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The Kentucky State Penitentiary is known as the “Castle on the Cumberland.” The prison is perched along the Cumberland River and is Kentucky’s oldest prison facility. Construction on the facility began in October of 1884, headed by Governor Luke Blackburn after the Kentucky legislature passed a bill authorizing the construction. The prison officially opened in 1889. The worst of the worst have found their way to this place and male death row inmates have been housed here. And since 1911, 164 men have been executed at the penitentiary. Because of the deaths and the energy, the prison is reputedly haunted. Author and paranormal investigator, Steve E. Asher joins us to share the history and hauntings of the Kentucky State Penitentiary. The Moment in Oddity was suggested by Shelby Hammond and features the tomato as the Wolf Peach and This Month in History features French aviators Dieudonne Coste and Maurice Bellonte making the first non-stop flight from Europe to the USA.
Paranormal investigator and listener Josh Kitchen joins us to share his experiences and evidence from Moundsville State Penitentiary! The West Virginia Penitentiary is located in Moundsville, so most people know it as Moundsville State Penitentiary. In its day, it was one of the most violent prisons in the United States. The Gothic architecture of the building resembles a castle with turrets and battlements. This place truly was a fortress, not as protection from outside forces, but to keep the bad inside. It would seem that some of the inmates of the prison still remain in the afterlife. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of the Moundsville State Penitentiary! The Moment in Oddity is by Bob Sherfield and features Bella in the Wych Elm and This Day in History is by Krisitn Swintek and features the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
Ep. 113 is up with help from Research Assistant April Rogers-Krick! Eastern State Penitentiary was built to start a reformation when it came to America’s penal system. Prison was making the move from a place of punishment to a place of reform. Eastern State became the most expensive building in America when it was built in the late 1800s and it was the most famous prison in the world. Al Capone even spent time here. Officers and inmates have reported haunting activity for decades at the prison and this activity seems to have only increased since the penitentiary was closed to inmates for good. The reputation of the prison makes it a perfect place for the haunted house attraction it becomes every Halloween. But the ghosts here are very real. Join us as we explore the history and hauntings of the Eastern State Penitentiary! The Moment in Oddity was suggested by listener Toby Hessenauer and features an underwater city in Japan and This Day in History is by Steven Pappas and features the first woman executed by electric chair.
Coburg, Victoria, Australia didn’t always have that name. It was originally known as Pentridge and it was infamous for being home to the Pentridge Prison. This prison was one of the most notorious in Australia, housing some of the worst of the worst and was open for 146 years. Today, it is the setting for fashion shows, parties, conferences and even weddings. As is the case with many old jails, this one is restless behind the scenes…or should we say, behind the veil. Spirits roam the cell blocks. Come with us as we explore the history and hauntings of Australia’s Pentridge Prison! Moment in Oddity features sheep farts downing a plane and This Day in History features Thomas Edison inventing the phonograph.
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Take care of your heart
What Is Coronary Artery Disease?
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), also called Coronary Heart Disease, is a condition in which plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries which prevents oxygen rich blood to be supplied to the heart muscle. Plaque is made up of fat, cholesterol calcium, and other substances found in the blood. When plaque builds up in the arteries, the condition is called atherosclerosis. Plaque narrows the arteries and reduces blood flow to the heart muscle. Blood clots are more likely to be formed in the arteries. Blood clots can partially or completely block blood flow.
What are the major risk factors you can modify, treat or control
by changing your lifestyle or taking medicine?
- Tobacco smoke - Smokers’ risk of developing coronary heart disease is 2-4 times greater than non-smokers. Cigarette smoking is a powerful independent risk factor for sudden cardiac death in patients with coronary heart disease. However, exposure to smokers increases the risk of heart disease for nonsmokers.
- High blood cholesterol - As blood cholesterol rises, so does risk of coronary heart disease. When other risk factors (such as high blood pressure and tobacco smoke) are present, this risk increases even more. A person’s cholesterol level is also affected by age, sex, heredity and diet. We advise to have a cholesterol check if aged 40 or more, or if you have a strong family history, it is advised to have a check.
- High blood pressure - High blood pressure increases the heart’s workload, causing the heart to thicken and become stiffer. It also increases risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and congestive heart failure. When high blood pressure exists in parallel with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol levels or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or troke is higher. Treatment is advised if your blood pressure remains high and regularly check your blood pressure at least every 3-5 days.
- Physical inactivity - An inactive lifestyle is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Regular, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity helps prevent heart and blood vessel disease. The more vigorous the activity, the greater the benefits. But, even moderate-intensity activities help if done regularly and long term. Physical activity can help control blood cholesterol, diabetes and obesity, as well as help lower blood pressure in some people. To gain most benefit you should do at least 30 minutes of exercise very often (at least five days a week).
- Obesity and overweight - People who have excess body fat - especially at the waist - are more likely to develop heart disease and stroke even if they have no other risk factors. Excess weight increases the heart’s work. It also raises blood pressure and blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and lowers HDL (“good”) cholesterol levels. There is also a risk of developing diabetes. Losing even as few as 10 pounds, can help lower heart disease risk.
- Body Mass Index (BMI) is a relationship between weight and height that is associated with body fat and health risk. The BMI can be used to know your ideal weight.
- Diabetes Mellitus - Diabetes seriously increases your risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Even when glucose (blood sugar) levels are under control, diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, but the risks are even greater if blood sugar is not well controlled. About three-quarters of people with diabetes die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease. If you have diabetes, it’s extremely important to work with your healthcare provider to manage it and control any other risk factors.
- Eat a healthy diet - Briefly this means: At least 5 portions, ideally more , a variety of fruits and vegetables per day. The bulk of most meals should be starch-based foods ( such as cereals, whole grain, bread, potatoes, rice, pasta ), fruits and vegetables. Avoid fatty foods such as fatty meats, cheeses, full – cream milk, oily food like butter ( use low fat spreads) and so on. Include 2 – 3 portions of fish per week, at least one of which should be “oily” If you eat meal, it is best to eat lean meat, or poultry such as chicken. If you do fry, choose a vegetable oil such as sunflower, rapeseed, or olive oil.
- Limit your salt intake - Adults should eat no more than 6g salt a day. This is about a teaspoon of salt. About three quarters of the salt we eat is already in the foods we buy. By simply checking food labels and choosing foods with lower salt options, it can make a big difference. Also, try not to add salt to food at the table.
CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE
Juste quelque mots pour vous remercie de votre acceuille chaleureuse, toujours competent avec les patients, surtout les infirmieres pediatriques, pour Sooreeta, Dr Kevin Teerovengadum, Dr Joomye, Mr Joe, Infirmiere Dorothe, ange gardienne Reshma et la chirurgienne Dr Reshma. Moi je suis fidele a l'hopital Apollo depuis 2009 par l'acceuil et leur sympathie. Je remercie tous les services. Meme ma fille, T., la patiente, elle veut pas quitte l'hopital.
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|Luke`s Biography of Jesus - Chapter 15
Home > Historical Sources Describe Jesus > Early Biographers Depict Jesus > Luke’s Biography of Jesus By Chapter > Luke`s Biography of Jesus - Chapter 15
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming close to him to hear him. The Pharisees and the scribes murmured, saying, "This man welcomes sinners, and eats with them."
He told them this parable. "Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn't leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
Or what woman, if she had ten drachma coins, if she lost one drachma coin, wouldn't light a lamp, sweep the house, and seek diligently until she found it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors, saying, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found the drachma which I had lost.' Even so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner repenting."
The Parable of the Lost Son
He said, "A certain man had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of your property.' He divided his livelihood between them. Not many days after, the younger son gathered all of this together and traveled into a far country. There he wasted his property with riotous living. When he had spent all of it, there arose a severe famine in that country, and he began to be in need. He went and joined himself to one of the citizens of that country, and he sent him into his fields to feed pigs. He wanted to fill his belly with the husks that the pigs ate, but no one gave him any. But when he came to himself he said, 'How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough to spare, and I'm dying with hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and will tell him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no more worthy to be called your son. Make me as one of your hired servants."'
"He arose, and came to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him, and was moved with compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in your sight. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
"But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe, and put it on him. Put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. Bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat, and celebrate; for this, my son, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.' They began to celebrate.
"Now his elder son was in the field. As he came near to the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the servants to him, and asked what was going on. He said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and healthy.' But he was angry, and would not go in. Therefore his father came out, and begged him. But he answered his father, 'Behold, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed a commandment of yours, but you never gave me a goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this, your son, came, who has devoured your living with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him.'
"He said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But it was appropriate to celebrate and be glad, for this, your brother, was dead, and is alive again. He was lost, and is found.'"
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When we talk about the circular economy, we often talk about encouraging materials cycles, similar to those in nature. This analogy works great for materials recycling but, breaks down if we think about modular design. We can’t remove the branches of a tree, and rearrange them to make two smaller trees. But with modular design of technology, facilitated by an open source approach, we could do the equivalent – and it could lead to a new way of doing business.
In product design, practitioners aim for design for manufacturability. In high value products, we may design for serviceability. When it comes to the circular economy, we need to design for reusability. That is, the ability at the end of the service life of a product, to disassemble it into useful parts that can be directly reused in another product.
A simple example from today’s products would be screws, nuts and bolts. If a part is labelled ‘M5’, you know what you’re getting – no one would design a product to use M4.8 parts. Similarly, in the open source hardware community and the custom industrial machine space, it has become common to use aluminium extrusions. Examples include 20×20, 20×40 T-slot, openbeam and makerbeam profiles for smaller machines, and more recently, V-slot profiles, which help centre a wheel to make low-cost moving machines.
These aluminium profiles are a great start, and these design decisions mean that many open source 3D printers can be dismantled and the components directly reused in other machines. Similarly the Nema 17, 23, and 34 stepper motors used can be directly used in either new types of 3D printers, or laser cutters, PCB Mills, small CNC machines, 3D scanners and many other types of machinery that needs predictable motion.
Open source control electronics also come with flexible open source software that allow for the direct reuse of these boards in different products. It’s an early, accidental example of modular design for reusability. And it’s only happened in the open source world. The practical effect is that virtually all open source 3D printers can be disassembled and the modular parts actually reused at the module level instead of down cycled or reduced to their raw materials. It’s not perfect – this currently involves a great number of components and is time consuming, so not ideal for a really high volume product – but it strongly suggests that an open source approach could unlock the higher value areas of the circular economy.
What if we took conscious control of this process? What if we started deliberately to design mechanical, electrical, electronic – even biotech modules to fit together, work together and be reusable. There will always be some new parts in any technological product but do we really need to redesign the way parts fit together or snap apart again for every single product? Is that really the unique selling point?
Open source hardware, as defined by the Open source Hardware Association, lowers the barriers to innovation by making reuse and redesign explicitly allowed from day one, without needing to involve a lawyer. You are explicitly allowed to make money from it. That’s expected and encouraged. Open source hardware has one very interesting difference from software. Nobody seriously expects hardware to be free, so the business model for open source hardware is the same as proprietary. People pay for objects.
What’s great about open source hardware is that it seems to encourage design ecosystems to form. It harnesses the natural tendency of engineers and designers to tinker, and makes those additions, improvements and refinements available to the community as a whole. The Arduino example is fantastic: from one low-cost single board computer aimed at educational use, we now have an ecosystem of hundreds of different designs, with different specialisations, all using a common open source development systems and capable of running thousands of open source programs.
In addition to this, the use of parametric design, where we can design an object specifically to be modified within limited parameters, provides an entry point for non-designers to be able to “design” their own objects, giving them a higher perceived value and making them much less likely to be thrown away.
Where we need to be heading is a physical analogy of the open source libraries used in software. A set of open source hardware library of functionalities that not only make it easy and inexpensive to build ecologically sound products, but use modules that can be directly reused by disassembling the product.
Just as the human race ended up setting standards for screws since the early 19th century (although if you look at the sizes available you will see perhaps more complexity than feels sensible) a set of standards for interconnecting modules could be a game changer for the circular economy. On the physical side, we should be aiming for clip together parts as seen in Wikihouse, rather than the flexible – but hard to fasten directly – aluminium profiles. On the electronics side, the spring-loaded modules of the Fairphone provide a great example. On the electrical side, an efficient set of motors, with a clear labelling scheme.
How would we do this? We’d need to create a set of circular economy standards that describe these “libraries” and make them available to the world. Traditional standardisation processes take 5-10 years, but we could move faster than that. Perhaps we could adopt the smart label “Spime” concept from Bruce Sterling, and have a circular economy database for circular economy objects that characterises the material makeup and functional characteristics of these self-describing modules.
But for a moment, let’s imagine that we’ve already done this. What would the benefits to business be?
First of all, we’d enable product design to proceed at the speed of software. Having hardware libraries and frameworks shared across industries means that solved problems become very cheap and rapid to implement in a new design. Your engineering teams can focus on the USP. Maybe even marketing and engineering can finally talk to each other? So your engineering and product design becomes more efficient.
Having all the improvement around assembly, repairability and disassembly fed back into the design loop across the world means the products become cheaper to assemble, repair and tear-down at the end of their life. If you don’t use the open source modular assemblies, your competitors will. Best circular economy practices on non-differentiating features spread rapidly across the industry. So your servicing and repairs become cheaper and much easier to outsource.
But that’s not all. If your products are modular and reusable, they are also modifiable. Just as today, modifying a product would cause your two year warranty to expire, but if we’re using known assemblies, the modifying company could offer a new warranty. So we end up with an entire new after sales modification industry, using local artisans.
This leads us directly to the next steps in mass customisation. Imagine being the first car manufacturer that not only allowed you to customise your car when ordering it, but also to go back to the dealer and change your mind about that customisation years later. Now that’s a USP.
In the 21st century, no one would design an M4.1 screw, just so they could patent it. With the ecological problems that we need to tackle, we don’t have time to go through the old fashioned 30 year “Design, Patent, Land-grab, Accept you won’t rule the world, Standardise” cycle again. Through collaboration we can create the 21st century equivalent building blocks, embrace open source modularity, and drive the transition to a circular economy.
This article was first published in Circulate News in June 2016 at http://circulatenews.org/2016/06/business-benefits-of-open-source-modular-design-for-the-circular-economy/
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Importing files. So we're going to continue a little bit with where we were heading before in the previous tutorial, and then we're going to talk about the actual files, off a hard drive for instance. So first of all, one of the things you'll be dealing with, with some file based cameras with hard drives or flash media, is that you'll be sometimes having spanned clips, meaning a movie or a video file, actually is on multiple different drives or internal storage. So you may have it just going over several different pieces of memory. What that really means is that instead of copying those files off separately onto your hard drive, and then importing them, it really makes the most sense to hook up that camera to Final Cut Pro, import it as a movie file, which then gets stored as an entire clip. So the camera that I've got hooked up right now, actually does that, I can have two memory sticks in at the same time, and so a movie can technically go and span each of those at the same time, if it's long enough. So I need to really hook that up, you can also, if you want, create an archive of that straight off the bat. So an archive is pretty cool, what this allows us to do, is several things. First of all, if you're in a situation where you need to capture a lot of stuff off your media, and you don't want to take the time to really do all other ingestion process, meaning, you don't want to convert it, transcode it, do all this stuff, create proxy files, then you may consider just creating archive of it, which then pulls it on to the drive, without doing any of that stuff. It's really the quickest way, then you can open up that archive, and do all those things later, as if you had the camera attached. So for instance let's make a selection of some of these files here. We can then say Create an Archive, it will ask us where we want to store it, any one of our hard drives here, and we give it a name, say OK. Then it will do it's thing, you can actually, at this point, close it, but it will now show up here, under the Camera Archives, you can see our three primary drives here, and so it's slowly doing that, we can actually close this at this point, and it'll do it in the background as well, which is kind of nice. So it'll take those as fast as the camera can push them off, and Final Cut can create archives of them, without necessarily having to do everything else. Now that's a very useful tool, once you're done, you could open that archive, and it'll be as if you hooked up the camera. Let's actually close this for the moment, you'll see nothing shows up, and in fact, nothing should at this point. We can also now come in and create with more files off, off our hard drive. So a couple of things, when we're doing this, we need to choose which Event it goes into, or Create a New Event. So Event, that's really just a database of all of our different media, so our media all lives now in these Events. You can have a lot of media in each Event, you can have a single piece of media in each Event, just depends on your organizational needs. So we can create a new one, it'll allow us to put it in any one of our drives that is accepted by Final Cut Pro, and it'll go all into the same place which is fine in most cases. Now if you want to organize this differently, we can actually say, don't copy files to Final Cut Events Folder. Import Folders as Keyword Collections, well that's different, but we can turn this off, so it'll actually leave it in the original place. So we can say add to this, and it'll just go in there, in name only, and it'll stay where it was originally. We're going to talk about all these things when we get to the Preferences, but this allows us to make the Settings for what happens once it gets imported. So the transcoding, the Video Settings, the Audio Settings, these are all the Analysis Tools and basically the Keywording type things. So we'll talk about a lot of this stuff coming up. So we can choose any of these files, let's choose a file here, we can see a preview just in the Finder, which is kind of nice. We can actually push Spacebar if you actually want to see that play, and that allows us to play it in the Finder. We can say, add to an existing Event, or let's create a new one, we actually could copy it, it's a pretty small file, and we'll call this, whatever media, whatever project we want to. Jumping, because that's what they're doing. Okay, so any of these files and then right now we're just going to do the top two and nothing else. Okay, so that's as easy as it is. Now keep in mind with this, that with all of these different files we're bringing in, they go into these Events, and the Events, are a lot of times project based, and so we're going to really be exploring over the course over this whole title, all of these different elements, and how they play with everything else. So for instance, we come in here, and we can now see our Project Libraries, these are all the projects we're working on. We can also see our Event Library, and this is organized by hard drive. So server, the HT2, the iPad 2, just whatever I've got it called here, and then each of these come into different events. The Events are the ones with the stars on them, and we'll be talking more about these as we go throughout this course as well, because this is a really critical part to understanding how to use Final Cut Pro X, and it just becomes a really critical element. So right now, as we import things in, start to look around, see where things are organized. In some ways, we have so much less control than in previous versions of Final Cut, but the simplicity, I think is a real strength to this, because not only can we put media where we want to, and import without copying it, but we know exactly where all the media is, and it allows us to put it on other drives, and it makes it really simple to know where everything is. So in some ways a really strong system, in some ways, a very limiting system. Both things happening at the same time. Okay that's it for this, let's move on now.
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Software
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You probably don’t need me to tell you that argument writing is a hot topic in education — it has a special place in the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and it is writing anchor standard number 1 for a reason. However, some teachers are asking if we really should no longer teach persuasive writing to our upper grade students.
I have many fond memories of teaching persuasive writing. Students love discussing and debating their point of view, and it has the capacity to pull in reluctant writers because most students don’t have trouble writing about their position on controversial issues. Also, persuasive writing has traditionally been required on high-stakes assessments such as the ACT. This is all good stuff, so why should we switch from persuasive to argument writing? Because, while persuasive writing may be a norm of the past, argument writing is the skill of the future.
Here are four reasons to make the switch from persuasive to argument writing for grades 6-12:
1. Argument focuses on evidence and clear reasoning
Argument writing is all about whether you have quality evidence and whether you can explain how your evidence supports your claim. The logical process of gathering evidence, coming up with a claim, and linking evidence to your claim is different than the passion of persuasive debates. Rather than ignoring contrasting points of view, different perspectives strengthen arguments by giving students the chance to test their claims with contrasting evidence and refine their positions. Introducing standards for accountable talk and argument frames is a great way to keep the discussion focused and academic in nature.
2. Avoiding the Drama
Have you ever had a discussion stall out in your classroom when a student says “Well, that’s my opinion, I have a right to my opinion” and then refuses to entertain other ideas? Or have you seen a debate get too personal, with students polarizing to one side or the other with tempers rising? Turns out, this is typical of persuasion. Persuasion is personal, passionate, and all about winning. In persuasion, people often pull examples from their own lives to tug at the heart strings of their audience. They pick and choose the best evidence for their side, ignoring the counter arguments. This leads to a discussion that is more about who can speak the loudest or get in the most verbal jabs, not the best for promoting civil academic discourse.
3. Argument gets students ready for the next generation of high-stakes assessments
Next-generation assessments such as PARCC and Smarter Balanced, are going to require a large amount of argument writing (along with writing to inform and explain and, to a lesser extent, narrative writing), but they are NOT going to include persuasive writing. The future is argument writing. Argument writing requires evidence and the prompts require students to read across several texts, some of which include video and other media. The sooner you start preparing students for this the better. There are great examples on the PARCC and Smarter Balanced websites of argument-centered performance tasks. Achieve the Core has K-12 samples of PARCC-style opinion and argumentative writing. The 6-12th grade sample lessons have students write an argument from three texts and they have been annotated with the Common Core State Standards for argument. Check them out!
4. Argument prepares students for the real world beyond the school walls
Education experts Mike Schmoker and Gerald Graff argue that argument is “the primary skill essential to our success as citizens, students and workers.” College professors always complain that students are not prepared to craft an argument when they get to college, and our students’ performance on national assessments of argument writing bears this out. Argument is important in all disciplines, which can make it a common thread throughout the school day. Students are constantly bombarded with media manipulators trying to separate them from their money (or worse), and understanding what makes a sound argument is essential. It can help our students evaluate products and services for themselves.
So if you teach grades 6-12, make the switch to argument writing. If you teach grades K-5, read Writing Anchor Standard 1 up through the grades and see how your students are being scaffolded toward argumentation. Respond to this post with ways you are teaching or plan to teach argument in your classroom.
Ryan McCarty is a High School English Coordinator with Academy for Urban School Leadership (AUSL), a Chicago nonprofit focused on transforming failing schools and preparing highly-effective teachers. He previously served as an instructional coach and was a classroom teacher of Reading, English and U.S. History in schools from the South Side to the North Shore for more than 10 years. Follow Ryan on Twitter, @RyanP_McCarty.
AUSL was among the first in the nation to adopt Teaching Channel Teams.
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Education & Jobs
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I once visited one of the last scraps of prairie in Ames, Iowa. It was about the size of a football field, at most, and surrounded by corn in all directions. To me it didn’t look like much. But I had arrived there with a group of entomologists who squealed with delight and immediately scattered into the grasses, emerging periodically to show off the especially fetching bugs they had found.
This field, we were told, remained grassland for one reason only: No one could grow corn on it. It was too wet, too rocky, too much clay. The agricultural flaws of the prairie were rattled off in a sort of familiar, affectionate way, like it was a sullen teenager with a terrible work ethic. But those flaws were also why it had been left to its own devices in one of the hardest-working agricultural landscapes in the country.
I thought about that plot when I read Jocelyn Zuckerman’s recent article for The American Prospect on the plowing of the northern U.S. prairie. It’s a long piece, but it can be summarized in two words: Prairie Doom.
A study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences last year found that between 2006 and 2011, farmers in the western corn belt — Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, and the Dakotas — took 1.3 million acres of native grassland, including a Rhode Island’s worth of wetlands, and planted it with corn and soy. It’s the most rapid loss of prairie since the 1920s, and it comes with the usual array of risk factors: erosion, loss of water quality, the release of even more carbon into the atmosphere, bees that make less honey because someone went and replaced their flowers with corn, and a hunting season impoverished by a shortage of ducks and pheasants to shoot.
The reason this is happening? In the last few years, it’s become unusually profitable to farm on bad land. Even the lousiest farmland isn’t safe. If a gas nebula were to appear in Wisconsin tomorrow, someone would try to farm it.
How did this come to pass? The Renewable Fuel Standard, which requires oil companies to blend ethanol into the gasoline supply, isn’t helping — ethanol is made from fermented, highly processed corn. The need to meet the Renewable Fuel Standard has kept the cost of corn high, since we’ve added “grow corn for our cars” to “grow corn to feed animals that we would like to eat,” “grow corn to process into sweetener,” and “grow corn so that we may consume it ourselves, without any intermediary.”
Also not helping: a new type of crop insurance, first rolled out in 2000. While your old-fashioned, stone-age crop insurance just covered the loss of crops — as in, you grew less than you planted because hail flattened your crops, or a horde of locusts showed up and ate them all — revenue insurance created a situation that made bad farming a money-making proposition. Or, as Zuckerman writes:
Darwyn Bach, a 50-year-old who grows corn and soy on 570 acres in western Minnesota, says that he’s seen how increased insurance subsidies have encouraged careless farming in his own county. People clear and plant in areas where they realize the soil and water conditions are poor, because they know they’ll get payouts anyway. Farmers breaking new land, he explains, often are allowed to base their insurance policies on the historic yields of their established plots.
“I could rent a sand pile,” Bach says, “and plant it with corn, knowing full well that it won’t likely yield 100 bushels.” Because his insurance policy would be based on his established 190-bushel yield, and having purchased the standard 85 percent policy, he’d be guaranteed 85 percent of 190 bushels regardless. “I guess what people are doing is farming the insurance,” he says with a shrug.
Crop insurance had once required compliance with various conservation rules, but those requirements were eliminated four years before revenue insurance appeared on the scene. A variation of the requirements had just been reinstated when the farm bill passed in February; but the farm bill also cut so much money from conservation that the whole thing feels like a wash, at best.
This summer, the Environmental Working Group found that the counties that lost more than 5,000 acres of wetlands received more than four times the amount of crop-insurance payouts that the average farming county did.
Taxpayers cover 60 percent of the cost of the premiums for crop insurance. It seems, based on the direness of this story (as well, as — let’s be honest — the direness of every other story about crop insurance), that what America really needs is a program that encourages farmers to let bad land stay that way (and, ideally, soak up some carbon while they’re at it).
We had something like this in the early days of the Soil Conservation Service (known today as the Natural Resources Conservation Service) which was created in 1935, after a frenzy of grassland-to-wheatfield conversion in Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Colorado, and Oklahoma led to the Dust Bowl of 1933.
But that’s just dream talk, for now. Now that we’ve got this farm bill for the next few years, the most promising thing to pay attention to is the EPA’s new biofuel blending standards for 2014, which should be announced this spring. It looks like there’s a good chance they’ll be quite a bit lower this time around. Watch that dial.
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Industrial
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Fire & Smoke Damage
A fire loss can be devastating. Every fire is unique – different combinations of burning materials will result in different types of smoke and damage. Having trained, caring technicians and specialized equipment on-site is crucial.
When you see a fire on television, the main image is always of the flames. During a fire restoration project, however, the complexity is largely due to the unique behaviour of smoke.
In a fire, smoke travels through plumbing systems using holes around pipes to move from floor to floor. If smoke is pressurized during a fire, smoke will permeate a structure’s cracks and crevices, and be absorbed into building materials. The odour-causing residue that remains can be difficult to remove without specialized equipment.
Fires are extremely complex by nature. There are many different factors that influence how a fire burns, the damage it causes, and the smoke it creates. Here are some of the factors we look at when assessing a fire loss:
- Fire temperature. Higher temperature fires produce a different smoke than lower temperatures, so we will have to consider how hot the fire burned. For example, a hot fire produces dryer smoke, which migrates up to cooler, fire-free areas (i.e.: upper floors or an attic) which may require our attention.
- Where the smoke went. Smoke can be agile, and tends to find its way through every nook and cranny in the structure, including holes around pipes and electrical wiring. We want to make sure all areas of smoke residue are addressed, whether they are obvious or not.
- Acidity levels. Smoke residue is often acidic, capable of causing corrosion on metal surfaces if not addressed quickly. We will make priorities on the repairs to minimize further damages.
- Toxic hazards. Depending on the fire and materials burned, there are often airborne hazards and risks that might be present, but unseen. Our trained staff will always make safety the primary concern.
You can learn more about our restoration process when dealing with fire and smoke damage by reading this informative article.
Call 24/7 for immediate service
Pro Pacific DKI's immediate 24/7 response can prevent damage from occurring if you call us quickly enough. Our team is trained to secure, protect, and restore your home or business after a fire.
If you’ve been the victim of a fire anywhere in Central or South Vancouver Island, remember to contact Pro Pacific DKI, the experts in fire damage restoration.
Our Service Territory
Pro Pacific DKI’s exclusive service territory is highlighted on the map above. Please click on the office location closest to your property for contact details.
“Thanks... great job and a pleasure having your company do this work for us.”
- Disaster Kleenup International (DKI)
- The Chamber: Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce
- Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification (IICRC)
- Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)
- Restoration Industry Association (RIA)
- Canadian Homebuilder’s Association, Vancouver Island
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Moderate reasoning
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Home & Hobbies
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“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance…”
This is the essence of Title IX, passed as part of the Educational Amendments Act of 1972. No doubt Title IX has impacted many facets of education but the best known is its impact on women’s sports.
Before Title IX, there were virtually no women’s college sports. Now every college tries hard to see that female participation matches male. An unforeseen consequence is the increase in the number of female athletes making careers on Wall Street. Probably not exactly what Birch Bayh and Patsy Mink had in mind when they guided the law through Congress.
Two stories caught my eye recently and made me think about an alternate reality for Title IX.
The first is the Richie Incognito vs. Jonathan Martin locker room hazing firestorm that is morphing into widespread criticism of the NFL culture.
The second is about women’s Olympic hockey. Jeré Longman is the author of Border War Brewing for the Olympics. With only two teams that are annually competitive for the World Championship or the Olympic Gold Medal, the rivalry has become intense.
“Women’s hockey prohibits body checking and has established its distinctiveness with speed, stick handling, fluidity and finesse. Smaller players retain a chance to excel. But as players have grown bigger, faster and stronger, more fit and competitive, a hybrid game has evolved that increasingly embraces muscular assertiveness.”
“Players are continually pushing the limits of permissible contact.”
“‘We send a message to the world to prove that, yeah, we can hit,’ American forward Lyndsey Fry said. ‘We’re not going to go out there and open-ice hit someone; that’s not allowed. But we can throw our bodies around. We can get really gritty in the corners. When somebody throws me into the boards a little bit, it’s not cheap play. It’s hockey.’”
Now for the alternate reality.
What if the purpose of Title IX had been to bring male participation in sports up to the level of female participation?
What if team sports had begun more as female activities later to be emulated by males than male activities later to be emulated by females?
How would the games differ?
How would the alternate reality be suited to today’s culture?
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Strong reasoning
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Sports & Fitness
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To thicken the thinning lawn it is possible to intervene by doing regeneration or a seeding. These are two distinct operations, both of which lead to a renewal of the lawn. In this article we explain the difference between the two and how to do them. Here’s how to do it. Make use of the top soil spreader there.
Evaluate the state of the lawn and then intervene
The ideal time to do the sowing is autumn. This for the competition in the spring with weeds and for summer stress, it may be that at the spring pick up the lawn is particularly thinned due to winter diseases or because heir, untreated, of the damage of the previous season. In this case, depending on the severity of the damage, the regeneration or the simplest re-seeding of the lawn can be carried out. Let’s see them together:
The regeneration is an operation of partial renewal of the lawn, which is generally practical when the lawn has some thinned out and compromised areas. It is generally made up of a set of mechanical and non-mechanical operations, usually carried out by professional gardeners.
The lawn regeneration process involves:
- Mechanical intervention on the ground surface aeration also called Verticut and puncturing
- Chemical interventions weeding
- Integration with fertilizers after laboratory analysis
The reseeding also called seeding is the final stage of the lawn regeneration process. It is a matter of integrating the lawn with new seeds, in order to strengthen it. In poorly compromised meadows it can be done without the intervention of a professional.
When and how is the seeding done?
The ideal period for re-seeding is between late March and early April, with soil temperatures above 10 -15 degrees proceed as follows:
- Start by lowering the cut to 2.5 cm and removing the clippings.
- Intervene with a surface scarifier, the machinery can be purchased and sometimes rented at agricultural retailers.
- After aerating, carefully collect the waste material it generates. The aim is to thin out any weeds, remove the felt and ultimately create enough spaces to receive the new seed that you are going to spread.
- If at your analysis the soil is very compact, it is advisable to carry out a coring and punching to be entrusted to a specialized maintenance technician. This operation also has the purpose of promoting the successful outcome of the seeding improves the installation of the newborn seedlings.
Immediately after whether you have carried out the step in point 4 or not proceed with a top dressing of specific sandy loam for typical lawns for 3 mm thickness.
Is manual or machine re-seeding better?
For sowing, a sowing-sowing machine, disc or blade machine, capable of introducing the seed along the rows, should be used. In this way, a better contact between seed and soil is obtained and the right level of humidity is necessary for germination. In this case it is advisable to carry out 2 crossed passages preferably diagonally. The subsequent distribution of a light layer of sandy loam-type mixture will ensures coverage of any seeds left outside the furrows. The seeding machines can be hired from agricultural retailers or specialized maintenance workers.
Localized re-seeding can also be done manually. In this case, great attention must be paid to the uniformity of distribution, influenced precisely by the manual nature of the operation. Better to sow broadcasts made with a professional adjustable fertilizer spreader trolley, followed by a superficial raking.
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Moderate reasoning
|
Home & Hobbies
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Volume 24, Number 6—June 2018
Detection of Low Pathogenicity Influenza A(H7N3) Virus during Duck Mortality Event, Cambodia, 2017
Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) are negative-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses normally found in wild aquatic birds, the natural reservoir (1). Typically, AIVs do not cause severe disease in domestic poultry; however, 2 AIV subtypes, H5 and H7 influenza A viruses, are capable of mutating to form highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) variants that can cause high rates of disease and death in poultry flocks (2). In addition, establishment of AIVs in domestic poultry increases the probability of zoonotic transmission to humans. Recent attention has focused on H7 AIVs (particularly subtype H7N9 in China) that have become established in domestic poultry and repeatedly transmitted to humans since 2013 (3). Influenza A(H7N3) and A(H7N7) viruses have also been the causative agent in historical poultry and human infections in Europe and the Americas (2). Overall, the pathogenic and zoonotic potential of H7 strains makes them a substantial economic and public health concern.
Cambodia is a lower-middle-income country in Southeast Asia with a large socioeconomic dependence on agriculture. In 2015, a total of 57% of all households in Cambodia had agricultural holdings, and 87% of these households raised poultry (4). Poultry are generally reared in backyards or on small-scale farms with minimal or no biosecurity. Therefore, poultry diseases such as HPAI can have devastating economic consequences. In 2013 alone, ≈25 million chickens and 3.3 million ducks were either traded or disposed of (slaughtered for sale or died) in Cambodia. Of these, 22% of chickens and 18% of ducks were reported to have died from illness (5). Although control measures for HPAI in Cambodia include culling of poultry that is infected, suspected to be infected, or in contact with infected/suspected poultry, reporting is minimal, and no compensation mechanism exists. Since 2004, a total of 58 reported AIV outbreaks (mostly HPAI) have occurred in poultry and wild birds (as of April 2018), and 56 human influenza A(H5N1) cases (37 fatalities [case-fatality rate 66%]) have been reported in Cambodia (6).
In early January 2017, a free-range production flock of 4-month-old Khaki Campbell ducks located in Kampong Thom Province in central Cambodia were found with loss of appetite, depression, weakness, white-bluish diarrhea, and swollen heads and eyes (Figure 1). Within days, ≈93% (an estimated 3,700 of 4,000) had succumbed to disease. The remainder of the flock was slaughtered. As part of a routine investigation into the causative agent, we obtained oropharyngeal and cloacal swab specimens and organs from 4 of the affected ducks. The National Animal Health and Production Research Institute of Cambodia performed initial screening for the presence of AIV by real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR). The Institut Pasteur du Cambodge (IPC) verified the results and conducted further analysis.
IPC confirmed by qRT-PCR that 2 of 4 ducks were positive for influenza A virus. IPC successfully isolated viruses from both samples in embryonated chicken eggs (7) and designated them A/duck/Cambodia/b0116502/2017 and A/duck/Cambodia/b0120501/2017. Next, the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza (Melbourne, VIC, Australia) performed whole-genome sequencing on isolate RNA using the Ion Torrent next-generation sequencing (NGS) platform (Life Technologies, Carlsbad, CA, USA) and analyzed NGS data by using CLC Genomic Workbench 10 (https://www.qiagenbioinformatics.com/products/clc-genomics-workbench). Sanger sequencing with segment-specific primers filled in any sequencing gaps (Technical Appendix[PDF - 1.71 MB - 7 pages] Table 1) using Big Dye Terminator Reaction Mix (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA) on an ABI 3500xL Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems). IPC, in conjunction with the World Health Organization’s Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza, used Geneious 9.1.8 (Biomatters Ltd., Auckland, New Zealand) to collate NGS and Sanger sequencing data, align strains, and analyze molecular markers. IPC submitted all sequences to GenBank (accession nos. MG591682–MG591697; Technical Appendix[PDF - 1.71 MB - 7 pages] Table 2). We used the maximum-likelihood method based on the general time-reversible model to infer phylogenic relationships and tree construction for each gene in MEGA version 7 (8) with 500 bootstrap replicates for robustness.
Sequencing revealed that both isolates belonged to the H7N3 subtype. Identification of H7 is not novel in Cambodia. Prior studies in 2013 and 2015 in live bird markets have identified low pathogenicity AIV (LPAIV) subtype H7 circulating in chickens and ducks (6,7). Phylogenetic analyses indicated that all of the gene segments from both H7N3 isolates from Cambodia showed the highest degree sequence similarity to each other and fell into the Eurasian lineage of H7 viruses circulating in Asia, predominantly during 2012–2015. Neither strain shared genes with H7N9 viruses associated with human cases in China (Table 1; Figure 2; Technical Appendix[PDF - 1.71 MB - 7 pages] Figure 1–6). On a molecular level, we determined both isolates to be LPAIVs, showing a monobasic cleavage site, avian receptor specificity, and genetic indications of susceptibility to neuraminidase and matrix protein ion channel inhibitors (Table 2).
Because molecular data indicated that the H7N3 strains in this event were LPAIVs, these viruses were probably not the sole causative agent for such high mortality during this outbreak. However, infection with LPAIV H7N3 might have contributed to lethality by increasing susceptibility to secondary infections. In an effort to identify other possible pathogens, we screened swab samples and internal organs of the same ducks from the outbreak for the presence of anatid herpesvirus 1 (AnHV-1), commonly known as duck plague (9). Two of the 3 carcasses screened were positive for AnHV-1 in the liver; however, direct comparisons to swab samples cannot be made because no information was available on the correlation between swab samples and duck carcasses. AnHV-1 is known to cause high mortality in duck flocks globally, including in Cambodia, and co-infection with H7N3 virus and AnHV-1 might have contributed to the outbreak (10). From swab samples, we confirmed co-infection with AnHV-1 in the 2 H7N3 virus–positive ducks and 1 of the 2 H7N3 virus–negative ducks; however, our outbreak investigation revealed that ducks were retrospectively vaccinated against AnHV-1 with live attenuated vaccine once the flock began to show signs of illness. Consequently, because AnHV-1 vaccine can be detected by qRT-PCR up to 6 days postvaccination (9) and no specific date was available for vaccination before sample collection, no direct conclusions can be made about the associated contribution of AnHV-1 and H7N3 to the mass mortality during this outbreak. The extent and effect of such a co-infection need to be investigated further.
Given the endemicity of AIVs in Southeast Asia, especially in Cambodia, understanding the prevalence and effect of AIV in the region is vital. Although the H7 viruses identified during this outbreak were determined to be low pathogenicity and their role as causative agents of duck mortality remains unclear, continued active and passive surveillance, as well as molecular characterization and risk assessment, is crucial to identify, control, and prevent AIVs in this region. Further work is also necessary to understand the interplay of AIVs with other diseases of poultry to determine the etiology of bird mortality events in the region.
Ms. Suttie is a doctoral student at the School of Applied and Biomedical Sciences at Federation University, Australia. She is working on her PhD thesis in the Virology Unit at the Institut Pasteur du Cambodge on the molecular epidemiology of avian influenza in Cambodia.
We thank the farmers for their cooperation with our study team, the laboratory and technical team from the Virology Unit at the Institute Pasteur in Cambodia, and the field teams from the National Animal Health and Production Research Institute (Cambodia Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
This study was funded, in part, under a cooperative agreement with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response in the US Department of Health and Human Services under grant number IDSEP140020-01-00 (http://www.asideproject.org) and by the World Health Organization. Its contents and conclusions are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not represent the official views of the US Department of Health and Human Services. A.S. is funded by an Australian Government Research Training Program Scholarship and a Faculty of Science and Technology Research Scholarship from Federation University. The World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Reference and Research on Influenza in Melbourne is supported by the Australian Government Department of Health.
- Webster RG, Bean WJ, Gorman OT, Chambers TM, Kawaoka Y. Evolution and ecology of influenza A viruses. Microbiol Rev. 1992;56:152–79.
- Freidl GS, Meijer A, de Bruin E, de Nardi M, Munoz O, Capua I, et al.; FLURISK Consortium. Influenza at the animal-human interface: a review of the literature for virological evidence of human infection with swine or avian influenza viruses other than A(H5N1). Euro Surveill. 2014;19:20793.
- Food and Agriculture Administration of the United Nations. H7N9 situation update. 2017 Nov 24 [cited 2017 Nov 25]. http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/programmes/en/empres/h7n9/situation_update.html
- National Institute of Stastistics, Ministry of Planning. Cambodia Socio-Economic Survey 2015 [cited 2017 Nov 20]. https://www.nis.gov.kh/nis/CSES/Final%20Report%20CSES%202015.pdf
- National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Planning. Census of Agriculture in Cambodia, 2013 [cited 2017 Nov 24]. https://www.nis.gov.kh/nis/CAC2013/CAC_2013_Preliminary_En.pdf
- Horwood PF, Horm SV, Suttie AYP, Rith S, Sorn S, et al. Co-circulation of influenza A/H5N1 with H7 and H9 viruses in Cambodian live bird markets with evidence of frequent co-infections in poultry. Emerg Infect Dis. 2018;24:352–5.
- Horm SV, Tarantola A, Rith S, Ly S, Gambaretti J, Duong V, et al. Intense circulation of A/H5N1 and other avian influenza viruses in Cambodian live-bird markets with serological evidence of sub-clinical human infections. Emerg Microbes Infect. 2016;5:e70.
- Kumar S, Stecher G, Tamura K. MEGA7: Molecular Evolutionary Genetics Analysis version 7.0 for bigger datasets. Mol Biol Evol. 2016;33:1870–4.
- Qi X, Yang X, Cheng A, Wang M, Guo Y, Jia R. Replication kinetics of duck virus enteritis vaccine virus in ducklings immunized by the mucosal or systemic route using real-time quantitative PCR. Res Vet Sci. 2009;86:63–7.
- Borin K, Samkol P, Thieme O. Investigation of duck production and hatcheries and duckling supply in Cambodia. AHBL—promoting strategies for prevention and control of HPAI. Rome: Food and Agriculture Administration of the United Nations; 2009 [cited 2017 Nov 25]. http://www.fao.org/docrep/013/al679e/al679e00.pdf
- Hatta M, Gao P, Halfmann P, Kawaoka Y. Molecular basis for high virulence of Hong Kong H5N1 influenza A viruses. Science. 2001;293:1840–2.
- Abdelwhab EM, Veits J, Ulrich R, Kasbohm E, Teifke JP, Mettenleiter TC. Composition of the hemagglutinin polybasic proteolytic cleavage motif mediates variable virulence of H7N7 avian influenza viruses. Sci Rep. 2016;6:39505.
- Srinivasan K, Raman R, Jayaraman A, Viswanathan K, Sasisekharan R. Quantitative description of glycan-receptor binding of influenza A virus H7 hemagglutinin. PLoS One. 2013;8:e49597.
- Song M-S, Marathe BM, Kumar G, Wong S-S, Rubrum A, Zanin M, et al. Unique determinants of neuraminidase inhibitor resistance among N3, N7, and N9 avian influenza viruses. J Virol. 2015;89:10891–900.
- Abed Y, Goyette N, Boivin G. Generation and characterization of recombinant influenza A (H1N1) viruses harboring amantadine resistance mutations. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2005;49:556–9.
Technical AppendixCite This Article
Original Publication Date: 5/3/2018
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Today’s global threats are, in part, rooted in the urban growth that swept both the Soviet and Western camps during the half century Cold War. Moreover, today’s challenges — crime, poverty, and terrorism — are quite different from those faced in last century’s ideological conflict with the Soviet Union.
As we have seen in previous posts, defense of Western nations during the Cold War period fell largely on the shoulders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization or NATO. Today NATO remains important, but the defense against crime, poverty, and terrorism is more diffuse, less multilateral. For example, who is responsible for ensuring the public safety at a global event like FIFA’s 2014 World Cup? Does the obligation belong to FIFA, the host nation (in this case Brazil), the various municipalities where stadiums are located, or some nameless global defense organization? And has the accountability changed as a result of the terrorism in Boston that affected the widely attended Boston Marathon?
As most of us concede, the threat against urban areas has grown since the World Cup’s inception 83 years ago. And the various facets of urban development have changed also. A look back at urbanization during the period of Cold War rivalry is enlightening, providing a glimpse of the forces shaping the development of today’s megacities, targets for many current threats. Brazil’s cities are a good example. As you can see in the graph below, Brazil’s population escalated rapidly during the Cold War period. Much of this population growth occurred in urban areas, so much so that by Cold War’s end in 1990, Brazil was 77% urbanized.
Cities, worldwide, grew at a rapid pace during the half century Cold War. Over the course of the conflict, the rate of urbanization in the developing world approached — and then exceeded — urban growth in the industrialized countries.
During the 1950s and 1960s (the first years of the Cold War), the proportion of global population in cities of 100,000 or more increased about a third faster in the underdeveloped regions of the world than in the developed ones. This growth trend reversed the urban momentum long held by First World cities.
In 1920, almost three-fourths of the worlds’s urbanites lived in western cities, while only a little more than a fourth lived in the less-developed regions. By 1990, in contrast, two-thirds of the estimated population in cities of five million or more lived in the Third World.
Much of the urban expansion during the Cold War period took place in Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East, the three regions that the two superpowers saw as most militarily significant.
Over the entire period, from 1950 to 1990, urban population grew by 604% in the Middle East, 449% in South-Southeast Asia, and 470% in Latin America.
Urban areas in the post World War II Third World didn’t develop in a vacuum. Although some were affected by the intense militarization surrounding the Cold War conflict, all cities in the developing world were subject to the same urban trends. And while differences in the Soviet and American models of urban growth and land use ultimately influenced the most important (and most closely affiliated) of their client states, many aspects of urbanization were shared in common by both the socialist and capitalist camps.
The Cold War’s Urban Problems
During the first half of the Cold War period, mutual concerns included matters associated with rapid urban expansion, particularly population growth leading to regional imbalance. Related anxieties included rural-urban migration, jobs, housing, and quality-of-life issues.
The early Cold War period — from the 1950s to the 1970s — was marked by the on-going marginalization of many urban areas and was a time when shantytowns and squatter settlements became visible to authorities, elites, and the urban population in general. Much of this marginalized housing is still with us. In fact, in the context of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, it is anticipated that “over 150,000 people will be evicted from their homes because of the World Cup.” Most of those evicted live in favelas — Brazilian shantytowns that are being sanitized for image reasons.
SOLIDAR SUISSE, a non-governmental organization (NGO) supporting more than 50 projects in 12 countries, argues that
Relocations have already been carried out in all the major cities where World Cup matches are to be held — Sao Paulo, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Recife, etc. But the preparations for this large-scale operation have only just begun.
At kick-off time, an estimated 150,000 to 170,000 people will have been evicted from their homes. Whole neighborhoods must disappear to allow the construction of stadiums and infrastructure, such as roads or airports. On the other hand, the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics are being used as an excuse to “renew” whole parts of towns. To compare, Raquel Rolnik, UN special envoy for housing rights, spoke of 20,000 evictions in South Africa. There have already been eight times more in Brazil!
Of course, the World Cup is not the only culprit. Other large events worldwide have triggered similar actions and policies. In every such case, people are displaced and relocated to
sites on the outermost borders of the cities, dozens of kilometers from their original places of residence. There are hardly any schools or health facilities there. Those who had jobs can often no longer get to them because there is not public transportation. There are almost no jobs in these places, and thus no chance of income. All this constitutes a violation of the right to adequate housing. Social networks are being destroyed, which makes it even harder for people to organize their lives.
Compensation is very low for a clearance of informal housing that is not 100% legal, which is the case for the majority of the housing in Brazil’s cities. The amount is woefully insufficient to allow people to live adequately elsewhere. The former inhabitants cannot afford to return to the new buildings. Those who fight back are forcibly evicted by the police or the buildings are torn down without warning. The profits of constructing the new buildings pass through to private hands. Raquel Rolnik speaks of massive land and real estate speculation. (SOLIDAR SUISSE)
In the second half of the Cold War, additional problems were observable. Capitalist cities, especially, concentrated on questions associated with the impact of debt, structural reform (frequently imposed in accordance with guidelines established by the World Bank or the International Monetary Fund), privatization, and the globalization of manufacturing. Questions surrounding capitalism and the contest between the local and the global will be discussed in future posts. Suffice it say for now that these issues were, at times, related to a debate over the role of cities as both consumers and producers. Interestingly, this discussion also had relevance in the socialist world.
Consumer and Producer Cities
Some scholars argued that cities in developing countries worldwide could be characterized as consumer centers where
collective consumption referred to forms of services collectively provided, usually by the state — mass housing, transport, health facilities, and so on.
In the capitalist case
the provision of such services was identified as a source of political mobilisation, as it spawned urban social movements, protest groups aiming to improve urban conditions through contesting the existing pattern of collective consumption.
In the socialist case
the task before policy-makers . . . [was} to convert them into ‘producer cities’.
This was seem as requiring a reduction in
the size of the largest cities (deurbanization), containing large-city growth and promoting the self-sufficiency of the urban economy, and encouraging the growth of small- and medium-sized towns and, where necessary, creating new towns.
[Havana (Cuba) is a great example of this policy approach.]
The Informal Sector
In both camps, the period from 1970-1990 became known as the era of the permanent informal sector after it became clear that “marginal sectors whether defined spatially, economically, politically, or socially were not about to disappear.”
Today, in most cities worldwide, these marginal sectors are entrenched. In Brazil, preparation for the upcoming World Cup means that “street vendors fear for their livelihoods because the World Cup sponsors demand exclusive sales rights.”
The World Cup basic agreement plans exclusion zones around the stadiums and fan parks. According to StreetNet International, the federation of street vendors’ organizations, existing street vending licences in host cities have already been withdrawn or not renewed. In the tourist areas of the host cities, no new licences are being issued. . . Police repression in city centers has increased: vendors’ goods have been confiscated without compensation, and their stalls destroyed, they were fined, and there have been cases of physical violence. Furthermore, many street vendors have lost their sales locations in the inner city because of construction sites linked to the World Cup or to the Olympics. Displacement to the outskirts of the cities threatens their livelihood. Up to 300,000 street vendors may be affected by this. (SOLIDAR SUISSE)
To wrap up, regardless of economic or ideological underpinnings, urban concerns in the developing world converged throughout the Cold War period as neither socialist nor capitalist cities were able to devise policies to incorporate the disadvantaged. Many are now arguing that — so far as Brazil is concerned — it is FIFA’s responsibility to do what the United States and the Soviet Union were unable to accomplish. One such group says:
FIFA must finally face up to its responsibility and make a contribution to improving the living conditions of the Brazilian population. It must consistently commit itself to verifying that no human rights are violated or workers exploited. And it must not pocket all the profits, leaving Brazil with a mountain of debt.
I’d love to hear what you think. Comments are welcome.
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Scientists Unlock Genetic Code of Diseased Lung Cells to Find New Treatments for IPF
“Marker Genes” Reveal Deadly Secrets of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis
Thursday, December 08, 2016
Researchers cracked the complete genetic code of individual cells in healthy and diseased human lung tissues to find potential new molecular targets for diagnosing and treating the lethal lung disease Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF).
A team of scientists from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, in collaboration with investigators at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, publish their findings Dec. 8 in the Journal of Clinical Investigation Insights (JCI Insights).
“This paper identifies a number of novel targets and molecular pathways for IPF, for which there are pharmaceutical approaches,” said Jeffrey Whitsett, MD, lead investigator and co-director of the Perinatal Institute at Cincinnati Children’s. “Airway cells can be obtained by brushing the airway or biopsy, and marker genes can be tested to make a diagnosis or monitor treatment.”
IPF is a common and lethal interstitial lung disease in adults, which means it inflames, scars and reconfigures lung tissues. This causes loss of the air sacs, called alveoli, where oxygen and carbon dioxide are normally exchanged. Similar losses of lung function can occur earlier in life, especially in children with diseases caused by mutations in genes critical for surfactant and maintenance of the lung saccules.
Biological processes controlling the formation and function of the lung’s alveolar region require precisely orchestrated interactions between diverse epithelial, stromal and immune cells, according to study authors. Despite many years of extensive laboratory studies of whole tissue samples – trying to identify genetic, cellular and molecular processes that fuel lung ailments like IPF – the precise biology has remained elusive.
To overcome this, Whitsett and colleagues – including first author and bioinformatician Yan Xu, PhD of Cincinnati Children’s – conducted what they believe to be the first-ever single-cell RNA sequence analysis of normal and diseased human lung tissues (all donated with prior informed consent). This provided the authors with a detailed genetic blueprint of all the different epithelial cell types involved in IPF progression and a window to identify aberrant biological processes driving inflammation and fibrosis.
Analysis of normal lung epithelial cells found gene patterns linked to fully formed alveolar type 2 lung cells (AT2 cells), which are important for the production of surfactant, a substance containing a complex of proteins critical to breathing.
Analysis of diseased IPF cells found genetic markers for lung cells that were in indeterminate states of formation, the authors report. IPF cells had lost the normal genetic control systems needed to guide their functions. This study identifies abnormalities in gene expression that can be targeted for therapy of chronic lung diseases like IPF.
Funding support for the research came from the National Institutes of Health (HL122642, HL110967 and HL108793) and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM LA1-06915).
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Staying in Education until You’re 18
All young people are now required to stay in education or training until they are 18. Essentially this is to ensure that all young people continue to study and have the same opportunities to progress their learning.
