text
stringlengths 263
344k
| id
stringlengths 47
47
| dump
stringclasses 23
values | url
stringlengths 16
862
| file_path
stringlengths 125
155
| language
stringclasses 1
value | language_score
float64 0.65
1
| token_count
int64 57
81.9k
| score
float64 2.52
4.78
| int_score
int64 3
5
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/021,242, filed Feb. 10, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,570,176, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/038,155 filed Feb. 10, 1997, the teachings of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of detecting and measuring bioluminescence.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Specifically the present invention relates to in situ measurements of bioluminescence intensity in the ocean and other bodies of water. Bioluminescence is one measure of the number and type of organisms in water, which is helpful in understanding population dynamics and certain sound transmission characteristics of water.
Bioluminescence in aquatic environments comes from a wide variety of sources. Tett and Kelly (Oceanogr. Mar. Biol. Ann. Rev, 1973, p 89–173) gives a detailed review of the physics of the measurements, and a phyletic review. Many different species, belonging to most of the phyla exhibit bioluminescence, including Bacteria, Dinoflagellates, Radiolaria, Hydrozoa, Siphonophora, Scyphozoa, Anthozoa, Ctenophora, Polychaeta, Lamellibrachiata, Cephalopoda, Crustacea, Urochordata and Actinopterygii. Studies indicate that these organisms use bioluminescence for a great variety of vital functions. It is an important mechanism for understanding physiological processes. Work has shown that certain species can be identified on the basis of their bioluminescence. Clearly it is one of the commonest radiative processes of organisms as well as one of the most complex. As such, a considerable body of research has accumulated; in fact there is a Journal of Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence.
Beginning in the 1940's, instrumentation for quantitative measurements of bioluminescence was developed in several countries. Yentsch and Yentsch (Oceanogr. Maar. Biol. Ann. Rev, 1984, p 55–98), and Gitelson and Levin (Jour Bioluminescence and Chemiluminescence, 1989, p 555–562) describe some of the technology. A more recent paper by Case et al, (Naval Research Reviews, Two 1993, p 31–41) gives a good overview and bibliography. Also, there are several U.S. patents describing techniques and instrumentation for observing bioluminescence. See for example:
- U.S. Pat. No. 4,563,331 to Losee and Lapota, “System for measuring bioluminescence flash kinetics”
- U.S. Pat. No. 4,689,305 to Stiffey, Blank and Loeb, “Solid-state photometer circuit”
- U.S. Pat. No. 4,978,854 to Lapota, Mastny, Copeland, “Bioluminescent detector”
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,264,906 to Fever, Case, Widder, Bernstein, Lowenstine, “Biolumescence bathyphotometer”
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,035 to Gooch, “Bioluminescent algae in light bulb shaped viewing device”
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,565,360 to Lapota, Mastny, Copeland, Rosenberger, “Biolumescent bioassay system”
The foregoing instrumentation literature and patents describe tailored systems for fairly specific applications, such as laboratory apparatus to study isolated organisms, or determination of organism response to certain physical or chemical stimulus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The specificity of the foregoing research objectives overlooks the more flexible observation strategies available in accordance with the present invention which utilizes a suite of small, inexpensive, stable, robust building blocks to make, in concert with other sensors, practical synoptic observations of bioluminescence at ocean fronts, where differing water masses meet.
Accordingly, the present invention provides an economical underway bioluminescence detector that can be used for vertical profiles, horizontal profiles at a fixed depth, or in a vertically undulating mode. The detector is compact and can be attached to a towed or autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV). The vehicle's motion causes water to flush through a grid in the detector housing to generate the requisite turbulence within the instrument for stimulation of luminescent organisms, which provides a measurement of bioluminescence. The detector can also be used for moored (stationary) applications.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention a submersible bioluminescence detector system is comprised of a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port and a grid disposed at the inlet port in the path of water entering the inlet port to exite organisms in the water to exhibit bioluminescence. The bioluminescence is detected by a photodetector disposed in an hermetically sealed optically clear envelope facing the grid. The biodetector generates a first bioluminescence electrical signal. An analog or digital circuit samples, integrates and amplifies the electrical signal and transmits the signal to a host computer for further processing and display.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The foregoing and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of preferred embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a schematicized side sectional diagram of a first embodiment of a bioluminescence detector of the invention showing major components.
FIG. 2A is a circuit block diagram of the detector of FIG. 1.
FIG. 2B is a plot of the output signal 40 of the photo detector 16 of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 2C is a plot of the voltage output signal 44 of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 2D is a plot of the integrator reset signal 46 of FIG. 2A.
FIG. 2E is a plot of the Vout signal 48 after it is processed at a 24 Hz dV/dt data rate.
FIG. 3 is a detailed circuit diagram of the detector of FIG. 1.
FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram of a second embodiment of a bioluminescence detector of the invention.
FIG. 5A is a detail circuit diagram of the detector of FIG. 4.
FIG. 5B is a detail circuit diagram of the detector of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a plot of digital sampling protocol curves of the invention.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view of an unshrouded propeller detector version of the invention.
FIG. 8A is a front view of an excitation grid.
FIG. 8B is a back view of an excitation grid.
FIG. 8C is a side view of an excitation grid.
FIG. 9 is a front view of a shrouded propeller detector embodiment.
FIG. 10 is a side view of a self contained, internally logging, lowered embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a schematic drawing of a moored embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of the invention will now be described in connection therewith. In its simpler form as shown in FIG. 7, the device consists of a bioluminescence detector 10 having an excitation device such as a grid 12, a viewing chamber or observing tube 14, and a detector 16. A flow of water 20 passes through the grid and detector as the device is towed along the water. The detector 16 is housed in a transparent inner envelope or housing 22 made of, for example, glass. Associated electronics 24 may also be mounted in housing 22. The housing or envelope 22 is enclosed in a chamber 26 which is provided with exhaust flutes (not shown) to enable the incoming water 20 to escape. An optional bead thermistor 28 is mounted inside chamber 26 to measure the water temperature. Support bracket 30 is attached to an end of the outer housing or viewing tube 18 opposite excitation grid 12. A pressure transducer 32, a power/data cable 34 coupled to an external host on a towing vehicle and the inner housing 22 are mounted on bracket 30. An optional aft viewing photo detector 36 is mounted adjacent grid 12 facing the first photodiode 16.
The apparatus of FIG. 1 provides a simple interface for commonly used data collection systems, the detector system can be adapted to a number of existing underwater vehicles, instrumented platforms, or can be mounted to the hull of a ship. As will be shown in connection with FIG. 3, the low power requirements for the detector 16 eliminate the need for a dedicated power source, allowing operating power to be drawn from the data acquisition system via the data cable 34.
The observing tube 14 is typically fabricated of a plastic such as polyvinyl chloride, and is preferably about 50 cm in overall length with openings at each end typically 5 to 10 cm in diameter. The volume viewed by the sensor 16 is typically 12 to 20 cm deep giving a particle residence time of 30 to 40 ms when the device 10 is towed at 8 kts. The straight flow-through of water 20 obviates the need for pumps or impellers which require power and control. Measurement of flow through the sensor, or a flow calibration based on the motion of the vehicle on which the sensor is mounted may be required however. The overall tube length to diameter ratio is important in determining the actual water flow through the sensor at a given vehicle velocity. A ratio of less than 5 has been found preferable to that used in the past where the flushing rate is insufficient.
The excitation grid 12, (see FIG. 8) typically has a grid spacing 17 of 1 cm and a diameter of about 5 cm. The grid is held in place with a removable ring 15 or is laced with light gauge stainless steel wire (not shown). Other grid spacings or geometries can be easily substituted. Grid materials are typically plastics, stainless steel or other non-reactive metals. On systems requiring flash kinetics or relatively long residence times, an aftward facing photodiode 36 is implemented. To reduce drag, it is embedded in the plastic of a center grid structure as shown. The detector will observe any organism up to the size of the excitation grid 12.
The need to minimize ambient light background is addressed by blackening the exterior walls 18 of the viewing chamber 14 and grid; or mounting the device 10 in a shaded location on the host vehicle (not shown).
By keeping the drag minimal with a small physical size, the detector system 10 can be adapted to a number of existing towed or self-propelled underwater vehicles (AUVs). Mounting to the host can be achieved by a simple clamp assembly, or the use of fasteners extending through the chamber wall 18. Depending on where the detector 10 is mounted on the host vehicle, a calibration should be made for the flow rate through the detector versus the speed of the host vehicle. The robust construction of the system 10 allows it to be used at the maximum speed or depth of any known vehicle in the ocean.
The end of the viewing tube 14 may be provided with a zinc ring weight 35 at the intake end to provide a drop rate of a nominal 4 meters/sec. In an expendable version the tapered trailing end may contain a supply of wire (not shown) that spools off as the probe drops away. A small onboard battery (not shown) may provide power to operate the device for 45 minutes, although a 350 meter drop takes only 90 seconds. Data frames are transmitted at 10 frames/sec.
Previous bathyphotometer designs rely on a Photo Multiplier Tube (PMT). The high sensitivity of a PMT is desirable, but practical concerns are the high voltage supply associated with PMT's, the inability to operate in daylight without damage, and the physical size of such an assembly. The alternative technology used herein is the photodiode with a sensitivity below that of the PMT. An optimized photodiode will, however, measure bioluminescent activity. When constructing a photodiode based detector as shown in FIG. 2A, the primary limits are noise current and the device capacitance between the diode and the amplifier. By using an integrating transimpedance amplifier, as described herein, sensor noise with sensor signal 40 (FIG. 2B) is averaged and subsequently reduced. Rather than using high feedback resistors (>10 M Ohms) as in conventional amplifiers, a combination of a small integrating capacitor C1 and the modest integrating time of integrator 42 provides equivalent or better gains than obtainable with feedback resistor topologies.
A detail diagram of the sensor circuit of FIG. 2A is shown in FIG. 3.
This circuit uses a 7.75 mm2 surface area photodiode that injects current into an integrator circuit 42. When the output signal 44 (FIG. 2C) reaches a specified threshold, say 4.75 volts, the integrator is reset by analog switch 45. The system then proceeds to integrate from zero volts again. This handles the broad band of biological light signals found in the ocean, ranging from discrete flashes to continuums. The data are analyzed by measuring the voltage and taking the differential from the previous measurement as output signal 48 (FIG. 2E). Any output condition that results in a negative value triggers an integrator reset signal 46 (FIG. 2D) from one-shot multi-vibrator 52. The magnitude of the signal for each period is linearly related to the light detected. Sensitivity and dynamic range is a function of sampling frequency and the integrating capacitor C1. This detector system permits use of a relatively slow acquisition speed (<25 Hz), for example, and a use of auxiliary conductivity, temperature and depth recording (CTD) measurement devices, to quantify activity between sensor sampling points.
Where there is connectivity to the observing ship (not shown), a real time computer program can be used to display the data.
Gain is set by the value of the integrating capacitor C1. An inverting amplifier stage 50, coupled to the output of integrator 42 is also provided for driving balanced output bifilar wire or twisted pairs in excess of 500 meters (not shown), coupled across jacks J1-2 and J1-3. An electronic analog switch in parallel with the integrating capacitor (C1) allows the integrator 42 to be reset. To perform resets, the aforementioned monostable multivibrator 52 is used to detect the reset threshold voltage (nominally 4.75 volts) from integrator 72 and to provide a uniform logic level reset pulse for the integrator. This reset is required to make the circuit stable, otherwise a race condition could exist.
Power for the electronics may be derived, from an external DC source (not shown) via J1-4 and is regulated to 9 volts by an onboard voltage regulator VR1. Alternatively, by reconfiguring the circuit as shown, the device can be made to operate from three coin type batteries B1, B2, B3 in Series or a single 9V equivalent.
This self-contained active detector 10 with driver circuit 50 has the ability to drive signals over long lengths of wire, thus the sensor could be deployed in an expendable manner from aircraft or other high speed vessels. This active solution is an improvement over prior art expendable devices since it overcomes the Johnson noise attributed to wire resistance and bandwidth limitations due to wire capacitance. For the lowest level of observable bioluminescence, the passive design of the prior art can not overcome its inherent noise floor. For the present active system, even the brightest observable measurements, or even with the sensor on deck during daylight for that matter, the highest integrating ramp up frequency does not exceed 500 Hz, which is well within the bandwidth for expendable bifilar wire technologies. The analog amplifier of FIG. 3 has excellent stability in high vibration environments such as those experienced by underwater vehicles; far better than PMT's.
For more demanding applications, a second preferred embodiment will now be described in the form of the digital system 60 of FIGS. 4–6. The fundamental improvements provided by the digital system are the ability to perform two or more zone light measurements, direct pressure (depth), and temperature measurement, digital programmability, economy, and digital data transmission. Referring now to the block diagram of FIG. 4 and the circuit of FIGS. 5A–B there is shown a first forward looking photodiode 116A which detects bioluminescence 70 and injects current into an integrator 142A. At a fixed rate (say 160 Hz) the output A0 of the integrator 142A is digitized in A-D converter 110. If the value is below a low end threshold (6.25% of full scale), the integrator 142A is not reset. If the output value, however, is above this low end value, the integrator 142A is reset by a reset signal from microcontroller 112 on line RBO and the output value is summed into a register (not shown) in microcontroller 112. The dynamic range, now becomes a function of how often the integrator can be read and potentially reset. Since this device supports multi-channel analog to digital conversions, temperature and pressure sensors RT and PZ respectively measure pressure and temperature directly and these values are coupled to A-D converter 110 on lines A1, A2, respectively.
The detector of FIG. 4 can be used to measure bioluminescence from two zones, i.e., forward and aft as will be described in detail below in connection with the schematic of FIGS. 5A–B. For a two zone measurement two problems must be solved. First, the fundamental optical source to detector problem of 1/r2 light extinction is addressed by detecting synoptically the light field in the chamber. In theory, a point light source that is 10 cm from the detector is measured at only 1% of its actual value. In practice however, a point source in a chamber with reflecting walls is measured at 10% of its actual value. Since the chamber length is dictated by the requirement for certain residence times, the preferred overall chamber length is typically 50 cm and the sensor/detector may be located about 20 cm from the grid. As noted previously, a second sensor 36 is provided for viewing aft of the flow to improve this measurement. By measuring both fields of light, the light source can be determined as being bright and far away, bright and close, or not so bright and close, relative to each of the detectors.
The second problem relates to the study of bioluminescence known as flash kinetics. Certain species of bioluminescent organisms, may flash bright when initially striking the grid 12, and then decay fast enough to not contribute significant light when close to the detector. Others may ramp up to full brightness just in time to be measured in close proximity to the sensor. By comparing both synoptic measurements, fundamental kinetics can be determined.
A schematic diagram showing further details of the two zone circuit is shown in FIGS. 5A–B. The key components are the aforementioned PIC microcontroller 112, two self contained integrating amplifiers 142A, 142B and photodiodes 116A, 116B, respectively for the forward and aft sensors; a thermistor R1 and temperature amplifier A1, a pressure transducer P1 and an instrumentation amplifier A2, a four channel 12 bit analog to digital converter 110, and a line level driver 109. A voltage regulator 108 and/or a battery is provided depending upon whether a battery on board system is required or not. The system may be powered externally via jack J1-3. The PIC operates at 4 MHz as controlled by clock oscillator 107 which gives it a fast enough instruction time to encode the data from the sensors as Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) tones or other software UART outputs to balanced output line driver 109. Power may be supplied from an external host in the range of 6 to 18 V at a nominal current of 20 mA at input jack J1-3 to voltage regulator 108. For single zone measurements, the Aft viewing integrator 142B and photodiode 116B may be removed. Gain is governed by the value of the integrating capacitor (not shown) and can be set at a span of 10 to 1 by using jumpers J3 and J4 coupled to terminals 5 and 6 of integrating amplifier 142A for the Forward viewing sensor 116A, and jacks J5 and J6 for the Aft viewing sensor 116B. Temperature compensation is provided as a correction derived from the onboard temperature measurement from the A1 input to terminal 4 of A-D converter 110. For EIA-232 outputs at J1-2, the signal is taken directly from the line driver 109 Output line A at terminal 14 with respect to ground. For FSK or differential baseband signals similar to EIA-485 driving an expendable bifilar wire, or a long submarine cable, the signals are taken from the line driver 109 as true and inverted signals. Connector jacks J2-1 through 4 on microcontroller 112 are used for calibration of Frame, Sample Rate, and power supply status. Two jacks J2-4 and 5 are also provided for “in circuit” programming as supported by the PIC microcontroller 112. Optical data input and output signaling is provided by a photo transistor 102 and light emitting diode 104 pair. These may be used for communications through the glass envelope 22 of FIG. 1.
The optical data feature is intended for use in a “smart” expendable launcher that will communicate directly with the device 10 checking clock speed and calibration parameters. The expendable launcher would also have the ability to pass commands to operate at a different sampling rate prior to launch.
As previously noted; power for the device may also be provided by an onboard battery, and there are a number of options for self powering of the circuit. One is to use a miniature battery in the range of 9 to 12 volts with the existing voltage regulator. The second is to use 2 coin type batteries to generate 6 volts. All the parts used in the circuit operate in the range of 4 to 6 volts and will stay in specification. Both temperature and pressure are made as ratiometric measurements and therefore offer excellent power supply variation error rejection.
A host real time data display (not shown) can provide graphical representations of probe depth and fall rates, temperature, and bioluminescence from the data collected by the device 10.
Since the data stream are audio bandwidth frequencies, simple transmitters can be used making air dropped expendable bioluminescence detectors economically feasible. The pressure sensor is of an economical surface mount type.
The sampling protocol used in accordance with the invention is shown in FIG. 6. The sampling timing is defined as the interval between individual data characters. Preferably the data will be in decimal ASCII form, as shown, but the software can be changed to output the data in a direct binary or hexadecimal form. Data output from the circuit are presented as unprocessed counts and are processed by a host computer (not shown) at the surface, although the programmability of the sensor would allow for calibration coefficients to be loaded into the sensor for real time processed output. In practical terms, however post processing at the surface in pseudo real time is quite satisfactory. An example data stream for a single light sensing detector is shown in curves FIG. 6 to be:
C3C2C1 is a repeating cyclical bit counter used to detect data dropouts (0 to 999),
P3P2P1 is the pressure bytes (0 to 999),
B5B4B3B2B1 is the bioluminescence bytes (0 to 65535),
T3T2T1 is the temperature bytes (0 to 999),
<CR><LF> is a delimiting carriage return bit and line feed bit.
FIG. 6 illustrates the timing for the sample interval and the integrator reset. Data is presented as a field or frame at 10 Hz. In the case shown, there are 16 ASCII characters or bytes making up the frame, thus the sampling interval (S×) is 6.25 mS at 1200 Baud. If the integrator output is above the reset threshold, the values measured are summed into the B5B4B3B2B1 (bioluminescence) register in the microcontroller 112 and the integrator 142A (FIG. 5B) is reset. At timing intervals S9 and S10, the output of the integrator (see line 3) is below the reset threshold of 6–25% and consequently the integrator 142A is not reset, nor are these values summed into the total frame value. At S11 in the example, the value is added to the frame sum for bioluminescence. Temperature and pressure (not shown) are measured at every sampling interval regardless of integrator value. The measurements made during a frame are reflected in the next frames data string, thus the latency from measurement to output is 100 mS. By sampling the integrator at the individual bits that make up an ASCII character the dynamic range can be extended by a factor of 10. Increasing the baud rate can also increase the sampling frequency when using this protocol.
Photodiodes respond to a fairly wide range of wavelengths; the preferred sensor measures signals in the band of 400 to 800 nm. Optical filtering can be provided as appropriate for the specific bands of observations. The housing 22 is not limited to an envelope design. The circuit may be potted in a clear plastic material since no trimming of the circuit is required. The digital circuit of FIGS. 5A–B supports in circuit programming, so the only concern before potting is selecting the appropriate integrating capacitor setting.
The device may be attached to a vehicle which repeatedly moves vertically up and down from the sea surface to a depth of approximately 120 meters while being towed horizontally. Other sensors such as CTD's and fluorometers may also be mounted on such vehicles. From these observations, a vertical cross-section of the water body can be constructed, and the various attributes correlated. The sensor signals when processed and displayed produce a “patchy” distribution of bioluminescent organisms along a fourteen kilometer long profiles. The “patches” are commonly observed at fronts between water masses.
An expendable version of the bathyphotometer can be achieved by re-programming the microcontroller 112 to generate EIA 485 or FSK tones (Bell 202, for example) for transmission over a light gauge wire to a host interface on the surface for relaying to a GPS satellite receiver.
Another mode of deployment of the device 10 would be as a hard hull mounted on a surface ship, submarine, or an autonomous or remotely operated underwater vehicle. This version would offer lower drag, since it need not contain temperature and pressure sensors. These parameters are commonly available on the host vehicle, so the trade-off allows the sensor housing to be as small as possible to lower drag. Another alternative is to take advantage of the bioluminescence that is produced by the host vehicles propeller(s) and mount the sensor adjacent the propeller. In the case of an unshrouded propeller 204, as in FIG. 7, a digital detector 200 and 202, respectively, could be encapsulated in a clear plastic or glass housing that is embedded in the propeller mount 210 or hull 220 of the host vehicle 208. This system will provide a gross measurement of bioluminescence, useful for tracking fronts or detecting the threshold of detectable light as seen from the surface. The detectors 200 placed in the propeller mount are generally placed viewing aft. When a propeller is shrouded, the photodiodes 200 and 220 that make up a two zone sensor (with no practical limit on additional zones) could be embedded in the shroud 230 (FIG. 9) viewing the propeller 204. Coaxial leads 232 couple the photodiode signals to integrating amplifiers on board the host vehicle. For systems where the inside diameter of the shroud is less than 20 cm, a single detector may be adequate, for larger diameters, multiple detectors should be distributed throughout the housing to reduce the loss of measurable light due to 1/r2 extinction. The shrouded propeller offers the additional optical advantage that it confines the viewing area to a known volume.
Another mode of deployment would be on instrument packages lowered or free fall dropped vertically into the water column. Lowering and ascent rates are typically slower than horizontal traverses, sometimes requiring a different grid to achieve comparable excitation. A self contained device 10′, that stores data internally is shown in FIG. 10, to include a 9 volt battery 240 which provides power for a number of profiles. Data may be transferred optically using the aforementioned optocouplers 102/104 of FIG. 5A through the glass pressure housing 22 eliminating the need for an electro-mechanical bulkhead connector or the need to open the case to off-load data. A magnetic reed switch 250 can be used to power up the instrument.
By mechanically reconfiguring the sensor 10″, it can be made to look into an integrating sphere 304 (FIG. 11) for low powered moored applications. A number of flutes or holes 300, about 2 cm in diameter are distributed around the lower half of the sphere to allow a natural exchange of water. A mechanical device 302, such as a propeller, periodically excited (say at 3.75 minute intervals) agitates the water mass, triggering bioluminescent activity. The excitation time is closely regulated (say 25 seconds), the total integrated light over that time is proportional to the amount of available bioluminescence.
Data from the sensors 303 are transmitted digitally over cable 310 to the host logging system. The analog version FIG. 2A of the sensor system would be suitable for this application, although it will require the data logging system at the surface host to digitize somewhere on the order of 10 Hz or greater. The outer surface 306 of the sphere 304 is made opaque by black paint and the inner surface 308 is white. Power for the motor 307 of the agitator 302 is supplied by the host via cable 310. Mounting bracket 330 is provided with bolt holes 332 for mooring the sphere 304.
The device of the invention is capable of providing the following features and advantages:
- 1. Low Cost of Fabrication: The fundamental circuit and housing materials cost are below $100. This enables the instrument to be manufactured at an affordable cost, that will allow wide spread use.
- 2. The analog embodiment of FIGS. 1–3 is easily interfaced to existing oceanographic data acquisition systems. Since it is an active detector, it overcomes the wire resistance Johnson noise and threshold limits of previous expendable designs.
- 3. The digital version of FIGS. 4–6 which includes: a microcontroller with communications and control routines provides an adaptable, re-programmable bioluminescence “engine” that also measures two other key parameters, temperature and pressure. By reconfiguring the mechanical design, a number of bioluminescence measuring problems can be solved. The “engine” can also be used to measure other optical or oceanographic properties. This engine solves the communications problem for long wire sensors.
- 4. The sampling routine used in the digital embodiment extends the low end sensitivity, as well as increasing the high end dynamic range.
- 5. Simplicity: The device uses readily available components that are easily second sourced. Manufacturing does not rely on high tech processes. The system can be easily assembled by hand.
- 6. Dual Zone Measurement: To overcome well understood optical emitter (bioluminescence) to detector limitations, a two zone measurement can be made. These synoptic measurements are also used to provide a fundamental kinetics measurement of bioluminescence. In certain applications, only one sensor is used, and the unused circuitry can be omitted.
- 7. Interchangable Chamber Geometries: The basic engine provides bioluminescence, temperature and pressure (depth) measurement data. Changing the chamber length or grid normally changes the drop rate in expendables. The direct pressure measurement negates the need to model drop rates for different geometries. The small housing size and large orifice reduces excitation before an organism passes through the sensor viewing chamber.
- 8. Low Power Consumption: The power requirements for the basic engine is less than 100 mW. The operating voltage can be as low as 2.7 V by selecting a different version microcontroller.
- 9. Compact Design: The overall length of the instrument 10 is approximately 50 cm, with an outside diameter of about 6 cm. Weight in the water is 300 grams. The basic sensor housing 22 can be as small as 10 cm, with a diameter of 3 cm. Surface mount technology will yield even a smaller sensor.
- 10. Expendable: The engine can be used to generate 1200 to 2400 Baud FSK tones for long wire (>1 km) applications or differential digital (similar to EIA-485) signals for digital data transmission. The low power requirements make coin battery type applications possible, and the economics of the design allow the device to be expendable.
- 11. Air Deployable: The expendable version is compact enough to be air deployed. Since this design uses FSK transmission, existing transmitters and receivers can be used.
- 12. Tow Vehicle Mounted: The basic compact design can be attached to a tow vehicle with little impact on drag and weight dynamics. The digital or analog output is interfaced to onboard data acquisition systems. For a dedicated tow system, the “engine” can send data digitally over two km of tow cable.
- 13. Autonomous Underwater Vehicle version: Two configurations for AUVs are possible. The first is a flow through design that has a low drag small chamber length. The second design takes advantage of the excitation of bioluminescent organisms by the propeller of the AUV (when appropriate).
- 14. Moored Version: In this version the engine is directed into a sphere with a white interior. This geometry is known in optical terms as an “integrating sphere”. A motor turns an agitator to stimulate bioluminescent activity. This is performed at regular intervals. Small holes on the bottom of the sphere allow a natural exchange of water.
- 15. Hull Mounted Version: This version can be mounted either through the hull, in line with the sea chest for example, or in an exterior compact design to allow real time underway surface measurements.
- 16. Graphical Display Software: A real time display program has been developed. It displays drop rate, forward viewing bioluminescence, aft viewing bioluminescence, temperature, location, and other record keeping statistics.
- 17. Hand Held: A compact detector can be contained in an enclosure with a motor driven agitator. Data is displayed with light emitting diodes and is logged internally.
- 18. Self Contained Data Logging Version: A self powered photometer records data internally for later downloading. An optical link eliminates the need to open up the case or have any external electro-mechanical connectors.
- 19. Lends Itself to Other Expendable Probes: The digital communications platform developed can be also used to measure optical light extinction, turbidity, light or sound adsorption, light or sound attenuation, sound velocity, conductivity, high resolution temperature, turbulence (hot wire anemometery), ambient noise, etc. Since the probe supports local optical communication, a “smart” launcher is an improvement over existing art.
- 20. FSK Generating Software Routines: As part of the engine software, programs have been written to generate FSK tones in software eliminating the need for a hardware modem in the probe.
- 21. Simplicity in fabrication, deployment and maintenance.
- 22. Ability to deploy and recover safely in heavy seas due to its small size, light weight, and great strength.
- 23. Robustness of Sensor and Electronics: Not readily damaged by the high mechanical vibrations encountered in many deployments.
- 24. Ability to calibrate and hold calibration.
- 25. Broadband sensitivity: Easy to adapt for broad or narrow band use.
- 26. Flexibility of Data Stream Handling and Processing: Can be programmed appropriate to the application.
- 27. Ease of Integration With Other Type of Sensors: “Plug and Play” with commercially-available digital data recording systems.
Having thus described a few particular embodiments of the invention, various alterations, modifications and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications and improvements as are made obvious by this disclosure are intended to be part of this description though not expressly stated herein, and are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description is by way of example only, and not limiting. The invention is limited only as defined in the following claims and equivalents thereto.
|
<urn:uuid:93f2d432-cd56-440e-84af-e7e837ef31d8>
|
CC-MAIN-2014-23
|
http://www.google.com/patents/US7034327?dq=6,205,432
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1405997893881.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20140722025813-00122-ip-10-33-131-23.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.89459 | 7,845 | 2.515625 | 3 |
U-Pick Pumpkin Patch
The u-pick pumpkin patch at Wiard’s Orchards & Cider Mill, in Ypsilanti, Michigan is very popular on October weekends. We have a variety of sizes, but one color, orange! We also have fun for the family and a great place to take pictures. Most of the pumpkins that we sell are used for Jack O’Lanterns. Below is some information on pumpkins that we, at Wiard’s find fascinating. Share some of these fun facts with the children before you bring them out to pick that very special pumpkins.
Pumpkins are believed to have originated in North America. Seeds from related plants have been found in Mexico dating back to 7000 to 5500 B.C. References to pumpkins date back many centuries. The name pumpkin originated from the Greek word for “large melon” which is “pepon.” “Pepon” was changed by the French into “pompon.” The English changed “pompon” to “Pumpion.”
Native American Indians used pumpkins as a staple in their diets centuries before the pilgrims landed. They also dried strips of pumpkin and wove them into mats. Indians would also roast long strips of pumpkin on the open fire and eat them. When white settlers arrived, they saw the pumpkins grown by the Indians and pumpkin soon became a staple in their diets.
As today, early settlers used them in a wide variety of recipes from desserts to stews and soups. The origin of pumpkin pie is thought to have occurred when the colonists sliced off the pumpkin top, removed the seeds, and then filled it with milk, spices and honey. The pumpkin was then baked in the hot ashes of a dying fire.
We have some of the best Jack O’Lantern pumpkins in Washtenaw County. Wiard’s Apple Orchards and Cider Mill provides apples, pumpkins and fun for the entire family. For the brave at heart, remember, Night Terrors at Wiard’s, the largest haunted thrill park in Michigan. Where the pumpkins turn to haunted monsters!
|
<urn:uuid:4101a6fc-fe82-4688-bf96-9d0557f59787>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-43
|
http://wiards.com/wp/u-pick-pumpkins/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187827662.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20171023235958-20171024015958-00297.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.966242 | 462 | 2.609375 | 3 |
The visionaries behind the 60-foot catamaran Plastiki are taking the slogan, “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” to heart as the vessel is made almost entirely from reclaimed plastic bottles. Adventurer and environmentalist David de Rothschild and a crew of adventurers and scientists are setting sail on Plastiki from San Francisco, heading to Sydney.
The mission: “To rethink of waste as a resource and to bring attention to global warming and rising oceans in the Pacific.” Conceived over three years ago, Rothschild and his team forged ahead to create a vessel that is not only seaworthy, but also able to utilize plastic bottles in their original form to emphasize that waste is sometimes a resource.
The crew is currently fully focused on the final stage of the build process and organizing preparations for sea trials. Plastiki is set to travel some 11,000 nautical miles and stop at at 13 places in between their Californian starting point and their Australian destination, including San Diego, Honolulu, Midway Island, Wake Island, Bikini Atol, Rongalep Atol, Majuro, Tarawa, Funafuti, Port Villa, Noumea, Lord Howe Island and Coffs Harbour.
The journey is set to span 100 days, or more, by way of some of the world’s most fragile ecosystems and polluted waters.
Plastiki was created to show the world that plastic bottles are not necessarily part of the problem and they can definitely be part of the solution. A set sail date has not yet been set, but you can follow Plastiki’s progress, its crew and eventually the expedition on www.theplastiki.com, www.twitter.com/plastiki and on Dockwalk.com.
|
<urn:uuid:5ad76e10-c71f-49b9-b506-e54024fc9740>
|
CC-MAIN-2014-10
|
http://www.dockwalk.com/Essentials/News.aspx?id=30052
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1394021542591/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305121222-00098-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.947421 | 366 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Designer of GLobal WebIoT store. Where you can learn about the new internet of things gadgets and shop for these future gadgets.
What is the Internet of things?
The Internet of Things is really of everything. IoT is the network of physical objects or things embedded with electronics,software, sensors, and connectivity to enable objects to exchange data with the manufacturer, operator and/or other connected devices based on the infrastructure of International Telecommunication Union's Global Standards initiative. The internet of things allows objects to be sensed and controlled remotely across existing network infrastructure, creating opportunities for more direct integration between the physical world and computer-based systems, and resulting in improved efficiency, accuracy and economic benefit. Each thing is uniquely identifiable through its embedded computing system but is able to interoperate within the existing internet infrastructure. Experts have estimated that the IoT will consist of almost 50 billion objects by 2020.
typically, IoT is expected to offer advanced connectivity of devices, systems, and services that goes beyond machine-to-machine communications (M2M)and covers a variety of protocols, domains, and applications. The interconnection of these embedded devices (including smart objects), is expected to usher in automation in nearly all fields, while also enabling advanced applications like a smart Grid and expanding to the areas such as smart cities.
Things, in the ioT will refer to a wide range of devices such as heart monitoring implants, Biochip transponders on farm animal, fitness gear for the future. wireless indoor sensor, smart connected lighting, smart thermometers, wireless speakers, water sprinkling systems, this is just a few examples.
|
<urn:uuid:edd5e0cc-a903-4b40-982a-2024cb8a893c>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-43
|
http://prefundia.com/projects/view/designer-of-global-webiot/6074/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187823482.25/warc/CC-MAIN-20171019231858-20171020011858-00091.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.922513 | 328 | 3.03125 | 3 |
by Michael Eckenwiler, USGS
of the 161 continuous-record streamflow-gaging stations in Virginia in 2002,
jointly operated by the U.S. Geological Survey and the Virginia Department
of Environmental Quality.
Rapidan River in north-central Virginia after the flood of June 1995. The
concrete gagehouse was broken by the force of the water, which was 30 feet
higher during the peak of the flood (approximately 100,000 cubic feet per
second) than its normal level (139 cubic feet per second) as shown in the
measurement being made from a cable suspended above the stream. Cableway
measurements are made when the stream is too wide or too deep to make a
of a technician making a wading measurement, and a gagehouse. The wading rod
is graduated in tenths of a foot and is used
measure the depth of the stream. Earphones are used to hear the revolutions
of the current meter. The stopwatch is used to measure an interval
during which the revolutions of the current meter are counted. A tagline is
like a measuring tape and is used to measure the distance
streambank to streambank. The antenna on top of the gagehouse transmits the
gage-height records to a satellite; the data are then relayed
earth, providing real-time data.
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality:
The Department of Environmental Quality is dedicated to protecting Virginia's environment and promoting the health and well-being of the citizens of the Commonwealth. We accomplish this by planning and implementing environmental programs, and by resolving issues efficiently, openly, fairly and consistently.
The U.S. Geological Survey:
The USGS serves the Nation by providing reliable scientific information to:
describe and understand the Earth;
minimize loss of life and property from natural
manage water, biological, energy, and mineral
enhance and protect our quality of life.
For more information, contact either of the following:
Eugene Powell, Environmental
Department of Environmental Quality
900 Natural Resources Drive
Suite 600, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
Phone (434) 293-3031
Fax (434) 977-6751
U.S. Geological Survey
1730 East Parham Road
Richmond, Virginia 23228
Phone: (804) 261-2600 (or) 1-800-684-1592
Fax (804) 261-2657
For more information on all USGS reports and products (including maps, images, and digital data), call 1-888-ASK-USGS.
The president of the American Society of Civil
Engineers states “...consulting engineers in the private sector, in
addition to engineers working at all levels of government, rely on the
unbiased and objective scientific information and data provided by [the
Measuring Streamflow in Virginia
By Roger M. Moberg and Karen C. Rice,
U.S. Geological Survey, and
Eugene D. Powell,
Virginia Department of Environmental Quality
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Department of the Interior, is the Nation's largest Earth-
science information agency. Among its many responsibilities, such as map making and providing information on earthquakes and other natural hazards, the USGS provides information on the Nation's water resources. The USGS has collected and analyzed hydrologic (water-related) information for more than 100 years. In 1889, the first streamflow-gaging station (a site where regular observations of stream-flow data are collected) operated in the United States by the USGS was established on the Rio Grande near Embudo, New Mexico. As the need for streamflow data increased, the USGS's streamflow-gaging program has grown to include more than 7,000 continuous-record streamflow-gaging stations. More than 90 percent of these stations are operated with at least partial support from State, local, or other Federal agencies.
In Virginia, the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is a major cooperator in the streamflow-gaging program, which consists of 161 continuous-record streamflow-gaging stations located throughout the State (fig. 1). The USGS and DEQ cooperate to publish the annual USGS State data report,
"Water Resources Data-Virginia;" this two-volume publication includes streamflow data collected at the 161 streamflow-gaging stations, chemical data collected at 19 streamflow-gaging stations, and
ground-water data collected from more than 250 wells located in Virginia.
Why Does the USGS Measure Streamflow?
Data collected at streamflow-gaging stations across the Nation are used extensively by the general public, Federal, State, and local agencies, consultants, and industry to make a wide variety of decisions:
recreationists, who may want to know whether river conditions are safe and desirable for a river-rafting trip or a fishing
- the National Weather Service, to forecast flow on major rivers and streams, especially flood flows(fig. 2)-long-term streamflow data (collected continuously for several decades) are essential for accurately assessing the magnitude of
the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, to establish permits for water releases from reservoirs to maintain minimum in-stream flows;
water-supply utility companies, to help determine when to withdraw water from rivers or reservoirs, especially during droughts, and to plan for future water supplies;
electric utility companies, to determine the best time to operate reservoirs to generate electricity in order to balance inflows and outflows of reservoirs;
the Virginia Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration, to aid in the design of bridges, culverts, roads, and dams;
regulatory agencies, such as DEQ, to establish discharge permits for the discharge of treated wastewater, and water-withdrawal permits for water-treatment plants that supply water for consumers; and
consultants and university researchers, to aid in the development of TMDLs (total maximum daily loads) for specific waterways.
How Does the USGS Measure Streamflow?
In order to measure streamflow, the depth and width of a stream and the velocity (speed at which water travels) need to be determined. The area (depth multiplied by the width) multiplied by the velocity gives the discharge (volume of water per unit of time) that passes a given location along a stream. A discharge measurement, then, is a measurement of the volume of water that passes a given stream cross section (total width of the stream) within a given period of time.
Three types of discharge measurements are made by USGS and DEQ technicians on a stream: wading, suspension, and boat. A wading measurement is made by a technician who walks into the water on foot (see cover photograph). A suspension measurement is made by a technician from a bridge (bridge measurement) or a cable (cableway measurement) that crosses the stream (fig. 3). A boat measurement is made by a technician in a boat when a bridge or cable is not available. Using the latest technology-an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP)-the technician can make discharge measurements from a boat, bridge, or cableway. Acoustic technology allows the technician to measure a wide range of streamflows accurately without wading into the stream.
The wading measurement is still the most common type of discharge measurement and requires the use of a current meter, wading rod, earphones, stopwatch, tagline, and notepad (fig. 4). To make a wading measurement, the technician divides the cross section into small units, called "stations." At each station, the technician measures the depth of the stream, the width of the station, and the velocity of the water by use of the current meter. A current meter, similar to a wind-speed measuring device, consists of a wheel with six rotating cups that slides up and down the wading rod. The technician records the number of
revolutions of the current meter and the elapsed time on a notepad for each station; the greater the number of revolutions of the current meter, the greater the velocity of the water. These records are used to calculate the velocity of the water at each station. The technician then multiplies the depth of the stream, in feet, by the distance between each station, in feet, by the velocity of the water at each station, in feet per second. The product of the three numbers gives the discharge for that station, in cubic feet per second. The discharges calculated for all of the stations are then summed to get the total discharge for the stream at the cross section.
Continuous measurements of water level of the stream are made inside a
typical gagehouse is a concrete structure located on the bank of a stream, with a pipe extending into the stream (fig. 4). The pipe allows water from the stream to enter the gagehouse so that the gage height (level of the water surface in the gagehouse) is equal to that of the stream. Inside the gagehouse, electronic devices record the gage height, usually at 15-minute intervals. These gage-height records are transmitted via telephone or satellite to the USGS office in Richmond. These data are processed and made available on the Web in near real-time (updated at 1- to 4-hour intervals). The many uses of streamflow data are enhanced by making these data available quickly to a wide audience. Recreationists can get current information to plan their outings. During floods, real-time streamflow data contribute to saving lives and property. Gage-height records and real-time data are provisional (subject to revision after
review). The data can be accessed by clicking the "Real-Time Streamflow Data" link on the Virginia District home page at va.water.usgs.gov. After review, the data are published annually in "Water Resources
The continuous gage-height records along with the discharge
measurements made by the technician are used to create a rating table (a chart showing the relation of gage height to discharge) for a stream. Rating tables are used to estimate the discharge of the stream by using only the gage-height
records collected from the gagehouse. The advantage of having a rating table for a stream is that once the gage height is known, the discharge can be inferred without having to go to the stream and make a discharge measurement. Over time, however, the relation between the gage height and discharge can change, requiring periodic discharge measurements to be made to redefine that relation.
|
<urn:uuid:cef6366a-7ef4-4eb1-baa5-f179549ee075>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-48
|
http://va.water.usgs.gov/online_pubs/OFR95-713rev.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-48/segments/1386164003799/warc/CC-MAIN-20131204133323-00028-ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.919808 | 2,210 | 2.9375 | 3 |
Claire Rogers, CEO of World Vision Australia, was in Beira, Mozambique, where Cyclone Idai destroyed as much as 90% of the city.
World Vision Australia’s CEO Claire Rogers in Beira, Mozambique which has been devastated by Cyclone Idai. Image: Paco Anselmi/World Vision
Littered with broken trees and damaged buildings, the Mozambican city of Beira looks like a war zone – but it’s a testament to its citizens that the clean up after Cyclone Idai has begun.
When I first arrived, it felt like some sort of beast had been on a rampage. In fact, on the flight into the disaster zone an evacuee returning to the city described the demonic noises he experienced as the wind tried to rip the doors and shutters off the house. It made a chilling entry to Beira.
Children, who should be in school, have been helping to shift the detritus that lies among the ripped down telephone and power poles. This catastrophe has killed hundreds of people and displaced tens of thousands across southern Africa. The final death toll is likely to climb.
Without an urgent improvement in the sanitary conditions it is only a matter of time before water-borne diseases spread, potentially killing more children. The biggest concern is for an outbreak of cholera, which is caused when faecal matter corrupts the drinking water. It’s deadly and spreads easily in crowded situations like displacement camps. Cases have already been confirmed in Beira. Malaria is also a real risk as mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water and multiply. Malaria is already endemic. With health centres and hospitals damaged, a second humanitarian catastrophe of sickness and death is a real risk.
People walk down a damaged street in a residential area of Beira, Mozambique after Cyclone Idai hit the city. Image: Josh Estey/CARE.
Despite the threats, people are doing what they can to clean up, often with limited access to building materials which the poorest cannot afford. Chainsaws can be heard all around, and in the poorer shanty areas survivors are taking the ruined debris of their buildings and using what they can rescue to make repairs. But it is going to take months to fix the health centres, hospitals and schools that have been torn apart. Families live in the husks of what is left.
I visited one city school where hundreds of people – largely women and children – were sheltering having been displaced. They were crammed into four or five classrooms, sharing just a few toilets. It’s a very difficult place for a family to feel safe.
Aid organisations and the UN are ramping up the delivery of assistance with cargo planes bringing aid from international warehouses, the capital Maputo and elsewhere. Ships are also moving goods into Beira port. The international aid effort is in full swing. The big drive now is to feed the aid out into the urban and rural communities where people have been patiently waiting for support.
Up until now helicopters have been delivering packs of high-energy biscuits to families in remote and broken settlements. Now that the roads have reopened and the floodwaters have gone down, aid is able to reach remote communities at a much larger scale.
As often happens, these crises push the very poorest into absolute poverty and break any chance they might have had of escaping it. The cyclone and floods destroyed the crops that poor communities hoped would feed them through the next few months. The aid community is going to have to support thousands of families to get them through this difficult time, and provide the financial or agricultural assistance to allow them to buy seeds and re-plant.
World Vision and so many other agencies are working around the clock to ensure that we reach those affected by the devastating cyclone and floods, and to prevent a second health-related humanitarian crisis.
If we don’t act now, more people will die and children will lose their chance to get back on their feet.
World Vision is among 14 organisations that have launched a joint appeal under the Disaster Emergency Committee (DEC), which brings together leading aid agencies at times of crisis overseas. If you wish to donate, please click here.
|
<urn:uuid:6b73566b-5fcf-4378-a16b-39b66ebf98f6>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-29
|
https://www.dec.org.uk/article/cyclone-idai-families-are-living-in-the-husks-of-what-is-left
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593657139167.74/warc/CC-MAIN-20200712175843-20200712205843-00595.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.970105 | 862 | 2.546875 | 3 |
History Lessons In Music.
June 6, 2013 § 1 Comment
On Bruce Springsteen’s “Live 1975-1985” album ( a fantastic album by the way) he mentions a book by “Joe Klein” about Woody Guthrie and that “This land Is Your Land” was written “as an angry song as an answer to Irving Berlin who had just written God Bless America”. Now this didn’t make any sense to me at the time as I didn’t recall anyone else stating this before neither in school or since I had graduated. I chalked it up to just being an opinion that Klein and Springsteen shared and only thought about it whenever I was listening to the album, as this was a frequent occurrence though I eventually did a little internet search but never found anything that really substantiated this claim and regretfully I never got around to checking out the book in question either.
Fast Forward a decade or so and I am at work and I ask the girl I am working with what she is listening to which turned out to be “The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band” another band I am very fond of so I downloaded one of their Greatest Hits albums to my phone on break and was listening to it when it played “Working Man- Nowhere to Go”. A song about a farmer who looses his farm and in general about many working people who lost their jobs and how it affected them. Toward the end of the song the farmer says these lines”Singing a song by Woody Guthrie This land is your land; it ain’t my land I’m a workin’ man, with nowhere to go”. This reminded me of the Springsteen quote and seemed more inline with the idea that Springsteen had mentioned. So I did a search on the quote from “Workin Man…” and ran across this article from the last inauguration ceremony on the “Truthout.org website. http://archive.truthout.org/011909R So it turns out that like many things over the course of history “This land is your land” was edited to make it more friendly to the masses and less of a critique of the problems in our country. Gives the song a whole new feel and flavor. So my quest for the truth about this song started with a taping of one Springsteen concert and ended with the taping of another Springsteen concert just a a few:) years later. History through music. What a concept, But Hey Bruce, you know all of this would have been a heck of a lot easier if you had simply played the full song all those years ago:)
Today’s Trivia Question.
What was Woody Guthrie s nickname?
Peace out everyone.
|
<urn:uuid:89ccab86-9de6-468d-9cb6-8b7dff4962ab>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-47
|
https://catlst.wordpress.com/2013/06/06/history-lessons-in-music/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934809392.94/warc/CC-MAIN-20171125032456-20171125052456-00226.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.969894 | 583 | 2.703125 | 3 |
As the military commits itself to going green, it's supporting innovations that could ultimately help American consumers save energy
The Department of Defense is the single largest energy purchaser in America, if not the world. That's why the Navy's goal to source 50 percent of its energy from alternative fuels by 2020 potentially has huge ramifications for future fuel supplies and alternative energy technologies.
In the past year alone, the Navy has deployed portable solar panels, LED lighting systems, hybrid electric ship technologies, and, perhaps most significantly, so-called "green flights" (using aircraft powered by a mix of fossil fuels and biofuel). Some Marine Corps patrol bases in Afghanistan now operate exclusively on solar powered generators, while China Lake Base in California actually puts energy back into the grid. All of which raises a couple of questions. Why, exactly, is the Navy so determined to become green? And could the average consumer benefit from the new products the Navy is supporting?
Regarding the first question, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus told me that for every 50 marine fuel convoys, one soldier guarding a convoy is either killed or wounded. Navy ships are also most vulnerable when refueling. Alternative fuels and energy-efficient technologies could help limit the number of convoys required.
Mabus added that our dependence on foreign oil leaves the armed forces vulnerable to volatile prices and supply fluctuations, in which fuel might not be available when the Navy needs it. "We give countries that we would never give the ability to build our ships or our aircraft or our ground equipment a say in whether the ships sail or whether the aircraft flies or our ground equipment operates because we buy our fuel from them," Mabus says. When oil went up $18 a barrel in February and March, it cost the Navy roughly $550 million.
The Navy isn't sitting back waiting for new technologies to come its way, though. In March of 2010, it invited commercial vendors to bring their energy-efficient products to a temporary Experimental Forward Operating Base in Quantico, Virginia. After testing the gear, the Marine Corps chose several technologies to send into battle in Afghanistan last September with the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment. During their deployment, two patrol bases were able to operate everything but their vehicles solely on renewable energy, and a third cut its non-vehicle fuel use from 20 gallons per day to roughly 2.5 gallons. What made the difference? Switching from diesel generators to solar-powered generators to run computers, battery chargers, and other communication equipment.
To meet its 2020 goals that half of its energy come from alternative fuels, the Navy will also need 8 million barrels of biofuels at a price similar to that of petroleum. As of right now, some biofuels are significantly more expensive than standard aviation fuel, for example, but Hicks says that by partnering with the Department Of Energy, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the commercial airlines industry, the Navy may be able to achieve its goals even sooner than 2020.
"We're very encouraged by what we see in the emerging alternative fuels industry in this country and are very confident that it's going to be in the quantities at the price points we need to be able to use it in a very, very meaningful way," says Tom Hicks, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy.
Biofuel expert Timothy Searchinger, however, told me that while the Navy's green strides are positive, he does have concerns about their biofuel initiatives. He worries that increased biodiesel demand will make it harder for the world's poor to obtain vegetable oils, an important source of calories, and that biofuel production may also cause habitat loss, require significant water inputs, and increase greenhouse gas emissions.
Still, many innovations seem promising. So, what are the technologies the Navy has adopted, and how can you get your hands on them? To be sure, thus far the technologies aren't exactly home appliances, and it may take a while for these military-grade devices to evolve into things consumers would actually want to buy and use. But here's our overview—a look at a few of the inventions that could make a difference.
What: A generator that weighs 2.6 pounds and can deliver 320 watts of output using flexible fold-up solar panels. Powers anything from radios to computers to lights to water purification systems.
Where: Used by India Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment in Afghanistan; 1500 systems in theater.
Why: SPACES are so lightweight and portable that India Company, 3/5, can take them anywhere to recharge radio batteries and power equipment. While in the mid-'90s a company could carry only nine radios, today it can carry 224 and save 700 pounds in battery weight. Platoons used to need a battery resupply every two to three days, but with SPACES they can be in the field two to three weeks before needing a resupply mission. "We let marines do what they were sent there to do, which is fight and engage and rebuild and not guard resupply missions," Mabus says.
Price: $5,000 to $10,000 for one kit. Discounts for larger quantities. Customized kits available. They are built to military specifications, but Iris Technology says these are also ideal for first responders, law enforcement agencies, and NGOs, especially when they need power in remote locations or in disaster areas.
How you can get your hands on one: Contact Iris Technology directly at 866-240-9540 or check out its website at www.iristechnology.com.
LED light bulbs from Techshot Lighting, LLC
What: An LED light bulb so strong you can drive a truck over it. And they last for 50,000 hours (or roughly six years if you run them 24 hours a day).
Other details: At the flip of a switch, the light goes from white to "blackout condition," in which the light output drops from nine watts to three watts and a light frequency that produces a blue color. This option significantly reduces the enemy's ability to detect the light source. Whereas with traditional compact fluorescent bulbs, marines had to wrap each bulb in Mylar for protection, these bulbs are so sturdy marines can roll them up in their tents and pack them in their backpacks—all while saving valuable time. Plus they use significantly less power than their fluorescent predecessors.
How you can get your hands on one: They're built solely for the military. But enjoy the fact that the Navy is saving your tax dollars by buying these bulbs.
What: The navy flew an F/A-18 Hornet at 1.7 times the speed of sound on a blend of 50 percent standard aviation fuel and 50 percent camelina biofuel on Earth Day of last year. "The plane didn't know the difference," Mabus says.
The biofuel must have equal or higher performance to current aviation gases, create lifetime greenhouse gas emissions equal to or less than petroleum, and be compatible with traditional petroleum products and existing aircraft technology. Beyond that, Hicks says the Navy is interested that the "domestic, homegrown" fuels are on the right side of issues related to food security, water, and land use.
How much and when: If the Navy can work with other groups to create the infrastructure and demand for 8 million barrels of affordable biofuel, Hicks says then the entire commercial airline industry could conceivably have access to cost-effective biofuels by 2020.
Images: Courtesy of the U.S. Navy
|
<urn:uuid:4624c170-7b0a-409e-abae-7b42752b5776>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-30
|
https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/07/the-navys-green-devices-coming-to-a-store-near-you/241734/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549429485.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20170727202516-20170727222516-00700.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.960504 | 1,532 | 3.0625 | 3 |
BOSTON — Mythology and superstition have portrayed octopuses as alien beings or evil creatures dwelling in the terrifying dark depths of oceans.
Little wonder, considering they are a bit unusual.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
The giant Pacific octopus has three hearts, nine brains and blue blood, making reality stranger than fiction.
Things to know about the giant Pacific octopus, which is naturally found in the waters of the U.S. West coast, the Aleutian Islands and Japan:
A central brain controls the nervous system. In addition, there is a small brain in each of their eight arms — a cluster of nerve cells that biologists say controls movement. This allows the arms to work independently of each other, yet together toward the same goal.
That makes sense, considering their bodies are all muscle except for two small plates anchoring their heads, together with a beak used to grasp and bite prey. Two hearts pump blood to the gills. A larger heart that circulates blood to the rest of the body.
|
<urn:uuid:567d75d2-4b3f-49cc-af52-787ee89e7e06>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-29
|
https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/9-brains-3-hearts-some-wild-facts-about-octopuses
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655881763.20/warc/CC-MAIN-20200706160424-20200706190424-00499.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.925178 | 216 | 3.140625 | 3 |
by E.K., Palo Alto
Cultures all over the world memorialize death in different manners, from the celebratory style of Mexico’s Dia de Los Muertos to the solemn ceremony of the United States. Typically, cultures memorialize the death after the person in question passes away, only mentioning it in events such as funerals. Sometimes, however, people seek to accept death as an inevitable consequence before the event itself. This approach is the one taken by Shakespeare in his sonnet 73, in which the poet describes death coming even before the old man in question breathes his last. Shakespeare uses the imagery of a tree in autumn, a day before night, and a fire burning away to describe that death slowly takes away the vitality that man once had.
Shakespeare uses the image of a tree in autumn to represent the image of a man who now teeters on the edge of death but once radiated joy and excitement. When Shakespeare invoke the the imagery of a few “yellow leaves” hanging upon “boughs” on a tree, he attempts to symbolize someone losing the last years of his life as they fall away just like the leaves do from a tree. Next, the branches that “shake” against the cold” represent death, the cold shaking an old and fragile man who knows he will fall eventually. Lastly, the “bare ruin’d” choirs” highlight the weakened state of an elderly man who is a shell of the exuberant person he once was. The three images all come together to create a central theme of death in Shakespeare’s depiction of autumn. At the same time, these images allude to the glory days of the man in question. The mention of “ruin’d choirs” suggests that before everything fell apart, the man’s life resembled a church in its grandeur and celebration. With regards to “where the sweet birds sang,” the image reflects a man who once filled the air with as much joy and brightness as the songs of birds do. At the same time, the image of a tree in autumn alludes to the eventual regrowth of the leaves in several months, suggesting that death precedes a rebirth.
In the second quatrain, Shakespeare invokes the image of a day fading away to illustrate a man who is slowly dying in the twilight of his life. When Shakespeare describes the “twilight of such day,” he describes the waning stages of the speaker’s life. Twilight, the transition from the dimmed evening to the darkened night, is the final part of the day before the world falls asleep. This image illustrates the speaker living through the final years before his death, knowing the prime of his life is over. Next, the “sunset fadeth in the west” signals the disappearance of any last traces of beauty in the man’s life. Sunset, a natural phenomenon when the sun emits vibrant colors, is a spectacle of beauty. However, the sunset and beauty, just like that of the man’s life, has faded away. The “black night that doth take away” is the death that will “take away” the narrator’s life, as a parallel to the taking away of day. Shakespeare continues by describing night as “death’s second self’; just as night takes away the brightness of day, death takes away the brightness of life. finally, the night that “seals up all” reflects the death, which effectually closes away someone’s life. In comparison the the 1st quatrain, where Shakespeare hints at better days to come, the second quatrain has tone of finality.
In the third quatrain of his sonnet 73, Shakespeare shows a picture of fading fire to reflect the man’s life fading away. The “glowing of such fire” contrasts with a normal crackling and bright fire, hinting that the once-powerful flame now consists of glowing embers. Like the embers of the fire, the speaker now lives a life far removed from the radiant years of his younger self. The “ashes of his youth” the fire shows gives the image of the fire lying upon the ashes from which it once burned fiercely, providing heat and light. Similarly to the fire amongst its ashes, the man now lives with the memories of the adventures he went through in years past. The memories of a life where the man gave the world brightness still linger on. When Shakespeare finally concludes the thought of the fire with “consumed by that which it was once nourished by,” he means the man and fire now die because of what they once used. The fire was nourished by wood, giving it the flames it once had. However, the same wood took the fire away later by turning into ash. In the same sense, the man edges closer to death as he lives more. Although the speaker once brimmed full of life, as time went on, the life in him edged him closer and closer to death. The final description of fire shows that even a once-fiery life loses its brightness forever.
