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In the short story "Raymond's Run" by Toni Cade Bambara, how do people see Raymond as compared to Squeaky? 1 Answer booboosmoosh's profile pic booboosmoosh \| High School Teacher \| (Level 3) Educator Emeritus Posted on In Toni Cade Bambara's short story "Raymond's Run," people see Squeaky in a much different light than they see Raymond. A great deal of what we know about Squeaky originates from her narration. She is responsible for her brother Raymond who is mentally challenged. She makes sure he is safe and that no one bothers him. She is an excellent runner, she tells the reader. When she goes to her race, Mr. Pearson corroborates Squeaky's claims about being the fastest runner around: "Well, Hazel Elizabeth Deborah Parker, going to give someone else a break this year?" I squint at him real hard to see if he is seriously thinking I should lose the race on purpose just to give someone else a break. Mr. Pearson also supports Squeaky's assertion that no one gets very far trying to push her around—or to even make a point. He tries to suggest that Squeaky might let Gretchen, the new girl, win. His question fades away at the look on Squeaky's face: "That new girl should give you a run for your money." He looks around the park for Gretchen... "Wouldn't it be a nice gesture if you ahhh..." I give him such a look he couldn't finish putting that idea into words. Grownups have a lot of nerve sometimes... [I] stomp away, I'm so burnt. Obviously Squeaky's mother and father have faith in her ability to care for Raymond. The job used to belong to her brother George. His inability to protect Raymond adequately caused their parents to give Squeaky the responsibility— something at which she excels. The other kids in the neighborhood do not respect Raymond. At the story's beginning, Squeaky shares difficulties Raymond faces: But a lot people call him my little brother 'cause he needs looking after 'cause he's not quite right. And a lot of smart mouths gots lots to say about that too, especially when George was minding him. But now, if anybody has anything to say to Raymond, anything about his big head, they have to come by me. Sometimes when Raymond gets away from Squeaky, he'll dart across the street to scatter the pigeons. We can infer that the people gathered there understand Raymond is different than most children, especially when Squeaky arrives to calm everyone: Then I have to go behind him apologizing to all the old people sitting around trying to get some sun and getting all upset with the pigeons fluttering around them, scattering their newspapers and upsetting the wax-paper lunches in their laps. This propensity by other kids to give Raymond a difficult time is also seen when Squeaky meets up with Gretchen (her chief competition in the upcoming race) and her "sidekicks," Mary Louise and Rosie. After a lot of posturing with regard to who is going to win the May Day race, Mary Louise (who used to be Squeaky's friend and should know better) turns to Raymond. Then they all look at Raymond who has just brought his mule team to a standstill. And they're about to see what trouble they can get into through him. Mary Louise asks him what grade he is in. Squeaky quickly steps in to protect her brother: You got anything to say to my brother, you say it to me... Rosie gets sassy about it, but Squeaky puts her in her place. While some may see Raymond as a sorry figure or someone easily tormented, Squeaky makes certain that no one bothers her brother, and everyone seems to understand the relationship. (And the reader can see that Raymond is a happy youngster.) Everyone knows that Squeaky is not to be pushed around under any circumstance.
Lamb To The Slaughter Symbolism 2 Answers andrewnightingale's profile pic andrewnightingale \| High School Teacher \| (Level 1) Educator Emeritus Posted on The two most significant symbols are 'lamb' and 'supper'. Both of these are used in a profoundly ironic context on many different levels. A lamb is deemed an innocent, harmless animal. It is feeble and non-threatening, and, dare we say, quite stupid. Mary, in this context, may be represented as the lamb for, throughout the story she presents a docile, servile attitude. She does her best to please her husband, and, like the innocent and unsuspecting lamb, is punished for her love, kindness and unquestioning duty to him. He unscrupulously discards her like a rotten rag, even though she had obviously been utterly at his service throughout their marriage - and she is due to further bless him with a child. He arrogantly informs her about his decision to leave, expecting her not to do anything about it. The irony is that the well-serving and docile lamb does decide to do something and, at a whim, she murders him. She then, unlike the proverbial lamb, intelligently masks her guilt by creating an alibi and cleverly disposes of the murder weapon. Patrick Maloney, in this context, could also to some degree be seen as symbolic of a lamb - not in the same sense as described above, but as the unsuspecting victim of a killing. Just as a lamb would be unsuspecting of its fate when it is led to slaughter, is Patrick Maloney caught completely unawares. He could hardly have expected any form of retribution from his wife, least of all murder! In a literal context, the leg of lamb was used to 'slaughter' Patrick Maloney. In an ironic twist, the frozen leg of lamb, which, to add further irony, is the product of a lamb which had also been slaughtered, has become a weapon. In this sense, then, the lamb is truly taken to slaughter - in this case to slaughter the victim. 'Supper' denotes a period of satisfaction - the last big meal of the day, followed by relaxation and rest. In the story, Mary's insistence that her husband have supper is symbolic of her desire to serve and please him. It is an indication of her profoundly servile attitude to him - a fact that Patrick Maloney seemingly does not appreciate. It is this 'supper' which ultimately leads to his death, for Mary had initially take the leg of lamb out of the freezer to cook for him, but then uses it as a murder weapon. Furthermore, the supper is symbolic of "The Last Supper" depicted in Christian literature, when Christ enjoyed his last meal with the disciples before his arrest, incarceration, trial and final crucifixion. Ironically though, Patrick does not enjoy this supper since he is killed before it is prepared. Mary Maloney uses the supper as an excuse to create an alibi. In this regard, the supper becomes a symbol of her deception. She cleverly encourages the investigating policemen to enjoy the meal and finish off the lamb, thus getting rid of the evidence completely! It is ironic that one of the men should remark: "It's probably right under our noses" whilst enjoying the most incriminating proof. User Comments theenglishteachertotherescue's profile pic theenglishteachertotherescue \| High School Teacher \| In Training Educator Posted on The first symbol could be the obvious use of the word "lamb". Look at the fact that the title suggests that an animal will be killed. What do we know about lambs? They're weak, they're feeble, they're unimportant, and lastly, they're followers. So, with all of this background knowledge about lambs, you can tell that Ronald Dahl wanted to create a pun, since Mary Maloney seems to be the weak, unimportant, feeble character throughout the story. Mary is the lamb; she dutifully follows her husband--doing all she can to please and appease him as a wife. What was her repayment? A divorce! The idiom "lamb to the slaughter" suggests something innocent that is willingly, in fact, blindly following something that will ultimately lead to its demise. Mary (also an allusion to the children's sing-a-long "Mary had a little lamb") was the lamb, but just like in classic fable stories, she becomes the strong one as she overpowers her husband, killing him with a leg of lamb. The other symbol would be the religious implication of the word "lamb". In the bible, a lamb is sacrificed (Jesus Christ) for the sins of the world. In the story, the lamb is not sacrificed for sins, it is rather, being sacrificed as atonement for wrong doing. Patrick Maloney had done his wife wrong by falling out of love with her after years of service and devotion. Therefore, in the spirit of atonement, he was to be sacrificed.
What was the significance of Bacon's Rebellion? 2 Answers thetall's profile pic thetall \| (Level 1) Senior Educator Posted on It should be noted that Bacon and Berkeley were related and that although Berkeley accorded Bacon a position in the council, he did not allow him to make moves in his inner circle. Bacon managed to enlist the support of Virginians from all classes and races against Berkeley and the loyalists. Berkeley received support from Britain and English soldiers who arrived to address the rising rebellion led by Bacon. The Bacon Rebellion is of great significance because it demonstrated the rising tensions between the colonists and the English-appointed administration. It is probably the first sign of trouble for British control over the colonists, and it played an important role in emboldening the colonists in preparation for the American Revolution. Bacon’s engagement with Berkeley was aimed at advancing self-interest, but the people supporting Bacon sought recognition and a change in the status quo. pohnpei397's profile pic pohnpei397 \| College Teacher \| (Level 3) Distinguished Educator Posted on Historians say that Bacon's Rebellion was important because it highlighted issues of class that existed in Virginia at the time. During this time, the government of the colony was dominated by an elite. The rest of the colony felt that the government (led by long-time governor William Berkeley) tended to favor the interests of that elite over those of the majority. Bacon was himself a member of the elite. However, he allied himself with the common people. When conflict arose between the classes due to Berkeley's policy towards Indians, , Bacon came to lead a rebellion that included both former indentured servants and poor people, both black and white. Therefore, this rebellion is seen as a significant sign of the conflict between classes in Virginia.
Arielle Love Powerpoint Published on • Be the first to comment • Be the first to like this No Downloads Total views On SlideShare From Embeds Number of Embeds Embeds 0 No embeds No notes for slide • When people think of anxiety, they usually think of the “fight or flight” response. This physiological response occurs in order to protect humans from danger. This survival mode has been a passed down generations to maintain the human species. These symptoms are present during anxiety. • Throughout human development people will go through stages of anxiety which is referred to as the “ontogenetic parade”. First, children develop fears of the dark or of the monster in the closet. This will eventually subside to adolescent fears of belonging and joining groups. After that, adult fears will follow which consist of having a sense of feeling productive with a career and having a family. • The was retrieved from Muris & Field (2008) and combines Kendall’s (1985) cognitive theory of childhood anxiety and the information processing perspective (Crick & Dodge, 1994). It focuses on the information processes of youths and cognitive biases. It has been assumed that anxious children first process a situation as threat related. During the encoding stage the attention of the youth is focused towards a threatening stimuli (attention bias). Next, during the interpretation stage, enhanced memory for information involving dangers or threats (memory bias) and there is a tendency to attach a threatening meaning to ambiguous stimuli (interpretation bias). This concludes that the situation is consistently perceived as dangerous. Anxiety and fear are heightened and further strengthens the idea of danger present. This fuels the cycle of interpretation and memory bias, and the anxiety is continually elevated in the situation. The child’s anxiety increases during the exposure to the situation and may lead to anxiety sensitivity. This is a fear of the symptoms that occur with anxiety which could possibly develop and elevate the anxiety even more. • Worrying is another action that overcomes individuals who have anxiety. Kelly and Millers (1999) tri-belief cognitive model of worry gives another explanation of how individuals with anxiety disorder think. The tri-belief model suggests that worriers hold assumptions about themselves and the world in general.“Worriers attempt to evaluate situations and their abilities to protect themselves in/from those situations. Regardless of their vigilance and attempts to solve problems, however, they ultimately feel inadequate to solve these problems” (Kelly & Kelly, 2007). • There has been an increase in studies regarding emotion regulation. Emotion regulation is different from emotional reactivity, which refers to responses to changes in external and internal environments. Emotion regulation can be defined as the “modulation of a given emotional reaction” (Suveg, et al, 2009). According to these authors there is research showing how important emotion regulation is in youth’s overall psychosocial functioning. It is documented that youth with anxiety disorders have trouble understanding and regulating their emotions. This leads to the need to add to current CBT for individuals who have emotion regulation issues. Therapy that involves the understanding one’s emotions can help guide the individual to process their emotions in a healthy way. This can broaden the spectrum of treatment options. • Arielle Love Powerpoint 1. 1. Correlation of Distorted Cognition and Emotional Dysregulation in Children with Anxiety Disorders<br />Arielle Love<br />Advanced General Psychology<br />Argosy University<br />Dr. Marie Dube<br /> 2. 2. Abstract<br />This paper takes a deeper look at studies on children with anxiety disorders. It summarizes the recent studies of cognitive processes of individuals with anxiety. It also takes a further look at a new look into emotional dysregulation and how it is another important factor to consider when treating and understanding individuals with anxiety disorders, especially children. Taking the background information on both factors including biological factors can bring a more in depth understanding of the disorder in children. This paper is trying to bring more exposure to the idea of correlating emotional regulation and cognitive processes in anxiety. This will help to encourage the discussion of including emotional regulation in treatment and therapy.<br /> 3. 3. Anxiety<br />Symptoms<br /><ul><li>Elevated heart rate 4. 4. Perspiration 5. 5. Shortness of breath 6. 6. Nausea 7. 7. Dizziness 8. 8. Chest pain</li></li></ul><li>Anxiety is Normal<br />Common Stressors<br /><ul><li>College student taking a midterm exam 9. 9. A blind date 10. 10. High school student taking a driver’s license exam 11. 11. Child starting class at a new school 12. 12. Presenting a speech in front of a crowd</li></li></ul><li>Anxiety Progression<br /> 13. 13. An anxiety disorder occurs when fears become frequent, irrational and take over one’s life<br /> 14. 14. Childhood Anxiety Disorders<br />Childhood anxiety disorders can have an emotional and social negative impact on children’s lives. It can cause behavior avoidance, social withdrawal, and a lack of personal development. It is imperative to continue to understand the cognitive processes that occur with anxiety. So far, understanding the distorted cognition has helped to treat individuals through cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).<br /> 15. 15. Cognitive Process Model<br /> 16. 16. Worrying<br /> 17. 17. Emotions<br /> Emotions play a huge role in a person’s life. People link their emotions with special or distinctive memories and events in their lives. <br /> 18. 18. Emotional Dysregulation<br />Defined as poor or improper modulation of a given emotional reaction<br />A link between youth with anxiety disorders and emotional regulation discovered<br /> 19. 19. Strengths and Weaknesses<br />Strengths<br />Numerous research on cognition available<br />Links discovered between emotion and cognition<br />Weakness<br />This is a relatively new subject<br />There is not enough research on this topic yet<br /> 20. 20. References<br />Broeren, S., & Muris, P. (2009). The Relation Between Cognitive Development and Anxiety Phenomena in Children. Journal of Child & Family Studies, 18(6), 702-709.<br /> <br />Dvorak-Bertsch, J. D. et al., (2007). Anxiety Moderates the Interplay Between Cognitive and Affective Processing. Psychological Science (Wiley-Blackwell), 18(8), 699-705.<br /> <br /> <br />Kelly, W. E., & Kelly, K. E. (2007). A Tale of Two Shoulds: The Relationship Between Worry, Beliefs One Should Find a Right Solution, and Beliefs One Should Worry to Solve Problems. North American Journal of Psychology, 9(1), 103-110.<br /> <br />Muris, P., & Field, A. P. (2008). Distorted cognition and pathological anxiety in children and adolescents. Cognition & Emotion, 22(3), 395-421.<br /> <br />Suveg, C., Sood, E., Comer, J. S., & Kendall, P. C. (2009). Changes in Emotion Regulation Following Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Anxious Youth. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 38(3), 390-401.<br /> <br />Vujanovic, A., Zvolensky, M., & Bernstein, A. (2008). The Interactive Effects of Anxiety Sensitivity and Emotion Dysregulation in Predicting Anxiety-related Cognitive and Affective Symptoms. Cognitive Therapy & Research, 32(6), 803-817.<br />
Featured Post Pin Diagram Of 8086 Microprocessor: The Hardware Model The 8086 is a 16-bit microprocessor intended to be used as the CPU in a microcomputer. The 8086 Microprocessor - Internal Architecture sh... Recent Posts Computer Primary Memory Memory is the most essential part of the computer. We need memory to store the data. This storage enables us to use the stored data to in future. Computer memory is mainly divided as primary and secondary memory. The memory and storage devices are measured in terms of bits and bytes. Here we will discuss about the primary memory and in next section we will see the Secondary memory or Storage devices. 1. Primary memory: The term memory refers to the main memory of the computer, whereas the word storage is used for memory that exists on disk, CDs etc.. The main memory usually called a physical memory which refers to the ‘chip’ capable of holding data and instruction. Functions of the primary memory i. Primary memory holds copy of the operating system, when the computer is turn on. ii. Temporarily store a copy of the application program that is currently being executed. iii. Temporarily store the data input from the keyboard, which is required for processing. iv. Temporarily store the result, which is generated from processing unit. There are 2 types: ROM and RAM Read Only Memory(ROM): In ROM the information is burnt (pre-recorded) into the ROM chip at manufacturing time. Once data has been written into a ROM chip, it cannot be erased but you can read it. When we switch OFF the computer, the contents of the ROM are not erased, but remain stored permanently. ROM is non volatile memory. ROM stores programs that boot the computer. Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM): PROM is a memory on which data can be written only once. A variation of the PROM chip is that it is not burnt at the manufacturing time, but can be programmed using PROM programmer. It is also a non volatile memory Erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM): In EPROM information can be erased and reprogrammed using a special PROM –programmer using an ultraviolet light. Electrically Erasable programmable read only memory(EEPROM): It is a recently developed type of memory. In EEPROM information can be erased by exposing it to an electrical charge. A flash memory is a type of EEPROM Random Access Memory (RAM): RAM is the most common type of memory found in the modern computers. This is really the main store and is the place where the program gets stored temporary. When we switch OFF a computer, whatever is stored in RAM gets erased. It is a volatile form of memory. The memory has a number of locations in it store. Each location in a memory has a unique number called its memory address. This serves to identify it for storage and retrieval. Operations on memories are called reads and write, a write instruction transfers information from other device to memory and a read instruction transfers information from the memory to other devices. Types of RAM: There are 2 types: v Static RAM (SRAM): The word static refers to constant or the data remains stable until the power is ON. Static RAM is costlier and consumes more power. They do not need refreshing circuitry. They have higher speed than dynamic RAM. v Dynamic RAM (DRAM): It is named so because it is very unstable. The data continues to move in and out of the memory as long as power is available. Therefore, dynamic ram have to be refreshed periodically, generally every 2 milliseconds. It is cheaper and they consume less power. Difference between SRAM and DRAM: 1) It need not be refreshed 1)Need to be refreshed periodically 2) These are not as dense as DRAM 2)They are dense 3)It is fast 3)Little slow 4)Low latency 4)Longer latency 5)Access time is 25 nanoseconds 6)Best for internal memory 7) Expensive, consumes more power 8) Stores information as long as the power supply is on. 5)Access time is 60 nanoseconds 6)Best for system’s memory 7) Inexpensive, consumes less power 8) Dynamic RAM loses data in a very short time. How you found this article, is this useful? I'm sure this will help you more. If you want more information please let me know through comments in the right below. Subscribed to the My Computer Tutors for updates. I will keep updating to you with latest tutorials. For Updates Please Click Here Site Search
Tuesday, June 15, 2010 New desalination technique shows promise If this works on a large scale, maybe we won't have to worry about the Yanks taking our fresh water: The world isn’t facing a water shortage. Anyone who lives by the ocean knows that. What we are running short of is fresh water. Only 3 per cent of the water on this planet is considered fresh water, and of that about two thirds is locked up in glaciers. Most of the rest isn’t close to the people who need it most, with parts of Australia, India and the U.S. southwest being some of the better known water-scarce regions. This has brought heightened attention recently to the importance of water desalination, and more specifically, lower-cost ways of removing salt from seawater that don’t require enormous amounts of heat and electricity. On this front, a start-up from Vancouver called Saltworks Technologies has been breaking new ground with a process, explained below, called “thermo-ionic desalination.” By way of background, most of the world’s desalination plants today separate salt by distilling seawater, but this requires an immense amount of energy to rapidly vaporize and then condense the water. How much electricity? Economist Jeff Rubin, in his book Why Your World Is About to Get a Whole Lot Smaller, cites the example of Saudi Arabia’s Shuaibah 3, the world’s largest desalination plant. It can produce 880,000 cubic metres of fresh water daily. The electricity to run this facility comes from a massive oil-burning power plant. Shuaibah 3 is just one of several large desalination facilities in Saudi Arabia that get their power from oil-fired generation stations. “The World Bank estimates that the Middle East will need roughly another 50 to 60 billion cubic feet (1.42 to 1.7 billion cubic metres) of water annually over the next 10 to 15 years to meet the region’s burgeoning water demand,” writes Rubin. “Desalinating that immense volume of water could ultimately require the use of a million barrels of oil per day.” This is why a company like Saltworks is so important. It has figured out a new process that can cut the energy demands of a desalination plant by more than half, and in some cases by as much as 80 per cent. Ben Sparrow, the mechanical engineer who co-founded Saltworks in 2008, says a small pilot plant is already operating in Vancouver that can process 1 cubic metre of ocean water a day. From the Star. Interesting stuff, and a lot less troublesome than pumping water over the Rockies (or blasting out gigantic trenches with nuclear bombs, as Gary Filmon supposedly advocated in his master's thesis).
Water is a very important element for people and the planet! Without water, life as we know it would not be possible. Water is the most abundant element on the planet Earth! That means that there is more water than anything else. All living things need water to live. Plants drink it, animals who live on the land drink it, and animals who live IN the water need it to be able to move and breathe. What kinds of things do you use water for? 1. Drinking 2. Bathing 3. Washing dishes 4. Washing clothes 5. Flushing the potty 6. Brushing our teeth 7. Watering our gardens 8. Keeping our pet fish in 9. _______________ Imagine if there was no water! Water is very special because it can come in different forms, such as ice and steam. It is also very powerful! It can carve canyons. Watch this short video about how water can form canyons in the rocks: Water can also be very gentle. When it falls as rain, it will gently water the plants, trees and flowers. Water can be a helpful tool. We can use it to power items and to put out fires. Water is very important! Genesis 1:6-10 God creates water Use this awesome lesson from Ministry To Children for your bible lesson! Carving Canyons This is a powerful lesson about the power of water! We are going to perform an experiment which will demonstrate how the power of water can change the way the Earth looks. Materials Needed: Play Sand Fresh leaves Large plastic tub This will take some prep! In your tub (I find that the plastic tubs sold in the washing dishes section at Wal-mart work great and they are only a couple of bucks) place a layer of pebbles. Pour play sand on top. It should be a good sized pile. You will need room on top to pour water. Also, make sure there is a slope downward on one end for runoff and a small amount of room at that end for water collection. You can also poke a small hole under that collection area for drainage if you wish. Now place some pebbles in random locations around your sand hill. Also drop some leaves on top. Carefully splash a little water on the sand to help it stick together and allow it to dry. To begin, remind the kiddos about how water can carve canyons. You can re-watch the video from the circle time section. Gather the kids around the tub and explain that they should pretend that this is a hill side in the country. Ask them what they think will happen if it starts to rain. Allow them to come up with their hypothesis and discuss the reasons they think what they do. Begin to slowly pour water at the high end of the sand hill and watch it run down. You should be able to see some results immediately! Continue to pour the water and watch it run down the hill, carving deeper into the sand as it goes. Explain what is happening. As the water travels down the hill, little bits of sand, leaves and rocks get carried away in that water. Eventually, a canyon will be formed. In a hill made of rock this takes much longer, hundreds and thousands of years, since the rock is a much harder substance than the sand in your hill. It works the same way, though! READING - Name Recognition Sticker Writing For each child, you will need: A piece of paper with their name written on it in large letters Star stickers The idea of this is to get them used to seeing their names spelled out and even give them the chance to "spell" it themselves. Provide the kids with their paper and enough star stickers to cover all their letters. I like the foil stars for this because the stars make them feel special and also they are dirt cheap! This is also great for fine motor skill development. Demonstrate how to place the stickers on the letters in their names in order to "write" their names with the stars. Once they all have their names completed, ask each child to spell their names out loud for everyone. Water Drop Counting Print out the 2 worksheets HERE. The first page is a raindrop with a number written on it. The second page has raindrops with different numbers of stars on them which correspond to the written numbers. You can have them do this in 2 ways. Either give them the sheet with the written numbers on them and cut out the drops with the stars on them and have them match the number of stars to the written numbers OR you can cut out the written numbers and have them match those to the numbers of stars. A great way to be able to use these again and again is to laminate them and use Velcro dots to attach them to each other! Goldfish Counting Materials Needed: Small, white styrofoam cups OR muffin liners Goldfish crackers Black sharpie marker Muffin tin Inside the bottom of each cup or liner, write the numbers 1 - 12. Use a little bit of tape to stick each cup to the muffin tin cups. You can put them in numerical order or mix them up. This depends on what kind of skill level your kids have. Provide the kids with crackers. The goal is to place the corresponding number of fish into the cups. Great for counting practice! (Fish swim in water so that's how I am connecting them!) Blowing Bubbles This is very simple and just plain fun! Provide each kid with a water bottle that is only about ½ full. Insert a straw and allow them to blow bubbles! Water can be fun. Fine - Playdough Get or make some blue playdough and have the kids make raindrops, a river, a swimming pool or whatever they like with water! Gross - Water Balloon Spoon Races Fill up some water balloons with water. Make them small so this won't be too difficult for the kiddos. Provide them with spoons. Make a race track for them outside. I like to use empty cereal boxes for my track markers. You can make this a relay-type race where 2 kids race one direction and tag 2 more at the end to run back again OR you can just have them all race together. The idea is to complete the race without dropping their water balloons which are balanced on a spoon. If they drop it they will incur a penalty such as having to return to the start and begin again or just have to stop to pick it up before they can start again. You can really do what you want with this and it will be fun! Great for developing hand-eye coordination and patience. A great story to explain what happens in water's great journey! Explains the water cycle in the perfect way for young children to understand. A great book to read aloud! The Itsy Bitsy Spider "The itsy bitsy spider went up the water spout Down came the rain and washed the spider out Up came the sun and dried up all the rain And the itsy bitsy spider went up the spout again" Art - Kool-Aid Art You can use Kool-Aid drink mix to make watercolors! Materials Needed: Small cups for the "paint" A couple of different flavors of Kool-Aid Q-Tips or Paint brushes It is fun to allow the kids to help make the paint. Place the drink mix into a cup and add a small amount of water. You want it to remain somewhat thick, if it is too thin you won't be able to see the color very well. Once the paint is made, allow the kids to paint a water themed picture using colored water! Craft - Rain Globes Materials Needed: Small baby food jars with lids Small plastic figures (you can get these at craft stores) Super glue Rain drop stickers Allow the kids to choose the figure they want in their globe. They will need help to glue it to the inside of the lid. While those dry, give the kids a small container of water and let them fill their jar. They will then need to add a spoonful of glitter to the water. Screw the lid on the jar and then turn the jar upside down. The kids should decorate their jars with some rain drop stickers. Shake the jars and it will look like sparkly rain! Jello - made with Water! Just to make sure it follows with our lesson you should make blue Jello! You should start this cooking project early in the day so that it will be ready in time for snack. Depending on how many kids you have, you may want to make several separate bowls of the Jello so it will set up in good time. Allow one child to pour the mix into the bowl and another to add the water. Since the water will be hot, use caution here. When you are eating it, you can talk about how you are eating something that was made with water! Reptiles are a great subject for children of this age! This is a great time to learn to appreciate these ancient animals! Reptiles are animals that lay eggs, have scales, and must use sunshine and water to help maintain their temperature. Some examples are turtles, lizards, snakes and crocodiles. You will often see these animals laying in the sun. They do this to make their bodies warm. When they get too hot, they will go under a rock or into some water to cool down. Let's play a game! Print out these FLASHCARDS to get started: Animal Classification Game Make a box or a folder for the categories. Make a category for Reptiles, Fish, and Mammals. We have already discussed what a reptile is. A fish is an animal which lives its whole life in the water. They breathe through gills. Mammals are animals which have live babies and feed them milk produced from their bodies. They are also warm blooded, like people. This means they can keep themselves warm or cool and the outside temperature does not determine if they are cold or hot. Cut out the flashcards and mix them up. Show the kids each animal and talk about which pile it should go into. Talk about why each animal has been classified the way it has. Name Recognition In order to continue in learning how to recognize their own names, we will do this fun art activity. Prior to class, use wax crayons to write the children's names on a sheet of paper. Provide the kiddos with water color paints and allow them to paint over the picture however they wish! Their names in wax will resist the water color and show through no matter how much they paint. They will be amazed how their name cannot be covered up by their painting! Once dry, talk about their names and how they are spelled. Post these in the room! Cold Blooded For this we are going to use thermometers to show how temperatures can differ from place to place and how reptiles use the different places to warm and cool their bodies! If you need to purchase some thermometers for your class, this is a great deal and you can buy as many or as few as you need: http://www.k12schoolsupplies.net/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=LER0380&click=2128&utm_source=Bing&utm_medium=Free&utm_campaign=Bing_Learning_Resources&gdftrk=gdfV2544_a_7c642_a_7c6518_a_7cLER0380 Humans (people) and other mammals are able to regulate their body temperature. That means that people stay at a constant 98.6 degrees all the time. It doesn't matter if it is really hot or really cold outside, we can keep out temperature the same. The air may feel cold or warm to us, but our body temperature will stay the same. Reptiles are very different! They are "cold blooded". That means that their bodies will be the same temperature as the air around them. So if they are laying in some snow, they will be just as cold as the snow is. It is hard for these animals to be comfortable because they are always trying to find a place to lay where they can be just warm enough, but not too warm, and just cool enough, but not too cool. In order to see just how different the temperature can be from place to place, we are going to test some areas with our thermometers. Lay the thermometers on the table and check the temperature. The room temperature will likely be in the 72º to 75º range. This is likely too cold for most reptiles! Take your thermometers outside and check the temperature in the shade. Then check in the sun. There is likely a difference of several degrees (especially here in Houston). You can then place the thermometer in the freezer and find out how cold it is in there. The temperature changes from place to place and this is why all reptiles must actively find a place to hang out where they will be comfortable! Alligator Teeth Math Mats Print the mats. You can laminate them or place them in a sheet protector. Provide the kids with playdough and have them give the alligator the number of teeth listed on the page. This is a "counting in 2's" lesson! Alligator Math Mats Snake Pattern Matching Print out the worksheet pages. The first pages have the patterns and the second pages have the pieces to use to complete the patterns. Patterning is a great skill to master. It can help children understand how things work together and how to solve problems. Snake Patterning Worksheet Craft - Chameleon Paper Craft From DLTK's website! A chameleon is a type of lizard. They are really amazing because the will change color to match whatever they are sitting on. Their eyes are also really neat because of how they move. Check out this short video chameleon and it's funny walk, and his eyes moving in their super cool way. Now that you know what a chameleon is, you can do a cool craft! Materials Needed: Paper plates (paper, not foam or plastic) Markers, crayons or paint Glue sticks Color or paint the bottom side of the paper plate. Choose any color, chameleons can change their color so be creative! Print the template below for each kid. Color the template pieces and cut out. If your kiddos are too young to cut them, help them out! Make an example for them to follow and allow them to glue their pieces to the plate. Art - Squishy Snake Painting Materials Needed: Rubber snakes from a dollar store Pour some paint into bowls big enough for the snakes to fit into. Provide each child with a squishy snake and some paper. Allow them to place the snake into the paint and create a masterpiece! When children are able to use something unusual for an activity like this, it makes it much more interesting! Act Like A Reptile This is a super fun game! Totally unorganized and crazy and that is what makes it so great! Get the kids in a line or circle. Shout out the name of a reptile and the kids should act like it! SLITHERY SNAKE! CHAMELEON! ALLIGATOR! So much fun and so silly. Cutting Practice You will need some child's scissors for this. Cutting a circle is pretty tough, so if they can't get it, don't worry. This is more about the practice than perfection! You may want to cut one out yourself to show them what is supposed to be the end result! Download and print the template from firstpallet.com. This is a very cute book with interactive pull out pieces. Great for our lesson this week! Great book which talks about characteristics of many animals and also has a lesson about loving who you are! A very informative book about turtles. Has great illustrations! Reptiles They Have Many Scales Reptiles they have many scales Some reptiles have long, long tails They lay eggs and like the sun Some have legs, some have none Reptiles they have many scales Some reptiles have long, long tails Snake Sticks Bread stick Dough (the kind in a can that you can mold) Parmesan Cheese, shredded Butter, melted Each child should make their own. Make sure they are making their creation on a piece of foil so you can move it! The idea is for the kids to make a snake out of their dough. They can keep it straight, make it curvy, curl it up, or whatever! When they have it the way they want it, use a pastry brush to spread melted butter on the top. Then allow the kids to sprinkle some Parmesan cheese on top. Bake them as instructed on the package. Once cooled, you can all enjoy eating your snakes! First Week of School! Back to School is an exciting time! Each year brings new and interesting things to learn about. My son is 3½ right now, so this school year will be tailored to his age range (3-4). Please look back at some of the past lessons from the 2012-2013 year for lessons for ages 2-3. This week we will be focussing on learning about the class rules, the expectations, and what is to come! The Class Rules: 1. We are nice to each other 2. We play safely 3. We help keep our classroom clean 4. We use our walking feet 5. We use our inside voice 6. We listen to the teacher(s) Discuss what each of these rules mean and how they are applied. For the whole week (and really, all year) we will refer back to these rules as necessary! It helps to post these rules in the classroom where they can be referred to. Once the rules are well established, you can refer to them by their number. What a teacher should expect of their students: 1. The children will respect each other, the teacher, and class materials and equipment 2. There are class rules and they will be followed 3. Physically or emotionally hurting someone is unacceptable 4. There is an awareness of time and can distinguish between work time and play time 5. They understand how to take turns, share, and work together 6. They do their best at all times Talk to the class about these expectations. As long as each child knows what is expected of them, they are more likely to adhere to the rules. Talk about Good Choices and Bad Choices. Remember that the student is not bad, their choices are. Introduce the Daily Calendar In order to help young children understand the concept of time, it is important to have a Daily Calendar in the room which is reviewed each day. This will help them understand the days of the week, weeks of the month, and months of the year. It is also useful for learning about the Seasons and Holidays. You can make your own, which I have demonstrated HERE. There are also many kinds you can buy pre-made. Here is one I like! http://www.amazon.com/Learning-Resources-Calendar-Weather-Pocket/dp/B000P86RMC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1376322712&sr=8-1&keywords=preschool+teaching+calendar Color Mixing For the first week we are going to do some extra fun activities, just to get everyone into the groove. Color mixing is a great first week science lesson because it is fun, messy and very colorful! Materials Needed: Plastic Paint Trays OR Ice Cube Trays Large Bucket Food Colors Eye Droppers Small, Clear Plastic Cups Paper Towels, white Mix the food colors in water in the clear, plastic cups so that they are vibrant. Give each child a mixing tray and an eye dropper. Discuss how the 3 colors in front of them are called "primary colors". This means that they are the colors that will make all the other colors when you mix them together. For example, yellow and blue will make green and red and blue will make purple. You can make ALL kinds of colors by mixing colors together! Allow them to explore this themselves. Show the kids how they can draw colored water up into their eye dropper and then drop it into a compartment of their mixing tray. Now add another color and see what happens! They should continue this and make as many colors as they wish. The large bucket is there so they can dump their mixing trays out and start over if they want to. The paper towels are for dropping a small amount of the colors they create onto them so they can be kept. Introducing Transition Songs Transitions are when we move from one activity to another. A really great way to help the class know what to do next is to have different transition songs designated for certain transitions. Singing can usually get everyone's attention easily and without having to yell. Since the children will beging the morning by having some free-play time, we need a song to let everyone know that it is time to get together for Circle Time! Here is a good one: (Tune: "Oh, My Darling Clementine") Time for circle, time for circle, Time for circle time today. Let's sit down, let's be quiet, Wonder what we will do today? When the children are very active, or when you need them to settle down after an active activity, you can use this one: Wiggles Out for Quiet Time (Tune: "Jingle Bells") Clap your hands, stomp your feet, Wiggle all around. Reach your hands high in the air And now let's touch the ground. Hold your hips, hold your head Give yourself a hug. Sit right down, eyes to look, It's time to read a book When it is time to clean up whatever mess may have been made, use this: Clean up, clean up Everybody everywhere. Clean up, clean up It's clean up time. You can also use hand gestures. I like to clap 5 times when changing gears. It means "mouths closed, ears open!". Puzzles help kids in many ways! They help them learn to solve problems, coordinate their thoughts and actions, and begin to learn that the sum of parts make up a whole. Today set out some age-appropriate puzzles and allow the kids to complete them. Once done, you can discuss the puzzle rules, such as making sure all the pieces are put back for each one. If you lose any pieces to a puzzle, the puzzle can no longer be used. Name Recognition Over the next month or so we will work on teaching the kids to recognize (or read) their own names! For the first week, make a sign for each child with their name on it. On the first day, take a picture of each child and add it to their name sign. Place their sign somewhere that it will be significant. They can be where the kids should sit, where their back pack should go, where their nap place is. Wherever you think works. You could even put a sign in each location. During the course of the week you should ask the kids to find their "spot". Associating their picture with their name will help them begin to recognize how their name is spelled. We will work more on this during the next few weeks. Art - Draw Me A Picture! This is an easy one, but great for getting to know your kiddos. Give them a piece of paper and crayons and ask them to draw one of their favorite things! Unless you have an art prodigy in your midst you will have to get them to explain what they drew. That is ok, because they just love doing that! Be sure to write their name and what it is on the back. These are great to store and look back at later in the year. Craft - Garden of Friendship This is great for helping the class to feel like part of a team! Materials Needed: Construction Paper Pictures of the kids Trace each child's hand and their feet with the pencil. The hands will be the flowers so make them pretty colors (you could let them choose so it will feel like it's "theirs") and the feet will be the leaves so they should be green. Make a rectangle (stem) for each child. You will also need a yellow circle for the center of the flower. If they are old enough, allow them to cut their hands and feet out or you can do it. Show them how to put their flower together and let them craft theirs. Once dry, add their picture to the center of the flower. When all the flowers are done, create a garden on the wall. Call it your "friendship garden"! This is where all the new friends in the class can be together. Here are some great books about school: David's teacher has her hands full. From running in the halls to chewing gum in class, David's high-energy antics fill each school day with trouble-and are sure to bring a smile to even the best-bahaved reader. There are lots of things that regular people can do, but teachers can't. Teachers can't ride a bike or scooter to school. And they can never be tardy. Teachers can't buy their own apples. And they can't teach their best without flowers on their desk. But first they really need some help cleaning the blackboard. And the erasers! It's a wonder they come back to school at all! If you take a mouse to school, he'll ask you for your lunch box. When you give him your lunch box, he'll want a sandwich to go in it. Then he'll need a notebook and some pencils. He'll probably want to share your backpack, too . . . Getting to Know You Activity You will need a soccer-sized ball for this. Get the kids in a circle and show them how to play the game. Toss the ball to someone in the circle and ask them a question about themselves, such as what their favorite color is or how many siblings they have. Once that child answers they get to toss the ball to another person and ask a question of them. You may need to help them with the questions, but this is a great way to get everyone together and learn some things about each other! Super easy! Give the kids some playdough and let them create! Also provide some cookie cutters, plastic knives, forks, spoons, straws, and anything else you can think of for them to manipulate the dough. In case you want to make your own, here is a super easy way: http://nothingbutmonkeybusiness.blogspot.com/p/basic-time-fillers-for-your-preschoolers.html Scroll down a little on the page for the recipe. It is definately cheaper to make your own! Cereal Necklaces These are fun and easy! Provide a couple of different kinds of "o" cereal and some twine. Tie a plastic spoon to one end so that the cereal won't slide off the end while stringing on more! Let them make their necklaces then put them on. They can snack on them during storytime! Sample Daily Curriculum Again, if you are using this as a teaching site, this is a basic outline of how your day should be structured: Make sure everyone has had breakfast and a little play time before beginning the lessons! Begin the day by having "circle time". You can call it whatever you like, but the basic idea is to bring everyone together and discuss what you will be doing during the day. Young children really benefit from having an idea of what they are going to be doing, they really don't respond well to surprises! I have a Circle Time Planner HERE. Split up the day by planning 20-30 minute segments. Children between 18 months and 5 years can't really focus on a given task for longer than that. Your lesson may actually run a bit shorter at times and even a bit longer, if the lesson is really grabbing their attention. The most important thing with children this age is to BE FLEXIBLE! Another important tool for a smooth day is to make transitions really easy and clear. Transitioning between lessons and free play or from lunch to nap time need to be clearly defined for children. It is important to be consistent. Have a specific song or gesture, such a clapping 5 times, that indicates to the children that it is time to move from the current activity to another. Example of a Basic Day using the Weather and Seasons theme: Weather & Seasons Lesson 8:00 Circle Time (Talk about one of the 4 seasons and what the weather should be like. Include the holidays of that season. Also use the weather chart. Ask the children where the arrow should point and talk about why.) 8:20 Flow the 1st lesson of the day from the circle time discussion. (If you talked about Spring, it rains in Spring to help the flowers and plants grow. Do the Rain Cloud in a Jar Science activity.) 8:40 Transition to free play (cloud dough - it is really fun and is called "cloud" dough. since you just discussed clouds and rain, this flows well!) 9:15 Math Lesson (raindrop counting and sequencing. again, flows well with the rain and cloud theme) 9:40 Music (Rain, Rain, Go Away!) 10:00 Transition to free play (allow free toys time or centers) 10:30 LUNCH 11:00 Bible or Story time 11:30 Nap 2:30 Snack 3:00 Outside time (or free play ideas if bad weather) 4:00 Free play toys time before parent pick up Example of a basic day: Using the Nutrition and Health theme: Nutrition & Health Lesson 8:00 Circle Time (Germs Poem and Calendar Discussion) 8:20 Flow the 1st lesson of the day from circle time discussion (How coughs and sneezes spread germs) 8:40 Transition to free play (shaving cream play - great because it smells really clean!) 9:15 Handwashing lesson - works great just after the shaving cream 9:40 Music (Head, shoulders, knees and toes) 10:00 Transition to free play (allow free toys time or centers) 10:30 LUNCH (another great opportunity to bring up handwashing!) 11:00 Story or Bible Time 11:30 Nap 2:30 Snack (can also incorporate a "cooking" activity) 3:00 Outside play or use a free play idea (free play ideas) if bad weather 4:00 Free toys play before parent pick up This is just a couple of basic ways the day could go. Of course, if you are using this with your own child there won't be a pick up time and your child may have a longer or shorter nap time. But the basic idea of how to keep the children engaged and from getting bored or antsy is here. Circle Time Planner For those of you using this site for homeschooling your preschoolers or running a preschool, this is how your daily Circle Time should be structured. Circle time is kind of like a morning meeting with the kids. It should come after the children have had their breakfast and have had some free play time so that they are ready to pay attention. You should have some daily items that are discussed each day and then discuss what is coming up in their lessons that day. Most children this age benefit greatly from knowing what is coming up. Greeting Songs - Sung to Mary Had a Little Lamb We welcome you to school today, School today, School today, We welcome you to school today, Please come in and play. We're glad to have you here today, Here today, here today. We're glad to have you here today. Yes, it's a special day! Sung to Twinkle Twinkle Little Star Let's see who is here today, Who has come to join our play? Everyone sit close at hand, Say your name, then you can stand, Let's see who is here today, Who has come to join our play? Calendar - Talking about the calendar is a great daily activity! This teaches math concepts and helps them to understand linear time. There are great pre-made teaching calendars you can buy, but (as I am sure you can tell) I like to make my own! I made mine using a large plastic poster frame. I printed out and laminated the Months, seasons, basic weather, days of the week, and holidays. I used paint chips (free!) as the days of the week. Butcher paper is the background that I glued the paint chips to. I also glued the days of the week to the paper. Everything else goes on the plastic on the outside. The top middle is the month, the left is the weather and the right is the season. Below that I put "Yesterday Was ________ Today Is _________ Tomorrow Is ___________" so that we can discuss those concepts and have something to change out everyday. I should probably mention I had made 2 sets of the days of the week for this reason! Write in the numbered days in dry erase marker and then add any holidays. Oh, and I used Velcro dots for everything so it is easy to change anything out as needed. Movement - Incorporating a fun little exercise each morning is a great way to keep their focus! Have a routine such as touching your toes, twisting your waists, clapping your hands, and hopping up and down. Use this time to introduce the kinds of lessons they will be doing today. Get them excited! It is a good time to read a story or poem or sing a song from the day's lesson. Let them know, "Later we will be doing a cooking activity and we are going to make our snack ourselves!" This will keep them interested and motivated throughout the day. Talk about the letter of the week. Show them the letter, pronounce the letter, then talk about words that begin with that letter. If you are working on letter groups, work on those! Get them involved. Ask them if they can think of words with the letters you are focusing on. It is very helpful to use a visual aide, such as a posterboard with the letter and objects which begin with that letter! Having a daily schedule plan is a great idea. This way the children always know what to expect. Review the day's plan with them and talk about what they will be doing. If today is the Science Experiment Day, let them know. In order to reinforce the concepts of "today", "tomorrow", etc, you can also discuss that tomorrow you will be doing a paint craft (or whatever!).
Tuesday, October 1, 2013 How to Prevent Powdery Mildew in the Garden what dose powdery mildew look like, how do you prevent powdery mildew, what is the disease on squash plant that make them turn white or gray called? how dose powdery mildew spread, Nothing can be more frustrating than disease killing those plants in your garden before you have gotten a good harvest. It is one of those things that gardener's dread. How can you prevent the disease from happening? Or can you? There are several different kinds of diseases or fungus' that can kill your garden plants. One of them is powdery mildew. This one is particularly frustrating because it is spread by the air and can be spread through water. This is what can kill off the squash plants half way through the season. It is not entirely possible to totally prevent it however there are measures you can take to keep it from happening early in the season and maybe even stop it from happening all together. 1. Just like a home needs to be built on a solid foundation, the plant needs great soil to withstand all that comes it's way. Adding plenty of organic matter every year, and mulching around the plants to keep their roots moist and from drying out too much in between watering. This will help your plant be healthy. A healthy plant will be able to resist disease better than a stressed plant will. Your plant is only as healthy as the soil it grows in. 2. Be sure to water it enough- according to its needs. This too is to keep it healthy. 3. Powdery Mildew can be spread by water droplets, so watering your plant at the soil level will help the disease to not reach the leaves as easily. Put away the sprinkler and get out the drip hose or better yet get your garden plumed for drip irrigation. 4. There are some varieties that are resistant to Powdery Mildew. By choosing those varieties dose not mean they will not get the disease, but they will resist it longer and you can usually get a good harvest from them before it succumbs to the disease. 5. Plant in an area that gets good air flow so the the disease is not sitting there circling around the plants and spreading quickly to your whole harvest. Remember- a healthy plant will produce more and resist disease so do every thing you can to keep them healthy and growing and you will be rewarded with a great harvest. Happy Gardening! 1 comment: Understanding Mildews \| Queensland Begonia Society said... […] How to Prevent Powdery Mildew in the Garden (thegardenerspot.com) […]
Blood sugar High blood sugar levels are at the root of an assortment of health problems, including diabetes. Those who cannot control their blood sugar levels find themselves constantly battling unexplained fatigue, mood disturbances and extra weight around their midsection. Controlling blood sugar levels can be a task in futility because the modern American diet often revolves around highly processed, overly preserved foods containing too much salt or sugar, and this is even true of processed foods that appear to be healthy in many cases. Thankfully, today’s consumers can manage blood sugar levels by adjusting their lifestyle choices. The chemical processes in the body, more specifically in the pancreas, produce insulin to regulate the amount of sugar, or glucose, in the blood. If the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, blood sugar becomes elevated, which damages cells. When a person has too much glucose in their blood, they can become hyperglycemic. Those who are hyperglycemic experience thirst, frequent urination, and high levels of sugar in the urine. Conversely, when a person’s blood glucose is too low, he or she becomes hypoglycemic. Those with hypoglycemia experience dizziness, sweating, hunger, headaches, blurred vision, and pale skin color. Hypoglycemia can be rooted in taking medications that spike insulin levels, or it can be the result of skipping meals, eating less than normal or exercising. Risks associated with diseases rooted in blood sugar fluctuations are hereditary, but some are also related to lifestyle choices such as diet and activity levels. The most common disease that results from high glucose levels is diabetes I and II. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition that begins in youth and lasts into adulthood. Type 2 diabetes, while also a chronic condition, is seen in adults. Those with diabetes become predisposed to other conditions like obesity, which places them at risk of hypertension and high blood pressure. To say that blood sugar plays an integral role in health management is an understatement. Diet and sedentary lifestyles can influence abnormal blood sugar levels. Diet is probably the most important part of controlling blood sugar levels. In this fast-paced society, most people live conveniently, and this attitude extends to their food choices. Busy professionals eat fast food because the food is cheap, and menus include seemingly healthy choices. Furthermore, those who cook at home still are faced with dubious choices when shopping for food. A lack of awareness of food ingredients, in addition to misunderstanding food labeling, creates a situation where consumers purchase products with hidden sugar and salt. Sometimes, the labels on the packaging have so many ingredients that consumers feel like they have to become chemists to decipher the ingredient lists. Making matters worse, modern consumer-driven society offers an amalgam of technological gadgets and toys, encouraging sedentary lifestyles of both adults and children. Most people relax in front of the television or computer while engaging in some activity that does not involve burning calories or movement when they are not working. The combination of unhealthy dieting and sedentary lifestyles creates conditions for abnormal blood sugar levels, which increases the risk of more complicated health problems. Blood sugar levels can be maintained and controlled by simple lifestyle choices that involve awareness, diet, and exercise. Tips for controlling blood sugar Stay informed The wonderful thing about the internet is that there is so much information at the tip of one’s fingers regarding any topic, including this one. More specifically, a hub of health articles related to metabolism, insulin, blood glucose levels and diabetes is available for consumers to access. Research nutritional terms on labels Do not rely on food labeling for information regarding what is in the food. Carry out a search of some of the ingredients listed on the label to see exactly what is being consumed. When grocery shopping, observe how many ingredients are in the packaging. One good rule of thumb is to look for food items that have just a few ingredients, none of which are adulterated. Create a lifestyle change It is vital to change your overall lifestyle rather than merely dieting because the goal is to adopt long-term healthy eating habits. Incorporate activities into daily living Find activities that are enjoyable to participate in during your free time. These activities can include walking, gardening, or swimming. They do not have to be traditional exercise workouts, but they should burn calories. Remember that these activities are a part of a total lifestyle change. Lifestyle is just one predictor in determining whether a person develops diseases related to abnormal blood sugar levels. Weight gain and other, more serious health conditions begin with fluctuating glucose levels that can be addressed early on. One of the best preventative methods is to be proactive in adopting healthy lifestyle choices.
Young Children and College I was having a conversation with a fellow educator. We were discussing the different types of programs that exist for school age children. There are play-based programs--traditional programs like the YMCA, Boys and Girls Club, educational programs like Kumon, plus corporate options like KinderCare and Champions. With the variety of different programs I started to wonder What is the role of an afterschool program in the lives of children? Thinking about this question I researched some attributes of quality afterschool care. Qualities like cleanliness, organization, training of educators, being licensed, variety of materials, curriculum and location near school contribute to the basic services families need when choosing an afterschool program. The Afterschool Alliance, an organization that has a stated vision of “Were working to ensure all youth have access to affordable, quality afterschool programs” has a list of guidelines that create a quality afterschool environment. Some examples include frequent interaction with adults, quiet areas and noisy areas, outside experiences, imaginative play opportunities and opportunities to work with a variety of materials and projects. There are seventeen qualities listed and only two of the qualities resemble direct learning activities like children experience in school because children need a break from work just like you do. Some educators have told me in afterschool that we are “preparing the children for college”. Some programs and agencies believe this is our mission. I found articles talking about quality afterschool with titles like, “Afterschool Programs Develop College and Career Readiness”, “Afterschool Programs Support Common Core Implementation” and “Workforce Development in Afterschool”. Being an educator in afterschool for many years I never believed that was our mission. I believe afterschool is a place for children to come and socialize with friends, have a snack, play outside as much as possible, rest, read a book, learn at their own pace in an interesting prepared environment and choose their own work. Some children will paint others will build with Lego’s. Some children love board games, playing sports, building with clay, making creations out of recycled materials and sewing. There are a million other choices I have witnessed children enjoy over the years and none of them include preparing for college. Why? Because the children in our care are doing what all of us do when we are done with our work day we want freedom of choice to explore our hobbies and develop our interests outside of work. In school age care, some educators view these activities as a waste of time. They believe children should be doing homework, learning STEM and doing projects that equal more rote learning so they can get a job in 15 years. What happened to being a child, enjoying the outdoors, chasing butterflies, playing with a stick and playing kickball? More work and more adult directed learning are replacing all of the child directed activities so a child can get good grades instead of becoming a whole person. If this is the real mission of afterschool, why have it after, just stay in school. I propose afterschool become something else. A place where we encourage young people to develop a well-rounded perspective on life, one with an idea that life is more than a bunch of facts to be regurgitated on a test, one that learns for the joy of the activity, one that lives in the moment and one that makes social connections in the formation of a community. Is the mission of afterschool preparing children for college?
