title: Cepheid variable

text: A group of pulsating stars on the instability strip have periods of less than 2 days, similar to RR Lyrae variables but with higher luminosities. Anomalous Cepheid variables have masses higher than type II Cepheids, RR Lyrae variables, and our sun. It is unclear whether they are young stars on a "turned-back" horizontal branch, blue stragglers formed through mass transfer in binary systems, or a mix of both.


title: Cepheid variable

text: A small proportion of Cepheid variables have been observed to pulsate in two modes at the same time, usually the fundamental and first overtone, occasionally the second overtone. A very small number pulsate in three modes, or an unusual combination of modes including higher overtones.


title: Cepheid variable

text: Chief among the uncertainties tied to the classical and type II Cepheid distance scale are: the nature of the period-luminosity relation in various passbands, the impact of metallicity on both the zero-point and slope of those relations, and the effects of photometric contamination (blending with other stars) and a changing (typically unknown) extinction law on Cepheid distances. All these topics are actively debated in the literature.


title: Cepheid variable

text: These unresolved matters have resulted in cited values for the Hubble constant (established from Classical Cepheids) ranging between 60 km/s/Mpc and 80 km/s/Mpc. Resolving this discrepancy is one of the foremost problems in astronomy since the cosmological parameters of the Universe may be constrained by supplying a precise value of the Hubble constant. Uncertainties have diminished over the years, due in part to discoveries such as RS Puppis.


title: Cepheid variable

text: Delta Cephei is also of particular importance as a calibrator of the Cepheid period-luminosity relation since its distance is among the most precisely established for a Cepheid, partly because it is a member of a star cluster and the availability of precise Hubble Space Telescope/Hipparcos parallaxes. The accuracy of parallax distance measurements to Cepheid variables and other bodies within 7,500 light-years is vastly improved by comparing images from Hubble taken six months apart when the Earth and Hubble are on opposite sides of the Sun.


title: Cepheid variable

text: The accepted explanation for the pulsation of Cepheids is called the Eddington valve, or "κ-mechanism", where the Greek letter κ (kappa) is the usual symbol for the gas opacity.


title: Cepheid variable

text: Helium is the gas thought to be most active in the process. Doubly ionized helium (helium whose atoms are missing both electrons) is more opaque than singly ionized helium. The more helium is heated, the more ionized it becomes. At the dimmest part of a Cepheid's cycle, the ionized gas in the outer layers of the star is opaque, and so is heated by the star's radiation, and due to the increased temperature, begins to expand. As it expands, it cools, and so becomes less ionized and therefore more transparent, allowing the radiation to escape. Then the expansion stops, and reverses due to the star's gravitational attraction. The process then repeats.


title: Cepheid variable

text: In 1879, August Ritter (1826–1908) demonstrated that the adiabatic radial pulsation period for a homogeneous sphere is related to its surface gravity and radius through the relation:


title: Cepheid variable

text: where k is a proportionality constant. Now, since the surface gravity is related to the sphere mass and radius through the relation:


title: John Lundstram

text: John David Lundstram (born 18 February 1994) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Scottish Premiership club Rangers. Lundstram started his career in Everton's academy. He signed his first professional contract in June 2011 but never made a first-team appearance for Everton. He had loan spells at Doncaster Rovers, Yeovil Town, Leyton Orient, Blackpool and Scunthorpe United before leaving Everton to join Oxford United in 2015.


title: John Lundstram

text: After racking up 104 appearances for Oxford, he joined Sheffield United in 2017. He helped the "Blades" win two promotions and played for them in the Premier League for two seasons. He then signed for Rangers in July 2021. Lundstram has scored goals in each of England's top four divisions.


title: John Lundstram

text: He has represented England internationally at under-17, under-18, under-19, and under-20 levels and has appeared in four official youth competitions for the "Three Lions".


title: John Lundstram

text: Lundstram was developed as a football player by Everton from a very early age and signed a full-time scholarship in July 2010. In June 2011, Lundstram signed a two-year professional contract with Everton, followed by another two-year contract in June 2013. On 22 July 2014, he made his first appearance for Everton's first team in a friendly against Tranmere Rovers.


title: John Lundstram

text: At the end of the 2014–15 season, Lundstram was released by the club. Lundstram later revealed that Everton offered him a six-month contract, but he rejected it in search of first-team football, saying that "it definitely makes a difference being permanent. You just feel much more part of things."


title: John Lundstram

text: In February 2013, he joined Doncaster Rovers on a one-month loan. He made his full league début for the club in a 1–1 draw against Yeovil Town on 23 February 2013. There was concern over Lundstram's future at Doncaster Rovers after he sustained an ankle injury during a match against Portsmouth, which ended a 1–1 draw, but in the end Lundstram's loan spell was extended until the end of the season. Lundstram went on to make over a dozen appearances for Rovers, becoming a key part of the side that lifted the League One trophy at the end of the season.


title: John Lundstram

text: On 28 November 2013, Lundstram joined Football League Championship side Yeovil Town on loan until January. He made his debut against Watford two days later, Yeovil winning 3–0. During the match, Lundstram assisted Joe Edwards for the third goal. On 3 December, he scored on his second appearance for the club in a 1–0 win against Blackpool. Lundstram then extended his loan until the end of the season. He scored his second goal for the club in a 3–2 loss against Derby County on 28 January 2014. On 10 March 2014, Lundstram was recalled by Everton having become a peripheral figure at Yeovil, having made 16 appearances and scoring twice.


title: John Lundstram

text: On 27 March 2014, Lundstram joined Football League One side Leyton Orient on a one-month loan deal. Two days later, he made his debut in a 1–0 loss against Bradford City. After five appearances, Lundstram extended his loan stay until after the Football League play-offs on 24 April 2014. He played in two of the club's three play-off matches and came on as a substitute for Dave Mooney in the 108th minute of the play-off final against Rotherham United. Lundstram was one of the three Leyton Orient players to convert their kick in a penalty shoot-out, which they lost 4–3. After the Os failed to achieve promotion, Lundstram returned to his parent club.


title: John Lundstram

text: On 6 August 2014, Lundstram joined Blackpool on a season-long loan, making his debut on 9 August. Lundstram made seventeen straight appearances for Blackpool until he was recalled by his parent club on 3 January 2015.


title: John Lundstram

text: On 9 January 2015, Lundstram rejoined Leyton Orient on loan until 19 February 2015, stating on his return: "I feel like I have unfinished business at Orient after the way last season ended." His second debut for the club came the following day, when he came on as a second-half substitute for Josh Wright in a 1–0 defeat by Fleetwood Town. After four appearances, it was announced on 19 February 2015 that Lundstram would return to his parent club.


title: John Lundstram

text: Just 30 days after returning to his parent, Lundstram joined Scunthorpe United on a one-month loan deal. Upon moving to Scunthorpe, Lundstram expressed happiness at the way the club treated him. His debut came in a 4–0 loss against Sheffield United. After extending his loan spell at the club, he went on to make seven appearances before returning to Everton at the end of the season.


title: John Lundstram

text: On 13 August 2015, after attracting interest from Crewe Alexandra and Wigan Athletic of League One, Lundstram signed for League Two side Oxford United on a two-year deal, with the option of a further year. Upon joining the club, Lundstram stated he was motivated with a move, stating that he "need a full season out there of playing 30-odd games".


title: John Lundstram

text: Shortly after signing for the club, Lundstram missed the first two league games of the season because of an ankle ligament injury sustained at Everton. He eventually recovered and made his Oxford United debut, coming on as a late substitute, in a 3–1 win over Notts County on 18 August 2015. He quickly became a first-team regular in the midfield position, partnering with Liam Sercombe. It wasn't until 17 October 2015 that he scored his first goal for the club, in a 2–2 draw against Leyton Orient. He also went on to score two more goals later in the season against Exeter City and Morecambe. His performance throughout December earned him a nomination for Player of the Month for Sky Bet League 2, but he lost out to Gareth Evans. However, he was sent off for a "reckless challenge" on Michael Tonge in the 16th minute of a 1–1 draw against Stevenage on 25 March 2016. The club unsuccessfully appealed against his three-match suspension, which included the Football League Trophy final. Nevertheless, he helped the side get promoted to League One after finishing second place in the league. Although he suffered an injury during his first season, Lundstram went on to finish with 47 appearances and scored three times in all competitions.


title: John Lundstram

text: In his second season at Oxford United, his appointment as team captain, at the age of 22, was announced on 12 July 2016 following the departure of long-serving defender Jake Wright. Lundstram played his first match as captain in the opening game of the season, in a 1–1 draw against Chesterfield. Throughout the season, Lundstram captained the side 53 times, an experience he described as "enjoyable rather than burden". On 18 March 2017, Lundstram scored his first goal of the season, in a 2–1 win over Scunthorpe United. After beating Luton Town in the semi-finals of the EFL Trophy on 1 March 2017, Lundstram played in the final, where he stated he learned his lesson following a suspension that cost him a place in the previous final. However, like Oxford United's previous final, they lost in a 2–1 defeat to Coventry City. Despite this, he helped the side finish 8th in the 2016–17 season and went on to make 57 appearances, scoring once in all competitions. At the end of the 2016–17 season, he received the award for Community Contribution at the club's award ceremony. Although he had his contract triggered after making 35 appearances in the 2016–17 season, the club began negotiations with Lundstram over a long-term contract.


title: John Lundstram

text: Lundstram joined newly promoted Championship side Sheffield United in July 2017 on a three-year deal for a fee that, according to the Oxford Mail, is believed to be in the region of £700,000. He scored his first goal for Sheffield United in a 2–1 loss at Nottingham Forest on 30 September 2017. On 28 April 2019 he gained promotion with United to the Premier League.


title: John Lundstram

text: On 18 August 2019, he scored his first ever goal in the top flight of English football when he netted the only goal in a 1–0 victory over Crystal Palace. It ensured that he scored in each of the top four divisions of English football.