In Sonnet 73, Shakespeare describes death coming even before an old man breathes his last. He uses the imagery of a tree in autumn, a day before night, and a fire burning away to depict how death slowly takes away the vitality that man once had. The first two images, of a tree in autumn and a day drawing to a close, are part of cycles: the tree can sprout new leaves, and night can turn back to day. In using these images, Shakespeare suggests that death isn’t a permanent state because it ultimately leads to a kind of renewal or rebirth, perhaps through children or the survival of a work of art. However, the next image, that of a fire burning away, gives a sense of finality because the ashes will never create another fire. Using the fire, he offers a new perspective by suggesting death doesn’t lead to rebirth; rather, it is the ultimate stage of life. Nevertheless, with the last couplet, Shakespeare hints that love actually strengthens with the realization that death is the last part of life. Amid the endless void of darkness that death appears to bring, love is a shining light that gives it meaning.
|
<urn:uuid:eb9db2e6-9682-4418-bbeb-42fb57ef8c40>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-14
|
https://www.improveyourenglish.com/student-essays/shakespeares-sonnet-73/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296945218.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20230323225049-20230324015049-00230.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.950919 | 1,319 | 3.4375 | 3 |
Chapter 9: Tools to learn Mandarin 拼音/普通話 學習工具
These are mobile tools to learn Mandarin. They can be used when
traveling (if your phone has a mobile data connection).
First choice for native Cantonese speakers learning Mandarin
Microsoft Translator APP
(simple to install and easy to use):
You can speak in Cantonese and it translates to Mandarin and outputs
simplified characters, Mandarin sounds 普通話 and Pinyin 拼音.
It also transcribes Cantonese dialect into more formal Mandarin e.g.
你識唔識 becomes 你懂不懂
App "RTHK On The Go" has two radio channels in Mandarin. 電台直播-第七台 is
Mandarin mostly spoken by fully bilingual Mandarin-Cantonese
speakers. The speakers generally can speak Cantonese, therefore they
are easier to listen to due to the slight Cantonese accent.
Google Translate APP:
Input can be English, Chinese (handwriting) or Mandarin voice.
(it is possible but geeky to add 廣東話 voice input for Google
Google Translate will output Mandarin Pinyin with tonal marks and
produce Mandarin sounds. Unfortunately Google refused to produce
To add 廣東話 voice input (called voice typing), the setup is a bit
complex and confusing.
I'll add 廣東話 voice input procedures at a later time.
Assuming "廣東話 voice typing" is working:
Tap the microphone icon, speak in Cantonese, Google Translate will
output Mandarin Pinyin with tonal marks and produce Mandarin
Pleco APP: (can be used completely offline,
great for travel use)
Settings Audio Voice Recognition: Cantonese.
It accepts Cantonese voice input and outputs simplified
characters, Pinyin with tonal marks and produce Mandarin sound
with occasional tone errors.
|
<urn:uuid:da98ebd7-9624-4f93-85d0-c7ea2d745a3a>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-05
|
http://pigtail.azurewebsites.net/pinyin/chapter9.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250595282.35/warc/CC-MAIN-20200119205448-20200119233448-00385.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.775637 | 472 | 2.65625 | 3 |
One of the ugliest animals on Earth may soon give us some insight into preventing cancer in humans. The naked mole rat enjoys an exceptionally long lifespan, up to 30 years, which is unusual among small rodents. Its long life allows it plenty of time to develop cancer, yet there has never been a single recorded case of cancer in the species. Scientists studying the mole rat’s super cancer resistance found that, even when they intentionally mutate cells to induce a tumor, no tumor forms. They’ve isolated a gene called p16 that allows the cells to resist out-of-control growth.
Vera Gorbunova and Andrei Seluanov, professors of biology at the University of Rochester, spent three years studying different types of rodents to identify how each deals with cancer. During the course of their research, they were surprised by a few of their findings. First, they found that telomerase, an enzyme that estends the life of cells but increases the rate of cancer, is very active in smaller rodents but not in larger rodents. It didn’t seem to make sense, since small rodents with long lifespans often showed low rates of cancer. The researchers figured that these rodents must have evolved some sort of anticancer mechanism previously unseen. And when they started studying naked mole rats and isolated p16, they had their answer. They are currently planning to extend their research to see if the gene’s properties are useful in human cancer research.
|
<urn:uuid:6021cb0e-0abd-4f79-a464-b91834f8b1a1>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-43
|
https://gajitz.com/naked-science-ugly-rat-may-hold-key-to-cancer-prevention/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187824894.98/warc/CC-MAIN-20171021190701-20171021210701-00054.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.97212 | 301 | 3.84375 | 4 |
Discovery News features a "tiny gold combined toothpick and earwax spoon, believed
to be more than 385 years old, [found] during the search for a shipwrecked
Spanish galleon off the Florida Keys." Don't laugh. If you were going halfway across the known world to a place with no gold earwax spoons that would also function as toothpicks, you'd find a place for this in your baggage too.
A silver "ear picker" -- thanks Michelle! --is featured at the Historic Jamestown site, according to which:
Ear pickers, though not all of silver, were used by all levels of society in medieval and post-medieval England. As was the fashion for many of these tools, this one is double-ended. The pointed end was used to clean teeth and nails, and the spoon-shaped end was used to remove earwax. The 17th-century English knew about plaque, which they called "scale" or "surf," and they were encouraged by their doctors to scrape their teeth frequently. They also knew that a buildup of earwax could cause deafness. As gross as that may seem to us today, the earwax was often saved and used for coating sewing thread to make it stronger and easier to use.
By the 1600s some started to object to snuff being taken. Pope Urban VIII threatened to excommunicate snufftakers, and in Russia in 1643, Tsar Michael set the punishment of removal of the nose for snuff use. However, there were still some fans; King Louis XIII of France was a devout snufftaker, and by 1638, snuff use had been reported to be spreading in China.
|
<urn:uuid:9480565e-0e51-45fd-9514-f7f846603dd2>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-23
|
https://www.neatorama.com/2008/06/24/dont-leave-home-without-it/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224656788.77/warc/CC-MAIN-20230609164851-20230609194851-00753.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.988648 | 358 | 3.03125 | 3 |
Katina Curtis, AAP Senior Political Writer
(Australian Associated Press)
Social Distancing – What is it?
Firstly, it means keeping a physical distance between yourself and others, and secondly, it applies to the tough restrictions in place to stop people gathering in groups.
How close can I get to others?
The medical advice is you should keep 1.5 metres away from other people. No more handshakes, hugging or air kisses. But chief medical officer Brendan Murphy has conceded families or people who live in the same house can hardly avoid being in such close proximity.
What about touching things?
Research shows the virus can last a long time – up to three days in some cases – on surfaces after sick people have touched them. The main thing you should be doing is washing your hands frequently with soap or an alcohol-based sanitiser, and pay for things using tap-and-go contactless methods.
Why should I stay at home?
To avoid other people as much as possible and thus avoid spreading or contracting the virus. Governments have put in place increasingly tighter restrictions on social gatherings. The current state of play is you should not leave your house unless you need to shop for essentials (such as food or medicine), exercise in a public space, go to a medical appointment, or head to work or school if you can’t work or learn from home. You are also allowed to go out if you are caring or supporting someone living elsewhere – such as buying groceries for an elderly relative or neighbour. People aged over 70, those over 65 with pre-existing conditions, and indigenous people over 50 with pre-existing conditions should stay home wherever possible for their own protection.
Can I meet people outside?
Gatherings are restricted to two people, indoors and outdoors. That means you can catch up with one friend to walk or run through a park – but you should still keep 1.5m between you.
Is this the law now?
It depends on where you live. Victoria, NSW, Queensland, Tasmania have issued legal directions requiring people to stay home unless they have to leave for one of the acceptable reasons. But SA, WA, the NT and the ACT have left the guidance as “strong advice” to stay at home. Most states have a regime of policing and fines for breaching restrictions.
What exceptions are there?
Some exceptions are allowed on compassionate grounds, such as funerals – although only 10 mourners are allowed – and visiting terminally-ill relatives. There are also exemptions for split families who have shared custody arrangements, so children can continue to visit or stay with both parents.
What if I don't live with my boyfriend or girlfriend?
Again, the rules are mixed depending on where you live. Victoria’s police minister says you cannot visit a partner’s house for social reasons. But in NSW, the police commissioner said that was allowed. Tasmania’s government advises that up to two visitors are allowed to a household at any one time, but cautions people should still be wary of limiting unnecessary travel between homes. And the federal health department says extended family members or partners should minimise visits.
|
<urn:uuid:7a960597-f93f-4a04-994b-7f6a5e4646ff>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-50
|
https://b36a2f15-33d6-46a3-8f95-6c72586e5f7b-1.azurewebsites.net/blog/posts/2020/apr/going-the-distance-to-keep-society-safe/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-50/segments/1700679100550.40/warc/CC-MAIN-20231205073336-20231205103336-00225.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.960721 | 648 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Bisphenol-A, a toxic chemical used to make baby bottles, plastic water bottles, and food and beverage can liners, has been linked to heart disease and diabetes. Even so, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) insists that the chemical is fine for use by infants, children and adults.
BPA, an artificial sex hormone, has produced irreversible damage in test animals. It has been under fire from environmentalists, scientists, and, increasingly, concerned moms.
FDA, the federal agency charged with regulating food safety, has argued that BPA can continue to be used in consumer products. The agency cites 2 studies indicating that the chemical is safe, despite the fact that both studies were funded by the chemical industry.
Environmental Working Group, the consumer watchdog research institute, says, "The FDA has refused to take into serious consideration more than 100 independent animal studies suggesting the toxic chemical could be linked to serious disorders in humans, including prostate cancer, breast cancer, diabetes, early puberty, obesity and learning and behavioral problems."
University of Missouri research scientist Frederick Vom Saal today released one of the most comprehensive studies ever published on BPA. The study links heart disease and diabetes to continual, low-dose exposure to BPA — exactly the kind of exposure you would get from drinking canned sodas regularly or drinking regularly from plastic bottles.
In an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, scientists report a strong correlation between levels of BPA in American adults and these diseases, both of which are increasing.
"These startling results only increase the urgency of removing BPA from products used by young children," said EWG senior scientist Anila Jacob M.D. M.P.H. "If the adult population in the U.S. is seeing links between this toxic chemical and heart disease and diabetes, imagine what impact much higher exposure levels are having on babies whose bodies are just developing."
The National Toxicology Program, an arm of the National Institutes of Health, has asserted that it has "some concern" for BPA¹s negative impact on "development of the prostate gland and brain and for behavioral effects in fetuses, infants and children."
"If this weren¹t so serious, it would be laughable," said EWG VP for Research, Jane Houlihan. "Here we have an agency that time and again makes the wrong call on everything from pharmaceuticals, tomatoes and toothpaste, and we¹re supposed to take them at their word over a toxic sex hormone found in baby products."
Until state or federal laws pass outlawing BPA in consumer products, you can protect yourself by:
* minimizing your consumption of canned food and canned beverages, as BPA may be used to line the cans; choose fresh or frozen food and bottled juices instead
* avoid plastic food and beverage containers that are made with #7 plastic; you should see the number in a triangle on the bottom of the bottle.
|
<urn:uuid:52a3b8e5-1050-40b8-a7db-50f2edecf21d>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-30
|
http://www.biggreenpurse.com/how-to-protect/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549423716.66/warc/CC-MAIN-20170721042214-20170721062214-00541.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.948476 | 609 | 3 | 3 |
14-year-olds Duro-Aina Adebola, Akindele Abiola and Faleke Oluwatoyin, and Bello Eniola, 15, invented an incredible thing. An electricity generator that is powered by urine
This high school science project has gotten scientists talking. The generator cracks the urea in urine into nitrogen, water and hydrogen. The hydrogen is purified and then pushed into a gas cylinder. Then it goes through a cylinder of liquid borax which takes the moisture out of it. Then the purified hydrogen goes through the generator … et voila! 1 liter of pee = 6 hours of electricity! Bravo!
|
<urn:uuid:6dc064ce-d904-40de-b007-c91779742904>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-23
|
https://www.teenagefilm.com/archives/youth-happenings/nigerian-teen-girls-invent-pee-powered-generator/%20
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224653501.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20230607010703-20230607040703-00325.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.929156 | 132 | 2.609375 | 3 |
MORE than 100 years ago a philanthropist and chocolate baron set out to cure ‘great scourges of humanity’, including war, slavery and gambling. Now the charity bearing Joseph Rowntree’s name has identified the 10 ‘social evils’ of the 21st century, among them selfishness, greed and family breakdown.
After polling more than 3,500 people, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation concluded that the contemporary 10 evils were the decline of community, individualism, consumerism and greed, a decline of values, the decline of the family, young people as both victims and perpetrators, drugs and alcohol, poverty and inequality, immigration and responses to it, and crime and violence.
Among those to blame were big business, religion and the media. ‘People are concerned about the way our society has become more individualistic, greedy and selfish, seemingly at a cost to our sense of community,’ said the report. ‘The focus on greed as an issue reflects concern about the growing gulf between the rich and poor. Connected to all of these issues was the perception that we no longer share a set of common values and that we have lost our “moral compass”.’
|
<urn:uuid:b63d029c-2001-42b2-8f86-33ac87327d5e>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-39
|
https://bryanpattersonfaithworks.wordpress.com/2013/10/01/the-greatest-social-evils/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818689413.52/warc/CC-MAIN-20170923014525-20170923034525-00338.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.965297 | 252 | 2.625 | 3 |
There is something discordant in the federal government’s view of citizenship and what it means to be Canadian.
Somehow it was important to spend more than $28 million marking the War of 1812 as a “Canadian” war.
Yet, repeatedly in Federal Court, the Federal Court of Appeal and even the Supreme Court, there is a complete avowal by the federal government that before 1947 there was any such thing as a Canadian.
That means what historians have long said: The War of 1812 was a British war, not a Canadian one.
More surprisingly, Ottawa’s argument means that Canadians fighting during the Second World War are also not deemed to have been Canadian.
All of which would be just a mere curiosity if it weren’t for the fact that even now peoples’ lives and identity literally depends on the courts’ interpretation.
Jacqueline Scott is one of those people. The Surrey grandmother’s case begins Monday in the Federal Court of Appeal in Vancouver.
Scott’s father – James Ellis — was born in Canada and was serving in the Canadian Army when he met Winifred Lucy. Scott was born June 29, 1945 in England before her parents had a chance to marry.
Because she was born out of wedlock and illegitimate – to use the quaint, but hurtful terms of the day – Scott is not deemed to be Canadian.
Had her parents married before her birth, they would be no question that she like the thousands of other sons and daughters of servicemen and their war brides would have citizenship.
But they weren’t married until 1948 when Scott and her mother finally arrived in Canada. They didn’t come on one of the many ships that carried war brides and their children. They missed the boats because Scott was deathly ill and required several surgeries. The government-sponsored transport of brides and children had ended by the time Scott was well enough to travel.
The stigma of having had a child out of wedlock was so strong that Scott’s parents hid the fact from their daughter. Scott’s mother falsified her marriage certificate, backdating it to May 1945, which is why their big 50th wedding anniversary party was in 1995.
Somehow Scott found out about it when she was in her teens. After confronting her parents and demanding the truth, none of them ever spoke of it again.
Scott’s mother applied for and received Canadian citizenship in 1955.
But rather than applying under a special section for ‘legitimized’ ‘out-of-wedlock’ children, the Ellises chose not to pursue it on behalf of their daughter.
Bizarrely, federal government lawyers suggest in their response to Scott’s appeal that she was someone responsible for that decision.
“At that time [the 1950s], Mrs. Scott was directly confronted with the fact that she had not obtained citizenship by reason of her birth because her parents had not been married when she was born.”
Scott was 10 years old, hardly an age when she could – legally or otherwise — make her own choices. Even now, the Canadian government only accepts citizenship applications from people 18 and older.
In the intervening years, Scott went to school and worked in Ontario and later Vancouver. She paid taxes, voted in elections, married and gave birth to her daughter in Canada (which means that both Scott’s daughter and grandchildren are automatically Canadian).
In 1972, Scott’s husband got a job in the United States after the Vancouver company he worked for went bankrupt. In 2005 and lacking travel documents to go anywhere, Scott became an American. But only after she’d been denied a Canadian passport and told that she is not Canadian.
Pursuing Canadian citizenship then was not an option. Her mother was still alive and Scott didn’t want to embarrass her by bringing up the facts of her birth. But after her mother’s death, Scott set out to reclaim the citizenship that she believes is rightly hers.
Despite her American passport, Scott maintains that in her heart and mind she’s never been anything but Canadian. It’s not about getting government-funded health care – her husband’s retirement benefits already cover them. And it’s not about getting other benefits – both she and her husband already collect CPP based on their contributions before they moved to the United States.
What she wants is to be officially recognized for who she is: A Canadian daughter of a Canadian serviceman, a man both she and her mother loved and cherished.
But to get that Scott is trying to prove that this country has triply discriminated against her: First, by the legal interpretation that effectively renders her Canadian-born father NOT Canadian at the time of her birth; then, by the puritanical differentiating between ‘legitimate’ and ‘illegitimate’ children; and, because of gender (had Scott’s mother been Canadian, Scott would automatically have been Canadian.)
Canada disagrees on all counts. But in the first round in Federal Court, it says if there was discrimination it was justifiable.
It maintains that position that Scott is not and never has been a Canadian.
But because Scott has long surpassed the three-year residency requirement to apply for citizenship, the government lawyers note that if she really wants to be a Canadian, she can fill out the forms, pay her $200 and hope for the best.
|
<urn:uuid:d363d221-2f8a-437e-bf4c-686806859ed7>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-34
|
http://www.vancouversun.com/opinion/columnists/Federal+government+parses+patriotism+strange+ways+when/8683462/story.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886123359.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20170823190745-20170823210745-00099.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.985419 | 1,135 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Last Friday, SoundEarth hosted its first-ever South Sound Environmental Managers Forum in Tacoma. The idea behind this series of monthly events is to provide not only short, timely presentations on topics that affect environmental managers and their facilities, but also a place where they can share advice, ideas, concerns, and solutions with their peers away from the facility.
For our first round, we talked about Dangerous Waste and Community Right-to-Know Reporting. Here’s a peak at what we covered:
What is Solid Waste? What is Hazardous Waste?
We clarified RCRA’s definitions and the differences between listed hazardous waste and characteristic hazardous waste. In particular, here are the rules specific to listed waste that you should note:
Mixture Rule: A waste mixture that includes a RCRA-listed hazardous waste is automatically a RCRA-listed hazardous waste and carries the listing with the mixture. The chemical concentrations in the waste are irrelevant.
Derived from Rule: “Once a RCRA-listed hazardous waste, always a RCRA listed hazardous waste.” Waste generated from treatment, storage, or disposal is derived from a RCRA-listed hazardous waste. Ex. If listed waste is incinerated, the ash still carries the listed waste code even if the chemicals were destroyed during incineration.
Contained-in Rule: If you are disposing of soil or groundwater contaminated with a listed dangerous waste, you must manage the entire volume as if it were dangerous waste until it no longer contains the dangerous waste or is de-listed. Under Ecology’s contained-in policy, Ecology may determine that your contaminated soil or groundwater no longer contains a listed dangerous waste or is below risk-based levels.
Washington-Specific Waste Rules and Reporting
The “Dangerous Waste Regulations” are Washington State’s own set of rules that are more stringent than their federal counterparts, so we clarified the definitions of state-only dangerous waste and state-only special waste.
We also summarized what goes into Washington State’s Dangerous Waste Annual Report and who is required to submit one. There have been recent changes to the reporting system and to the requirements of the report. Most importantly, you should know:
- Every site with an active EPA/State ID Number must submit a dangerous waste annual report to the Department of Ecology
- Report Due Date: March 1
- No extensions are given!
- Submit all reports electronically through TurboWaste
- 84-page guide for RY2018 available
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act
The key purposes of EPCRA are to protect public health, safety, and the environment from chemical hazards; to create a partnership between, state, local agencies, tribal nations, and industry; to plan for emergencies and disasters; and to provide important information for first responders.
There are four reports that fall under EPCRA:
- Emergency Response Planning
- Emergency Release Notifications
- Hazardous Chemical Inventory Reporting (Tier Two)
- Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) Reporting
This month, we covered Tier Two reports, their requirements and who is subject to them (tip, they’re also due March 1).
Next month, the South Sound Environmental Managers Forum will cover TRI Reports.
If you’d like more information on any of the above or are interested in receiving a copy of the presentation materials, please email us. Similarly, if you’re in Tacoma or the surrounding areas and work in a capacity similar to an environmental manager, please join us for the next Forum! Email us for more information.
|
<urn:uuid:e4ef5eef-ab08-4c8e-8a17-e04f78c8bbc1>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-40
|
https://soundearthinc.com/soundearth-hosts-first-south-sound-forum-summary-of-dangerous-waste-and-community-right-to-know-reporting/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233506658.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20230924155422-20230924185422-00243.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.924657 | 741 | 2.640625 | 3 |
I saw this comment at one of the blogs, which prompted me to write this article. According to this commenter:
Humans are originally 100% vegetarian (mainly fruit & leaf eating) being Primates. They are not carnivorous being unable to kill without weapons and eat raw meat, as natural carnivores such as lions, tigers, crocodiles etc do. Only after humans developed a large brain did they invent weapons to kill and fire to cook meat. No natural carnivore need weapons to hunt nor fire to cook meat as they have claws, large canines, speed and strength to kill their own food (without aid of weapons) as well as the digestive system to eat raw meat (without cooking it).
It’s interesting because the author puts forth a hypothesis which is highly debatable. Are humans herbivorous, carnivorous or omnivorous?
First, to say humans are ‘originally 100% vegetarian’ is patently wrong, because there is no valid case to suggest this. Also, to say humans are completely meat eaters is also wrong, because there is no strong case for this either. Most studies suggest we are omnivorous. We tend to eat what is available. Higher order animals such as mammals may or may not be exclusive meat-eaters. Carnivores are those who meat only. Herbivores are those who eat plants only. However, we have different kinds, like mostly fruit eaters (frugivores), and those who eat seeds (gramnivores), and those who eat insects (insectivores), etc. We are not strictly herbivores nor are we strictly carnivores. And interestingly, we tend to be all the above making us omnivores.
Are we strictly vegetarian?
We can eat fruits, and only certain leaves, but cannot eat grass (like herbivores do). Our intestine is not designed to eat grass and digest it. Try doing that and you will be dead. Any human, who is left alone in a jungle, desert, snow-capped mountains, or grasslands, will survive through meat-eating, but not through vegetarian food. Look at any herbivore’s teeth and look at human’s teeth. We have remnants of canines which none of the herbivore’s have.
Almost all plant-eating animals have fermenting vats where the food is stored for a while where bacteria works on it. Animals like cows and buffaloes ruminate. Humans have no such mechanism to suggest we are strictly vegetarian.
What are we?
Are we meat-eaters then? Most vegetarians tend to dismiss this because they try to find similarities between a hard-core game hunting carnivore like a lion or a cheetah to show how we don’t have the same capabilities. It’s a wrong comparison. There are many carnivores in nature who do not necessarily hunt the way lions or cheetahs hunt. Killing rats, squirrels, rabbits, hares, and other small animals does not require the same skill as that of a lion hunting a gazelle. A man, even now, can kill a squirrel, dry the meat and digest it.
Most of the settlements (prior to agriculture) are also near water sources- and tend to suggest that man was eating fish, toads, and other water borne animals, and they were also a major source of our protein. All settlements in cold climates relied heavily on eating meat.
Our closest relatives are apes from who we departed six to seven million years ago. That’s when we moved from the tree tops to the grasslands. What was human eating after he moved to the grasslands? Most evolutionists tend to agree that humans were omnivorous, that while being fruit and leaf eaters, humans relied heavily on small game hunting.
Our food patterns changed heavily once agriculture and domestication started (around 12,000 years ago). That’s when we started to grow grain and also rear animals for consumption (goat, sheep, hen, etc). Fishing was always another source of food. Some populations were primarily based on fish. If we look at the present human population, it is heavily meat eating (and it is not based on our ability to cook, but our ability to grow animals as an industry). Except for few cultures or nations such as
[In the above discussion, I have not resorted to ethical dilemmas, religion or human morality].
|
<urn:uuid:8260d3a8-fb63-48ea-8a29-2b0e9e61570c>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://sujaiblog.blogspot.com/2007_03_01_archive.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703306113/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112146-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.966527 | 923 | 2.546875 | 3 |
The brains of infants who carry a gene associated with an increased risk for Alzheimer’s disease develop differently than babies who don’t have the gene.
While this discovery is neither diagnostic nor predictive of Alzheimer’s, it could be a step toward understanding how the gene variant APOE ε4, confers risk much later in life.
Researchers imaged the brains of 162 healthy babies between the ages of two months and 25 months. All of the infants had DNA tests to see which variant of the APOE gene they carried. Sixty of them had the ε4 variant that has been linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s.
Using a special MRI technique designed to study sleeping infants, they compared the brains of ε4 carriers with non-carriers. They found that children who carry the APOE ε4 gene tended to have increased brain growth in areas in the frontal lobe, and decreased growth in areas in several areas in the middle and rear of the brain. The decreased growth was found in areas that tend to be affected in elderly patients who have Alzheimer’s disease.
Researchers emphasized the findings, published in JAMA Neurology, do not mean that any of the children in the study are destined to develop Alzheimer’s or that the brain changes detected are the first clinical signs of the disease.
What the findings do suggest, however, is that brains of APOE ε4 carriers tend to develop differently from those of non-ε4 carriers beginning very early in life. It is possible that these early changes provide a “foothold” for the later pathologies that lead to Alzheimer’s symptoms. Information from this study may be an important step toward understanding how this gene confers risk for Alzheimer’s, something that is not currently well understood.
“This work is about understanding how this gene influences brain development,” says Sean Deoni, assistant professor of engineering who oversees the Advanced Baby Imaging Lab at Brown University. “These results do not establish a direct link to the changes seen in Alzheimer’s patients, but with more research they may tell us something about how the gene contributes to Alzheimer’s risk later in life.”
Roles in blood and brain
The APOE ε4 variant linked to Alzheimer’s is present in about 25 percent of the US population. Not everyone who carries the gene gets Alzheimer’s, but 60 percent of people who develop the disease have at least one copy of the ε4 gene.
The gene is thought to have several different roles in the blood and brain, some of which remain to be clarified. For instance, it has been shown to participate in regulation of cholesterol, a molecule that is involved in the development of gray matter and white matter brain cells.
It has also been shown to participate in the regulation of amyloid, a brain protein that accumulates in Alzheimer’s and is now being targeted by investigational treatments. Studies are needed to clarify the ways in which APOE, human development, aging and other risk factors may conspire to produce the brain changes involved in Alzheimer’s disease.
The researchers used an MRI technique that quiets the MRI machine to a whisper, enabling the brains of healthy babies to be imaged while they sleep without medication. The technique also enables imaging of both gray matter—the part of the brain that contains neurons and nerve fibers—and white matter, which contains the fatty material that insulates the nerve fibers. Both gray and white matter are thought to have a role in Alzheimer’s. White matter growth begins shortly after birth and is an important measure of brain development.
Babies develop normally
“We’re in a good spot to be able to investigate how this gene influences development in healthy infants. These infants are not medicated and not showing any cognitive decline—quite the opposite, actually; they’re developing normally.”
There is no reason to believe that the children won’t continue to develop normally, Deoni says. There is no consistent evidence to suggest that ε4 carriers suffer any cognitive problems or developmental delay. And the areas of increased growth raise the possibility that the gene might actually confer some advantages to infants early on.
Ultimately the researchers hope the findings could lead to new strategies for preventing a disease that currently affects more than 5.2 million people in the US alone.
“It may sound scary that we could detect these brain differences in infants,” says Eric Reiman, executive director of the Banner Alzheimer’s Institute in Arizona and another senior author on the paper.
“But it is our sincere hope that an understanding of the earliest brain changes involved in the predisposition to Alzheimer’s will help researchers find treatments to prevent the clinical onset of Alzheimer’s disease—and do so long before these children become senior citizens.”
Researchers from the Translational Genomics Research Institute and the University of Southern California also participated in this study, which was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute on Aging, both part of the National Institutes of Health, and the state of Arizona.
Source: Brown University
|
<urn:uuid:651aa42b-065c-4018-8186-b0204b1c1d92>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-39
|
http://www.futurity.org/irregular-brain-growth-babies-risk-alzheimers/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818689874.50/warc/CC-MAIN-20170924044206-20170924064206-00004.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.948913 | 1,069 | 3.5625 | 4 |
It has become a common practice to insult and disregard religious founders of different faiths. Although such actions disrupt peace in the society, such practices are still justified in the name of freedom of speech.
AUGUST 8, 2020
The light of guidance illuminated by God Almighty through His Messengers (peace and blessings be upon them) for the moral and spiritual evolution of mankind was initiated by the advent of Prophet Adamas and was culminated in the person of the Holy Prophetsa. Likewise, the spiritual teachings, which were developed and nourished by the efforts of one hundred twenty four thousand prophets were completed and reached its zenith with this proclamation of the Holy Quran:
This day have I perfected your religion and completed My favour upon you and have chosen for you Islam as Religion.
The Holy Quran teaches to respect and honour the spiritual teachings brought by the prophets of God and instructs Muslims to believe in them. Allah says:
This Messenger of Ours believes in that which has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers, all of them believe in Allah, and in His Angels, and in His Books and in His messengers saying,_ We make no distinction between any of His messengers_ (and we held them with high esteem).
Hence, it is necessary to adopt this golden principle of the Holy Quran which is the sole guarantor of peace and harmony in the world. Unfortunately, some people think that the seers, saints and messengers only within their religion are from God. They not only refuse to believe the messengers of other religions to be Divinely appointed but also consider them as liars.
Nowadays it has become a common practice to dishonor and disregard the founders and leaders of different religions. Sometimes, insulting remarks are made against the revered figures and leaders of the Hindu religion while sometimes, Prophet Jesusas is made a target to abuses. Sometimes, sacrilegious pictures of pious Sikh Gurus are drawn while sometimes, insulting cartoons of the Holy Prophet Muhammadsa are made and blasphemous articles are written to malign him. All these actions though destroy the peaceful atmosphere of the society, such practices are still tried to be justified in the name of freedom of speech.
Islam has not only instructed Muslims to not insult the holy personages of different religions but has attested to their truthfulness and made it obligatory upon its followers to acknowledge their truthfulness. It is said in the Holy Quran,
There is no people to whom a Warner has not been sent.
If all the people in the world accept this teaching of the Holy Quran that God has sent His messengers in every nation then it would be impossible for anyone, be he/she of any faith, to revile the prophets and holy personages of other religions.
Unfortunately, some Muslims have their view today that they can only believe in those prophets whose names have been mentioned in the Holy Quran and not others. However, the Holy Quran clearly declares:
And We indeed, sent messengers before thee, of them are some whom We have mentioned and of them are some whom We have not mentioned to thee.
Further elaborating this teaching, the reformer of the age, the Promised Messiahas states:
The principle that lays down the foundation of love, peace and harmony, and supports the moral values, is that we consider all those prophets true who appeared in the world – whether in India, or Persia or China or any other country. God instilled their respect and grandeur in the hearts of millions and made firm the roots of their religion, which remained established for centuries. This is the principle that the Quran teaches us. In the light of this principle, we honour all religious founders who fall under this description whether they are the founders of the religion of the Hindus, or the religion of the Persians, or the religion of the Chinese, or the religion of the Jews or the religion of the Christians.
A few days before his demise in May 1908, the Promised Messiahas wrote a lecture titled Paigham-e-Sulh (A Message of Peace) to respect and honour religious founders and to establish peace in India. This was read over after his demise on June 21, 1908, in a big gathering at Lahore presided by Justice Rai Bahadur Partul Chandar Judge of Chief Court. This was later published as a book and was translated into many world languages. The Promised Messiahas says in this epoch-making book:
O Dear Ones! Age-old experience and repeated trials have established, without question, that to insult and abuse the Prophets and Messengers of different countries and peoples is such a deadly poison which not only destroys the body but also kills the soul, thereby ruining the worldly prospects as well as the spiritual. A country whose inhabitants are always after finding faults in the leaders of others, and constantly assassinate their characters, can never rest in peace themselves. Such people can never achieve true unity who, individually or mutually, refer to each other’s Prophets or saints or divines with malice or foul language. Who would not be outraged at the insults hurled at their Prophet or leader?
He further states:
The ultimate sincerity of heart, worthy of being called sincerity, can only be achieved if you genuinely change your attitude towards the Vedas and the Vedic Rishis by accepting them to be from God. Likewise, the Hindus should also change their niggardly attitude by testifying to the truth of our beloved Holy Prophet (may peace and blessings of Allah be upon him). Remember, and remember it well, that this is the only principle which can establish a genuine truce between you and the Hindus and this is the only water which can wash away all malice embittering your relationship.
When this magnificent lecture of the founder of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community was heard by the intellectuals of the country, they could not help but acclaim and praise the message. Various newspapers of that time published their remarks.
The Hindu Patriot wrote:
The magnificent strength and the highest level of sympathy demonstrated by the saintly person of Qadian in his last message of peace, indeed proves him to be a great man in a distinguished manner… This kind of appeal from a great person like him should not be wasted. And every Indian patriot should try to make it a point to practice the proposed peace.
Frontier Mail published the following statement of Mr. Brahamdutt of Dehradun in its issue published on December 22, 1948:
Forty years ago, that is, at the time when Mahatma Gandhi did not appear on the political horizon of India, Mirza Ghulam Ahmad had proclaimed to be the Promised Messiah in 1891 and presented his suggestions in the form of a book “Paigham-e-Sulah” (A Message of Peace), and by practicing them, unity, amity, love and understanding may develop between various communities. He had a keen desire to create the spirit of tolerance, brotherhood and love between people. Undoubtedly, his personality is praiseworthy and deserves commendation as he could visualize through the intense curtain of the distant future and guided the people towards the right path.
The Promised Messiahas also taught that the leaders of each religion should try to present the positive qualities of their faiths in their writings and lectures, instead of finding flaws and vices in other religions. For this reason, Hazrat Mirza Bashiruddin Mahmood Ahmadra, the second successor of the Promised Messiahas, started conducting All Religions Conference from the year 1928. Since then, the Worldwide Ahmadiyya Muslim community conducts All Religions Conferences every year and everywhere to respect and honour the founders of all religions.
On this common platform, leaders and scholars of various religions present the good principles and moral teachings of their religions and the pure life and impeccable personalities of their founders. It appears as if a bouquet with flowers of different hues and colours is decorated on a single stage.
Now the present Khalifa of the community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmadaa has carried these golden teachings of the Quran to the higher forums of Europe and America. These valuable thoughts of his Holiness are well-demonstrated in his book, World Crisis and the Pathway to Peace. This book needs to be read and practised to establish peace in the world.
May God give us the understanding that we all respect and honour each other’s religious founders, so that our country, and the world at large become a cradle of peace and harmony and we may achieve true happiness and prosperity.
Holy Quran 5: 4
Holy Quran 2: 286
Holy Quran 35: 25
Holy Quran 40: 79
Tuhfa Qaisariyyah (A Gift for the Queen) p.7
Message of Peace, p. 22
Message of Peace, p. 29
History of Ahmadiyyat vol. 2, p. 536
History of Ahmadiyyat vol. 2, p. 536
|
<urn:uuid:2d5c6736-0472-472c-926c-9202fda6d370>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-40
|
https://lightofislam.in/respect-for-all-religious-founders-is-the-key-to-universal-peace/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233511351.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20231004020329-20231004050329-00231.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.961729 | 1,900 | 2.515625 | 3 |
In the Rapid Review series, I briefly review the key points of a clinical review paper. The topic this time: Leptospirosis
What is leptospirosis?
Leptospirosis is a zoonotic infection caused by the bacteria Leptospira interrogans – a spirochete. (Many of the features of leptospirosis, such as the highly variable secondary phase presentations, remind me of syphilis – another spirochete). It is endemic in many tropical areas, and causes outbreaks after heavy rainfall or flooding. Leptospirosis can be carried by many small mammals, but the most important to human transmission is the rat.
How common is it?
Most cases are mild and go unreported, and therefore the true incidence is unknown. It is estimated that there are about 500,000 cases of severe leptospirosis worldwide each year. The rate varies dramatically depending on where you are, with less than 1 case in 100,000 people in Europe to almost 100 cases per 100,000 in Africa. Some estimates suggest more than 50,000 die of leptospirosis worldwide each year. (Costa 2015)
How is it transmitted?
Leptospirosis can be caught when infected urine comes into contact with mucous membranes or broken skin, either directly or through contaminated fresh water..
Who is at risk?
In Canada and the United States, the primary risk factor will be international travel. However, there have been a number of outbreaks in the United States as well. Poor sanitation is the biggest risk worldwide.
It can occur after any exposure to fresh water, such as camping, hiking, swimming, after flooding, or while working in sewers or canals. Contaminated soil puts field workers at risk. It can also be contracted through direct contact with animals, and so cases have been seen in veterinarians, abattoir workers, and farmers.
The typical incubation phase is 7-12 days, but can be as short as 3 days and as long as a month.
What is the clinical presentation?
The typical presentation is that of a nonspecific febrile illness, with headache and myalgias. The presentation can be very similar to Dengue fever. Gastrointestinal symptoms are common, and a nonproductive cough is seen in up to half of patients. Conjunctival suffusion (dilation of the conjunctival vessels without exudate) is a classic sign of leptospirosis. Rash is rare, and suggests an alternative diagnosis such as Dengue or Chikunguna.
Leptospirosis is classically biphasic. The acute febrile illness will usually resolve after about 1 week. Patients then may go on to have a secondary more severe immune phase, with varying presentations depending on the tissues affected, including aseptic meningitis, hepatitis, uveitis, and renal failure.
What are the complications?
Severe leptospirosis is characterized by multiorgan failure. The kidneys and lungs are the most common organs affected, with significant renal failure and ARDS. Disordered bleeding is present in most severe leptospirosis, ranging from petechiae to life threatening GI hemorrhage. Neurologic adverse events include aseptic meningitis, transverse myelitis, and Guillain-Barre syndrome. It can also cause pancreatitis and acalculous cholecystitis. Cardiac complications, such as myocarditis, are also relatively common. Another classic complications is severe uveitis, often lasting months or even years after the initial infection.
What is Weil’s syndrome?
Weil’s syndrome, also called icteric leptospirosis, is a severe form of the disease characterized by jaundice and renal failure. The reported mortality is between 5 and 15%.
How is it diagnosed?
Serology is the diagnostic test of choice. However, IgM will not be consistently positive until 5-7 days after symptom onset.
How is it treated?
Most cases are mild and resolve without treatment. Early antibiotics may prevent severe disease. The suggested antibiotics for outpatient management are doxycycline 100mg twice daily or azithromycin 500 mg daily. For patients sick enough to require inpatient management, the treatment is generally with ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, ampicillin, or fluoroquinolones. (Considering how often I use those antibiotics for undifferentiated febrile illness with many of the above features, I wonder how many times I have just got lucky and treated leptospirosis despite never making the diagnosis)
With good supportive care, most patients, including those requiring dialysis, make a full recovery.
Can it be prevented?
There is a vaccine for this condition, but its use has thus far has been limited to high risk occupations, and in response to floods and epidemics. The original vaccine was trialed in Paris sewer workers in 1979, and completely eliminated the incidence of leptospirosis over a 7 year follow up period. It isn’t clear to me why this vaccine isn’t more widely used, aside from the obvious answer that this condition is only endemic in low and middle income countries.
Prophylaxis with doxycycline is effective, and could be considered for short term, unavoidable risk.
Worldwide, poverty is the largest contributor to this condition. Improvements in sanitation and rodent control strategies are essential in the management of leptospirosis.
Costa F, Hagan JE, Calcagno J, et al. Global Morbidity and Mortality of Leptospirosis: A Systematic Review. PLoS neglected tropical diseases. 2015; 9(9):e0003898. [pubmed]
Levett PN. Leptospirosis Clinical Microbiology Reviews. 2001; 14(2):296-326.
|
<urn:uuid:0e358e5f-c5c9-45f7-8ef8-9b150b1125b5>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-29
|
https://first10em.com/leptospirosis/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655890181.37/warc/CC-MAIN-20200706191400-20200706221400-00254.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.924077 | 1,240 | 4.15625 | 4 |
Indian Ocean Commission
The Indian Ocean Commission (COI), known as the Commission de l'Océan Indien in French, is an intergovernmental organization that joins Comoros, Madagascar, Mauritius, France (for Réunion), and the Seychelles together to encourage cooperation. It was started in January 1984 under the General Victoria Agreement. The official language of communication is French.
IOC's mission is to strengthen regional cooperation while defending the common interests of these countries. In 2008 the IOC launched the Acclimate project, designed to strengthen climate-resilience and build capacity of IOC's State members, focusing on adaptation and the promotion of a regional climate governance.
|
<urn:uuid:2820756e-69d6-4b8c-b83d-894333e1dfc1>
|
CC-MAIN-2014-15
|
http://weadapt.org/organisation/indian-ocean-commission
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1398223205137.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20140423032005-00377-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.937478 | 138 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Editors’ Note: Emma Saunders-Hastings introduces her new article in American Political Science Review on Frederick Douglass and his political theory of ‘dirty money.’
In 1844, the newly-formed Free Church of Scotland sent a fundraising mission to the United States. It raised about £3,000, largely from southern Presbyterian donors. Abolitionists in the United States and abroad were quick to criticize the Free Church for accepting money from slaveholders and for preserving ties of fellowship with pro-slavery churches. Of course, abolitionists at the time had many other targets to choose from, and so the incident might quickly have faded from public notice. But the Free Church was unlucky. For several years, American abolitionists traveling in Great Britain worked assiduously to keep the controversy alive, leading a campaign for the Free Church to “Send back the money” and break fellowship with its American patrons.
Especially unlucky for the church leaders was the arrival in Scotland of a young Frederick Douglass, in January 1846. The previous year, Douglass had published his first autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. He embarked on a lengthy tour of Great Britain and Ireland in order to promote the book and the abolitionist cause, as well as to evade the heightened risk of recapture that his new celebrity entailed. Douglass quickly made the Free Church issue his own, and the acceptance of “blood-stained money” became a leading theme of his public lectures all over Great Britain. Douglass’s skill and draw as an orator gave the “Send Back the Money” campaign added salience and longevity. As Douglass wrote to a correspondent back home, shortly after his arrival in Scotland, the Free Church “thought to get the gold and nobody see her. It was a sad mistake.”
Douglass’s Scottish speeches are magnificent as political rhetoric. They are also important as political theory. As I argue in a new article in the American Political Science Review, they provide us with an early example of a major thinker deploying a political and not merely ethical theory of “dirty money.”
The terms “dirty money” and “tainted gifts” refer to philanthropic donations that are controversial because of their provenance (whether because of objections to how the money was made or to other kinds of wrongdoing by the donor). Activists and critics today, as in Douglass’s time, call for institutions to refuse or return tainted donations. But to other people, such demands themselves seem open to moral objections. A focus on dirty money can appear puritanical: perhaps it is self-indulgent to prioritize keeping one’s own hands clean and overlook the good that even wrongdoers’ money might do. Criticism of dirty money can also appear fetishistic, in treating money itself as clean or dirty. In cases like the “Send Back the Money” campaign, where the relevant taint (profit or benefit from American slavery) pervaded the global economy, this can invite the further charge of inconsistency or hypocrisy. If it is impossible to distinguish morally pure from tainted money, criticism of the latter may seem opportunistic—an effort to shame some individuals or institutions for sins in which many more are complicit.
I argue that critics often mistake the goals of dirty money rhetoric, in interpreting activists as offering (or purporting to offer and failing consistently to apply) absolutist moral constraints on accepting money, based on its provenance. Douglass does deploy nonconsequentialist rhetoric in his speeches criticizing the Free Church. He often uses imagery of “filthy lucre,” moral taint, and defilement by association. He also points out that, by accepting slaveholders’ money, the Free Church had in effect received stolen goods. However, his focus is on the politics of tainted gifts: how such gifts shape the status, relationships, and motivations of different actors, and how perceptions of money as clean or dirty are constructed in ways that can reinforce or challenge injustice. This affects his account of what is wrong with accepting dirty money; his understanding of the point of criticizing tainted donations; and his rhetorical strategies in the “Send Back the Money” campaign.
On Douglass’s analysis, the Free Church’s acceptance of slaveholders’ money had two closely related political effects. First, taking the money expressed a damaging political message, to audiences in both Scotland and the United States. The church was officially opposed to slavery, but Douglass charges that accepting slaveholders as benefactors gave them (and, by extension, slavery itself) added public legitimacy: “What would be thought of the man who said he was diametrically opposed to slavery, while he went and took the money which was wrung from the blood, bones, and sinews of the slave, to build his church and pay his stipend?,” Douglass asked during a speech in Paisley, Scotland. “We would say he aided and abetted slavery.” Beyond elevating the status of slaveholders, accepting the money amounted to a denial of the moral status of enslaved people. It communicated that the crimes committed against enslaved people were not sufficiently serious to warrant refusing a close association with the perpetrators. While the Free Church denied that its actions gave moral sanction or cover to slavery, Douglass emphasizes evidence that slaveholders themselves thought the contrary. (Indeed, he often uses slaveholders’ perceptions as a negative heuristic.)
Second, accepting the money had a corrosive effect on the political judgment of the Free Church’s leaders and members. In a series of London speeches, in May 1846, Douglass claimed that the Free Church “can never remonstrate against the slave holder while they hold on to the money.” Dirty money creates both external and internal obstacles to appropriate forms of political engagement with slaveholders or enslaved people. The external obstacles are more obvious. Recipient institutions have clear incentives against criticizing their patrons. Patronage relations also can weaken the efficacy of criticism, even without preempting it entirely. Even if the Free Church had shown an inclination to criticize slavery, “All their rebukes fall powerless on the slaveholders while they retain the money”: the slaveholders would treat with contempt any remonstrances from their previously eager supplicants.
In fact, Douglass suggests, the latter problem did not arise, since the acceptance of dirty money subverted more than external criticism of slavery. It also had a powerful distorting effect on the sympathies of Free Church leaders who, in seeking to justify their own decisions, were incentivized to minimize or excuse the moral wrong of slaveholding. (As the Free Church founder Thomas Chalmers put it, in a statement that Douglass repeatedly quotes in scathing tones, “Distinction ought to be made between the character of a system, and the character of the persons whom circumstances have implicated therewith.”) Douglass is deeply attuned to motivated reasoning and the damage it can do. The problem is not just that the Free Church was greedy and operating in bad faith when it defended taking the money. Rather, they had “worked themselves up to believe that it would be wrong to send it back, or at least that it would be humiliating.”
It is important to see the close and dynamic relationship between the expressive and psychological (or outward- and inward-facing) effects of accepting dirty money: the destructive effects on sympathy, moral perception, and political judgment spur a further round of harmful public interventions. (Hence Douglass’s suggestion, during an April speech in Glasgow, that the Free Church had “committed more sin in attempting to defend certain principles connected with this question, than in accepting the money.”) By late summer 1846, in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, he was tying the threads of his critique together explicitly, arguing that the Free Church leaders “have stabbed the cause of abolition, and corrupted their own church,” for “they would never have put forth the defences, the apologies, and excuses, for the slave-holder, that we have witnessed, but that they took the blood-stained gold and were polluted by it … having done so, they feel they must make the best defence they can for the character of the slave-holder.”
If this characterization of Douglass’s critique is correct, how does that help us to understand his political strategy? What was the point of calling on the Free Church to “Send Back the Money?”
The answer to the latter question does not follow obviously from Douglass’s critique. After all, if much of the damage that the Free Church had done concerned the public messages that its actions communicated, then advertising the Free Church’s offense (even to denounce it) might well compound the harm. Even granting the arguments against taking the money, it might seem that there was a case for letting them slink away unnoticed. (Similarly, some people take the position that tainted donations should only be accepted on condition of donor anonymity: the absence of publicity is thought to reduce the harm.) What good did Douglass expect to come from his campaign? Correcting the corrupted reasoning of church leaders might be one salutary effect, but the moral improvement of Scottish churchmen could hardly be Douglass’s main concern. When he gives the Free Church’s blood money such prominence in so many speeches, he is seizing an opportunity to shape the moral imagination and political judgment of a much wider transatlantic audience.
Here we need to return to the charge that criticism of “dirty money” is fetishistic and see how—in Douglass’s case, at least—it gets things almost exactly backwards. In fact, Douglass uses activism around dirty money to subvert fetishism and call his audiences’ attention back to unjust social and political relations. In his speeches, he continually insists on imagining the Free Church emissaries on their mission to the southern states. Who did they visit? What did they see? What did they say—and what didn’t they say—when soliciting donations from slaveholders? Most dramatically, in a virtuoso Dundee address, Douglass (anachronistically) imagines himself back in slavery at the time of the mission and narrates an extended dialogue between his “old master” and the Free Church emissary George Lewis:
I can almost imagine I see brother Lewis calling on the slaveholder. I can almost go down south, and see him, when I was a slave, calling on my old master, Mr. Thomas Auld… . When brother Lewis knocks at the door, I answer, and he asks, “Well, my lad, is your master in?” (Laughter.) “Yes, Sir.” Well, he walks into the house, sees my master, and introduces himself thus…“My object in making this call this morning is to see if you would do something for the cause of religious freedom in Scotland.”… My master would reply, “Brother Lewis, I deeply sympathize with your efforts … I’ll tell you what I will do. I have a fine young negro who is to be sold, and I will sell him to-morrow and give you a contribution to the cause of freedom… Come about nine o’clock, brother, and I will see what I can do for the cause of freedom in Scotland.
The absurd scene continues, with Douglass “on the auction block” and an auctioneer joining the cast of characters: “Who bids for this comely stout young negro? He is accustomed to his work… he is not sold for any bad quality. His master has no desire to get rid of him, but only wants to get a little money to aid the cause of religious freedom in Scotland.” The imaginary narrative ends with Douglass being “sold for 600 dollars” and Brother Lewis pocketing the money with “not a word…as to the sin of the auction.”
Douglass’s aim here is not to make a distinction between clean and dirty money; indeed, he pointedly refuses to specify conditions under which donations are morally unobjectionable or to engage in “sophistical arguments” and casuistic reasoning. Rather, he uses money as an opportunity to force a more vivid consideration of unjust social and political relations. From this point of view, it is acceptance of the money—made possible by the view that the money stands separate from the injustice of the relations that produced it—that looks fetishistic. Douglass works to break this illusion. To audiences in Dundee and Arbroath, in some of his earliest speeches on the Free Church, he reads a New Orleans newspaper’s praise of the church’s founder Chalmers. He then reads from the same newspaper an advertisement for fugitive slaves, including graphic descriptions of their scars and injuries, hoping that “this advertisement would be copied along with the eulogy of Dr. Chalmers, to show the people of Scotland what influence was being exerted to uphold slavery in the United States…Well might the Doctor exclaim, ‘What have I done that the wicked speak well of me?…What have I done that the slaveholders eulogize me?’” The answer: he had “sanctioned the taking of the blood-stained money to build churches; and for this he was eulogized by the New Orleans Picayune.” Again, he uses the money to expose rather than distract from social and political relationships, and to expand rather than limit responsibility for injustice.
Douglass’s speeches reveal the ways that dirty money is constructed through activists’ efforts to shape people’s moral imagination and political judgment. In Douglass’s speeches, the presence of blood money in Scotland is both a source of shame and an opportunity. On the one hand, money is a useful symbol of transmissible moral responsibility and therefore a helpful rhetorical device for rousing British audiences’ feelings of complicity in (and motivation to oppose) American slavery. But the money also allows for an actionable call: a tangible way to demonstrate solidarity and engage in the same political project activists are participating in. The Free Church did not avail itself of this chance and so, as Douglass wrote in My Bondage and My Freedom (1855), “She lost a glorious opportunity for giving her voice, her vote, and her example to the cause of humanity.” But the invitation remains open. The ease with which money can change hands is, in Douglass’s speeches, a marker both of moral danger and political hope.
Emma Saunders-Hastings is an assistant professor in the Department of Political Science at the Ohio State University. Her book, Private Virtues, Public Vices: Philanthropy and Democratic Equality, will be published in April 2022 by the University of Chicago Press.
See for e.g. Lawrence Lessig’s response to the controversy surrounding MIT’s acceptance of gifts from Jeffrey Epstein. In his initial reflections (later qualified), Lessig writes that “universities should not be the launderers of reputation. I think that they should not accept blood money. Or more precisely, I believe that if they are going to accept blood money… or the money from people convicted of a crime…they should only ever accept that money anonymously.”
|
<urn:uuid:92e3f5a1-21ce-4d39-95d7-e561cab78c7a>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-23
|
https://histphil.org/2021/08/10/frederick-douglass-and-the-political-theory-of-dirty-money/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224644309.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20230528150639-20230528180639-00338.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.968867 | 3,229 | 3.109375 | 3 |
(HealthDay)—Recess in school serves a necessary and important role in the development of a child's academic, physical, and social well-being, according to an American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement published online Dec. 31 in Pediatrics.
Noting the growing trend toward reallocating time in school to accentuate more academic subjects at the expense of recess, Robert Murray, M.D., and colleagues on the AAP Council on School Health, discuss the benefits of recess in school, and provide recommendations for parents, teachers, school administrators, and policy makers.
According to the report, recess is a necessary break that can optimize social, emotional, physical, and cognitive development. Recess should be considered personal time and should not be withheld. Regular breaks from concentrated classroom work are necessary for academic performance and cognitive processing; this applies to children of all ages. Recess complements physical education and can promote a healthy lifestyle as well as provide social, creative, and emotional benefits of play and peer interaction. Recess can offset sedentary time and can contribute to, but not replace, the recommended 60 minutes of activity per day suggested by the AAP to reduce the risk of overweight. Recess should be safe and well supervised.
"On the basis of an abundance of scientific studies, withholding recess for punitive or academic reasons would seem to be counterproductive to the intended outcomes and may have unintended consequences in relation to a child's acquisition of important life skills," the authors write.
More information: Abstract
|
<urn:uuid:bf91cfcd-38e9-48df-937e-5fa7a1828e0f>
|
CC-MAIN-2014-10
|
http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-aap-emphasizes-importance-recess-schools.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1394010305626/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305090505-00082-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.940206 | 304 | 3.265625 | 3 |
Wnt signaling pathway
The Wnt signaling pathways are a group of signal transduction pathways which begin with proteins that pass signals into a cell through cell surface receptors. The name Wnt is a portmanteau created from the name Wingless and the name Int-1. Wnt signaling pathways use either nearby cell-cell communication (paracrine) or same-cell communication (autocrine). They are highly evolutionarily conserved in animals, which means they are similar across animal species from fruit flies to humans.
Three Wnt signaling pathways have been characterized: the canonical Wnt pathway, the noncanonical planar cell polarity pathway, and the noncanonical Wnt/calcium pathway. All three pathways are activated by the binding of a Wnt-protein ligand to a Frizzled family receptor, which passes the biological signal to the Dishevelled protein inside the cell. The canonical Wnt pathway leads to regulation of gene transcription, and is thought to be negatively regulated in part by the SPATS1 gene. The noncanonical planar cell polarity pathway regulates the cytoskeleton that is responsible for the shape of the cell. The noncanonical Wnt/calcium pathway regulates calcium inside the cell.
Wnt signaling was first identified for its role in carcinogenesis, then for its function in embryonic development. The embryonic processes it controls include body axis patterning, cell fate specification, cell proliferation and cell migration. These processes are necessary for proper formation of important tissues including bone, heart and muscle. Its role in embryonic development was discovered when genetic mutations in Wnt pathway proteins produced abnormal fruit fly embryos. Wnt signaling also controls tissue regeneration in adult bone marrow, skin and intestine. Later research found that the genes responsible for these abnormalities also influenced breast cancer development in mice.
This pathway's clinical importance was demonstrated by mutations that lead to various diseases, including breast and prostate cancer, glioblastoma, type II diabetes and others. Encouragingly, in recent years researchers reported first successful use of Wnt pathway inhibitors in mouse models of disease.
History and etymologyEdit
The discovery of Wnt signaling was influenced by research on oncogenic (cancer-causing) retroviruses. In 1982, Roel Nusse and Harold Varmus infected mice with mouse mammary tumor virus in order to mutate mouse genes to see which mutated genes could cause breast tumors. They identified a new mouse proto-oncogene that they named int1 (integration 1).
Int1 is highly conserved across multiple species, including humans and Drosophila. Its presence in D. melanogaster led researchers to discover in 1987 that the int1 gene in Drosophila was actually the already known and characterized Drosophila gene known as Wingless (Wg). Since previous research by Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard and Eric Wieschaus (which won them the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1995) had already established the function of Wg as a segment polarity gene involved in the formation of the body axis during embryonic development, researchers determined that the mammalian int1 discovered in mice is also involved in embryonic development.
Continued research led to the discovery of further int1-related genes; however, because those genes were not identified in the same manner as int1, the int gene nomenclature was inadequate. Thus, the int/Wingless family became the Wnt family and int1 became Wnt1. The name Wnt is a portmanteau of int and Wg and stands for "Wingless-related integration site".