Sarcoidosis Causes, Signs, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment Sarcoidosis Causes, Signs, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment What Is Sarcoidosis? Sarcoidosis can affect any organ in your body. However, it's more likely to affect some organs than others. The disease usually starts in the lungs, skin, and/or lymph nodes (especially the lymph nodes in your chest). Treatment for sarcoidosis varies depending on which organs are affected. Your doctor may prescribe topical treatments and/or medicines to treat the disease. Not everyone who has sarcoidosis needs treatment. Causes of Sarcoidosis Doctors don't know the exact cause of sarcoidosis. Some people appear to have a genetic predisposition to developing the disease, which may be triggered by exposure to specific bacteria, viruses, dust or chemicals. Researchers are still trying to pinpoint the genes and trigger substances associated with sarcoidosis. Normally, your immune system helps protect your body from foreign substances and invading microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses. But in sarcoidosis, some immune cells collect in a pattern of inflammation called granulomas. As granulomas build up in an organ, the function of that organ can be affected. Risk factors of Sarcoidosis While anyone can develop sarcoidosis, factors that may increase your risk include: • Age and sex. Sarcoidosis often occurs between the ages of 20 and 40. Women are slightly more likely to develop the disease. • Race. African-Americans have a higher incidence of sarcoidosis than do white Americans. Also, sarcoidosis may be more severe and may be more likely to recur and cause lung problems in African-Americans. • Family history. If someone in your family has had sarcoidosis, you are more likely to develop the disease yourself. Who Gets Sarcoidosis? No one knows what causes sarcoidosis. What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Sarcoidosis? The signs and symptoms of sarcoidosis vary depending on which organs are affected. Signs and symptoms also may vary depending on your gender, age, and ethnic background. Common Signs and Symptoms of Sarcoidosis In both adults and children, sarcoidosis most often affects the lungs. If granulomas (inflamed lumps) form in your lungs, you may wheeze, cough, feel short of breath, or have chest pain. Or, you may have no symptoms at all. Some people who have sarcoidosis feel very tired, uneasy, or depressed. Night sweats and weight loss are common symptoms of the disease. Common signs and symptoms in children are fatigue (tiredness), loss of appetite, weight loss, bone and joint pain, and anemia. Children who are younger than 4 years old may have a distinct form of sarcoidosis. It may cause enlarged lymph nodes in the chest (which can be seen on chest x-ray pictures), skin lesions, and eye swelling or redness. Other Signs and Symptoms of Sarcoidosis Sarcoidosis may affect your lymph nodes. The disease can cause enlarged lymph nodes that feel tender. Sarcoidosis usually affects the lymph nodes in your neck and chest. However, the disease also may affect the lymph nodes under your chin, in your armpits, or in your groin. Sarcoidosis can cause lumps, ulcers (sores), or areas of discolored skin. These areas may itch, but they don't hurt. These signs tend to appear on your back, arms, legs, and scalp. Sometimes they appear near your nose or eyes. These signs usually last a long time. Sarcoidosis may cause a more serious skin condition called lupus pernio. Disfiguring skin sores may affect your nose, nasal passages, cheeks, ears, eyelids, and fingers. These sores tend to be ongoing. They can return after treatment is over. Sarcoidosis also can cause eye problems. If you have sarcoidosis, having an annual eye exam is important. If you have changes in your vision and can't see as clearly or can't see color, call 9–1–1 or have someone drive you to the emergency room. You should call your doctor if you have any new eye symptoms, such as burning, itching, tearing, pain, or sensitivity to light. Signs and symptoms of sarcoidosis also may include an enlarged liver, spleen, or salivary glands. Although less common, sarcoidosis can affect the heart and brain. This can cause many symptoms, such as abnormal heartbeats, shortness of breath, headaches, and vision problems. If sarcoidosis affects the heart or brain, serious complications can occur. Lofgren's Syndrome Lofgren's syndrome is a classic set of signs and symptoms that occur in some people when they first have sarcoidosis. Signs and symptoms may include: • Fever. This symptom only occurs in some people. • Enlarged lymph nodes (which can be seen on a chest x ray). • Arthritis, usually in the ankles. This symptom is more common in men than women. • Erythema nodosum. This is a rash of red or reddish-purple bumps on your ankles and shins. The rash may be warm and tender to the touch. This symptom is more common in women than men. Some things we don't know about sarcoidosis Sarcoidosis is currently thought to be associated with an abnormal immune response. It is not known whether the trigger that initiates the immune disturbance is a foreign substance, chemical, drug, virus, or some other substance. In general, sarcoidosis appears briefly and heals naturally in 60%-70% of the cases, often without the patient knowing or doing anything about it. From 20%-30% of sarcoidosis patients are left with some permanent lung damage. In 10%-15% of the patients, sarcoidosis can become chronic. When either the granulomas or fibrosis seriously affect the function of a vital organ—the lungs, heart, nervous system, liver, or kidneys, for example—sarcoidosis can be fatal. This occurs 5%-10% of the time. Some people are more at risk than others; no one knows why. No one can predict how sarcoidosis will progress in an individual patient. The patient's symptoms, race, and the doctor's findings can give some clues. For example, a sudden onset of general symptoms, such as weight loss or feeling generally ill, are usually taken to mean that the course of sarcoidosis will be relatively short and mild. Dyspnea and possibly skin sarcoidosis often indicate that the sarcoidosis will be more chronic and severe. Sarcoidosis rarely develops before the age of 10 or after the age of 60. However, the illness—with or without symptoms—has been reported in younger as well as in older people. When symptoms do appear in these age groups, the symptoms are those that are more general in nature, for example, tiredness, sluggishness, coughing, and a general feeling of ill health. How Is Sarcoidosis Diagnosed? There is no single way to diagnose sarcoidosis, since all the symptoms and laboratory results can occur in other diseases. For this reason, your doctor will carefully review your medical history and examine you to determine if you have sarcoidosis. The main tools your doctor will use to diagnose sarcoidosis include: Chest X-rays to look for cloudiness (pulmonary infiltrates) or swollen lymph nodes (lymphadenopathy). • CT scan to provide an even more detailed look at the lungs and lymph nodes than provided by a chest X-ray. • Pulmonary function (breathing) tests to measure how well the lungs are working. • Bronchoscopy to inspect the bronchial tubes and to extract a biopsy (a small tissue sample) to look for granulomas and to obtain material to rule out infection. Bronchoscopy involves passing a small tube (bronchoscope) down the trachea (windpipe) and into the bronchial tubes (airways) of the lungs. How Is Sarcoidosis Treated? Not everyone who has sarcoidosis needs treatment. Sometimes the disease goes away on its own. Whether you need treatment and what type of treatment you need depend on your signs and symptoms, which organs are affected, and whether those organs are working well. If the disease affects certain organs—such as your eyes, heart, or brain—you'll need treatment even if you don't have any symptoms. In either case, whether you have symptoms or not, you should see your doctor for ongoing care. He or she will want to check to make sure that the disease isn't damaging your organs. For example, you may need routine lung function tests to make sure that your lungs are working well. If the disease isn't worsening, your doctor may watch you closely to see whether the disease goes away on its own. If the disease does start to get worse, your doctor can prescribe treatment. The goals of treatment include: • Relieving symptoms • Improving organ function • Controlling inflammation and reducing the size of granulomas (inflamed lumps) • Preventing pulmonary fibrosis (lung scarring) if your lungs are affected Treatments generally fall into two categories -- maintenance of good health practices and drug treatment. Good health practices include: • Getting regular check-ups with your health care provider • Eating a well-balanced diet with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables • Drinking eight to 10, 8-ounce glasses of water a day • Getting six to eight hours of sleep each night • Exercising regularly and managing your weight • Quitting smoking Prednisone, a type of steroid, is the main treatment for sarcoidosis. This medicine reduces inflammation. In most people, prednisone relieves symptoms within a couple of months. Although most people need to take prednisone for 12 months or longer, your doctor may lower the dose within a few months after you start the medicine. Long-term use of prednisone, especially at high doses, can cause serious side effects. Work with your doctor to decide whether the benefits of this medicine outweigh the risks. If your doctor prescribes this treatment, he or she will find the lowest dose that controls your disease. When you stop taking prednisone, you should cut back slowly (as your doctor advises). This will help prevent flareups of sarcoidosis. Cutting back slowly also allows your body to adjust to not having the medicine. If a relapse or flareup occurs after you stop taking prednisone, you may need a second round of treatment. If you remain stable for more than 1 year after stopping this treatment, the risk of relapse is low. Other Medicines Other medicines, besides prednisone, also are used to treat sarcoidosis. Examples include: • Hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine (known as antimalarial medicines). These medicines work best for treating sarcoidosis that affects the skin or brain. Your doctor also may prescribe an antimalarial if you have a high level of calcium in your blood due to sarcoidosis. • Medicines that suppress the immune system, such as methotrexate, azathioprine, or leflunomide. These medicines work best for treating sarcoidosis that affects your lungs, eyes, skin, or joints. Your doctor may prescribe these medicines if your sarcoidosis worsens while you're taking prednisone or if you can't handle prednisone's side effects. If you have Lofgren's syndrome with pain or fever, your doctor may prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen. If you're wheezing and coughing, you may need inhaled medicine to help open your airways. You take inhaled medicine using an inhaler. This device allows the medicine to go straight to your lungs. Anti-tumor necrosis factor drugs, originally developed to treat arthritis, are being studied to treat sarcoidosis. What Can Happen As Sarcoidosis Progresses? In many people with sarcoidosis, the disease appears briefly and then disappears without the person even knowing they have the disease. Twenty percent to 30% of people have some permanent lung damage. For 10% to 15%, sarcoidosis is a chronic condition. In some people, the disease may result in the deterioration of the affected organ. Rarely, sarcoidosis can be fatal. Death usually is the result of complications with the lungs, heart, or brain. Management for Sarcoidosis Most people with sarcoidosis lead a normal life. Living with Sarcoidosis
unbekannter Gast Japan: Geography# Geographic Coordinates36 00 N, 138 00 E 36.0,138.0 Area total: 377,915 sq km land: 364,485 sq km water: 13,430 sq km [Verified in 8 databases] Land boundaries0 km Coastline29,751 km Elevation Extremeslowest point: Hachiro-gata -4 m highest point: Fujiyama 3,776 m According to Wolfram: Fuji-san 3776 m; Mount Kita 3193 m; Hotakadake 3190 m; Mount Aino 3189 m; Yarigadake 3180 m According to Geonames: Kita-dake 3193 m; Oku-Hotaka-dake 3190 m; Aino-dake 3189 m; Yariga-take 3180 m; Akaishi-dake 3120 m Important Mountains Terrainmostly rugged and mountainous Natural Hazardsmany dormant and some active volcanoes; about 1,500 seismic occurrences (mostly tremors but occasional severe earthquakes) every year; tsunamis; typhoons volcanism: both Unzen (elev. 1,500 m) and Sakura-jima (elev. 1,117 m), which lies near the densely populated city of Kagoshima, have been deemed Decade Volcanoes by the International Association of Volcanology and Chemistry of the Earth's Interior, worthy of study due to their explosive history and close proximity to human populations; other notable historically active volcanoes include Asama, Honshu Island's most active volcano, Aso, Bandai, Fuji, Iwo-Jima, Kikai, Kirishima, Komaga-take, Oshima, Suwanosejima, Tokachi, Yake-dake, and Usu Natural Resourcenegligible mineral resources, fish note: with virtually no energy natural resources, Japan is the world's largest importer of coal and liquefied natural gas, as well as the second largest importer of oil Land Usearable land: 11.26% permanent crops: 0.81% other: 87.93% (2011) Climatevaries from tropical in south to cool temperate in north Irrigated Land25,000 sq km (2010) Renewable Water Resources430 cu km (2011) signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements Large CitiesTokyo; Yokohama; Osaka; Nagoya; Sapporo Important Cities Geography-notestrategic location in northeast Asia Important Lakes
Latino History Month #4 For the fourth and final installment of the “Latino Like Me Presents: Latino History Month 2010″™ series I wanted to go into the past to provide you a historical primary source that is both a window into our collective past as well as our collective present. And so we turn to the legendary Bernardo Vega. Born in Puerto Rico, in 1885, Vega worked as a tobaquero, a cigar maker. Tobaqueros were skilled workers on the islands of the Caribbean, as well as a highly politicized class. In each workshop a man called “El Lector” was paid to read newspapers and political treatises to the workers, providing them something of a sustained education as they rolled their hand-crafted cigars. In the late 19th century, when Puerto Rico and Cuba were both Spanish colonies, tobaqueros were among the first migrants to the US from the Lain American Caribbean. They settled in parts of the US South and Northeast, and helped organize political groups to agitate for an end to Spanish colonialism. The groups they established became the roots of future Puerto Rican and Cuban communities for the next century. In 1916, Vega became part of that community when he arrived in New York City. What makes Vega an important figure is that he wrote about his life experiences. Published after his death, The Memoirs of Bernardo Vega is less a personal story of one man than a record of early 20th-century Puerto Rican life, in particular in the mainland US. Among the more exciting elements of his text are the detailed descriptions of this early community, both passionate about their island home as well as the political realities of daily life in the belly of the US empire. Vega, like other politically-minded people, had ideas about the world he witnessed, many times identifying and analyzing important issues facing Latinos in the US. This passage, from that seminal text, is one example: The constant growth of the Puerto Rican community gave rise to riots, controversy, hatred. But there is one fact that stands out: at a time when there were no more than half a million of us, our impact on cultural life in the United States was far stronger than that of the 4 million Mexican-Americans. And the reason is clear: though they shared with us the same cultural origins, people of Mexican extraction, involved as they were in agricultural labor, found themselves scattered throughout the American Southwest. The Puerto Ricans, on the other hand, settled in the large urban centers, especially in New York, where in spite of everything the circumstances were more conducive to cultural interaction and enrichment, whether we wanted or that way or not. Vega’s analysis is perceptive and, on many levels, true. In this time period, and for the next two generations, Puerto Ricans were concentrated largely in one urban center–New York. The “impact” they had on affairs in that city (and somewhat beyond) is partially a result of their concentration, but also a result of their political and cultural organization. Even when their numbers were few, Puerto Ricans came to the US and set out to do the work of community organizing, and they were successful. The fact that much of this organization took root in New York city–the most important city in the US–provided other advantages. New York’s position within US economic, political, and cultural matters only increased throughout the 20th century, and by having a voice within the Big Apple, Puerto Ricans had a voice in the nation writ large. Where Vega missed the mark is in his lack of acknowledgment of one key difference between the migration of Puerto Ricans and the millions of Mexicans in the Southwest. Puerto Ricans migrated to the US as citizens, vested with full political rights upon their arrival. This isn’t to say they did not face harsh racism and multiple forms of discrimination. But, as voters, they could garner the attention of politicians in ways that Mexican Americans could not. Ethnic Mexicans in the Southwest were numerous and diffuse, but they were also clustered in key urban centers. By 1930, Los Angeles had become the second-largest Mexican city in the world, second only to Mexico City itself. But in the early 20th century, most in the ethnic Mexican community were first-generation, non-citizen immigrants. As the number of US-born Mexican Americans came to represent half and, then, a majority of the population as a whole, they did so with the largest share of their population under the age of 21. For much of the century, then, ethnic Mexicans were primarily a non-eligible to vote majority population. Accordingly, as late as the mid-20th century, Mexican Americans struggled to exert any political force at all, living as they were in a political system that had little motivation to cater to them. My analysis is not meant to disparage Vega as much as to point out the people we call “Latino” and “Latina” have much in common, as well as much that distinguishes their historical and present-day realities. Citizenship and regional migration patterns are but two. We could also have discussed gender, race, nationality, class and a host of other forces which have carved out divergent experiences. The final lesson is not a pessimistic one. This “diversity within commonality” is at the heart of Latino America. It is the source of a tremendous opportunity for us all to learn about the contours of US imperialism in “on the ground”, concrete ways. It is also an opportunity for us, as Latinos, to better learn about ourselves and, in the process, create something new. The US national project has been simultaneously tragic and hopeful. Far from a fulfillment of its most enduring ideals, the US–as experienced by indigenous Americans, African slaves, and waves of immigrants–has been as much a story of conquest and oppression as freedom and liberty. But the space between those two poles, the lived reality of millions of us now and then, continues to breed a hope that something better can be realized. The hope of this something better requires a deliberate and purposeful re-imagining of ourselves in ways that incorporate difference, acknowledge past and current struggles, and embrace true equity. This is the example we set as Latinos in the US. We forge a pathway to this new nation by our current struggles to do exactly the same within our own “community.” The mere fact that this word can be used to describe us–however conditional it might be–should be embraced as a sign of hope for everyone. We have been so important to the past of this nation. We are vitally important to it if it is to have a future. One thought on “Latino History Month #4 1. I want to second your observation on the regional variation within the U.S. Latino community, Tomas. In some ways, we can be as parochial and misinformed about our own people as the U.S. mainstream. Just this weekend at the Latino Book and Family Festival I listened to a Latino film producer speak of doing “Latino/Chicano” stories as if those terms were interchangeable. Thankfully other panel members pointed out the limitations this bright and articulate individual was placing on our identity. In another example, following one of my presentations about my book where I discussed the diversity of Latinos, a Latino reporter friend from Bakersfield told me if he tried to convince some of his family and friends there were black Latinos from the Caribbean “their heads would explode.” Thanks for continually sharing a broader picture of Latino Americans. 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Natural disasters – Acts of God or human culpability? Can politicians – our custodians – and leaders of big fossil fuel companies – become personally responsible for damages that occur due to their negligence? Act of God – force majeure – An old legal term Legal history may sound boring, but is actually very interesting and relevant to today’s challenges. The reasoning about culpability (guilt) goes back to the Law of the Twelve Tables about 600 BC and the Roman Law further developed during a thousand years. “It is believed that Roman Law is rooted in the Etruscan religion, emphasising ritual”. Most juridical reasonings started out in religion. There were perceived gods everywhere and they apparently all had as a hobby to more or less intervene in human plans and business. So when a ship sank or a slave was accidentally killed, it was extremely difficult to claim compensation for damages by the one who suffered losses, as you could always argue that the accident was due to intervention by a god or two. Roman law, which international law more or less is based on, starts here. The Romans developed a legal system to ensure that trade in the Mediterranean area would go as smoothly as possible, with a minimum of risk for the investors. A shipwrecked captain would have to prove he had done everything possible to save the ship by referring to the precautionary measures he had taken, by training the crew, maintaining the boat, not overloading, when necessary throwing some heavy goods overboard etc. A legal standard that still exists in international law called “bonus pater familias” (Anners, p.289) was established: The standard of what a good, reasonable and responsible family father would have done in the same situation. (What this good person would have done was assessed by the judge / praetor (Anners, p.58).) The reasonable person weighs four factors before he acts. First, he assesses the foreseeable risk of harm his actions or lack thereof may create and compare them to the utility he might achieve. He also calculates the extent of the risk. Thirdly, he must assess the likelihood of the risk actually causing harm to others and fourth, the possible alternative actions of less risk. The reasonable person is thus required to appropriately inform himself and act accordingly. If the captain of a ship in the Roman time had failed to take all reasonable precautions, culpability could be established. Negligence, mistakes or intentional damage that could have affected the outcome (causality) would be the first step towards making him personally responsible. The next step would be: was the damaging event foreseeable, or would it have surprised all cautious and responsible people? If the event would come right out of the blue as a complete surprise to any sensible person, this would have been called an act of the gods, later “Act of God” or “force majeure“, and the case dismissed. The investor would have to carry the loss himself, unless there was an agreement on more than one investor sharing the losses (Anners, p. 69). This is the historical roots of insurance companies. The investors gradually developed teams of lawyers who would specialize in arguing for that the event could not have come as a complete surprise; a good and experienced captain should have foreseen…etc, and that the captain had not fulfilled the bonus pater familias standards. A third legal point was added: possible or potential damage extent. The bigger the possible damage, the higher demands on precautionary measures that should have been taken to fulfill the “bonus pater standard”. A negligent and careless captain would have to argue very cleverly to get away, and to avoid risking lifelong slavery for himself and his family (Anners,p.74), he would often prefer going down with his ship. It is still a rule of honor for all captains to stay with his ship as long as possible, and be the last person to abandon it. Gradually, expectations towards what the state or government should do to facilitate trade also grew: keep pirates away, help traders get their rights in other countries, build lighthouses, build harbors etc. If a representative of the state failed to do his duties, he would run the same risks of facing the investors’ lawyers in court as a captain who negligently lost his ship. The old Roman law still gives important guidelines to EU law and international law. New legal standards in the area of damage claims have been developed e.g. “objective responsibility for damages” in addition to “subjective”. Objective responsibility means that even if you cannot directly blame an individual for the damages, they were foreseeable, and therefore the investor has to pay for damages on a third party, even if personal culpability was not established. But still, most big insurance claims starts out establishing “force majeure” / “act of god” or not, as a first step, reflecting a more than 2500 year old legal practice. Arab and African traders at that time became very envious of the Roman legal systems for trade, damage claims, lawyers, courts and developing insurance systems, as they had more defeatist religious perceptions of accidents and damages than the Romans. In addition they were not able to adapt new laws efficiently because e.g, Arab laws were given by a static religion, such as at a later stage the Quran (Anners, p. 172), making them rather inflexible, while the Roman laws were given by the praetor (Anners, p.70), or by the government / Ceasar, in cooperation with private enterprise, and could easily be adapted and added on when new events and interests occurred. This meant that it was more risky for Africans and Arabs to invest large sums in foreign trade. They therefore tended to keep their investments modest and static, while Romans (Western Europe) kept increasing and developing theirs. Do we see remnants of this even today? Another interesting question is: are the authorities behaving responsibly facing potential natural disasters – and more so when warnings about the coming disasters have been given by the most prestigious scientists in the world on anthropogenic impacts on the world’s climate? How about appropriate steps to preserve the world’s biological diversity and the health of our common ecosystems? Are we diligently enforcing laws and regulations preventing poisoning and polluting the environment to the detriment of others? If other people or animals get sick or even die because of our actions or lack of proper actions — are we criminally negligent then? Can people in other countries claim compensation for our negligent behavior? In the coming decades we are likely to see an increasing number of total breakdowns of ecosystems. The most prominent researchers in the world have been crying out warnings for years. With climate change becoming increasingly severe, is it possible for farmers in California to sue the state authorities for negligently failing to take appropriate steps in time to prevent unnecessary damage? Can the farmers argue that the authorities knew or should have known that severe and prolonged droughts are increasingly likely because of anthropogenically enhanced global warming, and that steps should have been taken to mitigate or at least adapt and increase resilience? If so – is it conceivable that the authorities might get away by playing the “Act of God”-card? Are we taking the mitigation and adaptation steps required by the ‘bonus pater familias’ standard, or do we run the risk of being culpable of negligence in spite of clear warnings from authoritative sources? There are now many lawyers working in their free time preparing lawsuits on behalf of e.g.Vanuatu and other small island states, against the world’s major emitters of greenhouse gases, the coal and oil companies of the world, and their PR companies spreading disinformation and trying to discredit the UN and the mainstream scientific communities. The big multinational fossil fuel lobbies are bracing themselves against these multi-billion dollar lawsuits by spreading as much confusion and doubt about harmful impacts of manmade global warming as possible through their propaganda industries. Several organisations now prepare lawsuits against their own governments for gross negligence or even breaking their own laws. E.g. according to the Norwegian constitution § 112 “Everyone has the right to an environment that ensures the health, and a nature where productivity and diversity is preserved. Nature’s resources should be allocated on the basis of a long-term and comprehensive account that safeguards this right also for posterity”. What happens if a Norwegian court decides that the government of Norway breaks §112 in the constitution? Can the members of the government be punished? Be sentenced to pay compensation? See Norwegian Writer’s Climate Campaign § 112 and Grandparents Climate Campaign In the USA, the NGO called Our Children’s trust, with a team of lawyers and scientists, takes state authorities to court. The mission of OUR CHILDREN’S TRUST is to establish the legal right to a healthy atmosphere and stable climate for all present and future generations.By supporting youth plaintiffs in strategic atmospheric trust litigation, OUR CHILDREN’S TRUST empowers youth to lead a game-changing effort to hold the ruling generation accountable and to compel governments in the United States and abroad to adopt and implement enforceable science-based Climate Recovery Plans. Here is a short video on the legal action Eradicating ecocide – Support ecocide law: A fully proposed draft of the law of Ecocide was submitted into the United Nations by Polly Higgins in April 2010. The intent behind the drafting is to ensure that people and planet are put first and to create a legal duty of care to a) prohibit the causes of mass damage and destruction, b) prevent future significant harm from taking place and c) pre-empt both human caused and natural Ecocides that put nations at risk of being unable to self-govern. A law of Ecocide addresses the core issue of today: ensuring the welfare of both people and planet. Support ecocide law End ecocide on Earth The United Nations has persistently worked on an international set of laws to protect the environment. UNEP has its own division called Division of Environmental Law and Conventions (DELC). DELC works with Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). The best known MEAS are probably: Legal actions Urgenda case Our childrens’ trust – Youths vs US New York vs Big oil California vs Big oil New Jersey vs Big oil Big Coal and Oil culpable of deception? Indigenous peoples’ rights Failing to take responsible action – culpability? Gory examples of negligence: Norwegian Constitution § 112 Grunnlovens miljøparagraf Grunnlovens klima- og miljøkrav. Beate Sjåfjell. «Norge kan ikke alene oppnå det politisk omforente togradersmålet. Men Norge kan gi et betydelig bidrag, og er etter Grl. § 110 b forpliktet til å gjøre det.» Tjæresand, Oljefondet og norske rettsregler. Pål W. Lorentzen. «Som del av vår høyeste rettskilde, Grunnloven, forplikter bestemmelsen storting, regjering og alle oss andre.» Statoil på kant med Grunnloven. Per Bjørn Foros. «Vår frihet blir til kommende generasjoners ufrihet. Det var ikke slik de tenkte på Eidsvoll i 1814.» Grunnloven § 112 – et fyrtårn for «det grønne skiftet». Pål W. Lorentzen. «Tydeligere innhold, moderne språkdrakt: Grunnlovens bestemmelse om beskyttelse av miljøet kan bli et effektivt virkemiddel i miljøkampen.» Grunnlovens § 112 krever handling, ikke ord. Beate Sjåfjell. «§ 112 krever dyptgående reformer. Alternativet er å sette selve vårt eksistensgrunnlag på spill. Et slikt fundamentalt brudd på Grunnloven bør ikke få gå upåaktet hen.» «Den Norske Stat har rettsstridig brutt Grunnloven § 112» Høyesterettsadvokat Pål W. Lorentzen har tatt ut en tenkt stevning mot Staten, på vegne av Kari og Ola Nordmann, for manglende oppfølging av det vi vet om menneskeskapt global oppvarming. About svenaake University Teacher. This entry was posted in Environment, Legal action, Sustainable development and tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink. Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
Lobes of the Brain Home > Preview The flashcards below were created by user kirstenp on FreezingBlue Flashcards. 1. What is the frontal lobe associated with? Involved with cognitive processes such as judging, planning and initiative, aspects of personality and emotions and voluntary muscle movements. 2. What is the primary cortex of the frontal lobe and what are its functions? • Primary motor cortex • Involved in controlling voluntary body movement through its control of muscles 3. Name and function: • Broca's area, found in the left frontal lobe • Production of clear, articulate speech • Vital for the proper grammatical structure of sentences • Coordinates the movements of the muscles required for speech 4. Name and function: • Wernicke's area • Vital role in interpreting sound and speech comprehension. Locating and retrieves words from memory. 5. Name: • A. Broca's area • B. Primary motor cortex • C. Primary somatic sensory Cortex • D. Somatic sensory association area (parietal lobe) • E. Wernicke's Area • F. Primary visual cortex 6. What lobe does this represent? Frontal lobe: complexity of movement 7. What are the parietal lobes responsible for? • Perception of own body and where things are located in immediate surroundings • Right: perception of three-dimensional shapes and designs. Awareness of space and location of objects in environment • left: mental arithmetic, reading and writing 8. What is the somatosensory cortex responsible for? Responsible for processing bodily sensations such as pain, temperature, touch & pressure 9. What are the temporal lobes responsible for? • Responsible for processing auditory information. Remembering faces, memory • Primary auditory cortex: analyses sensations perceived through the ears eg. speech, music 10. Describe the occipital lobes • Concerned with vision. Organises visual stimuli into more complex forms to enable interpretation • Primary visual cortex: Processes different types of visual stimuli 11. What is Aphasia? Language difficulties such as writing, reading and speaking due to damage to the brain 12. What is Wernicke's aphasia? • aka Receptive aphasia • The individual has trouble understanding written and spoken language. • Speech is fluent but meaningless • Partial or complete loss of ability to recall names (anomia) 13. What is Broca's aphasia? • Caused by damage to Broca's area • aka Expressive aphasia • Difficulties speaking, non fluent • Speech lacks grammar and syntax • Difficulty with writing • Can usually comprehend speech 14. What is the left hemisphere responsible for? 15. What is the right hemisphere responsible for? 16. What is spatial neglect? • A disorder in which an individual ignores stimuli on one side of their body • Occurs after brain injury (caused by stroke or brain injury) and relates to visual stimuli. • ‘blind’; the eyes function normally however • the brain is unable to process visual stimuli normally. Card Set Information Lobes of the Brain 2013-04-08 16:29:25 Psychology brain lobes cortical lobes Show Answers: What would you like to do? Home > Flashcards > Print Preview
Select Page Gabfest: 6/18/2016 So what’s up with reparations? Well…imagine you worked for a company for a long time and then found out they hadn’t paid you what you should have received. What would you do? Probably sue them for back pay, right? Now imagine you worked for someone for a few hundred years…and got paid NOTHING, despite working hard every day, six days a week, 52 weeks a year. Wouldn’t you sue for back pay? That’s what reparations is all about. African American slaves worked for centuries with no pay (and then worked under Jim Crow for another century at very low pay) and during that time British and American capitalism prospered as it industrialized based on cheap cotton used to make clothes to sell to the world. And who grew and harvested the cotton? African American slaves of course. So now the question is: Should the descendants of African American slaves be paid some portion of the wages their ancestors were cheated out of through slavery? We will discuss the politics, morality, and economics of this issue. We will send out some suggested reading materials to enrich the conversation, but you can get started with Ta’nehisi Coates magisterial Atlantic article “The Case for Reparations” at Thought of the day: Justice delayed is justice denied. Jeff Horton
Anger Management Some psychologists recommend a balanced approach to anger that controls the emotion and allows the emotion to express itself in a healthy way. Some descriptions of actions of anger management are: • Direct: This includes making behavior visible and making communication clear. The end result is to not become resentful but, rather, be honest about the feeling of anger and what is causing it. • Honorable: This includes identifying the moral basis for the anger and being willing to dialog around the reason for the anger. In short, this includes taking responsibility for actions. • Focused: This means staying with the issue of concern and not bringing up irrelevant material. • Humility: This means seeking the truth instead of being defensive and self-justifying. • Forgiveness: This means acknowledging the wrong in someone else's behavior or words and then letting go of bitterness and resentment associated with that wrong. • Listen: This means hearing the other person out and asking questions around their feelings and their reasons for their action. • Thankfulness: This means finding elements related to the situation where one is genuinely appreciative and expressing that. A common skill used in most anger management programs is learning assertive communication techniques. Assertive communication is the appropriate use of expressing feelings and needs without offending or taking away the rights of others. It is typically started with the use of "I" statements followed by a need statement. For example, "I feel upset when you don't take my feelings into consideration when you talk about your past relationships. I hope you can be more thoughtful and know what you should and should not say the next time." Call Now
Wiki continuity government wiki continuity government The basis of (Presidential Decision Directives) - Enduring Constitutional Government and Continuity of Government Operations. Pages in category " Continuity of government in the United States". The following 60 pages are in this category, out of 60 total. This list may not reflect recent. Cause of the Zombie outbreak and government collapse. Characters Portal. Kirkman said that going back to explain how the government originally collapsed... Wiki continuity government tri The idea was to have half of the government and the royal family in one bunker, and the other half in the other, allowing continuity of government, even if one of the bunkers were destroyed or cut off. Documents for Contingencies Other than a Plan D Situation Which Justify Application of Emergency Measures on a National Scale E. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved from " EV? wiki continuity government Journey cheap: Wiki continuity government • Skip to Wiki Navigation. • Voters democrats more step than republicans poll says • Wiki continuity government Wiki continuity government - - flying United States presidential line of succession. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Create your own and start something epic. US Army Corps of Engineers. wiki continuity government Expedition Seoul: Wiki continuity government Estados narcomenudeo probable movil ejecucion mujeres ciudad juarez See also Project Greek Island Other provisions of the plans included executive orders designating certain government officials to assume Cabinet wiki continuity government other executive-branch positions and carry out the responsibilities of the position if the primary officeholders are killed. Zombies also steer clear of humans who smell like zombies, such as when Rick and Glenn cover themselves in the gore of dcbprofil equipe monaco bodies and manage to escape notice from other zombies until rain washes it off. This article may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. This information was provided by the United States. Duties: The Department of Education is the modern amalgamation of modele nissan trail only its former incarnations, but the Departments of Information and New Citizens. ICBMs would deploy against targets selected by the President and top military officers as potential enemies who have the ability to commit such an attack against Everett. Ground-Mobile Command Center H. Rachel maddow show ivanka trump gains unprecedented powers white house Holiday location overview thailand Wiki continuity government 730 News politics articles obama hold first public event post presidency Rentacar blog book your trip today
Posted on By John E. Murray The first public orphanage in the United States, the Charleston Orphan apartment observed to the welfare and schooling of hundreds of thousands of youngsters from bad white households within the city South. From prosperous benefactors to the households who sought its information to the artisans and retailers who depended on its fees as apprentices, the Orphan condominium was once a critical component to the city’s social fabric. by way of bringing jointly white voters from all degrees of society, it additionally performed a robust political function in holding the present social order. John E. Murray tells the tale of the Charleston Orphan condominium for the 1st time throughout the phrases of these who lived there or had relations who did. via their letters and petitions, the publication follows the households from the occasions and judgements that led them to the Charleston Orphan condominium throughout the children’s time spent there to, in a number of instances, their later grownup lives. What those money owed show are households suffering to take care of ties after catastrophic loss and to maintain bonds with young ones who now not lived below their roofs. An intimate glimpse into the lives of the white negative in early American background, The Charleston Orphan House is additionally an illuminating examine social welfare provision within the antebellum South. Show description Best American History books The Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers Within the Intimate Lives of the Founding Fathers from Smithsonian Books, historian Thomas Fleming, writer of The Perils of Peace, bargains a clean examine the serious position of girls within the lives of Washington, Franklin, Adams, Jefferson, Hamilton, and Madison. Fleming nimbly takes readers via loads of early American historical past, as our founding fathers fight to reconcile the personal and public–and usually care for a media every piece as gossip-seeking and inflammatory as ours this day. Liberty and freedom: americans agree that those values are basic to our country, yet what do they suggest? How have their meanings replaced via time? during this new quantity of cultural background, David Hackett Fischer exhibits how those various rules shape an intertwined strand that runs during the middle of yank existence. American Colonial History: Clashing Cultures and Faiths Show sample text content Seventy three simply the main fascinating, if unrepresentative, case used to be that of Thomas Gayner Jr. , who got here to the Orphan condo in 1809. His sponsor was once the nation coroner within the absence of his father, who used to be approximately to be attempted for the homicide of his spouse. instantly upon his acquittal six months later, he utilized to the Orphan condo for recovery of custody. simply because Thomas Jr. had by no means leaving one hundred forty five accomplished an indenture that certain him to the Orphan apartment, the commissioners concluded, that they had no cause to not go back him to his father. seventy four simply as childrens who again to a couple reconfiguration in their natal households met a number of new family members buildings, those that remained within the Orphan condominium encountered various stories. For these little ones who survived and selected to not run away, yet whose mom and dad or different kinfolk didn't go back for them, their reviews have been within the hard work industry. As their indentures known as for, they have been sure out as apprentices to masters and mistresses, and their tales are the topic of the following bankruptcy. bankruptcy 8 Apprenticeship E asily the most typical end result on the finish of a child’s time within the Orphan condo used to be to be certain out apprentice to profit a alternate. nearly three-fifths of the 2,000-plus young children who got here throughout the Orphan condominium sooner than the Civil conflict left to go into a master’s condo. This share is a coarse estimate; the former bankruptcy famous that youngsters whose destiny concerned integration right into a new kinfolk as an adoptee have been frequently assigned a alternate of their indenture, as have been a few young children who lower back to a reconfiguration in their natal kinfolk. If we settle for the three-fifths determine as a coarse regular over the full interval, you will need to notice that during every one decade the typical trended downward. the proportion of youngsters who have been sure as apprentices declined over the years, and the proportion returning to relatives elevated, in order that by the point of the Civil battle a baby used to be approximately as prone to return to kin as out to a grasp. nonetheless, if as a coarse approximation we will deal with info in indentures as actually precise in regards to the child’s destiny, then from 1790 to 1860 approximately two times as many Orphan condominium alumni turned apprentices as back to relations. hence, apprenticeship used to be actually the commonest consequence for Orphan apartment teenagers. 1 The call for for Orphan apartment childrens as apprentices, in particular the place boys have been involved, derived largely from the velocity and kind of Charleston’s monetary actions. From the start of the 19th century the fad in Charleston’s economic climate was once, relative to the South and towns in other places within the nation, more often than not downward. while Charleston proven the Orphan condo in 1790, it used to be the richest urban within the kingdom. experiences of probate files point out that per-capita wealth of Charleston was once two times that of latest England and the center colonies, even together with the enormous slave inhabitants. Unbeknownst on the time, the town used to be close to the height of its prosperity, and fiscal decline begun early within the 19th century. Rated 4.45 of 5 – based on 44 votes
How to Count Cards in Bridge Written by lora covrett \| 13/05/2017 How to Count Cards in Bridge You can count cards in many card games. (playing cards 4 image by jimcox40 from Learning to count cards can help you play just about any card game more skilfully. Just about everyone has heard of counting cards in blackjack. However, you can count cards in other games such as spades, hearts and bridge. Counting cards makes you aware of what cards your opponent is holding. Counting cards in bridge can change your game strategy tremendously, help you win more games and make your game play much more enjoyable. Assess your hand. Evaluate how many winners and losers you have. Count the losers for suit contracts. Count the winners for no trump contracts. Subtract the winner tricks from the number needed to make the contract. This is the number of tricks you need to win. Count the points in your hand. Ace is the high card and is worth four points. Kings, queens and jacks are worth three, two and one points respectively. A set of eight suited cards is worth four points; subtracting one point for each card, the lowest is a set of five suited cards for one point. Subtract a half-point for every unprotected queen and jack and add a half-point for any unprotected 10. Count the cards by starting with the number of a particular suit in your hand and the dummy's hand. Keeping in mind that there are 13 cards in each suit, you know that if you have six and the dummy has three, you are starting with a count of nine. Thirteen minus nine is four. As the other cards are played, keep adding until you get to 13. Re-evaluate your hand after bidding and again after each play. Focus on counting the hand that did the least amount of bidding. Tips and warnings • Focus on counting the hand that did the least amount of bidding. • All types • Articles • Slideshows • Videos • Most relevant • Most popular • Most recent No articles available No slideshows available No videos available
Green Car Congress Home Topics Archives About Contact RSS Headlines « Constellium investing $20M in Decin Site to boost production of specialty aluminum alloy products for automotive market \| Main \| California online dashboard provides information about PEV buyers; importance of incentive funds, $130M from California paid out to date » Print this post 14 June 2014 An international team of researchers has sequenced the genome of the eucalyptus tree (Eucalyptus grandis) and published the analysis in an open access paper in the journal Nature. With its prodigious growth habit, the eucalyptus tree, one of the world’s most widely planted hardwood trees, has the potential to enhance sustainable biofuels and biomaterials production, and to provide a stable year-round source of biomass that doesn’t compete with food crops. The researchers reported the sequencing and assembly of more than 94% of the 640-megabase genome of Eucalyptus grandis. Of 36,376 predicted protein-coding genes, 34% occur in tandem duplications, the largest proportion thus far in plant genomes. Eucalyptus also shows the highest diversity of genes for specialized metabolites such as terpenes, which can be substituted catalytically for jet fuel. By having a library of these genes that control the synthesis of terpenes we are able to dissect which genes produce specific terpenes; then we can modify this biochemical pathway in the leaves so that we can develop the potential of Eucalyptus as an alternative source feedstock for jet fuel. —Gerald Tuskan, Oak Ridge National Laboratory The international effort to sequence and analyze the genome of Eucalyptus grandis engaged more than 80 researchers from 30 institutions, representing 18 countries. The project was led by Alexander Myburg of the University of Pretoria (South Africa); Dario Grattapaglia of the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) and Catholic University of Brasilia; Gerald Tuskan of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the BioEnergy Science Center and US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DOE JGI); Dan Rokhsar of the DOE JGI and Jeremy Schmutz of the DOE JGI and the HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology. —Alexander Myburg Trees play a significant role in the global carbon cycle. Collectively, they represent a major terrestrial repository of carbon and play both active CO2 capture and processing and passive storage roles. With these advantages in mind, Eucalyptus can be harvested from tropical and temperate zones and has more than 700 species that are rich in genetic variation. Because of its wide adaptability, extremely fast growth rate and excellent wood and fiber properties, Eucalyptus trees, while native to Australia, are grown in 100 countries across six continents and account for over 40 million acres. Eucalyptus trees are planted worldwide mostly for the value of its wood; for the Department of Energy, their energy-rich cellulosic biomass makes them one of the principal candidate biomass energy crops. Approximately 80% of the woody biomass in a Eucalyptus is made of cellulose and hemicellulose, both long chains of sugars, with the remaining biomass primarily comprised of lignin. —Gerald Tuskan Our comparative analysis of the complex traits associated with the Eucalyptus genome and other large perennials offers new opportunities for accelerating breeding cycles for sustainable biomass productivity and optimal wood quality. In addition, insights into the trees’ evolutionary history and adaptation are improving our understanding of their response to environmental change, providing strategies to diminish the negative environmental impacts that threaten many species. —Dario Grattapaglia The eucalyptus team identified genes encoding 18 final enzymatic steps for the production of cellulose and the hemicellulose xylan, both cell wall carbohydrates that can be used for biofuel production. By tracing their evolutionary lineages and expression in woody tissues we defined a core set of genes as well as novel lignin-building candidates that are highly expressed in the development of xylem—the woody tissue that helps channel water throughout the plant—which serves to strengthen the tree. —Alexander Myburg The team’s detailed analysis of the Eucalyptus genome revealed an ancient whole-genome duplication event estimated to have occurred about 110 million years ago, as well as an unusually high proportion of genes in tandem duplicate arrays. Their results, Tuskan said, highlight the major role of the phenomenon of tandem replication in shaping functional diversity in Eucalyptus and suggest that Eucalyptus may have followed an evolutionary path that highlighted specific genes for woody biomass production. By comparison, Eucalyptus has three times the number of tandem repeat genes present in poplar, the first tree sequenced (by the DOE JGI and published on the cover of the journal Science in 2006). The genetic architecture of inbreeding depression, often referred to as the converse of hybrid vigor, is largely unknown for trees and was also tackled in the study. This poses a barrier to their rapid domestication and breeding improvements by way of self-pollination. Our results in Eucalyptus suggest that cumulative effects of many small genetic variants throughout the genome are responsible for these fundamental genetic phenomena. Favorably combined, they determine the height of a tree, which is one of our gauges for overall fitness. —Dario Grattapaglia The extensive catalog of genes contributed by the team will allow breeders to adapt Eucalyptus trees for sustainable energy production in regions, such as the US Southeast, where it cannot currently be grown. The Eucalyptus genome data are available publicly through the DOE JGI’s comparative plant genomics portal known as Phytozome, now in its 10th revision. • Alexander A. Myburg, Dario Grattapaglia, Gerald A. Tuskan, Uffe Hellsten, Richard D. Hayes, Jane Grimwood, Jerry Jenkins, Erika Lindquist, Hope Tice, Diane Bauer, David M. Goodstein, Inna Dubchak, Alexandre Poliakov, Eshchar Mizrachi, Anand R. K. Kullan, Steven G. Hussey, Desre Pinard, Karen van der Merwe, Pooja Singh, Ida van Jaarsveld, Orzenil B. Silva-Junior, Roberto C. Togawa, Marilia R. Pappas, Danielle A. Faria, Carolina P. Sansaloni et al. (2014) “The genome of Eucalyptus grandis,” Nature doi: 10.1038/nature13308 June 14, 2014 in Bio-hydrocarbons, Biomass, Biotech, Fuels \| Permalink \| Comments (24) \| TrackBack (0) TrackBack URL for this entry: Listed below are links to weblogs that reference International team sequences Eucalyptus genome; potential for improving biofuel and biomaterial production: "..biomass that doesn’t compete with food crops." Some will always complain that they compete for land and water. That is why I advocate making synthetic biofuels using corn stalks and wheat straw. We grow the crops anyway for food, use the stalks for fuel. No extra land nor water required. Eucalypts are invasive species and do not support native wildlife; they were a major factor in the wildfires which hit SoCal in the early 80's. Eucalypts are a native species and support native wildlife. Depends on where you live. Of course the question is, do they support biofuels. Apparently they do - and can be made better. But my car is apprehensive of GMOs. Since we have enough Oil and NG for 54+ and 92+ years respectively, at the current burning-combustion rate, wouldn't it be more appropriate to: 1. continue to use fossil fuels but use cleaner and more efficient combustion methods to reduce GHG and pollution and/ 2. progressively switch to hybrid and electrified vehicles (HEVs, PHEVs, BEVs and FCEVs, e-trains, small e-planes etc) to wean ourselves of burning-combustion fuels and/ 3. avoid using productive land, water and polluting the environment with production and combustion of bio-fuels and/ 4. produce clean e-fuels for airplanes. sure, run hybrids on bio synthetic fuels that are CO2 neutral. We reduce fossil fuel use, reduce imported oil and clean the air. Nothing to it, but to DO it. Which bio-fuel is really 100% CO2 neutral and is fully non-polluting? Certainly not corn ethanol. Very soon we will convert cellulose to food, instead of food to fuel. Production of biomass through trees/large grasses is much more productive and ecological than through conventional food crops. Technologies like those from solazyme and others will produce proteins, starches and lipids in amounts unimaginable through normal agriculture, and with much less water use, fossil fuel use, and chemicals. These foods will also be more healthy and tasty and cheaper. Just let the free market deside. "I advocate making synthetic biofuels using corn stalks and wheat straw" --> Not a good idea IMHO as this depletes the soil’s organic matter slowly killing it resulting in reduced yields. "Just let the free market deside." -> OK as long as externalities are priced and paid for by those generating them… Recent studies have shown that you can use HALF of the corn stalks and wheat straw with NO adverse affects on the land. We make a fuel that is more CO2 neutral than fossil fuels. All too often people come up with reasons we can not or should not do something and believe it even when they are wrong. Many will say it must satisfy ALL our fuel needs or forget it. Faulty thinking has always impeded progress. During the pyrolysis of waste biomass into bio-crude oil, some biochar will be formed. The following from Wikipedia: "Biochar is a name for charcoal when it is used for particular purposes, especially as a soil amendment. Like all charcoal, biochar is created by pyrolysis of biomass. Biochar is under investigation as an approach to carbon sequestration to produce negative carbon dioxide emissions.[1][dead link] Biochar thus has the potential to help mitigate climate change, via carbon sequestration. [2] [3] Independently, biochar can increase soil fertility, increase agricultural productivity, and provide protection against some foliar and soil-borne diseases. Furthermore, biochar reduces pressure on forests.[4] Biochar is a stable solid, rich in carbon and can endure in soil for thousands of years.[1]" THe following quote gives some insight into the pyrolysis process of waste biomass: "Pyrolysis produces biochar, liquids, and gases from biomass by heating the biomass in a low/no oxygen environment. The absence of oxygen prevents combustion. The relative yield of products from pyrolysis varies with temperature. Temperatures of 400–500 °C (752–932 °F) produce more char, while temperatures above 700 °C (1,292 °F) favor the yield of liquid and gas fuel components.[10] Pyrolysis occurs more quickly at the higher temperatures, typically requiring seconds instead of hours. High temperature pyrolysis is also known as gasification, and produces primarily syngas.[10] Typical yields are 60% bio-oil, 20% biochar, and 20% syngas. By comparison, slow pyrolysis can produce substantially more char (~50%). Once initialized, both processes produce net energy. For typical inputs, the energy required to run a “fast” pyrolyzer is approximately 15% of the energy that it outputs.[11] Modern pyrolysis plants can use the syngas created by the pyrolysis process and output 3–9 times the amount of energy required to run.[6]" When renewable-energy H2 will be added during the pyrolysis process in the presence of appropriate catalysts, a bio-crude oil chemically similar to petroleum crude oil can result which can be transported via pipelines to refineries to produce transportation fuels. The fuel yield with the addition of H2 can double, thus allowing renewable energy from solar, wind, hydro, etc. to be converted to liquid hydrocarbon fuels at low cost and high efficiency. With more H2 addition, synthetic biomethane can be made and can triple the energy yield for a given amount of carbon incorporated within the waste biomass. It is not a good idea to leave the cellulose to rot in the field because other organisms to convert or ferment these into methane which has very high GHG index, or into CO2, which we do not want to release. Instead, putting biochar back into the soil can serve dual roles as carbon sequestration and soil enrichment. If we're going to tie up carbon, maybe organic carbon plus powdered olivine (or other alkalai-earth silicate) is indicated. If the carbon released by decomposers reacts with magnesium or calcium to form carbonate, it is also sequestered. I'd love to see what research has to say about this. Goods points RP. Maybe, China with faster growing bamboo and eucalyptus could produce some of the essential fuels, gas and chemicals required for their very fast growing industry while reducing GHGs? We already are progressively to hybrid and electrified vehicles. The problem is that we aren't doing it fast enough. While you claim that we have 54+ years of oil reserves left, that number could be a little higher (not likely) or much lower (more likely given the incentives to overstate reserves since they act much like money in the bank that can be used to leverage other financial transactions.) And regardless of how much oil is still left in the ground, it's not like we'll approach 2068 and have a nice, gentle glide-path down to zero oil production. It takes decades to make the transition off fossil fuels and giving ourselves a false sense of security by thinking there are many decades of oil production left means that we will lock ourselves into ever more oil consumption as we ignore the problem. Meanwhile, the atmosphere gets loaded with more and more CO2 and we'll have to endure the economic shocks and human tragety associated with worsening climate change. At the same time, other countries will be increasing their oil consumption as well, tightening the supply and making oil prices much more volitale. As the price of oil inches higher, more and more money will flow into the pockets of despots in Russia, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria and other countries blessed with the "resource curse". I agree, using valuable land and water to grow biofuels that might not be all that effective at really solving our problems is a dead end. However, using oil at our current clip will not give us 54+ years of smooth sailing and dealing with the problems it causes will be so expensive, people will run the numbers and figure out it was probably a better idea for the government to just buy everybody an electric car and be done with this oil nonsense. @ sault. I'm not at all pro fossil fuels (coal, oil or NG) but they exist, are relatively very cheap and the world need most of it to maintain higher growth rates. To vote a complete ban on fossil and bio fuels burning-combustion would be suicidal for any politician who would dare do it and it (the ban and the politician) would be rather short lived. A progressive fossil and bio fuels combustion reduction and associated CO2 emissions is possible. A compromise solution would include but not be restricted to the following solutions: 1. CPPs and NGPPs can be cleaned up with CO2 and pollution capture. 2. Most ICEVs efficiency can be further increased to over 100 mpg to reduce liquid fuels usage and associated GHGs. 3. Current and future HEVs, PHEVs, BEVs and FCEVs can further reduce liquid fuels consumption and GHGs. 4. Adding a progressive pollution tax on combustion fuels (coal, oil, bio-fuels and NG) could promote and accelerate the sale of clean electrified vehicles and clean electricity production and storage. By reducing consumption of fossil fuels (and bio-fuels), the world reserves would last 100+ years and GHGs would be spread over another century or so. Which would be just as fatal to the biosphere; GHGs take 1000 years to equilibrate with the oceans, and 1 million years to stabilize with weathering. What the world needs is an immediate push for nuclear energy to replace essentially all combustion-driven electric generation, the electrification of nearly all transport and industry, and the creation of carbon sinks as part and parcel of new processes. The atmospheric CO2 level must be returned to the neighborhood of 350 ppm. Otherwise our coasts will become distant memories and Sandy and Haiyan are just the beginning. Wise politicians would not ban fossil fuels right away, because right now, there is not enough alternative sources to replace them. However, what need to be done is a comprehensive program involve development of all non-CO2 energy sources like RE and nuclear along with electrification of transportation, parallel with a waste biomass synthetic fuel program that can combine the RE-H2 with the waste biomass with the capacity of eventually replacing all fossil fuel sources. With these kind of program in place, the politicians will be able to announce in advance the time table for the start of carbon tax to be phased in gradually in 5-10 years from now. I repeat: NOT NOW, only after 5-10 years, in order to ensure PRIVATE investments into these synthetic fuel program in anticipation of future action. The carbon tax will be phase-in so gradually that no disruption to the economy will result, but instead, the economy will BOOM, due to all the investments and job creation into GREEN ENERGY. Once synthetic fuels and CO2-free energy will be available at cost parity with fossil fuels, then no one will object to carbon tax. In this scenario, the politicians will want to take credit for the job creation during the transition toward 100% fossil-fuel free and so will want to be the ones that voted for the future carbon tax along with the rest of the plan to make the carbon tax feasible, just like Pres. Obama voted NO for the Iraq war and thus got elected. Within 10 to 15 years, Alberta's Tar Sands will produce up to 6.5 million barrels/day. Less than 50% will be consumed (burned) in Canada and the other 50% will be exported to USA, Asia and EU. The total GHGs (sands to wheels) produced will still be very high. Meanwhile, more dirty lower cost CPP plants will be built and the current 2000 or so units will continue to pollute. CPPs and ICEVs will continue to increase CO2 level from 404 ppm to close to 450 ppm. USA, Canada, Australia will still be the highest per capita polluters. China's and India's will rise but not reach our high per capita level. Short of a progressive carbon tax, we may not wean ourselves from cheap combustible (fossil or bio) fuels until we have burnt the last drop or have not enough land to produce alternative combustible fuels or we have damaged the planet beyond repair. Nobody knows which will come first? Good point, HarveyD. The world will continue to use fossil fuels because of the inertia and the high upfront cost of investment into RE and nuclear energy. However, once the investments are made to produce RE like solar and wind, RE and synthetic fuels produced from RE will prove to cost less than petroleum, while costing on par with Natural gas (NG) and coal, and will displace the use of fossil fuels. The trick is how to induce rapid investments into RE collectors, transmission lines, and synthetic fuel production facilities. One way to do it is for the USA and NATO to declare WAR on GLOBAL WARMING (GW). This will unleash at least 1/2 of the US and NATO defense budgets to fund these RE projects. All defense contractors as well as military personnel will be invited to participate, thus will guarantee easy Congressional support. The Oil and Gas industry will be invited to participate as well, to set up facilities for gathering waste biomass and for production of crude bio-oil, using some of the money earmarked for the WAR on GW. Again, easy Congressional approval, due to the strong influence of these folks in our Govt. With gov. money invested into the production of RE and synthetic fuels, you will see that the final products will cost a lot less than fossil fuels, because these non-fossil-fuel energy sources are heavily subsidized using Defense budget. Oil companies will stop investing into oil and gas drilling with their own money, when they can use US and NATO defense money to build up facilities for synthetic fuels. These are the "carrots". Now comes the "stick" of the "Carrot and stick" method: Announce in advance the time table for commencement of the Carbon Tax...not now, but in due time, 7-15 years or more, when there will be sufficient production of RE and synthetic fuels...Thus, when will come the Carbon Tax, NO ONE will suffer from it, because RE and synthetic fuels will be more plentiful and cheaper than previous fossil fuels even before tax. RE is a very expensive boondoggle; Ontario's electric prices are due to double after the Liberal party's failed push for "green" power made little power but large bills to pay. Ontario has de-carbonized its electricity a second time by refurbishing its nuclear fleet; Denmark, despite having huge interconnection capacity to hydro-heavy Norway and Sweden, has multiples of Ontario's per-kWh carbon emissions. Nuclear, not "renewables", is the only workable way forward. Nuclear for base load power, Hydro for peak load while solar for peak summer load, wind for nightly charging of PEV's, and excess of nuclear, solar, and wind for production of synthetic fuels. Every non-fossil-fuel energy source has important roles to play. Nuclear is best for locations not rich in RE, while Hydro and geothermal are great wherever the resources are available. HVDC power lines can be used to even out the continental grid, however, due to the cost and energy security issue involved such as vulnerability to terrorist attack, should not be used for transmission of 100% of power demand of a region. Each region should have its own generation capacity, including synthetic fuel reserve for backing up RE sources. Due to the limit availability of nuclear engineers, technicians and workers and nuclear fuel resources, RE should be developed in parallel with nuclear energy development in order to stop the GW runaway train to avert disasters. Without the storage requirement, RE's cost is on par with fossil fuels, and RE is ideal energy source for the production of synthetic fuels (H2, synthetic methane and gasoline and diesel). Fast rising initial and rehab cost, extremely high nuclear waste elimination cost and growing lack of public acceptance will delay or block future NPPs. CPPs could pollute the planet out of existence. NGPPs may be the lesser of both evils but still pollute too much. Hydro is excellent but limited in many places. Solar and Wind are renewable, affordable, almost unlimited and will supply a greater part of the electricity needed in the coming decades. Appropriate storage will make those two sources available 24/7. Distributed generation make them more secure than large centralized CPPs, NGPPS and NPPs. The proper choice will be rather easy to make. Verify your Comment Previewing your Comment Your comment could not be posted. Error type: Your comment has been posted. 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Picture Bride Only available on StudyMode • Download(s) : 164 • Published : July 25, 2005 Open Document Text Preview Immigrants arriving in America for their first time are initially devastated at their new lives and realize their "golden lives" were simply fantasies and dreams of an ideal life in America. Immigrants from foreign countries, including those mentioned in Uchida's Picture Bride, faced countless problems and hardships, including a sense of disillusionment and disappointment. Furthermore, immigrants and picture brides faced racial discrimination not only from white men, but the United States government, as well. Immigrants were plagued with economic hardships lived in deplorable living conditions. Though nearly every immigrant and picture bride who came to America fantasized about an ideal life, they were faced with countless hardships and challenges before becoming accepted American citizens. When an immigrant from a foreign land comes to America, immigrants hope to fulfill their golden dreams in the land of the free; however, as they quickly learn shortly after they arrive in America, their new lives are filled with hardships and disillusions. A picture bride, who arrives in America with a dream of living with a wealthy, successful, and handsome young man, is frequently disappointed to discover the realities such as the appearance and lifestyle of her future husband. When Hana first meets Taro, she discovers that "[Taro] no longer resemble[s] the early photo [his] parents sent [Hana]he was already turning bald" (Uchida, 12). This shock of reality is not uncommon to picture brides, in fact, "many men in America send pictures to picture brides of themselves from when they were ten to twenty years youngernext to a beautiful carowned by their boss" (Bunting, 1). Picture brides and immigrants arrive in America filled with hopes for a better life for themselves and their children and a wonderful new life in America. The shock and dissatisfaction immigrants and picture brides experience when they first arrive in America greatly contribute to their change in attitude from an optimistic mindset to a cowardly, hesitant behavior. Furthermore, picture brides quickly discover that their husbands were not wealthy business owners, as the men claimed in their letters, but their husbands were rather poor men, trying to scrape a living, and this reality check contributes further to immigrants' hopeless outlook to their new life. Hana is stunned at seeing her husband's shop, after visioning it as a grand shop on a busy street, discovering the shop to be not "nice at all. It was drab and dirty and smelled of stale food[one] would expect something a bit finer" (Uchida, 34). Hana becomes disheartened as her visions were shattered by reality and a sense of betrayal from her husband's lies. She, like many picture brides and immigrants, expected too much of a new life, and when she discovers the way things really are, she feels deceived and dismayed. Accepting the truth and the reality of their new lives is a part of an immigrant's experience in moving to America and is a crucial part in shaping their attitudes in their new lives. Once an immigrant becomes situated with their new life styles, the foreign immigrants are introduced to a sense of hatred and discrimination omnipresent in society. Many Americans and white men were not welcoming towards alien immigrants and expressed a great deal of discrimination and hatred. Immigrants and their families realized they had to learn to accept this hatred if they wanted to live in America, and eventually taught themselves to be tolerant towards discrimination, without knowing a motif behind a white man's disgust towards immigrants. Hana was able to accept the discrimination and eventually passed down her tolerance and acceptance down to, her daughter, Mary, who learn to submit to a white man's intolerance. Mary became aware that "her Japanese face denied her certain privilegeswhen she went to the City Plunge, she was told We don't think you'll enjoy swimming here'" (Uchida,160). Immigrants that... tracking img
My challenge in this piece is to get you to see what is valuable and will change the quality of your life dramatically versus the present mistakes we are making that cost us one helluva lot! Surely, we cannot make a good decision between two things if we do not really know their value. Wouldn't you agree? One of the greatest factors for successful people is that they are able to estimate the consequences of their actions (as opposed to not-yet-wise children and never-became-wise adults). We'll take an hour of avoidance or relief watching TV versus resting or directly handling anxiety and investing the rest of the time in becoming wiser. (Or investing time in learning how not to have the anxiety and stress in the first place!) We value the TV time because we think we clearly see its value. The benefit of doing something now that affects the future is either not seen or is highly discounted. Excessive discounting of future benefits is rampant. Discounting, as in finance, is the process of reversing out of the total value to adjust for its lesser value in the future compared to now. (See Discounting - A Key Concept In Life And Money.) We seek to feel good and to avoid feeling bad. However, we inflate the "pain" of "lack of pleasure" and we make huge decision errors. Pleasure is part of the "feel good". If we are always shortsighted, like a young child might be, we will take the quickest shortcut to feeling good: pleasure or "avoiding displeasure" (escaping from a bad feeling). When we "grow up" (which many people never seem to complete), we have a bigger perspective that includes the total value over time. And we (all of us) will tend to place a higher value for each unit received sooner, while an equal unit received alot later will be valued at less. This is called "discounting". The term productivity is highly misunderstood, as it is often equated with white knuckling it (feeling stress and tension) to produce a work product. That view is totally erroneous, in that we are seeking to produce net value (see definition in box) for ourselves. For now, we might call those net units of feeling good. So, if we are more productive we are generating more net units of feeling good - that is that we end up with more units of feeling AFTER we subtract any negatives or costs. Is a fleeting pleasure that disappears like cotton candy on the tongue worth much? It sure seems like it at the time, doesn't it? But if we multiply the small, small value of an hour of cotton candy type activities times the time experienced, the multiplication product is a very small number. Or, as a story I read, we could do something positive that will last. The little boy was given a choice of watching a half hour of cartoons or raking the next door older lady's leaves secretly. He did the latter - and he remembered it still 40 years later! [As part of the process of gaining wisdom, I laid out what the proven studies indicate actually causes happiness and what doesn't. The wise person studies this and knows the relative values, so he/she can make good decisions and get more value for his/her life. See The Happiness Creators - Taking Care Of This Half Of The Equation.] Well, evaluating it "at the time" is a terrible, terrible strategy - one that is fraught with error. All evaluations (of what is important anyway) should be made with our higher brain and adequate facts. Once an evaluation is made, then there needs to be a recalling of it so that it can be used for the proper decision making - and that, too, needs to be done by engaging the higher brain. Certain chemicals are known to stimulate the pleasure centers of the brain.[citation needed] It has been suggested that physical exertion can release endorphines in what is called the runner's high, and equally it has been found that chocolate and certain spices, such as from the family of the chilli, can release or cause to be released similar psychoactive chemicals to those released during sexual acts Actually we don't realize that much of what we've put in the pleasure category is not really pleasure. For instance, a person can get "relief" from anxiety by doing some brain-numbing activity, like TV beyond a short time. And it will look like pleasure, but it is really only relief that is more pleasant than being anxious or stressed. more internally or self-produced the better, as you are in control of obtaining it, rather than engaging in activities that may cause anxiety as one is waiting for positive interaction (such as being admired, confirming one's worth or lovability, etc.) If I'm empty or tired, I want gratification right now - and if there is no strong opposing force for something that produces a bigger benefit but one that cannot be fully seen... This is something that will not truly benefit me or might even be harmful. I choose not to do this. I shall enjoy, instead, or I shall do what is gratifying and good for me." Pleasure can disappear like cotton candy on the tongue, whereas gratification is a "captured" memorized feeling... feels good, warm, expansive, joyful, proud - more filling of the tank. a good person, sharper and more capable, did what was right Something after which we don't feel empty or dull or bad about afterward... the actual activity might not be a pleasure to do, but we need not "resist" it or stress out about it, but appreciate that we are doing the right things and that we'll have a clean house or a finished paper. Seligman’s experience, gratification happens when a person exercises their strengths, virtues, and talents in an activity. He doesn’t mention passion or interest, but those qualities seem to fit as well. When our top strengths are used to serve something bigger than ourself, then we enter the realm of living a meaningful life. Research backs this up. A life of gratification and meaning topped with sprinkles of pleasure (or gobs of whipped cream if you prefer) seems to invite happiness. Even imagining, even creating a pleasant dream, but what is it we truly want, something lasting that we feel good about: ourselves what will I feel best about?" "i'm just so tired and stressed out I just need to crash and watch tv and veg out. the first part of the sentence was accurate, the last part might not be a true solution.... a good balance, diminishing marginal returns. Of course, you would not always be choosing to delay and defer pleasure or you'd be missing the point of why you developed the wisdom to choose. Sometimes the value of a pleasure is quite high and a reasonable choice to make. It is a bit like the positive effects of Rejuvenation, where you are renewed and feeling better and more capable. But it is in more in the realm of psychological renewal or filling up the tank. Why Bother With Willpower, Self-Control, And All That Stuff? - What will I get out of it? And is it harder or easier? (It's easier...) Know: Discomfort - How to look at it and deal with it and manage it "comfortably". Productivity - Doing that which produces positive results, preferably with the least amount of effort per unit of benefit. Not to be mistaken with productivity in work, let's say, while giving up more of one's life value! Pleasure - A mental state experienced as positive, enjoyable, or worth seekingThe state or feeling of being pleased or gratified; a source of enjoyment ; amusement, diversion joy gladness (a net positive over the long term is a true pleasure, ie no big negative later. The opposite of pleasure is turmoil in the mind, discomfort, displeasure. Gratification: A source of satisfaction or pleasure, ranging from enjoying exercising a skill, to appreciating the arts, sex, exercise, accomplishment, recognition, having served someone kindness to another, Net Value: The value I derive from something minus the cost. (Netting out something means subtracting the negative values from the positive values to come up with a total.) Not all things are of the same value, so to compare things we must convert to that common measure. For instance, you "cannot add apples and oranges" by just counting the number, but you can add them by nutritional value. Costs: Negative units and/or positive units given up in order to "purchase" something hopefully of greater value. The classic study of four year olds given the either-or choice above showed that the ability to choose delayed gratification with adequate value would affect the rest of their lives, even making a 200 point different in their SAT scores! (See Predictor Of A Child's Success In Life- Delaying gratification for a greater reward.) How much of life can I spend now on pleasures and diversions without cutting into time I could invest to create greater total happiness in life? I surely don't want to have an austere, no-fun life or work so much for money that I sacrifice too much of my life. But our prejudices, fears, and lack of knowledge that will help us "weigh the trade-offs" will do us much, much damage - much more than we realize! That needs to be changed!