title: John Lundstram

text: On 31 July 2021, Lundstram made his competitive debut for Rangers coming off the bench in Rangers' 3–0 win against Livingston. He made his first start three days later in a UEFA Champions League qualifier against Swedish side Malmö. Lundstram scored his first goal for Rangers in a 5-0 home win to Dunfermline Athletic on 13 August 2021. He endured a slow start to his Rangers career and attracted criticism when he was sent off in the 43rd minute, after receiving a second yellow card during the clubs first leg UEFA Europa League play-off against Armenian team Alashkert.


title: John Lundstram

text: On 5 May 2022, he scored the winning goal in a 3–1 win over RB Leipzig in the second leg of the semi-finals of the Europa League, which helped Rangers to reach the final.


title: John Lundstram

text: Described as a strong tackling midfielder, Lundstram worked his way into the England U17 squad during the 2010–11 campaign after impressing in the Nordic Tournament.


title: John Lundstram

text: His first full season on the international stage saw him play a major part in the U17s' run to the semi-final of the European Championship in Serbia. UEFA described Lundstram as an "influential catalyst in launching attacking moves" and he was also named in the "Tournament select squad". Following the completion of the tournament, UEFA made comparisons to fellow Liverpool-born player Steven Gerrard and praised his "biting tackle" and a "fine range of passing to instigate attacks".


title: John Lundstram

text: Lundstram was named in the England squad that reached the quarter final of the 2011 FIFA U-17 World Cup under John Peacock. He played in a total of four games. England were eliminated from the competition by Germany having knocked Argentina out in the round of 16.


title: John Lundstram

text: The 2011–12 season saw him play twice for Noel Blake's U18s, captaining the side to a win against Poland before he made another step-up to the U19s squad, again under Blake, as he helped England to qualify for the European Championship Finals in Estonia. The following month, Lundstram was called up to England U19 by Noel Blake once again. He scored the opening goal in a 2–1 victory over France in the final tournament. England reached the semi-final of the tournament and were eliminated from the competition by Greece. After the tournament, Lundstram captained the England U19 side for the first time, in a 3–0 win over Estonia U19. Lundstram scored again on 13 November 2012, in a 1–0 win over Finland U19.


title: John Lundstram

text: On 28 May 2013, he was named in manager Peter Taylor's 20-man squad for the 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He made his debut on 16 June, in a 3–0 win in a warm-up game against Uruguay. This turned out to be his only appearance for the side, being an unused substitute for two more matches as England U20 were eliminated from the tournament.


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: "Don't Stand So Close to Me" is a hit song by the rock band The Police, released in September 1980 as the lead single from their third album "Zenyatta Mondatta". It concerns a teacher who has a sexual relationship with a student, which in turn is discovered.


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: The band's third on the UK Singles Chart, it was also the best selling single of 1980 in the UK selling 808,000 copies in 1980 alone. The song also charted in the top ten in Australia, Canada and the US. The Police won the 1982 Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal for this song.


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: The music and lyrics of the song were written by the lead singer of The Police, Sting. The song deals with the mixed feelings of lust, fear and guilt that a school teacher has for a student and the fallout when the inappropriate relationship is discovered by other adults. The line "Just like the old man in that book by Nabokov" alludes to Vladimir Nabokov's novel "Lolita", which covers somewhat similar issues. The line was criticised for rhyming "shake and cough" with Nabokov. Sting replied, "I've used that terrible, terrible rhyme technique a few times."


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: Before joining The Police, Sting had previously worked as an English teacher. He referred to the song's story progression as "the teacher, the open page, the virgin, the rape in the car, getting the sack."


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: In 1993, however, he said of the song's inspiration, "You have to remember we were blond bombshells at the time and most of our fans were young girls so I started roleplaying a bit. Let's exploit that." He also stated that the song does not have a basis in fact, stating that "To be frank, it was right in our market. A lot of teenage girls were buying our records. So the idea was, let's write a Lolita story." "Ultimate Classic Rock" critic Mike Duquette describes the theme as "a man going insane in a post-apocalyptic world." In a 2001 interview for the concert DVD "...All This Time", Sting denied that the song is autobiographical.


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: "Don't Stand So Close to Me" appeared on The Police's album "Zenyatta Mondatta" (A&M), and became a hit No. 1 UK single, along with a corresponding music video. In the US, it reached the top 10 on the "Billboard" Hot 100 chart, peaking at No. 10. In the UK, the track was confirmed by the end of 1980 to have been the biggest selling single of that year.


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: The B-side, "Friends", was written by Andy Summers and is inspired by "Stranger in a Strange Land", a science fiction novel by Robert A. Heinlein. Summers described the track as "Very quirky. A touch of Long John Silver on Acid."


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: Sting was asked to perform on Mark Knopfler's "Money for Nothing" as he was in Montserrat at the time, and accidentally reused the melody from "Don't Stand So Close to Me" in the counterpoint lyric "I want my MTV." It was only after this story was relayed to reporters during promotions for the "Brothers in Arms" album that lawyers for Sting became involved, and later copies of the album co-credit the song to Sting. The initial pressings list only Knopfler. It is one of only two shared songwriting credits on any Dire Straits album.


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: "Don't Stand So Close to Me" features Sting on lead vocals. Like many Police songs, the verses are more subdued, while the chorus is bolder and louder. The song also bears a reggae style, yet another common trait in Police songs. Thematically, the "wet bus stop" idea invites comparison with the 1966 hit song "Bus Stop" by another English group, The Hollies.


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: The track uses a guitar synthesizer in the middle of the song, which was used by guitarist Andy Summers. Summers said, "After Sting had put the vocals on 'Don't Stand So Close To Me' we looked for something to lift the middle of the song. I came up with a guitar synthesiser. It was the first time we'd used it. I felt it worked really well." The verses and choruses do not feature this effect.


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: "Don't Stand So Close To Me" quickly ascended to in its first week of release on 27 September 1980, confirming their status as one of the UK's leading contemporary groups. It was also their third UK chart-topper in 12 months—in tandem with the success of their new album "Zenyatta Mondatta".


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: The band's four-week run at was the most for any single in the UK in 1980. Having held off considerable competition from Ottawan with "D.I.S.C.O." and "Baggy Trousers" by Madness, The Police fell to (being replaced at by "Woman in Love" by Barbra Streisand). "Don't Stand So Close To Me" spent a total of 8 weeks inside the UK top 40, dropping out on 22 November. Three weeks later, their follow-up hit "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da" charted at , eventually peaking at .


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: "Don't Stand So Close To Me" broke into the Billboard Hot 100 Top 40 on 21 February 1981 at . By 25 April, it reached a peak position of , matching their previous US hit "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da". It dropped out of the top 40 on 23 May after a 13-week run.


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, "Don't Stand So Close To Me" took on a very different meaning in the context of COVID-19, as people worldwide practiced social distancing.


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: The song was re-recorded in 1986 with a new, brooding arrangement, a different chorus and a more opulent production. The new version appeared as "Don't Stand So Close to Me '86" on the album "", and was released as a single, reaching in the British charts. It also reached in Ireland, in New Zealand, on the Netherlands MegaCharts Singles Chart (number 20 on Dutch Top 40), in Canada and on "Billboard" Hot 100 ( on the "Billboard" Mainstream Rock Tracks).


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: Because of the decrease in tempo, a slight lyric change is found in the line "Just like the old man in that book by Nabokov" (the word 'famous' was added). A new music video was produced for the reworked song by Godley and Creme, notable for its early use of animated computer graphics. The version of the song used on the music video was subtly different to the version released as the single. It was approximately 6 seconds shorter, with a longer atmospheric break before the first lyric, but part of the chorus edited out towards the end. This version is only available on the music video; it has never been separately released as an audio recording.


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: Because drummer Stewart Copeland had broken his collarbone and was unable to drum, he opted to use his Fairlight CMI to program the drum track for the single, while singer/bassist Sting pushed to use the drums on his Synclavier instead. The group's engineer found the Synclavier's programming interface difficult; it ended up taking him two days to complete the task. Copeland ultimately finished the drum programming and claimed that the Fairlight's then-legendary "Page R" (the device's sequencing page) saved his life and put him on the map as a composer. In a Qantas inflight radio program named "Reeling in the Years", Copeland was quoted as saying that the argument over Synclavier versus Fairlight drums was "the straw that broke the camel's back," and that this led to the group's unravelling.


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: As the Police had already disbanded by the time the 1986 single was released, this, aside from the then-unreleased "De Do Do Do, De Da Da Da '86," was the last recording before the band's reunion and the most recent studio recording the band has released.


title: Don't Stand So Close to Me

text: The song was covered in the episode "Ballad" of the American television series "Glee" in 2009. It was performed by the character Will Schuester (played by Matthew Morrison) as a musical mashup with "Young Girl" by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap. It was included on the from the series.


title: Future Past (Duran Duran album)

text: Future Past is the fifteenth studio album by the British band Duran Duran, released on 22 October 2021. It is the band's first album to be released through BMG, and their first since 2015's "Paper Gods" six years prior.


title: Future Past (Duran Duran album)

text: The album, co-produced by the band alongside Mark Ronson, Giorgio Moroder and Erol Alkan, also features guest appearances by Tove Lo, Ivorian Doll, Japanese band Chai, and Mike Garson. Blur's Graham Coxon is the guitarist on the album.


title: Future Past (Duran Duran album)

text: The band released the album's first single "Invisible" on 19 May 2021. The tracks "More Joy!" featuring Chai, "Anniversary", "Tonight United" and "Give It All Up" featuring Lo were also released in advance of the album.


title: Future Past (Duran Duran album)

text: John Taylor described "Future Past" as a "very emotionally deep album", revealing that the lyrics were primarily written before 2020's COVID-19 lockdowns: "Many of the songs are about emotional crises, or long-term intimacy issues, let's call them. When we came back after lockdown, I felt that those lyrics, particularly 'Invisible,' spoke to the moment, because the last 18 months have really been about intimacy politics."