Wnt comprises a diverse family of secreted lipid-modified signaling glycoproteins that are 350–400 amino acids in length. The lipid modification of all Wnts is palmitoleoylation of a single totally conserved serine residue. Palmitoleoylation is necessary because it is required for Wnt to bind to its carrier protein Wntless (WLS) so it can be transported to the plasma membrane for secretion and it allows the Wnt protein to bind its receptor Frizzled Wnt proteins also undergo glycosylation, which attaches a carbohydrate in order to ensure proper secretion. In Wnt signaling, these proteins act as ligands to activate the different Wnt pathways via paracrine and autocrine routes.
|Homo sapiens||WNT1, WNT2, WNT2B, WNT3, WNT3A, WNT4, WNT5A, WNT5B, WNT6, WNT7A, WNT7B, WNT8A, WNT8B, WNT9A, WNT9B, WNT10A, WNT10B, WNT11, WNT16|
|Mus musculus (Identical proteins as in H. sapiens)||Wnt1, Wnt2, Wnt2B, Wnt3, Wnt3A, Wnt4, Wnt5A, Wnt5B, Wnt6, Wnt7A, Wnt7B, Wnt8A, Wnt8B, Wnt9A, Wnt9B, Wnt10A, Wnt10B, Wnt11, Wnt16|
|Xenopus||Wnt1, Wnt2, Wnt2B, Wnt3, Wnt3A, Wnt4, Wnt5A, Wnt5B, Wnt7A, Wnt7B, Wnt8A, Wnt8B, Wnt10A, Wnt10B, Wnt11, Wnt11R|
|Danio rerio||Wnt1, Wnt2, Wnt2B, Wnt3, Wnt3A, Wnt4, Wnt5A, Wnt5B, Wnt6, Wnt7A, Wnt7B, Wnt8A, Wnt8B, Wnt10A, Wnt10B, Wnt11, Wnt16|
|Drosophila||Wg, DWnt2, DWnt3/5, DWnt 4, DWnt6, WntD/DWnt8, DWnt10|
|Hydra||hywnt1, hywnt5a, hywnt8, hywnt7, hywnt9/10a, hywnt9/10b, hywnt9/10c, hywnt11, hywnt16|
|C. elegans||mom-2, lin-44, egl-20, cwn-1, cwn-2 |
Wnt signaling begins when a Wnt protein binds to the N-terminal extra-cellular cysteine-rich domain of a Frizzled (Fz) family receptor. These receptors span the plasma membrane seven times and constitute a distinct family of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs). However, to facilitate Wnt signaling, co-receptors may be required alongside the interaction between the Wnt protein and Fz receptor. Examples include lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP)-5/6, receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK), and ROR2. Upon activation of the receptor, a signal is sent to the phosphoprotein Dishevelled (Dsh), which is located in the cytoplasm. This signal is transmitted via a direct interaction between Fz and Dsh. Dsh proteins are present in all organisms and they all share the following highly conserved protein domains: an amino-terminal DIX domain, a central PDZ domain, and a carboxy-terminal DEP domain. These different domains are important because after Dsh, the Wnt signal can branch off into multiple pathways and each pathway interacts with a different combination of the three domains.
Canonical and noncanonical pathwaysEdit
The three best characterized Wnt signaling pathways are the canonical Wnt pathway, the noncanonical planar cell polarity pathway, and the noncanonical Wnt/calcium pathway. As their names suggest, these pathways belong to one of two categories: canonical or noncanonical. The difference between the categories is that a canonical pathway involves the protein β-catenin while a noncanonical pathway operates independently of it.
The canonical Wnt pathway (or Wnt/β-catenin pathway) is the Wnt pathway that causes an accumulation of β-catenin in the cytoplasm and its eventual translocation into the nucleus to act as a transcriptional coactivator of transcription factors that belong to the TCF/LEF family. Without Wnt, β-catenin would not accumulate in the cytoplasm since a destruction complex would normally degrade it. This destruction complex includes the following proteins: Axin, adenomatosis polyposis coli (APC), protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) and casein kinase 1α (CK1α). It degrades β-catenin by targeting it for ubiquitination, which subsequently sends it to the proteasome to be digested. However, as soon as Wnt binds Fz and LRP5/6, the destruction complex function becomes disrupted. This is due to Wnt causing the translocation of the negative Wnt regulator, Axin, and the destruction complex to the plasma membrane. Phosphorylation by other proteins in the destruction complex subsequently binds Axin to the cytoplasmic tail of LRP5/6. Axin becomes de-phosphorylated and its stability and levels decrease. Dsh then becomes activated via phosphorylation and its DIX and PDZ domains inhibit the GSK3 activity of the destruction complex. This allows β-catenin to accumulate and localize to the nucleus and subsequently induce a cellular response via gene transduction alongside the TCF/LEF (T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancing factor) transcription factors. β-catenin recruits other transcriptional coactivators, such as BCL9, Pygopus and Parafibromin/Hyrax. The complexity of the transcriptional complex assembled by β-catenin is beginning to emerge thanks to new high-throughput proteomics studies. The extensivity of the β-catenin interacting proteins complicates our understanding: β-catenin may be directly phosphorylated at Ser552 by Akt, which causes its disassociation from cell-cell contacts and accumulation in cytosol, thereafter 14-3-3ζ interacts with β-catenin (pSer552) and enhances its nuclear translocation. BCL9 and Pygopus have been reported, in fact, to possess several β-catenin-independent functions (therefore, likely, Wnt signaling-independent).
The noncanonical planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway does not involve β-catenin. It does not use LRP-5/6 as its co-receptor and is thought to use NRH1, Ryk, PTK7 or ROR2. The PCP pathway is activated via the binding of Wnt to Fz and its co-receptor. The receptor then recruits Dsh, which uses its PDZ and DIX domains to form a complex with Dishevelled-associated activator of morphogenesis 1 (DAAM1). Daam1 then activates the small G-protein Rho through a guanine exchange factor. Rho activates Rho-associated kinase (ROCK), which is one of the major regulators of the cytoskeleton. Dsh also forms a complex with rac1 and mediates profilin binding to actin. Rac1 activates JNK and can also lead to actin polymerization. Profilin binding to actin can result in restructuring of the cytoskeleton and gastrulation.
The noncanonical Wnt/calcium pathway also does not involve β-catenin. Its role is to help regulate calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in order to control intracellular calcium levels. Like other Wnt pathways, upon ligand binding, the activated Fz receptor directly interacts with Dsh and activates specific Dsh-protein domains. The domains involved in Wnt/calcium signaling are the PDZ and DEP domains. However, unlike other Wnt pathways, the Fz receptor directly interfaces with a trimeric G-protein. This co-stimulation of Dsh and the G-protein can lead to the activation of either PLC or cGMP-specific PDE. If PLC is activated, the plasma membrane component PIP2 is cleaved into DAG and IP3. When IP3 binds its receptor on the ER, calcium is released. Increased concentrations of calcium and DAG can activate Cdc42 through PKC. Cdc42 is an important regulator of ventral patterning. Increased calcium also activates calcineurin and CaMKII. CaMKII induces activation of the transcription factor NFAT, which regulates cell adhesion, migration and tissue separation. Calcineurin activates TAK1 and NLK kinase, which can interfere with TCF/ß-Catenin signaling in the canonical Wnt pathway. However, if PDE is activated, calcium release from the ER is inhibited. PDE mediates this through the inhibition of PKG, which subsequently causes the inhibition of calcium release.
Integrated Wnt pathwayEdit
The binary distinction of canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways has come under scrutiny and an integrated, convergent Wnt pathway has been proposed. Some evidence for this was found for one Wnt ligand (Wnt5A). Evidence for a convergent Wnt signaling pathway that shows integrated activation of Wnt/Ca2+ and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling, for multiple Wnt ligands, was described in mammalian cell lines.
Wnt signaling also regulates a number of other signaling pathways that have not been as extensively elucidated. One such pathway includes the interaction between Wnt and GSK3. During cell growth, Wnt can inhibit GSK3 in order to activate mTOR in the absence of β-catenin. However, Wnt can also serve as a negative regulator of mTOR via activation of the tumor suppressor TSC2, which is upregulated via Dsh and GSK3 interaction. During myogenesis, Wnt uses PA and CREB to activate MyoD and Myf5 genes. Wnt also acts in conjunction with Ryk and Src to allow for regulation of neuron repulsion during axonal guidance. Wnt regulates gastrulation when CK1 serves as an inhibitor of Rap1-ATPase in order to modulate the cytoskeleton during gastrulation. Further regulation of gastrulation is achieved when Wnt uses ROR2 along with the CDC42 and JNK pathway to regulate the expression of PAPC. Dsh can also interact with aPKC, Pa3, Par6 and LGl in order to control cell polarity and microtubule cytoskeleton development. While these pathways overlap with components associated with PCP and Wnt/Calcium signaling, they are considered distinct pathways because they produce different responses.
In order to ensure proper functioning, Wnt signaling is constantly regulated at several points along its signaling pathways. For example, Wnt proteins are palmitoylated. The protein porcupine mediates this process, which means that it helps regulate when the Wnt ligand is secreted by determining when it is fully formed. Secretion is further controlled with proteins such as GPR177 (wntless) and evenness interrupted and complexes such as the retromer complex. Upon secretion, the ligand can be prevented from reaching its receptor through the binding of proteins such as the stabilizers Dally and glypican 3 (GPC3), which inhibit diffusion. In cancer cells, both the heparan sulfate chains and the core protein of GPC3 are involved in regulating Wnt binding and activation for cell proliferation. Wnt recognizes a heparan sulfate structure on GPC3, which contains IdoA2S and GlcNS6S, and the 3-O-sulfation in GlcNS6S3S enhances the binding of Wnt to the heparan sulfate glypican. A cysteine-rich domain at the N-lobe of GPC3 has been identified to form a Wnt-binding hydrophobic groove including phenylalanine-41 that interacts with Wnt. Blocking the Wnt binding domain using a nanobody called HN3 can inhibit Wnt activation. At the Fz receptor, the binding of proteins other than Wnt can antagonize signaling. Specific antagonists include Dickkopf (Dkk), Wnt inhibitory factor 1 (WIF-1), secreted Frizzled-related proteins (SFRP), Cerberus, Frzb, Wise, SOST, and Naked cuticle. These constitute inhibitors of Wnt signaling. However, other molecules also act as activators. Norrin and R-Spondin2 activate Wnt signaling in the absence of Wnt ligand. Interactions between Wnt signaling pathways also regulate Wnt signaling. As previously mentioned, the Wnt/calcium pathway can inhibit TCF/β-catenin, preventing canonical Wnt pathway signaling. Prostaglandin E2 is an essential activator of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Interaction of PGE2 with its receptors E2/E4 stabilizes β-catenin through cAMP/PKA mediated phosphorylation. The synthesis of PGE2 is necessary for Wnt signaling mediated processes such as tissue regeneration and control of stem cell population in zebrafish and mouse. Intriguingly, the unstructured regions of several oversized Intrinsically disordered proteins play crucial roles in regulating Wnt signaling.
Induced cell responsesEdit
Wnt signaling plays a critical role in embryonic development. It operates in both vertebrates and invertebrates, including humans, frogs, zebrafish, C. elegans, Drosophila and others. It was first found in the segment polarity of Drosophila, where it helps to establish anterior and posterior polarities. It is implicated in other developmental processes. As its function in Drosophila suggests, it plays a key role in body axis formation, particularly the formation of the anteroposterior and dorsoventral axes. It is involved in the induction of cell differentiation to prompt formation of important organs such as lungs and ovaries. Wnt further ensures the development of these tissues through proper regulation of cell proliferation and migration. Wnt signaling functions can be divided into axis patterning, cell fate specification, cell proliferation and cell migration.
In early embryo development, the formation of the primary body axes is a crucial step in establishing the organism's overall body plan. The axes include the anteroposterior axis, dorsoventral axis, and right-left axis. Wnt signaling is implicated in the formation of the anteroposterior and dorsoventral (DV) axes. Wnt signaling activity in anterior-posterior development can be seen in mammals, fish and frogs. In mammals, the primitive streak and other surrounding tissues produce the morphogenic compounds Wnts, BMPs, FGFs, Nodal and retinoic acid to establish the posterior region during late gastrula. These proteins form concentration gradients. Areas of highest concentration establish the posterior region while areas of lowest concentration indicate the anterior region. In fish and frogs, β-catenin produced by canonical Wnt signaling causes the formation of organizing centers, which, alongside BMPs, elicit posterior formation. Wnt involvement in DV axis formation can be seen in the activity of the formation of the Spemann organizer, which establishes the dorsal region. Canonical Wnt signaling β-catenin production induces the formation of this organizer via the activation of the genes twin and siamois. Similarly, in avian gastrulation, cells of the Koller's sickle express different mesodermal marker genes that allow for the differential movement of cells during the formation of the primitive streak. Wnt signaling activated by FGFs is responsible for this movement.
Wnt signaling is also involved in the axis formation of specific body parts and organ systems later in development. In vertebrates, sonic hedgehog (Shh) and Wnt morphogenetic signaling gradients establish the dorsoventral axis of the central nervous system during neural tube axial patterning. High Wnt signaling establishes the dorsal region while high Shh signaling indicates the ventral region. Wnt is involved in the DV formation of the central nervous system through its involvement in axon guidance. Wnt proteins guide the axons of the spinal cord in an anterior-posterior direction. Wnt is also involved in the formation of the limb DV axis. Specifically, Wnt7a helps produce the dorsal patterning of the developing limb.
In the embryonic differentiation waves model of development Wnt plays a critical role as part a signalling complex in competent cells ready to differentiate. Wnt reacts to the activity of the cytoskeleton, stabilizing the initial change created by a passing wave of contraction or expansion and simultaneously signals the nucleus through the use of its different signalling pathways as to which wave the individual cell has participated in. Wnt activity thereby amplifies mechanical signalling that occurs during development.
Cell fate specificationEdit
Cell fate specification or cell differentiation is a process where undifferentiated cells can become a more specialized cell type. Wnt signaling induces differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into mesoderm and endoderm progenitor cells. These progenitor cells further differentiate into cell types such as endothelial, cardiac and vascular smooth muscle lineages. Wnt signaling induces blood formation from stem cells. Specifically, Wnt3 leads to mesoderm committed cells with hematopoietic potential. Wnt1 antagonizes neural differentiation and is a major factor in self-renewal of neural stem cells. This allows for regeneration of nervous system cells, which is further evidence of a role in promoting neural stem cell proliferation. Wnt signaling is involved in germ cell determination, gut tissue specification, hair follicle development, lung tissue development, trunk neural crest cell differentiation, nephron development, ovary development and sex determination. Wnt signaling also antagonizes heart formation, and Wnt inhibition was shown to be a critical inducer of heart tissue during development, and small molecule Wnt inhibitors are routinely used to produce cardiomyocytes from pluripotent stem cells.
In order to have the mass differentiation of cells needed to form the specified cell tissues of different organisms, proliferation and growth of embryonic stem cells must take place. This process is mediated through canonical Wnt signaling, which increases nuclear and cytoplasmic β-catenin. Increased β-catenin can initiate transcriptional activation of proteins such as cyclin D1 and c-myc, which control the G1 to S phase transition in the cell cycle. Entry into the S phase causes DNA replication and ultimately mitosis, which are responsible for cell proliferation. This proliferation increase is directly paired with cell differentiation because as the stem cells proliferate, they also differentiate. This allows for overall growth and development of specific tissue systems during embryonic development. This is apparent in systems such as the circulatory system where Wnt3a leads to proliferation and expansion of hematopoietic stem cells needed for red blood cell formation.
The biochemistry of cancer stem cells is subtly different than that of other tumor cells. These so-called Wnt-addicted cells hijack and depend on constant stimulation of the Wnt pathway to promote their uncontrolled growth, survival and migration. In cancer, Wnt signaling can become independent of regular stimuli, through mutations in downstream oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes that become permanently activated even though the normal receptor has not received a signal. β-catenin binds to transcription factors such as the protein TCF4 and in combination the molecules activate the necessary genes. LF3 strongly inhibits this binding in vitro, in cell lines and reduced tumor growth in mouse models. It prevented replication and reduced their ability to migrate, all without affecting healthy cells. No cancer stem cells remained after treatment. The discovery was the product of "rational drug design", involving AlphaScreens and ELISA technologies.
Cell migration during embryonic development allows for the establishment of body axes, tissue formation, limb induction and several other processes. Wnt signaling helps mediate this process, particularly during convergent extension. Signaling from both the Wnt PCP pathway and canonical Wnt pathway is required for proper convergent extension during gastrulation. Convergent extension is further regulated by the Wnt/calcium pathway, which blocks convergent extension when activated. Wnt signaling also induces cell migration in later stages of development through the control of the migration behavior of neuroblasts, neural crest cells, myocytes, and tracheal cells.
Wnt signaling is involved in another key migration process known as the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This process allows epithelial cells to transform into mesenchymal cells so that they are no longer held in place at the laminin. It involves cadherin down-regulation so that cells can detach from laminin and migrate. Wnt signaling is an inducer of EMT, particularly in mammary development.
Insulin is a peptide hormone involved in glucose homeostasis within certain organisms. Specifically, it leads to upregulation of glucose transporters in the cell membrane in order to increase glucose uptake from the bloodstream. This process is partially mediated by activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling, which can increase a cell's insulin sensitivity. In particular, Wnt10b is a Wnt protein that increases this sensitivity in skeletal muscle cells.
Since its initial discovery, Wnt signaling has had an association with cancer. When Wnt1 was discovered, it was first identified as a proto-oncogene in a mouse model for breast cancer. The fact that Wnt1 is a homolog of Wg shows that it is involved in embryonic development, which often calls for rapid cell division and migration. Misregulation of these processes can lead to tumor development via excess cell proliferation.
Canonical Wnt pathway activity is involved in the development of benign and malignant breast tumors. Its presence is revealed by elevated levels of β-catenin in the nucleus and/or cytoplasm, which can be detected with immunohistochemical staining and Western blotting. Increased β-catenin expression is correlated with poor prognosis in breast cancer patients. This accumulation may be due to factors such as mutations in β-catenin, deficiencies in the β-catenin destruction complex, most frequently by mutations in structurally disordered regions of APC, overexpression of Wnt ligands, loss of inhibitors and/or decreased activity of regulatory pathways (such as the Wnt/calcium pathway). Breast tumors can metastasize due to Wnt involvement in EMT. Research looking at metastasis of basal-like breast cancer to the lungs showed that repression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling can prevent EMT, which can inhibit metastasis.
Wnt signaling has been implicated in the development of other cancers. Changes in CTNNB1 expression, which is the gene that encodes β-catenin, can be measured in breast, colorectal, melanoma, prostate, lung, and other cancers. Increased expression of Wnt ligand-proteins such as Wnt1, Wnt2 and Wnt7A were observed in the development of glioblastoma, oesophageal cancer and ovarian cancer respectively. Other proteins that cause multiple cancer types in the absence of proper functioning include ROR1, ROR2, SFRP4, Wnt5A, WIF1 and those of the TCF/LEF family.
Type II diabetesEdit
Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a common disease that causes reduced insulin secretion and increased insulin resistance in the periphery. It results in increased blood glucose levels, or hyperglycemia, which can be fatal if untreated. Since Wnt signaling is involved in insulin sensitivity, malfunctioning of its pathway could be involved. Overexpression of Wnt5b, for instance, may increase susceptibility due to its role in adipogenesis, since obesity and type II diabetes have high comorbidity. Wnt signaling is a strong activator of mitochondrial biogenesis. This leads to increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) known to cause DNA and cellular damage. This ROS-induced damage is significant because it can cause acute hepatic insulin resistance, or injury-induced insulin resistance. Mutations in Wnt signaling-associated transcription factors, such as TCF7L2, are linked to increased susceptibility.
- Nusse R, Brown A, Papkoff J, Scambler P, Shackleford G, McMahon A, et al. (January 1991). "A new nomenclature for int-1 and related genes: the Wnt gene family". Cell. 64 (2): 231. doi:10.1016/0092-8674(91)90633-a. PMID 1846319.
- Nusse R, Varmus HE (June 1992). "Wnt genes". Cell. 69 (7): 1073–87. doi:10.1016/0092-8674(92)90630-U. PMID 1617723.
- Nusse R (January 2005). "Wnt signaling in disease and in development". Cell Research. 15 (1): 28–32. doi:10.1038/sj.cr.7290260. PMID 15686623.
- Zhang H, Zhang H, Zhang Y, Ng SS, Ren F, Wang Y, Duan Y, Chen L, Zhai Y, Guo Q, Chang Z (November 2010). "Dishevelled-DEP domain interacting protein (DDIP) inhibits Wnt signaling by promoting TCF4 degradation and disrupting the TCF4/beta-catenin complex". Cellular Signalling. 22 (11): 1753–60. doi:10.1016/j.cellsig.2010.06.016. PMID 20603214.
- Goessling W, North TE, Loewer S, Lord AM, Lee S, Stoick-Cooper CL, Weidinger G, Puder M, Daley GQ, Moon RT, Zon LI (March 2009). "Genetic interaction of PGE2 and Wnt signaling regulates developmental specification of stem cells and regeneration". Cell. 136 (6): 1136–47. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2009.01.015. PMC 2692708. PMID 19303855.
- Logan CY, Nusse R (2004). "The Wnt signaling pathway in development and disease". Annual Review of Cell and Developmental Biology. 20: 781–810. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.322.311. doi:10.1146/annurev.cellbio.20.010403.113126. PMID 15473860.
- Komiya Y, Habas R (April 2008). "Wnt signal transduction pathways". Organogenesis. 4 (2): 68–75. doi:10.4161/org.4.2.5851. PMC 2634250. PMID 19279717.
- Zimmerli D, Hausmann G, Cantù C, Basler K (December 2017). "Pharmacological interventions in the Wnt pathway: inhibition of Wnt secretion versus disrupting the protein-protein interfaces of nuclear factors". British Journal of Pharmacology. 174 (24): 4600–4610. doi:10.1111/bph.13864. PMC 5727313. PMID 28521071.
- Nusse R, van Ooyen A, Cox D, Fung YK, Varmus H (1984). "Mode of proviral activation of a putative mammary oncogene (int-1) on mouse chromosome 15". Nature. 307 (5947): 131–6. Bibcode:1984Natur.307..131N. doi:10.1038/307131a0. PMID 6318122.
- Klaus A, Birchmeier W (May 2008). "Wnt signalling and its impact on development and cancer". Nature Reviews. Cancer. 8 (5): 387–98. doi:10.1038/nrc2389. PMID 18432252.
- Cadigan KM, Nusse R (December 1997). "Wnt signaling: a common theme in animal development". Genes & Development. 11 (24): 3286–305. doi:10.1101/gad.11.24.3286. PMID 9407023.
- Hannoush RN (October 2015). "Synthetic protein lipidation". Current Opinion in Chemical Biology. 28: 39–46. doi:10.1016/j.cbpa.2015.05.025. PMID 26080277.
- Yu J, Chia J, Canning CA, Jones CM, Bard FA, Virshup DM (May 2014). "WLS retrograde transport to the endoplasmic reticulum during Wnt secretion". Developmental Cell. 29 (3): 277–91. doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2014.03.016. PMID 24768165.
- Janda CY, Waghray D, Levin AM, Thomas C, Garcia KC (July 2012). "Structural basis of Wnt recognition by Frizzled". Science. 337 (6090): 59–64. Bibcode:2012Sci...337...59J. doi:10.1126/science.1222879. PMC 3577348. PMID 22653731.
- Hosseini V, Dani C, Geranmayeh MH, Mohammadzadeh F, Nazari Soltan Ahmad S, Darabi M (June 2019). "Wnt lipidation: Roles in trafficking, modulation, and function". Journal of Cellular Physiology. 234 (6): 8040–8054. doi:10.1002/jcp.27570. PMID 30341908.
- Kurayoshi M, Yamamoto H, Izumi S, Kikuchi A (March 2007). "Post-translational palmitoylation and glycosylation of Wnt-5a are necessary for its signalling". The Biochemical Journal. 402 (3): 515–23. doi:10.1042/BJ20061476. PMC 1863570. PMID 17117926.
- Nusse, Roel. "The Wnt Homepage". Retrieved 15 April 2013.
- Sawa H, Korswagen HC (March 2013). "WNT signaling in C. Elegans". Wormbook: 1–30. doi:10.1895/wormbook.1.7.2. PMC 5402212. PMID 25263666.
- Rao TP, Kühl M (June 2010). "An updated overview on Wnt signaling pathways: a prelude for more". Circulation Research. 106 (12): 1798–806. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.110.219840. PMID 20576942.
- Schulte G, Bryja V (October 2007). "The Frizzled family of unconventional G-protein-coupled receptors". Trends in Pharmacological Sciences. 28 (10): 518–25. doi:10.1016/j.tips.2007.09.001. PMID 17884187.
- Habas R, Dawid IB (February 2005). "Dishevelled and Wnt signaling: is the nucleus the final frontier?". Journal of Biology. 4 (1): 2. doi:10.1186/jbiol22. PMC 551522. PMID 15720723.
- Minde DP, Anvarian Z, Rüdiger SG, Maurice MM (August 2011). "Messing up disorder: how do missense mutations in the tumor suppressor protein APC lead to cancer?". Molecular Cancer. 10: 101. doi:10.1186/1476-4598-10-101. PMC 3170638. PMID 21859464.
- Minde DP, Radli M, Forneris F, Maurice MM, Rüdiger SG (2013). Buckle AM (ed.). "Large extent of disorder in Adenomatous Polyposis Coli offers a strategy to guard Wnt signalling against point mutations". PLOS ONE. 8 (10): e77257. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...877257M. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0077257. PMC 3793970. PMID 24130866.
- MacDonald BT, Tamai K, He X (July 2009). "Wnt/beta-catenin signaling: components, mechanisms, and diseases". Developmental Cell. 17 (1): 9–26. doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2009.06.016. PMC 2861485. PMID 19619488.
- Staal FJ, Clevers H (February 2000). "Tcf/Lef transcription factors during T-cell development: unique and overlapping functions". The Hematology Journal. 1 (1): 3–6. doi:10.1038/sj.thj.6200001. PMID 11920163.
- Kramps T, Peter O, Brunner E, Nellen D, Froesch B, Chatterjee S, Murone M, Züllig S, Basler K (April 2002). "Wnt/wingless signaling requires BCL9/legless-mediated recruitment of pygopus to the nuclear beta-catenin-TCF complex". Cell. 109 (1): 47–60. doi:10.1016/s0092-8674(02)00679-7. PMID 11955446.
- Mosimann C, Hausmann G, Basler K (April 2006). "Parafibromin/Hyrax activates Wnt/Wg target gene transcription by direct association with beta-catenin/Armadillo". Cell. 125 (2): 327–41. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2006.01.053. PMID 16630820.
- van Tienen LM, Mieszczanek J, Fiedler M, Rutherford TJ, Bienz M (March 2017). "Constitutive scaffolding of multiple Wnt enhanceosome components by Legless/BCL9". eLife. 6: e20882. doi:10.7554/elife.20882. PMC 5352222. PMID 28296634.
- Fang D, Hawke D, Zheng Y, Xia Y, Meisenhelder J, Nika H, Mills GB, Kobayashi R, Hunter T, Lu Z (April 2007). "Phosphorylation of beta-catenin by AKT promotes beta-catenin transcriptional activity". Journal of Biological Chemistry. 282 (15): 11221–9. doi:10.1074/jbc.M611871200. PMC 1850976. PMID 17287208.
- Cantù C, Valenta T, Hausmann G, Vilain N, Aguet M, Basler K (June 2013). "The Pygo2-H3K4me2/3 interaction is dispensable for mouse development and Wnt signaling-dependent transcription". Development. 140 (11): 2377–86. doi:10.1242/dev.093591. PMID 23637336.
- Cantù C, Zimmerli D, Hausmann G, Valenta T, Moor A, Aguet M, Basler K (September 2014). "Pax6-dependent, but β-catenin-independent, function of Bcl9 proteins in mouse lens development". Genes & Development. 28 (17): 1879–84. doi:10.1101/gad.246140.114. PMC 4197948. PMID 25184676.
- Cantù C, Pagella P, Shajiei TD, Zimmerli D, Valenta T, Hausmann G, Basler K, Mitsiadis TA (February 2017). "A cytoplasmic role of Wnt/β-catenin transcriptional cofactors Bcl9, Bcl9l, and Pygopus in tooth enamel formation". Science Signaling. 10 (465): eaah4598. doi:10.1126/scisignal.aah4598. PMID 28174279.
- Gordon MD, Nusse R (August 2006). "Wnt signaling: multiple pathways, multiple receptors, and multiple transcription factors". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 281 (32): 22429–33. doi:10.1074/jbc.R600015200. PMID 16793760.
- Sugimura R, Li L (December 2010). "Noncanonical Wnt signaling in vertebrate development, stem cells, and diseases". Birth Defects Research. Part C, Embryo Today. 90 (4): 243–56. doi:10.1002/bdrc.20195. PMID 21181886.
- van Amerongen R, Nusse R (October 2009). "Towards an integrated view of Wnt signaling in development". Development. 136 (19): 3205–14. doi:10.1242/dev.033910. PMID 19736321.
- van Amerongen R, Fuerer C, Mizutani M, Nusse R (September 2012). "Wnt5a can both activate and repress Wnt/β-catenin signaling during mouse embryonic development". Developmental Biology. 369 (1): 101–14. doi:10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.06.020. PMC 3435145. PMID 22771246.
- Thrasivoulou C, Millar M, Ahmed A (December 2013). "Activation of intracellular calcium by multiple Wnt ligands and translocation of β-catenin into the nucleus: a convergent model of Wnt/Ca2+ and Wnt/β-catenin pathways". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 288 (50): 35651–9. doi:10.1074/jbc.M112.437913. PMC 3861617. PMID 24158438.
- Inoki K, Ouyang H, Zhu T, Lindvall C, Wang Y, Zhang X, Yang Q, Bennett C, Harada Y, Stankunas K, Wang CY, He X, MacDougald OA, You M, Williams BO, Guan KL (September 2006). "TSC2 integrates Wnt and energy signals via a coordinated phosphorylation by AMPK and GSK3 to regulate cell growth". Cell. 126 (5): 955–68. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2006.06.055. PMID 16959574.
- Kuroda K, Kuang S, Taketo MM, Rudnicki MA (March 2013). "Canonical Wnt signaling induces BMP-4 to specify slow myofibrogenesis of fetal myoblasts". Skeletal Muscle. 3 (1): 5. doi:10.1186/2044-5040-3-5. PMC 3602004. PMID 23497616.
- Malinauskas T, Jones EY (December 2014). "Extracellular modulators of Wnt signalling". Current Opinion in Structural Biology. 29: 77–84. doi:10.1016/j.sbi.2014.10.003. PMID 25460271.
- Gao W, Kim H, Feng M, Phung Y, Xavier CP, Rubin JS, Ho M (August 2014). "Inactivation of Wnt signaling by a human antibody that recognizes the heparan sulfate chains of glypican-3 for liver cancer therapy". Hepatology. 60 (2): 576–87. doi:10.1002/hep.26996. PMC 4083010. PMID 24492943.
- Gao W, Xu Y, Liu J, Ho M (May 2016). "Epitope mapping by a Wnt-blocking antibody: evidence of the Wnt binding domain in heparan sulfate". Scientific Reports. 6: 26245. Bibcode:2016NatSR...626245G. doi:10.1038/srep26245. PMC 4869111. PMID 27185050.
- Gao W, Tang Z, Zhang YF, Feng M, Qian M, Dimitrov DS, Ho M (March 2015). "Immunotoxin targeting glypican-3 regresses liver cancer via dual inhibition of Wnt signalling and protein synthesis". Nature Communications. 6: 6536. Bibcode:2015NatCo...6.6536G. doi:10.1038/ncomms7536. PMC 4357278. PMID 25758784.
- Li N, Wei L, Liu X, Bai H, Ye Y, Li D, et al. (April 2019). "A Frizzled-Like Cysteine-Rich Domain in Glypican-3 Mediates Wnt Binding and Regulates Hepatocellular Carcinoma Tumor Growth in Mice". Hepatology. 70 (4): 1231–1245. doi:10.1002/hep.30646. PMC 6783318. PMID 30963603.
- Ho M, Kim H (February 2011). "Glypican-3: a new target for cancer immunotherapy". European Journal of Cancer. 47 (3): 333–8. doi:10.1016/j.ejca.2010.10.024. PMC 3031711. PMID 21112773.
- Li N, Gao W, Zhang YF, Ho M (November 2018). "Glypicans as Cancer Therapeutic Targets". Trends in Cancer. 4 (11): 741–754. doi:10.1016/j.trecan.2018.09.004. PMC 6209326. PMID 30352677.
- Gao, Wei; Xu, Yongmei; Liu, Jian; Ho, Mitchell (May 17, 2016). "Epitope mapping by a Wnt-blocking antibody: evidence of the Wnt binding domain in heparan sulfate". Scientific Reports. 6: 26245. doi:10.1038/srep26245. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 4869111. PMID 27185050.
- Kolluri A, Ho M (2019-08-02). "The Role of Glypican-3 in Regulating Wnt, YAP, and Hedgehog in Liver Cancer". Frontiers in Oncology. 9: 708. doi:10.3389/fonc.2019.00708. PMC 6688162. PMID 31428581.
- Malinauskas T, Aricescu AR, Lu W, Siebold C, Jones EY (July 2011). "Modular mechanism of Wnt signaling inhibition by Wnt inhibitory factor 1". Nature Structural & Molecular Biology. 18 (8): 886–93. doi:10.1038/nsmb.2081. PMC 3430870. PMID 21743455.
- Malinauskas T (March 2008). "Docking of fatty acids into the WIF domain of the human Wnt inhibitory factor-1". Lipids. 43 (3): 227–30. doi:10.1007/s11745-007-3144-3. PMID 18256869.
- Minde DP, Radli M, Forneris F, Maurice MM, Rüdiger SG (2013). "Large extent of disorder in Adenomatous Polyposis Coli offers a strategy to guard Wnt signalling against point mutations". PLOS ONE. 8 (10): e77257. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...877257M. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0077257. PMC 3793970. PMID 24130866.
- Gilbert SF (2010). Developmental biology (9th ed.). Sunderland, Mass.: Sinauer Associates. ISBN 9780878933846.
- Vasiev B, Balter A, Chaplain M, Glazier JA, Weijer CJ (May 2010). "Modeling gastrulation in the chick embryo: formation of the primitive streak". PLOS ONE. 5 (5): e10571. Bibcode:2010PLoSO...510571V. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0010571. PMC 2868022. PMID 20485500.
- Gilbert SF (2014). "Early Development in Birds". Developmental Biology (10th ed.). Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates.
- Ulloa F, Martí E (January 2010). "Wnt won the war: antagonistic role of Wnt over Shh controls dorso-ventral patterning of the vertebrate neural tube". Developmental Dynamics. 239 (1): 69–76. doi:10.1002/dvdy.22058. PMID 19681160.
- Zou Y (September 2004). "Wnt signaling in axon guidance". Trends in Neurosciences. 27 (9): 528–32. doi:10.1016/j.tins.2004.06.015. PMID 15331234.
- Gordon NK, Gordon R (March 2016). "The organelle of differentiation in embryos: the cell state splitter". Theoretical Biology & Medical Modelling. 13: 11. doi:10.1186/s12976-016-0037-2. PMC 4785624. PMID 26965444.
- Gordon N, Gordon, R (2016). Embryogenesis Explained. Singapore: World Scientific Publishing. pp. 580–591. doi:10.1142/8152. ISBN 978-981-4740-69-2.
- Nusse R (May 2008). "Wnt signaling and stem cell control". Cell Research. 18 (5): 523–7. doi:10.1038/cr.2008.47. PMID 18392048.
- Bakre MM, Hoi A, Mong JC, Koh YY, Wong KY, Stanton LW (October 2007). "Generation of multipotential mesendodermal progenitors from mouse embryonic stem cells via sustained Wnt pathway activation". The Journal of Biological Chemistry. 282 (43): 31703–12. doi:10.1074/jbc.M704287200. PMID 17711862.
- Woll PS, Morris JK, Painschab MS, Marcus RK, Kohn AD, Biechele TL, Moon RT, Kaufman DS (January 2008). "Wnt signaling promotes hematoendothelial cell development from human embryonic stem cells". Blood. 111 (1): 122–31. doi:10.1182/blood-2007-04-084186. PMC 2200802. PMID 17875805.
- Schneider VA, Mercola M (February 2001). "Wnt antagonism initiates cardiogenesis in Xenopus laevis". Genes & Development. 15 (3): 304–15. doi:10.1101/gad.855601. PMC 312618. PMID 11159911.
- Marvin MJ, Di Rocco G, Gardiner A, Bush SM, Lassar AB (February 2001). "Inhibition of Wnt activity induces heart formation from posterior mesoderm". Genes & Development. 15 (3): 316–27. doi:10.1101/gad.855501. PMC 312622. PMID 11159912.
- Ueno S, Weidinger G, Osugi T, Kohn AD, Golob JL, Pabon L, Reinecke H, Moon RT, Murry CE (June 2007). "Biphasic role for Wnt/beta-catenin signaling in cardiac specification in zebrafish and embryonic stem cells". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 104 (23): 9685–90. Bibcode:2007PNAS..104.9685U. doi:10.1073/pnas.0702859104. PMC 1876428. PMID 17522258.
- Willems E, Spiering S, Davidovics H, Lanier M, Xia Z, Dawson M, Cashman J, Mercola M (August 2011). "Small-molecule inhibitors of the Wnt pathway potently promote cardiomyocytes from human embryonic stem cell-derived mesoderm". Circulation Research. 109 (4): 360–4. doi:10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.111.249540. PMC 3327303. PMID 21737789.
- Burridge PW, Matsa E, Shukla P, Lin ZC, Churko JM, Ebert AD, Lan F, Diecke S, Huber B, Mordwinkin NM, Plews JR, Abilez OJ, Cui B, Gold JD, Wu JC (August 2014). "Chemically defined generation of human cardiomyocytes". Nature Methods. 11 (8): 855–60. doi:10.1038/nmeth.2999. PMC 4169698. PMID 24930130.
- Kaldis P, Pagano M (December 2009). "Wnt signaling in mitosis". Developmental Cell. 17 (6): 749–50. doi:10.1016/j.devcel.2009.12.001. PMID 20059944.
- Willert K, Jones KA (June 2006). "Wnt signaling: is the party in the nucleus?". Genes & Development. 20 (11): 1394–404. doi:10.1101/gad.1424006. PMID 16751178.
- Hodge, Russ (2016-01-25). "Hacking the programs of cancer stem cells". medicalxpress.com. Medical Express. Retrieved 2016-02-12.
- Schambony A, Wedlich D (2013). Wnt Signaling and Cell Migration. Madame Curie Bioscience Database. Landes Bioscience. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
- Micalizzi DS, Farabaugh SM, Ford HL (June 2010). "Epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer: parallels between normal development and tumor progression". Journal of Mammary Gland Biology and Neoplasia. 15 (2): 117–34. doi:10.1007/s10911-010-9178-9. PMC 2886089. PMID 20490631.
- Abiola M, Favier M, Christodoulou-Vafeiadou E, Pichard AL, Martelly I, Guillet-Deniau I (December 2009). "Activation of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling increases insulin sensitivity through a reciprocal regulation of Wnt10b and SREBP-1c in skeletal muscle cells". PLOS ONE. 4 (12): e8509. Bibcode:2009PLoSO...4.8509A. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008509. PMC 2794543. PMID 20041157.
- Howe LR, Brown AM (January 2004). "Wnt signaling and breast cancer". Cancer Biology & Therapy. 3 (1): 36–41. doi:10.4161/cbt.3.1.561. PMID 14739782.
- Taketo MM (April 2004). "Shutting down Wnt signal-activated cancer". Nature Genetics. 36 (4): 320–2. doi:10.1038/ng0404-320. PMID 15054482.
- DiMeo TA, Anderson K, Phadke P, Fan C, Feng C, Perou CM, Naber S, Kuperwasser C (July 2009). "A novel lung metastasis signature links Wnt signaling with cancer cell self-renewal and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in basal-like breast cancer". Cancer Research. 69 (13): 5364–73. doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-08-4135. PMC 2782448. PMID 19549913.
- Anastas JN, Moon RT (January 2013). "WNT signalling pathways as therapeutic targets in cancer". Nature Reviews. Cancer. 13 (1): 11–26. doi:10.1038/nrc3419. PMID 23258168.
- Welters HJ, Kulkarni RN (December 2008). "Wnt signaling: relevance to beta-cell biology and diabetes". Trends in Endocrinology and Metabolism. 19 (10): 349–55. doi:10.1016/j.tem.2008.08.004. PMID 18926717.
- Yoon JC, Ng A, Kim BH, Bianco A, Xavier RJ, Elledge SJ (July 2010). "Wnt signaling regulates mitochondrial physiology and insulin sensitivity". Genes & Development. 24 (14): 1507–18. doi:10.1101/gad.1924910. PMC 2904941. PMID 20634317.
- Zhai L, Ballinger SW, Messina JL (March 2011). "Role of reactive oxygen species in injury-induced insulin resistance". Molecular Endocrinology. 25 (3): 492–502. doi:10.1210/me.2010-0224. PMC 3045736. PMID 21239612.
- Grant SF, Thorleifsson G, Reynisdottir I, Benediktsson R, Manolescu A, Sainz J, et al. (March 2006). "Variant of transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene confers risk of type 2 diabetes". Nature Genetics. 38 (3): 320–3. doi:10.1038/ng1732. PMID 16415884.
|
<urn:uuid:4634c707-2f8b-416a-82ab-9c3d21c3433d>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-16
|
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wnt_signaling
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370492125.18/warc/CC-MAIN-20200328164156-20200328194156-00369.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.784264 | 12,502 | 3.40625 | 3 |
As the two ships drew near to one another, Barney kept his gunports closed and his guncrews hidden hoping to convince the British captain that he intended only to present a moving target to screen his fleeing convoy and buy them time to escape. Rogers took the bait and, heading straight for the Hyder-Ally , was bow on to the American in a classic "crossing the T" situation when Barney opened his gunports and fired a broadside of round shot, grape, and canister. The barrage found its mark, damaging the main mast and shredding many of the General Monk 's sails. The two ships began exchanging broadsides, a tactic that put the Hyder-Ally at a disadvantage because of the enemy's heavier firepower, so Barney decided that boarding the enemy was his best bet. Closing the distance, he quietly told his helmsman to "follow my next order by the rule of the contrary." When the ships were very close, he yelled to the helmsman, "Hard a-port your helm." As Barney hoped, Rogers heard the order and immediately ordered the General Monk to come "hard a-port" as well, so that the two vessels would pass close aboard but not make contact. To his astonishment, the Hyder-Ally came right instead, and in seconds the two ships collided and were locked in a deadly embrace. Savage hand-to-hand fighting ensued. As Barney climbed atop the binnacle box to direct the action, a musket ball passed through his hat, leaving a minor scalp wound in its wake, and another passed through the tail of his coat, evoking a less-than-polite curse from the young captain. The binnacle box was soon shot out from under him, but Barney was not injured.
After 26 minutes, the brawl was over, with the more powerful British ship in American hands. The victor had suffered 4 killed and 11 wounded, while the vanquished had lost 20 killed and 33 wounded. In his 1845 The History of the Navy , James Fenimore Cooper described the victory as "one of the most brilliant . . . under the American flag."
|
<urn:uuid:6c49569a-8110-4905-a4d9-3c637d2ee692>
|
CC-MAIN-2014-23
|
http://www.usni.org/print/4078
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1406510265454.51/warc/CC-MAIN-20140728011745-00469-ip-10-146-231-18.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.983972 | 436 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Speed Reading–Note Taking Strategies – by Ceren
If you are trying to increase your reading speed,it probably seems counterintuitive to include note-taking in the process.After all, if you are stopping to take notes or mark a spot in the text, you are also stopping the reading process, right? And the answer is “yes, you are” – but also “no, you are not.” It all depends on whether you define reading process as your moment-by-moment words per minute rate, or as the total time it takes you to get all of the information you need out of a particular text.
The goal of speed reading is to absorb, process, and retain the essential contents of an article, book, magazine, or other written material. If you read something very quickly but do not remember what you read, and later have to go back and re-read the material to look up a fact or figure, then the total time you spend reading the text is doubled.
On the other hand, if you pause briefly to make notes, you will do two things: first, you will help your brain retain those specific items by incorporating another activity (writing) and thus activating more parts of the brain; and second, you will have a quick reference for later use, and so will not have to page through the material looking for one small phrase.
You can make notes in the margins of the text, highlight or underline key phrases, or jot down what you need on a separate piece of paper (highly recommended if you are reading a book from the library!).
Here are some useful tips on taking notes you might find helpful:
- Mark key words to get a quick visual overview of the entire page or chapter for later reference.
- Highlight phrases that encapsulate the main ideas in the text.
- Make a note of quotes that might be useful when citing the text in a presentation, and keep a list of facts, figures, and statistics that you can use later.
- Write down in your own words the main points of a section; rewording something adds impact and makes the information easier to remember. Be sure to include the reason why you found what you marked important.
- At the end of each major section or chapter, make your own short summaries to lock the information in your understanding and memory.
- If you transfer all the notes you made to another page or two, it is the perfect review material, and there is no need to keep the original text. This will help you keep clutter off your desk, and you can organize the notes in a file folder in your desk drawer or on your computer.
To learn more please check out this blog post and make comments or ask questions if you need any advice!
|
<urn:uuid:4b56e8ed-06a9-4a58-a347-d13050099019>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-47
|
http://blogs.warwick.ac.uk/researchexchange/entry/speed_reading-note_taking/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934806771.56/warc/CC-MAIN-20171123104442-20171123124442-00062.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.927051 | 571 | 3.359375 | 3 |
ZBLAN is the most stable, and consequently the most used, fluoride glass, a subcategory of the heavy metal fluoride glass (HMFG) group. Typically its composition is 53% ZrF4, 20% BaF2, 4% LaF3, 3% AlF3 and 20% NaF. ZBLAN is not a single material but rather has a spectrum of compositions, many of which are still untried. The biggest library in the world of ZBLAN glass compositions is currently owned by Le Verre Fluore, the oldest company working on HMFG technology. Other current ZBLAN fiber manufacturers are Thorlabs and KDD Fiberlabs. Hafnium fluoride is chemically similar to zirconium fluoride, and is sometimes used in place of it.
ZBLAN glass has a broad optical transmission window extending from 0.22 micrometers in the UV to 7 micrometers in the infrared. ZBLAN has low refractive index (about 1.5), a relatively low glass transition temperature (Tg) of 260–300 °C, low dispersion and a low and negative temperature dependence of refractive index dn/dT.
The first fluorozirconate glass was a serendipitous discovery in March 1974 by the Poulain brothers and their co-workers at the University of Rennes in France.
While looking for new crystalline complex fluorides, they obtained unexpected pieces of glass. In a first step, these glasses were investigated for spectroscopic purposes.
Glass formation was studied in the ZrF4-BaF2-NaF ternary system while the fluorescence of neodymium was characterized in quaternary ZrF4-BaF2-NaF-NdF3 bulk samples. The chemical composition of this original glass was very close to that of the classical ZBLAN, on the basis of a simple La/Nd substitution.
Further experimental work led to major advances. First, ammonium bifluoride processing replaced the initial preparation method based on heat treatment of anhydrous fluorides in a metallic sealed tube. This process was already used by K. H. Sun, a pioneer of beryllium fluoride glasses. It offers significant advantages: preparation is implemented at room atmosphere in long platinum crucibles, zirconium oxide can be used as a starting material instead of pure ZrF4, synthesis time is reduced from 15 hours to less than one hour, and larger samples are obtained. One of the problems encountered was the devitrification tendency upon cooling the melt.
The second breakthrough was the discovery of the stabilizing effect of aluminum fluoride in fluorozirconate glasses. The initial systems were fluorozirconates with ZrF4 as the primary constituent (>50 mol%), BaF2 main modifier (>30 mol%) and other metal fluorides LaF3, AlF3 added as tertiary constituents, to increase glass stability or improve other glass properties. Various pseudo-ternary systems were investigated at 4 mol% AlF3, leading to the definition of 7 stable glasses, such as ZBNA, ZBLA, ZBYA, ZBCA that could be cast as multi-kilogram bulk samples and resulted later in the classical ZBLAN glass composition that combines ZBNA and ZBLA.
Further development on preparation method, scale-up, improvements of the manufacturing process, material stability and formulations was largely motivated by the experiments in French telecom at that time that found that intrinsic absorption for ZBLAN fibers was quite low (~10 dB/km) which could lead to an ultra-low optical loss solution in the mid-infrared. Such optical fibers could then become an excellent technical solution for a variety of systems for telecommunications, sensing and other applications.
Fluoride glasses have to be processed in a very dry atmosphere in order to avoid oxyfluoride formation which will lead to glass-ceramic (crystallized glass) formation. The material is usually manufactured by the melting-quenching method. First the raw products are introduced in a platinum crucible, then melted, fined above 800 °C and cast in a metallic mold to ensure a high cooling rate (quenching), which favors glass formation. Finally they are annealed in a furnace to reduce the thermal stresses induced during the quenching phase. This process results in large transparent pieces of fluoride glass.
The most obvious feature of fluoride glasses is their extended transmission range. It covers a broad optical spectrum from the UV to the mid-infrared.
The polarisability of fluorine anions is smaller than that of oxygen anions. For this reason, the refractive index of crystalline fluorides is generally low. This also applies to fluoride glasses: the index of ZBLAN glass is close to 1.5 while it exceeds 2 for zirconia ZrO2. Cationic polarisability must also be considered. The general trend is that it increases with atomic number. Thus in crystals, the refractive index of lithium fluoride LiF is 1.39 while it is 1.72 for lead fluoride PbF2. One exception concerns fluorozirconate glasses: hafnium is chemically very close to zirconium, but with a much larger atomic mass (178 g vs 91 g); but the refractive index of fluorohafnate glasses is smaller than that of fluorozirconates with the same molar composition. This is classically explained by the well known lanthanidic contraction that results from the filling of the f subshell and leads to a smaller ionic radius. Substituting zirconium by hafnium makes an easy way to adjust the numerical aperture of optical fibers.
Optical dispersion expresses the variation of the refractive index with wavelength. It is expected to be low for glasses with a small refractive index. In the visible spectrum it is often quantified by the Abbe number. ZBLAN exhibits zero dispersion at about 1.72 µm, compared with 1.5 µm for silica glass.
Refractive index changes with temperature because the polarisability of the chemical bonds increases with temperature, and because thermal expansion decreases the number of polarisable elements per unit volume. As a result, dn/dT is positive for silica, while it is negative for fluoride glasses.
At high power densities, refractive index follows the relation :
where n0 is the index observed at low power levels, n2 the nonlinear index and I the average electromagnetic field. Nonlinearity is smaller in low-index materials. In ZBLAN n2's value lies between 1 and 2×10−20 m2W−1.
The glass transition temperature Tg is the major characteristic temperature of a glass. It corresponds to the transition between solid state and liquid state. At temperatures higher than Tg, glass is not rigid: its shape will change under external strain or even under its own weight. For ZBLAN, Tg ranges from 250 to 300 °C, depending on composition; mainly sodium content.
Beyond Tg, molten glass becomes prone to devitrification. This transformation is commonly evidenced by differential thermal analysis (DTA). Two characteristic temperatures are measured from the DTA curve: Tx corresponds to the onset of crystallization and Tc is taken at the maximum of the exothermic peak. Glass scientists also use liquidus temperature TL. Beyond this temperature liquid does not produce any crystal and it may remain indefinitely in the liquid state.
Thermal expansion data have been reported for a number of fluoride glasses, in the temperature range between ambient and Tg. In this range, as for most glasses, expansion is almost linearly dependent on temperature.
Thanks to their glassy state, ZBLAN can be drawn into optical fibers, using two glass compositions with different refractive indices to ensure guidance: the core glass and the cladding glass. It is critical to the quality of the manufactured fiber to ensure that during the fiber drawing process the drawing temperature and the humidity of the environment are highly controlled. In contrast to other glasses, the temperature dependence of ZBLAN's viscosity is very steep.
ZBLAN fiber manufacturers have demonstrated significant increases in mechanical properties (>100 kpsi or 700 MPa for 125 µm fiber) and attenuation as low as 3 dB/km at 2.6 µm. ZBLAN optical fibers are used in different applications such as spectroscopy and sensing, laser power delivery and fiber lasers and amplifiers.
Early silica optical fiber had attenuation coefficients on the order of 1000 dB/km, as reported in 1965. Kapron at al reported in 1970 fibers having an attenuation coefficient of ~20 dB/km at 0.632 µm, and Miya et al. reported in 1979 ~0.2 dB/km attenuation at 1.550 µm. Nowadays, silica optical fibers are routinely manufactured with an attenuation of <0.2 dB/km with Nagayama et al. reporting in 2002 an attenuation coefficient as low as 0.151 dB/km at 1.568 µm. The four order of magnitude reduction in the attenuation of silica optical fibers over four decades was the result of constant improvement of manufacturing processes, raw material purity, and improved preform and fiber designs, which allowed these fibers to approach the theoretical lower limit of attenuation.
The advantages of ZBLAN over silica are: superior transmittance (especially in the UV and IR), higher bandwidth for signal transmission, spectral broadening (or supercontinuum generation) and low chromatic dispersion.
The graph at right compares, as a function of wavelength, the theoretical predicted attenuation (dB/km) of silica (dashed blue line) with a typical ZBLAN formulation (solid gray line) as constructed from the dominant contributions: Rayleigh scattering (dashed gray line), infrared (IR) absorption (dashed black line) and UV absorption (dotted gray line).
The difficulties that the community encountered when trying to use heavy metal fluoride glasses in the early years of development for a variety of applications were mostly related to the fragility of the fibers, a major drawback that prevented their broader adoption. However, the developers and manufacturers have dedicated significant effort in the last two decades to better understand the underlying causes of fiber fragility. The original fiber failure was primarily caused by surface defects, largely related to crystallization due to nucleation and growth, phenomena induced by factors such as raw material impurities and environmental conditions (humidity of the atmosphere during drawing, atmospheric pollutants such as vapors and dust, etc.) during processing. The particular focus on processing improvements has resulted in a 10× increase in the fiber strength. Compared to silica fiber, the intrinsic fiber strength of HMFG is currently only a factor of 2–3 lower. For example, the breaking radius of a standard 125 µm single-mode fiber is < 1.5 mm for silica and < 4 mm for ZBLAN. The technology has evolved such that HMFG fibers can be jacketed to ensure that the bending radius of the cable will never reach the breaking point and thus comply with industrial requirements. The product catalogs usually call out a safe bending radius to ensure that end users handling the fiber stay within the safe margins.
Contrary to current opinion fluoride glasses are very stable even in humid atmospheres and usually don't require dry storage as long as water will remain in the vapor phase (i.e. not being condensed on the fiber). Problems arise when the surface of the fiber comes in direct contact with liquid water (the polymeric coating usually applied to the fibers is permeable to water allowing water to diffuse through it). Current storage and transportation techniques require a very simple packaging strategy: the fiber spools are usually sealed with plastic together with a desiccant to avoid water condensation on the fiber. Studies of water attack on HMFG have shown that prolonged (> 1 hour) contact with water induces a drop in the pH of the solution which in turn increases the rate of the attack of water (the rate of attack of water increases with decreased pH). The leach rate of ZBLAN in water at pH = 8 is 10−5 g·cm2/day with five orders of magnitude decrease between pH = 2 and pH = 8. The particular sensitivity of HMFG fibers such as ZBLAN to water is due to the chemical reaction between water molecules and the F− anions which leads to the slow dissolution of the fibers. Silica fibers have a similar vulnerability to hydrofluoric acid, HF, which induces direct attack on the fibers leading to their breakup. Atmospheric moisture has a very limited effect on fluoride glasses in general, and fluoride glass/fibers can be used in a wide range of operating environments over extended periods of time without any material degradation.
A large variety of multicomponent fluoride glasses have been fabricated but few can be drawn into optical fiber. The fiber fabrication is similar to any glass-fiber drawing technology. All methods involve fabrication from the melt, which creates inherent problems such as the formation of bubbles, core-clad interface irregularities, and small preform sizes. The process occurs at 310 °C in a controlled atmosphere (to minimize contamination by moisture or oxygen impurities which significantly weaken the fiber) using a narrow heat zone compared to silica. Drawing is complicated by a small difference (only 124 °C) between the glass transition temperature and the crystallization temperature. As a result, ZBLAN fibers often contain undesired crystallites. The concentration of crystallites was shown in 1998 to be reduced by making ZBLAN in zero gravity (see figure). One hypothesis is that microgravity suppresses convection in the atmosphere surrounding the fiber during the drawing process, leading to the formation of fewer crystallites. One recent experiment aims to examine whether electrostatically levitated ZBLAN fibers can be made to exhibit properties similar to those obtained in microgravity. However, as of 2021, no quantitative models have been proposed to explain the experimental observations, and the precise causes of the differences between ZBLAN fibers drawn under different gravitational situations remain unknown.
((cite journal)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
((cite journal)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
((cite conference)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
((cite conference)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
|
<urn:uuid:f58d0e6c-03b6-49c7-a578-d4e74b6d95e9>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-40
|
https://db0nus869y26v.cloudfront.net/en/ZBLAN
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233511002.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20231002164819-20231002194819-00539.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.927213 | 3,038 | 2.984375 | 3 |
The royal family marked Remembrance Day in different parts of the world today. Queen Elizabeth II presided over the national ceremony in the United Kingdom at the cenotaph at Whitehall, laying a wreath in memory of British servicemen and women who gave their lives in wartime. Prince William, dressed in his Royal Air Force uniform also laid a wreath with the message, “For Jo, Lex and all those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country” referencing his friends from Sandhurst, Lt Joanna Dyer who died in Afghanistan in 2009 and Major Lex Roberts who died in Iraq in May 2007.
Other members of the royal family in attendance included the Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex, who watched the ceremony from the Foreign Office balcony. In New Zealand, the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall attended a Remembrance Day ceremony in Auckland as part of their Diamond Jubilee tour of Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea while the Queen’s cousin Prince Edward, Duke of Kent marked the occasion in the Falkland Islands as part of his Jubilee visit. Remembrance Day is particularly significant for the entire royal family this year as Prince Harry is on active duty in Afghanistan and will remain there through the Christmas holiday.
