the compiler to add code to the final executable.
While many such mechanisms exist, testing of these mechanisms is often poor because vulnerabilities involve the uncommon case. As such, security mechanisms are usually tested by applying the mechanism to a program with a known exploit. Thus, the mechanism is tested in a specific instance rather than in a general fashion.
Our research focuses upon building a framework to allow for the automated and general testing of program-based security mechanisms. The framework is built upon dynamic compilers. The testing procedure within the framework is to apply the mechanism to any program and then run the program as would normally be done. During execution, the framework dynamically inserts attacks to demonstrate the effectiveness of the mechanism. Furthermore, the framework may allow for the quick prototyping of new solutions.
Faculty: Dr. Lori Pollock Former Ph.D. Student: Ben Breech Former Undergraduate: Mike Tegtmeyer
projects/mobilecode.1314206589.txt.gz · Last modified: 2011/08/24 13:23 by sprenkle
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CSS Height and Width
The height and width properties are used to set the height and width of an element.
You can set the following values for both property:
• auto
• length
• initial
• inherit
div {
border: 1px #333 solid;
height: 20px;
width: 50%;
Width & Height
Max and Min Width and Height
Oftentimes, we want to limit the width of an element relative to its parent, and at the same time, to make it dynamic. So having a base width or height with the ability to make it extend based on the available space. Let’s say, for example, that we have a button that should have a minimum width, where it shouldn’t go below it. This is where the maximum and minimum properties become handy.
div {
width: 100px;
min-width: 50%;
max-width: 100%;
div {
height: 100px;
min-height: 80%;
max-height: 75%;
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John 5:31-47 – You Can Trust the Witnesses
Summary: When we encounter someone making an extraordinary claim, we might ask others if that person really is who they say they are. On the basis of what others say, we make a decision to accept or deny that person’s claim. Jesus know the importance of witnesses so he points to several that support his claim that he is the Messiah.
Big Idea: You can trust the witnesses that point to Jesus as Saviour.
Ice-breaker question: Describe a time when you saw someone famous. How did you know that it was really them?
Read: John 5:31-47
Observation (What does the passage say?)
Jesus is continuing to make his case with the Jewish leaders. He takes his argument to another level by referring to witnesses who support his claim that he is the Messiah, the Son of God.
1. Why is it problematic when a person testifies in their own defence and there are no other witnesses or supporting evidence?
2. List the witnesses that Jesus says in this passage testify that he is who he says he is.
3. Read John 1:29. What did John the Baptist say about Jesus?
4. Read Luke 3:22 and 9:35. What did the Father say about Jesus?
5. If you have time, google “Top 40 Most Helpful Messianic Prophecies – Jews for Jesus” What do the Jewish Scriptures (what Christians call the Old Testament) say about Jesus?
6. Conservative Bible scholars consider Moses to be the author of the first five books of the Bible. Read Gen. 49:8-12 and Numbers 24:17-19. What does Moses say about Jesus?
Interpretation (What does the passage mean?)
7. Read Galatians 1:10. Why is it a problem when someone seeks glory from other humans instead of from God?
8. How did some of the things that Jesus did support his claim that he was the Son of God?
Application (What does the passage mean to me personally?)
9. People only accept the testimony of a witnesses if they believe that the witness is trustworthy. We live in a time when many people do not believe that the Bible is trustworthy. How does this make it difficult to convince a skeptic that Jesus is their Saviour?
1. What witness testimony do you find most convincing? Why?
2. Why is your personal testimony perhaps even more important now that it was in times past?
This Bible Study focuses on the same passage as the sermon on Jan 28/18 from Walnut Grove Lutheran Church, Langley BC.
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Ivan Kulibin
29 December, 2015
Ivan Kulibin was a Russian inventor whose name has become synonymous with self-taught inventors and people keen on mechanics or engineering. He was born in a merchant’s family in NIzhni Novgorod. Since a very young age he was interested in mechanics and reading that he turned his room into a workshop, made mechanical toys and tools for the household and for sale, and dreamed about becoming an engineer.
Ivan proved his talent at home by designing a hydraulic machine to turn the plant-filled water-basin into a running-water pond where fish could live and breed. After moving to Moscow, he bought the necessary tools to make a clock in his town, when he mastered his skills, he made a special one for the Empress Catherine II, who was impressed with all the crafts he had build in all that time, she ordered him to come to Saint Petersburg and bring his assistant and other invents. The final piece was a clock in the shape of a goose egg with a mechanical theater inside. Every hour, the egg opened and small mechanical figures inside performed the Resurrection scene from the Bible. So, if you are interested in checking this piece, you can see it in the Hermitage museum. After this he got a position to head the workshops of the Academy of Sciences that supplied the entire country with astronomical, physical, and navigational tools and instruments.
He also designed a bridge over the Neva River which became a success and gave him a reputation the mark of a genius for being too far ahead of his time.
In 1779, Kulibin designed what can be called a searchlight. With a system of mirrors, one candle could shine as brightly as half a thousand of them that were used for different purposes: for example, large ones were placed in lighthouses, smaller ones lighted factories and workshops, and the smallest served as headlights for carriages. In 1791, Kulibin designed a “mechanical leg” for his friend Nepeitsyn. He learned how to use it and even how to walk on it without a stick, returned to military service and took part in the war against Napoleon.
Kulibin also designed a foot-powered cart, considered the prototype of car; a lifting armchair for the Empress’s entertainment, and so were the fireworks , the color light telegraph, a “water-walker” – a vessel, which could go against the river current using the power of the stream to move. Nowadays, in Russia his name is used by the population to call somebody Kulibin when he or she is a very handful skillful person.
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Unfamiliar US weights and measures
Defenders of the imperial system occasionally cite Americans’ continued use of non-metric measurements to justify Britain’s dual system. Ronnie Cohen is not convinced.
It has been claimed that the UK did not need change from its imperial system of measures as the USA had and still has a similar system. It is true that they use a few of the same measurement units that are still in common usage in Britain. But many features of US non-metric measurements and some aspects of their usage would be unfamiliar to most Britons. Here we take a look at the largely unknown features of US customary units that we do not see in the UK.
The UK and US use the international versions of the imperial inch, foot, yard and mile. These were standardised by six English-speaking nations on 1 July 1959 using the metric system. Before that there were slight variations of these units between these nations. Older versions of these imperial units still survive today called US survey measures and are used by the US for land measurements. These vary from the international versions of imperial distance measures by 2 parts per million. The US survey foot is defined as exactly 1200/3937 metres. The US uses the survey foot as well as the international foot of 0.3048 metres.
The US uses land area measurements called “sections of land” and “townships”. A section of land is defined as one square mile and a township is defined as 36 square miles or 36 sections of land. The British never used these terms in the context of land measurements.
The Americans use separate dry volume and liquid volume measures whereas the British used a single set of imperial measures for dry and liquid volumes.
For liquid volumes, the Americans use the gill, pint, quart and gallon. The British used imperial units with the same names but the British versions of these units are approximately 20% larger than the US versions. The British have a quart in their imperial measurement tables but it is seldom used in the UK. While the US gallon is divided into 128 fluid ounces, the British gallon is divided into 160 fluid ounces. The fluid ounce varies slightly between the UK and US. The UK fluid ounce is 28.41 mL but the US fluid ounce is 29.57 mL, about 4% larger than the UK fluid ounce.
For dry volumes, the Americans have dry pints, dry quarts, pecks and bushels. The British imperial versions of these units were approximately 3% larger than these dry measures.
For mass measurements, the US uses the short hundredweight of 100 lb and the short ton of 2000 lb. The US also recognises the gross or long measures for the hundredweight and ton, which were once used in the UK. The latter are 12% larger than the short measures.
Other US measurement units likely to be unfamiliar to Britons include:
• Measuring Cup: This is equal to exactly 8 US fluid ounces or half a US liquid pint.
• Cord: This unit is equal to exactly 128 cubic feet and used for measuring firewood.
• Board Foot or Super Foot: A measure of volume measuring 1 inch x 1 foot x 1 foot. It is used for measuring lumber.
• Pounds per Board Foot: A measurement of density related to the Board Foot.
• Acre-Foot: A volume of one acre of surface area to a depth of one foot and used for measuring large volumes of water.
• Gasoline Gallon Equivalent: A unit of volume equal to 33.7 kilowatt hours.
• Miles per Gallon Gasoline Equivalent: A fuel economy measure closely related to gasoline gas equivalent.
• US Dry Barrel: A volume equal to 7056 cubic inches.
• US Barrel for Cranberries: A volume equal to 5826 cubic inches. Yes, you read that correctly; the Americans have a barrel exclusively for cranberries!
• US Liquid Barrel: Most liquid barrels in the US contain 31.5 US gallons.
• US Beer Barrel: The US beer barrel contains 31 US gallons.
Americans normally express their weight only in pounds whereas the British tend to use a combinations of stones and pounds. The stone is absent from US measurement tables.
Americans use feet on road signs for short distances whereas the British use yards and fractions of a mile in similar circumstances.
The US still sells petrol by the US gallon – around 18% smaller than the UK gallon. So fuel consumption figures in mpg are country specific.
The next article on Metric Views will appear on 15 February and will mark an important anniversary. We shall be interested to see how this date is covered in the UK media.
4 thoughts on “Unfamiliar US weights and measures”
1. Interesting article, a couple of things to add to it I think;
1 – the US tends not to use the yard, except in armoured rugby, period. (heh, sorry couldn’t resist)
2 – the notions of cwt and st are also unsued within the US – it is lb’s all the way untill there’s a short ton of them
Fianlly, as of 15th Feb, I will give a penny or two to know your thoughts on the anniversary….
Liked by 1 person
2. A few comments:
1. The “survey foot” is to be deprecated on 31 December 2022. After that date, it will be identical to the foot (ie 0.3048 metres). See https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2019/10/17/2019-22414/deprecation-of-the-united-states-us-survey-foot.
2. Butter is often measured by the “stick”. In the UK, the main use of a “stick” is that one throws it and one’s dog fetches it.
Also, the content of oil fields is often measured in barrels per acre-foot, which, in SI units, translates to a dimensionless number (which can be expressed as a percentage).
Liked by 1 person
3. “This notice announces a decision to deprecate the use of the “U.S. survey foot” on December 31, 2022 [sic]. After that date, the “U.S. survey foot” will be superseded by the “foot” (formerly known as the “international foot”), which is already in use throughout the U.S. ”
I’m glad to see they dropped the word international from the foot as there is nothing international about the foot.
Liked by 2 people
4. The US gallon and bushel shouldn’t be a complete mystery as they were among your gallons and bushels prior to Imperial. They are the Queen Anne wine gallon for all liquids and the Winchester bushel for dry goods as defined by Parliament circa 1700 (231 in³ and 2150.42 in³ respectively). We apparently didn’t use your ale gallon (much?).
We also use yards for golf, but never on road signs. A stick of butter is ¼ lb, almost exactly ½ cup. We do not use the gill, although I suppose it would be ½ cup. OMG a stick of butter is a gill of butter.
I have never found the origin story behind long and short tons (and hundredweights) but we use the short version and the hundredweight is more likely to be labelled 100 lb. More Americans could explain a kilogram than a stone.
Among the barrels, you missed the 42 (US) gallon petroleum barrel, which has fairly worldwide use, even though crude oil is never actually shipped in barrels. There are many other weird barrels.
Townships and sections were used to survey the country (except the original 13 colonies) before there were inhabitants; surveyors literally pushing lines through wilderness. They are nominally 36 mi² and 1 mi², but should be described as “more or less.” Survey standards of the late 1700s and 1800s were fairly lax and mistakes were made. Also you can only stitch square grid on round earth so far. The grids were run from numerous meridians and base lines, then adjusted at the edges, with increased error. In all cases, the survey monuments prevail over intent and define the townships and sections (usually to quarter-sections). The quarter section is 160 acres, more or less, and the basis of homesteading in American history. Canada surveyed several of their provinces in a similar manner.
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Hitler did not start the culture; Anti Semitsm. What the Jews did to deserve such faith
One would think why Hitler would commit such holocaust and having will power over the Germans for an extensive period of time that was inspired by Adolf Hitler's theories of racial struggle and the "intent" of the Jews to survive and expand at the expense of Germans, the Nazis, as a governing party from 1933-1938, ordered anti-Jewish boycotts, staged book burnings, and enacted anti-Jewish legislation.
Hostility against Jews may date back nearly as far as Jewish history. In the ancient empires of Babylonia, Greece, and Rome, Jews who originated in the ancient kingdom of Judea—were often criticized and persecuted for their efforts to remain a separate cultural group rather than taking on the religious and social customs of their conquerors.
With the rise of Christianity, anti-Semitism spread throughout much of Europe. Early Christians vilified Judaism in a bid to gain more converts. They accused Jews of outlandish acts such as “blood libel” the kidnapping and murder of Christian children to use their blood to make Passover bread. These religious attitudes were reflected in anti-Jewish economic, social and political policies that pervaded into the European Middle Ages.
In Nazi Germany, anti-Semitism reached a racial dimension never before experienced. Christianity had sought the conversion of the Jews, and political leaders from Spain to England had sought their expulsion because Jews were practitioners of Judaism, but the Nazis who regarded Jews not only as members of a subhuman race but as a dangerous cancer that would destroy the German people sought the “final solution to the Jewish question,” the murder of all Jews men, women, and children and their eradication from the human race. In Nazi ideology that perceived Jewishness to be biological, the elimination of the Jews was essential to the purification and even the salvation of the German people.
In 1935, the Nuremberg Laws defined Jews by race and mandated the total separation of "Aryans" and "non-Aryans." On November 9, 1938, the Nazis destroyed synagogues and the shop windows of Jewish-owned stores throughout Germany and Austria. These measures aimed at both legal and social segregation of Jews from Germans and Austrians.
Kristallnacht, the initiation of World War II in 1939, and the invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941 marked the transition to the era of destruction, in which genocide would become the key focus of Nazi antisemitism.
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Why Electric Drives Are Getting Better and Better
Electric cars are finally starting to gain a bit of traction, but that doesn’t mean the world is ready for the inevitable crash.
It just means they’re becoming a lot less popular.
The Tesla Model S and BMW i3 both hit the top ten best-selling cars in America in the past few years.
Meanwhile, Tesla’s battery-powered Model S is now the most popular electric car in the world, with more than 40 million reservations.
But even though the Model S has been a popular contender in the luxury car market for years, it’s finally starting its climb to the mainstream with the launch of its battery-electric Model 3.
The Model 3 is a $70,000 sedan that has the same range as the Tesla Model SE, but comes with an optional $5,000 supercharging kit that will make it available to owners in the future.
With so much interest in electric cars, we wanted to take a look at some of the key things to know about them before we get started.
What Is an Electric Vehicle?
An electric vehicle is a vehicle that uses a combination of battery and electric motor power to move around on the road.
An electric motor is the engine that powers a car, usually a gasoline engine, but in some cars it can also be an electric motor.
This can give a car the ability to get from point A to point B in just a few short miles.
A battery pack consists of a battery, an inverter, and a battery charger.
The batteries can also help power the electric motor, which can then get the electric car moving.
The battery packs are typically made of either lithium or nickel, with nickel having a higher electrical density and greater energy density than lithium.
Both lithium and nickel are used in batteries for everything from powering computers and phones to powering electric vehicles.
However, the lithium in batteries also has a high energy density, which is why it’s important to make sure you have enough lithium to charge your electric vehicle.
The best battery packs can also offer a wide range of speeds and range depending on the type of battery pack you use.
An inverter converts the energy from the electric vehicle’s electric motor into electricity.
An average electric car uses about 3 to 4 kilowatts of electricity, which converts to about 1,200 watts of power.
This is a lot of electricity.
If you’re using a higher power output, you’re going to have to use a bigger battery pack.
How Does a Model 3 Work?
A Model 3 can have a range of up to 100 miles, but this is not an accurate range for most people.
A Model S battery pack typically can offer up to 300 miles of range, but it is more expensive than most electric cars.
A Tesla Model 3, on the other hand, can have up to 1,800 miles of battery range.
What Are the Benefits of an Electric Car?
The most obvious benefit of an electric vehicle to people is that it’s very energy efficient.
A gasoline car uses a lot more energy than an electric car.
In the past, the main problem with gasoline cars was the fact that they were mostly built for the sake of being built.
Gasoline cars have a low operating efficiency, so they burn up a lot quicker than electric cars and need to be serviced regularly.
For that reason, many gas stations have closed.
Electric cars, on this point, are also more environmentally friendly.
They use less energy to produce electricity than conventional vehicles.
Additionally, electric vehicles are often built with better materials and are more resistant to corrosion.
They also are easier to maintain, which means that they can be owned by many people and have a longer lifespan than gasoline cars.
Another important benefit of electric cars is that they are more fuel efficient.
An engine that burns more fuel can produce more power.
That means that the gasoline car has less to worry about when it hits the gas.
The difference in efficiency between the electric and gasoline cars is not significant.
However: Electric vehicles also tend to have higher emissions than gasoline vehicles, which makes them a good option for people who want to reduce their carbon footprint.
As you can see, an electric drivetrain is definitely a viable option for many people.
If this sounds like you, then consider upgrading to an electric driving range.
You might be surprised at how many people are still using gasoline cars, but you can now be one of them.
What Can You Do With an Electric Drivetrain?
Electric cars also make a great way to get around town, since they can go faster than gas vehicles and can even be more environmentally-friendly than the gasoline cars that you already own.
They can also make it possible to recharge your electric car when you’re not driving, which has been extremely popular for years.
The biggest problem with electric vehicles is that most people are not very good at maintaining them.
This means that if you’re having trouble with a battery pack or don’t know what to do with it, you might
Why electric mini coop?
Electric mini cooper has always been a bit of a wild card in the EV community, and there’s a growing interest in bringing the idea to market.
In fact, there’s been a ton of talk of a new model coming from EV manufacturer Carmel.
The new electric mini cooper is the brainchild of the electric car company, and it’s set to hit the market next year.
Carmel has partnered with a number of automakers to develop a range of products for electric vehicles, and the company has developed a range that ranges from a few hundred miles to more than two million miles.
It’s expected to be a pretty affordable EV for a lot of people.
The first of these models is the electric mini.
Carmels newest product is the Electric Mini Cooper.
Carmelo says that the new electric cooper will be available in a range from 100 to 500 miles, which is quite a bit longer than a typical electric mini can go.
The company says that it can provide “up to 100% battery life with only four batteries.”
It will be equipped with an optional battery pack, and a range indicator light that lets you know how long the battery is holding.
The battery will be connected to a charger, which will be charged in a car-specific charging station, and then the battery will go into the car.
This charging station will also have a power adapter that allows the car to use a single 110-volt outlet for charging, as well as a USB port that will charge the EV’s battery.
The charger will charge up to 10 electric motors per hour, and they will be used for all kinds of different things.
Carmeled says that this charging station is also designed to be used with a range extender.
This allows you to plug in an outlet that’s larger than your car’s normal outlet and plug it into the EV for up to 50% of the range, and you’ll have the same amount of battery life.
Carmela says that these batteries will last for up a year, which seems pretty generous.
The EV Cooper will have a range and charging capacity of 200 miles.
The car will be powered by a 7-inch, electric motor with an output of about 3,600 watts.
This motor will have both a DC-DC converter and an inductive charging system.
Carmelled says that there are two battery packs available: the standard pack, which can provide up to 150 miles of range, as opposed to the electric model, which only provides up to 75 miles of charging capacity.
This battery pack is designed to work with a standard 12V battery charger and has a nominal range of 200 to 400 miles.
However, the electric charging station uses a new, larger version of the AC connector that can deliver a range over 500 miles.
This is the only electric charging solution that Carmel is offering in this new electric model.
The range of the new model is only 100 miles.
Carmelfos newest product, the EV Mini Cooper, will have an output similar to that of the standard 12-volt battery charger.
This will be the only option that will work with an AC charger that is rated at 100 amps.
This means that the EV Cooper is designed with a 5.0 kW (6.1 kw) battery that will deliver up to 180 miles of electric range.
The standard battery pack will have 300 miles of charge.
The charging station also comes with a 10V DC-AC adapter that can provide an 80 amp DC-to-AC converter.
This adapter will allow the electric Cooper to charge up with either a 100 amp or 200 amp DC adapter.
It will also work with any standard AC outlet that is 5-volt DC, and Carmel says that you can plug in a 5-amp outlet to the EV.
In short, the new EV Mini has all of the things that you would expect from an electric car.
It can go from zero to 60 miles in about four hours, and will have up to three chargers that can charge it from 100 amps to 240 amps, which should be plenty of juice for most people.
There are two electric charging stations that can be used.
The one with the standard charger will work for up 3,200 to 4,000 miles, and if the other is plugged into an outlet rated at 200 amps, the charging station can deliver up 80 amps to 100 amps of range.
And while the charging stations will work together, you’ll need to make sure that the standard charging station gets enough charge before you plug in your EV.
You’ll need about 2,000 amps of current before the EV is fully charged.
The electric charging and charging station have to be powered at the same time, which means that you need to have your car in charge.
This also means that your car has to be in a parking lot or somewhere where it can be monitored.
It’ll also need to be connected via a power cord to the charger.
You can have it in a garage, in your garage,
How electric dryers save water and money: Teco
A new electric dryer from Teco offers a way to save money and energy on your water bill by conserving water.
The Teco E5 Electric Dryer has two 12V batteries that produce electricity that can be used for cooking, washing dishes, and even heating water.
A 12V battery holds enough electricity to power about 5,000 liters of water at a time, but that’s only a fraction of the amount of water that a conventional electric dryber can use.
This makes the E5 ideal for homes and businesses with lots of water usage and a dryer that’s convenient to carry around.
The E5 uses a lithium ion battery that can hold up to 500 pounds of water.
This gives the E4, E5, and E6 models the capacity to handle large quantities of water and other liquids at once, but they’re still small enough to be easily carried in a purse.
The battery itself is designed to use two AA batteries and can be charged using a standard 10A wall outlet.
This means you can carry the E6 with you when you’re away from home or on a long drive.
If you need to recharge your batteries for a short drive, you can also use a USB charger.
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DC Power: ‘We will not be able to service the system until the weather cooperates’
Electric toothbrush chargers and electric dryers have been in the spotlight after reports of high water levels in the District.
The Metropolitan Washington Air Quality Management District said the air quality in the Capital Beltway has worsened dramatically since Monday, with more than 100 people in D.C. reported to be suffering from the pollution.
On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Washington Water Quality Management Council reported that D.D.C.’s drinking water had become “very polluted” in recent days.
In response, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a voluntary cap on water usage by residents on Wednesday.
Bowser said the city’s water supply had been “fractured,” with some areas “literally in pieces.”
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1. Research the Herzing library for articles on the relationship between heart rate and exercise.
2. S Identify at least three reliable sources that will help you explain the usefulness of data collected from men and women on their heart rate before and after exercise.
3. Use your previous assignments (Unit 1 through Unit 3) to write a paper that describes the research you found in your library search.
4. Be sure to include examples from your library search and explain why the Heart Rate data could (or could not) be used for similar research.
5. You can copy and paste sections from your previous assignments directly into the assignment.
6. Additional Instructions:
• Running head
• A title page
• Three to five pages of text, tables, and graphs
• An APA references page
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The Old Rugged Cross and the ‘N’ Word
A large wooden cross set against a brilliant blue sky with colorful distant mountains stands as a testament to faith.
The Old Rugged Cross
What is sacred to you? What is offensive? And does it matter who says it or how it is said? These are questions designed to examine values about race and what constitutes insulting behavior. Let’s start with The Old Rugged Cross.
I played the piano at my Sunday school. We frequently sang a song called The Old Rugged Cross. The lyrics I want to focus on were:
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
And I love that old cross…
Why would anyone love an emblem of suffering and shame?
The cross and crucifixion were considered very shameful in ancient times. Roman citizens were not crucified. In the Roman world, crucifixion was a punishment handed out to the lowest, most reviled criminals. Only slaves, foreign captives and those non Romans convicted of crimes against the state (as in the case of Jesus) suffered crucifixion as a capital punishment.
jesus-fishI was taught (in Bible study) that, generally, Christianity first adopted the cross (and/or the fish) as a way of recognizing friends and like minded believers. Christianity also adopted the cross as an emblem of defiance. And finally Christianity adopted the cross as a reminder of the nature of sacrifice (there’s a lot more to it but let’s leave it there for now).
Now I ask you, “Have you ever heard of someone who follows The Old Rugged Cross feeling insulted by being called a Christian?” I suppose if it was said with enough venom and vitriol it could be an insult, “You sanctimonious Christians!” Perhaps it isn’t the word itself but how you say it and how you mean it that makes it an insult.
[Warning: This next section contains actual, unedited and uncensored quotes of children and may be offensive to some readers.
Please proceed with caution and an open mind.]
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The Heartache of the Impossible Child
9.22.14 Screaming Child iStock_000008551025SmallThe reality and heartache of the impossible child.
The Student Progress Meeting
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4 Ways Modern Technology Is Benefiting the World
4 Ways Modern Technology Is Benefiting the World
Nothing changes and evolves more rapidly than modern technology. With every passing year, it seems the world can’t possibly become more sophisticated or advanced. However, technological advances continue to surpass global expectations time and again.
4 Ways Modern Technology Is Benefiting the World
It is hard to imagine the heights science and computers will reach next, but the future is promising. Read on to take a look at several ways modern technology is benefitting society today and how the world stands to change for the better in the future.
1. Healthcare
Thanks to technology, medical testing has progressed exponentially since its inception. Further, medicinal treatments for the ill and preventative care for the healthy are more effective and efficient than ever.
Did you know that experts predict Alzheimer’s and dementia will not only be treatable but curable by 2025? Are you also aware that most cancer treatments and medications are more efficacious than they were in the past yet produce less severe, painful side effects? Further, scientists believe human genome engineering will make type 1 diabetes preventable within a few short years.