title: Future Past (Duran Duran album)

text: The cover is a colourised and combined image of two black-and-white pictures by Japanese photographer Daisuke Yokota. Nick Rhodes met Yokota in 2017 while researching for a documentary about Japanese photographers. The album's art director Rory McCartney laid the images over the top of one another, creating the effect of a stationary silhouette in red with another silhouette in green moving beyond it, which resonated with McCartney.


title: Future Past (Duran Duran album)

text: On 15 March 2022, a 14-date North American tour to promote the album, as well as to celebrate the band's album "Rio"'s 40th anniversary, was announced. The tour was to begin on 19 August 2022 in Welch, Minnesota and conclude on 11 September 2022 at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. Due to inclement weather, the first show was postponed to a later date. Nile Rodgers and Chic served as the opening act. Rodgers was a major early influence to the band and has collaborated with Duran Duran at numerous points throughout the band’s history.


title: Park Ha-na

text: Park Ha-na (born July 25, 1985) is a South Korean actress. Park made her entertainment debut in 2003 as a member of the idol group FUNNY. Since then, she has turned to acting and was in the lead role in "Apgujeong Midnight Sun" (2014).


title: Park Ha-na

text: In 2016, Ha-na played the villainous and psychotic Jang Se-jin in the daily drama melodrama "The Promise".


title: Park Ha-na

text: After that, she appeared in the daily drama "Still Loving You" as the evil and spoiled heiress Kim Bit-na.


title: Park Ha-na

text: In 2018, she began appearing as the protagonist Hong Se-yeon in "Mysterious Personal Shopper". Recently, she starred as the lead female in "Fatal Promise".


title: Agroforestry

text: Agroforestry is a land use management system in which trees or shrubs are grown around or among crops or pastureland. Trees produce a wide range of useful and marketable products from fruits/nuts, medicines, wood products, etc. This intentional combination of agriculture and forestry has multiple benefits, such as greatly enhanced yields from staple food crops, enhanced farmer livelihoods from income generation, increased biodiversity, improved soil structure and health, reduced erosion, and carbon sequestration. Agroforestry practices are highly beneficial in the tropics, especially in subsistence smallholdings in sub-Saharan Africa and have been found to be beneficial in Europe and the United States.


title: Agroforestry

text: Agroforestry shares principles with intercropping but can also involve much more complex multi-strata agroforests containing hundreds of species. Agroforestry can also utilise nitrogen-fixing plants such as legumes to restore soil nitrogen fertility. The nitrogen-fixing plants can be planted either sequentially or simultaneously.


title: Agroforestry

text: According to Paul Wojtkowski, the theoretical base for agroforestry lies in ecology, or agroecology. Agroecology encompasses diverse applications such as: improved nutrient and carbon cycling; water retention of soils; biodiverse habitats; protection from pest, disease and weed outbreaks; protection of soils from water and wind erosion, etc. From this perspective, agroforestry is one of the three principal agricultural land-use sciences. The other two are agriculture and forestry.


title: Agroforestry

text: Agroforestry systems can be advantageous over conventional agricultural and forest production methods. They can offer increased productivity; social, economic and environmental benefits, as well as greater diversity in the ecological goods and services provided. It is essential to note that these benefits are conditional on good farm management. This includes choosing the right trees, as well as pruning them regularly etc.


title: Agroforestry

text: Biodiversity in agroforestry systems is typically higher than in conventional agricultural systems. Two or more interacting plant species in a given area create a more complex habitat that can support a wider variety of fauna.


title: Agroforestry

text: Agroforestry is important for biodiversity for different reasons. It provides a more diverse habitat than a conventional agricultural system in which the tree component creates ecological niches for a wide range of organisms both above and below ground. The life cycles and food chains associated with this diversification initiates an agroecological succession that creates functional agroecosystems that confer sustainability. Tropical bat and bird diversity for instance can be comparable to the diversity in natural forests. Although agroforestry systems do not provide as many floristic species as forests and do not show the same canopy height, they do provide food and nesting possibilities. A further contribution to biodiversity is that the germplasm of sensitive species can be preserved. As agroforests have no natural clear areas, habitats are more uniform. Furthermore, agroforests can serve as corridors between habitats. Agroforestry can help to conserve biodiversity having a positive influence on other ecosystem services.


title: Agroforestry

text: Depleted soil can be protected from soil erosion by groundcover plants such as naturally growing grasses in agroforestry systems. These help to stabilise the soil as they increase cover compared to short-cycle cropping systems. Soil cover is a crucial factor in preventing erosion. Cleaner water through reduced nutrient and soil surface runoff can be a further advantage of agroforestry. Trees can help reduce water runoff by decreasing water flow and evaporation and thereby allowing for increased soil infiltration. Compared to row-cropped fields nutrient uptake can be higher and reduce nutrient loss into streams.


title: Agroforestry

text: Agroforestry systems can provide a number of ecosystem services which can contribute to sustainable agriculture in the following ways;


title: Agroforestry

text: According to FAO's "The State of the World’s Forests 2020", adopting agroforestry and sustainable production practices, restoring the productivity of degraded agricultural lands, embracing healthier diets and reducing food loss and waste are all actions that urgently need to be scaled up. Agribusinesses must meet their commitments to deforestation-free commodity chains and companies that have not made zero-deforestation commitments should do so.


title: Agroforestry

text: Carbon sequestration is an important ecosystem service. Agroforestry practices can increase carbon stocks in soil and woody biomass. Trees in agroforestry systems, like in new forests, can recapture some of the carbon that was lost by cutting existing forests. They also provide additional food and products. The rotation age and the use of the resulting products are important factors controlling the amount of carbon sequestered. Agroforests can reduce pressure on primary forests by providing forest products.


title: Agroforestry

text: Agroforestry can significantly contribute to climate change mitigation along with adaptation benefits. A case study in Kenya found that the adoption of agroforestry drove carbon storage and increased livelihoods simultaneously among small-scale farmers. In this case, maintaining the diversity of tree species, especially land use and farm size are important factors.


title: Agroforestry

text: Especially in recent years, poor smallholder farmers turned to agroforestry as a means to adapt to climate change. A study from the CGIAR research program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) found from a survey of over 700 households in East Africa that at least 50% of those households had begun planting trees in a change from earlier practices. The trees were planted with fruit, tea, coffee, oil, fodder and medicinal products in addition to their usual harvest. Agroforestry was one of the most widespread adaptation strategies, along with the use of improved crop varieties and intercropping.


title: Agroforestry

text: Research with "Faidherbia albida" in Zambia showed maximum maize yields of 4.0 tonnes per hectare using fertilizer and inter-cropped with these trees at densities of 25 to 100 trees per hectare, compared to average maize yields in Zimbabwe of 1.1 tonnes per hectare.


title: Agroforestry

text: A well-studied example of an agroforestry hillside system is the Quesungual Slash and Mulch Agroforestry System (QSMAS) in Lempira Department, Honduras. This region was historically used for slash-and-burn subsistence agriculture. Due to heavy seasonal floods, the exposed soil was washed away, leaving infertile barren soil exposed to the dry season. Farmed hillside sites had to be abandoned after a few years and new forest was burned. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) helped introduce a system incorporating local knowledge consisting of the following steps:


title: Agroforestry

text: With shade applications, crops are purposely raised under tree canopies within the shady environment. The understory crops are shade tolerant or the overstory trees have fairly open canopies. A conspicuous example is shade-grown coffee. This practice reduces weeding costs and improves coffee quality and taste.


title: Agroforestry

text: Crop-over-tree systems employ woody perennials in the role of a cover crop. For this, small shrubs or trees pruned to near ground level are utilized. The purpose is to increase in-soil nutrients and/or to reduce soil erosion.


title: Agroforestry

text: With alley cropping, crop strips alternate with rows of closely spaced tree or hedge species. Normally, the trees are pruned before planting the crop. The cut leafy material - for example, from "Alchornea cordifolia" and "Acioa barteri" - is spread over the crop area to provide nutrients. In addition to nutrients, the hedges serve as windbreaks and reduce erosion.


title: Agroforestry

text: In tropical areas of North and South America, various species of "Inga" such as "I. edulis" and "I. oerstediana" have been used for alley cropping.


title: Agroforestry

text: Intercropping is advantageous in Africa, particularly in relation to improving maize yields in the sub-Saharan region. Use relies upon the nitrogen-fixing tree species "Sesbania sesban", "Tephrosia vogelii", "Gliricidia sepium" and "Faidherbia albida". In one example, a ten-year experiment in Malawi showed that, by using the fertilizer tree Gliricidia ("G. sepium") on land on which no mineral fertilizer was applied, maize/corn yields averaged as compared to in plots without fertilizer trees or mineral fertilizers.


title: Agroforestry

text: Taungya is a system originating in Burma. In the initial stages of an orchard or tree plantation, trees are small and widely spaced. The free space between the newly planted trees accommodates a seasonal crop. Instead of costly weeding, the underutilized area provides an additional output and income. More complex taungyas use between-tree space for multiple crops. The crops become more shade tolerant as the tree canopies grow and the amount of sunlight reaching the ground declines. Thinning can maintain sunlight levels.


title: Agroforestry

text: "Itteri" agroforestry systems have been used in Tamil Nadu since time immemorial. They involve the deliberate management of multipurpose trees and shrubs grown in intimate association with herbaceous species. They are often found along village and farm roads, small gullies, and boundaries of fields.


title: Agroforestry

text: Bamboo-based agroforestry systems (Dendrocalamus strictus + sesame–chickpea) have been studied for enhancing productivity in semi-arid tropics of central India.


title: Agroforestry

text: A project to mitigate climate change with agriculture was launched in 2019 by the "Global EverGreening Alliance". The target is to sequester carbon from the atmosphere. By 2050 the restored land should sequestrate 20 billion tons of carbon annually


title: Agroforestry

text: Although originally a concept used in tropical agronomy, the USDA distinguishes five applications of agroforestry for temperate climates.