On November 11, 1920, Queen Elizabeth II’s grandfather, King George V marked the most significant Remembrance Day in British history, laying to rest the Unknown Warrior in his tomb in Westminster Abbey. The funeral procession for the unidentified serviceman, who represented all the dead from Great Britain and the British Empire during the First World War, began at Whitehall. There, King George V unveiled the cenotaph where all subsequent national Remembrance Day ceremonies have taken place and laid a wreath on the coffin. The King and three of his surviving sons, the future Edward VIII, the future George VI and the Duke of Gloucester walked behind the gun carriage carrying the coffin as it slowly traveled to the North entrance of Westminster Abbey.
In the Abbey, female members of the royal family including the King’s mother, Queen Alexandra, his sister, Queen Maud of Norway and his cousin, Queen Victoria Eugenia of Spain led a congregation of women who had lost husbands and sons during the First World War. The congregation watched as the King scattered a handful of French earth on the coffin before it was lowered into the grave. The Unknown Warrior’s Coffin was covered with the contents of one hundred sandbags of French earth and a simple black stone with a long inscription that concluded, “THEY BURIED HIM AMONG THE KINGS BECAUSE HE
HAD DONE GOOD TOWARD GOD AND TOWARD HIS HOUSE.” The placement of the tomb in Westminster Abbey where so many British monarchs were buried symbolized the nation’s gratitude to the men and women who served in the First World War.
In 1923, the tomb of the Unknown Warrior became the site of a new royal wedding tradition when Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the future Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother laid her bridal bouquet on the memorial as she entered Westminster Abbey to marry Prince Albert, Duke of York, the future King George VI. This act honoured her elder brother, Captain Fergus Bowes-Lyon who died in the Battle of Loos and was buried in an unknown grave. Since 1923, subsequent royal brides have left their bouquets on the tomb of the Unknown Warrior the day after their weddings.
The Queen’s current Remembrance Day traditions follow the example set by her grandfather, King George V. The King reigned through the First World War and led his nation in mourning for the losses suffered during the hostilities. The Tomb of the Unknown Warrior was dedicated by the King to commemorate all those died serving their country and the tomb acted as a focal point for national mourning in the decades following the burial.by
|
<urn:uuid:445b6ae5-4320-4a92-bb0c-bfbf79980719>
|
CC-MAIN-2014-10
|
http://www.royalhistorian.com/king-george-v-and-the-tomb-of-the-unknown-warrior-in-westminster-abbey/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1394011056097/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305091736-00024-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.959486 | 794 | 2.96875 | 3 |
It Means 'The Fighting has Ended': Aboriginal Veterans' Day
"Sadly, it took more than fifty years for the government to recognize the wartime contributions of the Aboriginal Peoples, on the home front and battlefront alike. Overseas, Aboriginal soldiers fought proudly alongside Canadian men of many other races, fuelled by a shared purpose and pride. Upon their return to Canadian soil, however, many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis soldiers found that this equality no longer held. They received no warm welcome. In fact, many came back to find that their land had been taken away or divvied up among non-Aboriginal farmers to increase wartime crop production, never to be theirs again. They also found that they would not share in the same benefits that other members of the Canadian forces enjoyed, including educational and vocational training, employment offers, and housing."
It saddens me that I need to post this again. Without our stories, we are invisible; without our histories, we lose ourselves. If we don't make the effort to share with you that which we know, so that you might, in turn, share with others what you have learned... I posted the following words last year here on the blog:
EveryNovember 8, I have sent out an email to the staff at whichever school I have worked at, sharing with them that this day is Aboriginal Veterans Day in Canada. This is the day which has been set aside to honour the sacrifices of First Nations, Metis and Inuit men and women who volunteered to serve in the Canadian Armed Forces over the course of the various wars and military actions this country has involved itself in. I have encouraged the staffs to learn about the day and share it with their students. I have no idea if anybody ever has, beyond me.November 8was not set aside because Aboriginal Veterans wanted their own, separate day. I would like to clear that up now. Aboriginal Veterans fought in Canada's wars, lost their lives in Canada's wars, stood shoulder to shoulder with Canadian men and women. When they returned home, they were barred from receiving the same benefits that other soldiers received, saw their Aboriginal rights extinguished, which meant that they could not even return home to their communities. In some cases, those homes, their reserves, were carved up and sold to non-Native veterans who had earned the right to affordable land by fighting in Canada's name. Aboriginal Veterans started their own associations to lobby for their rights. I remember hearing a story once that they could not really get help from the Royal Canadian Legion because there was a long while that Aboriginal people were not allowed to go into places that served alcohol. Places like legion halls. I cannot verify the truth of this. Whether it is true or not, it is true to the people that shared it with me, which tells me that there was an understanding of that. My understanding ofNovember 8is an understanding of exclusion. Aboriginal Veterans were not permitted to take part in official Remembrance Day ceremonies, so they set aside a day of their own. A day to remember the sacrifices our Elders made in the name of the Canadian nation. Not just the sacrifices they made on the battlefield, but the ones they were forced to make when they returned home. To date, Manitoba is the only province that officially recognizes Aboriginal Veterans Day, but if you do a search on Google, you will see videos and references to ceremonies all around the country. In all the areas you won't find reference to it, one is particularly notable. You won't see any references to Aboriginal Veterans Day in our public schools. At least I haven't found any yet. I was later asked why we don't teach this, or acknowledge it. I had no answer beyond no one cares, and the truth is that is the truth. My understanding of it anyway. Non-Aboriginal people AND Aboriginal people have that narrow, colonial view of Aboriginal people. No one cares because no one challenges it. No one is teaching our stories, our histories. As I have stated, this is my understanding. Go look up Aboriginal Veterans Day. Learn it, please. Teach it.
Our stories, our truths are not just the stories of Aboriginal people, they are stories of how Canada came to its current state of being. Our veterans and their history, the good and the bad, is a reflection of Canada and needs to be known so that all of our students have a full, complete understanding of this country, its current reality and what it could be. I shared it last year. I will likely share it again next year.
"In Cree we say 'Kahgee pohn noten took' on Remembrance Day. It means, 'the fighting has ended'."
|
<urn:uuid:50edf043-fc0e-42af-a2eb-87b4892c37d5>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-43
|
http://wherearethesheep.blogspot.com/2012/11/it-means-fighting-has-ended-aboriginal.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187822488.34/warc/CC-MAIN-20171017200905-20171017220905-00194.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.982926 | 959 | 3.390625 | 3 |
ARCHANT / GETTY
The P-51D Mustang hit the ground as pilot Robert Young attempted a barrel roll at an aerobatic display on April 22, 1945.
The plane, called Ellie May, crashed at Gazebo Farm near Rackheath airfield, Norfolk, and 1/Lt Young was killed instantly.
Now archeologists have discovered wreckage as they worked at the site before roadworks begin.
Archeologist Anthony Haskins said: “Robert Young buzzed the airfield and control tower and attempted to carry out a barrel roll at low altitude, which didn’t come off. “He did not get enough airspeed, the plane stalled.”
Items found at the site include a gun camera ID tag, ammunition and parts of the plane’s propeller.
Chris Collins, who researched the crash, said: “In terms of quantity of wreckage it is a small amount, but considering the violence of the impact this is hardly surprising.”
A chemical mine was also found during preparation work for the roadworks. Experts believe it was buried near the former RAF Horsham St Faith airfield to fight off any German invaders.
|
<urn:uuid:cc22d05f-92a5-4905-b111-058c735b9203>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-26
|
http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/535874/missing-second-world-war-fighter-plane-roadworks-site
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-26/segments/1498128320057.96/warc/CC-MAIN-20170623114917-20170623134917-00580.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.965478 | 245 | 2.671875 | 3 |
What is Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia?
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a condition in which the ninth cranial nerve, called the glossopharyngeal nerve gets affected. Any kind of irritation of this nerve can lead to a set of complaints seen in glossopharyngeal neuralgia. As the nerve supplies the back of the throat, tongue and ear region, symptoms of glossopharyngeal neuralgia are mainly located in these areas.
In glossopharyngeal neuralgia, pain is felt in the tongue, back of throat, tonsils and ear region due to the irritation of the nerve. Sharp, sudden pains can be felt like electric shocks and can be very severe sometimes. While the pains in glossopharyngeal neuralgia can last for few seconds to minutes in most cases, it may last for long in some people. It is important to understand the causes of glossopharyngeal neuralgia and the associated symptoms to be able to manage the condition effectively.
Causes of Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia originates from damage to the ninth cranial nerve, called the glossopharyngeal nerve. This nerve supplies to the back of tongue and throat area.
Some of its branches also supply the tonsils, ear and the region around the jaw joint.
While the cause of glossopharyngeal neuralgia, can vary from person to person, depending on their condition, in most cases, irritation of the glossopharyngeal nerve is present. In some people, when the exact cause may not be known, then glossopharyngeal neuralgia can be considered as idiopathic.
Some of the causes that can be related to glossopharyngeal neuralgia in most people include conditions that cause compression, damage or irritation of the glossopharyngeal nerve, like injuries, growths or arterial compression.
Nerve Injury – Common Cause of Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
The glossopharyngeal nerve passes through a region behind the ears and the neck. As this region it is exposed to greater risk of injuries and damage to the nerve can occur. Certain activities, injuries or sports can increase the risk of injury to the glossopharyngeal nerve. Injuries or trauma to this region can commonly occur during sports, due to direct blow over the neck and ear region, or a fall causing nerve injury.
Vehicular accidents, rear or front end collisions and neck injuries too can commonly cause damage to the glossopharyngeal nerve causing glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Sudden neck movements or a blow can damage or irritate the glossopharyngeal nerve situated in this region. Any other condition that compresses or damages the nerve can contribute to the causes of glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia Caused Due to Nerve Compression from Artery
Arterial compression is yet another common cause of nerve compression that can cause glossopharyngeal neuralgia. A blood vessel near the brainstem, most commonly an artery can exert pressure over the nerve and result in pain in the area supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve.
Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia Caused Due to Tumor
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia can also be caused due to a lesion, growth or tumor in the region, through which the glossopharyngeal nerve passes. The growth or tumor can cause compression of the glossopharyngeal nerve, which irritates the nerve and can cause glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
Some other conditions that affect the regions around the area through which the glossopharyngeal nerve passes, can irritate the nerve causing glossopharyngeal neuralgia. These include
- Oral Conditions – Dental problems or disorders of the mouth can affect the nerve in the region. Any inflammation, infection or tooth abscess can irritate the nerve and cause glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Infections and dental carries extending deep can cause nerve pain, tooth extraction or other dental problems can cause glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Other conditions that can cause glossopharyngeal neuralgia include infections in the oral cavity, gum abscesses or infection of the glands.
- Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia Caused Due to ENT (ear, nose and throat) Related Conditions – Nasal conditions and inflammation of the paranasal sinuses, inflammation or infections extending to the ears can cause glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Ear related conditions causing inflammation of structures or injury to the nerves too can cause glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Any growth or tumor in or around the ears can compress the glossopharyngeal nerve and be a cause of glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
- Viral Infections – Viral infections can commonly affect the ear, nose and throat causing common cold, throat infections, etc., which can cause pain in throat or sometimes, such inflammation can even irritate the nerve. This can cause glossopharyngeal neuralgia in some cases. Certain viral infections also tend to affect the nerves and cause glossopharyngeal, for example, herpes virus, mumps infections, swelling and inflammation of glands too can cause glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
- Nerve Related Conditions – Some conditions that affect the nerve in the ear or throat region can cause nerve damage, resulting in glossopharyngeal neuralgia. For example, spinal cord problems, conditions affecting the brainstem or the central nervous system like multiple sclerosis, too can cause damage to the nerve and glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
- Medical Conditions - Certain medical conditions like diabetes or other neuropathies, which cause nerve damage can present with their complications and cause glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Rheumatic conditions and musculoskeletal problems that affect the muscles making them stiff and painful, too can sometimes exert pressure on the nerves supplying the face, especially when the head, neck and shoulder muscles are involved. Conditions like affecting the muscles and soft tissues, polymyalgia rheumatica, fibromyalgia can also contribute to nerve pain. Any other medical condition that can affect the glossopharyngeal nerve, compress the nerve or damage it in any way can cause glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Hence any history or presence of other medical conditions must be studied when evaluating a case of glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
- Others – Other causes that can lead to glossopharyngeal neuralgia need to be considered. Cysts or fluid filled sacs, can exert pressure on the glossopharyngeal nerve, and cause pain in the areas supplied by the nerve. Tumors, lumps or growths of any kind too can cause glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
Symptoms of Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
Glossopharyngeal neuralgia, is a fairly uncommon condition as compared to other problems of nerve damage, however it can be noted in some cases. Women may be at an increased risk of glossopharyngeal neuralgia and elderly population may also experience it. People experiencing glossopharyngeal neuralgia often complaint of sudden, sharp and severe pain in the face region, extending from the ears to the throat. The exact location of pain may vary from person to person.
Common symptoms of glossopharyngeal neuralgia include sharp, electric shock like pains, which give a feeling of sudden jamming in the area. This may be accompanied with a sensation of burning pain, as typically originating from nerve irritation. The location of the glossopharyngeal nerve is around the ears and throat, hence activities related to the ears and movements of the jaw joint often worsen the pain in glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Areas most commonly affected include back of tongue, back of nose and throat, tonsils, voice box and ear region.
Common activities like talking, reading, singing, yawning, eating, chewing and even swallowing may be difficult and painful. Symptoms of glossopharyngeal neuralgia also include throat pain, more commonly on the affected side, may be associated with a sensation of something sharp being lodged in the throat. Coughing, sneezing too can aggravate symptoms of glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
Pain in glossopharyngeal neuralgia can last for varying duration. In some, pain may last for few days or weeks, while in some it may last longer. In most cases, symptoms of glossopharyngeal neuralgia or an episode may usually last for few seconds, when the pain is truly unbearable. Symptoms of glossopharyngeal neuralgia may subside for some time but often reappear later on or may be triggered by certain factors.
As time passes, most complaints of glossopharyngeal neuralgia may worsen and begin interfering with daily activities, if left untreated. Difficulty in chewing and swallowing can affect food intake in many people and may also result in loss of appetite, weight loss and weakness. As talking causes pain in glossopharyngeal neuralgia and when daily life gets affected, people may interact less with others, increasing the risk of emotional disturbances and depression.
Some people may also show symptoms of glossopharyngeal neuralgia in association with problems of related nerves. These symptoms can include changes in blood pressure and fainting, which may be considered as complications of glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
Diagnosis of Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
Diagnosis of glossopharyngeal neuralgia begins with thorough history taking. History may reveal conditions that can be possible causes of glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Any previous injury or trauma to the head or neck area must be enquired and appropriately evaluated. Previous history of surgeries, ear or dental treatment and similar other procedures or medical treatment is noted.
Details about the symptoms of glossopharyngeal neuralgia are noted and co-related with the history. Assessment for glossopharyngeal neuralgia is very crucial and must be done in a systematic manner. The location, nature of pain and the duration for which it lasts must be considered. As different people present with different symptoms, each symptom of glossopharyngeal neuralgia must be enquired about. The number of pain episodes and their repetition needs to be considered. Aggravating factors and other triggers can give a clue to the possible causes and aid in diagnosis of glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
The next step towards making diagnosis of glossopharyngeal neuralgia, include clinical examination and neurological testing. The physician examines the area supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve, assesses the functioning of the parts and evaluates muscle control in the area. Physician may test chewing, tasting, swallowing functions and other activities related to the performance of the glossopharyngeal nerve. Physician may make use of a local anesthetic and try to elicit a pain response by triggering some sensitive areas supplied by the glossopharyngeal nerve.
Causes of glossopharyngeal neuralgia are kept in mind considering the history of the patient and the possibility of nerve compression is determined with the help of these tests. History taking and primary assessment of the patient gives an idea and appropriate investigations for glossopharyngeal neuralgia may be ordered.
Investigations for Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
Clinical examination, history and assessment can reveal most possible causes of glossopharyngeal neuralgia; however certain investigations may be required to rule out possible serious causes of glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Also, for a known history of previous injury or surgery, certain investigations may be considered to assess the status of injury or surgery, its relation to causes of glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
Some of investigations for diagnosis of glossopharyngeal neuralgia or to rule out other conditions include:
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) – MRI scans may be considered to detect injuries, tissue damage, soft tissue involvement or compression of nerves and blood vessels. It also helps to determine the presence of growths, tumors or any abnormalities with blood vessels. MRI is ordered for the area possibly involved in the causes of glossopharyngeal neuralgia. MRI can also help to determine the involvement of intervertebral discs in case of cervical spine or when neck is involved with other head or facial structures as a cause of glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Specialized MRI scans can be useful in detecting blood clots, arteriovenous malformations and other disorders of the arteries and veins, which can be the causes of glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
Other investigations to diagnosis of glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
Electromyogram (EMG) – This test helps to study the activity of the muscles of the face, throat and related areas. It can help in diagnosis of glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Stimulation of the nerve can show relevant changes and contractions in the muscles, which are recorded. This can also help to rule out or confirm diagnosis of any other nerve involvement.
Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) – This helps to study the pattern and conduction of signals through the nerve. Changes in the nerve conduction are recorded, which can aid in possible diagnosis of glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
Angiogram – When involvement of a blood vessel, an aneurysm or compression of the glossopharyngeal nerve due to an artery is suspected, study of the arteries can help. An angiogram may be performed to confirm the diagnosis of glossopharyngeal neuralgia or to plan further surgical treatment, in some cases.
Other investigations that can help to rule out other conditions causing glossopharyngeal neuralgia may be ordered, as appropriate.
Treatment of Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
Treatment for glossopharyngeal neuralgia includes medications, injections and in certain cases, which do not respond well to any treatment, surgical options may be considered.
Medications to Treat Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
Medications are effectively used for treatment of glossopharyngeal neuralgia. These include
- Muscles relaxants, which help to relax the overstrained and over stimulated muscles, thus providing some relief in involuntary muscle twitching.
- Anti-convulsant medicines are also used to treat glossopharyngeal neuralgia, as these help to block the pain and signals sent by the irritated glossopharyngeal nerve.
- Relaxants and anti-depressants may be given in people, who experience anxiety or stress. Medications to manage post-traumatic stress disorder may be considered in those experiencing glossopharyngeal neuralgia due to nerve injury or trauma.
- Application or injection of local anesthetic agents may be considered in some cases, were pain in the throat is unbearable and interferes with routine activities. It helps to cause numbness in the area, which can aid in eating, swallowing and helps to prevent dehydration or weakness.
Most of these medicines have side effects like dizziness, nausea, gastric disturbances, etc. These medicines that can provide relief from glossopharyngeal neuralgia need to be taken with physician’s advice and any side effects must be discussed to find a solution.
Physical Therapy - Physical therapy for glossopharyngeal neuralgia may be applied. It uses modalities to relax tense muscles, reduce pain, discomfort any muscle spasm, which may be considered, as appropriate. Electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and similar techniques that help to relax muscles and relieve irritated glossopharyngeal nerve may be considered.
Nutritional Therapy – Glossopharyngeal neuralgia may be considered to occur due to loss of protective covering of the nerve and certain nutrients can help in managing it. Deficiency of certain vitamins and minerals may be related to the complaints of glossopharyngeal neuralgia. In such cases, along with a healthy diet, nutritional supplements may be advised. Magnesium, calcium, iron or other minerals and vitamin B12, folic acid and B complex may help to manage glossopharyngeal neuralgia in some cases. Vitamin and mineral supplements may be prescribed, as appropriate in such cases.
For persons with glossopharyngeal neuralgia, who are unable to eat, increased fluid intake is essential. Nutritional drinks and consumption of food in liquid form may be considered.
Surgical Treatment of Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
Surgery for glossopharyngeal neuralgia may be considered depending on the cause. The aim of surgical treatment for glossopharyngeal neuralgia may be to release the nerve from compression, remove the structures causing nerve compression or to cut the nerve to reduce pain signals. If tumors or similar growths are the cause of glossopharyngeal neuralgia, appropriate treatment includes operating and removing them.
Procedures like rhizotomy or rhizolysis are performed in different ways to treat glossopharyngeal neuralgia. These are aimed at damaging the nerve, which helps to block the pain signals.
Some surgeries of glossopharyngeal neuralgia include:
- Microvascular decompression – This is the commonest option, when the cause of glossopharyngeal neuralgia is a small artery is causing compression of the glossopharyngeal nerve. This surgical procedure includes removing or shifting the blood vessels in close proximity to the nerve root to relieve symptoms of glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Some risks of this procedure include damage to the nerve or blood vessels causing weakness of the face, throat, recurrence of pain later on and reduced hearing or stroke.
- Radiosurgery – In this treatment for glossopharyngeal neuralgia, a focused dose of radiation is directed at the root of the nerve. The patient’s head is kept still during the treatment to deliver focused radiation, which destroys the nerve root.
Apart from these, there are certain procedures for treatment of glossopharyngeal neuralgia, or nerve rhizotomy which can be performed include:
- Glycerol injection – In this treatment for glossopharyngeal neuralgia, an injection of sterile glycerol is injected at root of the nerve. This may be considered in some cases of glossopharyngeal neuralgia, to help relieve the pain and discomfort.
- Radiofrequency rhizotomy or thermal lesioning – Also called as Percutaneous Stereotactic Radiofrequency Rhizotomy. In this procedure, heating current or radiofrequency is used to damage the nerve, which can help to relieve nerve pain and reduce discomfort associated with it. It also known as or RF ablation or RF lesion.
Complementary Treatment Options of Glossopharyngeal Neuralgia
Some people with glossopharyngeal neuralgia may find complementary therapies helpful. These include:
Alternative Medicine – Alternative therapies like Homeopathy, Ayurveda, Acupuncture or other healing techniques may be helpful in some cases of glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Yoga therapy and stress management, relaxation techniques may also be useful. Meditation and breathing techniques are believed to help in managing pain conditions and can be practiced under expert guidance.
Counselling and Psychotherapy – Support from a counsellor can help people with glossopharyngeal neuralgia as interference with daily activities can make managing the condition difficult. Interacting with family, friends and professional therapists can help to deal with the situation better.
Diet - A diet rich in whole grains, healthy fats, fresh fruits, vegetables and plenty of water can be helpful in managing nerve pain conditions like glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Drinking plenty to water and fluids to maintain electrolyte balance, helps to provide lubrication to joints and keeps muscles supple. Consuming foods rich in minerals like magnesium, calcium, potassium, which are commonly found in fruits, green vegetables, nuts, seeds and beans can be beneficial.
For people experiencing other medical conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure, the risk of nerve damage is high. Hence, an appropairae diet plan that helps to manage diabetes, high blood pressure is important to reduce the risk of complications. A low sugar, low salt and low fat diet can help in addition to regular exercise or daily walks.
Massage - Gentle massage can help to relieve the stress in the muscles and relieve muscle spasm, which may be contributing to the symptoms of glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
Following certain tips can help to maintain a healthy lifestyle that can aid the treatment of glossopharyngeal neuralgia.
- Avoid intake of stimulants, caffeinated beverages, smoking or alcohol, as these can aggravate nerve irritation. It is better to avoid highly seasoned foods, heavy preservatives or high fatty foods. Healthy alternatives like milk, green tea, coconut water, fresh fruit and vegetable juices can be consumed instead. Increase liquid diet, so that chewing and difficulty in swallowing can be minimized.
- Practice relaxation and stress management techniques to keep mind and body relaxed. Regular exercises and physical activity is equally important. Involve in hobbies or activities that give pleasure to keep the mind off the complaints of glossopharyngeal neuralgia and help to cope with it.
- Avoid sitting late night, getting over stimulated or even overuse of electronic gadgets, as these too can irritate the nerve and aggravate symptoms of glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Make sure you remain relaxed and get good sleep during the night. Setting up a schedule for work and relaxation can help.
While most of the complementary therapies can help to relieve pain in glossopharyngeal neuralgia, they work best when applied in addition to the primary treatment of glossopharyngeal neuralgia. It is advisable to take medical opinion before undertaking any other treatment options and if there is worsening of symptoms, immediate medical care must be sought.
|
<urn:uuid:f8481d63-f99a-4e77-bd9f-ebfabdc24aee>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-30
|
https://www.epainassist.com/face-mouth-throat/what-is-glossopharyngeal-neuralgia
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549424287.86/warc/CC-MAIN-20170723062646-20170723082646-00125.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.898415 | 4,625 | 3.40625 | 3 |
A Coloured Plan, or Bird's Eye View, of the Town of Edinburgh
Cartographer: [Lee, Richard ]
Medium: Ink and tempera on parchment
This birds-eye view of Edinburgh shows the Royal Mile between the landmarks of Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyrood, which is annotated ‘the kyng of skotes palas’. English and Scottish topographic mapping developed differently and this map of Edinburgh was actually made by the English who attacked Edinburgh between 1544 and 1547. English troops can be seen marching in formation with the English flag. The campaign occurred because the Scots broke their promise to allow Mary Queen of Scots to marry Henry VIII’s son and heir Prince Edward. Significant destruction was caused to Edinburgh and much of southern Scotland. The campaign was led by Edward Seymour, Earl of Hertford and 1st Duke of Somerset who had risen in Royal favour after his sister Jane married Henry in 1536.
|
<urn:uuid:ed3222f5-8087-4493-8edb-260788a3e905>
|
CC-MAIN-2014-10
|
http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/unvbrit/a/001cotaugi00002u00056000.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-10/segments/1393999663286/warc/CC-MAIN-20140305060743-00053-ip-10-183-142-35.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.967695 | 194 | 3.6875 | 4 |
Updated: July, 2021
© 2021 Think Social Publishing, Inc.
Over the years, I have been inspired by the writings of professionals who describe learning abilities, differences, and challenges within a framework of “multiple intelligences” (see Howard Gardner). Essentially this means that each of us has different types of intelligences and we each have our strengths, differences, and relative challenges with regard to our own brain’s design. This is the case for Neurotypicals and Neurodivergents.
Strengths and Struggles Lesson
I developed a lesson about teaching students and adults how to understand their social learning strengths, differences, and challenges in the context of their overall abilities and then how they can use their strengths to learn more strategies. I have done this lesson with students as young as eight years old and as old as they come.
The lesson is very simple. To save explaining it all with words, see the chart below.
Download the Learning Strengths and Struggles handout for students to create their own chart.
Here are some basic things I do as I develop this type of chart for an individual:
- Each chart is completely personalized for the person. It is not about recording test scores that purport to show competencies. The chart is about how the person perceives their own strengths, differences, and relative challenges. For this reason, you create the chart using areas that are individualized to the individual.
- To determine the ideas/areas to post on the chart, take time to talk to students and listen to what they enjoy doing and what they feel they do well.
- Always start by graphing out their strengths. Again, strengths are not about listing academic tasks exclusively. If someone says they are really good at playing a specific computer game or Legos®, then we make that a category and talk about what number to give it on the chart.
- It is also important to find some areas where students perceive they are just OK – their perceived abilities are neither good nor bad. They perceive themselves to be similar to the others in that area of functioning, or a “5” on the scale. With kids, you can use language such as:
- “First tell me what you think you are really good at compared to other kids you know.” After you have listed three to five areas on the chart then say, “Now tell me something you are just OK at doing compared to most other kids.”
- “Now tell me some things that your brain doesn't make easy for you - things you have noticed most other people can learn easier than you.”
- If they aren't used to thinking about how they function compared to others, I will shift gears to explore the idea that we all think about what others around us are saying and doing. At this point, I will ask them to tell me things like:
- Who talks a lot in your class?
- Who doesn't tend to do their homework?
- Who is really good in math?
- Who is super friendly?
- Who is mean?
By having this discussion, you help them notice that they are aware of others’ characteristics. This often helps them put their own abilities in perspective.
- If they can’t answer the questions, I go back and suggest ideas similar to my earlier conversation. Ultimately, I am doing this to help them put their learning differences or challenges in context as compared to their learning strengths. Many individuals with social emotional learning differences struggle to talk about what they do well, as well as what is harder for them. Some ideas to consider include:
- How do you do with keeping track of your homework assignments and doing the homework?
- How do you do with writing paragraphs or reports (writing short responses on paper may have been a strength, while writing longer information is often a challenge)?
- How do you do making guesses about what you are reading?
- How do you do with playing in a group?
- How do you do with getting into a group?
- How do you do talking to other kids?
- Or I may just ask them about their "social skills”
- What to do if students rate a struggle as a perceived strength?
Often, and usually early in the session, I make a chart of my brain’s strengths, differences, and relative challenges. It can be helpful for them to see that I have both strengths and relative struggles in my own abilities.
If they say something like, “I’m really really great at math” but I know this is really more of a challenge for them, then I'll write the area they mentioned as a strength on the chart. I then pause to discuss it in relation to their other reported strengths. More often than not, they change the number (usually lower) to reflect the gradations of their strengths.
However, I have worked with those who are anxious or afraid to say they are anything but perfect across the categories. In those cases, I reassure them that everyone has strengths, differences, and relative challenges— - including me. On rare occasions, I have said, “Actually, this is an area that your brain makes a little harder for you. As you can see, you have lots of areas that are very strong, but this one is just a little tougher and that is why your mom brought you here today. Would you agree or disagree with that statement?”
- If you are familiar with the Social Thinking Methodology, you know that socially based learning differences and challenges (organizational skills, written expression, social relationships, reading comprehension, etc.) are all related to one another. Making this connection helps many individuals see they have lots of strengths but no one knows everything. This concept is also the focus of the article, "Social Thinking - Social Learning Tree"
- You will probably find that most clients or students are honest about themselves. It is often amazing how they are willing to talk about their learning strengths, differences, and challenges when it’s presented this way. When they have strengths in language and learning facts, we can then explain how these abilities will help them learn more information in the areas where learning is not as easy or natural to them.
- Once the chart is completed, talk about what it means to have a learning strength, learning difference, or learning challenge (or some individuals prefer to say “learning disability”). Remarkably, many students don’t understand what learning differences or learning disabilities are, so they react to their relative challenges with anger rather than understanding and eventual advocacy.
- You will also find that students/adults are much more willing to discuss their learning styles through the lens of strengths, differences, and challenges than through the lens of a label (Autism Spectrum, ADHD, etc.).
- Once you’ve reached this point, it’s time to talk about the individual’s own personal learning goals. Explain that learning is a lifetime journey for everyone and that they can and should have a say in what they want to get better at doing (e.g., making friends, getting a promotion, having conversations, turning in homework) compared to their other areas of strength. It is important that the individual student or client participates in their priorities. This is how we build motivation, tenacity, and follow-through.
Refer back to the chart over time and revisit their rankings to confirm they/you agree. Use the chart to think about future goals. It is also a helpful tool when explaining to parents/caregivers about their child’s learning abilities and goals.
Note: Using the language -based explanation of, “Your brain doesn't make this easy for you,” helps so many students and adults put their strengths, differences, and relative challenges in context. Make sure to point out times when their brain makes something easy for them to do as well as when it makes something harder to do.
The “art” of teaching is so critical in this lesson! Be very aware of the individual’s emotions and feedback while you go through this lesson. Spend significant time talking about what they are good and okay at doing rather than rush to address differences or challenges. Find and celebrate the talents and skills they have but also give them time and space to explore their own personal social goals and the competencies they hope to build to meet those goals.
|
<urn:uuid:0c65bf0d-19a1-4724-9d6e-903a5f0f497e>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-14
|
https://sub.socialthinking.com/Articles?name=teaching-students-about-learning-strengths-weaknesses
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296943562.70/warc/CC-MAIN-20230320211022-20230321001022-00001.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.974873 | 1,740 | 3.59375 | 4 |
Silver Spring, MD (Vocus) December 13, 2010
The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Ape Taxon Advisory Group (TAG) today announced a critical new campaign to sustain a future for one of the planet’s most imperiled group of animals— apes.
For apes—bonobos, chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans, gibbons and siamangs—the outlook in the wild is bleak. Given catastrophic population declines, it is estimated that some ape species will be extinct within 20 years. The Ape TAG Conservation Initiative, supported by nearly 40 zoos, will fund 8 field conservation projects, one for each of the great ape species and two for gibbons and siamangs.
“As leaders in wildlife conservation, AZA-accredited zoos are dedicated to the protection of these intelligent and charismatic animals,” said Dr. Tara Stoinski, Ape TAG chair. “The Ape TAG Conservation Initiative will elevate the role of zoos in the international conservation community.”
The Arcus Foundation, a leading great ape conservation philanthropic organization, provided a generous matching grant to the funds contributed by zoos to the Initiative. Participating zoos have committed to a minimum of three years of support, which is critical for conservation projects to be effective in saving these species.
The 8 projects were selected by an international committee of Ape TAG and AZA members as well as outside ape conservation experts. The Initiative increases the number of zoos contributing to projects in the wild, strengthens support for community education and local law enforcement in countries with wild apes, and provides zoos with resources to demonstrate their commitment to saving apes.
“We are pleased that the AZA community is supporting field projects such as ours,” said Dr. Marc Ancrenaz, director of The Kinabatangan Orang-utan Conservation Program, and principle investigator of one of the projects awarded funds by the Initative. “The problems faced by wild populations of great apes are complex and because of this, zoos have an increasingly important role to play.”
“We hope that AZA institutions will further support our efforts in the field by helping zoo visitors and the general public understand how our consumer choices are also essential to ensure the long-term survival of great apes and to secure their habitat," Dr. Ancrenaz added.
“Ape TAG Conservation Initiative will significantly contribute to Uganda’s effort to establish a standardized chimpanzee health monitoring protocol and build local veterinary capacity for disease management,” said director of the Budongo Conservation Field Station (BCFS), Dr. Fred Babweteera. “The support from the Initiative is a distinctive manifestation of the strategic and critical role of zoos in promoting science and in-situ conservation.”
“We are absolutely honored to have been selected by the Ape TAG Conservation Initiative, and incredibly pleased that our work in the Ketambe region of northern Sumatra will be receiving funding assistance for at least the next three years. This sort of sustained multiple year funding is essential,” said Dr. Panut Hadisiswoyo, founding director of the Orangutan Information Center, another grant recipient.
The following projects were funded by the Ape TAG Conservation Initiative with a total of $411,250:
Establishment of a National Chimpanzee Disease and Health Monitoring Programme based at Budongo Conservation Field Station
Dr. Fred Babweteera, Dr. Fabian Leendertz and Dr. Tony Kidega, Budongo Conservation Field Station; Uganda
The Bonobo and Congo Biodiversity Initiative: Preserving the bonobo (Pan paniscus) in the Salonga National Park through holistic conservation
Gay Reinartz and Patrick Guislain, Bonobo & Congo Biodiversity Initiative; Democratic Republic of Congo
Combating Illegal Wildlife Trade in Central Africa
Ofir Drori, The Last Great Ape Organization (LAGA); Cameroon
Protection and monitoring of Grauer’s gorillas, Gorilla beringei graueri, in the lowland sectors of Kahuzi Beiga National Park
Andrew Plumptre and Richard Tshombe, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS); Kahuzi Biega National Park, Democratic Republic of Congo
Assessing chances of survival of the orang-utan in man-made landscape: the future of the species?
Dr. Isabelle Lackman, Dr. Marc Ancrenaz, and Ahbam Abulani, HUTAN (Kinabatangan Orang-utan Conservation Program – KOCP); Sabah, Borneo, Malaysia
Ketambe Reforestation and Ecotourism Development Initiative (KREDI)
Panut Hadisiswoyo, Yayasan Orangutan Sumatera Lestari – Orangutan Information Centre (OIC); Sumatra, Indonesia
Long-term ecological research and conservation of Cao Vit gibbon in China
Fan Peng-Fei, Institute of Eastern-Himalaya Biodiversity Research, Dali University; Bangliang Nature Reserve, P.R. China
Population mapping of gibbons Kalimantan, Indonesia: Correlates of gibbon density and vegetation across the species range
Marie Hamard, Dr. Vincent Nijman and Dr. Susan Cheyne, Busang River Initiative for Nature Conservation and Communities (BRINCC) and School of Social Science and Law, Oxford Brookes University, Orangutan Tropical Peatland Project and Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, University of Oxford; Central Kalimantan, Indonesian Borneo
In addition to the eight projects, a percentage of the Gold and Platinum level funds are dedicated for ape sanctuaries in Africa and Asia. Sanctuaries play an important role in ape conservation, particularly through their efforts in law enforcement and conservation education.
Zoos supporting the Ape TAG Conservation Initiative include:
Platinum Supporter ($10,000 per year): Calgary Zoo, Botanical Garden & Prehistoric Park, Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, Denver Zoological Gardens, Oklahoma City Zoological Park, San Diego Zoo Global
Gold Supporter ($5,000 per year): Cleveland Metroparks Zoo, Dallas Zoo, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, Sedgwick County Zoo, Zoo Atlanta
Silver Supporter ($1,000 per year): Ape Conservation Effort, Audubon Institute, Bronx Zoo, Buffalo Zoo, Cameron Park Zoo, Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Disney's Animal Kingdom, Ellen Trout Zoo, Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Gladys Porter Zoo, Gorilla SSP, Houston Zoo, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, Knoxville Zoo, Lincoln Park Zoo, Little Rock Zoo, Memphis Zoo, Milwaukee County Zoological Gardens, New England Chapter of American Association of Zookeepers, North Carolina Zoo, Rolling Hills Wildlife Adventure, Sacramento Zoo, San Antonio Zoo, Toledo Zoo, Toronto Zoo, Virginia Zoological Society, Woodland Park Zoo, Zoo Miami/Zoological Society of Florida
Additional single year support for the Initiative was received from: El Paso Zoo, Lion Country Safari, Zoo Boise, and a generous matching grant from the Arcus Foundation.
Photo captions: Julianna and her toddler Felicity, taken within the secondary forest of the Kinabatangan Wildlife Sanctuary in Malaysian Borneo. Photo by HUTAN/Dzulirwan @ Jolirwan bin Takasi
Preserving the bonobo in the Salonga National Park through holistic conservation. Photo by Bonobo and Congo Biodiversity Institute
Founded in 2000 by Jon Stryker, the Arcus Foundation is a leading global foundation
advancing pressing social justice and conservation issues. Specifically, Arcus works to advance LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) equality, as well as to conserve and protect the great apes. The Arcus Foundation works globally and has offices in Kalamazoo, Mich., New York City and Cambridge, UK. To learn more, visit http://www.arcusfoundation.org.
Founded in 1924, the Association of Zoos and Aquariums is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the advancement of zoos and aquariums in the areas of conservation, education, science, and recreation. Look for the AZA logo whenever you visit a zoo or aquarium as your assurance that you are supporting a facility dedicated to providing excellent care for animals, a great experience for you, and a better future for all living things. The AZA is a leader in global wildlife conservation, and your link to helping animals in their native habitats. To learn more, visit http://www.aza.org.
|
<urn:uuid:eec464ef-a5b8-4dd0-8fc7-779d75abacbb>
|
CC-MAIN-2014-35
|
http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2010/12/prweb4891964.htm
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-35/segments/1408500820886.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20140820021340-00151-ip-10-180-136-8.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.86157 | 1,790 | 2.59375 | 3 |
Beginning Piano for Adults Guide
This article covers beginning piano for adults, so you can learn faster using any adult piano course and play your favorite songs the easiest way possible. If you’re like most adult piano students, you’re not planning to give piano recitals; you just want a simplified guide to learn only what you need from an adult method so you can play the music you like.
Although you may feel “you’re too old to learn”, as an adult piano student you have advantages over children. You have a stronger motivation to learn because you’re doing it voluntarily. You know precisely what you want to learn and you’re more likely to practice regularly. You’re more anxious to achieve your musical goals, and you’ll probably learn more thoroughly and retain the knowledge longer than a child.
You’ll find that any typical piano teacher or course based on beginning piano for adults will tend to cover many aspects of music theory, finger exercises, etc., but in reality what you want is just the necessary knowledge to play and enjoy the songs you really like. From my own experience as a teacher, like most adult piano students you want to:
- Learn pieces in the fastest and easiest way possible
- Play pieces you’ve heard before
- Play simplified versions of those songs
- Spend very little time learning scales and unnecessary theory
- Play just for fun and enjoyment
Beginning Piano for Adults Tips
Here’s a statement that you usually won’t find in courses teaching beginning piano for adults: “One of the easiest and fastest ways for you to play piano is to learn chords”. Once you learn a few basic chords and the melody notes for the right hand, you’ll be on your way to play the songs you enjoy. Here you can start by learning a few basic chords well. You can download a complete chart FREE which shows of all the basic chords on a visual piano keyboard. To get it, go to Free Piano Chords Download.
Now that you have a piano chord chart, the next step is to purchase a songbook with the music you’d like to play. Methods based on beginning piano for adults have very few songs, so you can look for piano books in a music store or online. Make sure that the book has simple melodies, in other words, melodies with only one note at a time. There are songbooks with 2 or 3 notes in some sections of the melody. Songs arranged like this will be hard for you to play and you may even get discouraged.
Beginning Piano for Adults Book
An excellent choice for you would be a “fake book” which shows the melodies of songs and the chord symbols listed above. Within this site you can see an example of “Love Me Tender” played using chord symbols and a single melody line. Go to How to Play Piano in a Flash. Here you’ll find examples and more information about learning songs fast.
If you’re interested in learning more theory and piano skills, you can always get it from books or courses targeting beginning piano for adults. The important thing is that now you have the basic information needed to play piano in a flash. Now you’re closer to performing your favorite piano music following a simple beginning piano for adults plan!
|
<urn:uuid:604a2526-f9ab-4952-9b9a-b0fe1823f621>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-43
|
http://www.easypianolessons101.com/beginning-piano-for-adults/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-43/segments/1508187822513.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20171017215800-20171017235800-00080.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.939144 | 689 | 2.90625 | 3 |
EPA Proposal Could Raise Radiation Exposure Limits
liz west / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
You can add radiation to the list of pollutants for which the Trump administration is looking to loosen restrictions.
That loosening could come as part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) already controversial proposal “Strengthening Transparency in Regulatory Science,” The Associated Press reported Tuesday.
The proposal, which has been criticized by the scientific community for limiting the kinds of studies the EPA can use to make regulatory decisions, could also open the door to raising the safe threshold for exposure to certain toxins, including radiation. That’s because it includes a provision instructing regulators to consider “various threshold models across the exposure range” when it comes to setting rules for dangerous substances.
The proposal doesn’t mention radiation in particular, but the press release announcing the proposal quoted University of Massachusetts toxicologist Edward Calabrese, who is a proponent of raising the threshold for radiation exposure, saying doing so would save money and boost health. Calabrese, who was set to testify on the proposal at a Congressional hearing Wednesday, believes that small doses of radiation and other carcinogens can actually strengthen the body’s ability to repair itself, in the way that exercise or sunlight do.
“The proposal represents a major scientific step forward by recognizing the widespread occurrence of non-linear dose responses in toxicology and epidemiology for chemicals and radiation and the need to incorporate such data in the risk assessment process,” Calabrese said in the press release.
Current government regulations say that any exposure to harmful radiation could cause cancer, and opponents of the change say raising that threshold could put nuclear workers, oil and gas employees, medical professionals conducting X-rays or CT scans and people living near Superfund sites or any other radiation leak at risk.
“If they even look at that—no, no, no,” said Terrie Barrie, a Craig, Colorado resident and nuclear exposure compensation advocate for her husband and other workers at the closed Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant Terrie Barrie told The Associated Press. “There’s no reason not to protect people as much as possible.”
Physicist Jan Beyea, who has done work on the 2011 Fukushima nuclear power plant accident for the National Academy of Sciences, told The Associated Press that the notion advocated by Calabrese and others, that small doses of radiation can be helpful, was “generally dismissed by the great bulk of scientists.”
The National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements reaffirmed that there was no risk-free level of radiation exposure this year after a review of 29 public health studies.
Up until March, the EPA’s online guidance on radiation said that “Current science suggests there is some cancer risk from any exposure to radiation.” But an edit in July emphasized low individual cancer risk for small doses of exposure. “According to radiation safety experts, radiation exposures of … 100 millisieverts usually result in no harmful health effects, because radiation below these levels is a minor contributor to our overall cancer risk,” the updated guidance says.
EPA spokesperson John Konkus said Tuesday that the science transparency proposal would not change radiation policy. “The proposed regulation doesn’t talk about radiation or any particular chemicals. And as we indicated in our response, EPA’s policy is to continue to use the linear-no-threshold model for population-level radiation protection purposes which would not, under the proposed regulation that has not been finalized, trigger any change in that policy,” he said.
Public comment on the draft proposal closed in August and the EPA said it would review the more than 590,000 comments it had received this fall.
— EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) December 16, 2017
|
<urn:uuid:01a7064d-7fbd-4543-b412-404696e814af>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-40
|
https://www.ecowatch.com/radiation-exposure-limits-epa-2609738084.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233506480.7/warc/CC-MAIN-20230923094750-20230923124750-00287.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.946366 | 796 | 2.625 | 3 |
There are some beautiful museums in the world which attract millions of visitors. The region of Mardan is rich in culture and especially Gandhara remains are matchless. The people of Mardan had the idea of a museum for a long time and they were keen to preserve the heritage. For this reason they formed National Heritage Preservation Societies in the past. Ultimately with the interest of the local Government Officials and the then commissioner of Mardan, Mr R N Sahibzada, the proposal of building a museum in Mardan was made in 1990. The museum was opened in April1991.
The original name is Takht-i-Bahi. This town is situated 15 km from Mardan on Swat Malakand road. In 1908/9 the ancient Buddhist history was discovered in the mountains. Large numbers of buildings look beautiful on top of the mountains.
Unfortunately the possessions of the houses and buildings have been taken away illegally and maybe decorating some famous buildings in the rest of the world. The population is expanding and new houses are approaching the site. If ignored for a few more years, the tourist and historic attractions will disappear.
Cultural heritage has a great historical significance. It represents the taste and theme of the time. The Guides Memorial Mardan also has a very relevant historical importance. It was built by the British in 1892 in memory of their soldiers who sacrificed their lives in defence of Queen’s Residency in Kabul on September 23rd 1879.This historical memorial was built in the centre of Mardan city.
Tough Woman in Tough Land
Nusrat Ara, an activist from Pakistan's North Western Frontier Province (NWFP), is known for her work in empowering women for over two decades in a deeply conservative society. Ara took charge of her life, first by educating herself after marriage and then by launching an organization for women's development - Women's Development Organization - in her home-town, Mardan.
Fortunately, her father was on her side, and with his support, she was able to finish school and join college. After graduating, she married her cousin and moved to Punjab. He supported her strong desire to work for the welfare and social development of women. She began this work in Punjab and continued when she later moved back to her home town Mardan.
Looking around her, Ara saw women tolerating domestic violence and other forms of oppression and decided to help. Ara noted that these women were in no position to fight for their rights because they were financially dependent on their men-folk, so she decided to focus on helping them find ways to generate income. With no infrastructure to speak of, but with a great deal of passion and commitment, she launched Women's Development Organization in 1995. Ara organized a team of committed social activists to work with her. In the beginning, they had very few resources but were able to extend their work in the year 2000 with the help of the South Asia Partnership - Pakistan, which provided financial support.
During her two-and-half decades of work with women, Ara has focused on their socio-economic and political empowerment and issues of combating violence against women and child labor. The majority of the women she works with are uneducated and unskilled. She set up skill training and literacy centers for them, along with awareness building and mobilization programs. In the centers, women were taught sewing, knitting, and embroidery, enabling them to earn their own money.
Ara has targeted customs such as honor killings, and 'swarah', which led to women being married off to men to settle disputes, regardless of age differences, etc. She has also worked hard to end the custom of women being married to much older men in return for a "bride price". Ara began a political education programme to motivate women to fight local elections. Although there are 33 per cent seats earmarked for women in some local bodies, women are actively discouraged from participating in the political process. Ara personally contested local elections and won. She is now a member of the district council of her area. The methods that she uses to communicate with women include dialogue, workshops, rallies and corner meetings. Ara works effectively to help families resolve internal problems and conflicts. She communicates in simple language and uses examples from daily life, as well as interactive theatre, which can be very effective. For example, by performing a skit about a family marrying off its underage daughter, she convinced a woman who was planning to get such a bride for her son to change her mind.
When she addresses an issue, Ara addresses both women and men, to bridge the gap between different perspectives. She does not impose her decisions on the community but helps communities find their own solutions. Ara has faced many difficulties in her work, especially criticism by religious leaders and other members of the feudal elite. Clerics accused her of corrupting women. They described her as a non-Muslim preaching “Christianity". Some political figures and men, too, felt threatened by her work, and saw her as a destabilizing influence.
Ara has dealt with these challenges with positive behavior, ignoring negative attitudes. Today, her critics understand her vision of development and see how women of the area have improved with her help. Ara has also worked with women prisoners in the district jail in Mardan, providing them with free legal aid.
Today women are more visible in her district and the community has learnt to exercise its rights without losing its traditional moorings. In 1993, when she opened a school in village Toru, it was hard for her to find female staff, because no woman was willing to work in the school. But now, a number of educated women are doing so. Some women have contested local elections.
Although the region still remains extremely conservative, there is greater tolerance for Ara's work. It is not easy to change customs, practices and myths existing in a society for centuries. So Ara believes that the struggle for women's rights is a long one. But she is optimistic and hopes that small changes can lead to big ones.
|
<urn:uuid:3782f08a-a46e-4b1d-8cfa-bc83980a07f1>
|
CC-MAIN-2014-23
|
http://www.mardan.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=119&Itemid=320&FontSize=font-small
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1406510273874.36/warc/CC-MAIN-20140728011753-00494-ip-10-146-231-18.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.983827 | 1,236 | 3.015625 | 3 |
From success of the Fab Four, a key driver of health-care costs arose
This is an excerpt from "The Decision Tree: Taking Control of Your Health in the Era of Personalized Medicine," published this week by Rodale.
If you're looking for a scapegoat for the escalating cost of health care -- $2.5 trillion a year in the United States and climbing -- you might as well blame the Beatles.
In 1931, Electric and Musical Industries, or EMI, was mostly about the M -- making 78 rpm records and selling gramophones. The E was a much smaller part of the company, one in which EMI engineers worked on military technologies and dabbled in the burgeoning field of computer electronics (EMI labs helped develop radar technology and stereo sound, among other things). In 1955, the company acquired Capitol Records, with its roster of Frank Sinatra, Nat "King" Cole, and Peggy Lee, and became a powerhouse in popular music.
And in 1962, on the recommendation of EMI recording executive George Martin, the company signed a new group called the Beatles to a recording contract. Over the next decade the company earned millions of dollars from the Fab Four. It was so much money that EMI almost didn't know what to do with it. Meanwhile, a middle-aged bachelor engineer named Godfrey Hounsfield was working at EMI's less glamorous electronics business. Hounsfield was a skilled, unassuming scientist, quietly leading a team that built the first all-transistor computer. Flush with money broken out of teenagers' piggy banks, EMI let Hounsfield pursue independent research.
One day in 1967 -- the year of Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour -- Hounsfield took a ramble through the English countryside and had an epiphany. By taking a picture of an object from all sides, he realized, one could create a three-dimensional image of that object.
He went back to his lab and was soon taking X-rays of a cow's head (borrowed from a nearby slaughterhouse) from all sides. By converting the images into digital files, rather than strips of film, Hounsfield discovered that a computer could reassemble dozens or hundreds of X-rays into one single image, creating a deeper look inside the head.
The result was a cross-sectional, interior image with remarkable clarity. He called the technique computed tomography, or CT. As the Nobel Prize committee put it while awarding Hounsfield the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1979, before the CT scanner, "ordinary X-ray examinations of the head had shown the skull bones, but the brain had remained a gray, undifferentiated fog. Now, suddenly, the fog had cleared."
First released as a clinical scanner by EMI in 1971, CT scanners appeared at hospitals in the mid-'70s. Today, there are about 30,000 in use worldwide, one-third of them in the United States.
CT technology has been a boon to medicine, aiding in the diagnosis of everything from broken bones to kidney disease to cancer. But CT scans have also been a major factor in the explosion of health-care costs in the United States. These days, these very expensive machines -- along with their high-resolution brethren, MRIs and PET scans -- are sometimes used indiscriminately, often in an effort to generate a diagnosis rather than confirm one. Despite their high resolution, CT scans are still blunt instruments.
They can actually introduce too much information into a situation. A high-resolution image of the inside of the body reveals so much that everything begins to look like an anomaly or a potential problem.
As Shannon Brownlee wrote in her 2007 book "Overtreated," "for every scan that helps a physician come to the right decision, another scan may cloud the picture, sending the doctor down the wrong path." Which is why, however useful they are in specific cases to ascertain specific diagnoses, they are unsuited for use as a screening tool. Which, unfortunately, is what many people say CT scans should be used for.
Most technologies -- DVD players, digital cameras, flat-screen televisions -- get cheaper as they get more popular. But not CT scans.
From 1974 to 2004, the list price of a CT scanner increased to $2.2 million from $385,000, a nearly sixfold increase. With other technologies, the economics of scale and Moore's law have consistently driven costs down, even as quality goes up. Not here.
So what's going on? Economists have a term for industries that don't follow conventional economic rules of competition and efficiency: market failures. The health-care industry is beset by market failure. One reason is price transparency. In a competitive market, buyers of a service can glean what a typical price for a service or commodity is, and sellers will know what their competitors are selling their products for. This creates a fair market where buyers can shop around and sellers can adjust prices to maximize sales or profit.
The marketplace for CT scanners, alas, has little transparency. The same manufacturer may sell the same type of machine at drastically different prices to hospitals. Hospitals and other medical providers -- including doctor's offices -- have spent the past decade eagerly buying ever more powerful and ever more expensive devices. Despite a general prohibition against ordering tests simply because there's a test to order -- what's called physician-induced care -- that's exactly what happens.
Having made their investment, hospitals put the machines to use, and a spending cycle kicks in. Doctors in the United States ordered nearly 70 million CT scans in 2007, more than triple the number in 1995. These numbers will only keep going up: As demand for imaging rises, incentive to buy new machines rises, too. That's why radiology departments have become profit centers for hospitals, and that's why imaging machines are Exhibit A in the rising cost of health care in the United States.
Hospitals pass along the expense of CT scans to patients and insurers. That means they don't experience a downside to their actions (what economists call a moral hazard). Without a downside, they just keep ordering tests: Medicare alone saw its payments to physicians for imaging services double to about $14 billion from 2000 to 2006, according to the Government Accountability Office.
In most industries, technology lowers costs by reducing the workload for an expert class. The steam engine reduced the demand for buggy-whip makers, the textile factory reduced the need for seamstresses, robot welders reduced the need for the human kind in auto plants. Here again, health care is the exception: Rather than taking experts out of the process, a CT scan ends up making more work for the expert class of radiologists. Diagnostic radiology is among the highest-paid specialties in medicine, with a median salary of $361,000, according to a recent survey. And these salaries are increasing faster than they are for other doctors, driven by hospitals that are eager for more radiologists to perform more tests. That not only keeps prices high, it makes the prospects for lowering costs almost nonexistent.
CT scanners offer no economies of scale; the machines don't get cheaper when you buy more, and the individual scans don't get cheaper when you scan more people. And they don't give unequivocal information; unlike a blood test quantifying blood-glucose level, a scan is open to a radiologist's interpretation. For these reasons the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has consistently recommended against using CT scans to screen for diseases.
The fact is that, like a lot of medical technology, a CT scan can do a lot of good in particular circumstances. But too often, the enthusiasm outstrips its utility. And the result is a technology that just doesn't compute.
-- The Big Money
|
<urn:uuid:96fcea05-234b-4c29-90b2-da2ee90f6375>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-34
|
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/19/AR2010021905963.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-34/segments/1502886109157.57/warc/CC-MAIN-20170821152953-20170821172953-00183.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.961307 | 1,610 | 2.671875 | 3 |
The 60th Anniversary of The Lavender Scare: Don’t Forget About LGBT Workplace Discrimination
April 26, 2013 by Guest contributor
Post submitted by Josh Howard, Director/Producer of an upcoming documentary, The Lavender Scare
Did you know that this year marks the 60th anniversary of a witch-hunt against the LGBT community that was as aggressive and vicious as any in modern American history?
Not many people know the story of The Lavender Scare, but it lasted longer and was arguably far more ruinous in many ways than the more famous McCarthy Era Red Scare. It’s intrinsically linked to the origins of the LGBT movement following the federal government's vicious witch-hunt of LGBT employees that was launched 60 years ago this month and reverberates in ongoing employment discrimination today.
On April 27, 1953, President Eisenhower signed an executive order that outlawed the employment of LGBT individuals in the federal government. Over the next three decades, FBI and other federal agents hunted down thousands of LGBT workers who were summarily fired from their jobs. Careers were ruined, lives destroyed, and more than a few committed suicide rather than be exposed to their families. Some, like Dr. Frank Kameny, courageously fought back and, eventually, the federal government put into place nondiscrimination measures to protect lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender workers. President Obama’s administration formally apologized to Kameny in 2009, more than 50 years after he lost his government job for being gay. But even today, there is no federal law protecting LGBT workers in the private sector, and no state law barring discrimination based on sexual orientation in 29 states, and none outlawing gender identity-based bias in 34 states.
It’s astounding to consider, especially after our current president just included the fight for LGBT equality in his inaugural address, and forever stamped the significance of the gay rights movement’s galvanizing Stonewall Riots into a trifecta of social movement beginnings, alongside the African American civil rights standoff in Selma and the women’s rights movement’s groundbreaking convention in Seneca Falls.
To quote President Obama: “We, the people, declare today that the most evident of truths – that all of us are created equal – is the star that guides us still, just as it guided our forebears through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall.”
Beyond its relevance to the historic struggles of the LGBT community, The Lavender Scare reminds us to pay attention to the facts facing us today.
LGBT people face serious discrimination in employment, including being fired, being denied a promotion, and experiencing harassment on the job. The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) would provide basic protections against workplace discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
This is why the story of The Lavender Scare is as relevant today as it was 60 years ago and why I hope we ramp up the fight against LGBT employment discrimination. Let’s make the anniversary count.