A common misconception is that young people must remain in their current school setting for two further years, after their GCSEs. This is not the case.
Young people now have the opportunity to remain in education until they are 18. This means you actually have much more choice in deciding on the best route for you.
You can shape your own education and training opportunities to suit your skills and aspirations to achieve the best possible outcome.
This includes training such as apprenticeship or vocational courses (such as BTECs). Both qualify as remaining in education until you are 18. Apprenticeships and vocational courses also offer you the opportunity to go to university or to start a career.
Study Programmes are high quality learning programmes for 16 to 18 years olds. They provide the best opportunity to move onto higher-level courses or into employment and are tailored to you.
Example 1: A typical level 2 study programme is 550 to 600 hours. Entrants are yet to achieve grade 4 and above GCSE in English and maths.
Example 2: A typical level 3 study programme is 550 to 600 hours. Entrants have achieved grade 4 and above GCSE in English and maths.
The importance of maths and English
We know what you are thinking…
“I want to be a musician, not a mathematician”, “I’m going to study beauty not English”, “College is about training to be a mechanic, not studying equations.” We know.
But it’s important. It’s not just us that are saying this. If you are under 18 and haven’t achieved a grace 4 (C) in maths and English, then you must continue with these subjects after you have enrolled on your course. Some day soon you will want to make sure your pay packet/salary is correct, that you are charging the right amount to your customers, that you are achieving that best deal for your next purchase. It’s all maths.
Or: You might want to submit a job application, write a report for work, send in a written quote for a job. Who knows? But English is important too.
Here’s how we make maths and English achievable:
1. It’s part of your study programme – so you won’t be expected to do additional study.
2. Our maths and English team are experts at making the impossible possible.
3. We want you to succeed just as much as you. We will be your personal maths and English Support Network.
Experience the working world
Work experience is an essential part of all study programmes, no matter what you are studying.
It is essential for two reasons. Firstly, because industry experience teaches you about the profession you’re joining. Secondly, it gives context to the topics you are studying and demonstrates these principles when they are put into practice.
There is no better way to get a real view of your chosen professional field than by completing work experience.
The volume of work experience will vary according to your course. Generally, you will be required to participate in work experience opportunities for approximately 18-40 hours over a year.
Some courses such as childcare may require more hours of work experience. We have a fantastic team of Work Experience Coordinators. They will help you find a placement that’s right for you. They work closely with our curriculum areas and employers.
If you have a family friend or relative who is able to help you to find your own work experience placement, then please chat to your curriculum staff.
At Leicester College we believe that age should not be a barrier to education. Whether you are wanting to enhance your career prospects, learn a new skill or simply study a subject you love, we give you the opportunity to do just that.
There’s 30,000 learners of all ages and backgrounds studying at Leicester College, and we are committed to promoting equality and diversity.
The reward of learning at Leicester College is a new qualification or training to add to your CV. The most obvious advantage to this is that it will help you find a job. There are other bonuses too: you’ll meet new people who share your interests; you will explore new possibilities and opportunities; and new points of view will open up to you.
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According to current federal law, states are required to curtail the illegal sale of tobacco to minors in order to be eligible for block grants from the Department of Health and Human Services. The federal government wants states to enforce the law with enough vigor to ensure that at least 80 percent of merchants are obeying the law. However, when that standard was met in three Massachusetts communities, the youths in those communities reported that it was still easy to buy tobacco from merchants. The new study suggests that new federal efforts aimed at reducing teen smoking, including the Food and Drug Administration regulations banning tobacco sales to minors nationwide that became effective on February 28, 1997, will require achieving a high level of compliance if they are to succeed in lowering youth smoking.
The study, which was supported through a grant from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,* was conducted by a team of researchers led by Nancy Rigotti, MD, director of Tobacco Research and Treatment at the MGH. The study involved six Massachusetts communities and surveys of over 7,000 high-school age youths.
During the study's two years (1994-1996), officials in three of the six communities studied enforced the laws banning the sale of tobacco to minors by sending underage youths serving as decoys into stores to buy tobacco. This was not done in the other three communities. As the study progressed, the rate of illegal sales by merchants declined dramatically in the communities that enforced the law, but youths living in those communities reported that they rarely had trouble buying tobacco, and their smoking rates did not decrease.
"We suspect that some merchants didn't stop selling tobacco to children," said Rigotti, "they simply learned to spot which young people were testing them for compliance." Underage youths doing the inspections were not allowed to lie about their age, dress to look older or ask older people to buy cigarettes for them, as typical youths might do.
"We had several merchants tell our youths that they would be happy to sell them cigarettes if they would simply say that they were 18 years old," added Joseph DiFranza, MD, associate professor of family and community medicine at the University of Massachusetts and a study co-author. "Several clerks told our decoys that they could only sell cigarettes to kids that they knew."
According to Rigotti, "It appears that some merchants have learned to 'game' the system, to continue to sell tobacco illegally to their regular customers without getting caught." Another factor seems to be that underage smokers learn which merchants will sell them tobacco, and they return to the same store day after day. "It only takes one dishonest merchant to supply an entire school system with tobacco," said DiFranza. "In some communities underage youths are taking jobs in convenience stores to be able to supply their friends with tobacco."
"In previous studies, teen smoking has fallen in communities where more vigorous enforcement of the law curtailed the illegal sale of tobacco," said Rigotti. "Unfortunately, our study found that a compliance rate of 80 percent leaves too many places where youths can buy tobacco, and therefore it had no effect on the number of youths who were using tobacco in these communities."
Rigotti's and DiFranza's suggestions for improving compliance with the law include using as inspectors kids who act more like "real" kids, using older kids, increasing the frequency of inspections, making sure that clerks check identification properly, providing stiffer penalties for illegal sales, fining store clerks as well as store owners and prohibiting minors from selling tobacco.
*Note to Editors: For more information on policy research in the areas of tobacco, alcohol and illegal drugs supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), please contact Joe Marx or Joan Hollendonner at RWJF, (609) 243-5937, Ellen Wilson at Burness Communications, (301) 652-1558, or visit the RWJF website www.rwjf.org and look for the new Media Resource Guide on Tobacco, available October 9.
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emale wasps of this species sting a roach (specificially a Periplaneta americana, Periplaneta australasiae or Nauphoeta rhombifolia) twice, delivering venom. A 2003 study proved using radioactive labeling that the wasp stings precisely into specific ganglia of the roach. She delivers an initial sting to a thoracic ganglion and injects venom to mildly and reversibly paralyze the front legs of the insect. This facilitates the second venomous sting at a carefully chosen spot in the roach's head ganglia (brain), in the section that controls the escape reflex. As a result of this sting, the roach will first groom extensively, and then become sluggish and fail to show normal escape responses. In 2007 it was reported that the venom of the wasp blocks receptors for the neurotransmitter octopamine.The wasp proceeds to chew off half of each of the roach's antennae. Researchers believe that the Wasp chews off the antenna to replenish fluids or possibly to regulate the amount of venom because too much could kill and too little would let the victim recover before the larva has grown. The wasp, which is too small to carry the roach, then leads the victim to the wasp's burrow, by pulling one of the roach's antennae in a manner similar to a leash. Once they reach the burrow, the wasp lays a white egg, about 2 mm long, on the roach's abdomen. It then exits and proceeds to fill in the burrow entrance with pebbles, more to keep other predators out than to keep the roach in.With its escape reflex disabled, the stung roach will simply rest in the burrow as the wasp's egg hatches after about three days. The hatched larva lives and feeds for 4–5 days on the roach, then chews its way into its abdomen and proceeds to live as an endoparasitoid. Over a period of eight days, the wasp larva consumes the roach's internal organs in an order which guarantees that the roach will stay alive, at least until the larva enters the pupal stage and forms a cocoon inside the roach's body. Eventually the fully-grown wasp emerges from the roach's body to begin its adult life. Development is faster in the warm season.
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Science & Tech.
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June 15, 2011 Malaria is a devastating disease caused by the Plasmodium parasite which is transmitted to humans by infected mosquitoes. Hundreds of millions of new cases of malaria are reported each year, and there are more than 750,000 malaria-related deaths annually. As a result, there is an urgent need for vaccines to combat infection. Now, a new study uncovers a powerful strategy for eliciting an immune response that can combat the parasite during multiple stages of its complex life cycle and describes what may be the most effective next-generation vaccination approach for malaria.
The research will be published online on June 15 by Cell Press in the journal Cell Host and Microbe.
When an infected mosquito bites a human, the parasite "sporozoite" stage is deposited in the skin. From there, it travels to the liver cells where it copies itself many times and matures for about a week into new forms that infect red blood cells and cause the clinical symptoms of malaria. "Halting Plasmodium infection during the clinically silent liver stage represents an attractive goal of antimalarial vaccination, but is challenging because, if not complete, some parasites can get into the blood and cause disease," explains study co-author Dr. Stefan Kappe, from the Seattle Biomedical Research Institute. "Unfortunately, the complexity of the parasite and the diverse types of protection needed against malaria are the main reason why, despite decades of effort, no fully protective vaccine is ready for licensing"
Guiding the search for a better malaria vaccine thus far has been the "gold-standard" of protection from Plasmodium: vaccination with radiation-attenuated sporozoites. Irradiating the parasites elicits extensive and random DNA damage that arrests the parasite early in the liver and provides the immune system with an opportunity to develop an immune response that can combat the native parasite. However, very high irradiated-sporozoites doses are needed to generate full liver-stage protection and there is no protection against blood stages. "In our study, we examined whether genetically attenuated parasites (GAP) generated by targeted gene deletions to stop replication late in liver-stage development were a better vaccine option," says co-author Dr. John Harty from the University of Iowa.
Using mouse malaria models, the researchers discovered that immunization with late-liver-stage-arresting GAP provided superior and long-lasting protection against liver-stage infection when compared with irradiated parasites or early-liver-stage arresting GAP. Importantly, late-liver-stage-arresting GAP also provided protection at the blood stage of infection and across different malaria parasite species, as well as by the route of immunization that can be used in humans. These findings suggest that weakening the parasite and arresting it as late in the liver as possible may have a powerful payoff, providing a large and diverse array of immune cells with optimal targets that are very effective for neutralizing the native parasite.
"Collectively, our data indicate that late-liver-stage-arresting GAP constitute a superior vaccination strategy. This underscores the potential utility of late-arresting GAP as broadly protective second-generation live-attenuated malaria vaccine candidates and a powerful model to find new parasite protein-based vaccine candidates that protect against infection in the liver and the blood," conclude Dr. Kappe and Dr. Harty.
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Health
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UNDERSTANDING CORROSION IN AND AROUND YOUR BOAT
Corrosion is a concern for many boaters. Corrosion damage is often unsightly, unsafe and costly.
It is possible to rise to the challenge posed by various sources of corrosion. As Mercury Marine says, “Marine corrosion is a fact of boating life, but you can protect your investment with diligence & proper maintenance.”
Certain kinds of corrosion can devalue your investment in a matter of months or even days. Many boating enthusiasts do not know what specific threats to look out for. Let’s shine some light on the topic.
TYPES OF CORROSION
An article in Seaworthy discusses types of corrosion that boaters combat, including simple, electrolytic, crevice and galvanic.
Simple corrosion occurs when molecules on a metal surface bond with oxygen. The process is called oxidation. Moisture accelerates the chemical reaction. In marine applications, aluminum deteriorates into aluminum oxide, a grayish substance.
Fortunately, stainless steel and other coatings prevent oxidation. Simple corrosion in a marine setting is often very gradual. For example, simple corrosion of a bronze propeller occurs at a slow rate. So slow, in fact, that the process may not impact service life.
In marine settings, stray electrical current quickly accelerates corrosion. Electrical shorts are often the culprit. Many of them occur in the 12-volt battery systems common on boats. When there’s a short, electrical current may flow through an underwater metal fitting. The resulting electrolytic corrosion can do serious damage in days or hours. Regular boat inspections and prompt diagnosis address the threat posed by electrolytic corrosion.
Crevice corrosion is a threat to stainless steel used in marine environments. The “stainless” nature of the metal is due to its oxidised surface. Here, oxidation is actually beneficial, inhibiting corrosion. When moisture combines with a shortage of oxygen, problems arise. Unwanted leaks may lead to crevice corrosion in bolts and fittings.
Galvanic corrosion is a significant concern in marine environments. Different metals immersed in water essentially become a battery. A metal with more negatively charged ions acts as the anode. Ions flow to the less negatively charged metal – the cathode. The greater the difference in voltage between the two, the more rapid the loss of anode material. Galvanic corrosion is the result.
In a marine environment, serious galvanic corrosion can happen in months. Fortunately, the proper use of sacrificial anodes controls the process.
Sacrificial anodes – A sacrificial anode contains a metal lower on the galvanic table than the other metals on the boat. It takes the corrosive threat away from metal hulls and stern drives.
In many systems, different metals are bonded together into a single cathode using 8 AWG green insulated wire (ABYC Standard E-2). It’s important to check the boat’s sacrificial anodes on a regular basis.
Three metals are popular in sacrificial anodes. Aluminum anodes are often used in boats used in both freshwater and saltwater. Magnesium anodes are appropriate for freshwater applications. In the past, zinc anodes were common. However, freshwater causes a coating of zinc oxide that limits effectiveness.
Supplementary systems – Sacrificial anodes are not always enough. Sometimes, the area that needs protection is too large. Or, the voltage difference between the anode and the cathode is insufficient.
As a result, it is often important to add a supplemental system. A sensor delivers real-time data, signaling the system to increase the electrical current to protect connected metals. Mercury Marine’s MerCathode system is an example of a supplemental system.
PERIODIC INSPECTIONS AND MAINTENANCE
Professional inspections and prompt maintenance help you guard against corrosive damage. To protect against electrolytic corrosion, make sure your boat’s electrical system is in good working order. Reduce the potential for electrical shorts with a well-maintained battery system. Counter the threat of galvanic corrosion with sacrificial anodes and supplementary systems. Ensure they work according to spec.
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Moderate reasoning
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Transportation
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Glycolysis and Cellular Respiration
In the Real World
History and Glycolysis and Cellular Respiration
Fermentation is not only a biological process, but a critical component of making alcohol and bread. Cultures around the world and throughout history have used fermentation to produce beer, wine and bread.
We already learned that alcohol fermentation, done by bacteria and yeast, produces ethanol, which is alcohol, and carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide makes bubbles, which makes beer frothy, and causes bread to rise. Some would even say beer is the most important invention in the world—watch How Beer Saved the World for more details.
Human use of fermentation goes way back—ancient civilizations made alcohol, as early as nine thousand years ago in Neolithic China (Dietler 2006). The ancient Sumerians made beer (Michel and Patrick 1992), and some researchers even think that beer is why we have civilization at all. Back in the day, humans lived nomadic lives, roaming around to hunt. About 10,000 years ago, they started settling down and grew crops, domesticated animals (really cut back on the need for orange hunting vests), and lived in cities and villages. Some researchers believe humans started growing crops so that they could make fermented beverages from them. One of the first crops grown during the agricultural revolution was barley. Since beer is made from barley, anyone who wanted to brew (and drink) beer would have to grow the barley first. Then they had to stick around to brew the beer. Ancient people said goodbye to their previously nomadic lives, planted barley, and became the first farmers and brewers. The first brewers probably stumbled upon beer by accident, but they quickly figured out how to keep making it, and today brewing is down to a science.
Archaeologists can tell that certain pots used to hold beer because of a residue they find on artifacts. In ancient Mesopotamia, evidence suggests that the wealthy elite drank wine and lower classes drank beer. This is not so surprising, since water was not purified and beer was probably safer to drink. In both ancient and modern societies, wine and other alcoholic beverages are integral parts of ceremonies and rituals (Dietler 2006). Before water purification and refrigeration, it was probably useful to have a beverage around that would keep for awhile.
Alcohol was vital to ancient Greek and Roman societies, not just as an intoxicant, but also as an important economic commodity. The Romans shipped huge quantities of wine to their colonies. In the 1700s, alcohol was an important trade item to the colonial powers participating in the West African slave trade. Rum, made from sugar cane, was traded for slaves, who were then forced to work on those very same sugar plantations (Dietler 2006).
Humans are not the only ones who enjoy fermented products. Lots of other animals ingest ethanol when they eat ripe fruit. Fruit growing in the tropics, with the warm and wet climates there, is especially prone to hosting fermenting yeast. Many tropical fruits contain low levels of ethanol, so animals that eat large quantities of fruit are also steadily taking in alcohol (Dudley 2002). The alcohol content of fruit adds more calories, and therefore more nutrition, to the fruit (to animals living in the wild that have to search for food all day, the more calories, the better). In fact, the fruit-eating patterns of our primate ancestors and the high-calorie rewards from ethanol-laden fruit may provide the evolutionary basis for human alcoholism (Dudley 2000, 2002).
That is enough about alcohol…on to a more important thing: bread. Bread is another major product from fermentation. A world without bread would be like a day without sunshine. Bread has had a pretty big impact on world history. After all, didn't the French Revolution start because people had to wait in long lines for their baguettes? Hmm…maybe it is time to go back and read A Tale of Two Cities.
The ancient Sumerians started making bread around 6000 BC (Belderok 2000). Although grains had been cooked before, it was around then that people actually made leavened bread—bread that has yeast in it, causing it to rise. Compare a tortilla to a loaf of bread and you can easily see the difference.
Three thousand years after the invention of bread, the Egyptians really made heated things up by inventing ovens to bake bread (Belderok 2000). In Europe, wheat was not originally the preferred grain—barley was most popular, probably because of its use to beer making. In the Middle Ages, rye became very popular, and finally in the 1700s wheat was the basis of most breads.
The old school way of harvesting wheat:
Bread, like alcohol, became a staple to human diets and economies. Wheat and rye were traded in large quantities in Europe as the population grew quickly in the 1200s. So much of these grains went through Amsterdam that it became known as the "Granary of Europe" (Belderok 2000). In the late 1700s, the center of grain production for Europe shifted away from Amsterdam to Russia and the up-and-coming American economy. Wheat production grew very rapidly in the U.S. and Canada, supplying grain for an exponentially growing world population. Of course, farm and transportation technology were influenced by the need to grow and transport large quantities of wheat. So it might not be such a stretch to say our modern railroads and interstates owe their existence to alcohol fermentation.
We’re adding new materials and resources all the time.
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An informed Shmooper is the greatest weapon against pop quizzees.
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Science & Tech.
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How to get credit for the first time
To be accepted for a credit card, personal loan, mortgage, overdraft or most other forms of credit in the UK, you will need to have a good credit history and – in some cases – credit score. Find out how to start building one.
What is a credit score?
A credit score is a number or category that reflects how good or bad a credit risk a particular lender thinks you are.
Normally, the higher the number, the better the risk you are.
Your credit score can determine:
- Whether a lender is willing to lend you money
- How much money you can borrow, and
- What interest rate you will be charged
Your credit score will be based partly on your credit history, which is a record of:
- How well or badly you’ve managed your debts, and
- How much money you’ve borrowed in the past and today.
You need to build one before you attempt to borrow money.
This is particularly important if you’ve moved to the UK from another country.
How to start building a credit history
There are some simple steps you can take to start building a credit history.
Open and manage a bank account
Setting up and using a UK current account will help build your credit history if you run it responsibly (e.g. making sure you have enough money in your account to cover your payments each month).
As it will demonstrate that you can have a responsible, ongoing relationship with a bank.
Some banks offer new customers an interest-free overdraft for the first 12 months, which can be an alternative to applying for a credit card if you only need a small amount of credit for a few days and can pay off your overdraft.
Make sure you can pay it off in full before the interest-free period ends.
Opening and managing a current account responsibly will help your credit rating even if the account doesn’t include an overdraft.
Set up some Direct Debits
Always make sure you have enough money in your bank account to pay any bills being paid by Direct Debit or standing order.
Set up some regular Direct Debit payments to pay bills such as your gas and electricity or your home or mobile phone.
Not only will this give you a better credit rating, but you’ll probably get a discount for paying by Direct Debit as well.
Don’t miss payments
Make sure you pay all your bills on time, as a missed or late payment will count against you.
If the lender has to go to court to get the money, then a county court judgment (or decree in Scotland) will severely affect your ability to get credit and it will remain on your file for six years.
Factors that could stop you from getting credit
Beyond your credit history, there are certain other things a lender will check when working out your credit score and deciding whether to lend.
Whether you’re on the electoral register
Being registered to vote in the UK means lenders can check that you live where you say you do, so it’s important to register.
If your name isn’t on the electoral register, make sure you add it as soon as you can.
Financial ties with other people
If you close a joint account, request a ‘notice of disassociation’ from the credit reference agency to stop your credit files from being linked.
If you have a joint credit agreement (such as a loan or mortgage) with someone else, their credit rating could affect yours.
That’s because your credit file will be ‘linked’ to the other person’s and a lender can check their file as well as your own if you apply for credit.
For example, if they fail to make repayments on credit cards or other loans, it could make your credit rating worse.
That’s why it’s important to end financial associations with ex-partners by closing any joint accounts you still have and contacting the credit reference agency to ask for a ‘notice of disassociation’ to stop your credit files from being linked.
How your credit rating affects the interest rate you’re charged
Your credit rating might also influence the rate of interest you are charged on any borrowing.
Who works out your credit score?
There is not one single, definitive credit score that exists for you. Rather, it’s worked out by each individual lender.
So for example, two different banks might credit score in different ways depending on their policies on lending.
However, when you apply for credit they will check with one or more of the three main credit reference agencies in the UK:
- Equifax. and
These agencies each compile credit information about individuals in the UK.
Before you apply for credit for the first time, you might want to check your credit report is up to date and correct.
Things to think about before you borrow
Once you have built up a credit history over, say, six months, you can try applying for credit.
But before you do, spend some time thinking about which is the right product for you and shop around.
Also make sure you know how you’re going to pay the debt back, by reading the articles below:
Applying for credit
Before you start filling out an application form, make sure you have the following to hand:
- Your employer’s name and address
- Your bank or building society account detail
- Details of existing credit commitments, and
- A list of the money you have coming in and going out each month and
Did you find this guide helpful?
Thank you for your feedback
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The Will to Power (manuscript)
The Will to Power (German: Der Wille zur Macht) is a book of notes drawn from the literary remains (or Nachlass) of philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche by his sister Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche and Peter Gast (Heinrich Köselitz). The title derived from a work that Nietzsche himself had considered writing. The work was first translated into English by Anthony M. Ludovici in 1910, and it has since seen several other translations and publications.
After Nietzsche's breakdown in 1889, and the passing of control over his literary estate to his sister Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche, Nietzsche's friend Heinrich Köselitz, also known as Peter Gast, conceived the notion of publishing selections from his notebooks, using one of Nietzsche's simpler outlines as a guide to their arrangement. As he explained to Elisabeth on November 8, 1893:
- Given that the original title appears as: The Antichrist. Revaluation of All Values (and therefore not 'The first book of the revaluation of all values'), you may think that your brother at the time of his incipient madness, thought the book completed. ... Notwithstanding, the consequences of this revaluation must also be explicitly illustrated in the field of morality, philosophy, politics. No one today is able to imagine such consequences – that's why the vast preparations by your brother, the other three books of the Revaluation, must be ordered according to my suggestion and gathered in a kind of system.
Between 1894 and 1926, Elisabeth arranged the publication of the twenty volume Großoktavausgabe edition of Nietzsche's writings by C. G. Naumann. In it, following Köselitz' suggestion she included a selection from Nietzsche's posthumous fragments, which was gathered together and entitled The Will To Power. She claimed that this text was substantially the magnum opus, which Nietzsche had hoped to write and name "The Will to Power, An Attempt at a Revaluation of All Values". The first German edition, containing 483 sections, published in 1901, was edited by Köselitz, Ernst Horneffer, and August Horneffer, under Elisabeth's direction. This version was superseded in 1906 by an expanded second edition containing 1067 sections. This later compilation is what has come to be commonly known as The Will to Power.
Colli and Montinari research
While researching materials for the Italian translation of Nietzsche's complete works in the 1960s, philologists Giorgio Colli and Mazzino Montinari decided to go to the Archives in Leipzig to work with the original documents. From their work emerged the first complete and chronological edition of Nietzsche's writings, including the posthumous fragments from which Förster-Nietzsche had assembled The Will To Power. The complete works comprise 5,000 pages, compared to the 3,500 pages of the Großoktavausgabe. In 1964, during the International Colloquium on Nietzsche in Paris, Colli and Montinari met Karl Löwith, who would put them in contact with Heinz Wenzel, editor for Walter de Gruyter's publishing house. Heinz Wenzel would buy the rights of the complete works of Colli and Montinari (33 volumes in German) after the French Gallimard edition and the Italian Adelphi editions.
Before Colli and Montinari's philological work, the previous editions led readers to believe that Nietzsche had organized all his work toward a final structured opus called The Will to Power. In fact, if Nietzsche did consider producing such a book, he had abandoned such plans in the months before his collapse. The title of The Will to Power, which appears for the first time at the end of the summer of 1885, was replaced by another plan at the end of August 1888. This new plan was titled "Attempt at a revaluation of all values" [Versuch einer Umwerthung aller Werthe], and ordered the multiple fragments in a completely different way than the one chosen by Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche.
Mazzino Montinari and Giorgio Colli have called The Will to Power a "historic forgery" artificially assembled by Nietzsche's sister and Köselitz/Gast. Although Nietzsche had in 1886 announced (at the end of On the Genealogy of Morals) a new work with the title, The Will to Power: An Attempt at a Revaluation of All Values, the project under this title was set aside and some of its draft materials used to compose The Twilight of the Idols and The Antichrist (both written in 1888); the latter was for a time represented as the first part of a new four-part magnum opus, which inherited the subtitle Revaluation of All Values from the earlier project as its new title. Although Elisabeth Förster called The Will to Power Nietzsche's unedited magnum opus, in light of Nietzsche's collapse, his intentions for the material he had not by that time put to use in The Twilight of the Idols and The Antichrist are simply unknowable. So The Will to Power was not a text completed by Nietzsche, but rather an anthology of selections from his notebooks misrepresented as if it were something more. Nevertheless, the concept remains, and has, since the reading of Karl Löwith, been identified as a key component of Nietzsche's philosophy although many believe so erroneously, so much so that Heidegger, under Löwith's influence, considered it to form, with the thought of the eternal recurrence, the basis of his thought.
In fact, according to Montinari, not only did the Will To Power impose its own order on the fragments, but many individual fragments were themselves cut up or stitched together in ways not made clear to the reader. Gilles Deleuze himself saluted Montinari's work declaring:
- As long as it was not possible for the most serious researcher to accede to the whole of Nietzsche's manuscripts, we knew only in a loose way that the Will to Power did not exist as such (...) We wish only now that the new dawn brought on by this previously unpublished work will be the sign of a return to Nietzsche.
Drawing on this research for support, Montinari also called into question the very conception of a Nietzschean magnum opus, given his style of writing and thinking.
In 2006, Thomas H. Brobjer stated in the abstract to his study, Nietzsche's magnum opus:
Nietzsche did not write a completed magnum opus, a "Hauptwerk", but he planned to do so during at least the last 5 years of his active life. I will show that during and after the writing of Also sprach Zarathustra this was his main aim and ambition. The projected work passed through a number of related phases, of which the much discussed and controversial Will to Power was merely one. This intention to write a magnum opus has been denied or almost completely ignored by almost all commentators (and even the many writers of Nietzsche biographies). I will bring attention to this intention, discuss why it has been ignored and show that an awareness of it is important for our understanding of the late Nietzsche's thinking and for determining the value and originality of his late notes. It has been a failure of historians of philosophy, intellectual historians and Nietzsche scholars not to have taken this into consideration and account.
"Der Wille zur Macht" was first translated into English by Anthony M. Ludovici in 1910, and was published in Oscar Levy's edition of Nietzsche's papers. Ludovici held that the text, incomplete though it was, represented Nietzsche's intended magnum opus.
- Friedrich Nietzsche (1910). "The will to power. An attempted transvaluation of all values. Books one and two". In Oscar Levy. The complete works of Friedrich Nietzsche. 14. Edinburgh and London: T.N. Foulis. (Revised third edition 1925, published by The Macmillan Company)
- Friedrich Nietzsche (1910). "The will to power. An attempted transvaluation of all values. Books three and four". In Oscar Levy. The complete works of Friedrich Nietzsche. 15 (1st ed.). Edinburgh and London: T.N. Foulis.
Another translation was published by Kaufmann with Hollingdale in 1968:
The latest translation was published by Scarpitti and Hill for Penguin Classics:
- Publication Date: 3/28/2017
- Der Wille zur Macht. Versuch einer Umwerthung aller Werthe (Studien und Fragmente), 1901 (as part of Nachgelassene Werke), ed. by Ernst Horneffer, August Horneffer and Peter Gast, with a foreword by Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche, publ. C. G. Naumann, (usual abbreviation: ¹WM)
- Der Wille zur Macht, 1906, ed. by Elisabeth Förster-Nietzsche and Peter Gast (usual abbreviation: ²WM)
- Der Wille zur Macht: eine Auslegung alles Geschehens, 1917, ed. by Max Brahn
- Der Wille zur Macht, 1922 (15th volume of Nachgelassene Werk), publ. A. Kröner
- Der Wille zur Macht, 1926 (19th volume of Gesammelte Werke: Musarionausgabe), ed. by Richard Oehler, Max Oehler, and Friedrich Würzbach
- Der Wille zur Macht, 1930 (as part of Werke in zwei Bänden), ed. by August Messer
- La Volonté de Puissance, 1935, ed. by Friedrich Würzbach (Gallimard)
- Digitale Kritische Gesamtausgabe Werke und Briefe – digital critical edition of the complete works, posthumous fragments, and letters, based on the critical text by Colli and Montinari, edited by Paolo D'Iorio, Paris, Nietzsche Source, 2009–
- David Marc Hoffmann, Zur Geschichte des Nietzsche-Archives. Chronik, Studien und Dokumente, Berlin-New York, De Gruyter, 1991, p. 15.
- This sub–title appeared on the title page of the first edition, called the Großoktav. It appeared in 1901 in volume XV of Nietzsche's Werke. A transcription is displayed in Walter Kaufmann's English translation of The Will to Power, Vintage, 1968, page xxvii.
- Mazzino Montinari, Nietzsche-studien: Internationales Jahrbuch Für Die Nietzsche-Forschung, 1974.
- Deleuze: "Tant qu'il ne fut pas possible aux chercheurs les plus sérieux d'accéder à l'ensemble des manuscrits de Nietzsche, on savait seulement de façon vague que La Volonté de puissance n'existait pas comme telle (...) Nous souhaitons que le jour nouveau, apporté par les inédits, soit celui du retour à Nietzsche in Mazzino Montinari and Paolo D'Iorio, "'The Will to Power' does not exist"
- Mazzino Montinari and Paolo d'Iorio, "'The Will to Power' does not exist" Mazzino Montinari, « La volonté de puissance » n'existe pas, texte établi et postfacé par Paolo D'Iorio, traduit de l'italien par Patricia Farazzi et Michel Valensi, Paris, Éditions de l'éclat, 1996, 192 p.
- "Nietzsche's magnum opus". History of European Ideas. 32: 278–294. doi:10.1016/j.histeuroideas.2006.06.002.
- Der "Wille zur Macht" – kein Buch von Friedrich Nietzsche, a selection of texts from Nietzsche's estate related to his philosophical concept and book projects "Wille zur Macht" ("Will to Power"), edited by Bernd Jung based on the Digital Critical Edition of Nietzsche's Works, 2012/13
- "Nietzsche's Notebook of 1887–1888". English translation and notes by Daniel Fidel Ferrer (June 2012).
- "Nietzsche's Last Notebooks 1888". These are his notebooks from the year 1888 up to early January 1889. Nietzsche stopped writing entirely after January 6, 1889. English translation and notes by Daniel Fidel Ferrer (June 2012).
- On the Value of Nietzsche's 'The Will to Power' Manuscript
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Strong reasoning
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Literature
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By Suzanne Morgan Williams
The funny thing about history is that you aren’t aware that you’re making it. My daughter once asked, “How do you plan your life?” I answered something like, “You can have an idea of where you want to go, but honestly, you make one decision and then another and they add up, and there you are. Mostly life goes day by day.”
History too is sometimes created by the accumulation of random events added, perhaps, to the intersection of powerful people. Considering that every participant has a unique and often differing point of view, it’s amazing we can ever agree on some kind of shared backstory. But the idea that one narrative doesn’t define an era is exciting for authors.
Finding an untold point of view or a detail overlooked by traditional teachings can launch an entire book. Mary Cronk Farrell’s 2014 nonfiction book True Grit; How American World War II Nurses Survived Battle and Prison Camp in the Pacific, is exactly that kind of story. Who knew about these nurses and what they contributed and endured in the Philippines? Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson adds details, insight, and humanizes the Civil Rights era and the years that followed through a stunning memoir. But what about historical fiction? What can it add to the conversation?
Fiction, in my mind, can be used to present truth in a way that the constraints of nonfiction may not allow. And yet it is fiction, made up, not true. And young readers may not know anything about the events a book is based on. So how can historical fiction books enrich and enchant the middle grade reader without confusing them? When kids read historical fiction how will they know what is fact and what is fiction? Chances are they won’t, so authors must do impeccable research. A good historical fiction book depends on solid facts, whether it is the method of creating celadon pottery in twelfth century Korea as in Linda Sue Park’s Single Shard, or the streetscapes of 1930s San Francisco in Gennifer Choldenko’s Al Capone Does My Shirts. These details bring the books to life and lend them authority and authenticity. For readers who are familiar with the time and place, they underscore the book’s honesty. For young readers, they provide information that they will accept, probably without question, so the facts had better be right. These authors don’t change the facts. They use them to underscore their characters and add drama to their plots.
In my opinion the strength of historical fiction is in humanizing stories that may have been mythologized or sanitized, and bringing young readers squarely into the emotional lives of a character experiencing a historic event. Historical fiction can remind us that every war statistic represents a person and every economic downturn can devastate real families. It may present a point of view we never thought of – a slave in Boston during the Revolutionary War (Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson) or a Cuban teen who is sent to Miami during the Cuban Revolutions during Operation Pedro Pan (The Red Umbrella by Christina Diaz Gonzalez). Historical fiction engages children in a way a few text book pages can’t, gets them asking questions they never knew they had and thinking for themselves. Keeping the facts straight while making the story unforgettable. That’s the possibility of historical fiction.
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Strong reasoning
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Literature
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Integer Linear Programming in Computational and Systems Biology
An Entry-Level Text and Course
- Author: Dan Gusfield, University of California, Davis
Integer linear programming (ILP) is a versatile modeling and optimization technique that is increasingly used in non-traditional ways in biology, with the potential to transform biological computation. However, few biologists know about it. This how-to and why-do text introduces ILP through the lens of computational and systems biology. It uses in-depth examples from genomics, phylogenetics, RNA, protein folding, network analysis, cancer, ecology, co-evolution, DNA sequencing, sequence analysis, pedigree and sibling inference, haplotyping, and more, to establish the power of ILP. This book aims to teach the logic of modeling and solving problems with ILP, and to teach the practical 'work flow' involved in using ILP in biology. Written for a wide audience, with no biological or computational prerequisites, this book is appropriate for entry-level and advanced courses aimed at biological and computational students, and as a source for specialists. Numerous exercises and accompanying software (in Python and Perl) demonstrate the concepts.Read more
- Presents the first-of-its-kind introduction to integer linear programming through the lens of computational and systems biology
- Includes 330 extended examples and exercises which mix logical thinking and practical application
- Accompanying software requires no previous computer programming knowledge and allows the reader to explore the material and develop skills in modeling and solving ILPs
Reviews & endorsements
'In his classic accessible teaching style, Gusfield teaches us why integer linear programming (ILP) is the most useful mathematical idea you've probably never heard of. Read this book to learn how what you don't know can hurt you, and why ILP should be your new favorite method.' Trey Ideker, University of California, San DiegoSee more reviews
'Once again, Dan Gusfield has written an accessible book that shows that algorithmic rigor need not be sacrificed when solving real-world problems. He explains integer linear programming in the context of real-world biology. In doing so, the reader has an enriched understanding of both algorithmic details and the challenges in modern biology.' Russ Altman, Stanford University, California
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- Date Published: June 2019
- format: Adobe eBook Reader
- isbn: 9781108389853
- contains: 123 b/w illus.
- availability: This ISBN is for an eBook version which is distributed on our behalf by a third party.
Table of Contents
1. A fly-over introduction
2. Biological networks and graphs
3. Character compatibility
5. Parsimony in phylogenetics
6. RNA folding
7. Protein problems
9. TSP in genomics
10. Molecular sequence analysis
11. Metabolic networks and engineering
12. ILP idioms
13. Communities and cuts
14. Corrupted data and extensions in phylogenetics
15. More tanglegrams and trees
16. Return to Steiner-trees
17. Exploiting protein networks
18. More strings and sequences
19. Max-likelihood pedigrees
21. Extended exercises
22. What's next?
Epilogue: opinionated comments.
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Strong reasoning
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Science & Tech.
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Abscesses in Rabbits
An abscess is a cavity containing pus surrounded by a capsule of thickened, inflamed tissue. Usually an abscess is the result of a bacterial infection. The pus is an accumulation of dead cells from the battle to fight the infection. In humans, skin abscesses are often caused by Staphylococcus infections, but in rabbits, they can be caused by aerobic bacteria (those that require oxygen to survive) including Pasteurella multocida, Streptococcus, Pseudomonas andStaphylococcus, and a host of anaerobic bacteria (those that do not require oxygen to survive).
Rabbits can form abscesses in nearly any organ of the body as well as in skin, tooth roots and bone. The most common causes of rabbit abscesses are infections in tooth roots, tear ducts and bite wounds. Most facial abscesses are the result of dental disease. Tear duct abscesses can be the result of an elongated upper incisor tooth root blocking the tear duct. The accumulated fluid in the tear duct is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and an abscess can form easily. Abscesses that form internally can be more difficult to diagnose or manage and include areas such as the uterus, lungs, heart, liver, abdominal fat, intestine and kidneys.
Rabbit abscesses can be challenging to treat. One problem is that the pus found in rabbit abscesses is thick, about the consistency of toothpaste, and does not drain easily when the abscess is opened. The reason for the thick consistency is that there is an enzyme missing that is in other mammals, such as dogs, cats and humans that can break the dead cells into a more liquid form. In addition, rabbit abscesses often develop finger-like projections or tracts into the surrounding tissue where new abscesses can form. If these tracts are not removed or thoroughly cleaned, the abscess will return.
There are many thoughts on how to treat rabbit abscesses and much depends on the location of the infection, the cause of the infection and the general condition of the bunny. It should be stressed, however, that no matter what treatment is chosen, it is vital to provide your pet with a healthy diet, daily exercise and a clean environment to enable the immune system to function at full capacity. It will often be necessary to perform diagnostic tests to investigate the cause of the abscess and to determine if other disease is present. These tests might include bacterial culture of the wall of the abscess (culturing the pus itself is not useful), x-rays and/or ultrasound to determine the location and extent of the infection, and blood tests to determine the response of the immune system and the condition of other organs.
No matter what treatment is selected, rabbit abscesses have a higher probability of returning than abscesses in cats, dogs or humans. This can be related to factors such as difficulty in removing all the abscessed tissue due to location, the inability of antibiotics in the blood to penetrate the abscess wall, draining tracts coming off the abscess, and the possibility that the underlying cause was not treated. Most experienced rabbit veterinarians feel that complete surgical removal of the abscess, along with treatment of the underlying cause, gives the rabbit the best chance for a complete cure. Ideally, all of the wall of all abscesses should be cultured for both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria to determine the best choice for antibiotic therapy with or without surgery.
It is not always possible to surgically remove an abscess due to its location, other disease (making anesthesia or a lengthy surgery dangerous) or financial restraints. In these cases the abscess can be opened, cleaned out thoroughly and flushed with an antiseptic solution. This procedure is usually performed under anesthesia, unless the abscess is very small. The wall of the abscess should be cultured for bacteria and an appropriate antibiotic can be selected. These wounds must be left open to be flushed at least twice a day for several weeks. If the abscess closes too quickly, it will merely fill with pus again.
Abscesses treated in this manner have a high rate of reoccurrence, but it may be possible to provide at least some measure of relief for your pet for a period of time. Please note that using antibiotics as the sole treatment without at least opening and cleaning the abscess is usually unsuccessful because these drugs cannot adequately penetrate the thick capsule of the abscess and kill the bacteria inside.
Other methods that have been used include injecting the wall of the abscess with effective antibiotics or other solutions at periodic intervals; packing the cleaned abscess cavity with gauze sponges impregnated with various products such as medical grade honey, 50% dextrose solution, antibiotics and enzyme products.
Most rabbit abscess cases will require the use of oral or injectable antibiotics. If the entire abscess is completely removed, then the antibiotics might not be necessary or may be used for only a short time. If the abscess was only lanced and drained, then antibiotic therapy might continue for weeks to months.
Some rabbits can live with abscesses on various parts of their body for years by having them surgically drained as needed. Rabbit abscesses form a thick capsule around the infection that effectively walls it off from the rest of the body. If the abscess is not causing pain, the rabbit may act as if nothing is wrong. However, this does not mean that if you see a lump on your rabbit’s body that you should ignore it. Your veterinarian should investigate any unusual lumps or masses as soon as possible. The sooner an abscess can be treated, the greater are the chances of a cure. In addition, some lumps are not abscesses at all but rather tumors or cysts and may need immediate removal.
The important points about abscesses in rabbits are:
- Feed your rabbit a healthy diet, provide ample exercise and a clean, safe environment to minimize the formation of abscesses. (See Rabbit Care for more information on general rabbit care.)
- Have all lumps investigated as soon as possible by your veterinarian.
- It is important to determine the cause of an abscess, not to just treat the abscess itself.
- There are several different ways of treating abscesses in rabbits based on location, cause, size, overall health of the bunny and so on. Consult with a rabbit knowledgeable veterinarian who will be familiar with the various options.
- If the cause of an abscess cannot be treated, there is a moderate to high probability it will return after treatment.
- Complete surgical removal of the abscess along with correction of the cause gives the best chance for a complete cure.
- Whatever the treatment choice, it is imperative to follow through with your veterinarian’s requested recheck appointments and diagnostic testing to improve the chances for abscess resolution.
by Susan Brown, DVM
Date Published: 3/6/2001
Date Reviewed/Revised: 01/05/2012
This is part of Dr. Brown’s Small Mammal Health Series.
Copyright 2012 – 2012 by Susan Brown, DVM. Used with permission. All rights reserved
Permanent Link: http://www.VeterinaryPartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=503
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Strong reasoning
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Health
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J. Willard Gibbs
Yale University, New Haven, CT
Josiah Willard Gibbs
Josiah Willard Gibbs (1839-1903) was an American mathematical physicist whose work in statistical mechanics laid the basis for the development of physical chemistry as a science. On April 20, 2007, APS presented a plaque to the Yale physics department in his honor.
Albert Einstein called him "the greatest mind in American history." Gibbs’s studies of thermodynamics and discoveries in statistical mechanics paved the way for many of Einstein’s later discoveries. Gibbs is also known as the "father of vector analysis", or the formal study of vectors in math, and is largely responsible for the widespread use of vectors in physics, replacing the quaternions that William Rowan Hamilton had earlier discovered.
Josiah Willard Gibbs was born February 11, 1839, in New Haven, Connecticut. He graduated from Yale College in 1858 and continued his studies at Yale, earning his doctorate of philosophy in 1863. Afterward, he was appointed tutor in the college, where he taught Latin for 2 years and natural philosophy for a third year. In 1871 he was appointed professor of mathematical physics in Yale College and he served in that capacity for the rest of his life.
During the years from 1876 to 1878, he worked on the principles of thermodynamics, applying them to the complex processes involved in chemical reactions. He discovered the concept of chemical potential, or the "fuel" that makes chemical reactions work, and published his most famous contribution, "On the Equilibrium of Heterogeneous Substances," which was published in the Transactions of the Connecticut Academy of Arts and Sciences.
In these essays were the beginnings of Gibbs’ theories of phases of matter. He considered each state of matter a phase, and each substance a component. Thus, a system of ice and water would be one component in two phases, while solid and dissolved sugar in water would be two components in two phases. Gibbs took all of the variables involved in a chemical reaction - temperature, pressure, energy, volume, and entropy - and included them in one simple equation. By plugging some of the variables into the equation the rest could be easily worked out. This equation has come to be known as the Phase rule.
Within this paper was perhaps his most outstanding contribution, the introduction of the concept free energy, now universally called Gibbs free energy in his honor. The Gibbs free energy relates the tendency of a physical or chemical system to simultaneously lower its energy and increase its disorder, or entropy, in a spontaneous natural process. Gibbs’s approach allows a researcher to calculate the change in free energy in the process, such as in a chemical reaction, and how fast it will happen. Since virtually all chemical processes and many physical ones involve such changes, his work has significantly impacted both the theoretical and experiential aspects of these sciences.
His last contribution, The Elementary Principles of Statistical Mechanics, was published in 1902. The book laid the foundation for a new branch of theoretical physics, statistical mechanics, that is not only a major field in its own right, but that also crucial to developments that eventually led to quantum mechanics.
The importance of Gibbs’ findings was not immediately recognized, especially in his home country. When his publications were read, they were considered too mathematically complex for most chemists and too scientific for many mathematicians. But in 1901 Gibbs was awarded the Copley Medal of the British Royal Society, the most prestigious international science award at that time (the Nobel Prizes were just beginning).
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en
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Strong reasoning
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Science & Tech.
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Three new cases of West Nile Virus in Caddo Parish were confirmed this week.
Many people in the Shreveport-Bossier City area know little about the disease and only hear of local cases as they’re reported. It’s important to know how it is transmitted, what are the symptoms, and who is at risk. According to the CDC, here are the facts on West Nile:
It is not contagious.
People get West Nile from mosquito bites, and mosquitoes become infected if they bite a bird or other animal with the disease. Person-to-person contact does not spread the disease.
You may have it and never know it.
While symptoms like swollen lymph nodes, headaches, rash, and eye irritation may be experienced, 90% of West Nile Virus cases are asymptomatic. Many of the infected have either no illness or only mild illness, and the illness improves on its own. However, the most serious manifestation of the virus causes fatal encephalitis.
Your chances of getting West Nile are very, very slim.
So far this year, there have been 15 confirmed cases of West Nile in all of Louisiana. Last year, there were less than 40. The most West Nile cases ever recorded in Louisiana in one year was in 2002 with 204 falling ill.
If you get West Nile, you probably won’t die.
While there is little treatment available and no vaccine for the virus, of the few who contract the virus less than 1% die. By our estimations, this put the odds of someone in Shreveport contracting and dying from West Nile Virus somewhere around 1 in 30,660,000. Considering that likelihood, there’s a better chance of getting struck by lightning than getting West Nile.
Still, don’t be dumb about it.
Even though getting West Nile is unlikely, take the right preventative measures to make sure you minimize your chances of contracting this dangerous virus. Here are some tips from the CDC:
- Remember that mosquitoes are most active during dusk and dawn. Avoid being outside for long periods of time at these hours.
- If you know you’ll be outside for a while, use personal mosquito repellant that contains DEET.
- Empty stagnate water out of birdbaths,”kiddie” pools, buckets, and barrels. These places are breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
- If you feel sick, go to a doctor. Especially for the very young and the elderly, West Nile Virus is nothing to ignore.
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Moderate reasoning
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Health
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“The world but demonstrates an ancient truth; you will believe that others do to you exactly what you think you did to them. But once deluded into blaming them you will not see the cause of what they do, because you want the guilt to rest on them. (T587)”
1 – Definition of Blaming
This passage sounds hard to understand at first glance. Do we, we ask ourselves, really want the guilt to rest on others? If we reflect a moment, we will realize that we do. This is what “blaming” is all about.
2 – The Problem with Blaming Others
Some of us almost make a career out of blaming others for our misfortunes. We automatically shift the blame to the outside, if we are outwardly directed. But does this make a friend of our brother or sister? We know not. Our brothers and sisters have a hard time, often, forgiving us when we have blamed them for our plight, even when we might objectively think that they had some part in bringing that plight upon us.
3 – We See a Projected World
The philosophical basis of the Course is hinted at in this passage. Our perceptions determine what we see, because what we see is a projected dream. This means that our brothers and sisters are not in any way to blame when something terrible happens (or more likely, when we perceive something terrible has happened). There are many bad things in this world, and Jesus in ACIM does not counsel that we close our eyes to the obvious. But our projections do determine how those bad things affect us. We are at home in God when we have a peaceful heart, mindful always that we are living in illusion. The real Self of another has not been hurt, however bad the outer circumstances may become (an interpretation, not stated in ACIM directly).
4 – The Wishes of Others
We believe that others do not always wish kindness upon us, and therefore we see that. And we think that we have been guilty of unkindness. The “we” comes first. We project the dream that we are bad people, guilty of much “sin,” and then we see others doing bad things to us. This is the way that we learn. This is a reason for the world’s existence in its present form. When we realize that we need this world to correct our own errors, we will be well on our way to our real home.
I would not rely on the false premise that others have harmed me and that I am right in blaming them for any misfortunes that come. I am projecting this dream, and I am responsible for what happens. I know that this does not mean that I myself am “to blame,” either. I would not see myself as a victim, either of myself or of others.
Be with me as I seek to understand these theological undertones of A Course in Miracles. There is much that we do not understand, but may I take the little that I do understand and make the most of it. Thank You for the blessing of A Course in Miracles. These volumes do explain much that previously could only be given over to sometimes blind faith. Thank You for knowing that we were ready for this knowledge.
May my own projections not create a difficult world for myself. It is up to me in some measure to choose the life that I would have. Help me to choose always to serve You without reserve.
Be with me as I go through this day. May no stress pique my temper, and may I be guided by the love that You would have me show not only to others, but also to myself.
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en
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Strong reasoning
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Religion
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Our study will concern three colors (the primary colors), portrayed through three unrelated graphic designs, and the varying intensity of emotion that it evokes in an individual. We will focus on the difference of emotional intensity between adults (between the ages of 18 and 25) and children (around the age of 8). Our main research question is as follows: What is the difference of the perception of colors and the emotions they evoke between children and adults. We plan to do a series of "interviews," explained later on in the proposal, in order to collect data.
This topic of colors is interesting to the members of our group because of their significance in the world of architecture (which is our major). We are very interested in learning the affects of color on people’s behavior and actions as this knowledge will play a major role in our designs throughout our college and professional careers.
We plan to study the intensity of emotion which different colors evoke. We will study this on both children and adults and see if there is any correlation between the two. For our study we will use the colors red, yellow, and blue.
We expect red and yellow to create a more intense reaction from children than from
Adults. Studies show that children respond more to warm colors while adults tend to
respond to cool colors (Birren, Chapter 4). We think adults will have more intense reactions to blue.
The emotional reactions to the different colors will probably vary slightly between adults and children. After researching different studies we predict that red will make children feel very angry (Padgitt). Adults will feel emotions more towards happiness based on the color red (Fehrman, pp.6).
We think yellow will cause children to feel very calm (Padgitt). Adults will either feel happiness or sadness based on the color yellow (Fehrman, pp.8).
Blue will cause kids to feel calm (Padgitt). It will cause adults to feel sad (Fehrman, pp.9)
Each member of our group is majoring in architecture or interior design. In these fields color plays a very important role. It is important to know what affect the colors one uses in their work will have on people using the space. For example, if the color red provokes very intense, angry emotions in kids, it would not be wise to use that color to decorate the interior of an elementary school. If blue makes kids feel calm, this might be a wiser color choice. It is also important for people who do things such as advertisement and fashion design to know what colors create strong responses. We knew we wanted to use color in our study. There have been extensive studies done on color. Some of these studies deal with the emotional effects of color on people in general. Some of them show which colors children are attracted to compared to those which adults are attracted to. We did not find any studies that compare emotional effects of color on children and adults. Nor did we find any studies which showed which colors produce the strongest response. We all felt this would be an interesting topic to do our research on.
Through this project we hope to show the differences between how colors affect these different age groups if there is one. We will also show which colors create the most intense response. We will organize this information in an accessible way for others to view.
This information should turn out to be quite interesting. It may turn out that there will be a significant difference in how color triggers the emotions of different ages. There may be no difference whatsoever. It will also be interesting to see if people in the same age group have different emotions based on the same color.
2. Relevance of our research question:
We have found a variety of literature that focuses on the psychological effects of color. Much research has been conducted in this area, but none of the existing research that we have found explores color from the exact approach that we have chosen to take. Literature Review and citations:
Birren, Faber. Light, Color, and Environment. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., 1969.
Chapter four of this book presents the various psychological effects that each color has on a person. According to this book, children respond more to warm colors, whereas adults respond more to cool colors.
Fehrman, Dr. Kenneth R., and Cherie Fehrman. Color: The Secret Influence. New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 2000.
This book contains a comprehensive list of the emotions and connotations associated with particular colors. For example, adults will feel happiness toward red and sadness toward blue. It presents the view that color biases are taught to us as children, and therefore there is little difference between the way adults and children view color.
Halse, Albert O. The Use of Color In Interiors. McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1978.
This book concentates on how colors effect emotion from a design aspect. It also presents the meanings associated with colors. Children are said to prefer bright colors.
Ladau, Robert F., Brent K. Smith, and Jennifer Place. Color in Interior Design and Architecture. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold, 1989.
Padgitt, Marge. "Children and Color".
This site presents some of the emotions associated with color. For example, red is said to be physically and emotionally stimulating. Too much can produce anger and agression. Yellow, on the other hand, has a calming effect.
Sasaki, Hiroshi. "Color Psychology". 30 April 1991
This site studied the extent to which color conditioning is inborn or culturally conditioned. It stated that in children, red indicates uninhibited expression, and yellow represents a dependency on grownups.
Much of the research that already exists compiles and discusses the various associations that each color brings to mind. The research involving children is often presented in a non- concrete manner. Our survey will attempt to distill the intensity of emotion evoked in both children and adults. The results will be concrete and easily compared, rather than a broad base of information.