From policy control function to advanced diagnostic testing, the progressions in the rapid strides in the healthcare field are all thanks to technological developments. Hopefully, this means more progressive news for the medical community in the future.
2. Information Age
Prior to the origin of the internet, spreading worldwide news was more of a challenge than it is today. Stories of global disasters took hours, even days, to reach an international audience. Additionally, the information did not travel as accurately or reliably as it does now.
International communication is currently instantaneous, and information is readily available with just a few clicks on a keyboard. Gone are the days of researching topics at the library, for the internet provides endless data on any topic imaginable. As an added benefit, anyone can initiate immediate international contact with anyone at any time. This age of information is truly transforming the world for the better.
3. Education
Traditional education used to rely on a teacher, a classroom, and a school. This method could not accommodate the plethora of students that the current, modern educational instruction methods provide.
Today, e-Learning accounts for much of the higher education learning models, scaling to reach students from across the globe. Numerous courses are available online with the potential to obtain a number of different degrees. Students can study law, medicine, and education all from the comfort of their own homes. Bonus, e-Learning models allow working students to study at a gradual pace, completing courses as time allows.
4. Communication
History books teach us that the original method of communication involved the telegraph. Quick contact and messaging were unthinkable in the 1800s, and international communication was borderline impossible.
Today, smartphones and computers make instantaneous communication not only possible but the norm. Social media allows people to connect with friends, acquaintances, and strangers immediately, no matter where in the world they may reside. It is possible to share pictures, videos, and documents at a moment’s notice. Gone are the days of faxing, as email and document scanning apps have taken over the traditional methods of sending and receiving materials and data.
Who would have thought that even phone calls would one day become obsolete? The invention of text messaging has done just that. Now, the preferred way to communicate is via a concise, real-time, direct message. Mobile device plans allow this type of messaging from smartphones, computers, tablets, and even watches. If you told someone from the 1800s that one day they might be able to send a smiley face emoji to someone in another country, they would likely never believe it.
For better or for worse, advancing technology is here to stay. With its positive impacts on industries across the board, the future’s looking bright. Who knows what next year will bring, but one thing is for sure; technology will be better, faster, and more superior than it is today.
READ Why it is very much important for organisations to indulge in the comprehensive implementation of code obfuscation?
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Revitalization project aims to breathe new life into Lake Wichita
Dylan Pembroke
Lake Wichita, circa 1901, is the third oldest lake in Texas and was completed at a cost of $175,000.
For 115 years Lake Wichita has been a cornerstone in the city’s history. Over the last century the lake, constructed in 1901 and originally used for irrigation to power the electricity power plant, has seen both boom and bust and now, barely supports animal life and doesn’t support recreation.
The Lake Wichita Revitalization Project aims to revamp and improve the lake so that it can continue to be an important part of Wichita Falls for another century.
Daniel Nix, water utilities operation manager at Cypress Water Plant, said Lake Wichita was one of the first man-made lakes to be built in the state of Texas.
In 1920, the city of Wichita Falls bought all the water rights and property for the lake from Wichita Light and Power. The water rights, irrigational rights, and recreational rights for the lake are maintained through the state of Texas.
Nix said the irrigational rights are not being used and haven’t been used in a long time.
“We haven’t used Lake Wichita for a source of drinking water since the ’60s. Having a canal system from Lake Kemp and Lake Diversion has changed the water quality. It’s made it more salty and we can’t treat that water conventionally like we did in the past, it would have to go through the micro filtration and reverse osmosis process.”
Parts of the lake are eroding into the waters, filling it with debris, and brush. One of biggest problems facing the lake is the silt. Over time the gradual siltation of the lake has lowered the average depth of the lake from eight to four feet, thus resulting in water that cannot effectively support aquatic life.
static1.squarespace copyLake Wichita is not in terrible condition compared to other surrounding lakes, but it is in a predictable position, Nix described.
“Lake Wichita is old, one of the oldest in Texas, and it’s small. The fact that it’s old has given it more time to silt and so now, it’s shallow. Are we talking about the same lake 100 hundred years go? No, it’s matured and were having to deal with the repercussions of its aging. All lakes silt, it’s just the nature of the reservoir system.”
The first phase of the project is to excavate the lake back to the original depth and to create deeper channels for water to recede into during times of drought. This was proposed during the drought when the lake was dry. Dry excavation will cost about $30 million compared to hydraulic excavation that would cost about $100 million.
Nix said a study done in the early ’90s examined lake conditions, just as the revitalization committee is doing now.
“They looked at excavating the lake which means getting the sediment out of the bottom. Now, you can dry excavate or hydraulic excavate. Hydraulic excavate is moving the water and the silt. Dry excavate is just moving the silt. Dry is a lot cheaper when they talk about excavating.”
The first goal once the lake has been excavated is to establish the ecology of the lake. The excavation will increase the storage capacity and provide the water essential for the survival of the fish population. Aquatic plants like American Pondweed will be reestablished, rock piles that will protect the shoreline from erosion and provide fish habitat. Development of brush piles and placement of artificial structures will also aid in increasing the quality of the fish population that was lost during the drought and the toxic Golden Algae bloom in 2012.
The main factor that influences the quality of a lake is its watershed. The 134 square mile Lake Wichita watershed has two problems that the project hopes to work with willing landowners to help address. The watershed does not provide the water to the lake that it has in the past and when the water does flow it brings more sediment than is supposed to.
Nix explained how Wichita Falls is fortunate to have Lake Wichita full again.
“It’s got a very small water shed. You basically have to get it to rain in the northern section of Archer County to the Baylor County line. If it doesn’t rain there, that water isn’t going to Lake Wichita. That’s a very narrow margin of land.”
These issues come from the invasion and expansion of nonnative Mesquite and Salt Cedar that consume considerably more water and stabilize soils less effectively than native prairie grass. City officials will work with willing landowners to remove Mesquite and Salt Cedar and restore native grasses so that the watershed will provide more water to the lake and less sediment increasing both viability and longevity of the project.
Once the ecology of the lake has been brought back the project will turn to the many amenities that have been planned for public use. Four boat ramps will be refurbished and developed to provide boating access to the public along with four new jetties and fishing piers along the dam.
Built as part of the rebuilding process, two beach areas will further enhance recreation. One beach will be located in Lake Wichita Park and the other will be located near the emergency spillway off of Kemp. Along with adding beaches a wakeboard park and paddle board trail have been proposed. Plans call for the addition of a 2.4 mile paddling trail through Lake Wichita Park that connects to the lake.
This trail will include two launch stations that are ADA accessible and also serve to break up the trail so that canoers, kayakers, paddle boarders can use the trail without having to traverse the entire 2.4 miles. The city will be partnering with Heroes On the Water to ensure that this segment is developed in a way that ensures our wounded veterans from all branches of the military and all people with disabilities will be able to use it.
“Lake Wichita is a wonderful treasure in our backyard and it should provide all the benefits to the community that it possibly can,” said Tom Lang, fisheries supervisor with Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Wichita Falls office.
After the revitalization project is completed, the lake will serve as a hub for community activity. The east side of the lake has been slated for commercial development. With the lake in a healthy state this will provide an area for businesses develop right on the water.
Additional reporting by Robert Williams
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5 ways climate change affects women and girls
29 November 2019
We are shining the spotlight on some of the dangers that women and girls face when disasters strike. Hear directly from the women and girls who are bearing the brunt of crises around the world.
Adori, 13, has to cross flood water to attend school in her village in Bangladesh.
Climate change isn’t just changing our weather; its consequences are a daily reality for millions of people around the world.
But when intense rains fall more frequently causing floods, or spells of drought last several years, it’s usually women and girls that struggle to survive and recover from the aftermath.
This is because women and girls already face inequalities and discrimination – because of their gender which compound and multiply when disasters strike.
From our work in countries like Somaliland and Bangladesh, we know that climate change-related crises are already instigating deep, life-altering changes for some of the poorest and most marginalised women and girls in the world. Here are some of their stories.
1. Increased risk of violence against women and girls
In a camp for displaced people in Somaliland, two sisters, Hibaq who is just 15 and Nimco,19, lie awake at night listening to any sounds that may alert them to men walking into their makeshift shelter which has no proper doors. Some nights they don't sleep at all for fear of being attacked.
For Hibaq this is her new reality.
I feel insecure because we have a very poor shelter. Sometimes, the thieves come in and try to harm us. It’s so scary… the thieves don’t want to take any material things, they want to harm women. So, that’s why they don’t look for our things. They just want to attack women.”
Climate change-related events - whether slower onset disasters like droughts or sudden ones like hurricanes or cyclones - can mean women’s homes and neighbourhoods can become uninhabitable.
As a result women and girls may be forced to migrate to camps for displaced people where living under temporary tarps or bare, plastic sheets can expose them to violence from strangers.
Sathi, 14, was also forced to move into a camp after her house flooded in a small village in Bangladesh.
At night I cannot sleep. There was no door. Just a plastic sheet was above our heads. My mother never slept. She was worried for me and my sister.”
2. Increased risk of child marriage
When the floods hit Bangladesh two years ago, Sarmin suddenly had to face the prospect of getting married at the tender age of 14. Her parents were struggling after they lost everything in the floods and they felt that marraige into another family would keep Sarmin well-fed and safe.
Because of poverty parents marry off their daughters like me at a very early age. I cannot go to school since I got married. Life is tough for girls of young age in the village.”
When a disaster strikes, girls can be more vulnerable to child marriage than usual. In some places they are considered an extra burden in times of crisis.
For poor families who have lost their homes and livelihoods, child marriage can be seen as a ticket out of – or at least, a way to diminish the effects of – crippling poverty, whilst also ensuring the perceived security of their daughters from violence.
3. More likely to miss classes or drop out of school
In a northern district of Bangladesh, in a small rural village, 13-year-old Adori clutches her books tightly as she wades her way through knee-high water to get to school everyday. Sometimes she misses her first class even though she loves going to school and adores her books.
But after the floods this year, Adori's father left to find work in the city and Adori found that her workload at home increased. She started to help her mother more at home by looking after her baby brother, fetching water and doing the household grocery shop at the local market.
In times of crises, girls are often forced to drop out of school or miss classes because household chores become a strain with fewer family members available to share the pressures at home. Girls are often enlisted to take care of family members, or to help with domestic chores such as cooking, cleaning or finding water, and school is considered a lower priority in times of need.
The floods also made Adori's route to school more treacherous. She has to walk a few extra miles each day, since the floods destroyed her usual road that she took to go to school. This means she often misses her first class.
Sometimes whole schools are destroyed in a crisis or even closed for long periods of time.
I love to go to school and never miss or not attend... (but) last one month our school was closed because of flood. I felt bad and missed...school so much."
4. Increased risk of death and injury
25-year-old Shefali paints a bleak picture of survival during the floods in Bangladesh.
My sister was pregnant and she delivered in the middle of water. There was no help and I was with her....pregnant mothers cannot swim this distance and often tend to stay in the house which is more dangerous."
Marginalised women and girls, the disabled and the elderly are more vulnerable to death and injury in the face of a disaster.
Due to their traditional given roles as caretakers, women and girls often stay back in a disaster to protect their children or adults in their care while men sometimes escape.
Not only that but deeply ingrained social norms sometimes dictate that women and girls sometimes have to wait on permission from the men in the household to leave their houses. In some places, women are also often unable to escape when caught by sudden floods or earthquakes as they are not encouraged to learn to swim. 1 .
5. It affects the availability of food and chances of earning a living
Imagine that you live in a pastoral or farming community and the food you eat every day comes from the crops you grow daily or the livestock you rear for milk, meat or for selling in return for cash.
Now imagine the same land you rely on slowly dries out or gets inundated with water and destroys a season's worth of crops.
This is the reality facing Nafisa, from Somaliland. The 20-year-old mother was part of a pastoralist family that owned several animals which they reared for their food and income.
Years of climate change-related drought, dried out her land and killed off all the livestock, leaving her family without any food or money to survive. At the same time, her husband took her children and abandoned her.
Our life was so good because we had our livestock. We used to eat, drink milk, sell [the animals], make butter… it’s so painful when you have a small baby and you have nothing.”
In many rural communities, men control the income in their households. Women who rely on men for economic support are left struggling in times of crisis when men either abandon their families, or leave to look for work elsewhere or are even killed by disasters.
Women in rural communities have limited access to and ownership of their land as well which directly impacts the food they have available to eat.
While across the world, in Bangladesh, Shefali, 25, talks about the lack of food after the floods in 2017.
We lost our crops. Our small goat died in the flood water. Cows are sick. My children suffered a lot during flood. Now we have no crop in our storage. I, along (with) my husband have to work in people’s fields to bring food (to) our table. Life is becoming harder every year after floods."
Donate to help women girls living in a crisis
Girls like Adori, Nafisa, Sarmin, Sathi and Hibaq are living in temporary camps.
Floods and droughts have destroyed their homes and they have nowhere else to go.
Your support could provide women and girls around the world with food, water, survival kits and safe toilets so that they can survive the climate change affecting their lives right now.
Donate now
• 1https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/sep/08/disaster-humanitarian-response-data-gender
Photos by Fabeha Monir/ActionAid and Karin Schermbrucker/ActionAid
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Arch pain is more common than you think and can affect anyone, not just athletes. The foot has three arches: the medial, lateral, and traverse arches.
The arches in your feet bear weight, absorb shock, and help you to balance. They also stabilize movement and adapt to changing terrain when you walk or run. Given the important function of your feet, it is inevitable that you will feel pains sometimes.
"Why does my foot arch hurt?", you may ask. Causes of foot arch pain vary, and we'll discuss the five most common ones here.
1. Muscle, Bone, Ligament, or Tendon Injury
Aside from injury to the tendons, ligaments, bones, or muscles in your foot, you could have structural issues such as high arches or flat feet. Structural faults can be exacerbated by significant weight gain, overuse and physical stress, aging, or neurological conditions.
2. Plantar Fasciitis
The ligament that connects your heel and the front of your foot is called the plantar fascia. Inflammation, overuse, or injury to the plantar fascia cause plantar fasciitis, a common complaint among runners and non-runners alike.
Plantar fasciitis causes you to have painful, stiff heels and arches. It is most often more painful when you wake up in the morning, or after prolonged periods on your feet. Frequent pain of this type suggests that a different type of shoe or orthotic shoe inserts that provide support and comfort can help give relief, as can foot-strengthening stretches.
3. Overpronation
Overpronation is when the outer edge of the heel hits the ground first, followed by the foot rolling inwards onto the arch. This can flatten the foot too much.
Long-term effects of prolonged overpronation include muscle, tendon, and ligament damage. Such damage can cause problems leading to arch pain. Signs that you overpronate are greater wear on the sole of your shoe corresponding to the ball of the foot and the inside of the heel. Stability shoes can correct your gait, thereby alleviating any hip, knee, or back pain, and pain from corns or calluses.
4. Cavus Foot
Cavus foot is a foot that has a very high arch. In some cases, it is an inherited condition, although it is often predicated by neurological conditions such as cerebral palsy, stroke, or CMT (Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease).
People with cavus foot feel pain when walking or standing. They might also have hammer toe, claw toe, or calluses, and be more likely to get ankle sprains because of the resultant instability.
Orthotic shoe inserts can help relieve pain as can shoes that provide extra ankle support. Surgery is required in some cases.
5. PTTD – Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction
PTTD occurs as a result of injury to or inflammation of the posterior tibial tendon. This is the tendon that connects the inner foot to a muscle in the calf. Arch pain results if this tendon can no longer support the arch.
Arch pain for PTTD is likely to be felt along the back of the calf and the inner ankle. There may also be ankle swelling. Pain is normally experienced during sporting activities, and not afterward.
Custom shoe inserts and ankle braces and physical therapy can help PTTD. Some cases require surgery.
Are Causes of Foot Arch Pain Causes For Concern?
The same old advice applies here. Talk to your doctor if home remedies don't work, or your pain gets worse. A doctor can review your medical history and perform a physical examination and any other diagnostic tests to arrive at a diagnosis before recommending appropriate treatment.
Often treatment will be non-invasive, in which case, Apex can give you the support you need!
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Colombia’s Dirty War
The conflict’s recent history is well known. In the early 1980s, a rash of guerrilla kidnapping and extortion led to local alliances of drug traffickers, emerald smugglers, large landowners, multinational corporations, industrial groups and Colombia’s police and military forces. These groups formed paramilitary units such as the infamous Death to Kidnappers (MAS).
Ever since, these death squads have carried out most of the war’s killing, and they’ve functioned in close coordination with the nation’s U.S.-backed security forces (despite occasional objections from some officials, including Colombia’s human rights ombudsperson and its attorney general). In the 1990s, most of the death squads joined forces in a national rightwing federation, the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC).
What’s understood less is that government support for paramilitary organizations is a tradition that dates back more than half a century. Mary Roldán’s new book, Blood and Fire: La Violencia in Antioquia, Colombia, 1946-1953 (Duke), makes a strong case that government links to paramilitary groups are nothing new and that “recent and past periods of violence are inextricably intertwined.”
Even before the 1948 assassination of Liberal Party leader Jorge Eliécer Gaitán, the ruling Conservative Party was busy laying a legal basis for armed civilian squads known as “contrachusmas.” These squads attacked popular Liberals, inaugurating “La Violencia,” as Colombians refer to the mid-century years. Contrachusma deployment was coordinated by appointed Conservative mayors, many with criminal records.
The government also arranged civilian “police” units on the municipal level. Assistance for the deployments came from regular police forces, Conservative Party bosses and even priests. Using civilians gave the government plausible deniability at a rock-bottom price, since training amounted to little more than handing out .38 Specials.
In response to contrachusma attacks and massacres, a Liberal faction and other besieged Colombians organized “self-defense” groups. Years of partisan clashes, and eventually military bombings, led many of these groups to form the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in 1964. But the state-sponsored terror persisted, making it nearly impossible for the FARC and other guerrilla groups to demobilize.
Roldán shows that “La Violencia” was not a natural development but, rather, the direct consequence of state-sponsored repression. The death squads were both a principal cause and sustaining force of the bloodshed.
The question is how long the government will be allowed to go on supporting death squads. Barring pressure from the United States, it looks like the preacher had it right: “That thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done.”
W. JOHN GREEN is a senior research fellow at the Council on Hemispheric Affairs in Washington, D.C., and author of Gaitanismo, Left Liberalism, and Popular Mobilization in Colombia (University of Florida, 2003).
This column was originally published by Colombia Week; subscribe for free by writing to
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Israel Builds Wireless Charging Roads for Electric Buses
published: 2020-10-05 17:43 | editor: | category: News
Electric buses are one of the options for lowering the degree of air pollution in cities, though it is difficult to implement for crowded cities due to the problem of finding installed locations for charging stations. To make the charging of the buses easier, one possible solution is to install automatic charging roads. Tel Aviv, the most populous city in Israel, is currently experimenting on a project after Sweden regarding the paving of electric wires below the asphalt road surfaces that charge electric buses wirelessly and automatically.
This project is a collaborative effort between the Municipality of Tel Aviv, the Israeli company ElectReon that is responsible for developing and implementing the wireless road system, and the bus company Dan, who is also a part owner of ElectReon. The project of automatic charging road is simple: copper wires are paved under the asphalt road surface, and a special receiver for power is installed at the bottom of the bus to directly transmit electricity to the engine and battery of the bus. ElectReon claims that the lifespan for this system is expected to be 40 years under proper maintenance.
This project allows instantaneous charging for buses without having to stop, and facilitates continuous operation for buses with no idling time, though the buses would have to be installed with auxiliary batteries since rapid acceleration or going uphill require power obtained through wireless charging. However, a large battery is not required to be installed within the compartment, which can be used for other purposes.
The coverage pointed out that the testing location is at the 2-km road between the Tel Aviv University railway station and the Klatzkin terminal in Ramat Gan, and the actual length of the installed cable is merely 600m. Power transmission will reduce air pollution and noise within the city, and helps facilitate the transition to a green transportation method. The Municipality of Tel Aviv will consider expanding on the installation should the testing succeeds. As claimed by ElectReon, Tel Aviv is the first city in the world to be applying such technology on public routes in a substantial scale, and the company is also implementing similar testing in Germany right now.
Sweden was actually the first country to experiment on the paving of automatic charging roads, and aims to achieve zero fossil fuel in all transportation infrastructures by 2030, with existing road traffic occupying 1/3 of the total carbon emission of the country. The automatic charging road paved by Sweden measures at 1.2km in length, though it is more of a design of slot car instead of wireless charging, where the moveable arm on the vehicle declines from the bottom of the vehicle and gets inserted into the track when the detector of the vehicle or truck detects the electrified track upon close proximity, and automatically retracts when changing lanes. The automatic charging road of Sweden is currently used by cargo trucks over a trial period of 2 years in order to ensure operation under various climate conditions and normal road conditions.
A road that charges electric vehicles while moving has always been the grail of electric vehicles, though the analysis of autoevolution believes that underground cables must be paved beneath the road surface regardless of technology, which alone induces significantly high cost, thus similar testing will have to eventually prove that it is a worthy long-term investment.
(Cover photo source: Flickr/GeorgeDement CC BY 2.0)
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Cause and Effect Essay
Cause and Effect Essay; what are they? Let EssayHelpExperts define for you
A simple definition of a cause and effect essay is an essay that is concerned with the reasons as to why things happen as they did and the results that come about as a result of those happenings. This essay is a common theme used in the discussion and organization of ideas. Such an essay is used in the identification of patterns as well as attempting to explain why things happened the way they did. It may be challenging to choose a topic of cause and effect, but one way is by keeping it as simple as possible.
Cause and effect essay writing help with essay help experts
1. It is important to distinguish between the “cause “and the “effect” side of the discussion. “Why did this event take place” will help you answer the cause side of things. At the same time, “what occurrence happened as a result of this event” will guide you in getting the effects of that occurrence.
2. Narrow a large topic down: For instance, what is the reason the Great Depression took place? There may be countless reasons that attributed to this event. However, a majority of scholars and business experts attribute it to the Stock Market Crash. Therefore, take the conversation and start it from that point. This has already narrowed your scope of causes to one or a few that will be easy to detail.
At the same time, after you have chosen the reason for the occurrence of the event, you can further break the causes down to different categories. In the event that the causes were more than one, you can categories them into social reasons, economic factors, as well as political. This instantly affects the understanding of the reader by putting them in the environment you want them to be.
3. Clearly, develop your thesis statement: By virtue of the distinguishable nature of the essay, there are already two designated sides of any topic. As for you, there needs to be a clear path from your thesis as to which side you will be addressing. Is it the “cause” side, the “effect” side or both of them? This will enable you to find and organize your supporting material that will help you provide support to whichever side of the coin you will be supporting.
Cause and Effect Essay writing style with essayhelpexperts
Since this kind of essay is a “factor and consequence” kind of writing, there needs to be a specific kind of writing designated for its structural composition. Majority of these essays put into use transitions that blend the facts and results smoothly showing the event from its conception to its conclusion.
In extrapolating the causes, examples of transitions used include first, second, because, another one is, due to among others. In relation to the effects, examples of effects are bu, not limited to, therefore, as a result, consequently, thus, resulted in among others.
Adapting this writing style will ensure that the cause and effect essay retains its complete nature, by addressing both sides of the topic and showing how one event causes a ripple effect to the results
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What Is A Non-Fungible Token (NFT)? – A Beginner’s Guide
“NFT of side-eyeing toddler meme fetches over $74,000 in cryptocurrency.” (The Washington Post)
“Somebody just paid $1.3 million for a picture of a rock” (CNBC)
“Twelve-year-old boy makes £290,000 from whale NFTs” (BBC)
These were some of the headlines on how NFTs are disrupting the market and surprising people every day. As it is, blockchain is a complex concept, and people have a hard time understanding the working and absurdities of it. Now NFTs, which are based on blockchain, have further confused tons of people while others are making huge profits by minting and selling them.
Many are still trying to figure out whether NFTs are a genuinely revolutionary technology that will forever reform various industries, just like cryptocurrencies did or if it’s merely a hoax that will gradually fade away.
But before jumping to these questions, it is important to understand the basics like what exactly is an NFT, how it works and most importantly, why are people ready to spend millions over assets that are available for free over the internet?
Read on to find out!
What Is An NFT?
NFTs, also known as Non-Fungible Tokens, are secure tokens or certificates that prove the ownership of unique items as a blockchain-based asset. In other words, NFTs work as tokens or certificates used to prove ownership of unique assets. Currently, they are usually used as collectables or investments as one can resell an NFT and earn profits based on its current value.
what is NFT
The following keywords further elaborate the meaning of NFTs:
Fungible means something that can be exchanged. For example, one dollar can be exchanged for another as each dollar amounts to the same value. Likewise, one can easily exchange a 1 gram bar of gold for another 1 gram bar of gold as these are fungible assets. Non-fungible, on the other hand, means that the assets are one-of-a-kind and non-transferable. In other words, one NFT cannot be exchanged for another because each NFT represents a unique asset and thus, its value can differ based on different assets.
Blockchain is a decentralised digital ledger that stores information in a sequence of blocks and facilitates the process of recording transactions. Each block in a blockchain is connected to all the previous blocks as each block contains hash values of its previous blocks as well as of current transactions. Thus, if someone tries to change the information in one block, they will have to update all the blocks after it as the hash values change as soon as the data is tampered with. Furthermore, the system is transparent as all the blockchain participants have access to all the transactions. Also, the users need to reach a consensus in order to approve transactions in a blockchain. Thus it is nearly impossible to tamper with the data in a blockchain.
Therefore, a blockchain facilitates trust, security, efficiency as well as transparency among the participants.