July 21, 2014
|
<urn:uuid:0cca145c-d464-4a75-ac6a-b4a04db2d245>
|
CC-MAIN-2014-23
|
http://www.hrc.org/blog/entry/the-60th-anniversary-of-the-lavender-scare-dont-forget-about-lgbt-workplace
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1405997902579.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20140722025822-00021-ip-10-33-131-23.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.958962 | 622 | 2.84375 | 3 |
Carob is one of the oldest plants in the planet earth of (Cerotonia siliqua.L.) group. Carob was found among the burned plant leftovers around where Vesuvius volcano destroyed in 79 BC. It is such a valuable fruit that it is rumored that John Prophet ate this fruit in the desert and kept on living. Carob is a typical fruit of the regions with Mediterranean climate. CAROB tree is a fruit tree sensitive to low temperatures, always green and of legume family. This tree can grow without being under any culture and without requiring any chemical material; it gives its first fruit when 5-10 and reaches economical life in 10-15 years. Every year, it can increase fruit amount and quality and reach 15 meters high in fifty years.
Its fruits start to grow in May and mature in June-July. Fruit color turns to green to brown after maturing. Mature fruits start to be harvested in September and depending upon seasonal conditions continue until November-December.
|
<urn:uuid:31cf6d20-b814-42df-9d94-c09b9375a073>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-34
|
http://www.akdenizharnup.com.tr/food/en/products/30/carob/carob-pods-fruit-whole
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-34/segments/1596439738653.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20200810072511-20200810102511-00307.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.964532 | 204 | 3.484375 | 3 |
NASA to Launch Laser to ISS This Month for Communications Testing
April 15th, 2014
NASA has announced that it is set to send the OPALS – or Optical Payload for Lasercomm Science – device to the ISS. What that means is that NASA is sending a laser up to the ISS that can be used to send messages including HD video back to the Earth with more bandwidth and speed than conventional methods. This is a big deal since the amount of data being sent back to Earth is growing constantly.
The OPALS device will be able to send data, including video, to Earth in the form of laser transmissions and is likened to upgrading from dial-up to cable at your home. The conventional method used to send data back from the ISS has about 200 to 400 Kbps of bandwidth. The lasercom device will be able to provide up to 50 Mbps of speed.
NASA says that in the future a similar deep space laser device will be able to support transmissions from Mars at up to 1 Gbps. The laser will head to the ISS this week aboard the SpaceX Dragon resupply cargo ship – assuming that the rocket overcomes its current launch delay.
|
<urn:uuid:855e14f2-cfb2-476f-b159-a2d8a7b48f40>
|
CC-MAIN-2014-41
|
http://technabob.com/blog/2014/04/15/nasa-laser-communications-iss/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-41/segments/1412037663551.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20140930004103-00370-ip-10-234-18-248.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.956604 | 234 | 2.984375 | 3 |
Law of the Biggest Pump (Posted By Gary Cutrer)
In Texas water law, the state owns your surface water, as a general rule, and you must get permission to use that water. The landowner owns water found below the earth’s surface in the crevices of soil and rocks–percolating water. Texas groundwater law is judge-made law, derived from the English common law rule of “absolute ownership.” Texas courts have adopted, and the legislature has not modified, the common law rule that a landowner has a right to take for use or sale all the water that he can capture from below his land.
Because of the seemingly absolute nature of this right to all water beneath your land, Texas water law has often been called the “law of the biggest pump.” Regardless of how it affects your neighbor’s well, you can pump all the water you wish from your wells. However, the case of a subterranean river is different. As landowner, you are presumed to own underground water until it is conclusively shown that the the source of supply is a subterranean river. Both stream underflow and subterranean rivers have been expressly excluded from the definition of underground water in Section 52.001 of the Texas Water Code.
All this information in easy to understand language is available at this Texas A&M and AgriLife Extension website. More:
The practical effect of Texas groundwater law is that one landowner can dry up an adjoining landowner’s well and the landowner with the dry well is without a legal remedy. Texas courts have refused to adopt the American rule of “reasonable use” with respect to groundwater.
Exceptions to Absolute Owner Rule. There are five situations in which a Texas landowner can take legal action for interference with his groundwater rights:
- If an adjoining neighbor trespasses on the land to remove water either by drilling a well directly on the landowner’s property or by drilling a “slant” well on adjoining property so that it crosses the subterranean property line, the injured landowner can sue for trespass.
- There is malicious or wanton conduct in pumping water for the sole purpose of injuring an adjoining landowner.
- Landowners waste artesian well water by allowing it to run off their land or to percolate back into the water table.
- There is contamination of water in a landowner’s well. No one is allowed to unlawfully pollute groundwater.
- Land subsidence and surface injury result from negligent overpumping from adjoining lands.
|
<urn:uuid:a6aecdb1-0ba1-4fa6-9d4e-fa4080307e05>
|
CC-MAIN-2014-15
|
http://ranchmagazine.com/water/water-law/219/law-of-the-biggest-pump/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1397609527423.39/warc/CC-MAIN-20140416005207-00663-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.946643 | 533 | 2.609375 | 3 |
Dr. C?sar Lattes (About)
World Science Database Profile
(Died: March 8, 2005)
Interests: Relativity, Particle Physics Age: 80
C?sar Lattes, co-discover of the pion, became a critic of Einsteinian relativity in the 1960s. To this day his students continue to conduct experiments in induction, which challenge Einstein's theories at their foundation.
- Lattes was born to a family of Italian Jewish immigrants in Curitiba, Southern Brazil.
- At the age of 23, he was one of the founders of the Brazilian Center of Physical Research (Centro Brasileiro de Pesquisas F?sicas) in Rio de Janeiro.
- From 1947 to 1948, Lattes launched on his main research line, by studying cosmic rays, which were discovered in 1932 by American physicist Carl David Anderson. He visited a weather station on top of the 5,200-meter high Chacaltaya mountain in Bolivia, using photographic plates to register the rays. Traveling to England with his teacher Occhialini, Lattes went to work at the H. H. Wills Laboratory of the University of Bristol, directed by Cecil Frank Powell (1903-1969). After improving on the nuclear emulsion used by Powell, by asking Ilford Co. to add more boron to it, in 1947, he made with them his great experimental discovery, that of a new atomic particle, the pi meson (or pion), which disintegrates into a new kind of particle, the mu meson. Brash young Lattes then proceeded to write a paper for Nature magazine without bothering to ask for Powell's consent. In the same year, he was responsible for calculating the new particle's mass, a painstaking job. A year later, working with Eugene Gardner (1913-1950) at the University of California, Berkeley, Lattes was able to detect the artificial production of pion particles in the lab's cyclotron, by bombarding carbon atoms with alpha particles. He was 24 years old.
- Although he was the main researcher and the first author of the historical Nature article describing the meson pi, Cecil Powell alone was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1950 for ?his development of the photographic method of studying nuclear processes and his discoveries regarding mesons made with this method?. The reason for this apparent neglect is that the Nobel Committee policy until 1960 was to give the award to the research group head, only. [See here for a similar situation in the Nobel 2007 awards].
- In 1969, he and his group discovered the mass of the so-called fire balls, a phenomenon induced by naturally occurring high-energy collisions, and which was detected by means of special lead-chamber nuclear emulsion plates invented by him, and placed at the Chacaltaya peak of the Bolivian Andes.
- His colleagues, who also became important Brazilian scientists, were Oscar Sala, M?rio Schenberg, Roberto Salmeron, Marcelo Damy de Souza Santos and Jayme Tiomno.
- Lattes is one of the most distinguished and honored Brazilian physicists, and his work was fundamental for the development of atomic physics. He was also a great scientific leader of Brazilian Physics and was one of the main personalities behind the creation of the important Brazilian National Research Council (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico). He figures as one of the few Brazilians in Isaac Asimov's Biographical Encyclopedia of Science and Technology, as well as in the Encyclop?dia Britannica.
- "The Discover of the Pion", Nature 159, 186?190 & 160, 453?456 (1947).
|
<urn:uuid:ad3b46fb-972b-4837-87b4-bbc278f2240f>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-10
|
http://db.naturalphilosophy.org/member/?memberid=1601
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875145897.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20200224040929-20200224070929-00278.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.960405 | 793 | 2.953125 | 3 |
What is ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer)?
ENIAC (Electronic Numerical Integrator And Computer) was the world's first general-purpose electronic computer. ENIAC is also considered the world's first programmable computer, although programming the computer was a complex, manual process that could take days. Even so, ENIAC was 1,000 times faster than anything else in existence at the time, capable of performing 5,000 additions per second.
As a product of World War II, ENIAC was designed and built for the United States Army to calculate artillery firing tables. However, it was ENIAC's power and general-purpose programmability that excited the public's imagination. When it was introduced to the world in 1946, ENIAC was referred to in the media as a "giant brain."
Physicist John Mauchly and electrical engineer J. Presper Eckert designed ENIAC and participated in its creation. Along with a team of engineers, mathematicians, programmers and other experts, they built and refined the computer in the basement of the Moore School of Electrical Engineering, which is now part of the School of Engineering and Applied Science at the University of Pennsylvania. The team started to work on the computer in 1943 and formally unveiled it in 1946.
Costing nearly $500,000, ENIAC weighed 30 tons and covered an area of about 1,800 square feet. The computer was made up of 40 individual panels that were set up in a U-shaped configuration. Twenty of the panels were accumulators, which performed mathematical calculations. Each accumulator could hold a 10-digit decimal number. The entire computer contained nearly 18,000 vacuum tubes, 7,200 crystal diodes, 1,500 relays, 70,000 resistors, 10,000 capacitors, 6,000 switches and almost 5 million hand-soldered joints.
Shortly before ENIAC was officially unveiled, the computer was put to practical use by performing calculations for the hydrogen bomb project in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Scientists there turned to ENIAC to help determine whether the latest H-bomb design was feasible. The calculations required thousands of programming steps and 1 million punch cards of data, but in the end, they helped to uncover several flaws in the proposed design.
After its unveiling, ENIAC was moved to the Aberdeen Proving Ground in Aberdeen, Maryland. There it produced artillery firing tables, as originally intended, and also performed calculations related to weather prediction, atomic energy, thermal ignition, wind tunnel design, cosmic ray studies, random number studies and other disciplines. The Army retired ENIAC on Oct. 2, 1955, after running it continuously for over 70,000 hours.
The programmers who kept ENIAC working
When ENIAC was first introduced to the world, most of the credit for its construction and operation went to Mauchly, Eckert and the other men who worked on the project. However, the programmers who ensured that the computer continued to do its job were a team of six women, who, until much later, went relatively unacknowledged for their critical role in ENIAC's success.
The six women -- Kathleen Antonelli, Jean Bartik, Frances "Betty" Holberton, Marlyn Meltzer, Frances Spence and Ruth Teitelbaum -- had been hired by the U.S. Army to work on classified bullet and missile trajectory calculations. In this role, they were referred to as computers, a term used at the time to describe people who worked on complex mathematical equations. The six computers were brought onto the ENIAC team as developers and programmers, representing some of the first programmers in the history of computing.
Programming ENIAC was a complex and time-consuming process. The women had to reconfigure the computer for each job by plugging in cables and setting switches. Whenever the computer was asked to solve a different problem, the women had to develop a new program and apply it to the system. To achieve this, they had to fully learn how ENIAC worked, which they did by studying schematics and interviewing engineers.
From this foundation, the women came to intimately understand how ENIAC operated and what it took to run its programs. This enabled them to design algorithms and adjust the computer's switches to perform the necessary calculations. They also learned how to pinpoint problems within the system itself, reducing the time it took to troubleshoot and address internal issues. The six computers were inducted into the Women in Technology International Hall of Fame in 1997.
|
<urn:uuid:ffdff103-88e5-489c-9b77-c960a17ae64d>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-40
|
https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/ENIAC
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510219.5/warc/CC-MAIN-20230926175325-20230926205325-00473.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.974587 | 944 | 4.0625 | 4 |
Last Updated on
3 Steps to Make Your Character Complex: Flat vs Complex Characters
Complex characters: Characters are the soul of the story.
My most-read article in this blog is How to Develop a Character and there’s a reason for that.
You can even hate the plot, it can be full of stupid clichés that no one can handle anymore, but if you fall in love with a character, you’ll keep reading it.
This happened to me with Christian Grey, I’m afraid.
The story was absolutely… hard to like (euphemism, and I’m sorry if you like it). Christian is abusive, Ana is CLEARLY not into it. However, I read it all. I was addicted to the character.
I invite you to think about a story that you didn’t like that much but you were addicted to the characters, so you couldn’t let it go.
I bet you can think about some.
Even a simple plot of boy meets girl can become extremely interesting if the boy is great and the girl is better.
I bet you’re sitting there saying: I already know this all. But HOW to make a complex character?
First, let’s see what Neil Gaiman has to tell us about a flat character:
What is a flat character?
A flat character is the opposite of a round character (or complex character).
It is a character that has only one or two motivation, as Neil Gaiman teaches us in his Masterclass.
They don’t offer much to a story, because it’s very easy to read what they want.
There’s not much conflict.
They want to… save the world. Or, to get the girl/boy. They don’t show contradiction, trauma, or anything like that.
You don’t want a flat character.
What is a complex character?
A complex character is basically the opposite.
They have a goal or motivation, they go after it, but there’s a lot of conflicts involved in it. There’s a contradiction in what they want and what they SHOULD want.
In his class, Neil Gaiman gives us the example of Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs
Clarice Starling relies on serial killer
Hannibal Lecter to help her catch another killer in
Silence of the Lambs (1988). But beneath her apparent
repulsion for Lecter is an equally compelling admiration
for him which comes to border on obsession. It
is safely justified by a professional need to understand
him, but that unconscious desire… (O6. Neil Gaiman Masterclass Material)
Clarice can’t admit to herself her desire to be friends with Hannibal. She says she is there only professionally… but she clearly is hiding something. Even to herself.
This is how you make a complex character.
Think about humans, maybe even yourself.
Let’s go to another completely different area: romance.
You keep telling yourself that you’re just friends with that boy or girl. You want to go to their home JUST TO DO homework or something. You don’t want to date. You’re perfectly happy with your single life.
But if you are being honest to yourself… you really love them. And this scares you a lot. The boy or girl might be “forbidden”: they are your sister’s or brother’s friends, you might have a partner already, they might be your high school enemy.
This is where a romance plot is born.
Let’s move on to fantasy:
You want to save your city. You know you want. On the other hand, this city was always been terrible for you. They bullied you, they didn’t help you when you’re starving after losing your parents in a car crash. You started listening to the villain’s motivation: “they are the bad guys, not us, they want to destroy humanity because humans are really bad. We kill each other, we let our species die in wars, we are destroying the environment.” But then, you, as the hero, are sitting in the park and see a family having a picnic. Everyone is happy. The little girl there fills you with hope. We always hope for better times.
But we always hate too.
We are humans, we are complex.
How to make a complex character in 3 steps:
All of this I learned with the Master. Neil Gaiman teaches us in his lesson:
1. A character needs conflict to be complex. They can be conflicted because they want to do good and save the world, but deep down they believe that the villains ARE RIGHT: humans are garbage. But he keeps the faith that it will get better. This faith must be tested. CONFLICT.
You can read here how to add conflict to your story.
2. Goals: we all want many things. When we choose a path to follow, a lot of other paths exist as well and we are giving them up. Choose some conflicting goals for your characters. They want something that is light and something that is dark. They can lie to themselves about what they really want. They keep following their “good choice goal” blindly, even though the pulsating desire of going in the other direction is still there.
3. Character motivation is revealed by their choices. People usually choose what they think is better (for them or for the world, but mostly for them). Even if they know that it might be bad, they try to convince themselves that it’s the best choice. A villain doesn’t think they are doing the worst thing; they can know that what they are doing is bad, but they will always try to convince themselves that it’s the best thing to be done (even if it’s kill humanity so they get rid of the human plague).
Try to create a complex character by writing down two opposite things they should want.
One of those things has to be perceived as “good” (like saving the world, but it can be something much smaller like lending money to someone they like).
The other thing has to be perceived as bad (not lending the money because they want the money to themselves).
When a character wants two opposite things, you have conflict.
Put them through conflict and watch their choices. This will reveal a complex character.
But, remember, they always try to convince themselves that they are doing the best option.
The most important thing is to always remember: characters are people. And people are confusing.
How to learn how to master the craft of creating a story?
I am still learning like all of you.
That’s why I rely on professional writers to help me.
This all I learned in Neil Gaiman’s Masterclass. I strongly encourage you to check it out here:
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links to products. I may receive a small commission for purchases made through these links. Now I’m passionate about sharing the products I love with my audience, that’s why I decided to go for their affiliate program. If you buy through this link, you help me keep making these articles for you without ANY extra cost for you. Thank you!
you can access to over 60 classes with renowned professionals in different fields.
In writing, you can get access to these writing classes:
- Neil Gaiman;
- Dan Brown;
- Margaret Atwood;
- R. L. Stine;
- Malcolm Gladwell;
- Judy Blume;
- David Mamet;
- James Patterson;
And they’re always updating it with new classes.
If you have other interests like cooking, magic, film making, etc, they have classes with names like David Lynch, Gordon Ramsay, deadmau5, Serena Williams, Samuel Jackson!!
You get access to ALL THE CLASSES with the all-access pass. But you can also buy it separately if you have interest in only one class.
When I did the math, I bought it:
One class is 90$. For example, for Neil Gaiman’s one, with 19 classes in the course, it will be less than 5$ per class. You definitely don’t get what he teaches there nowhere else because he reveals his personal secrets, techniques, analysis, and thoughts.
But, definitely, the pass for all the classes is worth it:
It is 180$ for over 45 classes with Masters in their arts. This makes it 6$ per course, which almost 20 classes in each. This makes it 30 CENTS PER LESSON!
Or join us here:
|
<urn:uuid:40f0d0d0-7a8e-40c9-87b6-c5cfbfacb5aa>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-10
|
https://isadorafelix.com/complex-character/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875143646.38/warc/CC-MAIN-20200218085715-20200218115715-00116.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.956383 | 1,843 | 2.703125 | 3 |
Reign of tradition
A traditional society revers the wisdom of the ancestors. In the earliest period of human history, the pace of growth was slow, and traditions- or received wisdom from ancestors - were good pointers on how one should behave. Not all traditions were fair. Some like the caste of system or feudalism were atrocious. But in an era where change was slow, these traditions (good or bad) were persistent. It was difficult to mount a revolution. That is why, we do not hear about revolutions in the ancient past that very much. We hear about the American or French Revolutions in the eighteenth century, or about the Indian independence movement since the nineteenth century, or if stretching to the sixteenth century, we hear about the Protestant Reformation.
Why did revolutions against established traditions become common in the early modern era? It was difficult to coordinate hundreds of thousands of people together to mount a mass rebellion against a dominant group. So, technologies such as the printing press, that emerged in the fifteenth century, became important coordinating technologies, as they could print pamphlets and books for call to action. So, traditional society began to lose its grip only once technological and economic progress began. As lives of people transformed within generations, traditions that were passed down from one generation to the next were no longer good guides of behavior. What replaced tradition in this era of rapid change? It was rationality.
Rise of Rationality
While Asian civilizations were at the helm of progress for much of the human history, Europe began to catch up in the modern age. Economic historian Joel Mokyr says that the key difference between early modern Europe and elsewhere was the lack of reverence to ancestors. As Europeans travelled in the age of exploration, and read ancient books, they discovered the gaps in knowledge of their ancestors. They began to question ancestral wisdom, and began believing that their generations may very well be smarter and wiser than the past. When such a break from tradition took place, something needed to replace the guidance of tradition? In place of tradition people began to think for themselves, individually, and began relying on their rational faculty. The ancient world had no dearth of rational thinkers. In Hindu traditions two of the six schools- Nyaya and Vaisheshika rely heavily on logic to learn about reality. But in traditional societies, such logical schools faced tough competition from schools that relied on rituals and traditions, where testimony was highly valued. In the modern age, testimony from ancient texts and ancestors is given much less credibility than testimony of the peers, and inferences of one’s own mind. Such a system that emphasizes peer and rational learning inevitably gave rise to the scientific method.
It should not come as a surprise that rise of rationality gave rise to an Age of Enlightenment and science in the seventeenth century. Stalwarts like Newton and Darwin revolutionized human understanding of the world around us. But with such “enlightenment” and rationality came dark realities. As Europeans, became more technologically advanced, they left a trail of exploitation around the world. India faced several famines during the colonial misrule. Unchecked power of European technological superiority was especially devastating for ordinary Europeans themselves as they fought two cataclysmic world wars. Nazis, fueled by pseudoscientific ideas of a Darwinian race war, perpetrated unspeakable atrocities including the Holocaust that systematically killed millions of Jews. So, age of rationality, despite its ability to bring rapid technological and economy progress, reached a nauseating conclusion during the World War 2, characterized by devastation, genocide and moral bankruptcy at a scale unheard of in human history. How could rationality culminate in such a devastating end? Because it was devoid of morality and empathy, and especially devoid of a concern for human dignity.
Primacy of Dignity
Consider the founder of modern statistics - Francis Galton. He was a polymathic genius who gave the world regression and fingerprints. But he was also the founder of eugenics, and believed human races were inherently different, and like breeds of animals, each race had unique characteristics that were hard baked by nature. Eugenics, an idea that was further popularized by the Nazis, believed in designing a better race using scientific principles, where the ideal race was the Nordic-Aryan ideal. In name of such improvement of racial stock, “impure” and “inferior” groups like the Jews, or “defective” people like those who were disabled or belonged to the LGBT community, were killed in gas chambers in a highly bureaucratic and organized operation. While the Nazi obsession with a purity may seem like a perversion, but such ideas of group superiority were not exclusive to the age of rationality. Traditional societies were far from egalitarian. Gender, religious or caste discrimination was rampant is such societies for long, with fetishized notions of purity and pollution playing an important role in regulating conduct.
Twentieth century saw rapid expansion in human rights. The second world war could not have been won, without the contribution of armies made of people of color, and of factories run by women. After the end of Second World War, there was a greater reflection on the perils of Nazism type ideologies that failed to acknowledge human dignity. In the 20th century, women sufferage movement, civil rights, Dalit, LGBT and the several independence movements, most prominently in India, brought representation to the marginalized groups. As their voices were heard more, reason in itself was no longer an appropriate guide for decision making. It had to be coupled with the notion of dignity. For example, John Rawls in his pathbreaking book on Justice, provided a framework that combined reason with dignity. He said, we should design a society keeping a veil of ignorance about where we as individuals would be positioned in such a society. If this principle of veil of ignorance gets applied, it is difficult to advocate for lesser rights for marginalized groups, and rights and laws become more inclusive and universal. Consider the notion of “men” in the American constitution, which has evolved from including only land owning white men in eighteenth century, to all humans in the twenty first.
In a traditional society, all people had a “proper” place. Consider the position of transgenders in Indian society. While being a transgender was tolerated in Indian society, and at times transgenders were even worshiped, but the social and economic roles they could take were severely limited. As societies became more rational, it did not spontaneously create an inclusive society. Labeling of “proper” and “improper” humans became common. For example in Victorian England, the rights of LGBT persons were severly curtailed, and anti-LGBT laws and sentiments diffused in other colonies. However, in the modern era human dignity is more important than reason or tradition, and in this era we need to empathize, stand in other people’s shoes and question if it is the job of society to dictate what is the “proper” thing for people to do. This tradition of empathy, and primacy to dignity, gives a simple solution: we must design a society which gives all people the freedom to decide what is proper for them. If a person’s life decisions do not directly affect our own, should we decide on their behalf what is “proper” for them? Similarly, when people’s individual decisions affect others, should some stakeholders take decisions for the rest?
A fully realized society, that gives primacy to dignity, and tests both rationality and tradition on that anvil, naturally offers universal fundamental rights to all people, and develops participative and democratic systems of collective decision making. The ideals of such a society are codified in great constitutional texts such as the the American and Indian constitution. Though these constitutions codify great and noble ideas and are great achievements of mankind, the application of these ideas nonetheless depends on those who practice and apply them in their daily lives. Do we give primacy to human dignity, and test our traditions and rationality on that anvil? Or are we comfortable in defending our traditions or reasoning even when they violate the dignity of fellow human beings? The answers to the questions above will eventually decide the fate of our society in the long run.
Basic income has been a topic of intense scruitny in India over the last few years. 2017 Economic Survey even wrote a report on Universal Basic Income (UBI) and its feasibility. Political parties across the spectrum have been toying with the idea.
A minimum income guarantee scheme like NYAY (Nyuntam Aay Yojana) that has been proposed by Indian National Congress is a difficult to implement but a feasible scheme, contrary to the emerging narrative that its an impossible and unfeasible idea. Middle class in India gets 1% of GDP as yearly subsidies from GoI. Total subsidies by GoI amount to 2% of total GDP, and much of it is subsidy given on food. GoI's social sector schemes cost 3.7% of yearly GDP (not including the 2% subsides). A basic income scheme such as NYAY scheme which covers 20% of poorest households, will cost 2% of the yearly GDP. It is not at all in the impossible terrain.
Funding a basic income scheme that costs 2% of the total GDP is especially feasible in an economy that grows at 6-8% each year. This implies that a fraction of gains that India makes each year go to the poorest Indians. The proposal that 20% of India's population should be guaranteed 2% of India's GDP is not a radical idea. Such a scheme is also inevitable, as cash transfers become easier, and it will not come to me as a surprise if BJP were also mulling over similar ideas (afterall the UBI report came under their government, and they proposed a minimal basic income for farmers).
It is also important to consider that a basic income format of welfare was simply not feasible in a pre-IT era. A basic income based social welfare has become a possibility because of two key innovations that characterize India's development in 2010s: 1) development of a robust framework of universal identity (UID/Adhaar) system and online and mobile banking infrastructure, and 2) significant exapansion in bank access for people. However, NYAY is just one proposal. There are many alternative ways of distributing basic income.
There are three questions that need to be considiered when discussing basic income as a policy:
Personally I am of the view that social welfare schemes should be as universal and unconditional as possible (although not always feasible), because implementing targeted and means-tested schemes open up a backdoor for inefficiency, bureaucracy and corruption. Bo Rothstein has a fantastic book on Quality of Government, which promotes the notion of impartial governance. So, I tend to favour basic income schemes that are universal and unconditional (hence a UBI), and at the same time do not completely substitute some in-kind welfare schemes like healthcare and education. I believe policies targeting the poor, should provide some income relief through cash transfers as a UBI, but other forms of in-kind relief (such as accessible healthcare, education, housing and amenities) cannot be replaced. Social welfare should still be seen as a basket of programs, which aid people in their incomes (yes), but also in their consumption.
Note: If I designed a basic income scheme, it will target childhood inequality by developing a National Childhood Fund. Childhood inequality is a key issue India faces, and a package I would favor will be a universal, unconditional scheme that will provide family assistance to households with children. It will look something like this (let me know your thoughts):
Pegged at 3% of India's GDP, and targeting about half a billion children of India, every child below 18 years of age will get an unconditional yearly cash transfer of ₹ 12000, remunerated monthly at ₹ 1000. As India's GDP rises (if very conservatively at 5%, when realistically we expect it to be @7-10%), then this income will rise too. Today, an yearly income of ₹ 12000, will be equal to ₹ 28900 in 18 years (@ 5%), and a total value of such saving (at 5% interest rate), will be about ₹ 5.2lack (₹ 2.16 lack NPV), that a child will be entitled to once they enter adulthood. A part of this income can be utilised by parents to fund unconditional expenses (which are expected to rise with a new child), but families will be nudged to freeze all the money for 18 years, and use this saving as a collateral for short duration interest free loans (short credit) if they so need. If they fail to return the money, then that amount will be deducted from this pool. There will also be a cap where parents with more than two children will be frozen off from utilising any money from their third child's account. So, families with two children, will get an yearly assistance of ₹ 24,000 (present day value).
Hence, if I were a policy maker, a combination of instruments will be my preferred choice to ensure that an important demography of Indians (children), are better off in the future, and their family members are protected from risks. To this I will also add a comprehensive healthcare scheme about which I have written before. Government's Ayushman Bharat Yojana is an important milestone providing a significant health insurance (a key area of vulnerability) to India's 10 crore poorest households. As Guardian puts it "It's a godsend". To the Ayushman Bharat Yojana and my preferred model of subsystem-specific healthcare, I would also add a specialised healthcare program that provides unconditional healthcare coverage to all children. The money for such a scheme can partly come from the large savings pool that National Childhood Fund will create.
|
<urn:uuid:ea73cbba-822c-4586-9dc2-7c4b13d8cd61>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-05
|
https://www.prateekr.com/blog/archives/03-2019
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250606872.19/warc/CC-MAIN-20200122071919-20200122100919-00406.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.967576 | 2,848 | 3.671875 | 4 |
Let me just start out by saying that I am truly blessed. Blessed because I have the privilege to live in beautiful rural Georgia where I am surrounded by nature. Also, blessed to have amazing opportunities as a National Geographic Kids Insider. Earlier this week, Kelley Miller, the National Geographic Kids photo editor took time to chat with Insiders and share some nature photography tips. The timing of her tips couldn’t have been any better, since The Great Nature Project has officially kicked off. More on that later.
Kelley’s pictures are so inspiring. Here are just a couple of the many beautiful images she has captured in partnership with National Geographic Kids:
Here’s a recap of Kelley’s nature photography tips (in no particular order):
1. Be observant. Don’t look at everything through your camera lens. Nature is happening when you are looking elsewhere.
2. Make eye contact and smile. Also, for animals with ears, it’s good to photograph them with their ears facing forward, denoting interest.
3. Look for details and don’t be afraid to zoom in for a closeup.
4. Include the animals habitat and show their environment. Also, a shallow depth of field makes the animal pop out.
5. Try different angles. Change composition by taking different shots, above or from the side, tilt the angle to get a different perspective.
6. To have the animal stand out in its environment, use a simple background. For example, wait for the animal to come out of the shadow to catch it.
7. A slower shudder speed captures the action. Go for motion.
8. Nature photography is all about picking a spot to observe and letting nature come to you. Be patient, sit and wait for animals to become a little more comfortable around you.
9. Capture the emotion, personality, and playful side of an animal. For dark subjects, try a side-lit portrait.
10. Give a Sense of Scale. Pay attention to graphic elements.
11. Photos are more interesting when the subject is not in the middle all the time.
When asked which camera is best for nature photography, Kelly responded “The best camera is the one you will use most often.” -I just love her answer.
This morning my family headed out on a nature photography walk to put Kelley’s tip to use. A few years back my brother, and two other family members invested in adjoining property to equal about 130 acres of beautiful pine forest. More of us followed and we now all get to enjoy this beautiful Georgia landscape. This morning we took a stroll out to a small cabin my brother built out by the creek.
I’m almost embarrassed to show my pictures after the amazing ones you just saw from Kelley Miller, but I was able to apply most of her tips and am pretty happy with my pictures.
The trees in the woods are full of glistening webs.
But look a little closer and you will see that these are caterpillar nests.
… full of cocoons and tiny little caterpillars just waiting to be transformed.
How does that saying go – leaves of three, leave it be?
These pretty yellow flowers grow wild along the trail.
Each week, Grannie Wright, throws a bag of corn out to feed the deer. There are three doe that look forward to her generosity each week.
Maddie spotted some deer tracks to take pictures of.
We made it to the little cabin.
And look who has joined us… it’s Grannie Laura!
The creek has been a little muddy all summer, but it’s still a great source of water for all of the wildlife.
There are a lot of these giant mushrooms in the woods.
More inhabitants of the woods. You really have to watch where you step. These ant hills are all over the place.
It’s nice to just sit down and take it all in.
Do you see that little guy hitching a ride on a pine cone? I captured him in this shot totally by accident.
These Persimmon Trees are one of the other reasons the deer like to hang around. They drop to the ground, providing a succulent and sweet feast for wildlife.
The woods are full of all sort of creepy crawlies like this Orb Spider.
Something has his feathers ruffled…
After our nature walk, we stopped to say hi to some family pets. This is Becca’s horse E.T. who is enjoying his golden years.
Vickie here is quite a character.
Meet Sparky the Donkey. He thinks he’s hot stuff. We don’t bring my dog Winston over to visit anymore. It’s a clash of the egos between those two.
Spotty was feeling a little shy today.
This is sweet LeLe.
Our nature photography walk was so much fun for the the entire family, and the kids really great time taking their own pictures. Early Fall is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy nature, as the temperatures are just beginning to drop. I hope you’ll be able to use some of Kelley’s tips and get outside for your own nature photography walk.
The Great Nature Project
The National Geographic Society, which is celebrating its 125th anniversary this year, is urging everyone to get off the couch and go outside to explore — and celebrate — nature, whether in their own backyard, a local park or anywhere that nature thrives. From Sept. 21-29, 2013, National Geographic invites the whole world to take part in the Great Nature Project, an unprecedented attempt to capture and appreciate Earth’s biodiversity.
How can you participate? Anyone with a camera or camera phone is encouraged to take photos of any plants or animals they come across and share them with the world by uploading them to various social media platforms, including Twitter, Instagram and Flickr, using the hashtag #GreatNature. The uploaded, tagged photos will be aggregated on greatnatureproject.org, where visitors to the website can view the images and take advantage of opportunities to engage deeper and learn more about the world’s biodiversity through educational and scientific resources.
As part of the Great Nature Project, National Geographic Kids is attempting to set a Guinness World Record for the largest online photo album of animals by collecting more than 100,000 animal images. Any photo of an animal uploaded and then shared with Great Nature Project with the addition of the hashtag #animal will be counted toward the record.
So remember, you have through September 29, 2013 to upload your nature and animal pics to Twitter, Instagram and Flickr using the #GreatNature hashtag and #animal where applicable.
Disclosure: As a National Geographic Kids Insider I receive special access and the occasional product sample. I receive no monetary compensation as part of this program and have no obligations to National Geographic Kids as part of this program.
|
<urn:uuid:b66691e4-cf74-4589-94a0-112ce6d8b217>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-40
|
https://www.aboutamom.com/nature-photography-tips-great-nature-project/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233510983.45/warc/CC-MAIN-20231002064957-20231002094957-00693.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.942401 | 1,440 | 2.640625 | 3 |
By Matthew A. Turner
Previous attempts to build our way out of urban traffic congestion have been largely self-defeating in the sense that, sooner or later, new roads tend to create more demand for driving. Capacity additions can still be worthwhile, however, particularly if new roads are priced to encourage their most efficient use. Across-the-board improvements in bus service may also produce economic benefits sufficient to justify their costs.
In 2001, the average American household spent more than two and a half hours (or 161 person-minutes) per day in a car to accomplish travel that required only 147 minutes in 1995. Multiplying by households and working days, we find that U.S. households used about 5 billion more hours in 2001 than in 1995 to accomplish the same amount of routine daily travel.
A fundamental law of road congestion: Adding 10 percent more lane miles to a city increases vehicle miles traveled by 10 percent.
Gilles Duranton and I recently examined the effect on traffic of changes in transportation infrastructure in U.S. cities. We found that expanding either road or transit networks is unlikely to reduce traffic congestion. In spite of this, carefully selected improvements to the highway network probably do pass a cost–benefit test, as does an across-the-board expansion of bus service. In addition, our results suggest that small tolls, tied to specific times of day, are likely to dramatically reduce traffic congestion. Finally, because about one-third of U.S. carbon emissions from energy consumption results from road travel, our findings illuminate an important link between infrastructure investments and carbon emissions.
A Fundamental Law of Road Congestion
To understand the effect of transportation infrastructure on traffic in cities, we assembled data describing the road network and travel behavior in all U.S. metropolitan areas containing interstate highways for 1980, 1990, and 2000. These data suggest a fundamental law of road congestion: Adding 10 percent more lane miles to a city increases vehicle miles traveled by 10 percent. That is, in less than 10 years, new roads cause traffic increases directly proportional to the increase in capacity. This law appears to hold for major urban roads, nonurban interstate highways near major cities, and urban interstates.
Reductions in travel time caused by an average highway expansion are not sufficient to justify the expense of such an expansion.
The additional traffic caused by a new road has three principal sources. Of these, an increase in driving by current city residents is the most important. In addition, a 10 percent increase in the extent of the interstate network appears to result in about a 20 percent increase in truck traffic (the increase in truck traffic is less important for other roads). We also find that people migrate to cities well provided with roads. Surprisingly, new roads seem not to cause substantial decreases in traffic on old roads.
We also examined the relationship between public bus service and vehicle miles traveled. Changes in a city’s stock of buses have no measurable effect on traffic in the city. Increases in the supply of public transit appear to operate in much the same way as road capacity increases do: Every person who gets out of their car and onto a bus creates some extra capacity on the road (the capacity they used previously). This sort of increase has exactly the same effect as increases in the extent of the road network: in less than 10 years it is filled up to its initial level. This suggests that adding public transit increases the ability of existing roads to produce person travel miles but does not reduce vehicle travel miles.
When are investments worthwhile?
Other researchers sometimes assert that if roads induce demand for travel, then building roads is bad policy. To understand the flaw in this reasoning, consider an analogous statement about shoes: “If we make more shoes then people will wear every pair, therefore we should not make them.” In fact, the decision to make more shoes ought to hinge on how much it costs to make them and on the benefit accruing to their wearers. So too with roads. To calculate the benefits of new roads, we estimate the relationship between the demand for travel and the speed of this travel. Because one of the main costs of car travel is time, this demand relationship reveals what people are willing to give up (time) to accomplish a given amount of travel.
Our research tells us that the amount of automobile travel in a city is very sensitive to the time cost of this travel: People are willing to give up a lot of travel for a small reduction in their travel time. This finding is important for two reasons. First, it implies that the value of reduced travel time associated with a modest across-the-board expansion of the interstate highway network will probably not be equal to the costs of such an expansion. (The possibility that road investments will be justified by other benefits, such as allowing the city to grow beyond its current level, is a subject of current research.) Second, that the demand for car travel is sensitive to the price of this travel suggests that charging drivers a small fee to access roads at congested times should be expected to have a big impact on their demand for travel.
The fact that public transit does not reduce road travel also does not imply that buses do not make cities sufficiently nicer and more productive to justify its cost. We investigated the effects of changes in a city's stock of roads and large buses on population and employment, and it appears that across-the-board improvements in bus service easily generate enough benefits to cover their costs.
First, two commonly suggested responses to traffic congestion—expansions of the road and public transit network—do not appear to have their desired effect: Road and public transit expansions
Time of day congestion charges will have large impacts on travel behavior.
should not be expected to reduce congestion. Second, traffic levels do not help to predict which cities build roads. Therefore, new roads allocated to metropolitan areas on the basis of current rules are probably not built where they are most needed, which suggests that more careful reviews of highway expansion projects be required. Third, reductions in travel time caused by an average highway expansion are not sufficient to justify the expense of such an expansion. Whether or not other benefits of these expansions may justify their expense remains unresolved. In any case, expansions of the bus network are more likely to pass a cost–benefit test than expansions of the highway network.
Finally, we found that the demand for vehicle miles traveled is very responsive to price. This suggests that small “time of day” congestion charges will have large impacts on travel behavior. That is, unlike expansion of road or public transit networks, which do not appear to reduce traffic, congestion pricing should be expected to do so.
Permission to reprint from Resources for the Future: www.rff.org.
MATTHEW A. TURNER, 2011 PERC Lone Mountain Fellow, is a professor in the Department of Economics at the University of Toronto. His current research focuses on the economics of land use and transportation. He can be reached at [email protected].
|
<urn:uuid:620e3489-40d7-49d6-8c1c-45306b3f4c2d>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://perc.org/articles/road-congestion-and-its-implications-transportation-policy
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704933573/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114853-00058-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.960005 | 1,431 | 2.953125 | 3 |
It can be difficult to leave the long, fun summer days behind and motivate your kids when they have to get up early, have less free time, and homework. With the right nutrition, adequate sleep, and some help from nutritional supplements, you can provide your children with the tools they need to start the school year off right, stay well, and improve cognition, mood and attitude.
The best way to support your child as they head back to school is by ensuring they get enough sleep. It is during sleep that the body is able to heal and repair itself, the adrenal system is able to relax and restore itself, and the brain catalogs all that it has learned during the day. The body and brain is developing at a rapid rate during childhood, and especially teenage years, and sleep is imperative to supporting their health. Children who do not get enough sleep will be overly emotional, meaning they can be less patient, easy to anger, or will be sensitive to getting their feelings hurt. They will show signs of hyperactivity, fast and excessive talking, ADHD, and defiant or contrary behavior. They also can express as having no energy and you will see an increase in their appetite for foods high in sugars. The combination of lack of sleep, and a diet high in sugars and carbohydrates will easily lead to feelings of restlessness or anxiety and puts your child on the path to type 2 diabetes.
It is recommended that preschoolers ages 3-5 get 10 to 13 hours of sleep per night, school aged children 6-13 get 9 to 11 hours of sleep per night, and teenagers 14-17 years get 8 to 10 hours of sleep per night. Each child’s need for sleep will be different, and factors like growth spurts, consistent physical activity, and physical or emotional stress will likely increase the need for longer periods of sleep. Your kids will benefit from a nightly routine preparing their body for sleep and consistent bedtime. This can include a light snack, taking a bath, brushing their teeth, and then reading in bed. Some children will unwind better through a bedtime yoga practice, guided meditation, or light massage. Let your children be a part of creating this process and they will be more willing to embrace structure around bedtime.
Natural Calm is an effervescent drink that can help restore low levels of magnesium that are needed for sleep, energy, and a stable mood. It can also help relieve the muscle cramps and aches associated with growing pains in children. Gaia makes a delicious tasting syrup called Sleep and Relax which uses an herbal blend of chamomile, lemon balm and passion flower that act synergistically to help calm the body and mind of your child. This blend prepares them for sleep and they will wake up feeling re-energized. You can use this syrup as needed and for the week before school as you implement an earlier bedtime from summer. If your child likes to drink tea, add a cup of Tulsi Tea to their bedtime routine. Tulsi, commonly known as Holy Basil, is an herb that acts as an adaptogen to help protect the body from the harmful side effects of stress by promoting relaxation and a sense of relief from every day stressors. Drinking a cup of Tulsi tea will help calm your child’s body and mind and encourage deep, restorative sleep. Incorporating essential oils can also have a significant effect on the quality of sleep. Lavender has been clinically shown to help children fall asleep faster, and enter a state of restorative sleep more quickly and for longer periods of time. You can diffuse lavender in their room, massage it into their feet, or spray it onto their pillow and blanket.
Calm Baby/Sleepy Time Blend for children 3 months & older
With the onslaught of refined and chemical sugars and an array of unhealthy and toxic fats in packaged and fast foods, it is more important than ever to provide quality and nutrient dense foods. For breakfast try to get healthy fats, protein and a good carbohydrate for energy. Overnight Oats are a perfect breakfast, and one that your kids can make to their liking.
There is often a good four hours between the time your child eats lunch and then gets home from school. To prevent the crash from low blood sugar, and the subsequent frantic grab for foods high in sugar, have a snack packed in their backpack, or ready to eat on the ride home. This will help stabilize blood sugars, and give them good, sustained energy to play or study on before dinner. A homemade trail mix will provide healthy fats and protein. Take your child to the bulk section and let them pick from raw nuts and seeds, dried fruit, dark chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, coconut flakes and mix them together at home. Add air popped popcorn for some extra crunch and fiber. You can also throw seasonings in like chili powder, cinnamon, garlic powder or curry powder.
Another great after school snack is having cut up vegetables or fruits and a great dip. Most kids will eat anything dipped in ranch or Nutella. You can make a delicious ranch dip by substituting Greek yogurt for the mayonnaise and sour cream. You get the same tang and healthy fats and protein. You might be surprised to find your kids will love hummus. Hummus is made from chickpeas and tahini, providing protein and a good dose of fiber. You can make your own hummus and substitute zucchini for the chickpeas. Have your kids create a new seasoning blend for each recipe you make and they will be more likely to reach for it in the fridge. For fruit you can make your own Nutella with just five simple ingredients, and it is perfect for dipping apples, bananas, pears or strawberries. Another easy and delicious dip can be made from whipping up a can of coconut milk! It is naturally sweet and full of healthy fats and it won’t spike your children’s blood sugar. You can always add a few drops of strawberry flavored stevia if your children don’t love the mild coconut flavor.
A quality multivitamin can help fill any gaps in your child’s diet, and provide them with nutrients that are now difficult to get through food alone. Pound for pound, kids need more nutrients than adults, and a multivitamin ensures proper development. Vitamins and minerals play key roles in the brain that support cognitive tasks like learning, problem solving, focus, and recall. Kids One Daily by MegaFood was formulated by a mother for children ages 5 and older. It is made from whole foods, left in their raw state, so the 24 essential nutrients provided are easily digested and absorbed by the body. It also contains an antioxidant blend from fresh fruits that help to support the immune system. It is gluten free, vegetarian, soy free, dairy free, kosher, and non-GMO certified. Nordic Naturals is the maker of the popular Nordic Berries, a chewable, pectin based multivitamin for kids two and older. It provides the essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that growing kids need. Children’s Oxylent is an award-winning daily multivitamin drink that supports child development, strengthens growing bones and muscles, and boosts immune health. It provides optimum bioavailability, is sweetened with stevia, and is gluten free, dairy free, soy free, and herb free.
Bacteria and viruses are the major culprits of illness as your children head back to school, as they are spread easily through contact with contaminated people, surfaces, food, and water. They produce many common side effects like coughing, sneezing, fever, and vomiting. Just as easily as they are spread, you can prevent bacteria and virus from making your child sick by providing the right vitamins, minerals and herbs to keep their immune system strong.
MegaFood makes Kids Daily Immune, a nutrient booster powder. It has little to no flavor, and is easily hidden in juice, a smoothie, yogurt, or it can be added to a pancake/waffle mix. It contains Vitamin C, Elderberry, Astragalus, Echinacea, and an antioxidant blend from whole foods. Vitamin C is the master immune-boosting nutrient. Alone, it is anti-viral and anti-bacterial and is able to detox your body of toxins from bacteria. Elderberry has been shown to reduce the severity and length of influenza. Elderberry acts as an antiviral by attaching itself to the tiny protein spikes on the surface of a virus, preventing it from being able to penetrate healthy cells. It has also been shown to be effective against antibiotic resistant viruses. Astragalus is an incredible antiviral that strengthens and regulates the immune system to prevent upper respiratory infections and the common cold and flu. Taking Echinacea at the first signs of a cold or flu optimize its benefits to shorten the severity and duration of illness. It has no added sugar, sweeteners, flavorings, preservatives or fillers.
Kick-It Immune by Wishgarden Herbs is a combination of kid-friendly herbs that help to activate your child’s natural immune response and support the lymphatic system. Taken every hour at the onset of symptoms, it helps to stop bacteria and virus from developing into a full-blown illness. It works quickly and the herbs are incredibly effective. Elderflower is antiviral, anticancer, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. It is excellent for treating colds, flus, sinus infections and respiratory troubles. Calendula stimulates the immune response and relieves symptoms from the cold and flu. Yerba Santa works incredibly well at opening the lungs and sinuses to dissolve and remove accumulated phlegm. Yerba Santa supports the body against coughs, colds, flus, pneumonia, and chest congestion. Osha Root has antifungal, antiviral and antibacterial properties and helps to significantly reduce inflammation in the bronchial tubes. Osha root encourages your body to sweat, helping reduce fevers and detoxing your body of the flus, coughs, colds and other viral infections before symptoms worsen. It also contains Echinacea.
Host Defense makes an Immune Support spray in peppermint or cinnamon flavors that contain five powerful mushrooms that provide a “shield” for your immune system. Mushrooms are a functional food and have a full-spectrum of components that enhance the body’s immune system, increase the activity and effectiveness of natural killer cells and macrophages, support stress and fatigue, and protect from daily environmental exposure to toxins and pollutants. Just a couple of sprays a day after your child has brushed their teeth (or diluted in water) can help protect them from the fiercest of bacteria or virus.
You can also support immune health by avoiding junk food and sugar, stress, and lack of sleep. Sugar significantly inhibits the process of phagocytosis, the process by which immune cells engulf, kill and digest invading microbes. Just 75-100 grams of sugar (the amount in two cans of soda) starts to suppress immune health within just 30 minutes and can continue to for at least five hours after ingestion. Stress significantly impacts the health of your immune system and its ability to fight off disease by elevating levels of the hormone cortisol. Chronic stress lowers the amount and function of T cells and macrophages, ultimately leaving your child more vulnerable to disease and illness. Virus and bacteria thrive in a body wracked by stress, and spread and mutate more quickly throughout the body. Keeping the body from sleep contributes to an increase in cortisol levels. Those who are sleep deprived have lower levels of killer cells. The digestive system is also disrupted by a lack of sleep. Since the immune system lives in your gut, it is important to keep the digestive system healthy and replenished with good, healthy probiotics. Garden of Life makes a powdered probiotic and a chewable probiotic for children with strains specific to immune and digestive health. Their probiotics are made from raw, fermented foods, which maintain more live nutrients, enzymes and probiotics strains.
Mood, Focus & Cognition
New advances in technology have allowed scientists and neurologist to study and track the growth of the brain. Recent research has shown that the brain continues to develop and increase connectivity until young adulthood. The extent of connectivity in the brain, or how well different parts of the brain work together and communicate effectively, is directly related to intellectual capacities like memory, reading, and critical thinking. During teenage years, the parts of the brain that keep emotional or impulsive reactions in check is still evolving, meaning youths act on their impulses without regard for risk or consequence. There are healthy fats, nutrients and foods that can significantly impact brain development and support a positive mood, learning, focus, productivity, and memory.
Omega-3 essential fatty acids are the building blocks of brain development in children and teens and play keys roles in all aspects of their health and wellness. Omega-3’s are a structural component of brain and nerve cells. Studies have shown that children who have high blood levels of Omega-3 DHA have better reading skills, memory and less behavior problems. Research has also shown that parents reported an improvement in attention and other behaviors related to ADHD after their children took an Omega-3 supplement for 16 weeks. Omega-3’s have strong anti-inflammatory properties, making them an effective and powerful tool against depression and anxiety, which is now far too common among teenagers. They also have the ability to minimize the negative effects junk food has on the brain by disrupting the generation of new nerve cells. Omega-3’s stimulate areas of the brain that control hunger, satiety, learning and memory. The recommended daily intake of omega-3’s has increased for teenagers and it is recognized that 3,000 mg of EPA+DHA support optimal brain health. Nordic Naturals makes high quality sustainable fish oils that surpass international pharmaceutical standards, and are free of heavy metals, dioxins, and PCBs. They are processed without chemicals or excessive heat and are put back into triglyceride form, ensuring optimal absorption. Nordic Naturals is always on sale at World of Nutrition, as we believe passionately about the benefits of omega fatty acids and we hope to make them affordable for everyone. Fatty fish such as wild caught Alaskan salmon, mackerel, herring, tuna, anchovies and sardines are an excellent source of omega fatty acids. Other food sources include walnuts, natto, hemp seeds, and egg yolks.
Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries are packed with antioxidants called flavonoids that play a significant role in improving cognitive skills like learning and decision-making. Flavonoids also promote the production of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein that promotes the formation of new brain cells. Low levels of BDNF are associated with neurological and mood disorders including depression and anxiety. Berries help prevent inflammation to alleviate mental fatigue and brain fog. Avocados are 75% monounsaturated fats, healthy fats that support the production of acetylcholine. (Eggs are an excellent source of choline, a precursor to acetylcholine.) This is the memory and learning neurotransmitter in the brain. Avocados have high amounts of tyrosine, an amino acid that helps to make dopamine, another brain chemical that encourages motivation and focus. Both nutrients improve blood flow to the brain. Olive oil is also an excellent source of monounsaturated fats. Fermented foods like yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha, and kimchi provide great amounts of good gut bacteria. The community of microbes living in the gut has recently been recognized by science as having a commanding influence on the brain. Bacteria in the gut make over 30 neurotransmitters including serotonin, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, dopamine and GABA, and these microbes impact health, mood, and decision-making. It has been shown that imbalances in the microbiome are the root cause of brain-related conditions like ADHD, depression, anxiety, autism, memory loss, and difficulty concentrating.
There are amazing herbs that can support and increase connectivity in the brain. Wishgarden Herbs created a tincture for children called Genius Juice Jr. that contains Milky Oat, Passionflower, Gotu Kola, Scullcap, Cinnamon Bark and Nettle Leaves that provide support for those children that have a difficult time staying focused or paying attention over longer periods of time. Milky Oat and Passionflower are excellent at calming the brain and nervous system, helping reduce anxiety, quiet the mind, and relax the body. Gotu Kolu has a meditative effect on the body, helping to reduce mental fatigue, promote clarity, improve concentration, and support the nervous system. It also works as an adaptogen to help the body effectively handle stress. Skullcap has mild sedative properties and treats feeling of restlessness or anxiety, irritability, and is commonly used as an alternative medicine to treat ADHD and other nerve disorders.
Herb Pharm makes an alcohol free tincture for kids called Lemon Balm Calm. Lemon balm calms down a running mind while helping your child feel significantly more alert, focused and positive. Helping to improve mood and increase confidence makes this herb excellent for those with test anxiety. Lemon balm has been clinically shown to improve memory and increase problem-solving skills. It is also neuroprotective.
MegaFood makes another nutrient booster powder for kids called Daily B-Centered. It contains a whole food B vitamin complex and the herbs Bacopa, Chamomile, Lemon Balm, and L-Theanine. B vitamins are necessary for the development and function of the brain and nervous system. Deficiencies in B vitamins, especially B12, are linked to smaller brain size and poor memory. Bacopa helps to sharpen cognitive function and reduce feelings of anxiety. It enhances communication throughout the nervous system by increasing the growth of nerve endings, helping to boost memory and recall. It also works as an adaptogen to help the body effectively manage stress. L-Theanine is an amino acid that promotes relaxation, without feeling drowsy, so your child can think more clearly, stay focused, and easily retain and recall what they are learning. It also improves mood and can strengthen feelings of contentment and confidence.
Wishgarden Herbs makes a tincture for kids called Quiet Time that contains Passionflower, Milky Oat and Skullcap. This is perfect for the child who is easily rattled, overwhelmed or frustrated. It can help relax and center your child so they can do homework, read, or problem solve as needed.
Back to School Recipes
Strawberry Shortcake Overnight Oats makes 3 servings
Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Overnight Oats makes 3 servings
Ranch Dip with Greek Yogurt
Homemade Nutella makes approx. 1 pint
Preheat oven to 275°F. Spread the hazelnuts on a cookie sheet and roast for 15 minutes. Remove from oven and wrap hot hazelnuts in a kitchen towel and cool for 10 minutes. Remove & discard skins from hazelnut by rubbing with the kitchen towel. In a medium saucepan on low heat, combine chocolate, coconut milk, honey and sea salt and heat until chocolate is completely melted. Remove from heat and allow to slightly cool. Add roasted hazelnuts to a food processor and pulse until you get a butter like consistency. This will take almost five minutes. They will retain a slightly grainy texture. Add the chocolate mixture to the food processor and pulse until it is completely blended with the hazelnut butter. Add your Nutella to a glass jar and allow to cool completely before sealing tightly and refrigerating. It will thicken in the fridge. Be sure to use within 3-4 works, and always keep your Nutella tightly sealed and refrigerated.
Gardening is a great opportunity to involve your children in the natural process of growing food and provides valuable knowledge that they can take into adulthood. When children participate in gardening they develop a relationship with the earth learning valuable lessons like patience, responsibility, and loss. Most importantly, they learn where food comes from.
Set aside a small plot that is easy for your child to access. Choose food and flower items that are easy to grow and do not require excessive care. Tomatoes, strawberries, basil, calendula (beautiful red, yellow and orange flowers), and sunflowers are perfect starter plants for a children’s garden. These plants are easily grown from seeds. If you do purchase small starter plants it is essential to buy plants that have not been grown using GMO seeds and harmful pesticides. Emphasizing the use of organics at a young age is important as it instills awareness in your child that encourages conscious consumption throughout their life. Mark the holes where the plants will be placed so they are easily identified by your child and ensure that each plant has enough space to grow. Encourage your child to dig the holes about six inches deep for starter plants and 1-2 inches deep for seeds. Buy a watering can your child can use to water their garden. Creating a watering schedule with your child will allow them to take responsibility for their project and follow through on their commitment to their garden.
There are many ways you can make your child’s garden project more exciting. Provide them with their own gardening tools, gloves and hat. Draw them to their gardening space by creating fairy gardens, dinosaur terrains, battlefields, or personal spaces for them to read or paint as their garden will encourage imagination. You can entice butterflies, dragonflies, and hummingbirds by planting specific herbs and flowers like calendula, lavender, bee balm, lily, iris, nasturtium cosmos, columbine, sage, oregano, and zinnia. If you have children who like to cook, or you have picky eaters and want to encourage them to try new things, choose plants and herbs that can be used in their favorite meals. Grow tomatoes, basil, and oregano for pizza or spaghetti. Kids will love picking and eating sweet peas off the vine. Make a salsa garden with tomatillos, tomatoes, peppers, onions, and cilantro. Grow berries to make homemade ice cream or popsicles. Make a pumpkin patch and show your children how turning their pumpkins can change their shape and size to make for unique and personal jack-o-lanterns.
You can buy a wide variety of organic and heirloom seeds at World of Nutrition. Refer to our class handout on Organic Gardening in the Treasure Valley for more helpful tips for starting your family garden this year!
Winter is coming to an end and with January being the most popular month for conception many women are discovering they are pregnant. Congratulations! All that time indoors finally paid off and you are now on one of the most exciting adventures of your life. Your body is undergoing drastic changes. Hormonally, progesterone and estrogen levels have increased, influencing your mood, sex drive, and growing uterus. Physical changes are already beginning. You may be experiencing tender and swollen breasts, increased urination, constipation, fatigue, and changes in appetite and food cravings. Psychologically, pregnancy embodies a host of emotions from happiness and excitement to anxiety, and stress. You may have concerns about changes in your relationship, or worries about how pregnancy may affect your work. Rest assured knowing that you can help things fall into place over the next nine months. Being prepared for all the side effects of pregnancy can make the first trimester comfortable and enjoyable.