None of the studies found through our research has tested exactly what we have chosen to concentrate on. These tests have mostly explored the color preferences of children, and have produced conflicting results. One study found that children prefer primary colors (Halse), whereas another found that by the age of kindergarten, children have already developed a sophisticated taste for color (Fehrman).
Our research answers larger questions, such as what effects the color of our environment can have on the moods of both children and adults. If a certain color is found to be associated with anger, then it can be assumed that this would not be a good color for the inside of a child’s room. It is important to understand the way in which people react emotionally to their environment. Research in this area is especially important to designers, who actively construct the color schemes of our houses, and of the modern world. As our landscape increasingly becomes shaped by artificial boundaries, it is important to note the effect that the appearance of these boundaries has on people.
3. Materials and Methods
We will interview sixty adults and sixty fourth graders. We believe that by interviewing such a vast amount of people we will achieve statistically sound
results. To ensure that our results are unbiased we plan to question fourth graders from different classes in two schools and a wide variety of adults at Miami University. All tests will we done at different times of day, under florescent or natural light to ensure there is not a variance in perception of the same color due to lighting.
We will test the effects of three colors: Blue, Red and Yellow. We selected three graphics and each one will be colored Blue, Red and Yellow. The graphics will be1’ x 1’. We will hold up the signs, or graphics, for five seconds and ask the interviewees to fill out a questionnaire. Only five seconds will be allowed for the viewing of the graphic because a quick glance will provoke purely emotional, not analytical, reactions. The questionnaire will contain four emotions: angry, happy, sad and calm. Each emotion will have the numbers one through ten next to it and the interviewees will be asked to rate the
emotion they are feeling. More than one emotion can be rated by each participant.
We will incorporate the class in our research by interviewing them during class. The class will not be asked to collect any data, they will only be asked to actively participate in the interviews.
It is hard to construct a definite timeline for our research project. At the moment, we are working with the various schools in order to obtain permission to conduct our survey. This permission has not yet been granted, and we cannot proceed with this aspect of the
data collection until it has. We will start gathering the adult research as soon as possible.
Rate the following emotions, according to the effect that the signs have on you.
Angry 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Happy 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Sad 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Calm 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Other______ 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
There will be three different colors and three different graphics used, each graphic in each color. Therefore, there will be nine "signs" in all. We are observing reactions to colors; therefore we will assume that the graphic has no emotional affect on the individual (this is why we will use three graphics instead of only one). The intensity of each emotion will be measured. However, the certain emotion is not intrinsically important, only its intensity.
The intensity of the emotions will be measured on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the least intense form of the emotion and 10 being the most intense form. First, the data will be put into two sets of tables- one for children and one for adults. There will be three tables for each set, one table for each color. Each table will record the emotion and its intensity for each graphic. There will be six tables in all.
Bar graphs will be the next way we will show our data. The color will be shown on the x-axis and the intensity of emotion on the y-axis. There will be a set of graphs depicting data that are unique by the graphic they represent.
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Predictions that half the British population will be obese by 2050 “underestimate” the scale of the health crisis, a report suggests.
According to the National Obesity Forum, the UK is in danger of surpassing predictions of a 2007 report which estimated that 50 per cent of the nation would be obese by 2050.
The “doomsday scenario” set out in the report does not cover the true extent of the problem, it said.
The forum’s latest report calls on health officials to introduce hard-hitting awareness campaigns – similar to those for smoking – to try to stem the problem.
The organisation also called on family doctors to pro-actively discuss weight management with patients. It suggests that GPs should measure children’s height and weight and adults’ waist circumferences as part of any regular routine check-up.
The report states: “It is entirely reasonable to conclude that the determinations of the 2007 Foresight Report (i.e. that half the population might be obese by 2050 at an annual cost of nearly £50 billion), while shocking at the time, may now underestimate the scale of the problem.”
Professor David Haslam, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: “We’re now seven years on from the Foresight Report. Not only is the obesity situation in the UK not improving, but the doomsday scenario set out in that report might underestimate the true scale of the problem.
“There needs to be concerted action. There is a lot more we can be doing by way of earlier intervention and to encourage members of the public to take sensible steps – but this goes hand in hand with government leadership and ensuring responsible food and drink manufacturing and retailing.”
A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “Obesity is complex issue.
“The time adults and children spend in front of screen for leisure has fallen. There are more visits to local leisure services and more people walking or cycling to work.
“But clearly we have more to do and we will continue working to encourage people to adopt healthy habits.”
A crackdown on advertising junk food during children’s programmes on television is needed to tackle Britain’s growing obesity crisis, say scientists.
Two-thirds of adults and one-in-three children are overweight or obese.
Action is needed on prevention and treatment, according to the UK Association for the Study of Obesity which remains “concerned” over “insufficient” action to tackle the problem.
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A big debate around teaching beginners has always been whether it is necessary or not to translate into the learners' mother tongue. Opinions are split and vary from definitely not to maybe sometimes yes or, in the other extreme, of course yes, translating is fast and effective.
Translating seems straightforward and historically it has been so intrinsically linked to learning languages (e.g. the grammar-translation method
applied from classic languages to modern languages), that we could think that it doesn't hurt to use learners' mother tongue and teachers that are familiar with the local language have an advantage over those who are not.
Arguments in favor of translating when teaching beginners
Probably the biggest argument in favor of translating is that translation occurs all the time around us and that includes the classroom.
It can also give reassurance that the meaning of the new target language has been properly understood. It is a quick fix when it comes to dealing with misunderstandings.
The main question to ask ourselves as professionals of ESL teaching though is whether we translate purposely and intentionally or it is a last resource when we don't know how to convey the message properly using L2 solely. More skillful or experienced teachers will not translate where other, less experienced would translate in an attempt to solve a query in no time. Continuous training and upgrading in this case can help young professionals to acquire the necessary skills and techniques that would allow them to reduce translating to the minimum.
Arguments agains translating when teaching beginners
Twenty first century approaches have definitely been more encouraging to use L2 only in the classroom and forget about translating all the time. Learners have to acquire the structure of the new language by getting used to thinking in L2 and not continuously referring to their mother tongue. Students are given the opportunity to create a parallel linguistic universe that is much more than a direct transfer of the mother tongue. They, basically, acquire a different way of thinking along with the new language.
Kids usually find the process of acquiring L2 much more natural and spontaneous than adults, who would compare and contrast both languages most of the time. Where children would merely imitate their teacher's speech, adults would need to reason and understand why we say what we say in the target language. Explanations in this case can still occur in L2, hence the need to be resourceful and skillful when providing graded explanations.
From a strictly practical point of view, teachers nowadays travel the world and have to be prepared to teach learners from very different cultures and bearers of first languages that are far from English, such as Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese, etc. Being able to teach in L2 solely is a precious skill that would ensure smooth dynamics no matter where we develop our profession.
More arguments in favor or against translating in the classroom are to be found in the following article:
To Use or not to Use Translation in Language Teaching
The Oxbridge way
Over the years and thanks to all the teachers' contribution, what started as trial-and-error evolved into a solid model of teaching English to beginners without using learners' mother tongue at all. Little by little, the pieces were put together and we got a picture that gets clearer with every single student that has tested it. Not only it is possible to teach without translating, but we now even do it teaching remotely, by videoconference which is the biggest challenge in language teaching nowadays.
These are some of the premises that we use:
- First we model, then we ask a question. Doing it the other way round can be confusing for students. Asking a question without modeling is assuming knowledge that may not be there, so when we model the new target language in the first place, we can also check for understanding and the students can imitate our example when it's their turn to answer. E.g. I have two brothers and a sister. And you? How many brothers and sisters do you have?
- One new element at a time. The interaction when teaching beginners is never as spontaneous as with higher level students. We have to identify the building blocks to teach, pace the classes, measure the difficulty, balance the content and link all bits so that there is always a new element that follows an already familiar and acquired language. Presenting a new structure or function along with too many new vocabulary items would be overwhelming at that stage. It is better to make sure we are introducing a new structure using an already familiar vocabulary and introducing new vocabulary while keeping grammar to the already known structures. That way both the teachers' and learners' attention will be focused on the right target language and we'll keep possible frustration away.
- We introduce the most commonly used FUNCTIONS related to the immediate surrounding in the first place and we base it on the following model:
- First we introduce the function keeping vocabulary to either demonstrative pronouns or simple vocabulary. E.g. if we teach how to express possessions, we stress the verb to have and we use realia for clarity (e.g. a pen, a phone, etc.) without necessarily mentioning it. - I HAVE this.
- We make sure the object we use as an example is familiar to the learners. e.g. This is a PEN.
- Finally, we join both the new function and the concrete object's name: e.g. I have a pen.
- We've identified 25 basic functions for teaching beginners to which we can add more as we advance in the classes. The selected functions allow students to introduce themselves, talk about their profession, family, interests, likes and dislikes, preferences for food and drink, necessity, abilities, etc. They learn to express directions, formulate and answer questions, give simple commands, etc. Altogether, these basic functions, if well known, are a solid basis on which we build more complex language and broaden both the functions and the related lexicon and grammatical support.
For a complete guide on teaching beginners, as well as all related material, please join us at OxbridgeTEFL
or write us at [email protected].
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California Program Grapples With Problems, Scores Successes
Bilingual education faces an uncertain future in California. While the state can claim some of the nation's most successful bilingual-education programs, it has also produced some of the best-organized opponents of bilingualism.
California law currently guarantees rights and opportunities for limited-English-proficient students that are unequaled in other states, bilingual educators agree. In practice, however, the training of bilingual teachers has not kept pace with the growth in the LEP population, which has more than doubled over the past decade. As a result, educators say, the quality of instruction is substandard in many programs, and eligible children frequently go unserved.
The state's bilingual-education statute is set to expire on June 30, and Gov. George Deukmejian has already vetoed one attempt to extend it. Legislative critics of the program have thus far failed to impose radical changes, but they appear to have more than enough votes to block its reauthorization this year. And resistance appears to have stiffened following the overwhelming approval last November of Proposition 63, a constitutional amendment declaring English the official language of California.
New waves of immigrants since the mid-1970's have had an impact on schools in many American communities, but nowhere has it been greater than in California. Vietnamese "boat people,'' rural Mexicans, affluent Taiwanese, Cambodian and Central American refugees, Filipinos, Koreans, Iranians, and Afghans have all found the state a good place to settle. Nearly one-quarter of immigrants to the United States in 1981 wound up in California.
In 1970, non-Hispanic whites made up 78 percent of California's population; Hispanics, 12 percent; blacks, 7 percent; and Asians, 3 percent, according to the state legislature's Assembly Office of Research. By 1985, the proportion of Hispanics and Asians had mushroomed to 21 percent and 8 percent, respectively; whites had declined to 63 percent, and blacks had increased slightly, to 8 percent.
Because of high birth rates, civil unrest, and debt crises in the countries of origin, no letup in the influx of immigrants, legal or illegal, is foreseen, experts say. Mexico, California's economically troubled neighbor, may see a doubling in its population, from 70 million in 1980 to 140 million in the year 2000, according to some estimates.
By the year 2018, California is projected to become the first "majority minority'' state. And because the state's immigrants and other minorities are younger than the white population on average, their influence will be felt sooner in the schools. In the year 2000, minority children are expected to make up 52 percent of the school population, and limited-English-proficient children at least 15 percent.
The California State Department of Education keeps careful track of such demographic patterns in the schools through an annual language census. Its most recent count, in the spring of 1986, showed that the number of LEP students had more than doubled since 1977--from 233,444 to 567,564. Nearly three-quarters of those students were concentrated in the five counties of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Santa Clara, and San Francisco.
Responding to Change
In the Alhambra School District in the eastern suburbs of Los Angeles, administrators had no choice but to respond to these demographic changes. Substantial numbers of Hispanics began arriving in the district about 20 years ago, and by the mid-1970's, Spanish-speaking children made up 30 percent of the district's enrollment. Also, there were smaller groups of Chinese immigrants, largely in the town of Monterey Park.
But despite a growing population of LEP students, when the district was investigated by the federal office for civil rights in 1977, the only language services being provided were sporadic classes in English as a second language.
The OCR determined that Alhambra was failing to meet its obligations under the U.S. Supreme Court's Lau v. Nichols decision. Federal investigators found the district was doing little to remedy a situation where, in the words of the Court, "students who do not understand English are effectively foreclosed from any meaningful education.''
In response, school officials agreed to set up a small bilingual-education program. Suanna G. Ponce, the district's bilingual coordinator, recalls that, under the first year of Alhambra's "Lau plan,'' in September 1977, there were 14 classrooms for Spanish-speaking children.
To accommodate an influx of immigrants from Taiwan and Hong Kong, a Chinese-language program was added the following year, and in 1980, it was divided into Cantonese and Mandarin classrooms. By 1982, there were enough Vietnamese children with limited English skills to start instruction in that language.
Today, Alhambra's bilingual-education program has grown to 120 classrooms, largely because "the Asian population has increased immensely,'' Ms. Ponce says. In 1985-86, Asian students made up 49 percent of the district's enrollment, and Hispanics about 35 percent; in all, 80 language groups were represented. Outside the four bilingual programs, children receive individualized attention, including ESL instruction and, where possible, assistance in their native languages.
A medium-sized district of 20,000 students, Alhambra has made a substantial financial commitment to recruit and train bilingual teachers, to purchase and develop native-language materials, and to hire instructional aides for every bilingual classroom (something that is not required by law). All teachers in the district must complete 35 hours of ESL training, freeing 13 ESL "pullout teachers'' to deal with the most difficult cases. And Alhambra employs a managerial staff of nine to coordinate the program, compared with just one or two in many similar-sized districts.
While the OCR provided the catalyst for Alhambra's commitment to serving LEP children, the change was accomplished largely with the district's own funds. Although its bilingual-education program received federal assistance under Title VII of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act until last year, "it was always very supplemental in nature,'' Ms. Ponce says.
Perhaps as important as the federal intervention was California's new bilingual-education law, the Chacon-Moscone Bilingual-Bicultural Education Act of 1976. As amended in 1981, it provides the most detailed blueprint for serving the needs of LEP children yet enacted by state or federal governments.
The law's most salient feature is its mandate for bilingual instruction wherever practical at the elementary-school level. Bilingual classrooms must be established in schools where there are at least 10 LEP children of the same language group at the same grade level. In other situations, each LEP student must have an "individualized learning program'' that features at least 20 minutes a day of special language instruction.
Although the number of state-approved experiments is limited each year, districts have some flexibility to try other program options, including English immersion. Also, the law authorizes bilingual-maintenance programs and "two way'' bilingual instruction--in which English-speaking children learn a second language--but these options are relatively rare. Although bilingual classrooms are not required in grades 7-12, students must be placed in "individualized language programs'' or "language development'' classes.
To avoid language segregation, the law requires that at least one-third of the students in bilingual classrooms be fluent English-speakers. Schools must identify students' native languages upon their enrollment and assess language-minority children's oral English proficiency before placing them in bilingual or regular programs. Parents have the right to insist on English-only classrooms for their children. And standards for reclassifying LEP students are mandated.
In addition, the law sets strict certification requirements for bilingual teachers, who must qualify in three competencies: a second language, culture, and methodology. Recognizing the current shortage of qualified teachers, the law allows districts to staff bilingual classrooms with those who have signed "waivers,'' or agreements to take language and other courses toward certification. In such classrooms, instructional aides must be provided.
How well is the 10-year-old law working? To answer that question, Governor Deukmejian appointed a "Sunset Advisory Committee'' to review bilingual education in California before the legislature took up the issue of reauthorization last year. After extensive hearings and school visits, the panel concluded, "When the law and regulations are properly implemented, the programs appear to be effective.''
Flexibility for school districts is one of the law's strengths, the committee found. Although critics sometimes evoke the specter of districts having to provide school services in scores of languages, the reality is that most language groups are too small to trigger bilingual classrooms. In the Los Angeles schools, where at least 79 tongues are represented, bilingual instruction is offered in 6: Spanish, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean, Filipino, and Armenian.
"The benefits of the bilingual program are many and varied,'' the advisory report continued. "The program enables students to develop cognitive skills in their primary language while acquiring English. Producing bilingual citizens is an economic and employment strength. Other benefits may include sustained academic achievement, lowering of the dropout rate, smoother cultural adjustment, and greater parental support.''
But the committee also identified significant weaknesses. The "individualized language programs,'' which serve the 39 percent of elementary-school students who are not in bilingual classrooms, as well as 75 percent of secondary-school students, "are generally regarded as inadequate,'' the report said. Districts have the discretion to do as much, or as little, for these students as they choose.
A lack of guidelines, instructional materials, and resources made bilingual education ineffective at the secondary level, the panel added, suggesting that strengthening the program might reverse "alarming dropout rates'' in California high schools.
State categorical grants had failed to keep pace with districts' needs as the LEP population increased, the report said, especially for financing teacher training and incentive pay. According to the state education department, approximately $100- million, or about 3 percent of California's total spending for education, goes to programs for LEP students each year. That amount in 1986-87 includes federal subsidies of $26.2 million under Title VII and $13.9 million under the federal emergency immigrant-education program.
The bilingual program's biggest weakness by far, according to both critics and supporters, is the difficulty districts have in recruiting enough qualified teachers for bilingual classrooms. Only about 25 percent of the LEP children in California elementary schools are taught by a teacher who is fluent in their native language. That means that aides--usually with minimal training--are responsible for the bulk of instruction, and especially for teaching children to read.
Last year, 8,020 of California's 14,350 bilingual teachers, both elementary and secondary, were certified; the rest were on waivers. By 1990, the Assembly's research office estimates, the state will have only 12,000 of the 23,000 certified teachers that it will need.
The Sunset Advisory Committee urged the legislature to provide financial incentives for teachers to acquire the extra competencies necessary for bilingual certification. Pay decisions are now left up to individual school districts, and practices vary considerably. Some districts pay for teachers' language courses and count academic credits toward raises; others do neither. Stipends for acquiring bilingual certification, where they exist, are usually modest. In fact, because bilingual teachers are usually newer to the field, their salaries are below average--$25,912 in 1984-85, compared with the statewide median of $27,030.
Current law actually provides a disincentive to waivered teachers' becoming certified, says Shelly Spiegel-Coleman, a teacher trainer in the Los Angeles County Department of Education. "Once you become bilingual and pass your certification, you lose your aide, your help in the classroom. It's a Catch-22.''
The advisory panel agreed that few waivered teachers were making progress toward becoming certified during the six-year period allowed. In 1984-85, only 6 percent of those who took the bilingual-certification examination passed all three sections.
For English-speaking teachers in mid-career, the prospect of being forced to learn Spanish--or Vietnamese, Khmer, or some other "exotic'' language--has been extremely unpopular. This provision of the law, more than any other, has fueled opposition to bilingual education in the California legislature.
Assemblyman Frank Hill, a leader of Republican critics, calls the provision "job blackmail.'' Mr. Hill has introduced a bill that would eliminate the bilingual waivers, along with the requirement for bilingual classrooms.
Even strong supporters of the current law question whether the waiver system will solve the bilingual-teacher shortage. In Alhambra, teachers who have studied Vietnamese for two years still have nowhere near the proficiency they need for classroom teaching, according to Ms. Ponce.
"We are not pushing for fluency at this point,'' she says. "But it's very important for them to have an acquaintance with the language, so that they can say a few basic phrases, put the children at ease, and also understand the structure of that language, because if you know the syntax of Vietnamese, you can remedy mistakes in English.''
On the other hand, Alhambra has been successful in recruiting fluent Spanish- and Chinese-speaking teachers, Ms. Ponce says, and less than one-third of its 120 bilingual classrooms are now staffed by teachers on waiver. Few districts have been so fortunate.
"There's no way my teachers are going to become proficient in Spanish,'' says Jean Nelson, principal of Geddes Elementary School in Baldwin Park. "So if you hit them with the fact that they're going to have to learn Spanish right off the bat, you're not going to get anywhere in my district.''
Reliance on Aides
At Ms. Nelson's school, only 2 of the 14 bilingual teachers are certified. But Baldwin Park has proven that bilingual programs can work even with such a handicap, Ms. Nelson says, pointing to former LEP students who are scoring at or above state norms by 5th grade. Her approach has been to give special training and support to instructional aides, relieving them from recess duty, for example, so they can meet with teachers to discuss classroom problems.
While acknowledging the success of Baldwin Park's program, Norman C. Gold of the state's bilingual-education office says: "This is a solution which makes us uneasy. There are competent instructional aides who are getting instructional aides' salaries, who by all respects are credentialable teachers except for a couple of rules they can't pass.''
For such aides, who come largely from language-minority backgrounds, the main obstacle is the California Basic Education Skills Test, a reform-movement innovation that all new teachers must pass. Critics argue that the unrealistic level of English proficiency required by the test has dried up natural sources of bilingual teachers--native speakers of minority languages and many competent educators from other countries. Among students who had completed teacher training in 1984-85, only 46 percent of Hispanics and 56 percent of Asians were able to pass the examination.
While Spanish-background students constitute 53 percent of the school population in Los Angeles, "only 10 percent of the teachers [come] from that ethnic group,'' says Concepcion M. Valadez of the Center for Language Education and Research. Consequently, most bilingual teachers must learn Spanish as a second language, she says. "In Los Angeles, it is possible for a limited-English-speaking child to go [through] the six years of elementary school and never be taught by a fully credentialed teacher.''
Barely 15 percent of Hispanic high-school graduates were even eligible for admission to California's two university systems that year, "and only a fraction of those actually enrolled,'' according to the Assembly's research office.
Overall, the state schools of education appear to have given little emphasis to training bilingual teachers. They produced just 458 candidates for bilingual credentials in 1985-86, including 14 in the prestigious University of California system.
Ms. Spiegel-Coleman of the Los Angeles County Department of Education says she finds it frustrating that the colleges are still turning out large numbers of teachers destined to start their careers on bilingual waivers.
"The reality is,'' she says, "everybody sitting in the regular teacher-training program is going to find himself in a bilingual classroom, because those are the classrooms that are open. New teachers are not placed in the 'better' schools--if you're in a system long enough, you transfer there. The openings are in the minority community, and in our county, the largest minority community is the one that doesn't speak English.''
Two years ago, the legislature passed a bill requiring the state's colleges to train teacher candidates in ESL approaches and in ways of working with students from minority-language backgrounds, but it was vetoed by Governor Deukmejian.
Trying To Cope
Los Angeles, with the state's largest LEP enrollment--160,000 this year--lacks even sufficient numbers of waivered teachers to staff its bilingual classrooms. Last year, only 58,773 of the more than 111,000 LEP children in the district's elementary schools received "a truly bilingual program'' with a certified or waivered teacher, according to Carmen Schroeder of the district's bilingual-education office; 29,228 students received instruction under an "individualized language program,'' and 23,210 received no services.
To compensate for the teacher shortage, the district is trying to upgrade the skills of its 7,000 paraprofessionals. Ideally, aides should be helping individual students, explains Manuel Ponce, director of the aide-training program, but about half are providing direct classroom instruction.
"Many of these people do bring with them a number of skills--the culture, the knowledge of the community, the language to help the child understand what's going on in the classroom,'' he says. "By systematically working with this group''--coaching them in bilingual strategies and in working cooperatively with waivered teachers--"we can make some strides toward providing quality education.''
The district is also experimenting with approaches that are designed to make better use of its limited teaching resources. Under a waiver of the state law's requirement that English-speakers make up at least one-third of a bilingual classroom, the Eastman School in East Los Angeles has concentrated the efforts of certified Spanish bilingual teachers on LEP children by grouping students by language for most lessons.
As part of the "case studies'' project coordinated by the state education department, Eastman students have posted steady increases in achievement-test scores.
Another organizational model, developed by the Roscoe School in Sun Valley, uses team teaching and, unlike Eastman's approach, does not require an exemption from the state. More than 80 percent of Roscoe's students are Hispanic, and 65 percent are classified as LEP, but only 10 of the school's 17 teachers have bilingual certifications.
Put simply, Roscoe's solution was to let Spanish-proficient teachers teach Spanish and the waivered teachers teach English, grouped in bilingual, cooperative teams. Each team makes decisions on how to handle individual students' needs, and "block scheduling'' maximizes the contribution of each teacher.
Students are divided for a two-hour "language-arts block'' every morning in their native language, and then for a 45-minute lesson in the second language--ESL for Spanish-speakers and SSL, or Spanish as a second language, for English-speakers. Other subjects are taught in bilingual or English classrooms.
"The teachers found that by cooperative teaching--getting together and saying, 'I can do this part, but not that part'--they were able to provide the services that were necessary,'' says Toni Marsnik, Roscoe's former bilingual coordinator, who is now on the district's bilingual-education staff.
Unlike Eastman, however, Roscoe has put little emphasis on methodology. Some teachers use the "concurrent-translation method''--in which a teacher simply repeats a lesson in two languages--while others alternate languages on different days. "Teachers will switch and try different things--whatever seems to work,'' according to James Morris, who now oversees the program.
Also in contrast to Eastman, student scores at the Roscoe School have shown no dramatic improvements, perhaps reflecting, Mr. Morris says, a constant influx of new LEP students into the school.
In recent years, many researchers have roundly criticized concurrent translation as ineffective and perhaps harmful. Studies of the methodology have shown that LEP children simply learn to ignore the language that they do not understand, and thus receive little "comprehensible input'' in English. This problem is compounded when the method is combined with ESL techniques based on grammar rather than on intelligible communication.
Worse, according to many researchers, concurrent translation can encourage a type of "code switching''--a mixing of two languages, such as "Spanglish''--which retards linguistic development in either tongue.
Nevertheless, concurrent translation and grammar-based ESL are still widely used in bilingual programs, not only in California but throughout the United States.
Many districts in Los Angeles County have dropped these methods in favor of approaches that stress native-language development and communication-based ESL, according to Ms. Spiegel-Coleman, but old ways remain predominant in the city's schools.
"I think the leadership in L.A. Unified knows that [these methods do not make] a good program,'' she says. "But it hasn't gotten down to the troops yet. L.A. has a real problem with staff development.''
In addition to the enormous cost--and logistical difficulties in many year-round schools, where one-quarter of the staff is absent at any time--the district had previously trained thousands of teachers "to do concurrent translation and grammar-based ESL,'' Ms. Spiegel-Coleman says. "Now they have to bring them all back and train them not to. They're in the process of doing that, but it's a huge job.''
Training the Trainers
"In districts that are smaller, it's easier to get the message out,'' she adds. Since 1980, one strategy for doing so has been the Multidistrict Trainer of Trainers Institute, developed by Margarita Calderon, a professor of education at the University of California at Santa Barbara.
Starting with the view that staff development is crucial to effective bilingual programs, the institute concentrates on putting the latest theory and practical knowledge about methods in the hands of district personnel who train bilingual and ESL teachers.
Trainers are schooled in the "theoretical framework'' developed by the California State Department of Education, featuring sessions by such well-known researchers as Stephen D. Krashen and Tracy D. Terrell, the originators of the "natural approach'' to ESL Effective instructional techniques are demonstrated, and trainers learn how to coach teachers in the classroom, which is seen as an essential step in initiating the new methods.
The program has had a major effect in districts where improved student achievement has converted skeptics, Ms. Spiegel-Coleman says, and as graduates of the training institute rise to higher leadership positions, the new approaches are becoming firmly established.
Pat Almada, a former bilingual coordinator in the Montebello Unified School District, is one such graduate. Working with principals like John Myers of the Bell Gardens Elementary School, she developed one of Los Angeles County's most successful programs. A 1985 study of 1,700 6th graders who had completed bilingual education in the district found that their reading skills significantly surpassed their peers in English-only classrooms.
One key to the program's success, Ms. Almada believes, is staff development that puts "tremendous emphasis'' on the latest ESL techniques and on developing native-language skills "to assure that when kids went into English basal [readers] they had a strong foundation in difficult words.''
Ms. Almada stresses the importance of classifying LEP children correctly--not always an easy task. "They tend to fool us sometimes,'' she says, "especially those who have attended an English-only preschool. The surface levels of the language are there. However, their thinking is still in the primary language. If you ask them 'why' or 'how' questions, they can't answer. When you put them into an all-English program, they fail miserably.''
Mr. Myers adds, "If you exit a kid too early, generally the English is not adequate to support the concept level, and he has difficulty in the thinking areas like science and social studies, health, and mathematics.''
At Bell Gardens, an overwhelming majority of the children are Hispanic and poor, and 80 percent enter kindergarten with limited English proficiency. Students complete the transition to English relatively late--around 4th grade, compared with 2nd grade in many bilingual programs. But by that time, unlike children in "early exit'' programs, they are able to achieve "at grade level'' in mainstream classrooms, Mr. Myers says.
As word about Montebello's program has spread, the district has had little difficulty recruiting certified bilingual teachers, even with limited pay incentives, Ms. Almada says. "Our principals interview maybe five or six for every position they have.''
Asian Bilingual Programs
Regardless of what language LEP children bring with them to school, says Ms. Ponce, Alhambra's bilingual coordinator, "strong primary-language skills predict success in English.'' This point has been illustrated among Chinese children in Alhambra, who were the subject of a study two years ago by Edmund W. Lee, director of Alhambra's orientation and assessment center for new elementary students.
Mr. Lee found that 4th, 5th, and 6th graders who had completed the district's bilingual program performed as well as, or better than, their English-speaking peers from both Chinese and non-minority backgrounds in reading, and significantly better in language. In mathematics, both groups of Chinese students scored substantially higher than non-minority students.
The results vindicate the state's 36th-percentile criterion for reclassifying LEP students, Mr. Lee says. While some have argued that the high standard leaves many children to languish "in the LEP category forever, [the study] shows that if we use that as a target point, they really take off afterward.''
On the other hand, Mr. Lee says, his research undercuts what he says is the stereotype--often invoked by opponents of bilingual education--that Asian students acquire English proficiency rapidly and succeed without special language programs. The Chinese students in Alhambra differed considerably in their achievement, he reports. Cantonese-speakers--largely "ethnic Chinese'' from Vietnam, who tend to have a low socioeconomic status--performed at lower levels in language and reading than Mandarin-speakers from Taiwan.
The Alhambra district's Cantonese, Mandarin, and Vietnamese bilingual programs differ from its program for Hispanic children by teaching initial literacy in English rather than the native language.
Asian language skills, unlike those in Spanish, transfer less readily to English because of radical differences in alphabet, Ms. Ponce says, although she acknowledges that this remains a point of controversy among researchers.
Asian children receive pre-reading instruction in their native languages, she explains, along with "an oral-language-development program to continue to develop their vocabularies,'' which speeds their acquisition of English when they encounter the same concepts in the second language.
Children also receive instruction in English as a second language, preferably from their own teacher rather than in "pullout classes,'' Ms. Ponce says.
"The very best kind of ESL is contextual and tied to other learning,'' she says. "It's only the classroom teacher who can say: 'I'm doing a unit on dinosaurs in science. For ESL, I'll build dinosaur vocabulary.'''
The hesitation to teach children to read in Asian languages, however, is not universal.
The ABC Unified School District in nearby Cerritos sponsors a Korean bilingual program that includes native-language literacy, according to Lilia Stapleton, ABC's bilingual coordinator. And the district hopes eventually to add initial reading in its Chinese program, she says, even though "it's a much more complex writing system than the Korean.''
Many children do learn to read in Chinese "Saturday schools,'' Ms. Ponce says, noting that such schools are "a longstanding tradition among Chinese immigrants, even in Vietnam.'' Parents prefer "old-country-style teachers'' to teach Chinese culture, she adds, and in public school, "they want to maximize the time that children hear English.''
Initially, Asian parents were apprehensive about bilingual education--indeed, many affluent Chinese settled in the district so their children would learn English--but they came to understand that Alhambra's schools were "using the primary language as a medium toward that end,'' Ms. Ponce says.
Ms. Stapleton reports a similar process of acceptance for bilingual education in her district. She adds, however, that Asian parents "want their children in and out too quickly. Our challenge is to help the parents ease off and not put so much pressure on their kids.''
Hispanic parents also have fears about bilingual education, often based on their own bitter personal experiences with learning English, says Pat Almada, the former bilingual coordinator in Montebello.
"Many parents in their late 30's and early 40's were severely punished for speaking Spanish in school. They want their kids to have an easier time, and they say, 'I want only English.'''
But Montebello school officials have usually succeeded in "explaining that their children will have an easier time, not a harder time,'' in bilingual programs, Ms. Almada says. "Out of 8,000 LEP students each year, we have about 100 withdrawals--parents who choose for their children not to participate.''
In Los Angeles County, bilingual educators report a generally high degree of community support for their programs, in contrast to widespread skepticism a decade ago. Last year, Monterey Park went through a divisive struggle over whether to declare English the town's official language--a campaign that many Chinese residents saw as a backlash against their increasing numbers. But the controversy had no effect on the Alhambra school board's support for bilingual education, Ms. Ponce says.
From her vantage point in the county office of education, Ms. Spiegel-Coleman says that district officials who were "adamant about trying to circumvent the law [and] would never ask for help'' 10 years ago are now asking, "'What can we do? How can we help our staffs? Can you help us recruit teachers?'''
Pockets of Resistance
Support is more mixed in neighboring Orange County, however, where LEP student enrollment jumped from 23,000 in 1980 to 47,500 last year; in fact, some communities have actively resisted bilingual education.
In Santa Ana, district officials a few years ago decided to turn down federal funds rather than initiate bilingual education, but they backed down when citizens sued, according to Gil Martinez, an assistant superintendent in the Orange County Department of Education.
Today, some Santa Ana teachers--especially those who face the choice of learning a new language or finding another job--have become a center of opposition to the waiver system.
"Most of the districts will do everything they can to be in compliance [with state law]. But there's a difference between compliance and quality,'' says Martha A. Martini, a bilingual-teacher trainer in the county education department.
Some districts try to ensure that students exit from bilingual programs within one or two years, she says, citing a recent superintendent in the Anaheim city school district who rewarded schools on the basis of their speed in reclassifying LEP children.
At the same time, Ms. Martini says, Orange County has some excellent bilingual programs, especially where schools have participated in the Multidistrict Trainer of Trainers Institute.
This year, Los Angeles Unified launched a "two way'' model of bilingual instruction, both for educational reasons and as a public-relations gesture, officials say. At the request of upper-middle-class parents in West Los Angeles, the district has enrolled English-speaking children in a Spanish bilingual program, an "additive bilingual'' model with a goal of teaching them a useful second language.
"In the beginning, we were hesitant to get involved,'' says Carmen Schroeder of the district's bilingual-education office. "We have such a great need to provide bilingual teachers for LEP kids. But we realized it was a big advantage to have [a Spanish] immersion program, because living in Southern California, it's really a plus--it's almost a necessity--to be bilingual.''
"We believe it will be a wonderful way of joining hands with two very different ethnic groups,'' she adds. "And if the majority of the community understands that to know a second language is to your benefit, that will be a big plus for the bilingual program.''
Vol. 06, Issue 27
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Depicting Devotion: Illuminated Books of Hours from the Middle AgesWashington University Libraries, Department of Special Collections, St. Louis, Winter 2001-2001
Table of Contents
Section II: Gospel Lessons
Although it is difficult to ascribe a particular order to the sections of Books of Hours, the Evangelists (literally “those who announce the gospel or the good news”) frequently appear after the Calendar . The Evangelists serve as an introduction to the Book of Hours, and St. John appears first, followed by St. Luke, St. Matthew, and St. Mark. An illuminated portrait of each saint introduces a brief Gospel Lesson. These lessons, which are extracts from the medieval Missal—the service book used by the clergy—celebrate the Church's four great feasts: Christmas, Annunciation, Epiphany, and Ascension.
Standard iconography represents the Evangelists writing their Gospels, accompanied by their symbol. The illuminations in this case show St. John with his symbol the eagle. Literary texts and the historical interpretation of these texts created the symbolism associated with the Evangelists. In the Apocalypse (Revelation) of St. John a vision of the throne of God contains four living creatures and round about the throne, were four living creatures… And the first living creature was like a lion: and the second living creature like a calf: and the third living creature, having the face, as it were, of a man: and the fourth living creature was like an eagle flying. (The Apocalypse 4:6-7)
St. Jerome applied these symbols to the Evangelists with the following
the human-faced figure represented Matthew, because of Matthew's genealogy of the humanity of Christ; the lion-faced figure represented Mark, because of Mark's mention of the voice of the Baptist in the desert; the ox-faced figure represented Luke, because of Luke's mention of the Jewish priest Zachary; and the eagle-faced figure represented John, because of the soaring flight of John's prologue. (New Catholic Encyclopedia, v. 5, 654).
In some instances, the symbols stand on their own, but more frequently, the symbols accompany its Evangelist. Tools of the trade, the instruments a medieval scribe would have used, appear in the illumination. St. John holds a stylus while the eagle holds an inkwell in his beak. These portraits serve two primary purposes: to present the Evangelists in a recognizable depiction, and to represent the defining characteristic of each Gospel by its symbol (eagle, lion, ox, and winged man).
St. John with the chalice of snakes
St. John on the island of Patmos writing
St. John on Patmos with demon stealing his writing instruments
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Religion
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Defence of chaos
Just think about things which have made you happy and look for the reasons that let them arise. Think about your best friends and remember how you met them. Contemplate your surroundings and look carefully at those elements that attract your attention. How many of them do you find there just because you looked for them until you found them? How did they become so? How did they get here? How did you get here? Was all this predictable?
We can interpret life as an interaction between our present, our expectations and our surroundings. Such an interaction is influenced by unpredictable doses of inspiration, intuition, chance, coincidence, fortune... We can react against hazard and pretend to design perfect plans to lead us to perfect objectives. However, chaos will not stop altering our surroundings and our own consciousness.
In a grid regulated system chaos is usually a source of problems. In an open and free system chaos contributes to fertilize spontaneity, improvisation, imagination, creativity.
By definition chaos can generate disorder. Disorder can generate superfluous movements, shocks, conflicts and exhaustion of energies. However, it does not necessarily have to be this way. Even order is not free of such risks. In addition, circumstances initially valued as negative can lead to new realities, which can be so unexpected as positive.
Chaos that makes sense
Just as there are different types of order
, there are as well different types of chaos. For instance, there is chaos that makes sense
and a multitude of natural phenomena
are examples of this type of chaos. These structures - just to call them somehow - are formed by risky elements which make them have a chaotic existence
ground, as well as to produce chaotic actions. Nevertheless, the perception of the sum of their interactions as a whole makes sense to us.
This suggests to us the possibility that also between different people relation and action systems can be run. That is people who do not only consider chaos as a problem but who can also take advantage of it. We mean chaos which does make sense. To make sense means here that all members of such a system follow common values and behaviors.
In such a context, each individual not only could but should act at any moment according to his/her own values and yearnings. This would constitute a coherent act by itself, which would also make sense at a group level. It would not be necessary to have directives or objectives, nor centralized coordination to guide coherently the group as a whole.
In order to reach such a common coherence it would only be required to follow a common ethical ground and a consequent individual action for every movement. Moreover, if every individual were guided by the best one of his/her intentions when taking every step, the group as whole could evolve from a form which is chaotically structured.
It is quite tempting to try the validity of this hypothesis in an environment resistant to planning as it is Internet. To try to apply an order to network structures can appear to be like trying to maintain curly hair smooth. Let's hair down, then.
Interactors considers chaos like an assumed, intrinsic
and productive factor
. How good projects will run will depend on how good chaos management will be. By "chaos management" we do not mean its rationalization or its ordering, but solely taking the maximum advantage of it.
A management free of complexes because of the existence of chaos may have already some advantages, such as:
- A project is started by the mere fact to provoke the desire of motion. It is not essential to have objectives or a strategy.
- The modification of objectives throughout a project is foreseen and it does not generate traumas. The present time is assumed to be changing and future expectations are designed flexible.
- Discussion and action meet each other. Projects do not have a first phase of planning (without production) or a second phase of production (without planning). It is possible to prove a first step, to correct it, to improve on the second step, on the third one and so on. Until the infinite.
- Only who wants to be delayed is actually delayed. Only those projects which follow a calendar can be delayed. A project which is dreamt about but never started undergoes the worst delay possible.
- Only who wants to feel a failure, feels it. A project can be considered successful just by the simple fact to exist. Only those projects which success is based on their final objective can fail.
Let's not remain at the realm of words. While you read these lines we keep on working and observing if these hypotheses are applicable. We keep on acting according to our values and expectations and enjoying each passage of the results accomplished, as well as the questions which might arise about the future.
RETURN TO THE INTERACTORS METANODE
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Science & Tech.
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OUT IN THE COLD: TRITON, A HABITABLE OCEAN WORLD?
Could Neptune’s odd moon Triton potentially harbour a subsurface ocean and one day be considered a habitable world? Dr. Graziella Caprarelli delves into this fascinating and distant world, in the first of her planetary science exploration series that ventures across our Solar System.
It has been a very long, dark, and cold night on the giant planet Neptune, the eighth planet in our solar system. Located almost 4.5 billion km from the sun, it receives just 0.1% of the light we receive on Earth. Neptune’s only rendezvous with a human-made object was in 1989, when the spacecraft Voyager 2 flew by, while on its long journey toward the edge of the solar system.
Although brief, Voyager 2’s encounter with Neptune, and its coterie of rings and satellites, returned data that have kept planetary scientists busy to this day. Neptune’s moon Triton has proved to be particularly intriguing: discovered in 1846, by the 1930s astronomers had already hypothesized that it was a captured satellite, but its size and composition had been only a matter of speculation, and nothing at all was known about its geology until Voyager 2’s adventure to the outer solar system.
We now know that Triton has had a continuous and vigorous geological activity for at least the last tens of millions of years and that a potentially habitable ocean could exist under its cold surface. Many more questions have emerged, however, which is why scientists have been planning to return to Triton for decades.
Now, the long wait may be over: in February this year, NASA announced that a mission called Trident, (led by Dr. Louise Prockter, Director of the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, in collaboration with colleagues from JPL, Southwest Research Institute and other institutions), is a finalist for the Discovery Program. If selected, the mission will be launched in 2026 for a planned arrival to the Neptunian system in 2038. In this and following articles, I outline some of the most important steps in the exploration of Triton and briefly highlight what we know about this fascinating world.
Exploration, orbit, capture, ice, ocean
Triton is the largest natural satellite of the outer solar system planet Neptune, located at a distance of 30 AU (approximately 4.5 billion km) from the Sun, and a little less than 4.4 billion km from Earth. Being so far away from us, and because of its proximity to the giant planet Neptune (orbital radius: ~ 355,000 km), it is very difficult to observe Triton using telescopes. Nonetheless, ground-based and space observations, as well as a spacecraft flyby (Voyager 2, in 1989), have provided scientists with enough data to paint an intriguing picture of this moon. Inevitably, this has also raised additional questions.
Triton was first discovered in 1846 by British astronomer William Lassell, who used a 24 inch (about 61 cm) aperture reflecting telescope. Over the following 143 years, Triton could only be studied from Earth, using increasingly sophisticated telescopes. In spite of the limited power of observation from Earth of such a distant and small object, Triton’s orbital parameters were already well established by the 1930s: specifically, it was known by then that Triton’s orbit around Neptune is quasi-circular (eccentricity: e = 0.000016) and retrograde, in other words, both its orbital motion and axial rotation are opposite to those of Neptune.
Additionally, Triton’s orbit is also inclined by approximately 157° relative to Neptune’s equatorial plane. All these characteristics suggested that Triton did not originate around Neptune, but was a captured object. Since the discovery in 1992 of the Kuiper Belt - a trans-Neptunian disk comprising solar nebula primordial material, comets and dwarf planets, revolving around the Sun at distances between 30 AU and 100 AU - astronomers have indeed concluded that Triton originated in the Kuiper Belt and that its heliocentric orbit was disrupted hundreds of millions of years ago, with it being eventually captured and bound in orbit around Neptune.
Triton’s composition must thus reflect that of Kuiper Belt’s material, and must, therefore, comprise a mix of rock and ice. This model for the origin of Triton is indeed consistent with the results of infrared spectroscopy telescope observations carried out during the 1970s and 1980s, which detected methane (CH4) and molecular nitrogen (N2), leading to the conclusion that ices of these compounds exist on the surface.
To determine the rock/ice ratio and the distribution of mass in the interior of this object, accurate determinations of its dimensions and albedo (i.e., the fraction of incident light reflected by an object) are needed. Various attempts at estimating the diameter and albedo of Triton using ground-based telescope data were made, but the results were all model-dependent. Even so, by the 1980s it was generally agreed that its radius should be in the range 1300-2100 km, and, because of the presence of ice on its surface, that its albedo should be higher than that of “common” satellites. It was not until the spacecraft Voyager 2’s historic flyby of the Neptunian system however, that the physical properties of Triton could be measured.
The first scientific reports of the preliminary analyses and interpretations from Voyager 2’s observations, published in 1989 in the 15th December issue of the journal Science (vol. 246, issue 4936), had Triton’s provisional radius at 1,350 km (± 5 km), its mass at 2.141 x 1022 kg, and the density calculated from these parameters at 2,075 kg x m-3.
Further processing and refinement of the measurements led to the values of 1,353.4 (± 0.9) km (radius), and 2,059 (± 0.005) kg x m-3 (density). Furthermore, data acquired during Voyager 2’s flyby showed a tenuous but extended nitrogen atmosphere (with minor contents of methane, possibly highly localised), exerting a surface pressure as low as 14 micro-bar (equivalent to 1/70,000th of the Earth’s atmospheric pressure) and ranging in temperature between 38 K (-235.15℃) close to Triton’s surface, and 95 K (-178.15℃) in the upper atmosphere.
Almost a decade after the flyby, scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and their colleagues, observed the occultation by Triton of star Tycho 651672 (also known as GSC6321-01030 and Tr180) using the Hubble Space Telescope (study published in 1998 in the June 25th issue of Nature, vol. 393). They concluded that Triton’s temperatures and atmospheric pressure have increased slightly since its encounter with Voyager 2, thus supporting earlier predictions of significant seasonal changes on Triton.
Triton’s density is consistent with its captured origin. The reported value suggests its rock/ice ratio may be in the range 65-70/35-30, indicating this moon was not formed around Neptune, because the pressure around the latter would have favoured chemical reactions between nebular components leading to the formation of large quantities of ices (which would result in lower rock/ice ratios). Knowing Triton’s density also provides clues about the structure of its interior: models indicate that Triton has a stratified structure, with the rocky (denser) fraction concentrated in the centre of the satellite.
Calculations based on a number of initial assumptions and plausible evolutionary scenarios suggest that Triton’s rocky spherical core has a radius of 950-1000 km, and is surrounded by a concentric ice mantle 353-403 km thick (subtle differences in the estimate of the depth of the rock/ice boundary depend on the model parameters that different groups of scientists adopt. Additionally, some models also suggest that a metallic core forms the innermost sphere of Triton).
The models generally predict that the ice shell (primarily composed of H2O) may be subdivided into external and internal layers, bound by a liquid NH3-H2O ocean potentially up to 130 km deep. High contents of ammonia in the ocean may prevent it from freezing at present, but the models also call for heating processes to explain the melting of ice and formation of the liquid layer.
The exact timing and mechanism of Triton’s capture by Neptune has not been fully established, yet. The scientific consensus converges on two main models, however: collision with a Neptunian satellite, which would have slowed Triton binding it to Neptune’s orbit; or encounter with Neptune of a Triton-planetesimal binary system, with the planetesimal being replaced by Neptune and expelled from the binary (as proposed in a seminal paper published in 2006 in the 11th May issue of the journal Nature, vol. 441).
Regardless of the specific capture process, Triton’s initial orbital path around Neptune would have been highly eccentric (i.e., elliptical), which would have resulted in catastrophic tidal forces generating extreme heat. The heat thus produced was probably responsible for partial melting and fractionation of the rocky component from the icy material, with the denser rocky fraction sinking at the centre of the body, forming the core, and the lighter components forming the outer icy shells. The dissipation of the tidal energy would have eventually caused the progressive decay of Triton’s orbital eccentricity and the circularization of its orbit, a process possibly aided by Triton’s destabilization of the orbits of pre-existing Neptunian moons and their consequent collision and mutual destruction.
The timing of circularization of Triton’s orbit is not clear, however: this is a critical detail when attempting to model the existence, depth, thickness, and composition of Triton’s sub-ice global ocean, as well as to understand the geodynamic regime responsible for Triton’s intense geological activity (described in the following article). Unless the process of orbit circularization was completed in very recent (geological) times, the generation of tidal heat would have ceased a long time ago, and a different source of heat would have been necessary to melt layers of ice to form a subsurface global ocean.
It has been suggested that the heat produced by radioactive decay of the radiogenic isotopes of the elements uranium, thorium and potassium, probably abundant in Triton’s rocky interior, could be responsible for maintaining a high heat flux, but all scenarios currently being explored are model-dependent: it is plausible that the formation of the global ocean and its persistence through time is due to a complex interplay of residual heat from tidal dissipation, radiogenic heat, thermal insulation by overlying ice, the heat released during crystallization and migration of the ocean through the icy planetary shell, tidal friction within the ice, and the presence of ammonia in the water.
The presence of an ocean on Triton opens up the exciting possibility that this far away world may host life. It is indeed listed as a candidate ocean world by NASA’s Outer Planets Assessment Group (OPAG) Roadmaps to Ocean Worlds (ROW) group, whose brief is to establish the scientific framework for the definition and exploration of ocean worlds in the solar system, and their potential habitability (for more details on the ROW group’s roadmap, read the open-access paper by co-leaders Hendrix, Hurford, and the ROW group at: https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2018.1955). Ocean worlds and their astrobiological significance will be the topics of future articles in this series.
In this feature, I have briefly outlined the principal characteristics of Triton that could be learned from telescope observation, complemented by data collected during Voyager 2’s flyby. It is clear that Triton’s origin as a Kuiper Belt object, and its subsequent capture into Neptunian orbit, have largely determined its evolution, including the possible formation of a subsurface ocean. New missions of exploration are needed to further our knowledge of the geological evolution and astrobiological potential of this moon, however, and it is possible that one may be launched in the near future. In the following article, I will outline what is presently known of the geological complexity of this remote world, and what we hope to learn from future space missions.
Dr. Graziella Caprarelli
Graziella Caprarelli was generally considered a polymath at school, which made it impossible for her to receive consistent career advice from teachers and family. She knew, however, that she wanted to spend her life wandering around the globe looking for adventure in far and exotic lands. She therefore decided to apply to study at the Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences at Sapienza University in Rome (Italy), and in due course, having obtained an MS in Geological Sciences and a Ph.D. in Earth Sciences, she left her country of origin and moved abroad. To date, she has lived in four continents, flew over frozen lands, sailed the seas, and visited Buddhist temples in the Himalayas. Her scientist husband publicly declared that he finds her to be “fascinating”, though one should take this personal opinion with a grain of salt. Her professional resume can be found here. When she grows up she wants to live on the Moon.
Connect with ArjaRoxe on Twitter
Agnor CB, Hamilton DP (2006) Neptune’s capture of its moon Triton in a binary-planet gravitational encounter. Nature 441(7090), 192-194.
Cruikshank DP, Brown RH, Clark RN (1984) Nitrogen on Triton. Icarus 58, 293-305.
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Gaeman J, Hier-Majumder S, Roberts JH (2012) Sustainability of a subsurface ocean within Triton’s interior. Icarus 220, 339-347.
Hammon NP, Parmentier EM, Barr AC (2018) Compaction and melt transport in ammonia-rich ice shells: Implications for the evolution of Triton. J Geophys Res Planets 123, 3105-3118.
Hendrix AR, Hurford TA, Barge LM, Bland MT, Bowman JS, Brinckerhoff W, Buratti BJ, Cable ML, Castillo-Rogez, Collins GC, Diniega S, German CR, Hayes AG, Hoeler T, Hosseini S, Howett CJA, McEwen AS, Neish CD, Neveu M, Nordheim TA, Patterson GW, Patthoff DA, Phillips C, Rhoden A, Schmidt BE, Singer KN, Soderblom JM, Vance SD (2019) The NASA Roadmap to Ocean Worlds. Astrobiol 19(1), 1-27. https://doi.org/10.1089/ast.2018.1955
Hillier J, Helfenstein P, Verbiscer A, Veverka J, Brown RH, Goguen J, Johnson TV (1990) Voyager disk-integrated photometry of Triton. Science 250(4979), 419-421.
Hussmann H, Sohl F, Spohn T (2006) Subsurface oceans and deep interiors of medium-sized outer planet satellites and large trans-Neptunian objects. Icarus 185, 258-273.
Lunine JI, Stevenson DJ (1985) Physical state of volatiles on the surface of Triton. Nature 317, 238-240.
Masters A, Achilleos N, Agnor CB, Campagnola S, Charnoz S, Christophe B, Coates AJ, Fletcher LN, Jones GH, Lamy L, Marzari F, Nettelmann N, Ruiz J, Ambrosi R, Andre N, Bhardwaj A, Fortney JJ, Hansen CJ, Helled R, Moragas-Klostermeyer G, Orton G, Ray L, Reynaud S, Sergis N, Srama R, Volwerk M (2014) Neptune and Triton: Essential pieces of the Solar System puzzle. Planet Space Sci 104, 108-121.
McKinnon WB (1984) On the origin of Triton and Pluto. Nature 311, 355-358.
McKinnon WB, Kirk RL (2014). Triton. In: (Spohn et al., eds.) Encyclopedia of the Solar System - 3rd Edition, Elsevier, pp 861-881.
McKinnon WB, Leith AC (1995) Gas drag and the orbital evolution of a captured Triton. Icarus 118, 392-413.
McKinnon WB, Mueller S (1989) The density of Triton: A prediction. Geophys Res Lett 16(6), 591-594.
Mitchell KL, Prockter LM, Frazier WE, Smythe WD, Sutin BM, Bearden DA, and Trident Team. Implementation of Trident: A Discovery-Class mission to Triton. LPSC 50 (LPI Contrib No 2132), Abstr #3200.
Morrison D, Cruikshank DP (1982) Diameters of Triton and Pluto. Nature 300, 425-427.