NFTs are based on blockchain, making them extremely transparent and secure to transfer values over the internet. To be more precise, most NFTs are based on Ethereum, an open-source blockchainbased platform with its own cryptocurrency, Ether.
Since NFTs are based on blockchain, they are secure, transparent and extremely easy to track, which is why they are used to prove ownership and verify the authenticity of unique assets. The ownership of an NFT is represented through a unique ID and metadata that no other NFT can duplicate.
How Do NFTs Work?
An NFT is minted from digital assets that can represent both digital and non-digital assets. For example, NFTs could represent:
• Digital art like GIFs, music, memes, videos, collectibles, in-game purchases, tweets, domain names etc.
• Non-digital items like deeds to a car, event tickets, legal documents, etc.
However, that is not it. Recently NFTs have been used to represent some of the most unexpected items. For example, not very long ago, Jack Dorsey, the CEO of Twitter, minted his first tweet as an NFT which was sold for just under $3 million!
One of the first use cases of NFTs was a game called CryptoKitties which allowed users to trade in virtual kittens. Recently, someone bought one of such kitties for $170,000 as an NFT.
How Is An NFT Created Or Minted?
The creation of an NFT is known as minting. There are various steps involved when an NFT is minted from scratch, including :
• Digitisation: The owner verifies the data and digitises it into an acceptable format
• Storage: The owner stores the raw data outside the blockchain. The owner is also allowed to store the data into the blockchain itself, but the operation consumes energy.
• Signing: The owner signs a transaction that includes the hash of the NFT. After that, the transaction is sent to a smart contract.
• Minting: After the smart contract is executed, the minting process begins, and a unique token for the NFT is generated.
• Confirmation: After the owner confirms the transaction, the minting process is completed and the NFT is linked to a blockchain that preserves and stores the data and its address.
What Is A Non-Fungible Token (NFT)? - A Beginner's Guide 1
Smart Contracts
NFTs are secure and unique because they are minted using smart contracts, an essential part of any blockchain system. Think of a smart contract as the usual contract that proves the ownership of an asset or binds a person legally. Smart contracts simply constitute a bunch of code that is executed when some prerequisite conditions are met.
Whenever someone creates an NFT, the code (the smart contract) is executed, and the consequential information is stored in the block where the NFT is being managed. This is why NFTs are easily traceable as well as secure.
Proving Ownership Of An NFT
Although the digital assets which an NFT represents can be often duplicated or utilised by others, the NFT itself can only have a single owner. For example, recently, clips from a Logan Paul video were sold for up to $20,000. Now, this doesn’t mean that no one can watch, download or post that video, and it will be accessible to everyone on the internet like before. But the NFT for that video belongs to only one person who can further sell it or utilise it.
Since NFTs are based on the Ethereum blockchain, some of its unique properties are used to prove the ownership of an NFT and determine its value. One such property is cryptography. It is the process of developing a piece of information in a form so that it can only be understood by its intended recipient and no one else. The information transformed can only be enabled with a pair of keys called the public key and the private key. In other words, whenever an NFT is minted into a blockchain, each block is locked by a cryptographic hash that connects it to the previous hash. This hash can be decoded only with the help of the keys.
Moreover, NFTs are stored as tokens on the blockchain, usually the Ethereum blockchain and whenever one buys an NFT, they earn a right to transfer this token to their digital wallet. This token is what proves one’s ownership as well as the originality of the NFT.
Furthermore, a user’s private crypto key is the proof of ownership of the original digital copy, whereas the content creator’s public crypto key proves the originality of the asset.
Thus, if someone owns an NFT, they can easily prove their ownership with the combination of their private key as well as the creator’s public key.
What Are Nfts Used For?
NFTs have recently become really popular among artists and content creators as they allow them to successfully and securely monetise their art. NFTs allow artists to directly sell their art to consumers without relying on online platforms, galleries or auctions. Moreover, they can even program royalties into an NFT to get a certain percentage whenever their art is resold.
For example, recently, a video by Beeple was sold as an NFT for $6.6 million!
What Is A Non-Fungible Token (NFT)? - A Beginner's Guide 2
However, there are many other industries where NFTs are becoming increasingly popular including:
Gaming Industry
NFTs have seen a great boom in the gaming industry. They provide ownership records of items and promote economic marking in the ecosystem, thus benefiting developers and players.
• Players: while in a lot of existing games, players can purchase in-game items so as to make their experience more enriching, if the items are an NFT, players can resell these items after they are done with the game and may even earn some profit if the value of their NFT rises.
• Developers: publishers of NFT can earn royalties each time an item is resold in the marketplace.
Furthermore, NFTs can help in-game items outlive the game itself. For example, even if the game is no longer being developed, the items can still exist as an NFT, and thus they can have a value independent of the game.
There are a lot of games that are already utilising NFTs for various in-game purchases, thus increasing the scope of the game. For example, in a game called Decentraland, the players can buy digital land, which can later be resold and even be used as advertising space.
What Is A Non-Fungible Token (NFT)? - A Beginner's Guide 3
Virtual Events
With the help of their distinctive properties like uniqueness, ownership and liquidity, NFTs can be used to manage and control virtual events. Even though blockchain can be used for activities like funding, its applications are somewhat limited compared to NFTs.
One of the most common examples of the use of NFTs in managing virtual events is trading in the tickets market. In a traditional event, there is a centralised third party that the consumers are required to trust. Thus, there is a risk of numerous fraudulent activities such as selling counterfeit or invalid tickets. But an NFT-based ticket is unique and scarce, and thus, it cannot be resold or forfeited. Furthermore, the smart contract can be easily used to track the tickets sold and make the process transparent and trustworthy.
DeFi Or Decentralised Finance
Another popular and booming investment trend based on Ethereum blockchain is decentralised finance.
As evident by its name, DeFi is yet another disruptive technology that has made the financial world decentralised and transparent. It means that there is no central authority like central banks or the government controlling the printing or value of money.
One of the first and main applications of the DeFi system is bitcoin. Bitcoin allows one to easily hold money, control value and transfer it anywhere around the world. Furthermore, it is open to everyone, but no one can change the encoded rules, and thus the system is completely trustworthy.
Recently NFTs are being used in collaboration with decentralised finance so as to revolutionise the industry further. For example, NFTs have been used to :
• Solve the issue of collateralisation: Certain DeFi applications allow users to borrow money through collateral. Recently, NFTs tokens are being used as collateral to borrow money. This could eventually work with several things, thus expanding and tokenising the market.
• Execute fractional ownership: NFT developers are also allowed to create shares of their NFTs so as to allow traders to own a part of an asset without paying an enormous price for the whole NFT. Buyers can also sell these shares on DEXs (decentralised exchanges) in addition to NFT marketplaces.
How To Mint And Trade NFTs?
There is no such restriction as to who can create or ‘mint’ an NFT. Therefore, anyone with an internet connection and a digital wallet can create work, create an NFT (called minting) and sell it on the marketplace. Moreover, one can even attach royalties with an NFT to earn a commission every time the NFT is resold. The only thing to keep in mind while creating an NFT is that one must be the original creator of the content.
However, as easy as it seems, minting an NFT is quite expensive. With every NFT sale, there comes numerous fees including a listing fee, a gas fee that is the price of energy for each transaction, a commission fee, and a commission as a transaction fee.
Several NFT marketplaces like Nifty Gateway, SuperRare, Foundation, OpenSea, Rarible, and Mintable allow one to buy and sell NFTs. These marketplaces are also known as NFT providers, and one can easily go to these marketplaces and buy or sell NFTs with cryptocurrencies in their digital wallets.
However, it is advised to have some knowledge about blockchain and cryptocurrencies before dealing in NFTs as these concepts can be a little complex and require at least some technical knowledge.
The Way Ahead
As is evident by several examples, NFTs have become very popular in a very short amount of time. They have successfully disrupted many industries, especially the creatives and the gaming industry. Artists, musicians, content creators, and others most benefited as they can now easily create and sell their work without any middlemen or auctions. They have even accelerated the applications of decentralised finance and disrupted the digital economic industry.
However, these are just initial applications as NFTs are a relatively new concept. NFTs still have a lot of potential to grow and further enter different industries. But, before that, there are certain hurdles, including certain copyright issues, accessibility, affordability, and the climate factor. The speed with which developers resolve these issues will determine whether NFTs can keep their momentum going or if it is merely a “hype”.
Does the purchase of an NFT grant the copyright to the asset?
The ownership of an NFT does not by default grant the copyright to the underlying asset. This means that the owner of the NFT has no right to commercially exploit or use the asset as such.
However, this position can be varied through a smart contract which can be customised to specify the ownership rights to the assets. Alternatively, the NFT can also be accompanied by a sale contract or a copyright license specifying the proprietary rights including copyright.
How do NFTs impact the climate?
With the emergence of NFTs and their increasing popularity, there has also been an emerging concern that NFTs are not eco-friendly and negatively impact the climate. This is because NFTs are built on the blockchain technology which consumes an enormous amount of energy. It is estimated that each NFT transaction consumes the energy utilised by two American households in a day.
However, the Ethereum blockchain is continuously evolving and moving towards a less power hungry design. This speed of transformation of the Ethereum blockchain will play a huge role in the future of NFTs.
Can NFTs represent physical assets?
At present, NFTs are mostly used to represent digital assets as opposed to their physical counterparts. However, there is no restriction on the type of assets NFTs can represent and there are a lot of projects experimenting on the tokenisation of real-estate or unique fashion items.
What is the most expensive NFT ever sold?
The most expensive NFT ever sold is an artwork created by Mike Beeple Winkelmann called “Everdays: The First 5000 Days”. The artwork representing a collage of Beeple’s first 5000 artworks was sold for $69.3 million.
What Is A Non-Fungible Token (NFT)? - A Beginner's Guide 4
Go On, Tell Us What You Think!
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by Tanya Chhabra
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What Kinds Of Mental Health Disorders Affect The Elderly?
What is the most common mental health problem in elderly?
The Significance of Depression Depression, a type of mood disorder, is the most prevalent mental health problem among older adults.
What are the two main mental illnesses that affect elderly patients?
What are the mental changes in elderly?
Most older adults report good mental health and have fewer mental health problems than other age groups. However, one in four older adults experiences a mental health problem such as depression, anxiety, schizophrenia or dementia. The suicide rate for men over 85 is higher than that of any other age group.
You might be interested: Often asked: How Do Psychological Factors Affect Physical And Mental Health?
What mental disorders get worse with age?
Personality disorders that are susceptible to worsening with age include paranoid, schizoid, schizotypal, obsessive compulsive, borderline, histrionic, narcissistic, avoidant, and dependent, said Dr. Rosowsky, a geropsychologist in Needham, Mass.
What causes mental illness in the elderly?
Many potential triggers exist for mental illness in the elderly, according to the World Health Organization and the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation. These include: Alcohol or substance abuse. Dementia-causing illness (e.g., Alzheimer’s disease)
What is the most common cause of depression in older adults?
The death of friends, family members, and pets, or the loss of a spouse or partner are common causes of depression in older adults.
What factors are most important for wellbeing in older age?
The research indicates that the main drivers of quality of life in older age are psychological (social comparison and expectations, an optimistic or pessimistic outlook on life); health (good health and mobility, physical functioning); social (social participation and support); and neighbourhood social capital (local
What are some emotional and social issues an elderly person may have to come to terms with due to living a long life?
If an elderly person has to move away from friends, community, their home, or other familiar aspects of their life in order to enter a nursing home, they may experience isolation, depression, or loneliness. Increased dependency can also put older adults at risk of elder abuse.
What causes mood swings in the elderly?
Your loved one’s mood changes could be caused by them reacting out of pain or exasperation to a medical condition that you may not even be able to see. In other cases, severe mood swings in seniors could be due to personal frustration with their changing bodies and lifestyles.
You might be interested: How To Respond To Mental Health Crisis On Social Media?
How can elderly improve mental health?
6 Ways to Improve Mental Health in Seniors
• Play Mind Games. Just as the body needs physical activity and stimulation to stay healthy, the brain needs stimulation to stay sharp and avoid cognitive decline as we age.
• Get Physical.
• Stay Connected with Friends.
• Pick up a New Hobby.
• Volunteering.
• Caring for a Pet.
What are the physical and mental changes as we age?
As we age, our bones shrink in size and density. Some people actually become shorter! Others are more prone to fractures because of bone loss. Muscles, tendons, and joints may lose strength and flexibility. Exercise is a great way to slow or prevent the problems with bones, muscles and joints.
How does Ageing affect a person emotionally?
There is evidence that some natural body changes associated with aging may increase a person’s risk of experiencing depression. Recent studies suggest that lower concentrations of folate in the blood and nervous system may contribute to depression, mental impairment, and dementia.
What is the most painful mental illness to live with?
What is the Most Painful Mental Illness? The mental health disorder that has been long believed to be the most painful is borderline personality disorder. BPD can produce symptoms of intense emotional pain, psychological agony, and emotional distress.
Can you outgrow personality disorder?
Some theories of personality disorder view it as developmental delay, which a person may be able to grow out of. Studies show that a fair number of children and early adolescents report signs and symptoms consistent with a personality disorder. For many, these symptoms decrease over time.
You might be interested: FAQ: What Is Included In A Mental Health History On A Social History Assessment?
Can a person with personality disorder change?
Oct. 7, 2004 — There is new evidence that the symptoms of personality disorder don’t remain stagnant but actually wax and wane over time. It also turns out some personality disorders may also be more treatable than previously thought, researchers say.
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Internal Medicine Prevention and Wellness
Dr. David Miloy MD
830.895.5599 1411 Water St. Kerrville, Tx 78028
types of real time operating system
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PC operating systems therefore were neither multiuser nor multitasking. In this type of system, the shifting time is very less. We have two notices that the woken up will not ensure to run exactly at that time, it depends on the priority and if the higher priority is running currently it would be delayed. Clustered system's usage and it's features should expand greatly as Storage Area Networks(SANs). In the smartphones, the operating systems are like KitKat, Jellybean, marshmallow, and Nougat. In this type of scheduling, the task will run until the execution is completed.
This is also a type of OS and it is predicted by a deadline. If all cores are dealing with system tasks because of prioritization, then you don't have a truly real time operating system. The user has to submit a job (written on cards or tape) to a computer operator. Failure to customize means that your production objectives will not be met or the level of accuracy will be compromised. The RTOS moves to great length to protect that whether you have taken 100 tasks or 10 tasks, it does not make any difference in the distance to switch context and it determines the next highest priority task. Types of RTOS Soft Real-Time Operating System. Having said that, most operating systems are built on the old "system prioritization" model in which some tasks will always take precedence over others. There are different types of operating systems to develop for the microcontroller, but here we have discussed the real-time operating system.
There are two basic types of real-time operating systems, hard and soft. One of the main factors of a real-time operating system revolves around process prioritization. Real-time Operating System: It is a multitasking operating system that aims at executing real-time applications.
In a hard system, the information must be where it needs to be within a certain time frame or the information is useless.
The ready to run is said to be when the process has all the resources to run, but it should not be in the running state. In a hard system, the information must be where it needs to be within a certain time frame or the information is useless. Hence the task would be in sleeping position until the RTOS will wake up. In generally 256 priority levels are used and each task has a unique priority level. There are two basic types of real-time operating systems, hard and soft. Since the system and processor time is more variable, it is possible for non-important actions to take longer to finish. One of the misconceptions about multi-core CPUs is that they are designed to make computers faster by combining all of those cores into one, fast unit that will take on a task. While the real-time operating systems that can only guarantee a maximum of the time, i.e. As there are multiple systems involved, user at one site can utilize the resources of systems at other sites for resource-intensive tasks. In contrast to the Tightly Coupled systems, the computer networks used in these applications consist of a collection of processors that do not share memory or a clock. The soft real-time operating system is a type of OS and it does not contain constrained to extreme rules. These computers need a dependable level of output to prevent accidents and save lives and money. Jobs are batched together by type of languages and requirement. Following are the two types of distributed operating systems used: Centralized systems today act as server systems to satisfy requests generated by client systems.
A real-time operating system is a specific type of computer operating system that completes tasks very reliably.
The monitor is always in the main memory and available for execution. This means that the information results are ready at the same time the results are needed. Processors for most handheld devices often run at a fraction of the speed of a processor in a PC.
While the real-time operating systems that can only guarantee a maximum of the time, i.e. Operating systems that can absolutely guarantee a maximum time for these operations are commonly referred to as "hard real-time", while operating systems that can only guarantee a maximum most of the time are referred to as "soft real-time". The soft real-time operating system is a type of OS and it does not contain constrained to extreme rules. So what should you look for when selecting a real-time operating system (RTOS)? ), Linux (Ubuntu, Red hat, fedora, Mandarin, Linux mint, etc. The Real-Time Operating system which guarantees the maximum time for critical operations and complete them on time are referred to as Hard Real-Time Operating Systems. The examples of this operating system are the digital camera, mobile phones and online data etc. Memory addressing and swapping is both slower and more stable than in a traditional system.
The time it takes for information to enter the system and the computations made using that information is tightly controlled. for general purpose operating system (GPOS) are Windows (95,98,Xp, Vista, 7, 8, media center etc. Real-time operating systems often use specialized scheduling algorithms so that they can achieve a deterministic nature of behavior. The Difference between Discrete Circuits and Integrated Circuits? These systems are usually referred to as loosely coupled systems ( or distributed systems). Handheld systems include Personal Digital Assistants(PDAs), such as Palm-Pilots or Cellular Telephones with connectivity to a network such as the Internet. The soft real-time operating system has certain deadlines, may be missed and they will take the action at a time t=0+.
There are three different types of RTOS which are following. Then it is called as a ready to run. In this state, if it doesn’t have the enough resources to run, then it is sent to blocked state. In the priority-based scheduler, most of the RTOS is between 32 and 256 possible priorities for the individual tasks or processes. These five key features are must-haves. In this article, we have discussed how the real-time operating system will work. Some examples of this operating system are air bag control in cars, anti-lock brake, and engine control system etc. Multiplicity of the processors and how they do act together are transparent to the others.
• A safety-critical system is a real-time system with catastro-phic results in case of failure. This is a list of real-time operating systems. - Structure & Tuning Methods, Automatic Wireless Health Monitoring System for Patients Circuit and Working. Faster processors require, The last issue confronting program designers for handheld devices is the small display screens typically available. A Multiprocessor system consists of several processors that share a common physical memory. Usually, there is an API that follows you to say “In 50ms wake me up”. In the common data areas, the semaphores are used. A real-time operating system will allow application process the top priority if necessary.
There are different types of basic functionalities of an RTOS are following. If the monitored machine fails, the monitoring machine can take ownership of its storage, and restart the application(s) that were running on the failed machine. Your feedback really matters to us. No mechanism to prioritise the processes.
This is all about the gross generalizations and there is a large variety implementation in the RTOS. Like, an embedded system OS may also use some features of a real-time OS. Some of the RTOS are operated differently and the above description is capable for the large portion of existing RTOS. Following are some of the most widely used types of Operating system. The main benefit of distributed systems is its low price/performance ratio. Selecting the Right Microcontrollers for Embedded Applications. To synchronize the internal activities the event flag is used and to send the text messages we can use in the mailbox, pipes and message queues.
If the task is executing then it is said to have a running state. I hope by reading this you have obtained some basic information. If the original task is pre-empted by the new then a high priority process is made ready. In order to achieve this level of dependability, people use a real-time operating system. Cellular telephones with connectivity to the Internet fall into this category. This type of processing creates a level of variability in output that is unacceptable in some systems.
These systems are called Desktop Systems and include PCs running Microsoft Windows and the Apple Macintosh. A layer of cluster software runs on the cluster nodes. If the task can’t obtain the CPU attention for every time, then there are some other services provide by the kernel. However, the goals of these operating systems have changed with time; instead of maximizing CPU and peripheral utilization, the systems opt for maximizing user convenience and responsiveness. Every time we are interacting with a machine, a different type of operating system is helping us do that. If you have any queries regarding this article or to implement electrical projects, please feel free to comment in the below section. The growth of computer networks - especially the Internet and World Wide Web (WWW) – has had a profound influence on the recent development of operating systems. To monitor the hardware the task should be relieved and the responsibilities kernel manages & allocate the resources.
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Do it right the first time
From Prototype to production - Introduction
The transition of a product from prototype phase to mass production is a complex and critical aspect of the product commercialization process.
Managing this transition properly is essential to maintaining the budget and time constraints that are integral to every new product introduction.
Reluctance to do so may lead to failure of the project even before it has been completed, or worse, after the first products have been rolled out to market.
While such failure may "only" hurt the reputation for large corporations, the consequences for small or startup companies could be fatal.
Therefore, make sure that you have the necessary planning and resources to lead the transition to mass production effectively, while meeting the budget and time frame goals.
The following series of articles will review the five major steps of product realization from a prototype to repeatable, marketable and profitable product.
The five steps are:
1. Defining the product
2. Selecting materials and process technologies
3. Designing for manufacturing and designing for X
4. Selecting manufacturing subcontractors, or alternatively, establishing your own production capabilities.
5. Distributing the products to your customers
Tip: Start by asking WHY, as opposed to HOW. WHY you want to bring this product to the universe.
In the next post we will review the first step - The Product Definition
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Neural sensors the size of a grain of salt have been created
Neural sensors the size of a grain of salt have been created
Researchers at Brown University have developed an innovative computer-brain interface system consisting of tiny sensors
Photo: Jihun Lee / Brown University About 0.1 cubic millimeters. This is what a grain of salt measures, and now also a new type of sensors capable of recording the electrical activity of neurons: the field of computer-brain interfaces never ceases to amaze us. A team of researchers from Brown University, in the United States, in fact, has laid the foundations to design an innovative neural interface system that employs a network of tiny sensors, independent of each other and coordinated via wireless signal, which are capable, in studies on animals, to record the activity of the cerebral cortex. The hope is, in the future, to be able to study better and treat conditions that prevent the brain from communicating with the rest of the body. The results of the study were published in Nature Electronics.
Almost science fiction
Controlling the environment around us with the power of thought alone: until a few years ago, such a perspective it belonged only to the realm of science fiction. Then came the computer-brain interfaces, assistive devices that seem to promise, in the not too distant future, the possibility, for people who have lost a brain function (such as walking, manipulating objects, communicating), to restore it through implantable sensors. .
The brain and the tissues that make up the nervous system communicate through electrical signals. When there is a problem, such as a brain injury, that directly affects these pathways, communication is suspended, and electrical signals from the brain fail to reach their destination. The sensors that make up the neural interfaces, on the other hand, are able to record electrical signals in the brain, re-elaborate them and use them to guide external devices, such as computers or robotic prostheses.
The human brain, however, is a much more complex system than a computer: it is estimated that it has about 86 billion neurons and that, in the cerebral cortex alone, there are more than 125 thousand billion synapses (the connections between neuronal cells). This is a level of complexity that seems impossible to achieve for modern neural interface technologies, even the most sophisticated: most current systems use only one or two sensors, and can record up to a few hundred neurons, too. few to understand and intervene on some brain functions. The basic idea of neuroscientists is that the more sensors are used, the more neurons can be registered, and eventually stimulated.
A communication hub
The team of researchers, led by Arto Nurmikko, has designed a wireless network of microsensors the size of a grain of salt, which is why they have been renamed “neurograni”. In particular, the scientists used 48 "neurogrania", independently implanted with each other but perfectly communicating, to record the electrical activity of a rodent's cerebral cortex. The system works in this way: each microchip has an adhesive portion capable of attaching itself to the scalp, like a patch.
Each "neurograno" records the electrical activity of the neurons immediately close to the area where it is positioned. , and communicates with others using a network protocol. What you get is a real communication hub outside the body, which receives signals from the microchips and is able to record brain activity.
Although just under 50 neurograms have been used, this limit derives only from the size of the rodent's brain in the study: the data suggest that the current configuration of the system could support up to 770, and, with subsequent developments, it could be possible to build networks of thousands of "neurograni". This would mean a recording of neuronal activity with unprecedented resolution.
"One of the great challenges in the field of brain-computer interfaces is finding ways to probe as many points in the brain as possible," he said Nurmikko: “Until now, most computer-brain interfaces have consisted of monolithic devices, which consist of small beds of numerous sensors. Our team's idea was to break that monolith down into tiny sensors that could be distributed through the cerebral cortex. ”
Researchers say this is a big step towards a system that could enable recording brain signals in unprecedented detail, leading to new insights into how the brain works and new ways to treat people with brain or spinal injuries. "Our hope is that we can eventually develop a system that provides new scientific knowledge about the brain and new therapies that can help those affected by devastating injuries", the researcher explains.
Lab - Aug 20
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The Bariba people, self designation Baatonu (plural Baatombu), are the principal inhabitants of Borgou and Alibori Departments, Benin (1.285.000), and cofounders of the Borgu kingdom of what is now northeast Benin and west-central Nigeria (197.000). In Nigeria, they are found spread between western Kwara State and the Borgu section of Niger State. There are perhaps a million Bariba, 70% of them in Benin.
Samall groups of Bariba are found in Togo (25.0000)
The Bariba are concentrated primarily in the north-east of Benin, especially around the city of Nikki, which is considered the traditional Bariba capital.
At the end of the 18th century they became independent from the Yoruba of Oyo and formed several kingdoms in the Borgou region. The colonization of Benin (then Dahomey) by the French at the end of the 19th century, and the imposition of an Anglo-French artificial border, ended Bariba trade in the region.
One of their noted festivals is the annual Gani festival of which horse riding is a prominent element.
The Bariba people holds an important place in the history of the country. During the late 19th century, Bariba was known to constitute independent states and dominate with kingdoms in cities like Nikki and Kandi in the northeast of the country. In the town of Pehunko there are approximately 200,000 Bariba people out of 365,000 inhabitants.