Finding the Prenatal that is Right for You: Finding the right prenatal can feel as challenging as finding a provider for your maternity care. At the World of Nutrition we carry only the best. MyKind Organics Prenatal by Garden of Life is made from over 30 raw organic fruits, vegetables and herbs. It offers minerals & vitamins that can be digested and absorbed easily by the body. This vitamin is especially awesome because it contains Folate (the active form of Folic Acid). Folate is responsible for the development of your baby’s nervous system and aids in the prevention of neural tube defects. Support your energy, nutrition & fetal development by choosing a prenatal that is made from real whole food.
Magnesium & Morning Sickness: Theories are beginning to suggest a correlation between magnesium deficiency and morning sickness. There are many safe and effective ways to meet your magnesium needs without having to swallow another pill. One of the most adequate ways to supplement with magnesium is to apply it topically. Magnesium levels are increased in the body without it having to pass through the digestive system. Magnesium oil is cost effective, works promptly and is easily absorbed by the body.
Omega-3 Fish Oil & Pregnancy: The latest research has found Omega-3’s to be vital to neurological and early visual development of your growing baby. Mainstream western diets provide minimal omega-3 nutrients. Since we do not produce omega-3’s there is a severe deficiency in most populations. During pregnancy many women become depleted in omega-3 nutrients because of the demands of the fetus to properly develop the nervous system.
“Omega-3 fatty acids have positive effects on the pregnancy itself. Increased intake of EPA and DHA has been shown to prevent pre-term labor and delivery, lower the risk of preeclampsia, and may increase birth weight. Omega-3 deficiency also increases the mother’s risk for depression. This may explain why postpartum mood disorders may become worse… with subsequent pregnancies” (Americanpregnancy.org).
Nordic Naturals Omega supplements come in a variety of forms and dosages, and are in triglyceride form (which is easily processed by the body), ultimately allowing the mother and fetus to maintain proper levels during pregnancy.
Diet: The subject of diet during the beginning stages of pregnancy can seem particularly daunting. Lets face it, for some the first trimester is about survival. With nausea, food sensitivities, and not enjoying the things you typically do, diet goes right out the window. What if I told you the way you feel may be directly related to what you are eating? Increasing your protein and fats during pregnancy helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels, and aids in the growth of tissue for the uterus, placenta and fetus. Protein plays a huge factor in healthy weight gain, and energy levels. Pregnancy is the perfect time to review your nutrition. Limiting or eliminating processed grains, sugars, and meats that have been subject to antibiotics, additives, and preservatives is the best thing you can do for your body. Most of these food items are high in sodium, sugar, and unhealthy fats. Processed foods lack vitamins, fiber, and minerals that are essential for a healthy pregnancy. Creating a whole food meal plan should be fun, tasty, and satisfying. Eating vitamin and nutrient rich foods are the focus of a healthy pregnancy diet. Listed below are nutrient rich foods to add your diet plan.
Get inspired and step out side the box, your body needs healthy nutrition more than ever. Consider meal prepping with a loved one once a week to ensure you have healthy nutritious snacks and meals at your fingertips.
Pregnancy Apps: For many new moms pregnancy can be a time full of questions and curiosities. Take advantage of technology and apps. Finding an app that you enjoy can make documenting your pregnancy easier, informative & provide reassurance for many of the questions that arise. Here are some of my personal favorites:
Getting Active: Spring is a fantastic season to be pregnant. The weather is warming up and the flowers are blooming. Getting active at least 30 minutes a day can set the stage for balanced weight gain, and can help keep common pregnancy pains at bay. Exercise releases endorphins and supports more restful sleep. Simply walking the local greenbelt, gardening, or taking a prenatal yoga class is a great way to move your body and you will feel more awake, alert, and happy.
Approaching your child’s health naturally is a trend that has been growing in popularity for families of all kinds. Today many health issues are directly related to food sensitivities and vitamin deficiencies. Growing research suggests that by addressing the root of these issues we can begin to naturally correct and prevent learning & behavior challenges.
For many families, diet may be one of the last things to come to mind when approaching behavioral and learning disorders. Most processed and packaged foods contain high amounts of sugars (both artificial and bleached), hybridized grains, modified dairy, and chemical preservatives and colors. Looking at what your kids are eating should be at the top of the list when determining what may be causing a learning or behavioral challenge. Research confirms there is a gut-brain connection that correlates digestive problems and food sensitivities with behavioral and learning disabilities. Listed below are various diets that have been known to address brain balance. Start with the diet place that makes sense for your family and commit to it for at least two weeks. Most people will start to see a change in themselves and their children within the first few days. It is ok to smart small and just choose one food item or additive to remove from your child’s diet, as it can be overwhelming to make large scale food changes for your family. I have added some links throughout the article to help you build shopping lists and meal plan. For additional sources on food additives and how they affect brain health check out the book selection at the World of Nutrition.
Understanding Diets & Their Purpose:
Feingold Program: The Feingold program is an elimination diet. This program eliminates foods from your child’s diet that contain artificial colors (dyes), artificial flavors, and artificial sweeteners (aspartame). Scientific studies suggest that these types of chemical ingredients contribute to learning difficulties and behavioral challenges. BHA, TBHQ, and BHT are three preservatives that also must be eliminated. The latest research links these additives & preservatives to asthma, hyperactivity, chemical disruption of cell communication & ADHD. The Feingold diet requires reading all food labels and avoiding any food items that contain the additives mentioned above. It is helpful to plan a menu for the week when you start a diet that eliminates all process foods. Planning ahead will ensure you have the fresh, whole food ingredients you need at home to make healthy meals and snacks for your children.
Gluten Free Diet: The gluten free diet excludes any products containing or made with wheat, rye and barley. These grains all contain the protein Gluten and Gliadin. These two molecules come into contact and form a bond that can be difficult to digest. You can find gluten free items where wheat, barley and rye are replaced with seed and nut flours such as almond, coconut, and tapioca and rice. Gluten and Gliadin has been associated with digestive inflammation, skin rashes, and autoimmune disorders.
Dairy Free diet: Did you know that more than half the population is lactose intolerant? Babies and young children possess the ability to break down lactose, however the production of enzymes that help digest dairy begins to decrease between the ages of two and five. Difficulty digesting dairy can potentially lead to stomach issues, unhealthy bacteria growth and the production of toxins, leading to intestinal inflammation. Digestive issues have been known to contribute to behavioral and attention issues in children, making a dairy free diet a great starting point when approaching this challenge. A common concern for many parents considering the removal of dairy is where will my child receive their calcium? There are many foods that are higher in calcium than dairy. Dark leafy greens such as spinach, broccoli, kale, bok choy, and collard greens are fantastic sources of calcium, folate, vitamins A, B, C & E. Seafood, Almonds, blackstrap molasses and beans are also rich in calcium. Many non-dairy food sources of calcium are healthier because they also contain other vitamins and minerals that benefit the body.
Paleo Diet: The Paleo diet is also referred to as the caveman diet. It is high in protein, and carries a low glycemic index. Eating Paleo includes fruits, vegetables, and proteins high in omega-3 fatty acids. The Paleo Diet is free of dairy, grain and sugar, the three most common food allergies. Research shows that by eliminating hard to digest foods from the diet, inflammation is reduced and the body functions more efficiently. When your immune system is constantly stimulated there is not adequate energy to provide support to the brain and nervous system. Against All Grain by Danielle Walker is a perfect starter cookbook for Paleo recipes, and cooking tips, the colorful pages with easy to follow recipes are perfect for any beginner or someone who is looking to add flair to the kitchen.
Omega-3 DHA & EPA Benefit Behavior, Mood & Cognitive Development of Children
Omega-3 fatty acids are an extremely important part of our diet. Current research directly links low omega-3 levels with behavioral disorders, developmental delays, and the ability to learn. DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid responsible for the development of the brain and nervous system. Its primary function is to aid in the development of neural synapse. The shape of this essential fatty acid works to lay the pathways that allow the brain to function and communicate with the rest of the body properly. DHA is not produced by the body and must be obtained through nutrition. Studies suggest that deficiencies in Omega-3’s, specifically in the brain and nervous system of young children, lead to lower IQ, developmental delays, and behavioral disorders such as ADD & ADHD, depression, and anxiety.
Eating a diet rich in Omega-3 fatty acids in early stages of development is crucial to brain development. 60% of the brain is fatty acids and is a major component of gray matter. As your child begins to grow the DHA found in Omega-3’s is crucial to the function of brain cell membranes, which are necessary for your child’s brain to send signals throughout the body. During the adolescence years, a fundamental reorganization of the brain takes place. The subcortical brain areas that include the limbic system and the reward system develop earlier than prefrontal areas of the brain that balance risk tasking, emotional and intellectual development. Supplementing with Omega-3’s during these years supports mood, behavior, energy, and cognitive learning. You can obtain Omega-3 fatty acids from fish, nuts, seeds, and algae. A fish oil supplement is also an effective way to meet the body’s need for Omega-3’s. It is important when choosing an Omega-3 supplement that you consider the processing, sustainability, and authenticity of the company. At World of Nutrition we love Nordic Naturals for their high quality omega supplements to support the health of your child’s brain through all stages of life.
It’s 2016 can you believe it? With the New Year comes a long list of resolutions. The most common resolution is weight loss, but as a mother of two, I know that postpartum weight loss is a completely different ball game. Postpartum weight loss is a unique situation, because during the time following childbirth your hormones are fluctuating. If you are breastfeeding your body naturally produces prolactin, which promotes milk production and can delay ovulation. Ovulation produces progesterone in women who are not pregnant, and so a woman who is not ovulating typically has low levels of progesterone. A breastfeeding woman also has low testosterone levels. Progesterone and testosterone are fat burning hormones, where as prolactin is fat storing. This hormone imbalance makes it difficult to loose weight following childbirth and during breastfeeding.
While eating the appropriate amount of calories for breastfeeding, it may take more time for your body to begin burning fat due to the hormones you are producing. Additionally, stress can increase prolactin levels. The transition of becoming a new mother is naturally stressful, and it is essential that you treat postpartum weight loss with kindness, love and understanding. You just grew a human and it is not an accomplishment that should be over looked.
Setting a healthy example of body image is imperative for your self-esteem and that of your children. I recommend that new mothers get healthy on the inside first, and not with fad diets or extreme workouts. Simply meeting your nutritional needs through supplementation will set the stage for natural postpartum weight loss. Adding nutrients like magnesium, fish oil, probiotics, milk thistle, and vitamin B12 into your health regimen will set the stage for weight loss and provide energy, metabolism & hormone support, better digestion, ultimate liver function, and much more.
Magnesium: Helps regulate carbohydrate metabolism, preventing you from storing excess sugars as fat.
Milk Thistle: Supports liver function ands helps your body detox. Toxins that your liver is unable to remove from your body get stored in fat cells.
Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega: Omega 3 fatty acids support metabolism and body composition making it one of the most aggressive starting points for improving your health and managing your weight.
Dr. Formulated Probiotics Fitbiotic: Provides you with specific strains of bacteria that target fat cells, boost metabolism, and aid digestive & elimination processes. An easily digested fiber keeps you feeling full throughout the day and stabilizes blood sugar levels.
Country Life Coenzyme B-Complex Advanced: B Vitamins increase energy by helping your body make oxygen rich red blood cells and by supporting the metabolism of fats, carbohydrates and protein for fuel.
Eat Fat to Lose Weight: Fats have had a bad reputation, and for years the media and modern medicine have been trouncing fats as being bad for your heart and your waistline. Sadly this idea has been accepted by many people without knowledge, scientific fact, or understanding behind the body’s true need for fat. Essential fatty acids are necessary for absorption of vitamins A, D, E & K, as well as maintenance of skin & hair, and proper cell function. When a chemical or toxin enters the body, the body naturally attempts to equalize it by storing it in adipose (fat) tissue. If you are consuming or exposed to high levels of chemicals or toxins over time they can potentially lead to disease.
Fats are vital components of a healthy diet. Knowing sources of good fats will help you to make more informed decisions about your health. Good fats will help boost metabolism and nourish the nervous system. Meals that contain healthy fats leave you feeling full and satisfied. As the truth about detrimental vegetable oils and processed sugars is now being reported, many doctors and nutritionists are supporting the fact that your body should not be restricted from consuming healthy fats from sources like coconut oil, avocados, olives, and raw nuts.
Coconut oil: This amazing saturated fat is composed of medium chain triglycerides (MCTs). The MCTs in Coconut oil are easily metabolized by the liver and turned into an immediate source of energy. Rarely is coconut oil store as fat. Coconut oil also raises your thermogenic rate, or the rate at which you burn calories. This gives your metabolism an immediate surge. Coconut oil also helps to break down fat stored around the waist. It is a wonderful addition to your kitchen and can be used to replace butter and all other cooking oils.
Avocado: This healthy fat aids in nutrient absorption allowing the body to maintain nutritional needs. These delicious fruits are packed full of Omega 3 fatty acids and have potent anti-inflammatory properties. One avocado can contain 6 to 7 grams of fiber, allowing you to feel full faster and longer, making it essential for any weight loss program.
Additional Omega Rich Foods: Nut & seed butters, Ghee, flax seed oil, hemp oil, and raw nuts.
For faster weigh loss results limit dairy, sugar & processed grains. Eating these types of foods creates inflammation causing an increase in abdominal fat, bloating, digestive issues like IBS or leaky gut syndrome, headaches and chronic skin conditions. Due to their limited nutritional content they also rob your body of energy and productivity, leaving you malnourished and susceptible to illness. Most dairy products contain added hormones and genetically modified ingredients, which are linked to hormonal imbalances, inflammation, increased mucus production, increased risks for cancers and a weakened immune system. Processed foods are packed full of empty carbs, leaving you feeling hungry shortly after you have eaten, and interfering with hormones that control appetite. Filling your kitchen with protein packed snacks that you and the family will enjoy is a great starting point for getting healthy. Having access to clean nutritious food will help you be successful and stay on track! Get moving a minimum of 3 days a week. Go for a walk, dance with your children, and try a plank challenge to strengthen your core, or take an hour for yourself and enjoy a yoga class. Approaching your health by feeling results through increased energy and a happy mood will help you to see results. Losing weight should be more enjoyable and rewarding. Your body is amazing-you grew a human! Honor your journey.
DIY Chocolate Chia Seed Pudding
|
<urn:uuid:30854f6c-ed6a-4e39-9094-324fb0c9525a>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-16
|
http://www.wonnampa.com/won-moms-medicine-cabinet/category/all
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371807538.83/warc/CC-MAIN-20200408010207-20200408040707-00187.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.938642 | 8,484 | 3.046875 | 3 |
CSL postdoc receives best paper award for GPU work with 3D stencils
It may seem like artists and engineers don’t have a lot in common, but they both use stencils to improve the efficiency of their work. Researchers in high-performance computing often use 3D stencils, a method of measurement embedded in computer code, when simulating, for example, turbulent fluids in stars such as the Sun. However, while graphics processing units (GPUs) can quickly perform the calculations, they are not particularly efficient at accessing data in memory and that is a challenge when a data point may need to be recalled many times – such as during use of stencils to create a 3D model.
CSL postdoc Omer Anjum, a member of the IMPACT group led by CSL Professor Wen-mei Hwu, recently wrote a paper on his work on high-order stencils titled “An Efficient GPU Implementation Technique for Higher-Order 3D Stencils.” The publication, which outlines a method of reusing data inside a GPU to improve bandwidth, received a “Best Paper Award” at the International Conference on High Performance Computing and Communications (HPCC).
“A stencil [in computing] can be used when you are calculating a point in space. In order to create a reference point, you need to look at its neighbors,” said Anjum, a postdoc in electrical and computer engineering and computer science. “The stencil defines the points in the neighbors that you want to use when modeling an unknown point in space.”
For example, a researcher who wants to simulate a fluid must observe the neighboring temperatures and pressures in order to understand how those quantities affect the fluid at a point in space. The algorithms currently used to analyze such information are extremely inefficient because they require a large memory footprint inside a GPU. While GPUs can perform computations on data very quickly, their bandwidth for accessing memory data is small compared to their arithmetic calculation speed, creating issues like underutilization of computing resources. That creates a need for algorithms that are highly efficient in their reuse of data, but the previously existing algorithms for stencils have fallen short.
“Our method increases data reuse so once you have the data inside the GPU, it is reused as much as possible so the bandwidth requirement is reduced,” said Anjum. “This research has applications that require processing exabytes of data. If you want to simulate the Sun or stars and space, our methodology identifies how much data needs to be processed, with each data point potentially reused many times.”
This work on high-order stencil algorithms has enabled high-fidelity solutions to run significantly more efficiently on GPUs. Such high-fidelity solutions are critical in the design and evaluation of turbulent fluids and the study of space weather due to solar activities. When simulating complex fluid mechanics, researchers could analyze the Sun’s convection zone, which is presumably responsible for creating its magnetic field, and predict space weather, or the weather around the Sun. That would ultimately allow scientists to predict the weather on the Earth with a higher level of precision.
The computing community understands the importance of the problem and this research’s potential to solve it. HPCC’s award committee recognized the uniqueness of Anjum’s algorithm and approach, and honored him with their Best Paper Award.
“It’s a big success,” said Anjum. “This is my first paper published at the University of Illinois as a postdoc, and getting this award is a big achievement, setting the bar very high for me.”
Currently the research team is planning to expand the work to be applicable on a larger scale, and they will eventually collaborate with scientists across the campus and the country.
Coauthors on this work included Simon Garcia de Gonzalo, Mert Hidayetoglu, and Wen-mei Hwu.
|
<urn:uuid:3765ae2f-d942-4ca1-9504-a49025b24ba1>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-29
|
https://csl.illinois.edu/news/csl-postdoc-receives-best-paper-award-gpu-work-3d-stencils
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655891884.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20200707080206-20200707110206-00477.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.943623 | 825 | 3 | 3 |
Stress management for kids can be tricky depending on what activities your child pursues. It can be especially difficult for those kids who are active in sports. Sports take up a lot of time, and if your child has chosen a competitive sport to learn and become proficient, there will be some stressful occurrences along the way. Sports by their very nature are competitive and can cause anxiety and stress if not handled carefully.
In the US, for example, over 40 million children participate in organized youth sports each year. And 70%of these will either quit or be rejected by age 15. The youth sports system encourages a systematic filtering of athleticism so that only the best athletes make it to the top. It may be challenging for your child to handle the pressures that go along with training, competing, winning and losing.
Helping your child learn how to handle stress in competition allows more opportunities to build pleasant memories. There are peaks and valleys in any competitive sports journey, so insuring that your child is highly motivated and interested in a chosen sport will prevent burn-out down the road.
Stress management for kids in sports starts with balancing the interest with the amount of time investing. Children may show early interest, and then as they learn more about the sport they become less motivated and less engaged in learning the skills. My younger son started playing tennis in the summer of his ninth year. He enjoyed playing with his friends, using an inexpensive racquet and taking some group lessons together. The tennis group lessons led to private lessons on a weekly basis, year round. This led to competition in local, regional and national tournaments throughout his high school career.
His interest in the game of tennis remained high until he found that this was not his major focus for life after high school. There were many kids who were better players than he, and he no longer focused solely on tennis. Having a big picture of where tennis was going to fit in his life allowed the experience to be healthy, yet not overwhelming. He knew his life would encompass many other things along the way. His career would not be in tennis.
Matching your child’s personality traits with the chosen sport is important when addressing stress management for kids in sports. Some sports, such as soccer, are team sports where the emphasis is learning to get along with other team members and sharing. Tennis is an individual sport in which you compete on the court alone. No teammates, except in doubles.
My son had to rely on his own ability to devise his strategy to compete against his tennis opponent and develop confidence in his ability to play well. There was no coach to help him out there on the court. Stress is always a part of competitive sports but the type of stress your child handles better than others gives you an idea of a sport that will be comfortable for your athlete to master.
Handling winning and losing is another aspect that you will be addressing. Learning how to lose is a lesson that is more difficult for some than others. If winning is the primary goal for your child, there is a good chance that stress will increase when losing occurs. If the child does not experience winning, then frustration can set in and the child will quit.
Kids participate in sports for many reasons including the opportunity to develop physical skills, make friends, be a member of a team, learn to play fair and improve their own self-esteem. Keeping things in perspective encourages effective stress management for kids in sports. It allows your child’s enthusiastic participation to provide lifelong learning opportunities and fond memories. When all is said and done, "it's only a game."
How Moms Can Effectively Deal with Stress
Helping with Your Teen's Stress
Join Calm Starts Here, and receive FREE How to Get a Good Night's Rest and Stop Worrying.
CD StoreIndigo Dreams: Relaxation and Stress Management Bedtime Stories for Children, Improve Sleep, Manage Stress and Anxiety (Indigo D
Share this Page on SheToldMe.com
|
<urn:uuid:350c4cf6-04c5-43ff-ad7b-b713f8b23a5f>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-23
|
https://www.stress-management-4-women.com/stress-management-for-kids.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224649348.41/warc/CC-MAIN-20230603233121-20230604023121-00584.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.974234 | 810 | 2.71875 | 3 |
7 Hispanic Americans Who Are Making the World A Better Place has earned him the title as one of the most influential people in America. How She Changed the World: Demi Lovato has become an advocate for those struggling with mental illness. The stigma behind mental illness. 10 Unsung Hispanic Heroes That Changed History . continues to advocate for human and civil rights for the Puerto Rican people to this day.
People think of Latina women as being fiery and fierce, which is usually true”, who have made history, shaped the society we live in, and changed our world for On April 8, , Ellen Ochoa became the first Hispanic woman in the world to . These influential men and women changed how we live and see the world En español | Latino boomers set out to change the world — and not always for. From music to politics to business, Hispanics are remaking America. TIME presents 25 titans leading the Latino charge into the 21st century.
23 Badass Latin American Women Who Made History Manuela confronted the men trying to kill Bolviar, while he fled through a window. Latin America has provided the world with individuals who did not go is one of the most authoritative voices on climate change in the world. Many of the greatest Hispanic scientists are people you never learned about in Today, the world recognizes Cuban doctor and scientist Carlos Juan Finlay as. Read up on these 12 influential Hispanic activists who have been for their communities, pushing social progress and creating tangible change. . has a history of powerful activism, especially for transgender people of color.
For Reservation Call : 1.888.222.5847
We make simple and easy to WordPress themes that will make your website easily. You just need to install it and your website will be ready within a minute.
Search Anything Which You Desire.
You can easily drag and drop the widgets here to display under the footer. You just need to go to your dashboard and there you can choose the appearance option and then widgets.
|
<urn:uuid:48684e46-79d8-47f4-aff8-36d80485bdc2>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-10
|
https://jkkcegr.ga/tech/latino-people-who-changed-the-world.php
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875145767.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20200223093317-20200223123317-00385.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.934982 | 408 | 2.953125 | 3 |
StATS: Expected value and moments (July 29, 2005).
Someone asked me what a statistical moment is. That's a rather technical term and is not needed except in rather theoretical and mathematical discussions. But it is still worth defining. First, though, let me review what an expected value is:
Suppose we have a random variable X, which represents the number of girls in a family of three children. Without too much effort, you can compute the following probabilities.
The expected value of X, E[X], is computed as
This calculation can be easily generalized to more complicated situations. Suppose that a rich uncle plans to give you $2,000 for each child in your family, with a bonus of $500 for each girl. The formula for the bonus is
What is your expected bonus?
Now, you could have calculated the same value by taking the expected number of children and plugging it into the equation.
This is a rather simplistic example, but the concept of expected value does arise from time to time in real medical problems. For example, in a study of a novel test for bladder cancer,
six dogs were trained to discriminate between urine from patients with bladder cancer and urine from diseased and healthy controls and then evaluated in tests requiring the selection of one bladder cancer urine sample from six controls.
The success rate was quite good, 41%, especially when you compared it to
an expected value of 1 in 7 (14%)
Olfactory detection of human bladder cancer by dogs: proof of principle study. Willis CM, Church SM, Guest CM, Cook WA, McCarthy N, Bransbury AJ, Church MR, Church JC. Bmj 2004: 329(7468); 712. [Medline] [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]
Quite often, a bit of intuition and common sense will sometimes help you calculate an expected value. Otherwise, you have to use a bit of mathematics. Most advanced applications of expected value require knowledge of infinite sums and/or integrals. If X is a continuous random variable with density function f(x), then the expected value of X is
To calculate such an expected value, you often have to recall your college Calculus formulas. Here are a few simple examples. An exponential distribution has a density function
where b is a scale parameter. You would compute the expected value as
Notice that the lower limit of the integral is zero rather than -infinity because the density is defined only for values between 0 and infinity.
This integral is a bit tedious, but you can use integration by parts to compute it. The basic form for integration by parts is
Careful selection of u and dv yields the following.
When you evaluate this integral at the limits of zero and infinity, most of the terms become zero and you are left with
Now that was a lot of work for a relatively simple expected value calculation. For most distributions, someone else has already done the Calculus for you and you can just consult the appropriate reference. One of my favorite books that has a lot of these expected value calculations for a wide range of statistical distributions is:
A moment is a special type of expected value. The formal definition of the nth moment is
depending on whether x is continuous or discrete. In simpler terms, a moment is the expect value of a power of x. A central moment is defined similarly, except you subtract the mean before raising to a power.
Moments are used in the calculation of important statistics like the mean, variance, skewness, and kurtosis of a distribution. The mean is the first moment, the variance is the second central moment. The skewness and kurtosis are related to the third and fourth central moments..
The second moment of the exponential distribution, for example, is
This integral is again a bit tedious to calculate, because you have to use integration by parts twice. When you do this you get
The second central moment of the exponential distribution is
Again, you can use Calculus, but there is a shortcut formula that provides an even simpler answer.
Skewness is defined as
Again, you need a bit of patience, but repeated integration by parts yields
What does all this tell us from a practical perspective? First notice that the variance of the exponential distribution is equal to the square of the mean. This tells you that exponential distributions with large means also have large variances. The skewness is +2 which tells you that the distribution is not symmetric, but instead is positively skewed. This means that this distribution has a greater tendency to produce outliers on the high end rather than the low end of the distribution.
This page was written by Steve Simon while working at Children's Mercy Hospital. Although I do not hold the copyright for this material, I am reproducing it here as a service, as it is no longer available on the Children's Mercy Hospital website. Need more information? I have a page with general help resources. You can also browse for pages similar to this one at Category: Probability concepts.
|
<urn:uuid:5d1c4a85-157e-41c5-8189-0a841f45ac9b>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-10
|
http://pmean.com/05/Moments.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875145742.20/warc/CC-MAIN-20200223001555-20200223031555-00152.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.936992 | 1,038 | 3.15625 | 3 |
Sustainable living doesn't have to be an individual effort. Whether you're new to the area or well known on your block, encourage your neighborhood to go green together. Larger initiatives such as community gardens and designated clean-up days can help green your community, but you and your neighbors can also tackle smaller projects right on your street! Use some of our tips below to green your neighborhood.
Maintain your home's curb appeal. Keep your yard in tip-top shape by maintaining your garden, lawn and other greenery in a sustainable way. Use eco-friendly fertilizers, such as food compost or a chemical-free fertilizer. Also, think about incorporating plants that are already native to your area. The National Wildlife Federation suggests native plants because they've already adapted to the weather, soil and moisture in a specific location.
Conserve resources. Don't be that neighbor who constantly has lights or sprinklers running at all hours of the day. Show your neighbors the importance of water and energy supply conservation. You might be able to conserve water and electricity by making small changes around your home and yard. For example, instead of using a sprinkler to water your plants, take care of your greenery by hand with the help of a watering can. Invest in a rain barrel to collect rainwater and reduce your yard's runoff. Also, turn your indoor and outdoor lights off when they aren't needed. You can even keep a light or two on a programmable timer, ensuring they turn on or off at a certain time of day.
Share items with neighbors. Forgot an important ingredient that completes your favorite homemade banana bread recipe? Think twice before getting in your car and driving over to the grocery store. Conserve energy, money and fuel by walking to a neighbor's house and asking them to spare you that teaspoon of baking soda or whatever you might need. Also, share and swap items with your neighbors. Bring them any extra veggies or herbs you might grow in your garden or let them borrow your kitchen or lawn care supplies when you're not using them.
Know your neighborhood's trash pickup schedule. Don't bring your trash or recycling to the curb unless you know it's getting picked up that day or early the next morning. Look up your local trash collection schedule and plan accordingly. Before you toss certain items in your trash bins, it's important to understand the difference between recyclable and non-recyclable items. Americans composted and recycled almost 90 million tons of trash in 2015.
|
<urn:uuid:fc37f60d-53f7-44bc-9a54-d8fba3f34509>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-30
|
https://www.saveonenergy.com/energy-saving-tips/green-neighbor/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549424549.12/warc/CC-MAIN-20170723102716-20170723122716-00683.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.952075 | 506 | 3.171875 | 3 |
Part I History of Ethics
Life of Socrates
Part II Concepts and Problems
Normative Ethics and Applied Ethics
Part III Applied Ethics
Field of Applied Ethics
Modern Moral PhilosophyBroadly speaking, the Medieval Mind gradually gave way to the Modern Period through a series of cultural and political changes that involved both the Renaissance (c 14th-16th centuries) and the Reformation (marked by the 1517 posting of Luther's '95 Theses'). The former involved the expansion of trade and the rise of money-based economies, the invention of printing, Copernicus' challenge to Ptolemaic astronomy, and Galileo's confrontation with Aristotelian 'physics.' The New Sciences, with their empirical methods and mathematical tools, set about to provide a new grid by which to measure the universe. The Protestant Reformation, begun with an attack against 'indulgences' and a belief in power of simple faith, ended in schism and political dissent from the once 'universal' (catholos) Church.
In this historical context, Thomas Hobbes' political and moral writings represent the first truly 'modern' view of ethics.
|
<urn:uuid:bcd7f368-4bd0-4b0d-969c-7ba651e48a6a>
|
CC-MAIN-2014-23
|
http://caae.phil.cmu.edu/Cavalier/80130/part1/sect4/modern.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1406510267824.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20140728011747-00061-ip-10-146-231-18.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.887292 | 235 | 3.421875 | 3 |
Brushing Your Dog’s Teeth
Most dogs will learn to tolerate and even enjoy having their teeth brushed. The best way to succeed in training is to go slowly, and consistently reward with treats, toys, or praise along the way. Generally, we recommend a 3-week approach to training, but this may take more or less time depending on your dog.
Week 1: Find one spot in your home where you will brush your dog’s teeth every time. If your dog is small, lift him or her up onto a table. If he or she is big, instruct your dog to sit. Spend 30 to 60 seconds touching your dog’s lips and muzzle, and lifting the lips to expose the teeth if he or she tolerates it. Do not spend more than a minute doing this. Immediately afterwards, reward your dog with either a treat (such as a dental chew!), a favorite toy, or praise. Repeat this session daily for the whole week. If your dog is now tolerating having his lips and mouth handled, you can move on to the next step (Week 2). Otherwise, repeat Week 1.
Week 2: Do the same handling of your dog’s lips and muzzle that you did in Week 1, but this time hold the toothbrush in your hand while doing it. Do not try to brush any teeth yet! This is a good time to introduce doggie toothpaste as well. Let your dog lick some off of your fingers, and eventually the toothbrush itself. Do not use human toothpaste! These sessions should again last from 30 to 60 seconds, and your dog should be rewarded immediately afterwards. If your dog is now comfortable with the toothbrush and toothpaste, move on to the next step
(Week 3). Otherwise, repeat Week 2.
Week 3: Now you can actually try brushing your dog’s teeth! Apply some toothpaste to the toothbrush. Start by gently brushing the outer surface of the front teeth using a circular motion. If you are able to brush just one tooth the first time, that’s success! Do not spend more than 60 seconds in each brushing session. Each day try to brush more teeth. Pay extra attention to all four canines in front, and the big upper back teeth. To get the back teeth, you will need to slide the toothbrush along the inside of his or her cheek. This may take time for your dog to get used to. Again, the way to succeed is to go slowly and reward consistently!
In addition to brushing, or when brushing is not possible, other products such as dental chews, water additives, and dental diets can help to maintain your dog’s oral health. Please ask one of our vets about options.
|
<urn:uuid:41a339ba-11b0-4465-90ac-9cf37e4a0c57>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-29
|
https://www.lexvet.net/dental-care-instructions.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-29/segments/1593655908294.32/warc/CC-MAIN-20200710113143-20200710143143-00200.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.946254 | 564 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Chardham Yatra is a sacred pilgrimage journey that takes place in the beautiful state of Uttarakhand in Northern India. It is considered one of the most important spiritual journeys in the Hindu religion, where devotees visit four holy shrines of Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath and Badrinath, which are collectively known as Chardham. The journey typically takes 10-12 days, and it is believed that visiting these shrines will wash away one’s sins and lead to salvation.
The Chardham Yatra usually begins from Haridwar, which is considered one of the seven holiest places in Hinduism. From Haridwar, the journey takes devotees to the first shrine, Yamunotri. It is situated at an altitude of 3,293 meters and is dedicated to Goddess Yamuna, the daughter of the Sun God. The temple is located near the source of the Yamuna river, and it is believed that taking a dip in the river can wash away one’s sins.
The next stop on the journey is Gangotri, which is situated at an altitude of 3,100 meters and is dedicated to Goddess Ganga, the river that is considered holy by the Hindus. The temple is located on the banks of the Bhagirathi river, which is believed to be the source of the Ganges. It is said that taking a dip in the river can purify one’s soul.
The third stop on the journey is Kedarnath, which is situated at an altitude of 3,583 meters and is dedicated to Lord Shiva. The temple is located near the Mandakini river, and it is believed that Lord Shiva himself appeared here in the form of a lingam. The journey to Kedarnath involves a trek of around 14 km from Gaurikund, and it is considered one of the most challenging parts of the Chardham Yatra.
The last stop on the journey is Badrinath, which is situated at an altitude of 3,133 meters and is dedicated to Lord Vishnu. The temple is located on the banks of the Alaknanda river, and it is believed that Lord Vishnu himself meditated here. The temple is also known for its hot springs, which are believed to have medicinal properties.
Apart from these four shrines, the Chardham Yatra also includes visits to other important places such as Haridwar, Uttarkashi, Guptkashi, and Joshimath. These places are considered holy in their own right and are an essential part of the Chardham Yatra experience.
The best time to undertake the Chardham Yatra is between April and November, as the weather is mild and pleasant during this time. However, it is important to keep in mind that the journey involves a considerable amount of trekking and walking, and it is advisable to be physically fit before embarking on the journey.
Here’s a detailed itinerary of Chardham Yatra which you can use to plan your Yatra:
Day 1: Arrival in Delhi Arrive in Delhi and check into your hotel. Spend the day exploring the city and visiting some popular tourist attractions.
Day 2: Delhi to Haridwar Take an early morning train from Delhi to Haridwar, which takes around 4-5 hours. After reaching Haridwar, check into your hotel and take rest. Later, visit the famous Har Ki Pauri ghat and attend the evening aarti.
Day 3: Haridwar to Barkot Start your day with a dip in the holy Ganges at Har Ki Pauri ghat. After that, leave for Barkot, which is located around 200 km from Haridwar. The journey takes around 7-8 hours, and you will pass through Mussoorie, Kempty Falls, and Yamuna Bridge. You can also visit Lakhamandal, an ancient temple of Lord Shiva, on the way. Overnight stay at Barkot.
Day 4: Barkot to Yamunotri The third day starts with a drive to Janki Chatti, which is around 45 km from Barkot. From Janki Chatti, you have to trek around 6 km to reach Yamunotri, the first shrine of Chardham Yatra. You can take a dip in the hot water spring, called Surya Kund, before visiting the Yamunotri temple. Overnight stay at Yamunotri.
Day 5: Yamunotri to Uttarkashi The fourth day starts with a trek back to Janki Chatti, followed by a drive to Uttarkashi, which is around 100 km from Yamunotri. On the way, you can visit the Prakateshwar Cave, which is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Overnight stay at Uttarkashi.
Day 6: Uttarkashi to Gangotri Start your day with a visit to the Kashi Vishwanath temple in Uttarkashi, followed by a drive to Gangotri, which is around 100 km away. Gangotri is the second shrine of Chardham Yatra and is dedicated to Goddess Ganga. You can take a dip in the holy Ganges at Gangotri and visit the Gangotri temple. Overnight stay at Gangotri.
Day 7: Gangotri to Guptkashi On the sixth day, you have to travel around 280 km to reach Guptkashi, which is the base for the Kedarnath trek. Overnight stay at Guptkashi.
Day 8: Guptkashi to Kedarnath Start your day with a drive to Gaurikund, which is around 30 km from Guptkashi. From Gaurikund, you have to trek around 14 km to reach Kedarnath, which is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. You can visit the Kedarnath temple and enjoy the scenic beauty of the Himalayas. Overnight stay at Kedarnath.
Day 9: Kedarnath to Guptkashi Trek back to Gaurikund and then drive back to Guptkashi. Overnight stay at Guptkashi.
Day 10: Guptkashi to Badrinath Start your day with a drive to Badrinath, which is around 200 km from Guptkashi. Badrinath is the fourth and the last shrine of Chardham Yatra, dedicated to Lord Vishnu. You can visit the Badrinath temple and take a dip in the holy Tapt Kund.
The Chardham Yatra in Uttarakhand is a spiritual journey of a lifetime. It is a journey that takes devotees to some of the most sacred shrines in Hinduism, and it is believed that undertaking this journey can lead to spiritual growth and enlightenment. The journey may be challenging, but it is also incredibly rewarding, and it is an experience that will stay with devotees for the rest of their lives.
|
<urn:uuid:d25f0f12-40ec-4a75-b912-d88e4f575b5c>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-23
|
https://fundooplace.com/2023/01/14/chardham-yatra-in-uttarakhand-india/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224649193.79/warc/CC-MAIN-20230603101032-20230603131032-00409.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.959066 | 1,453 | 3.0625 | 3 |
WHAT IS MARKETING?
In easy words we can say, marketing is a business process of creating relationships with customers and satisfying them.The 'marketing concept' proposes that in order to follow the organizational objectives, an organization should analyse the needs and wants of potential consumers and satisfy them more effectively than its competitors, and for that we have to know what is need and want of the customers:-
1.Needs:Something necessary for people to live a healthy, stable and safe life. When needs remain unfulfilled, there is a clear adverse outcome: a dysfunction or death. Needs can be objective and physical, such as the need for food, water, and shelter; or subjective and psychological, such as the need to belong to a family or social group and the need for self-esteem.
2.Wants:Something that is desired, wished for. Wants are not essential for basic survival and are often shaped by culture or peer-groups.
3.Demands:When needs and wants are backedby the ability to pay, they have the potential to become economic demands.
Now as we get to know what is marketing, the question arises on what basis we will satisfy our customers. This we will get to know in marketing mix.Marketing mix is based upon four controllable variables that a company manages in its effort to satisfy the corporation's objectives as well as the needs and wants of atarget market. These are as follows:-
The product aspects of marketing deal with the specifications of the actual goods or services, and how it relates to theend-user's needs and wants.
This refers to the process of setting apricefor a product, including discounts. The price need not be monetary; it can simply be what is exchanged for the product or services, e.g. time, energy, or attention or any sacrifices consumers make in order to acquire a product or service.
This refers to how the product gets to the customer; the distribution channels and intermediaries such as wholesalers andretailerswho enable customers to access products or services in a convenient manner.
This includes all aspects of marketing communications;advertising,sales promotion, includingpromotional education,public relations,personal selling,product placement,branded entertainment, event marketing, trade shows andexhibitions. This fourth P is focused on providing a message to get a response from consumers that is designed to persuade or tell a story to create awareness.
Now we will get to know that how we will communicate with people i.e. which type we will take to sell our products:-
Marketing communicationsis an audience-centered activity designed to engage audiences and promote responses. It is defined by actions a firm takes to communicate with end-users, consumers, and external parties.
Marketing communications encompass four distinct subsets, which are:
Oral presentation given by a salesperson who approaches individuals or a group of potential customers:
·Live, interactive relationship
·Attention and response
·Clear and thorough.
Short-term incentives to encourage buying of products:
·Anxiety to sell
An example is coupons or a sale. People are given an incentive to buy, but this does not build customer loyalty or encourage future repeat buys. A major drawback of sales promotion is that it is easily copied by competition. It cannot be used as a sustainable source of differentiation.
Public relations(or PR, as an acronym) is the use of media tools in order to promote goodwill from a business or organization to a target market segment, or other consumers of a firm's good/service. PR stems from the fact that a firm cannot seek to antagonize or inflame its market base, due to incurring a lessened demand for its good/service. Organizations undertake PR in order to assure consumers, and to forestall negative perceptions towards it.
PR can span:
·Corporate literature, such as financial statements, brochures, etc.
Publicity involves attaining space in media, without having to pay directly for such coverage. As an example, an organization may have the launch of a new product covered by a newspaper or TV news segment. This benefits the firm in question since it is making consumers aware of its product, without necessarily paying a newspaper or television station to cover the event.
Advertisingoccurs when a firm directly pays a media channel to publicize its product. Common examples of this include TV and radio adverts, billboards, branding, sponsorship, etc.
Marketing communications mix is used to reach, engage, and provoke audience-centered conversations. It consists of 5 tools, which are 1) Advertising, 2) Sales & Promotion, 3) Public Relations, 4) Direct Marketing and 5) Personal Selling. The types of messages that are enhanced can be 1) Informational, 2) Emotional, 3) User-generated, or/and 4) Brand content. The last main component of MC Mix is Media, which corresponds to the channel used to send the message. Media is divided into 3 categories, and these are media by 1) Form, 2) Source and 3) Functionality.
|
<urn:uuid:4c2224fb-02a9-4dd4-a4e0-f405c3a8a977>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-34
|
https://wrytin.com/tanishqbakliwal/marketing-jyzyhc8j
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-34/segments/1596439738878.11/warc/CC-MAIN-20200812053726-20200812083726-00237.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.937511 | 1,046 | 2.8125 | 3 |
This post was last updated on May 26th, 2017 at 11:03 am
You can simply format math multiplication tables by means of this editable Math Multiplication Tables Template. Learning math multiplication tables is must for every single person in order to deal efficiently with the multiplication of available data or information as well as to be successful in higher studies. For instance, just like learning to walk before you can run, math multiplication tables are building blocks for other math topics and lesson. No one can deny the significance of match multiplication tables in study as well as in day to day life. Students who have not memorized the math multiplication tables will find several upcoming levels of math much more difficult than they need to be.Math multiplication tables template is specially designed by our professionals to provide assistance when making and printing math multiplication tables at home using a personal computer. The template is easy to use and creates the perfect math multiplication tables for both home and school.
More About Math Multiplication Tables Template
Math multiplication tables template is specially designed by our professionals to provide assistance when making and printing math multiplication tables at home using a personal computer. The template is easy to use and creates the perfect math multiplication tables for both home and school. Students can get benefits from the template to improve their multiplication skills for a strong math foundation. They can keep the table save in computer or device and can also take its print out to keep in math box.
Math multiplication tables are helping students and kids in learning multiplication rules and basics. These are considered as best for the strong foundation for math problems to make calculations manually instead of using a device like calculator. Math multiplication tables are beneficial for beginners to learn most advanced math and multiplication skills. These tables can be purchased from marketing in printed form. However, you can also make and print them personally on computer by using free math multiplication tables templates. Simply pick up an apt template from the below shown collection of templates and tailor it with necessary stuff required to make it fir for personal needs. Go below the page and hit download link to save the free copy of math multiplication tables template.
Preview of math multiplication tables template
It is the preview of math multiplication tables template telling you that how it looks like and works. You can change the background of the template with a favorite one to give it a preferred look before taking its print out.
Memorizing the basic math tricks and multiplication rules is very important for the good base of kids to solve math problems in later times. Learning the math multiplication tables could be the great way for students to know that how to multiply figures for desired outcomes. Having a good grip on math multiplication tables can boost up math learning skills of your kids without hiring a math tutor for them. There is no need to search more on web for finding printable math multiplication tables template because you can find here without any requirement or cost.
|
<urn:uuid:690dc670-6c65-42ab-9bf2-7be61eaaf843>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-39
|
http://www.exceltemplatespro.com/math-multiplication-tables-template.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818689411.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20170922235700-20170923015700-00482.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.909889 | 575 | 3.046875 | 3 |
7 Gardening Rules of Thumb For New Plants
Sometimes it’s the tips and insider information that comes from experience that are the best ideas when doing just about anything. After gardening for close to 30 years I’ve have a few rules of thumb that I’ve been told by other gardeners and have experienced first hand in my own garden.
1. Use Native Soil
When planting a new perennial, shrub or tree, don’t fill the whole with a bag of topsoil or compost, but rather use the soil that you just dug up. It’s fine to add a little compost or slow release fertilizer, but the majority should be native soil. Why? Because this will help the plants roots get established in the new environment, and reach beyond the planting hole.
Easy Layering Plant Propation – Spirea In Pots Pruned
2. Plant on a Cloudy Day
Whenever possible, plant on a cloudy day, preferably when rain is in the forecast. This helps reduce transplant shock. If you plant on a hot sunny day, even if you water well, the plants will not be able to acclimate to their new home as well.
digging the right sized hole
via Tommy Sea on Flickr
3. Dig the Right Size Hole
A great rule of thumb here is, 2 times the width but no deeper than the pot it came in. Plants will tend to settle a little, and you don’t want it to sink below ground level. This also helps the roots grow out into the loose surrounding soil which is likely to be more beneficial and rich.
For more gardening tips click HERE.
Do you have a gardening tip to share? We would love to hear from you. Submit your gardening tips HERE.
|
<urn:uuid:bfd816ff-0ef5-4073-85d1-53901b89f946>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-05
|
http://livedan330.com/2016/08/26/7-gardening-rules-of-thumb-for-new-plants/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579251678287.60/warc/CC-MAIN-20200125161753-20200125190753-00261.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.917837 | 368 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Adrenoleukodystrophy — depicted in the 1992 movie “Lorenzo’s Oil” — is a genetic disease that most severely affects boys. Caused by a defective gene on the X chromosome, it triggers a build-up of fatty acids that damage the protective myelin sheaths of the brain’s neurons, leading to cognitive and motor impairment. The most devastating form of the disease is cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy (CALD), marked by loss of myelin and brain inflammation. Without treatment, CALD ultimately leads to a vegetative state, typically claiming boys’ lives within 10 years of diagnosis.
But now, a breakthrough treatment is offering hope to families affected by adrenoleukodystrophy. A gene therapy treatment effectively stabilized CALD’s progression in 88 percent of patients, according to clinical trial results reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study was led by researchers from the Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and Massachusetts General Hospital.
“Since it was first described 100 years ago, adrenoleukodystrophy has robbed the function of children who, up until the disease’s onset, had been developing normally,” says Florian Eichler, MD, co-lead author on the study and the director of the Leukodystrophy Service at Massachusetts General Hospital. “These are children who have been growing and thriving, and then suddenly, their parents witness this devastating decline that starts with personality changes and then progresses to motor problems and loss of their ability to walk and talk.”
Halting Adrenoleukodystrophy in Its Tracks
In the clinical trial, sponsored by bluebird bio, 15 of 17 patients had stable neurologic functioning more than two years after receiving the gene therapy. The ongoing trial, one of the largest gene therapy trials targeting a single-gene disease to be published to date, has received regulatory approval to expand its number of patients.
“Although we need to continue to follow the patients to determine the long-term outcome of the gene therapy, so far it has effectively arrested the progress of cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy in these children,” says David A. Williams, MD, chief scientific officer and senior vice-president for research at Boston Children’s Hospital, president of Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center and the lead author of the study. “This is a devastating disease, and we are all quite grateful that the patients and their families chose to participate in the trial.”
The treatment leverages bluebird bio’s proprietary Lenti-D gene therapy to deliver the functional gene to patients’ stem cells in the laboratory. Now, bluebird bio is engaged in ongoing discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and European regulators on their plans to bring the therapy to market.
How the Gene Therapy Works
Adrenoleukodystrophy is caused by a mutation to a gene on the X chromosome called ABCD1, which controls the body’s production of an enzyme called ALD protein that normally breaks down fatty acids. When a mutation to the ABCD1 gene interrupts the function of ALD protein, fatty acids build up and cause a degenerative breakdown of the protective myelin sheaths of the nerves. The fatty acids are also toxic to cells in the adrenal glands, small organs above the kidneys that produce hormones, which results in hormonal imbalances.
Newborn screening and childhood genetic testing can identify young boys who have the defective ABCD1 gene before symptoms of adrenoleukodystrophy appear, creating a small window of opportunity to prevent the disease’s degenerative effects before they begin to irreversibly accumulate.
Until now, stem cell transplantation — using cells donated by another person — has been the only known effective therapy for CALD. It usually works best with a disease-free, matched sibling donor, which fewer than one-quarter of CALD patients have.
“There are two great advantages to gene therapy,” Williams says. “The first is that patients don’t have to wait to find a donor match. The second is that, because we use their own, gene-modified stem cells, there’s no risk of graft-versus-host-disease and the patients do not require any immunosuppression drugs, which can have very significant, even fatal, side effects.”
- Read the press release about the clinical trial results.
- Read the full, detailed report published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
To perform the gene therapy, clinicians first collect a patient’s blood stem cells, which give rise to all mature blood cells. In a highly-specialized laboratory that contains a clean room for preparation of medicines, a viral vector is used to insert a correct version of the faulty ABCD1 gene into the patient’s stem cells. Then, after the patient receives chemotherapy to make room for the genetically-altered blood stem cells in the bone marrow, the cells are infused back into the patient’s bloodstream via an intravenous line.
“This treatment results from more than two decades of investment in basic gene therapy research by the NIH and others,” Williams says. “It really demonstrates that research funding is essential to developing the next generation of therapies for devastating childhood diseases.”
Gene Therapy in the Real World
“In my clinic, the impact of this trial has been phenomenal,” Eichler says. “Boys without a donor match for stem-cell transplant were often passing away within a year or two of their diagnosis. Now, with early diagnosis and gene therapy, these boys are living longer and some are thriving enough to play sports and participate in other normal day-to-day activities.”
Christine Duncan, MD, co-lead author on the study and a pediatric hematologist/oncologist at the Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, has also witnessed first-hand the impact that gene therapy has had on boys with CALD. At the latest follow-up, all patients who participated in the clinical trial were expressing functional ALD protein, which their bodies had been unable to produce prior to gene therapy.
The ALD gene therapy trial is part of a growing portfolio of pediatric gene therapy trials at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center that also includes clinical trials for X-linked severe combined immune deficiency (“bubble boy” disease), chronic granulomas disease, a recently completed trial for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome and the use of gene therapy to treat some types of childhood leukemia using CAR T-cells.
In addition, the FDA has just approved a ground-breaking study at the Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center for the use of gene therapy to cure sickle cell disease.
Additional co-authors of the study are Patricia L. Musolino, M.D., Ph.D., Paul J. Orchard, M.D., Satiro De Oliveira, M.D., Adrian J. Thrasher, M.D., Myriam Armant, Ph.D., Colleen Dansereau, M.S.N., R.N., Troy C. Lund, M.D., Weston P. Miller, M.D., Gerald V. Raymond, M.D., Raman Sankar, M.D., Ami J. Shah, M.D., Caroline Sevin, M.D., Ph.D., H. Bobby Gaspar, M.D., Paul Gissen, M.D., Hernan Amartino, M.D., Drago Bratkovic, M.D., Nicholas J.C. Smith, M.D., Asif M. Paker, M.D., Esther Shamir, M.A., M.P.H., Tara O’Meara, David Davidson, M.D., and Patrick Aubourg, M.D.
In addition to bluebird bio, the work was also supported by Harvard Catalyst / The Harvard Clinical and Translational Science Center (National Center for Research Resources and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health Award (UL1 TR001102), as well as Great Ormond Street Hospital, the University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Biomedical Research Centre and a PCORI Patient Powered Research Network award.
|
<urn:uuid:a3379b8d-2051-49d9-8475-200e6df9c0cb>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-34
|
https://blog.dana-farber.org/insight/2017/12/gene-therapy-halts-progression-of-cerebral-adrenoleukodystrophy-in-clinical-trial/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-34/segments/1596439738425.43/warc/CC-MAIN-20200809043422-20200809073422-00277.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.92505 | 1,791 | 2.90625 | 3 |
Experts explained while they emphasized on the fact that hot and crispy fried snacks, sweets, carbohydrates-rich food as well as others similar should be avoided if we want to keep a check on our weight, yet do provide calories to our body. Even though most of us neglect having food items containing lots of calories, our body requires some amount of calories.
Annapurna Agrawal, nutritionist at Snap Fitness India explained that each and every individual has his own calorie requirement which would be on the basis of basal metabolic rate. If a person consumes excess calories than what he needs, he will undoubtedly gain weight at the he eating lesser calories will ensure loosing weight. She added explaining that our body requires 2,000 calories and if we eat 2,500 calories, the extra 500 will be converted into fat. If we are equipping to adopt healthy eating habits, then avoid junk food as it lacks essential nutrients like vitamins, minerals as well proteins and is high in fat and calories.
Manik Pande along with Meghana Surve, nutritionists at Talwalkars National Nutrition Centre, explained that we need to avoid all our favourite fried snacks and those curries that have a lot of fat and are cooked in a fair amount of oil which even warn against intake of carbohydrates. The nutritionists also explained that Carbohydrates actually convert into fats after they are consumed. The body stores this fat and this adds to our body weight. Grains and sugar, which are common feature of our diet, contain large amount of carbohydrates so you need to be careful as far as consumption is concerned. Hot summer season lets us enjoy sip of chilled sodas or even juices that instantly immediately us, on the contrary Pande along with Surve say it is better to stick to something healthier like water, lime juice and fresh fruit juices.
On the other hand, Agrawal said that the medicines usually help to eliminate diseases, on the contrary can also make us exceedingly heavier while she also mentioned that Anti-depressant medicines, birth control pills, allergy medications, as well as blood pressure medications may effect weight gain.
Image Source: Calories
|
<urn:uuid:7002f211-acf3-4309-b02a-3f0d3fb3bf49>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-40
|
https://wishesh.com/lifestyle/healthy-living/28946-worthiness-of-calories.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233511075.63/warc/CC-MAIN-20231003092549-20231003122549-00757.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.958627 | 439 | 2.640625 | 3 |
When thinking about mastery and student learning over time, it is almost impossible not to think about reassessment. Philosophically, if you believe in allowing students to retake assessments, you may struggle with the application of this belief in actual classrooms. The question is not whether students shall be allowed to reassess, but instead, how to reassess effectively. So, when a student takes an initial assessment and performs below required proficiency, what happens next? The following steps will guide the creation of your own reassessment procedures.
1. Conference with the student. Part of building relationships with students is communicating openly with them about expectations and learning. As soon as you realize a student is not meeting proficiency, have a conversation and begin to make a plan.
2. Set a timeline for reteaching and reassessment. During the conference, set up a schedule for reteaching to provide time and support for the student to demonstrate successful learning. This must always occur before students are allowed to reassess. If reteaching does not occur, how can a student be expected to perform at a higher level? Also, schedule the reassessment. Due to obvious time constraints, there must be a sense of urgency to complete the reassessment. Some districts use a reassessment contract requiring student and/or parent signatures in order for students to retake assessments.
3. Provide reteaching opportunities. Just like teachers, students are busy! They are taking many classes and may also be involved in activities outside of the normal school day. It is important to provide varied opportunities for them to receive help within the reteaching timeframe. Maybe the student needs to come in before or after school or during study hall, or maybe they can watch a video at home and complete alternate assignments to demonstrate their learning, or perhaps another teacher could provide additional instruction. Remember, reteaching is not about punishment, it is about the end goal—learning. It doesn’t have to be epic; in actuality, reteaching may only take a few minutes.
4. Contact help when needed. Oftentimes, if a student is struggling on multiple assessments in one subject area, he or she will also be having trouble in other subjects. A teacher won’t always know how a student is performing in other courses; however, counselors and parents should. If a student continually struggles and is caught up in a reassessment cycle, it is imperative that the cycle is broken before the student gives up. There could be a placement issue or a need for a special education referral. Maybe the student is going through some emotional struggles due to something happening at home. A sure sign of trouble is when a student is not meeting the timelines agreed upon within the reassessment conference. If this is the case, reach out to the people who can help as soon as you can.
5. Provide a reassessment that is different from the original assessment. It is always wise to have more than one version of an assessment. If students know the reassessment is exactly the same as the original assessment, it is very easy for them not to prepare and to use the original assessment as a “practice” assessment. Remember, it is important that you know what they know—not what they memorized after taking the first assessment.
6. Decide whether the student needs to retake the entire assessment, or just a part. In many cases, summative assessments contain individual questions that require students to apply multiple skills or varied knowledge in order to answer them. In these cases, students would more than likely need to retake the entire assessment. However, an assessment may also contain very specialized questions related to one specific skill or piece of knowledge. If students perform poorly on these types of questions, they may not need to take the entire assessment over again. They could just retake the parts that relate to that skill or knowledge. Particularly on project-based assessments, the student may need to improve only portions of their project—not redo the entire project.
7. Decide how retakes will be scored. Grading typically falls under district guidelines and policies. It is important for all teachers to follow the same reassessment rules. Will the most recent reassessment score replace the original? Will the highest score be taken? Follow district approved procedures for recording the appropriate score.
|
<urn:uuid:fd2449eb-385b-4fff-9bf7-250c5b07110c>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-10
|
https://cliweb.org/reassessment-done-right/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875145654.0/warc/CC-MAIN-20200222054424-20200222084424-00011.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.961821 | 872 | 3.25 | 3 |
Tuesday, May 2, 2017
It is November 25, 1960, and three beautiful sisters have been found near their wrecked Jeep at the bottom of a 150-foot cliff on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. The official state newspaper reports their deaths as accidental. It does not mention that a fourth sister lives. Nor does it explain that the sisters were among the leading opponents of Gen. Rafael Leonidas Trujillo’s dictatorship. It doesn’t have to. Everybody knows of Las Mariposas―“The Butterflies.”