Nimmo F, Spencer JR (2015) Powering Triton’s recent geological activity by obliquity tides: Implications for Pluto geology. Icarus 246, 2-10.
Prockter LM (2005) Ice in the solar system. Johns Hopkins APL Tech Digest 26(2), 175-188.
Prockter LM, Mitchell KL, Howett CJA, Smythe WD, Sutin BM, Bearden DA, Frazier WE, and Trident Team. (2019) Exploring Triton with Trident: A Discovery-class mission. LPSC 50 (LPI Contrib No 2132), Abstr #3188.
Ruiz J (2003) Heat flow and depth to a possible internal ocean on Triton. Icarus 166, 436-439.
Rufu R, Canup RM (2017) Triton’s evolution with a primordial Neptunian satellite system. Astron J 154:208 (8pp).
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Strong reasoning
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Science & Tech.
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Many organizations are adopting the cloud environment, and there are many that are planning to move services on the cloud. This new invention of technology is taking the online world by storm. Cloud computing is great when you have to access data from anywhere around the world or when you have to store an enormous amount of data online.
What Is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is the virtual environment, which enables you to store, access, use, and transfer data anywhere and anytime. Cloud computing provides flexibility, speed, accessibility, and management services.
When you are on the cloud, you can make bank transactions while on the bus. You can update your mobile app on the go; you can update WhatsApp and Facebook status while commuting, etc.
Let’s take the example of meal consumption at a restaurant to understand cloud computing. Having a meal at a restaurant is different from eating at home. The objective is the same, i.e., meal consumption. However, the approach is different at home and at the restaurant. At home, you have to have all the required ingredients, you have to prepare it yourself, and you have to clean after the meal. When you have a meal at the restaurant, you just have to order from the menu and pay for the service. It is not your responsibility to prepare the dish and serve it.
The above example is similar to the ideologies of cloud computing- “Pay for the usage,” “On-demand availability.”
Types of Cloud
Public Clouds: As suggested by the name, in a public cloud, the services are available to all. The resources are allocated and are dynamically provisioned as per the request.
Private clouds: Private clouds are of particular organizations; they are managed within the firewall rules of the organization. Private clouds are only available for the users of a particular organization.
Hybrid Clouds: Hybrid clouds are a mixture of public as well as private clouds. Companies can choose the services they want to expose to all and the services they only want to expose to their users in the organization.
The Need for Cloud Testing
Cloud testing means testing resources, such as software, hardware, etc. which have on-demand availability. The testing here can be viewed as “service.” It is crucial to make sure that the product meets its functional as well as non-functional requirements.
Benefits of Cloud Testing
The benefits of cloud testing are far too many. Here we have attempted to highlight various advantages of cloud testing:
There is no doubt that cloud testing is cost-saving as you only pay for the resources you use. You can pay for the testing environment that you wish to use and pay for that alone. You don’t need to invest in expensive equipment and spend a lot of money on upgrading and maintaining it. You can have all the hardware and software at your disposal, and you will need to pay for it when you actually use it.
Testers can decrease or increase the computing resources as per the need. Cloud computing is exceptionally useful when businesses change their requirements frequently.
The great advantage of cloud-based testing is that you can run your application on different hardware simultaneously and fix defects fast.
When you use cloud-based tools and services, you can match an end user-centric environment with less cost and less time. Test teams can perform performance testing scenarios in various permutations and combinations.
Well Configured Test Environment
It takes a lot of time to set up a test environment on various devices. If there are any errors during the environment configuration, they will be repeated on all devices. You can easily avoid this with the help of cloud-based tools; these tools are pre-configured, which saves your time as well as money.
The testing is automated with cloud-based tools; it reduces the time to market your software. You don’t have to wait for the lengthy manual testing process to complete; everything is automated with the help of cloud-based testing.
Better Team Collaboration
With cloud-based testing, you can implement DevOps in a better way; it requires the collaboration of testers as well as developers. Cloud allows testers to spin up test environments with data and different configurations and helps in automating the process.
Software testing is available at any time. This helps testers speed up the testing process as testing is available anywhere and anytime.
What Are The Challenges Of Testing In The Cloud?
There are several benefits of cloud testing, which assure the quality of the application. But there are some challenges of cloud-based testing that should be taken care of well in advance. Let’s have a look at the operational challenges of cloud-based testing:
Security And Privacy Concerns
The encryption techniques are far from perfection; it raises security and privacy concerns. Although there is a provision of testing in a private environment, security concerns persist.
Potential Availability Issues
Providers guarantee you round the clock availability of services, but even a small bit of downtime can result in negative consequences for businesses. Let’s take an example of Amazon Web Services, in 2013 it went down for half an hour, which led to inconvenience for many companies that required access to AWS to test properties that required Amazon Web Service.
Service Level Agreements
To differentiate the responsibilities of vendors and cloud users, vendors provide some terms and conditions of their cloud services. These terms are necessary, but the problem is that they are often biased. As a user, you need to pay attention to conditions so that you are not misled.
Before finalizing your cloud testing tools, make sure you get all the configurations, technologies, storage you require from the provider. It is difficult to emulate the customer environment when some configurations are not supported by the provider. For testers, it is a time-consuming process to create a test environment that includes all the required settings; therefore, you have to make sure that you get everything you need from the provider.
We all hate hidden costs, don’t we? Vendors are required to inform about the prices to users, however improper use of the test environments can skyrocket the cost. Testers need to plan their test environments to avoid any hidden charges. Also, take into account the cost for data encryption and monitor the use of resources of the cloud.
How to Prepare For Cloud-Based Testing?
Certainly, testing on the cloud is beneficial for organizations. Follow the below-mentioned tips to test on the cloud:
We cannot stress this enough-set a clear objective. You can benefit from cloud-based testing when you have a clear understanding of your needs. In cloud-based testing, close cooperation between developers and testers is needed. Only then you can conduct all the necessary tests throughout the software development lifecycle.
Create a Testing Strategy
Before moving your project to the cloud, make sure you decide what kind of tests you want to perform. Analyze how much time the testing will take and what are the risks associated. The testing strategy helps you to avoid unnecessary costs and plan your budget better.
Plan Your Infrastructure Well
Don’t forget to think about the infrastructure requirements necessary for building a test environment. Cloud-based services should provide the required hardware, software, bandwidth, and testing tools. Determine beforehand for how long you need the testing environment.
Select a Reliable Provider
A reliable provider is a necessity when you are looking for a cloud-based testing environment. Take a look at each provider’s reliability, quality, and security. Always choose a provider with a good amount of experience who ensures quick set-up and tear down of the test environment. Have a look at the range of services offered by the provider-testing tools, physical infrastructure, licenses, and thorough provisioning.
There are many providers of cloud-based tools that offer free trials. With free trials, you can get to know if you like the services provided by a particular provider or not. You are not stuck with a provider; if you are not satisfied with the services, you can take free trials from others until you are satisfied. Through free trials, you learn about the advantages and disadvantages of each service.
Monitor and Analyze Test Results
It is always better to monitor test results in real-time. Real-time results help you to react to performance-related issues quickly.
Cloud-based testing is the future if you are not using it; it’s time to start taking advantage of its benefits. It significantly reduces cost, offers flexibility and stability. By going for cloud testing, organizations can acquire tools, infrastructure, and licenses at a low cost and can utilize these resources to the maximum.
[Related Read: Future of Cloud Testing]
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CC-MAIN-2022-27
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Software Dev.
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Description of County Offices
‹‹ back to Elected Offices
Texas County Constable
The term “constable” originates from the medieval title of an important official in the days of the Eastern
Roman Empire called “comes stabuli.” In old France, “comes” was defined as an officer and a count, and“stabuli” was defined as an officer of the stable, chief equerry, or marshal, generally of the “stabulum”
stables. During that period of time, the constable was chief officer of the king’s household and court and
often acted as commander in chief of the army, second only to the king.
Constables in England can be traced back to the kingdom of Alfred the Great who reigned from 871 to
899 A.D. In about 1066, King William the Great divided England into 55 districts and appointed
constables to keep the peace within these districts.
By the 1620s, the colonies had been divided into counties that became the most important units of local
government. The first American constable was appointed in 1632 to assist the justice of the peace in
dispensing justice, enforcing the orders of colonial and county officials in both civil and criminal matters
and collecting taxes.
Constables in Texas can be traced back to 1823 when Texas was under Mexican rule. The Mexican
government authorized Stephen F. Austin who had been settling large numbers of individuals along the
Colorado and Brazos rivers, to create seven districts with an appointed sheriff over the entire colony and
appointed constables for each district.
The first constables were elected in precincts of 500 inhabitants in 1828. Constables were included in the
Texas Constitution of 1836 and remained until the reconstruction period following the Civil War. Constables were again included in the Texas Constitution of 1876, and most have survived to the present
There are currently about 800 constables in Texas ranging from as many as eight constables in the most
populous counties to one constable in many sparsely populated counties and no constables for a few
counties where the office has been abolished by constitutional amendment.
Texas constables derive their authority from the Texas Constitution and Texas statutes. Section 18,
Article V, of the Texas Constitution establishes constables as elected precinct officers. Article 2.12, Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, designates constables as “peace officers.” Chapter 86, Texas
Occupations Code, also directs constables to serve as bailiffs and serve papers issued by justice courts.
As certified Texas peace officers, constables must complete required training for all peace officers and
pass the Texas Commission on Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE) exam. Deputy constables
must be TCLEOSE certified upon assuming their duties, while the Occupations Code gives elected
constables up to 270 days after taking office to obtain certification. Constables and their deputies must
also complete at least 20 hours of continuing civil process education training every four years.
Texas constables and justices of the peace are commonly referred to as the offices closest to the people.
Their duties vary widely throughout Texas and are based on the needs of individual counties and the
ability and willingness of commissioners courts to provide funding.
Many constables in Texas enforce traffic laws and patrol neighborhoods. Constables also perform
criminal investigations for drug violations, identity theft, truancy and other criminal matters.
With the support of the Harris County Commissioners Court, constables implemented the Absent Student
Assistance Program to reduce truancy, and other counties were quick to follow suit. Another innovative
program is the “Are You Okay?” program where constables check on elderly and disabled individuals in
their precinct to make sure they do not require emergency services.
My office administers a Citizens Handicap Parking Enforcement Program. The key to the success of
these and many other innovative constable programs is that there is a demonstrated need for the program
and a positive working relationship between constables and their commissioners courts.
The Justices of the Peace and Constables Association of Texas (JPCA) strongly believes that all elected
officials should be performing services that are of value to their counties and be qualified and properly
trained to carry our their responsibilities. To that end we encourage our colleagues to work closely with
their constituents, county departments and commissioners courts to identify unmet needs and develop
strategies to meet the needs of their communities.
The JPCA has worked with the County Judges and Commissioners Association to pass HJR2, a
constitutional amendment that would authorize commissioners courts to declare a constable’s office
“dormant” in counties where no candidates have run for two terms, and legislation requiring elected
officials to use the salary grievance committee before pursuing litigation.
JPCA also has lobbied to limit county liability by requiring that constables be qualified and trained to
enforce civil and criminal laws upon assuming their duties.
Travis County Constable Bruce Elfant
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Moderate reasoning
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Crime & Law
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The cloning clash
Does the world need cloning research? UN members tackle a topic that leaves many uneasy.
Around the globe there is nearly universal agreement that "reproductive cloning" - the effort to create cloned human beings - is wrong.
But when it comes to "therapeutic cloning" - developing stem cells from human embryos that could be used to treat diseases - opinion is far more divided. And that division is the controversial breach into which the United Nations legal committee will step Thursday in New York as it votes on a resolution to ban human cloning.
Although any UN vote would be largely symbolic, there is considerable global support for putting the international body on record as opposing reproductive cloning, which raises significant questions of both safety and ethics.
But reaching any kind of agreement on therapeutic cloning is likely to prove an elusive goal.
Cloning involves inserting animal or human DNA into an unfertilized egg whose own nucleus has been removed. In reproductive cloning the embryo would be placed in a surrogate mother and would develop into an exact physical replica of the DNA donor.
Therapeutic cloning produces and then destroys embryos only a few days old in order to reap their stem cells, which medical scientists believe eventually can be used to treat diseases such as juvenile diabetes, Parkinson's disease, hemophilia, spinal injuries, and stroke. Stem cells are like blank pages of a book which can be written upon, capable of becoming any kind of body tissue. They could be used to reproduce defective organs, for example.
The international community is sharply divided over the issue of therapeutic cloning, with three plans likely to be considered Thursday.
The Bush administration has strongly backed a Costa Rican proposal for a comprehensive ban on both reproductive and therapeutic cloning.
But a Belgian proposal to prohibit only reproductive cloning and leave individual countries free to either ban or regulate therapeutic cloning has also gathered strong support from countries such as Britain, Germany, and France.
At the same time, the Organization of the Islamic Conference, representing 57 Muslim countries, favors a postponement of the vote for one or two years to study the issue.
Animal cloning - which has been achieved with limited success, sometimes producing defective clones with various abnormalities - would not be considered in the ban debated Thursday.
But when it comes to human reproductive cloning, most within and without the global scientific community find the practice unpalatable. Concerns over the safety of the cloned individual (especially in light of the problems encountered in animal cloning) are paramount, as are the enormous difficulties in achieving such an operation.
While sheep and cows have been successfully cloned, primates, such as chimpanzees or gorillas, have not, indicating that human cloning may prove to be extremely difficult.
The Raelians, a quasi-religious group based in Switzerland, claim to have cloned five human babies in late 2002 and early 2003. But the group has never produced any conclusive proof of the births.
People have a "general moral queasiness" about reproductive cloning, says Kenneth Goodman, the founder and director of the bioethics center at the University of Miami. Some ethicists call it "the yuck factor." It creates human life "in a fundamentally novel way," and there's "something narcissistic" about it, he says.
That queasiness "points toward compelling moral reasons" against reproductive cloning. "It doesn't serve any of the traditional values of medical research" such as treating disease or reducing pain, he says.
From a Christian perspective, "I think you can make a case for reproductive cloning as 'hubris,' the sin of pride," says Suzanne Holland, who teaches courses on bioethics at the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Wash., and has co-edited a book on the stem-cell debate.
The debate over therapeutic cloning, however, much more closely mirrors the controversy over abortion. The crucial question is when life begins and whether a human life is being taken in the process of harvesting the stem cells. Many Christian groups, including the Roman Catholic church, argue that is the case.
But others - including most scientists - say the embryo at that point represents just one of the stages of the beginnings of life, and is not an individual human being.
"It's an ethical collision course" between those who take a "utilitarian" ethical approach, seeing the potential long-term good of therapeutic cloning, and those that say "you can never sacrifice any kind of life for the good of the whole," Ms. Holland says.
Even the scientific value of stem-cell research using embryos is disputed, though the vast majority of the American scientific community sees enough promise to favor ongoing research.
Some cloning opponents argue that stem cells taken from adults will prove to be a viable alternative to embryonic stem cells. But while a few scientists do hold out great hope for adult stem-cell research, "most scientists would say adult stem cells are not a substitute for embryonic stem cells," says Mark Rothstein, who directs the Institute for Bioethics, Health Policy, and Law at the University of Louisville.
Some scientists argue that the word "cloning" has eerie science-fiction connotations and perhaps scares the public more than is necessary - especially when it comes to therapeutic cloning.
"A lot of people are confused by this debate," says Mr. Goodman. For example, he says, if you say you have placed a bit of human skin cell into an egg and then five days later harvested the stem cells that have grown, people will say that's fine. But if you call it "cloning," people are likely to oppose it. "The name has become an emotional sledgehammer," he says
A move to delay a cloning ban for two years at the UN Thursday would actually be aimed at waiting out the Bush administration, says Thomas Jacobson, who follows the United Nations for Focus on the Family, a private Christian organization in Colorado Springs, Colo., that favors an immediate comprehensive UN ban.
The hope of proponents of cloning would be that after the 2004 elections a different US president might not oppose therapeutic cloning.
Ethicists agree, however, that even if the UN were eventually to ban cloning, research is unlikely to end. The best the UN could hope for would be an international treaty, which nations would have the right to sign on to - or not.
"I think it's a good impulse for the world to try to come together and speak with one mind about what we'd like to do about [cloning]," Holland says. "But I don't think it can be outlawed. It's going to happen somewhere if somebody wants to do it."
1938 Cloning envisioned. Dr. Hans Spemann (Germany) proposes removing the nucleus from an unfertilized egg and replacing it with the nucleus of a differentiated cell.
1953 Structure of DNA is discovered.
1970 A British scientist clones a frog by transplanting a tadpole cell into a frog egg.
1984 In Denmark, a lamb is cloned from a developing sheep embryo cell. The experiment is repeated by scientists who clone a variety of other animals.
1996 Dolly the sheep, the first mammal cloned from a cell of an adult animal, is produced in Scotland.
1999 Human chromosome 22 is the first to be completely sequenced.
2000 The same company that produced Dolly clones pigs from adult cells.
2001 President Bush, cautious about the use of stem cells taken from human embryos, limits the type of stem-cell research that can receive federal funding.
2001 The first household pet, a calico cat, is cloned in the US.
2001 Advanced Cell Technology in Worcester, Mass., announces that through cloning they have produced an embryo with human DNA that has grown to the six-cell level. The announcement draws criticism from President Bush and raises new ethical questions.
2003 The Human Genome Project - an effort to map and sequence all the human genes - is officially complete, contributing to the progress of cloning research.
Sources: Doegenomes.org, infoplease.com, and news accounts.
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Strong reasoning
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Science & Tech.
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Take a look at these photos of Norwegian Forest Cats and Maine Coons. Aside from the fact that they appear to be genetically very similar in terms of their dense, multicolor coats and face structure, we know that Maine Coons have descended from Norwegian Forest Cats because of one very rare trait they share- polydactyl paws.
A polydactyl cat has a genetic mutation that causes him to be born with more than the usual number of toes on one or more of his paws. Most cats have 18 toes- 5 toes on each front paw and 4 on each hind paw; polydactyl cats may have as many as 8 digits on their front and/or hind paws. The result is that they look as though they have an extra thumb. Some people refer to this as “double pawed.”
Historically, Norwegian Forest Cats carried the double paw trait because the extra “thumb” helped them to climb trees and hunt more accurately in the dense forest.
Modern day cats with double paws are most commonly found along the East Coast of North America and in the South of England or Wales. Maine Coons, named after their East Coast roots, often display double paws.
Maine Coons became double pawed over time, when their breed was mixed with that of Norwegian Forest Cats. An unlikely union, until Norwegian and Scandanavian sailors headed for the US East Coast with their cats in tow over 300 years ago. When their cargo ships sailed to Maine, Norwegian Forest Cats were on board to control rodents. Sailors valued the polydactyl Forest Cats especially for their extraordinary climbing and hunting abilities which helped control rodents at sea. But these cats were more than mousetraps and they fast developed friendships with the humans onboard. Many sailors considered these cats to bring them good luck at sea. When the sailors disembarked in Maine, they brought along their beloved cats, and the rest is history.
Author Ernest Hemingway absolutely loved polydactyl cats, after he was first given a 6-toed cat by a East Coast ship captain. Upon Hemingway’s death in 1961, his former home in Key West, FL., became a museum and a home for his cats, and it currently houses approximately 50 descendants of his cats, about half of which are polydactyl. “Hemingway Cat” is commonly used to describe polydactyls.
Norwegian Forest Cat:
Polydactyl Maine Coon:
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Moderate reasoning
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Science & Tech.
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Scientists have long been puzzled by the ability of a slimy algae known as "rock snot" to bloom (and bloom and bloom) in clear, low-nutrient streams like Boulder Creek, leaving thick, slick mats on the stream beds.
Now, a team of scientists, including a Boulder researcher, has discovered a mechanism that allows rock snot -- formally known as Didymosphenia geminata -- to thrive in areas where similar kinds of algae only grow modestly. Didymosphenia geminata, often shortened to Didymo, is part of a family of single-celled algae called diatoms.
"Diatoms pretty much grow everywhere, whether it's really clean water or waters that are relatively impacted," said Sarah Spaulding, a researcher at the University of Colorado's Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research. "Generally, the more nutrients you get in the water, the more biomass you get.
"What's different about this diatom is that we found it would make a large amount of biomass where there weren't many nutrients in the water."
This has allowed rock snot, an invasive species in North America, to explode in streams that have not historically supported large algae blooms. In a study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters, the scientists explain how Didymo does it.
The key is Didymo's stalks, which keep the algae attached to the rocks. The stalks are able to collect the limited phosphorous nutrients available in the stream on their surfaces along with iron. Then, bacteria that live in the rock snot mats interact with the accumulated iron to make the phosphorous easier for the algae to use.
"Even though the phosphorous is low in concentration, the stalk strips it right out of the water and concentrates it right on the stalk," said Spaulding, who also works as an ecologist for the U.S. Geological Survey. "We found that the stalk also strips iron out of the water, which is crucial to part of the process."
The study may help land managers identify which streams may be susceptible to rock snot invasions.
"It also has the potential to lead to discoveries that may stem this organism's prolific growth in rivers around in the world," said P.V. Sundareshwar, lead author of the study and a researcher at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.
Contact Camera Staff Writer Laura Snider at 303-473-1327 or [email protected].
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en
| 0.95797
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| 3.8125
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| 2.932954
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Strong reasoning
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Science & Tech.
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Abolitionist, diplomat, and lecturer, Hinton Rowan Helper was born December 27, 1829, near Mocksville, North Carolina. He was the son of Daniel J. and Sarah Brown Helper. After graduating from Mocksville Academy in 1848, he spent a lifetime unsuccessfully struggling to succeed.
In 1850, Helper journeyed to California in hopes of striking it rich in gold mining. His dream ended in failure. He turned his frustration into a book, California Land of Gold: Reality vs. Fiction (1855), wherein he used selective statistics and blasted California as a false “El Dorado.” Helper’s later anti-slavery views were scarcely discernible in this volume, but the book’s intemperate criticism of California and its lax use of statistical data characterized his later work.
Helper returned to North Carolina for a period, later moved to New York, and in 1857 he published The Impending Crisis of the South: How to Meet It. This book ranked second only to Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin in its influence for abolition. The Republican Party published A Compendium of the book as a campaign document, and Helper’s work was credited with helping elect Abraham Lincoln.
Helper’s book was banned in North Carolina and across the South because of its inflammatory nature. Helper referred to slaveholders as “more criminal than common murderers,” who “deserve to be at once reduced to a parallel with the basest criminals that lie fettered within the cells of our public prisons.” At another point, Helper said he hoped to see reason prevail to end slavery, but if not then slaves “would, in nine cases out of ten, be delighted with an opportunity to cut their masters’ throats.”
After Lincoln was elected, Helper, asked the sixteenth president for an appointment. Lincoln appointed Helper in 1861 as consul to Buenos Aires, Argentina. There, he met and married Maria Louisa Rodriquez. In 1867, Helper briefly returned to his home state and lived in Asheville as a lonely persona non grata. He later lived in New York, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.
Although opposed to the institution of slavery, Helper was a racist. Numerous times in Impending Crisis he noted that his concern was not for blacks but for “free white labor.” When the freeing of the slaves did not lead to a renaissance for poor whites, Helper became disillusioned and produced Nojoque, A Question for a Continent (1867). He maintained therein that black was “a thing of ugliness, disease, and death… a most hateable thing.” In The Negroes in Negroland (1868), he further elaborated on what he deemed African American inferiority; he quoted such luminaries as David Livingstone, Thomas Jefferson, and even Abraham Lincoln.
In his later years, Helper became an unsuccessful railroad promoter and spent significant amounts of time and money promoting an idea for a railroad from Canada to Argentina. Many considered his idea as nonsense. A mentally and financially bankrupt Helper committed suicide on March 8, 1909: he turned on the gas in his drab Washington apartment.
The Literary Digest eulogized him as “a forgotten hero.” Certainly, although a racist, Helper profoundly influenced American politics and doubtless hastened the demise of “the peculiar institution.”
Hugh C. Bailey, Hinton Rowan Helper: Abolitionist-Racist (Tuscaloosa, 1965); Hugh T. Lefler, “Hinton Rowan Helper, Advocate of a White America,” Southern Sketches 1 (1935); James W. Wall, “Hinton Rowan Helper” Dictionary of North Carolina Biography (Chapel Hill, 1988) v.3; James W. Wall, “Hinton Rowan Helper and The Impending Crisis” (M.A. Thesis, UNC, 1949).
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The Bardsey Island is a quaint and peaceful island, encompassing an area of 179 hectares, located 3.1 kilometers away from the Llŷn Peninsula, Gwynedd County, Wales, United Kingdom. The island has a long and rich spiritual, religious and cultural history that has attracted thousands of pilgrims and tourists to the island since ages as well as inspired writers, poets and singers to produce work that is influenced by the story and beauty of the island. The island has a population of only around four permanent members and lacks roads, running water facilities, cars or electric grids. Another unique feature of the island is what lies underneath its soil. In the ancient times some of holiest saints of Christianity were buried on the island and nearly 20,000 such graves populate the island at such a high density that digging anywhere on the island is bound to turn up a human grave.
The Bardsey Island was inhabited since the Neolithic times as evident from archaeological evidence belonging to this period being discovered here. In the 5th Century, the island became a refuge for the Christians seeking shelter from mass persecutions elsewhere. Soon the island became a center point for priestly gatherings and Christian saints from all parts of England arrived on the island. The St Mary's Abbey was set up here and many saintly congregations were held at the island. The island was also used to bury many of the great holy men and martyrs of Christianity after their death. Some even believe that the legendary British leader, King Arthur was also buried in this island. The island soon became a famous pilgrimage site and it was claimed that visiting the Bardsey Island thrice was equivalent to visiting Rome. The island came to be popularly known as the "Rome of England". However, in 1536, in obedience to the Dissolution of the Lesser Monasteries Act, on the orders of Henry VIII, the St Mary's Abbey was shut down and the monks left the island. The population of the island also gradually declined over the years from 132 in 1881 to 17 in 1961 to only 4 in 2003.
Presently, the Bardsey Island serves as a famous tourist spot in Wales where visitors arrive to observe the spectacular natural scenery and the unique wildlife of the island. Undisturbed by human intervention, many rare species of plants and animals survive on the island in their pristine wild habitat. The waters around the island also have a plethora of aquatic life and the island serves as an important resting stop for a diversity of migratory birds. A bird observatory, established here in 1953, is active to this day where scientists attempt to study the interesting behavior and migratory patterns of the birds visiting the island. Besides its natural importance, the fact that the island has been associated with saints, spirituality, and religion, also reserves a special for the island in the cultural life of Wales.
Habitat and Biodiversity
The Bardsey Island hosts a large number of rare and unique species of flora and fauna, leading to its recognition as a National Nature Reserve in 1986. Several varieties of lichens including rare species like the golden hair lichen and ciliate strap lichen grow here on the island. Migratory birds like warblers, spotted flycatchers, and chiff-chaffs visit the island every year while other resident birds like owls, ravens, and choughs nest on the island. Several species of seabirds are also found on this island and the absence of natural predators of birds on this island render the island a paradise for these avians. Several species of aquatic fauna are found in the sea water around the island like Bottlenose dolphins, porpoises and Risso’s dolphins. Smaller animal species found in the tidal zones and shallower waters include species of crabs, lobsters, and sea anemones. Grey seals can often be noticed sunbathing on the sandy shores of the island.
Environmental Threats and Territorial Disputes
Bardsey Island is currently connected to the mainland by ferry services. However, if weather conditions are harsh and the sea is choppy, the ferry services are often stopped, cutting off the island completely from the rest of the civilization. In 2000, 17 visitors to the island were stranded on the island for several weeks due to adverse weather conditions making all rescue efforts fail. The island is also threatened by the predicted rise in sea water levels due to global warming. The possibility of an increase in the tourist footfall on the island in the future also threatens its pristine natural habitat from being polluted and damaged by tourism, if not managed in a responsible manner.
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|Parsnips Quick Facts|
|Scientific Name:||Pastinaca sativa|
|Origin||Europe to Caucasus, Anatolia, Lebanon and Western Siberia.|
|Colors||Yellowish white (Root)|
|Shapes||Smooth, fleshy, cylindrical, but some cultivars have a more bulbous shape (Root)|
|Taste||Sweet and peppery taste|
|Major nutrients||Manganese (32.39%)
Vitamin C (25.11%)
Vitamin K (24.92%)
Vitamin B9 (22.25%)
|Health benefits||Fights Cancer, Dietary Fiber, Growth and Development, Birth Defects and Metabolism, Heart Health, Immune System, Mental and Emotional Disorders, ure of Lead Toxicity, Increases Energy Production, Osteoporosis, Weight Loss|
|More facts about Parsnips|
Parsnip, Pastinaca sativa, is an herbaceous biennial plant in the family Apiaceae grown for its edible taproot resembling a pale carrot. It is found growing in cool temperate climate and prefers full or partial sun. Moist to mesic and fertile loamy soil is preferable for better growth of the plant. The plants normally reach 2-5 feet (0.6-1.5 meters) tall and have deep taproot that is thick and fleshy and can grow between 10 and 23 cm (4–9 in) in length. It has erect, glabrous to sparsely hairy, angular and furrowed stem with a rosette of leaves. Leaves are once- or twice-pinnate with broad, ovate, sometimes lobed leaflets with toothed margins; they grow up to 40 cm (16 in) long. Leaflets are yellowish-green, shiny, oblong, coarsely toothed, and diamond-shaped. The plant produces yellow flowers are in a loose, compound umbel measuring 10 to 20 cm (4 to 8 in) in diameter and is found blooming from June to September. The flower later produces fruits, or schizocarps, which are oval and flat, with narrow wings and short, spreading styles. They are straw to light brown colored, and measure 4 to 8 mm (0.16 to 0.31 in) long. Seeds are normally pale brown, oval or globose, narrowly winged.
Parsnips are sweet, succulent underground taproots closely related to the carrot family of vegetables. The parsnip root is primarily eaten as a root vegetable after cooking. May be sliced and turned into crisps. The leaves of the plant are also edible and may be cooked and eaten as a vegetable. Parsnip root is smooth, fleshy, cylindrical, but some cultivars have a more bulbous shape and are yellowish white color and similar to the carrot in appearance. Flesh is usually cream-colored and has slightly celery-like fragrance and sweet and peppery taste. The roots are generally harvested when they reach about six to ten inches in length, by pulling an entire plant along with its root (uprooting) as in carrots. It was even used as a sweetening agent for foods before cane sugar became a major import to Europe. You can still find parsnips as a main vegetable dish in many nations of Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom, where “neeps and tatties” (parsnips and potatoes) is one of the most famous dishes in Scotland.
Parsnips are believed to be native to the eastern Mediterranean area including the Caucasus. The Roman word for parsnip was pastinaca. Parsnip were illustrated in Germany in 1542 and called Pestnachen, a German form of the Roman word for parsnip, pastinaca. Parsnip was a poor man’s food much as potatoes because they were comparatively productive and stored for a long time. Later it was introduced into England during 16th century. Colonist brought them with them to Virginia and 20 years later parsnips were very common in Massachusetts. Indians even took to growing parsnip and thus they spread throughout the United States. Nowadays it is found growing throughout the world due to its wonderful health promoting nutritional value as well as its miraculous taste.
Apart from their sweet and peppery taste Parsnip is a good source of nutrients, vitamins and minerals. Consuming 100 gram of cooked Parsnip offers 0.745 mg of Manganese, 22.6 mg of Vitamin C, 29.9 µg of Vitamin K, 89 µg of Vitamin B9, 23.93 g of Carbohydrate, 0.16 mg of Copper, 6.5 g of Total dietary Fiber and 0.798 mg of Vitamin B5.
Health benefits of Parsnip
Parsnip dishes really are a healthy accessory for any kind of holiday food. Many individuals believe parsnips are simply pale carrots, even though they are within the identical family, they’re not just one within the same. Another thing they do have in common is definitely the capability to increase serotonin within the brain, which will help you really feel happier! Parsnips additionally consist of falcarinols which have powerful anti-bacterial, anti-microbial as well as anti-fungal qualities, assisting the entire body within the combat against swelling.
1. Weight Loss
Since parsnip is a low-calorie option with high levels of soluble fiber, it fills you up and prevents the release of ghrelin, which is a “hunger” hormone. This will expressively reduce your likelihood of snacking between meals and help you with your weight loss goals. Apart from that optimized digestive processes help you eliminate waste and get your nutrient uptake into peak condition to get the healthiest nutrients from your food.(1)
Manganese is one of several trace elements that are essential for bone health. There is no particular indication that manganese can prevent osteoporosis, but some research found that taking a mixture of calcium, zinc, copper, and manganese helped lessen spinal bone loss in a group of post-menopausal women. Anyone may have osteoporosis, but it is common in mature women. As many as half of all women and a quarter of men older than 50 will break a bone due to osteoporosis. Parsnip consists of 0.745 mg of manganese which is 32.39% of the daily recommended value.
3. Increases Energy Production
Copper is essential for the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate, which is an energy storehouse of the human body. The cuproenzyme, cytochrome c oxidase, affects intracellular energy production. It acts as a catalyst for the reduction of molecular oxygen to water, during which the enzyme produces an electrical gradient used by the mitochondria to synthesize the vital energy-storing molecule, ATP. Therefore, when we have enough copper in our bodies, we will have enough functional and accessible energy to get through the day without feeling lethargic or tired.
4. Cure of Lead Toxicity
Lead Toxicity is a severe health problem found mainly in kids, particularly in urban areas. Unusual growth and development has been discovered in certain children who are exposed to lead. They develop behavioral problems, learning disabilities and also tend to have a low IQ. It may damage the kidneys and increase blood pressure in adults. Vitamin C supplements as well as vitamin C rich food can reduce the blood lead level. Including Parsnip on your regular diet can help to solve this problem as it consists of considerable amount (25.11%) of Vitamin C.
5. Mental and Emotional Disorders
Vitamin B9 contained in parsnip is helpful in treating numerous mental and emotional disorders. For instance, it is helpful in treating anxiety and depression, which are two of the most common mental health problems suffered by people in today’s modern world.
6. Immune System
Parsnips are packed with essential vitamins, antioxidant and organic compounds that safeguard the body from foreign invaders, as well as toxic byproducts from our own cellular metabolism. Vitamin C and E present in parsnip act as antioxidants in the body and help to eliminate or neutralize free radicals which may cause chronic diseases, like cancer. Apart from that Vitamin C also encourages the production of white blood cells to attack disease and foreign microbes in the body, in addition to functioning as a key element in the production of collagen, which is a fundamental building block of our body.(2)
7. Heart Health
Everyone seems to be searching for the big secret to unlocking a healthy cardiovascular system, and while fruits and vegetables are always a good choice, parsnips make an even bigger impact than usual, given the high level of potassium, which acts as a vasodilator and decreases blood pressure, as well as stress on the heart. The high level of folate found in parsnips is the perfect complement, as it reduces homocysteine levels in the blood, which are related with a higher risk of heart disease.(3)
8. Birth Defects and Metabolism
Folate is a member of the B-vitamin family and is connected with reducing neural tube birth defects in infants and enhancing metabolic processes related to energy production as well as your nervous system. Also, folate has been positively linked with lower levels of depression in those who regularly add it to their diet.(4)
9. Growth and Development
Though the content of protein isn’t remarkably high in parsnips, the full range of minerals and vitamins that parsnip boasts means it is an ideal snack or dietary addition because it can help to balance diets that may suffer from unpredictability or nutrient deficiency. Just as carrots are a great on-the-go snack, parsnips can likewise be a healthy option, rather than potato chips as well as junk food.(5)
10. Dietary Fiber
Parsnips have been admired for their higher fiber content for many years, particularly because it is composed of soluble fiber, the variety that is strictly related with reducing cholesterol levels and with a lower chance of developing diabetes. On top of that, dietary fiber is a key component of our digestive process, enabling healthy movement of food through the digestive tract, a reduction in constipation, and the prevention of other gastrointestinal disorders.(6)
11. Fights Cancer
Parsnip0 consists of Vitamin K that has been displayed to be effective in decreasing the risk of prostate, colon, stomach, nasal, and oral cancers. Research found that high doses of vitamin K helped patients with liver cancer stabilize and even improve their liver function. Another research showed that an increase in dietary intake of vitamin K is related with a reduced risk of cardiovascular, cancer. Parsnip consists of 29.9 µg of Vitamin K which is 24.92% of the daily recommended value.
Types of Parsnips
Parsnips, a distant relative of the carrot, are available in distinct types with various features to include in your dinner table.
Listed here are several well-known types of Parsnip-
1. Harris Model Parsnips
The Harris Model variety of parsnip is well-liked by home gardeners as well as industrial farmers. It’s got smooth white-colored skin, straight roots along with a much more carefully grained flesh as compared to various other cultivars. It’ll grow from 12 to 15 inches long in approximately 130 days. This particular sweet-flavored parsnip does very best in partial sun along with reasonable watering, and often will require surface protection throughout the very coldest climate. Plant the Harris Model in loamy, well-drained, citrus soil.
2. All American Parsnips
The All American parsnip is really a fast-growing variety, able to be collected in just 95 days. The flesh is soft, having a fairly sweet, ridiculous taste. Disease resistant, the All American is most beneficial gathered throughout late fall. It may be left outdoors through the majority of the winter if properly protected by straw mulch or even row covers. It lets you do very best in partial sun along with light watering and really should be grown in loamy, slightly acidic soil.
3. Hollow Crown Parsnips
The Hollow Crown parsnip is definitely an heirloom variety from England, therefore titled for the submerged, crown-like design in the bottom of the leaves. The roots grow to a lot more than 14 inches long and also need deep-soil tilling. This particular parsnip multiplies as well as sweetens in severe winter months. It will take as much as 3 weeks to emerge, but could be forced in case the soil is warmed up using a covering of clear plastic. Plant it in well-tilled, acidic soil as well as water on a regular basis. Harvest from mid-fall through winter.
4. Cobham Marrow Parsnips
The Cobham Marrow parsnip develops roots as much as 8 inches lengthy. This really is one of several sweetest parsnip types, utilized quite often in desserts or even glazed along with brown sugar. It germinates within just 3 weeks and is also extremely resistant against canker disease. Till plant beds from 12 to 16 inches deep. This particular parsnip is harvest-ready in approximately 4 months, even though the taste will further develop if left within the beds past the first couple of hard frosts.
5. The Student Parsnips
The Student is definitely an American heirloom parsnip dating to the mid-1850s. The root can easily develop to 30 inches long in case the plant beds are seriously tilled. The taste is sweet and also gentle, that will improve if left in the earth beyond the initial few frosts. It’ll, however, require surface safety to stay practical. This particular parsnip requires in between 95 to 125 days to mature and does very best in incomplete sun along with reasonable watering.
How to Eat
- Parsnip can be consumed raw, cooked, boiled, fried or roasted.
- The root is delicious baked; it may also be used in soups, stews, salads, casseroles, pies and puddings and dried for seasoning soups and processed for canning.
- Parsnip is used for making jam, marmalade preserve and sweet flour for cakes.
- Parsnip is eaten with salt fish and boiled eggs during Lent.
- Roasted parsnip is considered a significant ingredient in Christmas dinner and is featured in the traditional Sunday roast.
- Parsnip is also used for making beer and wine in Britain and Ireland.
- Cottagers make a beer by boiling the roots with water and hops and afterwards fermenting the liquor in Ireland.
- In the north of Ireland, they have been often brewed with malt instead of hops and fermented with yeast, the result being a pleasurable drink.
- Parsnip wine, when properly made, is valued by many people; the quality has been said to approach the famed Malmsey of Madeira.
- Leaves and young shoots are cooked with other greens as a vegetable or added to soups.
- Seed is used as a condiment and has similar taste as dill.
- Raw parsnips add distinctive sweet taste to salads, coleslaw, and toppings.
- It can be cooked and mashed with potato, leeks, cauliflower, etc.
- Slices and cubes added to stews, soups, and stir-fries and served with poultry, fish, and meat.
- It can be used in breads, pies, casseroles, cakes, etc., in a variety of savory dishes.
- Parsnips are boiled and the solid portions are removed from the soup or stew, leaving behind a more subtle flavor than the whole root, and starch to thicken the dish.
- Parsnips can also be fried or thinly sliced and made into crisps.
Other Traditional uses and benefits of Parsnips
- It is used in folk medicine for kidney disorders, jaundice as well as other disorders.
- Root and leaves are diuretic.
- Tea made from parsnip root has been used in the treatment of women’s complaints, and a strong decoction has been used for intermittent fever.
- A poultice of the roots has been used externally to inflammations and sores and to treat psoriasis and vitiligo.
- Oils extracted from parsnip seeds have been used to treat intermittent fever.
- In traditional Chinese medicine, the root of Chinese parsnip is used as an herbal medicine ingredient.
- Roots and shoots serve as good animal feed especially for pigs and dairy cattle.
- Leafy shoots and roots are used to a domestic insect spray to control aphids and red spider mites.
- Parsnips are not only a valuable item of human food, but equal, if not superior to carrots for fattening pigs, making the flesh white and being preferred by pigs to carrots.
- Furanocoumarins found in parsnip had been shown to be toxic or repellent to insects.
- Parsnip consists of polyacetylene that have proven cytotoxic activity. Caution is recommended in individuals using anticancer agents, since the mixture might have addicting results.
- Parsnip could cause photosensitivity. Caution is suggested in individuals taking some other agents that can cause light sensitivity, just like St. John’s wort, since the mixture may improve this side-effect.
- Parsnip plant and its parts may cause hypersensitivity reactions like contact dermatitis and oral allergy syndrome (OAS) when handled in some sensitive individuals.
Choose Parsnips which are smooth, firm and one which is about the dimensions of a medium carrot. Gentleness is oftentimes a sign of rot, which might seem like a gray mold or even watery soft rot. Woody cores are usually present in huge, rough roots.
The majority of parsnips can be purchased with the tops taken out; in case the tops are still connected, cut them off just before saving them so that they don’t pull humidity from the roots. They may be kept for a couple of weeks within the fridge.
To get the complete taste of parsnips, they must be steamed within their skins till tender. Then they might be peeled and split lengthwise. In case the core is big, scoop it out using the point of a knife. If soft, they may be consumed raw.
- Parsnips could be baked, steamed, roasted and also boiled.
- They are coupled with meat or even fish to make soups.
- Boil the parsnips and also mash them. Mix all of them with just a little butter, milk, salt and pepper for the scrumptious flavor.
- Boil parsnips till soft, about eight minutes, and mash along with unsalted butter and low fat milk for the low-calorie parsnip puree.
- Shred 1 parsnip and also combine it with your Coleslaw mix to get a spicy bite.
- Dice 2 carrots and 2 parsnips and sauté along with chopped onion to get a low-calorie breakfast hash.
- Rough chop parsnips and also put in more preferred stew.
- Give crushed potatoes a kick simply by mashing parsnip together with potatoes.
- Slice parsnips into strips, rub along with olive oil, rosemary, salt & pepper. Bake at 400° F for Fifteen minutes or even till done for healthy low-calorie fries!
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No items in your cart
The spread of COVID-19, aka the novel coronavirus, has had a profound impact on businesses and organizations across the globe. In order to help contain the virus, employers are doing their part by encouraging, or even requiring, workers to stay home and work remotely.
With much of the workforce doing their jobs from home, there’s an increased risk of cyberattacks for both individuals and corporations. Cyberattacks are more likely because the average home network has fewer security measures in place than a corporate office environment. And every day, cybercriminals are coming up with new ways to use the coronavirus as part of their strategies to infect computers with malware and steal private information.
Are you doing everything you can to protect your cybersecurity during this global health crisis? Here are a few best practices to keep in mind:
Rely on a virtual private network
By using a virtual private network (VPN) at home, you’ll be making it more difficult for hackers to spy on your activity and collect your personal data. VPNs protect the information that you send and receive on your computer by encrypting it so that it cannot be viewed by outside parties.
When working in your bedroom, kitchen or home office, make sure you’re connected to your own VPN. If you live in an apartment building that offers free public Wi-Fi, don’t use it. You never know who might be snooping on the network, or if it can easily be breached by cybercriminals.
Your job might entail handling other people’s private information or reviewing financial documents. And without a VPN, you could be giving hackers convenient access to such data. This is why it’s best to do all of your remote work on a VPN.
Update your productivity and collaboration software
By working on a computer with older software, you’re putting both yourself and your employer at risk. Outdated programs and applications are more susceptible to cyberattacks since they are built with less advanced security and/or contain known exploits. So if you’ve been consistently ignoring those update notifications from your browser or other applications, now is the time to finally install them.
Don’t use personal devices for work
If your company provides you with a work laptop, make sure to use that instead of your personal one. Company-issued devices usually come with higher levels of cybersecurity, including stronger firewalls, antivirus software and multi-factor authentication via secure elements and biometrics. If you notice any potential cybersecurity threats on your work computer, like outdated software, be transparent about those concerns with your supervisor.
Beware of coronavirus-related phishing attacks
It’s no surprise that cyber criminals are using the public fear surrounding COVID-19 to their advantage. After all, it’s easier to trick people into handing over private information or downloading malicious software when they’re in a vulnerable state. In the past few weeks, there have been many email phishing attacks related to coronavirus.
For example, hackers may send emails posing as charitable organizations, requesting donations for hospitals, scientific research or people who have lost their jobs due to the virus. Once you give them your payment information, they’ll use it to steal from you. Remember, as a rule of thumb, you should never provide payment credentials over email or phone.
Another example involves hackers pretending to be from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The message will say something like, “Click here to see a list of COVID-19 cases in your area” or “Review this PDF for official guidance on preventing the spread of the virus.” These links and attachments, when clicked on or downloaded, could infect your computer with malware.
If you receive an email that looks like a phishing attack, do not respond, click on any links or download any attachments. Instead, delete the email and block the sender.
For more tips on protecting yourself from cyberattacks, visit us at Total Defense today!
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April 2012 - A risk-based first guess early warning system for severe weather has been developed to assist Met Office forecasters in issuing severe weather warnings for the UK as part of the National Severe Weather Warning Service (NSWWS).
This warning system post-processes data from the regional component of the Met Office Global and Regional Ensemble Prediction System (MOGREPS), and is known as MOGREPS-W ('W' standing for 'Warnings'). Ensemble prediction systems (EPSs) aim to take account of uncertainty in weather forecasts by providing a range of forecast scenarios, allowing generation of probabilistic forecasts.
Weather warnings are presented by colour-coded 'risk' areas on a map. Three warning colours (yellow, amber or red) are issued based on the likelihood of a particular severe weather event occurring and its expected impact if it does occur − as selected from a weather impact matrix (top figure). An important aspect of the impact assessment is that the same weather may have different levels of impact in different parts of the UK. For example, wind gusts of 60 mph may have virtually no impact in northwest Scotland where strong winds are common, but have a much higher impact in southeast England where they are rarer and population density is much higher. Impact may also be higher depending on season, for example, trees are more vulnerable to wind damage with their leaves on in summer than when bare in winter.
Figure 2: MOGREPS-W forecasts for severe snow initialised at 0600UTC Friday 3 February 2012. MOGREPS-W presents ensemble information to forecasters in a user-friendly format which mimics the NSWWS colour states, taking account of the expected impact of weather as well as likelihood. The system generates colour-coded probability fields for low, medium and high impact weather and then calculates the overall warning colour across all impact levels. Here, impact colour takes priority over likelihood giving emphasis where appropriate to 'low probability high impact events'. For example (using the impact matrix), a low likelihood high impact warning (amber) would take priority over a high likelihood low impact warning (yellow), even though the yellow warning has a higher likelihood. MOGREPS-W is the first post-processed output from MOGREPS to become available to forecasters after run time, reflecting the high priority of warnings in the forecast decision chain.
Heavy snow affected much of central and eastern England on Saturday 4th February 2012 and overnight into Sunday 5th February 2012. Snowfall totals of 5 to 10cm were recorded widely in the affected regions with Wattisham (Suffolk) recording 15cm and Heathrow Airport recording 7cm. Leading up to this snowy spell very cold air from the continent had become established over the UK. A weather front moving eastwards from the Atlantic came up against the cold air leading to a mixture of rain, sleet and snow across much of the UK. From an early stage the weather models were showing this to be a finely balanced situation with uncertainty about which areas would see the most significant snowfall. Forecast output from MOGREPS-W (figure 2) shaded much of central and eastern England in amber, showing the highest risk of snow in these areas. Yellow shading extended westwards into Wales and parts of southwest England, showing a lower risk of precipitation turning to snow here and reflecting the uncertainty in how far inland the relatively warm Atlantic air would progress. This guidance was used by forecasters when issuing the final warnings (figure 3).
Figure 3: Forecaster issued warning for severe snow valid on Saturday, 4 February. This is the second update to the warning which was first issued at 1129UTC on Thursday, 2 February 2012. Output from key "deterministic" (single forecast) models such as the Met Office 1.5km/UKV are also important for the weather part of the jigsaw, but ensemble products such as MOGREPS-W provide a form of risk assessment which is crucial. Early indications from trials over winter 2011/12 are that MOGREPS-W provides very useful guidance on the issue of NSWWS warnings. This has included useful guidance for two red warnings for severe gales in the central belt of Scotland on 8th December 2011 and 3rd January 2012 and a yellow warning for snow in parts of England and Wales on 16th December 2011. Future developments look to adapt MOGREPS-W to use high resolution data from a UK version of MOGREPS (MOGREPS-UK), as well as to extend the forecast range out to 15 days using EPS data from the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts ( ECMWF).
Last updated: 15 August 2014
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Science & Tech.
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It seems that each month, we see an increasing number of news stories and blog posts that either champion high-speed rail as the transportation mode of the future or an infrastructure boondoggle wasting money that we don’t even have.
Beyond The Tracks: The Potential Of High-Speed Rail To Reshape California’s Growth (22p. PDF) is a new publication released this month by the San Francisco Planning and Urban Research Foundation.
In an era of rising skepticism and public projects of all sorts, high-speed rail represents the best of California’s optimism, environmental concern and future orientation.
The reports details how the rail project could have great economic and environmental benefits to the state and those communities slated for rail stations.
For each of these communities, high-speed rail is a unique opportunity for municipalities to capture new fiscal benefits and to organize growth in a more compact manner, less oriented to automobiles.
However, major investments in land-use changes around the stations are necessary to fully realize the benefits of high-speed rail.
If such investment does not occur, both the economic and environmental benefits will be significantly reduced.
Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions From U.S. Transportation (122p. PDF) examines the prospects for substantially reducing these pollutants.
The report points out that without shifts in existing policies, U.S. transportation-sector GHG emissions will grow by about 10% by 2035 and will still account for one-quarter of global transportation emissions by that time.
If there is any hope that damages from climate change can be held to moderate levels, these trends must change.
The report explains that through a combination of policies and improved technologies, it is possible to cost-effectively cut emissions from the transportation sector by up to 65% below 2010 levels by 2050.
This would be achieved by improving vehicle efficiency, shifting to less carbon-intensive fuels, changing travel behavior, and operating more efficiently.
A major co-benefit of reducing transportation’s GHG emissions is resulting reductions in oil use and improvements in energy security.
The report further develops three scenarios that diverge from “business as usual,” based on the assumption that the United States is willing to change:
- the incentives and regulations that affect the design of vehicles
- the types of fuel that are used
- the choices made by individuals and businesses in purchasing and using vehicles
- how communities and their transportation infrastructure are built and used
Highway advocates often claim that “roads pay for themselves,” with gasoline taxes and other charges to motorists covering — or nearly covering — the full cost of highway construction and maintenance.
According to Do Roads Pay For Themselves?: Setting The Record Straight On Transportation Funding (45p. PDF), they are wrong.
CALPIRG Education Fund’s new study finds that highways do not — and, except for brief periods in our nation’s history — never have paid for themselves through the taxes that highway advocates label “user fees.”
Yet highway advocates continue to suggest they do in an attempt to secure preferential access to scarce public resources and to shape how those resources are spent.
To have a meaningful national debate over transportation policy, particularly at a time of tight public budgets, it is important to get past the myths and address the real, difficult choices America must make for the 21st Century.
CALPIRG’s new study puts forth how gasoline taxes are not “user fees,” how highways don’t truly pay for themselves, and how highway advocates use these myths to distort transportation decision-making.
It explores in detail how highway advocates divert attention from the full accounting of costs and benefits that should be the basis of sound transportation policy.
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Transportation
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Robert L. Carroll
Carroll was an only child and grew up on a farm near Lansing, Michigan. He was introduced to paleontology by his father shortly after his fifth birthday, and by the time he was eight he had decided he wanted to be a vertebrate paleontologist. In that same year he received as a Christmas present the left femur of an Allosaurus, courtesy of Edwin H. Colbert, whom his father had told about his interest. In his teen years his parents took him on many fossil hunting trips to Wyoming and South Dakota. Allosaurus was discovered by Edwin Harris Colbert at the year 1942 in Wyoming.
After high-school, he went to Michigan State University, where he received a BSc in 1959, majoring in Geology. From there he went to Harvard University where he studied biology and paleontology under Alfred Sherwood Romer. His thesis dealt with the Dissorophidae, a group of Paleozoic amphibians that are often considered the closest relatives of present day amphibians, although they may also be stem-tetrapods.
After obtaining his Ph.D., he held a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at Redpath Museum at McGill University in Montréal, and then at the Natural History Museum in London. During this time he studied tetrapod remains from the Pennsylvanian lycopod “tree stumps” at Joggins, Nova Scotia (a variety of temnospondyls, microsaurs, and basal amniotes). Most of this material was collected and first studied by Sir William Dawson, the first Principal of McGill University, in the nineteenth century.
Returning from London, in 1964 Carroll joined the permanent staff of McGill University as curator of vertebrate paleontology at the Redpath Museum. He was appointed Strathcona Professor of Zoology in 1987. From 1985 to 1991 he was director of the Redpath Museum.
Dr Carroll is the author or co-author of a large number of scientific papers on fossil vertebrates, as well as a number of important monographs, text-books and more general books. His areas of research include the origins of terrestrial vertebrates, the origin and early evolutionary radiation of amniotes, the origin and interrelationships of the Lissamphibian groups, the anatomy and relationship of Paleozoic and Mesozoic amphibians and reptiles, large scale patterns and processes of vertebrate evolution, and the use of Mesozoic marine reptiles as a model for investigating factors controlling the patterns and rates of evolution.