title: Agroforestry

text: Alley cropping (see above) can also be used in temperate climates. Strip cropping is similar to alley cropping in that trees alternate with crops. The difference is that, with alley cropping, the trees are in single row. With strip cropping, the trees or shrubs are planted in wide strip. The purpose can be, as with alley cropping, to provide nutrients, in leaf form, to the crop. With strip cropping, the trees can have a purely productive role, providing fruits, nuts, etc. while, at the same time, protecting nearby crops from soil erosion and harmful winds.


title: Agroforestry

text: Trees can benefit fauna. The most common examples are silvopasture where cattle, goats, or sheep browse on grasses grown under trees. In hot climates, the animals are less stressed and put on weight faster when grazing in a cooler, shaded environment. The leaves of trees or shrubs can also serve as fodder.


title: Agroforestry

text: Similar systems support other fauna. Deer and pigs gain when living and feeding in a forest ecosystem, especially when the tree forage nourishes them. In aquaforestry, trees shade fish ponds. In many cases, the fish eat the leaves or fruit from the trees.


title: Agroforestry

text: The "dehesa" or "montado" system of silviculture are an example of pigs and bulls being held extensively in Spain and Portugal.


title: Agroforestry

text: Since the 1950s, four-fifths of Swiss (traditional orchards with tall trees) have disappeared. An agroforestry scheme was tested here with trees together with annual crops. Trees tested were walnut ("Juglans regia") and cherry ("Prunus avium"). Forty to seventy trees per hectare were recommended, yields were somewhat decreasing with increasing tree height and foliage. However, the total yield per area is shown to be up to 30 percent higher than for monocultural systems.


title: Agroforestry

text: Another set of tests involve growing "Populus tremula" for biofuel at 52 trees a hectare and with grazing pasture alternated every two to three years with maize or sorghum, wheat, strawberries and fallowing between rows of modern short-pruned & grafted apple cultivars ('Boskoop' & 'Spartan') and growing modern sour cherry cultivars ('Morina', 'Coraline' and 'Achat') and apples, with bushes in the rows with tree (dogrose, "Cornus mas", "Hippophae rhamnoides") intercropped with various vegetables.


title: Agroforestry

text: Similar methods were historically utilized by Native Americans. Indigenous peoples of California periodically burned oak and other habitats to maintain a 'pyrodiversity collecting model'. This method allowed for greater tree health and improved habitat in general.


title: Agroforestry

text: As suggested by a survey of extension programs in the United States, obstacles (ordered most critical to least critical) to agroforestry adoption include:


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: Heroes of Newerth (HoN) was a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) video game originally developed by S2 Games for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. The game idea was derived from the "" custom map "Defense of the Ancients" and was S2 Games' first MOBA title. The game was released on May 12, 2010, and re-released as a free-to-play game on July 29, 2011. On May 5, 2015, "Heroes of Newerth" development duties passed to Frostburn Studios, with the development team moving over to the new company. The service ceased operations on June 20, 2022.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: "Heroes of Newerth" pits two teams of players against each other: the Legion and the Hellbourne. Both teams are based at opposite corners of the map in their respective bases. Bases consist of buildings, barracks, towers, a hero spawning pool, and a central structure. The goal of the game is to either destroy the central structure, the World Tree (Legion) or Sacrificial Shrine (Hellbourne), of the opposite base or force the other team to concede. Players achieve this by selecting heroes with unique skills to combat the other team.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: Game starts with hero picking phase. There are picking modes to allow players to create teams with balanced functionality. Heroes fill different roles in teams. Heroes can specialize in dealing damage, tanking, crowd control, healing, destroying towers, farming, defending, harassing, initiating fights, empowering nearby allies, providing vision, seeking and revealing enemies, killing kongor and so on. Heroes can fulfill many of these roles in different degrees. Typical roles are Carry, Support, Ganker, Jungler and Suicide. Players can choose to fill multiple roles at the same time.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: After the game starts, players need gold and experience to get stronger over time. To achieve this, players initially need to go to lanes, jungle, kongor's pit or one of golem's pits. Experience is gained by seeing an enemy soldier, hero, neutral creature, kongor or golem die, from a predefined range. Purple dots on creeps indicate whether the player is close enough to gain experience when the creep dies. Gold is gained by killing or assisting the killing of enemy soldiers, heroes, creatures, devices, kongor or golem. As players level up, they choose an ability to level up, or level up stats, which gives +2 to agility, intelligence and strength. The maximum hero level is 25.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: Each player typically plays one hero. Players can allow each other to control their own heroes. Some heroes can spawn or summon pets, creatures or devices. Heroes typically have four abilities. The default keys for abilities are Q,W,E and R. Sometimes the D key is used for the fifth ability. The fourth ability is the ultimate ability.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: , there are 139 playable heroes. Each game, a player chooses one hero to be for the duration of the match. Most heroes have four abilities that may be acquired and upgraded as the hero gains experience and levels up, defaulted to keys "Q", "W", "E", and "R". An ability can be leveled up whenever the hero's level goes up. "R" is the hero's ultimate and can only be leveled up when the hero reaches level 6 except for some heroes.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: Heroes are grouped by their main attribute. The three types are Agility, Intelligence, and Strength. Usually, Agility heroes rely on their basic attacks and go for damage per second (DPS) and increase their armor and attack speed. Intelligence heroes maximize the use of their abilities and try to maximize the amount of Mana they have and Mana regeneration. Strength heroes can take the most damage and increase their Max Health and Health regeneration.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: Heroes also are grouped by their attack type. The two attack types are melee and ranged. Melee heroes have short attack range and ranged heroes have long attack range. Ranged heroes have varying attack ranges. Abilities have their own ranges.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: Development started in 2005. In October 2009, associate game designer Alan "Idejder" Cacciamani claimed that "Heroes of Newerth" had been in development for "34 months, but the first 13 were spent on engine development. The entirety of assets, including maps, items, heroes, and art were made in 21 months".


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: New features, balance changes and new heroes are regularly introduced with patches. Most game mechanics and many heroes in "Heroes of Newerth" are heavily based on "Defense of the Ancients". The additions that differentiate "Heroes of Newerth" from "Defense of the Ancients" are features independent from gameplay; such as tracking of individual statistics, in-game voice communication, GUI-streamlined hero selection, game reconnection, match making, player banlists, penalties for leaving and chat features. Several features added via updates include a Hero Compendium (a list of the heroes in the game with detailed statistics about them), the ability to set a "following" trait on a friend which makes the player join/leave the games that a friend joins (similar to the "party" feature in other games), an in-game ladder system, and a map editor. The game uses S2 Games' proprietary K2 Engine and a client-server model similar to that used in other multiplayer games.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: "Heroes of Newerth" was in beta from April 24, 2009, until May 12, 2010. Throughout this time, over 3,000,000 unique accounts were registered. S2 Games used a Facebook fan page and word of mouth to attract players to the game. Many people who had bought one of S2 Games' previous games also received an invitation to the game through their registered email.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: On August 22, 2009, the pre-sale of "Heroes of Newerth" began for members of the closed beta. Players who purchased the game at this time received additional benefits, including name reservation, gold-colored nameplate, gold shield insignia, and an in-game taunt ability. Open beta testing for "Heroes of Newerth" began on March 31, 2010, and ran until May 12, 2010, when the game was released.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: S2 Games released "Heroes of Newerth" 2.0 on December 13, 2010. Features included in the update were casual mode, a new user interface, team matchmaking, an in-game store, and an offline map editor. Microtransactions were also introduced via the in-game store with the use of coins. Coins can be used to purchase cosmetic changes within the game, such as alternative hero skins, avatars, and customized announcer voices. The in-game currency can either be purchased with real life currency or earned via Matchmaking games.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: S2 Games released "Heroes of Newerth" as a free-to-play game on July 29, 2011. Accounts that were purchased before this date retained access to all content and updates without additional charges. Accounts made after this had 15 free-rotating heroes to choose from; the 15 heroes rotated every week. These accounts only had access to the game mode All Pick. Through purchasing coins or earning them in play, players could purchase the ability to use additional heroes. Players had to pay for tokens to play additional game modes, so that they could temporarily have the hero pool available to provide balance in hero selection.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: On July 19, 2012, nearly one year after announcing its free-to-play model S2 Games announced publicly that the game would be completely free to play with no restrictions to hero access, excluding Early Access to yet to be released heroes. The in-game store pricing was also reworked to allow easier access to in-game cosmetic content.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: In October 2012, S2 Games announced HoN Tour, an automated tournament system built into the game. The tournament is open to anyone and players compete to earn real money. The first "cycle" of the event began the weekend of December 1.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: In December 2012, "Heroes of Newerth" was hacked with over 8 million accounts being breached. The compromised data included usernames, email addresses and passwords. The hack was announced by the perpetrator themself on Reddit with S2 Games later confirming the breach.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: On May 1, 2013, S2 Games released "Heroes of Newerth" 3.0. Version 3.0 significantly updated the game's graphics, added bots, and dramatically improved features for introducing new players to the game. Part of the change features different looking lanes, cliffs, and towers. Heroes as well, look sharper and more detailed. The features for new players include tutorial videos and AI bots for a stress-free playing environment.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: On May 5, 2015, it was announced that Garena had acquired "Heroes of Newerth" from S2 Games, and established FrostBurn Studios to handle development of the game. Many of previous S2 Games staff members who help develop and maintain the game were subsequently employed by the new FrostBurn studios.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: On November 6, 2020, Frostburn Studios released the HoN 64-Bit Client, that should result in a much more stable experience for those on the Latest Windows (10), most notably faster FPS, and reduced loading times.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: In the recent years, the game has been getting patches every 8 weeks aimed at improving game balance, bug fixing, and occasionally bringing new hero avatars and items, with 4.9.2. being the latest version that went live on March 30, 2021.


title: Heroes of Newerth

text: "Heroes of Newerth" has received generally positive reviews, with a score of 76 out of 100 from Metacritic. Reviews have generally praised the technical aspects of the game, while criticizing the harsh learning curve and the commonly critical nature of the community. When "Heroes of Newerth" became free-to-play on July 29, 2011, the game had accumulated over 526,000 paid accounts with 460,000 unique players. The number of concurrent players online has also steadily increased over time, peaking at 150,000 as of May 2013. In mid-2013, "Heroes of Newerth" was the third most played game in internet cafés in the Philippines. Laura Baker, the director of marketing for S2 Games, stated that both the "Mac and Linux clients have done well for us."