The Bariba society consists of a higher-ranking official as chief of the town and their subordinates’ chiefs. Social status and titles are inherited in families, but the status of a person may be given by the families’ nature of work. Notable subdivisions of the Bariba include the ruling Wasangari nobles, Baatombu commoners, slaves of varying origin, Dendi merchants, Fulbe herders, and other divisional ethnic groups.
Agriculture is the dominant occupation for the Bariba. They grow corn, sorghum, rice, cotton, cassava (tapioca), yams, beans, palm oil, peanuts and some poultry and livestock. Religion plays an important role in Bariba tribes and they are primarily Islamic.However a number of Bariba communities have their own indigenous beliefs.
The Bariba language is spoken mostly in Borgou, Alibori and part of Atacora in northern Benin. The Bariba language was once classified as an outlier of the Gur family, but is now agnostically placed as an isolate within the Savanna languages. It is a tone language with noun classes. It has been written since about 1970.
The Bariba people due to the different influences, speak to a lesser extent, others languages like the Dendi, the Fulbe, and the Hausa.
According to some versions of their history, the Wasangari first settled in the region of Nikki-Wenu around 1480, it having been occupied from 1350 by the Baatonu natives. Coming from the East, they initially settled in Bussa in what is now Nigeria, where Kisra, the legendary Wasangari horseman from Persia had formed an alliance with Mansa Doro left Bussa for Nikki-Wenu with his groom Sero, the son of Kisra who entrusted Mansa Doro with the education of Sero. Before leaving the region again to join Kisra, Mansa Doro nominated his protégé Sero as the new chief. Decked out in hunting attire, the groom was established by the populations of Nikki-Wenu as Sounon Sero, King of Nikki.
Sime Dobidia, father of the dynasties
Sabi Sime, the youngest son of Sounon Sero, later became Sime Dobidia, and through marriages with the native clans Baatonu, Boko and Hausa, founded the dynasties of the Empire of Nikki. His sons, endowed with the royal emblems of trumpets ans white spurs, took control of villages of their respective mothers. Those parental ties were the basis of the political structure established by the Wasangari.
The royal dynasties are founded by:
1. Sero Baguiri, the ancestor of the dynasty of the Karawe
2. Kpe Gounon Kaba Wouko, the ancestor of the dynasty of the Gbassi
3. Sero Kpera I, the ancestor of the dynasty of the Makararou
4. Kpe Lafia Gamabrou, the ancestor of the dynasty of Lafiarou
5. Sero Kora Bakarou, the ancestor of the dynasty of Korakou
Caste system
The Bariba society features the caste divisions typical of the West African region. There are caste divisions.
1. The Wassangari are the first component of the population. It is the aristocracy of the riders originating from Bussa. It's the caste of the nobles. The emperor or Sinaboko, as well as, the Gnon Kogui, the Queen Mother, take part of this caste. The Wassangari clan held political power in the most of the Empire, the various dynasties of the Nikki Empire being placed under the authority of one of the Wasangari sub-clans.
2. After the Wassangari, come the Bariba natives or Baatonu natives who constitute the pure people. They are also farmers and artisans, they descend from pre-existing populations. They are still represented by "chiefs of land", the most notable of which, The Ministers and the Sinadunwiru, hold high office. They are members of the Council of Ministers and the second is called to the regency at the death of the King. The griots, severals horsemen, blacksmiths, musicians and others Baribas take part integrally of this caste.
3. According to a Bariba custom, a child who is born abnormally or who goes out by the shoulder, or by the feet or other, or a child who pushes the teeth from the top is a child of misfortune. If he stays in the family, she will endure enough suffering through her fault. Instead of killing this child, he will be entrusted to the Fulbe who will be responsible for raising him until he grows up. In no case will he return to his family whether he is a prince's son or a peasant's son. And it is all these children who form the third component of the population, namely the Gando. The Gando are gathered in a neighborhood outside the city and do not have to marry Bariba. Marriages are between Gando except during a particular circumstance that we will explain later. The Gando are responsible for supplying the Royal Grain Court. The Gando are Baribas who talk the Fulfulde
4. The fourth caste is the caste of the Fulbe. The Baribas are excellent farmers and are closely linked to the Fulbe, who farm livestock on their territory. The Borgou, a region of wooded savannah alternating with vast plains irrigated by rivers, is an ideal location for the intensive livestock farm-ing carried out by the Fulbe, semi-nomadic Fula populations. The Baatonu allow the Fulbe to use pasture lands, particularly fallow or recently-harvested land, and frequently entrust them with their own livestock in exchange for payment in meat and milk from the Fulbe; thus the populations cohabit in harmonious complicity. When visiting a village, the Fulbe, nicknamed Pullo by their hosts, are the guests of the Baatonu. The Fulbe are also represented at the court of the Baatonu chiefs who guarantee their protection against livestock pillaging. The Fulbe contribute to the Gaani economy by providing livestock and milk to their Emperor.
5. Finally, there are foreigners who are usually Muslims. Originally from northern Nigeria, the Hausa and the Dendi are traders and marchants.
The origins of the Gaani
The yearly Gaani festival, presided over by the Emperor of Nikki, or in his absence the chiefs of the Bouay, Kika and Sandiro provinces, assembles all the provincial chiefs and their populations, who come to renew allegiance to the Emperor and receive his blessing. More than 150,000 persons converge to Nikki from all over to participate in the spectacular ceremony where the vitality of the Baatonu culture is celebrated and parental and fraternal links between dynasties are nurtured. Everyone brings presents, however modest, to contribute to the magnificence of the festivities. The Gaani is the second festival in the Baatonu calendar, following the fire festival or Donkonru, that takes place at the New Year. The Gaani is associated with the notion of nasara, evoking joy, victory and freedom and is a time for ecstasy and communion. By animating and perpetrating the memories that unite them, it nourishes and re-news solidarity and fraternity within the Baatonu people, endorsing their values of welcome and sharing. An animistic tribal ceremony, it was later incorporated into the Muslim calendar and thus coincides with the Mawlid which is celebrated by Muslims to commemorate the birth of the Prophet. The festival is organized according to the lunar calendar and is always held on a Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday or Sunday; it cannot be held on any other day of the week.
The Fantasia
The Fantasia, a traditional equestrian show, simulates military at-tacks. Initially practised in the Maghreb where it was also known as the “powder game” or “horse game”, the fantasia is an Arab - Turkish - Berber equestrian art tradition. Recorded since the 16th century, it was formally recognized in the 18th century and became a popular subject for artists from Delacroix to Orientalist painters such as Eugene Fromentin and Maria Fortuny. The horsemen, astride richly harnessed mounts and carrying rifles loaded with black powder, simulate a cavalry charge, the culminating point of which is the simultaneous shooting of their firearms. In some regions camels are used instead of horses and in others the attack is carried out on foot. The Baatonu have been featuring the fantasia for the Gaani since the days of Sime Dobidia, as well as on the occasion of important events such as wed-dings, births and religious festivals. Due to increasing interest, demonstrations or parades in the equestrian tradition can also be organized for visitors
The horse, a central element in Baatonu tradition, is a prevailing symbol of the Empire, and festivals are greatly enhanced by their presence. The majestic horses’ harnesses and richly-coloured riders’ costumes are meticulously prepared several months in advance. The horsemen, mainly from the class of the dignitaries, compete in dexterity and audacity in powerful demonstrations of strength and mastery with their audacious stunts and dazzling processions. The equestrian tradition began when Sunon Sero, a resident of Nikki-Wenu, rode to Nikki on horseback to visit his son Sime Dobidia during the Gaani. Sime Dobidia established the tradition and transformed the Gaani into an equestrian demonstration assembling horsemen from throughout the empire.
Trumpets and drums, attributes of power
The sacred drums and royal trumpets symbolize the power of the Empire and are the embodiment of its memory and continuity. The dense, nonchalant sound of the drums and the suave timbre of the trumpets, as well as the myths the instruments perpetuate, accompany the Gaani festivities and resound in the hearts of the faithful throughout the year. To parade before the illustrious drums is a privilege granted by the clan. Two noteworthy sacred instruments are the imposing male and female sacred drums, the Barabakaru and the Barapiibu, which are between 125 and 127 centimetres high and made of baobab wood and beef hide. They are played at the Emperor’s entrance by initiates and used during the Gaani, but also for other events during the year: enthronement, Friday prayers, etc. Another drum, the Bara Kaaru, which is still kept in a small temple on the Baro Kpira farm in the Banikuara region, is played by the Bara Yogo who is a member of the ancient family of griots.
Like spurs, trumpets were introduced to the Baatonu country by the Wasangari under the influence of the Hausa of Nigeria. The instrument, unknown to the Baatonu natives, originates from India and was introduced to Africa by caravan travellers. The sacred trumpet is directly associated with power and is used by the Baatonu people in the royal courts of the Atacora, Donga and Borgou. Since all sacred instruments are the property of the king, only a few kings and chiefs have the privilege of owning one. Its manufacture and use are exclusive to initiated members of the royal court. The Kankangi ancestor of trumpeters was himself a member of the royal family. The Kankangi trumpet comprises two parts that fit together. The male trumpets are longer than the female ones (171 cm as opposed to 158 cm on average). The trumpets are played to the glory of the Emperor or to accompany his travels, but also to announce the holy day Friday and during grand ceremonies (Gaani or the Shaving of princes). Despite their sacred status, these trumpets are now reproduced in a somewhat anarchic manner.
The men’s costumes are varied and indicate their social status. Their day-to-day outfit, the Turu, is a large ankle-length, generally sleeve-less tunic made from thick ecru cotton hessian. The knee-length Dansigi or shirt is sometimes used as an under-garment. The Sokoto or large-waisted tapered trousers, has a matching fabric belt. The ber-muda-style demberu is made from fabric for the Wasangari or animal skin for the hunters and farmers. Luxury attire for important days takes the form of the more elegant tako with its tasteful colours. A Tako-gonna, which is the same colour as guinea fowl, can be worth as much as three oxen. Generally speaking, the Baatonu favour dyed loincloths as opposed to the Fulbe who are happier wearing white loin-cloths, sometimes with brightly-coloured stripes.
Fabric hats, whether ecru or brightly coloured, are primordial for the men; indeed, wearing hats in public used to be compulsory. The white Furogomba and the black-and-white Furogona are worn by princes and dignitaries. Dawani caps wrapped in long white or red turbans are used by Baatonu chiefs and Muslims. Furobakuro hats are worn by ordinary citizens, whereas village chiefs and horsemen have the privilege of wear-ing brimmed bowl-shaped or cone-shaped Keseru. The subtleties to wear-ing hats comprise a language unto itself. A hat folded at the front evokes a prince who aspires to a superior status. The braggart wears a mounted hat. A hat sitting on the back of the head indicates bravado: this man fears nothing and no-one! Ordinarily, the hat would sit on the right or the left.
Compared with the richness of the men’s clothing, women’s outfits can appear more modest, simply comprising a loincloth, skirt and head-scarf. The clothes correspond to their ages: young girls wear long loincloths or short skirts whereas married women wear two loincloths and a headscarf. Their relatively simple outfits are enhanced by the numerous items of jewellery acquired since the development of the caravan trade: earrings, silver bracelets, necklaces with carved porcelain or glass pendants and mirrors contribute to the women’s style and seductiveness.
Songs and Dances
Singing is extremely important to the Baatonu and they have repertoires covering all aspects of daily life in the Empire. Wuru songs retrace the life of hunters and daily scenes, but can sometimes branch out into more erotic subject matter. Teke songs celebrate the typical values of Baatonu humanism and often use opposites to illustrate their messages – generosity and rapacity, bravery and cowardice, fidelity and infidelity, etc. – to encourage virtuous behaviour; thus, some of the songs are aimed at in-stilling a responsible attitude towards sexuality in young people, especially girls. Others accentuate courage and persistence when faced with an enemy.
The Wuru dance, which used to be performed during funeral ceremonies for native Baatonu families, remains a prestigious ritual dance also performed at popular celebrations. The dancers’ costumes, made from animal skins and native fabrics covered with several rows of cowrie shells and amulets, make quite an impression on the assembly, sometimes to the point of fright-ening them. The rapid pace of the dance is set by the pounding rhythm of their accessories: a gravel-filled gourd in one hand and a piece of animal skin in the other.
The popular Teke dance, which has no sacred function, is carried out by mature men using 40-centimetre cylindrical sticks. In this dance, rival groups or villages compete with each other. The Teke is danced in pairs and in general, six to eight couples confront each other on the floor. The many varying rhythms are associated with specific dance steps. The Sinsennu dance is carried out by young men. Its name refers to the chains of balls made from the leaves of Palmyra palm shoots decorated with small stones that the dancers wrap round their calves, making a sound similar to that of castanets. A flute, a talking tom-tom and a drum contribute to the sound of the Sinsennu, producing the particular harmony specific to the dance.
The Gbangba, danced by young Wasangari aged between 18 and 25, is identified by its solemn, mournful rhythm. It was for-merly used to announce the death of a king and to accompany the preparations for burial ceremonies. A war dance, it also an-nounces the start of a conflict. The Fulbe carry out the Sinna which imitates flagellation, and the Gesegesere.
Yams are the queen of cultures in Baatonu gastronomy. Their traditional dish is Sokuru, prepared from yams and served with different types of sauce: aubergine, bissap, Guinea sorrel, climbing leaves, beef, mutton or chicken. Yams are also eaten pureed (Pereku) or ground and dried (Yennu). The traditional dish of millet paste is now sometimes replaced by corn paste mixed with manioc. Manioc is also used to make gari. Although the Baatonu regularly consume corn and bean-based dishes in their daily life, they generally only sell Wake (a mixture of rice and beans).
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Antibiotics from the soil of an ancient Irish cemetary
The magic of holy soil. Or a natural antibiotic to kill multi-resistant pathogens? One of the biggest threats to mankind is that one of the most important discoveries of mankind may be losing its effect: Antibiotics. Over the past decades, research in Antibiotics has plummeted since large pharmaceutical companies cannot make enough money, compared to other drugs. Parallel to this, Antibiotics are widely abused and eaten like candy by some, and especially by the agricultural industry where they are often given to animals as a precaution rather than a treatment. This has led to many pathogens of common infections to become resistant against many known antibiotics. It is increasingly common to read about “hospital super-bugs” for instance that have no cure, or almost none. Gerry Quinn of Ulster University in Northern Ireland is a scientist looking for a solution, inspired by ancient tales and nature. This has led him to research the soil from graveyards in Northern Ireland, which has been known to have holy healing powers for generations. Spoiler alert: The soil is not holy, but has healing power — it contains Streptomyces, a strain of bacteria that is also a powerful antibiotic.
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Why should you use a bamboo Toothbrush?
Bamboo is an environmentally friendly crop; it grows rapidly and needs almost no irrigation and no pesticides making it much more sustainable and extremely valuable to the earth.
The fast growth means the supply is highly sustainable, and affordable enough for everyday essential needs. It also produces a lot of oxygen and consumes an incredible amount of greenhouse gases.
Using and Caring for a Bamboo Toothbrush
You can use a toothbrush with a bamboo handle the same way you would use a plastic toothbrush and should keep the same considerations in mind. When choosing your toothbrush, pay close attention to the size of the head, the shape of the handle and the type of bristles. Ideally, you’ll want to choose a brush with soft bristles and with a brush head that fits comfortably in your mouth. The handle should be easy to hold.
It’s a good idea to replace bamboo toothbrushes as often as you would any other type of toothbrush. The Australian Dental Association recommends getting a new toothbrush every two to three months, or once there is visible fraying or damage to the bristles. Swapping your old toothbrush for a new one will help keep your teeth as clean as possible.
Why Bambe’s bamboo toothbrush?
Other benefits include:
• Eco-friendly – biodegradable moso bamboo handle.
• Bristles – soft Nylon or Charcoal with tooth whitening effect.
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In my study I am traveling to speak about intelligence: specifying the word intelligence, IQ proving and theoreticians work on intelligence, if there is any grounds linked with gender differences in intelligence. I will include possible factors that may impact gender differences in intelligence for case environmental and biological factors. The methods I will utilize to acquire grounds for this study are as follows ; I will utilize books on what theoreticians findings are on this topic, use the cyberspace and diaries. The intent of this survey is to happen out, if there are any possible differences between gender, and associating this to intelligence. Encarta dictionary definition of intelligence ‘is the ability to larn facts and accomplishments and use them ‘ . Deary ‘s ( 2001, p.17 ) definition of intelligence ‘is a really general mental capableness that, among other things, involves the ability to ground, program, work out jobs, think abstractly, comprehend complex thoughts, learn rapidly and larn from experience ‘ . Galton ‘s familial mastermind is to make with the different degrees of intelligence measured by familial factors. Galton thought that higher intelligence was being passed down to kids. Day, Macaskill, & A ; Maltby ( 2007 p.258 ) province that ‘intelligent people show the ability to react to the big scope of information gained through their senses ‘ . So the 5 senses of the human organic structure are critical such as odor, gustatory sensation, hearing, sight and touch because this will find how intelligent a individual may be, if they do non utilize their senses right, the individual will hold less intelligence than those who can for case, a individual does non cognize the difference between Sweet and salty. A babe ‘s gustatory sensation and odor buds are really good because, the babe will cognize when it is clip for dinner by utilizing their odor sense. Babies use gustatory sensation buds good because when my brother was younger he would prefer to eat the sweet nutrient instead than the salt nutrient, it would take him longer to eat the salty nutrient, on the other manus when eating the sweet nutrient it wo n’t take every bit long as the salt nutrient. Cattell ‘s mental trial is to make with mensurating a individual ‘s intelligence through hearing and weight these experiments were carried out utilizing the psychometric theoretical account. Problems with this experiment Chamorro – premuzic ( 2007, p. 67 ) examined this and suggested that ‘ therefore, most of the variables he measured were more “ elemental ” than “ mental ” , and referred to really basic cognitive procedures that are now known to be related to intelligence ‘ . From this remark you can see that the experiment he did was more on the indispensable side of things such as how good child can hear and non based on mental accomplishments such as numeracy, jobs work outing or literacy. The IQ trial was developed by two Gallic scientists, Alfred Binet and Theodore Simon, the intent of the trial was to measure kids at school so that stupid kids or kids with behavioral troubles could have equal and appropriate instruction. IQ proving is to make with mensurating your intelligence for illustration comprehension, job resolution and concluding accomplishments. Criticisms of IQ proving are as follows they do non accurately step intelligence, and everyone has different strengths and failings in different countries of intelligence, such as person could be good at job resolution, but have a failing in concluding accomplishments and another individual could be good at concluding accomplishments and non really good on job resolution. Howard Gardner ( multiple intelligence theory ) he put together eight different intelligence trials which were Linguistic, Logical-mathematical, Spatial, Bodily-kinesthetic, Musical, Interpersonal, Intrapersonal and Naturalist. Criticism of the Theory like many theories environing intelligence, Gardner ‘s theory of multiple intelligences is controversial and widely criticised. In peculiar, there is uncertainty over his deficiency observed informations – many feel that the 8 ‘intelligences ‘ are merely alternate names for specific endowments or even personality types.
I have used books, the cyberspace and diaries to roll up my informations. This method of researching is called secondary research. Secondary research is the usage of stuff, which has been researched by person else. The different research methods for secondary research are as follows: engineering based and instance surveies. Technology based research is to make with researching from the computing machine to acquire your information, which has a batch of benefits such as the cyberspace provides on-line libraries ; e-books, diaries and encyclopedia. The chief electronic databases I have used for my research were as follows Psycinfo, Psychology & A ; Behavioural Sciences Collection and British ED index. The cardinal read was based on, intelligence and gender differences and how the hunt found a figure of diaries, but some were irrelevant, to what I was looking for. You can download information off the Internet but make certain it is copyright free. Search engines aid you through the mass of information on the Internet two most popular hunt engines are yahoo and google etc ; besides on the cyberspace you can seek for newspaper articles. Case surveies published by other research workers can be used as secondary footing of informations. There is a batch of ways you can utilize them such as identify differences and discuss comparings.
I did non utilize primary research because this is to make with transporting out your ain research. The different research methods for primary research are interviews, experiments, questionnaires and observations etc. I did n’t utilize this method because I did n’t hold adequate clip to make this if I did I would hold done questionnaires to acquire my findings.
Literature reappraisal
There has been a batch of work done on intelligence and how this is linked to gender differences. Alan Feingold ( 1988 ) examined sex differences for spelling, verbal logical thinking, numerical ability, spacial relationship and linguistic communication and many more. Another individual who studied this was Larry Hedges and Amy Nowell ( 1995 ) , who looked at reading comprehension, vocabulary, mathematics, scientific discipline and spacial ability ( which is to make with the ability to retrieve things by looking at objects and retrieving them ) . Maccoby and Jacklin ( 1974 ) suggested that work forces on norm do better on trials of spacial ability than adult females do. Supporting this ( Feingold, 1988 ; Hedges & A ; Nowell, 1995 ) who have done surveies on spacial trials have proven this hypothesis. In contrast ( Feingold, 1988 ; Hedges & A ; Nowell, 1995 ) have similarities in their experiments for illustration they both tested numeracy accomplishments and literacy accomplishments. On the other manus adult females do better on reading comprehension and vocabulary than work forces do. APA study province that ‘some verbal undertakings show significant average differences favoring females. These include synonym coevals and verbal eloquence ( e.g. calling words that start with a given missive ) , with consequence size runing from d= 0.5 to 1.2 ( Gordon & A ; Lee, 1986 ; Hines 1990 ) ‘ . Males have larger encephalons than females and encephalon size is positively correlated with intelligence. Among kids up to the age of around 14 yr the sex differences are smaller because misss mature earlier than male childs. Work done by Lubinski and Humphreys ( 1990 ) found that the criterion of divergence for males to be 7 per centum larger than for females. It has besides been hypothesised that work forces ‘s higher IQ mark may be direct effect of their larger encephalon sizes, a claim that has been backed up by consistent grounds of correlativities in the part of.30 between encephalon size and IQ tonss ( Rushton & A ; Ackney 1996 ) . Macintosh ( 2007, p. 184 ) provinces that ‘ the critics would hold been better advised to oppugn whether one can do reasonable illations about differences in IQ between groups from grounds of their differences in the encephalon plus grounds of a within-group correlativity between encephalon size and IQ ‘ . Environmental factor impacting intelligence environmental factors play a big function in finding IQ in certain state of affairss. Malnutrition correlates with lower IQ, proposing that proper nutrition in childhood is critical for cognitive development. ( Cole, 2000:26 ) Even before kids go to school their parents will handle a male child and girl really different. Even in society throughout history this has occurred. A batch of research has gone into this ; your gender is an issue from the minute you are born. Automatically society will state how a miss will act and how a male child will act. If it is a male child, oh he ‘s like that because he ‘s a male child and boys ever take longer to hold on it. The thought that intelligence and personality are mostly inherited has of import educational deductions. Environmental factors, e.g. household experiences, upbringing and schooling play a major function. ( Chamorro-Premuzic, 2008:99 ) . Biological factor impacting intelligence are as follows encephalon size, encephalon operation and testosterone. Testosterone is to make with males endocrines these are substances that travel around the human organic structure to consequence physiological activity, such as growing and metamorphosis Maltby et Al ( 2007, p.360 ) .
Consequences or findings
The figure below is from Hines ( 2003 ) and shows the magnitudes of some well-known sex differences in human behavior compared to the magnitude of the sex difference in tallness.
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This graph shows that work forces do good in 3-D rotary motion 0.8 divergence units, maths job 0.3 divergence units, maths concept 0.1 divergence units which non much because the consequence size is little. On the other manus this graph shows that verbal eloquence is low in male childs than misss because vitamin D is a negative figure, which shows -0.3 on the graph.
This tabular array shows the spread in 1989 was merely 6 % but 10yrs later it had increased to 10 % . It is suggested by S. Ball ( 2008 ) that this spread is an overall statistic and non capable particular he suggests that in 2004 the divergences of this spread was merely 1 % and that in some topics boys achieve better consequences than misss therefore it is non valid to state that all male childs or all misss achieve less in Gcse degrees
The of import issues that I have found are that male childs have bigger encephalon sizes than misss, which is linked to better IQ trial tonss for male childs than misss. Another issue that I found is that male childs tend to make better on spacial accomplishments ; they find mathematics and scientific discipline more interesting to larn about. But on the other manus misss to break on verbal, comprehension and vocabulary accomplishments than male childs do. The importance of this survey was to happen out ; if there were any differences between genders in intelligence besides I was interested in happening this out so I undertook my research study on this topic. During the procedure of garnering the information, it was really interesting to happen out that work forces have bigger encephalons than adult females, which gives them better IQ mark than adult females.
Decisions and recommendations
The intent of this survey is to happen out, if there are any possible differences between gender, and associating this to intelligence. From making my research in this field, I have found that there is non much difference between male and females and theoreticians have backed this statement up for many old ages. Neisser 1996 province that ‘most standard trials of intelligence have been constructed so that there are no overall mark differences between females and males ‘ . The chief issues that affect intelligence in gender: Boys do better on spacial trials than misss ; in contrast to this misss do better in verbal, comprehension and vocabulary accomplishments. Brain size of males is bigger than females encephalon size which consequences in work forces acquiring better IQ tonss than adult females. If I carry out this survey once more, I would do betterments to the research I have done, by making my ain research in this field to see what consequences I get from making this, I can make this by transporting out questionnaires on IQ. Another manner I could better my research is inquiring people to take the IQ trial. With these consequences I can compare them to one another, to happen out if there are any possible differences.
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Blood pressure
Hypertension is becoming more and more common. Because it is very harmful and seriously threatens the health of patients, blood pressure should be constantly monitored no matter what kind of treatment is taken. Then, what problems should be paid attention to when measuring blood pressure in patients with hypertension?