He currently lives in Montreal. He is married to Anna DiTuri, a retired business school teacher, and they have one child, David.
- Carroll, R.C. 1988. Vertebrate Paleontology and Evolution. W. H. Freeman and Co. New York.
- Stearn, C. and Carroll, R.C. 1989. Paleontology: The Record of Life. John Wiley and Sons. New York.
- Carroll, R.C. 1997. Patterns and Processes of Vertebrate Evolution. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge.
- Carroll, R.L., Bossy, K.A., Milner, A.C., Andrews, S.M., and Wellstead, C.F. 1998. "Lepospondyli". Encyclopedia of Paleoherpetology, P. Wellnhofer (ed.). Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, München.
- Carroll, R.C. 2000. Amphibian Biology, vol 4, Palaeontology, The Evolutionary History of Amphibians, Surrey Beatty & Sons,
Carroll, R.L. 2009. The Rise of Amphibians., 365 Millian years of Evolution. The Johns Hopkins University Press.
- Robert L. Carroll Home page
- science.ca Profile : Robert L. Carroll
- 2004 A. S. Romer-G. G. Simpson Medal
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Science & Tech.
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Definition of bulla in English:
noun (plural bullaeˈbo͝olē)
1 Medicine A bubblelike cavity filled with air or fluid, in particular.
- The lesions are flaccid vesicles or bullae that are initially localized in oral mucosa and later spread randomly to other parts of the body.
- Fluid aspirates taken from the bullae revealed gram-positive rods.
- When bullae rupture, a dry, often black eschar may develop.
1.1A large blister containing serous fluid.
- Within three weeks, his toes turned black and serous-filled bullae erupted.
- The bullous form of impetigo presents as a large thin-walled bulla containing serous yellow fluid.
- Porphyria cutanea tarda presents with photosensitivity, skin fragility, bruising, and vesicles and bullae that can become hemorrhagic.
1.2An abnormal air-filled cavity in the lung.
[ Early 19th century]
- In the early stages of the disease the alveolar walls appear perfectly normal while in the later stages, fibrosis of the alveolar wall with blebs and bullae is common.
- Finding a large, ruptured emphysematous bulla makes resection mandatory.
- Examination of the surgical specimen revealed a lobe of lung with focal hemorrhage and subpleural bullae.
2 Anatomy A rounded prominence.
[ Mid 19th century]
- The skulls of chinchilla rats have long and narrow rostra, a rounded braincase, enlarged bullae, and delicate zygomatic arches.
- The prootic is a paired bone that forms the anterior lateral face of the auditory bulla.
- The jugular process is enlarged and the tympanic projection is extended anteriorly from the ventral surface of the tympanic bulla.
3A round seal attached to a papal bull, typically made of lead.
[ Middle English]
- One venerable conjecture was that it began as a contemptuous reference to papal edicts known as bulls (from the bulla, or seal, appended to the document).
- ‘The discovery is of considerable archaeological interest’, says Pestell. ‘Not only are bullae of this date incredibly rare, so are any seals’.
Latin, literally 'bubble'.
Words that rhyme with bullaampulla, fuller, Müller, pula, puller
What do you find interesting about this word or phrase?
Comments that don't adhere to our Community Guidelines may be moderated or removed.
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TsunamiA tsunami is a series of travelling ocean waves usually caused by a large EARTHQUAKE beneath or near the ocean. Volcanic eruptions, submarine landslides and coastal rockfalls can also generate one, as can a large meteorite impacting the ocean. The majority of tsunamis occur in the Pacific Ocean, however, people and property in all coastal areas are at risk. The 26 December 2004 tsunami in the Indian Ocean, which killed or displaced 230 000 people, was one of the largest tsunami events of the last 100 years. These very large tsunamis (called teletsunamis) can be destructive across entire ocean basins. This makes them the most far reaching of all natural DISASTERS.
In the deep ocean a tsunami travels at about the speed of a commercial jetliner and its length from crest to crest can be 100 km or more, but its height will be less than a metre and therefore it will not be noticed by ships at sea. As a tsunami enters shallow coastal areas it slows down and the wave height increases. In some instances, when the waves reach the shore their heights can be 30 m or more. Warning signs of an approaching tsunami may be strong and prolonged ground shaking, if the cause is a nearby earthquake, or the sea may suddenly recede along the shore.
A tsunami warning system was established for the Pacific region following a series of destructive tsunamis, that occurred between 1946 and 1964. Similar systems are being established for the Indian Ocean and for most other coastal regions. Warnings are initially provided based on an earthquake's magnitude and location, and the threat of a tsunami is then confirmed by water level measurements from networks of tide gauges. Once a warning has been issued nations are responsible for alerting communities at risk. The people living in these communities, through proper planning (mitigation) and education, would evacuate to safe areas until the threat has passed. Since a tsunami is a series of waves (and the first wave is frequently not the largest of the waves), no one should return to coastal areas until emergency officials deem it is safe to do so.
On 18 November 1929 an earthquake in the Grand Banks raised a 5 m high tsunami that hit the Burin Peninsula of Newfoundland; 26 people died. The Alaskan earthquake on 28 March 1964 raised a tsunami that caused property damage of several millions of dollars in the twin cities of Alberni and PORT ALBERNI, BC; there was no loss of life.
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Moderate reasoning
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Science & Tech.
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Janet Matthies explains why lower back pain often originates in the hips and hamstrings, not the back at all. She offers 2 simple stretches to help fix the problem.
Helping yourself with muscle pain or strain can be a very daunting and challenging venture! When a muscle hurts, more often than not, the cause of the pain is coming from another part of your body, not where you feel it. This can be tricky to figure out and it’s often hard to understand what you should do to help yourself. In this article I will be talking about the hip flexor and hamstring muscles, optimal posture and what it looks like, I will also define how muscles compensate for another, injured, muscle by stepping in as a substitute and finally I will suggest a plan of action to help you troubleshoot any pain or imbalance you may have in your own body.
The body is like a huge multi-dimensional pulley system made up of pairs of muscles that balance one another. When one side of a pulley is lowered, the other side comes up. In muscle talk, when one muscle contracts its pair (the balancing muscle) stretches. If the pulley system malfunctioned, the rope would jam, break or over-stretch and this is exactly what happens in your body when muscles aren’t working properly. Let’s learn more to uncover the root of what is happening.
Posture is extremely important for creating a fully balanced performance. Proper posture ensures that the muscles of the body are optimally aligned so they can function efficiently. Proper posture allows for:
- Proper joint mechanics and effective shock absorption.
- Efficient communication between the nervous system and the muscles.
- Functional strength, which allows your muscles to move in all directions with strength and flexibility.
- The brain to tell your body which muscles to use and how, and at which moment.
So in the proper posture, everything in your body stretches optimally and you have strength that matches your flexibility, creating the perfect balance in each of the many muscle groups in your body while it moves in any direction.
Muscular Imbalance – What Is Happening?
Muscular imbalance happens when one muscle group is used MORE than another, or when you injure one muscle and start using other muscle groups as a substitute, and many other reasons. Certain muscles in our bodies are more prone to being tight and inflexible, or overstretched and weak. Once you have a muscular imbalance the nervous system has a more challenging job communicating messages to the muscle groups. Short tight muscles will react more slowly than normal and will work at times that they should normally be resting. Short tight muscles will also override those muscles that would normally function during an activity due to muscle malfunction. When you are using a muscle, the muscle opposite is typically sent a message to relax. The malfunction occurs when the muscle can’t relax because it’s too tight, it just keeps working. This is a very typical compensation pattern which will highlight a problem in the overworking muscle. Meanwhile the problem exists in the muscle that should be working.
Tight Hip Flexor
As an example, let’s look at how tightness in the hip flexor muscle works with the hamstrings to create lower back problems. In this example, the root problem is overly-contracted, or tight, hip flexor muscles combined with weak under-contracted hamstrings. Typically, this will happen if the hip flexors are constantly in a shortened position as they would be if you sit for long periods of time at work without ever stretching (see fig. 1).
At the same time, during sitting, while your hip flexor muscles are contracted or shortened, the hamstrings are being overstretched or extended. After doing this for 40 hours a week at your job, you start to create an imbalance in your muscles on the front of your body (contracted/shortened hip flexors) and the back (overstretched/weak hamstrings). The hip flexors may never feel any pain so you never realize what is happening, or that anything is happening at all.
One day you may be at the supermarket, reaching up to the top shelf for a product and feel something in your lower back twinge! If you think about what you are doing with your body while extending to reach, you may notice that the hip flexors are extended; your legs are no longer in a 90 degree bent position seated on your chair. As you extend the hip flexors in the front of your body, at the same time, you are contracting the hamstring muscles in the back of your legs. Because you spend so much time sitting down, your hamstrings are not used to being contracted in this manner. They may have grown so weak they are unable to shorten to the length that this type of extension requires.
Hip flexor muscles reach from the top of your thigh bone to the inside of your lumbar spine (the portion of your spine that runs between your bottom rib and the top of your sacrum). It is a very vulnerable portion of spine because it is unsupported. When your hip flexors are very tight from sitting all day, when you stand up it feels like you can’t unbend; the hip flexors that run into the lower spine are so tight they want to keep you from extending as shown in fig.2. This means that the imbalance between your hip flexors and hamstrings shows up as pain in your lower back.
The hamstrings are not able to contract because they have grown so weak from all the overstretching they have to do while you sit at your desk. They stop short when being asked to contract and this results in a problem or pain. The hip flexors and hamstrings need each other to be in perfect balance in order to achieve all possible ranges of motion. To keep this ratio true, so that no imbalance occurs, you need to keep the hip flexors stretched every day, and simultaneously strengthen the hamstrings until more balance is achieved.
So when you have pain in your lower back, or if you have a hamstring pull, stretching your hip flexor muscles will get to the root of the problem and bring your front and back body back into proper balance.
To troubleshoot this problem, during the course of the day it would be amazingly helpful to stand at your desk and do these two simple stretches:
Standing Front Leg Stretch
Stand firmly, holding onto your desk if you need extra support to help you balance. Bend your right leg and place your right hand on top of your foot to hold your leg in a bent position (use a yoga strap if you are really tight). Keep your knees together, as you press the top of your foot into your hand as if you are trying to push your hand away. You will feel a stretch in the front of your thigh. Repeat with the left leg.
Standing Hamstring Stretch
Place your right heel onto a level, stable surface high enough to give what feels like just enough reach for your hamstring, this could even be a small stool if you are very tight. Press your heel into the surface as you bend from the hips, slowly reaching only as far as your body will allow. Take some deep breaths while you hold this position. Repeat with the left leg.
This will help keep the hamstring loose behind your knee and will counteract the tightness from sitting.
I hope you’ve found this blog interesting and helpful. Please let me know how you find these stretches and share any other comments in the box below.
1st July 2014
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American Gold Star Mothers day, Inc. (AGSM), is a private non-profit organization for American mothers who have lost their sons or daughters in the service of the United States Armed Forces. Originally formed in 1928 for the mothers of those who lost in World War I, it has a letter to Congress under Title 36 § 211 of the United States Code. Its name comes from the custom of the families of soldiers who hang a poster called the Flag of Service in the windows of their homes. The service flag was a star for every member of the family in the military. Living soldiers are represented by a blue star, and those who lost their lives in combat are represented by a gold star.
Membership in the organization is open to any U.S. citizen or legal resident who has lost a son or daughter on active duty in the U.S. military (regardless of where or when military service is performed, regardless of whether or not the circumstances of death did or did not involve hostile conflict, including mothers Lost in Action).
Origin of Gold Star Mother’s Day 2021
Gold Star Mother’s day was founded by Grace Darling Siebold of Washington, DC.
When the United States entered World War I in 1917, 23-year-old George von Siebold volunteered and applied for a flying mission. They sent him to Canada where he learned to fly British aircraft because the United States had neither an air force nor aircraft. Deployed to England, he was assigned to the Royal British Flying Corps with the 148th Flying Squadron. With his division, he left to fight in France. He used to communicate with his family regularly. His mother, Grace Darling Siebold, began performing community service by visiting returning military personnel to hospitals. Re-mail George stopped. Since all of the pilots were under British control and authority, the United States was unable to assist the Seybold family with any information about their son.
Grace continued to visit the veterans at the hospital in the Washington area, clinging to the hope that her son might have been injured and returned to the United States without any identity. As he worked through his pain, he helped ease the pain of many soldiers who had returned so damaged by the war that they were unable to return to normal life.
But on October 11, 1918, George’s wife in Chicago received a box with “relics of the late First Lieutenant George von Siebold”. Seibolds also received confirmation of George’s death on November 4 from a relative in Paris. George’s body has not been identified.
Convinced that self-contained pain is destroying herself, Grace has devoted her time and efforts not only to working in the hospital, but also to supporting other mothers whose children have lost their lives in military service. I organized a group made only of these mothers, not only to please one another, but to provide loving care to hospital veterans who are being held in government hospitals far from home. The organization was named after the golden star that families hung in their windows to honor the deceased veteran. After years of planning, twenty-five mothers gathered in Washington, D.C. on June 4, 1928 to found the national organization, American Gold Star Mothers, Inc.
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Social Life
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The images are everywhere: Beautiful, razor-thin models smile up from the pages of magazines, parade across television screens, and pose on millions of Internet pages. It's no wonder that young, impressionable children develop an eating disorder in a quest to stay svelte like their favorite stars. But is there more behind the genesis of these mental illnesses? New research suggests that there is a strong genetic factor in the obsessive drive to stay thin.
CNN Health reports on a study recently published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders. Researchers looked at both identical and fraternal female twins, aged 12 to 22 years. Each participant answered a series of questions about body image, and the degree to which they wanted to look like certain famous people. The study authors also looked at environmental factors that were the same for both twins (such as parents and upbringing) as well as different factors (like groups of friends and hobbies).
Results showed that identical twins were much more likely to show similar scores on test questions than fraternal twins, even when all environmental factors were considered. Identical twins share 100 percent of their genes while fraternal twins only share half of their genetic makeup. So these results show that a person's DNA is likely to influence their body image.
While this study doesn't point to specific genes that might be involved in developing eating disorders, it does offer evidence that both nature and nurture may play a role.
I have struggled with eating disorder and body image issues all my life. My troubles began when I was very young, probably nine or ten years old. I still carry both physical and emotional scars from the years when things were at their worst. It's hard sometimes to talk about the feelings of isolation, perfectionism, obsession, and self-deprecation that accompany an eating disorder. The old struggles still pester me even as a thirtysomething wife and mother.
I always suspected that my genes were at least partly to blame — after all, our DNA is the basis for just about everything! It's interesting to see solid evidence supporting that. My issues are not just the result of media brainwashing.
But then my heart sinks. My poor kids have a double dose of "thin genes" because both my immediate family and my husband's family have multiple cases of eating problems and body image issues. Can't do much about the nature of their DNA. I guess all I can do is try to nurture the development of their self-esteem and stay vigilant for signs of budding problems.
Do you or your kids struggle with an eating disorder? How and when did it start? Share your experience in the comments section below.
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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Maths lets them eat cake
Mathematicians have devised a fairer way to share a cake, according to new research.
It allows you to choose a slice with more chocolate icing. But the trade-off is that you get a smaller piece.
The research, which is based on the principle of surplus procedure, is published in the Notices of the American Mathematical Society.
The traditional way of dividing a cake is the 'cut and choose' approach, where one person cuts the cake in two and the other chooses a half, write Professor Michael Jones and colleagues from Montclair State University in New Jersey.
While this ensures both people get the same sized portion, it doesn't necessarily mean they are equally happy.
For example, one may like chocolate icing, sprinkles or cream more than the other.
To even this out, the researchers propose people tell a referee how much they value certain qualities of a cake.
The referee then uses these weighted values to calculate where to cut the cake.
In an ideal world, both parties would get 100% of what they want. But in reality there's a compromise.
Jones says his team's algorithms ensure that both parties get about 65% of what they want, based on the principle of giving each person at least 50% of the cake plus the surplus as they value it.
The catch is that the system depends on honesty and requires a referee and a calculator.
The surplus procedure system can be used for two or three people, Jones says, but doesn't work quite as well for three or more.
He says the method can also be applied to other heterogeneous and divisible items, like dividing land or deciding how much rent each flatmate pays.
The wedge system
Dr Burkard Polster, an Australian mathematician from Monash University, isn't convinced the proposed method is best.
"How do you associate a number with something like happiness?" he says.
"If you really wanted to sell this to a 10 year old, they wouldn't go for it, They'd still think the other piece is better."
He says a square cake, for example, can be cut into five fairly by using the equation that says the area of a triangle equals the length of its base times its height, divided by two.
The cake can't be cut into equal squares because there will only be four pieces. And it can't be cut into parallel pieces because the pieces on the edge will have more icing (if the cake is iced around the edge and not just on top).
The answer is to cut the cake in equally sized wedges.
"If the cake has a perimeter of 50 centimetres, you start at one corner and measure 10 centimetres and make a mark, then you go around until you're back to the beginning and you have five marks.
"From those marks you cut through the middle and those wedges will be exactly one fifth."
Eggs and sandwiches
Polster says applying surplus procedure to cakes isn't the first time maths has been used to share food.
The 'egg yolk' theory describes how best to divide a fried egg into pieces with an equal portion of yolk and white.
And he says the 'ham sandwich' theory makes sure you can cut a sandwich and get equal amounts of ham, lettuce and bread.
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Science & Tech.
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You’d be surprised how little you know about managing your own money when the time comes to start saving and investing. Unless you took a personal finance class in high school or majored in something in the business school during college, odds are you were never taught much about what to do with your money when you’re finally earning it. Isn’t it crazy that there’s not some basic class that we’re all required to take to call ourselves adults? It should include taxes, writing checks, choosing credit cards, everything on retirement, paying your mortgage, understanding interest rates, and even investing. Of course, there are professionals out there that consult laymen on the topics discussed above, but not only do you have to trust them with your money, but you also have to pay them simply to make decisions. When you’re dealing with a large sum of money, it might be in your best interest to seek help from someone within the industry, but if you’re dealing with the basics, it’s best to educate yourself on how to handle your money. While it’s best to dig deep in this type of research, here are a few tip of the iceberg topics you should be at least familiar with.
Know how much your making
There’s no way you can even begin to manage your money if you’re not sure how much you’re making in the first place. If you are on salary and don’t work overtime or have a part-time job, that number is a pretty reliable estimate of what will be paid out to in your name for the year. One thing that so many people forget to account for before they begin dispersing their money into different expenses and accounts is that a large chunk of that salary is going to be paid to the government through taxes. Depending on what tax bracket you fall in, you’re looking at anywhere from a 10%-50% cost. It’s easy to estimate that 30% of your income is going to go towards taxes for budgeting purposes. If you don’t work on salary, you need to keep track of your income each time you get paid. If this means you have to keep track of your money with an excel sheet, so be it.
Once you know what you’re making you need to write out a budget and stick to it. List your significant expenses and designate a proportion of your income that you’re willing to spend on each. Some of these significant costs will be your rent or mortgage payment, health insurance, car payment and gas, food expenses, entertainment, retirement savings, savings in general, or emergency fund. You might have other significant expenses like student loans, which you’ll need to factor into your budget. Even if you’re cutting it close, you always need to put money into your savings account. If for whatever reason you have to leave your job or become unable to work, you’d rather be safe then sorry when it comes to money.
It’s never too early to start saving for retirement. The earlier you begin to save, the more money you’ll have once you’re done working. The most basic retirement accounts are 401Ks and IRAs. 401Ks are offered by many employers and is withheld from your weekly or bi-weekly paycheck. In many instances, your employer will match what you put into your account up to a specific monetary value. IRAs are a little different and have rules limiting how much money you can put into the accounts each year. There are also penalties if you choose to withdraw money from the accounts before retiring. Different IRAs have different taxation, so it’s important to do some in-depth research before deciding which is right for your situation.
If you just put your money into a savings account with a less than 1% interest rate, you’re never going to watch your money grow. Instead, you can look to invest your money in mutual funds, hedge funds, CDs, bonds, or even the stock market. When it comes to investments, it’s always best to consult with a professional in the industry. People market their funds and companies as great investments because they need the money for their venture, but these opportunities aren’t always in your best interest. Professionals know how to invest your money in a way that limits the risk and maximizes the return. This is why people who work in roles like hedge fund administration make the big bucks. If you do it correctly, you can see incredible returns on your investment, on the other hand, it’s possible to lose all of your money with a poor and hasty decision. There’s no way to predict how a fund or a stock will do, but there are ways and people who know how to estimate their value and potential growth.
Buying a home
It’s in your best interest to sit down with a professional about paying off your home before you choose a bank or a 15 vs 30-year mortgage. Higher interest rates can nearly double the amount you’re going to pay for your home over the course of the mortgage payments, so looking for the best deal is key to saving money. You’re also going to want to consult with someone about your initial down payment and the length of time you’re going to pay your debts over. Additionally, you would also want to do your research on usda mortgage map to avoid hassles with your house hunting. Typically, if you choose a more extended stint of time, your monthly payments go down. However, since you’re paying those low payments over many more years, you end up paying more total. This is something to consider if you can afford to pay the slightly higher payments now and save later.
There’s no textbook answer to what you should do with your hard-earned money. The more you know about your situation and the options you have financially, the better off you’ll be in the long run. While many people are trustworthy in the industry, why not learn a little for yourself first?
You may also like: List Of Unspoken Rules Of Financial Management And How To Use Them Properly
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Finance & Business
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We have heard of several different cases in which people’s pets have been diagnosed with coronavirus but it is important to know the coronavirus they get is not the same as the novel one we are currently fighting. While this is the virus that causes COVID-19 it is not the same exact thing.
The CDC on their official website has noted that we should be treating our pets as we would other human family members. They should not be interacting with people you are distancing from as it can bring outside germs and bacteria back to you. They also note that if someone within your household becomes sick you should isolate other family members from that person this including the pets.
Now that we have that out of the way, let’s talk about something recently making its rounds. According to USA Today, 2 cats have tested positive for coronavirus. These two cats are apparently the first pets in the US to test positive for coronavirus and a release was made on the topic Wednesday (April 23rd, 2020).
That release covers as follows in part:
The cats live in two separate areas of New York state. Both had mild respiratory illness and are expected to make a full recovery. SARS-CoV-2 infections have been reported in very few animals worldwide, mostly in those that had close contact with a person with COVID-19.
At this time, routine testing of animals is not recommended. Should other animals be confirmed positive for SARS-CoV-2 in the United States, USDA will post the findings at https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/SA_One_Health/sars-cov-2-animals-us. State animal health and public health officials will take the lead in making determinations about whether animals should be tested for SARS-CoV-2.
In the NY cases announced today, a veterinarian tested the first cat after it showed mild respiratory signs. No individuals in the household were confirmed to be ill with COVID-19. The virus may have been transmitted to this cat by mildly ill or asymptomatic household members or through contact with an infected person outside its home.
Samples from the second cat were taken after it showed signs of respiratory illness. The owner of the cat tested positive for COVID-19 prior to the cat showing signs. Another cat in the household has shown no signs of illness.
Both cats tested presumptive positive for SARS-CoV-2 at a private veterinary laboratory, which then reported the results to state and federal officials. The confirmatory testing was conducted at NVSL and included collection of additional samples. NVSL serves as an international reference laboratory and provides expertise and guidance on diagnostic techniques, as well as confirmatory testing for foreign and emerging animal diseases. Such testing is required for certain animal diseases in the U.S. in order to comply with national and international reporting procedures. The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) considers SARS-CoV-2 an emerging disease, and therefore USDA must report confirmed U.S. animal infections to the OIE.
They went on to also note in this release that there is no evidence that would suggest pets play any kind of role in spreading this virus here in the US, so don’t go freaking out over these two kitties and their rare situations. As mentioned above they also noted the guidelines as listed by the CDC. This being we should not let our pets interact with other people or animals outside of our households right now, we should be keeping them as indoors as possible, and that we should with them be avoiding public places like dog parks.
It is thought that these two cats managed to catch the coronavirus from humans and that in itself means we are more of a threat to our pets than our pets are to us in any sense. If you’re six feet away from other people then you shouldn’t have any issue keeping your pets six feet away as well. While it might sound like something that wouldn’t make a difference, you don’t want your pets getting sick either, do you?
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Health
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Point of Use Water Filters Effectively Reduce Lead in Flint, MI Water
In the last decade, the discussion of lead in drinking water has been on the rise. While the Flint, MI water crisis may have been a catalyst for the recent uptick in awareness, lead poisoning from drinking water is not isolated to Flint alone. Schools and homes across the country are at risk for unhealthy lead levels in their water. In fact, 15-25 million homes in the U.S. are still connected to lead pipelines that were laid before they were banned in the late 1980s. In addition, 43 percent of school districts serving 35 million students across the country tested positive for lead. Of those, 37 percent found elevated levels and reduced or eliminated exposure, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
In addition to water utilities adjusting water chemistry to minimize the possibility of lead dissolving into tap water, customers can also do their part to help reduce lead levels. Although the best way to eliminate lead exposure in water is by replacing lead service lines and interior plumbing, there are in fact ways to minimize exposure to meet the EPA’s Lead Action Level in your home. One of these ways is through point of use (POU) water filters. Properly installed POU filters can potentially protect all populations, including children and pregnant women.
A recent study published in the Journal of Environmental Science and Health, showed that POU filters effectively reduced lead in drinking water in a demonstration field study in Flint, Michigan.
Intro to Point of Use Water Treatment Devices
Filtration of tap drinking water in homes through POU treatment devices has gained popularity due to recent concerns of lead contamination from service lines and interior plumbing materials. According to the field study, many POU filters utilize an outer fabric of fiber surrounding a solid block primarily composed of activated carbon. Activated carbon is great for purifying liquids and gases.
Materials and Methods for the Study
Flint residents received PUR and BRITA filters [certified under NSF/ANSI-53 (total lead) and NSF/ANSI-42 (Class I particulate)] for the study. Filtered and unfiltered water samples were collected to assess whether the NSF/ANSI-53 and NSF/ANSI-42 certified POU filters being distributed in Flint were effective for the reduction of lead, regardless of influent levels above the certification criteria of 150 micrograms/L (µg/L).
* NSF/ANSI 42, 53 and 401 are the leading industry standards for filtration products and systems.
Subsequently, filtered and unfiltered water grab samples were collected at each selected sampling location, generally at the kitchen faucet. Samplers recorded field observations including the filter type/brand, filter indicator status, and the resident’s estimate of the time since the filter or cartridge was installed. All samples were collected from the cold-water tap, and three types of 1000-mL samples were collected from homes:
1. Filtered Water, Existing Filter – First, one grab water sample was collected through the existing water filter at the home (if present).
2. Unfiltered Water – Second, an unfiltered water grab sample was collected after removing the existing filter or turning the by-pass valve on the filter. No cleaning or flushing took place prior to the water grab sampling.
3. Filtered Water, New Filter – Third, after the installation and flushing of a new filter or replacement filter cartridge for approximately 2 min, a grab sample was collected through the newly installed filter or filter cartridge.
Field Study Results
Unfiltered Water Samples – The maximum lead concentration in the unfiltered water at the 345 sampling locations in this study was 4,080 µg/L , with approximately 4% of the unfiltered water samples above 150 µg/L and over 37% above the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) standard for bottled water (5 µg/L).
Filtered Water Samples – Over 97% of filtered water samples contained lead below 0.5 µg/L. The maximum lead concentration in filtered water was 2.9 µg/L, well below the bottled water standard.
Removal of Additional Metals – The sampling showed incidental removal of copper, iron, manganese, and zinc despite the filters not being certified to remove miscellaneous metals.
In conclusiuon, POU filters proved to be a reliable option for the reduction of lead in this study. Faucet-mounted point of use filters can be an important barrier against unpredictable lead release from lead service lines and/or plumbing materials.
To ensure effectiveness, POU filters should be replaced per manufacturer recommendations.
Interested in what else you can do to help reduce exposure to lead in your drinking water?
- Use cold water for drinking, cooking, or making baby formula. Boiling your water will not remove lead from water. In fact, lead concentrations will increase because water evaporates during the boiling process.
- Before drinking water from the tap, flush your pipes by running the water faucet, doing a load of laundry, or taking a shower.
- Be sure that your faucets screen (aerator) is clean.
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Michelangelo. (1475 – 1564)
His is a name iconic, one that defines the creative genius of the Renaissance. While David, the “Prisoners”, the glory of the Sistine Chapel and innumerable other works have come to define this man’s tactile artistic contributions to western culture, he was also a remarkable poet.
In the course of his eighty-nine year life, he composed over 300 sonnets and madrigals. The structure of his poetry was centered upon three ideals: the love of Christ, love of Florence and love of beauty. (See Sonnets of Michelangelo,Symonds, 1878, page xix.)
For decades there has been a great deal of discussion within academic circles about the homoerotic nature of Michelangelo’s writing.
In 1623, the artist’s grandnephew, Michelangelo the Younger, published the first edition of the sonnets. Much of the controversy that swirls around that earlier edition is based upon changes discovered in the course of John Addington Symond’s 1878 translations: the “Younger” changed the gender of the maestro’s passions from male to female. Times being what they were in the early 17th century, those changes can perhaps be more clearly understood.
In his introduction to the 1878 rhymed translation of the sonnets, Symonds addresses those changes and the perspective of the artist:
“Nothing is more clear than that Michael Angelo (sic) worshiped Beauty in the Platonic spirit, passing beyond its personal and specific manifestations to the universal and impersonal. This thought is repeated over and over again in his poetry; and if we bear in mind that he habitually regarded the loveliness of man or woman as a sign and symbol of eternal and immutable beauty, we shall feel it of less importance to discover who it was that prompted him to this or that poetic utterance.” (See Symonds, Introduction, Page xviii).
The earlier sonnets address topics as diverse as Dante, life, love, religion, art, Pope Julius II, the people of Prato and other matters of interest. The variety of his observations are uniquely intriguing, particularly as insights into other contemporary artists or those who commissioned Buonarotti’s work.
Those observations changed over time.
Nicodemus Pieta, Michelangelo, 1547 – 1555
The course of my life has brought me now
Through a stormy sea, in a frail ship,
To the common port where, landing
We account for every deed, wretched or holy.
So that finally I see
How wrong the fond illusion was
That made art my idol and my King,
Leading me to want what harmed me.
My amorous fancies, once foolish and happy
What sense have they now that I approach two deaths
The first of which I know is sure, the second threatening.
Let neither painting nor carving any longer calm
My soul turned to that divine Love
Who to embrace us opened His arms upon the cross.
Address: Piazza del Duomo, 9, 50122 Firenze, Italy
Hours: 9:00AM – 7:30PM Daily
Entrance: Euro 15.00 pp (Adult)
Pre Purchase tickets on line: Cumulative Entrance Ticket (Duomo, Museum, Campanile, Baptistery, Crypt and Dome)
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Art & Design
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A new hypothesis emerges from the study of a supernova remnant identified by scientists as 1993J. Scientists now think that the explosion might have caused the mass extinction on Earth, more than 2.59 million years ago.
The supernova explosion might have blasted cosmic rays that would have reached our planet and created a major extinction that occurred between the Pliocene and the Pleistocene epochs.
The authors of the study explain that the explosion could have created the desert in Africa and made forests turn into savannas. Another mystery that could have been explained by the cosmic rays is that of the glaciations, recurring ice ages that at this moment have no scientific justification.
The Pliocene Supernova Explosion
The computer simulation was conducted by the researchers from the Washburn University in Kansas. The authors tried to observe how a supernova explosion might have affected the climate and the biosphere on Earth.
As the event happened relatively recent in the history of the Earth, the scientists only took into consideration supernovas that are at 300 light-years away from our planet.
The scientists initially believed that such a distance to Earth would have protected our world from the cosmic rays of the explosion. However, the results show that radiation could have reached our planet and the organisms on land.
Another factor was the blue light that the blast would have left in the sky. The scientists believe the light could have lasted for weeks, which could have disturbed the animals’ sleep patterns.
The Cosmic Rays’ Effects
The high-energy cosmic rays are so powerful that they can penetrate into the atmosphere, tear up molecules, and reach the ground level. After reaching the surface of our planet, the immense radiation could have resulted in an increase of cancer and mutation rates. Another effect might have been a speeding of the evolution.
As for the climate, the scientists believe that the cosmic rays forced atoms and molecules to gain a negative or a positive charge. The ionization process is supposed to have lasted more than 1,000 years, and it is possible it might have triggered the climate change and brought the series of ice ages.
The present study is the first to demonstrate that a supernova explosion might have had such catastrophic effects on Earth. The earlier simulations implied the fact that a supernova would need to be very close to our planet in order to affect the climate and the biosphere.
While the previous study showed the critical distance would have been 25 light-years, the present study proves that even a distant supernova explosion may have had a huge impact on our planet.
Image Source: Flickr
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Science & Tech.
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At the turn of the 20th Century, electric vehicles dominated the automobile market. In 1900, they outsold all other automobile types and accounted for approximately 28% of automobiles production . However, by 1925 Henry Ford’s mass production of the Model T, which run internal combustible engines fueled by hydrocarbons, made gas-powered automobiles cheaper than their electric counterparts. Consequently, automobile innovation and production in the 20th Century was heavily geared towards gas powered vehicles while electric vehicles were left trailing behind. Recent concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and climate change have brought electric vehicles out of the shadows and back into the public eye. In addition, international agreements such as the Paris Agreement and Kyoto Protocol have solidified attempts at driving environmentally friendly innovation globally.
Tesla is an example of a company that is attempting to create alternative technologies that reduce the impact of greenhouse gas emissions. The electric automaker’s mission is to “accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy” and become “best manufacturer in the automotive industry” . Despite these ambitions, cost-effective innovation for electric vehicles has yet to keep up with increased demand. Some of the key challenges include high battery costs and uncompetitive performance . If these and other challenges are not met, the electrical vehicle industry may be considered unlucrative from an investment perspective.
Tesla’s Open Innovation Policy addresses the need for accelerated innovation among electric vehicle producers. In 2014, Tesla informed its competitors and the general public that Tesla would not be issuing any patent lawsuits against any competitors who shared in Tesla’s innovative technology as long as the competitors acted in “good faith” . Tesla believed this initiative would not inhibit their innovative progress because they couldn’t build enough electric cars to solve the carbon crisis by themselves, and alternative fuel vehicle sales formed less than 1% of total vehicle sales at top automobile manufacturers . Thus, the company did not consider competition in electrical vehicle segment to be intense.
Tesla’s Open Innovation Policy could be crucial in addressing industry wide and company specific challenges with electric vehicle development. A 2017 Harvard Business Review article stated that electrical vehicle battery performance may not match the performance of gas-powered options for another 50 years . The article also highlighted some challenges specific to Tesla, including the fact that their current battery technologies are not better or cheaper than existing internal combustion options . Knowledge sharing (i.e. open innovation) may help accelerate progress and overcome general industry challenges which would allow auto manufacturers like Tesla to focus more on forming their individual competitive advantages.
As stated earlier, limited competition and sales in the electric vehicle segment drove Tesla’s decision to adopt an open innovation strategy in 2014. The former dynamic still persists with electric vehicles sales forming approximately 1% of all vehicles sold in 2017 . However, in Tesla’s 2017 annual report, the company noted how competition in the electric vehicle segment had increased . Although this shift in the competitive landscape may only be slight, it may signal a need for tweaks in Tesla’s approach. A focus of deriving value via disruptive technology is one option the company should explore. It is not clear whether Tesla is considered disruptive player at the moment . However, given the increased competition from more established auto manufacturers, Tesla may decide to focus on establishing a unique competitive advantage with disruptive technology. Indeed, prior to announcing their open innovation policy, it was widely considered that a significant portion of Tesla’s value would be driven by its intellectual property rights and technological advancements .
Tesla’s brand name is arguably the strongest in the electric vehicle segment . However, Tesla’s competitors could easily establish a comparable reputation given their expertise and success in the auto industry. Toyota, Volkswagen, and the BMW Group have already announced plans to aggressively pursue the electric vehicle market . These competitors could easily leverage Tesla’s technological advances via open innovation and use their greater resources to develop higher quality electric vehicles and squeeze Tesla’s current and future market share.
Recently, Tesla have had lot of troubles with declining stock prices, strenuous production targets, and pressures to be cash flow positive . Going forward, should Tesla reconsider their open innovation strategy and move towards “closed innovation” if they stumble across disruptive technology? Even without disruptive technology, should a “closed innovation” policy still be pursued especially since protected patents could help drive up Tesla’s valuation?
Word Count: 738
Thompson, C. (2017). How the electric car became the future of transportation. [online] Business Insider. Available at: https://www.businessinsider.com/electric-car-history-2017-5#the-electric-car-burst-onto-the-scene-in-the-late-1800s-and-early-1900s-1 [Accessed 13 Nov. 2018].
Tesla.com. (2018). About Tesla | Tesla. [online] Available at: https://www.tesla.com/about [Accessed 13 Nov. 2018].
Tesla.com. (2018). All Our Patent Are Belong To You. [online] Available at: https://www.tesla.com/blog/all-our-patent-are-belong-you [Accessed 13 Nov. 2018].
Bcg.com. (2010). [online] Available at: https://www.bcg.com/documents/file36615.pdf [Accessed 13 Nov. 2018].
Downes, L. and Nunes, P. (2017). Is Tesla Really a Disruptor? (And Why the Answer Matters). [online] Harvard Business Review. Available at: https://hbr.org/2017/08/is-tesla-really-a-disruptor-and-why-the-answer-matters [Accessed 13 Nov. 2018].
Totty, M. (2017). Will Electric Vehicles Replace Gas-Powered Ones?. [online] WSJ. Available at: https://www.wsj.com/articles/will-electric-vehicles-replace-gas-powered-ones-1510628461 [Accessed 13 Nov. 2018].
Ir.tesla.com. (2018). SEC Filing | Tesla, Inc.. [online] Available at: http://ir.tesla.com/node/18501/html [Accessed 13 Nov. 2018].
Abrams, A. (2014). http://time.com. [online] Time. Available at: http://time.com/2865496/tesla-opens-patents/ [Accessed 13 Nov. 2018].
Energysage.com. (2018). 2018 Best Electric Car Companies and Manufacturers | EnergySage. [online] Available at: https://www.energysage.com/electric-vehicles/buyers-guide/top-ev-companies/ [Accessed 13 Nov. 2018].
Assis, C. (2018). Tesla meets Model 3 production goals and sales targets, but shares still fall. [online] MarketWatch. Available at: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/tesla-meets-model-3-production-goals-and-sales-targets-but-shares-still-fall-2018-10-02 [Accessed 13 Nov. 2018].
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Transportation
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Scientists are becoming increasingly worried about ocean acidification, a direct result of the increase in atmospheric CO2 levels. On 30 June 2005, the Royal Society of London published a Report on why this is important:
The UK Royal Society has commented that �the effects of ocean acidifcation have potentially catastrophic consequences for marine life� .
There is an equilibrium between atmospheric CO2 and the CO2
dissolved in seawater: as atmospheric levels increase, so do the levels
of CO2 dissolved in the ocean waters, especially in the surface waters
where most ocean life flourishes. The dissolved CO2 reacts with the seawater to form carbonic acid (H2CO3),
increasing the water acidify (i.e. reducing pH). The exact results of
this are unknown, but are potentially disasterous as common marine
organisms, such as the fishes we use as food, may be unable to survive.
It is important to note that the issue of seawater acidification is
not related to global warming - there is no dispute about the reality
of ocean acidification, only about the consequences.
Researchers at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory published a paper in the science journal Nature, suggesting that continued increases in atmospheric CO2 could alter ocean pH values - an effect greater than any experienced in the past 300 million years (Caldeira, K. & Wickett, M.E., 2003, Nature, v. 425. p. 365).
As a consequence, research programmes have been started by several organizations: the International Global
Biosphere Programme (IGBP); the Scientific Committee on Oceanic
Research (SCOR); the Commission On Atmospheric Chemistry and Global
Pollution (CACGP); and the International Council for Science (ICS).
One outcome was a Symposium on The Oceans in a High-CO2 World in May 2004, sponsored by SCOR and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC�part of UNESCO). The resulting report � Priorities for Research on the Ocean in a High-CO2 World � concludes that more research in this area is urgently needed.
A member of the Royal Society working group, Dr Carol Turley of the Plymouth Marine Laboratory, presented a paper on the impact of increasing ocean acidification on marine ecosystems at the scientific conference Avoiding Dangerous Climate Change held on 1-3 February 2005 at the Met Office in Exeter, UK. This can be downloaded in pdf format by clicking here.
Dr Turley said ocean acidification represented �potentially a gigantic problem for the world.� She added: �It�s urgent indeed to warn people what�s happening. Many of the marine species we rely on to eat could well disappear. In cartoon terms, you could say people should prepare to change their tastes, and switch from cod and chips, to jellyfish and chips.� (The Independent)
Ocean acidifcation could change the ocean ecosystems, driving our marine food species to extinction. It is essential to reduce atmospheric CO2, even if you do not believe in climate change !
For more information see Green Car Congress.
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Science & Tech.
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Giving up animal products this year? If so, you might want to rethink how you garden
There are not many big ideas that come along in gardening. After all, horticulture has been much the same since for ever: sow seeds, add manure, water and feed, and kill pests. But now, something revolutionary could transform the staid old world of grow-your-own: vegan gardening.
Unless you’ve been living on Mars, you will be aware that veganism is on the rise: one in eight Britons now identify as vegan or vegetarian; record numbers have gone meat-free this month; and supermarkets and high streets – hello, Greggs – are helping to turn it mainstream. But did you know that gardening can be vegan, too?
Vegan gardening is essentially a super-organic method that avoids any animal input – from manure to fertiliser. It is an important part of the vegan movement; it means you’re doing your bit for the environment and producing clean, ethically produced crops that are safe to eat, while sticking two fingers up to animal farming. Once ultra niche, it is starting to enter the mainstream: the first vegan garden festival was held last September in Hampshire, hosted by Chelsea winner Cleve West, while Joseph Gibson’s Conscious Consumerism garden at Hampton Court flower show last July graphically illustrated the ruinous effects of animal agriculture.
In vegan gardening, you have to be mindful of what you put on your crops. Animal manures used to help plants grow can be contaminated with infectious diseases such as E coli and listeria, as well as persistent herbicides. While manure-borne salmonella or campylobacter could make you ill, persistent herbicides could kill your crops, which rather defeats the point of adding manure. Instead, make your own compost from layers of nitrogen-rich green material (grass cuttings, peelings, leafy prunings) and carbon-rich brown material (dry leaves, straw, card, shredded woody prunings), sourced from kitchen, household and garden waste. The pile needs to be moist and warm to decompose through microbial action. Turn with a garden fork every month or two, and in six months you should have enough black, crumbly compost to grow your plants in. (Using peat is vegan, but is generally believed to be environmentally unsustainable: peat bogs are carbon sinks and, once mined, take up to 100 years to regenerate.)
It’s not just animal manure that should be avoided: many commercial composts and fertilisers contain animal products such as blood, fish and bone – byproducts taken from the slaughterhouse floor. To help sustain your plants, make comfrey-based liquid fertiliser: put chopped comfrey (or nettles, borage, seaweed or other nutrient-rich plants) in a bucket of water and leave it for a few weeks until it starts to stink. Dilute and decant over crops to add nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, as well as vitamin B12. These are the three primary ingredients required for healthy plant growth – comfrey’s high potassium levels particularly aid fruit production.
It’s true that vegan gardening is harder work then conventional gardening, because it is unethical to nuke “pests” and diseases. But with an ecosystem of weed banks, cover crops and the consequent beneficial insects in place, you shouldn’t have to.
To make your soil as nutrient-rich as possible, sow green manure cover crops such as clover, mustard, phacelia and buckwheat. Ideally, your soil should always be covered (especially in winter) to stop erosion, and to harvest nitrogen from the air; rake back the green manure into the soil (the worms will drag the nutrients underground, while the cover crop roots will help break up the earth).
Crop rotation in a vegetable patch will help maintain soil health, avoid nutrient deficiency and stop pest and disease buildup: plant a green manure, then alternate annual crops of potatoes, legumes, brassicas and root veg followed by squash and sweet corn, on a four- to seven-year cycle. Chances are, if you’re tempted by vegan gardening, you’re a vegan yourself, so grow what might be useful additions to your diet: vegetables such as spinach or jerusalem artichokes are high in iron; broad beans provide protein and fibre.
There is one aspect of vegan gardening that is easier than conventional gardening: you don’t need to dig. Digging over wrecks the soil and its fauna, creating compaction and erosion. Hoe off weeds instead; you should get fewer weeds anyway, because digging creates a hotbed for weed seeds. But don’t take the “no-dig” rule too far: someone once asked me if it was OK to dig up your potatoes!
The really positive part of vegan gardening is the benefits for animals and insects; the aim is not to kill anything, and as far as possible leave garden wildlife alone. Insects and invertebrates (particularly worms) are essential parts of a garden’s ecosystem, whether they are maintaining soil structure or providing a link in the food chain.
Instead, there are ways of dissuading the animals you don’t want from entering your garden. Don’t feed birds, as this will attract rodents. If you must, use barriers such as nets to protect crops from birds, or liquid repellants such as Grazers’ Live, and Let Grow deterrent sprays for anything from lily beetles to squirrels. Create habitats among cover crops and wild patches for those creatures you would like to see: beneficial pollinators, predator insects such as ladybirds, hoverflies, lacewings and ground beetles.
Slugs are a pain because they eat young, green plants, so plant these out when they are more mature and less attractive to pests. Plant sacrificial plants, such as lettuce or brassica leaves, as an alternative food supply to the crops you want to flourish; pick off slugs by hand (gently); encourage slug eaters such as hedgehogs with wood and leaf piles, and by planting hedges instead of walls or fences. And if slugs do eat your salad leaves and bugs munch your apples, leave them to it – now, there’s a new idea.
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Strong reasoning
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Home & Hobbies
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By Timothy P. Whalen
This special issue of Conservation, The GCI Newsletter brings together two subjects that have been very much a part of the Getty Conservation Institute's history and focus—cultural heritage in Egypt and site management.
The interest and involvement of the GCI in the conservation of Egypt's cultural heritage dates back to the earliest days of the Institute. The GCI's first field project, begun in 1986, was a collaborative undertaking with the Egyptian Antiquities Organization—today the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA)—to assess, analyze, and conserve the remarkable wall paintings in the tomb of Queen Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens on the West Bank of the Nile at Luxor. The initiation of this project was followed by other projects, including a study of the causes of deterioration of the Great Sphinx at the Giza Plateau and the design, testing, and technology transfer to Egyptian personnel of nitrogen-filled cases for the Royal Mummy Collection in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo.
In recent years, the GCI has renewed its relationship with its cultural heritage colleagues in Egypt and returned to the Valley of the Queens to assist the SCA in developing and implementing a plan to address the management and conservation of the valley as a whole. The management and conservation of sites is another long-held interest of the Institute that, over the years, has manifested itself in courses and workshops, publications, and conferences and in many of the collaborative field projects conducted by the GCI. The Institute is bringing this expertise to its new efforts in the Queens Valley, which involve not only the management plan but also training for SCA professionals in site planning and implementation, as well as a separate program for wall paintings conservators.
The Valley of the Queens is a major part of the Theban West Bank—one of the most archaeologically rich sites of Egyptian antiquity—which also includes the Valley of the Kings and the Tombs of the Nobles, as well as a number of mortuary temples, a workers' village, and other notable places. In the context of its work in the Queens Valley, the GCI has joined with the SCA and other organizations working in the West Bank area to regularly exchange information and to create the foundation for the development of a management and conservation plan that will encompass the entirety of the West Bank.
In light of this important undertaking, we asked several of those joining with us in this effort to contribute to this edition of Conservation as a way of illuminating both the major preservation issues facing this extraordinary site of antiquity and the steps being taken to address these issues. We are grateful to our colleagues at the SCA (in particular to Zahi Hawass, SCA's secretary general), the Epigraphic Survey of the Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, the Theban Mapping Project, the Egypt Antiquities Information System, the American Research Center in Egypt, and the French Archaeological Mission of Western Thebes (a program of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique) for sharing their thoughts in the following pages.
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History
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The Evolution Of Ballet Through The Centuries
The origins of ballet are rooted in the extravagant royal court commemorations of 15th century Renaissance Italy. The word ballet is derived from the Italian word ‘ballare’ which means ‘to dance, to jump about’. Aristocratic families enjoyed lavish celebrations such as weddings and parties with grandeur; dance and music were always part of these celebrations. This was the beginning of the ballet.
The fine arts grew tremendously under the aristocratic influence of Italian noblewoman Catherine de’ Medici who married into the family of a French noble and became the wife of King Henry II of France. Known as the patron of arts, Catherine brought Italian festivities and traditions to France and helped develop the early form of ballet. Her exorbitant celebrations, which were infused with dance, decor, costume, song, music, and poetry, inspired the growth ballet de cour. Under her tutelage, ballet became increasingly popular in France and grew beyond its borders. One of the earliest recorded ballet performances was ‘Le Paradis d’ Amour’ which was presented at Marguerite de Valois’s wedding, Catherine de’ Medici’s daughter. The first formal court ballet ever recognised was Ballet des Polonais in 1573, a magnificent festival held in honour of the election of Henri de Valois, the future Henri III of France, to the throne of Poland. Evolving from its genesis as a form of royal entertainment, the first ballet school the Academie Royale de Danse (Royal Academy of Dance) opened in France in 1661 under the patronage of King Louis XIV. It was at Academie Royale de Danse that Pierre Beauchamps began his illustrious career as a ballet master and came to be regarded as one of the most famous “fathers” of the ballet. It was Beauchamps who standardised the five-foot positions of ballet (first through fifth positions). The Royal Academy was responsible for the incorporation of ballet elements into traditional French Opera. The Renaissance period ballet was elaborate, extravagant, and expensive. Dancers were adorned with luxurious jewellery and ornate costumes. The recital generally consisted of small jumps, curtsies and slow turns. By the mid-1700s, ballet master Jean Georges Noverre and composer Christoph Gluck moved away from the theatrical form of opera-ballet and introduced a new format called ballet d’action, a dramatic style of ballet that conveys a narrative. Ballet d’action is considered to be the predecessor of the 19th-century classical ballet.
In the 18th century, ballet flourished in the royal courts of Spain, Portugal, Poland, Germany, Hungary. It had spread its wings across Europe as professional ballet troupes travelled across the continent to perform for aristocratic audiences. Venice, Italy became a cultural centre and a major contributor to ballet as dancers across Europe organized and performed in Venice Carnival. Some of the leading ballet dancers of the time who performed during this era were Louis Dupré, Charles Le Picque with Anna Binetti, Gaetano Vestris, and Jean-Georges Noverre. The Baroque period of the 1700’s witnessed the prominence of female ballet dancers as society shed its disapproval of females performing. Another alteration in this period was the costumes that the dancers wore- ball gowns were replaced by shorter skirts and lighter textiles.
The onset of the 19th-century continued to highlight the rise of female members of ballet, turning away the spotlight from male dancers. Social and cultural changes as well as the induction of the industrial revolution reflected a change in ballet. The Romantic period ballet retired from its aristocratic roots as performances became more technical and movements became more fluid and graceful. The stories were supernatural and magical with elements of folklore which depicted women as fragile, ethereal beings. The Romantic period birthed the tutu- the current formal dress code of ballet. The era also gave birth to famous ballerinas such as Geneviève Gosselin, Marie Taglioni, and Fanny Elssler who were among the first to experiment with pointework and paved the way for en pointe performances. Marie Taglioni is thought to be the first ballerina to dance en pointe in 1832 as the sylph in La Sylphide, although this fact is contested by certain historians. Her role in La Sylphide earned her the nickname ‘Christian Dancer’ as she exuded an image of light and purity. With orientalism in vogue during this period, many of the works saw the caricature portrayal of African, Asian, and Africans; non-European members of the troupe were mostly cast in a negative light. The performances of the Romantic period were created through the narrow purview of European understanding of other ethnic cultures and unsurprisingly, it was riddled with misinformation and fantasy.
National Opera of Ukraine, Hungarian National Ballet, National Theatre Ballet of Prague, and Vienna State Ballet were established in the mid-to-late 19th century. As ballet began to lose its allure in France post the French Revolution, it flourished in Denmark and Russia. Russian ballet came to prominence owing to the tremendous work by masters like August Bournonville, Jules Perrot, Arthur Saint-Léon, Enrico Cecchetti, and Marius Petipa. Particularly, Marius Petipa is known for reforming ballet and credited with the development of classical ballet we know today. He is considered the father of classical ballet. Some of his most recognised works include The Pharaoh’s Daughter (1862), The Talisman (1889), and La Bayadère (1877). His choreography of The Nutcracker (1892), The Sleeping Beauty (1890), and The Swan Lake (1895) are still alive and relevant today. Russian ex-pats like Michel Fokine and Serge Pavlovich Diaghilev helped popularise ballet in France and other parts of Europe after a slump in the early 20th century.
Ballet in the 20th century was far more technically complex and refined than it’s precedent formats thanks to Russian masters and choreographers. The country was also home to one of the most famous ballerinas that ever lived, Anna Pavlova, who was the centrepiece of The Dying Swan (a solo created specifically for her). Post World War II, Russian ballet companies toured worldwide and helped revive ballet in the West. While Americans were fascinated and mesmerised by the European artistry, there was a lack of local dancers. It was Serge Pavlovich Diaghilev’s student George Balanchine’s arrival in the United States in 1933 that offset the love affair that spellbound Americans and laid the foundation of American ballet. Balanchine is the founder of the New York City Ballet. He created a new style of ballet that came to be known as neoclassical ballet. Neo-classical ballet signifies a plotless storyline and endeavours to express human emotions through movement and music. Balanchine also worked with seamstress Barbara Karinska to upgrade the costume design and bring to life the classic tutu that we associate with ballet today.