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: HMS "Albion" is an amphibious transport dock of the Royal Navy, the first of the two-ship . Built by BAE Systems Marine in Barrow-in-Furness, "Albion" was launched in March 2001 by the Princess Royal. Her sister ship, , was launched in November 2001, also from Barrow. Affiliated to the city of Chester and based in Plymouth, she is the ninth ship to carry the name (after Albion, an ancient name of Great Britain), stretching back to the 74-gun 1763 warship, and last carried by an aircraft carrier decommissioned in 1973 after 19 years service. Designed as an amphibious warfare ship, "Albion" carries troops, normally Royal Marines, and vehicles up to the size of the Challenger 2 main battle tank. She can deploy these forces using four Landing Craft Utility (LCUs) and four Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVPs). A flight deck supports helicopter operations.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: "Albion"s future came under review as part of the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review. She was the fleet flagship from December 2010 until October 2011, and then again from March 2018 until January 2021.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: Ordered for the Royal Navy on 18 July 1996, "Albion" was constructed by BAE Systems Marine at its shipyard in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria. The first steel was cut on 17 November 1997, and the ships keel was laid down on 23 May 1998. The vessel was launched on 9 March 2001. She was commissioned into the Royal Navy on 19 June 2003 by her sponsor Anne, Princess Royal. "Albion" is the nameship of the , which also includes . The ship also carries a permanently embarked Royal Marines landing craft unit, 6 Assault Squadron, Royal Marines.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: Along with sister ship "Bulwark", "Albion" forms a key part of the Royal Navy's amphibious warfare capability. The ship can carry up to 256 soldiers in normal conditions, ordinarily Royal Marines. "Albion" can also carry their various associated armoured vehicles, up to the size of the Challenger 2 main battle tank. Vehicles can be deployed through an internal dock, using the ship's complement of four Landing Craft Utility (LCUs), while troops can be deployed from davits using four Landing Craft Vehicle and Personnel (LCVPs). Also equipped with a flight deck, the ship can operate two helicopters, with a third parked. CH-47s can sling-load RM BvS 10 Viking light tracked, amphibious armoured vehicles and deliver them ashore if the sea states are too severe for them to swim selves ashore.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: In 2003, "Albion" was granted the Freedom of the City of Chester and also had a prominent role in the Queen's Colour Parade for the Royal Navy in Plymouth Sound; the third time a Fleet Colour has been given in the Royal Navy's history. In early 2004 the ship deployed on a multinational exercise for the first time, taking part in Exercise Joint Winter 04 off Norway, during which she completed her cold weather sea trials and was declared fully operational. Her next deployment was the Aurora exercises on the eastern seaboard of the United States. On 11 November 2004, the ship was sent to Ivory Coast to support Operation Phillis. "Albion" underwent a refit in early 2006, which included the installation of a new command, control, and communications suite.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: "Albion" attended the HMNB Devonport Navy Days, 26–28 August 2006. Also in attendance was her sister ship, "Bulwark", recently returned from the Lebanon evacuation. "Ocean" was unable to attend due to three sailors contracting tuberculosis; she was moved to HMNB Portsmouth.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: During the Vela Deployment to West Africa, "Albion" acted as the Amphibious Task Group flagship. The deployment lasted from 11 September to 22 November 2006. Approximately 3,000 British personnel and 11 ships of the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary were involved. This deployment saw, for the first time, an "Albion"-class vessel taking part in amphibious operations with a auxiliary landing ship dock, .


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: In late 2008, "Albion" undertook her first refit, to upgrade various electronic and defence systems. During this docking period the Commanding Officer, Captain Wayne Keble, assumed command of "Albion"s sister ship, "Bulwark".


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: In April 2010, during the air travel disruption after the 2010 Eyjafjallajökull eruption, "Albion" was sent to Santander, Spain as part of Operation Cunningham to bring back soldiers from the third battalion The Rifles battlegroup, Royal Air Force personnel and stranded British citizens. In May 2010, "Albion" together with and other Royal Navy, French and US vessels, joined the multi-national AURIGA Task Group for amphibious exercises at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: In late 2010, despite having been in commission for only seven years, the ship's future was uncertain, with either "Albion" or her sister ship "Bulwark" due to be put into extended readiness as a result of the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: In December 2010, "Albion" was announced as the next Royal Navy flagship and flagship of the UK Responsive Force Task Group, following the early decommissioning of the aircraft carrier , which occurred in March 2011, also as a result of the 2010 review.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: In March 2011, "Albion" took part in Exercise Green Alligator with HQ of 3 Commando Brigade, the Joint Helicopter Command, the Royal Netherlands Marines Corps and 539 Assault Squadron RM. She was the main ship of the deployed Royal Navy Response Force Task Group. In May 2011, the Task Group took part in Exercise Cypriot Lion.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: In June 2011, the ship had been redeployed along with the Response Force Task Group to the Gulf of Sidra off Libya to provide assistance to the ongoing NATO-led operation there. She subsequently continued on to the Indian Ocean, passing through the Suez Canal on 15 June, to assist with anti-piracy operations off the Horn of Africa.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: On 20 September 2011, "Albion" docked at Liverpool Pier Head to celebrate her 10th Anniversary with a six-day stay. She was open to the public on the following Saturday and Sunday (24 & 25 September 2011). This was her second visit to Liverpool, having previously visited in March 2010.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: In late 2011 "Albion" entered a state of "extended readiness" (joining the UK's equivalent to a Reserve Fleet), after "Bulwark" completed a major refit.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: In order to cut the running costs of the Royal Navy, the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review concluded that one of the Royal Navy's two landing platform docks, "Albion" and "Bulwark", should be placed into extended readiness while the other is held at high readiness for operations. Both vessels will alternate between extended readiness and high readiness throughout their service lives.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: It was confirmed that "Albion" would be the first of the two vessels placed at extended readiness, for a cost of £2.5 million as "Bulwark" had recently finished a major refit. Running costs while in extended readiness were estimated to be £300,000 per annum in order to keep the vessel available for reactivation at short notice if needed.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: In December 2014, "Albion" was moved into dry dock at Plymouth to allow her hull to be inspected and cleaned prior to the major work being undertaken to reactivate the ship. The major refit, plus the associated work up period, will take approximately 2.5 years, with "Albion" initially slated to assume the role of Fleet Flagship in April 2017.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: The running costs of one of the "Albion"-class vessels at high readiness ranged from £17.7 million – £38.6 million per annum from 2007 to 2011.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: "Albion"s refit included the fitting of Phalanx CIWS in place of the Goalkeeper CIWS, a Type 997 radar and a new command system.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: Ship's staff moved back onboard "Albion" at the end of January 2017, formally taking responsibility for the ship from Babcock with the aim of taking "Albion" to sea for the first time in six years in summer 2017.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: On 6 February 2018, "Albion" deployed for the first time since her refit to relieve "Duncan" as flagship of Standing NATO Maritime Group 2.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: According to the Ministry of Defence, the planned out-of-service date for "Bulwark" is 2033. However, in October 2017, the BBC's "Newsnight" reported that the Ministry of Defence was considering decommissioning "Albion" and "Bulwark", as part of a package of cost-cutting measures intended to mitigate the expense of the Royal Navy's two new aircraft carriers. This action was reversed by then Secretary of State for Defence Gavin Williamson in September 2018.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: In April 2018, "Albion" was dispatched to the Asia-Pacific to assist in enforcing sanctions against North Korea.


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: On 4–6 February 2020, "Albion" hosted the crew of "Uma," a 36-foot sailing yacht that is featured on the YouTube channel "Sailing Uma". The Uma crew produced two episodes about their experiences on "Albion".


title: HMS Albion (L14)

text: In September 2020, "Albion" embarked on a unique deployment named Littoral Response Group eXperimental (LRG(X)). This would see the ship enter the Mediterranean with embarked Royal Marine Commando forces and Royal Naval personnel testing and developing pilot projects such as experimental unmanned aerial drones and autonomous vehicles for logistical and intelligence gathering purposes, in the operational environment. The deployment was the first that Albion had carried out with the full ships company remaining on board without leave, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.


title: Party switching in the United States

text: In the politics of the United States, party switching is any change in party affiliation of a partisan public figure, usually one who is currently holding elected office. Use of the term "party switch" can also connote a transfer of holding power in an elected governmental body from one party to another.


title: Party switching in the United States

text: The first two major parties in the United States were the Federalist Party and the Democratic-Republican Party. The Federalists experienced success in the 1790s but lost power in the 1800 elections and collapsed after the War of 1812. Many former Federalists, including John Quincy Adams, became members of the Democratic-Republican Party. After the 1824 presidential election, the Democratic-Republicans fractured between supporters of Adams and supporters of Andrew Jackson. Jackson's followers formed the Democratic Party, while those who supported Adams formed the National Republican Party. Two short-lived but significant third parties, the Anti-Masonic Party and the Nullifier Party, also arose during this period. In the 1830s, opponents of Jackson coalesced into the Whig Party.


title: Party switching in the United States

text: The United States experienced another period of political realignment in the 1850s. The Whigs collapsed as a national party due to sectional tensions regarding slavery. The Republican Party and the American Party both sought to succeed the Whigs as the main opposition to the Democratic Party, and the Republicans eventually became the most popular party in the Northern United States. The Republicans absorbed many Northern Whigs, as well as some anti-slavery Democrats and much of the Free Soil Party. Notable Whigs who joined the Republican Party include Abraham Lincoln and William Seward, while notable Democrats who joined the Republican Party include Hannibal Hamlin and Galusha A. Grow. Many Southern Whigs became Democrats, though some formed the Constitutional Union Party to contest the 1860 presidential election. During the Reconstruction Era that followed the American Civil War, many Republicans and African Americans held office in the South. Republicans dissatisfied with Radical Republican President Ulysses S. Grant formed the Liberal Republican Party for the 1872 presidential election, and many of these Liberal Republicans later joined the Democratic Party. After the end of Reconstruction the Republican Party generally dominated the North, while a resurgent Democratic Party dominated the South.