Accuracy of blood pressure measurement
The accuracy of blood pressure measurement not only depends on whether the measurement method is correct but also requires the avoidance of some physiological factors (such as activity, cold, stress or drinking tea, coffee, etc.), so the following issues should be paid attention to when measuring blood pressure:
1. It is best to monitor blood pressure during medication 1 hour after morning, after urination, before medication, before breakfast, and in a sitting position. Before measurement, the patient should rest for a while. The chair is best to have a back and arms to support.
2. The inflatable cuff is tied to the upper arm after flattening, the lower edge of the cuff should be 2-3cm from the elbow socket; the chest piece of the stethoscope should be placed on the brachial artery, and do not touch the cuff.
3. The deflation speed should be 2mm / sec. It should not be too fast. Generally, the right upper extremity shall prevail. 2-3 consecutive measurements shall be taken and the average value shall be taken.
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Why Do Only Male Deer Have Antlers?
Can female deer have antlers?
Unlike horns, antlers fall off and grow back larger each year..
Is it only male deer that have antlers?
Males of almost all deer species grow antlers, used to battle for females. But reindeer are the only species in which the females also grow antlers, and an explanation can be found by looking at bovids, a closely related family including antelopes, goats and sheep. … Unlike horns, antlers are shed each year.
Do deer eat their antlers?
But no, they don’t eat the antlers.
Why do male deer have antlers and females don t?
The main purpose of antlers is to attract female deer for mating. During mating season, when the antlers are growing, the male deer displays his antlers to a female deer and uses them to become the dominant male.
How heavy are deer antlers?
How many inches can a buck grow in a year?
How many does can a buck breed in a day?
The general experience was that most bucks can mate with three does in a day with no problems, but that more than three can sometimes result in the last rabbits not being pregnant.
Why do some deer not have antlers?
Do deer feel pain in their antlers?
Do female deer have periods?
This type of deer is polyestrous and is a short day breeder. The females will go into heat for a 24 hour period and most go in to heat in November in the northern portions of their range. The entire mating season lasts from October to December….SpeciesType of EstrusBearsMonestrus12 more rows
Can you cut off deer antlers?
Some deer antler mount kits allow you to mount shed deer antlers or antlers that have been cut off flush at the pedicle. … You may find it’s easiest and quickest to get a great mount by just cutting off each antler right under the burr.
Do deer bleed when they shed their antlers?
Bucks shedding the velvet of their antlers is remarkably similar to menstruation in women. And the antlers become progressively less vascular through autumn and winter, so there’s no significant blood loss when they’re shed.
Do deers get sad?
Is Rudolph a boy or a girl?
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer is actually female, scientists have said. Edinburgh University professors Gerald Lincoln and David Baird say Rudolph cannot be a male because female reindeer still have antlers at Christmas. Males shed theirs before mid-December.
Is deer antlers made of bone?
Antlers belong to the cervids. That includes all deer, elk, moose and caribou (or reindeer). A third difference is that horns are made of keratin just like your fingernails, meaning that they grow throughout an animal’s entire life and never fall off. Antlers, on the other hand, are made of bone.
How rare is a doe with antlers?
Do male deer lose their antlers in winter?
Answer: Male deer begin to shed their antlers once breeding season is over and they no longer need to contest with each other over mates. Antlers usually drop in winter, sometimes in early spring in warmer climates.
Do deer antlers get bigger each year?
Since most free-range deer are hunted during their prime age of five to seven, you will find few deer older than eight years old. Until this age, deer antlers get bigger each year. As deer age, the shape and size of their antlers will decrease and their body mass will shrink.
Which deer lose their antlers?
Can deer smell period blood?
Why do only males have antlers?
These are small, pair-bonded, forest-dwelling species, and their horns or antlers are effective tools for defending territory or defending the young against small forest predators such as cats. Both the males and females have the horn or antler because they both use them, and for similar purposes.
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One of the most cost-effective strategies for reducing the global malaria burden is sleeping under long-lasting insecticidal bed nets (LLINs). It is estimated that LLINs offer a cost of $27 per disability-adjusted-life-year (DALY) averted [1, 2]. They are effective even in areas with mosquito resistance to insecticides [3]. Between 2010 and 2016, the proportion of people at risk of malaria in Africa sleeping under an insecticide-treated net (ITN), including LLINs, increased from 30 to 54% [4]. The 2016–2030 goal of the Malaria Global Technical Strategy (GTS) and the World Health Organization (WHO) is to achieve and maintain universal coverage with LLINs, specifically one net for every two persons at risk of malaria. Multiple strategies will be required to grow more coverage including mass free net distribution campaigns and the growth of new and under-utilized channels, such as commercial sector channels [5].
Expanding access to malaria control measures is difficult given the many demands on limited -government health budgets [6]. A strategy that has gained traction but needs further research is expanding the role private commercial markets could play in the distribution of LLINs. The essential principle is focusing scarce government resources on offering protection to those who cannot afford commercially sold products, but to allow the emergence of an upscale market to take some of the financial pressure off of the government. This pressure relief system cannot take root unless commercial firms choose to enter markets where they are competing against a flood of free bed net products. Commercial private sector sales can be an important source for supplying LLINs to non-poor households willing-to-pay for a LLIN. The commercial sector can also serve as a backstop for poor households in the event that public sector funding and channels cannot supply enough nets to increase coverage or replace worn-out nets [2].
Prior to the era of publicly-funded mass distribution campaigns for LLINs, a commercial market for LLINs existed in several African countries. While mass campaigns rapidly increased ownership of LLINs bringing major benefits to millions of families, it came at a cost to the commercial market, which has diminished due to a lack of incentives for the private sector given users’ dependency on donor-provided free nets. The absence of a commercial market puts the entire financial burden of LLINs for both low- and middle-income households on the public sector and that burden can be overwhelming.
In 2016, governments and international partners spent US$ 2.7 billion on global malaria control and elimination (e.g. below $2 per person at risk of malaria) [4]. Out of the total, 74% was spent in Africa and the African governments’ contribution was 31%. These expenditure level would need to triple by 2030 in order to meet global malaria reduction targets [4, 7, 8]. Households also bear significant out-of-pocket (OOP) costs related to the treatment of malaria. For example, in 2014, Ghanaian households paid an average of $2.10 and $11.8 OOP in direct and indirect costs, respectively, per malaria treatment at formal health facilities [9]. Similarly, local businesses in high-burden countries are also affected by increased staff absenteeism and private healthcare costs.
Likewise, while the WHO predicted that 21 countries could eliminate malaria by 2020, 11 of these have shown marginal but consistent increases in malaria cases, and another 25 countries, mostly in Africa, show case increases of 20% [4, 6]. One contributory cause for stalled progress is a lack of sustainable and predictable funding [6]. As the stakes for controlling malaria increase, strengthening and identifying efficient strategies to widen funding sources for LLINs is crucial.
Little is known about the potential demand for high quality LLINs that could be sold in commercial markets, particularly among non-poor households. Three studies in Tanzania, Madagascar and India, using rigorous consumer preference measures, found low demand for LLINs among mostly poor-income households, but also indicated the potential for making demand stronger through micro-consumer loans and voucher subsidies [10,11,12]. The study in Tanzania also found strong demand (44%) for LLINs among a sub-group of least-poor households and significant willingness-to-pay for LLINs that matched consumer preferences for nets’ shape and size. However, the focus of the Tanzania study was not the non-poor households. Understanding what is the market potential among the non-poor households is important given that they make 52% of the population needing LLINs in high malaria risk countries in Africa and that they are the population more likely to create a sustainable commercial market of LLINs [13].
This study seeks to evaluate the demand and willingness-to-pay (WTP) for LLINs with characteristics that match consumer preferences among the middle-income households in a high malaria risk country such as Ghana. The study assesses whether there is a statistically significant demand for buying LLINs among middle-income Ghanaians and determines what LLIN features or “attributes” consumers find most attractive. The study also estimates how many LLINs are likely to sell and the government’s net costs and savings in a scenario where all LLINs are distributed free (i.e., only a public programme exists, “the status-quo”) versus a scenario in which only the poor get subsided LLINs (i.e., a public programme of free LLINs targeting poor households and a private market of improved LLINs targeting non-poor households coexists). Evidence from this study can inform decision-making whether private commercial markets can play a larger role in the continuous distribution of LLINs, help increase access to LLINs, and reduce funding gaps in malaria prevention.
Estimates of the demand and WTP of LLINs were based on a representative sample of middle-income households from three regions in Ghana: Ashanti, Greater Accra, and Western. The evaluation used a discrete choice experiment (DCE) design with a real payment choice. A DCE is a quantitative technique based on conjoint-analysis theory that elicits consumer stated preferences for commodities from a sample population. The DCE technique was selected over other stated preference techniques, such as contingent valuation, because it allows for the valuation of trade-offs between multiple net characteristics or “attributes” (i.e., size, shape) and characteristic types or “attribute levels” (i.e., colour types: white, blue, green) [14]. DCEs are a widely applied approach in research associated with health commodities [15].
Study population
The study targeted the regions in Ghana where people are at risk of contracting malaria, have the lowest saturation of household LLIN ownership and have purchasing power to buy their own LLINs. These three criteria ensured that the evaluation focused on the areas with the potential to capture a market share for a sustainable commercial market of LLIN. In 2017, the number of confirmed malaria cases in Ghana was 150 per 1000 people [16]. Out of the ten regions in Ghana, Ashanti, Greater Accra, and Western regions had high incidence of malaria ranging between 100 and more than 300 cases per 1000 people, with a very few small areas with lower rates) [16]. These three regions were also the most urbanized (64%, 92% and 45%, respectively) and had low LLIN ownership (70%, 61% and 67%, respectively, owning at least one LLIN) [17, 18]. The selection of areas with high purchasing power (i.e., the middle-income population) was based on areas with the lowest poverty rates. The poverty rates used to select regions and districts into the sampling strategy were those estimated by the Ghana Statistical Services (GSS) 2015 Ghana poverty mapping report [19]. The GSS estimates poverty at the district and lower levels of disaggregation based on estimates of per capita consumption by combining information from censuses and household consumption surveys. Ashanti, Greater Accra, and Western regions had the lowest poverty incidence (15%, 5.6%, and 21%, respectively) [17,18,19]. Households in these regions had a per capita income of at least US$4 (GHS 18) per day, with an average yearly household income of US$7775 (GHS 34,445), which is two times the yearly national average of household income, US$3757 (GHS 16,645) [17]. Within these three regions, the study focused on the 28 non-poor districts (i.e., districts with poverty rates lower than 9.6%) [19]. Individuals eligible to participate in the DCE were adult (18+ year olds) household members with knowledge about the use of bed nets and finances in the household.
A cross-sectional study design was used. Out of 1075 households recruited for a broader LLIN household survey [20] evaluating malaria ideation and LLIN usage among the same study population, a random sub-sample of 628 households were selected to take part in the DCE. The sampling frame used a stratified two-stage cluster sampling method, see Additional file 1: Appendix A for sampling details.
To evaluate household preferences between 13 different LLIN attribute levels and survey questions with 3 choice set alternatives in a DCE (see DCE sections below for details), the minimum sample size required was 600 respondents. This sample size provides sufficient statistical power for the DCE based on having a minimum of 50 respondents per alternative plus an additional 50 (3 × 50 + 50 = 200) [21, 22] and 200 participants per sub-group analysis (200 × 3 regions = 600) [23]. This sampling strategy has been used in prior DCE studies and meets other literature’s minimum sample size criterion of having at least 30 respondents for every level tested (13 levels × 30 = 390) [24, 25]. This statistical power is needed in order to statistically differentiate the effect of price between different attribute levels.
Identifying the DCE attributes and assigning attribute levels
The selection of LLIN attributes and attribute levels included in the questionnaire was supported by data from a pilot DCE with 50 respondents and qualitative techniques collected from the same study population [26]. These mixed research methods were designed to understand what improvements to the LLIN attributes were the most desired and which were affordable and feasible for manufacturing. Qualitative techniques included focus groups (with 60 adults and 30 teenagers) employing both semi-structured opened-ended questions and human-centered design (HCD) [26]. These methods focused discussion to understand people’s facilitators and inhibitors to LLIN use and product preferences. Other qualitative methods included retail audit reviews, key informant interviews with LLIN supply chain importers and wholesalers, and recommendations from malaria programme experts [20, 27]. Evidence from the qualitative data was used to construct the list of LLIN attributes tested in the DCE, see Table 1 for the final list of the four attributes (i.e. shape, size, entry-design and price) and 13 levels. The attributes shape and entry-design each included 3 levels. The attribute size included two levels, and the price included 5 levels. The minimum and maximum prices tested were $1.10 (5 Ghanaian Cedi, GHS) and $14.30 (65 GHS), respectively. The maximum price was equivalent to a 25% margin above the estimated cost for manufacturing and distributing the LLIN with all the most expensive attribute levels (i.e. size queen, zipper entry, rectangular 4-point-hang). The maximum LLIN price estimate, $11.44 (GHS 52), was derived from information provided by retailers during retail audit interviews.
Table 1 List of LLIN attributes and attribute levels
Designing the DCE choice sets
The DCE survey instrument was composed of 18 choice questions. Each question provided participants three alternatives: whether to buy “LLIN A”, to buy “LLIN B”, or to buy neither “to opt out”. LLIN alternatives A and B each specified a level for each attribute tested in the model. The different types of LLINs that could be created combining 13 levels from four attributes is 90 (= 3 × 2 × 3 × 5). These 90 LLINs could be combined into (90 × (90 − 1)) = 8010 choice pairs (i.e. LLIN choice A or B pairs), known as the “Full Factorial Design”. This large array of choice questions was reduced to a manageable number using orthogonal fractional factorial design (FFD) [14, 28, 29]. FFD is a statistical technique commonly used for DCE designs that draws a small sample of choice-pairs such that each level appears enough times in the survey for the analysis to capture the effect of changes to each level on the probability of purchase (“LLIN demand”). The maximum and minimum number of survey questions recommended for a DCE, ensuring both the collection of enough data for drawing statistical inferences and the reduction of participant exhaustion, is between K/(J − 1) and 18, where K is the number of attributes (4) and J is the number of choice “alternatives” (A, B, Neither = 3), thus between 2 and 18 questions. As such, we designed a survey with the maximum of 18 choice questions to maximize statistical power, where 15 choice questions were used for the FFD and the remaining 3 choice questions were used to test for participants’ response rationality and consistency, see Additional file 1: Appendix B for details and the questionnaire design. The FFD was calculated using the statistical software R version 3.4.3.
Lastly, after the DCE, the survey also included questions about malaria ideation, reasons for bed net ownership and use as well as the use of insect sprays and the presence of air-conditioners in the home.
Binding intention to buy the product
The DCE survey questions asked participants: “Which LLIN are you most likely to purchase: Bed Net A, Bed Net B, or Neither A nor B is preferred?” To mimic as close as possible an everyday purchasing situation, each participant was given money to elicit a validated “bidding” purchase choice (i.e., a true stated preference) instead of a hypothetical choice [27]. Each respondent received a cash payment of $14.30 (65GHS) in the local currency. This amount was sufficient to pay for the highest LLIN price in the survey. Thus, for each of the 18 choice questions, respondents knew they would be immediately able to buy any LLIN option if they wanted to buy it and retain any remaining change (the difference between $14.30 and the LLIN price specified in the alternative). Likewise, they were explicitly told they could opt out and keep all of the cash—just like in a real shopping situation.
It was not logistically possible for survey administrators to carry 18 types of nets with them in the field, thus only four real net types were stocked. The four net types in stock were the nets specified in two out of the 18 choice questions. At the end of the survey an electronically generated number randomized one out of the two survey questions with nets in stock. Survey administrators were blind to the randomly generated number. The respondent’s actual stated preference corresponding to the randomly chosen question was reviewed with them and based off their response the participant received either the Net A and the balance of remaining change, Net B and the balance of remaining change, or all of the cash payment and no net. Participants were alerted from the outset about how their stated preferences would be made binding and have real consequences.
Before the participants were administered the DCE survey, they were provided detailed contextual information about how the study procedures worked. LLIN attributes and levels were defined using both standardized text and 11 × 11 inch laminated cards with pictures, and the experiment was preceded by a practice mini-DCE using candies to help participants understand the exercise, see Additional file 1: Appendix B for details. During the experiment, each choice set was also illustrated in laminated cards with pictures making each choice set visual and facilitating comparison. DCE survey facilitators were trained in administrating the survey and answering participant questions. Participants signed consent forms and interviewers administered the DCE survey using electronic tablets. DCE survey questions appeared in random order and the order in which each question was answered for each participant was recorded and used in the analysis as a control for participant survey exhaustion. See Additional file 1: Appendix B for DCE design and procedure details. All human subject research activities were reviewed and approved by both the Johns Hopkins University and Ghana Health Service internal research review boards.
Statistical strategy
Assessment of LLIN demand was done using multivariate logistic regression with random effects, a model of observation errors clustered by person-question-ID to correct for unobserved or random preference variation [23], with controls for attribute levels, competing alternatives, and respondents’ demographic and socio-economic characteristics, using the following equation:
$$\begin{aligned} BuysLLIN & = \beta_{0} + \beta_{1} Price + \beta_{2} Shape + \beta_{3} Size + \beta_{4} EntryDesign \\ & \quad + \beta_{5} OtherALTlevels + \beta_{6} SES + \beta_{7} HHmmbrs + \beta_{8} Qorder \\ & \quad + \beta_{9} InterviewID + \beta_{10} Price*Female + \beta_{11} Price*Rural + \varepsilon . \\ \end{aligned}$$
Although a respondent was making only 18 declarations of (A, B, or Neither), we can view the exercise as a set of 36 forced choice binary declarations of “Yes I would buy the option on this card” albeit each of these declarations was made in the context of a defined competing alternative. BuysLLIN is a binary response variable equal to one if the respondent’s choice was to buy the net and zero otherwise. Price is the LLIN price coded as a continuous variable. As shown in Table 1 above, shape is a vector of three levels, each coded as dummy variable, including rectangular 4-point hang (R4p), rectangular 1-point hang (R1p) and conical (omitted in the analysis as a base-level of comparison); size is a dummy equal to one for queen and zero for double; and entry design is a vector of three levels including lift-over-head, zipper, and the base-level flap-overlapping. Coefficients can be interpreted as the change in the probability of buying a LLIN with that attribute level compared to the base-level, holding other variables at their means.
Other ALT levels is a set of vectors of the Price, Shape, Size, and EntryDesign of the alternative card that was the context for the one that was under consideration. The model included various socio-economic and demographic variables about the respondent including: a sex dummy equal to one for females and zero otherwise, a secondary education dummy, a married dummy, a vector of three region variables, including Ashanti, Western and the base-level Greater Accra, a SES vector of five wealth dummies (all pertaining to “non-poor” Ghanaians) where the base-level is the lowest wealth, and a dummy for residency type equal to one if rural. HHmmbrs is a continuous variable on the number of household members. Qorder is a continuous variable on the order in which that survey question appeared, InterviwerID is a vector of all 12 survey interviewer ID dummies added to control for the influence of individual interviewers on the choice to buy, and lastly, Female*Price and Rural*Price are interaction terms on the difference between the price females and males pay, and between the price individuals in rural and urban areas pay, respectively.
The error term, ε, was modelled as a random intercept that could be decomposed into components from within the individual and within a particular card set to account for the non-independence of observations that were clustered.
Three of the 18 questions were planted only to test for invalid responses (e.g., they contained “no brainer” options where one alternative was superior across all domains). The analysis was run on the subset of 15 questions from the FFD. The logistic regression coefficient values were converted to marginal effects to ease their interpretation as elasticities of the probability of purchase. Demand curves plotted the predicted probability of purchase from the model vs. price. Estimates of average total revenue (ATR) at any given price was calculated as the product of price times probability of purchase for every 100 individuals encountering an opportunity to purchase. Over 50 regression specifications were tested adding one SES variable a time and testing consistency of results. The robustness of results were also explored removing the irrational, inconsistent or always-buyers (“disengaged”) responses [23]. Probability of purchase and WTP estimates were stratified by key LLIN attributes and individual characteristics. Similarly, the probability of purchase for both the least and most attractive LLINs were estimated at the average WTP price as well as at the low and high price points of $4.40 and $13.20 (GHS 20 and 60). The analysis was computed using STATA software version 14.
Lastly, we used a microsimulation model to estimate the total public cost and coverage outcomes under two policy scenarios. In scenario one, the public sector buys at least one LLIN for households in a defined population. In scenario two, there is a commercial market that conforms to the WTP estimated by the model. A Monte Carlo simulation with 1,000,000 iterations of the model was run to produce confidence intervals (CI) around cost and savings estimates.
Descriptive statistics
Among the 628 DCE participants, a majority were females (61.3%), had secondary education (70.0%), and were heads of the household (75.2%), see Table 2. About half of the population were over age 35 and married (52.2%), most lived in urban areas (89.2%) and were employed. The average household size was 3.1 members and the majority of households (69.3%) did not have a bed net. The average net ownership was 1.7 nets per household. Among the minority (30.7%) with at least one bed net only 0.9% of them reported using it. The majority of the study population believed that malaria is not easy to treat, that insecticide-treated nets are effective and that it is easier to get a good night sleep when sleeping under a bed net. But, they also believed that it is difficult to sleep well under a bed net when the weather is warm. See Additional file 1: Appendix C for more results on net ownership and malaria ideation.
Table 2 Study population descriptive statistics, total n = 628
Participants were also asked about the reasons for not owning a bed net and ownership of other mosquito control products (results not listed in the table). The main reasons for not owning a bed net were use of other malaria control products (58%), the weather was too hot for using them (32%), and not getting a LLIN during the mass campaign (17%). Less than 10% of the households mentioned other reasons for not owning a bed net, including could not afford it, it feels restrictive, has adverse health reactions and gets worn out. A total of 82% of the study participants used other mosquito control products including air conditioning, electric fans, aerosol insecticide sprays and coils. Out of the study population, about one-fifth (19%) had air conditioners in their household, 5% of them used the air conditioners exclusively to protect against mosquito bites and none of the households used LLINs. Out of the study population, 94% had electric fans in the household, one-fifth (18%) of them used the electric fans exclusively to protect against mosquito bites, and a very small percentage (0.2%) used both LLINs and electric fans complementarily. Likewise, 50% of the air-conditioner users and 61% of the electric fan users used these mosquito control products instead of LLINs because these were easier to use. Another 50% of the air-conditioner users and 34% of the electric fan users used these mosquito control products instead of LLINs because they believed those were more effective preventing mosquito bites. Aerosol insecticide sprays were the most widely non-LLIN malaria control product used (61%) among the study population. Out of the households using insecticide sprays, 24%, 56% and 20% used them because they believed that compared to LLINs those were more effective controlling against Malaria, easier to use and more affordable, respectively. The majority of mosquito coils and repellent users believed that those products where either easier to use or more affordable than LLINs.
Internal validity
Internal validity tests revealed that 9.24% (58), 5.41% (34) and 48.25% (303) of participants made choices that were irrational, inconsistent or anchored to buying every choice (“always-buyers”), respectively. See Additional file 1: Appendix C Tables S2 and S3 for details. Knowing that some DCE respondents violated assumptions about rationality and consistency led us to restricted results the sub-sample of 541 respondents who were neither irrational nor inconsistent.
The LLIN demand curve
The sample had an overall probability of purchasing a LLIN of 43.8%. On average, purchasers were willing to pay $7.48 (GHS 34.0) for a LLIN across all presented attributes. Based on these results, for every 100 middle-income Ghanaian households in the study areas, the average total revenue (ATR = price x quantity) from LLINs purchased would be $327.49 (or GHS 1488.61). The difference in the mean probability of purchase between those who already owned a LLIN and those who did not own at least one LLIN was a 1.5% percentage point difference (p value < 0.00). As expected, regression results showed that price negatively affected the probability of LLIN purchase, see Table 3. For every price increase of $0.22 (or GHS 1), the probability of purchase decreased by an average of 0.13% (p < 0.00), holding all other net attribute levels and respondent characteristics at their means.
Table 3 Estimate of the DCE demand model
Figure 1 shows that within the range of prices tested in the DCE, $1.10–14.30 (GHS 5.0–65.0), the price elasticity of demand was inelastic, with an average elasticity of − 0.11 (C.I. − 0.087 to − 0.13). This means that changes in the price only produce modest changes in the quantity demanded. An elasticity of − 0.11 means that a one percent increase in the LLINs’ price would decrease demand by 0.11% (on average, a one percent price hike is $0.07 or GHS 0.34). Because of the inelasticity, in a hypothetical population of 100 middle-income households, increasing the price by one percentage points above the average would increase total revenue from $327.49 to $366.85. Likewise, the proportion of respondents willing to pay the highest price tested in the analysis, $14.30 (GHS 65.0), was only slightly lower than the proportion willing to pay for the average WTP (39.5% vs. 43.8%). At the highest price tested, $14.30, the average total revenue is $565.06 (or GHS 2,568,44) per 100 households. See Additional file 1: Appendix Tables S4a, b for tabulations of demand probabilities and price elasticities of demand by WTP.
Fig. 1
Long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets (LLIN) demand curve. Note: The dotted line is the mean linearly fitted demand probabilities. The solid line are the raw data (responses from the 628 respondents to each of 15 choice questions)
Effect of attribute changes on demand
Table 3 also shows the effect of substituting levels on the probability of purchase. The tradeoff between shape R4p and R1p, or from R4p to conical, increased the average probability of purchase by 2.22% (p < 0.05) and 3.56% (p < 0.00) percentage points, respectively. The difference in the probability of purchase between R1p and conical was not statistically significantly different. Increasing net size from double to queen increased demand by 3.31% (p < 0.00) and changing the net entry design from either lift-over-head to zipper, or from flap-overlapping to zipper, increased demand by 3.83% (p < 0.00) and 4.22% (p < 0.00), respectively. The difference in the demand between lift-over-head and flap-overlapping was not statistically significantly different.