Balanchine’s follower Mikhail Baryshnikov, artistic director of American Ballet Theatre from 1980-2002, blended neoclassical style with modern choreography to develop contemporary ballet. Contemporary ballet intertwines traditional stories with modern techniques such as floor work and turn-in of the legs. Today, ballet is accessible to everyone and has become mainstream. Modern ballet is an immersive experience of artistic costumes, intricate choreography, symphonious music, and a show of technical adroitness and athleticism. The art form has evolved through the centuries. Dancers and choreographers continue to forge ahead to expand the boundaries of ballet, amalgamating the old and new to create diverse styles that cater to the new generation of audience. To know more about “The evolution of ballet through the centuries”, reach us.
Train Like A Ballerina is a ballet-inspired fitness program designed to help dancers gain strength & flexibility anywhere, anytime. Master your ballet techniques with our weekly workout updates. Train like a beast, look like a ballerina. Reach us at- [email protected].
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Art & Design
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It’s not only Hollywood producers that have refused to let go of this scenario. As Helen Pilcher’s Bring Back the King: The New Science of De-Extinction attests, this extremely terrible idea has kept pace with technological progress, and is now closer to reality than ever. Pilcher looks at attempts to resurrect not just the T. rex but also other iconic victims of extinction: the woolly mammoth, the passenger pigeon, the Neanderthal, the thylacine (a carnivorous marsupial that went extinct in Australia in 1936), and Elvis Presley. (The “King” of the title stands for both the King of Rock ’n’ Roll and the king of the dinosaurs.) In successive chapters, she runs down the current state of the art in terms of DNA sequencing and repair, incubation and possible surrogates, and the likelihood of successfully bringing an extinct species back to life. In most cases, while the science is currently out of reach, it won’t be for long. The techniques Crichton drew on for Jurassic Park have become far more refined: incomplete strains of DNA are extracted from extant preserved specimens, filled out, and completed (sometimes borrowing from the closest living relatives). In many cases, this feat is less daunting than what comes next: incubating these new specimens. Woolly mammoth cloning would involve implanting a fertilized egg inside of a living elephant, an undertaking that involves either negotiating a six-foot-long reproductive tract, or going through the rectum and then trying to cut through to the elephant’s womb. Neither process has been successfully accomplished by humans.
And not only in old bones and mummified objects. The evidence for much of these vast clashes and close encounters is something we carry around within us in microscopic stretches of DNA that are the only legacy left from extinct variant species of humans. In microscopic sequences of chemical bonds on the double helixes of heredity there are traces of ancient variations on human species who lived and thrived and left nothing else behind beyond a few random sequences of chemical bonds. The faintest of faint echoes of a prehistoric past we’re only beginning to grasp. It’s a shift in focus as radical as the one that allowed us to glimpse—through Hubble-era telescopes—the billions of galaxies of the knowable universe and radically shift our perspective on our place in deep space. Suddenly we are able to see in the galaxies of genes within us and the stories they tell of a new way of envisioning our place in the history of the planet.
And this fellow David Reich, sitting across from me in a corner of his lab on Avenue Louis Pasteur in Boston, this skinny slip of a hominid, David Reich, clad in a T-shirt and slacks—the Zuckerberg couture of Harvard geniuses, you might say—is at the heart of what is likely to be remembered as one of the great scientific revolutions. One unimaginable just a few years ago.
When Tuesday arrives you have now already suffered the barbs of that tedium, experienced the cuts that will continue, the pain still fresh on your skin. And your awful worrisome brain is reminding you that you have four more days of this. Get used to the sting.
Every time Gulliver travels
into another chapter of “Gulliver’s Travels”
I marvel at how well travelled he is
despite his incurable gullibility.
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Strong reasoning
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Science & Tech.
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Mobilizing the Fourth Industrial Revolution | Future Transportation | ITEK | Megatrends
The fourth industrial
revolution is the current environment where disruptive technology trends such
as the Internet of Things (IoT), Robotics, Artificial intelligence (AI), Future
Cars/Autonomous Vehicles, Blockchain, Cloud Computing, Genomics and Social
Media are changing the way we live and work.
Unlike past industrial
revolutions, these technologies are rapidly combining to create an
accelerating, virtuous cycle of disruption. While previous industrial
revolutions were often localized, todays is interconnected and global and its
impact is already visible in homes and businesses across the world.
This is a short guide to help
investors understand the main sectors of the fourth industrial revolution
and their features, applications, and growth potential. In this part, we focus on Future Cars.
Horses were first domesticated
around 6,000 BC and the wheel was invented sometime around, 4,500 BC. Even
though it took humanity nearly 1,500 years to create the first horse-drawn
wheeled vehicle, we’re now making huge developments in transportation
technology that enable us to travel further and faster than ever before and in
incredibly imaginative ways.
We already have e-scooters, personal
submarines, functional jetpacks, wingsuits and electric planes; and sci-fi
scenarios like self-driving cars, trucks and robo-taxis operating in smart
cities may be coming to your neighbourhood in future.
Autonomous vehicles use artificial
intelligence, software, RADAR and LIDAR technology to monitor a 360 range
around the car to form a dynamic 3d picture of the environment. By combining
sensors, software and controls, the vehicle can navigate, drive and respond to
the actions of other road users without the need for human input.
Future transportation is a key
theme of the fourth industrial revolution and encompasses a range of new
technologies that are making it faster, cleaner, smarter and safer to move
goods and people about.
The inter-connectedness of the
fourth industrial revolution is well illustrated by advances in the future
transportation sector. Along with the development of advanced battery
technologies, advances in areas such as robotics (manufacturing of vehicles,
autonomous driving systems) cloud computing (design, security, smart cities,
driver assistance systems, mapping, AI, ride-share platforms and network
connected services for transportation)
and cyber security (prevent hacking of transport systems, theft of
vehicles) are helping to push the industry forwards.
While electric and hybrid
vehicles are the most visible indication of how rapidly new transportation
technologies are being adopted, the industry is multi-faceted and includes
manufacturers of hybrid, electric and autonomous (self-driving) cars, trucks,
planes, boats, e-scooters and delivery drones, as well as battery and fuel cell
producers, high speed and wireless charging technologies, raw material
suppliers, sensor manufacturers and technology hardware and software providers.
In combination, these companies
are helping to create a new transportation paradigm that is forcing change
across industries and businesses– one where low polluting vehicles can safely
navigate to a location with minimal human input, reducing or eliminating the
need for human drivers, speeding up delivery and travel times, reducing
congestion and lowering costs.
As the industry evolves, it
has the potential to fundamentally reshape road usage and vehicle ownership; changing
the way that urban spaces are conceived and how cities are designed. With the
majority of the world now living in urban areas, new approaches to
transportation’s effect on both humanity and industry have the potential to be
massive and profound.
Hybrid & Electric Vehicles
investment opportunity of the electric and hybrid vehicle market is well
illustrated by the fact that, by market cap, Tesla is the now the second
largest car company in the world. With a market cap (20th May) of
150Bn, Tesla is larger than General Motors (35.3Bn), Honda (43.5Bn) Ford
(21.1Bn), Daimler (36.2Bn) and Harley Davidson (3.3Bn) combined. Only
Toyota, at 195.5Bn is larger.
Overall, the global electric
vehicle market is projected to reach $802.81 billion by 2027, registering a
CAGR of 22.6%,
with continued growth in the sector spurred by developments in battery
technology and the direction of government environmental and urban planning
Cheaper and better-quality
batteries are increasing use by auto companies and driving down the cost to the
end consumer. The cost of Lithium batteries used in electric vehicles fell 87%
from 2010 to 2019
and new combinations of chemistry, design and technology mean the next
generation of batteries will offer longer ranges, fewer and faster recharges,
wireless recharging and increased output.
Lower cost batteries mean more
car and truck manufacturers are creating electric and hybrid models – an
estimated 500
different electric vehicle models will be on the market by 2022, meaning more
competition, lower prices, and broadened appeal across different consumer
Governments are also imposing
increasingly stringent environmental guidelines for vehicle manufacturers in a
bid to combat emissions and meet CO2 targets and reduce congestion, further spurring
the development and adoption of a wider range of electric and autonomous vehicles.
Electric taxis, buses, mopeds,
scooters and bikes are already commonplace in in many cities. Large fleets
owned by delivery companies and couriers are incentivised to ‘electrify’ their
fleet by the imposition of variable emission charges in urban areas.
Huge vehicle fleets owned by
public transport operators are also electrifying. For example, London owner of
Europe’s largest electric bus fleet of 200 vehicles, plans to add a further 78
electric buses in 2020 .
The city’s entire fleet of 9,000 vehicles is planned to transition to hybrid or
electric by 2037.
As cities seek to reduce
congestion, many are looking at the feasibility of fleets of self-driving taxis
and ride-sharing vehicles to replace private transport and free-up space
previously used for on and off-street parking.
Growth & Summary
Electric and hybrid vehicles
still represent only a small portion of the overall automotive market – about
2.7% of all sales in 2020 .
Nonetheless, growth is significant, with sales surging from 450,000 vehicles in
2015 to 2.1 million in 2019. This growth trajectory is expected to continue
with as many as 54 million vehicles, or 58% of the total market being electric
or hybrid in the next 20 years .
The market for autonomous
vehicles is still in its infancy, with an estimated value of $54.23 billion in
2019, it is projected to garner $556.67 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of
39.47%. According to Statista ,
autonomous cars by 2030 could account for up to 10% of all vehicles sold
According to Statista In 2019,
Europe and Asia represented ~75% of the total electric and hybrid vehicle
markets and are expected to be significant growth markets for the autonomous
As such, the future
transportation sector is positioned to play a significant role in the future
economy and provides an attractive option for investors looking to enter an
industry at an early stage of development.
in the Future Transportation Theme
The growth potential, consumer
interest and size of the addressable market of Future Transportation has
spurred investor interest in this theme. Investors who see long-term
opportunity can consider an allocation to The HAN-GINS Global InnovativeTechnology UCITS ETF (ITEK). ITEK includes Future Transportation as part of
8 transformational technology trends that are reshaping the world alongside
Robotics & AI, Cloud Computing & Big Data, Cyber Security, Genomics,
Social Media, Blockchain, Augmented & Virtual Reality.
Find out more:
Article Date: 17th June 2020.
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"If the sensitivity of the tumor cells could be increased, radiotherapy could be carried out more effectively and more gently," says Empa researcher Lukas Gerken.
In other words: A desired treatment outcome could be achieved with a lower dose of radiation than is currently the case, or particularly radiation-resistant tumors could finally become sensitive to radiation. The team led by Lukas Gerken and Inge Herrmann from the "Particles-Biology Interactions Laboratory" at Empa in St. Gallen and the "Nanoparticle Systems Engineering Laboratory" at ETH Zurich is therefore working with oncologists at the Cantonal Hospital in St. Gallen to find ways to sensitize tumor cells to radiation.
The researchers have set their sights on nanoparticles made of metal oxides that can act as so-called radiosensitizers. The team has now succeeded in producing these radiosensitizers in large quantities and analyzing their effect in more detail. The researchers recently published their results in the journal Chemistry of Materials.
In cancer research, studies are currently underway with various classes of substances to make the irradiation of tumors more effective. Exactly how nanoparticles made of gold or more exotic metal oxides such as hafnium dioxide work in this context is not yet fully understood. What is known, though, is that a complex reaction cascade exerts oxidative stress in cancer cells. In this way, the repair mechanisms of the malignant cells may be overwhelmed.
In order for the nanoparticles to be made available for clinical use, two hurdles had to be overcome: Production via conventional wet chemistry methods makes it difficult to produce quantities on an industrial scale, and there is a lack of comparative analyses on the efficacy of different substances.
Empa researcher Gerken has now succeeded in producing metal oxide radiosensitizers using a method that is ideally suited to industrial applications: He relied on flame synthesis to obtain top-quality oxides of hafnium, zirconium and titanium. "Thanks to this production method, it is even possible – depending on the production facility – to synthesize several kilograms per day," explains Gerken. For the laboratory analyses at Empa, however, the scientist made do with just a few grams.
Once the nanoparticles were available in suitable quantities, Lukas Gerken was able to screen the "gems" in detail, for example using X-ray spectroscopy and electron microscopy. His verdict: "We can produce sterile, high-quality metal oxide nanoparticles that appear harmless to healthy cells," the researcher explains. He proved this using cell cultures that he treated with different nanoparticle suspensions in the lab. The metal oxides accumulated in large quantities inside the cells. The front-runner was hafnium dioxide: Here, half a billion nanoparticles entered each individual cell without being toxic. Compared to the metal oxides, nanogold did much worse with the same particle size: About 10 to 30 times fewer gold particles made it into the cell.
As harmless as the substances initially are to healthy cells, they unfold their effects powerfully when used in radiation. The team was able to demonstrate this using cancer cell lines. If the cell cultures were treated with metal oxides and then bombarded with X-rays, the killing effect increased significantly. Hafnium dioxide turned out to be the most potent tool: Tumor cells treated with hafnium particles could be eliminated with less than half the radiation dose. This first comparative study also showed that hafnium dioxide is even four times more effective than nanogold and titanium dioxide. Healthy human cells (so-called fibroblasts), on the other hand, showed no negative radiation effects after nanoparticle treatment.
MEDICA-tradefair.com; Source: Empa – Materials Science and Technology
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Science & Tech.
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Obese, middle-age men and women who had bariatric surgery have half the death rate of those who had traditional medical treatment over a 10-year period, reports a study that answers questions about the long-term risk of the surgery.
The study was by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the Clalit Research Institute in Israel, which has one of the highest rates of bariatric surgery in the world. It will be published Jan. 16 in JAMA.
"We showed that a long-term effect of bariatric surgery is a longer life for obese patients," said study co-author Dr. Philip Greenland, professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "They had half the death rate, which is significant."
The rate of death in individuals who did not have surgery was 2.3 percent compared to 1.3 percent in those who had surgery. The study compared 8,385 people who had the surgery (65 percent women and 35 percent men) to 25,155 who did not. In the U.S, the majority of people who have bariatric surgery are women.
The average age of a person in the study was 46 years old with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40, the equivalent of being 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighing 265 pounds. BMI is a measure of body fat based on weight in relation to height.
Previous studies looking at this question were indefinite because follow-up data was limited due to high costs and patients dropping out.
In addition, most people in Israel remain with the same HMO throughout their life, allowing researchers to track the same individuals for long periods of time.
The new results illuminate the real-world experience of patients having bariatric surgery. This study, based on electronic health records from an HMO in Israel, looked at detailed data on 33,540 obese individuals for up to a decade.
"Bariatric surgery is an increasingly frequent treatment for severe obesity," said study co-author Laura Rasmussen-Torvik, an assistant professor of preventive medicine at Feinberg. "It's highly effective in promoting weight loss but also invasive and can lead to short- and long-term complications. In order for patients and doctors to make the best-informed decisions about what weight loss strategies to pursue, they need to understand the true costs and benefits of the procedures."
In 2011, 158,000 bariatric surgeries were performed in the U.S. and in 2016, 216,000 were performed, a 37 percent increase.
While the short-term benefits of weight loss surgery—such as weight loss and better control of diabetes and blood pressure—are well known, there is concern about complications from the surgery. Among the concerns are malabsorption of nutrients including vitamin deficiency, anemia and protein deficiency. But there was not a higher rate of anemia, vitamin or protein deficiency among those who had surgery in this study.
The study looked at three types of bariatric surgery compared to the usual care by a primary care physician, which may include dietary counseling and behavior modification. The surgery types included roux-en-Y gastric bypass (creating a pouch at the top of the stomach that limits the amount a person can comfortably eat and bypassing the first part of the small intestine), laparoscopic adjustable gastric banding (restricting the amount of food the stomach can hold with an adjustable band) and sleeve gastrectomy (reducing the size of the stomach).
"Surgery sounds like a radical approach to managing obesity, and a lot of people reject it because it seems like a risky thing to do, but it's actually less risky to have the surgery," Greenland said.
Explore further: Delaying bariatric surgery until higher weight may result in poorer outcomes
Orna Reges et al. Association of Bariatric Surgery Using Laparoscopic Banding, Roux-en-Y Gastric Bypass, or Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy vs Usual Care Obesity Management With All-Cause Mortality, JAMA (2018). DOI: 10.1001/jama.2017.20513
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StopGap was designed to be a really simple solution to the problem of draughty floors. It’s not complicated but from time to time we do get asked questions about it, so in the coming weeks we will be posting answers to those questions as a series of blog posts. This first question is the same one that Marcus, the inventor of StopGap, found himself asking. This then lead to the conception of our great little product.
I’ve had the living room floor in my Edwardian terraced house stripped and it looks a million dollars. The only trouble is – we can’t live in it between October and April. Why is it so cold?
The problem is gaps. Wooden floors have lots of them, especially in older houses. They might not look like much, but the astonishing fact is that if you add up all those gaps you’ll find that the average room has a total gap area of 50 x 50cm – equal to a wide-open window! Now let’s delve into the science of why these gaps appear in the first place.
Wood is an amazing natural material that responds to changes in temperature and humidity. It loses and absorbs moisture from the air until it reaches equilibrium with the conditions of its surroundings. The changes in moisture content of the wood cause it to expand or contract depending on whether is it losing or taking on moisture. In summer when the heating is off, the air remains fairly humid and the floorboards expand, mostly widthways. Come wintertime and the heating goes on, drying out the air, and the floorboards with it. This causes them to shrink, again mostly widthways, and you are left with a draughty floor at the coldest time of year.
It is probably the case that in older houses that were built before central heating was invented, the floorboards were never intended to withstand such changes in temperature and humidity. This is why the gaps in these houses can be so pronounced, and cause such a problem when the carpets are removed. After all, it’s the reason StopGap came to be in the first place. It’s also worth noting that StopGap was designed to cope with these fluctuations in the widths of floorboard gaps, as its cleverly simple v-shape acts a spring, keeping the gap sealed throughout the year.
I hope this was useful, if you have a question you would like ask StopGap, please get in touch on our new Facebook page facebook.com/stopfloorboardgaps
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When I began planning our trip to Uganda, I had no idea I would see chimpanzees in the wild. The primary reason I was even in Uganda was to see the mountain gorillas--something I had wanted to do for many years. But I had asked our tour company to recommend an itinerary, and they strongly encouraged us to see the chimps, so we did.
My expectations were low. It was the final day of our time in Africa. I really missed my family and I was ready to go home.
But our chimpanzee trek in Kibale National Park was unforgettable, and I hope I can encourage others to give it a try.
Where Is Kibale National Park?
Kibale Forest National Park is located in the Western region of Uganda and encompasses 296 square miles of rainforest. It’s the primate capital of the world with thirteen different species housed within the park’s boundaries.
Kibale has become a popular safari destination in East Africa due in large part to it’s families of habituated chimps. Habituation is the process of familiarizing wild animals with humans while not significantly changing their behaviors. Currently it’s estimated that there are 1,450 chimps in the park.
The Day Of The Trek
A chimp trek begins early in the morning at one of the entrances to the park. A member of the Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) provides a briefing to visitors about the rules and what to expect during the day. Anyone who is ill is asked not to participate so that the health of the animals are not put at risk.
Then visitors are organized into small groups, assigned a guide, and the trek begins.
We meet our guide, Jarrod, who will educate us and keep us safe for the next several hours. Trackers have been sent ahead to locate the chimps and provide regular updates to our guide via radio.
Compared to the hilly terrain of the gorilla trek, Kibale is blessedly flat! We begin on a trail, but soon head into the dense growth of the rainforest. As we scramble through tall grass and trees, we begin to hear the screeches of chimps--we are getting close.
Finally, we see our first chimpanzees. Two adults are grooming one another and removing insects from their hair. Soon they run off, but our guide has found more chimps eating in the treetops. We gather beneath the tree and try to see them. Viewing the chimps in the trees can be difficult, but it is a common place for them to hang out during the day.
A few moments later the trackers have found two adult chimps sitting in a clearing on the ground. This is the highlight of my day, and quite possibly my time in Uganda. Jarrod tells us we can gather to observe and take photos, but not to get too close. As we watch them, it’s obvious that they are also watching us. Not only are we observing the chimps up close, but it turns out we are seeing the alpha male of the family who is believed to be 30 years old.
I was awed by their size. While certainly not as large as the mountain gorillas we had seen a few days previously, I estimate the alpha male was about five feet tall. He remained in place for several minutes, appearing completely comfortable with our group. Then he took off and Jarrod announced it was time for us to hike back to the starting point.
Here's everything you need to know about Gorilla Trekking in Uganda!
What You Should Know Before You Go
Chimpanzee treks can be organized through a local tour company. We selected Gorilla Trek Africa and were delighted with their pricing and service. I can’t recommend them enough. The cost of the permit is $100 a day, but there are additional fees for your tour company that provides transportation and if needed, accommodations.
While this trek wasn’t strenuous, it’s important to know that you’ll be hiking for about 3-4 hours, so it helps to be fit.
What is especially important is to have the proper gear and attire. Hiking boots or shoes are critical since the terrain can be uneven and muddy. Lightweight, moisture-wicking clothing is also important. Legs should be completely covered to protect yourself from black ants and stinging nettles. A day pack is essential for carrying your camera, small first aid kit, and a water bottle.
Be sure to cover yourself completely with insect repellent prior to the trek. While most people visiting Uganda will be taking anti-malarial pills, there are other mosquito-borne illnesses that you’ll want to prevent.
Come prepared with a good quality camera and a telephoto lens. I’m currently using the Sony Mirrorless a6000 and am very happy with the quality of photos as well as how light weight it is. The photo of the alpha male chimp now hangs on my wall at home and I absolutely love it.
Finally, don't forget to purchase a travel insurance policy prior to your trip. We currently use World Nomads Travel Insurance.
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Educators—teachers and librarians—skillfully stretch and expand what they read to children because books open almost unlimited topics for learning.
As the parent of a preschool child, you don’t need to push your child into academics early, but you can enjoy letting a book lead you to new places with your child.
To take advantage of your child’s desire to read a good story over and over again, think ahead. Select a book of the week and intentionally read the same book each night.
Young children often become intense on a particular topic like trucks, colors, or animals. Use the searchable database on the “Parent” section on the Reading is Fundamental website (www.rif.org) to find books on topics that peak your child’s interest. A librarian near you would love to help too.
Here comes the fun, story-stretching part. Take a minute to preview the book that you chose for the week and write down a few things that you find interesting in the story. Think broadly, for example:
- How did the artist make the illustrations? If they are photos, read the book and take your digital camera a take some pictures together. Point out that this is how the artist in the book made the book that you just read. That’s it.
- Does the book use rhyme? Point out the rhyming words. See if you (together) can come up with more rhyming words.
- How does the book use color? Are the colors soft or loud? Introduce those words for talking about color. Or point to a color and ask your child to find something that color in the room.
I think that you get the idea. Do not make this complicated or overly educational. The goal is more to enjoy your child’s tendency to want to read the same book again and again.
The primary payoff is that your child comes to see that you can get something new out of a book each time that you read it—which is a crucial part of becoming a successful learner. Another payoff is that you aren’t quite as bored by reading the same book repeatedly.
Here is an example of how you might extend Sam McBratney’s Guess How Much I Love You:
- Get out a tape measure and measure how wide your child’s arms reach and compare it to how wide your arms reach…you’ll probably end up measure a lot of other things too.
- Carefully page through the book together. After reading it, count how many mushrooms there are. You could count butterflies too.
- Talk about the moon. How it can be full and circle-shaped or slim and crescent-shaped. (And sometimes not there at all.)
- Have your child describe his own going to sleep routine.
- Draw a simple tree shape and describe the simple parts of a tree—the trunk, branches, leaves, and roots.
- Tell your child just how much you love him and why.
Choosing a good book and thinking about how to stretch it for a few nights does take some forethought; it also creates books that will be family favorites forever.
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Education & Jobs
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Many dental products contain dangerously high levels of fluoride. For years, manufacturers and dentists failed to warn consumers about the risks from ingesting these products. Although the FDA now requires manufacturers to warn consumers that fluoride products are poisonous when swallowed, manufacturers and dentists are still using these products in ways that expose consumers and patients to potentially toxic levels of fluoride.
- The vast majority of toothpastes now contain fluoride.
- Although research suggests adult-strength fluoride toothpaste (1,100-1,450 ppm F) can reduce tooth decay, this potential benefit comes with the risk of disfigured teeth.
- Use of fluoride toothpaste during childhood is a major risk factor for dental fluorosis, particularly for children who brush before the age of three and who live in areas with fluoridated water.
- Children who swallow fluoride toothpaste can reach fluoride levels in their blood that exceed the levels that have been found to inhibit insulin secretion and increase blood glucose in animals and humans.
- All fluoride toothpastes sold in the U.S. must now include a poison label that warns users to “contact a poison control center immediately” if they swallow more than used for brushing.
- Just 1 gram of fluoride toothpaste (a full strip of paste on a regular-sized brush) is sufficient to cause acute fluoride toxicity in two-year old children (e.g., nausea, vomiting, headache, diarrhea).
- In 2009, U.S. poison control centers received over 25,000 calls related to excessive ingestion of fluoride toothpaste, with over 378 users requiring emergency room treatment.
- In adults, fluoride toothpaste can cause skin rashes around the mouth known as perioral dermatitis as well as canker sores.
For more discussion on fluoride toothpaste, click here.
- Fluoride “supplements” are tablets, drops, or lozenges that are designed to provide a substitute fluoride exposure for children living in areas where fluoride is not added to water. Unlike other dietary supplements, fluoride supplements cannot be purchased over the counter. They are only available by prescription.
- Fluoride supplements were introduced in the 1950s on two incorrect assumptions: (1) fluoride is a nutrient and (2) fluoride is effective when swallowed.
- Despite being prescribed by pediatricians and dentists for over 50 years, fluoride supplements have never been approved as either safe or effective by the FDA.
- As conceded by a pro-fluoride researcher, “virtually none of the early fluoride supplement studies would be published today, because of methodological and other shortcomings.” (Riordan 1999).
- Modern research has consistently shown that children who use fluoride supplements have a much higher rate of dental fluorosis than children who do not. By contrast, the evidence that supplements reduce tooth decay has recently been described by pro-fluoride researchers as “poor,” “inconsistent,” and “weak.”
- Even the American Dental Association (ADA) and other pro-fluoride organizations no longer recommend fluoride supplements for most children. The ADA does not recommend fluoride supplements for infants under six months of age. After six months of age, the ADA only recommends supplements for children who are at “high risk” for cavities.
- Some children who take fluoride supplements can develop allergic reactions, including skin rashes, gastric distress, vomiting, and headache.
- Although fluoride supplements were only intended for children living in non-fluoridated areas, surveys have shown that some dentists prescribe supplements to children living in fluoridated areas as well. This places children at risk for the most severe forms of dental fluorosis.
For more discussion on fluoride supplements, click here.
“Fluoride Gels” are acidic, highly concentrated fluoride products that dentists topically apply to a patient’s teeth about two times a year. Of all the fluoride products currently used in dentistry, fluoride gels are – without question – the most hazardous. While fluoride gels are designed to be applied “topically” (i.e., directly to teeth), very large quantities of fluoride are absorbed into the body during the treatment. Due to this large systemic exposure, many patients – particularly children – experience symptoms of acute fluoride toxicity, including nausea, gastrointestinal pain, and/or vomiting within an hour of the treatment. Gastric distress is not the only side effect. Fluoride gels produce an enormous spike in blood fluoride levels for up to 14 hours, exposing every tissue in the body to fluoride concentrations that have been can damage, in short-term exposures, the kidney, the male reproductive system, and glucose metabolism. Although the dental community has taken steps to reduce the amount of fluoride that gets into the blood from fluoride gels, the extent of fluoride exposure from these gels continues to remain excessive and toxic. Due to the conspicuous absence of safety studies, however, the public health consequences from the dental community’s 40-year experiment with fluoride gels remains a disturbing mystery. Read More.
Other Fluoride Products
For information on other fluoridated products, including self-applied gels, fluoride varnishes, and fluoridated salt, click here.
Don't Swallow Your Toothpaste
$750,000 Given in Child's Death in Fluoride Case: Boy, 3, Was in City Clinic for Routine Cleaning
A State Supreme Court jury awarded $750,000 to the parents of a 3-year-old Brooklyn boy who, on his first trip to the dentist in 1974, was given a lethal dose of fluoride at a city dental clinic and then ignored for nearly five hours in the waiting rooms of a
Hazards lurk in toothpaste tube
Doctors worked for weeks to find the source of 5-year-old Crystal Mustonen's nightly bouts of nausea and vomiting.
FDA Adds Poison Warning to Fluoride Toothpaste
Last month, as 8-year-old Molly Statt stood in the bathroom brushing her teeth, something on the back of the large-size tube of Crest caught her attention. She stopped brushing. Looking up at her father standing beside her, she motioned to the toothpaste and asked, "Is this poison?" "Of course not," Paul Statt reassured his daughter. "Then why does it say 'poison' on it?" she asked.
Fluoride-Induced Damage to Gastric Mucosa in Human Clinical Trials
When fluoride has been used (at doses of 18-34 mg/day) as an experimental treatment for osteoporosis, gastric pain is one of the two main side effects consistently encountered. To better understand how fluoride causes this effect, researchers have sought to determine how fluoride affects the tissue that lines the gastrointestinal tract. In a
Fluoride & Perioral Dermatitis
Perioral dermatitis (PD) is a common rosacea-like dermatitis that was never reported prior to the mid-fifties. Although it can affect both sexes and all ages, most patients are women ages 20-50 years. Patients with PD frequently report a pre-existing tendency to blush. This disease is most likely multifactorial in origin, and fluoride preparations in dentrifices probably have played a role as precipitator.
Fluoride Toothpaste: A Cause of Perioral Dermatitis
We have gathered clinical and historical data implicating fluoride dentrifices as an important etiologic factor in this dermatosis. The following two cases support this observation.
Fluoride Intake from Toothpaste vs. Recommended Daily Intake from All Sources
For many children, fluoride toothpaste is the largest source of fluoride intake. One strip of fluoridated toothpaste on a child-sized toothbrush contains between 0.75 and 1.5 mg of fluoride, which is more fluoride than is found in many prescription fluoride supplements (0.25 to 1.0 mg per tablet). Since young children are
The Wichita Eagle's Fact-Challenged Reporting on Fluoride
During the run-up to a referendum on fluoridation in Wichita, Kansas, the city's local paper (the Wichita Eagle) became an ardent advocate of fluoridated water. In it's zeal for fluoridation, the Eagle turned its backs on one of the basic tenets of good journalism by allowing the paper's editorial view
Related Miscellaneous Content:
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Health
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Blueschist facies rocks and C‐type eclogites occur as allochthonous terranes or as small tectonic blocks in almost all the accretionary fold belts and major suture zones within the interior of China and along the Circum‐Pacific and Tethys‐Himalayan belts. At least forty blueschist localities have been described. Blueschists around the Pacific margins and the Himalaya‐Alpine belts are mostly Mesozoic in age; only those in Taiwan and New Caledonia are Cenozoic. Intracratonal blueschists of China are older than Late Permian, when the collision‐amalgamation presumably occurred. Several alleged Precambrian blueschist localities [Ye, 1987] are shown in the recently published Metamorphic Map of China. A Precambrian(?) blueschist belt in Anhui‐Hubei (central China) extends for about 2300 km. However, except for the pre‐Sinian blueschist terrane in Aksu, the age determination for Precambrian blueschist metamorphism elsewhere has not been confirmed. Characteristic features of Chinese blueschists include the following: (1) blueschist facies metamorphism predates the continental collision‐amalgamation, (2) most blueschists have undergone multistage metamorphism, commonly with increasing temperature and/or decreasing pressure for later events, (3) assemblages include sodic amphibole + epidote + albite + quartz + phengite + chlorite + sphene; lawsonite, jadeitic pyroxene, and aragonite are not common, and (4) protoliths are mainly mafic, pelagic, and clastic rocks. Blueschist facies metamorphism in China may be divided into two types on the basis of the imposed geothermal gradient, hence the progressive change in mineral assemblage. The rare lawsonite‐bearing blueschists produced at lower temperatures and higher pressures are confined to the Inner Mongolia and Yarlung Zangbo suture zones where aragonite and possibly jadeitic pyroxene + quartz occur, and the blueschists are associated with subgreenschist facies rocks. Most other blueschists of China formed at higher temperatures along the transitional blueschist‐greenschist facies boundary where epidote, sodic, and calcic amphiboles are ubiquitous, and the blueschists are interlayered with greenschist facies rocks. The common occurrence of intracratonal blueschists in major suture zones of China and elsewhere in Eurasia indicates pre‐Mesozoic subduction‐accretion of oceanic crust and flysch sediments. These zones of accretion represent growth around the periphery of major Precambrian cratons. This fact, together with the distribution of ophiolite belts and available paleomagnetic data, provides evidence for an extremely mobile history of plate movement in Eurasia. However, the Paleozoic intracontinental blueschists and ophiolites of China have formed before, rather than during, final closure between cratons. They do not usually mark the location of terminal sutures but are the result of earlier accretion and continental growth by subduction, underplating, and imbrication of oceanic materials similar to the accretion history of westernmost North America.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geochemistry and Petrology
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Science & Tech.
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Over the years I’ve come to know a lot about computers and how to put them together – give me the parts to make a PC and a screwdriver to short the motherboard power header pins and I could get it up and running – or installing Windows, at least – in about five minutes. And, thanks to hours mucking about with website programming and, before that, the Atari ST, I can program a bit – give me a language that works vaguely like either C or Basic and I can bodge together a working program. But there’s one thing I know absolutely nothing about at all: how on earth all this stuff actually, you know, works.
When it comes to the electronics that makes all this stuff tick, I know nothing. I could make a simple circuit to light a bulb, and I remember that V = IR. That’s about it. So, I think it’s probably time to do something about this.
And here’s my plan: I’m going to build a robot. Nothing fancy, but a simple thing that can run around the floor of the flat giving our two cats something amusing to chase and pounce on. Here’s my (very scientific and carefully designed) schematic for the proposed Mousebot Mk 1:
The whole thing needs to fit into a smallish plastic box, and I think it’s best if the drive wheels are largely contained inside (just poking out to touch the floor). With two motors driving two wheels I should be able to manouver the robot like a tank, although I’m not sure what to do with the back – it’ll need either a pivoting wheel, or perhaps just to drag the back on the floor. Two switches on the front will tell the robot if it’s hit something, and two on the top will activate when the cats manage to pounce on it.
In terms of controlling the whole thing, I’m planning to use an Arduino board. These can be programmed from a PC via USB (the language is really, really simple, and a bit like C), and then run independently when powered by a 9v battery. When I was over in San Francisco I picked up a copy of Make magazine that showed how to remote control a lawnmower using an Arduino chip, so I figure it should be easily up to a simple job like this.
The tricky thing is going to be controlling the motors from the Arduino. As I understand it the board can’t handle powering motors directly, so I’ll need to work out some way of controlling power from a separate battery pack to the motors from an Arduino output. I think this might require a transistor or two – figuring out how is, I suppose, the next step.
There’s loads of Arduino information online, but not so much relevant to UK buyers, so my plan is to document the whole thing here (complete with Maplin part codes) in case it’s useful to anyone else. All further instructions, part lists, photos etc can be found here.
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Calendula officinalis (L)
Synonyms and Common names: Pot marigold, Mary bud, Mary gold, gold bloom, Garden marigold, holigold, golds, ruddes, ruddles, Mary Gowles, Oculus Christi
French = Souci des jardins, German = Ringelblume, Spanish = Calendula, Italian = Calendola
Description: Calendula is an annual plant with angular branched stems and prominent pale green spatulate or oblanceolate sessile leaves with widely spaced teeth. The whole plant stands 30-60cm high. The bright orange or yellow flowers are borne on a crown-shaped receptacle and, as the petals drop off, a circular corona of seeds remains. It is a native of Egypt and the Mediterranean, but has become naturalised throughout temperate regions of the world, often in previously cultivated land. Many cultivated varieties of marigold come from completely different genera and these should be distinguished from Calendula officinalis.
Parts used: dried flower heads or petals
Collection: The whole flower tops or just the petals are collected between June and September. To prevent discolouration, they should be carefully dried in the shade and stored in well-sealed containers.
Constituents: Triterpenoid saponins (sapogenin: oleonolic acid), carotenoids (pro-vitamin A), bitter glycosides, a yellow resin calendulin, volatile oil, sterols, flavonoids, mucilage, carotenoid pigments
Actions: Spasmolytic, mild diaphoretic, anti-inflammatory, antihaemorrhagic, non-tannin astringent, styptic, vulnerary, local tissue healer, antifungal, antiseptic, cholagogue, emmenagogue, menstrual regulator.
Indications: inflammations of the skin and mucosa
Therapeutics and Pharmacology: Calendula is an extremely effective herb for the treatment of skin problems and can be used wherever there is inflammation of the skin, whether due to infection or physical damage; for example, crural ulceration, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, anal fissures, mastitis, sebaceous cysts, impetigo or other inflamed cutaneous lesions. It is also specifically indicated in enlarged or inflamed lymphatic nodes. It may be used externally for any wound, bruising or strains and is of particular value in the treatment of slow-healing wounds and skin ulcers or as a first aid treatment of minor burns and scalds. Calendula has been shown to promote blood clotting and to reduce capillary effusion. As an eye lotion, it can be used to treat conjunctivitis. Topical application may be as a lotion, poultice or compress. As an ointment, it is an excellent cosmetic remedy for repairing minor damage to the skin such as subdermal broken capillaries or sunburn. The sap from the stem is reputed to remove warts, corns and calluses. Isolated polysaccharides from the flowers were found to stimulate phagocytosis of human granulocytes in vitro. Although it contains no tannins, Calendula is locally astringent, due to its resin component and probably to other water-soluble constituents as well.
The plant acts against fungal, protozoal, bacterial and viral infections. Antifungal activity has been demonstrated in vitro with a 10% methanol extract, and a 70% hydro-alcoholic tincture had high virucidal activity against influenza viruses and suppressed the growth of herpes simplex virus. The oxygenated terpenes are active against trichomonas. Tincture of Calendula tincture, particularly when combined with Commiphora, is an effective local treatment for fungal and other infections of the vagina, or for fungal skin conditions.
Taken internally, Calendula is of benefit in digestive inflammation, for example, gastric or duodenal ulcers. It is indicated in unresolved infection or erosion of the upper digestive tract, particularly where there is evidence of bleeding into the gut (i.e. the dark stools of melaena). As a cholagogue it helps relieve gallbladder problems and to aid the digestion generally.
As an emmenagogue, Calendula can be of benefit in the treatment of delayed menstruation and dysmenorrhoea. The hormonal influences are likely to stem from the sterol fraction.
Combinations: For digestive problems Calendula may be combined with Althaea radix and Geranium. As an external soothing application for cuts, bruises, burns and scalds, it can be combined with Ulmus and Chondrus. An antiseptic lotion can be produced by combining it with Hydrastis and Commiphora. It also combines well with Distilled Water of Witch Hazel as a lotion for varicose veins.
Preparation and Dosage: (thrice daily)
Regulatory Status: GSL Schedule 1
Dried florets: 1-4g or by infusion
Liquid Extract: 1:1 in 40% alcohol, 0.5-1ml
Tincture: (B.P.C. 1934) 1:5 in 90% alcohol, 0.3-1.2ml
Additional Comments: In the 12th century Macer wrote that merely looking at the plant would improve the eyesight, clear the head and encourage cheerfulness. Culpeper recommended it to 'strengthen the heart', and it was highly regarded in the treatment of smallpox and measles. Today Calendula is widely used in homoeopathic remedies, where it is prescribed for coughs, the common cold, fever, wounds and chronic infections. Such large amounts are grown for medicinal use in the former Soviet Union that it has earned the name of Russian penicillin. The leaves and petals can be eaten in salads, and the flowers are widely used in cosmetics. The bright hues also make beautiful accessories for girls' costumes or fancy dress up. Traditionally the flowers were used to impart a yellow colour to cheese.
Bartram, T. 1995 Encyclopaedia of Herbal Medicine, 1st edn., Grace Publishers, Bournemouth.
Bremness, L. 1994 Herbs, Dorling Kindersley Eyewitness Handbook, London.
BHMA 1983 British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, BHMA, Bournemouth.
Chevallier, A. 1996 The Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants, Dorling Kindersley, London.
Grieve, M. 1931 A Modern Herbal, (ed. C.F. Leyel 1985), London.
Hoffmann, D. 1990 The New Holistic Herbal, Second Edition, Element, Shaftesbury.
Hyperhealth 1996 Natural Health and Nutrition Databank, v.96.1 CD-ROM, ŠIn-Tele-Health, available from Healthworks, Leeds. ISBN 0-646-30942-0
Lust, J. 1990 The Herb Book, Bantam, London.
Mabey, R. (ed.) 1991 The Complete New Herbal, Penguin, London.
Mills, S.Y. 1993 The Essential Book of Herbal Medicine, Penguin, London (First published in 1991 as Out of the Earth, Arkana)
Mills, S.Y. 1993 The A-Z of Modern Herbalism, Diamond Books, London.
Newall, C.A., Anderson, L.A., & Phillipson, J.D. 1996 Herbal Medicines: A Guide for Health-care Professionals, The Pharmaceutical Press, London.
Ody, P. 1993 The Herb Society's Complete Medicinal Herbal, Dorling Kindersley, London.
Polunin, M. and Robbins, C. 1992 The Natural Pharmacy, Dorling Kindersley, London.
Prihoda, A. 1989 The Healing Powers of Nature, Octopus, London.
Rogers, S.K. 1995 British and Chinese Herbal Pharmacopoeia, Healthlink Software Systems, Australia
Weiss, R.F. 1991 Herbal Medicine, Beaconsfield Arcanum, Beaconsfield.
Wren, R.C. 1988 Potter's New Cyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations, C.W.Daniel, Saffron Walden.
Contact: [email protected] Please complete the 'Subject' heading or your email will be assumed to be spam and automatically deleted. Before you contact me, I'd be grateful if you would please check to see if this website has the answer to your question (search box at the top of the homepage) - I have time to answer only a few of the many emails that arrive in my inbox every day. See also the statement below:
For your safety I am prohibited from giving specific medical advice to individuals over the internet or telephone so please do not waste your time or mine by emailing or calling me with detailed information about your health problems - I can only undertake face-to-face consultations for what should be obvious reasons. Diagnoses cannot be made remotely, and I am unable to offer any advice or treatment until I am completely satisfied that I know what I'm dealing with! The herb profiles and treatment suggestions on this website will help enable you to choose which herbs might be appropriate for minor ailments. For more serious or chronic conditions you should seek professional advice. This is particularly important if you are taking medication from your doctor or pharmacist, as some herbs can interact adversely with other drugs. If you would like to have a consultation with a medical herbalist then you should click here then scroll to 'Professional Organisations' at the bottom of the page to find a qualified practitioner in your area.
Christine Haughton, MA MNIMH MCPP FRSPH
Wold Farm, West Heslerton, Malton, North Yorkshire YO17 8RY, UK
Last updated 25th June 2014 ŠPurple Sage Botanicals
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January 23, 2009
First X-Ray Glimpse For Chandrayaan-1’s C1XS
The C1XS X-ray camera, jointly developed by the UK's STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory and the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), has successfully detected its first X-ray signature from the Moon. This is the first step in its mission to reveal the origin and evolution of our Moon by mapping its surface composition.
In orbit around the Moon on the Chandrayaan-1 spacecraft, C1XS detected the X-ray signal from a region near the Apollo landing sites on December 12th 2008 at 02:36 UT. The solar flare that caused the X-ray fluorescence was exceedingly weak, approximately 20 times smaller than the minimum C1XS was designed to detect."C1XS has exceeded expectations as to its sensitivity and has proven by its performance that it is the most sensitive X-ray spectrometer of its kind in history," said Ms. Shyama Narendranath, Instrument Operations Scientist at ISRO.
The X-ray camera collected 3 minutes of data from the Moon just as the flare started and the camera finished its observation. The signal reveals the X-ray fingerprint of a part of the lunar surface. As the mission continues, C1XS will build up a detailed picture of the ingredients that have gone into the Moon "“ our eighth continent.
Mr Barry Kellett, instrument scientist from STFC's Space Science and Technology Department said "Despite the small quantity of data, our initial analysis and modeling shows that C1XS has identified the chemistry of this area of the Moon".
Professor Manuel Grande, Principal Investigator, Aberystwyth University, concluded, "The quality of the flare signal detected from the Moon clearly demonstrates that C1XS is in excellent condition and has survived the passage of Chandrayaan-1 through the Earth's radiation (or van Allen) belts with very little damage. This is excellent news for the rest of the Chandrayaan-1 mission".
Professor Richard Holdaway, Director of STFC's Space Science and Technology Department, said, "We are thrilled that C1XS has started its mission so successfully and is exceeding expectations. This sophisticated instrument will not only help us better understand the origin of the Earth-Moon system but will ensure that the UK plays an important role in this international activity."
On the Net:
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On May 6, 1931, the first of 33,000,000 people walked through the gates of the Exposition coloniale internationale in the eastern suburbs of Paris. The exposition, which continued for six months, included a recreation of Mount Vernon from the United States, along with pavilions from Italy, Japan, and many other countries.
The majority of the expo’s 500 acres of land was used to present the French colonies of the period. Buildings were recreated and native men and women traveled to Paris to perform their music and dance; demonstrate their crafts and foods; and present the customs of their daily life. Particularly popular was a display of an entire tribe of nomadic Senegalese peoples.
Graphic Arts holds a souvenir stereoscopic viewer with 46 tiny glass slides from the 1931 exposition. Here are a few of the images. I apologize for the quality. The miniature scale (approximately one inch square) and uneven photography means we will have to digitize each image individually, rather than in groups.
For more information, see: 1931, les étrangers au temps de l’exposition colonial (Paris: Gallimard: Cité nationale de l’histoire de l’immigration, 2008). Firestone Library JV7915 .A15 2008.
M. Cloche, 60 aspects de l’exposition colonial (Paris: Studio Deberny Peignot, 1931). Marquand Library (SA) Oversize NA6610.C62q
Exposition coloniale internationale: guide offert par les Grands Magasins Au Bon Marché … ([Paris: Au Bon Marché, 1931]) Rare Books (Ex) 2004-2213N
Benoit de L’Estoile, Le goût des autres: de l’exposition coloniale aux arts premiers (Paris: Flammarion, 2007). Marquand Library (SA) T805.1931.G1 L47 2007
Didier Grandsart, Paris 1931: revoir l’exposition coloniale (Paris: FVW, 2010). Firestone Library (F)
Rodolfo Micacchi, Sculptures antiques en Libye; 32 planches avec introduction et texte explicative (Bergamo: Istituto italiano d’arti grafiche ). Marquand Library (SA) NB85 .I67
Patricia A. Morton, Hybrid Modernities: Architecture and Representation at the 1931 Colonial Exposition, Paris (Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 2000). Architecture Library (UES) NA6750.P4 E956 2000
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An In-depth Understanding of the Types of Satire With Examples
2 weeks ago
Satire is and always has been a widely used tool of expression through various media. Read on, to know more about it in this Buzzle post.
TAGGED UNDER: Literature
“If you have to explain satire to someone, you might as well give up.”
Satire is a popular, effective, but often misunderstood genre. It is often confused with sarcasm and irony, and while there is a significant overlap between the three, especially the former, satire is an independent entity that needs no introduction.
Let’s take a closer look at this rather intellectual and often confusing way of expressing your opinion.
What is Satire?
Satire is, according to Merriam Webster,
Humor that shows the weaknesses or bad qualities of a person, government, society, etc.
Though this dictionary definition seems so simple, satire is much more than that. As opposed to sarcasm, caricature, or parody, which are usually just tools to point and laugh at some entity, the shaming by satire is meant to bring about a change in the described situation. It is the intention of satire that sets it apart from these closely related genres. In other words, satire is often a gentle plea or reminder to bring about a situation where the satire won’t be relevant.
Satire, as a genre, is based on a different parameter than sarcasm, caricature, and parody, and can thus overlap with them. A caricature (such as the Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons and the numerous consequent depictions of Muhammad) or a parody (such as Monty Python’s Life of Brian or the religion of Pastafarianism) can be excellent works of satire, while still being caricatures and parodies as well.
Read More Article :
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- Examples of Sociological Imagination to Help Unfold the Concept
Also, while humor is the primary tool and intention of sarcasm, caricature, and parody, it is not a necessity for satirical works. This is explained in further detail in the next section…
Types of Satire
There are, broadly, two forms of satire: the one that makes you laugh, and the one that makes you cringe. The first one, called Horatian satire after the Roman satirist Horace, relies mainly on lighthearted humor and wit too, often self-deprecatingly, point out the silly notions or mistakes in a particular construct or agenda. In contrast, Juvenalian satire focuses on exposing an evil or a folly in the structure that results in mistreatment and cruelty. Juvenalian satire is, thus, much more direct and ruthless than Horatian satire.
► Examples of Horatian Satire
As mentioned before, Horatian satire is the more cheerful form of satire and incorporates much more comedy than Juvenalian satire. It is meant to draw attention to the ridiculousness in a particular concept by (usually) exaggerating it to the point of absurdity.
➙ Excellent examples of Horatian satire in film are the movies Dr. Strangelove (“Gentlemen, you can’t fight in here! This is the War Room!”) and Monty Python’s Life of Brian (“He’s not the messiah, he’s a very naughty boy!”), which exaggerate the machinations of particular, socially relevant concepts in order to show their ridiculousness. The Great Dictator, with its stirring climactic speech, is also an excellent parody-satire, contrasting Hitler’s hateful message against the Jewish Barber’s moving final speech.
➙ Another apposite example is the Ig Nobel Prizes, which award trivial scientific achievements that “first make people laugh, and then make them think”―the perfect definition of Horatian satire!
➙ The Onion, “America’s Finest News Source”, is a long-running, extremely popular, and brilliantly performed example of Horatian satire. Most of the ridiculous scenarios in The Onion news pieces are meant as a commentary on the absurdities of various political, economic, and social factions and their stances; the rest is just for laughs and can be classified as parody or just plain teasing.
➙ Animation shows such as South Park (“Wow, cartoons are getting really dirty!”), The Simpsons (“I get my news from the internet, like a normal person under seventy.”), and Family Guy (“Christians don’t believe in gravity.”) often employ satire in humorous ways to draw attention to a socially relevant issue.
➙ Pastafarianism ridicules the unscientific nature of religious beliefs (while maintaining people’s right to have the beliefs) by replacing the venerated figure of the Abrahamic god by the absurd figure of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. While Pastafarianism is considered a parody religion by non-believers and a satirical but real religion by believers, the intention behind the concept is to draw attention to the unscientific nature of the major religions of the world.
➙ While most of us non-Korean listeners won’t realize it, the ridiculously popular ‘Gangnam Style’ by Psy is actually a satire of the modern pop scene and the modern ostentatious culture and is one of the best examples of satire in modern songs. Another notable song that satirizes modern culture is Lily Allen’s ‘The Fear’ (“Everything’s cool as long as I’m getting thinner”).
➙ Political satire is a prominent component of modern satire, though the tradition of political satire, which ridicules the policies or principles of particular politicians or political parties, goes back to the influential Greek satirist Aristophanes. Shows such as Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show, and The Colbert Report regularly criticize political agendas by satirizing them, while other talk shows are also frequent contributors to the modern form of political satire.
► Examples of Juvenalian Satire
Juvenalian satire is a lot more hard-hitting than Horatian satire. It is often used to portray conditions very similar to or worse than reality, but by using some sort of allegory or metaphor. It relies on irony and usually has a grim and pessimistic view. It is much less dependent on humor than Horatian satire, and often includes open outrage, very thinly concealed contempt, and biting, possibly insensitive, ridicule.
➙ Some of the most famous examples of Juvenalian satire are found in the satirical literature. George Orwell’s best-known works, Animal Farm and 1984 are both examples of Juvenalian satire. They show conditions that are clearly not commendable, and use (often) irony and wit to describe and thus condemn them. Animal Farm, for instance, uses the allegory of farmyard animals to represent the various strata of Russian society and describes how they were betrayed by their conniving leaders after the well-meaning 1917 Revolution that eventually led to the dictatorial Stalinism.
➙ Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, another example of satire in literature, satirizes bureaucracy. The term ‘catch-22’ has now entered the common tongue for a problem that cannot be escaped from due to contradicting rules. In other words, Catch-22 is a problem that also holds, and thus invalidates, the answer to itself. Though it is presented in various ways, arguably the most famous application of the catch in the novel is that a pilot requesting an insanity check, hoping to be found too unstable to fly dangerous missions, can’t be insane, because prioritizing one’s safety and requesting the check is a rational decision that can only be reached by a sane mind. This novel is an example of the fact that, though less jaunty and grimmer than Horatian satire, Juvenalian satire can also incorporate humor.
➙ A Clockwork Orange, a novel by Anthony Burgess (and adapted for film by Stanley Kubrick), is a dystopian satire of the possibility of governments using mind-control techniques, and whether they would really have any effect on the population.
➙ Jonathan Swift’s A Modest Proposal caused uproar due to his grim and satirical suggestion that the poor populace of Ireland should sell their children to the rich as food. The “proposal” was a satire of the oppressive conditions faced by the poor and their inconsiderate treatment by the rich classes. This is considered one of the best and most influential works of satire, and the term itself is now considered a well-understood prelude to a satirical suggestion.
➙ Many popular songs are excellent examples of Juvenalian satire. Some satirical modern songs that attack the standards and practices of the music industry or treatment of women in general are Lily Allen’s ‘Hard Out Here’ (“Don’t you want to have somebody who objectifies you?”) and Lorde’s ‘Royals’ (“We don’t care, we’re driving Cadillacs in our dreams”). However, satire in songs is not a particularly new concept. Roger Waters, fed up with Pink Floyd’s money-centric and restrictive producers, wrote ‘Welcome to the Machine’ (“We told you what to dream”) and ‘Have a Cigar’ (“You gotta get an album out, you owe it to the people”) to satirically attack the conditions faced by many talented musicians. George Harrison’s ‘Piggies’ (“Clutching forks and knives to eat their bacon”) is a satirical attack on a society ruled by politicians who served their own purpose while turning the masses against each other.