In this extraordinary novel, the voices of all four sisters―Minerva, Patria, María Teresa, and the survivor, Dedé―speak across the decades to tell their own stories, from hair ribbons and secret crushes to gunrunning and prison torture, and to describe the everyday horrors of life under Trujillo’s rule. Through the art and magic of Julia Alvarez’s imagination, the martyred Butterflies live again in this novel of courage and love, and the human cost of political oppression.
(From the publisher.)
Reading Group Discussion Questions
- Although she does not reveal the details, Alvarez lets us know from the start that the novel will end tragically. Why do you think she made this choice?
- How do the sisters differ in personality, goals and self-expression? How does Alvarez dramatize these differences?
- How does the Trujillo regime portray itself? What means does it use to build a positive public image?
- How does this police state control its citizens? How do its methods develop over the course of the novel?
- What kinds of violence are directed against women both politically and socially? How do these forms of violence connect to the experiences of the men?
- What events radicalize each sister? What personal commitments and feelings complicate the commitment to political activism for them?
- What groups or institutions offer significant support or resistance to Trujillo both within and beyond the borders of the Dominican Republic?
- This novel has been called polyphonic in that it contains many voices rather than a single narrator’s. How many voices and kinds of writing can you track as you read? How do these multiple voices connect with the themes of the novel?
- This novel can also be seen as an example of resistance literature. How does Alvarez’s choice of subject and Dede’s later life as the keeper of her sisters’ history become a form of opposition to tyranny?
- Readers of this novel have connected Maria Teresa’s sections with The Diary of Anne Frank. How do the content and form of these two works express similar themes and approaches to writing?
- Alvarez brings in many legends and sayings from traditional Dominican culture. What values do these sayings express?
- Dreams play an important role in the novel. What are some of the dreams and how do they relate to reality?
- The anacahuita tree and the moon are recurring images in the novel. When do they appear and how do they contribute to the narrative?
- How did you react to the intensity of suffering and pain in the novel? What kept you reading? Has the experience influenced you to do more reading or to take any sort of action?
- In the face of the kind of brutality that the novel documents, do art and storytelling have any real power or social value?
(Questions issued by the Chicago Public Library as part of the city’s One Book program.)
Additional Book Club Resources
Other Works by Julia Alvarez
How the García Girls Lost Their Accents (1991)
In the Time of the Butterflies (1994)
In the Name of Salomé (2000)
Saving the World: A Novel (2006)
The Other Side (El Otro Lado) (1995)
Homecoming: New and Selected Poems (1996)
The Woman I Kept to Myself (2004; 2011)
Something to Declare (1998)
Once Upon a Quinceañera: Coming of Age in the USA (2007
A Wedding in Haiti: The Story of a Friendship (2012)
If You Liked In The Time of the Butterflies, may we recommend …
Dreaming in Cuban, Cristina García
The House on the Lagoon, Rosario Ferré
So Far from God, Ana Castillo
Caramelo, Sandra Cisneros
The Hummingbird’s Daughter, Luis Alberto Urrea
The Feast of the Goat, Mario Vargas Llosa
Of Love and Shadows, Isabel Allende
When I Was Puerto Rican, Esmeralda Santiago
The Farming of Bones, Edwidge Danticat
Down These Mean Streets, Piri Thomas
|
<urn:uuid:dbaff020-5f81-4eba-94f1-148e669fae11>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-39
|
http://www.penandpodium.com/in-the-time-of-the-butterflies
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818685912.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20170919164651-20170919184651-00565.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.927881 | 986 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Researchers in Canada have discovered that proglacial freshwaters are important carbon sinks. Glacier retreat has often been considered a negative consequence of climate change, but this finding suggests there may be benefits as well.
Himalaya GLOF Threat Featured in National Geographic Features
From National Geographic: “Scientists say the accelerated melting of Asia’s estimated 56,000 glaciers is creating hundreds of new lakes across the Himalaya and other high mountain ranges. If the natural dam holding a glacial lake in place fails, the resulting flood could wipe out communities situated in the valleys below. Engineers in Nepal are looking at ways to lower the most dangerous lakes to reduce the threat.
“It’s all happening much faster than we expected it to even five or 10 years ago,” says Alton Byers, a National Geographic explorer and mountain geographer at the University of Colorado Boulder.”
An Invasive Plant Species Is Taking Over Antarctica’s Glacier Forelands
Invasive species are an enormous threat in Antarctica where one non-native vascular plant species is widespread and studies have shown negative impacts on native flora. The continent has only two species of “higher” plants, but a newcomer has people worried. New research shows that it is often founds in “glacier forelands”––areas exposed by recent glacier retreat.
From the abstract: “Using field “common garden” experiments, we evaluate the competitive impact of the increasingly wide- spread invasive grass Poa annua on the only two native vascular species of Antarctica, the forb Colobanthus quitensis and the grass Deschampsia antarctica. We focus on interactions between these three plant species under current and a future, wetter, climate scenario, in terms of density of individuals.”
The Effects of High Latitude Dust on Arctic Atmosphere
Science Reports published a study on November 6, which profiles the vertical distribution of dusts in the Arctic atmosphere. Read the full study here. From the abstract:
“High Latitude Dust (HLD) contributes 5% to the global dust budget, but HLD measurements are sparse. Dust observations from Iceland provide dust aerosol distributions during the Arctic winter for the first time, profiling dust storms as well as clean air conditions. Five winter dust storms were captured during harsh conditions…Dust sources in the Arctic are active during the winter and produce large amounts of particulate matter dispersed over long distances and high altitudes. HLD contributes to Arctic air pollution and has the potential to influence ice nucleation in mixed-phase clouds and Arctic amplification.”
Sediments are being exposed as glaciers retreat, making proglacial rivers one of the most sediment-rich areas in the world. From the abstract of a study published in the 2019 book Geomorphology of Proglacial Systems:
“Deglaciation since the Little Ice Age has exposed only a small areal proportion of alpine catchments, but these proglacial systems are disproportionately important as sediment sources. Indeed sediment yields from proglacial rivers are amongst the highest measured anywhere in the World. Motivated by a desire to understand where exactly within catchments this sediment is coming from and how it might evolve, this chapter presents the first digital inventories of proglacial systems and the first comparative inter- and intra-catchment comparison of their geometry, topography and geomorphology.”
Glacier Fluctuations Key to New Zealand Paleoclimate Record
A new study, published in Science Direct on November 1, traces the fluctuations in some New Zealand glaciers over the last 10,000-plus years, showing the significance for contemporary issues of climate change. From the abstract:
“Geological records of past glacier extent can yield important constraints on the timing and magnitude of pre-historic climate change. Here we present a cosmogenic Helium-3 moraine chronology from Mt. Ruapehu in central North Island, New Zealand that records fluctuations of New Zealand’s northernmost glaciers over the last 14,000 years.”
Following news of the arrival of a Manhattan-sized iceberg from a retreating glacier next to a village in Greenland, a recent paper published in the Journal of Geophysical Research has unveiled new research on how subglacial meltwater in Greenland is pumping nutrients and carbon from the deep sea to drive a boom of microorganisms in the upper layers. This effect fuels the ecosystems around it and impacts carbon cycling within the fjords and ocean close to the glaciers, further increasing the carbon uptake from the atmosphere.
Since 2002, Greenland has lost around 270 billion tons of ice per year. The glaciers and ice sheets of Greenland are key to the magnitude of future sea level rise, prompting scientists and researchers from around the globe to travel to the glacier-laced land to study and measure the physics of glacier melting and retreat. A team of researchers from Hokkaido University, led by Naoya Kanna and Shin Sugiyama, found a new perspective to understand the interactions of glaciers with ecosystems under a changing climate.
The researchers moved from geophysical measurements to geochemical measurements over time. They started to camp in the nearby village of Qaanaaq beginning in the summer of 2016, surveying the water temperature, salinity, ocean currents and other physical properties.
They then found an underwater nutrient and carbon transfer route that may explain these observations. Sugiyama describes the transfer as a “nutrient pump.”
At the bottom of the sea, due to the gravity and ocean currents, there are water flows from the fjord moving toward the glacier front. These flows carry a lot of descended nutrients and dissolved carbon. There is also subglacial freshwater discharge that is turbid because of the subglacial weathering. The two flows meet at the deep sea and create massive fluxes of sediments along the glacier fronts.
When the sediment-laden upwell water reaches the sea surface, it forms an opaque layer below the relatively fresher sea surface water. During the upwelling process, the mixture of subglacial discharge water and flows from the fjord pumps nutrients and carbon from the deep water to the upper layers.
The growth burst of the phytoplankton went unnoticed until recent years. Through their analysis of samples from supraglacial meltwater, proglacial stream discharge, fjord surface water, and plume surface water, the authors identify a distinct vertical distribution of nutrients and carbon along the centerline of the fjord. The data prove that the upwelling associated with the subglacial discharge has been pumping the nutrients and carbon from the deep water toward the surface, catalyzing the formation of phytoplankton blooms.
As the planet warms, glacier melting is increasing in Greenland. For its implication on their findings, Sugiyama said, ”Our study implies that nutrient supply to fjord surface water is enhanced by an increase in meltwater discharge under the warming climate. This results in higher primary production [of microorganisms]. On the other hand, turbid plume water also disturbs the production by limiting light availability in water.” He noted the team will continue their research to understand how these positive and negative impacts counterbalance.
The study not only showed a critical role of freshwater discharge in the primary productivity of microorganisms in front of the glaciers, but it also indicated that changes in glacier melt might impact the fjord ecosystems.
“Tidewater glacier front is a biological ‘hot spot.’ We see many birds and sea mammals near the front of Bowdoin Glacier. Change in the ecosystem is not clear at this moment, but we suspect such a highly productive ecosystem is sensitive to the warming Arctic climate,” Sugiyama said.
The ocean also acts as an immense carbon sink, which scientists need to explore. This finding may provide ideas for how carbon transfers within the marine ecosystem.
Sugiyama added, “A possible influence on the carbon cycle is more carbon storage in the ocean when primary production is enhanced by increasing amount of upwelling meltwater. Nevertheless, the plume process is not directly related to the intake of carbon from the atmosphere.”
Bowdoin Glacier is smaller than other rapidly retreating glaciers in Greenland, such as the Jakobshavn and Helheim glaciers. The team hopes to find out if the processes observed in Bowdoin Fjord resemble the situations in the fjords of larger glaciers.
From Nature: “The sensitivity of the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream (NEGIS) to prolonged warm periods is largely unknown and geological records documenting such long-term changes are needed to place current observations in perspective. Using cosmogenic surface exposure and radiocarbon ages, the magnitude of NEGIS margin fluctuations over the last 45 kyr (thousand years) was determined. The NEGIS experienced slow early Holocene ice-margin retreat of 30–40 meters per year, likely as a result of the buttressing effect of sea-ice or shelf-ice. This retreat was smaller than present for approximately half of the last ~45 kyr and is susceptible to subtle changes in climate, which has implications for future stability of this ice stream.”
Discover more about ice stream and melting in Greenland here.
Sea Ice, Blue Carbon and Antarctic Climate Feedbacks
From The Royal Society: “Sea ice, including icebergs, has a complex relationship with the carbon held within animals (blue carbon) in the polar regions. Sea-ice losses around West Antarctica’s continental shelf generate longer phytoplankton blooms (less sea ice increases phytoplankton blooms, benthic growth, seabed carbon and sequestration) but also make it a hotspot for coastal iceberg disturbance. Significant benthic communities establish where ice shelves have disintegrated (giant icebergs calving), and rapidly grow to accumulate blue carbon storage. When 5000 km2 giant icebergs calve, we estimate that they generate approximately 106 tonnes of immobilized zoobenthic carbon per year (t C yr−1).”
Read more about the physical, chemical and biological processes of carbon sequestration here.
Analysis of Mt. Kenya’s Glacial Recession
From the American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering: “In a bid to discover what has been causing the retreat of glaciers of Mount Kenya, Optical Landsat data for 1984 to 2017 and climatic data of the same years were used. Glaciers and forest coverage were extracted from Landsat images and its thermal band was used to extract temperature data. Correlation with the respective year’s climatic data and forest cover area were done to justify the assumption that the shrinkage in the glaciers coverage has been caused by changes in climate and/or deforestation… Mt Kenya glaciers are likely to have still completely disappeared by the year 2100.”
Explore more about the modelling of Mount Kenya’s glaciers here.
When rivers meet the sea, the sediment they carry becomes mixed into the ocean, where it makes quite a splash, biogeochemically speaking. In the subarctic North Pacific Ocean, for example, iron-rich sediment delivered from the continental margin spurs a wintertime phytoplankton bloom over 900 kilometers offshore. The presence of these terrigenous particles is felt up the food chain— the higher levels of iron in the water support larger diatom populations, which means more snacking for copepods, a type of zooplankton.
In the Gulf of Alaska, glacial meltwater is an important source of terrestrial particles. A recent study by Jessica Turner, Jessica Pretty, and Andrew McDonnell optically measured particles in the northern Gulf of Alaska, an area with extensive glacial inputs. This technique allowed the researchers to collect massive amounts of data with minimal lab work, maximizing the area they could survey, Jessica Pretty told GlacierHub. Their instrument measured a range of particle sizes, from some too small to be seen by the naked eye to others as large as paper clips.
Pretty and her coauthors found that in the Gulf of Alaska, particle concentrations are denser in two main places: where glaciers and rivers flow into the Gulf, and offshore, near the continental shelf break, where they are buoyed by waves, currents and tidal action. These small particles wield great influence, increasing biological productivity at the shelf break.
“The Gulf of Alaska is an interesting region,” said Pretty. “It has major freshwater input seasonally from melting glaciers and river runoff that eventually joins with Pacific waters and makes its way toward the Arctic.” The recent findings illuminate particle distribution in the northern Gulf of Alaska, yielding clues about how climate change may affect carbon cycling in the Gulf and parallel ocean systems.
Beyond local significance to the Gulf of Alaska ecosystem, the influence of these river-borne terrestrial particles scales up— globally, such sediment inputs impacts the carbon cycle, which regulates climate. The bits of rock Pretty tracked in the Gulf of Alaska are essentially tiny bundles of carbon, and when these bundles sink in the ocean, they drive what scientists have termed the “biological pump,” the process by which the ocean cycles organic and inorganic carbon, and sequesters carbon dioxide in the deep ocean.
Because carbon dioxide is constantly exchanged between the upper layers of the ocean and lower levels of the atmosphere, concentrations become equal in the shallow ocean and low atmosphere over time. However, sinking particles remove carbon from this exchange. “The biological pump allows the ocean to store more carbon than it would be able to just from equilibration,” explained Pretty.
The ocean absorbs a quarter of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere each year, and so as carbon is pumped into the atmosphere, levels in the ocean increase in tandem. This leads to ocean acidification, which threatens many marine species. However, terrestrial carbon sequestration practices, like soil conservation and wildfire suppression, may be an important element of climate change mitigation.
As global climate warms and glaciers melt, higher glacial inputs will carry more sediment to the Gulf of Alaska and analogous ecosystems around the world. These minute particles will ramp up the global biological pump, increase carbon sequestration, and lead to a myriad of impacts yet unknown. In addition, seasonal changes, like an earlier springtime, may also spur earlier phytoplankton blooms, changing the dynamics of life in the sea. Through the movement of minuscule specks of rock, the Gulf of Alaska, and ultimately the whole ocean, will change.
From PLOS ONE: “Current glacier retreat makes vast mountain ranges available for vegetation establishment and growth. As a result, carbon (C) is accumulated in the soil, in a negative feedback to climate change. Little is known about the effective C budget of these new ecosystems and how the presence of different vegetation communities influences CO2 fluxes. On the Matsch glacier forefield (Alps, Italy) we measured over two growing seasons the Net Ecosystem Exchange (NEE) of a typical grassland, dominated by the C3 Festuca halleri All., and a community dominated by the CAM rosettes Sempervivum montanum L… The two communities showed contrasting GEE but similar Reco patterns, and as a result they were significantly different in NEE during the period measured. The grassland acted as a C sink, with a total cumulated value of -46.4±35.5 g C m-2 NEE, while the plots dominated by the CAM rosettes acted as a source, with 31.9±22.4 g C m-2. In spite of the different NEE, soil analysis did not reveal significant differences in carbon accumulation of the two plant communities, suggesting that processes often neglected, like lateral flows and winter respiration, can have a similar relevance as NEE in the determination of the Net Ecosystem Carbon Balance.”
Learn more about the colonization of a deglaciated moraine here.
Vegetation and the Serpentine Syndrome
From Plant and Soil: “Initial stages of pedogenesis (soil formation) are particularly slow on serpentinite (a dark, typically greenish metamorphic rock that weathers to form soil). This implies a slow accumulation of available nutrients and leaching of phytotoxic (poisonous to plants) elements. Thus, a particularly slow plant primary succession should be observed on serpentinitic proglacial areas. The observation of soil-vegetation relationships in such environments should give important information on the development of the serpentine syndrome (a phrase to explain plant survival on serpentine)… Plant-soil relationships have been statistically analysed, comparing morainic environments on pure serpentinite and serpentinite with small sialic inclusions in the North-western Italian Alps….Pure serpentinite supported strikingly different plant communities in comparison with the sites where the serpentinitic till was enriched by small quantities of sialic rocks.”
Climate Changes Landscape of South American Communities
From Global Migration Issues: “Mountain regions are among the most vulnerable areas with regard to global environmental changes. In the Bolivian Andes, for example, environmental risks, such as those related to climate change, are numerous and often closely intertwined with social risks. Rural households are therefore characterized by high mobility, which is a traditional strategy of risk management. Nowadays, most rural households are involved in multi-residency or circular migratory movements at a regional, national, and international scale. Taking the case of two rural areas close to the city of La Paz, we analyzed migration patterns and drivers behind migrant household decisions in the Bolivian Andes… Our results underline that migration is a traditional peasant household strategy to increase income and manage livelihood risks under rising economic pressures, scarcity of land, insufficient local off-farm work opportunities, and low agricultural productivity… Our results suggest that environmental factors do not drive migration independently, but are rather combined with socio-economic factors.”
Waters in the sub-Antarctic region of Chilean Patagonia are fed by glaciers in one of the largest freshwater systems on Earth, the North and South Patagonian Icefields. A recent study published in Marine Ecology Progress Series found that Euphasia vallentini, the most abundant species of krill in Chilean Patagonian waters, play a key role in food webs. The study also discovered that this species of krill helps to sequester carbon in the oceans— they consume plankton, which take in carbon during photosynthesis, and discharge some of the carbon into deeper ocean waters through the production of fast-sinking fecal pellets. This is increasingly important as atmospheric carbon concentrations rise, as it contributes to the role of the oceans as a carbon sink.
Krill are small, shrimp-like crustaceans that are found in all of the world’s oceans. In an interview with GlacierHub, Humberto E. González, the lead author of the study from the Austral University of Chile, explained that krill form “a trophic [related to food and nutrition] bridge between the microbial community [bacteria, nanoplankton, microzooplankton] and the upper trophic layers [seals, whales, penguins, etc.]. Thus, they play a pivotal role in trophic flows.”
The study by González et al. focused on the region between the Magellan Strait and Cape Horn because of the unique biological, chemical and physical conditions created by the hydrological input from three different sources: nutrient-rich Pacific and Atlantic Sub-Antarctic Waters (waters that lie between 46°– 60° south of the Equator), and cold and nutrient depleted freshwater from Patagonian rivers and glaciers.
Waters that are more saline or that are colder have higher densities. However, as explained in the study, the effect of salinity exceeds the effect of temperature on density within this region, giving rise to strong saline stratification in the mixture of oceanic and freshwater terrestrial environments. This reduces the movement of important species between the benthic (the lowest level) and pelagic (open water) ecosystems in southern Patagonia.
The stratification also reduces upward and downward mixing of ocean water. This reduces carbon fluxes in the region, as the transport of carbon dioxide to deeper parts of the ocean through diffusion across layers occurs more slowly than the circulation of ocean waters with different carbon dioxide concentrations.
The team of scientists embarked on a research cruise in the region in October and November 2010, collecting chemical and biological samples at about forty different stations. Using a variety of techniques, they studied features such as the types and distribution of organic carbon in the waters, and the abundance and diet of E. vallentini. All this was done to better understand the role of E. vallentini in the region’s food web structures and in the transport of carbon to deeper layers of the ocean despite strong stratification.
In conversation with GlacierHub, González stated that “the species of the genus Euphausia (a functional group of zooplankton) play a paramount role in many disparate environments from high to low latitude ecosystems. Euphausia superba in the Southern Ocean and Euphausia mucronata in the Humboldt Current System are some examples.” In this study, González et al. found that E. vallentini play a similarly important role in Southern Chilean Patagonia, consuming a range of plankton from nano- to phytoplankton and forming the dominant prey of several fish, penguin and whale species.
The study also found that E. vallentini play an important role in passive fluxes of carbon through the sequestration of carbon in fast-sinking fecal pellets, or poop. The plankton ingested by E. vallentini takes in carbon dioxide during photosynthesis, and about a quarter of the plankton ingested by E. vallentini is then passed out in fecal matter. These fecal pellets form the dominant component of particulate organic carbon (organic carbon particles that are larger than a certain size) fluxes in the region’s waters, helping to sequester carbon as they sink to the ocean floor.
This process is accelerated by E. vallentini’s vertical diurnal migrations, which occur despite the strong saline stratification of waters in southern Patagonia. Their vertical movements, from deeper parts of the ocean during the day to the surface of the ocean in search of food at night, occurs more quickly than the rate at which their fecal pellets sink, speeding up the transport of carbon to deeper ocean layers. As González explained, “the Patagonian krill [and] the squat lobster (Munida gregaria) are the main species responsible for the carbon export towards deeper layer of the fjords and channels (in southern Patagonia).”
Although scientists from the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resourcesestimate that the total weight of Antarctic krill exceeds that of humans on Earth, they may not be immune from the effects of anthropogenic climate change. Indeed, González stated that a greater input of freshwater to the ocean could reduce nutrient levels in upper layers of the ocean. This will reduce the productivity of fjords and channels, reducing the availability of food for krill, and creating serious implications for the marine ecosystems that they are part of. This research serves as a reminder that biological organisms play an important role in the effects of marine ecosystems on the world’s climate, as they do in terrestrial ecosystems.
|
<urn:uuid:32df7dc8-4ff8-4525-80bc-b1a69c15ae59>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-16
|
https://glacierhub.org/tag/carbon-sink/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370505366.8/warc/CC-MAIN-20200401034127-20200401064127-00340.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.923018 | 4,897 | 3.046875 | 3 |
Much economic analysis concentrates on what is happening within an individual country and, because economic statistics produced by the national statistical agency are expressed in the domestic currency, comparisons can be made easily between different sets of domestic data. However, from time to time, economists are interested in comparing economic data from different countries. In some cases, (e.g. such as comparing the recent growth rate of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Australia with that in the United States of America (USA)) it is fairly easy to do so. In this case, the monetary units in which the underlying data are expressed are not important because it is the rate of growth rather than the level of activity that is being compared. Other types of comparisons are less straightforward. For example, there is often interest in the relative levels of activity between countries or in obtaining an overall total measure of activity for a group of countries such as those in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). It is common to see figures quoted for the level of GDP per capita in countries, as a rough measure of relative economic wellbeing, or an overall growth rate for, say, the whole of the 30 OECD countries. In the former case, the main problem in making the comparison is in adjusting the data expressed in national currency units to a common currency such as the $US. In the latter case, it is necessary to aggregate across different currencies ($A, euro, British pound etc.).
One method of converting economic data from a national currency to a common currency such as the $US is to simply use exchange rates. An exchange rate represents the ‘price’ of a foreign currency (i.e. the number of units of the domestic currency required to purchase one unit of a foreign currency). As such, it is clear it is appropriate to use exchange rates for applications such as calculating the amount of goods and services that could be imported with the proceeds of a particular level of exports or calculating the domestic currency costs of purchasing foreign goods and services abroad. However, in assessing relative standards of living, what is required is a means of comparing the volumes of goods and services actually available to residents of different countries in their own countries. Using exchange rates to convert the national currency values can be misleading because exchange rates are influenced by factors other than relative domestic price levels (e.g. financial flows and interest rate differentials can have a significant effect on exchange rates). In practice, exchange rate based comparisons of poor countries with economically developed countries are systematically biased downwards which has the effect of exaggerating their apparent differences in income. PPPs are specifically designed to provide rates of currency conversion that equalise the internal purchasing power of different currencies. Converting national currencies using PPPs eliminates the effects of different price levels between countries.
The simplest example of a PPP is regularly presented by The Economist magazine, which shows the relative levels of the prices of Big Mac hamburgers between various countries. This form of presentation provides an indication of which countries are ‘expensive’ (i.e. those whose PPP for a Big Mac is higher than the equivalent price based on exchange rates) and those that are ‘cheap’. More sophisticated PPPs are constructed by reference to the relative prices of a much broader range of goods and services.
To calculate PPPs, it is necessary to identify identical goods and services in the countries involved in the comparison and for which prices can be collected. The goods and services concerned need to be representative of the expenditures in each country as well as being comparable between the countries. Tensions arise in identifying products that meet these two criteria, so compromises have to be made in the process.
However, if the quality of a country’s national accounts and/or prices information is poor, then the quality of the PPP statistics for that country will also be poor. It should be noted that poor quality national accounts data will also adversely impact on the quality of exchange rate based comparisons, in addition to the other concerns with this method of comparison that are set out below.
|
<urn:uuid:f5dfd7b0-a493-4007-b41d-0ca4aa55d9c6>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-34
|
https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/[email protected]/bb8db737e2af84b8ca2571780015701e/85AAFF3877F02BF4CA25719A007FEAD2?opendocument
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-34/segments/1596439737645.2/warc/CC-MAIN-20200808110257-20200808140257-00260.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.959062 | 821 | 3.828125 | 4 |
Nova Scotia most government-dominated province in Canada
The COVID outbreak and economic downturn has produced a dramatic increase in government spending across the country. The federal and provincial governments have rolled out a variety of programs aimed to support businesses and individuals through these tumultuous times, in addition to extra public health-related expenses. However, research reveals that even before COVID-19, government spending was growing in Atlantic Canada at a rate that should concern residents.
Our recent study measured government’s growing share of the economy of Atlantic Canada. Consider Nova Scotia. Accounting for all government spending in the province (federal, provincial and municipal), government accounted for 61.6 per cent of all economic activity in the province in 2018. This figure is almost four percentage points higher than in the next closest province (Prince Edward Island) and more than double the figure in Alberta (29.3 per cent).
Further, the share of the economy represented by government spending in Nova Scotia, while historically high, has been growing. In 2007, the first year examined, total government spending as a share of the provincial economy was 56.9 per cent, thereby increasing by almost five percentage points in just over a decade. Of course, spending is only one measure of the size of government and doesn’t take into account regulation and other government interventions. Indeed, governments leave a very large economic footprint in the province.
So why should Nova Scotians care about the size of government?
For starters, the relative size of government in the province significantly exceeds estimates of what is considered an optimal size for maximizing real economic growth. One study of OECD countries covering the early-2000s found that the level of government spending (at all levels) that maximized economic growth was around 26 per cent of the economy, after which the rate of growth declined consistently. In other words, the economies of the industrialized world tend to grow fastest when government spending is around 26 per cent (or so) of the economy. As mentioned above, the relative size of all levels of government in Nova Scotia (pre-COVID) was 61.6 per cent.
Why should government spending have such an effect? What we observe internationally is that many countries have insufficient government, meaning that basic functions of government are absent, such as independent courts, effective policing and basic universal education. The absence of such services impedes economic growth and social progress. When governments provide these necessary services, even if government spending as a share of the economy increases, so too does economic and social progress.
However, going beyond optimal levels (again, 26 per cent to 30 per cent of the economy) usually entails government becoming active in areas where its presence is harmful to economic growth. For instance, governments increasingly focus on redistributing income from certain groups to others, rather than incentivizing economic growth, and begin favouring certain industries and sectors of the economy through corporate welfare and protectionism, which harms productivity and economic growth.
To be sure, governments have other legitimate priorities besides maximizing real economic growth. However, economic growth is certainly an important priority given the linkages between a growing economy, higher living standards and greater overall prosperity. Moreover, economic growth generates tax revenues that finance government’s social programs.
Finally, growth in the size of government is accompanied by deficit-spending and increasing debt. Increased debt today means higher taxes tomorrow. With Nova Scotia already being a relatively high-tax jurisdiction in North America by many measures, additional tax increases will further harm the competitiveness of domestic businesses and discourage investment.
Taken together, these data on the size of government provide important context for the COVID economic recovery. Simply put, the data reveal Nova Scotia to be the most government-dominated province in the country, measured as a share of the economy. With escalating spending and a shrinking private sector due to the pandemic, Nova Scotia’s large size of government should be of growing concern.
History and experience tells us that large government will impede rather than foster economic growth and prosperity.
Subscribe to the Fraser Institute
Get the latest news from the Fraser Institute on the latest research studies, news and events.
|
<urn:uuid:ea5e581a-2847-4b61-b5b6-576832b15d73>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-14
|
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/article/nova-scotia-most-government-dominated-province-in-canada?language=en
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296945248.28/warc/CC-MAIN-20230324051147-20230324081147-00796.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.94957 | 843 | 3.0625 | 3 |
Maybe this is obvious to others, but I hadn’t thought of this particular use of numeric-response clicker questions, shared with me by a humanities professor recently: In a class that deals with history, ask students to identify the year in which a particular event happened using a numeric-response clicker question.
This question type is typically used in math and science classes to have students respond with their answers to open-ended computational questions, but it can just as easily be used in a humanities class to have students respond with dates (e.g. 1776, 2010). Sure, one could ask students to respond to a multiple-choice date question, but the free-response format might surface some wrong answers you wouldn’t predict.
This kind of question isn’t limited to events, of course. You could also ask students to identify the year a piece of literature was written or an artwork was created. This type of question need not be a factual recall question, either. You could present to students a piece of art, for instance, they haven’t likely seen before and ask them to analyze the artwork and estimate when it was created.
Some classroom response systems allow you to set a range for the correct answer to a numeric-response question. With that feature, you could give students a little wiggle room in their answers (“To within 5 years, in what year did X occur?”) or have them respond to the nearest decade.
|
<urn:uuid:ae47a34d-6cad-4c59-a65b-a438b02c1646>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-47
|
http://derekbruff.org/?p=454
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934806317.75/warc/CC-MAIN-20171121055145-20171121075145-00737.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.965841 | 303 | 2.984375 | 3 |
Impossible places - No Admittance, Forbidden places
The last lesson in this module is inspired by the 'The importance of geography' statement in the KS3 Programme of Study. There is a strong element of Citizenship. Human activities have made some parts of the planet uninhabitable. Students undertake independent research into forbidden places using web based tools. They complete a short project and respond creatively to their chosen location. Finally they consider the nature of forbidden places in their local area.
- Why some are places forbidden?
- What would it be like to visit a forbidden place?
- Cultural understanding and diversity
Why are some places forbidden?
Some places are restricted because of past or present military activities. Places may also be forbidden for cultural, political or environmental reasons.
Watch the You Tube video 'Visions of Pripyat'
- Where is it?
- Why is abandoned?
Pripyat is an abandoned city in the ‘Zone of alienation' in northern Ukraine, near the border with Belarus. It was the home to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant workers. It was abandoned in 1986 following the Chernobyl disaster. Its population had been around 50,000.
Use the list of forbidden places.
For each place research to find out:
- Where the place is located (preferably a screenshot from Google Earth/Google Maps)
- Why the place is forbidden
- What special clothes, equipment and permission is required to visit the place
- An image of the place
Read excerpts of your work to rest of the class.
Are there any ‘forbidden places’ in your local area?
Annotate an OS map of your local area to show places where you are made to feel unwelcome or are prohibited from entering.
Mark on the spaces or places where you are made to feel welcome.
|
<urn:uuid:e243fc92-aa4d-4428-b47e-7faf99bb9b51>
|
CC-MAIN-2014-15
|
http://www.rgs.org/OurWork/Schools/Teaching+resources/Key+Stage+3+resources/Impossible+places/No+Admittance+Forbidden+places.htm
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1397609539665.16/warc/CC-MAIN-20140416005219-00607-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.929634 | 378 | 3.515625 | 4 |
Athletic coaches at all levels of competition agree that preparation is key
to success in sports. That’s why coaches compile scouting reports on the
opposition – detailing the other team’s strengths and weaknesses.
By using digital dictation tools and software, coaches may be able to create
a more detailed report, giving their players and teams more of a chance to
The first step in drafting a scouting report is taking notes on the
opposition. With a digital voice recorder, these notes will be more clear and
concise than if the coach jotted them in a notebook. A digital recording
captures exactly what the coach was thinking when observing the other team,
whereas some details are often lost with handwritten notes.
And because the thoughts are saved in a digital file, the coaches can go back
and refresh their memory about what to expect from the other team.
More information about how digital dictation tools and software can benefit a
wide range of industries can be found at American Dictation. The website is
also a leading source for digital dictation and speech recognition tools and
|
<urn:uuid:8b999e0a-daa0-4c58-bc22-f6f04828c4ce>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-39
|
https://www.americandictation.com/coaching-and-digital-dictation-a-winning-combination/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818685912.14/warc/CC-MAIN-20170919164651-20170919184651-00563.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.933879 | 230 | 2.75 | 3 |
We are loading the information that you are looking for...
When a donor signs up with a public bank, the mother must pass a health screening and sign a consent form. After that, the bank processes the application, which makes last-minute donations impossible. However, there are a small number of banks that accept late donor requests.
There are so many things to think about when you have a child. One of them is the blood from your baby’s umbilical cord (which connects the baby to the mother while in the womb). It used to be thrown away at birth, but now, many parents store the blood for the future health of their child. Should you do it?
While all three stem cell sources are used in similar procedures, they each have advantages and drawbacks. Bone marrow transplants are the traditional form of therapy, but peripheral blood cells are becoming more popular, since doctors often get more stem cells from the bloodstream.
Cord blood is used to treat children with cancerous blood disorders such as leukaemia, or genetic blood diseases like Fanconi anaemia. The cord blood is transplanted into the patient, where the HSCs can make new, healthy blood cells to replace those damaged by the patient’s disease or by a medical treatment such as chemotherapy for cancer.
Congratulations to the Marepalli family, this week’s winners of a free year of storage! CBR Clients: Enter for a chance to win by tagging a family photo with #CBRFamilyContest! #MyStemCellsLiveAtCBR pic.twitter.com/RLIx54bLqS
Meet Dylan. Diagnosed with leukemia at just 8 weeks old, he received a life-saving cord blood transplant at 6 months old. Today, Dylan is growing up strong, going to school, travelling with his family and just having fun being a kid!
Current research aims to answer these questions in order to establish whether safe and effective treatments for non-blood diseases could be developed in the future using cord blood. An early clinical trial investigating cord blood treatment of childhood type 1 diabetes was unsuccessful. Other very early stage clinical trials are now exploring the use of cord blood transplants to treat children with brain disorders such as cerebral palsy or traumatic brain injury. However, such trials have not yet shown any positive effects and most scientists believe much more laboratory research is needed to understand how cord blood cells behave and whether they may be useful in these kinds of treatments
Cord blood is collected by your obstetrician or the staff at the hospital where you give birth. Not all hospitals offer this service. Some charge a separate fee that may or may not be covered by insurance.
On average, the transport time for stem cells from the hospital to CBR’s lab is 19 hours. CBR partners with Quick International, a private medical courier service with 30 years of experience in the transportation of blood and tissue for transplant and research.
Sign a consent form to donate. This consent form says that the donated cord blood may be used by any patient needing a transplant. If the cord blood cannot be used for transplantation, it may be used in research studies or thrown away. These studies help future patients have a more successful transplant.
With the consent of the parents, blood can be collected from the umbilical cord of a newborn baby shortly after birth. This does not hurt the baby or the mother in any way, and it is blood that would otherwise be discarded as biological waste along with the placenta (another rich source of stem cells) after the birth.
In this way, cord blood offers a useful alternative to bone marrow transplants for some patients. It is easier to collect than bone marrow and can be stored frozen until it is needed. It also seems to be less likely than bone marrow to cause immune rejection or complications such as Graft versus Host Disease. This means that cord blood does not need to be as perfectly matched to the patient as bone marrow (though some matching is still necessary).
Donating your baby’s cord blood to a public bank is always free. The limitations of the public banking network in the United States are: they only collect donations at large birthing hospitals in ethnically diverse communities, the mother must pass a health screening, they prefer registration by 34 weeks of pregnancy, and they only save the largest cord blood collections. The potential reward of public donation is that your baby could Be The Match to save a life!
Taking time to consider helping another person when you are already busy planning for the birth of your child is greatly appreciated. A gift of cord blood may someday give someone a second chance at life.
‡ Payment Plan Disclosures for in-house CBR 6-Month Plan (interest free) – No credit check required. The 6-month plan requires a $10/month administrative fee. The plans may be prepaid in full at any time.
“This is a medical service that has to be done when your baby’s cells arrive and you certainly want them to be handled by good equipment and good technicians,” says Frances Verter, Ph.D., founder and director of Parent’s Guide to Cord Blood Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to educating parents about cord blood donation and cord blood therapists. “It’s just not going to be cheap.” Although the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) states cord blood has been used to treat certain diseases successfully, there isn’t strong evidence to support cord blood banking. If a family does choose to bank cord blood, the AAP recommends public cord blood banking (instead of private) to reduce costs.
^ a b Walther, Mary Margaret (2009). “Chapter 39. Cord Blood Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation”. In Appelbaum, Frederick R.; Forman, Stephen J.; Negrin, Robert S.; Blume, Karl G. Thomas’ hematopoietic cell transplantation stem cell transplantation (4th ed.). Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell. ISBN 9781444303537.
STEM CELLS are found in cord blood, cord tissue, and placenta tissue. These cells are highly valuable to your baby, the mother, and possibly other family members. When you save these stem cells with Americord®, you ensure that they are securely stored for you and your family’s future needs. Learn more >
Chloe Savannah Metz’ mother donated her baby girl’s cord blood to the NCBP in December 2000. “Many thanks to the New York Blood Center for giving us the opportunity to donate our cord — we hope to give someone a second chance!” – Christine Metz
To prevent graft-versus-host disease and help ensure engraftment, the stem cells being transfused need to match the cells of the patient completely or to a certain degree (depending on what is being treated). Cord blood taken from a baby’s umbilical cord is always a perfect match for the baby. In addition, immediate family members are more likely to also be a match for the banked cord blood. Siblings have a 25 percent chance of being a perfect match and a 50 percent chance of being a partial match. Parents, who each provide half the markers used in matching, have a 100% chance of being a partial match. Even aunts, uncles, grandparents and other extended family members have a higher probability of being a match and could possibly benefit from the banked cord blood. Read more reasons why you should bank cord blood.
Cord blood is used the same way that hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is used to reconstitute bone marrow following radiation treatment for various blood cancers, and for various forms of anemia. Its efficacy is similar as well.
^ Caseiro, AR; Pereira, T; Ivanova, G; Luís, AL; Maurício, AC (2016). “Neuromuscular Regeneration: Perspective on the Application of Mesenchymal Stem Cells and Their Secretion Products”. Stem Cells International. 2016: 9756973. doi:10.1155/2016/9756973. PMC 4736584 . PMID 26880998.
Cord blood, which is harvested from the umbilical cord right after a baby is born, is marketed as a treatment for diseases such as leukemia and sickle cell disease, and as a potential source of cells for regenerative medicine – a cutting-edge field of medicine studying how to repair tissues damaged by everything from heart disease to cerebral palsy.
For example, in the UK the NHS Cord Blood Bank has been collecting and banking altruistically donated umbilical cord blood since 1996. The cord blood in public banks like this is stored indefinitely for possible transplant, and is available for any patient that needs this special tissue type. There is no charge to the donor but the blood is not stored specifically for that person or their family.
Osteopetrosis is a genetic disease, so this means that doctors could use a sibling’s cord blood cells to treat Anthony, but they cannot use his own cells because the disease is in every cell in his body. In fact, a majority of the diseases listed in private banking firms’ marketing material as treatable with stem cells are genetic diseases.
Cord blood contains mesenchymal stem cells but is much more abundant in hematopoietic stem cells. Cord tissue, on the other hand, contains some hematopoietic stem cells but is much richer in mesenchymal stem cells. Cord tissue, or Wharton’s jelly, is the protective layer that covers the umbilical cord’s vein and other vessels. Its MSCs can become a host of cells including those found in the nervous system, sensory organs, circulatory tissues, skin, bone, cartilage, and more. MSCs are currently undergoing clinical trials for sports injuries, heart and kidney disease, ALS, wound healing and autoimmune disease. As with cord blood, cord tissue is easily collected at the type of birth and holds great potential in regenerative medicine. Learn more about cord tissue banking here.
^ a b Ballen, KK; Gluckman, E; Broxmeyer, HE (25 July 2013). “Umbilical cord blood transplantation: the first 25 years and beyond”. Blood. 122 (4): 491–8. doi:10.1182/blood-2013-02-453175. PMC 3952633 . PMID 23673863.
|
<urn:uuid:76694f3a-fadc-4546-8f4e-720855e722db>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-05
|
http://stemcellcordblood.net/english/cord-blood-industry-umbilical-cord-blood-banking-ontario/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579250624328.55/warc/CC-MAIN-20200124161014-20200124190014-00517.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.932642 | 2,195 | 2.828125 | 3 |
One of the major differences between the classroom and its virtual analogue is the mediated contact. Understanding a students in virtual classroom nonverbal communication is very important for tutors. “The key to interpreting body language correctly is situational awareness and an understanding of how people physically express what they’re thinking and feeling.”
Teachers can make eye contact with their students to show that they are interested in how they are doing, but this also goes both ways. Students who are interested in the subject are less likely to look away or have a dull and unfocused expression. In the virtual classroom, due to the mediated contact, teachers will not always be able to assess whether the students are just focusing on a point on the floor, ceiling, or wall, or if they are distracted by something in their surroundings outside the view of the camera. Nevertheless, the eyes easily give away whether or not a student is interested.
- Hack 1: A useful tip for teachers is to ask questions and address them specifically. This is an easy and quite effective way to erase any doubt about whether or not a student is paying attention.
There are however specific circumstances in which eye contact is not acceptable, such as when cultural differences and norms dictate otherwise. For instance, in some Asian cultures looking directly at someone else is considered challenging and, therefore, it is not acceptable for students to look at teachers in this manner. Another factor influencing eye contact could be rooted in an illness that makes it difficult for the student to focus (such are autism, ADHD, and others). Another reason could be age. Young children often avoid eye contact when they are too shy or when they have done something wrong. No matter what the issue is with the student, the reaction of the teacher should always be reassuring and positive.
As a teacher you must also be aware that eye contact may also contain an element of intimidation. There are two disconcerting types of stares: the thousand-yard stare and the target stare. The first consists of an unfocused and unseeing look, while the latter is a narrowed, directly fixed look (often on the chin of a person). These stares show that the student is not mentally present, which should raise red flags for the teacher, especially if combined with other nonverbal cues.
- Hack 2: Just by making eye contact with each student the teacher can receive a lot of information. What are the students’ faces in the virtual classroom saying?
- Are they masklike and unexpressive?
- Are they present and interested?
A frown and dull eyes show that the student is probably not happy to be in class. Often students feel obligated to smile back at the teacher when they are directly looked at. This is a fake smile – it is a sign that the student feels unwell but does not want to share their feelings. A genuine smile, on the other hand, is a sign that the student probably feels engaged in the online tutoring session. Indifferent expressions, as well as excessive blinking, are often a sign of boredom, distress, and fatigue.
Posture and gestures
The position of the body and one’s gestures can reveal a person’s stress level. In the virtual classroom teachers can try to pay attention to the posture of their students. Is it relaxed or stiff and immobile? Research has shown that when one is interested they tend to lean forward in order to hear better. Therefore, a student who is paying attention will usually be sitting up, whereas a student who is bored or disengaged will be slouching.
- Hack 3: A very helpful, albeit unusual, tip is for teachers to encourage stretching. Promoting this type of activity helps with circulation, increases the amount of oxygen, and provides a natural burst of energy.
The arms are yet another very important piece of the body language puzzle. Teachers in the virtual classroom should pay special attention to them because “…Your students’ arms will tell you quite a bit about how the class is receiving your instruction, how they’re feeling about being in the class, and their individual moods. Look at each student’s arms, and then look at the class as a whole for any like behavior.”
Folded arms are usually associated with a closed-off posture, an unwillingness to participate, and an attempt to block out a discussion.
- Hack 4: Open arms are a sign of interest and openness.
A teacher must be aware that young children often fold their arms while mimicking their siblings or as a sign of self-protection. Children also have a tendency to scratch their heads when they are confused.
Intensity, timing and place, and tone of voice
Intensity refers to the attitude of the students towards the online training in which they are participating. Are students cold and disinterested or overwhelming and dramatic? Furthermore, do their nonverbal communication cues fit the surroundings? What is the speed of their body language responses? What does the voice of the student sound like: is it warm, confident, interested or blocked, passive, inactive? All these questions can be answered through careful observation, and they will be very useful for the lecturer.
After spending even a short amount of time with someone it is relatively easy to detect when there is an inconsistency between their verbal and nonverbal communication. Often, when someone overthinks what they are trying to say with words, their gestures are also deliberately slowed down. Another possibility is for the gestures to not match the words; for example, to say something positive but shake your head in a negative manner. Nevertheless, for people who are experienced in the field of social work, detecting such inconsistencies comes rather naturally.
All body language signs should be considered in relation to other signs rather than be judged individually.
- Hack 5: “Don’t read too much into a single gesture or nonverbal cue. Consider all of the nonverbal signals you are receiving, from eye contact to tone of voice and body language. Taken together, are their nonverbal cues consistent-or inconsistent- with what their words are saying?”
|
<urn:uuid:1143fbf7-e8d9-40ec-bd5e-3a11030af5b7>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-23
|
https://www.vedamo.com/knowledge/virtual-classroom-nonverbal-communication/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224648209.30/warc/CC-MAIN-20230601211701-20230602001701-00611.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.957753 | 1,253 | 3.984375 | 4 |
This bibliography contains studies on how in a literary tradition X (the Spectant) certain temperamental characteristics are imputed to a nationality Y (the Spected). (The direction of the observing gaze is indicated by arrowheads: the Spectant> looks at the >Spected. Spectant and Spected are shaded in different colours for the sake of contrast clarity.)
- Choose nationality tags from the Spectant and/or Spected dropdown lists to select relevant secondary literature.
- The Name/Date lists are sortable by author, date, spectant and spected. Filtering keywords (such as author’s names, "race", "exotic") can be entered in the quick-search box.
- Clicking the Name of any item in the list will bring up the full bibliographical reference.
- For theoretical and general articles, use the Spected filter to select the tag [theory] or [general] (at the end of the drop-down list).
- Please bring new or missing publications to our attention; use the submission form. Thank you!
Click here to explore a network graph of the complete bibliography
|
<urn:uuid:6957f6df-5035-4eb8-bb78-07f9a4a4e3f1>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-24
|
https://imagologica.eu/bibliography
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-24/segments/1590347391923.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20200526222359-20200527012359-00195.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.868416 | 239 | 2.546875 | 3 |
The Puritans were a group of reformers who sought to purify the practices of the Church of England. The Bible translated from Latin was one concession James was willing to make to pacify them. Nine years later they took it with them to the New World.
The King James Version of the Bible made a profound and lasting mark on English-speaking nations. Its words have echoed from pulpits around the world and from space: “In the beginning God created heaven and earth.”
In the middle of the 20th Century some clamor arose about the antique language and difficult passages. I actually guess in my childish mind I agreed with the pastor who proudly proclaimed: “If it was good enough for the Apostle Paul, it’s good enough for me.” I thought the Bible was the KJV and any changes would be sacrilege.
As I matured and grasped the enormous importance of having the Bible available in the common language, I simultaneously came to appreciate the grandeur of the King James English. Now we have a huge variety of modern English translations with some adaptations to slang and vernacular speech. I often use other versions when I study a difficult passage. Sometimes I even like to go back to the Vulgate.
I return to the magnificant tones of the KJV for reading and for poetic emphasis. KJV is largely metered in the easy iambic rhythm that lends itself to reading aloud. Phrases like, “And so it was that while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered…,” have become a staple in our language.Perhaps because the KJV was the Bible of my childhood, and that is the version I memorized, I enjoy reading about the impact it has had on the our society and the world at large.
|
<urn:uuid:ce29dfcf-9ff2-429f-821e-7cc0a0adc7ef>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-39
|
http://keres-thingsmymothertoldme.blogspot.com/2012/02/400th-anniversary-of-king-james-bobe.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818690035.53/warc/CC-MAIN-20170924152911-20170924172911-00560.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.976587 | 372 | 2.8125 | 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|
Typhoid is one of the sot common types of illnesses that are prevalent ion the world and it is caused by the salmonella typhi bacterium. In the United States alone, nearly four hundred cases of typhoid are diagnosed every single year. That is very low compared to several Southeast Asian countries and Africa.
The main reason for typhoid to occur is poor sanitation conditions. When the sanitation procedures are bad, the water gets contaminated by feces, and when people drink such water they get diseases like typhoid.
The symptoms of typhoid are extreme, and it causes fever for an indefinite period of time. A person can get fever for as many as 14 days. The fever decreases in the morning and increases to very high levels during the nights. It also causes chills in the body headaches, muscle pain, joint aches and many more symptoms. It can also cause constipation or diarrhea, including dehydration.
Typhoid is also a highly contagious disease. If one person in the family has it, they can easily spread the disease to another person through mucus and exchange of saliva, and through cough or cold. This particular bacterium also can be spread only by humans as it lives only in humans. The bacterium gets into the intestinal tract of the person and then it affects the bowels. Even when a person has completely recovered from typhoid, they may be still carrying the bacteria. Also, they shed these bacteria in their stools. That is one of the reasons why poor sanitation and hygiene procedures lead to increase in the number of cases of typhoid fever.
More Articles :
|
<urn:uuid:290ff1a5-59d7-4d57-b5af-a71385fc5373>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-14
|
https://rocketswag.com/health/disease/t/typhoid/How-Is-Typhoid-Spread.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296943749.68/warc/CC-MAIN-20230322020215-20230322050215-00341.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.966097 | 355 | 3.578125 | 4 |
Epidemics have been a persistent threat to humanity throughout our history. From the earliest plagues to the most recent COVID-19, they all emerge unexpectedly and ask a hefty price from society. We are used to battling them and scrambling for solutions, but there is something we are not seeing. Is there no way to predict epidemics? Would it be possible to find them before they find us? What are we yet to learn from our history and what does disease evolution teach us? Join Dr. Orsolya Bajer-Molnár’s talk to see how COVID19 is only one of many, and find out how we could make the many a lot less.
Orsolya Bajer-Molnár is an evolutionary biologist at the Konrad Lorenz Institute in Vienna. She studied the physiological effects of climate change at Dartmouth College, US and then parasite evolution in Brazil. Science communication has played a central role to Orsolya’s life, especially on establishing collaboration between scientists and stakeholders in an effort to prevent future outbreaks. She gives TEDx talks, is a frequent guest in the media and was a finalist in FameLab Hungary 2018.
In English, interpretation to Bulgarian provided.
The event will be broadcast live online only in front of the audience at Sofia Tech Park..
In partnership with Hungarian Cultural Institute.
Due to the epidemic situation, changes in the programme may occur – both in the dates and times of the events and in the mode of delivery (digital or live). Please follow the festival page for the latest information.
|
<urn:uuid:0c60d4d3-8998-44f6-8f9a-518c7208aad6>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-40
|
https://www.britishcouncil.bg/en/sofia-science-festival/programme/events/2021/now-you-see-me-now-you-don%E2%80%99t
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233506676.95/warc/CC-MAIN-20230925015430-20230925045430-00667.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.944979 | 327 | 2.796875 | 3 |
When older adults experience medical complications, an additional side effect is decreased independence. Older adults are often taken to caregiving facilities, where they depend on external aid and support. Even when they continue to live in their homes, frequent medical visits can become disruptive and overturn their daily lives.
Luckily, digital healthcare solutions are paving the way for increased independence among the elderly. New technologies assess and monitor health from the comfort of the home, allowing people to continue caring for themselves, maintain their day-to-day hobbies, and live in the home of their choice.
Here are some of the ways digital solutions bolster the independence of older adults:
Supporting hobbies and daily routines
Remote care technologies enable older adults to live without disruption, whether they want to go on a walk, take care of the garden, or host family members for visits. Because a decline in memory is one of the most common concerns among the elderly -and one of the biggest factors leading to decreased independence- healthcare technologies are emerging that specifically target cognitive health.
MyndYou, for example, connects older adults with remote therapists and uses machine learning and artificial intelligence to monitor their cognitive and behavioral functioning, both within and between sessions. This reduces the need to drive to in-person therapy appointments while helping prevent a decline in cognition and preserve routine independence. As a result, older adults are able to continue their daily routines uninterrupted without compromising on their cognitive health.
Aiding with reminders
Other technologies address the concern of cognitive decline by providing reminders–particularly when it comes to medication. Some, like Medisafe Medication Reminder, take the form of smartphone apps. The easy-to-use app helps the elderly by tracking prescriptions and reminding people when they need to refill.
Another technology, MedMinder, is a smart pill dispenser that sends out digital reminders using a series of lights and beeps. The device can even be used to make phone calls and issue medical alerts in the event of an emergency.
Together, these tools and others ensure that the elderly are adequately addressing their medical needs–all from the home environment.
Making homes safer and smarter
Other technologies help older adults by letting them remain longer in the home of their choice. Home disaster prevention technologies help older adults stay safe from physical accidents.
One such technology is Inirv React, which automatically turns off stoves when not in use. The Kickstarter project, which is still in its beta stage, keeps people safe by letting them control the stove from their smartphones and by reacting to levels of smoke, natural gas, and motion in the kitchen.
An even more ambitious project, called the Aware Home, is equipped with various sensors and data analytics tools to monitor the physical health of the resident. Developed by researchers at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, the 5,000 square foot home includes a smart hallway that uses gait-sensing technology to analyze residents’ walking patterns. By indicating the steadiness of a person’s walk or changes in his or her walking patterns, the smart hallway can determine whether that person might need medical attention and alert family members and caregivers accordingly.
Companionship is an important part of the mental health and wellbeing of older adults. New technologies provide home companions and assistants in the form of advanced robots.
Support robots are increasingly popular in Japan, where more than 28% of the population is 65 and over. These robots are helping seniors stay happy, active, and social, enabling them to lead less solitary lives and boosting their mental health as a result.
The Care-o-bot, which has already been installed in several German assisted living facilities, brings the elderly food and drinks from the kitchen and engages them in memory games to keep their minds sharp. The smart robot moves around independently, helps the elderly with chores around the house, and even makes sure they drink enough water each day.
Another companion robot is BUDDY, which provides social interaction and assistance. The robot detects unusual activity, such as falls, provides reminders about medications and upcoming events, eases loneliness with regular communication, and even connects residents with communication technology such as Skype or Facetime.
Keeping family members in the loop
IoT technologies that target health–such as fitness tracking devices–also help older adults safely go about their daily activities by keeping family members informed.
Devices like FitBit can be connected to family members’ smartphones, enabling children, grandchildren, or caregivers to monitor older adults’ health without interrupting their day-to-day lives. This way, older adults can continue to go about their hobbies while passively keeping family members aware and engaged.
At the end of the day, these technologies are about enabling independence by making life easier–all while bringing peace of mind to family members and caregivers.
|
<urn:uuid:9df7f7a6-6bdd-47c4-bd34-41c1ea3b0c9c>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-16
|
https://www.medicalopedia.org/8169/how-digital-healthcare-solutions-can-help-older-adults-stay-independent/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370497309.31/warc/CC-MAIN-20200330212722-20200331002722-00264.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.94976 | 971 | 2.609375 | 3 |
The Thirty Years' War, 1618-48
The anti-Habsburg rebellions reflected the rising tensions between Catholics and Protestants in the early 1600s. Proponents of the Counter-Reformation, often operating under Habsburg protection, were reaping the fruits of a generation of work: monastic life was reviving, Catholic intellectual life was regaining confidence, and prominent figures were returning to the Catholic Church. As a result, Protestants were increasingly on the defensive. The German princes split into two military camps based on religious affiliation: the Evangelical Union and the Catholic League.
In August 1619, a Bohemian diet elected as king the Protestant elector-prince of the Palatinate, Frederick V, and the conclave of elector-princes elected Ferdinand II (r. 1619-37) Holy Roman Emperor. On November 8, 1620, a force combining troops from the Catholic League and the imperial army decisively defeated Frederick V's largely mercenary force at the Battle of White Mountain. Throughout the 1620s, the combined imperial and Catholic forces maintained the offensive in Germany, enabling Ferdinand to establish his authority in the Hereditary Lands, Bohemia, and Hungary.
Equating Protestantism with disloyalty, Ferdinand imposed religious restrictions throughout the Hereditary Lands. In 1627 he implemented a long-planned decree to make Bohemia a one-confession state: Protestants were given six months to convert or leave the country. In the face of a strong Hungarian nationalist movement headed by the Calvinist prince of Transylvania, however, Ferdinand could maintain his hold on Royal Hungary only by confirming guarantees of religious freedom.
Foreign intervention by Denmark, Sweden, and France kept Ferdinand from bringing the war to a conclusion through military power and also frustrated his efforts in the mid-1630s to reach a compromise with the Protestant German princes. The subsequent military campaigns of the Thirty Years' War, however, only marginally affected those portions of the Habsburg territories that are part of modern Austria.
|Country Studies main page | Austria Country Studies main page|
|
<urn:uuid:89b0d9d7-b8d3-4dcc-8971-aac517161faa>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-30
|
http://country-studies.com/austria/the-thirty-years'-war,-1618-48.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-30/segments/1500549423809.62/warc/CC-MAIN-20170721202430-20170721222430-00553.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.952766 | 421 | 4.15625 | 4 |
An insightful human being once said, “Religion is the opiate of the masses.”