Effect of respondent characteristics on demand
Various sociodemographic characteristics also changed demand for LLINs. Males’ had a slight 0.31% percentage point (p < 0.00) higher demand than females. Demand by those 18–25 years old was also slightly higher, by 2.08% percentage points (p < 0.10 and 0.00), compared to those 46 and older. Having secondary education or being from the highest income group (within our middle-income population sample) slightly decreased demand by 1.03% (p < 0.00) and 1.52% (p 0.05), respectively. Living in a rural area increased demand by 0.99 percentage points (p < 0.00).
Sensitivity analysis of demand changes
Some analysts believe that real consumers exhibit features of non-rationality and anchoring in their market behavior. Thus, additional models were examined to assess whether the results would change by including responses from the respondents who showed irrational or inconsistent choice behaviour. In general, findings were very similar to the main results, see Additional file 1: Appendix C Table S5.
Similarly, models excluding the sub-group (n = 303) who anchored to always buying in all 18 choice-sets were also examined. Excluding the always-buyers made the shape level R1p not statistically preferable to R4p (i.e., only conical would be the preferred shape) and all other results remained constant, see Additional file 1: Appendix C for details. In our main results, including the always-buyers, both the R1p and conical shapes were preferred to the R4p. This may indicate that the R1p feature was especially appealing to this subset of always-buyers.
Stratification of analysis by sub-populations
Sub-group analysis of individuals with and without LLIN in the household, females vs. males, and urban vs. non-urban were generally the same with demand elasticities ranging between 0.04 and 0.15% (p-values < 0.00). See Additional file 1: Appendix C Table S6.
Attribute combinations most and least likely to increase LLIN demand
Changing LLIN attributes from the least attractive levels (e.g., R4p, double size, lift or flap entry) to the most attractive (e.g., conical or R1p, queen size, and a zipper entry) shifts the demand curve to the right, see Fig. 2. With this shift, holding the average probability of purchase constant (43.8%), the average WTP increased from $3.30 (GHS 15) to $18.48 (GHS 84), respectively. Re-engineering product attributes from the least attractive, which are the most common type of nets given through free distribution channels, to the most attractive LLIN would improve ATR from $144.48 (GHS 656.74) to $809.10 (GHS 3677.73) per every 100 households.
Fig. 2
Demand shifts. Notes: Lines are mean linearly fitted demand probabilities using multivariate regressions and margins
Public cost savings and commercial market revenue
Given that the data sample is representative of all the 2.6 million households living in the three study regions (e.g. 32 districts with lower than the average poverty rate: 0.7–9.6%) it is possible to extrapolate data from the sample to the population in these regions. Assuming that current LLIN coverage levels are met and the cost per LLIN is the manufacturers’ price of $4.38 [20], the total cost of providing one standard unenhanced LLIN to each current owner (0.87 million households) would be $3.7 million in 2017 USD, see Additional file 1: Appendix Figure S1a and Table S7a, b for model calculations and parameters. In an alternative scenario in which the commercial market offers an enhanced LLIN for sale at a price of $7.48 per LLIN, we project private sales of LLINs producing revenue valued at $8.1 million (95% C.I. 5.9 –10.6 M) from 1.08 million non-poor households (or $311 per every 100 households in the study area). Revenue from private sales would support jobs for Ghanaian retailers, distributors, and manufacturers of LLINs. Total LLIN coverage would increase by 85% from new LLIN owners from non-poor households who did not already have a LLIN. Of note, we project that the public sector outlay would be reduced by 39% (95% C.I. 50.30–27.89%), from $3.7 million to $2.3 million, from people who are now buying their own LLINs, rather than relying on the ones given through free distribution. Estimates assume a conservative scenario in which poor households do not buy LLINs. The Additional file 1: Appendix Figure S1c shows additional estimates for scenarios in which LLINs are purchased to close the LLIN coverage gap as opposed to meeting current coverage levels.
The results support a scenario in which commercial markets for LLINs could play a significant role in improving access to LLINs for non-poor Ghanaians in malaria-endemic areas. Despite low bed net ownership and significant ownership of non-LLIN malaria control products the discrete choice experiment showed strong demand and high willingness to pay for improved LLINs. Low ownership and use of LLINs among the population may be due to low supply of nets that consumers like [20]. For instance, only 7% [20] of local markets in the study area sold nets and those most commonly available had the combination of characteristics that were the least preferred out of all the attributes tested in the DCE (i.e., rectangular 4-point-hang, size double, and lift overhead entry LLINs).
The study showed that the average demand for LLINs with a variety of attributes is strong among both current net owners (44.8%) and non-net owners (43.3%) asserting and demonstrating a high willingness to purchase. The study validated their statements by observing not just their statements in a DCE but their actual purchases with money that they could have kept for any alternative use. Likewise, participants’ mean willingness-to-pay, $7.48, was much higher than the mean price of $4.38 for imported nets currently sold in local markets [20]. The price elasticity for LLINs was inelastic, thus, changes in price around the range tested will not significantly decrease demand. However, the price elasticity of demand may be elastic (see limitations below) at prices higher than the price tested in this analysis (e.g., $14.30). Marketing LLINs with the most attractive attributes has the potential to increase average demand and WTP by up to 8.27% percentage points and $18.48, respectively. Results also indicate that individual characteristics, such as living in a rural area, being male, being less wealthy and living in the Ashanti Region were also associated with higher LLIN demand.
The private and public commercial markets for LLINs would augment each other offering different products and targeting different segments of the population. The private market would develop if suppliers focus on addressing the demands of the middle-income population. The public market of free LLINs could then continue meeting the public sector’s demands for LLINs distributed to low-income populations with freed up resources. Together, the private and public strategies encouraging commercial markets for LLINs will help increase the population’s access to LLINs as long as there remains a public commitment to ensure access to free LLINs for those for who cannot pay for them out-of-pocket. Likewise, building a stronger private commercial market for the LLINs with improved attributes could spare the public sector more than half of the cost of supplying the current free LLINs to individuals who have the means and willingness to buy LLINs with improved features. The public sector could increase the low-income populations’ access to LLINs by allocating newly freed up funds to either expand free LLINs distribution campaigns or subsidize LLINs available in the private market. The demand exists to generate substantial revenue for a private commercial market. This market would also benefit society by creating new economic opportunities for local Ghanaians retailers. The strong demand for LLINs also has the potential to increase LLIN usage because middle-income households would be acquiring a product that they like and thus be more likely to use it.
Other studies
Six studies in sub-Saharan Africa have looked at the WTP of LLINs, including one from Ghana. All studies find a negative association between price and demand, but some find different levels of demand and WTP. Some of these studies used less robust preference-based study designs that suffer from significant bias for estimating WTP, targeted poor households, or tested different products, making results incomparable. For example, Gingrich et al. using a DCE in Tanzania (testing preferences for insecticide-treatment, shape, and size) also found significant demand for LLINs, inelastic price elasticity (among both poor and least poor populations), increased demand for specialty features (e.g. rectangular, larger size, and insecticide-treatment), and higher demand in rural areas [12]. However, their study found a much lower WTP (between $0.5 and 1.4). The difference between the studies’ results may be explained by differences in the study designs. Gingrich et al. capped prices tested much lower (8000TSH or about $3.5 vs. $14.30 in our study) and focused on poor-income groups–which have lowered WTP, and this study tested other new improved net features.
Another study in Ghana using an auction study design found significant WTP for a solar-panel net-fan (about $13), suggesting that their fan product could be a complementary good for bed nets, presumably also increasing demand for bed nets [30]. However, they did not measure WTP for bed nets.
Two other studies, in Ethiopia [31] and Nigeria [32], found large demand for LLIN for low WTP values and an elastic WTP. However, both studies employed direct consumer survey stated preference techniques which are less robust than conjoint analysis [33]. Another study in Madagascar by Comfort and Krezanoski, using revealed preference data from a RCT field experiment and subsidizing LLINs at 0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% for a maximum cost of $2.20 among low-income groups, found a very elastic price of demand for higher prices (i.e. for each $0.55 increment, demand decreased by 23.1% points) [10]. Similarly, Tarozzi et al. using a field experiment in India among poor individuals found very elastic prices of demand for LLINs (i.e., demand decreased by 50% when the price increased by 20%) [11]. Likewise, Dupas using subsidies in a field experiment in Kenya found elastic LLIN prices [34]. These three field experiments are consistent with prior literature by Cohen and Dupas indicating high price elasticity of demand for health products among poor households [35]. The diminished price sensitivity of the study’s sample is to be expected precisely because the population intentionally sampled were the non-poor households for whom the next best use of funds was much less likely to be an essential need.
The results are unlike the prior studies that included poor households, for which the price elasticity of demand for LLINs was typically elastic. These results are consistent with higher-income individuals being less responsive to changes in prices than low-income individuals [36]. However, in this study, estimates are restricted by the top LLIN price tested, $14.30. It is possible that higher prices than those tested would have revealed more sensitivity to the price. Future experiments involving middle-income populations would need to incorporate wider price ranges to determine the price elasticity at higher LLIN prices [37].
DCEs can be limited when there is poor respondent understanding of attribute levels or cognitive fatigue. However, this bias was mitigated by piloting the DCE so that the study instruments could improve contextual information. The study also used visual aids, illustrating each of the 18 question choices and each attribute level. The DCE module occurred early in the household survey modules to reduce respondent fatigue and included a short 2-question practice DCE before administrating the actual DCE to respondents. Similarly, survey administrators reported in general having no issues with participants’ understanding of the various attribute levels or the exercise. Likewise, to mitigate the influence of priming respondents about the importance of malaria, which could bias results upward, we administered the malaria ideation question after the DCE.
Likewise, prior studies have suggested that providing a cash transfer might bias choice behaviour upward toward buying. However, the study design took pains to emphasize that the respondent could absolutely keep the endowment if they did not spend it on the purchase of a net. The presence of the cash transfer in the study was a necessary component for this DCE to validate stated preferences with observed real market behaviour [11, 33, 38].
Also, a sub-set of the study population behaved unexpectedly in that they anchored to buying a net for all 18 choice-questions in the experiment. Such behaviour could bias choice data if participants are not providing their actual preference between the various net features. Excluding the 303 households anchoring to always buying made the shape rectangular-1-point-hang not statistically preferable indicating that this feature is especially appealing to this subset of always-buyers. Other than this difference, sensitivity analysis showed results where robust to the removal of either irrational respondents or always-buyers.
Lastly, out of all the attributes tested in the DCE, the rectangular-1-point-hang was the only attribute that participants did not have experience with prior to the DCE, given that the idea for a rectangular-1-point-hang came directly from the qualitative work preceding the DCE. This unfamiliarity with the design may have also impacted the results.
An important strength of this study is that the respondents knew there was money at stake. They knew they would have to back up their statements of willingness to purchase LLINs with actual purchases of the nets they said they would purchase at the prices they agreed to. They knew they could leave the encounter with cash payments if they felt they were better off with having cash instead of immediately using the cash to purchase an LLIN. This design feature improves the internal validity and helps us support claims that stated preferences and willingness to purchase are reflective of actual revealed preferences about how people would spend their own money on. However, there may still be some leftover social acceptability bias that may have skewed some respondents to be more willing to spend their new cash on the offer of a LLIN.
Using rigorous techniques from a sample of middle-income households in Ghana, this study shows that there is a strong demand for LLINs in the private market, particularly for LLINs with the characteristics that meet consumers’ preferences. This evidence shows that the private commercial sector could be a viable channel for distributing LLINs. A private market would augment the public market. It could help increase LLIN coverage, and help the public sector save money from households buying their own nets. Evidence from this study may help manufacturers and retailers better understand the revenue opportunities linked to supplying key consumer-preferred LLINs. The public and donor sectors should incorporate policies into their national malaria prevention plans supporting commercial markets for consumer-preferred LLINs. However, policies would have to remain in place that assists poor households in acquiring LLINs so that an equitable market could combine both efficiency and fairness.
Availability of data and materials
The data are not publicly available due to institutional review board restrictions because the data contain information that could compromise research participant privacy/consent.
long-lasting insecticidal bed nets
insecticide-treated net
Global Technical Strategy
World Health Organization
discrete choice experiment
Ghana Statistical Services
rectangular four-point hang
rectangular single-point hang
human-centered design
Ghanaian Cedi
fractional factorial design
socio-demographic variables
total revenue
confidence interval
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The authors thank URIKA research, a Ghana-based market research firm, for their work administrating the DCE survey.
This research was supported by the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, acting through the Department for International Development (DFID) (grant 300191, Components 101, 102 and 103). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of DFID or its member countries.
Author information
All authors conceived of the experiment. YNA designed the DCE questionnaire, trained survey administrators, oversaw data collection, conducted the DCE analysis and wrote the first manuscript draft. DB and ML conceptualized the project idea, helped develop the DCE design and review the manuscript. DB helped oversee the DCE design, data analysis, and edited the manuscript. EM managed data collection and cleaning, survey administrators’ trainings, helped develop the questionnaire design and review the manuscript. DP develop the DCE questionnaire design, oversaw data collection and review the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Corresponding author
Correspondence to Y. Natalia Alfonso.
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All human subject research activities were reviewed and approved by both the Johns Hopkins University and Ghana Health Service internal research review boards. The household survey only recruited adults 18 and older and all participants were consented.
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Not applicable.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Additional information
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Supplementary information
Additional file 1.
The appendix supporting the conclusions of this article is included within the article (“LLIN DCE Appendix”).
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Alfonso, Y.N., Lynch, M., Mensah, E. et al. Willingness-to-pay for long-lasting insecticide-treated bed nets: a discrete choice experiment with real payment in Ghana. Malar J 19, 14 (2020).
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• Malaria
• Long-lasting insecticide nets
• Commercial private markets
• Discrete choice experiment
• Willingness-to-pay
• Middle-income
• Ghana
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6 Food Additives You NEED to Stay Away From
From the Show: Mindful Medicine
Summary: Is it normal that food manufacturers can extend a product's shelf life by adding in preservatives?
Air Date: 3/25/15
Duration: 10
Host: Holly Lucille, ND, RN
6 Food Additives You NEED to Stay Away From
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One of the most common reasons to include additives in food is to improve shelf life; but, is it really normal to extend a food’s shelf life far beyond what comes naturally? According to a recent article on the Environmental Working Group website, there are six major additives you should avoid:
Nitrates and Nitrites
These additives are commonly used as a coloring agent, and are used to preserve cured meat such as salami, sausages, and hot dogs. The World Health Organization (WHO) has concluded that both nitrites and nitrates are cancer-causing agents. When the chemicals meet naturally-occurring components of proteins in your body, the reaction can lead to cancer cell growth.
Potassium Bromate
Potassium bromate is used to strengthen bread and cracker dough, to prevent it from breaking easily. It’s listed as a known carcinogen by the state of California. Even though baking converts most of the potassium bromate into a non-carcinogenic form called potassium bromide, residue of bromate can still be found on the finished product. Even though it’s widely used in the United States, European nations have banned it due to its carcinogenic properties.
Propyl Paraben
Used in corn tortillas, muffins, and food dye, propyl paraben is generally considered to be safe… but it isn’t. It has a weak synthetic estrogen that can lead to estrogen dominance. In one study, rats that ingested high amounts of propyl paraben had accelerated breast cancer cell growth and lowered sperm count.
Butylated Hydroxyanisole
Known as BHA, butylated hydroxyanisole is also listed as a known carcinogen in California, and the European Union pegs it as an endocrine disruptor. Like propyl paraben, it can lower sperm count and testosterone, leading to estrogen dominance. This preservative is found in a variety of foods but is most common in chips and preserved meats. According to the National Toxicology Program (NTP), BHA is “reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen.”
Butylated Hydroxytoluene
BHT is an antioxidant added to preserved meats and cereals. It can be easy to avoid if you stick to eating organic meats and cereals. Studies suggest that BHT can cause thyroid changes in animals, and disrupts the endocrine system. Its Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) states that ingesting it can cause abdominal pain, confusion, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting.
Propyl Gallate
Another artificial antioxidant food additive is propyl gallate, which is used in meat products, microwaveable popcorn, soup mixes, and frozen meals. It helps prevent oxygen molecules from mixing with the oil found in food, which causes rancidity. As with the other preservatives, it may be a human carcinogen. In some cases, propyl gallate is used in conjunction with BHT to further improve the food’s shelf life. Ingesting it can cause skin irritability, stomach pains, allergic reactions, and complications to the kidney and liver.
The key thing here is that you should carefully inspect each food label to make sure it includes as few extra additives as possible. Of course, the best option will always be to choose certified organic since doing so will largely remove the risk of ingesting chemicals and preservatives.
For the complete list, visit the Environmental Working Group website to learn more.
In the accompanying audio segment, Dr. Holly shares six of the 12 worst food additives you should be avoiding.
More from this show . . .
Are You Self-Sabotaging?6 More Food Additives to Avoid
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• shoestringsci
Floating Candy
A lot of candy bars look the same but are very different! Can we explore these differences using water?
Materials Needed
• Something to hold water- this can be your sink, bathtub, a plastic bin, or anything so long as it can fit your candy bars. Clear containers help but aren't necessary.
• Different candy bars that are the same size (I like Milky Way, Twix, Snickers, and 3 Musketeers in "fun size")
• Water
• Knife
• Optional scale, rulers, and other measuring tools
• Fill your container with water.
• Open each candy bar but don't eat them!!
• Looking at each candy, make a prediction or guess as to whether or not it will float in the water. You may wish to weigh or measure the candy bars to help you make your guesses.
• One at a time place each unwrapped candy bar in the water and watch what happens. Were you surprised?
• Cut each candy bar in half and compare them. Do some have lighter fillings than others? Do some have more air in them?
Reflect on this activity and extend it:
• Try placing the halved candy bars in the water, do they act differently than a whole candy bar?
• Try exploring different types of candy like gummy candies or hard candies.
• Try exploring different sized candy bars. Do the same types of candy bars behave differently when they are different sizes?
What's Happening:
With this investigation, we are exploring density. Density is the measure of how much stuff something has in it for its size. Scientists would call that the amount of matter in a given volume. The different candy bars are the same size but have different amounts of stuff in them and so have different densities. This means that they behave differently in water as some will float (and have a density less than water) and some will sink (and have a density more than water).
You can download a printer-friendly version of this activity below!
Halloween Density candy
Download PDF • 73KB
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Athanasius Kircher
02-MAY-1602 to 27-NOV-1680
Athanasius Kircher. Public Domain.
Athanasius Kircher was a well educated Jesuite monk, he was Professor and did some scientific work. He became famous for being a specialist in foreign languages, like the Coptic language and the the ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs, which were not deciphered at this time. He also did some natural science, including the construction of a calculating machine, mapping water currents in the sea and mapping the moon. There are several descriptions on optical phenomenas, like the afterimages of the eye. He claims to have invented the Laterna Magica, which is not true as first descriptions from 1558 exist, but he probably reinvented it.
Athanasius Kircher is most famous for one book, Mundus Subterraneus (About the World Underground). In this book he describes numerous underground things all over the world, caves, mines, lava flows, underground water channels and more. Some of his descriptions look pretty strange and phantastic, some are simple misinterpretations because of ignorance. Some others show an enormous amount of common sense. The importance of this book are not primarily the facts described, but the way it was written. It is the first attempt in history, to write a scientific book based on observation and facts, not on legends and the interpretation bible. In this sense, it is the first scientific book and the start of modern science.
02-MAY-1602 born in Geisa near Fulda, Germany.
1618 joined the Jesuite order.
1629 became Professor at Würzburg, Germany.
1634 worked at the Collegium Romanum at Rome.
1637-38 Kirchner visits Sicily and witnesses an eruption of Aetna and Stromboli.
27-NOV-1680 died in Rom.
There are numerous books Kirchner wrote, but we only cite his most important book, which has a lot to do with our topic, underground sites.
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What Is The Health RAMIFICATIONS OF Vaping?
what is vaping
What Is The Health RAMIFICATIONS OF Vaping?
What is E-Cigarette? E Cigarette is really a new term. Invented in 2021, it was initially used to make reference to electronic cigarettes. These cigarettes certainly are a replacement for cigarettes. The primary difference between an ordinary cigarette and an e-cigarette is an e cigarette will not contain any tobacco. Instead, it includes nicotine, a highly addictive stimulant that acts much like nicotine.
An e Cigarette can be an electronic device which simulates regular using tobacco. It usually consists of a battery, an atomizer, and a case like a tank or cartridge. Instead of burning tobacco, an individual inhales vapor instead. Therefore, using the cigarettes is frequently described as “vaping.” In many places, it really is illegal to smoke in public places such as for example bars and restaurants. Thus, individuals who use the cigarettes to stop smoking or even to aid smoking cessation aren’t only breaking the law however they are also running the chance of prosecution.
One of many dangers facing youth who are trying to quit smoking may be the gateway effect, which is the chance that young people that are trying to quit tobacco are having in trying to get back into the habit. For instance, if an adolescent who’s trying to quit uses an electronic cigarette during the time he or she is smoking, then it is more likely that after successfully quitting, that adolescent will begin smoking again. So, many researchers and public health experts have been calling for more educational programs, such as movies about the cigarettes, along with efforts to raise the knowing of teenagers about the dangers of laboring while smoking.
Although e-Cigs are believed to be a less harmful type of smoking, there have been some questions surrounding the safety of what is regarded as vaporized e cigarettes. Because there is no tar or nicotine found in these products, you can find concerns that they could possibly be just as dangerous as regular cigarettes. Some scientists have even claimed that the flavors contained in vaporizing electronic cigarettes can encourage young people to try smoking. Therefore, it is very important choose a smoking cessation product that is made from natural and organic ingredients, such as for example grapefruit seed extract, that won’t encourage the young smokers to start out puffing on a different type of tobacco.
Some vaporizers look like traditional cigarettes and will be quite tempting for teenagers. They resemble a pack of cigarettes to look at. Vape Pen However, since they usually do not contain nicotine, they are not addictive. Therefore, whenever a teenager decides that he or she wants to stop smoking, one of the first things that he or she should look for in a smoking cessation product is really a vaporizer that does not resemble a cigarette at all. Teenagers may look at grapes to check like a real cigar, but they will not become dependent on grapes if they don’t have any desire for smoking.
Because of the health risks connected with traditional cigarettes, most teens feel uncomfortable about using e cigarettes. Also, because vaporizers do not burn the user’s actual cigarettes, there is absolutely no ash produced and this poses a danger to children. Children who have no idea what is inside a vaporizer could get poisoning from chemicals in the chemicals used to manufacture them. It is best to find a device which has a display that clearly states what it isn’t. If the product contains grapefruit seed extract, it really is safer to assume that it’s healthier than cigarettes because e cigarettes contain none of the harmful ingredients within regular cigarettes.
Although there are lots of unknown health effects of vapers, what is known is that it is a wonderful way to quit the habit. Teens who use what is called a “juice pack” will spit the water out of these mouth, much like a genuine cigarette. They may also squeeze just a little juice from the medial side of the tube into their lips, just like they would while smoking, but because the liquids come out much slower, it does not take as much to acquire a good hit. In fact, it takes only half a milliliter to get the exact carbon copy of two pints of normal drinking alcohol. Using what is called an electronic patch implies that users can continue to take in the vapor during the day minus the worry of an addiction and long-term health risks.
There are no serious lung damage in people who only use what’s considered a safe alternative to smoking. But users should be alert to the possible dangers due to ingredients found in the bottom ingredients of some vaporizers. E-Cigs contain no addictive drug like nicotine, but can still have the same psychological addiction as cigarettes, which means that even with quitting, some users might find it extremely difficult to break through the cycle.
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Good Morning World
Parrots, also known as psittacines are birds of the roughly 398 species in 92 genera comprising the order Psittaciformes, found mostly in tropical and subtropical regions. The order is subdivided into three superfamilies: the Psittacoidea (“true” parrots), the Cacatuoidea (cockatoos), and the Strigopoidea (New Zealand parrots). One-third of all parrot species are threatened by extinction, with higher aggregate extinction risk (IUCN Red List Index) than any other comparable bird group.
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Learn about the types of acne and ways to deal with each case
Cysts are the most dangerous type of acne, which are large red bumps. Blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, papules, nodules and cysts are among the most common types of acne that many suffer from, and whether you call them blemishes or spots, no one denies that pimples can be a nuisance to many Girls and guys, but not all pimples are the same. For example, a blackhead is different from a pimple, which is different from a nodule, and these differences are important to knowing the right treatment, according to an insider report.
types of acne
1. Blackheads
Blackheads start out similar to any other pimple. Skin debris (also known as keratin) mixes with your skin's natural oily sebum, resulting in clogged pores.
What makes blackheads different is that your pores are open to air. Oxygen from the air causes an oxidative chemical reaction with the substance in your pores, causing them to turn black.
How to deal with it:
The best solution for blackheads is to wash your face with a beta hydroxy acid (BHA) such as salicylic acid, which penetrates deeply into your pores and can open them.
2. White heads
Whiteheads are similar to blackheads except that instead of being open to air, the pores are closed by a layer of skin.
How to deal with it:
Similar to blackheads, the best treatment is to wash your face with a beta hydroxy solution such as salicylic acid and use oil-free products.
3. Pimples
Blisters contain fluid or pus and appear as large white bumps surrounded by red, inflamed skin. The most common bacterial growth in clogged pores causes pimples.
How to deal with it:
Small pimples may disappear without treatment, but you can also use topical benzoyl peroxide or a sulfur-containing face wash, both of which can reduce inflammation and kill bacteria that grow in the pores and on the surface of the skin.
In more severe cases, topical or oral antibiotics may be prescribed by a dermatologist.