Zesa Rex Zesa Rex - 1 year ago 66 C# Question How to make a textbox show me double? I am trying to get myself used to C#, currently I am using SharpDevelop for that Task, anyway, I have a simple question, let's say I want to have a TextBox that Shows me the outcome of a mathematical code as shown below, how do I get the TextBox to actually Show me types like double, int, or other stuff? It always tells me it can't convert double to string or whatever, I am pretty noob so yeah. void CmdWriteClick(object sender, EventArgs e) double var = 8.40; double start = 9.00; double end = var + start; textbox_end.Text = end; I already tried to not use the .text but something like. value but didn't work, any help? Answer Source Just add .ToString() textbox_end.Text = end.ToString()
Religion in Germany From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search A map of Germany showing religious statistics by district. Catholicism dominates the south and west, Protestantism Swabia and the north, and other or no religion dominates the east and some major cities. Predominant confessions in Germany as revealed by the 2011 census Purple: Protestant plurality Yellow: Catholic plurality Blue: Non-religious/other plurality Darker shades indicate an absolute majority (greater than 50%). Christianity is the largest religion in Germany, at an estimated 58-59% of the country's population in 2016.[1][2] The two largest churches of the country are the Roman Catholic Church and the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD), a Protestant confederation of United Protestant (Lutheran & Reformed), Lutheran, and Reformed churches. Together, both churches claim 55% of the population in 2016, of which 28.5% belonged to the Catholic Church and 26.5% to the Evangelical Church.[1] In 2016, the Orthodox Church constituted 2-2.7% of the population and other minor Christian churches, many of them being Evangelical Protestant, formed 1-1.5%.[3][1] About 36.2% of the country's population are not affiliated with any church or religion, and a minority adhere to other religions.[4][3] The second largest religion in Germany is Islam, with between 2.1 and 4.7 million adherents (2.6% to 5.7%).[5][3] Smaller religious groups (less than 1%) include Judaism, Buddhism, and Hinduism.[5][3] Circle frame.svg Religion in Germany (2016)[4][3] Not religious (35.6%) Catholic Church (28.5%) Evangelical Church (26.5%) Islam (4.9%) Other Christians (1%) Other Religions (0.8%) Circle frame.svg Religion in Germany (2011 Census)[6] Not religious (33.0%) Roman Catholicism (31.2%) Evangelical Church (30.8%) Orthodox Church (1.3%) Other religions (2.8%) Paganism and Roman settlement: 1000 BC - 300 AD[edit] Late Roman and Carolingian eras: 300-1000[edit] The Palatine Chapel, Aachen, built during 800-814 AD During the Carolingian period, Christianity spread throughout Germany, particularly during the reign of Charlemagne (r. 800-814 AD) and his expansionary military campaigns. Religious structures built during the Carolingian period include the Palatine Chapel, Aachen, a surviving component of the Palace of Aachen. Pre-Reformation: 1000-1500[edit] Reformation: 1500-1648[edit] Martin Luther (1483–1546) From 1545 the Counter-Reformation began in Germany. Much of its impetus came from the newly-founded (in 1540) Jesuit order. It restored Catholicism to many areas, including Bavaria.[9] The Holy Roman Empire became religiously diverse; for the most part, the states of northern and central Germany became Protestant (chiefly Lutheran, but also Calvinist/Reformed) while the states of southern Germany and the Rhineland largely remained Catholic. In 1547 the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V defeated the Schmalkaldic League, an alliance of Protestant rulers. The Peace of Augsburg in 1555 brought recognition of the Lutheran faith. But the treaty also stipulated that the religion of a state was to be that of its ruler (cuius regio, eius religio).[10] Two main developments reshaped religion in Germany after 1814. Across the land, there was a movement to unite the larger Lutheran and the smaller Reformed Protestant churches. The churches themselves brought this about in Baden, Nassau, and Bavaria. However, in Prussia King Frederick William III was determined to handle unification entirely on his own terms, without consultation. His goal was to unify the Protestant churches, and to impose a single standardized liturgy, organization, and even architecture. The long-term goal was to have fully centralized royal control of all the Protestant churches. In a series of proclamations over several decades the Evangelical Church of the Prussian Union was formed, bringing together the more numerous Lutherans and the less numerous Reformed Protestants. The government of Prussia now had full control over church affairs, with the king himself recognized as the leading bishop. Opposition to unification came from the "Old Lutherans" in Silesia who clung tightly to the theological and liturgical forms they had followed since the days of Luther. The government attempted to crack down on them, so they went underground. Tens of thousands migrated, to South Australia and especially to the United States, where they formed the Missouri Synod which remains fundamentalist in its interpretation of the Bible, as distinguished from Lutherans who pursue a more contextualist approach.[12] Finally, in 1845 the new king, Frederick William IV, offered a general amnesty and allowed the Old Lutherans to form a separate church association with only nominal government control.[13][14][15] From the religious point of view of the typical Catholic or Protestant, major changes were underway in terms of a much more personalized religiosity that focused on the individual more than the church or the ceremony. The rationalism of the late 18th century faded away, and there was a new emphasis on the psychology and feeling of the individual, especially in terms of contemplating sinfulness, redemption, and the mysteries and the revelations of Christianity. Pietistic revivals were common among Protestants. Among Catholics there was a sharp increase in popular pilgrimages. In 1844 alone, half a million pilgrims made a pilgrimage to the city of Trier in the Rhineland to view the Seamless robe of Jesus, said to be the robe that Jesus wore on the way to his crucifixion. Catholic bishops in Germany had historically been largely independent Of Rome, but now the Vatican exerted increasing control, a new "ultramontanism" of Catholics highly loyal to Rome.[16] A sharp controversy broke out in 1837-38 in the largely Catholic Rhineland over the religious education of children of mixed marriages, where the mother was Catholic and the father Protestant. The government passed laws to require that these children always be raised as Protestants, contrary to Napoleonic law that had previously prevailed and allowed the parents to make the decision. It put the Catholic Archbishop under house arrest. In 1840, the new King Frederick William IV sought reconciliation and ended the controversy by agreeing to most of the Catholic demands. However Catholic memories remained deep and led to a sense that Catholics always needed to stick together in the face of an untrustworthy government.[17] Kulturkampf: 1870[edit] Since 2008[28] all religions are presented on road signs. Religious freedom: 1919-present[edit] The national constitutions of 1919 and 1949 guarantee freedom of faith and religion; earlier, these freedoms were mentioned only in state constitutions. The modern constitution of 1949 also states that no one may be discriminated against due to their faith or religious opinions. No state church exists in Germany.[29] Religious communities that are of sufficient size and stability and are loyal to the constitution can be recognised as Körperschaften öffentlichen Rechtes (statutory corporations). This gives them certain privileges, for example being able to give religious instruction in state schools (as enshrined in the German constitution, though some states are exempt from this) and having membership fees collected (for a fee) by the German revenue department as "Church tax": a surcharge of between 8 and 9% of the income tax. The status mainly applies to the Roman Catholic Church, the mainline Protestant EKD, a number of Evangelical Free churches, and Jewish communities. There has been much discussion about allowing other religious groups like Muslims into this system as well.[30] In the former communist state of East Germany, Christian churches were restricted by the government.[30] In the 21st century Eastern German territories including the capital Berlin is less religious and more secular than Western Germany.[31][32] Christianity is the largest religion in Germany, with around 47.9 million adherents (58.3%) in 2016[1] of whom 23.6 million are Catholics (28.5%) and 21.9 milion are Protestants (26.5%).[1] The Orthodox Church has 1.5 million members or 1.9% of the population.[1] Other minority Christian churches together form 1.0% of the total population.[1] The second largest religion is Islam with between 2.1 and 4.5 million adherents (2.6% to 5.5%) followed by Buddhism around 270,000 adherents.[3] Judaism has around 100,000 known adherents[5][3] although there might be a further 90,000 whose religious status is unclear.[3] Hinduism has around 100,000 adherents.[3] All other religious communities in Germany have fewer than 50,000 (<0.1%) adherents. About 35% of the population are non-religious. Protestantism is concentrated in the north and east and Roman Catholicism is concentrated in the south and west. Pope Benedict XVI (2005-2013) was born in Bavaria. Non-religious people, including atheists and agnostics, might make up as many as 55%, and are especially numerous in the former East Germany and major metropolitan areas.[33] Of the country's overall population, 1.3-1.9% declare themselves Orthodox Christians: mainly Serbs and Greeks.[34] Most Muslims are Sunnis and Alevis from Turkey, but there are a small number of Shi'a and other currents.[35][36] Germany has Europe's third-largest Jewish population (after France and the United Kingdom).[37] In 2004, twice as many Jews from former Soviet republics settled in Germany as in Israel, bringing the total Jewish population to more than 200,000, compared to 30,000 prior to German reunification. Large cities with significant Jewish populations include Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich.[38] Around 270,000 active Buddhists live in Germany; 50% of them are Asian immigrants.[39] In a 2012 Eurobarometer Poll ("Do you consider yourself to be ...?"), 31% self-identified as Catholic, 30% as Protestant, 2% as Orthodox, 2% as "other Christian", 3% as Muslim, 18% as Non-believer/Agnostic, 9% as Atheist, 1% as "other (spontaneous)", and 4% did not answer (DK).[40] According to the 2010 Eurobarometer Poll, 44% of German citizens agreed with the statement "I believe there is a God", whereas 25% agreed with "I believe there is some sort of spirit or life force" and 27% said "I don't believe there is any sort of spirit, God or life force."[41] According to a 2014 Poll released by the WIN-Gallup International Association (WIN-GIA),[42] 34% of German citizens said that they are religious, 42% said that they are not religious, 17% said that they are convinced atheists, and 7% gave no response.[43] A 2015 study estimated some 15,000 believers in Christ from a Muslim background in the country, most of whom belong to an evangelical or Pentecostal community.[44] According to the 2011 census: At its foundation in 1871, the German Empire was about two-thirds Protestant[46] and one-third Roman Catholic, with a notable Jewish minority. Other faiths existed in the state, but never achieved the demographic significance and cultural impact of these three confessions. As of 2016, Christianity with 47.9 million (58.3%) members is the largest religion in Germany,[1] with the Protestant Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) comprising 26.5% of the population and Roman Catholicism comprising 28.5%.[1] Consequently, a majority of the German people belong to a Christian community, although many of them take no active part in church life. About 1.9-2.7%% of the population is Orthodox Christian.[1][3] Independent and congregational churches exist in all larger towns and many smaller ones, but most such churches are small. One of these is the confessional Lutheran Church called Independent Evangelical-Lutheran Church in Germany. Source for all data: REMID[3] Eastern Orthodox and Oriental Orthodox Christianity[edit] Source for all data: REMID[3] Before World War II, about two-thirds of the German population was Protestant and one-third was Roman Catholic. In the north and northeast of Germany especially, Protestants dominated.[47] In the former West Germany between 1945 and 1990, which contained nearly all of Germany's historically Catholic areas, Catholics have had a small majority since the 1980s. Due to a generation behind the Iron Curtain, Protestant areas of the former states of Prussia were much more affected by secularism than predominantly Catholic areas. The predominantly secularised states, such as Hamburg or the East German states, used to be Lutheran or United Protestant strongholds. Because of this, Protestantism is now strongest in two strips of territory in the former West Germany, one extending from the Danish border to Hesse, and the other extending northeast-southwest across southern Germany. Most of irreligious people in Germany live in East Germany, and have a Protestant background. There is a non-religious majority in Hamburg, Berlin, Brandenburg, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Thuringia, and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. In the eastern state of Saxony-Anhalt only 19.7 percent belong to the two big denominations of the country.[48] This is the state where Martin Luther was born and lived most of his life. According to a survey among German youths (aged 12 to 24) in the year 2006, 30% of German youths believe in a personal god, 19% believe in some kind of supernatural power, 23% share agnostic views and 28% are atheists.[49] Islam is the largest non-Christian religion in the country. There are between 2.1 and 4.7 million Muslims.[5][3][50] This lack of exactitude has to do with the fact that about half of the 4.2 million people with origins in the Muslim world are not religious believers, according to a study.[5] The majority of Muslims in Germany are of Turkish origin (63.2%), followed by those from Pakistan, countries of the former Yugoslavia, Arab countries, Iran, and Afghanistan. This figure includes the different denominations of Islam, such as Sunni, Shia, Ahmadiyya, and Alevites. Muslims first came to Germany as part of the diplomatic, military, and economic relations between Germany and the Ottoman Empire in the 18th century.[51] In World War I about 15,000 Muslim prisoners of war were interned in Berlin. The first mosque was established in Berlin in 1915 for these prisoners, though it was closed in 1930. After the West German Government invited foreign workers in 1961, the Muslim population continuously rose. Jewish communities in German speaking regions go back to the 4th century.[57] In 1910 about 600,000 Jews lived in Germany. Since 1990, Germany is one of the few European countries with a Jewish community that is growing. Especially its capital Berlin has one of the fastest growing communities worldwide. Buddhists are the third largest group of believers in Germany after different religious denominations of Christianity and Islam. There are aroud 270.000 Buddhists who are living in Germany.[3] Most of them are followers of the Buddhist school of Theravada especially from Sri Lanka. Furthermore there are followers of Vajrayana, also referred to as Tibetan Buddhism as well as followers of Nichiren Buddhism mainly from Japan and Zen Buddhism from Japan, as well. Around 59,000 Buddhists are from Thailand who follow the school of Theravada and keep 48 Hindu temples in Germany and form one of the largest Buddhist community of Buddhists of Asian origin in Germany. Most of the different Buddhist schools and organization in Germany are members of the non-profit association Deutschen Buddhistischen Union e.V. (DBU). Hindu temple in the city Hamm (Germany) In addition, there are Hindus in Germany who are followers of so-called New religious movements or youth sects such as Hare Krishna movement or Transcendental Meditation. These comparatively new religious organization are considered as neo-Hinduism in the West. The total number of these followers in Germany is comparatively low. There is a large Yazidi community in Germany, estimated to be numbering around 100,000 people.[3] This makes the German Yazidi community one of the largest Yazidi communities in the Yazidi diaspora. Other religions[edit] All other religious communities in Germany have fewer than 50,000 adherents. Matronen altar with offerings in Nettersheim. Cults, sects, religious movements[edit] The German government provides information and warnings about cults, sects, and new religious movements. In 1997, the parliament set up a commission for Sogenannte Sekten und Psychogruppen (literally "so-called sects and psychic groups"), which in 1998 delivered an extensive report on the situation in Germany regarding NRMs.[59] In 2002, the Federal Constitutional Court upheld the governmental right to provide critical information on religious organizations being referred to as Sekte, but stated that "defamatory, discriminating, or falsifying accounts" were illegal.[60] In public opinion, minor religious groups are often referred to as Sekten, which can refer to destructive cults and also to all religious movements which are not Christian, or are different from Roman Catholicism and mainstream Protestantism. However, major world religions like Orthodox Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, and Islam are not referred to as Sekten.[citation needed] 2. Freikirchen (free churches) is the term generally applied to Protestant organisations outside of the EKD, e.g. Baptists, Methodists, independent Lutherans, Pentecostals, Seventh-day Adventists. However, the Old Catholics can be referred to as a free church as well.[61] The free churches are not only granted the tax-free status of a non-profit organisation, but many of them have additional rights as statutory corporations. 3. Sekten is the term for religious groups which do not see themselves as part of a major religion (but perhaps as the only real believers of a major religion).[62][62] Although these religious groups have full religious freedom and protection against discrimination of their members, their organisations in most cases are not granted the tax-free status of a non-profit organisation.[citation needed]. See also[edit] 1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Numbers and Facts about Church Life in the EKD 2017 Report. Evangelical Church of Germany. Retrieved 28 July 2017. 2. ^ Cite error: The named reference remid was invoked but never defined (see the help page). 3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z "REMID — Religionswissenschaftlicher Medien- und Informationsdienst". 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2017. 4. ^ a b "Religionszugehörigkeiten in Deutschland 2016" (in German). Retrieved 2017-09-09. 5. ^ a b c d e f g "Religionszugehörigkeit Bevölkerung Deutschland" (PDF) (in German). Forschungsgruppe Weltanschauungen in Deutschland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 24 January 2016. 6. ^;absRel=PROZENT;ags=00;agsAxis=X;yAxis=RELIGION_AUSF. Retrieved 2017-09-15. Missing or empty \|title= (help) 7. ^ John Lotherington, The German Reformation (2014) 8. ^ Robert Kolb, Confessing the faith: reformers define the Church, 1530-1580 (Concordia Publishing House, 1991) 9. ^ Marvin R. O'Connell, Counter-reformation, 1559-1610 (1974) 10. ^ Lewis W. Spitz, "Particularism and Peace Augsburg: 1555," Church History (1956) 25#2 pp. 110-126 in JSTOR 12. ^ Gary (2014-08-21). "The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod responds to my Deconversion". Escaping Christian Fundamentalism. Retrieved 2017-05-13. 16. ^ Christopher Clark, Iron Kingdom (2006) pp 419-21 17. ^ Holborn, A History of Modern Germany 1648-1840 (1964) pp 498-509 18. ^ Douglas W. Hatfield, "Kulturkampf: The Relationship of Church and State and the Failure of German Political Reform," Journal of Church and State (1981) 23#3 pp. 465-484 in JSTOR(1998) 19. ^ John C.G. Roehl, "Higher civil servants in Germany, 1890-1900" in James J. Sheehan, ed., Imperial Germany (1976) pp 128-151 20. ^ Margaret Lavinia Anderson, and Kenneth Barkin. "The myth of the Puttkamer purge and the reality of the Kulturkampf: Some reflections on the historiography of Imperial Germany." Journal of Modern History (1982): 647-686. esp. pp 657-62 in JSTOR 21. ^ Anthony J. Steinhoff, "Christianity and the creation of Germany," in Sheridan Gilley and Brian Stanley, eds., Cambridge History of Christianity: Volume 8: 1814-1914 (2008) p 295 25. ^ Blackbourn, David (Dec 1975). "The Political Alignment of the Centre Party in Wilhelmine Germany: A Study of the Party's Emergence in Nineteenth-Century Württemberg". Historical Journal. 18 (4): 821–850. JSTOR 2638516. doi:10.1017/s0018246x00008906. 27. ^ Ronald J. Ross, The failure of Bismarck's Kulturkampf: Catholicism and state power in imperial Germany, 1871-1887 (1998). 29. ^ Basic Law Art. 140 31. ^ Thompson, Peter (22 September 2012). "Eastern Germany: the most godless place on Earth". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 April 2017. 32. ^ Kamann, Matthias; Facius, Gernot (13 May 2012). "Why Eastern Germany Is The Most Godless Place On Earth". Retrieved 8 April 2017. 34. ^ "EKD-Statistik: Christen in Deutschland" [EKD Statistics: Christians in Germany]. Evangelical Church in Germany (in German). Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2010. 37. ^ Blake, Mariah (10 November 2006). "In Nazi cradle, Germany marks Jewish renaissance". Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 31 March 2016. 38. ^ "The Jewish Community of Germany". European Jewish Congress. Retrieved 30 November 2006. [dead link] 39. ^ (in German) Die Zeit 12/07, page 13 40. ^ European Commission (2012). Special Eurobarometer 393, Discrimination in the EU 2012, pp. T98-T99 41. ^ Eurobarometer Biotechnology report 2010 p.381 42. ^ "Global Index of Religiosity and Atheism - 2012" (PDF). RED C Research & Marketing Ltd. 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 August 2012. 45. ^ [1]. Zensus 2011 - Page 10. 50. ^ Bundesamt für Migration und Flüchtlinge (2009). "Muslimisches Leben in Deutschland 2008", pp 11, 80 51. ^ Anwar, Muhammad; Blaschke, Jochen; Sander, Åke (2004). "Islam and Muslims in Germany: Muslims in German History until 1945". State Policies Towards Muslim Minorities: Sweden, Great Britain and Germany (PDF). editionParabolis. pp. 65−67. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 December 2004. 52. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Mitgliederzahlen: Islam", in: Religionswissenschaftlicher Medien- und Informationsdienst\|Religionswissenschaftliche Medien- und Informationsdienst e. V. (Abbreviation: REMID), Retrieved 4 January 2016 53. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Anzahl der Muslime in Deutschland nach Glaubensrichtung im Jahr 2015* (in 1.000)", in: Statista GmbH, Retrieved 4 January 2016 54. ^ "Was ist "Ahmadiyyat"?", in: Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat Germany Website, Retrieved 4 January 2016 55. ^ "Mosque construction continues with community support: Ahmadi Muslim leader, Retrieved 22 July 2016 56. ^ Der Tagesspiegel: Moschee in Wilmersdorf: Mit Kuppel komplett, 29 August 2001, Retrieved 5 January 2016 58. ^ "Zentralrat - Mitglieder" [Central Council - Members]. Central Council of Jews in Germany (in German). Retrieved 31 March 2016. 62. ^ a b "Sekten: Definitionen" [Sects: Definitions] (in German). Retrieved 8 April 2017. Further reading • Evans, Ellen Lovell. The German Center Party, 1870-1933: A Study in Political Catholicism (Southern Illinois UP, 1981). • Harrington, Joel F., and Helmut Walser Smith. "Confessionalization, community, and state building in Germany, 1555-1870." Journal of Modern History (1997): 77-101. online; JSTOR. • Smith, Helmut Walser, ed. Protestants, Catholics and Jews in Germany, 1800-1914 (Bloomsbury Academic, 2001). • Spohn, Willfried. "Religion and Working-Class Formation in Imperial Germany 1871-1914." Politics & Society 19#1 (1991): 109-132. • Tal, Uriel. Christians and Jews in Germany: religion, politics, and ideology in the Second Reich, 1870-1914 (Cornell U.P. 1975). External links[edit]
Why We Should Teach Grammar I hope I ruffle quite a few feathers today. I hope people become upset. I hope people take a moment to think about what we are teaching our children. As an English teacher, of course I support teaching grammar in language arts. As a future mother, I support teaching grammar in language arts. As an English speaking citizen of the United States of America, who hopes to work closely with all kinds of people — no matter age, race, background, or livelihood — I support teaching grammar in language arts. Here’s why! Grammar includes sentence structure, parts of speech, different types of phrases, punctuation, and spelling. Yes, spelling. While many things about our language have changed through time, and are continuing to change, I am a prescriptivist with descriptivist tendencies. English is a fluid language, adding words daily, changing the ability of an adverb to be in a certain place by simply popularizing the new way in a TV show (thanks, “Star Trek”). However, there are rules; and there are a lot of them. There are rules that need to be followed. I was recently teaching my kids principal parts of verbs and the difference between the singular helping verb has and the plural helping verb had. The principle parts of verbs, while accompanied by rules, are sometimes broken. Rarely, but sometimes they are broken! With the helping verb has, I would never, ever say “I has a question;” however, I is singular and so is has! I breaks the rules. So does you. We could move on even further into the “i before e, except after c” rule that is only followed by about 30 words in the English language. We have rules for how words work, but not every word follows every rule all of the time. However, we would not know the difference if we didn’t first know the rule itself. Now let’s pause and think how this affects our kids — because it does. While I may never, in common conversation, analyze a sentence and find the predicate noun or the appositive phrase, and I may never be quizzed on what an independent clause looks like or whether or not I should use a semi-colon or start a new sentence. However, I am expected to speak and write like an intelligible human being. I am expected, not merely as an English teacher, but as a professional. Over half of our lives are spent communicating, either with our loved ones or with authorities, with new people and old acquaintances, with commoners and VIPS. We cannot call ourselves good communicators until we have mastered our given language of communication. My creative writing professor, Dr. Myers, told me that he did not want to see any of our poetry or short stories until we had mastered and understood the proper ways to write both genres. He said we had no ability to add to the culture unless we understood the culture. I was a little hurt by his words, but since then I have analyzed my pre-CW class poetry with post-CW poetry and let me tell you… It’s a world of difference. Since then I have played with form and broken some rules, but I was not allowed to do so, and I could not effectively do so, until I had mastered the forms, the rules, the guidelines. The same is true for our children and students: we cannot let them play with conversational speech until they understand how it’s purest form is to be written and spoken. We cannot let them say, “Well, it doesn’t matter; that’s just how I do it.” We cannot let them throw out the rules because they seem archaic, because mainstream ignorance has changed them and deemed them out-of-fashion. I myself throw in a perf (perfect) and totes (totally) now and then. I myself may type “c u latr” in a text (that’s a lie, but you get the point) but understand that in a formal essay, an email to my boss, or a work application: THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. We must know the rules before we can break them. We must understand how to write and communicate formally before we endeavor to do so informally. The same is true with friendship, is it not? When I met my Sophomore roommate, I wouldn’t have dreamed of calling her names for fun or “letting my hair down” — I wanted her to like me, to see me as intelligent and adult-ish. As time wore on in that Taylor suite, we became familiar and thus the names started being called, the hair started to be let down. From formal to informal. From picking up our dirty clothes to forgetting how to clean our room, we started formally and ended informally. The same is true for writing and communicating: we cannot break the rules until they know what the rules are. Now, spelling. I have heard many elementary teachers protest spelling by saying it is unimportant in light of the fact that we have spell check; it’s too stressful on kids to learn vocabulary or have spelling tests. Try typing in colonel when you don’t know how to spell it. “cernal?” “cornel?” “cernel?” Sorry. No dice. How about the difference between saying there instead of their. Both are spelled correctly. Spell check won’t catch that. Spelling exists for a reason. Without consistency of spelling, our language would fall apart. We wouldn’t be able to communicate. Webster figured this out and thus we have the dictionary! Without consistency of spelling, the language wouldn’t exist. I know many ignorant people who would say “Well, this is how I do it so who cares?” This kind of thinking, this blatant disregard for the rules is a creeping weed that will soon destroy a whole green, beautiful lawn. Say y’all. Say ain’t. Speak in ebonics or deep southern drawl: I don’t care. What I do care about is that we acknowledge, understand, and can aptly apply the rules when necessary. I am not trying to exclude certain ethnicities, cultural differences, or people groups. I am not trying to stand on my Puritanical soap-box of English teacher-y-ness. I am, however, trying to save my language. I am, however, dying to create competent, intelligent students who can effectively communicate. If we cease to communicate, we cease to exist. If we must use the rules on the road, if we must use the grammar rules in foreign language classes, then I implore this generation of teachers, students, citizens, parents, kids, math-majors, and English-majors alike that if we do not follow the rules of our given language, we will soon become relics in a tomb where no one will be able to make sense of us. That is why we should teach grammar in schools, K-12. I cannot wait to have children so I can teach them how cool and confusing this language is. And I cannot wait until they discover its nuances, its puns, its figurative language, its idioms. I cannot wait until they discover that there is an apostrophe with their name when they are speaking of their own items; that dependent clauses are joined to independent clauses with commas, thus giving clarity to a sentence; that when there are other commas in a sentence, we must then use semi-colons to separate the different parts. If our land is beautiful and we must respect it, so should we do to our language. If our people and cultures are beautiful and we must respect them, so should we do to our language. We must teach grammar. We must. Any thoughts? WordPress.com Logo Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
Sunday, 1 October 2006 How much money to make you happy? Who says money can’t buy you happiness? Economists Jonathan Gardner and Andrew Oswald report that winners of a medium-sized prize of between £1000 and £120,000 on Britain’s National Lottery subsequently enjoyed a significant improvement in their psychological well-being compared with others who had only a small win, or no win at all. However, the benefit wasn’t instantaneous, rather it took approximately two years to kick in – probably, the researchers surmised, because it was the act of spending the winnings, rather than the winning itself, that had a positive effect. Gardner and Oswald made these observations after studying data collected as part of the British Household Panel Survey, a project based on yearly interviews with the same sample of over 10,000 people, conducted since 1991. The researchers had access to the participants’ lottery winnings and to their annual scores on a measure of psychological well-being called the ‘General Health Questionnaire’, which features items like “Have you recently felt under constant strain?” or “Have you recently been feeling unhappy and depressed?”. One hundred and sixteen participants had had a win of over £1000, and changes in their psychological well-being were compared with 2943 winners of prizes smaller than £1000, and with 9677 people who had no win at all. There were no well-being differences between groups in the year after a win. But two years after a win, those participants who’d won a medium-sized prize showed a positive change in psychological well-being of 1.22 points compared with two years prior to their win. The small prize winners and non-winners, by contrast, actually showed a drop in psychological well-being of 0.18 points over the same time period, so there was a relative difference between the groups of 1.4 points. But what do these point differences mean in real life? Gardner and Oswald said earlier research had found being widowed was associated with an average drop in well-being of 5 points on the same measure, leading them to conclude the 1.4 point positive change enjoyed by medium-sized winners was worth writing home about – or in their words: “economically significant and not merely statistically significant”. Gardner, J. & Oswald, A.J. (2006). Money and mental well-being: A longitudinal study of medium-sized lottery wins. Journal of Health Economics, In Press. Link to related study by Nobel-prize winner Daniel Kahneman. Anonymous said... It would be interesting to see: 1) the wealth of these people going into the lottery in the first place; perhaps money can buy happiness if you're in a very tight financial situation, but it doesn't do anything for people who are already reasonably well-off. 2) more information about the losers and small prize winners. I'm especially interested in the fact that their well-being went down. I'm wondering if most of the people in this study are the ones who buy lottery tickets all of the time, and thus those people who did not win might be even worse of psychologically than they would have been had they not played. 3) whether the results differ for one-time lottery players vs people who play all of the time. Then again, I doubt there are that many people who win on the first try so that sort of study would be tough. Monty Loree said... I just did a post on that the topic of instant millionaires and how much is too much. While money may be a novelty at first, it quickly becomes a burden and responsibility. After you've paid off you debts, bought a few cars and a nice house, the rest of it becomes work. You've got to learn taxes, investing, estate planning etc. Are most people interested in that.. Not really IMO. mcewen said... I heard a similar argument on the radio [NPR] a while back. Makes perfect sense to me. Now I'll just go and balance my cheque book [translation = check book] and see if I still adhere to that theory. Anonymous said... but you may lose your wealth if you fall prey to these CreditEducator said... Money can't make anybody happy. And it doesn't matter what financial situation you have had before. Also you shouldn't see money as the aim of your life. The wealth does our lives more comfortable but only Love makes us happy! Opra said... I agree that money can't make us happy. However there are people for whom money is happiness. I feel pity for such people. Probably they don't know what real happiness means. Karen said... Unfortunately too many things depend on money nowadays. It happens so that we can't live without it and material values become important for us. Life itself makes us be dependent on money. Post a Comment
December: WWI- Causes, Progression and Outcome WWI: Causes, Progression and Outcome On Thursday December 14, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. Dr. David Fine will present this lecture. Part of the Mahwah Museum Lecture Series, the lecture will take place at the Ramapo Reformed Church, 100 Island Rd., Mahwah. Admission is $3, free for museum members. Contact for reservations or call 201-512-0099. Refreshments will be served afterwards. Why did the European Great Powers turn against each other in 1914 and destroy themselves in the process of what become known as World War I? Why did the Germans antagonize the US so that it joined the war in 1917, one hundred years ago? Why did the Allies win and the Central Powers lose? And why did the peace process end with a settlement that left Europe in a state of anxiety leading to the outbreak of World War II only twenty years later? Dr. David J. Fine will answer these questions in his lecture. Dr. Fine earned his PhD in modern European history from the Graduate Center of the City University of New York in 2010. He published his book Jewish Integration in the German Army in the First World War in 2012. This lecture is hosted by Mahwah Museum, located at 201 Franklin Turnpike. The Museum is currently featuring the new exhibits Kilmer: The Man and WWI Sarajevo to Versailles as well as the continuing exhibits Mahwahs Herstory: The Changing Roles of Women in Mahwah’s History, and Medicine in Mahwah. Permanent exhibits are Les Paul in Mahwah and The Donald Cooper Model Railroad, which is open weekends 1-4 pm. The Museum is open weekends and Wednesdays from 1-4 pm.; admission $5 for non-members, members and children are free.Visit or call 201-512-0099 for information on events, membership and volunteering.
March 14, 2007 Yeast research may boost ethanol production by K.C. Jaehnig CARBONDALE, Ill. — With a bit of tweaking, the kind of yeast brewers use to give beer its buzz could boost America's ethanol production. "Yeast is a very easy organism to play with," said Ahmad M. Fakhoury, a plant pathologist at Southern Illinois University Carbondale interested in fungal genetics and the industrial applications of microbes. "We have a lot of ways to manipulate the genes, to control things in the organism, because a lot is known about its biology and the things that regulate different mechanisms in it." Beer and ethanol don't differ that much in the way they're made. Both result from fermentation — the process yeast uses to turn plant sugars into alcohol. Because yeast plays such a key role in the brewing business, brewers have developed several strains especially for making beer. These yeasts tolerate the high concentrations of alcohol, the high temperatures and the fairly acidic environment of the fermenting equipment better than the strains used for, say, baking bread. But while these yeasts can produce more than enough beer, they can't generate enough ethanol to meet the expected growth in demand. High alcohol levels and acidity both decrease yeast's fermentation. "There's a point where the yeast says, 'Too much ethanol — I won't produce any more,'" Fakhoury said. "It doesn't want to waste energy producing more than it needs, so it slows or stops production." As for acidity, brewers rely on it to kill bacteria that produce toxins that kill yeast. "You can add antibiotics to kill the bacteria, but that's expensive and may add to the antibiotic load if you use the corn left after fermentation as livestock feed," Fakhoury said. To a fungal geneticist, the solution is obvious: Develop a new, improved strain of yeast that keeps going and going and going no matter how much alcohol or acid it encounters. A two-year, $40,000 grant from the Illinois Council on Food and Agricultural Research is allowing Fakhoury to try to do just that. Because he works on the molecular level, he can do it more quickly than can brewers, who must rely on natural selection over generations of yeast strains. "We already have a few 'mutants' that seem to be more tolerant (of acid)," Fakhoury said. "The next step is to work with the National Corn to Ethanol Research Center in Edwardsville to see how they perform fermentation-wise." Fakhoury hopes results from this preliminary study will prove compelling enough to win support for further research from federal agencies interested in alternative fuels. "We are now so dependent on oil and fossil fuels, it affects every aspect of our lives," Fakhoury said. "People have this mindset that there's nothing we can do about it, but there are options, and now there seems to be the political will to come up with solutions. The changeover may not be that difficult."