title: Party switching in the United States

text: By the late 19th century, as the Democratic and Republican parties became more established, party switching became less frequent. Nonetheless major conflicts in both major parties occurred in the 1890s, largely over the issue of monetary policy, and Republican supporters of free silver formed the Silver Republican Party. Many of these, including Henry M. Teller and Fred Dubois, later joined the Democratic Party.


title: Party switching in the United States

text: Following Theodore Roosevelt's loss to William Howard Taft in the 1912 Republican Party presidential primaries, Roosevelt and his followers broke off from the Republican party to form the Bull Moose Party. Wisconsin senator Robert M. La Follette also launched a presidential bid under the Progressive Party in 1924 after both the Republican Party and Democratic Party nominated conservative candidates. A period of realignment commenced following the onset of the Great Depression, as President Franklin D. Roosevelt constructed the successful New Deal coalition. Over the ensuing decades, Roosevelt's Democrats embraced several tenets of modern American liberalism, while the Republican Party tended to favor conservatism.


title: Party switching in the United States

text: The transition into today's Democratic Party was cemented in 1948, when Harry Truman introduced a pro-civil rights platform and, in response, many Democrats walked out and formed the Dixiecrats. Most rejoined the Democrats over the next decade, but in the 1960s, Lyndon Johnson passed the Civil Rights Act and Voting Rights Act. The civil rights movement had also deepened existing racial tensions in much of the Southern United States, and Republican politicians developed strategies that successfully contributed to the political realignment of many white, conservative voters in the South who had traditionally supported the Democratic Party rather than the Republican Party. These approaches are known as the Southern strategy. Anti-civil rights members left the Democratic Party in droves, and Senator Strom Thurmond, the Dixiecrats' presidential candidate from 1948, joined the Republican Party.


title: Party switching in the United States

text: Liberal Republican Robert La Follette, Sr. ran for president as the candidate of the Progressive Party in 1924, while remaining a Republican in the Senate. There have also been several instances of politicians continuing to be a member of a political party while running other campaigns as an independent. The most prominent examples include southern Democratic segregationists Strom Thurmond in 1948 and George Wallace in 1968, who remained in the Democratic Party for statewide campaigns but mounted national presidential campaigns as independents. Wallace later ran in the 1972 Democratic primaries. Senator Joseph Lieberman in 2006 ran for Senate in Connecticut under the party Connecticut for Lieberman, although still identifying as a Democrat.


title: Party switching in the United States

text: Other political figures, such as Ed Koch, Jim Leach, Zell Miller, Colin Powell, did not formally leave their parties, but supported a candidate from another party. Miller and Koch, though Democrats, supported Republican George W. Bush's 2004 reelection campaign, while Powell and Leach supported Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign. This received much media attention in 2004, when Democrats for Bush and Republicans for Kerry groups were formed. In New Hampshire, former Republican Governor Walter Peterson has expressly supported Democrat John Lynch in his bids for governor. In Virginia, the state's first Republican governor since Reconstruction, Linwood Holton, has since 2001 frequently supported Democrats in statewide races – his son-in-law, Tim Kaine, has been elected to the governorship and the U.S. Senate in that time, and served as chairman of the Democratic National Committee and the Democratic Party's nominee for Vice President in the 2016 election – and endorsed Barack Obama in 2008. Similarly, in 1860, former Democratic President Martin Van Buren ended up supporting Abraham Lincoln due to Van Buren's disagreements with Democratic policies on secession. Other examples include former Republican Senator from Minnesota David Durenberger supporting John Kerry in 2004 and former Democratic Attorney General Griffin Bell supporting George W. Bush in 2004. Moreover, former U.S. Secretary of Agriculture and Democrat Mike Espy endorsed incumbent Republican Governor of Mississippi Haley Barbour for reelection in 2007.


title: Party switching in the United States

text: During Donald Trump's presidency one governor and two congressmen switched parties due mostly to their support or opposition to the president's policies. On August 3, 2017, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice announced that he had rejoined the Republican Party after having been elected as a Democrat less than a year prior. He made the announcement at a rally in Huntington alongside Trump and claimed that he was returning to the GOP because he could not help the president while he was a Democrat. The announcement came as a surprise even to his own staff. This also made Justice the first Republican governor of West Virginia since Cecil Underwood in 2001. In 2019, Democratic congressman Jefferson H. Van Drew left the party because of his opposition to Trump's first impeachment and his own political beliefs. Both Justice and Van Drew were reelected as Republicans in 2020. Conversely, Republican congressman Justin Amash of Michigan left the GOP to become an independent on July 4, 2019 due to his opposition to Trump. Later Amash joined the Libertarian Party in 2020 and did not seek reelection.


title: Party switching in the United States

text: Politicians may switch parties if they believe their views are no longer aligned with those of their current party. Richard Shelby of Alabama left the Democratic Party for the Republican Party, arguing that the former party had shifted more towards liberalism. Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado switched parties from Democratic to Republican following increased hostility within the Democratic Party in Colorado over Campbell's increased conservative voting record and independent streak while the local party became more liberal.


title: Party switching in the United States

text: A disaffected incumbent who might not hold a leadership position or feels ignored or mistreated by the majority party might join the minority party with the expectation of holding a leadership position in the minority party and if currently elected, having the complete support of the minority party for re-election, who would certainly want to have more elected officials in their ranks. The party the person left is likely to consider him or her to be a Benedict Arnold.


title: Party switching in the United States

text: Some politicians have also switched parties to improve their chances for reelection. Arlen Specter, a former US Senator of Pennsylvania, cited his uncertainty of winning a Republican primary as one reason for his move to the Democratic Party.


title: Bambi II

text: Bambi II (also known as Bambi and the Great Prince of the Forest) is a 2006 American animated drama film directed by Brian Pimental and produced by the Australian office of Disneytoon Studios as a followup to the 1942 film "Bambi". Animation production was done by DisneyToon Studios Sydney, Australia. It premiered in theaters in Argentina on January 26, 2006, before being released as a direct-to-video title in the United States on February 7, 2006.


title: Bambi II

text: Taking place between Bambi's mother's death and Bambi shown as a young adult buck, the film follows Bambi's relationship with his father, The Great Prince of the Forest, and Bambi's efforts to earn his father's love for him. It was first titled "Bambi and the Great Prince", but was renamed "Bambi and the Great Prince of the Forest" and later "Bambi II".


title: Bambi II

text: After his mother is shot and killed by a hunter, Bambi is greeted by his father the Great Prince, who takes him to the den. The Great Prince asks Friend Owl to find a doe to raise Bambi, but Friend Owl tells him that due to the harsh winter, the does can barely feed themselves. The Great Prince has to take care of Bambi until spring.


title: Bambi II

text: Sometime later, the Great Prince allows Bambi to be with his friends Thumper and Flower. At the groundhog ceremony, Bambi meets Faline, a young doe he had encountered before. The Groundhog is coaxed out of his hole, only to be scared back in by an older fawn named Ronno, who tries to impress Faline with stories of his encounter with Man. When Bambi believes the story, Ronno is about to fight Bambi until he is called away by his mother.


title: Bambi II

text: When the others leave, Bambi falls asleep waiting for his father and dreams about reuniting with his mother. He wakes up to what appears to be his mother's voice, which calls him into a meadow, but it turns out to be an ambush by Man. The Great Prince comes to Bambi's rescue and saves him in time, but is furious that he fell for the trick and almost getting himself killed. Days later, Bambi informs Thumper and Flower about his wish to impress his father. They decide to help Bambi be brave, but while doing so, they encounter a porcupine, who sticks his quills into Bambi's backside. Ronno and Faline, hearing the commotion, investigate; Bambi sees Ronno bothering Faline and gets into a fight with him. Ronno chases Bambi and Thumper through the forest until Bambi leaps over a large ravine to safety. The Great Prince, having seen the whole thing, is impressed by this feat. Ronno, jealous of the young prince, tries to jump over the chasm himself, but falls in, thwarted for now.


title: Bambi II

text: The next day, Thumper encourages Bambi to talk to the Great Prince, and the two connect. The Great Prince allows Bambi to come along with him on his patrols, and as the two get closer, Friend Owl approaches them and introduces them to Mena, a doe who was a childhood friend of Bambi's mother and has been selected by Friend Owl to be Bambi's new mother. Bambi realizes the Great Prince had planned on sending him away and snaps at his father, while the Great Prince concludes that he is not meant to raise Bambi. Bambi sadly accepts the change.


title: Bambi II

text: On the way to Mena's den, Ronno shows up to taunt Bambi again. The two get into another fight that sets off one of Man's traps, alerting Man. Bambi saves Mena by leading Man's dogs away from her, and the Great Prince arrives. The dogs chase Bambi, and his friends help him fend them off. Bambi evades all but one of the dogs. Bambi kicks the other dog off a cliff but falls off as well. Everyone grieves him until Bambi reveals he is still alive, and he and the Great Prince reconcile.


title: Bambi II

text: Sometime later, Thumper shares his version of the chase with the rest of his friends, and Bambi, whose antlers have just grown in, enjoys the tall tale with Faline. Ronno appears and vows vengeance on Bambi before being bitten on the nose by a turtle and runs off. Bambi meets up with the Great Prince, who shows him the field where he and Bambi's mother first met as fawns.


title: Bambi II

text: While the film was a direct-to-video release in the United States, Canada, China, Japan, and Taiwan, it was a theatrical release in the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Austria, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Australia, and other European countries.


title: Bambi II

text: The film was officially the last Disney animated film to be released on VHS with the exception of Disney Movie Club Exclusives.


title: Bambi II

text: The film sold 2.6 million DVDs in its first week in the United States. It would also later on win an Annie Award for Best Home Entertainment Production at the 34th Annie Awards. Reviews for it were generally mixed as it currently holds a 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.