4. Cysts
They are solid, raised lesions less than 1 centimeter in diameter. They may be a variety of different shapes, colors and sizes. While they start out solid, after a few days they may fill with pus and turn into a pimple.
How to deal with it:
Don't rub your skin and be gentle when you clean it with warm water. You can wash your face with salicylic acid or a benzoyl peroxide cleanser. Also, avoid putting makeup on the cysts, so the affected area can get as much air as possible.
5. Nodules
A nodule develops when pores deep in the skin become clogged with dead skin cells and oil. This results in a large, deep lesion that may be visible on the surface if inflamed. If it continues to grow larger, it can become a nodule cyst which is usually painful.
How to deal with it:
Nodules usually require stronger treatment than over-the-counter products provide. Oral antibiotics may help treat this problem.
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What are webhooks, and how do they work?
image of smartphone with notifications, what are webhooks article
Imagine this: your organization has a television at the office that lists articles that your team has published using your content management system (CMS).
Included on the screen are headlines, times of publish, authors, and a number of other data points.
In this situation, there are presumably two systems:
• The CMS used to create and publish the articles and their data
• The app on the television that displays that article data
But how are the two systems able to communicate with one another to achieve the above?
One popular way is webhooks.
What are webhooks?
A term coined and promoted in 2007 by a developer named Jeff Lindsay, a webhook allows different apps to send user-defined callbacks to one another via HTTP POST requests. In plainer English, webhooks allow notifications to be sent from one app to another app when a certain event occurs. The user gets to determine which event triggers the notification, and all notifications are sent in real time.
The fact that these notifications are sent in real time is important.
Using the television/CMS example above, let's say that I'm an editor-in-chief of a publication at a news organization. It's on my shoulders to enable my team members to complete their work. As part of this effort, I need to respond to conversations they have within our CMS as quickly as possible, and that means I need to know when comments are made, even if I'm not in the CMS myself.
Without webhooks, I could have the CMS send me data about comments every thirty minutes, every three hours, etc. (a process called polling)—but if a time-sensitive comment is made in the CMS, and I don't know about it right away (and therefore don't respond to it right away), then I'm not doing my job as well as I need to be.
How do webhooks work?
Webhooks are handy when you don't have direct access to the system or app from which you are trying to receive data, just like the app running on the television didn't have access to the article metadata in the CMS.
Webhooks are typically set up by REST APIs, and both the CMS and the app in the example above have one. The app's REST API does two things:
• It calls the CMS's REST API and tells it to send metadata over when X event occurs (let's say when an article is published)
• It provides an endpoint (a URL) to which that metadata should be sent when X event occurs
Once this webhook is established, the app sits tight. All sorts of things go on in the CMS, and eventually, an article gets published. The CMS checks its webhooks when this happens, sees that the app has made one, and then pushes the metadata (the headline, author, time of publish, etc.) over to the URL that the app provided.
Let's walk this into a real-life example:
My young child is in daycare. It's important for me to know when she goes down for a nap so that I can adjust the time she goes to bed. I call the daycare and request that they call me at the number I provide when my daughter starts napping. This action of me calling the daycare and asking that they send me a notification when a specific event happens—that's me calling the daycare's REST API, generating the webhook, and providing the endpoint at which the daycare can return the information I requested (my phone number).
Next, I go about my workday. At 12:03 p.m., I get a call from the daycare telling me that my daughter has gone down for a nap. I now have the information I needed, I can act on it however I need to, and therefore, I enjoy the value of the webhook I established with the daycare.
It's important to note that webhook concept creator Jeff Lindsay also evangelized two other use cases for webhooks beyond the notifications discussed above:
• Integration of different web apps (using webhooks to take data from one app, reformat it, and pass along to another app)
• Modification of web apps (using webhooks to allow plugins or other modifications to an app depending on what that app permits)
Brightspot and webhooks
Using Brightspot, you can create webhooks in two ways. The first way is the standard way you create a webhook—through configuring APIs; however, Brightspot also allows webhooks to be easily created via its editorial UI.
Webhooks in Brightspot_1.png
In the image above, the user is able to simply navigate to a section within Brightspot CMS, select REST Management API from a dropdown list, and then see an interface with all necessary elements laid cleanly out for them.
After entering a name for the API and defining the API's URL (not the same as the webhook's URL—a conversation for another day), the user can click "Add Webhook," which pops open a content edit form where they can define the URL to which metadata is sent as well as what event triggers the webhook.
Webhooks in Brightspot_2.png
Topics are the events discussed above. Many of these come out-of-the-box with Brightspot: Publish, Conversation, Translation, Workflow—and quite a few more than those. Depending on which topic the user chooses to "listen" to, the UI morphs to add deeper configuration functionality.
From those examples alone, outside apps can receive notifications when something is published, when a comment is made in the conversation widget, when a translation has transitioned to any number of states, or when an asset progresses through a workflow.
All of this is highly actionable information for an editor.
Content filters allow me to dig down with even greater granularity as to which specific event triggers a notification. Maybe the user only wants the webhook for a particular site in their multisite environment, or maybe only for the notification to trigger the first time a specific event occurs.
All possible.
As software-as-a-service platforms continue to enjoy widespread popularity across the internet, webhooks remain a valuable way to get these platforms to communicate, and more importantly, ensure the users of these platforms are well aware of relevant changes the moment they are made. And with Brightspot, you get the tools to make webhooks however you prefer to do so.
Webhook FAQs
Webhooks provide simple yet powerful connectivity between different digital nodes, from easily programmable workplace automation tasks to more sophisticated connections between back- and front-end digital applications. To recap what we've learned in this explainer article, here's a quick snapshot of how webhooks work and the benefits that webhooks offer.
What is a webhook?
How does a webhook work?
A webhook is basically a call between two services that is triggered by an event in one system that then needs to be reported by another. When a defined event is triggered, the system in which it occurred sends data to the URL provided by the receiving system by way of an HTTP request.
What's the difference between a webhook and an API?
Though there are very specific and technical nuances, you can typically think of an API (application programming interface) as something that facilitates a two-way connection between applications—say, a CMS and third-party analytics tool—to accomplish any number of tasks: fetching data, pushing data, and the list goes on.
A webhook is an API pattern; therefore, it becomes difficult to compare and contrast the two in a traditional way. For practical purposes, consider a webhook as a simple API that pushes data from one system to another without serving any other function.
What are webhooks used for?
Webhooks are used to send information in real time between different web applications. Use cases for webhooks run the gamut from publishing alerts for internal teams to a home-grown service to alert members of a social group when a new event is added to a shared calendar.
What are some examples of a webhook?
Here are some examples of different ways a webhook can be used:
• A digital publisher needs to be notified the moment an article is ready to be approved for publication on the website thought the company's CMS. A webhook will send an SMS alert to her phone to let her know the article is ready for final approval.
• An eCommerce business needs to know when a new order has been received and to alert the necessary team members that this item is ready for fulfillment. A webhook can trigger an email notification to all the necessary team members as well as update the relevant workflows in the system.
• A restaurant owner wants to know whenever a new customer review is received that is lower than two stars. A webhook can alert the owner via text that the negative review has been received and he can respond accordingly.
• An accounts-receivable team wants to know when a vendor has submitted a new invoice through the company's shared invoicing email address. A webhook can update the appropriate accounts database with the vendor's invoicing details to ensure speedy processing of the invoice as well as consistent financial documentation.
About the Author
Mark is a Manager, Digital Content at Brightspot. When he's not gleaning insights from various developers from the company, he spends his time cooking new dishes at home with his wife and two hyperactive cats.
Related resources
What is data science, and how can it improve an organization? More specifically, how can the insights of a data scientist drive results for a business that's publishing hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces of content each year? We take a closer look.
Our recent webinar on the important topic of SEO provided insights into some of the most relevant and timely search engine optimization trends to prepare for 2021 and beyond, allowing you to prepare your SEO strategy accordingly.
Search engines like Google and Bing are working to deliver search results that respond more accurately to questions phrased in conversational language. Now and into the future—especially with the growth in voice-activated search—meeting complex requests phrased in our natural language will be key to maintaining optimal search performance in the future.
In order to succeed at SEO in 2021, enterprise organizations need to pay attention to the tactics and trends taking shape to stay ahead of the curve. Here are three trends to keep a close eye as you build out your SEO strategy for the year ahead.
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ColumnsExpert Opinion
Artificial Intelligence is Fuelling Innovation in Healthcare
Piyush Gupta
Commonly described as the new nervous system of healthcare, Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a key growth driver in the healthcare industry. According to a study by Allied Market Research, the global AI in healthcare market is projected to reach a valuation of $22,790 million by 2023, with a CAGR of 48.7% from 2017 to 2023. AI in healthcare has been developed to augment human capabilities – be it diagnosing a medical condition or assisting in surgeries.
AI in healthcare has given patients and healthcare providers an ecosystem that is more efficient and effective –and down the line –more economical in delivering better long-term outcomes. When a patient experiences a stroke, every second counts. This can be a challenge as access to medical care can take hours if the patient is in a remote or hard-to-reach location.
AI has the potential to facilitate high-speed, high-quality imaging that can help identify the type and location of the clot or bleed. This can then result in automated detection and faster decision-making regarding the course of treatment, giving the patient a better chance of recovery.
AI and other technologies powering healthtech
AI is built on a framework of various intelligent technologies, such as Machine Learning (ML), Data Analytics, Robotics and Natural Language Processing (NLP) to name a few. Though in the current environment, there are other technologies like Blockchain, Augment/Virtual Reality and IOT that have a pivotal role to play in this space. The power of these technologies combined together has the potential to deliver better health outcomes.
AI-led advancements in the healthcare industry can greatly enhance our lives, with massive inroads already being made in the areas of biomedical research, medical education, surgery, healthcare delivery and data management. As technology further develops, AI can alleviate many pain points in healthcare and also provide direction to patients in terms of the corrective measures that they should adopt for a specific or chronic ailment – all from the comfort of their home.
Let us take a look at the impact of AI-based innovations across the healthcare industry:
Customized care: In medicine, one size does not fit all and individualizing treatments mean more precision. The modern healthcare infrastructure is witnessing a phenomenal shift from traditional clinical-environment care delivery towards a highly customized care structure. AI can use medical scans and health records to decide on the course of treatment, personalize the dose of medication or even radiation therapy required at different stages of an ailment, thereby reducing the chances of treatment failure. Wearable devices providing real-time health data combined with machine learning-based predictive model algorithms are enabling truly individualized healthcare management.
Digital consumer: From a passive patient to a proactive consumer, people are at the centre of the revolution in care delivery. AI and other intelligent technologies are transforming the relationship between caregivers and patients by empowering the latter with access to their healthcare data and diagnostic reports and opportunities to make well-informed decisions about managing their health. With chatbots that can triage patients in no time to algorithms that collate price lists from nearest health centres, and from management of prescription deliveries online to searching for specialist doctors, scheduling appointments and sharing real-time health data with them through IoT devices, AI has transformed the profile of the digital consumer.
Robotics-assisted diagnostics (diabetic retinopathy, computer vision, etc.) are providing the medical community new tools to treat old problems, leading to faster and better decision-making.
Remote care: Telehealth and telemedicine are bringing the hospital services to one’s doorstep, turning the doctor or hospital location-agnostic. Technologies such as AR/VR are making it possible to set up virtual care systems that enable doctors to monitor the health of individuals in real-time, diagnose problems virtually, and even conduct remote, low-risk surgeries. AR can provide precise visualization of the patient’s anatomy without the surgeon needing to cut open the body. Imperial College and St. Mary’s Hospital in the United Kingdom have started leveraging these benefits during reconstructive surgery on patients with critical injuries.
Higher life expectancy: AI in the form of in-home sensors/Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) or wearable technologies are helping people live longer and healthier lives, by enabling early interventions for chronic diseases or emergency health situations. These innovations are based on patient data being fed from these devices into AI-powered software, which, in turn, collects, detects and reports a change in a patient’s condition. The start of deteriorating health status is immediately signalled, leading to immediate action by healthcare professionals.
Big data and predictive analytics are being used to forecast patterns in utilization of resources in emergency rooms and urgent care centres. This enables efficient and accurate mapping of staffing levels to account for changes in patient flow, and in turn, reduces waiting times and unnecessary crowding, thus increasing patient satisfaction.
One of the key elements of a patient’s health profile are the electronic health records that capture a patient’s medical history, including allergies, previous and current health issues, genetic problems, etc. This can be made digitally secure with Blockchain technology, which not only reduces the time required to access a patient’s information, but also enhances system interoperability and improves data quality.
Key considerations underlying technology adoption
With the adoption of these complex and evolving technologies, a novel set of challenges have emerged that are related to the aspects of ethics, transparency, privacy and data security. Privacy policies and ethical standards must keep pace with the pace of technological innovation. Cybersecurity is crucial for the success of any technology; therefore, smart systems must be supported with airtight digital policies and regulatory compliances to ensure safety of confidential patient data.
In a dynamic, empathy-led industry like healthcare, it is necessary to blend digital tools with human touch to bring about truly disruptive transformation. Therefore, it is imperative for tech firms to be cognizant of the ever-changing issues faced by doctors and patients as well as the human fears and frustrations involved in various health care stages.AI and other technologies provide the tools; however, the onus of data security lies with the people handling them.
What lies ahead?
As per a recent study by Accenture, by 2026, AI applications within the healthcare industry can potentially create $150 billion in savings annually for the U.S. There is a plethora of application areas where AI-based systems can help in boosting output; eliminate or at least reduce the margin for human error; and make expertise available that is scarce or entirely unavailable in certain locations.
That being said, the heart of connected care is not just technology capabilities, but also people: those who need to be cared for as well as those who work tirelessly to deliver the care. Ultimately, the burden of accountability falls on healthtech companies, hospitals as well as care providers and the regulators. While leveraging these technologies in healthcare, it is essential to ensure appropriate checks and balances are in place by setting up a suitable legislative and regulatory framework in keeping with technology innovations.
(The author is a Distinguished Engineer — Research & Innovation and leads R&D related initiatives at Optum Global Solutions (India) and the views published in the article are his own)
1 Comment
1. Thanks for publishing a valuable AI post. It will enable to make people think in such direction which will eventually bring a change.
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• Thursday, Oct 28, 2021
• Last Update : 12:29 am
OP-ED: The inequality in water
• Published at 10:44 pm July 11th, 2020
tap running water
Representational photo: Bigstock
Reduced inequalities can ensure true inclusive development
In Bangladesh, disparities in opportunities are so evident in every sphere of life that focusing only on economic inequalities provides a partial picture of the status and policy agendas of inequality. One of the core objectives of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) is to reduce inequalities within and across countries.
The SDG framework identifies inequality as a key issue to be tackled since reduced inequalities can ensure truly inclusive development and drive human progress towards sustainability and universal wellbeing.
In the case of income, one of the targets of SDG10 is to progressively achieve and sustain income growth of the bottom 40% of the population at a rate higher than the national average by 2030. The national data since the 1980s show that the average per capita household income (at 2010 prices) during 1986-2016 grew at 1.43% while the same for the bottom 40% grew by only 0.28%.
A worse form of inequality that is widespread in the country is inequality of opportunities, which is both the cause and consequence of inequality of outcomes. Reduced inequalities have both economic and social benefits.
It strengthens people’s perception about a fair society, improves social cohesion and mobility, and boosts employment and education with beneficial effects on human capital and development. Without equal opportunities, systemic patterns of discrimination and exclusion prevent the poor and disadvantaged groups from accessing economic, political, and social resources, resulting in “inequality traps” and the persistence of inequality across generations.
Unequal access to potable water
Prof Abul Barkat conducted a study in six arsenic-affected villages in Bangladesh which has shown that 10.2% of the population is affected by visible signs of arsenicosis (ie, keratosis, melanosis, and kerato-melanosis) with 16.1% among the poor, 5.4% among the non-poor, and 1.7% among the rich.
The real rate of arsenicosis would be much higher than the rate with visible symptoms because many affected persons are yet to display visible symptoms and many others will have multiple organ complications with suppressed visible symptoms.
Arsenic-affectedness is not an economic status-neutral phenomenon. The above study revealed that poor people are disproportionately affected by arsenicosis than their non-poor counterparts in the same villages. In these rural areas, poor people (ie, land poor, income poor, food-intake poor) constitute 44% of the total population but they represent over 70% of all the arsenicosis patients having visible symptoms; non-poor constitute 56% of the total population but 30% of all the arsenicosis patients, and the rich constitute about 8% of the total population but represent only about 1.4% of all arsenicosis patients.
The estimated odds ratios show that the poor as compared to the non-poor are 3.4 times more likely to get arsenicosis, and the same is about 11 times higher for the poor as compared to the rich. This highly skewed inequality in the distribution of arsenicosis patients in rural Bangladesh provides enough evidence that arsenicosis is a disease of poverty.
The human rights challenge of arsenicosis as a disease of poverty gets more complex due to the fact that arsenicosis is not only a disease of poverty, but also a poverty-aggravating or poverty-perpetuating disease.
This is so because, once a poor person is affected by arsenicosis (with multiple organ complications) they lose their ability to work and, in the absence of any financial assistance, the poor household falls into perpetual poverty -- a new type of poverty trap.
Therefore, we have discovered two types of poverty associated with the drinking of arsenic-contaminated water in Bangladesh, which are: Poverty-mediated arsenicosis, implying that the poor people are disproportionately highly affected by arsenicosis as compared to the non-poor, as well as arsenicosis-mediated poverty, implying that the aggravation of poverty due to arsenicosis whereby the arsenic-affected poor people become poorer in the process due to economic, social, and psychological reasons.
This dual poverty -- poverty-mediated arsenicosis and arsenicosis-induced poverty -- is a new type of poverty trap for Bangladesh. The income reduction effect and consumption shocks are the two major pathways through which economic burden of arsenicosis works.
This trap poses a real challenge towards National Goals of Poverty Reduction because the conventional poverty reduction approaches address everything (income poverty, consumption poverty, employment poverty, credit poverty, etc,) but not the poverty associated with drinking arsenic-contaminated water.
Concluding remarks
We always debate how climate change exacerbates economic inequality, but rarely do we think the opposite: That inequality itself can be a driver of climate change. What’s missing from the conversation is what our inequality crisis is doing to our planet. How unequal societies inflict more environmental damage than more economically even societies.
One key topic that is still overlooked is how environmental degradation and climate change are themselves the toxic by-products of our inequality problem. Many people who live in low-income communities, for example, cannot afford to retrofit their homes to make them more energy efficient, meaning they use more power than necessary, generating more pollution.
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Balances with the Bank of England
Balances held at the Bank of England by UK commercial banks. Most payments by cheque involve the customers of different banks: the bank whose cutomer makes a payment has to transfer money to the bank whose customer receives it. This is done through the bank clearing system. Most of these payments are mutually offsetting, but the small residual of payments due to or from each bank at the close of the daily clearing is ittled by the transfer of bankers’ balances with the Bank of England.
Reference: The Penguin Business Dictionary, 5th edt.
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Benefits in kind
Government provision of goods and services to those in need of them. This is an alternative to providing citizens with monetary incomes sufficient to meet their needs via the market. Governments wishing to provide for the basic needs of their citizens, including subsistence, housing, education, and medical services, have to choose between these two methods. Providing income is supported by the argument that people vary in their individual tastes and needs so that any available resources will be more efficiently used in giving cash that can be spent on goods and services. There are, however, various arguments in favour of benefits in kind. In the case of medical and educational services, the tasks of assessing and meeting needs are closely connected. Housing, medical services, and education are often regarded as merit goods: improved housing, health, and education are supposed to benefit society at large as well as the individual recipient. There is the possibility that if those in need of services for themselves, and more particularly for their children, were given money to pay for them, they might prefer to spend some or all of it on different commodities. As an attempt to combine the merits of market provision of services with the advantages of benefits in kind, it has been proposed that, for example, education should be supplied by the state issuing parents with ‘vouchers, which could be spent only at educational institutions, and would not otherwise be tradable.
Reference: Oxford Press Dictonary of Economics, 5th edt.
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Hyphens Hyphens |
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
There are two things to keep in mind about this misunderstood punctuation mark. First, there should not be spaces around hyphens. Second, hyphens should not be used interchangeably with dashes (with the exception of Rule 6 below), which are noticeably longer.
Hyphens Between Words
an off-campus apartment
state-of-the-art design
Example: The apartment is off campus.
Rule 1b. Use suspended hyphens when two or more compound adjectives come before the noun they modify.
Example: We offer the finest protective equipment, including latex- and phthalate-free gloves.
Incorrect: You can expect a three-four-week delay in processing.
Correct: You can expect a three- to four-week delay in processing.
This is equivalent to writing You can expect a three-week to four-week delay in processing.
The slacker video-gamed his way through life.
Queen Victoria throne-sat for six decades.
I changed my diet and became a no-meater.
No-meater is too confusing without the hyphen.
The slacker was a video gamer.
Incorrect: the very-elegant watch
Incorrect: the finely-tuned watch
Correct: the friendly-looking dog
Correct: a family-owned cafe
With hyphens:
We have a two-year-old child.
We have a two-year-old.
Incorrect: We have a two-year old child.
Without the second hyphen, the sentence is about an "old child."
Confusing: Springfield has little town charm.
With hyphen: Springfield has little-town charm.
Confusing: She had a concealed weapons permit.
With hyphen: She had a concealed-weapons permit.
3:15-3:45 p.m.
300-325 people
3:15–3:45 p.m.
300–325 people
Rule 7a. In general, with physical quantities, use a hyphen when the unit, abbreviation, or symbol is spelled out.
80-pound bag
six-centimeter caterpillar
(Note: the number is spelled out here because it's less than ten and not used with a symbol or abbreviation.)
100-meter dash
Rule 7b. In general, hyphens are not used between the numeral and the abbreviation or symbol, even when they are in adjectival form.
80 lb. bag
6 cm caterpillar
100 m dash
(Note: use a period when abbreviating English units but not when abbreviating metric units.)
Rules 7a. and 7b. are based on standard usages in mathematical, statistical, technical, and scientific texts. However, specialized fields such as healthcare, education, and science often adhere to their own specific stylebook. In those cases, the stylebook should serve as the writer’s guiding authority.
Rule 8. Hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine.
thirty-two children
one thousand two hundred twenty-one dollars
Rule 9a. Hyphenate all spelled-out fractions. But do not hyphenate fractions introduced with a or an.
More than one-third of registered voters oppose the measure.
More than a third of registered voters oppose the measure.
Rule 9b. When writing out numbers with fractions, hyphenate only the fractions unless the construction is a compound adjective.
See also Rule 2b in Writing Numbers.
Rule 10a. Do not hyphenate proper nouns of more than one word when they are used as compound adjectives.
Incorrect: She is an Academy-Award nominee.
Correct: She is an Academy Award nominee.
Rule 10b. However, hyphenate most double last names.
Example: Sir Winthrop Heinz-Eakins will attend.
a high school senior
an ice cream cone
a twentieth century throwback
a high-school senior
an ice-cream cone
a twentieth-century throwback
Hyphens with Prefixes
A prefix (a, un, de, ab, sub, post, anti, etc.) is a letter or set of letters placed before a root word. The word prefix itself contains the prefix pre. Prefixes expand or change a word's meaning, sometimes radically: the prefixes a, un, and dis, for example, change words into their opposites (e.g., political, apolitical; friendly, unfriendly; regular, irregular; honor, dishonor).
My grandson and my granduncle never met.
My great-great-grandfather fought in the Civil War.
Do not hyphenate half brother or half sister.
However, in recognition of the modern trend toward spare hyphenation, do not hyphenate after pre and re prefixes when the root word begins with e.
Will she recover from her illness?
I have re-covered the sofa twice.
Omitting the hyphen would cause confusion with recover.
I must re-press the shirt.
Omitting the hyphen would cause confusion with repress.
The stamps have been reissued.
With no hyphen we get deice, which might stump readers.
Hyphens with Suffixes
Modernist-style paintings
Mayor-elect Smith
sugar-free soda
oil-based sludge
the annual dance-athon
an eel-esque sea creature
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Learning Mandarin Languages in Singapore
Singapore is known to be a state that accommodates a couple of races from Mandarin to Chinese to English to Tamil and Malay. Due to this it has necessitated the individuals to learn different languages so as to ease on communication. Even though Singapore was colonized by the British English is not the commonly spoken language, however in official institutions it is the main language spoken. It was in the British colonization that the different languages were brought in the country, this was facilitated by introduction of different schools of different races. These schools taught the respective students’ specific languages and there came the languages. The main languages are however ‘de facto’ and ‘English’. In this article we are going to put our emphasis on the way Singapore learn foreign languages and which foreign languages are learnt recently in the state.
Learning of Foreign Languages
Foreign languages are nevertheless important to learn for flexibility in communication worldwide. In Singapore, foreign languages such as Thai, Indonesia, Bahasa, Chinese, French and German are learnt by the individuals apart from the indigenous languages present. It is noticeable that most of the businesses done in Singapore take place in partnership with the various countries, so by learning their language business activities will be simple to run. Opportunities of business will however increase considering that they can easily interact with people from other neighboring countries. Thai is the main foreign language taught in language schools in Singapore whereas the rest follows, and can be therefore regarded as a second language in the state.
Different languages have different learning forums, for instance, in studying of Chinese (Mandarin Chinese) which is preferred due to the quite great percentage of Chinese in the region they use the HCL program (Higher Chinese Language). It has however developed with time and changes have been spontaneously changing such that the Chinese is now learnt in lower primary schools where it is learnt for enjoyment and upper primary level where the students learn skills on writing-not only speaking and listening. The schools’ objectives are to provide the support the students need for understanding the language. First, they build foundation to the student, teach them on the basic specific language skills and skip to the next level where literacy is highly prioritized. In this level a student is also examined on the language learnt. Then the encouragement of the student with notifiable interest is done, students put to read and learn the languages using different tools.