Presentation is loading. Please wait. Presentation is loading. Please wait. Atomic Theory Timeline Similar presentations Presentation on theme: "Atomic Theory Timeline"— Presentation transcript: 1 Atomic Theory Timeline Development of our understanding of the atom 2 Early Models Democritus was first to suggest atom in 4th century B.C. Dalton’s model was the “Billiard Ball” Atomic Theory Matter is composed of atoms Atoms are indivisible Atoms of a given element have same size, mass and chem props and are different from those of another element Different atoms combine in whole number ratios to form compounds and are separated, combined and rearranged in chem reactions Conservation of Mass 3 Early Models Thomson used the Cathode Ray – determined atoms were made of particles Negative charges in atom “Plum Pudding” model Millikan used oil drop experiment Found mass and charge of an electron 4 Important discoveries Rutherford experimented with Gold Foil Found nucleus Discovered its positive charge and tiny size Electrons moving around the nucleus Came up with “Nuclear Model” 5 Moving Forward… Bohr said electrons move in orbits Found in energy levels Explains bright-line spectrum Called “Planetary Model” But Bohr knew that it was flawed 6 What we believe now Orbital proposed by Schrödinger Describes most likely where electrons were Quantum mechanics new theory “Electron Cloud” model Download ppt "Atomic Theory Timeline" Similar presentations Ads by Google
Did Anything Good Come Out of the Vietnam War? (Innovation Format: Paperback Language: English Format: PDF / Kindle / ePub Size: 13.40 MB Downloadable formats: PDF An added danger of being caught in an ice-jam flood is hypothermia, which can quickly kill. Atlantic Europe, as it armed, became bound in common political purposes. The first innovation to appear was the power take-off, offered after 1922. From this contingent fund, the Commission might make loans to less fortunate carriers for cap- ital expenditures. Spanish is the official language, but many Puerto Ricans also speak English, which is required as a second language in the schools. Pages: 48 Publisher: Rosen Publishing Group (January 15, 2016) ISBN: 1508170762 The development and improvements of the motorized modes of transportation have enticed people into traveling more. 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If private co-operative endeavor fails to provide work for willing hands and relief for the unfortunate, those suffering hardship from no fault of their own have a right to call upon the Government for aid; and a government worthy of its name must make a fitting result” (Polenberg, 13). By the late 1940s and early 1950s the Cold War and the perceived threat of Communism prompted the United States to place even more emphasis on national security and ultimately to increase dramatically its defense spending, while subsequently resulting in deferred attention from many social needs ref.: http://carmelitanemissionariestbg.org/lib/america-in-the-1920-s-20-th-century-america. The reform has the potential to change completely the undergraduate mathematics curriculum and to throttle the normal process of producing a competent corps of scientists, engineers, and mathematicians. In some institutions, this potential is already a reality.103 In an era of international competition, it is unlikely that the public will tolerate such trends indefinitely ref.: http://vegasallnight.com/lib/the-korean-war-u-s-wars. Rockefeller controlled the Colorado Fuel & Iron Corporation, whose coal miners went on strike in 1914. With their families, they were promptly evicted from company-owned homes in Ludlow, Colo. They moved into a cluster of tents, around which National Guard soldiers took positions and at night occasionally fired their rifles into the colony , source: http://classychiczfashionboutique.com/freebooks/world-war-i-and-the-roaring-twenties-1914-1928-discovering-u-s-history. Available from http://www.academic.marist.edu/psf/box2.htm .; accessed 7 April 2000. This sit contains maps, charts, and documents between various officers and countries dealing with World War II http://picturistic.co.uk/library/the-americans-louisiana-teacher-edition-grades-9-12-reconstruction-to-the-21-st-century-2006. Is it still there Cant remember the name but Im sure it was. Their complete disrespect of our President online. Roman Catholics suffered from popular prejudice, which turned violent in the 1830s and lasted through the 1850s. Americans feared that the hierarchical structure of the Roman Catholic Church was incompatible with democracy. Many felt that separate parochial schools meant that Roman Catholics did not want to become Americans. Irish Catholics were thought to be lazy and prone to heavy drinking download. Only if loans to China were put on a joint international foot- ing could Chinese territorial and administrative integrity be preserved against attempts to hack out spheres of influence; and through such protection of Chinese independence American business and banking might compete for Chinese markets on more even terms ref.: http://pal-up.info/index.php/books/post-cold-war-america-1992-present-american-history-by-era. Three threads of policy must be followed. First, the attempt to protect the rights of the United States as a neutral power http://carmelitanemissionariestbg.org/lib/the-jim-crow-laws-and-racism-in-united-states-history. 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Iraq Pulse Israeli film sows nostalgia among Iraqi Jews Article Summary The Israeli film “Farewell Baghdad” explores the Jewish community in Iraq that was expelled from the country in the 1950s and 1960s, and has sparked feelings of nostalgia among Iraqi Jews. The production of an Israeli film about Iraq’s Jews, produced in Iraqi Arabic, has inspired nostalgia among both sides and dominated the headlines of dozens of Iraqi newspapers and websites. The news also attracted widespread attention within Israel. The film, “Farewell Baghdad,” is based on a novel called "The Dove Flyer," by renowned author Eli Amir. Amir is an Iraqi Jew who left Iraq with his family in 1950. The story is of the historical plight of the Jews of Iraq, when they were driven out of the country during the 1950s and 1960s. It also highlights the cultural, social and political situation of the period. The film also focused on historical and cultural ties between the Jews of Iraq with the other components of society. The movie was made in the original Arabic dialect of Iraq’s Jews, a unique and almost extinct dialect of the Arabic language. Iraqi Jews spoke this language for hundreds of years in Iraq, and when they left the country, the variant nearly vanished. This movie is seen as a continuation and escalation of the cultural movement to increase communication between Jews and other Iraqis. This movement started two decades ago, when the two communities tried to reconnect and open up to one another. The movie aroused interest among the Iraqi elite before its screening. Despite Iraqis having been preoccupied with the elections and the unstable security situation, many took the time to publish numerous reports to welcome this work, and the movie was also widely talked about on Facebook. Many commentators expressed regret over how relations faltered between the different components of Iraq. They also expressed the wish that the film be screened in Iraq’s theaters or come out on DVD so they could watch it. Some Iraqis tried to send a message of love to Iraqi Jews by commenting on the Hebrew version of the trailer on YouTube. In an interview with Al-Monitor, Amir said, “The exodus of Jews from Iraq did not happen as a result of poor relations between them and the rest of the components of society. Rather, it happened because of political reasons that were imposed on everyone.” In response to a question about bridging the gap between Iraq’s Jews and the rest of the population, he said, “In light of my experience with Muslim Iraqis in Britain and Germany, I believe this is very possible, given that both people have a lot in common. The only problem lies in the political differences between the regimes, not between individuals.” In terms of the Israeli reaction to the film, the Israeli daily Haaretz published an article headlined, “For Jews from Arab lands, nostalgia is a two-way street.” The article discussed dozens of other models of cultural products between Arabs and Jews, showing a continuous cultural trajectory between both communities. Israeli actor Mira Awad, who played one of the leading roles in the movie, said that every Jew in Israel should watch the film because it shows a time when Arabs and Jews once lived a normal life in Arab countries, without any distinction or discrimination. Dozens of true and untold stories still connect both communities. Al-Monitor has been briefed on many attempts on the part of Israeli families of Iraqi origin to search for their relatives who stayed in Iraq. Those may have converted to other religions or tried to hide their religion for decades. Some Iraqi Jews from Israel and other countries have even made petitions to restore their Iraqi nationality. This is possible under Article 18 of the new Iraqi Constitution, which stipulates that Iraqi citizenship is the right of every Iraqi and is the basis of his nationality, and if it was lost for any reason, those who wish to restore it can request that it be done. History has shown that relations between peoples and cultures are much stronger than the political disputes and conflicts that divide them. No matter how deep the differences may be, one day they will come to an end, leaving behind the bonds of love and affection that will be reflected in their shared cultural heritage. Found in: jews, jewish culture, israel, iraqi jews, iraqi community, iraq, film
Blank Labels for CD made out of paper Labels for CDs can be called different ways such as CD labels, CDR labels, CD R labels, CD ROM Labels, compact disc labels Blank CD paper labels have been controversial since they started being used. About 20 years ago. It was a concern whether the adhesive and paper itself or even the ink applied to the label is acidic or corrosive, and will eventually damage the media. This question arises because in the very early history (20 years ago) of compact disc, some discs experienced what became known as "disc rot" when the aluminum metal layer corroded because the lacquer used to coat it was acidic, making it non-reflective and thereby useless. Acidic lacquer is no longer used. Certainly it is not a good thing to have any part of a disc carelessly damaged, but with CDs that use gold for their metal layer, the danger of corrosion is extremely limited. However, the metal is applied in a very, very thin layer, and conceivably over time some leakage of a corrosive substance might occur that could interact with the dye layer. (This is pure conjecture -- no one has reported such an occurrence and it may not even be theoretically possible.) But with metals other than 24K gold being used in CDs now, the chance of metal corrosion, while still low, is higher than with gold. That is one reason Verbatim chose to use a protective "printable" coating on their discs, even though it is not as aesthetically pleasing as simple lacquer. However, it is possible to use paper and adhesives that are acid-free and chemically non-reactive. Paper labels and their adhesive is the danger that a user might try to remove them, which has a very high probability of causing damage by pulling some of the disc protective coating, metal and dye off with the label. This is particularly true of plain lacquer discs. For this reason, label users are usually warned not to remove the labels, no matter what. A somewhat contradictory argument is that labels could become unattached while being used in a CD drive, potentially damaging the drive. Some adhesives can certainly dry out and become less effective over time, especially in the presence of heat, so this danger could be real. only uses the highest quality acrylic adhesive which can stand high temperatures for our blank CD labels. Balancing CD in Disc Drive With high speed CD drives especially, a paper label that is not perfectly centered, or is inherently unbalanced as in the case of a half-crescent label, will effect disc rotation, causing read errors. Don't use half crescent CD labels But despite all the arguments against using paper labels, they are very popular and continue to be the best solution. It is also very inexpensive, costing only pennies per disc. Paper CD labels when printed in a laser or inkjet printer they can look better than handwriting on the disc using a pen. A full-circle or "doughnut" label applied with a tool to center it perfectly eliminates any potential danger of imbalance. And a full-circle paper label provides a small measure of protection against minor scratches on the delicate top surface of laquer-only coated discs. The general conclusions that can be drawn about paper labels are that those made with appropriate materials in a full-circle and applied correctly are probably acceptable for short-term intermittent use, they are inexpensive and can be attractive, and they might give some protection against small scratches. If you plan to use your CD-R disc for long-term (7+ years) archiving or for very heavy use, such as keeping it in a reader where it could be exposed to elevated temperatures over a long time, it would be better to find another labeling method than paper labels. CD Templates manufacturers several types of CD label templates including Mini CD, Business CD card, and DVD label templates. Full Face CD label template, Popular CD label Template is our product WL-1200 Cd label template Brand CD labels continues to be the leader in laser and inkjet blank label printing technologies and CD Labeling. Our development department is constantly working on improving sheet printability and performance. We want to make it easy for you to print labels. We want you to produce professional looking labels at the office or home. Worldlabel has a team of experts to help you with your CD labeling needs, software suggestions, sheet types and sizes, printing problems...... Please do not hesitate to contact us for help using our contact form. Locate CD Labels
USFDA – Sometimes Drugs and the Liver Don’t Mix Posted on Updated on human liver The liver is a remarkable, if underappreciated, organ. It turns the nutrients in our diets to substances the body can use and converts toxins into harmless substances or makes sure they are removed from the body When the liver is working well, our metabolism hums along in equilibrium. But drugs and dietary supplements can sometimes wreak havoc with that system, leading to dangerous liver problems. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working to prevent drug-induced liver injuries. “Any drug may cause dangerous liver problems but, fortunately, such problems only occur rarely,” says John R. Senior, M.D., an FDA gastrointestinal medical reviewer and consultant in hepatology, which includes study of the liver. “It is challenging to predict how drugs will affect the liver because each patient is different in how they respond to a given drug. Our goal is to prevent the toxicity of drugs.” Acute liver failure is a rapid deterioration of the organ’s ability to function. Data suggest that prescription and over-the-counter drugs (OTC) and dietary supplements cause more acute liver failure cases than all other reasons combined. FDA has identified several instances of liver damage caused by dietary supplements. For example, the agency has issued public health warnings and sent warning letters to companies marketing supplements for weight loss and muscle building. In one instance, a Texas-based company agreed to recall and destroy certain dietary supplement products after discovering a link between the supplement and cases of liver failure and non-viral hepatitis. No Easy Way to Identify the Vulnerable FDA has taken steps to keep consumers safe. In early 2014, FDA requested withdrawal of over 120 applications for combination prescription acetaminophen drug products containing more than 325 mg acetaminophen per dosage unit. The agency also has reminded pharmacists and physicians to stop prescribing and dispensing combination prescription acetaminophen products containing more than 325 mg. It is FDA’s understanding that as a result, all manufacturers have discontinued marketing combination prescription drug products that contain more than 325 mg of acetaminophen. Some antibiotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications also have been tied to liver damage. Hepatitis, a liver inflammation, can have several potential causes. Drugs may induce a form of hepatitis that closely resembles viral hepatitis (liver inflammation caused by viral infection). Signs and Symptoms How can you recognize the signs of liver problems? Avigan says you might feel tired and have a poor appetite. In more extreme cases, your eyes and skin become yellowish (jaundice) and your skin becomes very itchy. “Your skin itches because the liver is not properly clearing toxins from the body,” he says. When patients taking a drug they have not used before get those symptoms, they should seek immediate medical attention and stop using that drug if it is identified as the cause, Avigan cautions. If the symptoms surface and the patient has been taking a medication for a long time, there could be another cause. Senior says it’s difficult to be certain that the symptoms were caused by a drug and not something else. Obesity and excessive consumption of alcohol also can damage the liver. Considering Risks and Benefits Patients should discuss the risks and benefits of any drug with their doctors when they start treatment, Avigan says. They should also discuss dietary supplements with their clinician before taking them. Some life-saving drugs are the only options for very sick patients. “Before approving or denying approval of a drug, we evaluate its risks and work to identify its liver injury potential, even if only one in 10,000 people will be badly affected,” Avigan says. “With some drugs, for example for cancer patients, the benefits of treatment might far outweigh the risks.” The liver can regenerate even when 65% of it is destroyed or surgically removed, as in a cancer treatment. This versatile organ is often capable of adapting and becoming tolerant of various foreign agents, including drug products. But if the liver isn’t healthy, complications from drug interactions can be even worse. Source: PharmaBiz Let us know what you think! You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
Session 9: Discussions Online discussions are an important part of many online classes and an important part of general Internet communication. Use what you have learned from the text and your own investigation to respond to the following items. 1. Identify three different technologies that support discussions in online classes. Describe each technology in terms of its ability to support worthwhile and rewarding discussions. 2. Describe an eLearning context (type of class, students, and specific content) where you would advocate the use of an online discussion. Identify the technology you would use to facilitate the discussion. 3. Describe how you would plan for the discussion described in question 2. For example, how would you prepare students for the discussion, structure associated presentations, plan other activities that students be doing along with the discussion, and how you would ensure that the student workload was balanced and appropriate. 4. Develop a set of guidelines or policies that you would give to students to help them engage successfully in the discussion. 5. Describe and/or develop a system for assessing student participation and learning in the discussion. 6. How would you prepare the instructor for participating in the discussion?. Session 8: Final Project Use your blog post this week to discuss your ideas for your final project. We have several options for our final project. I like I am going to go with option two, t0 develop a course outline for an entire online or hybrid course. This means that I will need to create learning goal and objectives, think about the technologies I would use to complete those objectives and why I would use those technologies, as well as the types of interactions students should have with other students, with the instructor and the content of the course, and finally, how I will be assessing and evaluating how well the students are completing the course objectives. I will have to think on what my subject matter will be. Session 7: ADA Requirements Use what you learned from the presentation, the information in the text and other sources to answer the following: 1. What are three types of disabilities that students in a course you create might have? Explain the accommodations that you would need to provide for each. • Color Blindness: Use high contrast; avoid red-blue-green combinations; have a text version. • Low Vision or No Vision: Use high contrast; have a text version; have a user changeable font. • Seizures: Don’t use flickering images, high speed animations or optical illusions. 2. According to the text, what is the percentage of the population that has a visual, auditory or physical limitation? How does that compare to other sources for this information. (Please list at least one other source you found.) • Waterhouse sites that 1 in 5, or twenty percent,of the population has a vision, hearing or physical limitation. (p. 172) 3. Identify three factors other than the actual disabilities that exist in your student population that influence how an institution or a course creator is required to address ADA in an online course. 4. According to the text, what is “assistive technology”? Give some examples. 5. Identify and explain two different ways to check a webpage to ensure that it meets the needs of disabled students. 6. Identify two types of presentations used in online courses (for example, podcasts, PowerPoints, Videos, Slide Shows, etc.) and that you might use and explain how you can ensure that each is ADA compliant. 7. Develop a course usability checklist that is appropriate for your anticipated needs. Use the example provided in the text as a starting point and explain your modifications. Session 6: Grading, Assessment and Evaluation 1. What is the difference between assessment and evaluation? • Assessment is used to determine if a learner has successfully mastered a learning objective. Evaluation includes assessment, and adds the quality of the knowledge gained. 2. What are the challenges to assessment and evaluation in eLearning? • One challenge to assessment and evaluation in eLearning is making sure the person completely the assessment is the person who will be receiving the grade. Another is that it is difficult to create a test where students cannot use a book, or other resources to aid them. 3. Explain the possible use of an online portfolio in eLearning. • An online portfolio can be used to assess or evaluate a student’s learning in an eLearning course. 4. Identify at least two ways to measure student participation in an online class and explain how you think these methods can factor into the students’ grade in the course. 5. Define peer evaluation and describe its advantages and disadvantages. 6. Describe a possible group assignment for an online class and explain how to evaluate student performance in the group assignment. 7. Create an online test. 8. Create a rubric or other grading aide for an online assignment. Session 5: New Media New Media One • Youtube • Youtube is a very popular website that not only allows anyone to upload and share a video, but to create and edit one as well. All you need is a computer, internet connection, and a webcam (mic optional) with some working knowledge. This allows instructors to create very rich, reusable instructional media to share with their students. Video are one-way communication, where the instructor conveys content to the student. Videos are also asynchronous, allowing students to watch them whenever is convenient for their busy schedules. Like other popular websites, Youtube also has an app that allows students to view videos on their phones, tablets and any other portable technology with an internet connection from anywhere.An alternative to Youtube is Teachertube.Teachertube was founded by educators for educators, and as such has much stricter rules than Youtube regarding what can be uploaded. It allows instructors to not only upload videos, but audio files, documents and photos as well. • Students are asked to listen to a podcast and answer a question about the topic of the podcast.Viewing the podcast would be simple enough. The instructor could choose to combine and audio file to a static picture or to create an entire video. Student may also post their answers in the comments section. However, students would be able to view comments from previous classes, and anyone from the general public would also be able to view the video and comment as well. Instructors would be able to post a transcript of the audio, but it would be difficult to read and watch. The instructor could also include subtitles in the video. I would use Youtube in this case only to view the video, and ask that students either email or blog the answer to the question. New Media Two • Facebook • Facebook may be an ever more popular website than Youtube. Facebook is a very powerful networking website that allows individuals to share pictures, videos, and personal news with friends and family. It allows people to easily stay in touch and up to date across large distances. Facebook allows users to create groups base on interest, play browser games and create events. Facebook also allows users to post links, images and video from all over the web. In my opinion, Facebook has evolved into something too distracting for educational use. • Students are asked to listen to a podcast and answer a question about the topic of the podcast. Facebook would allow the instructor to upload an already made video or post a link to a video, but not create one. So the instructor would either have to use video editing software, or Youtube. Facebook would enable to students to message the answer to the instructor, or post on a group wall. Facebook also has a chat, so that students can ask questions of the instructor our bounce ideas off of each other. However, Facebook is full of the students’ and instructor’s personal data, and not everyone has one. Individuals post very personal and sensitive data on Facebook, and for that reason alone I would not use it in an educational setting. Just like Youtube, Facebook has an educational alternative called Edmodo. “Edmodo helps connect all learners with the people and resources needed to reach their full potential.” (taken from Edmodo’s about page) Session 4: Annotated Bibliography – Issues and Trends 1. Our text categorizes electronic information into four types: 1. Textual Information 2. Presentation Graphics Slide Show 3. Spreadsheets and Databases 4. Multimedia objects Provide an example or multiple examples of effective use of each type of electronic information for eLearning. Be sure to provide specific information about what makes your indicated use “effective”. Explaining effectiveness in light of one of the media theories as presented in this session (or another media theory you prefer) is expected. 2. Our text goes into some very specific detail on the proper formatting of textual information. Explain what you believe to be the most important guidelines for your use of textual information that are provided in the text and then create a sample text document (other than an announcement) that demonstrates the best practices of formatting textual information. Be sure to explain the purpose of the document and who the intended users are if that isn’t obvious from the document itself. 3. What is the difference between synchronous and asynchronous communication as it is used in eLearning and how do you choose between the two for a given task? 4. What technologies does your CMS/LMS have to support synchronous communication? 5. What technologies does your CMS/LMS have to support asynchronous communication? 6. Describe a task or assignment you could use in an online class that would use either asynchronous or synchronous communication. Explain the task or assignment, identify the technology you would use to support the activity and explain why you chose that technology. Explain what you would do to ensure that the activity was successful. Session 3: Institutional Support for eLearning You must post your reflections about the event, specifically you thoughts on the content, method and technology used to support the guest speaker event. • The two things that really jumped out at me during Dr. Jim Monaghan’s speech were the Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) and the digital thumbprint. For people like me who love to learn and hate to go to school, MOOCs offer endless opportunities. After the presentation I Googled MOOC to see what I could find, and came up with a few sites: The last site may be a bit of a stretch as a MOOC, but it does show the vast amount of resources available for free to anyone with an interest and an internet connection. MOOCs are not limited to the United States. Many universities all over the world offer open online courses in several different languages. I am curious to see how funding is going to work for MOOCs. If it is free to participate, who is paying for the technology and teachers? If universities all over the world are participating, who is responsible for the quality of the course? The second thing that really stood out to me was the digital thumbprint. It was during the portion when Dr. Jim Monaghan was discussing some of the ways instructors of online courses can be sure that the people taking a test in an online course are the people that should be. Or, how do instructors know that their students aren’t cheating? Oddly enough, there are many different articles and websites that talk about the digital thumbprint, but not in the same way that Dr. Jim Monaghan was meaning. Most of the articles I found defined a digital thumbprint as anything a person does while connected to the internet. Investigators cam put together a timeline of a person’s whereabouts with little more than Facebook posts, telephone calls made, or internet access points. However Dr. Jim Monaghan was referring to the definition of a digital thumbprint being the habits a person uses while typing. This could be the physical way a person types (like a digital handwriting sample), the average time it takes that person to type a paragraph, or the word and syntax structure choices that person makes. I had never used talkshoe before. But I thought it handled the guest speaker event very nicely. I think it is a useful technology for having a guest speaker who may not be very comfortable with technology give an online presentation. It also offers students the chance to call in instead of having to use the chatroom. One of the other students and I had a minor technical difficulty. Perhaps we logged on too soon, and had our own little chatroom. We didn’t think anything of it until two minutes until the meeting time, and it was still just the two of us. Luckily, the fix was easy. We took a page out of the tech support 101 book and closed, and then restarted the call. Once restarted, the call connected to the proper chatroom.
Loading presentation... Present Remotely Send the link below via email or IM Present to your audience Start remote presentation • Invited audience members will follow you as you navigate and present • People invited to a presentation do not need a Prezi account • This link expires 10 minutes after you close the presentation • A maximum of 30 users can follow your presentation • Learn more about this feature in our knowledge base article Do you really want to delete this prezi? Make your likes visible on Facebook? You can change this under Settings & Account at any time. No, thanks World War II Presentation for American History Our group's presentation on World War II for Sr. Nabila's history class. Sarah Asfari on 20 April 2013 Comments (0) Please log in to add your comment. Report abuse Transcript of World War II Presentation for American History World War II United States United States France Britain Germany Italy Japan Soviet Union Poland Allies Poland was the first country to be attacked in the war. When Germany declared war on Poland in 1939, it triggered the second World War. Great Britain was one of the original allies, and it entered the war in 1939 to honor its ties with Poland. France was also one of the first countries to declare war on Germany, as it was one of the supporters of Polish security. The United States tried to remain neutral in the war, but when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, they decided to join the allies. Axis Germany can be regarded as the main cause of World War II, as it was the first to invade Poland in 1939. It was the primary axis power during the war. Italy entered the war during the June of 1940. It hoped to become rich from the spoils of war after it was all over. In December 1941, the Japanese, who had already been at war with China, attacked Pearl Harbor. They considered it a preliminary to attacking British and Dutch colonies in Southeast Asia. The Soviet Union originally joined on the side of the axis powers, but after Germany invaded Soviet land, they switched and became part of the allies. When Hitler rose to power, he did not plan to only stay the dictator of Germany. He wanted to spread his rule and eventually take control of the world. Hitler had his eyes set on neighboring Poland, and to justify an invasion, he staged a Polish attack on a minor German radio station. Germany declared war on Poland on September 1st 1939. Start of World War II Escalation of War Britain and France had established treaties with Poland, so they allied themselves with Poland and formed an alliance. Hitler launched his blitzkrieg (lighting attack) on Holland and Belgium, occupying both countries. The invasion of these two countries, which had remained neutral, infuriated many. Britain readied for attack on Germany, with infantry lined up on their beaches. The Battle of Britain The Battle of Britain was one of the greatest battle of World War II. It was an air campaign waged by Hitler and Nazi Germany on Britain. There were three main aims of the battle: To assess the speed and accuracy of the British Royal Air Force (RAF). To destroy British air bases and facilities. To ultimately weaken Britain and defeat them in the war. (Britain was Germany's main enemy at the time). 1939-Germany invades Poland under the pretext of revenge for radio station attack 1939-France and Britain declare war on Germany 1940-Blitzkrieg attack on Holland and Belgium, which were neutral countries 1940-Winston Churchill becomes British prime minister and heads the military 1940-Italy joins the war on the side of the axis 1940 (July-October) Battle of Britain 1940-Tripartite Pact signed by Germany, Italy, and Japan Sarah Asfari Aleena Jilani Nida Akhtar Sources http://www.century-of-flight.net/Aviation%20history/WW2/bombing%20raids.htm Full transcript
Hubert Robert, ‘Statue of Jupiter, Seated [recto]’, 1754/1765, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Overall: 15.5 x 9.5 cm (6 1/8 x 3 3/4 in.) support: 21.5 x 15.9 cm (8 7/16 x 6 1/4 in.) About Hubert Robert Nicknamed Robert of the Ruins during his life, Hubert Robert was a popular academy painter in eighteenth-century France who was celebrated for his paintings of fictitious landscapes populated with real ruins. After training in Paris, Robert traveled to Rome in 1754 and spent the following decade enraptured with the architectural ruins there, especially the then-recently excavated Pompeii. Such sites became his paintings’ architectural focal points, though they were often situated in lush, imaginary landscapes. Reverential toward ancient Roman culture, he also included renderings of classical sculptures of mythological figures in his paintings. Upon returning to Paris, Robert worked for aristocrats and royals, painting accurate representations of France as well as adding landscape and furniture design to his oeuvre. French, 1733-1808, Paris, France, based in Paris, France
1 Answer missy575's profile pic missy575 \| High School Teacher \| (Level 1) Educator Emeritus Posted on The most significant purpose for Venice being the setting of Othello has to do with Shakespeare honoring the source from which his ideas for the play came. Almost the entire play is based on an Italian author's writing. The work of Geraldi Cinthio particularly focused on the struggles between husbands and wives. As soon as the play opens, the announcement of the eloping Othello and Desdemona takes the central attention of the characters. This is purposeful because the Venitians also routinely struggled through their marriages with loud jealousies and intricate quarrels. Not to mention, the overwhelming watch of a father would be a rather stereotypical Italian feature as well. Since the play includes action that takes place in the ocean, it had to be a coastal city which likewise fits Venice. Othello is the military leader of the navy. As in most coastal cities of the day, there was a variety of economic classes. This plays to the need for the play to have characters of great stature and political standing (Othello, Brabantio, and Desdemona) as well as the serving class (Emilia and Bianca). A setting like Venice was suited to provide this. In the opening scene, Shakespeare portrays this variety of class as Iago eventually convinces Brabantio that he has been robbed of his daughter. Brabantio has pride for the high society that his city has and claims: This is Venice;(115) My house is not a grange. Hope that helps.
10 Barragens mais Altas do Mundo (até 2013) 10 Tallest Dams in the World (until 2013) This is a list of the tallest dams in the world. Currently, the tallest dam in the world is the Nurek Dam, an embankment dam in Tajikistan at 300 m (984 ft) high. The tallest arch dam is the recently completed 292 m (958 ft) high Xiaowan Dam in China. For gravity dams, the tallest is the 285 m (935 ft) high Grande Dixence Dam in Switzerland. Note: Does not include natural dams. 1. Nurek Dam, Tajikistan File:Nurek Dam.JPG Height: 300 m (980 ft) Type: Embankment, earth-fill River: Vakhsh 2. Xiaowan Dam, China File:Xiaowan Dam.jpg Height: 292 m (958 ft) Type: Concrete arch River: Lancang 3. Grande Dixence Dam, Switzerland Height: 285 m (935 ft) Type: Concrete gravity River: Dixence 4. Inguri Dam, Georgia Height: 271.5 m (891 ft) Type: Concrete arch River: Inguri 5. Vajont Dam (disused), Italy Height: 261.6 m (858 ft) Type: Concrete arch River: Vajont Vajont disaster: File:Disastro Vajont.jpg On 9 October 1963 at 10:39 pm, a massive landslide of about 260 million m3 of forest, earth, and rock, which fell from the mount Toc into the dam basin at up to 110 km per hour (68 mph) completely filled up the narrow reservoir in front of the dam. The landslide was much faster than predicted, taking just 45 seconds, and the resulting displacement of water caused 50 million m3 of water to overtop the dam in a 250-metre-high (820 ft) wave. The flooding from the huge wave in the Piave valley destroyed the villages of Longarone, Pirago, Rivalta, Villanova and Faè, killing around 2,000 people and turning the land below the dam into a flat plain of mud with an impact crater 60 metres deep and 80 wide. Many small villages near the landslide along the lakefront also suffered damage from a giant displacement wave. Villages in the territory of Erto e Casso and the village of Codissago (it), near Castellavazzo, were largely wrecked. Estimates of the dead range from 1,900 to 2,500 people, and about 350 families lost all members. Most of the survivors had lost relatives and friends along with their homes and belongings. The dam itself was largely undamaged — the top metre or so of masonry was washed away, but the basic structure remained intact and still exists today. 6. Manuel Moreno Torres (Chicoasén) Dam, Mexico Height: 261 m (856 ft) Type: Embankment, earth-fill River: Grijalva 7. Nuozhadu Dam, China Height: 261 m (856 ft) Type: Embankment River: Lancang River 8. Tehri Dam, India Height: 260.5 m (855 ft) Type: Embankment, earth-fill River: Bhagirathi 9. Mauvoisin Dam, Switzerland File:Mauvoisin dam.jpg Height: 250 m (820 ft) Type: Concrete arch River: Bagnes 10. Laxiwa Dam, China File:Laxiwa Dam.jpg Height: 250 m (820 ft) Type: Concrete arch River: Huang He Source: wikipedia.org Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
How Phones Access 9-1-1 What Kind of Phone Do You Use and Why Does It Matter? Telephone technology has changed drastically in the last decade and a half. Each kind of telephone reaches 9-1-1 using different pathways and can have a dramatic effect on how quickly the call will be processed. Make sure you know how your phone connects to 9-1-1! Traditional Landline Telephones: In Boyd County, if you have a Windstream telephone you have what is considered a traditional landline phone. These phones provide the most information to a 9-1-1 dispatcher when you call. It is directly routed based on the known location of the telephone (address of residence or business where it is installed). The dispatcher will receive the ANI/ ALI screen (Automatic Number and Location Identification) that will include the telephone number, name the phone is registered in, and the exact address the of the telephone. Why is that important? If you call 9-1-1 and cannot speak for whatever reason then the dispatcher can still send help to investigate the call. Armstrong Cable telephones deliver the same type of information when dialing 9-1-1 as their information is contained in the same database as Windstream. Time Warner Cable telephone service is a little different as they utilize a different database and delivery system however, their data is generally the same. Cellular/Wireless Telephones: A cellular phone uses GPS locations and tower site delivery. Boyd County 9-1-1 is a certified Phase 2 PSAP meaning the center has the equipment capable of receiving the GPS coordinates from cellular calls and can plot the location on a digital map. Caution however, the GPS coordinates are not always accurate nor are they instantaneous like locations from the landline phones. Be aware that when calling from a cellular phone your location may not be accurate to where you are. A dispatcher may not be able to locate you based on the ANI/ALI data only. Location data is often affected when calling from inside a vehicle or building. VoIP Telephones: Internet service telephones such as Vonage, Majic Jack, Ooma and the like allow for the user to access their phone service anywhere they have internet access. On the surface, this seems like a great idea and quite portable. Be aware that the telephone service owners, you, are responsible for updating your location anytime you move the phone. Otherwise, when you dial 9-1-1 from the VoIP phone you will get the 9-1-1 PSAP where your phone was last registered. So, for instance, if you registered your address in Ashland, KY but you are currently using the phone at a hotel or new residence in Lexington, when you dial 9-1-1 you will get the Boyd County 9-1-1 center not Lexington. Some VoIP providers are not directly connected with the Public Telephone Switching Network which delivers calls into the 9-1-1 systems. Instead they have their own emergency call taking centers that will answer your initial call then transfer you to the proper 9-1-1 center. Again, this will depend on the address data used when registering the phone, so not only will the call be delayed because it does not go directly to 9-1-1, but it may also be transferred to the wrong PSAP based on incorrect address information. Saves time… Saves lives!
Re: The Permian-Triassic Extinction I'm not sure if I'm responding with another non sequitur, but with the continents jammed together to form one giant landmass (Pangaea), the terrestrial biotas were exposed to harsher, drier environments that resulted from a drastic decrease in the ratio of coastline to the vast interior. This would not mean an increase in global average temperatures, and that's what Dora seems to be saying. A sudden drop in global temperature followed by global warming is usually attributed to the Siberian Traps. The drop would require sulfate aerosols, and these would require explosive volcanism -- that's the opposite of effusive volcanism which by definition must have produced the traps. The bolide hypothesis does not have much support when it comes to the Permian/Triassic extinction. At least the supposed craters aren't published yet. No Permian dinosaurs (as others have pointed out, with admirable restraint). There were dinosaurian ancestors back then, in the form of basal archosauromorphs (and maybe archosauriforms). Only one archosauriform -- the proterosuchid Archosaurus rossicus -- is known from the (very latest) Permian.
Nationally, the low levels of scientific literacy are reflected in the decreasing number of engineering students and falling test scores among 4th to 8th grade students (NAEP, 2009; NOS, 2000). Declining coverage of science news combined with weak public trust for science is troubling given that citizens should be more involved with policy decisions such as climate change and sustainability (Clark & Illman, 2001). Fortunately, science education reforms focus on inquiry-based learning environments that use discussion of socioscientific issues or science issues tied to social controversies (e.g. stem cell research) to improve students’ scientific literacy. The proposed study seeks to examine students’ understanding about environmental issues, which builds on a growing body of research related to an ongoing literacy program called Word Generation This study focuses on the potential for deliberative classroom situations for enhancing appreciation of climate change knowledge in adolescents. In particular, we will test the impact of the climate change discussion on the narrative essays that students produce as a part of the program. The study’s objectives are: 1. To determine if classroom-based opportunities to discuss climate change has a positive impact on students’ scientific literacy, interest in environmental issues and engagement (e.g. recycling and advocacy) 2. To assess the degree to which students’ narrative accounts reflect climate change knowledge 3. Test for coherence and discrepancies between student narratives and climate change science 4. Inform research in science education and environmental policy to identify reforms to bridge the communication gap between science experts and citizens Project P.I.:
The word "Islam" derives from Arabic characters meaning "to be in peace." Worldwide there are roughly a billion Muslims, or practioners of Islam. Muslims trace their faith back to the spiritual experiences of Prophet Muhammad (570-622 C.E.), an inhabitant of Mecca in what is now Saudi Arabia. While meditating, Muhammad was visited by the angel Jibrail (Gabriel, in the Jewish and Christian Bibles). Jibrail entrusted Muhammad with a series of direct revelations from Allah, the Supreme Being. These were written down in Arabic and called the Qur'an (sometimes spelled Koran). Muslims consider the Qur'an and the Hadith--the sayings, actions, and commentary of Prophet Muhammad told in narrative form--to be their essential guides for living. Muhammad is the last in a series of prophets that begins with Adam and includes Abraham, Noah, Moses, and Jesus: all of them human messengers of the Unique, Infinite, Transcendent Creator and Sustainer of all that exists. Because of this theological and historical common ground, there is a tradition within Islam of respecting Jews and Christians as brother and sister "People of the Book." Zoroastrians, Hindus, and Buddhists have also been identified as such. In the area of feminist spirituality, the common ground between Islam and other faiths is readily apparent. Just like contemporary women in the other world religions, a growing number of Muslim women are calling for a deeper faithfulness to their spiritual tradition than has been realized under centuries of male domination. At the heart of Islam, they assert, is the message that human beings are equal to one another and called by Allah to live together peaceably. Men and women must seek a loving mutuality. Because the lives of unborn children too are sacred, solutions other than abortion must be found for difficult pregnancies. The Muslim Women's League USA eloquently voices the transformative message of Islamic feminism in the following essays. -- Editor Issues of Concern for Muslim Women (September 1995) Renewed interest in and enthusiasm for Islam as a means of change is emerging in many parts of the world. By implementing Islamic principles, Muslims are hoping to improve their condition on many fronts, be they social, political, economic or other. The Muslim world is comprised of people of a variety of nationalities and ethnicities which, combined with geographical realities, determine priorities of action for improving the lives of women. Most Muslims are taught that Islam liberated women by giving them rights not previously enjoyed. Some examples include rights of ownership, decision-making in marriage, divorce and so on. Indeed, when reviewing primary Muslim sources of Qur'an and authentic Hadith (words and deeds of Prophet Muhammed), one is impressed by an overall image of men and women as equal partners as those who are expected by God to "enjoin the doing of what is right and forbid the doing of what is wrong" in all spheres of life, and to act as His vicegerents in ensuring justice, freedom, and equality for all.(1) The importance of developing a strong family as the major building block of a strong society is clearly expressed in Islamic literature. The family unit is solidified by mutual respect, understanding and compassion that applies within the family and among all members of society in general. Unfortunately, over time, many of the original principles have been abandoned or modified to suit political agendas, thus presenting Muslims with laws and images that hardly resembled the original Islamic community led by Muhammad. Many of these laws were generated between the tenth and twelfth centuries, long after the death of Muhammad, and are particularly reflected in legislation today related to marriage and divorce which often places women at a distinct disadvantage. Muslims who live as minorities in non-Islamic countries are also affected by the sexist and authoritarian attitudes that pervade many communities and impact behavior in terms of marriage, divorce, abuse, exclusion of women from the mosques and decision-making bodies, double standards applied to male and female children and so on. Major problem areas that need to be addressed include the following: Until recently, because of a pervasive sexist and oppressive presentation of women in Islam, Muslim women often felt the only way to be liberated intellectually, socially, politically and economically was by abandoning Islam. There appears to be a growing movement of Islamist women who are demanding that the rights guaranteed by Islam must be applied in their communities. In addition, women are joining the ranks of Islamic scholars, thus providing alternative points of view to what has heretofore been addressed by men. Reviewing Islamic history from an egalitarian perspective, recalling contributions of Muslim women over the centuries, exploring current practices and laws and criticizing them from an Islamic point of view, examining texts as they pertain to women specifically--these are a few examples of some areas addressed by women scholars today. Muslims today are facing great challenges from within and without. Oftentimes, calls for change are seen as tools of an outside power seeking to undermine the efforts of Islam and Muslims. Certain geopolitical realities lend credence to this view. However, the current desire for change on the part of Muslim women is perhaps more borne out of the fervent belief in the image of the Muslim woman, as communicated by God in the Qur'an, of a liberated, vital human being who can work in cooperation with men on many levels to contribute to the betterment of society. They seek to expose this concept which has been buried by the persistence of attitudes that focus on competition and subsequent subjugation of one sex over the other in direct conflict with the spirit of the Qur'anic verse, "And thus does their Lord answer their prayer: I shall not lose sight of the work of any of you who works (in My way) be it man or woman: You are members, one of another." (2) Gender Equality in Islam (September 1995) ...Spiritual equality, responsibility and accountability for both men and women is a well-developed theme in the Qur'an. Spiritual equality between men and women in the sight of God is not limited to purely spiritual and religious issues, but is the basis for equality in all temporal aspects of human endeavor. The concept of gender equality is best exemplified in the Qur'anic rendition of Adam and Eve. The Qur'an states that both sexes were deliberate and independent and there is no mention of Eve being created out of Adam's rib or anything else. Even the issue of which sex was created first is not specified, implying that for our purpose in this world, it may not matter. Qur'anic translators disagree on the meaning of nafs in the above verse which Muhammad Asad translates as "living entity." Many claim that nafs translates as "person," that is, Adam. But according to Asad and other scholars, God created humankind and its sexual counterpart out of its own kind. The Arabic word referring to mate (zawj) in the above Qur'anic verse is grammatically neutral and can be applied both to male and female interchangeably. So it is not clear, nor should we conjecture, that Adam was created first, Eve was created out of Adam, or that Eve/woman is innately subservient to Adam/man. The fact that this Qur'anic verse does not specify one specific sex over the other is proof of gender non-bias and equality. It is commonly (and mistakenly) argued that Adam was created first, and that by this gesture God finds the male dominant and superior to the female; however, the wording of the Qur'an in the aforementioned verse does not support this claim. The Qur'an describes how Adam and Eve were told to avoid a specific tree, which they both approached. For this act of disobedience to God, they were consequently banished from the garden; however, both later repented and were forgiven by God. The Qur'an does not allude to Eve tempting Adam to eat from the tree and being responsible for their downfall. In the Qur'anic version, both were held accountable and both paid the price for their choices, proving that gender equality is an intrinsic part of Islamic belief. (4) In the Qur'an, reference to men and women is through attributes and deeds, by which we will be judged. The most pious of us, or those who follow God's commands, are referred to as believers or mu'mineen (pl.) in the Qur'an. In many references, in fact, the Qur'an resonates this equality by eloquently repeating "men and women" with ethical and practical qualities throughout the verses, and even emphasizes this ten times in the following verse: It is paramount to understand that the Qur'an equates being a mu'min (sing.) with actual practice, so that it is not enough just to have faith in principle; we must put our faith into practice. The same applies to our belief in the equality of men and women; gender equality as outlined in the Qur'an must also be put into practice. In reference to the above verse, modern scholar Leila Ahmed in Women and Gender in Islam says that "the implications are far-reaching. Ethical qualities, including those invoked here--charity, chastity, truthfulness, patience, piety--also have political and social dimensions." (8) An Islamic Perspective on Violence against Women (March 1995) In pre-Islamic Arabia, violence against women began at birth in the form of female infanticide. Islam prohibited the practice of female infanticide. Not only does the Qur'an prohibit this practice, it also mocks those who view the birth of a girl child with contempt. (9) Another common form of violence against women is that committed by husbands against their wives. Islam requires that husbands treat their wives with respect and it prohibits any form of physical or emotional abuse. The Qur'an requires that spouses treat each other with love and mercy. (10) Moreover, the Qur'an repeatedly warns against the use of injurious statements by a husband against his wife. (11) Likewise, forced prostitution is another form of violence against women which has no basis in Islam and which must be eradicated through the empowerment of women. An Islamic Perspective on Sexuality (September 1995) Beyond childbearing, sexual relations assume a prominent role in the overall well-being of the marriage. In reading Hadith, one is impressed with the Prophet's ability to discuss all issues, including those dealing with human sexuality. The topics range from menstruation to orgasm. He apparently was not embarassed by such inquiries, but strove to adequately guide and inform the Muslims who asked. Both Qur'an and Hadith allude to the nature of sexual relations as a means of attaining mutual satisfaction, closeness and compassion between a wife and husband. "Permitted to you on the night of the Fasts is the approach to your wives. They are your garments and you are their garments." (12) Also, Muslims are advised to avoid sexual intercourse during menses so as not to cause discomfort to the woman. (13) The goal of marriage is to create tenderness between two individuals and satisfy the very basic human need for companionship. "And among His signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that you may dwell in tranquility with them, and He has put love and mercy between you; in this are signs for those who think."(14) The hadith which address this issue are numerous. The Prophet himself, while not divulging all aspects of his own sexual life, was known for his nature as a loving husband who was sensitive and physically demonstrative. In several hadith, he speaks about the importance of foreplay and speaking in loving terms during sexual relations. Again, the concept of mutual satisfaction is elucidated in a hadith advising husbands to engage in acts that enable a woman to achieve orgasm first. (15) Sexual dissatisfaction is considered legitimate grounds for divorce on the part of either wife or husband. Some of the negative results of sex outside marriage include the potential for unwanted pregnancies, transmission of sexually transmitted diseases, disruption of the family and marriage (in cases of adultery), and emotional and psychological difficulties resulting from the lack of commitment associated with most relationships outside of marriage. As in other religions, extra- and premarital sex are considered major sins. Muslims believe that God does not simply forbid or allow behavior whimsically, but does so with our best interest at heart, guiding us away from potentially destructive behavior and toward behavior that allows us to achieve our most fulfilling potentials as human beings. For a similar reason, Muslims give up the consumption of alcohol because of faith in God's wisdom that the negative effects outweigh the positive for individuals and society at large. "Whoever submits his whole self to God, and is a doer of good, has grasped indeed the most trustworthy handhold..." (16) Although Muslims are encouraged to have children, contraception is not prohibited. The method used during the time of the Prophet was coitus interruptus ('azl), about which several hadith exist. His basic response when asked if such a practice was lawful was that individuals can do as they will, but if God intends for a child to be born, s/he will be born. Some interpreted this to mean that preventing pregnancy is not recommended because child-bearing is preferred; yet the act is not specifically prohibited. Also, other hadith stipulate that 'azl could not be practiced without the wife's consent, as it might interfere with her sexual satisfaction or desire to bear children. By analogy, the methods that exist today as contraceptives are lawful for Muslims to use at their discretion. Basically, it is our position that any method that does not involve pregnancy termination is permissible. Imam al-Ghazzali lists a number of legitimate reasons for practicing contraception, including financial difficulty, emotional or psychological hardship of having many children, and even the preservation of beauty and health. (17) It should be clear from this discussion that, since sexual relations should be confined to marriage, contraception is so limited. It is not considered a means of easing the difficulties associated with sexual relations outside marriage. Abortion is viewed in the same context as having relevance only regarding pregnancies occurring in marriage, again, not as a response to conception as a result of extra- or pre-marital relationships. Early Muslim jurists considered abortion lawful for a variety of reasons until 40 -120 days after conception (first trimester). This was based on interpretation of Qur'an and hadith that implied that ensoulment or "life" did not exist until after that time. (18) Contemporary thinkers, considering available technology that allows visualization of the embryonic heartbeat at four weeks of gestation, are of the position that life begins much earlier than previously thought, and therefore to terminate would be to take a life illegally. Clearly, from the above discussion, Islam is explicit about many aspects of human sexuality. Also, based on the numerous hadith showing the Prophet's willingness to discuss these matters openly, it should be obvious that education about matters related to sex is acceptable. Muslims may disagree about the age at which sex education begins; some do not discuss the subject at all. Explaining anatomy and the changes one's body experiences during puberty is essential for enabling young people to grow up with a healthy self-image. Also, in an age when sexual activity in many countries begins at an early age, Muslim adolescents must be informed to better enable them to deal with peer pressure. Sex education can be taught in a way that informs young people about sexuality in scientific and moral terms. In countries with very diverse populations, such as the United States, the main limitation in developing sex-education curricula, particularly in public schools, is the inability to select a universally acceptable moral position. Therefore, young people are given facts and information and advised that, if they choose to engage in sexual relationships, they should take measures to prevent pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. The moral and religious aspects of sexuality can be incorporated either in schools of a particular religious denomination or in adjunctive coursework offered by religious institutions. Regardless of the challenges of each society, young people must be adequately informed. Also, in some Muslim communities, individuals are encouraged to marry at young ages. They need to be educated regarding sexuality prior to the marriage such that they know what to expect and can consider their options for birth control prior to consummating the marriage. The practice of clitoridectomy preceded the introduction of Islam in Arabia and in different parts of Africa. This results in severe sexual debilitation of women who cannot possibly achieve sexual fulfillment, which is their right as Muslims. Therefore, this practice is totally unIslamic because it is in direct violation of both Qur'an and Hadith, which clearly stress the importance of sexual satisfaction for both the husband and wife. Muslim Women Call for Critical Review of UN Document on Population Control and Development (press release, September 1, 1994) On September 5, 1994 the United Nations is sponsoring the International Conference on Population and Development in Cairo, Egypt. Before the Conference has begun, heated debates are taking place and several countries are refusing to participate. The Muslim Women's League would like to clarify its position on some of the issues discussed in the document, Programme of Action of the Conference. Islam calls for the liberation of women. In a revolutionary fashion, women were declared equal to men in the eyes of God. By using the tools provided to us by our religion, we can achieve strength and freedom in order to improve the conditions of ourselves and our communities throughout the world. Unfortunately, many of the guiding principles have been abandoned and women, in many instances, live in circumstances akin to those which predated Islam. We are encouraged to see that the UN document addresses a variety of issues that are embraced by Islam, namely, focusing on the crucial role of the mother in the family and thus ensuring access to adequate pre- and post-natal care to reduce the high rate of maternal mortality associated with childbearing; encouraging prolonged breast-feeding as one way of decreasing infant mortality; improving access to health care and education as a means of enhancing the life of the girl child and thus ultimately empower her as a woman; calling for increased responsibility among men to curb the spread of sexually transmitted diseases; encouraging abstinence from sex until marriage; providing access to birth control so married couples can have some influence on the size of their families; condemning rape and abhorring it as an instrument of ethnic cleansing; and calling for an end to the practice of female genital mutilation which has no foundation in Islam. As Muslims, we believe that the life of the fetus is sacred and that abortions are allowed only under extreme circumstances, namely when the life of the mother is endangered. By avoiding pre- and extramarital contact and by using contraceptives in marriage appropriately, we hope that the need for abortions throughout the world will dramatically decrease. The document in its current edition does not demand that countries legalize abortions, but that where it is legal, it should be practiced safely. The ambiguity in the document, particularly the references to "reproductive health services," has been a source of controversy and confusion. The U.S. should commence a dialogue with American Muslim groups to avoid such ambiguity and disproportionate negative reactions in the future. The positive features of the document have been tainted by the manner in which they have been introduced. The document claims that a major goal is to improve the quality of life for all people. We believe that development is a prerequisite for controlling birth rates, not vice versa. Security, economic and political self-determination, and freedom are cries that for too long have been met with deaf ears by our leaders in the U.S. government. Consequently, these legitimate grievances have now prevented people from examining the U.S.-led conference and document in a clear and objective manner. Countries should decide on population control individually based on their needs and their beliefs. We condemn any use of violence as an expression of protest to the Cairo Conference. No group can claim to be struggling for religion and the noble cause of the sanctity of life when that claim is tarnished by unjustifiable acts of violence that result in the loss of innocent life. (C) Copyright 1994, 1995, 1996 Muslim Women's League USA. All rights, including electronic rights, reserved. Reprinted with permission. Return to the Table of Contents Previous Work Next Work
Saturday, July 18, 2009 Scimitar/Sword, weapon consisting of a long, sharp-edged or pointed blade fixed in a hilt (a handle that usually has a protective guard at the place where the handle joins the blade). In a general sense, the term connotes any side arm for cutting or thrusting, such as a rapier, saber, épée, scimitar, cutlass, or claymore. Swords used in the most ancient times were made of stone, bone, or wood. Bronze swords, which were probably known to the Egyptians as early as 2000 bc, were the first metal swords. Harder iron swords, appearing at later times in different parts of the world, quickly proved superior; these remained in use until fairly recent times, when steel making was perfected and steel blades appeared. The requirements and methods of modern warfare have made swords obsolete as combat weapons. Dagger, short, bladed weapon designed for stabbing rather than cutting. A poniard is a dagger with a short narrow blade, and a stiletto is a weapon with a long thin blade It is written that Hyksos introduced scimitars/daggers to Egypt. #1 If they found any such a weapon in Egypt, how would they determine of Hyksos or Egyptians had made it. #2 If Hyksos ruled northern Egypt, does that mean Egyptians remained there as in the example of when the Nazis ruled Poland or the British ruled India or did the Hyksos drive all Egyptians out of northern Egypt? #3 If the Hyksos did drive all Egyptians out of the north, wouldn't the Egyptians have left some of their own belongings there? #4 With out any text of the maker identifying it as being made by the Hyksos, how would they determine who made it? #5 Give examples of scimitars/daggers which 'archeologist' claim to have been produced in Egypt by the Hyksos?
Silver Shark Genus Name: Balantiocheilos Melanopterus Also known as: Bala Shark, Tricolor Shark, Shark Minnow Distribution: Sumatra, Thailand, Borneo, Malaysia Length: up to 14″ (35cm) Minimum Tank Length: 72″ (180cm) Water Temperature: 72-84F (22-29C) Diet: crustaceans, insects, dried food, plant matter Water: soft to mediumSilver Shark Lives: all, but mostly the middle layers of the aquarium Breeding: Egg layers Community Tank The Silver Shark is a very slender fish with a general convex appearance. The dorsal fin is triangular in shape, hence the common name ‘shark’. The back of the Silver Shark is silver with a yellow sheen, the back is brown and the belly is white. All the fins are tipped with a wide black band. The Silver Shark is a hardy fish, which can tolerate water temperature changes. Unfortunately Silver Sharks are not sold well in aquarium shops, as the majority of customers do not realise that they grow to 14″ (35cm), and they are also best kept in a shoal of five or six. Although small Silver Sharks are fine in smaller aquariums, as they grow they will need to be moved to a larger aquarium. They will survive, but they will display uncharacteristic behaviour, as they do not have enough space. Imagine it as similar to keeping a horse in a horse-box. The Silver Shark is very easy to keep, it is very peaceful, but also a fast swimmer, so give the Silver Shark plenty of open water to swim in. They are also great at jumping, so ensure the aquarium has a well-fitted lid. There are no obvious differences between the male and female Silver Shark. They have been known to breed in home aquariums on occasion, and when they do they will lay eggs, which are scattered along the bottom. No parental care is given by Silver Sharks, and they will eat their own young.