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Medicine in Wikipedia: Reliable Information?
I’ve already talked a lot about the medical articles of Wikipedia and Citizendium. As an administrator, I’d like to provide some useful tips for those who, as a layman or a medical professional, would like to be involved in improving the medical articles of Wikipedia. Second, I’d like to show you how Wikipedia is improving in the aspect of credibility.
So, let’s see some tips on how you can join the medical editorial board in Wikipedia:
- The most visited medicine-related page is Medicine:Portal. Check it out and join me to help maintaining it! Selected articles, images, news, quotes and tasks.
- Work on the articles nominated to become Good Articles!
- You’ll definitely find task or project for your pleasure on the page of the Medical WikiProject.
- If you’d like to work on even more specific articles, then check out the Clinical Medicine or the Preclinical Medicine WikiProjects!
- We always focus on a specific medicine-related article in the Collaboration of the Fortnight.
- Help us how to rate the several thousand articles!
- If you don’t have enough time or the qualification to improve the articles, then wikify those or help how to categorize them. These are the pages that need attention.
- In case you’re interested in genetics, your project is the Medical Genetics WikiProject.
- If you would like to create articles, then check out what others have already requested in the field of genetics or medicine.
Why do I say bravely that Wikipedia is improving in the aspect of credibility and reliability? As I tried to be objective, I chose some of the first entries in the List of causes of death by rate article and determined the number of references and external links in each article now and a year ago. Here is the result:
For me, it proves that Wikipedia is still improving regarding the number of references which is one of the most important aims nowadays in this huge community.
Citizendium, the online encyclopaedia that only selected editors, professionals can edit, is, obviously, more reliable than Wikipedia, but Wikipedia is far more comprehensive than Citizendum. So both should serve as an additional source of information, but never as your last source…
- Why to work in Wikipedia: I’ve been mentioned in Nature Medicine
- Radiopaedia: a wiki for radiology
- Ask Dr Wiki vs medicine in Wikipedia
- Medical wikis: the future of medicine?
- Medicine in Wikipedia and Citizendum
- Why to use Wikipedia: answer for Eye on DNA
- Genetic Wikis
- Wikipedia and the Semantic Web?
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- Social Studies Test: Monday, March 4th
- Complete the Study Guide by Friday, March 1st — We will review it in class!
- Link to PowerPoint Notes: Social Studies- Government
Reading: Read works article of choice + iReady
Social Studies: complete Study Guide and bring to school tomorrow to review
Math: Book C, pages 293 to 294, #2, #3, and #4 + ZEARN
Spelling: study for the vocab/spelling test tomorrow!!
Reading: choose a Readworks article to read + iReady
Social Studies: complete the branches of government worksheet
Math: Book C, pag 273, all problems + ZEARN
Spelling: practice all of your words
channel, chapel, flannel, panel, tunnel, vessel, travel, unravel, divisor, dividend, quotient, remainder, division
Channel: (n) a narrow stream of flowing water that connects two large bodies of water
Chapel: (n) a small room within a larger building set aside for religious purposes
Dividend (def. 2): (n) a number to be divided by another number
Division (def. 1): (n) the act or result of separating anything into two parts
Divisor: (n) a number by which another number is to be divided.
Flannel: (n) a very soft woolen or cotton cloth
Panel (def. 3): (n) a group assembled to judge a contest or conduct a public discussion
Quotient: (n) the product from the division of one number by another
Remainder (def. 1): (n) the fraction left over after a number has been divided
Travel (def. 2): (v) to go from one place to another
Tunnel: (n) a long passageway dug underground
Unravel: (v) to untangle, to unwind, to unfold
Vessel (def. 1): (n) a hollow utensil for holding anything
Reading: (if you have computer access at home) pick ONE article to read on Readworks + iREADY (read works class code is on earlier blog post)
Math: Zearn + Book C, pages 267-269, all problems
Spelling/Vocab: write a sentence using each word
Reading: iReady + finish Read Works article
Math: Book C, pages 261-262, #1a-1f + ZEARN
Spelling/Vocabulary: review all words and definitions
*Spelling tests have an added vocabulary portion. Students will need to know BOTH how to SPELL and what the word MEANS. This will help them improve their vocabulary skills, and is especially important for building academic vocabulary knowledge and when preparing for standardized testing.
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Education & Jobs
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MANAGING RUMENS AND MONITORING WORMLOADS
Managing what goats eat and monitoring their fecal egg output are basic tasks necessary to raising healthy goats.
Monitoring fecal egg counts reveals wormload. One of the biggest enemies of goats is the barberpole stomach worm. Haemonchus contortus sucks blood, causing anemia, cutting off oxygen to organs (heart, lung, liver, kidneys, brain, muscles) and killing the goat. Goats can become so heavily wormy that their muscles won't work therefore they can't stand. " Life threatening" best describes what stomach worms are to goats. Stomach worms literally cause goats to lose blood volume and die.
Think of goats as deer. Never over-crowd goats. If you think you can put 5 or 10 goats on an acre of land, ask yourself if you could do that with deer. The answer is a resounding "NO." Goats need space to roam over, eating "from the top down" to avoid the barberpole stomach worms that live at ground level and up to eight inches high on plants and grasses. Goats also need have enough space among herd members to minimize fecal pellet build-up on the ground.
WET = WORMS. Much of the USA is so wet that raising goats successfully is difficult. The heavily vegetative and high rainfall areas along the Gulf Coast and Atlantic Seaboard are exactly where the barberpole stomach worm thrives.
These areas are not the only places where raising goats is difficult. All goats, regardless of breed, are dry-land animals. Twenty (20) inches of rain a year can be too much for goats unless you've kept the goat population density low, have lots of acreage (no more than two goats per acre and sometimes less), and randomly monitor fecal egg counts under a microscope on a monthly basis.
There is no breed of goat that is resistant to worms, despite some breed advertising making such claims. Haemonchus contortus (barberpole stomach worm) always has the advantage. Do not rely solely on FAMACHA. While it can be a good first-line field test for monitoring wormloads, it does not reflect those worms in the goat that have not yet hatched out and started consuming blood. Fecal counts done under a microscope are the ONLY way to know the exact wormload within a goat.
IF YOUR GOATS ARE FREQUENTLY WORMY, YOU HAVE A MAJOR MANAGEMENT PROBLEM.
I receive calls every day from people with goat-health problems. Ninety-nine percent of them think they are dealing with some exotic disease. After 10 minutes of questions about their management policies, I usually determine that the problem is barberpole worm infection. .
WORMY GOATS HAVE COMPROMISED IMMUNE SYSTEMS THAT ALLOW OTHER ILLNESSES TO INVADE THE GOAT'S BODY. The wormload keeps the goat's immune system from successfully fighting diseases.
Just because you gave a dewormer does NOT mean that it worked. Most dewormers have been so overused that they don't work any longer. The white-colored dewormers (Safeguard, Panacur, Valbazen) don't kill stomach worms in 99% of the USA .
With goats, it is almost always the simplest thing. The simplest thing is stomach worms. They are also very deadly. Start monitoring fecal egg counts using a microscope and McMasters gridded slides to keep wormloads under control and you will have healthier goats.
Read my articles on How To Do Your Own Fecals on the Articles page at www.tennesseemeatgoats.com. Buy the MSK-01L microscope with moveable stage, fecal floatation solution, McMasters slides, and other basic supplies, and start doing your own fecal egg counts monthly on a random basis. Learn how to monitor fecal egg loads and you have a fighting chance to stay ahead of blood-sucking stomach worms.
The second step in raising healthy goats involves goat nutrition. Healthy rumens make for healthy goats.
Many goat health problems are rumen based. Overeating disease, diarrhea, toxicity (plant, hay, or grain), listeriosis, goat polio, pregnancy toxemia, ketosis, hypocalcemia (milk fever), floppy kid syndrome, laminitis/founder, ruminal acidosis, bloat, and side effects of antibiotic therapy all are the result of improper feeding that negatively affects good rumen function.
Located on the goat's left side, the rumen manufactures nutrients by using live bacteria (microbes) to convert food matter into nutrition. Working like a fermentation vat and smelling like it, the rumen begins breaking down food using live bacteria shortly after the goat swallows it. The rumen is one of four stomachs (rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum), each of which has a specialized function. When this digestive system's pH gets out of balance -- which is very easy to do -- you have sick and/or dead goats.
Goats eat by foraging for several hours, then while resting, regurgitating a chunk of cud (partially digested food) and chewing it. lf the pH of the rumen becomes acidic (it should be slightly alkaline at about 7.2), the goat can get sick and die. What and how much the goat eats is critical to its overall health. The rumen must be properly fed to keep the live bacteria healthy and active. If the microbes are used up or compromised, undigested food turns toxic and the goat can die.
Too many people think goats can eat anything. NOT true. Goats are very picky eaters because they HAVE to be. Because of their rapid digestive system, many plant materials are not digestible. The slower rumen motility of cattle permits their digestive systems to utilize plant materials that are coarse and high in lignin (indigestible fiber) that goats cannot digest. Read my articles on rumen toxicity on www.tennesseemeatgoats.com.
Listen to the rumen's "growling" sounds. A goat with a healthy rumen has terrible breath. Press your hand to the left side of the goat's body to feel rumen movement. The rumen gets visibly larger from morning to night as it fills during the day and the digestive process empties it over night. Learn the recognize the sounds of a healthy rumen versus that of a goat who is grinding its teeth in pain or a rumen that isn't functioning (no movement).
What a goat eats is a major factor in its overall health and longevity. Rough woody forage wears out its teeth, and when teeth are worn out, a ruminant dies because it can't chew its cud. A goat-focused quality feeding program that combines tender forage/browse, horse-quality hay, and (as needed) pelleted goat feed, plus loose minerals with good copper levels, produces healthy goats.
Intensive management lends itself to health problems. Goats cannot be "feed-lotted" like cattle. Goats live, eat, and move across their environment like DEER.
Manage INTAKE (feed nutrition) and monitor OUTPUT (fecal egg counts). You are feeding the RUMEN . . . not the goat. Properly fed goats with low worm loads are healthy goats.
Suzanne W. Gasparotto, ONION CREEK RANCH, Texas 7.9.23
Important! Please Read This Notice!
All information provided in these articles is based either on personal experience or information provided by others whose treatments and practices have been discussed fully with a vet for accuracy and effectiveness before passing them on to readers.
In all cases, it is your responsibility to obtain veterinary services and advice before using any of the information provided in these articles. Suzanne Gasparotto is not a veterinarian.Neither tennesseemeatgoats.com nor any of the contributors to this website will be held responsible for the use of any information contained herein.
The author, Suzanne Gasparotto, hereby grants to local goat publications and club newsletters, permission to reprint articles published on the Onion Creek Ranch website under these conditions: THE ARTICLE MUST BE REPRODUCED IN ITS ENTIRETY AND THE AUTHOR'S NAME, ADDRESS, AND CONTACT INFORMATION MUST BE INCLUDED AT THE BEGINNING OF THE REPRINT. We would appreciate notification from any clubs or publications when the articles are used. (A copy of the newsletter or publication would also be a welcome addition to our growing library of goat related information!)
All information and photos copyright © Onion Creek Ranch and may not be used without express written permission of Onion Creek Ranch. TENNESSEE MEAT GOAT ™ and TEXMASTER™ are Trademarks of Onion Creek Ranch . All artwork and graphics © DTP, Ink and Onion Creek Ranch.
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Home & Hobbies
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What is the Sam'challenge?
The principle: an article (or an email if you subscribe) fun every month to challenge you to do one or more good deeds for the climate 💪
🤝 The Sam'challenge is also the result of a collaboration between 2 companies: Sami and Ma Petite Planète! We join forces and expertise to offer you this monthly challenge and help you decarbonise your life (for more info on who we are → about)
You also have the option of liking, commenting and even sharing these challenges to bring even more people into the fight against climate change! ⚔️
So let's decarbonise this planet, one challenge at a time! Are you in?
Not yet registered? It's easy to do 😉 :
I'm going to start cycling
Here is your challenge of the month:
Cycle 20km in a day OR cycle to work at least half the time.
Why is cycling green?
With walking, it is the most responsible mode of transport. We'll explain!
Already, just by the productionA bicycle (conventional or electric) will emit much less than a car! Trek, one of the world's leading bicycle manufacturers, recently published a study on the carbon footprint of their own models. Across all models, the average is 174 kg of CO2e (a unit of measurement for taking into account the climate impact of different greenhouse gases) to produce a bike.
But what does it represent? It is theequivalent of 902 km travelled in a thermal car or 160 litres of beer produced. So that sounds like a lot, but let's compare it to the production phase for a car. According to a study Carbone 4, the manufacture of a diesel-powered car would generate 7.38 tonnes of CO2e... So for production: 1 car = 42 bikes.
It may be argued that the comparison is irrelevant: a car is often kept for longer than a bicycle and therefore its "production cost" is amortized over more years !
As for the use, the comparison is very easy to make... For 1 km driven here are the CO2e emissions generated:
🚲 = 0 g CO2e
🚲⚡️ = 2 g CO2e
🚗 = 190 g CO2e
Why? Because once made, the bicycle does not require energy (except ours) to function! For the electric bike, emissions are very low due to the fact that the energy used to recharge the batteries in France is low carbon.
To compare the emissions of your journeys My Transport ImpactThe ADEME tool is easy to use and understand!
Good tips to start cycling
Which bike to choose to go to work:
- the city bike - A little heavy, but very comfortable, ideal for flat tours.
- the bicycle - With the advantage of a vintage look and an all-purpose model, they are generally light and suitable for short journeys.
- self-service bicycle hire – ideal for beginners!
- the electric bicycle (or VAE)) - if you ride a lot of miles and/or need assistance, an electric bike may be a good option.
- the road or racing bike - Rather, it is intended for those who want to cover a lot of kilometres regularly and who are looking for speed and performance.
To invest in a second-hand model, you can turn to platforms like LeBonCoin, TrocVéloor Decathlon Occasions.
How to stay motivated and turn this new practice into a good habit ?
- Gamifying your bike ride If you are motivated by progress and personal achievement, track your activity with an application like Strava can give you another flavour to your cycling trips. You will be able to track your speed, distances covered, and get statistics on your cycling.
- Co-pedaling : There's nothing like sharing all or part of your journey with your favourite colleagues to motivate you. Identify the colleagues who live on your route (or vice versa) and organise a convoy of bike riders!
- Getting reimbursed for mileage expenses by your company with the Sustainable Mobility Package, which helps employees with their home-to-work travel. This scheme is not compulsory, but can be discussed with your employer.
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Science & Tech.
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What pillage means?
What pillage means?
1 : the act of looting or plundering especially in war. 2 : something taken as booty. pillage. verb. pillaged; pillaging.
Is Pillager a real word?
1. The act of pillaging. 2. Something pillaged; spoils.
What does the word plundered mean?
1a : to take the goods of by force (as in war) : pillage, sack invaders plundered the town. b : to take by force or wrongfully : steal, loot plundered artifacts from the tomb. 2 : to make extensive use of as if by plundering : use or use up wrongfully plunder the land. intransitive verb.
What does raided and pillaged meaning?
As verbs the difference between pillage and raid is that pillage is (ambitransitive) to loot or plunder by force, especially in time of war while raid is to engage in a raid.
What’s the difference between pillaging and plundering?
‘Plunder’ refers to the roving of soldiers through recently conquered territory in search of money and goods. ‘Pillage’ describes the act of stripping a conquered city or people of valuables. As pirates are not soldiers, they would now pillage, but as they are soldier-like they could also plunder.
Are looting and pillaging the same?
As verbs the difference between loot and pillage is that loot is to steal, especially as part of war, riot or other group violence while pillage is (ambitransitive) to loot or plunder by force, especially in time of war.
What is another word for pillage?
Some common synonyms of pillage are despoil, devastate, ravage, sack, and waste.
Do Pirates pillage?
So what were the real pirates like? Some would portray pirates as black hearted scallywags whose only aim in life was to rape, plunder, and pillage the good people of the civilized world.
Are there pirates today?
Today, the pirates can be seen very often in the South and Southeast Asia, the South America and South of Red Sea. There are two types of modern pirates’ existence: small-time pirates and organizations of pirates. Small pirates are mostly interested in loot and the safe of the ship they attack.
What is a modern day pirate?
Modern pirates typically target cargo vessels but they have also been known to attack private yachts and cruise ships, robing the personal belongings of crew members and passengers rather than targeting a ship’s cargo. It’s not as common for pirates to attack cruise ships.
What country has the most pirates?
Which Country Has the World’s Most Pirate-Infested Waters?
- Indonesia (43 Attacks)
- Somalia (31 Attacks)
- Nigeria (22 Attacks)
- Gulf of Aden (10 Attacks)
- India (7 Attacks)
- Red Sea (7 Attacks)
- Bangladesh (7 Attacks)
- Ivory Coast (6 Attacks)
Are Pirates good or bad?
Though most pirates targeted ships, some also launched attacks on coastal towns. We often think of pirates as swashbuckling and daring or evil and brutish, but in actual fact most of them were ordinary people who had been forced to turn to criminal activity to make ends meet.
Why is it called the poop deck?
In case you are wondering, the name “poop deck” comes from the French word for the stern, “la poupe.” I wouldn’t want my readers to get the wrong idea, there! When sailing, the wind generally comes from the rear, filling the sails and propelling the ship forward.
What words do pirates use?
- Abandon Ship: An order to leave the vessel immediately, usually in the face of some imminent danger.
- Ahoy: Hello.
- Avast Ye: A command meaning pay attention or listen.
- Aye, Aye: Yes, I understand.
- Batten Down the Hatches: When everything on a ship is tied down to prepare for an approaching storm.
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Moderate reasoning
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Literature
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Tornado threat: How are January tornadoes possible? (+video)
A tornado threat was posted Tuesday. Tornadoes are unusual in winter, but a large swath of the country was under a tornado watch, with some areas facing a tornado warning.
Tornadoes in January? A wide area of the central and southeast U.S. faces this unusual threat as an approaching cold front clashes with unusually warm air, a meteorologist said on Tuesday.
The first tornado warning of the approaching storm was issued on Tuesday for western Missouri, said meteorologist Bill Bunting at the National Weather Service Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma.
A warning is intended to signal residents to take cover because a tornado could be forming. A less urgent tornado watch is in effect for a region from extreme northeast Texas through virtually all of Arkansas, western Tennessee and extreme southern Illinois.
"It's a little unusual," Bunting said of the tornado threat. "We don't see this every winter with this kind of warmth preceding a storm system."
Bunting said a lesser threat of severe storms and possible tornadoes extends over a huge area as far north as Chicago and extending east to Cincinnati, Ohio and Nashville, Tennessee and south into Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
"This weather system will reach its peak intensity this afternoon into the evening. It will only get stronger and cover a larger area over the next 12 to 18 hours," he said.
In Arkansas, forecasters predicted winds of up to 80 miles per hour and possible tornadoes throughout the state on Tuesday night.
The National Weather Service made a special release of weather balloons in Arkansas on Tuesday because of the threat.
The tornado threat was the latest development in a turbulent weather pattern.
Several cities set records for warmth on Monday and a few more record high temperatures were expected on Tuesday, although there were more clouds overhead to moderate temperature, Bunting said.
The high reached 74 degrees Fahrenheit in Kansas City on Monday, encouraging residents to go outside for a winter round of golf or to a park wearing shorts and flip flops.
By midmorning on Tuesday, the temperature had fallen to 43 degrees in Kansas City and was expected to fall to 28 overnight with a chance of snow.
The temperature was 61 degrees as far north as Chicago on Tuesday and the warmth extended into Indiana.
"The tornado and damaging wind threat will continue well after dark tonight," Bunting said, adding that people should be aware of the weather and be monitoring media reports.
Tornadoes are most dangerous after dark when residents are sometimes unable to see the approaching storm in time to take cover.
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Science & Tech.
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If you fall ill and go to see a naturopathic physician, you'll find that the examination isn't much different than you would have with a traditional physician, except that the naturopath may spend more time talking to you about your medical history and state of overall well-being. Naturopathic doctors receive extensive education -- similar to medical doctors -- and can write prescriptions for conventional drugs, but tend to focus on natural healing methods.
Naturopathic medicine combines traditional medical practices with alternative disciplines, such as acupuncture, hydrotherapy, and herbal and homeopathic medicine. It also incorporates psychology, spirituality, nutrition, massage, and Eastern medicine. Naturopathic physicians believe that the whole person must be treated rather than focusing solely on a specific illness or health issue. They're trained to use traditional diagnostic methods and a combination of healing methods tailored to each patient. Because they are primary care physicians who also incorporate traditional Western medical practices, they refer patients to surgeons and other health care professionals as needed.
There are only five naturopathic medical colleges located in the U.S. that are accredited by a U.S. Department of Education approved agency. You typically need a bachelor of science degree to apply to a naturopathic medical college, with strong coursework in the sciences, such as biology and chemistry. Classes in anatomy, botany, psychology and mathematics also look good to admissions committees. Aspiring naturopathic physicians spend four years in medical school, with the last two years focusing on clinical work. A residency after college isn't required, but many health care providers offer them. Some states require an examination and licensure to practice, while others have restrictions on the scope of practice.
The primary duty of a naturopathic physician is to devise whole health care management systems for patients, even when they make an appointment for a specific issue. A first visit can take up to two hours and includes considerable time taking a complete medical history and discussing health issues. A conventional medical examination is performed, and diagnostic tests may be ordered, such as x-rays or mammograms. Treatment plans are devised that can include an array of alternative therapies and may make use of conventional medicine. Patients are also advised on disease prevention, nutrition and lifestyle choices.
Pay and Outlook
The median wage for naturopathic physicians in 2001 was $70,690, according to O-Net OnLine, which also predicts an average growth rate in employment between 10 and 19 percent through 2020. The website ExploreHealthCareers.org notes that the average salary for naturopathic doctors is $80,000. There were 56,000 naturopathic physicians employed in 2010 and an estimated 21,200 jobs will open up through 2020.
- O-Net OnLine: Naturopathic Physicians
- Bastyr University: What is Naturopathic Medicine:
- Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges: The 7 Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges
- Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges: Naturopathic Doctor Licensure
- Association of Accredited Naturopathic Medical Colleges: What Kind of Doctor Do You Want to Be?
- ExploreHealthCareers.org: Naturopathic Doctor
- Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images
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Moderate reasoning
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Health
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Bright star Deneb transits at dusk around October 24
Deneb transits at nightfall
Each year around October 24, the bright star Deneb transits – climbs to its highest point in the sky – around 6:30 p.m. local time (7:30 p.m. local daylight saving time). What does that mean for skywatchers? Only that Deneb – a beloved member of the famous asterism called the Summer Triangle – is shifting ever-westward in our sky each day, as Earth travels around the sun. Its transit at nightfall in October is a hallmark of the year. It marks a shift toward winter (or summer) on your half of the globe.
At temperate latitudes in the Southern Hemisphere, where it’s now springtime, Deneb transits at or near the same hour by the clock (near 6:30 p.m. local time). Yet, the sun sets later by the clock at more southerly latitudes. What this means is that in the Southern Hemisphere, Deneb at this time of year actually transits when the sun is still up, instead of at dusk/nightfall.
When the sun or a star transits, it resides at one of three places in the sky. It’s either at zenith (straight overhead), north of zenith or south of zenith.
At 45 degrees north latitude (St. Paul, Minnesota, and Turin, Italy), Deneb shines straight overhead when it transits.
At more northerly or southerly latitudes, Deneb either transits to the north or to the south of the zenith point. Appreciably south of 45 degrees north latitude, Deneb lies to the north of the zenith point when it transits; conversely, when Deneb transits at latitudes appreciably north of 45 degrees north latitude, Deneb lies in the southern sky.
Deneb is part of the Summer Triangle
Two brilliant stars – Vega and Altair – team up with Deneb to complete the immense Summer Triangle. The luminous Summer Triangle asterism, or star formation, can often be seen in a twilight sky or even from a light-polluted city.
From mid-northern latitudes, the far-northern stars Deneb and Vega are seen at the “top” of the Summer Triangle; meanwhile, the southernmost star Altair shines at the “bottom.” From tropical northern latitudes and from the Southern Hemisphere, it’s the other way around: Altair reigns at top and Deneb at bottom. It’s a matter of perspective.
Vega, the Summer Triangle’s westernmost star, lies to the right of Deneb from mid-northern latitudes. From tropical northern latitudes and from the Southern Hemisphere, on the other hand, Vega lies to the left of Deneb.
Around the world, the stars of the Summer Triangle transit some four minutes earlier with each following day (or two hours earlier with each following month). So, from northerly latitudes, the Summer Triangle is destined to shift over into the western sky at nightfall as autumn ebbs toward winter … or, for those in the Southern Hemisphere, as spring blooms into summer.
Bottom line: As darkness falls in mid-October, the star Deneb transits – shines at the apex of the sky – at mid-northern latitudes.
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Science & Tech.
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Resurrection of Jesus Christ
The Resurrection of Jesus Christ was a singular event in history where Jesus was brought back from the dead by God the Father three days after his crucifixion and death on the cross, according to The Gospels. This event is celebrated by Christians worldwide on Easter. The Christian apologist Michael Horner of CRU has an excellent resource which offers a defense of the resurrection of the Jesus Christ entitled Did Jesus really rise from the dead?. In addition, Dr. Gary Habermas offers an online audio library which defends the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
It was soon after the darkest hour, not three days had passed. Women were weeping, men had turned their faces away. All his followers assumed they would never see Him again.
The time for burial was approaching, and two different groups of women came. But the angels appeared, saying, "He is not here; he has risen!" (Matt. 28:6)
"Jesus Christ was the first person to be resurrected on this earth. Others had been brought back from death, but were restored to mortality (Mark 5: 22-43; Luke 7: 11-17; John 11: 1-45). whereas a resurrection means to become immortal, without blood, yet with a body of flesh and bone."
- "That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles." (Acts 26:23)
- "And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1:18)
- "And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth." (Revelations 1:5)
Jesus Christ's tomb was empty.
- "And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.
- And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.
- And they said among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the sepulchre?
- And when they looked, they saw that the stone was rolled away: for it was very great.
- And entering into the sepulchre, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, clothed in a long white garment; and they were affrighted.
- And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him." (Mark 16:1-6)
The Twelve Apostles taught that Jesus had risen from the dead.
- "After His suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God" (Acts 1:3).
- "For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time." (1 Corinthians 15:3-8)
The Ascension of Our Lord, which occurred 40 days after Jesus Christ rose from the dead on Easter Sunday, is the final act of our redemption that Christ began on Good Friday. On this day, the risen Christ, in the sight of His apostles, ascended bodily into Heaven (Luke 24:51; Mark 16:19; Acts 1:9-11).
The Meaning of the Resurrection for Christians
The Fact of the Resurrection of Christ is a key element of the preaching of the message about Jesus and an essential of Christian belief. But there are also certain effects that this belief has on the lives of believers.
1. It is because Jesus rose from the dead, that believers now can resort to a living Savior to help and deliver them from sin and from situations overwhelming for them by their own powers.
2. The New Testament sees in the resurrection of Christ a certain vindication of what apparently to the world and to all beings was a failure and an overcoming of Him by His crucifixion. He was "declared to be the Son of God" by His resurrection. This brings believers in Him to a strong confidence in the determined power of God to both vindicate in their own lives and to bring His reign upon earth.
3. The coming of Jesus back to life means to the believer that, indeed, their sins are totally forgiven. This is because believers know that His death was as a payment for sins - a "wage of death" for our sins that He received in our stead. If He remained dead, believers would know that the wage had not been fully paid. His resurrection, carries with it our knowledge that our sin with its attendant death has been totally and finally paid for.
4. It is a now living Savior that Christians know can go before them, can closely lead them through life - as He did when He was on earth. This makes following Him practical and real.
5. The New Testament reveals that it is the Risen Christ who received from the Father the Holy Spirit and He, through Himself ascended to the Father, has given the Holy Spirit to us. This gives the believer in Christ both the knowledge and the power to live a godly life, and live a life that can be an intimately and personally directed one.
6. The resurrected Christ was no mere reassembling of the molecules and particles of the Body that had been crucified. It was, indeed, a physical body, but one that was fully under the Spirit's control, guidance, and empowerment. It was a "spiritual body". Christians know that likewise, they will one day be granted the nature of a spiritual body, and full of health. They therefore are full of hope and consolations, and consider that even now in this life, there is an overcoming through Him, a restoration, and that tears, even now, are wiped away.
Defense of the resurrection of Jesus
For more information please see: Christian Apologetics and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ
The resurrection of Jesus Christ is critical to the Christian faith. The Apostle Paul wrote, "if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain" (I Cor:15:14). Traditionally, Christianity has believed in a physical resurrection of Jesus Christ.
In the field of the defense of Christianity, which is known as Christian apologetics, there have been many scholars who have provided numerous reasons for believing in the authenticity of the resurrection of Christ. For example, legal scholars, legal authorities, and eminent lawyers such as Simon Greenleaf, John Warwick Montgomery, Lord Darling, John Singleton Copley, Hugo Grotius, Lord Caldecote, J. N. D. Anderson, Lionel Luckhoo, and many others have asserted that western legal standards argue for the resurrection of Christ. In regards to early Christianity, many people who claimed to be eyewitnesses to the resurrected Jesus voluntarily preached the news of this despite extreme persecution, and died for their efforts. Unlike the early members of most religions, these people had the opportunity to be direct eyewitnesses to what verified the claims of Christianity.
Occasionally, a defense of the Resurrection of Jesus comes from someone who does not claim to be a Christian. The following is taken from the book, "Jesus", written by an orthodox Jew, Professor Emeritus David Flusser, who headed New Testament studies Early Christianity and Judaism of the Second Temple period studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. Flusser, no fundamentalist or evangelical in his approach to New Testament Scriptures, marveled at both the lack of faith and lack of good historical method of liberal Protestants:
I am convinced that there are reliable reports that the Crucified One "appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brethren at one time… Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles." Last of all, he appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus (1 Cor. 15:3-8). When Jesus answered the high priest's question about his Messiahship with the words, "From now on the Son of man shall be seated at the right hand of the power of God," did he believe that he, too, would escape the fate that threatened him. Or, as it more likely, did he believe that he would rise from the dead? In any event, the high priest correctly understood that by Jesus' words he was confessing that he was the Messiah. Therefore Caiaphas said, "What need have we of further witnesses? You have heard it from his own mouth" (Luke 22:71). Jesus was taken straightway to Pilate. (From Chpt. 11: Death, pp. 154—155)
- Sign of the Cross
- Bible Art Gallery
- Resurrection Sunday
- Holy Week
- Christianity in Conservapedia
- Jewish Biblical way of interpretation: a solution for New Testament understanding
- Bible Dictionary - Resurrection, LDS.org
- Ascension of Our Lord.
- "I Believe...in the Resurrection of the Flesh"
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Ex. 8. Answer the following questions.
1. What were positive integers used for? 2. When was the number system completed? 3. Are the first numbers which we use the positive integers or the negative ones? 4. Is unity a first or a last integer? 5. By what is the division point between positive and negative numbers occupied? 6. What are rational numbers? 7. Can irrational numbers be expressed as quotients of two or three integers? 8. What numbers are called imaginaries? 9. What do we assign to each point on the line? 10. What do we use to denote the real part of a complex number?
9. Find the Russian equivalents for the following English word combinations.
1. in either direction; 2. imaginaries; 3. is composed of; 4. real and imaginary parts; 5. a quotient of two integers; 6. the number system; 7. to denote the real part; 8. is replaced by; 9. the basic system; 10. in terms of; 11. to correspond to a subset.
a. основная система; b. система чисел; c. действительные и мнимые части; d. в любом направлении; e. заменяется; f. обозначать действительную часть; g. состоит из; h. мнимые числа; i. частное двух чисел; j. через, посредством; k. соответствовать подмножеству
Ex. 10. Give the proper English equivalents for the Russian expressions.
|Древность, соотношение, разделительная точка, делитель, рациональные и иррациональные числа, частное двух чисел, мнимые числа, запись, действительная и мнимая части.|
1. … is occupied by the number zero. 2. The irrationals can not be expressed as …. 3. Positive fractions or numbers can be expressed as…of two of these integers. 4. We are not allowed to use the number zero as… 5. The beginning of our number system dates back to… 6. The real number system is formed of… 7. Numbers √-2, -√-1 are called… 8. The expression 2+√-3 is composed of… 9. To denote the real part of a complex number we use…
Ex. 11. Open the brackets putting the verbs in the correct form.
1. Why you (look at) me like that? 2. We (read) a book while he (cook) lunch at that time yesterday. 3. This time next month I (to cross) the Pacific Ocean. 4. I (wait) for you when you come out. 5. He (sit) in a cafй when I saw him. 6. I (go) to the cinema tonight. 7. Look! She (wear) the same dress as me. 8. Yesterday at 8 o’clock we (watch) the football match. 9. He (drive) his car himself today. 10. Great news! Jack (come) in a week.
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Science & Tech.
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What Types of Coats Can Dog Have?
Dog fur comes in short coats, long coats — and everything in between — and ranges from curly to straight, puffy to wiry, bald to long. Some dogs come equipped with dreadlocks and a few have no hair at all (or very little)!
Dogs basically have two types of coats:
Double coat: Most dogs have a top coat is composed of stiff guard hairs, which tend to be naturally water-repellent. The top coat protects the dog’s skin and his undercoat, which is a fleecy or downy type of fur a bit shorter than the top coat. The undercoat serves as insulation to keep the dog warm during cold or inhospitable weather. The dog sheds (or blows out) the undercoat twice a year — it’s a seasonal thing.
Single coat: Just a top coat does for these dogs, who generally shed less than their double-coated counterparts.
You can tell what kind of coat your dog has by parting the hairs to see whether he has a longer, harsh coat combined with soft, downy fur — a double coat — or the same kind of fur throughout, which makes him single-coated.
In the same way there are different types of coats, different coats have different textures:
Smooth: A smooth- or short-coated dog has very short hair that lays back against his skin — Dalmatians and Bulldogs are examples. A smooth coat can be either double-coated or single-coated. These coats tend not to be much of a hassle when it comes to grooming — even though they do shed.
Wire: The wire, or broken coat is wiry on the outside and often has a soft undercoat on the inside, but it can be a single coat. Wire coats are wavy looking, but when you pet them, the hair feels a bit coarse. Think Terrier when you think about wiry coats.
Curly: The curly-coated dogs are few in number, but you’ll recognize them. They’re the Poodles, the Portuguese Water Dogs, and the Irish Water Spaniels. These dogs have curly coats that require extreme maintenance, including clipping and brushing.
Corded: The fur on these coats are twisted into dreadlocks. These coats need a fair amount of work upfront to prevent the hair from tangling into mats. Dogs with corded coats include the Puli and the Komondor. Poodles can also be corded.
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Mental & Emotional Health
3 Ways Running Boosts Your Happiness and Confidence
It’s common knowledge that running improves your health and fitness, but what about its effects on your mental state? Why does running feel so good when it’s supposed to be a grueling physical challenge? Is there a positive connection between running and depression, anxiety and other forms of stress?
The short answer is yes. Running is extremely beneficial for your stress levels and overall mental health. A healthy body and mind lead to a happier, more fulfilling life. Here are three significant ways running boosts your happiness and confidence.
1. Running Changes Your Brain Activity
Running changes your muscle mass, flexibility and other physical qualities over time, but it also affects your brain activity. What’s most clearly observable is the “runner’s high” that many people have experienced. You might think it is a placebo effect, but it’s not. In fact, chemical changes in the brain explain why running feels so good.
Many studies have found changes in neurotransmitter activity in runners. The subjects’ brains were much more stimulated and active than their physically inactive counterparts. Other studies have also shown that the brain releases more endorphins while running, which dulls our stress responses and makes us experience more positive emotions.
These findings support the stories of people who experienced waves of euphoria at some point while running. No one has determined the exact distance and intensity that triggers the reaction, but the temporary mood boost seems more common in long-distance runners than in sprinters.
Running is also closely linked to long-term mood changes. Health experts don’t agree on much these days, but they concur that running is an effective mental health treatment. It has helped many people overcome depression, anxiety and addiction and start brighter chapters in their lives.
You probably know that running is an excellent cardiovascular workout, but did you know that cardio also benefits our brains? The most complex organ in the body still relies on consistent blood flow, just like every other body part. A healthy vascular system leads to a robust brain, which leads to more positive thoughts and feelings.
Running isn’t a guaranteed remedy for happiness, but it’s a powerful force that alters our brains and leads to short- and long-term mood changes. People with positive attitudes and low stress also tend to have greater motivation and resiliency — two important ingredients of happiness and self-confidence.
2. Running Provides External Motivation
Running also boosts your happiness and confidence by encouraging you to connect with others. Although it’s an individual sport, the running community is full of supportive and social people. Having a trusted friend group is crucial for happiness anywhere, but it’s especially important when the setting is unfamiliar and poses real physical challenges.
Going through a fitness journey alone is a recipe for failure. You won’t have the same positive attitude about running every day. At some point, you will need some external motivation to keep going. Your friends will be there to pick you up and help you stay on track.
Additionally, receiving positive and negative feedback from peers is a great way to build confidence. Hearing the truth keeps us grounded in reality and forces us to address our weaknesses. We experience the most growth when we’re vulnerable.
For example, you might sign up for local 5Ks or half-marathons and connect with like-minded people that way. You could also join a local gym or running club. Running is one of the world’s universally enjoyed sports and features enthusiastic participants, so you should have no issue making meaningful connections.
Along with the social aspect, running allows you to set short- and long-term goals. You need to adopt a goal-oriented mindset to avoid becoming complacent in life. Complacency often causes feelings of discontent and inadequacy, which compounds depression and anxiety.
People feel happier and more fulfilled when working toward a goal, whether they succeed or not. As cliche as it sounds, the journey is more important than the destination. Working hard on a long-term project builds character and confidence.
Running is a particularly effective goal-setting activity because it’s a never-ending race. It gives you a constant sense of urgency because there’s always another milestone or checkpoint to reach. Plus, running has minimal boundaries. You can run anywhere you want: around the neighborhood, on a hiking trail or along the beach. You make the rules.
3. Running Improves Your Sleep
Imagine how much happier you would be if you got seven to nine hours of sleep every night. The solution to your problem isn’t a sleeping pill or white noise machine but physical activity. The logic seems simple enough: The more energy you expend, the more exhausted and ready for sleep you will be. However, exhaustion doesn’t guarantee that you’ll stay asleep.
Runners and other active people get longer and deeper sleep than those with more sedentary lifestyles for several reasons. First, physical activity can help fight against insomnia, sleep paralysis and other mental issues people experience at night.
Running also helps you stay at a healthy weight. Obesity makes sleep a chore and increases the effects of sleep apnea, so weight maintenance is critical for long-term sleeping habits. Getting enough sleep also makes it easier to maintain weight, so this is truly a healthy cycle.
Running raises our body temperature and keeps us awake. Once body temperatures drop after 30-90 minutes, the feeling of sleepiness tends to follow. Falling and staying asleep is the natural biological response to running.
Better sleep has a laundry list of positive health effects. It stabilizes energy levels, strengthens immune systems and improves memories. All these factors enable the brain to unlock its fullest potential for positive thoughts and feelings. A good night’s sleep is the foundation of a happy life, no matter your goals or aspirations.
Running Is Healing
Why does running feel so good? It instigates positive changes in the brain, helps us make meaningful connections, provides a sense of purpose and improves sleep schedules. Each element is an essential part of a confident attitude and happy life. Find your trail, start running and see where the journey takes you.
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[Versión en castellano - Spanish Version]
Charles Babbage [1791-1871] is widely recognized as the father of the modern computer. His design for the Analytical Engine contains much of the basic features still found in a modern computer. The Analytical Engine has received much attention and is covered elsewhere in the web. A good site is John Walker's. His previous work on the Difference Engine brings up very few references, that of the The Science Museum at London where a Difference Engine was built according to Babbage's blueprints and Ed Thelen's website which includes excelent descriptions and original documentation provided by the Science Museum.
Babbage never completed any of his designs. His image is often seen as that of a frustrated inventor. I was surprised to find that he was not only a member of the Royal Society, but held the Lucasian chair of mathematics in Cambridge for 11 years. That position has been held by Isaac Newton and currently Stephen Hawking, hardly a position granted to a failure.
In a visit to London, early in 1991, there was a section in the ground floor of the Museum where a couple of people were assembling an impressive collection of gears, shafts and cams into which would be the first full size Difference Engine ever to be finished to commemorate the bi-centenary of Babbage's birth. It is based on Babbage's Difference Engine No2. From now on, when I say Difference Engine, or just Engine, I mean this model. Late in 1998, in another visit to London, I was able to see the final model, though in a static display. Even though I knew the principles under which it operates, a couple of animations that were shown by the exhibit were very helpful in understanding the basics of how the mechanism works. Thus I got the idea to do the same to show on-line, while at the same time, building the virtual model helped me to understand some details that still escaped me.
In doing so, I contacted the people at the Science Museum and Doron Swade, Assitant Director and then Curator of the collection of computers and control at the Museum was very kind to provide me with a copy of his paper on the design of the Engine and the construction of the model at the Museum, which helped me understand several issues that were not clear to me, with the little information I had at the time.
By the time I received the paper, my virtual model was very advanced, with a few errors and some estimated dimensions instead of true ones, and I decided to publish it on the web as is, instead of waiting to fix it, which I'll do in the hopefully near future.
I'd appreciate any comments, I can be reached at: [email protected]
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The West African Ebola outbreak is finally starting to approach manageable levels, after nearly 18 excruciating months and over 11,000 lost lives. Here’s what the current situation on the ground looks like and how the battle against Ebola finally might be won.
This is the largest and longest Ebola outbreak in human history. At its peak, there were 950 confirmed cases each week, prompting fears of a global pandemic. Officials have reported 28,421 confirmed, probable, and suspected cases in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Of these, some 11,300 people have died — a fatality rate of 40%. A total of 881 healthcare workers have been infected; of those, 513 died.
The effects will be felt for years to come. The loss of so many medical personnel is expected to have downstream effects on the health system of affected West African countries, including a sharp rise in maternal mortality to the tune of an additional 4,022 deaths each year for the foreseeable future. Moreover, the ability of healthcare workers to deal with other major diseases, like Malaria and Lassa (another hemorrhagic fever), was severely curtailed during the epidemic.
Link to full article on Gizmodo
LONDON — Doctors have found that Ebola can linger in some male survivors for up to nine months but aren’t sure if that means they might still be infectious, according to new research.
In a study of 93 men in Sierra Leone, scientists found the Ebola virus in semen samples from about half of them. The risk seemed to decline over time. Ebola was detected in all nine men tested at two to three months after their illness began but in only 11 of the 43 survivors tested at seven to nine months.
Link to Mashable
Link to NE Journal of Medicine Article
A vaccine against the deadly Ebola virus has led to 100% protection and could transform the way Ebola is tackled, preliminary results suggest.
There were no proven drugs or vaccines against the virus at the start of the largest outbreak of Ebola in history, which began in Guinea in December 2013.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said the findings, being published in the Lancet, could be a “game-changer”.
Experts said the results were “remarkable”.
This trial centred on the VSV-EBOV vaccine, which was started by the Public Health Agency of Canada and then developed by the pharmaceutical company Merck.
Full story at BBC News
Sequencing genetic material from the blood of 179 Ebola patient blood samples has provided insights into the epidemiological and evolutionary course of the current Ebola epidemic. The analysis confirms the path that different viral lineages took through the human populations of West Africa. These findings are important because they can be used in conjunction with epidemiological data to retrospectively test the effectiveness of Ebola control measures.
For this study, viral genomes were sequenced from blood samples of Ebola infected patients. Each sample was linked to the following data: patient location, sample collection date, disease onset, and disease outcome. The median collection date was four days after the onset of symptoms. The viral gene sequence was derived from RNA sequencing of patient samples (Ebola is an RNA virus).
More at Ars Technica
The Ebola virus has been detected in the eye of a US doctor who had already recovered from the illness.
The medic, who caught the bug while working in Sierra Leone, had blurred eyesight and pain two months after being declared Ebola-free.
Scientists say his eye infection presents no risk to the public.
But reporting in the New England Journal of Medicine they warn that research is needed to see if Ebola can also linger in other parts of the body.
Patients with Ebola are generally discharged once tests show the virus is no longer present in blood. At this point, experts say, it cannot be spread to members of the general public.
An experimental drug has cured monkeys infected with the Ebola virus, US-based scientists have said.
The treatment, known as TKM-Ebola-Guinea, targets the Makona strain of the virus, which caused the current deadly outbreak in West Africa.
All three monkeys receiving the treatment were healthy when the trial ended after 28 days; three untreated monkeys died within nine days.
Scientists cautioned that the drug’s efficacy has not been proven in humans.
Full Story on BBC
or the first time, a drug is showing promising signs of effectiveness in Ebola patients participating in a study. The medicine, which interferes with the virus’s ability to copy itself, seems to have halved mortality — to 15 percent, from 30 percent — in patients with low to moderate levels of Ebola in their blood, researchers have found. It had no effect in patients with more virus in their blood, who are more likely to die.
The drug, approved as an influenza treatment in Japan last year, was generally well tolerated.
“The results are encouraging in a certain phase of the disease,” Dr. Sakoba Keita, director of disease control for the Guinean Ministry of Health, said in a telephone interview. The drug is being tested in Guinea, one of the three West African countries most affected by the Ebola crisis.
Scientists tracking the Ebola outbreak in Guinea say the virus has mutated.
Researchers at the Institut Pasteur in France, which first identified the outbreak last March, are investigating whether it could have become more contagious.
More than 22,000 people have been infected with Ebola and 8,795 have died in Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia.
Scientists are starting to analyse hundreds of blood samples from Ebola patients in Guinea.
They are tracking how the virus is changing and trying to establish whether it’s able to jump more easily from person to person
“We know the virus is changing quite a lot,” said human geneticist Dr Anavaj Sakuntabhai.
Ramaswamy Narayanan, Ph.D., professor in the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science at Florida Atlantic University, is working to blend the power of computers with biology to use the human genome to remove much of the guesswork involved in discovering cures for diseases.
In an article titled “Ebola-Associated Genes in the Human Genome: Implications for Novel Targets,” published in the current MedCrave Online Journal of Proteomics and Bioinformatics, Narayanan describes how key genes that are present in our cells could be used to develop drugs for this disease.
“Bioinformatics is a powerful tool to help us understand biological data,” said Narayanan whose research has focused in this field for more than a decade. “We are mining the human genome for Ebola virus association to develop an understanding of the human proteins involved in this disease for subsequent research and development, and to potentially create a pipeline of targets that we can test and evaluate.”
Researchers hope to repurpose already-approved drugs into potential anti-Ebola therapies
Using a novel drug-screening approach, researchers have found more than 50 drugs that show potential as anti-Ebola treatments, according to a study published today (December 17) in Emerging Microbes and Infections. The team used a noninfectious Ebola virus mimic to assess the ability of a large number of drugs to inhibit entry of the viral impostor into human cells. The researchers focused their search on drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and those in investigational trials, in the hopes of cutting costs and risks associated with early-stage drug development.
“Looking at approved drugs—especially in the context of an outbreak—and this type of off-list use of potential drugs, is useful,” said Matthew Frieman, a virologist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine who was not involved in this study. “It can start discussions with doctors and clinicians in the field.”
More than 18,000 people have been infected with Ebola—including nearly 7,000 reported deaths—as part of the ongoing outbreak in West Africa, according to the World Health Organization. Although the Ebola virus was first identified in 1976, drugs to treat the disease have been difficult to develop. The current outbreak has spurred the use of experimental drugsto treat Ebola with some success.
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Anthony Azevedo, a Payson Center for Success (PCS) junior, stood next to the Apollo 13 splashdown capsule at the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. during spring break.
"Standing in the presence of history was really a moving experience," he said.
The museum visit was part of a larger trip taken by PCS students to Washington, D.C. to learn about government, history and life outside of Payson.
His experience at the Lincoln Memorial was also memorable to Azevedo, because President Lincoln is a hero he studies on his own time.
Students spent much of the time in awe of what they had only seen in books.
What PCS teacher Nancy Mullikin called one of the "aha moments" on the trip, was when one of the girls came up to her on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and said, "I can just picture Martin Luther King giving his ‘I Have a Dream' speech here. It's so real."
In order to tour the White House, each student had to undergo fingerprinting and a background check, months before the trip.
PCS students, some of whom had never been further than 100 miles from Payson, took in sights such as Arlington National Cemetery, George Washington's Mt. Vernon home, Ford's Theatre and historic Williamsburg, Va.
The teachers incorporated these historic places into the students' curricula prior to the trip, through English and history essays and math problems.
But that classroom research did not prepare them for the myriad of emotions Arlington National Cemetery evoked - remorse, depression, amazement, respect.
"I could not believe that there were 700,000+ bodies there," Quintin Tank wrote later. "I don't know how the families dealt with the losses of their sons and daughters. I can only imagine how hard it must be."
The colonial streets of Williamsburg, Va. let the students go back through time to an era when the street were cobblestone, the men wore wigs and apples were pressed by hand into cider.
Colonial Williamsburg is the world's largest living museum, with actors playing the parts of the original town's citizenry.
The students absorbed everything they saw.
At Mt. Vernon, Mullikin noted six of the boys watching a movie about the battlefields during the War for Independence.
"They were mesmerized by the sacrifices people made and the high moral values they had," she said.
The PCS students recorded their experience in an eight-page newspaper they published called the Historic Gazette. Each student had a hand in the production as a photographer, reporter or editorial staff.
Just like a real newspaper, there are news and feature articles, advice columns, obituaries, advertisements and weather.
Wesley Murray wrote a fictional story of a slave boy who located his mother after three years.
Patrick Werner compared the games of today and the games of yesteryear in, "Can Blind Man's Bluff Make a Comeback?"
"Entertainment was a lot more physical in Colonial times than it is today," Ashlei Sockrider wrote in her article.
The fake hair wigs of 200 years ago fascinated writer Makayla Cabello.
"We got to experience things that some people wait a lifetime to do and may never get to do," wrote Heidi Haworth.
Students had to come up with $200 for the trip. Credit for Kids donations paid for the rest of the trip.
Chris and Jerry -- the parents of Kayla Floyd, a student who passed away and would have graduated in 2007 --- donated disposable cameras for the adventure, in memory of their daughter.
PCS thanks all the people who helped them on their journey and plans to mail them a copy of the Historic Gazette.
Other people who would like a copy of the paper may stop by the school district office at 514 W. Wade Lane or call PCS at (928) 472-2011.
The students have developed a PowerPoint presentation about their patriotic experience. Any organization who wishes to have a student give a presentation at their club may contact the school.
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A secluded well and chapel: Chadkirk’s St Chad’s Well and Chapel
Nestling in a quiet valley beneath the suburban overspill of Stockport is Chadkirk chapel and its well, protected in this cocoon in a country park.
A picturesque chapel
The first record of the Chapel is around 1306, but by the early 16th century it was referred to as a Chantry Chapel with a Chaplain, Ralph Green, in Valor Ecclesiasticus of 1535. This suggests a pre-Reformation chapel on the site perhaps nearer the well. However by 1621 when William Webb wrote about the Macclesfield Hundred he noted:
“At the foot of Werneth Low, towards the merzey, lies an old dearn and deavly chappell, so people call desert places out of company and resort: called Chad Chappell where seems to have been a monkish cell.”
An archaeological survey undertaken in 1994 showed that there was a previous chapel on the site which was the same size. The present chapel is aligned east west and is a simple two cell building much in keeping with an Anglo-Saxon style. The oldest part was revealed to be the north and east walls of the chancel. Upon these stone walls is a wooden frame in traditional Cheshire black and white style.
Is it an ancient well?
“A picturesque well near the chapel – its walls built of rubble stone, covered with moss and ferns – bears the name of St Chad’s Well, or the Holy Well, and is traditionally said to have been the scene of miraculous cures.”
Despite this it is a problematic well, as it is first named in 1872 on the first Ordnance Survey. A stone found in a garden nearby at Romiley is mentioned on the information display board at the well is linked to the ancient British head cult, it shows three heads and its tentatively linked to the well…very I would say.
“The well was probably here before that time but these small details were sometimes missed off the maps.”
The well house was probably built around 18th -19th century and is built of sandstone blocks having a doorway with a flat lintel where there is evidence of both inner and outer door. It was probably roofed protecting it. Three steps step down into a rectangular well chamber, with a chamber measuring 1.8m x 1.6m. The wells seem to have been repaired or renovated several times in the past.
Every year since 1998 at the end of July a well dressing of the Derbyshire style has been produced and it is opened by the Mayor and is associated with the very popular festival.
What about St. Chad?
The earliest reference to the saint is possibly in the Domesday Book of 1086 as ‘Cedde’ although some believe that this refers to Cheadle. There is a tradition that the saint visited the area, but there is no direct evidence. Sadly, this is a trend quite common in wells associated with this saint.
Posted on November 19, 2013, in Cheshire, Favourite site, Folklore, Pilgrimage, Saints, Well dressing and tagged Chantry Chapel, Cheshire, Holy well blog, Local history, st chad, well dressing, William Webb. Bookmark the permalink. 1 Comment.
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Communication in the Online Classroom
Communication in a online classroom can be classified in the following ways:
|Between the teacher and the whole class or groups of students||Forum|
|Between the teacher and individual students||Messaging|
|Between a student and the whole class or groups||Forums / Groups|
|Between individual students||Messaging|
As you become more fluent with the online classroom, you will start to see how almost any interactions possible in a traditional classroom can be reproduced online.
Many teachers find the "forum" or discussion board, to be the most comfortable and versatile tool for group discussions. Messages posted on a forum can be read by the teacher and all students. There's also an option (called 'subscribing') where the messages posted in a forum are sent to someone's email address as well.