It was discovered that most of the people who went for language classes only learnt the languages for leisure purpose but due to the business blossom with foreigners it became part of the business deal. Also, tourist and travelers increased rapidly and captured an interest to learn what the natives of the other group of people talked, this urged them to start language learning of the respective areas as well as to get to know and explore their culture. Singaporeans have found it fascinating to learn the languages for it comes in handy with culture skills basic japanese class times
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Water Beats the Summer Heat
With the changing weather of summer comes more opportunities for outdoor activities. But when we’re getting active in the summer heat, our body temperature can increase at an alarming rate. The human body is designed to stay within a certain temperature range and therefore the body’s temperature needs to be constantly regulated and adjusted. This process is known as thermoregulation
During the summer months, we are drawn to water activities such as swimming and other water sports. These activities are external thermoregulation mechanisms. When your skin is in contact with water, the heat is transferred out of your body until your body temperature matches the temperature of the water. Sounds refreshing, right?
You may notice that when you’re partaking in any physical activity, especially outdoors in the heat, you’re likely to sweat. Sweating may seem gross but it’s a function of the body that contributes to thermoregulation during exercise. When your body temperature rises, there is an increase of blood flow to your skin which stimulates the sweat glands. As sweat evaporates from the surface of your skin it cools the body and regulates your internal temperature.
Water sports and sweat are natural ways to regulate your body’s temperature in the summer. However, the water lost through sweating and the energy expended during outdoor activities can lead to dehydration. You may sweat 1 to 2 liters per hour when you’re active, even if you’re in the swimming pool, lake, ocean, etc. Make sure you consume the appropriate amount of water to stay hydrated.
Consuming water will also aid in thermoregulation and keep your body cool. But we don’t recommend drinking the water from the pool. Filtered water is your healthiest option. Bottled spring water is purified and has added nutrients to keep you healthy. We offer bottled water delivery to your home so you always have a fresh supply of spring water on hand. If you’re located in Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point, or the surrounding area, give us a call today. We also service the greater Martinsville and Danville area in Virginia. Mountain Park is here for all your water delivery needs.
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Numerade Educator
Problem 21 Easy Difficulty
Explain why the function is discontinuous at the given number $ a $. Sketch the graph of the function.
$ f(x) = \left\{
\cos x & \mbox{if $ x < 0 $}\\
0 & \mbox{if $ x = 0 $} \hspace{42mm} a = 0\\
1 - x^2 & \mbox{if $ x > 0 $}
\end{array} \right.$
$\lim _{x \rightarrow 0} f(x)=1,$ but $f(0)=0 \neq 1,$ so $f$ is discontinuous at 0
More Answers
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Video Transcript
Okay let's explain why the function is discontinuous that they give a number a let's sketch a graph. Okay let's sketch this graph. Right? So if X is less than zero then the F. Of X. Is equal to co sign next. So let's grab that. Two pi negative three pi halves negative pi negative pi house and zero. So on the left hand side when X is less than zero this is just co sign. Where does coastline start? Carson always starts at one drops down to negative, Dropls down to zero And that negative one and then one and then zero. Sorry listen this up then back up again. Nice little lotus like flower shape. You should know what the graph of coastline looks like. Okay now I missed a little tiny stuff that's pretty important here which is Co sign is less than zero when it's less than zero not less than or equal to. Which means there has to be an open circle here. This isn't even more important because the next piece of the piecewise is that f of X equals zero. If it's if X is equal to zero so at X equals zero we're going to have a point right here at zero. Okay if X is greater than zero and we're going to have the function one minus escort. So let's plug zero in for their if we plug zero in for one minus X squared We're going to get 1 0 which is one. So let's not do that. Let's graph the function a little further on. Um mm. Black. Okay I don't really want to do this in terms of pie anymore because that's kind of a pain, right? And with this the scale of the graph doesn't matter as much. But let's let's try pie halves is about 1.7. So I take that, that's about one two, three for that should be enough. Okay let's do the right most side now one minus X squared. If I plug in one I'm going to get zero. If I plug in zero. This is important to I'm going to get one. But this is also an open circle because it says X is greater than zero, not X is greater than or equal to zero. The only place where I can place the only spot at zero where I can place a closed circle like a dot of value is zero because that is what the piece by says zero if X equals zero. The other functions don't let me do that. So now let's plug if we plug in the one we get zero. If we plug in the two we get negative three because two squared Is 4, 1 -4 is -3. It'll just keep going down three Squared is nine. Yeah it's going to be way down there. So there will be something like we yep it's like a downward parabola. So it should actually look more like that. More of a bell shape than like that. Three should be somewhere there. Okay now let's talk about why it's discontinuous at equal zero. Let's take the limits. The limit As X approaches zero from the left of F of X is going to refer to a certain function in the piecewise zero from the left means less than zero. So this is cosine X As it approaches zero from the left. If we plug in zero further we get one. But if we plug in, yeah, zero from the right, we're going to get F of X greater than zero X plus of one minus X squared. We also get one. So in this situation this is a removable dis continuity because the limit from the left which is the co sign peace is equal to the limit from the right at one. Therefore the limit As X approaches zero of F of X exists however, And this is important here. The limit as X approaches zero of F of X is not equal to F of X. So the limit as X approaches zero from Alphabet's one. But the value as we see in the piecewise is zero. So it's discontinuous because of a removable this continuity. That's what we call this situation. Removable discontinuity when the limits from the left and the right exist, but they don't match the value of the function itself. That's a removable discontinuity. Yeah. Yeah
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Which famous people have you outlived?
Linus Pauling
American chemist
Died when: 93 years 172 days (1121 months)
Star Sign: Pisces
Linus Pauling
Linus Carl Pauling (;February 28, 1901 – August 19, 1994) was an American chemist, biochemist, chemical engineer, peace activist, author, and educator.He published more than 1,200 papers and books, of which about 850 dealt with scientific topics.
He is one of four people to have won more than one Nobel Prize (the others being Marie Curie, John Bardeen and Frederick Sanger).
Pauling was one of the founders of the fields of quantum chemistry and molecular biology.His contributions to the theory of the chemical bond include the concept of orbital hybridisation and the first accurate scale of electronegativities of the elements.
Pauling's approach combined methods and results from X-ray crystallography, molecular model building, and quantum chemistry.His discoveries inspired the work of James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin on the structure of DNA, which in turn made it possible for geneticists to crack the DNA code of all organisms.
In his later years he promoted nuclear disarmament, as well as orthomolecular medicine, megavitamin therapy, and dietary supplements.None of his ideas concerning the medical usefulness of large doses of vitamins have gained much acceptance in the mainstream scientific community.
Related People
Kenneth Pitzer
American chemist
Alfred Hershey
American chemist
Herschel H. Cudd
American chemist
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Continue to beat the heat this summer
With summer in full swing and hot temperatures still ahead, here are some ways to stay hydrated and be sun smart in the harsh Australian weather.
Two of the most common and unfortunate consequences of enjoying the summer weather are dehydration and heatstroke.
How to prevent dehydration
According to the experts at House Call Doctor, our bodies are 60 per cent water – but increased outdoor activities in summer and associated sweating means water loss. This is why fluid replenishment is essential for hydration and maintaining overall health.
Some signs of dehydration include dry mouth, loss of appetite, light-headedness and mild constipation.
In order to prevent dehydration, it is important to drink at least eight glasses of water each day.
For increased hydration, incorporating fruits and vegetables such as watermelon, tomatoes and celery that have a high-water content can also be helpful.
How to prevent heatstroke
A highlight of summer for many people is heading outdoors (the beach or park are obvious placed to go), which often means extended hours in the sun.
In Australia, summer temperatures can climb into the 40s, exposing the body to extreme heat when outdoors.
While sunburn is a common occurrence in extended sun exposure, heatstroke is sometimes a nasty side effect and can be highly dangerous. In fact, 500 Australians die every year as a result of heat-related illness.
Someone who has heatstroke may experience symptoms of high body temperature, flushed skin, nausea, headaches and excessive sweating.
Preventing heatstroke can be made simple by remembering to apply sunscreen every four hours, drinking plenty of fluids and wearing lightweight, breathable clothing.
If you are experiencing symptoms of dehydration or heatstroke, it is important to stay out of the sun and stay hydrated so you can continue to enjoy summer safely.
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Breast Ultrasound
Ultrasound produces images of the internal structures of the breast by using high frequency sound waves. Breast Ultrasound is noninvasive, painless, and uses no radiation. Ultrasound may safely be used during pregnancy and on those with a contrast dye allergy. Based on the findings, the radiologist can determine whether a suspicious mass is fluid- filled, such as a benign cyst, or solid, such as a noncancerous mass or cancerous tumor. However, a breast ultrasound cannot determine whether a lump is 100% cancerous and, if necessary, a tissue biopsy would be recommended for a positive or negative confirmation.
Breast ultra sound results being shown to patients
If you’re under the age of 30, an ultrasound may be recommended to evaluate a palpable finding before, or in addition to, a mammogram. Mammograms can be difficult to interpret in young women because their breasts tend to be extremely dense. However, with the use of tomosynthesis mammograms, radiologists are able to visualize findings in dense breasts more effectively than with 2D mammograms. Most breast lumps found in young women turn out to be benign, such as a cyst or a fibroadenoma. It is important that a palpable finding be evaluated by imaging to confirm.
In addition, a physician may use an ultrasound device to aid in determining where specifically to do a biopsy or cyst aspiration. Because an ultrasound provides real time imaging, it allows the physician to locate the suspicious finding accurately and safely preform the necessary testing.
Breast ultra sound machine being used on a patient
Scheduling a Mammogram or Ultrasound after a COVID vaccine
Screening or Diagnostic Mammograms and Ultrasounds
How Breast Ultrasound Works
Breast ultrasound uses a handheld probe called a transducer that sends out ultrasonic sound waves at a frequency too high to be heard. When the transducer is placed on the breast at certain locations and angles, the sound waves move through the skin and other breast tissues. The sound waves bounce off the tissues, like an echo, and return to the transducer. The transducer picks up the reflected waves which are then converted into an electronic picture of the breasts.
Breast Cancer Screening Methods and Myths Webinar
Meet Our Breast Health Care Team
Meet Our Breast Health Experts
Margie Petersen Breast Team
Schedule an Appointment For more information
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You are here: Wiki > start > usertrack > glossary > adverse_change_of_aspect
Table of Contents
Adverse Change of Aspect
Adverse Change of Aspect
A train driver expects aspects to follow a logical sequence. For example, in a 4-aspect area, (s)he should expect a green to be followed by a double yellow or flashing double yellow or another green. If (s)he sees a single yellow, single flashing yellow, or red then something has happened and it is considered an adverse change of aspect.
In SimSig, if a signal is replaced in such a way as to cause a driver to "witness" an adverse change of aspect, the train will phone in and report the incident, and only continue after calling their control room. This will be the case whether the signal was replaced by the player or an equipment failure.
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Fats and Lipids
Resources > Home Health > Fats and Lipids
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Fats and lipids are the third major food category of the macro nutrients needed in human nutrition. Lipids are organic compounds that are insoluble (don’t dissolve) in water. Fats are a specific sub-set of lipids, differentiated by their molecular structure and metabolic functions. Fats are solid at room temperature. We call fats that are liquid at room temperature, Oils. Lipids are generally found in meats and dairy foods, although many other sources exist including Nuts, Seeds, Soybeans, Avocados, Olives and Peanuts.
The energy value of fats is 9 kcal/gram.
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How does a syphilis test work?
Table of Contents
How does a syphilis test work?
How does a syphilis test work? Let’s run through everything you need to know about the process including when you should consider taking a syphilis test, the symptoms to look out for and the treatments to consider.
Syphilis is a bacterial STD that can affect both men and women, it is caused by a bacterium called Treponema pallidum. Syphilis is contracted through intimate skin-to-skin contact with an infected partner.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There were more than 115,000 syphilis cases in 2018, and that number is set to continue growing. The number of primary and secondary syphilis cases – the most infectious stages of syphilis – increased 14 percent to more than 35,000 cases in that same year, the highest number reported since 1991. Among newborns, syphilis cases increased 40 percent to more than 1,300 cases.
How does a syphilis test work?
A syphilis test usually comes in the form of a blood test.
This blood test can either be performed using an at home STD test, or you can visit your doctor to perform the test.
syphilis-test tube
Syphilis tests are quite quick and simple. If you are taking an at home syphilis test, you simply:
1. Order the test kit online
2. Collect your blood sample in the home
3. Return your sample to the lab
4. Receive your results via phone call or email
If you are undergoing syphilis screening in a doctor’s office, you simply:
1. Book an appointment
2. Get your bloods taken by a health professional
3. Receive your results via follow up appointment or phone call
If you are undergoing primary syphilis screening, there is nothing that you need to do ahead of your appointment to prepare.
As outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are two main types of blood test for syphilis.
Nontreponemal tests detect biomarkers that are released by the cells that have been damaged by syphilis. These tests are more affordable and typically used for screening, but they have lower sensitivity during early primary syphilis and late-stage syphilis. Nontreponemal tests have a higher chance of producing false negative and false positive results.
Treponemal tests, on the other hand, detect antibodies specific to the Treponema bacteria. Treponemal antibodies appear earlier than nontreponemal antibodies and usually remain detectable for life, even after successful treatment. If a treponemal test is used for screening and the results are positive, a nontreponemal test with titer may be ordered to confirm the diagnosis and guide your treatment. Based on the results, further testing may be required. Both types of tests are routinely used to confirm syphilis diagnoses.
So, who should get tested for syphilis?
You should get tested for syphilis if:
• You are experiencing any symptoms of syphilis
• Your sexual partner has recently been diagnosed with syphilis
• You are pregnant
• You are a sexually active man who has sex with men (msm)
• You are living with HIV and are sexually active
• You are taking PrEP for HIV prevention
Where can you get a syphilis test?
You can get an at home syphilis test from the following providers:
For a STD test price comparison, visit our latest article where we compare the market so you can get the most cost effective option.
What are the symptoms of syphilis?
The symptoms of syphilis can be difficult to notice and can change subtly over time. Syphilis symptoms usually take 2-3 weeks to develop. There are four stages of syphilis including:
• Primary
• Secondary
• Latent
• Tertiary
Primary syphilis symptoms
• Chancres/circular firm sores on the sex organs, mouth or rectum. This sore is typically painless and will heal on its own within a few weeks.
Secondary syphilis symptoms
• A skin rash that usually starts on the abdomen or back, and spreads to cover your entire body, including the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet. This rash is typically reddish brown and heals without leaving scars.
• Headaches
• Fatigue
• Muscle aches
• Fever
• A sore throat
• Loss of appetite
Latent syphilis symptoms
• No symptoms, this is the “silent phase” of the condition that occurs 12 months after initial infection
Tertiary syphilis symptoms
• Tertiary syphilis often occurs in the years following infection. If the condition has not been diagnosed, it can affect the brain, nerves, eyes, heart, blood vessels, liver, bones and joints. If left untreated, syphilis can cause serious health complications, but if diagnosed, the treatment will involve a fast acting injection which can eliminate the infection. However, treatment isn’t always able to reverse the damage that syphilis has already caused.
What happens if syphilis goes untreated?
Untreated syphilis can lead to serious health complications such as damage to the brain and nervous system (neurosyphilis) or to the eye (ocular syphilis). These health complications usually occur 10-30 years after primary infection.
Symptoms of neurosyphilis include
• severe headache;
• difficulty coordinating muscle movements;
• numbness; and
• dementia (mental disorder).
Is syphilis contagious?
Syphilis is highly contagious, therefore if you notice a chancre, you should get tested as soon as possible.
Can you get syphilis twice?
You can get syphilis twice, even if you have been treated for syphilis, you can contract syphilis again through unprotected sex with an infected partner.
When should I get tested?
You should get tested if you are experiencing any symptoms of syphilisor if you have been notified that a previous sexual partner has syphilis.
Other reasons to take a syphilis test include:
• You are pregnant
• You are living with HIV and are sexually active
• You are taking PrEP for HIV prevention
Written by Hannah Kingston on February 22, 2021
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The archipelago
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• Poço do Bacalhau Waterfall - Nature Holidays Destinations
• Fields in Corvo - Ecotourism Azores
Located in the area of contact between the Euro-Asian, American and African tectonic plates, the Azores Archipelago has a volcanic origin. Throughout the millennia, eruptions and earthquakes moulded a land with a common characteristic: the mark of volcanoes. But each one of the islands has its own identity. The fossils of Santa Maria, the lakes of São Miguel, the caves of Terceira, the cones of Graciosa, the fajãs of São Jorge, the Mountain of Pico, the Capelinhos Volcano of Faial, the waterfalls of Flores, and the Caldeirão of Corvo are unmistakable features. To travel throughout the Azores is to get to know nine islands where the same genetic code generated profiles that are distinct from one another.
The first settlers of the Azores found, amongst dozens of other endemic species, Azores junipers, heaths, Azores heathers and colicwood, which still prevail on the islands of the Azores. Throughout the centuries, the hand of man shaped the landscape. As the climate is mild, trees such as the Japanese cedar, the araucaria and the pohutukawa became an important part of the typical landscape of the Azores, filled with the blue and pink colours of hydrangeas.
The archipelago is the natural habitat of bird species, such as common buzzards, Cory’s shearwaters, terns, wood pigeons and blackbirds. In the mountains of Serra da Tronqueira, on the island of São Miguel, the Azores bullfinch (locally known as priôlo) is a protected species given its rarity. The sky of the Azores is home to the only mammal endemic to islands: the Azores bat. Various other migratory birds choose the Azorean soil to rest during their long intercontinental journeys.
In the Atlantic Ocean, life multiplies itself by more than two dozens species of dolphins and whales that either inhabit or cross the seas of the Azores. There are abundant colonies of molluscs, crustaceous and fish, thus completing the region’s extraordinary maritime diversity.
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Keating-Owen Child Labor Bill, photograph by Lewis Hine, ca. 1916
In 1916 Representative Edward Keating of Colorado and Senator Robert Owen Jr. of Oklahoma introduced a federal child-labor bill. This poster explained that many states already restricted child labor and urged public support for a national child-labor law. The Keating-Owen Act, which prohibited interstate commerce in goods produced by factories employing children, was the first child-labor law to pass Congress.
Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress
Is Child Labor Law Constitutional?
It took Congress and the Supreme Court decades to agree that federal regulation of child labor was constitutional. Senator Albert Beveridge of Indiana introduced the first federal child-labor bill in 1906. That bill failed, but Congress passed subsequent bills in 1916 and 1919, only to see them struck down by the Supreme Court as unconstitutional. Finally, in 1941, the Supreme Court reversed its earlier opinions, recognizing Congress’s power to regulate child labor as stipulated in the 1938 Fair Labor Standards Act.
Congress and the Supreme Court have interpreted the Constitution differently on some issues. Through opposing laws and legal decisions spanning a quarter century, the two branches eventually agreed that legislation regulating child labor is constitutional.
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Decommunisation – An essential process needed to distance the new Ukraine from its Soviet past?
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A Lenin statue being driven to the scrap heap of history
A prime example that illustrates the active nation building attempts of the post Maidan government is that of the process of decommunization. In May 2015, President Poroshenko signed the Decommunization Laws, that had been passed through parliament a month earlier, into official decree. There were four laws included in total. However, for the purpose of this blog post only one will be focused upon in depth, that being the Law ‘On condemning the communist and National Socialist (Nazi) totalitarian regimes and prohibiting propaganda of their symbols.’ The purpose of focusing on such a particularity is due to this legislation and its subsequent impact being the most visible in society. This allows a more thorough analysis of its impact on ordinary people and subsequent effect on their national identity perceptions. Essentially, the law stipulates that propaganda, symbols and any legal entities linked to either the Communist and Nazi regimes are banned. Alongside this, the legislation also orders the changing of geographical names and the demolition of monuments in relations to the latter stated regimes and related symbols (Yavorsky, 2015). The government’s intentions with such legislation are concurrent with the need to distance the Ukrainian state and its citizens symbolically from that of its Soviet past and to reiterate the notion that Ukraine is separate from Russia.
Decommunization can technically be recognized as having been begun by civil society during Euromaidan when the main Lenin statue in Kyiv was felled by protesters. Similar events occurred across the country in 2014, including in the East and South a year before the government legislation came into law. Therefore, the insinuation of ceasing ties with Ukraine’s soviet identity in favour of Ukrainian sovereignty had already been instigated by a bottom-up approach to a certain extent. However, it is important to note that this demolishing of Lenin statues popularized as “Leninopad” and the subsequent linked official government legislation was not met with universal jubilation across Ukraine. Plokhii (2017) notes that it has been largely successful in its operational aims, as by early 2017 close to 1,300 additional Lenin monuments and statues had been removed alongside the renaming of numerous geographical locations including two oblasts and their centres; Kirovohrad now Kropyvnytsky and Dnipropetrovsk now Dnipro. But whilst such actions were dramatic in photography and symbolism, due to their removal being long overdue; many ordinary people held contempt towards the changes (Gogo,2015).
These civilians argue that rather than drastically changing the perceptions of their own Soviet identity or their attitudes towards the Ukrainian nation, the statues and street names had long lost their Soviet undertones. They had been left by inertia, with the symbols being viewed as landmarks on a map rather than being tied down to political ideology or a town’s Soviet identification (Gogo,2015). Pomerantsev (2018) illustrates this rather thoroughly through his quoting of Eastern born Ms. Vakhovska, “The statue is their personal Lenin, it’s where they used to kiss, where they stole roses from the flowerbeds, where they went on pointless parades and equally pointless rallies.” What can be taken from such a reaction is that the intention of these laws and actions have been less to do with drastically enforcing new perceptions of common history, but rather safeguarding the future from being reliant on colonial influenced perceptions of the past through its visible removal in day to day life. Over time, the changed names and vacant spaces will themselves become the norm in communities as they become the necessary markers for the future development of a society that overwhelmingly identifies with the Ukrainian nation state (Kulyk, 2015)
As Plokhii (2017) notes, the West and Centre of Ukraine had already shed most of their Soviet remnants by the 2000s but the removal of the residual statues, geographical markers and art symbolizing the bygone era and its identity, solidified their acceptance of the new independent Ukrainian state. Supporters of the decommunization scheme view it as of high importance to the progression of Ukraine’s independence and its aspirations for democratization and integration with the West (Mälksoo, 2018). With Russia reinvigorating its own Soviet past in such a vivid manner as of late, it can be seen that Ukraine and its government are acting in the correct way in order to prevent these neighbouring developments from fermenting further afield than the occupied Donbas territories and Crimea. Whilst it is apparent that this particular policy is not supported by the entire population, the decommunization legislation is vital in signifying the symbolic breaking with previously inconsistent state nation building policy. Such policy that refused to address and actively tackle the incompatible dual historical narratives, in favour of a coherent and inclusive independent Ukrainian state narrative (Kulyk, 2015).
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5 natural ways to fight Swine Flu
Wash hands regularly and frequently – As we know, our hands are the primary carriers of infection and organisms causing the flu, hence it is imperative that we wash our hands frequently every day with soap and water especially before meals and after returning from a public place. We keep our Dettol sanitizer handy at all times for situations when we don’t have access to soap and water.
Always use a handkerchief or tissue if you are suffering from cold and cough – To prevent dispersal of the transmittable germs in the air, always use a handkerchief or a tissue and cover your nose/mouth when you are coughing or sneezing. Also, keep changing this handkerchief/tissue. This practice will help shield others from getting infected.
Practice healthy habits – While this is not directly related to swine flu prevention, practicing healthy habits is instrumental in building a strong immune system and promotes overall well-being. It is essential to eat well, sleep well and exercise regularly for mental and physical fitness. It is also very important to stay well-hydrated irrespective of the season.
Go natural – Everyone has their own beliefs and the herbs which work for someone may not work for others. Personally, we have immense faith in the goodness of Tulsi and we rely on it to battle swine influenza and other such diseases. Tulsi has a large number of therapeutic properties. It keeps throat and lungs clear and helps in boosting immunity. We ingest it directly by chewing the leaves which are well washed or sometimes prepare a concoction by boiling Tulsi leaves in water. Apart from Tulsi, we also have benefited from having a pod of raw garlic once a day before sleeping and having warm lemon-honey water first thing in the morning. Additionally, increase in the intake of foods rich in vitamin C aids in improving our body’s resistance mechanism.
Only when I became a mother I truly realized the meaning of the proverb “Health is wealth”. If you have any more ideas or suggestions for preventing flu and improving immunity, please do share in the comments.
// This article has been sponsored by Dettol and was first published on Momspresso and is available at the following link.
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7-Eleven Learning Activities 2009
1. Explain the meaning of franchising as a type of business ownership.
1. Tough Competition – SWOT Analysis
A SWOT Analysis is one of the most commonly used business tools allowing a user to take a snapshot of a businesses’ situation. Sometimes a SWOT Analysis is called a situational analysis. A SWOT Analysis investigates strengths and weaknesses that exist as part of the internal environment of the business, such as well-trained staff or outdated equipment. A SWOT analysis is also used to identify possible opportunities or threats that exist in the external or macro environment, such as new market segments or increased competition.
a. Using the material in this case study conduct a SWOT analysis on the operations of 7-Eleven Australia. List 3-5 clearly explained points for each category. You can even rank each point in order of importance.
b. In pairs conduct a SWOT analysis on a 7-Eleven store with which you are familiar. If you don’t have 7-Eleven in your local area perform the SWOT analysis on some other convenience store.
c. Share and discuss the results as a class. As a class you should compare and contrast the findings in relation to different types of convenience outlets including: Dedicated convenience stores such as 7-Eleven and Quix Petrol stations Supermarket and petrol co-branded ventures such as Woolworths/Caltex and Coles/ Shell Local milk bars Any other type of convenience outlet.
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