Some may find this statement to be a gross generalisation and therefore easily ignored.
Others may find this statement to be insulting, sacrilegious or downright inflammatory.
The truth of the matter is that this statement need not initiate either response.
Let us analyse this statement as a combination of words put together to propose a complete idea.
First, let us look at the use of the word “opiate”.
Opiate is defined as:
1. a drug containing opium or its derivatives, used in medicine for inducing sleep and relieving pain.
2.? any sedative, soporific, or narcotic.
3.? anything that causes dullness or inaction or that soothes the feelings.
4.? mixed or prepared with opium.
5.? inducing sleep; soporific; narcotic.
6.? causing dullness or inaction.
–verb (used with object)
7.? to subject to an opiate; stupefy.
8.? to dull or deaden.
Taken at its coarsest level, the statement can be read as “Religion is the ‘sedative’ or ‘pain relief’ of the masses”.
Now, is this that far from the truth?
What is religion cited by the ‘faithful’ as providing?
Solice. Strength in time of need. An end to suffering.
Are these not also the outcomes of taking a sedative, or pain killer, such as an opiate?
So, in its most rudimentary logical form, this statement is proven true by the very religions that balk at its straightforward coarseness.
Taking this analysis a step further, let us assume a different meaning for opiate, to ‘stupefy’ or ‘dull or deaden’.
This would change the statement to read “Religion is the ‘stupefication’, ‘dulling’ or ‘deadening’ of the masses”.
Would this statement not satisfy the most hard line agnostic in their belief that religion is a source of control by the few over the many?
So, instead of inciting anger from both quarters, should this statement that “Religion is the opiate of the masses” be celebrated as the most splendid modern statement to be made about religion.
This statement is elegantly neutral, allowing both extremes to feed unilaterally from the same trough.
So why do members of both courts find it so hard to accept this statement as ‘real enough’?
Why should it cause friction on both sides of the fence, even as the intellectual who stated it first is trying to placate the friction while laying bear the ludicrousness of the situation?
Because both parties, the hard line ‘fundamentalists’ in both camps, want to hold the ‘hard line’. Neither side wishes for a softening. They want the friction. It is how they survive.
When the BNP say they will march in an Asian neighbourhood, but do not show up to do battle with the locals who have justifiably come out in force to defend their homes and families from the white supremacists, do the locals head home happy with their bloodless victory? No, they fight the police who have come to keep the peace.
Not because any one race, creed or religion is more or less violent or more or less wrong than another.
This happens because we are all humans, rubbing each other the wrong way all day long, in every situation.
How is the one-sided riot any different from the commuters shoving and pushing, swearing and spitting, to get onto an already crowded train?
I will tell you – it is not.
We are all in this together.
And the truth that statements such as “Religion is the opiate of the masses” point out is that even when you please everyone and give them what they want, it is not enough.
We are all at fault. If we are not the hard liners, we do not attempt to soften their edges, to help them see this is one boat, one ship and that we are all one race – the human race.
We can sink or swim altogether.
It is up to us. That is one lesson it seems that no fundamentalist has learnt yet, neither from the religious nor from the rationalist perspective.
We are all the blind leading the blind.
When will we open our eyes and see?Tweet
|
<urn:uuid:bbeda3f1-ed56-4fd3-812d-de20df262b5e>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-39
|
http://www.darkerzeus.com/2010/09/14/religion-is-the-opiate-of-the-masses/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-39/segments/1505818688208.1/warc/CC-MAIN-20170922041015-20170922061015-00059.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.94432 | 964 | 2.96875 | 3 |
Activities for Successful Spelling
The Essential Guide
Routledge – 2008 – 408 pages
This highly practical activity workbook is linked to the core text How to Manage Spelling Successfully and has been designed to support dyslexic students practise the spelling strategies and methods recommended in that book.
This activity book can be used separately, or as part of an integrated programme for building students' spelling skills at home or at school. Suitable for mainstream classrooms, pupils undertaking additional literacy support in small groups, and for one-to-one teaching of individuals with specific learning difficulties including dyslexia, this excellent resource contains activities suitable for use at different stages of development, and for use with adults as well as school students.
Each section contains a range of multi-sensory activities, including word searches, simple crossword puzzles and dictation exercises. This is an essential classroom companion for anyone helping struggling spellers.
'This is a versatile resource suitable for use with whole class, small groups or one-to-one. The range of activities makes it appropriate for children or adults seeking to improve their literacy skills, those with specific difficulties or those with English as a second language.' - Dyslexia Contact, British Dyslexia Association
'The Activities book will keep you in starters and lesson ideas, enabling you to structure and build on pupils' spelling skills.' - The Teacher. National Union of Teachers
Introduction 1. How to Manage Phonics Plainly and Simply 2. How to Manage Syllables Successfully 3. How to Manage Plurals Painlessly 4. How to Manage Homophones Happily 5. How to Manage Root Words, Prefixes and Suffixes Skilfully
|
<urn:uuid:b3b8b387-1b15-4f17-b1e5-506021d2c007>
|
CC-MAIN-2014-15
|
http://www.routledge.com/books/details/9780415385749/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-15/segments/1397609539493.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20140416005219-00242-ip-10-147-4-33.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.929083 | 353 | 4.0625 | 4 |
As previously noted, ionizing radiation is ubiquitous and all living things are, and have always been, exposed to naturally occurring radiation and radioactivity. Moreover, natural background levels of radiation vary widely from place to place; levels of radioactivity in soils, sediments, or pathways of exposure may result in elevated intake of natural radionuclides by biota. In this respect, it is important to understand that there may be practical difficulties in establishing protection criteria for radiation which is ubiquitous in the natural environment in comparison to many chemicals that are not naturally occurring.
In addition, nonhuman biota are exposed to external radiation from sources outside of the organism and from radiation arising from radionuclides taken into the organism. As noted earlier, many simplifying assumptions are needed to allow a practical estimation of doses from external and internal radiation, one example being the common assumption that radionuclides taken into the organism are uniformly distributed throughout the organism. Such assumptions introduce uncertainty into the assessment of risks to nonhuman biota.
Further uncertainty arises from the selection of a reference dose rate below which population-level effects are unlikely. As discussed in an earlier section, such data are not available for all biota and endpoints and professional judgments must be made to select the appropriate reference dose rate. At this time, the reference dose rates established by UNSCEAR are suggested for use in ecological risk assessments.
Recently, the European Community Sixth Framework Programme project ERICA (Environmental Risks from Ionizing Contaminants Assessment and Management), the successor to the FASSET project, adopted an ERA tiered methodology that requires risk assessment screening dose rate values for the risk characterization within tiers 1 and 2. ERICA adopted a 10 pGyh-1 screening dose rate based on the analysis of the chronic exposure data and incorporating safety factors.
The concept of an SI is widely used as the basis for risk assessment. Such an evaluation can be done using either very conservative assumptions about exposure or with more realistic assumptions about exposure conditions in a stepwise manner depending on the type of risk assessment. The key to the stepwise (tiered or graded) approach is to progress from a very conservative screen and, if necessary, move progressively to more realistic and less conservative assessments. The caveat in the process is that as one moves to more realistic assessment, there is an increasing demand for data and evaluations that involve detailed site-specific models.
ERAs are expected to continue evolving in light of recent developmental work (such as the ERICA project), the forthcoming update of the UNSCEAR report on effects of ionizing radiation on nonhuman biota, and further developments by ICRP in this area of emerging expertise. Moreover, the IAEA coordination group on the radiological protection of the environment provides a relevant platform for discussions about the international acceptance and harmonization of these developments as they arise. Although still under development, such approaches may find increasing utility in the future.
See also: Dose-Response.
Was this article helpful?
Learning About 10 Ways Fight Off Cancer Can Have Amazing Benefits For Your Life The Best Tips On How To Keep This Killer At Bay Discovering that you or a loved one has cancer can be utterly terrifying. All the same, once you comprehend the causes of cancer and learn how to reverse those causes, you or your loved one may have more than a fighting chance of beating out cancer.
|
<urn:uuid:f2b7fcb7-a461-43dd-8304-334b06c75d62>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-10
|
https://www.ecologycenter.us/population-dynamics-2/final-comments.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-10/segments/1581875143635.54/warc/CC-MAIN-20200218055414-20200218085414-00193.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.928395 | 686 | 2.859375 | 3 |
Do you feel dizzy when you sit up in bed or after lying down? Does turning your head when you walk throw you off balance? If yes, you may need a Physical Therapist that is a specialist in treating balance problems and dizziness. This type of physical therapy is called Vestibular Rehabilitation.
Vestibular Physical Therapy is an area of specialty that requires additional training and certification above and beyond the Doctorate of Physical Therapy Degree. Some common vestibular disorders that can respond to physical therapy treatment include Vestibular Neuritis, Ménière’s disease and Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo.
At Empower Physical Therapy we employ many Vestibular specialists at several of our clinics. Please search our locations to find a Vestibular Physical Therapist near you.
The most common vestibular disorder is called Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo or BPPV. BPPV is characterized by temporary dizziness associated with blurred vision in relation to certain head positions. The reason the dizziness occurs with head movement is because you have small crystals in your ear that can become dislodged for unknown reasons. These crystals then become loose in either your anterior, posterior or medial semi-circular canals. These canals contain fluid and hair that senses the position of your head in space. When the crystals become dislodged and are floating in these canals then it causes dizziness when the head is moved. BPPV typically happens to individuals over 50 years of age.
A certified certified physical therapist can help in the treatment of vertigo by performing one of many manual therapy treatment options. The most common is the The Epley Maneuver which is very effective often with one attempt.
The Epley Maneuver is simple to perform with the help of a doctor of physical therapy. During the Epley Manuever, the patient is seated and the physical therapist turns the patient's head forty-five degrees horizontally, toward the ear that is causing the vertigo symptoms. Then the patient is tilted backward into a completely horizontal position, keeping the head tilted toward the affected ear. The patient then is held in this position for roughly a minute and a half, or until the sensation of vertigo subsides. Finally, the physical therapist will roll the patient toward and onto the affected ear. This maneuver should only be performed by a health care professional with advanced training in vestibular rehabilitation.
Not one treatment works for everyone with Vestibular Conditions. Other treatments your physical therapist may implement may include but are not limited to:
|
<urn:uuid:e7284567-1eb4-43a7-a6d3-098c6fc296dc>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-23
|
https://empowerpt.com/our_services/vestibular-rehabilitation/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224656869.87/warc/CC-MAIN-20230609233952-20230610023952-00085.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.94278 | 532 | 2.578125 | 3 |
Girmit Events in Summary
The Indian indenture system started from the end of slavery in 1834 and continued until 1920, when thousands of Indians were transported to various colonies of European powers to provide labour for the (mainly sugar) plantations, under the indenture system. Indians had been employed for a long time on the European ships trading in India and the East Indies. Colonial British Indian Government Regulations of 1837 laid down specific conditions for the dispatch of Indian labour from Calcutta. The intending emigrant and the emigration agent were required to appear before an officer designated by the Colonial British Government of India with a written statement of the terms of the contract. The length of service was to be of five years, renewable for further five-year terms. The emigrant was to be returned at the end of service to the port of departure. The vessel taking the emigrants was required to conform to certain standards of space, diet etc. and carry a medical officer.
Colonial British Indian Indentured Labour Transportation by Country
Arrival Under the Indenture System
The colonial authorities promoted the sugar cane industry, recognizing the need to establish a stable economic base for the colony, but were unwilling to exploit indigenous labour and threaten the Fijian way of life. The use of imported labour from the Solomon Islands and what is now Vanuatu generated protests in the United Kingdom, and the Governor Sir Arthur Hamilton-Gordon decided to implement the indentured labour scheme, which had existed in the British Empire since 1837. A recruiting office was set up in Calcutta, followed by another in Madras in 1902. These offices were used to recruit labourers under the impression that Fiji was just over the horizon when in fact it was 1000′s of kilometres away. A lot of people were kidnapped and brought over with false documents while some came under their own will.
The Leonidas, a labour transport vessel, disembarked at Levuka from Calcutta on 14 May 1879. The 463 indentured servants who disembarked were the first of over 61,000 to arrive from the South Asia over the following 37 years. More than 70% were from the districts of eastern United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh) and Bihar, such as Basti, Gonda, and Faizabad. Another quarter came from the emigration prone districts of Madras Presidency (now Tamil Nadu and part of Andhra Pradesh) in South India such as North Arcot, Chingleput, and Madras (now Chennai)
There were smaller numbers from Punjab, Kashmir, Haryana, and other parts of India.
Indian Indenture Ships to Fiji
Between 1879 and 1916, a total of 42 ships made 87 voyages, carrying Indian indentured labourers to Fiji. Initially the ships brought labourers from Calcutta, but from 1903 all ships except two also brought labourers from Madras.
From the early 1900s, Indians started arriving in Fiji as free agents. Many of these paid their own way and had previously served in Fiji or other British colonies or had been born in Fiji. Amongst the early free migrants, there were religious teachers, missionaries and at least one lawyer. The government and other employers brought clerks, policemen, artisans, gardeners, experienced agricultural workers, a doctor and a school teacher. Punjabi farmers and Gujarati craftsmen also paid their own way to Fiji and in later year years formed an influential minority amongst the Fiji Indians.
A total of 60,965 passengers left India but 60,553 (including births at sea) arrived in Fiji. A total of 45,439 boarded ships in Calcutta and 15,114 in Madras. Sailing ships took, on average, seventy-three days for the trip while steamers took 30 days. The shipping companies associated with the labour trade were Nourse Line and British-India Steam Navigation Company.
The most important man on these ships was the Surgeon-Superintendent, who supervised the medical care, ventilation, clothing, cleanliness and exercise of the passengers and his authority extended over the Captain. He inspected the stores before departure and reported on any defects during the trip. The Surgeon-Superintendent also intervened to prevent passengers from being mistreated by the crew. He was paid a bonus for each laborer landed alive. The table below shows brief details of the two ships, Howrah and Rhone II.
List of Ships to Fiji
List of Ship Charters
Extracted from the BBC Documentary – “Coolies – How Britain reinvented Slavery
Indian indenture system. (2012, May 8). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 11:34, July 8, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Indian_indenture_system&oldid=491350666
|
<urn:uuid:af0ec141-9475-4310-b492-1eb6703ce0bf>
|
CC-MAIN-2014-23
|
http://girmitunited.org/girmit/?page_id=816
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1406510267824.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20140728011747-00199-ip-10-146-231-18.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.968082 | 989 | 3.875 | 4 |
What are the risks of being underweight?
Being underweight can represent as many health concerns to an individual as being overweight can. If a person is underweight, their body may not be getting the nutrients it needs to build healthy bones, skin, and hair.
While some people may have a genetic background or a medical illness that prevents them from putting on weight, there are interventions doctors can recommend to help a person gain weight.
In this article, we look at ways to tell if you are underweight, causes, treatments, and when to see a doctor.
When is a person underweight?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend people use a body mass index (BMI) to calculate if they are underweight, at a healthy weight, or overweight.
Using the BMI is considered a good measure of a person’s weight because it compares their weight to their height. For example, a 170-pound person may not be overweight if they are very tall but could be overweight if they are very short.
A person can calculate their BMI by visiting the CDC’s Adult BMI Calculator. Ranges for BMI include:
- Underweight:less than 18.5
- Normal/healthy weight:5 to 24.9
- Overweight:0 to 29.9
- Obese:30 or higher
These calculations may be slightly inaccurate for a person who is an elite or endurance athlete whose body has a significant amount of muscle. This is because muscle weighs more than fat.
Risks of being underweight
Being underweight can cause health problems, just as being overweight can.
Not all people who are underweight experience adverse side effects or symptoms from being underweight. However, some people, experience the following symptoms related to being underweight:
- According to a 2016 study, being underweight increases a woman’s risk of osteoporosis, which is where the bones are brittle and more prone to breaking.
- Skin, hair, or teeth problems.If a person does not get enough nutrients in their daily diet, they may display physical symptoms, such as thinning skin, hair loss, dry skin, or poor dental health.
- Getting sick frequently.If a person does not get enough energy from their diet to maintain a healthy body weight, they may also not be getting enough nutrients to fight off infections. As a result, a person may get sick more frequently, and common illnesses, such as a cold, can last longer than they usually would.
- Feeling tired all the time.Calories are a measurement of the energy a particular food can give a person. Not getting enough calories to maintain a healthy weight can make a person feel fatigued.
- A person who is underweight is more likely to have low blood counts, known as anemia, which causes dizziness, headaches, and fatigue.
- Irregular periods.Women who are underweight may not have regular periods, they may find menstruation stops, or an adolescent’s first period may be delayed or absent. Irregular or absent menstruation can cause infertility.
- Premature births.According to a study published in An International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, a woman who is pregnant and underweight is at a higher risk for pre-term labor, which means having a baby before 37 weeks.
- Slow or impaired growth.Young people need nutrients to grow and develop healthy bones. Being underweight and not getting enough calories could mean a person may not develop as expected. Doctors call this a ‘failure to thrive.’
According to a study published in the journal BMC Public Health, being underweight is associated with an increased risk for mortality when compared to people with an average BMI. The researchers suggested that being underweight may impair a person’s healing processes following an accident or trauma compared to a person with an average BMI.
There are a variety of reasons why a person may be underweight. Sometimes, multiple underlying causes may be related. Causes of being underweight include:
- Family history.Some people have a naturally low BMI due to physical characteristics that run in their family.
- A high metabolism.If a person has a high metabolism, they may not gain much weight even when eating high-energy foods.
- Frequent physical activity.Athletes or people who engage in high levels of physical activity, such as runners, may burn significant amounts of calories that result in low body weight.
- Physical illness or chronic disease.Some disease types can cause regular nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, making it difficult to gain weight. Other conditions may decrease a person’s appetite, so they do not feel like eating. Examples include cancer, diabetes, thyroid disorders, and digestive conditions, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.
- Mental illness.Poor mental health can affect a person’s ability to eat, including depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and eating disorders, such as anemia and bulimia. Each of these conditions can affect a person’s body image and appetite.
A doctor can help a person identify the cause of their low BMI and recommend a treatment plan that allows them to gain weight healthfully.
If a person is underweight, there are various healthful weight-gain methods that they can try.
A person can gain weight by following a healthful diet that incorporates nutritious calorie-dense foods. A doctor may recommend a person tries a specific diet for weight gain or refer them to a dietitian, who can help a person develop a diet plan that works for them.
Some key components of a diet for weight gain may include:
- Adding snacks.High-protein and whole-grain carbohydrate snacks can help a person gain weight. Examples include peanut butter crackers, protein bars, trail mix, pita chips and hummus, or a handful of almonds.
- Eating several small meals a day.Sometimes a person may be underweight because they cannot tolerate eating large meals. Instead, a person can eat several small meals throughout the day.
- Incorporating additional foods.A person can add calorie-dense food sources to their existing diet, such as putting slivered almonds on top of cereal or yogurt, sunflower or chia seeds on a salad or soup, or nut butter on whole-grain toast.
- Avoiding empty calories.Eating high-calorie foods may cause a person to gain weight, but they also have excess fats that could affect a person’s heart and blood vessels. A person should avoid foods that are high in sugar and salt.
Doctors may also prescribe anti-nausea medications or appetite stimulants to help a person who is underweight gain weight whenever possible. Doctors will usually only prescribe these treatments when at-home treatments have not worked.
When to see a doctor
A person should see their doctor if they have tried to gain weight but have not been able to. Anyone who is experiencing any effects of ill health due to being unable to gain weight, such as missed periods or infertility, should also see a doctor.
If a person struggles with mental illness or an eating disorder, it is essential they seek professional help. Unfortunately, a person may not always recognize their behavior is a problem.
Some of the symptoms associated with eating disorders include:
- secretive behavior
- sudden, unexplained weight loss
- refusal to attend family or social events
- appearing fatigued
- refusing to eat in front of others
If a person has these symptoms, their friends or family members should encourage them to seek professional help from a doctor or therapist.
|
<urn:uuid:8dd01771-f132-425a-ab1c-06c8003fd07e>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-16
|
https://chaivf.com/what-are-the-risks-of-being-underweight/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585370521876.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20200404103932-20200404133932-00027.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.956661 | 1,582 | 3.5 | 4 |
The Montessori approach offers a broad vision of education as an aid to life. It is designed to help children with their task of inner construction as they grow from childhood to maturity. It succeeds because it draws its principles from the natural development of the child. Its flexibility provides a matrix within which each individual child’s inner directives freely guide the child toward wholesome growth.
Montessori classrooms provide a prepared environment where children are free to respond to their natural tendency to work. The children’s innate passion for learning is encouraged by giving them opportunities to engage in spontaneous, purposeful activities with the guidance of a trained adult. Through their work, the children develop concentration and joyful self-discipline. Within a framework of order, the children progress at their own pace and rhythm, according to their individual capabilities.
The transformation of children from birth to adulthood occurs through a series of developmental planes. Montessori practice changes in scope and manner to embrace the child’s changing characteristics and interests.
- The first plane of development occurs from birth to age six. At this stage, children are sensorial explorers, constructing their intellects by absorbing every aspect of their environment, their language and their culture.
- From age 6 to 12, children become conceptual explorers. They develop their powers of abstraction and imagination, and apply their knowledge to discover and expand their worlds further.
- The years between 12 and 18 see the children become humanistic explorers, seeking to understand their place in society and their opportunity to contribute to it.
- From 18 to 24, as young adults, they become specialized explorers, seeking a niche from which to contribute to universal dialogue.
“I have studied the child. I have taken what the child has given me and expressed it and that is what is called the Montessori method.”
|
<urn:uuid:c4a8d6da-6b43-4471-a4ac-f784befef9d2>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-14
|
http://ihmontessori.com/montessori-overview/the-montessori-approach/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296945144.17/warc/CC-MAIN-20230323100829-20230323130829-00372.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.967279 | 373 | 3.96875 | 4 |
About this course
The subject of this course is the exploration of microbiological opportunities to recover resources within Environmental Technology, thereby closing material cycles with minimal losses. Thermodynamic, microbiological and biotechnological unified principles are used to assess the viability of those opportunities for application in practice. Viable opportunities are developed into technological concepts working at optimal energy conditions.
After successful completion of this course students are expected to be able to:
- assess the thermodynamic feasibility of biological reactions for resources recovery under actual conditions;
- assess the microbial biomass yield of biological reactions for resources recovery;
- evaluate substrate properties (toxicity, bioavailability, biodegradability) for their effect on biological processes for resource recovery;
- calculate the dimensions of bioreactors used for resource recovery;
- explain biofilm theory and use the equations involved;
- explain how biological processes can be used to produce recyclable crystals and minerals, and be able to use the involved mathematical relationships;
- use the acquired knowledge to design a biological process to steer the microbial competition for substrates in mixed cultures in such a way that desired reactions occur.
ETE24804 Fundamentals of Environmental Technology + PCC21802 Introductory Thermodynamics or comparable.
- CreditsECTS 6
- Contact coordinator
|
<urn:uuid:f2577287-422c-4f63-b1de-113ea7f96e4e>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-40
|
https://eduxchange.nl/for-students-uu/catalog-wur/courses/biological-proces.-for-resource-recovery_2b09d7df-7c2c-48ff-ae7d-ec2f03002e05
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233506623.27/warc/CC-MAIN-20230924055210-20230924085210-00650.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.841154 | 283 | 2.921875 | 3 |
The Cowboy Figure
The figure of the cowboy is prominent, not only in America’s history, but also in contemporary society. The cowboy has always been regarded as the epitome of freedom, machismo and individuality, and his character maintains a certain romantic quality about it. Riding the range with his trusty horse, forging the frontier, and exposing himself to the mercy of the wilderness, the cowboy lives for himself alone and yet he lives the life about which the rest of society can only fantasize. The cowboy, fearless hero of the West, has become a cultural icon. One literary critic, Sara Spurgeon, sums up the cowboy fantasy by saying that:
the figure of the cowboy personifies America’s most cherished myths--combining ideas of American exceptionalism, Manifest Destiny, rugged individualism, frontier democracy, and communion with and conquest of the natural world…The icon of the sacred cowboy is one of our potent national fantasies, viable in everything from blue jeans to car commercials to popular films. (79)
The question that remains, then, is why the cowboy figure is so appealing. How has he survived in the age of industrialization and technology? Perhaps the cowboy represents what is pure and untamed, and is a model on which to base a longing for a purer time in history and a more authentic, animalistic, and natural existence in the world.
As Spurgeon points out, the cowboy figure is most often associated with freedom, self-reliance, and individualism. These virtues are the main components of the American dream; they are the things that every American supposedly aspires toward. The space of the cowboy is not defined by borders or fences, but in fact it is defined by the absence of them; he is lord of the open and untamed land. As Neal Lambert explains in his essay “Freedom and the American Cowboy,” “anything that might restrict his freedom of movement was distasteful to the cowboy. Civilization itself, as it pushed westward, caused the cowboy to move further out on the frontier where he could find things a little less restricted, a little more free” (63). This transient lifestyle and need for freedom and space is vital to the cowboy’s subsistence. Such a lifestyle, however, is unrealistic for the majority of people in today’s society, which is why they look to the cowboy to fulfill their fantasies, and by following his adventures they are able to live vicariously through him. Not only is the cowboy unrestrained by physical barriers, but he is also free from societal barriers and laws. On the frontier, the cowboy is beyond the law, and as Lambert argues, he is “beyond any law except for that of his own making” (63). Lambert goes on to describe the ‘Cowboy Code’ and the restrictions placed on the individual cowboy by himself and his peers. This code includes guidelines concerning the use of another cowboy’s horse, the settlement of debts and bills before a move, the responsibility to feed and shelter even an...
|
<urn:uuid:788ce20c-9c41-4b59-b65a-bfe30f8c0ba3>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-16
|
https://brightkite.com/essay-on/the-cowboy-figure
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-16/segments/1585371829677.89/warc/CC-MAIN-20200409024535-20200409055035-00551.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.963227 | 626 | 2.703125 | 3 |
1.We have learned a lot about mapping skills, now you are going to put what you learned to the test by creating a map for your make believe island. To help you with creating your island, you will explore a mixture of inhabited and uninhabited islands of Madagascar, Galapagos Islands, Fiji, Tasmania, Sicily, Kermadec Islands, Devon Island, Turks and Caicos Islands, Surtsey, and De Long Islands using Google Earth. You will be able to see aerial and satellite images to give you a general idea of what your island should look like. If you are not able to find the image of an island, you may search on SC Discus or Nettrekker. Make sure to login in order to access any of the information. Here are some other websites you can take a look at:
Island Encyclopedia: www.oceandots.com
National Geographic for Kids: http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
2.Take the time to draw your island. It can be in any shape that you want it to be and you can also name it as well. Make sure to have a key, so others who read your map will know what your symbols represent. For instance, a tree may represent a forest and a hill can represent a mountain. You may color in your map as well to help divide up the areas on your island. Be creative and have fun!
3.After you have completed making your own island by creating a map, you must now share the information that you discovered in one or two journal entries. Do you remember our class reading, The Cay by Theodore Taylor? Phillip, with the help of the black man named Timothy, was able to adapt to his environment due to the blindness he suffered in a boating accident. Pretend like you are talking to an audience and write about what someone who may want to hear about your experience. Remember that you want to capture the attention of your audience!
4.You will present your map and journal entries to your classmates at the end of the lesson. ***
1.You and two other students will use the websites provided to find the answers to the questions stated below, which are also on your worksheet. You may also write down any information that you may find important to include in your article.
a. The questions your group is trying to answer are:
What caused the event? What impact did it have on the environment and its water usage? What steps were taken to reclaim or clean the water? Are there any new discoveries on finding water from other sources if something like this were to happen again? If not, are there any ideas that you would provide to the residents of those areas?
2.When your group finds the answers to those questions, you are to create a newspaper article in Microsoft Office Publisher based on the answers discovered through research. Even though you are researchers, your group is writing an article to make people care about the issue of natural disasters. Try to be creative in your writing.
3.Your group will present its article to the class and it will be displayed on the outside bulletin board. ***
1.You will look at print advertisements from various stores, such as Toys-R-Us, Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, and more! Search for an item or toy that you would like to save your money up for to eventually purchase within the next several weeks. Add what you want to purchase to question 1 of the ABCs of saving worksheet. You have two months to earn enough money to buy your toy!
2.Click on the sites below in order to help you learn more about saving your money.
a. This website will help you to better understand the importance of saving money to get the things that we want. http://www.econedlink.org/interactives/EconEdLink-interactive-tool-player.php?filename=em414_story.swf&lid=414
b. Help Ed save up money to buy the items he wants in this fun interactive game. Remember that you want to spend his money wisely. http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/games/ed_bank/index.html
3.You have a starting balance of $5 in your piggy bank. You earn $50 a month through allowance and other small jobs you have (mowing the lawn, washing cars, newspaper route on weekends). The only problem is that you spend almost as much money as you earn. Decide if you will spend your money on things (candy, movies, arcade, etc.) you don’t really need in order to sacrifice for the ultimate goal.
Example: Let’s say the toy that you want costs $75. Are you willing to sacrifice going to the movies or playing games at the arcade for 2 whole months to get it?
4.You will create a Microsoft Office PowerPoint presentation discussing how you earned your money, what you spent and how much you were able to save. Also make sure to mention where you saved your money, if this was a short term or long term goal and why, and if you were able to save up enough money to get your toy.
5. You will present your PowerPoint to the class.
6.Complete the rest of the ABCs of savings worksheet to help you learn about how you will personally do a better job of saving your money to get the things that you really want. ***
1. Before you book your trip on the Global Trek homepage, you will write your first journal entry. In your own words, answer these questions: “Why do you think people travel? What are some benefits of seeing the world?”
a.You will travel to a country of your choosing under the Global Trek home page.
2. Book your trip and read the suggested itinerary (schedule) that has been planned for you. Make sure that you read the Background and Meet the People sections. If time permits, you may also read the other information under the Guided Tours section.
3. You will write another journal entry on what you learned about the country you visited and compare its culture to American culture. You must peer-edit your entries with another student to check for errors. Then type up your final draft on the computer in Microsoft Word and add a couple of pictures from your trip on Global Trek or search the internet to find pictures that relate to your experience.
4. You will present your journal entries to the class and they will be displayed on the bulletin board outside the classroom.***
1. We have learned about the concept of a democracy and how the leader voted into office is the representative of the people. You will divide yourself into groups of 4 to work together to gather information on the other types of government that are used throughout the world.
2. Your group may use the textbook, library, and the online resources to research information about each government.
3. On your worksheet, you are given several countries (Canada, Mexico, Japan, China, Denmark, England) that you must research to discover which government they use. Take notes on how each country utilizes their government with making decisions, creating laws, who rules (the majority or one person), the rights of minorities, etc.
4. Create a chart (graphic organizer) where you can display your findings on each country listed on your worksheet and classify the information in a way that can be easily read by anyone.
5. You will present your information to the class. ***
***I will be walking around the classroom and checking for understanding throughout these activities. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask me. However, I do want you to give your personal best and effort when completing these assignments.
|
<urn:uuid:d94b96bc-92a3-43df-bb6d-3ba55f306a6d>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-20
|
http://www.zunal.com/process.php?w=79040
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707184996/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122624-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.9522 | 1,603 | 4.125 | 4 |
Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a term you may be familiar with. It’s a fascinating technology that allows computers to comprehend and analyze human language. It’s not just for entertainment; it’s also used to keep us safe!
You may be wondering how NLP can help with safety. So, allow me to tell you a story.
Assume there is a bad guy out there who wishes to harm people. They could post a message on social media or email their plans to someone. But what if there was a way to prevent them from causing harm? This is where NLP comes into play.
NLP is a type of artificial intelligence that, like you and me, can understand the meaning of words and sentences. It can analyze messages and look for warning signs that something bad is about to happen. For example, it can detect words like “bomb” or “attack” and determine that they are harmful.
NLP is also capable of detecting emotions and sentiments in text, such as anger, sadness, and joy. This enables it to understand the context of a message and determine whether it is a threat or not.
But how does NLP determine what to look for? It’s all because of something known as a “model.” A model is similar to a set of rules that NLP uses to understand language. It’s like a recipe for a cake, but instead of ingredients, it has words and grammar.
The model is trained on a large amount of text data, commonly referred to as a “corpus.” This corpus could consist of anything from news articles to social media posts. The model learns to understand language and can identify patterns and anomalies by analyzing this text.
Now, let’s return to our villain who wishes to cause harm. If they send a message with the intent to harm someone, the model can detect it. It can then send an alert to the police or other authorities, allowing them to investigate and apprehend the criminal before it’s too late.
NLP is also used to help investigators and intelligence agencies in their work. NLP can help identify patterns and connections in large amounts of text data such as emails, chat logs, and social media posts that humans would find difficult or impossible to detect. This can lead to the discovery of criminal networks as well as the tracking of suspects and their activities.
Finally, NLP is a powerful technology that can detect threats in human language and help keep us safe. It’s like having a super-intelligent friend who can read and understand millions of messages and track down the bad guys before they cause any harm!
|
<urn:uuid:750bbdcd-3a6b-4866-8874-cc037075735e>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-14
|
https://www.trgint.com/nlp-natural-language-processing-threat-assessment-investigation/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296950110.72/warc/CC-MAIN-20230401160259-20230401190259-00504.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.955392 | 555 | 3.109375 | 3 |
The U.S. Geological Survey has raised the alert for Hawaii's Kilauea volcano from an orange to a red warning.
Ash eruption at the volcano's summit increased in intensity Tuesday, with an ash cloud spewing as high as 12,000 feet above sea level, according to the USGS.
- Police looking at Aliquippa woman's murder as 'crime of passion' or 'jealousy'
- Co-pilot sucked halfway out of Sichuan Airlines cockpit window
- Severe thunderstorm watch for viewing area
- VIDEO: Hundreds of illegal dump sites found across Allegheny County
Ashfall and air pollution associated with a volcanic eruption have been reported as far as 18 miles downwind of Kilauea in Pahala.
Summary of #HVO #Kilauea VAN/VONA: Ash eruption at summit has increased in intensity. NWS radar & pilot reports show top of the ash cloud is as high as 10,000-12,000 feet above sea level. Ashfall and vog has been reported in Pahala (18 mi downwind). #KilaueaErupts pic.twitter.com/ChzRdu0Ch7— USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGSVolcanoes) May 15, 2018
A red warning means a "major volcanic eruption is imminent, underway or suspected with hazardous activity both on the ground and in the air," the USGS said.
"At any time, activity may become more explosive, increasing the intensity of ash production and producing ballistic projectiles near the vent," the agency tweeted.
USGS declares "Red/Warning" for Hawaii's Kilauea Volcano.https://t.co/7SkX0paOQx— Breaking News (@BreakingNews) May 15, 2018
"At any time, activity may become more explosive, increasing the intensity of ash production and producing ballistic projectiles near the vent."
The eruption on Kilauea began more than a week ago and has forced thousands of people from their homes, destroyed nearly 40 structures, including dozens of homes, and created 18 fissures in the ground surrounding the volcano.
Lava has inundated almost 120 acres and damaged 50 utility poles.
Hawaii authorities are warning residents in areas around the volcano to be prepared to evacuate with little or no advanced warning.
At Kīlauea’s summit, occasional rockfalls into the deep vent produce intermittent pulses of vigorous ash emissions. https://t.co/O6vwp9vC9B pic.twitter.com/mR3qJw4RuN— USGS Volcanoes🌋 (@USGSVolcanoes) May 15, 2018
Cox Media Group
|
<urn:uuid:587990d4-e660-4e7a-91f4-09901f4f3cd3>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-14
|
https://www.wpxi.com/news/trending-now/red-alert-declared-on-hawaiis-big-island-major-kilauea-eruption-imminent/750136478/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-14/segments/1679296949107.48/warc/CC-MAIN-20230330070451-20230330100451-00342.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.931693 | 578 | 2.609375 | 3 |
If we could understand the nuances of empathy, often the missing link in ignorance and conflict, the world would truly be a better place for all.
How well do we understand what we're referring to as our "space?" I'm not sure.
Let's say that in the context of human interactions we can identify C waves (connoting cognitive interactions,) E waves, (connoting emotional interactions,) and P waves, (connoting physical interactions.) To simplify cognitive waves can be described as any form of understanding, while E and P waves are variables that affect our ability to understand. In other words, how we feel about our learning, and the environment we learn within, are pivotal elements that determine largely how well we actually learn in the cognitive domain. Since Descartes we've generally accepted that C waves were the independent variable, but what if in fact E and P waves create authentic constraints; challenges to our ability to comprehend and fully understand the phenomenological realities, our environments, and the people we encounter within them?
Empathy is often confused with sympathy but the difference is very important to understand. From https://www.diffen.com
Empathy is the ability to experience the feelings of another person. It goes beyond sympathy, which is caring and understanding for the suffering of others. Both words are used similarly and often interchangeably (incorrectly so) but differ subtly in their emotional meaning.
Steven Van Bockern as posted here,Steven went on to say in response to a question about what to do if your cultural tail is really, really bad. My colleague David Nicholson asked him, "do you just metaphorically cut it off?" Steven said no, you can't do that.
The cultural perspective we all hold is shaped by our experiences as influenced by our birthplace, our family, our spirituality and the zeitgeist within which we were born; it’s the cultural reality lens we look through. Our cultural identity starts to form beginning the moment we’re conceived. Obvious physical characteristics and genetic traits define our culture in part from that second. After we’re born, the evolving cultural identity we form is largely influenced by our relationships and surroundings. Steve Van Bockern, coauthor of “Reclaiming Youth at Risk- Our Hope for the Future” refers to the influences of different cultural aspects as our cultural tail. I had the pleasure of attending a retreat with Steve on the Morley Indian Reservation west of Calgary in 2002. He explained that we can’t cut off our cultural tail; it’s always there, behind us affecting our perspective, but also that great things are possible in everyone’s future despite this tail that follows us.
Whether good, bad or indifferent, our cultural tail tells the story of where we’ve come from; who we are in terms of how our environments affect us, but it doesn’t have to predict where we’re headed. From a cultural perspective, in many ways we begin our lives rather innocently. Like clay to the sculptor, we start as unformed material yearning to be molded and shaped into a more tangible form; our growing cultural identity. Just as soon as we see the light of the world we begin forming perceptions and feelings about our culture and how we are different from, or similar to others. We are the sum total of what we think we are.
Steven elaborated that our cultural tails are metaphors. They are tails that follow us everywhere we go; they're always behind us waving back and forth, but also that this reality doesn't dictate the direction in which we're heading, that's up to us. I would elaborate further in saying that our cultural tails can also be described as cultural tales; the phenomenological realities of our past, the stories that have already been written. These are the things that have shaped and formed us through experience. They are the building blocks that helped us form our purpose (or lack thereof) in life, the degree to which we became resilient, or not, how we objectify things, and how much antifragility we were able to manifest as a result of the strains caused by them. We all have a story, a narrative representation of every experience, every feeling, every relationship, every success, and every disappointment we've ever experienced. It's our phenomenological reality, and we don't make enough effort to get to know each others. In order to be influential positive conspirators in the writing of other people's stories, we need to be empathic.
The Science of Evil, by Simon Baron-Cohen. This book is an engaging perspective on empathy and the origins of cruelty. Don't let the title mislead you, however. By reaching into the extremes of evil from an analytical perspective, Baron-Cohen is able to present readers a very broad, but clear position on why empathy is critically important to humanity. He uncovers the science behind empathy providing us with much to mull as we navigate the complex people and systems we encounter every day. This book is important for anyone seeking a different and authentic path to more effective human interaction and a more hopeful influence on others. The author posits that we need to look through a more empathic lens in attempting to understand not how people feel, but rather why what they feel (or don't feel) makes them do the debilitating things they do. When we look through this altered lens we can stop blaming the person for the problem, but rather the influences of their phenomenology looking for other social and environmental factors that can erode their own state of empathy and the very damaging things they say and do as a result.
There is prevailing anxiety washing over us across society stemming from a perspective that there are only two ways to look at things, the right way, and the wrong way, and of course, subjectivity is the vessel of expression for what is deemed right, and wrong. It seems like polarity is omnipresent. Until the social-emotional (Ewaves) and physical needs (Pwaves) of people are addressed in effective ways, their cognitive needs (Cwaves) will remain unsatisfied, and their potential to see any different or altered perspective will never be actualized. That will continue to be a disastrous, dichotomous conflict eliciting reality.
"I am... the world is... other people are... therefore..."
I never knew anyone who became successful by dwelling on an unfortunate past. Alas, those among us who are reflective of our past, but always glaring toward the future appear to do alright. This is the essence of resilience. Knowledge and understanding is the key to learning how to accept what cannot be changed. When we can objectify what has already happened we can then put that behind us, forgive, and begin to be a person who others are not offended or hurt by.
When we give an A we can be open to a perspective different from our own. For after all, it is only to a person to whom you have granted an A that you will really listen, and it is in that rare instance when you have ears for another person that you can truly appreciate a fresh point of view.
In the measured context of our everyday lives, the grades we hand out often rise and fall with our moods and opinions. We may disagree with someone on one issue, lower their grade, and never quite hear what they have to say again. Each time the grade is altered, the new assessment, like a box, defines the limits of what is possible between us.
Thanks to hope Alliance for taking me here and I believe in positive change in life and the people that always hold the ladder for you to climb to the top and make your dreams come trueReplyDelete
|
<urn:uuid:001953c8-f5b6-456c-bea2-c3312d1782fd>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-23
|
http://www.karegivers.ca/2022/02/everyone-here-has-been-broken.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224653071.58/warc/CC-MAIN-20230606182640-20230606212640-00531.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.964846 | 1,580 | 2.890625 | 3 |
Straw Cigarette Branding: Misleading Descriptors and a New Marlboro Man
Straw cigarettes are a common tobacco product from Brazil that features tobacco hand-rolled in a corn husk that resembles straw. The use of natural materials and the fact that they are rolled by hand have led some people to believe they are less harmful than cigarettes. Studies, however, have found that straw cigarette smoke causes damage similar to cigarettes.
In recent years, the appeal of straw cigarettes appears to have been extended beyond its traditionally rural audience as young people in urban areas increased their use of the product.
Given the importance of packaging as a marketing tool, we assessed the marketing appeals of straw cigarette packaging in Brazil.
In the years 2013, 2016 and 2019, in three Brazilian cities (São Paulo, Salvador and Manaus), we collected packs of industrialized cigarettes and straw cigarettes that had some different characteristic in their packaging, such as, for example, size and color.
|
<urn:uuid:dea13c29-7f98-4f53-8bfc-de2482b856ce>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-40
|
https://www.globaltobaccocontrol.org/zh-hans/node/653
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-40/segments/1695233511055.59/warc/CC-MAIN-20231003060619-20231003090619-00332.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.948239 | 201 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Jeandel, Catherine; Peucker-Ehrenbrink, Bernhard; Jones, Morgan T.; Pearce, Christopher R.; Oelkers, Eric H.; Godderis, Yves; Lacan, François; Aumont, Olivier and Arsouze, Thomas
Due to copyright restrictions, this file is not available for public download
Click here to request a copy from the OU Author.
|DOI (Digital Object Identifier) Link:||http://dx.doi.org/10.1029/2011EO260001|
|Google Scholar:||Look up in Google Scholar|
The amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere is a function of many interrelated processes in atmospheric, oceanic, hydrological, biological, and human realms. Constraining the contributions of these realms to global carbon budgets hinges on knowledge of the ocean's role in carbon cycling, which in turn depends on the ocean's chemical state and biological activity. Both are dependent on element and nutrient inputs from continental sources—the more elements that reach the ocean in a form readily consumable by life, the more productive micro-organisms that form the foundation of the ocean's food supply can be. Thus, on a fundamental level it is important to know how and where continental inputs reach the ocean. Fluxes traditionally considered in seawater element budgets are dissolved river inputs, dissolution of atmospheric dust, hydrothermal inputs, diffusive fluxes from deep-sea sediments, and submarine groundwater discharge. Interestingly, though most of the marine element budgets include a provision for small contributions from dust dissolution, the dissolution of solids deposited along the ocean margins is usually ignored. Yet recent studies show that sediments on continental slopes and shelves contribute significantly to the dissolved elements found in seawater. Tracing and understanding these contributions will help scientists to get a better picture of ocean circulation, biological productivity, and carbon cycling.
|Item Type:||Journal Article|
|Copyright Holders:||2011 American Geophysical Union|
|Academic Unit/Department:||Science > Environment, Earth and Ecosystems|
|Interdisciplinary Research Centre:||Centre for Earth, Planetary, Space and Astronomical Research (CEPSAR)|
|Depositing User:||Chris Pearce|
|Date Deposited:||03 Jan 2012 14:13|
|Last Modified:||30 Oct 2012 05:36|
Actions (login may be required)
|Report issue / request change|
|
<urn:uuid:a47c01da-625c-4730-ac09-60ca559f44b9>
|
CC-MAIN-2013-48
|
http://oro.open.ac.uk/30011/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-48/segments/1386163057146/warc/CC-MAIN-20131204131737-00018-ip-10-33-133-15.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.783325 | 511 | 2.78125 | 3 |
- Jennifer Schmit
When Science and Art Collide
The beauty of science, art, and homeschool collide when students pursue their interests on their time.
Homeschool student, Michael G, is a competitive skateboarder who recently took up photography using a Nikon 35mm digital slr camera.
While researching photo techniques, or surfing the net, whatever you choose to call it, he found a series of photos that captivated his imagination and inspired him to bring together several fields of study in one, resulting in the "Steel Wool Photography" image above.
So how is steel wool photography made? The short version: it was created by burning steel wool, moving it, and using time lapse to follow the burning trail.
Long version: First, a wad of steel wool was placed into the wire of a common kitchen whisk, and a strong string was tied to the handle of the whisk. Next, with all parents supervising, a boy stood atop a skate ramp at the concrete skatepark, lit the steel wool by rubbing a battery across it, and swung the string around creating the halo effect. As the steel wool burned, chunks and chips of burning material flew outward due to centrifugal force. The time lapse caught the pathways of all the burning metal, including the bounces across the concrete floor of the skate park. The photo was taken at night.
Congratulations to Michael G, the young photographer! This photo won a 2nd Place award for color photography at the Orange County Fair, 2013, in the young adult division.
#homeschool #homeschoolart #homeschoolscience #homeschoolphotography #homeschoollessons
|
<urn:uuid:98c2a828-df5e-4160-9df4-c2b393a5465e>
|
CC-MAIN-2023-23
|
https://www.talegaprep.com/post/2013/10/17/when-science-and-art-collide
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2023-23/segments/1685224654016.91/warc/CC-MAIN-20230607211505-20230608001505-00547.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.952318 | 342 | 2.921875 | 3 |
– An insight into the Cramlington Model
Our teaching and learning model is our answer to the question — WHAT DOES GREAT LEARNING AT CRAMLINGTON LOOK LIKE?
We believe that great learning happens when clear learning outcomes are combined with engaging learning activities through an understood model of teaching and learning.
The Cramlington model puts fundamental stages of learning in the right order i.e. learning is CONNECTED to prior knowledge. Learning is introduced through the SHARING OF NEW INFORMATION. There is an opportunity for students to develop their understanding through student centred ACTIVITIES and to DEMONSTRATE their new knowledge. Learning is also REVIEWED throughout the lesson.
This learning model and the principles underpinning it are described in this article. Essentially our model is in four parts:
(i) A lesson planning template which puts the important parts of a learning experience in the right order.
(ii) 5 ‘touchstones’ of our pedagogy which are Accelerated Learning, Assessment For Learning, Enquiry, Thinking for learning and ICT to support/enhance learning.
(iii) Developing independent learners through progressively developing learner skills (communication, thinking, collaboration) and learner attributes – the 5R’s (Reasoning, Resourcefulness, Resilience, Responsibility and Reflection).
(iv) Effective teacher behaviours – which describe the type of things teachers do in the classroom to bring lessons to life and to ensure all their students make good progress.
Assessment for Learning
Clarify your learning intention at the planning stage: What’s the purpose of the lesson and how will the students demonstrate their learning to you?
Discuss our learning outcomes: clarify/state what you expect the students to have learnt by the end of the lesson (content), how they will go about learning it (process) and why they are learning it (benefit). Discuss/ share how the students will know how they have been successful and agree the success criteria. Help the students to know and recognize the standards they are aiming for.
Plan in advance the questions you are going to use. Use questions to create new knowledge/learning rather than rehearsing existing knowledge. Show how you expect everyone to be ready to answer questions by using the no hands rule and give students time to respond (think time).
Feedback written or oral should cause thinking:
• Say what he/she has done well
• What the student needs to improve
• How they can improve
• Give the student time to think about your feedback and respond to you thereby creating a dialogue about their learning.
Create shared responsibility for learning through students:
• Assessing each other’s work (e.g. using a rubric)
• Self assessing their work against the agreed success criteria, a rubric or exemplar work you have provided
Adjust your teaching appropriately in light of student responses.
Points to consider:
• Is it an expectation in your classroom that everyone is ready to answer questions? Do you use the no hands rule?
• What do the tasks you set tell you about your students learning?
• Do you amend your teaching plans in light of the feedback you gather in a lesson?
• Teachers plan activities which engage students in higher order thinking
• Students have a vocabulary to discuss and explore their thinking
• Students are explicitly taught how to be better/deeper thinkers
• Students are able to select appropriate thinking tools to help them organize and structure their thinking
The National Thinking skills are defined as the following:
Information-processing skills: These enable students to locate and collect relevant information; to sort, to classify, sequence, compare and contrast; and to analyse part/whole relationships.
Reasoning skills: These enable students to give reasons for opinions and actions, to draw inferences and make deductions, to use precise language to explain what they think, and to make judgements and decisions informed by reasons or evidence.
Enquiry skills: These enable pupils to ask questions, to pose and define problems, to plan what to do and how to research, to predict outcomes and anticipate consequences, and to test conclusions and improve ideas.
Creative thinking skills: These enable students to generate and extend ideas, to suggest hypotheses, to apply imagination, and to look for alternative innovative outcomes.
Evaluation skills: These enable students to evaluate information; to judge the value of what they read, hear and do; to develop criteria for judging the value of their own and others’ work or ideas; and to have confidence in their judgements
Points to consider:
• Do you model thinking out loud in front of your students?
• Do you plan for the use of thinking tools and graphic organizers?
• Do you encourage students to reflect on their thinking (metacognition)?
• Learning is social
• Learning is active
• Learning is connected to prior learning
• Students know where the learning fits into the wider context (big picture)
• Learning is activated through emotional hooks and engaging questions
• Learning allows for multiple ways of accessing and processing nformation (VAK and multiple intelligences)
• Learning takes place in a positive emotional environment
• Learning takes place in an appropriate physical environment
• Learning happens best when learners are stretched and challenged
• Learning takes place when it is rehearsed and reviewed on a regular basis
Points to consider
• Do you engage students through stories, props, humour and interesting questions
• Do you use a variety of teaching and learning strategies to accommodate students who learn in different ways.
• Do you organize your lessons to allow for students to learn in different ways?
• Do you build meaningful relationships with students and know them well – is your classroom a ‘no put down zone!’.
• Do you make full use of the physical learning environment e.g. questions walls, constextualising display, room layout, keywords etc
Enquiry Based Learning
An Enquiry is based around a question to be answered or a problem to be solved.
Enquiries can be:
• Structured OR Unstructured
• Short OR Extended
• Individual OR Group
‘How can we ensure that everyone on the planet has access to fresh water?’
– Could be the basis for an extended, unstructured, group enquiry with students coming up with their own ideas and solutions.
‘Does changing the temperature affect the rate of a chemical reaction?’
– Might be a shorter and more structured enquiry designed to run over a lesson with the teacher asking each student to demonstrate their understanding through a lab report completed as homework.
Characteristics of an Enquiry based classroom
• Learning is based around a question to be answered or a problem to be solved
• Students are encouraged to generate (sub)questions of their own
• Learning can be Messy – doesn’t always go in a “straight line”
• Students are involved in active exploration and research
• Students may have some choice over what, how, and with who they learn
• Students do the thinking-teacher doesn’t do it for them
• Questions can be complex with multiple possible solutions
• Students will get it wrong sometimes
• Teacher is facilitator/resource/ critical friend/architect of the learning experience
• Learning outcomes are focussed
on process as well as content
• Students present their learning to an audience
• Debriefing the “what” has been learned and the “how” did we learn it are absolutely vital
Enquiry based learning becomes Project based learning
• When enquiries are set in real world contexts i.e. real problems to be solved
• With meaningful outcomes i.e. the result of students learning culminates in an outcome that makes a difference in or to the community
• When adults or “experts” other than teachers are consulted or involved.
• And when students present what they have learnt to a real audience
• At Cramlington students are taught a process for “stepping” through an enquiry. This is the
• Enquiry Cycle and its purpose is to give students a way to “scaffold” their journey through an enquiry.
|
<urn:uuid:5d8135b2-21d8-4721-bc73-faad769f339f>
|
CC-MAIN-2017-47
|
https://cramlingtonmuse.wordpress.com/category/personalisation/page/2/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2017-47/segments/1510934804881.4/warc/CC-MAIN-20171118113721-20171118133721-00365.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.935384 | 1,710 | 3.859375 | 4 |
Dear Annie: Today, people throughout the world will observe World Suicide Prevention Day, an annual event co-sponsored by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the world. Approximately 1 million people worldwide die by suicide each year. This corresponds to one every 40 seconds. The number of lives lost each year through suicide exceeds the number of deaths due to homicide and war combined. These figures do not include suicide attempts, which may be up to 20 times the number of deaths.
The economic costs associated with self-inflicted death or injuries are estimated to be in the billions of dollars a year. The psychological and social impact of suicide on the family and community is staggering.
There is good news, though. Organizations across the globe such as ours are making advances in suicide prevention research, understanding and outreach. Despite the complexity of this phenomenon, suicide can be prevented. There are many crisis centers throughout the world that offer support by phone, email, forums and chat.
Suicide prevention organizations, locally and across the world, are joining IASP in encouraging people to “light a candle near a window at 8 p.m.” on World Suicide Prevention Day — Monday, Sept. 10 — to show support for suicide prevention, to remember a lost loved one and for the survivors of suicide.
Please ask your readers for their kind support in lighting a candle and, if they are in distress, to call a helpline or crisis center. This information can be found on our website at www.iasp.info. Thank you. — Lanny Berman, Ph.D., ABPP, President, International Association for Suicide Prevention
Dear Dr. Berman: We appreciate the opportunity to tell our readers about World Suicide Prevention Day. We hope they will light a candle near a window (although please not near flammable drapes or blinds) and remember those who have died. We also hope those in need will check your website.
Dear Annie: I have been invited to the wedding of my co-worker’s daughter, whom I have never met. My co-worker has made it quite clear that he is expecting us to attend. At his first daughter’s wedding, he invited 20 co-workers and only one showed up. He was very upset.
Am I obligated to attend? — RSVP
Dear RSVP: You are not obligated to attend, although you might want to weigh that choice against Monday’s reaction at the office. While we don’t care for co-workers who pressure others to attend their personal events, consider whether he wants your presence or your presents. If you would feel more comfortable, send a small gift with your regrets.
|
<urn:uuid:28549bbd-e74a-4e2d-8eed-810586dc25c9>
|
CC-MAIN-2014-23
|
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2012/sep/10/today-suicide-prevention-day/
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2014-23/segments/1406510274967.3/warc/CC-MAIN-20140728011754-00012-ip-10-146-231-18.ec2.internal.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.962968 | 571 | 2.546875 | 3 |
Rare Mouse Found in the Border Ranges National Park, NSW
Thanks to David Charley for permission to reproduce this article. Originally published in "Over The Fence", the Newsletter of the Northern Rivers Region, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. Newsletter No.6, April 2000.
Hastings River Mouse photo © Dr S. Townley
Found for the First Time
A new population of an endangered native mouse has been found for the first time in the World Heritage listed Border Ranges National Park.
The finding of the Hastings River Mouse, in the central Border Ranges, has extended the known habitat of this endangered and little known mouse.
The mouse was considered to be extinct until it was re-discovered in Werrikimbe National Park, east of Walcha, in 1981.
Dr Sally Townley, an expert on the mouse, was commissioned to do a survey in the Border Ranges, after a Park neighbour found a fox scat in the area containing hairs and bones of the Hastings River Mouse.
During the week long survey, several mice were trapped.
The Border Ranges have a great diversity of small ground dwelling mammals.
The mouse lives in grassy, wet eucalypt forest, usually in moist gullies. Fire and other impacts need to be managed appropriately within the Park to ensure that its habitat is preserved.
The Hastings River Mouse has disappeared from most of its former range, throughout eastern New South Wales. It now only has a patchy distribution in north-east New South Wales and south-east Queensland.
Photo: Forest on Pinnacle Walk, Border Ranges NP © David Palmer
The main threats to the mouse are disturbance to streamside forest habitats, fire, grazing, and introduced predators such as foxes, feral pigs, and cats.
It may also have been displaced from its preferred habitat as a result of competition with the common Bush Rat.
The long-term survival of this mouse is still uncertain. Conservation of streamside vegetation is the best way of assisting the species to recover.
For further information on the Hastings River Mouse contact Ranger David Charley on (02) 6632 0000.
References and Readings
Pinnacle Walk forest photo © David Palmer
|
<urn:uuid:8f228c1b-1852-449b-b0b6-2c0b10429d18>
|
CC-MAIN-2020-05
|
http://travelbiz.com.au/stories/mouse/index.html
|
s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-05/segments/1579251694908.82/warc/CC-MAIN-20200127051112-20200127081112-00517.warc.gz
|
en
| 0.944048 | 454 | 2.96875 | 3 |
Subsets and Splits
No community queries yet
The top public SQL queries from the community will appear here once available.