User Tools Site Tools Kawabata’s Snow Country and Japanese Culture Giambattista Vico - Lucian of Samosata Wiki Literature, as a whole, is an art form wherein ideas from the artist’s experience flow to create prose and poetic forms. A great deal of literature stems from man’s myths and the culture surrounding him. Yasunari Kawabata’s novel Snow Country is no different, despite it coming from a culture opposite from the West. Kawabata’s novel is full of the culture and myths of Japan. But to truly understand how myth plays into Kawabata’s novel or into literature in general, one must first understand myth as Terence Hawkes explains it in his introduction to Structuralism and Semiotics. This idea of myth is not really Hawkes’ original idea. It was originally espoused by the Italian Giambattista Vico who principally studied a concept he called “primitive man” (Hawkes 2). Myth was created when man “reveals himself not as childishly ignorant and barbaric, but as instinctively and characteristically ‘poetic’ in his response to the world, in that he possesses an inherent ‘poetic wisdom’ which informs his responses to his environment and casts them in the form of ‘metaphysics’ of metaphor, symbol, and myth” (Hawkes 2). Furthermore, Hawkes explains how Vico’s ideas of looking at myth, called “New Science,” concentrates on how man is a “maker” (Hawkes 3). More importantly, Hawkes summarizes Vico’s ideas in the following statement: “man constructs the myths, the social institutions, virtually the whole world as he perceives it, and in so doing he constructs himself” (4). This is largely the case in Kawabata’s novel. Kawabata creates this novel out of the myths, culture, and metaphysics of his country. He takes his perceptions about the culture and creates world within his novel. Kawabata’s novel is richly endowed with Japanese culture, religion, and especially aesthetics which make a key text for exploring the connection between this text and Vico’s idea of how man creates myth and culture. The facets of Japanese culture that will be discussed in this essay are the Buddhist idea of impermanence, the Shinto symbols of Tanabata and the Milky Way, and some Japanese aesthetics. The Buddhist idea of impermanence runs throughout the course of the novel and is manifested in many different ways. The Buddhist ideas found in this novel correlate with the Japanese aesthetic geido which Carriere defines as the merger between spirituality and culture (56). Carriere also defines the idea of impermanence as relating to the cherry blossom “which flowers for a brief moment then fades, impermanence defines the relationship between Shimamura and Komoko” (60). There are several examples of impermanence in the novel. One of the first examples is actually a dialogue where the two lovers, Shimamura and Komoko realize that their affair will never last. As they argue over which geisha Komoko should bring to Shimamura, Shimamura states, “An affair of the moment, no more. Nothing beautiful about it. You know that—it couldn’t last” (Kawabata 22). In Japanese culture, flowers are often used to symbolize many things especially the idea of impermanence. One of the more obvious examples is the reference to the Camellia Room. The Camellia Room is the room wherein the two lovers have their affair and it is referenced at least once in the novel. Komoko tells Shimamura how everyone makes fun of her as she tries to go quietly up to the Camellia room, “The floor always creaks when I come down the hall. I walk very softly, but they hear me just the same. ‘Off to the Camellia Room again, Komoko?’ they say as I go by the kitchen. I’d never thought I’d have to worry so much about my reputation” (Kawabata 128). The correlation between the Camellia Room and their affair is that a camellia flower, which is very beautiful and blooms in the winter, quickly loses its beautiful flower after one day of blooming. It is an impermanent flower and therefore significant to the plot of the story. There is another herbaceous reference which ties in with impermanence in the novel. This is the brief reference to maple leaves toward the end of the book. Maple leaves, especially Japanese maples, have a brilliant red color that makes them look stunning in the autumn. However, when winter comes, the leaves wither and fall to the ground. Shimamura is looking out at the night sky one night and states, “It’s beginning to look like snow. The end of the maple leaves” (Kawabata 145). He knows that when winter comes the leaves will fall just like their affair. The festival of Tanabata is a very important festival in the culture of Japan as well in reference to this novel. Tanabata, as explained in Carriere’s article, “is a national festival celebrated on the seventh day of the seventh month every year” (60). He also explains the idea behind the festival, The Oxherd star and the Weaver Maid star love each other so much that they are constantly together and neglecting their duties. So the ‘Ruler of Heaven’ separates the two young stars: they will exist for all eternity on opposite sides of the ‘Heavenly River,’ or Milky Way, being allowed to meet one day out of the year, the seventh day of the seventh month. (Carriere 60-61) This festival is optimally the time when Shimamura and Komoko come to the snow country to have their affair every year. Shimamura works in Tokyo and comes to visit her every year. They are separated for a time, just as the two mythical lovers were, and can only get together once a year. Kawabata alludes to this festival when the couple visits Chijimi to see where they made an old fashioned style of snow washed linen. He has been with Komoko during this one time during the year and as he is looking among the deserted sheds and buildings of Chijimi and thinking about his affair with Komoko. He stayed so long that one might wonder whether or not he had forgotten his wife and children. He stayed not because he could not leave Komoko nor because he did not want to. He had simply fallen into the habit of waiting for those frequent visits. (Kawabata 155) This passage references Shimamura and Komoko’s relation to the two lovers in Tanabata who wait for each other and have done so for a long time. As Carriere states in his article, “Chijimi predicts the novel’s final outcome as Shimamura, disillusioned by the intrusion of the contemporary industrial present in this isolated rural environment, transfers his disillusionment with the affair with Komoko” (61). The significance of the Milky Way is incredibly important for the novel. Not only is it significant because it holds the two mythical lovers apart in Tanabata, but also because at the end of the novel and the end of his affair, Shimamura has a deep religious and cultural experience wherein he “loses connection with Komoko’s material world” and is “drawn up into the Milky Way” (Carriere 61). Carriere unravels the myth behind the Milky Way as being “the Bridge of Heaven, the path taken to earth by the country’s founding deities” (61). This allusion is mentioned nineteen times in the novel though perhaps only a few quotes shall suffice to demonstrate the significance of this religious idea in the novel. At the end of the novel, Shimamura and Komoko are hurrying towards the scene of a fire and suddenly Komoko looks up and sees the Milky Way. After pointing it out, Shimamura has a reaction that is very important, “The Milky Way. Shimamura too looked up, and he felt himself floating into the Milky Way. Its radiance was so near that it seemed to take him up into it” (Kawabata 165). Kawabata then goes on to describe Shimamura’s thoughts about the Milky Way and its relation to Japanese culture, “Was this the bright vastness the poet Basho saw when he wrote of the Milky Way arched over a storming sea?” (165). The description of his being drawn up into the Milky Way is much deeper and more vivid than any of Shimamura’s descriptions of his feelings toward Komoko. Kawabata writes, There was a terrible voluptuousness about it. Shimamura fancied that his own small shadow was being cast up against it from the earth. Each individual star stood apart from the rest, and even the particles of silver dust in the luminous clouds could be picked out, so clear was the night. The limitless depth of the Milky Way pulled his gaze up into it. (165) Such beautiful descriptions go on and on in this final chapter and involve the reader and Shimamura in the myths of Japan’s past. This ties in very well with Hawkes’ article on myth. Shimamura is drawn very deeply to the ancient myths of his people which consequently defines himself. He “submits his own nature to the demands of [the] structuring” myths (Hawkes 5). Japanese aesthetics are very prevalent throughout the novel. While the aesthetic geido has been mentioned already, there are others which pop up every now and then. The most common and most poignant of aesthetics is the Japanese view of beauty. While our Western ideas of beauty may be surmounted by joy and happiness, in Japan nothing is beautiful unless it is sad. Many of the other aesthetics have a sadness element to them which always connotes something of beauty. The first allusion of this idea is present when Shimamura watches Komoko play the samisen. He describes her nose as being “a little lonely, a little sad” and that it a good thing in Japanese culture (Kawabata 73). More importantly, some thirty pages later, he describes her singing voice as, “so clear it was almost sad, the voice that seemed to be echoing back from somewhere” (Kawabata 109). There are much more vivid aesthetics though in the novel especially with regard to sabi, and yugen. Carriere defines them as “refined, seasoned simplicity” and “mysterious or shadowy essence”, respectively (54). There is a very good example of yugen in the beginning of the novel when Shimamura is on the train. Kawabata writes, In the depths of the mirror the evening landscape moved by, the mirror and the reflected figures like motion pictures superimposed on the other. The figures and the background were unrelated, and yet the figures, transparent and intangible, and the background, dim in the gathering darkness, melted together into a sort of symbolic world not of this world. (9) This is an excellent image of yugen where there is a mysterious or shadowy picture portrayed before his eyes as the windows mirror each other and the scenes beyond them. Another instance of yugen is found one night when Shimamura and Komoko are taking a night walk. Kawabata writes, “The layers of the Border Range, indistinguishable one from another, cast their heaviness at the skirt of the heavenly sky in a blackness grave and somber enough to communicate their mass” (44). In fact, the whole region is treasured in the Japanese mindset as having yugen. As espoused in Carriere’s article, “the region evokes the shadowy cold of winter” which symbolizes yugen (56). Sabi is found during a discourse between Shimamura and Komoko as they walk into a Shinto shrine grove. Shimamura gazes up at the cedar limbs and this is what he describes, “From behind the rock, the cedars threw up their trunks in perfectly straight lines, so high that he could see the tops only by arching his back” (Kawabata 30). This image can be qualified as sabi due to the trees’ straightness or simplicity and their age which is seasoned. Both of these aesthetic values are conjoined with Japanese idea of sadness. This is due to the fact that each state of aesthetic beauty has a melancholic atmosphere to it. The mirrored train windows, cold wintry mountain slopes, and tall stately cedars all seem to suggest a somber sort of beauty unlike the forms of beauty found in western novels. But how are these elements of aesthetics and religion connected with Hawkes’ discourse on myth? Man is endowed with “poetic wisdom” which helps him create myths and metaphysics that came out of his responses to his environment. He also stated that “particular forms of humanity are determined by particular social relations and systems of human institutions (Hawkes 4). In Kawabata’s novel, the myths and social structures of Japan are brought to the reader’s eyes as the defining structures in their lives. They are defined by their culture and myths. As Kawabata creates his novel centering on Japanese culture and aesthetics, his characters are constructed in light of how they perceive the myths around them. They structure their lives, their attitudes, and their desire for yugen, sabi, and geido around the myths of their culture. Wilkerson, Ben D. B. “Kawabata's Snow Country and Japanese Culture.” 1/1/11 <> vico/kawabatas-snow-country-and-japanese-culture.txt · Last modified: 2014/01/14 23:20 (external edit)
How It Works Project S.T.O.P. consists of 5 components that are taught in the classroom to children in grades K through 5. 1. Children’s interactive book (containing story, journal and reference guide) 2. “My Friend” doll that is used through the program 3. Pre/Post Test 4. Interactive video for a guided lesson 5. Parental permission slip for participation.
Anesthesia Errors Chances are if you have to have surgery, you will be depending on the skills and expertise of the anesthesiologist. An anesthesiologist is a doctor who specializes in medications that help people stay unconscious during surgery. It is their responsibility to ensure that the patient stays in a deep enough level of sedation that they do not wake up during surgery. The anesthesiologist also monitors vital signs and helps sustain oxygen levels during surgery. Not only do anesthesiologists work in the surgical suite, but they also help relieve the pain of pregnant women in labor. Women who have received epidurals or saddle blocks are often grateful to the anesthesiologist for the pain relief they receive that keeps them from experiencing the painful contractions of birth. An epidural is the most often used method of pain relief for women in labor. The doctor administers the numbing medication through a catheter placed strategically near the epidural area in the spine. Patients are able to receive a steady dose of medication during labor that helps them avoid pain entirely. Nurse Anesthetists Nurse anesthetists specialize in giving anesthesia to patients in the same way that anesthesiologists do. In order to qualify, a nurse must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing with postgraduate studies leading to a master’s degree in anesthesia studies. The nurse anesthetists provide anesthetic services as part of their nursing care. Anesthesiologists provide the same type of care, but it is considered medical care. Nurse anesthetists provide small hospitals in rural communities of vital service, because there are not enough anesthesiologists in practice to take care of the needs of every patient. The professionals who provide anesthesia to patients provide a much-needed service. Most of the time, these procedures are completed with no complications or errors. But when there is a mistake, the costs to the patient can be high. Common Anesthesia Errors One of the most typical errors in this field is a wrong dosage or a wrong medication. This can be caused by a medication having the wrong label, or by someone mistakenly taking the wrong medicine off the shelf or administering the wrong dosage to a patient. These mistakes of using the wrong medication can be devastating, depending on the patient's physiology and the type of medication used. If the wrong dosage is used, that can also cause problems. With anesthesia, too much medication can be dangerous. Sometimes medication is not given on the right schedule. If medication is given too late, it can lead to problems during surgery. Problems like this usually happen from leaks or other mechanical failures during surgery. Most anesthesia errors happen in the surgical suite, or immediately afterwards. The operating room is a busy place. Sometimes, the specialist may have to step away for a moment, leaving the patient unmonitored. What a person is getting ready to have surgery, the anesthesiologist or nurse will put them to sleep. They then have to insert a breathing tube, to ensure the patient has enough oxygen while unconscious. Sometimes, a person's trachea or airway can be damaged from the insertion of the tube. Normally, any injury caused from the insertion of a tube is only minor. More rarely, alcohol or drug abuse by the specialist can cause problems for patients. If a person has a drug or alcohol abuse problem, they should not be going to work, especially if they work in a hospital. This holds true for anesthesiologists and nurse anesthetists. Lack of communication is one of the biggest causes of errors in any profession. If the patient is not given proper instructions about what they can eat before surgery or what they can do after surgery, that itself could lead to complications. If a person has food in their stomach, the food could be aspirated while they are unconscious and end up causing pneumonia. Perhaps one of the scariest scenarios involving anesthesia is when a person receives too little medication. Imagine waking up when you are having surgery. This may sound far-fetched, but it does happen. Doctors give patients something that keeps them from moving all their in surgery. If they do not have enough medication to keep them unconscious, it is possible that they could wake yet not be able to move. Patients that have been through something like this may end up traumatized. These are the patient's that are likely to sue. Any patient who feels that they have received lasting damage or trauma due to an error in the delivery of their anesthesia should contact an attorney as soon as possible. Even if they are not considering filing a lawsuit, they need to consult with a professional to ensure all their rights are preserved. In most states, there are statutes of limitations that limit the amount of time a person has two file a claim.
Cancer Of The Vulva Easy Guide To: Signs, Treatment And Prevention Vulvar Cancers Pictures of vulvar cancers Vulvar Disorders Early Signs - Itching and burning - White patches - Sores that won't heal - Lumps Cancer Of The Vulva What Is Vulva Cancer? What Is The Survival Rate? What Are The Symptoms? Types Of Vulvar Cancers What About The Precancerous Stage? What Are The Causes? How Is It Diagnosed? How Is It Treated? What Are The Chances Of Recurrences? Can It Be Prevented? Breast Cancer Guide Cancer Guide Cervix Cancer Womb Cancer Fallopian Tube Cancer Ovarian Cancer Vaginal Cancer Topics In This Section: Survival Rates Cancer Remission Related Articles: Female Reproductive System What Is Vulva Cancer? The vulva is the fleshy tissue which surrounds and protects the opening of the vagina. Cancer of this area is very rare and accounts for 1 percent of all cancers (and 4 percent of gynecologic cancers) in American women. This amounts to about 4,000 new cases being diagnosed every year. Although vulva cancer can occur in women in their 30's and 40's, 85 percent of cases are reported in postmenopause women after the age of 50. In most Western countries, nearly half of all incidences are found when they are very small and highly curable. A routine self-examination of the vulva can aid early detection. What Is The Survival Rate? In 2011 there were 4,340 cases of vulva cancer and 940 related deaths in North America. The 10 year survival rate for the most common type of vulva cancer (squamous cell carcinoma) is 87 percent for stage 1. This declines to 69 percent for stage 2, 46 percent for stage 3 and 16 percent for stage 4. What Are The Symptoms? Signs and symptoms of vulva cancer include: 1. Change in color or texture of the vulva skin. 2. Constant itching of the vulva (although this could by vulvodynia). 3. A burning sensation in the vulva when urinating. 4. A change in a birthmark or mole in the vagina. 5. Fleshy white patches or warts on the vulva (image). 6. A cut or sore on the vulva that will not heal. If cancer does develop it is usually because the woman has ignored some of these symptoms. Fortunately because vulva cancer grows very slowly it does not spread to other parts of the body until the disease is quite advanced (picture of advanced stage). Types Of Vulvar Cancers Squamous Cell Carcinomas The majority of vulva cancers are squamous cell carcinomas. Squamous cells are the main type of cell in the skin. The majority of the vulva cancer symptoms are likely to occur with this type of cancer, including white bumps, vulva itching, skin changes, bleeding and painful urination. Verrucous carcinoma is a sub-group that can produce growths in a cauliflower shape. If found early and the affected area is small, both types are highly curable by surgery alone. This is cancer which begins in the gland cells. It accounts for about 8 percent of all vulvar cancers. Some types of adenocarcinoma develop in the Bartholin's glands which are found in the opening of the vagina and make a mucus-like fluid. If the glands become swollen they may be mistaken for harmless cysts and as a consequence a delay in diagnosis occurs. Adenocarcinomas can also form in the sweat glands of the vulva skin. Paget disease of the vulva is a condition where adenocarcinoma forms in the top layer of the vulva skin. It typically causes skin changes, causing scaly red areas. Vulva Melanoma Relatively rare, this type only accounts for 2 to 4 percent of all vulva cancers. A typical sign is the appearance of a dark pigmented growth (image) or a change in the appearance of a mole. Other Types Extremely rare types include vulvar sarcomas and basal cell carcinoma. What About The Precancerous Stage? There are several non-cancerous conditions which can cause vulva problems. These include squamous cell hyperplasia (used to be called hyperplastic dystrophy), lichen sclerosis and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN). VIN, also known as carcinoma in situ, is generally considered the precancerous condition for vulva cancer. Formerly known as Bowen's disease, VIN is similar to VAIN, the precancerous condition related to cancer of the vagina and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), the precancerous condition related to cervical cancer. VIN usually causes itching and burning although the woman may mistake it for vaginitis. They may self-diagnose it as a yeast infection and use anti-fungal medications or other yeast infection treatments with little effect. It is easy to detect during an examination by the presence of raised white patches. A biopsy will confirm the diagnosis. What Are The Causes? Little is known for certain about the causes of vulvar cancer, however several risk factors have been identified: Diabetics are more prone to developing the disease although scientists do not understand why. If you have diabetes and have burning or itching of the vulva you should have it investigated. HPV Infection Contraction of the sexually transmitted infection (STI) human papilloma virus (HPV) appears to play an important role. A HPV infection is more likely to be a possible cause of vulvar cancer in younger women than older women. See Cervical cancer causes for an explanation. DNA Mutations Genetic testing of older woman with vulva cancer often shows mutations in the p53 tumor suppressor gene. This gene is important for preventing cells becoming cancerous. If this gene mutates, cancer is more likely to develop. Younger women with vulva cancer are more likely to have HPV infections but rarely have p53 mutations. Previous Gynecologic Cancers A history of other gynecologic cancers increases a woman's risk for vulva cancer. Nearly 1 in 3 women with the disease have also been diagnosed with in situ or squamous cancer of the cervix within the previous 5 years. A history of burning, itching or inflammation of the vulva along with thickening of the vulvar tissues can increase risk factors. This condition is known as leukoplakia. Another condition, lichen sclerosus (LS) causes the vulva skin to thin and become itchy. About 4 percent of women with LS go on to develop vulva cancer. Lifestyle Factors Smoking and drinking more than 2 cups of coffee a day appear to be risk factors. Morbidly obese women are at greatest risk and some scientists believe this may be because their vagina is likely to contain more moisture and warmth. Lack of cleanliness of the vaginal area may be another factor but this has not been proven. How Is It Diagnosed? A vulva cancer diagnosis is made after taking a medical history and carrying out a physical examination and biopsy of suspicious tissue. This can usually be completed in a doctor's office. If the biopsied sample comes back positive, the woman will be referred to a specialist, such as a gynecologist for further testing and staging purposes. A specialist might use a cystoscopy, proctoscopy or intravenous urography. This will help determine type, location and size of the cancer. Imaging tests such as an X-ray, CT scan or MRI scan may be used to check for staging and metastasis (i.e. to see if cancerous cells have spread - see vulva cancer staging). This information is important for determining a treatment plan. It also helps determine the chances of survival for a patient (see vulva cancer survival rates). How Is It Treated? The three main types of vulva cancer treatment are surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. The precancerous stage VIN is usually treated by local excision, laser therapy or vulvectomy. The cure rate is practically 100 percent. The topical chemotherapy cream fluorouracil is sometimes used but results are not reliable. Stage 1 cancer is also treated with surgery, but the incision may be wider and require removing lymph nodes. Stages 2 and 3 may involve removing parts of the vulva and lymph nodes in addition to radiation therapy. Patients who are too old to undergo surgery may be given radiation combined with chemo (see chemotherapy guide). Stage 4 vulvar cancer can involve radical vulvectomy combined with pelvic exenteration. This is a radical procedure and only considered as a treatment of last resort. What Are The Chances Of Recurrences? Recurrent vulva cancer: Regular follow-up tests after treatment will be scheduled by the doctor. This means any signs of a recurrence will be spotted immediately. One study showed that about 10 percent of patients who were treated for vulvar cancers had recurrences within 5 years, another indicated 24 percent. As about 80 percent of all recurrences occur within 2 years of original treatment this emphasizes the importance of follow up. Cancer can return to the vulva or other areas. If the recurrence is small it may be treated with radiation. If it is aggressive surgical options such as a radical vulvectomy or pelvic exenteration combined with external radiation will be considered. Can It Be Prevented? Vulva cancer prevention: As the cause has not been clearly identified preventative care must focus on reducing exposure to possible risk factors. This includes: 1. Limiting your number of sexual partners to avoid HPV exposure. 2. Have regular pap test screenings. 3. Drinking coffee in moderation. 4. Quit smoking if you do smoke. 5. Maintain a healthy body weight. 6. Ensure good hygiene. 7. Perform monthly vulvar self-examination in the privacy of your home. Also do be sure to report any vulva itching, rashes, lumps or mole changes to your doctor. The sooner VIN is diagnosed the faster it can be cured and the less likely cancer is to develop. If you have any questions on this or any other topics, see womens health questions. Other Useful Guides Recommended Health Screenings For Women: Your must-have list of tests. The Female Body Explained: Functions and what can go wrong. Reproductive System Disorders: Vulva pain and symptoms compared. Return to Homepage: Womens Health Advice original content Copyright. All rights reserved.
Circumpolar Arctic Vegetation Unit B1 Hierarchy of Geobotanical Vegetation Map Units (Walker DA 2002) Eskimonaesset, North Greenland, C. Bay. Enlarge image map legend color for unit B1B1. Cryptogam, herb barren Dry to wet barren landscapes with very sparse, very low-growing plant cover. Scattered herbs, lichens, mosses, and liverworts. Subzone A and B, some C at higher elevations. Detailed Description Dry to wet barren desert-like landscapes mainly in Subzone A and on some coarse-grained, often calcareous sediments in subzones B and C. Sparse (2-40%) horizontal plant cover, and very low vertical structure (generally <2 cm tall) with a single layer of plants where they occur. Dry herb barrens composed of few scattered vascular plants are present over much of the landscape. Snow-flush communities are often a conspicuous component, forming dark streaks on the otherwise barren lands, composed largely of bryophytes and cryptogamic crusts. In upland areas, vascular plant cover is generally very sparse (<2%), mainly scattered individual plants often in crevices between stones or small (<50 cm diameter) cryoturbated polygons. Sedges (Cyperaceae), dwarf shrubs, and peaty mires are normally absent. Area: 225 x 1000 km2. Representative Syntaxa Communities of the classes: Thlaspietea rotundifolii Br.-Bl. et al. 1947, (e.g., Papaveretum dahliani Hofm. 1968), Salicetea herbaceae Br.-Bl. et al. 1947, (e.g., Phippsietum algidae-concinnae Nordh. 1943). Dominant Plants The most common vascular plants are cushion forbs, graminoids, lichens, mosses, liverworts, and cyanobacteria. 1. Cushion forbs: Papaver dahlianum ssp. polare; Draba; Potentilla hyparcticaa; Saxifraga oppositifolian; 2. Graminoid: Alopecurus alpinus; Deschampsia borealis/brevifolia; Poa abbreviata; Puccinellia angustata; Phippsia; Luzula nivalisa; Luzula confusaa; 3. Lichen: Caloplaca; Lecanora; Ochrolechia; Pertusaria; Mycobilimbia; Collema; Thamnolia; Cetraria; Flavocetraria; Cetrariella; Stereocaulon; 4. Moss: Racomitrium; Schistidium; Orthotheciumn; Ditrichumn; Distichiumn; Encalypta; Pohlia; Bryum; Polytrichum; 5. Liverwort: Gymnomitrion; Cephaloziella; 6. Cyanobacteria: Cyanobacteria; a=acidic, n=non-acidic
April 25, 2007 Irritants (Chloramines) and Indoor Pool Air Quality Pool operators may be getting complaints from swimmers and pool staff about stinging eyes, nasal irritation, or difficulty breathing after being in the water or breathing the air at swimming pools, particularly indoor pools. New research indicates that these symptoms may be an indication of poor water and indoor air quality at the pool caused by a build-up of irritants, known as chloramines, in the water and air. Irritants in the air at swimming pools are usually the combined chlorine by-products of disinfection. These by-products are the result of chlorine binding with the sweat and urine from swimmers using the pool. As the concentration of by-products in the water increases, they move into the surrounding air as well. Breathing air loaded with irritants can cause a variety of symptoms depending on the concentration of irritants in the air and amount of time the air is breathed. The symptoms of irritant exposure in the air can range from mild symptoms such as wheezing, to severe symptoms such as lung disease and, potentially, asthma1-3. It is also known that routine breathing of irritants may increase sensitivity to other types of irritants such as fungi and bacteria. The buildup of these irritants in the air is partially due to poor air turnover. The poor movement of fresh air over the pool surface, combined with the use of air recycling devices to control heating costs, leads to poor air exchange. Recyclers remove the moisture from the air, but they do not necessarily take in much fresh outside air. This may save money on heating, but the health risks to patrons and staff associated with the excessive use of these devices outweigh the financial benefits2. Without adequate fresh air, the recycled air flowing over the pool becomes saturated with chlorination by-products so that it can no longer absorb or pick up new by-products coming from the pool water. Because recyclers do not remove all of the by-products in the air, they allow the irritants to accumulate and reach unhealthy levels. In addition, if the air is saturated with irritants, new irritants produced in the water will stay in the pool water causing further irritation, such as stinging or red eyes, for swimmers. Fresh air is important; super chlorination can be an effective way to rid the pool water of these by-products but will not work if the air is saturated with irritants. The problem of poor indoor air quality can be fixed through a combination of prevention measures. Improving air movement over the pool and increasing the air turnover rate will reduce irritant levels in the air. One option is to open all of the doors and windows in the pool area or use fans to boost airflow over the pool surface when many swimmers are using the pool. When super chlorinating, do the same. Also, ensure that the air recycling systems are bringing in enough fresh air. Adequate disinfectant levels and constant monitoring of water quality can also help reduce irritant levels by decreasing combined chlorine formation in the water. Combined chlorine levels in the water may be reduced by adding supplementary disinfection systems such as ultraviolet light or ozone. In addition, good hygiene is needed. Getting swimmers to shower before getting in the pool and promoting regular bathroom use to reduce the amount of urine in the pool will decrease the formation of irritants. For the health of pool staff and patrons, remember that all indoor pools need adequate fresh air exchange and all pools need good water quality. This will help make all pools a healthier and more enjoyable place to play and work. For more information on the topic: 1. Bowen A, Kile J, Austin C, Otto C, Blount B, Kazerouni N, Wong H-N, Mainzer H, Mott J, Beach MJ, Fry AM. Outbreaks of short-incubation illness following exposure to indoor swimming pools. Environ Health Perspect, 2007; 115: 267-271. 2. Emanuel BP. The Relationship Between Pool Water Quality and Ventilation. Environmental Health, 1998; 2: 17-20. 3. Ratner J, Griffiths T. Exercise-Induced Asthma and Indoor Swimming Pools. Parks and Recreation. 1995; 7: 46-51.
Now if you read my last post, on sentence adverbs (and if you didn’t: seriously, why not?) you’ll already have a couple of emphatic sentence starters in your armoury, ‘I am hopeful that’ and ‘We should all be thankful that’. Why do we need them though? You might just want to emphasise the importance of what you’re saying in a reasonably formal way without resorting to ‘really’ or, even worse, ‘really, really’ (or even worse, ‘ like, rilly rilly.’)’ This might be especially useful in your topic sentence, when you’re introducing the topic of the paragraph you’re writing. It can also be useful in your conclusion, where you want to summarise your main ideas without just repeating what you’ve already said. Here’s a regular, non-emphatic sentence: Good characters are important in a story. Adding exclamation marks and ‘really’ isn’t fooling anyone: Good characters are really important in a story! But an emphatic sentence structure looks and sounds just the part: An essential component of a good story is believable characters. Better, no? I changed some of the words a bit, true, but most of the better effect comes from the change to an emphatic sentence structure. Here are a few basic structures that will come in useful The amazing/interesting/essential/most important thing about X is What is interesting (etc.) about X is One thing that I /like about/value in X is An important aspect/ essential component/ major part of X is … Make these sentences emphatic. Imagine one is the topic sentence for a whole paragraph and write that paragraph. • The Olympics is fun to watch because of the variety of events. • [Name song] by [name band] is the best song of the year. • For an adventure to be a real adventure, there needs to be some risk. Leave a Reply WordPress.com Logo Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s
Astronomers see oldest object in universe yet WASHINGTON – Astronomers have spotted a burst of energy from a dying star, setting a record for the oldest and most distant object seen by Earth yet. The 10-second blast was from when the universe was only 630 million years old. NASA’s Swift satellite spotted the gamma-ray burst, an explosion of high-powered radiation, on April 23. Then ground telescopes watched the afterglow and calculated it had traveled about 13.1 billion light years to get here. It beat old records by 100 or 200 hundred million light years. NASA astrophysicist Neil Gehrels said the star’s fiery death gave birth to a black hole. The star was only 1 million years old or so and was about 30 times the size of our sun. Leave a Reply You are commenting using your account. Log Out / Change ) Twitter picture Facebook photo Google+ photo Connecting to %s %d bloggers like this:
How Spanish for beginners should start? Spanish is one of the most spoken languages in the world. Despite the dominance of English in the world, there still are a great number of people speaking Spanish all around the world. There are still countries whose first language is Spanish. The majority of them are found in Latin America where Spanish is the dominant language followed by Portuguese. It is no wonder there are many people in English-speaking countries and even in other countries who want learn the language. Spanish is also a very beautiful language and its popularity in other countries can also be owed to soap operas who give Spanish a sort of romantic flare. Spanish for beginners isn’t complicated if you know where to start. How hard is Spanish for beginners? Now Spanish is not a very complicated and can take a relatively short time to learn to depend on the effort one puts and the method you use to learn it. The effort you put solely depends on your commitment, if say you are going to a Spanish speaking country like Mexico next month then no doubt you would be more committed to learning the language quickly but if say you are doing it for fun then you might not put as much effort. The method, however, is very important and varies according to what suits you best. The best way to learn Spanish and learn it completely is to immerse yourself in it. When you were a child you were able to learn your language because you spent your whole day listening to it from your parents, your siblings, on the radio, on the TV, from your peers and even at school. To learn Spanish completely you also have to put the same type of dedication. When you are in your car for instance instead of listening to your favourite English channel listen to a Spanish instructional CD. When at home you can skip Discovery Channel and watch Univision. Requirement: Enthusiasm and Dedication You also have to make learning Spanish a habit. For you to learn any language you have to put a lot of effort into it or else you will never learn anything. You have to ensure that you surround yourself with Spanish material for as long as you can. Make it an obsession, watch Spanish soap operas, go to Latino restaurants instead of your normal spots even date a Latino. One other way to expedite you learning process is to relate Spanish words to English words. English and Spanish all hail from Latin and therefore share some common terms that vary by just a bit. For example, the word ‘vegetales’ in Spanish is related to the word ‘vegetables’. If you find more words like this it will make it easier for you to learn Spanish. However no matter the learning language the effort it truly worth it. If you are new, Spanish for beginners have many resources all over the internet. You just have to have some enthusiasm and dedication. Once you are able to speak Spanish a whole new part of the world will open up for you.
SSRL Science Highlights Archive September 2015 Hendrik Ohldag Conventional electronics encode information using the charge of electrons. Spin transport electronics, or spintronics, seeks to encode information using the spin of electrons, up or down. Spintronics has the potential to be more efficient and more reliable, especially as electronic components become smaller. To advance the field, the mechanics of spin transport from one material to another needs to be understood. In a study that develops methods for studying spin transport, a team of scientists looked at how spin information travels between a spin signal source (a ferromagnet) and a non-magnetic material that transports the signal. August 2015 Courtney M. Roach (Krest), Figure 1 Bonds between carbon and hydrogen atoms are ubiquitous in organic molecules important for life. Generally considered to be unreactive, C-H bonds are not easily activated so that the hydrogen can be replaced with a different chemical group. A mechanism that would allow chemists to selectively activate C-H bonds to become reactive would open up numerous new possibilities for synthetic chemistry and is the subject of intense studies. July 2015 Olav Hellwig, HGST, Hermann Dürr, SIMES Figure 1 Magnetic data storage devices are ubiquitous in our modern, data-rich world. Computer hard disks, magnetic recording tape, and magnetic strips on credit cards use such devices, creating pressure to engineer ever greater data density on smaller surfaces. June 2015 Junfeng He, Boston College, Rui-Hua He, Boston College Lay Summary Image Angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) measurements taken at Beam Line 5-4 at SSRL and at the Advanced Light Source have observed an exotic property that could warp the electronic structure of a material in a way that reduces heat buildup and improves performance in ever-smaller computer components. Angle-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy June 2015 Steve Conradson, LANL/Synchrotron-SOLEIL, Sam Webb, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource EST Cover Image When a geographical area is contaminated with radioactive elements, time and heat can cause them to combine with other atoms to form a variety of compounds. Knowing what compounds form and when they form is important for containing and cleaning contaminated sites. Computer models can make predictions but are limited to the currently known reactions and compounds that can be described in the laboratory. A collaboration of scientists has taken samples from the fields of six different contaminated sites to discover which chemical species are formed from uranium and plutonium. The sites studied released these elements under different circumstances and into different environments. X-ray diffraction, MEIS X-ray absorption spectroscopy BL2-3, BL11-2 May 2015 Mathew Sajish, The Scripps Research Institute, Paul Schimmel, The Scripps Research Institute Famous for its presence in red wine, the molecule resveratrol is present in many foods, including grapes, blueberries, and peanuts. Studies showing that resveratrol can elicit health benefits, including longevity in animals, have generated much interest in its effects on humans and its mechanisms of action. These are partly unknown but, recently, scientists found resveratrol can affect a stress response pathway associated with longevity. Macromolecular Crystallography April 2015 Creating novel enzymes to perform specific chemical reactions is a field of great promise, but it is still in its early stages. Efforts usually involve using well-studied protein structural and functional domains to create new active sites. Scientists have recently developed a different approach, creating the active site in the interface between proteins in a multi-protein complex. They started with a well-researched, natural protein that, in its natural state, does not form complexes with other proteins, and nor does it catalyze the desired reaction. Macromolecular Crystallography BL9-2, BL14-1 April 2015 Daniel Friebel, SUNCAT, Alexis T. Bell, JCAP The sun provides more energy than what could ever possibly be consumed. However, switching to solar energy to end our dependence on fossil energy resources is made difficult not merely by how much is consumed, but rather by the pattern of how energy is used: significant amounts are consumed by road and air transportation and must be provided “on board” in the form of fuels. This problem could be solved with new devices that convert sunlight into renewable fuels, for example, by driving a light-induced current between two electrodes that split water by electrolysis into hydrogen and oxygen. Currently, the limiting step for the viability of this process is the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) that takes place at the anode. X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy March 2015 Yijin Liu, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, Joy C. Andrews, Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource, Florian Meirer, Utrecht University, Bert M. Weckhuysen, Utrecht University One of the most important processes used in petroleum refineries is called fluid catalytic cracking (FCC). This chemical process converts large or heavy molecules of crude oil into smaller and lighter hydrocarbons, such as gasoline. This useful conversion is due in great part to a tiny catalyst particle just 50 to 150 millionths of a meter in diameter. The particle consists of a complex mixture of silica-alumina, clay and zeolite in a porous structure that enables the crude oil molecules to flood the material and reach the catalytically active areas within the particle. After the conversion process, this structure also allows the lighter molecules to leave the catalyst. March 2015 Thomas Spatzal, California Institute of Technology, Douglas C. Rees, California Institute of Technology Nitrogenase Fig 1 As a basic biological building block of amino acids and DNA, nitrogen is necessary for life. Yet most of the Earth’s nitrogen is contained in the atmosphere as dinitrogen, which most organisms are unable to use because they cannot break dinitrogen’s N-N-triple bond. A few microorganisms, however, are able to use an enzyme called nitrogenase to catalyze the transformation of dinitrogen into bioavailable ammonia. Macromolecular Crystallography Subscribe to SSRL Science Highlights
Custom Program Length Cities of Interest Local Conditions 52℉ Current Temp Current Time Customize Your Program Our approach How it works Wes YoungOur Expert in South America Topics to Explore In Colombia, you might choose to explore some of the following topics: As Latin America’s fourth largest oil producer, Colombia has an economy that is dominated by its oil reserves. Oil comprises over 45% of exports, which can fuel both positive and negative fluctuations in the country’s economy. See how oil exploration is managed when existing reserves appear limited, and examine the commodity’s impact on trade both within Latin America and beyond. Financial Services Colombia is an especially ripe market for banks, as less than seventy five percent of its people have bank accounts and fewer than three percent have a mortgage. Despite this low penetration, analyze how the Colombian banking sector remained robust during the global financial crisis and helped form a stable backbone for the country’s economy. Ranking as South America’s 2nd largest high tech market, Colombia is a major producer of electronics and appliances. Investigate how recent government efforts to promote the electronic sector have encouraged innovation and education. Explore what policies are required to ensure Colombia’s role in the global high tech industry of the future. Cartagena Colombia Destination Overview Bogota, Colombia Colombia Now After centuries under colonial rule, Colombia achieved its independence from Spain in 1819 as “Gran Colombia,” a short-lived state that occupied most of northern South America until its collapse in 1831, when Colombia and neighboring Ecuador and Venezuela emerged as separate nations. Colombia was the first to institute a constitutional government, making it the continent’s oldest democracy. Today, Colombia is known for its significant natural resources, modern cities, and a diverse culture that reflects the indigenous Indian, Spanish and African origins of its people. Despite long-running struggles with anti-government insurgent groups and drug-related security issues, the government has made great strides in recent years to secure peace with revolutionaries, minimize crime, and protect its strong democratic institutions. This movement towards internal stability is also mirrored in Colombia’s swelling economy, which has been a growth leader among the biggest Latin American economies for the last several years. Colombia is a free market economy with major commercial and investment ties to countries around the world, including the United States. It depends heavily on exports of oil, coffee, and cut flowers, and it has consistently seen significant GDP growth of late. Economists have especially praised the country’s strength in both the stock and bond markets and a skilled labor force, though concern still lies in the fact that most of Colombia’s exports are commodity-based, making the country especially vulnerable to commodity price dips. Other worries include high unemployment, income inequality, and poverty rates, which have been falling. The world continues to watch in hopes that Colombia will continues its positive evolution.
What Happens When One Suffers From Low Self Esteem What Happens When One Suffers From Low Self Esteem Low self esteem has been frequently considered the cause of a lot of the world’s social problems-from crime, to the inability of people to socially interact with other people. However, there has been little consideration as to what it really is, and what tangible effects it may have on a person. In order to understand what it is and, in effect, resolve some of its detriments, it is first important to explore some basic concepts related to it, as well as its various impacts. To begin with, self esteem is the value people associate themselves with. Therefore, unlike the misconception that self esteem is how confident people are about what they can do, self esteem is really more self-worth than confidence. The latter, after all, is more associated with the belief in one’s own ability to perform future tasks, whereas self-worth is how they see their own selves at the present time. However, this is not to say that self esteem is a variable concept. Quite the contrary, psychologists consider self esteem as a rather enduring conception that people have about themselves, despite the fact that there may be some instances of a person’s self worth momentarily faltering in the opposite direction. When people suffer from feelings of low self worth, they often compare themselves to other people. In the process, they see their flaws sticking out, making them less respectable than the people they are comparing themselves to. They will see what they lack and what they do not possess, and over-glorify the good traits that other people may have. Increased paranoia over the possibility that people are making fun of them may also take place. They may be overly afraid of being judged when they go out in public with their flaws so obvious for the world to see. This will create within them strong feelings of self hate and self loathing. There are also moments when people who suffer from low levels of self esteem feel as though they do not deserve the things they have, or are not worth the love their friends or family bestow on them. They will often feel like they are not worth the trouble, and clearly a waste of whatever time, money, and effort that people may be spending in order to be with them or to make them feel special. They may then withdraw from whatever social interactions they have, or may at least have some difficulty interacting with other people. They may become overly sensitive to critique, and may often feel helpless and vulnerable even when around the people who truly care for them. Unfortunately, some of them may also express whatever self hate they feel through anger and increased intolerance of what other people have to say to them. Some indicators of some form of low self esteem may include an obsessive form of perfectionism. People who suffer from such low self worth tend to impose impossible standards upon themselves, and therefore foster deeper feelings of self hate as they are unable to meet these expectations. They may also be too willing to please other at their own expense. This is usually because whatever affirmation they receive from other people become ways for them to see themselves, at least momentarily, as worthy of respect and love. Unfortunately, without that nod of approval from other people, they will again express feelings of worthlessness. Having fresh, unique PLR content is the key to any Website success. Find top-quality PLR products to build your sites or find products to sell on-line at http://www.yescontentisking.com
Dance Doc ‘Tango Negro’ Argues That Tango, Like All Music, Comes From Africa All music can trace its origins to Africa, a musician argues at the start of Tango Negro. For the next 94 minutes, the free-flowing documentary dances through Argentina’s history of cultural appropriation to show how the country’s signature dance found its groove in the history of slavery. The film’s conversational structure is loose, making it easy to lose track of the tangled history among revolving talking heads. The panel of mostly male experts encompasses musicians, musicologists, journalists, and locals, whose overgrown interviews could have sorely used a trimming. Together, their rambling testimonies string together an unwieldy timeline, full of loose ends and unexplored tangents. Tango Negro is more concerned about the music’s imprecise origins than with the history of the dance itself. Just like the music, African cultural traditions were appropriated and developed upon to create the steps now recognized as Argentine tango, which later spun off variations. While Tango Negro prefers to leave the footsteps out of the frame for almost a third of its running time, it does explain a few details, like how African-inspired cumbia dances led to tango’s close belly-to-belly connection. The musical interludes of rarely heard recordings are an impressive find, but the movie’s messy approach to telling tango’s hidden history seems at odds with itself. Tango Negro seems to wander through cafés, clubs, and parlor rooms like a tourist with no itinerary. Audiences will leave the dance floor with only a vaguely improved understanding of the African roots of tango. Tango Negro: The African Roots of Tango Directed by Dom Pedro ArtMattan Films Opens August 14, MIST Harlem Most Popular
четверг, 6 июля 2017 г. Learning Foreign Words Foreign Language with paper game Additional options As the pupils gain experience in playing the game it is possible to add new functions to it to preserve the pupil’s interest in playing the game. Fragments of the French words may be added to the game field (highlighted in yellow). On the one hand, the player receives not a single French letter at once, but a few. But on the other hand, he/she has to collect letters for only one or a few words the fragment of which is issued to him/her. If you enter fragments of long words in game, it is desirable to place the greater part of the word on the card. For example, for the word LE CONTENU it is necessary to use the CONT... card. Foreign Languages At the same time, if the card allows making several French words, it is not taken from the game field. For example, CONT... card allows making the words LE CONTENUCONTROLE and etc. When all options are used, such card is removed from the game field and replaced with a usual card with a letter or a card with a figure (see below). This game "OFLAMERON" variant should be offered to already experienced players or played with the teacher. This variant is convenient for learning new words. Cards with numbers Cards with numeric values allow implementing the system of bonuses and making the game more interesting. A few game scenarios with numerical cards can be used: - the player gets automatically the specified number of points to his/her score and has the right to name the French word and throw the die once again; - the player receives the right to choose by himself as many French letters as is specified on the card (2 or 4), announce the word and throw the die once again. The player can choose letters he/she needs to make the word; - the player acquires the right to throw the die so many times at a run, to move the game piece and to collect letters as many times are specified on the card (2 or 4 times), but at the same time he/she may announce one made word. The specific manner of use of the numerical cards is agreed before the game. It is possible to introduce drawing up whole phrases in the game for advanced pupils. For this purpose, the card with a triangle face value is used in the game. If the game piece of the player occupies such a card with the triangle, the teacher issues to the participant the cards prepared in advance with the phrases lacking a part of letters. For example, ...GUE ETRA...RELANGUE ETRANGERE”). Here it is necessary to specify the translation of the phrase to be made. It is possible to adjust finely the complexity of the task for the players by changing the quantity of the missing letters in phrases. It should be done by the teacher. In usual variant the game "OFLAMERON" takes 2-3 hours. It is not always convenient. You can use the blitz version of the game. It requires from the player to announce a Spanish word beginning with each letter which is occupied by his/her game piece on the game field. The made words are written down in the leaflet to avoid repetitions. Points are counted in the same manner as in the previous variant of the game. Blitz game lasts for 20-30 minutes until a player is not able to announce a French word. Such a training may be carried out in any conditions. If you have no ready cards with letters, you can easily make them of any paper. You are just to know the rules of the game. If to replace French letters with letters of other alphabet, it becomes possible to learn any European language. Free for learning and publications. (c) by Valery Shmeleff Foreign Language with paper game Комментариев нет: Отправить комментарий
Saturday, 25 April 2009 Leptin, the Appetite Hormone, Rewires the Brain reposted from: search keywords: leptin, appetite, Leptin: wikipedia Leptin, the Appetite Hormone, Rewires the Brain By Nancy Touchette Mice without the leptin gene are morbidly obese (right) compared to normal mice (left). Researchers have discovered that leptin, an appetite-suppressing hormone, works in an unexpected way. The hormone, which has attracted considerable attention as a potential key to weight loss, is produced by fat cells, but it controls hunger by acting on the brain. Now, two new studies in mice show that the hormone works by actually rewiring the neural circuits in the brain. The research also shows that some of these circuits are set just after birth, presenting the possibility that, at least to a certain extent, the tendency to overeat and gain weight may be hardwired early in life. Although the new studies were conducted in mice, researchers believe the research may help them understand human obesity because the hormone has the same effect in humans as in mice. Like mice, people who are missing the leptin gene become morbidly obese. But when these rare individuals are given leptin, they lose weight. Most obese people are not missing the leptin gene and are known to produce leptin. In fact, some have more than enough. Researchers believe that obesity may be caused, in part, by defects in the signaling pathways in the brain that normally respond to leptin. “We decided early on that the leptin story was going to very complicated,” says Jeffrey Friedman of Rockefeller University in New York City, who led one of the studies. “To move ahead, we have to understand how leptin acts normally and which of its effects are missing in obese individuals.” Leptin promotes the growth of mouse neurons. Images show growth patterns without leptin (top) and with leptin. The findings surprised researchers, who thought that leptin worked by activating individual neurons, not by changing the way they connect to each other. “You can imagine that information flows between neurons much like water through the plumbing system in a house,” says Friedman. “You can regulate this flow by opening and closing valves, or you can add or subtract pipes from the whole system.” “We thought leptin would act by opening and closing valves. Instead, it appears to add and subtract pipes,” he says. In the new study, published in Science, Friedman, in collaboration with Tamas L. Horvath at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut, found that mice without the leptin gene have more connections coming into neurons affected by leptin than do other mice. The result was more circuits that increase appetite—and fat mice. But when the mice were given leptin, the circuitry was reversed. The mice developed normal neural connections, and normal appetites. In a second study, also appearing in Science, researchers noted that shortly after birth, both mice and humans experience a surge in leptin levels. This seemed perplexing because leptin normally signals appetite suppression. But newborns need to eat more, not less. “People didn’t understand this leptin surge,” says Richard Simerly of the Oregon National Primate Research Center in Beaverton, who led the second study. “But we wondered if it was acting as some sort of developmental signal.” Simerly and his colleagues found that in mice without the leptin gene, the neurons that normally respond to leptin fail to project to other regions of the brain involved in food intake—and the mice become fat. When Simerly gave the mice leptin immediately after birth, all the neural circuits that control food intake formed normally and the mice maintained normal weight. However, if the leptin-deficient mice were not given leptin until adulthood, the circuitry was not restored and the mice remained fat. “We were stunned by this result,” says Simerly. “It told us that leptin acts as a developmental signal that determines the circuits that it acts on later in life.” Taken together, the two studies suggest that leptin affects two distinct types of neural connections at different times. Early in life, leptin guides output from neurons that affect appetite. Later, leptin signals the input to these same neurons. Researchers still don’t know what causes the surge in leptin during development or whether it is affected by early feeding habits. If leptin release in early life is influenced by nutrition, this period could be critical in future weight control. It’s not yet clear whether the neurons that affect appetite in mice work the same way in humans. But the studies raise the possibility that leptin affects the wiring of a brain circuitry that influences an individual’s weight for life. “I wouldn’t exactly say that leptin dictates a ‘set weight’” says Simerly. “But in controlling the kinds of neural connections that are made in the brain, leptin may be one of the factors that determines the range of weights a person is likely to have throughout life.” Pinto, S. et al. Rapid rewiring of arcuate nucleus feeding circuits by leptin. Science 304, 110-115 (April 2, 2004). Bouret, S.G. et al. Trophic action of leptin on hypothalamic neurons that regulate feeding. Science 304, 110-115 (April 2, 2004). Elmquist, J.K. and Flier, J.S. The fat-brain axis enters a new dimension. Science 304, (April 2, 2004). Wednesday, 22 April 2009 crabsallover weight reposted from: hackers diet. 4 May 2009 - my BMI 26.2 Fine Tuning body weight reposted from: I googled: fine tuning body weight, because I'm curious to know how the body fine tunes body weight maintenance. As the article states "Although it is true that weight gain occurs when food intake exceeds energy expenditure, it is important to note that even a 1% mismatch between the two can lead to a substantial weight gain after only a few years." 1% of 2000 calories/day = 20cals/day x 365 days = 7300 cals per year. 3500 cals excess results in one pound increase. So 7300 cals excess = 2 pounds increase per year = 20 pounds over 10 years. Could there be a fine-tuning role for brain-derived adipokines in the regulation of bodyweight and prevention of obesity? by Russell E. Brown Abstract: "The body appears to balance energy metabolism via an endogenous lipostatic loop in which adipose stores send hormonal signals (e.g. adipokines such as leptin) to the hypothalamus in order to reduce appetite and increase energy expenditure. However, the brain is also a novel site of expression of many of these adipokine genes. This led to the hypothesis that hypothalamic-derived adipokines might also be involved in bodyweight regulation by exerting some effect on the control of appetite or hypothalamic function." ... Although adipokines secreted by adipose tissue appear to the main regulator of lipostatic loop, this review shows that the fine tuning that is required to maintain a stable bodyweight by this system might be accomplished by hypothalamic-derived adipokines. Perturbations in this central adipokine system could lead to alterations in normal hypothalamic function which leads to unintended weight gain." Crabsallover Summary: Adipokines derived from the brain (hypothalamus) might control the reduction of appetite and increase energy expenditure, in addition to Adipokines derived from fat (adipose) tissues. Prof. Lesley Regan exposes the Diet Industry reposted from: All sensible scientific stuff. Eat a healthy diet, take care to not eat too much (no calorie excess) and exercise. The rest of the diet industry is baloney! Over a third of us are overweight and we spend 11 billion pounds a year trying to get thin. Professor Regan takes on the multi-million pound diet industry. Using herself as a guinea pig, she will discover what to eat to lose 10lbs a year, find a diet pill that actually works, investigate whether we should all be taking vitamins to supplement our diets, and uncover a low-fat product that can really be trusted. Along the route to ultimate weight loss, she discovers that her body is 25 per cent fat, and takes on the diet pills you can buy on the high street by designing her own - with extraordinary results. Over 70 per cent of the study participants lose weight in just a month. She also puts her taste buds to the ultimate test in one of the world's leading food labs, and chews her way through a mound of carrots. The raw carrot is billed as the ultimate health food, but in this rather unusual experiment with the world's first computerised stomach model, Professor Regan discovers the raw carrot is not all it is cracked up to be. Broadcast on: BBC Two, 11:30pm Tuesday 21st April 2009 60 minutes Available until: 8:59pm Thursday 14th May 2009 Go to Professor Regan's... site Tuesday, 7 April 2009 The five ages of the brain: Old age reposted from: Read about all five ages of the brain in our special feature Down but not out By the time you retire, there's no doubt about it, your brain isn't what it used to be. By 65 most people will start to notice the signs: you forget people's names and the teapot occasionally turns up in the fridge. There is a good reason why our memories start to let us down. At this stage of life we are steadily losing brain cells in critical areas such as the hippocampus - the area where memories are processed. This is not too much of a problem at first; even in old age the brain is flexible enough to compensate. At some point though, the losses start to make themselves felt. Clearly not everyone ages in the same way, so what's the difference between a jolly, intelligent oldie and a forgetful, grumpy granny? And can we improve our chances of becoming the former? Exercise can certainly help. Numerous studies have shown that gentle exercise three times a week can improve concentration and abstract reasoning in older people, perhaps by stimulating the growth of new brain cells. Exercise also helps steady our blood glucose. As we age, our glucose regulation worsens, which causes spikes in blood sugar. This can affect the dentate gyrus, an area within the hippocampus that helps form memories. Since physical activity helps regulate glucose, getting out and about could reduce these peaks and, potentially, improve your memory (Annals of Neurology, vol 64, p 698). Coordination training could also help. Studies have shown that specifically targeting motor control and balance improves cognitive function in 60 to 80-year-olds. A few sessions on the grandchildren's Nintendo Wii could bring similar benefits. If you're struggling to find the guitar hero in yourself, however, try a cognitive workout instead. "Brain training" was once considered flaky, but a study due to be published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society in April concludes that computerised brain exercises can improve memory and attention in the over 65s. Importantly, these changes were large enough that participants reported significant improvements in everyday activities, such as remembering names or following conversations in noisy restaurants. Avoiding the grumps is even easier. Dopamine receptors - responsible for feelings of positive emotions - are in decline, with the potential to cause depression, but you can give yourself a regular dose of dopamine by eating certain foods, such as yoghurt, almonds and chocolate. In fact, your brain is doing it all it can to ensure a contented retirement. During the escapades of your 20s and 30s and the trials of midlife, it has been quietly learning how to focus on the good things in life. By 65 we are much better at maximising the experience of positive emotion, says Florin Dolcos, a neurobiologist at the University of Alberta in Canada. In experiments, he found that people over the age of 60 tended to remember fewer emotionally negative photographs compared with positive or neutral ones than younger people (Psychological Science, vol 20, p 74). When I was young... MRI scans showed why. While the over-60s showed normal activation in the amygdala, a region of the brain that processes emotion, its interaction with other brain areas differed: it interacted less with the hippocampus than in younger people and more with the dorsolateral frontal cortex, a region involved in controlling emotions. Dolcos suggests that this may be a result of more experience of situations in which emotional responses need to be kept under control. Older people really do see the world through rose-tinted glasses. So while nobody wants to get older, it's not all doom and gloom. In fact you should probably stop worrying altogether. Studies show that people who are more laid back are less likely to develop dementia than stress bunnies. In one study, people who were socially inactive but calm had a 50 per cent lower risk of developing dementia compared with those who were isolated and prone to distress (Neurology, vol 72, p 253). This is likely to be caused by stress-induced high levels of cortisol, which may cause shrinkage in the anterior cingulate cortex, an area linked to Alzheimer's disease and depression in older people. So while our brains may not wrinkle and sag like our skin, they need just as much care and attention - so don't give up on yours too soon. When you notice the signs of age, go for a walk, do a crossword and try to have a laugh - it might just counteract some of the sins of your youth. Read about all five ages of the brain in our special feature
UWA Handbook 2017 Unit details BIOC2202 Biochemical Regulation of Cell Function Credit 6 points (see Timetable) Non-standard teaching periodSingapore - Life & Physical SciencesFace to face Details for undergraduate courses • Level 2 elective Content This unit focuses on the central role of proteins in controlling or affecting cell function and expands on information covered in BIOC2201 Biochemistry of the Cell. The roles of proteins are examined in cellular activities of metabolism, protein sorting, and communication between cells and cell division. Diseases such as diabetes and cancer are discussed in the context of protein dysfunction. The content of the unit is divided into several major themes: (1) Metabolism—this is concerned with understanding how the interactions of multiple proteins results in the generation of energy required to fuel the cell; (2) Metabolic integration and control—emphasis is placed on understanding how extracellular and intracellular signals control metabolic pathways; diabetes is described in the context of dysfunctional control; (3) Protein sorting and compartmentation—describes how proteins are directed to specific intracellular locations, and emphasises similarities and specific differences in directing proteins to different organelles in the complex eukaryotic cell; (4) Signal transduction—the information pathways used by chemical messengers such as hormones are considered; and (5) Cell cycle control—introduces specific proteins involved in control of the cell cycle and emphasises how their discovery has been made through molecular studies of diseases such as cancer. The laboratories reinforce lecture concepts and train students in biological laboratory skills. Techniques and technologies used in modern biological laboratories are introduced. Outcomes Students are able to (1) acquire knowledge in the role of proteins in cell function; (2) learn (a) how the organising principle of metabolic pathways is used to understand the complexity of cells containing many thousands of small molecules and macromolecules; (b) how extracellular signals and intracellular signals cause a coordinated response by metabolic pathways; (c) how proteins are directed to specific intracellular locations in the eukaryotic cell; (d) the molecular mechanisms by which cells receive and process signals received from the external environment; and (e) how various signals from outside and inside the cell contribute to the regulation of the cell cycle and how defects in these pathways can lead to cancer; and (3) be exposed to the methodologies used in biochemical research and acquire skills in problem solving, critical thinking, experimental design and data analysis. Assessment Typically this unit is assessed in the following ways: (1) examinations to assess theoretical component; and (2) continuous assessment to assess laboratory component. Further information is available in the unit outline. Unit Coordinator(s) Dr Peter Arthur Unit rules Prerequisites: SCIE1106 Molecular Biology of the Cell and six points of (CHEM1101 Inorganic and Physical Chemistry; CHEM1102 Organic Chemistry; CHEM1103 Biological Organic Chemistry; CHEM1104 Biological Inorganic and Physical Chemistry; CHEM1105 Introductory Chemistry; CHEM1106 Biological Chemistry; CHEM1001 Chemistry—Properties and Energetics; CHEM1002 Chemistry—Structure and Reactivity; CHEM1003 Introductory Chemistry or CHEM1004 Biological Chemistry) Co-requisites: BIOC2201 Biochemistry of the Cell is highly recommended Incompatibility: BIOC2250 Biochemistry
The Cold War Arms Race; Day 1 When the Soviets detonated their first atomic bomb, they exploded into the nuclear arms race, catching up with the United States. It was August 29, 1949. At the time, the U.S. had already detonated an equivalent test in 1945, the Trinity bomb. There were also the two disastrous bombs detonated in Japan later the same year. The world knew well of the United States’ destructive power. Now they would know that of Russia too. Could anyone at the time see where this would lead? The Soviet test, codenamed “First Lightning ” was the result of many forces, the best Soviet physicists, Stalinist death threats, and a touch of good old-fashioned espionage. First Lightning The bomb was an RDS-1, code named First Lightning by the Soviets, but the U.S. had a code name for it too; Joe 1. The Soviets win for branding. The Americans clearly had one thing on their mind in connection with the bomb, the lunatic with his hand on the button, Joseph Stalin. We’ll come back to how the U.S. knew so much about the Soviets nuclear program. First, Lightning looked so much like Fat Man, the bomb dropped on Nagasaki Japan, they could have been cousins. It was almost as if someone in the Soviet Union “borrowed” U.S. plans… Designed at the Kurchatov Institute, the Soviets would test their new 22 kiloton device at the Semipalatinsk testing site, in modern day Kazakhstan. Stalin’s Soviet Union When the U.S. detonated the bombs in Japan, Stalin knew what he had to do. The Soviets had already begun their nuclear research back in 1943. At the head of their program was the foremost Soviet nuclear physicist, Igor Kurchatov. He was good, but they were nowhere near making anything more than a dirty bomb. Within a year of the attacks on Japan, the Soviets miraculously created their first nuclear reactor. Four years after that, they had the RDS-1. How did they move so fast? They stole. Also, Stalin may have made death threats to the physicists. The best physicists in the USSR operated under the assumption that a failure was unacceptable. We have no proof of this, of course, just stories. The test succeeded anyway. Had First Lightning failed, some insist that Stalin would have put many of his physicists to death. The rest he would have imprisoned. Since that would’ve put the nail in the coffin of the Soviet nuclear program, it’s doubtful but possible. Stalin was a feared dictator with plenty of blood on his hands. As it turned out, nobody had to die or go to jail. The test was a success, and why wouldn’t it have been? They ripped off every last rivet of the U.S. test bombs. It took months for the U.S. to learn of the First Lightning. A spy plane detected radiation while flying near Siberia. At the time, the U.S. intelligence teams knew they were close. They’d been following the activities of the German physicist, Klaus Fuchs, who’d helped the United States develop their own program. Suspicions about his betrayal of the United States to the Soviets turned out to be true. He’d passed almost every detail of the U.S. program to them, including a blueprint of Fat Man. Four months after First Lightning, the U.S. arrested Fuchs for espionage. It turned out he’d been passing secrets to the Soviets since the early ’40s when he was still working for the British. By 1950, Fuchs confessed. He went to jail for fourteen years. After the U.S. confirmed the Soviet test, President Truman announced to the American people that the Russian had the bomb. The two countries weren’t yet producing missiles, but it was a matter of time. The race was on.