Forums can be started by the teacher with an inital post, conversation starter, or discussion prompt. They can be structured as one long line of posts and responses, OR students can be given the option to start their own "threads", in which case the forum will have "branches" where conversations can take different directions.
By going to anybody's 'profile' page, you can 'Send a Message' to that person. This is a private message between two people. It is similar to email, but the communication never leaves the Moodle system. (However if the recipient doesn't log in within a certain time, the message will also get emailed to them.)
Messaging is useful in a class setting when answering unique questions; private matters, or anything else that doesn't need to be shared with the class as a whole.
Messages can be sent from students to other students as well.
There is a mechanism for turning on a 'Groups' option in Moodle. Turning this on allows a teacher to mark some (or all) forums as 'Group Mode'. In this situation, a separate forum will exist for each of the groups. Students will see the forum for their own group, and the teacher will be able to see all of them.
In order to use this feature, the teacher will have to create the groups and select which students belong to each group. Once this is done, group mode can be turned on for any of the activities in the online class.
The new options that appear with 'Groups' turned on can be overwhelming. In a forum, there are options to:
Which one to choose depends on the goals of the course. Remember that more options tends to increase the chances for your students to be confused, so you may want to start with the simplest options. You can always expand from them as the class becomes accustomed to their use.
Teachers can use groups in the same variety of ways that groups get used in face to face classes: correcting each other's work, having smaller, closer discussions, brainstorming, projects, et cetera.
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This essay has been submitted by a student. This is not an example of the work written by our professional essay writers.
1.1 Background of the study
The definition of politeness varies across cultures and the claims for universals have shown divergence and also lack of clarity as they have received serious attention since the Brown and Levinson theory was proposed (1978, 1987). Lakoff (1989) defined the term 'Polite' as the use of politeness rules regardless of expectation whereas the term 'non-polite' behaviour refers to the act of not using politeness rules when they are not expected. The Brown and Levinson's (B&L's) model has contributed a lot in the study of politeness discourse although there are many criticisms that have been made by some researchers due to its lack of clarity concerning the definition of politeness and concomitant concepts of across studies and within the same studies (A. J. Meier, 1995). Furthermore, the B&L's theory is said to be ethnocentric because it is derived directly from the high value which is based on individualism in the Western culture (Kasper, 1990: 252-253) and the fact that their distinction between the negative and positive politeness is dubious (Meier, 1995: 384). Goffman's (1967) work has also contributed a lot in the field of politeness discourse and has become one of the most significant in the research of language use. Goffman has introduced the notion of face (B&L, 1987: 61). The B&L defined the term politeness in terms of speakers' need to say things which enable them to mitigate the imposition inherent in speech acts and also the face that those speech acts threaten including the face of the speaker as well as the face of others. A mitigated form is a form that is used in speech by expressing a given prepositional content in order not to offend others (Linde, 1988). According to Leech (1983), politeness is needed and important in the theory of linguistic pragmatics in order to explain the reasons that cause speakers to violate Grice's Co-operative principles and its maxims. Self-politeness is taken seriously in Leech's framework. The self-politeness is important in the theory of linguistic politeness because it involves the face of the speaker which tends to be as vulnerable as the face of the hearer. This vulnerability is viewed in two ways and is described in the B&L model. First, there are speech acts that threaten faces of others and speech acts that threaten the self-face. Second, the face of the speaker can also be attacked by the hearer just as the face of the hearer can be attacked by the speaker in a conversation.
Brown and Levinson have devoted an entire book of politeness although its concept is never actually defined. They focused on two types of politeness strategies which are the negative and positive strategies that are used in order to reduce the imposition or threat to an addressee's face upon the enactment of an inherently face-threatening act. Negative strategies are characterized as expressions of restraint, formality, and distancing whereas positive strategies are described as expressions of solidarity, intimacy, informality, and familiarity (A. J. Meier, 1995). These strategies focus on the positive and negative face notions. Positive face refers to a person's self-esteem and how he or she wants to be appreciated and accepted by the society. On the other hand, negative face refers to a person's freedom to act. Every individual has the rights to be involved in making decision. Speakers have to perform various speech acts in communication and these acts tend to threaten the face of the speaker or the hearer or both which can cause misunderstandings among them. There are five superstrategies that were proposed by the Brown and Levinson theory which are:
Without redressive action, baldly
Withhold the FTA
Rudeness is the contrast of the term politeness. Lakoff (1989) defined the term 'rude' as an act that disregards politeness rules when they are in fact expected although there is no clarity in considering what politeness rules consist of and on what basis they are determined in order to be considered as polite (A. J. Meier,1995). An apology is an act of politeness which is stated in Holmes (1990: 156) and is practised in most cultures of the world. According to Britain (1992), high rising tones which are used in declarative sentences are considered as markers of politeness in New Zealand English. In the work of Bublitz (1980), the terms please, just, passive voice, and tag questions are considered as the expressions of politeness. Politeness routines such as "Thank you" and "You're welcome" are also essential in communication. In order not to sound rude when speaking to others, the appropriate politeness strategies should be implied and practised which can avoid misunderstandings between the speakers and hearers. According to Janney and Arndt (1992), tact resembles the B&L's concepts and it is important in order to avoid conflicts. Blum-Kulka (1989:67) on the other hand considers tact as an aspect of the appropriate polite behaviour. Kasper (1990:200) argued that the strategies and means of politeness are not exactly endowed with politeness values, which creates a question mark in one's mind. If polite strategies are not always polite as what is said by her, one would wonder what qualifies them as politeness strategies to begin with. Furthermore, some would argue that there is no particular style nor particular syntactic constructions (Fraser and Nolen, 1981; Zimin, 1981) can be polite or impolite. Many would question when and where to be polite and this is when sociolinguistic competence becomes important. Sociolinguistic competence is the knowledge of appropriate language use (Joseph A. DeVito, 2008). Lakoff (1989: 103) made an equate clarity with non-politeness where she maintained that politeness only differs in importance depending on the discourse genre which she believed that the more transactional the interaction is, the less important politeness will be.
1.2 Statement of the problem
The universality of politeness is yet to be clarified because politeness varies across cultures which create problems in establishing objective measures for application across cultures. In this case, misunderstandings in communication can occur when one is unaware of another one's culture. Ehlich (1992) has warned of the dangers of ethnocentricity in determining the standards of politeness that apply to all groups whereas Hymes (1986:49) emphasized on the cautions of the tendencies in seeking the satisfaction of universal framework without considering the empirical inadequacy of them. Malaysia is a country that consists of various ethnics that have different practices, cultures and beliefs. Its biggest ethnic groups are the Malays, followed by the Chinese, Indian, and lastly the minority ethnics. Politeness is important because it can cause misunderstandings if it is not taken seriously. However, due to the culture differences politeness is viewed differently by different groups of society in Malaysia. The B&L's model cannot be applied in some of these cultures because they do not seem to fulfil each other's wants. Gu (1990) argued that the B&L's concepts are not adequate to account for aspects of Chinese and Matsumoto (1988, 1989) argued that the B&L's notion of face with its individual territorial rights cannot be applied to the Japanese since the Japanese are more concerned with positional relation to others rather than with the individual territory.
Everyone has the tendency to be rude when speaking to other people and they can in fact choose to be or not to be rude whenever and wherever they want. However, does this mean that they do not know the rules of politeness? According to the B&L theory of politeness, an utterance is considered polite when there is an implicature that is generated due to the violation of the conversational maxims in order to save the face of others. An utterance can be polite even though the implicature is not. If that is so, how can someone tell when someone else meant to be polite or rude? A speaker's communication competence is correlated to the degree of politeness. In order to be a competent speaker, one must possess communicative competence which consists of four types of competencies which are Grammatical competence, Sociolinguistic competence, Discourse competence, and Strategic competence. Grammatical competence is the mastery of the language and Sociolinguistic competence is the knowledge of appropriate language use. Discourse competence on the other hand means the knowledge of how to connect utterances in a text in order to make sure it is both cohesive and coherent. Finally, strategic competence refers to the mastery of the strategies used by speakers to compensate for breakdowns in communication as well as the strategies that they use in order to enhance the effectiveness of the communications.
The B&L's model agreed with Grice's co-operative principles and the conversational maxims which consider politeness as part of rational communication. Grice's theory assumed that communication involves the intention of a speaker which is directed at a hearer and intended to be recognized (Brown and Levinson, 1987:7) and that communication is governed by a rational Cooperative Principle and also a number of maxims which give rise to conversational implicatures (1987:3). The co-operative principles emphasized four maxims which are the maxim of quantity, maxim of quality, maxim of relation, and maxim of manner which are formulated under the assumption that the common purpose of the talk exchange is to be maximally efficient and reliable. If one has to follow the B&L's concepts, one probably has to flout the co-operative principles. One's utterance can be polite even if the speaker doesn't mean anything polite. One can be rude even though it is not done on purpose and one can be polite even though it is not meant. According to Grice (1957:219, 1968:122), in order to mean something by an utterance one must have the intention to produce some effect in an audience by means of the recognition of this intention. In short, one can choose to follow the Brown and Levinson's concepts or neglect its message to save the face of others.
Interruptions are not tolerated in the English language but it is tolerated in the Italian language. It is considered rude for a person to interrupt another person's speech in the English culture. (Brian Paltridge, 2005). Interruption is also considered as a Face Threatening Act. (Jonas Pfister, 2010). For this reason, interruption is considered rude among Malaysians for example interrupting a person's conversation when he or she is not finished talking. If this is true, what about the practice of interruptions in a debate competition? One may question when and where can politeness be applied. Some would even consider interruption by permission in a conversation is tolerable. If so, one may question the accuracy of the definition of the terms 'rude' and 'polite'. Both competent and incompetent speakers can choose to neglect the politeness rules whenever they want and yet, they are still considered as competent and incompetent speakers of a language.
1.3 Objectives of study
This study seeks to:
To investigate the politeness practices among competent and incompetent speakers of English in Malaysia.
To understand the many reasons that lead to rudeness among most incompetent and competent speakers of English in their conversations.
To give guidance to incompetent and competent speakers of English in helping them to understand the politeness strategies.
To help us understand the needs in educating these incompetent and competent speakers of English in language usage.
1.4 Research questions
The following are the research questions for the study:
1.4.1 What are the factors that cause incompetent and competent speakers of English to have the tendencies to sound rude in their speeches?
1.4.2 What are the ways that may help the incompetent and competent speakers of English in improving their speeches?
Who are responsible in helping the incompetent and competent speakers of English in improving their speeches?
When and where should the incompetent and competent speakers of English be polite when having a conversation with others?
Significance of the Study
This study is important in order to help us understand about the problems faced by the incompetent and competent speakers of English in their everyday conversations. This study is also concern whether there is a need for maxim of politeness in our everyday conversation. Politeness is hardly defined due to the lack of clarification of its term and its definition has been argued by many researchers in their various theories of politeness. Researchers such as Lakoff (1973), Leech (1983), Kingwell (1993), Davis (1998), and Kalia (2004, 2007) believed that a maxim of politeness is needed in our everyday conversation and their views will help us to understand the significance of the term polite. This study also explores the competent and incompetent speaker of English in Malaysia's point of views of the term polite based on their own understandings and practices since politeness can differ across cultures. I will also explain why the Brown and Levinson's theory is not satisfactory and cannot be universally accepted. Through this study, a Malaysian perspective of the term polite can be explored, understood and compared.
Scope of the study
This study is conducted in Fakulti Bahasa Moden dan Komunikasi (FBMK) UPM which is confined to the population of 12 selected ESL learners in Malaysia. All of the respondents are picked randomly from 3 major races in Malaysia which are Malay, Chinese, and India besides. However, the natives of Sabah and Sarawak are not included.
Definition of Terms
For the purpose of the study, the following terms are defined below in order to facilitate a better understanding of the study's main concern.
The term 'polite' refers to the use of politeness rules regardless of expectation (Lakoff, 1989). Besides that, an utterance is considered polite if and only if there is an implicature that is generated due to the violation of a conversational maxims because of concerns of face (Brown and Levinson, 1987).
The term 'non-polite' refers to the behaviour of not using politeness rules and yet not expected (Lakoff,1989).
The term 'rude' on the other hand includes the disregarding of the politeness rules when they are in fact expected (Lakoff, 1989).
1.7.4 Positive Face
The term 'Positive face' refers to the want that the wants be desirable to others and also the wants be approved of by others (Brown and Levinson, 1987).
1.7.5 Negative Face
The term 'Negative face' refers to the want of every member that his wants be desirable to at least some others. Negative politeness is said to be more polite than the positive politeness.
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Siew Te Wong, a Malaysian wildlife biologist and sun bear expert, divulges some interesting characteristics of this rare Southeast Asian bear and how they fit into the ecosystem. He tells “The WildLife” host Laurel Neme how he became one of the first to study sun bears, which are the smallest of the bear species and also the least known. Did you know that sun bears consider beetle larvae one of their tastiest treats? When they eat them, the animals close their eyes and savor the experience, similar to humans relishing the yummiest of chocolates. Siew Te Wong also talks about his adventures researching the species, threats to these rare bears, his rescue efforts, and what people can do to help. For the last 13 years, Wong has been studying and working on the ecological conservation of the sun bear. He is one of the few Malaysian wildlife biologists trained in a western country. He did both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science at the University of Montana in Missoula, and is continuing for his doctorate degree there. His pioneering studies of sun bear ecology in the Borneo rainforest revealed the elusive life history of the sun bear in the dense jungle. Wong’s research has taken him to the most threatened wildlife habitat on Earth, where field work is exceedingly difficult. While rapid habitat destruction from unsustainable logging practices, the conversion of the sun bear’s habitat into palm oil plantations and uncontrolled poaching activities paint a bleak picture for the future of the sun bear, Wong is determined to help the present situation of sun bears in Southeast Asia. Wong is the CEO of the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, which he founded in 2008. He was also a fellow of the Flying Elephants Foundation, which awards individuals from a broad range of disciplines in the arts and sciences who have demonstrated singular creativity, passion, integrity and leadership and whose work inspires a reverence for the natural world. Wong is also the former co-chair of the Sun Bear Expert Team, under the IUCN/Species Survival Commission’s Bear Specialist Group and a current member of three IUCN/SSC Specialist Groups. This episode of “The WildLife” aired on The Radiator, WOMM-LP, 105.9 FM in Burlington, Vermont on May 17, 2010.
Article and edited transcript available below and on Mongabay.com
Pet trade, palm oil, and poaching: the challenges of saving the ‘forgotten bear’
By Laurel Neme, special to mongabay.com
March 20, 2011
This interview originally aired May 17, 2010. It was transcribed by Diane Hannigan.
Siew Te Wong is one of the few scientists who study sun bears (Ursus malayanus). He spoke with Laurel Neme on her “The WildLife” radio show and podcast about the interesting biological characteristics of this rare Southeast Asian bear, threats to the species and what is being done to help them.
Sun bears are the smallest of the eight bear species. They’re about half the size of a North American black bear and typically sport a tan crescent on their chests. Similar to the “moon bear,” or Asian black bear, the sun bear’s name comes from this marking, which looks like a rising or setting sun.
Sun bears live in Southeast Asia and are probably the least known bear species in the world. They have been so long neglected that Wong refers to them as “the forgotten bear species.” One of the reasons may be that they are difficult to study because they’re nocturnal and spend most of their time up in the trees.
Nobody knows how many sun bears remain in the wild. However, they are under significant threat and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) lists them under Appendix I. Habitat loss is the primary concern but these diminutive bears are also threatened by the pet trade and poaching for their parts, which are used in traditional Asian medicine.
For the last 14 years, Wong has dedicated his life the study and ecological conservation of the sun bear. Wong’s research has taken him to the most threatened wildlife habitat on Earth, where fieldwork is exceedingly difficult.
His pioneering studies of sun bear ecology in the Borneo rainforest revealed the elusive life history of the sun bear in the dense jungle.
While rapid habitat destruction from unsustainable logging practices, the conversion of the sun bear’s habitat into palm oil plantations and uncontrolled poaching activities paint a bleak picture for the future of the sun bear, Wong is helping sun bears both through his research and through the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre in Sabah, Malaysian Borneo, which he founded in 2008.
Wong is one of a handful of Malaysian wildlife biologists who has trained in a western country. He did both his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees at the University of Montana in Missoula, and is finishing his doctorate there. He is former co-chair of the Sun Bear Expert Team, under the IUCN/Species Survival Commission’s Bear Specialist Group, and a current member of three IUCN/SSC Specialist Groups. His dedication was recognized when he was named a fellow of the Flying Elephants Foundation, which awards individuals from a broad range of disciplines in the arts and sciences who have demonstrated singular creativity, passion, integrity and leadership and whose work inspires a reverence for the natural world.
The following is an excerpt from The WildLife with Laurel Neme, a program that probes the mysteries of the animal world through interviews with scientists and other wildlife investigators. The WildLife airs every Monday from 1-2 pm Eastern Standard Time on WOMM-LP, 105.9 FM in Burlington, Vermont. You can livestream it at www.theradiator.org or download the podcast from iTunes, www.laurelneme.com, or http://laurelneme.podbean.com. This interview originally aired May 17, 2010. It was transcribed by Diane Hannigan.
NTERVIEW WITH SIEW TE WONG
Laurel Neme: What’s special about sun bears?
Siew Te Wong: They’re very unique to me! When you ask that question to biologists they’ll tell you the species they’re studying is always special, always unique, because they love them so much. So, it will be the same for me!
Laurel Neme: Where do they live? Are they unusual because they are an arboreal bear?
Siew Te Wong: Sun bears are found in Southeast Asia in ten different countries… ranging from the eastern tip of India to the southern tip of China in Yunnan province, across Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, islands of Sumatra, and the island of Borneo. It’s a tropical bear. They’re the smallest of all the bears [family Ursidae], and weigh [about] a hundred pounds.
SUN BEAR RESEARCH
Laurel Neme: How many people study sun bears?
Siew Te Wong: At the time I started my study back in 1998, there were three people, including myself, studying sun bears in Borneo. I was working on my Masters degree and the other two were working on their PhDs. Last year there were three or four additional projects—two in Sumatra, and one in Thailand, and one on the peninsula of Malaysia. So, after all these years, less than 10 people in the world have ever studied sun bears. Period. Compared to other large mammal species, the numbers are so low. We are so behind in generating scientific information on sun bears.
Laurel Neme: Do all of you exchange information? What’s a party like between all of you? [Laughs].
Siew Te Wong: I’m working really hard trying to get everyone to collaborate and exchange information as much as possible. Since I’m one of the first people to do this work, I want to assist as many students and biologists as possible to do their work. I have spent a lot of time in the forest to learn about sun bears the hard way. If I can pass my knowledge on to others, they don’t have to learn the hard way. I’d love to do that. Almost everyone is in close contact with me. I try to give my advice and my opinion as much as possible—even help them do their studies.
Laurel Neme: Given that they are so difficult to find in the forest, how do you go about studying them?
Siew Te Wong: The first challenge is to catch them and put a radio collar on them. To study large mammals like sun bears [the first thing to do is] put a radio collar on them to follow them in the forest. [Then] we try to get close to them and see what they do. We collect their [fecal matter]. [From that] we can know how large their range is and so on.[Early on] we tried to catch them without any sort of experience. Back in 1999, I had some help from some bear biologists from here, [and] they helped me set up traps out of wood and metal.
Laurel Neme: What did the traps look like?
Siew Te Wong: At the time, we used three kinds of traps. The first kind of trap was a wooden box trap, made out of 3’x3’ lumber. It’s similar to the trap used in North America to trap wolverines. [Then] there’s the aluminum culvert trap that we custom-made in Montana. The beauty of this trap is that it can be taken apart into nine pieces and then we can backpack the whole trap into the forest and then put it back together. The third kind [of trap] is the 55-gallon barrel trap.
Laurel Neme: How did you bait them?
Siew Te Wong: At the time, no one had trapped sun bears before, so I tried all different kinds of bait including all the fruits and honey. After months of trial and error, I figured it out. The best bait to catch sun bears is chicken guts. It’s cheap, it’s smelly, and the bears love it. [Laughs]
SUN BEAR DIETS
Laurel Neme: Sun bears are not strictly herbivorous?
Siew Te Wong: Sun bears are bears. They’re carnivores in design, but they end up eating whatever they can find. Fruits, of course, are one of the items they can find in the forest. If they could find carcasses or hunt prey, I’m sure they would.
Laurel Neme: Was that known before you started studying what they eat?
Siew Te Wong: Yes and no. From captive animals we knew they are omnivores and eat almost everything. The zookeepers give them meat. Other species do the same thing. The sloth bear, or the spectacled bear, or the Indian bear, we know they eat a lot of plant material but they’ll also eat meat [if they have access to it].
Laurel Neme: Will sun bears kill prey or are they simply opportunistic, in that if they’ll find a carcass they’ll consume it]?
Siew Te Wong: They’re more opportunistic. In the forest, if there are some prey items that are easier to catch, then they’ll definitely go for it. For example, they prey quite a bit on tortoises.
Laurel Neme: They can get at the tortoises with the shell?
Siew Te Wong: Apparently they can use their long claws. The shell is not closed up completely. There are some soft spots where the bears can easily use their claws and canines to damage and kill it.
Laurel Neme: What else do the bears eat? You mentioned earlier that they eat insects.
Siew Te Wong: In 1999-2000, during my first ecological study of sun bears, the forest did not have any fruit in season. The bears were feeding on invertebrates like termites, beetles, beetle larvae, earthworms and any insects they could get.[Beetle] larvae can grow to as much as three to four inches long. They’re packed with fat and protein. A sun bear can spend an hour or two digging at a decayed [piece of] wood trying to fish out beetle larvae. The moment they fish one out, you can tell from their facial expression—[it’s like] they’re having the best chocolate in their life!
Laurel Neme: What does this happy expression look like?
Siew Te Wong: First of all, they close their eyes! I’m not sure if you can notice or not, but bears smile like humans or dogs. When they smile, they pull their facial muscles backwards, so it looks like their smiling. They’re just like humans when tasting a nice piece of chocolate. You close your eyes and let the chocolate melt in your mouth. It’s exactly the same expression when they have big, fat, juicy, packed-with-protein beetle larvae in their mouth.
Laurel Neme: Have you tried the beetle larvae?
Siew Te Wong: No! I’m not that desperate!
Laurel Neme: [Laughs] They still eat the larvae even when fruit is available in the forest?
Siew Te Wong: Yes! And the forests of Borneo have a unique feature where they don’t fruit annually. The forest goes through something called mass fruiting. The mass fruiting occurs every two to eleven years. During the non-fruiting years, the bears feed on invertebrates. Also, there are a few species of plants that do not follow the mass fruiting, like fig and ficus.
Laurel Neme: Is there a lot of competition for the fig and ficus?
Siew Te Wong: There’s a lot of competition between the bears in a period when there is no fruit around. From my study, from the bears that I captured, they all have different kinds of scars and wounds from fighting. They have a tough life. They compete with each other because food resources are so low.
But for the ficus, it’s something different. They’re big and can produce big crops. There’s no need to compete for this kind of fruit. The resources are available [to the bears] for a period of two weeks or so. One strangling fig [a kind of ficus] can put out about 2 million fruits at a time, so there’s no need for competition. I have evidence of three different bears feeding on the same tree at the same time. I’ve also witnessed one of my radio collar bears feeding on top of a fig tree, and then on the same tree there was a female orangutan with babies, a binturong (Asian bearcat) with babies, gibbons, and all kinds of birds and squirrels. It’s a very spectacular sight.
Laurel Neme: Is the fruiting seasonal or by year?
Siew Te Wong: The fig tree is not seasonal. They fruit individually throughout the year. Some species fruit twice a year, some put out three different crops a year. The reason they do it [that way] is to maintain a healthy population of fig wasps, their only pollinators.
ROLE OF SUN BEARS IN ECOSYSTEM
Laurel Neme: What’s the role of sun bears in the ecosystem?
Siew Te Wong: They do two big things for the forest. One, they are frugivores. They’re large mammals, so they eat big fruit with big seeds, for example, durian—the king of fruits in Southeast Asia. When they eat the fruit they disperse the seeds. Sun bears are important for seed dispersal in the forest ecosystem. They pretty much plant the forest. The seeds need to be carried far away from the mother tree to enhance the germination period and the survival rate of the trees.[Second], by feeding on invertebrates like termites, they break the termite mound and they break apart decaying wood. They are actually creating another type of niche, another type of feeding site for other animals. They don’t finish everything, which leaves another site for other animals to feed on.
They’re considered an ecosystem engineer. [Another example is that] they feed on beehives. The beehives are in tree cavities, so they have to break into the main trunk of the tree in order to get to the beehives and they create cavities. These will later be used by [other animals like flying squirrels] to make nests. [Since they] prey on a lot of termites, they actually maintain healthy forests because termites have the reputation of killing or infesting trees. By reducing the number of insects that are harming plants, they do the plant community a good thing by keeping these pests at a healthy level.
ESTIMATING SUN BEAR POPULATIONS
Laurel Neme: What is the conservation status of sun bears? Are they endangered?
Siew Te Wong: Yes, they are an endangered species. They are listed under the IUCN Red List as a Vulnerable species. They just got this status in 2008. Before that, they were listed as data deficient because so few people had studied them. We didn’t have the scientific information to know how many sun bears there are in the world. Now, we have estimates.
Looking at the big picture, looking at the deforestation rates in Southeast Asia and with the forest disappearing so fast, we know the sun bears are in big trouble. We know their population has declined by more than 30 percent over the last 30 years. With all the poaching, hunting, and pet trade going on in the region, [we know] sun bears are in trouble. Although I do not have the numbers of how many sun bears there are, from my experience working in the forests of Borneo, I know the numbers are lower than orangutans, for sure.
Laurel Neme: What would it take to do a population census? Is it possible?
Siew Te Wong: Yes and no. I tried to estimate the number of bears in the forest and I pretty much failed because I haven’t come up with a reliable method to do it. Right now the method that people use most is called catch and recapture. By assessing the capture rate and recapture rate, we can estimate how many there are in the wild.
This method has been widely used by tiger biologists. [But they can use it because] individual tigers are recognized by cameras. This method is not applicable to sun bears because individuals cannot be identified from a camera picture because they’re just black; they don’t have a special marking.
Laurel Neme: What’s an alternative method that researchers commonly use for population studies?
Siew Te Wong: Another method is to use DNA. So far, a bear’s DNA is quite difficult to collect because in a tropical forest it rains every day and the genetic material is very difficult to obtain.
THREATS TO SUN BEARS
Laurel Neme: What are some of the biggest threats to sun bears? You talked about habitat destruction, poaching, hunting, and pet trade. Which is most important?
Siew Te Wong: What you mentioned are all threats but, by far, habitat destruction is the biggest threat for sun bears in Southeast Asia.
Laurel Neme: Why is that?
Siew Te Wong: Sun bears are a forest-dependent species; they have to live in a forest. When you see a landscape being cleared, a forest being cut down and replaced with plantations, replaced with development, sun bears have lost their home forever. The deforestation rate in Southeast Asia is horrible, with plantations replacing the tropical rainforest. You don’t need to be a rocket scientist to see how seriously sun bears are affected by deforestation.
The second threat, which I mentioned earlier, is the poaching for bear parts. This is still ongoing. They’re poached for their gallbladder, their claws, their canines, their meat, and many [other] purposes, especially for traditional Asian medicine.
Laurel Neme: Then there is the pet trade.
Siew Te Wong: Sun bears are really cute. They’re the smallest of the bears. Because they are small and cute, people love to keep them as pets. [At the same time] deforestation [provides greater access to the interior of the forest] and baby bears are more vulnerable. People poach the mother, capture the baby, and then the baby becomes a commodity in pet trade.
Laurel Neme: Do they make good pets, or do they grow up?
Siew Te Wong: They absolutely do not made good pets! They’re big animals with big claws and strong canines; they’re very destructive. No one can tame a bear. In the end, they’re locked up in metal cages, which is very sad. The situation is quite desperate.
BORNEAN SUN BEAR CONSERVATION CENTRE
Laurel Neme: You helped found the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre (BSBCC) in Sabah, Malaysia in 2008. How did the Center come to be? Is that the reason behind founding it?
Siew Te Wong: At first, back in 1998, it was just a project. I noticed there were a lot of sun bears being held in captivity. Private owners kept them as pets, or [they were] on crocodile farms or zoos. [All these places] had a lot of sun bears, and they were all very sad. They roam the forest but [at these places] they were locked up in small cages. They shook their heads all day long with stereotypical behaviors [of animals in captivity]. No one tried to do anything about it. Sun bears are a protected species in all of the countries where they are found. No one is allowed to hunt sun bears by law or keep them as pets. But, because of the lack of law enforcement and lack of interest to conserve the species, these kind of things happen.[If you keep one as a pet], you need to obtain a special permit. Southeast Asia is a developing country; wildlife crimes are of little priority compared to crimes against humans, so a lot of the laws are not enforced. People keep bears because they’ll never get caught.
Given the lack of interest among other NGOs, I decided “[if] you guys aren’t going to do [something,] I’m going to do it.” The first group of animals that I wanted to help was the caged animals. [I think] people had to be told, “No, you can’t keep sun bears as pets. It’s against the law!” [So, when] I founded the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, the first thing we wanted to do was rescue the caged bears.
The second thing was to educate the people. We needed to show them how special and unique sun bears are and what important role they play in forest ecosystems. We wanted to do conservation work, rehabilitate those sun bears back into the forest, and continue to do research.
Laurel Neme: How did you get funding for it?
Siew Te Wong: Funding is very challenging. This project I didn’t do myself; it wasn’t possible to do all by myself. I was very fortunate to have help from a local NGO from Sabah called LEAP. It stands for Land Empowerment Animals People. They helped me establish [the project] and we created a partnership between the Sabah Wildlife Department and the Sabah Forestry Department. These were the two agencies that helped establish the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre.
Laurel Neme: It’s unusual to have government agencies so involved in something like this.
Siew Te Wong: Yes. There’s usually lack of interest to set up [conservation] centers by the government. As biologists, as conservationists, we work together to assist the governments to set up the Center. The resources came from private entities and they collaborated with the government. The bears actually “belong” to the government, to the country, so we need to have the Sabah Wildlife Department be involved in the project in order to make it successful. [Plus,] the land that we release the bears into actually belongs to the Forestry Department. It makes sense that [these two departments] are partners on this project.
The funding for this project was not cheap. We needed about $1 million to set it up. Because we had no money to start with we had to raise this money. We divided the project into three different phases. Phase one needed about $400,000. In November 2008, we held a fundraising dinner where we raised close to $300,000 in one evening. That evening the government declared a matching fund. So, this project is half funded by the Sabah government.
The first phase of the project was finished in March 2010 and involved construction of a bear house that can house 20 bears and also a 1-hectare forest enclosure. Now, we’re officially in stage two. This includes refurbishment and upgrading of the old bear house and also renovation of the offices. We’ll have a visitor gallery, boardwalks, and an observation boardwalk for people coming to visit. [Phase III consists of the construction of the second block of bear houses and forested enclosures for 20 additional bears.]
One of the unique things about our project is our location. Our enclosure is next to a well-known orangutan rehabilitation center [Sepilok Orangutan Rehabilitation Centre (SOURC)], where hundreds of tourists come. We want to open our facility as well because we want to educate those people about sun bears and let them see sun bears in their natural environment. We also want to generate revenue from tickets to run our conservation and education program. We are side-by-side. The (orangutan) rehabilitation center is run by the Sabah Wildlife Department and my project with sun bears is also a Sabah Wildlife Department Project. So, we share the same facilities. [Due to their close proximity, the BSBCC utilizes existing SOURC veterinary facilities and personnel, parking, access roads and ticket gates. It also links to existing forest trails and boardwalks at SOURC.]
Laurel Neme: How many bears do you currently have?
Siew Te Wong: The bears at our Center were confiscated by the Sabah Wildlife Department. We have twelve bears right now (May 2010). After our bear house is built, we’ll have another four bears come in about two weeks from now. After that, we have an additional ten other bears lined up to come in. We’ll be at capacity about one month after we finish our first bear house.
This will lead us to phase three in which we build another bear house and another forest enclosure. As you can see, there are a lot of bears in captivity that need to be rescued and taken care of.
SUN BEAR REHABILITATION AND RELEASE
Laurel Neme: Do you have an idea of how many bears need to be rescued?
Siew Te Wong: In Sabah, there are at least 50 bears that need to be rescued. I’m sure there will be more in the future. [In other places in Southeast Asia] there are hundreds to thousands. Different locations have their own problems.
Laurel Neme: Are there plans to release them into the wild and what would it take to release them?
Siew Te Wong: It takes a lot of time, resources and manpower to release them. But I think it is the right thing to do and I believe they are [able to be rehabilitated]. It is not easy. It is very time consuming. What we plan to do is select the bears that still have strong instinct and walk them in the forest every day. This is a slow process. We don’t bring the bear into the forest, open a cage, and say “good luck.” We live with the bears in the forest for years until they are strong enough to fend for themselves, until they are knowledgeable enough to know where food is, and until they have established their home range.
Laurel Neme: Have you already begun to identify bears for release?
Siew Te Wong: Well, we just started. We just moved bears to the bear house and forest enclosure, so we’re just starting to study the individual animals to see who can be the first potential candidates to be released into the wild.
TALES OF RESCUED BEARS
Laurel Neme: Tell me about some of the bears you have rescued.
Siew Te Wong: One is a bear cub is named Chura. Chura is with us right now. Chura is a good candidate [for rehabilitation and release]. [We have a couple other females] that we’re trying to establish a relationship with the keepers. The bears will trust our keepers and then we’ll eventually be able to walk the bear in the forest hopefully in the next year or so. You can see on my YouTube channel about big males that may or may not be good candidates. We’ll have to observe how they perform in the forest enclosure first. [Note: Beartrek, a big screen movie produced by Wild Life Media about bear research will feature Siew Te Wong trying to reintroduce baby bears into the wild. The promo, available on YouTube, shows Chura.] Laurel Neme: What makes Chura a good candidate?
Siew Te Wong: Instinct is very crucial. It’s actually pretty sad. For sun bears kept in captivity, they have been kept in small cages or have walked on cement floors for years. They have been fed with human food. [They reach] a point where they lose their instincts. They can’t recognize, for example, termites as their natural food. We have to identify those that still have their instincts. We’ll give them the opportunity to eat termites and present them with decaying wood. They’ll pick it up right away, sniff it, and break it apart, and see what they can get out of the termite nest, or they’ll just leave it alone. The bears that have lost their instincts do not associate that kind of thing as their natural food. These would be bad candidates to release.
Bears are just like humans in that they have different personalities. Some are smarter than others, more alert than others, or more cautious than others. We want to pick out the bears that are alert, smart, and have a strong instinct to forage in the wild. These are the components to their success.
HOW TO HELP SUN BEARS
Laurel Neme: What can people do to help if they get interested in sun bears? Where can they go for more information?
Siew Te Wong: People ask, “How can I help?” I always answer,”whatever you do best!” Artists, help us paint paintings of sun bears and sell it at auctions to raise funds. Reporters report about our work. And, of course, everyone is on Facebook. Join our sun bear conservation Facebook cause. Get in touch with us. Anyone can help.
Understand that sun bears are the least known bears in the world. There are so many people that have heard about polar bears, grizzly bears and giant pandas, but they’ve never heard about sun bears. By helping to spread the word about sun bears, showing people pictures of them, by putting stories about sun bears on Facebook, they help us to promote awareness. Unfortunately, our conservation work spends money. Generally, the amount of money we raise reflects the amount of work we can do to help a species. [But] fundraising for an animal that is not well known is not easy.
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Science & Tech.
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A Case Study on Overlapped Chilling with Heat Injury on Rice Crop
Abstract: Crops are increasingly influenced by abnormal meteorological conditions nowadays. Meanwhile we know little on how the abnormal meteorological factors would impact the crop growth. A rare sterility hazard, a typical damage from abnormal temperature, happened to mid-rice at anthesis stage in Jianghan Plain, Hubei, China in 2007. But it is bewildering to determine the exact cause for the hazard. We compared the data from field experiment, the varieties tests over the area and the meteorological records across the damaging period to find a possible cause for rice sterility. The result showed that during 20, July to 25, July, some parts of the area undergone a shape decrease of temperature, and the daily mean temperature was lower than 20˚C exactly and surpassed the chilling damaging point for ear-formation. Meanwhile, from 6 August to 10 August, the time when rice was flowering, a continuous temperature lift happened, namely more than 30˚C in daily mean temperature or 35˚C in daily maximum temperature. In addition, the varieties that flowered at 6-13 August should undergone their meiosis stage of pollen mother cells in several days after 24 July. By matching the injuries data from the different areas against the meteorological regimes those crops experienced, we concluded with a category map of the areas in rice sterility degree: some are caused mostly by the cold weather; some are mostly by the high temperature weather; and some by an overlapped bad weather, namely cold weather at first at meiosis, then heat at anthesis. Among them, the overlapped type happened at a moderate scale in area but the loss was the biggest. This case suggests that global warming may induce more complex and severer damage to crops, so the countermeasures are urgently needed.
文章引用: 刘 冲 , 熊昌元 , 吴晨阳 , 林俊城 , 黄永平 , 肖 宇 , 松井勤 , 田小海 (2013) 水稻组合气象灾害的一个实例研究。 气候变化研究快报， 2， 186-192. doi: 10.12677/CCRL.2013.24032
H. Nakagawa, T. Horie and T. Matsui. Effects of climate change on rice production and adaptive technologies. In: T.W. Mew, D.S. Brar, S. Peng, D. Dawe and B. Hardy, Eds., Rice Science: Inno- vations and Impact for Livelihood, International Rice Research Institute, 2003: 635-658.
王馥棠. 近十年我国气候变暖影响研究的若干进展[J]. 应用气象学报, 2002, 13(6): 755-765.
S. Peng, J. Huang, J. E. Sheehy, R. C. Laza, R. M. Visperas, X. Zhong, G. S. Centeno, G. S. Khush and K. G. Cassman. Rice yields decline with higher night temperature from global warm- ing. PNAS, 2004, 101(27): 9971-9975.
王前和, 潘俊辉, 李晏斌, 唐霖, 任华英, 彭坤伦. 武汉地区中稻大面积空壳形成的原因及防止途径[J]. 湖北农业科学, 2004, 1: 27-30.
王才林, 仲维功. 高温对水稻结实率的影响及其防御对策[J]. 江苏农业科学, 2004, 1: 15-18.
汪寿康, 汪更文, 汪又佳. 2003年水稻高温热害得调查[J]. 安徽农学通报, 2004, 10(1): 27-35.
夏明元, 戚华雄. 高温热害对四个不育系配制的杂交组合结实率的影响[J]. 湖北农业科学, 2004, 2: 21-22.
田小海, 松井勤, 李守华, 林俊城. 水稻花期高温胁迫研究进展与展望[J]. 应用生态学报, 2007, 18(11): 2632-2636.
S. Yoshida, T. Satake and D. S. Mackill. High temperature stress in rice. International Rice Research Institute, 1981, 67: 1-15.
T. Matsui, X. Tian. Heat induced floret sterility in rice: Mecha- nism of occurrence and tolerance. International Workshop “Cool Rice for a Warmer World”, Wuhan, 26-30 March 2007, 11-13.
T. Matsui, K. Kobayasi, M. Yoshimoto, et al. Stability of rice pollination in the field under hot and dry conditions in the Riv- erina region of New South Wales, Australia. Plant Production Science, 2007, 10: 57-63.
梁光商. 水稻生态学[M]. 北京: 农业出版社, 1983: 196-202.
吴晓信. 低温对两系稻的影响分析[J]. 广西农学报, 2007, 22(3): 30-31.
H. Hayase, T. Satake, I. Nishiyama and N. Ito, Male sterility caused by cooling treatment at the meiosis stage in rice plants. Proceedings of the Crop Science Society of Japan, 1969, 38: 706-711.
李守华, 田小海, 黄永平, 刘爱英. 江汉平原近50年中稻花期危害高温发生的初步分析[J]. 中国农业气象, 2007, 28(1): 5-8.
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Send the link below via email or IMCopy
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Transcript of Vocal Cords
By: Anna Martinsky
How do they work?
Closed when holding breaths, open for inhalation and vibrate when you speak or sing
Air is taken in when the vocal cords are open, and close when exhaling
When speaking or singing, air is pushed against the vocal cords, causing them to vibrate
What are the vocal folds?
Nodules- Vocal nodules or "nodes" are noncancerous bumps that appear on the vocal cords
1964 Academy Award winner for the title role in Disney's Mary Poppins
What Are Vocal Cords?" News-Medical.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 June 2014. <http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-are-Vocal-Cords.aspx>.
Two infoldings of mucous membrane
They are inside of the larynx and at the top of the trachea
Used to make sound and produce speech and singing
Male: 17-25 mm in length
Female: 12.5-17.5 mm in legnth
When singing, the vocal cords thicken or lengthen to create lower or higher pitches due to the changing tension in the TA muscles
For lower pitches, the TA muscles have less tension, causing the vocal cords to be thicker and shorter and make lower pitches
For higher pitches, the CT (Cricothyroid) muscles are used to lengthen and thin the vocal cords as the pitch is raised
Singing requires breath support from the diaphragm to keep notes on pitch and not fall flat or sharp.
Singers are often told to stay away from certain foods and drinks before singing such as dairy, because phlegm will build up around the vocal cords, making it harder to sing pitches correctly
Warming up is also an essential part of singing to ensure that the vocal cords are healthy and able to sing well
Strain- Vocal strain occurs from using the muscles around the vocal cords too much when singing or speaking
Laryngitis- Laryngitis is the result of inflammation of the vocal cords, making it difficult to speak or sing
Strain can also be caused by over using the vocal cords and putting too much pressure on them when singing
Symptoms of include hoarseness, a "lump in throat feeling", pain from ear to ear, voice and body fatigue and decreased range
Can be caused by oversinging, excessive belting, and/or excessive use of riffs or runs
Surgery is an option to get rid of the nodes and is commonly used, but complete vocal rest is also an option
Was diagnosed with a vocal problem in 1997 and opted to undergo surgery to fix the problem
When she came out of the surgery, she could barely speak
She is now speaks with a slightly raspy voice and can barely sing. Andrews does what she calls "speak singing" and can hit a few base notes
Before the surgery
After the surgery
All About the Vocal Cords, Chords And Sound." HubPages. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 June 2014. <http://vocalcoach.hubpages.com/hub/Howthevocalcordswork>.
How The Vocal Cords Work For Singing - John Henny Vocal Studio." John Henny Vocal Studio. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 June 2014. <http://johnhenny.com/2012/08/15/how-the-vocal-cords-work-for-singing/>.
Fig 3 Vocal Fold Nodules.jpg. N.d. Web. 9 June 2014. <http://www.casa.org/sites/default/files/photos/image_65/Fig%203%20Vocal%20fold%20nodules.jpg>.
Laryngitis.png. N.d. Web. 9 June 2014. <http://voicehealth101.com/content-images/Laryngitis.png>.
"Julie Andrews." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, Web. 09 June 2014. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julie_Andrews>.
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Health
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Appium Quiz: Test Your Mobile Automation Skills and Prove Your Proficiency
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An Appium quiz is a series of questions or tasks designed to assess a person's knowledge and understanding of the Appium framework and its capabilities. The quiz may cover a wide range of topics related to Appium, such as its architecture, the WebDriver protocol, the different types of mobile apps that can be tested using Appium, and the various programming languages that can be used to write Appium tests. The quiz may be used as a tool for evaluating the proficiency of a developer or tester who is working with Appium, or as a means of testing the knowledge of someone who is learning about Appium. It may be used in educational settings, such as in a computer science class, or in professional settings, such as in a job interview or as a way to evaluate the skills of current employees. The quiz can be in form of multiple choice question, fill in the blank, coding challenges or any other format depending on the objective of the quiz.
Importance of appium quiz
Appium is an important tool for automating the testing of mobile applications, which helps to ensure that they are of high quality and free of bugs and errors. A Appium quiz can be used to assess a person's knowledge and understanding of the Appium framework and its capabilities, and can help to identify areas where additional training or education may be needed. Additionally, a Appium quiz can be used as a tool for evaluating the proficiency of a developer or tester who is working with Appium, and to test their understanding of the different types of mobile apps that can be tested using Appium, and the various programming languages that can be used to write Appium tests.
Appium quiz can be used as a way to measure the progress of students in a computer science class, or to evaluate the skills of current employees and identify areas for improvement. It can also be used as a way to test the knowledge of someone who is learning about Appium, or as a tool to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a particular developer or tester. Furthermore, taking an Appium quiz can help to prepare for certification exams, which can demonstrate expertise in the framework and help to advance a career in mobile application testing. Overall, having a good understanding of Appium and its capabilities is important for anyone working in the field of mobile application development and testing.
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CC-MAIN-2023-23
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https://thetestdata.com/quiz_category.php?catname=appium&catid=5
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Moderate reasoning
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Software Dev.
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This was a British airborne raid by part of the 6/Parachute of Brigadier C. H. V. Pritchard’s 2nd Parachute Brigade near Toricelle in eastern Italy (1/7 June 1944).
The objective of the undertaking was to land a small force behind the German positions in the Abruzzo region near Trasacco so that it could interdict supply lines, hinder movement of troops as the Germans withdrew from Sora to Avezzano, disrupt the rear areas of General Valentin Feurstein’s LI Gebirgskorps, part of Generaloberst Gottfried-Heinrich von Vietinghoff-Scheel’s 10th Army in Generalfeldmarschall Albert Kesselring’s Heeresgruppe ‘C’, and also capture bridges to aid the advance of Lieutenant General Sir Oliver Leese’s 8th Army toward the German ‘Cäsar-Linie’ defences. The operation had mixed fortunes, the Germans responded in force, using the equivalent of a brigade to hunt down the British airborne force, and held a division in reserve instead of moving it to the front. However the British paratroopers came under attack almost immediately after landing, and then had to evade a large-scale German search. With the ending of the operation one week later, less than half the force returned to the British lines.
Then commanded by Major General G. F. Hopkinson, who died of wounds on 12 September and was followed in command by Major General E. E. Down until he was succeeded by Major General R. E. Urquhart on 10 December 1943, the British 1st Airborne Division had landed in Italy during September 1943 in ‘Slapstick’. By the end of the year most of the division had been withdrawn to the UK to prepare for operations in North-West Europe, leaving Pritchard’s 2nd Parachute Brigade in Italy as an independent unit. Without dedicated air transport, the unit found opportunities for airborne operations very limited, and the brigade was therefore used in the ground role as conventional infantry, taking part in fighting in the Moro river campaign and the Battle of Monte Cassino.
In May 1944 the brigade was withdrawn to rest near Salerno, and it was at this juncture that three officers and 57 men were selected for ‘Hasty’ (ii). This mission originated with Leese, and was designed to disrupt German endeavours to destroy bridges and other infrastructure items as they withdrew from Sora to Avezzano in the Abruzzo region of Italy to the section of the ‘Gotisch-Linie’ between Pisa and Rimini. During the early stages of the plan’s development, it was intended that a whole battalion be used, but Pritchard decided to use a smaller unit and at the same time attempt to convince the Germans that a larger force was being deployed by dropping dummy parachutists. The smaller detachment, commanded by Captain L. A. Fitzroy-Smith, was drawn from the 6/Parachute supported by a small medical team of the 127th (Parachute) Field Ambulance and signallers of the brigade’s signals company.
The 60-man detachment took off from the airfield at Gaudo at 19.00 on 1 June 1944 in three Douglas C-47 Dakota aircraft accompanied by another eight aircraft carrying the dummy parachutists. The aircraft were of the US 8th Airlift Squadron, and reached the drop zone to the south of the Conca del Fucino near Trasacco by 20.30. The drop was successful, the only injury being to one man who suffered a broken rib. At 21.00 the force had assembled at its rendezvous and established radio contact with Lieutenant General Sir Bernard New Zealand 2nd Division, which was in overall command of the mission, and arrangements were made for the planned resupply parachute drops to proceed. Fitzroy-Smith established a patrol base, and the detachment was divided into three patrols each commanded by an officer.
The Germans had intercepted a radio message about the operation, however, and Oberst von Grundherr, commander of the LI Gebirgskorps’ artillery, improvised a Kampfgruppe which reacted swiftly, reconnaissance patrols reaching the area within 20 minutes and the British base being located and attacked within 24 hours. Avoiding attempts to pin them, the three patrols divided and for the next seven days disrupted German convoys and demolition parties. A German force of brigade strength was detailed to locate the British force, and one division was held in reserve instead of moving to reinforce the front line. During their search for the paratroopers, the Germans captured the British force’s signallers, and radio contact with the New Zealand division was lost when the detachment’s remaining radio was damaged.
By 7 June it had been decided to withdraw the detachment, but with no radio working there was no way to transmit this decision. Pritchard then decided to have leaflets dropped over the operation’s area with the message ‘Proceed Awdry forthwith’. The message meant nothing to the Germans, but the British knew that Captain Awdry was the 6/Parachute’s liaison officer with the New Zealand 2nd Division. The detachment then split into smaller groups, each of which attempted to make its own way back to the Allied lines.
Of the 60 men involved in ‘Hasty’ (ii), two officers and 25 men returned to the Allied lines. The operation had caused little in the way of physical or material damage to the Germans, but a small measure of success was the diversion of strength the Germans had been persuaded to make. The Germans succeeded in withdrawing toward the ‘Gotisch-Linie’ defences, where they held the Allies until the middle of September, when they were defeated in the Battle of Rimini.
Although ‘Hasty’ (ii) was the only British airborne operation on the Italian mainland during World War II, the entire 2nd Parachute Brigade was later involved in two larger airborne operations in the Mediterranean theatre. These were as part of Brigadier General Robert T. Frederick’s 1st Airborne Task Force in the ‘Dove’ sub-operation of the ‘Dragoon’ Allied assault on the south coast of France on 15 August 1944, and the ‘Manna’ landing in Greece on 12 October 1944.
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<urn:uuid:63311b97-3779-4dc0-afa4-b6f4b88af01f>
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CC-MAIN-2020-50
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https://codenames.info/operation/hasty-ii/
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s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2020-50/segments/1606141203418.47/warc/CC-MAIN-20201129214615-20201130004615-00699.warc.gz
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en
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Strong reasoning
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History
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The first decade of the twentieth century was not a great time to be born black and poor and female in St. Louis, Missouri, but Vivian Baxter was born black and poor, to black and poor parents. Later she would grow up and be called beautiful. As a grown woman she would be known as the butter-colored lady with the blowback hair.
Her father, a Trinidadian with a heavy Caribbean accent, had jumped from a banana boat in Tampa, Florida, and evaded immigration agents successfully all his life. He spoke often and loudly with pride at being an American citizen. No one explained to him that simply wanting to be a citizen was not enough to make him one.
Contrasting with her father's dark chocolate complexion, her mother was light-colored enough to pass for white. She was called an octoroon, meaning that she had one-eighth Negro blood. Her hair was long and straight. At the kitchen table, she amused her children by whirling her braids like ropes and then later sitting on them.
Although Vivian's mother's people were Irish, she had been raised by German adoptive parents, and she spoke with a decided German accent.
Vivian was the firstborn of the Baxter children. Her sister Leah was next, followed by brothers Tootie, Cladwell, Tommy, and Billy.
As they grew, their father made violence a part of their inheritance. He said often, "If you get in jail for theft or burglary, I will let you rot. But if you are charged with fighting, I will sell your mother to get your bail."
The family became known as the "Bad Baxters." If someone angered any of them, they would track the offender to his street or to his saloon. The brothers (armed) would enter the bar. They would station themselves at the door, at the ends of the bar, and at the toilets. Uncle Cladwell would grab a wooden chair and break it, handing Vivian a piece of the chair.
He would say, "Vivian, go kick that bastard's ass." Vivian would ask, "Which one?"
Then she would take the wooden weapon and use it to beat the offender.
When her brothers said, "That's enough," the Baxter gang would gather their violence and quit the scene, leaving their mean reputation in the air. At home they told their fighting stories often and with great relish.
Grandmother Baxter played piano in the Baptist church and she liked to hear her children sing spiritual gospel songs. She would fill a cooler with Budweiser and stack bricks of ice cream in the refrigerator.
The same rough Baxter men led by their fierce older sister would harmonize in the kitchen on "Jesus Keep Me Near the Cross":
There a precious fountain
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calvary's mountain.
The Baxters were proud of their ability to sing. Uncle Tommy and Uncle Tootie had bass voices; Uncle Cladwell, Uncle Ira, and Uncle Billy were tenors; Vivian sang alto; and Aunt Leah sang a high soprano (the family said she also had a sweet tremolo). Many years later, I heard them often, when my father, Bailey Johnson Sr., took me and my brother, called Junior, to stay with the Baxters in St. Louis. They were proud to be loud and on key. Neighbors often dropped in and joined the songfest, each trying to sing loudest.
Vivian's father always wanted to hear about the rough games his sons played. He would listen eagerly, but if their games ended without a fight or at least a scuffle, he would blow air through his teeth and say, "That's little boys' play. Don't waste my time with silly tales."
Then he would tell Vivian, "Bibbi, these boys are too big to play little girls' games. Don't let them grow up to be women."
Vivian took his instruction seriously. She promised her father she would make sure they were tough. She led her brothers to the local park and made them watch as she climbed the highest tree. She picked fights with the toughest boys in her neighborhood, never asking her brothers to help, counting on them to wade into the fight without being asked.
Her father chastised her when she called her sister a sissy.
He said, "She's just a girl, but you are more than that. Bibbi, you are Papa's little girl-boy. You won't have to be so tough forever. When Cladwell gets up some size, he will take over."
Vivian said, "If I let him."
Everyone laughed, and recounted the escapades about when Vivian taught them how to be tough.
From Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou. Copyright 2013 by Maya Angelou. Excerpted by permission of Random House
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<urn:uuid:746cf9ab-dbac-48aa-a12a-3860aafd1f9a>
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CC-MAIN-2019-39
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https://www.npr.org/books/titles/175489455/mom-me-mom?tab=excerpt?tab=excerpt
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Moderate reasoning
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Literature
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