title: Bambi II

text: "Bambi II"s musical score includes instrumental pieces by Bruce Broughton, and new vocal songs by several noted artists, including Alison Krauss, Martina McBride, and Anthony Callea. Coinciding with the film's DVD release, the soundtrack was released by Walt Disney Records in the United States on February 7, 2006. Produced by Matt Walker, the CD includes nine songs from the film, as well as three tracks from "Bambi". "Sing the Day" was written for the "Running Brave" sequence in "Bambi II", but unused.


title: Karma Revero

text: The Karma Revero is a luxury plug-in hybrid sports sedan manufactured in the United States by Chinese-owned Karma Automotive. It is a revamped version of the Fisker Karma car. The first of the new production, for model year 2017, was released in September 2016.


title: Karma Revero

text: The Revero predecessor was first introduced by Fisker Automotive as the Karma in 2012. It was the only model produced by Fisker before it went out of business in 2013. The tooling for the Fisker Karma was bought by Wanxiang in 2014. The tooling was moved from the factory in Finland to a new factory in Moreno Valley, California, USA. A total of 2,667 Fisker Karma were built before production was stopped. Karma's current headquarters reside in Irvine, California.


title: Karma Revero

text: The Fisker Karma was redesigned by Karma Automotive and reintroduced as the Karma Revero. The 2017 Revero was launched on September 8, 2016, at Laguna Beach. The exterior of the Karma Revero closely resembles the Fisker Karma, keeping the design produced by Henrik Fisker. The Karma Revero car also won 2018's Green Luxury Car of the Year award from "Green Car Journal".


title: Karma Revero

text: In 2018, Karma announced a limited production high-end package, the Karma Revero Aliso, named after the California beach, that adds $15,000 to the price of the car, resulting with a $145,000 starting price car, with a limited run of 15 units.


title: Karma Revero

text: In 2019, an updated version, the Karma Revero GT, was revealed, using a three-cylinder 1.5 liter BMW engine as a range extender instead of the older model's drive motor GM engine. The new engine configuration launched in 2020, and it used to use the same B38 engine found in the BMW i8. Included in the changes is a larger battery.


title: Karma Revero

text: In 2021, the Karma GS-6 was introduced. It is basically a refreshed and cheaper version of the Karma Revero plug-in hybrid (or a range-extended vehicle), with its base price in the US$80 to 90k range. The battery capacity remains at 28 kWh. According to the manufacturer, the all-electric range is "up to" , after which the vehicle smoothly switches to gasoline power.


title: Zordon

text: Zordon is a fictional character from the "Power Rangers" franchise who serves as the Rangers' mentor. Zordon first appeared on the first season of "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" and appeared in subsequent seasons until the conclusion of "Power Rangers in Space", where he was the titular major supporting character of his saga.


title: Zordon

text: Ten thousand years ago, Zordon clashes with his nemesis, Rita Repulsa, on Earth. During their final battle, Rita traps Zordon in a time warp while Zordon seals Rita and her minions away in a "Dumpster" on the Moon. After the battle ends, Zordon, with the aid of his robot assistant, Alpha 5, creates a Command Center in the California desert outside the town of Angel Grove. He then creates the Power Morphers, the Power Coins and the Dinozords. When Rita Repulsa is released from the Dumpster, Zordon recruits five teenagers from Angel Grove – Jason Lee Scott, Zack Taylor, Kimberly Hart, Trini Kwan, and Billy Cranston – to become the Power Rangers, giving them the Power Morphers, the Power Coins, and the Dinozords to battle Rita.


title: Zordon

text: Zordon guides the Rangers over several years, creating the Zeo and Turbo powers to combat the threats of the Machine Empire and Divatox. Over time, Zordon upgrades the Command Center into the Power Chamber.


title: Zordon

text: Zordon and Alpha leave Earth for Eltar, leaving the Turbo Rangers under the guidance of Dimitria and her assistant, Alpha 6, but return a short while later to attend the transfer of the Turbo powers to T.J., Cassie, Carlos and Ashley.


title: Zordon

text: Months after his departure, Zordon is captured by Dark Specter, who slowly drains him of his powers, leaving the former Turbo Rangers to become the Space Rangers as they try to find and rescue him. Soon afterwards, Dark Specter launches his conquest of the universe and moves Zordon to the Dark Fortress, Astronema's base. After Dark Specter is killed by Darkonda who is also killed by him, Andros, the Red Space Ranger, travels to the Dark Fortress and finds Zordon. Zordon convinces Andros to shatter his energy tube, allowing his good energy to destroy the forces of evil. Zordon's death creates an energy wave that travels throughout the universe, turning Lord Zedd, Rita, and Divatox into humans, Astronema into her former self Karone, and the other villains into sand.


title: Zordon

text: In the , Lord Zedd and Rita Repulsa free Ivan Ooze, who destroys the Command Center and Zordon's energy tube, leaving him on the verge of death. With Zordon dying, the Rangers travel to Phaedos in order to obtain the Great Power needed to revive him. After achieving their goal on Phaedos with the help of Dulcea, the Rangers return to Earth and defeat Ivan Ooze. Having succeeded, they return to the Command Center to find Zordon has died. The Rangers then use the Great Power to repair the Command Center and bring Zordon back to life.