Thu \| Sep 21, 2017 Raising legal age for tobacco would stop, delay use Published:Friday \| March 13, 2015 \| 3:00 AM Raising the legal age to buy tobacco to higher than 18 would likely prevent premature death for hundreds of thousands of people, according to a report issued yesterday by the Institute of Medicine. The report examines the public health effects of increasing the age to 19, 21 or 25. While it doesn't make any recommendations, officials say it provides the scientific guidance state and local governments need to evaluate policies aimed at reducing tobacco use by young people. surgeon general's report It also adds backing to government efforts to reduce the death and disease caused by tobacco, on the heels of the 50th anniversary of the landmark 1964 Surgeon General's report that launched the anti-smoking movement. Most states currently have set the age at 18, which is the federal minimum. Four states have set the age at 19, and several localities, including New York City, have raised the minimum age to 21. Increasing the federal age would take an act of Congress, which mandated the report in a 2009 law that gave the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate tobacco. The report concluded that, if it were to be raised to 21 now, it would result in about 249,000 fewer premature deaths, 45,000 fewer deaths from lung cancer, and 4.2 million fewer years of life lost for people born between 2000 and 2019 when they reach their 40s and 50s.
Feed the Birds! Main page / Our Objectives / EcoEducation / EcoEvents / Feed the Birds! ----Feed the Birds! Action is organized in the winter to feed the birds of Kamchatka. We want to draw children"s attention to the challenges of winter birds» survival and motivate children"s interest in the birds» protection. By teaching how to make bird feeders, what birds can eat, and how often they can be fed, we wish to advocate for the humane treatment of our feathered friends. List of all events Did You Know The graceful fir grove has been known for more than two and a half centuries it's origin is still a mystery, and scientific interest in the botanic phenomenon is high.
Sunday, December 16, 2012 Carousing will catch up with you The Huns were a nomadic people who are though to have originated in Central Asia. By 370 AD they had migrated into Europe. They formed a unified empire for the first time under the rule of a single King in 447. That King's name is still synonomous with brutality today - Attila the Hun. Attila ruled from 433 until his death in 453. Orginally his brother Bleda ruled half the tribe and Atilla the other, until Bleda's death in 447 when Atilla became the sole King. (Public domain image sourced from Wikipedia) Attila was known as Flagellum Dei by the Romans (Scourge of God). He spent much of his reign waging war across Europe, burning and pillaging in his wake. His actions are partially behind the fall of the Roman Empire. At its height Attila's empire stretched from the Ural river to the Rhine. However it's Attila's death which is of interest today. Given all of this occurred in the 1st century accounts of Attila's health are patchy at best. However it is known that following a large feast to celebrate his latest marriage, the King was found the following morning choked to death on a pool of blood. Later accounts suggested his wife had perhaps had murderous intentions. This is possible, but given the description that Attila had choked, seems unlikely. Commonly held accounts of Attila's death are that while lying in a druken stupor he had suffered a nosebleed then suffocated to death on the blood. This is possible. However I support a different theory. Like many men in that era, particularly those that embraced Attila's particular lifestyle, heavy alcohol use was a regular way of life. Chronic alcohol abuse has many destructive effects on the body. While many people will automatically think of death from liver failure, a far more common cause of death is bleeding from dilated vessels in the oesophagus ("food tube"). In chronic alcoholism the liver becomes cirrhotic, essentially scarred. Blood has to move more slowly through scarred tissue, causing it to back up in the preceding blood vessels including those around the oesophagus. (Oesophageal varices). This is complicated by the fact that the liver also makes clotting factors. In someone who has enough liver damage to cause varices, slow or abnormal clotting is also very likely. These dilated vessels can bleed, particularly just after a binge drinking episode on top of ongoing chronic alcoholism. Even in this day and age bleeding from oesophageal varices can be incredibly difficult to manage. Unlike a bleeding cut, you can't put direct pressure on an oesophagus. They need a surgeon, a gastroscopy and banding. None of these were present in the 1st century. I think it very likely that Attila the Hun bled to death from his oesophageal varices. All that death, destruction, wine, women and song eventually caught up with him. Clearly there are some bad sides about being a drunken despot. 1. That sounds every bit as pleasant as the man himself! 2. Sounds delightful! Your final line reminded me of something I heard recently - "I spent all of my money on wine, women and song... and squandered the rest". What do you think? Tell me more!
The Story of the Tree The Meaning Behind Our Logo In the early 60’s, When the founding members of this congregation chose a small olive grove for the site of their church, The Olive tree inspired the name and the hope of Mount Olive Lutheran Church. Not too long after, the vision of a preschool became a reality and we became Mount Olive Lutheran Church and Preschool. It seems only right that the trees which inspired our name and still stand on our campus would be the centerpiece of our logo. The Mount of Olives is a place outside of the city of Jerusalem and is a significant place in Biblical History. This is the place where Jesus lamented over the people before entering the city on His path to the cross. An Olive branch was what the dove brought back to Noah to indicate that a new beginning was at hand. Still today, the Olive Branch is a metaphor for an offering of peace, and rests today in the talons of an eagle on the floor of the Oval Office. Mount Olive rests in the city of Poway, whose own logo depicts the great oak tree once seen near Espola and Twin Peaks roads. What better way to identify as a place in both worlds. The Tree consists of Trunk and branches. The tree is a living, growing thing. It provides clean air to breathe; it provides shade and comfort from the elements. The trunk signifies strength, well-rooted, and its branches signify various arms of ministry and learning. The core or heart provides the stability of the tree and is called the “core” similar to a congregation. It is the oldest part but is the primary support. The outer rings are the new growth and provide the flow of vital nutrients from the ground it is rooted in, out to the various parts of the tree. The bark protects the tree from attack of fire, pestilence and blight. The Leaves of the tree Takes energy from the light and feeds the whole tree with it. Both dark green and light green leaves to signify old growth and new growth, or in other words, a mix of new members among the old. Green is growth. Old leaves still produce and are vital. Young leaves are able to produce at a greater pace. Olives are the fruit of the tree. What good is a tree if it does not produce good fruit? Multi-colored olives signify diversity not just of members and cultures, but also of ministry and mission and compassionate care. What we do is for everyone. The three colors of our olives remind us of the Trinity and also represent the three-fold emphasis of the Larger Church, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Why the Bird? More than just whimsy, The Holy Spirit is often depicted as a dove. The official color of the LCMS is blue. Blue is regarded as the color of hope and it is certainly appropriate that the bird be blue, as it is the power of the Spirit that gives man hope.
Running South It was the morning of July 8, 1865 and the cotton fields were buzzing with activity. There were hundreds of hard-working slave families working in the fields but one slave family seemed to be working at a faster rate. They are the Dutton Family. The Dutton Family consists of Duke (the father), Elizabeth (the mother), and the three kids: Felicia, Samuel and Omar, the youngest. The heat of the day begins to take its toll on everybody including Duke. He stands up to wipe the sweat from his brow. As he does so, he spots Master Tomstin, the plantation owner, staring into the field. At first Duke thinks nothing of it and continues working. He then looks again and to his surprise, Master Tomstin has not moved. Duke follows his eyes into the field. To Duke’s horror, the owner’s eyes are fixated directly on Felicia, Duke’s little girl, who has just turned twelve. Duke’s longtime friend, Blue, informs him that Master Tomstin is planning on taking Felicia to be his personal slave and there is nothing he can do about it. Duke and Elizabeth make the decision to try to free their children. But how? Duke remembers hearing about a train that is rumored to pass near the plantation heading up North. In the middle of the night and without warning, the children are awoken and rushed out of the house by their mother and father. Moonlight guides them through the thick forest and rushing streams. The peaceful sound of the night is interrupted by the faint sound of a train whistle. They suddenly stop and kneel down into the tall grass to say their heart wrenching and tearful goodbyes, for they all know this is the last time they will ever be together. Time is short. The train approaches. With tears running down their faces, they run alongside the train and jump aboard. Duke and Elizabeth watch as the train disappears into the darkness. Morning comes and the children notice that they are not alone in the boxcar. They are introduced to a hobo named Seth. The kids tell him their plan is to take the train up North to freedom. To their surprise, Seth informs them that the train route has changed and the train they are on will only take them deeper into the South. Seth walks over to the boxcar doorway and looks out on to a masterpiece of rolling hills, golden valleys, and snowcapped mountains. He then points at one of the mountains off into the distance and informs the kids that the train they need is in a small town on the other side of that mountain. With each passing second, the train is pulling further away from where they need to be. Seth tells the kids that they cannot afford to wait and that the journey will be a dangerous one, for the land is crawling with slave hunters: men paid to catch and return the runaway slaves--dead or alive! One by one, the frightened kids walk to the edge of the doorway and jump from the train. Little do they know that their journey has just begun. Over the next three days, the kids encounter slave hunters, other slaves on the run, and some other surprises that Mother Nature has cooked up for them--all this and very little food. Day Four holds another little surprise. An aroma fills the air that is unmistakable: freshly baked pie. The kids waste no time and run into the direction of the sweet smell, only to find themselves atop a hill looking down at what used to be a lonely house but is now swarming with Confederate soldiers. All realize the danger but the hunger is too great. Felicia spots an apron hanging on a clothes line. Her plan is to steal the apron and try to blend in with the other slaves who are cooking and cleaning for the soldiers. Felicia makes her way into the house and down a long hallway but suddenly stops when she overhears three men talking in the next room. One of the men is General Lee himself. They are discussing a secret attack that is so massive, it will end this war once and for all. After congratulating one another on their imminent victory, they retreat outside for some fresh air, leaving a document describing their secret battle plans on the desk. On the way out, they run into the little slave girl but think nothing of it. When they return, the paper containing the plans for the secret attack is missing and so is the little slave girl. Felicia runs up the hill with an apron full of blueberry muffins as well as the document. She tells her brothers the importance of the document as they gobble down the muffins. Once again, the kids are back on the run and now the slave hunters are the least of their problems. Now they are being pursued by the entire Confederate Army. Felicia hopes she can get the document to the Union Army before it is too late. What price are these three kids willing to pay for not only their freedom but for the freedom of an entire race?
Sunday, August 31, 2008 Arctic Summer Sea Ice 2008: Update On August 6th, I posted a a status report on summer sea ice conditions in the Arctic and the possibility that it might be better than last year's all-time record low. Here's an update from the Associated Press: According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, sea ice in the Arctic Ocean is at its second lowest level in nearly 30 years and with three weeks left in the Arctic summer, this year could wind up breaking last September's all-time record. Arctic ice melts in the summer and refreezes in the winter but more and more ice is being lost to the sea and not recovered in the winter. Ice reflects the sun's heat while the open ocean absorbs more heat and the melting accelerates warming in other parts of the world. "We could very well be in that quick slide downward in terms of passing a tipping point," said senior scientist Mark Serreze at the data center. The melting causes "Arctic amplification" where the warming up north is increased in a feedback mechanism and the effects spill southward in the autumn as more warm water releases more heat into the air, making the atmosphere warmer than normal. "Climate warming is coming larger and faster than the models are predicting," Serreze said. The condition of the Arctic Circle is a perfect barometer for what lies ahead in southern climates. We must pay attention. No comments:
Selasa, 08 Maret 2011 Zombie taxa The dinosaurs all died out at the end of the Mesozoic, about 60 million years earlier. Or did they... Numerous dinosaur teeth have actually been found in much more recent rock formations, well into the Paeleogene. There are a number of explanations for this. One explanation is that we are entirely wrong about the extinction of the dinosaurs. They did not go extinct at the end of the Cretaceous and persisted much longer, perhaps to the modern day! But for some mysterious reason their bones stopped being preserved and they just left teeth and claws. An entirely different explanation, and dare I say a much more plausible one, is that in some taxa fossil structures may be eroded out of one layer and then re-deposited in a younger layer. Given that our fossil record of dinosaurs post-Cretaceous consists of just the sort of a structures (teeth) we'd expect to be washed out and re-preserved the evidence is consistent with this hypothesis. This hypothesis also predicts that even today we would find structures like dinosaur teeth washed out of sediments and being preserved in brand new depositions. Yes, yes we do. Such taxa are known as zombie taxa. 0 komentar: Posting Komentar Copyright 2010 Biology Blog Education. All rights reserved. Themes by Ex Templates Blogger Templates l Home Recordings l Studio Rekaman
Keyhole Minimally Invasive Surgery medical tests for women picture of laparoscopy surgery Laparoscopy Surgery What Is Laparoscopy? Why Is It Done? How Is It Performed? What Is The Recovery Time? What Are The Risks? How Much Does Laparoscopy Cost? Related Articles Female Body: Organs Reproductive Disorders Related Articles: Medical Tests For Women Recommended Screenings What Is Laparoscopy? It is a minimally invasive method of performing abdominal surgery. Laparoscopy is also called keyhole surgery, bandaid surgery and minimally invasive surgery (MIS). During the procedure a small incision is made in the belly and a thin lighted tube is inserted through it. This tube (laparoscope) has a camera attached so it allows the surgeon to view the abdominal organs. Other surgical tools can be inserted through the laparoscope, or through other incisions to carry out treatment. In such a way, laparoscopy can be used both to diagnose and treat conditions. Laparotomy or Laparoscopy? Laparotomy is a more invasive method of abdominal surgery that involves a larger incision in the tummy. The advantage of laparotomy is that it allows surgeons a direct view of the internal organs (particularly useful if a disease is not confined to one area, such as cancer). Many routine surgeries that were once performed by laparotomy in the past, are now performed by laparoscopy. Laparoscopy is less stressful and healing time is faster. Why Is It Done? To diagnose and treat: Ovarian cysts Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) • Adhesions (scar tissue) Ectopic pregnancy • Blocked fallopian tubes (and so is an important diagnostic tool for infertility) • Cancer of the reproductive organs such as fallopian tube cancer or ovarian cancer. Laparoscopy in this instance is more likely to be exploratory, or for staging purposes. Treatment usually requires more direct access (laparotomy). It is also: • Done to remove an IUD device which has perforated the uterus. • Done to sterilize a woman by tubal ligation (tying her tubes). • Used during some vaginal hysterectomies. • To insert a Lap-Band as part of obesity surgery (Laparoscopic Adjustable Gastric Banding (LAGB)). • Used for egg retrieval surgery, a fertility treatment. How Is It Performed? Laparoscopies are usually done in hospital as day surgery - you get to go home the same day. General anesthesia is usually given which means you are completely unconscious. About an hour before surgery you will be asked to empty your bladder and an IV drip is then attached to your arm. You will receive fluids and the anesthetic through this. • When you are sleeping some or all of the following may be done: • An airway inserted into your throat to help you breathe. • A urinary catheter (thin flexible tube) placed through your urethra into your bladder. • A thin tube called a cannula is inserted through your vagina and into the uterus. This tube allows the surgeon to move your womb and ovaries to the side so that he can get a better look at the abdominal organs. • Some of your pubic hair may be shaved. Once the anesthesia has taken effect, a small incision is made just below the belly button. If other tools need to be used, more than one incision will be made. Next a long thin needle is inserted through the incision and gas is pumped in. The gas lifts the intestines and exposes the pelvic organs lying beneath. The laparoscope is inserted and the surgeon can now inspect the organs. If surgery is being performed to fix a problem other tools may be used - for example to cut a sample of tissue for biopsy, to drain cysts or remove scar tissue. A laser may be attached to the laparoscope to assist surgery. Once the procedure is over, the incision(s) are closed with stitches. It takes about 30 to 90 minutes to perform, but it can be longer, depending on what needs to be done. Endometriosis surgery for example can take much longer. You will be returned to the recovery room for 2 to 4 hours. What Is The Recovery Time? If you have no complications, you can return home after 4 or 5 hours. You can resume all normal activities (including sex) after a day. You may feel some shoulder pain for a few days, this is a side effect of the gas used during surgery. laparoscopy scars This woman has 3 laparoscopic incisions What Are The Risks? Laparoscopy is a relatively safe procedure, although in rare cases it can result in complications. These include organ damage from surgical instruments used, abscess formation and inflammation of the lining of the abdomen. Additionally there are the associated risks of general anesthesia. All of these risks can be minimized in the hands of an experienced surgeon. How Much Does Laparoscopy Cost? Without insurance, the cost of laparoscopy averages between $1,700 and $5,000. The difference in price depends on whether it is performed for diagnostic or treatment purposes. Related Articles on Diagnostic Testing For more information, see the following: Infertility testing: List of diagnostic tests. Endometriosis treatment: Procedures explained. Can endometriosis be seen on ultrasound? Back to Homepage: Womens Health Advice original content Copyright. All rights reserved.
neurons Neurons Wikimedia Commons Pfizer and IBM are coming together to put some new data into improving the lives of people with Parkinson's disease, a neurodegenerative disorder that affects roughly half a million people in the US The tech and pharma giants are partnering to develop technologies that people with Parkinson's can integrate into their daily routines with the hope that the data can help inform future treatments. Parkinson's is characterized by motor symptoms such as shaking in the hands and legs, as well as stiffness and impaired balance, and one of the biggest problems for people who have it is keeping track of the cycles their symptoms follow. For example, tremors may be controlled better using medication at one time of day than another, something called "on" and "off" periods. Tracking that information could be critical to developing new medications to treat Parkinson's that aim to reduce the frequency of those "off" periods. Ajay Royyuru, the director of healthcare and life sciences at IBM Research, told Business Insider that the plan is to introduce non-invasive ways to monitor the disease that don't disrupt peoples' daily lives, a group of tools they call "passive." "Our goal is to achieve as much passive deployment as possible," said Royyuru. "The ideal scenario would be, an individual doesn't have to mess with any of the technology...and they just go about living their life. They don't have to push any buttons, they don't have to learn a new interface of any kind." The tech could be embedded into a patient's kitchen, for example, so researchers could see how often that person cooks for themselves — a potential window into how his or her motor skills are holding up. Or it could be a wearable that tracks the patient's sleeps or movement. Having that information could determine how well a certain trial medication is working. Peter Bergethon, Pfizer's head of quantitative medicine, said the decision to start this pharma-tech initiative in Parkinson's was for practical reasons: Pfizer has a drug for Parkinson's in development that could benefit from this kind of "internet of things" monitoring, and by putting it into an actual clinical trial, the idea is to demonstrate just how valuable this information could be. By the end of year, IBM and Pfizer are hoping to figure out the best kinds of sensors to use, and then by 2019 Bergethon said the hope is to get the technology embedded into a Phase 3 clinical trial for one of Pfizer's Parkinson's medications. Bergethon said this integration of tech in Parkinson's research is just the first of many, not only in neurological diseases, but potentially everything from heart conditions to cancer. "What we're really trying to do is build a model that we can replicate," Bergethon said. "We're already talking about moving on to other neurological diseases, Alzheimer's is something we'll working on in the near future."
Edit ModuleShow Tags Internet marketing and trademark trouble In the not so distant past, marketing and advertising a business was a particularly challenging and daunting task. Local businesses relied heavily on Yellow Pages advertising, radio and television. They had to decide how large a listing, under what categories to be listed, and/or how comprehensive a broadcast campaign they could afford. The cost could be substantial and no matter how large the listing, the amount of information conveyed was relatively small. Depending on the product and services, the businesses might also have to print brochures to be handed out or mailed to prospective consumers. If a mistake were made, the businesses would have to wait an entire year to make corrections. Businesses with a national or international scope didn’t fare much better. They had to choose from a dizzying array of options to promote their products and services from magazines, trade shows and listing directories. The mailing of brochures and other comprehensive information to inquirers was a necessity even when the majority would never purchase anything. Small businesses could rarely afford to saturate all possible avenues, so deciding where and how to spend marketing dollars was of crucial importance. Pick the wrong advertising mix and a business might not be able to survive long enough to stumble onto the correct formula. The Internet changed all this. In a relatively short period, a company’s Website replaced the Yellow Pages listing, the magazine ad, brochures and informational material. SEO specialists tailored Web pages to provide companies with prominent listings on Google and other search engines. Websites replaced the Yellow Pages and industry specific directories for consumers looking to find providers to meet their needs, wants and desires. Many companies now pay Google and the others to provide links to their websites. More and more prospective customers use Google in place of phone and other industry specific directories. Whether it’s a local search or nationwide, search engines can provide the answer. There are some drawbacks, however, to this brave new world of marketing. Most obvious is the enhanced competition and the increased amount of time and money spent on optimizing a website. The less obvious disadvantage is the risk of being accused of trademark infringement. Before the Web, it was not uncommon for businesses with similar names and similar products and services to co-exist, each plying its trade in different parts of the country blissfully unaware of the other. Twenty years ago, a fictitious restaurant named Lights On Broadway could have co-existed in numerous locales across the country, but since local customers expect that they can look up information about a restaurant online, a website is a necessity. Sooner or later owners with businesses with the same name stumble upon each other over the Internet. Often one sends a letter to the other accusing the other of trademark infringement. The scope of this column does not permit a discussion of all the legal complexities that ensue. Suffice it to say, the costs of resolving the matter can be substantial not only in legal bills but also in the loss of goodwill and name recognition if one of the businesses has to rebrand. Recognizing the potential risks, there are a few things businesses can do. Initially, in choosing a business, product or service name, a business would be advised to conduct a national trademark search to identify whether there are other businesses using a similar name that could prove to be problematic down the line. Choosing names and trademarks that are more arbitrary and fanciful opposed to those that are descriptive or suggestive makes good sense: think Xerox (a made-up word) to Duplicators for copiers, for instance. Avoid names that are plays on common clichés: they may be clever, but the probability is often high someone else will be similarly clever. If the business is already a going concern and especially if its trademark is one that might be shared by other businesses around the country, plan for an eventual dispute. Sadly, prevailing in a trademark dispute often comes down to who has the most money to defend or advance its position and not who is the senior user of a particular name. Being in the right is cold comfort if your business does not have the capital to defend your rights. At Leyendecker & Lemire, we regularly counsel clients to create a legal rainy day fund. We know very few ever do, but if and when a trademark dispute arises, it is much easier and even axiomatically often less expensive to resolve a case to a client’s satisfaction if the business can afford to assert its position. Some of the money saved canceling or downsizing the large Yellow Pages ad might be best socked away for future legal expenses. While marketing and advertising in the 21st Century may seem simpler than it was in the last century, in reality, old challenges have been replaced by new ones. The key to success is often anticipating and adapting to these new challenges just a little bit better than the competition, and one of the biggest of these new challenges is that something as simple as choosing a business or brand name has become much more complex in consequence. Edit Module Kurt Leyendecker Kurt Leyendecker is a founding member of the intellectual property law boutique, Leyendecker & Lemire. Leyendecker & Lemire specialize in patents, trademarks and related complex civil litigation. Kurt Leyendecker can be reached directly at 303.768.0123 or [email protected]. Visit www.coloradoiplaw.comfor further information, including Leyendecker & Lemire’s weekly blog, “Control, Protect & Leverage.” Edit ModuleShow Tags Archive »Related Articles Leaders Grow and Thrive When they Build Community Leaders develop better when apart of a community, even if they’re starting a business independently. Top Travel and Hospitality Operators Go High Tech and Soft Touch ColoradoBiz Top Companies recognized in the travel and hospitality category include Christopherson Business Travel, Snooze, an AM Eatery and Breckenridge Grand Vacations. Denver Housing Market: A Tale of Two Cities Today, on the other side of the changes, current data provided by the Colorado Association of REALTORS® shows that immediate demand could stretch many more years in its ability to fulfill those demands to the scale in which we need. 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Relative Humidity Doesn’t Tell You How Humid the Air Is building-scienceheader image Relative Humidity Doesn’t Tell You How Humid the Air Is There’s a lot of confusion about this term Posted on Aug 5 2015 by Allison A. Bailes III, PhD There's a problem with relative humidity. I hear it a lot when I talk to people about moisture problems. A client with high humidity in his home recently told me he didn't understand how it could be more humid inside his home than it was outdoors. The indoor relative humidity (RH) was 60% while it was only 50% outdoors. Do you see the problem? The problem with relative humidity The name of this psychrometric quantity tells you the nature of the problem. It's called relative humidity. That means you don't really know how humid it is from that number alone. You also need to know the temperature. Look at that screenshot from the weather app on my phone. Those are the conditions here in Atlanta this morning as I write this article. (Yes, I have it set for Celsius, not Fahrenheit. Don't you?) The relative humidity is 57%. That doesn't sound too bad. The air in my condo at the same time is 59%. Which is more humid? Trick question! 59 is greater than 57, so the indoor air is more humid, yes, but only on a relative scale. The outdoor air in this case actually has more water vapor in it, though, because of the different temperatures. The outdoor air was 86°F at the time; the indoor air was at 74°F. The dew point temperatures were 70°F outdoors and 59°F indoors. It's not just homeowners who get confused about humidity. I hear pros who know some building science speak about humidity this way, too. "It's been really humid here lately. The relative humidity is getting up into the 80s." If they'd been talking about dew point, yes, it would have been really, really humid. But Aspen, Colorado gets to 80% RH in the summer, too... in the mornings when the temperature is 50°F. The dew point is about 44°F then, which most consider to be pretty dry. Why we need different humidity quantities If relative humidity is so incomplete and confusing, why don't we just drop it? Well, it's still a useful quantity and does give us important information. Here's a brief description of the three main quantities that describe humidity: Relative Humidity - This quantity tells us how close the conditions are to saturation, when condensation of water vapor can occur. The interaction of porous materials with water vapor increases with increasing RH. The chance of growing mold increases with increasing RH, 70% usually given as the threshold to stay below. Dew Point Temperature - This temperature scales with the amount of water vapor. As more water vapor enters a volume, the dew point goes up. If the air in your crawl space, for example, has a dew point of 75°F, you're probably going to find condensation somewhere. Look at the water pipes, poorly insulated ducts, and uninsulated duct boots. Wet Bulb Temperature - If dew point is the temperature of condensation, wet bulb is the temperature of evaporation. Same concept; different direction. This one's important for cooling our bodies. Once you get a handle on these three quantities, you'll have a pretty good understanding of humidity. You're then ready to enter the full study of psychrometrics. Thinking clearly about humidity If you take away one thing from this article, let it be this: Talking about relative humidity without also giving the temperature leads to confusion. If you take away two things, let the second one be that even when you give the temperature along with the RH, you still may be wrong. Sometimes people tell me things like, "The temperature was 95°F and it was 90% relative humidity." That would mean the dew point is 92°F. That's possible but extremely rare, so I'm not likely to believe it. The record dew point is about 94°F. Even dew points in the 80s are rare. When someone talks to me about relative humidity, I usually get my phone out and find the dew point with my handy-dandy psychrometrics app. If I'm interested in gauging comfort on a hot, muggy day, I look at the wet bulb temperature. The problem with relative humidity is that, by itself, it doesn't really tell you how humid it is. Allison Bailes of Decatur, Georgia, is a speaker, writer, energy consultant, RESNET-certified trainer, and the author of the Energy Vanguard Blog. Check out his in-depth course, Mastering Building Science at Heatspring Learning Institute, and follow him on Twitter at @EnergyVanguard. Tags: , , , Image Credits: 1. Energy Vanguard Aug 5, 2015 10:59 AM ET by Lloyd Alter Greetings from the frozen north (It's 16° by the lake here) I am curious why you use Celsius. Temperature is the only thing that I think is actually better in Imperial than in Metric. It is a contentious issue: Aug 5, 2015 11:44 AM ET Response to Lloyd Alter by Allison A. Bailes III, PhD I grew up with Fahrenheit, but I switched to Celsius 20 years ago, mostly because it's what most of the rest of the world uses. Getting degrees in physics brought me into the metric world, too. Yeah, Fahrenheit is better in that the degrees are smaller and you don't have to talk in tenths of halves of a degree. I converted mostly because I wanted to be familiar enough with the scale so I'd know both. Or maybe it's just because I like to change things up. I've been trying to become a left-hander for a while, too. Feb 21, 2017 12:24 PM ET Edited Feb 21, 2017 12:40 PM ET. relative humidity more relevant than suggested? by Tyler Keniston Is it inaccurate to say that relative humidity is the most relevant metric regarding a number of important building issues, namely mold, wood movement, and effects on human mucous membranes? Or perhaps I've missed the point of the article, in that it is simply pointing to the errors often made in talking about RH? Feb 21, 2017 4:27 PM ET by Malcolm Taylor As a Canadian involved in the building scene you will have noticed that after decades of official metrification there are still areas that are resistant to moving from imperial. One of the main ones is dimensional lumber. You won't hear anyone call for a 2.38x385 beam. The metric increments simply aren't very useful. Register for a free account and join the conversation Get a free account and join the conversation! Become a GBA PRO!
Environmentally friendly water treatment Water Quality Increasing oxygen saturation is a necessary aspect in designing water treatment systems. Ponds and lakes should be protected from anoxic conditions as it may cause serious damage in the aquatic ecosystems of these bodies of water. Oxygen content is the most important determinant of water quality. Dissolved Oxygen (DO) is essential to fish and aquatic life survival. More importantly, aerobic bacteria and other microorganisms use up oxygen as they that feed on feces and organic litter. Anoxic Conditions Anoxic conditions of water bodies develop due to factors such as density stratification, stagnation, build-up of organic material and algae bloom, of which especially the last often is considered a problem. In summary, anoxic conditions will occur when the Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) resulting from oxidation of organic matter by bacteria is greater than the Dissolved Oxygen (DO). What Aeration Does In order to prevent anoxic conditions, it is necessary to have sufficient water aeration in ponds and lakes. Dissolving compressed oxygen bubbles is very effective in increasing DO in the water. Effective aeration techniques speed up oxidation of organic matter. Sufficient supply of oxygen supports fish life and allows aerobic bacteria to decompose organic matter efficiently. Dissolving air bubbles also allow noxious gases to be released from the water. As compressed air bubbles are pumped in the water, carbon dioxide and other gases are released to the atmosphere. Aeration also allows circulation in the water. Circulation prevents thermal stratification which is dangerous to fish life during seasonal turnovers. Aeration-Based Treatment from IRASSS The Air-Duck™ is a very effective water aerator developed by IRASSS. With enough aeration and circulation, thermal stratification and anoxic conditions are prevented. The level of Dissolved Oxygen is increased as the most effective size of bubbles is diffused without disturbing the muck at the bottom. Aesthetics is not compromised as the only visible device in the Air-Duck™ is a small floatation device surrounded by a circle of tiny bubbles. For details of the technical aspects of Air-Duck™, please see Air-Duck™ technical information. For more information about the water treatment products of IRASSS go to the page water treatment products of IRASSS. Water aeration before water aeration treatment Before water aeration treatment. Notice that the water is not clean and obviously not safe for everyone. after water aeration treatment After water aeration treatment. Water is truly different from the other one. It's clearer, clean and it's good to the environment.
Game Origin [M] is part of a special class of games, sometimes referred to as “non-chance games of perfect information.” Games in this class, which includes Chess, Checkers and Go, are extremely rare because the underlying mathematics are so unforgiving. Attempts to create such games usually end in models that are either so imbalanced that one player will always win, or so balanced that the games always end in a stalemate or tie. [M] games are interesting in that, in the most reduced form, a 2×2 grid of 2×2 regions, games will always result in a stalemate under optimal play because the second player can always mirror the starting players placements, a state of perfect equilibrium. This solution extends to infinity for all gameboards with even numbers of even numbered regions. Thus 16×16 (4×4 of 4×4), 64×64 (8×8 of 8×8), ect., will always result in a stalemate. (These configuration may be referred to as “supersymmetrical” in that they are comprised of gameboard with nxn regions comprised of nxn cells.) However, this “mirror move” solution may applied to any even configurations, such as a 4×4 grid of 2×2 regions or a 2×2 grid of 4×4 regions. These solutions can be demonstrated by symmetry alone, despite the computation intractability of higher order Latin and Sudoku squares. Where it gets interesting is in the next step up from 2×2(2×2), which a 3×3 grid of 3×3 regions. This configuration still meets our definition of supersymmetry, but the odd configuration makes mirroring an opponent’s placements impossible. Because of the factorial nature of Latin squares, this incrementation by 1 in regard to regions (i.e. 2×2 to 3×3) results in a non-trivial variant. What non-triviality means is that, although the basic form of the 3×3(3×3) game is assumed to be solvable, the solution is difficult. As of today, the 3×3(3×3) game remains unsolved. The asymmetry of the odd configuration is balanced by the complexity of the model. In other words, like Chess, Checkers and Go, the basic 3×3(3×3) game is complex enough that determining an optimal move at any given point can be very difficult, and placement constraint inherent to the Sudoku grid allow tactics based on superior pattern logic which can result in an advantage to the more skilled player. Thus, although the second player is assumed to be disadvantaged, (an assumption notably not yet proven,) the indeterminacy arising out of intractability takes the place of randomness in “leveling the playing field” for the presumed, disadvantaged player.
Challah for Parashat Tazria Birthing woman. Commentary on Parashat Tazria, Leviticus 12:1 - 13:59 Every week, Julie Seltzer, artist and Torah scribe, bakes a challah depicting an aspect of the week’s Torah portion. If she gives birth to a female, she is “impure” two weeks, like her niddah. (Leviticus 12:5) וְאִם-נְקֵבָה תֵלֵד, וְטָמְאָה שְׁבֻעַיִם כְּנִדָּתָה birthing woman challah The parashah deals with a birthing woman, and how long she is in a state of impurity (the length of time depends on whether she gives birth to a boy or a girl). This challah is based on a painting by Alex Gray. Discover More How A Whale Awakened My Spirituality Why Jews Eat Round Challah For the New Year A sweet and symbolic tradition for the Jewish New Year
Couldn't find what you looking for? Table of Contents Whether you are a vegetarian hoping to get pregnant or the parent of a child who suddenly decided to stop eating meat, you may have concerns about your child's health. Rest assured that you can raise healthy children on a vegetarian diet. Being vegetarian may be increasingly common, but many people still question how a meat-free diet affects a person's health. Like any dietary choice, vegetarianism can be done responsibly, or badly. Those who would like to raise their kids without meat can certainly do so in a very healthy way. Read on to find out more. What Is A Vegetarian Diet? At the most basic level, the word “vegetarian” indicates a meatless diet. This diet may consist mostly of vegetables, but that is certainly not always the case. There are different types of vegetarians, something most people will have heard about already. They include: • Vegans, who do not eat anything of animal origin. Milk and dairy products and eggs are obviously no-gos for vegans, but many people with a vegan diet also refrain from honey — because it is produced by bees and thus of animal origin. • Lacto vegetarians and lacto-ovo vegetarians. Lacto vegetarians include milk and dairy products in their diets, while lacto-ovo vegetarians also eat eggs. • Pesco vegetarians eat fish as well. • Occasional meat-eaters eat mostly vegetarian diets (of any kind), but will eat meat occasionally. Some will eat meat when they go out for dinner, and others will only eat organic meat occasionally (because that stuff is expensive!). • Raw-food vegans limit themselves to raw food only. They eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, and nuts but can also prepare beans and legumes in ways that make them fit for raw consumption. I'll immediately admit that I have not seen any statistics about the number of vegetarians, but it is very clear that vegetarianism has been on the rise during the last couple of decades. My mother became a vegetarian in her teens, for ideological reasons. Not eating meat was very unusual in those days. I grew up on a meatless diet in a time where most people knew about vegetarianism. The majority still thought that children should always eat meat — though they may have accepted the adult's choice to “become unhealthy” by being vegetarian. Now, my own children are third-generation vegetarians and it is rare to have anyone bat an eyelid because of that. I would like to use my own example to point out that not every vegetarian excludes meat from their diet because of ideological reasons. My mother was a hippie, pacifist, and environmentalist. I have no problem with eating meat at all, and even tried it as a teen. It seems like being meat-free throughout childhood does something to your taste buds, though, because meat makes me vomit. I don't cook meat for my kids because I don't know how to and wouldn't enjoy working with meat. Both have occasionally tried meat in restaurants and at other peoples' houses. Is a vegetarian diet damaging to a person's health? Is being vegetarian actually healthier than being an omnivore? Those are two very frequent questions people who are interested in the topic for any reason ask. I'll leave it at this: a balanced and responsible diet including selections from all the important food groups leads to better health. When your nutritional needs have been met, you don't suffer from nutritional deficiencies unless you have an underlying medical problem. Every person benefits from being tested for deficiencies once in a while. It is possible to be an über-healthy meat eater just as much as it is possible to be a junk-food vegetarian. I have met both, and many variations in between — as have you, I am sure. The key to making a diet healthy is to approach it with common sense. For vegetarians, this may mean looking into which vitamins and minerals are more easily found in meat and looking for vegetarian sources of the same. Continue reading after recommendations Your thoughts on this User avatar Guest
There is plenty of statistical evidence that a four-year college degree increases one's earning potential over a lifetime, and brightens job prospects by leaps and bounds over those seeking employment armed with only a high school diploma. Translating that information into the workaday world, however, paints a much different picture. Unfortunately, the unemployment rate for young workers is shockingly high, nearly 13% for those aged 20-24. Worse yet is the rate of underemployment -- such as working in a job that doesn't require a college degree -- estimates for which range from 41%-46% for those with a bachelor's degree. Underemployment is becoming more widespread Underemployment among young workers has been around for a while, but it appears to be worsening, even as the general employment climate picks up. In April 2012, Gallup noted that 32% of workers aged 18-29 reported being underemployed, compared to workers aged 30 and older, whose rate of underemployment was 14% or less. A year later, an Accenture College Graduate Employment Survey showed that 41% of college graduates polled said they were underemployed -- and, of those who were not yet working, 63% thought they would need more training to attain the type of position they wanted. This past June, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York found that 46%of recent college graduates were underemployed. Though a bank presentation noted that higher rates of underemployment are not uncommon in the first few years of a graduate's working life, it also observed that the problem has been getting notably worse over the past few years. College doesn't seem to prepare students for real work Why is underemployment among the young surging? One problem seems to be that college coursework simply isn't adequately preparing students for their chosen careers. Both employers and underemployed workers seem to agree this is an issue. For example, a survey of more than 1,600 working adults administered last spring for the University of Phoenix reported that nearly two-thirds of working persons with at least a bachelor's degree felt ill-prepared for their present jobs, with only 35% feeling that they were using "all or most" of what they learned in college in their position. As for employers, a Chegg survey noted that most employers find newly graduated recruits short on many desirable features, with only 39% saying they saw recent applicants "completely or very prepared" for the job. Interestingly, only 50% of college students considered themselves to have attained that level of readiness, as well. A multifaceted problem Unless changes are made, the underemployment epidemic will very likely continue to worsen. Reversing the direction of this distressing employment trend will require all involved to make changes. Employers should acknowledge the need for on-the-job training, something they've been loath to do since the recession. The Accenture study clearly showsthat what college students expect for this type of training and what employers are willing to supply are quite far apart: 77% percent of students expected training, while only 48% actually received any. Without employers training first-time employees, this problem will persist. College students can help by familiarizing themselves with what employers expect of them. For example, while many students work at jobs unrelated to their major, employers want job applicants with either internships or relevant activities on their resumes that show they have at least some experience. Leadership characteristics are very important, as well -- 93% of hiring managers say so -- and students should use their college years to foster these qualities through involvement in campus activities. Lastly, colleges need to reflect more of the workaday world and tweak their curricula to help students segue more effectively from college life to working life. This will be a sea change for many institutions, and maybe ranking colleges by the employability of their graduates would help. After all, getting a good job is what attending college is ultimately all about.