title: Zordon

text: Bryan Cranston portrays Zordon in the 2017 film, as a mixture of motion capture and CGI. Zordon is the former Red Ranger, who has become part of the Morphing Grid after his body was destroyed by a meteor he called down to destroy renegade Green Ranger Rita Repulsa, who had destroyed the rest of his team. Millennia later, after the new Ranger team is drawn together by the Power Coins to respond to the threat of the revived Rita, Jason overhears that Zordon, who has become desperate since the new Rangers fail to come together, intends to use the convergence of the Morphing Grid that will occur when the new Rangers connect to their powers for the first time to restore himself to a corporeal body to stop Rita. Jason then falsely accuses Zordon of using the team for his own agenda, however, after Billy Cranston is drowned by Rita after she forces him to reveal the location of the Zeo Crystal, the other four Rangers affirm their willingness to die for each other as Billy died for them, triggering the convergence Zordon anticipated, only for Zordon to sacrifice the chance to restore himself to bring Billy back to life, showing Zordon's faith in his successors. With Rita's defeat, Zordon congratulates the Rangers, assuring them that their names will be remembered with honor among the other great Rangers of history.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: Ethylene glycol poisoning is poisoning caused by drinking ethylene glycol. Early symptoms include intoxication, vomiting and abdominal pain. Later symptoms may include a decreased level of consciousness, headache, and seizures. Long term outcomes may include kidney failure and brain damage. Toxicity and death may occur after drinking even in a small amount as ethylene glycol is more toxic than other diols.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: Ethylene glycol is a colorless, odorless, sweet liquid, commonly found in antifreeze. It may be drunk accidentally or intentionally in a suicide attempt. When broken down by the body it results in glycolic acid and oxalic acid which cause most of the toxicity. The diagnosis may be suspected when calcium oxalate crystals are seen in the urine or when acidosis or an increased osmol gap is present in the blood. Diagnosis may be confirmed by measuring ethylene glycol levels in the blood; however, many hospitals do not have the ability to perform this test.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: Early treatment increases the chance of a good outcome. Treatment consists of stabilizing the person, followed by the use of an antidote. The preferred antidote is fomepizole with ethanol used if this is not available. Hemodialysis may also be used in those where there is organ damage or a high degree of acidosis. Other treatments may include sodium bicarbonate, thiamine, and magnesium.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: More than 5,000 cases of poisoning occur in the United States each year. Those affected are often adults and male. Deaths from ethylene glycol have been reported as early as 1930. An outbreak of deaths in 1937 due to a medication mixed in a similar compound, diethylene glycol, resulted in the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act of 1938 in the United States, which mandated evidence of safety before new medications could be sold. Antifreeze products sometimes have a substance to make them bitter added to discourage drinking by children or animals but this has not been found to be effective.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: Signs of ethylene glycol poisoning depend upon the time after ingestion. Symptoms usually follow a three-step progression, although poisoned individuals will not always develop each stage.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: The most common source of ethylene glycol is automotive antifreeze or radiator coolant, where concentrations are high. Other sources of ethylene glycol include windshield deicing agents, brake fluid, motor oil, developing solutions for hobby photographers, wood stains, solvents, and paints. Some people put antifreeze into their cabin's toilet to prevent it from freezing during the winter, resulting in toxicities when animals drink from the toilet. Small amounts of ethylene glycol may be contained in holiday ornaments such as snow globes.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: The most significant source of ethylene glycol is from aircraft de-icing and anti-icing operations, where it is released onto land and eventually to waterways near airports experiencing cold winter climates. It is also used in manufacturing polyester products. In 2006, approximately 1540 kilotonnes of ethylene glycol were manufactured in Canada by three companies in Alberta, with most of the production destined for export.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: The three main systems affected by ethylene glycol poisoning are the central nervous system, metabolic processes, and the kidneys. The central nervous system is affected early in the course of poisoning as the result of a direct action of ethylene glycol. Similar to ethanol, it causes intoxication, followed by drowsiness or coma. Seizures may occur due to a direct effect. The toxic mechanism of ethylene glycol poisoning is mainly due to the metabolites of ethylene glycol. Initially it is metabolized by alcohol dehydrogenase to glycolaldehyde, which is then oxidized to glycolic acid by aldehyde dehydrogenase. The increase in metabolites may cause encephalopathy or cerebral edema. The metabolic effects occur 12 to 36 hours post ingestion, causing primarily metabolic acidosis which is due mainly to accumulated glycolic acid. Additionally, as a side effect of the first two steps of metabolism, an increase in the blood concentration of lactic acid occurs contributing to lactic acidosis. The formation of acid metabolites also causes inhibition of other metabolic pathways, such as oxidative phosphorylation.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: The kidney toxicity of ethylene glycol occurs 24 to 72 hours post ingestion and is caused by a direct cytotoxic effect of glycolic acid. The glycolic acid is then metabolized to glyoxylic acid and finally to oxalic acid. Oxalic acid binds with calcium to form calcium oxalate crystals which may deposit and cause damage to many areas of the body including the brain, heart, kidneys, and lungs. The most significant effect is accumulation of calcium oxalate crystals in the kidneys which causes kidney damage leading to oliguric or anuric acute kidney failure. The rate-limiting step in this cascade is the conversion of glycolic to glyoxylic acid. Accumulation of glycolic acid in the body is mainly responsible for toxicity.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: Ethylene glycol has been shown to be toxic to humans and is also toxic to domestic pets such as cats and dogs. A toxic dose requiring medical treatment varies but is considered more than 0.1 mL per kg body weight (mL/kg) of pure substance. That is roughly 16 mL of 50% ethylene glycol for an 80 kg adult and 4 mL for a 20 kg child. Poison control centers often use more than a lick or taste in a child or more than a mouthful in an adult as a dose requiring hospital assessment.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: The orally lethal dose in humans has been reported as approximately 1.4 mL/kg of pure ethylene glycol. That is approximately 224 mL (7.6 oz.) of 50% ethylene glycol for an 80 kg adult and 56 mL (2 oz.) for a 20 kg child. Although survival with medical treatment has occurred with doses much higher than this, death has occurred with 30 mL of the concentrate in an adult. In the EU classification of dangerous substances it is 'harmful' (Xn) while more toxic substances are classified as 'toxic' (T) or 'very toxic' (T+). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency generally puts substances which are lethal at more than 30 g to adults in Toxicity Class III.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: Ethylene glycol has a low vapor pressure; it does not evaporate readily at normal temperatures and therefore high concentrations in air or intoxication are unlikely to occur following inhalational exposures. There may be a slight risk of poisoning where mists or fogs are generated, although this rarely leads to poisoning as ethylene glycol causes irritation and coughing when breathed in, alerting victims to its presence. Ethylene glycol is not well absorbed through skin meaning poisoning following dermal exposure is also uncommon.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: As many of the clinical signs and symptoms of ethylene glycol poisoning are nonspecific and occur in many poisonings the diagnosis is often difficult. It is most reliably diagnosed by the measurement of the blood ethylene glycol concentration. Ethylene glycol in biological fluids can be determined by gas chromatography. Many hospital laboratories do not have the ability to perform this blood test and in the absence of this test the diagnosis must be made based on the presentation of the person. In this situation a helpful test to diagnose poisoning is the measurement of the osmolal gap. The person' serum osmolality is measured by freezing point depression and then compared with the predicted osmolality based on the person's measured sodium, glucose, blood urea nitrogen, and any ethanol that may have been ingested. The presence of a large osmolal gap supports a diagnosis of ethylene glycol poisoning. However, a normal osmolar gap does not rule out ethylene glycol exposure because of wide individual variability.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: The increased osmolal gap is caused by the ethylene glycol itself. As the metabolism of ethylene glycol progresses there will be less ethylene glycol and this will decrease the blood ethylene glycol concentration and the osmolal gap making this test less useful. Additionally, the presence of other alcohols such as ethanol, isopropanol, or methanol or conditions such as alcoholic or diabetic ketoacidosis, lactic acidosis, or kidney failure may also produce an elevated osmolal gap leading to a false diagnosis.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: Other laboratory abnormalities may suggest poisoning, especially the presence of a metabolic acidosis, particularly if it is characterized by a large anion gap. Large anion gap acidosis is usually present during the initial stage of poisoning. However, acidosis has a large number of differential diagnosis, including poisoning from methanol, salicylates, iron, isoniazid, paracetamol, theophylline, or from conditions such as uremia or diabetic and alcoholic ketoacidosis. The diagnosis of ethylene glycol poisoning should be considered in any people with a severe acidosis. Urine microscopy can reveal needle or envelope-shaped calcium oxalate crystals in the urine which can suggest poisoning; although these crystals may not be present until the late stages of poisoning. Finally, many commercial radiator antifreeze products have fluorescein added to enable radiator leaks to be detected using a Wood's lamp. Following ingestion of antifreeze products containing ethylene glycol and fluorescein, a Wood's lamp may reveal fluorescence of a person's mouth area, clothing, vomitus, or urine which can help to diagnose poisoning.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: Antifreeze products for automotive use containing propylene glycol in place of ethylene glycol are available, and are generally considered safer to use, as it possesses an unpleasant taste in contrast to the perceived "sweet" taste of toxic ethylene glycol-based coolants, and produces only lactic acid in an animal's body, as their muscles do when exercised.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: The most important initial treatment for ethylene glycol poisoning is stabilizing the person. As ethylene glycol is rapidly absorbed, gastric decontamination is unlikely to be of benefit unless it is performed within 60 minutes of ingestion. Traditionally, gastric lavage or nasogastric aspiration of gastric contents are the most common methods employed in ethylene glycol poisoning. The usefulness of gastric lavage has, however, been questioned, and it is now no longer used routinely in poisoning situations. Ipecac-induced vomiting is not recommended. As activated charcoal does not adsorb glycols, it is not recommended as it will not be effective at preventing absorption. It is only used in the presence of a toxic dose of another poison or drug. People with significant poisoning often present in a critical condition. In this situation stabilization of the person including airway management with intubation should be performed in preference to gastrointestinal decontamination. People presenting with metabolic acidosis or seizures require treatment with sodium bicarbonate and anticonvulsives such as a benzodiazepine respectively. Sodium bicarbonate should be used cautiously as it can worsen hypocalcemia by increasing the plasma protein binding of calcium. If hypocalcemia occurs it can be treated with calcium replacement although calcium supplementation can increase the precipitation of calcium oxalate crystals leading to tissue damage. Intubation and respiratory support may be required in severely intoxicated people; people with hypotension require treatment with intravenous fluids and possibly vasopressors.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: Following decontamination and the institution of supportive measures, the next priority is inhibition of further ethylene glycol metabolism using antidotes. The antidotes for ethylene glycol poisoning are ethanol and fomepizole. This antidotal treatment forms the mainstay of management of ethylene glycol poisoning. The toxicity of ethylene glycol comes from its metabolism to glycolic acid and oxalic acid. The goal of pharmacotherapy is to prevent the formation of these metabolites. Ethanol acts by competing with ethylene glycol for alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), the first enzyme in the degradation pathway. Because ethanol has nearly 100 times more affinity for ADH, it blocks the breakdown of ethylene glycol into glycolaldehyde, thus preventing further degradation to oxalic acid and the associated nephrotoxic effects. The unreacted ethylene glycol remains in the body and is eventually excreted in the urine; however, supportive therapy for the CNS depression and metabolic acidosis will be required until the ethylene glycol concentrations fall below toxic limits. Pharmaceutical grade ethanol is usually given intravenously as a 5 or 10% solution in 5% dextrose, but it is also sometimes given orally in the form of a strong spirit such as whisky, vodka, or gin.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: Fomepizole is a potent inhibitor of alcohol dehydrogenase; similar to ethanol, it acts to block the formation of the toxic metabolites. Fomepizole has been shown to be highly effective as an antidote for ethylene glycol poisoning. It is the only antidote approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of ethylene glycol poisoning. Both antidotes have advantages and disadvantages. Ethanol is readily available in most hospitals, is inexpensive, and can be administered orally as well as intravenously. Its adverse effects include intoxication, hypoglycemia in children, and possible liver toxicity. People receiving ethanol therapy also require frequent blood ethanol concentration measurements and dosage adjustments to maintain a therapeutic ethanol concentration. People therefore must be monitored in an intensive care unit. Alternatively, the adverse side effects of fomepizole are minimal and the approved dosing regimen maintains therapeutic concentrations without the need to monitor blood concentrations of the drug. The disadvantage of fomepizole is that it is expensive. Costing US$1,000 per gram, an average course used in an adult poisoning would cost approximately $3,500 to $4,000. Despite the cost, fomepizole is gradually replacing ethanol as the antidote of choice in ethylene glycol poisoning.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: Adjunct agents including thiamine and pyridoxine are often given, because they may help prevent the formation of oxalic acid. The use of these agents is based on theoretical observations and there is limited evidence to support their use in treatment; they may be of particular benefit in people who could be deficient in these vitamins such as those who are malnourished or alcoholic.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: In addition to antidotes, an important treatment for poisoning is the use of hemodialysis. Hemodialysis is used to enhance the removal of unmetabolized ethylene glycol, as well as its metabolites from the body. It has been shown to be highly effective in the removal of ethylene glycol and its metabolites from the blood. Hemodialysis also has the added benefit of correcting other metabolic derangements or supporting deteriorating kidney function. Hemodialysis is usually indicated in people with severe metabolic acidosis (blood pH less than 7.3), kidney failure, severe electrolyte imbalance, or if the person's condition is deteriorating despite treatment. Often both antidotal treatment and hemodialysis are used together in the treatment of poisoning. Because hemodialysis will also remove the antidotes from the blood, doses of antidotes need to be increased to compensate. If hemodialysis is not available, then peritoneal dialysis also removes ethylene glycol, although less efficiently.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: Treatment for antifreeze poisoning needs to be started as soon after ingestion as possible to be effective; the earlier treatment is started, the greater the chance of survival. Cats must be treated within 3 hours of ingesting of antifreeze to be effective, while dogs must be treated within 8–12 hours of ingestion. Once kidney failure develops, the prognosis is poor.


title: Ethylene glycol poisoning

text: Generally, if the person is treated and survives then a full recovery is expected. People who present early to medical facilities and have prompt medical treatment typically will have a favorable outcome. Alternatively, people presenting late with signs and symptoms of coma, hyperkalemia, seizures, or severe acidosis have a poor prognosis. People who develop severe central nervous system manifestations or stroke who survive may have long term neurologic dysfunction; in some cases they may recover, although convalescence may be prolonged. The most significant long-term complication is related to the kidneys. Cases of permanent kidney damage, often requiring chronic dialysis or kidney transplantation, have been reported after severe poisoning.