07:25am Thursday 21 September 2017 Genetic Discovery Could Increase Understanding of ADHD Getting the nervous system wired up properly is a big job. The brain contains billions of different types of nerve cells, which all have to be connected in a very precise fashion. This circuitry self-assembles as an embryo grows, based on a developmental programme involving the actions of thousands of different genes. The scientists discovered that a mutation in a single mouse gene, ‘Elfn1’, can have a big effect. Their new findings give impetus to discover whether mutations in Elfn1 in humans can give rise to similar symptoms and whether they might play a part in some patients with epilepsy and ADHD. These two conditions occur together far more often than expected by chance. In an article just published in the international journal, PLOS ONE, Associate Professor in Genetics at Trinity, Kevin Mitchell, and Research Technical Officer, Dr Jackie Dolan, investigated the importance of the function played by Elfn1 and the protein it produces when expressed. They did this by experimentally removing it from some mice and comparing the effects against those seen in mice with the normal gene. Although overall brain anatomy and patterns of connectivity remained normal, there was clear evidence of disturbance in brain function in individuals without Elfn1. Seizures occurred in some, and these became more common over time and were easily triggered by human interaction. Secondly, hyperactivity was observed, and this showed an unusual response to the stimulant, amphetamine. Amphetamine normally causes hyperactivity in animals that have Elfn1 present, as it does in most humans. Here, it reduced the hyperactivity of the mice without the gene. This is similar to the situation in patients with ADHD, where amphetamine and related drugs have a paradoxical, calming effect. “These findings clearly show that removal of the Elfn1 gene affects brain circuits with multiple consequences for behaviour,” said Dr Dolan. The seizures likely relate to the function of Elfn1 in dampening the response of the nervous system to strong stimuli in key brain structures called the cortex and hippocampus. However, the development of ADHD-like hyperactivity focused on a different brain structure, known as the habenula. This structure is part of a system that integrates information from multiple regions of the brain and regulates the activity of nerve cells that produce mood-regulating chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin. Professor Mitchell said: “We are at the beginning of this process of figuring out how this gene works and understanding the consequences when it is mutated. But, these animals provide a unique model to investigate how subtle changes in brain development can ultimately result in aberrant brain function”. Elfn1 was first discovered by Dr Dolan, Professor Mitchell and colleagues in 2007. The protein it produces when expressed allows communication from one nerve cell to another. In a study published in Science last year, Emily Sylwestrak and Anirvan Ghosh, of the University of California, San Diego, showed that the Elfn1 protein determined what kind of connection was made onto those nerve cells. The new research, which was funded by Science Foundation Ireland, is available here. For media queries contact: Thomas Deane, Press Officer for the Faculty of Engineering, Mathematics and Science, Trinity College Dublin at [email protected] or Tel: +353 1 8964685 Share on: Health news
Dismiss Notice Join Physics Forums Today! A Moving Body 1. Feb 29, 2012 #1 So Imagine that a force of 100 N is being applied continuously on face of 5 kg cylindrical rod (1 light year across) causing it to accelerate at 20 m/s^2. If the force was abruptly removed would the rod continue to accelerate a noticeable period of time before coming to a halt? The density of the rod is the same at all points. I believe that logically the rod would continue to accelerate but that begs me to ask how fast this "wave" of "force-information" is travelling? Is it a sound wave (It appears to me) or is it travelling at C? (Here I assume that the speed of sound within the rod is less than C) Given that, here's my follow up question (a bit more interesting I suppose) We define U, as the Net Yank or Jerk * Mass. Where Jerk is the time derivative of acceleration or the third time derivative of position. U = JM or U = [itex]\frac{dA}{dt}[/itex]M So a Yank of 100 Newton Meters per Second is being applied continuously to our same 5 Kg cylindrical rod (1 light year across) (whose rest-density is the same at all points) causing it to increase its rate of acceleration at 20 meters per second cubed. Suppose this Yank was removed? Does that mean this rod would continue increasing its rate of acceleration for a period of time before coming to halt? Thanks! P.S. Sorry for the Grammar mistake in the title Last edited: Feb 29, 2012 2. jcsd 3. Feb 29, 2012 #2 Re: An Moving Body... The back of the rod (where the force was applied) would immediately stop accelerating (or perhaps within a Plank time unit), the front would conceivably would not even have started to accelerate (and depending on the material, if ever) if the applied force stopped before the end would have been reached carrying a wave with a velocity right about the speed of sound. 4. Feb 29, 2012 #3 Good point PassionFlower let me make it clear that the force/yank is being applied continuously until the entire rod is accelerating/increasing in acceleration The reason for the length being a light year is just to make an arbitrary long length that is long enough to notice the "wave" of Force/Yank information being transmitted. 5. Feb 29, 2012 #4 User Avatar Gold Member Re: An Moving Body... ...speed of sound in the medium. If the rod were made out of the hardest substance known - diamond, that would still be a glacial 12km/s. 6. Feb 29, 2012 #5 Re: An Moving Body... Yes you are correct. However diamond is no longer the hardest substance known. See for instance 7. Feb 29, 2012 #6 Coming back to the question, does that mean if the entire cylinder is accelerating/jerking then it would take the time of a wave moving at the speed of sound (in the medium) to cover a light year before the entire rod would come to a halt and until then would continue to accelerate/jerk despite not having a force behind it? 8. Feb 29, 2012 #7 You used the term rod coming to a halt twice now, you probably refer to halting the acceleration. But let's make it clear to everybody than when the force stops the rod will continue to move, the back will immediately stop to accelerate and eventually the front as well. 9. Feb 29, 2012 #8 User Avatar Gold Member Re: An Moving Body... Hardest real substance known. 10. Feb 29, 2012 #9 yep thats what I meant... Thanks for your response! 11. Feb 29, 2012 #10 User Avatar Gold Member Except that it does have a force behind it. Every molecule of the rod has the molecules behind it applying an accelerative force. Only when the wave of deceleration reaches it will the force change. 12. Feb 29, 2012 #11 When the acceleration stops the fastest velocity in the object is right there where the force is applied. No other point can achieve this velocity. There will be a transient acceleration in the rest of the object WRT each points actual velocity. At the furthest point the actual velocity is the velocity the end where the force is applied was travelling at well over a year ago. There will be a mildly jumpy deceleration into a lower velocity than when the acceleration force was removed until the entire object is inertial throughout itself. Last edited: Feb 29, 2012 13. Feb 29, 2012 #12 You seem to have incorrectly assumed the resulting motion. Evidently you are applying a square force pulse (function of time) to the end of the rod. So, decide what the time duration of your force pulse is, then perform a Fourier Transform on that pulse. And forget about hardness--you need a very high Young's modulus and low mass density if you want high values of wave propagation speed and resonance frequencies: v = sqrt(E/rho), i.e., E = modulus, rho = mass density. You'll have to confront the internal damping--set it to zero if you think you can get away with it. You could get a pretty good approximation by discretizing the rod ( use as many descrete points along the rod as you wish--trillions or triillion-trillions of points, etc.). Fourier transform the differential equations of motion--do the whole problem in the frequency domain. Set up the matrix equations, do the eigenvalue-eigenvector problem. The eigenvectors play roles as both mode shapes and columns of the coordinate transformation matrix (takes you from modal coordinates to generalized physical coordinates, and the inverse takes you from physical to modal). Use the matrix transpose to get the modal coordinate representation of the force. In the equations below, [ Y ] is the matrix of eigenvectors (columns), [ M ] is the mass matrix, [ K ] is the stiffness matrix, w is frequency in rad/sec, X is displacement and F is force. [-w2[ Y ]T [ M ] [ Y ] + [ Y ]T [ K ] [ Y ]][ Y ]-1{X(w)} = [ Y ]T{F(w)} This way you can operate on the rigid body translation mode and compression modes independently. Notice that by transforming the point force to a superposition of modal forces, the rigid body modal force is applied simultaneously to the entire rigid body modal mass, so you don't have to worry about traveling stress waves (compression is accounted for separately with the compression vibration modes). The traveling stress wave is just the result of the superposition of the rigid body translation along with all of the modes of compressional vibration. (Was this intended to be a special relativity problem?) Last edited: Feb 29, 2012 14. Feb 29, 2012 #13 @ bobc2 No it was not intended to be a SR problem but more of a hypothetical question. Nevertheless I will try to use what you've told me to actually solve it now that I see you've taken the time to make such a descriptive response (I'll have to learn a little more linear algebra (though I am familiar with some DiffEQ material and have read about the fourier transform) but that shouldn't be a problem). Thanks for your post! 15. Feb 29, 2012 #14 By the way, the triple matrix products for the mass and stiffness matrices serve to diagonalize those matrices so that now you can work with the equation for each mode separately. You might just ignore the vibration modes and focus on the rigid body translation mode (the zero Hz mode--computationally you might have to use Cholesky springs rather than the perfectly free boundary condition). The displacement and force are in the frequency domain, so after solving for the displacement vs. frequency, you can inverse transform displacement to get the final form of motion vs. time. This will be the modal displacement, from which you can retrieve physical displacements for each point on the rod using the eigenvector coordinate transformation matrix. The modal mass is just the same as the physical mass (within a scale factor). The modal force is equivalent to a complete set of physcial forces being applied simultaneously to all points on the rod (so, you don't have to be concerned about compressions). The forces in the frequency domain are just sinusoidal forces with amplitudes and phase angles for each frequency of the discretized spectrum. But, again, the easy way is to solve for motion in the frequency domain, then inverse transform to get displacement vs. time. Last edited: Feb 29, 2012 16. Mar 1, 2012 #15 To clarify the role of the longitudinal compressional modes a little further (a little more theory of normal modes--see Goldstein Classical Mechanics)... Notice there will be a set of mode shapes with the front end and far end vibrating in phase (and every mode shape is vibrating at all frequencies of the spectrum, although the response in each mode of course peaks at its resonance frequency), and there will be a second set of mode shapes with front and far ends vibrating 180 degrees out of phase. At the first instant of application of the force, all mode shapes will be in phase at the front end (at all frequencies of the spectrum), and as you move along the rod toward the far end the phases will tend to cancel more and more. At the far end, in the first instant, there will be as many modes in phase (with respect to the front end phase) as out of phase. That's why there is no motion at the far end initially, and the mode shapes superimpose so as to result in a traveling stress wave (all mode shapes are excited over the entire length of the rod simultaneously--regardless of the length of the rod--just like QM Schroedinger waves--except these are really physical). Question for the student: Will all of the vibrating mode shapes eventually cancel each other out, leaving only the rigid body translation motion? Or do you need damping to eventually rid the system of longitudinal compressional vibration? Last edited: Mar 1, 2012
Dismiss Notice Dismiss Notice Join Physics Forums Today! Cal3 cyliderical spherical coords 1. Oct 24, 2011 #1 find the volume between the cone z=√(x^2+y^2), and the plane z=14+x, above the disk x^2+y^2≤1, for the exact number 2. Relevant equations 3. The attempt at a solution I found x=z, for x^2+y^2≤1, for solve r^2≤1, so r≤1, or r≥-1. for θ,from0 to 2pi, but I don't know what range for z, and what equation I shoud use for f(x,y), just √(x^2+y^2)? 2. jcsd 3. Oct 24, 2011 #2 User Avatar Homework Helper I think you are going to need to come down firmly on the side of working with either Cartesian or cylindrical coordinates, because this mixture of systems is creating unnecessary confusion. You have an "apex-down" cone (the apex at ( 0, 0 ) ) opening "upward" in the positive z-direction being intersected by an oblique plane. You will find it easier to deal with this if you express the cone as z = f(r) (which will be the "floor" of your volume) and z = g( r, theta ) [what is 14 + x in polar coordinates?] (which is the "ceiling" of your volume). You can now get an integrand function for the "height" of the volume as a function of r and theta . You will be integrating over 0 ≤ r ≤ 1 and you have the correct interval for theta. Be sure to use the infinitesimal volume elements for cylindrical coordinates. This will not be too hard to set up (it's a bit more work to actually integrate...). 4. Oct 25, 2011 #3 but i still not understand the range for z, and that function i should use for f(x,y)which be intefrated. thanks. 5. Oct 25, 2011 #4 I mean for z I used 14+x, and r; for r, I used 0 and 1; for theta, i use 0 and 2pi? if those are all correct, how can i get exact number? i should have x in final answer. Thanks 6. Oct 26, 2011 #5 User Avatar Homework Helper In polar coordinates (which are two of the three coordinates in the cylindrical system), [itex] z = 14 + r \cos \theta[/itex] . So the height of the enclosed volume is [itex] (14 + r \cos \theta ) - r [/itex] , since the equation for the nappe of the cone above the xy-plane is just z = r . Similar Discussions: Cal3 cyliderical spherical coords
Dismiss Notice Join Physics Forums Today! Hidden boxthe under the surface of earth is missing 1. Aug 12, 2011 #1 i read that if you hide a box under the surface of earth by covering it,then if try to recover it after some hundreds of years you wont find it as box adjusts to other place is it true? explain 2. jcsd 3. Aug 12, 2011 #2 User Avatar Staff Emeritus Science Advisor I suspect this is talking about plate techtonics. And I was going to say that plates simply do not move fast enough. But then I found, at http://hypertextbook.com/facts/ZhenHuang.shtml, that plates can move as fast as 10 cm/year which, over, say, 500 years, would amount to 5000 cm= 50 m. Now, that certainly is enough that you could "lose" an object carried along with the plate. 4. Aug 12, 2011 #3 At the same rate as your finger nails grow I have heard. 5. Aug 12, 2011 #4 Vanadium 50 User Avatar Staff Emeritus Science Advisor Education Advisor Where did you read that? We need to establish if it might be true before establishing why it might be true. 6. Aug 12, 2011 #5 User Avatar Science Advisor Gold Member You would have to bury the box really deep, for the techtonic plate to move without the box. In fact the box would then float away with the magma. 7. Aug 12, 2011 #6 8. Aug 13, 2011 #7 Re: hidden box the under the surface of earth is missing The problem is that surface objects such as trees, rocks, houses, etc. will all be moving at the same rate and in the same direction so a box buried half way between a tree and a rock will still be half way between the tree and the rock, even if all 3 have moved 50 meters. Similar Discussions: Hidden boxthe under the surface of earth is missing 1. Surface of the Earth (Replies: 1)
Dismiss Notice Join Physics Forums Today! Probing the small and HUP 1. Oct 26, 2011 #1 Measuring with great precision the position of a particle, requires high momentum ( and thus energy) of a second particle, that probes the first. That is because when you want to guide a particle to a precise position, then you need to give it high momentum, so it has enough leeway to spread out in momentum. (Where the trade-off between precision in position and spread in momentum is of course due to HUP.) But the probing particle has high momentum only in one direction, the direction in which it is accelerated. From that would follow that we can only guide the probing particle in one space direction. The other two directions can't be controlled, since in those there is only little leeway in momentum. So the question, what happens to the other two space-momentum uncertainty relations in high-energy experiments? (The two relations where space and momentum is orthogonal to the moving direction of the accelerated probing particle.) thanks in advanced 2. jcsd 3. Oct 26, 2011 #2 Ok, more basic: why do we shoot at the microscopic particle A with a high momentum microscopic particle B to find out more about A? What has HUP to do with it, which says nothing about high momentum, but only talks about the spread of momentum? And does not HUP apply for all directions in space? Last edited: Oct 26, 2011 4. Oct 26, 2011 #3 Some numbers: if we want to probe the distance 1fm = 10^-15 m, momentum uncertainty is at least 197 MeV. So when we shoot a 2 GeV particle at a target, the particle can vary enough in momentum so that HUP allows it to probe distances at 1fm. But again, the particle has high momentum only in one direction. What about the other two directions? 5. Oct 27, 2011 #4 6. Oct 27, 2011 #5 User Avatar Science Advisor high energy = short Compton wave length acts like high frequency in a standard microscope; that's the reason for probing smaller structures with higher energy 7. Oct 27, 2011 #6 humanino and Tom, thanks for answering Right, that's one standard explanation that is often given, which is perfectly fine. But it is also over and over been told that the need for high-energy experiments to study the microscopic world of elementary particles is directly related to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. I would like to see more clearly how! 8. Oct 27, 2011 #7 User Avatar Science Advisor I know this argument but I think it's strange. Let Delta x become smaller b/c the system (atom, nucleus, nucleon, quark) becomes smaller; the HUP tells you that Delta p of the constituents increases, which means that in typical nucleons you will have high energy of the quarks, i.e. that they have to be treated relativistically (but of course we know from QCD that there are small-quark-momentum contributions to the nucleon structure). Fine. But it tells you nothing about the momentum of the electron via which you want to probe the structure of size Delta-x; this is b/x the HUP is always about a "Delta". 9. Oct 27, 2011 #8 User Avatar Science Advisor Heisenberg's uncertainty principle is vastly oversold. You mean the deBroglie wavelength. The Compton wavelength ħ/mc does not depend on the energy. 10. Oct 27, 2011 #9 User Avatar Science Advisor Yes, you are right 11. Oct 27, 2011 #10 Could you elaborate a bit more? And why then do a trillion books and internet sources claim that the need for high-momentum particle accelerators to probe the microscopic world follows directly from the HUP? Are they all wrong? 12. Oct 27, 2011 #11 User Avatar Science Advisor They should explain the meaning of 'directly' 13. Oct 27, 2011 #12 Say you have a particle moving with 1 MeV and another with 1 GeV. Both vary with 197 Mev at scale of 1fm. Does that not imply that we can control and predict the path of the 1 GeV particle better than that of the 1 MeV particle? 14. Oct 27, 2011 #13 User Avatar Science Advisor The HUP says nothing about the absolute scale, it is about the Delta only. Delta-x of a quark inside a proton does not change when the proton is accelerated (of course you could argue that it DOES change b/c of Lorentz contraction - 'pancake' - and you are right - but that does not follow directly from with HUP but from Lorentz contraction). The problem seems to be that these handwaving arguments seem to be nice a first first sight but that you run into more and more difficulties when asking more detailed question. At a certain point it's better to stop using handwaving arguments and to start to calculate something explicitly. I don't like repairing such arguments. 15. Oct 28, 2011 #14 But a particle at 1fm has the same uncertainty in momentum, no matter how fast it is flying by, i.e how much momentum it has. What does that imply for all the collider experiments? You gave an explanation in waves, where high momentum means short waves and an accelerator thus works similar to a light microscope. Could somebody translate it into a particle picture? 16. Dec 14, 2011 #15 I would like ask again why the need for high momentum particles to study the microscopic world? How is that related to Heisenberg's uncertainty principle which deals with the spread in momentum and position measurements. 17. Sep 5, 2012 #16 Hi there, I have been worrying about the same thing. In my uni it says: to probe the nucleus we need Δx<<1fm, this implies Δp<<200MeV "This in turn means that the momenta of the particle used as a probe must have a momentum much larger than this, and hence an energy large compared with ≈ 200 MeV." So that is saying that Δp<<200MeV means that p>>200MeV This was leading me to believe that Δp~p However I now think that maybe it is trying (badly) to say that p>>Δp Is the reason that you need a high momentum for probing small distances because.... you need a high uncertainty in momentum, and you can't have an uncertainty higher than the momentum you are (within error) creating. i.e you can't have momentum of 50MeV with an uncertainty of 200MeV... You need to produce a moment that is much larger than the uncertainty in momentum, so that you can ignore the uncertainty You need P>>ΔP Would anyone like to tell me if this is correct 18. Sep 17, 2012 #17 No ones touching this - that would indicate i've got it wrong or people don't understand my possible explanation haha ah well! Similar Discussions: Probing the small and HUP 1. Single Probe in Plasma (Replies: 1)
Dismiss Notice Join Physics Forums Today! Trying to visualize dark matter 1. Sep 29, 2011 #1 Does it make sense to visualize dark matter as roughly spherical, or oblate, around a spiral galaxy? Perhaps incorrectly, I picture dark matter as analogous to a planet, or star, with the visible disk of the galaxy forming the equatorial plane. Is this reasonable picture of what we observe through lensing, and accounting for the constant rate of rotation? If so, is there thought to be a radial density gradient in the dark matter, something akin to the mostly linear density gradient of earth's atmosphere, or is the dark matter thought to be more of a constant density? Also, does the dark matter rotate with the galaxy? If the planet analogy is reasonable, insomuch as the dark matter has an axis of rotation, what's the force is that keeps what I'll assume to be 'particles' of dark matter near the poles from simply falling into the center of the galaxy? Much thanks to anyone who can set me straight, and thanks so much to everyone for making this such a valuable resource for learning about the universe! 2. jcsd 3. Sep 29, 2011 #2 User Avatar Staff Emeritus Science Advisor Gold Member The general picture is of a galaxy surrounded by a dark matter halo that goes out to many times the extent of the luminous matter. Haloes definitely have a density gradient, being denser in the centre and becoming more tenuous as you move outwards. I know that some observations support spherically-symmetric density profiles, in which the density depends only on radial distance r, from the the centre. See for example the Navarro-Frenk-White (NFW) profile. On the other hand, I know that triaxial haloes have been found to better match/explain observations in some instances. 4. Sep 30, 2011 #3 User Avatar Science Advisor I usually prefer to think of dark matter as being a large, smoothly-distributed gas of weakly-interacting particles, more dense in the center and tapering slowly out to the edge, with a much smaller galaxy sitting in the center of it. The individual particles of dark matter all have their own orbits around the center of mass. The main reason why they don't just fall to the center and stay at the center is that because they interact so weakly, they have no way to lose energy. So as they fall towards the center of the galaxy, they pick up a large velocity that just pushes them right back out to as far as they came in. The rotation of dark matter is probably completely unrelated to the rotation of the galaxy that's sitting inside it, because there is so little interaction between the two. Similar Discussions: Trying to visualize dark matter 1. Dark Matter (Replies: 21) 2. Dark Matter (Replies: 4) 3. Dark matter (Replies: 6) 4. Dark Matter (Replies: 3) 5. No dark matter (Replies: 59)
LeetCode – Maximum Gap (Java) Given an unsorted array, find the maximum difference between the successive elements in its sorted form. Try to solve it in linear time/space. Return 0 if the array contains less than 2 elements. You may assume all elements in the array are non-negative integers and fit in the 32-bit signed integer range. We can use a bucket-sort like algorithm to solve this problem in time of O(n) and space O(n). The basic idea is to project each element of the array to an array of buckets. Each bucket tracks the maximum and minimum elements. Finally, scanning the bucket list, we can get the maximum gap. The key part is to get the interval: From: interval * (num[i] - min) = 0 and interval * (max -num[i]) = n interval = num.length / (max - min) See the internal comment for more details. Java Solution class Bucket{ int low; int high; public Bucket(){ low = -1; high = -1; public int maximumGap(int[] num) { if(num == null \|\| num.length < 2){ return 0; int max = num[0]; int min = num[0]; for(int i=1; i<num.length; i++){ max = Math.max(max, num[i]); min = Math.min(min, num[i]); // initialize an array of buckets Bucket[] buckets = new Bucket[num.length+1]; //project to (0 - n) for(int i=0; i<buckets.length; i++){ buckets[i] = new Bucket(); double interval = (double) num.length / (max - min); //distribute every number to a bucket array for(int i=0; i<num.length; i++){ int index = (int) ((num[i] - min) * interval); if(buckets[index].low == -1){ buckets[index].low = num[i]; buckets[index].high = num[i]; buckets[index].low = Math.min(buckets[index].low, num[i]); buckets[index].high = Math.max(buckets[index].high, num[i]); //scan buckets to find maximum gap int result = 0; int prev = buckets[0].high; for(int i=1; i<buckets.length; i++){ if(buckets[i].low != -1){ result = Math.max(result, buckets[i].low-prev); prev = buckets[i].high; return result; Category >> Algorithms >> Interview >> Java String foo = "bar"; 1. Anushree Acharjee on 2015-6-27 I did not understand the problem statement itself. From https://leetcode.com/discuss/18501/dont-understand-the-problem it seems like we need to do radix sort first and then calculate the maximum gap. But when i ran the code given here against the input (3,30,34,5,9), i am getting the output as 21. i dont understand it. If we do radix sort the input, it becomes (3,30,34,5,9) and the answer should be (34-5) = 29. how is it 21? please explain. 2. Aarthi on 2015-7-3 Anushree, the output is 21 because when the array is sorted it will be {3,5,9,30,34}. Max difference between consecutive elements is 30-9 which is 21. If you do radix sort, you will need to sort all the way through (sort each digit in the integer) to get the sorted array, not just the first position. I hope this helps.. 3. Michael Yelsukov on 2015-10-30 The line below might fail: Bucket[] buckets = new Bucket[num.length+1]; //project to (0 – n) 4. Dawei on 2015-11-9 Nice code! There is a small bug when max==min happens. 5. Salil Surendran on 2015-11-27 If I use a BitSet(or a bit array). Iterate through the numbers marking each corresponding bit for each integer that I encounter then iterate through the BitSet to find the maximum gap wouldn’t it work in 2n time? For eg. if there is a number set 1,100,5. I iterate through the list and mark out bits 1, 100 and 5. During the same process I will get the minimum and maximum which is 1 and 100. Then I iterate through the bitset from minimum(1) to maximum(100) marking out the largest gap. First I hit upon 4 (5-1) and then 95(100-5). When I hit the maximum number I stop and return the maximum gap. 6. Neil Prasad on 2016-4-17 Space complexity? The range of int is signed 32 bit. Would you use 2bn bits to represent it? 7. Sumanth Sunny on 2017-5-21 Yes, This is what i have tried and failed, since you can’t declare an array of size more than 10^6 you can’t map values like 10^9 . So segmentation fault happens. 🙂 Leave a comment
What your blood group tells and what you need to eat What your blood group tells and what you need to eat Everyone is unique in their own special ways. Besides our standard body anatomy, our blood groups are coined within 4 different groups. If you want to live a healthy life which is constantly energized and strong, there is a need to understand your blood group better and what you should feed your body. If you do that, you will notice lesser fatigue instances, better weight management and improved health overall. Type O If you are of this blood type, you are known as the ‘hunter-gatherer’ group. This is where you are known for your leadership qualities and always on-the-go. People from this blood group came from those who used square diet of animal protein which means that your diet will be packed with meat. While you should take more beef, lamb and mutton, excessive meat can raise your cholesterol levels. Balance your diet with lots of walnuts, almonds, pumpkin seed, and vegetables. Avoid eggs and dairy products, coffee, cabbage and alcohol. One very important factor you must consider is to carry out regular exercise so that you sweat a lot. Go for a swim, walk, run and other cardio programmes. Type A A person with blood Type A is of the ‘breeder’ type. You are known for being responsible, organized and calm. You are the most sensitive among all blood types but is prone to stress the easiest. Berries are your best friends. Take lots of blackberries, blueberries, pears and avocado which is good for the skin. Besides that broccoli and carrots are good when taken with fish moderately. Go for salmons and cod while nuts like pumpkin seeds are favorable too. Avoid turkey, chicken and most type of meats. Caffeine, sesame oil should be reduced and always have a wholesome meal for breakfast. For workouts, go for yoga or tai chi. Type B Classified as the ‘Nomad’, you are known to be very focused on achieving your aims. In most cases, you make your own rules and you stick by them. Foods like bananas, grapes, pineapples and olive oil works best for you. In terms of meat, take mutton, venison and fish. Avoid grains and wheats, chicken and lentils. You should have a balanced workout programme that improves your physical and mental characteristics. Type AB This type of blood is known as the ‘Enigma’ and is among the rarest. In most cases, you are known to be quite extreme. When you believe in something, you become very passionate about it. Take foods like onions, potatoes, lamb and salmon. Cherries, grapes and watermelons are good for you too while avoid processed meat and buckwheat. In terms of exercising, you should maintain a balanced regime which improves your mental and physical attributes.
Identifying What Triggers Your Headache Is Key to Treatment Common headache triggers vary depending on the type of headache and on the individual. A sound or smell that serves as a migraine headache trigger in one person, for example, may have no effect at all on another. Identifying your common headache triggers can help you avoid headaches or learn to cope with them more effectively. Here are some common headache triggers for the major headache types: Stress and Headaches Stress is a trigger for most headaches, says Dr. Jaime Lopez, assistant professor of neurology and neurosurgery at Stanford University School of Medicine and director of the Intraoperative Neurophysiologic Monitoring Program at Stanford University Medical Center. Stress can also lead to more serious migraine headaches. Tension-type headaches result when muscles in the neck shoulders and head tense up, limiting blood flow to the area and building up waste products in the tissues. The end result: pain. Sleep Disorders and Headaches Sleep disorders are closely linked with tension, migraine and cluster headaches. Fatigue may cause contractions in the head and neck muscles of tension-type headache sufferers. Morning headaches or headaches that occur during the night may be related to such underlying sleep disorders as sleep apnea, in which people stop breathing for extended periods, or insomnia. Changes in sleep patterns — getting too much or too little — can trigger migraines in some people. Treatment of migraine often includes regular sleep patterns — going to sleep and arising each day at the same time. Smoking and Headaches Smoking increases the risk of tension headaches and is a trigger for some migraine sufferers. Many doctors recommend quitting smoking to reduce the risk of headaches.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009 Yesterday we did more examples on synthetic division but we learn't something new. Here is an example: From the above we can observe that the remainder is the same with the rational root . Another example was about finding out if a fraction is a factor or not. If a fraction is a factor, it's remainder and rational root must be eqaul to o Here's an example: No comments:
Science Student Book - Florida Edition Grade 5 Thongtinmo.com - English Materials Science Student Book - Florida Edition Grade 5 Science Student Book - Florida Edition Grade 5 This hands-on, inquiry-based program gives you the resources you need to fit science into your day by providing readable standards-based content, powerful integration of reading, vocabulary, and writing, as well as flexible three-step inquiry strategy and materials management solutions. Solid differentiated instruction to reach every learner and multiple ongoing assessments to prepare students for test success are also included in this science textbook. Unit A The Life Processes Chapter 1: Cells - Lesson 1: What Are the Parts of a Cell? - Lesson 2: How Do Single-Celled Organisms Live? - Lesson 3: How Do the Cells of Organisms Compare? - Lesson 4: How Are Cells Organized? Chapter 2: Plant Systems - Lesson 1: How Do Plants Produce Food? - Lesson 2: How Do Plants Move Materials? - Lesson 3: How Do Plants Reproduce? Chapter 3: Traits of Living Things - Lesson 1: How Are Traits Inherited? - Lesson 2 :Why Are Some Traits Very Common? Unit B Interactions Among Living Things Chapter 4: Ecosystems, Communities, and Biomes - Lesson 1: How Do Living Things Form Communities? - Lesson 2: What Are Biomes? - Lesson 3: What Is a Food Web? Chapter 5: Life In Ecosystems - Lesson 1: What Are Habitats and Niches? - Lesson 2: What Factors Affect Ecosystems? - Lesson 3: How Can Humans Change Ecosystems? Unit C Earth Systems Chapter 6: Earth’s Changing Surface - Lesson 1: What Makes Up Earth’s Surface? - Lesson 2: How Is Earth’s Surface Worn Down? - Lesson 3: How Is Earth’s Surface Built Up? Chapter 7: Earth’s Structure - Lesson 1: What Is Earth’s Structure? - Lesson 2: What Are Earthquakes and Volcanoes? - Lesson 3: How Do Mountains Form? Chapter 8: Using Resources Wisely - Lesson 1: How Do People Use Resources? - Lesson 2: How Do People Use Soil? - Lesson 3: How Can People Use Resources Wisely? Unit D Atmosphere and Solar System Chapter 9: Weather and Climate - Lesson 1: What Factors Affect Climate? - Lesson 2: How Are Weather Forecasts Made? Chapter 10: Earth and Its Moon - Lesson 1: What Causes Earth’s Seasons? - Lesson 2: Why Does the Moon Have Phases? Chapter 11: Exploring Space - Lesson 1: What Orbits the Sun? - Lesson 2: What Are the Planets Like? - Lesson 3: What Are Stars Like? Unit E Kinds of Matter Chapter 12: Structure of Matter - Lesson 1: What Are Elements? - Lesson 2: What Is the Periodic Table? - Lesson 3: What Are Compounds? Chapter 13: Characteristics of Matter - Lesson 1: How Can Materials Be Identified? - Lesson 2: How Does Matter Change? - Lesson 3: What Are Solutions and Mixtures? Chapter 14: Changes of State - Lesson 1: What Are Three States of Matter? - Lesson 2: How Does Matter Change State? Unit F Forms of Energy Chapter 15: Forces, Motion, and Work - Lesson 1: What Can Change an Object’s Motion? - Lesson 2: How Do We Use Simple Machines? - Lesson 3: What Forces Come from Magnets? Chapter 16: Energy and Waves - Lesson 1: What Are Kinetic and Potential Energy? - Lesson 2: How Are Sounds Made? - Lesson 3: What Are Some Properties of Light? Chapter 17: Temperature and Heat - Lesson 1: What Is Thermal Energy? - Lesson 2: How Does Thermal Energy Spread? Chapter 18: Electrical Energy - Lesson 1: How Is Electricity Produced? - Lesson 2: What Is An Electric Circuit? - Lesson 3: How Do People Use Electricity? - VIP for 01 month : 30 USD (pay by paypal or bank account/VISA card/Western Union) - HuyHuu Team - View (338) CopyRight © Thongtinmo 2017 - A Member of HuyHuu Team
Thursday, November 25, 2010 Canary Muskheart Alangium villosum When it comes to domatia, this tree is an enthusiast! Many plant species have these little pits along their mid-veins, but I’ve never before come across leaves so generously endowed with them. Domatia are an ingenious plant invention. As their name implies, they are little “homes” provided by plants for the accommodation of mites. Most of the mites which make themselves at home there are beneficial ones. They protect the leaf by eating tiny herbivorous insects, fungi and other disease pathogens. Unfortunately for the landlord, some undesirable tenants are also likely to move in - but the overall balance is usually one where beneficial mites dominate, so the overall effect for the plant, of providing this free mite accommodation, is a protective one - and you can see how healthy this leaf is looking. Canary muskheart gets its common name from its bright yellow sapwood, and the dense, dark, musk-scented heartwood inside it. It once occurred naturally in Toowoomba, but is now only found in the Boyce Garden, where it grows naturally in the last remnant of our original rainforest. Old specimens of canary muskheart can reach 20m high and to a diameter of 90cm. Large trees are seldom seen, however. Early timbergetters probably cut it with enthusiasm, as its timber is outstandingly beautiful. Close-grained and firm, it is valued by conoisseurs of fine woods for carving and turnery. It was also popular for walking sticks, so even small trees were cut. Its little yellow flowers are honeysuckle scented, and the succulent black fruits are the size and shape of olives, but have longitudinal ribbing. They are a favourite fruit of rainforest pigeons. This is a plant which likes to grow on a variety of soils, including basalt redsoil, and prefers to be sheltered and partially shaded when young. It is slow-growing, and may never reach its full potential size in a suburban garden. However, slow-growing plants should be a part of every garden which is not to vanish without trace in the future. Sweet Morinda Gynochthodes jasminoides (Morinda jasminoides) Like the plant above, this vine’s domatia are also “over the top”. In this case, it’s not their numbers which impress, but their size. The mite-habitat pits are so large that they make conspicuous bumps on the upperside of the leaves, making the plant easy to identify when it's not flowering or fruiting. “Morinda” is an Indian word, and is the common name for Morinda citrifolia, a plant which grows in south-east Asia, some Pacific islands, and in tropical northern Australia. It is also called Indian mulberry or noni fruit. Its potato-sized fruit tastes foul, and may be toxic if too much is consumed, but is nonetheless popular for its alleged health-giving properties. The bark and leaves of the Indian Mulberry yield a red dye, while yellow dye is made from its roots. As with its relative the mulberry, its leaves can be used to raise silkworms. Our local Morindas may be found to have some of the same useful qualities, but like many Australian plants, their potential has never been fully explored. Our two local Morinda species typically grow on the edges of both moist and dry rain forests, and in vine thickets. Sweet morinda is the larger of the two. In the open, it grows into a large tangled shrub - great for covering an ugly tree-stump or hiding a tumbledown shed. With a bit of discipline from the secateurs, it makes a handsome bird-sheltering shrub. If there is anything to climb on, however, this plant will do it with enthusiasm. Despite its somewhat disorderly behaviour, it’s one of our prettiest native plants. Even when not flowering or fruiting, its very shiny leaves make it appealing. Sweet Morinda is named for the scent of its creamy, butterfly-attracting white flowers, which are produced for up to three months in spring and early summer. They are followed by lumpy, orange, bird-attracting orange fruits, up to 2cm in diameter. These are worth a close look, being actually compound fruits formed by the fusion of many tiny fruits, with no two quite alike. Saturday, November 13, 2010 The Cutest Dragon Darling Downs Earless Dragon (Tympanocryptis pinguicolla) This little fellow was on display yesterday in a Pittsworth Landcare display at Bunnings in Toowoomba. It is classified as Endangered in Queensland (Nature Conservation Act 1992) and nationally (Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999). These acts classify flora and fauna as”not of concern”, “threatened”, “vulnerable”, “endangered”, and “extinct” - in that order. One of Australia’s smallest dragon-lizards, it is only 12cm long including its rather long tail. It’s not really earless. The ears are just hidden behind scales. The lizards’ natural habitat is the treeless grassland which grows on the cracking black clay soils of the Darling Downs. (A separate population of a very similar lizard, which may or may not turn out to be the same species, is found in southern New South Wales, Victoria, and the ACT.) The lizards come out in the daytime to look for the little insects which they eat - but they can be hard to find, because of their tendency to disappear down the cracks in the blacksoil. This year they’ve been a bit easier to see, as the good rains have closed the cracks. They have also made the grass grow, however (see article on Plains Grass below) - so the lizards can find have plenty of places to hide, in the gaps between tall tussocks. And they do need to be able to hide, as cats and foxes are very effective enemies. It is breeding season, so males in breeding colour (bright yellow throat and chin) and pregnant females are about. One of the most endangered environments in our area is the grassland, which once made the Darling Downs so famous. It persisted for a century after white settlement, when grazing was a major industry on the Downs, but has disappeared rapidly since the 1950s, as the grazing industry has moved west, replaced here by croplands. There are a few small protected areas, but no dragons have been found in any of them. Grasslands with a potential to be dragon habitat do still occur on roadsides, but are very prone to mismanagement from an environmental point of view. So the dragons are, at present, quite dependant on private landowners for their existence. They have been shown to be able to survive in intensely cropped areas, but must also appreciate the shelter provided in preserved remnants of grassland such as the one described below. Friday, November 12, 2010 Thready-leafed Hopbush Dodonaea sinuolata Toowoomba Field Naturalists were privileged to be able to visit the new McEwan State Forest, out near Pittsworth, last weekend. Not yet open to the public, this newly acquired land is expected to become a national park - something we badly need in this area - and to be open to the public in the next year or so. One of the plants we saw there was this very pretty hop-bush. Like the other hop-bushes, it flowers inconspicuously, then produces its showy seed capsules in spring each year. It may be our prettiest local hop-bush, with its frilly-winged pink capsules. Though grown as an ornamental in America, it can be difficult to purchase here in its own country, though I notice it’s available from the Greening Australia nursery in Brisbane. One would need to buy several seedlings to ensure getting hops, as they occur only on the female plants. They could be grown in groups, to make dense clumps. They can be expected to grow to about head-height - but may make a prettier (denser) plant if kept lower by pruning. There are about 70 species of Dodonaea. Most of them are Australian, but some are found in other tropical or sub-tropical countries - Africa, Asia, and America. They are related to the introduced Koelreuteria (Golden Rain) trees which are used as street trees in toowoomba, and put on such a lovely show every autumn, with their coppery seed capsules. Unlike the Koelreuteria, hop bushes are not environmental weeds! The name “hop-bush” was given to them by early settlers, who apparently used their seed capsules as substitutes for the completely unrelated true hops (Humulus lupulus) in brewing beer. I have no idea whether they were actually any good for the purpose! Plains Grass Austrostipa aristiglumis We don't often see native grasslands these days. This one is composed largely of Plains Grass, which was once a dominant grassland type on the Darling Downs. It is on private property near Mt Tyson. Although this is potentially very good grazing land, the ungrazed paddock has been retained by the farm's owners because of its value as habitat for wildlife - particularly the rare grassland earless dragon (Tympanocryptis pinguicolla). I imagine there are other reptiles which would also like living here - which made me feel quite cautious about tramping into this situation! Preservation of the grassland will provide habitat for numerous other wildlife species, including mammals and birds, which appreciate the feast of plump seeds on these pretty heads. Seed of plains grass (also called "plump speargrass") is available commercially, as it is also appreciated by landscape gardeners. A patch of them, besides being attractive, would add value to any wildlife-friendly garden - particularly one on black soil. A densely planted stand will exclude most weeds. Plains grass self-seeds readily. Its interesting seeds are “self-planting” having awns (the little whiskers on their ends) which twist more or less according to the humidity, and, with a little help from the wind, make the seeds burrow into the ground. However it is unlikely ever to become a weedy nuisance, as it is shallow-rooted and easy to uproot by hand. It is also killed by lawnmowing, so can easily be confined to a designated garden plot. This is a drought and frost hardy plant, which prefers to grow in full sun. Saturday, November 6, 2010 Red Passionflower Passiflora aurantia I found this little vine in flower at Picnic Point, this week (on the walking trail that runs alongside the road.) It’s a dainty little tendril-climbing plant, with these showy flowers that are white when they first open, but mature, over four days, through pink to red. Related to commercial passionfruit, they have the same characteristics in the flowers which led Spanish missionaries in America to give passionflowers their name - they saw them as symbols of the passion of Christ. Look carefully and you can see the crown of thorns in the flower (the red bit on the white flower), the ten “petals” representing the ten faithful disciples, the three pistils symbolising the nails, and the five anthers Christ’s wounds - and so on. The flowers drip with sweet nectar, so attract honeyeaters and insects. The fruits, which will develop after these flowers die, are about 3cm long, and ripen from green to purple. Like all passionfruits, they are poisonous when unripe, but can be eaten once they’ve turned purple (though the flavour is not interesting). As with so many rainforest climbers, they like to have their roots well-shaded and mulched, but want their heads in the sun for part of the day, for good flowering. They could be grown on a small trellis, either in the ground or as a pot plant. Alternatively, their tendrils are said to be so effective that they can climb brick walls, so perhaps they could be used to add a decorative note to a boring wall (though I imagine they would object to the heat of the afternoon sun). They would certainly be inoffensive light climbers for the purpose, unlikely to damage brickwork or reach higher than 2 metres. The plants are fast-growing but not long-lived. For a good display of flowers, it would be best to grow a number of the plants, with new ones inserted amongst the old every now and again. The seed may germinate more readily if fermented first, but as the plant is easily reproduced from cuttings you may decide this is the way to go. The plant is the local native host for glasswing butterflies - one of our less showy species, but interesting, with their transparent wings. This little butterfly is more common nowadays than it ever was, despite the decline in numbers of its native host plant. Glasswings can also breed on Passiflora foetida - otherwise known as Love-in-the-mist - or for the more prosaic of you, “stinky passionflower”. This introduced weed is one of those plants which is probably here to stay in the Australian environment. It’s a vigorous plant which can out-compete our gentle local red passionflowers, so you need not feel guilty about picking caterpillars off the local plant species. They need protection more than the caterpillars do.
Latest Material Technology : The Exotic Metamaterial Metamaterials reveals some of the most interesting properties ever seen in the material and will have the potential to change the industry in a fundamental way . Applications can be very wide ranging from science , information and communication technology , and even the arts . Metamaterials are artificial materials engineered human technology that has a geometric structure built of materials that can be engineered microscopic . The aim is that the new material can redirect light , sound , and ( another wave ) in a meaningful manner . Invisible metamaterial An expert can use the geometry of the material , the size and composition of the material structure to create different effects from the original . One classic example is the use of copper coil array for invisibility cloak on 2D objects so that when illuminated with certain frequencies of electromagnetic waves , such as Duke University in 2006 , the object will be able to disappear from human sight . The problem with the Duke University in 2006 is that it only works for 2D objects in a single frequency and microwave . If we want to create something that is invisible to the eye , we need to make it work: 1 . in the visible spectrum , 2 . in broadband visible light , 3 . for 3D objects And in 2012 , has now been able to create a technologist microwave cloak to form the basis of a 3D object . The experts have also been able to make it work on broadband ( ie not just a single frequency but at different frequencies ) . Currently also being tested first metamaterial that will be operating in the visible light spectrum using 15 to 35 nanometers thick layers of silver and hydrogen silsesquioxane (a type of glass ) . It takes maybe 5 years before we can achieve broadband characteristics , 3D , visual spectrum of the metamaterial that will be used in the normal objects and the human eye . And then 5 more years to figure out how to scale manufacturing to large -scale objects . One idea is to use bio- technology to produce synthetic bacterium capable of printing nanometer coating to the surface of the material to provide scalable and low permeability . Wave metamaterial for Other Types Metamaterials derive their exotic nature by interacting with waves in a special way . Apparently, you can also apply the same concept to other types of waves using metamaterials . You can make a cloak for : radar ( radio waves only ) , acoustic ( hide you from Sonar ) , seismic waves ( which will help you block / drain earthquake waves that enter the building ) . Most eventually , the metamaterial allows us to hide the object of the most recognizable form of the possibility of a military attack to defense ( hiding the strategic objects and others ) . Nevertheless metamaterial invisibility is not just about the visual – make your building “invisible ” , but also for the seismic wave in order to enter the building design standards in 10 years . Cloaking your wifi / cell network from interference from other networks can improve network bandwidth and reducing latency . Partly also to the cloaking surface of your monitor to reduce eye strain and remove the reflection . Metamaterial for Super Lens This is where that would be really interesting , metamaterials can also produce many effects outside the cloaking effect . Depending on , the size of the geometry settings , and the materials used , it is possible to create a super lens that allows us to go beyond the diffraction limit of the normal lens . Most minimal : make smaller chips through the lens of a high -resolution , super microscope , and mobile phone or camera lenses better . Wireless power transfer is more focused , better satellite imagery , more efficient solar cells , lasers are more focused and are still open to other tools that have lens . But for the present , super lens technology is still limited to one frequency and not to the visible light spectrum but this proposal has been opened . The next super lens can be applied also to other types of waves , acoustic , seismic and magnetic microphones are very sensitive as well as safe for mobile devices . Metamaterial for field mechanics Refractive index metamaterial can reverse light ( illustrations ) , but the latest technology has also revealed that the metamaterial can also be used to reverse the properties of the material outside the optical field ( mechanical characters ) . For example , when the metamaterial we tap into a piece of elastic foam or bubble , normally , would be flexed into the foam . But the metamaterial , we can make the foam poking outwards towards the direction of the force coming / finger pressure against us ! So the mechanical properties are also inverted . This is a recent discovery made in 2012 . Applications will be very broad include : technology sneakers / shoes are more comfortable , mobile phone casing better that do not break when you drop it , the more efficient wheels for cars and better body armor ( bulletproof armor probably stronger ) . WIFI antenna the better . Intellectual Ventures Nathan Myhrvold recently found metamaterials antenna , which will help increase the bandwidth of your Internet connection . Each element of metamaterial antenna can be tuned to direct the radio waves . Likewise , this means a better phone because it saves energy . And on the mobile operator ‘s data transceiving means making more power efficient . Flips Directions Time One wild theory is also growing due to the presence of the metamaterial is a process to reverse the direction of time . The point ? As we know , if you drop your phone and then broke apart , little you can do . But with metamaterial , an object can be installed kind blueprint components ( or some sort of technical DNA ) . This allows your phone to reconstruct the original state . Not to re-assemble the components , but the reverse characteristics of the material at the microscopic level .
Why does my Computer keep getting infected? Why does my Computer keep getting infected? To answer this we first need to understand what it is to be “Infected”. Many PC users consider viruses, spyware, adware, worms, Trojans, etc. as the same thing. While all these infections harm our computers, they are not the same. They are all types of malicious software that each behave differently. The word malware is a combination of two words “malicious” and “software”. It is a generic term used to describe all of the hostile and intrusive program codes including viruses, spyware, worms, Trojans, or anything that is designed to perform malicious operations on a computer. The meanings of many of these words have changed over time. Some refer to how the malware infects your system while other words are used to describe what the malware does once it’s active in your machine. Delivery/Infection Methods To look at preventing infections you first must consider how it gets into your computer and how it continues to work. The malware will generally fit into one of the following categories. 1. Virus – this is a term that used to be generic. Any bad software used to be a virus; however, we use the term “malware” now. We use the word “virus” to describe a program that self-replicates after hooking itself onto something running in Windows. 2. Worm – a worm is another kind of self-replicating program but generally doesn’t hook itself onto a Windows process. Worms generally are little programs that run in the background of your system. 3. Trojan – software that you thought was going to be one thing, but turns out to be something bad. Named for the fabled “Trojan Horse” that appeared to be a gift but in fact carried a dangerous payload. 4. Drive-by download – this is probably the most popular way to get something nasty into your computer. Most of the time, it comes from visiting a bad web page. That web page exploits a weakness in your browser and causes your system to become infected. Malware Actions Once malware is in your computer, it can do many things. Sometimes it’s only trying to replicate itself with no harm to anyone, other times it’s capable of doing very nasty things. 1. Adware – not truly malware and almost never delivered using one of the methods above. Adware is software that uses some form of advertising delivery system. Sometimes the way that advertisements are delivered can be deceptive in that they track or reveal more information about you than you would like. Most of the time, you agree to the adware tracking you when you install the software that it comes with. Generally, it can be removed by uninstalling the software it was attached to. 2. Spyware – software that monitors your computer and reveals collected information to an interested party. This can be benign when it tracks what webpages you visit; or it can be incredibly invasive when it monitors everything you do with your mouse and keyboard. 3. Ransomware – lately a very popular way for Internet criminals to make money. This malware alters your system in such a way that you’re unable to get into it normally. It will then display some kind of screen that demands some form of payment to have the computer unlocked. Access to your computer is literally ransomed by the cyber-criminal. 4. Scareware – software that appears to be something legit (usually masquerading as some tool to help fix your computer) but when it runs it tells you that your system is either infected or broken in some way. This message is generally delivered in a manner that is meant to frighten you into doing something. The software claims to be able to fix your problems if you pay them. Scareware is also referred to as “rogue” software – like rogue antivirus. Some malware get into your computer and appear to do nothing at all. Such malware may have no obvious symptoms, but it has infected your computer along with a group of other computers, forming what is called a “botnet”. This botnet can be directed by an Internet criminal to do any number of things including spam delivery and attacking Internet sites. Internet criminals don’t want to do anything direct that may be tracked back to them, so they employ botnets to do their dirty work for them. Sometimes you’ll hear the term “rootkit” or “bootkit” used to describe a certain type of malware. Generally, this refers to methods that the malware uses to hide itself deep inside the inner workings of Windows so as to avoid detection. You can mix and match these terms to describe just about any modern malware. Something like Tidserv/Alureon uses drive-by download to get into your system. Once it’s in, it creates a bootkit so it starts before Windows even starts, and it creates a worm-like application that uses rootkit techniques to hide itself. Once it all starts up, it can act like spyware or it can hijack many Windows functions to do just about everything from putting advertising popups on your system to allowing someone to take remote control of your system. What Can I do to avoid Infections? 1. The first and most obvious thing you can do is to run a good internet security solution. Some are better than others and some can even be as bad as the Malware itself so choose wisely. Make sure your read a few reviews for whatever your choice of security is before installing and also make sure that you only install one ISS (Internet Security Solution) on the PC. 2. DO NOT open attachments or click on links from unknown emails. If it is personal and of importance you would know about it beforehand. People fall into the mistake of opening “Important Tax information” or clicking on links because “Your security has been compromised”. If you hover your mouse cursor over a link within an email it will show you the true link. You would be surprised how man emails from PayPal aren’t really from PayPal. 3. Avoid downloading through file sharing or torrent applications. This is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to infecting your PC. 4. Carefully check any software that you are installing for other software hijacking in on the install. This can usually be avoided by carefully reading the text during an install and unticking the install button for the unwanted software. 5. Lastly when surfing the web, never click OK or install to any popup applications, especially the ones stating there is an issue with the PC that needs to be resolved. Always look for an X to close the popup or in worst case scenarios CTRL, ALT and DELETE and cancel the application. Some of the Information from this article was gained from the following Source
A Brain Asleep Reading and talking ignite the brain cells so they can process information, but watching TV or video does the opposite.A Brain Asleep Television switches the brain to a physiologically passive condition. You cannot critically process information from television as reliably as when reading the same information. Your brain is not capable of thinking through what you are seeing and hearing. With real-life interaction or reading, the brain is activated and able to learn. TV suppresses logical processing. • “Studies have shown that watching television induces Alpha Waves in the human brain. Alpha waves are brainwaves between 8 to 12 HZ.” • “Alpha waves are “brain states associated with suggestibility” • “Alpha wave state caused by TV can cause unfocussed daydreaming and inability to concentrate” • “In less than one minute of television viewing, the person’s brainwaves switched from Beta waves—brainwaves associated with active, logical thought—to primarily Alpha waves” • “Most parts of the brain, including parts responsible for logical thought, tune out during television viewing” • “Reading requires much more thinking than television, and we know that reading fosters young people’s healthy brain development”1 This is one of many studies proving TV degrades mental functioning.2 Alpha brainwaves shut down critical processing, and increase suggestibility. Beta brainwaves enable logical processing. TV shuts down Beta Waves and switches to Alpha Waves. The only thing worse than a brain sleeping while awake, is a brain not knowing it is sleeping while awake. It really is a very effective form of hypnosis and brainwashing, as well as deteriorating your complex-thinking potential. You think you are fine, but you are not fine. 1Effects of TV on YOUR BrainApplied Neuro Technologies. Contact Form This entry was posted in TV. Bookmark the permalink. Leave a Reply
Between now and mid-September, many of us will witness one of nature's great migrations, as shorebirds that have bred 4,000 miles away on Arctic tundra arrive on Texas coastlines and nearby marshes. Though their numbers will peak at the end of August and early September, shorebirds started arriving in early July to rest and feed before heading another 5,000 miles or so to winter homes in South America. The marathon fliers can travel several hundred miles a day at speeds approaching 50 mph. The term shorebird represents the order of Charadriiformes, which comprises a diverse group of birds, including gulls, plovers, avocets and sandpipers. Many plovers and sandpipers feed along the littoral zone - or the area between high and low water points - where abundant invertebrate organisms such as marine worms, snails, insects and water fleas provide nourishment. Not all shorebirds will continue migrating to South America. About 17 species will spend the winter along the Texas Coast, including the little 7-inch-long piping plover, which breeds from Nova Scotia to the Great Plains. It's highly endangered due to commercial development of its nesting habitat along maritime beaches and inland lake shores. Even though a few piping plovers stay with us all year, at least half the entire breeding population migrates. The birds are easy to identify, with their conspicuous sandy hues, plump sparrow size, yellowish-orange legs and black bands on their foreheads and necks. Lifestyle Channel Migratory sanderlings are also easy to spot because they act like battery-powered, cardinal-size toys as they chase incoming waves. They sport all-white bellies and often have russet-speckled heads until the color fades to a dingy white in the fall. Another easily identifiable bird is the least sandpiper, which is about the size of a house sparrow, with dense, dark markings on the back and streaks on the breast that form a bib. The pointed, slightly downward-curving beak and yellowish legs help distinguish it from other small sandpipers. Don't be daunted while identifying shorebirds. Pick out the easy ones - sanderlings, least sandpipers, piping plovers - and just enjoy the profusion of other shorebirds that have traveled great distances to our coastline. To contact Lone Star College Vice President Gary Clark or photographer Kathy Adams Clark, visit their website at More Information Bird-watchers typically refer to shorebirds as birds in the order Charadriiformes that includes such species as plovers, sandpipers, avocets and phalaropes. Hangouts: Beaches, tidal lagoons, city sewage-treatment ponds, inland muddy and grassy fields. Diet: Invertebrate organisms such as marine worms, snails, insects and water fleas. Migration: Begins in early July. Many shorebirds nest on Arctic tundra and migrate to South America for winter, although 17 species spend the winter on Texas beaches. Most adult shorebirds migrate well ahead of their offspring. Juveniles who've never migrated from Arctic breeding grounds and have no adults to guide them nonetheless are able to navigate to ancestral wintering grounds in Texas or Latin America. Good work: Shorebird guano on mud flats, in estuaries and in gulf waters aids growth of phytoplankton, the base food chain for fish. Information: The Shorebird Guide by Crossley, Karlson, O'Brien (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $24.95); Stokes Beginner's Guide to Shorebirds by Donald and Lillian Stokes (Little, Brown and Company, $9.99).
About this site About us Our beliefs Your first visit? Contact us External links Good books Visitor essays Our forum New essays Other site features Buy a CD Vital notes World religions Who is a Christian? Shared beliefs Handle change Bible topics Bible inerrancy Bible harmony Interpret Bible Beliefs, creeds Da Vinci code Revelation, 666 Other religions Other spirituality Cults and NRMs Comparing religions About all religions Important topics Basic information Gods & Goddesses Handle change Confusing terms World's end One true religion? Seasonal topics Science v. Religion More info. Absolute truth Attaining peace Religious tolerance Religious hatred Religious conflict Religious violence "Hot" topics Very hot topics Ten commandm'ts Assisted suicide Death penalty Equal rights - gays & bi's Gay marriage Origins of the species Sex & gender Spanking kids Stem cells Other topics Laws and news Religious laws Religious news Religious Tolerance logo Religion and homosexuality Should sincere religious beliefs trump equal rights for gays, lesbians and bisexuals? horizontal rule Sponsored link. horizontal rule Comparing our reaction towards race, criminal behavior, gender & homosexuality: This essay asks the question: "Is it homophobia if you act on your religious beliefs when they tell you that homosexuals should be discriminated against, or even that same-sex sexual behavior should be criminalized?" Unfortunately, we don't have any pat answers or paths to resolve this question. Schools in North America generally teach that racism is evil. Discrimination on the basis of skin color is considered immoral by a large percentage of North Americans. On the other hand, there is strong public support for discrimination in the form of incarceration in very unpleasant circumstances of rapists, murderers and other persons found guilty of serious crimes. Between these two extremes are discrimination, oppression, and rejection of individuals based on their gender and sexual orientation. Some would argue that sexism and homophobia 1 are immoral; others would argue that discrimination against women and against sexual minorities are justified on religious grounds. bulletSome people believe that discrimination on the basis of gender is evil. Men and women should be given equal opportunity to become all that they are capable of achieving. Others, typically motivated by their religious and moral beliefs, believe that sexual discrimination is justified in certain cases. Women should be excluded from the clergy and other positions of authority in their faith group. They feel that men and women are to be restricted to specific roles in the family, at church and in the workplace. The question exists: is it sexism if one discriminates against women because of the requirements of one's deeply felt religious beliefs? Should religious belief trump sexism? bulletSome people believe that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is evil. Gays, lesbians and bisexuals should be given equal rights and opportunities -- including the right to marry and adopt children, be protected against hate crimes, be protected against employment discrimination, etc. Others, typically motivated by their religious and moral beliefs, conclude that discrimination against persons of minority sexual orientation is justified. The government should not recognize their loving, committed relationships because to do so would weaken tradition (opposite-sex) marriage. Some go further and believe that those engaging in same-sex sexual behavior should be arrested, charged with a moral crime, and perhaps imprisoned. The question exists: is it homophobia 1 if one discriminates against homosexuals and bisexuals because of one's religious beliefs. Should religious belief trump homophobia? horizontal rule How people view the "homosexual issue:" Much of the media, and almost all mental health organizations, gay-lesbian-bisexual-transsexual groups, liberal religious groups, human rights groups etc. view the "homosexual issue" in terms of granting equal rights for those with a homosexual or bisexual orientation. They generally view those minority orientations as unchosen and fixed, which are normal and natural for a minority of adults. Homosexuals and bisexuals are seen as another oppressed minority group, like many African-Americans, Native Americans, and religious minorities. Most religious conservatives, particularly those from monotheistic faiths like Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and Sikhism, portray the homosexual issue in terms of sexual behavior, which they regard as immoral, chosen and changeable. They generally view it as abnormal, unnatural, and disordered behavior -- a lifestyle which is hated by God. They feel that homosexuals should not be given equal rights. They should be actively discriminated against in areas such as adoption, same-sex marriage, medical insurance, pensions, etc. Some feel that they should be imprisoned. horizontal rule Resolving the religion vs. homosexuality issue: Unfortunately, in debates, sermons, articles, books etc., people rarely describe their fundamental beliefs. Instead, they usually deal with conclusions that they have derived from those beliefs. Thus, dialogue between those with opposing beliefs is almost impossible. Debate deals with too high a level of abstraction; fundamentals are generally neglected. Discussion often degenerates into mutual hatred. My personal experience on various bulletin boards has shown that people who post messages hold onto their beliefs with incredible tenacity. I don't recall ever observing in a discussion that actually changed one person's beliefs on sexual orientation. Polls do show a marked increase in toleration and acceptance of homosexuality and bisexuality among high school and university students when compared to their parents and grandparents. We suspect that much of this has been caused largely by gays and lesbians coming out of the closet at school. Perhaps only time will cure the homosexual issue. horizontal rule Site navigation: Home > "Hot" religious topics > Homosexuality > Religious aspects > here horizontal rule 1. On this website, we define "homophobia" to be engaging in a behavior aimed at restricting the human rights of persons who have a homosexual orientation and/or who engages in homosexual behavior. More information. horizontal rule Copyright © 2004 to 2007 by Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance Originally posted: 2004-NOV-18 Latest update: 2007-AUG-03 Author: B.A. Robinson line.gif (538 bytes) horizontal rule Go to the previous page, or to "Religion and homosexuality" menu, or choose: Web ReligiousTolerance.org Go to home page We would really appreciate your help Twitter link Facebook icon Google Page Translator: This page translator works on Firefox, Opera, Chrome, and Safari browsers only After translating, click on the "show original" button at the top of this page to restore page to English.
What is it? An intranet is like a private version of the internet, using the same standards and access methods. It may in turn be connected to the internet, but may require authorisation for access (in this case it may be called an extranet). Intranet refers to a private website that is used by an organisation or business to connect all staff so that they can log in and access news, information, special work programs and other helpful tools. How does it work? Generally, an intranet is created and managed by a team that includes writers and designers, as well as IT experts. Why is it useful? An intranet is useful to the organisation or business that uses it as it interconnects all users and provides them with helpful information and access. What do you need to keep in mind about your child and intranets? If you are granted access to an intranet, it is important not to abuse the trust by sharing the access details. Related words
RetrogeneDB is a database of retrocopy annotations in sequenced eukaryotic genomes. It currently stores information about 62 animal and 37 plant genomes from Ensembl. Updated RetrogeneDB database allows users to search for retrocopies and their parental genes using numerous criteria. For selected organisms retrocopy expression estimation from RNA-Seq, ChIP-Seq, EST, CAGE and experimental studies are provided. You may view the older version of the RetrogeneDB at What is new in RetrogeneDB2 in comparison to RetrogeneDB? RetrogeneDB 2 How many species were analyzed? 62 species (all animals) 99 species (62 animal + 37 plant species) Number of identified retrocopies 84808 retrocopies 86458 retrocopies Number of identified parental genes 34286 genes 35975 genes RNA-Seq expression validation 14 species (97 RNA-Seq libraries) 23 species (195 RNA-Seq libraries) ChIP-Seq expression validation ---- 223 Human and 140 Mouse retrocopies, based on 53 and 4 ChIP-Seq libraries respectively EST expression validation ---- 557 retrocopies, 31 species TSS expression validation ---- 799 Human and 796 Mouse retrocopies, based on 1829 and 1072 FANTOM5 libraries respectively Experimental validation ---- 51 Human and 11 Mouse retrocopies Orthological relationships between retrogenes ---- 4240 orthological groups, within three subgroups: eytheria (13 species) teleost (5 species) neognath (3 species) Association of retrocopies with large genomic indels ---- for human, based on 1000 genomes project data + improved website layout, search options and used BLAST algorithm version. Numerous improvements were based on the opinion of the users of the previous version of RetrogeneDB, as well as Beta version of RetrogeneDB 2 .
Stress Busters For Workaholics Find thousands of shopping-related forums Stress Busters For Workaholics Stress causes the muscles of your forehead, scalp, and the back of your head to tighten. How to reduce stress read more... What is stress The word stress means a different things to different people. Most psychologists regard stress as a process involving a person's interpretation and response to a threatening event. Stress can have both positive and negative effects. Stress is a normal, adaptive reaction to threat. It signals danger and prepares you to take defensive action. Moderate stress seems to improve motivation and performance on less complex tasks. In personal relationships stress often leads to less cooperation and more aggression. If not managed appropriately, stress can really lead to serious problems. Stress causes the muscles of your forehead, scalp, and the back of your head to tighten. This constricts your blood vessels and causes tension headache says a medical doctor. The attitude behind your stress may be harder to diagnose, and harder still to eliminate. By eliminating unnecessary daily distractions, you can arrange solitary moment of quiet and peace that are soothing to your mind. Psychologist suggest the following below. Don't live beyond your means. Never live a lifestyle you cannot afford. Don't skip breakfast. Skipping breakfast is a big mistake. You'll struggle more with fatigue later in the day, if you skipped breakfast. Eating a sound breakfast boosts your energy for the rest of the day. People who skip breakfast eat more food later in the day. They set up a night-eating syndrome where they start nibbling, they can't stop. The breakfast rules is simple according to nutritionist: Caffeine limit, avoid sugar, and choose foods with a mix of protein and starch to maintain blood sugar and energy levels throughout the morning. Good choice can be a bowl of instant oatmeal, low-fat milk, and banana. Have a good posture. Don't forget that a good upright posture improves breathing. Good posture increases blood flow to the brain which help decrease blood pressure and stress. Bringing work home. Don't bring your work home. It will be unfair to your spouse and kids as well if you cannot spend quality time with them because you still need to finish some paper works. Don't forget to breathe! Stress causes headache, this tense you up and making you forget to breathe. A medical doctor suggests deep-breathing exercise: Close your eyes and exhale. Take a deep breaths that seem to come from your abdomen. While doing so, be fully aware of your pain, wherever it may be. It may intensify when you notice it. Just continue breathing. Now imagine yourself breathing the pain in and out. Don't try to control it. Don't be surprised if you find you have breathed it all out. Take a break. When you're tired force yourself to take a break. Train you nervous system to work with you. If you're been at a computer screen for hours, take a break. Munch a banana or an apple, it's a quick fix to stop you feeling tired. Sit while eating and take a short walk afterwards. Keep a stress toy. Get hold of your stress toy or hand exerciser if your feel like exploding because of pilling workloads. According to research squeezing something provides a release that satisfy your body. Dealing with difficult people at work. Don't take it personally. According to the associate professor at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, "We have a tendency to think that people are being especially difficult with us, but typically they are difficult with others as well." You cannot change a person. Since there's no way to stay away from difficult people entirely, it's up to you to learn strategies for managing them. According to psychotherapist, when dealing with difficult people, you feel helpless because you can't change them. But if you just give up trying to change that person, you'll probably feel a sense of relief he added. Stop worrying. Stop worrying your workload. Worrying cause stress. Stress is one of the biggest energy drainers. Get some fresh air by opening a window. Or you pop outside for awhile. Work life balance. This you can do by seeking out leisurely activities that are separate from work. Activities such as gardening and cooking are recommended. Choose an activity you consider relaxing. A friend invites you to go hiking, but it's not your idea of relaxation, then don't go. If you go, you don't reduce your stress, but add more to your stress level says a stress management expert. Motivation Quotes Edited Image Stressed quote Edited Image Quote about Happiness Edited Image Quotes on Stress Edited Image Edited Image Soriano, Vic. "Stress Busters for Workaholic Men." CHIC 445 Anonymous, "Avoid Stress." Women's Journal, Jan 06 Averbach, Stephen, and Gramling, Sandra E. "Stress (Psychology.)" Microsoft Encarta 2009 {DVD}. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2008. Need an answer? Get insightful answers from community-recommended in Stress on Knoji. Would you recommend this author as an expert in Stress? You have 0 recommendations remaining to grant today. Comments (1) Excellent work
Skip to Content Support MinnPost The Metropolitan Council generously supports MinnPost's Earth Journal coverage; learn why 100 years later, have we learned from the passenger pigeon's extinction? It's been 100 years since the last passenger pigeon disappeared from the skies. Monday was a sad anniversary in the history of American wildlife conservation, marking the centennial of the passenger pigeon's extinction. We don't usually know the date of a species' passing with such precision, but in this case it's well established as Sept. 1, 1914, because the last living pigeon was an inmate of the Cincinnati Zoo at the time of her demise. She was called Martha, after the nation's first First Lady, and may have reached the advanced age of 29, according to a fine piece in a recent Audubon magazine, despite "a palsy that made her tremble. Not once in her life had she laid a fertile egg." But that was conflating a newer kind of tragic narrative with an older one: industrial-scale "market hunting" that slaughtered wild creatures like the American bison, and any number of waterfowl, on a recklessly massive scale. The bison survived, just barely; the passenger pigeon did not. And though the eagle edged out the turkey as Americans' national bird, I find it pleasant to think about the honor having gone instead to this cousin of the smaller, duller mourning dove and the painted-looking pigeons that city dwellers deride as rats with wings. Here's a description from the Smithsonian Institution (which, by the way, has a taxidermist's mount of Martha in its vault but does not display her): A population in the billions In an "ornithological biography" of the bird, John James Audbon wrote of this encounter with migrants: This wasn't exactly subsistence hunting as practiced by Indians and early settlers, but it appears not to have had much impact on the pigeons' overall numbers, either. Nor did "market hunting" — the shooting and netting of Midwestern birds for sale in eastern cities — as practiced in the early 1800s. The population was simply too large and well-established. Market hunting goes industrial As late as 1871, according to Audubon magazine, there were an estimated 136 million breeding adults in an 850-square-mile portion of Wisconsin's oak barrens, but the population was already in a rapid plunge toward extinction. Warnings were raised and some states attempted to protect the passenger pigeon with hunting restrictions, but the laws were unpopular and difficult to enforce. At the national level, Congress voted in 1900 for a set of protections offered by Iowa's Rep. John F. Lacey, which restricted interstate commerce in wild game and opened an era of federal protections for birds and other wildlife. The boy who killed 'Buttons' The boy, Press Clay Southworth, lived into his 90s and became a subscriber to AARP's Modern Maturity, where he read of the killing and wrote to the editor, confessing his role. (I found this account in a Google Books snippet from "A Feathered River Across the Sky," by Joel Greenberg.) Southworth didn't know what kind of bird he'd blasted, he said, until his parents identified the corpse, which they then had mounted. The stuffed bird became known as Buttons after an improvisation by the taxidermist, who had run out of glass eyes. It is tempting to see the Lacey Act and therefore the passenger pigeon's demise as watershed moments, after which Americans' relationship with species and their conservation was forever changed. And it can be comforting to consider all of the protective legislation that has followed Rep. Lacey's landmark law (which nowadays is more likely to be raised as a barrier to the unintended spread of noxious, invasive species than as a tool for controlling trade in iconic, indigenous ones). No one can say with much certainty how many birds will be knocked from the air by the new stadium's unpatterned windows, but the impact of adding 200,000 square feet of windowpane in the middle of North America's largest migratory flyway can't be considered trivial, and the team's position cannot be considered community-minded. It is a settled matter of Minnesota and Minneapolis public policy that new construction is to take reasonable steps to mitigate destruction of migratory birds. This is so even if the project doesn't receive the massive public subsidies going toward this one. Shifting rationales for inaction Yet the Vikings simply refuse to do the right thing and the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority, which supposedly oversees the project, supports the team's truculence even as the stated justifications for doing the wrong thing keep changing. First the excuse was that there wasn't room in the project's billion-dollar budget for the extra $1 million that bird-safe glass would cost; now, having added $46 million for such upgrades as more TVs by the concession stands, we're told that etched or "fritted" glass has always been a nonstarter because the owners prefer the aesthetics of plain glass, and anyway the windows have already been ordered, and the construction schedule can't accommodate a change, and so on. I don't mean to equate the stadium's contribution to migratory bird mortality with the extinction of the passenger pigeon. It's not a perfect analogy, as kids will do dumb, destructive, shortsighted things just because they're kids; young Clay Southworth couldn't grasp the import of his act until after he'd pulled the trigger. But the Vikings and their overseers know better, or ought to, and history ought not be forgiving toward their flippancy. Get MinnPost's top stories in your inbox Related Tags: About the Author: Comments (44) Reading about the destruction of the passenger pigeon makes me sick. It's not the only species clearly destroyed by man, but the sheer scale is disgusting. …is not a phrase I associate with professional sports in general, and football in particular. Like other for-profit sport-based corporations, the mythical "giving-back to the community" exists only insofar as it has no significant effect on the corporate bottom line. More big TV screens will help draw paying customers. Only migrating birds will see a positive effect of using patterned glass, and birds, after all, don't really count for much in a corporate account book. Maybe if an investigative reporter finds (and documents) 1,000 or so dead birds every week around the stadium perimeter during the migratory season (and the Vikings, of course, could insist that their "property rights" allow them to prohibit photography or other evidence-gathering on stadium premises) there might be some after-the-fact and insufficient action, but lacking that kind of in-your-face evidence, and as we've seen all along, the primary value expressed by the Minnesota Vikings through their actions has been greed, not the community, and certainly not the creatures most likely to be injured by the new football palace. Easy answer Or perhaps... we could learn that all life on this planet is interconnected. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it isn't true. Easy out Oligarchs are happy to have people like you on their side We're dealing with characters like this: This fellow is then knowingly creating a system to destroy natural value (migrating birds), and the value to the public that cherishes these birds, and your suggestion is that the public pay for this guy's destruction when he could easily not do it in the first place? You're suggesting we subsidize his irresponsibility? Is it the case you have no problem with someone engaged in "organized crime-type activities," according to a judge who examined the case of fraud the Vikings owner was involved in, and it is the responsibility of the public to clean up after his mess? I take it you also don't disagree with the ethos of maximizing profit with little concern for anything else--other people, the environment, etc? Perhaps you have some problem with trying to address problems before they manifest? Answer to the question Curing Ignorance As a life-long learner and educator, I have believed and practiced learning as a "cure" for ignorance. That process has met with uneven success during my 54 years of applying it. Which seems to be borne out in your example of the Vikings football team ($46 million for TV's for food buyers, but not even $1 million to protect the migratory birds)! When you find the cure for ignorance, please share it with all of us willing to learn - there may be hope for even our species to survive our limited ability to learn from the past. [You can quit searching for a cure for "stupid" - many of our politicians, pop musicians, athletes and other "idols" have elevated stupid to an art form. With so many example from our inner-city and rural "disenfranchised", it seems to remain for only the middle class to learn "stupid" as a life style for our nation to decay into non-existence.] What happened to the passenger pigeon is still going on today in other parts of the world. A few months ago National Geographic had an article on song bird hunting in southern Europe and northern Africa. There are so many hunters deployed along the bird's migratory path that very few are making it through to breeding grounds. Numbers are crashing hard along with so many other species across the planet. I guess the only thing we learn from history is that we don't learn from history. Easy Answer Hold on I have an idea; What a concept! Absolutely brilliant! Billionaires and bureaucrats... There is plenty of blame to go around for the use of bird-killing glass in the Vikings' Avian Abattoir, primarily on the Vikings and the MSFA of course, but let's not forget the Champion in Chief of the new stadium, Gov. Dayton. He has heard from concerned voters and has received a petition, but has done nothing to advocate for a fix, not even a mention in passing, so the dead birds are on him too. Makes it hard for environmentalists to vote at all. i will write in ... Of course it was an "easy answer" Contact Vikings Stadium Authority Their number is 612-332-0386. Please Explain And here I am not even pro-stadium... But it is coming whether we want it or not. Now let's make it something we will be happy to see on national and international TV broadcasts. Please learn to use Google It's not even that the birds are stupid, it's that they can't even see the glass in the first place... their eyeballs evolved over millions of years in a world that has only had glass for about 3500 years, and only about 2000 of those years were they used for windows, and even then those structures were primarily low to the ground. This is more 'socially Darwinian' than 'Darwinian Darwinian." My links to aerial photos didn't make it. Take a look at some for Minneapolis and you will see why I question the "fly way" theory. There are a lot of tall buildings to the N/NW and the metrodome isn't that close to the river. So unless the ducks are visiting the warehouse district, I don't see it. Most buildings you cannot see I guess we will see how strong the "bird huggers" lobby is. So do you really think this is just about money and that the stadium would as majestic covered in polka dots? Bird extinction Just curious Are you also against the hunting of game birds? You're kidding! Heck - let's also scrape up road kill for the less fortunate. Same school of thought . . . . . No, he's serious... I mean, I guess it's OK to feed the animals WITH animals... LOL Yes I was Kidding Though I was once hunting deer when a pheasant flew up and broke his neck on a telephone post's guide wire. Fortunately one of my friends had their pheasant license so the bird did not go to waste. Nearly a billion birds die each year due to an optical illusion, not stupidity. And for the record, attempting to equate dead birds splattered all over the sidewalk with a deer is frankly ludicrous. Source please First source Did you read them? The BBC article admits it is a guess based on broad assumptions. And 1 billion would be at the highest end. Yeah, I did what part of "up to one billion" didn't you understand? Or does the high end number always have to refer to welfare recipients or food stamp users in order for you to believe it? Actually you said "Nearly a billion birds die each year". Look above. You still have no answer. Checkout Page 143 for how Checkout Page 143 for how many birds were harvested in 2007. Migratory songbirds Appelen I think we have more than enough help considering the amount of land that is being taken out of agricultural production lately in MN. Thankfully it usually isn't the best producing land. I looked for a graph but could not find one. Besides the environmental folks will always be there if it means returning land to "nature" and stopping the production food on it. Look at some of the wet lands laws and their application. I'd rather have acres 'out of service'... than have them be the sterile desert that most farmland is. Now, imagine if all of that farmland was used to grow real food. If California's Central Valley can supply as much food as it does, imagine what the great farmland of the Midwest and Great Plains could produce. We've squandered the wealth of the prairie; eons of soil creation raped and sterilized for a century of over-consumption. We're beginning to reap the consequences of the devastation of one of the world's great ecosystems. I hope we can figure it out before it's too late. Go tell that to the Dakotas Hunting is big business too, you realize. Perhaps farmer's (or their children) forgot to read the section on the dust bowl in their history books. I'll you what, lets just drain tile all of it, while we're at it lets just go ahead and turn all the rivers and lakes into irrigation canals and drainage ponds. After all making farmers money is all the land is good for anyway, right? Btw, most non industrial farmers I know would be aghast at your attitude, but then I assume you're the product of part time cash croppers from the sw right? Part Time Cash Croppers I don't understand the term. Actually, raising grain that fulfills 1000's of uses in our country and around the world seems pretty important to me. That its not only pheasants using that land. I'm happy for relations and all that grain, though to brag about your rr crops rings a bit hollow. I remember the roundup ready cotton fields from Mississippi when I did bird surveys there, kinda tough to keep topsoil when every ditch is barren soil. But then you folks don't bother with ditches, especially when the prices are good. Btw the part time comment was a dig at crop farmers from a descendant of multiple generations of dairy farmers. They don't get vacations in the winter. Wrong as usual. Habitat loss and degradation due to human development and agriculture are by far the biggest threats. Predators don't even make the top three. By the way, none of the animals you mentioned are known for their prowess at catching birds. Thanks for the chuckle however. They like egges my precious... Your contention is that egg eating is the primary threat to migratory birds? Do you know how few of those species actually lay eggs on the ground? About the same number of coyotes, possums & fox that climb trees. Keep 'em coming, you're on a roll...precious.
Printer Friendly Effective implementation of basic operations for information retrieval. 1. Introduction In the face of growing sizes of text repositories effective processing of large text collections became a very important challenge. One of the most effective ways of their processing is to analyze the texts as a graphs. The graphs can be represented as a set of n points in n-dimensional Euclidean space. The position of a point is described according to its relation to other points and is coded as a vector containing a list of the nearest neighbors. In the simplest case it is a binary matrix where 0 denotes the lack of a reference and 1 indicates a relation between two nodes. The representation space is a n/2n dimensional hypercube and all the points cover only of accessible space and they can form theoretically [MATHEMATICAL EXPRESSION NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] different combinations. In practice the graphs, especially the linguistic ones, have low density, so the number of relations is much smaller. Exploiting that fact it is possible to introduce some optimizations into algorithms and data structures. If the text documents are considered their representation vectors are constructed with a binary coding of particular words occurrences or the presence of inner relations, such as bibliographic or hyper references. Processing textual data involves additional issues related to the scale of the problem. The analyzed matrices, that represent text collections, are huge and for real data they can not be loaded into memory, also their processing on single a processor takes too much time. In our experiments we use data taken form Wikipedia. This electronic encyclopedia has different databases for different languages so it allows to rise crossbar size of processed data easily. Actually the size of Wikipedia data bases for different languages may differ even by two orders of magnitude. In our experiments we use the data, that while represented as graphs, contain thousands and hundreds of thousands nodes. Our first dataset is constructed from Simple English Wikipedia, and it contains nearly 100 thousands of articles. The second dataset is built from PolishWikipedia data and it approaches 1 million of articles. Processing such large datasets to be finished in reasonable time requires effective parallel algorithms that can be run on multiple processors. Also it is important to take into consideration the size of available operating system memory as well a disk storage. The effective implementation of the algorithms and their successful evaluation on our test datasets will be the basis for performing computations on a larger scale - English Wikipedia that contains over 3.5 millions of articles. 2. The Data From the point of view of Natural Language Processing (NLP) Wikipedia is a very interesting material. It covers very vast area of human knowledge that can be represented in the form of interconnected concepts described in the articles. The analysis of the content of the articles is a interesting task in itself, but in this paper we focus only on the structure formed by connections between the articles. The backup of Wikipedia dumps is available online for all languages. We use them to create Wikipedia articles representation based on their references. In that approach each of the articles is represented as a binary vector where 1 denotes presence of hyperlink between two articles. This structure can be stored in the form of asymmetric matrix of neighborhood. The datafile containing that matrix has a size O([n.sup.2]), where n is a number of nodes (articles). The final size depends on how relation is coded eg. in case of small integer the value should be multiplied with 2 bytes. Storing the representation matrix in the form of neighbors list it is possible to generate the size O(n + m), where m is the number of graph edges (references). The lists of neighbors form a representation space where each article corresponds to a n-dimensional point. The lists are sorted so their zero coordinates can be easily omitted during computations. The characteristics of the two test datasets used in the experiments constructed from Simple English and Polish Wikipedias have been given in Table 1. The Table contains information about the size of input datafile, the number of the articles (graph nodes), the number of references (edges) and graph density--the average number of references between two articles expressed in %. 3. The computations In this paragraph we describe three main computations we perform on Wikipedia data. We describe the basis of the algorithms as well as their optimizations and the methods of their parallelization. The first task is to compute a similarity matrix. According to the used distance measure we obtain square similarity matrix that can be used further as a metrics representation space and also is used for computing clusters. The second task--clustering can be performed in many ways [1]. In our approach we use k-means--one of the simplest algorithms that allows us to estimate computational cost of identifying groups of similar elements. The clustering may be performed on raw data, using metric space (constructed from similarity matrix) as well as using data transformed in spectral mapping constructed with eigen analysis [2], [3] which is our third implemented operation for large matrices. 3.1 Matrices of distances and similarity The basic approach to compute similarity of two points in geometrical space is to calculate Euclidean distance (then the similarity is its reverse). When we operate on high dimensional vectors the alternative to Euclidean distance is the cosine angle between vectors formed between the origin of the coordinates and the points. To reduce the size of final similarity matrix (that is [n.sup.2]) typically given a priori threshold p is used that allows to filter small values of similarities and treat them as 0. Then final matrix is stored as a list of neighbors. This approach allows to considerably reduce the final matrix, that is used in other computations, where small values are not very significant. Note eg. for a graph with 1 million nodes creating full similarity matrix (which elements coded as integers) the final file will be near 1 TB. For our experiments we empirically set up the threshold that, while similarity expressed in % is < 0.05, allows to reduce outcoming files by 67% [+ or -] 15%. In our experiments we use two distance measures: Cosine and Euclidean. These two metrics complete each other, and they find different applications. Cosine distance is known to be better for computing similarities between sparse vectors that are typical while representing graph nodes. It is also suitable for visualization tasks. Euclidean measure gives-more precise information about distances between points especially when their mutual cosine similarity is zero. This information is necessary eg. in k-means algorithm (section 3.2) when only small fraction of all similarities are non zero. As we operate on high-dimensional data their processing causes also additional problems called curse of dimensionality [4]. The main issue here is the fact that, while increasing dimensions, the distribution of the distance averages concentrates around their expectations [5]. This requires to apply special approaches: dimensionality reduction and dimension (eg. with discussed further PCA) based on weighting distances. The next problem with processing natural language data is that the vectors of the representation are sparse. Due to that we use Cosine similarity in preprocess phase. Transforming data into metric space is known to be a good technique for high dimensional space vectors [6]. While calculating distances the most computation intensive operation is matrix multiplication with complexity O([n.sup.3]). It has been optimized and implemented in parallel environment using MPI. As we operate on vectors that represent graph nodes in the form of neighbors lists average complexity of each operation is O (m/n) which finally reduces the algorithm of matrix multiplication to O(n.m). Additionally we exploit the fact that the vectors are binary which allows to replace the floating points operations with logical ones. In that way Euclidean distance between vectors can be computed as square root of their Hamming distance and vectors dot product is the number of their non-zero common elements. Due to the fact the final matrices are symmetric and sparse we compute and store only one part of them, without main diagonal, in the compressed form of sorted lists (containing only non zero elements). In our implementation of computing similarities we use data distribution that can be run on any number of processors The distribution algorithm divides the data between processors in such a way that the size of the data packages (constructed from matrix triangle) is the same on all processors. Note we assume here the uniform distribution of data density which may not be true and thus cause some problems, which is discussed further. The distribution of the source matrix D we base on selecting areas from triangle matrix (built form matrix D formed with its diagonal) which has been shown in Figure 1A. If we want to distribute the data between two processors we divide matrix D (given in Figure 1.A) into trapezoid and triangle in such a way that they have the same fields, which has been shown in Figure 1.B. To distribute the data between four processors the trapezoid and the triangle are divided again in two figures with equal fields what has been shown in Figure 1.C. This approach does not require master process because using the information about the first index of the free range and the number of processors used for computations, each of processors is able to determine the size of the processed data by itself. The method presented in Figure 1 can be generalized for o processors and data package is delimitated with one of o areas of matrix D that have uniform fields. Using equation 1 we calculate the number of rows y of n . n similarity matrix that should be multiplied by the number of remaining rows to make given portion of data x. y = [??](1 - [square root of (1 - x]))] (n - 1)[??] (1) If the resources are limited Equation 1 allows us to compute sequentially only part of the matrix. The processing results can be joined easily into one final matrix by aggregating mediate files in proper sequence. It should be also noticed the approach allows to perform computations on computer clusters, as well as sequentially. Due to that the size of processed data that can be computed and the number of processors that can take part in computations are unlimited. 3.2 Parallel clustering with K-means Clustering is a data mining method of unsupervised learning. It allows to find groups of the most similar objects in the dataset. The similarity is determined by a measure that describes distance between points. One of the typical clustering algorithms is K-means [7]. The algorithm divides the data points into k subsets (clusters) where each of them joins the closest points (in sense of used metric). Typically the inverse of Euclidean distance is used as a similarity metric but any other measures can be employed here, which allows to capture particular aspects of data similarities [8]. The k-means algorithm has some drawbacks: it requires predefined k parameter--the number of clusters. It produces clusters that have convex shapes, and is randomly initialized, what may lead to obtaining different results each time. This issues can be eliminated with the usage of more sofisticated algorithms [9] but K-means is a base-line within clustering algorithms domain and its implementation allows to estimate computational complexity of the data analysis problem. K-means for input data D (in the form of matrix m x n) and for a given number of k groups (clusters) returns vector R (of the size m) whose elements describe assignments between each of m objects and one of k clusters. In our practical approaches we transform input data D into metric space (typically using Cosine distance) which allows to operate on m x m matrices. It reduces the size of input data because in our cases m [much less than] n, and allows to use two different distance measures (one while building metric space and the second in clustering algorithm) which positively influence final results. Typical k-means algorithm is run in following steps: 1. Random initialization of clusters centers w. w [k, n] = rand () 2. Calculate distances between each of k clusters and data points. r [m, k] = dist (w [k, n], D [m, n]) 3. Partition the data in such a way to minimize distances between points and clusters. Each of the data point is assigned to the one group, represented by nearest cluster center. p[m, 1] = min (r (m, :)) 4. Compute centroids of each of the groups. The centroids are calculated as averages of most extreme centroids coordinates values. c [k, n] = (max [ p, k] - min [p, k])/2 5. Move each cluster center in direction of computed centroids. w = (w - c)/2 6. Repeat steps 2- 5 till clusters do not moves. Because K-means is computations intensive, especially step 2 (where data are partitioned in such a way as to minimize distances between points and clusters) and step 3 (where centroids are computed) it has been written in parallel version in C++ using MPI. To warrant repeatability of the results we add optional parameter--random numbers generator seed that determines selection of the initial clusters. Due to random initialization the algorithm may not find optimal solution. The improvement is to perform several test runs and to obtain final results, starting from points that are averaged positions of the clusters achieved during test runs. It raises the cost of the computations proportionally to the number of test runs. The same improvement can be applied to find optimal number of k. Performing test runs with different k parameter allows to estimate its proper value (according to chosen criterion). Typically the evaluation of the clusters quality is performed according to internal criteria that analyze their internal consistency [10]. Due to ununiform distribution of data points in representation space initial clusters are not randomly selected from n-dimensional unitary hypercube, because it creates empty clusters. Instead of it we randomly select data points which improves the results considerably. Because the density of large textual graphs (eg. Wikipedia references) is usually very small (Table 1) most of their coordinates have zero values. Computing the distances between all data points and centroids, straightly from the original formula, requires to repeat many times the same operation of computing sum squares of centroids coordinates. In view of the fact it is a crucial part of the algorithm with complexity O(n) and it is unacceptable, because it leads to complexity of one iteration O(k x [n.sup.2]). We introduce an improvement that allows to calculate distances in O(m/n) thus complexity of one iteration decreases to O(k x m). The improvement is based on compute and store squares of all distances of all k centroids at the beginning of each algorithm iteration. Then in phase where points are assigned to clusters the distances between points and centroids are computed using Formula 2. [absolute value of (C - P)] = [square root of ([C.sup.2] - [P.sup.2] - 2 (C o P))] where C is centroid, P is a data point and o is dot product. Square of a centroid distance [C.sup.2] is computed at the very beginning of iteration, the number of neighboring points of given [P.sup.2] point is given and C o P has average complexity O(m/n). Parallel K-means has been made with dividing the data points between processors equally and performing computations locally for the same clusters in each process. This approach requires to exchange local information between processors to obtain global values. Due to that main algorithm loop is executed synchronically. How ether it does not lead to idle times within main loop because computations are equally divided between all processors. All the processors in the algorithm are equal except the initial and the final phase where one of them sets up seed for the random numbers generator for all others with the MPI Bcast function. After the algorithm finishes, the one processor using MPI Reduce collects local assignments of the points to the clusters and stores whole clusters in separate files on a disc. At the end of assignment phase the MPI Allreduce function is executed to test the global stop condition. To compute new centroids as a means of each clusters in estimation phase MPI Allreduce is used. It computes global sum of the points in each cluster and the number of points in these cluster. 3.3 Eigenvectors and Eigenvalues One of the areas of applied algebra is data analysis with linear transformations. Most of these approaches is based on calculation of eigenvectors and eigenvalues [11] of data matrix D. These calculations are related to solving characteristic equation of input data det (D - [lambda]I ) = 0, where I is identity matrix and solutions to this equation are the eigenvalues [[lambda].sub.i]. Eigen analysis finds applications in spectral clustering where data partitioning is related to the second highest eigenvalue [12] or creates eigenspace where typical clustering is performed [2]. Using eigenvectors, high dimensional input data can be reduced and presented in less dimensional space. If reduced space is 2,3-dimensional it is possible to make visualizations of the data. One of the most well known methods to do that is Principal Component Analysis PCA [13] where projection of the initial data is performed into reduced space by a given number of the highest eigenvectors. Solving characteristic equation is a tough mathematical problem. Also their implementations are hard to be implemented as parallel. Due to the characteristic of our data (that are high dimensional and sparse) it is possible to apply iterative Lanczos algorithm [14] implemented in library arpack++ [15]. The algorithm calculates sequentially eigen pairs starting from the one with highest corresponding absolute eigenvalue. In this case performing eigen analysis is made sequentially. Using computed earlier clusters we are able to partition the data whose computations of eigens are computed on single processor for a separate group of the data. Due to that we are able to perform locally parallel data analysis and we are able to make visualization within subspaces formed by clusters. Sequential computations of eigenvectors do not allow to make global analysis of the data thus it is impossible for now to create eigen-space where spectral clustering is performed. 4. Results of Scalability The main goal of the experiments we made here was an evaluation of scalability of the computations in a function of the data size and used processors. The size of the data used in the experiment has been shown in Table 1. The scalability results of computing distance matrix in function of available processors have been shown in Table 2. The achieved results for SimpleWiki suggest the existence of some sequential factor. The implementation excludes such case, and the reason is in sequential access to the disc while storing results of computations. Also it is influenced by a non-uniform data distribution in source data--the number of referencesbetween articles is not uniform and it varies in each data package. The lack of the results for 2-8 processors for Polish Wikipedia is caused by the size of the input data, which did not allow to compute them in reasonable time while fewer than 16 processors were used. In Tables 3 and 4 we show the time results achieved by our k-means clustering algorithm in function of available processors and for different k parameters for Simple English Wikipedia and Polish Wikipedia respectively. What can be seen the clustering process is almost linear as well for k parameter as for the growing number of used processors. The small deviations from linearity are caused by the costs of communications between processors and final aggregation of ununiform distributed data within single process. While evaluating the results of eigen analysis we can consider only scalability according to the problem size, because as a basic computation block we use its sequential implementation. As we can see in the results presented in Table 5 there exists some sequential factor that does not depend on the number of outcoming pairs vector-value. It is caused by conversion of the input data to Compressed Sparse Column SCC format that is required by arpack++ library. The results we present for two datasets--the first is a cluster of n = 981 elements formed within Polish Wikipedia. The second is full simple English Wikipedia. 5. Eigen space visualizations and clustering quality One of the applications of spectral analysis is visualization of the data. Presenting the input data in a reduced subspace allows to obtain rough view of the dataset. Clustering quality, especially textual data may be measured according to the external criteria [16]. One of the popular measures is Purity that is calculated by counting the number of correctly assigned data points and dividing it by N (total their number), when each cluster c is assigned to the class u> that is most frequent in the cluster. It can be described with the Formula 3. To be able use this measure we need to possess referential set [OMEGA]. In our application we use Wikipedia category system and for each cluster we select the category that binds together most of its elements. The results of presented here experiments have been made on Polish Wikipedia data set. At the beginning we compute clusters with k-means clustering and k = 10. The results have been shown in Table 6. Respective times to obtain these results can be found in Table 4. What can be seen in the results, there have been formed nine relatively small clusters with high Purity and one very big cluster where all other articles, that couldn't be separated from others have been put. Next we may run again clustering with highest k parameter (which would lead to highest partitioning). Alternatively we may process the data within formed clusters separately what will produce hierarchical structure. To make visualizations from among clusters presented in Table 6 we choose the cluster with number eight. It contains articles that fall into general subject biology that is well defined generic Wikipedia category. The cluster has small density so additional groups of data should be easily extracted. In Figure 2 we show visualization of the Biology cluster represented with cosine similarity and projected into 2 dimensional space using two highest principal components. What can be seen, the data points tends to lay along straight lines. We evaluate the semantic interpretation of the points along lines manually and it shown some semantic similarity of the objects laying along the same lines. The object tends to group elements such as birds, reptiles, amphibians but Purity of such partitioning is low. There is much noise and it would be hard to make such semantic interpretation automatically. It is caused by the fact that the data representation based on links is a relatively weak approach for capturing text semantic. The second reason is the visualization which is performed in 2D. Note it is very big limitation that represents a complex category like a Biology using only two axes, even if they correspond to linear combinations of most distinctive features (what indeed performs PCA). 6. Applications 6.1 SOM Visualization Hierarchical systems of categories allow to effectively navigate over large datasets. The hierarchy allows to present data on different abstraction levels thus it is the one of most functional ways for organizing them. The main problem with the hierarchies is that if we process the complex data they tend to form more complicated structures than tree-like. The other issue is there can be more than one suitable structure for organizing the data especially if we want to see different aspects of the data. The categories are initially considered as tree-like structures that form hierarchies that organize the data using their generalizations represented as abstract concepts. As some concepts can be related to more than one parent the relations between categories form a graph. Thus its presentation with folder-like approach as it is used in eg. file systems misses many aspects of the data. Additional issues related to the cycles should be also considered here. To solve these problems for presentation of Wikipedia categories we use Self Organizing Maps [17] that allow to present topological similarities of the processed data. The SOM approach and its extension in the form of hierarchical and growing self organizing maps [18] has been used for documents organization [19], eg. in the WEBSOM [20]. Self organizing map (SOM) allows to present topological relations between categories that come from the same conceptual level. To efficiently calculate the SOM as a starting values of the weights we use eigen vectors calculated for space visualization (section 5) The SOM presentation takes into consideration distances between categories. The distances are used to represent the similarities between categories. In Figure 3 we present a top Self Organizing Map for categories from the highest Simple Wikipedia hierarchy level. As different categories may activate the same neurons in Figure 3 instead of inserting around each of the neuron labels we mark them with colors specified to the categories. The place where the category label is displayed has been delimited with the center of the shape formed from the neurons activation for a particular category. The centroid has been calculated according the formula 4. where [m.sub.k] denotes position of the centroid for k category and [S.sub.i] is the values of neuron activations related to that category. The resulting map describes here common-feature similarities between categories that can be easily changed introducing different ways for calculating the distance. Eg. we can strengthen particular features and in this way obtain different visualizations that show other aspects of the similarity of the categories [21]. Beside visualizations the SOM method allows also to narrow the number of processed objects. The main idea is to narrow the search results (presented on SOM) by introducing additional features obtained by the interaction with the user [22], what is the our plan for the future visualizations development. 6.2 Clustering search results The parallel version of k-means algorithm evaluated in section 3.2 we used in our prototype system named Wiki Cluster Search. It automatically organizes the results of searching Wikipedia for a given keyword. In the system, user may specify a searched phrase and the articles containing it are organized into clusters in the fly. It allows to present directions in which user may continue his or her search. Our initial implementation has been created for Polish Wikipedia. Wiki Cluster Search (WCS) has demonstrated the proposed approach can be used to obtain a good quality hierarchy of clusters. The system is available on line under Universal Search. Wiki Cluster Search is written in C# in .NET 3.5 environment. Client side uses the advantage of ASP.MVC 2.0 technology combined with jQuery JavaScript library. The system is built in modular architecture, each one is responsible for performing a different task. Main modules are presented in Figure 4. Modular architecture allows to encapsulate functionalities and test different approaches to system key elements: --Data acquisition--the module is responsible for providing the data. The data may be used from off line version of Wikipedia when local databases are used. This approach ensure high efficiency of data processing as they can be accessible immediately. The drawback of this approach is the data may be in actual. The other approach is to use on-line data that are for each user query obtained from the Internet. This may cause efficiency problems while queries that index large amount of articles are processed. Due to that we use here local cache that is periodically cleaned up. --Data preprocessing--the module is responsible for crating computational representation of the articles. In current implementation we used joint representation based on words and article references. As this step is crucial for obtaining good results of automatic categorization in future we plan to extend it with usage more advanced methods of extracting characteristic text features. --Data clustering--the module provides algorithms for grouping the data. In our current implementation we used k-means algorithm that is performed in the space reduced with selecting the most significant eigenvectors. In future we plan to test density based approach [23] and clustering with passing the messages [24]. --Cluster labeling module allows to implement a method for adding the labels to clusters. Here we can apply many approaches eg. usage most frequent words in a cluster. In our implementation we employ the fact that we operate on Wikipedia articles and we use more frequent category that binds together articles in a cluster. In Figure 5 we present an example of system user interface. It shows clusters formed by WCS system for articles retrieved from PolishWikipedia for a query 'jdro' (kernel). As it can be seen clusters create different conceptual directions in which user may continue his or her search. 7. Discussion and Future Directions Effective analysis of the large textual data is a basis for automatic text classification. The experiments presented here aim to research opportunities to use advances in clustering process from the usage of larger computational power. Good scalability of clustering shows that the K-means algorithm can be made parallely and this process can be sped up with adding more processors. In future we plan to experiment with different similarity measures to obtain partitioning of the data according to selected (with the similarity measure) aspects of the data [8]. The k-means algorithm even calculated in eigenspace has many drawbacks so we plan to replace it with other more effective approaches like improved DBSCAN [25] and clustering with passing messages [24]. We think they will rise additional issues that should be solved to parallelize these algorithms. In the results of our experiments we do not find straight relation between k and the number of k-means iterations. It is probably caused by high diversity of data density and random initialization of algorithm. In case of k-means round-robin approach for data partitioning was sufficient to balance the computations. The situation in partitioning data differs while we compute distance matrix--partitioning the data into blocks does not allow to eliminate heterogeneity of data density. Some solutions can be introduced here eg. modifications of round-robin partitioning of data blocks that takes into account data densities. In the experiments we find the existence of some fixed sequential factors caused by sequential access to the disc storage. It appeared even when each process wrote to different files. Probably this could be changed in configurations of computational cluster. For larger data sets eigen analysis should be parallelized to allow to obtain global view of the data. We also find other approaches for multidimensional scaling that use sequential computing of eigens [26]. This approach also requires to set up a parameter that constructs computation subspaces. Local Linear Embedding requires k nearest neighbors as an algorithm parameter while we have to define the number of k clusters. Thus these approaches are conceptually similar. In future we plan to make parallel implementation of computation eigenvalues and eigenvectors to be able to make global data analysis. The challenge here will be to warrant effective access to the data on a disc storage and reduce interprocessor communication costs. We also want to compare our parallel implementations with implementations on GPU. The effective implementation of basic operations for information retrieval: --calculating the similarity --computing eigenvectors and values have been used in our systems aiming at improving searching information inWikipedia. The initial implementation shows the SOM can be used as additional component for graphical presenting category structure. The clustering allowed to improve looking trough search results especially when the number of retrieved items were high. The system presented in section 6.2 clusters only search results retrieved with a specified keyword. We also plan to perform experiments on large scale clustering - it is on the whole Wikipedia. Here instead of performing clustering within limited dataset (with specified by the user keywords) we compute whole Wikipedia. The experiments using well tuned clustering algorithm will allow to improve category system of Wikipedia finding missing and identify wrong assignments articles to categories. Received: 18 July 2012, Revised 12 September 2012, Accepted 21 September 2012 8. Acknowledgments This work has been supported by the National Center for Research and Development (NCBiR) under research Grant No. SP/I/1/77065/10 SYNAT: "Establishment of the universal, open, hosting and communication, repository platform for network resources of knowledge to be used by science, education and open knowledge society". The author would like also to thank Adam Gaca for his contribution to the application development. [1] Berkhin, P. (2006). 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Semantic web: Asking the right questions, In: Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Information and Management Sciences. California Polytechnic State University Press, p. 1-8. [22] Deptua, M., Szyma'nski, J., Krawczyk, H. (2012). Interactive information search in big data collections, Studies in Computational Intelligence Springer (in print). [23] Wang, C., Duo, C. (2007). An improved density-based dbscan clustering algorithm, Journal of Guangxi Normal University Natural Science Edition, 25 (4) 104. [24] Frey, B., Dueck, D. (2007). Clustering by passing messages between data points, Science, 315 (5814) 972. [25] Birant, D., Kut, A. (2007). St-dbscan: An algorithm for clustering spatial-temporal data, Data & Knowledge Engineering, 60 (1) 208-221. [26] Roweis, S., Saul, L. (2000). Nonlinear dimensionality reduction by locally linear embedding, Science, 290 (5500) 2323-2326. Julian Szymanski Department of Computer Systems Architecture Faculty of Electronics, Telecommunications and Informatics Gdansk University of Technology, Poland Table 1. The characteristics of the datasets Wikipedia File size Articles References Density [%] number (n) number (m) Simple 8.9 MB 61822 2172829 0.0569 Polish 106 MB 712734 26403853 0.0052 Table 2. Scalability of computing distance matrix in function of available processors Wikipedia Time according to processors number 2 4 8 16 32 Simple 15 m 26 s 9 m 32 s 6 m 27 s 5 m 19 s 3 m 25 s Polish -- -- -- 225 m 50 s 154 m 59 s Wikipedia Size of the data file Simple 1.4 GB Polish 265 GB Table 3. Scalability of clustering Simple English Wikipedia. Number of Time according to the number clusters (k) of processors 1 2 4 8 10 3 m 31 s 1 m 47 s 59 s 29 s 20 7 m 36 s 3 m 47 s 2 m 1 m 40 49 m 51 s 25 m 11 s 13 m 25 s 6 m 20 s 80 49 m 45 s 24 m 49 s 13 m 11 s 6 m 11 s 160 96 m 58 s 50 m 5 s 26 m 13 s 13 m 4 s Number of Time according to the Number of iterations clusters (k) number of processors 16 32 10 17 s 11 s 14 20 33 s 20 s 16 40 3 m 13 s 1 m 51 s 54 80 3 m 11 s 1 m 52 s 27 160 6 m 43 s 3 m 38 s 26 Table 4. Scalability of clustering Polish Wikipedia Number of Time according to the number of processors clusters (k) 4 8 16 32 10 45 m 3 s 23 m 18 s 12 m 21 s 6 m 43 s 20 65 m 11 s 34 m 39 s 17 m 34 s 9 m 44 s 40 164 m 3 s 90 m 36 s 46 m 31 s 24 m 57 s 80 498 m 16 s 258 m 8 s 139 m 12 s 72 m 21 s 160 1847 m 7 s 1023 m 36 s 564 m 36 s 311 m 1 s Number of Number of iterations clusters (k) 10 35 20 28 40 39 80 59 160 107 Table 5. Scalability of computing x most significant eigenvalues and eigenvectors pairs n Type of input Size of matrix format input data 981 list of neighborhoods 132 kB full similarity matrix 3.7 MB 61822 list of neighborhoods 8.9 MB (Simple Wikipedia) full similarity matrix 1.4 GB Type of input Time [s] according to number of pairs x matrix format 1 2 4 8 16 32 list of neighborhoods 0.055 0.075 0.089 0.118 0.151 0.352 full similarity matrix 0.35 0.41 0.50 0.68 0.85 1.69 list of neighborhoods 5.9 6.5 7.3 9.7 10.9 20.4 full similarity matrix 183 188 219 315 333 524 Table 6. Clustering results Cluster Subject matter Purity Articles number(n) 1 Variety 0.1 713373 2 Poland 0.82 125 3 Accounts 1 6 4 Planetoids 0.69 2278 5 Ireland 0.91 43 6 Computers 0.88 53 7 People 0.61 53489 8 Biology 0.79 22555 9 Alliances 0.91 116 10 Railways 0.93 425 Cluster Number of references (m) Cluster Density [%] 1 19139451 0.0038 2 12945 82.8 3 19 52.7 4 82083 1.58 5 1677 90.6 6 2213 78.7 7 2256391 0.078 8 376728 0.074 9 13144 97.6 10 175978 97.4 COPYRIGHT 2012 Digital Information Research Foundation Copyright 2012 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved. Article Details Printer friendly Cite/link Email Feedback Author:Szymanski, Julian Publication:Journal of Digital Information Management Article Type:Report Date:Dec 1, 2012 Previous Article:Creating multi-level class hierarchy for question classification with NP analysis and WordNet. Next Article:Snippets and component-based authoring tools for reusing and connecting documents.

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